[Gameplay] 3. The Sanctum

Khadi recognizes the statues outside as those of Nethys himself.

The sunshine from outside provides ambiant light, but otherwise the entrance is dark as Tabat steps inside. Several of you notice that the building is in remarkably good condition for its age, especially compared to the other structures you've seen in the necropolis.

The wind has deposited a layer of dust and sand on the floor in this room.

Six skeletal jackals guard the entrance from the gloom, and immediately attack.

Iseret is up first, then the skeletal jackals.

Damned skeletons, Iseret thinks to herself. Knowing all too well how painfully ineffective her shortsword is, she attempts to meld into the shadows in order to get behind her foes.

The small sized creatures swarm over Tabat, surrounding him and biting ferociously. He takes 2 damage.

Everyone can act, including Iseret at the top of the next round.

As the skeletal creatures begin to swarm him, Tabat pulls free the large flail he took for himself during their last lottery outing. "What are you, now?" He asks, pulling away with a nervous laugh when one of them nips at his leg. He scowls behind his mask at the creature and swipes at it with his weapon.

Iseret easily slips behind the foe, flanking with Tabat and lashing out with her short sword.

The move was becoming instinct by now. Even as the others start to raise their swords and swing into the undead Khadi lifts the Scarab around her neck with a grin. 'Khepri, wil you do the honors?'

The familiar light washes over the group.

Tabat gains revenge on the undead nipper, while Iseret lunges from the shadows, shattering another.

Khadi invokes her diety Khepri, and the undead jackals are blasted into dust.

Combat is over

"Hah! Easy!" He turns to Khadi, "I keep being reminded of your strength, Khadi. Well done."

Skarab says, "Phew! Thanks, Khadi!"

"All praise to Khepri," Iseret says without a hint of sarcasm. While she herself had little use for deities, she would not argue the merits of Khadi's god.

'Well Khepri and I are a good team. Though whether we are as effective against undead stronger than skeletons has yet to be seen.' Despite her words she has a grin on her face. She was healre partially to see if she could hold herself against undead and so far that was proving true.

Hallways lead to the left and to the right, but straight on is what draws the eye.

Space and elevation lend a sense of past grandeur and majesty to this large space. A large, star-shaped fountain with a circular pool in the center sits in the middle of the chamber. The bottom of the pool is decorated with a great mosaic eye made from tiny colored tiles, and hieroglyphs are carved into the paving stones ringing the fountain. Two rows of columns support the ceiling overhead, which continues to rise to a domed ceiling in the northern portion of the chamber. At the far end of the hall, a massive statue with arms raised overlooks the entire length of the temple from atop a raised dais. East and west of the fountain, two sets of stone double doors exit the chamber.

The ceiling in that area is 20 feet high, rising to a 40-foot-high dome above the dais in the north half of the hal

"I don't like the looks of this place," Tabat says, "It's too open, too many intersecting hallways. Good places for enemies or traps to hide." He gestures to the eastern hall - "Shall we circle around and get our bearings before approaching the fountain?"

"You are right, Master Tabat. It might also be prudent to set up a rear guard as well, since our foes may come at us from any direction." remarks Archibald, eyeing his surrounding for any potential traps or hidden enemies.

"I'll watch the rear."

The east side opens into three areas.

Lower Right
The southern area of this large space contains a long stone table, two benches, and two wooden hutches. Just visible behind a partition wall to the north is a kitchen with tables, cabinets, and a stove in the corner. Around a corner to the south stands a stone enclosure with a rounded top and a hatch set in the front.

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Middle Right
A small shrine occupies a raised dais in the north of this room. Two waist-high fonts stand on either side of the altar, and a small wooden cabinet is bolted against the eastern wall. Two rows of stone benches stand to the south of the dais. A fetid odor permeates the room.

Two humans stand before the dias.

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Upper Right
An immense tiled pool, empty and no more than two feet deep, lies beneath a vaulted ceiling covered with images of celestial beings. Four columns stand beyond the pool to the northeast, each carved to represent one of the four primal elements. A ring of hieroglyphs encircles the base of each pillar.

What's your move?

"You folks looks through this first room, I'll keep watch up ahead," Tabat suggests. Tabat then walks quietly up to the archway separating the southern room from the two northern ones.

Stunned by the rather sudden revelation of the humans, Iseret stands, studying the figures. "Who are you?"

The beings turn toward the sound of Iseret's voice and come rapidly toward her, clearly attacking. Everyone but Tabat acts before them.

For a moment Khadi has confused smile on he face, ready to greet the strangers and query why they are here when the facade shatters and she sees what the really are. She fumbles for her symbol. 'Khepri, please let these be undead.. She channels even as she searches the approaching figures for clues on their nature.