[Gameplay] 3. The Sanctum

'That sounds like it's yours Tabat. You doing alright, you took a strong blow..?

Even as she speaks the amulet is shining a she lets out a burst of healing.

"Ah, yes. Praise Kepri, and you, Khadi. Much better."

Tabat takes up the spear and hefts it up in the air before catching it again. "A good weight," he says. He straps the spear to his back. "I'll hold onto it, in case it may be used to save a life. We should continue forth and see what the rest of this place has to reveal."

Through the door, you have two choices. North, or East. Tilting your head, to the east you can see bars. To the north, the corridor meets up where you fought the statue with the magical staff, then turns east.

Which way?

Tabat motions east and start carefully moving in that direction, allowing Iseret to scan for traps as they go.

The passage east immediately leads to two portcullises with bronze gates. Through the north one you see a large, star-shaped fountain with a circular basin in the center occupying most of the octagonal chamber, surrounded by a ring of stones engraved with hieroglyphs. Roaring blue flames rise form the basin to almost touch the ceiling.

To the east, through another bronze gate, you see a large chamber. Two rows of columns support the vaulted ceiling. Inscribed hieroglyphs cover most of the room's walls, bu the southern wall is rough and unfinished. Two other passages also with bronze gates, exit the room to the north and east. Within, you see four individuals. In fact, you recognize them from the party at the Tooth & Hookah. They are the adventuring party know as the Scorched Hand, lead by Veriana Hypaxes.

Tabat places his hands upon the bars along the eastern wall and pulls at them to feel how sturdy they are. He tries to stay quiet, as it doesn't appear the Scorched Hand have seen their group yet. If the bars don't give way, and they see no immediate way to retract the bars, he quietly gestures for them to back out towards the west again, to see if they might be able to circle around.

They're investigating the far wall, and while one of them is keeping an eye out, she hasn't seen you yet.

The gate is locked.

There is indeed a mechanism that might be picked by an intrepid lockpicker.

Tabat motions for the group to retreat back down the hall so they are out of sight. "What do you think? Iseret might more stealthily bypass the mechanism on her own, then we can move in with full force, question their presence here. Or try to go around and see if there is a better approach into the room?"

"Picking the lock may make some noise and opening the gate almost certainly will, so if we can come around and surprise them, so much the better, but I'm game to try and pick it if that is what the group wants."

'..I'd like to think this can be worked out peacefully among us, and that we wouldn't need surprise but... they know they are here illegally. I would not be surprised if they act rash at being caught. Going around would likely be better, catch them off guard.'

You sneak back into the darkness, under the cover of noise by the blue flames rising behind the gates in the octagonal room.

Moving back up and around that chamber, you pass one door before coming at the northern gate to the room that the Scorched Hand is illegally searching. Iseret sneaks up to the gate and finds it unlocked -- it's likely that they picked the lock, but left it unlocked for themselves.

Tabat looks to the others. "No time like the present. Let us try diplomacy first, but be ready for a fight. They know they are not supposed to be here and may be ready for us." He swaps into his hands his khopesh and scarab shield and readies the potion they picked up a short time ago.

Unless someone has an alternative plan, he strides into the room, weapon lowered but ready. He's prepared to open dialogue by himself, if the others want to wait in the hall, or with whomever joins him.

"You there, of the Scorched Hand! You are not here by right of lottery, so by which right do you claim access to this hallowed halls? You must know your presence here would be challenged, but perhaps yet we can work something out?"

Iseret stands behind Tabat, not quite as menacingly, but with steely determination.

Tabat watches as Velriana's companions space themselves out. 'They're ready for a fight,' he thinks, 'well so am I, if it comes to it.'

"And what precisely is your plan with this place, if not to loot it and leave it? This place was already lost to time, but for our presence here giving it a small chance to share its history with the world. Leaving it to ruins and destruction - nay! We are here to safeguard this temple's past so that is is not lost entirely. Perhaps we can work together so both our goals can be realized without...complication. What is it you hope to accomplish here?" His grip on his khopesh tightens.

'We understand that, of course we do. Still people can't just lay claim to the sites, otherwise there are those who would make up frivolous claims to get whatever picking they want.... I know its not ideal. We were honestly going to keep our promise to show you what we found. ' The cleric puts away her crossbow and raises her hand. She got their upset , but at the same time if hey were willing to flaunt the rules they had to be careful of what else they might do, so stayed behind Tabat.

'I;m sure e can reach and agreement where no one gets hurt.'