Gameplay!

Guys when you roll for something, make sure it's clear what we are rolling for. I'm not sure what Sarah's roll was for, but she didn't do anything risky or exciting so no roll was needed.

Also, does anyone want to investigate the platform in the center of the circle of bodies?

Reem, who up this point has been quietly lurking and taking in the perilous mechanisms and ominous hieroglyphics which her companions have been reacting so strangely to advances on the platform. She draws out a level with a floating bubble to assess the angle of it with respect to the ground. She lies down on the floor and checks it to see if any cleverly hidden plates might be triggered by approaching it, using a small dusting broom to expose any cracks or inscrpyptions on the floor. Once she assesses it safe she advances and carefully examines it for any interesting challenges.

(bolstered by her success at scrounging earlier)

Reem- when you say you were bolstered by your earlier success, are you using a skill you got then? Your character sheet didn't have any skills listed, and I can't remember if you took any yet.

Assuming you only get the one dice, a 2 is not going to succeed here, so you do gain an XP.

As Reem investigates the platform in the center of the room, it is clear that is a door of some type to allow you to progress deeper into the crypt, but how it opens remains a mystery. The top surface is perfectly level, almost impossible after all these years in the shifting sands. As a door, there must be a seam somewhere, but everything is so precisely but that you can't find Even the smallest gaps. It seems the only way through this door is by opening it the way it was intended to be opened, and not through external means.

On the surface, you find an inscription, unreadable, and a two small indented sections in the center, one for a key like object and one that looks like a small cup with a tiny drainage hole in the middle.

Reem, as you investigate everything, you feel a sense of force wash over you, as if someone is applying pressure to your mind. I need you to roll a Do Anything Lv I (DC 2) for me to see if you can do anything to resist.

Also, as Reem is investigating, they notice some dust knocking loose from the ceiling as another tremor rocks the Earth, slightly stronger than before. A second tremor comes, knocking several small rocks loose from the walls.

Clocks:

Cave in- 2/3

Reem shakes off the mental compulsion, unsure what fell instinct had taken hold in her."More hieroglyphics. Impossible construction, impossibly smooth, flat, clear. A keyhole and a sacrificial cup waiting to be filled." She reels back from the platform in mild horror. "Something below…something hungers. It calls out to find a gap in our will and take us as it’s thrall. Beware!"

The Investor speaks up, "Very good, Reem! It seems your assessment of the construction is very accurate! Although, let's ignore the part about the hungering spirits, since that's all just for the cameras." He gives a small wink to Timothy.

The Investor draws closer to the center of the room to appraise the structure again.

"It looks like this key..." he holds up his key from earlier... "fits here..." he puts the key into the slot on the stone centerpiece... "but what is supposed to go here?..." he gestures to the sacrificial well.

Reem looks at Dmitry as if he’s grown a second head.

"Honored soldier, you did hear the rest of what I said, yes? A keyhole. A dark presence. Perhaps before we offer blood to the ancient kings we should be sure we can operate the lock."

Reem sighs, grabs Dimitry’s wrist and slices the outside of her right arm with his held blade then lowers the wound over the cup. "This is madness, and I am among the mad. But at least I take the threat seriously, which is more than I can say for arrogant fools." She doesn’t throw her glance at the investor, but it takes an effort.

Reem, you're cursed now!!!

I love the action! The Investor looks on, not terribly perturbed by the sight of blood (especially given how he murdered that man at the begining to get his key). However, he looks at Reem and says,"I thank you for your donation. I was unaware that such a sacrifice was going to be necessary here, but I am grateful that you take this excursion so seriously as to offer yourself for our benefit."

With a small nod, he walks forth and places his key into the lock, where it clicks just as the lock on the front stone did. The stone slabs slide open, revealing a long staircase that leads deep into the Earth.

Also, just as a note, there was no specific offering that had to be put in the cup; I just wanted to see what y'all would offer. However, now that blood has been freely given, Reem will actually be tied to the Mummy.

As the stone opens, you feel a tremor stronger than any before, and the stones in the cieling start to crash down around you. The tunnel is collapsing!

"Everybody in!" yells The Investor as he runs through the newly opened entryway. (Those who are already suspicious of him may notice that he runs in first to save himself, rather than letting nay of you go first). His body gaurds follow closely behind him, leaving you all to run through as quickly as possible.

Once inside, you see that The Investor is waiting for you all in a small chamber near the top of the stairs. It seems the chamber serves as a connection point between two stairwells, one on your side, and one on the other side that leads off into a different direction. As the Earth continues to tremble, you hope you are safe deeper under the ground.

Deep inside the heart of the tomb, Ibathnakht slumbers. He has slept for millenia, undisturbed by the shifting sands and the passage of time. A small trail of blood makes it way through the inner channels of the tomb, slowly seeping down into the central chamber. A few drops manage to fall from the ceiling, landing on the sarcophagus of the Pharaoh, where the are absorbed (much as the blood on the gold Scarab was). In the darkness, the Mummy's eyes flare open, and he lets out an unearthly scream that echoes through the tomb.

On the upper level of the tomb, you all here a supernatural scream that fills your head with blinding agony, parayzing everyone. The stones in the ceiling shake and loosen, and in an instant, a pile of stone crashes around you, both cutting off your way back to the surface and separating you from The Investor and his three body guards. When the smoke clears and the screaming stops, you can only see blackness around you. You have entered the tomb and woken Ibathnakht...