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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 6274531" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 74 "The Crypt of Nafita” (Episode Two, Chapter Thirty-four) - Sunday, September 11, 1882, 7:00 A.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Ruby leads the group down the dirt hallway. The path goes for around 100 feet, ending in a small room that looks to be used for food storage. Checking inside the wooden crates, Ruby finds them filled with corked wine bottles, urns filled with rice, urns of salt, and urns with ground wheat. There is another open door with a corridor off from the opposite side of the room, but based upon the cobwebs covering over the doorway it hasn't been used for months if not years.</p><p></p><p>Ruby holds up a hand for the others to stay and then she checks out the unused area. It goes for another 400 feet, ending at a wooden door. The door has broken off from the upper hinge, leaving a small crack to see to the other side. Shining her light, Ruby sees that it is a large crypt, with alcoves full of hundreds of skeletons and two stone sarcophagi in the center of the room. Ruby shivers but enters anyway. There might be another way out of here, she thinks to herself as she searches around the room.</p><p></p><p>There is no apparent main exit, but there are more smaller side hallways with several alcoves filled with bones. As she nears one of the stone sarcophaguses Ruby feels a wave of powerful magic wash over her, and sees magical auras radiating from the casket. This sensation has an air of familiarity about it, she had felt similarly to this before she was in a dream-like state and in the presence of the Goddess Aphrodite, although this also has a distinctly different feel to it too, an even mix of curiosity and dread.</p><p></p><p>Once Ruby regains her composure she takes a closer look at the stone casket without getting any closer, seeing that it is covered with Egyptian runes. She recognizes many of them from her recent trip to Zakazik/Bubastus as being the signs of Bast, the Cat Goddess. Part of her feels drawn to the object while she simultaneously feels repelled. Ruby hurries quietly back down the hallway to the others. </p><p></p><p>She exclaims, "I think there is something we should check out. I'm not sure it's a way out but... trust me, we have to check it out." She takes George's hand and starts pulling him down the hallway, motioning for the others to follow. When she pulls them into that room she says, "That casket, we have to look closer at it. Do you feel that?" Mina and George had followed Ruby. Mina exclaims, "Yes, I can feel it. Incredible power, but it does not feel like wizard magics." "Then clerical?" asks George.</p><p></p><p>"To me it feels like... not clerical magic but magic like when I saw the Goddess Aphrodite. Gods’ magic. That is why we should check it out." "So not divine but rather Divine" adds George with a grin. "Ok, let's check this out" As they move closer they all sense greater power. George definitely gets a sense of Clerical magic. Mina translates the Egyptian writing on the sarcophagus. "It reads 'Lady of the East, the Goddess of the Rising Sun, and The Sacred and All-Seeing Eye.' Those were all names for Bast. Atop the upper lid she says, "It reads that this is the crypt of Djeserit Mew-Shir" She pauses and comments, "That's interesting, the exact translation would be 'Holy Woman Kitten'. There is one other name below that, reading Nafita, daughter of Ussarken II. I recall that he was a Pharaoh during the twenty-second dynasty, approximately 2,700 years ago. That was the dynasty </p><p>when Bubastis was the capital of the Egyptian Empire."</p><p></p><p>Ruby furrowed her brows. "What does that all mean? I mean, that can't be the actual goddess Bast, so it must mean they wanted Bast to protect this... woman... then?" Mina replies, "I don't know. I am familiar with the language and who the Pharaoh were, but I know very little about the Egyptian deities." George says, "So late Old Kingdom. Bast worship would have been in full swing, before the solar prominence of the Middle Kingdom. So this woman may then have been a high priestess for Bast from that time? The question is why does it still radiate magic?" Mina says, "Probably magical items buried with her. But the stone casket it covered with other runes as well, most likely powerful magic to protect it from grave robbers. I do not know if it would even be safe to try to open without a High Priest or Priestess of Bast to cast the appropriate ritual first." </p><p></p><p>Ruby says, "What about that statue thing George has? Isn't that protection from Bast? Maybe he should take it out?" "Tsk, tsk Mina. When has your granddaughter ever done anything the safe way? Now we do have the Bast figure that we found in the temple, perhaps it can help us open it. I think I have the strongest affinity with Bast here from previous interactions with Bast's forces. At this point, we don't have much to lose. Perhaps Bast will bless us with a tool to save her people and the kingdom of Nafita." replies George. Statue in hand, George senses that the stone has a relationship to whatever is within the casket. As he holds it up he sees several Egyptian runes glow on the casket. The translation of the words come into his head as he reads them in the ancient Egyptian language, a sequence to disarm the traps. When it is done he feels that the casket is safe to open. </p><p></p><p>"What are you doing?" a female voice at the entranceway to the room exclaims. He turns to see that the question was raised by the druid Meren, with Abby and Cetan in the corridor behind her. "Why looking for the white rabbit, or at least the way to Wonderland." replies George. "We're looking for a way out," Ruby responds. Meren says to George with a voice of alarm "What is that you are holding Sir?" "An idol of Bast. A lucky cat's foot if you will. And I believe the lovely Bast is giving us the tools to help her protect the kingdom. That was always her role to protect the pharaoh and the kingdom. I believe Bast needs our help to save the king." replies George without taking his eyes off the casket.</p><p></p><p>George opens the casket, to reveal the mummified remains of a figure shaped like a teenage girl. Bright light glows outward from inside the wrappings. Based on the patterns of light it appears that the source of the illumination is in the shapes beneath of a wide belt, a wide necklace, and some type of think crown with a jewel in the front. Ruby, Mina, George, Abby, Cetan and Meren all feel a commanding strength from these objects as well as feeling instantly revitalized.</p><p></p><p>Abby stepped into the room and close go George. "Bast has seemed to take an interest in our mission. One of her priestesses was very helpful to us back in Zakazik. But have a care, Mr. Eastman. Your affinity could become a lot more than it is now. If you don't want to take the risk, I will." "Thank you for your concern Abby, but I already established a connection, and while it may yet manifest more than I realize, I am not willing to endanger you." replies George.</p><p></p><p>"I don't think it's danger so much as perhaps a commitment. A claim on you. But if you're willing to go ahead, I won't argue with you," Abby said, but she didn't move back, instead waiting to see what happened and seeing if she was able to read or translate anymore than Mina had been able to. "Well, she'll have to get in line behind Ruby then." replies George with a grin. 'I don't think even Bast wants to get between Miss Ruby West and her man" Ruby laughed. "Let's hope I don't have to fight a goddess. That will be one difficult fight!"</p><p></p><p>Ruby continued hesitantly. "Abby, have you had... experiences... with the gods before?" She says, "Not in particular. I've never had any kind of particular attachment to any of them. I felt very at home in Bast's temple though. Lots of cats, and I like cats," she smiled. Ruby nodded. "Good, then you are open to it? A lot of people aren't. Remind me later to tell you about the time I met Aphrodite. For now, it's good to know you are drawn to Bast. I feel drawn but also simultaneously repelled so I imagine Bast must know I am already aligned with another goddess. But perhaps this one has chosen George or you!" Abby says, "I'm open to it, but then again, there's not much in life I'm not open to. But I have felt rather... homey, near things that are connected to Bast. Who knows where life will take me?" she said with a smile.</p><p></p><p>"Forgive me Nafita, I do this to honor and serve Bast" says George as he prepares to remove the artifacts from out of the wrappings. Meren exclaims "Nafita! The Djeserit Mew-Shir!" Mina states, "You know of her?" Meren says, "She is legendary. She was a princess, the daughter of Pharaoh Ussarken II. During his reign a large invading army from the East sought to capture Egypt. The invaders outnumbered the Egyptians three-to-one, and the Pharaoh feared total defeat. His daughter was a Priestess of Bast, she offered to sacrifice herself to save her father's kingdom. Bast became manifest on Earth, taking form in Nafita's body. She fought and defeated the invaders. Unfortunately she also burned out the Princess's body, which perished once Bast returned to her own plane.” </p><p></p><p>Meren pauses then adds “There was a rumor that the current King's grandfather transported Nafita's crypt away from Bubastus when France's Emperor Napoleon invaded Egypt at the turn of the century. That rumor was apparently true if her sarcophagus is here." Ruby states, "Well, isn't that what is happening right now? I mean, the invasion part?" Meren says, "That is probably why the objects are currently glowing and why we spell casters are drawn to it. I doubt they've been in that state of illumination for the last 2,700 years, it would have been too tempting to open it if had."</p><p></p><p>Abby says, "We should be very careful with this Mummy. We must treat her with the utmost respect that we are able. Disturbing the dead is usually a bad idea." George takes a big breath. "Ok, Abby go ahead and say some words of sanctity, I will hold the Statue as I unwrap the priestess here to be able to get to these items." George intones in Egyptian hoping Nafita will understand the modern version. "Oh Great Bast, please forgive us as we disturb your priestess Nafita. We seek the artifacts she guards in order to save the kingdom of Egypt which you have always guarded. Allow us to use them to save this kingdom from the foreign invaders that threaten the royal family." say George as he unwraps the coverings.</p><p></p><p>Ruby helps George with the unwrapping in the most respectful way she can. It takes a solid half hour, but they are eventually able to get the three artifacts, all made of solid gold with blue and green gems worked into them. The largest gem is in the crown. George is able to physically touch the items, but when Ruby does she gets a slight jolt. "Well excuuussseeee me," Ruby comments, leaving the objects alone. </p><p></p><p>"Abby, care to give it a go? If not, George will have to handle all three." Ruby paused for a long moment. "Well, wait a minute. The last lady who wore all three died. So maybe that's not a good idea." She turns back to the others. "Do you know what each item was rumored to do?" she asks Meren. The druid replies, "No, I am sorry, I only know of the legend." Abby approached and delicately touched the gem in the crown, ready to assist George. "We really need to get moving, too. I think we've all forgotten that we're in the middle of an escape attempt." </p><p></p><p>"Oh no, I am quite aware that a few dozen Nubian Ogres are after our collective heads at this point. But you don't rush these things Abby. But if the crown lets you, lift it our and I will remove the belt and the necklace. Gently of course." replies George They no sooner complete this task when they hear the sound of distant weapons fire. The sound appears to be coming from outside of the palace and is primarily small arms fire, although a considerable amount of it.</p><p></p><p>Ok, now this is Ruby's kind of party. Ok, let's see what happens" says George as he puts on the belt. The belt continues to light up but George fells otherwise the same. Ruby steps away from magical items for the time being; she does a more through search of the alcoves, looking for any hidden doors she may have missed. "I think all the artifacts need to be together. Either in the casket with the Priestess, or on one of us. Either way, if they react in a way that can help, now is the time." Abby held the crown toward George. "I wish Sabah were here, she'd know what to do."</p><p></p><p>Mina says "Sabah may be the key to this. Zakazik and Cairo aren't that far apart if the train is still running. We should try to get a message to her if at all possible." Abby replies, "Then we need to get out of here, now. We can't move the mummy, and we've got the artifacts out. We should either take them with us, or leave them here, but we need to go. Things are getting worse out there." Mina says, "Let's take them, they seem to be allowing George to physically touch them. I saw telegraph lines alongside the railroad tracks, we could try to get a telegraph message to John Hardin back in Zakazik." </p><p></p><p>George nods and accepts the crown from Abby. He places the necklace around his neck but under his shirt, he covers the belt with his shirt as well. Placing the crown upon his head and holding the Bast statue in front of him George says "Ok let us see if we can find a way out." George concentrates on the statue and in his mind asks “Bast, please show us the way out”. Light projects from the crown towards a small alcove in the side wall with a small stone table taking up most of it. There do not appear to be any obvious exits there.</p><p></p><p>"Ruby, you seem to have a knack at finding hidden things, care to search the alcove there for an exit my dear?" asks George. "I'll check. We may have to move that stone table though." Ruby moves towards the alcove and begins checking it for traps and a way out. There is nothing obvious, although it is hard to check behind with the 400 pound stone table in the way. But with some rope attached the centaur Cetan is able to pull it out. </p><p></p><p>Once removed, Egyptian words flash into George's head and he recites them. The back of the alcove wall then glows and vanishes, revealing a six-foot wide corridor made of polished stone with a curved archway nine feet at its height. It is illuminated with magical light and extends as far as the eye can see. Despite the passage of centuries if not millennia since it was last used there is no dirt, rubble, moisture or evidence of insects or rodents.</p><p></p><p>Ruby exclaims, "Seems the goddess DOES want to help us! There is no way for us to go through and have them not know we went this way, as the stone table will be out of place. we'll just have to shut the door and hope they don't have magic to open it. Alright, come on everyone!" Ruby shoos everyone through the door, having George help her close it once everyone is in. "Alright, George I suppose you should go first, you're leading the way after all. "Ruby and George squeeze to the front and lead the group forward.</p><p></p><p>They travel for at least a quarter mile. The corridor ends with a stone spiral staircase up ending at a trap door. Light shines again from the amulet and the door rises. They exit inside of a stone temple, with depictions of various Egyptian gods on the walls. Meren says, "We are in one of the oldest temples in Cairo. This is the Priests’ prayer room." Once they are all out the door seals behind them. Mina says “I’m guessing that Bast sealed it at the other end too. That should throw off our pursuers.” </p><p></p><p>They careful exit the building, hiding and waiting whenever a priest comes by, and are soon outside. The gunfire is louder and they see that over 3,000 people have surrounded the palace. Several dozen men are firing rifles at the palace guard, who are behind barricades and firing back. Abby recognizes the man Abdullah as the group's leader. Ruby says, "I'd like to just get the heck out of here. But I doubt that is what the goddess had in mind when helping us find these items. George, do you want to ask for guidance again? Otherwise it may just be get out of here so we can live to fight another day."</p><p></p><p>"Last I knew it was the French, or rather a French faction that was causing problems. Did they instigate this? As far as I know we need the General and the princess and make the King see that the marriage is one of love and of political power. So with that in mind….Bast, show us the way to save this kingdom." asks George. George receives no further guidance, and the objects cease glowing now that the group are out in public where it would attract attention.</p><p></p><p>Abby says, "The whole situation is murky, but that's Abdullah the fanatic. Part of the French plan, the one that most of them don't know about, was to get him to attack the palace so the King's death by poisoning could be blamed on the attack instead. But whatever the reasons, he is here to kill the King. And probably has a French wizard with him. My first priority is to get a message to Sabah."</p><p></p><p>It takes little time to get to the Cairo telegraph office. However, they arrive to see that eight of Abdullah's followers have taken control of the office and are not allowing any telegraphs to be sent. Five of the eight appear to be young and armed only with knives on their belts. The older three have firearms, one with a single-shot musket, another with a single-shot pistol and the leader armed with a more modern six-shot revolver.</p><p></p><p>George studies the group for a moment then decides to try his hand at some deception. Staring at the "leader", the man with the six-shooter he whispers into his palm. Casting message at the leader: in Arabic "My faithful servant, this is the ghost of Abdullah, we have failed, they have killed me. Run and save yourselves!" A shocked look comes over the face of the leader. He walks around the room and whispers into the ear of the man with the pistol who whispers back. The man then turns to the other older man with the rifle and says in Arabic "Hokki and I need to patrol with our sons, you are in charge here." The two men and two of the younger men then depart.</p><p></p><p>Ruby says, "Okay, does anyone have any sort of weapon? I have a small dagger that's hidden, and my spells, that's about it. I will cast sleep on the remaining but it not might not work on everyone so we need a way to overcome them." Ruby glanced around, "I'll really need to get a gun sooner rather than later." "Prepare yourselves." Ruby gets herself into a position where no one in the crowds can see her and she casts sleep on the group. The three younger men immediately fall asleep. The man with the rifle looks around frantically while holding but not aiming the rifle. </p><p></p><p>Ruby exclaims, "Darn It! I thought that might happen. What should we do now?" "I'll handle this" says George. George staggers out of their hiding spot. He staggers slowly towards the remaining man. He shouts at the man in slurred Arabic: "Tariq! Tariq! Come have a drink with me my friend. We need to celebrate!" As George gets within arms reach he grabs the gun barrel so the stock swings up and hits the man in the head. George will add a few punches as necessary. The already confused man is unconscious by the second punch. </p><p></p><p>It does not take the group long to find the four telegraph office workers tied up and locked in a storeroom. They find the equipment is still in working order. The office manger comments to George, "I'm surprised they didn't cut the telegraph lines. They must have figured they would need this later to announce their victory to the world." While Abby gets her telegram sent George asks the manager "Is there another force of the Royal guards or loyal army whom we could telegraph for aid that could arrive soon?" </p><p></p><p>The manager replies, "The King has troops in every large community, I am certain that is why the rebels took control of here. There's Heliopolis five miles to the north, Gizeh ten miles to the west and Memphis twenty miles to the south." Abby pulled up another of the telegraph employees and nudged him over to the equipment. "I need to send a telegraph to Sabah, Priestess of Bast at the temple in Zakazik. If there's any way you have to note it is of high importance, I need you to do that too." </p><p></p><p>After having been held hostage and now rescued by the people making the request, the worker is more than happy to comply. He asks her for the text of the message. Abby took a moment to think, uncertain how much detail she wanted passing through other hands on its way to Sabah. Finally, she said, "Palace under attack by Abdullah. Crown, necklace, belt found, affinity for cats. Protected by us in trust for your lady. Need your help. Please advise." The man taps out the message.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 6274531, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 74 "The Crypt of Nafita” (Episode Two, Chapter Thirty-four) - Sunday, September 11, 1882, 7:00 A.M.[/B] Ruby leads the group down the dirt hallway. The path goes for around 100 feet, ending in a small room that looks to be used for food storage. Checking inside the wooden crates, Ruby finds them filled with corked wine bottles, urns filled with rice, urns of salt, and urns with ground wheat. There is another open door with a corridor off from the opposite side of the room, but based upon the cobwebs covering over the doorway it hasn't been used for months if not years. Ruby holds up a hand for the others to stay and then she checks out the unused area. It goes for another 400 feet, ending at a wooden door. The door has broken off from the upper hinge, leaving a small crack to see to the other side. Shining her light, Ruby sees that it is a large crypt, with alcoves full of hundreds of skeletons and two stone sarcophagi in the center of the room. Ruby shivers but enters anyway. There might be another way out of here, she thinks to herself as she searches around the room. There is no apparent main exit, but there are more smaller side hallways with several alcoves filled with bones. As she nears one of the stone sarcophaguses Ruby feels a wave of powerful magic wash over her, and sees magical auras radiating from the casket. This sensation has an air of familiarity about it, she had felt similarly to this before she was in a dream-like state and in the presence of the Goddess Aphrodite, although this also has a distinctly different feel to it too, an even mix of curiosity and dread. Once Ruby regains her composure she takes a closer look at the stone casket without getting any closer, seeing that it is covered with Egyptian runes. She recognizes many of them from her recent trip to Zakazik/Bubastus as being the signs of Bast, the Cat Goddess. Part of her feels drawn to the object while she simultaneously feels repelled. Ruby hurries quietly back down the hallway to the others. She exclaims, "I think there is something we should check out. I'm not sure it's a way out but... trust me, we have to check it out." She takes George's hand and starts pulling him down the hallway, motioning for the others to follow. When she pulls them into that room she says, "That casket, we have to look closer at it. Do you feel that?" Mina and George had followed Ruby. Mina exclaims, "Yes, I can feel it. Incredible power, but it does not feel like wizard magics." "Then clerical?" asks George. "To me it feels like... not clerical magic but magic like when I saw the Goddess Aphrodite. Gods’ magic. That is why we should check it out." "So not divine but rather Divine" adds George with a grin. "Ok, let's check this out" As they move closer they all sense greater power. George definitely gets a sense of Clerical magic. Mina translates the Egyptian writing on the sarcophagus. "It reads 'Lady of the East, the Goddess of the Rising Sun, and The Sacred and All-Seeing Eye.' Those were all names for Bast. Atop the upper lid she says, "It reads that this is the crypt of Djeserit Mew-Shir" She pauses and comments, "That's interesting, the exact translation would be 'Holy Woman Kitten'. There is one other name below that, reading Nafita, daughter of Ussarken II. I recall that he was a Pharaoh during the twenty-second dynasty, approximately 2,700 years ago. That was the dynasty when Bubastis was the capital of the Egyptian Empire." Ruby furrowed her brows. "What does that all mean? I mean, that can't be the actual goddess Bast, so it must mean they wanted Bast to protect this... woman... then?" Mina replies, "I don't know. I am familiar with the language and who the Pharaoh were, but I know very little about the Egyptian deities." George says, "So late Old Kingdom. Bast worship would have been in full swing, before the solar prominence of the Middle Kingdom. So this woman may then have been a high priestess for Bast from that time? The question is why does it still radiate magic?" Mina says, "Probably magical items buried with her. But the stone casket it covered with other runes as well, most likely powerful magic to protect it from grave robbers. I do not know if it would even be safe to try to open without a High Priest or Priestess of Bast to cast the appropriate ritual first." Ruby says, "What about that statue thing George has? Isn't that protection from Bast? Maybe he should take it out?" "Tsk, tsk Mina. When has your granddaughter ever done anything the safe way? Now we do have the Bast figure that we found in the temple, perhaps it can help us open it. I think I have the strongest affinity with Bast here from previous interactions with Bast's forces. At this point, we don't have much to lose. Perhaps Bast will bless us with a tool to save her people and the kingdom of Nafita." replies George. Statue in hand, George senses that the stone has a relationship to whatever is within the casket. As he holds it up he sees several Egyptian runes glow on the casket. The translation of the words come into his head as he reads them in the ancient Egyptian language, a sequence to disarm the traps. When it is done he feels that the casket is safe to open. "What are you doing?" a female voice at the entranceway to the room exclaims. He turns to see that the question was raised by the druid Meren, with Abby and Cetan in the corridor behind her. "Why looking for the white rabbit, or at least the way to Wonderland." replies George. "We're looking for a way out," Ruby responds. Meren says to George with a voice of alarm "What is that you are holding Sir?" "An idol of Bast. A lucky cat's foot if you will. And I believe the lovely Bast is giving us the tools to help her protect the kingdom. That was always her role to protect the pharaoh and the kingdom. I believe Bast needs our help to save the king." replies George without taking his eyes off the casket. George opens the casket, to reveal the mummified remains of a figure shaped like a teenage girl. Bright light glows outward from inside the wrappings. Based on the patterns of light it appears that the source of the illumination is in the shapes beneath of a wide belt, a wide necklace, and some type of think crown with a jewel in the front. Ruby, Mina, George, Abby, Cetan and Meren all feel a commanding strength from these objects as well as feeling instantly revitalized. Abby stepped into the room and close go George. "Bast has seemed to take an interest in our mission. One of her priestesses was very helpful to us back in Zakazik. But have a care, Mr. Eastman. Your affinity could become a lot more than it is now. If you don't want to take the risk, I will." "Thank you for your concern Abby, but I already established a connection, and while it may yet manifest more than I realize, I am not willing to endanger you." replies George. "I don't think it's danger so much as perhaps a commitment. A claim on you. But if you're willing to go ahead, I won't argue with you," Abby said, but she didn't move back, instead waiting to see what happened and seeing if she was able to read or translate anymore than Mina had been able to. "Well, she'll have to get in line behind Ruby then." replies George with a grin. 'I don't think even Bast wants to get between Miss Ruby West and her man" Ruby laughed. "Let's hope I don't have to fight a goddess. That will be one difficult fight!" Ruby continued hesitantly. "Abby, have you had... experiences... with the gods before?" She says, "Not in particular. I've never had any kind of particular attachment to any of them. I felt very at home in Bast's temple though. Lots of cats, and I like cats," she smiled. Ruby nodded. "Good, then you are open to it? A lot of people aren't. Remind me later to tell you about the time I met Aphrodite. For now, it's good to know you are drawn to Bast. I feel drawn but also simultaneously repelled so I imagine Bast must know I am already aligned with another goddess. But perhaps this one has chosen George or you!" Abby says, "I'm open to it, but then again, there's not much in life I'm not open to. But I have felt rather... homey, near things that are connected to Bast. Who knows where life will take me?" she said with a smile. "Forgive me Nafita, I do this to honor and serve Bast" says George as he prepares to remove the artifacts from out of the wrappings. Meren exclaims "Nafita! The Djeserit Mew-Shir!" Mina states, "You know of her?" Meren says, "She is legendary. She was a princess, the daughter of Pharaoh Ussarken II. During his reign a large invading army from the East sought to capture Egypt. The invaders outnumbered the Egyptians three-to-one, and the Pharaoh feared total defeat. His daughter was a Priestess of Bast, she offered to sacrifice herself to save her father's kingdom. Bast became manifest on Earth, taking form in Nafita's body. She fought and defeated the invaders. Unfortunately she also burned out the Princess's body, which perished once Bast returned to her own plane.” Meren pauses then adds “There was a rumor that the current King's grandfather transported Nafita's crypt away from Bubastus when France's Emperor Napoleon invaded Egypt at the turn of the century. That rumor was apparently true if her sarcophagus is here." Ruby states, "Well, isn't that what is happening right now? I mean, the invasion part?" Meren says, "That is probably why the objects are currently glowing and why we spell casters are drawn to it. I doubt they've been in that state of illumination for the last 2,700 years, it would have been too tempting to open it if had." Abby says, "We should be very careful with this Mummy. We must treat her with the utmost respect that we are able. Disturbing the dead is usually a bad idea." George takes a big breath. "Ok, Abby go ahead and say some words of sanctity, I will hold the Statue as I unwrap the priestess here to be able to get to these items." George intones in Egyptian hoping Nafita will understand the modern version. "Oh Great Bast, please forgive us as we disturb your priestess Nafita. We seek the artifacts she guards in order to save the kingdom of Egypt which you have always guarded. Allow us to use them to save this kingdom from the foreign invaders that threaten the royal family." say George as he unwraps the coverings. Ruby helps George with the unwrapping in the most respectful way she can. It takes a solid half hour, but they are eventually able to get the three artifacts, all made of solid gold with blue and green gems worked into them. The largest gem is in the crown. George is able to physically touch the items, but when Ruby does she gets a slight jolt. "Well excuuussseeee me," Ruby comments, leaving the objects alone. "Abby, care to give it a go? If not, George will have to handle all three." Ruby paused for a long moment. "Well, wait a minute. The last lady who wore all three died. So maybe that's not a good idea." She turns back to the others. "Do you know what each item was rumored to do?" she asks Meren. The druid replies, "No, I am sorry, I only know of the legend." Abby approached and delicately touched the gem in the crown, ready to assist George. "We really need to get moving, too. I think we've all forgotten that we're in the middle of an escape attempt." "Oh no, I am quite aware that a few dozen Nubian Ogres are after our collective heads at this point. But you don't rush these things Abby. But if the crown lets you, lift it our and I will remove the belt and the necklace. Gently of course." replies George They no sooner complete this task when they hear the sound of distant weapons fire. The sound appears to be coming from outside of the palace and is primarily small arms fire, although a considerable amount of it. Ok, now this is Ruby's kind of party. Ok, let's see what happens" says George as he puts on the belt. The belt continues to light up but George fells otherwise the same. Ruby steps away from magical items for the time being; she does a more through search of the alcoves, looking for any hidden doors she may have missed. "I think all the artifacts need to be together. Either in the casket with the Priestess, or on one of us. Either way, if they react in a way that can help, now is the time." Abby held the crown toward George. "I wish Sabah were here, she'd know what to do." Mina says "Sabah may be the key to this. Zakazik and Cairo aren't that far apart if the train is still running. We should try to get a message to her if at all possible." Abby replies, "Then we need to get out of here, now. We can't move the mummy, and we've got the artifacts out. We should either take them with us, or leave them here, but we need to go. Things are getting worse out there." Mina says, "Let's take them, they seem to be allowing George to physically touch them. I saw telegraph lines alongside the railroad tracks, we could try to get a telegraph message to John Hardin back in Zakazik." George nods and accepts the crown from Abby. He places the necklace around his neck but under his shirt, he covers the belt with his shirt as well. Placing the crown upon his head and holding the Bast statue in front of him George says "Ok let us see if we can find a way out." George concentrates on the statue and in his mind asks “Bast, please show us the way out”. Light projects from the crown towards a small alcove in the side wall with a small stone table taking up most of it. There do not appear to be any obvious exits there. "Ruby, you seem to have a knack at finding hidden things, care to search the alcove there for an exit my dear?" asks George. "I'll check. We may have to move that stone table though." Ruby moves towards the alcove and begins checking it for traps and a way out. There is nothing obvious, although it is hard to check behind with the 400 pound stone table in the way. But with some rope attached the centaur Cetan is able to pull it out. Once removed, Egyptian words flash into George's head and he recites them. The back of the alcove wall then glows and vanishes, revealing a six-foot wide corridor made of polished stone with a curved archway nine feet at its height. It is illuminated with magical light and extends as far as the eye can see. Despite the passage of centuries if not millennia since it was last used there is no dirt, rubble, moisture or evidence of insects or rodents. Ruby exclaims, "Seems the goddess DOES want to help us! There is no way for us to go through and have them not know we went this way, as the stone table will be out of place. we'll just have to shut the door and hope they don't have magic to open it. Alright, come on everyone!" Ruby shoos everyone through the door, having George help her close it once everyone is in. "Alright, George I suppose you should go first, you're leading the way after all. "Ruby and George squeeze to the front and lead the group forward. They travel for at least a quarter mile. The corridor ends with a stone spiral staircase up ending at a trap door. Light shines again from the amulet and the door rises. They exit inside of a stone temple, with depictions of various Egyptian gods on the walls. Meren says, "We are in one of the oldest temples in Cairo. This is the Priests’ prayer room." Once they are all out the door seals behind them. Mina says “I’m guessing that Bast sealed it at the other end too. That should throw off our pursuers.” They careful exit the building, hiding and waiting whenever a priest comes by, and are soon outside. The gunfire is louder and they see that over 3,000 people have surrounded the palace. Several dozen men are firing rifles at the palace guard, who are behind barricades and firing back. Abby recognizes the man Abdullah as the group's leader. Ruby says, "I'd like to just get the heck out of here. But I doubt that is what the goddess had in mind when helping us find these items. George, do you want to ask for guidance again? Otherwise it may just be get out of here so we can live to fight another day." "Last I knew it was the French, or rather a French faction that was causing problems. Did they instigate this? As far as I know we need the General and the princess and make the King see that the marriage is one of love and of political power. So with that in mind….Bast, show us the way to save this kingdom." asks George. George receives no further guidance, and the objects cease glowing now that the group are out in public where it would attract attention. Abby says, "The whole situation is murky, but that's Abdullah the fanatic. Part of the French plan, the one that most of them don't know about, was to get him to attack the palace so the King's death by poisoning could be blamed on the attack instead. But whatever the reasons, he is here to kill the King. And probably has a French wizard with him. My first priority is to get a message to Sabah." It takes little time to get to the Cairo telegraph office. However, they arrive to see that eight of Abdullah's followers have taken control of the office and are not allowing any telegraphs to be sent. Five of the eight appear to be young and armed only with knives on their belts. The older three have firearms, one with a single-shot musket, another with a single-shot pistol and the leader armed with a more modern six-shot revolver. George studies the group for a moment then decides to try his hand at some deception. Staring at the "leader", the man with the six-shooter he whispers into his palm. Casting message at the leader: in Arabic "My faithful servant, this is the ghost of Abdullah, we have failed, they have killed me. Run and save yourselves!" A shocked look comes over the face of the leader. He walks around the room and whispers into the ear of the man with the pistol who whispers back. The man then turns to the other older man with the rifle and says in Arabic "Hokki and I need to patrol with our sons, you are in charge here." The two men and two of the younger men then depart. Ruby says, "Okay, does anyone have any sort of weapon? I have a small dagger that's hidden, and my spells, that's about it. I will cast sleep on the remaining but it not might not work on everyone so we need a way to overcome them." Ruby glanced around, "I'll really need to get a gun sooner rather than later." "Prepare yourselves." Ruby gets herself into a position where no one in the crowds can see her and she casts sleep on the group. The three younger men immediately fall asleep. The man with the rifle looks around frantically while holding but not aiming the rifle. Ruby exclaims, "Darn It! I thought that might happen. What should we do now?" "I'll handle this" says George. George staggers out of their hiding spot. He staggers slowly towards the remaining man. He shouts at the man in slurred Arabic: "Tariq! Tariq! Come have a drink with me my friend. We need to celebrate!" As George gets within arms reach he grabs the gun barrel so the stock swings up and hits the man in the head. George will add a few punches as necessary. The already confused man is unconscious by the second punch. It does not take the group long to find the four telegraph office workers tied up and locked in a storeroom. They find the equipment is still in working order. The office manger comments to George, "I'm surprised they didn't cut the telegraph lines. They must have figured they would need this later to announce their victory to the world." While Abby gets her telegram sent George asks the manager "Is there another force of the Royal guards or loyal army whom we could telegraph for aid that could arrive soon?" The manager replies, "The King has troops in every large community, I am certain that is why the rebels took control of here. There's Heliopolis five miles to the north, Gizeh ten miles to the west and Memphis twenty miles to the south." Abby pulled up another of the telegraph employees and nudged him over to the equipment. "I need to send a telegraph to Sabah, Priestess of Bast at the temple in Zakazik. If there's any way you have to note it is of high importance, I need you to do that too." After having been held hostage and now rescued by the people making the request, the worker is more than happy to comply. He asks her for the text of the message. Abby took a moment to think, uncertain how much detail she wanted passing through other hands on its way to Sabah. Finally, she said, "Palace under attack by Abdullah. Crown, necklace, belt found, affinity for cats. Protected by us in trust for your lady. Need your help. Please advise." The man taps out the message. [/QUOTE]
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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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