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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: 6935864" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 107, "The Cat Goddess" September 12, 1882, 7:45 AM.</strong></p><p></p><p>The massive explosion sweeps over where the party was, however, no flames reach them. The fire sweeps by to both sides and above them, with only a brief bit of hot air sweeping through where they stand. As the explosion dissipates they see that a large crater in the sand now stands where the dirigible had been. At the very edge of the crater, just ten feet from the closest party member is a woman with her back to them in robes. George also notices that his statue of Bast is now glowing extremely bright.</p><p></p><p>Ruby blinked a few times in shock. Finally she coughed, keeping her eyes on the woman in the robes. "Whew, that was hot. Is everyone alright?" The robed woman turns. The clothing, body shape and hair are those of the Priestess Sabah. She is now wearing the magical belt, crown and necklace that the party had found in the crypt of Nafita. However, her face is no longer human, it is now feline. "What in the world?" Ruby looked puzzled as she began walking towards the... woman? "Thank you for saving us, I imagine everyone here is thinking the same thing... Sabah?" "Sabast perhaps even." says George before recovering himself.</p><p></p><p>George looks towards Chamberland, preparing to prevent the Frenchman from doing anything further to the real Drury-Lowe. He moves in that direction. Whatever magical protections the man had over him and Drury-Lowe are now gone and George dives onto him with a loud thump. George wrestles the man down, shoving his handkerchief into the man's mouth as he sits atop him and holds his hands behind his back. Panting George looks around "Rope anyone? Handcuffs, something?"</p><p></p><p>Once she saw Sabah, Abby immediately pulled the rifle away from her shoulder and pointed it at the ground. She glanced down at Freya, making sure she wasn't waking and likely to act in confusion. She wasn't surprised though. When they first found those items the possibility had been there, one of the reasons she hadn't been eager to wear them.</p><p></p><p>The robed woman pays no attention to Ruby and all and walks directly to Neferka. She gracefully kneels down and touches the unconscious Princess. Neferka immediately awakens, and sits up alert, with her eyes fixated on the Cat Goddess before her. The robed woman speaks in Sabah's voice and in an ancient Egyptian language that only Neferka, George Eastman and Doctor Temepeku appear to comprehend. She says, "Queen Neferka, Seventh Pharaoh of the Fifty-third Dynasty of Egypt, you will come with me to ascend your throne." Neferka appears shocked to be told this.</p><p></p><p>Ruby exclaims, "Princess, you're awake! Thank the Gods! Are you alright?" She eyes the other woman a bit suspiciously. "Do you understand what she just said?" Without taking his eyes of Chamberland, George replies to Ruby "I understood her." Looking at the Priestess/Goddess he says, "Sabah, Neferka does not know what has transpired to cause you to come for her. She deserves to know the truth before she ascends to the throne."</p><p></p><p>The feline Preistess/Goddess turns to George and says in the ancient tongue "You speak wisely, devotee of mine. I appreciate that you were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice on my behalf. However, my followers would not have recognized me in male form, and your importance to the winds of time on this world are not yet at an end." She turns back to Neferka and says, "My Pharaoh, I am sorry to inform you that mortals of a wicked heart have slain your father and brothers. They sought to make you the leader of our world with the foolish conviction that you could be manipulated by outsiders. They clearly do not know you as do I. That is not the prophesy that I foretell."</p><p></p><p>The cat-priestess places the palm of one hand on the crown that she wears and the other on Neferka's forehead. All present then see a vision that materializes before them. It shows the Royal Palace in Cairo, with an older Neferka sitting atop the throne, an older Ahmed Orabi seated in a chair to her right and a man in his late twenties or early thirties that resembles them both in a chair to her left. The room is filled with people in fancy clothing, several in military-style uniforms, who appear to be from many countries and nationalities. An Egyptian military man present is a much older Lieutenant Colonel Hassan, now dressed as the commanding General. The older Neferka rises and approaches a table where a large parchment document is laid out and signs her name. The next to sign is a dignified man in a suit, followed by others present. The cat-priestess states, "The signing of the Treaty of Cairo, at the conclusion of the 'War to End All Wars'. It will be crafted by your hand and impact all of the nations of the world." The image then fades.</p><p></p><p>Freya transforms from dragon back to human form and begins to rise. She looks rather worn out and is missing scales in her armor where the dragon had as well. She asks Abby "What has transpired?" Abby reached out a hand and helped her up, keeping an eye on the British surrounding them. "The short, short version. The fighting has stopped, the deception of the French has been exposed. The British are returning to their command area to try to capture the moles that were among them. A French dirigible tried to take off with a wounded Egyptian officer, but was stopped. There was just an explosion, what was left of our dirigible. Bast appeared in the aftermath and as near as I can tell she has just informed Neferka that she is Queen."</p><p></p><p>Freya says, "Good, so I can kill the Frenchmen now?" Abby answers, "Not yet. You're hurt, badly. And these soldiers around us are already very nervous. If you start attacking anyone just now you may find it's you against any armed soldier that can see you. Beside the fact that we haven't figured out which Frenchmen are on which side yet." Freya replies, "You worry about such trivial things. All of them voluntarily joined with the French killers, they are guilty by association. I have refrained from fulfilling my vengeance against them until now but with this recent attack directly against me my patience has reached its peak."</p><p></p><p>Lawrence scratches his chin. "I don't know, Abby. She has a point." He turns to Freya. "But we cannot help you fight an entire army. Sometimes the best revenge is living well." Abby says, "Obviously I can't stop you from acting as you wish, nor would I blame you." Abby indicated where Bast stood upon the field of battle. "But I would certainly think twice before I resumed the fight with a goddess on the field." Freya says, "A very good point. Okay, I'll let her kill the Frenchmen instead."</p><p></p><p>Ruby looked to the others curiously. She couldn't understand what was being said but she was watching closely in case of danger. She finds the future vision fascinating. George reaches up and takes a pair of handcuffs from the belt of General Woolsley as he stands, mouth agape at the vision. He quickly secures the hands of Chamberland behind his back and stands up and heads to Sabah/Bast and Neferka.</p><p></p><p>"This is true I am afraid Neferka. I don't know if you were aware of your kidnapping, but nearly two days have passed and you have been held asleep." She replies (in English), "Yes Mr. Eastman, I know that I was taken by the French . We were preparing to travel to Cairo to meet with my father when I realized the man they were sending me was not Ahmed. Once they noticed that I was aware of this, they cast a spell on me which froze me in place and then poured something into my throat which made me sleep. When I woke up I was locked inside my own trunk, which was moving but it felt like neither a train or ship.</p><p></p><p>A short while later they then moved the trunk onto a ship and let me out. I was in a hold that contained part of my dowery. They then cast another spell on me and I fell asleep again. I later woke up, chained to the ship's wall, and overheard some of their plans. I could not directly see them, but is was Chevreul and Daguerre speaking in French. Somebody named Sarah had impersonated me using my own ring, but was caught , so they then needed the real me.</p><p></p><p>First, they planned to steal the Royal Yacht and transfer me to that. They were then going to make me drink an elixir to forget what had recently transpired. Next they planned to trick you Americans into rescuing me, while trying to pin the blame for my kidnapping on a German group called the Asgardians. A short while later they gave me some food, which must have contained another sleep elixir, as that is the last I saw or heard until now." Sabah/Bast states to Neferka, "And that elixir would have made you forget if I had not negated it."</p><p></p><p>George nods and continues "We, Miss West, myself and other others of our group have witnessed much evil. There is time to fill you in later. For now though we need to act, and you are the ruler of this nation, and it is you and only you who can unite the people and bring peace. As Bast has shown you, there is much in your future and we need to begin it quickly." says George. "We know who is to behind the plot and are prepared to help you as we can, Pharaoh." adds George with a bow.</p><p></p><p>The feline Priestess/Goddeess steps forward and tells Neferka in the ancient tongue, "My Devotee speaks correctly in this my Pharaoh. Before you can pass judgment on those who brought about the deaths of your family you need to be recognized as the rightful leader of Egypt. You will also need that authority to end this bloodshed that has already cost our land many of its sons. We must go now to my Temple in Gizah so that you can be recognized."</p><p></p><p>The Priestess/Goddess turns to George and says, "My dearest follower, you have work to do here before you can join us. Of the fourteen Frenchmen of the wizard group who are upon this battlefield, only one was part of the conspiracy to kill the last Pharaoh, the man named Guizot. When you come to Gizah bring him with you so that he can answer for what he has done."</p><p></p><p>George turns to Ruby and in English says "Oh boy do we have work to do my dear." He then turns back to Bast/Sabah and the Pharaoh Neferka replying in the ancient tongue "Ok, I think the best way to get Neferka to Gizah is to take the remaining French airship. Orabi's forces have it tethered I believe. We can commandeer that to get you there quickly. Unless, of course you" says George, gesturing to Bast/Sabah "have a better way to get her there."</p><p></p><p>The Priestess/Goddess replies "The fastest mode for the Pharaoh to travel will be the Pharaoh's Chariot of the Winds." She points to Doctor Temepeku and says, "Healer, return what you stole from the Pharaoh immediately, it is needed." As only George, Neferka and Temepeku understand Bast's tongue others present do not understand what was just stated. The doctor turns pale, then turns his head and yells to young Henry Jones in English, "Quickly boy, hurry and bring the flying carpet here." The lad scampers off at a fast pace.</p><p></p><p>George asks her, "Can Barrister Sefu be trusted that we can send Neferka there in safety?" She replies, "I have already been to my temple in Gizah. Sefu was present when Priestess Sabah sacrificed herself to bring me into your world. He will not challenge my judgment regarding the succession of the Pharaoh. At present I have charged him with detaining the killers of her predecessor, a task he is well suited for."</p><p></p><p>George nods and says, "I will ensure Guizot is captured. I think it might be best if Orabi stayed here to direct his troops, or at least meet with his senior officers to prove he is not dead, and give directions to stop the fighting. I think he then ought to go with you to show Sefu that I was indeed correct and the man who killed the King was not Orabi. Is there any other activities you need from me my Goddess?"</p><p></p><p>She replies, "I trust you to exercise your good judgment. Guizot is the most important and it would be too dangerous for him to travel with the Pharaoh on the Chariot of the Winds." Neferka interjects "Indeed, now that he has been identified as one of my father's murderers. I would throw him off of it to his death." Bast says, "Yes, you would, but until you are recognized in Gizah as the new Pharaoh it would be premature for you to pass that judgment on him. You will have that opportunity soon enough, please be patient."</p><p></p><p>Ruby asks, "Flying carpet? What is she saying George, it's so frustrating!! When Aphrodite talks to me I can understand her!" George gives her a 'wait' hand signal. George signals General Woolsely to come over alone. When he approaches George quietly explains the situation and what he needs. "General, of the French who are here only Guizot is guilty of this treachery. What I need you to do is to take Ruby and Mina over there for them to apprehend him."</p><p></p><p>George then signals Ruby over closer and explains the plan quietly as well. "Ruby, bring Guizot back here bound and gagged. I am sure Woolsely will lend you men to assist. It is important when you approach that you give no sign that you know. In fact if the General approaches with Ruby and she looks despondent, it would appear as if Guizot was correct. Oh and leave the French doctor here, and please disperse the soldiers around our friend down there" says George gesturing to Freya.</p><p></p><p>As the two nod in understanding and move off, George signals to Tabezza to come over next. "Tabezza, I need that dirigible over there, that your men grabbed. I want one of your senior officers sent over here to see Orabi before he leaves for Gizah with Neferka. You need to let all the senior officers know the truth though. Come back with the dirigible and you will accompany us to Gizah for Neferka's coronation." Orabi nods his assent and Tabezza takes off with an assistant to execute the orders.</p><p></p><p>George then turns back to Neferka, "Ok, so you need to wait here until the carpet comes back." Turning back to the Goddess he asks "Is there anything else I can do here as we wait Bast?" The Goddess replies, "We will wait. The Pharaoh, who you refer to in this era as a Queen, will need to have attendants. It would be unseemly for her to arrive in Gizah unaccompanied." "I am not sure where we shall acquire attendants here Goddess. Still we shall try" replies George.</p><p></p><p>A large contingent of Egyptian troops is heading in this direction. Tebezza approaches them and speaks briefly. He then continues and they continue in this direction. General Woolsely says, "Drury-Lowe and I had best be off before they reach this point." George nods to General Woolsely and Drury-Lowe as Ruby joins them to head back. She tells Woolsley, "I will accompany you and attempt to bring Guizot back with me. I am sure he will be magically protected, do you have anything to combat that General?</p><p></p><p>The General replies, "Young woman, we British do not partake with that sort of thing. Priestly magic is the only good magic." "Well, whether you partake in it or not, you'd better be prepared because you have a French Wizard in your mist, and he's powerful and duplicitous and won't hesitate to use powerful magic on all of us, "Ruby tells him. "I will also need some rope. I will bring my grandmother back with me too. Nana are you ready?" He replies, "Rope, that we have plenty of." Nana says she is ready. After her Nana agrees, they are off. As they walk Ruby secures a wand of fireballs near her hand while her grandmother check over her own weapons.</p><p></p><p>As George watches them leave he turns to the approaching Egyptian troops waiting for them to arrive. Ahmed Orabi tells George, "That is General Mahmoud Fehmy, my second-in-command." They soon close the distance and are only around 100 feet away. "Excellent" replies George to Orabi. George turns and calls out "Welcome General Mahmoud Fehmy, please halt your men there and bring one attendant with you as you approach. Thank you." calls down George.</p><p></p><p>The General and his attendant move forward. The other men who had come with him remain behind per George's instructions, but they do not stand idle, instead drawing their rifles and keeping them pointed towards George and his companions. George continues smiling as he calls down "General, I am allowing you up here on my good graces. I would suggest you order your men to lower their weapons before I grow impatient with their display of aggression" The General says, "Just being cautious Sir, I know not what...." He then sees the Goddess Bast standing there. He drops to his knees and says, "Forgive me." He then turns back toward his men and yells, "Lower your weapons, NOW!"</p><p></p><p>"Lawrence, Freya, let's move. Things seem to be happening up there and we're out of the loop here," Abby said and began to move the others back toward the main group. The three of them move back in that direction. They have seen a pair of Egyptian Rebel Army officers moving towards the group, who now bow down before Bast. They soon arrive on the scene. Lieutenant Colonel Hassan nods to them. Abby kept an eye on Freya, although she didn't suspect Freya would interfere at the moment, and tried to make sure no one was see their approach as a threat.</p><p></p><p>George says to General Fehmy, "I understand caution General, but I also understand the need for trust. Now approach with due reverence to the Goddess and greet your General." gesturing to Orabi. The General bows down immediately before Bast and says, "Thank you great Goddess Bast for resurrecting our leader so that he can win a victory for Egypt on this day."</p><p></p><p>George turns with a wry smile to Bast who gives him a small inclination of her head to proceed. "Not quite General. Orabi never died. he is here. It was a very clever imposter who died and committed atrocities in his form. There is a cabal of French wizards who are behind this, and they had Orabi and Neferka imprisoned. So while our Goddess has indeed provided inspiration, direction and protection for us, it was I and my friends who discovered the plot. For now, what I need from you Mahmoud, is to ensure that the will of General Orabi and indeed your new Pharaoh," says George inclining his head to the princess "is carried out. To that end, I have sent Tabezza to commandeer the dirigible. I also needed you to see General Orabi"</p><p></p><p>George greets Abby, Lawrence and Freya. "I am glad to see you alive Freya. Abby and Lawrence much has transpired and in very rapid succession. Ruby and Mina went to bring back one of the French who was stationed with the English. I have sent for the other dirigible. But we have everyone awake and we need to get Neferka to Ghiza for her coronation. She needs attendants too," George adds with a wink to Abby.</p><p></p><p>Lieutenant Colonel Hassan says, "I will be an attendant. The vision of the future showed me at Queen Neferka's side, if that is to be my place than I would be honored to begin it now." George says, "As if you would stop serving either of them. So be it." Abby says, "Lieutenant Colonel, I have no doubt you will serve with loyalty and wisdom. I would be glad to offer myself as an attendant to the Queen if she has need." Abby tried not to think of Sabah, and what the presence of Bast meant for her. Sabah would not have regretted any consequence in service of her goddess.</p><p></p><p>George recalls that they never determined the origin of the cannon fire that took out the dirigible, only the direction that it came from. He also recalls that Bast told them that there were fourteen French wizards around this battlefield, while the six with each army plus the fake Drury-Lowe would only total thirteen. He turns to Freya and says, Freya, do you think you are up for some more flying? We still have an artillery piece, or spell unaccounted for." She says, "If you are asking me to kill a French wizard then I gladly volunteer."</p><p></p><p>"Okay, but reconnaissance is enough if it is too much. We received incoming fire, either artillery or magical from that direction" says George indicating direction and giving a rough estimate of distance of 300 feet. Abby chuckled and smiled at Freya. "I'm quite certain it's not too much for Freya, and even if it were, she would relish it." Freya moves a short distance away from the group and then transforms back into her dragon from. This causes the nearby Egyptian soldiers to again raise their weapons but they do not fire. She begins to glide in the direction that George indicated.</p><p></p><p>With the doctor's assistance, Ahmed Orabi stands and approaches his friend Mahmoud Fehmy. He says, "You have done well my friend, the retreat and fortifications here at Tel-el Kabir would have indeed created a challenge for the British, but as we have now discovered, they are not our true enemy. General Woolsley has gone to apprehend the French snakes that have slithered into his nest, and we should do the same." A distance off, well behind the Egyptian lines, George notices that the dirigible has now been brought under control and people are entering the small gondola beneath it.</p><p></p><p>The dragon Freya dives onto and behind a sand dune. When she rises there is man wearing gray flowing robes clutched in her claw. Abby looked to George and said, "See, I told you. I had to talk her down from seeking out and slaughtering every Frenchman she could find." Freya flies upward and he strikes her side with some sort of glass rod and a bright light follows. She appears unhurt and flings him full force downward the seventy-five feet to the desert floor. He lands with a thud as the sand billows up around him. The man however, appears to still be conscious as he rises up and attempts to limp away, one leg clearly injured.</p><p></p><p>George says, "Lawrence do you have a rifle? Can you pick that guy off over there?" says George pointing off in the direction of the dunes. Lawrence raises his rifle but before he fires the dragon Freya swoops down and chomps him with her mouth. She then glides low over the desert back to where the party is, lands, and drops the body of the French wizard at George's feet. George recognizes him as Jean-Francois Millet, a painter of around seventy-years of age who is best known for his landscapes of the Normandy coast.</p><p></p><p>George says, "Well, that solved that. Thank you Freya." Bast steps forward towards the dragon Freya and says "The man deserved death. While he was not part of the conspiracy to murder the previous Pharaoh, he did indeed try to murder the current one. Without my intervention he would have done so. My thanks to you." She places her hand on the dragon and the wound where she had been struck by lightning heals and the missing scales reappear. Bast steps back and Freya transforms back into her armored human form. George says, "Now we only need to wait for Ruby to return with Guizot, and the dirigible."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 6935864, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 107, "The Cat Goddess" September 12, 1882, 7:45 AM.[/B] The massive explosion sweeps over where the party was, however, no flames reach them. The fire sweeps by to both sides and above them, with only a brief bit of hot air sweeping through where they stand. As the explosion dissipates they see that a large crater in the sand now stands where the dirigible had been. At the very edge of the crater, just ten feet from the closest party member is a woman with her back to them in robes. George also notices that his statue of Bast is now glowing extremely bright. Ruby blinked a few times in shock. Finally she coughed, keeping her eyes on the woman in the robes. "Whew, that was hot. Is everyone alright?" The robed woman turns. The clothing, body shape and hair are those of the Priestess Sabah. She is now wearing the magical belt, crown and necklace that the party had found in the crypt of Nafita. However, her face is no longer human, it is now feline. "What in the world?" Ruby looked puzzled as she began walking towards the... woman? "Thank you for saving us, I imagine everyone here is thinking the same thing... Sabah?" "Sabast perhaps even." says George before recovering himself. George looks towards Chamberland, preparing to prevent the Frenchman from doing anything further to the real Drury-Lowe. He moves in that direction. Whatever magical protections the man had over him and Drury-Lowe are now gone and George dives onto him with a loud thump. George wrestles the man down, shoving his handkerchief into the man's mouth as he sits atop him and holds his hands behind his back. Panting George looks around "Rope anyone? Handcuffs, something?" Once she saw Sabah, Abby immediately pulled the rifle away from her shoulder and pointed it at the ground. She glanced down at Freya, making sure she wasn't waking and likely to act in confusion. She wasn't surprised though. When they first found those items the possibility had been there, one of the reasons she hadn't been eager to wear them. The robed woman pays no attention to Ruby and all and walks directly to Neferka. She gracefully kneels down and touches the unconscious Princess. Neferka immediately awakens, and sits up alert, with her eyes fixated on the Cat Goddess before her. The robed woman speaks in Sabah's voice and in an ancient Egyptian language that only Neferka, George Eastman and Doctor Temepeku appear to comprehend. She says, "Queen Neferka, Seventh Pharaoh of the Fifty-third Dynasty of Egypt, you will come with me to ascend your throne." Neferka appears shocked to be told this. Ruby exclaims, "Princess, you're awake! Thank the Gods! Are you alright?" She eyes the other woman a bit suspiciously. "Do you understand what she just said?" Without taking his eyes of Chamberland, George replies to Ruby "I understood her." Looking at the Priestess/Goddess he says, "Sabah, Neferka does not know what has transpired to cause you to come for her. She deserves to know the truth before she ascends to the throne." The feline Preistess/Goddess turns to George and says in the ancient tongue "You speak wisely, devotee of mine. I appreciate that you were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice on my behalf. However, my followers would not have recognized me in male form, and your importance to the winds of time on this world are not yet at an end." She turns back to Neferka and says, "My Pharaoh, I am sorry to inform you that mortals of a wicked heart have slain your father and brothers. They sought to make you the leader of our world with the foolish conviction that you could be manipulated by outsiders. They clearly do not know you as do I. That is not the prophesy that I foretell." The cat-priestess places the palm of one hand on the crown that she wears and the other on Neferka's forehead. All present then see a vision that materializes before them. It shows the Royal Palace in Cairo, with an older Neferka sitting atop the throne, an older Ahmed Orabi seated in a chair to her right and a man in his late twenties or early thirties that resembles them both in a chair to her left. The room is filled with people in fancy clothing, several in military-style uniforms, who appear to be from many countries and nationalities. An Egyptian military man present is a much older Lieutenant Colonel Hassan, now dressed as the commanding General. The older Neferka rises and approaches a table where a large parchment document is laid out and signs her name. The next to sign is a dignified man in a suit, followed by others present. The cat-priestess states, "The signing of the Treaty of Cairo, at the conclusion of the 'War to End All Wars'. It will be crafted by your hand and impact all of the nations of the world." The image then fades. Freya transforms from dragon back to human form and begins to rise. She looks rather worn out and is missing scales in her armor where the dragon had as well. She asks Abby "What has transpired?" Abby reached out a hand and helped her up, keeping an eye on the British surrounding them. "The short, short version. The fighting has stopped, the deception of the French has been exposed. The British are returning to their command area to try to capture the moles that were among them. A French dirigible tried to take off with a wounded Egyptian officer, but was stopped. There was just an explosion, what was left of our dirigible. Bast appeared in the aftermath and as near as I can tell she has just informed Neferka that she is Queen." Freya says, "Good, so I can kill the Frenchmen now?" Abby answers, "Not yet. You're hurt, badly. And these soldiers around us are already very nervous. If you start attacking anyone just now you may find it's you against any armed soldier that can see you. Beside the fact that we haven't figured out which Frenchmen are on which side yet." Freya replies, "You worry about such trivial things. All of them voluntarily joined with the French killers, they are guilty by association. I have refrained from fulfilling my vengeance against them until now but with this recent attack directly against me my patience has reached its peak." Lawrence scratches his chin. "I don't know, Abby. She has a point." He turns to Freya. "But we cannot help you fight an entire army. Sometimes the best revenge is living well." Abby says, "Obviously I can't stop you from acting as you wish, nor would I blame you." Abby indicated where Bast stood upon the field of battle. "But I would certainly think twice before I resumed the fight with a goddess on the field." Freya says, "A very good point. Okay, I'll let her kill the Frenchmen instead." Ruby looked to the others curiously. She couldn't understand what was being said but she was watching closely in case of danger. She finds the future vision fascinating. George reaches up and takes a pair of handcuffs from the belt of General Woolsley as he stands, mouth agape at the vision. He quickly secures the hands of Chamberland behind his back and stands up and heads to Sabah/Bast and Neferka. "This is true I am afraid Neferka. I don't know if you were aware of your kidnapping, but nearly two days have passed and you have been held asleep." She replies (in English), "Yes Mr. Eastman, I know that I was taken by the French . We were preparing to travel to Cairo to meet with my father when I realized the man they were sending me was not Ahmed. Once they noticed that I was aware of this, they cast a spell on me which froze me in place and then poured something into my throat which made me sleep. When I woke up I was locked inside my own trunk, which was moving but it felt like neither a train or ship. A short while later they then moved the trunk onto a ship and let me out. I was in a hold that contained part of my dowery. They then cast another spell on me and I fell asleep again. I later woke up, chained to the ship's wall, and overheard some of their plans. I could not directly see them, but is was Chevreul and Daguerre speaking in French. Somebody named Sarah had impersonated me using my own ring, but was caught , so they then needed the real me. First, they planned to steal the Royal Yacht and transfer me to that. They were then going to make me drink an elixir to forget what had recently transpired. Next they planned to trick you Americans into rescuing me, while trying to pin the blame for my kidnapping on a German group called the Asgardians. A short while later they gave me some food, which must have contained another sleep elixir, as that is the last I saw or heard until now." Sabah/Bast states to Neferka, "And that elixir would have made you forget if I had not negated it." George nods and continues "We, Miss West, myself and other others of our group have witnessed much evil. There is time to fill you in later. For now though we need to act, and you are the ruler of this nation, and it is you and only you who can unite the people and bring peace. As Bast has shown you, there is much in your future and we need to begin it quickly." says George. "We know who is to behind the plot and are prepared to help you as we can, Pharaoh." adds George with a bow. The feline Priestess/Goddeess steps forward and tells Neferka in the ancient tongue, "My Devotee speaks correctly in this my Pharaoh. Before you can pass judgment on those who brought about the deaths of your family you need to be recognized as the rightful leader of Egypt. You will also need that authority to end this bloodshed that has already cost our land many of its sons. We must go now to my Temple in Gizah so that you can be recognized." The Priestess/Goddess turns to George and says, "My dearest follower, you have work to do here before you can join us. Of the fourteen Frenchmen of the wizard group who are upon this battlefield, only one was part of the conspiracy to kill the last Pharaoh, the man named Guizot. When you come to Gizah bring him with you so that he can answer for what he has done." George turns to Ruby and in English says "Oh boy do we have work to do my dear." He then turns back to Bast/Sabah and the Pharaoh Neferka replying in the ancient tongue "Ok, I think the best way to get Neferka to Gizah is to take the remaining French airship. Orabi's forces have it tethered I believe. We can commandeer that to get you there quickly. Unless, of course you" says George, gesturing to Bast/Sabah "have a better way to get her there." The Priestess/Goddess replies "The fastest mode for the Pharaoh to travel will be the Pharaoh's Chariot of the Winds." She points to Doctor Temepeku and says, "Healer, return what you stole from the Pharaoh immediately, it is needed." As only George, Neferka and Temepeku understand Bast's tongue others present do not understand what was just stated. The doctor turns pale, then turns his head and yells to young Henry Jones in English, "Quickly boy, hurry and bring the flying carpet here." The lad scampers off at a fast pace. George asks her, "Can Barrister Sefu be trusted that we can send Neferka there in safety?" She replies, "I have already been to my temple in Gizah. Sefu was present when Priestess Sabah sacrificed herself to bring me into your world. He will not challenge my judgment regarding the succession of the Pharaoh. At present I have charged him with detaining the killers of her predecessor, a task he is well suited for." George nods and says, "I will ensure Guizot is captured. I think it might be best if Orabi stayed here to direct his troops, or at least meet with his senior officers to prove he is not dead, and give directions to stop the fighting. I think he then ought to go with you to show Sefu that I was indeed correct and the man who killed the King was not Orabi. Is there any other activities you need from me my Goddess?" She replies, "I trust you to exercise your good judgment. Guizot is the most important and it would be too dangerous for him to travel with the Pharaoh on the Chariot of the Winds." Neferka interjects "Indeed, now that he has been identified as one of my father's murderers. I would throw him off of it to his death." Bast says, "Yes, you would, but until you are recognized in Gizah as the new Pharaoh it would be premature for you to pass that judgment on him. You will have that opportunity soon enough, please be patient." Ruby asks, "Flying carpet? What is she saying George, it's so frustrating!! When Aphrodite talks to me I can understand her!" George gives her a 'wait' hand signal. George signals General Woolsely to come over alone. When he approaches George quietly explains the situation and what he needs. "General, of the French who are here only Guizot is guilty of this treachery. What I need you to do is to take Ruby and Mina over there for them to apprehend him." George then signals Ruby over closer and explains the plan quietly as well. "Ruby, bring Guizot back here bound and gagged. I am sure Woolsely will lend you men to assist. It is important when you approach that you give no sign that you know. In fact if the General approaches with Ruby and she looks despondent, it would appear as if Guizot was correct. Oh and leave the French doctor here, and please disperse the soldiers around our friend down there" says George gesturing to Freya. As the two nod in understanding and move off, George signals to Tabezza to come over next. "Tabezza, I need that dirigible over there, that your men grabbed. I want one of your senior officers sent over here to see Orabi before he leaves for Gizah with Neferka. You need to let all the senior officers know the truth though. Come back with the dirigible and you will accompany us to Gizah for Neferka's coronation." Orabi nods his assent and Tabezza takes off with an assistant to execute the orders. George then turns back to Neferka, "Ok, so you need to wait here until the carpet comes back." Turning back to the Goddess he asks "Is there anything else I can do here as we wait Bast?" The Goddess replies, "We will wait. The Pharaoh, who you refer to in this era as a Queen, will need to have attendants. It would be unseemly for her to arrive in Gizah unaccompanied." "I am not sure where we shall acquire attendants here Goddess. Still we shall try" replies George. A large contingent of Egyptian troops is heading in this direction. Tebezza approaches them and speaks briefly. He then continues and they continue in this direction. General Woolsely says, "Drury-Lowe and I had best be off before they reach this point." George nods to General Woolsely and Drury-Lowe as Ruby joins them to head back. She tells Woolsley, "I will accompany you and attempt to bring Guizot back with me. I am sure he will be magically protected, do you have anything to combat that General? The General replies, "Young woman, we British do not partake with that sort of thing. Priestly magic is the only good magic." "Well, whether you partake in it or not, you'd better be prepared because you have a French Wizard in your mist, and he's powerful and duplicitous and won't hesitate to use powerful magic on all of us, "Ruby tells him. "I will also need some rope. I will bring my grandmother back with me too. Nana are you ready?" He replies, "Rope, that we have plenty of." Nana says she is ready. After her Nana agrees, they are off. As they walk Ruby secures a wand of fireballs near her hand while her grandmother check over her own weapons. As George watches them leave he turns to the approaching Egyptian troops waiting for them to arrive. Ahmed Orabi tells George, "That is General Mahmoud Fehmy, my second-in-command." They soon close the distance and are only around 100 feet away. "Excellent" replies George to Orabi. George turns and calls out "Welcome General Mahmoud Fehmy, please halt your men there and bring one attendant with you as you approach. Thank you." calls down George. The General and his attendant move forward. The other men who had come with him remain behind per George's instructions, but they do not stand idle, instead drawing their rifles and keeping them pointed towards George and his companions. George continues smiling as he calls down "General, I am allowing you up here on my good graces. I would suggest you order your men to lower their weapons before I grow impatient with their display of aggression" The General says, "Just being cautious Sir, I know not what...." He then sees the Goddess Bast standing there. He drops to his knees and says, "Forgive me." He then turns back toward his men and yells, "Lower your weapons, NOW!" "Lawrence, Freya, let's move. Things seem to be happening up there and we're out of the loop here," Abby said and began to move the others back toward the main group. The three of them move back in that direction. They have seen a pair of Egyptian Rebel Army officers moving towards the group, who now bow down before Bast. They soon arrive on the scene. Lieutenant Colonel Hassan nods to them. Abby kept an eye on Freya, although she didn't suspect Freya would interfere at the moment, and tried to make sure no one was see their approach as a threat. George says to General Fehmy, "I understand caution General, but I also understand the need for trust. Now approach with due reverence to the Goddess and greet your General." gesturing to Orabi. The General bows down immediately before Bast and says, "Thank you great Goddess Bast for resurrecting our leader so that he can win a victory for Egypt on this day." George turns with a wry smile to Bast who gives him a small inclination of her head to proceed. "Not quite General. Orabi never died. he is here. It was a very clever imposter who died and committed atrocities in his form. There is a cabal of French wizards who are behind this, and they had Orabi and Neferka imprisoned. So while our Goddess has indeed provided inspiration, direction and protection for us, it was I and my friends who discovered the plot. For now, what I need from you Mahmoud, is to ensure that the will of General Orabi and indeed your new Pharaoh," says George inclining his head to the princess "is carried out. To that end, I have sent Tabezza to commandeer the dirigible. I also needed you to see General Orabi" George greets Abby, Lawrence and Freya. "I am glad to see you alive Freya. Abby and Lawrence much has transpired and in very rapid succession. Ruby and Mina went to bring back one of the French who was stationed with the English. I have sent for the other dirigible. But we have everyone awake and we need to get Neferka to Ghiza for her coronation. She needs attendants too," George adds with a wink to Abby. Lieutenant Colonel Hassan says, "I will be an attendant. The vision of the future showed me at Queen Neferka's side, if that is to be my place than I would be honored to begin it now." George says, "As if you would stop serving either of them. So be it." Abby says, "Lieutenant Colonel, I have no doubt you will serve with loyalty and wisdom. I would be glad to offer myself as an attendant to the Queen if she has need." Abby tried not to think of Sabah, and what the presence of Bast meant for her. Sabah would not have regretted any consequence in service of her goddess. George recalls that they never determined the origin of the cannon fire that took out the dirigible, only the direction that it came from. He also recalls that Bast told them that there were fourteen French wizards around this battlefield, while the six with each army plus the fake Drury-Lowe would only total thirteen. He turns to Freya and says, Freya, do you think you are up for some more flying? We still have an artillery piece, or spell unaccounted for." She says, "If you are asking me to kill a French wizard then I gladly volunteer." "Okay, but reconnaissance is enough if it is too much. We received incoming fire, either artillery or magical from that direction" says George indicating direction and giving a rough estimate of distance of 300 feet. Abby chuckled and smiled at Freya. "I'm quite certain it's not too much for Freya, and even if it were, she would relish it." Freya moves a short distance away from the group and then transforms back into her dragon from. This causes the nearby Egyptian soldiers to again raise their weapons but they do not fire. She begins to glide in the direction that George indicated. With the doctor's assistance, Ahmed Orabi stands and approaches his friend Mahmoud Fehmy. He says, "You have done well my friend, the retreat and fortifications here at Tel-el Kabir would have indeed created a challenge for the British, but as we have now discovered, they are not our true enemy. General Woolsley has gone to apprehend the French snakes that have slithered into his nest, and we should do the same." A distance off, well behind the Egyptian lines, George notices that the dirigible has now been brought under control and people are entering the small gondola beneath it. The dragon Freya dives onto and behind a sand dune. When she rises there is man wearing gray flowing robes clutched in her claw. Abby looked to George and said, "See, I told you. I had to talk her down from seeking out and slaughtering every Frenchman she could find." Freya flies upward and he strikes her side with some sort of glass rod and a bright light follows. She appears unhurt and flings him full force downward the seventy-five feet to the desert floor. He lands with a thud as the sand billows up around him. The man however, appears to still be conscious as he rises up and attempts to limp away, one leg clearly injured. George says, "Lawrence do you have a rifle? Can you pick that guy off over there?" says George pointing off in the direction of the dunes. Lawrence raises his rifle but before he fires the dragon Freya swoops down and chomps him with her mouth. She then glides low over the desert back to where the party is, lands, and drops the body of the French wizard at George's feet. George recognizes him as Jean-Francois Millet, a painter of around seventy-years of age who is best known for his landscapes of the Normandy coast. George says, "Well, that solved that. Thank you Freya." Bast steps forward towards the dragon Freya and says "The man deserved death. While he was not part of the conspiracy to murder the previous Pharaoh, he did indeed try to murder the current one. Without my intervention he would have done so. My thanks to you." She places her hand on the dragon and the wound where she had been struck by lightning heals and the missing scales reappear. Bast steps back and Freya transforms back into her armored human form. George says, "Now we only need to wait for Ruby to return with Guizot, and the dirigible." [/QUOTE]
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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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