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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Falkus" data-source="post: 3639471" data-attributes="member: 22634">Dr Ryland goes to assist Nick, pulling out notebooks, pencils and papers. Over the next hour, the two archaeologists carefully and painstakingly translate the writings on the wall.(Nicks gets a 28 on the decipher script check, and Dr Ryland's assistance gives him the 30 he needs to succeed)The engravings:[sblock]The engravings on the wall represent a treasure trove of Delphaeic history. It’s the history of the Society of Pythia, the organization that was directly responsible for the creation of the oracle.The Society of Pythia was originally founded by Egyptian priests who had fled Egypt for unstated reasons. They came to this region to set up a temple, and discovered something fascinating.They discovered the first of the beings they call the Ephemerals completely by accident. A farmer wandered into the mists that rose up from Delphi, and was possessed. He soon demonstrated the ability to predict the future, but died after a few months. The priests studied him and his body and the mists to try to understand what had happenedWhen they realized that the Ephemerals could predict the future, they realized that they had a chance to gain untold wealth and power, by creating an oracle and influencing those who came seeking its advice. They called their chosen oracle Pythia, and choose a female priestess to be the host of the Ephemeral. They called themselves the Society of Pythia, the priests who controlled the Oracle.However, they soon learned that they came from the vapors very rarely, once every few years. Certainly not regularly enough for a reliable oracle to be created.So, they discovered a way to capture the Ephemerals in magically sealed jars, through the use of magical texts they had taken from Egypt with them. The Ephemerals could be captured, and put into the chosen Pythia on demand. This gave the Society great power in Greece, as they both could reliably predict the future, and guide the actions of those who came to seek advice of the oracle.The key to the process was two items. The first was an engraved keystone, that, when used by a capable mage could induce prophecy more reliably and on demand in the person possessed. Secondly, an enchanted ruby was used to draw the Ephemeral out of the person being possessed. The ruby was manufactured when it was discovered that possession by an Ephemeral would quickly kill the possessed person. Replacement Pythia’s could be found, but the death of the priestess also destroyed the Ephemeral, which was much harder to replace.The Society accumulated power and wealth for over a thousand years, until it finally came to an end with the establishment of Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire. The last members of the society took the remaining wealth from the complex and fled the country again, leaving for parts unknown. The last Pythia and someone called the Guardian were the only ones who stayed in the complex.One final engraving notes that some Ephemerals were different. No details were given, but it was stated that when one of these was captured and found it, it was to be kept confined in a jar in the very compound you’re currently standing in. And it was to never, ever, ever be opened.[/sblock]Dorine smiles and waves at Diego when he takes the picture of her.</blockquote>

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