In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 5):

Silently the procession passed by, perhaps a mile to the south, following the course of the ancient stone path mostly buried in the dirt and desert soil. Their way was lit by the burning torches. They didn't seem to be paying mind if they were seen as they were not probing the darkness with electric torch beams or searching with guards.

They avoided the encampment of the sleeping Clive Expedition, passing several miles to the south of it.

The night was getting a little cool, but there was much ambient light from an almost full moon, at least for the moment. It took about a half hour for the procession to cover the couple miles from the river bank to where the pyramids were strung out in a line below the escarpment that marked the start of the desert to the west.

Oddly, they ignored the more famous pyramids like the Red, Black, White, and Bent pyramids, or the others built by famous Pharoes of dynasties past. Each of those had guards posted by the government in Cairo to guard them against thieves. Instead they went to the possibly sham pyramid, the "Lesser Bent Pyramid". Strangely, this pyramid, although thought to be very recent and a fake by renowned Egyptologists and archaeologists, also had a guard mounted tonight. The guard stood aside, allowing the procession access to the inside via the main entrance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:04, Sun 10 Feb 2019.

"That's funny" Chi-yin wondered. "Why would they avoid the more visited one's and head for the lesser known ones?"

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 7):

"They just started mounting a guard there as well, starting yesterday," opined the boy. Like Chi-yin, he was armed with a knife, but lacked a firearm like the pistol she wore concealed under her robe. (Her shotgun was wrapped in a muslin bag and buried under the floor of her tent to conceal it from thievery.

He said, apologetically, "not that I am a thief or would normally notice such things. But it has been unusual. Come, I see a stand of palm trees we can keep a watch on the proceedings."

OOC: if Chi-tin agrees, please post to that effect and make a Sneak check. Post the results as an OOC comment in your IC post, or make a separate post in the "Character Rolls" thread.

"That's a good idea." Chi-yin agreed. She and Mah'mud snuck over to the small gathering of palm trees, and watched as the procession made their way inside. "What do they plan to do?" Chi-yin wondered to herself.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 9):

They crept closer, sheltering behind the stump of an ancient brick wall. A few palm trees stuck up in front of them. Chi-yin thought she was quiet but a guard started looking their way. He ambled over but stopped, positioning himself about twenty feet away, alert. Clearly he'd heard something to make him sounds but not enough to hone in on them. He was dressed in a black hooded silk robe with silver ornamentation, and armed with a club with a single black spike driven through it and with a pistol stuck through a black waist sash.

The procession had a high priest in flowing black robes and headdress, followed by several dozen worshipers, also in black hooded robes that obscured their gender but armed with spiked clubs similar to the guards. They were bearing a familiar-looking stone sarcophagus. Inside she knew was a gold casket, containing a mummy, the accursed queen, Nitrocris. It had been found by the Clive expedition months before in Giza, then mysteriously disappeared, thought stolen. And yet, here it was. Clearly this mob had something to do with this theft!

They disappeared through the main entrance to the Lesser Bent pyramid. Due to the presence of the guard, Chi-yin and Mahm'ud were stuck where they were unable to move closer or slip away. The pair were forced to wait there in the cold desert night for hours! All they could see was the dark bulk of the pyramid in front of them and the dozen armed guards. Finally the procession decamped and exited the pyramid, returning the way they came back towards the river. The guards withdrew along with them.

She noted that the sarcophagus was now gone. And Chi-yin counted one extra member of the crowd, although because of the concealing hoods she couldn't be sure. Once the procession reached the river, they boarded the barge and departed. The night grew silent save for the chirping and buzzing of insects in the cool air.

A half hour later, she heard the hum of vehicle motors approaching along the river road to the south, in the direction of Cairo.

Chi'yin quickly turned her head in the direction of the automobiles, and whispered, "What do you think that is?"

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 11):

Mahmu'd studied the approaching headlamps in the distance. He pulled a small but wicked looking knife from his grimy djellaba robe.

"I do not know. Whoever they are they are probably a different lot than those scary people, else they would have come with them, no? But that doesn't mean they are any better. No one comes in the night in Egypt save the grave robbers and other thieves.

"Do not worry, I shall protect you, kind lady! If need be I shall lead them away while you make your escape. I suggest you travel west to the desert beyond the cliffs, then travel south. You will reach Giza and Cairo in a day's travel."
This message was last updated by the GM at 09:33, Wed 13 Feb 2019.

In reply to Mah'mud (msg # 12):

"That's very kind of you to say, Mah'mud." Chi-yin told him. "Perhaps we should wait a little while, just to see who they are. Perhaps the people approaching have good intentions. If not, I will do as you suggest."

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 13):

The dim headlamps disappeared behind obstacles in the distance. After a delay, a single set of headlamps appeared, then stopped, a couple miles away on the river road.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 13):

Mah'mud peered in the darkness, looking for the headlamps. They had disappeared behind something and were no longer visible.

"If you would like to wait here, I can go see what or who these people are? Or we can also go see if there is another unguarded entrance."

He motioned towards the main entrance tunnel in the base of the Lesser Bent Pyramid. There was a lantern there, and it was guarded by the same Egyptian army soldiers that were standing sentry before and during the procession.

Chi-yin thought, and answered,"Let's see if there is another entrance into the pyramid. The ancient Egyptians loved secret passageways."

Chi-yin slowly began to sneak out from behind the tree, and on to the pyramid.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 16):

The darkness hid them from the watchful eyes of the Egyptian soldiers guarding the main entrance to the Lesser Bent Pyramid on the north side. Starting at the north, they circled the structure going counter-clockwise. They noted a boarded-up tunnel mouth on the west side, closest to the desert. They find nothing else, no other entrances or guards.

By the time they reach the eastern side they saw the headlamps of one vehicle approaching the fishing village on the banks of the Nike to the east.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 17):

"Mistress, we should perhaps go back towards the village, but hide along the way. If it is more cultists approaching we may stay hidden. And we are not close to the pyramid. If they are friends, then we will be able to warn them before they are in sight of the guards."

Chi-yin nodded. Mah'mud's statement made a lot of sense. And since they hadn't found any open passageways inside the pyramid, it would be best to be concealed.

It was just after 4am and the moon was setting. Sunrise would be in an hour and a half, at present there was just a little lightening of the sky in the east far across the Nile.

The headlamps disappeared somewhere in the vicinity of the village. A short time Chi-yin and Mah'mud heard the footsteps of a number of people. It was hard to tell given the almost complete lack of light but those approaching did not seem to be dressed as the cultists were. Instead, it was a party of well-dressed Europeans, well-armed, moving cautiously in the dark in western towards the pyramids of Dashur.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 20):

Suddenly, Mah'mud sprang up from his position, waving his hands and calling in a loud whisper, "Effendi... Mister Mahfouz, it is I, Mah'mud! Do not be alarmed!"

In reply to Mah'mud (msg # 21):

Alexander peered into the darkness. "Great Scott! Everyone hold your fire! It is our friend, the young man, Mah'mud! I sent him here a week ago to live with the relatives of one of my mend. And to keep an eye on the Clive expedition! What news have you? Why are you out at this hour?"

"Mah'mud, who is it?" Chi'yin asked, hearing Mah'mud talking to someone.

Chalky 'almost has kittens'. He grunts with exasperation and raises his rifle, chagrined and surprised by the young boy's appearance. So much for his reputation as an alert adventurer.

In reply to Andrew 'Chalky' White (msg # 24):

"Dammit man, careful leaping out on people like that, you almost caught a bullet or several." Matt says looking round at the other twitchy fingers.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 23):

Mah'mud responded to a woman's voice coming from the darkness.

"Do not worry, mistress. These are my friends! Come out! It will be all right.

"I am sorry I startled anyone. We were following many people that were holding some kind of strange ceremony at the Lesser Bent Pyramid involving a sarcophagus. Why are you here?"

Chalky shoots Alexander a worried look.

"Bingo."

In reply to Mah'mud (msg # 26):

Chi-yin slowly stepped out from behind the tree, seeing around three men. "Welcome to Dashur. I am Wong Chi-yin."

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 28):

Matt nods his head at Wong "Please to meet ya ma'am, I'm Matt Clancy. Pilot and a target for kooks to try and kill by all accounts."

Cynthia, her face still hidden by her niqab and her shotgun in hand, kneels down to greet Mah'mud. "Mah'mud, I've been wondering after you. I see you haven't succumbed to a life of luxury with Alexander yet?"

She then stands to address Chi-yin, "Cynthia Holloway. Has Mah'moud brought you here? This seems an odd location for visitors."