It has been a few days since Chi-yin decided to leave the Clive expedition.

At first the expedition seemed to go fine on its voyage from England to Alexandria. But as they progressed to Cairo, and then Giza, sh felt something was amiss. Starting with Sir Clive. She felt she was being treated more and more poorly by some of the members of the expedition (although not especially badly by James Garners and Agatha Broadmoor) as time went on. Eventually it became clear that Sir Clive was only interested in her and her family's wealth and how it could be used to fund his expedition, even though funding was already supposedly secured through the prestigious Penhew Institute.

There were some astounding findings in Giza, like the discovery of an unknown hidden burial chamber in the pyramid of Menkaure (the smallest of the three) containing a sarcophagus. But this sarcophagus mysteriously disappeared! Soon after the Clive expedition traveled south to Dashur, the royal necropolis site upriver where several more pyramids (including the Red Pyramid, White pyramid, Black Pyramid, Bent Pyramid and the Lesser Bent Pyramid, among others).

Recent article in the Cairo Gazette on the theft:



After a couple months, the Clive expedition relocated from Giza to Dashur. After a month Chi-tin parted ways with Sir Clive. He expected her to return to Cairo via the Nile on the supply boat but she decided to stay and pursue her own investigation into the many pyramids of Dashur.

Soon afterwards , Chi-yin was woken by Mah'mud's voice calling her softly from outside her tent in the dead of night.


The latter Lesser Bent Pyramid is similar looking but suspected to be a relatively recent addition and not an authentic royal burial pyramid. Perhaps only centuries old and not dating back to antiquity due to a strange lack of aging and absence of identity markings. That said no records exist as to who built it or why.

"Mistress... it is I, Mah'mud! Please awake!

"There is something going on at the pyramids. Something very odd. Will you let me in? We must go and see!"

In reply to Mah'mud (msg # 2):

Chi-yin quickly shot up from her cot. "Do not worry, Mah'mud, I'm coming!" She quickly slid on her shirt and pants, and hurried outside towards Mah'mud to see what was the matter.

 "What is it?" She asked him.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 3):

"Something very strange, Mistress. A motor barge has arrived from down-river, even though it is very late."

Her late husband's windup watch showed it was half past ten o'clock.

"And they did not dock at the town pier. Instead, they used the pilings at the ancient causeway to tie up."

Dashur was the royal necropolis of the ancient Egyptians far to the south of Giza and Cairo. The many temples and burial sites were either long-gone or buried. What remained were a half-dozen or so pyramids connected to the riverside by a half-buried stone causeway several thousand years old. As in ancient times the Nile was the primary supply route. The supply boats for the Clive expedition did not tie off there but at the wood wharf by the modern fishing ville of a half-dozen darkened huts slightly downriver of Dashur. (Other supplies were brought by lorry along the track south to Cairo but most goods arrived by river.)

"I see a procession going down the causeway now. Many people! Perhaps fifty. Going not to the camp of the Clive expedition but to the pyramids.

"Let us follow, see where they go. I do not think they are tomb-robbers... this is very strange. But let us keep out of sight. Perhaps we shall learn their destination, insh'Allah."

In reply to Mah'mud (msg # 4):

"Yes, Mah'mud, that's a good idea. I hope they're not trying to cause any harm to any of the artifacts around here." Chi-yin quickly ran back inside her tent and grabbed a knife and one of her guns just in case the people heading to the pyramids were of hostile intent.

She came back outside, and followed Mah'mud as he led the way to the pyramids.

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."

"No, I used to be on the expedition here, but I left."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 30):

The boy nodded. "It is much more luxurious here than on the streets in Cairo. But not as nice as Effendi's estate. The mistress here was with the Clive expedition but decided to leave it. Her tent and belongings are safe here at my uncle's home.

"Are we proceeding to the Lesser Bent Pyramid?"

"Andrew White, but you can call me 'Chalky' miss."

He shifts his rifle to his off hand but still looks about in the dark, searching for barkeep=butchering cultists.

In reply to Andrew 'Chalky' White (msg # 33):

"Nice to meet you, Mr White." Chi'yin replied, smiling.

"Yes, well, we can't hang about all night flapping our jaws. Onto the pyramid. We're expecting a bit of a tussle. Do you know how to handle a weapon?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 35):

"Of course I do." Chi-yin answered.

JM lowered his rifle as Alexander indicated that the boy and those with him approaching in the darkness were friends. "I'm John-Marc Falcon," he stated as he greeted the newcomers.  He had brought a full set of cultist robes for all of them as well as a few extra just in case.  It seemed that his instincts had been good.  "We are headed for the lesser pyramid and expect trouble from the cultists there." He assessed the two women and the boy.  "If you can protect yourselves then we'd best proceed while there is still darkness to conceal us.  Did you come from the area of the pyramid?" He asked having noted from which direction they had come.  "If so what did you note?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 37):

Matt takes a set of robes that look about his size from John-Marc. "Might as well get in this thing now, it does stink a bit though."

Chi-yin took another set of robes, and slid them on over her head easily.

"Who's taking the Lewis Gun?" Says Chalky as he grabs a set of robes and puts them on, his hands coming away bloody.

In reply to Andrew 'Chalky' White (msg # 40):

"Guess that means you want me to lug it. You so lazy!"

As the group met up with Mah'mud (who they previously knew in Cairo) they heard the sound of a train approaching from the south. The group noted that Chi-yin was armed with double-barrel "coach" gun, a 20-gauge over-under shotgun. Alexander offered to stay behind with his men. If the party got into trouble they would come looking for them, and come looking if they didn't reappear in an hour and a half or so.

The train passed by without stopping as they remained unseen. It billowed smoke, hissed steam and threw up clouds of sparks. They began walking along the lightly-traveled dirt road west through the green farmlands along the banks of the Nile to the plateau where the Lesser Bent Pyramid lay. Along the way they passed over several canals, most were ditches but there were two large ones in use that had standing water and a smaller, ancient one that no longer carried water but was choked with vegetation and trees.

After a few miles they began climbing the slight rise to the low desert plateau where a line of massive ancient pyramids stretched from north to south. The pyramids sat mute, like ancient guardians at the boundary between the sandy wastes and the green cultivated strip along the Nile. The bulk of the Lesser Bent Pyramid loomed to the west.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 42):

"It is good to see you all again!

"Earlier tonight there was some kind of strange procession. Foul cultists, I'll wager! They arrived by barge in the evening, after dark. They tied up at the bank, then they followed an old causeway to the south. They visited the Lesser Bent Pyramid. I think the soldiers guarding the north entrance are in their pay as they let them pass into the main entrance. They stayed for several hours, then departed an hour or so before you arrived.

"When we looked at the pyramid, the Mistress and I saw the north entrance, which is guarded. But there is another entrance, an old one, boarded up on the desert side. To the west."

"Yes, that's true.'' Chi-yin affirmed. She glanced down at the robes, and adjusted the sash just a bit.

The Count finally arrived at the small group. He gave a nod to the new comer as he also donned a set of robes and hid his rifle under the bellowing clothing. He was quiet perhaps thinking about something else at that particular moment as they set off towards the pyramid.

He stopped and listened with the others as Mah'mud explained what had happened earlier in the night.


-
This message was last edited by the player at 01:20, Wed 06 Mar 2019.

JM looked off into the distance as the boy spoke. "Did the cultists go back to their barge?  We saw an odd boat on the Nile as we approached.  It seems that absent a likely firefight with the soldiers we are best to take the boarded up entrance although with the cultists gone we may be too late."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 46):

"Let's go then, that looks like the best place to get in. Chalky you can carry my rifle for me as I've got the Lewis gun."

If Cynthia can find a set of robes still available, she will change. Otherwise her niqab still conceals her better than any of the gentlemen in their crude shirts lacking veils.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 48):

Mah'Mud quickly sprinted back to the lorry to get what they needed. The group put on the Cultist robes they remembered to bring with them. As Alexander wasn't going with them to the pyramid there was even an extra robe and cultist symbols to fix up Chi-yin if she liked. They proceeded down the dirt track towards the low desert escarpment whence the Lesser Bent Pyramid stood. Mah'mud, being too small to pass as even a female cultist, stalked along behind the group, hidden in the darkness. The climbed up onto the plateau and the star-lit desert stretched away from them to the west, all the way to Morocco. Before them was the bulk of the weathered and eroded pyramid, crumbling and seemingly a little slumped to the north due to the angle of slope being a little steeper to that side.

As the manned entrance was on the north side, they circled to the south in order to avoid detection. It was an hour before dawn. The moon had gone down. There was now only the stars above and a growing glow of dawn to the east across the dark waters of the Nile to guide them. With Mah'mud and Chi-yin's help they found the boarded-up west entrance. It had probably been a worker's passage supplementing the main passage on the north side. Now it was boarded up with weathered planks. Written on them was faded lettering in English, French and Arabic "NO ENTRY! DANGEROUS!"

"Mmm, this will be a problem." Chi-yin remarked under her breath."Now how will we get in?"

JM moved along cautiously with the others.  When they reached the boarded up entrance he shrugged.  "Danger certainly lies ahead of us," he whispered.  "Keep an eye on the guards while I see if we can get this open quietly." He will work at the boards to see if they could gain entry.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 51):

Several boards came loose in JM's hand. The nails were not rusted nor the wood rotten, given the desert climate. Someone must have pried them loose at some point.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 51):

"I can go keep an eye on the guards. If I see them move, I shall signal you by making the sound of the owl twice." He hooted once, it was a passable imitation of the pharaoh owl native to Egypt and the Middle East.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 52):

Chi-yin sighed quietly in relief. "I suspect it was the cultists."

Chalky, trained soldier that he is, watches the surroundings carefully as his friends work on the barred door. His ears strain for the slightest suspicious sound.

In reply to Andrew 'Chalky' White (msg # 55):

Matt says quietly "How are we going to use the lewis gun? It's alright lugging the thing round with us but it takes a while to set up and operate. Shall we put it somewhere made ready and if we need to fall back quickly someone can use it to cover the retreat?"

Still watching the desert darkness, Chalky says "we can just have the bipod down and ready to hit the dirt, the old girl will handle that. When you get a chance fire across the front on an angle to hit as many as possible" adds Chalky, knowing that Matt is a superb aero-gunner but that he might not have shot up enemies in the dirt before.

In reply to Andrew 'Chalky' White (msg # 57):

"You can spot for me in that case. Shall we head in?" says Matt heading to the block entry.

"Good thought Mah'mud.  Rejoin us in about ten minutes which should be enough to get the barrier cleared."  JM worked a bit at the boards. "Someone had definitely been ahead of us.  The nails and boards are loose."  He finished removing the timbers.

The Count also kept his back to the work as he watched for anyone else who might be taking an interest in their party.

-

Mah'mud scrambled away to the corner in order to keep an eye on the guards at the north entrance. It was the work of a few minutes at most to pull away sufficient boards to allow entry into the pyramid. They were dressed as cultists, true, but were far more heavily armed with rifles and a machine-gun. The passage was completely in darkness, with no lights inside and with the moon having set the stars were only a grey silvery glimmer on the surrounding wastes.

Keeper's Note: Are you going fully-hooded, that is, hoods obscuring the face? This will make it tougher to see! As well, who (if anyone) is using a light.

JM looked about for a moment and as nothing jumped out at them he turned on his electric torch and shone the light down the passage.  He kept the hood down for now as it seemed more important to see and hear for the time being.

Chi-yin decided to keep the hood of her robe on, so as to blend in more, and followed John-Marc into the passageway.

The count has another flashlight should it be needed, but at this point he just keeps it in his hand with his hood up.


-

Matt keeps his hood down but has an ear out for any noise up ahead.

In reply to Matthew 'Matt' Clancy (msg # 65):

They carefully made their way into the narrow passage, lit by an electric torch. It sloped slightly upwards and their footsteps scraped and echoed along the stone walls. the found themselves in an unmarked rectangular funeral chamber, somewhere perhaps near the middle of the pyramid. There were no other entrances or exits, all there was were two immense pillars at the far end of the chamber.

Chi-yin glanced around to see as much as she could. It was large, and she wondered why there were no other entrances of exits.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 67):

Examining the floor of the chamber closest to the north side, she detected there were footprints leading from the wall. A narrow crack in the mortarless blocks of limestone suggested where there might be a door wide enough to let the entourage they'd seen earlier through.
This message was last updated by the GM at 04:54, Tue 26 Mar 2019.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 68):

Chi-yin pointed at the crack. "I think they went through there. Let's check it out."

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 69):

Matt slings the bren over his shoulder and pulls out his bolo knife before stepping giving the suspected doorway a good, hard shove.

The Count will add his arm if needed other wise he maintains a watch over the proceedings. He gives a nod to Mr.Perkins to watch the other way.


-

A section of the wall pivoted towards Matt, revealing a slice of darkness.

This hidden tunnel led back to the guarded north entrance. It wouldn't get them farther into the pyramid than they were now.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 72):

Chi-yin sighed quietly. "Zen Khexi (What a pity.) They couldn't have taken that way."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:36, Wed 27 Mar 2019.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 73):

"Better keep looking for footprints I guess."

(OOC: Is it a well worn track? Can we see a worn path?)

"Not this way it would seem." The Count looked for another path.

Count Sigismund Bathony rolled 70 using 1d100 with rolls of 70.  Spot Hidden = 72%.


-

JM looked about.  "Stay quiet," he whispered.  "We don't noise getting to the guards at the other entrance." He looked around as well trying to follow the tracks.




19:59, Today: John-Marc Falcon rolled 86 using 1d100 with rolls of 86.  Spot Hidden [73%].
 

Although there were several people in the ancient room, breathing in and out, the air still remained strangely cool. Everyone carefully examined the floor to see where the tracks led. Cynthia was the one to determine they seemed to lead into the right hand column at the end of the gallery.

The pillar, like its mate, was made from alabaster. They flanked a blank wall. It seemed like the footprints did not go to the wall, they actually went up to the column and disappeared.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 77):

That was odd, Chi-yin thought. Maybe they climbed up the column? But their robes might have gotten in the way.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 78):

Her electric torch didn't show anything on the roof. But it looked like the entire column pivoted and rolled along the wall, revealing a 3-foot niche, easily wide enough to allow passage in single file.

Beyond the door, worn stone stairs led upwards into the heart of the pyramid.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 79):

"We should keep an eye out for trip wires and pit falls."


-

Chi-yin, upon hearing this, nodded in agreement.

JM watched as the others tracked down the secret door.  He nodded to the others. "I'll take the lead, cover me."  JM readied his pistol and electric torch and headed up the stairs.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 82):

Matt prepares the gun and takes aim at the secret door. "If I need to start shooting you'd better hit the dirt. These things can sting a bit."

JM chuckled softly.  "I'll be grabbing the dirt at your word Matt," he whispered.

Cynthia is just as happy taking the rear (or middle, or not in the tunnel at all until the boys are done swinging their guns about). She readies her shotgun just in case, even though it feels a little underpowered compared to the machine gun.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 85):

Seeing Cynthia lagging behind, Andrew gave a half-salute with his SMLE rifle and said, "if you'd like to take the rear, milady, then it would be my pleasure to go ahead."

The passage behind the column turned into a ramp leading further up into the pyramid, switching back twice as it climbed. They checked for traps and other hazards but found none. Neither did they find anything the hard way.

Eventually the ramp ended at an asymetrical archway. Beyond seemed to be a throne room of some kind. What little they can see looked like something that Dr. Weston described reading about in the book, Life as a God by a mda English nobleman.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 87):

That's odd, Chi-yin thought. Perhaps they went in there?

JM stood at the entrance and shone his torch about the room.  He was looking for other exits or any immediate threats.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 89):

The room did look large enough for the group to enter. There were no other exits.

JM stepped aside so that others could look.  "Could there be another hidden exit from the room?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 91):

If there was another secret exit there was no way to locate it from outside the room.

JM moved into the room to follow the tracks and look for any concealed exits from the room.  "Maybe they performed their ritual here."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 93):

That seemed about right. The group could have come in, performed their deed, then left the way they came. None of the group were professional trackers, the footprints in the dust were of sandals not boots or shoes with heels. It would have been easy to mistake their direction of travel as being only one way.

The inside of the room was dominated by a massive throne carved from the blackest obsidian and inlaid with precious stones. Surrounding it are six stone pillars with a kind of gem at the top. From Dr. Weston's account in reading Life as a God by Crompton these six pillars would give off a torch-like glow when lit, although they are not lit now. Behind the throne is a bas-relief of Egyptian hieroglyphs mixed with an alien script the investigators recognise from the Essex estate of the cult leader Edward Gavigan, the walls of the secret basement room at the Penhew Foundation and scrolls recovered from the London spice shop of Tewfik. To the left is an elaborate star chart, to the right is a partial map of the Earth stretching from Africa to China to Australia.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 94):

Chi-yin glanced around the room. It truly was an interesting sight.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 95):

Matt calls quietly, "What about that chair? It looks heavy from here but maybe it's on runners or something. I wonder if we can move it and it is hiding a staircase or ramp."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:29, Mon 22 Apr 2019.

Cynthia studies the star-charts. She's hardly an astronomer, but if there's some obvious constellations and planetary positions, she'll take note. Meanwhile, if there are sites on Earth that are noted, that too is something worth recording.

The Count moved to the world map using the torch to light his way and watching his feet. H will study the map, making notes in his notebook.

-

In reply to Matthew 'Matt' Clancy (msg # 96):

"Crikey, Matt, that's a right bugger of a chair! Do you reckon we can move it if we both give it a try?"

He moved up and set the Lewis gun down on its bipod in front of the obsidian throne, then began examining the throne.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:30, Mon 29 Apr 2019.

In reply to Andrew 'Chalky' White (msg # 99):

Matt goes to examine the throne as well. "Any of you fellas fancy chucking your weight behind this feel free."

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 98):

The map is a crude representation of Earth, showing the Eurasian land mass, Africa, Australia and, curiously, Antarctica. Distorted and out of scale. There are three large uncut rubies marking a rough triangle between eastern Africa, the middle of Australia and coastal China.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 97):

Cynthia can't really make out much as the shapes of constellations and positions of stars are warped and distorted. It not being a faithful depiction to scale. As well, there are stars that shouldn't be there. She felt as if she was looking at a star chart from thousands if not more years ago.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 101):

How interesting, Chi-yin thought. She wondered what the triangle meant. And why was everything out of scale?

Finishing his notes and a drawing of the map The Count returns to the rest of the group and then seeing the men struggling with the throne he goes over to have a look. Offering his arm if indeed it can be moved.


-

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 103):

Upon close examination, Chi-Yin noticed that there was a black smear across the centre of the map. At first it just looked like an ancient smudge from a torch but then realised it was an inlay of obsidian tracking a line through the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Mysterious script surrounds the border of the map, and Bathony copies it down.

Studying the astronomy map, Cynthia also notes that there is a map of the solar system. In fact it's probably the only thing she recognises! But there is an error because it seems there's an extra planet added on to the normal 8, bringing the total to 9. The mysterious "ninth planet" or "Planet IX" seems to be orbiting the farthest out. As well, there appears to be another Earth in the opposite position from the Sun as their own planet. IT is orbiting in the same direction at the same orbital radius but hidden from man's eyes and telescopes by Sol's fierce light.

Matt, Chalky and Bathony strain as they try and move the strange black stone throne, inlaid with mysterious inlaid gems.

Keeper's Note: The northernmost point (marked by a jewel) is actually offshore in the South China Sea.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:53, Thu 02 May 2019.

"Most curious. It looks like someone needs to revisit his science texts." Cynthia will move to the map to try and determine where in east Africa the one ruby is located. "Something tells me we'll be seeing each of these ruby points in person. It would be nice to know precisely where they are."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 106):

"I wonder what the ninth planet means," Chi-yin wondered, as she studied the map.

JM studies the map as he has a bit of a professional interest in maps and such.  "Can we decipher any of the writing around the map or throne?  I feel we're right on the cusp of something important here."  He notes the effort around the throne and goes over to help.

The beams of their torches played along the dressed stone blocks of the strange chamber that must have been somewhere near the top of the pyramid. No one could seem to decypher the runes on the walls, either at the map or the star chart or the bas relief behind the throne.

Even with Matt, Chalky and Bathony's straining effort, the throne doesn't budge.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 109):

"Well, if this throne moves, I'll be buggered if I know how," said Chalky, taking a sip from his canteen. He then sat down in the throne for a bit of a rest, the cheeky devil!

In reply to Andrew 'Chalky' White (msg # 110):

Chi-yin watched as Chalky sat down in the throne, and had to laugh at that. "You'd better be careful sitting on that. Maybe it's a trap of some sort.''

"I guess you're right pal. Let's see what these other are up to."

JM chuckled as well. "I can't help but think that the writing here is significant.  We should at least sketch it all out and take it back to the museum to be deciphered if we can't make it out."

In reply to Matthew 'Matt' Clancy (msg # 112):

"In a minute. I need a fag." Hooking a leg over one cruel arm of the throne he proceeded to fish out his tobacco pouch and roll a cigarette.
This message was last updated by the player at 06:44, Mon 20 May 2019.

JM stared for a moment. "Let's use the smoke to see if there are drafts from a hidden entrance!"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 115):

Chi-yin smiled. "What a wonderful idea, Mr Falcon."

JM smiled at the pretty Oriental woman and then jerked his head at Chalky. "Let's see what you can find with the smoke there while you're having your fag Chalky."

The Count observed the smoke along with the other to see whether it gives them another direction to try. He had his pistol in his hand should they be disturbed.

-

George continued to provide over watch as the other collected the information in the room. He watched the exits and entrances with his pistol in his hand.

-

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 117):

Chalky lit his fag, inhaled and blew smoke. He stared at it contemplatively, then nodded and took another drag.

Although they waited for him to blow a plume a the ceiling, the exhale of blue smoke didn't come. And didn't come.

In reply to Andrew 'Chalky' White (msg # 120):

Suddenly, the thin black pillars ringing the throne all sprouted flickering candle flames. They could hear a faint piping in the distance, as if travelling through the stone blocks of the pyramid from an immense distance.

When the candles lit they looked over at Chalky and he seemed strangely frozen in place. Smoke curled up from the lit cherry of his half-smoked cigarette. However, Perkins didn't see this as his back was turned, looking at the entrance. Somehow, in less than the blink of an eye, the open arched portal that was the only way they knew of to enter this strange chamber had become solid stone!

JM gasps as the candles erupt into eerie light.  His gasp turned into a cry of alarm as Chalky stiffened and seemed paralyzed.  "Chalky!" he called out and reached over to grab his friend by the arm and pull him off the throne.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 122):

Chi-yin gasped quietly upon seeing the entrance turned to stone, and when she turned back to the throne, she saw that Chalky had become paralyzed.

"Is he alright?" She asked Mr Falcon.

Matt seeing his best friend paralysed does all he can think of. He drops the gun and tackles his friend to the ground, at least out of the way of any missiles that may come his way.

Cynthia levels her shotgun at the stone entrance. Seeing it isn't an immediate threat, she gently presses her hand against it, to confirm its reality, and will then sweep the area for perhaps another change in the room.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 125):

Jane realised that the occult symbols and hieroglyphs surrounding the bas-relief said something to the effect of,


There is also a prophesy foretelling of the birth of the child of Nyarlathotep within the Mountain of the Black Wind. Vast destruction will herald this great birth! However, the date for this is vague and the nature of the destruction unstated.

As Matt and JM prepared to tackle Chalky (because that's what you do when someone has a seizure?) Chalky relaxed and then stood up, flicking his cigarette into the wall where it exploded into a shower of sparks and tobacco.

But the man who stood was someone different, transformed into a tall perfectly-formed figure made from ebony but wearing a Pharaoh's head-dress. His arms were crossed in front of him, in one hand he wielded an inverted Ankh on a staff while in his other was a black sceptre. Most of the people recognise this being from the bust you liberated from Gavigan's secret chamber in the basement. On either side of him the air began to boil and writhe.

It is the Black Pharaoh, Nyarlathotep, a god in all His glory.

Keeper's note: Everyone but Matt must make a SAN check. If Matt and JM still wish to accost him please confirm!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:34, Wed 29 May 2019.

Hearing the commotion behind her, Cynthia twists on her heel. Seeing the monstrous figure, assuming her friends are not standing in the way, she brings the shotgun up and prepares to fire (holding for the thing to so much as breath wrong, in which case she will unload the weapon into it).

"Sweet mother of mercy!" Matt abandons his attempt to get to Chalky and instead tries to get to the Vickers.

The Count lowers his weapon and stands still. He had seen all manner of strange things over the last few months , but this... was something over and above anything else. He waited for the newly arrived ancient being to do or say something.


-

Mr. Perkins had rushed to the entrance when whatever had been triggered, the way was now shut with little chance of that changing. He looked over the large block now barring their escape.

When the Pharaoh had appeared it was the curtain of silence that fell over his friends that caused George to turn and with mouth open he tried to process what was happening before him.


-

"Steady... steady... " JM called out softly to his comrades as he backed away.  His hand went to his holstered pistol but did not draw.  Something told him that weapons might have little effect on a creature of this nature.

Chi-yin had no idea of what to say or do, and she stood there wondering if she should make a move.

In reply to Matthew 'Matt' Clancy (msg # 128):

Matt started to go for the Lewis gun. The Lewis gun was set down on its bipod in front of the throne. Right behind it stood that crazy pharaoh-like cat (who, truth be told, had the features of a white man and unnaturally black skin, definitely not a son of Africa like him!) was standing right behind it. He had appeared from nowhere, like a magician.

The man smiled. Amused. The two whirling blurs beside him reared up, coiled, ready to strike. Hungry.

JM stepped forward his hands held up.  "Mighty Lord, we apologize for disturbing you.  We mean no harm nor do we wish to fight or otherwise offend you and your servants."

Matt has second thoughs about grabbing the gun. For a start it would tak ehim too close to whatever it was he now faced and its things. He stepped backwards making sure his bolo was near to hand but unsure of what action he could take with it.

In reply to Matthew 'Matt' Clancy (msg # 135):

The ancient pharaoh smiled sardonically at Matt and his unseen servants seemed to settle down. He then replied to JM in unaccented English.

"That's better. I do not require anything from you but your complete attention and obedience. You are to give up this foolish quest immediately. Go home, go back to your families, to your lives, such as they are. Live out your short remaining days in peace to await the inevitable. For we Gods are not swayed nor do we take note of your puny efforts for you are insects, we are beings of unlimited power and our plans are not for you to interfere with. If you leave now meekly and gratefully you will not be harmed.

"Do you wish to know of the fate of those that came before you? Or will you leave now with your bodies and sanity intact?"

JM listened nervously as the powerful being spoke.  He glanced at his friends.  "We have no desire to see what has occured before. Such things are not for mortal eyes.  We will gratefully withdraw."  Any resistance to such a creature and its servants would be foolhardy.

The Count stayed still and hoped that Mr. Falcons plea would be heard and be enough. He takes a glance to Mr> Perkins who was still standing by the entrance and the large block that now covered it.


-

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 137):

The god's eyes narrowed, considering what JM said (and did not say). "Will you utterly and completely forsake your foolish errand? Swear to me now that you do, that you may yet live. If not you will suffer the consequences."

In reply to Nyarlathotep (msg # 139):

Seeing the indecisiveness of his puny foes, the god smiled in triumph.

"As a reward, I shall grant each of you your fondest desire. Know that I cannot force anyone to love you, for love is a lie. But all else is possible."

He (it?) then began to chuckle to himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Wed 26 June 2019.

JM squared away his shoulders and nodded slowly as he felt the consensus of his comrades.  "I... we... swear to abandon our quest."  He shook his head at the offer of the fondest desire. "I lack the wisdom to truly seek my deepest desire by means of a gift.  I must humbly refuse to bother you to provide me with such a boon."

"I to decline your gift as I am not worthy of such a thing..." The Count does not other wise move, overawed with the appearance of a God.


-

Cynthia keeps her shotgun up, not that the thing is likely to do much harm to a god. "I would be willing to take such an oath, except why would you hold to your side once you had my word?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 143):

"Come now. Why would I renege if I get what I want? What I don't trust is you not to tell me what I want to hear. There will be... safeguards in place to make sure you leave Egypt immediately. If you are not on your way home by the time the next moon is full, I shall hunt you down and claim your souls. Only England and America shall be safe for you. An my agents shall keep watch.

"Those who wish to submit, kneel before me to receive my blessings."

All Chi-yin could do at the moment was stand in the shadows, wait and watch.

George was standing rooted to the spot, his head going back and forth in a silent No. They had no escape he had deduced that much from the solid sandstone block.


-

Seeing the puny mortals cower before him, Nyarlathotep sneered.

"Look you, at the fate that came for those before you."

He waved his hand and before them arose the images of a savnanah, probably in Africa. There was a safari-style camp, with a number of Europeans lounging about while African porters and bearers went about their tasks.

"Look closely."

JM was unwilling to bow before such a creature but he recognized that they had no choice.  Still as the god offered an explanation he leaned forward to look.

George did not move, his head still moving side to side.


-

The Count took a step forward to look at what the god was indicating.


-

Cynthia will look, against her better judgment. But she will keep half an eye on the beast in front of her, to see how entranced it is by its own illusions.

Matt slowly started to edge around the side, maybe thinking about going for the Lewis gun propped up behind the Black Pharaoh.

Fascinated, he stopped and stared at the incredibly lifelike image!

They stared at the scene.

In the vision, JM, the Count and Cynthia all recognised the members of the Carlyle expedition from the photographs they were shown. Chi-Yin didn't recognise any of them. It seemed they were in the highlands of Kenya somewhere. Mountains loomed in the background. This might well be their final resting place, if the rumours of their demise were true.

There was noted Egyptologist Sir Aubrey Penhew, beautiful society woman and photographer Hypatia Maters, Dr. Robert Huston, and of course Roger Carlyle. Missing was his mistress M'Weru and bodyguard, Jack Brady. African servants served tea and porters busied about getting ready to move out somewhere. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue, with but a few puffy white clouds.

Suddenly, more clouds moved across the sun. It grew darker. A few of the Africans looked up, unsure and a little spooked by the rapid change in weather. More and more looked up, then around, speaking in fearful and apprehensive tones. The white members of the expedition remained oblivious, sipping tea and eating sandwiches. Overhead was now a mass of clouds and the wind blew up, replacing the former calm. Then from the sky came a tremendous flapping sound, as specks appeared from all horizons. This got everyone's attentions, and they could see fear and panic starting to take over. Before the Africans could bolt en masse, the ground erupted with hideous, filthy beings like a cross between a jackal and a man! From the air dove massive viperine creatures with clawed limbs and massive black batwings to attack! More foul creatures oozed out of the ground, masses of black formless things like amoebas with pseudopods that lashed and struck.

Pandemonium erupted. The Africans were slaughtered in droves whether they tried to flee or stand their ground. The white members were singled out for a most gruesome extermination, being ripped, clawed, bit and squeezed to death!

Keeper's Note: Make SAN checks, please.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 153):

Chi-yin stifled a gasp, for fear the creature would set it's eye on her. So that was what had happened to the Carlyle expedition. How terrible, to suffer in such a manner.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 154):

The vision progressed to fountains of blood and limbs pulled from sockets, then tossed about! Men and women were held by several of the horrid jackal-men, their bellies slashed open spilling bluish entrails into the dirt. The winged serpents engaged in a tug-of-war with one hapless soul, splitting his torso in two spilling out its contents in a rain of gore and offal. Those that ran were caught from above and dropped down onto sharp rocks.

JM staggered back.  "Christ and Mother Mary in heaven preserve us."  He was stunned by the onslaught of horrors.

23:11, Today: John-Marc Falcon rolled 85 using 1d100 with rolls of 85.  Sanity Check.
 Failed

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 155):

Chi-yin stared at the horrifying image, and in shock and terror collapsed.

Ooc: Okay, thank you for letting me know.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Mon 29 July 2019.

Cynthia forces her eyes away from the image, and back to the barrel of her gun, leveled at the beast.

"Why are you here? Why do you want our planet so much? And why are you giving us a chance to walk away instead of just doing like you did to them?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 158):

"You could not possibly comprehend my motives, or those of the dark ancient gods I serve as Herald for. As for why I extend this offer, I always prefer people do my bidding. It befits my right to rule and command."

He pointed at the massacre and sneered. "Even the brave know their lot. All doors are closed to you, all your dreams are doomed, all your struggles are futile, your future is already lost.

"Now witness my rewards for those who obey my command:"

He waved his hand again and the current scene faded out, replaced by a new one that shimmers into place where the hemispheric map used to be. In it's place is an archway. They are looking into a bustling marketplace. People wear robes and kohl darkens their eyes. Soldiers armed with spears man an open gateway. Beyond stretches... ancient Egypt! And they can sense this is no image, it is obviously some kind of a portal, an open door. Steps have appeared at the bottom, allowing easy passage into the perhaps distant past. A warm breeze blows in, fragrant with spices and flowers, the smell of people and livestock and the endless desert. They can hear the hubbub of the market.

Perkins, observing the old doorway, noted that it was still a solid stone slab.

The Count was holding his hand to his mouth and it took him a moment to notice the new portal. He stared in wonder, imagine walking back in time, what would his homeland be like could he return ?

He shook his head and turned to vomit the nausea overtaking him.


-

In reply to Nyarlathotep (msg # 159):

Matt cowered at the vision, no, the door before them. "It's not real, it's not real! I'm goin' outta my mind! Ahhhhhh!"

With a cry, he gathered himself off the floor and lunged for the doorway!

JM stood staring at the horrible scene before them.  He had seen horrors in the War of course but somehow this horrible, arcane slaughter surpassed all of his worst memories.  He dropped to his knees and sobbed.  "God, God preserve us..."

Cynthia's mind flickers back and forth between the choices before her. Cast away in... ancient Egypt? And somehow worse, in the service of the beasts they had been pursuing?

all that is necessary... is for good men to do nothing

The lives laid down already, in New York, in London. Her mind flitted back to her own upbringing, the lessons of her tutors, of history, of history being changed by a few accepting great sacrifice...

Molon labe

Cynthia brings her shotgun back up, aiming at the head of the man who was once her friend, and  pulls the trigger.

God save me. Bast save me.

The Count fell away from the shotgun blast and scrambled towards the entrance they had entered from.


-

Mr. Perkins begins again to search the stone that seemed to be blocking their way as soon as the shotgun was fired. He to seemed unable to grasp what was going on and what was happening.

-

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 163):

With a cry, Matt dove through the doorway, landing on the flagstones of the ancient marketplace, or so it seemed!

Maybe Bast was listening after all, or maybe a God can be taken unawares. Either way the buckshot charges of both barrels struck Nyarlathotep and he staggered backwards, then collapsed. Suddenly the corpse began to bubble and writhe, swelling as if it were rotting and expanding as they watched. Within an instant something black and full of mouths burst from the husk, spraying the room with bit of flesh and gore. There was a tremendous squealing and the cries of a hundred babied being crushed alive under a locomotive's steel wheels. The black form expanded and grew, paused for less than a second, then surged upwards, striking the solid masonry of the pyramid's cap. The massive stone blocks were practically insubstantial and blew out and upwards with the unholy force of the being that now stretched, elastic-like and deranged, up through the hole. With a sucking sound it was gone, leaving behind a throne room covered in gore, a hole in the roof, and relative quiet. All that was left of the Black Pharaoh aside from the scraps of flesh and blood sprayed everywhere was the head (now reverted back to the thoroughly-dead Chalky) which had rolled backwards to bonk up against the throne. The formless shapes that had accompanied Nyarlathotep vanished as well.

Keeper's Note: Cynthia needs to roll a SAN check for witnessing this almost indescribable horror. Chi-Yin is unconscious and JM is insensate, both are protected. Bathony and Perkinds are both looking the wrong way and occupied. Matt is in another time and place, Chalky is dead dead dead.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:20, Mon 16 Sept 2019.

Chi-yin finally recovered from the shock to find Matt gone and Chalky most likely dead. What happened here? she wondered.

Cynthia staggers backwards, as surprised by the result of her shot as anyone.

"Well." She lowers her gun and smooths her clothes. "Take that."

"Matt, Matt can you hear us? Come back!"

Cynthia keeps her (now empty) shotgun clutched close as she heads back to where the portal was, feeling for it. "Matt, we're following you! We're going back in time with you! Matthew, tell us where you are!!" As she can't find the portal, she becomes increasingly frantic, throwing dust from the floor and scrabbling for any gap in the flagstones.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:16, Wed 25 Sept 2019.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 168):

But the portal was gone. So was Matthew.

Left behind were scraps of flesh spattering a gore-covered throne room. Chalky's severed head was the largest piece remaining of the luckless "Digger".

The last candle till burning guttered out. The eerie candle lights that sprouted out of the narrow black posts were gone. All the lamps that had been lit before were extinguished, leaving the chamber in almost complete darkness.

Keepre's Note: Once people are recovered from their various manias or whatever they can make a Spot Hidden check.

The Count had continued to craw away as what ever was before them disintegrated and then covered the walls with gore. "The smell...." was all he could manage between dry heaves, having emptied his stomach earlier.

He made his way to the entrance to the chamber and then stopped.

Count Sigismund Bathony rolled 73 using 1d100 with rolls of 73.  Spot Hidden = 72%.


-
This message was last edited by the player at 07:14, Thu 26 Sept 2019.

Mr.Perkins was uttering something under his breath as he moved his hands over the large block of stone covering the exit.

George Perkins rolled 80 using 1d100 with rolls of 80.  Spot Hidden = 25%.


-

Slowly, slowly JM's mind returned from where ever it had wandered.  He straightened up, knelt now and took a deep breath.  There was a horrific smell, a hint of breeze now seemed to stir the room from above and the moans and soft noises told him of his comrades.  It was dark...

There was a flick of light as JM activated his electric torch.  He passed it around the room and half sobbed again.  "Oh my god... what... what happened to... it?  Matt... Chalky..."

The stone sealing the doorway stayed put, cool and unyielding. Pointing his torch at the slanted pyramid ceiling off to the side of the capstone JM saw an irregular hole blasted through the blocks that made up the pyramid. For the life of him he couldn't fathom what had created such a hole through such a thick and solid barrier! There was a little rubble underneath it but not a lot. Perhaps this is where Matt escaped to?

Keeper's Note: Please make a Listen check.

JM gazed about in amazement as he flashed his torch about the room.  "That... thing... did it escape... make that hole?" He turned to look at the stone blocking their exit. "Can we get out that way George or will we need to make our way up that shaft?"

George stopped running his hands over the stone, but only noticed the hole in the ceiling when John-Marc pointed it out. "I, I don't think the block is going to move.... Yes it looks as if the hole is the only way unless there is a tunnel we have not yet discovered."


-

The Count stepped back from the sandstone block to get a better view at the hole, "Let us hope that what ever made it continued on into the sky...."

He looked to see if there was anything that might get them on their way.


-

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 174):

"It would seem so." Chi-yin replied.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 177):

Perkins and Count Bathony could hear a faint noise of shouting coming through the dark hole. Outside was darkness, it looked like it was still night.

The jagged hole was about 10 feet up, on one of the slanted roof sides. There were no handholds or furniture near by. The lip of the hole, while jagged, was not actually sharp. More like the blocks making it up had been blasted out and away, mostly pulverised.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:24, Mon 14 Oct 2019.

"Let's see if we can pile something or rig something to get us up to the hole.  We may have to fire off a weapon to draw attention from the outside but I'd rather make our own way out first as we have no idea who is waiting outside."  He looked around for anything that might work to get them up to the hole in the ceiling.

"Please, yes. Or just lift one of us out. I think I'm ready to leave..." Cynthia continues to check the area, erratically. She reloads her shotgun, and keeps a very, very close eye on her travelling companions.

JM nodded and set his weapon carefully on the ground.  "You're probably one of the lightest Cynthia.  Let me boost you up."  He interlaced two hands and offered her a step up.  "You might have to climb up on my shoulders to make it all the way up."

Cynthia looks around, before accepting the step.

"You keep your eyes modest, Mr. Falcon. Tonight is not the night for flirting."

She steadies herself with her hands, and tries to climb up as well as she's able.

JM chuckled but managed to keep his eyes in the boat...

With some difficulty, Cynthia is lifted up to the ragged hole in the sloped stone roof.

Cool night air immediately blesses her. From her perch she saw the moon in the est and the first glow of sunlight in the east. They must have been in there for hours!

She could hear more clearly now there were shouts from below in the darkness from someone at the base of the structure. "Hello! Hello up there! We're coming up!"

Keeper's Note: Spot Hidden check please!

"Mr Falcon perhaps you should go next.... Here we can give you a lift." With the help of Mr Perkins he will attempt to get John-Marc up into the hole.


-

"Will, do, thank you Count." JM nodded, checked his weapons and using the count's help along with that of Perkins leveraged himself up the narrow passageway.

Chi-yin followed, and managed to get herself up into the narrow passageway. It was very narrow, she thought.

Cynthia, JM and Chi-Yin crawled out the hole into the cool night air.

They could see several dark figures scrambling up the side of the pyramid towards them. It was hard to tell if they were armed or not. Other figures waited below on the ground in the darkness.

The Count then helped Mr. Perkins up and then grabbed his friends hand to ascend into the hole as well. The y shuffled along as best as they could until the met the others.


-

Seeing the others approaching JM called out in Arabic; "As-salaam 'alaykum (peace be upon you)."  He continued in that language; "What has happened out here?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 190):

A familiar voice callled back, "Aleykum as-Salam!" (Peace be with you as well) It was Salim bin Kabina, Alexander's right-hand man and Bedouin scout. He was heard calling in English and Arabic to the others clambering up the pyramid with him to hold their fire, they were friends. "Tell me, where have you been? What has happened?"

JM paused as the friendly voice came out of the night. "We have encountered great evil and some of our group were lost.  I fear we must redouble our efforts although this is not the place to talk of such horrors."

"Mr. Bin Kabina, please, what is the hour? Do you know where we might find the cultists still, or has the dark ceremony been completed?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 193):

Salim stopped, almost shivered in the night air.

"The ceremony? That was a fortnight ago, I am afraid.

"You have been inside the pyramid since the 6th. It is now the 20th! Alexander and the others waited for a day or so for you to re-emerge, but this did not happen. He then left a man to keep watch and returned to Cairo. From there he gathered more men and supplies. set up a watch and had the cultist guards.... removed. Since then we've watched and waited.

"Praise God you have returned! Are all of you safe?"

"This time-travel nonsense never seems to go the direction that would be useful, would it?

"Do you know what happened at the ceremony? Perhaps we should visit the site and see if they left anything?"

The Count followed the others as they emerged from the hole. Careful to watch where he is putting his feat so as to not roll down the structure. The words from Salim were not surprising, though had they been delayed enough for whatever was being planned to take place ? He waited for the Bedouins response.


-

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 195):

Once he was up, he and his men began helping the others through the roof.

<Blue>"My master Alexander reported that you disappeared before in the Pyramid of Menkaure for some 6 hours or so. I think the same black sorcery happened here!"

"The cultists finished their ceremony. They got away on a barge on the Nile, we believe.

"One of the cultist guards that we apprehended, he said this ceremony tonight was just to prepare for another, greater ceremony. We couldn't get any more from him, worse the luck. We'll complete other investigations."</Blue>

"Perhaps we should check the area while we're here. I imagine this worse ceremony is linked to that mountain. That too would explain why the took a barge. But it would be a shame to go trekking all the way out there only to find out it was intended to be here the whole time."

JM shook his head as he helped pull the others out of the pyramid and down to the safety of the ground.  "A fortnight?  Given what we experienced I am surprised but not shocked."  He nodded to Cynthia and headed around to the front of the pyramid.  "Let's investigate by all means Cynthia.  I fear the trail may be cold after a fortnight but we'll have to pick up what we can."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Mon 03 Feb 2020.

In reply to Salim bin Kabina (msg # 194):

''My word!'' Chi-yin gasped. They had been in there that long? But it had only seemed like hours!

The situation reminded her of some of those German fairytales she had read once.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 200):

Salim peered into the ragged hole in the side of the top of the pyramid. He shone his electric torch around.

"Some sort of foul throne room? And where are those chaps, Chalky and Matt?"

Cynthia flinches at the mention. But there is no way to pretend they were just following behind the group. "We were attacked. They died. Fighting heroically. We should remember them as that."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 202):

"May Allah protect their souls." He looked down, the at them. "We have a quantity of explosives with us, we can demolish this foul chamber! But it looks like there are wall paintings and frescoes there?"

"I don't know that I care to preserve them... But yes, if some of the party wants to check for any signs of the cultists, perhaps a quick review of the frescoes might be warranted. Count, you're the best learned of us. Do you have any thoughts?"

"I would be happy to as long as we are not caught unawares by advancing fanatics ?" He continues to scan the area around their perch.


-

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 205):

"We have a dozen good men here of our own, plus some British army troops guarding this area from "tomb robbers" and "revolutionaries". There have been no cultists here for weeks!"

In reply to Salim bin Kabina (msg # 203):

"Yes, the poor men. They did not deserve it." Chi-yin added.

JM stared about in amazement at the thought of the time that had passed.  Shaking himself he nodded at the suggestions.  "We should at least blast the throne but carefully.  Do not touch it.  The murals... perhaps they should be spared if they are not... dangerous."

A group of Alexander's men under Salim climbed down through the hole into Nyarlathotep's hidden throne room in the Lesser Bent Pyramid overlooking the town of Dashur.

After a short pause, the call came that the room was clear. Matt had vanished, perhaps through that infernal doorway into the past, and of course poor Chalky's vapourised remains were painted over much of the room's surfaces.

Meanwhile, a few men remained to render some aid and comfort to the survivors. Tea and biscuits. JM especially felt the mania that had envelop him loosen its grip and fade away.

Soon the word came that a ladder had been rigged, allowing any who wished to reenter to do so safely and easily after they climbed up.

It was still a few hours before dawn.

Meanwhile back near the Nile on his motor yacht, Alexander received word from a runner that his friends and companions had been sighted safe and sound. They had entered the Lesser Bent Pyramid, then went missing for two weeks, then had reappeared again after their absence, but this time in a hidden and never-before discovered room inside the Lesser Bent Pyramid.

JM sat outside the pyramid and took a long drink of whiskey.  He refused to go back into the pyramid stating that he'd had enough of whatever had happened inside.

"There's no way we're going to be able to catch up with these villains if we keep losing pages in our appointment schedulers like this! This mountain in Kenya, is it accessible by river? I mean to say, if they left on boat, do you think they're going there?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 211):

The Count nods in agreement to Cynthia as he puffs on a newly lit cigar. Reading about this sort of thing is very much different to experiencing it first hand and the idea of returning to the room fills him with dread.



-

Mr Perkins spends several minutes trying to light his pipe and gives up in frustration as he spills tobacco down the side of his trousers and onto the sand. His hands are shaking quite terribly and the simple task would seem to be beyond him as the Count points his leather Dunhill cigar case in his direction, Mr Perkins admits defeat and takes one as the Count also provides a light with a long match.

-

JM sets down the bottle of whiskey and stood.  "Kenya... I can't get us too the mountain but I can certainly set us down in Nairobi or the RAF station outside of the town.  We could even fly a few search missions to scout out the territory before we head off into the wilderness."

Dawn was close to breaking. Alexander said, "Everyone, let's get to my motor yacht. I'll have my man Salim record everything. Do you want to leave it like it is, under our guard? There is another option."

He pointed to the Lesser Bent Pyrmid, where the throne room was located.

"I talked to Dr. Khafour. He is adamant that this structure is not of antiquity. There are no records of it anywhere. It's like it appeared here yesterday. Therefore the Egyptian government and the Museum cares not what happens to it. What with all I've paid them off they better not! To that end I have brought a quantity of explosives with which to demolish most of the top, collapse the infernal throne room. We can pay the local villagers carry away the rest of the stones."

In reply to Alexander Hussein Mahfouz (msg # 215):

Roger was brought up from the yacht anchored in the Nile, along with some armed Bedouin porters. They traveled on foot past the darkened town of Dashur, then through farmland towards the escarpment to the west where silent pyramids loomed. When he arrived he noticed the temple his friend were gathered by was smaller than others he'd seen, and was distinctly off-shaped and slumped a bit to the side. Far up on its flank was what seemed (from this distance) a small hole, barely large than man-sized.

Waiting for him were Alexander and his man, Salim. Then the Romanian Count, Sisigmund Bathony, and his man, a Londoner named Perkins. His friend and fellow pilot, JM, was there with Cynthia, the American dilettante. Missing was the Australian pilot chap, Chalky, and his Negro friend, Matt Clancy. But there was a Chinese woman there he did not recognise.

In reply to Alexander Hussein Mahfouz (msg # 215):

"I am not sure what that will accomplish really other then take some time and create a lot of noise. Did we come to any conclusion as to what the pyramid was used for if anything ?"


-

JM shook his head.  "Destroy the whole thing and then salt the ground like the Romans did to Carthage as far as I am concerned.  At least after we take whatever recordings are needed for clues.  I for one won't go back inside."

He waved as he saw the new arrival approach.  "Roger Bedford, what are you doing here in this forsaken land old friend?  I thought you were still in Cairo or Daakar."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:04, Mon 25 May 2020.

"Hello, old chap!" exclaims Roger as he shakes JM's hand.

"Frightfully glad to see you again. I got wind that you finally came out from that pyramid again. What in the blazes were you doing in there for two weeks? More of this cult business? And what happened to your friends?"

He calls one of the porters over. "I brought some food and drink, as well as some first aid kits. We should get out of here and back to civilization."

JM gladly shook hands with his old friend.  He glanced over his shoulder at the pyramid and shuddered. Lowering his voice he continued; "Cursed work inside there, some kind of time slip or such.  It seemed only a few minutes to us inside but... well, two weeks... I would not have believed it... well, more than a couple of months ago since we were all tangled up in this mess."  JM shook his head.  "Well, we had an encounter with a being out of a nightmare.  One of the group was killed outright and the other... well he went elsewhere is all I can say."

Smiling JM nodded his head. "Food, drink and some sanity would be good.  There is a lot more to be said if you're willing to hear us out.  It's enough to get one sent to Bedlam but true enough unless the lot of us have been in a joint state of hysteria."

"Indeed, I don't think its continued existence can help us, or humanity at large. Better the thing be demolished. Although yes... Perhaps after we're a little further along on our own investigation. It's not clear the Brotherhood knows we visited, and I agree with the Count, I see no reason to disabuse them of that.

"How quickly can we get moving? And how precisely do we know the location of the ceremony? If we need to do rooting about, we might do some investigations first here among friends. But if you're able to find it on a chart, there's nothing left for us here, I think."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 221):

Alexander looked up at the hole near the top of the pyramid. "If that wasn't there before, then perhaps he knows now."

He then studied the group, noticing Chi-Yin. "Good morning, miss. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alexander, this is Roger. I trust you have met everyone else here. I have heard about you from my friend, Mah'mud. You were part of the Clive expedition, then left. Since then you've been staying in Dashur. And Mah'mud has been keeping an eye on you."

Chi-Yin recalled that the boy who was her local guide was Mah'mud, and she'd been staying with his aunt in the nearby town of Dashur to pursue her studies independently from the wicked Sir Clive.

In reply to Alexander Hussein Mahfouz (msg # 222):

"Yes. He's a good lad." she nodded."I'm Wong Chi-yin." she added, so he knew her name.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 221):

Realising he hadn't answered Cynthia's questions, he continued.

"We can take my motor yacht right now back down the Nile to Cario.

"One person I can think of who might know about the ceremony is the high priest of the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh, Omar al-Shakti. But he has almost a private army.

"The other person who might know is Sir Clive. His expedition out at Memphis is sponsored by the Penhew Institute, a nest of cultists. It's the same organisation that sent the Penhew expedition to their death. Or perhaps not? At least the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh was smashed in England by you folks. Miss Wong here was part of that expedition, until she left. And if you recall, there is that dutch fellow, Jan van Huevelen. He was also part of the Clive expedition before leaving.

"I forgot to mention,the Dutchman has finished his translation of the scrolls he found in the temple of Bast. He said that due to your help he is willing to help make introductions with Sir Clive. And, well, he's said some things that are rather odd."

This message was last edited by the player at 03:49, Tue 23 June 2020.

JM shook his head.  "I say blow the cursed thing up and collapse it into rubble.  We can stay out of the limelight if the destruction is sponsored by the government." He paused.  "We need to move quickly but as Cynthia states we should do some investigation quickly while we can.  I say we talk to this Dutch fellow first and see what he has to say." 

He turned to Chi-yin; "Do you think that we can approach Sir Clive without giving ourselves away Miss?"  JM glanced around at the others. "We'll need a plausible excuse to talk to Sir CLive but it is probably worth it.  We can either have miss Wong introduce us or van Huevelen."

"I would like to go speak with the Dutchman and see the results of the translations. I'm certain the introduction can be arranged after. We've lost time again. I'd like to leave right away, even if that means a disruption to van Huevelen's sleep tonight."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 226):

"That can be arranged. Come, my yacht is waiting. Let's be away back down the Nile to Cairo. We'll deal with the temple and throne room later. Everything shall be recorded, then destroyed." The sun was now rising into the sky. The cool morning air began to warm rapidly. Alexander had his touring car brought around the base of the pyramid to bring them to his yacht, then downriver to Cairo.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 225):

''I should think so. I can't imagine what excuse we could come up with though, so we do not disturb his suspicions.'' Chi-yin replied.

"Ok, Dutchman first and then Sir Clive."  JM followed along with the others.  He nodded slowly.  "We'll figure the rest out I suppose."

Cynthia pauses a moment approaching the boat, remembering the beasts that attacked the city in the river... but it's still a sight better than driving. At this rate, the only way she'll feel save traveling anywhere is in retired WWI airplanes.