The Expedition to the Ancient Pyramid

[Aryn Gentlepaw]

The Expedition sent out from Kun Qalasi to explore the ruins of an ancient site allegedly connected to the ancestors of the fennecs has successfully returned after several days out in the desert. This is the summary of the report, Overseer Rami submitted to the authorities (aka Vepar and Senusnet);

Notable members of the expedition team:

The bothers Sefu and Adion, Vepar's son Sebek and guardsman Osman, Overseer Rami and a few of his men, Sha'Re and the Anubian scholar Kan-Ta Sil'Dur

Notable events:

The rumors about a roaming Minotaur turned out to be true. When the beast realized it had been engaged by Qalasians, it flew into a rage and had to be killed before it was able to hurt or even kill members of the expedition force. During the fight the giant beetle mount, bred and trained by the Caravanserai and Nebt-Het, also turned out to be a formidable fighter who almost took down the minotaur by itself, while being directed and ridden by Osman, who also seemed to bond deeply with the animal. This led to Rami gifting the beetle mount to the Qalasian guard, and it now is being discussed to introduce a beetle rider unit into the Qalasian army.

The Pyramid of the Ancients seemed to have been dedicated to Ra and Sekhmet, as well as some ancestor hero referred to as "The Savior". During the investigation of the abandoned tunnels and halls of the complex, Adion and Sefu managed to get hurt, albeit not severely. There was also a camp of another group of explorers, most likely tomb robbers, who had been in the pyramid before but got trapped inside by the heka powered barriers. They perished inside, and were given the last rites.

Acquisitions: Inscriptions on walls and coffins, mostly dedicated to that savior put to rest inside the upper chamber of the pyramid. A strange metal that seems related to a tablet with instructions about how to work that metal, which might have fallen from the sky and is assumed to be meteorite. There was also a fire orb that probably powered the barriers inside the pyramid and was charged by the golden capstone of the pyramid. The capstone is still there, but covered to disable the barriers. Both tablet and fire orb are currently kept securely in the Caravanserai.

There is still more that could be taken from that site, so for now the camp is maintained near the base of the pyramid.

Signed,

Overseer Rami of the Kun Qalasi Caravanserai

[Ashtyn]

Osman presented the minotaur's skull to the fennec king Senusnet, who then had it mounted on the wall as a trophy, and then temporarily mounted on an outside wall where everyone can see and be proud of the achievement of their warriors!

[Tenaar Feiri]

Transcript of inscriptions found on the sarcophagus.

Recorded by scholars Kan-Ta, Sebek & Sha're, together with guardsman Adion.

Lid

    O Aouoaa, chosen of Sekhmet, saviour of all, light of tomorrow
    Defender of the righteous
    Beacon through the Blackened Sun
    We the humble bless this hall for the journey
    Life for life
    Sacrifice for prosperity
    The jackal welcomes you to the Fields

Sarcophagus walls

Aouoaa was born in the Seventh year of the Twelfth era, son of a farmer and his sickly wife. Sixth of his brothers, he was the last of his mother's.
He had a humble upbringing, unaware of his destiny.

When he became adult, he enlisted in the city guard and took up the spear and shield, with which he grew fast proficient. In the years that followed, he grew to become recognised for his skill in combat and was pushed to join the yearly grand melee at the behest of his captain.
There, Aouoaa won his first great battle & would go on to singlehandedly win the tourney, after his team fell short to their foes.

In the moment of stunned silence, Sekhmet appeared with a mighty roar, and warned of the great serpent, who in his envy of the light now sought to cast the world into darkness.
She declared Aouoaa her chosen and bestowed upon him her blessings, that he would lead the charge in the coming war.

<Much of the writing from here on out is to illegible to make out properly, lost to the tooth of time, until the end of the story where legibility improves>

... the serpent's venom had weakened the champion, the blackened sun on high belied by the ring of flames without.
In an act of desperation, Aouoaa turned his gaze skywards and cast his spear unto the heavens, forcing the misguided Ah to fly away from Ra's carriage, flooding the world with light once more.
The hero called upon his goddess Sekhmet and the king of gods, Ra, and drew His divine fire through the dance and prayer. And in his dying act, with his dying breath, Aouoaa consumed the snake's body in the flames and condemned it to its own darkness, forevermore.