Chapter 1: Shunet El Zebib

Music

The brazier comes alive with green fire. With a ponderous grinding of stone, the three doorways slowly slide open. You note that the one to your left does not open all the way. It seems some of the mechanisms here, magical or not, have not escaped the ravages of time. The stone leopards turn their heads towards you. A voice speaking in the Old Tongue, booms from the statue in the center.

Dae aslahtakk arda.
Ada altaaet.
Sajid nafsak qab'l al'akiyya.
Taqdim alturh alkhasi b'ka.

Akh translates:

Lay down thine weapons.
Perform the obeisance.
Prostrate thyself before our Magnificence.
Bring forth thine offering.

The stone leopards are crouched to pounce, but appear to be awaiting your response. What do you do?

Music

Historical accounts of the god-pharaohs are few, and are often of dubious provenance. From what Akh has read, the whims and appetites of those mercurial personages were varied, and mutable as the seasons. There was he who favored the blood of virgins, and there was she who preferred milk and honey. One made his priests bring him frankincense and myrrh. Another flogged the cleric who sacrificed a spring lamb, when that cult knew full well the god-pharaoh preferred the still-beating heart of a human boy.

The guardians turn to Soro, who has yet to respond. The voice booms again:

Lay down thine weapons.
Perform the obeisance. 
Prostrate thyself before our Magnificence.
Bring forth thine offering. 

The offering is not only acceptable, it is perfect. As Soro lays down his waterskin, Jana completes the sacrifice by slashing it open and spilling the precious contents on the ground. The voice speaks one last command: "ENTER, FAITHFUL SERVANT."

Music

Three doors now lie open. One to the north, in the base of the throne, one to the east, and the half-open one to the west. The guardians sit still as you rise, but snarl and poise to strike when you attempt to retrieve your weapons.

What do you do?

Everyone leaves their weapons in the antechamber, including -- surprisingly -- the Swordsman.

Music

You duck through the doorway to the north. A long hallway stretches in front of you, sloping gently downward. Wall sconces burning with pale green fire bathe the murals with an eerie glow. The torch held aloft by the Swordsman is a beacon of life as you descend into the sepulcher. The leopard guardians may have protected this place for centuries from looters and such, but they have done nothing to stop the intrusion of vermin. Now and again, a beetle or scorpion crunches underfoot, and glittering eyes watch you from the hearts of gossamer webs.

At length, you emerge onto a platform overlooking a great shaft or pit. You glimpse the god-pharaoh's sarcophagus atop a marble dais, four levels below. On the second level, you see a doorway on the east side. And on the third level, a doorway on the west side. It's now easy to guess where the other tunnels from the antechamber lead.

What do you do?

Akh, you thought you saw a scuttle of movement down there. The west doorway. Or maybe it was just a trick of the light.

It looks like it might also be possible to rappel down those platforms jutting out towards the center from each level.

Do you return to the antechamber, or try the platforms?