4. The First Expedition

Grim waddles up the steps. He glares at the glyphs warily through brown bulging eyes.
Aye, the diety receives gifts from subjects and rules over them if their sacrifices are favorable to him. Such is de normal premise across all de mythos.

"Well, sir Zucchini," Jacky says to the despondent warrior, "These very images may hold the key to finding any such treasure in the first place!"

"And who knows, divine magic may hold the key to restoring your lost years as well." he adds, turning back after he's climbed a few steps with Billie in tow.

Jacky's attempts to motivate Zacharias elicit a smile from Ella. She continues moving upward.

The Pyramid of Thoth
You ascend the marble steps to the 30’ x 30’ platform at the top of the pyramid, the floor of which is sheathed in white marble. A dark grey granite canopy rises 30’ above the platform to accommodate the enormous statue of Thoth. Purple porphyry* columns support the canopy. Crouching at the foot of each column is a heavily pitted 4’-tall statue of a crouching baboon, with its mouth slightly open as if barking.

The 20’-tall statue of Thoth represents the epitome of the sculptor’s trade. Carved out of a solid block of porphyry, and topped with a white marble ibis head, the statue is truly awe-inspiring. Two grapefruit-sized lumps of shaped jade serve as eyes. The god’s arms rest flat at his side.

Directly in front of the statue of Thoth is a 10’ x 5’ section of pavement that is obviously distinct from the rest of the platform.



* If, like me, you didn’t know what "porphyry" is, it’s a purple-red stone.

Is it reasonable that Billie could climb the 120 stairs up the pyramid? Does anyone have any expert mule knowledge? I have no idea!

---
8:30 am, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Don’t try to pry out those eyes. I’ve heard these tales before Zach said as he made sure to stand far away from the obvious (to him) trap in front of the statue. fool me once…

"If such pretty gems could’ve been pried away, they’d have been long gone," the elf commented. "Maybe we must pray, or make offerings before the god opens the way?"

With the fine senses of her elven heritage Ella began to consider the distinct section of pavement in front of the statue. Could it be a passage? If so, how could it be activated?

Jacky taps the elf on the shoulder. "Look at the statue, Ella! Its arms are raised in the pictures we saw. Both arms in the first where there's people going down."

He raps his ten foot pole on the inscribed section of the floor. If the stone is thick, it wouldn't matter, but if not maybe it would sound different from the other tiles for being hollow beneath.

"May be the supplication of its followers is what opens the way, and has him raise his arms, arms that must be then filled with valuable sacrifice to satiate his godly needs," she spoke, while examining the floor for any indication of a secret passage, or a mechanism able to activate it.

"Bird-man very big. Not carrying that one back!" Thrudmarr exclaims, then points at the monkey statues. "Little monkeys small though. Maybe we carry one back to statue buyers?."
"When arms up, stairs come! We just lift arms, easy! Want me to do?" Thrudmarr flexes his muscles and looks around the group, awaiting their approval before trying anything.

The Pyramid of Thoth
There is a hollow sound when Jacky taps the distinct floor section with his 10’ pole. It certainly appears to be a hatch or covering of some sort. However, there’s no obvious way of opening it. You cannot simply lift it up.

---
8:30 am, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Belisarios, Archontean Magic User 1: 3/3, ?’
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Grim stoops low, to the hallowed floor. Which, takes no time at all, at just over four feet tall, he doesn’t have far to go!
Examining the floor around the area of the hatch, our dwarven fellow checks for markings or interesting stonework that might uplift the latch.

"We don't have any jewels to offer Thoth," Jacky says. "Let's give your plan a try, Thrudmarr."

The halfling walks behind the statue and braces his pole against the other arm, ready to push.

"Stand back everyone! Thrudmarr got this!"

Thrudmarr rolls his shoulders in preparation as he approaches the statue. He positions himself at the opposite arm Jacky braced his pole on and attempts to push it up into a 90' angle as per the first image.

The Pyramid of Thoth
The arms of the statue do indeed rotate at the shoulder. In fact, they move rather smoothly and easily.

Without much effort, Thrudmarr raises the left arm by 90 degrees so that it is parallel to the ground.

Nothing happens.

Is Jacky going to push the right arm similarly?

---
8:30 am, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Belisarios, Archontean Magic User 1: 3/3, ?’
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Seeing the big man's success, Jacky waves the others to stand away from the inscribed panel before pushing the other arm up.

Zach bemoans the futility of life. They never learn. What’s going to come out of the hole this time, a vampire?

The Pyramid of Thoth
As Jacky raises the statue’s right arm such that it is also parallel to the floor, the cover grinds 5’ to the west to reveal a flight of well-worn stairs leading steeply down and north into darkness.

The stairs are only 5’ wide so, if you want to descend it will have to be in single file. Please check your marching order and update if necessary. Unless you tell me otherwise, I’ll assume Belisarious simply takes Vasco’s position.

It’s going to be a tight squeeze for Billie! Are you sure you want to take him?

What is your light source going to be? And who’s going to carry it?

---
8:30 am, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Belisarios, Archontean Magic User 1: 3/3, ?’
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

"Stairs! We did it!" Thrudmarr exclaims excitedly. He approaches the hole and peers down into the darkness. "Very dark. Thrudmarr have lantern, can carry light if friends want."

Please stand behind me with the lantern, Master Thrustfork. They must go through me before they get to you. Zach slips his shield off of his back and mounts it firmly on his left hand. Wielding the large bastard sword one-handed with a competence not found in his name-retention skills, Zach grits his teeth, exhales, and whispers OK, fiends, come to poppa. as he begins to descend.