Story of the Past

Doing her best to translate and interpret what was written centuries ago upon the obelisk, Lara began telling the tale inscribed.

"Two nameless friends, two separate paths of life they took through the passage of time but close they remained. One grew up to become Pharoah of the land, while the other rose through the ranks to be his closest advisor. For a time, the Pharoah's rule was benevolent and just. Unfortunately, this was to be short lived and the skeletons in the closet had soon started to show along with the long kindred friendship that these two friends once had was to soon meet its prompt demise.

The Pharoah's close friend was apparently a magician of sorts and had a gift in the art of conjuration, which of course this talent was utilised during the Pharoah's reign, but it also influenced the chain of events that appears to happen in this story. Inevitably the lust for power became too much of an attraction for the magician and he eventually discovered the sinister ways of necromancy to fulfil his hungry desire.

Rumours began circulating across the land that people were mysteriously disappearing unexpectedly, not being seen in familiar places nor by their families and friends. Unsettling news of this development soon reached the ears of the Pharoah who called upon his closest friend and ally to investigate the matters at hand. Predictably, the magician misleads and lies to his dear friend overtime about the investigation. This was not only to cast suspicion aside and to avoid capture on his part, but as well to bide his time planning ahead to overthrow the Pharoah. The longer the unnamed sorcerer immersed and delved into the dark arts of magic, the more he lost himself and his humanity in the process."

"Gosh, what happened next?" Christian eagerly asked. They moved further to the other side of the obelisk which told the continuation of the story that Lara took in and soon read out.

"The Pharoah had in his possession a mysterious jewel artefact of important significance that he seemingly inherited. This treasure is said to have an enchanting aura about it, and the scripture goes on to say that if the artefact were to be in the right hands that only those would use the power it holds sparingly if desperately needed. If the jewel were to fall in the wrong hands, then the result of that would be catastrophic and devastation would have no doubt ensue.

The fallen magician ultimately sought out this artefact in question with two goals in mind. He believed not only would it increase his potential prowess, but it would also give him more of a chance of overthrowing his friend to forcibly become the new tyrant ruler that no one could rival. Driven by a mixture of madness and darkness the magician schemed and plotted until when he thought the time was right, so he gathered his forces ready for a stealthy assault upon the palace."

A sound of crumbling rocks from afar in the environment interrupted the storytelling causing both adventurers to glance over to the direction of the noise.

"What caused that I wonder?" said Lara breaking off her speech as she was puzzled by the sudden disturbance.

"I'm sure it is nothing to worry ourselves about." said Christian dismissing the notion to investigate. Nothing but silence came after the fact so assured that no immediate peril was going to befall upon them, he continued the conversation.

"Do you think this artefact is the same one that was mentioned as part of the strange cargo in the papyrus scroll that I had found in Japan?"

"Could be, you want to take over while I take a break?" Lara gestured to the monument as she took a step back.

"My pleasure." They continued researching the obelisk with Christian reading out aloud this time around.

"Unbeknownst to the public that the identity of the assailant was in fact the monarch's closest advisor, the magician turned necromancer continued to sacrifice many. Each one bringing him bleeding on the edge of losing whatever shred of humanity he had left and becoming even more so a monster. However, in one evening those who remained loyal to the Pharoah had disguised themselves and infiltrated the inner circle of the dark rebellion where they had witnessed the treachery that was about to arise and warned their leader.

In disbelief of what he had heard, the Pharoah demanded an audience with who was once a dear friend of his to explain the reasoning of the munity and to an extent was prepared to find a mutual understanding due to their long friendship. Things did not go to plan for the two when they finally came face to face. I can imagine the showdown between them being tense." Christian translated and stated, still in wonderment of the piece of history they were staring at.

Lara herself got a bit carried away into her own world by visualising in her mind a representation of what this conflict would have looked like…

"What happened to you!?" The Pharoah called out to his fallen friend as he gazed at his disfigured visage change. He no longer recognised his once childhood friend.

"Give me the artefact I desire! You know the one I mean or face the wrath of shadow upon your kingdom!" The cursed and twisted necromancer retorted back.

Acknowledging the fact that handing the precious artefact over would be more dangerous than a fight, the Pharoah declined and ordered his soldiers to seize the disgraced magician. A prolonged battle henceforth took place between the palace's military and the forces of darkness summoned by the necromancer. Amidst the clash of weapons all around them, the two leaders eventually confronted each other.

"Back down or face the dire consequences, this is my final warning to you!" The Pharoah cautioned. However, the response back was a wicked chuckle by his new adversary.

"Is that fear I sense in you? I expected better…prepare yourself my old friend!"

The magician tried to attack with all his dark energies that he could muster, but the pursuit was in vain. Using the power of the mystifying artefact as a last resort in the time of crisis, the Pharoah succeeded in prevailing against the enemy.

"Finish me, strike me down. Unleash your inner evil that I know dwells within your soul!" gloated the traitor in a defeated state.

The ruler in dilemma could not decide in that moment in time what fate he would bestow upon him. His great betrayal certainly carried the heavy weight of sentencing him to his execution. Witnesses to this event watched in awe at the spectacle as the Pharoah stuck with his benevolent principles to the verdict he was about to give.

"For your treacherous acts upon my people, the attempt on the life of your Pharoah and once your dear friend and ally. You are hereby banished from these lands, never to return with immediate effect!"

Rendered speechless, the only action the dark sorcerer could do in that occasion was to kneel and submit that he had lost to his opponent. Taking it as a sign of honour from his fallen friend, all the Pharoah could feel was longing and pity for what had transpired. Shockingly, in a swift move the magician had instead been chanting and conjured up a dreadful blade of shadow striking at the Pharoah's heart whilst he had his guard down.

Reinforcements of the Pharoah followed and pursued the perpetrator who vanished thereafter in a wisp of smoke. The Pharoah gravely wounded was taken away and his whereabouts became unknown, not to be seen in public life again. Looks like we have reached the end." Lara summarised.

"An intriguing account to take in…You must be parched after conveying all of that!" Christian expressed.

"It certainly is thirsty work!" Lara responded taking a seat upon a smooth rock surface nearby.

"Here you go, and this is well deserved." Christian handed over a bottle of water to her. He also took out his journal to write down the series of events of what they had uncovered so far.

After Lara had quenched her thirst, she too made notes and a sketch of the decorative obelisk along with part of the surrounding vastness of the area. Once both had completed their drawings, they recommenced their exploration of the eerie complex.