Props

Equipment cards detailing the characters' possessions

A

Pistol (Tech 21, damage 15, max. range 40 m)
Rope (100 feet)
Water
Mosquito repellant
Backpack, which contains:

Archaeological tools
Tent (sleeps 2)
First aid kit (gives +1 adds to first aid skill)
Hieroglyphic dictionary
Food

B

Rope (100 feet)
Water
Your personal journal
Maps of the area
Snakebite kit (gives +0 adds to medicine skill)
Machete (Tech 20, damage equals your Strength + 5)
Backpack, which contains:

Pistol (Tech 22, damage 15, max. range 40 m)
University of Chicago ID papers
Archaeological tools
Food

C

Rope (100 feet)
Grapnel (weight value 2)
Water
Machete (Tech 20, damage equals your Strength + 5)
University of Chicago ID papers
Pistol (Tech 21, damage 15, max. range 40 m)
Extra ammo for pistol
Backpack, which contains:

Food
Archaeological tools
Tent (sleeps 2)
Flashlight

D

Rifle (Tech 19, damage 18, max. range 600 m)
Extra ammo for the rifle
Water
University of Chicago ID papers
Backpack, which contains:

Archaeological tools
Food
Rope (100 feet)
2 Roadside flares (Tech 22)

E

Pistol (Tech 22, damage 15, max. range 40 m)
Water
University of Chicago ID papers
Machete (Tech 20, damage equals your Strength + 5)
Backpack, which contains:

Archaeological tools
Food
Inflatable raft (Tech 23, Toughness 8, seats 6)
Waterproof matches
The Mbetti tile

F

Pistol (Tech 21, damage 15, max. range 40 m)
Water
Machete (Tech 20, damage equals your Strength + 5)
Backpack, which contains:

Archaeological tools
Food
Phrase book, English - Amharic
Book, Poisons of Africa
Tent (sleeps 2)
University of Chicago ID papers

The prophecy

The vizier spoke unto the Pharaoh, saying, "The stars speak of a time when the gods whom we adore, and among whom our glorious Pharaoh is to be counted, shall turn their faces from this world. For many lifetimes thereafter shall the world suffer agonies beyond counting: famines, floods, the collapse of kingdoms, the scourge of plague. All this is written in the stars.

"But also it is written that the gods shall once again return to this world. This time shall be marked by great wars and dark magic. The bodies of the dead shall rise in great numbers, and a false pharaoh shall rule the land."

"Will the gods destroy this charlatan who claims my title?"

Meekly replied the vizier, "The stars do not say."

Thundered the Pharaoh, "I shall have built a great armory, far from the eyes of men! Within that armory, Rama-Sek, shall you gather the means to defeat this false pharaoh. There shall the tools remain until they are needed. So let it be written; so let it be done!"

The four Mbetti tiles (assembled)

tiles.jpg (67191 bytes)

The translation:

Sekhennet, in service to your pharaoh Amenemhet, you will lead my army against the false pharaoh that Rama-Sek has foreseen. Prepare to take up your service in the armory I have built on the river Hoppara-Sem, in distant Nubia, north of The Place of the Two Moons.

Hoppara-Sem is Amenemhet's name for the Nile River in Nubia. This is the river far below the heroes when they're on the rope bridge in Scene 1.

The Place of the Two Moons is a point along the eastern river bank which is opposite a cliff face of very smooth granite. At this particular location, when the moon rises, its reflection in the granite cliff face is visible and very clear, so an observer sees two moons (the real one and its reflection). The armory lies only a few hundred feet north (upriver) of this location. The armory is right on the river, whereas The Place of the Two Moons is at the top of the river bank, about 300 m above the river.