Escape The Tomb

(align: "===><=")[###Escape<br>The Tomb<h1>] ####Egypt, 1927 during the winter season (November). The Museum funding the dig is demanding a report on progress but there is little to report. Five weeks have past with little to show for it until one evening...<h4> Escape The Tomb is a simple (colour: blue+white)[Escape Plot or Milieu] where the audience find themselves trapped underground in an ancient tomb. To find their a way out, they will need to collect artifacts to unlock a secret path through which they can (colour: yellow)[Escape the Tomb]. This simple adventure illustrates basic and common elements needed to track a reader's progress through a (colour:green)[Twine] experience. This involves simple puzzles and revealing new items as they progress. We begin our story in the excavations [[Field Hut...->The Field Hut]] (set: $signedName to "Your Name") (set: $chest to false) (set: $collectedJars to 0) (set: $jackal to false) (set: $human to false) (set: $falcon to false) (set: $baboon to false) (set: $mummyAwake to false) (set: $switch to false) (set: $ankh to false)

Gentlemen, I know it is with some impatience you await results from this season dig and I will do my best to describe the current circumstances. I admit, these long 5 weeks have been empty of exciting news and that all the work (and cost) so far seems to be for nothing. Do not dispair. We are making great strands this last fortnight and it is with some anticipation I expect to reward your patience with a wonderful find. Taking the lead from my esteemed colleague and friend [[Mr. Howard Carter]], I have had my workman clearing an area thus far left unexplored. In fact, these last few weeks it has become something of a rubbish tip for the soil thus far removed from previous explorations. We begin in earnest tomorrow to excavate that which I have no doubt will prove the biggest find since King Tut. Your Humble Servant, (if: $signedName is "Your Name")[(It needs your [[ Signature -> Signing]])](else:)[$signedName]

Evening is settling in. (if: $signedName is "Your Name")[The heat and dust of the day still fresh in your mind as you sit at your writing desk. The smell from the various artifacts around you, pot shards and chipped stone with heiroglyphs roughly scratched into their surfaces, fills your nostrils as you work on your field report. Not much to show for 5 weeks of back breaking work but you haven't given up hope yet. You finish typing up a [[letter to the Museum]] and carefully read over it before signing.](else:)[You sigh deeply. "I'm calling it a night." Slowly you get up from your desk/work bench and close your eyes as you flop onto your sleeping cot. There's a commotion outside the hut and [[Shakir]] bursts through the open door. "$signedName, we've found something. Tired and exhausted from the heat of the day, you simply roll over. "Tomorrow Shakir, I'm tired, we're all tired. It'll keep until tomorrow..." Shakir will not take no for an answer and roughly shakes your shoulder. "No $signedName, this is different, you must come see for yourself. Half reluctantly, you follow Shakir out to the excavation, finding it hard not to become caught up in his enthusiasm. There have been so many false hopes raised on this dig, please don't let this be another. You pick up your pace to keep up with the excited Shakir and what [[he may have discovered.-> The Pit]]]

(put: (prompt: "Enter Your First Name", "Your Name") into $signedName) [It's getting [[late ->The Field Hut]] and it will be a long day tomorrow.]

You see four workmen standing around a specific part of the area you had asked them to clear away. Immediately, you see what all the commotion has been about. Flagstones there in the ground, with beautiful images, not the scratchings from earlier rubble, these are more refined and developed. They are part of something important. Something big. Kneeling, accept a whisk from Shakir to brush away the loose sand. "Shakir! This...this is unbelievable. If I am translating the cartouches correctly, we've found h-" There's a sharp CRACK and the stones give way beneath you. Falling. The rushing of air. Sand and grit getting into your mouth, nose and eyes. Then [[ blackness... | corridor ]]

After the name of a pharaoh, this name means “royalty and abundance”.

Your friend and site foreman for the project. [[Return to Field Hut->The Field Hut]]

There are four in total: Imsety has a Human head and contain the Liver Qebehsenuf has the head of a Falcon and holds the Intestines Hapy is a Baboon headed jar containing the Lungs Duamatef is the Jackal holding the Stomach

A beautifully crafted wooden chest, taller than it is wide. You examine the interior and see what look to be slots or baffles breaking up it's interior space into 4 sections. Closing the lid, you admire the inlaid garnet and glass with gold leaf and studs. Priceless. Will you (link: "take the chest")[(set: $chest to true)(goto: "Burial Chamber")] or [[leave it->Burial Chamber]]?

####West Corridor <h4> You cough. The air is stale and filled with dust from your fall. In the dark, you carefully check yourself for damage. Pulling a box of matches from your pocket, you strike a match. You stand in what looks like a short corridor. Above you is the now filled hole you fell through, blocked by stone and gravel. "Hello! Shakir! Can you hear me!?" You drop the match before it burns your fingers and listen. No reply. How deep could you be? Time to take stock. You strike another match. It is indeed a corridor and there appear to be torches in staunches on the wall. If the oils haven't completely dried out... The torch crackles into flaming life. That's better. Behind you, to the West (at least that's what you'll call it from now on) are a buried flight of stairs and the blocked hole in the ceiling. This is the tomb entrance! You look down the corridor to the east and there is a passage way branching off to [[the East. ->Burial Chamber]].

####The Pharoh's Tomb <h4> Here rests the King's sarcophagus. (if: $chest is false)[There is a [[small open chest->Chest]] cast to one side. A dust free rectangle at the foot of the sarcophagus marks the chests original resting place.](else-if: $collectedJars is 4 and $switch is false)[You enter the chamber to find the sarcophagus lid open and a rather degnified albeit, skeletal looking figure wrapped in muslin standing beside it. "You have retrieved my sacred canopic jars, now I may continue my journey to the afterlife. I am grateful and to show my gratitude, I present a passage so you too may continue your journey." From his wrappings he produces an Ankh which he hands to you. Placing the canopic chest down at the foot of the sacophogus, you accept the key. "Let Anubis be your guide."(set: $ankh to true) With that, the great Pharoh crumbles into a heap of rotten muslin, bones and dust. ](else-if: $switch is true)[A [[secret exit->Stairway Escape]] is here branching off to the East. You can dimly make out a flight of stairs.] There is a passage to the South that will take you [[to the Treasure Room->Treasure Room]]. A passage takes you West [[back to the corridor-> corridor ]] through which you arrived.

####Treasure Room <h4> As you enter, the light from your torch catches the gleam of gold everywhere. Bright flashes distract you as you move through the chamber. (if: $jackal is false)[You notice a canopic jar with a [[jackal's head->Jackal]] on the ground.](else:)[You see the outline of the jar you picked up in the dust.] [There are passages to [[the East->Annex]] and directly ahead to [[the South->Antichamber]].] The other passage takes you back to the [[Pharoh's Tomb->Burial Chamber]].

####The Annex<h4> Filled with everyday objects for the afterlife. In any egyptian home, these would be recognizable and common. But to an Archeologist, they are priceless treasures as valuable as the gold in the [[Treasure Room]]. A Passage to [[the South->Storeroom]]

####Store Room <h4> There are boxes and large jars here filled with what are now dryed out food and wine stuffs for the afterlife. (if: $falcon is false)[There is a [[Falcon headed->Falcon]] canopic jar on the floor.] The only way out is back through the [[Annex]].

####Antichamber <h4> Bits and pieces of furniture are here. The materials maybe 'common' but the value to history make their value incalculable. (if: $baboon is false)[One [[baboon headed->Baboon]] canopic jar.] There is a passage to [[the West->Shrine Room]] and the passage back to the [[Treasure Room]].

####Shrine Room <h4> A beautiful golden statue of Anubis is in the corner housed in a guilded shrine. (if: $switch is false)[Oddly, Anubis is facing the wall, his back to you. The only way out seems to be back through the [[Antichamber]].](else:)[Anubis points back towards the [[Antichamber->Antichamber]]] The bones of an ancient tomb robber lie on the floor.(if: $human is false)[Close by is a [[human headed->Human]] canopic jar.] (if: $ankh and $switch is false)[Heeding the Pharoh's words, you look over the Shrine of Anubis more carefully now, "Let Anubis be your guide." Sure enough, you see an indentation that matches the shape of the Ankh. Putting it in place, you hear a click and a switch is revealed at the base of the statue. Licking your dry lips [[you toggle it->Switch]].]

Stairs leading up and out of the tomb. You hope. You can go [[back to the tomb->Burial Chamber]] if you wish or head up the steps and [[fresh air->Fresh Air]].

You come to heavy flagstones that block your exit from the tomb. You try with all your might to shift them but to no affect. Then you hear the thuds of picks and scrap of shovels. Could it be...!? "SHAKIR!" The digging noises die away... A voice muffled through the rock, "$signedName is that you!?" "Yes, it's me! I'm just below some flagstones!" "We are here! Give us a moment!" As good as his word, you see the flagstones lifted away and a rush of fresh air fills your lungs. Skakir's hand reaches down and with that help you are once again breathing in the open night air. Shakir looks you over with a mixed look of joy and concerned all at once. "I cannot say how enormously pleased I am that you are rescued. Are you hurt at all my friend?" "No, not at all as surprising as that may see,. I cannot not thank you enough at how happy I am you didn't give up on me Shakir. Thank you my friend." "Let me get you back to the hut and bring you water $signedName." "No, not water Shakir. Wine. In fact for everyone. Do I have a story for you." The End.

(set: $switch to true) The statue rotates counter clockwise, it's arm now points to the [[Shrine's entrance->Shrine Room]] and beyond. You feel more than hear a faint deep rumbling in the walls around you. Something has changed...

####Duamutef<h4> You hold a canopic jar with a Jackal's head. This is Duamutef a son of Horus. One of four actually. Or was it Osiris? This canopic jar would hold the Pharoh's stomach once it was removed during the mummification process and Duamutef's job is to protect it. Best not to open and peek in side... (if: $chest is false)[You put it back and [[carry on->Treasure Room]]](else:)[Will you (link: "take the Canopic jar")[(set: $jackal to true)(set: $collectedJars to $collectedJars+1)(goto: "Treasure Room")] or [[leave it->Treasure Room]]?]

####Imsety<h4> The human head of this canopic jar indicates it's Imsety, son of Horus, charged like his brothers to guard and organ of the dead Pharoh. In this case the liver. His key role in the afterlife would be to revivify the body of the Pharoh. (if: $chest is false)[You put it back and [[carry on->Shrine Room]]](else:)[Will you (link: "take the Canopic jar")[(set: $human to true)(set: $collectedJars to $collectedJars+1)(goto: "Shrine Room")] or [[leave it->Shrine Room]]?]

####Qebehsenuf<h4> You hold a canopic jar with a stopper in the shape of a Falcon's head. This is Qebehsenuf one of the four sons of Horus. This jar holds the Pharoh's intestines removed during mummification. Qebehsenuf guards it. You resist the temptation to peek in side... (if: $chest is false)[You put it back and [[carry on->Storeroom]]](else:)[Will you (link: "take the Canopic jar")[(set: $falcon to true)(set: $collectedJars to $collectedJars+1)(goto: "Storeroom")] or [[leave it->Storeroom]]?]

####Hapy<h4> You hold Hapy the Baboon headed son of Horus. No need to look inside, the jar holds the Pharoh's lungs, one of the many organs removed during mummification and Hapy was it's guardian. (if: $chest is false)[You put it back and [[carry on->Antichamber]]](else:)[Will you (link: "take the Canopic jar")[(set: $baboon to true)(set: $collectedJars to $collectedJars+1)(goto: "Antichamber")] or [[leave it->Antichamber]]?]

[###Howard Carter<h3>] (9 May 1874 – 2 March 1939) was an English archaeologist and Egyptologist. He became world-famous after discovering the intact tomb of the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh, Tutankhamun (designated as KV62) in November 1922. Tutankhamun's tomb is famous because of the treasures it held intact for over three thousand years; it is the best-preserved pharaonic tomb found in the Valley of the Kings. (align: "=><=" )[<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Howard_carter.jpg">] (align: "=><=" )[(Courtesy Wikipedia)] [[Return to Letter->letter to the Museum]]