This real-time doc is
presented in partial fulfillment of the generous Harley-Dawkins grant. The
purpose of this study is to delve into the first archeological depths of the X
culture, a Latin American tribe only recently discovered.
The structure of their
once-flourishing habitat is astounding and what is more astounding is the
covert nature of the ruins location. We have only recently discovered the
city, being nestled securely in the tree-covered shade of a rich
valley.
The central hub of the
architecture is a familiar ziggurat, but the outlying structures indicate more
advanced technological engineering - there is an interconnected series of
towers, along with a multi-leveled garden structure. Our expedition will
include only the ziggurat structure, but future expeditions (funding pending)
will involve the outlying structures.
Our transporter touched
down on the islands exterior last night, and we are now making our way
through the final steps of the descent into the valley. Our team consists of
five members: Myself, Dr. Alexander Cree, Dr. RA Bensworth, and two guides
provided by your institution.
Dr. Cree is an expert in
linguistics and will help us interpret any hieroglyphs or pictograms we
encounter; Dr. Bensworth is versed in architecture and will keep us apprised of
any dangers as we move through the structure; I have made this ancient culture
my personal study, as well as the cultural differences among other ancient
Latin American cultures.
We are now approaching the
steps of the ziggurat, which is in remarkable condition. A few vines have
displaced stones, but this is a small amount of damage. Everything is
remarkably preserved. Upon entering the doorway, there is a message carved into
the wall.
Dr. Cree tells us this is
a greeting and... that the people have welcomed us.
There is more writing
along the wall as we continue down a horizontal pathway. Dr. Cree informs us
that the language reads, We are a proud people, an ancient people, and
are proud to share our history with any visitors. Beware to anyone who enters
with false ideas about us. Accompanying these words, there are pictograms
of prehistoric creatures, as well what appears to be a king or leader with his
people, perhaps commissioning the building of this structure.
Fascinating.
The path becomes steeper,
leading into the bowels of the structure. The pictograms become more complex.
We see a small number of people becoming a greater number of people. Then there
is a remarkable discovery - a queen of some sort. She is humanoid, with a regal
headpiece that has many panels. This queen, or goddess, stands twice as tall as
the other figures in the image.
Then there is the
miraculous image of a circle, or orb, levitating or rising above the people and
the queen reaches out to gather this object. She is most definitely a deity and
this... orb... must be the representation of the sun or some power. Perhaps it
was a time of good fortune in the peoples history.
The next image may need
further study. It is of the queen/goddess holding the object. Lines emit from
the object and seem to project tablets or larger structures, resembling
buildings. Further images feature the orb as a central theme, each time
projecting with the same series of lines. There are images of large beasts, of
a cloud, and of larger groups of people. It is hard to discern in these ancient
images where metaphor ends and reality begins.
One of our guides has
stepped onto a tile which Dr. Bensworth has informed us will result in a trap
of some kind. Dr. Bensworth is telling the guide to step forward quickly and
drop into a roll. The guide does so, rolls forward, and a beam of light (this
is hard to describe) emits, striking our poor guide. This is a new and much
more advanced kind of trap. There is some discussion of moving back, but we
have enough revival stems to restart ourselves and leave safely. We flag the
spot and make a note to return with a revival stem.
This is an excellent
opportunity to say thank you once more for the generous funding you have
provided, which has brought us a supply of revival stems.
We continue and note now
that the pictograms have shifted to the building of the outlying structures. We
are again seeing the queen/goddess as a central figure, always holding the orb.
She is clearly directing the group.
Then there is a strange
absence of images. Perhaps this was a time of famine or war. It appears that
our assumption is correct; when the images resume, there are many images of
battle - great battles among very large people groups. The queen is always
hovering above the conflicts.
There is another absence
of images and the path becomes much steeper. There is a series of tombs
containing few objects. We continue on.
Now there is a stranger
image. It is of the entire island and there is a symbol at the approximate
location of our landing. We see a small group of people.
Next, we see images of
people hurting one another. These are images of a small war and there is much
wealth represented in the image, held only by a few. Dr. Cree tells us that the
message accompanying this image is: Beware to those who have made greed
their god.
We now see the small group
again, contained in what appears to be a shaft of light. Within a few blocks,
there is an image of the queen again, who has been missing from the past few
pictograms, standing with her people.
Dr. Cree tells us that the
message accompanying this pictogram is, Welcome again, discoverers and
those who study. You have made our journey possible.
There is a small sound
behind us, like growling, and we turn to see the queen herself. This is...
impossible. She is translucent, inhuman, standing tall... very tall. We are
running. Please send a support group. Support group.
Dr. Cree, hurry. Oh my
God. Dr. Cree. Someone has grabbed me, I am over someones shoulder. The
images on the wall... they are showing me the queen, they are further in to the
structure, she is levitating over... everything... over us. The pictures show
her standing above... all the nations.
She is coming.