You could still hear the shooting and cries from outside.
(Their oooooo so good contract isn't even worth shit. Wasn't it obvious that the moment the doors are opened somebody is going to shoot to have an advantage in the chaos?)
As there was no light in the temple the monologue of Alexander gave the atmosphere a vibe of an evil villain monologue while strode on.
As he went deeper and deeper into the complex he arrived at a crossing. So deep inside he could distinguish that there were also shots fired also from further inside.
{ Those shoots are coming from straight ahead. It should be the main room of the temple. I'm looking for a secret chamber. Where would I put on in this kind of complex.
Mhhhh...
As far as I can conclude the most important secret chamber should be as difficult to reach as possible obviously. How can you achieve it under these circumstances?
...
possibly by constructing a path that goes around the whole complex maybe ones under it ones over it and it will end highly likely deeper inside the mountain then even the main hall. It should also highly likely have a secret one-way exist into the main hall.
So now let's think which direction is more likely to be the correct one.
I can find some symbols from the front doors again here on the left and right branches of the crossing.
The emblem of the temple were two dragons coiling around each other while both head a paw on an Egg in the middle.
On the left the mouth especially the teeth of a dragon are very well depicted on the left I can only see a mosaic similar art style. But something bugs me seeing it.
The pattern lets me remember the egg in the dragon emblem. I'm no archeologists nor am I good at solving such puzzles. I'm a biologist. However, I personally think the egg is more important than a part of the weapons of a dragon. Because from an egg you can get a dragon with all his weapons.
Let's hope I'm not too far off}
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Deeper into the temple it became noticeable that everything was perfectly clean. Not dust nothing could be found on the floor. It seems as if the whole temple was locked air tight and every block every pillar looks to be of a perfect quality so it may never crumble to time.
( Note down: "The quality of craftsmanship is on a standard not even reached today." )
( Also note: "The overall pattern shown in the right wing symbolizes festival cultural exchange between communities. To be taken note of is the distinct features of the split-up groups. Here can be analyzed that whoever build this was already aware of different ethical groups. Especially it can be interpreted that a kind of monarchical system was in place as with in the festival depictions on the top position different ethical groups are rotating the ownership, except for one." End of the Note!
Such positions are normally for the ruling class. I think there was one main royalty while the other tribes rotated who was the royalty's left and right hand. What do you think? )
( Surely it was a monarchical system with on main royalty. However, I don't share your opinions on the roles of the rotating tribes or if we even should call these 'tribes' or maybe something bigger than a 'tribe'. )
( Hello Marknishov and Lehner! I can hear you are already doing you work with enthusiasm. )
( Hello Alexander! Yes, it is. I can't wait to go deeper down the tunnel! ) - Lehner
( Lehner! Don't forget with you have to report within 3 hours at the main hall! And this tunnel is too long. If I have to speculate this long network should tell a whole story. However, they are not interested in it right now. They want an overview so go in at least 1 hour back to the right side and do you job there!! ) - Alexander
( Don't commandeer us around! We are all in the same boat we know what we are doing! ) - Marknishov
( Good. If you know I won't disturb you any longer. I'm going in deeper. Bye )
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Going deeper and deeper the passage seemed more and more like a sterilized laboratory area then some ancient ruins. While at the same time the art became less and less. During this little journey Alexander went through many crossings. He always chose the one that would allow him to move on in a clockwork kind of way, which also was at the same time going closer and closer to the middle of the mountain.
At last he arrived at a dead end.
However, there was a slate. On it 5 rows of some kind of sign language. Similar signs could be found around the whole complex, but those were always only single symbols no long coherent text. Under it there was a claw imprint, similar to human security hand imprint scanners, with an arrow kind of shape pointing to an oval indentation.
Something in Alex mind told him to put his hand in that oval indentation although he as a scientist knows better than to risk his safety blindly. A never before felt greed overcame him to get whatever was behind that wall. As such he could not stop himself.
It felt somehow oily although in the light of the head torch he wasn't able to see any kind light reflection typical for oil.
Nonetheless whatever mechanism was started ran in complete silence. The only indication that something happened was the hole opening straight ahead with its center where Alexander had put his hand.
{ So, I am able to find what I was looking for, the secret vault. The only thing I cannot wrap my head around is why it would open so willingly. It can't be a trap. A trap wouldn't be useful if you wanted to protect what ever is inside. Hiding the entrance better and denying that it is here and not somewhere else would have been much better.
I won't complain any more. Let's see what I can gain within here. )
Within the chamber absolute darkness ruled. Only the cone of light from Alexanders head torch went around the walls over to the flour till it found pillars. Following the pattern of pillars, it found an altar.
The altar was empty.
No not completely empty. There were some kind of liquid residues around a stand, which looked to have hold something oval a long time ago. After carefully conserving the residues and storing them he looks for a secret exist.
While striving around the wall he could perceive very weak vibrations. Coming to the conclusion it must be from explosive being used in the main hall Alexander intensified his search on this section of the wall.
Completely else then finding the entrance it proved near impossible to find the special exit. Returning the way, he came in was also not easily possible as he couldn't identify the mechanism to opening the entrance. As the 3-hour mark was nearing and alexander became truly stressed luck took pity on him and as he coincidentally put his second, third and fourth fingers together resembling a claw just in mini the mechanism start and again a hole appeared straight ahead of him.