68 68. Building the Pyramid - Part 1 (1/2)
Name: Building the Pyramid
Description: Experience the creation of the Egyptian pyramids as a simple worker.
Type: History / Endurance
Duration: 36 hours
Requirements: none
Restrictions:
Disabled Inventory
Disabled Skills
Pain-Setting at 50 %
Level-Cap: 5
Rating: A
Price: 10 VirDias
Quest: Building the Pyramid – Session 1
Description: Comply with the demands of the overseers. Last 6 hours.
Possible Rewards: Continue Scenario
Possible Penalties:
Whip lashes
Change of occupation
End of scenario
Difficulty: B
Just as Flora asked herself what they meant by ”whiplashes” an overseer screamed at her to move while cracking his whip.
”Oh, dear. What have I gotten into?” Flora suppressed her instinct to lecture the burly man and followed his directions to a cart. No, it wasn't a cart, Flora realized, it was a sled. On it lay a stone block taller than herself. Five other workers stood in front of it, holding cords attached to the sled. Right beside the guy in the first row was an unassigned rope. Taking in a big breath of the dry desert air, Flora grabbed it by the handle on the tip.
”For the sun, for the moon, for the stars, heave-ho!” The guy next to her called, and they leaned into the ropes. The mighty push brought the sled in motion.
Now, Flora had a bit of time to orient herself. She wore the same outfit as her co-workers, a white tunic, a Keffiyeh, and sandals. On her right shoulder was a leather patch on which the cord rested. Nevertheless, it cut deep into her flesh.
They dragged the sled over a muddy slope, walking to the right and left of it where the sand and mud mixed. Every step, they fought against inertia. Flora strained herself against the weight of the stone and struggled not to lose her grip or her footing.
The sun shone on their heads and naked arms and tried its best to burn through flesh and clothing.
After a while, the sled grew heavier. The crew had advanced on a ramp, leading to the building lot. Flora was astonished, how massive the job site was. The huge square dominated the landscape with its fearful symmetry.
First, Flora couldn't take her eyes off it, but humans are creatures of habit, and after some time, even the majesty of the antics' biggest building project lost its luster.
Instead, Flora's thoughts circled wheels. The Egyptians didn't use them. Why? Flora could only speculate maybe because they had no suitable wood. Furthermore, sand and wheels didn't mix well. Critical parts of the movement apparatus were made with metal, but they only had copper and couldn't smelt iron yet.
'Maybe stone wheels? No, the additional weight would offset the advantages. Papyrus wheels?'
Flora didn't dismiss the idea. Papyrus was an incredible material. They even made boats out of it. 'If we would compress it into a dense bale … '
The sled was nearing the end of the ramp, and Flora got a look inside the Pyramid. The stones there were not as accurately cut as the outer layer.
'What about single-serving wheels? After we reach the top, we use them for the interior. You could even build columns with them. Hmm. It would depend on the time the stonemasons need to cut them. If they need more time than we save because of faster transportation, we lose. Another issue is the skill level of the worker. We just have to pull. We are cheaper and more available than skilled craftsmen.'
They pushed the stone block off the carriage, and another gang of workers put it in place.
Flora's team hopped down the pyramid. Two men carried the sled between them.
At the quarry, Flora approached the foreman. Before she could tell him about wheels, he cracked his whip and pointed at the sled.
Sighing, Flora returned to her team, and they received the next block.
”Read to me some runes, Aidan.” Flora was desperate to take her mind off the wheels, the heat, the sand, the weight of the stone, and the chafing rope.
Aidan recited some pages of the book '1000 common Runes and Glyphs', but Flora couldn't concentrate. Her brain felt mushy and slow. First, she blamed the heat and lack of sleep, but then she remembered the 6:1 time dilation.
Her experience resembled a dream. Her co-workers didn't speak, and the wavering of the sled and their ragged breathing were the only sounds she heard. The monotonous scenery and work had a hypnotic quality.
”Read me from the book with the Cetviwos sagas and myths, Aidan.” Flora decided on a lighter subject, and the historic site invited you to read some mythical texts. 'Even if it is CentralTank's invented pseudo-history.'
”I'm sorry Milady, we don't own a book with these topics.”
”Didn't I order to buy one during my talk with the Bishop?”
”Yes, Milady, but Aitoshuri didn't comply.”
Shocked, Flora stumbled, and an overseer glared at her.
”Aito, sweety. Are you all right? I would never even have imagined you could be tardy on selecting a book!”
After a delay, Aitoshuri signaled it was complicated. Flora felt her inner turmoil over their connection.
”Aidan, we are having a crisis at our hands. It's time for emergency charade and your turn.”
”Has it something to do with the topic of the book?”
”Beep.”
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”Is it a specific saga?”