A Brave New World

* Eyup
* Lysander
* Googar

**A Brave New World** is the first episode of the Aurelius - Rebirth Campaign.

## Synopsis

### Arrival

Responding to a letter for aid, Eyup, Lysander and Googar came ashore in The New World. They hitched a ride with Lowgold on his sailboat along with three young men (Jay, Ben and Gurn) who were headed for Sakathsar after being bored with The New World Resort.

After fending off some scorpions, Eyup, Lysander and Googar found themselves in Mulwold Bay where they met Amber Griswold, medic and cursebreaker for The Bibliodome who initially thinks that they are the replacement crew who has come to take their treasures back to Aurelius. They also come across Professor Bertram Q. Muldoon, the original sender of the letter. He explains that his old teammates have gone missing and that they must travel to The Spire of the Sun within the day to retreive The Nazar, a jewel that is said to repell demons. He promises them a hefty cash reward and explains that if the Cyrenians get there first, they will surely sack and destroy the tomb just as they have with many across the new continent.

They quickly get ready for a day's ride across The Desert of Resting Kings towards the excavated site. On the way, they come across a Yuan-ti Fortune Teller who is heading home from Sakathsar. Lysander, Eyup and Bertram agree to have their fortunes told in exchange for a special item.

### Fortunes

Lysander traded his iron pendant for his fortune:

*"How many more children will you murder? You need to lose some weight and stop to wonder... The world is darker than a child's bedtime story and you are wholly unworthy."*

Eyup traded a loxo cube for his fortune:

*"I sense a wish manifesting within you. Magic will not solve every situation when death is on the line."*

Despite not beleiving in fortunes, Bertram Muldoon traded a bottle of brandy for his fortune:

*"Your relentless greed and lust for land will be your undoing, and your malady will spread like a disease throughout this blighted star"*

Bertram then mentioned the fact that it is midnight and new years was upon them. It was oficially the first day of 105 A.A. and Bertram suggested that they celebrate with a bottle of Honkmart Savers Sparkling Fizz, however the group managed to confince the fortune teller to let them take a drink of the brandy.

### The Spire of the Sun

Upon reaching the spire, it was immediately clear that it had been discovered by the Cyrenians, as two soldiers stood guard outside. Using a spell, Googar buried them both neck-deep in sand and entered the tomb. The first few rooms had clearly already been plundered, however a story of a pharoah making a deal with a genie.

The voices of Cyrenians could be heard from the antechamber where Chapter Master Andras along with a small group and a native translator named Kalabar were attempting to solve a puzzle. The group attempted to sneak inside, however Eyup was immediately seen. The group (excluding Bertram who remained hidden) were tied up and asked to help them through the tomb in exchange for their freedom. The actual puzzle involved a statue of Pharoah Jakaab-Kep holding a box inscribed with a riddle. Googar discerned that the riddle referred to a secret which must be whispered into a box in order to open the door. After much deliberation, they managed to convice Chapter Master Andras to whisper an unknown secret into the box which sucessfully opened the door.

The next room contained an empty lectern that had chains previously burned as well as a torch burning brightly with the Eternal Flame. The way was blocked with three doors, one marked with a burning hand, one with a fish, and one with a skull. Googar cleverly burned one of his lether gloves to open the first door which led to the treasury. The Cyrenians immediately entered the treasury before the door slammed shut due to Lysander moving the lether glove out of the door's sight. The next door (the fish door) was opened up by Bertram's tuna sandwich. Inside was a toppled genie statue, crushing Muldoon's archeological partner, Cornelius Griswold. He was carrying a knapsack containing several books including a Book of New World Languages and an empty black book.

The next door was opened using the skull of Griswold, harvested from his barely cold body. It revealed the throne room of Jakaab-Kep who sat at the far end of the room with the Nazar wedged into his skull. Bertram retreived the Nazar and the skeleton burst to life, attacking the group. They quickly managed to defeat the skeleton who screamed "ONAKA" as he fell apart, translated to "Cursed". The door was transcribed with a message, claiming that all who have entered the tomb shall suffer the gruesome fate of the Pharoah.

Outside, the group encounter Kalabar, his arm aflame, and the treasury open and empty. Kalabar begs the group to chop off his arm which they sucessfully do. Googar cauterised his wounds.

## Featured Characters

### The Team

* Eyup
* Lysander
* Googar

### New

* Bertram Q. Muldoon IV
* Amber Griswold
* Chapter Master Andras
* Commander Kaagh
* Kalabar
* Pharaoh Jakaab-Kep
* Yuan-ti Fortune Teller
* Yuan-ti Baby

### Returning

* Lowgold
* Jay Fingles
* Ben Milne
* Theodore Gurn