The Savannah Plumb Chronicles

Pangu’s Axe Part 2

2010-12-27T20:37:00.001-08:00

The Chinese government has decided that it would rather spy on me than talk to me.

I cannot explain this sudden change of strategy.

They’ve sent two ‘reporters’ – Cui-Fen Tai and Dao Wen (I forget her name) to basically document my every move. They even took pictures of the throne upon which I sat in the bathroom.

Seriously, these are the worst ‘reporters’ I’ve ever seen in my life. All they needed to do was ask me questions about why I am after the axe, and I’ll tell them. So far I’ve only given them one blanket statement about the axe and its significance in the lore of Shang Simla. Qin Shan Hu wrote extensively about the powers of the axe in the writings that I unearthed from the bottom of the Resolute Fist tomb. He does caution against over-reliance on the weapon, however. I cannot read much Mandarin – what I was able to decipher, I did so with the help of the classicist at the library.

And yes, they still ask questions about my brother. I have refused to comment on his personal life; it is truly not my concern. As long as he is happy, then I am happy.

They even managed to trail me while I visited the bookstore in town and spoke with the bookseller about acquiring a rare volume of ancient dragon tales. I tend to pick up a lot of history tomes, anyway, when I’m shopping in these stores. Each one of these places has its own special character. I know it sounds hokey but it’s true.

I do have my methods of eluding these stalkers, however. One of the denizens sent me in a tomb to fetch some semi-precious stones. I was all too glad to go, because sleeping in one provided some measure of protection from the paparazzi.

I also caught quite a few koi at the dig site, where there was a sunken ship.

I was also sent to catch three red assassin bugs to place near the First Emperor’s tomb to protect it. These are exceptionally rare and dangerous bugs found around Shang Simla. I used to collect bugs as a little girl and my mom hated that I had bowls of bugs everywhere.

Pangu’s Axe Part 1

2010-12-16T13:45:00.001-08:00

So, I’ve arrived in Shang Simla, China, going after the elusive Pangu’s Axe, which is a mystical weapon I’m told could smash boulders.

But first, I had to go all over town to get permission to seek the renowned weapon.

No sooner had I arrived in Shang Simla and the secluded Scholar’s Garden than I was chased by paparazzo. And at my first news conference in Shang Simla, every single question – every damned question – was about my brother Sebastian’s rumored relationship with the pop superstar Lola Belle. Not a single question about Pangu’s Axe.

It’s bad enough that the video of them dancing in some nightclub in Bridgeport went viral, posted and re-posted all over the internet, it’s even worse when what would be my crowning achievement as an explorer – finding this mystical weapon – is completely overshadowed by petty gossip about my kid brother’s love life.

I answered every question about the rumors with a curt, “You’d have to ask him.”

I mean, he’s my kid brother and I love him to death, but I don’t understand why every question had to be about whether or not he was dating Lola. I actually don’t care at the moment. I don’t know her personally, but if she makes him happy, then I’m happy.

So, I took out my frustrations on the poor martial-arts board at the Garden. I didn’t care that I was watched by the pap. The Scholars’ Garden is supposed to be a place of respite. I found none here today.

Later,

Savannah

Back in the saddle (sort of) Part 3

2010-09-16T15:06:00.001-07:00

I woke everyone up with the guitar and this one Egyptian melody I was trying to learn.

Cheesebum had taken Sety and Satis to the market, so the only ones left at base camp were AJ and me. “Where do you want to go next?” I asked him. He wanted to return to the Sphinx and this time, go inside. So I said, okay, we’ll go.

So when we got to the Sphinx we went inside. I turned around because AJ was with me.

Unfortunately, I was in a dive pool when he found me again, and again I sent him back to base camp. He is much too young to do what I do. Yet he insists on following me, lol. What have I done to this kid?

Back in the saddle (sort of) Part 2

2010-09-13T14:30:00.001-07:00

A challenge in Al-Simhara required me to go inside a copper quarry and fetch something. So I had to report to Madbouli and receive my ‘marching orders’ so to speak.

I spent most of the evening hunting for turquoise stones. I’m an old pro at this stuff.

After I returned, Andy and I took seats at this old stone table in the Tomb of Discovery. I wondered what life would have been like had we been a pharaoh and his consort.

At the end of a trying day, Andy and I fell fast asleep in the same tent.

The next morning, AJ beat all of us in waking up. He ate himself a jam sandwich and was off to the races again.

The next thing I knew, he was chasing Amelie around base camp and had wandered inside the Tomb of Discovery.

Andy found this little fishing hole in the middle of the desert. Satis turned on the video camera and thus caught one of the embarrassing moments I’ve had since I started traveling. Click on the last pic to see it!

Needless to say this is why I didn’t follow my family into music.

Back in the saddle (well, sort of)

2010-09-13T13:57:00.001-07:00

I was reminded once again of why I love this stuff.

When I last wrote on these pages I was a single woman. Now I’m married with three kids.

My growing family and I took a trip to Egypt recently. I dragged my now-husband, Andy; my two adopted teenagers, Imsety and Satis, and my biological son, AJ, to the pyramids of Al-Simhara. I’d settle here permanently … if I didn’t have my whole family in Sunset Valley.

The minute he got there, Sety chatted up Amelie Tisseur, a French explorer. I wonder about him though. He seems to have inherited his bio dad’s… um, gregariousness, for lack of a better term.

Then I leaned over and I overheard him talking about me. His Simlish isn’t great, still, but I have to admit it’s vastly improved. Apparently he was telling Amelie the story of how I found him and Satis. “Blond lady ride on Kenspa,” I heard him say. Apparently Sety will tell the tale to anyone who will listen. I’m not sure how I feel about that.

AJ, the lil man, wanted to see the Sphinx so I took him there. I also taught him the mummy song I’d learnt from Satis way back when. I actually think he’ll be an adventurer as well. I’m not sure I’m happy about that, either.

I’m ridiculously out of shape (that’s what having a baby will do) so I found myself chasing Andy through the desert. First on Kenspas and then on foot. Andy had an opportunity to go into one of the pyramids and I didn’t want him to go in unprepared. He doesn’t do this stuff for a living, I do.

Andy checked out the door while I watched. Sety came by a few moments later, then I sent him and AJ back to base camp while Andy and I checked the place out.

Andy wanted to learn the mummy song, and plus his opportunity only required him to go inside the tomb, so this was where we stopped.

And while we had the tomb all to ourselves… well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words so I’ll shut up now.

More later, Savannah

Oh, one more thing…

2010-06-24T17:14:00.001-07:00

While I was in China one more thing happened.

Yes, that is a ghost. The ghost of an old woman who died at the Martial Arts Academy. I noted the ghost while I was learning martial arts for my latest quest.

The ghost had managed to spook everything and everyone in sight.

One poor lady was practicing when she saw the board breaker move and just passed out.

The ghost worked out alongside other students…

…and in easily one of the strangest twists I’d ever seen, even took a shower afterwards.

“Someone, do something, please!” one lady screamed. So, I had to do something.

I ended up having to bring the tombstone to the mausoleum because everyone else was too spooked to even deal with the ghost.

The Writings of Qin Shan Hu

2010-06-22T17:53:00.001-07:00

The first room I walked into looked like it was a huge stadium where fighters learned their craft.

I spotted a hole in the wall, which curiosity told me to dig through.

After I unlocked a switch and pulled a statue…

I opened the gate which the switch unlocked.

That led to a floor that was yet another level beneath the surface.

I found this dive well, which I explored. I found nothing of significance in it, though I did find it useful for one other thing...

…keeping myself from getting burned from a series of fire traps leading to the chest where Qin Shan Hu’s papers were kept.

Eureka!

With the papers in my backpack, I hopped on my scooter and returned to the Forbidden City.

“I have no more to teach you, you have passed all the tests that I have required of you. You have proven yourself a worthy student.”

Unfinished Business

2010-06-15T18:21:00.001-07:00

As the river runs in Shang Simla, so too are the days of my life.

Seriously, I’m in China now, this time taking care of some unfinished business.

I made myself a vow that I would return to China to locate the writings of Qin Shan Hu. A lot of things have happened between now and then, but now I am holding up my end of the bargain and am in search of Qin’s ancient Mandarin writings.

Andy is here too. For those of you not reading my other blog, Just Plumb Nuts, he’s my fiancé. We met in high school but didn’t start dating until we were both young adults. He’s in heaven because of all the new types of fish he’s catching. I do think he’s getting a little bit homesick though.

It was about six-thirty their time when I arrived at the retreat. I spotted a floor switch, which revealed a flight of stairs leading to some basement.

Down in the basement I found a pile of rubble that needed to be cleared.

There was a mysterious looking switch… so I dug my hand in the hole and a hidden door opened up to my left.

There was nothing behind the door but a chest with two ceramic Chinese bowls. Guess they’re wedding presents from the gods, eh?

After grabbing the bowls I took out the keystone which would let me inside the tomb, and fit it in the key hole.

Wish me luck, I’m going in.

Later, Savannah

Circle of Knowledge

2010-04-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

Poor Elliot Saint James.

He was the bookseller over at Circle of Knowledge and the local archivist.

He had just learned that his wife cheated on him. And he's chosen to cry on MY shoulders. How ironic. Especially with Gustave acting stranger and stranger.

"It's going to be all right. You'll find someone else," I told him.

"That's just it," he reminded me, "I already have."

"So you're the one who cheated?"

"She cheated first," he said, "but then I tried to get back at her and cheated myself."

I shook my head. Those games NEVER work.

So while Elliot had his eyeballs deep in the archives ...

I sneaked in to fish out some of the notes for the research paper on the history of nectar that Gustave so absent-mindedly misplaced somewhere in that house. Either that or Jolene tossed that paper in the garbage.

After I was done with getting the notes, I waited outside Gustave's place for him. I was careful to stand next to his marble fountain so that he'd see me. My dress looks like it could be a regular girly flowered dress but it actually has a skull print.

"Bonjour!" he greeted me, still wearing his work uniform. "Interesting outfit."

I laughed. "Merci beaucoup," was all I managed to come up with for a reply.

"Guess what? I did it."

"You did what?"

"I did it. I got those notes for the paper we're presenting to the historical society."

"How?"

"Tres simple, I sneaked into the archives, then I put together the notes I had. Seriously, did you expect me to just let this go?"

"Vous êtes-vous incroyable, savez-vous cela?"

"Je sais."

"To say you are an American, your French is excellent. If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought you a native."

Me and Gustave (cont'd)

2010-04-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

"You know, Gustave, the Circle of Knowledge Bookstore is having a big sale," I suggested a little while later. "Maybe we can go in there and look around."
"I'm really kind of tired," he replied, "I was on my feet all day at Yves' shop. Being the special merchant is not the fun and games it appears to be."

"Hey, they're talking about those relics I found in Egypt."

"I know, c'est tres interessante."

"Mes parents, my parents were both professors at the Sorbonne. My father was a Dutch national, my mother was French. I was an only child. When they retired, they came to Champs Les Sims where they raised me. When I was a teenager, their Cessna plane crashed in the Swiss Alps when they were on vacation. Their bodies were never found."

My French isn't great but it's passable. "Oh, c'est terrible!" I exclaimed.

"Que sera, sera," he sighed. "It is what it is. I learnt to live with it, I had no choice. I was alone in the world. Then Jolene sort of made herself my protector --"

"Ah, so that's it. You're afraid to leave the cocoon, take chances, take risks."

Gustave laughed. "And here you are, you take risks for a living." He then took a deep breath and asked a question I didn't expect. "Why do you do this work?"

"Because I like it."

"Days at a time in dusty underground tombs."

"Because I love it."

"You should be at home going to parties and planning your wedding."

"I've never been a party person. They never made me comfortable."

"I bet you have suitors lined up at your door."

"None that I'm interested in."

He later revealed that he had an extensive collection of postage stamps from all over the world, and I offered to give him a few of my Sunset Valley stamps, the ones with Victor Goth and Chester Landgraab on them. He seemed excited about that.
"You know the Admiral had a chateau here."

I gently needled him. "I know, I was in it. You sent me into his library. Did you forget already?"

He had a worried look on his face. "You've made me talk about my childhood," he then said, "but I have not heard one word about yours."

"There isn't much to talk about," I told him, "my story has been all over the gossip magazines. I was an enfant terrible."

"You?"

"Oui, c'est vrai. My early childhood was normal -- if you consider learning that you were able to talk to ghosts normal -- but when I became a teenager I started acting out. Skipping school, drinking, breaking curfew -- you name it, I was doing it. Eventually, though, I figured out that I had to stop doing what I was doing or I was going to end up in a very bad place. So just before graduation I straightened myself up and then when I was in the midst of deciding what I wanted to do, I signed up with MorcuCorp --"

"Hence, the adventures."

"What are you thinking about?" He had a blank expression on his face. Gustave sure is hard to read sometimes.

"A lot of things, actuellement." He let out a deep breath. "You, my parents --"

"Me?"

"I like you, a whole lot. I might even say that I care for you. But I am afraid that I am not good enough for you. You deserve someone who can do much more for you than I ever could."

Me and Gustave

2010-04-23T15:40:00.000-07:00

Gustave invited me over to his place. Again.

Apparently the guy is a couch potato. "When I get home from work," he told me, "I like to sit on the couch and relax with either a good book or a good history program."

"So, what's the deal with you and Jolene?" I asked him. "Is she, like, your girlfriend or something?"

"Jo and I, we grew up together. Our parents were great friends. We went to the same schools, had the same group of friends, and then when we grew up, we decided to become roommates. She married a Parisian, a garcon called Montaque, and when that didn't work out she returned here and bought the cafe.

"We moved in here as soon as the marriage was dissolved. We never actually dated -- is that what you Americans call that? -- but have remained great friends."

"That explains it! Her marriage didn't work out so she's trying to make YOU miserable, too. Gustave, I have a novel idea -- can't you just move out?"

"I'm not sure I can," he told me.

"Why?"

"I'm clumsy, I'll forget my head if it weren't attached --"

"Gustave, I'm sure you would make it on your own if you tried. Because, really, you're abiding by her rules instead of your own."

"I have tried. If you hadn't gone in the kitchen the other day the whole house would have burned!"

Me and Mean Jolene

2010-04-18T08:31:00.001-07:00

Before heading over to Gustave's, I went back to base camp and fixed myself a sushi dinner, amidst the prying eyes of the Chinese delegation. My affection for the seaweed dish has been well documented; I fell in love with it the first time mom learned the recipe and fixed it for me. I eventually learned to make it myself.

After eating I took a little jog through the town...

...and paid a visit to the cafe. Pssst, here I am, about to deal once again with Mean Jolene.

"What's the deal with you, huh?" I asked. "You gonna do this to any woman who crosses Gustave's path? Let me tell you something, he's a handsome guy, you'd better get used to this."

"No," she whispered, "not every girl, just spoiled vich Amedicans."

"You don't know anything about me!"

"I know enough to know that I do not like you."

"Thanks. I take that as a compliment." When I walked out, she followed me.

"What gives you the privilege to take over this town?" Jolene asked me. "You walk around here like you own the place."

"My parents taught me to believe in myself."

The Aftermath

2010-04-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

After I got done talking to Yves, I spotted ...

Gustave...

staring absent-mindedly out the store window.

I took a deep breath. I hadn't seen him since, you know, that night. I didn't know exactly how to proceed. This is entirely new for me, not knowing. Usually I'd just barrel through.

But I couldn't do that here. With Gustave. With Yves. With the Chinese lady in the store window-shopping.

So I just stood there for a few moments. "Care to clue me in?" asked Yves. "Something happen between you and Delven there?"

I let out a deep breath and shook my head. "Heck no!" I lied, not even sure I sounded convincing.

Yves took the Chinese tourist to the back of the store...which left me and Gustave. In the store.

Alone.

Sigh.

Why does this have to be so damn complicated? And why do I get absolutely tongue tied in situations like this?

It's easy for my brother. He just strolls up to some girl and she's batting her eyelashes and falling under his spell.

For me, though, damn, why did I have to inherit the Plumb reticence in these matters? Why did I have to be more like Aunt Margaret and not like dad?

My reverie, though, was interrupted by Gustave's voice. "Savannah!"

I turned around.

"I get worried about you when you go off on these adventures," he said as he gave me a hug.

I was surprised. "You do?"

"Absolutement."

"I had to go do something at the museum for Yves."

"Would you like to come over tonight?" he asked.

"Sure, I guess," I replied, letting out a deep breath. "After work?"

"Oui, c'est bon."

"See you then."

Trouble at the Museum Part Six

2010-04-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

I woke up at about eleven in the morning. I picked up my tent and got ready to leave.

Hopping on my trusty Kenspa, I rode through the town straight to Alexis' Relics, the relic shop where Yves Bernard, the new curator of the Champs Les Sims museum, worked part-time.

When I arrived there about forty-five minutes later, I looked around for Yves and wondered if he was in the warehouse.

"Doctor Plumb," he acknowledged me as I walked in. "You look concerned. You have news about the museum."

"I do. Seems the old curator met a rather unfortunate end. "

"Oh? Please, do, tell me about it."

I told him everything, about the note he'd left, about the exhibit on the bottom floor he was putting together, about how he wanted to be buried next to his wife in the family plot.

"Hmm, I'm glad you got to the bottom of it all. Happy to hear all this is now ended and I can hire a permanent security detail for the museum."

Trouble at the Museum Part Cinq

2010-04-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

I emerged from the basement through a secret tunnel and ended up right outside. After coming out, I took the opportunity to stretch.

I also took a bite of the pemmican Gustave gave me. It's like the dried bread that you buy but sweeter.

Then, I was off. In the middle of the night, I was on my way to the cemetery in France with the remains of the former curator.

When I got there, I went looking around for the family plot. But, I admit, that wasn't the only thing I was searching for.

There were a few ghosts wandering around, too! This particular one was a red ghost, meaning he burned to death.

After I did some poking around, I found a switch that I activated.

Spotting the family plot, I laid the poor unfortunate curator to rest.

Now that he was rested, so was I. I crashed right there, in the cemetery. I guess it had always been my fantasy to sleep in one...

Dreams of Gustave, Savannah

Trouble at the Museum Part Quatre

2010-04-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Suddenly I had an idea.

I had a notion to turn around and go into the room that was locked. There I found a suspicious looking chest.

Apparently opening that chest triggered a switch that allowed me to avoid the lightning trap and get into the room I was apparently supposed to get into.

What I saw, though, surprised even me. And I'm not easily surprised, especially in my travels.

There was an enclosed room with a makeshift gravestone and a note. It read, in a rushed script, "I was the curator of the museum. I was working on this exhibit when the door closed behind me." He continued to make a request -- to bring his remains to the family plot, where he'd be buried with his wife.

So that was it. This poor gentleman met his unfortunate end deep below the basement here in the museum.

Once I found his remains, the next step was to try to get out of here before I met the same fate -- and to explain everything to Yves, who has no clue about any of this.

Trouble at the Museum Part Trois

2010-04-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

Pushing statues around revealed a secret door.

When I walked inside, I saw an ornate treasure chest that I decided to open. There was a plumbbob-cut diamond inside, worth approximately $125. I've found quite a few of these stones in my travels.

I walked through yet another secret door --

-- and I spotted what looked like an entirely new exhibit full of priceless ceramic vases and sculptures from all over the world, it seemed.

These statues caught my attention. They appeared to be marble sculpts of the Roman gods Ceres and Bacchus, but I couldn't be certain.

I walked past another Romanesque statue through a door.

Now, I have to admit, I was stumped. I had reached a dead end.

Trouble at the Museum Part Deux

2010-04-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

I got up early the next morning and decided to make myself some Belgian waffles with some of the things they had in the fridge at base camp.

After leaving base camp, I decided to go directly to the art museum. The sooner I got to the bottom of this, the better.

When I got to the museum, I went to the restroom and changed into more comfortable adventuring gear. Goodness, it felt great to be back at work, back in my element. This is where I belong.

I walked through the secret pathway to the basement.

When I got there I saw a torch that looked to be out of place. So I decided to check it out.

The torch revealed some floor switches, so I went back to pushing statues around. I cannot believe I was glad to be pushing statues around.

A new friend?

2010-04-09T08:53:00.001-07:00

"A secret door eh?" Yves asked me when I got back.

I nodded.

"Now we're getting somewhere. I'm guessing the strange noises are coming from behind that door. I'd like you to investigate that. But -- I would think it's getting late, so I'd go there in the morning."

"Will do."

He suddenly stopped me as I turned to leave. "You're Savannah Plumb, the famed relic hunter?"

"Oui, c'est moi." I smiled.

"I'm a big fan of your work in Egypt. Read your book about the encounter with the mummy and your search for those relics, couldn't put it down."

"Merci beaucoup!" I exclaimed. "I'm glad you enjoyed the book." I learned he was brave, a bookworm, a natural cook, and a virtuoso.

Sheesh, why are French guys so much more interesting than the ones back home? In part because he and I have two traits in common, he and I became fast friends. I find it much easier, generally, to befriend guys than girls.

"You know, those Egyptian relics are probably many thousands of simyears old and were left behind by the kings of Al-Simhara."

"What I want to do now is find out exactly how old they are, who created them, and why. That's the subject of the sequel I'm working on, the actual search for the relics."

I left the relic shop feeling pretty good about myself. The next day I was going back to the museum, and this time I was going to get to the bottom of that museum mystery.

Trouble at the Museum

2010-04-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

Yves Bernard (the relics expert in Champs Les Sims and the exact same fella I had to ask out for poor sweet Beatrice Bonnet) requested my assistance in a matter with the museum. Apparently he's the new curator of the museum and, since the security detail he hired kept quitting, he needed someone to help keep watch over the treasures there.

I said, "Ok, I'm game! I'll check it out."

So I was back at the museum for the second time that day, this time I sensed I was hot on the trail of something.

I got to the museum at nine that evening and ran inside. I didn't hear anything different at first.

Yves had told me to go up to the Egyptian exhibit. I passed by some relics that certainly looked familiar to me from my travels there. But I didn't hear anything unusual, so I went back to him.

"You didn't hear anything there?" he asked in a rushed accent. "Try the Chinese exhibit then."
"Okay," I said, and back I went to the museum.

I noticed a switch when I got there. I decided I needed to check it out.

When I dug my hand in the hole in the wall, I heard a click. I knew it was a secret door, and I knew I had to tell Yves.

Frustration

2010-04-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

I was in a huff after my encounter with Jolene so I ran away from there and over to base camp, where I simply walked upstairs without speaking to the other explorers (all Chinese!) and went to bed.

The next morning, I drank a quick juice because I was in no mood for eating and went over to the art museum again. I had a hankering to practice martial arts and I'd gotten a tip that in the Chinese exhibit at the museum that I could practice on the training dummy there.

I guess you could say I was still in my sour mood because I spent most of the morning at the dummy, taking out my frustrations, imagining that it was Jolene. Just kidding. But I did get a nice workout out of it.

Right after I finished my workout, I got a phone call. I was going to be back in the swing of things, quite literally.

Jolene

2010-04-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

I left the museum at six in the evening because I had a hankering for some hot food. This meant, in Champs Les Sims, going to the Catania Cafe, currently owned by one Jolene Montaque -- Gustave's female roommate.

To say she and I don't care for one another is a huge understatement. Actually, I could tell from the moment I saw her that I didn't like her at all, and I knew that she didn't like me. And I immediately knew why.
As far as I knew she and Gustave weren't romantically involved, but it didn't matter to her, and I knew it. She saw me as competition from the get-go.

"What are you doing here?" she asked me at first.
"What do you mean, what am I doing here? I'm free to travel wherever I want. The last time I checked, you only owned this cafe, not this whole town."
"Did you sleep with Gustave last night?"
I shook my head. "Where did you get THAT idea?"
"I -- I heard people talking."
"Well, you can stop listening to whoever you're hearing right here, right now. I NEVER slept with Gustave. I'm not that kind of woman. Now, did I sleep at the house? Yes, I did. I'm not going to deny it."

"You must understand something, mademoiselle."
"Don't talk to me like I'm a petite fille, I'm not."
"This happened in my house, while I was not at home, without my permission."
"The last time I checked, Gustave was a grown man. He can do as he pleases, with whomever he pleases."
"Not in my house!"

"You know what, Jolene, I cannot believe you are standing here making these kinds of insinuations about me. You don't know a damn thing about me!"
"You're Simerican. I know enough about you to determine that you're a piece of trash. You know that your ancestors were probably the scum of our continent, so we shipped them over there in the jungle."

"And look where we are today -- the richest, most powerful country in the entire world. You know what they say about one man's trash, right?"

Gustave Part Trois

2010-04-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

I slept at Gustave's that night. Buuuuut, not in the same bed.

Instead, I lay my head down in his roommate's bed, in a very -- pink -- room. Jolene was out working late at the cafe, so Gustave gave me permission to sleep in her bed.

He woke up early the next morning. I know he was up because I heard his footsteps and I smelled the gourmet crepes he was cooking.

It was really sweet of him to put me up for the night. My tent had a huge tear in the canvas and it was far too late for me to walk back to base camp. I could seriously get used to this.

Gustave, poor dear, changed into his work clothes and left the house, with the waffles inside the oven!

So I got up and walked to the kitchen to finish cooking his waffles before I went back to base camp.

I have to admit, when I smelled the crepes, I was actually looking forward to a sunrise breakfast with him. But darn, he went to work as the special merchant so that didn't come to pass. Oh well, maybe next time.

Gustave may be great at romancing, but not as good at cooking. Oh well. It's the thought that counts, I guess. I finished his waffles and put them away in his fridge for him to eat later.

Gustave Part Deux

2010-04-07T13:10:00.001-07:00

It all began innocently enough. I walked into Gustave's humble abode, a house he shared with his female roommate, Jolene Montaque, who owned the local cafe.

I pretty much knew I was setting myself up for a fall.

Jolene was working at the cafe and Gustave and I were, well, alone.

Gustave was watching Halls of History and I had picked up one of his enormous volumes from the shelf. History is dry stuff, dates and wars, to most folks -- but it excites me. I'm interested in the secrets of the past, the messages the ancients left for us today.

"Savannah," he called as his TV program ended. "Why are you back? Why are you here to torture me?"
"Whatever do you mean by that?"
"Why must you tempt me with what I cannot have?"
"Gustave, you speak in riddles. Please, tell me, what do you mean?"

"Savannah, when we were working together on that nectar paper, I realized something. I realized a lot of things. I like you -- a whole lot. And that's the problem."

"What do you mean?" I whispered.
"You and I -- we're from completely different worlds. We'll never work. I'm a simple French farm boy, special merchant here and the resident historian. And you -- you are a Simerican. Your family has more money than I will ever make in a lifetime. I don't think I can ever prove myself worthy of your love."
"Gustave!"
"Savannah -- my goodness, even your name is pleasing to the ear. Ever since you left I could not stop thinking about you. You are -- une femme incroyable -- an incredible woman."
"Well, I haven't felt very incredible lately." I ended up telling Gustave everything that had gone on in my life since I last left France, about the relics, about the adoption, about my nephew moving in and the renovations, about my short fuse as of late.
"You're different, you know that, n'est-ce pas?"
"Oui, j'ai su pendant longtemps cela maintenant. I've known that for a long time now."
Gustave looked at me. "Vous parlez francais?"
"Un peu," I reminded him, "a little bit."
"I may be French and you are of English blood -- and the French and English have historically not liked each other -- but here goes."

Well, you can guess what happened next. Heck no, it wasn't even like that.

I did get my first kiss though.

I felt safe in his arms, like everything was going to be okay. Even if we didn't end up together, I would always have the memory of his lips touching mine, his arms draped around me like a teddy bear, warming my cold shoulders and sending tingles down my spine.

Gustave

2010-04-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

After leaving Beatrice's I walked across the street to Gustave Delven's.

"Goodness," Gustave began in a flourishing French, "you make it harder for a man to resist you."

I met Gustave Delven my first time in France. He was a historian writing a paper on the origin of nectar. He was trying to prove his hypothesis that Champs Les Sims was the birthplace of nectar.

I found him cute and charming, if a bit on the geeky side. Then again, I'm something of a geek myself. He asked me to interview a Monsieur Dutiel, whose relatives used to work at the Landgraab chateau.

Dutiel told me I needed to find the lost Landgraab library, and that the entrance to the library was somewhere near the front of the home.

Here I was, in the dead of night, with no lighting whatsoever, searching for some way to enter this giant old deserted mansion that apparently belonged to ancestors of my neighbors.

After I activated the switch (which BTW was VERY difficult to find, in the darkness and hidden beneath trees) I walked inside.

It took some digging but I finally got the papers Gustave was searching for, written by old Landgraab himself. And of course they were written in code.

The next morning Gustave sent me back to the Landgraab mansion, to find an Egyptian code-cracker named Yassir Hawass.

Day One: The Love Doctor

2010-04-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I, Savannah Rachel Plumb, have found myself playing matchmaker for a lovelorn French dame named Beatrice Bonnet, who wants to ask her special someone out for a date -- but she's too shy.

Considering my own non-existent love life, I found this request to be terrifically ironic.

So I hopped on my trusty Kenspa and rode through the town.

Jules was standing up a hill, seemingly waiting for my arrival. I decided he was fairly handsome, with brown spiky hair and a moustache.

In talking to him, I told him about Beatrice, how she was secretly and not-so-secretly infatuated with him.

"Well, if she went through all ze truble for zu to talk to me for her, then I suppose she is worth the time of day," he said in his flushed French accent.

Mademoiselle Bonnet looked like a mousy librarian type, and indeed, I learned she was a bookworm. In a way she reminded me of my aunt. She tried to make conversation with me by asking me if I'd read Margaret Plumb's romance novel, The Notebook.
I didn't want to brag and tell her I was at her foot while she was writing it or that I have the original laptop draft...that would be egotistical of me.
Since she failed to make the connection between me, Savannah Plumb, and the novelist Margaret Plumb -- I mean, seriously, what are the odds? -- I didn't press the issue and make it for her.
All I said was, "It was pretty good, not her best work," which is what Aunt Margaret herself had said. Actually, she'd said she HATED it, but since M'elle Bonnet seemed to be a fan, I didn't want to burst her bubble.

I will survive -- I'm in France

2010-04-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

So, now I'm in France.
The last time I was here, my parents got married.
And I left with more questions than answers. Especially about my grandmother Jamie Jolina's French family.
I had to leave Sunset, the collar around my neck was stifling, if you know what I mean.
I hate being handcuffed, and the adoption has me handcuffed.
And it's not just the adoption.
It's all the expectations that come with being Nathan Plumb's daughter.
You know, like, I'm supposed to get married, settle down, have ten thousand babies, and just basically be a society dame grinning for the cameras.
That's not me. That has never been me.
If you think I'm having second thoughts about the adoption, that's not so, at all. I'm more convinced than ever that I'm meant to be Satis and Imsety's mother. I know I can be that guiding light in their lives, just like I've been with Sebastian and now with Neil.
I guess it's all the damn waiting that has me a little weary.
I'm not a patient person anyway, and the waiting just makes me sick.
Sooo... now I'm here. And I will survive.

I first heard the song over at Ari's and I've kind of taken it as my mantra, my theme song if you will. I checked the adventure board, and some poor dame called Beatrice Bonnet wants me to ask this guy Jules Bernard out for her.

Hellooooo!?! You're asking someone who's never been out on a date... to ask someone out for you?

Oh boy. Wish me luck. Savannah

Cataloging the Loot

2010-02-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

At the suggestion of Ari, I've been spending the last few days cataloging all the stuff I've found in those tombs. From left to right, it's a red clay vase, a stone vase, a gold sphinx statue, a golden vase, and a stone cat statue. All these were found in Egyptian tombs.

This is an ivory statue from the Halls of the Lost Army in China.

On the floor are four bottles of nectar in different flavors. Two of them are the bottles of cherimola blan grapes nectar I made in France, the other two I found in the Celtic tomb there. There are also assorted gemstones there, lapis lazuli, turquoise, diamonds, and even a mummified teddy bear.

In the back row on the left side are canopic jars, and there are more assorted relics, both broken and intact. Pottery and vases are there, along with sigils from 6 Egyptian tombs.

Knowing the Enemy

2010-02-05T15:59:00.000-08:00

The next morning I went scouting. I put on my best look-like-an-Egyptian-woman outfit and walked to the market. Thing is, being pale and blond, I couldn't exactly blend in with the woodwork. I stick out like a sore thumb.

I looked over the horizon to see if I saw anyone -- namely Samir -- around town. I did not, so I figured the coast was clear.

The thing about talking to the locals is that you truly never know who you're speaking with. "Could you tell me everything you know about Samir Amin?" I asked this one lady in the general goods shop. I wanted to know just what I was up against.

The lady, of course, told me everything. Samir claimed to be descended from the ancient kings of Al-Simhara; hence, why he'd signed on with MorcuCorp to claim the relics. He and his wife, Fatima, had named their children, Satis and Imsety, after ancient Egyptian gods.

So, I figured, his delusions of grandeur went far beyond general arrogance.

"There was a third daughter, older than the twins, called Cleopatra," the lady told me. "To this day no one knows what happened to her. "

Adoption Update

2010-02-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

The next day, I was on the phone. Practically all day. Apparently Samir Amin has stuck his tentacles all over the adoption agency. I knew he was well connected but not THIS well connected. I found out from Layla that a relative of his is in charge of the adoption agency!

Samir Amin thinks I'm some little girl from some backwater town in the states who just up and decided she wanted to 'do some good' and adopt a couple kids from a foreign country. Most of you reading this blog know I'm not that little girl. And that is not the situation, at all.

He wants to break me. Discourage me. But I'm not easily broken. I'm a lot tougher than I look.

On a lighter note, I managed to get the snake out of the basket while snake-charming, finally.

I fixed the sink in the food kitchen, too.

But my eyes were on the prize... just one moment with Imsety.

Dad speaks

2010-01-31T06:25:00.000-08:00

When I got back to base camp that evening after freshening up at the market place, I had a surprise waiting for me.

It was dad.

He was sitting by the fire roasting marshmallows.
Thing is, as much grief as I'd heard from mom about the adoption, I hadn't heard a thing from him. I wasn't sure if that was good or bad.

"You look cute with glasses, dad," I'd said after putting on mine.
He gave me this look I knew well. He was going to break his silence. I wasn't sure what he was going to say.
"Vanna, I couldn't take another day waiting for you to come home."
I laughed. "I know you don't miss me that much."
"Ask your mother. I can't sleep at night. I pace around wondering where you are. I wonder if you're safe."
"Dad, I'm fine, really. I'm wondering about you, though. Have you been taking your medicine? You're all pale!"
"No, I'm fine, just getting old, that's all." He flashed me the same smile that melted ten thousand rooms. "When I go over to the other side --"
I blinked back a few tears. "Don't talk like that, please! I don't want you to go anywhere!"
"Oh, I'll still be around, just not in the flesh. You'll still be able to communicate with me." He took a marshmallow off its kabob and put it in his mouth. The blazing fire had burned itself to a waning flicker. "I hear you want to adopt two children from here."
"You ought to meet them, dad. They're terrific kids, they deserve a second chance."
"Do you realize if you're successful at adopting these children, your life will completely change?"
"It already has, dad," I told him, "the moment I first looked into their eyes. I was done for."
"What I mean is, the moment you and those kids step off that plane, if that happens, your life is over. It is all about the children. You have to devote your entire life to making theirs better. Do you understand?"
I blinked back more tears. "Completely."
"I have to tell you a story. I wasn't always this 'devoted family guy' that you know well."
"I think you told me, in the book excerpts you wrote."
"When I was a young man, your age actually, I did a lot of things that I now regret. I hurt quite a few people in the process. By the time I met your mother I had already had four children. Then she told me she was pregnant."
"Then what happened?"
"When your mother told me she was pregnant I wasn't quite sure how to react. I mean, I was happy but I was also scared. When you were born I took one look at you and started bawling my eyes out. I knew I had to change my life. I had five kids for five different women. I couldn't live like that anymore. I knew I had to do some things differently or my kids and I were going to end up in dire straits. I see Sebastian headed for that same kind of hurt. I want you to take care of him even if I'm not able to."

The Third Relic: Jackpot! Part 3

2010-01-29T08:16:00.000-08:00

With the relic in hand, I needed to get out of the pyramid.

When I emerged from the Tomb of Death after four days, the sun beamed down on my body. You tend to appreciate those moments when you think you won't see them again.

Took me about an hour on my scooter to get to the marketplace, where I wanted to find Layla and the children.

When I got there it seemed deserted, but I had one question on the brain -- where were the children?

"Guess what --"

"You got the relic. Amazing!"

"Yeah, I got the relic --"

"What's the matter, you seem subdued."

"I am. Because the relic is not what I came to Egypt for. I came for the children. Where are they?"

"With their father in the marketplace."

"You released them to him?"

"He threaten me with my life."

I nodded my head. "I left them in your hands, not his."

"Last I saw them they were in the bookstore with him."

I knew that was the next place I had to go.

I went over to the bookseller's section of the market and sure enough, there he was. Samir Amin was not a particularly large man, but he seemed like the kind of man capable of running a covert multinational operation.

Samir looked at me. In his best Simlish he said, "So you are Dr. Savannah Plumb. The children have told me a lot about you."

"Have they?" I asked.

"But my spies are telling me even more. One thing they tell me is that you filled out paperwork to adopt them."

"I did, yes."

"Why you fill out papers when they have parents?"

"When I found the children, they were disheveled and left alone all the time. In my country that constitutes child abuse and is grounds for removal from the home."

"Well, we are not in your country anymore, are we?"

"International standards still apply. Besides, children shouldn't be left unattended, regardless of the situation."

"My children are fine!" Samir raised his voice towards me in a way that pierced the still desert air.

"I tell you one thing. If you as much as lift a finger towards Imsety or Satis, I will personally kill you. I am not leaving here without them, and that's that!"

The Third Relic: Jackpot! Part 2

2010-01-29T07:34:00.000-08:00

After I rose and took a picture of the second mummy, I decided that since the floor switch 'took care of' the first mummy, I would see if it would do the same for this one.

When the second mummy burned in a fiery blaze, I now needed to turn my attention to getting the relic.

I figured out that the statue was blocking my entrance to the area where the relic was, so I had to move it. The whole time my heart was about ready to jump out of my chest.

Finally there was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The glistening, gleaming relic was now in my hands.

The Third Relic: Jackpot!

2010-01-28T09:32:00.000-08:00

I put the key in the hole... and my eyes flew open and my heart began to pound.

And the reason why was simple: I spotted a glistening chest flanked by not one but three sarcophagi! I knew, without knowing, that I had found the relic.

Getting to it, though, was not going to be easy. In the blinding light I spotted a pile of ancient coins, and a mummy emerging from one of the sarcophagi!

I took a deep breath over the loud beats of my heart. Savannah, calm down, I told myself. I grabbed my camera and decided I'd record this for posterity.

But then there was the bigger problem... how was I going to retrieve the relic?

Thankfully, I was blocked from the view of the mummy by a makeshift wall consisting of several statues and a thick-ish wooden partition. This shield allowed me to try to figure out what to do.

Then, I found perhaps the most important floor switch ever. Stepping on it made the first mummy burn up in a fiery blaze!
But no sooner had the first mummy burned up... than the second mummy appeared!

I took care of one mummy, but to have a second one appear was just adding insult to injury....

To be continued...

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 9

2010-01-27T14:28:00.000-08:00

I was in the tent when the phone rang. It was mom. I didn't even know my cellphone even worked in there. I'm at least three stories down in this tomb.

"Hey, mom. How's everything at home?" I asked.

"I'm not at home."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm here in Egypt with your father."

My mouth fell to the floor. "Wha -- what are you doing here?"

"We came to find out what this adoption business is all about."

"Adoption?"

"We heard you're trying to adopt two Egyptian children, and I have to say, of all the crazy schemes, Savannah, this has to be the craziest one of all. You can't deal with kids!"

"Mom, I don't care what you say. I love them, I want to be with them, and that's that."

"You know, Savannah, you can't just snap your fingers and say they're yours."

I replied with a sarcastic, "Why not?"

"Because that's not how the world works. And your lifestyle, you must admit, is not conducive to raising children. If you'd settle down, get married, and get established in a regular job, then you can think about starting a family. "

I decided I didn't want to hear anymore from her and hung up the phone. In fact, I turned my cellphone off in case she tried to call again. Besides, I had a relic to find.

After picking up my tent and eating a morsel, I unlocked the next door and walked into the next room. I knew I was getting closer, and the closer I got, the more my heart started to pound.

Once again I spotted a wall that looked different from the other part, so I felt around it to see if it was hollow. I knew that if it was hollow, it contained a hidden door which led to a hidden room.

Going behind the door revealed yet another rubble pile I had to chop through...

and underneath it was a keystone to a room.

To be continued

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 8

2010-01-25T10:24:00.000-08:00

After leaving the indoor cemetery I walked back into the other room to fetch the keystone that had appeared.

I looked in here and saw two piles of ancient coins, a money bag, two ornately-decorated chairs, and a sarcophagus. Something told me there was a mummy in there, so I didn't bother to open it. My curiosity was telling me, "Savannah, go open the sarcophagus." But my better mind prevailed. I did grab the stuff though.

Just behind the sarcophagus, though, was what appeared to be a hollow wall, so I decided to check it out.

I headed back out, which activated the electric traps behind me, with the Key to the Death Chamber (I think that's what it's called, I don't remember the exact name).

I put the key in the hole...

...and I really couldn't believe my eyes. Not only were there two gorgeous ivory and gold sphinxes, but the whole floor was done in a neat skull pattern. I decided when I have my own house built I'll have a room just like it.

But belying the beauty, there was the danger. I had to sneak across electric traps just to retrieve yet another tombstone. After having enough electricity course through my body to power Sunset Valley for a year, I'm a little bit skittish of it.

After going through this place, I was getting very sleepy. I'd tossed and turned the night before and didn't really sleep all that well. I decided to eat a morsel and set up my tent, right on top of the skull.

And so concluded Day Three in the Tomb of Death. I'm still not dead yet.

Dreaming of golden relics and hugs from Satis and Imsety, Savannah

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 7

2010-01-24T09:47:00.001-08:00

The next morning I woke up and went right back to work. I sprayed myself with a Shower-in-a-Can, I ate a morsel of dried food, and I picked up my tent.

In this room was an entire cemetery, with grave markers of all sizes and dead overgrown grasses. Most of you reading this blog know that I've pretty much spent my life in these places. I wasn't exactly sure what I was supposed to do here, if I was supposed to look for something here, or if I was simply to stand and admire the tombstones.

So, I decided I would try to summon the spirits. It didn't take much, actually, to set off the waterworks; all I needed to do was think about Aunt Margaret and how I felt after she'd died. The tears started flowing from there.

I've known since I was a little girl that I've been able to speak to the spirits of the departed. Dad's reaction when I told him was, well, he didn't have one. Which was probably a good thing. I never actually told mom, but I think she knows, too, even though she's never actually confronted me about it. She has to know something, why else would I be spending my time in cemeteries?
At any rate, mourning the dead worked; there was a switch that opened because of it, which led to yet another door...

To be continued

Childhood Dreamin' Part 4

2010-01-23T12:50:00.000-08:00

I came home from school one day. Since I was the last person on the route, I rode toward Summer Hill Court. The bus driver, Ms. Audrey, and I struck up a conversation. "You're Savannah, right?" she asked me. She wanted to know who my parents were, and I told her.
"My mother drove your father to and from school. He used to live right by the stadium."
I thought that was kind of weird, her mom driving my dad, and she following suit as a bus driver.

"How come you're always by yourself," she then asked. "I see the other kids, they're always in crowds. You're always alone."

I didn't have an answer to that question, and I still don't think I do. I do think I've developed over the simyears a preference for solitude. It's part of the reason why I have the job I do. I spend days alone in tombs hunting for relics and treasure, sometimes working for hire.

I came home and did my homework in Aunt Margaret's room. I liked to go in her room and do it because she had a study desk. Her study desk was wooden and she said she'd had it since she was a young adult.
After I did my homework Aunt Margaret was going to take me to the park for a chess tournament. It just so happened that mom and dad were coming home at the same time. Mom was particularly teed off that Aunt Margaret and I were leaving the house.

"Um, where do you think you're going?" she asked.
"Savannah and I are going to the chess tournament at Maywood Glen."
"Chess tournament?" mom wondered. "At this hour? Those are usually over by now!"

As usual, dad was caught in the middle. Aunt Margaret had told me once that when dad first started dating mom, she didn't like her at all, but had slightly warmed up to her by the time my parents got married.

"Shan --" I heard dad say as I walked out of the house. Aunt Margaret was already almost to her car.
"Savannah, have you done your homework?"
"Of course, mom," I replied. Then I ran to catch up with Aunt Margaret.

By the time I got into the car with Aunt Margaret, it was getting dark. It was kind of cool to be out of the house, just the two of us. "You know," Aunt Margaret said, "your mother doesn't quite understand. She just doesn't get it."
I had gotten used to my mother, though. At that age I had already figured out that she wasn't happy with me for some reason. I didn't know if it was the fact that I'm blond and pale, or that I hated toys, dolls and dresses, or that I would rather read a book than go play outside with other kids, or that I wasn't exactly the sweet girly girl she wanted.

What I couldn't tell Aunt Margaret -- at least then -- was that I LIKED going to the chess tournament and I LIKED hanging out with her. I didn't know how much I'd miss it when she died. It was Aunt Margaret who turned me on to chess all those simyears ago.

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 6

2010-01-20T23:32:00.000-08:00

I walked into this room and saw some gorgeous relics and a sarcophagus standing alone.

I opened it up....

...and was knocked a little woozy. What was in there, I'm sure I'll never know. I do suspect it was a mummy.

While I was walking, I spotted a floor switch...

...which opened yet another door. I spotted a keystone on an ornate marble stand, and grabbed it and slipped it in my pocket.

Upon going through the door the keystone opened, my eyes sprang open as this was an area unlike any other in the entire tomb. There were both live and dead grasses and in the middle of the area was a dead tree! It looked as though it hadn't been touched for centuries.

I looked around this place (sure was hard to see around it, with all the dead grass) and spotted what looked like a keystone at the base of the tree. Sure enough, it was a keystone. I decided to pick it up.

I was getting sleepy and I knew from the light and the shadows in the tomb that it was either very late at night or very early in the morning. So I found a spot in the grasses to put my tent and fell fast asleep. I'm actually getting used to this.

So concluded day two in the Tomb of Death. I'm not dead yet.

Dreaming of gilded relics and hugs from Satis and Imsety, Savannah

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 5

2010-01-20T16:33:00.000-08:00

I'd walked inside this room and saw assorted pottery and baskets. Why did the goodies inside the baskets look like they were fresh-picked from a garden? Hmm...

I kept walking...

...and I saw this gorgeous gold and black marble sphinx statue. I wondered why the statue was just there... all alone...so I looked around it. Sure enough, I picked up a money bag...

...and the entire room lit up in a blaze of red light and a spring of water shot up from the floor! Before long I was drenched -- because apparently it was a water trap.

Dripping wet, I walked down a staircase...

...and found myself having to move around a statue. I had to basically cut corners with this statue, it was NOT easy.

This led me to walking down yet another long winding hallway...and I was gape-mouthed the whole time, soaking all of it in.

To be continued...

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 4

2010-01-20T15:38:00.000-08:00

I walked into the next room with the statues flanking me.

Looking down the corridor, I spotted a rubble pile.

I got out my pickaxe and chopped at the pile of rubble until it was cleared.

This revealed a door which led to another room, this time with tiles hiding a fire trap. Attempting not to step on those was more difficult than it looked, but somehow I managed to do it, and I walked down yet another hall.

At the end of this hall was another pile of rubble which had to be cleared. So... you know the drill ... I took out my pickaxe... and cleared it. This revealed two piles of ancient coins.

Walking further I found a wall emblazoned with hieroglyphics. It looked different from the surrounding wall so I'd decided to check it out. Sure enough, there was a hidden door that I decided to walk through.

To be continued...

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 3

2010-01-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

I woke up the next day and decided to finish tackling that area of the tomb.

I went through the room and through the iron gate, finding a corridor with a pile of rubble in the back of it. I needed to clear the rubble pile in order to reveal a statue which opened a door. I like these puzzles but they're so complicated at times. Sometimes I wonder why can't these tombs be straightforward.

I walked into another room, with a bunch of switches. However, one wall was 'lit' differently from the others. I decided to walk to it and stick my hand in the hole.

Ewww, bugs! But thankfully, bugs don't bother me that much. Remember, I had a bug collection as a kid, too. The switch deactivated some fire traps both obvious and hidden.

I spotted that the switch had also unlocked a door that was flanked by cat statues.

Walking through the door, I spotted another room that was one giant fire trap.

My task in here was to move a statue basically from one end of the room to the other in order to activate a hidden floor switch. Believe it or not this took most of the day.

After finally getting the one statue on the floor switch, I had to move the other one, which was considerably easier. I'd chosen to do the most difficult one first.

My final step in this room was to step on the floor switch the second statue unlocked. And that one unlocked the next room...

To be continued

Childhood Dreamin' Part 3

2010-01-17T19:48:00.000-08:00

It was Saturday afternoon. We didn't have school, but I was at school anyway. Why? Because I went to clean the rat cages. I have to admit, I was the only person in class brave enough to do it. None of the other kids would dare. Cleaning the cage didn't bother me, I kinda liked it.

While I was on my way to the cemetery I did a little rock collecting. Even at that age I was interested in collecting precious and semi-precious stones, which is kind of what I do now. By the time I hit my teens I'd amassed quite a collection. To this day there is still a huge space rock in my bedroom, that I'd found outside when I was small.

I arrived in the cemetery at about eight-thirty, and the ghosts were out in force. I've known since I was a small child that I have been able to communicate with the spirits of the departed. I actually think I'm more comfortable with the dead than the living.

One of my favorites was a jolly old man named Erdrick Gnomeheim. He'd died from old age. He liked having me come by and he liked hearing me tell ghost stories. He liked to tell his own tales about brave quests undertaken by warriors long ago.

Dad was waiting up for me when I got home. "Oh, princess, I was so worried about you," he said as he scooped me up.
That was the night I actually told him that I was able to speak to ghosts. "I'm able to talk to them as I'm talking to you," I told him.
He never laughed at me or anything, he never dismissed me. He just smiled.

We ran around and played tag until the wee hours of the morning, then, when my legs couldn't carry me anymore, he scooped me up to my bed.

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 2

2010-01-16T13:17:00.000-08:00

I walked into the next room, holding my map in my hand, and saw the room was wet. And then I figured out why. Poison darts shot from every corner on the floor! If just one of those darts went through my body, I would be dead. Instantly.

Fortunately, I saw a pathway through the pile of darts, to a wall. Of course it was carved with hieroglyphics, but I thought it might be hollow so I felt around to see if it was hiding a secret door.

Sure enough, the wall hid a secret door, behind which there was a chest and a wall hole.

Sure enough, inside was a ceramic bowl and a money bag.

Next I saw a wall hole next to another wall with hieroglyphics, which told me there had to be a hidden door. So I stuck my hand inside the hole...

...and it shut off the poison darts and opened a hidden pathway to yet another room, this one filled with gravestones and ancient artifacts.

I looked over and saw an iron door leading somewhere, and an area right in front of the door that was suspiciously closed off.

But by that time, I was barely keeping my eyes open. Sooo... I looked around for an empty spot to put my tent, and fell fast asleep right then and there.

Dreaming of gilded relics and hugs with Satis and Imsety,

Savannah

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 1

2010-01-15T10:20:00.001-08:00

I quite literally walked into one giant fire trap.

It seemed everything around me was burning, blazing hot. I almost wanted to take my shirt off, too.

In my line of sight there was a wall that looked different from the surrounding wall. I knew there had to be something hidden behind it. The problem was getting there.

I stood there for a few moments, just trying to think about how I was going to get there from where I was standing. Finally I found an avenue to get through.

I felt around for a hollow spot in the wall. When I found the spot, the wall collapsed, revealing a hidden door.

I went inside the door, only to find more fire traps and a snaking corridor. I saw some old pottery stacked beside one of the walls. I kept looking around and found a hole in a wall and a marble table with what looked like a keystone.

I swiped the keystone from the table and then spotted the wall hole.

After digging through the wall hole....

I went to the other side of the room, where I unlocked the door with the keystone.

To be continued...

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity -- The Quest Begins (cont'd)

2010-01-14T17:08:00.001-08:00

With the kids in Layla's hands, I finally felt the time was right to get to the pyramid and the Tomb of Death. I got there about an hour later. There wasn't much of an entrance so I had to feel around for a hollow spot.

Sure enough, the entry wall collapsed around me in a mass of stone and concrete, the force of which startled me.

When I stood at the entrance door, the skeletal remains of explorers who entered the pyramid and never returned greeted me, and the stench ran up my nose straight through to my spine. Would I join them in an early grave?

I exhaled deeply as I went inside. I ran right past the skeletons, trying my best not to even look at them as I approached the first entrance door.

What I saw shocked even me -- and I'm not easily surprised.

To be continued...

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity -- The Quest Begins

2010-01-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

I sat at the table watching Satis eat her ice cream, and it occurred to me that I would have to leave her and Imsety to search for the final relic. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I looked at Satis and tears welled up in my eyes.

"Layla, I need you to do me a favor. Huge."
"What is it?"
"I need you to watch Satis and Imsety for me while I go and find the 3rd relic."
"What?" Layla asked. "What are you doing? They're Mr. Amin's kids!"
"Listen and listen good. I've filed a formal adoption request for them."
"Savannah!" Layla exclaimed. "Do you realize what you've done?"
"I know exactly what I'm doing. Now, please, I'm begging you. I need you to keep the kids away from Mr. Amin and I need you to keep them safe while I find the relic. I promise I will be back for them when I return."
"I can't keep them away from their father!"
"Please, Layla, it's very important. Even more important than finding these relics before MorcuCorp does."

This all started the last time I was in Egypt. Just before my visa ran out, I had to see Raffi Barakat, the relics expert in the market.

So after I'd left Layla, I went to the relics counter and saw him there. "Well, if it isn't Dr. Plumb!" he exclaimed, his round face breaking out in glee. "Layla tells me you got the second relic, and you want to know where the third one is."

"You know me well, don't you, Raffi?"
"Of course, Savannah -- I mean, Dr. Plumb." He took a deep breath. "I need you to bring me a plate of shawarma." Shawarma, according to the Wikipedia entry, is "a Middle Eastern sandwich-like wrap of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or a mixture of meats." It's a fast-food staple in these parts.
I knew that was easy to get. Since Layla was the short-order cook at the market... getting the shawarma to bribe Raffi into telling me the location of the final relic was a piece of cake. Although I suspect Raffi was going to tell me whether I brought the shawarma or not.

"So -- where's the relic?" I asked after I brought him the shawarma.

Raffi looked at me. "Your shawarma was greatly appreciated, Dr. Plumb, and I will greatly enjoy the meal." He then told me that the final relic, the Relic of Eternity, was in the Great Pyramid, in its Tomb of Death.

Tomb of Death eh? To be continued...

Satis-fied

2010-01-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

I had to see Satis. Absolutely, positively, had to see Satis. I think at this point it was a matter of life and death for me, literally. I still haven't quite figured out why this is. Why am I, a lily-white Simerican girl from Sunset Valley, obsessed with this Egyptian child?
So I got a plane ticket, renewed my passport, and went to Egypt with the express purpose of seeing her. Oh, and there is the small matter of a relic somewhere in a pyramid. But I digress.

I arrived at Satis' doorstep at eight-thirty in the morning. I was fairly sure she was awake by now.

Sure enough, she answered the door and had this huge grin on her face when she saw me. I scooped her up and gave her a big hug. I squeezed her tight and didn't want to let go. I couldn't neglect her brother either, and Imsety got a hug from me as well.

She was telling me that she'd gone into the local mausoleum with Imsety the night before, and she was gossiping with the few Simlish words I taught her, and I went inside to read Satis and Imsety a book.

Afterwards, I took the children to the market and ordered them each a plate of falafel. We talked about school and about what could have possibly happened to their parents. "Our father is alive," Imsety said, "but he is very busy man."
Through my conversation with them and from others, I learned the identity of their father. He was Samir Amin, a book merchant at the market. He apparently doubled as a top-secret agent for MorcuCorp.

Later that day, I did something I thought I'd never do. I filed a formal adoption request for Satis and Imsety. It was something I had to do, and I don't care how long it takes. I couldn't deny my feelings any longer. I love them and want them to be with me. Always.
I knew that Samir Amin could put out a contract on my life. But I didn't care. To my mind they were in more danger being WITH him than being away from him. At this point Egypt is more 'home' for me than Sunset Valley is. I have friends here and maybe a family, too. Which is more than I can say for back home, actually. I love my father and my brothers, but I'm not sure I belong there anymore. My heart is here, in Egypt.

Midday in the Garden of the Phoenix

2010-01-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

I got to the outdoor garden of the Martial Arts academy early the next morning after spending most of the night reading the skill book. I was now at level four, and only needed to raise one more level before I could meditate at the Scholar's Garden. The meditation for two hours was my ticket into the tomb where Qin Shan Hu's writings were supposedly located.

Lee Yao was already deep into meditation, so deep that he was actually off the ground and his whole body was aglow in the spirit of peace. All I could think about was how I wanted to reach that level of clarity.

The garden was a bevy of activity, with students of varying skill levels practicing their techniques.

After getting to level four, my goal was to get to level five so that I could go to the Scholar's Garden to meditate for two hours, as was required to get into the tomb.

I was on my last day of the China visa (how time flies) and I finally got to the Scholar's Garden to meditate for two hours. Meditation is so relaxing, I actually think I'll try it at home, too.

After my meditation in the garden, I reported my results to Lee Yao. He told me I needed to go to the Ancient Monk Retreat on the other side of the Scholars' Garden. That had to be where the writings were located.

By the time I got to the tomb, unfortunately, my visa was very close to running out, so I didn't get a chance to fully get down to exploring it ... and ultimately finding the writings. But I'll be back to find them... after I locate the final relic in Egypt...

Until next time,

Savannah

A Break from Training

2010-01-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

I took a brief respite from my martial-arts training. Seriously, there's only so much you can do before you get fatigued and sore.

I was at that state when I decided to join Lee (who seems to be a fitness freak) downstairs for some R&R with the TV. It was a funny quirk that there was a TV there and no chairs to sit down in. Oh well.

Lee mentioned that the bookshop in the Forbidden City carried a book on martial arts, that I could peruse at my leisure while my body was recovering from all its assorted bumps and bruises. I bruise easily. It's because of my pale English complexion. Thanks a lot, dad (and grandpa).

The marketplace in Shang Simla is a marvel of art and architecture, a veritable feast for the eyes. Sometimes I think if I hadn't become an adventurer, I might have been an architect.

I got to the bookshop a few moments later. The gentleman at the counter (forgot his name) asked if I needed anything. I told him I was looking for the martial-arts manual Lee said they carried it.

As soon as I got to the library in the back of the bookstore, my cellphone rang. It was Zhan. Again. I do have a sneaking suspicion that he is attracted to me, but he is too shy and awkward to tell me. As it was, our conversations were more about martial-arts and other generalities rather than matters of the heart.

I took a slow walk across the square. The square was really a lovely and peaceful place to walk through.

I spotted the fortune-cookie machine to my left and decided to try it out. Hmm, what was the recipe? Of course, it's written in Mandarin so I can't read it. There was, however, a couple of pre-measured scoops of sugar and dough. Apparently they pre-measure these so that tourists and locals trying it out would get the recipe 'just right.' Good thing.

My fortune cookie was done and I read my fortune. "A thrilling time is in your immediate future."
Hmm. I wonder if it meant the quest for the last relic.

More Martial-Arts Training

2010-01-09T14:42:00.000-08:00

Lee sent me on to the Martial Arts Academy to do more training, because the next step was to meditate for two hours at the Scholar's Garden, and I needed to be at least at level 5 to do so. But... my cellphone rang again.

It was Zhan. And he'd wanted to chat.

Ever since I'd met him, he'd called me more than once. I do not know where we go from here, but I do know we have become friends. I do suspect he 'let' me win that 2nd sparring match, though.

I got to the Academy, changed into my clothes, and began training with the boards. I started out with foam since they were easiest. Then you're supposed to work up to the harder material.

After more training I raised another level, and I got a red belt with a black suit. Spiffy, eh?

Training isn't easy, especially if I keep poking myself in the eye with these darned wooden spokes! Thankfully my contacts are pretty much everything-proof. I left my glasses in the room.

All in all, other than the martial-arts training, it's been a relaxing trip. The pace of life in Shang Simla is definitely slower than Egypt, which in my situation, with the final relic still somewhere in those pyramids and the things going on back home, is probably a good thing.

Seeing Lee

2010-01-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

I left the Scholar's Garden and ran through the Forbidden City (the town square of Shang Simla). I knew Lee Yao was now the special merchant there, so I knew he'd be easy to find.

"Ah, lotus flower, you're back," Lee said, flexing his muscles.
"I beat him once," I bragged.
"You did? That's great."
"I learned a lot, though."
"I figured you would. Zhan Su is an excellent teacher."

A Boy Called Su (cont'd)

2010-01-07T07:42:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to spar with him twice. We took a break from sparring to work on our minds. Zhan was over in the corner meditating while I decided to play a little chess.

He was so peaceful, so 'at one' with himself, and I decided I wanted to learn to meditate, too.

We returned to sparring awhile later. At first the battle started out slowly, and then I felt myself getting stronger and slowly getting an advantage. I let out a drop kick that surprised Zhan, who didn't seem as prepared after meditating as he had before.

I won this time. My next step was to report back to Lee Yao.

A Boy Called Su

2010-01-03T19:06:00.000-08:00

When I got to the Scholar's Garden, which was really an awesomely beautiful and supremely serene little place on top of a hill, I saw this one gentleman concentrating really hard on his chess. He was kind of a scrawny little thing, actually. I figured I could take him. After I whip his tail in martial arts, I thought, I'd like to challenge him to a chess match.

Of course, these things don't go according to plan. Usually. Okay, they never do.

So I introduced myself to Zhan (pronounced like the French Jean, I think). "It is very nice to meet you, Dr. Plumb," he said after curtsying.

I found out he was brave, loves the outdoors, and has a good sense of humor. Hmm. Since I have the brave trait myself, it was something we have in common.

So after talking for a bit, I challenged him to spar. He ran up to me and changed his clothes into his martial-arts uniform. We were ready to go.

Martial arts is mostly fought with your feet and your brain. It's more a matter of knowing when to move and counter-move than it is about actual traditional physical skill. In martial arts, no malice is usually intended; the skill is mostly not to be demonstrated unless one is in extreme physical distress. I underwent the training because I figured it would help me when I returned to Egypt to search for the final relic.

Zhan caught me flat-footed a couple times, actually. After I realized what had happened, I delivered a drop-kick, which he defended.

Even though I lost that round, I did gain a level, which meant no more white suit -- my new belt was yellow and the suit was black and gold.

Going Back to School (sort of)

2010-01-03T18:34:00.000-08:00

I got back to base camp and flat-out crashed, I was so tired. Unfortunately, I was awakened by my cell phone.

Lee Yao (remember him?) was now paying for my martial-arts instruction and wanted me to get my buns down to the Phoenix Martial-Arts Academy to watch some boards being broken by a master of the craft.

So I went downstairs, fixed some pancakes (that I didn't burn this time) and overheard two French explorers talking about me. I didn't hear much else they said (after all they were speaking French) but I did hear the name "Dr. Plumb" several times in their conversation.

So in my best French I said, "Je suis Doctor Plumb. Est-ce que je peux vous aider?" I realize my French isn't that great, but I took six years of it in school, so it ought to be used for something.

Jean-Pierre, the one guy with the dirty-blond hair, looked at me and replied, "No, madame, vous devez etre un imposteur."

"You think I'm an impostor?" I screamed. "Nonsense!"

I was so angry I left the base camp and went straight for the Martial-Arts Academy. There was this guy in a blue suit, about my father's age, breaking wooden boards with his bare hands like they were pieces of flypaper.

I was in awe as the boards broke one by one by one. I wanted to learn how to do that.

My cell phone rang again a couple moments later. Lee Yao was sending me to the Scholar's Garden to spar twice with a gentleman named Zhan Su.

Oh boy...

New Year, New Locale

2010-01-03T18:19:00.000-08:00

The New Year (well, in the States anyway, the Chinese New Year doesn't begin until sometime around Valentine's Day) has now found me in China, the purpose of this mission -- to locate (and decipher) the ancient writings of one Qin Shan Hu, which are buried somewhere in some tomb in this town. There is a catch (isn't there always?) -- I have to hone my martial arts training in order to gain entrance to one of the secret tombs.

I admittedly didn't spend much time here before, but I think while I was in the midst of my quest for those relics (I have two of them, one remains) I had a hankering for the tranquility Shang Simla provides. I do think the martial arts training I will receive here will only aid my search for that final relic, which will probably be more arduous than any adventure I have undertaken thus far.

"We are very honored to have you here, Dr. Plumb," said the book merchant as we ate outside in the open-air market.
I have to admit, being referred to as "Dr. Plumb" sends chills up my spine. Really, it does.

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 8

2009-12-29T09:42:00.000-08:00

Well, I made it through the night.

I woke up the next day ravenous and ready to head out. I knew I had to do it quickly and orderly, so I packed up my tent, popped a morsel in my mouth, and ran as fast as I could out of the pyramid.

I hit the desert on my trusty scooter and started riding. I have to admit, this little thing has become my fave vehicle.

I rode through the desert for about three and a half hours before I saw the palm trees and the tops of some buildings marking some signs of civilization. I have to admit for awhile there I thought I'd never see it again, and I was glad to see it.

When I arrived in the town square after my four and a half hour journey, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Now I had to find Layla.

Sure enough, she was at the food counter, and for the first time I got a good look at her features. She was certainly exotic, to be sure, with slits for eyes and a warm twinkly nose with a slight hook. Her eyes were slightly closed when I walked in.

She didn't immediately recognize my presence until I saluted her and cleared my throat. Layla stood there and shook her head. "Don't tell me -- you got it."
"Sure do."
"You are incredible, do you know that?" Layla said as I brought her the relic.
I smiled. "Yeah, I do," I told her.
"Really, it's unbelievable how you secured the second relic. Meanwhile, while you were gone I've been tracking the whereabouts of the final relic with the book and the data from the computers. I believe Raffi, the relics merchant, knows where it is."

"I know Raffi," I told her. "This should be a piece of cake."

What happened next even surprised me -- and I'm not easily surprised. Not only was I paid a queen's ransom in simoleans and ancient coins and visa points, but Layla fixed me a steaming hot plate of falafel -- on the house. "It's the least I can do for my favorite adventurer," she said. "Two days in the Tomb of the Desert Ocean could not have been easy." Needless to say, I dug in. I guess you appreciate things more when they're taken away from you.

"Savannah?" she called after I'd washed my plate. "Tell me about your family."

I proceeded to tell her about my parents and siblings back home.
"Five brothers?" Layla asked. "Four of them older? My goodness, no wonder you're a tomboy. " I couldn't tell her that I was only raised with two of them and only one was older. "I'm curious, though, how someone of your background ended up here, in Egypt. How did you even get started doing this?" She seemed to be incredulous when I told her I raided my first tomb when I was a child.
"Now I know I found the right person for this." It felt good to have her vote of confidence -- it isn't easy to come by as she is fairly reserved and is not exactly the most talkative person around.

Childhood Dreamin' Part 2

2009-12-28T22:20:00.001-08:00

Dad had called us all to the kitchen table. Noah had spent the night at our place, and Aunt Margaret was checking out the newspaper. Mom was doing some work with the orchestra so she wasn't home.

He'd served his pipin' hot plate of chocolate chip cookies -- for breakfast -- again. Dad loves cookies. Seriously, between cookies and hamburgers, he'd eat nothing else, really, if Mom didn't cook.

"The Llamas finally won a game," Aunt Margaret mused from behind the newspaper she was reading.

"These cookies are delish," Noah had said. "Seriously, dad, these are your best batch yet."

Meanwhile, I was sulking because yet another batch of cookies was NOT my idea of a good breakfast. I would much have rathered some pancakes or waffles, but mom wasn't home to cook them, so of course they didn't get cooked.

"What's wrong with Savannah?" Noah asked while looking at me and after I'd given him the evil eye. Dad wouldn't answer him.

Right after breakfast, I saw Aunt Margaret sobbing in her room. She grabbed me, and I felt safe there, like everything was going to be okay.

That was the day, though, I first went into the catacombs alone. After leaving the house, I rode my bike all the way to the cemetery. I was feeling particularly brave, and I wanted to get my mind off of what had just transpired.
I loved school, and I loved to learn, except for the fact that I was made fun of because I refused to wear a dress. Mom tried to make me, she really did. Of course, dad would sneak my pants for me just after mom went to work. And of course, there weren't too many simgirls interested in playing pirates, so for me, it was, well, screw them.
I spent my recesses in the library reading. Mostly it was skill books but there was some pleasure reading, too. I pretty much knew everything the teacher taught, already, so they had me working on advanced material.

When I finally arrived at the cemetery it was getting dark. Great!, I thought, just the way I like it. I was hoping to catch a ghost or two when I came out of the mausoleum, but that didn't happen. I made a mad dash past the Grim Reaper statue and ran into the mausoleum. It was my first real brush with danger. Several times I spotted zombies and almost died swimming the underground rapids!

I emerged from the catacombs wet, smelly, and altogether exhilarated. I got a few semi-rare uncut gemstones out of the deal, too. When I look back on the experience, it's the whole reason I became an archaeologist and tomb raider. I love cemeteries, tombs, catacombs, history and art. And what I do combines all those things.
The vocational aptitude test I took in high school said I was best suited for a career in law enforcement or medicine. Considering I spent a good deal of my teen years in the back of police cars, and the fact that my paternal grandparents were both involved in medicine, I find it at least a little bit ironic. But I honestly believe I cannot imagine myself doing anything else but what I do now.

The Second Relic: Relic of Life Part 7

2009-12-28T20:44:00.001-08:00

With the keystone in hand, I headed back upstairs to the surface levels of the tomb so that I could get to the Water Temple, where I was now more than certain the relic was located.

But danger still lurked at every turn. After all, I was not going back up the same way I came. There were entirely new hazards to navigate. I no longer felt rudderless. And the closer I got to snaring that relic, the more my heart started to pound.

Finally I headed up the staircase to head to the Water Temple. I would need to strip down to my swim gear and swim across, though.

Finally the moment of truth had arrived. After swimming across a moat, I was going to enter the Water Temple.

I looked up and once again it seemed like I was in a dream. Then I spotted something glistening up ahead...

The light emanating from it was so blinding I had to shield my eyes. There was an earthen staircase leading up to 3 like chests, with two chairs opposite the gleaming chest. Even the statues surrounding it seemed to have a supernatural sort of glow about them.

My heart racing, I sped up to the chest as fast as I could. I knew I needed to get the relic and get out of there before I was found out.

Victory at last!

The second of the three elusive relics, the Relic of Life, was finally in my hands after a two-day jaunt through the Tomb of the Desert Ocean. I've done some pretty good things, but I have to admit I surprised myself with this one.
But I knew it was getting quite late, and not only was going back to base camp out of the question from this far out, but I was fairly certain I couldn't even make it past the river. I also knew that if I stayed put, I risked being found out by the Morcucorp goons.

I made a difficult decision, a decision I knew was risky. I knew I was tempting fate with this one, but doing so is my nature. I set up my tent at the foot of the temple and fell asleep, right then and there. Whether or not I would still be there in the morning would be anyone's guess, including mine.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I cradled the relic in my arms. If I'm killed here, I thought, at least I'm going to die doing what I love, just like my Aunt Margaret did.

Dreams of gilded relics and mystical pyramids, Savannah

The Second Relic: Relic of Life Part 6

2009-12-28T15:53:00.001-08:00

When I descended into the basement I saw another corridor with exquisite artwork. A part of me wanted to just stay in here and enjoy the view, but I knew I came in here to look for something and I had to leave.

After grabbing some ancient coins from the makeshift display case, I walked onward. It seemed like a veritable museum of some sorts down here.

I saw a room full of statues and an electric trap. Someway, some how, this had to be navigated.

I knew that I would have to move at least one of those statues around, if not more.

Moving the statue disarmed the trap that guarded a doorway.

Sphinx statues guarded an indigo treasure chest. Yes! This must be where the keystone to the Water Temple is. Now I can find the relic.

Relic of Life, here I come!

To be continued...

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 5

2009-12-27T11:37:00.001-08:00

Rise and shine, princess... You're in an Egyptian pyramid! You're living your dream!

I guessed it was about seven a.m. when I woke up the next morning with an extra spring in my step. The ancients told the time by the position of the sun in the sky. I was hungry so I took one of the dried morsels out of my bag and put it in my mouth.

I took back to the water to swim to the other side where I would open the door and start again. I decided I would need to comb through the places where I'd been and see if I'd overlooked something in the weeds.

So I found a statue and several floor switches. I heard something click...

All right, down into a basement! Now I was getting somewhere.

To be continued...

Childhood Dreamin'

2009-12-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

While I was in the tent, I had a dream. About my childhood. I guess when your life is flashing before your eyes, you think about things like this.

It was a fairly ordinary Saturday morning. My Dad was serenading my Aunt Margaret while she was writing her latest novel.

I'd walked right past them and hopped on my bicycle. They had no idea where I was going. It was always like this, I think.

I went to my favorite fishing hole -- no, not at the park like most folks, but I liked to go to the cemetery pond, with the statue of the Grim Reaper and the adjacent catacombs overlooking everything. Most of the time I was by myself. I liked it that way, because I would be undisturbed.

When I came home after dark, I ran up to daddy, who was waiting to scoop me up in his arms. "Daddy, daddy, guess what? I caught my biggest fish ever!" It was a 0.3 kilogram goldfish that I later put in a jar in my room.

"That's great, princess!" He knew that I'd liked to go off exploring the town, and even though mom didn't like it for the most part, he let me do it.

Just before bed I went into my Aunt Margaret's room and pulled a book from the shelf. She had all kinds of books -- mysteries, dramas, romances, adventure novels. I had long ago outgrown the children's books mom, dad, and Aunt Margaret read to me as a toddler, and had even outgrown the kiddie books they had at the library and at school, so when I was able to read on my own (my dad says it was while I was still a toddler, before I actually became a child) I chose to read the grown-up books. I was hooked on Sims' Treasure Island and Simmiver's Travels. Simmiver's Travels were my favorite, though. I would read that one in bed, too.

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 4

2009-12-25T19:48:00.001-08:00

I walked into what appeared to be a hallway with an extra long corridor. Again, my mouth was agape at the exquisite care and craftsmanship that went into decorating and building this home for the deceased. The Egyptians believed in a vigorous afterlife. Nowadays, we just toss our deceased relatives in these dinky cemeteries with no provisions whatsoever and forget about 'em. It's sad, really.

At the end of the corridor there was a table with two chairs, each with a different design on the back of the seat. Hmm, was this the burial place of one of the pharaohs and his consort?

I walked through the door to the immediate left of the table and spotted a treasure chest surrounded by a pool of water and some water-lily pads.

Then I saw what looked like a half-wall with hieroglyphics. I thought it might be hollow, so I felt around for any evidence it concealed an entrance.

Just as I suspected, it was a hidden door. I walked through it.

I grabbed the ancient coins that were sitting on the stump and moved on. While I was there, though, I noticed it was starting to get dark in the tomb. A dark Egyptian tomb. My dream come true.

In fact, it was starting to remind me of the very first time I went into the catacombs beneath Sunset Valley's graveyard when I was a little girl. The rush that I got from it, I haven't quite been able to duplicate it. Until now.

I happened upon a chest that was -- EMPTY!!! Drat, that relic has to be in here somewhere. I'm gonna find it, if it's the last thing I do.

I disarmed an electric trap by standing on a floor-switch square. Hell, I've already had enough electricity in my body to power a metropolis. I actually think I may have developed something of a resistance to it.

I spotted a dive pool and no other entrances or exits so I decided to check it out.

After being down there for a few minutes and searching around, I found a switch. I heard something click but I wasn't sure where it was clicking.

Gasping for air, I came back to the surface, finding myself in yet another room. Apparently I'd swum through a secret tunnel.

After getting out of the pool I found a suspicious looking hole, so I decided to dig in.

Eww, bugs! Normally bugs don't bother me but the fact that I was wet, well... I brushed them away anyway. It was at this point I realized I was pretty much walking around in circles.

I was lost! And I wasn't sure how I was going to get out.

It became apparent that I would have to set up shop in here for the night, and I would try to find the Key to the Water Temple, which would hopefully lead me to the whereabouts of the Relic of Life.

I got myself into this mess. I was the one who was going to have to get myself out.

Dreaming dreams of gilded relics, Savannah

To be continued...

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 3

2009-12-25T17:50:00.000-08:00

Through the grasses I spotted a door -- without a chain. There was no way this could be this straight-forward, I thought. Just no way. It can't be.

With every step I found myself gape-mouthed, with my eyes big as saucers, taking in everything I was seeing. It was like I was in a dream. Except this wasn't a dream. It was real. I was really walking through an Egyptian pyramid, the real kind, the kind I'd only seen in magazines and on my favorite Halls of History channel. A couple of times I had to pinch myself.

While I was looking around, I spotted a suspicious piece of ground, and then I saw a water fountain. The piece of ground was a different color from its surroundings. I decided to go ahead and check the spot of ground out. Sure enough, it was a fire trap.

I then decided that I would counteract the effects of the fire trap I'd need to cross by jumping into the water fountain. I was apprehensive about it at first, but once I allowed the stream of water to caress my skin, the experience was cleansing and cathartic.

Now that I was wet, I would attempt to cross the fire trap.

To be continued...

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 2

2009-12-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

I walked in and it was like I was going into another world. It was quite simply the most beautiful place I'd ever seen. Wall after wall was filled with exquisite artwork dating back thousands of years. Whoever built this tomb -- er, shrine to themselves, because that's what most Egyptian tombs were -- had to be incredibly wealthy or influential -- or both. I decided, right then and there, that I was going to build my own family mausoleum.

There were untouched pools of water so clear I could see the sky's reflection on the surface.

In order for me to get to a switch I had to press, I had to swim. So I stripped down to my swimming trunks and dove into the water. Look, I'm a mermaid! (I'm missing the tail)

I got out and started looking for the switch to open the door.

I placed the star keystone I'd found on this one chest, and found nothing but some dried food.

I hopped back into the water to swim to the other side. Boy, I'm glad I taught myself how to swim!

Back on the other side, I stepped into a room that looked as though it hadn't been touched for thousands of simyears. "Why has no one found this place?" I wondered. "Creepy, it must be only for worthy adventurers." Like me.

The room was absolutely over-run with weeds. If the relic was in here somewhere, I'd have to wade through the grasses.

I didn't care how long it took me, I was going to do just that.

To be continued....

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 1

2009-12-22T22:36:00.001-08:00

I ate some oven-fresh pancakes at the market. I knew it would be my last meal for awhile, especially since I was headed to the other side of the desert for the Tomb of the Desert Ocean.

I spoke with Fikry Ameen, the special merchant, wanting to know just exactly where the Tomb of the Desert Ocean was, and just how far out of the way it was. "I do not wish this adventure on anyone," Fikry said. "But I believe if anyone can handle it, it is you. Please, do be careful."

And so, I was off. There is something about kicking up dust behind me that gives me a cheap thrill.

But don't think I didn't stop and take in the breathtaking view. Me and the desert. Just the way I like it.

All told, on foot and on bike, the trip was about four hours.

Finally, I was here. The Tomb of the Desert Ocean. It was bigger than anything I'd seen previously. This relic was in here somewhere.

But first, I had to get in here. There was no entrance door so I felt for a hollow spot in the wall.

When the entrance door revealed itself, my search for the Relic of Life had begun in earnest.

To be continued...

MorcuCorp HQ (cont'd)

2009-12-21T18:47:00.001-08:00

The next day I was back at the Amin residence, and back looking at Satis and her brother, Imsety, home alone. Satis and Imsety were speaking (in Arabic of course) and I pretended to listen, all the while waiting and watching for the right moment to take my leave of them and go back to the commander's computer.

I walked down to the commander's desk, this time without further incident. I sat there and stared for a few moments at his laptop and his telephone. Okay, Layla gave me the password and I'd emailed Ari and asked her about obscure Windows commands. Now to remember everything they told me...

*type type type*

I typed in what I remembered of Layla's password. Oh drat, I must have put a letter or number in the wrong place. I tried again, and this time it went through!

Layla called me saying the password went through, and she was able to decipher the coded meaning of the words.

The second relic, the Relic of Life, was in the Tomb of the Desert Ocean, on the desert side of Al Simhara. I would have to get in there, get the Relic, and bring it back.

Of course.

By the time I got back to base camp it was well past 1 in the morning and I was getting sleepy. The next day I would go after the Relic of Life.

Dreaming dreams of gilded relics,

Savannah

MorcuCorp HQ

2009-12-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

Apparently intrepid adventurers aren't supposed to get in here, especially if the folks set electric traps for anyone trying to get in. First I inspected it and determined that indeed it is an electric trap. Then, I attempted to disarm it, and finally I decided, ah, shoot, what the heck, I'm gonna try and cross it, and if it stings me, it just friggin' stings me.

I had to move around statues (what good are the doggone things if they don't block your path?) to unlock floor switches.

Then I crossed an electric trap, leaving it sizzling behind me, and I had to admit, I was feeling pretty good about myself.

But I took a few steps...carefully... towards one of the exit doors...and I heard...a small little clicking noise. What was that? I wondered.

Apparently I'd stepped on a hidden electric trap and gotten singed! Hell, I've had enough electricity going through my body to power a power plant.

Feeling a bit woozy after that one, I stumbled onward towards another room, this one containing a number of chests. I picked the locks on each and walked away with money bags, ancient coins, dive well fragments, even a crescent-shaped keystone.

I fit the crescent keystone through the hole and walked through the hidden door it opened.

I knew as soon as I saw the lamp and computers that this was where I needed to be. This was the main 'nerve center' of MorcuCorp and their entire international operation. I had to say, though, if they did run everything from here, it was certainly a sparse facility.

I saw the chest glistening in the front of the room. Aha, I said, this is where I have to put the mummitomium. As it was nearly midnight, there was no one inside. And this place was buried some distance below the ground. Of course. They couldn't put an operation like this above the ground, they'd most certainly be discovered.

I took the gemstones and ancient coins hidden in the chest but left behind the package of mummitomium Layla sent.

She phoned me soon afterward, with instructions to hack the boss' computer. I jotted the info down in my adventure journal. The reason to hack into the computer? To find the location of the second of the three relics.

I spotted a door in the back of the room and picked the lock to get into it. I spotted the computer I needed to try to hack. But hacking a computer? I hardly know what I need to know about computers, let alone hacking into someone else's. Boy, I needed a lifeline on this one. It was getting late, so I thought I'd try to tackle this in the morning.

In the meantime, some poor grunt left HIS computer on, so I used his machine to compose a letter to my publisher, realizing their deadline for having "Interview with a Mummy" finished and on their desk had already passed. I knew the closer I got to snagging these relics, the harder all this was going to be to synthesize. I needed an extension, and I needed one badly. I couldn't exactly say, give me one because I'm searching for a few elusive relics in Egypt. I composed a hasty email to my publisher that read like this:

"Dear Sirs: Please accept my apology for my tardiness in not turning in my drafts for 'Interview with a Mummy.' I had fully intended to turn them in on time, but I was called to return to Egypt for an important business matter. I shall have them finished when I return. Sincerely, S. R. Plumb."

I closed my eyes and waited. I decided to return to base camp.

A Pit Stop on the Way to Greatness

2009-12-20T10:23:00.000-08:00

Layla sent me off to Morcucorp's HQ. I expected this giant building rising from the ashes of Egypt's civilization. Instead I got an innocuous little hut where an actual family lived.

When I got there, I didn't see any adults, but two children were there, a boy and a girl. The young girl, called Satis, answered the door. She was a really chatty little thing.

Satis led me inside their house, even though she had never seen me before.

I quickly looked around in there and saw nothing in there that would belie a multi-national criminal enterprise. Then again, looks could be deceiving.
Satis, however, wanted to chat me up. I learned her favorite color (green) and her traits (clumsy, perfectionist, and bookworm). Since I realized she liked books, I asked her what her favorite ones were to read. She cited the usual suspects (Where's Bella, The Adventures of Raymundo, the Jimmy Sprocket series), but then she noted some Egyptian books too.
I realized I had Satis right where I wanted her.
"Wanna play tag?" she asked. I knew her Simlish wasn't very good, but to be fair, neither was her Arabic.
I shrugged my shoulders. Why not?

It reminded me of the times I used to run around our yard with dad when I was little.

"You're it!" Satis said, tapping me on the arm as she disappeared somewhere.

By the time I caught up with Satis, she was behind a second, smaller building that looked like the family's storage shed. I took my leave of her and decided to go exploring in there.

Their storage shed pretty much looked like any other. There were assorted barrels and bales of hay, and even the kids' bikes were kept here. Except...

There was a switch right by the bicycles. I had only seen switches like these inside of tombs and caves. That was my first clue that something was up.

Curious, I decided to try to find out what this switch unlocked when I heard a clicking noise.

The switch unlocked a staircase which led to a basement. Aha, I thought, this is where I need to go. Place the mummitomium in the chest in the computer room...

Of course, this was easier said than done.

M is for Mummitomium

2009-12-20T09:31:00.000-08:00

The next morning I woke up with mummitomium (how many m's are in that word?) on the mind. Layla wanted me to find two pieces of the super-rare element with which to bribe a couple of Morcucorp guards. But first, I was ravenous so I found some bread and jam with which to stuff my face until I got to the market for some falafel, fried balls or patties made from spiced chickpeas and/or fava beans. It's a well known Egyptian and Middle Eastern fast-food dish, and during my trips here I've grown to like it.

So, right after eating, I set off on my scooter, searching for any sign of the super-rare material. I did find one of the two required pieces, on the other side of the desert (of course), but couldn't find another.

Meanwhile, I found the town's cemetery, with its own catacombs, so I decided to go in and 'unwind' for a bit. You may think it strange that I unwind by exploring catacombs, but it's true.

But not if you end up scalded by a zombie. I did, however, get a copy of the mystery novel Game of Thorns and a mysterious Sultan Sam Magic Gnome for my troubles. I returned to base camp and vowed to find the other piece of mummitomium the next day.

I slept in till eleven in the morning, which is late for me. Since it was a Saturday morning I decided to fix myself a chef's salad. Finding those materials in the desert was surprisingly easy, as there's a river delta that bisects Al Simhara, and it is there where the plants grow.

So I scooted down to the delta to see if I could find a piece of mummitomium to bring to Layla.

When I didn't find it there, I went further into the desert. After spotting the required second piece, I went back to the marketplace to find Layla.

"I got 'em."

"Excellent," she nodded. "I knew you would find them."

"What do I do with them now?"

"I need you to deliver these to MorcuCorp's HQ and put them in the chest in their main room."

MorcuCorp's HQ? This should be a piece of cake.

The First Relic -- Relic of the Sun

2009-12-18T19:40:00.000-08:00

I hightailed it away from the Madboulis and went toward the marketplace to find Layla. I had learned that she worked there as the head chef.

After I delivered the book, Layla sent me to Raffi Barakat, the relics expert and merchant at the market, who would tell me about the very first of the three ancient relics -- the Relic of the Sun. I thought to myself, all right, now I'm in business!

I arrived at Raffi Barakat's small relics shop about ten sim-minutes later. It looked like any antiques store in town, except all the trinkets there were Egyptian, some of them many hundreds, if not thousands, of sim years old.

I had never met him before, but he seemed to recognize me right away. "Savannah Plumb," he said in his Egyptian accent. "The famed relic hunter. I've been told to expect you."

It was a strange feeling, being recognized, but a good feeling too -- and I was recognized as "Savannah Plumb" not "Nathan and Shandra Plumb's daughter."

Raffi and I talked a lot about my adventures to break the ice. He told me he'd gotten interested in antiquities as a teenager and started working in the shop when he was my age, when the shop was owned by his father.

"Tell me about this relic," I said as I leaned closer. "I've heard and read that there are three ancient relics --"

"That the ancient kings of Al Simhara left behind."

"Yes."

"There are three ancient relics -- the Relic of the Sun, the Relic of Life, and the Relic of Eternity." He then paused and told me about the relic that he had. He seemed to dismiss it as a trifle, but apparently Layla thought it was far more valuable. Still, he'd determined its value at five pieces of copper.

I left Raffi's relic shop and scoured the deserts of Al Simhara for the required five pieces of copper so that I could bring the relic back to Layla, who seemed to believe that he actually had the Relic of the Sun.

As usual, these metals were all over town. Thankfully, I'd swiped mom's metal detector, which helped tremendously.

The copper pieces glowed in the hot desert sands. I'd needed five; luckily there were two side by side.

After finding the other pieces (it was now getting on sunset!) I headed back to the marketplace to find Raffi.

"That was fast," Raffi said when I got there. "You are really good at finding these."

"Been finding things most of my life," I told him.

I was paid handsomely for my services and told to give the relic to Layla, and I wanted to get to her right away.

"You got it?"

"You know it."

"Savannah," she said, calling me over, "it IS the Relic of the Sun! Raffi was mistaken --"

"Five pieces of copper --"

"That's all you paid for this?"

"Yep."

"I have to tell you -- it's not going to get any easier from here. MorcuCorp's goons are around at every turn. You cannot let your guard down, at all. They will be highly suspicious of you. But here's what I need from you now. I need two pieces of mummitomium to bribe their guards so that you can get into their headquarters."

"Mummitomium? I've never heard of that!"

"It's an extremely rare and valuable mineral that can only be found in Al Simhara. And since they're worth a lot of money, the greedy guards will be running to cash them in."

After leaving Layla's I decided to go to the bookstore in the marketplace to take in one of their new tomes. Since discovering these libraries I've found books here that are not in the Sunset Valley bookstore or library. I was even shocked to find a first edition of Aunt Margaret's first novel, Paloma of Plumbob Farm, written when she was a teenager!

It was a clear, cloud-free night so I decided to do a little stargazing with the telescope in the town square. The ancients used the stars to tell what time of day and year it was, to tell them when to plant their crops, when to harvest, even when to marry and procreate. As I looked through the telescope, my destiny became clearer and clearer. I was supposed to find these relics, and I needed to find them before MorcuCorp did. If I found them, I'd be known as 'the archeologist who found the Three Relics of Al Simhara' and my name would be on the lips of everyone in the industry. I suppose it's the same mindset the explorers who set sail from Europe all those centuries ago had, the intrepid adventurers who staked claims to lands far from home. Without even trying, I had yet more material for my book. My publisher needed to wait. I had more work to do!

The Ancient Library

2009-12-18T11:52:00.000-08:00

Sanaa Madbouli's husband, Farad, came to the door. I'm pretty sure he saw a skinny little girl, not a hardened adventurer, standing in front of him.

After greeting him, I went straight to work. The Madbouli house wasn't a house at all, but a bona fide Egyptian mansion. I wondered if they were descendants of the pharaohs and sultans.

I saw a floor switch rising from beneath the gravel and decided to check it out. When I heard a clicking noise, I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

To my left, I saw a staircase leading down to a hidden basement.

As I walked inside, I stepped into another world. The smell of musty tomes filled the air as I entered the ancient halls. Somewhere in here there was a book that contained the information Layla (and just about everyone in town) was looking for. Somewhere in here was the Book of the Three Relics.

Somewhere I knew Aunt Margaret was smiling. This was a quest she would have loved.

In room after room after room my eyes were agape as they fell upon elaborate rooms filled with ancient artwork and hieroglyphics that had been undisturbed for many thousands of years, in addition to more books than I'd ever seen in my entire life. I mean, I realize the ancients didn't have television and computers or anything, but seriously, who had time to READ all of this??? Besides, I don't even think the printing press had been invented before the fifteenth century so how could they have gotten these hardcover volumes?

Finally I came to the end of a staircase. This has to be where the book is, I thought, there isn't anywhere else.

After finding the well-preserved volume in the bottom of a chest, I stuck it in my backpack and headed out.
But there were more questions in my mind. Are the Madboulis aware that this library even exists beneath their house? And if they are, why haven't they told anyone about it?

Back Amidst the Sands

2009-12-18T11:20:00.000-08:00

I'd been summoned back to Egypt for a second go-round in the desert. When I left, I had found myself embroiled deep in a mystery pitting the local residents of Al Simhara against a multi-national corporation, MorcuCorp. I had learned that the Landgraab family had long ago cemented a certain sinister alliance with the corporation, and that they'd set up shop here to plunder the land of its myriad riches. I decided that I didn't care how many trips it took me, I was going to get to the bottom of this mystery.

First things first, though: I had to get hold of Layla. After all, she was the one who summoned me here. So I hopped on my brand-new custom-made cobalt blue Kenspa scooter (that I bought in France) and rode back into the main town square.

When I spotted what I believed was her house, I hopped off and took off on foot.

When I found Layla, she told me that the Madbouli family had a giant, ancient library in their basement. And that a book about the three ancient relics was hidden in there.

About half a sim hour later, I knocked on the door of the Madbouli residence.

Day Two: Dragon's Maw (cont'd)

2009-11-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

The contrast between the exterior and interior of this place could not be more stark.

I didn't see much in this place -- except I suddenly got recollections of Egypt and the mummy. Lee Yao texted me and said he wanted to hear of my encounter.

The trouble was tracking him down. He was incredibly difficult to catch. Since he's athletic, he was very speedy. First I tried the bike, and then I tried on foot.

It almost felt like catching Yao was a quest in and of itself. Finally though, I managed to surpass him on bike.

Finally we got to Yao's, where he was practicing his martial arts. "Why'd you call me and then make me chase you all the way through Shang Simla?"

"Because you are a fine adventurer -- and I find you attractive."
I was incredulous. "You think I'm attractive."

"A lotus flower such as yourself? Certainly." I could feel my cheeks getting hot.

"Seriously. But we must not mix pleasure with business, for there are serious dealings afoot."

"Hence, the reason I chased you down. You texted me while I was in the Maw and then I flashed back to my time in the pyramid with the mummy."

"You are destined to go through that tomb completely. But I cannot say much more than that."
He certainly couldn't say much more than that. For my visa was up and it was time for me to leave.

Day Two: Dragon's Maw

2009-11-27T18:56:00.000-08:00

I woke up ravenous, so I raided the kitchen. Luckily I found some pancake mix sitting in a cupboard. I also found some milk and eggs in the refrigerator. So I said, okay, I can make some pancakes. If only I could remember how mom made them at home...

Then I sat down and ate my reward. Mmmmm....

Okay, so maybe they weren't mom's pancakes, but they would have to do, since I'm literally thousands of sim-miles away from Sunset Valley. They weren't burnt.
Soon after breakfast, I got a phone call from a Lee Yao. I'm not even sure how he got my number (it may have been from Deng). He wanted an outsider's help with a 'delicate matter.' I had to go into the Temple of the Dragon in the Maw, up on this steep hill and tell him what I found there. I didn't see how any of this made sense or connected, so I just grit my teeth and started walking.

When I hiked up to the Dragon's Maw, I immediately sensed a foreboding atmosphere. Still, there was something drawing me closer. Since I'm naturally curious (you kind of have to be, for this work), I wanted to investigate further.

It looked like a deserted thicket, then I found a flight of stairs leading to a tomb below. I took a deep breath.

Day One: Phoenix Martial Arts Academy

2009-11-25T14:20:00.000-08:00

I left the Halls of the Lost Army on bicycle and headed toward Deng with the relic in my backpack.

When I spotted him in his backyard, I called him out. "Deng! Deng! I'm back! I got it!" I could hear my voice echo in the air.

"You have it?"

"I sure do."

"I'm very impressed with your skill. What did you say your name was?"

"Savannah," I told him, "Savannah Rachel Plumb."

I knew when I arrived in China that I wanted to learn martial arts. I had seen a lot of the kung fu movies on television and wanted to learn it for myself.

So after I left Deng's with a fist full of simoleans and ancient coins, I went across town to the famed Phoenix Martial Arts Academy.

I was surprised that the facilities are so spartan. I walked inside and there were others using the apparatus to practice.

Since the apparatus was being used already I decided to go to the nearby retreat. Here, I was alone, just like I like it. I'm not shy, I just prefer my own company. I've always been that way.

I spotted the required practice apparatus on a balcony and decided to start practicing it. It was a rough go of it, I poked myself in the eye a couple times.

My practice paid off with a brand new white belt and a spiffy new uniform.

After getting my uniform, I tucked myself into one of the spare beds and went to sleep.

Day One: Halls of the Lost Army

2009-11-25T11:23:00.001-08:00

There was a locked door, an inscription on the wall in Mandarin, and a keyhole. Deng had given me the key to get into the tomb.

Once I got in there I had to move around some marble statues and chop up more debris. The place looked like it hadn't been touched in thousands of simyears.

In an inlaid wood chest I found coins that seemed to be many millenia old.

A wall switch led me to unlock a hidden door. I love this stuff, unlocking hidden doors and disarming traps meant to kill me. I get a thrill when I've uncovered one more piece to a puzzle.

In the next room there seemed to be nothing but this pool of water, which (of course) I decided to dive into. Thank goodness for my 800 simolean pair of custom-made waterproof prescription glasses. Unfortunately, like my mother, I am nearsighted. But I don't wear my specs all the time.

There was an underground tunnel so I swam through it and found yet another room.

This room had a chest with a key inside in the shape of a star. So I grabbed the key and put it in the marble hole and went inside.

This tomb, by most standards, was fairly straight-forward. While I was in there, drenched with water, I realized something. Most girls of my background don't become tomb raiders. Actually, most guys of my background don't become tomb raiders either. And yet, when I look back on it, I seem to have been born for this work. It's no different than when I was exploring the catacombs back in Sunset Valley. I'm doing what I love.

Having located the relic Deng was searching for, I headed out of the tomb and back to him.

Next stop: China

2009-11-25T00:23:00.000-08:00

Well after I went home and rested a bit and recuperated and told my mother that I'm a professional adventurer, I was back on the road. This time, in Shang Simla, China.

Shang Simla is a picturesque village nestled in the mountains of China. It's a rather quaint small town, smaller than I'm used to, actually.

I was summoned here to Shang Simla by Deng Wang, who said upon meeting me that he'd heard of my exploits in Egypt. I can't say I did much in Egypt to warrant Mr. Deng's recommendation; but apparently when I was introduced to him, I was described as a "relic hunter and weapons expert."

Mr. Deng (the Chinese have this curious custom of writing their last name first) looked surprised to see me. After all, I'm taller than he is, and I'm a fair, blond, green-eyed woman. He asked me to go into the Forbidden City, to go to the Halls of the Lost Army and fetch an ancient relic in the tomb below.

I said, okay, no problem. I can do that. Hey, after surviving a mummy in the pyramids in Egypt, I kinda feel like I could do just about anything. I pretty much feel bulletproof at this point.

This is the base camp in Shang Simla. An improvement over the tents in Egypt, n'est-ce pas?

I approached the Forbidden City (which is actually the main square in Shang Simla) at about nine-thirty local time, and got to the Halls of the Lost Army soon afterward.

Day Three: The Trapped Basement

2009-11-22T03:29:00.000-08:00

After getting paid a sweet king's ransom for mapping the sights, another local asked me to disarm all the traps in his basement. Seems when he got his new house, he didn't realize it was built over an ancient tomb.

So I said, okay, disarming traps is a cinch, I did some in the last tomb I was in.

But first, before I went there, I went to pick up a beginner's photography book. Because I'm artistic (thanks mom) I was curious about the 'art' of taking pictures.

When I got there, the poor chap wasn't home, so I sneaked into his house through a back door and went right into his basement.

The first couple were fire traps, and they of course were a cinch. But I learned there were different kinds of traps...and some are only activated when you walk on them!

I made an attempt to cross this trap after I couldn't disarm it. This was an electric one, and thousands and thousands of bolts of white-hot lightning shot through my body.

After pressing a bevy of switches, I'd disarmed the last trap and sneaked, sight unseen (I hope) out of the basement and went to find the house's owner.

After the guy paid me for disarming his basement, I decided to try to lighten the mood by practicing snake-charming a song one of the locals taught me. I figured I'm fairly decent at the guitar, so snake-charming should be a snap. The guy came out and he was standing over me, and I didn't realize why he was standing over me -- except, when I looked down, I was snake-charming in my underwear!

Before long, though, the clock struck midnight on the third day... and it was time for me to go home. Before I left, though, I made a promise that I'd be back.

Day Three: Seeing the Sights -- for a Price

2009-11-22T02:32:00.000-08:00

On the third day, I rested.
Yeah, right. Like rest is easy to come by when you're adventuring. Not that it's a bad thing; besides, I get plenty of that at home. Now was not the time.

Failing miserably at my attempt to grab those five flame fruit (and encountering a mummy in the process!), my next challenge was to map out five Egyptian landmarks. I said, okay, piece of cake. I can do that.

Of course, with these things there's usually a catch. And there was. They were strung out all over the desert, and I had to do them in a specific order. Which meant that even though there were 2 right next to each other, I had to go to another one across the desert before getting to that one.

These were all awesome structures, such as the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx. But I think I was most enchanted by the Ruins of Karnak.

I stood there amidst their beauty and grandeur, contemplating on where I'd been and where I was going. Adventuring is a lonely life, but ironically it is a life I seem uniquely suited for. I'm not entirely sure why this is. When it was me and the desert, I was the happiest girl in the world.

I am fully capable of going days without talking to a living soul -- I suppose it's an inherited trait of Plumb women, Aunt Margaret was like this as well. I suppose that's why she and I got along so well; in many ways we were kindred spirits. That probably explains why I feel her loss so keenly. I think she would have enjoyed Egypt.

Day Two: The Pyramids (cont'd)

2009-11-20T20:59:00.001-08:00

After getting out of the water, I spied some marble statues and a sarcophagus. I figured maybe moving one of them around could help me get to the next room.

I spied a pile of rubble which was blocking one of the doors, so I started chopping it up. Again, those weights at the gym really helped here.

When that failed, I opened up the sarcophagus, and only THEN did the door unlock. Whew!

In the next room, there was a switch that opened yet another hidden doorway.

After I opened six treasure chests in a row and a sarcophagus, I saw... a MUMMY!

Now, ordinarily, I'd have been thrilled and curious about it, but I was NOT in the best of moods. I knew it was late because I was exhausted. But there, before me, was a real live mummy. When I got out my camera to take a picture, the mummy jumped out at me and grabbed my neck...

"That should teach you not to trespass!" he grumbled in a gruff voice. I was in no mood to fight, so I was knocked out, right then and there.

The Savannah Plumb Chronicles

Pangu’s Axe Part 2

Pangu’s Axe Part 1

Back in the saddle (sort of) Part 3

Back in the saddle (sort of) Part 2

Back in the saddle (well, sort of)

Oh, one more thing…

The Writings of Qin Shan Hu

Unfinished Business

Circle of Knowledge

Me and Gustave (cont'd)

Me and Gustave

Me and Mean Jolene

The Aftermath

Trouble at the Museum Part Six

Trouble at the Museum Part Cinq

Trouble at the Museum Part Quatre

Trouble at the Museum Part Trois

Trouble at the Museum Part Deux

A new friend?

Trouble at the Museum

Frustration

Jolene

More questions than answers

Gustave Part Trois

Gustave Part Deux

Gustave

Day One: The Love Doctor

I will survive -- I'm in France

Cataloging the Loot

Knowing the Enemy

Adoption Update

Dad speaks

The Third Relic: Jackpot! Part 3

The Third Relic: Jackpot! Part 2

The Third Relic: Jackpot!

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 9

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 8

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 7

Childhood Dreamin' Part 4

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 6

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 5

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 4

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 3

Childhood Dreamin' Part 3

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 2

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity Part 1

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity -- The Quest Begins (cont'd)

The Third Relic: Relic of Eternity -- The Quest Begins

Satis-fied

Midday in the Garden of the Phoenix

A Break from Training

More Martial-Arts Training

Seeing Lee

A Boy Called Su (cont'd)

A Boy Called Su

Going Back to School (sort of)

New Year, New Locale

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 8

Childhood Dreamin' Part 2

The Second Relic: Relic of Life Part 7

The Second Relic: Relic of Life Part 6

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 5

Childhood Dreamin'

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 4

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 3

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 2

The Second Relic: The Relic of Life Part 1

MorcuCorp HQ (cont'd)

MorcuCorp HQ

A Pit Stop on the Way to Greatness

M is for Mummitomium

The First Relic -- Relic of the Sun

The Ancient Library

Back Amidst the Sands

Day Two: Dragon's Maw (cont'd)

Day Two: Dragon's Maw

Day One: Phoenix Martial Arts Academy

Day One: Halls of the Lost Army

Next stop: China