Even as the waters of the Nile flood and recede each year, and as Ra himself sets each evening only to rise again, so does history progress in an eternal cycle of obscurity and glory. This is the way of the universe as laid down by the creator gods.
I will now tell you about a piece of that cycle. It is a tale of high mountains, vast deserts and long rivers. Of one man's dream, an age of labour, its ultimate downfall, and its promised renewal.
Many years ago, when your grandsires came of age, the land we now call Egypt was an empty but abundant land, rich with wonders in every corner. In those days, a young pharaoh rallied his people to conquer this new land; but no weapons did they carry, nor armor did they wear. For your ancestors' only adversary was the hardship of the natural world. Their only weapon was their industriousness; their solidarity their armor. They brought life to the desert and grazed animals in the long grass. They learned of the gods and gave thanks to them. Schools and universities they built, while everyone cooperated. Until one day when everything changed…
(Story now passes to a diary written by a young girl named Maya)
The sun was setting after another hot day in Egypt. The drumbeats of messengers announcing the Pharaoh’s opening of the new lands were still ringing in Maya’s ears. And already the settlers had filled the lands as far as the eye could see. And word was that many more were on their way. The landscape was dotted with the first signs of civilization. Buildings built from the sweat of the settlers, with nothing but their bare hands and the most basic tools. But the majestic Universities and their Schools in the backdrop gave a promise of wonders to come. Wonders that she and the others had only dreamt of, but were now going to achieve as a people. She would remember that sight for years to come.
On impulse, she decided to take the road south, away from the tall banners and towards the less crowded parts. People there had started more planned and elaborate camps, some of them had bonfires and kitchens already. A few were showing others around, helping them out and others were returning from exploring the outer reaches of the lands. But they were all getting ready. Ready for the Pharaoh’s visit the next day.
The Pharaoh was returning from recently acquired lands. Rumor had it that his architects were clearing the lands at this very moment, making them hospitable for civilized people. Some even said that some grand palaces and pyramids were being constructed! Darkness slowly fell and the people finally gave in to their needs for sleep. Maya didn’t hear a sound as she made her way back.
Maya awoke to the sounds of people hurrying past her tent. The Pharaoh had arrived. She hurriedly made her way to the crossroads, and was just in time to see him approach. The sight really surprised her, as the Pharaoh was dressed in an ordinary workman’s clothes with no gold or gems or jewelry of any kind. But when the Pharaoh spoke, people listened. As they were doing now.
“My friends. We embark upon a great journey to conquer these lands. Not with armies and war, but with hard work and dedication. We will not wield swords and spears, but will fight the elements with unity and progress. I will stand beside you and we will shoulder our burdens together as we work to achieve these goals.”
A roar of laughter was heard from the crowd, and many heads turned to see who it was. Though not as many as Maya had expected. “Step forward, Stranger,” said the Pharaoh. “Show your face. Or are you a coward who prefers to fight from the shadows?”
As the Stranger moved forward, a space cleared around him. “I am no coward. Nor am I a liar. But, I have lived with those around me, and know you to be a hypocrite. You are nothing but an oppressive dictator. You abandon your people at the mercy of these wild lands. You have built us schools and universities, yes. Yet you extort such vast donations and fees from us in the name of research and tuition. All this when you live your life in luxury with riches beyond what we dream of. And yet, you claim to be a friend. I could not but laugh at it. Stop oppressing us with your rule. Laissez faire!”
Maya expected the Pharaoh’s face to go white with rage. But the Pharaoh was no ordinary man. His expression grew only more determined, if it changed at all. And he replied.
“Do not speak such vicious lies. The people know how much I work for them. They know what I sacrifice each day. Do not sow seeds of discontent among us. We are a society. We stand united in all we do. You cannot succeed in creating discord among us. We will work together, work hard, and perfect the Seven Disciplines of Man. A few trouble makers like you may appear. But we will take all that in our stride.”
“You know, I am beginning to feel that you may really believe that! All right, I shall take you up on that. I challenge you to demonstrate Egypt’s unity and its perfection in the Seven Disciplines. I shall work with each Discipline’s universities to create Seven Tests. Pass them all and build monuments to each Discipline, and you will convince me. But meanwhile, I shall not be idle. I will be working to show the people that none of what you claim is true. May the best man win.”
With that he walked off. And whispers in the crowd began to get louder. The Pharaoh looked around and reassured the people by telling them that the Stranger was powerless against a united people. Maya’s spirits began to rise again, and she began looking forward to making some sweet onions and to find a mate for her new sheep Pluffy.
Little did she suspect how things would turn out to be.
(story telling returns to normal)
Little did she expect indeed. Time and again, the people of Egypt were tested by the Stranger -- forty-nine tests in all. Alone and in groups they toiled to best the challenge of the Stranger. Some called him the Son of Set. Others, perhaps more correctly, deemed that he was like a wise but cruel old man. He would teach a person to make something in a kettle but not warn them that it was hot. At first they would cause great damage but in time they mastered all that the Stranger would show them.
Time passed. People rose to fame; others passed out of sight and hearing. Many tests the people passed. But as the people worked hard, the Stranger did not remain idle either. Until one person, at first unknown as an agent of the Stranger, announced that she had discovered a new metal, magnesium. This metal was precious for its value in creating fireworks, and also because it produced valuable ash instead of worthless clinker when it was smelted. The trap was set, the bait thrown down. People flocked like animals to a watering hole to the magnesium mines she had discovered. People got rich quick but in time the truth was laid bare: the land around the mines became poisoned as they were worked. Yet still they mined. Houses were broken but still they worked, until at last, they realized their mistake, and seeing the land was poisoned swore revenge on the Stranger.
More time passed. The Stranger's next trick was a new University network set up by none other than himself. These "Universities of Progress", as he called them, offered many new skills, but all with a wicked twist. One skill, clear-cutting, stripped all the branches from a tree giving huge wood but leaving it bare for a full week. The worst was Speed of the Serpent; by some unique ability one drink of this potion allowed a person to instantly jump 1 days worth of traveling but at a terrible price. Egypt who had not known disease now had people on a 30-day timer till death; they were forced to drink cabbage juice to survive. 24 people fell before the cure was found. Those 24 -- and 3 more who got the cure too late -- are the only people to die from non-natural causes and shall be remembered here:
Teti, Narkho, Cylan, Devalin, Inles, GordonFreeman, Nia, Enjiro, Utzi, Aewl, xsspl, NeophantsSlave, Joklin, Chichis, mkmssrt, BushPig, Salann, Cryo, BelaLugosi, Slyfeind-Hotep, Guardian, Hodhr, Dovey, Morkeleb, Akabar, Azerman36 and GarrettH.
Finally though, the end was in sight. Oracles started to appear, those who had passed all seven tests in a discipline. But then came the dark days. Triggered by a volcanic eruption, a plague of algae began to spread up the Nile, slowly converting it into poisonous sulphurous water. People tried many things -- prayers to the gods, festivals of appeasement -- but the plague could not be stopped. Until, at last, the Stranger himself announced that he had a cure ... but wouldn’t release it until all 7 monuments had been built. Moreover, he declared, they had to be built before the algae reached the Nile delta, or else the river would remain poisoned forever. Long and hard was the labour then, but the people managed it; and when the final block of the Great Sphinx of Thought was placed, the Stranger was finally beaten and submitted to Pharaoh.
The generation which followed was the Golden Age of Egypt. The tests of the Stranger had driven the people to heights of sophistication that would have been unimaginable without his prodding. With the Stranger's challenge beaten, Egypt could enjoy the fruits of its remarkable civilization in peace. Everyone had all their needs and most of their wants. But in time, it was this very fulfullment that brought an end to the Golden Age. For Egypt had only flourished due to the people's hardships and work. When complacency set in, they decided: why grow crops when the Nile provides us with more than enough?
It was one bad year that killed them off. Perhaps the weather was too hot, or the waters too high, or the flooding too late. Records are unclear. What is known that one year, Egypt had fewer plants in the spring. The animals that had multiplied in the easy years were still there, though, still hungry. A generation of animals had never faced a single hardship, knowing neither hunger nor predator. That generation did not last long when food supplies fell. The smell of carcasses was stronger than the sulphur waters had ever been. Before they died of hunger, though, they ate as much as they could. Every green thing within walking distance of the Nile ended up in something's belly. It was a hard year for your ancestors. It was their last year in Egypt. When the magnitude of the problem became apparent, it was too late. To reap in the fall, you must sow in the spring. Some people left that summer, headed to other lands for food. Some lived well on the animals that year, but the meat could not last forever. They, too, went in search of other game. There were fewer in Egypt a year later, with few plants to feed them. They got by, but a few more left. Another year passed, and a drought began. More people left. Then a few more. Finally, only one man remained.
Whether he was a direct descendent of the Stranger or just an admirer, the only person left in Egypt was a man who called himself Gharib. He stayed long and alone, slowly slipping into madness.
And so, when at last the land had healed and people began to return to Egypt, a new Stranger was there to welcome them. At first the Stranger greeted the people in friendship, but soon he took up his predecessor's old role as the antagonist, addressing the citizens of the land in a speech recorded here. A second challenge had been posed to the Pharaoh and people of Egypt.
The old buildings had been consumed by the sand, but all was like our grandsire's age again. The table was set and the schools rebuilt.
Where we go from here is up to you…