Introduction
I'm going to make an attempt at a written summary of the backstory of this tale. The central character is Ktisibios the Greek. This character is obviously what is called an "NPC" (non playing character), who was created solely with the aim of making the story advance. He's played by an actor, who is probably a staff member or a developer. His actions have often triggered events at the university.
This event is still going on and the different episodes that make it up (usually the episodes involve the appearance of the NPC Ktisibios) have been going on for more than a year. I've tried to specify the date of each part so the reader can have a better overview, but available data was often very aproximative or in the Egyptian calendar, so I've looked for wiki revision dates.
many thanks to Spicy for reading through the whole text and correcting many mistakes i've made -- Cheos
1] Open the crate
Everything began on a sunny day, as Cathy and Zaniac discovered a few mysterious crates, which were almost buried in the seashore. Once opened with the use of appropriate tools, their contents were revealed : templates, sand bloom bulbs, and smashed glass bottles. It seems these bottles freed a dangerous disease which would then spread all over Egypt.
A few days later, another 14 crates were found, each one containing a few objects like Thoth's metal, pewter, and a plate (Plate: Lesser Instruction Ink, Plate: Mason's Bench Upgrade, Plate: Sharp Edge Blade).
These plates would eventually be installed on presses, allowing the printing of corresponding templates.
- Date : between the end of January and the beginning of February, 2007. All 14 crates were found on Feb 14th.
2] Ktisibios's camp
A camp was discovered by Telanoc, who had wandered along the coast in the same region where the crates were initially found, close to 1806, 7543. Noone was around but a mysterious name was written on the objects lying there : Ktisibios. A few items looked like the crates already found.
- Date : probably between 14th and 26th February, 2007
3] Meeting Ktisibios
Telanoc met Ktisibios at his camp, as he was looking for food and wine. As Telanoc couldn't let anyone starve, he brought Ktisibios to Lollipop's guild camp, where several members welcomed them. Once they had a good meal, they talked and toured the camp. Ktisibios said he came from Greece and that he was a kind of teacher who had knowledge in several disciplines. He seemed very interested in many buildings, especially the ones related to chemistry : acid baths, chemical laboratories, alembics, and even mason benches. He said that Egyptian technology was very primitive. He told about advanced chemistry, based on "essential compounds" made with an "essential macerator" which would have to be built.
He added that the crates actually belonged to him. He didn't want them back though, but worried about toxic products that could be freed in the atmosphere. He also asked if he could be told when more crates were found, before they were opened. He enquired about Lung Spore Disease and offered to help in the efforts to find a cure.
In order to do this he asked us to build him a number of buildings to help with research and he asked for a few items too.
- Date: probably February 16h, 2007
4] Research progresses (2nd meeting)
Ktisibios appeared again, essentially to add to his wish list a few thousand positive and negative litmus test strips, so that he could continue his hard work against the disease.
Discussion covered a few others subjects too, like better presses, paper and ink in order to print very precise and complex templates.
- screenshot from the 1st and 2nd meetings
- Date : probably on February the 19th, 2007
5] A first treatment (3rd meeting)
Our friend put out a basket at 1799, 7541, which contained formulas for treatment of Lung Spore Disease. This treatment would last two weeks. A chest was left too by 1802, 7539, for the researchers to deposit lots of essential compounds. Theses compounds obey a complex logical, a kind of puzzle that players would slowly solve.
- Date : probably on March 8th, 2007
6] some more treatment formulas (4th meeting)
Ktisibios visited us to give more treatment formulas, and to give new hints to help research, especialy highlighting the use of camel pheromones. He repeated that permanent treatment would be the reward for sucessful research effort, which would be achieved only if his needs were fullfilled.
- screenshots of this 4th meeting
- Date : on March 20th, 2007
7] Research effort still goes on (5th meeting)
Egypt assured Ktisibios that as much effort as possible was being put into research so as to fullfil all that he asked. In the meantime, Ktisibios revealed that he had built another camp in a secret place. He also said he had some trouble with a girl bard who recently came to Egypt (note : that was another event which seems to not be further linked to this story)(note: then again maybe it is linked: hotairship ).
Ktisibios promised he'd give a formula when research reaches a given point, and therefore proves that Egypt is ready. The said formula is called "Formula of Nature's Bounty" (Dawn of Ra fertiliser) and would allow instant flowering of planted bulbs.
To finish, Ktisibios asked for metal : lots of zinc, and a few dozens of iron bars, gold bars, silver bars. He doesn't really justify nor explain this last request.
- screenshots for the 5th meeting
- Date : around August the 12th, 2007
Ktisibios doesn't mention treatment anymore. And with good reason : an itinerant merchant named Falaha recently came and gave a permanent treatment, based on wheat.
Furthermore, it seems at least one of the bards warned Egypt against Ktisibios : he would follow his own goals, which might not be compatible with Egypt's (note: looking for a screenshot actualy showing that).
8] The first of seven secrets (6th meeting)
This time, all seven essential compounds that Ktisibios had demanded repeatedly are ready. Ktisibios appeared to be very surprised and transmitted a letter to the university with the help of a pigeon (note : I'd like to know what exactly was then added to the univ.) Chemical laboratories now could produce compound extracts, which is the final, useful form of compounds.
Ktisibios revealed that these extracts were the key to the Seven Secret Mysteries, which would later help doing useful tasks. The first secret was obviously instant fertilizer, named "Dawn of Ra". The creation of a batch would require Maat extract. There were 6 differents extracts : Geb, Maat, Set, Osiris, Thoth, Ra.
To sum up, we would make essential compounds which would make extracts. These extracts would lead the way to each of the secrets. For now, the Greek kept the other secrets to himself, but the extracts that can be made right now will be helpful for research.
Discussion then focused on new knives (made by Zomboe from templates found in the crates at the beginning), paper made from wood, electricity, metal blue which allowed crawlers to work in ancient times. Metal would probably have to be treated in order to improve its characteristics.
At that point, Orchid came and talked about a spring made for her by Zomboe, based on a template in Orchid's possession that someone had given her. The template would have been made with the use of a plate, which Ktisibios claimed had been stolen to him. Ktisibios suddenly got very upset and demanded that he was told the name of the person who gave it to Orchid immediately. Orchid refused so that Ktisibios left without any other discussion.
- screenshots of this 6th meeting (en anglais)
- Date : about October the 24th, 2007
9] Who stole the plate (7th meeting)
Ktisibios came back with several questions, which would have to be answered if Egypt wanted to continue collaboration. Apparently, the only flexible enough metal to be used for a spring is called "water metal", made of a shiny metal and a strong metal in a chemical bath. This new metal transmits heat, bends but doesn't break. But in the first place, Egypt should concentrate on the seven secrets. Ktisibios revealed three more secrets immediately, which would open the path toward automation, and sent a pigeon to the university. The three secrets were these three recipes : gear oil recipe (faster gears for various automated devices like looms), potash ointment recipe (higher quantity potash production), and a recipe for explosives. Three kinds of each type.
However, Ktisibios kept on his demands, especially these three points : He wanted the plate and to speak to its owner. He wanted Egypt to find out how to make water metal. Lastly, he wanted an amount of volative explosives, which are the most dangerous type of explosives - so dangerous that anyone who carries some should avoid running, warping, and maybe even taking a chariot.
- screentshots of the 7th meeting
- Date : about February the 1st, 2008
10] Orchid leaves Egypt..
Apparently, the incident with Orchid reached such a scale that she suddenly decided to leave Egypt (note : quit account). It seems there were two camps. On one side, people who wanted the plate given back to Ktisibios. On the other side, people who didn't totally trust him : demand of dangerous explosives, the disease he brought, his very slowly given help, lack of proof for the thief except for Ktisibios's claim. For these reasons, they'd rather protect a player, thief or not, than helping a guy who we don't know much about. It seemed that quite a few players knew the identity of people implicated in this affair and kept that secret.
On February, the 9th, a note was added on the event page, saying that water metal secret was found. The recipe was promptly announced on the E! Logs (http://atitd.net/log) as plastic, conductive silver-plated titanium.
- date of Orchid's departure : February the 7th, 2008
The supposed thief is probably not a player but an actor. There are many guesses going on concerning his/her identity.
Personal note : I think that Ktisibios is here to replace the Stranger to a certain extent (he's technicaly a stranger in Egypt after all). He's here to give to Egypt several technologies, which would be very appealling but will trigger lots of conflicts too (random supposition: maybe the fertiliser will create some kind of pollution). We'll have to learn to use them wisely. During 2nd tale, mysterious altars had these functions too, as did the university of progress during the first tale. Furthermore, whether Egypt chooses to follow the Greek or not, this character is part of the story, which will evolve anyway in one manner or another. -- Cheos
To be continued...
The thief came on, and totally refused to give any information towards support the thief, the character will not tell us (Egypt) anything unless forced to do so. Which I believe is wrong - but the other in-game players (not characters) didn't want to force the issues.
11] Ktisibios crashes The Bards Wedding in an Airship
- March 2nd, 2008.
- hotairship