Secrets of the Tomb Artifact Intro-II: The Sacred Scarab
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x20
- Unlock Condition: Exploration Knowledge level Intro-II
- Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's first clear reward was:
Antiquated Coin x100
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Tomb of Ita
Artifact Discovery
Museum Curator: This scarab is really beautiful. The sun pattern on it should be made of rubies.
You: It sounds like something very valuable.
Museum Curator: It is very precious, indeed. From the style, it should be a burial object of Pharaoh Misis during the Fourth Dynasty.
Museum Curator: It was supposed to be placed in the location of his heart as an amulet for the deceased.
You: Amulet?
Museum Curator: Yes, the scarab is also known as the dung beetle. It may be insignificant in your culture, but it is one of the sacred beings of ancient Khaimit people.
Museum Curator: They believe that scarabs can help them pass the trial in the underworld and be born anew.
You: I recall hearing somewhere that the trial is the ritual of weighing the heart.
Museum Curator: The Khaimit people believe that the gods of the underworld will place a person's heart on a scale with a feather on the other end.
Museum Curator: If the heart is lighter than the feather, it means that the person did less evil in life and can go to the next life without any problems. On the other hand, if the contrary happens, the person will be devoured by evil spirits.
Museum Curator: Also, scarabs can use their magic to make the heart lighter and thus allow the person to successfully pass the trial.
You: Become lighter... But isn't this considered cheating?
Museum Curator: Cheating? Hahaha, you could take it that way. But for them, the afterlife is extremely important.
You: But why did the ancients believe that the scarab would work in such an important ritual?
Museum Curator: There are many reasons that have been identified so far. But the most important one is that the ancients found the way it pushed balls of soil forward similar to them pushing a sun...
Museum Curator: The sun rises, the moon sets, and the ages change. They are all related to this tiny bug, which can be considered as a representative of the laws of the universe.
Museum Curator: Speaking of which, young lady, could you do me a favor?
You: What is it?
Museum Curator: I want to put a scarab next to this exhibit when it launches, so that visitors can get a better idea of how they transport these balls of earth.
Museum Curator: I have to prepare for the launch, so I'd like you to help me borrow a scarab from the natural science exhibition next door.
You: A scarab? No problem, just leave it to me.
Rubis Street
The curator wants visitors to get a good look at scarabs. Borrow one for him from the museum's Nature Expo area.
You: (There's a staff member wearing the badge from the nature exhibition area at the entrance. Guess I'll ask him.)
You: Hello, I would like to borrow a scarab for an exhibition in the heritage section. Who should I speak to about this?
Staff: Did the curator ask you to come? He has told me about it, so I was waiting for you at the entrance.
Staff: My apologies, but all of our scarabs are currently on loan for other exhibitions. None of them are currently in Rubis...
You: Well, the curator's asked...
Artem: In that case, I have a proposal.
Artem: It is said that there are a lot of scarabs in the area, so we might be able to get one nearby.
Staff: Well, yes, there are scarab colonies in the nearby desert. But it would be quite troublesome for visitors to try capturing them...
You: It's okay. I'm willing to try, as long as I can help the curator.
Staff: It would be much appreciated! By the way, here are the details of their colony. Follow this, and you will find it faster.
Staff: Here are some containers and tools. You can put the scarabs inside the containers.
Artem: Okay.
Scarab's Habitat
Go catch scarabs with Artem.
Following the staff member's directions, you finally find a few scarabs after some time.
The small, golden-green beetles are busily rolling balls of earth in front of them as they scuttle forward. They look as though they are pushing against the sun.
Artem takes out the tools given by the staff, scooping two beetles into the container.
You: Aww, the way the scarabs are holding their earth balls makes them look just like the amulet.
You: It looks very powerful, since it's able to push balls of earth much bigger than its tiny body.
Artem: Yes... perhaps its persistence was what inspired the people of ancient Khaimit.
There is a certain breathiness to his voice. With fine beads of sweat beading on his forehead, his usually neat hair also looks slightly mussed up.
You're reminded of how serious he looked while capturing the scarabs.
You: Thanks for your hard work. Here's some water.
Artem: Thanks.
You: You're always so serious about things...
Artem: One of the reasons why I'm here is to help the curator. However, the other reason is because I wanted to see these scarabs in person.
He screws the cap back on and turns his attention to the creatures inside the container again.
Artem: Now I can understand why the ancient Khaimit people would worship them. However...
Artem muses for a second.
Artem: I still cannot agree with what the curator said about these scarabs being able to lessen the weight of the heart.
Artem: A person's heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at for the sake of fair judgment. However, actions such as these have already tarnished the fairness of those scales.
Artem: As an attorney, I think it should be corrected...
Saying so, he smiles to himself as if suddenly remembering something.
Artem: I don't know if you'd find me too boring after prattling on so much on my own without realizing it.
You: Why would I? I think it's really like you to do so.
You wink at Artem.
You: You never forget your own responsibilities, ever. Just like one would expect from someone like you!
Artem: What...
Artem: Ahem, it's getting late. Let's hurry and get these to the curator.
Rubis Museum
Return to the museum and hand the scarab over to the curator.
You: Here you go, curator. This is the scarab we have just found.
Museum Curator: Let me have a look... Yes, it is a scarab. I will take good care of it.
Museum Curator: The staff over there have told me about it. I really appreciate you catching the beetle by yourselves.
Artem: You are welcome.
Artem: If there's nothing else, we'll take our leave now. See you later.
Museum Curator: Okay. See you both.
Summary
