{Legends Of The Hidden Temple: Origins} ----A passage from Dr. Nyar Guynens [Cultural Study of the Niclö Dian People] Six couples stood under the beating sun, awaiting the high priests announcement. All were strong, intelligent. They were the best the tribes had to offer. Each bore the colors of their tribe: Red for the silent hunter, Jaguar. Blue for the strong swimmer, Barracuda. Green for the clever trickster, Monkey. Orange for the contemplative philosopher, Iguana. Purple for the eccentric orator, Parrot. Silver for the patient killer, Snake. Every five to ten years the people of the Niclö Dian Channels would convene at the sacred hidden temple. It was there they decided which tribe would rule above the rest for the next several years. I was lucky enough to be trusted to view such a rare event. The priests voice boomed across the clearing. Every attendee stopped and turn their heads towards the top of the temple. He began explaining this years game. This is my rough translation: The Gods have truly blessed this years game. I will begin explaining the rules and then the events. Please listen carefully, as my words can be the difference between success and failure, life and death. All 12 warriors perked up and locked intense gazes upon the old man. As with every decade, the first warrior to reach the Olmec and retrieve his artifact should be crowned as Champion and rule. Should you all perish, the warrior who has reached the furthest point will allow his tribe to rule for the next five years. You are not allowed to attack one another, and sabotage is punishable by death. Each team must cross the challenges on their own merit. It was a fair system, not a savage bloodthirsty game as many of us think. It was not about killing one another, but about finding the best. But its true purpose was to keep the bloodshed and war among the tribes placated. Can you say 12 lives are worth peace and tranquility for the 10 years? Im not sure. I am just an observer, I am in no right to judge. The first challenge will be to cross the moat. You may choose to do so in any way you can. I would not recommend swimming, there are unseen dangers in the water underneath. The moat is just a warm-up. Its a test of physical ability and ingenuity. I hear many times this challenge is breezed through, though, that does not mean it is without its deaths. A shoddily made boat could easily flip over. They say any who have fallen in disappear in a tide of blood. Next you must test your minds against that of the Olmec. A single warrior from each team must enter his stone cage. You must answer his riddle within 3 attempts, or be crushed by the Olmecs wrath. The Niclö Dian people also prized intelligence. They were not meat headed fools. There is a saying that goes around, A great ruler values the sharpness of the mind, just as much as the sharpness of the blade. The third test is one of strength and agility. You must use all your strength and gather as many pendants as possible. You must obtain at least one pendant before moving on. The pendants will help you inside the temple. How? I cannot say. The pendants have been a mystery for quite some time, even around the tribesman. All surviving warriors have sworn to secrecy their purpose, less their tongues be cut off. After digging around, all the information I could obtain were of rumors and conjecture. One theory, that caught my attention, there were fierce guardians of stone that protected the temple. The only way to get past the guardians was to use a pendant to distract them. If I could prove the existence of these stone guardians, I could make the single greatest contribution to anthropology ever. But I digress. I would never be allowed within 40 meters of the temple. The last and final task lies within the hidden temple. There, you must travel through its maze like passages to the artifact. That is all I can tell you. The hidden temple. A sacred building. Those who have entered its walls are considered to be holy men. A complete enigma. I dream of entering its walls every night, but an outsider like me would be killed even before I got to the door. Perhaps one day, I would get my chance. My children, you are the best your tribes have to offer. In turn you have offered your lives in the name of your people. Though not all of you will return from this, you will all never be forgotten. They created sculptures of all the warriors to remember their sacrifice. All tribes pay respect to the stone statues standing in what I consider a graveyard of sorts. When you hear the call of the horns, you may begin. Every warrior sprawled towards the floor into a sprint position. The sun was already causing beads of sweat to form atop their skin. They were glistening as if the gods strength were shining upon them. They were incredibly focused. I could feel the intensity screaming from bodies. And then,ö WaaaaaaaaWOOOOOOOOO The warriors took off at an amazing speed. They would reach the moats in seconds. At this point, I was escorted out by two guards from the viewing area. Only the people of Niclö Dian, were allowed to watch the entire event. I was a bit disappointed, but, still, I was the first outsider to witness their opening ceremonies. Perhaps in five or ten years, theyll have accepted me enough to view the entire thing. -- -Story Time Ryan via Chris Woo
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 01:42:28 +0000
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