The Artifact of Ur

Introduction

Nasiriyah - town near the Ur 1932 archaeological site.

You are working as a draftsman at the Ur archaeological site and are on your way home. It's already late in the evening, but the city's market is still open and you want to do some shopping. Suddenly you are attacked and receive a hit on the head.

You wake up to find yourself tied to a chair in a dimly lit back room. A man is standing in front of you. It is Samir el-Jalali, a collector of special artifacts and owner of a smuggling empire.

"In two days, along with many other items, a special artefact is to be transported from the excavation sites of Ur to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. You will exchange it and give it to me!" , says Samir.

You stare at him and ask in a shaky voice, "Why me?!".

"Well, if you don't, everyone will know that you're a petty thief who's stealing a thing or two from the digs and then selling them on the black market and losing your job. Also... ." , he holds up a small photo, "...you certainly don't want us to harm your nice little family."

At the last sentence another hit takes on your head and you don't wake up again until late at night outside your front door. In your bag you will find a deceptively real copy of the exchange item and a piece of paper with an advice and a little reminder:

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The mission

The next day you go to the dig camp with the copy in your bag and you don't know what to do. The items to be loaded have already been packed in boxes and are in one of several tents in the camp for transport. Since you weren't present when it was packed, you don't know which box and tent the artifact is in. You have the choice between the following three options.

The artifact

You want to find out more about the artifact and search your drawings until you...

... make an amazing discovery.

... accidentally overhear two security guards talking about loading in front of the tent.

The search for clues

You are looking for the loading documents in the main tent of the camp when you suddenly...

...hear footsteps and hide behind a desk.

...discovered by a security guard in the tent and you are questioned by Henriette and Ludwig von Amnitz.

A story

You tell Henriette and Ludwig von Amnitz about the events of the previous evening, who...

... believe your story and share their discoveries about the artifact.

... don't believe your story and you are arrested, tied up and taken to another tent.

Discovery

You keep your discovery to yourself and look for the loading documents.

You tell Henriette and Ludwig von Amnitz about your discovery.

Eavesdropping

You can only understand fragments, but recognize a voice.

You can understand everything very well and now you know about the loading.

Unexpected help

They will help you and leave the documents for loading with a note and than they leave the tent.

They don't know anything about the loading and say you have to question a security guard.

Small obstacle

You can free yourself, knock out the guard and disguise yourself as the guard.

You receive unexpected help, are rescued and receive the information you need in an envelope.

Question & answers?

You question the security guard...

...who, after a small bribe, will give you the information you need.

... who doesn't help you and which you now have to knock out and disguise yourself as the same.

Lucky one

Congratulations, you've completed the first part of the mission and got the information you need about the loading and the tent, which you should go to immediately.

Detours

You are disguised as a security guard and can now look for the loading documents undisturbed in the main tent and then go to the relevant tent.

At the tent

You make up a white lie about why you need to go into the tent and...

... you are let in without further questions, but have to leave the tent without having achieved anything because you will be disturbed.

... you are brushed off by the security guards.

In the tent

You're looking for the box with the artifact...

... but you cannot find them and leave the tent again.

... and you find them. Suddenly you hear voices outside the tent and leave the tent to avoid being spotted.

Way out

So far you haven't had much success exchanging the artifact. What are you doing?

Wait for loading the crates and come up with a plan.

Looking for an uniform and scout the area and other guards.

Stopover

You were not allowed into the tent, but there is still some time before loading. What are you doing?

Hide until the crates are loaded.

Scout the area and other security guards.

Diversionary tactic

During your "discovery tour" you will be noticed by one of the wardens who has an assignment for you.

You can further delegate the job to another guard and continue their exploration.

You distract the warden with a lie, so he immediately goes into the main tent and you can hide.

Access

You observe the loading, remember exactly which transporter the box is loaded into and after the transporters are ready to leave...

... manage to climb in and hide inside unnoticed.

... you can ask the driver for help under an excuse and with some bribe to take you.

Truck

You made it into the truck unnoticed, and while driving to the cargo port...

...you can successfully exchange the artifact.

... you don't manage to open the crate as the rumbling on the road will make you hold on to avoid being thrown around in the car.

Rumpel ride

During the ride to the cargo port, chat with the driver who...

... suddenly pulls out a pistol and points it at you.

... suddenly has a heart attack and you have to take the wheel to avoid an accident.

Danger

The driver still points a gun at you.

You can distract him and knock him out in one hit while driving.

You tell him a touching story, so he gives in and puts the gun back in his pocket.

Control

You must take control of the car and...

.... open the car door while driving to be able to push the driver out of the seat.

.... sit very uncomfortably on the driver.

Cargo port

You've arrived at the cargo port, but you need to distract the driver before he has another chance to aim at you.

You can knock out the driver with one hit and steal his pistol.

You get out of the car and call a security guard for help to keep the driver's distraction.

Exchange I

Upon arrival at the cargo port, you climb into the wagon unnoticed and exchange the artifact.

Exchange II

After arriving at the cargo port, you can exchange the artifact without being noticed.

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End

You were able to successfully exchange the artifact. As you climb out of the car, you are spotted by a security guard who confronts you. Suddenly the security guard is shot in ambush and Samir el-Jalali runs towards you with two henchmen. A third appears behind the car. He was disguised as a driver and should keep an eye on you.

"Do you have it?" , Samir wants to know.

You stammer, "Yes", and hand the artifact over to him.

"Nice doing business with you ," , he says mockingly. "See you. Your family is free ,", he pauses and adds "For now!".

Then he leaves the cargo port with his cronies und leaving you back in the dark.

You open your bag, look at the original artifact, and smile.

Already during the excavation a few weeks ago, you knew that it was something special and wanted to sell it to the highest bidder yourself. A very good friend of you make a copy and you actually wanted to exchange it for the original. Then Samir el-Jalali got in your way. In addition, you found that the artifact is far more important than originally thought.

The next day you hand it over to Henriette and Ludwig von Amnitz. Together you open a gate into the past.

Artefact of Ur by Blue Fairy 74 via Midjourney