✨ The Mask of The Forgotten Prince
Near identical masks, an eternal curse, and a forgotten prince
Chronogram
July 25, 2023
A collecting mystery game for fans of ancient history
Get fantasy-filled ancient mysteries delivered to your email every week. Test your skills, claim the spoils, and collect 192 digital Artifacts based on ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and more.
In this issue: Claim a free Artifact, King Tut Trivia, and a new mystery: The Mask of The Forgotten Prince
Click on the chest to reveal the Artifact you found and to add it to your Collection…click on the chest to see what you find! There are 192 Artifacts to collect ✨
Collecting Chronogram Artifacts
Every issue includes an Artifact of varying rarity and quality. Every reader gets a different Artifact based purely on their luck.
This Artifact will be immediately added to your Chronogram Collection.
There are 192 Artifacts in total to collect (32 from every Civilization)
Artifacts range in rarity from Common to Legendary
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✨ The Mask of The Forgotten Prince
Chapter 1: "The Mysterious Arrival"
Sunlight danced through the window of Unearth Incorporated's cluttered office, illuminating the Oklahoma morning. Then came a knock, abruptly breaking Bill Brightfield and Tobias Turpin's usual morning chatter.
An impatient courier thrust a package into their hands, his warning ringing in their ears: "This one's valuable." Southern charm radiated from Bill as he thanked the courier while methodical Tobias completed the paperwork.
The door clicked shut, leaving the two archaeologists alone with the intriguing parcel, the air thick with anticipation.
"Well, I wonder what treasure we've got this time, Toby," Bill said, his fingers deftly working through the wrapping. "Hope it's something worth our while."
With spectacles perched on his nose, Tobias was already getting the necessary tools to unbox the artifact carefully. "Don't rush, Bill. You know we need to handle these things delicately."
Bill let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, you're just too fussy. But alright, alright. Here, you do the honors."
As Tobias lifted the lid of the crate, both archaeologists gasped. Nestled within layers of protective padding lay a stunning golden mask reminiscent of the famous death mask of King Tutankhamun. But some variations and differences made the mask unique. Intricate carvings that didn't match the original mask and symbols unfamiliar to the duo.
"Holy moly!" exclaimed Bill, his eyes wide. "Would you look at that, Toby? Isn't she a beauty?"
Tobias, usually the more reserved of the two, was equally taken aback. "Indeed, Bill. It's like nothing we've ever seen before."
The day had just begun, and already, the duo was facing an enigma that was sure to test their expertise in Egyptian history. They had no idea then that they were about to uncover a tale of forgotten royalty as old as the sands of Egypt.
Chapter 2: "The Curse Revealed"
In the days following the mask's arrival, Bill and Tobias poured over every detail of the artifact, trying to decipher the intriguing variations and unfamiliar symbols that marked its golden surface. However, a small inscription on the mask held their interest: "He who claims this face claims a life not his own. Beware the Pharaoh's wrath."
"That's one ominous inscription, Toby," Bill commented, squinting at the tiny hieroglyphs.
Tobias, who had been meticulously cataloging the symbols, nodded. "Yes, it doesn't sound like something one would usually find inside a burial mask."
Intrigued, they contacted their client to learn more about the mask's history. The response they received set their hearts pounding with excitement and a tinge of dread. The client explained that the mask was believed to be cursed. Every previous owner had suffered some form of misfortune, from financial ruin to untimely deaths.
A shiver ran down Tobias' spine. "We might be dealing with something more than just an artifact here, Bill."
Bill, ever the adventurer, grinned at the prospect. "Well now, ain't that interesting? A real-life curse. Haven't dealt with one since the Legend of the Mummy's Thumb."
Tobias raised an eyebrow. "Yes, and let's remember how that ended. We nearly lost our office to a horde of scarab beetles."
Despite their lighthearted banter, Bill and Tobias realized the gravity of their situation. They were in possession of a possibly cursed artifact, and it was their responsibility to uncover the truth behind the menacing inscription and the mask's dark past.
It was a task easier said than done, but if two men were up for the challenge, it was Bill Brightfield and Tobias Turpin. Their adventure had only just begun.
Time out: Time for Trivia!
Based on recent research and analysis of his mummified remains, what is the modern term for the disease believed to have contributed to King Tutankhamun's death?
Answer correctly, and you’ll be rewarded with an extra Artifact to add to your Chronogram collection.
Chapter 3: "The Forgotten Prince"
As days melted into nights and weeks became a blur, Bill and Tobias locked themselves in the enigmatic mystery of the mask's past. Their once orderly office was now a labyrinth of ancient scripts, cryptic diagrams, and painstakingly accurate replicas.
Bill sat hunched over a table strewn with time-worn parchments one stormy night. A realization started dawning on him, a chilling yet thrilling insight. He raised his head, eyes glistening with an uncanny light. "Toby," he said, his voice a low rumble in the silent room. "What if we've been chasing the wrong ghost all along? This mask... isn't a symbol of King Tut's power. Instead, it carries a curse tied to his obscure son, Prince Nebkheperure!"
Tobias, nursing a cup of coffee, looked up in surprise. "His son? But King Tut's children were believed to have died in infancy. Where did you come up with this?"
Bill, looking triumphant, spread out several documents on the table. "Look here, Toby. There are hints in these texts about a forgotten son, a child born late in King Tut's life. And these symbols," he said, pointing at the diagrams they'd made of the mask, "are not in King Tut's cartouche, but they align with the possible name of this prince."
Tobias was silent for a moment, studying the documents. "By Jove, Bill, you may be onto something. If this is true, we're looking at a major historical discovery."
In the following weeks, they began to piece together the story of Prince Nebkheperure, the forgotten son of King Tutankhamun, a prince whose existence was erased from history, hidden behind the golden facade of a burial mask everyone believed belonged to his illustrious father.
The mask wasn't merely a funerary artifact. It was a symbol of Nebkheperure's claim to the throne, a claim that was denied in life and sought in death. The curse was his retribution to those who dared steal his royal legacy.
Chapter 4: "Truth Behind the Curse"
The realization that the mask served as a vessel for Nebkheperure's claim to the throne in the afterlife gave the artifact an entirely new dimension. "It's not just a curse, Toby," Bill commented, gazing at the golden mask with newfound respect. "It's the prince's way of finally being acknowledged."
Tobias, sitting behind his desk, nodded in agreement. "Yes, and by possessing this mask, each owner unknowingly took part in stealing his legacy, hence invoking the curse."
The duo spent the next few days documenting their findings, writing the narrative of Prince Nebkheperure's life and history as it had never been written before.
The artifact had arrived in their hands shrouded in mystery and fear, but now it represented a legacy of royal blood and forgotten history. The supposed curse no longer held fear but a sense of awe and respect for the ancient prince.
Bill looked at the mask and said, "Toby, we've learned the truth of the curse, and we've honored the forgotten prince. In a way, we've done our part to lift the curse."
Ever the methodical, Tobias replied, "Perhaps so, Bill. But the real challenge is to ensure this knowledge is preserved and respected."
Chapter 5: "Legacy Restored"
Days turned into weeks, and the story of Prince Nebkheperure, the forgotten son of King Tutankhamun, was ready to be shared with the world.
On a sunny morning, Tobias emailed their client, the current owner of the mask. The email contained the story of the mask's origins, a plea to honor the forgotten prince, and instructions on adequately storing and displaying the artifact to prevent further 'curse' incidents.
"Done," Tobias declared, pushing back his chair. "Now we wait."
Bill, who had been cleaning his beloved cowboy boots, looked up. "Well, Toby, we've done our part. We've given voice to a forgotten prince. We've respected his legacy. That's a job well done if you ask me."
From that day forward, the mask's story changed. It was no longer viewed as a cursed artifact but as a testament to a forgotten prince's desperate claim for recognition.
Once a symbol of fear, the mask became a symbol of respect and honor for a forgotten prince, a monument to the importance of remembering history's lesser-known figures.
And as for Bill Brightfield and Tobias Turpin had changed the course of an artifact's narrative and had woven another thread into the rich tapestry of Egypt's history. The day ended, and the office of Unearth Incorporated fell silent, waiting for the next artifact and the next chapter of their ongoing adventure in the world of archeology.
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