Interloper

McNeer was bleary and hungover at the site, but managed a level of bravado and charm epic enough to get them access to the inner temple. He dipped low through the main entrance (making a quick reference to "tiny ancient people") and helped himself to some photos (although they were expressly forbidden). As Dolan attempted some damage control with the guide, who'd grown nervous and was trying to warn (and then drag) them out of the inner sanctum, McNeer was riffing on the carvings, pretending that he could read them. "Two strangers will come and preserve this place," he intoned (with laughter in his voice), but one of the workers shook their head and tried to shush him, pointing. "Will claim," the man whispered, "for heart of temple." "I will," McNeer falsely comforted the man, "... I WILL claim and protect the heart of this temple!" He grinned from ear to ear while the worker, now terrified, backed away. As the ground began to shake, the guide dropped to his knees; McNeer, suddenly and brutally sober, was horrified when the temple doors slammed shut as he tried to leave. "What is happening?" Dolan called out to the others, now prostrate on the ground. "Please?!?" "To be claimed is to be chosen," the guide said in a voice barely heard above the thunder. "To accept is to step forward." McNeer stared at Dolan, speechless as the altar sank into the earth and something began to emerge through the portal. "WHOSE TEMPLE IS THIS?" McNeer yelled out, caring too late and beginning to panic. "She whose body forms the vault of heaven and depths of earth," the guide said (trembling). "Tiamat." Dolan dropped to his knees, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open, staring at something at McNeer's back. "We are so fucked," he mouthed (and, although it would not be carved in stone, it was a worthy epitaph).