Dawn in the jungle. The sun is a menacing red orb as it rises from the steaming jungle. The jungle is eerily silent. No birds sing. No insects buzz. Even the trees seem lifeless and silent. It is as though the jungle were waiting for something.

Only Lee, Luminar, Angus, and Duncan remain of the original expedition.Weapons at the ready, they journey to the island. The lake is shallow, and they are able to cross with a makeshift raft. The island itself is densly overgorwn. A dense bog surrounds almost the entire fringe of the Island, but Lee's expert tracking skills enable the group to penetrate to the ancient, towering stone structures they can see in the interior.

For several hours, they wander down ancient roadways between overgrown pyramids, moving towards the tallest structure. Considering the obstacles they have overcome, it is amazing they have reached this point. They are tired and several have light injuries from their ordeal. The building proves to be an immense pyramid with a stone door. Strangely, the interior is lit with an unearthly light. "There is a sense of power, ancient power", LUminar remarks.

Within they find a huge chamber lit with phosphorecent bacteria. At the center is a stone idol, an immense majestic humanoid figure with a stone crown sitting on a throne. It's left eye is a huge gem; the twin of the Franks diamond. Lee smiles, and from his kit backpack he produces... the Franks diamond! Some of the group seem very surprised at this turn of events, but others do not.

Lee approaches the idol and nibly begins to climb. "That doesn't look very safe, Mr. Lee," newspaperman Duncan comments. "The Empire wasn't founded on safety," is the reply. As Lee reaches the top, he carefuly places the gem into the empyt socket of the idol's right eye. Suddenly, he screams in pain. His lifeless body tumbles in the lap of the idol. At the same moment, Dr. Luminar faints dead away. His friend Angus Fier rushes to his side while Duncan rushes to the idol and begins to climb.

After a moment, Luminar's eyelids flutter. "Duncan..." he whispers, "he is not who he seems!" By now Duncan has reached the lap of the stone idol. His face has changed. No longer is he Rick Ducan, mild mannered reporter. His face is a mask of hatred and visciousness. Angus rushes forward, an ancient broadsword in his hands (where in the world did he get that from?), but Duncan has a pistol. The two eye one another warily as Lee begins to stir. "Come down here and fight like a man, whoever you are" Angus says meanacingly.

A calm, cold voice answers from the shadows. "No need for violence," it says, as the immaculately dressed figure of Lord Ravenswold steps in the room, a pistol in each hand. "I think I can settle the ownership issue. Mr. Duncan, please pick up the gem and toss it over this way."

Then, to everyone's surprise, a seductive womanly voice is heard from the chamber's entrance. "Don't you know a gentleman never leaves his date in the lurch?" It is lounge singer Ms. Selena Knight. She doesn't look good. She has a poorly bandaged wound on her leg, and her expression is harried as though she were ill or exhausted. The shotgun in her hands, however, does not waver from Ravenswood's chest.

Ravenswood smiles. "Well well," he says, "it appears that the masks are coming off at last."

After six months, my Pulp by E-mail RPG game is drawing to a close. Thanks to all who played!