(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Vestibule]
<IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/island.png">
Welcome in the //Museum of Sumatran art & antiquities//!
You have just entered the building and are now standing in the vestibule, looking at a map on the wall. Your aim is to find the museum's exit. But to find the exit, you'll have to gather some information found along the visit.
Some pictures can be clicked to see a larger version in a new, independent tab.
Enjoy!
[[Enter->Room2]] the next room, located ahead.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Tabot]
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/pic2big.jpg"><IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/pic2.jpg"></A>
This is the room explaining the //tabot// festival.
Fixed on the wall in front of you, a picture shows a beautifully decorated tower. Click it to see a larger version.
Next to the picture is a small mysterious-looking niche.
On the side, a screen offers more <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabuik">info</A> about the //tabot//.
<IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/island2.png">
Continue your visit with one of these options:
* Peep through the [[niche->Niche2]].
* If you want to see the museum's female deity, visit the room to your [[left->Room3]].
* If you'd rather see the standing deity, visit the room to your [[right->Room9]].
* If you need more time to ponder on your mission, go to the [[vestibule->Room1]].(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[History in which YOU are the hero]
(set: $Gkey to false)
(set: $WrongQ2 to 0)
<TABLE WIDTH=40% BORDER=2 CELLPADDING=11><TR>
<TD><CENTER>(text-colour:orange)[A word of caution:]</CENTER>(text-colour:orange)[This museum contains a trap. If you get caught in it, you will escape and survive only by solving a riddle.]</TD>
</TR></TABLE>
(text-size:2.5)+(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")+(b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:yellow)[[Enter->Room1]](text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Wisdom]
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta3big.jpg"><IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta3.jpg"></A>
This is the room dedicated to the goddess of Wisdom. Her bronze statue sits inside the room. It is dated to AD 800—1000 and in an art style of Sriwijaya. Click it to see a larger version.
Leave to the east and visit the [[Padang Lawas room->Room4]], or go to the [[//tabot// room->Room2]].(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Tabot]
The niche is too small to enter. You can only pass your arms through. It leads to a dark room with strange objects inside it.
If you dare introduce your arm and risk touching a dangerous object, [[explore the niche->Niche2b]].
If you'd rather leave, you can visit the room to your [[left->Room3]], in which dwells the female deity, or visit the room to your [[right->Room9]], which hosts the standing deity.
If the emotions are too much right now, just take a rest in the [[vestibule->Room1]].(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[The Past]
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta9big.jpg"><IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta9.jpg"></A>
This is the room dedicated to a //buddha// of the past, called the 'Lamp Bearer'. His 11^^th^^/12^^th^^-century bronze statue stands inside the room. It was found in Jambi. Click it to see a larger version.
In a corner of the room, the floor opens directly as an uncanny flight of stone steps going down.
<IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/island8.png">
Leave and visit the [[//tabot// room->Room2]] to the north, or visit the [[Muaro Jambi room->Room8]]. You may wish also to explore the [[steps->Steps]] going underground.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Padang Lawas]
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/pic4big.jpg"><IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/pic4.jpg"></A>
Welcome in the room about the site of Padang Lawas.
Fixed on the wall to your right, a picture shows caṇḍi Bahal I, one of the temples of the site.
Just like in the tabot room, there is a small mysterious niche next to the picture. On your left, a screen displays info about this <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahal_temple">temple</A> in the archeological site.
<IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/island4.png">
* If you dare, peep through the [[niche->Niche4]].
* If you want to see the serene head, go east into the adjacent [[room->Room5]].
* If you prefer to see the female deity, go into the other adjacent [[room->Room3]], to the west.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Padang Lawas]
This niche leads to a damp dark mysterious room. You slowly & carefully enter your arm, and then what can you touch behind the opening…??
(click: "what")[
…A large flap. It is on the right. You think of a flat fan or something like that. Below the fan, a tree trunk seems to reach the floor, but it is out of arm's reach. Another similar tree trunk is discernable on the left.
]
There is nothing much else you can do and you decide to step [[back->Room4]].(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Compassion]
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta5big.jpg"><IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta5.jpg"></A>
Room for the //bodhisattwa// of Compassion. A stone statue of his head rests against the wall. This 9^^th^^-century statue was found in Acéh. It is in the art style of Sriwijaya. The caption also informs you that its value is 24 //masa// (silver currency of Sriwijaya, punch marked with a sandal flower).
<IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/island5.png">
Leave and visit the [[Muara Takus room->Room6]] to the west, or go south to the [[Padang Lawas room->Room4]].(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Muara Takus]
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/pic6big.jpg"><IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/pic6.jpg"></A>
You are in the room about the site of Muara Takus.
The picture on your right shows the Mahligai //stūpa//, one of the buildings of the site.
Next to the picture is a dark narrow niche. Info about the Muara Takus complex is available on a <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muara_Takus">screen</A> .
<IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/island6.png">
* Peep through the [[niche->Niche6]].
* Leave and visit the [[room->Room7]] to the south and see the sitting male deity.
* If you prefer, go north to the [[room->Room5]] with the serene head.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Muara Takus]
This niche opens to a dark chamber. The passage is too small to enter but your arm is able to carefully touch & inspect a rope hanging vertically.
(if: $Gkey is false)[
A key lies half buried in the dust on the edge of the niche.
(link: "Pick it up")[(set: $Gkey to true)You took it.]
]
In the hope of making sense of this mystery at a later time, the best thing to do right now is to step [[back->Room6]] and explore further the museum.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[The Future]
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta7big.jpg"><IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta7.jpg"></A>
Here you are in the room of the Buddha of the Future. His bronze statue is sitting in the room. This 9^^th^^- or 10^^th^^-century statue was found near Palémbang. It is in the art style of Sriwijaya.
<IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/island7.png">
Leave and visit the [[Muaro Jambi room->Room8]] to the west, or go north to the [[Muara Takus room->Room6]].(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Muaro Jambi]
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/pic8big.jpg"><IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/pic8.jpg"></A>
Welcome in the room about the site of Muaro Jambi!
Fixed on the wall on the side, a picture shows caṇḍi Gumpung, one of the seven main shrines of the site. If you dare to meet that strange animal in the foreground, click the picture. This mythical aquatic animal is named //makara//.
Next to the picture is a mysterious narrow niche, and on the other side an information <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muaro_Jambi_Temple_Compounds">screen</A>.
<IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/island8.png">
* Take a look through the [[niche->Niche8]] (if you dare).
* If you want to see the standing deity, go visit the [[room->Room9]] to the west.
* If you prefer seeing the sitting male deity, go into the [[room->Room7]] to the east.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Muaro Jambi]
This niche leads to a mysterious dark chamber. Only your arm can reach the space inside. You give it a try and your hand feels a strange cold myst hanging inside.
As you keep slowly moving your hand towards the left, you suddenly…
(click: "suddenly")[
…feel a large flap. It could be some sort of flat fan. Below the flap, your eyes start to see like a tree trunk reaching from the ground until behind the fan. Another tree trunk, of the same size, is discernable at 2 metres to the right.
]
As there is nothing more to discover, you decide to step back to the [[centre->Room8]] of the room.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Into the niche]
Never mind the cobwebs, you slowly & carefully enter your right arm into the dark damp room. On the left and the right you discern two spear-like objects pointing downwards. In between them you touch what seems like a snake. You feel lucky of not having been bitten.
After this nosey but risky operation, you decide to visit the other rooms, hoping to encounter less dangerous situations. First, in order to take a deep breath, you step [[back->Room2]]. (text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[The Mysterious Staircase]
While you engage in the clockwise helicoidal staircase, all gets darker and darker. You have to slow down as you cannot see how many steps continue ahead. You stop to take a look and to try assess what lies further down.
A few steps away your feet, small shadows seem to be crawling up. Are these actual insects climbing step after step…??
(click: "climbing")[…After you rub your eyes and take a breath, you believe it could be an hallucination, but we are never quite sure.
In any case, time has allowed your eyes to get accustomed, just enough to see a wooden door about five metres away. It is shut and a sign above reads: (text-colour:black)+(bg:gray)[ INTERROGATION ROOM ]
(if: $Gkey is true)[
If you decide to try open the door, [[go ahead->I-Room]]. Let's hope you will not regret the decision.](else:)[The door is locked. There is a keyhole below the knob.
]]
[[Turn back->Room9]] and climb the staircase up to the room with the Lamp Bearer.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:gray)[INTERROGATION ROOM]
Your key fits perfectly and unlocks the door. The knob is surprisingly easy to turn. The door lets itself open with a suspicious ease. It is enough to push slightly with one hand. Pushing makes an unavoidable squeak.
You enter a candle-lit room with a table in the middle. As you approach the table, a sharp bang makes you understand that the door suddenly shut closed behind your back, with the key still inside the lock.
(set: $Gkey to false)
Having barely recovered from your emotions, already a voice asks you a question —an important [[question->Q1]]…(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:gray)[INTERROGATION ROOM]
(text-size:1.5)+(text-colour:orange)[“What is hidden in the inner chamber?”]
You remember all the niches you inspected and realise these are all surrounding the same chamber. The objects you could touch and see are in reality one large single object. What you believed to be a rope was not a rope but felt like a rope; the snake was not really a snake; etc. There is a sheet on the table. The voice asks you to write down the object.
<TABLE CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 WIDTH=100% BORDER=0><TR>
<TD WIDTH=33%>Type what it is: </TD><TD WIDTH=33%>(input: bind $Answer1, "XX=", "")</TD><TD WIDTH=33%> </TD>
</TR><TR>
<TD> </TD><TD>[[Submit]]</TD><TD> </TD>
</TR></TABLE>
Or [[give up->Perish]].
(if: $WrongQ2 < 4)
[You are offered an alternative. If you can answer this [[riddle->Q2]], you will be set free.](text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:gray)[INTERROGATION ROOM]
You are prisoner of the Interrogation Room. While wondering about the mysterious dark room and its objects, you are left to perish of thirst within a few days.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:gray)[INTERROGATION ROOM]
(if:$Answer1 is "elephant" or "Elephant" or "ELEPHANT" or "An elephant" or "AN ELEPHANT" or "an elephant")[(text-size:1.5)+(text-colour:orange)[“Correct. You have solved the mystery of the middle chamber. You are free.”]
You exit the interrogation room through another door. It opens to another staircase and you end up in the '[[Exit Room->Exit]]'.]
(else:)[
(text-size:1.5)+(text-colour:orange)[“WRONG ANSWER.”]
[[Try again->Q1]].
](text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:yellow)[Exit room]
<TABLE BORDER=0><TR>
<TD VALIGN=BOTTOM><IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta3.jpg"></TD>
<TD VALIGN=BOTTOM><IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta5.jpg"></TD>
<TD VALIGN=BOTTOM><IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta7.jpg"></TD>
<TD VALIGN=BOTTOM><IMG SRC="https://cint.asia/fields/art/nusantar/sumatra/sta9.jpg"></TD>
</TR><TR>
<TD>(text-colour:yellow)[Prajñāpāramitā]<BR>Wisdom<BR>bronze<BR>AD 800—1000<BR> </TD>
<TD>(text-colour:yellow)[Awalokitéśwara]<BR>Compassion<BR>stone<BR> 9^^th^^ century<BR>Acéh</TD>
<TD>(text-colour:yellow)[Maitréya]<BR>The future Buddha<BR>bronze<BR>9^^th^^ or 10^^th^^ century<BR>Palémbang</TD>
<TD>(text-colour:yellow)[Dipaṅkara]<BR>The previous Buddha<BR>bronze<BR>11^^th^^/12^^th^^ century<BR>Jambi</TD>
</TR></TABLE>
You receive the farewell greetings from all four deities.(text-style:"bold","expand")+(text-colour:gray)[INTERROGATION ROOM]
You are offered to read another piece of paper. A total of four chances are granted to answer this riddle:.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")+(text-colour:yellow)[* Value of the statues *](b4r:"double")+(b4r-colour:orange)[(text-style:"superscript")[ • Goddess of Wisdom, Buddha of the past: together worth (text-colour:yellow)[10 //masa//]
• Buddha of the Future, Buddha of the Past: together (text-colour:yellow)[20 //masa//]
• Buddha of the Future, Goddess of Wisdom: together same as serene head
• Value of goddess, past buddha, future buddha: release]]
<TABLE CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 WIDTH=100% BORDER=0><TR>
<TD WIDTH=25%>The value is </TD><TD WIDTH=18%>(input: bind $Answer2, "X=", "")</TD><TD WIDTH=57%>//masa//.</TD>
</TR><TR>
<TD> </TD><TD>Submit</TD><TD> </TD>
</TR></TABLE>
(click:"Submit")[(if:$Answer2 is "27")[(text-size:1.5)+(text-colour:orange)[“Correct. You have solved the alternative riddle. You are free.”]
(set: $WrongQ2 to 4)
This gives you the only chance to exit without returning to the other riddle. If you decide to leave immediately, go through the other [[door->Exit]] of the Interrogation Room. It opens to a staircase that ends up in the Exit Room.]
(else:)[(text-size:1.5)+(text-colour:orange)[“WRONG ANSWER”]
(set: $WrongQ2 to it + 1)(print: 4 - $WrongQ2) chance(if: $WrongQ2 < 3)[s] left.(if: $WrongQ2 < 4)[ [[Try again->Q2]].]
]
]
If suddenly you have an idea about the object in the chamber, give the answer on the other [[sheet of paper->Q1]].