As we have already addressed the means by which one can best get started on the life and learning of an archeologist, and how I got my start, perhaps it would now be a good idea to actually explain the way that one would go about finding a proper site and exploring it! Try not to fall asleep as I get into the nitty gritty of the process, as I assure you that this is perhaps the most important chapter that you have read so far. Perhaps.

In the treasure-rich areas that we’re exploring, most sections of land will have several ruins- with an average gang’s turf containing up to ten ruins within it. Being the remains of ancient civilizations and historic buildings that they are, there are a limited number of times that one can explore the same ruin before it collapses- or at least before it has anything more to give you as a reward. This durability, as I call it, is fairly random- but can be determined through the use of a staffed archeology camp.

Now, it is not enough to simply stumble upon a possible site and explore it immediately. Even the most hard-headed adventurer still requires several weeks of preparation (the downtime, as we call it) to ensure their safety, not to mention the travel time involved in journeying to a proper site from the basecamp. Once identified, there are two different kinds of explorations that most archaeologists perform.

Secondly, there is the more proper Archeology; my preferred method . I spend several weeks journeying to the site multiple times gathering information on the location and finding out what sort of team I should bring in to explore it. Every exploration is different, of course, and the amount of treasure, obstacles, and team members that I can bring in differ from ruin to ruin and exploration to exploration! Generally, exploration teams come in three sizes: small, which is up to three people; medium, which means the space can contain up to five people; and large, which means that the team can have up to six people on it.

While that is more people to share the findings with, it is also more people to bear witness to your bravery and discoveries!

I typically find that the size of the space in which I can bring an exploration team is precisely scaled to the risk and reward of the ruin. Larger ruins have more space for treasure, but they also contain more hiding spaces for monsters and wild animals- many of which find a ruin a comfortable den from the storm.

Of course, the preparation of these weeks is geared at more than just figuring out the size of the team that I should gather! I typically end my research with an understanding of the generalities of the ruin, including what kind of skills may be useful in my team, and the best time for me to bring my team to explore the ruin.

The most important part of any exploration team is the archeologist themselves, and all archeology explorations must include the archeologist as part of their number. This is partially because they’re the ones who understand the site the best, but it is also because the experience that we develop as archeologists often result in esoteric knowledge that is useful for getting around obstacles in ruins.

I have mentioned both treasure and obstacles without going into proper detail, so let me remedy that.  What sort of items do ruins contain, and what sort of obstacles?

Within ruins I have found any number of things I would consider treasure, from salt and schematics to rare items and malefic essences.  Ruins also sometimes contain information about local malefic hauntings, as well as spell scrolls and letters and lore from ancient peoples.  

Obstacles similarly run the gamut of creatures, traps, and challenges- as well as specific puzzles that only people with a specific language or skill can navigate.  I’ve needed a forester to help me get access to a ruined temple and a Nemien to help me read the instructions to a diabolically trapped cache! Some ruins are filled with wild creatures, while others have challenges of the more intellectual variety.