# Too Proud to Die - the Fighting Ignorants **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 19, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657 "2010-04-19T19:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/341 "2010-06-07T19:59:25Z")
The mural was executed in what might once have been a rather expensive and well-done mosaic, though it’s hard to estimate how many better days it’s seen. The design seems easy enough to read, though: it looks as though some burly-looking men are being buried (presumably after being already dead) and then rising again armed and armoured. **Auto** ’s thorough checking did turn up that the ground close to the lectern looks kinda scuffed. And the lectern has the remains of a big book on it, open partway through. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/342 "2010-06-07T20:12:30Z")
I’ll examine the scuffed ground for clues! ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/343 "2010-06-07T20:14:36Z")
zzzzz…_snores_…zzzz ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/344 "2010-06-07T20:23:03Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > The mural was executed in what might once have been a rather expensive and well-done mosaic, though it’s hard to estimate how many better days it’s seen. The design seems easy enough to read, though: it looks as though some burly-looking men are being buried (presumably after being already **dead) and then rising again armed and armoured**. **Auto** ’s thorough checking did turn up that the ground close to the lectern looks kinda scuffed. And the lectern has the remains of a big book on it, open partway through. craaaaap ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/345 "2010-06-07T21:50:34Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > I’ll examine the scuffed ground for clues! The scuffing seems to form a circle, with the base of the lectern wholly inside it (with not much room to spare). ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/346 "2010-06-07T22:00:09Z")
**Melon** examines the book, making use of his theological education to interpret it if he can. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/347 "2010-06-08T04:26:35Z")
:reading the above notes from the mural: Hey uh… guys. I know I’m just an Intelligent but not really wise Wizard here and all… But do we really want to put this dead guy in the place where they show these dead people coming back to life? Where’s the dead guy? Nobody put him down yet, did they? Guys? and for fun… “Anyone here heard of the phrase Klatu-verata-necktie?” ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/348 "2010-06-08T11:49:41Z")
I’ll try to check out the book as well, being mindful to not stop on or inside the scuffed area. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/349 "2010-06-08T12:42:57Z")
> [@ToeJam](#): > > :reading the above notes from the mural: > Hey uh… guys. I know I’m just an Intelligent but not really wise Wizard here and all… > But do we really want to put this dead guy in the place where they show these dead people coming back to life? > Where’s the dead guy? Nobody put him down yet, did they? > Guys? > > and for fun… > “Anyone here heard of the phrase Klatu-verata-necktie?” “ahem, _ **Klaatu Barada Nikto** _” ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/350 "2010-06-08T13:27:43Z")
“No you fool!” _throws himself to the ground dramatically_ ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/351 "2010-06-08T13:31:30Z")
“No you fool!” _throws himself to the ground dramatically_ ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/352 "2010-06-08T13:40:04Z")
“No no, it only wakes up the dead if you say it wrong…, as you did” _Looks around in fear_ ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/353 "2010-06-08T18:58:35Z")
_zzzz…I’m having a nice dream involving Xena and Gabrielle…mmmm_ ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/354 "2010-06-08T20:45:55Z")
> [@ToeJam](#): > > :reading the above notes from the mural: > Hey uh… guys. I know I’m just an Intelligent but not really wise Wizard here and all… > But do we really want to put this dead guy in the place where they show these dead people coming back to life? > Where’s the dead guy? Nobody put him down yet, did they? > Guys?" “You know that’s a pretty good point. I’m all for saying that the urn belongs on that first pew over there and getting out of here. We tell the parson that everything is hunky dorry and get him to explain the map we found so we can get some treasure without working for it. I’m really not in the mood to play with things that go bump in the night.” ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/355 "2010-06-08T22:02:06Z")
“Umm, why not explore the other passageway first?, then we can decide where to put the urn” ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/356 "2010-06-08T22:19:30Z")
“My guess is with two choices with the potential for undead, and we already know this one is clean, that they are in the other passageway. Considering Auto’s ability with being sneaky do we really want to count on him detecting the undead without being detected?” ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/357 "2010-06-09T14:12:42Z")
_notes nothing has happened, and **Frodo** ’s comments_ :coughs: “Uh… good point there, **Frodo**. Maybe we should forget that ever happened. Or that I somehow managed to fling myself to the ground twice…” Ishtar stands up and dusts himself off, and tries to look all awesomely scary wizardy-smart again. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/358 "2010-06-09T19:52:37Z")
_stretch, yawn_ “That was a fine nap. Remind me to sleep in crypts more often. So, what did I miss?” ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/359 "2010-06-09T21:32:41Z")
(An update will follow when I fire up the computer that has my notes on it - you may want to know what the book says before you decide.) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657/360 "2010-06-10T15:49:29Z")
The book is open at a page that reads > [@musty old tome](#): > > “…and shall slay all who enter save those who bear the Sign of the Prophet; and so perish all grave-robbers and despoilers of the slain! But upon all who bear the Sign shall rest the favour of the Prophet, and the dead shall sleep in peace. Therefore beware and heed, for so it is written and shall be for ever.” The marks on the ground near the lectern look a little familiar - you have sometimes seen similar marks where a door scuffs on the floor as it opens and shuts. The lectern is very solid-looking and made of brass bearing a heavy patina. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-proud-to-die-the-fighting-ignorants/536657.md?page=19)