The evil was Giegue, as previously discussed, he ran away from the final fight because *spoiler ahead* Ninten couldn't sing very well. *End spoiler*. Escaping through a temporal warp, he was trounced by MegaMan X and Zero Omega (MegaMan X universe), driving him back again. I don't know how well X and Zero could possibly sing, but Viewtiful Joe is pretty good at it, so I don't see why not. Speaking of which, Viewtiful does play a role here. Since not all time is in 'sync here, Giegue had ample time to universe surf until he found safe haven to hide.

He came to the Viewtiful world (pardon the pun) to become Alastor, that weird black evil-Joe-guy with the demon wings. He hid there for a while, but he got whopped and hurled through the next temporal warp back to Eagleland. When he arrived, he found his body misshapen and turned into Giygas, a much more powerful entity. By this point, Ramza was Talah Rama, Zero was Star Master, and X was Buzz-Buzz, see how this all falls into place so nicely?

To top it all off, the story isn't quite over yet. The people of the sand drove away Giegue, but failed in doing anything other than required maintainance against their foes. Scarabians don't exactly govern themselves well, so Eagleland later annexed them under their strange democracy system, where only one mayor was needed to rule four seperate cities and another desert. But that was a while ago, problem solved. Have a happy day.

This swamp acted as a main defense, and the Scarabians fought on this terrain fiercely, but in the end they were overcome. According to the hyroglyph that is when their gods intervened and took it upon themselves to rid the land of this evil threat - basing themselves in a pyramid. After the battle was won, the Sphinx was erected (or perhaps it just 'appeared') in order to watch over all and wait for the coming of a hero.

The battle grounds? Simple. They're gone. Assuming this evil was Giygas, he (or it) and his (or it's) forces landed in the dead center of the swamp to begin the invasion. The Scarabians fought valiantly, but in the end all they received was the center section of the swamp they called home completely wiped out and obliterated.

Then the gods came, and to destroy the forces of Giygas (until he returned in a millenium) they sunk the land between what is now Scaraba and Deep Darkness (which is why you need a submarine to get between the two). The land sank deep into the ocean, and the dark invaders were utterly obliterated by the sea.

Scaribian's scared
off Giygas's pants
with the charms he had sold them
the arms and the hands
of the severed Saturns.

He grabbed them by the neck and
tore off one of their faces,
put it on a machine
and soon then spewed laces
and smashed them against the wall
and became heiroglyphs that gave cold cases.

But the Scaribian's weren't stupid,
and taken aback
by the Chosen
had wandered off track
into their pyramid.

They seized their chance and decided to take thier outlines and plaster them onto ness and his friends so they could see the action to kill the so called evil power. They also managed to kill him the first time by breathing smelly alchohol onto him therefore he was thrown out because he wandered into a bar and forgot his licence.

I believe the term 'Invaders' is best presumed to be the Starmen. The Starmen later become minions of Giygas, but I do not believe the tablet itself refers to or includes him specifically. This because, due to what I believe is the relation between Earthbound 0 and Earthbound, Giygas is a later incarnation of the alien Giegue. Now, the glyphs say that the evil comes about every 1000 years, and that the invaders hide behind time and space. This sounds very much like what Giygas has done, and so we can assume that the Starmen (who also appear in Earthbound 0) are included in this resuscitation of evil.

The defenders mentioned in the hieroglyphs are most likely the Tenda. After all, when talking to a man in Scaraba, we find out that they did at one time live there. The glyphs say that the "Evil Stronghold" of the Invaders lies beyond the Lost Underworld, and shrouds the Deep Darkness with its evil. This probably refers to the Cave of the Past, which can indeed be partially accessed by traveling through the Lost Underworld. It is possible the Tenda knew of this and went to guard against another attack from the Cave, thus leaving Scaraba.

The third point is the mention of the Heroes for whom the Sphinx patiently waits. Obviously we see that Ness and company are the chosen ones in Earthbound, but what about the other times that these Invaders have arrived. In fact, if they appear every millennium, then they would have arrived 5 times prior to Earthbound. I believe that Ninten and friends (from Earthbound 0) were the saviors of the fifth invasion, when Giegue controlled the Starmen army. We must believe, then, that the other invasions all took place chronologically prior to Earthbound 0.

So, in conclusion, the evil that controls the Starmen possessed them to try an invasion of the planet. The Tenda originally charged themselves as watchers, waiting for the evil to arise every millennium and the saviors to stop it. In time Giegue used the Starmen for his on purposes, and later again when he became Giygas. But, as we see, each time people like Ninten and Ness appear and defeat the evil Invaders.

[if you're looking for the "time travelling entertainers" for some business, don't try to find us, we'll find you.]

Long ago, Scaraba was a busier place, known back then as Scaraba City. There were 4 young heroes who lived there, similar to Ness and crew. The first member, and leader was name Nanko (Non-koh), a happy-go-lucky person who always carried a wooden, yet powerfull semi-sword (hint hint Ness). His girlfried, Panki (Pon-kee, used various cooking tool but her favorite was a pot (hint hint Paula). The third member was a genius, yet he could not use Psi, Jenk (Jin-kuh, really one syllable). He always used a gun that shot discs (hint hint Jeff). The last but not least member, was the young king of Scaraba's ally, Dalaam, Puink (Poo-k). He always carried his sword and used Dalaam art of self-defense (hint hint Poo).

Then one day, while Puink spent his one vacation every year in Scaraba, they saw a being approaching the Bay. This evil was known as Gigop (Guy-gulp, hint hint Giygas) and took form of a giant monster. Attacking the city, Nanko, Panki, Jenk, and Puink fouhgt off Gigop. They evenutally killed him, but the City was in ruins. They could only rebuild few important places like the Inn and Hospital since they lost countless supplies during Gigop's invasion. Using their money, they invested in rebuilding a few more houses and rebuild the head of the Sphinx(the face became Nankis' in honor of his courage). This legend has been passed down to all of Scaraba. And that's how Scaraba became a small town and the people who fought off Giygas' ancestor.

Geez, it's been probably 4 or 5 years since I played Earthbound, but I remember something about a hint from either Summers, Scaraba, or the Apple of Enlightenment talking about that Ness, Paula, Jeff, and Poo weren't the first to arise in these positions. I myself always thought that this meant that four children were always destined to defeat Giygas or one of his ancestors or descendants. Can anyone back this up? I came up with this theorey probably in around 1997, and I'm kinda fuzzy on details. Thanks!

The residents of Larvaeia revived them. Unfortunately, the dark, possibly Gyigas related evil had followed them... The great battle that ensued tore the poor town apart, and scattered it's residents to the corners of the desert!

Their tribe leader wished for safety, so he began to build several great fortresses for his people... They finished the pyramids in about a day, but another misfortune happened, as all of the Larvaeians died from overwork!

Meanwhile, the dark Gyigas like thing was losing to the heroes, and to up his advantages, shrouded the battlefield in a blackish mist... The heroes couldn't see their great foe, and feared they would quickly die! But to the darkness' surprise, it couldn't see in the mist either...

The tribe leader saw what was happening, and sent his faithful bird pet to aide the heroes. It's powers included the ability to see through the darkness. It watched the battle, then gave directions to the heroes! After slaying the gruesome thingy, the mist receeded and they all rejoiced... The tribe leader decided to write their trials on a great stone slab, then died afterwords from overwork...

The bird was gripped by tuberculosis as it flew back to the pyramid, and died in midair! It's magical eyes remained in the desert sands, to be found much later! A group of settlers fleeing from the stinky swamps found the desert to be habitable enough, and decided to name it Scarabia...

Thus I explain a lot of things at once, and have a good time rambling...Sorry if it ran a little long...

That's an easy one!

The evil force mentioned is indeed Gygius.

Gygius had made a slight error in his navigation of the time-space dealie and ended in early Scarabia instead.

Now, a guy named Randomguy happened upon Gygius and decidided that he was an evil entity that had to be stopped.

And so, he charged forth to smite Gygius and before he could land a blow, Gygius lost interest and left. So, that was how he was defeated.

The moral?
Don't dry with fakes or fears 'cause you will hate yourself in the end