81) A DWARF SPRINGS UP AS YOU ENTER THE ROOM. HE EAGERLY SCANS YOUR PARTY,
THEN COLLAPSES IN DISAPPOINTMENT. "NO DWARVES," HE WEEPS. "NEVER ARE THERE ANY DWARVES. POOR JOSEPHINA IS ALL ALONE." THE DWARF HAS A WOMAN'S NAME,
BUT IT'S BEARDED AND IT SMELLS AND...WELL, NO MATTER, JOSEPHINA IS
PROBABLY JUST AS CRAZY AS EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS SILLY TOWN.
"THE KINGDOM IS BROKEN," CRIES JOSEPHINA. "THE GREAT CLANHALL IS SEALED,
AND ALL THE DWARVES SLUMBER IN THE VAULTS. NAMTAR STOLE THE EYES FROM OUR
ICON AND HURLED THEM INTO THE SEA. EVERY DAY I SEARCH THE COAST, BUT
NEVER DO I FIND THE EYES." JOSEPHINA CONTINUES TO WEEP, HARDLY AWARE OF
YOUR PRESENCE.
82) NISIR, THE MOUNTAIN OF SALVATION, RISES ABOVE YOU TO AN IMPOSSIBLY GREAT
HEIGHT, SEEMING TO RIP THE SKY. ALTHOUGH IT IS DAYTIME, WHEN YOU LOOK UP
YOU CAN SEE STARS NEAR WHERE YOU GUESS THE SUMMIT OF THE MIGHTY MOUNTAIN
MUST BE. IT SEEMS TO YOU THE MOUNTAIN MUST PUSH THROUGH THE VERY
ATMOSPHERE OF OCEANA TO PRODUCE SUCH A SIGHT.
AHEAD OF YOU, A LONG LINE OF PILGRAMS SLOWLY FILES PAST THE SOLE GATE
LEADING FROM THE HARBOR.
83) A PRISON LIES BABBLING IN THE CORNER. "A SECRET TUNNEL CONNECTS THIS
PRISON TO THE NISIR", HE SAYS. "WHEN YOU FIND THE SWAMP WITHIN THE
MOUNTAIN, KNOW YOU ARE NEAR NAMTAR!"
84) THE PILGRIMS STOP ONE-BY-ONE TO KNEEL BEFORE THIS ELABORATE SHRINE
BEFORE CONTINUING. THE SHRINE DEPICTS THE IMAGE OF THE UNIVERSAL GOD,
A FACELESS DEITY THAT LOOKS IN ALL DIRECTIONS AT ONCE, AND RAISES ITS ARMS
TO ENCOMPASS BOTH EARTH, HEAVEN, AND THE UNDERWORLD. YOU NOTE WITH
RELIEF THAT NOT EVEN NAMTAR HAS DARED TO UNDERMINE THE BASIC FAITH OF
OCEANA.
THE PILGRIMS EVIDENTLY EXPECT ENLIGHTENMENT AND SALVATION TO RESULT
FROM THEIR VISIT TO NISIR. YOU EXPECT SALVATION OF A DIFFERENT KIND -
THE SORT THAT CAN COME ONLY FROM SENDING NAMTAR TO HIS DOOM.
85) IT IS SEVERAL DAYS' SAIL TO NISIR, THE SALVATION, BUT THE ROUTE IS EASY TO
FOLLOW. THE GREAT MOUNTAIN NISIR SEEMS TO RISE FROM THE ROOTS OF OCEANA
AND REACH TO THE HEAVENS-IT IS EASILY THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN ON THE PLANET,
AND YOU ARE IN SIGHT OF YOUR DESTINATION FOR MOST OF THE JOURNEY.
THE HARBOR AT NISIR IS CLOGGED WITH PILGRIM'S VESSELS. SEVERAL HUNDRED
ROBED FIGURES CROWD THE DOCKS, SLOWLY PASSING THROUGH THE HARBOR'S ONLY
EXIT INTO THE INTERIOR. THE GREAT MOUNTAIN OF NISIR LOOMS ABOVE YOU,
STERN AND FOBIDDING. YOU SENSE A MOMENT OF DESTINY IS AT HAND.
86) YOU ARE PRESSED INTO SERVICE AND SENT DIRECTLY TO THE FRONT. THE ARMY
MAKES NO ATTEMPT TO PROVISION OR TRAIN YOU-IT'S EVIDENT THEY CONSIDER YOU
AND A BAND OF CUTTHROATS, AND THAT THEY LIKE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
A TROOP SHIP CONVEYS YOU TO KING'S ISLAND, WHERE THE WALLED CITY OF
BYZANOPLE STUBBORNLY RESISTS THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF JOINING THE UNIFIED
KINGSHOMER EMPIRE UNDER NAMTAR AND KING DRAKE. BYZANOPLE HAS BEEN UNDER
SIEGE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, AND THE BESIEGING KINGSHOMER ARMY IS PREPARING
TO TAKE THE CITY BY STORM. YOU ARE TO BE AMONG THE WAVES OF UN-FORTUNATES
THEY WISH TO SEND OVER THE WALL. YOU MAY NOT TAKE KINDLY TO THIS IDEA,
BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE OF THEM THAN THERE ARE OF YOU, AND THIS IS NO
OPPORTUNITY TO DESERT.
YOU ARE BILLETED IN A SIEGE CAMP LOCATED A FEW MILES SOUTH OF THE ACTUAL
SIEGE.
87) DIRECTLY AHEAD YOU SEE THE SEMI-PERMANENT CAMP OF THE KINGSHOMER CAMPAIGN
ARMY. THE ARMY OCCUPIES A VALLEY BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAIN PEAKS. A WOODEN
PALISADE HAS BEEN ERECTED ACROSS THE MOUTH OF THE VALLEY, PROVIDING THE
CAMP WITH A MEASURE OF PROTECTION AGAINST RAIDERS FROM THE SOUTH.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF AN ENEMY ARMY ANYWHERE IN THE AREA. FROM THE LOOKS OF THE CAMP, IT SEEMS LIKELY THIS IS A BASE FROM WHICH THE KINGSHOMER
ARMY IS BESIEGING AN ENEMY FORTRESS OR CITY.
SEVERAL GUARDS LOUNGE BEFORE THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAMP. THEY EYE YOU WITH
SUSPICION.
88) WITHIN THIS BUILDING YOU FIND A GROUP OF OLD MEN GATHERED AROUND THE TABLE. THEY'RE PLAYING DICE AND SPEAKING RAPIDLY TO EACH OTHER IN A DIALECT YOU
CAN BARELY UNDERSTAND. YOU ARE NOTICED AND WELCOMED INTO THE GAME.
THE MEN PLAY FOR THE JOY OF IT. THERE'S A COMPLICATED WAGERING SCHEME
INVOLVED, BUT NO MONEY EVER CHANGES HANDS, AND THE MEN DON'T SEEM TO CARE
IF YOU'RE RICH OR DESTITUTE. AFTER A WHILE, YOU BEGIN TO MAKE SENSE OF
THEIR SPEECH.
IT SEEMS THESE MEN ARE RESIDENTS OF THE DILMUN INTERIOR, DISPLACED TO THIS ISLAND OF OUTLANDERS BY WAR AND OPPRESION. FROM THEM YOU LEARN OF RECENT
EVENTS IN DILMUN. THE DILMUN INTERIOR CONSISTS OF SEVERAL LARGE ISLANDS,
EACH OF WHICH IS DOMINATED BY AN AUTONOMOUS CITY-STATE. WARFARE HAS BEEN
FREQUENT BETWEEN THE RIVAL CITIES, BUT NO SINGLE NATION HAS EVER BEEN ABLE
TO RULE ALL THE OTHERS. EACH CITY KEEPS A DRAGON CAPTIVE SOMEWHERE WITHIN
ITS WALLS-IF TOTAL DISASTER EVER THREATENS, THE DRAGON WILL BE LET LOOSE.
THIS WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF BOTH SIDES, BUT IT
SERVES AS A DETERRENT TO CONQUEST.
RECENTLY, THE CITY OF KINGSHOME LAUNCHED A BID FOR EMPIRE. KINGSHOME'S
IMPERIALISM WAS AIDED BY A SORCERER-NAMTAR, THE BEAST FROM THE PIT. THANKS
TO NAMTAR, ALL MAGICAL OPPOSITION WAS QUICKLY OVERWHELMED, AND KINGSHOME
MADE RAPID GAINS. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE CONQUERED CITIES NEVER
LAUNCHED THEIR DRAGONS AGAINST THE KINGSHOME.
THE YOUNGEST OF THE MEN ARRIVED AT THE CAMP JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. SO FAR
AS HE KNOWS, NEARLY ALL THE DILMUN'S CITIES HAVE BEEN CONQUERED OR LAY IN
RUINS. THE CITY OF BYZANOPLE ON THE KING'S ISLE REMAINS FREE, ALTHOUGH
IT HAS BEEN UNDER SIEGE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. HE ALSO MENTIONS A CITY CALLED
FREEPORT IN THE EASTERN ISLES, BUT HIS COMPANIONS SCOFF WHEN HE DOES, SAYING FREEPORT IS MORE MYTH THAN REALITY. NEVERTHELESS, THE YOUNG MAN ASSERTS
HE'LL FIND FREEPORT SOMEDAY-AS SOON AS HE CAN FIND A SHIP BOUND FOR THE
EASTERN ISLES. SINCE THE WAR, VERY FEW SHIPS TRAVEL THE INTERIOR WATERWAYS, AND IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO USE DILMUN'S MANY BRIDGES.
89) YOU RESTRAIN THE HUNCHBACK AND PREVENT HIM FROM HURLING THE PRISONER INTO
THE PIT. TEARS FLOW FROM THE HUNCHBACK'S ALREADY SWOLLEN EYES. "BUTH
GETHRUDE MUST EAT!"HE MUMBLES. THE DRAGON'S THRASHING INTENSIFIES, AND THE GREAT BEAST BEGINS BEATING ITS HEAD AGAINST THE SIDE OF ITS PIT, SETTING UP A GREAT RUMBLING THROUGH THE DUNGEON. "NOW THUH MANUE HATH HIT THUTH
WINDMILL!" THE HUNCHBACK HOWLS, TRYING TO FLEE DOWN THE NARROW CAUSEWAY TO
THE EDGE OF THE PIT. HE DOESN'T MAKE IT...WITH A GREAT BOOMING, THE DRAGON LURCHES FROM FROM HIS CHAINS. BUMPING AGAINST THE PLATFORM ON WHICH YOU
STAND. THE HUNCHBACK IS HURLED SCREAMING INTO THE MAW OF THE DRAGON...BUT
NOW THAT THAT BEAST IS FREE OF ITS CHAINS, NO MERE MORSEL CAN SATISFY IT!
YOU FLEE THE SCENE AS THE DRAGON SMASHED AT THE SUPPORTS OF THE DUNGEON,
AND IN SO DOING OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE ENTIRE CITY OF PHOEBUS. YOU FIND
A CRAZY PATH TO THE SURFACE UNCOVERED BY THE DRAGON'S RAGE. YOU FLEE THE
VICINITY OF THE CITY AND WATCH FROM A NEARBY HILL AS THE DRAGON CLAWS ITS
WAY TO THE SURFACE. BEFORE LONG, PHOEBUS IS A FLAMING RUIN AS THE DRAGON
TAKES ITS TERRIBLE TOLL. THE CITY IS DESTROYED, THE DRAGON SLOWLY RISES
INTO THE SKY, AND FLAPS OFF TO THE EAST.
90) THIS IS THE OFFICE OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE CAMPAIGN ARMY OF
KINGSHOME. GENERAL BUCK IRONHEAD REGARDS YOU FROM BEHING HIS DESK.
IRONHEAD IS A FRIGHTENING SIGHT. HIS ARMS ARE A MASS OF SCAR TISSUE
FROM A SEQUENCE OF WOUNDS TOO TEDIOUS TO LIST. HIS FACE SHOWS NO MIRTH.
HIS HANDS CONTINUALLY CLENCH AND UNCLENCH. HIS HEAD IS COMPLETELY FLAT-
YOU COULD BALANCEAN EGG ON IT.
"IT'S ABOUT TIME YA GOLDBRICKS SHOWED UP!" BUCK SNARLS. "WHAT DO YA THINK
THIS IS-A SOGGIN' COUNTRY CLUB?? AIN'T YA EVER HEARD OF REPORTING TO YER
COMMANDIN' OFFICER??" BUCK DOESN'T WAIT FOR A REPLY. "NOW, I KNOW YOU
CLOWNS ARE A PACK OF LIBERAL ADVENTURES. YOU DON'T LIKE NAMTAR, YOU DON'T
LIKE THE ARMY-KID'S TODAY!! UNGRATEFUL WHELPS! I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF
THAT. I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE."
BUCK COMES OUT FROM BEHIND HIS DESK AND HOBBLES AROUND HIS OFFICE AS HE
CONTINUES. "YOU'RE IN THE ARMY WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, SO YOU MIGHT
AS WELL DO THIS THE EASY WAY. YOU MAY THING YOU'VE GOT THIS THING LICKED, BUT I KNOW DAMN WELL YOU CAN'T TELL YOUR ELBOW FROM A DRAGON'S BLOWHOLE. YOU KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN AND SERVE WITH SOME DISTINCTION AT THE FRONT, AND
I'LL DO WHAT I CAN ABOUT GETTIN' YOU A FULL PARDON. NAMTAR'S A
MEGALOMANIAC, BUT HE'S ALSO A BUSINESSMAN, AND HE NEEDS CREEPS LIKE YOU!"
BUCK DISMISSES YOU. "THIS IS YER ONLY CHANCE. NAMTAR'S GONNA CONTROL
EVERYTHING SOONER OR LATER, SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL JOIN THE WINNING SIDE.
NAMTAR'S PROMISED A KINDER AND GENTLER OCEANA, BUT HE CAN'T GET ON WITH IT
UNTIL GUYS LIKE YOU TOE THE LINE.
"GET OUTTA HERE!!"
91) SOME BANDITS WERE EVIDENTLY HOLED UP HERE. THEIR CAMPFIRE IS STILL WARM. EVIDENTLY THEY WERE EATING A MEAL WHEN YOU SHOWED UP, AS HALF-FINISHED
BOWLS OF GRUEL STAND ALL AROUND THE FIRE.
THEY WEREN'T VERY GOOD BANDITS, OR MAYBE THEY HADN'T BEEN AT IT FOR LONG.
THERE ISN'T MUCH LOOT TO BE HAD IN THIS CAMP. MAYBE THEY WERE ADVENTURERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES, TURNED TO CRIME IN THESE HARD TIMES.
92) THE MAGNIFICENT STAG LAYS DEAD. AS YOU KNEEL BESIDE YOUR KILL, THE SHAFT
OF AN ARROW BURIES ITSELF TO THE FEATHERS IN THE SOD BETWEEN YOUR FEET.
YOU LOOK UP AND SEE AN OLD BUT VERY DANGEROUS-LOOKING MAN AIMING YET
ANOTHER ARROW AT YOU.
"THIS IS THE PRIVATE PRESERVE OF KING DRAKE," THE OLD MAN SAYS. "AN' YOU
HAVE BEEN POACHIN'." HE GLANCES OVER YOUR PARTY BEFORE CONTINUING. "THESE
BEIN' HARD TIMES, I IMAGINE YE GOTS TO EAT...BUT THAT WAS A PRIZED ANIMAL
YE JUST KILLED, AND I'VE GOTS TO DO ME JOB."
THE MAN KEEPS HIS BOW HALF-COCKED AND WATCHES YOU CLOSELY. HE SEEMS TO BE
WAITING FOR YOU TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE. MAYBE IT WOULD BE WORTH WINNING
HIS TRUST.
93) "BRAAAAAP!" NERGAL IS CRUDE. "THAT WAS DELICIOUS...I WILL HALLUCINATE LATER , AND IMAGINE IRKALLA WORKING FOR A LIVING." NERGAL SHIFTS HIS PONDEROUS
MASS ON HIS THRONE, LEANS FORWARD, AND LEERS. "AND NOW YOU WILL SERVE
NERGAL!"
WITH IMPOSSIBLE SPEED, NERGAL GRABS THE VOLUNTEER WITH BOTH SLIMY HANDS.
HIS JAW SEEMS TO DROP DOWN TO HIS BELT AS THE BLACK MAW OF HIS MOUTH IS
EXPOSED. HE QUICKLY SLIPS THE VOLUNTEER'S HEAD INTO HIS MOUTH, AND
CLENCHES HIS JAW WITH A SICKENING CRUNCH. THE VOLUNTEER'S BODY STIFFENS,
THEN GOES LIMP, COLLAPSING TO THE GROUND WITHOUT A HEAD.
ALL IS SILENT. NERGAL SMILES.
94) YOU RECALL LEARNING OF WATERS LIKE THIS DURING YOUR MYSTIC STUDIES. THE
POOL OF WATER AHEAD FITS THE DESRIPTION OF APSU WATERS...WATERS OF THE
WORLD OCEANA THAT UNDERLIES THE SURFACE OF OCEANA. APSU WATERS ARE
COTERMINOUS WITH THE WORLD OF OCEANA, THE MYSTICAL MAGAN UNDERWORLD, AND
DARK DIMENSIONS WHERE GODS ND DEVILS RESIDE.
95) THE SLAVE BOSS IS RELENTLESS. HE OFFERS YOU NOT A MOMENT'S REST, NOR A
DROP OF WATER, OR EVEN A SCRAP OF BREAD. ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT THE
TUNNEL BE COMPLETED. NO SINGLE MAN OR BEAST MAY STAND IN THE WAY OF THE
PROJECT. NIGHT AND DAY YOU ARE DRIVEN TO FINISH YOUR TASK, WITH THE SHARP
LASH OF THE WHIP ON YOUR BACK, AND THE LAUGHTER OF THE CRUEL SLAVE BOSS
RINGING IN YOUR EARS.
96) AN OLD MAN LEAPS TO HIS FEET AND LUNGES FOR HIS BOW WHEN YOU ENTER THE
SHACK. "GLORY BE-YE GOT PAST ME SNARE!!", HE EXCLAIMS. "THAT'S QUITE A FEAT , BUT IT STILL DON'T DO TO GO BARGIN' IN ON HONEST FOLKS WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A KNOCK!"
"ME NAME IS OLD JACK," HE CONTINUES. "I'M THE GAMEWARDEN HEREABOUTS." JACK KEEPS HIS BOW HALF-COCKED AND WATCHES YOU CLOSELY. HE SEEMS TO BE WAITING FOR YOU TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE. MAYBE IT WOULD BE WORTH WINNING HIS TRUST.
97) THE LONG LINE OF WHITE-ROBED PILGRIMS ENDS AT THIS ROCKY SHRINE. ONE BY
ONE THE PILGRIMS PASS BEFORE A HUGE AND POWERFUL IMAGE OF THE UNIVERSAL
GOD. THERE ARE NO GUARDS HERE. NONE ARE REQUIRED. THE GOD KEEPS ITS OWN ORDER BENEATH ITS OWN ROOF.
LOOKING UP INTO THE FACELESS FACE OF THE GOD, YOU FEEL THE HAND OF DESTINY
UPON YOU. NAMTAR HAS NOT YET ATTEMPTED TO SUPPLANT OCEANA'S PRIMARY
RELIGION...BUT CAN THAT DAY BE FAR AWAY? THE GODS RISK DISASTER WHEN THEY
COME TO THE WORLD IN PERSON-THEY MUST WORK THROUGH CHAMPIONS TO SEE THEIR
WILL IS DONE. THE UNIVERSAL GOD SEEMS TO NEED A CHAMPION, A LEGENDARY HERO TO SERVE THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM. ROBA OF FREEPORT WAS SUCH A HERO. WILL
YOU BE ANOTHER?
THE GOD REQUIRES A SIGN.
98) YOU CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN OF SALVATION FOR SEVERAL HOURS, BUT THE SUMMIT SEEMS TO DRAW NO CLOSER. SEVERAL PILGRIMS DROP FROM EXHAUSTION ALONG THE PATH... THE ROAD TO SALVATION IS NOT FOR THE WEAK OF THE HEART.
BUT A FRACTION OF THE WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN, THE PATH ABRUPTLY CUTS INTO THE
ROCK. A LEVEL PLAIN HAS BEEN CLEARED IN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THIS I EVIDENTLY THE PLACE TO WHICH THE PILIGRIMS TRAVEL. TURNING AROUND, YOU
LOOK OUT AT THE WORLD OF OCEANA FROM YOUR LOFTY PERCH ON THE WORLD'S
HIGHEST MOUNTAIN. TO ALARM, YOU SEE YOU HAVE LONG SINCE RISEN ABOVE EVEN
THE HIGHEST CLOUDS. THE SKY IS PURPLE AND STRANGE STARS TWINKLE-THE HUGH
BLOATED MASS OF THE SUN FULLY FILLS HALF THE SKY. TRULY, THIS PLACE IS
CLOSE TO GOD.
99) IN THIS STUFFY BEDROOM YOU FIND A JOURNAL. FROM IT YOU DETERMINE THE
MASTER OF THIS HOUSE WAS A MAN NAMED MOG, A RICH ARISTOCRAT WHO MADE HIS
FORTUNE IN THE MINING BUSINESS. BY ALL ACCOUNTS HE WAS CRUDE MAN-WEALTHY
BUT UNCULTURED-WHO FANCIED HIMSELF AN ARTIST. THE JOURNAL IS LARGELY
GIVEN OVER TO A REMARKABLY FRANK ACCOUNT OF MOG'S FAILURE AS AN ARTIST.
MOG ADMITS TO EXPERIMENTING WITH ALCHEMY IN THE PURSUIT OF HIS ART. AT ONE POINT HE CONFESSED USING A POTION TO TRANSFORM LIVING FLESH INTO STONE, BUT THE ARTISTIC RESULTS WERE NOT SATISFACTORY.
NEAR THE END OF THE JOURNAL MOG MENTIONS "ACQUIRED AN APPRENTICE" BY
SUPERNATURAL MEANS. IT SEEMS THIS APPRENTICE WAS ORGINALLY SUPPOSED TO
ASSIST MOG IN HIS ART. TOWARD THE END OF THE JOURNEY , MOG ADMITS THE
APPRENTICE HAS BEGUN PRODUCING INCREDIBLE WORKS OF ART WHICH MOG DISPLAYS
IN HIS GARDEN AND CALLS HIS OWN. MOG HINTS THAT THE APPRENTICE DEMANDS A
TERRIBLE PRICE FOR HIS ART, AND THAT HE FEARS HIM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE APPRENTICE MIGHT NOT BE HUMAN.
100) OFF THE BEATEN PATH YOU FIND THIS IS A TEMPLE TO THE MAGAN UNDERWORLD.
THIS SEEMS A CONSIDERABLY OLDER PLACE THAN THE OTHER STRUCTURES ON THIS
PLATEAU. THE UNDERWORLD WAS BEFORE THERE WAS A WAS, AND DOUBTLESS IT WILL
STILL THRIVE WHEN ALL OF OCEANA HAS LONG SINCE BURNED OFF INTO THE VOID.
101) YOU RECEIVE A NOT WITH YOUR FEEBLE MEAL FOR THE DAY:
'I AM BERENGARIA, ACOLYTE OF THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN.
MYSTALVISION HAS GONE MAD. HE PUNISHES ME AND THE OTHERS
FOR NO REASON. HE HAS BEEN CORUPTED BY NAMTAR.
'WE OF THE SUN SERVE JUSTICE, YOU MUST BELIEVE
THAT. MYSTALVISION HAS BROUGHT DISHONOR TO OUR
ORDER. THESE ARE DARK TIMES. YOU HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY
IMPRISONED.
'I HAVE UNLOCKED YOUR DOOR, AND MADE CERTAIN THE
JAILOR IS DRUNK. IF YOU ARE CAUTIOUS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SNEAK PAST HIM AND ESCAPE. THE JAILOR'S ROOM
ADJOINS THE CELL BLOCK. LOOK FOR THE SECRET DOOR IN
THE SOUTH WALL OF THE JAILOR'S ROOM-BEYOND IS A PASSAGE
THAT LEADS TO PEOPLE WHO WILL HELP YOU. I REGRET I
CANNOT GIVE YOU A WEAPON...JUST DOING THIS MUCH HAS
PLACED ME IN GREAT JEOPARDY.
'SHOULD YOU ESCAPE, MEET ME AT THE ICARIAN TRIUMPH
TAVERN IN THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE CITY. I'LL HAVE
SOMETHING FOR YOU.
"FOR JUSTICE AND THE SUN, I REMAIN YOUR FRIEND--
--BERENGARIA'
102) THIS IS THE JAILOR'S ROOM. THE FAT JAILOR SNORES IN A DRUNKEN SLUMBER.
HE'S SLUMPED OVER HIS TABLE, BUT THERE IS A ROPE TIED TO HIS HAND, AND A
BELL TIED TO HIS ROPE. SHOULD HE STIR, THE BELL WILL RING, POSSIBLY
SUMMONING GUARDS. THE JAILOR IS ASLEEP, AND DOUBTLESS VERY DRUNK, BUT
TURN-KEYS ARE NOTORIOUSLY LIGHT SLEEPERS.
103) THESE ARE THE PRIVATE CHAMBERS OF THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE. THE CURTIANS
ARE DRAWN ACROSS THE WINDOWS PERMITTING LITTLE LIGHT TO ENTER THE ROOM.
IN THE MURK, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS ROOM, LIKE THE OTHERS IN THE HOUSE, IS
STRANGELY DEVOID OF WALL HANGINGS...AND THAT NO MIRRORS ARE PRESENT.
THE MASTER IS IN, SITTING IN HIS FAVORITE CHAIR. HE WEARS THE GARB OF AN
ARTIST-SPECIFICALLY OF A SCULPTOR...AND HE WANTS YOU TO BE HIS NEXT
MASTERPIECE!
104) IN THE DARK SHADOWS IN THE DUNGEON YOU FIND A PIT, AT THE BOTTOM OF WHICH
IS A FROTHING DRAGON. THE BEAST IS CONSTRAINED BY A SERIES OF CHAINS, BUT
IT SEEMS TO YOU THE SAURIAN COULD HARDLY BE BOUND BY SUCH PUNY RESTRAINTS.
SUSPENDED ABOVE THE CENTER OF THE PIT IS A WOODEN PLATFORM, ON WHICH A
DEMENTED HUNCHBACK STRUGGLES WITH A BOUND PRISONER. THE HUNCHBACK IS
ABOUT TO PUSH THE PRISONER INTO THE PIT, EVIDENTLY INTENDING HIM AS A
SACRIFICE TO THE DRAGON. THE PRISONER STRUGGLES AS BEST HE IS ABLE, BUT
HIS HANDS ARE TIED BEHIND HIS BACK, AND HE IS WEAKENED FROM LONG CAPTIVITY. THE DRAGON THRASHES BACK AND FORTH, IMPATIENT TO RECIEVE ITS MEAL.
105) THERE ARE EVIDENT SIGNS THIS CHAMBER WAS FORMERLY THE LAIR OF A BEAST
OR LARGE ANIMAL. A PILE OF STRAW IN THE CORNER INDICATES WHERE A LARGE
CREATURE COULD HAVE SLEPT. THE WALLS SCRAPED WITH CLAW MARKS, AND THE ROOM IS PERVADED BY AN UNPLEASENT ODOR. THE ROOM MAKES YOU FEEL INSTINCTIVELY
UNEASY.
106) THIS TORTURE CHAMBER IS A VISION OF MISERY. THE WALLS ARE LINED WITH
CHAINS FOR SECURING PRISONERS IN PLACE; THE CENTER OF THE ROOM IS OCCUPIED BY RACKS, IRON MAIDENS, A FIRE PIT, AND OTHER HORRIBLE INSTRUMENTS. IN THE CORNER IS A HOLE INTO WHICH ARE HURLED THE GRISLY REMAINS OF STUBBORN
HERETICS.
A DYING DRUID IS STRETCHED ON THE RACK. YOU HAVE RESCUED HIM FROM HIS
TORTURE...AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS EVIDENT HE WILL SOON DIE. THERE IS
NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO SAVE HIS LIFE, BUT PERHAPS YOU CAN EASE HIS FINAL
MOMENTS?
107) THIS TOWER CHAMBER IS IN VERY ILL REPAIR. THE SUPPORTS ARE SINKING, AND
HALF THE FLOOR IS FLOODED WITH INKY BLACK WATER. THE CONTENTS OF
INUMMERABLE VIALS AND POTIONS ARE EMPTIED ON THE FLOOR ALONGSIDE THE
SMASHED VIALS THAT FORMERLY CONTAINED THEM. WHAT WAS ONCE A GREAT
MAGICAL LIBRARY HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE.
AMID A PILE OF DEBRIS YOU FIND THE FRAGMENTS OF A JOURNAL. MUCH OF
IT IS IN SOME MAGIC LANGUAGE YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND, BUT A SMALL
PART IS LEGIBLE. THE JOURNAL IS DATED PRIOR TO THE DESTRUCTION OF
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CITY OF THE YELLOW MUD TOAD. YOU SURMISE THE
JOURNAL WAS MAINTAINED BY LANAC'TOOR.
'THE CHICKEN REMAINS ANIMATE, NOT THAT IT MATTERS ANY LONGER. THAT
PINHEAD MYSTALVISION HAS CHANGED THE RULES AGAIN. WHERE WILL I FIND A
VOLE IN THIS WEATHER?...HAVE RESUMED EXPANSION OF MY TOWER'S BASEMENT,
USING SOFTEN STONE AND CREATE WALL SPEELS TO CLEAR ROCK, BUT THIS WHOLE
DAMN BUILDING IS SINKING. I KEEP RUNNING INTO POCKETS OF WATER. FURTHER-
MORE, I UNCOVERED AN ENTRANCE TO MAGAN, AND ALL MANNER OF BERSERK
UNDERWORLD DENIZENS ARE RUNNING AMOK IN MY TUNNELS...THE HELL OF IT IS THAT I'VE LOST MY SPECTACLES THAT UTNAPISHTIM THE FARAWAY GAVE ME. I'LL NEVER
SEE THE ENTRANCE TO THE COLLEGE OF MAGIC WITHOUT THEM. THEY'RE BURIED
SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCK. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN LOCATE THEN AT THIS LATE DATE , WITH NAMTAR'S THUGS LOOSE AND MY NAME ON THE HIT LIST. I SHOULD PREPARE THE CITY FOR DEFENSE, BUT I HAVN'T DONE MY LAUNDRY IN WEEKS, AND IT'S
