1) IN THIS DARK CHAMBER ARE WAREHOUSED SEVERAL SCULPTURES OF DECIDEDLY INFERIOR QUALITY. MOSTLY THEY ARE CRUDE ATTEMPTS AT BUSTS, OR FULL-FIGURED NUDES OF DECIDEDLY PORNOGRAPHIC INTENT. WHOEVER PRODUCED THESE DISASTERS, IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE SAME ARTIST THAT CREATED THE REST OF THE ARTWORX YOU'VE SEEN ON THE ESTATE.
2) RENEWED BY THE FRUIT OF YOUR SACRIFICE, THE VAMPIRE LORD EMERGES FROM THE TOMB. "YOU HAVE AWAKENED ME, AND FOR THIS I AM IN YOUR DEPT,"HE LISPS. " DO NOT PRESUME TO COMAND ME, HOWEVER. YOU HAVE NOT OBTAINED THE SILVER
WHEEL, AND UNTIL YOU DO, MY SOUL IS MY OWN!"
THE LORD OF THE UNDEAD VANISHES, LEAVING BEHIND ONLY AN OILY CLOUD OF
SMOKE, AND THE BUCKET OF DEEP-FRIED JUMBO SHRIMP. BACK TO THE DRAWING
BOARD.
3) THIS IS A SHRINE TO THE DARK LADY IRKALLA, QUEEN OF MAGAN, THE UNDERWORLD
OF OCEANA. OF ALL THE STRUCTURES IN THIS AREA, THIS IS THE BEST PRESERVED.
SIMPLE OFFERINGS OF ROCKS AND WEEDS LAY BEFORE IRKALLA, INDICATING SOME
RESIDENTS OF THIS WORLD WORSHIP THE DARK QUEEN.
IRKALLA'S IMAGE IS BLASTED FROM BRONZE. SHE SEEMS SERENE AND CONFIDENT, WIT
A TERRIBLE SORT OF BEAUTY LURKING IN HER FIERCE COUNTENANCE. THE BLACK
PITS OF HER EYES STARE AT YOU WITH OUT EMOTION. HERE IS A DEITY TO BE
FEARED - PERHAPS ALSO TO BE LOVED.
4) YOU STAND BEFORE THE GATE TO PURGATORY'S GREAT PUBLIC ARENA. BLOODTHIRSTY
RESIDENTS OF THE DILMUN INTERIOR COME HERE TO ENJOY THE SPECTACLE OF
OUTLANDER SCUM SUCH AS YOURSELVES FIGHTING TO THE DEATH ON THE FLOOR OF
THE ARENA.
A GUARD SWAGGERS UP TO YOU. HE IS CLAD IN THE TRAPPINGS OF AUTHORITY - FINE
ARMOR, A WEATHER-BEATEN HARNESS, WELL OILED WEAPONS. "OY THERE, YOU FILTHY STREET SCUM,"THE GUARD GROWLS. "YOU LOOK FIT ENOUGH TO HOLD A WEAPON. WHY
NOT HAUL YOUR BUTT INTO THE ARENA AND MAKE YOURSELF USEFUL?" WHY FIGHT FOR
ANOTHER MAN'S PLEASURE WHEN LIFE IN PURGATORY IS A DAILY STRUGGLE FOR
SURVIVAL? YOU'RE ABOUT TO TURN AWAY WHEN THE GUARD LAYS A HEAVY HAND ON
YOUR SHOULDER AND ADDS, "YOU'LL GET YOUR CHOICE OF ARMS... AND IF YOU
DEFEAT YOUR FOE, WHICH I DOUBT, YOU MIGHT WIN PAPERS OF CITIZENSHIP.
NAMTAR HELP ME - HEATHEN DOGS LIKE YOU LIVING IN DILMUN! I DON'T LIKE IT,
BUT THE LAW IS THE LAW."
5) WITH DISTANCE YOU DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE FOUL ODOR. BEFORE YOU IS A LOW
STRUCTURE, NOT SO MUCH A BUILDING AS AN ODD SERIES OF STONE SLABS LEANING
AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. SOME ANCIENT STONEMASON IDENIFIED THIS PLACED WITH A
LEGEND CARVED INTO THE ROCK:"MORGUE". A MORE RECENT HAND HAS ADDED ITS OWN
OPINION:"THE WAY OUT, CHUMPS!".
THE STENCH OF THE DEAD IS OVERPOWERING, BUT SENSING THERE'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS PLACE, YOU HANG AROUND ON THE FRINGES AND OBSERVE
THE ROUTINE. SALLOW WORK GANGS OF MALNOURISHED SLAVES, THEMSELVES MORE
DEAD THAN ALIVE, SLOWLY CARRY CORPSES FROM THE BUILDING AND STACK THEM IN
SLOPPY PILES. YOU DIMLY WONDER WHAT CRIME OR HERESY LANDED THESE POOR
SOULS A JOB AS SLAVES IN A CITY OF CRIMINALS.
FROM TIME TO TIME ADDITIONAL CORPSES ARE BROUGHT HERE BY THE MORE TIDY
CITIZENS OF PURGATORY. THESE ARE DEPOSITED IN THE HOUSE OR STACKED IN THE
PILES WITHOUT SEEMING PURPOSE. AFTER A TIME, SEVERAL OF THE SLAVES BUNDLE ONE OR MORE CORPSES INTO A CRUDE CANVAS SACK AND HURL THE BUNDLE OVER THE
WALL. DISTANTLY, YOU THINK YOU HEAR A SPLASH. YOU JUDGE YOU'RE NEAR THE
HARBOR WALL - ARE THE DEAD OF PURGATORY HURLED INTO THE WATERS OF THE
CITY'S HARBOR?
IT OCCURS TO YOU A LIVING MAN COULD LAY WITH THE DEAD, AND JOURNEY WITH
THEM IN A SACK OVER THE WALL AND TO FREEDOM IN THE HARBOR BEYOND. HOW FAR
DO THE SACKS OF CORPSES FALL? ARE THEY REALLY TOSSED IN THE HARBOR, OR DO
THEY TUMBLE INTO A WELL? COULD YOU ESCAPE FROM A BAG OF CADAVERS BEFORE
IT SANK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, MAYBE FOREVER MIRED IN MUCK AND WEEDS?
PERHAPS THE OVERPOWERING SMELL OF THIS PLACE IS STARTING TO GET TO YOU.
OR PERHAPS THIS YOUR TICKET OUT.
6) HERE YOU FIND A SIMPLE WILDERNESS SHRINE, TENDED BY A LONELY DRUID. HE
WELCOMES YOU TO HIS TEMPLE, SAYING THE PLACE OF WORSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL.
THE SHRINE IS EARTHY AND NATURAL. THE WALLS SEEM ROOTED IN THE DEPTHS OF
THE EARTH, THE ROCK SEEMS ALIVE WITH ANIMAL SPIRIT, THE VERY AIR IS CRISP
AND SWEET. YOU SEE THAT THE PATRON DIETY OF THIS SHRINE IS THE MAN-ANIMAL
ENKIDU."HE IS THE GOD OF BEAST-MEN AND MAN-BEASTS," THE DRUID EXPLAINS.
"HE RESPECTS ONLY THE STRONG AND PURE,TO WHOM HE WILL GRANT A POWERFUL
BOON. BEFORE NAMTAR'S PURGE, THE GOD WAS IN RESIDENCE IN THIS FOREST,WHERE
HE PRESIDED OVER A VAST DRUID COLONY. NOW ENKIDU IS GONE, THE BROTHERHOOD
IS BROKEN, AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR MAGIC IS LOST."
7) YOU SECURE YOURSELF IN A BAG FULL OF ONLY SLIGHTLY STINKING CORPSES AND
WAIT PATIENTLY. SOMEONE SEWS THE BAG UP AS YOU LIE MOTIONLESS. AFTER SOME
MOMENTS, YOU HEAR A THROATY VOICE CALL,"OY,YEW! RUN YER SWORD THROO THEM
THEM BOGGS, THAR! YOU 'MEMBAR WOT HOPP'ND LAST WEEK! WE DON'T WONT ANY
MAR ESCAYPS NOW, DO WE?" YOU ARE BOUND AND HELPLESS!
8) A GREAT CRY OF JOY GOES UP AS YOU DEBASE YOURSELF. IN A CITY OF CRIMINALS,
WHAT SHAME IS THERE IN GOING NATIVE? JUST TO MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME, THE
BEGGARS BEAT YOU STEADILY FOR A WEEK. PROPERLY INITIATED INTO THE WORLD OF
MENDACITY, YOU EVENTUALLY ARE SET FREE TO WANDER THE STREETS OF PURGATORY,
BETTER UNDERSTANDING IF NOT ENTIRELY FOND OF THE CITY'S LOWEST CLASS OF
CITIZENS.
9) A STATUE OF NAMTAR, THE BEAST FROM THE PIT, DOMINATES THIS DIRTY CITY
SQUARE. YOU CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE STATUE, TRYING TO MEMORIZE THE FEATURES
OF THE VILLIAN WHO EXILED YOU TO PURGATORY. YOU STRUGGLE IN VAIN. THE
CITIZENS OF PURGATORY, THEMSELVES NO LESS FOND OF NAMTAR, HAVE TAKEN IT
OUT ON HIS IMAGE-THE NOSE IS BROKEN, LIMBS ARE CHIPPED, AND THE MOUTH IS
DEFORMED BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION.
AS YOU WATCH, A WILD BEGGAR SPITS ON THE STATUE. "FILTHY FACE OF STONE!,"
SHE MUMBLES. "LAYED DOWN WITH LIZARDS HE DID, THAT STONE FACE LIES AS MUCH
AS HE!" THE POOR MAD CREATURE WANDERS OFF, STILL SPITTING AND MUMBLING,
LEADING YOU TO WONDER IF A SIMILAR FATE AWAITES YOU IN THE MONTHS TO COME.
10) THIS BACK-ALLEY BUILDING IS IN REMARKABLY GOOD REPAIR. CURIOUS, YOU ENTER,
AND RECOGNIZE THE INTERIOR OF A MODESTLY APPOINTED MAGIC SHOP. A WIZENED
GNOME OF A MAN SPRINGS FROM BEHIND THE COUNTER AND SCURRIES UP TO YOU. "
MERCY,MERCY ME...CUSTOMERS! BLESS ME, CUSTOMERS AT LAST!"
THE OLD MAN IS INSANE BUT FRIENDLY. HE EXPLAINS ALL HIGH MAGIC HAS BEEN
OUTLAWED BY ORDER OF NAMTAR, BUT INSTRUCTION IN THE LOW ARTS IS STILL
PERMITTED IN ISOLATED REGIONS. HE IS EAGER TO TEACH YOU WHAT HE KNOWS,
AND WILL IN FACT REFUSE A FEE, PREFERRING TO TEACH FOR THE SIMPLE JOY OF
IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE OLD MAN KNOWS LITTLE USEFUL MAGIC.
11) TRY AS YOU MIGHT, YOU JUST CAN'T GET YOUR NOSE TO REMAIN ON YOUR FACE.
THAT NAMTAR SURE HAS AN ODD SENSE OF HUMOR.
12) JUST AHEAD YOU SEE A BRIDGE. THE BRIDGE IS COVERED AND ARMORED DOORS BAR
THE WAY ACROSS. THE BRIDGE APPEARS TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO CROSS THE WATER
AND REACH THE LAND BEYOND. A PACK OF GUARDS LOUNGE BEFORE THE ENTRANCE TO
THE BRIDGE. AS YOU APPEAR THEY SNAP TO ATTENTION. THE GUARD WITH A NARROW
FOREHEAD AND SMALL EYES APPROACHED YOU.
13) YOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE. ALTHOUGH THE BRIDGE IS COVERED, YOU CAN
HEAR WATER RUSHING BENEATH YOU. IT IS ASTONISHINGLY LOUD.
THE BRIDGE IS LONGER THAN IT APPEARED FROM THE OUTSIDE. YOU RECOGNIZE NOW
THAT EVEN A GOOD SWIMMER WOULD FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SWIM FROM ONE ISLAND
TO THE NEXT. THIS BRIDGE IS THE ONLY WAY ACROSS.
14) YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF CITY LORE SERVES YOU WELL. THIS PLACE ISN'T SO MUCH A
CITY AS A PRISON. THE STREETS ARE UNPAVED AND EVIDENTALY DOUBLE AS AN OPEN
-AIR SEWER SYSTEM. MANY OF THE CITIE'S STRUCTURES ARE BUILDINGS ONLY IN THE LOOSEST SENSE OF THE WORD-SEVERAL HAVE HOLES IN THE ROOF(OR NO ROOF AT ALL) , OTHERS HAVE BEEN GUTTED BY FIRE. EVERYTHING IS DAMP, SHOWING THIS CITY IS LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER ON OCEANA...THE RISING SEA LEVEL IS ERODING THE LAND UPON WHICH THE CITY IS LOCATED, AND II IS SLOWLY SINKING.
DOUBTLESS THOSE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BASEMENTS WILL BE AT LEAST HIP-DEEP IN
WATER. GRAFFITY IN SCRAWLED ON WALLS EVERYWHERE, GENERALLY CURSES DIRECTED
AT NAMTAR AND CRADE PORNOGRAPHIC RENDERINGS OF ALL THE SPECIES OF OCEANA.
IN ALL, PURGATORY IS AN UGLY PLACE YOU WOULD DO WELL TO LEAVE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
15) THE GUARDS RETIRE A FEW STEPS AND CONVERSE IN LOW TONES WHEN YOU SHOW THEM
THE RING. ONE OF THEM APPROACHES NERVOUSLY. "WE'RE KING'S MEN, YOU KNOW.
WE DON'T WANT ANY TROUBLE." HE SHUFFLES HIS FEET AND WON'T LOOK YOU IN THE
EYE. "WE JUST WENT ALONG WITH...WITH EVERY ONE ELSE. YOU HAVE SEEN THE
KING?" HE FROWNS WHEN YOU ANSWER. "THAT RING MEANS YOU'RE ON KING'S
BUSINESS, SO YOU CAN PASS...BUT IF ANY ONE ASKS, WE NEVER SAW YOU.
UNDERSTAND?"
YOU PASS INTO THE CITY. THE GUARDS STILL WON'T LOOK YOU IN THE EYE.
16) BEFORE YOU IS A TUMBLE-DOWN COLLECTION OF HUTS. A GROUP OF ILL-CLAD
UNFORTUNATES ARE GATHERED AROUND A FIRE. THEY SEE YOU APPROACH AND RUSH TO
YOUR SIDE. "WE SAW YOU SWIM ACROSS THE BAY", SAYS A TOOTHLESS MAN WHO
SEEMS TO LEAD THE GROUP. "ANY ENEMY OF PURGATORY IS A FRIEND OF OURS.
C'MON IN AND SIT BY THE FIRE."
17) THIS IS THE TEMPLE OF THE YELLOW MUD TOAD, DEDICATED TO THE PATRON BEAST
OF THIS CITY. THE TEMPLE IS A RUN DOWN AND DEPRESSING AS THE REST OF THE
CITY. THE CENTER OF THE TEMPLE IS DOMINATED BY A HUGH STATUE OF THE YELLOW
MUD TOAD, SUNK FULLY A THIRD OF ITS HEIGHT INTO THE MUDDY FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING. "EVERYTHING SINKS THESE DAYS,"A PREIST OF THE TEMPLE COMPLAINS.
"THIS WHOLE CITY MUST BE BUILT ON A LAKE. WE'LL ALL SINK AWAY TO NOTHING
IF THIS KEEPS UP!"
18) THE CAMP IS DESERTED. APPARENTLY EVERYONE WHO LIVED HERE WAS SLAIN IN
YOUR RECENT BATTLE. YOU NOTICE SIGNS OF HABITATION, BUT WHOEVER LIVED HERE
WAS DIRT POOR. IT'S UNLIKELY YOU'LL FIND ANYTHING OF WORTH IN THIS CAMP.
GLANCING BACK AT THE PILE OF BODIES IN YOUR WAKE, AND THEN AT THE BUCOLIC
SCENE OF THE CAMP, YOU SENSE THERE WAS PROBABLY A BETTER WAY OF HANDLING
THIS SITUATION. THE MAN WHO CONFRONTED YOU SEEMED ALOT LIKE YOURSELF.
MAYBE HE MISTOOK YOU FOR AUTHORITY FROM PURGATORY, AND ONLY SOUGHT TO
DEFEND HIMSELF. THIS WAS PROBABLY A TIME FOR WORDS, RATHER THAN SWORDS.
19) AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE SICK MAN'S FEVER BREAKS. HE PROPS HIMSELF UP ON
ONE ELBOW AND SMILES. "I WAS DREAMING,"HE SAYS IN A WEAK VOICE. "I IMAGINED I FLOATED ON A VAST BLACK POOL FAR BENEATH THE EARTH. I THINK IT WAS THE
UNDERWORLD. I SAW A GODDESS BOUND IN CHAINS. SHE WAS STRANDED ON AN ISLAND
GUARDED BY MONSTERS." HE LAUGHS. "I GUESS I HAD A FEVER."
THE MAN TRIES TO STAND UP BUT FINDS HE'S STILL WEAK. YOU HELP HIM SIT UP.
"MY NAME IS ULM,"HE SAYS. "I GUESS I HAVE YOU TO THANK FOR BREAKING MY
FEVER. THE GUARDS AT THE BRIDGE BEAT ME UP, AND I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO BOUNCW BACK." INTRIGUED, YOU ENCOURAGE ULM TO CONTINUE. "I ESCAPE FROM PURGATORY
THROUGH A SECRET DOOR IN THE WALL. I TRIED TO CROSS THE BRIDGE NORTH OF
THE CITY,BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT PAPERS,AND THE GUARDS BEAT ME. I'VE
BEEN COUGHING BLOOD EVER SINCE."
ULM'S EYELIDS BEGIN TO DROOP, AND IN MINUTES HE'S ASLEEP AGAIN. A MOMENT
LATER HIS BODY STIFFENS, AND ULM DIES. AT LEAST HIS FINAL MOMENTS WERE
PLEASENT ONES.
20) IN THE CENTER OF THE RUINED TOWER THAT OCCUPIES THE HEART OF THIS CITY, YOU FIND A DAIS AND WHAT'S LEFT OF A STATUE. THE DAIS STANDS ABOUT FOUR FEET
HIGH,AND,FROM THE LOOKS OF THINGS,APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PLACED HERE SINCE
THE TOWER WAS DESTROYED. A PLAQUE ON THE DAIS READS,'THIS PLAQUE MARKS THE
ORIGINAL LOCATION OF LANAC'TOOR'S TOWER AND MAGIC ACADEMY. THIS STATUE
COMMEMORATES HIS FEATS." THERE USED TO BE A STATUE ATOP THE DAIS, BUT IT
HAS BEEN REMOVED,LEAVING ONLY LANAC'TOOR'S SWOLLEN FEET BEHIND. THE STATUE
APPEARS TO HAVE BROKEN OFF CLEAN AT THE ANKLES.
21) YOU PICK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE RUINS AND COME UPON A SPY POST MAINTAINED BY
THE DEFENDERS OF BYZANOPLE. SEVERAL SOLDIERS ARE GATHERED HERE. THEY ARE
GAUNT FROM MONTHS OF ISOLATION-YOU SURMISE THAT IF THE CITY DOES NOT FALL
BY ASSAULT,IT WILL SOON SUCCUMB FROM HUNGER. THE SOLDIERS ARE LED BY A
WOMAN WARRIOR DRESSED IN WHITE AND RED. AS YET,YOU REMAIN UNOBSEVED.
THIS SHACK HAS BEEN SET UP AS A UNIVERSAL SHRINE FOR DILMUN'S MANY
RELIGIONS. A PRIEST WELCOMES YOU AND ESCORTS YOU AROUND THE SHRINE. THE
MAJORITY OF THE SHRINE IS DEVOTED TO IRKALLA, THE QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD,
AND HER CONSORT NERGAL. THE PREIST EXPLAINS WORSHIP OF UNDERWORLD GODS
ALLWAYS SPREADS DURING TIMES OF STRIFE,PERHAPS BECAUSE PEOPLE COME TO VIEW
THEIR OWN WORLD AS AN EXTENSION OF HELL. ALSO REPRESENTED IS A MAN-ANIMAL
ENKIDU,PATRON OF THE DRUIDS,AND THE OBSCENE REFEEK,GOD OF THINGS BETTER
LEFT UNSAID.
THE PRIEST LETS YOU WORSHIP OR OBSERVE AS YOU SEE FIT,NEITHER CONDEMNING
NOR ENCOURAGING YOUR ACTIONS. "THESE ARE HARD TIMES,"HE SAYS,"YOU HAD
BETTER PRAY TO THEM ALL. WE CAN USE ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET."
23) YOU INTENTLY SCRUTINIZE THE MURALS FOR SEVERAL MINUITES, AND ARE ABLE TO
ARRIVE AT A FEW BROAD CONCLUSIONS. IT SEEMS THIS CITY SQUARE WAS USED TO
CONFINE A DRAGON. YOU REMEMBER A LEGEND OF THE CITIES OF DILMUN HOLDING
DRAGONS CAPTIVE AS DEFENSE AGAINST THEIR NEIGHBORS. THE MURALS DEPICT
BLOOD SACRIFICE AND OBTUSE CEREMONY BEING USED TO PACIFY THE DRAGON. IN
ONE OF THE CEREMONIES, A PRIEST IS DEPICTED AIMING A SHORT METAL ROD AT A
DRAGON, SEEMINGLY HOLDING THE BEAST UNDER HIS SWAY. THERE IS NO RENDERING
OF THE DRAGON IN ACTION. IT SEEMS THE DRAGON DEMANDED A TERRIBLE PRICE FOR
A PURELY DEFENSIVE WEAPON. FURTHERMORE, THE RUINS SURROUNDING THIS SQUARE
OFFER MUTE TESTIMONY TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A DRAGON FOR CITY DEFENSE.
24) YOU BOARD THE SHIP AS SOON AS THE LAST OF THE PIRATES DROP DEAD, EAGER TO
TO SEE WHAT IT WAS THE THIEVES WERE SO DETERMINED TO DEFEND. YOU SEE THE
SHIP'S NAME IS THE PRAIRIE MADNESS, AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE FITTED OUT
FOR FAST RAIDING MISSIONS. THERE ISN'T MUCH OF A CARGO HOLD, SO THE SHIP
WON'T SERVE FOR LONG JOURNEYS, BUT IT LOOKS VERY FAST AND DANGEROUS.
25) "WELCOME TO PHOEBUS, CITY OF THE SUN!" CHIRPS AN ODD MECHANICAL VOICE. YOU
STOP IN YOUR TRACKS, TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE VOICE. AFTER A
FEW MOMENTS, YOU HEAR THE MESSAGE AGAIN, AND DETERMINE IT IS COMING FROM
A RAISED STONE DAIS AND PLAQUE DIRECTLY IN YOUR PATH. EVIDENTLY THE
MESSAGE IS ACTIVATED BY YOUR PRESENCE. "WELCOME TO PHOEBUS, CITY OF THE
SUN!" THE VOICE SAYS AGAIN, THIS TIME A LITTLE SLOWER THAN BEFORE. YOU
EXAMINE THE PLAQUE AND SEE IT IS A MAP OF THE CITY. "WELLLCOOOOME TOOO
PHOEEEEEBUSSSS, CIIIITYYY OFFFF THEEEEE SUNNNNNNNN..." THE VOICE INTONES,
NOW PERILOUSLY SLOW. SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE DEVICE. A MECHANICAL HAND
PROTRUDES FROM THE DAIS, FRANTICALLY TRYING TO SHAKE YOUR HAND, BUT
THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GETTING NEAR IT. TWO STERN LOOKING GENTLEMEN DRESSED ALL IN BLACK STARE AT YOU, MAKING YOU NERVOUS. COMMITTING THE DETAILS OF
THE MAP TO MEMORY, YOU HURRY AWAY FROM THE SILLY DEVICE.
"WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLCOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMEEEEEE...!"
26) THE WALLS OF THIS CITY ARE OF BRIGHT MARBLE THAT SEEM TO GLOW WITH AN INNER LIGHT. THE STREETS ARE PAVED AND CLEAN, AND THERE IS NO SIGN OF POVERTY OR
DISORDER. THE HORSE CARTS RUN ON TIME. YOU CAN'T SHAKE THE FEELING
SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO GO TRAGICALLY WRONG.
27) YOU AT LAST STAND BEFORE BEFORE THE SWORD OF FREEDOM. THE HILT OF THE
FABLED BLADE IS JUST INCHES FROM YOUR GRASP. A HUSH COMES OVER THE CITY OF
FREEPORT. THE FURIOUSLY BOILING WATERS PREVIOUSLY SURROUNDING THIS ISLE
HAVE SUBSIDED. YOU LOOK UP AND SEE THE CITIZENS OF FREEPORT HAVE GATHERED
ALL AROUND THE HARBOR, WAITING TO SEE WHAT YOU WILL DO NEXT. SOME OF THE
CITIZENS APPEAR HAPPY, OTHERS ARE PROUD, MANY JUST WEAR BLANK STARES. ONE
LARGE MAN STANDS SILENT, BUT TEARS ROLL DOWN HIS CHEEKS.
YOU SMELL A FAINT SCENT OF OZONE. SOMEWHERE, A BABY CRIES.
28) TWO OFFICERS OCCUPY THIS BUILDING, EVIDENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MILITARY
FORCE DRILLING ON THE PARADE GROUNDS OUTSIDE. THE OFFICERS QUICKLY SHUFFLE
ASIDE THE DICE GAME THEY WERE PLAYING WHEN YOU ENTERED, AND SNAP TO
ATTENTION. THEY RELAX WHEN THEY SEE WHO YOU ARE, AND YOU SENSE A CHANGE
IN THEIR ATTITUDE.
THE ELDER OF THE TWO OFFICERS GIVES YOU A CLOSE INSPECTION. "SUCH A FINE
LOT OF PATRIOTIC TYPES,"HE SAYS. "IT'S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE FROM THIS FEEBLE
LITTLE BURG ENLISTED IN THE ARMY! WELCOME TO THE SERVICE OF KING DRAKE.
HAIL NAMTAR!"
29) PERIOUSLY WEAKENED FROM YOUR LONG JOURNEY THROUGH THE SWAMP, YOU AT LAST
ENTER THE CITY OF THE YELLOW MUD TOAD. THE WALLS HERE ARE SAGGING AND BROWN WITH GRIME. THE CITY SMELLS ALMOST AS BAD AS THE SWAMP THAT SURROUNDS IT.
STILL POOLS OF FOUL WATER AND PUDDLES OF BUBBLING MUD CLOG THE STREETS.
THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY SHUFFLE ABOUT THEIR TASKS, LETTING YOUR GREETINGS
GO UNHEEDED AND REFUSING TO LOOK YOU IN THE EYE.
30) SHELTERED AT THE BASE OF THE RUINED CITY WALL YOU FIND A FUNKY LITTLE
SOUVENIR SHOP. A SIGN IN THE WINDOW IDENTIFIES THE PLACE AS "YOUR LANAC'
TOOR MEMORABILIA SHOP!" INTRIGUED, YOU ENTER. AN UNSEEN BELL CHIMES AN
OFFENSIVELY SOUR NOTE AS YOU SWING OPEN THE DOOR T THE SHOP. INSIDE YOU
FIND A REMARKABLE SELECTION OF LANAC'TOOR SOUVENIRS. IMAGES OF THE MAD
SORCERER ARE INSCRIBED ON MUGS, BOWLS, PLATES, BOOKENDS, TROPHIES, BOXES,
CANDLES, AND LANTERNS. LANAC'TOOR GRINNING FACE OR FAMILY CREST IS
EMBROIDERED ON HATS, TIES, UNDERWEAR, CAPES, AND BELTS...A STORE CLERK
EVEN OFFERS TO PERSONALIZE ANY ITEM YOU SELECT, SEWING OR ENGRAVING YOUR
NAME ON YOUR PURCHASE. A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE SHOP IS GIVEN OVER TO
ITEMS UNRELATED TO LANAC'TOOR. MOST OF IT SEEMS LIKE JUNK-BITS OF MASONRY
FROM THE CITY WALL, TINY IMAGES OF THE YELLOW MUD TOAD, AND ODD SCRAPS OF
METAL. YOU ARE AMAZED BY THE SINGLE-MINDED DEVOTION THIS SHOP SHOWS TO AN
HISTORICAL FIGURE SO INSIGNIFICANT OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE CITY OF THE
YELLOW MUD TOAD.
31) ON THE FAR DISTANT HORIZON YOU SPOT THE MENACING SHAPE OF A BLACK SAIL. IT
SEEMS THESE SEA LANES ARE PATROLLED BY PIRATES AND OTHER SCURVY BEASTS. THE ENEMY SHIP IS DOWN-WIND FROM YOU-IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE YOU ARE CAUGHT!
32) HUDDLED IN THE SHELTER OF THE CITY'S ILL-REPAIRED WALL YOU FIND A MILITIA
OF WILD-EYED MEN. "IS THE WAR OVER?" ONE OF THEM ASKS. "DOES LANAC'TOOR
LIVE?" WONDERS ANOTHER.
YOU ARE ABLE TO PIECE TOGETHER SOMETHING OF THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE. THE
PATRON OF THE CITY OF THE YELLOW MUD TOAD WAS A WIZARD NAMED LANAC'TOOR.
HE OCCUPIED A TOWER THAT FORMERLY STOOD IN THE CENTER OF TOWN. LANAC'TOOR
QUARRELED WITH NAMTAR WHE A GENERAL BAN ON MAGIC WAS ANNOUNCED, AND WAR
BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE CITY OF THE YELLOW MUD TOAD AND NAMTAR'S CITY OF
KINGHOME. AS SOON AS THE WAR BEGAN IT WAS OVER. KINGHOME LEGIONS SUMMONED
A DRAGON FROM THE SWAMP TO SHATTER THE WALLS OF THE CITY OF THE YELLOW
MUD TOAD. LANAC'TOOR'S TOWER WAS DESTROYED AND THE WIZARD HIMSELF WAS
TURNED TO STONE.
AFTER LANAC'TOOR WAS KILLED, THE ENEMY ARMY WITHDREW, APPARENTLY
UNCONCERNED WITH THE FATE OF THE CITY OF THE YELLOW MUD TOAD. THE CITIZENS
OF THE CITY ARE CONVINCED THE WORST IS YET TO COME, AND THUS MAINTAIN
A FEEBLE CITY MILITIA AS DEFENSE. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THE CITY HAS ANYTHING
WORTH DEFENDING. THE MEN OF THE MILITIA MUTTER TO THEMSELVES AS YOU LEAVE.
33) AHEAD YOU SEE THE WALLED CITY OF BYZANOPLE. THE TATTERED BANNER OF
BYZANOPLE STILL FLIES ABOVE THE CITY'S UNBREACHED WALLS. THE APPROACHES TO
THE CITY ARE OCCUPIED BY THE ARMY OF KINGSHOME. THE BESIEGING ARMY IS
SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE, INDICATING IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE
BYZANOPLE WAS INVADED.
AS YOU APPROACH, SEVERAL HEAVILY ARMORED SOLDIERS LAUNCH AN ASSAULT ON THE
CITY. THEY SCRAMBLE OVER RUBBLE AND RUSH TO THE CITY'S GATE, WAVING THEIR
WEAPONS AND SHOUTING WAR CRIES. A HAIL OF ARROWS, STONES, AND BOILING OIL
DESCENDS UPON THE ATTACKERS WHEREVER THEY STRAY TOO NEAR THE WALL. THE
DEFENDERS MAKE SHORT WORK OF THE KINGSHOMER ASSAULT, AND FEWER THAN ONE IN
TEN OF THE SOLDIERS LAUNCHING THE ASSAULT MAKE IT BACK TO THEIR CAMP.
34) A ROUGH PILE OF RUBBLE MARKS THE PERIMETER OF THE KINGSHOME ADVANCE SIEGE
CAMP. THE CYCLOPEAN WALLS OF BYZANOPLE ARE JUST A FEW YARDS AWAY. A TWISTED PATH LEADS THROUGH THE RUBBLE TOWARD THE GATES OF THE CITY. THE PATH PASSES BENEATH THE WALLS OF THE CITY, FORMING A SAVAGE KILLING GROUND. THE PATH
IS LITTERED WITH BROKEN ARROW SHAFTS, DEBRIS, AND THE BODIES OF OTHERS
WHO HAVE TRIED TO TAKE THIS CITY BY STORM.
35) THIS MASSIVE CENTRAL STRUCTURE DOMINATES THE CITY OF LANSK. UNLIKE THE
WALLS THAT SURROUND THIS CITY, THIS STRUCTURE IS FORTIFIED AND PREPARED FOR WAR. ARMED LANSK GUARDS PATROL THE BATTLEMENTS, LOOKING STERN AND ILL-
HUMORED. WRITTEN WARNINGS IN A VARIETY OF LANGUAGES ADVISE PASSERS-BY TO
KEEP THEIR DISTANCE. AND NOT WITHOUT REASON, FOR WITHIN THE STRUCTURE,
VISIBLE THROUGH A THICK GLASS PANEL, YOU SEE A DRAGON. THE BEAST IS HUGE,
COMPLETELY FILLING THE FORTRESS THAT IS ITS HOME. IT MUST WEIGH AT LEAST
EIGHTY TONS. THE DRAGON IS ASLEEP, BUT NO LESS FEARSOME FOR ALL OF THAT.
A PLAQUE EXPLAINS THE DRAGON IS MAINTAINED BY THE CITY AS ITS PRIMARY
MEANS OF DEFENSE. SHOULD DISASTER EVER THREATEN THE CITY, YOU READ, THE
DRAGON WILL BE SET FREE, DESTROYING BOTH THE CITY AND THE ARMY THAT WOULD
CONQUER IT. THE DRAGON IS MAINTAINED BY EXPENSIVE BLOOD SACRIFICE-PRIMARILY BY HURLING CRIMINALS INTO THE DRAGONBUNKER.
THE DRAGON IS IMPRESSIVE, BUT YOU FEEL VAGUELY DISAPPOINTED. THIS ISN'T A
FEARSOME FLYING SAURIAN;IT'S AN OVERFED MONSTER SITTING IN A CAGE.
