DRAGON WAR PARAGRAPHS (67-80) {CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}
67) THIS IS AN OPEN-AIR SLAVE MARKET, FILLED WITH THE CRY OF FLESHMONGERS AND
THE LAUGHTER OF A PERFUMED CROWD. HERE MEN AND WOMAN ARE FOR SALE-PEOPLE
SUCH AS YOURSELVES-TO THE JADED RESIDENTS OF THE DILMUN INTERIOR.
FROM THE GATE OF THE SLAVE MARKET YOU WATCH AS SEVERAL YOUNG MEN ARE
AUCTIONED OFF. THEY SEEM LESS HEALTHY THAN YOURSELF-MAYBE THEY'VE BEEN IN
THE CITY LONGER THAN YOU. IT SEEMS A SAD WAY OUT OF THIS PLACE, TO MAKE
YOURSELF A SLAVE...BUT ISN'T ANYTHING BETTER THAN A LIFE OF MISERY AND SLOW
DEATH IN THE STREETS OF PURGATORY?
YOU SCAN THE CROWD, ANXIOUS TO MEASURE THE CHARACTER OF CITIZENS OF THE
DILMUN INTERIOR. THEIR FACES SEEM CRUEL AND ARISTOCRATIC, WITH A FAINT HINT
OF THE MORE-THAN-HUMAN. HERE AND THERE YOU SPOT A FACE THAT SEEMS KINDER
THAN MOST, BUT IF YOU WERE ON THE BLOCK, WHAT GUARANTEE WOULD YOU HAVE OF
RECIEVING A KIND MASTER? COULD YOU TRULY LIVE WITH YOURSELF AS A SLAVE?
THERE IS A LONG LINE OF LOST SOULS WAITING FOR THE AUCTION BLOCK. NOTHING
WILL STOP YOU SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THEM.
68) THE DOOR TO THIS HUT IS OPEN, AND FROM WITHIN YOU HEAR SOMEONE SINGING.
ENTERING THE HUT, YOU SEE A SIMPLE ROOM... A PILE OF STRAW SERVES AS A BED,
WHILE A CANDLE BURNS ON A LARGE ROCK THAT PASSES AS A TABLE. BEHIND THE ROCK YOU SEE A SAD MAN WHO SEEMS VERY OLD. HIS EYES ARE EMPTY SOCKETS AND BOTH
HIS HANDS HAVE BEEN AMPUTATED AT THE WRIST. YOU WONDER WHY A BLIND MAN BURNS CANDLES WHEN HE'S ALONE.
THE MAN STOPS SINGING AND SWINGS HIS HEAD IN YOUR DIRECTION WHEN YOU ENTER.
"YOU MUST BE THE OUTSIDERS EVERYONE'S SO EXCITED ABOUT,"HE SAYS WITH A FIRM
VOICE. "I CAN SMELL PURGATORY ON YOU. PLEASE COME IN. I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME
NEW FACES...PROVIDED I COULD SEE."
YOU LEARN THE MAN'S NAME IS CARSON. HE WAS A SORCERER AT THE TEMPLE OF THE
SUN, IN PHOEBUS. "THAT WAS BEFORE NAMTAR ROSE FROM THE PIT,"SAYS CARSON,
PAUSING TO SPIT. "DAMN UNDERWORLD TYPES SHOULD STAY IN THEIR OWN WORLD."
YOU TALK WITH CARSON WELL INTO THE EVENING, PUMPING HIM FOR INFORMATION.
YOU LEARN THAT NAMTAR IS EITHER A DEMON OR A MAN-CARSON SEEMS TO USE THE
TERMS INTERCHANGEABLY. ABOUT A YEAR AGO NAMTAR APPEARED AT THE COURT OF KING DRAKE IN KINGSHOME, AND WAS WELCOMED AS THE COURT MAGICIAN. WITHIN A YEAR,
KINGSHOME HAD MOBILIZED AND BEGAN MAKING WAR ON ITS NEIGHBORS. AT THE SAME
TIME, NAMTAR ANNOUNCED A GENERAL BAN ON MAGIC, USING HIS SECRET POLICE-THE
STROSSTRUPEN-TO ENFORCE THE BAN. A GREAT MAGICAL WAR ENSUED, WHICH NAMTAR
AND THE STROSSTRUPEN WON HANDILY.
"NOW SORCERY IS ALL BUT DEAD IN DILMUN," CARSON CONTINUES. "TAKE A LOOK AT
ME. TEN YEARS LEARNING SUN MAGIC AND IT LEADS TO THIS! ALL THE OLD MASTERS
ARE GONE...LANAC'TOOR WAS FINALLY DRIVEN OVER THE EDGE AND SHATTERED INTO A
SCORE OF PIECES;ZATON EXILED TO THE DEEP WILDERNESS;AND MYSTALVISION..."
CARSON IS SILENT FOR A LONG TIME, THEN SAYS, "I CAN'T PROVE IT, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT MYSTALVISION WAS WRAPPED UP WITH NAMTAR. HE'S THE HIGH PRIEST AT THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN. OUR ORDER FELL TO NAMTAR SO QUICKLY...WE MUST HAVE BEEN
BETRAYED. BEWARE OF MYSTALVISION!"
YOU TALK WITH CARSON LATE INTO THE NIGHT, BUT LEARN LITTLE ELSE OF VALUE. HE IS EITHER UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO TEACH YOU ANY MAGIC. HEEDING HIS ADVICE,
YOU TAKE YOUR LEAVE OF THE OLD MAN.
69) WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING, YOU CRAWL INTO AN OPEN SACK FILLED WITH DISGUSTINGLY FRESH CORPSES. YOU LAY STILL AS THE SACK IS CRUDELY SEWED SHUT. THE DARKNESS OF THE TOMB DESCENDS UPON YOU AS THE BAG IS CLOSED.
NONE TOO GENTLY, THE ENTIRE SACK IS HEAVED ONTO THE BACKS OF THE SLAVES.
DEAD ARMS EMBRACE YOU, LONG FINGERNAILS CLAW AT YOUR HAIR, ROTTING GRAVE
MOULD SEEMS TO PENETRATE YOUR BODY. THERE IS A LURCH AND A RASP AS THE BAG
CLEARS THE WALL, AND THEN YOU FALL.
YOUR FLESH CRAWLS WITH ANTICIPATION. WILL YOU MEETS YOUR END, SMASHED TO
DEATH WITH A HOST OF CORPSES ON SOME UNSEEN ROCKY SPIRE? OR WILL YOU SPLASH
INTO THE WARM WATERS OF OCEANA, AT LONG LAST FREE FROM THE STINKING HELL OF
PURGATORY?
YOU SPLASH. YOU SINK. YOU STRUGGLE. AT LAST YOU WIN FREE OF THE SACK, AND
THE DEAD HANDS THAT DRAG AT YOU SEEMINGLY RESENTFUL OF THE LIFE YOU DISPLAY. LUNGS BURSTING, YOU BREAK FROM THE WATER AT THE BASE OF THE HARBOR WALL, AND QUICKLY CLAMBER ABOARD SOME DEBRIS YOU FIND FLOATING CLOSE BY AND STRIKE OUT FOR SHORE.
70) MIGHTY OAKS INTERTWINE ABOVE YOUR HEAD TO FORM A LIVING GATEWAY TO THIS
ENCHANTED FOREST. A FRESH COAT OF SPARKING DEW LAYS OVER EVERYTHING, LENDING A FANTANSTIC QUALITY TO THE SCENE. THE GROUND IS COVERED WITH AN INVITING
BLANKET OF GREEN MOSS. FAERIE LIGHTS GLIMMER FROM WITHIN THE BOLES OF DARK
YET PLEASANT TREES. THIS IS A MAGICAL PLACE.
71) MUCH TO THE GARRISION'S DISMAY, THE GATES OF BYZANOPLE PROVE LITTLE OBSTACLE TO YOU. THE KINGHOMER ARMY STREAMS THROUGH THE OPEN GATE AND MAKES SHORT
WORK OF THE OUTNUMBERED CITY GARRISON. BYZANOPLE HAS FALLEN.
AFTER THE PUTTING THE GARRISON TO THE SWORD, THE VICTORIOUS KINGSHOMER
SOLDIERS GLEEFULLY GET DOWN TO SOME SERIOUS PILLAGING. BUCK IRONHEAD, THE
COMMANDER OF THE KINGSHOMER SEIGE CAMP, APPEARS FROM THE CHAOS. "I'VE GOT
TO HAND IT TO YOU,"HE SAYS,"YOU REALLY DID A JOB ON THESE BYZANOPLE JERKS!
NOW NAMTAR'S CONTROL OF DILMUN IS COMPLETE. I'M SURE THE BEAST FROM THE PIT
WILL WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY." IRONHEAD SMILES WHEN YOU REMIND HIM OF
YOUR BARGAIN. "I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN, I ASSURE YOU...BUT SEEING AS HOW YOU
THREW IN WITH ME SO EASILY, I DOUBT YOU HAVE ANY REAL SENSE OF HONOR. I
WOULDN'T TRUST YOU CLOWNS AS FAR AS I COULD THROW YOU!" BUCK STANDS BACK AS
SEVERAL OF HIS SOLDIERS GATHER AROUND. "PUT THESE TRAITORS IN IRONS!" HE
SNARLS.
THE GUARDS CLOSE IN. IT'S AN EPIC FIGHT, BUT NO HEROES CAN LONG WITHSTAND
SHEER WEIGHT OF NUMBERS. EVERYTHING GOES BLACK AS THE LAST OF YOUR PARTY
FALLS TO THE DUST.
72) THIS SHRINE IS FORMED FROM ROCKS AND WOOD AND MOSS-IT SEEMS A PROFOUNDLY
NATURAL THING, MORE AN OUTGROWTH OF THIS ENCHATED WOOD THAN A THING BUILT
BY MAN. THE DIVINITY WORSHIPPED HERE IS NONE YOU RECOGNIZE, BUT THE FEELING
OF THE PLACE IS ONE OF HARMONY WITH NATURE.
UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, YOU SEE DRIED BLOODSTAINS ON THE ROCK. THE STAINS
ARE NOT LARGE-THIS SHRINE IS NOT USED FOR SACRIFICE-BUT PERHAPS ITS
RESIDENT GOD IS AWAKENED BY A TOKEN GIFT OF LIFE.
73) THIS HIDDEN GLADE IS CHARGED WITH MAGICAL ENERGY. THE ROCKS MARKING THIS
CLEARING FORM A RING OF DELIBERATELY-PLACED STANDING STONES, THE FOCUS ON
WHICH IS UPON THE EARTH WHERE YOU NOW STAND. YOU FEEL POWER RUSHING FROM
THE ROOTS OF THE EARTH AND INTO YOUR SOUL. ENKIDU HIMSELF STANDS AND REGARDS YOU.
74) OLD JACK'S EYES GLOW BRIGHT WHEN YOU SHOW HIM THE SIGNET RING. "HIS MAJESTY. ..?"JACK WHISPERS. YOU SADLY SHAKE YOUR HEAD, INDICATING DRAKE IS DEAD.
TEARS FORM IN JACK'S EYES AS HE SIGHS. "ME POOR, POOR KING...I KNEW YE'D
COME TO NO GOOD WITH THAT DEMON NAMTAR!"
AFTER SHOWING HIM YOUR RING, JACK TREATS YOU LIKE AN HONORED GUEST,
FORGIVING ALL YOUR MISDEEDS IN THE FOREST. "I'M A KING'S MAN, YE GOT TA
BELIEVE THAT,"HE SAYS. "I LOVE ME KING AN' I NEVER DISOBEYED HIM. BUT I
NEVER LIKE THE LOOKS O' THAT NAMTAR-HE'S A VERY DEVIL, HE IS! IT MUST HAVE
BEEN 'IM WOT KILLED OLD DRAKE." OLD JACK PAUSES TO SPIT. "SOMEONE'S GOT TO
BRING NAMTAR DOWN, AND CLEAR THE WAY FOR YOUNG PRINCE JORDAN TO TAKE THE
THRONE. YOU'VE GOT THE RING, SO YOU'RE IT!"
OLD JACK SOLEMNLY HANDS YOU THE BOW. "THIS HERE'S ME BOW, I CALL HER
NEVERMISS! DRAKE GAVE HER TO ME WHEN WE WERE BOTH BOYS, AND SHE'S NEVER
FAILED ME. NOW I GIVE HER TO YOU, TO SHOOT DOWN THAT FOUL NAMTAR!" JACK IS
HESITANT TO RELEASE THE BOW, AND EVEN AS YOU HOLD IT HIS EYES LINGER ON THE
WEAPON. "SHE'S LIKE A LADY, SHE IS...YOU TREAT HER KIND. YOU TREAT HER KIND. "
JACK IS ABRUPTLY EAGER TO LEAVE. HE REFUSES TO LEAVE THE FOREST, SAYING IT'S HIS ONLY HOME. HE WISHES YOU ALL GOOD LUCK AND MELTS INTO THE WOODS.
HE WILL NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN.
75) AFTER WHAT SEEMS AN ETERNITY, YOU LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE SREAMING. NEARLY
MAD YOURSELVES, YOU FIND A CITY OF THE MAD QUATTING ON A DESOLATE SHORE.
FEEBLE HUTS MADE OF DRIFTWOOD AND DEBRIS HUDDLE TOGETHER IN A FEEBLE PILE.
WHITE-HAIRED LOONS WITH WILD EYES STUMBLE TO AND FRO, MUMBLING TO THEMSELVES OR SHRIEKING LIKE CATS. CRAZED CITIZENS OF THE PLACE WRESTLE WITH ONE
ANOTHER, SEEMING LIKE WRITHING HUMAN SERPENTS. IT'S A MADHOUSE, AND THE
INMATES ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM.
76) A MAD ARTIST INSCRIBES DESIGNS ON THE SANDY FLOOR OF HIS HUT. "I DON'T HAVE
TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW,"HE SAYS AS YOU ENTER. IT'S UNCERTAIN IF HE'S TALKING
TO YOU, OR IF YOU WALK IN ON HIM WHILE HE WAS TALKING TO HIMSELF. "I CAN
MAKE A GOOD LIVING AS A TATTOO ARTIST!"HE CONTINUES. "BUT I WILL DRAW ON
YOU, MOTHER EARTH, BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE DRAWS FROM YOU. YOU. WHO. MOO. MOO. ?"
THE ARTIST JUMPS UP AND BOUNDS ABOUT THE HUT. "MOO! MOO!"HE HOWLS. "DON'T
YOU SEE? IT'S ALL SO CLEAR. AT LAST! AT LAST!" THE POOR MAN RUSHES PAST YOU
AND IS QUICKLY LOST IN THE VILLIAGE OF THE LOST.
77) AMID THE RUINS YOU COME UPON A REMARKABLE SIGHT. A BONFIRE ILLUMINATES A
A SHATTERED CITY SQUARE. SCORES OF PEOPLE CAVORT ABOUT THE FIRE-THIS IS THE
GREATEST GATHERING ON PEOPLE YOU'VE SEEN SINCE ARRIVING IN PURGATORY.
THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SQUARE CONSTITUTE A CROSS-SECTION OF PURGATORY'S
CITIZENRY. BLIND BEGGARS, MAD POETS, DOG-FACED CHILDREN, AND DRUNKEN PRIESTS SWARM ABOUT THE FIRE LIKE MOTHS TO A FLAME;DRINKING, SINGING, LOVING,
BLEEDING, BRAWLING. ABOVE THEM ALL, SEATED ON A RUDE THRONE OF STACKED
MASONRY, YOU SEE THE MAN YOU SURMISE TO BE THE KING OF THIS PLACE. IF HE IS
A KING, HE IS A KING OF THIEVES.
ASTOUNDED BY THIS STRANGE SIGHT, YOU DO NOT NOTICE UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE A
SCORE OF SCOUNDRELS SNEAKING UP ON YOU. SURROUNDED BY ROGUES, YOU ARE URGED
TOWARD THE FIRE, WHERE YOU COME UNDER THE GAZE OF THE FIGURE ON THE THRONE.
"OUTLANDERS!,"THE KING ROARS, TEETERING ATOP HIS PERILOUS PERCH. "YOU'VE
STRAYED FAR FROM YOUR HOMES, LITTLE DOES AND KITTENS. THIS IS THE COURT OF
MIRACLES, GATHERED TO PAY HOMAGE TO THE KING OF PURGATORY..." THE KING
PAUSES, AWAITING THE PROPER MOMENT BEFORE CONTINUING,"...ME, CLOPIN
TROUILLEFOU!
78) A GROUP OF RAGGED UNFORTUNATES SUN THEMSELVES ON THIS DISMAL COASTLINE. THEY SIT IN FOLDING BEACH CHAIRS, SOME BENEATH THE SHADE OF COLORFUL BEACH
PARASOLS. ALL THE MEN AND WOMAN ARE DRESSED IN RAGS. FEW HAVE TEETH;FEWER
STILL HAVE A PROPER TAN. THE DAY IS COLD AND GREY.
"HAIL NAMTAR!" A WOMAN CRIES. "GREAT IS HE TO TAKE SUCH CARE OF US! WHAT
HAVE WE TO WANT FOR?" A ONE-ARMED YOUNG MAN ELBOWS YOU IN THE RIBS, AND SAYS WITH A SIDELONG WINK,"QUITE A LITTLE RESORT WE GOT HERE, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?
BOY, THAT NAMTAR SURE IS A SWELL EGG!" "THIS IS A RITZY PLACE-NOTHING LESS
THAN A KING RETIRED HERE!" CACKLES ANOTHER. SIMILAR COMMENTS COME AT EVERY
TURN. YOU FIND THIS PLACE IS CALLED TOXIC BEACH, AND THESE POOR LUNATICS
THINK IT'S SOME SORT OF BEACH RESORT TO WHICH THEY'VE BEEN SENT AS REWARD
FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE TO NAMTAR.
A FEW BLOATED DEAD RATS HAVE WASHED UP ON THE BLEACHED COASTLINE. AN ODD
TUMBLE OF ROCKS MARKS THE NORTH END OF THE SHORE. THE ROCKS ARE COVERED
WITH DEBRIS, AS IF THE REMAINS OF A SHIPWRECK HAVE WASHED UP HERE.
79) THERE IS A DEEP RUMBLING AS STORM CLOUDS GATHER. ABRUPTLY RAIN BEGINS TO
FALL IN RELENTLESS SHEETS, THREATENING TO FLOOD THE STONE, THE FOREST, THE
ENTIRE WORLD.
A SUPERNATURAL HUSH FALLS OVER TH GLADE. EVEN THE PELTING RAIN SEEMS TO FALL SILENT. SUDDENLY YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY ANIMALS-BEARS, DOGS, DEER, DUCKS, AND EVEN A PENGUIN. YOU TURN AND SEE STILL MORE ANIMALS CROWDING OUTSIDE THE
DOOR TO THE SHRINE. YOU SEE A LION LAY DOWN BESIDE A LAMB. THE ANIMALS ARE
WAITING FOR SOMETHING.
ABOVE THE STONE APPEARS THE GHOST OF ZATON. THE GHOST SPEAKS. "MY FRIENDS, I AM FOREVER IN YOUR DEBT FOR LIBERATING MY SOUL. BY RESTORING ME TO THE WORLD , THE WORLD RESTORES ITSELF. THE NATURAL ORDER IS REESTABLISHED. MAN AND
BEAST MAY AGAIN LIVE IN HARMONY."
THE ANIMALS BEGIN TO EXITEDLY ROAR, BARK, AND BRAY. "MY TIME IN THIS WORLD
IS DONE," ZATON SAYS. "BUT FOR YOU BRAVE ADVENTURERS THE TASK IS JUST
BEGINNING. NAMTAR IS EVIL! HE MUST BE DESTROYED! TO YOU I GRANT THE BOON OF
KNOWLEDGE...USE IT WELL!"
80) THE CENTER POST OF THESE COMMERCIAL HUTS SHELTERS A SECRET CHAMBER. A
SKELETON DRESSED IN THE ROYAL COLORS OF KINGSHOME SITS ON A MAKESHIFT THRONE . WHOEVER THIS WAS, HE'S BEEN DEAD A LONG TIME. A ROYAL SIGNET RING GLEAMS
ON ONE SKELETAL FINGER. THE RING SEEMS BOTH VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT.
