You run into a barrier, trapping you inside! You hear a man's grim voice, which says "No, you don't! You've done too much damage - you are trapped in here with us until we destroy you! Surrender now. So speaks Garzahd!"
In the confusion, you easily slip through the crowds of rushing troops, past the plains where the Vahnatai gave their lives, and out. After a brief, satisfying pause to watch the flames attack the fortress, you start the long trek home.
Behind you, the quickfire spreads. The soldiers have to cut their search short abruptly - they start constructing firewalls in order to keep the flames from consuming Ornotha.
As soon as you remove the crystal, the west wall explodes, filling the chamber with granite shrapnel! You look through the window, and see a flying wizard! He shouts "I am Garzahd, scion of the Empire, and you will pay for your intrusion!"
Bolts of energy fly into you! A fiery sensation fills your muscles, which lasts even after the blasts of power stop coming. You feel very weak and light-headed, but much stronger. The light-headedness doesn't completely fade.
You wake up from a brief, not very restful nap, to find that the shouts of soldiers looking for you are louder and more numerous. You quickly roll out bed and arm yourselves.
This barracks is currently unoccupied, and the light layer of dust indicates it probably hasn't been used for a few weeks.
You step on the rune, and it glows a bright white. Suddenly, waves of electricity flow through you, causing intense, agonizing pain. You manage to stagger off, and find yourself only slightly damaged. Now you know how the Empire tortures.
This time around, the water is just that - water.
The waters heal you!
You pull open the dresser, and see it's empty. Then poison gas pours out from behind it.
There is a large hall with a high, arched ceiling to the northwest. Although it is a huge room with lights all along the wall, everything is still very dark and grim. Down the halls in all directions, you hear the shouts of soldiers looking for you.
The barriers to the north disappear. You have a hard time being happy about it...
He points his finger, and quickfire fills the chamber you're in! Then he flies out of sight, leaving you with roaring, spreading flames to one side, and a hole in the wall on the other side.
Beyond them, you can see another short drop to the ground, and escape. All you need to do is reach it...
Garzahd is still flying above. He laughs wildly, and points his finger. With a roar, towers of quickfire appear to either side of you. You look south, and see a group of Empire soldiers looking for you.
You jump onto the shattered section of the wall and leap from the ramparts, as sections of the fort burst into flames around you! Fortunately, the roof of the lower section of the Ziggurat is not far below. You land on it, and prepare your escape.
When you begin the spell, a thick nimbus of blue energy appears around the altar, sending off waves of heat and attempting to deflect your holy energy. It doesn't do any good - the altar explodes, filling the room with stone shrapnel.
All that remains of the altar are scattered stone fragments.
The altar is still there, dark and imposing.
When you take the dagger, a bolt of blue energy comes from the altar and hovers around you. In a flash, bits of the energy strike your holy people, making them feel very light-headed.
Fascinating. There is an invisible barrier across the corridor here. To the north, everything is normal. Once across it, there is a horrible, nose-wrinkling, stomach-twisting smell. There must be a lot of garbage nearby.
There is a robing and preparation room for the temple here. The smell of incense is heavy in the air.
No guards are nearby at the moment. Odd. You're confident you will meet plenty of soldiers before too long.
The smooth stone walls of Ornotha Ziggurat loom above you. Every Exile soldier has heard of this place - it is where the best of the foe's troops are trained, equipped, and sent from. It is a place of steel, and strong arms, and hatred for you.
Behind you, you hear the screams and sounds of battle. The Vahnatai fight well, but they will be lucky if any of them get out alive. Aware of the magnitude of their sacrifice, you move purposefully towards the fortress.
You pass the guardian plane, and move quickly up the hill towards the Ornotha Ziggurat.
You could leave. However, the Vahnatai's diversion will be ending soon. If you don't enter the Ziggurat now, you will have a much more difficult time later.
The Vahnatai have brought a variety of supplies with them. It is unlikely they would mind if you took some of them.
Garzahd decides he's had enough of this combat. With a few mumbles words, he disappears. His troops are horrified at losing their leader, but their desperation drives them to fighting with redoubled ferocity.
The moment you touch a bit of the loot, a cloud of strange energy fills the room. You feel drained. When you pull your hand away, the cloud disappears. Ouch.
Searching the bookshelf, you find what is clearly a spellbook! Unfortunately, you cannot decipher Erika's bizarre writing. Frustrated, you return the book to the shelf.
Erika seems quite attached to her privacy. The moment you open the dresser, flames start shooting out. You slam the drawer shut, but not before getting lightly seared.
Suddenly, everything goes black! A cloud of darkness falls onto the tower.
With an overpowering feeling of vertigo, you feel yourself being wrenched across the land of Exile. When your head clears, you are back in the Tower of Magi.
Suddenly, knives start whirling in the air around you!
You step into the portal, and appear before Erika herself.
A woman's voice comes from the portal: "You need to come to me the long way first. I need to know you are strong enough to help me. Enter again, and you will be sent home."
There are several journals of notes about goings on in Exile. Most of them seem irrelevant to you, but one note is interesting: "I believe someone at Patrick's Tower has a Ring of Will. It's worth asking about - it would be a great help in a mindduel."
One of the books is a spellbook. You examine it. It takes some time and effort, but you decipher Erika's magical scribblings. You now know the spell Major Summoning.
One of the books is a spellbook. You examine it. It takes some time and effort, but you decipher Erika's magical scribblings. You now know the spell Wall of Blades.
The statue says "That is correct." You check - the barrier is gone.
The statue says "That is incorrect." The barrier remains.
The darkness abruptly disappears.
A magical field suddenly surrounds you! Your body is covered with an intense tingling sensation, as the field examines you. Eventually, it finds you to its liking and disappears, leaving you unharmed.
They have had no luck - they cannot even get past the first room. A magical field sears the mind of anyone who tries to pass through it, leaving the victim feebleminded and helpless.
You are disappointed to find the box contains no treasure. There are just records of the soldier's attempts to break into Erika's Tower.
Nothing happens.
Some distance down the hall, you see a portcullis slide open.
Erika decides she's had enough, and disappears. As you start looking for her, her final trap activates itself. Flames roar through her chambers, reducing you to ash.
