A man sits on a stone near a small bonfire, roasting a lizard on a stick. He is wearing tattered chainmail, upon which the insignia of the Empire is still visible. Despite this, he seems friendly.
He nods, then nibbles on the lizard. "I'm Gilbert."
"I guard the tower."
0
tower
0
"Yeah. Right here."
0
guard
0
"Right. We've been watching you for some time, and you seem OK. That's why you're still alive. You're the first visitors we've had since we were exiled."
0
exiled
0
"Yes, me and his nibs, Aydin. We're kind of on the defensive. He's in there, and I watch the wards and the door. The defenses are good, so I don't have much to do. I write poetry."
0
wards
0
"Powerful runes around the tower. Even if an Empire assassin eventually does get through the blue-field, when we turn on the wards, he'll get a heck of a surprise."
0
door
120
0
poetry
0
"Like this...
The cavern has a set of teeth
A tounge of river, fungus hair
A face to match the sun above
Shining on those who do not
care."
He sighs. "I'm working on it."
1
stnd
0
A middle-aged man is sitting on a throne, staring into a globe of crystal. He looks up at you from it, and you see your image inside it.
"I am Aydin. Welcome to my home."
"We are hiding."
1
hiding
0
"We, I, my wife, and Gilbert, are exiles, refugees from the Empire. We hide here from the assassins sent after us, waiting for the right visitor to arrive."
1
assassin
0
"The Empire has soldiers all over this area, trying to figure out how to get past our defenses so they can kill us before we find the right person to give our information to."
1
visitor
0
"We've been waiting for the right visitors to be sent to us. We have valuable information."
1
defenses
0
"The rune wall, golems, and blue field. I don't maintain them, Josie does. She's around here somewhere. Talk to her - there are things you'll need to know to get out of here."
1
information
0
"I was once a high-ranking mage in the Empire. I knew a lot then. Then we fled, and I found out a lot more through my scrying. The three of us have found a new goal, you see."
1
goal
0
"Rebellion. I will not go into the wrongs the Empire has done. You know of many, and there are many more on top of that, things you could not imagine. A powerful mage can rise high, and see many low things. But, this is all besides the point."
"I know a way to strike the Empire a decisive blow. I believe you may be the ones to deal it."
1
blow
0
"When Exile became the Empire's dung heap, they sealed off almost all of the exits. But then, they needed a convenient way to get large numbers of people down and up, if necessary. And the best way to do that was through teleportation."
1
telep
0
"Yes. A powerful tool, but limited. We are too far underground, you see. Takes too much power to teleport someone down here, let alone many someones. But, clever as we are, we came up with a solution!"
1
solution
0
"It's a teleportation augmenter. It's a runed circle which makes it easier to send people up and down. It's a very powerful thing, and much power was expended creating it. It's well guarded, and even better hidden." He grins, and holds up his orb.
"And I can tell you its location and secrets. And, most importantly, about the towers."
1
location
0
"West. Travel south down the river west from here. You will eventually find several ledges, covered with swamp. There is a secret passage off one of them, leading to a long passage, which leads to the goal. The location, however, is only half the secret."
1
secret
0
"You need a Royal Seal to get to the end. That is very difficult. Royal Seals are very rare. However, one was brought down with the First Expedition. It may still be down here. Also, you will need a special ritual."
1
ritual
0
"We got a dragon to create a magic barrier for us. To get past it, you will need a ritual. I don't know it, but the drake will. Fortunately, they stole one of its scrolls, and earned its rage in the bargain. You may be able to get its help."
"You will need much luck and skill to get through, but the reward will be great."
1
reward
0
"From that spot, you can teleport into the heart of the Empire. And there, a blow may be struck which could crumble the whole foul nation!"
2
stnd
0
A woman in a brightly colored gauzy dress whirls around the tower, sweeping.
"Greetings, visitors. I am Josie."
She sighs and grimaces. "Being a housewife, I'm afraid."
2
house
0
"Since Gilbert, Aydin and I fled, Aydin got to spend time scrying, Gilbert keeps watch, and I got to look over the defenses. Unfortunately, the defenses take the least time, so I also cook. And sweep. Frustrating, really."
"You see, I have talents of my own."
2
defens
2
"Yes. Oh, before I forget ..." She casts a brief spell. "You can now pass the blue field safely. We would hate for you to be killed trying to leave."
82
9
2
talents
0
She opens her palm, and a tiny flame appears. Although its size is small, you can feel its heat from where you stand. She grins. "Maintaining the wards is little work, but making them was a job to remember! Like to see those Empire assassins get in here!"
She closes her hand. The flame disappears.
1
towers
0
"There are two of them, which you must pass through to get to your goal. One of them contained the ward made by the dragon Khoth. The other has a door with a deadly trap."
1
trap
2
"I should know. I created it. The lever which opens the door out will fry you unless you press the Royal Seal of the Empire into the tiny depression in the corner of the fresco at the north end of the tower."
(You take note of this.)
56
1
26
stnd
0
26
stnd
0
26
stnd
0
26
stnd
0
26
stnd
0
21
gnrc
0
"Moo."
22
gnrc
0
"Moo."
25
stnd
0
You have found a giant statue of a woman. It stares at you.
