The Hacker's Encyclopedia 1998/hackers_encyclopedia.iso/pc/softdox/uw_chron.doc

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               The Cronicles of Sir Cabirus


                  presented by Boba Fet







A Note of Explanation: This volume came into our possession only
recently, though it was penned decades ago. The chronicler is one
Corby, scribe to the Cabirus whose life was devoted to the doomed
experiment on the Isle of the Avatar. All contact with the
settlers of the Abyss was lost years ago, and we therefore
suppose the colony to be extinct -- Joye the Librarian

Proclamation

To All Who Strive Along the Avatars Path:

I Cabirus, call upon those of Virtue to join me in a Valorous
Quest, one which promises to be rich in Sacrifice and
Spirituality.

     Decades ago, Lord British in his wisdom rounded eight
settlements, each dedicated to one of the Virtues. We Britianians
have lived up to our lord s expectations, for the towns of
Britain, Jhelom, Minoc, Moon Glow, Skara Brae, Trinsic and Yew
have flourished to the present day.

     I believe the time has now come to found one further town,
where all of the Eight Virtues are bound together into a untried
whole. In order to people this new community, I call upon the
most faithful among our citizenry to come forward in this cause
-- fighters and mages first, and later craftsmen and even
children.

     Further, it is my intent to bring together in this new
settlement those who have seldom been a part of 'our civilized
community - creatures of the mountains, woods and swamps. Whether
by my self or my agents, these primitive beings will be
contacted, taught of the Way of the Avatar, and invited town our
pioneer colony.

     And where shall this new town be located? This has been a
matter of long discussion. had been thought to place this colony
in a setting conducive to its goals -- a pleasant woodlands,
adjacent to a place lake, or even at the peak of a lofty
mountain. However, I have since realized the usefulness to all of
Britannia should this Center of Virtue be situated in such a
place as to seal off the gate that has in the past been used by
Evil forces an the Isle of the Avatar, directly in the Great
Stygian Abyss asleep.! With the blessing of Lord British, I
dedicate myself to this sacred Quest, and call upon all who are
likewise stirred by the Vision of Avatar hood to Join me in this
Honorable Deed. Pray that we may succeed, for the auguries hint
of dire consequences should woeful to guard the abyss against the
incursion Evil.
Foreword

As I set these words upon this parchment, I have recently emerged
from the stygian Abyss. lam the former page of the late Sir
Cabirius, and the Eight Virtues have impelled me to compile these
excerpts from the writings and speeches of my beloved spiritual
master. Through the founding of our brave colony in the very
heart of the Great Stygtan Abyss, Sir Cabirus has demonstrated a
degree of Valor and Sacrifice comparable only to the selfless
acts of Lord British or the Avatar themselves.

I witness to the Honesty and Justice of this record with my
signature.

I have chosen to set down upon this parchment the facts, as they
are known to me, concerning this island upon which I and the
colonists have chosen to found our new town. I wish that most of
this information were not new to my readers, but unfortunately,
few of my fellow-citizens seem to take as much of an interest in
our history as they once did.

The Isle of the Avatar was discovered during the Fourth Age (as
related in Quest of the Avatar), at the climax of the Avatar's
quest. The Stranger from Another World, who came to Britannia in
answer to Lord British's summons, completed the Test of the Eight
Virtues and became the Avatar -- the embodiment of the pure axiom
of life.

It was during his journeys that the Avatar unearthed a chilling
artifact: the skull of Mondain the Wicked, the first of the Triad
of Evil. There were those who claimed that the artifact held the
power to destroy all life on our world. Fortunately, it was the
Stranger who discovered it, and not someone of lesser Virtue.

Upon completing the Path of the Eight Virtues, the Avatar
embarked on a search for the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. Legend
linked this ancient tome with the subterranean maze known as the
Great Stygian Abyss. "Truly, no one has ever plumbed its depths,"
wrote Shamano, who arranged by magic to obtain a map of its
corridors. "I cannot imagine the horrors that await the first to
venture into the Stygian depths."

The entrance to the Abyss was found to lie on an uncharted island
southeast of the mainland, guarded by a squadron of sailing
ships crewed by ghosts of ancient pirates. Forcing his way past
the spectral fleet and unraveling the mysteries of the Abyss, the
Avatar at last succeeded in obtaining the Codex of Ultimate
Wisdom. In honor of this achievement, the mystery island was
christened the "Isle of the Avatar."
Peace and Treachery

With the Avatar's triumph accomplished, Britannia settled down
for a period of reconstruction and consolidation. The kingdom's
seers took note of the discoveries made by the Avatar on the Isle
of the Avatar -- notably, the entrance to the dungeon Hythloth
(which was sealed shut) and the location of the Shrine of
Humility. Lord British also caused a second sanctuary to be
built, where the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom was enshrined.

Curious scholars researched the ancient records of the land, and
identified the Isle of the Avatar as the former home -- in
another age -- of the great daemons who destroyed Old Magincia
for its lack of humility. The same beings had guarded the Shrine
of Humility through the cons, but now the mystic creatures could
no longer be found.

Meanwhile, the raising of the Codex from its subterranean resting
place had caused great disturbances across the face of the land,
and opened a vast underground network of caverns which came to be
known as the Underworld. The Great Stygian Abyss became one of
the many entrances to this subsurface world. Vulcanism tore up
the Isle, reawakening its central volcano.

The next drama in Britannian history (as related in Warriors of
Destiny) involved the kidnapping of Lord British. Since the king
was believed dead, his realm fell under the rule of Lord
Blackthorn, whose good nature was corrupted by the Shadow lords.
The Avatar was once more summoned from his distant world to
combat the menace, and his tortuous quest took him once more to
the Isle of the Avatar and the depths beneath it, before his
victory.

The Tune of Prophecy

When the Avatar liberated Lord British from imprisonment, the act
had both geological and spiritual reverberations. The most
dramatic of these was the collapse of the Underworld, which
forced many denizens of the depths to venture into our surface
world.

     Among those who emerged from below were the Gargoyles, whose
sages prophesied that their race could only be saved by the
recovery of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom (which they claimed as
their property) and the destruction of the Anti-Prophet (whom
they believed the Avatar to be!). With diabolical cunning, the
subterranean beings summoned the Avatar to Britannia in an
attempt to kill him, but Lord British intervened in time to
rescue the other-worlder.

     Still, the Gargoyles remained a threat to the peace of
Britannia, and the Avatar embarked on a difficult quest which
once again brought him to the Isle of the Avatar.

     The Twin Shrines were in time liberated from the Gargoyles'
possession, and in the lower regions of Dungeon Hythloth - from
which most monsters save drakes and dragons had been driven by
lava -- the Stranger rescued a mariner with priceless information
about the Gargoyle menace.

     Eventually, the Avatar realized that there was but one way
to peace to Britannia - making the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom
accessible to both Lord British's subjects and to the Gargoyles,
by placing the Codex in the Vortex and then supplying both
enemies with mystic Lenses by which they could view the arcane
tome. By working his solution from the Shrine on Avatar Isle, the
other worlder brought peace to our world.
Years Later

The Avatar has now returned to his world, and we must seek our
future through our own devotion to the Eight Virtues. Thus it has
come to pass that I, Cabirus, have set about to found a Town of
Virtue within one of the arcane loci of Britannia -- on the Isle
of the Avatar, within the Great Stygian Abyss.

The Colony of the Abyss

     With the permission of Lord British, my fellow colonists and
I set sail for the Isle of the Avatar five years ago. After a
brief though difficult voyage, we sighted the bleak, foreboding
island rising above the waves.

     We wasted no time in charting out the island, pausing to
meditate at the Twin Shrines and once again sealing the entrance
to the Dungeon Hythloth. Our company of warriors, mages and other
pioneers then made the descent into the legendary Abyss. The
eruptions and quakes of the past drove away many of the former
predators of the chasm, and with the island again stable, we can
dwell here in relative security. Nevertheless, our fighters find
many challenges against which to test their Valor.

     Lord British ordered that a village be established upon the
surface of our isle, as a point of contact between ourselves and
the rest of Britannia. Baron Aimtic, formerly the King's Master
of Hounds, has been appointed to command the settlement. His men
have erected a rough stone tower, and the completion of a small
fort should take only a few years more.

     Lord British may soon favor us with a seat upon his Council
-- that is, we may gain equal status with the Eight Towns of the
Virtues. If so, this can only be because of the brotherhood we
have established among the disparate societies who have settled
this Colony: Knights, Mountain-Folk, Seers, Lizard men, Goblins
and Trolls.

Knights of the Crux

     The first to respond to the Proclamation of the Abyssal
Colony were the Knights of Jhelom. These fighting men from the
town which Lord British dedicated to a life of Valor were
attracted by the valorous nature of our enterprise.

     Here the former warriors of Jhelom have formed the Order of
the Crux Ansata -- "crux Ansata" being an ancient term for ankh
-- in the hope of establishing an organization to rival the
heralded Order of the Silver Serpent. Someday they plan to have
extensive training facilities and barracks for young recruits,
but at the present time conditions remain primitive.

Warriors and mages, while not exactly traditional enemies, have
often been bickering companions in the world of Britannia. Such
is not true among us, for the Knights of the Crux Ansata are
dependent upon our wizards for magical light and healing.
Therefore, mage and fighter are amiable allies in the Abyss.

Our Knights have also renounced many lifelong prejudices and
formed friendships with their traditional foes -- our Troll,
Goblin and Lizard man citizens. Any fighter who violates the
least aspect of the strict code of the Crux Ansata must submit
himself to the will of the Knight-Master, who prides himself on
finding acts of penance which match the violation. This method of
discipline has worked so well that the Knights have become strict
advocates of the Way of the Avatar, and are often the first to
locate and bring violators to our Court of Justice.

Mountain-Folk

Colony in the Abyss is a place for new beginnings. This has
certainly been true [or the Mountain-Folk of Britannia.

Short of stature and broad of shoulder, the Mountain-Folk --
known in times past as "Dwarves," though they detest this name --
have a unique lifestyle dedicated to traditional craftsmanship.
Over the ages, however, their distrust of outsiders and their
well-known love for precious metals have put them in disrepute.
In the past century, many of the Folk abandoned their old ways,
left their homes, and married outside their clan.
I was surprised when the Chief of the Mountain-Folk wrote to me
concerning the desire of his people to join the Abyssal Colony.
Knowing that the Folk were in danger of dying out as a culture, I
suggested that the Chief might not want his people to be part of
our town -- where, after all, our goal is to prove that all
people can live in unity.

However, Chief Goldsword was stubborn, and correct about his
people being useful in hewing out living quarters from the rocks
of the chasm. (Indeed, some histories claim that the
Mountain-Folk built the original passageways of the Abyss, in the
days when the Isle of the Avatar first rose from the ocean.)

The Mountain-Folk have proved to be excellent fellow citizens,
and they are on friendly terms with our Knights and Seers. They
even abide the presence of their traditional foes, the Trolls.

Seers of the Moonstone

     On the southern tip of Verity Isle, the town of Moonglow was
rounded by the mages of Britannia as a settlement embodying the
virtue of Honesty. The wizards of this town were among the first
to volunteer to be colonists, and an entire contingent of mages
joined me on our first voyage to Avatar Isle.

     Our magic-users have formed their own Order of Magic, and
refer to themselves as the Ancient Illuminated Seers of the
Moonstone.  They have an especially close relationship with the
Mountain-Folk -- it was the mountaineers who carved out the
seers' living chambers from the rock walls of the chasm.

     The seers have, of necessity, chosen to specialize in those
magic's most useful in our subterranean abode -- spells of light,
food and comfort. They a]so conduct many magical experiments, and
hope to find new spell reagents among the materials which occur
naturally in the Abyss. The seers have asked our explorers to
bring back samples of all that  they find.

     (The seers do not speak directly to me of their matters, but
I have overheard them on occasion. While the Eight Virtues may
have prompted some of the mages to travel here, I believe that
most came for the ,'chance to conduct experiments. It is said
that the Great Abyss is unique in all of Britannia because the
barrier between dimensions is especially thin here. -- Corby)

Lizard men

     "The Dark Ages" is the name given to that long-ago time when
the Triad of Evil stalked the lands. In those same years when
Lord British first arrived upon our shores, a young mage named
Mordain was perfecting his skills in the arcane arts. The wizard
slew his own father in order to seize a gem with mystic powers.
Mondain subverted the jewel to evil purposes, and began a
campaign of unrest and dismay against all of the world.

     In his most foul experiments, Mondain dissected his own
servitors as well as the great reptiles which then dwelt in the
southern swamps. Reuniting the body parts through magical means,
he created a variety of strange saurian forms. One strain proved
successful, and thus came the Lizard men'

     After Mondain was slain, the Lizard men were by one until
none remained. Or so it was thought, until our colonists came to
settle the Abyss! Here we found the last clan of the reptilians
living in the grottos. Inspired by Compassion, we forbore slaying
the monsters and taught them of the Path of the Avatar. To our
delight, the Lizard men can understand the common tongue, but not
speak it.

     Goblins and Lizard- men intermingle in the wetter portions
of the Abyss, and have a friendly rivalry with the Mountain-Folk
(the mountain-men hate dampness, and would build channels and
drain the abyss).

Goblins

     The Goblins originated from forbidden arcane experiments
performed on prisoners and other victims by demented,
power-seeking mages. (It was for causes like these that magic was
once banned in our lands.) During the Third Age of Darkness,
Exodus bred the Goblins into an army dedicated to his wicked
cause. Following his defeat, the survivors vanished from the face
of Britannia - hunted down by vigilantes or banished to other
realms. (In those times, the Goblins were so loosely bound to
this world that a single spell could expel them frown this plane
of existence.)

     It was only after our Proclamation went out, promising
clemency to those primitive monster forms who would undertake to
follow the Path of the Avatar, that the Goblins were
rediscovered. A delegation of Goblin folk appeared at the gates
of Castle Britannia, asking for an audience with Lord British.
Not just one but two species of Goblins had survived in hiding
from the days of Exodus. The Gray Goblins, originally mountain
dwellers, had skulked in the caves of the Serpent's Spine
mountains. The forest-dwelling Green Goblins hid themselves by
retreating into an underground river's channel, near the baneful
lake called Venom.

     Today, virtuous Goblin folk make up one third of  our
community. There was a time when a Green Goblin would rather slay
a Gray Goblin than any other enemy, but the Path of the Avatar
has brought the tribes together as brothers.

(Though the two specks rarely come to blows nowadays, the Gray
and the Green still attempt to  Virtue. Old enmities die hard. --
Corby)

Trolls

In the district where I was raised, it is not uncommon for Trolls
to waylay an occasional traveler. Several times I have seen such
brigands after justice had dealt with them, hanging from roadside
crosses. Until I visited the Shrine of Compassion, therefore, it
had not occurred to me how nearly civilized the Troll people are.
After all, they use civilized weapons (stolen from us), wear
tatters of clothing or hide, and speak a rough form of the same
tongue which we speak.

Curiosity next drove me to visit the Lycaeum on Verity Isle,
where I learned that the Trolls had once been a mountain-dwelling
people. Over recorded history, however, they have always moved
closer to civilization -- today, they are commonly found along
roads and under bridges. I became convinced that the Trolls were
fit candidates for the Way of the Avatar.

My servitors and the traveled the roads of Britannia for two
years, recruiting Trolls for our great Abyssal Experiment. Many
of the monster forms rejected us, and some we were forced to slay
in self-defense. However, I am glad to report that the Trolls
ways and now constitute an important section of our community.

It has been difficult for many to accept the presence of the
Trolls. The Knights were trained from youth to slay such
creatures on sight, and Goblins are a favorite food of Trolls.
Nevertheless, the Virtues have triumphed.

(and those Trolls who offend by dining on Goblin flesh are
immediately exiled.)


Exiles

What follows has been written by me in the interests of Honesty
and Justice. The fact that Sir Cabirus did not include these
facts among his own writings was no doubt a simple oversight. -
Corby

     Some colonists prove unable or unwilling to live according
to the Code of the Avatar. A few became discouraged by life in
the Abyss, which is hard and bleak. Some were formerly wicked men
who honestly adopted the Eight Virtues, but who, through weakness
of will, returned to wickedness. There are those who say that the
Abyss itself works to degrade the quality of a man's character,
but Sir Cabirus regarded this as sheer Superstition.

     Those unable to live in peace with the rest of us are asked
to separate themselves, and if they will not go of their own
will, they are driven at the point of the sword. Most Exiles join
Baron Almric's keep, or from there sail back to their former
lands. However, some Exiles descend further into the Abyss than
any colonists dwell. Knights who have explored the keeper
recesses tell of reclusive beings -- they call them "ghouls" --
who eat rats and vermin. Our warriors claim that the Exiles have
degenerated in physical form, and that even though they were once
of several races and colors, all approach a common, not trifle
resemblance.

     I suspect these are stories embellished by a few rounds of
a]e, for who can believe such an occurrence!


Who Venture Here

This passage is a guide to those who might feel moved to join our
Colony. This rough place is unsuited for those with soft hands or
unsteady swords! In particular, we are looking for settlers of
these eight professions:

     Bard. Minstrels with bright songs and inspiring tales might
relieve our bleak existence, and our Colony is worthy of a new
talc or two. Bards considering the journey to Avatar Isle must be
prepared to perform deeds of valor, not just chronicle them! Many
bards are greatly skilled with sling and crossbow, not to mention
the arcane arts - these are talents always needed here.

     Druid. We are now seeking a contingent of druids to join us
in the Abyss. We hope they might be able to use their mystic
abilities to persuade a sacred grove to take root in our chasm.
Many druids are skilled with bow or mace, and so would be doubly
useful. Druids generally shun the wearing of metal armor. Here
this is good, for in the Abyss sound carries easily, and metal
armor is noisy.

     Fighter. Those warriors wishing to join our number should be
prepared to satisfy the qualifications of our fighting society,
the Order of the Crux Ansata. Prospective Knights should have
spent their lives in martial training and have the use of all
weapons and armor. (The Order has particularly found the
double-edged Britannian sword to be a devastating weapon in the
close quarters of the Abyss.) Horses are impractical in our
surroundings, and we have no facilities to feed or stable mounts,
so leave your steeds behind. The Order's custom is that engaging
in magic is only a waste of energy for fighters - Knights leave
spell-casting to mages.

     Mage. As with the fighters, wizards desiring to join our
Colony must be ready to satisfy the entry requirements of a
fraternal organization unique to the Abyss. This is our magical
society, the Ancient Illuminated Seers of the Moonstone. Their
by-laws encourage magic-users to shun armor except that made of
cloth, and to carry no weapons beside staff, sling or dagger.
(Arcane weapons are, naturally, excluded from this limitation.)
However, no natural or magical law prevents spell casters from
using whatever armor and weapons they choose, and many of the
younger Seers opt for the heaviest arms and armor they can
manage. Still, the Seers' rules serve to keep the mage focused
on his primary purpose -- the working of magic.

     I have lately regretted not encouraging immigration by
members of this profession, as it might be useful to have
colonists experienced in both magic and combat. It is well-known
that paladins are formidable warriors and valued allies.

     Ranger. With the coming of the druids, should I be
successful in recruiting them to establish a grove in the Abyss,
we will of course also welcome woodsmen of all types. I have
often thought that rangers would be useful here to track down
intruding predators, and their training in woods lore might
enlighten us about some of the odd creatures we find.

     Shepherd. I have given some thought to the introduction of
sheep into the Abyss, and for that reason would like to encourage
shepherds to make their way to our isle. Herders vary widely in
their training, some being adept at certain weapons or even
spells, but the one certain attribute of every shepherd is a
degree of humility which would be most welcome here.

     Tinker. Our community has great need of any who can repair
metal or wooden implements (especially weapons). Such artisans
should also be warriors, due to the nature of our settlement. I
do not think that the well known tinker aversion to magic will be
a problem here, for our mages are never intrusive.

Magic of the Depths

In the first years of our settlement here in the Abyss, our mages
have learned much about the nature of magic in this most strange
place. What is written below is meant for the guidance of those
pilgrim mages who may wish to join our company, lest you bring
with you those items of great expense which will be useless to
you here.

(Many thanks to Seer Dan lock, who has advised me in places where
my natural gifts and learning failed me.)

A History of Magic

Many alive today do not realize that magic -- or the "dreadful
arts," as the mystic arts used to be known -- was once a lost art
in the land we now call Britannia. The rulers of the various
city-states recognized the great evil which could be worked
through the casting of powerful spells, and enforced a rigid ban
on the practice of magic-working.

Unfortunately, there was one who did not hold himself subject to
the rule of law. His name was Mondain, and his evil wizardry
brought about the First Age of Darkness. In order to defeat him,
certain good citizens took down from their shelves the
long-disused tomes of magic, and taught themselves the secrets of
the arcane world in order that their power might be used in
opposition to the spells of Mondain the Wicked.

     There have been many ages since the defeat of Mondain, but
the forces of evil, empowered by their knowledge of
spell-casting, have never ceased to be a threat to our peaceful
world. Therefore, our own mages have never abandoned their
studies, and have greatly added to the number and power of their
spells over time.

     A wizard who is also a true follower of the Way of the
Avatar recognizes his heavy responsibility to wisely use the
arcane powers which he possesses. The Prime Virtue of all mages
is Honesty, for a practitioner of magic must strive to be free of
illusions or contusions -- he must see the world as it really is,
and correctly assess his own limitations and improper
aspirations. Should a mage use the mystic arts for personal gain
or vengeance, he might find that his powers have deserted him.

     The ways of magic are diverse and strange, and there is much
yet to be learned by even our most advanced mages. We believe
that the magical energies are arranged in eight spheres, all
positioned about a common center, and each sphere larger than
that which precedes it. Unseen bonds link these shells of energy
with the workings of the physical plane. As a mage grows in
learning, he also grows h his ability to touch the greater
spheres of energy, until at last he can cast even the spells of
the Eighth Circle.

     An important element in the manipulation of these arcane
energies is the use of syllables of magic, for unless a mage can
speak the proper words of power, the energy of the spheres will
remain locked to him.

Runic Magic

     The magically-attuned among our original colonists quickly
discovered that the rules of magic as known in the rest of the
world do not apply to our new underground home. As any student of
our world's history must be aware, many titanic and dramatic
events have unfolded in the vicinity of the Great Stygian Abyss
-- indeed, the chasm and the isle itself originated in energies
arcane! Our foremost mages believe that the release in past times
of enormous mystic energies here has worn the dimensional fabric
thin, allowing the laws of other worlds to mingle with and even
negate certain of the mystic principles.

     Firstly, the casting of magic while within the Abyss does
not require the use of reagents. Bring no sulfurous ash, ginseng,
spider silk, nightshade, black pearls, blood moss or garlic --
you will have no need for arcane ingredients in our community.

     Secondly, new colonists should leave behind their spell
books. We have discovered a way to cast magic which works only in
the Abyss, and which does not require the user to carry a
cumbersome tome with him. There are, scattered among the
corridors in the depths, special stones charged with mystic
potency. Each of these stones is inscribed with a rune
identifying its nature. These rune stones are similar in figure
to the syllables of magic used in ordinary Britannian magic. Any
spell can be cast by a mage who possesses the rune stones
pertaining to that spell, unless the caster lacks the experience
to utilize the spells of that Circle.

     Thirdly, rune stones can only be used when they are placed
in a suitable receptacle. Our seers have enchanted special bags
for this purpose, and will provide you with a rune bag upon your
arrival.

     Fourthly. mages in the depths must develop proficiency in
the physical gestures associated with spell-casting. We have
noted spell failures here when all other conditions have been
satisfied, and we attribute these disappointments to a lack of
casting skill on the part of the wizard.

     Lastly, it is just as important for a Runic Mage to possess
Mana as it is for any other Britannian Mage, for this is the
power which must be channeled into all wizardry. The mystic
energy is restored when a mage sleeps, or sometimes by the use of
arcane objects such as scrolls.
BEASTIARY

The prospective member of our community should not be discouraged
to learn that there are many fierce beasts which inhabit the
Abyss. Numerous and diverse as they are, they have proved no
match for the swords of our Knights.


Bats

     These verminous, disease-ridden pests proliferate in the
more remote portions of the Underworld. Bats are bird-like in
aspect, but covered with a rough fur rather than feathers. Bats
make annoying foes, as they are difficult to strike and very
swift, and are almost always found in flocks.

Our Knights report finding two varieties of bat in the Abyss.
Cave Bats are not known to be fearsome antagonists, preferring to
avoid battle when they can. Being dark as midnight, they are
difficult to sight but may be detected by the high squealing
sounds they make when communicating amongst themselves. One is
easily killed with a well placed blow.

     On the other hand, the Vampire Bat is a robust creature
which seems to seek out opponents. This cunning beast -- which
can be distinguished from the Cave Bat by its red fur -- prefers
to attack from above, and may easily remain unseen by those who
keep their eyes fixed on the ground, looking for traps or gold.
Beware the bite of the Vampire Bat, for the venom it releases is
strong enough to sear one's skin.
Blood worms

     These repulsive green crawlers are distantly related to the
common Rot worms of Britannia, but are possessed of an
aggressive nature that would befit a creature ten times their
size. Sir Broderick stumbled upon a subterranean nest of these
vermin, and quickly discovered that they were not as easily
killed as Rot worms. Seeking to find a better location to make
his stand against the beasts, the Knight retreated only to
discover the worms pursuing him with single-minded determination.


     Broderick finally slew them all, only to die from poisoning
of the blood as a result of the worms' venom. His scrawled notes,
written as a selfless act by a dying man, were recently recovered
by explorers, but the good knight's body has never been found.
Fire Elementals

     These beings of fire, left in the chasms after eruptions of
lava in the last age, are among the most challenging foes of the
Abyss. First of all, one should know that these Elementals have
the ability to toss portions of themselves -- balls of living
fire -- at their opponents. Secondly, they are fearsome warriors:
quick to attack with their flaming arms, nimble enough to escape
most blows, and sturdy enough to withstand grievous damage. As
they can kill a man in only a few blows, it is often prudent to
avoid their attention by passing quietly and at a distance
(Elementals are said to be nearly blind).

Gazers

     Surely this creature was created by sorcerous means, for no
natural law could have given birth to a beast this monstrous.
Gazers float through the corridors of our chasm, and with their
many eyeballs are quick to spot intruders into their domain. Do
not underestimate the fearsomeness of this obstacle, as a Gazer's
attack -- noted by the wink of its great central eye, or the
twist of an eye stalk -- cuts as deep as a sword thrust, and this
beast seldom misses its mark.

Ghosts

     Our Seers have been at a loss to explain the presence of the
several types of spectral beings which are sometimes found
within the Underworld. We do not know whether these are the
spirits of Britannia's dead or merely beasts of an ethereal
nature. The typical Ghost is no match for an experienced warrior,
as two or three well placed blows will quench its essence, and in
such a short fight the specter cannot seriously injure its foe.

More dangerous are the rarer, more powerful ghost forms. The
White Ghost, which differs from a typical ghost by being opaque
and blazingly white in hue, is more substantial in this plane and
thus much more difficult to slay. Therefore, combat against this
foe typically takes much longer -- and the White Ghost can easily
slay its foe in such a span of time!

The most dangerous form of ethereal being to be found here is the
Dire Ghost. Dark as night and as substantial as a shadow, this
creature is difficult to see until it attacks -- when its eyes
glow a bright golden color. Seer Moonwane believes that these
ghosts are the remnants of slain monsters, based on the
observation that Dire Ghosts attack with an unmatched ferocity.

Giant Rats

     Over the centuries, the rodents of Britannia have grown ever
larger (and hunger) in the catacombs and tunnels which honeycomb
this land. Natural agility and sharp teeth are these creatures'
chief advantages. Even a single Giant Rat poses a significant
danger for a lightly armed opponent, though an experienced
warrior can slay a pack in as many blows as there are enemies.

Of the rats which have bred in the Abyss, we have distinguished
two varieties. The Giant Tan Rat, commonly found in the drier
upper levels, is an aggressive beast with the disgusting tactic
of leaping up in order to slash with its teeth at an enemy--s
throat. The Great Gray Rat is found in the lower depths, where it
feeds upon the refuse washed down from higher in the chasm.
Consequent to their revolting eating habits, these rats are
universally infected with noxious germs which they pass on with
every bite. Seldom do our Knights tangle with Great Gray Rats
without someone in the party becoming ill. Fortunately, these
rats can often be avoided, or driven off with a spirited defense.

Golems

     Whether these monsters are natural to this chasm, or whether
they were created here by Long-ago wizards experimenting with
dark forces, our wisest men cannot say. What we do know is that
the Golems attack us on sight, and that no single mortal warrior
has yet been a match for their fearsome strength and resistance
to damage.

     Each type of Golem appears to have been formed from a
different element, and they also differ somewhat in mass. The
Earth Golem, a brown-hued figure composed of solidified soil, is
the smallest. Still, it is a formidable creature best tackled
by well-armed opponents. Knight Galloway claims that he once
escaped from such a Golem by entering a maze of passageways -- he
thinks these beasts track their foes by eyesight, and are
probably hard of heating.

     The Stone Golem is larger than the Earth Golem, and can be
recognized by its gray color. As it can slay a man in as few as
two blows, and since it would seem to take many sword strikes to
slay it, our Knights only tackle this opponent in teams.

     Worst of all these unnatural creatures is the Metal Golem,
noted for its mottled rust-and-steel appearance. Few weapons
can dent this massive being, while a single blow from a Metal
Golem can leave a warrior crippled for life. Knight Galloway
concluded that Metal Golems were practically blind, but his
recent death at their hands has put this theory into disrepute.
The Headless

     Do not fall prey to pity for these wretched deformities, for
the Headless have a relentless animosity for all upright beings
with heads -they attack without thought, and give no quarter
unless on the verge of their own extinction. Having no visible
eyes or ears, it has long been a mystery how the Headless find
and pursue their prey. It is a simple matter to avoid a pack of
these beasts by exercising silence and keeping a prudent
distance.

Imps

     These damnable abominations, virtually extinct elsewhere
in Britannia, remain alive in the Abyss despite our best efforts
to slay every last one of them. They are a foul conglomeration,
part demon, part monkey and perhaps part creature or creators
unknown (to account for their hideous green coloring).

Flying lazily overhead in the larger crevices, taunting our
Knights and tossing down the occasional arcane bolt, Imps have
been a nuisance and a thorn in our flesh since our arrival. They
are poor fighters when one can draw them into hand-to-hand
combat, and can easily be slain with a sword-thrust or two ~ if
they can be enticed to fight.

Lurkers
For the most pan, these tentacled monstrosities have been more of
a nuisance than a threat. Lurkers dwell in the subterranean
rivers and channels of the Abyss, and have never been seen on
land. They are normally seen floating just below the surface of
the water, with their eyes and yellow tentacles poking out above.
We know of a few cases in which a Lurker has pursued a swimmer,
and once a beast became so enraged that it lurked at the
water's edge and attacked those along the shore.

Knight Willomar tells of encountering a more ferocious variety of
Lurker in the deeper catacombs. This Deep Lurker is reportedly
a veritable giant. (We do not know if it is a lone monster, or
one of a new sub-species.) Its great size could not be detected
from the small profile it presented above the water, but the Deep
Lurker should be recognizable by its distinctive green color.
Willomar spent many days recovering from his battle, and was for
a then wracked by a mysterious fever that poisoned his brain, but
we do not know if the disease came from the monster or from some
other source.

Mongbats

The Mongbats rank even worse than Imps as the most pestiferous
elements in our underground abode. Resembling a cross between bat
and monkey, these brown avians have no honor, but instead conduct
battle by swooping down to score a hit, then flying off to circle
out of range of one's weapons. Even worse, the beasts are so
swift and nimble that they are difficult to hit even in close
combat. These evil pests are most accurate in their diving
attacks, though fortunately they are too small to cause great
damage with any single blow. We would exterminate these vermin if
we could.

Reapers

Legend tells us that the first Reapers were born when an ancient,
enchanted forest was swallowed up in a cataclysmic upheaval long
ago. Ever since, these animate, arcane tree forms have been
found in subterranean places, often guarding some object they
fancy or patrolling their chosen territory. The common Reapers
of Britannia are fully mobile for only a brief period in their
life cycle, but the specimens to be found here can wander about
at will (though quite slowly). Although their wildly swinging
branches often miss their targets, one blow that strikes a
valiant warrior can do more damage than any sword thrust.
Therefore, Reapers are a serious menace, to be avoided by the
inexperienced warrior.

Rot worms

In the dank depths of the Underworld -where rot infects,
corrosion ruins and corruption festers -- can be found the foul
nests of these loathsome worms. Should one approach close enough
to be sensed by a Rot worm, the beast is sure to attack. An
armored warrior has little to fear from these worms, but an
ill-equipped explorer could easily be overcome by sheer numbers.

There is little we can say about this entity, or family of
entities - we obviously cannot see that which is invisible, so we
do not know how many there are. The Shadow Beast is thought to be
immensely powerful, more than a match for any single warrior.
When attacked by an unseen adversary, first look up (for a flying
attacker) and down (lest a small worm or other foe is striking)
-- if none of these be the case, then suspect the Shadow Beast
and begin to strike in all directions!

Skeletons

Perhaps a consequence of the unique, arcane nature of our Abyssal
environment, these un-dead creatures may be found almost anywhere
- some think Skeletons crawl directly out of the rock walls of
the chasm! Furthermore, these monsters are most commonly found in
groups (should you find one Skeleton, there are likely to be more
around the corner). Skeletons hate all living beings.
Fortunately, they are weak, ineffective warriors.

Slugs

Not to be mistaken for the common Slimes of Britannia, the Slugs
of the Abyss are gelatinous, amorphous entities. Their extremely
small and limited minds are entirely taken up with an insatiable
curiosity, and so Slugs are certain to follow any motion they
detect. Fortunately for explorers, Slugs have no eyes or ears,
and therefore miss much that occurs around them.

Of the two varieties of Slug found locally, the Flesh Slug --
notable for its pale fleshy color -- is the most common and least
dangerous. We are not certain if these creatures intend to bite
their victims, or of their offensive actions are accidents of
their constant writhing. Certainly, no warrior of any
experience need fear these pitiful beasts.

However, beware the greenish Acid Slug. Though only a little
larger than the Flesh Slug, the Acid Slug secretes a noxious
vapor which sometimes intoxicates its foes. Despite its fearsome
name, this Slug is not poisonous -- merely inedible.

Spiders

The repellent arachnids which patrol the depths of the Abyss are
not of the web-building kind, but roam the crevices in search of
fresh prey. The common Giant Spider is a dark gray in color.
These gargantuan spiders are midway in stature between a
bloodhound and a small pony, and since they travel in mated pairs
or clans, these creatures present a reasonable challenge to the
typical fighting man. Despite their bloated appearance and short
legs, don't be surprised by their leaping form of attack.

Smaller in form and reddish-brown in hue is the poisonous Wolf
Spider. It is the most easily killed of the large spiders, but
the Wolf Spider will likely score one or two bites (and inject
its red bile, a powerful poison) before succumbing to the
inevitable. Most Knights think this spider to be relatively
inoffensive, but Knight Vitalar reports the beasts have attacked
him whenever they have detected his presence.

The greatest adversary among the arachnids of the Abyss is the
Dread Spider. A ghostly white or light gray in color, this
creature is the equivalent in combat of two or three of its
cousins -- very sturdy and thus difficult to kill. To compound
the problem, this spider is a vicious opponent, capable of
repeatedly penetrating one's armor with its sharp bite. The Dread
Spider is one of the most venomous creatures known in the Abyss.
Wisps
Having the harmless appearance of floating bits of light, the
solitary Wisp of the Abyss would appear to be no more than a
beautiful apparition. The contrary is true. Wisps are nearly
indestructible masses of energy. and given their tremendous speed
and devastating electrical attacks, they cannot be fought by
ordinary mortals. Our Seers think them capable of casting magic
as well, and often seek them out to consult them on arcane
matters.
Afterword

The volume penned by Corby, scribe of Sir Cabirus, came into the
possession of our Library after many years of being passed on
from one reader to another. At this time, I should like to make
some historical clarification.

Firstly. there have been many suspicions about Sir Cabirus'
death. These I wish to put to rest. Corby's scrawled notes
testily that his master died in his sleep, in an ordinary though
untimely manner. There is no evidence whatever to support rumors
of murder by poison or strange magic. Such unfounded speculations
apparently helped to stir up the discord which led to the
downfall of the Abyss Colony.

Secondly, there is the matter of the theft of the eight mystic
devices which Sir Cabirus collected before his death. It was
Cabirus' plan to cement the harmony of his settlement by
presenting each of these artifacts to a different group or
faction among his community. Unfortunately, he did not leave a
guide as to how to distribute the items. This caused great
disagreement among the Colonists, and certain factions seized
those objects which they believed Cabirus meant for them. Even
the grave of Sir Cabirus was desecrated by colonists hungry for
treasure.


What follows is a description of the eight arcane devices.
Unfortunately, the precise nature of the enchantment upon the
artifacts is unknown to me.

Book of Truth. Said to have been penned by Ravenhurst of
Moonglow, a great philosopher of the past age, this book contains
meditations on the meaning of life, the importance of truth, the
fallibility of the senses, and the difficulty of seeing even what
is directly adjacent to one's mustache.

Ring of Humility. This simple ring was worn by Bill, the humble
son of Denn. Bill labored at Lord British's Museum of Oddities to
repair and preserve the exhibits, yet never asked for reward.

Cup of Wonder. This object was carved from the heartwood of an
ancient oak by one of the finest craftsmen of Skara Brae.

Shield of Valor. Once carried by Lord Blackthorn, this shield was
set aside when that noble ascended to the ruler ship of Britannia
upon the kidnapping of Lord British (a tale told in Warriors of
Destiny). It is therefore symbolic of Valor, which Blackthorn
also set aside when he became regent.

Standard of Honor. This banner was carried by none other than Sir
Geraci, who was slain at Lord British's side during the ill-fated
expedition to the Underworld (as related in Warriors of Destiny).
Though Geraci could have saved himself by fleeing, he instead
upheld his oath to serve his king until death.

Sword Caliburn. Reportedly molded after a legendary sword from
the world of the Avatar, this weapon is said to cleave truth from
falsehood.

Taper of Sacrifice. Crafted by the finest artisans of Minoc, this
candle was once used to illuminate the Shrine of Sacrifice. I am
told that none may bathe in the light from this taper without
appreciating this truth -that the candle produces light only
through its own destruction.

Wine of Compassion. Brewed by the brethren at Empath Abbey, this
noble vintage is said to open one's heart to the sufferings of
others.

Thirdly, I must warn all to avoid the Stygian Abyss. Without Sir
Cabirus to guide them. the Colonists warred among themselves.
Contact with the subterranean community has been lost for many
years, and I fear that there are no human survivors.

Herein ends the Cronicles of Cibirus as notated by the Page Hoye
and delivered to you by Boba Fet.