Log_6/Log1

DUNGEON% BANE OF THE COSMIC FORGE YOU'RE STANDING IN IT! YOU'RE STANDING IN IT! MAZE% CASTLE% "CHEST% A BOX FULL OF LOOT AND TREASURE LOOK AROUND SOME MONSTER LAIRS FIND TREASURE CHESTS IN MONSTER LAIRS TREASURE CHEST% "GOLD@ USE GOLD TO BUY ITEMS AND SERVICES LOOK FOR TREASURE CHESTS OR SELL AN ITEM HIDDEN IN TREASURE CHESTS MONEY^2IES COIN% "ITEM% YOU CAN FIND ITEMS IN THE DUNGEON FIND THEM IN THE DUNGEON OR TRADE FOR THEM HIDDEN IN TREASURE CHESTS OBJECT% ARTIFACT% WEAPON% ARMOR% THING% "DOOR% THEY ENCLOSE ROOMS AND LAIRS TRY USING A KEY ALL THROUGHOUT THE DUNGEON GATE% "KEY% TO UNLOCK DOORS AND GATES YOU'LL PROBABLY FIND THEM IN THE DUNGEON YOU MIGHT FIND ONE IN A TREASURE CHEST OR JUST LYING AROUND
TOWER% THERE ARE FOUR CASTLE TOWERS YOU MIGHT NEED A KEY TO OPEN SOME OF THE TOWERS THE TOWERS ARE AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE CASTLE
LAIR% MONSTERS LIVE IN DUNGEON LAIRS TRY OPENING A DOOR! THE DUNGEON IS FULL OF MONSTER LAIRS ROOM% MONSTER% ANY CREATURE INTENT UPON YOUR DEMISE MONSTERS KEEP THE DUNGEON FREE OF RIFF-RAFF KEEP GOING THE WAY YOU ARE GOING MONSTERS LURK ALL THROUGHOUT THE DUNGEON CREATURE%
POOL% SWIM IN POOLS EXPLORE THE DUNGEON IN THE DUNGEON
WATER% DUNGEON WATERS CAN BE HELPFUL OR DANGEROUS EXPLORE THE DUNGEON IN THE DUNGEON RIVER% "FOUNTAIN% DRINK FROM FOUNTAINS EXPLORE THE DUNGEON IN THE DUNGEON "SWIM% WATER SURVIVAL TECHNIQUE LEARN BY DOING! IN ANY DUNGEON POOL "DRINK% A DRINK OF WATER FIND A FOUNTAIN AT A FOUNTAIN "TREASURE% GOLD, WEAPONS AND ARMOR EXPLORE THE DUNGEON AND OPEN TREASURE CHESTS IN MONSTER LAIRS AND TREASURE CHESTS LOOT% "MAGIC@ IT'S POWERFUL STUFF MAGIC IS ALL AROUND US... MAGIC IS ALL AROUND US... "COSMIC FORGE@ I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS... I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW "DANGER% HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH KEEP GOING THE WAY YOU'RE GOING! EVERYWHERE! DANGEROUS@ "STAIR% STAIRS LEAD TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CASTLE WANDER AROUND, I'M SURE YOU'LL SEE THEM ALL OVER THE CASTLE, IT'S HARD TO MISS THEM DOWNSTAIR%

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YOU@ I AM CHARRON, FERRYMAN OF ASHES I FERRY THE RIVER STYX I FERRY THE RIVER STYX THE RIVER STYX WE^2US CHARRON@ "DEAD^1TH THE ISLE OF THE DEAD, LAND OF DEATH THE ISLE OF THE DEAD, LAND OF DEATH THE ISLE OF THE DEAD, LAND OF DEATH "ASH^0ES THE REMAINS OF THE DEAD I PAY A 500 GOLD FINDER'S FEE FOR ASHES THE DEAD BELONG TO THE ISLE OF THE DEAD KING@ THAT IS A QUESTION YOU MUST ANSWER YOURSELF! ALIVE IN THE LAND OF DEATH! XORPHITUS@ A LOST AND CONFUSED SOUL A LOST AND CONFUSED SOUL THAT IS A QUESTION YOU MUST ANSWER YOURSELF! HE IS DEAD, BUT STILL LIVES ON! WIZARD@ REBECCA@ AHH! THE DEMON CHILD WHO SENT ME THE QUEEN! AHH! THE DEMON CHILD WHO SENT ME THE QUEEN! THAT IS A QUESTION YOU MUST ANSWER YOURSELF! FIND THE KING AND SHE WON'T BE FAR BEHIND! DEMON CHILD@ QUEEN@ HER SPIRIT CRIES FOR REVENGE! HER SPIRIT CRIES FOR REVENGE! THAT IS A QUESTION YOU MUST ANSWER YOURSELF! YOU WILL FIND HER IN THE LAND OF DEATH
RIVER STYX@ THE RIVER STYX THERE ARE MANY WAYS... WE ARE AT THE EDGE OF IT... RIVER@ STYX@ FERRY^0MAN I AM THE FERRYMAN OF THE DEAD I FERRY ASHES TO THE ISLE OF THE DEAD I FERRY ASHES TO THE ISLE OF THE DEAD THE RIVER STYX

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YOU@ I AM IN FACT, A CATERPILLAR... I AM IN FACT, A CATERPILLAR... I WISH I COULD HAVE A SMOKE! THE CASTLE SWAMPLANDS WE^2US CATERPILLAR@ "TOADSTOOL% WONDERFUL INVENTIONS, EH WOT?! SOME PEOPLE TRY EATING THEM, WHILE OTHERS MERELY REST UPON THEM I HAPPEN TO BE SITTING ON ONE AT THIS VERY MOMENT! MUSHROOM% "SMOKE@ "HOOKAH@ PIPE% RABBIT% HE WAS RUNNING LATE! HE WAS RUNNING LATE! HE LEFT ALREADY! HE LEFT ALREADY! HARE% BUNNY^1IES "TRACK% DEE-TEE-DEE, HOPPING DOWN THE BUNNY TRAIL... DEE-TEE-DEE, HOPPING DOWN THE BUNNY TRAIL... I HAVEN'T THE FOGGIEST! TRAIL% SWAMP% THE CASTLE SWAMPLANDS... THE SWAMP IS FULL OF DANGER! WE SO HAPPEN TO BE STANDING IN IT AT THIS VERY MOMENT! "PEN@ THIS IS JUST AN ORDINARY WRITING PEN I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THAT I HAVE THIS PEN, BUT I NEED IT "FORMULA% I'M TRYING TO CALCULATE WHERE MY PIPE IS! I'M TRYING TO CALCULATE WHERE MY PIPE IS! I'M WORKING ON IT NOW... WRITE^1ING BOTTLE ORACLE@ ORACLE@ "BOTTLE% I DON'T HAVE A BOTTLE, SORRY I DON'T KNOW YOU SHOULD LEAVE THE BOTTLE AT THE BOTTLE ORACLE SIGN "CLAIM NUMBER@ CLAIM #@ "38-23-36@ DON'T TELL ME, TELL THE STORAGE CLERK! DON'T TELL ME, TELL THE STORAGE CLERK! DON'T TELL ME, TELL THE STORAGE CLERK! DON'T TELL ME, TELL THE STORAGE CLERK!
STORAGE@ I REMEMBER A STORAGE FACILITY ON THE ISLE OF THE KEEP! I REMEMBER A STORAGE FACILITY ON THE ISLE OF THE KEEP! I REMEMBER A STORAGE FACILITY ON THE ISLE OF THE KEEP! KEEP@ "RECLAMATION@ THAT'S JUST WHAT IT SAID! TELL THE CLERK AT THE STORAGE FACILITY! TRY THE STORAGE FACILITY! "INCENSE@ *SNIFF* MMMM! I JUST LOVE THE SMELL OF SMOKE! HOWEVER YOU LIKE... WHEREVER YOU LIKE... "BOTTLE ORACLE"@

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YOU@ I AM MAI-LAI I'M THE CLERK OF THE STORAGE FACILITY I HAVE NO MORE ROOM FOR STORAGE AT THE MOMENT WE ARE ON THE ISLE OF THE KEEP WE^2US MAI-LAI@ "STORAGE@ WE KEEP THINGS IN STORAGE I HAVE NO MORE ROOM AT THE MOMENT HERE ON THE ISLE OF THE KEEP VAULT@ "RECLAMATION@



 "CLAIM NUMBER% WITHOUT A CLAIM #, I CAN'T HELP YOU YOU SHOULD KNOW IT! YOU SHOULD KNOW IT! "CLAIM #@ BORK@ BORK IS ONE OF THE GUARDS BORK SAYS HE'S BORED AND WANTS SOME ACTION BORK IS FOURTEEN INCHES TALL AND CAN THROW AN ELEPHANT! BORK HELPS GUARD THE VAULT
KEEP@ THE KEEP IS A STORAGE FACILITY WE HAVE NO MORE ROOM AT THE MOMENT HERE ON THE ISLE OF THE KEEP

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YOU@ I AM SAEREN! I AM QUEEN OF THE FAERIES! WE LIVE IN THE FOREST! THE ENCHANTED FOREST! WE^2US SAEREN@
DARK FOREST@ YOU MUST FIND YOUR OWN WAY TO THE EAST OF THE ENCHANTED FOREST
FOREST% HAVE YOU BEEN INTO THE DARK FOREST? HAVE YOU BEEN INTO THE DARK FOREST? HAVE YOU BEEN INTO THE DARK FOREST?
CAVE% THE DELPHI LIVES IN A CAVE IN THE DARK FOREST! TRAVEL THROUGH THE DARK FOREST TO FIND THE CAVE! THE DELPHI LIVES IN A CAVE IN THE DARK FOREST! APPARITION% YOU MET THE DELPHI! YOU MET THE DELPHI! YOU MET THE DELPHI! YOU MET THE DELPHI! DELPHI@ THE DELPHI KNOWS ALL! THE DELPHI KNOWS ALL! THE DELPHI LIVES IN A CAVE IN THE DARK FOREST! FAERIE% WE ARE FAERIES! WE LIVE IN THE ENCHANTED FOREST! WE LOVE TO PLAY IN THE FOREST! ALL AROUND US! FAIRY^1IES

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YOU@ I AM L'MONTES I LIVE IN THE CASTLE TOWER I LIVE IN THE CASTLE TOWER RIGHT HERE, OF COURSE! WE^2US L'MONTES@
TOWER% THE TOWERS CAN BE SO GLOOMY (*SIGH*) CLIMB THE TOWER STAIRS! AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE CASTLE CASTLE TOWER% CAPTAIN@ THE CAPTAIN OF OUR ILL-FATED SHIP! HE WAS THE MEANEST CUR THAT EVER TRAVELED THE SEVEN SEAS! GO DOWNSTAIRS TO THE OLD CASTLE BARRACKS HE'S LOCKED IN THE OLD CASTLE BARRACKS
BARRACK% WHERE THE CASTLE GUARDS USED TO LIVE GO DOWNSTAIRS BELOW THE CASTLE DOWNSTAIRS BELOW THE CASTLE CASTLE BARRACK% "MIST% THE RIVER MISTS! IT'S EASY TO GET LOST AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER
SEA% THE SEA IS FAR AWAY JOURNEY UP THE RIVER AT THE END OF THE LAND! SNOOPCHERI@ MON AMI! SHE'S WHITE WITH A LARGE BLACK NOSE AND LONG BLACK EARS! THE CAPTAIN TOOK MY BELOVED SNOOPCHERI! THE CAPTAIN TOOK MY BELOVED SNOOPCHERI! BELOVED@ "SHIP% WE CAME HERE IN A SHIP! TRAVEL UP THE DARK RIVER! WRECKED UPON THE RIVER SHIPWRECK% "RIVER% THE UNDERGROUND RIVER! LOOK DEEP BELOW! BEYOND THE MISTS!

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YOU@ I AM CALLED QUEEQUEG THAT IS NOT YOUR CONCERN WHO KNOWS... WHERE ARE WE, INDEED! WE^2US QUEEQUEG@ L'MONTES@ AH! L'MONTES - THE MAD FRENCHMAN! THE CAPTAIN TOOK HIS BELOVED, WHICH DROVE HIM MAD! CLIMB THE CASTLE TOWERS HE LIVES IN A CASTLE TOWER FRENCHMAN@ CAPTAIN@ A RATHER OMINOUS FELLOW HE'S THE BOSS OF THE "CAPTAIN'S DEN" THE MAD FRENCHMAN LOCKED HIM UP IN THE "CAPTAIN'S DEN" HE'S LOCKED UP IN THE "CAPTAIN'S DEN" BOSS@ "MAD@ THE FRENCHMAN IS MAD! THE CAPTAIN TOOK HIS BELOVED! HE LOCKED UP THE CAPTAIN! HE LIVES IN A CASTLE TOWER "PASSWORD% I'LL TELL YOU THE PASSWORD, BUT FIRST I NEED INFORMATION I'LL TELL YOU THE PASSWORD, BUT FIRST I NEED INFORMATION I'LL TELL YOU THE PASSWORD, BUT FIRST I NEED INFORMATION "INFORMATION@ INFO@ "TREASURE% THE CAPTAIN BURIED A TREASURE CHEST SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY! THAT'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO TELL ME! I WANT TO KNOW THE SAME THING! CHEST% BELOVED@ THE BELOVED OF L'MONTES! THE FRENCHMAN SEARCHES STILL! THE CAPTAIN MIGHT KNOW! THE CAPTAIN TOOK HIS BELOVED! SNOOPCHERI@
DEN@ THE LOCAL SEEDY HANGOUT OF ILL-REPUTE! YOU MUST KNOW THE PASSWORD TO GET IN NOT FAR FROM HERE BUT YOU NEED THE PASSWORD HANGOUT% "CAPTAIN'S DEN"@
GIANT MOUNTAIN@ "GIANT MOUNTAIN"@
MOUNTAIN% THERE ARE MANY MOUNTAINS! THE MOUNTAINS ARE FAR AWAY THE MOUNTAINS ARE FAR AWAY

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YOU@ MY NAME IS MYSTAPHAPHAS I WAS APPRENTICE TO XORPHITUS, THE WIZARD I WASN'T ALWAYS A SNAKE, YOU KNOW! ARE YOU DAFT?! WE^2US MYSTAPHAPHAS@ XORPHITUS@ XORPHITUS THE WIZARD XORPHITUS IS A POWERFUL WIZARD, OR AT LEAST HE WAS... I WOULD PRESUME TO FIND HIM IN HIS LAIR I WOULD PRESUME TO FIND HIM IN HIS LAIR WIZARD@ APPRENTICE% I WAS AN APPRENTICE TO XORPHITUS! I DABBLED IN MAGIC, SPELLS AND SUCH... WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? WHO'S ASKING? "MAGIC@ XORPHITUS WOULD KNOW ABOUT MAGIC XORPHITUS WOULD HAVE ALL KINDS OF MAGIC XORPHITUS KEEPS MAGIC HIDDEN IN HIS LAIR SPELL% SNAKE% I'M A SNAKE, SO WHAT OF IT?! I SUPPOSE THERE ARE WORSE THINGS THAN BEING A SNAKE... WHY ASK ME, AFTER ALL, I'M JUST A SNAKE... WHY ASK ME, AFTER ALL, I'M JUST A SNAKE... "HUNGRY@ DARNED TOOTIN' I'M HUNGRY! DARNED TOOTIN' I'M HUNGRY! WAIT AROUND FOR A HUNDRED YEARS LIKE I DID! TELL ME ABOUT IT! KING@ AH YES, THE KING... AH YES, THE KING... DON'T KNOW AND DON'T CARE! DON'T KNOW AND DON'T CARE!
LAIR% THE LAIR IS WHERE XORPHITUS LIVES THERE IS A MAGIC RING WHICH OPENS THE ENTRANCE TO THE LAIR THE WIZARD'S LAIR IS UNDER THE CASTLE, NEAR THE SKULL DOOR "PEN@ THAT ACCURSED PEN! I DON'T KNOW, BUT IF IT'S STILL AROUND I WANT OUT OF HERE! I DON'T KNOW, BUT IF IT'S STILL AROUND I WANT OUT OF HERE! COSMIC FORGE@ "BANE@ THE BANE OF THE COSMIC FORGE! JUST USE THE PEN! JUST USE THE PEN!
SKULL DOOR@ THE SKULL DOOR LEADS DOWN TO DEATH! YOU NEED THE TWO GEMS TO OPEN THE SKULL DOOR THE SKULL DOOR IS UNDER THE CASTLE, NEAR THE WIZARD'S LAIR "GEM% I KNOW YOU NEED TWO GEMS TO OPEN THE SKULL DOOR XORPHITUS HID THEM TO SEAL OFF DEATH XORPHITUS HID THEM TO SEAL OFF DEATH "DEATH@ THE DEATH BEHIND THE SKULL DOOR! DEATH WAITS BEHIND THE SKULL DOOR! DEATH WAITS BEHIND THE SKULL DOOR! "RING% THE WIZARD USED A RING TO OPEN HIS LAIR! XORPHITUS HAS A MAGIC RING XORPHITUS HAS A MAGIC RING QUEEN@ THE QUEEN OF THE KING! APPARENTLY, SHE'S A SAURIOPHILE! I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER... I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER...

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YOU@ FOLKS CALLS ME SMITTY! I'S A RESTAURANTREPRENEUR! FIXER OF FOOD'S N' FORGIN' FER FORTUNE!! I MAKE'S ME HOME HERE IN THE MINES YOU TELLS ME! WE^2US SMITTY@
MINE% SEEMS WE ALWAYS BEEN DIGGIN' IN THE MINES... IT TAKES AWHILE TO LEARN YER WAY AROUND YER IN THE MINES! "DIG^0GING I DUNNO WHATS WE'RE DIGGIN FER! I DON'T THINKS ANYONE DOES ANYMORE! WHY WOULD YA WANTS TA DO THAT? NOT AROUND THESE PARTS YA DON'T! WE ALREADY'S GOT IT STAKED OUT! "FOOD@ MMMM... EDIBLES... I'S A PRETTY MEAN COOK! DIDN'T YA READS THE SIGN?? YA CAN BUYS IT RIGHT HERE! GRILL@ COOK@ "FORGE^1ING I CAN MENDS AND FIX THINGS WITH ME FORGE! O COURSE, I'S NEEDS SOMETHING TA WORK ON, IF YA GETS ME DRIFT... I GOTS A FORGE TA FIX THINGS WITH RIGHT HERE! FIX^0ING "SPROCKET% I'D HAVES TA TAKE A LOOKS AT ONE FIRST... GIVES IT TA ME AND LET ME TAKES A LOOK... IF YA GOT'S ONE THEN LET ME TAKE A LOOKS AT IT... "SIGN@ YA KNOW, SMITTY'S FORGE N' GRILL! IT'S RIGHT OUTSIDE THA DOOR! IT'S RIGHT OUTSIDE THA DOOR! STRANGER% WHY'S, IF I KNEW THAT THEN THEY'S WOULDN'T BE STRANGERS!! SHHHH! I'S HEARD TALES OF STRANGER'S COME INTA THESE PARTS! DON'T KNOW... HAVE YA SEEN ANYBODY SUSPICIOUS LATELY? DON'T KNOW... HAVE YA SEEN ANYBODY SUSPICIOUS LATELY?

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YOU@ I AM THE GUARDIAN OF THE ROCK! I AM THE GUARDIAN OF THE ROCK! WHAT DO YOU WANT? WHAT DO YOU WANT? WE^2US GUARDIAN@ "ROCK% "GEM%

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YOU@ I AM QUEEN OF THE AMAZULU! I AM QUEEN OF THE AMAZULU! I RULE THE TEMPLE OF MAU-MU-MU! THE TEMPLE OF MAU-MU-MU! WE^2US QUEEN@ AMAZULU% WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE TEMPLE WE GUARD THE TEMPLE OF MAU-MU-MU WE GUARD THE TEMPLE OF MAU-MU-MU WE GUARD THE TEMPLE OF MAU-MU-MU
TEMPLE@ THE TEMPLE OF MAU-MU-MU WE ARE HIGH ATOP THE TEMPLE AT THE FOOT OF MAU-MU-MU! PYRAMID@ SACRED GROUND% CHOSEN@ THAT IS NOT YOUR CONCERN! THE CHOSEN ONES OF MAU-MU-MU! ONLY IF MAU-MU-MU SHALL CHOOSE YOU! WE GUARD THE TEMPLE OF MAU-MU-MU MAU-MU-MU@ THE GUARDIAN OF THE ROCK! THE GUARDIAN OF THE ROCK! WALK THE FIERY PATH! HE LIVES IN THE POOL OF FIRE! GUARDIAN@
POOL@ THE POOL OF FIRE IS HOME OF MAU-MU-MU! WALK THE FIERY PATH! AT THE END OF THE FIERY PATH! FURNACE@ HOT@ "PATH@ THE PATH TO MAU-MU-MU! ONLY THE CHOSEN MAY WALK THE PATH! THE PATH BETWEEN THE TEMPLE AND THE POOL OF FIRE "ROCK%				 "GEM%				 SACRIFICE^0D YOU WILL DO NICELY! MAU-MU-MU DEMANDS A SACRIFICE! MAU-MU-MU SHALL DECIDE! SACRIFICED INTO THE POOL OF FIRE! "GIFT% LAY YOUR GIFTS BEFORE ME! LAY YOUR GIFTS BEFORE ME! LAY YOUR GIFTS BEFORE ME! OFFERING%

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YOU@ I AM KUWALI KUBONA, HIGH PRIESTESS OF MAU-MU-MU! I AM KUWALI KUBONA, HIGH PRIESTESS OF MAU-MU-MU! WE DWELL IN THE TEMPLE OF MAU-MU-MU! WE DWELL IN THE TEMPLE OF MAU-MU-MU! WE^2US PRIESTESS@ KUWALI@ "DEAL% I KNOW HOW TO TREAT YOU RIGHT! I KNOW HOW TO TREAT YOU RIGHT! I KNOW HOW TO TREAT YOU RIGHT! TRADE@ "TREAT@ I HAVE SOMETHING FOR ALL! I HAVE SOMETHING FOR ALL! I HAVE SOMETHING FOR ALL! HOTHEAD@ SSSHHH! MAU-MU-MU MIGHT HEAR YOU! SSSHHH! MAU-MU-MU MIGHT HEAR YOU! MAU-MU-MU LIVES IN THE POOL OF FIRE! MAU-MU-MU LIVES IN THE POOL OF FIRE! MAU-MU-MU@ "BUN% SAY, HOW ABOUT WE MAKE OUR OWN LITTLE FIRE... SAY, HOW ABOUT WE MAKE OUR OWN LITTLE FIRE... SAY, HOW ABOUT WE MAKE OUR OWN LITTLE FIRE... "FIRE% BUT FIRST YOU MUST PROVE YOURSELF! BUT FIRST YOU MUST PROVE YOURSELF! BUT FIRST YOU MUST PROVE YOURSELF! "PROVE@ BY ENTERING THE POOL OF FIRE! BY ENTERING THE POOL OF FIRE! BY ENTERING THE POOL OF FIRE!
POOL@ THE POOL OF FIRE, HOME OF MAU-MU-MU! THE POOL OF FIRE, HOME OF MAU-MU-MU! THE POOL OF FIRE, HOME OF MAU-MU-MU! QUEEN@ THE QUEEN ISN'T WEARING ANY UNDERWEAR! THE QUEEN ISN'T WEARING ANY UNDERWEAR! SHHHHH! SHE'S RIGHT BEHIND US! SHHHHH! SHE'S RIGHT BEHIND US!

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you_fell_to_your_death

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APPROACHING THE GATE WITH CONFIDENCE, YOU KNOW IF THINGS GET TOO HAIRY YOU  ^CAN ALWAYS TURN AND RUN BACK OUT...

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HMMMM...

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YOU ARE IN THE ENTRANCE CHAMBER OF THE CASTLE.  IT APPEARS TO BE EMPTY, AND A ^HEAVY COAT OF DUST COVERS THE FLOOR.

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SMALL SCAMPERING NOISES ECHO DOWN FAR DISTANT CORRIDORS, A REMINDER THAT IT ^IS YOU WHO ARE THE INTRUDER HERE...

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ROTTED WOOD IS ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE BROKEN FURNISHINGS SCATTERED ABOUT THE ^ROOM.

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PILES OF ROTTED FURNITURE LIE STREWN AROUND THE ROOM. IN THE CENTER RESTS THE REMAINS OF A MASSIVE WOOD TABLE, SUGGESTING A FORMER MEETING CHAMBER.

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A FEW REMNANTS OF BROKEN CHAIRS LIE CLUMPED IN THIS ONCE DAINTY PARLOR.

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ONLY DUST AND COBWEBS REMAIN IN THIS ^NOW EMPTY ROOM.

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NEATLY INSCRIBED UPON THE METAL FACE ^OF THE CHEST ARE THESE WORDS: 
 OPEN ME FIRST 

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INSIDE THE CHEST ARE SEVERAL ITEMS ^AND A SCROLL WHICH READS:

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A CURE BUT TWICE, AND HEALING THRICE, ONE LIFE FOR THEE TIMES SEVEN

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NEATLY INSCRIBED UPON THE METAL FACE ^OF THE CHEST ARE THESE WORDS: 
 OPEN ME SECOND 

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INSIDE THE CHEST ARE SOME GOLD COINS, ^A SWORD, AND A SCROLL WHICH READS:

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BEWARE THE NARROW CORRIDORS OF THE MIND

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INSIDE THE CHEST ARE SOME KEYS, A ^STAFF, AND A SCROLL WHICH READS:

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BEWARE THE CANNON FODDER OF THE MIND

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BARE STONE SHELVES LINE THE WALLS OF ^THIS FORMER PANTRY.

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THE MAJESTIC SPLENDOR FADED LONG AGO FROM THIS GRAND HALL.  THE CORPSE OF A DECAYING DINING TABLE, LONG ENOUGH FOR HALF A HUNDRED PEOPLE, NOW RESTS ^CRUMBLING UPON THE FLOOR.

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AN OLD STONE OVEN AND FALLEN SHELVES TELL OF A KITCHEN WHERE ROYAL FEASTS WERE ONCE PREPARED. NOW IT IS "TIME" WHO IS THE CHEF, AND THE KITCHEN HAS ^BECOME THE MEAL.

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FIBROUS SHREADS OF STAINED ROT CLING TO THE WALLS WHERE COLORFUL TAPESTRY ONCE PROCLAIMED  SOVEREIGNTY IN THIS OFFICIAL CHAMBER. WITH GRIM MOCKERY, THE SWEETER TASTE OF A MIGHTY THRONE PERCHED HIGH ABOVE THE ROOM HAS LONG TURNED SOUR, AS IT SITS CONDEMNED TO LANGUISH IN ITS OWN FINAL SENTENCE.  IF THERE IS ANY LAST JUDGEMENT TO BE DECREED UPON THIS FALLEN CHAMBER AND TARNISHED THRONE, IT MUST BE GLEANED FROM THE DECAY THAT IT LAPS UPON ITS OWN DAIS AS ITSELF FESTERS AND ROTS, BEARING WITNESS TO EMPTINESS,  FILTH AND  STENCH,  SILENTLY WEEPING TEARS ^OF ITS OWNED DESPOILED SUBSTANCE.

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A FALLEN DESK AND SEVERAL CHAIRS LIE CRUMPLED ON THE FLOOR  OF THIS REGAL PRIVATE CHAMBER, NO DOUBT A PLACE OF ^COUNSEL AND COSTLY BARGAINING.

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SEARCHING THROUGH THE REMAINS OF THE DESK, YOU FIND AN OLD TORN PARCHMENT ^WHICH READS:

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"SUMMONS OF THE VICAR AND MISTRESS,  TO BE PAID 100 GOLD PIECES FOR THE  SALE OF THE DAUGHTER REBECCA..."

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OTHER PARTS OF THE DOCUMENT ARE ^EITHER MISSING OR ILLEGIBLE.

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ALTHOUGH THIS SMALL CHAMBER SEEMS AS DILAPIDATED AS THE OTHERS,  PECULIAR OBTRUSIONS UP THROUGH THE FLOOR SHOW SIGNS OF A MORE RECENT INVASION MADE ^BY ENTITIES UNKNOWN.

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EXAMINING THE OBTRUSIONS, YOU DETECT A DRIED OLIVE GOO AROUND SOME OF THE ^UPLIFTED FLOORSTONES.

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   KEEP GATE CLOSED     DURING SERVICE HOURS  

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YOU HEAR SOME KIND OF RUSTLE OR FLAP FROM SOMEWHERE NEARBY. PERHAPS IT IS ONLY THE WIND DESCENDING FROM ONE OF ^THE TOWERS...

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YOU HEARD SOMETHING GO "BUMP" AROUND ^THE CORNER UP AHEAD...

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YOU HEAR THE CLATTERING OF FOOTSTEPS RUNNING UP THE STAIRS AHEAD OF YOU!

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YOU SEE SOME BREAD CRUMBS SCATTERED ON THE FLOOR OF THE TOWER, SOFTLY BLOWING ^AWAY IN THE WIND...

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SUDDENLY A DOOR SLAMS TO THE RIGHT!

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FROM BEHIND THE DOOR YOU HEAR A VERY STRANGE NOISE. IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS  PRESSING UP AGAINST IT ^AND BREATHING HEAVILY...

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YOU SENSE THAT SOMETHING IS AMISS...

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YOU ARE BEING WATCHED...

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LOOKING UPWARD, A MULTITUDE OF BATS ARE DELICATELY POISED DIRECTLY OVER ^YOUR HEAD IN THE TOWER RAFTERS...

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SUDDENLY THE BATS ATTACK!

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SUDDENLY A TOWER RAFTER COLLAPSES!

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INSPECTING THE RAFTER, IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE FALLING BEAM WAS A BOOBY TRAP OR WHETHER IT FELL DUE TO DECAY ^AMONG THE SUPPORT TIMBERS...

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PILES OF OLD DEBRIS CROWD THIS SMALL TOWER ROOM, MOST OF IT LOOKING QUITE ^ROTTED.

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YOU FOUND A BOW AND SOME ARROWS WHICH ^APPEAR TO BE USABLE...

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YOU FOUND A CRUSTY OLD CHEST!

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YOU FOUND A MOLDY OLD BREASTPLATE OF LEATHER, AND THOUGH WORN, SEEMS GOOD ^ENOUGH TO BE EFFECTIVE...

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353600 SEARCH THE CARCASS FOR DETAILS PUSH THE CARCASS OFF THE TOWER LEAVE THE CARCASS ALONE

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THE SMELLY CARCASS OF SOMETHING DEAD IS LYING ON THE TOWER LEDGE DIRECTLY OVERLOOKING THE MOAT. IT HAS DECAYED BEYOND THE POINT OF RECOGNITION WITH ^NO INDICATION OF HOW IT DIED.

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YOU PUSH THE REMAINS OVER THE EDGE OF THE TOWER, AND MOMENTS LATER HEAR THE ^FAINT SPLASH AS THEY HIT THE MOAT.

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WHEN YOU MOVE THE CARCASS, A HORRIBLE STENCH EXPLODES FROM ITS BODY, GIVING EVERYONE A FULL DOSE OF THE PUTRIFIED ^REMAINS.

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LOOKING SOUTHWARD, YOU SEE FAR BEYOND THE CASTLE GATE INTO THE DISTANT BLUE ^MOUNTAINS.

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TO THE EAST IS THE EDGE OF THE SWAMP, A COLD AND GLOOMY PLACE THAT FORBODES A LAND OF EVIL.  PERHAPS THE TALES OF DEMONS AND WITCHES AREN'T JUST RUMORS ^AFTER ALL...

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LOOKING OUT ACROSS THE TOWER'S EDGE, THE NORTH FOREST SPANS AS FAR AS THE ^EYE CAN SEE.

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PLUMES OF SMOKE ARISE FROM FIERY PITS FAR TO THE WEST,  TESTAMENT TO AN ERA ^WHICH SHOULD HAVE PASSED LONG AGO...

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PIECES OF OLD BONE LITTER THE GROUND, AND DEEP RED STAINS COLOR THE EARTH.

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LODGED WITHIN THE THROAT OF A CRUSHED SKULL YOU DISCOVER A STRANGE KEY,  AS IF THE DECEASED WAS TRYING TO SWALLOW ^IT WHEN...

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EVERYONE LANDS WITH A SHARP "THUD!"

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YOU SEE SOMETHING MOVE INSIDE THE BARS ^OF A GATE IN FRONT OF YOU...

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RAPID MOVEMENT FLASHES ACROSS THE GATE ^ONCE MORE...

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ONLY A FAINT BLUR OF MOTION IS SEEN AS THE THING DARTS THROUGH THE GATEWAY TO ^ATTACK THE PARTY...

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AN ODD VOICE SPEAKS FROM BEHIND THE ^DOOR:

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"GO AWAY!"

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I SAID, "GO AWAY!!"

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"I'M NOT COMING OUT, WHOEVER YOU ARE, AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"

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SNOOPCHERIBELOVED

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"YOU FOUND SNOOPCHERI?!"

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"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO!!"
"COME IN, COME IN!"

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EVEN THROUGH THE DECAY OF MANY YEARS, THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THIS FORMER SUITE IS STILL PERCEPTIBLE, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS THE MASTER BED CHAMBER. NO DOUBT THE LORD  OF THE CASTLE MADE THIS HIS PERSONAL QUARTERS. THE WALLS ARE A PANORAMA OF HAND-PAINTED MURALS AND EVERY NOOK AND EDIFICE  SHOWS THE HANDIWORK OF FINELY SKILLED ARTISANS. EVEN WITHIN THIS DARKENED RUIN, A BIT OF THE WONDROUS SPLENDOR THAT USED TO ^SHINE HERE STILL LIVES. THE DECOMPOSED REMNANTS OF A TOWERING BED HAVE SLUMPED AGAINST THE FAR WALL AND REMAINS OF FURNISHINGS LIE SPREAD ^THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.

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ROTTED SHELVES AND DECOMPOSING BOOKS HAVE FALLEN TO THE FLOOR SURROUNDING THE WALLS OF THIS FORMER LIBRARY AND STUDY. AGAINST THE WALL AHEAD OF YOU IS A BROKEN COLLAPSED DESK.  MOST OF THE BOOKS HAVE  TOTALLY DETERIORATED AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THEM. A FEW HOWEVER HAVE LEGIBLE TITLES AND ^YOU LOOK THEM OVER:

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#

"YE HISTRY OF YE WURLD"

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#

"ACADEMIA MATHEMATICA"

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#

"15 LBS IN A FORTNIGHT ^ AND HOW TO KEEP IT OFF"

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#

"TALES OF YE MAGIKALS"

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OF ALL OF THESE,  ONLY THE LAST TWO SHOW ANY PROMISE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY BOTH ARE SO BLACKENED WITH ROT THAT YOU GET LITTLE FROM THEM EXCEPT FOR AN INTERESTING RECIPE FOR CABBAGE.

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252500 STAND BACK AND PULL THE WIRE CROUCH LOW AND PULL THE WIRE LEAVE THE WIRE ALONE

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SEARCHING AMONG THE RUINS OF THE DESK YOU FIND A PIECE OF WIRE LEADING FROM ^THE DESK INTO THE WALL...

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YOU TRIGGERED A SECRET CACHE!

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OPENING THE JEWEL BOX, YOU FIND A KEY AND A SMALL BOOK. THE BOOK REMAINS IN GOOD CONDITION AND APPEARS TO BE SOME KIND OF DIARY OR NOTEBOOK, WRITTEN IN ^A STRANGE UNDECIPHERABLE CODE.

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SEVERAL ROTTED COTS AND AN OLD FLOWER POT ARE ALL THAT REMAIN HERE.  WITHIN THESE SIMPLE QUARTERS  YOU RECALL THE STORY OF THE SERVANT GIRL, GIVEN WITH A CHILD RUMORED TO BE AN ILLEGITIMATE SON OF THE KING. ALTHOUGH NOTHING WAS EVER PROVED, SUPPOSEDLY THE KING CAME TO HER BED ONCE A WEEK EVERY NIGHT OF HER 14TH YEAR. DESPITE THE RELENTLESS EFFORTS OF THE QUEEN, SHE NEVER COULD CATCH HIM IN THE ACT, AND SOON IT WAS WHISPERED THAT THE KING HAD SOME KIND OF SECRET MAGICAL POWERS THAT ENABLED ^HIM TO WALK THROUGH WALLS.

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THE ROOM IS RATHER DULL, HAVING BLANK WALLS AND NO FURNISHINGS,  SAVE FOR A ^FEW DECOMPOSED COTS.

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THIS ROOM WAS ONCE A BEAUTIFUL PARLOR WITH  ORNAMENTAL FURNITURE  AND GAYLY PAINTED WALLS.  NOW, ITS COLOURS HAVE FADED AND TURNED DULL, AND THE CHAIRS ^HAVE ALL TURNED TO DUST.

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AN OLD WOODEN TABLE AND SEVERAL CHAIRS ARE ROTTING AWAY IN THE  CENTER OF THE ROOM, AND FRAGMENTS OF  BROKEN FLAGONS ^AND RUBBLE COVER THE FLOOR.

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YOU FOUND A RING WITH TWO ODD LOOKING BLACK KEYS, EACH WITH A HANDLE IN THE ^SHAPE OF A SMALL SPADE.

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THIS IMPRESSIVE LOOKING SUITE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SOME KIND OF GUEST ROOM, AN INFERENCE MADE BY EXAMINING A TINY ^PLACARD BEHIND THE DOOR WHICH READS:

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 CHECKOUT  10 AM 

#

YOU STEP INTO A  ROOM WHOSE WALLS ARE ALABASTER CARVINGS OF CHERUBS, ROSES, AND VINES, AND THOUGH THE PLASTER HAS LONG TURNED DARK, THE DETAIL OF THESE ORNAMENTATIONS IS STILL AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE TO BEHOLD.  THE FOSSIL OF A BED THAT SPANNED A WIDTH GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF THREE MEN RESTS IN RUIN UPON THE FLOOR, AND SCATTERED THROUGH THE ROOM ARE PILES OF ROTTED WOODWORK THAT USED TO BE FURNITURE. THIS SUITE IS MOST CERTAINLY  THE FORMER CHAMBER OF THE QUEEN, AND IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHETHER THE RUMORS ABOUT HER PECULIAR ^RITUALS WITH YOUNG MEN WERE TRUE.

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BRIGHTLY PAINTED WALLS USED TO ACCENT THIS SMALL BOUDOIR, AND THOUGH IT HAS LOST ITS ORIGINAL LUSTER, IT HAS KEPT ITS LIGHTHEARTED AND FESTIVE APPEAL.

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INSIDE THE TRUNK IS A RATHER SHOCKING ARTICLE OF, WELL, ARMOR OR SOMETHING. IT APPEARS TO BE A  HEAVY BRA MADE OF HARD GLOSSY BLACK LEATHER,  AND LINED WITH SHARP POINTED METAL STUDS AROUND ITS  EDGES.  ALTHOUGH ITS USE  IS NOT QUITE APPARENT,  IT DOES SEEM TO HAVE THE "POTENTIAL" FOR A CERTAIN KIND OF (*AHEM*) APPEAL, IF WORN BY THE RIGHT PERSON.  STILL EVEN  MORE PERPLEXING, ALONG WITH THE STRANGE BRA, BURIED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX YOU FIND A LONG BLACK WHIP. HMM, NOW WHAT WOULD THESE ^BE DOING IN THE QUEEN'S BOUDOIR?

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YOU FIND AN ODD MASK WHICH SEEMS TO BE MADE FROM THE HEAD OF A GOAT. IT SHOWS SIGNS OF DECAY, BUT OTHERWISE SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY WELL INTACT.  ALONG WITH THE MASK,  A VERY ORNATE DAGGER IS RESTING IN THE CHEST, APPARENTLY MADE OF GOLD. MOUNTED INTO THE HILT ARE SEVERAL GEMS AND TWO RUNES ARE ENGRAVED UNDERNEATH.

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A COLD AIR RUSHES THROUGH THE BARS OF THE GATE, AS IF THE WIND WERE BLOWING INTO THE CASTLE FROM SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE GATE.  YOU HEAR A RATHER HAUNTING KIND OF BLEAT  ECHOING FROM FAR AWAY, BUT THAT IS PROBABLY THE WIND JUST AS ^WELL.

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A BUNCH OF ROTTED CRATES HAVE FALLEN INTO A HEAP UPON THE FLOOR. WHATEVER THEY MIGHT  HAVE CONTAINED TURNED TO ^DUST A LONG TIME AGO.

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A GREAT STONE ALTAR RISES UP FROM THE FLOOR,  GRAVEN WITH RUNES AND DEMONIC FIGURINES. GROTESQUE CARICATURES PLAY IN SOME BIZARRE RITUAL, AND STAINS OF DEEP RED COLOUR THE SURFACE. GHOULISH ACTS DEPICT A STORY OF HORROR, GIVING COLD SOBRIETY TO ITS UNHOLY PURPOSE.  THESE IMAGES BRUTELY DISPEL ANY IDEAS OF GAELIC CHARM THE CASTLE ONCE HELD, AN INNOCENCE CONSUMED BY THE SHOCKING ^NIGHTMARE OF ITS REALITY.

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press_which_altar_symbols} 11020 FLAMING ORB GOAT'S HEAD MAGIC STAVE NONE (EXIT)

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EXAMINING THE FOUL SLAB, YOU DISCOVER THREE SPECIAL SYMBOLS WHICH CAN PRESS INTO THE ALTAR LIKE A KIND OF SWITCH. THE SYMBOLS ARE, RESPECTIVELY, AN ORB OF FLAME, A GOAT'S HEAD, AND A STAFF.

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2600 JUMP INTO THE ALTAR PIT LEAVE THE ALTAR ALONE

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THE SURFACE OF THE ALTAR HAS OPENED, REVEALING A PIT WHICH  DESCENDS INTO ^DARKNESS...

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THE ALTAR SURFACE BEGINS TO LOWER!

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YOU JUMP INTO THE PIT!

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YOU ARE STANDING UPON A BALCONY WHICH IS OVERLOOKING THE AREA BELOW. AS YOU LOOK OVER THE EDGE, YOU SEE AN ALTAR.

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AN EERIE SOUND HOWLS DOWN THE STAIRS,
"OOOOEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOO"

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THE DOOR IS SOLID BLACK, AND LOOKS TO BE QUITE HEAVY.  BOLTED TO THE CENTER ^OF ITS FACE IS A BLACK IRON SPADE.

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INSIDE THE CASTLE SPIRE,  THE CONTENTS OF A BED, TABLE AND CHAIR STILL REMAIN INTACT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.  BITS OF OLD HAIR AND ROTTED FLESH  ARE EVIDENT UPON THE BED, PROBABLY FROM THE CORPSE ^WHICH YOU HAVE RECENTLY PUT TO REST.

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LOOKING UP THE LARGE WELL TO THE TOP, YOU SEE ONLY DARKNESS.  ON THE FLOOR, HOWEVER, YOU FIND THE REMAINS OF MANY SMALL RODENTS AND SOME BITS OF BLOOD, AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE EXCREMENT THAT ^FELL FROM ABOVE.

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333700 HOLD ROPE AND JUMP INTO THE BELFRY ATTEMPT TO SWING ACROSS THE BELFRY LEAVE THE ROPE
BELL ALONE

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A LARGE BLACKENED BELL HANGS SILENTLY WITHIN THE TOP OF THE BELFRY, COVERED WITH SOOTY MOLDS AND SPLOTCHES OF BAT DROPPINGS. A LONG THICK ROPE DESCENDS FROM THE BELL DOWN INTO THE WELL, AND IS USED TO RING IT BY  HOLDING ON AND JUMPING IN. IT ALSO APPEARS TO BE THE ^ONLY WAY ACROSS THE WELL.

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~
BONG!    ~
  BONG!

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THE BELL HAS DISTURBED THE DENIZENS OF THE BELFRY!

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HERE COME THE BATS!!

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   KEEP    BELFRY   CLOSED  

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THE TRUNK CONTAINS A COIL OF THE LONG HEAVY BELL ROPE,  WHICH APPEARS TO BE ^QUITE STRONG AND USEFUL.

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ARMAMENT RACKS USED TO LINE THE WALLS OF THIS SMALL CHAMBER, BUT HAVE SINCE FALLEN AWAY AND TURNED TO ROT.  THERE IS A PILE OF DEBRIS  LYING UP AGAINST ^THE FACING WALL.

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A LARGE HEAVY CANVAS HAS BEEN WRAPPED AROUND SOME KIND OF HUGE CRATE.  BOTH CANVAS AND CRATE HAVE DETERIORATED TO ROT, AND THE HARD OUTLINE OF A FIGURE ^IS SILHOUETTED UNDERNEATH.

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CAREFULLY TAKING THE TATTERED REMAINS OF THE CANVAS AWAY FROM THE CRATE AND ITS CONTENTS, YOU SEE WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE CORPSE OF A DEAD KNIGHT. IT IS THEN THAT YOU REALIZE IT IS AN ARMORY DUMMY, AND WAS APPARENTLY LEFT BEHIND ^WHEN THE CASTLE WAS VACATED.

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INSPECTING THE EQUIPMENT, YOU SALVAGE A FINE SET OF CHAIN MAIL ARMOR, ALONG ^WITH A CRESTED SHIELD.

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THE ROOM IS FILLED WITH BODIES STREWN ABOUT THE ROOM. AT FIRST GLANCE, THEY ^ALL APPEAR TO BE DEAD...

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YOU HEAR A LOUD NOISE,

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"ZZZZZZZ....   ZZZZZZZZ....."

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#

SUDDENLY THE DOOR SLAMS SHUT!

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#

A THROATY VOICE GROWLS, "HEY YOU! GET OFFA MY FOOT!!"

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THICK SMOKE FILLS THE AIR INSIDE THIS MANGEY DEN, AND HUDDLED ABOUT EACH OF THE TABLES, CLUTCHING A BOTTLE OF ALE OR STEAMING BREW, IS THE WILDEST GANG OF THIEVES, ROGUES, BRIGANDS, PIRATES AND CUTTHROATS EVER ASSEMBLED UNDER A ^SINGLE ROOF. AS SOON AS YOU ENTER THE ROOM, ACTION GRINDS TO A HALT, ALL EYES RIVET ONTO YOU, AND A DEADLY SILENCE ENSUES...

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GLANCING AT EACH OF THE TABLES,  IT IS AMAZING HOW MUCH YOU CAN NOTICE WITHIN A SINGLE SECOND; A PILE OF GOLD COINS, THE FACES ON A DECK OF CARDS, EVEN THE CHIP ON A CORNER OF A SET OF DICE. ALL THIS, AND EVERY LITTLE DETAIL OF EVERY ^NASTY FACE STARING AT YOU AS WELL.

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IN THE ODD MOMENT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO DIE, SOMETHING ABOUT THE SITUATION WILL STAND OUT AS IF TO TELL YOU A SECRET,  OR SOLUTION TO YOUR IMPENDING DEMISE.  IT IS JUST SUCH A MOMENT, AND YOU CAST YOUR GAZE ACROSS THE ROOM,  AWAY FROM THE FACES AND STINK AND SMOKE, AND YOU BEHOLD A CURIOUS SIGHT - MOUNTED, BEHIND STEEL BARS, ERECT, SPORTING A TWISTED SMILE CUM GRIMACE,  IS THE PRESERVED FIGURE OF A MAN DRESSED IN SCARLET TAILCOAT, WHITE RUFFLED SHIRT, BLUE KNICKERS, A BLACK TRICORNE HAT, AND WEARING LOCKS OF BLACK CURLY HAIR TWO FEET LONG. IT ISN'T THE BLACK PATCH WHICH COVERS AN EYE, NOR THE STUFFED GREEN PARROT  ON TOP OF HIS SHOULDER, NOR EVEN THE ODD EXPRESSION THAT HAUNTS HIS QUEER FACE WHICH HOLDS YOUR ATTENTION; IT'S THAT UPON HIS RIGHT ARM, JUST WHERE A HAND SHOULD BE, THERE PROTRUDES A POLISHED ^HOOK MADE OF BRIGHT STEEL.

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IT IS ALL THE TIME FOR A REVERIE YOU HAVE, FOR SUDDENLY,  A GREAT BIG FAT STINKING GREASY PIG OF A TOAD STANDS ^UP TO YOU AND BELCHES,

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"AH'M CAP'N MATEY!"

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INSIDE THE GATE STARES THE PRESERVED CORPSE OF THE HOOK-HANDED PIRATE. IT ^LOOKS EVEN MORE MACABRE UP CLOSE.

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APPARENTLY, THE GATE WAS LOCKED WITH GOOD REASON. WHEN YOU TOUCH THE BODY IT DISINTEGRATES INTO  A PILE OF ASH AND BONE, LEAVING NAUGHT BUT A COAT, A TRICORNE, A STUFFED PARROT, AN EYE PATCH, AND, OF COURSE,  THE SINISTER ^STEEL HOOK.

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THIS ROOM APPEARS TO BE THE BARRACKS, ALTHOUGH NOTHING LIES HERE NOW EXCEPT ^ROTTED BROKEN COTS.

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A BARRACKS FULL OF BROKEN COTS TURNED ^TO ROT IS ALL YOU FIND HERE.

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#

WAIT!...

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YOU HEARD A NOISE...

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   CAPTAIN'S DEN     NO TRESPASSIN'  

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A SLOT OPENS UP ON THE DOOR, AND FROM ^BEHIND IT A GROTTY VOICE MUTTERS,

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"WHAT'S DA PASSWURD, MATEY?"

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SKELETON CREW

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#

"AWRIGHT..."

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"C'MON IN...."

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#

"THASS SNOT IT!"

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"BUZZ OFF... SWABS!"

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SEVERAL BARRELS WHICH WERE STORED HERE HAVE ROTTED AND SPLIT OPEN, SPILLING A BUNCH OF SEALED PACKAGES TO THE FLOOR.

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MOST OF THE PACKAGES HAVE TURNED HARD, BUT DAMPNESS HAS HELPED TO KEEP ONE OF THEM FAIRLY SOFT. OPENING IT, YOU FIND A RATHER NOXIOUS CHEESE, RIPE WITH AGE ^AND WHOLLY INEDIBLE.

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FOUR STONE TABLES DIVIDE THE ROOM, AND ARE SO REGULARLY PLACED THAT THEY MAKE ^YOU THINK OF A MESS HALL.

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OLD WOODEN RACKS, ROTTED AND FALLEN TO THE FLOOR, WERE MADE FOR HOLDING STOCK ^ONCE UPON A TIME.

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AN OLD DECAYING ARMOR DUMMY IS SLUMPED IN THE CORNER, SLOWLY BECOMING POWDER.

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OOPS!

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THE DUMMY JUST TURNED TO DUST!

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THE WALLS OF THE ROOM ARE COVERED WITH FADED GRAFFITI AND SCRAWLED WRITING. A FEW ROTTED TABLES LIE CLUMPED UPON THE ^GROUND.

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ORC RUMBLE FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 8

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WHEN YOU WANT THAT SOMEONE SPECIAL DIAL 1-900-LADY

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TREBOR SUX

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YOU NOTICE A SMALL HOLE AT THE BASE ^OF THE WALL. MICE PROBABLY...

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  REWARD   LOST "SNOOPCHERI" CONTACT L'MONTES

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WAVING THE NOXIOUS CHEESE IN FRONT OF THE HOLE PRODUCES A FAINT  CHITTERING NOISE FROM SOMEWHERE ON THE OTHER END ^OF THE HOLE...

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THE CHITTERING NOISE IS GROWING MUCH LOUDER, AND YOU CAN FEEL A VIBRATION ^BEHIND THE WALL...

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SUDDENLY, THE WALL EXPLODES IN A WILD FRENZY OF CRAZED GIANT RATS!!!

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THE ROOM LOOKS DEVOID OF ANYTHING OF MUCH IMPORT AND WAS PROBABLY USED AS ^A STORAGE AREA.

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AN OLD SET OF WINE RACKS HAS CRUMBLED TO THE GROUND, BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THEY WERE CLEANED OUT SOME TIME AGO.

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SPENDING A FEW MINUTES TO SEARCH THE ROOM HAS YIELDED NAUGHT BUT AN EMPTY OLD WINE BOTTLE. STRANGE THOUGH, YOU UNCOVERD SOME KIND OF ODD OBTRUSIONS UNDERNEATH THE ROTTED RACKS,  POKING UP THROUGH THE GROUND. EXAMINING THE CEILING, YOU SEE CRACKS OF A SIMILAR NATURE,  AND NOTHING NEARBY SUGGESTS ANY POSSIBLE SOURCE TO THEIR ORIGIN.

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THE SKELETAL REMAINS OF A HUMAN REST AGAINST THE WALL OF THE DUNGEON. THE BONES APPEAR TO BE UNDISTURBED SINCE ^THE TIME OF DEATH.

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SEARCHING THROUGH THE BONES, YOU SEE A LOOSE STONE PROTRUDING UP. PICKING UP THE STONE AND LOOKING UNDERNEATH, YOU DISCOVER  A SMALL LOGBOOK FILLED ^WITH STRANGE GLYPHIC SCRIBBLINGS. MANY OF THE PAGES ARE TOO STAINED TO BE READ, BUT THE FINAL PORTION OF IT APPEARS LEGIBLE, IF YOU COULD FIND A WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE UNUSUAL MARKS.

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USING THE PIRATE'S DECODER RING UPON THE SCRIBBLINGS IN THE BOOK, YOU ARE ABLE TO READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES:

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...DECIDED TO LEAVE THE SHIPWRECK AS NONE OF THE SCOUTING CREWS HAVE BEEN ^HEARD FROM. THOSE DAMN MISTS!

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ENTRY 99
MAKING HEADWAY UPSTREAM ON A DINGHY, JUST THE 9 OF US LEFT NOW. MORGAN IS STARTING TO LOOK PALE LIKE THE OTHER ONES DID, AND I SUSPECT HE'S GOT THE ^SICKNESS TOO...

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ENTRY 100
MORGAN WAS THROWING UP REAL BAD THIS MORNING AND LATER TODAY HE DIED.  WE ARE ALL SCARED BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING IT AND I THINK IT MAY BE THE FOOD WE'VE BEEN EATING, WHICH ^IS MOSTLY RAT MEAT...

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THE NEXT COUPLE OF PAGES ARE STAINED TOO BADLY TO READ, BUT YOU RESUME ON ^THE THIRD PAGE FOLLOWING:

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ENTRY 106
THE CAPTAIN SAYS IF WE TRY TO RETURN TO THE SHIP THEN WE'RE ALL DEAD MEN, BUT EVERY ONE'S GETTING REAL SPOOKED ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIND OUT ^WHY THE BODIES KEEP DISAPPEARING...

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ENTRY 107
GORUMOND DIED THIS MORNING, SAME WAY AS EVERYONE ELSE. NOW THERE'S ONLY 6 OF US LEFT, AND THE CAP'N SAYS WE'VE GOT TO BURY THE TREASURE CHEST CAUSE IT'S TOO HEAVY. I'LL BE GLAD WHEN WE ^GET OFF OF THIS DAMN MOUNTAIN...

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ENTRY 108
ROSCONE SAYS HE SAW A MAN TODAY ON A LEDGE AND HE SAID IT WAS MORGAN, BUT WE ALL KNOW MORGAN IS DEAD AND MAYBE WE'RE ALL GOIN' A LITTLE CRAZY... AT ^LEAST ROSCONE IS, I THINK...

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ENTRY 109
I SAW MORGAN TODAY TOO. I THINK I'VE GOT THE SICKNESS NOW, BECAUSE I KNOW MORGAN'S DEAD.  HIS FACE WAS COVERED WITH BLOOD, AND HE JUST LOOKED AT ME DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING BUT JUST SMILED. ^I THINK I'M GOING CRAZY...

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ENTRY 110
MAY THE GODS PROTECT US! WE WAS GOING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TODAY RIGHT AFTER BURYING THE CHEST,  WHEN THIS HUGE MONSTER, I MEAN I GUESS IT WAS A MAN OR SOMETHING, BUT IT STOOD OVER 12 FEET TALL AND HE JUST PICKED UP ROSCONE AND BIT OFF HIS HEAD WITH ONLY A SINGLE CHOMP AND THEN HE SPIT IT OUT AND LAUGHED AND WE ALL RAN TO WHEREVER WE ARE NOW.  WE'RE LOST AND THAT'S SURE, BUT THE CAP'N SAYS BEST ^TO KEEP MOVING...

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ENTRY 111
WE ARE ALMOST DOWN "GIANT MOUNTAIN", AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I CALL IT,  AND THERE'S SOME KIND OF HUGE GORGE WITH BRIDGES N' ROPE TRUSSES ALL OVER IT. WE CAN SEE A BUNCH OF MEN FROM HERE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE MINING FOR ^SOMETHING...

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ENTRY 112
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO TALK WITH THE DWARF MEN, AND SEE IF THEY CAN HELP ^US...

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THE INK IS BARELY LEGIBLE ON THE FEW LAST WORDS, AND THE REMAINDER OF THE ^LOGBOOK IS BLANK.

#

REMEMBERING  THE SKELETON WHERE YOU FOUND THE LOGBOOK, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE DWARF MEN DIDN'T HELP TOO MUCH.

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PILED IN A HEAP ARE THE OLD BONES OF A FORGOTTEN PRISONER, WHO APPARENTLY ^DIED IN HIS CHAINS.

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SEARCHING THE BONES, YOU DISCOVER AN ODD LOOKING RING ON ONE FINGER. UPON EXAMINING THE RING, YOU SEE A CIRCLE ^OF LETTERS WHICH READ:

#

 OLLY ROGE   J  * * *  R  D  *  X  *  S E  * * *  G   CODER RIN

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A ROTTED DESK LIES IN RUIN ACROSS THE ROOM, COLLAPSED ABOUT ITS CENTER FROM AN APPARENT BLOW. IT IS SURROUNDED BY SCATTERED DOCUMENTS,  WHICH ALSO SEEM QUITE DETERIORATED. EXAMINING SEVERAL PAPERS, IT SEEMS THEY ARE LEGAL WRITS OF SOME KIND, CITING CRIMINAL CHARGES ^AND FOLLOWED BY EXECUTION ORDERS.

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CONCEALED IN A SMALL COMPARMENT UNDER ^THE DESK, YOU FIND A KEY...

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A PILE OF OLD BONES AND RAGS WAIT IN THE ALCOVE, THE REMAINS OF SOME LOST ^SOUL LONG FORGOTTEN...

#

THE BONES BEGIN TO RATTLE!

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A GAUNT AND GHOULISH FIGURE ARISES ^AND IN A GROATY VOICE RASPS,

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"GOT'CHA 'GAIN!!" "HAUGH HAUGH HAWWW..."

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     * HAZARD AREA *       KEEP GATE CLOSED AT          ALL TIMES        

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STRANGE LOOKING OBTRUSIONS ARE POKING OUT OF THE GROUND ALONG THE BASE EDGE ^OF THE WALL...

#

THERE IS A SLIGHT TREMOR COMING FROM ^BEHIND THE WALL...

#
#

YOU CAN HEAR SOMETHING MOVING...

#

SUDDENLY, IT LEAPS OUT OF THE WALL!

#

STONES FALLEN FROM A CAVE-IN BLOCK THE PASSAGE THROUGH THE TUNNEL.  THE ROCKS ARE TOO TIGHTLY PACKED TOGETHER TO TRY ^AND MOVE THEM BY HAND.

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INSPECTING THE WALL, YOU DETECT TRACES OF A RECENT EXCAVATION, AND SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT OF STONES.  IT LOOKS AS IF SOMEONE DUG A PASSAGE AND THEN COVERED ^IT BACK UP.

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SCATTERED BONES TELL THE TALE OF SOME POOR FELLOW WHO WANDERED A LITTLE TOO ^FAR FROM SAFETY...

#

SEARCHING THROUGH THE SCATTERED BONES, ^YOU UNCOVER AN INTERESTING KEY...

#

LOTS OF OLD BONES ARE LYING THROUGHOUT THE LAIR, AND THE MONSTER THAT DWELLED HERE OBVIOUSLY ATE VERY WELL.

#

YOU SEE REMNANTS OF THINGS LEFT BEHIND BY THE VICTIMS,  ALL WHO WERE PROBABLY ^DRAGGED HERE AGAINST THEIR WILL...

#

MOST OF THE DEBRIS SEEMS TO BE ROTTED JUNK, BUT ONE ITEM APPEARS USEFUL AND ^LOOKS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE...

#

LOOKING DOWN THE TUNNEL,  YOU SPY SOME VERY STRANGE LOOKING BLACK WOMEN, WITH WHITE MARKS PAINTED ON THEIR FACES AND CARRYING LONG SPEARS AND HIDE SHIELDS.

#

ONE OF THE WOMEN  SUDDENLY POINTS YOUR DIRECTION AND THEY QUICKLY VANISH INTO ^A PASSAGE ON THE LEFT...

#

YOU ARE STANDING AT THE EDGE OF A WIDE CHASM, WHICH GAPES BEFORE YOU AS IF IT ^WERE A GIGANTIC BOTTOMLESS PIT.

#

ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU SPOT A GROUP OF THE STRANGE BLACK WOMEN, HURRYING AWAY FROM THE EDGE  AND HAULING A LONG ROPE ^MADE OF VINES AFTER THEM.

#

THE CHASM IS TOO DEEP FOR THE ROPE TO REACH THE BOTTOM, AND WITHOUT ANY WAY TO MAKE IT CATCH ONTO THE OTHER SIDE, ^IT ALWAYS FALLS BACK INTO THE GORGE.

#

HEAVING THE HOOKED ROPE OVER THE EDGE THE CHASM, YOU SUCCEED IN SNAGGING IT ^ONTO A SIZABLE BOULDER...

#

HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE, YOU SHIMMY ACROSS THE ROPE TO THE OTHER SIDE...

#

OVERHEAD, A CAVERN ASCENDS UP INTO THE DARKNESS. BELOW, BONES FROM MANY SMALL ANIMALS COVER THE FLOOR, THE DISCARDED ^REMAINS OF THE WINGED CAVE DWELLERS.

#

INSPECTING THE SCRAPS OF BONES FOR ANY THING OF INTEREST, YOU NOTE THAT THERE ARE SHARDS OF SHINY METAL  AND BITS OF GLASS. OBVIOUSLY ATTRACTED BY ARTICLES WHICH GLITTER, IT EXPLAINS HOW THE KEY LYING AT YOUR FEET WAS BROUGHT HERE...

#

YOU HEAR SOME KIND OF STRANGE SUCKING ^NOISE FROM SOMEWHERE NEARBY...

#
#

IT'S A SLURPY KIND OF SOUND...

#

SOMETHING WEIRD LIES JUST AHEAD...

#

IT'S JUST SITTING THERE...

#

IT SEEMS TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE ODD ^SUCKING NOISES...

#

CAUTIOUSLY APPROACHING THE ODDITY, YOU NOTICE A FEW LONG THICK TUBES ATTACHED ^TO ITS BASE. IT LOOKS LIKE A PLANT...

#
#

OH-OH!

#

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HUNGRY!!!

#

  E-Z LIFT   * DOWN *  

#

AVAST YE SWABS!
WE DON'T COTTON TO NO STRANGERS UNLESS THEY'S PROVED THEMSELVES IN SOME KINDA ^MORTAL CONTEST!

#

ROUND HERE WE GOT TWO WAYS O' CONTEST, THA' OLE FASHIONED WAY  BEIN' FIGHT'N, AN THA' MORE CIVILIZED WAY, WHICH IS O ^COURSE, DRINK'N!!

#

FIGHT/DRINK/ YA WANTS TA FIGHT, OR IS IT DRINK'N?

#

SO BE IT!

#

LET'S GET'EM BOYS!!

#

AH, MY KIND 'O CONTEST!
HAR HAR HAR!

#

LET THA' DRINKS A POUR!!

#

NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ EACH ROUND COSTS 50 G.P. BUY A ROUND?

#

GET OUTTA HAR YE WHIMPS!!

#

BOTTOMS UP! HAR HAR HAR!!
GLUB!
^  GLUB!
^    GLUB!

#

MMMM... THAT SHORE HIT THA' SPOT!

#

YAR LOOKIN' A MITE PALE THAR, MATEY!

#

HAW, AH AIN'T EVEN TECHED YET!!

#

AH THANK AH'M GONNA BE SICK!

#

THE CAPTAIN PASSED OUT!
YOU WON THE CONTEST!!

#

YOU FALL TO THE GROUND UNCONSCIOUS!

#

THE CAPTAIN'S MEN THROW YOU OUT!

#

YAR OUTTA DOUGH, YE SCABS!!

#

IN THE FAR CORNER OF THE ROOM, CAPTAIN MATEY IS HEAPED UPON A MANGEY OLD BED, ^BLISSFULLY SNOOZING AWAY...

#

THE DRUNKEN CAPTAIN IS SPRAWLED ACROSS ^THE BED, SNORING LIKE A BABY TOAD...

#

THE CAPTAIN WAKES WITH A START!

#

ZZZ-AROOUG..AHUM. HUMP! WAZZAT??!!
WHO'S MESSIN' IN ME CHAMBERS??!!
AVAST YE SWABS!
PRA-PARS TAH DIE!

#

A TALL, SCRUFFY BUT STALWART MAN WALKS ^TOWARD YOU AND SAYS,

#

"I AM L'MONTES!"

#

NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ DID YOU FIND SNOOPCHERI?

#

HOW I LONG TO FIND HER!

#

IF YOU CAN RETURN HER TO ME, I'LL SET ^THE CAPTAIN FREE, BUT NOT BEFORE!

#

"SNOOPCHERI!"

#

"BACK IN MY ARMS AT LAST!!"
TAKE THIS KEY TO THE CAPTAIN'S CAGE, ^AND YOU MAY SET HIM FREE...

#

BONJOUR!

#

ADIEU!

#

CAPTAIN/SNOOPCHERI/

#

A SILENT,  MYSTERIOUS DARK MAN APPEARS ^FROM OUT OF THE SHADOWS...

#

"MAY I INTEREST YOU IN A BARGAIN?"

#

HOW MAY I BE OF SERVICE?

#

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN...

#

FRENCHMAN/CAPTAIN/CAPTAIN'S DEN/BURIED TREASURE/

#

GIANT MOUNTAIN/"GIANT MOUNTAIN"/ NO BURIED TREASURE, NO PASSWORD! WHERE DID THE CAPTAIN BURY HIS TREASURE CHEST?

#

GIANT MOUNTAIN!

#

OF COURSE!

#

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!

#

OH YES...

#

THE PASSWORD IS "SKELETON CREW"

#

BY THE WAY, YOU REALLY SHOULD TRY THE ^MYSTERY OIL, AND IT'S ON SALE!

#

  CAPTAIN'S DEN   * ADMIT ONE *                   PASSWORD THIS    MONTH ONLY:                      SKELETON          CREW       

#

THE WRITING IS IN A STRANGE CODE YOU ^ARE UNABLE TO READ.

#

YOU OPEN THE ANCIENT BOOK AND READ ^THE FOLLOWING TEXT:

#

O FIRST NIGHT OF RAMM AND SECOND BORN RAMM AGAIN, FIND THIRD UPON THY ALTAR BURNING BRIGHT;

#

WHERE FOURTH NIGHT OF WANDS BEARS FIFTH MAGIK SUN AGAIN, IS WHEN THY GRAVEN ALTAR SHALL BLOSSOM INTO NIGHT

#

A BLACK STEEL SKULL CAST UPON THE FACE OF THE MASSIVE DOOR STARES BLANKLY OUT INTO THE CORRIDOR. THE EYE SOCKETS ARE UNNATURALLY DEEP, AS IF THE SKULL ONCE ^HELD A PAIR OF JEWELS.

#

A BLACK STEEL SKULL CAST UPON THE FACE OF THE MASSIVE DOOR STARES BLANKLY OUT INTO THE CORRIDOR. A GLOWING GEM RESTS IN ONE EYE SOCKET, THE OTHER IS EMPTY.

#

A BLACK STEEL SKULL CAST UPON THE FACE OF THE MASSIVE DOOR STARES BLANKLY OUT INTO THE CORRIDOR. A GLOWING GEM RESTS IN EACH EYE SOCKET, GIVING THE SKULL A ^DEMONIC FACE AND SINISTER SMILE...

#

THE TUNNEL EMERGES OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN AND INTO THE OPEN EXPANSE OF A TITANIC GORGE. A NETWORK OF BRIDGES SPANS OVER THE DEEP GORGE, AND FAR ACROSS THE SKY YOU CAN SEE THE JUTTING PEAK OF A HUGE MOUNTAIN, POKING UP INTO THE CENTER OF ^THE GREAT CAVERN.

#

BEFORE YOU LOOMS THE PEAK OF THE GREAT MOUNTAIN, AND ITS MANY ROCKY CRAGS AND CREVICES BODE A TREACHEROUS JOURNEY TO ^THE TOP.

#

  WIZARD'S CAVE    TRESPASSERS     NOT WELCOME   

#

  ENTERING THE MINES   PROTECTIVE HELMETS   REQUIRED ALL TIMES  

#

A LARGE UGLY TROLL CLIMBS FROM UNDER ^THE BRIDGE AND BLOCKS YOUR WAY!

#
#

^FINALLY, HE BELLOWS, "I YARE THE TOLL TROLL!"

#

"PAY THE TOLL OR HEADS WILL ROLL!"

#

NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ PAY THE TOLL OR HEADS WILL ROLL! ARGHH! ARE YA GONNA PAY THE TOLL?

#

A WISE DECISION!

#

OK, YA CAN PASS...

#

COME BACK WHEN YA'VE GOT MORE GOLD!

#

ARHRRHGH! THEN I'M A GONNA EAT YA!!

#

   DRAW BRIDGE    CONTROL PANEL   PRESS TO OPEN  

#

THE CONTROL PANEL DOOR HAS RUSTED AND ^WON'T COME OPEN...

#

press_which_control_buttons} 421340 SPRING WINDER AUTO-COILWRAP TRANSLUX PUMP TRUSS DRIVERS TOGGLE SAFETY SHUTDOWN EXIT

#

INSIDE THE CONTROL PANEL ARE SIX TINY BUTTONS, EACH WITH A TINY LABEL. SOME INSTRUCTIONS ENGRAVED ON ITS FACE ARE ^AS FOLLOWS:

#

*CAUTION*  SAFETY DETACHMENT REQUIRED PRIOR TO INCHOATE WINDER ADVANCEMENT. DO NOT ACTIVATE COILWRAP UNTIL A WAIT OF 5 SECONDS POST PUMP NASCENCY, OVER ^SAFETY INTERDIGITATION. TRUSS ASCENSION MAY FOLLOW, BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD FALL EXTRINSIC ^TO PUMP AND WINDER IMMUREMENT. FINAL WINDER ENGAGEMENT INDUCTION FOR ^DRAW BRIDGE FACILITATION. IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE ENGINEERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BRIDGE WANTED ITS OPERATION TO BE ACCESSABLE BY ANYONE, AND THUS TOOK THE TIME TO CREATE SUCH SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS, IN THAT UNIQUE WAY THAT ONLY REAL ENGINEERS CAN DO.

#

THE REMAINS OF A LARGE WOODEN MACHINE ARE RESTING UPON THE PRECIPICE. AFTER LOOKING IT OVER, YOU DECIDE IT IS FOR HURLING HEAVY OBJECTS THROUGH THE AIR MUCH LIKE A CATAPULT. ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PRECIPICE, YOU SEE A TINY RINGED TARGET STANDING ALL BY ITSELF.

#

INSPECTING THE MACHINE, IT APPEARS TO BE OPERATIONAL, EXCEPT FOR A SPROCKET WHICH HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN OUT, AND A LONG BAND OF RUBBER, WHICH HAS LOST ^ITS SPRING AND BEGUN TO CRUMBLE...

#

THE RUBBER STRAND IS TOO THIN AND TOO ^SHORT TO REPLACE THE OLD BAND.

#

THE RUBBER BRAID IS TOO SHORT TO TAKE ^THE PLACE OF THE OLD BAND.

#

THE NEW RUBBER BAND FITS PERFECTLY!

#

THE CATAPULT NEEDS A NEW RUBBER BAND.

#

THE REPAIRED SPROCKET GENTLY NESTLES ^INTO PLACE ON THE OLD MACHINE...

#

THE CATAPULT NEEDS A NEW SPROCKET.

#

perform_which_catapult_operation} 012 LATCH LADLE   WIND UP BAND  RELEASE LATCH ABORT FIRE

#

HAVING REPAIRED THE CATAPULT, YOU MAY NOW PERFORM NORMAL FIRING OPERATIONS.

#

YOU LOAD THE BIG STONE INTO THE LADLE ^OF THE CATAPULT...

#

ALTHOUGH THE CATAPULT WORKS FINE, YOU NEED SOME KIND OF AMMUNITION WHICH IS ^USUABLE AS A PROJECTILE...

#

YOU MISSED THE TARGET

#

BULL'S-EYE!!

#

0300 TRY TO CLIMB UP THE MOUNTAIN REMAIN HERE WHERE IT IS SAFE

#

THERE IS A SMALL FOOTHOLD UP THE FACE OF THE MOUNTAIN WHICH MAY BE CLIMBED.

#

0300 TRY TO GET DOWN THE MOUNTAIN REMAIN HERE WHERE IT IS SAFE

#

THERE IS A SMALL FOOTHOLD WHICH LEADS ^DOWN THE FACE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

#

YOU SLIPPED AND FELL!

#

HUGE PILES OF ROCKS AND BOULDERS COVER THE GROUND,  PROBABLY THE REMAINS OF A ^RECENT ROCKSLIDE...

#

NOTHING HERE BUT HUGE BOULDERS, THOUGH YOU NEVER CAN TELL WHEN ONE MIGHT COME ^IN HANDY...

#

 A LITTLE NOTE READS AS FOLLOWS:
THANKS FOR THE INFO! - QUEEQUEG -

#

P.S. PLEASE KEEP THIS GIFT AS A TOKEN ^     OF MY APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE

#

  THIS CHEST PROPERTY OF   CAPT. J.R. AND COMPANY   MAY A CURSE BE UPON YE  

#

YOU WITNESS A MOST BIZARRE COUNTENANCE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A GREAT DIAMOND CRYSTAL, A TRANSPARENT GEM WHOSE EDGES FORM A BARRIER BLOCKING ENTRY INTO THE ^CHAMBER...

#

AFTER WATCHING THE ODD HEAD BOBBLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES INSIDE THE RAW DIAMOND CELL, YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS NO MERE VISION, BUT RATHER THAT SOME ENTITY IS ACTUALLY TRAPPED INSIDE THE GIANT GEM.

#

AS IT APPROACHES THE WALL, IT SEEMS TO ^BE TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING...

#

A FRACTURE HAS APPEARED IN THE DIAMOND ^WALL, BUT IT HAS NOT BROKEN...

#

THE DIAMOND SHATTERS!

#

THE PIECES ARE EVAPORATING IN THE AIR, ^LEAVING NAUGHT BUT SMOKEY STEAM...

#

AFTER STUDYING THE DIAMOND BARRIER FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, IT APPEARS THE RECENT CRACK RUNS ALONG A MAJOR FAULT LINE, A SIGN THAT THE DIAMOND MIGHT SHATTER IF THE FRACTURE COULD BE PROPAGATED ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE DIAMOND  AND THEN ^A FATAL BLOW STRUCK FROM HERE.

#

SUDDENLY, A GIANT SERPENT LEAPS OUT OF ^THE SHADOWS AND DASHES TOWARDS YOU!

#

WELL! IT'S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE CAME AND LET ME OUT OF HERE!!

#

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP IN HERE!

#

HUH!?!
DO YOU?!!!

#

A HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS, THAT'S HOW LONG!

#

AND LET ME TELL YOU,  IF I EVER GET MY TAIL ON THAT STUPID IMBECILE XORPHITUS THEN I'LL MAKE MINCEMEAT OUT OF HIM!!

#

WELL ANYWAY, UM,... THANKS, FOR LETTING ME OUT OF HERE...

#

BY THE WAY, MY NAME IS MYSTAPHAPHAS...

#

I WAS ONCE THE APPRENTICE TO XORPHITUS THE WIZARD, THAT IS UNTIL HE LOCKED ME ^UP IN HERE AND FORGOT ABOUT ME...

#

I KNOW, I KNOW,  YOU'RE WONDERING JUST HOW DID A BIG SNAKE LIKE ME BECOME THE ^APPRENTICE TO SUCH A GREAT WIZARD??!

#

I'LL TELL YOU HOW!

#

BECAUSE I'M NOT A SNAKE!!!

#

OR AT LEAST I WASN'T UNTIL THAT FOUL PEN CAME ALONG!! THAT ACCURSED PEN!!

#

OOOO! THAT REALLY BURNS MY SKIN JUST THINKING ABOUT IT...

#

ALL I DID WAS TO SNEAK IN AND USE IT JUST ONCE...

#

JUST A FEW WORDS TO MAKE ME "DASHING" AND "ATTRACTIVE", SO THAT QUEEN MIGHT ^HAVE ME AS ONE OF HER LOVERS...

#

AND THAT I WOULD LIVE IN "SAFETY" ^FROM THE WRATH OF THE KING...

#

AND NOW LOOK AT ME!

#

THE QUEEN LOVES SNAKES!!
SO I WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A SNAKE!!!

#

AND THE WIZARD LOCKED ME IN HERE!
HE THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE A GOOD PET!!
AND SO I WAS SAFE FROM THE KING!!!

#

O! THAT STINKING WRETCHED PEN!!!!

#

YES YES, GO ON...

#

FAREWELL, AND GOOD LUCK!

#

SKULL DOOR/WIZARD'S LAIR/HUNGRY!/

#

MMMM... (SLURP!) THAT'S DELICIOUS!
JUST FOR THAT I'LL TELL YOU A SECRET!

#

THERE'S MORE TO THE WIZARD'S LAIR THEN MEETS THE EYE!

#

AN OLD DWARF LOOKS UP FROM BEHIND AN ANVIL, WHERE HE IS BUSY HAMMERING ON A RED HOT PIECE OF ROASTED CORN, AND ^SAYS,

#

"DAG NAB IT!"

#

"CAN'T YOU SEES I'M BUSY!"

#

WHAT CANS I DO YER FORS?

#

BE'S SEEIN'S YA!

#

THE MINES/THE MINES/STRANGERS

#

HMMM... IT'S BUSTED ALRIGHT...
DON'T LOOKS TO BAD, THOUGH...

#

YOU BETTER HOLDS ON TO IT TILL YA CAN ^GET IT FIXED...

#

IT'LL COSTS YA 1000 GOLD PIECES.

#

NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ YA'S WANTS ME TA FIX IT?

#

WELL THEN'S QUIT WASTIN'S ME TIME!

#

UH-HUMPH! CASH ONLYS IN ADVANCE!
AND YER A BIT SHORT!!

#

WAITS HERE A MINUTES ANDS I'LL SEES WHATS I CANS DO WITH IT...
(THE DWARF TAKES THE BROKEN SPROCKET ^ TO THE FORGE AND BEGINS WHISTLING)

#

WHIII-WOORR-WHIRRR....

#

TUMS-DA DUM... THIS'S ONLY TAKES A ^SECOND, FOLKS...
(BANG! BANG!)
(CLANG!)
(BANG! BANG!)

#

(SSSSSSSSTT! WHOOSH!!)

#

ONLY BE'S A FEW MORE MINUTES...

#
#

WHIII-WOORRR-WHIRRRRR....

#

(BANG! BANG!)

#
#

HERE'S YA GO! GOOD AS NEW!!

#

"FREE AT LAST!"

#

I DO NOT KNOW THEE, BUT I HAVE KNOWN OF THEE, SINCE THE TIMES WHEN IT ALL ^BEGAN...

#

MY TIME IS SHORT, FOR AS YOU CAN SEE MY BODY HAS LONG AGO DIED, AND IT IS ONLY THROUGH THE LAST VESTIGES OF MY FORMER POWER THAT MY SPIRIT HAS HELD THIS FINAL GRASP UPON YOUR WORLD, SO THAT I MAY SPEAK TO YOU NOW, AND AID YOU IN YOUR QUEST. I WILL TELL YOU A STORY, AND LET THIS STORY SERVE AS A WARNING TO YOU AND THEY WHO WILL TRY ^TO FOLLOW IN YOUR STEPS... I AM HALF OF THE FORMER WIZARD KNOWN AS XORPHITUS, WHOSE BONES YOU SEE ON THE MANTLE BEFORE YOU. A HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS AGO, I ENGAGED UPON THE QUEST FOR THE COSMIC FORGE, THE BANE PEN FROM WHICH ARE WRIT THE WORKINGS OF ALL THE UNIVERSE. TO SPEAK OF THE PEN, I MUST SPEAK OF THE CIRCLE, THE BLESSED ALTAR FROM WHICH THE PEN WAS STOLEN.  TO PROTECT THE POWER OF THE PEN, IT WAS WRITTEN THAT THE PEN WAS ONLY TO BE USED UPON THE HOLY CIRCLE AND THUS IT CAME TO BE.  IN ORDER TO WREST THE PEN FROM THE CIRCLE, SO AS TO FREE IT FROM THIS MANDATE, IT WAS NECESSARY TO CONTRIVE THE EXCEPTION, THE SINGULAR EXCEPTION WHICH ENSURES THE FREEDOM OF THE PEN, AND LIKEWISE DOES NOT VIOLATE THE ORIGINAL ORDER. THUS THE GREAT EXCEPTION WAS FORMED, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL SCRIBE WITH THE PEN NOT UPON THE COSMIC CIRCLE, WILL SUFFER HIS WRIT AS A BANE, AND SHALL NOT REST OR BE FREED FROM IT UNTIL A NEW GENERATION HAS PASSED, THAT TIME BEING EXACTLY ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS, AND AFTER THAT SHALL HE BE OF HIS OWN DOING AND FREE FROM THE WRIT ^AND THE BANE.

#

MY TIME IS AT END, FOR THEE HAS COME AND SET ME FREE, AND AS MY BONES LIE BEFORE YOU, THIS BECOMES MY DOING, A FATE THAT RELEASES ME FROM MY CURSE. NOW LISTEN, AS I REVEAL TO YOU THOSE EVENTS WHICH LONG AGO TRANSPIRED, SO THAT YOU MAY ACT WISELY AND RIGHTLY. ONCE I WAS XORPHITUS, A GREAT WIZARD OF MAGIK AND POWER, AND LIKE ALL WHO TASTE OF POWER,  THE MORE I DRANK OF IT, THE GREATER BECAME MY THIRST. SO IT WAS THAT I CAME TO MAKE AN UNHOLY PACT WITH ANOTHER WHOSE HUNGER WAS A COPY OF MY OWN, AND TOGETHER WE HELD ^THE DREAM OF UNIVERSAL DOMINATION.

#

WHEN AT LAST WE HEARD OF THIS COSMIC PEN, WE KNEW THAT TO MAKE IT OUR OWN WOULD MAKE OUR TRIUMPH COMPLETE, AND SO WE PLOTTED A SCHEME WHICH YIELDED US THE "COSMIC FORGE".  BUT HOW SOON WE LEARNED OF THE BANE THAT FOLLOWS, SHOULD THE FORGE BE REMOVED FROM THE ^CIRCLE AS WE HAD DONE.

#

YES, ONCE I WAS XORPHITUS, AND I WAS DETERMINED TO DEFY THE FATES, AND SO SCRIBED THE WORDS WHICH TOLD OF THIS MORTAL WIZARD WHICH SHOULD BE CALLED XORPHITUS, AND HOW HE SHALL KNOW ALL THINGS IN THE UNIVERSE, THAT HE WILL THEN KNOW HOW TO EVADE THAT DREADFUL BANE. AND YES I CAME TO POSSESS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF EVERYTHING, AND WITH IT WAS I RIPPED ASUNDER, TWAIN INTO TWO BEINGS, FOR THE NATURE OF ALL THINGS IS DIVIDED, THAT WHICH IT IS, AND IS NOT, AND THUS AS THE KNOWLEDGE LIVED IN ME AS ONE, THUS IT MUST PASS THAT I THEN BECOME DIVIDED. FOR AS I KNOW ALL, I MUST ALSO KNOW NOTHING. AS IT WAS THAT A MAN SHALL KNOW "GOOD", SO WAS I COMPELLED TO ALSO KNOW "EVIL".

#

EVERYTHING WHICH IS KNOWN IS DIVIDED AND THAT WHICH IS NOT DIVIDABLE WILL ^NEVER BE KNOWN.

#

THUS SHALL MEN FOREVER SEEK TO KNOW, AND THUS WILL MEN ALWAYS BE DIVIDED. THIS IS THE NATURE OF KNOWLEDGE, AND I TELL YOU THAT THIS IS HOW IT LIVES INSIDE OF YOU. THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW YOU THINK, THIS IS HOW A MIND BELIEVES, AND HOW A MIND SPEAKS ^UNTO ITSELF.

#

BUT TIME GROWS SHORT AND THERE STILL REMAINS MUCH I MUST TELL YOU. THOUGH I, XORPHITUS, AM DEAD, XORPHITUS, MY OTHER HALF LIVES ON! AND AS I DO BUT AID THEE, HE SHALL DO BUT HARM THEE. HIS KNOWLEDGE IS INCOMPLETE, SINCE I POSSESSED ITS COMPLEMENT, AND HE CAN BUT STUMBLE BLINDLY, HALF-RIGHT, AND HALF-WRONG, IN EVERYTHING HE DOES, A MIND FOREVER FLOATING THROUGH A POOL OF DARKENED WATERS. HE IS INSANE, AS AM I, BUT YOU MUST SEEK HIM OUT, FOR AS I KNOW OF THE PEN AND WHY, AND DO TELL YOU, HE WILL KNOW THE WHERE AND THE WHEN OF IT, BUT NOT WHAT, AND HE WILL NOT TELL YOU. THAT IS WHAT MUST BE DISCOVERED FROM HIM, AND WITH HIM LIVES THE FATE OF THE FORGE, THE PEN ^AND HAND OF DESTINY...

#

"I AM FREE AT LAST!!"

#

AND THE VISION SOFTLY FADES...

#

  WELCOMES TA SMITTY'S      FORGE
GRILL       FINE FOODS'N FIXIN'S  

#

F E E  -  F I E  -  F O E  -  F U M

#

VE SMELL DAS BLAUD AF HUMAN SCHUMS!

#

  GYENT KRIEG   HAUS AF DER   GRYNS TWYNS  

#

    ACHTUNG!     PRESS BUTTON   FUR DAS EXIT  

#

I AM THE GUARDIAN OF THE ROCK!

#

NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ HAVE YOU COME TO TAKE THE ROCK?

#

	YES/	YEA/	YEP/	SURE/	OK/ WHAT DO YOU WANT? HAVE YOU COME TO TAKE THE ROCK?

#

THEN I MUST SLAY YOU!

#

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

#

NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ DID YOU BRING ME AN OFFERING?

#

I SEE YOU HAVE BROUGHT A NICE BOULDER!

#

I WILL TAKE IT FROM YOU NOW...
(MUNCH! MUNCH!)

#

MMMMMM....
THAT IS GOOD!

#

YOU DO NOT HAVE WHAT I WANT!

#

BEGONE!

#

  WIZARD'S LAIR      *  *  *      BEWARE OF CAT  

#

INSIDE, ALL IS PEACEFUL AND QUIET...
UNTIL A DEMON-CAT FROM HELL APPEARS!!

#

STEPPING INTO THE CLOSET, YOU NOTICE A CROOKED STAFF IN THE CORNER, OBVIOUSLY ^FORGOTTEN OR OVERLOOKED...

#

mix_which_bottles_together} 012345 YELLOW POWDER BLUE POTION   RED POTION    BLACK POWDER  WHITE POWDER  GREEN POTION  STRIKE STICK  NONE (LEAVE)

#
#

K A - B L A M M

#
#

A FEW OF THE JARS APPEAR TO BE INTACT AND WELL SEALED, AND POSSESS CONTENTS WHICH HAVE NOT DETERIORATED OR TURNED INTO HARD LUMPS OF BLACKENED GOOP. AN ODD LITTLE WOODEN STICK IS ALSO LYING ON THE TABLE, AND YOU NOTICE THAT ONE ^END OF IT HAS BEEN PAINTED RED.

#

A TABLE FULL OF POTIONS, BOTTLES, AND OTHER ASSORTED CHEMICALS SITS QUIETLY WAITING FOR A MASTER WHO SHALL NOT BE ^RETURNING...

#

OPENING THE WIZARD'S RECORD, YOU ARE ABLE TO READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES:

#

MONTH OF STARS - 17TH DAY
I HAVE AT LAST ACHIEVED SUCCESS WITH MY EXPERIMENTS IN BODY RE-ANIMATION! THE POOR VICTIM WAS THE MISTRESS WHO HAD ACCOMPANIED THE VICAR, THE WHORE MOTHER OF THE DEMON CHILD, AND WHILE SHE HAD BEEN DEAD NEARLY THREE DAYS, STILL DID SHE BREATHE, WALK, AND SEE ^ONCE AGAIN...

#

IT'S A PITY THAT THERE WAS NOT A WAY TO SIMILARLY SAVE HER MIND AND SOUL, AS NOW SHE IS BUT AN EMPTY CORPSE. I HAVE SEALED HER IN ONE OF THE CASTLE SPIRES, UNTIL DISCOVERING A MEANS OF PROPER DISPOSAL. ENCOURAGED BY THESE EARLY RESULTS, I SHALL CONTINUE WHEN ^ANOTHER TEST SUBJECT IS AVAILABLE.

#

MONTH OF STARS - 23RD DAY
MY LATEST SUBJECT, THE INSANE VICAR OF RECENT BEHEADING, WAS A STUNNING EXPERIMENT IN CORPOREAL SEPARATION. THE MOMENT THE AXE FELL UPON HIM, I INVOKED A MAGIK WHICH PREVENTED HIS ^SPIRIT FROM DEPARTING THIS WORLD.

#

HIS MIND AND SOUL THUS CAPTURED, IT PROVES THAT MY IDEAS WILL WORK, AND SOON I WILL HAVE MASTERED BOTH LIFE AND DEATH, AND ACQUIRE IMMORTALITY. FOR THE TIME BEING, A "SPIRIT LOCK" SHOULD CONFINE THE DEPARTED VICAR'S "GHOST" INSIDE THE OTHER SPIRE, AND I WILL KEEP THE KEY HERE, LEST SOME UNSUSPECTING TURD LOOSE THIS WRAITH ^UPON US BY ACCIDENT.

#

MONTH OF MOONS - 4TH DAY
WE HAVE AT LAST UNCOVERED THE SECRET PORTAL WHICH SHALL SOON BRING US THE COSMIC FORGE, AND I MUST PREPARE FOR ^THE JOURNEY, FOR TONIGHT, WE FLY!

#

MONTH OF MOONS - 13TH DAY
WE HAVE STOLEN THE FORGE!

#

MONTH OF MOONS - 15TH DAY
I AM AFRAID THAT MY WILY APPRENTICE, MYSTAPHAPHAS, HAS DISAPPEARED. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF HIM ANYWHERE AND ALL MAGICAL ATTEMPTS AT LOCATING HIM HAVE RESULTED IN FAILURE, OTHER THAN LEADING ME DIRECTLY TO THE DEN OF AN OVERWEIGHT SERPENT, OF WHICH I THINK ^NOW MUST SURELY HAVE CONSUMED HIM.

#

MONTH OF MOONS - 16TH DAY
I HAVE FINALLY DECIDED WHAT TO WRITE WITH THE "PEN", AND THUS ESCAPE THAT HORRID CURSE WHICH HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE KING TO HIS EVERLASTING DEATH...
THUS, TONIGHT, I ENSCRIBE DESTINY!!

#

THAT IS THE LAST ENTRY IN THE BOOK, ^AND ALL OTHER PAGES ARE BLANK.

#

THE ROOM IS BARREN AND QUIET, LOOKING QUITE UNDISTURBED FOR OVER A CENTURY. AS YOU CAST A GAZE ABOUT THE CHAMBER, YOU NOTICE AN EERIE GLOW BEGINNING TO CONGEAL WITHIN ITS CENTER, TAKING THE SHAPE OF A HUMAN FIGURE. SOON YOU CAN DISCERN A FACE, OLD AND WITHERED, AND ^NOW IT BEGINS TO SPEAK...

#

HELLO?

#

HELLO??
IS THAT YOU, ANNIE?

#

I CAN'T SEE, ANNIE...

#

CAN YOU HEAR ME, ANNIE?
ANNIE??

#

WHY DO YOU NOT SPEAK TO ME, ANNIE?
DON'T YOU REMEMBER ME?

#

ANNIE, DON'T YOU REMEMBER??
DON'T YOU REMEMBER WHO I AM??
I AM... I DO NOT KNOW WHO I AM...
I REMEMBER...
YES, I REMEMBER A LONG TIME AGO...
I WAS...
A HOLY MAN...
A PIOUS AND REVERED MAN...
I DON'T REMEMBER...
I REMEMBER ANNIE, SWEET ANNIE...
O MY ANNIE, WE ARE LOST!
I BROKE MY VOWS OF SANCTITY FOR YOU, ^SWEET ANNIE... AND I AM PUNISHED!

#

PUNISHED...
OUR DAUGHTER!

#

WE MUST HIDE OUR LITTLE GIRL...
THEY WILL COME AND TAKE HER AWAY!

#

NO!

#

SHE IS THE DEVIL!
O, SHE WHO WAS CONCEIVED FROM SIN...

#

FROM OUR SIN, FAIR LADY ANN...
AND SHE IS DAMNED!

#

AND IT IS WE WHO ARE DAMNED...
SWEET ANNIE...
THE KING HAS FOUND US!

#

THE KING HAS TAKEN OUR DAUGTHER!
HE WILL PROTECT HER...

#

HE WILL PROTECT US, SWEET ANNIE...
SUCH A LONG TIME AGO...

#

I AM LOST NOW, ANNIE...
BUT I STILL HAVE THE HORN!
I REMEMBER THE COLD AROUND MY NECK...
AND THE LIGHT...
AND I AM WALKING INTO THE LIGHT...
BUT NO! I AM BEING PULLED BACK!

#

SOMETHING IS KEEPING ME FROM WALKING ^INTO THE LIGHT...
THE HAND!

#

THE HAND FROM THE LIGHT IS HOLDING ^SOMETHING FOR ME...
IT IS HOLDING THE HORN!

#

IS IT TIME?
IS IT TIME, SWEET ANNIE?

#

IS IT TIME FOR THE HORN?
I AM COMING ANNIE!

#

I WILL BLOW THE HORN AT LAST!

#

(AND THE SPECTRE HOLDS UP ^  A DARK HORN AND BLOWS)

#

I CAN SEE THE LIGHT ANNIE!

#

THE LIGHT IS COMING BACK FOR ME!
GOODBYE ANNIE!

#

I AM STEPPING INTO THE LIGHH...

#

AND THE GHOST SUDDENLY VANISHES, THE DARK HORN FALLING TO THE GROUND WITH ^A LOUD CLATTER!

#

SKELETONS LYING WITHIN OPEN ALCOVES OF THE ROOM ARE SO NUMEROUS THAT IT SEEMS LIKELY THIS WAS THE CASTLE MORGUE. ONE OF THE SKULLS HAS HAD SEVERAL CUBES OF BONE REMOVED, CURT REMINDER THAT BRAIN SURGERY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HIT AND MISS ^KIND OF PROPOSITION.

#

THE TUNNEL ENDS ABRUPTLY AS APPARENTLY THERE WAS A CAVE-IN SOME TIME AGO. YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DIG THROUGH IT, USING ^THE PROPER TOOL, OF COURSE...

#

THIS AREA HAS BEEN CHISELED OUT, AS IF SOMEONE WERE TRYING TO TUNNEL INTO THE ROCK FOR SOME REASON. INVESTIGATING IT FURTHER, YOU CAN FEEL A SLIGHT WISP OF AIR SEEPING THROUGH A CRACK,  POSSIBLY FROM ANOTHER TUNNEL ON THE OTHER SIDE.

#

A HAIL OF ARROWS SWARMS THE PARTY!

#

POISON GAS EXPLODES IN YOUR FACE!

#

THE ROLLING BALL CRASHES INTO THE WALL AS EVERYONE TRIES TO JUMP TO THE SIDE!

#

FROM BEHIND YOU A GARGANTUAN BALL MADE OF SOLID ROCK ROLLS DOWN A RAMPWAY AND ^ACCELERATES INTO THE HALLWAY!

#

EVERYONE RUNS FOR THE END OF THE HALL!

#

THE CHEST IS CAUGHT IN THE GLOOP!

#

1600 TRY TO TAKE THE IDOL LEAVE THE IDOL ALONE

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A CLAY IDOL FIGURINE IS RESTING WITHIN AN ALCOVE, ENSHRINED WITH DRIED FLOWER ^PETALS, BONES, AND GLASS BEADS.

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171800 THROW THE SANDBAG AT THE IDOL EXCHANGE SANDBAG FOR THE IDOL LEAVE THE IDOL ALONE

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A CLAY IDOL FIGURINE IS RESTING WITHIN AN ALCOVE, ENSHRINED WITH DRIED FLOWER ^PETALS, BONES, AND GLASS BEADS.

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THE SANDBAG HITS THE IDOL, KNOCKING IT ^REELING ONTO THE FLOOR!

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QUICKLY YOU SNATCH UP THE IDOL!

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YOU DEFTLY SNATCH THE IDOL AND REPLACE IT WITH THE SANDBAG,  SO SMOOTHLY THAT ^EVEN THE FLOWERS REMAIN UNDISTURBED.

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YOUR CLUMSY ATTEMPT TO SWAP THE BAG OF SAND HAS KNOCKED THE IDOL REELING ONTO ^THE FLOOR!

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QUICKLY YOU SNATCH UP THE IDOL!

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YOU SNATCH UP THE IDOL!

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THE TUNNEL IS FILLED WITH SAND, MAKING ^FURTHER TRAVEL INTO IT IMPOSSIBLE...

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THIS APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF BURIAL CHAMBER, WRAPPED MUMMIES BEING LAID IN ALCOVES CUT FROM THE EARTH. THE GROUND IS DIRT AND CLAY, AND BROKEN PIECES OF ^POTTERY LIE SCATTERED ABOUT THE ROOM.

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FADED PAINTINGS DEPICTING BROWN PEOPLE ENGAGED IN GROWING CROPS, BATHING, AND DANCING IN COSTUMES COVER THE WALLS, A ^RECORD MOST LIKELY OF DAILY LIFE.

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THE WALLS ARE MADE OF EARTH, BLOCKS OF CLAY ENGRAVED WITH FANCIFUL DESIGNS. A QUICK LOOK AROUND REVEALS THAT ALL THE WALLS ARE THIS WAY, SUGGESTING A ROYAL ^OR SACRED AIR ABOUT THE PLACE.

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EMERGING OUTSIDE,  YOU ARE STANDING ON THE LEDGE OF A GREAT PYRAMID, A TEMPLE WHICH IS ARISING FROM THE MOUNTAIN AND ^COMPLETELY BORDERED BY JUNGLE.

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YOU FILL THE EMPTY SACK WITH SAND.

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THE HEAD OF A STRANGE BEAST IS HEWN IN THE CENTER OF A CIRCULAR EMBLEM ON TOP OF THE GATE, ALTHOUGH SOMEHOW THE FACE ^LOOKS ODDLY FAMILIAR...

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YOU WAVE THE IDOL BEFORE THE EMBLEM...

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PERCHED HIGH ON A THRONE MADE OF WOVEN STRAW, SITS A WATCHFUL AND STERN GIRL. SHE WEARS A FANCY HEADRESS, AND AROUND HER NECK REST MANY NECKLACES MADE FROM SMALL BONES AND GLASS BEADS.  DIRECTLY AT HER SIDE ARE SEVERAL OF THE WARRIOR WOMEN, EACH SWAYING A LARGE FAN. ALSO, BEHIND HER TO THE RIGHT, ANOTHER WOMAN WEARING A GIANT SPOOKY LOOKING MASK IS EYEING YOU VERY CAREFULLY AS THE PARTY ^APPROACHES THE THRONE...

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"I AM THE QUEEN OF THE AMAZULU!"

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"WHO DARES ENTER OUR SACRED GROUNDS?"

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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ HAVE YOU COME TO TAKE THE ROCK?

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YES/
YEA/
YEP/
SURE/
OK/ WHY HAVE YOU COME TO THE TEMPLE? HAVE YOU COME TO TAKE THE ROCK?

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THEN YOU MUST BE SACRIFICED!

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WHY HAVE YOU COME TO THE TEMPLE?

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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ DID YOU BRING ME AN OFFERING?

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LAY YOUR GIFTS BEFORE ME!

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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ DO YOU APOLOGIZE?

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I ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY!

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AND AS A TOKEN OF MY FORGIVENESS, I'LL ^ALSO ACCEPT A 3000 GOLD DONATION!

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I DEMAND A GIFT AND AN APOLOGY!

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MAU-MU-MU DEMANDS A SACRIFICE TONIGHT!

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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ DO YOU MAKE THE 3000 GOLD DONATION?

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(THE QUEEN TURNS AND WHISPERS TO THE WOMAN IN THE SPOOKY MASK)

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SEE?
I TOLD YOU THEY HAD SOFT BELLIES!

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MMMM...
FINE, FINE

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OOOO, HOW PRETTY!
AHHH! AND JUST LOOK AT THIS ONE!!

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HEY!
WAIT A MINUTE!!

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THIS STUFF IS NOTHING BUT CHEAP JUNK!
WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO FOOL??!

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HOW DARE YOU INSULT US!!

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YOU HAVE NOT THE GOLD FOR FORGIVENESS!

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SACRIFICE/SACRIFICE/

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THE GIRL IN THE SPOOKY MASK APPROACHES ^YOU AND WHISPERS,
"PSSSSST! WANNA DEAL?"

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I KNOW HOW TO TREAT YOU RIGHT!

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WATCH OUT FOR OLE HOTHEAD!

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QUEEN/MMM... NICE BUNS/

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STRAIGHT AHEAD LIES THE SMOKING TOP OF A SEETHING VOLCANO. A BED OF HOT COALS FORMS A BRIDGE WHICH LEADS TO THE EDGE OF THE VOLCANO, MAKING IT THE ONLY WAY ^TO CROSS OVER FROM THE PYRAMID...

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THE BRIDGE OF HOT COALS LEADS DIRECTLY TO THE LIP OF THE VOLCANO, AND EXTENDS ^OUT OVER THE CORE OF MOLTEN LAVA...

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AS YOU STAND ABOVE THE LAVA, YOU START FEELING EARTH TREMORS ARISING FROM THE VOLCANO, AS IF IT WERE GOING TO ERUPT.

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THE TREMORS ARE GROWING STRONGER...
THE LAVA BELOW STARTS BOILING!
SUDDENLY THE VOLCANO ERUPTS!!

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"SO YOU HAVE COME FOR THE ROCK!"

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"THEN I SHALL SLAY YOU!!"

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SSSSSSTT!! HOT COALS BURN YOUR FEET!

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THOUGH THE COALS ARE RED HOT, YOU FEEL ^NO PAIN AS YOU WALK ACROSS THEM...

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~THE HORN ISSUES A HAUNTING CALL WHICH ^ECHOES FAR ACROSS THE WATER...
~
~

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EVENTUALLY THE ECHOES FADE AWAY, AND ONLY THE QUIET RIPPLING OF THE RIVER ^IS LEFT TO FILL THE SILENCE...

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FROM OUT OF THE MISTS, A DARK FIGURE ^SLOWLY EMERGES...

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RIDING ATOP A LONG SLENDER BOAT, HE ^GENTLY GUIDES IT TO THE SHORE...

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"I AM CHARRON, FERRYMAN OF ASHES"

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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ HAVE YOU ANY ASHES FOR ME?

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GIVE THE ASHES TO ME...

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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ DO YOU WISH PASSAGE?

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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ THE FEE IS 500 GOLD. WILL YOU PAY?

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THIS IS THE ISLE OF THE DEAD...

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THIS IS THE ISLE OF THE DAMNED...
THE END OF THE RIDE FOR YOU...

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YOU HAVE NOT THE GOLD TO JOURNEY...

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SORRY, BUT I CAN'T TOUCH THIS ONE!

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YOU'LL HAVE TO RETURN IT YOURSELF...

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HERE, TAKE THIS KEY AND RETURN THE ASH ^TO THE ISLE OF THE DEAD FOR ME, OK?

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THE FORMER OWNER OF THESE ASHES WISHES ME TO RETURN THE FAVOR YOU HAVE GIVEN, ^SO BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME...

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I AM CHARRON, FERRYMAN OF ASHES

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YOU RECEIVE 500 GOLD FINDER'S FEE

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HE HAS SENT ME MANY...

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BUT THEN, SO HAVE YOU...

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DEATH HAS MANY GUISES...

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A CIRCULAR EMBLEM IS ENGRAVED UPON THE FLOOR, ADORNED WITH MANY STRANGE RUNES AND MYSTIC SYMBOLS. INSIDE THE CIRCLE, A SCENE DEPICTS A BOAT CARRYING A TOMB ^IN FLAMES ACROSS THE WATER...

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  THE ISLE OF MINOS   TOMB = THE DAMNED  

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RESTING AT THE FOOT OF THE GATE, YOU ^FIND A BOOK AND A KEY...

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FRAGMENTS OF BONES LIE HEAPED UPON THE ALCOVE, THE FINAL REMAINS OF SOME LOST ^SOUL DOOMED UPON THE ISLE OF MINOS...

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EVEN AS THE DUST SETTLES FROM THE DEAD MINO-DAEMON, A GHOSTLY VISAGE APPEARS, THE SOUL OF A MAN ONCE HELD CAPTIVE BY ^THE CURSE OF THE ISLE OF MINOS...

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A THOUSAND LAMBS SHALL BE SLAUGHTERED  TO CREATE THE EMPTINESS WHICH FROM I, MOVES DEATH TO LIFT THE BANE OF MINOS  ALL APPEALS TO LIVE, IN PEACE TO DIE!

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THEE HAS RELEASED ME!

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FOR YEARS I HAVE BEEN TRAPPED UPON THE ISLE OF MINOS, CURSED NOT BY DEEDS BUT BY WORDS. MINE WAS THE CRIME OF SPOKEN MURDER, FOR I DID SLAY ANOTHER BY WORD ALONE, AND WITH WORD ALONE DID HE DIE. AS SURELY AS IF I HAD WIELDED A SWORD, HIS EYES DID TURN DULL AND GLAZE OVER; HIS MIND CEASED TO FUNCTION AND WARMTH DRAINED FROM HIS SMILE, IN THAT SINGLE MOMENT I FIRST SAID, "BELIEVE". FOR AS THE ESSENCE OF MAN IS BORN UNTO WONDER AND HIS YOUNG EYE LOFTS ABOVE MEANING, LONG SHALL HE LIVE THAT CAN SEE THINGS ANEW, WHERE KNOWLEDGE SERVES LIFE, AND NOT POINTS OF VIEW.  ON THAT DAY, WHEN I FIRST SPOKE OF "TRUTH", THEN DID "I" DIE, THIS HE THAT WAS ME. AND ONLY THE FADING ECHOES OF THOUGHTS THOUGHT LONG AGO, DID SERVE AS THE REMINDER OF LIFE ONCE REMEMBERED. SUCH WAS MY CURSE, ON THE ISLE OF MINOS, A LESSON OF DISTANT VOICES WHICH HARKEN BLACKENED WATER. A BLESSING BE UPON YE, YE WHO LOOK ANEW, LEAVE CURSES FOR THE EMPTY, THE FEEBLE ^BLINDED WHO MUST SAYETH, "TRUE"...

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(AND THE SPECTRE FADES AWAY)

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THE CURSE OF MINOS
HE WHO DWELLS UPON THE ISLE OF MINOS IS DOOMED BY THE CURSE OF MINOS, AND SHALL BECOME MANIFEST IN THE FORM OF A DAEMON;  AND HE SHALL BE GIVEN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HIS FREEDOM LIES WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF OTHERS, AND THUS, SHALL HE LIVE OUT HIS DAYS,  FOREVER IMPRISONED, AWAITING ONE WITH WHOM A BATTLE MAY BE FOUGHT AND WON, AND IN HIS TRIUMPH BE RELEASED FROM THE SAD CURSE UPON HIM;  NEVER SHALL HE KNOW THAT IT IS ONLY BY THE VICTORY OF AN ENEMY, WHO SHALL KNOWINGLY RISK LIFE TO DESTROY HIS, THAT HIS FREEDOM CAN BE WON; AND SUCH AN ENEMY IN VICTORY ^MAY SUFFER HIMSELF IN THE DEED...

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3500 BOARD THE RAFT AND TURN CRANK LEAVE THE RAFT ALONE

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OUTSIDE THE GATE, A RAFT MADE OF HEAVY PLANKS IS FLOATING IN THE WATER. THERE IS A HEAVY STEEL CABLE ATTACHED TO THE WALL WHICH THEN RUNS INTO AND AROUND A SPOOL
CRANK DEVICE ABOARD THE RAFT.

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ABOARD THE RAFT, YOU TURN THE CRANK TO RELEASE THE CABLE, AND THE RAFT SLOWLY ^BEGINS TO FLOAT DOWNSTREAM...

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ABOARD THE RAFT, YOU TURN THE CRANK TO REWIND THE CABLE, WHICH DRAWS THE RAFT ^BACK UP THE RIVER...

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3600 BOARD THE RAFT AND TURN CRANK LEAVE THE RAFT ALONE

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THERE IS A RAFT HERE, FLOATING IN THE WATER. A LONG STEEL CABLE IS ATTACHED ^TO A SPOOL
CRANK DEVICE ABOARD IT.

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    SIREN'S COVE      * *  *  *  * *    SAILOR'S BEWARE!  

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THE COVE IS VERY QUIET AND SEEMS TO BE ^EMPTY...

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WHEN SUDDENLY YOU ARE SURROUNDED!

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FROM OUT OF THE DEPTHS COMES A TORRENT OF SPLASHING BODIES, PART WOMAN,  PART FISH, MOVING THROUGH THE WATER WITH AN EASE AND GRACE AS IF THEY HAD LIVED IN ^THE SEA ALL OF THEIR LIVES...

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THEY COMPLETELY SURROUND THE ROCK UPON WHICH THE RAFT HAS LANDED, AND AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THEY BECOME STILL, WAITING FOR THE WATER TO CALM, AND THEN SOFTLY ^BEGIN TO CHANT THIS HAUNTING SONG:

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WE ARE THE SIRENS          ^   SISTERS OF THE SEA, ^AND WE SING A SONG OF ^   SADNESS O'ER THE BREEZE

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THO' IN OUR HEARTS WE LOVE    ^   'TIS MADNESS SETS US FREE, ^ALLURING MEN TO NIGHTMARE ^   WHO HEAR OUR GENTLE PLEAS...

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ONLY THEY THAT KNOW              ^   THE SIREN'S SONG OF WOE, ^WILL 'SCAPE THE DEADLY HOUR ^   WHICH DANCES FROM OUR THROATS

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AND OTHERS THEY SHALL DIE      ^   'TIS MADNESS MAKES US HIGH, ^COME SIRENS! LURE THE MORTALS ^   TO DEATH UPON THE SEAS...

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AND THE SIRENS BEGIN TO WAIL IN A MOST TERRIFYINGLY DISSONANT HARMONY, CHILLS RUSHING THROUGH THE AIR TO BREAK BACKS OF MIGHTY SHIPS AND SAILORS, AND ABOVE THEIR CRYING SONG, ONE OF THEM SHOUTS,

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"WHO ARE WE, MY SISTERS?"

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AND THE VOICES CRY BACK,
"WE ARE THE SIRENS!"

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AND AGAIN THE LONE VOICE CALLS,
"AND WHY DO WE SING?"

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AND THE HAIL OF VOICES STORMS,
"BECAUSE WE ARE MADNESS!"

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AND THE SONG BECOMES A HIGH FEVER, AND ^THE LONE VOICE RESPONDS,
"AND WHAT DO WE SING, MY SISTERS?"

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AND THE CHORUS INTONES,
"THE SIREN'S SONG OF WOE!"

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AND THE SONG BUILDS TO A FRENZY, WHEN SUDDENLY THE LONE WOMAN-FISH TURNS TO ^YOU AND SCREAMS,

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MADNESS MAKES US FREE/ AND WHAT IS THE SIREN'S SONG OF WOE?

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O NOBLE TRAVELERS!

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THEE KNOWEST OF OUR SONG OF WOE!

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THEREFOR, THOU ART FREE TO RETURN ONCE MORE UPON THY CHOSEN PATH. REMEMBER, A SIREN MUST FOREVER LURE MEN TO MADNESS FOR ONLY MADNESS MAKES HER FREE, AND A ^MORTAL UPON THESE WATERS MUST BEWARE!

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BUT THEE HAST HEARD OUR SONG AND STILL LIVES, AND SO WE ARE BOUND TO AID THEE ^IN THY JOURNEY...

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TAKE THESE MAGIC WINGS, A GIFT, TO USE WHEN THOU MUST TRAVEL ABOUT THE RIVER, FOR THE LEGS OF MORTAL MEN ARE USELESS UPON THE WATER. NOW LEAVE US, FOR SOON OUR MADNESS WILL MAKE US FREE, AND ALL THAT HAS TRANSPIRED WILL BE FORGOTTEN; FOR THE FREEDOM WE SEEK IS THE FREEDOM FROM THE PAST, TIS IN THE PAST LIE ALL OUR CHAINS AND SORROWS; AND SO WE SING AND WE FORGET, AND WE THUSLY FIND THAT FREEDOM, AND IT'S MADNESS OF NO MEMORY ^WHICH MAKES US FREE...

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(AND THE SIRENS QUIETLY SLIP BACK INTO ^ THE WATER, DISAPPEARING COMPLETELY AS ^ IF NOTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED...)

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O SAD TRAVELERS!

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THOU ART DOOMED!
COME TASTE OUR SONG OF MADNESS!