YOU MANAGE TO PULL UP A HEAVY LOCKER, WHICH CRUMBLES INTO SHARDS OF RUST AS ^YOU HAUL IT UP OUT OF THE WATER...
#
A BOLD RED "X" HAS BEEN PAINTED ON THE SURFACE OF THE ROCK, LIKE SOME KIND OF ^SPECIAL MARK...
#
SONG OF THE SIRENS WE ARE THE SIRENS ^ SISTERS OF THE SEA, ^AND WE SING A SONG OF ^ SADNESS O'ER THE BREEZE THO' IN OUR HEARTS WE LOVE ^ 'TIS MADNESS SETS US FREE, ^ALLURING MEN TO NIGHTMARE ^ WHO HEAR OUR GENTLE PLEAS...
#
ONLY THEY THAT KNOW ^ THE SIREN'S SONG OF WOE, ^WILL 'SCAPE THE DEADLY HOUR ^ WHICH DANCES FROM OUR THROATS AND OTHERS THEY SHALL DIE ^ 'TIS MADNESS MAKES US HIGH, ^COME SIRENS! LURE THE MORTALS ^ TO DEATH UPON THE SEAS...
#
SOLO : WHO ARE WE, SISTERS? ^CHORUS: WE ARE THE SIRENS! ^SOLO : AND WHY DO WE SING? ^CHORUS: BECAUSE WE ARE MADNESS!
#
SOLO : WHAT DO WE SING, O SISTERS? ^CHORUS: THE SIREN'S SONG OF WOE! ^SOLO : AND WHAT IS THE SONG OF WOE? ^CHORUS: 'TIS MADNESS MAKES US FREE!
#
THE RIVER STYX
#
STEPPING INTO THE OPEN AIR, YOUR NOSE DETECTS THE SCENT OF WATER, AS IF YOU ^WERE NEAR A LAKE OR SOMETHING...
#
AND THEN YOU SEE IT, SURROUNDING YOUR ROCK LEDGE, WINDING AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE INTO AN UNDERGROUND CAVERN IN ALL DIRECTIONS, AND THEN DISAPPEARING ^INTO THE MISTS...
#
ISLE OF THE DEAD
#
INSIDE THE BIZARRE CRYPT, YOUR SENSES GIVE YOU A CREEPY FEELING, PERHAPS AN EARLY WARNING SIGN OF IMMINENT DANGER OR POSSIBLY JUST THE REALITY OF BEING ^SURROUNDED BY SO MANY DEAD PEOPLE...
#
ISLE OF THE KEEP
#
A BEAUTIFUL TROPIC WOMAN EMERGES FROM ^A SMALL FORTRESS AND SAYS, "WELCOME TO THE ISLAND KEEP!"
#
HOWEVER, I'M AFRAID WE DON'T HAVE ANY ^MORE ROOM FOR STORAGE HERE...
#
PERHAPS YOU SHOULD TRY BACK LATER!
#
YOU'VE COME TO RECLAIM SOMETHING?
#
OOO! THAT'S GREAT!!
#
WE SURE DO NEED THE SPACE!
#
38-23-36/ WHAT'S THE CLAIM NUMBER?
#
I'M SORRY, BUT YOU MUST HAVE A CLAIM NUMBER, OR ELSE HOW WOULD I KNOW YOU AREN'T IMPOSTERS TRYING TO STEAL?
#
BORK/BORK/
#
OOO! GREAT!!
#
WAIT A MINUTE WHILE I CHECK IT OUT...
#
EEEEEKKK!
#
HELP ME! HELP ME!! AND SUDDENLY THE TROPIC GIRL RUNS OUT OF THE FORTRESS SCREAMING, JUMPS INTO THE STREAM, AND SWIMS AWAY AS FAST AS ^SHE CAN GO...
#
OOLA-OOLA! I AM MAI-LAI!
#
COME BACK AGAIN SOON!
#
YOU ENTER THE FORTRESS...
#
IT'S A TOTAL MESS... SUDDENLY YOU SEE A TWO-FOOT MIDGET, ^RUNNING AROUND TRASHING THE PLACE...
#
#
BORK HAS GONE ON A RAMPAGE!!
#
THE SMALL UNDERGROUND MAUSOLEUM SMELLS OF MOLD AND FERMENT, AND PERHAPS A BIT OF STALE CORPSES. YOUR INTRUSION FEELS TO BE THE FIRST TO DISTURB THE ROTTING ^LANGUOR AFTER MANY YEARS OF PEACE...
#
ROWS OF STONE SEPULCHERS DOT THE ROOM, PRIVATE MEMORIAL CHAMBERS OF THE DEAD. CURIOUS THAT SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT MIGHT EXIST IN A PLACE KNOWN AS "ISLE OF THE ^DAMNED"...
#
SIR CLYDE SMALLHEAD WORKED HARD NEVER MADE A DIME
#
MAME EILA PICKYMISS AWAITING HER HERO STILL WAITING
#
WILD BILLY RESTLESS NEVER STOOD STILL NEVER SAW IT COMING
#
SAD HAPPY HARPO MADE EVERYONE LAUGH DRANK SELF TO DEATH
#
DON JUAN LUVPUPPY DESIRED AFFECTION DIED OF INFECTION
#
POOR MANDY HELPFUL SO EAGER TO PLEASE EVERYONE HATED HER
#
BULLI BIGBOSSI VERY WELL RESPECTED THEY SHOT HIM 237 TIMES
#
BUILT BARDA BUXSUM SHE WAS SO POPULAR THAT SHE GOT USED UP
#
NARCISSUS GODILUVME DIDN'T NEED ANYBODY DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY
#
MAD BOMBER IRARABI FIGHTER WITH A CAUSE KILLED MOSTLY CHILDREN
#
GRANDFATHER IRARABI WOULD DIE FOR CAUSE KILLED MILLIONS INSTEAD
#
DON MARO TOUGHGUY AFRAID OF NOTHING RUN OVER BY BUICK
#
SIR ISSAC WISENSTEIN ALL THOSE BRAINS AND HE STILL DIDN'T GET IT
#
ABASOLUTI LI AVERIBODI CRIED THAT NOBODY UNDERSTOOD HIM AS HE WHINED THEY ROBBED HIM BLIND
#
YOU HAVE DISTURBED THE BONES!
#
YOU EMERGE INTO THE CASTLE SWAMPLANDS, THE SPOOKY MARSHES EAST OF THE CASTLE. A PATH SKIRTS IN AND OUT OF ITS BROODY TREES, ENABLING YOU TO CAUTIOUSLY WALK ^THROUGH THE WATERY MOOR...
#
YOU CAN BARELY DISCERN THE SILHOUETTED OUTLINE OF THE CASTLE BREAKING THROUGH THE MISTS, AS IT STANDS TOWERING ABOVE ^THE TREES...
#
JUST BARELY VISIBLE IN THE BOGGY EARTH ARE FAINT LITTLE FOOTPRINTS, MADE FROM SOME SMALL HOPPING CREATURE, AND WHICH ^TRAIL OFF INTO A NEARBY BRUSH...
#
DIRECTLY AHEAD, YOU SEE A MOST CURIOUS SIGHT. A RATHER UNUSUAL ODDITY OF MANY ARMS AND LEGS IS SITTING HIGH ATOP ONE OF THE TOADSTOOLS AT THE SWAMP'S EDGE, LOOKING SOMEWHAT NERVOUS AND AGITATED.
#
PERCHED HIGH UPON A FRAGRANT MUSHROOM, A HUGE WORM-LIKE CREATURE IS BUSY WITH PEN AND PARCHMENT, WRITING A SERIES OF ^VERY COMPLEX MATHEMATICAL FORMULAS...
#
SUDDENLY SURPRISED AT DISCOVERING YOUR PRESENCE, HE EMITS A SMALL "SNORT" AND ^MOMENTARILY DROPPING HIS PAPER, SAYS:
#
UM...
#
OH MY!...
#
HIS TWO TINY EYES LOOK HUGE, MAGNIFIED BY A PAIR OF SPECTACLES WHICH REST ON HIS NOSE, AND AFTER A SHORT DELIBERATE ^GLANCE AT THE PARTY, HE VENTURES,
#
NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/ YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A SMOKE, WOULD YOU?
#
DID'JA FIND IT, HUH? DID'JA DID'JA??!
#
*SIGH* I'M ASHAMED TO SAY IT, BUT I'VE PUT MY HOOKAH WATER PIPE SOMEWHERE AND ^NOW I CAN'T SEEM TO REMEMBER WHERE...
#
AS YOU CAN SEE, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE RECALCULATIONS OF MY EXACT SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL LOCATIONS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAST KNOWN PHYSICAL COORDINATES OF SAID HOOKAH PIPE IN QUESTION, IN AN ATTEMPT TO DERIVE ITS CURRENT POSITION ^IN THE UNIVERSE...
#
I REMEMBER TAKING IT WHEN I WENT ON MY ISLAND VACATION LAST SUMMER, AND I PUT IT SOMEWHERE FOR SAFEKEEPING, BUT NOW I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE I LEFT IT!
#
ALL I FOUND IN EVIDENCE IS THIS LITTLE STRIP OF PAPER WHICH WAS IN MY POCKET, AND I QUOTE FROM IT AS FOLLOWS,
#
"PLEASE INFORM CLERK YOU WISH TO MAKE A 'RECLAMATION' TO REDEEM MERCHANDISE LEFT IN STORAGE"
#
CLAIM NUMBER?
#
CLAIM NUMBER?!!
#
O MY GOODNESS!
#
SO THAT'S WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS FOR!
#
#
NO WONDER MY HOUSE OF MERCURY INSISTED ON COLLIDING WITH VENUS OVER AQUARIUS!
#
#
BUT NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT, I HAVEN'T THE SLIGHTEST IDEA OF WHAT IT IS...
#
#
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A JOB FOR,...
#
#
"BOTTLE ORACLE"
#
THE BOTTLE ORACLE IS REALLY VERY EASY!
#
#
ALL WE NEED TO DO IS TO PUT A QUESTION IN A BOTTLE AND LET IT GO IN THE RIVER AT THE SIGN SAYING, "BOTTLE ORACLE"...
#
AFTER THAT, YOU THEN ONLY NEED TO FIND THE BOTTLE, AND AS IF BY MAGIC YOU WILL HAVE THE ANSWER INSIDE!
#
#
#
IT'S REALLY VERY WONDERFUL!
#
#
O, WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF IT SOONER!
#
#
(THE CATERPILLAR SCRIBBLES ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND THEN HANDS IT TO YOU)
#
#
#
HERE, TAKE THIS MESSAGE AND SEAL IT IN A BOTTLE AND GIVE IT TO BOTTLE ORACLE.
#
#
SOON WE'LL HAVE AN ANSWER!
#
SURE WISH I HAD A SMOKE!
#
SEE YA!
#
MMMMM.... (PUFF PUFF) AHHHHH!!! (PUFF PUFF) NOTHING LIKE A GOOD TOKE, EH WOT?
#
(PUFF PUFF) EOOOOEEEEEEE!! (PUFF PUFF *WHEEZZZ*) HUHP! *HEH* (CHOKE) (COUGH GAG HACK) GUESS I BETTER TRY A SMOOTHER BLEND... *HEH HEH HEH* AND NOW FOR SOMETHING REALLY SMOOTH...
#
NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ YOU WANNA GET "SMALL" ?
#
IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND, TRY THIS!
#
THEN TRY THIS SOMETIME!
#
NOW IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I *HEH* THINK I'LL JUST CRAWL ON DOWN TO A COZY TREE I KNOW ABOUT AND GET REACQUAINTED WITH ^MY PIPE, *HEH HEH* (URP! *WHEEZZZ*)
#
SMOKE/SMOKE/
#
*SIGH* I'M ASHAMED TO SAY IT, BUT I'VE PUT MY HOOKAH WATER PIPE SOMEWHERE AND NOW I CAN'T SEEM TO REMEMBER WHERE...
#
AS YOU CAN SEE, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE RECALCULATIONS OF MY EXACT SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL LOCATIONS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAST KNOWN PHYSICAL COORDINATES
#
OF SAID HOOKAH PIPE IN QUESTION, IN AN ATTEMPT TO DERIVE ITS CURRENT POSITION IN THE UNIVERSE...
#
THE LOST WARRIOR IN MEMORIUM MAY HE FIND HIS WAY HOME
#
UPON THE ALTAR SITS A BLACK URN FILLED WITH SMALL MOUNDS OF FINE ASH. THE ASH HAS A PLEASANT FRAGRANCE, AND IT SEEMS A CONTRAST TO THE OTHERWISE GLOOMY BOW ^OF THESE CATACOMBS...
#
YOU INSERT THE INCENSE INTO THE NEARBY CANDLE, IGNITING IT INTO A GLOWING POD OF SMOKEY SWEET AROMA, AND GENTLY DROP ^IT INTO THE SMALL URN...
#
THERE IS A SUDDEN LITENESS TO THE AIR, AS IF THE RESTLESS SPIRITS HAD A BRIEF ^MOMENT OF THANKFUL CALM...
#
YOU PLACE THE SMALL CYLINDER OF ASH ON ^THE ALTAR...
#
HALL OF THE DEAD
#
YOU THOUGHT YOU HEARD SOMETHING...
#
IT SOUNDS LIKE A FAINT VOICE...
#
#
"LLLLEAVE THIS PLACE....."
#
#
"RETURN TO YOUR OWN WORLD..."
#
#
DIE, DARK DEFILERS!
#
#
FOUL INTRUDERS!
#
#
SO YOU FOUND ME, EH???
#
WE COME FOR YOOOOUUUU!!
#
A HUGE STONE FELL FROM THE CEILING!
#
AN EERIE GLOW BATHES THE PARTY...
#
DEVIL WINDS WHIP THROUGH THE CORRIDOR!
#
ROBIN WINDMARNE HIGHLANDER DROW GUARDIAN 1ST ORDER
#
SIR GEOFFREY CLAYTON THE BLACK KNIGHT GUARDIAN 2ND ORDER
#
BRIGERD DANS WOLTAN HIGH MAENAD OF ROSE GUARDIAN 3RD ORDER
#
LORD HAIYATO DAIKUTA YOJIMBO KAISHAKUNIN GUARDIAN 4TH ORDER
#
O DARKEST NIGHT, BE DEATH'S DELIGHT; ARISE YE MINIONS, BONES, COME TO LIFE!
#
AND THE BONES TURN TO FLESH, SAYING,
#
"THE GUARDIAN HEARS THY CALL, MASTER!"
#
IT'S HARD TO SAY WHETHER IT'S THE COLD PALE SKELETONS THAT FILL THE CATACOMBS OR THE CREEPY HORROR OF SOMETHING ELSE WHICH MAY LURK UNDER THESE CHAMBERS OF THE DEAD, BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN,...
#
YOU HAVE THE UNMISTAKABLE SENSATION OF BEING VERY NEAR TO GREAT DANGER, AND A MORE SUBTLE SENSE OF DRAWING CLOSER TO AN ANSWER... PART OF SOMETHING EVIL...
#
SOMETHING AT THE HEART OF IT ALL...
#
TOMB OF THE KING LORD OF ARAM DIED: ..........
#
TOMB OF THE QUEEN GODDESS OF ARAM DIED: YEAR=SNAKES
#
TOMB OF THE CHILD DAUGHTER=ARAM PRINCESS=DARKNESS
#
THE CHAMBER IS BARE, DEVOID OF USE, AS IF ITS "INTENDED OCCUPANT" HAD NOT YET ^ARRIVED...
#
YOU FEEL A SLIGHT COOL BREEZE, BARELY NOTICEABLE, BUT WHEN IT FADES YOU HAVE THE SENSATION OF BEING IN THE COMPANY ^OF ANOTHER'S PRESENCE...
#
#
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE?
#
A DEEP, MASTERFUL VOICE SPEAKS AT YOUR BACK, AND YOU TURN TO FACE THE UNKNOWN ^ACCOSTER...
#
BUT NOTHING IS THERE...
#
THEN YOU HEAR A STRANGE "WHIP" THROUGH THE AIR AND FEEL THE BREEZE ONCE AGAIN ^BLOWING IN YOUR FACE...
#
AND SUDDENLY YOU SEE IT!
#
#
GARRRRAAARRGGHHHHHHHH!
#
I SEEK REVENGE!
#
BUT I SENSE THAT YOU ARE NOT THE ONES ^WHOM I SEEK...
#
#
YOU ARE THE ONES I HAVE AWAITED! I SHALL TELL YOU OF THE BANE EVIL THAT HAS TRANSPIRED HERE, IN THIS CASTLE OF DARKNESS, A STORY TO CHILL YOUR BONES ^AND HARDEN YOUR VEINS...
#
MANY YEARS AGO, A LUSTFUL AND POWERFUL LORD RULED THIS LAND, A DESCENDENT OF ^A DESCENDENT OF AN ANNOINTED KING...
#
BUT HE WAS UNSATISFIED WITH MERELY THE RULE OF THIS TERRITORY, AND THE BLOOD OF HIS ANCESTORS CRIED WITHIN HIM ONCE ^AGAIN TO BECOME A MIGHTY KING...
#
TO MAKE A KING REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST A CROWN, FOR A KING MUST ALSO HAVE THE ^POWER TO CONTROL, OR HE WILL FALL...
#
TRUE POWER IS THE POWER OF CONTROL, TO HE WITHOUT CONTROL, HE IS POWERLESS...
#
AND SO HE STUDIED OF CONTROL, AND THEN HE DID MORE THAN STUDY, HE PUT WHAT HE DISCOVERED INTO PRACTICE. AND HE FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE MAN WAS EASY PREY FOR HE THAT ACTED WITH AUTHORITY; HE FOUND AS LONG AS HE ACTED AS IF HIS WAS SOME DIVINE POWER, OTHERS WOULD BOW TO HIM, AND SUBMIT TO HIS RULE, AND NEVER GIVE ^THOUGHT TO QUESTION HIS AUTHORITY...
#
AND SO HE BUILT THE DARK TEMPLE, WHICH LIES NORTH OF THE CASTLE, AND ADOPTED AS ITS SYMBOL THE SYMBOL OF THE RAM, A CREATURE ALREADY VIEWED WITH SUSPICION ^AND FEAR BY THE FOOLISH AND WEAK...
#
AND THIS WOULD-BE KING WENT MAD!
#
HIS DREAM OF POWER TOOK CONTROL OF HIM AS SUCH THIRSTS ARE WONT; AND HE BEGAN AN UNHOLY CRUSADE, FEEDING UPON THOSE TOO WEAK TO RESIST HIS CALL OF MAJESTY AND HE THEN TURNED TO DARKER POWERS... CALLING FORTH THE DEMONS OF HELL, SOON HIS POWERS GREW ALONG WITH HIS DESIRE, AND AS HE DRANK OF THIS WELL, HE NEVER SUSPECTED HOW IT WAS FUELED BY HIS OWN ^INNER SOUL...
#
AND ONE DAY HE WAS ASKED TO RETURN THE PRICE OF HIS POWER, TO REPAY THE FAVOR TO THE SECRET DARKER FORCES WHICH WERE ^BEHIND HIS EARTHLY CONQUESTS...
#
AND THIS FAVOR WAS MOST FOUL INDEED!
#
AND SO HE SECURED A WOMAN, MISTRESS OF A HOLY MAN, AND IN A HORRID RITUAL, AT STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, SHE WAS MATED WITH A DEMON FROM HELL, THAT THIS DEMON HAD THEN A LEGITIMATE CLAIM TO THIS WORLD.
#
AND SO THE DEMON CHILD WAS BORN!
#
SHE WAS PLACED INTO THE CUSTODY OF THE WHORE MOTHER TO RAISE HER, GUARDED BY THE ONCE HOLY MAN TO WARD OFF ANY HARM THAT MIGHT BEFALL HER ARISING FROM HIS ^FORMER LEIGE AND LORD... AND UPON HER THIRTEENTH YEAR, THE KING SENT FOR HER, FOR HE HAD FORMED A BOND WITH ANOTHER POWERFUL AGENT, AND USING HER AS BAIT FOR THE TRAP, THE DEMONIC ^SIRE FELL VICTIM TO THEIR ALLIANCE... THUS HE WAS FREE TO CLAIM THE GIRL FOR HIS OWN, THAT HE COULD FURTHER HIS OWN POWER THROUGH THOSE SHE INHERITED FROM ^HER DEMON FATHER...
#
AND THEN HIS LUST FOR POWER BECAME HIS ^LUST FOR HER... FOR HER!
#
AND I, WHO WAS HIS QUEEN, HIGH PRIEST, AND ONE-TIME LOVER, WAS DISCARDED, AND ^HE TOOK HER INSTEAD...
#
AND I BECAME NOTHING...
#
IT WAS AFTER HER FOURTEENTH YEAR, THAT SHE ASKED HIM OF HER POWERS, THE STORY OF HER NATURE, AND HE TOLD HER, MOTHER BUT A COMMON WHORE, HER FATHER A DEMON ^OF HELL, AND SHE HAD BUT ONE WISH...
#
THAT THEY BE PUT TO DEATH!
#
SHE WAS A DEMON CHILD!
#
SHE HAD HER OWN MOTHER PUT TO DEATH!
#
AND THE HOLY MAN, HER LOVER, LIKEWISE ^WAS PUT TO DEATH...
#
AND THEN CAME THE BANE PEN...
#
WHEN HE HAD FINISHED SCRYING HIS WISH ^OF THE PEN, THREE THINGS HAPPENED:
#
FIRST WAS MY OWN DEATH, SUFFERED BY A ^BLOW DEALT BY THE DEMONESS HERSELF...
#
SECOND, SHE BECAME PREGNANT, CARRYING ^HIS SON, A BASTARD-THING FROM HELL...
#
AND THIRD, HE HIMSELF WAS CHANGED...
#
HIS WISH WAS TO BECOME IMMORTAL...
#
BUT HE DID NOT RECONCILE THE CURSE OF ^THE BANE PEN...
#
AND I SPIT UPON THEM!
#
HIM AND HER AND HERS!
#
AND I SHALL NOT REST WHILE THEY LIVE!
#
YOU MUST DESTROY THEM!
#
YOU MUST NOT LISTEN TO THEIR LIES!
#
THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO DECEIVE YOU!
#
BUT DO NOT LISTEN!
#
I WILL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO HELP YOU AGAINST THEM, BUT YOU MUST NOT FORGET ^WHAT I HAVE TOLD YOU!
#
TAKE THIS KEY, ENTER INTO THE CHAMBER ^WHERE SHE SLEEPS, AND DESTROY HER!
#
AND TAKE THIS HOLY RELIC, THAT IT MAY HELP PROTECT YOU AGAINST THEIR POWER.
#
HE WILL TRY TO STOP YOU, BUT THIS CAN ^STOP HIM...
#
NOW YOU MUST GO!
#
DESTROY THEM BEFORE THEY DESTROY YOU!
#
#
I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!!
#
#
(AND THE GHOSTLY SPECTRE FADES)
#
AN OPEN BLACK COFFIN IS RESTING WITHIN THE SMALL CRYPT, FRESH AND RECENT WITH ^THE SCENT OF PERFUME AND LILACS...
#
AND THEN SHE IS THERE...
#
NO/YES/REBECCA/DEMON CHILD/ DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
#
REBECCA/ WHAT IS MY NAME?
#
I AM REBECCA...
#
MY LOVER TOLD ME TO EXPECT YOU...
#
HE SAID YOU MIGHT WANT TO KILL ME...
#
NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ DO YOU WANT TO KILL ME?
#
I'M NOT SURE I BELIEVE YOU...
#
PERHAPS YOU ARE SMARTER THAN YOU LOOK
#
THEN I MUST TAKE YOU TO HIM! REBECCA GAZES!
#
NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/OK/ WILL YOU FOLLOW ME TO HIM?
#
THEN COME WITH ME... REBECCA GAZES!
#
A GIANT BLACK BAT SWOOPS IN YOUR FACE, ^AS IF TO ATTACK YOU...
#
NO/YES/ DO YOU ATTACK?
#
THE BAT MAKES ANOTHER SWOOP AT YOU, AS ^ALMOST AS IF IT WERE TESTING YOU...
#
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS UNBELIEVABLE, FOR YOU WITNESS A MOST EXTRAORDINARY SCENE ^ALMOST TOO QUICK TO BE PERCEIVED...
#
SUDDENLY THE BAT DISAPPEARS, LEAVING A ^TOWERING DARK FIGURE IN ITS PLACE...
#
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF...
#
I AM LORD OF THIS CASTLE
#
AND IT APPEARS THAT YOU ARE UNINVITED ^GUESTS, TRESPASSERS IN MY HOUSE...
#
BUT PERHAPS THERE IS A REASON FOR YOU ^TO BE HERE...
#
PEN/COSMIC FORGE/KING/REBECCA/XORPHITUS/ WHY ARE YOU HERE?
#
THE PEN?
#
HA HA HA! HA HA HAH HAH HA!! HA HAH HAH HAH AHAHAHAHA!!!
#
THE KING???
#
HA HA HA!
#
XORPHITUS??
#
HA HA HA!
#
REBECCA? STAY AWAY FROM HER! DO YOU HEAR ME?!
#
IF YOU GET NEAR HER I'LL KILL YOU!!
#
FOOLISH MORTALS!
#
YOU WERE WARNED TO STAY AWAY!
#
YOU ARE CHILDREN, AND YOU ARE MEDDLING IN AFFAIRS FAR BEYOND MORTAL KEN, FAR ^BEYOND YOUR LIMITED WORLD...
#
COME!
#
I'LL GIVE YOU A "TASTE" OF WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST!
#
SO WE MEET AGAIN... A PITY, YOU ALMOST SHOWED SOME SIGN OF PROMISE, A GLIMMER OF INTELLIGENCE, A ^QUALITY LACKING IN SO MANY...
#
AH, WELL...
#
I AM THIRSTY AND YOUR NECKS ARE FRESH, THOUGH I SHALL ONLY TAKE WHAT I NEED, ^AND NOTHING MORE...
#
(AND HE APPROACHES, FANGS BARED, WHILE ^ EVERYONE WATCHES HELPLESSLY, TOTALLY ^ TRANSFIXED BY THE HYPNOTIZING GAZE OF ^ THE DEMON CHILD REBECCA...)
#
AHHHH!
#
I AM REFRESHED! BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS OF WHAT SHALL ^I DO WITH YOU...
#
#
REBECCA?
#
(AND AFTER A BRIEF PAUSE, SHE WHISPERS ^ SOMETHING IN HIS EAR...)
#
#
AHH!, VERY WELL...
#
GOODNIGHT!
#
(AND A RED GLOW EMANATES FROM HIS EYES ^ MOMENTARILY BATHING THE PARTY...
#
AND THEN EVERYONE PASSES OUT...
#
BAH! WHAT'S THIS??
#
(AND AS HE STEPS BACK YOU SEE THE BURN ^ MARK OF A CROSS UPON HIS CHEEK...)
#
STUPID IMBECILES! YOU SICKEN ME!!
#
REBECCA, COME HERE!
#
(AND HE SAYS SOMETHING TO HER WHICH IS ^ TOO FAINT TO HEAR, AND THEN TURNS TO ^ YOU AND SAYS,...
#
GOODBYE!
#
YOU DREAM OF ANGELS...
#
AND YOU SEE A FIGURE, DANCING WITHIN A ^POOL OF FLAMES...
#
#
#
HE LOOKS AT YOU MENACINGLY, AND HE HAS ^A WILD GLEAM IN HIS EYE...
#
HE IS EVOKING POWERFUL SPELLS, CALLING ^FORTH MAGIKS TO DESTROY YOU...
#
AND THEN HE WHISPERS A WORD... YOU CAN BARELY HEAR IT... IT SOUNDS LIKE A NAME... XOORRRPHIIIITUSSS...
#
AND THEN THE SCENE CHANGES...
#
YOU ARE STANDING IN THE CORNER OF SOME ^KIND OF PRISON...
#
THE ROOM IS BARE, BUT YOU NOTICE THERE ^IS A SMALL CRACK IN THE CORNER...
#
YOU REMEMBER HAVING THE FUNNY TASTE OF ^SOMETHING IN YOUR MOUTH...
#
AND THE ROOM BEGINS TO CHANGE...
#
IT IS GROWING LARGER... AND LARGER... AND YOU BECOME ENGULFED IN THE ROOM...
#
YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE THE SKY...
#
AND THE SMALL CRACK HAS BECOME...
#
A TUNNEL!
#
AND YOU RUN THROUGH THE TUNNEL...
#
#
#
YOU ARE STANDING IN THE CORNER OF SOME ^KIND OF PRISON...
#
THE ROOM IS BARE, BUT YOU ARE STANDING ^AT A GATE...
#
YOU ARE TALKING WITH SOMEONE...
#
NO! YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING!
#
YOU ARE HANDING SOMETHING TO THEM...
#
YOU ARE GIVING THEM SOMETHING EVIL...
#
WITH TWO GLOWING EYES...
#
AND THEY BECOME VERY ANGRY...
#
AND THE GATE OPENS AND THEY RUSH IN...
#
THEY WANT TO KILL YOU...
#
EVENTUALLY YOU AWAKEN TO FIND YOURSELF IN A SMALL GRIMEY CHAMBER, SMELLING OF ^STENCH AND EXCREMENT...
#
YOU NOTICE A SMALL CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WALL, JUST BARELY LARGE ENOUGH ^FOR THE RATS TO GET THROUGH...
#
THE MUSHROOM TASTES FUNNY...
#
AND THE ROOM IS LOOKING DIFFERENT...
#
IT'S BUBBLING A BIT...
#
AND NOW IT'S GROWING...!
#
NO...
#
IT IS YOU... GETTING SMALLER!
#
AND THE CRACK IS A HUGE CREVICE...
#
BUT IT IS SO FAR AWAY!
#
YOU ARE RUNNING FOR THE TUNNEL...
#
AS THE ROOM BEGINS TO ZOOM BACK IN!
#
AND YOU DIVE FOR THE TUNNEL...
#
YOU MADE IT!
#
EVERYTHING IS NORMAL ONCE AGAIN...
#
EXCEPT FOR A FEW PINK ELEPHANTS...
#
TALKING TO THE DANCING STRUDEL...
#
OVER BY THE FUNNY COLORS...
#
A GUARD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GATE ^IS WATCHING YOU VERY CLOSELY...
#
"HEY YOU!" "WHATEVER YA'RE DOIN', STOP IT!"
#
HEY!
#
YA'RE NOT 'SPOSED TO HAVE THIS! WHERE'D YA GET THIS, HUH?!
#
WHAT ELSE YA GOT YA AIN'T 'SPOSED TA?
#
#
GUARDS!!!
#
YOU EXIT THE SMALL BUNKER TO APPEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOREST, FULL OF TREES, FLOWERS, AND THE CHITTERINGS OF SMALL ^ANIMALS...
#
ACROSS THE WATER LIES THE HALF-SUNKEN, BROKEN SKELETON OF A SMALL SHIP. IT IS BARELY AFLOAT, AND LOOKS READY TO SINK ^AT ANY MINUTE...
#
A LARGE FLAT PLANK EXTENDS ACROSS THE ^WATER UP TO THE DECK OF THE SHIP...
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WHATEVER IT WAS THAT HIT THE SHIP, IT MUST HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE, BECAUSE ONLY ^HALF OF IT IS HERE...
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THE BONES OF THOSE THAT PROBABLY DIED WITH THE SHIP, ARE RESTING IN WAIT OF ^THE FINAL PLUNGE...
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UP IN THE BOW, A BROKEN CRUCIFIX LIES DANGLING FROM THE WALL, AS IF PERHAPS A MAKESHIFT CHAPEL WAS CONSTRUCTED, A PLACE OF HOPE FOR THE FRIGHTENED, AND ^OF LAST RITES FOR THE DEAD...
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YOU TOUCH THE BROKEN CRUCIFIX, AND IT ^FALLS TO THE FLOOR WITH A SHATTER!
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SEVERAL PIECES OF THE CROSS ARE SHARP ENOUGH TO SERVE AS CRUDE WOOD DAGGERS ^OR STAKES, SHOULD THE NEED ARISE...
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* THE ENCHANTED FOREST * DO NOT TEASE THE ANIMALS PLEASE, NO SMOKING
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THE DARK FOREST * BEWARE! *
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HEAPED WITHIN THE SMALL COVE, YOU FIND ^THE DECAYED REMAINS OF A HUMAN...
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TATTERED FRAGMENTS OF ROTTED ROBES ARE DRESSED AROUND THE BONES, AND IT SEEMS LIKELY THIS IS THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF AN OLD FEEBLE MONK WHO HAD LIVED IN ^THE SURROUNDING FOREST...
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IT IS A MOMENT BEFORE YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE STANDING OUTSIDE THE NORTH END OF THE CASTLE, LOOMING UP FROM THE BOG ^AND FOREST...
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IT SEEMS YOU HAVE WANDERED INTO A CAVE OF SOME SORT, AND THE FLICKERING LIGHT OF A FIRE ILLUMINATES THE ROUGH WALLS, ^HEWN INTO A ROCKY HILL...
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YOU ENTER THE CAVE, EXPECTING ANYTHING ^BUT FINDING NOTHING...
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THE ROCK OF TRUTH
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ODDLY ENOUGH, THE FACE OF THE ROCK HAS BEEN FLATTENED AND POLISHED, AND CASTS ^A MIRRORED REFLECTION OF THE PARTY...
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YOU SWING THE PICK WITH GREAT CARE, TO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT SHATTER THE ROCK, AND ARE SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING A SMALL FRAGMENTS OF THE REFLECTIVE SURFACE...
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SUDDENLY AN APPARITION APPEARS!
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WE ARE FASCINATION/ WHOOO... ARE.... YOU...???
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WE SEEK DIVINATION/ WHHYYY.. AREEE.. YOOUU... HEREEE..???
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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/ WILLL.... YOOUUU... PAAAYYYY...???
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III... WILL... LOOOOKKK... INTOOO... THEEE... MISTTYYY.... WATTTEERRRSSS...
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AND A VISION SWIRLS WITHIN THE CAVERN, BRINGING ONCE AGAIN THE PICTURE OF THE ^MAD WIZARD...
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BUT THEN HE IS GONE...
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AND ANOTHER TAKES HIS PLACE...
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IT IS SOMETHING EVIL...
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AND IT IS VERY POWERFUL...
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BUT YOU ARE STANDING AGAINST IT...
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YOU ARE HOLDING SOMETHING...
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A PIECE OF SHINING GLASS...
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PUSHING IT BACK...
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AND THEN YOU SEE A SILVER CROSS, HELD ^HIGH IN THE AIR...
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THEN A SPLASH OF HOLY WATER IS THROWN ^INTO THE FACE OF THE FOUL MONSTER...
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AND FINALLY, A WOODEN STAKE, MADE FROM ^WOOD MOST HOLY, IS THRUST INTO IT...
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AND THE THING BEGINS TO DIE!
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THE VISION FADES, AND YOU ARE STANDING ^ALONE WITHIN THE CAVE...
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BEGONE!
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(AND THE APPARITION DISAPPEARS...
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HUNDREDS OF TINY SOFT GLOWS ARE FLYING ^ABOUT THE DAMP MARSH...
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THEY LOOK LIKE FIREFLIES...
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STEPPING CLOSER, THEY FLY AWAY...
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THE TINY LIGHTS HAVE HIDDEN THEMSELVES IN THE BUSHES AND TREES ABOUT YOU, AND ALTHOUGH YOU CAN SEE THEM CLEARLY, YOU ^CANNOT GET NEAR THEM...
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A SMALL CIRCLE OF STONES HAS BEEN LAID SURROUNDING THIS PART OF THE BOG, AND HALF A DOZEN TREE STUMPS STICK UP LIKE ^SMALL STOOLS IN ITS CENTER...
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SITTING YOURSELF UPON THE TREE STUMPS, ^YOU PROCEED TO RING THE TINY BELL...
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IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE THE LITTLE FIREFLIES START DESCENDING FROM THEIR HIDING PLACES, AND CAUTIOUSLY APPROACH ^THE CIRCLE WITHIN WHICH YOU SIT...
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HELLO!
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HI!
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BYE!
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WE WOULD HELP YOU IF WE COULD, LIKE ANY SPRITELY FAERIE SHOULD; BUT THE HELP YOU SEEK LIES APART, HIDDEN DEEP IN A FOREST'S DARK!
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YOU MUST SEEK THE DELPHI!
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THE DELPHI KNOWS ALL!
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TO FIND THE DELPHI IS A MYSTERY, A TASK FIRST MET BY QUESTIONS THREE!
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FIRST REMEMBER, "WE ARE FASCINATION",
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THEN NEXT STATE, "WE SEEK DIVINATION";
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BUT ONLY THEE MAY ANSWER THE THIRD, FOR IT WILL COST THEE EVERY WORD;
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SO LISTEN THERE, AND LEARN YE WELL, AS SPEAKS DELPHI WITH STORY TO TELL!
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DELPHI/DELPHI/
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(HOLOGRAPHIC LETTERS APPEAR WHEN YOU ^ HOLD THE RING UP TO THE LIGHT...
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* * * RITE OF DELPHI * * * WHO ARE YOU? WE ARE FASCINATION! WHAT DO YOU SEEK? WE SEEK DIVINATION! WILL YOU PIEXET RAEPIQUIANIESE? MOLI.... ...... ..........
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(THE END IS SCRATCHED AND DIFFICULT ^ TO READ...
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HEY!
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HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!
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YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OUT THERE!
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GUARDS!!!
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AHH! WECOME BROTHER!! I SEE YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE SACRIFICES ^FOR TONIGHT'S CEREMONY...
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GOOD, GOOD!... AND YOU THINK ONE OF THEM MAY STILL BE ^A VIRGIN??
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O EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!... THE MASTER WILL BE PLEASED!
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ONE MOMENT WHILE I OPEN THE GATE!
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TEMPLE OF RAMM * * * * MEMBERS ONLY
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THE TEMPLE REEKS OF BOILING OIL, WHICH IS STEAMING UP FROM THE DEPTHS ON EACH ^SIDE OF YOU...
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A CATWALK LEADS OVER THE PIT AND THERE ARE MANY STRANGE COSTUMED FIGURES UPON THE LEDGES MAKING WEIRD JESTURES, LIKE THEY WERE REALLY TRYING TO IMPRESS ONE ^ANOTHER...
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SUDDENLY A FIGURE MATERIALIZES!
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COME SACRIFICES! APPROACH THE FIRE, BOLD CHILDREN STEP BEFORE DARKNESS; WITHOUT THE POWER OF MIGHTY RAMM, FAITH SHALL FAIL THEE O'ER THE ABYSS!
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AND SO THE CHILDREN PERSEVERE, SO BRAVE UPON THEIR JOURNEY; STILL I AM HE THAT RULES THESE HALLS, AND MIGHTY LORDS HAVE I APLENTY!
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WHAT??!
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STILL HERE? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?? RED ALERT! RED ALERT!
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INTRUDERS NINE O'CLOCK HIGH!!
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OOO! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! YOU KILLED ME! I'M DEAD! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M REALLY DEAD!! WHY?
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WHY DID YOU DO IT???
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COSMIC FORGE/ REPLY?
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REALLY???
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BUT WHAT ARE YOU AFTER?
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I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT...
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BUT YOU KNOW...
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I'LL BET YOU NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS!
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THE COSMIC FORGE?
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YOU KILLED ME OVER THE STINKING PEN??!
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OOO! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! AT LEAST YOU COULD'VE KILLED ME FOR A GOOD REASON, LIKE YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE ^WAY I DRESS, OR WHO I PRAY TO...
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JUST FOR THAT I'M NOT GOING TO TELL!
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AND WITHOUT ME YOU'LL NEVER FIND IT!
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IT COULD BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT ^YOU'D NEVER KNOW IT!
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YOU COULD EVEN BE WITHIN 3 STEPS OF IT ^AND STILL YOU WOULDN'T FIND IT!
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HA HA HA HA!
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YOU CAN SEARCH ALL YOU WANT TO, AND IT ^JUST WON'T DO YOU ANY GOOD!
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AND WHY?...
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BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUSH YOURSELF PASSED THE LIMITS OF WHAT YOU KNOW TO SEE THE ^WORLD THAT LIES BEYOND...
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THE WORLD YOU SEE IS AN ILLUSION, ONLY A TRICK, A REFLECTION OF THE OPERATION ^OF YOUR OWN MIND...
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WELL, AHEM, EXCEPT THAT IT'S REAL TOO,
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EXCEPT THAT IT'S NOT...!
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I MEAN... O WELL, SKIP IT!
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BUT LET ME ASK YOU THIS...
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YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR THE COSMIC FORGE, THE PEN OF DESTINY, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE ^POWERFUL MAGIC...
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BUT WHAT IF IT WASN'T MAGIC?
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WHAT IF IT WAS...
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AND SUDDENLY THE VISAGE LOOKS OUTWARD, AS IF LOOKING ACROSS SPACE, ACROSS THE ECHOES OF TIME, ACROSS THE BOUNDARIES THAT LIMIT THE EVOLUTION OF PERCEPTION ^AND HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS...
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AND THEN, HE MERELY VANISHES...
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CHAMBER OF THE COSMIC FORGE
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AHHH!
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HOW GOOD OF YOU TO DROP BY!
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I WAS REALLY HOPING TO MEET YOU AGAIN, ^AFTER YOUR LAST "IMPRESSION"...
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(THE BANE KING WINCES AND YOU NOTICE A SCAB IN THE SHAPE OF A CROSS UPON HIS ^ CHEEK)
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AND NOW MY "WARMBLOODED" FRIENDS...
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IT IS TIME TO DISPERSE WITH THE FORMAL PRETENSES, AND "FLY" INTO THE HEART OF ^THE MATTER...
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YOU WISH TO DESTROY ME, AND I WISH TO LIVE!
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THEREFOR... ONE OF US MUST DIE!
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AHHH!
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HOW GOOD OF YOU TO DROP BY!
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PLEASE, ACCEPT MY APOLOGY FOR THE POOR ACCOMODATIONS IN WHICH YOU WERE PLACED EARLIER, BUT THE TEMPLE WAS ALL BOOKED ^UP FOR THE WEEKEND...
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THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, I AM TIRED!
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FROM THE DEAD VAMPIRE'S CORPSE YOU SEE ARISE HIS GHOSTLY LIKENESS, AND AS HIS ESSENCE TAKES IN THE AWARENESS OF WHAT ^HAS HAPPENED, HE BEGINS TO SPEAK,...
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A LONG TIME AGO, I WISHED MANY THINGS, ALL FOR MYSELF, AND ALL TO MAKE ME THE ^SUPERIOR OF THOSE AROUND ME...
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AND SO I PLOTTED AND SCHEMED, AND MADE PLANS AND ALLIANCES, ALL TO BRING SOME ^GREAT POWER INTO MY GRASP...
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BUT I WAS STILL AFRAID OF DEATH!
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HOW I FEARED THAT ONE DAY I WOULD NOT BE HERE, NO LONGER ABLE TO TOUCH THIS WORLD, TO MOVE IT, AND TO BE MOVED BY ^IT...
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AND SO IT WAS THAT I WAS DEALT A BLOW FAR GREATER THAN DEATH ITSELF, I TOOK THE PEN OF DESTINY AND CAST ASIDE THE ^LAWS OF NATURE AND OF LIFE...
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AND, AS I WISHED TO LIVE FOREVER AS I HAD DONE IN THE PAST, IT CAME TO PASS ^BY THE WRIT OF THE COSMIC FORGE...
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AS I DID RULE BY THE BLOOD OF OTHERS, USING IT TO FURTHER MY OWN GAIN, SO I WAS TRANSFORMED FOREVER MORE INTO THE ^CREATURE YOU SEE BEFORE YOU...
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DOOMED FOREVER TO PROWL THE NIGHT AND FEED MY NEVER ENDING HUNGERS, AND ALL ^FOR WHAT?...
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I DO NOT KNOW...
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ALTHOUGH EVERYTHING MUST EAT TO LIVE, ALL THAT I TOUCHED WHITHERED AND DIED AND SOON ALL THAT I WAS DID LIKEWISE.
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SO I DIED ANYWAY, EVEN WITHOUT DEATH!
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AND YET MY CORPSE WALKED ON, COMPELLED BY BANE OF THE FORGE TO FOREVER RENEW, ^NAY, ONLY REPLENISH ITSELF...
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AND WHAT A CURSE IT WAS!
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HOW CAN I BEGIN TO TELL YOU OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO MERELY SURVIVE, ONLY ENDURE ^AND FEEL NO WARMTH, FEEL NO JOY...
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ONLY TO GO ON AND ON AND ON...
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AND YET, WE FEAR CHANGE, AND THUS FEAR ^THE NAME OF DEATH...
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AND AS LONG AS WE FEAR DEATH, WE SHALL ^NEVER BE FREE TO TRULY LIVE...
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STRANGE WORDS FROM ONE SUCH AS I, BUT MY EPITATH NONE THE LESS!
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THE BANE BE ENDED!
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I EMBRACE THE NIGHT!
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(AND THE VAMPIRE FADES INTO MIST...
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(AND THE VAMPIRE TAKES A WOODEN STAKE FROM BENEATH HIS CLOAK, AND WITHOUT A CHANGE OF EXPRESSION, PLUNGES IT DEEP ^INTO HIS OWN HEART...
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SOON THEREAFTER, ANOTHER GHOSTLY SHAPE ^APPEARS BEFORE YOU...
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SHE FINALLY DESCENDS FROM HER PLACE OF HIDING, SOMEWHAT CAUTIOUSLY, AS IF SHE ^MIGHT BE AFRAID...
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I LOVE YOU/ IS HE GONE?
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HE WAS MY PROTECTOR AND BENEFACTOR, AS IT WAS HE THAT SAVED ME FROM THE HANDS OF A HARLOT QUEEN, LOVER OF XORPHITUS, SEDUCER OF MY FATHER, SLAYER OF SHE MY ^INNOCENT MOTHER AND HER LOVER...
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HE WAS MY ONLY PLEASURE, AND THE QUEEN ^HATED OUR LOVE TOGETHER...
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SHE WAS AS WICKED A WITCH AS EVER DREW BREATH, NO COLDER AFTER DEATH THAN SHE WAS BEFORE, AND AS MY MOTHER AND LOVER WERE SLAIN AT HER COMMAND, SO ALSO SHE ^TRIED TO SLAY ME...
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HOW FITTING THAT HER WRIT OF DEATH FOR THE "DEMON GIRL", BY BANE OF THE FORGE WOULD COME TO MEAN HERSELF, AND SO SHE SLIPPED AND FELL UPON HER OWN KNIFE...
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AND NOW YOU KNOW THE WHOLE OF IT, SO I LEAVE YOU TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE COSMIC ^FORGE, PEN AND HAND OF DESTINY...
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SINCE I AM NOT OF THE BANE PEN, BUT AM BORNE OF MORTAL MISCHIEF, IT IS FOR ME ^TO SEEK MY OWN DESTINY ELSEWHERE...
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OH, AND ONE MORE THING!
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I HAVE A HALF-BROTHER, THE ISSUE OF MY FATHER AND THE BANE QUEEN, FROM AN EVE ^WHEN SHE SEDUCED HIM INTO HER WOMB...
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HE MEANS WELL, BUT HE HAS HER NOSE FOR ^MISCHIEF AND TROUBLE...
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PLEASE LOOK AFTER HIM FOR ME...
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HE LIKES HIS PRIVACY, AND HIS ROOM LIES CONCEALED DIRECTLY IN BACK OF THE ALTAR ^OF THE COSMIC FORGE...
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I'LL LEAVE YOU THE KEY...
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(AND SHE TOO FADES INTO NOTHINGNESS...
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(AND THEN SHE FLIES INTO THE DARK...
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PERHAPS THIS MAY EASE YOUR PAIN...
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A WHINEY THIN VOICE CALLS OUT FROM THE ^GATE:
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"PLEASE STATE SECURITY CODE"
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THE HAND OF DESTINY
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A YELLOW GLOW IS EMANATING FROM WITHIN THE ALTAR, AND A BRIGHT RADIANT OBJECT ^IS HOVERING THERE...
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* PERSONAL LOG * I HAVE NO RECOURSE EXCEPT TO LOCK UP THE COSMIC FORGE, TO PREVENT ANOTHER DISASTER FROM OCCURING. I WISH I HAD SOME WAY TO RETURN IT, BUT OUR SHIP, ^SAD TO SAY, IS OUT OF FUEL... ^SECURITY GATE CODE: THE HAND OF DESTINY
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BEHOLD THE COSMIC FORGE!
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NO/YES/ DO YOU TAKE THE PEN ?
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YOU REACH FOR THE PEN...
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"I'LL TAKE THAT!", SAYS A STRANGE VOICE...
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T O B E C O N T I N U E D FALL 1991
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PERCHED UPON HIS THRONE, A GREAT BLACK DRAGON SITS SULKILY PONDERING THE DEEP MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE, GLANCING AT HIS CRYSTAL BALL ON OCCASIONS FOR SOME ^OBSCURE REFERENCE...
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"WELL," HE SAYS, "I THINK I KNOW WHERE ^THEY MIGHT BE LOCATED..."
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AND WE CAN MAKE FUEL FROM THE DINOSAUR ^REMAINS UP IN THE FORESTS...
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BUT IT'LL TAKE ABOUT A YEAR TO MAKE IT ^WITH OUR VESSEL...
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I GUESS ALL THAT REMAINS IS WHETHER WE ^HAVE THE GUTS TO MAKE THE TRIP...
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ME, PERSONALLY, I DON'T LIKE TO FLY TO MUCH, BUT WITH EVERYONE DEAD, IT SURE ^WILL BE DULL AROUND HERE...
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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/ DO YOU WANT TO CHASE A COSMIC LORD ?
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WELL MY MY, AREN'T WE THE DULLS ONES!
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LISTEN SWEETIES, IF YOU WANNA HANG OUT HERE, THAT'S FINE WITH ME, BUT I THINK I'M GONNA TAKE THE FIRST FLIGHT OUT...
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HERE! TAKE THE KEYS, LOCK UP WHEN YOU FINISH, AND DON'T FORGET THE LIGHTS...
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TA-TA!
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ME TOO! C'MON, LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!
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AIN'T SHE A DANDY?!
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ALL ABOARD!
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T O B E C O N T I N U E D FALL 1991
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PERCHED UPON HIS THRONE, A GREAT BLACK DRAGONS SITS WATCHING THE PARTY, SMALL VIBRATIONS AND SHUTTERS RIPPLING ABOUT ^HIS THICK EBONY HIDE...
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SUDDENLY, HE CAN STAND IT NO LONGER!
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OOOO! GOOUUUU!!
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YOU KILLED THEM!!
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THEN I WILL DESTROY YOU!!!
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NO/YES/YEA/YEP/SURE/ DO YOU ENTER THE MOUTH OF THE BEAST ?
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YOU CONFRONT A GIANT SLUMBERING BEAST, SO HUGE THAT IT FILLS THE ENTIRE ROOM, AND SO STILL THAT IT DOESN'T EVEN TAKE ^A BREATH...
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WHATEVER IT IS, ITS SKIN IS AS HARD AS THE HARDEST ARMOR AND ITS WEIGHT IS SO TREMENDOUS THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN MAKE IT WIGGLE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU ATTEMPT ^TO LIFT IT...
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EVERYONE AGREES YOU HAVE TROLL DUNG IN YOUR BRAINS, BUT THEY FOLLOW YOU INTO ^THE MOUTH OF THE BEAST NONETHELESS...
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AND THEN THERE WERE STARS...
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T O B E C O N T I N U E D FALL 1991
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* C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S *
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YOU HAVE TAKEN ONE OF THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSIONS TO THE COSMIC FORGE. YOU CAN SAVE THE GAME AT THIS POINT, FOR RECORDING YOUR VICTORY. ALSO, MAKE A COPY OF IT ONTO ANOTHER DISK SO THAT YOU CAN TRANSFER THE CHARACTERS WHEN ^MOVING THEM INTO FUTURE SCENARIOS. YOU WILL NOW BE RETURNED TO THE GAME ^SOMEWHERE IN THE ENCHANTED FOREST.
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* * * * * * * B O O * * * * * * *
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YOU HAVE TAKEN THE DUMB BOFFO ENDING WHICH IS: YOU FELL THROUGH THE ABYSS OF BUBBLING OIL, LANDING IN THE DEEP VOID OF GALACTIC FUDGE GOO WHERE YOU ARE TO REMAIN FOREVER, UNTIL YOU CAN FATHOM A MORE LIKELY RESPONSE TO THE ^INQUIRY MADE BY XORPHITUS ABOUT, "WHY DID YOU DO IT?" HINT: GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE BOX OF THE GAME AND SEE IF ANYTHING STRIKES ^YOUR MIND...