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Stage 1 Minimum Level: 1591
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Rock Pool) (3, 5)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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You find Cazinrill on the edge of a chill Rook Pool with her gleaming Saber drawn. |
The Paladin gives a long drawn out sigh, 'No actually. I'm not. I was walking along these rock pools looking for little crabs like I did as a child when this big, lumbering oaf appeared out of nowhere and promptly told me that I looked delicious and grabbed me by the leg. If it weren't for the ability to summon Gurgriss' Saber in an instant he would have got me. Anyway I sliced off his slimy mitt and gutted the ugly pig there and then.' You shrug, 'Doesn't sound too bad. You won, he's dead.'
Cazinrill gives a nervous laugh, 'Yes, well it doesn't stop there does it. Have you noticed that it never does? I was just congratulating myself with my swift dispatch of the bloated grubber when another one came wobbling over. He smiles at me and said. 'Thank you for the munchies.' then to my horror he rips apart the corpse of his friend into manageable meaty chunks and wanders off with them.' She shudders at the awful memory, 'He was quite happy about it as well. He went off humming to himself as if I'd just made his day or something.'
The Paladin looks over the sea for a long moment then says, 'I have the fear Warrior that I'm going to get accustomed to this inhuman barbarity. I just hope this all comes to an end soon. I don't think I can cope with this morbid brutality much longer.'
Cazinrill opens her backpack and takes out the Tome of Secrets, 'The creature I saw is mentioned in here as a Distended Arkronthorp. The more they eat the more powerful they become. So basically this is a breeding ground for powerful soldiers of the abhorrent Shapers. We must put a stop to this at once. I'm sorry, but I sense a powerful curse around you. What did the Quartermaster gift you?'
You flinch at her sudden tone and directness, 'He gave me The Black Spot. He said we might find it handy.' She grins, 'Well he might be a malign spirit but he does have a impeccable timing. I followed the Distended Arkronthorp for a bit and saw where he took his grisly trophies. There is a Blood Drenched Table to the south where he placed chunks of meat. Take this recipe of Hot Sauce and use to poison the Arkronthorp's supper. Come back to me when you are done.'
You receive 1 x Hot Sauce Recipe |
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Stage 2 Minimum Level: 1591
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Rock Pool) (8, 15)
Required Item: Hot Sauce
Required Kills: None
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On the southern edge of this bleak and cruel realm you find a grisly stone table drenched in blood, littered with grotesque chunks of meat. |
You pour the blood liberally over the stinking carrion. You think to you're self that these monsters would probably thank you for the additional gravy. After dropping the bowl in disgust you retreat hastily from the foul banquet. You just managed to reach the crest of a low hill when you hear a joyous whooping behind you. Turning you see four or five bloated horrors squirming their way to the awful table. They are huge, probably the strongest of the creatures as they get first taste of the bloody bounty.
You stand and watch, entranced by the macabre spectacle of what is about to happen. The tentacles of the hungry Distended Arkronthorps pick up the grisly morels. They guzzle down the juicy meat with gusto. In an astonishingly short time the meal is almost finish when one by one the bloated monsters give a strangled cry and slump dead by the table. You frown. Although five lay dead, there are hundreds left alive.
You are about to turn away, resolute to tell Cazinrill about the futile victory when another cry causes you to stop and look. You see eight more Arkronthorps descending on the partially empty table. They quickly finish the abandoned feast, but also die not long after consuming their poisoned prize. Then you notice more of the Creatures rumbling towards the now surrounded stone table. Then start to feast on the fresh corpses and you are amazed that they too quickly die. They in turn become a new feast for more advancing hungry abominations rolling over the wind blasted landscape.
You stare in astonished amazement at the appalling cycle that you see unfolding before you. Could it be possible that these detestable monsters are going to eat themselves to their own oblivion? Surely they would look at their dead comrades and wonder what had befallen them? But you see that these misshapen vultures are gong to do just that! They simply cannot stop themselves from eating.
You turn and smile at the chorus of strangles cries that drift up to you on the chill breeze from below.
You should return to Cazinrill. |
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Stage 3 Minimum Level: 1591
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Rock Pool) (3, 5)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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You return to find Cazinrill staring out to the gray unfeeling sea. 'How did it go?' she asks you without looking. |
You sense a strange air around the Paladin and say no more. In time she turns to face you, 'I take it the powerful pirate curse had an adverse effect on the Shapers monstrosities.' You nod and she turns away.
In a far away voice she says, 'I guessed the power of the Shapers would not accept any other magics within them. Their arrogance would simply not allow it. That coupled with the hunger of the Arkronthorps meant they could not stop themselves from serving their twisted Masters. So they construct their own doom. I just hope I'm not beginning to think like them now. Anyway, we should move on. Meet me in the Blackwater.' |
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Stage 4 Minimum Level: 1592
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Blackwater) (6, 5)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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Cazinrill waves you over, concern etched on her face. |
She shifts points at a strange sorceress that seems to be followed by bright darting lights. 'We must help those poor women. They are being dominated by powerful summonings, we must find a way to break that bond and free them. Take this recipe and bring me the the Sirens Summoning.
You receive 1 x Sirens Summoning Recipe |
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Stage 5 Minimum Level: 1592
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Blackwater) (6, 5)
Required Item: Sirens Summoning
Required Kills: None
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Cazinrill waits for your return, 'Did you manage to get the Sirens Summoning?' |
Cazinrill bites her lower lip as she reads the spell. 'This is not good. There is a component within the spell that makes you feel good as you channel the creature from Elsewhere into this realm. I bet that it's highly addictive to do so as well. It's little wonder that these poor women are utterly dominated by their casting. They can't help themselves! You know, there are reasons why some magics are forbidden but there are always foolish casters that want an easy way to power, thus they fall into these insidious traps. The point is, right now we can't help them, we can only cut off the source of their summonings.'
The Paladin sighs regretfully, then rips up the spell. 'We don't want such a foul incantation to fall into the wrong hands. Unfortunately these foolish summoners are not just hurting themselves. With every foul thing they are bring into this world, they weaken the boundary between the Realm of the Living and Elsewhere. That makes it easier for other more grotesque and powerful creatures to cross over. We don't have much time, we must close whatever gate the Shapers are using to enter our Realm. I get the disturbing impression that we might not have much more time to do that. We must go on, meet me in the Languid Deep.' |
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Stage 6 Minimum Level: 1594
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Languid Deep) (7, 2)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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Cazinrill stands over a body of a twisted nightmare, her blade drips with black blood. |
The Paladin catches her breath, 'These things give a good fight, find out where they are coming from and put a stop to it.' |
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Stage 7 Minimum Level: 1594
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Languid Deep) (8, 9)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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The waters surround the twisting narrow rocky walkways in still pools and rivulets. It would be a peaceful place if it weren't for the scything claws of demonic monstrosities that constantly arc at you from all sides. As you battle your way through the realm you find a dark priest standing before a cage full of panicked people. |
The Priest stares at you from under his cowled robe, 'I don't recognize you Warrior. It is odd we should meet. You have somehow managed to evade the Thought Shredders. This is clever of you. How did you manage such a feat?' You simply tap the weapon at your side. The Priest glares at you for a little while longer as he considers your reply.
He then laughs, 'Don't be foolish. You could not have simply bested the majestic Shredders merely in mortal combat. Your mind could not have stood up to their divine presence. It would have crumbled before them into a shattered heap. No, it is something else. Tell me, tell me now and I shall allow you to live.'
You look at the poor wretches in the cage and see them paralyzed in terror. Now that the Dark Priest mentions it, it is strange how you can stand surrounded by these terrible creatures with little anguish. You think back to where all this started. When Tantrathull tricked you into doing his bidding, you accidentally helped him summon the Lord of Other. But then you were paralyzed by it's presence as well.... until Lindersil appeared and she blessed you. From then on the presence of these vile abominations have done little to you.
You look at the priest and wonder what to say, then decide the truth will be completely incomprehensible to the deluded fool. It would be amusing to see him squirm. You laugh and say, 'I was blessed by Lindarsil. I am under her protection and I am an instrument of the Light.' The Dark Priest pauses for a moment to absorb what you have just said. He says slowly, 'I find that hard to accept. For I know that the True Gods are more powerful that the feeble Light. If what you say is true, then I am deceived.' He steps closer to you, 'Which is simply not possible for I am blessed by the Old Ones.'
You get a horrible sinking feeling..
You sigh inwardly and say with reluctance, 'Blessed you say, how so?' The cage of wretches begins to weep and the Priest silences them with a single movement of his hand. 'My destiny and path has been dictated by the True Gods. My life will end only at their behest. I am immortal until that time. There is nothing that you can do, no weapon or incantation made of this world can harm me!' You nod, trying not to laugh. Some how you manage it.
You say slowly, 'What happens if I don't believe you? Maybe I doubt the power of your devotion to these... things...' You know full well that this idiot would not be standing here if he were not utterly committed to the Old Ones. But you also need to run him through to get to the cage and free the people inside.
The Priest then stands to his full height wreathed in indignation, 'You doubt my conviction? How DARE YOU! I shall prove to you that I am blessed by the Gods themselves. You may attempt to strike me down, after you have proved me righteous I shall wipe you from the realms. You bow, 'Very well, but I will need to acquire a weapon worthy of the task. I shall return.'
You must construct a weapon that is not of this world. One made from the claws of the Thought Shredder perhaps... |
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Stage 8 Minimum Level: 1594
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Languid Deep) (8, 9)
Required Item: Shredder Scythe
Required Kills: None
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The Dark Priest torments the terrified wretches in the cage, 'Ah, I was growing weary of waiting. I was about to sacrifice another to the True Gods. So, have you come to prove the power of the Old Ones yet?' |
You nod. The Priest laughs shrilly, 'Your sacrifice will draw a powerful Shredder from Elsewhere, Warrior. Know that your useless life will at last prove of some worth. But for now I will allow you to demonstrate the Old Ones perfect will.' He opens his arms and his cowl rises slightly, 'You may attempt to strike me down.'
The petrified people in the cage start to wail in fear, they know what's coming. They have seen this demonstration before, this is an affirmation of their doom and his power. You draw out the Shredder Scythe and fervently hope that the Priest has his eyes closed under that dark hood. You strike him down with one fluid motion.
The Dark Priest makes no sound, he simply slumps to the ground his body cut neatly in two.
Those in the cage scream in expectation of the two halves coming together, reunited under the will of evil beyond their comprehension. All that happens is red blood starts to pool around the door of the cage.
Time passes, and the cries of the caged begin to waver as the Dark Priest simply lays in bits upon the cold earth, his life blood draining from the motionless body. A terrified man reaches out between the cage bars and pokes one half of the corpse. It shifts under the force, then returns to lifeless repose.
You wait for realization to dawn on those within, they need to discover this for themselves. A hushed whisper says, 'Is... is he dead?' The man pokes the corpse again. He then laughs and pulls the robe clear from the Priest, revealing a contorted travesty of muscle and bone. 'The Warrior has done it!' He looks up at you in amazement, 'How did you kill him? No weapon of this world could slay him!'
You shrug and rifle through the dead Priests robe and find a slender steel key. 'The Scythe is made from that which is not of this world. But comes from Elsewhere. So it killed him. You'd be surprised how much fake immortality is going around these days.' You then open the cage and those inside come pouring out.
You look around the bleak landscape, 'How are you going to get out of here?' The Man smiles, 'That's simple, there is a boat that delivers new sacrifices to this lonely hell. If you give us that weapon we can take control of it and escape.' You hand him the Scythe and say, 'Good luck, and know that the Light is stronger than these false gods.'
You should return to Cazinrill. |
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Stage 9 Minimum Level: 1594
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Languid Deep) (7, 2)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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The Paladin greets you with relief, 'You were gone so long I was beginning to worry. Did you find out where these vile creatures are spawning from?' |
You describe finding the Cage full of sacrifices and the dark priest with his ridiculous immortality claim. Cazinrill laughs as you tell how you slew him, 'So he died due to his own summonings! If that's not poetic justice, I don't know what is. Come lets leave this place. I feel a cold darkness in the nearby realm. Meet me in the Vile Cove and we shall see whats there.' |
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Stage 10 Minimum Level: 1595
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Vile Cove) (6, 2)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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Cazinrill waves you over. |
She grimaces at you weakly, 'This place is well named. It is crawling with undead and their masters. Find out why they would fill the cove with undead and return.' |
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Stage 11 Minimum Level: 1595
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Vile Cove) (9, 11)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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You walk the Vile Cove, surrounded by emaciated Monks who stand in throngs of endlessly muttering undead. The sight is as unnerving as it is weird. Then you see a odd Monk standing in the center of the Cove dressed in blood red robes. |
The weird Monk is standing in complete silence, he has a powerful aura of strength. You dare not step too close. The Monk unfolds his arms and throws back his cowl, 'I don't recognize you? How interesting, do you have a wisdom for me? If not I'm going to have to rip your heart out of your body for disturbing my calm. Sorry about that.'
You look into his face and see an odd mix of someone circling in the vortex of madness but somehow managing to hold onto a thread of sanity. You have no doubt that if he chose to the Monk could do as he says. He tilts his head and asks, 'Well, do you have a revelation?' You grope for some insight into the horror you have witnessed recently that won't get you killed. Then as the Monk tuts sadly to himself and starts to reach for your chest. You blurt out, 'The True Gods are not lost in madness, their wisdoms are simply not constrained by the limitations of mortal perception.' The Monk's hand freezes inches from your chest.
He nods, 'That is a fairly conservative notion. The current doctrines are that the madness is an ocean of mystery. We just have to learn to move with the current whilst not being overcome by it although I do sense a truth in your little verse, unsubtle it may be. I shall need to contemplate on it. Thank you. It has been some time since someone has come to share their learning with me. In fact, I think you should tear out those visions from those who refuse to share them willingly. Take this recipe and bring me the Spheres of Revelation from the Xan Yaldiresh.'
You receive 1 x Spheres of Revelation Recipe. |
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Stage 12 Minimum Level: 1595
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Vile Cove) (9, 11)
Required Item: Spheres of Revelation
Required Kills: None
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The strange Monk smiles a bit too broadly at you for comfort, 'Did you manage to bring me the Spheres of Revelation I asked for?' |
You hand over the dripping orbs. The Monk looks at them with avarice, 'Still nice and fresh. Stupendous. The Xan Yaldiresh sacrifice their flesh to satiate the undead around them. They speak the endless truths which inspire them to new revelations of the True Gods. It's a perfect cycle of balance. One that is seldom seen in this flawed world. But I must give as I have received. This is a reflection of the cycle.'
The weird Monk then asks you, 'So what lesson have you learned of the Old Ones?' You shrug, 'Tell me a basic one.' You hurriedly say at his frown, 'It's always good to re-learn old truths.' The Monk pauses at your words, then nods again slowly, 'I see what you mean. Truth can never be truly learned. One should always revisit what you know to ensure deep foundations. Well then. Here is a basic truth which is long overlooked by many due to it's simplicity. The True Gods are of the same essence as the Gods of Light.'
You stare at the Monk, completely astonished by what he has said. Then remember to smile and nod. You mumble a thanks and are about to turn to leave when the Monk laughs then says, 'Don't go just yet my student. Here, take this Mote of Elsewhere. It will strengthen you in your journey.'
You receive 1 x Mote of Elsewhere.
You should return to Cazinrill. |
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Stage 13 Minimum Level: 1595
Location:Sea Razor Isle (Vile Cove) (6, 2)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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The Paladin of Light waits for you, 'Did you find out why there are so many Undead wandering about?' |
You see Cazinrill's eyes go wide in horror when you tell her the Xan Yaldiresh sacrifice their own flesh to feed the Undead, so they can stand and listen to the insane mantras that have been imprinted onto them. The Paladin squints at you, 'But why would they do that? They already know the mantras that the Undead are prattling on about.' You shrug then say, 'Their madness is not really important right now. I want to ask, are the Old Ones made of the same essence as the four Gods of Light?'
Cazinrill blinks at you in shock, 'Well, yes. Of course they are. Didn't you know that? They are the Shapers. I've always said so. I'm sorry, I don't understand the problem here.' You fight to keep your temper, then say through gritted teeth. 'So these Shapers are part of the Light, then they really are Gods then? I thought they were twisted demonic horrors out to consume all life in the Realms. Now I discover that they are divine all along just as they said they were!'
Cazinrill then frowns, 'There are large differences between being divine and being a God. There are orders within creation as the Light has determined. It is that very order which the Shapers had a disagreement with. This lead to the rebellion that forced the Light to judge the Shapers that has lead us here to this very wind swept Isle surrounded by abominations of both flesh and sanity. The best lie is the one that has a central core of truth. That is what blinds and deceives. Now remember who you are, the Realms are in danger meet me in the Cold Vale if you're interested in saving them.'
You receive 45,763,746 Xp |
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