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Stage 1 Minimum Level: 1915
Location:Twisted Castle (Dark Basement) (2, 2)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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Cavanda greets you with a curt nod. |
You see her scan the corridor that leads into the darkness of the Basement, 'Yes, I've not seen him but he was shouting at one of his Heir's to kill us. You must search the Dark Basement and kill 1 x Professer Morbidstein (Super Elite) before he finishes those necromantic monsters he calls his Sons.'
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Stage 2 Minimum Level: 1915
Location:Twisted Castle (Dark Basement) (2, 2)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: 1 x Professor Morbidstein (Super Elite)
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Cavanda waves you over, 'Have you killed Professor Morbidstein (Super Elite)?' |
Relief washes over Cavanda at your words, 'We can only hope he stays dead. Come, we should get out of here before one of those things get any clever ideas in whatever is left of their brains and attacks us. I saw another Scarlet Vortex that leads to the Twisting Dark (Seething Fog) back in the Vaulted Chambers. We should go through it and escape this nightmare.
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Stage 3 Minimum Level: 1915
Location:Twisting Dark (Seething Fog) (7, 6)
Required Item: None
Required Kills: None
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You step into a familiar place, a narrow gray sandy path weaves through a thick Seething Fog that promises death within it's boiling depths. It's not long before you catch up with Cavanda, your heart sinks when you realize she has her sword drawn and is staring directly at a sinister figure dressed in long yellow robes. |
Cavanda nods, she gives you a sideways glance, 'Why is it nobody believes me when I tell them your just on your way?' You feel the The Emperor Of Yellow's eyes burn into you from the dark recesses of his yellow cowl. 'I thought you were jesssting Paladin of Fortune. It looksss like I wasss wrong.'
He steps closer to you, 'How did you find your return to Cassstle Morbidssstien Warrior? Wasss it a joyousss occasssion?' You grit your teeth and say, 'No, it was just as unpleasant as the first time I visited. Although it wasn't quite how I remembered it.' The Emperor shrugs, 'My Massster has his own special view of how reality ssshould be. I warn you Warrior, you are not just visiting a memory. You are in fact RE-LIVING the past. This means that your old enemy that was slain in the past, now lives again. Only if you pass the trail does the possssssibility of their death become reaffirmed. If you fail... Then they ssshall indeed return to the Realmsss of the Living anew. Thisss isss the power of my Master, the Eater of Time.'
The words hammer into you like physical blows, your mouth goes dry. You stammer, 'So if I hadn't killed him... He would have returned?' The Emperor Of Yellow nods. He hisses hatefully, 'Now enter the Vortex and meet your next trial.' He turns to walk away, then halts. 'You could always do nothing and fail the trial, but I would not recommend it. Your passst isss filled with horror Warrior. The choice isss your to make...'
You reach for your weapon and Cavanda barks, 'Hold Warrior, you go on. I'll catch you up my friend.' You turn to argue but she simply waves you away with her shining gauntlet. 'Go Warrior, I'll have a little chat with his Yellow-ness here.' You see from her expression that there is no point in arguing. You say, 'Be careful, I'll wait for you in the Twisted City (Sprawling Streets).' You turn and step through the swirling vortex of energy.
You receive 17,593,490 Xp.
…
Cavanda waits for her friend to enter the swirling vortex before she turns back to the Emperor Of Yellow. He glowers at her from within his robes, 'What isss it Paladin?' Cavanda smiles, she says conversationally, 'Did you know that chance is foundation to Creation? The Gods have to alter it specifically, or it will manifest within the world when they do a miracle.' The Emperor laughs, 'Why do I care about sssuch trivial conceptsss?' The Paladin of Sahria smiles, 'You do realize that you are apart of creation don't you. So where ever you are, chance follows you. It's inevitable, inescapable.'
The Emperor sighs, 'I sssuppose that'sss true. But My Massster will re-ssshape thisss creation into what it ssshould have been. Ssso your preciousss chance will be dealt with then.' Cavanda smiles for a third time, 'I don't pretend to understand what you just said, but as creation is made by the Light, chance is still operational. You are bound to it.' The Emperor Of Yellow throws his arms out wide, 'Who caresss, everyone knows it'sss jussst a matter of time before your Luck runsss out and you are abandoned by Sahria. Normally at the mossst critical time.'
The Paladin of Sahria snorts, 'Why would I follow such a fickle God. Let me tell you a secret. I have no Luck myself. I instill Luck in those around me. I can also manipulate Luck in others. This does cost me, although I decide the price I pay.' The Emperor Of Yellow becomes interested for the first time, 'Ssso, you can give Luck to individuals. That isss interesting...' Cavanda smiles slowly, for the last time. 'You don't pay attention do you? I said I can manipulate the Luck in others. Here's the final secret I'll share with you. You know all those times when those who follow Sahria died at critical moments? They are paying the price to manipulate the Luck in whatever dire situation they faced for others. Sahria never left them, she honored them with her power and welcomed them to herself in death.'
The Emperor hisses a derisive laugh, 'Nonsssense, that isss just another lie of the Light. You have been fooled by a fickle God. It'sss sssad really. You have sssuch obviousss potential...'
The Paladin of Sahria stares at the idiot in front of her... There is no smile on her beautiful face. She whispers , 'You have not been listening. I said, I can manipulate Luck in others. That means I can give, or I can take away. The price I pay is my own to choose. Like so...'
Cavanda looks up at the overcast sky and mouths a silent prayer to her God. A light suddenly emanates from her longsword. She steps toward the figure before her and says in a clear voice, 'I've finally figured it out, none of this was about me, it's all about the Warrior. To protect my friend I say that, YOUR LUCK HAS RUN OUT!' She then plunges her radiant longsword straight into the the depths of the yellow cowl and lets the handle go. The Emperor of Yellow gives a gurgling rattle as he fights to breath. Cavanda the simply kneels and quietly passes into the hands of Sahria.
The Emperor Of Yellow tries to pulls the sword from his throat, but the pain of the razor sharp blade lacerating his flesh further stops him. He gurgles, 'Ssstupid woman. Do you think that a mere mortal blade could kill me...' He then stares at the motionless Paladin of Sahria before him and the implications of her words finally strike home... 'What price did you pay?' He reaches to her for a moment than realizes the true horror of what is before him. 'No.' He turns to flee from the dead Paladin, from the terrible price the honorable woman has just paid. He takes one step, tries vainly for a second time to remove the longsword from his throat. He suddenly clutches his chest, gasps, and is dead before he even hits the floor. He'd forgotten that before he'd embraced his Master and been re-created into his true form, he'd actually been mortal. His family had a terrible susceptibility to heart attacks. Three of his uncles had died of them. Unlucky really... |
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