A/N: The world of Exile (Avernum) is the property of Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software, not me. I promise to return to the game unharmed the following persons: Masok, Anaximander, Commander Johnson, Berra, X, Pathass, Enla, Ostoth, Rentar-Ihrno, Erika, Ivanova, G'Kar, and Delenn; and places: Concealed Tunnel, Angel's Rest, Fort Emergence, Tower of Magi, New Cotra, Ghikra, Erika's Tower, and Golddale.
It had been many days, the travel perilous as there was no entirely safe place to rest, but at last they found a cavern in the mountains approximately where the troglodyte map had indicated. The cavern was very hot and muggy, with a thick smell of ozone and the constant buzz of lightning in the air. Just ahead, they could see several large crystals, each on a sturdy stone base, firing beams of searing energy, apparently drawing power from a nearby spherical crystal also on a stone stand.
"This is incredibly powerful magic," said Phaedra. "But I don't know who created these things, or why they're here."
"I guess it has something to do with those barriers," said Anicka. "Let's see what we can do."
Gingerly exploring, they saw at least one purpose of the beam projectors—powering a large teleporter, though the portal in question was flickering, and it was obvious that it wasn't receiving enough energy for proper function.
"There was a mirror that looks like we could push it around," said Daniel. "Maybe if we re-direct some of the beams, we can do something."
"Yeah, the question is what?" said Anicka. "Let's look around a bit more, get a better idea of the layout."
After some exploration and experimentation, they moved some mirrors, finding a way to power the portal despite the fact that it had been deliberately disabled, and it felt that the portal had flung them a very far distance, and they were in another cavern, filled with the same sort of beam projectors, the searing beams blocking the way as well as the cave-in at the other end of the cavern.
Using the mirrors, they re-directed the beams, finding a way to use them to burn through the cave-in, and then found a lever which turned them off altogether. Continuing down, they reached a large cave glowing with magical energy. On several raised platforms, they could see the lattice of power sources and beam projectors, feeding into the magical barriers blocking the corridors to the north and south.
"Bet anything those are the barriers between giants and troglos," said Daniel.
The central crystal was defended by a doomguard, and after an exhausting battle, they managed to slay the animated armor. After a long, tiring journey, they thought they had reached the goal of their quest, a pedestal with a crystal only a foot high, but the narrow beam of blinding light extended from this crystal to the beam projectors, apparently balancing and calibrating the energy to keep the barriers intact.
"Soon as the barriers are down," said Anicka, "the giants and troglos are going to be rushing in."
"Still, we should be able to duck out of the way," said Frrrrrr, "and get out of here."
"Agreed," said Anicka. "Anyone want to run and hide, and I'll smash and run?"
After most of the others had hidden, Anicka took a rock, hoping to be a safe distance back, and threw it at the crystal. It took her a few minutes to regain the ability to stand up again, Daniel hauling her up by the waist as they surveyed the carnage. A blackened pedestal was surrounded by broken shards of crystal, the thick smell of ozone in the air, and two newly unblocked passages.
Suddenly, a glowing, insubstantial figure appeared above the pedestal, and said, "They will make you pay for this. You have far yet to journey. In Gale and Blackcrag lie the keys."
The figure disappeared, and Anicka said, "Something's in the rubble." But before she had time to examine it, they were joined in the chamber, as troglodytes ran through the southern passage and giants came from the north, both seeking the answer to what had caused the explosion. The two chosen enemies saw each other, emitting joyous battle cries, but they seemed to be equally happy with the idea of killing the humans who had re-ignited the war between troglodyte and giant.
Anicka and Daniel ran to safety with the others, and waited there until the worst of the fighting died down, and then they crept back to the pedestal, gathering a few of the crystal shards lying about.
"We'll see what Berra thinks," said Anicka. "Now let's get out of here before they come back."
Sneaking out, they found themselves near Angel's Rest, and remembering the tip from Quinn of Sharimik, they went to the table where Masok was drinking.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, despite Masok's reluctance to speak, Daniel said, "I hear that you know where we can find a certain halberd."
Masok looked angry, and then confused, and then in a quiet voice said, "Look. There's this thing called the Black Halberd. It's sort of a legend. The best halberd ever made. Nobody really believes in it. I sure didn't, until I found a scroll."
"Where'd you find the scroll?" asked Daniel.
"I found it in a stump. No kidding. It's old, and it's supposed to give directions to where the halberd is. Don't believe it's real? No difference to me, I can get it myself," said Masok. "But if you want to purchase it from me, that'd be good too. Only two thousand gold."
Anicka choked and said, "Isn't that a bit much?"
"Take it or leave it," said Masok.
Biting her lip, Anicka handed over the coins.
Masok said, "Also, I'm selling this because the thing is way far away. Hundreds of miles to the northwest, far north of the town of Calloc. Good luck finding it."
"Yeah, thanks," said Anicka, bitterly.
After getting their rooms, Daniel said, "Nick, you want to do some courier running, make some money so we can buy that house?"
"I think we're going to have to," said Anicka. "We just keep spending it almost as fast as we get it."
"You figure we can settle there when we're all done with this adventuring stuff?" said Daniel.
"It'd be great if they let us," said Anicka. "I sure don't want to stay in Avernum, now I've seen what it's like up here."
"I hear you," said Daniel.
Eventually, however, they did return to Fort Emergence, and made their way to Anaximander's office once more.
"We found a way to bring down the barriers," reported Anicka, "and now there is a war going on between the troglodytes and the hill giants."
"Well done!" exulted Anaximander. "With them gone, we should have a much better chance of settling on the surface. Of course, to do that, we need to know that we are safe both from other monsters and from the Empire. So keep exploring. I feel there is much yet to be done."
"Yes, we have seen that," said Anicka.
"When we were in Lorelei, we met Dwaine," said Daniel. "He told us that Empress Prazac is said to be at Blackcrag Fortress.
Anaximander looked intrigued, and said, "I have heard, you would be interested to know, that while the Empress is fully as intelligent as her dark predecessor, she is much more just. If you can, see if you can find a way to get in and speak with her. If she sees that we wish only to co-exist, and share her interest in preserving the surface, then perhaps, through her orders and mercy, we may at last regain our home."
Anicka nodded, and led the way out, where they met Commander Johnson again.
"What do you want?" he asked, seeing that they were intent on talking with him.
"I heard that you know how to get into the bunker in New Cotra," said Anicka.
Commander Johnson looked startled, and said, "Who told you about that?"
"Sandra," said Anicka. "We met in Sharimik."
Commander Johnson looked furious, and said, "Damn her! I was only required to tell you if you asked." He clearly was trying to find a way around it, but there was no way to keep his orders and do so, and he said, "All right. The bunker is in New Cotra. To enter it, walk up to the center of the east side, and say "Galros". Now you can go and waste our valuable resources. Well done."
"Who said we're wasting anything?" said Anicka. "We've accomplished a lot already."
"Huh. Useless," said Commander Johnson. "But keep busy."
"Thanks," said Anicka. "We will."
Leaving this building, they went across to disturb Berra again.
"We found some interesting crystal shards when we blew up a barrier generator that was keeping the troglodytes and giants apart," said Anicka.
"It's not conclusive, but the vahnatai are the true masters of magic-using crystals," said Berra, after testing the shards. "This may have been made by them."
"Are you sure?" said Anicka.
"No, not sure," said Berra, "it's likely but not certain. Tell Anaximander, see what he thinks."
"We'll do that," said Anicka, and she led the way back to Anaximander's office.
"Crystals, eh?" The vahnatai use crystals in their magic, and they certainly have no love for the Empire," said Anaximander. "They have been very secretive since the end of the Empire War. Why don't you go visit Ghikra and see what they have to say about these shards?"
"We'll do that," said Anicka.
Leaving the office for their quarters, Anicka said, "Well, we can go get Phaedra some more training in the Tower, go to New Cotra, or go to Ghikra. What do you think?"
"Let's do the tower first," said Daniel. "Then we're close to New Cotra, stop in there. And then check out things in Ghikra."
"Sounds like a plan," said Anicka.
"What will we do after that?" said Frrrrrr.
"I don't know," said Anicka. "Maybe go look into some of these things we've heard about. The fury crossbow, and the black halberd and that recipe. Let them get desperate enough up in Gale that they won't try to jump us for trying to help."
Having determined their course of action, they made an uneventful journey across to Portal Fortress, and from there to the Tower of Magi, where they found X—a wizard in a heavily cowled violet robe, face obscured in shadows—in a hidden library.
"I am called X," he said.
"Do you work here?" said Anicka.
"I am of the Triad," replied X. "The guardians of knowledge, and the protectors of Avernum."
"How do you guard knowledge?" said Daniel.
"We restrict the flow of magical knowledge, so that the weak and untrained do not grasp hold of that which they cannot control," said X.
"We are all weak when we start out in life," said Angarahad.
"Most of us are," said X with a dry chuckle. "If one gains magic he or she cannot control, only blood will be produced."
"Well, we suspect that Linda may be up to something dangerous," said Anicka.
"Nonsense. She is a powerful wizard, and she has learned from her mistakes," said X. "I have no doubt that she is doing what she does for the best ... the best ... what was I saying?"
"What sort of research do you do?" said Anicka.
"Of late, I have been creating items," said X. "Powerful magical items."
"Really?" said Daniel. "What sort of items?"
"I made items to assist the first group of spies to infiltrate the surface. Unique magical items, the like of which has never been seen before," said X. "The Xian items."
"Do you have any items like that for us?" said Frrrrrr.
He chuckled, and said, "For you? For the secondaries? I think not. If you want my Xian items, explore the surface. They are all still up there somewhere, lost by the first group. As for me, my researches have since traveled elsewhere."
"Now that we have restarted the fight between the troglodytes and giants, so that they aren't bothering the humans," said Phaedra, "have we earned the right to learn more magic?"
"You have done well, you have earned the knowledge of more efficient magic. Listen carefully," he said, and then in a terse way taught the spell.
"Thanks," said Anicka, and she led the way back to the portal.
"You know, that was weird, how he lost his train of thought," said Daniel.
"I know," said Anicka. "I still think ... she's up to something bad, and ... I don't know, like a protection to keep people from probing. Can they do that, Phaedra?"
"I suppose it's possible," replied Phaedra, "not something I know, but ... they don't teach people like me the most powerful stuff."
"Yeah, shame," said Anicka.
The trip back to Portal Fortress was uneventful, though painful, and at last they made their way to New Cotra. Remembering what Commander Johnson had tole them, they went to the east wall and said "Galros." A section of the wall faded away, and there was a corridor leading into the dark bunker, the smell of burning herbs in the air.
Once inside, they met a tottering old slith, his once green scales darkening around the edges with age, amulets and teeth around his neck. "Ssssss. Greeetingssss. Welcome to the Bunker," he said. "I am Pathass."
"Why are you here?" said Anicka.
"At the asssking of Avernum, I have come to the Bunker," replied Pathass in a shaky, sibilant voice. "I help with their research."
"What sort of research can you perform?" asked Angarahad.
"I am a priesssst of my people normally. But I am alssssso one of their strongest magessss, and I know much of metal working, too. That issss why they assssked for me. I missss my temple," replied Pathass. "Of course, it is an opportunity."
"Where is your temple?" asked Daniel.
"Down in our city of Gnass, in the Great Cave. A beautiful city," said Pathass. "I missss it."
"So what sort of opportunities do you have here?" asked Anicka.
"For example, to meet the great magessss and mindssss of Avernum," said Pathass. "Like Erika. I met her not long ago. She issss the greatessst mage of Avernum, and livessss up here now, in a tower to the northeassst. She isss very private and powerful. But she can never again go to the sssurface. They cursssed her when they banished her, sssso much they feared her power. If ever again, she sssseessss the sssun, it will ssslay her insssstantly. That issss why she hatessss the Empire sssso much."
"What was your impression of Erika?" said Phaedra.
"It wassss an honor to meet her, but frightening asss well," replied Pathass. "The depth of her hatred issss hard to comprehend."
"What is the bunker, anyhow?" said Anicka.
"Thissss wassss built here with the help of the New Cotranssss, assss a ssssort of magical crisssissss handling center. We wait here for sssome need for resssearch, and then we ressspond. The people here have been a great asssissstance," replied Pathass.
"How do the locals help you out?" asked Daniel.
"They bring ussss food at night, and they keep thissss placcce ssssecret. And they give usssss company ssssometimessss. Thisssss can be a lonely place to wait," said Pathass.
"I understand," said Anicka. "Thanks."
Moving to the next chamber, they saw a tiny woman who looked like she could have been a grandmother, but for the aura of power emanating from her. Her chamber was decorated in the vahnatai style, and she turned, smiling, and said, "I am called Enla. Welcome to the Bunker."
"Thanks," said Anicka. "What sort of work are you engaged in?"
"I was once studying dragons," said Enla. "Now I do research in the Bunker."
"Why did you give up studying dragons?" said Daniel.
She looked sad, and said, "We studied poor old Motrax, oldest of the mighty serpents living in Avernum. Then he died. And the other dragons disappeared."
"Does anyone know where they went?" said Anicka.
"A great mystery. Sulfras, Khoth, and Athron were the other dragons still living in the underworld," said Enla. "However, after the Empire war, they all disappeared. We have few guesses regarding where they went."
"Such as?" said Anicka.
"Maybe down further into the caves. Or more likely, on the surface, although that would be an invitation for the Empire to attack them," said Enla. "The Empire despises any power it can't control, and they would despise the Empire back."
"Why the mutual hatred?" said Anicka.
"The Empire enslaved Sulfras and Khoth, and Athron dislikes all humans," said Enla. "They no doubt have much hatred for the humans on the surface."
"So, with the dragons gone, what research do you do?" asked Anicka.
"Well, I study vahnatai magic now," said Enla.
"Why have you decided to specialize in vahnatai magic?" asked Phaedra.
"It is amazing what they can do with a simple crystal," said Enla. "For example, they can make actual life in crystalline form."
"How do they accomplish such things?" said Phaedra.
"We can do nothing near what they can do. But we have a few ideas," said Enla. "Nothing I want to talk about now, of course."
"Understood," said Anicka. "Well, thanks for talking with us."
They moved into the next chamber, decorated in a more traditional human style. Within, an ancient, withered mage was hunched in a large, carved chair, meditating while he stared into a brazier.
He looked up, as though having expected their arrival, and said, "I am Ostoth. Welcome to the Bunker."
"What is this place?" said Anicka.
"I shall explain what we are doing here. We are doing research," said Ostoth. "Enla, Pathass and I are trying to craft tools to use against the enemies of Avernum. When we found out about the monsters on the surface, we realized we may need to craft a weapon to help you fight them. But you must be warned of one key fact."
"What's the warning?" said Anicka.
"Be absolutely sure that you are right. Our resources are limited, and we can make only one powerful item. If your first guess is wrong, I strongly doubt that we will be able to help you again," said Ostoth.
"Then we will wait," said Anicka. "We don't have conclusive proof."
"Very good," said Ostoth. "Good luck in your ventures."
"Thanks," said Anicka.
With that, they left the strange bunker, and made their way over to Ghikra, where Rentar-Ihrno scornfully dismissed the possibility of vahnatai involvement in the monster plagues, saying that everyone was using crystals for magic these days, and she pointed the finger at Erika. Dropping in on Erika, she again denied involvement in the surface plagues, and said that she had not yet made contact with the dragons to speak with them about the possibility of their involvement.
"What now?" said Daniel, as they began trudging back to Fort Emergence.
"I don't know," said Anicka. "Maybe finish up a little more mapping of the area up there. There's quite a bit of territory we haven't visited, and we need to find those Remote Isles anyway for the potion recipe. You want that, right Nathan?"
"Yeah," said Nathan. "I hope I can actually do it."
Leaving Fort Emergence again, they picked up a courier job that took them to Golddale. Here, they met a piercingly beautiful woman with two wands hanging from her belt.
"I am Ivanova, sage by trade," she said.
"We have a message for you," said Anicka, delivering the message and taking the money. "What are the wands for?"
"Self-protection, what else," said Ivanova. "I study teleportation a bit. Quite an interesting field of study, eh? In fact, if you wanted to undertake a little mission for me, the reward would be worth your while."
"Tell us more," said Anicka.
"There is a mage named Ernest. Valorim's leading master of teleportation. He lives in a hut southwest of Farport. I can guarantee that book is somewhere inside," said Ivanova, describing the book. "The book describes magical barriers, and their qualities and weaknesses. Get that book and bring it to me, and I will teach you something useful. Beware, though—Ernest has quite a temper."
They moved into the inn, finding to their shock, a nephilim male maintaining the inn.
Purring in greeting, he said, "I am G'Kar."
"Is it dangerous to be a nephil in a human town?" said Frrrrrr.
"Mrrrr. You must know personally some of the dangers of one of our kind walking these roads," said G'Kar. "But Delenn is kind and wise, and she lets me be here."
"It looks a fine inn," said Anicka. "What's available?"
"Mrrrrr. We have a fine room for only fifteen coins. Apologies, we have none of our usual mead."
"Why don't you have any mead?" said Daniel.
"The monsters to the north have made merchants nervous about coming here. Thus, my usual sources of mead have dried up," said G'Kar. "Still looking for a new source."
"Know anything about the monsters to the north?" said Anicka.
"I hear it's not so bad. There's hope. Even heard rumors of golems to the northeast, though," said G'Kar, and he hissed. "Horrible days, to be sure."
They thanked G'Kar and moved on, finding a middle-aged woman with long, dark hair and an air of command.
"I am Delenn," she said, "Welcome to my office."
"May I inquire about your job?" asked Anicka.
"I run the Golddale Mining Company. Challenging, but rewarding work," said Delenn. "We pull gold and silver out of the mountains to the east. Unfortunately, lately the demands on us have been considerable. We have recently offered rewards for certain services."
"What demands have been placed on you?" said Anicka.
"There is much wealth in the ground, and many monsters interested in it. We often pay adventurers to undertake missions for us," said Delenn. "We need precious metals to trade with the rest of the Empire for the supplies we need to grow. Without precious metals, Valorim will be a backwater forever."
"Perhaps we can help with your situation?" said Anicka.
"Our primary mine is to the northeast, but it has been taken over by a band of strange lizard people. They are led by a chieftain who wields a huge spear, and who commands several lizard mages," said Delenn. "Slay the lizard peoples' chief, and drive the rest out of the mine. Manage this, and I will reward you well."
"What do you know of the lizard people?" said Anicka.
"We've never seen their like. They're humanoid, intelligent lizards. They have their own language, magical spells, and these peculiar, two-tined spears," said Delenn. "Watch yourselves. They'll outwit you if you give them half a chance."
"We'll give it a try," said Anicka.
They left, and entered the mine, finding to the north a recent construction clearly intended to help the mine's invaders defend their stolen property. Nevertheless, the now-intrepid group forced the barriers, and fought their way through, slaying the chief and every other slith they met in the mines.
In one box, they found the slithzerikai's journal, puzzling through it to find that the sliths here had been followers of the long-dead Sss-Thsss, and had found their way to the surface in nomadic wanderings, and then took up banditry.
Clearing the mines, they found a human skeleton, still clad in a few scraps of leather armor, but on one, there was the sun symbol of Avernum. Searching the area carefully, they found a fragment of a journal, the entry reading that he had found the sliths and went to spy on them to find out if they were merely brigands or something more.
"Bet that was Gwost," said Anicka. "They shouldn't have split up."
"No, they shouldn't," said Angarahad.
They finished the task, and returned to Golddale, and reported the results of their work to Delenn. Delenn grilled them on details, and had a sack of gold nuggets brought to them. "Well done, travelers," she said. "Now if you're interested, there's an even more lucrative mission for you."
"What's that?" said Anicka.
"If you go through the Golddale mines and emerge at the other end, you'll be in a rocky valley infested with ursagi. At the east end of this valley is the largest nest of them. They live in caves that also happen to be filthy with gold deposits. Clean the cavern of ursagi and bears, and a magical sword will be yours."
"OK," said Anicka.
In the inn, Daniel said, "What are you thinking?"
"Well, between the gold and silver ore we find, and the reward," said Anicka, "we're getting close to being able to buy that house."
"What is it with that house?" said Phaedra.
"I don't know," said Anicka. "I just would really like to have a place that is really mine."
"I like the idea," said Daniel.
They walked on, into a lair full of ursagi—and it almost sounded like the intelligent creatures were talking and planning an ambush. But, imagination aflame with the loot they could get, Anicka led the way into the cavern. Almost immediately, a trap triggered which brought a good part of the roof down, leaving them trapped in the cave.
"Well, I guess we have to go through," said Anicka. "No doubt there's another way out."
"You can be sure of that," said Angarahad. "Whether it's a way that we'll be able to return or not is another question altogether. But ... here they come!"
It had been an hour of slogging through cavern and tunnel, fighting ursagi, bears, and goblins, when they finally found another concealed exit, and battered, bloodied, and slightly muddy, they made their way back to Golddale.
Delenn was again delighted at their report, and had the magical sword brought to them, although she said that she had no further work for adventurers of their caliber, and wished them well in their travels.