A/N: The wonderful world of Exile (Avernum) is the property of Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software, not me. I promise, following this bit of fun, to return unharmed to the game the following persons: Anaximander, Ostoth, Empress Prazac, various Empire troops, Khoth, Athron, Sulfras and Sekes; and places: Draigoth, Fort Emergence, New Cotra, Guarded Tunnel, Blackcrag Fortress, Softport, Fenris Port, Kuper, Kneece, Lair of Drakos, Lair of Athron, Lair of Khoth, Lair of Sulfras, Portal Fortress, and Footracer Province.
Leaving Blackcrag Fortress, they followed the road, finding a sign telling them that they were nearing the town of Draigoth. However, when they came within sight of the place, it was clear that all was not well. Where there should have been the sounds of people going about the business of the day, smoke from cooking fires, and animals making a variety of noise there was only silence and stillness—no people, no animals, and no cooking smoke. Coming closer yet, they saw that the walls had been demolished by something with incredibly large and strong claws. Then, to make matters worse, there were the alien beasts, all six-legged creatures, loping towards what they thought was easy food.
Fortunately, Anicka and her companions were able to dispatch the small hunting party of alien beasts, but their hopes of a safe night in an inn had vanished, and they opted instead to camp in one of the more intact buildings while keeping a guarded watch through the night.
Months more of travel, and after their long journey, they returned to Anaximander's office.
"We have seen the alien beasts," said Anicka. "They are the most bizarre things—they can turn their heads in a full circle, six legs, and they are very strong. They have leveled entire towns."
Anaximander, speechless, slumped back in his chair, shaking his head, overwhelmed by this news.
"And we have met with the Empress Prazac," said Anicka, handing over the scroll.
Anaximander nodded, and said, "Wait here." He then left.
He was gone such a long time, Anicka said, "Maybe we should go to our rooms."
They started, but the guards stopped them, and food was brought to them, and they continued to wait. Two days passed.
Finally, Anaximander returned, and said, "I have been in communication with King Micah. He believes this is our greatest opportunity, but only if we are careful. Very, very careful." He handed Anicka another scroll, this one sealed with the seal of Avernum. "Take this to Empress Prazac, and return as soon as you can with her response."
Deciding that their weapon was surely done, they left to go to New Cotra before heading back to Blackcrag.
They entered the Bunker, and were surprised to see neither Pathass nor Enla, and they found Ostoth, looking into the fire in his room.
As the young adventurers entered, Ostoth looked up at them wearily, and said, "What else do you need?"
"What can you tell us about the weapon you made?" asked Anicka.
"The vahnatai create intelligent beings in crystal form. We've done the same. We've made a slightly sentient crystal which may be able to interfere with their crystals. We aren't sure if it will work, but it might," said Ostoth. "Look for this device in the chest in the next room. We hope you can justify the horrible price we have paid for it."
"Horrible price?" said Anicka, feeling sicker by the minute. "What happened?"
"Pathass is dead. An accident slew him in the final hours of creating your weapon. He was a credit to his race," said Ostoth. "Enla has returned to Avernum. She can barely walk now, let alone weave spells."
"I'm sorry," said Anicka.
"Go," said Ostoth. "I am trying to recover my energy, so that if I am needed again, I can be of service to Avernum."
"Thank you," said Anicka.
They left, and opened the chest Ostoth had mentioned. Inside, there was a small blue crystal with a glimmering light flickering inside it.
"It almost seems alive," said Anicka, picking it up and carefully wrapping it before putting it in her pack.
"And you're awfully thoughtful," said Daniel. "What's the matter?"
"Just everything I thought I knew, it's upside down," said Anicka. "I mean, my whole life, practically, we've been friends with the vahnatai. Now it turns out, we're setting ourselves against them. And I keep thinking ... if he was really my dad, if he hadn't done what he did ... would any of it have happened?"
"Hey, it's not like any of us had control over that," said Daniel.
"And to be honest," said Phaedra, "there have been a few who were worried all along that our relations with the vahnatai would not remain peaceful."
"Really?" said Anicka. "I never heard of that."
"No, not many did," said Phaedra. "People who prophesy doom and gloom are seldom welcome when all looks bright and cheery. But I remember reading a treatise by Patrick, written in the last weeks of the war, and how he was concerned that our relations would not remain friendly with the vahnatai because there are so many more of us—the humans, the nephilim and the sliths—and that we would be competing against each other ..."
"But that's just what doesn't make sense!" said Anicka. "I mean, they're all but destroying the surface. If we hadn't happened up there, they might well have succeeded at it, too—just imagine what it would be like if we hadn't stopped the slimes and the roaches, and hadn't gotten the troglos and giants to pay more attention to each other, and break the golem factory ... And we couldn't go up to take over what's left—it'd be ... salt and ashes, that's what the vahnatai said. Nothing could grow in that."
"And, if they were honest," said Angarahad, "I've read the histories. The vahnatai were equally responsible for the kidnapping of the crystal souls. At least, a faction of them were ... Without those vahnatai, the Empire never would've gotten ahold of the souls."
"They are not a rational people," said Phaedra. "Even this—it is out of proportion to the offense that was given. And against people who had nothing to do with ... I don't know how the vahnatai rule their people, but ... the common farmer around Krizsan had nothing whatsoever to do with the decisions of the Empire during the war."
"People like us almost never do," said Anicka. "For Empire or Avernum—we're just told to go out and try not to get killed ... but we don't make the policies. But what really worries me—I'm afraid there will never again be peace."
"Probably not," said Daniel.
They continued their northward journey, meeting merchant caravans which gladly traded with them, Empire soldiers who greeted them politely, and the occasional farmer who offered to sell them food. They reached the top of a rise, and rounded a corner, and found a small, concealed fortification. The armed men at the gate wore the uniforms and armor of Empire soldiers, but something wasn't quite right—their armor was torn and incomplete, and the men were busy dividing up booty, not preparing for battle.
"This must be a camp of deserters," muttered Daniel.
"Yeah, I heard some of them became brigands when the monsters came," said Anicka.
The men grabbed weapons, moving to defend themselves. It was quite apparent that they weren't interested in conversation, as the penalty for desertion was death.
They defeated this group, and continued on their way northward. A group of guards then stopped them on the road. One started to draw his sword at the sight of Frrrrrr.
Another guard said, "Put your sword away. These are the freaks who helped end some of the other plagues down south. Leave them alone." He turned to Anicka and her companions, and said, "We'll let you go—for now. Watch out for the six-legged beasts. They hunt around here."
"Thanks for the tip," said Anicka.
They entered the guild's tunnel, keeping to themselves, as requested, and made their way to Blackcrag Fortress straightaway.
This time, however, Anicka insisted on stopping off in the not-yet-dusty empty weapons storage, and change into clothes that didn't involve armor and gore. It was nowhere near the quality of what those usually visiting the Empress wore, but at least it was her best.
They entered the throne room again, and making the appropriate bow, Anicka said, "We have seen Anaximander. He gave us a scroll to give to you."
She read it, and nodded. "Excellent. It would seem, as they say, that we have a deal. The key to the whole monster mystery would seem to be Footracer Province, where the alien beasts are imprisoned," said Prazac. "We built a wall around Footracer to retain the beasts inside. There are two massive gates in that wall. You will now find that they will be open to you. I grant permission to enter there to investigate. Be careful, and good luck to you."
"If I might be so bold," said Anicka. "What are the terms of agreement?"
Prazac smiled, and said, "You are inquisitive. But, I am afraid, you are foolish. If these high matters of state were for you to know, someone would have told you the details. But nobody has."
"I understand," said Anicka.
Dismissed from the Empress's presence, they once more geared up for trouble, and left by the guild's tunnel.
"Are we going into Footracer?" said Daniel.
"Not yet," said Anicka. "I want to get that platemail we read about in Gale."
As they traveled south, a faint shade beckoned them from the base of the wall surrounding Footracer Province.
When they came close, it spoke, "You are close. Close to the source of the plagues. The secret is beyond."
"What do you mean?" said Anicka, but the shade had already disappeared before she finished speaking.
As they continued, they saw some flashes of light at the base of the wall, and saw that something had burrowed its way through the wall, trying to force its way out on this side. The magic of the wall was trying to hold it in, bombarding the area with bolts of energy and the air was filled with rank, cooked flesh smells.
"What if that wall doesn't hold?" said Angarahad.
"It probably won't," said Anicka. "Not forever. Let's wait ..."
Drawing weapons, they waited, and soon enough, the creatures—six-legged, five feet tall at the shoulder—burst through and attacked. They fought the beasts, slaying them, and continued on, generally moving south.
As they did, they came to the site of a massive battle, perhaps a year ago by the way things had been grown over. Bits of broken metal and bone were everywhere, the ground still blood-stained, scars of fireballs everywhere. There were many skeletons, a few of the large, six-legged creatures, but many more humans.
"We will not be able to long delay," said Angarahad.
"And I think that armor is important to our success," said Anicka. "C'mon, let's go."
They continued their southward journey, reaching Softport, and then Fenris Port, making their way south to Kuper, and then to Kneece. Without stopping to visit Purgatos, they left to search out the legendary dungeon resting place for the most amazing armor in history.
Working hard, they found the entrance to the old, musty ruin. From the looks of things, it was an ancient crypt, a crumbling memorial to some megalomaniac dead centuries previous. However, the tomb had not been undisturbed—there was fresh air, tracks in the dust, and from the appearances, someone had been randomly looting, poking around and setting traps.
They continued, finding that a number of efreets appeared with a blinding flash, surrounding them. Using Phaedra's ice bolts and the arrows and bolts from the bows and crossbows, they slew these fiery giants, and continued, past barriers, gorgons, and into an oppressive cavern filled with basilisks and enough potion ingredients to elate Nathan, and then undead, and finally, two great drakes who negligently moved them into a lava pit.
Angarahad's spell allowed them to walk on the lava unharmed, and between missile and spell, they felled the two great drakes, and found the decapitated corpse in the trophy area of the treasure trove, his armor clearly ancient from the skeletal remains within, yet looking untouched by time. Anicka quickly stripped the corpse and fit the armor to herself.
"That looks good," said Daniel.
"It's amazing!" said Anicka. She looked to the others and said, "All right—let's go report since we're this close, and then on to Footracer!."
They traveled south again, and made their way to Fort Emergence, and Anaximander's office.
"The good news," said Anicka, "is that we met with Prazac, and whatever was in the scroll, she said, that we have a deal."
Anaximander looked delighted at this, and said, "I will report this with great joy. All I have heard indicates that Prazac is a woman of her word. At last, at long last, we have a hope of a home on the surface." His smile faded as he said, "We will now do all we can to find those who created the plagues of monsters and bring them to justice. You, we believe are our best hope. So go forth, all of you, and win us a home!"
Nodding, they left, and began their northward progress to the Footracer Province. As they progressed northward, they heard a whisper, and stopped to see what that was about. A shade, failing to coalesce completely, remaining a vague, glowing, insubstantial humanoid shape appeared. It said, "Avernum's struggle continues. You have been seen. They search for me, too. I can help you little now. The enemy is near, and their hatred is great. More monsters are being prepared. The attack on Valorim is only the beginning. The vengeance will continue. They must be stopped. Please, for us all, fight on. I must go. It is unsafe." The shade disappeared.
"Seems at least someone wants us to succeed," said Anicka. "But I'm not sure who that was."
Then, they found a most astonishing thing—a valley containing a lizard-guarded cavern, and descending within, they found the lair of Khoth, closed to them, but they continued down, and found themselves in another lair, which proved to be that of Sulfras.
Terrified, they moved into the chamber at Sulfras' invitation.
"I am Sulfras," she said, her words slow and majestic.
"Greetings, mighty one," said Anicka. "May we speak with you?"
"I have led the return of the dragons to the surface world. I am busy. Yet you can be of use to me," said Sulfras. "I have allowed you to enter so we can speak of important matters."
"We found dragon scales in the Filth Factory," said Phaedra, "did you cooperate with creating that?"
"You found dragon scales there? And what of it? You think it is impossible to find dragon scales?" said Sulfras with a snort. "I'm sure that there are plenty of them in my old lair in Avernum. No, we had naught to do with creating the place of which you speak."
"There is much that we would like to know," said Anicka.
"All right. My siblings and I wish to discuss an important issue with you. But do not take long. Though my lifespan is unending, my time at present is limited," said Sulfras.
"How many dragons are left?" said Anicka.
"Only three dragons are here: me, and my surviving siblings, Athron and Khoth. There are more of us, though, and one by one, I will bring them here," said Sulfras. "My sister Athron has recently had a brood of dragonlings, and is uninterested in our war." Sulfras appeared irritated, and Anicka was glad the irritation was not directed at them. "Still, hopefully soon her paranoia will disperse, and she will join the necessary struggle. Khoth's wisdom is infinite, and his hatred of humans is almost as great as mine."
"Why do you hate humans so much?" said Daniel.
"You have not yet earned the right to ask our motives," said Sulfras with a warning burst of flames.
"Why did you return to the surface?" said Anicka.
"The foul humans of the Empire slew many of our kind, and dispersed the rest. I wish to lead our triumphant return to the surface, and to exact a grim vengeance on the Empire," said Sulfras. "This leads me, however, to the suspicions of the Avernites." With a dry chuckle, she said, "Some Avernites believe we have caused the plagues of monsters that beset the world. We did not. Our vengeance against the Empire is not yet begun. The enemy of our enemy is our friend. That is why we wish to reassure Avernum. Also, we wish to enlist your help."
"When will your vengeance commence?" said Anicka, dreading the thought that they would have to fight dragons after the vahnatai.
With a glare, Sulfras said, "Do not ask."
"So, how can we be of help?" said Angarahad.
"We wish your aid in dealing with certain irksome pests," said Sulfras.
"What pests are those?" said Anicka.
"First, go to the northeast cave of my lair. Enter it, and deal with the pests within. When you have slain them, come back and ask me of them again," said Sulfras.
Anicka nodded, and they went to the cavern, and Phaedra cast the spell to bring down the barriers, and they saw and fought with the alien beasts which had been pinned inside.
Returning to Sulfras, Anicka said, "We've killed the alien beasts in the northeast cave."
"As you can see, these 'alien beasts' as the humans call them, are mildly annoying," said Sulfras. "We know you fight the monsters. We have had difficulties with the beasts. I wish to make you a sword you can use to exterminate them."
"What sort of sword do you wish to make?" said Anicka.
"I have a habit of helping humans. It is unpleasant but necessary. We wish the alien beasts dead. I will make you a weapon to help slay them. To do this, I need two things: instructions for how to make it, and a bar of special metal," said Sulfras. "Go to my siblings, Khoth and Athron. They will give you these things. Then return to me."
They left, and went back up to the domain of Khoth.
"I am Khoth, humans," he said in a tone laced with contempt.
"Greetings, mighty dragon, may we speak with you?" said Anicka.
"If you must. I prefer to spend my time studying and learning. And the rest of the time, I meditate on my hatred of humans," said Khoth. "However, Sulfras has convinced me that I should speak with and assist you. So I will give you a small measure of my time."
"Why do you hate humans?" asked Anicka.
"I despise humankind, especially the clump of petty monkeys that calls itself the Empire," said Khoth. "But this is all irrelevant. Sulfras has convinced me I must assist you in other matters, by sharing some of my knowledge with you. Search my bookshelves. You will find what you need eventually. I have a tome which will teach you how to make a weapon to slay alien beasts, the culmination of months of thorough research on my part. Now go, I wish to waste no more time on mere humans."
Searching, they found a number of useful bits of information—as well as some harmful, before coming to the ritual of which Sulfras had spoken. Recording it, they took it along to show Sulfras.
They left, and went to the lair of Athron, which seemed grudgingly open to them. The floor of the cave was heavily scarred, and some appeared to be from Athron's broodlings. Edging around carefully, they reached a portal, and stood before Athron.
Snorting a long jet of flame, she said, "I am Athron."
"May we speak with you for a short time?" said Anicka.
Idly gouging the floor, Athron said, "Why not? Twice before, I assisted adventurers, despite my better judgment. And when I did, in the end, I was the better for it. Speak, but do not waste my time."
"Tell us about your brood," said Anicka.
"They are the first born in a century," said Athron. "But enough of that. You came for a metal, and it is in the middle chest. Take it and go."
Not wanting to anger the dragon, they did just that.
After the scavenger hunt, they went and gave the metal to Sulfras, who mumbled a spell, dipping it deep in the lava, and she brought out a sword, casting the spell from Khoth. The spell seemed to drain even Sulfras, and finally she handed it to the group.
Thanking Sulfras, they continued on their way, and as they approached Footracer Province, they encountered a group of Empire soldiers, who eyed them nervously.
The captain approached, and said, "Greetings. You are at the border of Footracer Province. Footracer Province is closed off, by the order of Empress Prazac. Do not try to break through the wall. The defenses are powerful and dangerous. We suggest that you seek your fortunes elsewhere."
"Actually, we have her permission to enter Footracer," said Anicka.
The captain's expression was regretful, and he said, "Well, it's your funeral. Good luck to you. But if I were you, I'd move fast in the other direction. You can't imagine what those horrors in there can do."
"We'll manage," said Anicka with a brave smile.
They continued, reaching the gate. As they approached, the gates swung silently open, just enough to allow their entry, and then the closed once the whole group was within. The blasted waste which was Footracer was now open to them for exploration.
They traveled, finding the land an utter waste, and what remnants of towns were left were trapped, with warnings posted in human languages, that flames would engulf the town if entered. Finally, finding a massive bridge that had survived the assaults of the alien beasts, they moved to cross, finding a pack of the creatures on guard.
"We have to go through," said Anicka, drawing the blade Sulfras had given them.
They fought and dispatched the alien beasts, and were continuing their cautious exploration when suddenly, Anicka felt a vicious mental jolt. As her head cleared, she felt sure something horrible had happened, but wasn't sure what—and that the faces of her companions told that they had felt the same thing.
Feeling great dread, they returned to Fort Emergence.
Anaximander's face showed something had gone horribly wrong, and he said, "Demons have taken the Tower of Magi! They've sealed it off from Avernum, and they are summoning more of their kind. If something is not done, they will soon have the force to decimate Avernum and slay everyone there. The only way into the Tower, we think, is the portal in the Portal Fortress, and the only group we can send to do anything is yours!"
"Do you think the vahnatai are behind this, too?" said Anicka.
"No, this is ... no," said Anaximander, sounding terrified. "If you don't get down there soon, our land and all in it are doomed."
A female voice, somewhat familiar, sounded in Anicka's head, saying, "We are dying. Help us. Oh gods, help us!"
She looked, her companions showed signs of having heard the same thing.
As they traveled from Fort Emergence to the Portal Fortress, they heard a cacophony of voices, distant and filled with horror. Then one drowned out the others, cruel and inhuman, saying, "We have the Tower, and soon we will have you all. So come defy us. Nothing would make us happier."
They reached Portal Fortress, and saw Seles, standing nervously near the portal which now flickered ominously with occasional tinges of angry red.
"We would like to use the teleporter," said Anicka. "We're aware of the situation."
Seles looked grim, and said, "I should hope that you want to go down. The Tower of Magi is sealed off. This teleporter is the only route in. Go down there, and retake the place, or we're all doomed. Good luck to you."
"Thanks," said Anicka, and she led the way up.
The portal wavered and sputtered, as if all its energy were not entirely under control. Gritting her teeth, Anicka led the way into the portal.