"Let's see what's here," I said, looking at the map.
"Looks like there are people here," said Hassan, looking at the plowed fields around us.
Soon enough, we reached this city; in the distance we could see a castle.
"Let's find out if we can get a lead on the Shield of Sufida," I said.
"I'll wait here with Falshion," said Muriel.
"You sure you don't want to do shopping or anything?" asked Barbara.
"I'll just wait here in the wagon, okay?"
We then went through the gates of the city; a plaque identifed it as Gandino. I began to ask around. I heard the Shield of Sufida used to be in the castle, and that there was some criminal organization called the Gindoro which used to have a lot of influence over this kingdom and was busted when a new king took power a few years ago.
I went to the church. It was a small church, attended by a priest standing behind the altar. An old man sat on a pew. I could overhear him. Apparently he was praying for his daughter. He then left the church.
Wondering what wasd going on, I followed him to this huge house and he went inside. I listened.
"I just want the girl back," I heard the old man say.
"The girl," another voice said. "I can't return the girl. Please understand."
"You gave your daughter as payment when you did not have enough gold. Anyway, the girl was turned over to the previous king. Don't know what he did to her. A lot of girls we gave to the king disappeared."
The old man then left the big house, apparently oblivious to me. He then entered this smaller house.
Peering through the door, I saw that he was asleep. Entering the house, I could hear hum mumbling.
"Un," he mumbled. "Muri..."
I then left. This did explain quite a bit.
I then went to the castle itself and asked about the Shield of Sufida. There was a rumor that the previous king had given the shield to the Gindoro before he disappeared. Other people say the shield was hidden in a cave at the end of a river.
I then entered the castle's library, where I saw a scholar.
"Excuse me," I said. "Do you know anything about the Shield of Sufida?"
"Yes," replied the scholar. "there is a path that you must take. Go south from the gargoyle statue, head along the left-hand wall at the T-intersection, and search the first corner."
I made sure to write it down on a notepad. "Anything else?"
"No, that is all I have for now."
I left the library and went to the throne room to see the King of Gandino.
"Ah, adventurers," said the king. "I used to be one. Has peace returned to the world."
"No, your Majesty," I replied.
"Then you must find the Shield of Sufida. My predecessor gave a fake shield to the Gindoro. The real shield was hidden in a labyrinth in a cave at the end of a river. Be warned, you can easily get lost."
"I will retrieve the shield, my lord."
I then went to the castle's dungeon, hoping to find more information, perhaps directions in that labyrinth the shield was hidden in.
"Long ago," said an old man tending the jail, "there was this girl with a mysterious flute. She always talked about finding her brother. She managed to escape."
There was this stone on the floor; it did not look like it was cemented. I pushed it and it revealed this passage. The girl muat have escaped through here. I went into the passage, lit only by my torch, and soon I reached the bottom of a well.
I decided to buy some equipment. I purchased a Flame Sword for Hassan, two Staves of Echoing for Barbara and Chamoro, and two suits of Dragon Mail and two Flame Shields for me and Hassan.
We all went back to the wagon, where Muriel was waiting for us.
"Did you find anything?" she asked.
"We found another piece of the puzzle concerning the Shield of Sufida," I said.
I also found out more about Muriel. I wondered exactly what happened to her back then.
oooooooooooo
Setting sail underwater after leaving Gandino, we came across something to the west.
"I think there's someone over there," said Chamoro.
Indeed, there was a light coming from the sea floor. We sailed there and set anchor.
We climbed down some stairs; there was a pocket of air here, perhaps held by sorcery. A guard armed with a spear stood at the bottom of the stairs.
"Halt!" said the guard. "This is the palace of Poseidon, King of the Seas!"
I introduced myself. "I shall go speak with His Majesty, your Highness."
The guard left and returned a minute later. "This way."
He took me to the top of this platform where this man sat. The man was dressed in robes and wore a crown.
"I am Posedion, King of the Seas," he said.
I introduced myself as the Prince of Reidock. "I am looking for information on the legendary armaments," I said.
"I have clues about the Shield of Sufida," said the king. "However, I am in need of assistance as well."
"What is it, your Majesty?"
"An undersea demon named Glacos has been causing trouble under the waves. I ask you to deal with him."
"Very well then, your Majesty," I replied.
"I will tell you where his palace is. Be careful."
And so we left Poseidon's palace, setting sail underwater.
ooooooooooooooo
"That must be the place," said Hassan.
I looked at the map and then at the structure ahead. It was this stone building on the sea floor. This must be Glacos's palace.
"There's a light coming from there," said Chamoro. "It must be a shipping dock of some sort."
Indeed, it was., We docked the ship and then looked around. We were in this huge chamber, with stairs in the back leading to a door."Let's go, people," I said.
And so we walked through the door and into this undersea palace. The front chamber of the first floor was huge. There was this pool in the middle of the room.
"Get them!" someone yelled.
Suddenly, these one-eyed fish approached us; I guess Glacos sent us a welcoming party.
I slashed those creatures with my Sword of Miracles while Hassan delivered Spirit Punches, Muriel breathed fire, and Chamoro cast spells such as Firevolt. Soon, these fish were filleted.
We headed for the back of this chamber. Monsters attacked us, many of which were sea life. We fought one-eyed fish similar to those who welcomed us to this palace, giasnt shrimp, octopuspeople armed with spears and shields, bipedal birds, animated statues, and giant turtles. We also fought these haunted mirrors who could mimic us and our battle abilities. Chamoro would occasionally cast Healall and I would perform the Hustle Dance to heal our wounds.
We then descended some stairs. This lower chamber was basically a huge pool, with this network of bridges and platforms. We walked about, fighting the monsters as we went.
We then came across another stairs going up. Climbing up, we then found ourselves in the huge entrance chamber. I could see the shipping dock, and the Ship of God, in the other side of the front door.
"What's this?" asked Barbara, looking at the floor.
I ;looked and saw the switch. Knowing what we do to switches, I stepped on it.
I heard this sound pof water rushing.
"Look!" yelled Muriel. "That pool was draining."
I looked at the pool below us, and the water level was clearly falling. In a few minutes, only puddles remained in that pool.
We then walked down to the drained pool. Behind us was this door; draining the pool opened up a new area for us to explore.
We were on this terraced stone platform. I saw stairs leading into pools of water. It would appear we would have to drain the pools.
But stepping on that first switch, while draining one pool, also filled another pool.
"Man, whoever designed this palace must really like puzzles," said Hassan.
And so we made our way through the platform, drain ing and filling the water even as we fought with the monsters in the palace.
After draining one of the pools, we came across a treasure chest similar to the others we found in this palace. I cast Identify.
"It's safe," I said.
I opened it and there was this strange clear container. I put it in the sack.
We climbed up some stairs and continued walking along the stone paths. Soon we found ourselves in front of some stairs leading down; it was surrounded by four pillars. I drew my Sword of Miracles.
At the bottom of the stairs was this elevated passage leading to a huge waterfall in the back. On this throne sat this giant fishman.
We aspproached him.
"He's sleeping," said Chamoro.
The fishman's eyes were closed; he was clearly asleep. I raised my Sword of Miracles, ready to slay him.
His eyes popped awake. "Who dares disturb my sleep?" he grumbled.
"We do," I replied.
"I am the demon lord of the seas, Glacos! You should not have disturbed my sleep! Have you come here to break the seal on Calberona?"
"Calberona?" I asked. "No."
"Since you came this far," said Glacos, "I'll just kill you."
Muriel cast Increase to raise our defense. Glacos then raised his spear and struck us all, knocking us down.
I got up. "Was that supposed to hurt?" I asked before striking him with my Sword of Miracles.
"Owww!" he yelled. "Take this. Snowstorm!"
Suddenly, he cast a spell, and a snowstorm struck us. It DID hurt. I danced the Hustle Dance to heal the damage.
Hassan then delivered a Spirit Punch. Glacos was down, grimacing in pain.
"That was a powered-up Spirit Punch, pal," he said.
We then pummeled Glacos with our weapons and battle skills and spells. Soon, the undersea demon lord was down and bleeding.
"That was pathetic," said Muriel.
"No!" yelled Glacos. "If I die...the seal..."
He then expired. Chamoro picked up his spear.
"I say we head back to King Poseidon," I said.
And so we did.
oooooooooooooooooo
"Well done," said King Poseidon as he heard the news of Glacos's death from us. "Now I shall tell you the piece of the puzzle that I know. Down three floors, and up two. Then the road will be made clear."
"Thank you, your Majesty," I replied.
"Feel free to take the treasures from the room."
So we did, finding two small medals, a staff of echoing, a GiveLife armband, and a silver tray.
"Let us now get the Shield of Sufida," I said.
And so we did.