1) Talk to the old man in the Asylum in Rhudaur.

[HP=350/MA=318]:l old
old man
This old, wizened man is garbed in tattered robes and is chained to the wall. Despite his advanced age, his gaze is piercing and he appears more than competent.
It appears to be unwounded.

[HP=350/MA=318]:gr man
The old man looks at you curiously, as if not expecting to see you here.

"This is unexpected, " he says with a slight grin, "the only visitors I normally get are nightmares and lunatics who run amok in this haunted place. I have been locked up here for years uncounted, and no one of right mind would would come here. People are put here to be forgotten, not found."

[HP=350/MA=318]:ask man forgotten
"Yes, I am here because I know something I should not. Undoubtably I should have been slain long ago, but shortly after being imprisoned in this asylum, some strange force warped the reality holding this place together, and now it is a shifting nightmare realm. It must be that those who would have killed me no longer can find me. The Shadow Fist brotherhood are not forgiving."

[HP=350/MA=318]:ask man shadow fist
"Once, I was a powerful and respected member of the Shadow Fist brotherhood, second only to the grandmaster himself. Long did I revel in the power afforded me, and used it to my own profit and to further the evil cause of the brotherhood. One day, however, I happened upon an ancient scroll in the secret library which only the master may enter. Inscribed upon this parchment was a prophecy long forgotten, which told about a magical creature named the Phoenix, whose name is Bel-Lai."

[HP=362/MA=329]:ask man phoenix
"As I began to read the scroll, I learned that the Phoenix would be instrumental in the struggle between the forces of the light and the dark. However, before I could discover more, I was taken by force and imprisoned here until I could be trasported to higher authorities for punishment and execution. Of course, as I already told you, the asylum became warped and I was lost and forgotten."

"If you would reveal the secrets of the prophecy, you must infiltrate the Shadow Fist brotherhood in Rhudaur and find the hidden library. The front entrance to the brotherhood's temple is impenetrable, but there is a secret way through the sewers. Even this gate is locked, but there is a skilled thief in the thieve's guild who may be able to forge you a skeleton key."

2) Kill the Dread Mystic.

Shadow Fist Temple, Meditation Chamber
You notice 245 gold crowns, 22 silver nobles, 2 black serpent key here.
Also here: Spike*, dread mystic.
Obvious exits: east
[HP=351/MA=302]:dfir d
*Combat Engaged*
Spike moves to attack dread mystic.
[HP=351/MA=302]:Spike claps wildly!
[HP=351/MA=302]:dfir d
You make a complex circling gesture!
A withering blast of dragonfire sears dread mystic for 205 damage!
The dread mystic sweeps your feet out from under you!
You are knocked off your feet, and land with a heavy thump!
You are flat on your back!
The dread mystic punches you in the head for 8 damage!
Dread mystic invokes the way of the swan!
Spike swings at dread mystic with his sunsword, but it dodges!
Spike swings at dread mystic with his sunsword, but it dodges!
Spike swings at dread mystic with his sunsword, but it dodges!
*Combat Off*
*Combat Engaged*
[HP=328/MA=286]:Spike critically slashes dread mystic for 53 damage!
dread mystic is scorched for 16 damage!
Spike swings at dread mystic with his sunsword, but it dodges!
Spike critically slashes dread mystic for 54 damage!
Spike slashes dread mystic for 11 damage!
You make a complex circling gesture!
A withering blast of dragonfire sears dread mystic for 152 damage!
18 gold drop to the ground.
The dread mystic chants an unholy chant, and steps into the shadows!
You gain 2625 experience.
*Combat Off*
Shadow Fist Temple, Meditation Chamber
You notice 263 gold crowns, 22 silver nobles, 2 black serpent key here.
Also here: Spike*.
Obvious exits: east

A yellowed note falls out of the dread mystic's tunic, and you pick it up.

Shadow Fist Temple, Meditation Chamber
You notice 263 gold crowns, 22 silver nobles, 2 black serpent key here.
Also here: Spike*.
Obvious exits: east
Spike laughs!
[HP=328/MA=270]:.nifty
You get back on your feet.
[HP=328/MA=270]:You say "nifty"

3) Read the yellowed note.

[HP=352/MA=312]:l note
This worn, tattered parchment is inscribed with a few straggling sentences, reading:

Shadow Fist Lord,

We have the items you requested for your trip upriver to the waterfall stronghold. Extra expenses have arisen and the price is now doubled. We await your arrival and payment. If we do not hear from you in forty days, we will dump the cargo in the river and be done with you. Remember to use the hidden entrance near the docks, as the other underground passage has caved in.

4) Kill the Flesh Golem. Get to it through a secret door by quickly moving the symbols on all 4 altars. (Pull Flame, Turn Mountain, Push Wave, Turn Fog) Also here: Spike*, flesh golem.
Obvious exits: closed door north, open door southeast, closed door southwest
[HP=389/MA=334]:dfir g
*Combat Engaged*
[HP=389/MA=334]:Spike surprise slashes flesh golem for 143 damage!
flesh golem is scorched for 6 damage!
You make a complex circling gesture!
A withering blast of dragonfire sears flesh golem for 130 damage!
The flesh golem smashes you with its arm for 17 damage!
[HP=372/MA=318]:Spike swings at flesh golem with his sunsword!
Spike swings at flesh golem with his sunsword!
Spike slashes flesh golem for 12 damage!
You make a complex circling gesture!
A withering blast of dragonfire sears flesh golem for 177 damage!
The flesh golem swings at you with its arm!
[HP=372/MA=302]:Spike says "ow"
[HP=372/MA=302]:grin
dfir g
You grin slyly.
*Combat Off*
*Combat Engaged*
[HP=372/MA=302]:You make a complex circling gesture!
A withering blast of dragonfire sears flesh golem for 177 damage!
The flesh golem moans, collapses, and begins to decompose!
You gain 2000 experience.
*Combat Off*

[HP=389/MA=328]:l parchment

When the light in the sky flies once again this shall be a sign of the Dark One's return. The light is of such beauty that it appears with the grace of a bird, and is given the name Phoenix. The light of such elegance that many a man fell to his knees in awe of her.

For the Phoenix represents the rebirthing of the ages. The ages come and go but the light remains. It is this bond that links all the events of this reality. It is the change and the growth of all beings. It is the power that challenges us to change, and forces us to understand. For it is the universe's tool of change, and is a tool of great power.

Towards the end of the last Great War, the great light vanished, gone from the world of mortals, until the time when the darkness would rise again.

For the Dark One knew of the Phoenix and knew if he were to catch her that this would be a testament to his power and a challenge to the other gods. The Dark One had long been beguiled by the beauty of the Phoenix and became obsessed with a desire to possess her.

The great Legends knew of the desires of the Dark One and requested of the Phoenix to assist them in their quest to defeat the Dark One's Armies. The Phoenix, knowing of the danger that the Dark One repre sented, agreed in assisting them in their battle against the Lord of Shadows.

For many months the Legends managed to distract the Dark One with the Phoenix, until he became obsessed enough to divert his Avatar away from Silvermere and towards the Phoenix's home, The Stronghold of the Templars of Golden Light, an ancient society of warriors who gave themselves to the Phoenix as guardians of her and her ultimate destiny in the realm.

There the Dark One's Avatar besieged the fortress in a futile attempt to capture the Phoenix. While this occurred, it gave opportunity to the Legends to bring their scattered forces to bear on the Dark One. Unfortunately, on the eve of the Legendary Heroes' assault, The Dark One, who had grown furious at his Avatar's failure, intervened and violated a sacred law of the realm, using ancient technology long lost and forbidden in the realm. He succeeded, breaching the walls of the stronghold and overwhelming the Templars, who in the heat of the battle were unable to stop many of the dark one's heroes from entering the Phoenix's lair. Many of the Legends, knowing that they had failed the Phoenix, retreated with their forces back to Silvermere to await the final conflict with the Dark One's Avatar. Orfeo Talespinner remained with a small band of his henchmen and managed to fight his way into the catacombs where the Phoenix lair was located. Orfeo to this day speaks not of this experience, only knowing the pain of his failure in stopping the Dark One's army from taking the stronghold. With the destruction of the Stronghold, the Dark One's Avatar turned his attention to the great city of Silvermere, his last obstacle in conquering the realm. Little did he know that the Legends from across the realm had signed an alliance to either defeat the Dark One or be vanquished in the attempt. At this last battle the Legends defeated the Dark One's Avatar. The great mage Morukai, using magics bestowed upon him by the gods to counterbalance the Dark One's forbidden intervention, countered many of the Avatar's unholy protective powers. Vulnerable and surprised by the combined forces of the Armies of Light, the Dark One's Avatar was overrun and destroyed by Dorshar Lightblade and the other legendary heroes who still survived. This resulted in the beginning of a new age, the Age of Tranquility. With the Dark One's power temporarily broken, the hosts of shadow fell into disarray and were scattered about the land like chaff on the wind. The armies of light, decimated by the terrible war, returned to their homelands to rebuild and begin the process of healing the scars wrought during t his time. Only time would will tell the fate of the realm, as the forces of darkness slowly regathered to fuel the Dark One's unrelenting hunger to control the realm.

[HP=389/MA=334]:sear d
You found an exit downwards!

Docks
Obvious exits: south, east, open trapdoor below
Spike walks into the room from the east.
Spike is searching for exits.
Spike is searching for exits.
[HP=389/MA=334]:.bingo
Spike laughs!
[HP=389/MA=334]:You say "bingo"

You surprise slice smuggler boss for 141 damage!
Spike swings at smuggler boss with his sunsword!
The smuggler boss slashes you for 5 damage!
The smuggler boss slashes you for 4 damage!
The smuggler boss slashes you for 12 damage!
The thief lunges at Spike with its shortsword!
The thief stabs Spike for 8 damage!
The fierce thief stabs Spike for 3 damage!
[HP=368/MA=334]:
Large Office
You notice 1 gold crown, 8 silver nobles, fine broadsword here.
Also here: Spike*, smuggler boss, thief, fierce thief.
Obvious exits: open door south
[HP=368/MA=334]:dfir sm
*Combat Off*
*Combat Engaged*
[HP=368/MA=334]:The smuggler boss swings at Spike with its fine broadsword!
The smuggler boss swings at Spike with its fine broadsword!
The smuggler boss swings at Spike with its fine broadsword!
The fierce thief lunges at Spike with its shortsword!
The fierce thief stabs Spike for 7 damage!
The fierce thief lunges at Spike with its shortsword!
Spike slashes smuggler boss for 19 damage!
Spike slashes smuggler boss for 11 damage!
Spike critically slashes smuggler boss for 53 damage!
The smuggler boss lunges at you, but trips and falls dead.
You gain 250 experience.
*Combat Off*

Clutched in the smuggler's hand is a crumpled paper, which you grab.

[HP=389/MA=334]:l smudged paper
This small piece of paper has a few lines scribbled on it: "Still no way to get up waterfall. Shadow Fist brotherhood will not be pleased. Remember to send spy to gnome alchemist to see if any levitation potions available."

Also here: Spike*, big gnome inventor.
Obvious exits: open door northwest
[HP=389/MA=334]:gr inventor
The gnome starts chattering excitedly at your approach.

"A visitor!" he says, "And just in time! In time for what, you might add? Well, watch and see!"

He pulls out a large, two-tined fork that glitters in the light. With a flourish, he points it at a large crystal-studded rock, and the fork begins to vibrate! The rock shudders and cracks, and then splits into rubble.

"See? My Titanium Wall-Basher reduces certain types of walls to rubble with no more effort than it takes to point. All you have to do is aim, and there you go! Very useful for some situations! It only works some places, though. Also, I have something else you might like to see!"

With that, he pulls on a strange-looking helmet that covers the mouth and nose. He walks over to the tall glass tank, dives in, and floats down to the bottom. Bubbles froth out of the piece covering his mouth, and to your astonishment he begins to talk in a muffled voice!

"See? I call it the Breathe-Like-A-Fish-Helmet. Or just the Fish Helm for short. It has all sorts of uses, and will revolutionize underwater exploration! At least it will, when I work out the problems. For some reason, it only works in extremely cold waters. Why that is, I have no idea, but it works, it works!"

He swims to the top of the tank and climbs out, taking the helmet off and placing on a table.

"They're so easy to make once you know the trick, so I've made many of them for testing purposes. Would you like to try my fine helmet, or test out one of my blasting forks?"

[HP=389/MA=334]:.forks!
You say "forks!"
Cluttered Workshop
Also here: Spike*, big gnome inventor.
Obvious exits: open door northwest
[HP=389/MA=334]:ask gn forks
Beaming happily, he pats your hand and says, "I knew you would be interested. Please, take one, and tell me what you think of it!"

l fork
This shining titanium device greatly ressembles an oversized two-tined fork, attached to a strange crystal-studded handle. Of gnomish manufacture, it is a queer device that only the brilliant gnome inventors could create.

Mossy Cave, Waterfall
The dark brown walls of this naturally-formed cave are covered with a pale green mossy substance. The centre of the chamber is split by a wide gaping hole. Thundering down from somewhere in the utter darkness up above, a silvery river falls down through the hole into the depths below. A crude stair leads down the side of the hole, following the waterfall into the darkness, and a smooth tunnel leads out to the east.
Also here: Spike*.
Obvious exits: east, down
[HP=384/MA=334]:use lev
A tingling sensation comes over you, and you begin to float upwards! You float up past the waterfall, and land far above at the river's edge.

Waterfall, Dirt Path
Obvious exits: north, down

Confusing place.. Some walls can be destroyed by typing 'aim fork {direction}'
If you look around enough you'll end up here:


Catacombs, Shimmering Barrier
Cobwebs cling to the corners and rubble covers the ground of this decaying underground passageway. The stone of the floor and walls is rapidly breaking down, and in sections has completely caved in to form mounds of rocky debris. A strange, rippling field of energy covers the tunnel to the north.
Also here: Spike*, haunting spirit.
Obvious exits: northeast
[HP=389/MA=334]:Spike smiles happily at haunting spirit!
[HP=389/MA=334]:l haunting spirit
This wispy, translucent apparition is bound to this area in death, and wails mournfully.
It appears to be unwounded.
[HP=389/MA=334]:gr haunt
The haunting spirit softly moans as you hail it, and turns to face you.

"Who are you who enters this forgotten catacomb? Long has it been since any living being has dared to break the silence of the dead! And longer still since Orfeo and his songweavers defended this crumbling fortress..."

[HP=389/MA=334]:ask haunt orfeo
"Aye, the hero Orfeo Talespinner did assault the forces of darkness here, as they plunged into these catacombs to steal the Phoenix egg. Alas, their battle was in vain, as the Dark One's force partially completed their mission. They succeeded in obtaining the Phoenix egg, and would surely have escaped with the Dark One's aid had not Morukai the Black sealed off their exit with a spell of great power. This magic did not only prevent their exit, but trapped them in time. There is no entrance nor exit, nor even normal existance past this barrier behind me. And only Morukai knows the ancient rituals and incantations to reverse the spell."

Common Room
This quiet, comfortable inn speaks of good food and restful sleep. Warm light glows from lit lanterns and candles, and a pleasant warmth from the fireplace fills the air. Two large round tables sit in the centre of the room, and a dozen waiting chairs encircle them. In one chair in the corner is a strange man, who by the look of it appears to be the owner of this place. A small arch leads into the kitchen to the west, and a large one leads to foyer to the south.
Also here: Spike*, Orfeo Talespinner.
Obvious exits: south, west
[HP=389/MA=318]:ask orfeo morukai
Orfeo looks at you quizzically.
When you tell him about your discovery of the prophecy, Orfeo sighs resignedly.

"It has been an age since our battle with the Dark Lord. I had hoped that, perhaps, the cycle would not repeat again, and that the lord of shadows would remain just a shadow. But if what you say is true, and the prophecy scrolls are once more being found, then my hope for peace is shattered. The forces of darkness must once more be mustering in secret. I fear for the worst... you must go and see Morukai the Black, in his hidden tower deep in the Elder Darkwood grove. Only he can destroy the barrier in the Templar's ruin, since he is the one who created it. Go now-- he will know you speak the truth when you say I have sent you. Little can be hidden from Morukai's piercing gaze."

Ancient Darkwood Tree, Portal
The inside of the darkwood tree is much like the outside, with coal- black bark walls as hard as iron. Softly glowing globes affixed to the walls cast a pale blue-white radiance that gives the inside of the tree a ghostly appearance. A swirling portal the same spectral hue as the globes spins silently in the western wall.
Also here: Spike*.
Obvious exits: east
[HP=389/MA=334]:You are no longer following Spike.
[HP=389/MA=334]:go portal
Spike gangpaths: gasp
[HP=389/MA=334]:
Caves of Chaos
Obvious exits: east, southwest
[HP=389/MA=334]:Spike gangpaths: you in here?