// TOWN TEXT DATA
//    Town 38: Keep of Rentar-Ihrno


begintextlibrary;

20 = "You pass through the gate and into the cavernous halls of Rentar-Ihrno's fortress. All around you, you can hear the alarmed shouts of guards, rushing to do battle with you.";
21 = "The blue stone of the fortress walls, ceiling and floor are all of one smooth, uniform piece, as if this place was not built, but stretched and molded from the living rock of the cavern. The air crackles with power.";
22 = "To the east, through another set of gates, you can see the central hall of the fortress. Many vahnatai move back and forth in there, shouting and casting spells.";
23 = "";
24 = "This is one of the vahnatai reading crystals. Normally, you'd be able to peer deep into it and see glowing words or drawings. However, it's currently inactive, and you don't know how to turn it on.";
25 = "";
26 = "You enter the central hall of Rentar-Ihrno's fortress. This is core of vahnatai power, the source of the monster plagues. The air is saturated with energy. It requires great effort just to move.";
27 = "The chamber is dominated by an enormous pit. It's almost eighty feet across. It's not there for decorative effect. You can see that its sides are covered with a slimy residue, as if huge alchemical reactions are carried out inside.";
28 = "On the other side of the pit, you see Rentar-Ihrno, leader and archmage of the vahnatai, standing by a small pedestal. She stands tall and proud, wreathed in a glowing cloak of protective spells.";
29 = "She lifts up something round. You soon realize what it is: the head of a vahnatai. She calls out to you, _I have here the head of your hidden benefactor, discovered at last. This was Bon-Ihrno, bringer of 'peace' between our peoples._";
30 = "_You protect those who stole our Crystal Souls, our honored ancestors, from us. He protected you. You are all traitors. All of you must die, so our sacred vengeance may be attained!_";
31 = "She stands there, shrouded by an impregnable shield of protective spells, waiting for you to fight her.";
32 = "";
33 = "";
34 = "Rentar-Ihrno ignores you as you approach. She's keeping a watchful eye on the pit in the middle of the chamber. The powerful beams you have channeled hum and spark below you, waiting to be utilized.";
35 = "She stands in front of her pedestal, stretching her hands in preparation for much spell-casting.";
36 = "";
37 = "You suspect that this control panel has something to do with the operation or modulation of the powerful volcanic vents before you. However, the crystals on the panel are dark and the controls are frozen.";
38 = "Perhaps this panel was shut down when you invaded the fort. Until it is activated, it is useless.";
39 = "";
40 = "With impeccable timing, the amulet Erika gave you begins to heat up and glow. You wince in pain as it sears your flesh. Then it emits one final flash of blinding light and crumbles into dust!";
41 = "At first, you're disappointed, thinking that the archmage Erika's powerful magic has failed her at last. Then you look up and realize that exactly the opposite has happened. Erika is now standing on the dais next to Rentar-Ihrno!";
42 = "Erika looks at Rentar-Ihrno with fury and contempt. _You dare to trifle with Avernum?_ she says. _You dare to threaten my home? Now, vahnatai, you will find out how a real mage fights!_";
43 = "Rentar-Ihrno responds instantly, not with words, but with a searing bolt of flame. Erika parries it easily, and the two mightiest mages on the planet immediately join in a battle of wizardry unlike any you've ever seen. ";
44 = "As they trade mighty spells and counterspells, Rentar-Ihrno's pedestal sits unguarded.";
45 = "";
46 = "This control panel has a variety of switches and crystals on it. You aren't sure what they do. However, there is also a large red button in the middle. It's very inviting.";
47 = "";
48 = "The case contains a velvet pad. There is a sword resting on it. It is old and tarnished, and shows the signs of having been shattered and reforged at least once.";
49 = "You aren't sure what this weapon is, but you can sense that it is a blade of uncommon power. It is clearly of human make.";
50 = "";
51 = "";
52 = "You find a vahnatai reading crystal. Deep inside, you can dimly see glowing magical writing.";
53 = "";
54 = "You peer into the crystal, trying to make sense of the schematics and plans moving by. They move too fast and are too confusing. You just don't understand enough of vahnatai culture and language to make sense of them.";
55 = "";
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58 = "As you reach the pedestal, the battle between Erika and Rentar-Ihrno is reaching a crescendo. Erika seems to be winning. Rentar's defenses are weakening, and Erika's spells are still as potent as they were when the duel began.";
59 = "However, Rentar-Ihrno was prepared. She has one final trick remaining. She flings a last magical bolt, but not at Erika. She launches it towards the ceiling.";
60 = "As it punches a hole through the roof, there is a deafening rumble from above. A crevasse appears in the mountain over you. A narrow deep crevasse, leading from the surface down to the vahnatai's enormous cavern.";
61 = "A single, pencil-thin shaft of light comes through the crevasse, and then through the hole in the roof, to strike Erika in the small of her back. The moment the light touches her, she bursts into flames! It happens far too quickly for you to react.";
62 = "She doesn't even have time to scream. In moments, there is nothing left of Erika but ashes.";
63 = "Legend had it that when Erika was banished to Avernum, she was cursed so that the slightest touch of sunlight would slay her. Those legends were clearly true.";
64 = "You finally stand at the keep's main control panel, but only after paying the bitterest of costs. It is now up to you to make sure Erika's sacrifice was not in vain...";
65 = "As Rentar-Ihrno looks on in horror, you press the final control. You hear clangs and groans below you, as tons of foul goo pour down rusty pipes. The fluid flows into the pit, passing through the four beams.";
66 = "The fiery beams lance through the muck, activating it, charging it, changing it. But it is too much energy, directed into highly volatile substances.";
67 = "Something goes wrong. The reaction isn't right. It's going out of control. Then, suddenly ...";
68 = "";
69 = "The crystal is dark.";
70 = "";
71 = "You strike Rentar-Ihrno with a series of powerful blows. At first, you are hopeful. After so many victories, surely one elderly vahnatai will not be a challenge.";
72 = "But then, as you watch in horror, her skin knits back together before your eyes. Her wounds heal faster than you can deliver them. Her mouth twists in the rough vahnatai approximation of a smirk.";
73 = "_You think I was never ready for this, Avernite? This is the seat of my power. Here, you can never slay me._";
74 = "";
75 = "One of your blows strikes Rentar-Ihrno. She sneers, an unusually human display of emotion. _You think this weak assault scares me?_";
76 = "She points at you. _Here is a warning. Submit now._ You feel horribly dizzy.";
77 = "";
78 = "Another attack hits Rentar-Ihrno. She is irritated. _My patience is gone, now. Die._";
79 = "She points at you. An icy feeling fills your chest.";
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