// Text Library  - 19 - plot

begintextlibrary;

0 = "";
1 = "";
2 = "";
3 = "";
4 = "";
5 = "";
6 = "";
7 = "";
8 = "";
9 = "";
10 = "";
11 = "";
12 = "";
13 = "";
14 = "";
15 = "";
16 = "";
17 = "";
18 = "";
19 = "";
20 = "";
21 = "";
22 = "";
23 = "";
24 = "";
25 = "";
26 = "";
27 = "";
28 = "";
29 = "";
30 = "You are long remembered as a hero of Avernum. Eventually, when they find a smear of ash they think was you, it is buried with great honor.";
31 = "Perhaps there is a way to destroy the Empire portal that doesn't result in fiery apocalypse. There is only one way to find out ...";
32 = "";
33 = "";
34 = "";
35 = "";
36 = "";
37 = "";
38 = "";
39 = "";
40 = "Alas, your quest to save the surface and win freedom for Avernum has come to a gruesome end. Your bones eventually lie in an anonymous crypt, alongside all of the other victims of the war to come.";
41 = "Fortunately, there is still hope. There are still many scouts and spies in Avernum, yearning to infiltrate the surface and win a new homeland. Any one of them could be the new savior of the underworld. Perhaps your next attempt will end in success.";
42 = "There is only one way to find out ...";
43 = "";
44 = "";
45 = "";
46 = "";
47 = "";
48 = "";
49 = "";
50 = "The Empire now wishes nothing for Avernum but fiery destruction and cold vengeance. Alas, in your case, they have just gotten their wish. As you pass from this world, as promised by the shade in northern Avernum, you gain total consciousness.";
51 = "You see the many soldiers remaining in Avernum, yearning to fight off the invaders and protect their homeland. Any one of them could be the new savior of the underworld. Your enlightened spirit drifts toward a band of them.";
52 = "Perhaps you can guide them as they defeat the threats facing Avernum. There is only one way to find out ...";
53 = "";
54 = "";
55 = "";
56 = "";
57 = "";
58 = "";
59 = "";
60 = "";
61 = "Avernum is the underworld. It is a series of hundreds of miles of caves, far below the surface of the world. The land is kept alive and fruitful by powerful magic and the heat and energy of natural steam vents and hot springs.";
62 = "Avernum is also a nation. It is a land of people exiled from the surface world. The surface is ruled by the Empire, an all-powerful nation who disposed of unwanted people by banishing them to Avernum.";
63 = "";
64 = "";
65 = "";
66 = "";
67 = "They formed a new nation, far from the eyes of the Empire. Some, however, were not satisfied with safety and peace. They wished vengeance. They sent a band of assassins to slay Hawthorne, cruel Emperor of the Empire.";
68 = "The Empire was stunned. They realized that there was a den of vipers threatening their sole control of the globe. They had no other possible response.";
69 = "They invaded.";
70 = "";
71 = "";
72 = "";
73 = "The power of the Empire completely dwarfed that of the Avernites, but it had great difficulty teleporting troops to the underworld. The Empire arrogantly thought that Avernum could be subdued with a few hundred elite troops.";
74 = "Avernum also had the advantage of familiarity. They were used to living and fighting in caves. The Empire wasn't. The Empire's soldiers were fought to a bloody standstill.";
75 = "";
76 = "";
77 = "";
78 = "";
79 = "The Empire sent more troops down, but the Avernites kept them at bay. The Empire grew frustrated and angry, and then it turned to terror and atrocity. And, slowly, it ground away at Avernum's defenses.";
80 = "Little by little, cave by cave, the invaders won victories against Avernum. Then, when things looked like they couldn't get any worse, a new disaster occurred.";
81 = "";
82 = "";
83 = "";
84 = "";
85 = "Magical barriers appeared all over Avernum, splitting it into small sections and blocking all roads. ";
86 = "Nobody knew who made these barriers. Maybe the Empire. Maybe not. Just as the barriers appeared, you arrived at your first posting. You have just joined the army of Avernum, eager to join the good fight.";
87 = "Your dreams of heroism were short-lived. You were sent to Fort Ganrick, a tiny, unfinished outpost in the far northeast corner of Avernum.";
88 = "";
89 = "";
90 = "";
91 = "You dream of great victories, of deeds that turn the tide and save your homeland. Instead, you reported to Captain Vidican and were put to work digging out storerooms. Fort Ganrick isn't ready for warfare. Yet.";
92 = "Each morning, you wake up in a damp cave, looking forward to a long day of shovels and picks. It's hard to imagine anything that could happen which would enable you to strike a mighty blow against the Empire ...";
93 = "";
94 = "";
95 = "";
96 = "";
97 = "At last, you have recovered all three of the stolen Crystal Souls. You can easily read the gratitude on the faces of the vahnatai Council. Elohi-Bok stands and walks around the table to you.";
98 = "_Kneel, humans,_ she says. _You have done a deed for us, and now you will receive our boon._ You kneel, and she approaches you.";
99 = "_We see that not all of the invaders of our caves are evil and treacherous. The Empire stole our ancestors. You restored them. We are an honorable people, and we reward those who help us._";
100 = "";
101 = "";
102 = "";
103 = "_From now on, the vahnatai are the friends of Avernum. We will assist you in your war with the Empire, no matter what risk this brings to us. Our honor commands that we do not rest until the Empire paid for what it has done._";
104 = "You rise. _Thank you again. Please, return to your battle against the Empire. Any blow you strike against them increases your status in our eyes. You are always welcome in the lands of the vahnatai._";
105 = "Congratulations! You have completed the first of the three game-winning missions in Avernum 2: return the three stolen Crystal Souls and earn the help of the vahnatai.";
106 = "";
107 = "";
108 = "";
109 = "The massive magical portal reaches full power. The crystals surrounding the pillars fill with energy. They then pour their power into the pillars. Unfortunately, the pillars are cracked.";
110 = "The power flies out of control. Fire and lightning fly out in all directions, smashing into the fortress. The fire hits the nearby water, and a huge cloud of steam is added to the tumult.";
111 = "Anyone in the fortress when the portal exploded will be dead for sure. You, however, watched the chaos from a hilltop a safe distance away. As you watch, the Empire's sure hope of crushing Avernum quickly tears itself apart.";
112 = "";
113 = "";
114 = "";
115 = "Now the Empire will have to send troops into the underworld the same way they have before: one at a time, with a great expenditure of resources and magical energy.";
116 = "Thanks to you, Avernum still has hope of surviving this war.";
117 = "Congratulations! You have completed the second of the three game-winning missions in Avernum 2: Destroy the massive Empire teleporter.";
118 = "";
119 = "";
120 = "";
121 = "X";
122 = "X";
123 = "";
124 = "";
125 = "";
126 = "";
127 = "X";
128 = "X";
129 = "X";
130 = "";
131 = "";
132 = "";
133 = "The Empire's greatest resource in this war was Garzahd. He masterminded the strategies which brought the Empire success after success. His magical powers turned several battles. Every one of the Empire's good plans originated with him.";
134 = "But now, with one final blow, all of that ends. You strike through the powerful protective magics Garzahd placed around himself and wound him grievously. The pain causes him to lose control of the power, and there can only be one result of that.";
135 = "";
136 = "";
137 = "";
138 = "";
139 = "Instead of using the magical energy within him, the energy uses him. The power consumes his skin, then his muscles, then his bones, using him for fuel until nothing is left but some dust and some black bits of material.";
140 = "The Empire will need to find a new leader for the forces in Avernum now. One thing is for sure, though. They will never be able to find the equal of the brilliant, awesomely powerful, extremely dead Garzahd.";
141 = "Congratulations! You have completed the third of the three game-winning missions in Avernum 2: slay Garzahd, leader of Empire forces in Avernum.";
142 = "";
143 = "";
144 = "";
145 = "";
146 = "";
147 = "";
148 = "";
149 = "";
150 = "";
151 = "";
152 = "";
153 = "";
154 = "";
155 = "";
156 = "";
157 = "You pause for a moment, looking back at all that you have achieved.";
158 = "";
159 = "";
160 = "";
161 = "";
162 = "";
163 = "You returned the Crystal Souls to the vahnatai. Now Avernum has a powerful, magical ally in this war.";
164 = "";
165 = "";
166 = "";
167 = "";
168 = "";
169 = "You destroyed the Empire portal. The guaranteed doom of Avernum has been averted.";
170 = "";
171 = "";
172 = "";
173 = "";
174 = "";
175 = "You slew Garzahd. His genius and power will no longer aid the cause of the Empire against you.";
176 = "";
177 = "";
178 = "";
179 = "";
180 = "";
181 = "You have done much, and yet much, much more remains. The war still rages. The power of the Empire is almost limitless, and their troops will continue to invade.";
182 = "There is no end to the fighting in sight. The slightest misstep may result in immediate destruction of Avernum. The alliance with the vahnatai is new and untested. And others will no doubt rise up to try to replace Garzahd.";
183 = "Yet, there is hope. When you began, the war was lost. Now, with courage and dedication, it may be won. There is one place in this world free of the Empire's tyranny. And, thanks to you, it may stay that way.";
184 = "";
185 = "";
186 = "";
187 = "Avernum is a terrible place, cold, damp, dark, and dangerous. Yet, it is all you have. And, for now, it is free.";
188 = "For the moment, that is enough. And tomorrow, with renewed purpose, the fight begins anew.";
189 = "";
190 = "";
191 = "";
192 = "";
193 = "Thus, the first saga of Avernum comes to a triumphant end.";
194 = "Thank you so much for your support, as this game's journey has been a very long one (1997-2018). Hope you had fun!";
195 = "    - Jeff Vogel, January, 2018.";
196 = "";
197 = "";
198 = "";
199 = "";
200 = "";
201 = "_Don't put me in your pack. It's stuffy in there. And it smells funny._";
202 = "_Polish me! I'm dusty!_";
203 = "_Check out my teeth! They're shiny!_";
204 = "_Legolas! Boromir! Come quick! I ... Oh, wait. Never mind._";
205 = "_Sometimes there's someone neat in the inn in Delan._";
206 = "_You know what the best thing about being a skull is? I don't either._";
207 = "_Espresso hasn't been invented yet. That stinks._";
208 = "_If I were you, I would make a army of horrible, mutant creatures. Or is that another game?_";
209 = "_I have problems opening myself up to the unconditional love of others._";
210 = "_Does this bone structure make me look fat?_";
211 = "_I hear that you can get a powerful spell in ... in ... Oh. I forgot._";
212 = "_You should buy some nice skull wax. I'm starting to look dull._";
213 = "_Maybe something horrible will happen tomorrow._";
214 = "_Carry me more carefully. I'm chafing!_";
215 = "_I hear Gale has a real nice library._";
216 = "_Have you talked to Foxfire? She wanders in the little towns in Midori Province._";
217 = "_I hear someone named Masok knows something real neat. He's somewhere around Sharimik. I heard someone in Sharimik talk about him._";
218 = "_There's a nice girl named Judith on the Isle of Bigail. I like her. A sick boy knows something interesting about her._";
219 = "_I had a gold filling once, but someone stole it. Jerk._";
220 = "_Walk more carefully. All of the bouncing is giving me a headache. Well, boneache._";
221 = "_Let me go and I'll give you three wishes. Just kidding!_";
222 = "_Aaaaah!!! Aaaaahhh!!!! There's a spider inside me! Get it out! Get it out! It tickles!_";
223 = "_Check me out! I'm a talking skull!_";
224 = "_Bet you've never met a talking skull before. I'm high in calcium!_";
225 = "_Sometimes you have to kill to be kind._";
226 = "_Mmmmm. I sure could use a deli sandwich. Mmmmm._";
227 = "_I cried because I had no hat. Until I met a man who had no head._";
228 = "_I yearn for a gentle caress of a nice female skull._";
229 = "_I could use a hat. A nice hat. With feathers or something. Why don't you buy me a hat? If you were the skull and I was the dopey sword guy walking all over the place, I'd buy you a hat._";
230 = "_You ever long for the sweet embrace of death, held back from you for so, so terribly long? I ask only to make conversation._";
231 = "_You think I'm bad? You should meet the Xian Butt._";
232 = "_An innkeeper in Lorelei can tell you something really interesting._";
233 = "_If you eat twenty sprigs of skribbane, something really interesting happens!_";
234 = "_If you want to defeat Redbeard, you need to start planning for it early. You ... Oops. Sorry. Wrong game._";
235 = "_Be nice to me, or I'll start screaming when you're in dungeons. Never make a skull angry!_";
236 = "_I don't want to be in a dragon's hoard. Boring!!!_";
237 = "";
238 = "";
239 = "";
240 = "";
241 = "";
242 = "";
243 = "";
244 = "";
245 = "";
246 = "";
247 = "";
248 = "";
249 = "";
250 = "A small boat cruises over one of the dark lakes of Avernum. Several black tentacles reach out of the water, grab the boat, and pull it down.";
251 = "You are in the middle of a city of Avernum. You don't recognize which one. A tall, dark shade stands in the street. Townsfolk run from it, screaming. It grabs a guard. She freezes solid in moments.";
252 = "You see yourself, walking down a narrow valley on the surface. The ground underfoot is dry and dead. You look older and worn down.";
253 = "You see an old woman on the surface, wearing a golden crown. From where you are standing, only you can see the assassin stalking up behind her.";
254 = "A band of ragged Avernite refugees, stumbling down a road in the underworld. None of them have eaten in days.";
255 = "A massive horde of slithzerikai warriors running down in the underworld. They are snarling, and their hides are adorned with tribal tattoos. You can see fleeing Avernite warriors in the distance. They aren't going to get away.";
256 = "A river in Avernum. The water is fast and dotted with rapids. Ten rafts float down, one after another. Each is packed with prospectors. There are a few warriors, but most of them sit on backs of picks, shovels, and supplies.";
257 = "";
258 = "";
259 = "";
260 = "";
261 = "";
262 = "";
263 = "";
264 = "";
265 = "";
266 = "";
267 = "";
268 = "";
269 = "";
270 = "";
271 = "";
272 = "";
273 = "";
274 = "";
275 = "";
276 = "";
277 = "";
278 = "";
279 = "";
280 = "";
281 = "";
282 = "";
283 = "";
284 = "";
285 = "";
286 = "";
287 = "";
288 = "";
289 = "";
290 = "";
291 = "";
292 = "";
293 = "";
294 = "";
295 = "";
296 = "";
297 = "";
298 = "";
299 = "";
300 = "";
301 = "MAGIC FOR DUMMIES - Many people these days are getting into all sorts of spell-casting. No longer is the powerful and lucrative field of magic restricted to only the talented and wise. Now you, yes, even you, can learn spells!";
302 = "This book will teach you how to cast a variety of cantrips, which will easily perform tasks such as cleaning a floor of dust, cooking a rump roast in moments, or even spaying a cat!";
303 = "SURFACE FLORA AND FAUNA, by Eva of the Tower of Magi - Many are the wonders of nature available on the surface of the world. Our long exile has made us forget the beauty that is our birthright, but little by little, we begin to remember.";
304 = "Although the Empire did its best to cleanse the surface of anything wild or dangerous, and were, as far as we know, successful, many bizarre and fascinating creatures, such as 'birds' and 'clams' and 'bushes' still exist and thrive.";
305 = "THE TEARING OF THE BODICE, By E. Shromptf, Esquire - Esmerelda ran through the bushes, barely ahead of her ravening pursuers, her chest heaving mightily to escape the pathetic remaining shreds of her leather armor.";
306 = "The bizarre, tentacled squirreloid creature pursued close behind, panting and tingling. _Soon, wild maiden!_ he cried. _Soon, you will be MINE!_ |(It continues in this vein for a long, long time.)";
307 = "WEAPONRY OF THE REALM - Many are the tools of destruction that have been developed for use in melee. These can generally be divided into two groups: pole weapons, and, more commonly, edged weapons.";
308 = "Pole weapons, such as spears and halberds, do the most damage, but generally require two hands to use. Edged weapons, like swords, are more common and can be wielded one-handed, but do less damage.";
309 = "THE FURY OF THE NEPHILIM - Hrrmrrr drew his sword and strode forth from the crude, disgusting mud hut in which the foul feline creature lived with his disgusting brethren. _Now I go forth!_ he cried.";
310 = "_Now I go, and slay humans, and butcher their children, and interfere with their farm animals foully. For that is my purpose on this Earth. And the Empire shall never get all of us, no matter what they do!_";
311 = "SECRETS OF TRAINING - Many adventurers evolve their skills through years of hard work. The more cunning warriors also improve their skills using money. Some trainers can, in return for coin, improve certain skills.";
312 = "When you purchase a spell in a town, you can spend more money to make the spell more effective. Alas, to improve the spell a third time, unlocking its fullest potential, you need to find secrets in the hidden places of Valorim.";
313 = "ROACHES AND YOU by Ezzrik of Gale - Even though the Empire has had much success freeing us from the larger pests roaming our fair world, the lowly cockroach has been an opponent able to stand up to our mighty leader's best efforts.";
314 = "In this book I discuss the strategies and results of our leader's roach elimination plan: Project Mojo. In addition, I give tips to keep these nasty little creatures from setting up shop in your own hovel. First, you will need a torch and some oil ...";
315 = "THE FAITH OF THE ANAMA, by Ahonar - Magic. It is the life blood of our society. We defend with it, build with it, work with it, rely on it, use it to develop and enrich every aspect of our lives. Or do we?";
316 = "Magic does some good, but also does much evil. The common nature of magic puts power into the hands of all: the cruel, the deranged, the Avernites. In this book, I explain our faith, which seeks inner peace through the control of this wild power...";
317 = "THE LANDS OF THE EMPIRE - The Empire, blessed power over us all, controls the four known continents. Aizo, the oldest, is the birthplace of the Empire, although the ruling seat is now on the continent of Pralgad.";
318 = "Vantanas is the smallest continent, but in many ways the richest, with its hot climate, fascinating fauna, and rich stores of gold and diamonds. And finally, there is the recently settled Valorim, which has a wild (though controlled) spirit.";
319 = "The Life of Empress Prazac, by Flotno Boerheis - Our blessed Empress and ruler, Prazac the Kind and Just, was born in Y.E. 5420. Her royal parents, Hawthorne and [censored], waited nearby, anxious and loving.";
320 = "It is said that angels appeared and the sky opened up in holy light on the eve of her birth. Eyewitness accounts prove this story true in legally enforceable ways. This was a great harbinger of the wondrous works she was later to achieve...";
321 = "NIGHT OF THE BLOOD FANG, by Q. King, Esq. - Chad Hardslab, who had recently and through many years of brave fighting and hardship, been declared a Dervish of the mighty Empire army, looked out over the veldt.";
322 = "_Tonight,_ he boomed, _tonight, in a bloody, detailed way, those foul Nephilim scum will pay for killing my mother, father, brother, grandmother, other brother, first love, sister, second love, and teacher! He drew his swords and strode forth._";
323 = "CREATURES OF LEGEND - The merciful and powerful Empire has ridded the Earth of many sorts of evil, verminous creatures. The foul Dragons, the Troglodytes, and soon the Nephilim are all examples of dark forces the Empire has completely wiped out.";
324 = "This book exists to describe these creatures and their sinister deeds, so that we may never forget the Empire's benevolence. We start with the Troglodytes, sinister humanoids who once actually roamed our lands ...";
325 = "This is a research journal, containing esoteric notes regarding a variety of magical topics. It doesn't contain any spells or other information useful to you, but books like this can be valuable to certain alchemists or wizards.";
326 = "";
327 = "This book contains instructions and notes for the operation of the teleporter in the Portal Fortress. The notes are complex enough to thoroughly boggle your mind. You gain nothing from reading them.";
328 = "";
329 = "Rapid Stone Deconstruction Techniques - Tearing apart stone walls or removing large stone outcroppings can be extremely difficult. Fortunately, some techniques exist to make this trying task easier.";
330 = "For example, there is a powerful priestly ritual which can, depending on the strength of the caster destroy all sorts of crumbling stone. Sadly, priests are frequently unwilling to lend their powers to construction projects.";
331 = "FIFTEEN WAYS TO KILL EASILY AND SILENTLY - Everyone has thought, at some time in their lives, _That person over there needs killing!_ Well, don't just back away! This book can show you how to make those dreams come horribly true.";
332 = "(The book lives up to its title, although most of the murderous techniques inside are already familiar to a battle-hardened adventurer like yourself.)";
333 = "General Accounting Book- This book contains the credits and debits of a small business. Quite boring stuff really.";
334 = "";
335 = "17";
336 = "";
337 = "SECRETS OF WAINSCOTTING - At first, Wainscotting seems to be a simple, lazy town, out in the middle of nowhere, uninteresting in every way.";
338 = "And yet, if people knew what was buried out behind the inn, well, people would think differently. Wouldn't they?";
339 = "All of the pages in this book are blank.";
340 = "";
341 = "This book provides a daily record of the administrative details of this town. Needless to say, the details are exceedingly boring.";
342 = "";
343 = "This book contains instructions and notes for the operation of the teleporter in the cult headquarters. The notes would be complex enough to thoroughly boggle your mind, even if they weren't written by people who were completely insane.";
344 = "";
345 = "This is a book of training in the martial arts. It describes a variety of fascinating and elaborate moves, all of which could be performed by a very skilled and strong person with years of careful training.";
346 = "Actually, upon further inspection, you start to suspect that the moves depicted are not, in fact, possible. The poses are certainly not attainable by you.";
347 = "KNOTS FOR THE INEPT SAILOR - This book contains dozens of illustrations of knots and how to tie knots. Not exactly useful for non-sailors.";
348 = "";
349 = "CRYSTAL WORKING - This heavy and complex tome describes cleavage, terrain features, schist, and other geological details. You look at it for as long as you can stand.";
350 = "You notice that the book contains some vahnatai techniques. The Empire picked up a few things during the war with Avernum.";
351 = "DAWN OF THE SLITHZERIKAI - Little is known of these demon creatures of the underworld. They were first discovered by the criminal vermin sent down to Avernum, where they were beaten into submission. For now.";
352 = "What is know is that they are vicious and cannibalistic, barely capable of language or reason. All in the Empire should do anything they can to watch for these demon beasts and make sure none of them ever set foot on our beautiful surface.";
353 = "This is one of Zkal's journals. It is filled with notes, ponderings, and rantings from his many centuries of undead existence.";
354 = "Alas, they are all written in the language he knew when alive. And the last person (apart from Zkal) who spoke that tongue died about a thousand years ago. On the bright side, the pages of the book would be useful for starting fires.";