Games Gallery 98/Games Gallery 98 - Disc 2.iso/Content/HOMELAND/Home95a.exe/data1.cab/Program_Executable_Files/Books.dat

Text File | 1998-05-10 | 13.5 KB | 341 lines

NODE CHILD_PROPHET
From the writings of the Child Prophet, Dianna, comes the following:$LINE
$LINE
Where an army of icy fingers reach vainly for renewing sun, $LINE
in the gharish monument of a land once great, $LINE
the Stone from the Heavens shall be.$LINE
$LINE
Down the path sealed by and to magic,$LINE
the Stone of Madness shall be.$LINE
$LINE
Past a door marked by Hunger,$LINE
the Stone of Famine shall be.$LINE
$LINE
Guarded by armies of a land long dead,$LINE
the Stone of Night shall be.$LINE
$LINE
OPTIONS 1
BYE Close Book.

NODE STONE_OF_NIGHT
The Stone of Night$LINE
 -- Vol IV of Ghiraldes Book on the Mysterious Artifacts of Our Realm$LINE

This book appears to be broken down into several sections, each
concerning different aspects of the Stone of Night.  The book
begins with the Stone's origin, then follows its path from the
hands of King Feston to the Child Prophets, and ends by discussing
the properties of the Stone.
GOTO STONE_OF_NIGHT_OPTIONS

NODE STONE_OF_NIGHT_OPTIONS
OPTIONS 5
BYE Close Book.
STONE_OF_NIGHT_PROPERTIES Properties of the Stone of Night.
STONE_OF_NIGHT_CHILD The Child Prophets.
STONE_OF_NIGHT_FESTON King Feston.
STONE_OF_NIGHT_ORIGIN Origin of the Stone of Night.

NODE STONE_OF_NIGHT_ORIGIN
The Stone of Night first appeared on this world in the Kingdom
of Surcross, in the night of the Eve of Capture.  Its arrival was most
fortuitous for the Surcross, for it come from the sky ablaze with fire,
shrieking into the night, and crashed into the fields occupied by the
surrounding army of Klaxon soldiers, creating a hole in the earth large
enough for two horses to stand atop one another.  The Klaxon took this
as a sign and fled in the night, though the Surcross were near defeat.
In true kingly fashion, King Feston claimed this was the divine
intervention he requested, and had a new throne built around the
stone as a base.  $LINE
GOTO STONE_OF_NIGHT_OPTIONS

NODE STONE_OF_NIGHT_FESTON
Perhaps as punishment for King Feston's claim of divine intervention,
or perhaps as the price of victory, the king began to fade.  A wasting
sickness seemed to come upon him, both physical and mental.  Though he
had been an ineffectual leader at best, the crimes committed against
his own people in his declining years have caused the disuse of the
name Feston throughout the land.  Some blamed the strange darkness
of the Stone of Night for stealing Feston's health, but not wanting
to hand an unknown power over to others, Feston's son Festval had
the Stone locked away.  The Keep in StoneYard was its hiding place
for years, during which the land suffered first draught, then plague.
At this point Festval had the Stone turned over to the Wizards Keep,
hoping at least to hand the problem over to another.  Here its strange
properties were discovered, which will be discussed in another section.
Finally,
the stone was stolen by a group of Wizards calling themselves The
Child Prophets.  No use was known to be made of the Stone of Night,
and its history from this point on are unknown.  $LINE
GOTO STONE_OF_NIGHT_OPTIONS

NODE STONE_OF_NIGHT_CHILD
From the writings of the Prophet Dianna of the kidnappers of the Stone,
some information on the Stone's whereabouts can be discerned.
The stone seems to be in some ruins, guarded by three sets of doors
or traps.   It seems as though the ruins should be in a dead forest.
Though many forests were searched, it is now thought that this
passage is referring to a time in the future, when a now vibrant
city will become ruins.$LINE
GOTO STONE_OF_NIGHT_OPTIONS

NODE STONE_OF_NIGHT_PROPERTIES
These properties were gathered from the Wizards at
Wizard Keep in the time before the Wars began.
The Stone of Night gains its name from the simple
fact that its color is a black so deep as to seem a void.
Its surface does not reflect any light, but rather seems
to absorb it.  No one was able to break any fragments off
of it, nor did fire seem to heat it or cold freeze it.
When magic was used in its presence, the user of the magic
seemed to sense some vague feeling from the stone, but that
was all.
GOTO STONE_OF_NIGHT_OPTIONS

NODE PRESERVATION
On the Spell of Preservation$LINE
$LINE
The key to the spell of preservation is stability.  That is why
it  has never been successfully used... the spell CANNOT be used
on a specific item.  Preservation can only be used on a region.
Once we discovered this key, it was a simple matter to establish
this library in the underground ruins, and store the information
that would be necessary for the Lost Child to once again return.
The spell of Preservation has been cast upon the entire library,
by a whole decamar of mages.  Now we can rest in peace, knowing
that the Lost Child will have the knowledge he needs.
OPTIONS 1
BYE Close Book.

NODE DIARY_OF_MAGLIUS
Day of Enclosure - It seems only fitting to start a record of my new
life now that we have sealed ourselves off.  Not much else to do really,
but experiment and keep records.  Though we know we must preserve this
library for the Lost Child's return, I should hope we will not go mad
from the frightful dullness of it all.  As the chief medic, I shall
try to take notes on how well humans survive when trapped underground.
$LINE
$LINE

Day 7 - Everything is going well.  An interesting side effect of the
preservation spell has turned up.  Apparently, we no longer have need
for food nor drink (or perhaps just a greatly reduced need).  I wonder
if this also means we will not age.  It is too much to hope that I
could actually be alive when the Lost Child returns!
$LINE
$LINE

Day 14 - Already tempers are occasionally flaring.  Without having to
perform even the mundane function of eating, we do not even have routine
to keep us from going stir crazy.  Brocilius is doing his best to
keep order.  He is establishing a regimen of experimentation...
trying to keep everyone's mind occupied.
$LINE
$LINE

Day 30 - Trajedy!  It is unclear what went wrong, but Marglius, and
several of his co-workers were killed in an experiment gone awry!
We will bury Marglius and the others below, close to the Stone,
whose safety was their sole desire in life.
$LINE
$LINE

Day 33 - More craziness.  People are beginning to think they
are hearing noises in the crypt below.  Another strangeness... Braccus,
of us all, seems to be the only one not getting fidgety.  But then,
I have always thought Braccus a bit on the mad side to begin with.
That temper of his flares so quickly and frequently.
$LINE
$LINE

Day 35 - More deaths.  Sure that there was something going on in
the crypt, a group... nay, a mob, went down to investigate.  With
unclear minds, they set off their own wards, and the magic unleashed
killed them.  Those of us left did what we could to preseve the
crypt through less magical means, and buried the bodies as we could.
$LINE
$LINE

Day 40 - Now I know I am mad.  At night I can swear I hear noises
from the crypt below!
$LINE
$LINE

Day 45 - It turns out I wasn't mad... though I wish I were.  Though
I understand its necessity, it appears we are CURSED by this spell
of Preservation.  Those who have died still walk, their bodies somehow
still possessed of life, though thier minds are shattered and some
are stripped to the bone by the deadly spells they encountered.
We can only pity them, and keep them locked away from the rest
of us.  Still, Braccus seems the only one not jumping at his own
shadow.  He has a singular strength of will... or a madness all
of his own.
$LINE
$LINE

Day 60 - I fear I will not hold out much longer.  Hard to believe
that two moons ago I was hopeful that I might live to see the Lost
Child return.  Now I think only of dying - and long for it!  But
I fear that eternal rest will never be mine.
$LINE
$LINE

Day 61 - I have found Braccus' secret!  He [smudge] strength
[smudge] and [smudge] from the crypt!
OPTIONS 1
BYE Close Book.

NODE SONG_MY_EYES
Through My Eyes $LINE
(by the Poet Alderand) $LINE
 $LINE
You see in yourself $LINE
nothing of value $LINE
and you tell me why, $LINE
no one could love you; $LINE
 $LINE
Heartsick, and lost, $LINE
your life feels so empty, $LINE
Night all around, $LINE
So no one else can see; $LINE
 $LINE
But If you could see $LINE
yourself, through my eyes, $LINE
then you would know, $LINE
and you would love you too. $LINE
 $LINE
OPTIONS 1
BYE Close Book.

NODE SONG_WOL
Copy of Lyrics to "Wizards of Light" $LINE
This piece was believed to be written by one of the inhabitants of
the lost kingdom of Alderheim, who
wrote it as his city was dying.  It marks the end of this
great kingdom and its tragic tale.
$LINE
$LINE

The Sun has set, the Night's begun, $LINE
The Weak will fall and the Strong will run, $LINE
and the Shadows will hide inside themselves; $LINE
The Fires burn, hold off the night $LINE
A waning shelter of protective light, $LINE
Oh, the Dark are strong, they hunt to kill tonight. $LINE
 $LINE
Oh the Dark have come, returning once again. $LINE
But the Peoples King is dead $LINE
And their Wizards all have fled. $LINE
And each man knows, tonight his night has come. $LINE
But with sword in hand, $LINE
He fights for Man, $LINE
As all Hell attacks as one. $LINE
 $LINE
The stage is set, the curtains rise; $LINE
They fill your ears with their voiceless lies. $LINE
Their silent laughter, a mocking cry, $LINE
They'll steal your soul and devour your mind. $LINE
Oh, the light, the Truth, the certainty, Dark's Enemy; $LINE
And our foe, they know when to attack, they'll soon be back. $LINE
 $LINE
Wizards of Light, where are you now? $LINE
Wizards of Light, come show us how, $LINE
To hold of the darkness, to make it throught the Night. $LINE
God gave you the power to fight them, the power of Light! $LINE
 $LINE
 $LINE


Notes on lyrics:  This piece actually documents how the
wizards were chased off by the townspeople, who were frightened
of the wizards' power.  They then had no protection against
the Legions of Darkness and were killed.  The Children of
the Light (as they call themselves) would have everyone believe
that this song documents how the Wizards left, fleeing,
when the town needed them.  They would have their followers
believe this song a testiment to the cowardice of Wizards
rather than the cowardace of those who fear magic.
 -- Maglius
OPTIONS 1
BYE Close Book.

NODE SEWERDESCRIPTION
The sewers of Mandelin are justifiable considered to be one
of the miracles of modern science.  It is a well oiled machine
which will continue to be functional as well as beautiful
even if our fair city were to be wiped off the land (as though
THAT could happen).  This manual will walk you step by step
through the working of the sewers under the great city of
Mandelin!
GOTO SEWEROPTIONS

NODE SEWEROPTIONS
OPTIONS 4
BYE Close book.
SEWERPATH Path of lights.
SEWERMANUAL Manual override.
SEWERRIVER River flow.

NODE SEWERRIVER
Clearly, the sewers of Mandelin are built upon the currents
of the underwater springs of the WhiteWater river.  The current
flows from the northwest to the southeast.  The beauty of our
system is that there are two paths that the river can take,
the paths splitting around the main control center.
The system switches automatically between the two paths, and
whichever path is inactive gets automatically cleaned by the
automatic cleaning agents (magically induced agents of
science... a modern miracle in and of themselves).  In case
of emergency, there is a manual override in the north section
of the sewers which allows the controls in the control room
to be operated by hand.
GOTO SEWEROPTIONS

NODE SEWERMANUAL
The manual override is a provion set up in case of emergency,
and we are proud to say that it has never yet been used.  The
lever itself resides to the north and then the east of the
control room.  It is set up to require whosoever works the
override to wait by the control until the repairs are done,
and then flip the switch back to automatic control.  If the
switch is left in the manual override position for too long,
the automatic cleaning agents will not function properly,
and there is no telling what could occur.
GOTO SEWEROPTIONS

NODE SEWERPATH
The Path of Lights as we all well know is the path taken during
the funeral processions held for our great leaders.  Their
coffins are carried through the elegantly lit (yet mournful)
glow of the candles lining the bridge path in the southeast
of the sewers.  The processions proceeds downward past the
storerooms into the hidden crypts.  Here our great and noble
leaders will reside in peace until the end of time.
GOTO SEWEROPTIONS

NODE NODRAGONS
There's no such thing as Dragons...$LINE
by Mage Sousse$LINE
$LINE
You'll not find Dragons, if you care.$LINE
You will not find them in the air.$LINE
You will not find them in a lair.$LINE
You will not find them anywhere.$LINE
$LINE
They'll not be tromping on the ground.$LINE
They'll not be flying all around.$LINE
You will not hear them make a sound.$LINE
You will not, can not, hunt them down.$LINE
$LINE
Don't go searching far and wide.$LINE
They'll never take you for a ride.$LINE
They've found the perfect place to hide.$LINE
They all are lurking deep inside.$LINE
$LINE
But some day soon they shall be free.$LINE
Our skies will fill with wings, maybe.$LINE
Our hearts and souls and eyes will see,$LINE
That there IS such things as Dragons.$LINE
OPTIONS 1
BYE Close book.