C:\GAMES\IMPRO\SOH> soh (N)ew game, or (C)ontinue? C Creation's Crater This used to be the Cavern of Creation--until the top blew off as you were calling Creation back into existence. Now it is an enormous crater, open to the sky, but with high walls on every side. Rubble lies at the base of the walls, but the main mass of rock seems to have been blown away in every direction. The rough walls of this crater are covered with primitive-looking carvings. Exits are to the west and east. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = SPIRITS OF HOPE An Improtext Adventure Lead Programmer: Brian Stricklin Module Programmer: Lirazel Version 2.00 -- Restoration, Part 2 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Aoi is here. Suzume is here. The Resistance is here. Creation is here. >INVENTORY a silver pendant (new and shiny) servant's clothing, dry (worn) pocky (surprisingly dry) a brown leather purse, dry (jingles a little when shaken) a tattered map, damp a potion recipe, damp a tension bar a metal cup a black-painted keyring and key Rojanosh's Hope (used) a piece of chalk, dry Suzume's Hope Teddy the Brick's Hope (faint) Yuki's Hope Meryl's Hope The Hope of the Resistance A lamp (unlit) >DIAGNOSE You are just a bit hungry You are just a bit thirsty You are not tired Aoi is with you. >LOOK TIME BUBBLE You look around the crater, and see that all the walls and the rubble at their basis is shiny-looking, almost as though they had been greased. You look down at your feet, which you suddenly notice are floating about three centimeters above the shining cavern floor. Only your companions look normal. Well, as normal as they ever look. **MORE** Within the shining stuff that forms the time bubble you can see great swirls and whorls, like ripples in a lake overlapping each other; or, like the colored swirls one can see in a soap-bubble. And, like a soap-bubble, these seem to be slowing down. If a time bubble is anything like a material bubble, when these ripples stop changing the bubble will burst. >SPEAK OTHERS What do you want to say? >EVERYONE, GET READY TO LEAVE. The others begin to scramble their belongings together. Meryl comes up to you with a small basket. In it are round, pastry-like objects, something like turnovers, only the flour they appear to be made from is an alarming shade of turquoise. "Here, Keigo-sama. I'm sorry these are cold." Take a turnover? Y/N >Y You reach out and take one of the turnovers. Meryl smiles at you, and moves off to offer them to other people. You break open the pastry shell. Even cold, these things give off a savory odor, rather like a mild taco. They appear to be primarily a dull orange particle of some sort, with chunks of what you recognize as tomato-- they're bright blue. Aoi mews from your shoulder. >FEED AOI You offer a piece of the turnover, or meat pie, or whatever-it-is, to Aoi. She licks at it eagerly, and her purring rumbles in your ear. You look at the other piece of turnover. True, you don't feel hungry, but it would be nice to know that you could eat this food. Try to eat turnover? Y/N >SAVE GAME Getting distrustful, are we? Game saved. Try to eat turnover? Y/N >N You sure? It smells very good... Try to eat turnover? Y/N >N One of the kids wanders in your direction, and you give him the bit of turnover you've been contemplating. He gives you an odd look-- half worshipful respect, and half curiosity--and wolfs it down. You have gained 10 points! Yuki comes running over. "Keigo-sama! Keigo-sama! My lady says, don't eat anything!" She looks at you worriedly. >YUKI, I HAVE NOT EATEN. "Oh, good. Our food is not suitable for such as you. It would make you very ill." She has some water in a small dish, which she puts down on the ground. Lifting Aoi from your shoulder, Yuki places her near the water. Aoi sniffs at it suspiciously and then begins to drink. You are no longer hungry or thirsty. >SPEAK SUZUME [First going over to her.] What do you want to say? >SUZUME, ARE WE STRONG ENOUGH? Suzume is collecting a few belongings. She straightens up to answer you. "I think we are, Keigo-chan. At least, we here are not going to get any stronger. We may need more people." >WE SHOULD FIND TEDDY THE BRICK Suzume nods. "As long as it does not take too long. We need to get back to Waypoint as soon as possible." She beckons to the others, and says, as they gather around you, "Have you got a plan, Keigo- chan?" The Resistance has gathered round you. Toshi is standing near you. Suzume is standing near you. Aoi is at your feet. >TAKE AOI You reach down and gather up Aoi, who snuggles into your shirt. The Resistance look at you expectantly. >WHAT DO YOU THINK, TOSHI? "You've been doing a good job leading us so far, Keigo-san, and I only just got back here. I don't really know the situation well. I think you should keep on leading us." The members of the Resistance murmur approval, and look at you expectantly. >WAIT FOR BUBBLE TO BREAK Some nod impatiently, some just look confused. Toshi says, "That will be any moment now." The Resistance look at you expectantly. >SEE IF PATHWAYS ARE DAMAGED Suzume nods, "Yes, that may control our choices somewhat." >IF POSSIBLE, FIND TEDDY Most members of the Resistance look happy. "Yeah, we need Teddy!" "No telling what may have happened to him," and "We need to stick together," are some of their comments. Some look a bit doubtful. Your charisma is at 85%. You have gained 5 points! >HELP CHARISMA Charisma: Whenever you are leading a group, you will occasionally be asked to make a decision. Your Charisma goes up and down depending on how fast you make a decision, and how many members of the group accept it. Each Charisma check over 50% scores 5 points. Each Charisma check over 90% scores 10 points. Toshi shouts, "Brace yourselves! Here goes the Time Bubble!" Everyone staggers as the surface under your feet drops three centimeters. Small rocks shift to the ground. You suddenly notice the daylight again. Sure enough, it seems to be the same time of day as it was when the bubble was created. Suzume says, "We need to move fast. Despise will notice the explosion and the Time Bubble." >E You move east, to the wall where the entrance to the tunnel still gapes. Aoi is with you. The Resistance, Suzume, and Toshi follow you. >CHECK LAMP The lamp is out. It is half-full of oil. >ROJANOSH, FILL AND LIGHT THE LAMP. Rojanosh fills the lamp, lights it, and hands it back to you. >E Pit Cave You step carefully into the tunnel entrance, remembering the bottomless pit on the southern side of this chamber. Its inky maw seems hungry, waiting to swallow you up. A narrow ledge along the northern wall allows access to exits on the remaining two sides. The chamber seems unaffected by the eruption of the cavern next door. You hear a noise from outside! >LISTEN "Shhhhh!" says someone, and you all listen. Over the sounds of your repressed breathing, you hear what sounds like someone shouting. But is it one someone, or a group? Friend or foe? Forward, or back? >TOSHI, COME WITH ME. "Sure thing, Keigo-san." >W Slowly, you step out of the tunnel entrance, with Toshi beside you. You squat down behind a boulder, motioning Toshi lower with your hand. >LISTEN You can hear a deep, male voice, sobbing, and muttering between sobs, "I'm comin', Boss." "Gods, why did I let 'em go wit'out me?" "Dey can't be dead, dey CAN'T" be!" "Dey has t' be here, somewhere!" Someone seems to be searching through the rubble on the opposite cliff face. It's Teddy! Poor fellow, he doesn't know you're all right. >STAND You stand up. >TEDDY, OVER HERE Teddy comes bounding towards you (well, as well as a very large being can bound over broken terrain) as the Resistance comes surging out of the tunnel behind you. Teddy the Brick stands before you, wiping his face with a large kerchief. The dirt and streaks on his face, the scratches on his massive arms, and his bleeding fingers all show how hard and how hopelessly he has struggled to reach you. He gives one last, great sob, in spite of himself, and then breaks into a wobbly grin. "Boy, me's glad to see yez! Alls of yez! The Resistance gives a cheer! >Your Charisma is at 97%. You have gained 10 points! >TEDDY, HOW DID YOU FIND US? "Well boss, when things started in t'shake, I hadda kinda squeeze inta dat liddle hole, on account of de flyin' rocks 'n' trees 'n' all like dat. N'den I figured dat where all de rocks came from mus' be where you was. So I come." Suzume looks worried. "We need to get back to Waypoint as soon as possible." Teddy grins at her. "I wouldn' think much 'bout Despise' people coming down dat tunnel, Suzume-hime. Dere was a big cave-in back where dere monster useta live." Well, that's one less thing to worry about. Now you just need to get away from here, and back to Waypoint. >EVERYONE, COME WITH ME Someone passes Teddy a flask of water, and everyone indicates that they are ready to go. >E Pit Cave You step carefully into the tunnel entrance, remembering the bottomless pit on the southern side of this chamber. Its inky maw seems hungry, waiting to swallow you up. A narrow ledge along the northern wall allows access to exits on the remaining two sides. The chamber seems unaffected by the eruption of the cavern next door. >E You carefully creep along the ledge... Aoi is with you. The Resistance, Suzume, and Toshi follow you. >E You enter a rough tunnel. Here, you can see some effects of the recent eruption. Rock has fallen from the walls and ceiling, and the passage is nearly blocked in places. It's going to slow you down. Suzume looks worried. "Maybe we should try another way." >KEEP GOING Toshi nods. "We need to go at least a bit further to see what's happened here." All the Resistance seem to agree. Your charisma is at 92%. You have gained 10 points! >E You lead the group through the rough tunnel for some time. At first, progress is painfully slow, but then the number of large boulders grows less, and the group evolves a method for moving small ones. The young priest and the guard from the pagoda move the biggest rocks, the school-boys team up to move the mid-size ones, and everyone pushes the small ones out of the way with their feet. You move faster than you expected. >E Pond Chamber This small cave used to contain a small pond of water fed by a waterfall on the northern wall. The waterfall is still there: the sound of the falling water fills the room, and the air is damp and moist. There are exits on the three other sides of the cavern. **MORE** Now, however, the floor of the chamber has collapsed into the underground river that flows beneath it. The pool is gone, replaced by a heap of stones that stretch from one end of the room to the other. On the south side, a huge gap has opened in the chamber wall, and you can see the rubble-filled bed of the river beyond. On the plus side, it would seem that the river is a lot easier to move along. On the minus side, It's going to be a lot harder to get across this room. >E You clamber down from the western entrance and stop to assist the others. The worst spots are right at the entrance, and again where the stream rushing between the stones has wetted them, right in the middle, and again where a person has to push themselves up, or be hoisted, into the eastern tunnel. But again, the group spirit of the Resistance comes to the fore. By the time you have all made it across, there is a rude, unsteady bridge running from west to east. You have crossed what used to be the Pond Chamber. Aoi is with you. The Resistance, Suzume, and Toshi follow you. >E Rough Tunnel This rough, natural looking tunnel heads in an east-west direction. **MORE** The east end of the tunnel is blocked by fallen debris. Large boulders and small are mixed with clods of earth and even the stumps of trees. The mass, having fallen so recently--less than an hour ago in normal time--is still quite unstable; the sound of your voices and the vibration of your steps sends stones and tiny landslides skittering down from the ceiling. >TAKE TREE-TRUNK You aren't strong enough to do that. >TEDDY, PLEASE TAKE TREE-TRUNK Teddy shrugs, nods, spits on his hands, and pulls a sizable chunk of wood out of the pile before you. More earth falls from the roof, getting itself all over everyone. >W [Followed by Suzume, Toshi, and the Resistance.] Pond Chamber This small cave used to contain a small pond of water fed by a waterfall on the northern wall. The waterfall is still there: the sound of the falling water fills the room, and the air is damp and moist. There are exits on the three other sides of the cavern. **MORE** Now, however, the floor of the chamber has collapsed into the underground river that flows beneath it. The pool is gone, replaced by a heap of stones that stretch from one end of the room to the other. On the south side, a huge gap has opened in the chamber wall, and you can see the rubble-filled bed of the river beyond. On the plus side, it would seem that the river is a lot easier to move along. On the minus side, it's going to be a lot harder to get across this room. >S Teddy is still carrying the tree-trunk. "You still want dis, Boss?" >YES, PLEASE, TEDDY "A'righty!" Underground River You enter a cavern. This used to be a narrow, underground water- way, but now the ceiling of the old tunnel has collapsed, leaving a much higher, cave-like tunnel with a rock-strewn floor. Water flows and splashes among the rocks. Things are still settling; the rocks move occasionally, and the water forms pools and finds new draining- places. The area of dampness is getting wider. You and your associates pick your way across the rocks. It's really very rough going, and the rocks are piled higher as you move south. Finally, you come to a great heap of stones, nearly halfway to the roof. The way isn't blocked, precisely, but getting over this is going to be very hard indeed. You can hear the water moving between and under the stones. Forward or back? >SAVE GAME Game saved. >B Groans are heard on every side. "This is ridiculous!" "I don't think I *can* make it back." "What are we going to accomplish by backing up?" Etc. Your Charisma is 70%. You have gained 5 points! Wearily, you and your associates pick your way back across the rocks. Just as you reach the point where the cavern wall used to be, you hear noises coming from the West! >S You all try to move as fast as you can back to the shelter of the southern rocks, but you are too late. A troop of soldiers in Despise' livery bursts in from the western entrance. A group of archers begin firing! One of the school-boys falls before you, an arrow through his neck. Meryl cries out, and you turn to find her staring at an arrow that has slammed into her midsection and is protruding out the other side. She crumples to the ground, but before you can reach her to try and help, a sharp, incredibly intense pain pierces you, right below the shoulder-blades... and then everything goes black. ***You have died.*** Quit, restore, or undo? >RESTORE Underground River You and your associates pick your way across the rocks. It's really very rough going, and the rocks are piled higher as you move south. Finally, you come to a great heap of stones, nearly halfway to the roof. The way isn't blocked, precisely, but getting over this is going to be very hard indeed. You can hear the water moving between and under the stones. Forward or back? >SAVE GAME Game saved. >F Groans are heard on every side. "I don't think I *can* make it up that heap!" "Are we sure this is the only way?" "What makes us think anything will be better on the other side?" Etc. Your Charisma is 70%. You have gained 5 points! Wearily, you and your associates pick your way up the heap of loose rocks. They shift beneath you, making the going really treacherous. >S Just as you and Suzume and Teddy reach the top of the pile, you hear a shout behind you! The others are spread out from where you are halfway down the pile. You can't see much (you still have only the one lamp), but you can hear running feet, then the sound of someone falling and swearing, and being answered by more swearing. It must be Despise' troops! >LOOK BEHIND You can't see much (you still have only the one lamp), but you can hear feet stumbling and people cursing among the rocks. >LOOK AHEAD Holding the lamp high, and peering to the south, you can make out the waters of the Underground River, flowing southward from this point. The sounds of pursuit are getting closer. >SUZUME, USE TREE FOR BOAT Suzume nods. "We'd better not let it drift away, then." She signals to Teddy, who has struggled to the top, and the two of them half-slide down the heap of stones to the water. The members of the Resistance follow them as fast as they can, but there are still quite a few exposed to whatever is coming. Toshi clambers up beside you. The sounds of pursuit are getting closer. You think you can see the gleam of armor. >THROW STONE You're really not the stone-throwing type. You were never much good with a ball, and besides, you realize that you will be in their range before they are in yours. >TOSHI, WHAT SHOULD WE DO? "I don't know, Keigo-san. I can make things, but I'm no good at breaking or killing." >USE PENDANT You are holding the lamp. How can you use the pendant? >GIVE LAMP TOSHI You hand the lamp to Toshi, who holds it carefully. >USE PENDANT You take the pendant of Destruction out of its hiding-place inside your shirt. What do you want to do with the pendant of Destruction? >SAVE GAME You can't do that with the pendant. >PUT AWAY PENDANT. You return the pendant of Destruction to its hiding-place inside your shirt. Most of the Resistance have crossed the heap of stones. Only Rojanosh and Hash, and the older lady who everyone calls Obaa-san are on the side where Despise' troops approach. To your surprise, she appears to be helping Rojanosh and Hash. An arrow flies through the air and hits a rock right by the old lady's head! It clatters down the heap of stones. >SAVE GAME. Game Saved. >USE PENDANT You take the pendant of Destruction out of its hiding-place inside your shirt. What do you want to do with the pendant of Destruction? >LOOK AT PENDANT. As you look at the bright, shiny pendant with its fresh-minted characters, you begin to think it may be giving off its own light. You hold it further out, dangling from your hand. Sure enough, a dim, purple light is shining from it. By its light, Toshi looks rather sickly. You have gained 5 points! >SHINE PENDANT ON ROCKS The light of the pendant doesn't show you anything special about the rocks. Another arrow flies through the air, and smashes next to Toshi's foot! He looks at you with a hint of anxiety. >SHINE PENDANT ON CEILING You hold the pendant as high as you can, and look towards the ceiling. The purple light intensifies, and by it you can see a network of fine cracks almost directly above you, to the north. You also see a troop of seven guards--they're only a few rocks away! Rojanosh, Hash, and the old lady reach the top of the heap. The murk below you seems suddenly full of ominous shapes--gleaming armor, snout-like, leering faces, and weapons flicker in and out of view in the light of the lamp. >OPEN HANDS TOWARDS CEILING You suddenly stretch up and out with both your hands, the pendant dangling from your left thumb. The markings on your palms flash brilliant purple light! The network of cracks in the ceiling also glow for an instant with a bright purple light--then the ceiling collapses with a loud roar and a choking cloud of dust. The air is filled with screams, and then with silence. Half-blinded, you scramble down the other side. The Resistance gives a cheer! Your Charisma is at 91%. You have gained 10 points! You have consciously used magic. You have gained 25 points! You have gained the EXAMINE spell. This spell will show you if there is something within the light of the Pendant of Destruction which it would be useful for you to destroy. You have defeated enemies. You have gained 10 points! >PUT AWAY PENDANT. You return the pendant of Destruction to its hiding-place inside your shirt. >LOOK Underground River When you were here before, this was an underground river with a swift current, running through a narrow tunnel. Back then, the ceiling of the cavern was only about twenty centimeters above your head. The river was about 4 meters wide, which accounted, perhaps, for the swift current. The situation is different now. For one thing, the level of the river has dropped considerably, due in part to the fact that the old ceiling of the tunnel has collapsed. The tunnel is now wider, so the river is more shallow. Water now has to force its way through the heap of stones blocking the river to the north. The south face of the heap, where you just slid down, is spouting little rivulets and mini-waterfalls, and these are appearing higher up as time passes. **MORE** The Resistance already has the tree-trunk floating in the water. Teddy dragged it all the way here! Suzume is straddling it, and Obaa-san clambers up beside her, while Teddy and a few of the others are in the water, holding it in place. Meryl has hacked off most of her sash for a rope, as has the young priest and several of the others. >HOW DEEP? Yuki answers you. "The water is about a meter deep, Keigo-sama. It is rising." Your shirt emits a muffled mew. Aoi! You had nearly forgotten her. >GIVE AOI SUZUME. You scramble closer to the water, then step in. It seems somewhat warmer than you remember it. You bring Aoi out of your shirt, and hand her to Suzume. >SUZUME, PLEASE TAKE AOI. Suzume nods. "Certainly Keigo-chan." Toshi hands the lamp to the old lady. "Obaa-san, please carry this for us." She nods grimly and takes it. >WHO CAN SWIM? About half the Resistance raise their hands. Swiftly, you tell the others about your prior experiences here. Those who can swim move ahead down the river, while those who can't find a grip on the improvised ropes now tied to the tree-trunk. >S The ungainly convoy moves down the river. Some are half-swimming, half-walking with the current, while others cling tightly to the improvised ropes, holding the tree-trunk steady but also holding it back. The tiny, flickering light of the lamp casts strange shadows over the already weird scene. >S The walls of the cavern become less broken, and the river slowly becomes deeper and swifter. Soon, you and your companions are carried through the darkness, helpless in the grip of the current. You can hear a rushing noise ahead of you. Not like a waterfall-- more like many rocky streams, all at once. You have elected to stay with the floating log, and now you find yourself constantly encouraging the others. "Hang on! Keep your head out of the water!" "Don't let go!" The log rocks dangerously. >S The current seems to be slowing slightly, and you occasionally feel rocks--or, rather, lumps which you assume to be rocks, beneath your feet. A dim glow seems to be rising through the water at various points, but you are moving too fast to see what these are. The rushing noise is louder. The water is warmer. >S River Cavern The current has slowed quite a bit, and the river seems to have become more shallow. You are now half-walking, half stumbling, along the rocky, slippery riverbed, with the water level just below your shoulders. The water still propels you forward, but it is now easier to resist it. Around you, the others are finding their footing again, and are very relieved to do so. The glow from the light-emitting waterweed that you noticed your last time here is still present. *MORE* By its light, you can see that you are now in a much larger cavern. You can't see the roof--it's too high above your head. On the cavern floor, the main stream of the river flows strongly, but the current towards the eastern and western shores is far less, as the water trickles among many stones. The sound this makes almost seems like a song, sung at different speeds by many voices, but all in the same key. The light of the plants reveals wisps of steam in the air, and there seems to be a large, lightless area to the east of the main stream. >E You try and move towards the darkened area to the east, but the water soon becomes uncomfortably warm. You are conscious of a faint hissing sound, out of tune with the many-tongued voice of the river. A crack must have formed between the river and the Lake of Fire! No knowing when the steam and heat will break through, in either direction. You are afraid the lovely little water plants and brilliant red fish are doomed. Toshi has walked up behind you. He clears his throat. >YES, TOSHI? "Don't worry, Keigo-san. Things change all the time. We need to get going." Try to save fish? Y/N >N You nod solemnly and turn away. >W You are in a large cavern. You can't see the roof--it's too high above your head. On the cavern floor, the main stream of the river flows strongly, but the current towards the eastern and western shores is far less, as the water trickles among many stones. The sound this makes almost seems like a song, sung at different speeds by many voices, but all in the same key. The Resistance is with you. Toshi and Suzume are with you. Aoi is near you. >EVERYONE, FOLLOW ME Suzume nods. "Yes, we should be moving." >W You lead everyone to the western side of the cavern. The log-riders dismount. >SUZUME, PLEASE GIVE ME AOI. Suzume nods and hands Aoi to you. You tuck the kitten back in your shirt. It is damp, and Aoi mews unhappily, but it is the best place for her. >S You and your friends stumble along the rocky western shore of the underground river, heading south, using the light from the lamp as well as the glowing pools around you to pick your way. About you, the sound of the water flowing around the rocks in the cavern almost seems like a song, sung at different speeds by many voices, but all in the same key. The main stream of the river seems to be curving toward the west. >W You follow the bend in the river as it curves towards the west. About you, the sound of the water flowing around the rocks in the cavern almost seems like a song, sung at different speeds by many voices, but all in the same key. >W You stumble along the rocky northern shore of the underground river, heading west, using the light from the lamp as well as the glowing pools around you to pick your way. About you, the sound of the water flowing around the rocks in the cavern almost seems like a song, sung at different speeds by many voices, but all in the same key. The cavern appears to be narrowing. The central stream is getting faster and deeper, and the glowing pools are further and further apart. >W Man-Made Cavern You and your friends move along the northern shore of the underground river, heading west, using the light from lamp to pick your way. The cavern continues to narrow. The central stream is getting faster and deeper, and the glowing pools are nearly gone. The singing sound has died away, leaving only the rushing of the water. However, you are all moving much more easily. You realize that not only are there fewer rocks, but the ground beneath your feet is quite smooth. *MORE* You call to Obaa-san, who still holds the lamp, and she lowers it so that its light illuminates the area around your feet. As you expected, you are standing on what is clearly a man-made--well, intelligent-being-made-- stone pier or wharf. The river, which is deep and narrow and swift again, flows just below the edge of this stonework. Then Obaa-san lifts the lamp high. Ahead of you, you see what looks like a landing-stage, with a flight of steps leading north and upwards to a carved arch. >MOVE TO ARCH The group moves forward, until you are standing at the foot of the steps. >LOOK AT ARCH The light isn't good enough for you to see very much of the carving on the arch. However, you make out the four figures--two men, a woman, and a boy--you saw earlier in Creation's cavern, right at the top. They seem to be joined together in a complicated dance, each with arms crossed over and passing either over or under to hold the hands of the figures at either side. Above them, a finely carved and polished starburst sparkles faintly. >SUZUME, WHERE ARE WE? "This... Keigo-chan, this is the Gate of Destiny! It should lead us directly into the Great Hall in Waypoint." >WHAT IS GREAT HALL? "You were there once," Suzume responds. "Despise trapped you there." You recall the room with the enormous mirror. "It's the heart of what the Spirits are. Whoever controls the Room controls the future." The Great Hall! But that was in the midst of Despise' prison complex! Suzume speaks your thought. "Clever of Despise to build a prison around it. The place is sure to be swarming with guards. >SUZUME, HOW DO WE GET IN? "I don't know, Keigo-chan. The--the last time..." Her voice fades away. Toshi clears his throat. >TOSHI, HOW DO WE GET IN? Toshi takes Suzume's hand. "The last time we had to enter the Room, Keigo-san, Suzume-hime was trying to hold it against us." He gives her hand a squeeze and lets it go. "We used our sigils--my bracelet, your pendant, and Despise' ring--to open the Gate. He looks around. "This whole area was above ground then. It was in a deep valley, but it wasn't a tunnel. There should be a flood control dam, downstream." TOSHI, WE ONLY HAVE TWO SIGILS "I know, Keigo-san. But we have to try. If *all* the sigils were required, we would have failed, back then. Maybe two will be enough." Murmurs of support come from the Resistance, who have been listening to this discussion with deep fascination. >PREPARE MEET DESPISE "YOSH!" "And high time, too!" "It's our turn, now!" These and other war-like sentiments fill the air as the Resistance prepares for what is to come. Swiftly, they jettison any unnecessary belongings, and form a rough phalanx, with... Obaa-san at the point? She nods at you grimly. "Don't worry about me, young Spirit. We'll take care of the ordinary troops, if you can take care of the rest." She still carries the lamp. >FACE ARCH Are you sure you are ready to meet Despise? Y/N >N Good choice. >TOSHI, HOW DESTROY DESPISE? "Destroy? We're not trying to destroy him, Keigo-san! We need to restore the Balance!" >TOSHI, HOW STOP DESPISE? "That's different, Keigo-san. In the past, when Order was too strong, one of the Spirits brought something from elsewhere that stopped him, enabling the others to restore the Balance." Something from elsewhere? >WHAT FROM ELSEWHERE? "I'm not sure, Keigo-san. I have never seen exactly what happened." >SUZUME, WHAT FROM ELSEWHERE? "I'm not sure, Keigo-chan. I have never seen exactly what happened." >LOOK OTHERS The other Spirits of Hope look at you and shrug. They seem to have nothing to say. Behind you, someone in the Resistance coughs. A voice mutters, "Why are they talking about this *now*?" >FACE ARCH You and Toshi turn and face the staircase and arch. Suzume moves to stand between you. >UP You move up the stair, the Resistance at your back. The lamp-light makes huge, shifting giants of your shadows. There is a broad landing before the arch. Within the arch, you see only blackness. It's as if the light of the lamp is swallowed up. >N You try to move northward, through the arch, but are blocked by some... thing. Force. Presence. You simply can't move that way. >SAVE GAME Game saved. (And about time, too!) >USE PENDANT You take the pendant of Destruction out of its hiding-place inside your shirt. Toshi holds out his left wrist, from which dangles the Bracelet of Creation. A dim, purple light is shining from the Pendant of Destruction. A dim, green-gold light is shining from the Bracelet of Creation. >EXAMINE You Examine the archway. Both sigils seem to glow brighter. By the combined light, you see that the archway is set with four jewels. Embedded in the floor, just before your feet, is a blue- black sapphire, gleaming like polished steel. At the apex of the arch is a milky, shimmering stone. You can't tell if it is an opal, a moonstone, or perhaps a giant pearl. On the left side of the arch, a deep, rich, many-faceted amethyst begins to glow with its own light. There seems to be a crack or flaw in the center, but the purple light flows out nonetheless. On the right side of the arch, a bright, grassy-hued, many-faceted peridot begins to glow with its own light. Strangely, the shape of this gem seems a little uncertain. One moment, it seems to be an emerald-cut; the next, an oval, and the next, a round. The gold- green light flows out nonetheless. The two areas of light overlap in the center of the arch. In the area of overlap, you dimly see the outlines of a frame of some kind. It's like a picture-frame, but seems to have nothing in it. You have revealed the Doorway. You have gained 10 points! >N You try to move northward, through the arch, but are blocked by some... thing. Force. Presence. You simply can't move that way. Suzume murmurs, "We need more power." >EVERYONE, PLEASE HOPE Behind you, you can feel the Hope of the Resistance--the Hope of Rojanosh, Hash, Meryl, Yuki, Obaa-san and the rest--moving over and through you like an ocean swell. Both the peridot and the amethyst glow more brightly. The circles of light they are producing are much clearer, and it is easier to see the Doorway. Nothing else seems to change. >EXAMINE You hold the pendant a little higher, and notice for the first time that the two points where the lights intersect--the apex and nadir-- are marked by tiny red dots. >TOSHI, LOOK DOTS "I see them, Keigo-san!" >TOSHI, CONCENTRATE LOWER DOT Toshi nods, and opens his hands. A bright green light beams from them to a point about a foot off the floor. You open your hands, concentrating on the upper dot. A bright purple light flows from your hands to a point about a foot from the top of the arch. A red light fills the arch. The Doorway is suddenly visible in bold and solid form. It is filled with shimmering silver, like a bowl of water, or a mirror. You have opened the Gate. You have gained 15 points! You have gained spell Intensify. This spell can increase the power of another spell. The Resistance gives a cheer! Your Charisma is at 95%. You have gained 10 points! >SAVE GAME You can't do that with the Pendant of Destruction. >PUT AWAY PENDANT. You return the Pendant of Destruction to its hiding-place inside your shirt. >SAVE GAME Game saved. (I'd save early and often if I were you!) >INVENTORY a silver pendant (new and shiny) servant's clothing, damp (worn) pocky (surprisingly dry) a brown leather purse, damp (jingles a little when shaken) a tattered map, damp a potion recipe, damp a tension bar a metal cup a black-painted keyring and key Rojanosh's Hope (used) a piece of chalk, damp Suzume's Hope Teddy the Brick's Hope Yuki's Hope Meryl's Hope Rojanosh's Hope "Obaa-san's" Hope The Hope of the Resistance A lamp (lit) >DIAGNOSE You are just a bit hungry You are just a bit thirsty You are not tired Aoi is with you >SCORE You have gained 665 points out of a possible 2000. This earns you the rank of: Aspiring Champion. >SAVE Game saved. >QUIT C:\GAMES\IMPRO\SOH>_ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% It should be clear by this time that Player is taking major advantage of Secret Internet Knowledge. Sorry about that. I want him/her to end up with a decent number of points. Read on to see why... "Charisma" is what might be called a point pump, just as Squall's salary in FF8 is a money pump. In theory, and assuming the world didn't end first, Player could simply wander around Waypoint with the Resistance--that is, if they didn't get tired of such silliness and lower his/her Charisma to -10. And no, I don't know what happens to the wonderful underwater "light gardens." Sometimes you have to sacrifice for art. I *hope* that some bits of weed were spared and found their way, over time, further upstream. Tune in for our stunning climax in Part 3...