Editing Tomb Raiders (section)

==== Events ====
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Frederick|0=}}: We left [[Volta]] the next day. The [[airship]] shipyard was a ways from the city, and we still had to reach it and load some equipment on board. [[Kastore]] was silent for most of the trip, only occasionally making some remark about the design of the [[automaton]]s and other fruits of progress he'd seen in [[Volta]]. Sometimes the [[elf]] asked me technical questions—I didn’t fully grasp all of them, but I answered to the best of my knowledge and erudition. The [[elf]] gave short and dry answers to my questions, but it was challenging for me to deduct anything of use from them. Most of all I was surprised by his ability to perform complex calculations in his mind almost instantly; in those moments, he turned away and brought his hand with an inconspicuous-looking bracelet of strange material to his face. It looked a little funny: as if an all-knowing spirit was hiding in that piece of dull gray bone, providing him ready-made answers—but I knew for sure that spirits weren't any good at hard science.<p>Something told me that the ruler from overseas knew far more than any of the [[artificer]]s in [[Burton]], or perhaps even myself. Where did he get this knowledge? Why was he so interested in our inventions?<p>That’s not how I imagined a king of [[necromancer]]s to be at all…<p>''Note: ONLY applies to HUMAN player.''<p><center>'''Contents:''' {{Mv|Set|Set 50000}}</center></p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Frederick|0=}}: There was the entrance to an immense tomb in front of us... if it was indeed a tomb. [[Kastore]], who had been following me with his usual indifferent, even sour expression, suddenly perked up. He looked with keen interest at the strange symbols scattered here and there at the entrance to the tomb for a while. Then he said:<p>{{h|Kastore|0=}}: “Well, interesting. I've been in tombs like this before.”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: With these words, [[Kastore]] pulled an object of unknown purpose from his belt and took a few steps forward. That thing had long ago caught my attention. What was it? A scientific instrument unknown even to me? A family heirloom? Who knows...<p>The [[elf]] waved the object from side to side for a while, looking into the dark halls of the tomb, and finally exhaled:<p>{{h|Kastore|0=}}: “There seems to be no one in there; we can go in. Still, that doesn't mean we can afford to let our guard down," [[Kastore]] said in an instructive tone.</p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Frederick|0=}}: [[Agar]]. What did I expect from meeting this man? It's hard to say. There were all sorts of rumors about him, some contradicting others. Years ago, I heard that he'd turned into a [[lich]], shortly after the [[Succession Wars]]. Then I heard that he had been killed during an experiment in his laboratory. I also heard a very naturalistic recount telling that [[Agar]] had been mauled to death by his own monsters. According to another credible source, [[Agar]] was killed in a [[wizard]] tournament. Finally, word came that [[Agar]] had arrived in [[Jadame]], alive and well...<p>There was a wide range of speculation among the [[wizard]]s and [[artificer]]s of [[Burton]] regarding the [[sandworm]]s. Some claimed that [[Agar]] had begun to experiment on wild worms, and the subjects had gotten out of control. Others insisted that he was deliberately siccing the worms at the settlements for purposes known only to himself.<p>And now [[Agar]] stood before me. The sorcerer was clearly as alive as it gets—at least, he didn't look anything like a [[lich]]. His eyes were racing, a nervous smile twitching on his face. He seemed undecided whether to talk to me or run away.<p>{{h|Agar|0=}}: “Are they... are they still here?” He asked, looking into my eyes, then [[Kastore]]’s, then mine again.<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: “The worms? The ones in the lab? Killed.”<p>[[Agar]] sighed with the relief of a man who had been dragged out of the noose and kicked off the scaffold.<p>{{h|Agar|0=}}: “If only I'd known how this new experiment would turn out... I wouldn't have started it. At first everything was going great. The first batch of [[Olgoi-Khorkhoi]]s performed admirably, their voracity was admirable, and their teeth were stronger than any naturally occurring material I know. And then... then it seemed to me that someone had tapped into my work and brought chaos to it. A worm of a different kind appeared in the new brood—I called it, or rather her, [[Matriarch]]. I thought it was nothing special, just a new stage of accelerated evolution, something I was very familiar with... But the [[Matriarch]]'s will felt stronger for the creatures than mine. Most of her brood no longer obeyed me, and now she was beginning to seize control over the earlier generations as well. I'd managed to keep some of them under my control, wasting an insane amount of magic, but it wasn't much use—they weren't even strong enough to help me get out of the lab! If you knew how much trouble those worms have been for me…”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: “If only for you," I said spitefully. “Your worms have made the area around the lab a living hell. Landslides are destroying the mountain roads. The [[Olgoi-Khorkhoi]]s attack mines and border settlements, and their burrowing causes earthquakes that wreak havoc even in places where they don't show up above the ground.”<p>Agar suddenly straightened up and looked at me carefully, squinting into my eyes.<p>{{h|Agar|0=}}: “Young man... You're beautifully angry—I could almost believe you'd come all this way just to seek me out and admonish me for my carelessness. Now speak your mind. What happened? What do you really want here?”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: “No, this story indeed was all about you when it started. Not long ago, an expedition set out from Burton to find you. And then they disappeared. Apparently, they got lost in the underground passages and wandered into an ancient tomb, but the worms destroyed the passage to the northern part of the tomb, so now our companions are cut off from the outside world.”<p>{{h|Agar|0=}}: “The worms... I'm afraid the only way to stop their spread is to destroy the [[Matriarch]]. I don't see any other option. Besides, I can't continue my research while she's alive, and I'm not in the habit of abandoning my work halfway through. I swear you'll shake old [[Agar]]'s hand when I show you what my little worms can do when there’s no one else in their heads! As for your expedition... I think I know which tomb you're talking about. There are flooded caves adjacent to my lab that lead north, to the tomb caves and another entrance—behind it there is a strange hall, the Hall of Illusions. I have tried several times to traverse those caverns, but to no avail—they are full of strange thick fog, extremely hard to wade through. But if you insist... There are two magic scrolls left in my laboratory, which will be very useful for us.”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: With that, [[Agar]] gestured for me to follow him toward the lab.</p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Frederick|0=}}: The flooded caverns appeared again, and it looked like we would have to take the boat again. [[Agar]] had warned us: he himself had tried several times to reach the other shore of this underground lake, by magic and by boat, but the lake was full of underwater rocks, and the other shore was too far away to be reached with a spell.<p>Perhaps we could see what we need to see, should we walk on water around our ship?</p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | A strange sensation filled your mind. For a moment you felt as if the very march of time had stopped....<p>''Note: ONLY applies to HUMAN player.''<p><center>'''Contents:''' {{Mv|Set|Set 90000}}
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Frederick|0=}}: The caves were getting deeper, and it was getting darker. Even the magical light I'd conjured up seemed to fade only a few cubits away.<p> “There's something up ahead," I said. “Or someone.”<p>[[Agar]] uttered a few words and waved his hands, casting some kind of spell. A weird noise came from somewhere in the depths—growls, bellows… moos?<p> {{h|Agar|0=}}: “I could feel the presence of monsters. Three huge... groups of monsters, and there seems to be no one else in the dungeon but them,” he remarked. “Some of them are worms, but there are also [[manticore]]s, [[behemoth]]s, and other creatures... unfortunately, at this distance, it's hard to tell which ones.”</p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Frederick|0=}}: Our expedition into the depths of the mysterious vault continued. We had to do our best so this tomb—built for whom? when?—would not become ours as well. Not only worms and the usual undead, but also all sorts of magical creatures prowled the dark corridors and dusty halls. Some of those monsters had probably infiltrated here from the nearby caves when the collapses had opened the passageways; others seemed to have always been here, guarding their ancient secrets. Though I called this place a tomb, we found no ritual burials here. I kept thinking about who and why had erected this majestic underground temple. However, my companion did not seem to care about such things. [[Kastore]] appeared a man changed—like a young [[alchemist]], whom his master finally allowed to use his distillation pipes, reagents and incunabula after years of training, he kept rushing from one wall covered in writings unintelligible for me to another. Every now and then, he fervently flipped through a small book, making notes in it. Soon the [[elf]] apparently noticed that the ancient hieroglyphs did not arouse the same kind of enthusiasm in me.
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Frederick|0=}}: [[Kastore]] decided to continue the conversation we had begun about [[Enroth (planet)|Enroth's]] long past:<p>{{h|Kastore|0=}}: “The masters of the [[Time of Wonders]] did not answer their subjects in their hour of need... and you and I are exploring this ancient tomb today. There seems to be no connection—but in fact, the reason for these events is the same. The [[Kreegan]]s, or as they're known here, [[demon]]s. Though these creatures have no affinity with those who inhabit the subterranean depths and ethereal planes, and only slightly resemble them in appearance," [[Kastore]] continued. I couldn't imagine interrupting him, though I wanted to ask and ask and ask.<p>Funny, isn’t it: I had once been an all-knowing mentor like that myself, sharing what I considered to be unrivaled knowledge, while the little wiggly girl interrupted me every now and then with her silly comments and clarifications. What a wonderful time it was in our lives… and what a doubly, triply wonderful time it is now. If I only can find [[Henrietta]] in these labyrinths—I want her to walk this path with me.<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: The [[elf]] seemed to understand what was going on in my head, and went silent at times, letting my mind digest the revelations.<p>“But the [[Silence]] came more than a millennium ago... Had those [[Kreegan]]s already invaded [[Enroth (planet)|Enroth]]?”<p>{{h|Kastore|0=}}: “They didn’t manage to that time round. But before I tell you that part of the story, let me enlighten you about space and planets. Listening to your hypotheses about the origin of demons, I noticed: you stick to the geocentric system of the world, but astrologers and stargazers have long argued about whether the Sun revolves around [[Enroth (planet)|Enroth]], or it is the opposite.”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: “I, too, am a keen observer of the heavenly bodies, and I know a few thing about it..." I got indignant, realizing where this conversation was going, but I shut my trap when I saw [[Kastore]]’s face twist in the torchlight.<p>{{h|Kastore|0=}}: “The planet revolves around the sun. That’s the only truth. As is the fact that up there in the sky, every star to the last is also a sun. Many of those suns also have planets that revolve around those luminaries. I could prove it to you now, were we not underground... though the entangling charms of these places are so insidious, even I would find it difficult to tell when the next night would come. How long have we been here—days? Weeks?”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: “And it feels like months," I finished his thought. [[Kastore]] frowned and wrote something down in his book.</p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Kastore|0=}}: “Imagine these distant worlds as islands separated by a vast ocean of stars. And long ago, even I don't know when and where from, ships of a powerful, ancient civilization appeared in this ocean. Different sources have different names for them: [[Ancients|Gods]], [[Ancients|Makers]], [[Ancients]]... The interstellar empire expanded, swallowing worlds like a sea dominion absorbs uninhabited islands, building its settlements and fortresses on them. [[Enroth (planet)|Enroth]] is just one of those islands, and this tomb is their ship... no, just a small fragment of it. The [[Ancients]] have other tools that allow them to cross the abyss of the void. In some ways they are even more efficient than ships. You've no doubt encountered portals.”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: “Of course I have! The art of portal placement is one of the disciplines taught at the [[Bracadian Academy of Magic]]. These portals give [[Bracada]] a link to hard-to-reach towers and palaces beyond the clouds, nearly impossible to reach by normal means. But the farther two points are from each other, the harder it is to create a stable portal between them.”<p>{{h|Kastore|0=}}: “That's right: the principle is the same, but these gates cover unimaginable cosmic distances. The [[Ancients]] covered their island worlds with a network of portals that became part of the great connecting [[Web of Worlds]]. As long as the colonies were connected, they thrived. And then came the [[Kreegan]]s. They were strong, had high technology at their disposal, and were characterized by remarkable cohesion: a hivemind akin to that of ants.<p>They were also breeding incessantly and incredibly fast. More and more resources were needed to supply their ominous colonies and hives. So the [[Kreegan]]s went to war against the [[Ancients]], even though the [[Ancients]] tried to negotiate with them first. Like pirates, the [[devil]]s ravaged worlds, and once they had looted and killed their fill, they went on to do the same elsewhere. The machines the [[Kreegan]] use to go from world to world look like celestial bodies,” I remembered the insides of the meteorites I'd seen on that unfortunate day! “But of course, like any ship, they are slow compared to traveling through a portal. The [[Kreegan]]s are familiar with the principle of teleportation, they can summon beings, they have access to other planes of existence… But they have not mastered the art of traveling between worlds as perfectly as the [[Ancients]].”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: [[Kastore]] was silent. I looked at him and realized that he expected to hear my conclusion. I cautiously began fishing a complete thought out of the ocean of assumptions and hypotheses:<p>“The thing that happened was that the [[Kreegan]]s attacked not only the various worlds, but also the very portal system created by the [[Ancients]]... That's how contact between the planets broke down.”<p>{{h|Kastore|0=}}: “That is correct. The [[Kreegan]]s infiltrated the gateway system between worlds. The [[Ancients]] were able to counter this threat, but eventually the unity of the portal network was broken. That damaged the invisible threads that held it together and carried the voice and guidance of the [[Ancients]] to countless colonies. The [[Web of Worlds]] was torn. And so began what many planets call the [[Silence]], or other similar words.”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: “Orphaned, the colonies found they no longer had a higher power, and the viceroys got into bloody internecine wars," I finished.<p>My whole world turned upside down and expanded overnight to the size of the sky, maybe even further. I needed time to think about it.</p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Frederick|0=}}:We were stepping cautiously through the large room. [[Kastore]] read the sign at the entrance; it read: "[[Hall of Illusions]]." It was oddly quiet here—we'd seen [[genie]]s, [[efreeti]], and other monsters in other halls, but this one was surprisingly empty. I was peeking around nervously.<p>In the blink of an eye, everything changed. A strange rumbling sound came from the depths of the tomb, and a moment later, the [[Efreeti]] and [[Kreegan]]s appeared before me: dozens and dozens of huge red-skinned creatures! One of them looked familiar... Of course! It was the same [[Efreet]] we had to fight before fleeing from [[Eeofol]]. But how...? Ah, right! These are the illusions I was warned about. These phantoms are more than a play of light and shadow. Their scythes and whips can harm us just as much as the real thing.</p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | The dwelling in the far corner of the cave looked abandoned at first glance, but you quickly realized it was not: once inside, you found yourself in a hut full of bookshelves and potion vials. The [[alchemist]], clearly the place’s owner, was leaning over a crystal ball, looking at something.<p> “Finally!", he said. “I've been watching you for some time, and I knew you would come. You're looking for [[Agar]]’s lab, aren't you? I know where it is, and I know the man well. As for the lab, it used to be relatively easy to get to, but it all changed when he started experimenting with those... worms. Now many of the roads have been destroyed by landslides, and the place can only be reached by air. Please take a look at this," the [[alchemist]] points to his crystal ball. “I have something to show you.”</p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{h|Kastore|0=}}: “Tell me, [[Frederick]], what do you know about the era called the [[Time of Wonders]]?”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: [[Kastore]] asked me as we explored another room. As a young man, I had avidly studied even the most dubious sources on the subject, trying to find a way to rediscover the mysteries lost in time, but now, for some reason, the academy textbook sprang up in my mind. I recited aloud the text I had once memorized:<p>“The [[Time of Wonders]] was a time when the world was not yet divided into states and was ruled by all-powerful [[mage]]s. Their unlimited powers allowed them to create mighty artifacts from pure energy and to control the elements a hundred times more skillfully than the most powerful [[elementalist]]s alive today. Their rule was so wise and merciful that the world knew neither hunger nor war. The most sophisticated of their magical creations called [[Heavenly Forge]]s could even create full-fledged copies of objects. Many of the items now known as legendary artifacts were regular soldier's gear in those days. The [[Time of Wonders]] lasted until one man, the viceroy of the [[mage]]s in the land now known as [[Dragonsand]], on the continent of [[Enroth (continent)|Enroth]], caused a devastating cataclysm. This calamity wiped out dozens of cities overnight and turned that area into a poisoned wasteland. Everyone waited for a response from the omnipotent [[mage]]s, but there was only silence.<p>Then the regents of the lands realized there was no more supreme power over them, and an era of endless wars began, where power over the remnants of the perfect world was at stake. Of course, the world was never the same again. And only [[Bracaduun]], an empire created out of discipline and the power of mind, remained...”<p>{{h|Kastore|0=}}: “You don't have to go on," [[Kastore]] waved his palm. “I'm not interested in what's written in the Bracadian books. [[Gavin Magnus]] will never let the truth out, though he knows it as well as I do.”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: I had never doubted that the king of [[Bracada]] was full of secrets and knew more than any other [[wizard]] in the land. He'd been alive for centuries, and it didn't look like he was planning on dying anytime soon. There were rumors of his secret vault, where relics from the [[Time of Wonders]] were supposedly collected after miraculously surviving the devastating raid of the barbarian king [[Tarnum]] that destroyed the [[Bracaduun Empire]]. It was not at all surprising that the old man was unwilling to share knowledge and did everything he could to hinder the academy scholars eager to find new ways to seek it. In [[Bracada]], one can only use the cognition methods approved by him personally, and everything else is condemned or anathematized. I had experienced this firsthand!<p>I asked [[Kastore]]:<p>“So, the old books lie?”<p>{{h|Kastore|0=}}: “Yes and no. Rather, they don't tell the whole truth.”<p>{{h|Frederick|0=}}: “Do you know the truth?" I asked [[Kastore]]. Our conversations were becoming less and less formal, and I no longer regarded him as a king. A scientist, an inventor, a teacher... I was hungry for answers to the questions that plagued my mind, and I braced myself for new knowledge.</p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | <p>''Note: Blank event; ONLY applies to {{pink}} AI player.''<p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | <p>''Note: Blank event; ONLY applies to {{pink}} AI player.''<p>
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| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | Technical block event<p>''Note: ONLY applies to {{pink}} AI player.''<p>
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