The Shores of Hell

Jeremy, Bidley, and Casmetra have to gather the Cornucopia. Tark has to be released from prison in order to complete the scenario. The maximum hero level cap is 18. After victory, Jeremy, Bidley, and Casmetra will proceed to the next scenario of the campaign.

Victory condition:

Acquire Artifact or Defeat All Enemies

Loss condition:

Lose All Your Towns and Heroes

Allies:

Enemies:

Choose a bonus:

Carried to next scenario:

Max level:

18

Campaign

Prologue

File:Good1c (HotA).png

Bidley got to know about the Horn of the Abyss after saving Xanthor. In reality, Xanthor told him about in in hope that the pirate will vanish, trying to acquire it. Bidley will never know this, however.

Now, reunited with the brother, they started plotting the march for the Horn of the Abyss with all seriousness. They needed ships, many ships, men and supplies as well. Where to get all of that from? Casmetra offered to explore the Hell Shore, and raid the Kreegan lands. A dangerous venture, but a promising one.

Scenario

Timed events

Day 1 - Day 1-1
It was loud and dimly lit in the Black Mark, a smelly little hole of a tavern. Bidley sat in the corner drinking cheap beer. He hated this place with all his heart, but couldn't break his old tradition. The door opened, and a man in a garish jacket walked in. He bore a striking resemblance to Bidley, though shorter and slighter, and he was followed by a gorgeously dressed and attractive woman. The man approached Bidley and shouted merrily, “Aha, you old dog! Long time no see! Where have you been?” Bidley rose and hugged his brother. “You haven't changed a bit--the same young drunkard I used to know. What's going on?” “Ah, it's nothing,” Jeremy said with a wave of his hand as he sat down next to his female companion. “By the way, this is Casmetra, the High Hydromancer.” “Bidley, Captain Bidley,” he replied. “A pleasure to meet you, Captain. I've heard plenty about you,” said Casmetra. “Oh, really? And what have you been told so far?” grinned Bidley, taking a sip of his foul drink. “I heard that you saved Xanthor, Catherine's archmage.” Jeremy gave a whistle. “Shiver my soul! You started working for Erathians, brother?” “How could I possibly have known that Xanthor was sitting in that cell?” grumbled Bidley. “He was a waste of time, on top of being an ungrateful bastard. Now there's a rumor going around that I work for the queen! ‘Her Majesty's corsair...'” “He was ungrateful?” Casmetra asked in surprise. “Well, not completely. He told me a legend about something called the Horn of the Abyss....” “Impossible!” exclaimed the priestess, and both pirates gave her a surprised look. “What's so special about it?” asked Jeremy. “Have you ever heard of Armageddon's Blade, or the Cloak of the Undead King?” Casmetra asked excitedly. “These are legendary artifacts, of exceptional power and completely unique! The Horn of the Abyss is one of them. It's said that it lies complete and unbroken on the bottom of the sea somewhere. The one who finds it will rule the seas--he'll become the living representation of the Water Lord!” “Interesting,” Bidley murmured. “Xanthor told me exactly where the Horn lies. If it wasn't a lie, of course.” “You can't imagine the importance of this knowledge,” whispered Casmetra, pressing one elegant hand to her cheek. “Well, then, let's go look for the Horn of the Abyss!” exclaimed Jeremy. “No, it's too risky: we don't have enough men, ships, or resources. We're just two captains with a handful of sea dogs on board,” Jeremy's brother replied. “You also have me, the High Hydromancer, and my apprentices,” added Casmetra. “And I know how to get everything we need. We'll have to put some effort into it, though.” “By the way, Jeremy,” Bidley suddenly remembered. “I heard you've had some difficulties. How is the Black Unicorn doing?” “It drowned,” answered Jeremy, leaning back in his chair.
Day 1 - Day 1-2
“Eeofol's shore,” Bidley commented from his position on the wall of the new fort. Far ahead he could see the shimmering heat and smoke rising from the ashy black terrain, like a festering boil on Erathia's body. Somewhere over there swarmed legions of terrible creatures who marched through the scorched lands toward the lands of men. “Those beasts have plenty of everything,” said Casmetra. “They're too preoccupied with the war against Erathia and its allies to notice us. We'll be able to gather the riches we need to afford the Cornucopia.” “Excuse me, what?” asked Jeremy. “The Cornucopia,” repeated the priestess. “We'll need to hire craftsmen to make the necessary elements of the artifact, and then we'll use the Cornucopia to hire an army and prepare our fleet. However, this artifact has one flaw: it depletes itself over time and eventually breaks. Nobody can say for sure for how long it will serve us.” “How do you know all this about the Cornucopia?” Bidley asked. “They say Archibald Ironfist had such an artifact. It supplied all his armies during the war in Enroth. One of the reasons for his defeat was that the Cornucopia stopped working,” Casmetra replied. “By the deep, woman,” grinned Jeremy, “where did you learn all that about Archibald? I thought you'd been sitting on that rock in the sea your whole life.” “Never mind that,” Casmetra answered grimly. “Gentlemen, we have matters to attend to.”
Day 3 - Day 3
Scouts report an Erathian outpost to the south: Carstrig Fort. It would be good to capture it and use for our needs. The fort defenders wouldn't have a chance against the Kreegans anyway.
Day 4 - Day 4
A group of frightened crewmen rushed into the room. “Cap'n! Giant crocodile-people just walked ashore!” Without hesitation Bidley grabbed his sabre and run to see. Indeed, two great scaly creatures, a bit like lizardmen, were lying on the shore, breathing heavily. “Shiver me timbers!” exclaimed Bidley as he knelt beside them. “What are these creatures?” “Those are nix,” Casmetra told him, approaching from behind. “An ancient sea race of intelligent reptiles. They were thought extinct. Long ago, their kingdom was somewhere around here. Something must have made them emerge again onto the surface. I'm sure we'll see more of them.” “I hope they have good intentions,” Bidley replied.
Day 7 - Day 7
More nix arrived with each passing day. It turned out that many of them could speak and even wield weapons. They explained that their ancient city was on a rocky island nearby, and that it was besieged by demons. When their prince, Tark, tried to break the siege, he was imprisoned. Tark is being held hostage in a Kreegan prison somewhere near Eeofol's shore. Bidley has decided to save him: the nix may become valuable allies.
Day 9 - Day 9
Casmetra called a meeting between herself, Bidley, and Jeremy. “I have grim news. My spies report that the Kreegans think Catherine hired the pirates to flank and backstab their forces, so they're moving some of their rearguard forces to the seashore. They'll soon attempt to kick us out of here. The faster we gather the Cornucopia, the better,” she informed them. “Blood and thunder! That'll do wonders for my reputation,” muttered Bidley dispiritedly. “Every damn sea dog will think I'm working for Erathia, just because I saved that mage.” “But isn't that a good thing, brother?” asked Jeremy. “Discounts at taverns, free entrance to the largest ports in the kingdom! The only thing I'm worried about is how to find enough money to pay these artifact-making thieves.” “We can slaughter the Kreegans and pillage them. We are pirates, after all!” exclaimed Bidley, and Jeremy agreed with a grin. “Call up the boys! We're gonna be turning fire demons into sea demons soon.”
Day 15 - Day 15
I was in the hold having a quarrel with a bottle of rum when Patris appeared. “Cap'n, I'd like to talk to you about what's going on,” he said. “All right, I'm listening,” I nodded. “I don't like that this woman is dragging you into all this trouble. Why are you risking your neck going after that artifact? We're losing good men fighting those demons,” my first mate said seriously. “It was our own decision,” I replied, “no one was dragging us. The life of an honorable pirate is one of constant risk--you know that. And by the way, we'll have a new ship soon, a beautiful one--a frigate! All those bigmouths in Regna will swallow their tongues.” “All right, Cap'n. You're the boss,” agreed Patris and left me be. I couldn't understand why he disliked Casmetra so much.
Day 30 - Day 30
It should be taken into the account that the more we delay, the more forces the Kreegans will be able to gather. They'll be a deadly threat very soon. We need to attack the enemy as soon as possible!

Objects

Events

Location	Message
92, 0, 0	Looks like the nix leader is being held here. Let's hope he's a thankful creature.
65, 2, 1	You can't easily get out of this place--it's a trap!

Towns

Location	Player	Type	Name
10, 44, 0		Cove	-
11, 17, 0		Cove	-
77, 39, 0		Inferno	-
93, 65, 0		Inferno	-
100, 101, 0		Inferno	-
104, 2, 0		Inferno	-
104, 30, 0		Inferno	-
4, 8, 1		Inferno	Centre
8, 79, 0	-	Castle	Fort Kastrig
45, 43, 0	-	Cove	Nyksas
51, 6, 0	-	Conflux	-

Heroes

Location	Player	Hero
1, 18, 0		Jeremy the Captain
10, 45, 0		Bidley the Captain
14, 20, 0		Casmetra the Navigator
100, 102, 0		Ignatius the Demoniac
104, 31, 0		Marius the Demoniac
77, 40, 0		Zydar the Heretic
93, 67, 0		Xyron the Heretic
4, 9, 1		Xarfax the Heretic
1, 18, 0		Tark the Captain

Seer's Huts

11, 1, 0 - Seer's Hut
Proposal Message
Greetings! I'm able to create a source of infinite wood. It will cost you 30,000. Quest: Return with 30000 Gold
Completion Message
The fortune seekers are grateful for your help in clearing a path for them. As a token of their gratitude they offer you a gift of some magical armor. Reward: Inexhaustible Cart of Lumber

12, 60, 0 - Seer's Hut
Proposal Message
Greetings! I'm able to create a source of infinite mercury. It will cost you 90,000. Quest: Return with 90000 Gold
Completion Message
We have a deal. I'll begin the work. Reward: Everpouring Vial of Mercury

27, 86, 0 - Seer's Hut
Proposal Message
Efreet are menacing the southwestern underground region of this land. If you could be so bold as to defeat them, I would reward you richly. Quest: Defeat the Efreet at 30, 75, 1
Completion Message
At last, you defeated the Efreet, and the countryside is safe again! Are you ready to accept the reward? Reward: 7500 Gold

29, 17, 0 - Seer's Hut
Proposal Message
I'm able to create a source of infinite sulphur. It will cost you 90,000. Quest: Return with 90000 Gold
Completion Message
We have a deal. I'll begin the work. Reward: Eversmoking Ring of Sulfur

30, 0, 0 - Seer's Hut
Proposal Message
I'm able to create a source of infinite gems. It will cost you 80,000. Quest: Return with 80000 Gold
Completion Message
Perfect. Hand the money over, and take your artifact. Reward: Ring of Infinite Gems

Quest Guards

9, 88, 0 - Quest Guard
Proposal Message
The guards here say they have orders to only let Tark pass. Quest: Be Tark the Captain
Progress Message
The guards here will only let Tark pass.
Completion Message
At last, it is Tark. Do you wish to pass?

45, 44, 0 - Quest Guard
Proposal Message
The guards here say they have orders to only let Tark pass. Quest: Be Tark the Captain
Progress Message
The guards here will only let Tark pass.
Completion Message
At last, it is Tark. Do you wish to pass?

91, 0, 0 - Quest Guard
Proposal Message
The guards here say they will only let those who fly the teal flag pass. Quest: Be player
Progress Message
The guards here will only let those who fly the teal flag pass.
Completion Message
The guards note your teal flag and offer to let you pass. Do you accept?

99, 20, 0 - Quest Guard
Proposal Message
The guards here say they have orders to only let Tark pass. Quest: Be Tark the Captain
Progress Message
The guards here will only let Tark pass.
Completion Message
At last, it is Tark. Do you wish to pass?