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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... e/logo.png[/IMG]
Long ago, what are now known as the Ephemeron were drawn from the Astral Plane to serve as weapons in the lands of men. Powerful mages used magic on themselves and carefully selected "volunteers" to make the Channels, men and women with the power to direct and control the Ephemeron. In their native form when in our world, Ephemeron are undedectable by normal means, and cannot interact with the physical world. However, when given direction from a Channel using a Focus, they can take on powers and forms drawn from the Elemental or even Astral planes. Foci are stones that resonate with the Channel, literally everything, from a common pebble kicked up from the road, to the most magnificent diamond, has the potential to be a Focus to some Channel. The abilities the Ephemeron recieves and its new nature depend heavily on the Focus used.
The war that came to be known as the War of Ruin raged for three hundred years after the first Ephemeron was called into the world of man. The bloody conflict destroyed most of the major population centers of the world, and reduced the number of humans in it to a few clans struggling to survive. The war ended, because there was no one left to fight it. The few remaining Channels learned to hide their power and taught their talented children to do the same, or be persecuted and killed for their role in the war. Eventually, man forgot the bloody war and the Channels, even later generations of Channels forgot their heritage and power.
Four hundred years later, human civilization is starting to show signs of a renaissance. What were isolated clans have become kingdoms, empires, oligarchies, and theocracies. Humans once again are plentiful, but with more humans comes more conflict.
Dividing the North and the South is a jagged mountain range known as the Barrier. The best passage is through a deep valley, which has citadels dating from the days of the War of Ruin guarding each entrance. Within this lush valley is the Kingdom of Val Profunia.
Many a ruler has lusted over the Val, with its fertile fields, productive mining, and, most of all, control over the most profitable trade route in world. Yet never has a single invading soldier ever set foot in her grasses, for the Twin Citadels, raised by magic in a world that knew nothing but war, have never been breached.
To the North, the Erisus Empire has spread from the Salty Wastes to the very doorstep of the Val. The the South, the land is divided among the City-States of Atheyn, the Oligarchy of Bresnian, various small kingdoms and theocracies, and the plains, home to the Insha'ealla, the nomad barbarians.[/FONT]
Game Download (21.9 MB)[/FONT]
Long ago, what are now known as the Ephemeron were drawn from the Astral Plane to serve as weapons in the lands of men. Powerful mages used magic on themselves and carefully selected "volunteers" to make the Channels, men and women with the power to direct and control the Ephemeron. In their native form when in our world, Ephemeron are undedectable by normal means, and cannot interact with the physical world. However, when given direction from a Channel using a Focus, they can take on powers and forms drawn from the Elemental or even Astral planes. Foci are stones that resonate with the Channel, literally everything, from a common pebble kicked up from the road, to the most magnificent diamond, has the potential to be a Focus to some Channel. The abilities the Ephemeron recieves and its new nature depend heavily on the Focus used.
The war that came to be known as the War of Ruin raged for three hundred years after the first Ephemeron was called into the world of man. The bloody conflict destroyed most of the major population centers of the world, and reduced the number of humans in it to a few clans struggling to survive. The war ended, because there was no one left to fight it. The few remaining Channels learned to hide their power and taught their talented children to do the same, or be persecuted and killed for their role in the war. Eventually, man forgot the bloody war and the Channels, even later generations of Channels forgot their heritage and power.
Four hundred years later, human civilization is starting to show signs of a renaissance. What were isolated clans have become kingdoms, empires, oligarchies, and theocracies. Humans once again are plentiful, but with more humans comes more conflict.
Dividing the North and the South is a jagged mountain range known as the Barrier. The best passage is through a deep valley, which has citadels dating from the days of the War of Ruin guarding each entrance. Within this lush valley is the Kingdom of Val Profunia.
Many a ruler has lusted over the Val, with its fertile fields, productive mining, and, most of all, control over the most profitable trade route in world. Yet never has a single invading soldier ever set foot in her grasses, for the Twin Citadels, raised by magic in a world that knew nothing but war, have never been breached.
To the North, the Erisus Empire has spread from the Salty Wastes to the very doorstep of the Val. The the South, the land is divided among the City-States of Atheyn, the Oligarchy of Bresnian, various small kingdoms and theocracies, and the plains, home to the Insha'ealla, the nomad barbarians.[/FONT]
King Gradios' father King Tribunas learned of the power of the Ephemeron, and also about a blood ruby of extraordinary size that was intended to be a Focus to imbue an Ephemeron with terrible powers. Additionally, this ruby was special, crafted by magic in such a way as to be a focus for any Channel. He immediately set about trying to locate both the ruby and any surviving bloodline of channels. He feared the growing power of the Empire and the warlike city-states, and saw the Blood Ruby as a way to permanently safeguard his borders, and insure the wealth of his nation through the tariffs charged on trade goods moving through the kingdom.
A group of men, calling themselves the Templars, had been hunting and erradicating channels since their inception during the War. Their spies learned of the King's plans, and they set about thwarting him in any way they could, even allowing him to discover Channels for them, only to kill them before he could approach them. When it seemed he might be close to discovering the fate of the Blood Ruby, they assasinated him.
Gradios, though only a child at the time, had been entrusted with some of his father's plans. He, along with his childhood friend and advisor Teirias, continued the search for the Blood Ruby and a surviving Channel. It was a stroke of luck that he discovered Soramir, an orphan and a mercenary, whose parents and siblings had been killed by the Templars when he was a child, ambushed as they traveled to a spring fair. Soramir was spared because he was small enough as the youngest child for his mother to hide inside a secret compartment inside their house wagon, and was taken in by a passing mercenary troop to do menial chores. Later, he took up a blade and began his own career as a mercenary. He moved up the ranks, and eventually was given command of the mounted units.
He would have gone undiscovered, save for his parents' Ephemeron, which had followed him since his family's death. Soramir was aware of them, but since no one else could see the ghostly cat and hawk that followed him about, he said nothing of them, for fear of being branded insane by his companions. However, to one attuned to magic, the presence of Ephemeron is unmistakable, and a passing mage noted them and sold the information to Teirias.
Gradios did not want to draw attention to his discovery, fearing that Soramir would be killed before he could get him. Soramir was not ideal, either, having no training in the magical arts and being too old to receive it. Thus, he devised a rather Machiavellan plan. He hired a disreputable group of "mercenaries" (bandits who would plunder for pay), and instructed them to attack a village near the border, being sure to burn the fields. When the villagers applied to him for aid, he regretfully informed them that the royal army was off doing bandit erradication elsewhere, but graciously provided the funds for the village to hire a company of mercenaries to clear out the problem. He also promised relief supplies to see the village through the winter.
After the mercenaries arrived and routed the bandits, Gradios made plans to gift lands and funds to the leaders of the companies, especially to Soramir. What he didn't count on was his sister Stefanie insisting on bringing the food supplies to the village herself. The bandits, furious about the betrayal by their employer, attacked her convoy with the intent to kill or capture her. Soramir, being on patrol in the area, arrived just in time to save her.
Gradios immediately seized the opportunity, and ennobled Soramir. Soramir and Stefanie fell deeply in love, and were married, Soramir now being of appropriate rank. When their first child, Alyx, was still a toddler, he had Teirias declare he saw magical potential in her, and order her training in the magical arts. He did the same for the twins, Niki and Dominic, in case Alyx was unsuitable. His precautions paid off when the Ephemeron which had followed Soramir for so long attached themselves instead to the infant twins.
Many years passed, and while Gradios now had a Channel bloodline of his very own, he had not yet found the Blood Ruby. Teirias became impatient, and began leaving to personally search for its whereabouts. Finally, the advisor sent word that he was close, but then correspondence stopped. Gradios was not willing to entrust something so important to another, and went personally to discover what had become of his friend, and what he had discovered before going silent.
Gradios's son, Aeron, upon discovering his father's disappearance, declared that his father had fallen ill, and ran the country as best he could in the King's abscence. However, the Empire to the South had somehow bypassed the Southern Citadel, and took the capital itself. As our story opens, Princess Alyx and her siblings are trying to escape Nataria Castle before they are taken captive or killed.
A group of men, calling themselves the Templars, had been hunting and erradicating channels since their inception during the War. Their spies learned of the King's plans, and they set about thwarting him in any way they could, even allowing him to discover Channels for them, only to kill them before he could approach them. When it seemed he might be close to discovering the fate of the Blood Ruby, they assasinated him.
Gradios, though only a child at the time, had been entrusted with some of his father's plans. He, along with his childhood friend and advisor Teirias, continued the search for the Blood Ruby and a surviving Channel. It was a stroke of luck that he discovered Soramir, an orphan and a mercenary, whose parents and siblings had been killed by the Templars when he was a child, ambushed as they traveled to a spring fair. Soramir was spared because he was small enough as the youngest child for his mother to hide inside a secret compartment inside their house wagon, and was taken in by a passing mercenary troop to do menial chores. Later, he took up a blade and began his own career as a mercenary. He moved up the ranks, and eventually was given command of the mounted units.
He would have gone undiscovered, save for his parents' Ephemeron, which had followed him since his family's death. Soramir was aware of them, but since no one else could see the ghostly cat and hawk that followed him about, he said nothing of them, for fear of being branded insane by his companions. However, to one attuned to magic, the presence of Ephemeron is unmistakable, and a passing mage noted them and sold the information to Teirias.
Gradios did not want to draw attention to his discovery, fearing that Soramir would be killed before he could get him. Soramir was not ideal, either, having no training in the magical arts and being too old to receive it. Thus, he devised a rather Machiavellan plan. He hired a disreputable group of "mercenaries" (bandits who would plunder for pay), and instructed them to attack a village near the border, being sure to burn the fields. When the villagers applied to him for aid, he regretfully informed them that the royal army was off doing bandit erradication elsewhere, but graciously provided the funds for the village to hire a company of mercenaries to clear out the problem. He also promised relief supplies to see the village through the winter.
After the mercenaries arrived and routed the bandits, Gradios made plans to gift lands and funds to the leaders of the companies, especially to Soramir. What he didn't count on was his sister Stefanie insisting on bringing the food supplies to the village herself. The bandits, furious about the betrayal by their employer, attacked her convoy with the intent to kill or capture her. Soramir, being on patrol in the area, arrived just in time to save her.
Gradios immediately seized the opportunity, and ennobled Soramir. Soramir and Stefanie fell deeply in love, and were married, Soramir now being of appropriate rank. When their first child, Alyx, was still a toddler, he had Teirias declare he saw magical potential in her, and order her training in the magical arts. He did the same for the twins, Niki and Dominic, in case Alyx was unsuitable. His precautions paid off when the Ephemeron which had followed Soramir for so long attached themselves instead to the infant twins.
Many years passed, and while Gradios now had a Channel bloodline of his very own, he had not yet found the Blood Ruby. Teirias became impatient, and began leaving to personally search for its whereabouts. Finally, the advisor sent word that he was close, but then correspondence stopped. Gradios was not willing to entrust something so important to another, and went personally to discover what had become of his friend, and what he had discovered before going silent.
Gradios's son, Aeron, upon discovering his father's disappearance, declared that his father had fallen ill, and ran the country as best he could in the King's abscence. However, the Empire to the South had somehow bypassed the Southern Citadel, and took the capital itself. As our story opens, Princess Alyx and her siblings are trying to escape Nataria Castle before they are taken captive or killed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ccoa0/Escape/alyx.png[/IMG]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... e/Alyx.png[/IMG]Alyx[/FONT]
Age: 17
Weapons: Dual Daggers
Starting Class: Combat Mage
Second in line to the throne, a young mage. She is supposed to be studying support and curative magics, but gained her father's permission to study combat magics, instead. She's a bit of a tomboy, and studies the more "manly" arts, including battle strategy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... ominic.png[/IMG]Dominic[/FONT]
Age: 10
Weapons: Small Swords
Starting Class: Channel
Starting Focus: Obsidian (Firebird)
Third in line to the throne, Alyx's younger brother. A Channel, or one who can control Ephemeron. A rather active youngster, always climbing trees and dirtying his good clothes. His ephemeron takes avian forms.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... /Nicci.png[/IMG]Nicci[/FONT]
Age: 10
Weapons: Blunt Weapons
Starting Class: Channel
Starting Focus: River Quartz (Skogkat)
Fourth in line to the throne, and Dominic's twin sister. Also a Channel. More or less the opposite of Dominic, she is reserved and prefers needlework and figures to being outside. Her ephemeron takes feline forms.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... pe/Zil.png[/IMG]Zil[/FONT]
Age: 53
Weapons: Swords
Starting Class: Swordmaster
The head of the Shield, a groupd of elite swordsmen who guard the royal family. He is a no-nonsense man who is deadly with his sword, although he is slowing down in his later years.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... Dallin.png[/IMG]Dallin[/FONT]
Age: 18
Weapons: Daggers
Starting Class: Thief
A renowned young thief, who is currently residing in Nataria's dungeons awaiting execution. He was framed by a woman who wished to be rid of her husband. She hired him to rob her own house, claiming it as another's, then killed her husband before he arrived and alerted the guard.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... /Thorn.png[/IMG]Thorne[/FONT]
Age: 26
Weapons: Battle Axes
Starting Class: Fighter - Axe
A hothead who is a member of the elite shock troops of the kingdom. As yet untested in battle, but there are few who are his equal with an axe. Is trusted by Zero to lead mock attacks against the royal family in order to test their readiness to avoid assasination.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... Leanne.png[/IMG]Leanne[/FONT]
Age: 24
Weapons: Lances
Starting Class: Fighter - Lance
Bright and sunny, Leanne is a close friend of Alyx's, and a member of the light cavalry. Despite her skill with a lance, she'd rather have a stick of charcoal in hand to draw.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... lyanna.png[/IMG]Alyanna[/FONT]
Age: 25
Weapons: Magic Crests
Starting Class: Astral Mage
A member of the Shield, and a talented mage. Takes both her job and her play very seriously, and considers herself a connoseir of men.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... e/Alyx.png[/IMG]Alyx[/FONT]
Age: 17
Weapons: Dual Daggers
Starting Class: Combat Mage
Second in line to the throne, a young mage. She is supposed to be studying support and curative magics, but gained her father's permission to study combat magics, instead. She's a bit of a tomboy, and studies the more "manly" arts, including battle strategy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... ominic.png[/IMG]Dominic[/FONT]
Age: 10
Weapons: Small Swords
Starting Class: Channel
Starting Focus: Obsidian (Firebird)
Third in line to the throne, Alyx's younger brother. A Channel, or one who can control Ephemeron. A rather active youngster, always climbing trees and dirtying his good clothes. His ephemeron takes avian forms.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... /Nicci.png[/IMG]Nicci[/FONT]
Age: 10
Weapons: Blunt Weapons
Starting Class: Channel
Starting Focus: River Quartz (Skogkat)
Fourth in line to the throne, and Dominic's twin sister. Also a Channel. More or less the opposite of Dominic, she is reserved and prefers needlework and figures to being outside. Her ephemeron takes feline forms.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... pe/Zil.png[/IMG]Zil[/FONT]
Age: 53
Weapons: Swords
Starting Class: Swordmaster
The head of the Shield, a groupd of elite swordsmen who guard the royal family. He is a no-nonsense man who is deadly with his sword, although he is slowing down in his later years.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... Dallin.png[/IMG]Dallin[/FONT]
Age: 18
Weapons: Daggers
Starting Class: Thief
A renowned young thief, who is currently residing in Nataria's dungeons awaiting execution. He was framed by a woman who wished to be rid of her husband. She hired him to rob her own house, claiming it as another's, then killed her husband before he arrived and alerted the guard.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... /Thorn.png[/IMG]Thorne[/FONT]
Age: 26
Weapons: Battle Axes
Starting Class: Fighter - Axe
A hothead who is a member of the elite shock troops of the kingdom. As yet untested in battle, but there are few who are his equal with an axe. Is trusted by Zero to lead mock attacks against the royal family in order to test their readiness to avoid assasination.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... Leanne.png[/IMG]Leanne[/FONT]
Age: 24
Weapons: Lances
Starting Class: Fighter - Lance
Bright and sunny, Leanne is a close friend of Alyx's, and a member of the light cavalry. Despite her skill with a lance, she'd rather have a stick of charcoal in hand to draw.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... lyanna.png[/IMG]Alyanna[/FONT]
Age: 25
Weapons: Magic Crests
Starting Class: Astral Mage
A member of the Shield, and a talented mage. Takes both her job and her play very seriously, and considers herself a connoseir of men.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ccoa0/Screens/Untitled-1-4.png[/IMG]
Good things might happen to you if you change the water levels
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... ed-1-2.png[/IMG]
Don't get singed!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... tled-1.png[/IMG]
This monster is blocking the path. How are we to pass?
Good things might happen to you if you change the water levels
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... ed-1-2.png[/IMG]
Don't get singed!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ ... tled-1.png[/IMG]
This monster is blocking the path. How are we to pass?
Game Download (21.9 MB)[/FONT]
This game is a stand-alone dungeon created for the Dungeon Challenge (now erased). It is unlikely to be continued at this point.
I have been told some of the puzzles are quite challenging, so here is some help:
I have been told some of the puzzles are quite challenging, so here is some help:
Q: I filled in all the water, and now I'm stuck. My other character can't enter because of the water levels. How do I proceed?
Q: Okay, good enough. Now both parties are stuck. What do I do now?
Advance with the other party through Bacilli Terra (Earth Cave). You'll reach a point where you can lower the water levels, freeing the other party.
Q: Okay, good enough. Now both parties are stuck. What do I do now?
Push the bridge into the water. The Bacilli Terra party can now go an unlock the door for the Bacilli Fons party.
Q: These pipes are driving me crazy! What the ^$#@% am I supposed to do?
Q: What am I supposed to do in the room with the catwalks and the monster blocking the way?
You need to reproduce the three notes you heard playing in the first room. Making the pipe longer makes a lower note, shorter makes a higher note
You can do it with pipes 2, 3, and 5, counting from the bottom up, or left to right with the switches.
Gave up already? Okay, okay. On pipe 5 (highest one), have the lower left switch pointing to the left, and the upper right pointing down. On pipe 3, have both switches pointing left. On pipe 2, have the leftmost switch point right, and the rightmost switch point up. Go to the upper room, and push the switches in this order: 5 2 3
Q: What am I supposed to do in the room with the catwalks and the monster blocking the way?
Push all the rocks down at the points the glows are. Then switch to the other party and go through Bacilli Flamma (Fire Cave) until you reach the room you can see below you.
Q: What am I supposed to do in the room with the fire jets?
First, take a party through Bacilli Ventosus (Wind Cave) and push down the rocks you need. Then block every fire jet except the one in the top right (you could expirement with blocking all but one of the others, you just might find something 
).
).
