You find yourself in E1M1

[Shadowswift]

[[Continued]]

You return to the USMC's new HQ and look around for Phoenix. You show him the C4 and ask him if he can put together a detonator for you.
"Well...I could, but not with what you're offering me. I'd need some kind of radio transmitter and some receivers for the C4 to make them detonate...but why bother? Just pop a rocket at it, that'll set it off." Huh...why didn't you think of that? You thank Phoenix, and track down the DKC and Darkscythe to get them ready to head out.

>After some meditation, you decide that you, in fact, are sure you want to pursue the quest: Deal with the Devil. But after you uncover the secrets of The Force.

Yeah...you're probably right. You will inevitably have to fight a being with godly powers. Might be in your best interest to make sure you have a being with godly (well, UN-godly) powers on your side. If you happen upon any Black Candles, you'll make sure to save them.

> head back and ask Velen about finding unholy altars

You state your inquiry to Velen.
"Well, I remember a couple of them in The Pain Maze. They were defiled by someone some time back, but they should still be able to serve your purpose...if that's what you really want to do." You ask him what he means. "Dark powers are nothing to fool around with, my master. The Elder God Shub-Niggurath was known as the Hell Queen. Though she was not actually in league with the forces of Hell, she was extremely skilled with Hell magic, and a very powerful entity. Remember, it was her that originally incited the Slipgate Wars." You aren't quite sure if you understand what he's trying to tell you. You ask him what his point is. "Hell Magic damages the soul, Ray. If you use it, it may do more harm to you than good. It could turn you into something you are trying to fight against." You turn away from him.
"I appreciate your advice, Velen...but remember, I've been down that road once already. I've already been consumed by dark magic that turned me into the very thing I swore to destroy. My heart has grown considerably stronger since then, perhaps thanks to Phoenix's Lightspark Rifle. Though it will be forever a part of me since the moment I wrapped my hand around that cursed Shadow Crystal, the Darkness has no hold over me...and even though it was the Light from Phoenix's gun that set me free, Light has no say-so over my actions, either. I fight with both, but belong to neither. I will use The Dark One and his power to serve my needs. However, I will never serve him." Velen is inspired by your strength.
"I will support you in your endeavor, then...my master." You slash a portal to Fallen HQ and step through.

[Loading]

You find yourself, once again, in the Bailey. You head toward the very center and dig a small hole in the dirt. You stuff the C4 into the small hole, then run. You take out your Firewall Missile Launcher and pump a rocket into it. You aim the gun, hold your breath, and fire. An earth-shattering explosion rocks the Bailey as dirt and debris rain down on you. You look up after the chaos settles. You notice a neat little crater where the C4 was. Great! Now for round two. You chunk another bundle into the middle of the crater, and take cover again. You take out your Grenade Gun and lob a grenade into the crater. The grenade plinks against the ground as it falls into the crater.
3...
2...
1...
Another monstrous explosion shatters the eerie calm of the Bailey. Round three, rinse and repeat. Another C4 and another rocket later, and the crater is a few feet deeper. Last one. You hope it's enough. If not, you may have to dig the rest of the way. You throw the bundle into the crater, say a little prayer, then lob another grenade. After the huge kaboom and rain of debris, you check the crater. Shit! Still havent' broken through! The hole is only about 15 feet deep! You're gonna have to dig the rest of the way. You consider letting Darkscythe do it. He looks like he's more suited for digging with those claws of his than you or Velen. Merrily, he hops down into the hole and begins his task. He seems happy that he's actually able to be of some use.
"This may take a while. He has a lot of earth to move. Perhaps we should do something in the meantime, sire?"


>

[foq]

>Get Phoenix to hang with Darkscythe while you and Velen search for black candles, and an Unholy Altar. Take Ted and SFX as well.

[H1CC]

Ray was here

Mission Stages
..
->Write down a list of the side missions so you can keep them organized
->Get rotating steel blades for Ted (you promised! )
->Make a memorial to Protos
->Ask everybody at the base 'Have you got any gwapes'


Get Sorted
..
->etch 'Ray was here' into the wall of the underground datacenter
->Write down the current date in the wall with your axe every time you enter a level you haven't been to since you woke up in E1M1 from now on
->Take out all your supplies and categorize them -- runeskeys, Weapons, Ammo, assorted inventory, and systems-related items (Grapple, Scythe, Powerups etc.)
->Get a better backpack. And stuff items in better sorted pockets.


Runes Boon
..
->send fourth of the four elemantal runes (Earth) to Scribe Irish for examination
->Have Velen train Ray in sword-fighting
->See if you can't emulate a copy of the Reaper's scyrhe with Slipgate portaling technology back at HQ for Phoenix
->Holster scythe to your Grappling Hook so you can speed-scythe in midair to gain a leg up on high-positioned, flying, or fast-moving enemies


Chess Strogg
..
->Chess Tournament with Ray, Phoenix, Velen, DarkSCythe, SFX, Ted, Irish, Cpt. Dirkus (what'shisname with the fishy Rapier implants), and Engineering & Research Department
->Start a Quake II tourney claiming it's because the Chess Tourney is boring (but keep one eye on the game board)
->Sneak past and steal the former commander's Rapier -- and take a look at those chips -- by distracting the base members (including him) during the Quake II Tournament and invite Irish to come with you
->Stuff chips into the burlap sack (along with a bunch of pencils and paper and shiny souveneir rocks and junk in it so it's hard to tell anthing important's been put in it) and take it back to a private lab for analysis


Divided Conquering
..
->Have DarkScythe, Velen, and Ray restore the fallen shadowy portions of Earth
->Scythe Phoenix, SFX, and Ted into the Sewage system and go hunting for candles in from the slipgate to The Elder God Shrine up through Hell's Atrium
->Instruct Phoneix, SFX, and Ted to Hell's Atriium -- SKIP the entrance to the Nameless City -- go straight to the Pain Maze
->Keep Phoenix on console link in case he gets in over his head

[Shadowswift]

>Get Phoenix to hang with Darkscythe while you and Velen search for black candles, and an Unholy Altar. Take Ted and SFX as well.

You tell Velen to hold ground here for a bit.
"Yes, my lord."
You radio Phoenix and have him assemble a team of no more than four of the beefiest, burliest Enforcers he can gather...and tell them to pack spades. You also tell him to have SFX with him.
"Sure thing, boss...can I ask why?"
You inform the lieutenant that he, in fact, DID just ask why, then quickly close communication...just to screw with him. With a smirk on your face, you scythe back to E1M1 to collect him and the team he's assembled.

[Are we there yet?]

As you arrive, you see four large men rushing toward the courtyard with spades on their backs. You follow them. As they exit the building into the courtyard, they line up in front of Phoenix and SFX. You approach behind them. They turn, and simultaneously salute you. You at ease them.
"Ah, there you are, sir. So, what are we doing?" You stand next to Phoenix, in front of the four men.
"Men, you will be aiding my friend Darkscythe in a digging operation. Once the digging is complete, you will be the first wave of soldiers responsible for recapturing Fallen HQ by holding and securing the Bailey. The LT here will be your CO in this op. Let's move." You slash a portal open and order the men to file through and regroup on the other side. You follow them through.

[Your ad here]

When you arrive in the Bailey, you order the men to assist Darkscythe with the digging and moving the dirt. Four large men and one small fiend...should take them about 45 minutes to breach through...that is, if the Data Storage Room is as deep below ground as you estimate it to be. You tell Darkscythe that you're leaving him here until you get back. He grumbles a bit under his breath as he shovels dirt out of the pit. You tell Phoenix to keep things in order and if the Shadows decide to make a move on him to radio you immediately. No heroics.
"Yes, sir. I won't do anything stupid."

Darkscythe has left your party.

You turn to SFX and tell him that he's with you now. Ted climbs aboard and buckles himself in.
"Hey, Floaty! I missed you, buddy! It's more fun to float around on you than it is to ride around on Dahkscythe."

SFX has joined your party!

You signal to Velen that it's time to head out. He walks over to you and stands by you.
"I guess we'll start in the Pain Maze. At least we can locate the Alters. Maybe we'll find some candles while we're there." You raise your scythe and picture the Pain Maze in your mind. The entrance is the only part that you can vaguely remember. As you lower the scythe, a sparking portal appears. "...why is it sparking?"
"The Pain Maze is in very close proximity to Azure Agony, a place heavily laden with arcane magic. The reverberation from the arcane flows is probably causing disruption to your portal. It should be perfectly safe, though." You raise an eyebrow. Should be...?

[[To Be Continued]]

[Shadowswift]

Mission Stages
..
->Write down a list of the side missions so you can keep them organized
->Get rotating steel blades for Ted (you promised! )
->Make a memorial to Protos
->Ask everybody at the base 'Have you got any gwapes'


Get Sorted
..
->etch 'Ray was here' into the wall of the underground datacenter
->Write down the current date in the wall with your axe every time you enter a level you haven't been to since you woke up in E1M1 from now on
->Take out all your supplies and categorize them -- runeskeys, Weapons, Ammo, assorted inventory, and systems-related items (Grapple, Scythe, Powerups etc.)
->Get a better backpack. And stuff items in better sorted pockets.


Runes Boon
..
->send fourth of the four elemantal runes (Earth) to Scribe Irish for examination
->Have Velen train Ray in sword-fighting
->See if you can't emulate a copy of the Reaper's scyrhe with Slipgate portaling technology back at HQ for Phoenix
->Holster scythe to your Grappling Hook so you can speed-scythe in midair to gain a leg up on high-positioned, flying, or fast-moving enemies


Chess Strogg
..
->Chess Tournament with Ray, Phoenix, Velen, DarkSCythe, SFX, Ted, Irish, Cpt. Dirkus (what'shisname with the fishy Rapier implants), and Engineering & Research Department
->Start a Quake II tourney claiming it's because the Chess Tourney is boring (but keep one eye on the game board)
->Sneak past and steal the former commander's Rapier -- and take a look at those chips -- by distracting the base members (including him) during the Quake II Tournament and invite Irish to come with you
->Stuff chips into the burlap sack (along with a bunch of pencils and paper and shiny souveneir rocks and junk in it so it's hard to tell anthing important's been put in it) and take it back to a private lab for analysis


Divided Conquering
..
->Have DarkScythe, Velen, and Ray restore the fallen shadowy portions of Earth
->Scythe Phoenix, SFX, and Ted into the Sewage system and go hunting for candles in from the slipgate to The Elder God Shrine up through Hell's Atrium
->Instruct Phoneix, SFX, and Ted to Hell's Atriium -- SKIP the entrance to the Nameless City -- go straight to the Pain Maze
->Keep Phoenix on console link in case he gets in over his head

[[Whoa, how did I not see all of this? Um...hm...welll, I'll try to work it in somehow. Some of it anyway.]]

[foq]

hello

[ImperiusDamian]

> get help from Microsoft... Windows 8 should incapacitate Shadow tech nicely...

[Shadowswift]

[One of my new years resolutions, to write this out more regularly and finally finish it.]

[Shadowswift]

The Pain Maze. The air in here smells awful. The dark side of you senses terrible corruption within this place. You've been here before. You can vaguely remember your way around, but you don't remember getting such an evil vibe. The air around you seems to shock you and strike at you, though you can't see anything, or anyone, that could do that. Velen rests a large hand on your right shoulder pauldron.
"Don't let it alarm you, master. It's just the arcane." You ask him why you don't remember feeling this the last time you were here. "Well, sire, you are considerably more powerful now than you were then. You're senses are more fine-tuned to such things." Hm...you guess so. Well, now to the task at hand. You prepare to head out, but just as you take your first step, you console begins to vibrate powerfully. You check the screen to see the RADAR function going off the chain. So that's why you felt such corruption in this place. This place is crawling with hostiles! Well, as much fun as it would be to go in guns blazing, it might be in your best interest to take a more stealthy approach. Hm. You think you can slip by the first patrol and take the secret passageway to the closest alter...but you don't have any black candles. There are a few candles near by, but they aren't black. Pfft....you don't suppose black food coloring or even fabric dye works on wax...not that you have any. You'll have to think of something else, or find some candles that are already black. Oh, wait, incoming call. It's Phoenix.
"Captain, we need your help. Darkscythe broke through, but fell in! We'll have to go in after him and rescue him, but you told us not to make a move without you! Get here quick!" Crap. Well, this will have to wait. You zip back to the Bailey and inspect the damage. The blast site now looks like a sink hole. The hole is dark and you can't see the bottom. You get your Maglite out and the Chromaspark. You grapple down into the hole and look around. You've found the data storage room. Your intel was correct. Some good news for once. No sign of Darkscythe.
"Might be a trap, sir." Phoenix eyeballs around cautiously. You sniff the air. It's dank, and dusty...smells a little like an old, humid castle. Odd. HQ has only been abandoned for a couple of weeks. It should smell more like electricity, technology, and clean machinery. The Shadows must've been hard at work turning this place into their own habitat. You aren't really interested in taking it back at the moment. You're just here for the Ancient Libram. Once you've routed out The Master, you can come back and clean this place out. Ok, so you've made landfall and taken ground. Now, you've gotta find Darkscythe and that Libram. Also, keep your eyes out for any black candles. Now git!

>

[foq]

>Go look for Darkscythe and the book

[Shadowswift]

>Go look for Darkscythe and the book

[[OMG HAI!!!]]

You step quietly through the data room. Frost accompanies your breath as it escapes your lips indicating that it's quite cold in this room. Normally, rooms with large volumes of computers tend to be cold to keep the equipment from overheating, but there's no power in here to power such equipment or an AC unit for that matter. Aside from that, no mere AC unit could generate this kind of temperature. It's like winter indoors. Relying on what you kept from your recent corruption, you utilize your grasp of Shadow magic to see through the darkness without the need for a light. You alert your men above to hold ground and await further orders. You draw your scythe and sniff about. There are a few doors open, but some remain closed. They won't open without power. You follow what seems to be a pretty set pathway from the underground data room to a stairwell that leads to the main level. You feel for vibrations from your console's RADAR in case your Dark senses fail to locate an enemy before it does. Once at the top of the stairwell, you begin to feel them out. A handful of rather strong Shadows stand ahead of you. Likely, they know you are here. You can feel that they are not moving, that they are holding perfectly still. You consider this fact as you contemplate what they might be waiting for...

They're snipers. They're waiting for you to round the corner so that they can open fire. Hm. You can count on your cloak to cover much of the damage, and your natural resistance to Shadow damage to drink even more, but there's always the issue of alerting more enemies...and if there are going to be more of them, you'd like to try and take as little damage as all possible. Besides, judging by the vibe you get from them (noting earlier that they are rather strong) they may cause more damage than you are prepared to handle. You consider your options. What would be the best way to clear them out without breaking cover? Can it be done? Even better, can it be done in a quiet-like manner??

>

[MadGypsy]

>Use Hare Krishna or whatever it's called (summin Ken) to *burn the eyeballs out of the snipers and then run like hell

*the super bright flash should narrow from the receiving to sending end of the scope, causing a pinpoint laser to boil their pupils, hence blinding them, giving you time to run.

[foq]

>Kaio-Ken

[MadGypsy]

@foq - ya lol I remembered a few hours after I posted but I thought playing stupid and leaving it hare krishna was funnier.

[Shadowswift]

>Use Hare Krishna or whatever it's called (summin Ken) to *burn the eyeballs out of the snipers and then run like hell

*the super bright flash should narrow from the receiving to sending end of the scope, causing a pinpoint laser to boil their pupils, hence blinding them, giving you time to run.

You consider the possibilities as well as the downfalls. Hmm. Your kaio-ken skill is only 5. You may end up hurting yourself if you try to use it. The flaming red aura generated by the ability also isn't all that bright, but in this abyssally dark place, it might not need to be. You then consider the Shadows. You remember the first time you saw one's face up close back at E1M1. It didn't have pupils, or even eyes for that matter. Finally, you consider the highly probable possibility that they know where you are and are waiting for you to round the corner. The moment you do, they will open fire. Might not hurt that much, but then again, these could be a kind of Shadow that you haven't encountered yet. They might cause more damage than the garden variety. You start to speculate that a sneaky approach may not be possible. You'd really like to go in guns blazing, but if they have Darkscythe captive, they could use him as leverage against you.


>