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|   | <helpfile>  |   | <helpfile>  | 
| − | Tome of Fathmori Legends
  | + |    | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  | + |  | 
| − | Chapter 1. Legend of Fathmori Lovelette Jovanavuc
  | + |  | 
| − | Chapter 2. The Seed of Njor
  | + |  | 
| − | Chapter 3. The War of the Black Rose
  | + |  | 
| − | Chapter 4. The Cleansing
  | + |  | 
| − | Chapter 5. The Rise of Degrance II
  | + |  | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  | + |  | 
|   | Appendix 1. Gods, Goddesses, and Major Powers  |   | Appendix 1. Gods, Goddesses, and Major Powers  | 
|   | Appendix 2. Demons, Devils, and the Lower Realms  |   | Appendix 2. Demons, Devils, and the Lower Realms  | 
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|   | Appendix 8. Legendary Relics and Artifacts  |   | Appendix 8. Legendary Relics and Artifacts  | 
|   | ------------------------------------------------------------------------  |   | ------------------------------------------------------------------------  | 
| − | 
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-2a_2="Although godlike in her presence, Tiamat is barely a shadow of Takhisis's
  |   | 
| − | true self, and her true power.  Only when the great travelers visit the
  |   | 
| − | House of the Dragon, when Takhisis's power is at its greatest, does the
  |   | 
| − | dragon queen become so bold as to visit the mortal realm in her godly form.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-2a_1="Massoulette, a renowned historian, theorizes that Takhisis did not return
  |   | 
| − | to the outer realms in total defeat.  Hypothesizing that she knew her armies
  |   | 
| − | could not withstand an onslaught without the aid of her lover Mishakal,
  |   | 
| − | Takhisis allowed herself to be vanquished, leaving behind a permanent
  |   | 
| − | means for her to return to this world.  She planted a seed in the bowels
  |   | 
| − | of Dragon Mountain where was born her avatar likeness, Tiamat.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-1_title="Page 1-1. Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux, The Breath of Death
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-1_1="The oldest of the old gods known to have ever existed, Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux
  |   | 
| − | ruled the world of Jord in a fury of chaos and destruction that rained
  |   | 
| − | across the planet for countless eons.  With the arrival of the new gods,
  |   | 
| − | Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux witnessed the creation of mortals, which pleased him.
  |   | 
| − | Through all the efforts of the mortals to tame the planet, he found great
  |   | 
| − | joy in causing them pain and despair.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-1_2="After much turmoil, pain and suffering by mortals, the new gods finally
  |   | 
| − | saw fit to give the mortals the tools and knowledge they needed to face down
  |   | 
| − | the God of Chaos and take Jord for themselves.  Defeating his many legions
  |   | 
| − | of undead and demons, the mortals finally banished Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux to
  |   | 
| − | the outer realms beyond the reach of shadows.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | Page 1-1a. Modern History of Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux, The Breath of Death
  |   | 
| − | Page 1-1b. Legends of Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux, The Breath of Death
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | To read a page type 'read page 1-1a', 'read page 1-1b', etc.";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-1a_title="Page 1-1a. Modern History of Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux, The Breath of Death
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-1a_1="More recently, Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux was once again summoned from his
  |   | 
| − | banishment by the Mage Lord Bazg.  Great heroes rose up to fight the
  |   | 
| − | onslaught of the Breath of Death, and after much death and great effort
  |   | 
| − | managed to once again banish the god to his prison in the outer realms.
  |   | 
| − | The portal through which the great elder god was summoned remained
  |   | 
| − | open however, giving Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux the ability to gain access to
  |   | 
| − | the land of Jord during the time in which the four wanders align in the
  |   | 
| − | Ancient Darkness.  It is during this time that Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux is at
  |   | 
| − | his most powerful and his followers are able to summon him from beyond
  |   | 
| − | where the shadows linger.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-1b_title="Page 1-1b. Legends of Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux, The Breath of Death
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-1b_1="Many historians believe the people of the Diabolan Valley still worship
  |   | 
| − | this ancient god.  The final battle between the ancient Celestials took
  |   | 
| − | place at the peak of the icy mountain on which the modern day fortress
  |   | 
| − | resides.  Further evidence supports this point of view when modern heroes
  |   | 
| − | once again fought the Breath of Death within the confines of the fortress.
  |   | 
| − | Although unproven, and always met with skepticism, Massoulette (a prominent
  |   | 
| − | historian and relic hunter) has written many texts about the possibility of
  |   | 
| − | Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux's icy heart carrying the power to bestow a mortal with
  |   | 
| − | the power of the shadows.  This claim is impossible to prove, as
  |   | 
| − | Massoulette goes on to state that only in the gods physical form can one
  |   | 
| − | tear the heart from the god's body.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-2_title="Page 1-2. Takhisis, Goddess of Evil Dragons
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-2_1="The evil of Takhisis ruled over all that dwells in the shadows for eons
  |   | 
| − | before the gods retired back into the outer realms.  Powerful and
  |   | 
| − | prideful, the evil dragon goddess at first refused to accept the ruling
  |   | 
| − | of the pantheon of gods.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-2_2="As such, the Dragon Goddess was forcefully removed from the mortal realm
  |   | 
| − | through an epic war so old that history has all but forgotten its existence.
  |   | 
| − | The War of the Dragons, as it was deemed due to the nature of the
  |   | 
| − | contestants, ravaged the lands until a band of average mortals happened
  |   | 
| − | upon Takhisis's weakness - her love for the spider god Mishakal.  By
  |   | 
| − | entrapping him in a prison in the void, they distracted Takhisis long enough
  |   | 
| − | for the gods to banish the goddess to the outer realms.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | Page 1-2a. Legends of Takhisis, Goddess of Evil Dragons
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | To read a page type 'read page 1-2a', 'read page 1-2b', etc.";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-2a_title="Page 1-2a. Legends of Takhisis, Goddess of Evil Dragons
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-4_title="Page 1-4. Kzartaxen, Firenewt God of War
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-4_1="A lesser god by mortal standards and not even a full god when compared
  |   | 
| − | to other deities in the pantheon, Kzartaxen is an unusual character in
  |   | 
| − | Jared history and Fathmori legend.  The god does not even appear in any
  |   | 
| − | historical account until only a few centuries ago, when he was discovered
  |   | 
| − | deep within the Land of the Fire Newts.  A truly unglorified god to the world,
  |   | 
| − | Kzartaxen is well respected and feared by many of the lizard-ken, including
  |   | 
| − | the races of firenewts, lizard people, and other hybrid reptile races.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-4_2="Although a young, immature diety, Kzartaxen none-the-less has proven his
  |   | 
| − | wits through the centuries of his life.  Apparently knowing the limits of
  |   | 
| − | his powers and the strength of those who would seek to destroy him, the
  |   | 
| − | young god chooses to only venture forth into this realm with his would be
  |   | 
| − | slayers are cursed by the gods of Futility.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | Page 1-4a. Legends of Kzartaxen, Firenewt God of War
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | To read a page type 'read page 1-4a', 'read page 1-4b', etc.";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-4a_title="Page 1-4a. Legends of Kzartaxen, Firenewt God of War
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-4a_1="Kzartaxen is known to love his children, the firenewts, greatly, and
  |   | 
| − | rarely leaves their side.  Not considered a true, full god by the pantheon,
  |   | 
| − | Kzartaxen was not forced to enter the outer realm.  The other gods
  |   | 
| − | considered his lack of supreme intelligence and sole focus on the well-
  |   | 
| − | being of his native species to be one for little concern when it came to
  |   | 
| − | mortal interferences.  Massoulette's texts theorize that Kzartaxen was
  |   | 
| − | once a common firenewt priest ages ago, but stumbled upon a recipe for
  |   | 
| − | brewing a potion of ambrosia which bestowed immortality upon the priest.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-5_title="Page 1-5. Lucifer, The Fallen Angel
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-5_1="A young god by the standards of the pantheon, Lucifer is considered by
  |   | 
| − | many gods to be impudent and unruly, but no true threat to the balance
  |   | 
| − | of power on Jord.  Being sole-focused on corrupting mortals, but with no
  |   | 
| − | true desire to destroy them, the pantheon accepted his request to remain
  |   | 
| − | in the mortal realms along with several lesser 'good' gods as an opposing
  |   | 
| − | balance to the flow of energy.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-5_2="Given an underworld lair in Hades, Lucifer
  |   | 
| − | rules all powerful in his realm, and as part of the agreement, interferes
  |   | 
| − | with the affairs of mortals through vessels and followers only.  Still
  |   | 
| − | quite powerful by mortal standards, Lucifer's actions in the mortal realm
  |   | 
| − | are considered inconsequential compared to the likes of Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux
  |   | 
| − | or Takhisis.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | Page 1-5a.  Modern History of Lucifer, The Fallen Angel
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | To read a page type 'read page 1-5', 'read page 1-5a', etc.";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-5a_title="Page 1-5a. Modern History of Lucifer, The Fallen Angel
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_1-5a_1="Many adventurers have fought their way to Lucifer's underworld lair to
  |   | 
| − | prove their worth against the young god.  Many have succeeded, some have
  |   | 
| − | failed, but as of late, with the influx of evil karma throughout the land of
  |   | 
| − | Jord, Lucifer has gained in strength.  Feeding off the flow of corrupt mana
  |   | 
| − | and evil intentions, Satan has finally started to force the pantheon to
  |   | 
| − | take notice of his growing strength.  Although Lucifer's intentions have not
  |   | 
| − | changed, and his commitment to the original agreement has not swayed
  |   | 
| − | its course, the old gods none-the-less have begun to pay much more
  |   | 
| − | attention to his actions as of late.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-1_title="Page 2-1. Keadral, Chaos Demon
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-1_1="With origins unknown, and a history long forgotten by the mortal realm,
  |   | 
| − | the only information mortal historians can ascertain about this lost
  |   | 
| − | demon is one of rumors and gossip among spies in the Demonweb Pits.
  |   | 
| − | Seemingly unbeknownst to the rest of the Abyss, Keadral rules over the
  |   | 
| − | chaos that swells in the Underrealms.  Through intricate plans, and
  |   | 
| − | delicate persuasions, Keadral musters up undying hatreds amongst
  |   | 
| − | the other, more powerful, demons.  A minor demon himself, Keadral
  |   | 
| − | uses his influential powers of manipulation to maintain a network
  |   | 
| − | of both powerful allies to protect his interest as well as keeping his
  |   | 
| − | enemies more concerned with waging war with each other rather than
  |   | 
| − | waging war with him.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-1_2="Keadral has been spotted wandering the Demonweb Pits ocassionally
  |   | 
| − | when the constellations align in the House of Futility.  The unusual
  |   | 
| − | behavior is believed to be he result of his attempts to avoid confrontations
  |   | 
| − | with demons who may not hold him in the best graces.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-3_title="Page 2-3. Pale Night, Mother of Demons
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-3_1="One of the most ancient of all demons, and most likely the mother to
  |   | 
| − | all modern demons.  She, if one could truly call it a gender, prefers to
  |   | 
| − | remain in her own realm where her loyal mortal followers bring her
  |   | 
| − | sacrifices in the form of mortals, lesser celestials, and angles for her
  |   | 
| − | to hunt at her leisure.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-3_3="The extent of the Pale Night's power is mostly unknown, and her ability
  |   | 
| − | to travel freely from her home realm to the mortal realm is engulfed in
  |   | 
| − | mystery.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-4_title="Page 2-4. Miska, The Wolf-Spider
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-4_1="Once mighty leader of the dark armies of Takhisis, Miska became
  |   | 
| − | imprisoned in the lower levels of the Abyss during the first God Wars.
  |   | 
| − | Taken as a consort of Takhisis, then made General of her armies, Miska
  |   | 
| − | furiously fought for his Queen's glory.  A ruthless killer, vicious and
  |   | 
| − | merciless, Miska became loathed by even members of his on demon race.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-4_2="Keadral, the Chaos Demon, seeing the seething hatred boiling beneath
  |   | 
| − | the surface of the Abyss, set in motion a plan to feed off the anomosity
  |   | 
| − | growing for Takhisis and her General.  Regardless of the spite amongst the
  |   | 
| − | demons in their efforts to not allow another demon to rule the Abyss, the
  |   | 
| − | demons found greater loathing in allowing an outside deity and her bastard
  |   | 
| − | lover attain leadership.  Keadral fashioned a staff of imprisonment that,
  |   | 
| − | when stabbed through the heart of Miska, would banish him into a prison
  |   | 
| − | deep in the Abyss.  He gave this staff to the demon Orcus, who faced Miska
  |   | 
| − | in battle and felled the mighty general.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-4_3="Although Miska is imprisoned, his prison is large (as worthy of a demon).
  |   | 
| − | Restless and impatient, Miska wanders his prison void awaiting his freedom.
  |   | 
| − | Only during such times that the stars are in the House of the Dragon,
  |   | 
| − | anticipating his lover's return, or the Old Forces and Grand Struggles of
  |   | 
| − | the past lure him towards this realm is he close enough to this realm to
  |   | 
| − | be hunted by mortal bounty hunters.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | Page 2-4a. The Umbral Bolt, Guardian of the Prison of Miska
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | To read a page type 'read page 2-4a', 'read page 2-4b', etc.";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-4a_title="Page 2-4a. The Umbral Bolt, Guardian of the Prison of Miska
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-4a_1="Sitting far beneath the throne of Lolth, the prison of Miska is guarded
  |   | 
| − | by a demon guardian unlike any other on Jord.  The Umbral Bolt is a
  |   | 
| − | dreadful creature which can kill with a mere touch.  In the void
  |   | 
| − | where the bolt resides are storms of mana that brew and churn continuously.
  |   | 
| − | The bolt stores this power, limitless and infinite as it may be, until
  |   | 
| − | such time as it is needed to stop would be intruders from entering
  |   | 
| − | the object being guarded.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_2-4a_2="Extremely intelligent, the Umbral Bolt can guard more than one entrance.
  |   | 
| − | into a plane, thus many adventurers often do not find the Bolt when they
  |   | 
| − | look, but often stumble upon it unexpectedly (which is very dangerous).
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-1_title="Page 3-1. An Acid Golem
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-1_1="Created as a guardian of the Temple of the Moon, the Acid Golem is a
  |   | 
| − | benevolent creature by nature.  The constructs only mission, to protect
  |   | 
| − | that which the followers of the Moon held so dear.  Historians know not
  |   | 
| − | what this mystical item may have been, but there are speculations that
  |   | 
| − | the treasure the golem protects was a relic from the ancient Celestial
  |   | 
| − | War that ravaged the land of Jord in the beginnings of time.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | Page 3-1a. Ancient History of the Order of the Moon
  |   | 
| − | Page 3-1b. Modern History of the Acid Golem
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | To read a page type 'read page 3-1a', 'read page 3-1b', etc.";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-1a_title="Page 3-1a. Ancient History of the Order of the Moon
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-1a_1="The Order of the Moon had always been rumored to be the guardians of
  |   | 
| − | one of the relics from the Celestial War, and through countless centuries
  |   | 
| − | they protected the secret of the where-abouts of the relics. In the
  |   | 
| − | centuries following the Celestial War, many power-hungry tyrants forged
  |   | 
| − | epic battles against the Temple of the Moon.  All attempts failed under
  |   | 
| − | the might of the Order's moon magic.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-1a_2="Not until Iggwilv, the Witch Queen, sister to Lo'Morl, the then Master
  |   | 
| − | of the Knights of the Blood Rose, joined forces to destroy the Order and
  |   | 
| − | retrieve the relic once and for all.  The brother-sister duo proved to be
  |   | 
| − | more powerful than the Order could defend against, and the Temple of the
  |   | 
| − | Moon fell.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-1a_3="Yet, even in the throes of defeat, the Order of the Moon would not
  |   | 
| − | divulge the location of the Celestial Relic.  After the destruction of the
  |   | 
| − | Order, the seigers turned their attention to the Acid Golem who still stood
  |   | 
| − | vigilant over its secrets.  The battle between the seigers and the golem
  |   | 
| − | raged for days as liches, wizards, and necromancers found their powers
  |   | 
| − | useless against this mighty foe.  Finally the golem was beaten down by lowly
  |   | 
| − | zombies and their clubbed fists.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-1b_title="The Temple of the Order of the Moon now lies in ruins, inhabited by
  |   | 
| − | fiends stranded by Iggwilv and Lo'Morl when they finally gave up on the
  |   | 
| − | search for the Celestial Relic.  Even so, the regenerative powers of the
  |   | 
| − | Acid Golem allows it to regrow over time, and a few adventurers have been
  |   | 
| − | so honored to view the most masterfully built of all golems on the rare
  |   | 
| − | occasion when the great master Twivel graces the nighttime skies.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2_title="Page 3-2. An Arcane Ooze
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2_1="One of the most innovative and diabolical constructs ever to be imagined,
  |   | 
| − | the Arcane Ooze is a magic-user's worst nightmare.  Invented by Temiaget,
  |   | 
| − | of the Order of the Dark Robes and previous Master of the Black Robes in
  |   | 
| − | the Tower of High Sorcery, the Arcane Ooze became his pet project in the
  |   | 
| − | final years of his life before the Reckoning.  Created with the sole purpose
  |   | 
| − | of protecting an ancient relic left in the care of the masters of the Tower of
  |   | 
| − | High Sorcery, the Arcane Ooze continues to perform its duties to this day,
  |   | 
| − | long after the Reckoning and the destruction of its master.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | Page 3-2a.  Ancient History of An Arcane Ooze
  |   | 
| − | Page 3-2b.  Modern History of An Arcane Ooze
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | To read a page type 'read page 3-2a', 'read page 3-2b', etc.";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2a_title="Page 3-2a.  Ancient History of An Arcane Ooze
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2a_1="Not long after the Celestial War, the surviving members of the group of
  |   | 
| − | heroes who defeated Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux, The Breath of Death used their
  |   | 
| − | power and influence to open a school of magic to teach young magic-users
  |   | 
| − | the principles and morals of magic.  They named this school the Tower of
  |   | 
| − | High Sorcery, or as laymen called it The Mage Tower.  Their plan was to
  |   | 
| − | craft the skills of young magic-users and guide them in the ways to use
  |   | 
| − | their magics to serve the mortal realm.  They decided that a member
  |   | 
| − | representing the dark arts should be allowed onto the council as to keep
  |   | 
| − | a balance with the nature of mana.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2a_2="With the help of all three of the masters (of the white, of the black,
  |   | 
| − | and of the red), the Celestials entombed a single relic left over from the
  |   | 
| − | war in a secret tomb beneath the Tower.  There the relic remained
  |   | 
| − | hidden for centuries until a young necromancer named Verenestra learned
  |   | 
| − | of the relic's existence through a well-planned rumor seeded by the Mage
  |   | 
| − | Lord Bazg.  Offering Verenestra unimaginable power if the relic could be
  |   | 
| − | recovered, Bazg set into motion the destined destruction of the Tower
  |   | 
| − | of High Sorcery.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2a_3="Once the masters discovered Verenestra's plan to steal the relic, they
  |   | 
| − | elected to banish the young necromancer from the school forever.  Not
  |   | 
| − | to be discouraged, Verenestra waited and trained under the Mage Lord
  |   | 
| − | Bazg until the young necromancer was powerful enough to create an army
  |   | 
| − | of humanoids known as the dragonittes - a hybrid mutation of dragons and
  |   | 
| − | lizard-folk.  Using his army, Verenestra struck out at the Tower.  His
  |   | 
| − | army surged through the Tower's defenses, with the magically resistant
  |   | 
| − | dragonittes leading the charge.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2a_4="Backed by the unseen power of the Mage Lord Bazg, Verenestra's army
  |   | 
| − | made quick work of the Tower, destroying everything in its walls, and
  |   | 
| − | eventually destroying the walls themselves.  The Tower in ruins, and its
  |   | 
| − | defenses annihilated, Verenestra set about recovering the celestial
  |   | 
| − | relic for his master.  What the necromancer found almost cost him his life.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2b_title="Page 3-2b.  Modern History of An Arcane Ooze
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2b_1="The masters of the Tower were not such fools as to leave the relic easily
  |   | 
| − | recoverable, nor unguarded.  The dark master Temiaget created a beast
  |   | 
| − | so unimaginably evil that Verenestra very nearly lost his life to the Arcane
  |   | 
| − | Ooze that guarded the sealed vault.  The Arcane Ooze dominated the battle,
  |   | 
| − | absorbing nearly every spell Verenestra could unleash on the beast, and
  |   | 
| − | forcing the necromancer to flee for his life.  Not to be foiled, Verenestra
  |   | 
| − | set his troops about the mission of destroying the Arcane Ooze and
  |   | 
| − | retrieving the hidden relic.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-2b_2="Soon Verenestra found yet another trick Temiaget had prepared for any
  |   | 
| − | would-be thief.  When the necromancer's army returned to the underground
  |   | 
| − | vault, they found it empty, the door torn from its hinges, and the Arcane
  |   | 
| − | Ooze gone.  After muc research, Verenestra finally unlocked the secret to
  |   | 
| − | Temiaget's devious spell of protection. Verenestra discovered that the relic
  |   | 
| − | was actually inside the Arcane Ooze, being used as magical fuel to sustain
  |   | 
| − | the vile creature.  Beyond this annoyance, he also discovered from pieces
  |   | 
| − | of texts gathered from ruins that the Arcane Ooze only became visible in
  |   | 
| − | this realm during the House of Long Shadows.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-3_title="Page 3-3. Tarrasque, Chaos Incarnate
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-3_1="No historian is sure who created the Tarrasque or when or why.  Some
  |   | 
| − | believe it was a curse from the gods on mortals during a time of high
  |   | 
| − | prosperity when the world forgot about the gods and began to praise
  |   | 
| − | false priests for good fortunes.  Others believe the creature was created
  |   | 
| − | as the final act of a demented wizard eons ago as a curse on all those
  |   | 
| − | who mocked him.  Even the great Massoulette has no solid theory on
  |   | 
| − | the origins of the beast.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-3_2="The only true facts known about the Tarrasque is that of its destructive
  |   | 
| − | power, and its voracious appetite.  Luckily the beast spends the majority
  |   | 
| − | of its time sleeping somewhere deep below the icy mountains of the
  |   | 
| − | northern lands.  The beast's hunger is the only thing that awakens it from
  |   | 
| − | its slumber, and as of yet, no one has successfully mapped the Tarrasque's
  |   | 
| − | feeding schedule.  During some periods, centuries have been known to pass
  |   | 
| − | before it awakened, while during other periods, only a few decades have
  |   | 
| − | passed between sightings.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-3_3="Legend tells that the Tarrasque spends the majority of its time sleeping
  |   | 
| − | in a secret lair hidden deep inside the bowels of Jord, only to awaken
  |   | 
| − | once every undetermined number of years to wreck havoc upon the
  |   | 
| − | inhabitants of Jord.  Once the beast has its fill, it returns to its
  |   | 
| − | slumber as suddenly as it awoke.  There is no doubt, however, that when
  |   | 
| − | the Tarrasque awakens, the world is surely in great peril until its
  |   | 
| − | hunger is fed.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-4_title="Page 3-4. Umbral Bolt
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-4_1="Mystery and death surround the creature known as the Umbral Bolt.  A
  |   | 
| − | guardian created by gods to guard the lairs (and prisons) of gods, the
  |   | 
| − | Bolt knows no emotions, fears nothing, and has the ability to bring down
  |   | 
| − | armies of heroes.  Little is known about the Bolt.  Few have survived an
  |   | 
| − | encounter with the beast to report any information.  Sages who have
  |   | 
| − | investigated the aftermath of the Bolt's destruction theorize that the
  |   | 
| − | beast likely sacrifices itself to destroy those who would attempt to
  |   | 
| − | unlock whatever secret it has been ordered to guard.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-6_title="Page 3-6. Klklklpa
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-6_1="After years of rumors and innuendo about the sexual mores of Messrs Foom
  |   | 
| − | and Haupha, professors at the School of Cholemry at Bal Harbor, the truth
  |   | 
| − | has been discovered.  True to their word, the reason they left their
  |   | 
| − | previous employment had nothing to do with sex; what they left out,
  |   | 
| − | though, is that it had nothing to do with the bangs, booms, and crashes
  |   | 
| − | caused by other mages, either.  No, this was something more sinister
  |   | 
| − | indeed.  According to several different anonymous sources, the two of them
  |   | 
| − | spent years together attempting to build a more perfect golem: larger than
  |   | 
| − | usual, made of stronger materials, more durable, more intelligent, and
  |   | 
| − | more dextrous.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_3-6_2="Unfortunately they left out the part about being obediant.
  |   | 
| − | As a result, they had on their hands an abomination of a creation with
  |   | 
| − | no way to destroy it.  It was simply too strong for them to erase their
  |   | 
| − | work.  This man-made creature, this pitiable soulless thing, is now kept
  |   | 
| − | securely locked underneath a grate in the basement of their new school,
  |   | 
| − | where at least it can do no harm.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_4-3_title="Page 4-3. Baraneth, Queen of the Golden Dragons
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_4-3_1="The actual age of Baraneth is indeterminable, as is her strength.  The
  |   | 
| − | mighty Queen of the Golden Dragons is a benevolent soul, preferring
  |   | 
| − | to observe mortals from a distance rather than interact with them
  |   | 
| − | personally, as some of her younger kin feel inclined to do.  Baraneth
  |   | 
| − | only wishes to be left alone with her one weakness, which is, as with
  |   | 
| − | every dragon, her treasure.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_4-3_2="Baraneth rules a vast territory far south of the main lands on a small
  |   | 
| − | island inhabited mostly by prehistoric creatures.  Her territory, however,
  |   | 
| − | intersects with that of the Bloody Head Tribe, led by the famous ogre-
  |   | 
| − | warrior Vouhx-t.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | Page 4-3a.  Modern History of Baraneth, Queen of the Golden Dragons
  |   | 
| − | ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  |   | 
| − | To read a page type 'read page 4-3a', 'read page 4-3b', etc.";
  |   | 
| − |     page_4-3a_title="Page 4-3a.  Modern History of Baraneth, Queen of the Golden Dragons
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_4-3a_1="Baraneth cares little for the petty annoyance that is the Bloody Head
  |   | 
| − | Tribe, however, Vouhx-t sees the claim on his civilization's borders as
  |   | 
| − | a direct insult and therefore goes to great lengths to entice Baraneth's
  |   | 
| − | would-be enemies to attack her in hopes that she might be destroyed
  |   | 
| − | and his land returned to his tribe.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_4-3a_2="One such event took place only a few decades ago when Vouhx-t tricked
  |   | 
| − | a band of heroes into stealing the Dragon Queen's treasure.  After an epic
  |   | 
| − | battle, the heroes did defeat Baraneth, but not completely destroy her
  |   | 
| − | essence.  She has never quite forgiven the mortals for blindly following
  |   | 
| − | Vouhx-t's plot and attacking her, but her benevolence runs true as she
  |   | 
| − | remains tolerant of mortal activities in her lands, but has annihilated
  |   | 
| − | several groups of adventures who attempted to steal her treasure.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_5-1_title="Page 5-1. General Oth, Commander of the Undead Legions
  |   | 
| − | --------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_5-1_1="General Oth leads the legions of undead in the mortal realm of Jord.  A
  |   | 
| − | fearsome presence that has broken the morale of many troops of would be
  |   | 
| − | heroes in ages past, Oth and his legions have slaughtered many armies that
  |   | 
| − | have attempted to thrawt the plans of his lord and master, Mage Lord Bagz.
  |   | 
| − | The legions have made their home in the ancient capital of Kara'sa for
  |   | 
| − | centuries, but have remained silent in their planning until recent decades
  |   | 
| − | when long lost ancient relics have been uncovered that allow the summoning
  |   | 
| − | of Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_5-1_2="Eons ago, when the continents were as one, battles raged between the
  |   | 
| − | empire of Degrance and the vindictive King Arivan of Kara'sa.  These
  |   | 
| − | battles for surpremacy of the world ravaged the land until the Mage Bazg
  |   | 
| − | tricked an army of mortals into recovering several ancient relics that
  |   | 
| − | led to the recreation of the Armageddon Clock.  This single event destroyed
  |   | 
| − | the world, sundering the empire of Bal Harbor into several smaller
  |   | 
| − | continents and banished Lord Oth into the realm of shadows where he plots
  |   | 
| − | and plans his return to this realm when the Ancient Darkness returns.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_5-1_3="With a protective magical shell encasing Kara'sa, the aim of this
  |   | 
| − | cataclysm to shatter the world, leaving only the native Karasans to rule
  |   | 
| − | the remains and rebuild an empire in their own likeness.  This failed,
  |   | 
| − | as the gods intervened on Bal Harbor's behalf and at the last moment cast
  |   | 
| − | a spell of protection around the world to prevent the total annihilation
  |   | 
| − | of human kind.  Oth reigns over the souls lost in this epic event and,
  |   | 
| − | along with the master Mage Bazg and the ghost of King Arivan, it is their
  |   | 
| − | plan to rule the world and destroy the Degrance lineage.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_5-2_title="Page 5-2. Alhoon, The Undead Illithid
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_5-2_1="Few creatures on the planet inspire the type of fear in the minds of
  |   | 
| − | mortals than the rumors of Illithids walking the realm.  A powerful sect
  |   | 
| − | of mind controlling psionics, the illithids use mortals as laboratory
  |   | 
| − | rats to undertake their vicious experiments.  However, even with the dread
  |   | 
| − | that comes with the thought of the rumors of Illithids being true, even
  |   | 
| − | more dreadful possibility is the existance of the Illithid outcast known
  |   | 
| − | as Alhoon.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_5-2_2="The Alhoon is shunned by even its own species as an abomination.  An
  |   | 
| − | Illithid which chose to undertake a path of necromancy, the Alhoon is a
  |   | 
| − | creature which devours life and feeds off the fear it inspires.  Little is
  |   | 
| − | known about this forbodding monster other than it wanders throughout remote
  |   | 
| − | villages and settlements of humans in search of new test subjects to create
  |   | 
| − | new types of undead.  The Alhoon's sole objective is maintaining its own
  |   | 
| − | life essence by consuming the energies that course through the planet.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_6-2_title="Page 6-2. An Omnimental
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_6-2_1="Originally created to be a peace keeper between warring elemental
  |   | 
| − | factions, the Omnimentals soon grew to detest their barbaric masters,
  |   | 
| − | eventually breaking free of the containment spell that bound them.  Only a
  |   | 
| − | handful remained behind on Jord's elemental planes, sad to leave a world
  |   | 
| − | so in need of their elemental neutrality.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_6-2_2="Usually non-aggressive, these peaceful giants are nonetheless dangerous
  |   | 
| − | to all existing races on Jord.  Rumors ride wild winds about Omnimentals
  |   | 
| − | that might decide the best way to ease the warring tensions among races and
  |   | 
| − | species is to cleanse the world.  With the power to accomplish such a feat,
  |   | 
| − | many Omnimentals have been hunted down and slaughtered out of fear for the
  |   | 
| − | theorized awakening.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_6-2_3="Unlike their single-oriented elemental masters, Omnimentals have mastery
  |   | 
| − | over all elements, and weaknesses to none.  If forced to submerge, the
  |   | 
| − | Omnimental will simply rotate its element strength to join with the water
  |   | 
| − | while the fire is withdrawn into the cloudy presence of its essence.
  |   | 
| − | Omnimentals have appeared in this realm in the droves, each time the
  |   | 
| − | seasons suit them, or they are lured to this realm by the power of the
  |   | 
| − | stars.  Sages have managed to acccurately predict the appearance during
  |   | 
| − | the houses of Winter, Spring, Nature, Heat, and Sun.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_6-4_title="Page 6-4. The Were-Lord, Lupine
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_6-4_1="Every so many centuries a lycanthrope is born that is truly terrifying.
  |   | 
| − | Stronger, smarter, faster, and able to command legions of were-creatures
  |   | 
| − | that wander the land, these Were-Lords are incredibly dangerous creatures.
  |   | 
| − | Lupine is no exception.  Although young and still immature, Lupine still
  |   | 
| − | possesses the strength to unite the lycan races and form a formidable power
  |   | 
| − | for the growing evil in the land.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_6-4_2="The beast comes and goes with the wind, but there are many witnesses to
  |   | 
| − | attest to the fact that he does exist.
  |   | 
| − | ------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_6-5_title="Page 6-5. The Cave Troll, Uhhhl
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_6-5_1="Not much can be said about this meandering beast.  Stupid, even by cave
  |   | 
| − | troll standards, Uhhhl was kicked out of his tribe by his father for being
  |   | 
| − | too aggressive when he killed the slaves out of boredom.  He has been seen
  |   | 
| − | wandering the western jungles around Bal Harbor, apparently not wanting
  |   | 
| − | to wander too far from his birthplace.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-1_title="Page 7-1. The Mage Lord Bazg
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-1_1="The Mage Lord Bazg is one of the most powerful mages to ever walk the
  |   | 
| − | land of Jord.  A counsel to both King Arivan of Kara'sa and Baron Drezmir
  |   | 
| − | of the Sardaukar, Bazg is the only mortal to have ever successfully drawn
  |   | 
| − | upon the acnient magics of the Creators to summon truly unholy creatures
  |   | 
| − | into this realm.  A key figure in the Celestial War, Bazg summoned
  |   | 
| − | Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux, The Breath of Death into this realm in an attempt
  |   | 
| − | to reposition Drezmir as a legitimate ruler of Jord.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-1_2="Overwhelmed by mortal heroes from Bal Harbor, Bazg was brought down after
  |   | 
| − | weeks of fighting that very nearly sundered the world again.  Angered
  |   | 
| − | by the mage lord's inability to ensure his safe resurrection,
  |   | 
| − | Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux removed Bazg from this realm and tossed him into a
  |   | 
| − | prison to be tormented by the god until the Ancient Darkness returns.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-2_title="Page 7-2. Bolg, King of the Goblin Empire
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-2_1="A relative newcomer to the Tome of Fathmori Legends, Bolg arose from the
  |   | 
| − | ashes of a long-believed dead lineage of goblin shamans. For centuries the
  |   | 
| − | goblin communities have been unorganized and of litle concern to any of
  |   | 
| − | the other humanoid species.  With the arrival of Bolg however, the goblin
  |   | 
| − | nations are once again united under a single leader.
  |   | 
| − | As of this edition of the Tome of Fathmori, little is known about Bolg.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-4_title="Page 7-4. Tasha, Mistress of Blades
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-4_1="Originating from a long line of pirates, Tasha is the great granddaughter
  |   | 
| − | of Nygol, captain of the legendary Asheron.  In the public eye, Tasha's
  |   | 
| − | half-brother, Horto, is the captain of the pirates of the South Seas.
  |   | 
| − | However, among all those concerned within the pirate ranks, Tasha is the
  |   | 
| − | true leader of the pirates.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-4_2="A dominant woman, fierce in battle, and stronger of will than almost any
  |   | 
| − | sea-going man, Tasha rules the South Seas with a strong arm that wields
  |   | 
| − | the Saber of the Heavens.  Many men have tried to dethrone her position
  |   | 
| − | as leader of the pirates, and all have fallen to her prowess with blades.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-4_3="Through her lifetime she has gained the nickname, Blade Mistress.  Any who
  |   | 
| − | have witnessed her fight can atest that this name is more than appropriate.
  |   | 
| − | Tasha has recently taken on a role as a mercenary to some unseen evil that
  |   | 
| − | grows throughout the land.  As such, in days of late, Tasha has only been
  |   | 
| − | seen mingling with her pirate comrades when the stars align in darkness
  |   | 
| − | and the Shadows are at their peak.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-5_title="Page 7-5. Lo'Hoal, Master of the Knights of the Blood Rose
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-5_1="(Our scribes are still trying to translate this text, but he has been
  |   | 
| − | spotted.)
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-6_title="Page 7-6. Iggwilv, the Witch Queen
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-6_1="The witch queen Iggwilv is reported to be the mother of several minor
  |   | 
| − | demons of the Abyss.  Her lover, Lord Graz'zt, is believed to be the
  |   | 
| − | father of these demons.  Her evil knows no bounds.  A being of pure evil,
  |   | 
| − | Iggwilv is both the seductress that haunts the dreams of love-struck
  |   | 
| − | fools, and the malicious beast that devours souls while they sleep.
  |   | 
| − | With a birthright that can be traced through the Demonweb and the Abyss,
  |   | 
| − | Iggwilv is the favored child (and lover) of many demons.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-6_2="To receive the curse of Iggwilv is to be branded throughout the realms as
  |   | 
| − | a target for hundreds of demons.  While in the mortal realm, Iggwilv
  |   | 
| − | claims her residence in the domain of her fellow witches.  She if often
  |   | 
| − | absent from her mortal children, perfering to remain closer to her lover
  |   | 
| − | in the Abyss.  Her appearance in the mortal realm is a rarity, only
  |   | 
| − | reported to appear in this realm when events are beneficial for necromancy
  |   | 
| − | and summoning.  During her stay in the mortal realm, her power can be felt
  |   | 
| − | across the land of Thordfalan.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-7_title="Page 7-7. Vouhx-t of the Bloody Head Tribe
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-7_1="Vouhx-t is the chieftan of the feared Bloody Head Tribe of ogres that
  |   | 
| − | once ruled the dwarven lands of Settlestone decades ago.  The tribe lived
  |   | 
| − | up to its name, massacring villagers and travelers across the continent.
  |   | 
| − | A savage leader, Vouhx-t saw fit to leave no living soul in his path of
  |   | 
| − | slaughter and chaos.  Fueled by bloodrage and a berserker madness, the
  |   | 
| − | ogre chieftan feared nothing and led a band of ogres that craved the
  |   | 
| − | taste of all humanoid blood.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-7_2="This massacre carried on unabated for years, until at last a band of
  |   | 
| − | mortal heroes who were called upon to put an end to his savagry tracked
  |   | 
| − | him down and destroyed the backbone of the tribe.  Dispersed and
  |   | 
| − | de-moralized, the Bloody Head Tribe was absorbed by another tribe led
  |   | 
| − | by the mighty ogre king Lormak.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_7-7_3="Vouhx-t vowed loyalty to the mighty ogre king, but never gave up on
  |   | 
| − | finding a way to become even more powerful.  Scowering the continent of
  |   | 
| − | Settlestone, he continues to search for a means to defeat those heroes
  |   | 
| − | that stole his glory.  When he is not off on long wandering treks, Vouhx-t
  |   | 
| − | likes to visit the only being in the world he calls friend, Kirafu.  These
  |   | 
| − | visits are rare, and unpredictable.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-1_title="Page 8-1. Seed of Njor
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-1_1="Following The Cleansing, the Seed of Njor vanished from the mortal realm.
  |   | 
| − | Many heroes have sought the ancient artifact, but none have stumbled upon
  |   | 
| − | its where-abouts.  Recently reports have been flooding that King Luicus
  |   | 
| − | Dergance II may have actually stumbled upon documents written by Fathmori
  |   | 
| − | that suggest that the Seed was split into two pieces after The Cleansing.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-1_2="The Creators attempted to destroy the cursed relic during The Cleansing,
  |   | 
| − | but their combined power was not enough to undo the magic of Pron and
  |   | 
| − | WoWiWe.  In an effort to ensure that the Seed would never be found, they
  |   | 
| − | split the artifact into its two distinct parts.  One part cursed by Pron,
  |   | 
| − | the other blessed by WoWiWe, both parts possessing attributes from one
  |   | 
| − | another, neither entirely good nor evil.  The Creators knew that although
  |   | 
| − | they could not completely destroy the Seed, only as a single, joined
  |   | 
| − | object would itbe of any use to the mortals who so strongly sought after
  |   | 
| − | it.  In the process of splitting it, the Creators summoned two creatures
  |   | 
| − | to act as guardians that Pron and WoWiWe had created to protect the Seed
  |   | 
| − | in just such an event.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-1_3="Being of liquid form and favoring nature and the elements, WoWiWe created
  |   | 
| − | a protector for the Blessed Seed Pod that would reflect the beauty of the
  |   | 
| − | image he had envisioned for the mortals of Jord.  A guardian whose sole
  |   | 
| − | command was to wisk the Seed Pod away to a place of peace where the mortal
  |   | 
| − | guardians of nature could oversee to its security.  There the Seed Pod
  |   | 
| − | has rested in the safety of the guardian's clutches for decades.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-1_4="Pron, however, was a raging fury, savage and furious with mortals, and
  |   | 
| − | thus created a guardian for the Cursed Seed Pod that would reflect the
  |   | 
| − | twisted nightmares that mortal-kind has created from WoWiWe's beautiful
  |   | 
| − | nature.  The guardian was commanded to thieve away with the Cursed Pod
  |   | 
| − | and secure it in a place of ancient horrors.  Horrors so terrifying that
  |   | 
| − | not even the greedy spirits of mortals would dare venture into to recover
  |   | 
| − | it.  There the Cursed Pod has rested, deep in the slime-ridden lair
  |   | 
| − | of the twisted guardian.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-2_title="Page 8-2. The Compass of Seeking
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-2_1="The Compass of Seeking is fabled to be a pirate's ultimate trinket.
  |   | 
| − | Forged not long after humans became skilled at ship building and sailing
  |   | 
| − | the Deep Seas, the compass was once used to discover new, unexplored lands.
  |   | 
| − | However, as is human nature, those without will steal from those who have.
  |   | 
| − | Such came of the Compass of Seeking when the first pirates began to sail
  |   | 
| − | the seas and stole the compass from friendly merchant vessels.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-2_2="The compass's major claim to fame is its ability to write maps upon
  |   | 
| − | blank parchments to which it is attached.  The parchments will then show
  |   | 
| − | the bearer the location of that which they seek.  The rumored curse of
  |   | 
| − | using the compass in this manner is that once it is attached, it can only
  |   | 
| − | be removed by one familiar with the arcane magics from eons past.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-3_title="Page 8-3. Pearl of True Sight
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-3_1="More of a myth than an actual fact of history, the Pearl of True Sight
  |   | 
| − | is rumored to bestow the bearer with visions of the future in relation
  |   | 
| − | to current desires.  Legend relates that the Pearl of True Sight was
  |   | 
| − | forged by a master alchemist at the behest of one of the original pirates.
  |   | 
| − | Those in the past who have sworn to have laid eyes (or hands) on the
  |   | 
| − | Pearl report that the relic's powers are only usable by direct descendants
  |   | 
| − | of the original pirate who ordered its creation.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-3_2="Although all these rumors ran rampant centuries ago, but have as of late
  |   | 
| − | been strangely absent from bard tales and gossip-mongers.  The last rumor
  |   | 
| − | to be reported that the Pearl had been buried with Pirate King Bokort.
  |   | 
| − | The individual who made this report also stated that the tomb of the
  |   | 
| − | pirate king is protected by a puzzle designed to test patience and skill.
  |   | 
| − | Only the true ancient treasure map offers any clues on where to find the
  |   | 
| − | tomb and how to navigate the puzzle therein.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-3_3="All texts on this subject are based solely on rumors, but through thorough
  |   | 
| − | investigations, the belief is that each map attuned itself to its holder,
  |   | 
| − | thus making the burial chamber that much more dificult to locate.  Upon
  |   | 
| − | locating the burial chamber, one report relates 'As we stood on the penacle
  |   | 
| − | of the Isle, I watched as Fiydel held the map aloft and recited the ancient
  |   | 
| − | text and was suddenly sucked into the hereafter. I've never heard from him
  |   | 
| − | again.'
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-4_title="Page 8-4. Blade of Ascension
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-4_1="The legendary Blade of Ascension is a relic from the ancient past that
  |   | 
| − | is rumored to be the most glorious sword known in the mortal realm.  Only
  |   | 
| − | one hero in history has ever been rumored to have obtained this rare and
  |   | 
| − | treasured weapon.  This warrior gave up his soul and everything pure in
  |   | 
| − | his life to attain the power that the sword promised, only to become
  |   | 
| − | completely corrupt under the immense power of the blade.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-4_2="The warrior once fought for goodness and honor, defending human kind and
  |   | 
| − | purging the world of evil.  The young warrior's name now echoes throughout
  |   | 
| − | the realm as one of the most hated, most dreadful names to cross the lips
  |   | 
| − | of the dying.  A young warrior named Otholem of Kara'sa, a burning light
  |   | 
| − | in a reign of darkness, the young warrior served a tyranous king without
  |   | 
| − | question.  As his reputation and honor increased, the Blade of Ascension
  |   | 
| − | sought him out, tempting him with power beyond his belief, power to
  |   | 
| − | vanquish his enemies, and those of his king.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-4_3="Unbeknownst the the young, inexperienced warrior, the Blade's power came
  |   | 
| − | with an immense price, his soul.  Consumed by the power of the Blade,
  |   | 
| − | Otholem was blinded by the desires of his king, enveloped by the power,
  |   | 
| − | the young warrior lost focus on honor and sought only more power.  When
  |   | 
| − | the end came, and the Armagedon Clock struck neigh, the world came to a
  |   | 
| − | screeching halt.  With the mortal death of its owner, the Blade of
  |   | 
| − | Ascension again returned to its lair to await the next epic hero who
  |   | 
| − | would be teased by its legend and seek it out.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-6_title="Page 8-6. Robes of Invisibility
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-6_1="A relic of the past, the Robe of Invisibilty is a artifact lost in the
  |   | 
| − | pirate wars in the beginning days of intercontinental shipping.  Rumors
  |   | 
| − | abound among the pirate nations about a mysterious ship that sailed the
  |   | 
| − | South Seas with sails that cloaked the vessel in a veil of invisibility.
  |   | 
| − | No document in historical record reveals the origins of these sails, nor
  |   | 
| − | the validity of the myth surrounding the unnamed pirate ship.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-6_2="During some unrecorded point in history, a sail reportedly became shredded
  |   | 
| − | by a monstrous leviathan.  This piece of sail from the ship was found by
  |   | 
| − | a kender, who fashioned the sail into a robe and vanished from the world
  |   | 
| − | forever.  Everyone knows the dangers of having a kender around, but tales
  |   | 
| − | abound throughout the world of mysterious disappearances of items,
  |   | 
| − | trinkets, equipment, and other shiny objects that have been blamed on
  |   | 
| − | this invisible kender.  The truth of these rumors has no known proof, and
  |   | 
| − | the likelihood of any kender surving as long as this wive's tale has been
  |   | 
| − | in circulation is doubtful.  None-the-less, the tale still reappears each
  |   | 
| − | time an item goes missing with no explanation.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-7_title="Page 8-7. Gauntlets of Mishakal
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-7_1="A relic of long past, the Gauntlets of Mishakal were a gift to the Wolf
  |   | 
| − | Spider God, Mishakal from his lover Takhisis.  The combined power of the
  |   | 
| − | two gods ruled the world for several centuries in eons past.  Along with
  |   | 
| − | the aid of ancient creator-gods such as Tyrenoth'gyus-zeux, and the One
  |   | 
| − | Who Shall Not Be Named, these two young gods spread havoc and chaos
  |   | 
| − | across the land of Jord.  The powers of good fought courageously against
  |   | 
| − | the denizens of the duo, but failed to completely vanquish the evil.
  |   | 
| − | ";
  |   | 
| − |     page_8-7_2="The gauntlets are fabled to have been a gift from Takhisis to Mishakal
  |   | 
| − | on the eve of what was supposed to have been their greatest victory over
  |   | 
| − | good.  However, their plan was to be thrawted by a mere mortal.  With the
  |   | 
| − | help of a mere bard named Fathmori, the gods of good led Mishakal into a
  |   | 
| − | trap - where he remains to this day.  No one has ever recorded the true
  |   | 
| − | powers of the god's Gauntlets, nor whether they were taken by the god to
  |   | 
| − | his prison.  They have not been seen since those dark times, but
  |   | 
| − | historians, and relic hunters still believe that the gauntlets are hidden
  |   | 
| − | somewhere deep in the recesses of Jord, waiting for a true hero to happen
  |   | 
| − | across them.
  |   | 
| − | -------------------------------------------------------------------------";
  |   | 
| − | 
  |   | 
| − | BH
  |   | 
| − | 
  |   | 
| − | AH
  |   | 
| − | 
  |   | 
| − | SS
  |   | 
| − | 
  |   | 
| − | Island
  |   | 
| − | 
  |   | 
| − | Lyme
  |   |