// Text Library  - 

begintextlibrary;

1 = "You are ambushed. A scruffy band of vahnatai emerges from nooks in the tunnel walls. Their cloaks are ratty and their weapons are rusted and pitted. There is a dirty, feral look to the band. They immediately attack.";
2 = "This narrow ledge runs to the east around a large fortress, hewn out of the living rock. As you watch, a few vahnatai, wearing ragged robes, wander into it. You wonder what these vahnatai are doing out here, so far from their other villages.";
3 = "You start to feel very ill. You are filled with nausea, and bits of your hair start to fall out.";
4 = "You find, inscribed in the cave floor, a massive pentagram. It hasn't been used for a long time. It's overgrown with mold and lichen. However, despite years of disuse, there is still the faint smell of sulphur in the air.";
5 = "";
6 = "A band of heavily armed ogres runs forward to hold you off while the women and children make their escape. Ogre magi begin their spells. Their flimsy buildings begin to collapse as the ogres flee.";
7 = "";
8 = "You return to the patch of lichen. None of the plants are ready for picking at this point. Maybe if you return later, the crop will be ready for a new harvest.";
9 = "You search the ruins of the ogre village. They were very poor. You find little more than ruined skins, gnawed bones, and broken pots. The tunnel to the north ends in a cave-in after fifty feet. This village has suffered its final misfortune.";
10 = "You gently succumb to death's sweet embrace. Your last thought: you never thought goldfish could be so vicious.";
11 = "You wander through this patch of fungus. Unfortunately, none of the tender growths look ready for picking. Maybe if you returned later.";
12 = "You find an ancient and imposing ruin. Huge spires of black stone emerge from the lava. Bones of bizarre, demonic creatures are scattered on the basalt. Besides you, there is nothing alive here, not even mold and fungus.";
13 = "A recent cavequake opened up a caldera of hot mud here, which filled up this smooth, natural depression. The searing heat makes you very uncomfortable.";
14 = "This is a dried out lava tube. One cavequake sent magma flowing through here. Another shut off the supply. Now there's just a round, basalt tunnel. The air is dry and sulphurous, and there is a notable lack of fungal life.";
15 = "There is a shimmer of light near you. Where, a moment before, there was nothing, there is now a small band of Empire soldiers. There aren't many of them, but they're hostile and fearless.";
16 = "In addition to the Empire soldiers' other supplies, you find a fair number of gold coins fresh from the surface world. Whoever these shock troops were, they were well paid.";
17 = "This is a small fishing village. There are villages like this all up and down this river. The locals welcome you in to pots of savory cavefish stew and conversation. After telling them what you know about how the war is going, you depart.";
18 = "Several huts have been built here by refugees from the Abyss. When the people see you coming, they walk inside and slam the doors shut. After a few minutes of being ignored, you leave. This is likely the response you'll get from most of the people here.";
19 = "The moment you draw a weapon, you find out that a large band of the refugees were hiding on ledges on the cave walls above you. You discover this because they shower you with poisoned arrows. Your fate is quick, vicious, and merciless.";
20 = "These crops are sickly. Mushrooms don't grow well in most of the Great Cave, but these poor farmers are trying their best.";
21 = "There is a heavily armed guardpost on the shore of this river, watching for Empire incursions from the north. After they greet you, you ask about the river. A few Empire scouts have floated down, but most of the raiders to the north have headed for Cotra and Fort Dranlon.";
22 = "You meet a platoon of Avernite sentries, keeping a careful watch from this crude cavewood tower. They're keeping an eye out for any Empire troops that might dare to raid the Great Cave. They greet you briefly and then go back to their post.";
23 = "";
24 = "";
25 = "A small, relatively new settlement has sprung up by this lake. It seems to be having some success growing mushrooms. It's not well defended, though. If they're not careful, an Empire patrol will wipe them out.";
26 = "A spring of fresh, clear water spurts from the ground here. Amazingly, the water is also somewhat warm. You take the opportunity for a pleasant rarity in Avernum: a nice, long bath.";
27 = "From here, you have a great view of Avernum's greatest building, The Castle, perched on a granite plateau many feet above you. Everyone simply calls it The Castle, and from this view it's easy to see why. No other building down here can match it.";
28 = "You throw in a few coins and make a wish. Nothing happens. Oh well.";
29 = "An Empire patrol, thrilled to have caught a lone, isolated group, rushes you.";
30 = "A band of Avernite troops approaches and inspects you. After a quick talk, they let you go on your way.";
31 = "A giant lizard, probably escaped from someone's farm, gets close to you. Then, displaying the mindless irascibility that is the species' sole personality trait, it attacks.";
32 = "You don't have enough money to make a decent donation.";
33 = "You rapidly convert to Catholicism. The demons flee in horror.";
34 = "You are in what is called The Waste. It's the southwest corner of the Great Cave, which is notable for its utter uselessness. It's just a huge sheet of flat, solid rock, totally bereft of useful plants or interesting features. Mushrooms don't grow here.";
35 = "You note that some of the grave markers have slithzerikai names on them. You look closely, and realize that this graveyard, created for those who have fallen in the name of Avernum, has several sliths in it. Human and slith resting together. As good a reason for hope as any.";
36 = "These are the Plains of Death. It's a large section of this barren wasteland forever declared a resting place for those who have died to defend Avernum. You immediately note this place has grown a lot since the last time you were here.";
37 = "A platoon of Avernum soldiers and mages approaches and questions you. Once they're satisfied you're not Empire infiltrators, they tell you they're guarding the way to Patrick's Tower, which is to the south. Then you part ways.";
38 = "The water below this bridge reeks of rotten eggs. Thick, yellow sulphur deposits line the riverbank. The rising fumes make you dizzy.";
39 = "The fungus here has been picked recently. It will take some time for it to grow back.";
40 = "You help patch up the few surviving soldiers, and ask them what happened. They tell you that they were patrolling to the west, and stumbled upon a colony of the cat-headed beasts. The creatures subdued them easily.";
41 = "The beasts decided to eat half the soldiers, and hunt the rest for sport. Then, tired and terrified, the soldiers head for home.";
42 = "Kevtar coldly, methodically takes you through a demanding regimen of training. He shares his insights into evading enemy blows with you. It's a painful time.";
43 = "Kevtar shrugs. _Your loss,_ he says. _But if you ever want to fight better, come back here. I'm the one to help you do it._ You thank him and depart.";
44 = "A rakshasa hunting party has deemed you easy prey.";
45 = "When you get close, the soldiers shift and waver before your eyes. Then they vanish. They were an illusion! You realize that it's a trap. You turn around, only to find that you've been ambushed.";
46 = "The tunnel slopes sharply downward to the east. Rocks have been cleared away along its length, forming a rough path.";
47 = "You walk south along a well-made and well-traveled road. As you march, you see a band of Empire soldiers heading in your direction. You get your passes ready, but it soon becomes clear no Avernites are allowed here for any reason. They charge.";
48 = "";
49 = "The spiders hiss angrily as you charge. The Empire left them alone. You weren't so wise. They begin readying spells en masse.";
50 = "When you approach, the guards draw their weapons and ask you for your blue pass. You hesitate in providing it, and they waste no time in attacking. You were ready for this. You run for your lives. Fortunately, Avernites are faster than Empire soldiers when running through caves. You get away.";
51 = "When you approach, the guards draw their weapons and ask you for your blue pass. They are extremely surprised when you provide it. They spend some time arguing whether to let you by or kill you. Eventually wiser heads prevail, and, even though you are obviously an Avernite, you are allowed to pass.";
52 = "When you reach the bridge, a band of Empire soldiers is crossing the other way. For sport, they decide to try to throw you off. You resist. Angered, they try to kill you in another way.";
53 = "Having seen you leave Fort Remote, and thinking you easy pickings, an Empire patrol rushes you.";
54 = "You return to the barricade. It's clear that the soldiers here loathe you, but they don't kill you. They respect the power of your pass, and Empire soldiers are picked for loyalty, not independent thought. You pass.";
55 = "You draw your weapon and charge. The Empire soldiers, alas, are eager for the fight.";
56 = "You are experienced enough in the ways of the caves to notice the tracks at your feet. There's been a lot of movement north and south along this passage. You decide to keep alert for secret tunnels and roads.";
57 = "";