// Text Library  - 19 - plot

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30 = "You are long remembered as a hero of Avernum. Eventually, when they find a smear of ash they think was you, it is buried with great honor.";
31 = "Perhaps there is a way to destroy the Empire portal that doesn't result in fiery apocalypse. There is only one way to find out ...";
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40 = "The Empire now wishes nothing for Avernum but fiery destruction and cold vengeance. Alas, in your case, they have just gotten their wish.";
41 = "Fortunately, there is still hope. There are still many soldiers in Avernum, yearning to fight off the invaders and protect their homeland. Any one of them could be the new savior of the underworld. Perhaps your next attempt will end in success.";
42 = "There is only one way to find out ...";
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50 = "The Empire now wishes nothing for Avernum but fiery destruction and cold vengeance. Alas, in your case, they have just gotten their wish. As you pass from this world, as promised by the shade in northern Avernum, you gain total consciousness.";
51 = "You see the many soldiers remaining in Avernum, yearning to fight off the invaders and protect their homeland. Any one of them could be the new savior of the underworld. Your enlightened spirit drifts toward a band of them.";
52 = "Perhaps you can guide them as they defeat the threats facing Avernum. There is only one way to find out ...";
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61 = "Avernum is the underworld. It is a series of hundreds of miles of caves, far below the surface of the world. The land is kept alive and fruitful by powerful magic and the heat and energy of natural steam vents and hot springs.";
62 = "Avernum is also a nation. It is a land of people exiled from the surface world. The surface is ruled by the Empire, an all-powerful nation who disposed of unwanted people by banishing them to Avernum.";
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67 = "They formed a new nation, far from the eyes of the Empire. Some, however, were not satisfied with safety and peace. They wished vengeance. They sent a band of assassins to slay Hawthorne, cruel Emperor of the Empire.";
68 = "The Empire was stunned. They realized that there was a den of vipers threatening their sole control of the globe. They had no other possible response.";
69 = "They invaded.";
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73 = "The power of the Empire completely dwarfed that of the Avernites, but it had great difficulty teleporting troops to the underworld. The Empire arrogantly thought that Avernum could be subdued with a few hundred elite troops.";
74 = "The Empire sent more troops down, but the Avernites kept them at bay. The Empire grew frustrated and angry, and then it turned to terror and atrocity. And, slowly, it ground away at Avernum's defenses.";
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79 = "Avernum also had the advantage of familiarity. They were used to living and fighting in caves. The Empire wasn't. The Empire's soldiers were fought to a bloody standstill.";
80 = "Little by little, cave by cave, the invaders won victories against Avernum. Then, when things looked like they couldn't get any worse, a new disaster occurred.";
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85 = "Magical barriers appeared all over Avernum, splitting it into small sections and blocking all roads. ";
86 = "Nobody knew who made these barriers. Maybe the Empire. Maybe not. Just as the barriers appeared, you arrived at your first posting. You have just joined the army of Avernum, eager to join the good fight.";
87 = "Your dreams of heroism were short-lived. You were sent to Fort Ganrick, a tiny, unfinished outpost in the far northeast corner of Avernum.";
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91 = "You dream of great victories, of deeds that turn the tide and save your homeland. Instead, you reported to Captain Vidican and were put to work digging out storerooms. Fort Ganrick isn't ready for warfare. Yet.";
92 = "Each morning, you wake up in a damp cave, looking forward to a long day of shovels and picks. It's hard to imagine anything that could happen which would enable you to strike a mighty blow against the Empire ...";
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97 = "At last, you have recovered all three of the stolen Crystal Souls. You can easily read the gratitude on the faces of the vahnatai Council. Elohi-Bok stands and walks around the table to you.";
98 = "_Kneel, humans,_ she says. _You have done a deed for us, and now you will receive our boon._ You kneel, and she approaches you.";
99 = "_We see that not all of the invaders of our caves are evil and treacherous. The Empire stole our ancestors. You restored them. We are an honorable people, and we reward those who help us._";
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103 = "_From now on, the vahnatai are the friends of Avernum. We will assist you in your war with the Empire, no matter what risk this brings to us. Our honor commands that we do not rest until the Empire paid for what it has done._";
104 = "You rise. _Thank you again. Please, return to your battle against the Empire. Any blow you strike against them increases your status in our eyes. You are always welcome in the lands of the vahnatai._";
105 = "Congratulations! You have completed the first of the three game-winning missions in Avernum 2: return the three stolen Crystal Souls and earn the help of the vahnatai.";
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109 = "The massive magical portal reaches full power. The crystals surrounding the pillars fill with energy. They then pour their power into the pillars. Unfortunately, the pillars are cracked.";
110 = "The power flies out of control. Fire and lightning fly out in all directions, smashing into the fortress. The fire hits the nearby water, and a huge cloud of steam is added to the tumult.";
111 = "Anyone in the fortress when the portal exploded will be dead for sure. You, however, watched the chaos from a hilltop a safe distance away. As you watch, the Empire's sure hope of crushing Avernum quickly tears itself apart.";
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115 = "Now the Empire will have to send troops into the underworld the same way they have before: one at a time, with a great expenditure of resources and magical energy.";
116 = "Thanks to you, Avernum still has hope of surviving this war.";
117 = "Congratulations! You have completed the second of the three game-winning missions in Avernum 2: Destroy the massive Empire teleporter.";
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133 = "The Empire's greatest resource in this war was Garzahd. He masterminded the strategies which brought the Empire success after success. His magical powers turned several battles. Every one of the Empire's good plans originated with him.";
134 = "But now, with one final blow, all of that ends. You strike through the powerful protective magics Garzahd placed around himself and wound him grievously. The pain causes him to lose control of the power, and there can only be one result of that.";
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139 = "Instead of using the magical energy within him, the energy uses him. The power consumes his skin, then his muscles, then his bones, using him for fuel until nothing is left but some dust and some black bits of material.";
140 = "The Empire will need to find a new leader for the forces in Avernum now. One thing is for sure, though. They will never be able to find the equal of the brilliant, awesomely powerful, extremely dead Garzahd.";
141 = "Congratulations! You have completed the third of the three game-winning missions in Avernum 2: slay Garzahd, leader of Empire forces in Avernum.";
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157 = "You pause for a moment, looking back at all that you have achieved.";
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163 = "You returned the Crystal Souls to the vahnatai. Now Avernum has a powerful, magical ally in this war.";
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169 = "You destroyed the Empire portal. The guaranteed doom of Avernum has been averted.";
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175 = "You slew Garzahd. His genius and power will no longer aid the cause of the Empire against you.";
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181 = "You have done much, and yet much, much more remains. The war still rages. The power of the Empire is almost limitless, and their troops will continue to invade.";
182 = "There is no end to the fighting in sight. The slightest misstep may result in immediate destruction of Avernum. The alliance with the vahnatai is new and untested. And others will no doubt rise up to try to replace Garzahd.";
183 = "Yet, there is hope. When you began, the war was lost. Now, with courage and dedication, it may be won. There is one place in this world free of the Empire's tyranny. And, thanks to you, it may stay that way.";
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187 = "Avernum is a terrible place, cold, damp, dark, and dangerous. Yet, it is all you have. And, for now, it is free.";
188 = "For the moment, that is enough. And tomorrow, with renewed purpose, the fight begins anew.";
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193 = "Congratulations! You have completed all three game-winning quests in Avernum 2! Feel free to continue playing. There may still be quests and secrets you have not uncovered.";
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