Tartarus: The Realm of Underworld

[Silverbel]

You are standing in a pit of sand. To your north, the Gate is visible.

This area is frequented by a hostile monster. You will encounter this enemy 100% of the time.

You do not need to roll unless you are using stealth skills. In which case, the base encounter rate is [1-10].

If (when) you encounter it,

SAGE OF STRENGTH
5 HP
+1 Accuracy, +1 Defense

Uses only Basic Attacks.
[1-5] 1 damage
[6-15] 2 damage
[16-20] 3 damage

"You're probably looking at that data block wondering what it is. So let me break it down.
First, a notice that an enemy is in the area. This is your cue to perform a Manual Check. You check for foes by rolling a 10-sided dice. Normally you do this every time, but if you run into a 100% encounter, like this one, you don't need to roll. The enemy is DEFINITELY there.

You can also post [ENEMY CHECK], but the 10 sided dice is ONLY used for enemy checks so anytime you use it, the game will know you are checking for enemies. The odds of an encounter are listed right there. If your roll concludes there are NO ENEMIES, that result will last until the next hour starts. At the start of the next hour, another enemy may appear. That's right - even if you beat me, next hour I will definitely be back and ready to beat you up again.

Let's say you don't like the result? If something dangerous is in the area, you can [RETREAT] and come back next hour.

What say you were looking for a fight? Whatever for? But, in that case, you can [SEARCH FOR FOES] and roll the encounter dice a second time.
The maximum number of rolls you can make is 2 per hour. If you still haven't found the enemy by then, you are out of luck, any more rolls will be ignored, and you don't gain EXP for fighting your own shadow.


Now that you've encountered me, it's best if you handle me aggressively.

To kick this fight off, you need to roll for your attack chance, and your damage.
The combat roll is always a pair of 20 sided dice for a basic attack.

So, [ATTACK THE SAGE] and don't just post it - roll a PAIR of 20 sided dice!
Come at me, and we'll see what you can do!"

[Silverbel]

"How did you roll?
The first dice indicates the ACCURACY CHANCE.

You need to roll high enough to hit. The base level is 1-9 miss, 10+ to hit.
I have +1 Defense, though. And you don't have any pluses at all, because you're a ghost. The Pluses that each competitor have, both adjust the roll.

The defender's DEFENSE and the attackers TO-HIT are checked.

So, my +1 Defense, lowers your accuracy by 1, you need to roll 11 or better to hit me.

If you had +2, then that would go against my value. It would be (10 -1 +2) ... or 9 to hit.

If you miss, you're out of luck. Your turn is over. You don't get to use your second dice.


But if you hit, then you check your second dice against your DAMAGE TABLE.
But since you're a ghost, you don't really have one... well..

Here's a roll table you can use for now.

YOUR DAMAGE TABLE
[1-5] 1 damage
[6-15] 2 damage
[16-20] 3 damage

Yes, it's the same as mine.

After you finish checking your attack, lower my HP if you hit me. Remember, I have 5. Knock me to 0 to win the fight.

After you roll for your own attack, you have to [ROLL FOR SAGE'S ATTACK]. Two 20-sided dice, remember?"

[Silverbel]

"How did I do?

I have +1 to-hit. So if the first dice roll is at least 9, I got you.
And in that case, use my damage table with the second dice roll, to find out how bad it hurts.

You may be a ghost. But if I can deal 10 HP of damage before you beat me, you'll disperse and have to reform yourself. I will have won.

Since this is the Underworld, you can reform yourself immediately. But I will expect you to start the fight again. And in the real world, if you lose a fight like that, you will be coming back here. Do your best to avoid it.


In MOST fights, the MONSTER IS NOT GOING TO HOLD YOUR HAND. You will handle the whole thing yourself, from the first attack to the last.
This fight is not over. Continue it. Take turns between YOUR attacks and MINE until one of us wins. Remember, I have bonuses to defense and attack, and 5 HP. And if I do 10 HP of damage, I win and you need to start again.


If you finally win the fight,[TALK ABOUT AFTER COMBAT] with me."

[Silverbel]

"Good, I think you are possibly strong enough to survive up there.
This is the third ticket."
The sage holds it up and it vanishes in a flash.

After a real fight, your HP WILL NOT RESET.
Never just assume you got your HP back. Remember to rest.
Also, every fight will cost you 1 Exhaustion no matter how long it is.


If you are eager to explore the real world, you can enter the gate now.

Or... perhaps you desire more control. Do you have dreams? Desires?
It is, strange... for a ghost to have desire.

The real world is harsh, unfettering to your desires, but here, we accept them with proper candor."
He motions and a DOOR OF SPIRITS appears.

"Enter here, and retrieve the nine keys from the beings through this gate."


You can
[MOVE NORTH]
[ENTER THE DOOR OF SPIRITS]

[Silverbel]

This room is filled with flames.
You want to choke on the brimstone and heat vapor, but your ghostly form lacks the parts...

In this room is an Ifret, a being of Pure Fire.

It looks at you with coals for eyes... and then
you reach it telepathically somehow.


"I am One with the Will of Fire. I am PASSION and POWER dedoubt. I burn, raze and CONSUME all in my wake. Not to destroy, but to revitalize and change. Aggression is the only nature I have and is the only nature I need. The Will of Fire will DESTROY Nature, to bring about change to the world. Whether that change is good or bad, we do not care. The energy will be spent, the collapse will happen, and things will begin again. Those who choose to live in Tartarus, ignorant of the latent energy around them, will be victimized by the Will of Fire to recreate a world of balance. There is no ill will to you or your people, or to anything. We will destroy, because we can.

The earth shall be burned to smoulders and every living thing shall be reduced to ash in glorious plumes of fire and flame. Nothing can withstand this fiery assault.

You, who have such a strong spirit - do not think to get in our way, or you shall become ash as well."

The Ifret steps aside.
Now you can [TAKE THE KEY OF FIRE].

[Silverbel]

As you take the Key of Fire, you feel an upsurge in power and aggression. With this force, you feel like no barrier can remain unbroken, no source remain untoppled. It is pure, unbridled attack force.

The Door of Fire has appeared.

[ENTER THE DOOR OF FIRE]

[Silverbel]

This room is filled with mist...
The air here is so thick, you cannot tell where the fog ends and you begin.
There is a soft chill in the air.

In this room is a Lost Soul, a being of Pure Spirit.


[SPEAK TO THE LOST SOUL]

[Silverbel]

As you reach it telepathically, it becomes obvious the Lost Soul is no longer searching for whatever it lost . . .


"You, who seek Life. We can sense it. The mortal realm is past its time. This is the realm of the Soul, a time of Death and silence. We have been shunned by mortality, so too we shun it. Those alive must be freed from their husks. Noisy, rattling being, flashing and shimmering... we will even you out, help you find the soft quiet of eternity.

Those who believe to tarry in the living world, with their big ideas and dreams, plans and schemes - we will put a cold stop to all this. The changes and passion of the living world are no more - we have extinguished the flame of Life. That flame will stay out.

Do not act so high and mighty! No living force is above death. We will meet again, all too soon . . ."

The Lost Soul moves aside, and the Key of Spirit can be seen.

[TAKE THE KEY OF SPIRIT]

[Silverbel]

This second key feels deep, endless. You can feel yourself becoming immune to petty forces - as if the tricks and magicks of all others would simply bounce off the endlessness of time itself.

The Door of Spirit has appeared.

[ENTER THE DOOR OF SPIRIT]

[Silverbel]

This place is bright... you can't see anything.
There is only light.

Slowly you accustom to the brightness and you see a brilliant, angelic being. An Archangel, a being of Pure Heaven.

You feel yourself being drawn into him, but struggle to keep yourself separate...

[SPEAK TO THE ARCHANGEL]

[Silverbel]

"I am Tylear, an Archangel of Judgment. My task is to destroy those who sin and waste the precious gifts given to them. I am swift and powerful, we are numerous as the stars. There is no escape from us and no hiding place we can not find you. Your every sin is known and we will return your selfish soul to the place of the center.


The shadows of Hell will never stand before us; the flames and the tides turn aside. The very soul of the world knows us, and we will be forever connected to it.

You! Earthly one. Know that if you see me, I am your BITTER FOE. I will attack and destroy you without hesitation, for the means of freeing you from your worldly sins --

... but know also, that nearly every being has another way of resolving encounters, besides brute force. In my sake, should you see an angelic foe, simply [PRAY]. If you are found good and holy in the balance, we will spare you our wrath. Take care, mortal."

The Key of Heaven has appeared.

[TAKE THE KEY OF HEAVEN]

[Silverbel]

As you take the key, you feel a compassion and kindness grip every part of you. You feel connected to the joys and love of a host of angelic beings - and the strongest, loving being in the universe.

The Door of Heaven has appeared, and beckons you, but you are reluctant to go.

[ENTER THE DOOR OF HEAVEN]

[Silverbel]

Before you stretches an endless field of rock and stone.

You stand atop a rocky hill, with rock stretched in every direction.

This room is vast.

You sense something is here.

[SPEAK TO THE EARTH]

[Silverbel]

"We the ageless are the bedrock of reality. We have ever been, and we ever will be."
The ground under your very feet shifts, and you realize you are standing on top of a giant Earth Elemental.

"Our ways are the old ways. There is strength and resolve in bedrock, moreso than the lofty ideals of supremacist spirits. We rule the living through hard, real physics.
Many seek to outrun us, surround us, overwhelm us. You can not. We have little tolerance for your petty actions... The day the very Earth rises against you, is the day your mortal life ends.

You, who think you are so clever. Keep in mind that the very Heavens can not touch us, and neither can you."
The Key of Earth has appeared.

[TAKE THE KEY OF EARTH]

[Silverbel]

Holding the key of earth, you feel dense... compressed, as though the eons have worn at you. It feels like not even the strongest of steel could turn you aside. Your defense is absolute; the cold hard reality of rock. Even chipped, or broken in pieces, your strength would remain.

The Door of Earth has appeared.

[ENTER THE DOOR OF EARTH]