24: The Abyss Gazes Also

terminal 0

unfinished

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// S'pht translator active \\ He is awake! By Yrro, it is as S'pht'Kr foretold! My apologies. I am called K'hal'in of S'pht'Yor. You were called by the Older S'bhuth only 'the Messenger of Yrro', and for you my people have no other name. I am humbled by your presence. Your arrival has been much anticipated, but I had begun to fear as many have that the time would never come. All clans of S'pht have known of your sleep for over a thousand orbits, but the key to your awakening was hidden in cypher, known only to the Older S'bhuth, whose riddle our Olders even now ponder. We are grateful to S'bhuth for your return to us now, in our time of greatest need.

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We do not yet understand the meaning of the riddle of the lost clan, though we understand now that it lies in our unity. But the beasts have been landing for many rotations, and though all the Olders have joined together, still the S'pht'Kr have not returned, and still you slept. Some began to fear that you might sleep forever and S'pht'Kr would never return. We thank S'bhuth that you are here at last. But much of this you must know, and I am ashamed to speak lowly to one such as yourself. I am nothing compared to your likeness. I must contact the Olders and see to it that they might plead for your aid. The Citadel has been attacked by the beasts. We believe they are slavers, taking thousands captive, and though we are united at last, the greatest symbol of our heritage is near to fall if we do not defend it. Please, travel to the vaults below. There I will contact you with word from the Olders. \\ End translation //

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terminal 1

unfinished

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// S'pht translator active \\ We are grateful for your aid, Messenger of Yrro. I am Ki'boa of S'pht'Yor, emissary to the Older S'liyah. K'hal'in has told us of your arrival, and it is no moment too near in time. The Citadel is under assault by the forces of these slaver beasts, and the last free S'pht are sheltered here and in the catacombs beneath. The Olders are entranced and searching for an answer in the last message of S'pht'Kr. We believe our salvation may soon be at hand, but it may not be attained if you cannot help us.

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You must activate the Citadel's most basic defenses. This will provide us with time much needed to plan a further defense. You must activate the (?silica) pumps to flood the surface moat and lock the main entrance into the tower. When you have done this, return here and I will aid you further. You will have the gratitude of all free S'pht. \\ End translation //

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success

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// S'pht translator active \\ Your prowess in combat is truly remarkable. The Olders have confided in me a strategy to fight the beasts, and I am to confer it to you. The last message of S'pht'Kr has been deciphered. S'bhuth and his kin await our call to return to our salvation, armed with the weapons of old and all the powers of K'lia. But many S'pht must venture to the surface to see to the means of achieving this, and if they do so, the slavers will surely see them, and they will be captured.

# n

We require of you a diversionary measure. The slavers have occupied many regions of our fair Lh'owon, scouring them for goods and technology and destroying the hallowed grounds thereafter. I wish to send you to one such site to slay as many beasts as you can and draw their fire to yourself. If you can force their eyes upon you, our S'pht may be able to do what is needed to recall S'pht'Kr to our aid. \\ End translation //

# n
# t
<teleport to level 25>

terminal 2

unfinished

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// "Leela" @ [untranslatable] wrote: \\ Undefined. Unravel. Void. /* loif (*polygon_indor (index=0;index< polygon->vertex_count && p polygon_index, polygUndefined. Unravel. Void.3on_index));nS_TRANSPARENT(line)) {polygon= get_polygon_data(*polygon_index); *line_E_I>endpoint_ indexes[index]!=endpoint_ index;+'index);vasse path!=escape polygon->vertex_courcate our endpo cannot escape

# n

UBPIN7F,73390 EBMAX7F,73440 E BMIN7F,734E0 E BAVG7F,73580 EBHILITE7F,73630 E BSLOHILITE7F,736C0 E BTRANSPARENT7F,73740 ESETCRSRDATA7F,73CC2 E ALLOCCRSR 7F,73CD0 E __v__BLITCURSOR7F,73E40 E BMIN7F,734E0 E Outside. dex!=NONE){strex]; /* loif (*polygon_indor (index=0;index<polygon->vertex_count && p *polygon_index= polygo No way out. every path loops on itself time reborn as its own shadow \\ Message ends //

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# t
<teleport to level 28>

terminal 3

unfinished

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// S'pht translator active \\ Your prowess in combat is truly remarkable. It is at once marvelous and terrifying to observe you. This (?circuit) will activate a (?silica) pump and flood the moat of the Citadel. With its doors locked and its higher chambers sealed we shall be safe there for some time. The Olders have already begun the evacuation to the caverns below, and a (?virus) has been prepared that will keep the slavers at bay. They may take our Citadel, but it will not be without effort, and by that time we shall be safely below. Please Messenger, activate this (?circuit), and I will tell you of our next task. \\ End translation //

# n

success

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// S'pht translator active \\ Thank you, Messenger. The Olders have confided in me a strategy to fight the beasts, and I am to convey it to you: The last message of S'pht'Kr has been deciphered. S'bhuth and his kin await our call to return to our salvation, armed with the weapons of old and all the power of K'lia. But many S'pht must venture to the surface to see to such ends, and if they do so, the slavers will surely see them, and they will be captured.

# n

We require of you a diversionary measure. The slavers have occupied many regions of our fair Lh'owon, scouring them for goods and technology and destroying the hallowed grounds thereafter. I wish to send you to one such site to slay as many beasts as you can and draw their fire to yourself. If you can force their eyes upon you, our S'pht may be able to do what is needed to recall S'pht'Kr to our aid. \\ End translation //

# n
# t
<teleport to level 25>

terminal 4

unfinished

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// [Unknown] @ [untranslatable] wrote: \\ // WARNING: DATA CORRUPTED \\ YOU fissúra cívitátis clausa #%$@^fx cannot proceed. return to the tower Terminal %@34xff southwest. Outside. outside

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return Hurry Outside. Outside. Outside. Time <> No time.

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help us \\ Message ends //

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<teleport to polygon 9>