25: ...how deep the rabbit hole goes

terminal 0

unfinished

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// S'pht translator active \\ The slavers (?infest) this region as we speak, and we regret that we have but a few warriors to spare. The battle has disturbed many of Lh'owon's sacred (?children), whom even now you see emerge to defend their nests and hunting grounds. Time is short. You must not be deterred by these perils and press on. The fates of all S'pht, from the youngest fledglings to the Clan Elders themselves, rest in your hands.

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Our (?engravings) have guided us to this location. From here, the words are starved of meaning. We trust your eyes will find the truth connecting these facets. In a fortified compound The keys to crystal pools unsealed 'Round the water, seals unbound The path beneath shall be revealed Chase the flow of Lh'owon's rain Beneath into the sunless hollow Place the marks of ten in twain The light of balance then shall follow \\ Message ends //

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success

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My life is longer It's longer than yours 'Cause I'm a cyborg The things that I could go through The distance 'tween the stars Oh no, I've killed too much I kill 'em off That's me on Lh'owon That's me with my A.R. Wasting ammunition! Tryin' to keep a pack or two But I don't know if I can do it Oh, no, I've spent too much I haven't spent enough I thought that I heard some warbling I thought that I heard a Pfhor I think I thought I saw it die

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Every S'pht'Kr Every roaring F'lickter I'm blastin' with my shotgun Trying to keep an eye on my Motion sensor, but I can't do it, no Oh no, I've killed too much I kill 'em off Consider this Consider this It took three centuries Consider this The ship That brought me to Tau Ceti's failed What if all these aliens went Splat on the ground? Now I've killed Too much I thought that I heard some warbling I thought that I heard a Pfhor I think I thought I saw it die

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[brief instrumental - show scenes from "Electric Sheep"] That was just a dream That was just a dream That was just a dream That was just a dream That's me on Lh'owon That's me in the starlight Wasting ammunition Tryin' to keep a round or two And I don't know if I can do it Oh, no, I've spent too much I haven't spent enough I thought that I heard some warbling I thought that I heard a Pfhor I think I thought I saw it die

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<teleport to level 26>

terminal 1

unfinished

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// S'pht translator active \\ The meaning of the rhyme now becomes clear to us. You are in one of the oldest (?temples) of our world, from the earliest days of our creation. An (?Older) of the S'pht slumbers in this location, waiting for such time as we set aside our (?quarrels) and unite ourselves. We now know the task before us. To your southwest lies a (?repository) where we shall send to you (?tablets) proving that we are united as one. Go there, and we will provide you further instructions. \\ Message ends //

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success

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// S'pht translator active \\ It is done. Pthia's light fills the caverns, and we hear the voices of our creators. "S'pht'Lhar, S'pht'Hra, S'pht'Nma, S'pht'Kah, S'pht'Vir, S'pht'Yra, S'pht'Val, S'pht'Shr, S'pht'Mnr, S'pht'Yor, and S'pht'Kr. "Don't mistake your rank and number for superiority. The oldest child may learn from the youngest." Our beloved 'Kr will be cast out no more. In the fires of struggle against the slavers, the S'pht will be forged together anew! \\ Message ends //

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<teleport to level 26>

terminal 2

unfinished

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// S'pht translator active \\ Pthia has blessed us. We are mere steps away from salvation. You now stand in an ancient shrine of our world, from the earliest days of creation. Here rests a masterwork of Yrro that will deliver us from the blight of these slavers.

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We now understand our part in the message left for us. To earn our survival, the clans must unite and embrace the siblings we have cast out. Retrieve the two (?tablets) in the adjacent chamber. Each carries the marks of five S'pht clans. All shall prostrate themselves in humility before Yrro's remembrancer. Only then shall the 'Kr hear our call. \\ Message ends //

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<tag 3>

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success

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// S'pht translator active \\ It is done. Pthia's light fills the caverns, and we hear the voices of our creators. "S'pht'Lhar, S'pht'Hra, S'pht'Nma, S'pht'Kah, S'pht'Vir, S'pht'Yra, S'pht'Val, S'pht'Shr, S'pht'Mnr, S'pht'Yor, and S'pht'Kr. "Don't mistake your rank and number for superiority. The oldest child may learn from the youngest." Our beloved 'Kr will be cast out no more. In the fires of struggle against the slavers, the S'pht will be forged together anew! \\ Message ends //

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<teleport to level 26>