"...better be on your best game today. The boss is counting on us for a proper diversion," Naymir was saying in a hushed voice to the rest of the party.
[["I've changed my mind..." -> The Argument]]
[["No..." -> The Argument Two]]"I've changed my mind. You all will remain in the tavern." You tell them, draining your mug of ale.
"But boss! Shouldn't we have all hands on deck?" Freya retorted.
"No. I think it'll be better if nobody is seen anywhere near that area. Besides, this mission may go in any direction depending on the circumstances. Better to risk one person than the whole party."
"Then how will you escape after you've finished the job?" asked Naymir with an expression that seemed somewhere between terror and disbelief.
"I've got my methods. How many times have I done this already? And change that bloody expression!" you tell them as you [[step away from the table. -> Leaving the Tavern]]The room they were currently in looked the same as it ever had. Of course the regular customers didn't know about this particular floor, which was located far below the basement of the tavern known to the public.
"It's time." you tell them, after glancing at the time piece, and replacing it back in your pocket.
You make sure that you have all the necessary [[items -> The Items]] for the infiltration, and [[exit the room. -> Leaving the Tavern pt. 2]]
The smell of the evening's dinner hits your nostrils as you pass through the kitchen and enter the main tavern
"It's rumored to be hidden somewhere in the mansion's highest tower, boss." The cook whispers to you as he passes by on his way to the kitchen.
[["Thank you, Trev" -> Tavern Exit 1 Cont.]]
And you exit the tavern into the evening air.You take the back exit of the tavern and stealth through the city along dark, unseen alleyways to make sure you are not spotted or recognized by any wandereing eyes.
After what seemed to be about thirty minutes you emerge from the shadows of a quiet backstreet of a clothing shop to see the [[Moredus Mansion -> Breakin Choice]] right ahead of you.As you make your way to the mansion, you don the glasses, hat, and cloak.
After scanning the perimeter and the guards currently stationed at the mansion, you come to a conclusion that there are three viable options.
Just as you are about to make the easiest of the three choices, you spot [[them-> Breakin Choice Continued]] among the guards.The Warpers they're called, those who are able to warp between different realms at will. Two of them.
If there are people you hate more than anyone else, it's the Warpers who abandoned their Realm to seek more power.
"Huh, So they've taken the guard duty seriously." you muse. "Maybe it really is hidden in there."
As Warping now would draw unwanted attention, you must rely on the other two, more mundane options.
[[Take the basement route. -> The Basement Route One]]
[[Climb the outside and enter through a window. -> The Window Route One]]After another few moments of observing the guards, you find a window of oppertunity where you can slip past the fense into the basement door located on the left side of the mansion.
As you arrive at the basement door, you find them locked from the inside.
"Of course..."
[[Turn invisible. -> Basement Route Option One]]
[[Break the lock. -> Basement Route Option Two]]
[[Pick the lock. -> Basement Route Option Three]]You spot the window on the second floor from which you can either head downwards or upwards quite easily.
After a few more moments of observing the guards perimeter paterns, you find an interval where they would be unable to see the back area.
With the cloak and the glasses help, you are quite easily able to climb the fence and dart across the lawn to the [[mansion walls. -> The Climb]] The evening gets darker as you move swiftly through the hustle and bustle of the crowd people on the main streets.
About fifteen to twenty minutes after you left the tavern you finally have the [[Moredus Mansion -> Breakin Choice]] in sight.In order to keep the risk factor to a minimum, you make yourself invisible.
The lock is quite a complex one for a mere basement door, but with the invisibility, you easily unlock it.
Once the guards break line of sight with the door, you hastily fling the door open, [[slip inside -> Inside the Basement]], and close it again without anyone else noticing, just as the invisibility spell ends.You break the lock, but in doing so allert the circling guard set outside the mansion.
"What the hell was that sound?" shouted one of the guards.
"Sounded like it came from the other side!" another guard replied.
You hear a rush of footsteps that sounded like at least half a dozon people were zooming around the perimeter.
And before you can react to the clamour you feel the sensation of someone Warping from the high mansion walls and emerging right beside you...
[[Attempt to fight back. -> Death, Failed Ending One]]
[[Warp away. -> War Started, Failed Ending Two]]You ready yourself for an all out battle against the guards and the two Warpers.
But as right as you are about to strike the Warper right beside you, three more tears appear in the Realm and realize your terrible mistake.
"Impossible..."
And that is the last word you utter feebly right as four rays of bright blue light pierce your chest.
Thus ends another Rogue Warper in search of the Lost Relics, whose true identity was unknown even to their own [[crew. -> Endnote]]"It's a Rogue Warper!" bellows the Warper who emerged right next to you.
Without a second thought, you Dimension Warp out of there. You feel the stark sensation of being pulled into a void, your whole body feeling as if it may implode in itself. And in an instant, you warp out into a different realm.
"Well, that might have been the worst set of decisions I've ever made..." You think to yourself as you race away from the place you landed at.
Since you weren't recognized, your identity remains a secret, but this, as you well know, will spark a new war between the Warpers and [["Rogue" Warpers. -> Endnote]] (set: $rng to (random: 1, 6))
(if: $rng > 2)[
You hastily attempt to unlock the door without making any noise, and miraculously manage to do so in the short window of opportunity.
You swing the door open, [[fling yourself inside -> Inside the Basement]], and shut it again without any guard being the wiser.
]
(else:)[
You hastily attempt to unlock the door without making any noise, but from the complexity of the lock you know that you won't manage it before the periemter guards begin to make their round back to the left side of the mansion.
Though you did not want to use the Ethereal powers you are left with no other choice.
[[Turn invisible. -> Basement Option Three Pt. 2]]
]You find yourself in a rectangular room filled with neglected items. There was a battered up closet in one corner, a broken down bed in another. A square table which looks like it would topple over at the slightest touch.
As you descend the stairs into the basement, you notice that the entire room is covered in a thick layer of dust.
Except for a few barrels at the opposite end from where you entered the basement, and the floor surrounding them. There were many footsteps and shuffling of the dust there.
You take care not to disturb the dust as you [[make your way -> Exit the Basement]] to the barrels.You make yourself invisible a fraction of a second before the perimeter guards could lay their eyes on you.
With the invisibiity you are easily able to unlock the door, but mark the oddity of such a complex lock for a basement door.
You wait for the opportunity to [[slip inside -> Inside the Basement]]the basement, and do so right as the invisibility spell ends.(set: $didFollow to (random: 1, 6))
The door opens to the passage way that leads back to the tavern. After a few minutes you are back in the basement of the tavern.
(if: $didFollow > 3)[
You then decide to exit from...
[[The front of the tavern. -> Tavern Exit 1]]
[[The back doors. -> Tavern Exit 2]]
](else:)[
Knowing the crew, you decide to wait for a few moments to see if they decide to follow you.
Sure enough you hear Naymir's muffled voice from the passage way, "... is probably gone by now."
No sooner does he exit the passage, you reveal yourself to them and making sure to add a tone of disappointment in your voice tell him, "I thought my word would carry more weight than this, Naymir."
He of course had the decency to look ashamed, as did the rest of the crew as they shuffled uncomfortably, "Please stay here." you add, and take your leave from...
[[The front of the tavern. -> Tavern Exit 1]]
[[The back doors. -> Tavern Exit 2]]
]Your Dark Illuminator glasses, they let you see roughly in the dark. The Face Blurring Hat, the Cloak of Camouflage, and the Blade of Fervor.
The cloak does not render the wearer invisible but rather makes them hard to spot at a distance in the dark.
The Blade you hope is not necessary for tonight, as it is a stealth mission.
[[Back -> Leaving the Tavern]] A stairway not unlike the one you just descended comes into view right beside the barrels. These you imagine lead straight into the mansion.
After climbing the stairs, you examine the door. It is not locked.
Before you take your leave from the basement however, you put your right [[ear to the door -> Exit the Basement Two]] to make sure there isn't any noise coming from the other side.You detect no sound from the other room, and so take your leave from the basement.
You find yourself in an empty kitchen with leftover meals on the table. There are also unwashed dishes, pots, pans, and other utensils in the wash basin.
With no time to lose, you peak out of the kitchen and see a hallway that goes to your [[left -> Looking Left]] and [[right -> Looking Right]].
Looking to the left, the hallway leads to other side doors, and what seems to be the bed chambers of the Moredos family.
Unwilling to be spotted if possible, you take the left route.
You pass the pantries on your left, and some storerooms on your right as you stealthily make your way [[through this hallway -> Going Left.]]
Looking to the right, the hallway seems to lead to the front of the mansion, and therefore to the guardsroom and the main gate.
You see at least two guards posted at the end of the hallway in this direction.
[[Back -> Exit the Basement Two]] You find the stairs right next to the Moredus bed chambers.
[[Investigate the bed chambers. -> In the Bed Chambers.]]
[[Take the stairs. -> The First Stairs.]]Before you get to the end, you come to a stop with a jolt. You sense an incredible magical aura emmited from somewhere above.
You now know exactly which direction to go. "So it's actually true!" You think with wonder.
You [[continue -> To the Second Floor]] onwards with a renewed vigor.As you make your way through the second floor without meeting anyone, you realize that you have seen nobody except guards and the two Warpers so far.
The second floor being completely empty of its residents confirms a suspision you've had since this infiltration began.
This is a trap to lure those like yourself, [[the Rogue Warpers. -> On the Second Floor Two]]Upon arriving at the back wall, you are able to find the crevices between bricks and cement to thrust yourself upon the second floor balcony, which is on the opposite side of the guardsroom and the main gate.
What you first thought as a window from afar is actually a door that opens onto the balcony from the second floor.
As you climb to the balcony you are immobilized by the shock of what you sense. An immense magical aura is being emmited by something one floor above this one.
Now you know exactly where the object is hidden, for there is only one building in the mansion with a third floor. the Tower in the middle.
With absolute glee you try the handle to enter the second floor. it is, of course, [[locked. -> Balcony Door]]You are aware that the window of opportunity is about to close, and the guards are once again going to have a clear view of the balcony area.
Though your cloak will hide you from the guards, the two warpers among them will most likely have the same gear as yourself.
You've only got two choices to avoid being caught, Warp away, or turn invisible.
One choice really if you want to lay your hands on the thing emitting that unbelievable aura... which is of course, [[turn invisible. -> Unlocking the Balcony Door]]While invisible, you unlock the door, and wait for the window of opportunity to slip inside.
After a few moments of heavy breathing you successfully make it into the second floor of the mansion as your invisibility spell fades.
You see a stairway that leads downstairs to your right, but you pay no mind to it. [[Your goal is to go up. -> On the Second Floor.]]Every single fiber of instinct you possess tells you to turn yourself invisible before you step onto the third floor.
[[Turn invisible. -> The Final Hurdle Two]]
[[Save the invisibility for now. -> Potential Doom]]You become invisible right before your head passes the floor, and your unseen eyes fall upon what would have been certain death.
The bait was superbly planned. Twenty guards made a circle with a diameter of 20 feet around the object that was emmiting the godly magical aura.
They were all facing away from the object, so that each one of them could keep a lookout for any sign of intruders. Not to mention the two Warpers disguised as regular guards.
Two Warpers you can confidently handle, three you may be able to handle, but four is out of the question.
Still out of sight, you [[contemplate your final actions. -> The Finale]](set: $reaction to (random: 1, 4))
(if: $reaction < 2) [
Just as you are about to emerge from the spiral staircase, you see at least seven distorted shadows of people on the walls, and turn yourself invisible.
And a good thing at that. As you enter the third floor you don't see seven guards, but twenty. Two of which are Warpers pretending to be guards.
Shaking yourself out of the horrible paralysis, you [[contemplate your final actions. -> The Finale]]
]
(else:) [
As you are emerging from the spiral staircase into the final room, you realize too late the shadows on the wall which surely belong to the guards waiting for any and all intruders.
Before you have a chance to turn yourself invisible, two of the twenty guards send a signal, and another jolt hits you with the realization that those are also two more Warpers.
As a final, last-ditch effort, [[you blitz to the relic -> Death in the Mansion]] you've been seeking for so long.
]Though invisible, the other Warpers would still be able to track you from following the ones you would kill.
Wishing you could kill all four you blitz the Warper who is right in the middle of you and the Relic.
The Blade of Fervor passes through the neck of the Warper like a hot knife through butter, and before the head so much as parts from the torso you lay your hands on one of the Lost Relics.
With a rush of exhaltation at the thought of the expressions on the Warpers' faces right about now, [[you Dimension Warp out -> The Finale Pt. 2]] of the Realm with the Relic.
The last thing you hear as you Warp away is "STOP THA..."You are so close, mere feet away infact, yet not close enough.
As the other two Warpers from the outside complete their warp next to the Relic, four blades descend upon you at different places.
Though you block two of the blades it is of course not enough.
So your head, torso, and feet all fall separately to the ground.
Thus ends another Rogue Warper in search for the Lost Relics. Relics which were forged in the First Epoch by those who people now call... [[Gods. -> Endnote]]You feel the stark sensation of being pulled into a void, your whole body feeling as if it may implode in itself. And in an instant, you appear in that realm. The realm known only to the Rogue Warpers.
The realm which was the start and end of the First Epoch, the realm where this Relic was forged. Forged by those who are now hailed by those from other Realms as... [[Gods. -> Endnote]] Thank you for playing.
Written and Designed by Akash "Empyrean" Kapadia.The thought of retreat however was driven cleanly out of your mind however by the increasing presense of that incredible aura.
And so you arrive at the spiral that gives access to the only third floor in this mansion.
You know without a doubt that there will be guards, if nothing else, waiting on that floor.
Slowly but surely, [[you climb the final spiral staircase -> The Final Hurdle]], and unsheathe the Blade of Fervor."No. As I've already told you all, remain in the tavern." you tell them.
"But boss..." Freya piped up.
"I will hear none of it Freya!" you interject, "Do not follow me. If I don't return by the end of the night, assume I am dead and avoid that place at all cost."
The look of outrage on the party is immediately replaced by a look of horror. Slowly Naymir asks in a trembling voice "What do you expect to face there?"
"I don't quite know for certain. Maybe something out of your league" you say, more to yourself than the others, [[as you step away from the table -> Leaving the Tavern]] Acting upon your instinct, you decide to investigate the Moredus bed chambers before heading to the second floor.
Although the door is locked, it presents absolutely zero challenge for you to open.
The door opens to a magnificent large bed in the middle of the room, a writing table to the right of the bed, and a cupboard to the left. From the color, both seem to be made of the finest bloodwood.
The object that catches your attention immediately is a [[small cabinet -> The Bed Chamber]] set in thefar left corner of the room.Without a second thought you climb the stairs and enter the second floor where you see many more rooms. Likely apartments for the children.
You also see a door which opens towards the balcony to the back of the mansion.
You feel the aura getting stronger as you get [[closer to its location -> On the Second Floor.]]The cabinet looked quite ordinary, and therefore out of place.
You move closer to it and realize with a closer examination that it has runes of concealment etched on its door, making it impossible to see for anyone but Warpers.
Glancing inside the cabinet, you find a rolled up scroll, and what looks like a diary. Curious to see what the warpers deem so important that they need to hide it in this fashion, you take both items, and [[unroll the scroll. -> The Revelation]]The scroll it turns out is a map. The continent of this realm is drawn on it and certain major cities seem to be marked, each with a unique rune. The city you are currently in is one of those marked.
With dawning comprehension you open the diary to a random page with trembling hands. A list of names under one of the marked cities meet your eyes. Some of the names are crossed out.
"This..." The absolute fury and terror at this information renders your thoughts to a shellslug pace. "...is a list of potential suspects."
Suspects who may turn out to be one of the ever elusive [[Rogue Warpers. -> The Fury in Check]]The overwhelming fury at the thought of your kind being systematically lured and executed reaches such paramount heights that before you realize it, the Blade of Fervor is drawn in your right hand, and oozing dark crimson aura.
With an enormous effort you regain control of your emotions and sheathe the blade, which stopped oozing the aura once your emotions were reigned in.
You take the map and the diary, exit the room, and immediately take the stairs to the [[second floor. -> On the Second Floor Three]] Knowing this to be a trap, you understand that you will find nobody in the mansion except for the place where the object is located at.
After making your way through the second floor without any problems, you find yourself at the foot of spiral staircase that leads to the third floor, where, you know by the godly aura emitted from that direction, the object will be found.
Slowly but surely, [[you climb the final spiral staircase -> The Final Hurdle]], and unsheathe the Blade of Fervor.