CHAPTER 11: FACE-OFF WITH DARKNESS
In this final chapter, you get to stand your ground against Shades, Goddess of the Night, Darkness, Shadows and Intrigue. You may have managed to destroy Gharrok ("merely" a demi-god), but can you even hope to prevail against a genuine Divine Power?
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1)
Once back outside the Tradelord's mansion, you now have some hard
thinking to do. If you have Strider and/or
Agea Soulfire, they will put
in their two cents in trying to guess which highest perch or
lowest perch Shades might be, in Southgate. If you have Koje
Oyoun with you, she will be seemingly bored -
most likely because she has guessed already where Shades is
hiding but doesn't want to say so just yet. The trick here is not
to think in terms of geography (i.e. "high" versus
"low") but instead in terms of socio-economics and
politics. In other words, the real question to ask is: where lies
the political power -or center or 'highest perch'- in Southgate?
Why, with the High Lord of Southgate, of course! So, it's off to
the High Lord's Estates (see Southgate key in Chapter 1)!
2) As you get to High Lord's estates, the gates will slowly open
by themselves - an obvious invitation, don't you think? If you
have Koje with you, she will
then giggle with pride at having already guessed that Shades is
hiding in the High Lord's castle.
3) As you reach the doors of the High Lord's castle, shadow
dragons will materialize to attack you. Show them the
"light" ... then enter.
4) As outside, the interior of the castle will be blanketed with
a veil of darkness and writhing shadows. Step further north,
where you come upon the avatar of Shades,
Goddess of the Night, Darkness, Shadows and Intrigue,
who is leisurely reclining on the High Lord's throne. At each
side of the throne, you will find the Tradelord and
a woman (she is the High Lord - or rather High
Lady), both trapped within a field of
semi-solid shadows and obviously terrorized. How things play out
from this point depend on the following:
A) You never made a donation at the temple of Thryx (see Chapter 1): then Koje Oyoun will not have hooked up with you. After a pedantic monologue and a few reprobations from Shades, she will rise from the throne to teach you a lesson. Thus, it is you alone against Shades - furthermore, the dark goddess will have the pleasure of summoning at her conveniance shadow daemons and shadow knights during the battle. This battle is simply deadly for you and most likely impossible to win - you have been warned. If you defeat her, you will be able to take the seal key from her. However, Shades will not be destroyed: she will heal herself fully (she is a goddess afterall!) and leave to do whatever next she has to do (i.e. bring Domorash into the world). However, you will not have found out where exactly Shades is going. At least, Shades will have to find another seal key ... and this should slow her down significantly to allow you time to figure it all out.
B) Koje hooked up with you but you dropped her off at some point: you probably got rid of Koje Oyoun because you were tired of those strange things happening to you (silence, slow, confuse, etc.). Alternately, she seemingly "died for good" and you lost her because you did not rest/heal sufficiently between battles to allow for your SCs to heal completely after having fallen in a previous battle. Either way, the avatar of Thryx, Goddess of Mischief, Schemes, Pranks and Trickery will appear out of nowhere sometimes during Shades' pedantic monologue and reprobations. Of course, the name Koje Oyoun is an anagram for "joke-on-you" - consequently, it was Thryx herself who was tagging with you all along, but in disguise! However, Thryx is somewhat miffed at you for dropping her or taking so little care of her. She will nonetheless trick (the pun was inevitable) Shades into revealing where she is to go next (namely: the Dragonspear Ridge, far away to the Middle Azure Coast) to bring into the world the next dark power (namely: Domorash), according to Zoniax' prophecy. Thryx will then leave you to face Shades all by your own, as in A. If you defeat her, you will be able to take the seal key from her. However, Shades will not be destroyed: she will heal herself fully (she is a goddess afterall!) and leave for the Middle Azure Coast to find the means to bring Domorash into the world. Knowing where Shades is going, and since she will have to find another seal key (and thus slowing her down significantly), you have therefore fully accomplished what was needed to do at this point.
C) Koje is with you: at some point during Shades' pedantic monologue and reprobations, Koje Oyoun will step from behind you and show herself to the dark goddess. Shades will instantly recognize the avatar of Thryx, Goddess of Mischief, Schemes, Pranks and Trickery. Immediately, Koje will change form and reveal her true self. Of course, the name Koje Oyoun is an anagram for "joke-on-you" - consequently, it was Thryx herself who was tagging with you all along, but in disguise! She will then trick (the pun was inevitable) Shades into revealing where she is to go next (namely: the Dragonspear Ridge, far away to the Middle Azure Coast) to bring into the world the next dark power (namely: Domorash), according to Zoniax' prophecy. As Thryx playfully asks the rhetorical question "Am I good or what?", play along and answer jokingly "What!". She will love you so much for it that she will fight Shades with you and prevent her from summoning help (who says that jokes are a waste of time?)! If instead you answer "Absolutely!", Thryx will be disapointed in you for not playing along with the 'set-up' of the joke - consequently, she will not fight Shades but will nonetheless prevent her from summoning help. If you defeat Shades, you will be able to take the seal key from her. However, Shades will not be destroyed: she will heal herself fully (she is a goddess afterall!) and leave for the Middle Azure Coast to find the means to bring Domorash into the world. Knowing where Shades is going, and since she will have to find another seal key (and thus slowing her down significantly), you have therefore fully accomplished what was needed to do at this point. A happy Thryx will then say her goodbyes to you and vanish in turn.
5)
With Shades gone, the darkness within the castle dissipates. Go
speak with the Tradelord and
the High Lady, Gwenylin Nelanthyr,
who are now free of their shadow prisons. Since everyone need to
gather their wits, and since you need some deserved rest, you
agree to return to speak with them in 3 days at least. Take your
leave and return outside the castle.
6) Once outside, the darkness englobing Southgate will dissipate
the moment you take your fist step. The southgayans will rush
into the streets and celebrate. Leave the estates of the High
Lady and rest. After 3 days or more have passed, return to the
castle of the High Lady and receive your reward for heroically
saving Southgate.
Congratulations! You have defeated Shades,
delving her a severe set-back, and in the process saved not only
Southgate, but the whole of the North-Western Azure Coast! You
have therefore completed successfully the main story-arc of Dead
of Night ... and we hope you enjoyed this scenario for Realmz!
But what comes next? The answer to this fateful question will be
forthcoming in the second installment of the Prince of Death
Cycle, Dragon of Death, where you will travel to the Middle Azure
Coast and contend against not only Shades, but also against
Domorash, Goddess of Domination, Conquest, Supremacy and Evil
Dragons!
Stay tuned to the same Realmz day, same Realmz time, and same
Realmz channel!
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