CHAPTER 35: END-GAME IN THE ASTRAL PLANE
The last leg of the chase ends in the Astral plane, a strange and alien dimension of psionic energy and psionic proto-matter, all too far removed from your own plane of reality. Truth to tell, the chase began all the way back in TiSL and it has proven to be quite long and arduous. But now, finally, it comes to its inevitable denouement. This time, it is winner takes all. End of the game.
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you land in the Astral plane on a small island of stabilized
spionic proto-matter, at coordinates x46y45. Behind you at
x45y45, you notice a strange pulsating diagram: this is a magic
portal. Although this seems like the means to
return, you will need the right incantation to activate it (see
Chapter 36).
- walk to the pier at coordinates x50y45: at that moment, your
mind will subconsciously fashion a psionic ship out of the free
psionic energies of the plane. This ship will allow you to travel
throughout the Astral plane.
- once after boarding you ship, travel to coordinates x73y18,
where you will reach another island of stabilized psionic
proto-matter. Disembark and walk through the gates at x76y14 or
x77y14. You now stand on Xenon Maximus's domain.
- walk up to Maximus' castle. As you approach, you will be
assaulted by a damaging psionic wave attack. Immediately after,
the freed essence of the Mentarch Sappho Nynex
will stand before you, demanding that you prostrate yourself
before her. Refuse or accept: either way, you have to fight her.
Good luck.
- after the fight, take the time to rest and heal, then enter the
castle.
- inside, you will be greeted by the free essence of Xenon
Maximus as you take your first step. Of course,
he is flanked with his last two siblings, Nuul
Zarrakian and Azure Malachys.
After Maximus' greeting, step forward further.
- after a few more steps, Maximus goes on speaking to you,
crowing. He tells you that the essences of Mentarchs can be free
of the need for a corporeal body almost indefinitely, as long as
they remain on the Astral Plane. That is how he managed to last
for thousands of years without a host. Nonetheless, he was quite
happy when Primus Ankh contacted him ten years ago, after finding
Lankh'Nar and the dimensional machine he himself had used to
escape to the Astral plane in the first place, when the empire
fell. But for beings such as Mentarchs, time is meaningless as
long as they remain in the Astral plane. He goes on to admit that
he will miss Primus, who was a very loyal lackey. But there will
be other opportunities for him and his siblings to reclaim their
birthright as Ruling Gods of Lhari-Orin, for time is on their
side. Maximus then muses that he has sensed that a female mage
has settled in the Astral Plane - and relatively near his abode
at that (he speaks of the Sceptanar
- see Chapter 36). This means that she has the knowledge to
travel the Planes and thus is possessed of great power. Therein
lies Maximus' new plan to attempt again to bring about a Second
Rising of the Mentarchs: although this mage may not be of
lankharhan descent, she will be quite suitable nonetheless as a
host for him, and her knowledge will allow him to travel the
Planes easily. Having said his piece, Maximus then sicks his two
mentarch siblings on you. Good luck.
- having just managed to defeat Zarrakian and Malachys, Maximus
then summons powerful creatures from the Astral plane and in turn
attacks you (very good luck to ya'll)!
- once the fight is over, you rejoice at having finally defeated
Maximus and his mentarch siblings! However, you can't help but
think that you should dare not celebrate just yet: indeed, you
must leave the Astral Plane and return safely home before you can
fully celebrate your victory. But how do you go
about it?
Onward to Chapter 36!
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