86 rooms · level 55
If ever there was a laboratory fit for a mad scientist this is it. The northern wall shelves thousands of glass pieces, used for mixing, titrating, pouring, grinding, melting and just about every other task imaginable. A large table in the middle of the room is home to a multitude of bubbly, frothing experiments. A large furnace just near the doorway seems to provide the heat and power to run these crazy convolutions. The west wall is lined with books, some thousands of pages thick, on topics ranging from 'Dark Magicks' to '101 Uses for Pixie Dust'. Right in front of you a desk seems to support a myriad of lab notebooks and rough design sketches. This is a most bizarre place indeed.
Dense formations of clouds wisp about. A gust of cold air rushes through and a complete sense of euphoria abounds. What mysteries, adventures and treasures await in the realm beyond?
Immediately ahead stands a castle greater than any other you have seen previously. To the south the drawbridge is raised and before you stands a seemingly insurpassable moat. The liquid within seems to bubble and boil in a very caustic manner. Although the aura that surrounds the castle leaves a slight uneasy feeling the mystique of the moment seems to vanquish any cowardly thoughts.
The castle gates slam together behind you with a resounding CRASH! Clearly there is no choice but to go on. On the east and west sides of this immense hallway stand two stone gargoyles, each clasping a magnificently glowing orb, and the hallway runs on to the south beneath a row of enormous chandeliers.
Although the room is embraced by darkness you can hear a rustling that seems to be coming from the center of the room. As the light comes into focus so does a gargantuan mass of stone and earth standing rigidly in the corner. He is immense, nearly as tall as the double story ceilings. The guardian of earth calmly surveys the situation with his cold, sapphire eyes.
The large marble room appears to be the resting place of the guardian of air. As he shoots you a glance from across the room the air becomes noticeably cooler. The elemental spins maniacally about the room in a fit of anger. The gusts he creates as he wreaks havoc upon the room seem to bounce off the walls and are drawn back into the whirling vortex.
A magnificent lush crimson rug covers the vast majority of the castle floor, snuffing out the sounds of muffled soles. Enormous chandeliers droop from the ceiling while massive candelabras salute rigidly every few feet along the hallway. There are four murals adorning the stone walls, each seems to portray one of the four natural elementals.
The end of the immense hallway is incredibly majestic. Directly to the south hangs a gigantic tapestry of the regal elemental dragon lord sitting mightifully upon his throne of ivory. On either side of the hall is perched a stone gargoyle, each clutching what appears to be a human skull.
The heat emanating from the room is barely tolerable. The singed walls and ceiling mark the grim presence of the swirling mass of flames erupting about the room. The smell is almost excruciating and seems to leave an almost palpable taste of burnt flesh. The guardian of fire slinks about the room almost unaware of outside presence.
The large ivory room seems completely submerged. There is a table on the east side of the room that has decayed significantly from what appears to be years of water corrosion. There are certain pieces of furniture however that appear to be in mint condition, most notable the brass chandelier mounted into the ceiling. In the blink of an eye the currents swirl furiously about converging at the center of the room. From these currents emerges the guardian of water.
As you step down it becomes painfully apparent you should have looked before you lept. The room darkens and you fade from con-sciousness as you begin to reach a critical velocity. There is nothing left to do but pray the gods have mercy on your soul.
The earthen embankment gives way as you realize the ground is not as stable as you once thought. Up to your ankles in dirt you begin to panic upon the realization that you are slowly sinking. Before the situation can be assessed further you are completely dragged under.
A whirling vortex of water draws you near. As you gasp for your last breath you come to the hopeful realization that there might possibly be an end to the descent. That thought is snuffed however as you inhale a huge gulp of water and lose consciousness.
As you step into a burning ball of flames your life flashes before your eyes. The intense heat forces all consciousness from your mind. Although you feel your body moving it is impossible to focus long enough to finish that thought. You pass out from exhaustion.
The underwater cavern drips from the immense humidity. The musty environment coupled with the almost palpable smell of decaying water creatures makes the body want to jump from its skin. The cavern appears to continue down into the murky depths.
Here the cavern slopes down from above, continuing its dank pursuit of the cavern floor. The algae covered rocks make securing a foothold difficult. Small silvery minnows dart in and out of each other, appearing as glints as they peruse the depths.
The sharp slope of the descent seems to level off here and continue further to the east. The light in this section is almost nil and visibility is granted only by the eerie glow of the luminous fungus and algae adorning the cavern walls.
The cavern splits here. The current seems to flow to the north however there does appear to be a small trail to the south. Scratches and muffled moans can faintly be heard as they carry through the water. Their direction is almost impossible to ascertain.
The cavern ends abruptly here in a wall of rock. This area is almost completely covered in algae, reaching the height of a small dwarf in places. The lichen's tentacles seem to grasp at all who tread by. Small river creatures resembling starfish lie about, seemingly trapped by the algae that surround them. Overhead the algae hangs thickest of all, and the cavern leads back to the north.
The cavern walls seem to take a sharp turn to the east, accompanied by the current. Strange gurgling sounds seem to be coming from the north. Even the minnows, who seemingly know very little, turn back or head east as they approach the utter darkness to the north.
The small alcove here tucked into the cavern is completely engulfed in darkness. The gurgling noises seem to be coming from this area however without any visible light it is almost impossible to ascertain what inhabits this small break in the cavern walls.
The current flows evenly here, turning toward the east, where the end of the path is plain to see. Scraping noises and small moans seem to come from a dead end to the south, and the cavern bends back to the west.
The cavern ends abruptly here. The thick layers of algae make vision upwards difficult however the rather large stack of bones directly below the opening above would indicate some type of unfriendly creature lies in wait.
The underground river seems to end here, its current flowing out through a tiny hole at the base of the eastern rock. The green glow of the algae that molest the cavern walls gives off just enough light to see by. The minnows swim in and out of each other, sometimes getting sucked through the hole at the base or through a small indentation in the north wall. Mixed amongst the algae are small patches of reeds, growing most thickly along the south wall. The cavern leads back to the west.
A small whirlpool swirls furiously about the center of the room. Small wildlife, bits of moss, and tiny pebbles that become engulfed by the raging current are quickly swept under and carried off to the base of the whirlpool...assuming there is a base.
Beyond the reeds lies a tiny alcove, where a second whirlpool swirls madly at the center. The algae covering the cavern floor makes resisting its strong current difficult. All objects, animate or otherwise, that are unlucky enough to come within a few lengths of the raging current are quickly swept under. The reeds hide the way back north.
The large scraping and muffled moans seem to be coming from the hideous creature floating about the alcove. Small tentacles flail aimlessly about the room, sensing for intruders. It would seem the creature is completely blind; the stack of bones piled high in the corner of the room would indicate however that although sightless, this creature has no difficulties in obtaining food.
Minnows, bits of plant life, small pebbles and the occasional bone litter the floor. This seems to be where the whirlpool spits out all that it engulfs. A small serene pool lies off in the distance to the east.
This section of the cavern is completely quiet save the small babbling of the tiny pool to the east. The cavern walls are completely smooth, lacking the dominating algae that was so prominent. Small puddles gather along the cavern walls and on the cavern floor, fed by the occasional leak from above. A great sense of evil appears to be emanating from the east.
The trail continues further to the east and wraps around the dark inky pool. In the center of the pool a tiny whirlpool swirls around and around in a hypnotic fashion. It might be best to look away.
A small pool babbles quietly to the east. The trail winds around the gathering of water in a near perfectly circular fashion, straying only where the embankment has eroded. Upon further inspection the water appears to be jet black in color. It would be best to avoid the water.
The trail wraps around the pool continuing on further to the east. A torch nestled into the rocky cavern wall lights the area. The brown lichen clinging to the cave wall give off a deep rich glow, as they absorb the light from its source. Tiny spiders crawl about the dirt laden floor, always keeping their distance from the deep, dark pool.
Small arachnids and mosquitos inhabit this section of the dank cavern, running ferverously here and there in a nonsensical manner. A light brown algae grows upon the walls, perhaps providing nourishment to these cavern dwellers. The hypnotic whirlpool continues to swirl about directly to the south. The center seems to draw you into its deathly embrace.
As you step foot into the pool the vicious suction of the undertow drags you deep into the depths of the black murky water. It would have been best to stick with your first intuition.
A tiny whirlpool lies directly to the north, swirling and swirling in a smooth, uninterrupted pattern. The center of the whirl seems to draw the eyes in, in a hypnotic manner. The trance is broken slightly as a large snort breaks the silence from the east. You sense a dark uneasiness emanating from the center of the pool.
The trail continues to the south and loops back around finishing the encirclement of the tranquil pool. It is still difficult to resist looking towards the center of the pool...it seems to be calling.
The cavern path continues on to the east where it seems to drop off sharply into a rocky descent. The path to the south continues to follow the borders of the pool. Tiny bubbles rise up from the bottom of the strange pool while a trimming of froth rests gently upon the edge of the embankment, acting as a seal between the dirt and the inky waters. A great sense of danger sets in, emanating most strongly from the center of the deep, dark pool.
The trail continues on around the pool to the north. Upon further inspection the rocky floor appears to be the home of thousands of minuscule ant like creatures, scuttling to and fro in a most random fashion. Some carry large arachnids, perhaps ten times their size off into the bleak darkness in the cavern beyond. It is interesting to note that they seem to hug the far wall, staying as far as possible from the pool of darkness.
The cavern takes a sharp turn downwards, through a rocky crevice. Fortunately, the slick algae that once covered the floor is no longer and attaining a sure footing is not the challenge it once was. Further down the slope seems to level off. Another large torch provides a warm glow to this section of the cavern.
The rocky slope levels off and leads into utter openness. To the east a gigantic chasm seems to smile with its jaws wide open. Light here is almost non-existent, making a closer examination of the cavern and its contents nearly impossible.
High above the chasm small bats pitter and patter about. The chasm wall seams are alive with tiny rat infants that crawl amongst each other with revolting revelry. The large squawks seem to drown out all others, with the exception of a large snort emerging from the depths of the cavern.
It seems the mother chiroptera uses this middle section of the cavern as her base. Closer inspection reveals a horrific nocturnal placental flying mammal with gigantic forelimbs modified to form leathery wings. She beams out tiny radar signals with each squeak and snort. Perhaps it would be best to leave before she receives them.
The base of the cavern appears quite wet. In the center of the rocky bottom lies a small whirlpool, swirling furiously about. Small debris becomes swept under and carried off into the wonders beyond.
Reeds, silvery minnows, bits of wood and small pebbles lie scattered about the room. An opening presents itself to the east.
The narrow cavern opens up slightly to the east into another chasm; however the air here is dank yet still. Only the sounds of small insects scurrying across the rocky floor breaks the unsettling silence. The path ends to the east, at what appears to be a very unstable ridge.
The ridge here appears to be suspended in mid air, only slightly attached to rocky chasm walls to the west. Although the chasm is quite dark the green luminous fungus gives off an eerie lime glow. At the base of the chasm a deep dark blue pool bubbles noiselessly. The slightest excess weight on the ridge may cause it to fall...but there appears to be no other way out!
The ridge separates itself from the chasm wall and begins to plummet. The calm pool below begins to come more closely into view and it becomes apparent that two large creatures swim majestically below in eager anticipation of the meal to come. Perhaps now would be an ideal time to prepare yourself for a grueling battle!
As the chasm walls seem to pick up speed it becomes quite apparent that the ridge is gaining serious velocity. The speed makes it difficult to determine the exact position of the ridge however the pool below is quickly approaching. The creatures below let out a mighty war cry in anticipation. Time is running out for battle plans...make haste!
The pool lies a few dwarven lengths below. The large bottom dwellers seem quite enraged and eager to meet their opponents. Further inspection of the creatures shows that they're a nasty hybrid of a snake and a dragon; one appears to be extremely large. The depth of the pool is nearly impossible to gauge as the water is a deep regal blue hue.
The ridge is completely submerged at this point and makes its way to the bottom of the pool. The snake like dragons appear livid at the disturbance. There is little to do now except to wait for the ridge to finish its descent and come to its final resting place upon the murky silt floor. Prepare yourself for battle!
The bottom of the pool is covered in a white murky silt. The chasm walls are completely covered in algae. Tall thin reeds grow up out of the pool basin and feel their way about the sombre depths. The inhabitants of the pool bottom appear to be two large snake-dragon hybrids. Neither are excited about the confusion the fall of the ridge has created.
The algae seems to give way to a tiny air pocket. On the cavern wall a torch burns bright, lit by a tiny piece of coal. How long has this torch been lit? Who else calls these caverns their home? How long will it be before these creatures make themselves apparent? These thoughts are enough to bring chills to even the bravest of adventurers.
The ancient catacombs seem to stretch off into the east for miles. Small rodents scurry about the gravel floor, quite surprised to see company. Vegetation is limited to a light brown fungus that grows upon the dark dank cavern walls.
The catacombs seem to flow endlessly in a non-sequential, mind numbing fashion. Off to the east can be heard the whistle and incoherent mumbling of what appears to be an old man. His exact relevancy to the catacomb and his ability to survive in century old caverns are equally mysterious.
The catacombs open into a vaulted passage where a cold, faintly glowing mist curls along the floor. The walls seem to shift whenever you look away, and the mist moves of its own accord, tugging at your feet as if to carry you deeper. The haunting sounds of scratching and grunting rise from somewhere below, matched only by a slow, sadistic whistling coming from the east... or was it the west? The narrow tunnel lies back to the west, and the catacombs go on to the east.
The whistling is loudest here, where the passage widens beneath a low vault of bones. The mist pools thickly in the middle of the floor and spills down through a gap in the stone, hiding a way down to whatever lies beneath. Scratches on the walls show where someone has paced back and forth for years on end. The catacombs lead back to the west and on to the east, and the walls never seem to stand quite where they did a moment ago.
The passages seem to draw together here, and the mist thins as the vault narrows to the east into a low opening in the rock, barely wide enough for one. A faint, sweet smell drifts out of it. Behind you, to the west, the mist stirs and gathers again, and the walls seem ready to shift.
At long last the jumble of passageways and corridors seems to have merged into this room. Without warning, small pores, embedded low in the cavern walls, seem to bellow forth a barrage of haze. Even the strongest warrior is unable to resist...all are rendered unconscious!
Thick moss lines the cavern walls in this section of the catacombs, giving off a warm yet eerie glow. There appears to be no other signs of life save the small beetles that scurry about on the cavern floor. The passage opens up to the east.
The catacombs take a sharp turn to the north and to the south. The musty dank atmosphere would lead one to believe that he was slowly descending deeper and deeper into the earth. The luminous fungus grows at a rampant pace upon the slick walls, allowing near perfect vision along the path.
A strange mist hangs luminously about the cavern walls disguising the immediate surroundings. A queer creaking noise can be heard and through squinting eyes one cannot help but notice that the floor is giving way. Although upon further inspection the ground seems to be nothing but a platform, creaking as it descends into a room of utter darkness. It may be best to move or become part of some creature's clever trap.
The cavern appears to come to an abrupt end at this point. Skulls and crossbones litter the dusty cavern floor, providing a safe haven for the small arachnids that scurry about. On the north wall a tiny skull rests upon a wooden spear.
A majestic dragon, made entirely of emerald, lies shiftlessly upon a bone pile. Small rodents hustle in an out of the carcasses, searching for any tiny morsel they can scavenge. Suddenly the dragon's ruby eyes flash in a brilliance of red, within seconds the torches in each corner of the room become lit. What strange powers this beast has developed, perhaps it would be best not to disturb him.
It is impossible to see in this room as it is completely devoid of light. The absence of the primary sense only seems to make the slight shuffling and rustling coming from the far corners of the room more intense. With time the rustling appears to intensify; the mysterious dark dweller is approaching.
The cavern appears to fork at this point, branching off to the east and west. Large dust clouds originating from the west make breathing difficult and vision blurry. Fluorescent fungus lights the way to the east.
It is nearly impossible to see in this room. A large tornado of dust spins furiously about the room, oblivious to all else. Although it does not appear to be dangerous, it would not be wise to stand in the path of this dusty devil.
An eerie feeling permeates the air as the luminously effervescent fungus projects a green glow upon the surroundings. Small rodents scurry about chasing what little insects they are able to find. Upon closer inspection the eyes of the rodents appear to be green in color... or is this simply a reflection from the cavern walls? The junction lies back to the west, and to the south the cavern ends at the brink of a precipice.
The Keeper of the North stands majestically before the northern precipice, where the cavern floor drops away into a dark chasm to the south. The dank cavern lies back to the north. It appears he will have to be defeated before any further advancement is made.
With no apparent exits to this dark, dank cavern it appears that a leap of faith is one's last alternative. Be strong and believe!
With no apparent exits to this dark, dank cavern it appears that a leap of faith is one's last alternative. Be strong and believe!
The Keeper of the East marches diligently back and forth along the eastern precipice. Upon noticing intruders he snarls and prepares himself for battle. In order to continue further it appears that the guardian of the east must be defeated.
With no apparent exits to this dark dank cavern it appears that a leap of faith is one's last alternative. Be strong and believe!
The South Keeper stands perched over the precipice, perhaps contemplating his duties or possibly simply the pitfall below. Hearing a small noise he turns around, draws his weapon and prepares for battle.
With no apparent exits to this dark dank cavern it appears that a leap of faith is one's last alternative. Be strong and believe!
The Keeper of the West guards this face of the cavern. He stands ten feet tall and weighs nearly one thousand pounds. The light from the fungus shines brilliantly off his plate mail and sparkles luminously off his sword. Clearly, he has been trained for one purpose.
A small alcove cut out of the cavern wall lies hidden in the very depths of the shadows. Barely visible, a tiny chest lies nestled in the dust in the northernmost corner of the room. A slight breeze from the north stirs up the settled dust, blurring vision.
A small passageway, cut out of the cavern wall extends south to a small door. Upon the door is inscribed a tiny "N", its significance has yet to be determined. Small rodents scurry across the cavern floor while even smaller bats flap their leathery wings above; both seem to disappear into a small alcove.
The luminous cavern extends further into the depths of darkness as it continues south to a small door. A minuscule "E" is inscribed at eye level upon the door, much the same as its counterpart to the north. Vegetation and animal life seem to dwindle with the light.
The light here is barely enough to see a troll's length ahead. A low, ominous rumble appears to be coming from the south. A door carved into the cavern wall lies further down the way; what could it be hiding? Upon the structure is carved the letter "S".
The rumble that was previously heard has now augmented into a thunderous roar. The ground and cavern walls shake furiously, causing stalactites and tiny pebbles to plummet to the dusty floor. Whatever mass exists to the south is clearly upset that it has been disturbed.
Upon entering the room the earth erupts, skyrocketing to the heavens above. Little by little the immense mound takes the shape of a mighty warrior. Standing nearly fifty feet tall this gigantic mass prepares to do battle.
A tiny alcove lies hidden beneath the mist of the catacombs. This appears to be where the old man retires when he is not wandering the passages above. There is a small table in the corner with a golden bound book just hanging off the edge. Next to the end table a tiny chest lies nestled away, almost completely hidden from view. The mist drifts down through a gap in the ceiling, the only way back up.
The room gradually begins to turn and rotate. As it slowly increases its speed the light starts to dim and all conscious thought is eventually snuffed. Centrifugal force keeps everything not tied down pinned to the sides of the wall. Hopefully this madness will soon end.
White nothingness stretches out as far as the eye can see. There are no floors, no ceilings, and no walls, yet there is no sensation of falling. This one was designed for a single purpose. It is where adventurers come to do battle with their evil nature.
A thunderous voice booms out for all to hear.
"Congratulations on your advancement thus far. However, I am not entirely convinced that thou art pure of heart. To become a true hero an adventurer must look deep within himself and do battle with his inner demons. In order to proceed you must also do the same. Each member of your party will be faced with a mirror image of himself. In order to advance it will be necessary to slay your evil counterpart. Each member must battle alone! Remember, you are only as strong as your weakest link. My powers are not as strong as they once were, the entrapment of Zaxxon has aged me considerably. I have only enough mana to allow battles to occur one at a time. Please allow each member to finish his battle before sending in the next challenger. Enter two at a time and you may suffer the consequence. Be warned! Proceed with caution and good luck!
A small room lies buried deep within the depths of the castle. It is completely bare save a few scratches on the wall. One can only guess at its intended purpose. The exit up appears to be blocked by something lying on the hallway floor above.