An ancient crone hobbles in from the southwest, leaning upon a gnarled cane.

An ancient crone says, "I know the looks of ye. Come to take the Trial, have we? Come to advance yourself in the world, have your soul reforged in the Flame, yes? Got a name, then?"

"What's the matter then, cat got your tongue? Can't you say your name?"

say Esmerelda

You say, "Esmerelda."

The crone cackles gleefully.
"Esmerelda, is it? Ah, I s'pose I've heard worse and I've heard better. Come along now. Follow me, and I will take you to the Tree."

follow crone

You begin to follow the ancient crone.

With unexpected speed, the crone scurries off to the southwest and you follow, wondering if this is the best idea. You strain to keep up with the crone's rapid pace, barely noticing when she leads you off the road and onto a hidden path to the west.

Panting, you pause at the base of what seems to be a massive wooden wall. The wall stretches a vast distance to either side before curving into the mountains. Catching your breath, you gaze up, and your eyes widen as you realise that the wall is no wall: it is the base of Yggdrasil, the World Tree!

The crone beckons you on, and you follow through a small hole in the side of the Tree.

"Ah, what have we here?" the crone cackles, hopping from foot to foot. "Is this what you were looking for, dearie? Look, Esmerelda!"

look

Inside the World Tree.
You are in a very large room inside Yggdrasil, the World Tree. The ceiling is out of sight, far overhead in the darkness. Vines creep up the interior of the tree, and you hear the chittering of squirrels from above. The feature, which must draw all eyes towards it, dominates the centre of the room: The Flame of Yggdrasil. Burning six feet high, but throwing off no heat, the Flame of Yggdrasil seems to be emanating a very strong scent of lavender, curiously enough.
You see a single exit leading east.

A sudden -THWAP- to your head makes you jerk.

"Owww!" you exclaim, rubbing at the spot where the crone has just bonked you with her cane.

An ancient crone exclaims, "Quit daydreaming! Be more quick with looking around."

ql

Inside the World Tree.
Burning six feet high, but throwing off no heat, the Flame of Yggdrasil seems to be emanating a very strong scent of lavender, curiously enough. Leaning heavily upon a gnarled cane, an ancient crone awaits here.
You see a single exit leading east.

An ancient crone says, "But what you're REALLY interested in is this, isn't it?"

An ancient crone points at the Flame of Yggdrasil.

"Go on, take a good look at that Flame. Won't hurt your eyes any, ain't no normal flame."

look flame

Six feet high and nearly heatless, the Flame seems to be burning without harming anything and without using any fuel. A strong but pleasant lavender scent emanates from it.

"No dawdling now," the crone says quietly. "It's time for what you came here to do. Enter the Flame, Esmerelda, and begin your Trial of Rebirth."

enter flame

The crone whispers softly as you approach the Flame...

..."May the Gods be with you, Esmerelda."

Taking a deep breath, you gaze with determination into the hypnotic violet flickering of the Flame of Yggdrasil.

You take one step forward, then another, drawing courage from the fact that you can feel no heat radiating from the Flame. Perhaps this won't hurt so much after all, you think.

It only takes one more step to find out just how wrong you are.

The sensation is beyond pain, beyond bliss, beyond anything you have ever experienced. Agony and joy blend into a seamless, infinite whole as the Flame burns your mortal frame into white ash...

Then consciousness fades.

A dimly lit cave.
You see a single exit leading out.

You regain consciousness in utter darkness.

The darkness lifts a little. Blinking, you make out the lovely face of a woman gazing with motherly concern into your eyes.

She smiles. "I see you have awakened."

You sit up and shake your head, feeling dizzy.

"I am called Pasiphae," the woman says softly.

"I have been called by the Gods to guide you in the Trial you have undertaken. By your self-immolation in the Flame of Yggdrasil, you have entered this separate plane of reality. Here, your soul shall be reforged and made fit for rebirth into your world."

"To complete your Trial, you must quest for a Dragon Orb. But you are not ready for this quest just yet. There is much you must first learn. Fear not, I and others are here to teach you."

Pasiphae rises to her feet gracefully, then beckons for you to rise as well.

"Stand, Esmerelda."

A dimly lit cave.
The closeness of the walls in this cavern can be more felt than seen. The musty scent of packed earth is intermingled with the woodsy, rich smell of roots. What dim light filters through this place comes from a narrow opening in one wall, grown over from the outside with a dense curtain of ivy. Pasiphae stands here in a simple grey cloak.
You see a single exit leading out.

stand

You stand up and stretch your arms out wide.

Pasiphae says, "Come, let us venture out, shall we?"

out

Upon a flower-laden hill.
You see exits leading northeast, northwest, up, down, and in.

Pasiphae says, "Welcome to Ceylon, the Land of the Golden Dawn!"

Pasiphae says, "The original valley of Ceylon was created by decree of the Gods of Achaea aeons ago as a haven and paradise for the race of humans, in its infancy then. The Great Mother has recreated it here, in homage to its memory.

Pasiphae says, "This Ceylon is a sanctuary for the souls of those whose flames once burned brightly, but whose time, like Ceylon's, has passed. And a place of learning for those such as you!"

You shiver from a stray breeze, then realise you are entirely nude. Your clothing must have burned away in the Flame!

Pasiphae chuckles at your look of embarrassment. From within her cloak, she produces two neatly folded bundles of cloth and hands them to you.

Pasiphae says, "The Gods have gifted you with the ability to hold a near-limitless number of items in your inventory, though currently yours is close to bare. Check your inventory now, Esmerelda."

i

You are holding:
flowing white robes, flowing indigo robes.
You have nothing in the Rift.
You have 2 items and no gold.

Pasiphae says, "As you can see, I have given you a choice in colour. If you wish to wear one and not the other, you must learn to distinguish which is which by getting information about your inventory."

info inv

You aren't wielding anything in either hand.

You are holding:
robes82059 flowing white robes
robes83007 flowing indigo robes

You are wearing:

Pasiphae says, "Well done. Now make your choice, and wear the specific robe you want!"

wear robes82059

You are now wearing flowing white robes.

Pasiphae studies you with an approving look.

"There, much better!" she says, laughing.

Pasiphae says, "A good choice, Esmerelda. That colour suits you well. Could you please give the other robes back to me so that I might gift it to another?"

give robes to pasiphae

You give flowing indigo robes to Pasiphae.

Pasiphae says, "Now that you are presentable, I have a friend I'd like you to meet."

"To find him, follow the path northeast of here, then in whatever direction it takes you. Once you see him, greet the man politely."

northeast

Path hugging the side of a hill (road).
You see exits leading north and southwest.

n

Mud-covered trail (road).
Trampled slightly in the mud, a rolled-up map has been forgotten here.
You see exits leading east and south.

e

Beneath a large oak tree on the hillside.
A grey-haired man sits upon a large boulder, lost in contemplation.
You see a single exit leading west.

greet man

Stately in appearance, with grey overtaking most of his hair, the man who looks up at your greeting possesses the aura of one well used to command.

The man smiles warmly, saying, "Salutations, Esmerelda!"

He shakes your hand firmly, introducing himself as Severian.

Severian chuckles at your expression of surprise.

"Yes, of course I know who you are. Pasiphae told me you were headed in this direction. Surely, you know how to communicate telepathically from a distance? No?"

Severian beckons you to come closer, then places a hand upon your forehead. You feel a slight warm tingling inside your head, as if something has just opened up.

Severian tells you, "There! I knew you had the potential."

Severian smiles and says, "That's better. Now, why don't you try to tell me hello in the way I just showed you?"

You begin to shake your head, confused, then realise that you somehow do possess the knowledge... you merely need to concentrate on telling Severian your message...

tell severian hello

You tell Severian, "Hello."

Severian says, "Superb. Now you will be able to communicate with nearly anyone on the same plane and continent as you."

Severian says, "With this increase in your telepathic ability, you can also now obtain deeper insight into what is known as your score."

sc

Esmerelda (female Human)
You are level 1 (Neophyte) and 0% of the way to the next level.
Health: 340/340 Mana: 340/340
Endurance: 600/600 Willpower: 600/600
Strength: 12 Dexterity: 12 Constitution: 12 Intelligence: 12
You are not known for acts of infamy.
You are a novice, not having joined any class.
You are a Sightseer in the Fellowship of Explorers.
You are Neutral.
You are 18 years old, having been born on the 16th of Daedalan, 480 years after the fall of the Seleucarian Empire.

Severian nods encouragingly at you.

Severian says, "You are quite an apt pupil, but there is more to learn. There is still another method of attaining knowledge about your status. Can you guess it?"

stat

You are a bit under-dressed and feeling drafty, and you are utterly satiated.
You are fully rested.
You have 150 Lessons, 0 Credits, 0 Bound Credits.
You are a student of 0 languages.
You have 9 learning sessions for further language study.
You have played for a total of 0 days, 2 hours and 11 minutes.
Played this week: a total of 0 days, 2 hours and 11 minutes.
You are currently ignoring shouts. Typing SHOUTSON will remedy this.
You may type PORTALS to automatically go to the Room of Portals, a special location which leads to portals across the realms.
You have one free reincarnation.
You have not set a motto or warcry. Please read HELP MOTTO or HELP WARCRY to learn more.
You will timeout after 10 minutes of idleness/inactivity.

Severian smiles and says, "Very good. Now you know at least two ways to learn about yourself. But how to learn about others? You can see the many notable traits and accomplishments of another adventurer in their public record of HONOURS. To look at your own honours, try HONOURS ESMERELDA."

honours esmerelda

Esmerelda (female Human).
She is 18 years old, having been born on the 16th of Daedalan, 480 years after the fall of the Seleucarian Empire.
She is unranked in Achaea.
She is an extremely credible character.
She is not known for acts of infamy.
She is considered to be approximately equal to your might.

Severian says, "Now, let's look at someone else's public record. Let's see... Why don't you take a look at the honours of the adventurer named Nis?"

honours nis

Nis (male Rajamala).
He is 293 years old, having been born on the 12th of Chronos, 204 years after the fall of the Seleucarian Empire.
He is ranked 1765th in Achaea.
He is an extremely credible character.
He is not known for acts of infamy.
He is considered to be approximately 1987065% of your might.
He is a mentor and able to take on proteges.
His warcry: 'Sssssleep my child, thisss won't hurt'

Severian says, "You have learned quite a lot about gaining information on yourself and others."

Severian says, "But how does one know who else roams the realms? Well, normally you could only see others on the same plane and continent as you, but for now, the Gods will allow you to view those on the main continent of Sapience whence you came. Concentrate on this word: WHO."

who

Nubbins
Trilion, Initiate of Air
Aralynn
Lord Kakon, a Theran bard
Captain Delphinus Windancer, the Gatecrasher
Discipulae Mortalus Belthias, Son of the Woodland Realm
Snareman Kindfire
Amunet Viatrix
Tribal Tler'en
Junior Merchant Daylen Distara
Zydain
Nameless One, Furion
Harkna, Supplicant of Light
Refreshed Lavinia Sioraiocht-Xanatov, The Lost Lover
Shando
Roh Xanatov-Tav'Elaon
Nameless One, Haeri
Alves D'Ischai-Le'Dominae
Nameless One, Septentrio
Brother Draqoom Van Helsing, Disciple of the Body
Type MORE to continue reading. (16% shown)

Severian says, "Usually, that will be quite a few names. To view them more quickly, try concentrating on QuickWho."

qw

Perl, Sepheria, Sanoske, Mordun, Belthias, Kayli, Naix, Ildri, Rini, Janalie, Runa, Llialesam, Halbar, Eldin, Kaara, Yungfu, Ashena, Tariq, Dortheron, Eschatok, Basum, Decille, Tsubasa, Alexikia, Timby, Ragazzo, Zenii, Mellisa, Nexas, Taraus, Vivienne, Beoknight, Kez, Naisar, Rykoyo, Varien, Shimra, Majin, Rosaceae, Lerad, Elone, Havella, Ilena, Darcanthe, Kerrilynn, Jaest, Elerwinna, Dralian, Kina, Misty, Bukariin, Mordicarnon, Septentrio, Haeri, Shando, Harkna, Zydain, Tribal, Snareman, Aralynn, Nubbins, Trilion, Kakon, Amunet, Daylen, Furion, Lavinia, Roh, Alves, Draqoom, Reast, Mikhael, Tiruin, Teleri, Felis, Hauclir, Mindol, Daimiel, Amel, Mathonwy, Arelyn, Ibniad, Ainly, Silvana, Khyran, Salone, Stuart, Juliet, Axile, Varick, Viakana, Zaoria, Blues, Varach, Reghna, Zyx, Ganelon, Raiga, Atticus, Saralyn, Haze, Dael, Ignika, Orim, Sho, Destar, Shyrei, Tret, Keyth, Ikthor, Reznik, Kethall, Karlyt, Avenus, Tahlas, Inayani, Lang, Mazoku, Fallyn, Lee, Dakeyras.
Plus another 26 whose presence you cannot fully sense.

Severian says, "Now, I spoke of the continent of Sapience just now. Let me show you my map..." He pats the pockets of his coat with a look of surprise.

Severian says, "Hmm! I seem to have misplaced my map. Perhaps you could find it for me. I may have dropped it on the path west of here."

w

Mud-covered trail (road).
Trampled slightly in the mud, a rolled-up map has been forgotten here. You see exits leading east and south.

g map

You pick up a rolled-up map.

e

Beneath a large oak tree on the hillside.
A grey-haired man sits upon a large boulder, lost in contemplation.
You see a single exit leading west.

Severian smiles and says, "Ah, I see you've found my map. Can you give it here please?

give map to severian

You give a rolled-up map to Severian.

Thanking you profusely, Severian unfurls the map, revealing the depiction of a single gigantic landmass surrounded by oceans and several islands. He beckons you to look closely.

Severian says, "This is the continent of Sapience."

Severian stabs a finger at two spots on the map, one to the west and one to the southeast corner of the continent. "The first two great city-states to rise in Sapience: Ashtan, the Bastion of the North! Shallam, the Jewel of the East!"

Severian points to a spot east of Ashtan and north of Shallam, saying, "Here, in the wilds of the Northern Ithmia forest, the third great city-state was born. Hashan, the Crown of the Ithmia!"

Gesturing towards the southwestern corner of the continent, Severian says, "The fourth city-state to rise nests high in the Southern Vashnars, greatest mountain range. Cyrene, the Heart of the Vashnars!"

Severian says, "The forestal community of Eleusis lies within the eastern Ithmia forest, here."

Severian says, "Look to this island to the left. A terrible struggle between the Gods culminated in the imprisonment of the God of Evil beneath a mountain here, creating this island. Upon its peak was built the fortress-city of Mhaldor, the City of Evil!"

Severian says, "Though these are the centres of civilisation, there is much more to Sapience than this -- the verdant wildwoods, vast deserts, and majestic rivers..."

"...the underwater merfolk kingdom of Riparium; the floating island Arcadia, gifted by the sky-god Vastar upon His children, the winged Atavians..."

"...the perilous Azdun dungeon; the underground fortress Moghedu; and so much more."

"The continent of Sapience is where your adventures will begin in Achaea. Learn it well!"

With a practised flick of his wrist, Severian snaps the map back into a rolled form.

Severian says, "But just looking at a map isn't enough. I can teach you some survival skills that will help you better know the lay of the land, but you will have to request a formal learning session from me."

Severian says, "You can learn between 1-15 lessons for each learning session. You'll get more lessons every time you reach a new level, and there are other ways to get lessons too. You can check how many lessons you have now in your status, if you like."

Severian says, "You can request a learning session from me in Survival from me in this way: LEARN 15 SURVIVAL FROM SEVERIAN."

learn 15 survival from severian

Warning you that this will be an abbreviated yet intensive lesson, much shorter in length than lessons you will learn later in life, Severian sits you down and explains more advanced survival tactics to you. He expounds on how to orient yourself by surveying your surroundings closely.

Severian says, "Now let's see what abilities you have in your Survival skill."

ab survival

Your skill in Survival has earned you the following abilities:
Fishing Ply the waterways of Sapience for fish galore.
Considering Find out the strength of others.
Brawling Enter into basic combat with your fists and feet.
Navigating Navigate to various landmarks in Sapience.
Swimming Swim in the beautiful oceans, rivers, and lakes of Achaea.
Surveying Gain information on the characteristics of your location.
To get help on any of these abilities, type AB SURVIVAL .

Severian says, "I've taught you how to survey your surroundings, but you've gotta try it on your own now. Let's see if you were paying attention!"

survey

You discern that you are standing in Ceylon.
Your environment conforms to that of Hills.
You are in a plane beyond your perception.

Severian says, "Survival is one of the general skills that everyone can learn. Such general skills are not as powerful as class skills, however, so you should save most of your lessons initially to learn your class skills. You'll have the chance to join a class when you have completed your Trial. You can take a look at the general skills you have now."

skills

Skills Rank
------------- ------------
Vision Inept
Avoidance Inept
Tattoos Inept
Survival Novice
Weaponry Inept
Riding Inept

Miniskills Rank
------------- ------------
Constitution Inept
Thermology Inept
Frost Inept
Antidotes Inept
Fitness Inept
Galvanism Inept
Philosophy Inept
To see your abilities within each skill, type AB <Skill>.
HELP to get more information on a skill.

Severian says, "I've taught you all I can, Esmerelda. You must return to Pasiphae now, back the way you came."

ql

Beneath a large oak tree on the hillside.
A grey-haired man sits upon a large boulder, lost in contemplation.
You see a single exit leading west.

w

Mud-covered trail (road).
You see exits leading east and south.

s

Path hugging the side of a hill (road).
You see exits leading north and southwest.

sw

Upon a flower-laden hill.
Pasiphae stands here in a simple grey cloak.
You see exits leading northeast, northwest, up, down, and in.

Pasiphae appears and welcomes you back with a smile.

Pasiphae tells you, "I see my friend Severian has taught you well!"

Pasiphae says, "You are now acquainted with telepathic methods of communication and viewing others in the realms, and you've had your first formal learning in Survival skills. For this, I shall grant you elevation to the second level of experience!"

You smile with pride as you feel your soul ascend to new heights!

Pasiphae says, "There are more than 100 levels of experience in Achaea, and you have just earned your second. May you conquer many more."

Pasiphae says, "Soon, you will be ready to quest for the Dragon Orb, but not quite yet. A famed warrior awaits at the bottom of this hill to teach you the basics of unarmed combat and help you to further equip yourself. When you are ready, head down and keep following the path until you see this man."

d

A steep and narrow path (road).
You see exits leading southeast and up.

se

Path beneath a flowering tree (road).
You see exits leading northwest and down.

d

Path upon a hillside (road).
You see exits leading up and down.

d

Path upon a hillside (road).
You see exits leading south and up.

s

Near the bottom of a hill (road).
You see exits leading north and down.

d

At the base of a hill (road).
You see exits leading south and up.

s

Training field amidst goldenwave flowers.
Leaning upon a gleaming broadsword, a helmed giant clad in armour stands here.
You see exits leading north and west.

"On your guard!" roars the armoured giant, rushing forward and levelling his gleaming broadsword at your chest!

As you leap back in fright, he relaxes, chuckling and lowering his sword. With a mailed hand, he raises his helm to reveal a pair of keen grey eyes.

"Relax, friend, I was only testing your reflexes," he says. "Not bad, not bad."

The armoured giant says, "By the way, I'm called Gruul. 'Phae should have warned you about me, I hope."

"Let's look at what you know about brawling: AB SURVIVAL BRAWLING."

ab survival brawling

Syntax: KICK
PUNCH
HEADSLAM

Enter into basic hand-to-hand combat! These moves are especially recommended for the youths of the realm who have not yet learned any of the more powerful class skills for combat.

Gruul eyes you a little skeptically.

Gruul says, "All right. Put'em up. Let's see your skills in action."

Gruul says, "Go ahead. Punch me. Don't hold back, I can handle it!"

punch gruul

You thrust your arm out in a quick jab at Gruul.
You connect!

Gruul says, "Hey, that tickles!"

Gruul says, "Aww, I'm just kidding with you.

You have recovered balance on all limbs.

Gruul says, "You lose balance when you punch. To be a good combatant, you have to pay careful attention to your balance. You can't move when you're off balance."

Gruul says, "So after you attack, you have to wait to get your balance back. Then you can attack again."

Gruul says, "Some attacks will take more balance than others. Learning to pay attention to all that is the start of becoming a good combatant. It may sound a bit complicated now, but you'll get the hang of it."

With an exaggerated grimace, Gruul steels himself and says, "All right, let's see a kick. Go ahead, kick me!"

kick gruul

You leap into the air and launch a flying kick at Gruul.
You connect!

Gruul rubs his leg where your kick landed with a rueful grin.

Gruul says, "I guess I asked for that. Powerful kick you've got there!"

You have recovered balance on all limbs.

Gruul says, "Umm... let's just skip the headslam. Considering your height, shorty, I'm wary of where your head might land."

Gruul says, "Your brawling skills aren't bad. As long as you remember to pay attention to your balance and keep your attacks going every time you regain it, you'll do fine."

Gruul says, "One more thing, friend. If you want to stay alive, you will need to be more aware of your physical and mental state! Use this command: CONFIG PROMPT STATS. HELP PROMPT will tell you more, but you don't need to read that now."

config prompt stats

You will now receive your current health and mana levels with your prompt.
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul says, "That first number represents your current HP, or Health Points. The second number is your current Mana. Generally, mental skills or magic will use up Mana. For now, pay close attention to your HP - losing all your HP means death!"
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul says, "There are many ways to replenish your HP and Mana, but the two simplest are sleeping and meditating, although they also take the longest time. Simply SLEEP or MED when you need to refresh either. A quicker way is to use elixirs."
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul says, "Time to visit the markets, my friend. You can't adventure in some robes and nothing else!"
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul reaches into a pouch and pulls out a handful of gold sovereigns. Despite your embarrassed protests, he puts the coins into your hands.
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul says, "You'll need some equipment. This should cover it. Come this way."
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul strides off to the west.

380h, 380m ex-west

A busy marketplace.
You see a sign here indicating there are WARES for sale here.
You see a single exit leading east.
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul says, "Take a look at the wares for sale here, Esmerelda."

380h, 380m ex-wares

Proprietor: Rurin.
--------(Item)------(Description)-----------------(Stock)-(Price)
pack208472 a canvas backpack 239 100gp
vial301328 an elixir of health (small pinewood vial) 339 250gp

380h, 380m ex-
Gruul says, "Perfect, this place has just what you'll need: a backpack and a vial of health elixir."
380h, 380m ex-
You gulp nervously, wondering why you'd need that last item.
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul leans down and whispers in your ear, "Just buy one of each, okay? Buy a vial of health and a pack, that's all. Don't let this weasly-looking guy smooth-talk you into anything else." Gruul scowls at the merchant behind the stall, who smiles nervously at you.

380h, 380m ex-buy health

You pay 250 sovereigns and receive a small pinewood vial.
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul says, "A vial of health elixir will replenish your health when you are injured. Just SIP HEALTH when you need it. Now, you need to buy a pack!"
380h, 380m ex-buy pack

You pay 100 sovereigns and receive a canvas backpack.
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul says, "You've got some gold left over, right? Good. Put that gold in your pack. Some things you'll want to have out in your inventory, but you should always keep your gold put away in something. It's safer that way from thieves or accidental loss."
380h, 380m ex-put gold in pack

You put 100 gold sovereigns in a canvas backpack.
Gruul says, "You know how to see what things LOOK like, but you can gain more information if you probe an item carefully. Here, probe your pack (or just P PACK for short), and you should see not only what it looks like, but what is now inside it, how many more months it will last, and more."

380h, 380m ex-p pack

This pack is large enough to hold a considerable amount of goods. Grey and mottled brown, it has been skilfully woven to keep out the majority of water in the rain. Pockets of all shapes and sizes hang off of it, ready to store any number of things.
It has 125 months of usefulness left.
It weighs about 3 pounds and 0 ounce(s).
It bears the distinctive mark of Rurin (a denizen).
A canvas backpack is holding:
100 gold sovereigns.
380h, 380m ex-

Gruul says, "You should wear your pack, too. It'll be safer than just carrying it."

380h, 380m ex-wear pack

You are now wearing a canvas backpack.
380h, 380m ex-
Gruul says, "Our mission here is done! You must return to Pasiphae and tell her all that you've learned."

380h, 380m ex-e

Training field amidst goldenwave flowers.
You see exits leading north and west.
380h, 380m ex-n

At the base of a hill (road).
You see exits leading south and up.
380h, 380m ex-u

Near the bottom of a hill (road).
You see exits leading north and down.
380h, 380m ex-n

Path upon a hillside (road).
You see exits leading south and up.
380h, 380m ex-u

Path upon a hillside (road).
You see exits leading up and down.
380h, 380m ex-u

Path beneath a flowering tree (road).
You see exits leading northwest and down.
380h, 380m ex-nw

A steep and narrow path (road).
You see exits leading southeast and up.
380h, 380m ex-u

Upon a flower-laden hill.
Pasiphae stands here in a simple grey cloak.
You see exits leading northeast, northwest, up, down, and in.
420h, 420m ex-
Pasiphae flashes you a joyous smile as you approach, and you eagerly tell her about your encounter with the giant warrior and your foray into the marketplace.
420h, 420m ex-
Pasiphae says, "Such advancement cannot go unrewarded. You have earned your third level of experience, Esmerelda!"
420h, 420m ex-
You straighten with pride as you feel your soul rising to new heights!

Planting her hands upon her hips, Pasiphae studies you with a serious expression upon her face.

Pasiphae says, "The time has come for you to set out on your quest for a Dragon Orb."

Pasiphae says, "In order to do this, you must seek out and battle a fire guardian who holds the Dragon Orb, a dangerous task indeed."

Pasiphae says, "The fire guardian can be found at the end of the trail northwest from here. Follow that path and fulfill your destiny, Esmerelda. May the Gods be with you!"

420h, 420m ex-nw

Hillside path (road).
You see exits leading southeast and northwest.
420h, 420m ex-nw

Path between tall pines (road).
You see exits leading southeast and northwest.
420h, 420m ex-nw

Approaching a high bluff (road).
You see exits leading north and southeast.
420h, 420m ex-n

Upon a high bluff.
Formed from fire-hardened reddish clay, a fire guardian stands watch over a circle of blackened stones here.
You see a single exit leading south.

You leap into the air and launch a flying kick at a fire guardian.
You connect!
420h, 420m e-
A fire guardian thrusts a fist of rock at you, landing the punch square in your gut.
401h, 420m e-
You have recovered balance on all limbs.
401h, 420m ex-kick guardian

You leap into the air and launch a flying kick at a fire guardian.
You connect!
The final blow proves too much for a fire guardian, who expires, pitifully.
You have slain a fire guardian.
The corpse of the fire guardian blazes with flames, then crumbles into ash.
You notice a shining crystal orb glimmering from within the ashen remains.

g orb

You pick up a Dragon Orb.

s

Approaching a high bluff (road).
You see exits leading north and southeast.

se

Path between tall pines (road).
You see exits leading southeast and northwest.

se

Hillside path (road).
You see exits leading southeast and northwest.

se

Upon a flower-laden hill.
Pasiphae stands here in a simple grey cloak.
You see exits leading northeast, northwest, up, down, and in.

Pasiphae turns as you approach, and an expression of pride crosses her face as she sees the glow of the Dragon Orb within your hands.

Pasiphae exclaims, "The Dragon Orb!"

Pasiphae says, "It is whispered that the Greater Dragons of Achaea carry a part of the Flame of Yggdrasil within themselves, from which they draw their strength and power. The mightiest of Achaeans, upon reaching the 99th level of experience, gain the power to transform into Greater Dragons, and at the 100th level, even Dragon Lords."

Pasiphae says, "Whether it is your goal or destiny to join the ranks of the Greater Dragons one day, or to become a powerful politician, a skilled warrior, a wealthy merchant, a celebrated performer, or any other path you wish to pursue in Achaea, this Dragon Orb symbolises the potential to be unlocked within you."

As Pasiphae speaks, you feel the Orb become weightless in your hands, its glow increasing. The orb of fire expands outwards, enveloping you within its radiant heat. Unlike the intense, soul-searing sensation of the Flame however, this heat feels rejuvenating.

As the glow intensifies around you, your surroundings fade from view...

By a pool within a tranquil garden.
There are no obvious exits.

Having slain the fire guardian and successfully quested for a Dragon Orb, your experience grows and you rise to the next level of experience!

When the glow from the Dragon Orb fades, you find yourself at the edge of a small, circular pool. You hear cheers and congratulations and turning, you see the smiling faces of Pasiphae and Severian.

Pasiphae says, "Congratulations, Esmerelda! Your Trial of Rebirth is complete, and soon you will begin your adventures in Achaea. You have earned the right to choose your class and declare allegiance to a city, if you wish. The first choice you must make is that of your class, also known as a profession.

Pasiphae asks, "Will you be a Sylvan, master of the elemental and natural magics, or an Apostate, summoning daemons to do your bidding? A healer Priest with a guardian angel by your side, or a sly Serpent who strikes from the shadows?"

Pasiphae asks, "An evil Infernal Knight, an honourable Runewarden, or a Paladin, sworn to uphold Good? A chaotic and scholarly Occultist, a mystical Shaman, a swashbuckling Bard, or a merry prankster of a Jester?"

Pasiphae asks, "Will you meld your mind and body with discipline as a Monk, or channel the might of the elements and crystalline vibrations as a Magi? Do you wish to protect the forests as a Sentinel, or tend your grove of power as a Druid?"

Pasiphae says, "You can choose to become a fledgling in a class now. Or you can wait and choose later, if you wish to have more time to choose. If you choose a class now, you can change it later if you find that it does not suit you, although there may be restrictions involved if you wish to change after learning past a certain level."

Pasiphae says, "If you wish to read more about classes, read HELP CLASSLIST, then HELP CLASS for detail on any particular class in the list. Once you know which class you wish to join, ASK PASIPHAE BECOME . If you do not wish to choose now, then ASK PASIPHAE CONTINUE, and we'll skip past this part."

help classlist

8.1.97 A LIST OF CLASSES.

What follows is a list of classes, the skills that come with them. For more info see:
HELP CLASS
HELP HOUSE
HELP

Summary
-------
Apostate: Evil, necromantic daemon summoners.
Bard: Swashbuckling troubadour adventurers.
Druid: Forest-loving metamorphs.
Infernal: Evil knights employing necromantic methods.
Jester: Happy-go-lucky pranksters and rogueish entertainers.
Magi: Masters of the four elements and crystalline vibrations.
Monk: A class that forges mind, body, and spirit into a unified whole.
Occultist: Chaos-loving summoners of extra-planar entities.
Paladin: Noble knights wielding dual weapons with a falcon companion.
Type MORE to continue reading. (17% shown)

more

Priest: Holy warriors with a fearsome guardian angel by their side.
Runewarden: Mystic knights who employ runic lore alongside their swords.
Sentinel: Metamorphing forest rangers with animals for assistance.
Serpent: Masters of venoms and subterfuge. Perhaps the trickiest class.
Shaman: Mystical users of Vodun dolls, curses, and runes.
Sylvan: Forest-lovers who meld in mastery of the four elements.

For each class, there is a divinely appointed Classlead, as listed below. The Classleads are chosen for their thorough knowledge of their class abilities, and they act as liaisons to the divine for their class. They compile reports about skill bugs, requests for changes or additional abilities to the class, and assist the divine with testing.

Detail
------
Apostate: Evil, necromantic daemon summoners.
Skills: Classlead: Dumah
- Evileye
- Necromancy
Type MORE to continue reading. (39% shown)

help class apostate

8.1.1 THE APOSTATE CLASS

These Houses now accept applicants from the Apostate class: Crownmerchants, Warlocks, Congregation

In days long past, the armies of Evil plotted to open a rift to the daemon planes through the torture and sacrifice of a holy guardian angel. However, the angel was resurrected and the rift closed, but not before a daemon general by the name of Morimbuul had come through the aperture. The daemon general, enraged at his entrapment on the prime material plane, threatened to destroy all around him. His summoner, a man named Xerimor, was able to subdue him, and much to the daemon general's fury, forced Morimbuul to instruct him in the daemonic arts. And thus was the class of Apostates born.

Apostates are diabolical scholars and ritualists in the service of Evil. These black priests spread the teachings of the Gods of Evil throughout the realm, and they also act as the spiritual pulse of Mhaldor, the city of evil. Because of their devotion to Evil, they are rarely welcome in other cities.
Type MORE to continue reading. (46% shown)

ask pasiphae become apostate

Pasiphae says, "As an Apostate, you will be devoting your life to the pursuit of evil. Perhaps no class is more dedicated to its pursuit than the Apostate."

Grand visions of the pain and suffering of the weak fill your head and you laugh with delight.

The power to harm those around you with the merest glance is yours as you gain knowledge of the Evileye.

The essence of life is yours to twist to your diabolical ends as knowledge of Necromancy fills you.

Severian says, "It is now time for you to declare your citizenship. You'll remember I spoke of them earlier: Ashtan, Shallam, Hashan, Cyrene, Mhaldor, and Eleusis."

Severian says, "Each has a distinct philosophy and culture, and you will benefit from the support and community you will gain from joining a city."

Severian says, "You can learn about each city by reviewing HELP , then make your choice: ASK SEVERIAN JOIN . If you do not wish to join a city now, you don't have to. Just: ASK SEVERIAN CONTINUE instead. You can contact the city governments to be citizened later, if you wish."

ask severian join mhaldor

Severian asks you to repeat an oath of allegiance to Mhaldor after him. After you solemnly do so, he citizens you as a proud member of Mhaldor!

You hear footsteps to your left, and turn to see a giant in armour join you at your side. He raises his face-helm, and you recognise the features of Gruul.

Gruul says, "Sorry I'm late! Whew, thought I'd missed ya."

Gruul says, "Now, one last thing, Esmerelda."

Gruul says, "Achaea's got 25 organisations called Houses which bring together adventurers with common beliefs and motivations. Having been through the Trial of Rebirth, you've now gained the privilege of joining such a House."

Gruul says, "What do these Houses do, you say? Well, that depends on the House. The purposes of the Houses vary widely, ranging from spreading evil to accumulating great wealth to protecting nature. You can't beat Houses for places to meet other Achaeans with similar ideals and goals as you. Although some Achaeans choose to go without a House, for a youngin like you, they're great places to learn and make connections."

Gruul says, "You have the option of joining a House now, if you wish. Look at HOUSE LIST to see the Houses. Each House only accepts certain classes, and not all Houses allow you to join from the Trial of Rebirth, so look for the Houses whose short names are marked with *. Those are the Houses open for you to join at this time. If there is a House you wish to join that is not thus marked, don't choose to join a House now, and find out after you complete the Trial of Rebirth how you can join that House."

Gruul says, "When you are ready, ASK GRUUL JOIN . You don't have to join a House now. You can make that choice later. If that's what you want to do, ASK GRUUL CONTINUE.."

ask gruul join congregation

Gruul asks you to repeat an oath of allegiance to the Blood Congregation after him. After you solemnly do so, he welcomes you as a proud member of the Blood Congregation!

Pasiphae says, "Very well, Esmerelda. It is time for you to leave us and return to the continent of Sapience."

Pasiphae says, "As you entered Ceylon by fire, now shall you leave Ceylon by water."

Pasiphae gestures at the circular pool at your feet.

Though the water is unusually clear and lit by shafts of sunlight, staring into its depths is like staring into eternity... you can see no bottom at all!

Pasiphae says, "When you are ready, enter the pool and be reborn."

enter pool

Emboldened by your adventures, you stride confidently into the pool.

You sink slowly, and the warm waters close over your head.

Looking up, you see the faces of Pasiphae, Severian, and Gruul gathered at the edge of the pool, waving goodbye.

As you take in a lungful of water, you realise that you can breathe it just as if it were air. The more you breathe in the water, the quicker you seem to sink, and the more the world seems to blur around you....