ROSES OF RECKONING
* * The 1st scenario for Blades of Avernum not included with the game! * *
by Terror's Martyr

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Ashton Vale.  Clearly, not an overly-prosperous valley, and that says nothing of its technological developments.  Another backwater valley wedged in the mountain ranges of Doston.  You were planning to go to a port to the east in order to leave Doston.
You had also planned on using the bustling city of Birmington as a relay point on your way to a larger, coastal city.  Bad Idea.  Apparently, Birmington has an odd propensity to detonate, resulting in a crater.  The entire area is on lockdown.
Forced to go north through a large stretch of mountains, you're glad to see civilization.
Ashton isn't particularly far from here, you should have little trouble reaching it.  Considering how little civilization is present in northern Doston, you had better take advantage of it while you can.
Delving back into the mountains without having taken a rest would be suicide.  Ashton isn't particularly far from here, you should have little trouble reaching it.  Hopefully the inn fares aren't very high.

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Thank you for downloading Roses of Reckoning!  This scenario is ideally designed for a level 1 party, although some combats require tactical thought.  Less experienced players might want to bring in parties up to level 6, although any more is not encouraged.

Files Included:
basicnpc.txt - This is a creature script used by nearly every creature in the scenario.  Do NOT delete this script!
door.txt - This is a terrain script used by nearly every door in this scenario.  Do NOT delete this script!
G520 (through G559) - These are the graphic files for PC users.  Place them in the same folder as the scenario itself.
o0AshtonVale - This is the script for the outdoors section of this scenario.  Do NOT delete this script!
shortscen.bas - This is the scenario file itself.  Do NOT delete this scenario.
shortscen.txt - This is the scenario script.  Needless to say, also do NOT delete this script.
shortscendata.txt - This is the custom data sheet for the scenario.  Do NOT alter this text file.
t0-4_____.txt - The text files starting with t and a number are the scripts, dialogue scripts and monster AIs for this scenario's towns.  Do NOT delete these scripts.

HINTS/WALKTHROUGH
Questions:
1) What do I do in Ashton? 4, 8
2) What do I do in the Cemetery? 1, 5, 16
3) How do I get through the Meandering Tunnel? 2, 11, 17
4) How do I beat the Ruby Skeletons outside? 3
5) How do I beat the Ruby Skeletons inside of the Manor? 14
6) How do I de-activate the Remote Summoning Platforms? 15, 6, 10, 7
7) How do I defeat the large group of undead that Valzgoth summons? 18
8) How do I get Harold to join me? 13
9) How do I beat Hana and Kurojutsu? 9, 12
10) How do I warn Ashton? 19

Answers:
1) Talk to Katherine O'Flaherty in the northeast corner of the town and buy some roses.
2) The skeleton encounter is difficult because your hit points are shaved off some at the beginning of the fight and the skeletons will have a chance to attack your character in the rear.  Line up before the runes before one character crosses over them, or cross over them in combat mode.
3) Enduring Barrier.  If your bruiser has +40 HP with Enduring Barrier (as most should), then the Ruby Skeletons will not be able to kill your character in one round.  Damage the Ruby Skeletons with spells such as Ice Lances or Dispel Undead and kill them before the second round.
4) Visit Hana the Trainer on the west side of town.
5) Talk to Timothy O'Brien and learn the location of Kurojutsu's grave.  He's located in the southwest corner of town.
6) Second, go to the west after dispatching the Ruby Skeletons.  Cross over the runes- they won't damage you- and enter a control room.  Pull the lever to open the Portcullis and use one of your barrier-dispelling items to clear the way.
7) Go back to the Crypts, and you will find that another Control Room has been opened.  Use your second barrier-dispelling item to clear a path for you to get by.  Make sure the button on the control panel is UNLIT, and Kurojutsu will not be able to summon his henchmen.
8) Stay in the inn whose proprietor is T.J. Eckleburg for a night on the east side of town.
9) Before you fight them, be sure to de-activate their Remote Summoning Platforms (see 15).
10) Proceed down the stairwell and pull the lever, jamming every gate on this level open.  (You are still trapped on this level, however, since the stairs remain bottomed-out.)  Be aware that you have also opened up a body pit.  Undead will be waiting for you as you return, but there aren't many incredibly dangerous undead to be worrying about.
11) The zombie encounter is similar to the skeleton encounter, except with Vampires in lieu of damaging runes.  Pulling the lever in combat mode and making sure no characters are in immediate danger when you do helps.
12) Repel Spirit is especially dangerous to Hana and Kurojutsu alike.  Harold can help take damage from Hana in melee.  If one of your priests is put to sleep by Kurojutsu, wake him/her up.  The battle isn't difficult.
13) Open the gates on this level (see 10).  When the gates are opened, tell Harold that the gates are open and he will offer to join you.
14) Approach the stairs in combat mode and eliminate at least two of the Ruby Skeletons before they are able to wipe out one (or more) of your characters.
15) First, go to the east.  You will be in the Crypts.  Find at least one Piercing Crystal or Dispel Barrier scroll.  (There is one of each.)
16) After viewing the movie, go to the southeast corner of town and pull the lever to open the crypts.
17) The summoning platform requires unusual tactics.  Before the battle, haste your priest (or any other character capable of doing damage).   Blessing your bruiser helps.  Be sure to kill the Vampires first.
18) Hasting your priest beforehand helps.  Kill the Vampires, since the other undead will take a turn or two to get to your party.  Or alternatively, kill Valzgoth before you pull the lever.  (This won't affect any other aspect of the game.)
19) You can't- nobody will believe you.

* * CREDITS * *

Designed by (obviously) myself, Terror's Martyr.

Beta-tested by Kelandon, Morgan, Errant, Sboto and Alorael.  Many thanks, this scenario would be buggy and incomplete without you!

The "Roses" item is by Luz Piazuelo.

The many dialog/dialogue graphics are taken from various sites.

Hana is an edit by me of one of the default PC graphics.  I felt that an icon shift just wouldn't do. :)

And of course, I thank you for playing this scenario- if it weren't for Good folks like yourself, I wouldn't be doing this.

ANY QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/CRITICISMS?  Did you enjoy/dislike this scenario, or see where things could be better?  To be honest, this is my first scenario and my incompetence with the editor shows in my opinion.  Nevertheless, I feel that it's an effort worth releasing.  You may contact me through these various mediums:

Email - terrorsmartyr@wi.rr.com
Spiderweb Software Boards - http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi
The Lyceum Boards - http://pub26.ezboard.com/bthelyceum
AOL Instant Messanger - TerrorsMartyr

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SO WAIT...

Q : What was that about Agathism and Modernism/Postmodernism at the beginning of the scenario?

A : This scenario, like many of my works (heh, I'm biased), has a bit of subtlety in it.  This is one of the more overt instances.  If you're a low-level English student, try to search for the conflicting themes of objectivism (Agathism) versus subjectivism (Postmodernism) displayed in this scenario.  I made it fairly obvious, although the subtle theme is not the focus of the entire scenario as it was in Corporeus.  To me, it adds another dimention to the scenario.  You can take it in stride or do with it whatever you choose.