Stackman's Adventures (Chapter twenty-five)

[bsftcs]

Of Stacks and Men

Being the twenty-fifth chapter of Stackman’s adventures

In which Stackman faces a major crisis and in which the bard has a jamsession with a band of flying instruments.

Armed with the key to the lower levels of the castle the barbarian led the party to the entrance to the dungeon (room M on the Skull Castle map at Xignal’s Site). Soon the party found themselves at an intersection. A flight of stairs led down to a room with three winglatches (room N), and to their left was a massive pool of water with a giant rock pedestal in the middle.

They looked towards the pool. In front of them and to their sides were doorways. It was obvious that this was a crossroad with the pedestal as a centre. But the way to the centre was treacherous. Small platforms hang suspended from the ceiling indicating that they were meant to serve as a walkway. Yet another puzzle – and one they did not have time for. They jumped into the water, swam to the northern platforms and climbed up the chains holding them, jumping of at the doorway (as explained by Radek in a topic on the subject).

They were now at the north section. Two roads diverged just at the entrance. They took the left road, went down a flight of stairs, turned left again, and came to another intersection. To their right they opened a grate but did not venture further that way since that way was part of the west section, and they did not want to get too confused. They walked down the other path and came to another winglatch chamber (room Q). They activated the three winglatches there, thus bypassing the platform puzzle. All platforms were now in up position.

They explored the adjacent rooms and eventually wound up back at the entrance to the north section. From there they took the right path and went down a flight of stairs. The warlock turned a corner and literally bumped into Stackman. Both fell to the floor. “Stackman”, the valkyrie exclaimed, and honoured by the presence of their tutelary patron even the assassin felt he had to decloak.

“I have come to stay with you for the next hours, helping you through this, the most disgraceful part of the game”, Stackman said frothing with indignation, raising himself from the floor and pulling the warlock from the floor as well. They knew exactly what he was refering to. They went a couple of steps to a place where a winglatch was concealed by a stack of crates (point XB on the Skull Castle map posted by Wyvern). “It breaks my heart to see a perfectly good stack torn down”, said Stackman, barely able to conceal a tear as the bard lifted down a crate and activated the winglatch behind it. The bard carefully replaced the crate, but the damage had already been done: The process of tearing down a stack – even temporarily – was almost unbearable for Stackman.

The winglatch had stabilized a walkway over a pool of molten lava (point B) and having the warlock casting lavawalk just in case, the party went out on the walkway and retrieved G’Ezzered Ra’s relic from a treasure chest in a niche. The party walked on down a corridor towards the treasure room (room T on the Skull Castle map at Xignal’s Site) with Stackman trudging along behind them.

Suddenly a fire elemental blocked their path – a clear sign that something very wrong was afoot in the castle. Not only undeads but also demonic characters roamed the castle. Perhaps something more sinister than G’Ezzered Ra was lurking about? The party showered the elemental with ice creating a spectacle to cheer up Stackman knowing his sulking was to get worse.

They looted the castle treasure room and went back to the lava pit. Following the corridor to the other side they opened a grate, but did not venture further since this would lead them to the east section. Instead they went back to the water pool room, and went into the west section. They looted the treasure that was to be found there and disposed of the inhabitants of the upright coffins placed in that section. Eventually they came to a shut door (room U) with certain parts of the vampiress Mada Mabbig protruding from there. They knew that her demise was imminent anyway, so they stayed their hands.

They then visited the east section of the dungeon. In the easternmost part of that section they activated a winglatch opening a lid concealing a pool of water. They dived down and looted a treasure chest at the bottom. They swam through an underwater passage, turned another winglatch in an annex room opening a grate, and came up through another pool. Invigorated by the swim they ventured into the basement to finish Stackman’s ordeal. Tearing down a stack of crates (point XA on the Skull Castle map posted by Wyvern) the barbarian pushed a concealed button and the stack was re-established. They left Stackman sitting on top of the re-established stack with an expression of utter melancholy.

The party went back to the big pool and took a dive. On the north wall the concealed button had opened a small underwater room containing a treasure chest (room A).

The valkyrie led the party back to G’Ezzered Ra. They gave the lich his relic. And yes, something more sinister than he was indeed here. This was the first time the party met the infernal pharaoh. In a blink he was there, took the lich from them and disappeared just as suddenly as he had come leaving two minions to dispose of. This the party did remembering how they had stood aghast at their first encounter with the evil pharaoh all those years ago before the introduction of the fabled “Reset Adventure” Button. Now this was merely routine and they paid no real attention to it. The warlock had received the Staff of Death which the lich had wisely passed on before his hasty departure.

Now the bard was in his element, and the other party members left him for a moment while he drew forth his instruments and began to jam with the possessed instruments left behind by the lich. The valkyrie led the party of five back to Mada Mabbig’s room. The assassin quickly disposed of her and the zenmaster opened her treasure chests using the disarm trap spell, retrieving the scroll of banishing.

With this in hand they visited Adrianna and her fellow nosferata. They gave her the scroll and were rewarded with either a key to the lich’s study or a ring after their own choice. An irrelevant choice. The bard had the sufficient skill to pick the lock in question and the ring could never be used since they existed in the unpatched version of the game which would crash if the ring was ever equipped. The valkyrie chose another ring for their ever growing collection.

Apparently the scroll of banishing did not have the desired effect, and the vampires started fighting each other. Overcome with an urge that had previously overcome people like Josef Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao Tse Tung and many other renowned people, the party exterminated the vampires.

The five adventurers went back to the bard. Reluctantly he went with them into the lich’s study behind the music room, while the flying instruments jammed on. The party looted the contents of the study including the meagre finds in the secret chamber behind the stained glass window.

They were soon back in the music room where Stackman had turned up having regained his equilibrium. With the bard conducting the band of flying instruments, happy to finally being able to play other than the lich’s dreary dirge, the party was entertained long into the night. The sun had long since risen when the party and Stackman eventually left the castle.

Secret rooms encountered:

The underwater room on the north wall of the great pool. Accessible only when the button behind the stack has been pressed and only through the water.

Secret winglatch behind stack stabilizes lava pit walkway.

[Bungleau]

*looks at a forlorn Stackman*

Hmmm... wait one second...

*runs away, returns with a glass containing two liquids*

'Ere, Stackman... have one of these. It won't make the pain go away, but it may make it bearable.

*Stackman looked up, head heavy, and asked what the drink was*

It's a white russian, properly made. "Properly made" means that the different alcohols and stuff are nicely stacked within the drink, as you can see, and remain in nice clear level stacks while it's being consumed.

There. I think my work is done. Nice work, by the way...

*wanders off, leaving Stackman staring at the stacked drink, unsure whether to drink it or simply appreciate it*

[Wyvern]

Shows where my mind has been lately that I missed this post until now - geez!

Okay, distraction over - Great chapter!!!
I always get a chuckle from Stackman's stories and it is nice to relive games I have played by following the course through the game! Very thorough, informative and fun! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Wyv