// An AvernumScript recreation of the Xian Tome from Avernum 3, along with some extra bits from other people. // Note that you need to declare rand as a short/int, and initialize it. reset_dialog(); // Avernum 3 (Jeff Vogel) if (rand == 1) { add_dialog_str(0, "The Life of Empress Prazac, by Flotno Boerheis - Our blessed Empress and Ruler, Prazac the Kind and Just, was born in Y.E. 5420. Her royal parents, Hawthorne and [censored], waited nearby, anxious and loving.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "It is said that angels appeared and the sky opened up in holy light in the eve of her birth. Eyewitness accounts prove this story true in legally enforceable ways. This was a great harbinger of the wondrous works she was later to achieve.", 0); } else if (rand == 2) { add_dialog_str(0, "CREATURES OF LEGEND - The merciful and powerful Empire has ridded the Earth of many sorts of evil, verminous creatures. The foul Dragons, the Troglodytes, and soon the Nephilim are all examples of dark forces the Empire has completely wiped out.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "This book exists to describe these creatures and their sinister deeds, so we may never forget the Empire's benevolence. We start with the Troglodytes, sinister humanoids who once actually roamed our lands...", 0); } else if (rand == 3) { add_dialog_str(0, "FIFTEEN WAYS TO KILL EASILY AND SILENTLY - Everyone has thought, at one time in their lives, _That person over there needs killing!_ Well, don't just back away! This book can show you how you can make those dreams come horribly true.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "(The book lives up to its title, although most of the murderous techniques inside are already familiar to battle-hardened adventurers like yourselves.)", 0); } else if (rand == 4) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE TEARING OF THE BODICE, By E. Steinberg, Esquire - Esmerelda ran through the bushes, barely ahead of her ravening pursuers, her chest heaving mightily to escape the pathetic remaining shreds of her leather armour.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "The bizarre, tentacled, squirreloid creature pursued close behind, panting and tingling. _Soon, wild maiden!_ he cried. _Soon, you will be MINE!_ (It continues in this vein for a long, long time.)", 0); } else if (rand == 5) { add_dialog_str(0, "WEAPONRY OF THE REALM - Many are the tools of destruction that have been developed for use in melee. These can generally be divided into two groups: pole weapons, and, more commonly, edged weapons.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Pole weapons, such as spears and halberds, do the most damage, but generally require two hands to use. Edged weapons, like swords, are more common and can be wielded one-handed, but do less damage.", 0); } else if (rand == 6) { add_dialog_str(0, "General Accounting Book - This book contains the credits and debits of a small business. Quite boring stuff really.", 0); } else if (rand == 7) { add_dialog_str(0, "NIGHT OF THE BLOOD FANG, by Q. King, Esq. - Chad Hardslab, who had recently and through many years of brave fighting and hardship, been declared a Dervish of the mighty Empire army, looked over the veldt.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "_Tonight,_ he boomed, _tonight, in a bloody, detailed way, those fool Nephilim scum will pay for killing my mother, father, brother, grandmother, other brother, first love, sister, second love, and teacher!_ He drew his swords, and strode forth.", 0); } else if (rand == 8) { add_dialog_str(0, "Rapid Stone Deconstruction Techniques - Tearing apart stone walls or removing large stone outcroppings can be extremely difficult. Fortunately, some techniques exist to make this trying task easier.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "For instance, there is a powerful priestly ritual that can, depending on the strength of the caster, destroy all sorts of crumbling stone. Sadly, priests are frequently unwilling to lend their powers to construction projects.", 0); } else if (rand == 9) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE FAITH OF THE ANAMA, by Ahonar - Magic. It is the lifeblood of our society. We defend with it, build with it, work with it, rely on it, use it to develop and enrich every aspect of our lives. Or do we?", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Magic does some good, but it also does much evil. The common nature of magic puts power into the hands of all: the cruel, the deranged, the Avernites. In this book, I explain our faith, which seeks inner peace through the control of this wild power...", 0); } else if (rand == 10) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE FURY OF THE NEPHILIM - Hrrmrr drew his sword and strode forth from the crude, disgusting mud hut in which the foul feline creature lived with his disgusting brethren. _Now I go forth!_ he cried.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "_Now I go forth, and slay humans, and butcher their children, and interfere with their farm animals foully, for that is my purpose on this Earth. And the Empire shall never get all of us, no matter what they do!_", 0); } else if (rand == 11) { add_dialog_str(0, "SECRETS OF TRAINING - Many adventures struggle long and hard to accumulate experience, only to squander it away, or not even to be able to put it to use at all. It takes gold for training, in addition to experience. Be sure to save!", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Defensive skill is very useful, as it enables you to avoid getting hit. If your foes seem to be acting sooner than you, Dexterity is a good investment. And all mages should study to improve their Intelligence whenever possible.", 0); } else if (rand == 12) { add_dialog_str(0, "SURFACE FLORA AND FAUNA, by Eva of the Tower of Magi - Many are the wonders of nature available in the surface of the world. Our long exile has made us forget the beauty that is our birthright, but little by little, we begin to remember.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Although the Empire did its best to cleanse the surface of anything wild or dangerous, and was, as far as we know, successful, many bizarre and fascinating creatures, such as 'birds' and 'clams' and 'bushes' still exist and thrive.", 0); } else if (rand == 13) { add_dialog_str(0, "ROACHES AND YOU by Ezzrik of Gale - Even thought the Empire has had much success freeing us from the larger pests roaming our fair world, the lowly cockroach has been an opponent able to stand up to our mighty leader's best efforts.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "In this book I discuss the strategies and results of our leader's roach elimination plan: Project Mojo. In addition, I give tips to keep these nasty little creatures from setting up shop in your own hovel. First, you will need a torch and some oil...", 0); } else if (rand == 14) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE LANDS OF THE EMPIRE - The Empire, blessed power over us all, controls the four known continents. Aizo, the oldest, is the birthplace of the Empire, although the ruling seat is now on the continent of Pralgad.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Vantanas is the smallest continent, but in many ways the richest, with its hot climate, fascinating fauna, and rich stores of gold and diamonds. And finally, there is the recently settled Valorim, which has a wild (though controlled) spirit.", 0); } else if (rand == 15) { add_dialog_str(0, "SECRETS OF WAINSCOTTING - At first, Wainscotting seems to be a simple, lazy town, out in the middle of nowhere, uninteresting in every way.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "And yet, if people knew what was buried out behind the inn, well, people would think differently. Wouldn't they?", 0); } else if (rand == 16) { add_dialog_str(0, "This is a book of training in the martial arts. It describes a variety of fascinating and elaborate moves, all of which could be performed by a very skilled and strong person with years of training.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Actually, upon further inspection, you start to realize that the moves depicted are not, in fact, possible. The poses are certainly not attainable by you.", 0); } else if (rand == 17) { add_dialog_str(0, "MAGIC FOR DUMMIES - Many people these days are getting into all sorts of spell-casting. No longer is the powerful and lucratic field of magic restricted only to the talented and wise. Now you, yes, even you, can learn spells.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "This book will teach you how to cast a variety of cantrips, which will easily perform tasks such as cleaning a floor of dust, cooking a rump roast in moments, or even spaying a cat!", 0); } // Valley of Dying Things (Jeff Vogel) else if (rand == 18) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE ARROWS OF PASSION - Stone Slabthigh plunged deep into the Nephilim fortress, his mighty blade tossing his foes to and fro. His lust for the death of the barbaric creatures was undeniable.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "And then, in one massive, epic, spasm of violence, his work was done. The grotesque bodies were piled around him waist high. And there, across the throne room, he saw Princess Aldevarrha, the object of his quest ...", 0); } else if (rand == 19) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE WAYS OF THE BLADE - Whether traveling through bandit infested woods or just dealing with the centaur in the barn, skill with weapons can ease one through the unexpected difficulties of life.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "This book will describe, with helpful diagrams, fifty noisy ways to deal with your foes with blades, be they butcher knives or great, heavy broadswords.", 0); } else if (rand == 20) { add_dialog_str(0, "PERILS OF ILLICIT MAGIC - The Empire has restricted access to magic for many years, for a wide variety of good reasons. And yet, shifty people keep using the magical arts without permission.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Fortunately, there are ways to determine whether the people around you, maybe even your own neighbour (or mother) may be an illegal spellcaster. Some signs are ...", 0); } // The Cave of no Return (Eldiran) else if (rand == 21) { add_dialog_str(0, "Alchemy and Whatnot - Once past the table of contents, you are confronted by masses of alchemical jargon. There are numerous long-winded explanations as to how one makes a healing potion or a curing potion. Unfortunately, that's all this book covers.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "At the end you find the author's notes. It says, _Even more exciting recipes are covered in my next books, 'Good Graymold!', and the best-selling 'Asptongue for Aspiring Alchemists'._", 0); } else if (rand == 22) { add_dialog_str(0, "Hellspawn and You - This is a self-help book for summoning the beasts of the netherworld. It includes many tips about stopping your summoned creatures from slaughtering you, mentioning many times not to annoy them.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "An excerpt: _Hellspawn are intelligent beings. And like most intelligent life, they have feelings. Don't hurt their feelings, or they may hurt your spine a lot more. Insults and the like are not recommended for keeping your demon in line._", 0); } // Death at Chapman's (Erik Westra) else if (rand == 23) { add_dialog_str(0, "This large book describes the use of magical forces for both good and evil ends. You find it interesting, but the contents are far too esoteric for you to use.", 0); } else if (rand == 24) { add_dialog_str(0, "This is an alchemy textbook. You read through, and learn more about alembics and the transformation of elements then you ever wanted to know. It's not very enlightening.", 0); } else if (rand == 25) { add_dialog_str(0, "The adventuring life is much more interesting than anything you'll find in this novel!", 0); } // Magus of Cattalon (Smoo) else if (rand == 26) { add_dialog_str(0, "Is Your Child a Magic-user? - by I.M Morean. Many of my esteemed colleagues have written books on detecting unlicensed magic wielders. However, when it comes to detecting the signs from your own youth, the task can be most difficult.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Therefore I have written this twenty point guide on telling if your child is a magic user.", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "Chapter One - Dark Clothes...", 0); } // Slartucker (from the Avernum Reloaded RP) else if (rand == 27) { add_dialog_str(0, "INTRODUCTION - For years they have hunted us. They have destroyed our families, stolen our precious treasures, and cast us into shadows and caves below.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "They have driven us out of the sunlight. They have had so much power; and we have been shackled down by our stupidity.", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "But the tides are turning. We have improved ourselves, while they wallow in their success... their minds degrade, and their discipline erodes. Someday soon, the day will come when we make them share our pain.", 0); add_dialog_str(3, "-- The Great Authoritative Extra Great Guide to Killing, Slaying, Butchering, and Otherwise Disembowelling Humans", 0); } else if (rand == 28) { add_dialog_str(0, "Humans, ever dedicated to their own deaths, have a saying: Divide and conquer. It's a great way to take them down. Humans are less dangerous when they don't have each other to reinforce them.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "But what do you get when you split a big, chaotic, disorganized group of goblins in two?", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "Two big, chaotic, disorganized groups of goblins... each one just as capable of killing humans as the original group was!", 0); add_dialog_str(3, "-- The Great Authoritative Extra Great Guide to Killing, Slaying, Butchering, and Otherwise Disembowelling Humans", 0); } else if (rand == 29) { add_dialog_str(0, "Once a goblin came upon a human alone in the forest. Instead of killing the human, he followed it until it led him back to a city. Then he came back with his friends and killed all the humans, killed them good!", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "The moral of the story: take the useful knowledge out of a human head BEFORE you chop it off!", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "-- The Great Authoritative Extra Great Guide to Killing, Slaying, Butchering, and Otherwise Disembowelling Humans", 0); } else if (rand == 30) { add_dialog_str(0, "Never turn your back on a dying human. The sight should be savoured.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "-- The Great Authoritative Extra Great Guide to Killing, Slaying, Butchering, and Otherwise Disembowelling Humans", 0); } else if (rand == 31) { add_dialog_str(0, "As a footnote, it should not be forgotten that, while you are laughing gleefully over the many creative deaths the humans will face, they will be trying to kill you.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Remember, you have to stay alive if you are going to kill the humans! It is where the plans of so many goblins have gone wrong...", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "-- The Great Authoritative Extra Great Guide to Killing, Slaying, Butchering, and Otherwise Disembowelling Humans", 0); } else if (rand == 32) { add_dialog_str(0, "The humans think we are stupid. Eventually, they will learn. But do not dissuade them of their belief. The longer they underestimate us, the longer we can take them by surprise, and lead them to wholesale slaughter.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "-- The Great Authoritative Extra Great Guide to Killing, Slaying, Butchering, and Otherwise Disembowelling Humans", 0); } else if (rand == 33) { add_dialog_str(0, "Trust a giant from as far away as he can throw. Trust a nephil from as far away as he can shoot. Trust a slith from as far away as he can aim a fireball. But never, never trust a human -- until he is a mangy corpse!", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "-- The Great Authoritative Extra Great Guide to Killing, Slaying, Butchering, and Otherwise Disembowelling Humans", 0); } else if (rand == 34) { add_dialog_str(0, "We goblins must learn to trust and rely on each other. However, it's always good to have a backup plan.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "And if the backup plan also involves relying on goblins, you will want to have a third plan. If that plan also involves relying on goblins, you will want to have a fourth plan...", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "-- The Great Authoritative Extra Great Guide to Killing, Slaying, Butchering, and Otherwise Disembowelling Humans", 0); } else if (rand == 35) { add_dialog_str(0, "Humans are whiny and sensitive, like babies who have been coddled. A lot of goblins are whiny and sensitive too. But we must try to be better than the humans. We must put up with discomfort, so that we may better slay the evil men.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "-- The Great Authoritative Extra Great Guide to Killing, Slaying, Butchering, and Otherwise Disembowelling Humans", 0); } // Dintiradan else if (rand == 36) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE FOURTH WALL - George quickly began to look busy when his boss stormed into the cubicle. _Jones,_ he barked, _I want to see those files on my desk by five sharp! I'm not going to let this merger fall through because of your laziness!_", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "(You close the book. Although such fantasy is diverting, you have a job to do.)", 0); } else if (rand == 37) { add_dialog_str(0, "PAYROLLS AND PAYCHECKS - This rulebook describes how to play a bizarre fantasy role-playing game. Unfortunately, you don't have the time to play such a game, not to mention the polyhedral dice it requires.", 0); } else if (rand == 38) { add_dialog_str(0, "AMPERSANDS AND ALLITERATION - This rulebook describes how to play a bizarre fantasy role-playing game. Unfortunately, you don't have the time to play such a game, not to mention the polyhedral dice it requires.", 0); } else if (rand == 39) { add_dialog_str(0, "Upon realizing that this book is, in fact, a religious pamphlet on a cult following someone called Richard White, you quickly close it.", 0); } else if (rand == 40) { add_dialog_str(0, "Upon realizing that this book is, in fact, a religious pamphlet on a cult following some pantheon composed entirely of chickens, you quickly close it.", 0); } else if (rand == 41) { add_dialog_str(0, "This book is a treatise on the possibility of time travel. After a couple pages where the author speaks of the future in the past tense and the past in the future tense, you realize that reading further would be a colossal waste of time.", 0); } else if (rand == 42) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE ERADICATION OF THE RATBANE CLAN - This book details the war between the Imperial Army and a Nephilim clan, complete with gory details and pop-up figures for clarification.", 0); } else if (rand == 43) { add_dialog_str(0, "PLAYOGRE - You open this book, scream in abject terror, and pass out. Thankfully, psychological defence mechanisms kick in, and when you come to again, you have completely forgotten the incident.", 0); } else if (rand == 44) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE SECRET OF QUICKFIRE, by Turgul of Wainscotting - One of the most coveted and deadly of magical creations, quickfire can be produced safely by only the most powerful human and Vahnatai archmagi.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "This dangerous substance is nigh impossible to halt once it is unleashed; it seems to burn on nothing, and cannot be extinguished by mundane means. Quickfire lives up to its name: only the fastest sprinters, unencumbered by armour, can hope to outrun it.", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "For these reasons, no active ban is placed on quickfire. Any mage capable of discovering the secret of quickfire, and able to successfully contain it, deserves the rank of archmage, and is capable of dealing with law enforcement with ease.", 0); } else if (rand == 45) { add_dialog_str(0, "TREATISE ON INTER-DIMENSIONAL MANIPULATION, by Seles - Nearly all of Avernum's troubles can be linked to illicit manipulation of space-time.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "The assassination of Emperor Hawthorne, which led to the Empire-Avernum war, the Empire's mass teleporter that almost cost Avernum the war, Linda's disastrous attempts to summon demons, the Bluebird Island incident... the list goes on and on.", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "But not any more. Due to the newly initiated VDPW (Variable Destination Portal Watch), Avernum magi will be instantly alerted if any attempts to create inter-dimensional rifts are made.", 0); add_dialog_str(3, "Never again will the magi let the people of Avernum down by being caught off guard.", 0); } else if (rand == 46) { add_dialog_str(0, "THE END OF THE EMPIRE, by the Viewers of Twilight - The Dragons are back. The Troglodytes have returned. Despite the best efforts of the Third Empire Army, lethal monsters still wander Valorim, killing at random.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Worst of all, the bloodthirsty Avernites have taken control of south-east Valorim, aided by the foul Nephilim and demonic, lizard-like creatures.", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "Clearly, the end times are upon us; there has never been a better time to panic. No longer can the Empire protect us from harm. Only in pledging alligence to the Viewers of Twilight and obeying the Purifying Shadow is there any hope of survival...", 0); add_dialog_str(3, "(Much, much more fear-mongering and cultist fanaticism follows.)", 0); } else if (rand == 47) { add_dialog_str(0, "AVERNITES ARE FROM MERTIS AND NEPHILIM ARE FROM VANTANAS - At first glance, our two cultures seem diametrically opposed.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Avernites want nothing more than relief from hordes of monsters and are quite peace loving, while Nephilim enjoy raiding, keeping goblin lackeys, and munching on the odd rat.", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "But we shouldn't give up on each other. Sure, a nephil might hack up the occasional hairball, but we should be celebrating our differences, not fighting about them. This book details how we can live with our furry friends in perfect harmony.", 0); } else if (rand == 48) { add_dialog_str(0, "ARTEFACTS OF AVERNUM, by Turgul of Wainscotting - The endless caves of Avernum host treasures untold, not the least of these the great Artefacts of Avernum.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "Most of the artefacts are the items of the ill-fated First Expedition: a Blessed Athame, the Jade Halberd, the Onyx Sceptre, Thralni's Orb...", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "Yet many of the artefacts were present when the exiles were first sent down, some not even of apparent Vahnatai or Slithzerikai origin.", 0); add_dialog_str(3, "Some of these priceless items don't seem to have an apparent purpose. For instance, the Silver Circlet, formerly in the possession of Meena of Spire, will not respond to any probing done by the magi at Redmark College, yet it exudes incredible magic.", 0); } else if (rand == 49) { add_dialog_str(0, "MANAGING YOUR MEATSHIELD - His simple mind will never grasp the arcane secrets that you deal with on a day-to-day basis. His wilful ignorance means he will never wield divine power as you do.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "His clumsiness and clanking armour disrupt all attempts you have made towards stealth. He even ignores the immense progress you have made in archery, preferring inferior melee weapons.", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "Yet the party meatshield is an absolute necessity. Without him, you would take at the damage that he absorbs. So be nice to the big lug. Give him a pat on the back once in a while to make him feel appreciated.", 0); } else if (rand == 50) { add_dialog_str(0, "COMMON ORIGINS, by Turgul of Wainscotting - Where did we come from? Did the gods create us? A recently created theory much in vogue now is Vahnatai Creationism.", 0); add_dialog_str(1, "After witnessing the power of Vahnatai Shapers and discovering ancient Vahnatai crypts on the surface of Valorim, many came to the conclusion that we are the results of Vahantai shaping magic.", 0); add_dialog_str(2, "Recent evidence, however, seems to alter this theory drastically. Surveyors from Valzakov Isle reported of strange, alien devices created for some war. The discovery of the Slithzerikai homeland shows that the sliths had access to crystal magic for ages.", 0); add_dialog_str(3, "Is this all the work of the Vahnatai, or do we all have some different common origin...", 0); } else if (rand == 51) { add_dialog_str(0, "Upon realizing that this book is, in fact, a religious pamphlet on a cult following a bovine with nine heads, you quickly close it.", 0); } run_dialog(1);