Bay 12 Games Forum

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The Greatworm put Quinn back on the island. The mystic felt that the power he received changed him, made him much stronger! He no longer felt afraid of fire, and sensed the energies flowing through tar, and partially through the flames.

[5] Quinn's senses and body functions improved significantly!

[3] The mystic received a weak resistance to dark energy!

[2] The Greatworm did not give him any additional equipment!

"Now, it is time for your first task. Scout the border between Tar and the domain of dread knights. Take your time to prepare well!" with that said, the Greatworm submerged in tar.

[4] Putting his hand into the lake, Quinn procured a fierce whip made of boiling tar!

[5] Then he encased his staff in tar.

[2] He wasn't able to put tar on his robes however, as if their energies did not match!

[5] With a swift gesture, he built a bridge made of tar and left the pit!

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Rainer turned to the new arrival. "Leave now, please,", he told him, "as much as assistance would be used, I can't allow another to be wrapped up in a mess I played a hand in causing."

[6] "With pleasure." Morion said and stepped back, getting caught in a vortex of energy that paralyzed him!

Morion: Paralysis
He turned back to the former corpse. "Now then, I humbly apologize for disturbing your rest, and even though I stopped, I did not keep my new ally from doing the same," he apologized, "but I ask of you, for you two traveled these paths, what did you do in this shadowy realm? Tell me, in honest truth, your sins. What depravities keep your soul from resting soundly? They must be plentiful, being as if you were an honest man, you would not be chained to this cruel realm for so long. Weigh your sins against the one you charge us of, and if you can tell me in earnest your's do not outweigh my own, I shall leave it to my lords, Nix and Aaron, light and luck, to determine my fate, but if your sins do outweigh my own, then you must stand down, and by the power I have, I will forgive your sins, or as many as I am able, and cut the chains that bind you here even in death. But be warned, should my sins outweigh your own, and my fate be left to my lord, I was born on his most holy day, and his light has never left my side."

[5] "A holy knight aren't you? Perhaps you may not see in it in this disfigured form, but I once used to be a holy knight myself. It is not the weight of sins keeping me here, but the nature of this accursed land. I will let you go, if you promise e to find a cure for the curse, as once you enter the Bleak Valley, you never leave it. Even after death." the Disturbed muttered.

"AAAAH" yelled Quan upon seeing the horror before him. There was fear in his eyes, but this fear only drove him forward. He took his heavy rock to start smashing the disturbed one's limbs!

[Quan: 3, 4, 6, 6
The Disturbed: 2, 5, 5, 3]
The sentenced charged and lightly bruised one of the Disturbed's hands!

Quan: -10 End
[2] "This fool will die however!"

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[6] Demir went to the bed and fell asleep. He rested well, really well, but also woke up just before a lid of a coffin he was put inside during his sleep was closed!

[2] "Enjoy your sleep!" the Lich cackled.

Demir: Well Rested

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[2] Leona wanted to patrol the walls and examine the surroundings and the army of the dark spirits, but suddenly a dark bolt flew into her way!

[5] She managed to dodge just in time!

Leona: -5 End

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The Disturbed: [128/128]

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Quinn Learner: New skills, abilities and items.
Morion: Paralysis
Quan: -10 End [30/60]
Demir: Well rested
Leona: -5 End [50/60]

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Tar Whip - A whip made of boiling tar.
[30 Physical Damage, 20 Fire Damage, Unbreakable]

Wanderer's Tarstaff - A staff highly strengthened by encasing in tar.
[20 Physical Damage, Unbreakable]

Paralysis - Paralysed characters can't act for 2 turns, a roll can break paralysis.

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'Sounds great, but I happen to like having a body.' Morion replied and headed westwards.

[2] He mistook the directions and moved directly towards the land of the dark spirits, the realm full of shadows and menacing ghosts of the past!

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'Mio grande signore, il tuo umile servitore ti implora di purificare la mia forma di questa maledizione e di condurmi a percorsi più sicuri in futuro.' Rainer prayed to his patron god to remove the curse.

[5] His god listened to his prayers and removed the horrible curse!

Rainer: Curse Removed
[3] Quan started looking for a branch which he could use as a handle for an improvised maul or hammer. He found a relatively thick stick which seemed sturdy enough to survive several blows.

Quan: Found Sturdy Stick

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Demir: 4-4-4-3
Zombie1: 1-[4-2]-4-5
Zombie2: 1-[5-2]-3-6

((Zombies have a -2 to speed attribute when chasing for prey/rolling against escape rolls.))
Demir easily outran the sluggish corpses!

[5] He got to the village in no time and knocked to the doors of one of the buildings without thinking twice! A lizard made of raw crystal opened the door and hissed out: 'Massster! We have a vissssitor!'

[5] 'Marvelous! Let him in!' said a powerful sounding voice from within the cottage.

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'“I would be one of you”? Now what’s that supposed to mean?' Quinn inquired.

[4] 'Those who make a covenant with one of the forces of the Bleak Valley received their otherworldly spark. Their bodies and energies adapt internally, without changing their physical appearance. As a result of the spark residing within you, you will be able to fully comprehend the energies of the covenant and bend it to yor will.' the greatword replied and stated: 'Enough of this banter. You have to choose right now!'

[3] Rainer quickly thought whether his ethereal form would allow him to get safely to the shore. He concluded that it is largely up to luck, as there are numerous conditions that can quickly interfere - such as the greatworm.

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'These look like solid defenses. I hesitated while retreating, because I wanted to fight. I suppose my feet tripped because I want to be on the battlefield.' - Leona bluffed - 'The forces of evil won't enter these walls while I'm here. They dare not attack us at day. The excitement has banished my fatigue. I will stay up all night.'

[3] Leona patrolled the fortifications for three hours straight, but nothing really happened during that time. She fell asleep and rested until nightfall.

Leona: Well Rested

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Rainer: Curse Removed
Quan: Found Sturdy Stick
Leona: Well Rested

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Sturdy Stick - a relatively thick branch of an unknown tree. It seems sturdy enough to serve as an improvised weapon, or as a resource to create one.
[5 Physical Damage, 25 Durability]

Well Rested - HP and Endurance fully restored, +1 to a next action.

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'You’re going to have to explain what that would actually entail before I accept that.' - Quinn remarked.

[2] 'You won't die.' - the greatworm replied.

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'Well if your on the side of justice then help me find something to gets these chains off of me.'  Quan said starting to look for something to smash the chains off with.

[3] He found a bulky rock under his feet.

'My sincerest apologies, sir,' Rainer replied while looking for something to store some of the water in, 'But I’m going to need some proof your sentencing was unjust. For all I know, you’re a murderer.'

[4] The knight found a corpse of an adventurer with an empty waterskin.

Quan: Found Heavy Rock
Rainer: Found Waterskin

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'I am merely a scholar, seeking to learn about magic from this most interesting part of the world. I am no threat to anything here.' Morion replied to the wraith.

[2] 'You are not welcome within these lands! Turn back or head the path leading westwards!' - the spirit hissed out!

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'Get away from me!' screamed the wanderer.

Demir: 4-2-3-5
Zombie3: 4-6-1-5
Demir wanted to slash wildly at the nearest undead, the corpse tried to dodge away but fell directly into his blade!

Zombie3: -15 HP [15/30]
Zombie1: 2-4-3-1
Zombie2: 5-6-3-2

Demir: 5-4-4-3
The two other cadavers tried to grab Demir, but he jumped away!

Demir: -10 End [35/60]

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[1] Leona touched the book and felt an excruciating pain as a surge of energy coursed through her body! She was sucked into the book and teleported to the written world!

[5] Leona found herself in front of a village. The place was heavily fortified and inhabited. Someone from afar shouted 'Get behind the fortifications, quick!' Looking back she saw the Abyss and an army of dark spirits flying towards her!

Leona: -15 HP [25/40], -10 End [45/60]

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Zombie: [30/30]
Zombie: [30/30]
Zombie: [15/30]

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Quan: Found Heavy Rock
Rainer: Found Waterskin [0/5]
Demir: -10 End [35/60]
Leona: -15 HP [25/40], -10 End [45/60]

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Heavy Rock - a bulky chunk of rock
[10 Physical Damage, 80 Durability]

Waterskin - a bag made of stitched together skin that can be filled with liquids
[Capacity: [0/5]]

New Location: The Written World

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'...well then.' Quinn summarised and looked around. He was on a lone patch of land in the middle of a lake of boilong tar that's placed in a deep pit. There were no physical chances of escape.

[6] Quinn pondered over the wave of energy that brought him there. Its patterns were mysterious and unusual, and he couldn't exactly grasp the interactions between them. Then he felt it again, from within the lake. He stared at it with confusion, when suddenly a gigantic greatworm emerged from within it with a huge splash!

'It is socially required for you to kneel before me, but I understand that you are a newcomer here!' the red-scaled monstrosity with two bladed tentacles said.

'Now listen to me carefully, for this knowledge will be valuable for your survival. The Bleak Valley is in great turmoil. The Great King Quothron, while still holding tremendous power over other lands, isolated himself in his fortress for reasons unknown. The expansion of the Valley ceased. The dukedom of the undead fell apart and now those ravenous creatures wander throughout the whole Valley as their duke is no more. The Dread Knights of the east rise into power and soon their leader may try to usurp the power from Quothron's hands. The wraiths of the west remain neutral, stating their independence from the king. So here we are, in The Charred Realm, and I consider what shall I do with you.' the worm explained the political situation in the Bleak Valley.

[2] 'You have just arrived in the Valley and yet your presence already causes great distress. Fearing that the king sent for you, the Dread Knights set a bounty on your head and convince adventurers roaming their lands to find and kill you. I could give you out to them and request some of their territory, but I have a proposition for you. Pledge your allegiance to the Tar, become an agent within my covenant and you shall be both safe and powerful. If not, I will let you rot on this burning chunk of soil until the dread knights will come to rip your heart out!

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'Hello, sir. It's good to see another living face around here.' Rainer greeted the man, as he walked over and took a drink from the spring after all, pure water would probably be hard to find in the future.

[5] The water was unusually clear and refreshing! After drinking it, Rainer found a small blue gem in his hand.

[3] Quan backed up almost immediately, he was caught off guard and wasn't very trusting of the stranger. 'Who are you and where did you come from, who do you work for?'

'My name is Rainer Edmonton, I'm from a minor fishing village, and I serve the concepts of justice and honor' Rainer replied, then he glanced at the man's chains. 'Though I suppose either you don't agree with my beleifs, or whoever put those on you doesn't.' he added.

Rainer: Acquired Waterstone

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[1] Demir took a few steps forward and he was already attacked by three rotting cadavers! Welcome to Australia

[Zombie1: 3-1-6-3; Zombie2: 5-1-2-3; Zombie3: 6,5,1,1]
[Demir: 5-2-3-2]
The corpses slammed at each other with great force and pushed against Demir! Having no time to dodge or escape, he drew his scimitar and with inhuman strength stood against the dead!

Demir: -10 Endurance

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[6] Morion carefully moved towards north, trying to examine all the magic that could be detected around. Suddenly, a wraith flew in front of him!

'State your business mortal and you may be spared!' the spirit hissed out with metallic voice.

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[6] Leona wanted to find out any information about the mysterious man in grey robes and about the black knight. Moving on along a rocky path she found a book lying on the ground. There was something unusual about.

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Zombie: [30/30]
Zombie: [30/30]
Zombie: [30/30]

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Rainer: Acquired Waterstone
Demir: [End 45/60], [HP 40/40]

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Waterstone - use to fully restore all endurance and remove harmful active effects.

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Another dawn over the Bleak Valley. All the vegetation within its borders is completely covered with black ichor - the night must have been unusually violent and restless, as the nightly dark storms come with such intensity only when something of great importance is about to happen. The damned were silent throughout the whole night, giving all those living by the border of the pit a good night's sleep. Gazing upon this dark and withered scenery one could feel the weird charm of it - a sensation hard to describe or explain, yet clinging to one's soul for hours. The call of the Dark Ones is powerful, and it is rumored that they call only those, who are ready to undergo the beastly transformation.

However, the nature of the Wastes is even more powerful than the call of its rulers, and all those who dabble with arcane are especially influenced by it. Surely it is a time of great changes, the number of magicians, mystics, fortune tellers and wizards within the perimeter of Bleak Valley has never been so high.

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After finding and speaking with literally all of the knowledgeable and skillful arcane scholars and magicians in the world, a pale man in dark grey robes finally set off towards the blackened wastes of the Bleak Valley. The infamous Black Archivist, as Quinn Learner was known by some, concluded that if he won't be able to squeeze any more information out of other arcanists, he has to conduct his own research, away from the safety of his study. Thus he approached the Bleak Valley from the north, spending the night in one of the borderline inns, and when the morning finally came, he passed through the barrier. There is no return now, even Gods can't break the spell keeping everyone inside the Bleak Valley. In front of him extends a path that leads deeper into the dreaded lands, its sides blocked off by unnaturally steep rock walls.

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It was the last night in the damp, rotting cell within the dungeon of the Darkbog Citadel. All the hours of torture, pain, sorrow and malnutrition were about to end with Quan's first, and at the same time - last journey to the Bleak Valley. The sentenced were granted their only wish before their untimely death - the right to speak for the last time. Quan was travelling with people who tried to cross the border of the Northern Empire, a thief was among them. They have finally reached the Bleak Valley and guards brought them closer to a very deep pit. One by one, they were sent plummetting down to their deaths. it wasn't the fall that killed however - the monsters were doing it. Each and every one of the prisoners was brutally mauled by the blasphemous revenants once they hit the ground. As Quan was kicked, his orchard and previous life flashed before his eyes - then he fell on the ground and lost consciousness. He woke up next day, alive, covered with the black ichor and lying in a pool of blood. It wasn't his blood, and it seemed to look inhuman. There was something unusual about it.

Quan didn't know why he was left alive by the damned. He heard someone shouting in fury from above: 'I placed a bet that you'd die this night you muck eater!' it was one of the guards. Still bound by chains, Quan moved further into he Bleak Valley.

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She came from the east, with a noble goal and extreme bravery in her heart. Leona Maple, accompanied by her mysterious companion, Rainer Edmunton finally reached the Bleak Valley, the heart of darkness they both swore to destroy. The wandering knights descended down a dilapidated tower and following a straight path, they moved forward towards the blackened land. The couple reached a place where they had to split however, and the dark magic of the land ensured to split them for good. Leona found herself back in the tower, while Rainer moved towards a pit used to drop off the sentenced.

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Many years have passed since Morion started to study the arcane. Many years of dissapointment and pain. Led by jealousy, the pale and gaunty man set off towards the Bleak Valley, the dreaded land of dark spirits, revenants and black ichor. His tenacity only increased, when he found out that The Black Archivist is going to be among the beasts as well. It was his chance to finally gain all the power he was after, and so he came from the west, from where he could clearly see the Dark Fortress.

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Demir escaped from the bandits that attacked his caravan. He had no sense of direction whatsoever, he was led by his survival instinct. However, this untamed strength led him into even worse situation - he ended up within the accursed lands. He spent the night in a relatively safe cavern, and when he woke up and left it, he had no idea where he was. All Demir knew was that the death is waiting for him at every corner of this dreadful land!

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The last half of the previous year was a really tough time, but I feel that things finaly move in a different direction. Everything's getting better and I feel my motivation flowing back. After shutting down all my stuff related with RTD games, I decided to make a thread where I'll post random things that I'm working on.

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I'm working on a video game with another development studio. 3759 - dubbed by its main developer a Doom 3 standalone mod, the thing is actually a completely standalone game that only has the engine in common with it. I'm working mostly as a 3D modeller, but I'm also doing engine related things and I'm able to create all kinds of required assets.

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I've also made a new simple model for a project that I'm not going to fully reveal right now.

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I've also coded a pretty simplistic dungeon crawler text game in C++ called Knights and Demons. You descend down an endless dungeon and your goal is to collect as much gold as possible before you'll be killed or get bored of it. There are only six enemies in it. I'll upload it to this thread once I'll translate it to english. I'm thinking about improving it some day and adding many more features.

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And the last thing for today. I picked up a bass guitar a while ago and it quickly turned into one of my many great passions. The last video that I recorded is of rather low quality and I could've plyed it better, but I'm still quite proud of it. Since then, I moved on to harder and more demanding stuff, and managed to learn the bass solo of Metallica's Orion, and play it on a decent enough level!

My bass cover of the interlude and guitar solo from Metallica's To live is To Die.