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Revision 1.5 by root, Tue Jan 2 17:26:14 2007 UTC

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1	=begin comment	3	=begin comment
2		4
3	This is the source for some of the books in crossfire, at least, it should become one.	5	This is the source for some of the books in crossfire, at least, it should become one.
4		6
5	Authors:	7	Authors:
6	Gorlin <gorlin@freibier.htu.tuwien.ac.at>	8	Gorlin <gorlin@freibier.htu.tuwien.ac.at>
7	Mark Wedel <mwedel@scruznet.com>	9	Mark Wedel <mwedel@scruznet.com>
8	Marc Lehmann <crossfire@schmorp.de>	10	Marc Lehmann <crossfire@schmorp.de>
		11	The Crossfire Wiki
9		12
10	Each =head1 should become its own book.	13	Each =head1 should become its own book.
11		14
12	=end comment	15	=end comment
13		16
14		17
15	=head1 Ancient History, by Khalis, Volume I	18	=head1 History of Creation, by Khalis, Volume I
16		19
17	In the beginning the land was barren. No life yet moved upon the large	20	In the beginning the land was barren. No life yet moved upon the large
18	continents and islands that lay empty between the seas. In the seas,	21	continents and islands that lay empty between the seas. In the seas,
19	nothing moved as well. The world itself held its breath while the Creator	22	nothing moved as well. The world itself held its breath while the Creator
20	rested. Then, a spirit from outside, serving the Most High, entered the	23	rested. Then, a spirit from outside, serving the Most High, entered the
47	sadly, we may not meet them evermore. In anger, Gaea named these dark	50	sadly, we may not meet them evermore. In anger, Gaea named these dark
48	spirits the Devourers, since they were those who devoured all life, and	51	spirits the Devourers, since they were those who devoured all life, and
49	she and her Elemental allies fought them back, and tried to heal what they	52	she and her Elemental allies fought them back, and tried to heal what they
50	could.	53	could.
51		54
52	=head1 Ancient History, by Khalis, Volume II	55	=head1 History of Creation, by Khalis, Volume II
53		56
54	In that time it also happened, that a great many of the creatures the	57	In that time it also happened, that a great many of the creatures the
55	Fire Elementals had helped to make were betoken of great madness, and	58	Fire Elementals had helped to make were betoken of great madness, and
56	started to rampage among the other beings. In time Gaea and her allies	59	started to rampage among the other beings. In time Gaea and her allies
57	found out the truth, that one of the greatest Elementals of Fire, Ruggili,	60	found out the truth, that one of the greatest Elementals of Fire, Ruggili,
…		…
97	the help of Earth Elementals began their first kingdoms underneath the	100	the help of Earth Elementals began their first kingdoms underneath the
98	face of the earth. The elves moved into large woods, the lizardmen into	101	face of the earth. The elves moved into large woods, the lizardmen into
99	swamps. Wars broke out between some of the races, none however anywhere in	102	swamps. Wars broke out between some of the races, none however anywhere in
100	that measure as the Great War of the Second Age.	103	that measure as the Great War of the Second Age.
101		104
102	=head1 Ancient History, by Khalis, Volume III	105	=head1 History of Creation, by Khalis, Volume III
103		106
104	In the Third Age it also happened, that spirits from the outside, who had	107	In the Third Age it also happened, that spirits from the outside, who had
105	been content to watch until that time, took pity on some of those races.	108	been content to watch until that time, took pity on some of those races.
106	The goblins, orcs, trolls and giants began to serve a being called Gnarg,	109	The goblins, orcs, trolls and giants began to serve a being called Gnarg,
107	who had promised to raise and protect them. He helped them build up	110	who had promised to raise and protect them. He helped them build up
…		…
147	fell, and began to serve the powers of darkness. Others sought redemption,	150	fell, and began to serve the powers of darkness. Others sought redemption,
148	and a pure spirit called Valriel came to their aid. Others again returned	151	and a pure spirit called Valriel came to their aid. Others again returned
149	to the worship of Gaea, hoping that the forces of Life would protect them,	152	to the worship of Gaea, hoping that the forces of Life would protect them,
150	a few humans even went to the goblin, elven and dwarven gods for help.	153	a few humans even went to the goblin, elven and dwarven gods for help.
151		154
152	=head1 Ancient History, by Khalis, Volume IV	155	=head1 History of Creation, by Khalis, Volume IV
153		156
154	As the human worship began to spread out among all the gods and beings of	157	As the human worship began to spread out among all the gods and beings of
155	power who had entered the world, a small group of them who wished not for	158	power who had entered the world, a small group of them who wished not for
156	the blessings of Nature but the power of the elements as weapons spake to	159	the blessings of Nature but the power of the elements as weapons spake to
157	one of the Elemental Lords following Gaea. And as Ruggili long ago, Sorig	160	one of the Elemental Lords following Gaea. And as Ruggili long ago, Sorig
…		…
232		235
233	Nobody knows where the nearly god-like titans came from. Some scholars	236	Nobody knows where the nearly god-like titans came from. Some scholars
234	claim they could be descendants of some of the forgotten gods so little i	237	claim they could be descendants of some of the forgotten gods so little i
235	known about nowadays.	238	known about nowadays.
236		239
		240
		241	=head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis.
		242
		243	=head2 Calendrical Introduction
		244
		245	Present Day
		246
		247	We are currently in 8437 Era Khelentari (EK).
		248
		249	=head2 Volume I: The Early Days
		250
		251	Around 350 EK: The Story of the Fourth Mariner is written by an unknown author.
		252
		253	435 EK: Colony of Skorn Founded. It would eventualy become the city of Scorn.
		254
		255	711 EK: The outpost of Heaven’s Gate is founded.
		256
		257	=head2 Volume II: Second Millenia EK
		258
		259	1223 EK: Ekkis the Drunk leads a disastrous crusade against the Sirens in the southern seas.
		260
		261	=head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis.
		262
		263	=head2 Volume III: Third Millenia EK
		264
		265	2287 EK: Battle of Tered - The Kingdom of the Masts is dismantled by Navar.
		266
		267	2567 EK: Fernast Fergono, exiled from Navar, leads a famous exploration expedition in the south-east seas.
		268
		269	2765 EK: The city of Heaven’s Gate is burned by pirates.
		270
		271	=head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis.
		272
		273	=head2 Volume IV: Fourth Millenia EK
		274
		275	3084-3154 EK: The Artificers' Wars take place in the East.
		276
		277	3154 EK: The High Tide of the Gears: End of the Artificers' Wars; many islands are flooded or disappear forever in the depths of the Eastern Ocean.
		278
		279	3867 EK: Juradiths take the direction of Scorn and create a republic.
		280
		281	3885 EK: Juradiths are expelled from Scorn by revolting citizens. They are vainquished at Battlefield Lake.
		282
		283	=head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis.
		284
		285	=head2 Volume V: Fifth Millenia EK
		286
		287	4127 EK: King Kadriosa IV of Scorn leads a Crusade against the elves of the south-east, who flee the country.
		288
		289	4131 EK: Foundation of the Elven City of Tashkeren-tah at Vkovzerov (Lake Country).
		290
		291	4453 EK: The Elven City of Tashkeren-tah sinks into the largest lake of Lake Country.
		292
		293	=head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis.
		294
		295	=head2 Volume VI: Sixth Millenia EK
		296
		297	5524 EK: The Meteomage Grab of Ledh fails an experiment, making the weather mad for a while, an event remembered as “The Weather Madness”.
		298
		299	Late LVIth Century EK: The Great Schism between the Simplifists led by Mish the Toon and the Stabilists: The Sedition Wars.
		300
		301	5581 EK: Battle of the Glowing Crystal: the Order of the Careful Coders is disbanded.
		302
		303	5598 EK: The Simplifists exile themselves into the Pocket Dimension of Daï-Moh-Nî, “The World With a Future”, in Ancient Daigojij Language.
		304
		305	=head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis.
		306
		307	=head2 Volume VII: Seventh Millenia EK
		308
		309	6356 EK: Butakis settles in Lake Country and starts building the Lake Pump.
		310
		311	6356 EK: The Lake Pump is destroyed by Twak. Lake Country is covered by fog. Butakis is disfigured.
		312
		313	=head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis.
		314
		315	=head2 Volume VIII: Eighth Millenia EK
		316
		317	7124 EK: Harta accidentally creates a Dimensional Grid, connecting the Crossfire Continuum with the Daï-Moh-Nî Dimension.
		318
		319	7563 EK: The tower of Melficef the Red explodes.
		320
		321	=head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis.
		322
		323	=head2 Volume IX: Ninth Millenia EK
		324
		325	8009 EK: Euthville is destroyed.
		326
		327
		328	=head1 Euthville History
		329
		330	The Ruins of Euthville can be found just off the Imperial Highway north of
		331	Scorn.
		332
		333	=head2 The Origins of the City
		334
		335	The Codex Skudensis tells that Euthville was founded by the Euthanasia the
		336	Builder, hence its name.
		337
		338	=head2 Past and Destruction
		339
		340	Ah, Euthville - “City of the Pearl”, in Old Hemdalite, has indeed a
		341	rather sad story!!
		342
		343	If you went there about half a millenia ago, you’d have seen something
		344	very different than the field of haunted ruins it has since become. It
		345	was initially founded by a handful of industrious, clever dwarves, that
		346	had found a mystical way to locate fields of precious Karitta, the famous
		347	metal that is as transparent as a pearl of the North Sea, yet as strong as
		348	the best irons of Navar.
		349
		350	And thus, they found at the location of Euthville a lot of that raw metal,
		351	which quickly made the city one of the richest of all. And for a long
		352	time, it stayed so. The inhabitants of Euthville weren’t interested by
		353	war, work, or anything else too tiresome - they preferred to pay somebody
		354	else to do all of this. And with the advanced technical knowledge bring by
		355	the dwarves, working was less and less an issue for them.
		356
		357	Yet yhey were facing a problem. All their devices, all their machineries,
		358	all their tricks to cheat with nature required energy. Lots of
		359	energy. They relied first on the strength of horses and donkeys, but it
		360	wasn’t enough. Then, they tamed the dangerous Wyverns of Kal-Durandasi,
		361	so that the hot lizards would provide them with the full force of their
		362	steamy breath. But soon, it wasn’t enough. They also used the hidden
		363	power provided by the Faeries of the Tarniska river, building a dam, so
		364	that they could put the invisible horses of water that the sylphids are
		365	rumored to breed in use.
		366
		367	But even so, their hunger for power wasn’t satisfied, and became an
		368	increasing nuisance for them. So, the Commander of Euthville (which was,
		369	more or less, the equivalent to our King at Scorn), finally decided to
		370	send messengers across the whole Continent, calling the world for a
		371	challenge. Whoever would be able to fulfill the needs of Euthvillians of
		372	energy would become the new Commander, thus the ruler of the richest city
		373	ever built since Khelens.
		374
		375	Many answered the call, of course, and many failed. Wind, Sun, Stars, even
		376	dwarven beer were proposed, but nothing seemed to be enough. For years,
		377	wizards tried. And failed.
		378
		379	And then came a boy. He wasn’t a wizard, nor pretended to be one. He was
		380	young, but the story didn’t kept the record of his name, and some now
		381	think it is because he was damned. Who knows? The Boy sat in the middle
		382	of the city, playing with his flute, laughing whenever he saw one of the
		383	demonstrations the powerful wizards and engineers failing again and again.
		384
		385	After several days, the Commander noticed the Boy, and said: “who
		386	are you to laugh, you, who has only a flute ?” “I have only a
		387	flute for sure - but there’s more in my simple pipe than in those
		388	legions of wizards.” “Really ?” said the Commander, half-laughing,
		389	half-curious, “so you think you can solve my challenge ?”
		390
		391	The Boy smiled. “Not only I can, but I shall - and my price will be
		392	quite acceptable to give you the energy you need.” “And that would
		393	be...?” - “A new pipe.” came the reply “That one is becoming
		394	old.” “Agree, you have your chance.”
		395
		396	The Boy then started to play an amused melody. It sounded like an
		397	invitation to a great feast, the opening of a meeting where everybody was
		398	invited. And then came from earth itself sounds of steps, climbing from
		399	the depth. The fountain that stood in the middle of the place crumbled,
		400	leaving a great hole from which flames emerged. But the fire seemed to
		401	dance at the rythm of the music itself.
		402
		403	The Boy then said to the Commander: “As long as you keep playing for
		404	the Demons there, at least 23 hours each day, you’ll get them to make
		405	whatever you need.” And he gave them the score, took a brand new silver
		406	flute, and left, and never was seen again at Euthville.
		407
		408	At first, things seemed fine, and the Commander couldn’t believe his
		409	luck, as a pipe was a feeble price to pay for such a powerful recipe of
		410	prosperity. Who wouldn’t want to tame the Demons themselves? Quickly,
		411	though, it appeared obvious that, for enough demons to be there, that
		412	music needed to be played rather loudly. And if, at first, it sounded
		413	entertaining, joyous, and funny, it quickly grew on the nerves of
		414	many. And especially because it was played 23 hours a day.
		415
		416	Finally, the Commander decided that the city couldn’t stand this
		417	anymore, and ordered that the Demons had to be attracted faraway from the
		418	city. On this fateful day, a whole fanfare left the city, hoping that the
		419	demons would follow, attracted by the music.
		420
		421	And so, they did. One after another, they climbed out of Earth itself, and
		422	walked in the direction of the music, obviously unaware of the hundreds of
		423	buildings they were crushing by their giant footsteps, and the thousands
		424	of inhabitants that they toasted with their dark fire. Seeing that,
		425	even the bravest ones went mad, and ran for their lives, leaving pipes,
		426	clavicelles and harpsichords fall on the ground.
		427
		428	The rest of the story is easy to understand: Demons, free from the magical
		429	music that enslaved them, crushed what remained of the city, in a bloody
		430	fest that they will forever keep in their twisted memories.
		431
		432	The Commander went mad, of course, and it is said that his madness was
		433	so strong that his mind was unable to understand that he was dead. If
		434	you search enough in the ruins of Euthville, you’ll probably encounter
		435	his ghost, as well as those of the many who perished for having believed
		436	that mortals could enslave the hell. Some demons stayed there, obviously
		437	enjoying the area and its newborn ashes that smelled fresh blood and
		438	carnage. Euthville is now, of course, a dangerous, deserted place, and the
		439	richesses that are still sleeping below the ruins of its former palaces
		440	are now guarded by powerful entities of the 9th Circle.
		441
		442	Many said that, if the Enchanted Music could be found, it would open the
		443	gates of many treasures, but because none of the former Euthvillians
		444	survived, and because nobody knows where the Boy went afterwards, those
		445	gates are still closed. I’ve heard that the School of Daemonology was
		446	precisely founded to rediscover that spell. But who am I to claim this to
		447	be true ? I’m only a man of the past that tells stories before a fire,
		448	and the fire is dying, and so has my tale reached the end.
		449
		450
		451
		452	=head1 The Kiritani Pass (from "Euthville Legends")
		453
		454	The "Kiritani Pass" is the part of the map you can see on world_104_114,
		455	between the two random caves and the forest full of hidden
		456	stuff. Nowadays, it is marsh and beach, but centuries ago, it was a
		457	passage for boats sailing from and to Euthville.
		458
		459
		460	=head1 Sannistra (from "Euthville Legends")
		461
		462	The Sannista is a legendary flying boat that was powered by the reaction
		463	of a fire and a water elemental. It was built by the tenth Commander of
		464	Euthville, Farkennis, as a gift for the 18th Birthday of his daughter,
		465	Sannista. That’s the boat that was stolen by Fax when he fled from
		466	Euthville, and that he used to get to Khelens. Giusitta the Verbous then
		467	sailed it back to the Continent, and hid it “somewhere in the mountains
		468	of Euth”.
		469
		470	So I guess she would have put it there, although I’m not sure. Many
		471	people thought the story was speaking about the mountains just east of the
		472	ruined city, but now that I’ve discovered those two caves, I’d rather
		473	bet on them - it seems more logical.
		474
		475
		476	=head1 The Name of the World
		477
		478	I, Forag the little-known, have invested my lifetime into exploring
		479	the various names of this, our World. In this tome I wrote down all my
		480	knowledge. Be careful with it, else it might overwhelm you, as it did me!
		481
		482	In Khelens and most of its territories, it was named “The Earth”,
		483	while the major western landmass was called “The Continent” while the
		484	eastern landmass was called "the Wilderness".
		485
		486	Fendrakis used “Raxida”, which is also the name they gave to the Fox
		487	Lady, Mother of All Things, deity.
		488
		489	Elves traditionally use “Eänella”, which translates as “The Land of
		490	Green”
		491
		492	Dwarves of Khorolizov use “Herdankaupf”, “Country of the Horses”,
		493	which is a reference to their mythology (see the legend of the Twelve Days
		494	for that)
		495
		496	The Orcish name is “Knâgsh-Ishzeh”, “Rotten Branch”
		497
		498	The people of the Old Wall, used the name “Harinappa”, “Bottom of
		499	the Pit”, to designate the world.
		500
		501	Most people nowadays use the old Khelenti name ("The Earth") or its direct
		502	translation in local languages/idioms.
		503
		504
		505	=head1 Melficef the Red
		506
		507	Melficef was a powerful mage that conducted thaumical studies to
		508	try to store magical energies in an efficient way. He created many
		509	self-recharging rod spells that are still commonly used today, as well as
		510	the thaumic bomb, a device storing a massive amount of mana and releasing
		511	it in a violent explosion - such an explosion actually killed the
		512	unfortunate Melficef himself.
		513
		514
		515	=head1 The Kingdom of Scorn
		516
		517	Nestled snugly in a sheltered bay at the west of the Imperial Highway,
		518	Scorn is a safe and welcoming place for those who pass by. Once a great
		519	military force whose power affected the entire world, its influence
		520	has since waned, the castle in the centre of town now serving a mostly
		521	ceremonial purpose. Nonetheless by virtue of its position on the Imperial
		522	highway the city has maintained its importance as a stopping off point
		523	for travellers between the other major cities and it is an attractive
		524	location for trade and commerce in its own right. This combined with the
		525	sheltered harbour and key shipping lines, ensures that Scorn remains a
		526	key crossroads bustling with activity, long after its former military
		527	dominence has diminished.
		528
		529	=head2 History
		530
		531	435EK: The colony of Skorn was founded by Skud the Great, when his
		532	expedition reached the shores of the continent. It is said that he first
		533	pitched his tent on the site where the inn now stands.
		534
		535	1064-1135EK: The war against the Dragons. Scorn is destroyed. Most of its
		536	inhabitants flee to the south. After 1115EK, the city is progressively
		537	rebuilt on top of the now buried ruins nowadays known as the Old City.
		538
		539	1177EK: War of the Sea Princes. The last imperial ship reaches
		540	Scorn. Contacts with Khelens are now broken. Scorn becomes an independent
		541	kingdom.
		542
		543
		544	=head1 History of Lake Country
		545
		546	Lake Country originaly was where the elves who where exiled from the north
		547	by the kings of Scorn, during the Vth millenia EK. They named the area
		548	Vkovzerov. The major elven city of Vkovzerov was Tashkeren-tah. It was
		549	destroyed by a Water arch-elemental in 4453EK.
		550
		551
		552	=head1 Visit our Training Centres!
		553
		554	We, Training Centres Incorporated provide the best service for warriors,
		555	wizards and anybody else who wants to improve quickly.
		556
		557	For a modest fee, you can get almost exclusive access to our large
		558	training areas.
		559
		560	=head2 Pricing
		561
		562	Humamoid
		563
		564	A Bonecrusher, a Firestar, and a Demonspawn Shield.
		565
		566	Undead
		567
		568	Lich dust, a Spectre’s ectoplasm, and a Skull’s tooth.
		569
		570	Dragon
		571
		572	An Ancient dragon’s steak, an Ancient Blue Dragon’s steak, and an Ancient red dragon’s steak.
		573
		574	Demon
		575
		576	A Demonbane, a Belzebub’s sword, and a Firebrand.
		577
		578	=head3 Free Centres
		579
		580	As a special service, we provide access to two of our older training
		581	centres completely free of charge, although you will understand that there
		582	will be no guarentees given for success:
		583
		584	Goblin & Zombie - Located south of Scorn
		585
		586	Skeleton & Ogre - Located somewhere around Navar
		587
		588	=head2 Locations
		589
		590	These are the locations to the entrances of the Training Centers.
		591
		592	world_107_128
		593
		594	world_118_101
		595
		596	world_106_109 - Humanoid
		597
		598	world_124_113 - Undead
		599
		600	world_107_120 - Goblin & Zombie
		601
		602
		603	=head1 The Kingdom of Navar
		604
		605	Straddling the corner of the Imperial highway as it turns North near the
		606	Eastern border of the known world, and surrounded by dangerous territory,
		607	Navar is an unlikely site for one of the world’s grandest cities. Yet
		608	there it stands, dominating the skyline for miles around and showing the
		609	same bustling activity expected of any thriving market town.
		610
		611
		612	=head1 The Kingdom of the Masts
		613
		614	A Merchant Republic led by the now destroyed city of Kari Kori. At its
		615	peak, the Kingdom of the Masts ruled nearly a quarter of the world, and
		616	its fleet was unmatched. Kari Kori was opposed to Navar in a series of
		617	wars that it finally lost at the Battle of Tered in 2287 EK.
		618
		619
		620	=head1 The Artificers' Wars
		621
		622	A series of wars conducted between 3084 and 3154 EK by a coalition led by
		623	Navari Princes against the Artificers, a group of mages that were masters
		624	in the now banned magical field of Technomancy. The Artificers were close
		625	to obtain a complete victory, but were finally destroyed by the raw power
		626	of their own biggest creation, The Thaumic Gear. The explosion of the Gear
		627	shattered the whole east of the world, and many territories forever sank
		628	into the ocean, including Kari Kori, the Technomages’ city.
		629
		630

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Comparing deliantra/server/pod/books.pod (file contents): Revision 1.1 by root, Mon Jan 1 14:50:15 2007 UTC vs. Revision 1.5 by root, Tue Jan 2 17:26:14 2007 UTC

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Comparing deliantra/server/pod/books.pod (file contents):
Revision 1.1 by root, Mon Jan 1 14:50:15 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.5 by root, Tue Jan 2 17:26:14 2007 UTC