O'Beth, Thane of Mordor


[page="start"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"Hold, knave.  Who are you and what business do you have
 with me?"

[link="Who are you?"]
[linkto="who"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]

##
##	Who are you?
##

[page="who"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]
[learn_name]

"I am O'Beth, Thane of Mordor!  All the lands between the
 forest and the western sea are my domain.
 
 You have entered my realm, and are subject to my laws."

[link="Why is the land so barren?"]
[linkto="land"]
[link="How did you inherit these lands?"]
[linkto="badland"]
[link="Thane of WHERE?"]
[linkto="mordor"]
[if find_ross][link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[if find_ross][linkto="ross"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


##
##  Discussion about Mordor
##


[page="land"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"Four score and ten years ago, the LORD placed a curse
 upon this land, and it remains barren unto this day.
 
 It was referred to by many as 'Mordor' referring to the
 fabled land of darkness and evil.  That name has stuck.
 
 But soon I shall rule over more pleasant lands."

[link="Rule over more pleasant lands?"]
[linkto="soon"]
[link="How did you inherit these lands?"]
[linkto="badland"]
[if find_ross][link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[if find_ross][linkto="ross"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="mordor"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

[colour="#808080"]
He chuckles slightly.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"My domain is officially known as the Northlands but
 after the land was made barren by the LORD, it became
 known in jest as Mordor, after the fabled land of
 darkness and evil.  That name has stuck.
 
 How I long to rule over more pleasant lands.."

[link="How did you inherit these lands?"]
[linkto="badland"]
[if find_ross][link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[if find_ross][linkto="ross"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]

##
##  Usurpation
##

[page="badland"]
[set_obethplot]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

[colour="#808080"]He smiles grimly.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"This dark and barren land is the least favourite place
 of all the King's realm.  He was in need of someone to
 rule this dread place on his behalf.
 
 I am quite sure that the King longed to be rid of me.
 No doubt it pleased him that the one problem should
 solve the other..  But not for long.

 Soon, I shall march against King Duncan the Foolish and
 usurp his throne!  With the King dead, I shall take the
 Golden Round for my own, and all Scotia shall be mine.."

[link="Why are you telling me this?"]
[linkto="whytell"]
[if find_ross][link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[if find_ross][linkto="ross"]
[link="Goodbye"]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="soon"]
[set_obethplot]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"Soon I shall march against King Duncan the Foolish and
 usurp his throne!  With the King dead, I shall take the
 Golden Round for my own, and all Scotia shall be mine!"

[link="Why are you telling me this?"]
[linkto="whytell"]
[if find_ross][link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[if find_ross][linkto="ross"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="whytell"]
[set_obethplot]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"Why not?  I am immortal!  None can stop me, for it was
 told to me that I shall become King.

 Three weird sisters gave prophecy, and their outrageous
 claims became true, one by one.
 
 Even if you were to tell the dotard King, it means
 naught.. for the King already knows the days of his
 reign are numbered!

 I am destined to rule and no mere mortal can stop this
 prophecy."

[link="The King already knows?"]
[linkto="king"]
[link="Tell me about the prophecies."]
[linkto="prophecies"]
[link="Where may I find the weird sisters?"]
[linkto="witches"]
[if find_ross][link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[if find_ross][linkto="ross"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]



[page="prophecies"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"I have written them down, they are in my study.
 You may read the journal if you wish."

[if find_ross][link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[if find_ross][linkto="ross"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]



[page="witches"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"The witches live far north of my home.  Seek a cave in
 near the mountains, with an apple tree beside it."

[if find_ross][link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[if find_ross][linkto="ross"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="ross"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"Ross?  He was sent away on a quest by King Duncan, to a
 castle on an island in the far northwest peninsula.

 His errand was to slay the dragon which has taken
 residence in those derelict halls, and to rescue the
 fair maiden held captive there.
 It was all arranged by some witch if memory serves.

 I have heard nothing of him since, so I presume he is
 now dead.  He always was a bumbling fool."

[link="Tell me about the fair maiden."]
[linkto="ross2m"]
[link="Tell me about the dragon."]
[linkto="ross2d"]
[link="Tell me about the witch."]
[linkto="ross2w"]
[link="Tell me about the castle."]
[linkto="ross2c"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="ross2m"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"Some nobleman's daughter, I think.  He managed to annoy
 a witch and as usual she plotted some elaborate kind of
 revenge."

[link="Tell me about the dragon."]
[linkto="ross2d"]
[link="Tell me about the witch."]
[linkto="ross2w"]
[link="Tell me about the castle."]
[linkto="ross2c"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="ross2d"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"I do not know much about it.  They say it is an ancient
 beast that breathes fire and eats men.

 The King sends men on occasion to assail the dragon,
 though I can hardly see why.  It lives upon an island
 and rarely bothers us.

 My belief is that the King sends men who have displeased
 him, so that it will kill them."

[link="Tell me about the fair maiden."]
[linkto="ross2m"]
[link="Tell me about the witch."]
[linkto="ross2w"]
[link="Tell me about the castle."]
[linkto="ross2c"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="ross2w"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"There's not much to tell.  She was a witch, a mad old
 woman who worked foul magic in the name of the Devil.

 The judges hanged her and burnt what was left."

[link="Tell me about the fair maiden."]
[linkto="ross2m"]
[link="Tell me about the dragon."]
[linkto="ross2d"]
[link="Tell me about the castle."]
[linkto="ross2c"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="ross2c"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"The castle is a large building on an island to the
 northwest.  There is a wooden bridge to the island, and
 it is guarded by the dragon I have mentioned before.

 Since the dragon has slain most of the men the King sent
 to assail it, little is known of what lies inside.

 Why?  Did you want to go there?"

[link="I might check it out."]
[linkto="ross3"]
[link="I need to find Ross."]
[linkto="ross3r"]
[link="No.  I was just curious."]
[linkto="ross3n"]
[link="Tell me about the fair maiden."]
[linkto="ross2m"]
[link="Tell me about the dragon."]
[linkto="ross2d"]
[link="Tell me about the witch."]
[linkto="ross2w"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="ross3"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"I have no objection to your visiting the castle, but the
 dragon may.  If you decide to go, do not expect to
 return alive."

[link="I need to find Ross."]
[linkto="ross3r"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="ross3r"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"I can't think why.. the man is a fool.

 I have no objection to your visiting the castle, but
 do not expect to return alive."

[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]

[page="ross3n"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"Probably a wise decision.  The dragon may not allow you
 to return alive, or indeed, dead."

[link="I need to find Ross."]
[linkto="ross3r"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]



[page="king"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"Aye, indeed.  King Duncan quakes in his boots at the
 sure knowledge of my conquest.  Yet he is not idle.

 The King has sent men to poison me.

 Indeed, my lady and manservant live only for she has a
 ring bejewelled with todestone, that glows in presence
 of poisons.  Thus were they warned.

 Of course, the poison cannot harm ME."

[nextpage="king2"]
[endpage]


[page="king2"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"When this treachery failed, the King's attempts did
 become more direct.

 Why barely a moon ago, five men with swords burst into
 the house and clove my skull.
 Fortunately the wound healed as the blade passed
 through, yet it were days afore I could remember my
 Lady's name.

 I know not what happened to these men, but my Lady tells
 that they were smitten by lightning, inside the house!"

[link="Tell me about the prophecies"]
[linkto="prophecies"]
[link="Where may I find the weird sisters?"]
[linkto="witches"]
[if find_ross][link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[if find_ross][linkto="ross"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]



[page="bye"]
[image="obeth.pcx"]

"You may go."

[nextpage="exit"]
[endpage]