Leader of the Waarh


[page="start"]
[if freed_grey][goto="main"]
[if_pflag promisedone][goto="3start"]
[call="got_waarg"]
[if true][goto="3start"]
[colour="#808080"]
You see a large, grey wolf-like creature.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"Back again, humans?  You are wasting your time!

 Tell your Master I shall never aid him!"

[link="Who are you?"]
[linkto="1name"]
[link="What are you talking about?"]
[linkto="1what"]
[link="Who is the Master?"]
[linkto="1master"]
[link="Sorry, wrong cell.  Goodbye."]
[linkto="1bye"]
[endpage]



[page="1name"]

"What?  You must know who I am.. surely!

 I am Grey, king of the Waarg.  Your Dark Master turned
 against us, His faithful worshippers, and tried to
 enslave His own people!

 I had communed with Him many times over the years, and
 learned many things from my God.
 But one of those things, He has forgotten, and now He
 wants very badly for me to tell Him what it was.

 But I shall never tell Him!  NEVER!"

[link="I've never heard of you."]
[linkto="1name2"]
[link="How did God forget something?"]
[linkto="1who"]
[link="Oh yes, now I remember.  Goodbye."]
[linkto="1bye"]
[endpage]


[page="1name2"]

"If you are one of Aa'Ruuff's lackeys, you are prying
 into the secrets of your God.  Remember, there are some
 things that humans were not meant to know.

 I have half a mind to tell you anyway.  It might be fun
 to see how your precious God 'rewards' you."

[link="I am a wandering adventurer."]
[linkto="1advent"]
[link="I am the Promised One."]
[linkto="1promised"]
[link="How did God forget something?"]
[linkto="1who"]
[link="You're right.  Goodbye."]
[linkto="1bye"]
[endpage]


[page="1name3"]

"I am not sure, for He will not willingly admit to any
 kind of weakness.  But from what I understand, Aa'Ruuff
 suffered something like.. a 'stroke', I believe you say.

 I do not know exactly what happened, for Aa'Ruuff does
 not suffer from the ailments of our earthly forms.

 But whatever happened, it left Aa'Ruuff insane for
 a few minutes, and when He had recovered His sanity,
 several important facts were missing from His mind."

[link="Who are you?  I've never heard of you."]
[linkto="1name2"]
[link="Oh yes, now I remember.  Goodbye."]
[linkto="1bye"]
[endpage]


[page="1what"]

"Why, your holy Lord and Master, of course!
 Aa'Ruuff, whom we now call The Betrayer!

 After all the worship I gave, and all the confidence
 I shared, He sent you two-legs to invade my Kingdom!

 I spit on your Holy Trinity!  What pathetic kind of Gods
 are They who needs reminding of Their own security
 codes?  Tell your Master that!"

[link="I don't worship the Trinity."]
[linkto="1notrin"]
[link="How did God forget something?"]
[linkto="1who"]

[link="Whatever.  Goodbye."]
[linkto="1bye"]
[endpage]


[page="1master"]

"Do not play silly games with me, servant of evil!
 I refer of course to your holy Lord and Master, Aa'Ruuff,
 whom we now call The Betrayer!

 After all the worship I gave, and all the confidence
 I shared, He sent you two-legs to invade my Kingdom!

 I spit on your Master's name!  What pathetic kind of God
 is it who needs reminding of His own security codes?
 Tell your Master that!"

[link="I don't worship the Trinity."]
[linkto="1notrin"]
[link="How did God forget something?"]
[linkto="1who"]

[link="Whatever.  Goodbye."]
[linkto="1bye"]
[endpage]


[page="1who"]

"First, tell me who YOU are."

[link="I am one of the guards."]
[linkto="1guard"]
[link="I am a wandering adventurer."]
[linkto="1advent"]
[link="I am the Promised One."]
[linkto="1promised"]
[link="Oh yes, now I remember.  Goodbye."]
[linkto="1bye"]
[endpage]


[page="1guard"]

"Then take my advice and leave immediately!

 Forget you ever spoke to me, lest the LORD may splatter
 your brains in reward for your curiosity!"

[nextpage="exit"]
[endpage]



[page="1advent"]
[set_pflag promisedone]

"An adventurer who is able to breach the Cathedral
 dungeons?  I doubt it.  Only the Prom..  YOU!


 I apologise for my harsh words earlier.  These vaults
 are heavily fortified.. prisoners and guards are the
 sole inhabitants.

 Could you perhaps see fit to release me?
 I can aid your quest."

[link="Tell me how God forget something."]
[linkto="1name3"]
[link="How can you aid me?"]
[linkto="1name3"]
[endpage]


[page="1promised"]

"Truly?

 Over the years, many of our mages and seers have given
 prophecy about the one that the humans call the
 'Promised One'.

 It is written that this one shall gather a band of many
 races.  There shall be a dragon, a buzzard, a fish-hawk
 and a Waarg.

 Some interpretations of the visions say that I am the
 Waarg who will join the Promised One. "

[link="Tell me how God forget something."]
[linkto="1name3"]
[endpage]

[page="1notrin"]

"What?  Who are you that can stand against the power of
 a God?"

[link="Tell me how God forget something."]
[linkto="1name3"]
[endpage]



[page="1bye"]

"Yes, slave of the Dark One.  Leave me be!"

[nextpage="exit"]
[endpage]









[page="2start"]
[learn_name]
[colour="#808080"]
You see an emaciated wolf-creature in a cell.
$USER1 sees the prisoner and crawls before them in a
submissive action of amazement and reverence.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"King Grey!  You are alive!"

[nextpage="2start2"]
[endpage]


[page="2start2"]
[colour="#808080"]
The King looks at you.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"Human, as you can see, I am being held captive by the
 minions of Aa'Ruuff, the God who betrayed my people.

 If you would release me from this cell, and allow me
 to join your party, I can aid your quest."

[link="Who are you?"]
[link="How can you help?"]
[linkto="2code"]
[link="How do I release you?"]
[linkto="2release"]
[endpage]





[page="2release"]

"I am not wholly sure.  But I believe it is opened from
 behind.

 Such times as I have been taken from this cage, one of
 the guards has always walked behind it, out of my sight.

 I expect there is a hidden lever somewhere."

[link="Who are you?"]
[link="How can you help?"]
[linkto="2code"]
[link="How do I release you?"]
[linkto="2release"]
[endpage]


[page="2code"]

"You are the one whom the humans call the 'Promised One'.

 There have been many prophecies about you, but most of
 them agree that you shall have a band of warriors, and
 this band shall be made up from many races.

 Among others, it is said that a Waarg King who has
 returned from betrayal and death shall accompany you,
 bringing the knowledge that you shall require if you
 mission is to succeed."

[link="What do you mean by 'returned from death?'"]
[linkto="2undead"]
[link="What is this knowledge?"]
[linkto="2undead"]
[endpage]




[page="main"]
[if_not_knownname][goto="main1"]
[colour="#808080"]
You see King Grey, leader of the Waarg.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"Well met, $PLAYER."

[link="What are the Waarg?"]
[altlink="Tell me again about the Waarg."]
[linkto="waarg"]
[link="Why are you called 'Grey'?"]
[altlink="Tell me again why you are called 'Grey'."]
[linkto="grey"]
[link="Tell me about Aa'Ruuff and the code."]
[altlink="Tell me again about Aa'Ruuff and the code."]
[linkto="code"]
[endpage]


[page="main1"]
[learn_name]
[colour="#808080"]
You see a regal-looking wolf-creature.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"Well met, $PLAYER.

 I am King Grey, of the Waarg, and you have my eternal
 gratitude for freeing me from this dungeon.

 I was kept here by our God, Aa'Ruuff.  He was trying to
 get me to reveal a special code.  Used correctly it can
 unlock tremendous power, enough even to overthrow Him.

 If you will accept me into your party, the code will
 make your quest possible."

[link="How did you know who I am?"]
[linkto="main1a"]
[link="Who are the Waarg?"]
[linkto="waarg"]
[link="Why are you called 'King Grey'?"]
[linkto="grey"]
[link="Tell me about the code."]
[linkto="code"]
[link="Tell me about Aa'Ruuff."]
[linkto="Aa'Ruuff"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="main1a"]

"It was the prophecy.  Only the Promised One could
 possibly break into Aa'Ruuff's own dungeons!"

[link="Who are the Waarg?"]
[linkto="waarg"]
[link="Why are you called 'King Grey'?"]
[linkto="grey"]
[link="Tell me about the code."]
[linkto="code"]
[link="Tell me about Aa'Ruuff."]
[linkto="Aa'Ruuff"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="waarg"]

"We are a people who live in the eastern lands near the
 desert.  Unlike you humans, we are covered in fur and
 walk upon four legs instead of two.

 It is said that our people were created by Aa'Ruuff,
 whom we worshipped as our God, before He turned His
 back upon us.

 The legends say that there were animals like us but
 dumb, and that Aa'Ruuff raised us up to intelligence
 using His power.  He also made our bodies strong
 and long-lived, which proved a great advantage in
 the war against the humans."

[link="Why are you called 'King Grey'?"]
[linkto="grey"]
[link="Tell me about the code."]
[linkto="code"]
[link="Tell me about Aa'Ruuff."]
[linkto="Aa'Ruuff"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]

[page="grey"]

"It is our tradition that names are given on the night
 of the sixth full moon after a cub has been born.

 The name is taken from the first impression that the
 cub gives the town elders on the night of the naming
 ceremony.

 Often it is the cub's behaviour, such as 'QuickJaw',
 but it is often taken from a cub's appearance, too,
 such as 'SnowPaw'.

 I was called 'GreyCoat' because my fur is strangely
 light for my people.  We are usually darker colours.

 Sometimes, a favoured King or Noble is given a title,
 or a different name by their subjects.  The people
 named me 'King Grey' as a token of affection."

[link="Who are the Waarg?"]
[linkto="waarg"]
[link="Tell me about the code."]
[linkto="code"]
[link="Tell me about Aa'Ruuff."]
[linkto="Aa'Ruuff"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


[page="code"]

"Several years ago, I was king of the city-state of Yapp,
 a powerful waarg stronghold.  As God's annointed ruler,
 I frequently had communion with the great God Aa'Ruuff
 Himself, and He told me many useful things.
 
 One interesting thing I learned was a code number that
 gives access to the source of Aa'Ruuff's power.

 One day, Aa'Ruuff announced that we were no longer His
 favourite race, and that our city would be invaded by
 His new champion, mankind.  That night our priests
 cursed our God's name, and henceforth we referred to
 Him as 'The Betrayer'."

[nextpage="code2"]
[endpage]

[page="code2"]

"Aa'Ruuff was true to His loathsome word, but I devised
 a series of cunning strategies to protect our land from
 His onslaught.  Aa'Ruuff Himself stayed out of the
 battle, but occasionally He visited me in the evenings
 when I was in session with my advisors.  He would offer
 taunts or sarcastic comments.

 One night, it was as if Aa'Ruuff was delirious.  
 His voice was slurred and He spoke in fragments that made 
 no sense.  Little pink wet things appeared in the tops
 of trees, and we later found that all our wine had 
 been turned into fruit juice overnight.

 After a few minutes, Aa'Ruuff stopped rambling and He 
 began to say things we could understand again.  We may
 never know what happened to Him that night, but while
 He was insane, He had lost a number of important facts
 from his memory."

[nextpage="code3"]
[endpage]


[page="code3"]

"After the 'stroke', or whatever happened to our God,
 Aa'Ruuff's manner changed.  The sarcastic banter that
 He often used with me was dropped and He became more
 ruthless and threatening.

 One day, when I was hunting rabbits with my brother,
 a human dressed in black was seen in the distance.
 When my guards went to investigate, another human 
 appeared behind me.  He aimed a weapon at my head, and
 then the blackness claimed me."

[nextpage="code4"]
[endpage]

[page="code4"]

"I awoke surrounded by human guards loyal to Aa'Ruuff.
 Then He appeared before me.  The guards took me to
 this dungeon.  It seems that the Betrayer had ordered
 me to be killed, and then He had resurrected me with
 His power so that I could be questioned.

 Aa'Ruuff has been questioning me ever since.  He wants
 to know just one thing.. the access code that He
 revealed to me all those years ago!

 But I shall never tell Him!"

[link="Who are the Waarg?"]
[linkto="waarg"]
[link="Why are you called 'King Grey'?"]
[linkto="grey"]
[link="Tell me about Aa'Ruuff."]
[linkto="Aa'Ruuff"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]



[page="Aa'Ruuff"]
 
"Centuries ago, our people were visited by a God that we
 call Aa'Ruuff.  He taught us many things, such as how to
 manipulate objects and build houses.

 Aa'Ruuff would answer our prayers and show Himself
 before us from time to time.  We worshipped Him for five
 centuries, and vast temples were built in His honour.

 Not long ago, Aa'Ruuff told us that there were new
 creatures in the world that He called 'humans'.

 Aa'Ruuff started to become fickle and irritable.  We
 didn't know why at the time, but it seems now that He
 was more interested in the humans than His chosen ones."

[nextpage="aaruuf2"]
[endpage]

[page="aaruuf2"]

"Finally Aa'Ruuff appeared in our holiest temple and said
 that we were no longer any use to Him, and that we
 would all be destroyed by his new worshippers, Mankind.

 I mobilised our armies and the war against humanity 
 began.  Aa'Ruuff stayed out of the way.  We think now
 that He had engineered the conflict to see which race
 was strongest.

 Many of us were routed but there were few losses,
 because Aa'Ruuff had changed us to make our bodies
 stronger."

[nextpage="aaruuf3"]
[endpage]

[page="aaruuf3"]

"The humans concentrated mostly on destroying our temples
 and our homes, and when this was done we were largely
 left alone, apart from occasional raiding parties,
 bandits and zealots come to destroy the 'Infidel', or
 'Devils' or whatever it is they call us.

 The betrayal by Aa'Ruuff overturned our entire social
 structure, and the resulting chaos is probably the main
 reason why the humans left us alone."

[link="Who are the Waarg?"]
[linkto="waarg"]
[link="Why are you called 'King Grey'?"]
[linkto="grey"]
[link="Tell me about the code."]
[linkto="code"]
[link="Tell me about Aa'Ruuff."]
[linkto="Aa'Ruuff"]
[link="Goodbye."]
[linkto="bye"]
[endpage]


/ Our then-leader was banished from the city.  He formed
/ a pack of his own, with some of his most loyal subjects
/ and advisors.  Occasionally people leave our city to join him.
/ We don't mind.. it seems to attract the malcontents.  
/ Most of those who merely seek adventure become soldiers or guards."

[endpage]

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