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Blood rushes up into your ears as you madly dash through darkened hallways covered in strange pulsating veins, and quickly leap up several flights of steps before slowing down to a crouch. A single patrol of heavily armored guards in black steel caps and chainmail appear to your right, their eyes scouring the corridor. You haven't been spotted yet but it was only a matter of time. There is a room to your left you could duck into, but there was a chance you could be rushing headlong into more danger. In which case you're probably be better off dealing with this fairly small group quickly.

(Click here if you wish to attack? Mana cost 12)

Spoiler: Spoiler

Legs pumping with adrenaline, you burst forward to shoulder one of the guards to the side knocking him off his feet while placing your hands on the chest of another guard to blast a firebolt straight through him, your feet a whirl of motion as you duck and kick out the feet of the third.

Grasping the hilt of the dying warrior's curved blade, you slice the throat of the guard to your right with a lighting swift strike, before rolling backwards to avoid a fist.

The three remaining guards circle you from either side, their guttural grunts muffled through the black cloth wrapped around their mouths as they bound forward to meet you.

Quickly you release two more firebolts to distract them and slide across the slick, veiny ground to hack at their heels with precision cuts, then leap up to finish off two with slashes to their jugulars, before stabbing the third through the ribcage with a powerful thrust.

The last of the guards falls to his knees to peel back the black cloth revealing the face of a goblin. The creature fumbling for you as though begging you for help, before collapsing in a pool of its own blood.

The battle done, you stand there shaking a little as the adrenaline pulses through you when you hear the pounding of footsteps as well as the sound of upraised voices. With no other choice but to hide, you quickly lean down to drag their bodies into the room on your left and squat down to listen. (Acquired Jaw Blade -10 Damage, Acquired Chainmail + 3 Resilience.)

Several gruff voices speak to each other outside of the room. The voices booming through the thin walls, causing you to wonder if they've discovered the fresh blood stains in the corridor and if you should make a break for it? An idea you quickly discard as you realise you would placing yourself in greater danger, not that it was much safer here, trapped in a room with no way out.

Mouth dry, you clutch the blade in your grip, ready to spring into action once more when eventually the footsteps fade off into the distance and you release a sigh of relief.

(Click here if you wish to duck into the room to wait them out?)

Spoiler: Spoiler

Heart beating furiously, you dash towards the room, fling open the door and close it gently behind you. The sound of heavy footfalls resound in the corridor behind you as well as the grunting of voices, the guards muttering something about the poor quality of meat rations, before their footsteps fade off into the distance.

Muscles a mass of tightly wound knots, you let out a heavy sigh and rest your back up against the wall to listen for any other patrols.

"It appears that you are safe for the moment, master. The guards have yet to realise you've escaped, but that will not last long. Might I suggest we continue moving on," said Daedalus.

Nodding your head in agreement, you reluctantly pull yourself upright and scan the room when you spot a dust laden chest hidden away at the back of the room with only a single dim gem attached to the wall providing light.

Excitement bubbling in your chest at the thought of discovering possible riches, you cautiously advance towards it, toss aside the carpet that lay strewn over it before inspecting the chest covered in ancient runes. "Daedalus do you know what this says?"

After a brief momentary pause, he replies, "Erie almerhurse. Efierfeat nuiforld. Here lies Balmera the Cursed. Defier of death and ruin of worlds."

Well, that didn't sound good. You've not heard of this Balmera, but the fact that the mages had collected her remains and placed them inside a chest, which was more than likely enchanted did not bode well for opening it. Although, if this Balmera was truly an enemy of the dark mages would it not prudent to at least take a peek inside?

Hands hovering over the chest, you move your fingers towards the clasp and hear a slight hum at the back of your mind, that grows stronger the closer you get, until finally unable to resist the temptation, you blast open the lock with a firebolt and heave it open. (- 4 Mana)

Inside lying at the bottom of the chest are a pair of gloves made up of the same fabric as the cloak as well as the ashes of the dead.

Daedalus lets out a thrum of exultation that vibrates through you. "I had hoped this tower would contain a piece of me, but I had not dared to think they would risk bringing it here, away from the island. Come now master, let me show what true power is."

Wary of Daedalus's eagerness to be reunited with the glove, you wonder if you should wait to put it on, but can't help but be feel an insatiable curiosity yourself at the capabilities that could be unlocked by them.

Soft as velvet and black as night, you pick them up and slowly slide them on, feeling awash with new energy that fizzles inside of you. (+50 Mana. Mana regeneration now increases at a much faster rate. Add +5 each time you complete a scenario without using any mana in that scenario. Converting Life Energy to Mana, also occurs at a greater rate with 5 Health points = 5 Mana.)

Level 2 Spells

Storm of Light

Mana cost: 5

Daedalus, "Distract enemies with a light display that will be truly blinding."(Option will occasionally appear throughout the story.)

Enchanted Blade

Mana cost: 10

Daedalus, "Lighter than a feather and sharper than steel, this blade can cut through most everything with a single wave."(Enchanted Blade -20 damage.)

Heal

Mana cost: 15

Daedalus, "A simple if not elegant spells that transfers mana into health."(15 Mana, restores 5 Health points.)

Iron Skin

Mana cost: 20

Daedalus, "Become a weapon of unimaginable power, able to charge through walls and crush enemies in your fist." ( +20 Resilience)

Fireball Barrage

Mana cost: 30

Daedalus, "A personal favorite of mine, able to wipe out entire groups of enemies with a single blast."

Undead Bodyguard

Mana cost: 50

Daedalus, "Given life from death, it will serve you loyally without question and protect you for as long as it still lives."(Once summoned, the Undead Bodyguard will temporarily act as your companion for a single scenario and will take all the damage meant for you. However should it be destroyed or it is unable to adsorb all the damage, some of the damage will leak to you.)

Unable to help but smile at the incredible power that flows within your veins, you open and close your fists, feeling the magic bubbling inside of you eager to be released. So this was what it meant to be a mage. Power at your fingertips and a whole world ripe with opportunities.

Clenching your fist, you stride towards the doorway to test your new found powers when you hear something rustle behind you.

Half turning, you gape in awe as the ashes from the chest stir and begin to form into flesh, blood, sinew, and bone. The ashes flowing up into the air to take shape, revealing first a slim torso, limbs, than a skull, until finally a woman emerges to stands before you, completely dressed in fine blue robes that are cinched at her waist by a golden belt, her dark brown hair curled up into ringlets and startling green eyes staring at you with keen interest.

Red lips curling into a delicious smile, she crooks her head to the side as though listening to something before gliding past you to exit the room without a single word. Soon shouts, screams, and guttural moans of agony shatter the silence, followed by the clamor of battle as steel rings upon steel.

Trembling a little at the way she had frozen you in place with a simple glance, you shake your head and tentatively wonder what the hell just happened, although you are fairly certain you don't want to find out but it's far too late for recriminations now. Whoever she was, she was free now and wreaking havoc within the tower. All of which should play to your advantage. With the dark mages distracted you could freely explore the tower. But where to go?

Daedalus ever present in your thoughts, chimes in, "Well from what I can remember master, there are several areas of the Tower, I would say were worth exploring. There's the armory which is located just above us, presumably this is where they store their weapons. The enchantery two or more floors above us, where they imbue items with magical abilities and store potions and what not. The slave quarters which should be fairly close to the armory, and the treasury room, which resides at the bottom of the tower and is usually guarded by a dragon. At leastwise that's how they were usually guarded during my time. Although I hear mages have become quite fond of demons. Folly if you ask me, there are only a handful of demons you can trust and most of those are dead."

1. Do you make your way to the Armory?

2. Do you make your way to the Enchantery?

3. Do you make your way to the Slave Quarters?

4. Do you make your way to the Treasury?

5. Do you stay where you are and wait to see if the chaos subsides?