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<b><font size=+2>Destiny of the Spheres</font></b>
<p>by Brett Bixler
<p>
<hr ALIGN=left>
<p><b>The Plot</b>
<p>An invisible, roving gate that opens to another dimension used to travel
freely across the lands of the Empire. The gate was activated by music
itself. You could be singing or even be just thinking about a song, and
when the gate passed over you, you were transported to another place. Many
musicians disappeared from the Empire through this gate.
<p>After Empire mages discovered the gate, they spent 50 years tracking,
stabilizing, and eventually controlling it. When the first bold adventurers
stepped through the now-stable portal, they were astounded.
<p>The land consisted of a large number of islands floating in the ether!
Some islands had formed chains - they were more or less bound together
by tough, thick vines, making travel between some isles possible. Descendents
of the people who had traveled there over the years had formed loose communities
and even had built some small cities. The most amazing discovery of all,
however, was the Music of the Spheres.
<p>These seven intelligent orbs existed in a large clearing on the island
where the portal opened into the "Realm of the Spheres," as this place
became known. Over time, many mages and musicians alike traveled to the
Realm to see the Spheres.
<p>Recently, the Spheres and the Realm came under attack by mysterious
beings known as the D'kar. The original inhabitants of the Realm, they
were thought destroyed long ago as a result of their own foul experiments.
<p>Soon after the D'kar vanished the Spheres had entered the Realm, and
turned it into the wondrous place it now is. The D'kar were not destroyed,
but merely banished, and are now attempting to return and subjugate the
Realm.
<p>They nearly succeeded in their first attempt - a magical abduction of
the Spheres. The Spheres fought back and were instead scattered throughout
the Realm, helpless but alive.
<p>Thanks to you, the Spheres were recovered and the D'kar plot was revealed.
The Spheres barred D'kar access to the Realm, but realized the malevolent
D'kar would never stop until they reclaimed the Realm.
<p>Thus, an alliance between the Realm and the Empire was forged. The Empire,
wishing to defend its own borders, agreed to supply troops in defense of
the Realm. The Spheres, having an unmatched knowledge of the Realm, provided
the guidance needed for a successful campaign.
<p>At the request of the Spheres, you returned to the Realm shortly after
your first adventure ended there and proceeded to perform a series of quests
for the Empire and the Spheres. Your main accomplishment was the recovery
of the Instruments of Tonality, instruments the Spheres hoped to use as
weapons against the D'kar. The instruments were activated, with devastating
results. A huge portal to the D'kar's realm was opened, and the D'kar came
pouring through it. At the same time you were pushed through the portal
to the D'kar's realm by the Master, a formerly-crazed mage that knew a
great deal about the D'kar. As you helped heal the Master, curing him of
his madness, this action seemed strange to you. But you believe the Master
must have a reason for doing so.
<p>Now you are trapped in the realm of the D'kar, a dark, strange place.
Surviving will be difficult. Destroying the D'kar, improbable. Finding
a way home? Impossible. Thus begins the "Destiny of the Spheres," the third
and final installment in the "Spheres" triology.
<p>
<hr ALIGN=left>
<p><b>The Adventure</b>
<p>This non-linear adventure contains three major quests, numerous minor
adventures, and dozens of special encounters. You'll visit over 30 dungeons
and towns before all is said and done, as well as:
<ul>
<li>
Attempt to destroy the D'kar.</li>
<li>
Attempt to destroy the Squiggles, the evil symbiote of the D'kar.</li>
<li>
Fight the D'kar's weapons, including Metal Men, Floaters, and Juggernauts!</li>
<li>
Discover strange, new creatures!</li>
<li>
Settle the score with an old adversary!</li>
<li>
Battle the elements themselves!</li>
<li>
Cripple key areas in the D'kar's realm.</li>
<li>
Rescue the humans trapped in the D'kar's realm.</li>
<li>
Solve the mystery of what the D'kar and the Spheres truly are, and how
their destiny is in your hands!</li>
<li>
And finally, attempt to destroy the entire dimension of the D'kar and find
your way home!</li>
</ul>
The average party can expect to gain over 10 levels during game play. Game
play will probably last over 30 hours real time, and over 90 days game
time.
<p>
<hr ALIGN=left>
<p><b>Installation</b>
<p>Place the <b>destiny.exs</b> file in the <b>Blades of Exile Scenarios</b>
folder on the Mac, or the <b>Bladscen</b> folder on the PC.
<p>Place the <b>dsphlpm.exs</b> file in the <b>Blades of Exile Scenarios</b>
folder on the Mac, or the <b>Bladscen</b> folder on the PC.
<p>Place the <b>destiny.meg</b> file in the <b>Blades of Exile Scenarios</b>
folder on the Mac.
<p>Place the <b>destiny.bmp</b> file in the <b>Bladscen</b> folder on the
PC.
<p>
<hr ALIGN=left>
<p><b>Using the High Level Party Maker</b>
<p>"Destiny" is listed as a Very High Level (30<sup>th</sup> level +),
and "Destiny" was designed for a starting high-level (30<sup>th</sup>-level)
party. Parties that don't match this description will find "Destiny" too
hard or too easy.
<p>Use the included Destiny Party Maker (thanks, Tarl Kudrick!) to construct
a party that meets this suggestion, if you don't already have one. Then
run the "Destiny" scenario. Please note the Destiny Party Maker may not
give you exactly what you need in terms of experience and levels, especially
if you are playing a party with a great deal of advantageous traits, or
a party with fewer than six players. Use your own judgement, and perhaps
the BoE Character Editor, if you feel your party is not balanced correctly
for this scenario.
<p>In the Destiny Party Maker are several weapons one normally would have
acquired in "Quests of the Spheres." They are not essential to the scenario,
and may be taken or left; it's up to you.
<p>
<hr ALIGN=left>
<p><b>Stuck?</b>
<p><a href="http://www.clat.psu.edu/homes/bxb11/boe/doshelp.htm">Check
out the on-line help file.</a> Or, look at the help file that came with
the scenario - they are the same. You didn't delete it, did you?
<p><b>Please Consider...</b>
<p>If you like this game, please consider making a small donation to your
local literacy council. Even five dollars goes a long way with these organizations.
They are underfunded, rely on volunteers, and fulfill an important need
in our society.
<p>
<hr ALIGN=left>
<p><b>The Future</b>
<p>Who knows? I may create some small adventures, if the BoE Scenario is
ever updated. Frankly, this is a lot of work for no renumeration. Check
my site at:
<p><a href="http://www.clat.psu.edu/homes/bxb11/boe/index.htm">http://www.clat.psu.edu/homes/bxb11/boe/index.htm</a>
<p>for news and updates.
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