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<p align="center"><img src="graphics/quint.gif" width="298" height="298" alt="Jewel with man trapped inside">
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<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif"><b><font size="+2">Quintessence</font></b></font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">A </font><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.spidweb.com">Blades
of Exile</a> scenario by <a href="mailto:bxb11@psu.edu">Brett Bixler</a>.</font></p>
<hr>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif"><b>The Plot</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Ever wonder what happens
to a creature when the "Capture Soul" Mage spell is used upon it?
This scenario explores that question by casting you in the role of Jonah, a
young apprentice mage that ends up on the wrong side of the spell.</font></p>
<hr>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif"><b>The Adventure</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Follow Jonah as he traverses
the both the inner world of the "Gem" and the outer "reality"
in an attempt to win free of bondage, and to answer the quintessential question
- "Do I have a soul?" Visit the native "Shards" of the Gem,
as well as Beholders, Eye Beasts, Beneathers, and other strange creatures. Assist
a Lich! Bring peace to warring Stomper tribes. Track down the one being who
may be able to help you.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">This adventure has three
possible endings. Two allow you to "finish" the scenario; one allows
you to "win." Can you be one of the first five players to finish (or
win!) and claim immortality in the scenario's Hall of Fame?</font></p>
<hr>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif"><b>Gameplay</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">This is a single character
adventure. You play the scenario as Jonah, a young apprentice mage. My apologies
for not allowing you to pick the sex of your character. Simply put - this would
be too difficult to me to program. Others could, possibly, but not me. Also,
as the plot progresses, you'll understand why I chose a male character.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Please use the <b>quint.sav</b>
starting file if playing on a PC; the <b>quint.mac</b> starting file if playing
on a Macintosh. Just in case the start file is not working properly, here is
all the information you need to build Jonah from scratch:</font></p>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif" size="-1">Character Name:
Jonah<br>
Character Icon - The brown-robed man with the upright staff. <img src="graphics/jonah.gif" width="27" height="37" alt="Man in robes with staff" align="absmiddle"><br>
HP - 22, S - 8, Dex - 8, Int - 8<br>
Experience - 0<br>
All weapons - 4<br>
Defense - 0<br>
Spell Points - 35<br>
Level 3 Mage & Priest Spells<br>
Assassination - 4<br>
All else - 0<br>
Traits - Magically Apt, Recooperation<br>
Supplies - Shirt, pants, and an iron knife<br>
Gold - 800<br>
</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">This scenario is rated R
due to adult content.</font></p>
<hr>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif"><b>Installation</b></font></p>
<ol>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Place the quint.exs file
in the Blades of Exile Scenarios folder on the Mac, or the Bladscen folder
on the PC.</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Place the quint.meg graphics
file in the Blades of Exile Scenarios folder on the Mac, or the quint.bmp
file in the Bladscen folder on the PC.</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Place the quint.mac (for
the Mac) or quint.save (for the PC) starting file wherever you normally store
your save files.</font></li>
</ol>
<hr>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif"><b>Thanks to:</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Tim Farland, for maintaining
an excellent set of graphics for the BoE community. Several of them were used
in this scenario. Also a special thanks to Luz, whose facial graphics are second
to none. Others who contributed graphics:</font></p>
<ul>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Blue Castle - Eldin Windleaf</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Ash Slime (Glitch) - Abbot
Henderson</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Beholder - Dragon777</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">DoomLord (Crystal Knight)
- Relhan</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Unicorn - HYZ</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Eyebeast - Spiderweb</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Ground Beast (Beneather)
- Relhan</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Monster Eye (Lesser Beholder)
- Dragon777</font></li>
</ul>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">My thanks also to my poor
beta testers: Terror's Martyr, Chris "Drizzt" Risberg, Andrew Barton,
and Jayne. Without you, this scenario would be nothing.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Finally, I'd like to thank
the Alan Parson's Project, Billy Joel, Puddle of Mud, and Vanessa Carleton for
their lyrics; Clifford D. Simak for inspiring the Hoot character, and Monty
Python for various silly inspirations included in this scenario.</font></p>
<hr>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif"><b>Please Consider...</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">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.</font></p>
<hr>
<p><font face="Verdana, Times New Roman, sans-serif">Questions? Contact <a href="mailto:bxb11@psu.edu">Brett
Bixler</a>.</font></p>
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