Avernum Crystal Souls 18: Finding the Blessed Athame

Wow! Some fun today! Actually, I really did do a lot of backtracking. I'm really finished with the whole demo area, except of one final trip to the Lair of Motrax sometime later. (I love Motrax. I hate what they did to him. Poor dear old dragon.)

Anyway, I really did find quite a lot of stuff that I'd overlooked. What I've done is press the "U" key everywhere I go in a dungeon. That finds stuff you can't see too well. 

First I had some trouble in the Giant Fort. I did the quest there and got everything, but I could see a barrier behind a fence and some rocks in the kennels. Couldn't manage to get to it. Pressed a hidden switch and I could see that a passage opened up behind the barrier, but how to get there? It took a trip to the Spiderweb Forum, but I learned that I had to use the Move Mountains spell several times and press more switches to get to the passage. Did all that and got the loot. It was most odd, because Jeff virtually always indicates when to use Move Moutains by showing cracks in the walls. There were no cracks here. I guess that puzzle was there for the more intrepid players, or those of us willing to go to the Forum for answers.

As I was doing my backtracking, I realized that I didn't have Move Mountains at level 3. I found out where that was, but I needed a very sharp knife to get to the spell book, and I didn't have one. Well HA! I know what that is! It's the fabled Blessed Athame! This time there was no quest for it. It's in the Waterfall Warren, and I already have a couple of different quests for that. 

So, I set aside my backtracking to go do that. What fun! The thing has plenty of combat against hellhounes, ghosts, a few giants and even eyebeasts (which go down with fire), but mostly it's a giant puzzle. You go in one building and make your way through it to get clues for later in the puzzle. Example: you find three empty chests. They have lists. One wants an abacus, another an hourglass, and another a fishing pole. We do not of course have any of these items on us at the moment, and it'll take a freaking long time to go and get them. But never fear. Jeff knows that. I was certain he would plant those very items around the area. And of course he did. When you place the items properly and throw the switch, you get a clue. Without those clues you cannot finish the puzzle.

In the next building we get two keys. One comes from one side, the gate of which opens pretty easily. Opening the gate on the other side turns out to be more challenging, but at last I got it.

The we see enticing chests in another building, but there is no access to the place. However, we can see trap doors in the floors. Ergo, we're going to be climbing up to these areas.

And that happens in the next building. Got some major fights there! Especially, and I remember this from the earliest incarnation of the Avernum game: a doomguard. These are mechanical monsters that hit you, but when you hit them they take damage but split in two. Usually, every time you hit them they split. So you either have to kill them outright (impossible) or just keep at it. The trick is that they get weaker and weaker as you hit 'em. Eventually I had a good dozen of them, but they were close to death. Hit 'em with some good area spells and you can take 'em out. Interestingly, this time Jeff didn't have them split until the end of your round, instead of each time they were hit. I remember this fight from the first game--one of the toughest in the game! This time it's easier.

Of course I ran out of spell energy, but Mycroft leveled up, which restores all the energy. Then Cordelia was close to leveling up, so I gave her a wisdom crystal and got her energy up again as well. That was quite nice for fighting the eyebeasts. Plus, I have a pretty good store of energy elixirs, so I knew I'd be OK. 

But that was a fun fun puzzle! I wound up playing most of the day. I'd just finished a lotta work, so I gave myself a Sunday off.

Tomorrow I will continue with my backtracking. Gonna suck the marrow from this game!

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Avernum Crystal Souls 17: FINALLY got Dispel Barrier!

Finally! At last I managed to find the Empire General and kill him, so I could get the spell Dispel Barrier as a reward. Interestingly, they don't charge you much for the first and second levels of it. I knew where the third level was, and went there. Took me awhile to find the secret button to get into the hidden area and find the spell book, but once there, aha! Lovely reading!

The fight in the fort wasn't really that tough. Clearly, I was meant to get this just a bit earlier. However, first thing, I went to the spiral pit to clear that out, and it's quite obvious that this one is a higher level quest. Interesting, because the spiral pit used to be one of the earlier, easier quests. And you can get through it earlier, but until you have Dispel Barrier at level three, you can't get into the boss fight. That one is pretty good.

Anyway. What a relief. I putzed around looking for the right fort, and cleared out the black cube, which was much easier. I also found the cave with the lich, but I decided to go back for that. My main reason for playing tonight was to get Dispel Barrier.

And, I went back to the Tower of Magi and sought out "X," who finally taught me the last three mage spells. Sheesh. Finally I've got all the mage spells.

But I'm still missing the last three priest spells. Actually, I think I might be able to get those in Dharmon, now that I'm at a higher level. I'm in the upper 20s now. I did get some good and fairly cheap  archery training from a band of Nephils that like me because I healed their friends. It's especially smart to buy combat skills for your spellcasters. You don't want to use up too many of their skill points on combat, but they need some combat to get battle disciplines. Best to just buy those. Once I've paid for three more spells, I can spend my money on skill training. It would be lovely to get everybody up to "Adrenaline Rush," which gives you three hits for one turn.

I'm also starting to accumulate some pretty nice gear. Everybody's got a named sword, and I found some great boots at the Spiral Pit. I'm noticing that this time, the better swords and stuff aren't always the highest priced ones. I figure if they give you magical stuff, such as 3 points to Quick Action, that's better than a higher level hit.

There are still plenty of things to do. I've got to rescue two more Crystal Souls. I've got to get the Onyx Scepter, the Orb of Thralni, Demonslayer (a sword that does extra damage to demons, and btw, to certain individuals who might have some demon blood) and the Blessed Athame (don't even have the quest for that one yet). Haven't been through the Waterfall Warren yet, although I found it tonight.

I also went to Erika's Tower, which required a huge fight. The Empire is trying to take the tower, but Erika has massive traps for them to traverse. Sadly, we have to traverse them as well, and it ain't easy. Now that I've made it to her chamber, however, I can use the portal to come back.

And after all that, she wouldn't teach me any spells! So I got 'em from "X."

But my next playing session will be backtracking: going over known territory, looking for barriers to dispel. Along the way maybe I can clear up some more minor quests. Probably I'll find some chests and doors I couldn't unlock earlier. I always try to do ALL the quests, and find ALL the stuff (if possible, usually isn't) and do all three major endings. I want to play the whole game, not just part of it.

So. Lots of doubling back next time. Might take a couple of days, actually. Well, it always did take me a good three weeks to play these games, and that was with playing virtually full time. I'm only getting a couple of hours a day, if that, this time. 

Oh. One other thing. I was lurking around on the Spiderweb Forum today and learned that you can put items straight into the junk bag by control-clicking. I've been playing these games for years, and I never knew that. What a timesaver!

Lots of fun ahead! 

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Avernum Crystal Souls 16: Back to the Ziggurat

Well it was a good idea to go back to the Empire Ziggurat! Yes, I can still get in. I cleared it out except for the center temple with all the wizards and their minions. I don't think I'm strong enough for that yet.

Pretty standard stuff, really. Got some nice loot out of it, and in fact, I've got to stop selling stuff for awhile. I have reached 30,000 coins, and that clearly is the limit. So, until I can find some spells or other expensive stuff to buy, I don't want to sell anything because it won't register. Maybe I ought to go and get some of the expensive training that's out there.

Plus, I went back to the Lava Dome, which is highly comical. You meet a little imp there and he has some great dialogue. However, I can't finish that until I get the verdamnten dispel barrier spell, and I'm going to have to get it at least at level two. Where will the level three spell be? But with two, I may be able to go back and clear out lotsa stuff. There are even a couple of barriers in the Ziggurat I couldn't get. I will say that it was good I picked up a pipe, because that becomes useful at the Lava Dome. I've kinda learned that Jeff will want odd stuff like that from time to time.

At least this time I made sure I had enough high-quality Vahnatai items that I didn't have to go trekking back and forth to Patrick's Tower. Patrick said he wanted Vahnatai stuff, so I gathered the major things, and clicked on him until he had everything he wanted. Time saver there.

Also managed to get in to see Rhentar-Ihrno (or however you spell it), the great mage of the Vahnatai. I have a quest for her that I can't do until I find the Orb of Thralni--it lets you fly short distances, and there are places in the game that are inaccessible without it. Very useful item.

So the next step is to attack that island and get the dispel barrier spell. Plus, I can get to Erika, the arch-mage of Avernum. Maybe she'll sell me some high-level spells.

So, lots to do!

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Avernum Crystal Souls 15: Clearance!

So the story continues. I decided just to clear up some of the quests I've got clogging up my list. I had completed several. Now that I can use the portal system it takes far less time to travel. 

Along the way I finally was able to get "Crown Clearance," so now there is no place in official Avernum that I cannot go. I could even have robbed the royal treasury. I killed the guard basilisks (which were more powerful than just your average basilisk), but I decided not to take the loot in the chests until I get down on money again.

I got in to see Starcap in Dharmon finally, but he would't teach me any spells. I'm still trying to find those powerful spells. Gonna have to do lots more stuff to earn 'em, I guess. 

I also got in to see Solberg! And there was Cheeseball, Solberg's "familiar," the best cat in the game. He appears in several games, actually. I'm tempted to name a cat after him someday, but it would be cruel.

Cheeseball is a cynic. For example, an sample of his dialogue:

Click to Embiggen

Didn't play for all that long tonight, but I did get some more quests. I'll have to go back to the Vahnatai lands to get yet another cloak. There are some major spells in Patrick's Tower that I should be able to read, but I have to do something for Patrick to get a deciphering lens, and Patrick wants a cloak. So, back down! Maybe I'll try to take out the demons in the Lava Dome this time. I'm up to levels 25 and 26, so I've still got a long way to go! I might be halfway through the game by now.

Plus, I want to see if I can get back to that Empire Ziggurat where I saved the Crystal Soul. There's more to be fought there, and more loot to get! I don't plan to do the fight yet. Just want to see if I can get back there again.

Till tomorrow!

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Avernum Crystal Souls 14: Rescuing the First Crystal Soul

So! Not only have I rescued my first Crystal Soul, but I finally managed to get the Avernum portals to work! It will be much easier to travel now (although some things still require leg and/or boat work).

I teleported down to Vahnatai lands again and immediately got a mission to save a Crystal Soul (these are revered Vahnatai souls who, after death, live on in crystals and dispense knowledge to their tribe, for hundreds of years).

First, I went back to the Vahnatai bandit lair and conquered it, rather easily this time. I haven't yet tackled the demons in the lava dome to the north of the place, but I know they're there and will return.

After that I had to travel far west, through dangerous spore caves full of lava and various demon-like creatures, all of which will try to kill you if you get too close. There is a way through it all, however. Then we trek a long way until we find a fort. There, after a brief battle, we meet the commander, who says that his little force will accompany us as we go to the Empire ziggurat to rescue the Crystal Soul.

Yeah, that was a fight. I was worried that I used up all my battle crystals, but it turned out I didn't need them. We meet the Wizard Garzhad, who is a major enemy, but we can't kill him yet. We can, however, find the Soul. The major difficulty was getting by a buncha wizards and mages in a central room, which is surrounded by poisonous, very active trees. Helluva battle and I'm quite sure I would not have been able to win it.

However! I noticed a stairway in one corner. One of my characters was fairly close, because I'd gone in the back way (turned out to be a good choice). I rushed my character up the stairs, and voila! There I was on the top level, thereby avoiding the big battle almost completely. Of course, I also missed out on some good loot, no doubt, but maybe I can go back when I'm stronger. We'll see.

Hmmm. I just realized that I might have been able to use my mages's blink spell to get to the staircase. With that, your mage can jump pretty far away to another point in the area. In other games you need a clear path to the point you want, so it might not have worked because there were enemies in between, but I need to remember that idea when I want to escape something major. Could work!

I was in front of the entrance to Garzhad's chambers. Natch, I though I was going to have to battle him, and I didn't think I was strong enough for it. However, the battle turned out to be just between a couple of mages and an Empire warrior, with all their summoned minions.

Ha. I've got some minions to summon myself. I have finally managed to capture some useful souls for my simularicum spell, and I unleashed a Vahnati mage on 'em. Then I just kept hitting 'em with divine fire and lightening, and managed to get 'em all. After that, finding the Soul was pretty easy. Then, escaping from the ziggurat is mostly automatic. The directions tell you where to go, and you only need to get one character there.

Success! So, back in Avernum, I finally figured out the portal system. The first time you use it you have to fight some demons, but these are garden variety who go down pretty easily. Actually I think I was supposed to discover this earlier in the game. Once we get to Pryn's tower there a some more demons, but these aren't too difficult either.

So! I can travel now! Spiffy!

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Avermum Crystal Souls 13: Phun!

Fun fun fun! I got all my Kirkus books done, all my baking done, and was just cruisin', so after a day off I went back to my game. At first I was kind of lost. I have a goal to get the dispel barrier spell, which requires me to conquer an Empire outpost (I know where it is from previous games). However, I had accumulated an extremely long list of quests, and there were major places I hadn't visited, so I thought I'd just wander around for awhile and do some minor quests.

I took care of the Rakshisai--magical tiger cats--who, sadly, are enemies (I mean, obviously, I like cats). Their boss actually was a decent fight. I wandered around the rest of the Great Cave because I hadn't been to the edges. Founds lots of equipment dumps (little round piles of soil) that hide some really nifty loot. Visited some areas that are major fights in the previous game but are peaceful, although not always completely welcoming, now.

Wandered into the honeycomb (that is a maze-like collection of tunnels west of Mertis). There is a bandit lair there with a seriously difficult puzzle. There are four entrances. No matter which way you go in, you wind up outside again. One of the entrances has a couple of hidden buttons. That way clearly is going to be the choice, but I'm betting that I'll need to speak with a character somewhere who will give me a clue I'll need to trigger something that will let me through. It's one of the quests for Mertis. The other is the spiral cave. I've finished that except for the final fight, which is behind a barrier I can't as yet dispel.

I went up into giant lands and tackled several giant lairs there. Not difficult fights. I'm supposed to collect three stone icons from them, and I was sure I got all three, but the game says I have only two. Hmmm. I picked one up during a fight, but it seems not to have registered. Either that, or one of the three was not one of the target statues. Well. whenever Jeff has a quest that requires a certain number of items, he usually puts more than the final number into the game. Because I KNOW I picked up three of 'em. So, more exploration will be required into giant territory.

I decided to tackle the ruins of Cotra, which in this game has been destroyed by the Empire and eye beasts. Now then, eye beasts often are toughies. In this game they cast lightening, which is survivable if they get healed up quickly enough. I fought three of 'em, with their accompanying ghosts, and knocked 'em off. Also took care of the large Empire force that was camped out there. Dragged off LOTS of loot! However, the boss eye beast fight was one I just couldn't pull off. Will have to return to that later.

Finally, thought I'd do a seemingly simple quest for lost boats. Ah. I remember this one. It's far from simple. You have to destroy a coven of three witches, and they're all spread out, and they have a whole army of minions to help them. Because you're basically inside the circle, it's difficult to protect your spellcasters. However, I managed to take 'em down, and got some nice loot.

In fact, I now have over 20,000 coins! Yay! But I need to find those upper level spells to buy with all my nice money. I haven't yet made it to Crown Clearance, so parts of the game are still closed off to me. No doubt that's where I'll find the spells I want. For example, Starcap has a hidden lab in Dharmon. I know where it is, but I can't get in yet because of the clearance problem.

Anyway, I just was having so much fun last night that I kept on playing! That's what these games to do me. Complete entertainment. I mean, I don't think I'm learning any true life skills here, but fun is a goal in itself!

I think it's time to go back to the Vahnatai lands. I'm pretty sure I can take out those bandits now.

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Avernum Crystal Souls 12: Punching out some Bosses

So I'm moving along. I'd guess I'm about a third of the way throughout the game. I'm at about level 21, I've got my spellcasters at full strength, although they don't have the higher level spells yet.

Spent some time doing the early quests in the upper gallery, for Silvar and the like. Got the Nepharim easily, and the hidden sliths.  The Nepharim boss is fun because he keeps teleporting away. But, he goes down pretty easily. The Slith hidden fort and boss are better. You get a really good pole weapon from the Slith boss, which Maximillian is still using. Plus, there I found a neato puzzle. You have to find a way to get across some magical runes to get to a boat to get to an island in the middle of the fort. I was able to figure it out by looking at the interior map the game gives you. On it are exclamation points, and if you hover your mouse over those, you get a description of what the point of interest might be. However, once I got to the island, nothing much was there. I looked at the forum, and found that there's a quest I haven't got yet.

Getting there was kinda fun. I was pretty strong by the time I tackled this place, so the fights weren't difficult. However, there is more to the area than just the fights. You go upstairs and encounter some tougher beasts, such as a drake. (I've now collected about 12 fine leathers, all of which come from beasts like these. You use those to craft magical apparel, although you also need focusing crystals, which are harder to find.) Anyhoo, there was some variety in that.

Sadly, I'm going to have to do two things pretty soon: go back to Formello and meet Solberg, and I think, the mage who runs the portal system. I'm getting tired of trekking all around by foot. I want to zoom through portals. Also, I've got the quest to get the dispel barrier spell--always the most difficult spell to acquire, and the most useful. Lots of stuff is hidden behind magical barriers. I've already encountered about three of them I can't get through until I get this spell. 

I fought my way through the spiral cave near Mertis. Not difficult until you get to a fight where banshees and the like attack you. I got killed once, then had to really think my way through it. (Mainly, I buffed up before I got into position for the fight.) But you can't destroy the magic until you get to the center of the spiral, and there's a barrier there that the piercing crystals won't destroy. Hence, I need dispel barrier. This is the only thing you need to take notes on in this game: where are the places you need to return to.

So I've done quite a few quests and have achieved Mage Clearance status. That gets me into lots more places that I couldn't access earlier. I think it'll get me into Solberg's tower.

However, the next major fight is for that dispel barrier spell. I need the thing, and it's a pretty tough quest.

So, 'till next time!

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