O'Beth, Thane of Mordor


[page="start"]

"Hold, knave.  Who are you and what business do
 you have
 with me?"

[link="Who are you?"]
[linkto="who"]

[endpage]

##
##	Who are you?
##

[page="who"]

"I am O'Beth, Thane of Mordor!  All the lands
 between the
 forest and the sea are my domain.
 
 You have entered my realm, and are subject
 to my laws."

[link="Why is the land so barren?"]
[linkto="land"]
[link="How did you inherit these lands?"]
[linkto="badland"]
[link="Thane of WHERE?"]
[linkto="mordor"]
[link="I'm looking for a man called Ross."]
[linkto="ross"]
[endpage]


##
##  Discussion about Mordor
##


[page="land"]

"The Northlands were lush and fertile until the
 great
 forest fire of 1103 laid waste to the green.
 
 After this, it was referred to by many as 'Mordor'
 referring to the fabled land of darkness and evil.
 That name has stuck.
 
 But soon I shall rule over more pleasant lands.."

[link="Rule over more pleasant lands?"]
[linkto="soon"]
[link="How did you inherit these lands?"]
[linkto="badland"]
[endpage]


[page="mordor"]
[colour="#808080"]
He chuckles slightly.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"My domain is officially known as the Northlands
 but
 after the great forest fire of 1103, it became
 known in
 jest as Mordor, after the fabled land of
 darkness and
 evil.  That name has stuck.
 
 How I long to rule over more pleasant lands.."

[link="How did you inherit these lands?"]
[linkto="badland"]
[endpage]

##
##  Usurpation
##

[page="badland"]
[colour="#808080"]He smiles grimly.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"This dark and barren land is the least
 favourite place
 of the King's realm.
 
 I am sure the King longed to be rid of me, and he
 needed
 someone to rule this dread place on his
 behalf.
 No doubt it pleased him that the one
 problem should
 solve the other..
  But not for long.

 Soon, I shall march against King Duncan the
 Foolish and
 usurp his throne!  With the King dead,
 I shall take the
 Golden Round for my own, and all
 Scotia shall be mine.."

[link="Why are you telling me this?"]
[linkto="whytell"]
[endpage]


[page="soon"]

"Soon I shall march against King Duncan the Foolish
 and
 usurp his throne!  With the King dead, I shall
 take the
 Golden Round for my own, and all Scotia
 shall be mine!"

[link="Why are you telling me this?"]
[linkto="whytell"]

[endpage]


[page="whytell"]

"Why not?  I am immortal!  None can stop me, for it was
 told to me that I shall become King.

 Three weird sisters gave prophecy, and their
 outrageous
 claims became true, one by one.
 
 Even if you were to tell the dotard King, it means
 naught.  I am destined to rule and no mortal can stop
 this prophecy."

[link="Tell me about the prophecies"]
[linkto="prophecies"]
[link="Where may I find the weird sisters?"]
[linkto="witches"]
[endpage]



[page="prophecies"]

"I have written them down, they are in my study.
 You may read the journal if you wish."

[endpage]



[page="witches"]

"The witches live far northeast of my home.  Seek a cave
 near the mountains, with a tree beside it."

[endpage]


[page="ross"]

"Ross?  He was sent away on a quest by the King,
 to a
 castle on an island not far from here.

 His mission was to slay the dragon which has
 taken
 residence in those derelict halls, and to
 rescue the
 fair maiden held captive there.
 It was all arranged by some witch if memory serves.

 I have heard nothing of him since, so I presume
 he is
 now dead.  He always was a bumbling fool."

[link="Tell me about the fair maiden."]
[linkto="ross2m"]
[link="Tell me about the dragon."]
[linkto="ross2d"]
[link="Tell me about the witch."]
[linkto="ross2w"]
[link="Tell me about the castle."]
[linkto="ross2c"]
[endpage]


[page="ross2m"]

"Some nobleman's daughter, I think.  He managed to
 annoy
 a witch and she plotted an elaborate revenge.

 That's what normally happens if you anger witches."

[link="Tell me about the dragon."]
[linkto="ross2d"]
[link="Tell me about the witch."]
[linkto="ross2w"]
[link="Tell me about the castle."]
[linkto="ross2c"]
[endpage]


[page="ross2d"]

"I do not know much about it.  They say it is an
 ancient
 beast that breathes fire and eats men.

 The King sends men on occasion to assail the dragon,
 though I
 can hardly see why.  It lives across the sea
 and
 rarely bothers us.

 I think the King sends men who have displeased him, so
 that it will kill them."

[link="Tell me about the fair maiden."]
[linkto="ross2m"]
[link="Tell me about the witch."]
[linkto="ross2w"]
[link="Tell me about the castle."]
[linkto="ross2c"]
[endpage]


[page="ross2w"]

"There's not much to tell.  She was a witch, a mad
 old
 woman who worked foul magic in the name of
 the Devil.

 The judges hanged her and burnt what was left."

[link="Tell me about the fair maiden."]
[linkto="ross2m"]
[link="Tell me about the dragon."]
[linkto="ross2d"]
[link="Tell me about the castle."]
[linkto="ross2c"]
[endpage]


[page="ross2c"]

"The castle is a large building on an island to the
 northeast.  It has a moat of fire and it is guarded
 by
 the dragon I have mentioned before.

 Since the dragon has slain most of the men
 the King sent
 to assail it, little is known
 about what is inside.

 Why?  Did you want to go there?"


[link="I might check it out."]
[linkto="ross3"]
[link="I need to find Ross."]
[linkto="ross3"]
[link="No.  I was just curious."]
[linkto="ross3n"]
[link="Tell me about the fair maiden."]
[linkto="ross2m"]
[link="Tell me about the dragon."]
[linkto="ross2d"]
[link="Tell me about the witch."]
[linkto="ross2w"]
[endpage]


