#900 On The Swift Flowing River~ As the river exits the city of Midgaard it picks up speed and whisks you along high banks flanked by the trees of Haon-Dor. As the city fades in the east, you approach a gloomy forest to the west. ~ 9 0 7 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 3200 D3 ~ ~ 0 -1 901 S #901 The Riverbank~ The river is deep, and runs swiftly in an east-west direction. To the north the river eddies and enters a backwash where a small bank extends down from a dark, thick stand of trees. It doesn't look particulary inviting however. ~ 9 0 7 D0 ~ ~ 0 -1 6120 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 900 D3 ~ ~ 0 -1 902 S #902 The Twisty Part Of The River~ The river twists and turns and nearly tosses you out of your boat. The water is dark, cold, almost reptilian in sheen. It seems almost alive. The river runs east and south. ~ 9 0 7 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 901 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 903 S #903 The Scenic Route~ The dark forest of Haon-Dor recedes behind you to the northeast. The river continues in a westerly direction toward the river delta, where you can just make out a large island. ~ 9 0 7 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 902 D3 ~ ~ 0 -1 904 S #904 The Swift River Delta~ You are at the edge of the river delta, where the river empties out on its way to the sea. The water here is Black. Deep. Dark. Deadly. The tidal waves sweep you around and around up and down. ~ 9 0 7 D0 ~ ~ 0 -1 911 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 903 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 906 D3 ~ ~ 0 -1 905 S #905 Near The Rocks~ You bob up and down in the waves comming dangerously close to some large, jagged rocks on the eastern shore of an unusual looking island. There is no way you could possibly land there without getting killed. ~ 9 0 7 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 904 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 906 S #906 The South River Delta~ You are making your way along a channel in the river delta between the island to the west and the shore to the south and east. To the south an aging broken down looking pier juts out from land and toward the west the channel works it way close to the island as it moves around its southern tip. ~ 9 0 7 D0 ~ ~ 0 -1 905 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 904 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 907 D3 ~ ~ 0 -1 908 S #907 The Pier~ You float next to a crumbling pier long since neglected. To the west the water gets sluggish and there are many weeds and some seaweed floating about. ~ 9 0 7 D0 ~ ~ 0 -1 906 D3 ~ ~ 0 -1 908 S #908 Mired In Seaweed~ The going is rough here. The tide struggles with the normal flow of the river and here near the edge of the sea there is a large amount of growth. To the west the channel passes the southern tip of the island and heads for open waters. ~ 9 0 7 D0 ~ ~ 0 -1 906 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 907 D3 ~ ~ 0 -1 909 S #909 The Last Stop~ The delta meets the sea here. To the west you see nothing but ocean on the horizon. Sea birds squawk noisily at your approach and take flight from a nearby beach head on the island. It looks as though this could be the last stop for those heading out to sea. ~ 9 0 7 D0 ~ ~ 0 -1 910 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 908 S #910 The Beach Head~ This is a secluded looking beach on the southern tip of the island. There isn't much to see here and there is no way to cross the steep rocky cliffs that wall in this place. ~ 9 0 2 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 909 S #911 The North Channel~ The river splits as runs up against the island and a navigatble channel slips off to the north and west. ~ 9 c 7 D0 ~ ~ 0 -1 912 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 904 D3 ~ ~ 0 -1 912 S #912 The North Channel~ The river current carries you swiftly westward as the channel begins to narrow as it squeezes past the north end of the island. ~ 9 0 7 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 911 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 911 D3 ~ ~ 0 -1 913 S #913 Near The Isle~ You are sitting just off a small landing on the island that appears to be nothing more than a short path that leads to the side of a hill. ~ 9 c 7 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 912 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 914 S #914 The Lane Of The Lying~ Bodies lie everywhere. Commoner, peasant, duke, duchess. The Gods will not hear you call here. Hence they will not answer you. To the south the path ends at a dark cave entrance. A sign has been posted beside the entrance. ~ 9 0 1 D0 ~ ~ 0 -1 913 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 915 E sign cave~ A sign beside the dark cave opening reads: WARNING! Only fools and dead people pass this way. The tests of Minos, our glorious ruler, await. ~ S #915 The First Trial Of Minos~ Ah... you find yourself in Minos' battlefield playground. Minos loves to torture his people through these places. He collects the monsters of the world and puts them here. ~ 9 ad 1 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 916 S #916 The Second Trial Of Minos~ Minos' voice reveberates from the four walls of this room: 'Get some rest and make sure you're healed. You'll need it for the next monster in my playground. Or are you strong enough?' To the south is the entrance to the next challenge of Minos' stronghold. ~ 9 ad 1 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 917 S #917 The Third Trial Of Minos~ You go inside a red room. Very red. As if the Minos King used them to disembowel his guests. The path continues eastward. You see blue lights in that direction. ~ 9 ad 0 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 918 S #918 The Fourth Trial Of Minos~ Minos must be a monster hacking machine. You see a blue light flicker on and off. A voice crackles, 'WHY ARE YOU HERE!' ~ 9 ad 0 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 919 S #919 The Fifth Trial Of Minos~ This is General Woundwort's quarters. Hraka abound. The frayed corpses of rabbits lie scattered about this hell-hole. The General is not a very neat person as you can tell. ~ 9 ad 0 D1 ~ ~ 0 -1 920 S #920 The Sixth Trial Of Minos~ Dare we surmise how many more rooms Minos has? The paths appear to be endless. You shudder the sounds of death cries from the east. A loud voice bellows another warning: 'Leave now or face my wrath!' There is a crawlway leading upwards at the far end of the room and there is a fresh breeze comming from there. ~ 9 ad 0 D2 ~ ~ 0 -1 921 D4 ~ ~ 0 -1 923 S #921 The Final Trial Of Minos~ This is Minos' room. What else did you expect? The room is lavishly decorated for this bovine king. Everything is so opulent that it makes your eyes bulge. Survive and reap his fortune! The only exit is a large oak door in the east wall. ~ 9 ad 0 D1 You see a rather large oak door bound with iron and securely locked. ~ door oak~ 2 900 922 S #922 The Royal Chamber~ The treasure room of Minos is dark save for your lantern. Hopefully it has not been looted yet by the many legendary thieves of Midgaard. A clever looking secret passage leads upward from here. ~ 9 adj 0 D4 ~ ~ 0 -1 910 S #923 Above, On The Beach~ You sit amongst the rocks above a small beach at the southern end of the island. You could clamber down easy enough, but getting back up would be another story. ~ 9 0 4 D5 ~ ~ 0 -1 910 S $