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DemonicDarkwraith -> Mana Core, The (4/27/2024 1:27:05)
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The Mana Core
Location: Outpost Yeden -> 2 Right -> Up -> Quests! -> More -> The Mana Core
Requirements: Completion of Convergence (Part 2)
Release Date: April 26th, 2024
Objective: Your pursuit of Akanthus takes you to the very heart of Lore...
Objective completed: Awaken.
Experience rewarded: 0
Gold rewarded: 0
Monsters
None
NPCs
Aequilibria
Akanthus
Rewards
None
Dialogue
*You ride with your titanized dragon as both of you descend to the Mana Core in order to pursue Akanthus.*
<Character>: How far down did Akanthus fall? There has to be a surface, right?
<Character>: Otherwise, how did the Magesterium get a piece of the Core in the first place?
<Dragon>: I don't even know if I'm flying the right way up anymore... | *Slightly disoriented growl*
<Character>: The Mana Core is the source of magic, right?
<Character>: Maybe things just don't make as much sense down here...
<Dragon>: Wait! I think I see something! | *Alerted roar*
<Character>: What is it?
<Character>: Hold on, I see it too! There's something... golden.
<Character>: Let's go!
*You and your dragon move closer to whatever your dragon is seeing; scene transitions to you dismounting from your dragon; you land at the Mana Core, signified by the white surface; your dragon—still flying—returns to its younger form.*
<Character>: Saving your strength, <Dragon>?
<Dragon>: Yeah. I'm not going to let you get stuck down here! | *Affectionate grumble*
*Scene pans outward as the something that your dragon mentioned turns out to be a Magesterium laboratory.*
<Character>: ...These are from the Magesterium...
<Character>: Is this where Project Casca takes place...?
<Dragon>: I don't like it here. I feel like I'm being stared at. | *Uneasy growl...*
<Character>: It's okay, <Dragon>, we have each other.
<Character>: Everything... will be okay.
<Character>: We just have to find and stop Akanthus.
<Character>: Easy!
*You explore the Magesterium laboratory as you search for Akanthus; during the exploration, you find various artifacts and relics from the Magesterium's past and present as it appears that the Magesterium have not told you everything; after leaving the Magesterium laboratory without Akanthus in sight, you wrongly assume that Akanthus is dead.*
<Character>: ...Maybe Akanthus didn't survive the fall?
Akanthus: No such luck, I'm afraid.
*Hearing Akanthus' voice, you—now agitated—turn around to face him; scene pans outward to show you and your dragon facing Akanthus, with the Doom device behind him.*
<Character>: ...
<Character>: Akanthus.
Akanthus: And you are <Character>. Hero of Falconreach. Along with your companion, <Dragon>.
Akanthus: You tried to best me once, and you failed.
Akanthus: Do not be foolish.
<Character>: What do you expect me to do? I can't let you detonate that device.
Akanthus: Why not... talk? Or do you think your words will bounce off of me as your spells do?
Akanthus: Could you convince me to change my course at the last?
<Character>: You're taunting me.
Akanthus: Am I? Surely you have some questions, having come so far.
*You think about Akanthus' words.*
<Dragon>: I think he just likes to listen to himself talk. | *Mocking growl*
<Character>: ...Fine.
<Character>: Why?
<Character>: Why are you risking the destruction of Lore like this?!
Akanthus: ...
Akanthus: Look around you.
*You look at the Magesterium laboratory as Akanthus reveals the truth of the Magesterium's origins.*
Akanthus: Do you think the ancestors of the Magesterium knew that their little project would succeed?
Akanthus: And then, when their time ran out and they returned, and returned again...
Akanthus: Carving into the Mana Core, to sustain their Shapeless Empire...
Akanthus: Do you think they gave a thought to the risk of Lore's destruction?
Akanthus: Despite what they would have you believe, <Character>, the Mana Core shards are not infinite.
Akanthus: Outpost Yeden is not just a monitoring position.
Akanthus: This is not the first time The Golden Hand has been tasked with Project Casca.
<Character>: So what, the Magesterium gambled with the fate of Lore, so it's okay for you to do the same?
Akanthus: No. It is simply necessary context.
Akanthus: The Magesterium was not entirely satisfied with this arrangement, as temporary and dangerous as it is.
Akanthus: And so they sought out another source of power.
Akanthus: In their explorations of the Wastes, they discovered it.
Akanthus: A near drained capacitor, forged in another time and space. Alien even to the Celestials and Infernals.
Akanthus: A... relative of this device you see before you.
<Character>: I've seen similar relics and machines in my journeys.
Akanthus: Mysterious, aren't they?
<Character>: I've also interacted with them. They've also been able to interact with magic. Unlike you.
Akanthus: The Exalted experimented upon the capacitor. Used it to store their own vast reserves of mana.
Akanthus: And the capacitor, in turn, was used to power an unimaginable weapon that they turned upon their own gods.
Akanthus: The legends of the people of the Wastes describe it as tearing a hole through their sky.
Akanthus: Surely it would have been a magnificent sight, don't you think?
<Character>: ...
Akanthus: The Magesterium found the relic powering a grand city with the lingering, yet significant remains of its mana.
Akanthus: And the Magesterium coveted it. They saw only opportunity.
Akanthus: They tore it from its pedestal, stole it away, and experimented.
Akanthus: Yet despite their best efforts, they could not draw from it like they could the Mana Core pieces.
Akanthus: And so they turned to us. My "brothers" and "sisters".
Akanthus: Not by blood, but in blood. Orphans.
Akanthus: And I! I was the only one who survived! Out of countless children!
Akanthus: And that capacitor...
Akanthus: That relic is the source of my strength. My strength and my suffering.
Akanthus: Just as the Magesterium could not draw from it, I cannot draw from the Mana Core!
Akanthus: And all that is bound by the laws of magic holds no sway over me.
Akanthus: I am disconnected from the flow of souls and mana.
Akanthus: Alien as the relic is, I have no ability for manipulating mana.
Akanthus: A part of me is missing, <Character>. Replaced by a dying battery in an apathetic reality.
Akanthus: That part of me that is missing... I would do anything to reclaim.
<Character>: I...
<Character>: I can't say that I understand all that you've been through.
<Character>: But with everything you've done, the crimes you've enabled...
<Character>: Magic isn't the only thing you're devoid of.
Akanthus: I never chose to be this way!
<Character>: You chose your own actions.
Akanthus: The hubris of the Magesterium brought me— brought this upon the world.
Akanthus: If not me, then it would only be a matter of time before they, or another, reached too far!
Akanthus: ...
Akanthus: I want to live, <Character>. Even if only for a brief moment.
Akanthus: Others have had their lives.
Akanthus: I deserve mine.
<Character>: You're a monster.
Akanthus: Yes.
Akanthus: And soon, I will be human.
*Scene shifts to Akanthus preparing to detonate the Doom capacitor.*
Akanthus: Aequilibria! Hear my plea and awaken!
*Akanthus uses his arms to detonate the Doom capacitor, engulfing the scene with Doom; after detonating the Doom capacitor, you, your dragon, and Akanthus survive unscathed; however, the surroundings of the Mana Core is now engulfed by Doom before its fog was dispersed a moment later; it appears that Akanthus' endgame is all for nought; you look at your dragon and asks if its ok.*
<Character>: Are you okay, <Dragon>?
<Dragon>: Yeah! Didn't touch me! | *Cheerful chirp*
Akanthus: ...
Akanthus: ...Awaken…
*Now angry that his endgame is all for nought, Akanthus uses one of his legs to stomp into the surface of the Mana Core, hoping for a response from Aequilibria.*
Akanthus: AWAKEN!
*There is no response from Aequilibria.*
<Character>: I guess... it didn't work.
*Still angry at the fact that all of his plans are all for naught, Akanthus looks at you.*
Akanthus: Every plan. Every contingency, always thwarted. Always failing at the last!
Akanthus: Ever since I crossed paths with...
Akanthus: You.
Akanthus: What did you do this time? You must have... tampered with the device somehow.
<Character>: Maybe your plan was just flawed.
Akanthus: You were in league with Amadeus!
<Character>: ...You don't say.
Akanthus: You colluded with the Magesterium!
<Character>: Do you even have a way out of here? <Dragon> can carry me, but—
Akanthus: Yes. Yes. That... that is the only explanation.
Akanthus: It must be. Yet again, you are the only variable I could not account for.
Akanthus: You and that dragon.
<Character>: Um. I really didn't do anything—
Akanthus: And you never will again!
*Akanthus approaches you and your dragon as the latter flies towards him, only for Akanthus to punch your dragon; this causes you to be alarmed.*
<Character>: <Dragon>!
<Character>: <Dragon>, you're hurt!
<Dragon>: I... I'm fine... | *Weakened roar*
*Now angry, you turn around to face Akanthus.*
<Character>: Akanthus!
Akanthus: Try me.
*You charge toward Akanthus, only for the Mana Core to be shaken.*
Akanthus: Could it be—?
*The scene shakes again as it pans outward; a giant white draconic visage appears above you, your dragon, and Akanthus; scene turns white as the draconic visage awakens with rainbow colors—four distinct on each side—in its eyes.*
???: And so, the Destroyer has returned.
*The draconic visage disappears as eight distinct colored stars appear from its place.*
???: And we have been called forth from our repose.
Akanthus: Aequilibria! Hear me!
Akanthus: Accept me! Make me whole!
???: Impurity.
Akanthus: Yes! Cleanse me of this curse!
Akanthus: Give me—
*Aequilibria shoots a laser at Akanthus' chest; as Akanthus smiles, it appears not to be as expected from him; instead, Aequilibria—signified by a white claw—takes his soul from his body; this causes his body to become unresponsive, fall over, and die; you blink rapidly as you look at Akanthus' dead body; you look at Aequilibria with grave concern.*
<Character>: ...
<Character>: Umm... I think we've overstayed our welcome. Right, <Dragon>?
*Your dragon listens to Aequilibria's actions; the claw from Aequilibria holding Akanthus' soul disappears; Akanthus' soul floats above before being contained in a mana bubble; after containing Akanthus' soul, it returns back to the Mana Core.*
???: Containment.
<Character>: (Psst. <Dragon>. That was your cue! Let's get out of here already!)
<Dragon>: I... I don't know if I should... I think I... belong here... | *Conflicted rumble...*
*Aequilibria looks at you and your dragon.*
???: The Destroyer has returned.
???: With an anomaly.
<Character>: Hi. I'm <Character>. Please don't kill me.
Aequilibria: We are Aequilibria. We are the Elements.
Aequilibria: To return to us is the inevitable fate of all things.
Aequilibria: Destroyer. For what reason have you called to us, your creators?
Aequilibria: Has the time for our slumber concluded?
<Dragon>: Um... No? I don't think so. | *Slightly confused growl*
Aequilibria: You are young in your cycle.
Aequilibria: There may have been an innate desire to awaken us.
Aequilibria: Imbalances that you detect but do not comprehend.
*Aequilibria assesses the state of Lore.*
Aequilibria: Assessing the state of the shell.
Aequilibria: The Creator's cycle has been disrupted.
Aequilibria: The caretakers' location cannot be defined.
Aequilibria: Numerous holes in the fabric found.
Aequilibria: Disruptions to the flow of fate found.
Aequilibria: Numerous errors and anomalies found.
*After assessing the grave state of Lore, Aequilibria finalize their own verdict.*
Aequilibria: Verdict: The stability of the balance is gravely threatened.
Aequilibria: Order must be restored.
Aequilibria: Solution: Awaken and start anew.
Aequilibria: Well done, Destroyer. The time for slumber has ended.
<Character>: Oh... I don't like the sound of that.
<Dragon>: Me neither! Everything's fine! Go back to sleep, big voice! | *Panicked roar*
*Aequilibria and the white light surrounding it disappears as cracks from the Mana Core, caused by Aequilibria's awakening, begin to show.*
Aequilibria: Awaken, reset, and return to slumber.
<Character>: <Dragon>... We have to warn everyone else!
<Character>: We need to go, now!
<Dragon>: R-right! We're getting out here! I don't care what that voice says! | *Hesitant but determined roar*
*Your dragon titanize.*
<Character>: Good work, <Dragon>!
*You move and mount to your titanized dragon and fly above to warn your allies about the awakening of Aequilibria; scene shifts to black, but not before with one final word from Aequilibria...*
Aequilibria: Awaken.
Complete Quest
Other information
Pop-up headlines during the quest:
quote:
A well-kept Magesterium laboratory. The only blemish on a spotless void.
This screen displays a warning. "Defensive protocols to only be activated during catastrophic failure."
This crystal radiates an aura of cold. What its purpose here is, you do not know.
This machine is dormant and silent.
A tank filled with an unknown substance.
The cleanliness of the lab is almost stifling, as though walking through a silent temple.
The Magesterium has certainly been busy. And they haven't told you everything, it seems...
A massive drill floats above a hole in the surface. The screens read: "Project Casca systems normal."
Are these the controls? Or maybe some sort of exhaust pipe?
A relatively small statue of the Shapeless watches over the lab from its pedestal.
The screen displays a message: "From here we came, and to here we return. The Magesterium is eternal."
This part of the lab seems to house various items of great importance.
Magesterium relics of different style and form float between the pillars. For decoration or function?
...And ahead, the lab abruptly ends, quickly forgotten by the endless white of the Mana Core. On-hover text throughout the quest:
quote:
A sealed book, its cover inscribed with runes you do not understand.
A small pyramid, used by the Magesterium for various magicks.
An inactive Magesterium containment unit.
An array of strange machinery the likes of which you've never seen before.
This shelf floats in mid-air, carrying various Magesterium tools.
Best not to touch the drill or whatever is still stuck to it.
A small crater carved into the surface of the Mana Core.
It's a statue of the Shapeless.
A fierce golden mask, straight from the Magesterium's ancient history.
A cowled golden mask, similar to those you've seen worn by the Magesterium.
Something is contained inside this cube. You can't make out the details.
Various Magesterium relics adorn this floating shelf.
A relatively plain golden mask. Isn't this the kind Ostromir and Vseslava carry?
This golden mask looks like the ones worn by Magesterium golems. Although this one was clearly meant to be worn by a person…
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