The Criers had been speaking for some time, summoning people to the Castle.

Jordan Jurrel: Good evening, all.
Syrana Jarm: Jordan.. Im not sure if its important
Syrana Jarm: but a few of us just saw the ghost of father Antos!
Jordan Jurrel: *looks to Syrana*
Jordan Jurrel: Antos?
Jordan Jurrel: *frowns*
Jordan Jurrel: He turned up a few weeks ago.
Jordan Jurrel: He was the one who told us to watch for the clues
Syrana Jarm: For a second I thougt I couldnt believe my eyes..
Jordan Jurrel: That lead to the hidden room in Trinsic.
Jordan Jurrel: If he's watching...

Jordan Jurrel: Let me recap on what has happened.
Jordan Jurrel: There is much we have to do in a short time.
Jordan Jurrel: Trinsic is still under attack from many, many creatures.
Jordan Jurrel: It seems a long time ago that all these things happened...
Jordan Jurrel: *remembers*

Jordan Jurrel: First, the stars falling from the sky - the creatures here and in Skara.
Lucky Look: ya with lich lords and stuff there
Jordan Jurrel: The death of Astronomer Erisk during the Ophidian Invasion.
Jordan Jurrel: Sunnansky's work to plot the fall of the other stars
Jordan Jurrel: Then the emergence of blackrock, and Dreskin and Ethel's fake blackrock jewellery
Jordan Jurrel: *thinks back*
Jordan Jurrel: Father Antos interrupting the questioning of those two, and his suggestion
Jordan Jurrel: to find the lair of the Four Who Interfere, and then the Four's use of
Jordan Jurrel: raw blackrock to activate the craters...
Jordan Jurrel: And yes, those craters...

Jordan Jurrel: Which brings us to where we are now; Trinsic in danger and all the other
Jordan Jurrel: locations threatened by the craters activating.
Jordan Jurrel: During the week, the Royal guard located the ninth crater, in Haven.
Jordan Jurrel: have many of you visited it?
Starling: aye
Roderik: not me
Garrison Darker: *nods*
Luther: Aye
Fluffi Bunni: *nods*
Reah Whisdom: aye
Jordan Jurrel: I requested a bridge to be built, so we can cross into the crater.
Jordan Jurrel: Then, we should see if this crater, the central crater, does indeed
Jordan Jurrel: control the others - and put an end to this blight on the land.
Luther: Aye but how do we stop it!
Jordan Jurrel: I think we'll have to figure that out when we get there, Luther.

Jordan Jurrel: But before this, I would...

Syrana Jarm: THEREE!!
Flame: Antos
Syrana Jarm: Antos!!
Luther: Antos
Starling: antos
Tsuki-Yomi: ah shadow!
Garrison Darker: antos!
Syrana Jarm: *faints*

 

Pushing his way through the crowd, Father Antos - or, rather, the shadowy outline of Antos moves to the front of the room.

 

Shadow of Antos: Things have reached a disastrous stage.  I will accompany you.
Jordan Jurrel: What is this?  Father Antos?
Jordan Jurrel: Why?  You disagree with what I have done before...
Shadow of Antos: With you, and with your methods, Jurrel.  We both seek the same thing; stability and order.
Jordan Jurrel: You want to cleanse the world of corruption!
Jordan Jurrel: And before your transformation that corruption was us!
Shadow of Antos: Then teach me differently, Jurrel. Let us see if your belief in the virtues.
Shadow of Antos: And the knowledge of the Royal Guard about the virtues is enough to halt this destruction.
Jordan Jurrel: Very well, Father Antos.
Jordan Jurrel: I'll take us to Haven, and to the Crater.
Jordan Jurrel: We're going to have to see how to get inside that place.

 

Jordan opens a gate to the shore of Haven, where a bridge has started to be built. The wood kind of collapses as it reaches the water. And at the end of the collapsed bridge? A strangely coloured crystal, a hole 'inside the water' and strange black flames boiling out of the ground.

 

Jordan Jurrel: Well...
Deacon Blue: the island will sink
Jordan Jurrel: Nothing is happening?
Tsuki-Yomi: i hope they can swim..
Jordan Jurrel: There's no way in.
Jordan Jurrel: Does anyone have any thoughts about how to get in?
Flame: do we need some blackrock?
Jordan Jurrel: Of course...
Jordan Jurrel: The pendant!
Jordan Jurrel: That was going to be used to activate that plinth in the room.
Syrana Jarm: stand back everyone!
Jordan Jurrel: *throws it towards the crystal*

 

Jordan takes off the blackrock pendant - the one that was the real item, used by Dreskin to create the fakes - and hurls it towards the crystal. As it strikes it there is a ringing sound...

 

Jordan Jurrel: There!
Jordan Jurrel: The crystal is activated.
Jordan Jurrel: I've used the pendant on it.
Shadow of Antos: So you found out how the blackrock effects the crystal. Good.
King Arther: TOUCH THE CRYSTLE
Jordan Jurrel: That should lead you through.
Jordan Jurrel: But beware.
Jordan Jurrel: We do not know what is in there
Shadow of Antos: Clear the way to the crystal
Shadow of Antos: And now, feel the force of the crystal by touching it !
Jordan Jurrel: We'll scout the place out first.

 

Jordan takes a group into the crater, while Antos directs others on how to use the Crystal.

Inside the Crater, there are strange creatures, similar to the ones from Trinsic. Blackrock creatures, Shadow Wyrms, Elementals... The Guard fought well, and had managed to explore the chambers inside this crater; it was lined with crystals, and in the two chambers there were other crystals, ones that were behaving oddly.

 

These eight crystals all seemed to resonate with virtue, and had runes inscribed in them relating to each of the virtues.
In the first chamber, there was: Honesty, Valor, Humility and Spirituality - sparkles of light were focussed above all apart from Honesty.
In the second chamber, there was: Justice, Compassion, Honor and Sacrifice. As with the others, they sparkled with a strange light, except for Justice. The crystal relating to Honor also had a strange rippling effect passing through it.

 

The Guard fought alongisde Jordan - although nearly all of them were greviously injured as a Blackrock Elemental moved too close to one of the crystals - and detonated loudly. Once the group recovered, Jordan and Antos inspected the crystals.

 

Jordan Jurrel: It's strange - this place... It seems almost sacred.  But how can that be?
Jordan Jurrel: Two chambers...
Jordan Jurrel: And the crystals...
Jordan Jurrel: *inspects crystal*
Shadow of Antos: The guard seem to have trouble disposing of these beasts
Jordan Jurrel: Make sure the creatures here are dead.
Jordan Jurrel: *inspects crystal*
Starling: The crystal linked to justice isn't resonating in the same way as the other crystals commander
Syrana Jarm: I think that they might be the power source
Jordan Jurrel: The items linked to the crystals aboveland?
Clara Mhor: Sir the Honor commpasion and sacrafice crystals are twinkaling but the others are not
Shadow of Antos: Why do you suppose there are two 'dark' and the others seem active?
Jordan Jurrel: It's strange - this place... It seems almost sacred.  But how can that be?
Jordan Jurrel: We should be careful what we say and do here.  It's almost like we're
Jordan Jurrel: being watched... judged.  I... do not like this feeling.
Jordan Jurrel: While we delay here, Trinsic and the other towns are still under a deadly threat.
Jordan Jurrel: Can we break the crystals?

Meng the Moon: maybe with the armageddon spell
Jordan Jurrel: Armegeeddon spell?
Jordan Jurrel: Are you mad!
Jordan Jurrel: You saw what happened when that elemental exploded!
Shadow of Antos: As usual, Jurrel, mindless action is not the answer.
Shadow of Antos: Perhaps thinking on what the Virtues actually are will assist us in sending the stars to sleep.

 

Antos moves towards the crystal with the runes for Valor inscribed on it.

 

Clara Mhor: i think to undo this we must show our virtues
Shadow of Antos: I need one person to step forward, and explain to me what Valor really is.
Golden Boy: valor is to take action in ones conviction
Lucky Look: Valor is the thing u gain when makeing champs ;)
Jarno: valor is the courage to face a great danger
Headnut: the courage to take actions in support of ones convictions
Flame: Valour is speaking the truth despite the consequace
Alisardius: quitting smoking perhaps...
Zeus: valor is defending ricardo against the corrupted soveriegn
Starling: Valor is the courage to take actions in support of ones convictions
Jordan Jurrel: is that right, Antos?
Shadow of Antos: Headnut, you are spot-on !
Shadow of Antos: Valor is the courage to take actions in support of one's convictions.
Shadow of Antos: Perhaps your minions do know something Jurrel, they...
Shadow of Antos: Wait!  Something's coming - a chance to prove your Valor...
Jordan Jurrel: Be ready, all!

 

Suddenly, a multicoloured creature appeared - identical to the one that appeared all that time ago, in Skara Brae. The Royal Guard immediately regrouped desipte their earlier trouble during the fight - and started to attack the beast while healing each other. The creature died... and then...

 

Jordan Jurrel: *looks at the Valor crystal*
Jordan Jurrel: *touches it*
Roderik: it's cleared
Jordan Jurrel: It's stopped reacting.

 

The sparkles that dance across the Valor crystal die away.

 

King Arther: *looks*
Jordan Jurrel: It seems... dead.
Syrana Jarm: aye!
Jordan Jurrel: Well then...
Jordan Jurrel: *looks at the Valor crystal.*
Jordan Jurrel: I see.  Hmm.  So we need to explain about the virtues?

 

Jordan moves towards the crystal with the runes for Humility inscribed on it.

 

Jordan Jurrel: *looks across to the Humility crystal*
Jordan Jurrel: I have already recognised that no matter the armor, the powerful sword I wield,
Jordan Jurrel: or the position I have in society,
Jordan Jurrel: I cannot accomplish things without the assistance of others.
Jordan Jurrel: What do you think, Antos?
Shadow of Antos: *Laughs cruelly*
Erika Twothumb: Humility is not setting oneself above others
Syrana Jarm: humility is to understand human beeings and why they act how they act
Shadow of Antos: Oh you poor, simple man.  You cannot *possibly* belief that's going to work?
Jordan Jurrel: *glances to Antos, and smiles slightly*
Jordan Jurrel: Well, you would not be here if you had not rethought your philosophy, Father Antos.
Shadow of Antos:  ...
Shadow of Antos: ehm ...
Jordan Jurrel: *turns back to the crystal*
Jordan Jurrel: *touches the crystal*

 

The sparkles that dance across the Humility crystal die away.

 

Maya: What could be next?

 

The group cluster round the remaining sparkling crystal - marked as Spirituality.

 

Jordan Jurrel: Clear a space around here
Jordan Jurrel: So we can see this crystal clearly.
Jordan Jurrel: Step back!
Shadow of Antos: *Examines the crystal*
Shadow of Antos: Spirituality... What would one say about this virtue?
Shadow of Antos: You, Royal Guard. I would not expect you to understand what Spirituality represents within virtues..
Shadow of Antos: Nevertheless, let's hear you try and explain it.
Orome: spirituality is the urge towards steady improvement of the soul
Syrana Jarm: Beeing able to seperate the needs of the flesh
Clara Mhor: Spirituality is the concern with one's inner being and how one deals with truth, love, and courage.
Kayn'Dar: It is understanding all the virtues and using them in balance
Jordan Jurrel: That's very insightful.
Kayn'Dar: I was taught that by a Trinsic Paladin, sir
Shadow of Antos: Ah, I see there are some scholars among us. Excellent.
Shadow of Antos: It's always wise to keep the virtue that joins all others in the forefront of your mind.
Shadow of Antos: *looks distant for a moment*
Shadow of Antos: Perhaps I have been hasty in...
Jordan Jurrel: *reaches out and touches the crystal*

 

The crystal of Spirituality's light also dies, and that crystal becomes quiet.

 

Jordan Jurrel: While it's nice to see that you're reevaluating your past,
Jordan Jurrel: I think we have more pressing concerns.
Jordan Jurrel: *looks around*
Jordan Jurrel: All these crystals seem inactive.
Tsuki-Yomi: there are more crystals to the east
Jordan Jurrel: Lead on, then.
Grinding Suzy: How come Justice is already inactive?
Jordan Jurrel: Hmm.
Shadow of Antos: *ponders for a moment*
Jordan Jurrel: That's a point.
Jordan Jurrel: And Honesty was inactive through in the other room
Jordan Jurrel: When we arrived.
Grinding Suzy: The two virtues our enemies do not possess?
Jarno: maybe justice is what this world is lacking currently
Syrana Jarm: Cause Justice is no longer ruling over britannia!!!
A Hooded Figure: Because justice was thrown away with ricardo
Syrana Jarm: That wasnt justice!!
Jordan Jurrel: Something to think about, I feel.

 

Jordan follows the Royal Guard into the second chamber.

 

Jordan Jurrel: I want to inspect this crystal...
Jordan Jurrel: What's this one represent?
Shadow of Antos: *looks at Jordan*
Roderik: Compassion
Jordan Jurrel: Ah.
Jordan Jurrel: I remember my tutoring.
Grinding Suzy: Compassion is the nonjudgmental empathy for one's fellow creatures.
Clanin: compassion is like caring yes?
Shadow of Antos: *looks around*
Jordan Jurrel: Yes, Clanin.
Clara Mhor: Compassion is nonjudgmental empathy for one's fellow creatures.
Jordan Jurrel: *walks to the Compassion crystal, and touches it.*

 

Another huge multicoloured creature appears at this point - but it stands there, and looks bewildered at the group of people surrounding it.

 

Trevelyan: KILL IT!
Compassion Beast: Growff!  Why are you hurting me?  Growff!!
Flame: DONT HIT IT
Clara Mhor: do not kill
Syrana Jarm: Who are you?
Flame: BE COMPASSIONATE
Wren: dontnt kill it
Ferrut: greetings!
Clara Mhor: do not kill show commpasion
Reah Whisdom: Dhe does not seem toharm us
Tsuki-Yomi: it hasent done us harm so we shouldent harm it!
GammelPot: *HUGS BEAST*
Irnu of Z.: *hugs*
Ferrut: *hugs*
Lina: Vas Flam - Fireball
Syrana Jarm: Why are you standing here?
King Arther: I LOVE COMPASSION BEASTS
A Hooded Figure: A mutated frog that just wants to be loved!!
Kayn'Dar: Quite an interesting creature
Clanin: I DIDNT MEAN TO HURT YOU
Flame: be free Compassion Beast
Jordan Jurrel: That's odd
Compassion Beast: Growff!  Please... I just want to go home!  Growff!!
Remonize: Send it Home!!
Compassion Beast: Growff!  I'm lost!  What am I doing here?  Growff!!
Jordan Jurrel: Stand away from it, all.
Jordan Jurrel: We show you compassion
Compassion Beast: Growff!  Thank you...  Strange beings... Thank you! Growff!!
Jordan Jurrel: *touches the compassion crystal*

 

The Beast vanishes - and the crystal of Compassion grows dull. Antos starts walking towards the Honor Crystal. As well as being lit and sparkling, the crystal is also boiling with a kind of black fire.

 

Jordan Jurrel: This one now sleeps as well.
Jordan Jurrel: I am proud of you all.
Shadow of Antos: You're a paladin, Jurrel.  Look here, the crystal of Honor.  See how sickened it is?
Jordan Jurrel: Clear some space around the Crystal, my friends.
A Hooded Figure: Doesn't it worry you that were deactiving Honor and justice etc..
Jordan Jurrel: This crystal seems more than a little affected.
Jordan Jurrel: What is wrong with Honor?  Is this a sickness specific to Trinsic...
Jordan Jurrel: Or further afield?
Clara Mhor: Honor is the courage to stand for the truth, against any odds
Grinding Suzy: Trinsic the city of honor
Trevelyan: i blame kaldor people
Clara Mhor: Honor is the courage to stand for the truth, against any odds
Torc Wyndsong: HONOUR
Jordan Jurrel: That sounds like a reasonable explanation.
Syrana Jarm: Well the truth wasnt the main thing at Ricardos trial!!!!
King Arther: Honor Is A Trust With The People You Gain From Protecting them!
Clara Mhor: Honor is the courage to stand for the truth, against any odds
Kitty DeVine: It's the Guardsmen Militia who are brining disrepute to Trinsic
Jordan Jurrel: As many ways to spell as there are to embody it, it seems.
Jordan Jurrel: One can fight a duel to regain honor or preserve honor.
Jordan Jurrel: But there has been too much fighting and death.
Jordan Jurrel: And things... things are only going to get worse.
Jordan Jurrel: I am tired of always trying to defend my honor, but
Jordan Jurrel: one thing I firmly believe in is that everyone can aspire to honorable deeds.
Erika Twothumb: Honor is many things
Erika Twothumb: keeping ones word
Erika Twothumb: doing noble deeds
Jordan Jurrel: *nods to Erika*
Torc Wyndsong: ITS A WAY OF LIFE
Jordan Jurrel: Aye, Torc!
Jordan Jurrel: Well said!
Jordan Jurrel: Honor has not to be won; it must only not be lost.
Jordan Jurrel: Take this as a symbol of honor...
Jordan Jurrel: *wields the brightblade, then throws it towards the crystal and turns his back*
Remonize: its deactivated
Vincent Redfield: Well that only did so much.
Jordan Jurrel: That's better...
Grinding Suzy: Now only sacrifice is left?

 

The brightblade seems to melt into the crystal as the Honor crystal's light dies. Before the group can move to looking at the final lit crystal...

 

Britannia: *The ground starts to shake violently*

 

The shaking is not only felt in the crater - but all across Britannia the ground quakes and rolls!

 

Jordan Jurrel: *staggers*
Shadow of Antos: *takes a deep breath*
Jordan Jurrel: Did you feel that?
Syrana Jarm: what is happening!!
Shadow of Antos: Oh my
Deacon Blue: yes
Jordan Jurrel: An earthquake!
Fluffi Bunni: whoa
Myphsar: Aye,
Tsuki-Yomi: earth quake!
Erika Twothumb: Bloody hell
Flame: the grounds shaking
Reah Whisdom: an earthquake^
Clanin: *falls off mount*

Jordan Jurrel: What?  But we haven't prevented this crystal from...
Shadow of Antos: *Looks to Jordan*
Shadow of Antos: The final crystal.  Sacrifice.  The others have already darkened,
Shadow of Antos: and you've stopped the  energies that were flooding Trinsic.
Jordan Jurrel: *looks back to the Crystal*
Torc Wyndsong: Then we better hurry

Jordan Jurrel: Quiet, all...
Jordan Jurrel: What do you think?
Jordan Jurrel: *looks to Antos*
Antos: *nods*

Jordan Jurrel: I understand.
Jordan Jurrel: *removes his sash and hands it to Antos*
Clara Mhor: I will sacrifice myself commander
Deacon Blue: Jordan nooo
Syrana Jarm: Im not a commander nor anything
Wren: take me
Tsuki-Yomi: Commander Jordan!
Torc Wyndsong: Let one of us do it
Flame: surly it could be another
Jordan Jurrel: Take care of the sash, Father Antos
Shadow of Antos: I will
Jordan Jurrel: *stands in front of the crystal*
Jordan Jurrel: *takes a breath*
Deacon Blue: Jordan dont do it!
Tsuki-Yomi: dont do it!

 

Britannia: *The ground rolls and quakes*

 

Jordan Jurrel: *touches the crystal*
Jordan Jurrel: Goodbye...

 

Light seems to burst from all around as Jordan touches the crystal, and flames that do not burn erupt from all the crystals in the chamber. And where Jordan once stood - a pillar of valorite crystal stands.

 

Shadow of Antos: Quickly - back out the way you came - we must leave this place now!
Shadow of Antos: There's nothing that can be done for Jordan now !
Shadow of Antos: Get out !  While you still can !

Tsuki-Yomi: we have to save him!
Erika Twothumb: MOVE!
Ferrut: still alive!
Irnu of Z.: He sacrifieced himself!
Wren: *cries*
Erika Twothumb: Get off him!
Lucky Look: move away
Torc Wyndsong: Hes gone
Reah Whisdom: antos! give us some advice!

 

People mill around the crystal, confused. Antos repeats his call to leave the place, and slowly the Royal Guard start to leave the chamber.

 

Britannia: *The ground slowly stops shaking*
Britannia: *The quaking of the ground eases*

 

The ground stops shaking, and dust settles - Antos leads the Royal Guard out of the crater, and back to the Castle, where he addresses the shell-shocked group.

 

Shadow of Antos: The crystal chamber has been dealt with.
Shadow of Antos: You have seen a demonstration of the virtues in action - something which is lacking in these days.
Shadow of Antos: I will reserve my judgement on you all for now.
Flame: has that changed?
Kimi: How kind
Shadow of Antos: Jurrel has sacrificed himself to deactivate the stars.
Vincent Redfield: Like an idiot
Shadow of Antos: A rash action, but he was prone to those choices.
Shadow of Antos: Trinsic's pains will now ease - the visible ones, anyway.
Shadow of Antos: As defeated, the monsters will now stay away.
Shadow of Antos: As to the pains of the land, I still feel them.
Shadow of Antos: I fear that Britannia has much more pain to experience before it is reborn.
Shadow of Antos: I suggest that you do your best to keep your companions and yourselves alive.
Shadow of Antos: Perhaps more adherence to the Virtues will bring your Commander back.
Shadow of Antos: Goodnight, Britannians.  Good luck.  You will need it.

 

Antos disappears in a burst of lightning and fire... leaving the Royal Guard alone. 

 

The End...