Ghost Avalon

(Happy post-Thanksgiving, everyone. I hope you enjoyed the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade - I attended a local parade, though I was standing on the sidelines and keeping people from running into the streets for six hours, ugh - ate some turkey and sides and visited family and watched football. I did most of that, but it required a road trip to Houston.)

(As a special, I worked through the next part of Avalon almost all night on Thanksgiving night, but I had to go with Sierra and a Team Up on this update as Ghost Avalon is difficult and I don't trust my computer to not **** up on me while running all four heroes through the game. I should have stuck with the girls but, you know, I need a healer. Enjoy. Next update will be the end of Avalon and I will work on the other new dungeons - Barkingham Palace and Zigazag - early December. I will be working on getting the others through Ghost A. Cheers!)

"We will need some light to see by."

Easy for HIM to say, he won't help us fight the dang Corpse Lanterns to get the ghost fire! :( (These are unique creatures - I have not seen anything like them, the closest are the motes you see in certain Dragonspyre boss battles. They are Death, so watch out for Death Ninjas.)

But we collected the ghost fire and used it to ignite the six dormant lanterns which gave an eerie glow. "That's better," I muttered. "It's a little brighter now."

"You are still too deeply entrenched in the real world," said Sir Patrick. "You will need wings."

"Real wings or figurative?" I asked.

"Go to the Owl Arch and step inside," he replied.

"I don't like this one bit," muttered Christina.

I sighed. "Let me check it out."

I stepped up into the gazebo... and felt my body being twisted into a painful way. I groaned in pain as the magic took hold...

"Guys, what's happened to me?" I said in a familiar voice.

Their jaws dropped. "No way..." said Christina. "Sierra, you're... YOU'RE...!!!"

"Why are you so big, who who?" I asked. I gasped and looked into my pet shield's reflection.. and nearly fainted. I had become Gamma the owl! Gamma is Ambrose's right-hand bird and assistant in Ravenwood, and... now I looked and felt like him!

Well, this was a predicament.

"I'm giving that fox a piece of my mind!" snapped Christina.

"What did you do to our friend?!" she screamed at Sir Patrick.

"Do not worry, the spell only lasts for a few hours," said Sir Patrick, smirking. "It will keep your friend protected from the nature of the Other Side. Once she climbs the stairs, she will be transported to a ghostly alternate version of the Keep of Ganelon."

"Then she might be able to use the Shrine of Justice there," said Grace.

"I'll join her," said Ethan, smiling. "Birds or no, it is the best way to get to the Shrine of Justice and meditate there."

"I can't do it," said Christina. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, maybe praying at the Shrine in this ghost Avalon might restore the real one," I hooted, still adapting to this new form. In my heart of hearts, I didn't know what to do. I knew the others had to transform into owls as well, but...

Ethan held up his ring. "I have an idea. Sierra, Christina, Grace, touch my hand. I'm going to try something risky..."

"That's not a good sign," muttered Christina but she and Grace touched Ethan's hand. I quickly lifted my wing and grabbed the hand and saw that it was the one wearing the gorilla-head ring. He chanted a spell and our rings glowed for a long time, then stopped.

"There, I have created a soul link," said Ethan, breathing heavily. "When you enter this ghost Avalon, Sierra, we will enter a trance and our minds and souls will link to yours, clinging to you like a shroud. So, when you pray at the shrine, we'll all be praying with you. If it works, the Shrine will still accept us all even if you are alone."

"An interesting tactic," said Sir Patrick. "It might work, but it might not and you would all be in danger. Still, I will support this. Go up the stairs, Sierra, and let your heart guide you to what you must do in that ghostly realm. Good luck." He bowed to us.

"I don't like this," said Christina. "But... I'd go with you physically but..." She sighed and hung her head. "Good luck, owl glasses."

"Another nickname I don't like," I groaned playfully. I adjusted my glasses and flew up the stairs, and everything became bright...

"Excuse us!" said a voice. I saw a bunch of mes, well, a bunch of Gammas. "We got caught in this horrid place while exploring the stairs and turned into Gamma clones!"

"Wait, that might be another victim!" said another of the Gammas. "How can that one help us?"

"I came here of my own free will, hoo," I said. "I'll save you." I heard a voice speak in my mind.

Go to the throne room.

"Follow me," I said. Is that you, Grace? You doing okay?

Yes, Mma, said her voice. We all fell into a trance as soon as you vanished into the mists of the Other Side and now we are looking through your eyes. I believe those are other students of Ravenwood who didn't realize the danger of Ghost Avalon. We need to see if this is the past or present.

Right, King Arty might be alive. I coughed supressing a giggle. THAT was Christina.

No distractions, she must act natural, she is probably posing as Gamma, said a lovely voice. Ethan. Let her go to the throne room, she can find a way to explain the clones.

"Follow me," I said.

I escorted the Gammas to the Throne Room - it seemed natural to know where the place was even though I had never personally been there - and was taken aback by the giant regal leonine humanoid in full armor and a crown - I recognized this face; this was King Artorius.

"My, how did you have so many of you?" joked the king.

"Uuuuuh... new spell, hoo!" I explained. "It's a mirage spell that makes me split myself into mult---"

"Ah, no matter," said the King, smiling. "I can never understand your magic, I will leave that to you and Ambrose. Now, one called the Unsung Knight has challenged me to a duel for sport. Will you go check my armor in the armory?"

"O-Of course!" I hooted. I led the clones downstairs. This body knew where the place was...

And I found Sir Malory, not a ghost at all, but very much alive and scheming. I had to stop him!

"STOP!" I cried.

"What's that sound?" said the false knight. He turned. "It's Ambrose's assistant, Gamma! Knights, seize him while I search around to see if anyone else heard us!" He slipped out the back while the disloyal knights charged us.

"I hope you guys can handle your magic," I muttered to the clones.

Turns out their names were Brady, Duncan Redshield and Marcus. Brady and Marcus were Storm wizards and Duncan was a Promethean Pyromancer. One critical Meteor Strike and a Tempest and the dog knights were scattered unconscious on the floor, but not before they took a bite of us. (If you had trouble with the gang of Disloyal Knights in the Nameless Knight's tomb, you shouldn't be here. These are the same guys, except you fight four of them. Some of the pictures are from Sierra's run - everyone but Brady bailed mid-battle in the next fight - and some like this one are of the run with the others who worked together in Ghost Avalon. They had a smoother run because I was controlling them all.)

I found flying to be very tiring - no wonder Gamma sits on his perch all day! :(

"I know, hoo!" I said, playing the part. "But what about the duel? If you cannot use that armor, you may have to postpone it!"

"Hmmm," said Artorius, rubbing his chin. "Gamma, you are known to be a duel master, right?"

"Well, I don't like to brag, but..." I murmured.

"Could you be my champion and duel the Unsung Knight in my place?" asked Artorius.

I wanted to refuse - this wasn't my place - but I understood that in Avalon, if someone was a proxy for a duel, then it would be considered a dishonor to do so. I bowed. "As you wish, my liege."

"Very well, don't let Avalon down," said the King. "The Unsung Knight is in the courtyard now."

This knight seemed familiar, but was a bit rude. "You should know better than to insult wizards, Sir Knight," I scolded.

 

"They are very dangerous to trifle with, hoo!" I said as one of the clones packed a giant winged serpent that spat sunfire from its mouth and knocked everyone unconscious. The Unsung Knight groaned as he recovered.

"Forgive me, I did not realize how powerful you were, Gamma!" said the knight, brandishing his polearm. "I shall give you the honor of my name... Sir Pike Del Lago!"

I gasped. This was the very first person I met in Avalon. He had been cursed by dragon venom, and yet here he was! "We shall discuss it with the King if you are fit to join our ranks, but I am sure he will not turn you away, hoo."

I explained everything and he nodded. "Well, he is quite humble and honorable in defeat. I will have to consider initiating Sir Pike Del Lago into the Order of the Silver Rose."

"Any news of Sir Malory?" I asked.

He shook his head. "The Knights are still looking but he has not been seen in the Keep or Caer Lyon. Perhaps your master might know more."

"I'll speak with Master Ambrose at once," I said, flying off. I found that two of my train had vanished. "Where did they go?"

I was amazed at how young our Headmaster looked in this time. Clearly we were in the past, before King Artorius was turned into Pendragon. "Ah hello, Gamma," said the wizard. "What brings you by my study this day?"

"I... I mean, his Highness is looking for Sir Malory," I said.

"Sir Malory?" said Ambrose. He rubbed his beard, which was clearly a bit shorter than I knew it. "Maybe she... My assistant may know, they are related. Go speak to her, she is in the library cleaning up the books."

"In the library..." I moaned.

Really? grunted Christina. Does he not know how stupid that is, giving Morgie free reign of the library which has dark magic!? It's like a Piscean in a china shop, dang it!

I flew up with my partner and found who I knew was Morganthe. She looked very different as a youth. I snuck in as best I could to eavesdrop on her undoing some wards on a very evil book.

"Not on our watch, you little witch!" said my partner. I face-palmed or rather face-winged.

Great, there goes the element of surprise! said Christina.

Morganthe turned to us. "What the... Gamma! I was just... putting this away for Master Ambrose..."

"Yeah, and Gobblers have wings and fart rainbows," I said. "The jig's up!"

"Oh fie!" said Morganthe, flinging a blade of magic at me. I dodged it.

(This is my least favorite fight in Avalon. Young Morganthe has 15400 HP and is Death... BUT she has three nasty cheats. Yes, she cheats and here is how:

(- 1 - If you cast ANY shield, even an Absorb like Spirit Armor, she will interrupt with a Power Nova (so you get hit with Balance damage AND a nasty Weakness on your party) and then an Earthquake (kiss your blades and shields good-bye!) and then she does a "fire" Earthquake on herself that consumes all universal and Fire traps, so be careful. She also does the NovaQuake if you cast ANY single trap on her like Feint!

- 2 - She can interrupt with a Wooly Mammoth(hence Gamma's comment about Morganthe hitting him with a Mammoth in the beginning). What causes this cheat is unknown by sometimes it triggers multiple times in one round! I was lucky and Sierra only got hit by this once.

- 3 - Finally, IF YOU HAVE EIGHT OR MORE PIPS(as power pips or normal pips or both), SHE WILL INTERRUPT WITH MANA BURN ON YOU! If two people get 8+ pips, she targets the one with more pips. There are two saving graces. First, if you can cast Unbalance[like Christina did], you can spare yourself one round of Mana Burn...

And second, Mana Burn's pip reduction doesn't account for casting spells, so if you cast a high-rank spell before the Burn hits you, the game lets it go and activate. This is why some bosses can use Earthquake even WHEN you first Mana Burn them. So even though (in Sierra's run) Brady got Burned, he got a Levi off to take out the rest of Morganthe's health which had been whittled down by Krakens and Ninja Pigs. ^_^)

(This battle isn't that bad - don't shield, don't Feint and make sure you either Unbalance Morg before you get too many pips or use weak-sauce four and five pip attacks to whittle her health.)

"Curse you, Gamma!" screamed Morganthe as I grabbed the book from her. "Next time, I'll rip your wings out and feed them to the spiders! ARGH!!!"

"You're coming with me, young lady," I snapped.

"I was going to teach you all I knew, but now... I do not know." Ambrose shook his head sadly.

Morganthe hung her head. "I am sorry, Master Ambrose, that I let you down." I saw her cross her fingers behind her back and shook my head as well.

Conniving little devil, said Ethan.

If she is this powerful as a young apprentice, murmured Grace. Can we defeat her now?

Merle was not really convinced of Morganthe's sincerity but sighed. "You can start redeeming yourself by telling me where your brother, Sir Malory, has gone!"


"Malory?" Morganthe frowned. "He said he was going to watch King Artorius duel, then pray at the Shrine to Justice."

Ambrose paled and turned to me. "Gamma, you must fly with the speed of a zephyr to King Artorius and warn him what I have learned!"

I nodded and made haste to the Throne Room.

Don't I know it! I hushed Christina's voice.

Artorius pulled a lever in his throne and the door behind him opened. "Go, Gamma! Stall Sir Malory until I can rally the knights to seize that cur!"

"As you wish!" I said, bowing. I and Brady flew into the door...

And found the little jerk planning evil.

"Stop there!" I shouted. "You will not defile that shrine!"

"Not you again!" snarled Malory. He whistled and a Death Seraph appeared from thin air as he drew his sword. "I will have to barbecue you and your phantom image to ensure your silence!"

"Come bring it," said Brady. I echoed his sentiment.

Malory and his grim seraph ganged up on me and unleased heck, but Brady was able to destroy the Seraph with his Sirens and I finished off the false knight with a better sword user.

"No!" screamed Malory as he fell to his knees. "I was to become king!"

"The only kingdom you'll rule, Sir Malory," said the voice of King Artorius as he and two of the Knights - I recognized them as Sir Brennan and someone who looked like Sir Guy (probably his father) - entered the room. "Is the kingdom of the Froudlings. Knights! Seize him and send him to the dungeons to await trial."

Malory hollered as he was disarmed and dragged off.

"Thank you, Gamma," said the King. "You have saved the Shrine to Justice. If there is anything I can do to reward your valor, name it."

"I just wish to pray to the Shrine," I said. "Hoo."

"A noble request," said Artorius, nodding. "I will leave you be to pray in peace." He left.

I approached and bowed, praying softly and meditating on the Justice I had upheld in my battles. I felt my body glow with power and I knew the others did too.

"Hail," said a voice which I recognized as the Lady of the Lake. "You four have completed my aspirations!"

I felt my body fill with powerful magic and the transformation dropped away, leaving me human. My clothes turned briefly silver and the badge on my chest turned into a silver badge depicting a rose. My training as a knight was complete... I mean OUR training.

"It is time for you to return from the Other Side," said the Lady. A portal appeared. "Take this portal to return to the real world."

I sighed in relief and escorted Brady into the portal... and saw his human form. He looked somewhat like Ethan and I blushed a bit.

"Thanks for saving me, I won't forget this adventure we had," he said, winking. He teleported away.

"Oh, yeah," I said, almost ignoring what the Lady said. "Peace of cake."

"The others are safe in the Dolorous Tower," said the Lady. "Speak to them before you speak to me. I am sure you need a serious rest before the final task."

I sure did! (Sierra almost died in that final battle, she took a lot of damage from Sir Malory and his mook, but luckily Brady drew aggro in the endgame. Still, Sierra had only 514 HP left!)

I saw Grace and Christina arguing over books and my dear Ethan studying the artwork.

"I'm back," I said, alerting them to my presence. I knew we had one more big adventure here in Avalon. When I first heard of Avalon, I was excited to visit... but now it was almost time to leave. Morganthe wasn't here but her handiwork was... and we needed to fix it before we hunted her down.

I knew we could do it - our bond was untouchable.

[To be continued...]

The Crystal Caves

"Have you... been here before?" muttered Christina. "Whoa, pretty colors!" She spun about, dazed.

"Keep it together," I moaned, my eyes closing slowly. I shook my head.

"The Roots of Mother Oak are a good medicine," said Sir Patrick, smiling. "But you will need to defeat the Dragon Spawn to reach them."

Despite our condition, we managed to take out eight dragon spawn. (Fire mobs and Colossal failed to pop for everyone.)

We made our way to the roots of a giant tree. This must have been Mother Oak. We chewed on the nasty roots and our trances cleared. I was relieved and looked around to see where we were - beautiful crystal-coated caverns. I then heard some snarling in a pit below...

And gulped. Two giant dragons - one black, one white - were... oops, wrong picture! (Sorry, had to. With Pokemon Alpha Sapphire in my grubby little hands, I had to make a Pokemon reference.)

I could barely see them but they were there.

"Man, I hope we don't have to fight those monsters," whispered Christina.

You will, and then the tragedy will begin...

"Hih?" I said, looking around.

"You okay, Mma?" asked Grace.

"Yeah, I'm just hearing voices in my head," I muttered. "Let's find Sir Patrick again."

He was glad we had chewed on the root. "It was nasty," muttered Christina.

"We don't want you to slip too far to the Other Side," he chuckled. "Now go down the path where you found Mother Oak. That is the Night Garden. Consult the Statues of Fate and then meet me there." He left without a further word.

I began to feel a sense of dread as we followed the path. Things were getting heavy. We were nearly the end of our quest here in Avalon, I felt it!

The place was huge. Strange glowing wisps flittered about statues and some of them I recognized.
I touched the one most familiar to me, that of Merle Ambrose. This was his home.

I gasped in shock as I heard my Headmaster's voice speaking in my mind, but not to me...

"You are the brightest star I have ever taught. I hope you will continue in your studies..."

"It is time, Gamma. Time to go to that world and open the doors to our first class!"

"Did you hear it?" I asked, seeing my friends' faces - I didn't need an answer. They had.

"Weird," said Christina. "What is that?"

"It is the memories of Rra Ambrose before he met us," said Grace.

"Yes," said Ethan. "The first time he spoke... that must have been when he discovered the Spiral."

"Then the last one," said Christina. "That must be when he found Bartleby and founded Ravenwood and Wizard City! Read Boris's article about it, awesome!"

I nodded. "But there was one more... he talked about a bright student... I think he might have tutored someone in magic before he created Wizard City... I wonder..." I went over to the next statue, the one of Queen Gwendolyn, and touched it...

The voices spoke in my mind again, that of the self-exiled queen of Avalon.

"...Dun Dara will be my new home, away from light and love and hope..."

"...to see the Sword of Kings reclaimed by one and bring light back to Avalon is my most fervent wish..."

I wiped tears from my eyes. "This was when King Artorius was... lost..." said Grace.

"And when she exiled herself," muttered Ethan.

"And now we're the ones who have to reclaim the Sword of Kings," said Christina. "We'll do it!"

I touched the third statue. That regal figure had to be King Artorius himslf...

The mighty words of the King boomed in my mind and the others' as well.

"I drift in the sea of darkness. I fall endlessly in the under dark. I crash through the maze of thorns."

"...what is this Horned Crown? Who places it upon my brow? Are you friend... or Froudling? ...! I know that voice..."

"What is he yabbing about?" asked Christina. "I know the first words were about Sir Malory, the Nameless Knight who betrayed Artorius, but... the others I don't get. What are they?"

"Confirmation," I muttered, going to the last statue. It was a statue of a wicked woman, one which I felt a deep familiarity to... one I knew we had all seen before...

"Look, Gamma! Give me the blasted book already! You know Merle said I aced every test so far! What harm could it do?"

"Give me the Horned Crown, Froudling! I've paid your price, now give it to me or face my wrath!"

"This will heal your wounds, mighty King, clothing you in impenetrable armor! Wear the Horned Crown and find new life!"

"Who is that?" said Christina.

We looked at her as if she had suddenly grown fangs. "It is none other than the Dark Lady, Morganthe," said Grace.

"NO WAY! MORGIE?!" cried Christina. "Well, the statue looks like our enemy, but still..."

"It was Morganthe when she was our age," muttered Ethan. "A young woman..."

"I think I need to consult with Sir Patrick before I reveal the big bombshell on you all," I said.

"I beg to differ," I said. "These memories are the history of Avalon." I threw down the tapestry I had stitched up and showed the pictures in it. (This is what you get after you complete the tapestry quest for Francis Lux and collect all the tapestries.)

Long ago, the great wizard and trickster Merle Ambrose helped a young warrior prove himself and rise to rule over the land. Artorius was raised in humble surroundings, but he had royal blood in his veins. The brave and noble Artorius was destined to draw the Sword of Kings from the stone and become the greatest warrior in Avalon. (This is the tapestry you get from the High Road. You will find it in the Red Thorn Tower, after you beat both bosses there - it's in the cell where Sir Brennan and Sir Guy Guissarme are held, look on the left wall to find it.)

Artorius used the Sword of Kings to exemplify the knightly virtues. He was unbeatable in battle but he was also merciful and just. He always gave his foes a chance to turn from the shadows to join his cause. Merle Ambrose guided Artorius to his role as King of Avalon, and the two of them founded the Knightly Order of the Silver Rose. (This is the tapestry you find in Caer Lyon. It is in Chagan Nosebiter's lair. Climb the spiral stairs and you'll find it on the table on the balcony.)

 
King Artorius met a young maiden, Gwendolyn, and fell in love. King Artorius married Gwendolyn and made her Queen of Avalon. Together, they ruled over a golden age of peace and prosperity. (This is the tapestry you find in the Wild. It's in the White Owl Tower. Once you avoid the second Owl Sister[or defeat her if you screw up the potion puzzle] and head down the stairs to the final Owl Sister, look to your right and you'll find this hanging on the wall of the stairs.)

 Alas, despite King Artorius's attempts to promote the chivalric virtues, not all could live up to his ideals. Jealous of what King Artorius and Queen Gwendolyn had built, Sir Malory of Dun Dara worked to undo their good work in Avalon.

Sir Malory found dark allies in the ink-black depths of the Weirwood. He led the Froudlings against King Artorius. King Artorius vanquished the Froudlings and killed Sir Malory, but not before the false knight mortally wounded the great king. (This is the tapestry you find in the Wyrd. You'll find it in, ironically enough, the Nameless Knight's tomb. You WILL have to fight him because you'll trigger the cut scene and be pulled into battle with him if you get too close from any side - believe me, I tried sneaking behind him, it doesn't work. :( )

Merle Ambrose gave the Sword of Kings to Squire Perry to hold and protect -- a new beginning for the Knights of the Silver Rose. King Artorius was taken to the Dolorous Tower to prepare him for his journey to the Other Side. Merle Ambrose and his ally, the wood owl Gamma, left Avalon to explore the Spiral. It was the next age in Avalon. (This is the tapestry you'll find in Dun Dara, in the second floor of the tower of Belle Regarde. Do remember to grab it before you leave after talking to Kit or else you'll have to deal with the Black Knight again. :i)

 
King Artorius prepared to cross to the Other Side, knowing Avalon was left in good hands. Unbeknowest to the good people of Avalon, a shadow crept into the Dolorous Tower to fall over King Artorius. Morganthe, dark sister to Sir Malory, offered Artorius a way to stave off the cold mist of the Other Side. Artorius took up her offer, not realizing the gift was trapped. He accepted the Horned Crown, a sinister artifact from the Wyrd.

 Artorius shed his skin and his virtues and rose as the dread Pendragon. The evil Pendragon led the Wild Hunt out of the Weirwood at the head of a Froudling army. They burned and conquered all!

But hope still remains in the secret places of Avalon. One day, a hero will rise and the Silver Rose will bloom once more... (Last but not least, we come to the tapestry in the Catacombs, which, if you were observant, is in the lair of the Hobgoblin Blood Captain, on a table at the other end of the room. Again, GET IT BEFORE YOU LEAVE OR YOU'LL HAVE TO FIGHT THAT CREEP AGAIN TO GET TO IT!)


My friends were speechless. Christina snarled and smacked her fist harder than ever. "I thought it was bad enough that Morgie the Slut had caused upheaval in Celestia and nearly drove Grace's world into blasted civil WAR, but THIS puts her at #1 on my *hit list! I refuse to believe she once studied at our school! I won't believe it!"

"When Rra Ambrose banished her," mumbled Grace. "He said... that she had so much potential, but she had dwelt in the shadows for far too long."

"If I had been him, banishment would have been too good for that..." Christina began to say.

"Stuff it!" I snapped. "It doesn't matter now! Yes, Morganthe will pay for her crimes over and over again! But to punish her, we need the Sword of Kings!"


"Ah," said Sir Patrick, smirking. "You must have been trained under Merle Ambrose. No wizard half as cunning as he ever appeared in Avalon since he left."

"We all were," Grace said. "Well, we learned under his assigned teachers."

"I see," said Sir Patrick. He bowed to us. "I have a great faith in you all. I am sure you will fulfill his wishes and complete your quest..."

I nodded. We had to, at all costs.

Morganthe had to be punished for her crimes against Celestia, Zafaria, and Avalon.

[To be continued...]