A Tortured Scream
Alignment Mission
As you're doing your part to eradicate evil from this world, you are suddenly assaulted by a blood-curdling screaming... emanating from your mind:
PLEEEEEEASEEEEEE!!! Come help me... help ussss... We of the Circle of Thorns have bound a being... too great for even us... our souls have been stripped... follow my pain... before I was bound, I wrote down how... how to stop this... helppp....
Once again, the Circle has tampered with forces beyond their control. But they weren't counting on someone like you to come stop them...
Villain: Annihilate those who would deal with dark forces!
How many times will the Circle put innocents in the path of danger during their pursuit of all things unholy? How many times will they need to be stopped, only to do something like this again? From the sound of the mental scream, you doubt this is a trap... there was too much pain in that cry for help.
This would be a good opportunity to not only put a stop to the being they unleashed, but also put a stop to the Circle from doing something like this again... permanently.
- Annihilate the cultists and their demonic pet
By concentrating on the mental scream, it sounds as if it's coming from down below - most likely from Oranbega. Head down to that not-so-lost city and find that tablet before taking on the rest of those cultists. When you're done with them, then it'll just be you and that demon - mano a mano.
Unnecessary Solicitation
If you want to put a stop to this horrific screaming in your mind, you're going to need to take care of those trapped cultists. Head down to Oranbega and put a stop to them and their demonic ally.
Mission Objective(s)
You had better stay on your guard... You don't know what this demonic being is capable of, or how many minions it brought with it.
- Stop the cultists by any means necessary
- Find the tablet!
- 4 Summoning Altars remaining
- Defeat the Count's final host
Enemies
Circle of Thorns
Hastily Etched Tablet
To any adherents that read this - know that the Count of Misery has broken his bonds and is now drawing upon his blood tribute. The wards I've placed upon myself are already breaking, and I believe I will shortly be under his sway.
The Count has drawn forth the souls of all the acolytes, but his hunger is insatiable. He has gone so far as to follow the flows of blood not just to those who have chosen to the take on the Thorn, but down through the generational pathways. Our young have also been taken! Not only are our own souls voided to his appetite, but the children's as well! However, there is still a chance to save us.
- Read how to stop the demonic entity
The Count of Misery can not be stopped by the flesh alone. Our empty bodies act as his vessel, him leaping from one to another. Yet, therein lies his weakness. Were the altars of summoning to be defiled, the souls of his victims could be returned to their bodies. If all were defiled, he will be weakened enough for a large force of sorcerers to bring him low. When I am done with this warning, I shall remove my wards and willingly offer my own body as host so that we and our children may be saved.
- Finish reading the tablet
Be warned! The altars must not be destroyed! Although this would force him into one mortal host, thereby making him weak enough for a singular individual to destroy his corporeal form... It would also tear apart the souls of those he possesses. Everyone will die with him. Adherent, stop the Count of Misery before he gets stronger and follows the generational paths of blood to even those who dwell above - The words on the tablet begin to emit a dull, red glow which spreads up and down the pedestal..
- Watch the pedestal and tablet
The glow now covers the entire tablet, bringing forth an unbearable heat.
- Step away from the tablet
The Count of Misery's Host
[Caption] My great ritualist believed that lowly rats such as you could face a god such as I?
[NPC] The Count of Misery's Host: Your blood smells tainted, interloper.
[NPC] The Count of Misery's Host: Your body will not do for my purposes...
[Caption] You do not have the smell of the Thorn upon you, mortal. A shame, for only they would know the incantation of defilement.
[Caption] However, let's take care of this tablet lest one prickled in Thorns does come across this... unfortunate... information.
[NPC] The Count of Misery's Host: Therefore I will destroy you instead.
[NPC] The Count of Misery's Host: Your only hope is to destroy the altars...
[NPC] The Count of Misery's Host: But the price you would pay... HAHAHA...
[NPC] The Count of Misery's Host: My hosts are legion...
After destroying final altar
[Caption] WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, MORTAL?!
[Caption] MY HOSTS!!! You will suffer for this, insignificat insect.
[Caption] Even with this final host I still have enough power to destroy you for your arrogance. You have extinguished many lives all for the sole chance of facing me. Come, mortal, come claim the prize you sorely deserve.
The Count of Misery's Mortal Host combat
[NPC] The Count of Misery's Mortal Host: Your thoughts...
[NPC] The Count of Misery's Mortal Host: They boil... they scathe... They cut with jagged strokes...
[NPC] The Count of Misery's Mortal Host: I was wrong about you, mortal...
The Count of Misery's Mortal Host dialog
*cough*You fight me... Yet I already have your soul.
- You did not take my soul, demon!
The Count of Misery cackles inbetween coughing spasms.
Mortal, I did not need to. By letting my victims die, you have brought forth as much if not more misery than even I have...
- They were YOUR victims, not mine!
Oh, foolish mortal... You and I are already one. One day you will look in the mirror and see my face... And recognize it as your own.
Now do what you came here to do... KILL. ME.
- Dispatch the Count of Misery
You bend down and break the neck of the host of the Count of Misery with one, quick snap.
Stepping back up, you see that the body has instantly set into rigor mortis, fixing it's eyes directly upon yours... In a glee-filled grin.
Debriefing
The Count of Misery has been banished back to the hell it came from. You had to destroy the altars to stop him, killing countless Circle of Thorns worshippers at the same time - but they knew of the dangers that came with summoning a demon.
Everything the Count said about them was just a load of -
Lies. That's all they were. You're nothing like that demon.
You're one of the good guys.
VILLAIN
