RuneScape Forum Archive | The Quantum Floors

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

A stiff breeze started to blow overhead and the snow started to fall. The chilly air of the surface caught Thok off-guard, and he let out a sneeze. He had often dreamed about returning to the surface and telling legendary tales of his exploits within the evil Daemonheim.

But there was something about that man; something that told Thok that his mission was not over. In actual fact, they had barely scratched the surface of what was at the bottom. Sure, Thok could tell them about the strange man, but who would believe him. They would think he went mad. He could show them the gem, but Thok realized that it had too much power to get into the wrong hands. Its existence could not even be made known.

So, resolute as he was born to be, Thok gave up his dreams of immortality in Fremmenik history, took a deep breath and gently replied, “Nothing.”

30-Nov-2012 11:40:03

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Part 1 – Thok’s Secret

“GTB!” Fin yelled. The excellent acoustics of the floor carried his voice clearly throughout its sixty-four rooms. From any point, it sounded like he was right next to you. Almost immediately, four other people came down from apparently nowhere, landing on the Group Gatestone that Fin dropped right outside the boss door.

“He’s started without us again!” one of them exclaimed.

“Well then, what are we waiting for?” another replied, as the team charged in to face the dreaded Skeletal Trio. Each of the three skeletons used a different combat style; and the team knew that all too well. Fin and Keith, being expert bowmen with the elusive Hexhunter bows, rained fiery arrows upon the mage.

Dionysius brought merciless lightning down on the skeletal warrior who wore tough armour that only magic could penetrate so well. “I should have brought Zenny here,” he said, while waving his arms about, “She loves this sort of stuff.”

The other three members: Ash and Kuradal were melee users, and logically went after the skeletal archer. Though some members took some injuries here and there, the Skeletal Trio were no match for the team of veteran floor raiders. With the archer almost dead, he prayed against melee. Fin, upon realising this, fired a quick shot at the archer and killed him. Efforts were then shifted against the mage, and soon enough, it too was defeated.

Dionysius, still in combat, yelled, “Could I get little help here? I’m not as powerful as I used to be.” The remaining warrior then did something unexpected: It prayed against all three types of damage simultaneously. Ash looked puzzled as she asked the warrior, “Can you even do that?”

The warrior, swinging his blade around aimlessly, replied, “It’s five against one and you expect me to make it easier for you?”

Kuradal stepped in from behind and knocked the skeletal warrior unconscious. “Please,” she started, “I’ve fought beasts ten times larger than you. Hitting through prayer is nothing”

30-Nov-2012 11:41:02

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Fin observed the re-dead bodies of the archer and the mage, while the warrior just appeared to be sleeping. “Well, I suppose that’s considered a victory.”

Just as he made that comment, the floor, as if hearing him, opened a door on the other end of the boss room; but they already knew that would happen. The moment the door was fully open, the team scrambled up the ladder to the surface. On their way up, the timer clocked ‘13:37’.

The climb to the top would be a long one. The ladder and tunnel spanned across thirty-eight stories, so the team decided to have a little chat as they ascended the dark shaft.

“Fin,” Ash started, “Is there anything at all at the bottom?”

Out of the entire team, Fin was the most experienced in Dungeoneering, and one of the first to reach floor number sixty. He still liked floor raiding as an activity, however, and was very usually up to join parties with friends who were still making their way to the bottom.

“Not that I know of,” Fin replied, trying to recount his adventure a while back, “All I found was this slightly unsettling letter written by Thok. I have it with me now, but you won’t be able to read it in here, so I’ll show you on the surface.”

They were half-way to the surface when Dionysius mumbled, “There can’t simply be nothing. These floors must be here for a good reason.”

“I’m just curious, Dion,” Keith mentioned, “Why are you here? You don’t seem like the combat-loving type; and these floor raids involve quite a bit of combat.”

Dionysius gave a smile, though nobody could see it. It was true that he was far past his prime for rigorous activities such as Dungeoneering, but he was armed to the teeth with knowledge and wisdom of the plane of Gielnor. He studied its past religiously, from the First Age to the Fifth. “I’m just here for the rewards,” he replied.

“Fair enough,” Keith remarked.

30-Nov-2012 11:41:52

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Upon reaching the surface, the five exhausted adventurers inhaled a deep breath of the fresh, chilly air. Kuradal beckoned towards the team as she walked towards the rewards trader excitedly. The team just completed their last dungeon for the day and went to see what Kuradal was up to. By the time they caught-up, Kuradal was holding a shiny but deadly new sword.

“Finally!” she exclaimed, “My eighth chaotic! Those pests won’t even dare crawl out of their holes now."

"Wow!” Ash exclaimed, “You have one of each chaotic?”

Kuradal paused for a while and replied, “What? No way. Eight chaotic longswords is the way to go!”

The base camp was filled with cheer and laughter for a short while. Thok, who was nearby, took a quick glance at them before going back deep into his thoughts. Fin noticed Thok, and was suddenly reminded of his promise to show Ash the letter. Reaching deep into his left pocket, Fin pulled out an old, dusty piece of papyrus. It looked so fragile that it threatened to disintegrate at any minute. Fin tapped Ash on the shoulder and thrust the papyrus into her hand, not looking in Thok’s direction. Fortunately, Thok was too preoccupied to notice this.

Ash discretely read the letter for a few minutes with a disturbed look on her face. After a moment of thought, she gave the letter back to Fin and strode quickly towards Thok’s direction. Fin realised what she was about to do and attempted to stop her, but by this time, the rest of the team caught on and went along with her to confront Thok.

30-Nov-2012 11:42:38 - Last edited on 30-Nov-2012 11:43:25 by Myra Patata

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“What you want with Thok?” were the first words that came from his dry lips. He had a strange intensity in his eyes that nobody could understand. He had always been like that to the adventurers who came to explore Daemonheim. Nobody knew him better. Upon seeing Fin, Thok softened up a little, as he recognised Fin as one of the true masters of Dungeoneering, who showed might as great as Thok’*. But Fin looked at him with a worried face, and soon enough, Thok turned his attention to the less mighty but more persistent Ash.

“What’s at the bottom?” Ash immediately asked, sounding impatient as ever.
Thok’s face underwent a transition from completely emotionless to almost completely emotionless as he replied, “Nothing.”

“That’s a lie,” Ash continued, “That’s not what you wrote in your letter. In fact, you never really did reach the bottom, did you?” No reply.

The sky began to darken as night fell upon Daemonheim. Thok maintained eye contact with Ash as his anger started to build. He started to shake.
Keith gently whispered in Ash’s ear, “Remember Ash, he’s probably able to punch you to floor sixty.”

Thok still did*’t say a word, but he started to shake even more. The team seemed worried at first, but then they realised that they were all shaking as well. Fin looked around him and to his surprise, everything except the sky above was shaking.
“What is this?” Thok asked, in a half question, half exclamation-like voice, “Even Thok not this mighty.”

“There hasn’t been an earthquake in Gielnor since the period of the falling rocks!” Dionysius exclaimed, looking at the toppling boxes and chests, “and even that was a minor one!” Several minutes of chaos ensued. The patrolling Fremmeniks ran to the camp to hold down their supplies and douse the fire pits.

30-Nov-2012 11:44:00

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“This is amazing!” Dionysius continued, “We must be right at the epicentre!”

“How on Runescape is that amazing?” Keith yelled.

The vibrations started to get worse. Thok was nowhere to be found while the rewards trader hid behind his shield. Suddenly, Kuradal shouted, “Look over there!” as she pointed at the castle. The team looked over just in time to see the entire south-west side come crashing down into a heap of rubble.

Dozens of screams could be heard as minor faults cracked the ground apart. Fin jumped back as the ground beneath his feet threatened to send him on a one-way trip.

Then, as suddenly as it came, the rumbling stopped. A large portion of the Frozen area in the castle was now covered in debris and rubble. “Well,” Keith started, slightly shaken, “It’s not like anyone used that area anyway.”

Instead of surveying the damage, Ash went straight away to find Thok. “There is no way that was a coincidence,” she thought to herself. A faint ruffling noise was coming from within Thok’s tent. The flaps were down. Undeterred, Ash walked straight up to the tent and tore open the flaps.

Thok jumped back and looked at her in amazement. After a few seconds, Thok relaxed and placed a slight grin on his face as he remarked, “So you are not a weakling. Perhaps you can help Thok after all.”

“Help with what?” Ash replied, with a puzzled look on her face. Only three minutes ago he was as unresponsive as a block, and now he was asking for her help? Ash noticed that he was holding a magnificent Primal 2h Sword. The dust which gathered on it suggested that it had not been used for some time.

“Assemble your team, adventurer,” Thok confidently instructed, “Thok’s getting to the bottom of this.”

Ash left the tent to call the rest, but just as she was almost out of earshot, she heard the faint mumbling Thok made to himself, “Thok thought leaving was good for everyone...but Thok was wrong.”

30-Nov-2012 11:44:50 - Last edited on 30-Nov-2012 11:45:22 by Myra Patata

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Almost a minute later, Fin stood with the rest of the team waiting outside Thok’s tent. Thok was still fumbling about, looking for something. Suddenly, a soft voice, slightly shaken, came from nearby, “You...you won’t survive.” The voice came from the rewards trader.

“Marmaros...” Fin started. He never got round to finishing.

“How...how do you know my...my name?” he continued stumbling about, “Even...I don’t....know my...my name.”

At this point, Thok came out of his tent with his sword on his back, looked sadly at Marmaros and said, “Marm cannot come...or he will lose his mind.” Kuradal positioned her lips close to Dionysius’ ear and whispered, “As if that hasn’t happened already.” Dionysius however, seemed far more preoccupied with thinking about the cause of that quake.

“Come, adventurers,” Thok continued, taking out a mysterious gem no larger than an egg. The gem itself glowed faintly with a light blue hue, much to the amazement of the team. “Now is the time to show might as great as Thok’s!”

The rest of the team still had no idea what was going on. Fin asked, “What are we supposed to do again?”

Thok looked puzzled for a while, then without a word, he held the gem high in the air and rubbed it. Nothing happened.

“Umm...yes. It is a rather beautiful gem,” Keith remarked, slightly confused. Thok was perplexed. “Why you not work?” he started asking the object. He shook it violently back and forth, but nothing seemed to happen.

After a moment of silence, the faint voice floated in again, “A node. You need a...a node.”

“What you talking about, Marm?” Thok asked aggressively, slightly frustrated.

“Over there,” Marmaros spluttered, pointing weakly at the castle. Everyone was looking at Marmaros, except Dionysius, who displayed a much greater amount of interest in the strange gem Thok was holding.

“I think he means that whatever you are trying to do, Thok, you should try it in the castle,” Dionysius remarked. Marmaros gave a faint nod in agreement.

30-Nov-2012 11:46:31

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

As the group made their way towards the castle, nobody but Thok had any idea what was going on. In the centre of the castle was a strange mark that Dionysius identified to be of Dragonkin origin.

“Where are we going, Thok?” Fin asked hastily.

“To the bottom,” Thok replied, positioning himself in the centre of the mark.

“As long as there are things to kill, I’m fine with that,” Kuradal commented.

Marmaros came stumbling after them in the snow, much to Thok’s amazement. “What you want, Marm?” Thok yelled. His voice must have been booming, for Marmaros stopped in his tracks at the entrance to the castle.

“Be strong, brother,” Marmaros said, as he turned away and headed back towards the camp. It was the only coherent line he had made for a long time, albeit three words. Thok nodded his head in acknowledgement and raised the gem once again. This time, the gem was glowing much brighter. Thok had not seen it so bright since the last time he was in the wretched place. Darkness fell over the lands as the moon succeeded the sun, and the barren wilderness in the distance seemed even gloomier than ever before.

As Thok held the gem high in the air, the castle seemed to respond as faint cracks of white light emitted from the walls, the columns and the floor. Ash looked uneasy, Kuradal perplexed, Keith astounded, Fin disbelieving and Dionysius in amazement. The circle beneath their feet projected a dim blue light, getting brighter over time, like it was charging up. Eventually it reached the point where it was almost blinding. The entire castle was illuminated to the point that even Blaze Sharpeye, tens of kilometres away, stared, drooling in awe.

30-Nov-2012 11:47:14

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“Thok...” Ash started, trying to keep her eyes open, “What is at the bottom?” Thok slowly turned his head towards her and replied, “Thok does not know, but Thok is going to find out.” With that, Thok closed his eyes and rubbed the gem like he did so long ago. The castle seemed to explode in an inferno of blinding light, and after all of it had faded away into the cool night air, the adventurers were nowhere to be found.

From the base camp, Marmaros gazed into the stars above and repeated the only words he could remember: “Be strong.”

30-Nov-2012 11:47:36

Myra Patata

Posts: 147 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Part 2 – Rock Bottom

Fin opened his eyes after what seemed like an eternity. He did not know how long he had been asleep. All he remembered was the bright flash of light... then nothing. He thought he saw the sky above him. It was pitch black and dotted with what seemed like stars. But it couldn’t have been the sky. The air was far too still and far too musty for them to be outdoors. It had to be a ceiling, made to look just like the night sky.

Turning his head slightly, Fin’s suspicions were confirmed. He saw four distinct walls which formed a square around him. The walls themselves were made of a strange, unknown material. Little cracks here and there lined the wall in a strange, orderly fashion and glowed with an uneasy tinge of light blue. Some of these paths ended at small, circular nodes. Others split into more paths. Some intersected at a node and went on their way. It was a labyrinth of a wall design, yet so intricate, somewhat beautiful.

Examining the walls, Fin soon noticed the darkened figure of Thok, standing tall with his head tilted slightly upwards, gazing in awe. Fin scrambled to his feet as he asked Thok, “What is this place?”
Thok did not face him. Still looking at the intricate pattern of cracks on the wall, he replied, “The bottom.”

Fin, now standing up, could have a good view of the floor. The other four were still lying down on it, unconscious; but that was not what caught his eye. The floor itself seemed to be a grid of some sort; dotted with stars like the ceiling but also had very fine, straight intersecting lines of light that pierced through the fathomless ground. It was like they were standing on a giant blueprint; like those lines of light were the outlines of floor tiles.

30-Nov-2012 11:48:23

Forums

The Quantum Floors