Seven Signs, Seal of the Emperor

Ah, please--come here, come here!

I've had a look over that page, and I have good news and bad news in equal measure. First the bad: the document was written in heavy, heavy slang, meaning I've had to best-guess several whole phrases. There were also some markings on the contract which made some sections illegible....

• "Oh... what about the good news?"

x(finishedquest.htm)

(Only characters who are level 79 or higher and who have completed the Seven Signs and Secret Ritual of the Priests quests may undertake this quest.)

The good news, yes yes!

I managed to fully translate a clause in the contract between the Merchants of Mammon and Emperor Shunaiman. It's all rather interesting, and seems to indicate that the Emperor wasn't as on top of things as history suggests.

• "Oh?"

Here... it says that Shunaiman and the merchants entered into a secret pact, but only half of the deal is mentioned here: the merchants agreed to aid the Emperor whenever his Seal was under threat.

But no merchant worth his salt would agree to a clause like that without getting something in return--so what DID they demand? And why isn't it on this page? Hmm....

That's not all either.

• "What else have you found?"

See this part here? This whole section rhymes in Elmoreden.

It's like a chant of some sort, though I have no idea why the Merchants would write in such elaborate verse when their language was created for cut-and-thrust matters like illicit trading and the like.

• "Have you tried reciting the words?"

No, of course not! What if I were to summon some ancient spirit? Do I look like a fighting man to you?

Ah, but now you're here... perhaps I should. Hmm... yes. Here we go....

"The Merchants of Mammon shall respectfully pledge the following to the Great Emperor Shunaiman:

When dark blood begins to swallow the Seal, this paper of promise will reveal itself to the world. Those who have the Emperor's gold must cross the river of time..."

What? What's happening?! The contract is glowing!

• "Put it down!"

No, of course not! What if I were to summon some ancient spirit? Do I look like a fighting man to you?

Ah, but now you're here... perhaps I should. Hmm... yes. Here we go....

"The Merchants of Mammon shall respectfully pledge the following to the Great Emperor Shunaiman:

When dark blood begins to swallow the Seal, this paper of promise will reveal itself to the world. Those who have the Emperor's gold must cross the river of time..."

What? What's happening?! The contract is glowing!

• "Put it down!"

(The light from the contract fades, and a small figure is seen standing next to Iason.)

Oh my! A merchant of Mammon! Talk to him... quickly!

I don't have time for idle banter right now!

(Another player is currently speaking with him.)

Talk to the merchant, not me! The merchant!

I don't have time for idle banter right now!

(Another player is currently speaking with him.)

Incredible... so the seal was under threat many years ago, and we must now go and aid the Emperor by travelling back to the time of his rule?

The science is mind-boggling, frankly. How will we know what implications your interference will cause? But then... what if the past IS our past BECAUSE you time-travelled. Oh....

There's no time to ponder any of this--just go to the Disciple's Necropolis and find the Promise of Mammon! I'll send word if I discover something's amiss!

Now's not the time, adventurer!

Hurry to the Disciple's Necropolis and find the Promise of Mammon!

You're back!

Tell me all that happened, please! I've almost rubbed my hands raw with worry.

• "Well..."

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

And now this book... we must find it. What did you say the clues were again? The Emperor's Key, and the Witness of Dawn?

• "That's right."

Well, I can't help with the Emperor's Key, but the Witness of Dawn... hmm.

The Lords of Dawn have long used that term for their first--their leader. The Leader, the Prima, is the first to welcome the rising sun on their special occasions, where he witnesses the passing of night into day.

The current Witness of Dawn is a man named Franz, but he doesn't often meet others. I suggest you go first to the Temple of Einhasad in Aden Town and meet with Priest Wood. He should be able to set a meeting up between the two of you.

Go and meet Priest Wood in the Temple of Einhasad, traveller! He'll be able to set up a meeting with the Witness of Dawn.

Who are you? How did you get in here?

Who do you serve? Shilen, or your true Emperor? Answer me!

• "I'm here to honor the agreement you made with the Merchants of Mammon."

Of course! The Merchants of Mammon! Einhasad's fortunes finally smiles down upon me!

But... where are you from? I have never seen clothes like those before, and that weapon!

• "I'm not from your time, Emperor. You've been dead for over 1000 years in my world."

The future?! So that's what they meant....

And what of my rule? Am I remembered favorably? Is the empire still inta... no. Now is not the time! We will save talking for later; now we must fight to guarantee we can still draw breath by the evening's close.

Einhasad's own angel, Anakim, leads my forces against Lilith, Shilen's daughter. This is a war of absolute horror, of field after field stained red with the blood of Aden's people. Yet I can see no immediate resolution... I fear that when the dust of this great conflict has settled, the victor will have naught to rule over but ruined lands and a broken people.

That is why I sought to activate the seal. But even then my path was blocked. The men I sent were each butchered, and now even I have been wounded. But you... will you help?

• "I will, Emperor."
• "No. Help yourself."

Thank you!

Listen closely as I tell you what you need to do. Lilith has blocked access to the Seal by summoning a fire wall, but the fires can be extinguished by this holy water.

Once that has been done, there's a red door that you'll need to go through.

• "Holy water on the fire, red door."

No? Then the time you came from is a heartless one indeed. Leave then. Leon will assist you.

You'll need to have your wits about you in the next room, as you'll come face to face with some of Lilith's strongest minions.

Here... take my sword. It has been blessed by Einhasad herself; its strengths will be a great boon to you.... Ahh, the pain....

• "Are you all right?"

Don't worry about me! I am built of simple flesh and bone, but the Empire... it houses the dreams of so, so many people.

Now, listen. The final room contains four sealing devices, each of which need to be activated. You will then need to gather the four Binding Seals... and bring them back to me.

Do not lose the sword, and do not discard the holy water--they are absolutely vital to our survival!

Remember, you must activate all four sealing devices, then bring me the Binding Seals!

Oh, and holy water on the magical fire, then through the red door!

Do not lose those things. Without them you cannot complete your task, and the Empire will fall.

Do not fail us!

The Binding Seals! Perhaps now we can reverse the tide of this terrible, terrible conflict.

And all this... because of you. Please, stay here and become the Empire's guardian--I could do with someone like you by my side.

• "I'm sorry Emperor, but I'm not from your time."

Ah, of course. No doubt you have many friends and family waiting for you. Very well.

But I would be remiss not to you involve you in the Empire's wellbeing somehow. Hmm....

Ah! I shall have a book made, detailing the secrets... of the seals. I will have it hidden, and I want you to be the one to find it.

• "I see."

There are seven seals, you see. Each is extremely powerful, but still delicate enough to be destroyed should enough force be applied to it.

I'll call the tome the Book of Seals, and it will contain all the secrets of the Seals. You must recover it. Shilen must never even know of its existence.

Now....

• "Where to hide it..."

Exactly! Oh, how I have longed for someone of your intelligence and bravery to show up.

I could search the whole kingdom from house to house and not find anyone more suitable than you.

Ah... perhaps I should set you a final test before I deem you worthy of the Book of Seals, hmm? One can never be... too careful with matters of such importance!

Now, I'll leave two clues for you.

• "Okay...."

The book itself will stay on this continent, and the clues will be in the Witness of Dawn, and in the words of the Emperor's Key.

Now I must ask... for time to heal. Leon will see you out.

Oh... and thank you. The Empire stands because of people like you... willing to bear its weight on your shoulders. I am... in your debt.

Speak to Leon, my friend. He'll send you back to your time....

Was it you who summoned me from the Necropolis? Then you must have Shunaiman's contract in your possession....

We inked our names in that document 1500 years ago, but still the paper bears our names, and still we are bound to honor the terms set out in it.

I assume you have summoned me so that the clause can finally be honored?

• "Actually..."

You were not the one who summoned me! Leave--now!

It was a simple enough deal: the Merchants of Mammon would supply the Emperor with funds and military hardware, and in return our trading would be left unhindered. The profits we made were astonishing, beating even our most optimistic projections.

In return though, the Emperor gained use of a great, great power....

• "What power?"

The power to move between planes, child!

We first used it to travel from Necropolis to Necropolis, but soon augmented our device to allow us travel on a different axis: time itself.

We called it 'The Promise of Mammon'. It was the most powerful creation in Aden's history, and a tool that Emperor Shunaiman was granted access to in that contract of ours.

• "Where is it?"

It lies near the entrance to the Disciple's Necropolis. You must find it, and meet with Emperor Shunaiman. Aid him and our word will finally be honored, we will be released from that infernal contract....

• "You can't go yourself?"

I am little more than dust these days, child. We always expected to be called in our lifetimes, but this is your time now, not ours.

Help the Emperor. Help Shunaiman!

You can be teleported through the Promise of Mammon. Do you wish to do so now?

• Teleport

You have the permission of the Merchant of Mammon.

The Promise of Mammon has been activated and you may teleport.

You have the permission of the Merchant of Mammon.

The Promise of Mammon has been activated and you may teleport.

(available only for characters level 51 or higher, who completed Seven Signs, Seal of the Emperor.)

But you ain't done helpin' Emperor Shunaiman yet! No point comin' back all the way here, then leavin' before your job's done, is there?

So... you sure you want to head back now? An' I mean SURE?

• "Yes. Send me back."

Thank you for everythin'! Einhasad's blessin's go with you!

Thank you saving Emperor Shunaiman from this crisis!

May the blessin's of Einhasad always go with you.

You look over the body quickly, and finally notice a message written in blood on the floor.

• Read the message.

"Use the staff. Open door. With staff. Save the Empire."

Pick up the staff.

There's nothing else of significance here for you.

Activate the Sealing.

With a loud noise, it transforms into a different shape. It seems to be working normally!

The Seal of Binding falls off from the Sealing. Pick it up and put it inside the arms.

You cannot activate the Sealing.

The proof required by Emperor Shunaiman, the Blood of the Emperor, is not here.

Yes, traveller? Is there something I can do for you?

• "I understand you can introduce me to Franz. Iason Heine sent me."

Ah yes, he sent word someone was coming.

I am to give you this small reward. I understand the work you have done for the Order has helped us greatly.

Now, as for Franz....

The door opens, showing you a view of Anakim locked in combat.