Difference between revisions of "User:Scamall"

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Scamall
The Clanless Knight

History (Unfinished)

Origins

Born to an unknown family, Scamall (Pronounced "Skom-ull") was found in infancy in a reed basket, floating in the River Uisce ("Ish-Ka") of the Bloodbeast Forest. Cold and alone, help came in the form of his adoptive father, Draoi (Dree). Draoi was the local druid of the Brethren of the Forest, the courageous few who braved the dark forest, even daring to make it their home. Seeing no alternative, Draoi raised the infant as his own, naming him "Scamall", meaning "cloud", after noticing his tendency to daydream. Scamall was taught by his foster father the art of magic and, while he never fully mastered it, showed considerable determination and skill for his young age, even by Draoi's standards. One day, Draoi was sent by the clan chieftain to the Spiral Castle, bringing with him items and techniques to revolutionise alchemy, an advanced technique even then. Bringing his son along, Draoi told him about the Spiral Order, an army the likes of which the world had never seen before. Scamall was fascinated by his father's stories of them, and even more so when he saw the fabled Knights in action. He resolved then and there to become a Knight, and make a name for himself.

Joining the Spiral Knights at 12 for his 5-year training regimen, Scamall was confident in his abilities, for over the years, he had been trained by the Brethren in the arts of hunting and battle. He quickly adapted to the training the Knights imposed on him and, with his extensive knowledge of magic passed down by his father, impressed even the most decorated Knights. However, his social skills were lacking, and he found himself to be the butt of many a joke by his peers, known by most as the "teacher's pet" and "the thieving forest creature". The strict code the Knights enforced prevented his retaliation, and so the slurs continued. One such recruit pitied him and, deciding he'd had enough, told the others to leave Scamall alone. Needless to say, they turned on her, and in doing so, incurred Scamall's wrath. In a training exercise, he beat the culprits in a four-on-one battle, leaving them severely injured and shamed. Visiting his fellow victim in the medical ward, he thanked her for what she did, and she him, complimenting his ability. Scamall asked for her name, and she replied with "Kora", allowing a friendship to blossom.

At 17, Scamall and Kora had graduated from the Academy, and were inducted into the order formally as Spiral Knights. They learned that a large number of Knights were heading off on a mission to outer space, the reason why was never revealed. With thousands of other Knights, much to Scamall's confusion, the Spiral Fleet headed out. Arriving in the orbit of a mysterious planet, Knights noted several anomalies irradiating from the planet's surface. This was later proven to be pure Energy. Suddenly, a large number of energy flares short-circuited the entire fleet, destroying the primary tearium core and leaving it succeptibe to the planet's unusually strong gravitational pull. With utter chaos aboard, all Knights raced for the escape pods, but the unnecessarily large number of Knights meant that some had to be shared, an extremely uncomfortable and hazardous option, though considerably better than suffocating in the vacuous void of space. Scamall shoved Kora into his escape pod, despite her protests, and ran, hoping that there were spare pods on the bridge. To his luck, two were left, but other Knights may have been on their way with the same goal in mind. Leaving the other pod for any last-minute stragglers, Scamall got in, pressed the button, and jettisoned, dangerously close to the planet's atmosphere.

Out of the Fying Pan...

Waking months later due to the crash impact, Scamall suffered some degree of amnesia. He could only remember his identity and status as a Knight, along with some minute fragments of memory from his past. Musing over this, he inspected his heavily-damaged escape pod. His life-support system had preserved him for months, albeit in a comatose state, due to the natural Energy radiating from the earth itself. Horrified at what he may have missed out on in the preceding months, he checked his HUD. HQ had gotten the Uplink working again, and he saw that the Knights were still stranded on the planet (to his almost relief), dubbed Cradle. He recieved a message from HQ informing him to travel immediately to the nearest Rescue Camp, located a few miles northeast. With one last look at his shelter for the last few months, Scamall armed himself, and set out.

By nightfall Scamall had reached his destination. The Rescue Camp contained little more than some tents and shelters made from old escape pods, but the Knights there seemed happy enough. Scamall regained some of his fighting skill in a training simulation built underground, not knowing it was there before the Knights had ever encountered this planet. Passing training with ease, he had won respect from his other party members, who directed him to those in charge of the rescue camp. From these people Scamall learned of what had transpired in the months following what came to be known as 'Skylark's Fall'. The Knights formulated a plan to extract a boundless energy from the planet's Core to repair the Skylark, though they have no way to retrieve it as of yet. Scamall, seeing an opportunity to make himself known, took on the challenge of travelling to the Core, eliminating every monster on the way down, and finding a way to save his people. He just didn't have a single idea on how to do that.

It is here that Scamall begins his journal logs, detailing his time on Cradle.

Safe Haven

The time came for Scamall to leave, and he was guided to the elevator leading to what was known among his peers as The Final Test. On the walk over, he looked down the sides of the bridge and saw gargantuan gears churning beneath the land. It was here that he was informed of the Clockworks, and that it is there he would be venturing. Feeling slightly cold at the thought of perishing in an underground cavern where none would find him, he decided to show no mercy to any that would dare harm him and his fellow Knights.

Travelling in a party of four, Scamall blazed through the underground dungeons, though he overestimated his condition. He was still weak from his comatose slumber, and a lot of his energy was spent fighting for survival. As such, he arose from the Clockworks battered and bruised, but very much alive, thanks to the help from his team. Scamall reassessed his goals, and sought to better himself before attempting to descend as far as the Core.

It was morning when Scamall arrived in Haven, and he was seeking some form of hospitality, as well as answers. Approaching a rather stately-looking Knight, Scamall inquired about various issues that were plaguing him: training facilities, armour and weapons vendors, anyone with information. The Knight, named Cort, directed him towards the Arcade, and recommended the Bazaar to him as well, for Scamall had yet to replace his Proto gear. Scamall, after much sidetracking, arrived at the Arcade, and was briefed by Leiutenant Feron on the situation. Now knowing what he was up against, Scamall made it his life's goal to play a part in the Order's escape from the planet, or die trying.

The Ally

Days had passed, and Scamall was having serious difficulty coping with the underground hordes of the Clockworks. His amnesia had forced his practically encyclopedic knowledge and experience as a fighter out of his head. His gear was almost ineffective against monsters from Stratum 2 onward. To top it off, energy costs were rising, making crafting a lot tougher. He needed to find help. One day in particular marked a milestone for him.

Like all other days, Scamall had the daily grind to the Clockwork Terminal. Like all other days, he would continue until the going got too tough, by which point he would return the next day. Not this day. Scamall had arrived in the company of his first ally, a Cobalt-clad clan member by the name of Meekish. Scamall remained in his company beyond the terminal, venturing to Stratum 2. Meekish's skills as a fighter were adequate for this depth, but he was more often than not saved by his Cobalt Armour. Scamall studied the armour's durability as they fought downwards, and decided to acquire a set for himself. At depth 8, however, Meekish's luck had run out, and he was brutalised by a pack of Wolvers. Scamall was forced to use the hunting technique he had learned from his childhood, "Kiting" to group the beasts together, then shot them down. Meekish, impressed, proposed an alliance with his new comrade, and together they set off for the first of the fabled "subtowns", Moorcroft Manor. Scamall, unable to progress further, took the elevator back to Haven, with Meekish promising that they would fight together again.

Plan of Action

The following day, Scamall was in the Bazaar, attempting to craft a weapon to slaughter the subterranean beasts of the machine. Lacking the proper knowledge of weaponry, having been comatose for months before, he bought a Beast Basher, traded for materials with some other Knights, and began upgrading it to the Big Beast Basher. In the process of this, he heard a familiar yell. He turned to see Meekish greeting him. Upon engaging each other in conversation, Meekish told Scamall of his plan to raid the Gloaming Wildwoods, and slay the legendary Beast King, the Snarbolax. Scamall, eager to test out his new weapon, followed Meekish to the Arcade elevator, and the two descended. Depth after depth, Scamall's pickaxe grew in strength, and he felt confident in its ability to destroy the Beast King, for, in Scamall's eyes, it was the pick's true purpose. Shortly before arriving at the Terminal, Scamall and Meekish encountered Sightt, a female Knight with a thirst for wealth. She had journeyed to the Clockworks to uncover the fabled Snarbolax's treasure, said to have been claimed from fallen warriors. With Scamall's skill, Meekish's knowledge and experience, and Sightt's unshakeable determination to claim her reward, the team felt certain that their trial would be a breeze. It wasn't.

The Gloaming Wildwoods

The team's resolve was virtually shattered upon arriving in the forest. The trees themselves whispered with malice, and Scamall felt eyes watching him at all times. Every turn he made, he caught a flash of scarlet before whatever it was vanished, leaving only dread in its wake. The team was forced to fight for their lives through beast and bone, fighting not only the native creatures of the woods, but the restless souls and skeletons of those claimed by the forest. Though despair permeated the team's spirit, Scamall's pick swung with courage, as though it had a mind of it's own. Every so often the team would see the Beast King itself, standing at its fullest height, awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time, before vanishing, allowing its underlings to attack the Knights. Meekish said that the woods were three floors deep, and that the Beast's lair lay at the bottom, as did its treasure. Each time they saw the Beast it would attempt to weaken them in any way possible, from discouraging them, to injuring them, to killing them. Scamall, though unnerved, remained defiant, declaring his ability to survive against impossible odds. Warning against overconfidence, Meekish also advised to make use of bells placed around the woods, citing their overwhelming effect on beasts. Sightt, remaining solely focused on their goal, eventually reached the final elevator down, and reasoned that the Beast must be devastating in battle for the treasure to be so legendary. In a final moment of preparation, the team descended, with Scamall uttering a battle cry.

Lair of the Snarbolax: Battle of the Beasts

The trio arrived at the heart of the wood, yet the Beast King had yet to show itself fully. Scamall did see, however, the eerie glow of red as they trudged along the path, already weary from their fight thus far. Luckily, a health station was found up ahead, a last gift from the Knights that passed through before them. Entering a clearing with a lone bell in the centre, where bones lay scattered across the terrain, Scamall tensed up; they had found the Snarbolax's lair. The team readied themselves, when the trees shot vines and thorns from behind them, blocking their way out, and with it all paths of retreat. A deafening thud brought their senses back to earth, as the King of Wolvers, black as night, landed from the trees, standing there in all his glory. Sightt and Meekish charged forward, but Scamall hung back. He knew of the legends surrounding "Ol' Snarby", of his impenetrable hide, his razor-sharp quills, his fear-inducing roar. Indeed, the beast blocked all attacks from Meekish and Sightt, batted them aside with one mighty swipe of his tail, and chased Scamall, breaking his train of thought. Remembering the bell, and its effect on Wolvers, he called to his team to strike at the opportune moment. They did so, and the beast stumbled, stunned. The team charged, executing a flurry of attacks before their combo was broken, the Snarbolax angrier than ever. Again and again they baited the creature, and again and again they succeeded in wounding it. Its anger soon pushed it over the edge, however, and it nearly slaughtered all three of them. Sightt was knocked out cold, Meekish was injured, and Scamall was thrown to the ground, having suffered a blow to the head, and regaining memories of his childhood. Meekish helped him up, stating that Scamall was the best fighter they had, and they charged one last time. With a clang of the bell, Scamall leapt forth spectacularly, bringing his pick down with a tremendous swipe. The Beast fell, and Scamall stood there, numb from battle, yet elated at their survival. Meekish, over the moon with joy, began salvaging some fangs from the monster's mouth as prizes. Scamall revived Sightt, who then dashed off to swim in the treasure the shady creature had accumulated over the course of its lifetime. Scamall himself, however, was more interested in a recon module laying on the ground. Downloading the data onto his HUD, he read the logs of Euclid, leader of Alpha Squad. Scamall pondered over this and more as the team left for Moorcroft, but as they left, they failed to notice several red eyes glaring at them from above...

Two Months Later

In the two months following his first official "Boss Battle", Scamall had achieved many small goals. His alchemic abilities allowed him to craft an entire Cobalt set, which he used to hunt in the Gloaming Wildwoods repeatedly, looking for more beasts to hunt. The fangs he had accumulated had stacked up exponentially, and with them he had the means for a dangerous set of weaponry. Brinks, token trader extraordinaire, helped him fashion three piercing-damage-based weapons: The Snarble Barb, the Bristling Buckler, and the Spine Cone. His arsenal was growing, but at a slow rate. Scamall had grown too used to the "safe" environment of Tier One, and as such, was beaten severely at Tier Two. Staying back with the novices at Tier One, Scamall considered giving up adventuring and letting his fellow Knights grow strong enough to reach the Core. For a while, he did.

A long while later, he was contacted by an old friend and colleague of his from the Homeworld: A novice Knight called Avasy. He needed Scamall's help in getting to a Clockwork Terminal, so that he could acquire a rare item for HQ. Despite his treasure-hunting demeanour, Scamall accepted his friend's request. Fighting down through the depths, Scamall regained his love for adventuring, and Avasy gained his reward. For the rest of the month, Scamall was barely active, as he was busy researching various weapons and armour sets as well as keeping an eye on the Auction House. He did, however, make it in time for the last day of the Dark Harvest Festival, though there was not enough time to gather tokens for the various prizes available. He was still happy enough to receive his new Pumpkin Bomb Bandolier, which he kept as a souvenir and reminder to not miss out on anything important again.

Cold, Cold Castle

During the celebrated event Winterfest, Scamall decided to make some coin. He had heard of a palace beneath the churning gears, and the monstrous monarch that guarded its treasure vault. Figuring that many stronger Knights would raid the castle frequently to obtain vast amounts of crowns he theorised that he would gain a large amount of help in his planned attack on the palace. Confident in his plan, Scamall ventured underground.

To his delight, he found three well-seasoned Knights carrying equipment and knowledge that far surpassed his own: Eucliwood-Scythe, the de-facto leader of the party, wielding his assumed signature blade, Acheron, Philipspiral, the strategic bomber who froze all opposition in their tracks, and Shoutentenshu, whose knowledge of the changing gateways helped the team choose the most coin-packed path. The mere prescense of the three made Scamall feel inexperienced, as he was still equipped only with his Cobalt set. He did prove himself quite equal in fighting ability to his teammates, who grew more impressed with each depth they dove.

Battle Royale: Slimy Smackdown

Shoutentenshu, despite the team's continued success in breaching the palace's defences, left the team just before the throne room, lacking the energy needed. Eucliwood, though disappointed, resolved to fight twice as hard to compensate, and led the remaining team to the elevator. Scamall was excited, anxious, and above all, freezing, but his thoughts of the battle ahead numbed him more than ice ever could. After a moment of goodbyes, the trio descended.

Stepping into the throne room, Eucliwood devised a strategy, while Philipspiral set up an explosive perimeter. Scamall was distracted by the room itself; for a bunch of limbless chunks of ooze, these things sure knew style when they saw it. A metallic slamming noise snapped him out of trance; the portcullis had sealed shut their entry point. Sure enough, fresh off the throne, there the Royal Jelly stood, glistening in its gelatinous glory, surrounded by hundreds of slimes. Acheron raised, Eucliwood charged, swatting slimes away from him like flies, his eyes on the monarch. Philipspiral detonated his Shivermist Buster, encasing all slimes in ice, then proceded to bombard the king with poison vials. Its self-regeneration halted, the king was quickly exposed to a flurry of attacks from Eucliwood. After a few mere seconds of agony, the king started spinning at an extraordinary velocity, knocking back the team, and started healing again. Scamall, while down, experienced another flashback, unlocking more of his past. Having had enough of the battle, he threw all his vials at the king, while Eucliwood delivered sword strikes so fast that Acheron became a dark blur, ripping apart the Royal Jelly.

The team entered the fabled treasure vault, grabbing everything not nailed down, and went to the elevator. Scamall noticed another recon module laying on the cold stone floor. Downloading the data to his HUD, he stepped into the elevator, and went, for the first time, to Emberlight. Shortly after their departure, the pool of ooze Eucliwood left in place of the Royal Jelly started to quiver, and reform...

Dangerous to Go Alone...

About a month after his battle with the Royal Jelly, Scamall was contacted by HQ while adventuring. They told him of a pair of giant machines, built by the conniving Gremlins to destroy Haven and all who resided there. Scamall, like always, was up to the challenge, and descended to the Ironclaw Munitions Factory to destroy the mechanical threat.

Running into another Knight at the Factory, Scamall led the assault. However, the catastrophic state the Factory was left in resulted in numerous safety hazards, with rockets lining the floor, electro-shock panels, and partially-collapsed walkways. As a result, both Knights were subjected to pain a dozen times over. To top it off, the Gremlins had created an army of Constructs, whose elemental damage ripped through Scamall's shield. He and his partner were floored within the first floor of the Factory. Scamall remembered another ally he made a few days earlier, with sufficient skill and equipment to help him complete his mission. This Knight never gave a name, and was marked in Scamall's contact list as simply "Man-Without-Name". Scamall sent a distress signal, and the unnamed came to his rescue, crushing the Constructs. Scamall was grateful, but his partner was knocked unconscious during the fight, and was completely unresponsive. Scamall and the unnamed sent him skyward at the next elevator, and headed down.

With the unnamed, Scamall breezed through the Factory, starting to cope with the endless barrages of rockets, the dead ends full of Constructs, the races to avoid an electrical demise. Just before the final elevator, Scamall found a sheet of blueprints on a workbench, detailing two heavily-armed Gun Puppies, whose prototype weaponry was found scattered around the Factory. The unnamed, noting their impenetrable armour, suggested a more tactical approach, as opposed to a vain attempt at hacking the mechs to pieces.

The Roarmulus Twins: The Gremlins' Secret

Evrything was eerily silent as the duo walked the final stretch to the main chamber of the Factory. Nothing but the clatter of machinery and the distant echoes of laughing Gremlins filled the tense air. It was a show to them, and the Knights were the stars. Reaching a raised platform covered in crates, high-above colossal Gun-Puppy prototypes, the air was pierced by a shrill alarm. Gears whirring, valves turning, pipes steaming, and two dark shapes rising on either side of them told the duo: It was time. The mechs' eyes lit up with a cold malice, and they roared their intent: A slow, fiery, painful death for both Knights, and the rest of Haven.

The unnamed set about clearing a path. Scamall, bewildered, called why- a loud bang answered his question. Rockets on either side of the Knights were hurtling towards them, and there was no room to dodge. Scamall dove for the space the unnamed had cleared, and the rockets collided with the opposing wall, exploding violently. The unnamed, unfazed, cleared more room, and found a peculiar switch: A polarity switch. Striking it, he realigned the walls, and formed a strategy. Both Twins were still bloodthirsty, and shot again. At just the right time the unnamed reversed the wall's polarity, blocking the shots from one, and sending rockets from the other. One of the twins was hit and fell, its head crashing on the platform. Its defenses down, the Knights attacked. The twins' weaknesses were each other, and the unnamed sought to exploit it further.

One by one the rockets were fired, and the twins took turns getting hit by each other's attacks. The Gremlins above were screaming, enraged that their ultimate weapons were being used as a mere timed puzzle. The Twins, evidently sentient, changed their tactics. They started moving left and right, covering more ground with their attacks. The unnamed, not missing an opportunity to strike, waited for the Twins to align again, and struck. He was outsmarting them, the ultimate machines, and they had had enough. Charging their ultimate attack, they swept the stage with high-voltage lasers. The unnamed hastily used the polarity walls to shield himself, momentarily forgetting Scamall's position, who was subjected to an agonising assault of elemental fury. He was critically wounded, his systems were fried, and his private journal was heavily damaged, preventing any more private logs. The unnamed, guilt-ridden and furious, attacked again, turning the Twins against each other one last time. After much bloodshed, the Twins fell, and Haven was saved. Scamall was brought to a medical station where he regained his health, lamenting the loss of his journal. The unnamed salvaged some circuitry from the Twins' remains, while Scamall found another recon module, this one belonging to Alpha Squad technician, Rulen. Downloading the data, the duo left. The Gremlins, however, were enraged and humiliated, and started salvaging prototype weaponry to rebuild their fallen champions...

Operation: #Occupy Haven

One day, as Scamall tried his luck at the Auction House, he overheard a Knight shout tales of a fashion show taking place in the Arcade. Ordinarily, he would shrug off the yelling as a trick of some sort, but he was eventually convinced when the Knight told of great prizes that awaited, and even more so when he heard that the legendary Magnus would be among the conductors of the event. Not wanting to miss out, Scamall dashed to the Arcade, which would prove to be as fun as expected, but in an entirely unexpected way.

Originally crestfallen at the impossibly large turnout, Scamall anxiously put on his recently-gained Stranger Hat and stood in line. The odds of him being picked were slim, to be sure, but over half the crowd were "Wolvers", and were not picked for obvious reasons, so he could seek solace in knowing that he was the most original there. After much chaos, the judging began. As the judges moved further and further up the line, Scamall grew more and more anxious. Would they pick him? What would happen if they did? Well, they didn't. Rather, Scamall was left fuming after two Knights on either side of him were picked. Fortune was laughing at him, and he knew it. Many of the "rejects" were equally as displeased, and remained huddled in a cluster of disappointment while the rest moved on. To ease the tension, a Knight called RubyEclipse handed out crowns as a gesture of goodwill, which certainly helped calm the others down. Another Knight, Strikerwolf, suggested crashing the intended site of the event: the Bazaar.

Once the group arrived, it was anarchy. The neatly-organized line was scattered in minutes, and Knights all over were shouting in frustration. The event leaders were dashing through the crowds, desperately trying to maintain order. Numerous times Scamall saw Magnus himself swarmed by numerous fans, clinging to him like flies. Once proper chaos has been achieved, the Scamall, Ruby, Striker and company stood on the sidelines, "helping out" when necessary. After Guild had had enough , they fled, privately messaging contestants so as to avoid more confusion. Scamall took some photographs to remember this event by, and then headed home for the day.

#Occupy Haven: The Screenshot

Journal

Spiral Knight ID: Scamall

Age: 17

Place of Origin: Unknown

Entry 1: Origins

"As I sit here, cold and far from home, watching the Knights who have made this camp theirs, I write in this journal, this tablature, recording my thoughts. I remember little, yet I know enough, at least, I think I do. Should this be found by a fellow Knight, or any sentient creature for that matter, in my post-mortem years, let me introduce myself. I am Scamall, Knight of the Order, and through this vessel I make myself known. You may wonder to yourself, "What order of knights?", and, since I have much free time as of late, I am inclined to reply. I shall tell you what I know of my life so far, and perhaps document my future travels, since my memory cannot serve me well enough to fill a proper autobiography. Said travels will commence tomorrow, for I need rest. That's enough of an introduction, now, but you'll forgive me if I confess to not knowing when to stop talking.

"I was born on the Homeworld to an unknown family. I was found in a river, in a basket of reeds. I never knew my birth parents, only the druid Draoi, of the legendary clan of thieves, the Brethren of the Forest, who raised me. He taught me many things, all useless in this foreign Cradle of madness. He often found me atop the Great Irontree, staring at the sky, thinking, wondering, about the great beyond; Is there life out there? Where? Will we ever find it? What will happen then? My reputation as a dreamer was such that he gave me this name: "Scamall", from the ancient language of the Gaelic tribes, meaning "Cloud".

"In my later childhood I was brought to the Kingdom, where I fell in love with the lives led by the heroic Spiral Knights. I aspired to be one of them, to bring honour and glory to my people. Once I was of age, I left the forest to start my new life as a Knight. The training was tough, but my determination and training, the latter of which bestowed upon me by my Brethren, helped me pull through, though I confess to not knowing much of my childhood at this time.

"We graduated from the Academy in time for the Council of the Spiral Wardens to announce a grand expedition to space. I was excited, to say the least. We learned that we would be a part of the Spiral Fleet: specifically, the Flagship Skylark's expedition throughout the cosmos for a mission that, for some reason, was never revealed to me. I was stationed aboard the cargo deck, and, while not the most exciting assignment, there was enough work to do to keep me busy. After a few weeks travel, we spied an odd planet with a strange terrain, as though parts of the land had been vastly terraformed. This was it, all right. Soon after, our energy readings went off the charts, and the Fleet fell to the planet's surface, immobilised by the energy flares. I was ordered to evacuate the ship, as it was only a matter of time before the whole Fleet fell. There was chaos. All Knights fled to the escape pods and were jettisoned towards the planet. With all the commotion, I barely managed to make it to an escape pod. A lot of others had to share, and, while I survived at least, I suspect many weren't as lucky as I."

Entry 2: The Cradle

"I fell from the frying pan, and, it seemed, into the fire. The crash was devastating. My vitals were damaged, and I was put in stasis while life support mended my broken body. I had flashes of my life up 'till that point, and I was certain I was to die there. Fortunately, the planet's radiant energy kept the life support system going long enough for me to make a full recovery. I awoke to refreshing breaths of air, and an aching head. Dazed, I thought only of where I was, and how far I was from home. It was here that I realised that I had forgotten a lot about home. Still, I was contented with the sufficient knowledge I had, and turned my attention to my "not death". I was astonished, yet relieved. Most fortunate that I can live in this environment. I checked my escape pod, and it seemed to be far too damaged to do any more. I removed the energy tank from it and transferred the energy to my suit. How very lucky that my suit can run on this endlessly replenishing supply.

"I checked my HUD and, to my astonishment, the Uplink was working! The surviving Knights must have been busy in the last few- months? No, it can't be! The date must have malfunctioned... How long was I in stasis? How damaged was my body? Where... AM I? Oh, a message. It said something about a rescue camp nearby. It must have been built while I was out. What else have I missed? I decided to head out to that camp, armed with my standard-issue Proto Gear and an ample supply of questions."

Entry 3: The Camp

"After a few hours, the sun started to set just as I arrived in the aforementioned camp. Brimming with questions, I asked the Knights in charge everything I wished to know. They gave many helpful tips and said to get to a city called Haven as soon as I could. I went to the training grounds with some fellow recruits and we learned the basics of combat in this planetary machine. I stayed in camp a day or two, checking the local vendor for supplies. I had little money, so I could ill afford the wares. The vendor himself was twelve feet tall at least, and spoke with a rumbling voice. I was hesitant to approach him at first, as were the other recruits. He seemed friendly enough, however. It appears that these... beings are native to this world, but this one doesn't wish to engage in small-talk. Maybe there are more who can tell me about this place. To Haven!

"While at camp, I received an unusual message from a fellow calling himself Saxton Hale. This gentleman also requested me to visit Haven, but for reasons that would benefit his company. How did he get this Uplink address? I hope he isn't some sort of inter-dimensional businessman. I have enough problems as is."

Entry 4: Haven Town

"Travelling across these immense shifting paths had taken its toll on me. Incredible, how these gears have been here since before Skylark's Fall. Incredible still, how vicious its denizens can be. Despite my efforts, I was battered, bruised, and aching. My slumber had weakened me, something I feel shamed for. The Knights who accompanied me through the Depths were not doing so well either. Eventually, after much torment and pain, we arrived at a bright, sunny city; Haven. This sprawling metropolis has been home to many of the Spiral Order for months now. I guessed that many would be able to direct me to any source of information. Cort, a Knight patrolling the Town Square, directed me to the Arcade, and also advised me to visit the Bazaar. I strolled through on my way to this "Arcade", wondering what to buy, what quality these weapons were, and where I was going. After a while, I found myself in what appeared to be a mass of gateways to the Clockwork depths below. I approached the most important-looking Knight I could find, Lieutenant Feron. I remembered him from my training. He visited the training grounds every day to check on the recruits. He seemed to recognise me too, for he greeted me as he would an old friend. Perhaps he's just naturally friendly. He told me of his assignment from Captain Ozlo, another familiar name, to oversee a mining operation in the Clockworks. Apparently, once the Skylark went down, it lost it's primary tearium core. The Clockworks, however, hold the key to getting every last Knight back home. If we could harness the boundless energy hidden deep at The Core, we could return. We just need to acquire certain minerals in order to create a traversable path to the Core, and we should be good to go. This task sounds dangerous, but I'll give it all I have if it means getting every last Knight off this mechanical death trap. Onward!"

Entry 5: Alliance

"It's been several days, and it seems I'm no closer to getting to the Core than I was when I first got here. One thing is certain, however. The innumerable lifeforms lurking under our very feet are bloodthirsty. I would hereafter recommend travelling in a group. To get back home, every last Knight must fight as one, or perish as many. Fortunately, I have earned the respect and admiration of a fellow Knight in my travels, and we are now in constant contact should we decide to band together and fight through the Depths. This Knight is called Meekish, member of a local guild. We first fought in a dense jungle, and were nearly killed by its inhabitants. Carelessness does not become us. Fortunately, I managed to stay conscious long enough to shoot down the snarling beasts before they made a meal of us. Together, we made it to a small rest stop several Depths below the surface, Moorcroft Manor. Regrettably, I had no decent equipment, having just the standard Proto Gear from home. Meekish suggested we part ways for the time being, and I gladly agreed, needing time to gather better equipment. We met again the next day, in the Bazaar, while I was organising a trade with some Knights for some crafting materials. He told me of a fierce beast dwelling in the Gloaming Wildwoods. I was intrigued. He said he was mounting an expedition to slay the dreaded creature, for it had taken the lives of many inexperienced Knights. I agreed to the challenge, and we set off to kill this monster. To the Gloaming Wildwoods!"

Entry 6: Forest of Shadows

"I expected to find some simple forest, and was unnerved to find... this. I never, in all my time spent in the forest back home, imagined entering a place whose trees blocked out the sun, plunging its inhabitants into darkness. I see now how this shadowy creature preys on the unwary. I have only seen what I trust to be the eyes of the beast. Luminous, red orbs, three on each side of its dark face, glowing like the fires of Hell, radiating the monster's malevolence. Meekish seems to be focused on reaching its den, but I grow more cautious with every step I take. On our journey to the woods, we encountered a couple of Knights. One, either out of fear or lack of energy, chose to exit to Haven. I do not blame him. The other, a Knight known as Sightt, stayed with us. As much as I admire her bravado, Sightt seems inexperienced... perhaps she, like myself, has never set foot in this cursed forest. Not too far now. Brace yourself, Snarbolax, for your end!"

Entry 7: Lair of the Snarbolax

"We found ourselves at the heart of the forest. I sensed eyes watching us, no doubt glowing red with the intent of murder. Following the path, we soon entered a large clearing, where bones littered the ground; This was it. I readied my newly-crafted Big Beast Basher, steeled for combat. The ground trembled beneath us, when suddenly the dreaded Snarbolax burst forth into the clearing. Our party dived for cover, shields raised to block the hedgehog-like spines being hurled at us like razor-sharp arrows. The beast darted left and right, dodging every attempt to strike it. How does it move so quickly? Does it simply burrow toward the smell of fresh blood? Or does it have an immense network of tunnels stretching throughout the entire forest? No time to wonder, as the monster chased after me, teeth snapping at my heels as I run for my life. Meekish and Sightt remained in the centre of the clearing, next to a thorny bushel, and a... bell. In our quest through the woods we saw similar bells that, when struck, played a sound whose frequency greatly weakened the beasts in its immediate vicinity. Perhaps... I ran toward Meekish, signalling to strike the bell when I was close enough, which he did. Success! The creature, who was completely immune to what few strikes we could make against its iron-strength spiny hide, was now stunned. No longer its original, ominous dark colour, it was now glowing yellow with vulnerability. Its six formerly red eyes were now a yellowish-green. We strike! Alas, we could only damage the creature a certain amout before it flared up again, furious at our luck in finding its weakess. It's now a game of cat and mouse, with the cat becoming more and more frenzied with each successful attack against it. After what seemed like an eternity of combat, the creature, grown tired of our relentlessness, charged, inflicting great damage on the three of us. Meekish hit the ground hard, Sightt was badly wounded, and I suffered a concussion and started to see... things... the forest? My home? The hallucinations did not last, as Meekish dragged me to my feet, gave me a health capsule, and pressured me to finish the fight, going in my stead as the bait. As the Snarbolax chased him, closing in on his sprinting legs, I leapt forth, rang the bell, and swung my weapon with all my remaining strength. The beast stumbled, then fell, pickaxe buried in its skull. We had won! Meekish, ecstatic, prised several fangs from the mouth of our former opressor as I tended to Sightt, who been gravely wounded in the battle. I offered what little health I had to her, asking her to accept, and she did so gratefully. Meekish divided the fangs among us evenly as tokens of our victory, and we headed toward the exit. There were plenty of spoils, no doubt dropped by fallen Knights. As we departed for Moorcroft Manor, I wondered: This creature had taken the lives of many. With all its ferocity, it could hardly be an endangered species. Could there be more?"

Entry 8: Armament

"Once I arrived back at Haven, I realised that our journey to the planet's core would not be that easy. I knew I had to arm myself, but how? With what? Fortunately, my fellow Knights had the answer. The most highly-decorated Knights in the Order used alchemy to create their base armour, weapons, shields and so on, and increase their strength tenfold. I could use a primary armour for swordfighting, and perhaps some specialised armour sets for specific strategies. I spent days gathering the materials and energy, and, in time, I crafted my own Cobalt armour set. It may not be much, but it should serve me well for now. I still needed a sword, so I managed to acquire a recipe for a Calibur from Kozma the quartermaster. It appears that the Calibur is also a part of the standard-issue Cobalt set, much like the Blaster and Blast Bomb, which I also crafted afterwards. Soon after my alchemic success, I ventured back to the Clockworks to test out my new gear."

Entry 9: Biting the Hand

"In the time following the Snarbolax's demise, it appeared I was correct. There were more. Fortunately, I have found a way to combat them, and all Beasts for that matter. The fangs Meekish procured from the first Snarbolax will serve as the bedrock of this new equipment set. I took the fangs to Brinks, the token trader in the bazaar, who said he'd be happy to help me fashion them into a weapon. According to the survival guide posted in the Uplink, piercing damage is not only dealt by beasts, but is also their weakness. With the fangs, Brinks and I were able to fashion a fencing sword of sorts. He coined the term Snarble Barb as its official name. He requested that I use my new weapon to bring him more fangs to make more items. I did so, and I received a new shield, the Bristling Buckler. Lastly, though it took a while, he fashioned a bomb, the Spine Cone. I thanked him for his services, and hoped to work with him again soon. Ironic, how the beasts I slew provided me with the very weapons they are most vulnerable to. Perhaps there are more items I can acquire from the kings and aristocrats of monsters. I can only hope, but lady Fortune had guided me thus far. I trust her judgement."

Entry 10: Catching Up

"I haven't been able to access my journal to update my personal logs for several months now. How long has it been? Definitely before the Dark Harvest Festival, anyway, and that was around... what month is it back home? Nevermind. I guess I've just been busy the last few months, what with the ever-growing threats from below the ground, the grand mission at hand, and, though I see no reason to, a lot of celebration. It seems that Cradle isn't as different from home as I thought, or at least, the customary festivals the natives celebrate from time to time. We have Hallowe'en, they have the Dark Harvest Festival. We have Christmas, they have Winterfest. I guess the other Knights need to take a break once in a while. I certainly do. The pressure mounts after a while and the celebrations sort of... I don't know, make me feel at home, but, at the same time, not, if you catch my meaning. I guess I've been a bit homesick. Wonder what Draoi and the clan are doing now? *sigh*"

Entry 11: Frigid Fortresses and Sub-Zero Skirmishes

"In the early days of Winterfest, a time for celebration in Cradle, I decided to obtain some money to buy myself a little present. Rumors surrounding a certain part of the Clockworks convinced me to brave Tier Two and locate the Royal Jelly Palace, home of all slimes, lichens, and general oozing lifeforms. It appeared the rumors were well-founded, as I found three highly-equipped Knights waiting at Moorcroft Manor, ready to fight down to the slimes' domain. The team's leader was a Knight called Eucliwood-Scythe, who, with his mighty sword Acheron, wrought havoc on all who opposed him. Second-in-command was Shoutentenshu, the team's strategist, who helped devise the most profitable path downwards, as well as some highly effective battle plans. The team's bomber was Philipspiral, freezing all foes with a readily-charged Shivermist Buster, allowing Eucliwood to slice them to ribbons. I had found a good team, indeed. I only hoped that Fortune would remain to guide us to victory.

"The palace was freezing, and I doubt it was from the Winterfest snow. Several times I found myself slipping on the icy ground. The foes were unforgiving, but I was grateful towards the fighting, because it kept my blood warm and flowing. The palace itself looked well-constructed, but derelict. Somehow I doubt the slimes built it, but merely found it or claimed it by force. As much as I hate to admit it, the latter seems most likely. These slimes are the strongest I have ever faced. Did you know there are slimes that explode when defeated? Neither did I. I was also unaware of the dangers of lichens, and how, in great numbers, they overwhelm, and destroy. I am grateful to my team, because without them I may not be here right now.

"Eucliwood told me that at days end I would share the sweet taste of a Jelly Gem. Since the cold was making me hungry, I started to hope that it was a type of food. In hindsight, I suppose it was a foolish thought, but what followed was very sweet indeed."

Entry 12: Battle Royale

"The throne room. It was quite the sight to behold. There were banners and flags lining the walls, emblazoned with a particular crown emblem. The previous occupants' coat of arms, perhaps. The team, clearly unappreciative of their surroundings, set to work on devising a strategy. Philip would freeze the little slimes, preventing them from joining with and healing their king. Eucliwood could then use his sword to attack the king directly. Feeling left out, I offered to supply vials and health capsules if necessary. Poison was recommended, of course. Once we had the strategy out of the way, Philip primed his bomb, and we prepared for battle.

"The portcullis slammed shut behind us, sealing us in with the slimes now oozing their way into the 'arena'. Making its waythrough the lichenous legion, was the Royal Jelly himself. Its crown glittered with the foretold gems Looking back on it, I suppose "himself" is a rather loose term. Pondering its gender was a quite stupid thing to do at that moment, though. Abruptly losing my train of thought to an oncoming slime, I braced myself for a long battle, remembering my encounter with the Snarbolax. Right on cue, however, came Philip's Shivermist Buster, encasing the slimes in ice. Eucliwood charged forth, almost enthusiastic about the fight, and plunged Acheron into the liquid ooze that was the jelly king.

"This went on for a few seconds. I threw a poison vial, then a curse vial, hoping to lessen the difficulty. Eucliwood needed no assistance. The tiny slimes were frozen, the king recoiled in agony at the mere presence of his blade, and he was too quick for the king's retaliation. That is, until it lost its crown and became enraged. Spinning around at breakneck speed was one way to vent your frustration, I guess. I was knocked down, completely unprepared, and felt that familiar headache I received from the Snarbolax: More of my past now unlocked. This time it was my training at the castle back home, no doubt brought on by my regal surroundings. Philip helped me to my feet just as Eucliwood finished off the Royal Jelly. It shook violently, sending pieces of it flying everywhere, and finally exploded. In celebration, we raided the treasure vault, relieving the king of his now unnecessary wealth. Eucliwood handed me the fabled Jelly Gems, and we left the palace for Emberlight. I still wonder if the polyps can not only heal the king, but resurrect him. Still it was a fun battle, but guess how long it took. About a minute. Disappointing. I'll go back there sometime soon. Maybe I'll find more treasure hunters."

Entry 13: Ironclaw's Lair

">cough< Damn, I'm in a fair bit of pain right now... to those just tuning in, I'm currently in the Ironclaw Munitions Factory, trying to find and destroy those giant deathbots those insane Gremlins have built. HQ probably had no idea what the hell those little screwballs keep down here. Since I got here, I've been shot, slashed, blown up by missiles of all things, electrocuted, clobbered, and I think I may have suffered slight psychological scarring. This is nuts. The Knight I came here with is gone. Don't know if he's catatonic or comatose, but he's gone. I hope he's just unconscious. We've sent him up to the surface for medical attention. Oh, by "we", I mean that I contacted a friend of mine once my former partner and I got the living tar kicked out of us. It's been noticeably better with him helping me. Wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for him.

"I say "him" because, well, he doesn't have a name. At least, he never gave one. It's odd, but, then again, the last few months have been way more bizarre. He seems remarkably cool under pressure, and his fighting prowess is quite prodigious. One thing about this place, though: it's almost what I expected from the Gremlins. They toy and tinker with little care, so it shouldn't have surprised me that this Factory is hazardous, with collapsing walkways and bombs just lying around. Sometimes I see them, in the distance, through the smoke, watching me. Those red eyes... not as scary as the Snarbolax, but these creatures are sentient, which is extremely dangerous given their numbers and passion for mayhem.

"We're close to the end now, but I sense one more obstacle... maybe my senses have heightened somehow, or it's just instinct. Either way, I'm nervous. I don't know if I can- hold on. Hey! Over here! I think I found something!"

"What is it?"

"Blueprints, looks like. Are these the mechs?"

"Think so... these specifications... remarkable. Right, standard attacks won't do much good. See the plating? But what if... I have an idea."

"Which is...?"

"No time. Elevator's this way. Follow me!"

"No, wait a minute- damn. May Fortune guide us."

Entry 14: The Roarmulus Twins

"I can see them... those damn Grem- *static*- watching us... and I think I know why. Their mach- *static*- here somewhere. This must be the main chamber- My partner- *static*- tell me his plan, and I'm- *sudden jump in recording*- don't make it, get this message to- *static, then mechanical whirring* What was th- *static*- Oh, my- *static, followed by a terrifying roar*- RUN!

"Hey! What's the pla- *static*- kay, I'll- *explosion*- WHAT THE F- *static*- UCK! Damn it, I said DUCK- *static, then more explosions*- firing missiles! Wait, what are you- *series of explosions, the sound of a polarity switch, more explosions, then a crash* Woah! Nice!"

"Told you I had a plan, Sca! Whaddaya say we show 'em how the Knights do things?"

"Way ahead of- *audio skip*- what now? They're moving around! *static*- assume I'm drawing their fire, then? Great. *various explosions, more static and audio skips* Now what are they doing? Holy- *electrical noises*- lasers?! Quick, use the walls! *polarity switch sound*- No, wait!- *violent static, electrical arcing sounds, then an agonising scream. The recording ends.*"

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