Earth's Depths

Earth's Depths is a long level 23 quest that begins when one talks to Larry Sheldon in the metal palace hovering over the kingdom of Shadow. The quest is centered around being trained as a cycocorruptstorian of The Second Layer. It has six stages that involve story, combat, and puzzles.

#### Stage 1:

Larry Sheldon: "Ah, hello. You look like you could help me. I'm currently working on a big and complicated project but I seem to have left my notes somewhere in this maze of metal and cannot find them. Do you think you could help me? I last saw them in the library, section FRQ. Try not to read any of it please."

-You must then journey to the library in the metal palace which is on the second floor and pull on the correct book-

You come to a vast library of towering shelves. Larry said it would be in section FRQ so you slowly try and find your way to it. As you reach it, you notice that there are three sections labeled FRQ, each with one book. The first one says Foundation, the second one says Foundation and Empire, and the third one says Second Foundation. You do not know what any of those mean but Sheldon is probably waiting for you.

-Listed below are the three options-

* When pulling on Second Foundation, it does not slide easily into your hand, but you really have to carefully wedge the book to get it out. As it slides clear, you notice superglue where the book had been standing and realize that the book probably did not move on purpose.

* When pulling on Foundation and Empire, it does not slide easily into your hand, but you really have to carefully wedge the book to get it out. As it slides clear, you notice superglue where the book had been standing and realize that the book probably did not move on purpose.

* When pulling on Foundation you hear a click and the bookshelf slides back into the wall, revealing a hidden staircase. Marveling at the cleverness of Larry Sheldon you descend and find a table with a stack of notes on it. You can't help reading a few of the page titles but they make no sense. Shadows? Tractor? Inselphilograph? Mazenda? Grabbing the papers, you make your way back down to Sheldon.

Larry Sheldon: "Ah, good. You brought my notes. Want to know something interesting? You are not corrupted. Very few people are like you and me, not being even a little corrupted. Everyone else gets corrupted, though very, very slowly, more like a slow darkening of the mind than an immediate takeover. I have been trying to figure out the mechanics of the corruption. How it takes over entities, why it only corrupts some, and what it will do in the future. I gave gathered people that cannot be or are not corrupted to assist me. They are called cycocorruptstorians and are part of The Second Layer. Will you join us?"

-It is possible to say no to his invitation but it is not recommended to because you will not get any reward. The quest ends here if you do say no-

-If saying yes, the quest continues as below-

Larry Sheldon: "Great. We will begin your training right away. Step right over here."

He motions to a door and beckons you. You begin to descend a long curving staircase.

#### Stage 2:

Larry Sheldon: "Welcome to the headquarters of The Second Layer."

It is a simple room, though enormous. There are around a hundred desks around the room, fourty or so occupied with occupants studying things or scribbling furiously.

Sheldon: "Come over here, and take a seat. You must first learn to decipher the language of the corruption. It is not spoken, rather instructions sent mentally by whatever is the source of the corruption. Here are some mental codes that are being sent to a zombie in a nearby room. Try to figure out what instructions are being sent to him."

He hands you a tablet with many wavy lines drawn on it. The image of the tablet is below:

-In order to decipher the mind waves, you must look at the desired frequency and note each spot where the waves interact at that level. Note the E is repeated. You will then re-organize the letters to form 'escape' and you must share that with Larry Sheldon-

Larry Sheldon: "Very good, you are adept at this. Go ahead, and open the door over there."

As the heavy door opens, you hear a ground and then a rattle. Looking into the room you see a zombie in an iron cage, trying to break through the bars with his teeth...

#### Stage 3:

Larry Sheldon: "You must now learn how to predict the brain waves that will be received. Talk over there with Hoober Mello."

Hoober Mello: "Another recruit! This is great! We are growing! Watch out corruption! Anyways... Yes, anticipating waves. A simple but vital skill to fight. Look at this tablet and match up what you think goes to what."

He hands you a tablet with foreign characters on it. The image of the tablet is below:

-You must match the symbols to their correct circumstances. Once you do, talk to Hoober Mello again-

Hoober Mello: "Good. A quick learner. You see, each one of these is a common mind wave. The fifth, when a creature is being corrupted; the rest after corruption; when in a certain situation. By learning these situations one can begin to learn how corrupted will act and move which can help greatly thoughout your journies. Go talk to Sheldon again.

#### Stage 4:

Larry Sheldon: "Mello taught you the basic situations but now there is a problem.