*** No guts no glory!

The Gates of the Palace 
  You stand between two huge open portcullis, one to the north and 
one to the south.  A ceiling lofts above you, held up by a series 
of stone arches.  The walls to the east and west are covered with 
black scorch marks and pocked from splattered acid.  The stone 
floor is cracked and broken from countless upheavals and eternally 
stained with the deep red of dried blood.  You can continue 
further into the Palace to the north, or leave to the south.
 
[Exits: north south]
(White Aura) Vaerinuvean the elf is here.
Merelith the half-elf is here.
You yell 'Help!  I am being attacked by Merelith!'
You parry Merelith's divine power.
Merelith is in perfect health.

civilized <836hp 445m 981mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
You yell 'Help!  I am being attacked by Vaerinuvean!'
You dodge Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Merelith is in perfect health.

civilized <836hp 445m 975mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> No way!  You are still fighting!
Merelith is in perfect health.

civilized <836hp 445m 975mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
Merelith dodges your wrath.
Merelith parries your icy grip.
Merelith avoids your wrath at the last moment.
Merelith dodges your icy grip.
Merelith parries your wrath.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist and return an attack of your own.
Vaerinuvean is unaffected by your wrath!
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Merelith's divine power and return an attack of your own.
Your wrath DISMEMBERS Merelith!
You parry Merelith's wrath.
You parry Merelith's wrath.
You dodge Merelith's divine power.
Merelith has a few scratches.

civilized <836hp 445m 939mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> fle
fle
Before the Imperial Palace 
  The roads from the south, east and west converge here to form a great square.
The gates of the Palace lie open to the north.  The square itself is made
from the same fused black stone that all of the Imperial roads seem to be
constructed from.  However, here the smooth surface of the road has been
deeply etched to show a huge Symbol of the Imperial Codex.  At each of the
cardinal directions surrounding the Symbol you see smaller representations 
of the individual Sect Symbols.  Each of these details pass quickly, for 
your eye is almost immediately drawn to the black stone cross rising from 
the center of the great Symbol.
 
[Exits: north east south west]
A lizard strains against an iron chain around its neck.
You flee from combat!

civilized <836hp 445m 938mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> You aren't fighting anyone.

civilized <836hp 445m 938mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> n
n
The Gates of the Palace 
  You stand between two huge open portcullis, one to the north and 
one to the south.  A ceiling lofts above you, held up by a series 
of stone arches.  The walls to the east and west are covered with 
black scorch marks and pocked from splattered acid.  The stone 
floor is cracked and broken from countless upheavals and eternally 
stained with the deep red of dried blood.  You can continue 
further into the Palace to the north, or leave to the south.
 
[Exits: north south]
(White Aura) Vaerinuvean the elf is here.
Merelith the half-elf is here.

civilized <836hp 445m 937mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
You yell 'Help!  I am being attacked by Merelith!'
You parry Merelith's divine power.
Merelith has a few scratches.

civilized <836hp 445m 934mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> No way!  You are still fighting!
You yell 'Help!  I am being attacked by Vaerinuvean!'
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Merelith has a few scratches.

civilized <836hp 445m 931mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
Merelith parries your wrath.
Merelith parries your icy grip.
Merelith dodges your wrath.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Merelith's divine power and return an attack of your own.
Your wrath MANGLES Merelith!
You parry Merelith's wrath and return an attack of your own.
Your wrath DISMEMBERS Merelith!
You parry Merelith's divine power and return an attack of your own.
Your wrath MASSACRES Merelith!
Merelith is covered with bleeding wounds.

civilized <836hp 445m 907mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
With a quick twist Merelith moves to the side of your wrath.
Merelith dodges your wrath.
Your wrath MASSACRES Merelith!
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist and return an attack of your own.
Vaerinuvean is unaffected by your wrath!
You parry Merelith's divine power.
You parry Merelith's wrath and return an attack of your own.
Your wrath MASSACRES Merelith!
Merelith's wrath MASSACRES you!
Merelith's Amathylar, the Elven Blade of War glows a faint blue!
Merelith is covered with bleeding wounds.

civilized <758hp 445m 883mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> flur
Merelith pushes you into a nearby wall, ruining your attempt to flurry her!
Merelith is covered with bleeding wounds.

civilized <758hp 445m 883mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
Merelith painfully hyperextends your elbow!
Merelith's kansetsuwaza MASSACRES you!
Merelith is covered with bleeding wounds.

civilized <688hp 445m 883mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
Merelith parries your wrath.
Merelith dodges your icy grip.
Merelith dodges your wrath.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Merelith's divine power.
You dodge Merelith's wrath.
You parry Merelith's divine power.
Merelith is covered with bleeding wounds.

civilized <688hp 445m 856mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
Your wrath MASSACRES Merelith!
Your icy grip EVISCERATES Merelith!
Merelith dodges your wrath.
Merelith dodges your wrath.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike maims you!
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike misses you.
You parry Merelith's divine power.
You parry Merelith's wrath.
Merelith's divine power MASSACRES you!
Merelith is gushing blood.

civilized <579hp 445m 817mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
You hop to one side, getting out of the way of Merelith's kotegaeshi.
Merelith is gushing blood.

civilized <579hp 445m 817mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
Merelith parries your wrath.
Merelith parries your icy grip.
Merelith parries your icy grip.
Merelith dodges your wrath.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike EVISCERATES you!
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike DISMEMBERS you!
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You dodge Merelith's divine power.
You parry Merelith's wrath.
You parry Merelith's divine power.
You parry Merelith's divine power.
Merelith is gushing blood.

civilized <478hp 445m 772mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> 
Merelith parries your wrath.
Merelith dodges your icy grip.
Merelith parries your wrath.
Merelith parries your wrath.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike decimates you!
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike decimates you!
You dodge Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Merelith's divine power.
You dodge Merelith's wrath.
You parry Merelith's divine power.
Merelith is gushing blood.

civilized <424hp 445m 724mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 6 AM> flur
You start a vicious series of attacks with your swords.
Merelith partially parries your attack, but you still get through.
Your flurry DISMEMBERS Merelith!
Merelith partially parries your attack, but you still get through.
Your flurry EVISCERATES Merelith!
Merelith partially parries your attack, but you still get through.
Your flurry DISMEMBERS Merelith!
Merelith partially parries your attack, but you still get through.
Your flurry EVISCERATES Merelith!
Merelith partially evades your attack, but you still hit her.
Your flurry MASSACRES Merelith!
Merelith partially evades your attack, but you still hit her.
Your flurry DISMEMBERS Merelith!
You get in one more shot on Merelith as she flees.
Your parting blow MASSACRES Merelith!
Merelith is DEAD!!
You land the killing blow against Merelith.
The Phoenix Blade, 'Darkbane' vaporizes, returning to its true owner.
Merelith's hands are sliced from her dead body.

civilized <427hp 445m 571mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 7 AM> 
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike decimates you!
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike maims you!
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike maims you!
Vaerinuvean is in perfect health.

civilized <331hp 445m 547mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 7 AM> 
Vaerinuvean narrows his eyes and glares in your direction.
Vaerinuvean's heavenly wrath MASSACRES you!
Vaerinuvean is in perfect health.

civilized <257hp 445m 547mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 7 AM> 
Vaerinuvean dodges your wrath.
Your icy grip MASSACRES Vaerinuvean!
Vaerinuvean is unaffected by your wrath!
You dodge Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist MUTILATES you!
You sure are BLEEDING!
Vaerinuvean has some small but disgusting cuts.

civilized <215hp 445m 526mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 7 AM> 
Vaerinuvean is unaffected by your wrath!
Your icy grip DISMEMBERS Vaerinuvean!
Your icy grip EVISCERATES Vaerinuvean!
Vaerinuvean is unaffected by your wrath!
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Vaerinuvean is covered with bleeding wounds.

civilized <215hp 445m 511mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 7 AM> fle
fle
fle

Vaerinuvean is unaffected by your wrath!
Your icy grip DISMEMBERS Vaerinuvean!
Your icy grip misses Vaerinuvean.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You dodge Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike MUTILATES you!
You sure are BLEEDING!
Vaerinuvean's lightning strike decimates you!
You sure are BLEEDING!
You parry Vaerinuvean's cleansing fist.
Vaerinuvean is gushing blood.

civilized <152hp 445m 475mv 15314tnl (10.71%) 7 AM> A Hallway 
  Stone floors are scrubbed clean and worn smooth from the passing 
of countless feet.  The walls to the east and west are both 
decorated with huge murals depicting some the greatest 
achievements of civilization.  The hallway continues to the north, 
while a portcullis leads to the gatehouse to the south.
 
[Exits: north south]
You flee from combat!