The Stagnant Fortress

An eerie collection of specimens stored for an unknown purpose.

Inside the nauseating belly of the Marrow Engine (E2M4).

The Stagnant Fortress is the second episode of Strange Aeons. Ancient, dilapidated techbases comprise the episode, set against an apocalyptic wasteland backdrop. It heavily features conveyor belts, crushers, and arachnotron variants that shoot laser beams. It concludes with a brief visit to the Underworld (visited later in Out of the Aeons).

Throughout the episode, the player enlists the help of Ghouls in the form of Beam Revenants, which will eagerly fight monsters for him. Melee-only flayworms feature heavily in the bestiary.

Story

Spoiler Warning: Plot details follow.

After traveling to the Underworld and fighting a group of Dholes, the Traveler suffers a vision where he is eaten by a mob of Leng Spiders in an underground warren. He is revived by his ghoulish allies, and now believes that one of the gods of sleep has been guiding him to his son. When he returns to earth, feverish research reveals that the future site of the Stagnant Fortress was once occupied by an ancient temple to a forgotten god, possibly the very same god that now guides the Traveler through his dream quest. The Traveler sets course for ancient earth to make contact with the god.

Spoilers end here.

Levels

• E2M1: Beast Depot
• E2M2: Power Station
• E2M3: Ore Devourer
• E2M4: The Marrow Engine
• E2M5: Juggernaut
• E2M6: Eldritch Research
• E2M7: Underworld Gate
• E2M8: Siege of Pnath
• E2M9: Petting Zoo

Inspiration and development

The protagonist of The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath also allied himself with Underworld Ghouls during his journey. Like the conclusion of the episode, he became stranded on the Vale of Pnath and was rescued by them.