EDGE: I, Hero Quests: Demon Sea (4 page)

“I will have the rubies,” he hisses. His mouth opens, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. He pulls you towards them.

If you wish to use the Ruby of Power,
go to 8.

If you wish to use the Ruby of Magic,
go to 19.

You decide that it will be best to land. You direct Hergal towards Yushan and land near the harbour.

Your arrival creates a stir, and soon a crowd of people gather around to stare at you and the gryphon. Some mutter angrily about witchcraft, others cast envious eyes at Hergal. You realise that you cannot leave her with these people.

By using the power of the Ruby of Seeing, you communicate with the gryphon. You tell Hergal to fly out of the port and be ready for your return. She obeys, and heads off.

One of the crowd steps forward. “Hey, you there. What brings you to Yushan on the back of that beast?” he asks.

If you wish to tell this stranger the truth,
go to 14.

If you don’t want to tell him anything,
go to 27.

You thrash at the water as you try to swim away from the wolf sharks, but the creatures are too fast.

They twist and turn in the water in excitement. You let out a scream as one of the wolf sharks bites into your leg.

Your blood pours out, sending the sharks into a feeding frenzy. They move in for the kill, and the dark water turns to red foam.

You’ve become dinner for the wolf sharks! To start your quest again,
go to 1.

You don’t need the Ruby of Seeing to know that he is lying! “So where is the food?” you ask.

With a snarl, the grobblin rushes at you but you are too quick for him. Your sword pierces his body and he falls to the floor.

“You will never find the Old Man of the Sea. The Red Queen will stop you,” he gasps with his last breath.

You look around to check that no one has heard the scuffle, and then drag the body of the innkeeper into your room.

You decide to leave the inn immediately!

If you spoke to the sailors in the inn,
go to 20.

If you didn’t speak to the sailors, but wish to search for a ship,
go to 3.

If you want to fly across the sea on Hergal,
go to 31.

“I will give you the rubies, if you let me live…” you say.

The captain laughs and shakes his head. “You are in no position to negotiate. And, to be honest, I was only being polite. We’ll just take them!”

In an instant, the undead crew charge towards you. There are just too many to fight, and you are quickly overcome. You feel several bites on your arms before you pass out.

Hours later you awake and look at your body. You are dressed in pirate clothes! You have become one of the undead crew, destined to sail the Sea of Oblivion forever.

The Red Queen’s minions have defeated you. Put a stop to her evil plans and
get back to 1.

“I am on a quest for the Queen of Alba in her fight against the Red Queen and her husband, Mortha.”

At the mention of their names the crowd look worried and begin to move away. The man sheathes his sword. “Then I have found someone who is crazier than most adventurers. Luck be with you! But if I were you, I’d find a bed for the night. There are strange creatures that walk the streets of Yushan after dark. If you head to the square, there is an inn. Stay there until daybreak…” Before you can ask any more questions, he hurries away.

If you wish to head to the inn,
go to 33.

If you wish to find a ship,
go to 3.

“I don’t think so!” you cry out. You dive for the Ruby of Power that is balanced on the side of the throne. You know it will give you a chance. Narwul knocks you down before you get close. You grab hold of his trident — taking him by surprise — and wrestle it from his grasp. He responds by diving at you and piercing you with his tusks. You cry out in pain as the sharp ivory points tear through your skin.

You kick at him, sending him sprawling. The other sea creatures move in as you try to reach for the Ruby of Power, but you are too slow.

As you grasp for the throne, the Old Man of the Sea transforms before your eyes. His arms turn into dozens of tentacles and you are engulfed in his grasp. He squeezes you, forcing the breath out of your body and you pass out into blackness.

Go to 15.

You head up to your room and settle in for the night.

Some hours later, you wake suddenly. You can hear someone on the other side of the bedroom door. Silently, you get out of bed and reach for your sword.

You make your way to the door. Someone is trying to get into the room! You grab the handle and fling open the door.

The innkeeper is in the hallway; he is holding a candle.

You step forward. “What are you doing?” you demand.

“I was bringing your food!” he growls. “You made me jump!”

If you believe him,
go to 49.

If you don’t believe him,
go to 38.

As the Umibozu continues its attack, you run to the ship’s rail and are just about to dive overboard, when a hand grabs your shoulder.

“Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

It’s the pirate captain!

You try to twist out of his grasp, but it’s no good. Suddenly, one of the Umibozu’s pincer hands latches onto the captain and tugs him away. You quickly turn and dive overboard into the raging sea.

As you swim away you hear a howling sound, coming from beneath the waves. You look down and see dozens of fins heading towards you. The howling gets louder. It is a pack of wolf sharks! Your blood turns cold; these creatures can strip the flesh from a body in seconds!

The wolf sharks begin to circle around you.

If you wish to try to swim away from the creatures,
go to 37.

If you wish to use the Ruby of Seeing,
go to 13.

You drive Hergal forward, but the gryphon makes little progress. The roaring gets louder and the spray from the sea drenches you.

You suddenly realise why! Ahead of you are two giant waterspouts. They twist and turn, sucking up water from the sea hundreds of metres into the sky.

You change course, but to your horror, you find that they follow you! You realise that these are no ordinary waterspouts, they are giant living water creatures! As they close in on you, they open their huge gaping mouths and hundreds of decaying zombie sea birds fly out. They head towards you with their great beaks open!

If you wish to turn back,
go to 7.

If you want to fight the creatures,
go to 22.

“I will have my rubies back,” you say as you leap up and grab hold of the trident. You try to force Narwul backwards, but he is too strong for you.

He throws you to the floor and presses down with the trident across your chest. You struggle to free yourself but his tusks are at your throat. Slowly the ivory presses into your flesh.

You let out a brief scream as your throat is punctured and you pass out in pain.

Go to 15.

You know that it is a risk to go on board, but you are sure that the Ruby of Power will help you overcome any attackers.

You follow the dwarf up the gangplank and onto the ship. He takes you to the captain’s cabin. “Captain, this traveller wishes to come with us across the Sea of Oblivion.”

The captain looks at you. “Very well. We can give you passage today. But it will cost you ten gold pieces.”

You nod and give the captain the gold. “Welcome on board. Show our friend here around,” the captain tells the dwarf. “We cast off in an hour.”

You head out onto the deck. There are about twelve members of the crew. They stare at you as you make your way to your quarters.

The dwarf shows you a small cabin. “This is where you’ll sleep,” he says, and then leaves.

You lock the door and take out the Ruby of Seeing. “Are these sailors pirates?” you ask it.

Images of the crew attacking ships and stealing treasure flood into your mind. Your hunch was right — you are on a pirate ship!

If you want to get off the ship immediately,
go to 9.

If you wish to stay on the ship,
go to 23.

You pull out your sword just as the man thrusts forwards. The crowd moves back as a fight begins; the clang of your sword blades echoes in the night. You feel the Ruby of Power glow, and you twist and hook the man’s sword from his grasp. It clatters onto the ground. The man scrambles for his weapon, but you are too quick for him. In an instant your sword is at his throat. “I said my business is none of yours. Do you agree?”

The man nods his head.

You turn to the crowd. “Does anyone else wish to disagree with me?”

They shake their heads and move away.

You turn back to the man. “Now tell me where I can find lodging for the night.”

The terrified man tells you where to find the best inn in town.

“Now be gone, and remember your manners.” You kick his backside, sending him on his way, and then head to the inn.

Go to 10.

You decide not to tell the Old Man the truth.

“I was captured by pirates and they held me prisoner. I was cast overboard when an Umibozu attacked the ship. Luckily, your merpeople found me, before I could become fish food for the wolf sharks.”

The Old Man of the Sea shakes his head slowly. He gestures towards the Ruby of Seeing. “Even without using the power of this special jewel, I know that you are not telling me the whole truth, human. I will ask you one more time, why are you here in my world?”