Legion of Shadow (31 page)
As the cold, grey rain continues to fall, the idea of spending a night in a warm castle suddenly sounds very appealing. Turn to
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277
There is thunderous applause from the stalls. You may now take one of the following as your victory spoils:
Left hook | | Tri-horned hat | | Buccaneer’s rapier |
(left hand: fist weapon) | (head) | (main hand: sword) | ||
+1 speed +2 brawn | +1 magic +2 armour | +1 speed +1 brawn | ||
Ability: | Ability: | Ability: |
‘Whoop! What a fight!’ booms the announcer, as he swoops over the arena floor. ‘Let’s hear it again for our new rookie!’
The crowd roar their approval once again, as you head back into the side-tunnel. Bart and his ogre, Knuckles, are waiting for you. The thin man is hopping up and down in excitement, waving a
pouch of money in the air.
‘Oh, listen to that sweet jingle-jangle! Music to my ears!’ He opens the pouch and spills some of the gold into your hands. ‘A splendid performance and there’ll be plenty
more where that came from. Of that, I am sure.’ (You have gained 30 gold crowns.) turn to
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The boy is small and fast, weaving expertly between the tight crowds of shoppers. To catch up with him you will have to take a
speed
challenge.
Speed | |
Town chase | 10 |
If you are successful, turn to
354
. Otherwise, turn to
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.
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You search through the drawers, but find little of interest, except for some sheets of blank parchment and two pots of black ink. One item does catch your eye, however. It is an
envelope addressed to a Lord Wellsbourne. The seal has already been broken.
You open the envelope and pull out the note. It reads:
My dear Wells,
I hope this letter finds you in good health after your long journey. It pains me to bring you sour news, especially as we both know the significance of the count’s interest in the
welfare of our estate. I urged you to attend the ball to further our relations with the count, however, in giving you this counsel I fear I may have put you in grave danger.
There is a talk of a wytchfinder in Mistwood. Reports say that he is one of the best, a confessor who answers only to the king. I urge you to be on your guard. There is no knowing when
and how he might strike. Keep a guard with you at all times. Two or three if you can – we know what wytchfinders are capable of.
If we are clever, the king’s meddling could work in our favour. If the count is removed from play, then Baron Greylock would be the rightful heir to Castle Crookhollow. Yes, my
beloved – we both know he has shown a keen interest in our fair Gwendolyn. His rise to power would be a most advantageous situation . . . for the both of us.
Feed well my darling and raise your glass high, a toast to the wealth and power that will soon be ours.
Your true love, J.
The note makes little sense to you; it sounds like the typical plotting and back-stabbing that is commonplace amongst the nobles. However, the mention of the witchfinder piques
your interest. Perhaps he is already in the castle – and if so, that might make him a valuable ally.
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‘What!’ shrieks Fetch, when you tell him the news. ‘You disobeyed me! Now you will pay for your foolish mistake!’ The hooded man draws a knife from his
robes and lunges at you. You must now fight:
Special abilities
Dark disciple: All your hero’s rolls of
automatically become a
when fighting this sinister foe.
If you defeat Fetch, turn to
76
.
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You grab the nearest harness and saddle, and then enter one of the stalls. Inside, a chestnut mare is frantically struggling against its tether. The beast’s nostrils are
flared, its bulging eyes rolling nervously in their sockets. The raging storm has clearly panicked the beast.
A rumble of thunder shakes the stable walls. Rearing up onto its hind legs, the horse breaks loose, dragging its hitching post from out of the ground. You try and dodge out of the way of the
frightened animal but you are struck by one of its flailing hooves.
Everything fades to black as you slump to the straw-covered floor, blood trickling down your face. In the distance you can hear gun shots . . . then you lose all consciousness. Turn to
424
.
282
‘Whoa, mister! You don’t waste any time, do yer?’ The boy removes his cap and scratches his scruffy, blond hair. ‘Well, information like that is gonna
cost yer.’ He holds out his cap and gives you a cheeky grin. ‘Five gold ones, and I’ll tell yer all I know.’
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The giant mud golem collapses, splattering you in a shower of rank-smelling sludge. After wiping the thick gloop from your face, you wade through the mud to the objects that you
spied earlier. You may now take any/all of the following:
Ashen staff | | Champion’s blade | | Mottled cloak |
(main hand: staff) | (left hand: sword) | (cloak) | ||
+1 speed +2 magic | +2 speed +1 brawn | +1 speed +1 armour | ||
(requirement: mage) | Ability: |
After you have made your choices, you clamber out of the mud pool and leave the cave, taking the passageway north. Turn to
361
.
284
The moment you step inside the cabin, the driver cracks his whip and the carriage lurches into motion. You find yourself falling into the seat next to Lady Roe, who smiles at
you as she pulls the door closed. It may have just been a trick of the light, but you were almost sure you saw fang-like incisors protruding from her gums.
Another lurch forces you to grab hold of your seat. Looking out of the window, you see the forest whipping by in a dark blur, its twisted branches illuminated by the staccato flashes of
lightning.
The carriage sweeps round the base of a hill, taking a narrower path through the forest. You are soon hemmed in all sides by the trees, their branches and twigs scratching at the windows.
At last the trees start to thin, as the land rises abruptly towards a set of jagged peaks. And there, standing in isolation on the edge of a black pinnacle of rock, is a castle. It is fashioned
from the same black stone as the surrounding mountains, its spindly towers looking like dark fingers clawing at the sky. There is nothing about the place that looks warm or inviting.
‘Do you like it?’ asks Lady Roe eagerly, her pale features momentarily lit by a flash of lightning.
You force a nervous smile as the coach rattles across a narrow bridge and passes into a cobbled courtyard, shrouded in a pale mist. Turn to
387
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285
You slice open the maggot’s belly, backing away as green slime and white acid pour out of its body onto the floor of the tunnel. Eager to escape the noxious fumes, you
retrace your steps and retrieve your torch. It is then that you notice a jagged fissure in one of the tunnel walls. Curious as to where it might lead, you decide to explore it further. Turn to
212
.
