The Buccaneers of Shadaki (23 page)

You take up your Kai Weapon and raise it above your head as you rush forward to deal the creature a mighty blow.

Tzoog:
COMBAT SKILL
 48   
ENDURANCE
 32

This creature is immune to Mindblast (but not Kai-surge). If you possess the Kai Weapon ‘Valiance’, add +8 to your
COMBAT SKILL
(instead of +5).

If you win this combat,
turn to 149
.

You hurry with Lord Rimoah through the corridors of the Tower of Truth towards the sound of the tolling bell, until at last you arrive at a chamber located below its vaulted presidium. Gathered here are the members of the High Council. They stand in a circle around the cloaked body of Lord Casis which lies upon a bed of shimmering crystals. A cocoon of light encases his frail form, its pale luminescence shedding an uncanny glow upon the faces of the surrounding elders. Rimoah joins them and, as you observe this eerie scene, you recall Lone Wolf's teachings at the Kai Monastery.

Illustration XIII
—They stand in a circle around the cloaked body of Lord Casis which lies upon a bed of shimmering crystals.

The Elder Magi are all that remain of the race of beings from whom all goodly magic stems. They were sent to Magnamund almost 10,000 years ago by the Gods Kai and Ishir to defeat Agarash the Damned, Naar's first champion, and they triumphed in their task. Yet, in a later age their numbers were decimated by a plague and the few thousands who survived this tragedy sought refuge here in Dessi. The Elder Magi have always aided Sommerlund and have been loyal and invaluable allies to the Kai. But now their ancient power is waning, and the few thousands who survived the Great Plague now number less than a hundred.

Suddenly the bell ceases to toll and you watch in awe as the fragile remains of Lord Casis gradually fade from sight. He has ended his time here upon Magnamund and has passed over into the Plane of Light, the ethereal domain of the Gods Kai and Ishir. Silently the remaining elders file out of the chamber. As Lord Rimoah passes, he beckons you to follow him.

‘You are the first Kai who has ever witnessed the ascension of an Elder,’ he says, as he takes you back to your room. ‘Alas, our power ebbs with each passing year, for this is the twilight of our existence here on Magnamund. Yet, we embrace our fate, for even as we weaken and fade so the power of the New Order Kai grows stronger. This is the dawning of your Age, Grand Master. You and your brothers shall carry forward the fight against Naar, and you shall be victorious.’

Turn to 310
.

Using your bare hands, you dig a hole in the soft loamy floor of the hut and burrow your way under the bamboo wall. It is a long and tiring method of escape (lose 2
ENDURANCE
points), but one that you accomplish successfully.

Turn to 308
.

You leap over the stunned creature to get to your Kai Weapon, but it senses your presence and blindly it lashes out at your legs with a sweep of its razor-sharp claws.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
. If you possess Grand Huntmastery, add 2 to the number you have picked. If your
ENDURANCE
score is 14 or lower, deduct 1. If your
ENDURANCE
score is 15 or higher, add 1.

If your total score is now 4 or less,
turn to 208
.

If it is 5 or more,
turn to 11
.

The city watch round you up and guard you at spear-point until two horse-drawn wagons arrive to take you away to the city gaol. As you are herded aboard these foul-smelling carriages, your Weapons, Kai Weapon, and Backpack Items are confiscated and dumped into a wooden crate beside the driver's seat. (On your
Action Chart
mark each of these items with an asterisk [*] to indicate that they are no longer in your possession, but do not erase them at this time. Any Special Items you possess are allowed to remain with you.)

At the officer's command the wagons move off at a speedy pace. After a few bruising minutes your wagon emerges from the gloomy streets and ascends a smooth ramp which passes through the daunting gate of Ghol-Tabras gaol. Above this gate flutters a flag which depicts a black serpent entwined around the blade of a silver scimitar. It is the personal emblem of Sesketera, the ruler of this city, a man not known for either his kindness or for his mercy.

Turn to 265
.

You dodge to your left as a second bolt of energy leaps from the amulet clutched in the elder's hand.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
. If you possess Grand Huntmastery, add 2 to the number you have picked.

If your total score is now 3 or lower,
turn to 79
.

If it is 4 or higher,
turn to 199
.

From out of the dark clouds there descends a winged horror that freezes the blood of all who gaze upon it. Heavily muscled and sheathed in a glistening green skin, this nightmarish creature lands upon the main deck and glares at the terrified crewmen through slitted eyes. Its wings shrink and melt into its shoulders and from its fang-filled mouth there issues a chilling hiss. In the next instant, it springs among the stunned crew to wreak carnage with its razor-tipped claws. In their terror, many men throw themselves into the sea to avoid the beast's deadly talons. Relentlessly it forges its way towards the stern and climbs the steps to the rear deck where it stares at Gemulkin hungrily. The captain fumbles to release himself from the wheel as the creature looms closer. Clearly it intends to slay him and you know you must act quickly if you are to save Gemulkin from a terrible fate.

If you possess a Bow and wish to use it,
turn to 165
.

If you possess Magi-magic and wish to use it,
turn to 47
.

If you possess Kai-alchemy and wish to use it,
turn to 313
.

If you possess neither a Bow, nor any of these skills, or if you choose not to use them,
turn to 181
.

You push yourself away from the parapet and roll across the deck in a desperate attempt to avoid being crushed beneath the falling section of mast. Your swift reactions save your life, for the shattered timber slams through the prow decking where moments before you had lain curled up in a ball. However, you do not move quickly enough to avoid being struck on the legs by the mass of trailing ropes and debris that falls in the wake of the broken masthead: lose 2
ENDURANCE
points.

Turn to 160
.

You place the Nobles into your Belt Pouch and the youth thanks you for your custom. As you turn to leave, he suggests that you ask after Captain Radyard at the tavern. You bid him goodbye and you heed his advice. As soon as you leave the emporium you make your way directly to the Freetrader's Tavern.

You push open the swing doors and enter a crowded taproom. Never have you seen so many different types of people and faces together in one place before, and it takes you a few moments to get over your initial surprise. Nobody pays you a second glance as you push your way through this exotic crowd of traders and travellers and make your way to the counter.

When you find the landlord you ask if he knows or has heard of Captain Radyard. The man laughs like a drain and nods his head enthusiastically.

‘Yes, yes, oh yes … Radyard. Him and his men stay here two nights ago. Fine men … good drinkers … fine fellows. They come here always when in Masama.’

The landlord goes on to say that he has not seen them since. He suggests that you ask at the Masama Warehouse. It is the place where they usually sell their cargo. You thank the landlord and turn to leave. As you reach the exit, you are tapped on the shoulder by a weasel-faced man who begs for a moment of your time.

‘Excuse me, sir,’ he says, ‘but I overheard you asking for Captain Radyard. I know the captain and I can take you to him. Only … well, I've a great thirst and I'm in sore need of some ale. Perhaps you would buy me an ale? Then I'd gladly take you to the captain.’

If you wish to buy the man an ale,
turn to 264
.

If you do not,
turn to 83
.

You aim and fire your Arrow at the looter as he raises his knife, and your shaft buries itself in his chest. As he spins to the ground, the other men push Chinn aside and come rushing at you to avenge their fallen comrade. You shoulder your Bow and draw your Kai Weapon in readiness to meet their attack.

Looters:
COMBAT SKILL
 34   
ENDURANCE
 29

If you win this combat,
turn to 257
.

Using your Kai camouflage skills, you step away from the door and press yourself into a shadowy recess in the corridor wall. Then, using your improved Discipline of Assimilance, you cause a noise to occur at the far end of the corridor. The guards react immediately; they grab their weapons and rush out of the guardroom to investigate the strange rumbling sound. As soon as they pass by, you slip inside the room and retrieve your confiscated equipment (you may now erase the asterisks from your
Action Chart
).

As you are sheathing your Kai Weapon into your belt, you hear the guards returning along the corridor. Looking around, you see that there is one other exit from this room — a heavy oak door which is banded with strips of black iron.

Turn to 314
.

Melchar excuses himself and then goes to another table where he talks with a bearded man wearing a three-cornered hat. When he returns he is smiling.

‘Old Captain Leonghi owes me a favour or two,’ he says, cocking his thumb towards the man. ‘He can't take you to Suhn but he'll take you as far as Nhang, and he's agreed to free passage. It's a good offer. You'd be mad to try to go south from here on foot — the Koltains are full of bandits. You'd never make it there alive, or at least not completely in one piece.’

You thank Melchar for his help and accept the captain's offer. He tells you that Leonghi will sail for Nhang in two days' time. As you have a day free in the city, Melchar invites you to go with him to the Caeno Derby tomorrow. He won two tickets in a dice game last night and he would be pleased to give one of them to you. You accept and agree to meet him here in the taproom for breakfast before leaving for the racetrack.

Turn to 110
.

You take a few faltering steps and then fall headlong to the ground. The canopy of branches swirls above your head and then grows dimmer. You fight the sensation but you feel yourself rapidly slipping away into a deep sleep. Sadly, it is a sleep from which you will never awaken, for the blowpipe dart was tainted with a deadly poison.

Your life and your quest end here in the jungle of Shadaki.

When you decline his offer of food, the bald man shrieks with rage and begins to curse you in a language that you do not recognize. Even so, the mere sound of his vile curses is enough to send a shiver of dread coursing down your spine, like a trickle of icy-cold water. He denounces you to the others as an agent of the City Council sent to spy on their meeting, and he orders them to attack and slay you. The men react slowly to his frantic commands. It is as if they are struggling to awaken from a deep sleep. You have no wish to fight these men and so you turn and run towards the park entrance to escape from them. As you reach the open gate, you glance over your shoulder to see that the bald man is preparing to hurl a dagger at your back.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
. If you possess the Disciplines of Grand Huntmastery
and
Grand Nexus, add 3 to the number you have picked.

If your total score is now 5 or less,
turn to 241
.

If it is 6 or higher,
turn to 135
.