The Legacy of Vashna (15 page)

You scan the brooding sky, using your ability to see in the ultraviolet and infrared light spectrums. Your advanced Kai skills enable you to see and track the flying creatures as they circle slowly around their lair and come swooping down to attack you.

You draw your weapon and, in the ultraviolet spectrum, you detect that an aura of protection is sheathing it from the extreme temperature of this domain. Then a hideous shriek splits the air as the first of the beasts dives upon you.

Lavas:
COMBAT SKILL
 44   
ENDURANCE
 42

You may evade this combat after five rounds by
turning to 276
.

If you win the combat,
turn to 3
.

You have destroyed all of the ghostly creatures that were attacking you, but you are mindful that there are still hundreds of these malevolent spirits circling the area. You stand with your horse at the rear of the shallow cave, your weapon ready in hand, and pray to Kai and Ishir to keep you both safely hidden. Gleefully, the Vortexi ride the raging storm for more than an hour until eventually it dies and they slowly disappear.

An uneasy calm descends upon the land. You sense that the danger has passed and try to get some rest, but the recent memory of your ghastly confrontation is still vivid in your mind which makes it impossible for you to sleep: lose 3
ENDURANCE
points.

Furthermore, unless you possess Grand Huntmastery, you must now eat a Meal or lose an additional 3
ENDURANCE
points.

Turn to 337
.

The Elder's probe breaks through your defence and he suddenly realizes that you are an intruder. He pulls at your robe and tears it open, revealing your leather tunic and breeches. Recognizing them at once to be Sommlending in origin, he gasps with shock as he guesses at your true identity.

‘Seize him!’ he bellows, and a score of acolytes spring forward to obey the command. You draw your weapon and fight them with breathtaking skill and valour, but eventually you are overcome by the sheer weight of their numbers. By the time they have disarmed you and pinned you to the rocky ground, more than thirty of them lie slain or seriously injured in a heaped circle around where you lie.

You stare back defiantly at the ring of grim torchlit faces that loom over you. Then the face of the Elder comes into view and he sneers with disdain. He places the tip of a glowing wand to your forehead and suddenly there is an explosion of white light. Sadly for you, it is the last sensation you will ever experience.

Your life and your quest end here, on the trail to the Maakengorge.

The shops and hovels which sandwich this narrow street show no visible signs of life. Heavy iron bars and stout oaken shutters secure their every portal, understandably a necessary precaution in this villainous city. You are beginning to lose hope of finding the Crooked Sage Inn, when suddenly you notice a pale yellow light streaming from the doorway of a nearby building. As you ride closer, you see a sign hanging above the door. It shows a black bear standing upright on its hind legs, and in its forepaws it grasps a placard which says:

If you wish to enter the furriers' shop,
turn to 226
.

If you choose to ignore it, you may continue along this street by
turning to 244
.

The howling phantoms come swirling out of the storm. They encircle the great shimmering arch in a long, unbroken chain, and then, one by one, they peel away to dive at the place where you are standing. Guided by your Kai instincts, you raise the Deathstaff and whirl it around your head — once, twice, three times …

An ominous hum radiates from its haft. There is a crackle of static electricity and the damp air seethes with restrained, undischarged power. A thread of mist issues from the staff's tip and builds rapidly into a spinning cyclone that ensnares the Vortexi and prevents them from reaching you. In desperation, you sense them pooling their immense psychic energies in an attempt to break out of this whirling prison and attack you.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
.

If you possess Kai-surge, add 4 to this number. If you possess Kai-screen, add 2. If you possess Assimilance, add 1.

Also, if your current
ENDURANCE
points total is 18 or more, add 1; if your current
ENDURANCE
points total is 17 or less, deduct 1.

If your total score is now 3 or less,
turn to 206
.

If it is 4–8,
turn to 305
.

If it is 9 or more,
turn to 138
.

Tied to a stone obelisk in the centre of the quay square are three Acolytes of Vashna. They are guarded by two Vakovarian brigands who keep themselves amused by bullying and tormenting them.

For the past hour the sky overhead has become increasingly grey and thundery, with occasional storm flashes illuminating the northern shore. Now this storm is crossing the lake and the lightning is beginning to strike dangerously close to the quay. The brigands seemingly ignore this danger, so preoccupied are they with their petty cruelties, but then something appears on the surface of the lake which commands their attention.

Illustration IX
—Suddenly, a massive longboat emerges from the wall of fog and comes speeding towards the quay.

A massive bank of grey-white fog is rolling across the water towards the quay at an unnatural pace. When it is just a few hundred yards from the shore, a volley of lightning bolts comes hurtling from its core to explode against the quayside wall with devastating effect. Several brigands are incinerated where they stand, leaving nothing but glowing piles of ash to mark their passing. Then, suddenly, a massive longboat emerges from the wall of fog and comes speeding towards the quay. Glowing bolts of energy dart from its prow to explode upon the deck of the Vakovarian ship. One of these bolts passes high between the masts and arcs through the air towards the quay. You watch with mounting horror as it comes speeding directly towards you.

If you possess the Sommerswerd,
turn to 176
.

If you do not possess this Special Item,
turn to 149
.

Galvanized into action by the fear of what will happen should the Demoness be allowed entry to this world, you cast your eyes and Kai senses across the symbols which are engraved upon the crystal surface of the uppermost tier. Then, in a sudden flash of inspiration, you realize that the symbols themselves are the key to the activation of the Shadow Gate.

You study the symbols and determine that a sequence must be completed in order for you to be able to close the Shadow Gate.

Study the following grid of numbers carefully. When you think you know the missing number,
turn to the entry
which bears the same number as your answer.
¹³

If you cannot solve the problem,
turn to 235
.

You throw yourself flat against Bracer's neck and the bolt parts your hair as it whistles past your head. Unharmed, you reach the cover of a dense pine copse where you quickly dismount. Having secured Bracer's reins to a tree, you move back to the edge of the copse to try to catch a glimpse of your attackers. You have no difficulty seeing them: a dozen brigands, armed with crossbows and swords, are rushing through the undergrowth directly towards your hiding place.

If you possess a Bow and wish to use it,
turn to 330
.

If you do not,
turn to 136
.

The moment you step through the archway you feel an electrifying jolt run through your body, and snake-like tendrils of blue-white energy arc from the rim of the arch to the hilt of the Sommerswerd. A gasp of astonishment arises from the acolytes, audible even above the howling wind.

‘We have an intruder in our midst!’ screams Cadak, levelling his wizard's staff at you accusingly. You fight the paralysing effect of the current and tug the sun-sword free of its scabbard. For a moment the current weakens as it is absorbed and neutralized by the Sommerswerd's divine energy, but then the tip of Cadak's staff ignites with a crimson flame and the current intensifies anew, numbing your limbs with its insidious effect.

‘Ha! I know you, intruder,’ yells Cadak maniacally. ‘You are Lone Wolf, the doomed hero of a doomed realm. You are a fool to come here, Kai Lord. Your powers are no match for those of Naar, the King of the Darkness.’

With this he turns to the acolytes and throws up his hands triumphantly.

‘This night we shall celebrate a double victory, my brethren. The resurrection of Lord Vashna and the destruction of Grand Master Lone Wolf!’

The acolytes scream their approval, but their cheer is drowned by the ever-increasing noise of the storm. Then you see that the storm itself is changing. A huge vortex of whirling cloud is descending from the heavens, a tornado whose deadly funnel is reaching down towards you. Then the tip of the roaring plume touches the ground at your feet and, with a terrifying suddenness, you are torn from the energy curtain and sent hurtling through the air towards the dark centre of the towering arch.

Turn to 60
.

You cease firing, having decided to conserve your remaining Arrows for later. After a few minutes the brigands suspect that one of their bolts has found its mark and they come creeping forwards.

You retreat into the copse, using your Magnakai skills of Invisibility to keep you hidden from the advancing brigands. They pass you, enabling you to circle around behind them. You have outwitted them but you are still anxious that they may find Bracer. You move to higher ground in order to get a better view of the copse and, from a vantage point among the boulders, you observe their leader and three of his henchmen hiding nearby, crouched behind the bough of a fallen tree.

If you wish to fire an Arrow at the brigand leader,
turn to 304
.

If you possess Kai-alchemy and wish to use the spell of
Mind Charm
,
turn to 212
.

If you decide to wait and observe the brigands a little longer,
turn to 98
.

You hurry down towards the circle of boulders, dragging your frozen horse behind you, eager to get him out of this icy gale. You are twenty yards from your goal when you are brought skidding to a halt by your hunting senses — something is wrong here. You listen and, to your horror, you detect the clacking of fangs and the scent of blood and greasy fur. Suddenly the clacking ceases and a terrifying howl arises from the far side of the boulders.

If you wish to mount your horse and gallop away from here,
turn to 309
.

If you choose to draw your weapon and investigate what lurks on the other side of these boulders,
turn to 208
.