EDGE: I, Hero Quests: City of the Dead (4 page)

“And now you will allow us to leave?” you ask.

The Red Queen laughs. “Oh yes, but not as you are.” She holds out her hand and from it shoots a stream of light. It hits you, dropping you to your knees.

“Olderon, do your duty.”

Olderon steps forward. You are powerless to move as he takes the jar from your jacket. He opens it, takes out your soul and crushes it.

Your life has been taken from you! You are now one of the undead, another servant of the Red Queen.

You have failed at the last hurdle. To begin again,
go to 1.

You pull at Hergal’s reins as the deadly spears hurtle towards you. The gryphon twists and turns, but she cannot avoid all of the missiles. They pierce her side.

In desperation you reach for the leather pouch containing the Ruby of Magic, but you are too slow. The firebirds catch up with you and a skeleton leaps from the birds and attacks you. It knocks the pouch from your hands and the rubies fall into the valley far below.

You try to fight off the creature, but it is hopeless. Fire engulfs you as Hergal drops through the air. You let out a last scream that echoes round the Valley of the Demons. It is the last sound you will ever make.

You have failed in your quest. If you wish to begin again,
go to 1.

You reach for your sword, but the collector takes a dagger from his belt and plunges it into your chest. You drop to the floor. A stream of sparkling light pours from the wound in your chest and shoots into the air.

The old man grasps at it, but cannot catch it. He curses. “One soul that that got away…”

He turns away, leaving your lifeless body on the floor.

You have failed. To begin again,
go to 1.

As you shoot another arrow, the draug transforms into its original size. The arrow flies over its head. Before you can react, it leaps at you, knocking you to the ground.

The draug clutches at your throat and begins to tighten its grip. You struggle to break free and reach for the Ruby of Power, but the creature is too strong for you.

You feel the life being squeezed from your body. The draug howls in triumph as it slams your head against the rocky ground, and you pass thankfully into darkness.

To begin your quest again,
go to 1.

Without the rubies, you are helpless. Your enemies close in on you. You try to fight back, but you are soon overwhelmed.

Your flesh is pierced time and again, and your lifeblood pours from your body.

If you wish to begin your quest again,
go to 1.

You touch the crown and think that you could become what the Red Queen wanted to be — ruler of the world!

Then you shake your head. “The temptation is great,” you say. “But I do not wish for such power. I said I would return the crown, and so I will. In the meantime, you take care of it. I have felt its power and do not wish to be tempted again.”

You hand the crown to Olderon, who places it in Hergal’s saddlebag.

Olderon turns to you. “You have chosen wisely,” he says.

You smile.

“It is time to return home,” you say.

Go to 50.

After some time, you regain consciousness. You are standing in the hall of the Red Queen.

She and her husband Mortha sit in their thrones. “Bow before me,” demands the Queen.

You fall to your knees. “Yes, Mistress,” you reply, “I am your servant, now and forever!”

You have become one of the undead! If you wish to begin your quest again,
go to 1.

You realise that there is no way to destroy this creature, so you sprint for the gate. The skeleton follows, but you are too quick for it. You pass through the gate and slam it shut.

You begin to make your way through the city, passing beings including zombies, skeletons and wraiths — every one is undead! They stare at you, but allow you to go on your way. You think this is strange, but are glad you don’t have to fight all of them. You know that you have to find the Red Queen’s palace and the Ruby of Death.

If you wish to use the Ruby of Seeing,
go to 14.

If you wish to try to communicate with one of the undead beings,
go to 19.

You turn Hergal around and try to outfly the firebirds. However, the creatures are too fast. One of them draws level with you. You glance across and see the skeleton rider drawing back his arm and hurling a flaming spear at you. It misses you, but it strikes Hergal’s wing.

The gryphon gives a shriek of pain as her feathers catch alight. You pull the burning spear from her wing and beat at the flames, putting them out. More firebirds close in and their riders hurl their deadly missiles towards you.

If you want to use the Ruby of Magic,
go to 25.

If you wish to try to dodge the spears,
go to 37.

“I am listening,” you say.

Mortha steps forward. “We have been following your adventures. You have impressed us with your skill and bravery, but now you are here you have no chance of escape.”

“So you say,” you reply.

Mortha shakes his head. “You are brave, but foolish if you think you can defeat us here in our city.”

“I will die trying,” you say.

Mortha laughs. “But we do not wish to kill you! We wish to make you an offer.” He clicks his fingers and from out of the shadows steps a familiar figure.

“Olderon!” you cry.

A death wraith stands at his side, gloating. You realise that Olderon is now one of the Red Queen’s undead followers!

Mortha smiles. “This is what we propose. Give us the rubies and we will give life back to your companion, and you can leave. If not, we will take them anyway. What do you say?”

Olderon stares at you as you decide what you should do.

If you wish to attack Mortha,
go to 11.

If you wish to give up the rubies,
go to 36.

If you want to try to take the Blood Crown,
go to 16.

You reach into your pouch and grasp the Ruby of Power. You feel the warmth of its strength surge through your body.

One of the draugs sniffs and grunts at the air as it closes in on you. “I smell live flesh!” it roars.

Before the draugs get too close, you quickly draw your bow and notch an arrow.

Go to 20.

As you get nearer to the mountain, you see that the entrance leading into the City of the Dead is guarded by dozens of armed zombie trolls. Their rotting flesh hangs off their bodies. Giant dogs with four heads stalk around, sniffing at the air and letting out howls that echo through the valley.

Smoke and fire pour from the entrance and the stench of death is all around. This is a truly terrifying place.

If you wish to try to fight your way into the mountain,
go to 28.

If you wish to look for another way into the mountain,
go to 15.

In desperation, you slash at the tentacle with your sword as the creature pulls you towards its mouth, and certain death.

Time and time again you hack at the devourer’s flesh. Finally, the blade slices through and the tentacle drops twitching to the floor. A stream of green blood oozes out from the wound. The devourer lets out a demonic scream.

You scramble at the slippery rock, trying to escape, but before you can get away another tentacle flicks out, catching your hand. Your sword is sent spinning from your grip. It clatters to the ground out of reach. More tentacles grab hold of your arms and legs, and wrap you up. You cannot move!

You try to break free from the creature’s grip as it pulls you towards its open mouth. But your struggles are in vain. It gives a roar of triumph. You scream as its teeth crunch down on you.

The devourer lived up to its name! To begin again,
go to 1.

You steer Hergal towards the Mountain of the Lost.

As you get nearer, the valley suddenly fills with the sound of demonic screeching. You try to block out the noise, but it is impossible.

The air is filled with flying ghost-like shapes — they are flesh-eating screaming banshees! You have heard of these creatures. Their deadly screeching sends their victims into unconsciousness before the banshees rip them apart.

The creatures fly around you. Hergal seems not to be affected by them, but your head feels as though it is splitting apart. Your eardrums throb to bursting point.

To fight the creatures,
go to 5.

To use the Ruby of Magic,
go to 18.

If you wish to block up your ears,
go to 31.

Hergal flies you and Olderon back to Alba where you receive a hero’s welcome.

In the great hall, you tell the Queen of Alba and her councillors of your many adventures since you left the court.

When you have finished your story, you hand over the Blood Crown. The queen takes it and thanks you.

“We will keep this and it will once again be a force for good,” she says. “You will be its guardian, for you have proved yourself brave, strong and worthy.”

You are a true hero!