The Hunger of Sejanoz (19 page)

You hear the whistle of a large projectile, and then a deafening explosion tears a hole in the battlements less than 20 yards away to your right. Splinters of stones ricochet off the walls, and one shard grazes your scalp: lose 1
ENDURANCE
point.

To continue,
turn to 24
.

In a clearing in the middle of the copse you discover twenty mutilated carcasses. So badly are they damaged that it takes you several seconds to determine that they were once fanji — a breed of swift-footed ruminants that are native to the plains of Southern Magnamund. These creatures have their predators, but none that would make a mound of their remains the like of which confronts you now.

You are still trying to fathom what has destroyed these fanji when you suddenly hear a noise that makes your blood run cold.

Turn to 222
.

As you reach the tunnel entrance, Sejanoz turns and hurls a glass sphere that is filled with a volatile yellow fluid. It smashes near your feet and releases a billowing cloud of poisonous gas.

If you possess Herbmastery and wish to use it,
turn to 46
.

If you possess Grand Nexus and wish to use it,
turn to 269
.

If you possess Deliverance and wish to use it,
turn to 191
.

If you possess none of these skills, or if you choose not to use any of them,
turn to 83
.

As you explore this corridor, you hear the sound of voices getting steadily louder. You recognize them to be the voices of the tomb robbers who stole your Kai Weapon. They are gloating over your blade, and you hear one man say that it must be worth more than all the treasures of the graveyard put together. At the end of the corridor you see an arched wooden door, banded with strips of black iron. You peer carefully through its keyhole and see the robbers in the room beyond, silhouetted against the flames of a log fire. With grim determination, you resolve to attack them and recapture your stolen blade.

If you possess Kai-surge and have reached the rank of Kai Grand Guardian,
turn to 254
.

If you possess Assimilance and have reached the rank of Kai Grand Guardian,
turn to 136
.

If you possess neither of these skills, have not attained the required rank, or if you should choose not to use them,
turn to 71
.

You use your Kai healing skills to heal your wrist (lose 1
ENDURANCE
point), and you listen as the bandit tells you that his name is Xango. He also reveals that he is the brother of the renegade bandit Captain Kronar. He has been observing the caravan encampment while his brother, and the rest of his gang, have been preparing an ambush on the forest road, five miles distant. Kronar plans to attack the caravan when it passes this place tomorrow morning.

‘Treacherous dog!’ spits Yeng. ‘Death would be too good for you!’

‘Hold, sergeant!’ commands Captain Chan. ‘We may have a use for this outlaw yet. Let's hope his brother values his worthless hide more than you do. Chain him up to a carriage wheel 'til morning.’

To continue,
turn to 129
.

You try to steady your nervous horse as you wait for Chan's signal to charge. But before it comes, one of the creatures gives vent to a blood-curdling roar. The sound terrifies your horse and she refuses to move. You are gripped by the sudden fear that if the hulking horrors decide to charge at you, you will be unable to evade them. Quickly you try to think of some way you can prevent this calamity from befalling you and your petrified horse.

If you possess Elementalism and wish to use it,
turn to 31
.

If you possess Kai-alchemy and wish to use it,
turn to 299
.

If you possess Magi-magic and wish to use it,
turn to 175
.

If you possess none of these skills, or if you choose not to use any of them,
turn to 99
.

You project the Old Kingdom power-word
Gloar!
at the onrushing warrior, and the force of your attack at such close quarters explodes the Guard Captain's chest armour, killing him instantly.

Turn to 137
.

You insert the tip of the
Kirusami
beneath the lip of the trapdoor and push down on its haft with all your strength. At first the portal refuses to budge, but you persist until you feel a slight movement.

Unfortunately, this movement triggers a booby trap that was placed here by a sorcerer, hundreds of years ago, to keep this portal secure. You are momentarily blinded by an explosion of yellowish sparks, and you suffer painful flash burns to your face and hands: lose 3
ENDURANCE
points.

(If you possess Deliverance, you may reduce the damage you have suffered by 1
ENDURANCE
point.)

To continue,
turn to 265
.

You speak the words of the Brotherhood Spell
Lightning Hand
, and let loose a bolt of electrical energy at the enemy signalman. The searing charge strikes his chest and lifts him off his feet. For a few moments he disappears from sight, hidden by the platform; then you see him tumbling to the ground on the far side of the flag-tower.

To continue,
turn to 195
.

Quickly, you speak the words of the Old Kingdom Spell
Shield
, and move your open hand before your face with a circular motion. Kronar's arrow strikes the shimmering barrier created by your spell and is deflected harmlessly away. Captain Chan flattens himself to the neck of his horse to avoid the other arrow. His swift reflexes save his life, and he escapes the missile's barbed tip with nothing more than a grazed shoulder.

Turn to 112
.

Painfully you drag yourself to your feet and scramble through the foliage. Chan is close behind you, and both of the angry ice-creatures are now perilously close behind him. As you stagger and stumble headlong through the dense undergrowth, bolts of ice whistle through the branches with spectacular effect.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
.

If the number you have picked is 0–4,
turn to 228
.

If it is 5–9,
turn to 43
.

During the afternoon of the first day out from Rakholi, a thunderstorm breaks overhead and turns the rough trade road into a quagmire. For three hours the caravan is slowed to a walking pace before the torrential rain eases to a fine drizzle. The night camp is pitched on the open plain, and while you are rigging a simple shelter for yourself with rope and a canvas sheet, you hear something that causes you concern. It is the distraught sound of a woman crying. You detect that it is coming from Princess Mitzu's carriage, and you hurry there to investigate what is wrong.

Turn to 78
.

The blast from the explosion sends you tumbling from the battlements to land, feet first, on the ground below.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
. If the number you have picked is odd (i.e. 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9), deduct 2
ENDURANCE
points from your current total. If it is even (i.e. 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0), deduct 4
ENDURANCE
points.

If you have survived your wounding,
turn to 281
.

You launch a powerful pulse of psychic energy at the creature that is throttling the carriage driver. As your mental attack rips into its vulnerable mind, it releases its cruel grip and crashes headlong onto the highway. Moments later, its vile body is crushed by the pounding hooves of the following horse team.

Turn to 243
.

You are convinced that an innocent man is being accused of a crime he did not commit. To help find the true culprit, you recite the words of the Brotherhood Spell
Sense Evil
, and then you look at each of the persons gathered here. Slowly your eyes are drawn to Shavane, and your stomach churns when you feel waves of evil radiating from an amulet that she wears on a chain around her neck. You cannot see the amulet for it is covered by her silk jerkin.

If you wish to snatch the amulet from her neck,
turn to 256
.

If you wish to demand that she reveal it,
turn to 117
.

Your mastery of Nexus enables you to remain underwater for several more minutes.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
(0 = 10). The number you have chosen equals the number of
ENDURANCE
points you lose before the ceiling begins to rise.

To continue,
turn to 287
.

It is the sound of a sharp hiss through clenched teeth, and it makes your Kai senses scream a warning that you are in deadly danger. Hurriedly you spin around on your heel and find yourself confronted by two hulking creatures that have emerged from the trees. Although hunched over, you can tell that they are both several yards tall. They have muscular truncated legs that end in fearsomely twisted claws, and their bony orange heads have slitted eyes that pulse unnervingly. From between their alien eyes protrudes a beak-like nose, jagged-edged and wickedly sharp.

With a hideous shriek the creatures are upon you, slashing and stabbing with their terrible claws and beaks. Desperately, you and Chan struggle to unsheathe your weapons as you are forced back in the face of their fearsome onslaught.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
.

If the number you have picked is 0–4,
turn to 82
.

If it is 5–9,
turn to 106
.

You twist away and save yourself from being impaled by the warrior's deadly stave. Its tip bites into the stone floor and discharges a powerful bolt of electricity, jolting the weapon out of his hands. The Guard Captain curses you as he staggers backwards with traceries of electrical fire dancing around his forearms. Upon the instant that this power dissipates, he reaches for his trusty battle-axe that is hanging by a loop from his gem-encrusted belt.

To continue,
turn to 50
.

Hurriedly you dismount and unsheathe your Kai Weapon in time to counter an attack from the other two horrors.

Chagarashi:
COMBAT SKILL
 44   
ENDURANCE
 40

You may add 1 to your
COMBAT SKILL
for the duration of this combat as Sergeant Yeng is fighting the same enemy.

If you win this combat,
turn to 295
.

You draw your Kai Weapon but, as you raise it in readiness to defend yourself, a heavy silver orb comes hurtling through the air and strikes your forearm. Numbed by the unexpected force of its impact, you drop your Kai Weapon and cradle your aching limb to your chest. Seconds later, one of the tomb robbers comes leaping over the gravestone and drags you to the ground. You grapple with him and wrest a dagger from his hand, but in the blink of an eye he draws another from his boot and attempts to stab you through the heart.

Tomb Robber:
COMBAT SKILL
 30   
ENDURANCE
 35

You must fight this combat without your Kai Weapon.

If you win this combat,
turn to 139
.

The searing flames engulf your vision, and suddenly you feel yourself tumbling backwards into a deep, dark abyss. An enemy shell has exploded in front of your position and you have caught the full force of the blast.

Mercifully, your death is painless and instantaneous, but your life and your mission end here in Fort Vlau.

You are awoken shortly before dawn by a shrill cock's crow. You rise swiftly, gather up your equipment, and then hurry to the courtyard where you meet with Captain Chan outside the stable door. Some of his troopers are busy replenishing the caravan's stores of food and fresh water, and others are preparing the horse teams for the long road ahead. Madame Omaki's servants are also in attendance, bearing wooden platters stacked with food. You and Chan help yourselves to this delicious breakfast fare as you discuss the journey that lies ahead. The sky is clear and Chan is confident that you shall make good progress, just so long as you do not run foul of Bhanarian scouts. (There is a surplus of food, enough for 2 Meals. Remember to adjust your
Action Chart
accordingly if you decide to take any.)

As planned, within an hour of daybreak, the caravan is on the road once more. You depart from Javai by way of its east gate, and begin the four-day journey to your next destination — the tented city of Rakholi.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
.

If the number you have chosen is 0–4,
turn to 194
.

If it is 5–9,
turn to 88
.

One of the ice missiles severs a bough directly above your head. You hesitate for a moment, and when you look up, you are shocked to see that the branch is tumbling directly towards your face.

If you possess Kai-alchemy and wish to use it,
turn to 193
.

If you do not possess this skill, or if you choose not to use it,
turn to 91
.

Night is drawing its veil across the sky when you enter the great tented city of Rakholi. This vast nomadic settlement nestles upon a rich flood plain which supplies excellent feed for the horses of this region. Horses are a way of life for the nomads, and Rakholi is where they come to conduct their business.

Your Lissanian escorts deliver you into the tented encampment of their leader, the illustrious Gavhan Bazan. The Khea-khan and his family remain aboard their carriages while you and Captain Chan make sure that a safe and friendly reception awaits them. Inside the main tent you discover a wondrous sight. The nomad chief sits atop a nest of cushions surrounded by jugglers, acrobats, capering dwarves, and a host of exotic dancing girls. Pots of incense smoke before him, and there are platters of food and fine wine in abundance.

The bearded Bazan greets you with a flamboyant gesture of his arms, and he enquires hurriedly as to the nature of your cargo. He is eager to trade. Chan's reply is evasive, and you sense that he does not entirely trust the nomad chief. The captain looks to you and whispers under his breath: ‘Can you tell if this man is worthy of our trust, Grand Master?’

Illustration XV
—The nomad chief sits atop a nest of cushions, surrounded by his exotic entourage.

If you possess Astrology and have attained the rank of Sun Thane,
turn to 159
.

If you possess Kai-alchemy and wish to use it,
turn to 245
.

If you possess neither of these skills, or have yet to attain the required rank, or if you choose not to use either of them,
turn instead to 257
.