The Hunger of Sejanoz (24 page)

The fight ends abruptly when you deal the last living creature a mighty blow to the base of its deformed head. As it falls lifelessly to the ground, Sergeant Yeng rushes to check that his men have survived intact. Cautiously you inspect the bodies of the slain enemy and quickly determine that they are of Agarashi descent. They have probably come down from the Hyunsei foothills in a desperate search for prey, for all three corpses are emaciated by hunger. Sergeant Yeng confirms your suspicions. He tells you that long ago, during the Age of Eternal Night, this land was stalked by Agarashi — the hellish creations of Agarash the Damned. When Agarash was destroyed by the Elder Magi, his creations were scattered across the wilderness and plains of Chai. The descendants of these beasts are still alive today, hiding in hills, burrows, and caves. They do not usually attack travellers unless driven by disease or famine.

Using your tracking skills, you quickly determine that there are no other creatures like these in this vicinity. Only then do you and the troopers remount your horses and continue along the highway towards the Javai Forest. A few miles short of the forest you discover a freshwater spring which is forded by the highway. It is an ideal site for a night camp, and so you send one of Yeng's men back to the caravan to tell them you shall await their arrival here.

During your wait for the caravan, unless you possess the Discipline of Grand Huntmastery, you must now eat a Meal or lose 3
ENDURANCE
points.

To continue,
turn to 45
.

The scream ends abruptly and you think no more about it until you see two troopers running towards the Princess's carriage. You sense that something is seriously amiss, and you decide that perhaps it would be best if you investigated further.

On reaching the carriage, you discover Princess Mitzu consoling her young son who is shivering with fright. Chan is nearby, holding a dead serpent by the tail. You swallow hard when you see that it is a scarlet viper, a notoriously poisonous snake. One of Chan's troopers is being restrained by two of his comrades, and he is pleading his innocence.

‘What is going on?’ you ask.

Chan explains that the Prince disturbed the viper which was asleep under the covers of his cot.

‘He is lucky to be alive,’ says Mitzu, hugging him close. ‘His cries alerted Captain Chan and me, and when we arrived, we found Trooper Yankin inside the carriage. I suspect he is an enemy agent, one of the Autarch's spies.’

Illustration XX
—Chan holds the dead serpent.

‘I'm not, I swear it!’ retorts the accused man. ‘I was nearby when I heard the Prince scream. I rushed into the carriage to save him. I thought he was being attacked.’

You stare directly into the accused man's eyes and your Kai Sixth Sense tells you that he may be speaking the truth.

If you possess Kai-alchemy and wish to use it,
turn to 152
.

If you possess Kai-surge and wish to use it,
turn to 230
.

If you possess neither of these skills, or if you choose not to use them,
turn to 244
.

‘I shall summon Kau-Doshin,’ interjects Shavane. ‘He'll know what to do.’

Quickly the nurse leaves the carriage. While she is gone you retrieve the Laumspur from your Backpack and administer a little to the boy, diluted with water. The Prince is beginning to revive when the court counsellor arrives and takes charge. He thanks you for making the boy comfortable and then he asks you to leave so that he may have room to prepare ‘a proper potion’ to counter the poison. As you descend the steps of the carriage, you hear the door slam shut behind you.

(Remember to erase the Laumspur from your
Action Chart
.)

If you wish to return to your night shelter,
turn to 239
.

If you wish to search for the toy soldier that Shavane threw away,
turn to 111
.

You comply with the Princess's wishes and bid her goodnight. When you rejoin Chan in the corridor outside her room, you tell him about the prediction and he is gravely concerned.

‘I pray this will not come to pass,’ he says. ‘We must do all we can to keep Prince Kamada safe. Upon his young shoulders rests the future of Chai.’

Chan says little as he escorts you back to the stables, and you sense that he is lost in his thoughts. But upon arriving at your room he says: ‘I trust you'll sleep well, my lord. Remember that we shall depart from here no later than one hour after daybreak. We'll ride at the head of the column tomorrow, so rest well. We must be extra vigilant.’

To continue,
turn to 227
.

You recite the words of the Brotherhood Spell
Lightning Hand
, and direct the burst of electrical energy at the chest of the nearest creature. The force of its impact knocks the heavy beast to the ground, but the sight of its mate falling injured infuriates the other creature, and prompts it to launch a fearsome attack.

Turn to 164
.

The Bhanarian army outside Fort Vlau turns and flees in disarray upon discovering that their leader has been destroyed, for they believed him to be immortal and invincible. The way is now open for the caravan to reach Tazhan unhindered, and upon your arrival there, you discover that the news of Autarch Sejanoz's demise has already spread the length and breadth of Southern Magnamund. The Khea-khan is able to rally the New Kingdom armies and sweep the shattered remnants of the Bhanarian armies back into their own lands and beyond.

Congratulations, Grand Master. Your victory is total. You have rid this continent and its people of a cruel tyrant who has threatened their peaceful existence for many centuries, and your triumph here is set to become legend. In future times the chronicle will tell of other quests that you undertook on the road to becoming a Kai Supreme Master. Until the time comes for their telling, may the Gods Ishir and Kai watch over you, always.

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