Wolf's Bane (30 page)
You increase the rate of your ascent, but your sudden acceleration serves only to make you a more attractive target in the eyes of the predatory dragonfly. With a loud and angry buzzing noise, the creature comes soaring down upon your back like a hawk upon a bolting hare.
Golasyx:
COMBAT SKILL
49
ENDURANCE
45
This creature is attempting to stab you with the tip of its spear-like proboscis as it swoops past; therefore you need only fight this combat for one round.
If you inflict an equal or greater
ENDURANCE
loss upon the enemy in this single round of combat,
turn to 163
.
If you sustain a greater
ENDURANCE
loss than your enemy,
turn to 221
.
You draw your divine blade and a radiant halo of golden flame caresses its razor-sharp edge. You raise the sword above your head and then strike out at the leading point of the approaching fire-bolt. There is a tremendous splash of fiery sparks as you connect with the bolt and send it arcing away to explode harmlessly against the wall of the shaft.
The Sommerswerd absorbs some of the energy of the fire-bolt which it transfers to you through its hilt: restore 3
ENDURANCE
points.
To continue,
turn to 37
.
As you pass close to the creature's barbed torso, you sense that inwardly it is struggling desperately to overcome the effects of the spell you have placed upon it. Its body begins to twitch as its great crushing coils go into spasm. Sensing that it is about to break free, you cast the spell again to reinforce its effect.
Your second casting of the spell keeps the serpent from breaking loose and swiping you with its deadly tail, but the double use of Old Kingdom magic takes its toll on your physical stamina (lose 5
ENDURANCE
points). With the serpent subdued, you are able to reach the safety of the exit and make your escape unscathed.
Alyss draws upon her powers to create a cocoon of energy to protect both her vulnerable body and the legendary Moonstone. Kekataag assaults this glowing shield with maniacal ferocity, his great two-handed axe drawing fiery sparks with every mighty blow. You can sense from the hatred which blazes in his supernatural eyes that he and Alyss are old enemies.
Illustration XX—Alyss creates a cocoon to protect herself and the Moonstone.
Naar is now aware of your true identity. He also senses that you have made no effort to reach the Shadow Gate and so he moves away from Alyss, seemingly happy to allow his minion to press on with the attack while he devotes his undivided attention to you.
If you possess the Sommerswerd,
turn to 132
.
If you do not possess this Special Item,
turn to 147
.
You race along the passageway and turn the corner to see a tunnel sloping away into the gloom. The walls and ceiling are dripping wet, indicating to you that this dingy passageway passes directly under the stream. You hurry along its narrow confines, your shoulders grazing its muddy walls as you run, until you arrive at a flight of steps that ascend to an archway supported by thick wooden beams. Beyond the arch lies a large subterranean chamber that is daubed and decorated with runes and evil insignia. It is a primitive temple and it radiates an aura of Evil so malicious that it makes your skin crawl.
On the far side of this unholy place, you see a stone altar standing before a huge boulder that has been crudely chiselled to resemble a grinning human skull. An eerie green glow pulsates from the eye sockets of this great skull-rock, and a mist swirls from its open jaw. Wolf's Bane is at the centre of the chamber but he is moving quickly towards the altar. You command him to stop and face you, but he ignores your order and continues running until he reaches the jaw of the great stone skull, which is flanked by two staves of iron set into holes in the ground. Gasping for breath, he now turns to face you. For a moment his evil eyes dart towards one of the iron staves and he reaches out a hand as if to grasp it. But, seemingly, he changes his mind. He sees you entering the temple and he turns and runs into the open jaw of the skull to be swallowed up by the roiling mist.
Quickly you pursue him, confident that you can maintain the upper hand so long as you do not lose his trail.
Beyond where the illusory north wall once stood, you can now see a small antechamber which is wreathed in acrid blue smoke. Gradually this smoke dissipates to reveal a shallow plinth upon which lies a bronze urn. This heavy object rests on its side and a quantity of pale grey ash has spilled from its hinged lid. Cautiously you approach the urn and see that there is an inscription engraved on its side. From this ancient script you learn that the ashes are the last remains of Baroness Garrulen, the wife of Hul — third Baron of Tyso. Glinting half-buried in the ash, you notice a ring encrusted with crimson gemstones. (If you wish to keep this Ruby Ring, record it on your
Action Chart
as a Special Item.)
You are righting the urn on its plinth when you hear Steel Hand calling you. He has found something among the rubble which litters the floor at the rear of the antechamber.
Your efforts are rewarded when the dragonfly responds to your healing powers. Consciousness and strength return to its battered body and the creature is able to pull out of its dive before it is too late. It swoops deep into the cavernous moat of the tower to gather speed for its slow ascent into the clouds. As you climb past the top of the tower you see that the dragonfly pens have been completely destroyed by the explosion. Fire rages through the uppermost levels of the tower, and it is spreading quickly to the other levels below.
You stop to use your Magnakai Discipline of Divination, to determine which passage you should follow. Unfortunately, you are still unable to detect your adversary's trail and you cannot determine any difference between the two passages.
If you decide to explore the left corridor,
turn to 95
.
If you choose instead to explore the right corridor,
turn to 137
.
Your final blow cleaves the head from the chained serpent and sends it spinning into the air. It collides with the ceiling and rebounds to splash loudly into the mire. For a moment it bobs on the surface, its lifeless eyes glazed and opaque; then it sinks slowly beneath the foam. Breathless from the fight, you sheathe your weapon and wade across the slimy ichor-stained waters towards the mouth of the tunnel where you make a hasty escape from this hostile cavern.
The warrior skids to a halt and stares down in disbelief at the legs of his slain comrade that protrude from beneath the fallen cylinders. You seize the chance to attack and you move up behind him and leap onto his undefended back. He fights tenaciously to free himself, but his struggle ends abruptly when you rip a steel cable from the canister that is strapped to his back. There is a dull boom, and an eruption of blue-white flame shoots from the top of the canister, burning open the back of his helm. The force of this blast hurls him forwards and leaves him sprawled across the cylinders that cover his slain comrade. For a few seconds a spidery net of pulsating light enshrouds the two lifeless warriors; then it crackles and disappears, leaving behind an acrid stench of scorched metal and roasted meat.
As the last of the creatures dies, you leap over its heaped body and stumble through the Shadow Gate into a whirling oblivion. The last image that burns itself into your memory is that of Alyss slowly succumbing to the relentless blows from Kekataag's axe. The memory of her fearless bravery strengthens your spirit and resolve to forever serve the forces of Good against the accursed hordes of darkness.
Congratulations Grand Master — you have won a great victory over the forces of Evil. You have defeated Naar's sinister plan to destroy you and conquer all of Magnamund. But, as you return through the Shadow Gate to the land of your birth, you know that the fight against Evil is not yet over. If you are to prevent the Dark God from launching his armies of night into Magnamund, you must return to the Plane of Darkness and retrieve the fabled Moonstone. Only by doing so will Magnamund be safe from the ravages of Naar's unholy hordes.
It will be a supremely perilous mission, perhaps the most dangerous you have ever undertaken. If you possess the true courage of a Kai Grand Master, the ultimate quest awaits you in the climax to the Grand Master series, entitled:
The Curse of Naar
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