distance. It sounds as if it is somewhere in another part of this cave. A slit in the stone wall opens, and the end of a black staff begins to appear. Suddenly a bolt of blue lightning leaps from the staff and hits you in the chest.
As your life slowly drains away, the last thing you see is an old man dressed in black robes raising a dagger above your throat.
Your life and your mission end here.
260
Swimming towards the bank, you can see the ranger spread-eagled at the water's edge. You reach him but only to find that he has broken his neck in the fall and is dead.
Suddenly, two Giaks jump on you from above and you must fight them. You are unarmed and must fight the Giaks with your bare hands. Deduct 4 points from your COMBAT SKILL and fight them one at a time.
Giak 1: COMBAT SKILL 11 ENDURANCE 18
Giak 2: COMBAT SKILL 12 ENDURANCE 17
If you win, turn to 156 .
263
Carefully, you follow the stream as it makes its way towards the east. Suddenly you notice something in the distance that brings you to a halt.
Lying in the rushing water like a great black dam is a dead Kraan. You creep nearer, under cover of the foliage, until you see three arrows deep in the beast's chest. Trapped beneath the beast is the body of its rider. It is a Giak, a spiteful and malicious servant of the Darklords. Many centuries ago, their ancestors were used by the Darklords to build the infernal city of Helgedad, which lies in the volcanic wastelands beyond the Durncrag range of mountains. The construction of the city was a long and torturous nightmare, and only the strongest Giaks survived the heat and poisonous atmospheres of Helgedad. This creature is a descendant of these Giak slaves. It seems that this one must have drowned. The Giak's pouch contains 3 Gold Crowns. (You may take these if you wish.)
You may continue downstream, by turning to 70 .
Or you may leave the stream and make your way on foot through the wooded hills to the south by turning to 157 .
265
You quickly move off into the forest before more Doomwolves or Kraan appear.
You have walked for more than an hour when you reach the top of a rocky hill. The sight that befalls you on the other side is one of hope. But there is also a daunting challenge to be faced.
Turn to 142 .
266
As the beast writhes in its final death agony on the black stone floor, the portal in the east wall clicks open to reveal a corridor beyond. You quickly dash through the secret door just as it crashes shut.
Turn to 209 .
267
Covering your nose with your cloak, you cautiously approach the dead beast. The sharp smell of its fetid black blood makes your stomach churn, but you are determined to press on. Then you notice a large saddlebag strapped to its chest. Opening the bag, you find a Message written on an animal skin.
Illustration XV —Opening the bag, you find a message.
Deeper in the bag is a Dagger. You may keep both the Message and the Dagger if you wish.
You leave the body and continue eastwards along the path.
Turn to 125 .
268
You black out for only a few minutes before you are revived with a measure of strong spirit. Feeling weary but thankful to be alive, you lean on the shoulders of the King's men and you stagger towards the outer defences.
Turn to 288 .
270
You hear the angry cries of the enemy drift across the lake. You must leave here before more Kraan appear. You mount your steed and push on further into the forest.
Turn to 21 .
271
You feel very weak. The poison of the snake has entered your bloodstream and you can feel the muscles of your body involuntarily tightening and relaxing. Your legs suddenly collapse beneath you and you feel the slimy water of the marsh close over your head.
Your life ends here.
274
In your haste to avoid the enemy, you catch your foot in a tree root and you are pitched head over heels in a tumble of dust and leaves. You quickly get to your feet and, crashing through the undergrowth at the base of the hill, you run
As your life slowly drains away, the last thing you see is an old man dressed in black robes raising a dagger above your throat.
Your life and your mission end here.
260
Swimming towards the bank, you can see the ranger spread-eagled at the water's edge. You reach him but only to find that he has broken his neck in the fall and is dead.
Suddenly, two Giaks jump on you from above and you must fight them. You are unarmed and must fight the Giaks with your bare hands. Deduct 4 points from your COMBAT SKILL and fight them one at a time.
Giak 1: COMBAT SKILL 11 ENDURANCE 18
Giak 2: COMBAT SKILL 12 ENDURANCE 17
If you win, turn to 156 .
263
Carefully, you follow the stream as it makes its way towards the east. Suddenly you notice something in the distance that brings you to a halt.
Lying in the rushing water like a great black dam is a dead Kraan. You creep nearer, under cover of the foliage, until you see three arrows deep in the beast's chest. Trapped beneath the beast is the body of its rider. It is a Giak, a spiteful and malicious servant of the Darklords. Many centuries ago, their ancestors were used by the Darklords to build the infernal city of Helgedad, which lies in the volcanic wastelands beyond the Durncrag range of mountains. The construction of the city was a long and torturous nightmare, and only the strongest Giaks survived the heat and poisonous atmospheres of Helgedad. This creature is a descendant of these Giak slaves. It seems that this one must have drowned. The Giak's pouch contains 3 Gold Crowns. (You may take these if you wish.)
You may continue downstream, by turning to 70 .
Or you may leave the stream and make your way on foot through the wooded hills to the south by turning to 157 .
265
You quickly move off into the forest before more Doomwolves or Kraan appear.
You have walked for more than an hour when you reach the top of a rocky hill. The sight that befalls you on the other side is one of hope. But there is also a daunting challenge to be faced.
Turn to 142 .
266
As the beast writhes in its final death agony on the black stone floor, the portal in the east wall clicks open to reveal a corridor beyond. You quickly dash through the secret door just as it crashes shut.
Turn to 209 .
267
Covering your nose with your cloak, you cautiously approach the dead beast. The sharp smell of its fetid black blood makes your stomach churn, but you are determined to press on. Then you notice a large saddlebag strapped to its chest. Opening the bag, you find a Message written on an animal skin.
Illustration XV —Opening the bag, you find a message.
Deeper in the bag is a Dagger. You may keep both the Message and the Dagger if you wish.
You leave the body and continue eastwards along the path.
Turn to 125 .
268
You black out for only a few minutes before you are revived with a measure of strong spirit. Feeling weary but thankful to be alive, you lean on the shoulders of the King's men and you stagger towards the outer defences.
Turn to 288 .
270
You hear the angry cries of the enemy drift across the lake. You must leave here before more Kraan appear. You mount your steed and push on further into the forest.
Turn to 21 .
271
You feel very weak. The poison of the snake has entered your bloodstream and you can feel the muscles of your body involuntarily tightening and relaxing. Your legs suddenly collapse beneath you and you feel the slimy water of the marsh close over your head.
Your life ends here.
274
In your haste to avoid the enemy, you catch your foot in a tree root and you are pitched head over heels in a tumble of dust and leaves. You quickly get to your feet and, crashing through the undergrowth at the base of the hill, you run
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