desperate need of their wisdom. The Darklords press us most cruelly and casualties are high.’
You inform the brave officer of the terrible fate of your kinsmen, and the urgency of your mission to seek the King's council. Without saying a word, he motions to a soldier to bring forward two horses. You both mount and gallop off towards the high city wall of Holmgard.
Turn to 129 .
289
The two guards look tired and anxious. They nervously hold their royal halberds in front of themselves, using the weapons to push away anyone who comes too close to the gates. An angry woman attacks one of them, pounding his chest with her clenched fists making him fall against the other guard. All three collapse in a struggling heap of flailing arms and legs. Seeing your chance, you dash forward and pull the large lever which opens the great doors.
You slip inside and the doors close without either of the guards seeing you enter.
Turn to 139 .
290
Inside the long box is a Quarterstaff wrapped in leather. You may take this Weapon if you wish. You close the box and descend the ladder to the clearing below, taking care to use only the sound rungs.
Turn to 140 .
292
The last thing that you experience of this life is the feeling of being sucked into the void of darkness. No trace of you remains in this world, for you have passed into a realm of timeless existence. You have become a slave of an ancient evil.
Your adventure ends here.
293
With a wave of his hand, Banedon leaves the ruins and you continue your mission, pushing on through the thick woods ahead. You have not gone far when you realize several pairs of yellow eyes are watching you from the undergrowth to your left. Suddenly, a black arrow skims the top of your head. It is a Giak ambush and you must run as fast as you can to escape it.
Turn to 281 .
296
You sense something is wrong. With fighting all around and the forces of the Darklords so near, why has this man stayed in the forest? You feel a strange aura of evil about him and decline his offer.
Turn to 90 .
297
Using the skills taught to you by your masters in the art of Hunting, you inch your way through the foliage undetected. In less than a minute you are directly behind, and only a few feet from, the stake to which the ranger is tied. The wood is alight and great clouds of smoke are engulfing the poor victim. You take your weapon and run forward, hidden by the smoke. One blow of your weapon is all that is needed to sever his bonds, and you pull him free and back into the safety of the forest. As you press on into the forest, you hear the shrieks of the Giaks as they discover that their prisoner has literally disappeared in a cloud of smoke!
Turn to 117 .
300
You walk for over an hour, during which time you keep a constant vigil for any sign of Kraan in the sky above. You have twice spotted their tell-tale shadows in the sky and on both occasions your quick wits have saved you from capture. You are now very hungry and must eat a Meal.
You may now continue on your journey by turning to 13 .
301
Your Kai Discipline reveals that the west path is a dead end.
You choose the south path and turn to 27 .
304
The Gem feels incredibly hot and burns your hand. Lose 2 ENDURANCE points.
You quickly pick it up with the edge of your Kai cloak and slip this Vordak Gem into your Backpack. A Gem that size must be worth hundreds of Crowns. But the Giaks are very close and their arrows whistle past your head as you turn and run for the safety of the forest.
Turn to 2 .
305
Through the open doorway of the first hut, you can see the body of a charcoal burner lying face down on the rough stone floor. He has been murdered, stabbed in the back by a spear. All his furniture and belongings have been smashed and broken and not one piece remains intact.
This is the evil handiwork of Giaks without any doubt, for they delight in the destruction of all things. A quick check of the other huts reveals a similar story of murder and
You inform the brave officer of the terrible fate of your kinsmen, and the urgency of your mission to seek the King's council. Without saying a word, he motions to a soldier to bring forward two horses. You both mount and gallop off towards the high city wall of Holmgard.
Turn to 129 .
289
The two guards look tired and anxious. They nervously hold their royal halberds in front of themselves, using the weapons to push away anyone who comes too close to the gates. An angry woman attacks one of them, pounding his chest with her clenched fists making him fall against the other guard. All three collapse in a struggling heap of flailing arms and legs. Seeing your chance, you dash forward and pull the large lever which opens the great doors.
You slip inside and the doors close without either of the guards seeing you enter.
Turn to 139 .
290
Inside the long box is a Quarterstaff wrapped in leather. You may take this Weapon if you wish. You close the box and descend the ladder to the clearing below, taking care to use only the sound rungs.
Turn to 140 .
292
The last thing that you experience of this life is the feeling of being sucked into the void of darkness. No trace of you remains in this world, for you have passed into a realm of timeless existence. You have become a slave of an ancient evil.
Your adventure ends here.
293
With a wave of his hand, Banedon leaves the ruins and you continue your mission, pushing on through the thick woods ahead. You have not gone far when you realize several pairs of yellow eyes are watching you from the undergrowth to your left. Suddenly, a black arrow skims the top of your head. It is a Giak ambush and you must run as fast as you can to escape it.
Turn to 281 .
296
You sense something is wrong. With fighting all around and the forces of the Darklords so near, why has this man stayed in the forest? You feel a strange aura of evil about him and decline his offer.
Turn to 90 .
297
Using the skills taught to you by your masters in the art of Hunting, you inch your way through the foliage undetected. In less than a minute you are directly behind, and only a few feet from, the stake to which the ranger is tied. The wood is alight and great clouds of smoke are engulfing the poor victim. You take your weapon and run forward, hidden by the smoke. One blow of your weapon is all that is needed to sever his bonds, and you pull him free and back into the safety of the forest. As you press on into the forest, you hear the shrieks of the Giaks as they discover that their prisoner has literally disappeared in a cloud of smoke!
Turn to 117 .
300
You walk for over an hour, during which time you keep a constant vigil for any sign of Kraan in the sky above. You have twice spotted their tell-tale shadows in the sky and on both occasions your quick wits have saved you from capture. You are now very hungry and must eat a Meal.
You may now continue on your journey by turning to 13 .
301
Your Kai Discipline reveals that the west path is a dead end.
You choose the south path and turn to 27 .
304
The Gem feels incredibly hot and burns your hand. Lose 2 ENDURANCE points.
You quickly pick it up with the edge of your Kai cloak and slip this Vordak Gem into your Backpack. A Gem that size must be worth hundreds of Crowns. But the Giaks are very close and their arrows whistle past your head as you turn and run for the safety of the forest.
Turn to 2 .
305
Through the open doorway of the first hut, you can see the body of a charcoal burner lying face down on the rough stone floor. He has been murdered, stabbed in the back by a spear. All his furniture and belongings have been smashed and broken and not one piece remains intact.
This is the evil handiwork of Giaks without any doubt, for they delight in the destruction of all things. A quick check of the other huts reveals a similar story of murder and
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