- <p>Before you are able to speak, Tanith has risen to her feet, brandishing her dagger and scowling with the characteristic ferocity that you have come to know so well. <quote>You know not what you say,</quote> she snaps, menace in her voice. <quote>But for that, this blade of mine would have your life for such insult to one who comes to save your brawny, worthless hide. Soften your tone, tall one, for you speak to a mighty wizard, a master of great powers, the chosen one of the great ancient Shianti. He has come to challenge the Wytchking himself, who is surely the enemy of us all.</quote></p>
- <p>Despite her slight frame and her puny blade, Tanith confronts the <!--ERRTAG-RE-104197-->warrior<!--/ERRTAG-RE-104197--> with an icy countenance that would freeze blood. Though he towers over her like a giant, the warrior steps back, mouth agape in astonishment at her fearless outburst. He is stunned into silence. The barely suppressed mirth of the other Masbaté is plain to see.</p>
- <p><quote>Ho there Dioka!</quote> shouts a squat Masbaté, with a bellowing laugh that makes his pot-belly quiver and shake. <quote>It's a spitting she-cat that's stolen your tongue I see.</quote></p>
- <p><quote>And the cat has claws, bladder belly!</quote> she snaps. The plump warrior's face drops, while the one named Dioka bursts into laughter. <quote>Well met, my lady,</quote> he guffaws.</p>
- <p>With a bemused expression, you rise on shaky feet and turn to Dioka. <quote>Greetings, men of the Masbaté,</quote> you call out in a loud voice, ensuring that all can hear. <quote>Plainly we are not agents of evil in mortal guise.</quote></p>
- <p><quote>Indeed not,</quote> Dioka replies with a smile. <quote>The very demons of the plain would flee the wrath of your brave companion's acid tongue!</quote></p>
- <p><quote>Yet, in her anger she spoke the truth,</quote> you continue. <quote>For I am the Wizard, Grey Star, bound upon a quest in the service of the Shianti and sworn to the destruction of the Wytch-king, Shasarak.</quote> The vast hall grows silent. Wide-eyed, the Masbaté regard you with stunned expressions.</p>
- <p><quote>Can this be?</quote> Dioka gasps, a gleam of hope shining in his dark, deep eyes. <quote>We will talk of this at length and in the proper place,</quote> he continues. <quote>You must come with us. It is not wise to remain here. The demons may return and in greater numbers. Most likely they will be led by more formidable masters than this,</quote> he gestures dismissively towards the corpse of the Demon master that sprawls on the floor a few feet away. <quote>The home of the Masbaté now lies in the Kashima Mountains, beyond the River Iss. The king must hear of your return.</quote></p>
- <p>The Masbaté restore the bodies of their ancient dead to their resting places. A funeral pyre for the slain demons is built outside the walls of the tomb, and with considerable effort and over many hours, they are able to repair the stone door. While they work, your wounds are attended to and you and Tanith are given food and water. There is a gifted healer among them and he is able to restore to you 1 <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> point. (Amend your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a> accordingly.) It is late afternoon before the Masbaté are ready to leave. Struggling to keep pace with the rapid march of the warriors, you head into the lengthening shadows, toward the distant mountains: the secret lair of the last of a proud and <!--ERRTAG-RE-107112-->mighty<!--/ERRTAG-RE-107112--> race.</p>
+ <p>Before you are able to speak, Tanith has risen to her feet, brandishing her dagger and scowling with the characteristic ferocity that you have come to know so well. <quote>You know not what you say,</quote> she snaps, menace in her voice. <quote>But for that, this blade of mine would have your life for such insult to one who comes to save your brawny, worthless hide. Soften your tone, tall one, for you speak to a mighty wizard, a master of great powers, the chosen one of the great ancient Shianti. He has come to challenge the Wytch-king himself, who is surely the enemy of us all.</quote></p>
+ <p>Despite her slight frame and her puny blade, Tanith confronts the <!--ERRTAG-RE-104197-->warrior<!--/ERRTAG-RE-104197--> with an icy countenance that would freeze blood. Though he towers over her like a giant, the warrior steps back, mouth agape in astonishment at her fearless outburst. He is stunned into silence. The barely suppressed mirth of the other Masbat<ch.eacute/> is plain to see.</p>
+ <p><quote>Ho there Dioka!</quote> shouts a squat Masbat<ch.eacute/>, with a bellowing laugh that makes his pot-belly quiver and shake. <quote>It<ch.apos/>s a spitting she-cat that<ch.apos/>s stolen your tongue I see.</quote></p>
+ <p><quote>And the cat has claws, bladder belly!</quote> she snaps. The plump warrior<ch.apos/>s face drops, while the one named Dioka bursts into laughter. <quote>Well met, my lady,</quote> he guffaws.</p>
+ <p>With a bemused expression, you rise on shaky feet and turn to Dioka. <quote>Greetings, men of the Masbat<ch.eacute/>,</quote> you call out in a loud voice, ensuring that all can hear. <quote>Plainly we are not agents of evil in mortal guise.</quote></p>
+ <p><quote>Indeed not,</quote> Dioka replies with a smile. <quote>The very demons of the plain would flee the wrath of your brave companion<ch.apos/>s acid tongue!</quote></p>
+ <p><quote>Yet, in her anger she spoke the truth,</quote> you continue. <quote>For I am the Wizard, Grey Star, bound upon a quest in the service of the Shianti and sworn to the destruction of the Wytch-king, Shasarak.</quote> The vast hall grows silent. Wide-eyed, the Masbat<ch.eacute/> regard you with stunned expressions.</p>
+ <p><quote>Can this be?</quote> Dioka gasps, a gleam of hope shining in his dark, deep eyes. <quote>We will talk of this at length and in the proper place,</quote> he continues. <quote>You must come with us. It is not wise to remain here. The demons may return and in greater numbers. Most likely they will be led by more formidable masters than this,</quote> he gestures dismissively towards the corpse of the Demon master that sprawls on the floor a few feet away. <quote>The home of the Masbat<ch.eacute/> now lies in the Kashima Mountains, beyond the River Iss. The king must hear of your return.</quote></p>
+ <p>The Masbat<ch.eacute/> restore the bodies of their ancient dead to their resting places. A funeral pyre for the slain demons is built outside the walls of the tomb, and with considerable effort and over many hours, they are able to repair the stone door. While they work, your wounds are attended to and you and Tanith are given food and water. There is a gifted healer among them and he is able to restore to you 1 <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> point. (Amend your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a> accordingly.) It is late afternoon before the Masbat<ch.eacute/> are ready to leave. Struggling to keep pace with the rapid march of the warriors, you head into the lengthening shadows, toward the distant mountains: the secret lair of the last of a proud and <!--ERRTAG-RE-107112-->mighty<!--/ERRTAG-RE-107112--> race.</p>