<data>
<p>You are Grand Master Lone Wolf, last of the Kai Lords of Sommerlund and sole survivor of a massacre that wiped out the First Order of your <ch.eacute/>lite warrior caste.</p>
- <p>It is the year MS 5077, and twenty-seven years have passed since your brave kinsmen perished at the hands of the Darklords of Helgedad. These champions of evil, who were sent forth by Naar, the King of the Darkness, to destroy the fertile world of Magnamund, have themselves since been destroyed. You vowed to avenge the murder of the Kai and you kept your pledge, for it was you who brought about their downfall when alone you infiltrated their foul domain<ch.emdash/>the Darklands<ch.emdash/>and caused the destruction of their leader, Archlord Gnaag, and the seat of his power that was the infernal city of Helgedad.</p>
+ <p>It is the year MS<ch.nbsp/>5077, and twenty-seven years have passed since your brave kinsmen perished at the hands of the Darklords of Helgedad. These champions of evil, who were sent forth by Naar, the King of the Darkness, to destroy the fertile world of Magnamund, have themselves since been destroyed. You vowed to avenge the murder of the Kai and you kept your pledge, for it was you who brought about their downfall when alone you infiltrated their foul domain<ch.emdash/>the Darklands<ch.emdash/>and caused the destruction of their leader, Archlord Gnaag, and the seat of his power that was the infernal city of Helgedad.</p>
<p>In the wake of their destruction, chaos befell the Darkland armies who, until then, had been poised to conquer all of Magnamund. Some factions which were part of this huge army, most notably the barbaric Drakkarim, began to fight with the others for control. This disorder quickly escalated into an all-out civil war, which allowed the Freeland armies of Magnamund time in which to recover and launch a counter-offensive. Skilfully their commanders exploited the chaos and secured a swift and total victory over an enemy far superior in numbers.</p>
<p>For seven years now peace has reigned in Sommerlund. Under your direction, the once-ruined Monastery of the Kai has been thoroughly rebuilt and restored to its former glory, and the task of teaching a Second Order of Kai warriors the skills and proud traditions of your ancestors is also well under way. The new generation of Kai recruits, all of whom were born during the era of war against the Darklords, possess latent Kai skills and show exceptional promise. These skills will be nurtured and honed to perfection during their time at the monastery so that they may teach and inspire future generations, thereby ensuring the continued security of your homeland in future years.</p>
<p>Your attainment of the rank of Kai Grand Master brought with it great rewards. Some, such as the restoration of the Kai and the undying gratitude of your fellow Sommlending, could have been anticipated. Yet there have also been rewards which you could not possibly have foreseen. The discovery that within you lay the potential to develop Kai Disciplines beyond those of the Magnakai, which, until now, were thought to be the ultimate that a Kai Master could aspire to, was truly a revelation. Your discovery has inspired you to set out upon a new and previously unknown path in search of the wisdom and power that no Kai Lord before you has ever possessed. In the name of your creator, the God Kai, and for the greater glory of Sommerlund and the Goddess Ishir, you have vowed to reach the very pinnacle of Kai perfection<ch.emdash/>to attain all of the Grand Master Disciplines and become the first Kai Supreme Master.</p>
<p>The Elder<ch.apos/>s probe breaks through your mind shield and he suddenly realizes that you are an intruder. He pulls at your robe and tears it open, revealing your leather tunic and breeches. Recognizing them at once to be Sommlending in origin, he gasps with shock as he guesses at your true identity.</p>
<p><quote>Seize him!</quote> he bellows, and a score of acolytes turn around and run forward to obey the command. You draw your weapon and fight them with breathtaking skill and valour, but eventually you are overcome by their numbers. By the time they have disarmed you and pinned you to the rocky ground, more than thirty of them lie slain or seriously injured in a heaped circle around where you lie.</p>
<p>You stare back defiantly at the ring of grim torchlit faces that loom over you. Then the face of the Elder comes into view and he sneers with disdain. He places the tip of a glowing wand to your forehead and suddenly there is an explosion of white light. Sadly for you, it is the last sensation you will ever experience.</p>
- <p>Your life and your quest end here, on the trail to the Maakengorge.</p>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here, on the trail to the Maakengorge.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>You throw the red-hot token away, but it hits a boulder and rebounds directly into the trough. There is a dreadful moment of silence; then the whole area is lit up by a blinding flash of yellow flame. Suddenly everything seems to be happening in slow motion. You see acolytes tumbling backwards, screaming, their robes sprouting tongues of flame, and chunks of marble from the trough hurtling skywards like fiery meteors. Then the heat and the shock of the explosion rip into your face and chest, sending you cartwheeling backwards into a black, unfeeling oblivion.</p>
- <p>Tragically, your life and your quest end here, on the trail to the Maakengorge.</p>
+ <deadend>Tragically, your life and your quest end here, on the trail to the Maakengorge.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<p>Your punch knocks the Elder off his feet and leaves him slumped unconscious against the gunwale. A deathly silence descends on the deck and all eyes turn to stare in disbelief at what you have done.</p>
<p><quote>Seize him!</quote> bellows another Elder, and a score of acolytes spring from the benches to obey the command. You draw your weapon and fight them with breathtaking skill and valour, but eventually you are overcome by the sheer weight of numbers. By the time they have disarmed you and pinned you to the deck, more than thirty of them lie slain or seriously injured in a heaped circle around where you lie.</p>
<p>You stare back defiantly at the ring of grim faces that loom over you. Then the face of an Elder comes into view and he sneers with disdain when he sees that you are a Sommlending. He places the tip of his glowing wand to your forehead and suddenly there is an explosion of white light. Sadly, it is the last sensation you will ever experience.</p>
- <p>Your life and your quest end here.</p>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<p>Suddenly, a sparkling sheet of energy shimmers beneath the great arch, and you catch sight of a huge, booted foot stepping through it. You tremble at the thought of what will happen next, for you recognize only too well to whom the foot belongs. With mounting horror you watch as the Demoness Shamath emerges from the Shadow Gate in her entirety. Here on Magnamund she is five times greater in size and power than in her own domain, and she is hungry to exercise that terrible power.</p>
<p>She stoops down and plucks the Deathstaff from you as if she was removing a tiny splinter of wood from a lowly insect. Then she points a tree-sized finger at the ground before the dais and a huge hole appears.</p>
<p>A raging whirlwind arises from this abyss, a whirling vortex which quickly builds in power until it is sucking everything into its spinning black core. Screaming acolytes tumble past and disappear into its maw as you desperately hang on to the dais to stop yourself from being sucked to your death. But your resistance is futile. With a callous flick of her wrist, the Demoness Shamath consigns you to your doom.</p>
- <p>Tragically, your life and your quest end here.</p>
+ <deadend>Tragically, your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<p>The Elder<ch.apos/>s probe breaks through your defence and he suddenly realizes that you are an intruder. He pulls at your robe and tears it open, revealing your leather tunic and breeches. Recognizing them at once to be Sommlending in origin, he gasps with shock as he guesses at your true identity.</p>
<p><quote>Seize him!</quote> he bellows, and a score of acolytes spring forward to obey the command. You draw your weapon and fight them with breathtaking skill and valour, but eventually you are overcome by the sheer weight of their numbers. By the time they have disarmed you and pinned you to the rocky ground, more than thirty of them lie slain or seriously injured in a heaped circle around where you lie.</p>
<p>You stare back defiantly at the ring of grim torchlit faces that loom over you. Then the face of the Elder comes into view and he sneers with disdain. He places the tip of a glowing wand to your forehead and suddenly there is an explosion of white light. Sadly for you, it is the last sensation you will ever experience.</p>
- <p>Your life and your quest end here, on the trail to the Maakengorge.</p>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here, on the trail to the Maakengorge.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Galvanized into action by the fear of what will happen should the Demoness be allowed entry to this world, you cast your eyes and Kai senses across the symbols which are engraved upon the crystal surface of the uppermost tier. Then, in a sudden flash of inspiration, you realize that the symbols themselves are the key to the activation of the Shadow Gate.</p>
<p>You study the symbols and determine that a sequence must be completed in order for you to be able to close the Shadow Gate.</p>
- <p>Study the following grid of numbers carefully. When you think you know the missing number, <choose test="has-numbered-section-list"><when value="true"><a idref="numbered">turn to the entry</a></when><otherwise>turn to the entry</otherwise></choose> which bears the same number as your answer.<footref id="sect164-1" idref="sect164-1-foot"/></p>
+ <puzzle idref="sect6">Study the following grid of numbers carefully. When you think you know the missing number, <choose test="has-numbered-section-list"><when value="true"><a idref="numbered">turn to the entry</a></when><otherwise>turn to the entry</otherwise></choose> which bears the same number as your answer.<footref id="sect164-1" idref="sect164-1-foot"/></puzzle>
<illustration class="inline">
<meta>
<p><quote>From the remainder I picked the loyal servants to guard my throne of power. I chose them all, except for one who was known to me as a traitor. I executed the traitor before I set my loyal servants to guard my throne.</quote></p>
<p><quote>So, mortal, answer my question: while I am here to do Naar<ch.apos/>s bidding, how many loyal servants guard my throne of power?</quote></p>
</blockquote>
- <p>Study the words of Shamath<ch.apos/>s riddle carefully. When you think you have the answer, <choose test="has-numbered-section-list"><when value="true"><a idref="numbered">turn to the entry</a></when><otherwise>turn to the entry</otherwise></choose> which bears the same number as your answer.<footref id="sect189-1" idref="sect189-1-foot"/></p>
+ <puzzle idref="sect10">Study the words of Shamath<ch.apos/>s riddle carefully. When you think you have the answer, <choose test="has-numbered-section-list"><when value="true"><a idref="numbered">turn to the entry</a></when><otherwise>turn to the entry</otherwise></choose> which bears the same number as your answer.<footref id="sect189-1" idref="sect189-1-foot"/></puzzle>
<choice idref="sect216">If you cannot answer Shamath<ch.apos/>s riddle, <link-text>turn to 216</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Your first attempt at deciphering the secret of the crystal dais was not successful and a new sequence of numbers materializes upon the surface of the upper tier.</p>
<p>This time the sequence appears to be harder. Now you will need to bring to bear all your Kai skill and intelligence if you are to break the code and close the Shadow Gate in time. Or will you be defeated by your old enemy, Arch Druid Cadak, even after his death?</p>
- <p>Study the following grid of numbers carefully. When you think you know the missing number, <choose test="has-numbered-section-list"><when value="true"><a idref="numbered">turn to the entry</a></when><otherwise>turn to the entry</otherwise></choose> which bears the same number as your answer.<footref id="sect235-1" idref="sect235-1-foot"/></p>
+ <puzzle idref="sect110">Study the following grid of numbers carefully. When you think you know the missing number, <choose test="has-numbered-section-list"><when value="true"><a idref="numbered">turn to the entry</a></when><otherwise>turn to the entry</otherwise></choose> which bears the same number as your answer.<footref id="sect235-1" idref="sect235-1-foot"/></puzzle>
<illustration class="inline">
<meta>
<data>
<p>You fight to maintain your grip but you have been badly weakened during your conflict with Shamath and Cadak, and your reserves of strength are exhausted. Comforted by the knowledge that your actions have prevented the resurrection of Vashna and the destruction of your homeland, you finally release your grip and allow yourself to be sucked to your doom in the whirling abyss.</p>
- <p>Heroically, your life and your quest end here.</p>
+ <deadend>Heroically, your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<p>As you draw level with the first Elder he reaches down and takes hold of your shoulder to make you halt. He says something in a dialect you do not understand and, when you do not answer, his suspicion swiftly turns to anger. He grabs your robe and pulls it open, revealing your leather tunic and breeches. Recognizing them at once to be Sommlending in origin, he gasps with shock as he guesses at your true identity.</p>
<p><quote>Seize him!</quote> bellows the other Elder, and a score of acolytes spring forward to obey the command. You draw your weapon and fight them with breathtaking skill and valour, but eventually you are overcome by the sheer weight of their numbers. By the time they have disarmed you and pinned you to the ground, more than thirty of them lie slain or seriously injured in a heaped circle around where you lie.</p>
<p>You stare back defiantly at the ring of grim torchlit faces that loom over you. Then the face of an Acolyte Elder comes into view and he sneers with disdain. He places the tip of a glowing wand to your forehead and suddenly there is an explosion of white light. Sadly for you, it is the last sensation you will ever experience.</p>
- <p>Your life and your quest end here.</p>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
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