You are the Wizard Grey Star. Your quest is to retrieve the legendary Moonstone and with its power throw down the evil Wytch-king. You must find the Shadow Gate&emdash;doorway to the magic realm where it lies hidden. When the moon is full, the Shadow Gate appears&emdash;in Desolation Valley beyond the Mountains of Morn, where you must dare The Forbidden City.
The Wytch-king will try to track you down. His slaves will dog your every step&emdash;the cruel warriors of Shadaki, the phantom spirit of the Deathgaunt and the dark horror of the demon Kleasá. Only your Magical Powers and the might of your Wizard's Staff can protect you in a terrifying adventure of madness, magic and menace!
@@ -281,7 +294,10 @@ small11: sword, axe, & shieldAlternatively, you may wish to use your original
If you choose Alchemy as your new Magical Power, you also receive a Herb Pouch with contents, as detailed in the Equipment section.
It is possible for your
There are sections of this book that describe how you use a Magical Power and how many
Alternatively, you may may wish to use a method given in Section 175 of War of the Wizards, which contains one such case of mandated use of magic: If you do not have enough
Note that you may never choose to use a Magical Power or your Wizard's Staff if you do not have sufficient
It is possible for your
To keep a record of your adventure, use the Action Chart.
Before you set off on your adventure, you must discover how well your Shianti masters have prepared you for your quest by determining your fighting prowess&emdash;
The first number that you pick from the Random Number Table in this way represents your
The second number that you pick from the Random Number Table represents your
The second number that you pick from the Random Number Table represents your
The third number that you pick from the Random Number Table represents your powers of
If your
When you start your adventure, your education in the ways of wizardry is incomplete. You have mastered only five of the seven Magical Powers that the Shianti call the
The seven Magical Powers available to you are listed below. When you have chosen your five Powers, enter them in the Magical Powers section of your Action Chart.
@@ -484,7 +503,7 @@ small11: sword, axe, & shieldYour Staff is your most valuable possession. It looks and feels like an ordinary quarterstaff, yet it is stronger than any known metal. This is your main combat weapon, for you are untrained in the use of any other form of armed combat. It contains a potent force that is unleashed at will by the power of your mind, and causes a beam of destructive power to hurtle from its tip. Every time you unleash this power you must deduct 1
Your Staff is your most valuable possession. It looks and feels like an ordinary quarterstaff, yet it is stronger than any known metal. This is your main combat weapon, for you are untrained in the use of any other form of armed combat. It contains a potent force that is unleashed at will by the power of your mind, and causes a beam of destructive power to hurtle from its tip. Every time you unleash this power you must deduct 1
In the event that your enemy survives such an attack or should you fall victim to a surprise attack, you will be forced to engage in close combat and must attempt to strike your enemy with the Staff. If your attack is successful, a bolt of energy will be released from the Staff that is capable of inflicting great physical harm. If you wish to increase the amount of damage that you inflict in this way, you must use more
If you enter combat without your Staff, deduct 6 points from your
You walk along the west passage. It rises steadily and eventually opens into a small cave. Beneath the light of the full moon you see miles and miles of contorted rock. It looks as if it has been melted in a furnace. You find the skeletal remains of several bodies but as you lift a skull to examine it, it crumbles to dust in your hand.
+You walk along the west passage. It rises steadily and eventually opens into a small cave with an opening that overlooks a large gorge. Beneath the light of the full moon you see miles and miles of contorted rock. It looks as if it has been melted in a furnace.
+You find the skeletal remains of several bodies but as you lift a skull to examine it, it crumbles to dust in your hand.
You search the cave and find a Silver Knife. You may keep this Special Item, which can be worn on your belt. (Remember to mark it on your Action Chart.) You head back along the passage until you come to the circular cavern once more.
Standing before a crumbling bridge that crosses the left-hand fork of the Belzar River, you gaze, awestruck, at the desolate city that rests beneath the shadow of the mountains. In your darkest dreams, you have never known a place so eerie and forbidding: the blackened shards of the city walls reach hauntingly into the sky; clumps of black weed grow between pieces of crumbling masonry, and the twisted heights of ancient spires and crippled towers point accusingly at the heavens; an awful gloom hangs in the air and an atmosphere of brooding menace emanates from the heart of the city.
+You look at the faces of your brave companions; Urik's wrinkled face, so often creased with laughter, now set in a frown; the hard countenance of brave Samu, the sundered king; and the angular, hawkish features of Hugi, whose eyes gleam greedily. You notice how pale they look, almost sickly, and a vague disquiet stirs in the back of your mind.
You approach the bridge and Hugi looks at it, his eyes full of doubt. Is it safe?
you ask.
It's stood here for centuries,
Hugi answers.
The water is poisonous and, as it affects your body, you panic and begin to sink. Hugi and Urik have already reached the other side but, as soon as Samu sees you struggling, he strikes out towards you. With strong hands he grabs your robe and pulls you to the surface. Panting and gasping for breath, he hurls you to the safety of the river bank and slowly you crawl up the bank. The water you have swallowed has cost you 2 Samu!
You turn in time to see Samu's flailing arms disappear beneath the surface of the water. You are stunned and dismayed. He disappears completely from sight, swept away by the waters of the poisonous Belzar River.
With tears in your eyes, you walk in silence towards the walls of the Forbidden City.
-The atmosphere is heavy and humid, and it is hard to breathe. The effort of walking causes you to lose 1
The Deathgaunt looks on as you usher your three companions within the protection of the pentacle. You possess no Magical Power capable of damaging this creature, for its body is not of the real world; your Wizard's Staff cannot help you here. You remain within the pentacle and continue to chant the warding words of Evocation. Eventually, with a whispered cry of frustration, the Deathgaunt dematerializes.
-You press on through the barren wilderness, more anxious than ever to reach your goal. The Deathgaunt has given up its attack for now but it is not destroyed and could return at any time. That night, with the black Mountains of Morn looming above you, you stop to make camp.
You press on through the barren wilderness, more anxious than ever to reach your goal. The Deathgaunt has given up its attack for now but it is not destroyed and could return at any time. That night, with the black Mountains of Morn looming above you, you stop to make camp.
You are forced to choose to use a Magical Power, even though all the Powers that are available to you may require you to use more
I have great need for haste, Sado,
you say, but I will help you this night. What must I do?
A fire lights in Sado's eyes. I thank you, Grey Star, in the name of the people of Karnali.
He tells you of his need for a diversion that will lure the bulk of the Shadakine force outside their walled city-fortress. You consider your Magical Powers, trying to decide which would best accomplish this.
+He tells you of his need for a diversion that will lure the bulk of the Shadakine force outside their walled city-fortress. You consider your Magical Powers, trying to decide which would best accomplish this.
The land beyond the Mountains of Morn, the region that is called Desolation Valley, was once the heart of a great kingdom, a nation called Taklakot. One day, a mighty wizard came amongst them, and he bore a great gift, so they thought. It was a magical stone which harnessed the fire of the sun. The people of Taklakot grew in knowledge but it was a power gained without wisdom and a great calamity befell them. Somehow, the fire of the Sun stone was released and in a single day an entire race was wiped from the face of the Earth. The barren land you see around you is the result of that fateful day; its curse still lingers.
But what of the Forbidden City? Why does it still stand?
asks Samu.
The mountains that surround the valley held the blast. The Forbidden City, or Gyanima as it was called, stands beyond those mountains. It was built to guard the pass through the mountains and is the only remnant of a dead civilization.
A greedy light gleams in Hugi's eyes. The value of its treasures is immeasurable,
he breathes.
Your Shianti training and lifestyle have taught you to place no value on material wealth and you soon lose interest in Hugi's tales of hidden gold. Once more, you ponder the incredible bleakness of the place. You gaze across the Belzar River, and to the hills beyond, and an involuntary shiver runs down your spine. Drifting down from the hills, you see an eerie, chilling sight. A ghostly, pallid form floats across the river, its hands outstretched towards you; it whispers with a voice like grating stone.
Steeling yourself for the long march through the night, you strike out and pray that the Deathgaunts do not appear. You are already tired, and the chill fever that the Deathgaunts have inflicted on you is wearing down your resistance.
Stumbling with fatigue through the inky black night, you lose 2
You release the might of your Wizard's Staff and its flame shoots towards the spectre on the water. To your surprise, however, it passes straight through, inflicting no damage. This creature is a Deathgaunt, an undead being summoned to the world of the living by the Wytch-king himself. Your unsuccessful assault has cost you 2
You are wrenched towards the very edge of the falling bridge. Helplessly, Samu dangles at the end of the Rope, looking at the fast-moving waters of the Belzar. I&ellips; I can't hold it,
you shout in a strained voice to Urik and Hugi. They start forward, but as they step on to the bridge, bricks and stones fail into the river at an alarming rate. Stop!
you scream, or we're all doomed!
Before anyone can act; the strain on the Rope is suddenly released and you fall backwards. Samu, seeing your plight, has cut the Rope with his sword, allowing himself to fall into the running water. Horrified, you watch as Samu struggles against the current. Then he is gone; there is no trace. Grey Star!
Urik shouts. Come away&ellips; the bridge!
Eyes blurred with tears, you stagger away from the bridge. Too numb to speak, the three of you walk towards the gate of the Forbidden City.
If you do not have sufficient
Wielding your Staff high above your head, you wait for your chance to strike. Hugi manages to wriggle free from the coils of the beast and, as he rolls clear, you bring your Staff down with a mighty blow. A crackle of energy rips through the creature as your Staff crushes its head. The Scree Wyrm contracts into a knot and flips over and over in the throes of death to disappear from sight into one of the many pot-holes that dot the plain. You have lost 1
Wielding your Staff high above your head, you wait for your chance to strike. Hugi manages to wriggle free from the coils of the beast and, as he rolls clear, you bring your Staff down with a mighty blow. A crackle of energy rips through the creature as your Staff crushes its head. The Scree Wyrm contracts into a knot and flips over and over in the throes of death to disappear from sight into one of the many pot-holes that dot the plain. You have lost 1
You are forced to choose to use a Magical Power, even though all the Powers that are available to you may require you to use more
Sado prepares his men to charge. A familiar yellow light attracts your attention, shining from the highest turret of the fortress. It can only be the light of the Kazim Stone, a powerful instrument of pain in the hands of a Shadakine Wytch.
-The yellow glow expands and then envelopes the flagging soldiers who stand before the fortress. You see their resolve tighten as the Kazim Stone robs them of their fear. Sorcery!
breathes Sado in a desperate voice. You feel the gaze of Sado and his men burning into you like an accusation. Slowly, the Shadakine advance, tightening the ragged line of their defence in preparation for a counterattack; they move like automatons as the Kazim Stone burns into their minds.
The yellow glow expands and then envelopes the flagging soldiers who stand before the fortress. You see their resolve tighten as the Kazim Stone robs them of their fear. Sorcery!
breathes Sado in a desperate voice. You feel the gaze of Sado and his men burning into you like an accusation. Slowly, the Shadakine advance, tightening the ragged line of their defence in preparation for a counterattack; they move like automatons as the Kazim Stone burns into their minds.
A minute passes and the door slides shut as silently as it opened. Gradually, you sense that the room is becoming colder. A chill wind rises from nowhere, sending a shiver down your spine. It is not ordinary cold air causing you to tremble, it is the familiar presence of a Deathgaunt. It materializes in the centre of the cavern, close to where you stand. Welcome,
it hisses menacingly, as it stretches out its wispy fingers to claw at your soul. You fight to hang on to life, but it is a fight that you cannot win. Here, in the chamber of Shasarak the Wytch-king, the Deathgaunt draws on a power that you cannot resist, and you are borne swiftly from the realm of the living.
Your life and your quest end here.
The darkening sky blossoms like a vast purple flower as the sun sets. The chirping of cicadas fills the air and you both decide to stop and rest. Urik gathers up handfuls of berries and offers you a strange new food, a blue fungus that grows beneath the soil. Cautiously you bite into it then smile with surprise, for it is delicious and tastes remarkably like cured meat.
+It is called Lianor,
says Urik. Grows everywhere, yet hard to find. The secret gift of the Earth. Urik sees the secret places below the ground. Is it good?
You nod and hungrily finish the delicious fungi. The Lianor is packed with goodness and you may restore 1
From this point in the story, this book suffers from a game design problem in that many sections give you options between using different forms of magic, but no option for what to do if your
A patch of brush and foliage is pulled aside to reveal a concealed entrance. Following Sado, you enter a wide tunnel lit with torches. This tunnel leads all the way to our secret headquarters beneath the city of Karnali,
he says.
The tunnel twists and turns for many miles before opening into a large cavern. You and Urik are given food and wine, and while you eat, he tells you of his army&emdash;the Freedom Guild, a rebel band resisting the rule of the Shadakine Empire.
@@ -3625,7 +3653,7 @@ small11: sword, axe, & shieldHe turns and apologizes to you, explaining that the bulk of his army is recruited from the criminal ranks of the city. You explain your quest and the land that you seek. Sado's eyes widen with astonishment. Then the legends are true?
he gapes. The Shianti still exist!
You nod. If my quest should finally succeed and I retrieve the Moonstone, the full might of their wisdom and magic will be turned against Shasarak,
you tell him.
How the people would rejoice to know that a Shianti walked among us once more,
says Sado, though I understand the need for secrecy. Nevertheless,
he continues, his eyes lighting up, I would ask a boon of you. Tonight, we attempt our most daring stratagem against the corrupt rule of the Shadakine. Stand with us in battle tonight, aid us if you will. With the might of a Shianti Wizard in our ranks, who knows what we could achieve! Help the Freedom Guild, Grey Star, in our struggle to free the people of Karnali.
He looks, a searching gaze on his face, with an intensity that almost crackles with energy.
+He looks, a searching gaze on his face, with an intensity that almost crackles with energy.
The creature floats towards you across the Belzar River, its tattered robe shimmering with a silvery light. You can see the dim outline of an eyeless face locked in torment.
-You send your thoughts racing out to the Elemental plane in a desperate plea for help but the Elementals do not answer your plea, for this is a Deathgaunt, one of the undead raised by the Wytch-king Shasarak, and against it the Elemental powers cannot prevail. The use of this Magical Power has cost you 2
You send your thoughts racing out to the Elemental plane in a desperate plea for help but the Elementals do not answer your plea, for this is a Deathgaunt, one of the undead raised by the Wytch-king Shasarak, and against it the Elemental powers cannot prevail. The use of this Magical Power has cost you 2
Before you are able to fire your Wizard's Staff, you must drop your Time to go?
asks Urik.
Before you are able to fire your Wizard's Staff, you must drop your
Time to go?
asks Urik.
As you are using your Wizard's Staff against the Scree Wyrm, you should deduct 1
As you are using your Wizard's Staff against the Scree Wyrm, you should deduct 1
If you do not have sufficient
Staff raised above your head, you wait for your chance to strike. Samu's defence against the Scree Wyrm is a dizzying blur of sword strokes. The Wyrm's attack weakens and, as it does, you strike out with the might of your Staff. A bolt of power shudders through the fearful creature as its body tenses before flopping lifelessly to the ground. Disdainfully, Samu gives the carcass a kick and the creature disappears through one of the pot-holes that litter the desolate plain.
-You can see the dim outline of an eyeless, tormented face. The shimmering, silvery creature is a Deathgaunt, an undead spirit freed by Shasarak, the Wytch-king, to roam the world of the living.
+You attempt to cast the illusion of a warrior moving to attack it but the Deathgaunt is not fooled. It passes through the illusion and dispels it. The use of this Magical Power has cost you 2
You may be forced to choose to use a Magical Power, even though all the Powers that are available to you may require you to use more
Sado, I am sorry but I must refuse. My quest demands it.
A look of fury passes momentarily over Sado's face. Very well,
he answers sadly. Then I will ensure your safe conduct from the city to aid you on your quest.
A small escort of soldiers in disguise leads you and Urik through the city streets. Suddenly, you notice that you are passing the stone fortress of the Shadakine&emdash;you have been duped by Sado, he has gone ahead with his plan. A huge mob of Karnalese civilians armed with sticks and stones charges towards the fortress, and you are trapped between the enraged mob and the Shadakine who are leaving the fortress to counterattack. Urik curses as you turn to face the Shadakine.
+A small escort of soldiers in disguise leads you and Urik through the city streets. Suddenly, you notice that you are passing the stone fortress of the Shadakine&emdash;you have been duped by Sado, he has gone ahead with his plan. A huge mob of Karnalese civilians armed with sticks and stones charges towards the fortress, and you are trapped between the enraged mob and the Shadakine who are leaving the fortress to counterattack. Urik curses as you turn to face the Shadakine.
(23) Replaced says. &lsquot;but
with says, &lsquot;but
.
(29) Replaced staff's
with Staff's
.
(34) Replaced lake and immediately, the
with lake, and immediately the
.
(37) Added with an opening that overlooks a large gorge
and added an extra paragraph break before the last sentence of the first paragraph, in order to make text make sense.
(39) Replaced consumate
with consummate
. Replaced appearance, Suddenly
with appearance. Suddenly
.
(42) Replaced hole on
with hole in
.
(43) Replaced this power
with this Power
.
(237) Changed the choice to use Psychomancy to lead to Section 170 rather than Section 224. Added If you have the Magical Power of Prophecy and wish to use it, turn to 224.
. Replaced If you do not possess this skill
with If you do not possess either of these skills, or do not wish to use them
.
(247) Replaced purple, he
with purple; he
. Made Urik's quote from The Way of the Shianti a separate paragraph.
(249) Replaced Toa tree
with toa tree
.
(250) Replaced actions, prevents
with actions prevents
. Replaced &lsquot;You man!&rsquot;
with &lsquot;You, man!&rsquot;
. Replaced Sado, &lsquot;what
with Sado, &lsquot;What
.
(253) Replaced life force
with life-force
. Replaced staff
with Staff
.
(254) Replaced fight you
with fight, you
. Replaced completely turn
with completely, turn
.
(255) Replaced Scree Wrym
with Scree Wyrm
. Replaced death throes
with death-throes
.
(256) Replaced Shazarak
with Shasarak
.
(257) Replaced day&rsquot;, dawn
with day&rsquot; dawn
.
(258) Replaced Wizard's staff
with Wizard's Staff
.
(258) Replaced Wizard's staff
with Wizard's Staff
. Made the last sentence a separate paragraph.
(260) Replaced you, however
with you; however
.
(266) Replaced The Mind Gem may be placed in your Backpack where it will count as a Backpack Item, or it can be worn around your neck.
with The Mind Gem is worn around your neck.
, in order to avoid rules ambiguities.
(267) Replaced near.&rsquot; he
with near,&rsquot; he
.
(The Game Rules) If you have completed Grey Star the Wizard, your
Alternatively, you may wish to use your original
(The Game Rules) If you choose Alchemy as your new Magical Power, you also receive a Herb Pouch with contents, as detailed in the Equipment section.
-(The Game Rules) It is possible for your
(The Game Rules) There are sections of this book that describe how you use a Magical Power and how many
Alternatively, you may may wish to use a method given in Section 175 of War of the Wizards, which contains one such case of mandated use of magic: If you do not have enough
Note that you may never choose to use a Magical Power or your Wizard's Staff if you do not have sufficient
(The Game Rules) It is possible for your
(Magical Powers) If your
(Equipment) If you have mastered the Lesser Magick of Alchemy and therefore have a Herb Pouch, you may choose to keep potions, vials, or ingredients in either the Herb Pouch or your Backpack. All other Backpack Items must be kept in your Backpack.
-(Section 20) Turn directly to Section 149 if the Magdi is still alive after 4 rounds. Do not finish the combat.
-(Section 45) After taking the Karmo potion and fighting your opponent, halve your
(Section 112) Remember to deduct the total from your
(Section 133) If you wish to take the Sheath, record it as a Special Item on your Action Chart.
-(Section 136) Remember to deduct the total from your
(Section 148) If you have not already done so, mark the Black Rod as a Special Item on your Action Chart.
-(Section 162) As you have used your Power of Evocation against the Deathgaunts, you should deduct 3
(Section 250) From this point in the story, this book suffers from a game design problem in that many sections give you options between using different forms of magic, but no option for what to do if your
(Section 262) As you are using your Wizard's Staff against the Scree Wyrm, you should deduct 1
(Section 299) If you use a leaf from a Bundle of dried Azawood Leaves, the Bundle now has two leaves left.
+(20) Turn directly to Section 149 if the Magdi is still alive after 4 rounds. Do not finish the combat.
+(45) After taking the Karmo potion and fighting your opponent, halve your
(91) You are forced to choose to use a Magical Power, even though all the Powers that are available to you may require you to use more
(112) Remember to deduct the total from your
(133) If you wish to take the Sheath, record it as a Special Item on your Action Chart.
+(136) Remember to deduct the total from your
(148) If you have not already done so, mark the Black Rod as a Special Item on your Action Chart.
+(162) As you have used your Power of Evocation against the Deathgaunts, you should deduct 3
(206) If you do not have sufficient
(207) You are forced to choose to use a Magical Power, even though all the Powers that are available to you may require you to use more
(250) From this point in the story, this book suffers from a game design problem in that many sections give you options between using different forms of magic, but no option for what to do if your
(262) As you are using your Wizard's Staff against the Scree Wyrm, you should deduct 1
If you do not have sufficient
(287) You may be forced to choose to use a Magical Power, even though all the Powers that are available to you may require you to use more
(299) If you use a leaf from a Bundle of dried Azawood Leaves, the Bundle now has three leaves left.