<meta><title>14</title></meta>
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- <p>To your relief you sense that your precautions have worked; the dragon no longer suspects that it is carrying a stowaway. It raises its head and continues its flight towards the construction area which lies close to the main temple. Upon reaching this busy area it hovers above an expanse of levelled ground which is covered with dozens of cargo nets full of blocks awaiting collection by the building teams. A crew of four reptillians guide your net gently to the ground and then swiftly they unhook it from the dragon<ch.apos/>s harness using long poles.</p>
- <p>From the safety of your hiding place you watch as the dragon flies away to collect another cargo. As soon as the reptillians move on to attend to the next delivery of blocks, you leave the net and make your way as quickly as you can towards the main temple.</p>
+ <p>To your relief you sense that your precautions have worked; the dragon no longer suspects that it is carrying a stowaway. It raises its head and continues its flight towards the construction area which lies close to the main temple. Upon reaching this busy area it hovers above an expanse of levelled ground which is covered with dozens of cargo nets full of blocks awaiting collection by the building teams. A crew of four reptilians guide your net gently to the ground and then swiftly they unhook it from the dragon<ch.apos/>s harness using long poles.</p>
+ <p>From the safety of your hiding place you watch as the dragon flies away to collect another cargo. As soon as the reptilians move on to attend to the next delivery of blocks, you leave the net and make your way as quickly as you can towards the main temple.</p>
<choice idref="sect220"><link-text>Turn to 220</link-text>.</choice>
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</section>
<meta><title>25</title></meta>
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- <p>Unfortunately, when you are halfway across the bridge you are spotted by a lavas passing high overhead. Immediately it signals to two of its companions and all three creatures swoop down to block your exit. Their cries of alarm attract more than two dozen of their kin, and also alert the reptillians that are lining the parapet. At a given command they close in and attack you mercilessly with their spears and tridents. You fight back with stunning bravery, dispatching more than ten lavas and seven reptillians before eventually you succumb to their sheer weight of numbers. Sadly, your life and your quest end here on the Huan<ch.apos/>zhor Chasm Bridge.</p>
+ <p>Unfortunately, when you are halfway across the bridge you are spotted by a lavas passing high overhead. Immediately it signals to two of its companions and all three creatures swoop down to block your exit. Their cries of alarm attract more than two dozen of their kin, and also alert the reptilians that are lining the parapet. At a given command they close in and attack you mercilessly with their spears and tridents. You fight back with stunning bravery, dispatching more than ten lavas and seven reptilians before eventually you succumb to their sheer weight of numbers. Sadly, your life and your quest end here on the Huan<ch.apos/>zhor Chasm Bridge.</p>
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</section>
<p><quote>Spare me and forgive me, Lone Wolf,</quote> pleads Cadak<ch.apos/>s plaintive voice in your mind. <quote>I renounce my evil past. Forgive me so that death may free my soul from the slavery of Evil. Grant me this salvation and I shall help you to escape from the realm of the K<ch.uuml/>nae.</quote></p>
<p>The receding tide of maggots has revealed a glowing ring that lies on the slime-smeared floor at the centre of the hall.</p>
<p><quote>Take the ring, Lone Wolf. Take the ring and grant me your forgiveness. With the ring the way is clear for you to leave this hall through the Tunnel of the Wyrm.</quote></p>
- <p>Beyond the flame-like spirit of Cadak you can see the rotting rib cage of the reptillian carcass. The semicircular shadow that occupies it is now pulsing with a warm, amber light.</p>
+ <p>Beyond the flame-like spirit of Cadak you can see the rotting rib cage of the reptilian carcass. The semicircular shadow that occupies it is now pulsing with a warm, amber light.</p>
<choice idref="sect128">If you agree to forgive the spirit of Cadak, and wish to pick up the ring, <link-text>turn to 128</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect20">If you refuse to forgive the spirit of Cadak, and decide that you will not pick up the ring, <link-text>turn to 20</link-text>.</choice>
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<meta><title>31</title></meta>
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- <p>To your relief you sense that the dragon is no longer convinced that it is carrying a stowaway. It raises its head and continues its flight towards the construction area which lies close to the main temple. Upon reaching this busy area it hovers above an expanse of levelled ground which is covered with dozens of cargo nets full of blocks awaiting collection by the building teams. A crew of four reptillians guides your net gently to the ground and then swiftly unhooks it from the dragon<ch.apos/>s harness using long poles.</p>
- <p>From the safety of your hiding place you watch as the dragon flies away to collect another cargo. As soon as the reptillians move on to attend to the next delivery of blocks, you leave the net and make your way as quickly as you can towards the main temple.</p>
+ <p>To your relief you sense that the dragon is no longer convinced that it is carrying a stowaway. It raises its head and continues its flight towards the construction area which lies close to the main temple. Upon reaching this busy area it hovers above an expanse of levelled ground which is covered with dozens of cargo nets full of blocks awaiting collection by the building teams. A crew of four reptilians guides your net gently to the ground and then swiftly unhooks it from the dragon<ch.apos/>s harness using long poles.</p>
+ <p>From the safety of your hiding place you watch as the dragon flies away to collect another cargo. As soon as the reptilians move on to attend to the next delivery of blocks, you leave the net and make your way as quickly as you can towards the main temple.</p>
<choice idref="sect220"><link-text>Turn to 220</link-text>.</choice>
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</section>
<meta><title>33</title></meta>
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- <p>You retrieve the book from your backpack and thumb through its shiny blank pages until you discover two pages that have changed both in colour and texture. A cluster of rust-red lettering is enclosed within the black runic borders that outline these two sheets of creamy parchment. Once again, using your Magnakai Discipline of pathsmanship, you study the complex text and are able to decipher much of its meaning.</p>
+ <p>You retrieve the book from your backpack and thumb through its shiny blank pages until you discover two pages that have changed both in colour and texture. A cluster of rust-red lettering is enclosed within the black runic borders that outline these two sheets of creamy parchment. Once again, using your Magnakai Discipline of Pathsmanship, you study the complex text and are able to decipher much of its meaning.</p>
<p>The words tell of Zantaz<ch.emdash/>the Lord of the Pit<ch.emdash/>whose many accompanying titles include Reaper of Gloom, Armourer of the Fell Legions, and Guardian of the Gate of Dragonflame. It says that he presides over a <quote>deep realm of rock, iron, steel and flame</quote>, and that among the many eternal duties he has been set by Naar, his primary task is to forge weapons of power for the Dark God<ch.apos/>s champions. Zantaz has no secret name, but you are able to translate the text which details how one can leave his domain. It makes for uneasy reading. The tome states that any who wish to depart must first <quote>defeat Zantaz in mortal combat and cast his body into the Pit of Darkflame, from whence he shall be reborn.</quote> Only by proving oneself worthy in combat against Zantaz can one cause <quote>the Gate of Dragonflame to release the worthy victor.</quote> The name <quote>Zantaz</quote> is vaguely familiar; you are sure that you have heard it before. As you ponder the remaining text which lists his infamous deeds, you suddenly recall where it was that you heard his name spoken. It was many years ago, while you were still an initiate at the Kai Monastery, and your old tutor<ch.emdash/>Storm Hawk<ch.emdash/>was lecturing your class about the Drakkarim: the barbarian race of humanoids whose conquest of Northern Magnamund preceded the rise of the Darklords of Helgedad. Zantaz was the name of the warrior-god whom the Drakkarim worshipped.</p>
<p>Feeling a little unnerved by what you have discovered and remembered, you close the tome and slip it back into your pack. You sense that the Moonstone is not to be found here in this domain of tunnels and so you resolve to escape from here as soon as possible. But if you are to do so successfully it seems you will first have to find and defeat Zantaz, the warrior-god of the Drakkarim.</p>
<p>You get to your feet and continue along the tunnel which leads out of the empty cavern. You follow this passageway for several hundred yards until you arrive at a junction where another tunnel crosses your path from right to left. Cautiously you scan the tunnel in both directions and notice that away to your right, little more than twenty yards distant, is an open archway. Although you can sense no living presence, the angle of view and the darkness of the interior prevent you from determining what lies beyond this archway. To your left, your tracking skills reveal that the tunnel leads eventually to a dead end.</p>
<meta><title>37</title></meta>
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- <p>Quickly you retreat into the forest of flames and pray that your Magnakai psi-screen and camouflage skills will keep you safe from Tzor<ch.apos/>s unholy gaze.</p>
+ <p>Quickly you retreat into the forest of flames and pray that your Magnakai Psi-screen and camouflage skills will keep you safe from Tzor<ch.apos/>s unholy gaze.</p>
<p>Pick a number from the <a idref="random">Random Number Table</a>. If your current <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> score is 16 or higher, add 1 to the number you have picked. If your current <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> score is 10 or lower, deduct 1.</p>
<choice idref="sect262">If your total is now 3 or lower, <link-text>turn to 262</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect338">If it is 4 or higher, <link-text>turn to 338</link-text>.</choice>
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<p>As you pass into the void, a sensation of unimaginable speed assaults your senses. You fly through the stellar darkness and a universe unfolds before you, like a million gems strewn upon an endless sea of black velvet. Your physical body is sheathed within a casing of pale white light, and you sense that it is a protective shell generated by your platinum amulet to protect you from the icy chill and airlessness of this astral starscape.</p>
- <p>You surrender yourself to the invisible currents that ebb and flow through the void and, as you glide across this immeasurable no-space, once more you consult the Tome of Darkness. The transparent page that revealed information about Shamath<ch.apos/>s realm is now blank, but the one which follows has changed in colour and texture. Lines of glowing text have appeared on a page that is as dark as deep space. Again, using your Magnakai Discipline of pathsmanship, you are able to decipher much of the text and you discover that it tells of <quote>Avarvae the Tormentress</quote>, and it reveals that this void<ch.emdash/>which is her domain<ch.emdash/>is called <quote>The Oblivion of the Tortured Souls</quote>. You ignore the list of her cruel and evil deeds, and search out her secret name.</p>
+ <p>You surrender yourself to the invisible currents that ebb and flow through the void and, as you glide across this immeasurable no-space, once more you consult the Tome of Darkness. The transparent page that revealed information about Shamath<ch.apos/>s realm is now blank, but the one which follows has changed in colour and texture. Lines of glowing text have appeared on a page that is as dark as deep space. Again, using your Magnakai Discipline of Pathsmanship, you are able to decipher much of the text and you discover that it tells of <quote>Avarvae the Tormentress</quote>, and it reveals that this void<ch.emdash/>which is her domain<ch.emdash/>is called <quote>The Oblivion of the Tortured Souls</quote>. You ignore the list of her cruel and evil deeds, and search out her secret name.</p>
<p>Unfortunately you discover that there is no name to bind her. However, you do learn that no special artefact is required to leave her realm and there are two exits: The Gates of Darkness, by which you entered, and the Bridge of the Damned. Having no desire to return to Shamath<ch.apos/>s domain, you put away the tome and resolve instead to find the Bridge of the Damned. Yet, as you stare across the infinite distances of this void, it is hard to dispel your fears that you may end your days lost here forever.</p>
<choice idref="sect315">If you possess Shamath<ch.apos/>s Potion, <link-text>turn to 315</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect218">If you do not possess this item, <link-text>turn to 218</link-text>.</choice>
<meta><title>66</title></meta>
<data>
- <p>You notice, close to the entrance to the bridge, that there is a pulley and chain which is rigged to a stout stone beam overhanging the chasm. A team of five reptillians are busy at this pulley, hoisting buckets of molten lava from the base of the chasm which they then pass along a line to a place where a dwelling is being built. Here a construction team are using the molten lava as cement for their building blocks.</p>
+ <p>You notice, close to the entrance to the bridge, that there is a pulley and chain which is rigged to a stout stone beam overhanging the chasm. A team of five reptilians are busy at this pulley, hoisting buckets of molten lava from the base of the chasm which they then pass along a line to a place where a dwelling is being built. Here a construction team are using the molten lava as cement for their building blocks.</p>
<p>Drawing upon your improved Discipline, you focus on the pulley at the pivot point where it is attached to the beam, and you set up vibrations that, within a matter of seconds, cause it to shatter. The chain and the attached buckets of lava drop back into the chasm causing a spectacular firefall. The handful of creatures who are on the bridge at this time immediately rush to the parapet to watch this fiery display. While they are distracted, you seize the opportunity to make a dash across the open bridge.</p>
<p>Pick a number from the <a idref="random">Random Number Table</a>. If you possess Assimilance, add 3 to the number you have picked. If you possess Grand Huntmastery, add 2. If your current <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> score is 10 or lower, deduct 1.</p>
<choice idref="sect25">If your total score is now 6 or lower, <link-text>turn to 25</link-text>.</choice>
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<p>Suddenly the fearsome Dragonlord ceases to roar and spit fire. The wounds you have inflicted have weakened him and he is forced to retreat from the combat momentarily in order to recoup enough strength to continue. Before he can strike again, you use the lull in the deafening noise that has accompanied this fight to shout out the Dragonlord<ch.apos/>s secret name.</p>
<p><quote>Zhula!</quote> you cry. Huan<ch.apos/>zhor shudders when he hears the name, and a naked panic grips his heart. Bleating like a frightened lamb, the great dragon takes to the air and flees in terror. You watch him fly back across the chasm and soar upwards into the vent in the ceiling of the titanic cavern, from where he first appeared.</p>
- <p>Your swift and timely use of Huan<ch.apos/>zhor<ch.apos/>s secret name has routed your enemy but, unfortunately, the lavas and the reptillian minions do not follow the example of their petrified leader. Sensing an enemy in their midst, they rapidly muster their numbers and encircle the temple. Through the wall of flames you glimpse several dozen lavas approaching the nest by air from the far side of the chasm.</p>
+ <p>Your swift and timely use of Huan<ch.apos/>zhor<ch.apos/>s secret name has routed your enemy but, unfortunately, the lavas and the reptilian minions do not follow the example of their petrified leader. Sensing an enemy in their midst, they rapidly muster their numbers and encircle the temple. Through the wall of flames you glimpse several dozen lavas approaching the nest by air from the far side of the chasm.</p>
<choice idref="sect213">If you wish to search once more for the Scarab of the Wingless Dragon, <link-text>turn to 213</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect209">If you decide to take your chances without the Scarab, you can avoid the attacking lavas and escape from the nest of fire by leaping into the transporter beam. <link-text>Turn to 209</link-text>.</choice>
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Project Aon Git Repositories / project-aon.git / commitdiff