<meta><title>3</title></meta>
<data>
- <p>It is early in the afternoon when you catch sight of a grand, half-timbered bridge in the far distance. It spans a river, swollen by the recent rains, which you recognize at once to be the River Reloni. There is a mall circular tent near the approach to the bridge, and three Eldenoran soldiers are seated on stools beside it, each smoking a long-stemmed pipe.</p>
+ <p>It is early in the afternoon when you catch sight of a grand, half-timbered bridge in the far distance. It spans a river, swollen by the recent rains, which you recognize at once to be the River Reloni. There is a small circular tent near the approach to the bridge, and three Eldenoran soldiers are seated on stools beside it, each smoking a long-stemmed pipe.</p>
<p>At first you consider avoiding the bridge and finding somewhere else to make a crossing, but the river is wide and fast-flowing, and the three guards look particularly weak and stupid. After some deliberation, you decide to try and bluff your way past them.</p>
<p>As you approach, one of the guards gets up off his stool and moves to stand in your way. Casually, he asks to see some sort of identification.</p>
<choice idref="sect283">If you possess a Silver Seal, <link-text>turn to 283</link-text>.</choice>
<meta><title>66</title></meta>
<data>
- <p>You call upon your special Kai abilities to lighten your body weight sufficiently enough for you to prevent yourself from sinking further into this evil-smelling morass. Then, using your hands and weapons, you wade through this sinking bog until you feel the welcome sensation of firm ground once more beneath your feet. You rest momentarily to regain your strength before you hurry away from the morass and head north.</p>
+ <p>You call upon your special Kai abilities to lighten your body weight sufficiently enough for you to prevent yourself from sinking further into this evil-smelling morass. Then, using your hands and weapons, you wade through this stinking bog until you feel the welcome sensation of firm ground once more beneath your feet. You rest momentarily to regain your strength before you hurry away from the morass and head north.</p>
<choice idref="sect43"><link-text>Turn to 43</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p><quote>It is good to see you again, Grand Master,</quote> he says, forcing a smile. <quote>I was expecting you. I received word yesterday from Queen Evaine telling me of your urgent journey. Yet it is unfortunate that your visit should come at this time; I would have hoped to have given you the kind of welcome you truly deserve.</quote> The Elector then introduces you to his generals who acknowledge you with soldierly salutes.</p>
- <p><quote>As you can see, we are at war, Grand Master,</quote> he says, sweeping a hand over the maps which lie strewn across his state table. <quote>The new ruler of Eldenora, a low-born blackguard by the name of Lutha who dares to adorn himself with the title <quote>Prince of Duadon</quote>, is attempting to seize our northern territories. We are locked in battle with his army of cut-throats near Holona and, though it pains me to have to admit this, were hard-pressed to contain his advance. This war has come without warning and we were ill-prepared. We have few reserves, insufficient to support the Holona garrison and to counter the many small units of Eldenoran horsemen who are ravaging our plains. This is a dark and testing time for us, Grand Master, but e<ch.apos/>en so, I shall aid you all I can.</quote></p>
+ <p><quote>As you can see, we are at war, Grand Master,</quote> he says, sweeping a hand over the maps which lie strewn across his state table. <quote>The new ruler of Eldenora, a low-born blackguard by the name of Lutha who dares to adorn himself with the title <quote>Prince of Duadon</quote>, is attempting to seize our northern territories. We are locked in battle with his army of cut-throats near Holona and, though it pains me to have to admit this, we<ch.apos/>re hard-pressed to contain his advance. This war has come without warning and we were ill-prepared. We have few reserves, insufficient to support the Holona garrison and to counter the many small units of Eldenoran horsemen who are ravaging our plains. This is a dark and testing time for us, Grand Master, but e<ch.apos/>en so, I shall aid you all I can.</quote></p>
<illustration id="bw-small5" class="inline">
<meta>
<meta><title>130</title></meta>
<data>
- <p>Elector Manatine permits you the use of his private chambers, which adjoin the War Boom, where you are able to get a few hours<ch.apos/> sleep before dawn. Then, shortly after sunrise, you bid the Elector and his generals farewell and leave the city, with Captain Cearmaine, in a military coach bound for Holona. An escort of cavalry outriders accompany this armoured carriage in case you should meet unexpectedly with a unit of roving Eldenorans during your journey east. Thankfully, the journey proves swill and uneventful and, as the day is turning to dusk, you find yourself approaching the military outpost of Stonewatch.</p>
+ <p>Elector Manatine permits you the use of his private chambers, which adjoin the War Room, where you are able to get a few hours<ch.apos/> sleep before dawn. Then, shortly after sunrise, you bid the Elector and his generals farewell and leave the city, with Captain Cearmaine, in a military coach bound for Holona. An escort of cavalry outriders accompany this armoured carriage in case you should meet unexpectedly with a unit of roving Eldenorans during your journey east. Thankfully, the journey proves swift and uneventful and, as the day is turning to dusk, you find yourself approaching the military outpost of Stonewatch.</p>
<p>You stay at this fort overnight and then continue on to Holona in the morning. For most of the journey you experience a sense of unease, a premonition that something is wrong, but it is not until you catch sight of the city, shortly before noon, that your fears are realized.</p>
<choice idref="sect157"><link-text>Turn to 157</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
<instance class="pdf" src="small6.pdf" width="386" height="150"/>
</illustration>
- <p>You join the troop for breakfast with Rasbarin and his brothers. During this meal, the elderly monk offers you a Flask of Aquas to fortify you on the road ahead, and a Talisman of Ishir to ward off hostile creatures (these are both Backpack Items). After breakfast, Nathor thanks Rasbarin for his hospitality and makes a donation of 50 Lune to his monastery. (If, before leaving, you too would like to make a donation, erase from your Action Chart the number of Gold Crowns you decide to give to the holy Vaderish Brethren.)</p>
+ <p>You join the troop for breakfast with Rasbarin and his brothers. During this meal, the elderly monk offers you a Flask of Aquas to fortify you on the road ahead, and a Talisman of Ishir to ward off hostile creatures (these are both Backpack Items). After breakfast, Nathor thanks Rasbarin for his hospitality and makes a donation of 50 Lune to his monastery. (If, before leaving, you too would like to make a donation, erase from your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a> the number of Gold Crowns you decide to give to the holy Vaderish Brethren.)</p>
<choice idref="sect16">To continue, <link-text>turn to 16</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<meta><title>202</title></meta>
<data>
- <p>You are woken from a fitful slumber by the sound of shouting. Cautiously you part the foliage to see a group of Duadon guardsmen scorning the river hank in search of your body. A brutish garrison sergeant is questioning a scrawny beggar whom he holds by the neck, lifting him several inches off the ground. The beggar, shaking with fear, points a finger towards the wood. The sergeant gives him a sneering smile, then rewards him for his cooperation with a dagger in the guts.</p>
+ <p>You are woken from a fitful slumber by the sound of shouting. Cautiously you part the foliage to see a group of Duadon guardsmen scouring the river bank in search of your body. A brutish garrison sergeant is questioning a scrawny beggar whom he holds by the neck, lifting him several inches off the ground. The beggar, shaking with fear, points a finger towards the wood. The sergeant gives him a sneering smile, then rewards him for his cooperation with a dagger in the guts.</p>
<p><quote>Search the copse!</quote> bellows the sergeant, wiping be blood from his blade on the dead beggar<ch.apos/>s coat. <quote>Damned Northlander<ch.apos/>s gone to ground in there.</quote></p>
<p>Quickly you retreat deeper into the wood as a line of soldiers come crashing through the foliage, hacking and slashing with their broad-bladed swords. Using your camouflage skills, you slip through their line and make your way back towards the river road, to the place where they have left their horses. A blow to the base of the skull puts paid to the soldier who is standing guard there and, as quietly as you can, you take a horse and escape towards the east.</p>
<p>When you can no longer see the walls of Duadon, you rein in your horse and take stock of the equipment contained in its saddle-bags. You discover the following items:</p>
<li>Quiver, containing 3 Arrows</li>
</ul>
<p>(Record these items on your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a>. They replace those that were confiscated from you in Duadon.)</p>
- <p>Determinedly you continue your ride east and, by mid-afternoon, you come to the banks of the mighty River Storn. From the cover of a derelict barn you observe a group of merchants and travellers who are waiting at a ferry post for the boat to Rhem. The post us controlled by Eldenoran soldiers who check the ferry passengers thoroughly to make sure they are not enemy agents or deserters from the army. After an hour or so, you see the boat from Rhem approaching the post. The waiting crowd gather their belongings and get ready to board what will be the last crossing of the day.</p>
+ <p>Determinedly you continue your ride east and, by mid-afternoon, you come to the banks of the mighty River Storn. From the cover of a derelict barn you observe a group of merchants and travellers who are waiting at a ferry post for the boat to Rhem. The post is controlled by Eldenoran soldiers who check the ferry passengers thoroughly to make sure they are not enemy agents or deserters from the army. After an hour or so, you see the boat from Rhem approaching the post. The waiting crowd gather their belongings and get ready to board what will be the last crossing of the day.</p>
<choice idref="sect97">If you wish to go to the ferry post and try to board the boat to Rhem, <link-text>turn to 97</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect30">If you decide to avoid the ferry, you can attempt to swim the half mile stretch of river to Rhem by <link-text>turning to 30</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
<meta><title>255</title></meta>
<data>
- <p>Cearmaine is overcome with grief by his son<ch.apos/>s death. With trembling hands he takes the bloodstained tunic from beneath the young mans head, unfolds it, and drapes it over his lifeless body. To your surprise, you note the insignia on the lapels are similar to those on Cearmaine<ch.apos/>s uniform; his son held the rank of captain, the same as his father.</p>
+ <p>Cearmaine is overcome with grief by his son<ch.apos/>s death. With trembling hands he takes the bloodstained tunic from beneath the young man<ch.apos/>s head, unfolds it, and drapes it over his lifeless body. To your surprise, you note the insignia on the lapels are similar to those on Cearmaine<ch.apos/>s uniform; his son held the rank of captain, the same as his father.</p>
<p><quote>I must go to his regiment,</quote> he says, his voice wavering. <quote>It is right and fitting that I take command of them now.</quote></p>
<p>After attending to the burial of his son, the grieving Captain returns to the Canatarium to find out where his son<ch.apos/>s regiment is stationed. He learns they are at the Reloni Bridge, at the very heart of the battle. Before he leaves, he thanks you for trying to save his son<ch.apos/>s life and he suggests two routes by which you can reach the distant city of Casiorn from here.</p>
<p>The first route is the most direct, but it is also the most hazardous. It requires you to pass through the enemy lines at the Reloni Bridge, cross the southern tip of Eldenora, then continue your journey north by way of the Slovarian Plain.</p>
Project Aon Git Repositories / project-aon.git / commitdiff