>TM 4 >LS 2 >PS ON >PL60 >SM6 >CP ON >FO OFF >------L-----------------------!---------------------------R ä290ä You are woken early the following morning by the Š motion of the carriage. As you rub your eyes and Š stretch your aching limbs, your fellow passengers Š tell you that the caravan has been on the move for Š more than an hour. They are eating a breakfast of Š bread and fruit which they generously offer to share Š with you. It is almost noon when the stone town of Bavari looms Š into view. Most of its sun-bleached shops and houses Š are contained within a wall of uncemented stone Š blocks which rise to twice the height of a horse. The Š road approaches a heavy wooden gate, banded and Š studded with iron, which is flanked by circular guard Š towers. Perforating the walls are slits for archers Š and openings for larger machines of war. The procession of wagons passes through the gate and Š comes to a halt in the middle of Bavari. As you Š disembark you sense an air of excitement pervading Š this town. You overhear the other passengers talking Š and you learn that today is the third day of the Š Bavarian gladiatorial circus - an annual event which Š attracts the finest warriors of Vassagonia to come Š here and compete with each other in armed combat. Š Great wealth and status are the rewards for those who Š triumph; disgrace and sometimes death awaits those Š who fail. You are curious to see this great event and so you Š follow a group of passengers to Bavari's arena where Š the gladiatorial circus is being staged. Entrance to Š the arena is free and you take a seat on one of the Š many stone tiers that encircle its oval-shaped Š fighting area. Throughout the afternoon several Š combats are staged between warriors on foot and on Š horseback. The heat of the desert sun is unrelenting, Š and by late afternoon you are feeling parched. During Š a lull in the contests, you hear the tinkling sound Š of running water and you decide to seek out its Š source. You descend to the edge of the fighting area Š and enter a tunnel which passes beneath the tiers of Š seats. Halfway along this cool tunnel is an open door Š set into the whitewashed wall. Through the doorway Š you see a bronze fountain standing in the middle of Š an empty room. It is richly embellished with Š engravings which depict ancient gladiatorial Š contests, and a stream of sparkling waters issues Š upwards from a nozzle at its centre, inviting you to Š drink. You are desperate to slake your thirst and so you Š enter the room and stoop over the fountain. You are Š swallowing the deliciously cool water when suddenly Š you sense someone rushing at you from behind. If you wish to quickly turn around and face the Š person who is rushing towards you, turn to â223â If you choose to draw your weapon before you turn Š around, in case you should have to defend yourself Š from a surprise attack, turn to â45â