--- /dev/null
+>TM 4\r
+>LS 2\r
+>PS ON\r
+>PL60\r
+>SM6\r
+>CP ON\r
+>FO OFF\r
+>------L-----------------------!---------------------------R\r
+ \ 5â331\ 5â\r
+\r
+ You pass the hours before daybreak in a restless, \r\8a semi-conscious state. You cannot sleep properly for \r\8a your mind is tormented by the gnawing fear that your \r\8a mission has come to an early and tragic end. You rise \r\8a before dawn and try to overcome your melancholic mood \r\8a by tending to the three wounded crew members. Through \r\8a the use of your Kai curing skills you are able to \r\8a accelerate their own natural healing processes so \r\8a that, when daybreak finally arrives, they are no \r\8a longer incapacitated by the injuries they received in \r\8a the crash.\r
+\r
+ As grey morning light filters down through the canopy \r\8a of the forest, it reveals a corridor of smashed and \r\8a flattened trees lying in the wake of the crippled \r\8a \ 5éStarstrider\ 5é. Acraban and his bo'sun make a lengthy \r\8a inspection of the craft and then report their \r\8a findings. \r
+\r
+ "The glad news is that she's repairable," pipes \r\8a bo'sun Gora, confidently. "She looks bad but her \r\8a engine's as sound as a bell. We've the materials and \r\8a tools aboard to fix 'er stabilisers, and there's \r\8a mor'n enough timber 'round here to patch up the decks \r\8a and hull." Acraban nods his agreement yet, unlike his \r\8a bo'sun, his face remains dour.\r
+\r
+ "Aye, she'll fly again," confirms Acraban, "but it'll \r\8a take us close to a month to craft the parts we need \r\8a to repair the stabilisers." He turns to Prince Karvas \r\8a and says: "Alas, my lord, by then it will be too late \r\8a to reach Seroa in time for your crowning."\r
+\r
+ "What if we were to seek aid from the craftsmen of \r\8a Bakhasa?" you say, knowing by instinct and a brief \r\8a study of your map that this city can be no further \r\8a than a hundred miles away to the east. "Could the \r\8a repairs be made any sooner with their help?"\r
+\r
+ "Expect no help from that quarter," replies Karvas, \r\8a coolly. "During my time in Mydnight I heard many \r\8a stories about Bakhasa and its ruler - the Imperial \r\8a Autarch Sejanoz. They were all chilling tales. They \r\8a say it's a cruel and evil place - a city without a \r\8a soul where human life counts for little. If you wish \r\8a to live to see your homeland again, master Acraban, \r\8a you should not seek the help of the Bakhasians. \r\8a Better by far to keep your work hidden from their \r\8a eyes."\r
+\r
+ "But, my lord," replies Acraban, "what of your \r\8a kingdom? Are you prepared to surrender your \r\8a birthright to Baron Sadanzo?"\r
+\r
+ "No, never!" retorts Karvas, suddenly angered by the \r\8a wizard's suggestion. "There are twenty-one days yet \r\8a before the feast of Harvestmas. With the blessing of \r\8a the gods, I vow I shall be in Seroa on that day to \r\8a claim my ascedence." \r
+ \r
+ The Prince proposes to set off for Seroa on foot. He \r\8a says that he will go alone and that you should stay \r\8a here to help Acraban restore the \ 5éStarstrider\ 5é, \r\8a returning with him to Sommerlund once the repairs are \r\8a complete. Politely you refuse his proposal. You have \r\8a vowed to Lone Wolf that you will carry out your \r\8a mission and, despite adversity, you will not abandon \r\8a your duty. It is a matter of Kai honour that you \r\8a should escort him to Seroa. \r
+ \r
+\r
+ Turn to \ 5â124\ 5â\r
+ \r
+ \r
+ \r
+ \r
+ \r
+ \r
+ \r
+ \ 5â124\ 5â\r
+\r
+ The Prince smiles when you refuse to let him attempt \r\8a the long journey to Seroa alone. \r
+\r
+ "Very well, Grand Master," he says, "so be it. In \r\8a truth, I could not hope for a more worthy companion \r\8a on the road ahead. Come, let us plan our way as best \r\8a we can."\r
+\r
+ Acraban has one of his men fetch his compass and \r\8a charts from the skyship to help you to determine the \r\8a swiftest route overland to Seroa. You quickly \r\8a establish your present location and suddenly you \r\8a realise how difficult the journey ahead will be. \r\8a Seroa lies over twelve hundred miles to the east, \r\8a beyond mountains, plains and uncharted wilderness. \r
+ You calculate that in order to reach the city in time \r\8a you must cover no less than sixty miles every day. \r
+\r
+ "On foot, across such harsh terrain...it is \r\8a impossible," says Acraban, shaking his head. "Perhaps \r\8a so," replies Karvas, "but if we had horses then it \r\8a could be done."\r
+\r
+ You scan the surrounding forest and let your Kai \r\8a senses wander afar. "There are no horses in this \r\8a timberland, my lord" you say, certain in the \r\8a knowledge that your judgement is correct. Karvas \r\8a acknowledges your skill with a wry smile.\r
+\r
+ "I take great pride in my magical powers," interjects \r\8a Acraban, jovially, "but even I, my lord, cannot \r\8a summon horses from out of the air. Where, pray tell, \r\8a do you hope to find mounts with strength enough to \r\8a carry you all the way home?"\r
+ \r
+ Karvas turns his eyes to the east and says: "Why, in \r\8a Bakhasa of course. Mark you, the citizens of that \r\8a fell city will not help us out of the goodness of \r\8a their hearts, of that we can be sure. But they have \r\8a horses - strong Bhanarian stallions. Perhaps, Grand \r\8a Master, we shall be able to borrow a pair?" \r
+\r
+ You laugh with Prince Karvas at the audacity of his \r\8a plan and you feel your spirits rise. A long and \r\8a dangerous journey lies ahead, yet you are impressed \r\8a by the Prince's courage and determination and you \r\8a feel confident once more that your mission can \r\8a succeed. Acraban approves also. He and his men will \r\8a stay and restore the \ 5éStarstrider\ 5é and then fly back to \r\8a Toran as soon as they are able.\r
+\r
+ Mindful that time is not your ally, you gather your \r\8a weapons and equipment together in readiness to leave. \r\8a After bidding farewell to Acraban and his crewmen, \r\8a you set off with Prince Karvas into the great forest, \r\8a heading east. The vast timberland is rich with game, \r\8a roots, and berries, and you are able to hunt and \r\8a gather food on the move (you gather enough for 2 \r\8a Meals). By noon you have made good progress and have \r\8a reached the eastern fringe of the forest. Beyond lies \r\8a an undulating plain that gradually descends towards a \r\8a wide river. To the north-east, sitting astride this \r\8a river, you glimpse the dark outline of a city. \r
+ \r
+ "That's Bakhasa," says Karvas, confidently. You \r\8a magnify your vision and estimate it to be no more \r\8a than fifty miles distant. "With luck, we should make \r\8a it there by midnight."\r
+\r
+ Pick a number from the \ 5éRandom Number Table\ 5é.\r
+\r
+\r
+ If the number you have chosen is \ 5â0\ 5â - \ 5â4\ 5â, turn to \ 5â35\ 5â\r
+\r
+ If it is \ 5â5\ 5â - \ 5â9\ 5â, turn to \ 5â220\ 5â\r
+\r
+\r
Project Aon Git Repositories / project-aon.git / blobdiff