<p>You are the warrior, Lone Wolf, last of the Kai masters of Sommerlund and sole survivor of the massacre that destroyed your kinsmen during a bitter war with your age-old enemies<ch.emdash/>the Darklords of Helgedad.</p>
<p> Many centuries have passed since Sun Eagle, the first of your kind, established the Order of the Kai. Aided by the magicians of Dessi, he completed a perilous quest to find seven crystals of power known as the Lorestones of Nyxator, and upon their discovery he unlocked a wisdom and strength that lay within both the Lorestones and himself. He recorded the nature of his discoveries and his experiences in a great tome entitled The Book of the Magnakai. You have discovered this lost Kai treasure and have given a solemn pledge to restore the Kai to their former glory, thereby ensuring the security of your land in the years to come. However, your diligent study of this ancient book has enabled you to master only three of the ten Magnakai Disciplines. To fulfil your pledge, you must complete the quest first undertaken by Sun Eagle over a thousand years ago. By doing so successfully, you, too, will acquire the power and wisdom of the Magnakai, which is held within the Lorestones<ch.apos/> crystal forms.</p>
<p>Already your quest has taken you far from your northern homeland. Following in the footsteps of the first Kai Grand Master, you journeyed to Dessi and sought the help of the Elder Magi, the magicians who aided Sun Eagle on his quest long ago. There you learned that for centuries the Elder Magi had awaited your coming. An ancient Dessi legend tells of the birth and rise to greatness of two <foreign xml:lang="x-dessi">koura-tas-kai</foreign>, which means <quote>sons of the sun</quote>. One was named <foreign xml:lang="x-dessi">Ikar</foreign>, which means <quote>eagle</quote>, and the other was named <foreign xml:lang="x-dessi">Skarn</foreign>, which means <quote>wolf</quote>. A prophecy foretold that the <foreign xml:lang="x-dessi">koura-tas-kai</foreign> would each come from the north to seek the counsel of the Elder Magi in order that they might fulfil a great quest. Although separated by several centuries, they would share one spirit, one purpose, and one destiny<ch.emdash/>to triumph over the champions of darkness in an age of great peril. The Elder Magi knew that you were <foreign xml:lang="x-dessi">Skarn</foreign><ch.emdash/>the wolf of Dessi legend<ch.emdash/>and in keeping with their ancient vows they promised to help you complete the Magnakai quest.</p>
- <p>In Elzian, the capital of Dessi, you were tutored in the histories of Magnamund and received lessons in lore that you would have learned from the Kai masters if only they, like you, had survived the murderous Darklord attack on the Kai Monastery twelve years ago. You were eager to learn all that your tutor, Lord Rimoah, could teach you in preparation for the next stage of your quest, but grim news from the Darklands cut short your tuition. In the Darklord city of Helgedad a civil war had erupted, following your defeat of Haakon, Archlord of the Black City. After five years, the battle for the throne of Helgedad had finally been won by a Darklord called Gnaag. The other Darklords, now united behind this new leader, were ordered to amass huge armies in preparation for the conquest of Magnamund. Swiftly their Giak legions grew in number, enabling Gnaag to launch a sweeping invasion that was to catch the freelands unprepared. Many countries were completely overrun by Darklord armies; others surrendered without fighting, and sadly there were those who chose to betray former friends and allies by joining the Darklord cause, in the misguided hope that they would share in the spoils of victory, following the triumph of Darklord Gnaag. One such land was Vassagonia, a powerful desert realm to the north of Dessi. It mobilized its formidable army and marched west to join Gnaag<ch.apos/>s horde as it steamrollered across central Magnamund. They were destined to meet at the city of Tahou where, beneath the ancient streets, lay hidden one of the seven Lorestones of Nyxator. You set off in haste for Tahou and arrived barely hours ahead of the enemy. Successfully you made your descent and discovered the object of your quest, but on returning to the surface you found Tahou transformed into a blazing inferno. Darklord Gnaag and Zakhan Kimah, the cruel ruler of Vassagonia, had learnt of your presence and were determined to destroy you at all costs. For days their engines of war had hurled fire and rock across the walls of Tahou with devastating effect. Then a massive assault, led by the Zakhan himself, breached the city gate and gained entry to the burning capital. Armed with a weapon of awesome power, the evil Zakhan sought you out and challenged you to a fight to the death. The struggle was desperate but you emerged victorious and led the Anarians in a counterattack that cleared the city of the invading foe. The allies of Anari arrived to raise the siege and in the ensuing battle the demoralized armies of Gnaag and Kimah were smashed and routed.</p>
- <p> Your defeat of Zakhan Kimah turned the tide of war decisively against the Darklord armies and paved the way for the liberation of the lands they had taken by force. But the sweet taste of victory turned sour when you discovered that Darklord Gnaag had captured the last three remaining Lorestones of Nyxator, and had vowed to avenge his defeat by destroying them and killing you. Alarmed by this, the High Council of the Elder Magi joined you in Tahou to help formulate a plan of action. They had already received word from Prince Graygor, the ruler of Eru, that three radiant gems filled with golden light had been transported to the fortress of Torgar from the Darklord city of Mozg<ch.ocirc/>ar. Unable to tolerate the goodly power of the Lorestones within his own domain, Gnaag had been forced to move them to Torgar where his sorcerers<ch.emdash/>the Nadziranim<ch.emdash/>set about searching for a means to destroy them. Fearing that they might achieve their task, the Elder Magi made preparations for your secret journey to Eru and, in order to safeguard your true identity, you adopted the guise of a Pathfinder<ch.emdash/>one of Prince Graygor<ch.apos/>s <ch.eacute/>lite woodland scouts.</p>
+ <p>In Elzian, the capital of Dessi, you were tutored in the histories of Magnamund and received lessons in lore that you would have learned from the Kai masters if only they, like you, had survived the murderous Darklord attack on the Kai Monastery twelve years ago. You were eager to learn all that your tutor, Lord Rimoah, could teach you in preparation for the next stage of your quest, but grim news from the Darklands cut short your tuition. In the Darklord city of Helgedad a civil war had erupted, following your defeat of Haakon, Archlord of the Black City. After five years, the battle for the throne of Helgedad had finally been won by a Darklord called Gnaag. The other Darklords, now united behind this new leader, were ordered to amass huge armies in preparation for the conquest of Magnamund. Swiftly their Giak legions grew in number, enabling Gnaag to launch a sweeping invasion that was to catch the freelands unprepared. Many countries were completely overrun by Darkland armies; others surrendered without fighting, and sadly there were those who chose to betray former friends and allies by joining the Darklord cause, in the misguided hope that they would share in the spoils of victory, following the triumph of Darklord Gnaag. One such land was Vassagonia, a powerful desert realm to the north of Dessi. It mobilized its formidable army and marched west to join Gnaag<ch.apos/>s horde as it steamrollered across central Magnamund. They were destined to meet at the city of Tahou where, beneath the ancient streets, lay hidden one of the seven Lorestones of Nyxator. You set off in haste for Tahou and arrived barely hours ahead of the enemy. Successfully you made your descent and discovered the object of your quest, but on returning to the surface you found Tahou transformed into a blazing inferno. Darklord Gnaag and Zakhan Kimah, the cruel ruler of Vassagonia, had learnt of your presence and were determined to destroy you at all costs. For days their engines of war had hurled fire and rock across the walls of Tahou with devastating effect. Then a massive assault, led by the Zakhan himself, breached the city gate and gained entry to the burning capital. Armed with a weapon of awesome power, the evil Zakhan sought you out and challenged you to a fight to the death. The struggle was desperate but you emerged victorious and led the Anarians in a counterattack that cleared the city of the invading foe. The allies of Anari arrived to raise the siege and in the ensuing battle the demoralized armies of Gnaag and Kimah were smashed and routed.</p>
+ <p> Your defeat of Zakhan Kimah turned the tide of war decisively against the Darkland armies and paved the way for the liberation of the lands they had taken by force. But the sweet taste of victory turned sour when you discovered that Darklord Gnaag had captured the last three remaining Lorestones of Nyxator, and had vowed to avenge his defeat by destroying them and killing you. Alarmed by this, the High Council of the Elder Magi joined you in Tahou to help formulate a plan of action. They had already received word from Prince Graygor, the ruler of Eru, that three radiant gems filled with golden light had been transported to the fortress of Torgar from the Darklord city of Mozg<ch.ocirc/>ar. Unable to tolerate the goodly power of the Lorestones within his own domain, Gnaag had been forced to move them to Torgar where his sorcerers<ch.emdash/>the Nadziranim<ch.emdash/>set about searching for a means to destroy them. Fearing that they might achieve their task, the Elder Magi made preparations for your secret journey to Eru and, in order to safeguard your true identity, you adopted the guise of a Pathfinder<ch.emdash/>one of Prince Graygor<ch.apos/>s <ch.eacute/>lite woodland scouts.</p>
<p>After a long and perilous journey you arrived at Torgar to find it besieged by the armies of Talestria and Palmyrion. During the early months of the Darklord invasion, hundreds of Talestrians were enslaved and sent to labour in the dungeons and sulphur mines deep within the bowels of this grim city-fortress. Their plight seemed hopeless until the allied armies, under the command of Lord Adamas of Garthen, finally arrived to liberate them. Due in part to your bravery and skill during the assault, Lord Adamas<ch.apos/> troops were able to breach the great Torgar gate and storm its citadel. During this fierce battle you gained entry to the chamber at the heart of the citadel where the Nadziranim were attempting to destroy the Lorestones. They were hung above a circular black pit and suspended in a fireball of negative energy, the focal point of several beams of power emanating from crystals set around the edge of the pit. By means of a gantry you were able to climb above these energy beams and retrieve one of the Lorestones. But, as you reached out for the remaining two, a terrible voice filled the chamber.</p>
<p><quote>Vengeance is mine, Lone Wolf!</quote> Terror struck deep in your heart as you turned and saw the ghastly form of Darklord Gnaag. A rasping laugh echoed from his fly-like head as he raised a black crystal and pointed it at the gantry. <quote>The vow I gave at Tahou shall be fulfilled. Now I shall destroy you and the Lorestones!</quote> he gloated.</p>
<p>There was a deafening crack and a bolt of blue lightning leapt from the stone towards the rusty iron gantry. As the shock wave hit the fireball the two remaining Lorestones were sent tumbling into the black abyss. A second bolt ripped the gantry in two and, with the ghastly laugh of Darklord Gnaag ringing in your ears, you fell headlong into a portal of total darkness, a Shadow Gate which leads to the twilight world of the Daziarn Plane.</p>
<data>
<p>The pain fades but it is replaced by a fearful numbness that drains the strength from your limbs. Odel<ch.apos/>s face and the canopy of dense branches swirl and grow dim as the toxins of the deadly orange Khetu Spore buds poison your blood. You sink into a deep sleep<ch.emdash/>a sleep from which you will never awaken.</p>
- <choice>Your life and your quest end here.</choice>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>You manage to fell three charioteers before you are trampled and crushed to death beneath the flailing hooves and heavy wheels of the following Ookor chariot teams.</p>
- <choice>Tragically, your life and your quest end here at the city of Thas.</choice>
+ <deadend>Tragically, your life and your quest end here at the city of Thas.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Suddenly the wheels jam in a deep furrow and the chariot flips forward, catapulting you over the hand-rail to land with a thick splash in the mud at the river<ch.apos/>s edge. Stunned and blinded on impact, you do not see the onipa break free of their traces and come racing down the bank towards you until it is too late to avoid them. Pain explodes in your head as their iron-shod hooves descend on you like a rain of hammers. They inflict terrible wounds but death is mercifully quick.</p>
- <choice>Tragically, your life and your quest end here in Vhozada.</choice>
+ <deadend>Tragically, your life and your quest end here in Vhozada.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Your silent surrender seems to anger the leader. It is as if you were in some way insulting his honour by refusing to answer him or take up a weapon in defence of your life. He bellows his contempt and, in a fit of rage, releases from his silver rod a charge of raw power that lances through your chest. Death is instantaneous.</p>
- <choice>Your life and your quest end here on the Zhamin Plateau of the Daziarn.</choice>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here on the Zhamin Plateau of the Daziarn.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Rapidly you succumb to the deadly toxins suspended in the vapour, and sink into a coma induced by the poison now circulating in your blood. Your senses grow numb and consciousness fades as you begin your journey into the timeless oblivion of death.</p>
- <choice>Your life and your quest end here.</choice>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>The bolt penetrates your chest and knocks you backwards into the undergrowth. The canopy of branches spins before your eyes and, as you gasp for breath, you taste blood and feel a terrifying numbness spread through your body. There is no pain as you slip gently into the oblivion of death.</p>
- <choice>Your life and your quest end here.</choice>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>The Chaos-master catches a glimpse of you crouching behind the parapet and diverts his aim from Lorkon Ironheart. With malicious glee he slams his great club down upon the roof and, in a terrifying moment, you are crushed to death.</p>
- <choice>Tragically, your life and your quest end here.</choice>
+ <deadend>Tragically, your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>A terrible pain shoots through your lower body as the creature bites deep into your leg. Its razor-sharp teeth sever your femoral artery as it drags you down into the murky depths of the river. Weak through shock and massive loss of blood you slip rapidly from consciousness into the timeless embrace of death.</p>
- <choice>Your life and your quest end here.</choice>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>The noise of the approaching whirlwind grows steadily louder and the ground shudders violently beneath your feet. A great blast of dust and debris is sucked from the depths of the fissure. It catches you full in the chest and knocks you off balance, causing you to fall and gash your head. Blinded by the sudden pain, you are now unable to resist the full force of the whirlwind raging directly above the gully and are drawn up into the vortex never to be seen again.</p>
- <choice>Your life and your quest end here on the Zhamin Plateau of the Daziarn Plane.</choice>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here on the Zhamin Plateau of the Daziarn Plane.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>In order to overcome this obstacle, you need to let go of the cliff-face, lean back, grab hold of the ledge, and then pull yourself up using your arms alone. Patiently you wait for a lull in the wind, but when you finally release your grip, a sudden crosswind catches you and blows you sideways. Desperately you scrabble for a handhold, but you are already falling backwards. You scream, until you smash to the ground among the boulders that litter the base of the cliff.</p>
- <choice>Tragically your life and your quest end here at Haagadar.</choice>
+ <deadend>Tragically your life and your quest end here at Haagadar.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>The sickness and nausea begin to subside but they are replaced by a fearful numbness that drains the strength from your limbs. Odel<ch.apos/>s face and the dark canopy of branches swirl and grow dim as the deadly poison paralyses your heart. Painlessly you slip into the timeless oblivion of death.</p>
- <choice>Your life and your quest end here.</choice>
+ <deadend>Your life and your quest end here.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Instinctively you try to deflect the blast of energy with the silver rod you are holding, but your reactions are a fraction too slow and the fiery bolt of power hits you and rips open your chest. Death is instantaneous.</p>
- <choice>Tragically, your life and your quest end here on the Zhamin Plateau of the Daziarn Plane.</choice>
+ <deadend>Tragically, your life and your quest end here on the Zhamin Plateau of the Daziarn Plane.</deadend>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>(<a idref="title">Title Page</a>) Replaced <quote>shadow gate</quote> with <quote>Shadow Gate</quote>. Replaced <quote>world of Daziarn</quote> with <quote>world of the Daziarn</quote>. Replaced <quote>them or</quote> with <quote>them, or</quote>. Replaced <quote>await you</quote> with <quote>awaits you</quote>.</p>
- <p>(<a idref="tssf">The Story So Far<ch.ellips/></a>) Removed the quotation marks from <quote><foreign xml:lang="x-dessi">koura-tas-kai</foreign></quote>. Replaced <quote>Kai monastery</quote> with <quote>Kai Monastery</quote>. Replaced <quote>counter-attack</quote> with <quote>counterattack</quote>. Replaced <quote>elite</quote> with <quote><ch.eacute/>lite</quote>. Replaced <quote>purpose and</quote> with <quote>purpose, and</quote>. Replaced <quote>Adamas<ch.apos/>s</quote> with <quote>Adamas<ch.apos/><ch.thinspace/></quote>.</p>
+ <p>(<a idref="tssf">The Story So Far<ch.ellips/></a>) Removed the quotation marks from <quote><foreign xml:lang="x-dessi">koura-tas-kai</foreign></quote>. Replaced <quote>Kai monastery</quote> with <quote>Kai Monastery</quote>. Replaced <quote>counter-attack</quote> with <quote>counterattack</quote>. Replaced <quote>elite</quote> with <quote><ch.eacute/>lite</quote>. Replaced <quote>purpose and</quote> with <quote>purpose, and</quote>. Replaced <quote>Adamas<ch.apos/>s</quote> with <quote>Adamas<ch.apos/><ch.thinspace/></quote>. Replaced each occurrence of <quote>Darklord armies</quote> with <quote>Darkland armies</quote>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="gamerulz">The Game Rules</a>) Replaced both occurrences of <quote>ie,</quote> with <quote>i.e.</quote>. Replaced <quote>fall to zero</quote> with <quote>fall to zero or below</quote>. Replaced each occurrence of <quote>Lone Wolf</quote> with <quote><cite>Lone Wolf</cite></quote> when referring to the series. Replaced <quote>Chart (you</quote> with <quote>Chart. (You</quote>. Replaced <quote>Items).</quote> with <quote>Items.)</quote>. Replaced <quote>on to</quote> with <quote>onto</quote>. Replaced each occurrence of <quote><a idref="action">Action Chart</a>. (ie</quote> with <quote><a idref="action">Action Chart</a> (i.e.</quote>. Replaced <quote>14.)</quote> with <quote>14).</quote>. Replaced <quote>points.)</quote> with <quote>points).</quote>. Replaced <quote>Lone Wolf Magnakai</quote> with <quote><cite>Lone Wolf Magnakai</cite></quote>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect122">122</a>) Replaced <quote>co-ordinates</quote> with <quote>coordinates</quote>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect123">123</a>) Replaced <quote>death cry</quote> with <quote>death-cry</quote>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect125">125</a>) Replaced <quote>Kai</quote> with <quote>Magnakai</quote>. Replaced <quote>Mentora or more</quote> with <quote>Mentora or higher</quote>. Replaced <quote>skill, or</quote> with <quote>skill or</quote>.</p>
- <p>(<a idref="sect126">126</a>) Added <quote>, or if you do not wish to use them,</quote> to the choice to go deeper into the fissure without the aid of the items mentioned.</p>
+ <p>(<a idref="sect126">126</a>) Added <quote>, or do not wish to use them,</quote> to the choice to go deeper into the fissure without the aid of the items mentioned.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect127">127</a>) Replaced <quote>arrow</quote> with <quote>Arrow</quote>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect132">132</a>) Replaced <quote>your chest and</quote> with <quote>your chest, and</quote>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect134">134</a>) Replaced <quote>beam it</quote> with <quote>beam, it</quote>. Replaced <quote>Rope, or</quote> with <quote>Rope or</quote>.</p>
Project Aon Git Repositories / project-aon.git / blobdiff