<data>
<p>You send your Arrow whistling towards the creature<ch.apos/>s throat. A fatal wound looks certain until, at the very last moment, the beast twists aside to avoid the oncoming shaft and, with a dull <onomatopoeia>thunk</onomatopoeia>, the Arrow skewers its shoulder. The creature roars with pain but the injury does not deter it from attacking. With the knife-wielding Vazhag close behind, it quickly recovers and together they rush forward to attack.</p>
- <combat><enemy>Pit Agarashi (wounded) <ch.ampersand/> Vazhag</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">30</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">40</enemy-attribute></combat>
+ <combat><enemy>Pit Agarashi <em>(wounded)</em> <ch.ampersand/> Vazhag</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">30</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">40</enemy-attribute></combat>
<p>The Pit Agarashi is immune to Mindblast and Psi-surge; only the Grand Mastery of Kai-surge can harm it psychically.</p>
<choice idref="sect297">If you win the combat, <link-text>turn to 297</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
<data>
<p>The Cener cackles with glee as he advances towards you, eager to finish you off. Dazed but determined to survive, you stagger to your feet in time to parry his first blow. Sparks explode as your weapon connects with his rod and a numbing jolt runs the length of your arm. Again you are forced back, but you manage to recover quickly and, with a defiant cry, you launch yourself upon him in a determined fight to the death.</p>
- <combat><enemy>Brother Croumah (with Power Rod)</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">40</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">30</enemy-attribute></combat>
+ <combat><enemy>Brother Croumah <em>(with Power Rod)</em></enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">40</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">30</enemy-attribute></combat>
<choice idref="sect101">If you win this combat, <link-text>turn to 101</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Holding on to the ladder with your left hand, you unsheathe your weapon with your right hand and lash out at the Acolytes above in a desperate attempt to gain the platform.</p>
- <combat><enemy>Acolytes of Vashna (One with Medallion of Protection)</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">36</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">50</enemy-attribute></combat>
+ <combat><enemy>Acolytes of Vashna <em>(One with Medallion of Protection)</em></enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">36</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">50</enemy-attribute></combat>
<p>Due to the disadvantageous position, and the length of your enemies<ch.apos/> weapons, you must reduce your <typ class="attribute">COMBAT SKILL</typ> by 4 for the duration of this combat.</p>
<choice idref="sect305">If you win the fight, <link-text>turn to 305</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
<p>Without warning, a powerful spike of psychic energy penetrates deep into your mind. Its icy cold attack numbs your senses and leaves you trembling helplessly with shock<ch.emdash/>lose 6 <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points.</p>
<p>Reeling from the unexpected onslaught, you struggle to erect a mind shield as the mummified remains of the corpse slowly stir into life.</p>
<p>Suddenly, a claw-tipped limb snakes towards your throat and grabs you in a choking, vice-tight grip. Desperately you struggle to unsheathe a weapon and free yourself as the grisly remains of a Plague Agarashi rise up from the casket only inches before your disbelieving eyes.</p>
- <combat><enemy>Plague Agarashi (Undead/magically animated)</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">46</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">36</enemy-attribute></combat>
+ <combat><enemy>Plague Agarashi <em>(Undead/magically animated)</em></enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">46</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">36</enemy-attribute></combat>
<p>Due to the speed and surprise of this creature<ch.apos/>s attack, reduce your <typ class="attribute">COMBAT SKILL</typ> by 3 for the duration of this fight. If you wield the Sommerswerd, remember to double the Undead Plague Agarashi<ch.apos/>s <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> point loss in each round of combat.</p>
<choice idref="sect18">If you win the combat, <link-text>turn to 18</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
<p>You descend a few rungs, just far enough to put you beyond reach of the spear blades, and then you utter the words of the Brotherhood Spell <spell>Levitation</spell>. Moments later you feel gravity losing its grip and gently you push yourself away from the ladder to hover in mid-air.</p>
<p>The Acolytes gasp in shocked surprise as you rise up to confront them eye to eye. The nearest allows his spear to waver and instantly you lash out at his vulnerable chest. The impact of your blow knocks him from the platform to fall, screaming, into the midst of the glass boxes on an experiment table far below.</p>
<p>Gracefully you step onto the platform and crouch in readiness to fight the remaining Acolyte. He meets your stare with a sneer that readily conveys his hatred of your race. Then, spurred on by the yells of his confederates in the hall below, he jumps forward and thrusts his weapon at your throat.</p>
- <combat><enemy>Acolyte of Vashna (With Medallion of Protection)</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">25</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">40</enemy-attribute></combat>
+ <combat><enemy>Acolyte of Vashna <em>(With Medallion of Protection)</em></enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">25</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">40</enemy-attribute></combat>
<choice idref="sect29">If you win this combat, <link-text>turn to 29</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Carefully you form your lips into an <quote>O</quote> shape in readiness to utter the battle-spell <spell>Power Word</spell> you have been taught by Lord Rimoah. Then, the instant the spell-thoughts focus in your mind, you project the power-word <spell>Gloar!</spell> at the middle of the fleeing druid<ch.apos/>s back. Like a sledgehammer, the sound hits him between the shoulder blades and sends him tumbling head over heels into a tangle of forest briars.</p>
<p>Stunned and groaning, the Cener fumbles for his slender golden rod and, as if guided by more than chance, his spindly fingers locate it at once. Yet, before he can use it to retaliate, you sprint across the clearing, weapon in hand, and attack him where he lies:</p>
- <combat><enemy>Cener Druid (prone)</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">20</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">28</enemy-attribute></combat>
+ <combat><enemy>Cener Druid <em>(prone)</em></enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">20</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">28</enemy-attribute></combat>
<choice idref="sect60">If you win this combat, <link-text>turn to 60</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>You raise your right hand and call to mind the thoughts of the spell <spell>Lightning Hand</spell> as taught to you by Banedon, and focus the power of this spell upon the tips of your first three fingers. You feel a burning sensation and quickly it becomes almost unbearable: lose 2 <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points.</p>
<p>You are sorely tempted to abandon the spell, but quickly you stifle this urge and release it at the middle of the fleeing druid<ch.apos/>s back. There is a crackling sound, like the crumpling of dried leaves; then a bright blue light shoots from the tips of your fingers and hits the Cener like a hammer between the shoulder blades, sending him sprawling head-first into a tangle of thorny briars.</p>
<p>Stunned and groaning, the druid fumbles for his slender golden rod and quickly his spindly fingers locate it. However, before he can use it to retaliate, you sprint across the clearing, weapon in hand, and attack him as he lies on the ground.</p>
- <combat><enemy>Cener Druid (prone)</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">20</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">28</enemy-attribute></combat>
+ <combat><enemy>Cener Druid <em>(prone)</em></enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">20</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">28</enemy-attribute></combat>
<choice idref="sect349">If you win this combat, <link-text>turn to 349</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>There is a moment of terror when first you glimpse the hideous visage which emerges from the portal. It is of a gigantic hound with mad red eyes that burn into your mind with a furnace-like intensity. It sees you and howls ferociously, baring yellow fangs dripping with foam.</p>
<p>Before it can leap up you release your Arrow and plant it deep into the creature<ch.apos/>s ghastly skull. The beast roars as the Arrow penetrates its head but the wound does not stop it from attacking. Aghast, you drop your Bow and unsheathe a weapon to meet its assault. Moments before it strikes, you glimpse the outline of an armoured warrior standing in the open doorway. He is shouting at the beast, commanding to rip you to shreds.</p>
- <combat><enemy>Plague Hound (wounded)</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">32</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">36</enemy-attribute></combat>
+ <combat><enemy>Plague Hound <em>(wounded)</em></enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">32</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">36</enemy-attribute></combat>
<p>This creature is attacking you simultaneously with a powerful psychic blast. Unless you possess the Grand Mastery of Kai-screen, reduce your <typ class="attribute">COMBAT SKILL</typ> by 3 for the duration of this fight.</p>
<choice idref="sect64">If you win the combat in 4 rounds or less, <link-text>turn to 64</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect114">If you win the combat in 5 rounds or longer, <link-text>turn to 114</link-text>.</choice>
<instance class="pdf" src="ill20.pdf" width="386" height="664" />
</illustration>
- <combat><enemy>Acolyte of Vashna (with Medallion of Protection)</enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">25</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">40</enemy-attribute></combat>
+ <combat><enemy>Acolyte of Vashna <em>(with Medallion of Protection)</em></enemy><enemy-attribute class="combatskill">25</enemy-attribute><enemy-attribute class="endurance">40</enemy-attribute></combat>
<choice idref="sect29">If you win this combat, <link-text>turn to 29</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
Project Aon Git Repositories / project-aon.git / blobdiff