an act of war. Shadaki mustered its army and attacked its southern neighbours: Korli and Forlu, members of the Free Alliance of Southern Magnamund. The Freelands sent troops to support the Free Alliance led by Grey Star, as did Lone Wolf. A cassel of Kai and three cassels of Sommlending marines fought in the War of the Sea of Winds. Shadaki was soundly defeated and forced to relinquish all of its territorial gains. Zultan Zedoli was assassinated before the year was out. Ulonga the Shaman, the evil necromancer who pulled the strings in Zedoli
Grand Brumalmarc of the Icelands.
Grand Brumalmarc of the Icelands, Tvor
devastate the Freelands.
Gamir, its ancient Lencian title. Sarnac pressed on through Nyras and Nyvoz, intent on taking Kagorst and wiping out the remaining Drakkarim threat. Sarnac rode to victory and razed Kagorst.
You rise an hour before dawn. You have chosen to wear the simple clothing of a Chai countryman â a padded jacket of cinnamon-coloured cotton, apple green breeches, tan leather boots and a hooded grey woolen cloak. You don your equipment and make a final check before you leave your chambers and hurry to the parade ground.
-In the early pre-dawn light, the area is alive with activity. The hum of the skyship engines makes the gravel surface of the parade ground vibrate beneath your feet as you approach the magnificent vessels. Lord Rimoah beckons you over to the boarding stairs of the Comet. He and Grand Master Blazer are awaiting you on main deck, and they both salute when you step aboard. They invite you to join them at the rail and watch the preparations that are underway on the deck of Skyfort, moored alongside. You watch Lone Wolf leading Black Hawk, Star Lynx, Steel Hand and Swift Sword in single file up the boarding steps. When they are all on deck, they turn to wave you farewell. You and Blazer return their waves and bid them good luck and good hunting.
+You rise an hour before dawn. You have chosen to wear the simple clothing of a Chai countryman
In the early predawn light, the area is alive with activity. The hum of the skyship engines makes the gravel surface of the parade ground vibrate beneath your feet as you approach the magnificent vessels. Lord Rimoah beckons you over to the boarding stairs of the Comet. He and Grand Master Blazer are awaiting you on main deck, and they both salute when you step aboard. They invite you to join them at the rail and watch the preparations that are underway on the deck of Skyfort, moored alongside. You watch Lone Wolf leading Black Hawk, Star Lynx, Steel Hand and Swift Sword in single file up the boarding steps. When they are all on deck, they turn to wave you farewell. You and Blazer return their waves and bid them good luck and good hunting.
Comet is the first to leave the parade ground. The powerful hum of its engine rises steadily in pitch as the skycraft makes its ascent. As it gains altitude, so you are afforded a spectacular view of the morning sunrise. It bathes the Kai Monastery with a vividly golden light. Once the skyship is safely clear of the monastery
You enjoy a hearty meal together and discuss the details of your missions. The first part of your aerial voyage will take you to the small Chai coastal town of H
Enemy agents are known to be operating in Pensei and so it has been decided not to land you at the capital directly, for to do so would alert Zashnor to your presence and reveal your intentions. After dropping you off in H
Be sure you do not part company with your tracker-gem. Look after it and it will look after you.
Rimoah tells you that the first part of the voyage, to your drop-off point at H
He was once an Imperial Chai Guard Captain, and now, in early retirement, he is one of a network of brave agents who provide us with reliable information about our enemies, most especially their troop strengths and dispositions. He will take you directly to Pensei for an audience with Khea-khan Lao Tin. You are to collect the Eye of Agarash and leave the city. Head south towards the coastal city of Dwala. I will return to Chai at dusk of the 6th day hence. So long as you still possess your tracker-gem, I will find you and bring you back to the monastery, safe and sure.
He was once an Imperial Chai Guard Captain, and now, in early retirement, he is one of a network of brave agents who provide us with reliable information about our enemies, most especially their troop strengths and dispositions. He will take you directly to Pensei for an audience with Khea-khan Lao Tin. You are to collect the Eye of Agarash and leave the city. Head south towards the coastal city of Dwala. I will return to Chai at dusk of the sixth day hence. So long as you still possess your tracker-gem, I will find you and bring you back to the monastery, safe and sure.
You are reassured by Rimoah
Three hours after leaving the Isle of Lorn, the Comet runs into heavy weather over the Mythenian Sea. Bo
It is close to midnight, twelve hours past your expected time of arrival, when finally the tiny lights of the coastal town of H
Suddenly you realise that you are not being subjected to an audio attack. The noise that fills your head is the effect of a powerful psychic assault on your senses. You call upon your Grand Master discipline to suppress the unbearable noise and your swift response saves you from sustaining any permanent injury to your mind: lose 1
Howling with frustration, the ghoulish figure leaps towards you brandishing his black staff and, in the blink of an eye, the staff transforms into a hissing serpent. It is disturbingly similar to the snake that emerged from the mouth of undead Anseng. You reach to your weapon and pull back as the serpent
Xaol is a powerful undead adversary. If your chosen weapon provides you with a bonus when used in a fight against an undead foe, be sure to calculate and add the bonus to your Spawnsmite
or Valiance
you may add the bonus that you gain from its unique properties during this combat.
You turn your mount about and shout to your companions to follow as your spur your horse to the gallop. Your mind is reeling as you race back along the puddled and potholed highway with Quang and the Watchers close behind. What are Doomwolves doing here in Chai? These loathsome creatures rarely venture far from the Darklands of Northern Magnamund, the Nadulritzaga Mountains of Ghatan, and the Ogshezar Mountains of Northern Skaror. It is unheard of them ever being seen in Southern Magnamund. You come to the rapid and chilling conclusion that Zashnor must be responsible. Only the sorcery of the evil Nadziran could spawn these creatures so far from their native lands.
+You turn your mount about and shout to your companions to follow as your spur your horse to the gallop. Your mind is reeling as you race back along the puddled and pot-holed highway with Quang and the Watchers close behind. What are Doomwolves doing here in Chai? These loathsome creatures rarely venture far from the Darklands of Northern Magnamund, the Nadulritzaga Mountains of Ghatan, and the Ogshezar Mountains of Northern Skaror. It is unheard of them ever being seen in Southern Magnamund. You come to the rapid and chilling conclusion that Zashnor must be responsible. Only the sorcery of the evil Nadziran could spawn these creatures so far from their native lands.
Your horse stumbles over a pothole and loses speed. Your companions flash past on both sides, leaving you trailing in the rear. Anxiously, you glance over your shoulder and are shocked to see how rapidly the Doomwolves are gaining ground. The leading Doomwolf draws alongside the left flank of your horse with its fearsome jaws agape. Your frightened mount veers to the right of the road and you struggle to keep him galloping in a straight line. Then two more of the loathsome Doomwolves come racing up behind you on your right flank, growling and howling with murderous intent.
With trepidation, you climb the wooden steps that ascend to the wheelhouse. Through the rear window you see a huge winged creature perched on the end of the stone pier. It is an Imperial Zlanbeast. Astride a grand saddle embellished with Darklord icons, you see a slender man-like figure swathed in a hooded grey robe. The raised hood of the robe hides the figure
With trepidation, you climb the wooden steps that ascend to the wheelhouse. Through the rear window you see a huge winged creature perched on the end of the stone pier. It is an Imperial Zlanbeast. Astride a grand saddle embellished with Darklord icons, you see a slender man-like figure swathed in a hooded grey robe. The raised hood of the robe hides the figure
In the Nadziran
Zashnor detects your presence in the wheelhouse and swiftly it points the Claw of Naar at the window. The Eye starts to vibrate and move in its satchel. It becomes rapidly colder and frost forms on the satchel
You may buy any of the items listed above for the price indicated. They are all backpack items that will take up one space in your backpack. You are under no obligation to make a purchase.
-Shau Zau will buy any items you have noted on your Backpack List (with the exception of Anseng
Shau Zau will buy any items you have noted on your Backpack List (with the exception of Anseng
Shau Zau and his helpers bid you a pleasant good night when you leave the shop.
-Congratulations, your answer is correct! The amounts are the same. After mixing in a quart of oil, the mixture would by 5/6ths vinegar and 1/6th oil. This would leave 5/6ths of a quart of oil in the first pitcher. Since the other 5/6ths of the removed mixture is vinegar, and this is now mixed into the other pitcher, in the end both pitchers end up with 5/6ths of a quart of the other liquid in them. As they have equal amounts of the other liquid, and the total volumes are equal (back to 5 quarts each), they must have equal amounts of their original liquids.
+Congratulations, your answer is correct! The amounts are the same. After mixing in a quart of oil, the mixture would by
The patrons cheer when Shou Lin confirms that you have given him the correct answer. With good grace, he hands you the Samor Queen and you place it inside the pocket of your jacket. (The Samor Queen is a Special Item. You should add this to your Special Items list on your Action Chart.)
Well done, my Lord,
says Anseng, cheerfully. I wish I had your gift for deduction.
You are now feeling very tired and are finding it a little difficult to keep your eyes open. Rather than stay for Shou Lin
Lieutenant Quang and the Watchers arrive on horseback soon after you slay the vicious Skarad leader. They complement you on your fighting prowess, but your Sixth Sense is now alerting you to a new danger. It warns you that the Skarada are not the only ones of their kind occupying the treeline. Another two groups are now rushing towards this area, from the east and the south. Fearing that you could be surrounded by them when they converge, you inform the lieutenant of what you have detected.
+Lieutenant Quang and the Watchers arrive on horseback soon after you slay the vicious Skarad leader. They complement you on your fighting prowess, but your Sixth Sense is now alerting you to a new danger. It warns you that the Skarada are not the only ones of their kind occupying the tree-line. Another two groups are now rushing towards this area, from the east and the south. Fearing that you could be surrounded by them when they converge, you inform the lieutenant of what you have detected.
We can
he says, thoughtfully. We
You agree with Quang
You agree with Quang
You place one hand around the blacksmithBeware the ghouls!
His eyes glaze over and his agony comes to an abrupt end. He is dead.
You lay his head upon the blood drenched floor and lower his eyelids. Now your mind is flooded with unanswered questions. Why was he savagely murdered? What kind of beast is capable of such cold-bloodied slaughter? Where is Anseng? Is he still alive or has he, too, met a grisly end?
-Galvanised into action by what has happened here, you race down the stairs and mount your horse. Quickly you bring her around to face the open doors and ride out into the pouring rain. The fresh tracks from the Blacksmithy lead you along the paved road until you reach the northern perimeter of the village. Here they leave the highway and veer due east towards the Nagah Forest. A narrow woodman
Galvanised into action by what has happened here, you race down the stairs and mount your horse. Quickly you bring her around to face the open doors and ride out into the pouring rain. The fresh tracks from the Blacksmithy lead you along the paved road until you reach the northern perimeter of the village. Here they leave the highway and veer due east towards the Nagah Forest. A narrow woodsman
You shape your mouth and utter the Old Kingdom power-word: Gloar! The concussive force of the word hits Anseng squarely in the centre of his emaciated chest and knocks him down. Unfortunately, it also causes his kirusami to flare brightly. It is as if you have just thrown water onto a flaming blue fire! Unless you possess the discipline of Grand Nexus, you lose 2
You shape your mouth and utter the Old Kingdom power-word:
For a few terrifying moments the intense explosion of blue light blinds you. Your vision quickly returns, but you are dismayed to see that Anseng is now back on his feet and preparing to attack.
You attack the five undead Nagah Ghouls before they can get back on their feet. Lieutenant Quang fights fiercely by your side, and the three Watchers engage those ghouls that attempt to outflank you. Your effective use of your Kai-surge discipline has given you the combat advantage. You may ignore any
You may add 6 points to your
You may add 6 points to your
As the nausea subsides, you turn your attention to the Watchers who have all sustained wounds during the combat. By the use of your Magnakai Curing discipline, you are able to stop their bleeding and help them quickly to recover. You sense that you must now leave this location for there are more Nagah Ghouls in the vicinity and they are heading for the tavern garden, drawn by the foul smell of the spilt blood of their slain brethren. Hurriedly, you all remount your horses and press on with your journey to Vabou without further delay.
Anseng insists that it is too dangerous to linger here any longer. The constant shuddering of the ground beneath your feet confirms this to be so. With his lantern held aloft, he begins the difficult trek through the toa and pine forest with you following close behind. Soon you emerge from the swaying trees and set off along a muddy forest road at a brisk pace, heading east. The sheeting rain and the constant thunder make it impossible for you to speak with your determined guide until you reach a small woodman
Anseng insists that it is too dangerous to linger here any longer. The constant shuddering of the ground beneath your feet confirms this to be so. With his lantern held aloft, he begins the difficult trek through the toa and pine forest with you following close behind. Soon you emerge from the swaying trees and set off along a muddy forest road at a brisk pace, heading east. The sheeting rain and the constant thunder make it impossible for you to speak with your determined guide until you reach a small woodsman
You did well to keep up with me, my Lord,
he says, as he places his glowing lantern on the hutWe
From his leather backpack he produces some provisions: a loaf of bread, some strips of cured lamb meat, some dried fruits and a small bottle of rice wine. Generously, he shares his meagre rations with you. While you are eating, you take the opportunity to observe your guide. He is a lean man in his early fifties, physically fit and impressively agile. He is dressed in simple peasant garb with a wide conical hat made from straw. Despite his mundane clothing, this man is clearly not a lowly peasant. He has the distinctive mien of a professional soldier, the legacy of years spent as a Captain in the Imperial Chai Guard: the warrior elite of the Chai army. A kirusami
, an ornate bladed pole arm is slung over his shoulder on a thin strip of leather.
From his leather backpack he produces some provisions: a loaf of bread, some strips of cured lamb meat, some dried fruits and a small bottle of rice wine. Generously, he shares his meagre rations with you. While you are eating, you take the opportunity to observe your guide. He is a lean man in his early fifties, physically fit and impressively agile. He is dressed in simple peasant garb with a wide conical hat made from straw. Despite his mundane clothing, this man is clearly not a lowly peasant. He has the distinctive mien of a professional soldier, the legacy of years spent as a Captain in the Imperial Chai Guard: the warrior elite of the Chai army. A
, an ornate bladed pole arm is slung over his shoulder on a thin strip of leather.
When you have finished your meal, Anseng opens a wooden cupboard fixed to the interior wall and retrieves two bed rolls. He unties them and lays them out upon the floor of the hut.
We must get some sleep while we can. We
You call upon your advanced discipline of Assimilance and create a cloud of fog directly in the path of the onrushing Doomwolf. Suddenly blinded by the dense vapour, the creature missteps and loses its balance. You see it fall from the fog and plunge head first into the ravine. The weight on the fallen tree is lessened by the demise of the second Doomwolf. You urge your companions to push harder against the pine and it starts to give. The compacted earth beneath it cracks and crumbles.
-Get clear!
you shout, and hastily the five of you leap away as the tree trunk sinks with the collapsing edge of the gulley. There is a loud rumble and you see the tree and the loosened earth fall away into the yawning fissure. The remaining two Doomwolves howl with terror as they tumble off the falling trunk and plummet to their doom at the base of the ravine, one hundred feet below.
Get clear!
you shout, and hastily the five of you leap away as the tree trunk sinks with the collapsing edge of the gully. There is a loud rumble and you see the tree and the loosened earth fall away into the yawning fissure. The remaining two Doomwolves howl with terror as they tumble off the falling trunk and plummet to their doom at the base of the ravine, one hundred feet below.
Unfortunately, your answer is incorrect. The amounts are the same. After mixing in a quart of oil, the mixture would by 5/6ths vinegar and 1/6th oil. This would leave 5/6ths of a quart of oil in the first pitcher. Since the other 5/6ths of the removed mixture is vinegar, and this is now mixed into the other pitcher, in the end both pitchers end up with 5/6ths of a quart of the other liquid in them. As they have equal amounts of the other liquid, and the total volumes are equal (back to 5 quarts each), they must have equal amounts of their original liquids.
+Unfortunately, your answer is incorrect. The amounts are the same. After mixing in a quart of oil, the mixture would by
The patrons mummer their approval when Shou Lin explains the correct solution to the puzzle. You must now erase 10 Gold Crowns from your Action Chart and give the coins to the old man. Gladly he accepts your payment and praises you for your brave attempt at solving it.
Bad luck, my Lord,
says Anseng, in an attempt to console you. May you have better fortune next time.
You are now feeling very tired and are finding it a little difficult to keep your eyes open. Rather than stay for Shou Lin
You continue your desperate flight across the rain-soaked grassland until the howls of the Skarada can no longer be heard. As you ease your sweating horse to a gentle trot, Quang and the Watchers catch up with you and the lieutenant signals you to halt. You rein your horse to a stop and your companions draw their breathless horses in a circle around you. Quang pulls his mount alongside yours and together you assess your options.
We cannot go on in this direction, my Lord
he says. This way will take us back towards Pensei. Despite the risks, we must turn back and continue south if we are to reach Vabou before nightfall.
You know that the lieutenant is right. The further you go northwards, the greater you will distance yourself from Vabou and increase the likelihood that you will miss your rendezvous with Lord Rimoah in two days
Quang grabs you and prevents you from falling off your horse. Anxiously he asks if you are strong enough to go on. Yes⦠yes, I
you answer, your voice a little shaky. We⦠we must reach Vabou before dark.
Quang grabs you and prevents you from falling off your horse. Anxiously he asks if you are strong enough to go on. Yes
you answer, your voice a little shaky. We
You have encountered these creatures before when first you visited Chai. They are Chagarashi. Long ago, during the Age of Eternal Night, this land was stalked by Agarashi â the hellish creations of Agarash the Damned. When Agarash was destroyed by the Elder Magi, his creations were scattered across the wilderness and plains of Chai. The creatures you now face are descendants of those ancient horrors. It is rare for Chagarashi to be found in this region of Chai. You sense that there is a sinister force present that has driven them from their burrows and caves in search of prey.
+You have encountered these creatures before when first you visited Chai. They are Chagarashi. Long ago, during the Age of Eternal Night, this land was stalked by Agarashi
You may buy any of the items listed above for the price indicated. They are all backpack items that will take up one space in your backpack. You are under no obligation to make a purchase.
-Hopdai will buy any items you have noted on your Backpack List (with the exception of Anseng
Hopdai will buy any items you have noted on your Backpack List (with the exception of Anseng
Hopdai and Meng-an bid you a pleasant good night when you leave the shop.
The moment you take the satchel from the Khea-khan
The moment you take the satchel from the Khea-khan
Whenever you are affected by the debilitating power of the Eye of Agarash, you may use Laumspur to help you recover. Normally, a healing potion of Laumspur restores 4
You can only engage in one round of combat with this enemy before the momentum of your galloping horse carries you away from it.
The second Chagarashi enters the combat at the start of the 4th round. Fortunately, this is also the moment that Anseng joins you in the fight against these ferocious foes. You may now continue the combat you began in section 265.
-Anseng engages the companion Chagarashi in combat directly, therefore you should continue the fight with you and your enemy
The second Chagarashi enters the combat at the start of the fourth round. Fortunately, this is also the moment that Anseng joins you in the fight against these ferocious foes. You may now continue the combat you began in section 265.
+Anseng engages the companion Chagarashi in combat directly, therefore you should continue the fight with you and your enemy
When combat commenced, Zashnor sent a telepathic command to its Imperial Zlanbeast to assist it in the fight. The creature took off from the pier and commenced a flight over the raging estuary in a wide circle in order to best position itself to launch an attack on you from the rear. At the start of the 7th round, it comes swooping low along the deck behind you. It stabs at you with its sharp horny beak before the momentum of its attack carries it past and it soars away into the clouds.
-In the 7th round, Zashnor
When combat commenced, Zashnor sent a telepathic command to its Imperial Zlanbeast to assist it in the fight. The creature took off from the pier and commenced a flight over the raging estuary in a wide circle in order to best position itself to launch an attack on you from the rear. At the start of the seventh round, it comes swooping low along the deck behind you. It stabs at you with its sharp horny beak before the momentum of its attack carries it past and it soars away into the clouds.
+In the seventh round, Zashnor
Suddenly you realise that you are not being subjected to an audio attack. The noise that fills your head is the effect of a powerful psychic assault on your senses. You call upon your advanced discipline to erect a Mindfort to shut out the unbearable noise, and your swift response saves you from sustaining any permanent impairment to your mental faculties.
Howling with frustration that its psychic attack has helped and not harmed you, the ghoulish figure leaps towards you brandishing his black staff. In the blink of an eye, the staff transforms into a hissing serpent. It is disturbingly similar to the snake that emerged from the mouth of undead Anseng. You reach to your weapon and pull back as the serpent
Xaol is a powerful undead adversary. If your chosen weapon provides you with a bonus when used in a fight against an undead foe, be sure to calculate and add the bonus to your Combat Skill before this battle begins.
If you possess the Kai Weapon Spawnsmite
or Valiance
you may add the bonus that you gain from its unique properties during this combat.
Despite the rumbling thunder, howling winds, and heavy rain beating on the shingle roof of the hut, you soon drift off into a deep and dreamless sleep. Four hours later you are awoken by Anseng
Wake up, my Lord. It
The noise of the night storm has disappeared. The only sound you can hear outside is a dawn chorus of chittering birdsong. You rise from your mattress and gather your weapons and equipment. When you are ready, Anseng takes you to a stable at the rear of the hut where two horses are saddled ready to ride. He prepared them while you were sleeping. Leaving the stable, you and set off along the muddy highway at a brisk pace. The rain and thunder have ceased but the slowly brightening sky is heavy with thick grey cloud.
+The noise of the night storm has disappeared. The only sound you can hear outside is a dawn chorus of chittering bird song. You rise from your mattress and gather your weapons and equipment. When you are ready, Anseng takes you to a stable at the rear of the hut where two horses are saddled ready to ride. He prepared them while you were sleeping. Leaving the stable, you and set off along the muddy highway at a brisk pace. The rain and thunder have ceased but the slowly brightening sky is heavy with thick grey cloud.
As you ride along, you stare out across the lush green paddy fields bordering the road. On your way you pass by several isolated huts and houses. Their owners, all rice growers, are repairing roofs and walls that been damaged by the storm and they pay you scant regards as you ride past their humble abodes. Anseng says that you must reach the village of Zang before nightfall. You have a long day
During your long journey, you converse with Anseng and find out more about your trusty guide. He hails from the city of Dwala, approximately 200 miles due east of your present location. He is one of a group of covert agents established by the Elder Magi for the purpose of gathering intelligence about vengeful Bhanarians, obsessed with avenging the Massacre of Yua Tzhan, who are operating in and around Pensei. They have also been tasked with finding out why Agarashi have recently been sighted far from their lairs in the Hyunsei Foothills, the Voxai Swamp and the Huzang Forest. The last time they found the courage to do so was seventeen years ago, when they joined the army of Autarch Sejanoz for the invasion of Chai. Anseng tells you that his group of agents are headquartered at the Tower of Ishir in Dwala. Here they meet regularly with Lord RimoahThe Watchers
. While you are riding together, you notice an unusual pole arm that is strapped to Anseng
Your mind is reeling as you spur your horse to the gallop. What are Doomwolves doing here in Chai? These loathsome creatures rarely venture far from the Darklands of Northern Magnamund, the Nadulritzaga Mountains of Ghatan, and the Ogshezar Mountains of Northern Skaror. It is unheard of them ever being seen in Southern Magnamund. You come to the rapid and chilling conclusion that Zashnor must be responsible. Only the sorcery of the evil Nadziran could spawn these creatures so far from their native lands.
-You glance over your shoulder and are shocked to see how rapidly the Doomwolves are gaining ground. In less than a minute they are among the horses, racing alongside, snarling and snapping at their haunches. You see Lieutenant Quang unshoulder his kirusami and stab one in the throat as it attempts to leap up at his horse
You glance over your shoulder and are shocked to see how rapidly the Doomwolves are gaining ground. In less than a minute they are among the horses, racing alongside, snarling and snapping at their haunches. You see Lieutenant Quang unshoulder his
You return to the highway a mile from Uzam and turn north towards Pensei. The rumble of distant thunder heralds the start of another storm. Intermittent flashes of lightning illuminate the hills to the west, and the peaks of the Szuchow Mountains beyond are soon lost from view amidst of a roiling mass of ominous black rain clouds. You pass by a dozen covered wagons on the rain-swept highway, all traveling in the opposite direction. This traffic of wagons steadily increases until you are forced to abandon the highway and continue northwards by way of the soft grassland that borders the overcrowded road.
+You return to the highway a mile from Uzam and turn north towards Pensei. The rumble of distant thunder heralds the start of another storm. Intermittent flashes of lightning illuminate the hills to the west, and the peaks of the Szuchow Mountains beyond are soon lost from view amidst of a roiling mass of ominous black rain clouds. You pass by a dozen covered wagons on the rain-swept highway, all travelling in the opposite direction. This traffic of wagons steadily increases until you are forced to abandon the highway and continue northwards by way of the soft grassland that borders the overcrowded road.
By mid-afternoon, the highway is clogged with dour-faced Chai pushing hand carts heaped high with household possessions. This sorry procession is a refugee column from Pensei. The fact that so many of its citizens have abandoned the shelter and comfort of their homes to travel south, in such appalling weather, fills you with a sense of dread. It means that the capital must be facing an imminent enemy attack.
Six Chai cavalry rangers come riding across the grassland that runs parallel with the crowded highway. They are all standing in their stirrups and seem to be searching for something or someone among the column of refugees.
The Doomgah leader raises its mighty kirusami and spouts of cracking blue flame erupt along the length of its razor sharp blade. It opens its maw to reveal a score of dagger-like fangs and a thin black tongue that writhes between them.
-The Doomgah leader raises its mighty
The weapon that this enemy wields can leach power from the Eye of Agarash. This inflicts 1
You utter the Kai Word of Power Kai! And the tremendous force of your advanced discipline hits the grouped Nagah Ghouls and sends them reeling in all directions. Your decision to use your power has worked well, for these enemies were originally a cult who worshiped God Naar â King of the Darkness. They had a secret subterranean base in the Nagah Forest during the ancient times when Chai was a province of the Vaduzhan Empire. After their mortal deaths, they were interred in their lair and its entrance was sealed, but your Magnakai discipline of Divination reveals to you that the power they gained from the Dark God through human sacrifices has kept them in a state of suspended undeath. Nadziran Zashnor who has, since the demise of the Darklords of Helgedad, become a champion of Naar, has most likely awoken these terrible creatures and is using them to further its sinister ambitions.
+You utter the Kai Word of Power Kai! And the tremendous force of your advanced discipline hits the grouped Nagah Ghouls and sends them reeling in all directions. Your decision to use your power has worked well, for these enemies were originally a cult who worshipped God Naar
Charge!
shouts Lieutenant Quang, and his stirring command galvanises the Watchers into action. Anxious to seize the advantage your Kai word of power has provided, all five of you attack the scattered and fallen Nagah Ghouls before they can get scramble back to their feet.
Your arrow grazes the top of Chagarashi
Swiftly you invoke the Old Kingdom spell Shield and a shimmering circular field of energy forms in front of you. The black arrow hits this magical shield and explodes into a harmless shower of hissing fragments.
+Swiftly you invoke the Old Kingdom Spell
Hurriedly, you recite the words of the Brotherhood Spell - Slow Fall â but the shock of the initial impact with the trees prevents you from completing it. The spell is only partially effective; you sustain a few cuts and bruises before you land, dazed and breathless, amidst a clump of thick foliage (lose 1
Hurriedly, you recite the words of the Brotherhood Spell
You force a way through the heavy foliage and emerge from the trees at the edge of the clearing, close by the muddy road. A flash of lightning illuminates the area for a few fleeting moments, yet in that brief instant you are seen by Anseng. You are also spotted by Lord Rimoah who is clinging with all his strength to the prow rail of the Comet, high above. He tosses a small object over the skyship
Anseng and his lantern emerge from the trees. Your worried guide pauses for a few moments to get his bearings, then he comes running towards you as fast as his waterlogged clothing will allow. You rush to meet him at the edge of the road. The noise of the storm has grown much louder since the Comet departed, and now the ground shudders alarmingly with every step you take. The sodden soil has become dangerously unstable. Lightning bolts strike the ground, causing fissures that tear open the soft friable earth. You watch with growing dread as parts of the clearing break away and tumble into these treacherous crevasses. A wide fissure opens beneath your feet and you lose your balance. Instantly, a strong hand grabs your forearm and pulls you away from the yawning rift.
-Steady, my Lord,
says Anseng, his rain-lashed face lit by the eerie yellow light of his storm lantern. I
You nod in agreement and stay close behind your guide as skillfully he makes his way across the treacherous ground towards the treeline on the eastern side of the clearing. Here the earth is more stable; the tangled roots of the tall trees are preventing it from breaking apart and collapsing. Sheltered from the pouring rain by the thick canopy of toa fronds, you pause to rest and recover from your dramatic return to Chai.
Upon checking your equipment, you are dismayed to find that the leather satchel containing your tracker gem is missing. The strap is still slung around your shoulder, but the satchel bag has been torn away during your fall through the trees. Your backpack has also been damaged in the fall, and three items are now missing. (Erase the Tracker Gem from your Action Chart. You must also erase 2 Backpack Items â the third and the fifth items you have noted on your list.)
+Steady, my Lord,
says Anseng, his rain-lashed face lit by the eerie yellow light of his storm lantern. I
You nod in agreement and stay close behind your guide as skillfully he makes his way across the treacherous ground towards the tree-line on the eastern side of the clearing. Here the earth is more stable; the tangled roots of the tall trees are preventing it from breaking apart and collapsing. Sheltered from the pouring rain by the thick canopy of toa fronds, you pause to rest and recover from your dramatic return to Chai.
Upon checking your equipment, you are dismayed to find that the leather satchel containing your tracker gem is missing. The strap is still slung around your shoulder, but the satchel bag has been torn away during your fall through the trees. Your backpack has also been damaged in the fall, and three items are now missing. (Erase the Tracker Gem from your Action Chart. You must also erase 2 Backpack Items
You are stopped at the gate by three Imperial Guardsmen who challenge you to identify yourself and state your business here. You call upon your Magnakai discipline of Invisibility in an attempt to mask your distinctly Sommlending features, but this does not fool these watchful warriors. One of them calls for his sergeant to come forward. The hard-faced warrior scrutinises you for a few moments, then he commands a squad of his imperial soldiers to leave the courtyard beyond the gate and surround you. He steps closer and snatches the horse
You
he says, curtly. The squad unshoulder their kirusamis and point them at you menacingly. You are left in no doubt that they will use them if you attempt to escape.
You
he says, curtly. The squad unshoulder their
The sergeant and his men escort you and your horse into the courtyard and take you to a blockhouse. You are pulled from the saddle and pushed unceremoniously through the open blockhouse door.
You struggle to retrieve the potion from your backpack before the paralysis in your legs starts to spread to your torso and arms. With trembling fingers, you pull out the cork and swallow the bitter liquid in one gulp. There is a sensation of glowing warmth in your throat and stomach that moves rapidly to your chest and shoulders. The powerful anti-venom you have ingested swiftly counters the deadly Black Yua venom, neutralising it before your whole body becomes paralysed.
-With gritted teeth, you wrench the arrow from your shoulder and cast it away. The Doomgah Mooldor is reloading its bow and preparing to fire again. With a strength born of desperation, you scramble to your feet and race towards the gangplank of the Silver Virixe. Mooldor tracks you as you run and unleashes a second arrow. It speeds towards you, forcing you to somersault along the gangplank to avoid being hit. The deadly black arrow strikes the wooden edge of the plank barely inches from your right foot. Gasping for breath, you leap from the plank onto the stern deck of the cargo ship and hurriedly take cover behind the wheelhouse.
+With gritted teeth, you wrench the arrow from your shoulder and cast it away. The Doomgah Mooldor is reloading its bow and preparing to fire again. With a strength born of desperation, you scramble to your feet and race towards the gangplank of the Silver Virixe. Mooldor tracks you as you run and unleashes a second arrow. It speeds towards you, forcing you to somersault along the gangplank to avoid being hit. The deadly black arrow strikes the wooden edge of the plank barely inches from your right foot. Gasping for breath, you leap from the plank onto the stern deck of the cargo ship and hurriedly take cover behind the wheelhouse.
The Chagarashi
The snarling Chagarashi leaps on you in a frenzy, slashing at your face and throat with its razor-sharp claws. Pick a number from the Random Number Table. The number you pick determines how many
Lieutenant Quang and the Watchers see that you are in grave danger and they come galloping through the trees towards the frenzied Chagarashi. The lieutenant sweeps past and deals it a deadly scything blow with his kirusami, sending the foul creature
Lieutenant Quang and the Watchers see that you are in grave danger and they come galloping through the trees towards the frenzied Chagarashi. The lieutenant sweeps past and deals it a deadly scything blow with his
As you drag yourself to your feet, Quang and the Watchers draw their horses up in a semi-circle around you and the headless body of the Chagarashi. They are anxious of your condition but you reassure them that you are fit enough to continue. We must proceed with caution,
you say. This creature may not have been the only one scouting this area.
You remount your horse and lead the others through the treeline in single file, with all eyes peeled for the slightest movement among the pines and foliage ahead.
+You remount your horse and lead the others through the tree-line in single file, with all eyes peeled for the slightest movement among the pines and foliage ahead.
You have consigned the necromancer
You are wiping the foam from your face with the back of your hand when your eye catches some movement on the quayside. The Doomgah are slowly and nervously returning to the stone pier. They are very wary but they are also very curious to discover if Xaol has been triumphant. You crouch low to avoid being spotted and shuffle your way towards the door of the wheelhouse. You resolve to get below deck and find a place to hide before the Doomgah muster enough courage to come along the pier and board the Silver Virixe. When they find the ruined remains of Xaol
You are wiping the foam from your face with the back of your hand when your eye catches some movement on the quayside. The Doomgah are slowly and nervously returning to the stone pier. They are very wary but they are also very curious to discover if Xaol has been triumphant. You crouch low to avoid being spotted and shuffle your way towards the door of the wheelhouse. You resolve to get below deck and find a place to hide before the Doomgah muster enough courage to come along the pier and board the Silver Virixe. When they find the ruined remains of Xaol
Your basic Kai discipline of Mind over Matter deals quickly and easily with the padlock on the wheelhouse door. It snaps open and you slide back the door and enter. Swiftly, you tug the door closed behind you and use the padlock to secure it from the inside. A set of wooden steps lead down to the lower deck where you discover the crews
You draw upon the power of your Grand Master discipline to loosen the earth beneath the fallen pine at the edge of the gulley. It crumbles and the top of the tree trunk sinks with it, falling away into the deep ravine. With a chorus of terrified howls, the Doomwolves tumble off the trunk and plummet to their doom at the base of the ravine, one hundred feet below.
+You draw upon the power of your Grand Master discipline to loosen the earth beneath the fallen pine at the edge of the gully. It crumbles and the top of the tree trunk sinks with it, falling away into the deep ravine. With a chorus of terrified howls, the Doomwolves tumble off the trunk and plummet to their doom at the base of the ravine, one hundred feet below.
You raise your right hand and point towards the Doomgah clustered around the entrance to the pier. Carefully, you recite the words of the Brotherhood spell Lightning Hand and you feel a tingle run the length of your arm. A bolt of lightning leaps from your fingertips and rips a hole through their ranks, sending several of them tumbling in all directions. To your disappointment, only three of them are slain by the crackling power of your spell. The others scramble to their feet and hurry back to join the others.
+You raise your right hand and point towards the Doomgah clustered around the entrance to the pier. Carefully, you recite the words of the Brotherhood Spell
Xo Street is lined with fishmongers
Opposite the stone pier you see a large tavern with a brightly painted façade. Warm amber light pours from the panes of its bow-fronted windows and a sign in the middle of its façade proudly announces its name: The Tkukoma Tavern.
+Xo Street is lined with fishmongers
Opposite the stone pier you see a large tavern with a brightly painted fa
You have covered three miles of treeline when Lieutenant Quang shouts a warning, Over there!
He is pointing into the trees to your left. You scour the sparse pines and undergrowth and see four dark shapes scurrying through the foliage. Although you cannot see them clearly, you are able to determine that they are not Chagarashi. As they stalk closer, Quang gives a signal to the Watchers to prepare their bows.
You have covered three miles of tree-line when Lieutenant Quang shouts a warning, Over there!
He is pointing into the trees to your left. You scour the sparse pines and undergrowth and see four dark shapes scurrying through the foliage. Although you cannot see them clearly, you are able to determine that they are not Chagarashi. As they stalk closer, Quang gives a signal to the Watchers to prepare their bows.
When you catch your first clear view of the approaching shapes, a chill runs down your spine. These creatures are muscular bipeds covered with a coarse grey fur. A bony ridge runs from their foreheads to the base of their stunted tails and each has a mouth filled with tiger-like fangs. They carry crude axes fashioned from flint and bone gripped tightly in their short-clawed hands.
Skarada!
gasps Quang, and quickly he tugs his bow from its saddle holster and reaches to his quiver for an arrow.
I crossed paths with a Skarad many years ago in the Voxai Swamp. I still bear the scars of that accursed creature.
Zashnor is immune to Mindblast, and has partial resistance to Kai-surge and Kai-blast. If you possess Kai-surge and use it during this combat, you may add 4 points to your
The Eye of Agarash becomes active throughout this combat. It drains you of 1
You hear shrieks of pain and triumphant Chai battle cries. Captain Jian Tzu has rallied the City Guard and he is leading them personally in a merciless pursuit of the Doomgah. The last of these loathsome creatures have been flushed out of the streets and passageways of Dwala and hounded mercilessly towards the quay. Now the few remaining Doomgah are being pushed off the quay into the turbulent waters of the estuary. None of them can swim and they all perish swiftly in the deep dark waters.
For Chai!
shout the victorious guardsmen, For Khea-Khan and Chai!
Journeymage Honos and Herbwarden Zautro are with Captain Jian Tzu and they spot you standing on the deck of the Silver Virixe. They hurry along the walkway of the stone pier and come running down the gangplank, their faces beaming with joy that you are still alive. They embrace you warmly and commend your skill and bravery. The dramatic turn in the weather tells them that you have overcome a great evil this night and saved the city, and all of Chai, from a terrible fate at the hands of the merciless Zashnor. You inform them about the Claw of Naar and they can hardly believe their ears. But when you point to it lying on the deck a few yards away, all doubt is swiftly dispelled. Journeymage Honos removes his cape and carefully he wraps the accursed artefact, making sure that he does not touch the twisted shaft with his bare hands.
+Journeymage Honos and Herbwarden Zautro are with Captain Jian Tzu and they spot you standing on the deck of the Silver Virixe. They hurry along the walkway of the stone pier and come running down the gangplank, their faces beaming with joy that you are still alive. They embrace you warmly and commend your skill and bravery. The dramatic turn in the weather tells them that you have overcome a great evil this night and saved the city, and all of Chai, from a terrible fate at the hands of the merciless Zashnor. You inform them about the Claw of Naar and they can hardly believe their ears. But when you point to it lying on the deck a few yards away, all doubt is swiftly dispelled. Journeymage Honos removes his cape and carefully he wraps the accursed artefact, making sure that he does not touch the twisted shaft with his bare hands.
I will carry this back to City Guard headquarters,
he says, solemnly. I fear that if you were to convey it along with the Eye of Agarash, the consequences would prove fatal, my Lord.
Your Sixth Sense tells you that Honos
My eternal thanks, Grand Master,
he says. Once again you have saved Chai from a great and terrible evil. You will forever be revered as a hero in our land!
You soon reach the highway, but on arriving here you are disappointed to see a large group of Chagarashi have occupied the paved road less than half a mile to the south. Their presence prevents you from following the highway directly to Vabou. You are soon spotted out in the open and you see a party of twenty Chagarashi leave the main group and come loping along the paved road. You dare not stay here and you dare not go back to the treeline. Quang
You soon reach the highway, but on arriving here you are disappointed to see a large group of Chagarashi have occupied the paved road less than half a mile to the south. Their presence prevents you from following the highway directly to Vabou. You are soon spotted out in the open and you see a party of twenty Chagarashi leave the main group and come loping along the paved road. You dare not stay here and you dare not go back to the tree-line. Quang
The grass and mixed foliage is taller and denser on the west side of the highway than it is on the east side. Gradually it slows the horses down, reducing their pace to little more than a trot. As they push on, it is as if they are wading through a thick green sea that swirls around your knees. At length you reach a gentle rise that ascends towards the brow of a wide hill. It is here that your Sixth Sense alerts you to danger ahead. Immediately, you shout a warning to Quang and he signals to the Watchers to halt.
What is it, my Lord
he says, anxiously.
I can sense something hostile on the far side of this hill,
you reply. I fear it could be an ambush.
Your hastily-aimed arrow arcs towards the Doomgah and strikes the middle of its iron bow, severing two of the fingers on its left hand and sending the bow spinning away. It shrieks with pain and frustration and hurriedly unsheathes its serrated sword. You run to the other side of the wheelhouse and peer around its side to see the Doomgah scurrying along the walkway, slashing at the rain with its black blade in a berserk frenzy. You shoulder your bow and draw your Kai Weapon as it comes racing down the gangplank, shrieking maniacally. It does not know precisely where you are and you seize this vital advantage. The moment it reaches the stern deck, you spring out from behind the wheelhouse and launch a swift attack.
-Because of the speed and surprise of your attack, you may ignore any
Quang hurriedly unshoulders his bow and commands Bai and Deng to do likewise.
Fire at will!
he shouts, and the three of them unleash a flurry of arrows at the advancing Skarada. Six of the enemy fall dead or wounded before the remainder reaches the top of the hill. Two of the beasts rush at you in a frenzied attack, their bloodstained axes held poised to hack you down.
Klüz shrieks with agony when you land your killing blow. Clutching at its sundered breast plate, it tumbles off the stone pier and plummets head first into the heaving waters of the Tkukoma Estuary. Its fell weapon, Zukgudrak, balances precariously on the edge of the pier. Only the weight of its blade is preventing this polearm from following its owner into the raging waters. You touch the tip of Anseng
Kl
This special weapon will now triple all
The Skarada are less than thirty feet away when Lieutenant Quang shouts Fire!
As one, you release your straining bowstrings and send a volley of arrows whistling into the advancing enemy. The missiles all hit their mark and three of the four Skarada tumble forwards, mortally wounded. Your arrow penetrates the left shoulder of the leading Skarad and spins it around, but it does not make it lose its footing. Bellowing with pain, the creature hacks the protruding shaft in two with one blow of its flint axe. It snarls with anger and glares at you with its bloodshot amber eyes before it beats a hasty retreat into the trees.
You are determined not to let it escape. Hurriedly, you shoulder your bow and urge your horse forward in pursuit of the wounded beast. In less than a minute you run it to ground among the pines. Roaring like a cornered tiger, the Skarad swings around and leaps towards your horse with its axe raised high, slashing the air as it strikes. Terrified by its ferocity, your mount rears up and shies away from the creature
This creature is immune to all forms of psychic attack except Kai-surge. If you possess this Grand Master discipline and wish to use it during this combat, you may only add 3 to your
You force a way through the heavy foliage and emerge from the trees at the edge of the clearing, close by the muddy road. A flash of lightning illuminates the area for a few fleeting moments, yet in that brief instant you are seen by Anseng. You are also spotted by Lord Rimoah who is clinging with all his strength to the prow rail of the Comet, high above. He tosses a small object over the skyship
Anseng and his lantern emerge from the trees. Your worried guide pauses for a few moments to get his bearings, then he comes running towards you as fast as his saturated clothing will allow. You rush to meet him at the edge of the road. The noise of the storm has grown much louder since the Comet departed, and now the ground shudders alarmingly with every step you take. The sodden soil has become dangerously unstable. Lightning bolts strike the ground, causing fissures that tear open the soft friable earth. You watch with growing dread as parts of the clearing break away and tumble into these treacherous crevasses. A wide fissure opens beneath your feet and you lose your balance. Instantly, a strong hand grabs your forearm and pulls you away from the yawning rift.
Steady, my Lord,
says Anseng, his rain-lashed face lit by the eerie yellow light of his storm lantern. I
You nod in agreement and stay close behind your guide as skillfully he makes his way across the treacherous ground towards the tree line on the eastern side of the clearing. Here the earth is more stable; the tangled roots of the tall trees are preventing it from breaking apart and collapsing. Sheltered from the pouring rain by the thick canopy of toa fronds, you pause to rest and recover from your dramatic return to Chai.
Upon checking your equipment, you are dismayed to find that the leather satchel containing your tracker gem is missing. The strap is still slung around your shoulder, but the satchel bag has been torn away during your fall through the trees. Your backpack has also been damaged in the fall, and three items are now missing. (Erase the Tracker Gem from your Action Chart. You must also erase 3 Backpack Items â the first, third, and fifth items on your list.)
+Upon checking your equipment, you are dismayed to find that the leather satchel containing your tracker gem is missing. The strap is still slung around your shoulder, but the satchel bag has been torn away during your fall through the trees. Your backpack has also been damaged in the fall, and three items are now missing. (Erase the Tracker Gem from your Action Chart. You must also erase 3 Backpack Items
Anseng
Anseng
Rakhi gives a sudden squeal of delight and points at the pocket of your jacket.
You have the Queen!
she says, excitedly. You draw the playing piece from your pocket and Rakhi begs you to let her look at it. With trembling fingers she examines it closely.
Yes, yes⦠it
she gasps.
Yes, yes
she gasps.
What
you ask, somewhat bemused by her passionate reaction.
Wait here, I need to fetch something. I
She returns the Samor Queen to you and leaves the table. You watch her hurry across the taproom and disappear through the curtained archway. In less than a minute she returns clutching a mahogany box inlaid with intricate gold designs.
Proudly, she raises the lid revealing a set of beautifully carved samor pieces, each one resting in its own velvet-lined partition. One piece is missing from the set â the Samor Queen.
+Proudly, she raises the lid revealing a set of beautifully carved samor pieces, each one resting in its own velvet-lined partition. One piece is missing from the set
I lost the Queen over a year ago, and I
She clutches a small scarlet gem that is strung around her throat on a fine gold chain. She unhooks its clasp and passes it to you.
It belonged to my mother,
she says. She gave it to me when I joined the troupe. It has magical properties that have kept me safe since I left Durwan, but I
The guard scrutinises your face and then he tells you to pull aside your rain cape so that he can inspect the weapons and equipment you are carrying.
-Your arrow pierces the creature
You leap from the driver
Anseng joins you in this fight at the beginning of the 2nd round. You may now temporarily increase your
Anseng joins you in this fight at the beginning of the second round. You may now temporarily increase your
You let loose your straining bowstring and your arrow flies straight and true. It strikes the Doomwolf between its feral eyes and the sharp tip penetrates deep into its brain, killing it instantly. It falls off the tree bridge and plunges head first into the ravine. The weight on the fallen tree is lessened by the demise of the second Doomwolf. You urge your companions to push harder against the pine and it starts to give. The compacted earth beneath it cracks and crumbles.
-Get clear!
you shout, and hastily they leap away as the tree trunk sinks with the collapsing edge of the gulley. There is a loud rumble and you see the tree and the loosened earth fall away into the yawning fissure. The remaining two Doomwolves howl with terror as they tumble off the falling trunk and plummet to their doom at the base of the ravine, one hundred feet below.
Get clear!
you shout, and hastily they leap away as the tree trunk sinks with the collapsing edge of the gully. There is a loud rumble and you see the tree and the loosened earth fall away into the yawning fissure. The remaining two Doomwolves howl with terror as they tumble off the falling trunk and plummet to their doom at the base of the ravine, one hundred feet below.
Quang and the Watchers are greatly impressed by the way in which you have dealt with the Doomwolves. They punch the air and shout in unison: Paizar!
You smile and nod your head in acknowledgement of their generous praise. As the echo of their cheer fades away among the surrounding trees, you feel a sudden wave of weakness coursing through your body. It makes your stomach churn and leaves you gasping for breath. Once again, the Eye of Agarash has activated and this time it drains you of 5
Wiping a trickle of cold sweat from your brow with the back of your trembling hand, you swallow hard and quickly reassure your companions that you are fit to continue.
@@ -2891,7 +2982,7 @@Lieutenant Quang nods in agreement and you lead him and the Watchers away from the halted refugee column and ride east towards the treeline of the Nagah Forest. Passage through the treeline is easy as the forest here is far less dense than it is to the north east. You make swift progress until you spot something moving up ahead. You signal to your companions to halt.
+Lieutenant Quang nods in agreement and you lead him and the Watchers away from the halted refugee column and ride east towards the tree-line of the Nagah Forest. Passage through the tree-line is easy as the forest here is far less dense than it is to the north east. You make swift progress until you spot something moving up ahead. You signal to your companions to halt.
Using your Sixth Sense and magnified vision skills, you identify the moving object. It is a lone Chagarashi. It appears to be scouting the sparse woodland, looking for refugees that may be attempting to circle around the roadblock.
Klüz leaps from the saddle and lands on the stone pier with a splash, its kirusami gripped firmly in its leathery black hands. The gathered Doomgah hiss their approval as their leader stomps towards you along the walkway. You steel yourself and prepare to fight this formidable creature to the death.
-Kl
Your glancing blow sends the Chagarashi tumbling backwards into the wet foliage. As it struggles to get back on its feet, you rein in your horse and bring him around to face your wounded foe. Lieutenant Quang and the Watchers come galloping through the trees towards the Chagarashi. It has only just got back on its feet when the lieutenant gallops past and deals it a deadly scything blow with his kirusami. The foul creature
Your glancing blow sends the Chagarashi tumbling backwards into the wet foliage. As it struggles to get back on its feet, you rein in your horse and bring him around to face your wounded foe. Lieutenant Quang and the Watchers come galloping through the trees towards the Chagarashi. It has only just got back on its feet when the lieutenant gallops past and deals it a deadly scything blow with his
You signal to Quang and the Watchers to gather in a circle.
We must proceed with caution,
you say. This creature may not have been the only one scouting this area.
You urge your horse forward and lead the others through the treeline in single file, with all eyes peeled for the slightest movement among the pines and foliage ahead.
+You urge your horse forward and lead the others through the tree-line in single file, with all eyes peeled for the slightest movement among the pines and foliage ahead.
You scramble to your feet and face your enemy. Zashnor has reached the bottom of the gangplank and it levels the Claw of Naar at your chest. Its initial psychic attack has failed to stop you and now it launches a magical attack that it hopes will put paid to you once and for all. The tip of the Claw erupts into a terrifying ball of lighting that arcs across the deck at blinding speed.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess the discipline of Grand Huntmastery, deduct 2 from the number you have chosen.
If your total is now 3 or lower, you lose 3
If your total is now 4 - 6, you lose 5
If your total is now 4
If your total is now 7 or 8, you lose 7
If your total is 9, you are engulfed and consumed by the ferocious ball of lightning. Zashnor will recover the Eye of Agarash from your smouldering remains and marry it with the Claw of Naar. The weapon thus created will give the Nadziran the ability to unleash a fireball so powerful that it will incinerate Dwala and all of its inhabitants at one fell stroke. Tragically, you will no longer be able to prevent this catastrophe, for your life and your mission ends here.
Bhanarian spies,
he replies with distain. We
Bhanarian spies,
he replies with disdain. We
Anseng moves towards you, sweeping his glowing kirusami before him like a sorcerous scythe. Resolutely you unsheathe your Kai Weapon, yet as you raise it in readiness to counter his inexorable advance you are engulfed by a wave of nausea that makes you shiver and retch. Once again the Eye has activated, triggered now by the close proximity of the evil power that is driving Anseng to seek your doom: lose 4
Anseng moves towards you, sweeping his glowing
You retreat a few unsteady paces and struggle to suppress the tide of nausea that is sapping your strength. As if sensing your weakness, Anseng lunges forward and thrusts the glowing tip of his cursed weapon at your trembling face.
-Priestess Song Tao leads you to an alcove behind the altar and traces her fingertip around one of the engravings on the wall. It actives a secret panel which slides open to reveal a spiral stone staircase. You follow as she climbs to a landing near the top of the tower. A silver-plated door stands before you. Song Tao knocks on this shining door before opening it.
+Priestess Song Tao leads you to an alcove behind the altar and traces her fingertip around one of the engravings on the wall. It activates a secret panel which slides open to reveal a spiral stone staircase. You follow as she climbs to a landing near the top of the tower. A silver-plated door stands before you. Song Tao knocks on this shining door before opening it.
You follow her into a large and impressive circular chamber. Its smooth walls and ceiling are midnight blue in colour and studded with clusters of tiny Caronese crystals. The effect is stunning; it is as if you have just stepped into deep space and are surrounded by thousands of tiny twinkling stars. The chamber is dimly lit by an oil lamp resting on a circular table in the middle of the room. Song Tao raises its wick and the light becomes brighter. It illuminates three people who are seated in winged armchairs on the far side of the chamber. They stand up and Song Tao introduces them to you.
The first is Lord Honos, a journeymage from Dessi. The second is Zautro, a curate Herbwarden from Bautar, and the third is Captain Jian Tzu, the commander of Dwala
When you open the leather satchel, you are assailed by a wave of evil energy that drains you of 6
It is Anseng, but he is no longer how you remember him. His face is grey and gaunt, and his eyes are now empty sockets that radiate a dull blue glow. Stiffly, he turns towards you with his cupped hands outstretched. There is a loud crack
and his hands and forearms are wreathed in sparking balls of electric blue fire. Before your disbelieving eyes, these unholy spheres of flame coalesce into a glowing rod that rapidly transforms into the shape of a kirusami. Your Sixth Sense screams a warning that you are in the presence of a great evil that has taken possession of Anseng and turned him into an undead automaton. He opens his mouth as if to scream and the ghastly eyeless head of a black snake emerges from where his tongue should be. He raises his glowing kirusami and scythes the night air with several sweeping strokes. The weapon glows brighter with every stroke he makes.
It is Anseng, but he is no longer how you remember him. His face is grey and gaunt, and his eyes are now empty sockets that radiate a dull blue glow. Stiffly, he turns towards you with his cupped hands outstretched. There is a loud crack
and his hands and forearms are wreathed in sparking balls of electric blue fire. Before your disbelieving eyes, these unholy spheres of flame coalesce into a glowing rod that rapidly transforms into the shape of a
Due to the speed of your attack, you can only engage in one round of combat with this enemy before the momentum of your charging horse carries you past it.
Your final blow decapitates Xaol and sends his decayed head arcing away into the tempestuous waters of the Tkukoma Estuary. His crippled body drops to the deck and rapidly decays before your eyes. The necromantic spell that raised Xaol from the dead and restored his sundered body has been broken, and now the years of rot and decay that were held at bay rapidly consume his diseased corpse. His serpent rod reverts to its spherical form and lies beside the putrid remains, smoking and hissing intensely.
-The boat tumbles stern over bow and you are hurled into the raging waters. You plunge deep into the watery abyss, dragged down by the strong currents and the weight of your weapons and equipment. You intone the words of the Brotherhood spell Breathe Water and the crushing pain in your lungs recedes when you begin to absorb oxygen through your skin. With your strength fast returning, you fight your way up from the depths and back towards the surface.
+The boat tumbles stern over bow and you are hurled into the raging waters. You plunge deep into the watery abyss, dragged down by the strong currents and the weight of your weapons and equipment. You intone the words of the Brotherhood Spell
Swiftly you invoke the Brotherhood spell Halt Missile and the black arrow freezes in mid-air just a few feet in front of your face. You step aside and, moments later, the spell dissipates and the arrow whistles past you to ricochet harmlessly off the wall of the convent several yards along the alleyway behind.
+Swiftly you invoke the Brotherhood Spell
You may buy any of the items listed above for the price indicated. With the exception of the arrows, they are all backpack items that will take up one space in your backpack. You are under no obligation to make a purchase.
-You can also sell any of the items you have noted on your Backpack List (with the exception of Anseng
You can also sell any of the items you have noted on your Backpack List (with the exception of Anseng
Quang finally decides which compass he is going to purchase and he hands 50 Ren to the shop assistant. The wife of the emporium
At the end of Xiang Street you enter the quayside area. The churning waters of the estuary stretch out before you. Because of the heavy rain and failing light, you cannot see across the estuary to the opposite bank and have no way of judging how wide it is at this point. Quang asks a passer-by for directions to the ferry post and she points south and tells you that it is a five minute walk is that direction. Soon you reach the post and see the ferry boat to Dwala is moored at the quay. You approach it, hoping that you are in time to catch the dusk crossing, but you find that access to this part of the quay has been chained off. A sign hanging from the chain says: Ferry cancelled due to weather
.
Directly opposite the quay is a large three-storey building. The ornate sign fixed above its front door says: Ferry House Inn
Unfortunately, your answer is incorrect. The amounts are the same. After mixing in a quart of oil, the mixture would by 5/6ths vinegar and 1/6th oil. This would leave 5/6ths of a quart of oil in the first pitcher. Since the other 5/6ths of the removed mixture is vinegar, and this is now mixed into the other pitcher, in the end both pitchers end up with 5/6ths of a quart of the other liquid in them. As they have equal amounts of the other liquid, and the total volumes are equal (back to 5 quarts each), they must have equal amounts of their original liquids.
+Unfortunately, your answer is incorrect. The amounts are the same. After mixing in a quart of oil, the mixture would by
The patrons mummer their approval when Shou Lin explains the correct solution to the puzzle. You must now erase 10 Gold Crowns from your Action Chart and give the coins to the old man. Gladly he accepts your payment and praises you for your brave attempt at solving it.
Bad luck, my Lord,
says Anseng, in an attempt to console you. May you have better luck next time.
You are now feeling very tired and are finding it a little difficult to keep your eyes open. Rather than stay for Shou Lin
You shape your mouth in readiness and shout the Old Kingdom power-word with all your might: Gloar!
You shape your mouth in readiness and shout the Old Kingdom power-word with all your might: Gloar!
The concussive shock of your spell hits the Claw of Naar and sends it skittering away across the deck, beyond Zashnor
You attack the five undead Nagah Ghouls before they can scramble back to their feet. Lieutenant Quang fights fiercely by your side, and the three Watchers engage those ghouls that attempt to outflank you. Your use of the Kai power-word has given you the combat advantage. You may ignore any
You may add 6 points to your
You may add 6 points to your
As the nausea subsides, you turn your attention to the Watchers who have all sustained wounds during the combat. By the use of your Magnakai Curing discipline, you are able to stop their bleeding and help them quickly to recover. You sense that you must now leave this location for there are more Nagah Ghouls in the vicinity and they are heading for the tavern garden, drawn by the foul smell of the spilt blood of their slain brethren. Hurriedly, you all remount your horses and press on with your journey to Vabou without further delay.
You speak the words of the Old Kingdom battle-spell Invisible Fist and thrust your clenched right hand towards the Doomgah clustered around the entrance to the pier. The force of your spell punches a hole through their ranks and sends several of them tumbling in all directions. To your dismay, you watch them scramble to their feet and hurry back to join the others. Only one Doomgah has been slain by the force of your spell and its broken body now lies slumped against the front door of the Tkukoma Tavern.
+You speak the words of the Old Kingdom battle-spell
Steadily, you catch up with Quang and the Watchers. As you rejoin them, you see something blocking the highway in the middle distance. A score of Skarada are shambling along the highway towards you. They took cover in the tall grass when you and your companions rode along this section of the highway two hours ago, and now they are trying to rejoin the survivors of last night
Steadily, you catch up with Quang and the Watchers. As you rejoin them, you see something blocking the highway in the middle distance. A score of Skarada are shambling along the highway towards you. They took cover in the tall grass when you and your companions rode along this section of the highway two hours ago, and now they are trying to rejoin the survivors of last night
Upon reaching the forest you find that the pines are widely spaced and you are able to maintain your fast pace with relative ease. However, this sparse border also makes it easy for a determined handful of Doomwolves to maintain their pursuit. The rumble of distant thunder and flashes of sheet lightning herald the return of heavy rain. This sudden change in the weather works to your advantage, dampening the scent of your horses and making it harder for the few remaining Doomwolves to track you. At length you come to a denser part of the forest that forces your mounts to slow their pace. It is criss-crossed with several narrow but deep gullies. You work your way around these fissures until you arrive at one that is much longer than the others. It stretches across your path and, at first glance, there appears to be no way to traverse it.
-Over there!
shouts Quang, pointing along the gulley towards the east. He has spotted a dead pine that has fallen across this narrow ravine. Its trunk spans the yawning gap and provides a natural bridge to the far side.
Over there!
shouts Quang, pointing along the gully towards the east. He has spotted a dead pine that has fallen across this narrow ravine. Its trunk spans the yawning gap and provides a natural bridge to the far side.
Quang takes the lead and you follow him in single file as he steers his horse safely across the fallen pine. When you reach the far side, you hear the ominous growl of a Doomwolf close behind. The pack leader and three of its foul brood are in hot pursuit. They have already reached the middle of the tree bridge and will soon be upon you unless you can do something to halt their swift and determined advance.
The arrow whistles towards you with an exceptional speed and accuracy that reveals its magical enhancement. It is a Zejar-dulaga, a sorcerous missile imbued with magical accuracy which is only known to be crafted in the Darklands! Instinctively, you twist aside to avoid it and it rips through your oilskin cape and disappears into the storm-swept waters of the estuary. The rip in your cape is smeared with a black tarry substance with a bitter smell. It is Black Yua venom, a fast-acting and deadly toxin.
-The Doomgah Mooldor is reloading its bow and preparing to fire again. You race along the walkway towards the gangplank of the Silver Virixe, desperately seeking cover. Mooldor tracks you as you run and unleashes a second arrow. It speeds towards you, forcing you to somersault along the gangplank to avoid being hit. The deadly black arrow strikes the wooden edge of the plank barely inches from your right foot. Gasping for breath, you leap from the plank onto the stern deck of the cargo ship and hurriedly take cover behind the wheelhouse.
+The Doomgah Mooldor is reloading its bow and preparing to fire again. You race along the walkway towards the gangplank of the Silver Virixe, desperately seeking cover. Mooldor tracks you as you run and unleashes a second arrow. It speeds towards you, forcing you to somersault along the gangplank to avoid being hit. The deadly black arrow strikes the wooden edge of the plank barely inches from your right foot. Gasping for breath, you leap from the plank onto the stern deck of the cargo ship and hurriedly take cover behind the wheelhouse.
You place the blade of the kirusami under the sphere and flip it over the gunwale of the ship. It hits the raging waters and explodes, showering you with foaming spray. You have dispensed with the necromancer
Your eye is caught by movement on the quayside. The Doomgah are slowly and nervously returning to the stone pier. They are very wary but they are also very curious to discover if Xaol has been triumphant. You crouch low to avoid being spotted and shuffle your way towards the door of the wheelhouse. You resolve to get below deck and find a place to hide before the Doomgah muster enough courage to come along the pier and board the Silver Virixe. When they find the ruined remains of Xaol
You place the blade of the
Your eye is caught by movement on the quayside. The Doomgah are slowly and nervously returning to the stone pier. They are very wary but they are also very curious to discover if Xaol has been triumphant. You crouch low to avoid being spotted and shuffle your way towards the door of the wheelhouse. You resolve to get below deck and find a place to hide before the Doomgah muster enough courage to come along the pier and board the Silver Virixe. When they find the ruined remains of Xaol
Your basic Kai discipline of Mind over Matter deals quickly and easily with the padlock on the wheelhouse door. It snaps open and you slide back the door and enter. Swiftly, you tug the door closed behind you and use the padlock to secure it from the inside. A set of wooden steps lead down to the lower deck where you discover the crews
You can only engage in one round of combat with this enemy before the momentum of your galloping horse carries you away from it.
Chagarashi!
screams Anseng, Ishir save us!
The ghastly creatures detect the scent of the frightened wagon horses and detach themselves from the tattered remains of their victims. With murderous intent, they come loping along the muddy highway with their bloodied mouths agape.
-We must protect the horses!
shouts Anseng, and hurriedly he dismounts from the wagon and unshoulders his kirusami. Your mount is overcome with sheer terror. He rears up and you are thrown out of the saddle onto the muddy ground. Before you can attempt to calm him, he bolts and gallops away along the highway you have just travelled. Chengu is shaking with fear. Desperately he fights to regain control of his panicking horse team as the Chagarashi increase their loping pace.
We must protect the horses!
shouts Anseng, and hurriedly he dismounts from the wagon and unshoulders his
Drenched with rain and plastered with sticky mud, you scramble to your feet and rush to join Anseng who is standing defiantly on the highway between the onrushing monsters and the terrified wagon horses. Coolly, you unsheathe your Kai Weapon and stand beside your guide. Two of the howling horrors launch themselves upon you while the third beast leaps through the air and slashes at Anseng with its razor-sharp talons.
Chagarashi
Deng nods his head and salutes the Lieutenant. He wishes you both good luck before he leaves the quayside and walks away into the teeming rain. You watch him go. He does not look back.
It is best he goes with Bai tomorrow,
says Quang. If they should run into the enemy during their journey, they
It will be hard on them to tell Shen-Yin that she has lost her husband,
you reply.
Yes⦠yes it will,
says Quang, his voice tinged with bitter sadness. Her husband⦠and her sister too. When I spoke with Bai at the stables, he told me that when he searched the farm house next to the barn, he found the bodies of Shen-Yin
Yes
says Quang, his voice tinged with bitter sadness. Her husband
This is so sad,
you reply, I pray that Ishir will give her strength to bear her grievous loss.
Quang walks to the edge of the quay and loosens the rope securing the rowboat.
Perhaps we should wait until the storm abates,
you say.
The Skarada are less than thirty feet away when Lieutenant Quang shouts Fire!
As one, you release your straining bowstrings and send a volley of arrows whistling into the advancing enemy. The missiles all hit their mark and the four Skarada tumble forwards, mortally wounded. Quang compliments everyone on their fine bowmanship and orders you all to shoulder your bows. You comply with his order and follow behind as he canters his horse towards the fallen Skarada. Two of them have been killed outright, and the remaining two are swiftly put out of their misery by the blade of Quang
Your Sixth Sense warns you that these Skarada are not the only ones of their kind occupying the treeline. Another two groups are now rushing towards this area, from the east and the south. Fearing that you could be surrounded by them when they converge, you shout a warning to Lieutenant Quang and he quickly mounts his horse and brings it alongside yours.
-We can
he says, thoughtfully. We
You agree with the Lieutenant
The Skarada are less than thirty feet away when Lieutenant Quang shouts Fire!
As one, you release your straining bowstrings and send a volley of arrows whistling into the advancing enemy. The missiles all hit their mark and the four Skarada tumble forwards, mortally wounded. Quang compliments everyone on their fine bowmanship and orders you all to shoulder your bows. You comply with his order and follow behind as he canters his horse towards the fallen Skarada. Two of them have been killed outright, and the remaining two are swiftly put out of their misery by the blade of Quang
Your Sixth Sense warns you that these Skarada are not the only ones of their kind occupying the tree-line. Another two groups are now rushing towards this area, from the east and the south. Fearing that you could be surrounded by them when they converge, you shout a warning to Lieutenant Quang and he quickly mounts his horse and brings it alongside yours.
+We can
he says, thoughtfully. We
You agree with the Lieutenant
You attack the five undead Nagah Ghouls before they can stagger back to their feet. Lieutenant Quang fights fiercely by your side, and the three Watchers engage those ghouls that attempt to outflank you. Your use of the Old Kingdom power-word has given you the combat advantage. You may ignore any
5 Nagah Ghouls
You may add 6 points to your
You may add 6 points to your
As the nausea subsides, you turn your attention to the Watchers who have all sustained wounds during the combat. By the use of your Magnakai Curing discipline, you are able to stop their bleeding and help them quickly to recover. You sense that you must now leave this location for there are more Nagah Ghouls in the vicinity and they are heading for the tavern garden, drawn by the foul smell of the spilt blood of their slain brethren. Hurriedly, you all remount your horses and press on with your journey to Vabou without further delay.
Daruzhi Street is a cobblestoned thoroughfare well-lit by latticed street lanterns. Fifty yards along it you see two shops that stand directly opposite each other and are still open for business.
You unsheathe your Kai Weapon, unlock the wheelhouse door, and race out across the rain-swept stern deck towards the bow of the ship. You are halfway to the foredeck when you hear Zashnor screaming with glee. The sound of its hideous gloating scream makes you glance over your shoulder and you are mortified by what you see. Zashnor has reached the bottom of the gangplank and it is taking aim with the Claw of Naar at your back. The tip of the Claw erupts into a terrifying ball of lighting that arcs across the deck at blinding speed.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess the discipline of Grand Huntmastery, deduct 2 from the number you have chosen.
If your total is now 3 or lower, you lose 3
If your total is now 4 - 6, you lose 5
If your total is now 4
If your total is now 7 or 8, you lose 7
If your total is 9, you are engulfed and consumed by the ferocious ball of lightning. Zashnor will recover the Eye of Agarash from your smouldering remains and marry it with the Claw of Naar. The weapon thus created will give the Nadziran the ability to unleash a fireball so powerful that it will incinerate Dwala and all of its inhabitants at one fell stroke. Tragically, you will no longer be able to prevent this catastrophe, for your life and your mission ends here.
Three refugee wagons lay overturned in the shallow basin of the valley, their contents spilled out and scattered among the tall foliage. Lying among them are the torn and bloodied remnants of many Chai civilians. It is impossible to estimate just how many refugees have been slaughtered here for none of their corpses are wholly intact. You are sickened to witness several hulking grey shapes moving about in this killing field, pausing only to snatch up and gnaw at the remains of the dead.
-The Skarada are now fast closing in around the open barn doors. They are armed with flint axes and long-bladed bone daggers. You dig your heels into your horse
You come to the end of the farm track and turn your horse to the east. When you look back towards the barn, you are relieved to see that all of your companions have escaped and are galloping along the track towards the farm entrance. By the time the Skarada reach the farm
Only when you can no longer see the farmstead and the Skarada do you signal to Quang and the others to bring their horses to a halt. Your mounts are breathless and their sweaty flanks steam in the pouring rain. Your companions, too, are weary. They slump in their saddles and struggle to regain their composure. Quang comes forward and halts his horse alongside yours.
-That⦠was a close thing,
he says, gasping for breath. We
That
he says, gasping for breath. We
Then you hear a loud splash behind you and immediately you sense that something awful has happened.
Klüz shrieks with agony when you land your killing blow. Clutching at its sundered breast plate, it tumbles off the stone pier and plummets head first into the heaving waters of the Tkukoma Estuary. For a few moments its fell weapon, Zukgudrak, balances precariously on the edge of walkway. Then the howling winds catch its heavy blade and send it spiralling down into the dark waters to join its owner.
-The Doomgah at the far end of the pier are devastated by the defeat of their leader. They break and run in all directions to escape a similar fate by your hand. Only one remains behind. Your Magnakai discipline of Divination informs you that this creature is Mooldor, Klüz
Kl
The Doomgah at the far end of the pier are devastated by the defeat of their leader. They break and run in all directions to escape a similar fate by your hand. Only one remains behind. Your Magnakai discipline of Divination informs you that this creature is Mooldor, Kl
Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess the Grand Master discipline of Grand Huntmastery, add 2 to the number you have picked.
Suddenly you realise that you are not being subjected to an audio attack. The noise that fills your head is the effect of a powerful psychic assault upon your senses. Hurriedly, you call upon your Magnakai discipline of Psi-screen to protect your mind from this powerful psychic assault, and you are able to create a mental wall to repel it. However, it takes you crucial seconds to erect this defensive wall and you suffer a painful psychic shock before it is completed: lose 4
Sensing your distress and eager to exploit it, the ghoulish figure leaps towards you brandishing his black staff. In the blink of an eye, the staff transforms into a hissing serpent. It is disturbingly similar to the snake which emerged from the mouth of undead Anseng! You reach to your weapon and pull back as the serpent
This enemy is a powerful undead adversary. If your chosen weapon provides you with a bonus when used in a fight against an undead foe, be sure to calculate and add the bonus to your Combat Skill before this battle begins. If you possess the Kai Weapon Spawnsmite
or Valiance
you may add the bonus that you gain from its unique properties during this combat.
You are stopped at the gate by three Imperial Guardsmen who challenge you to identify yourself and state your business here. You give them the Durenese Consulate Pass that you received from Envoy Helsar and they examine it carefully. One of the guardsmen calls for his sergeant to come forward and he hands the hard-faced warrior your pass. After scrutinising it for a few moments, he commands a squad of his imperial soldiers stationed in the courtyard beyond the gate to come forward and surround you. The sergeant looks once more at the pass and swiftly snatches the horse
You
he says, curtly. The squad unshoulder their kirusamis and point them at you menacingly. You are left in no doubt that they will use them if you attempt to escape.
You
he says, curtly. The squad unshoulder their
The sergeant and his men escort you and your horse into the courtyard and take you to a blockhouse. You are pulled from the saddle and pushed towards its open door.
Did you really think you could use this pass to enter the Imperial Palace?
says the sergeant, with contempt. These numerals tell me you are seventy-nine years old. Hah! If that is so, you
You are grabbed by two of the sergeant
Lord Honos and Herbwarden Zautro come running up the stairs from the convent
Grand Master,
says the Captain, urgently. You must leave here. It is too dangerous for you to stay any longer.
He stands in the open doorway and points along the alley to a passageway at the southern end.
-Turn right at the end and the passage will take you to Izara Street. Go left when you reach Izara and you
Silver Virixe
. She is a Korlian cargo ship berthed at the end of the pier. She will be bound for Port of Suhn as soon as the storms abate. Go aboard her and hide yourself below deck. If it is safe to do so, we will come for you an hour before noon and bring you back here to the North Gate in time for Lord Rimoah
Turn right at the end and the passage will take you to Izara Street. Go left when you reach Izara and you
Silver Virixe
. She is a Korlian cargo ship berthed at the end of the pier. She will be bound for Port of Suhn as soon as the storms abate. Go aboard her and hide yourself below deck. If it is safe to do so, we will come for you an hour before noon and bring you back here to the North Gate in time for Lord Rimoah
And what if you don
you ask, pragmatically.
If we don
replies Jian Tzu, then the situation here will have escalated beyond our control. You should remain hidden aboard the ship. Once it sails and is safely beyond the estuary, you should make yourself known to the Captain. His name is Chengan. He is a Watcher and he is loyal to our cause. He will convey you to Port of Suhn and from there you will be able to make contact with your Kai Monastery on the Isle of Lorn. We will send word of this to Lord Rimoah⦠if we are able.
If we don
replies Jian Tzu, then the situation here will have escalated beyond our control. You should remain hidden aboard the ship. Once it sails and is safely beyond the estuary, you should make yourself known to the Captain. His name is Chengan. He is a Watcher and he is loyal to our cause. He will convey you to Port of Suhn and from there you will be able to make contact with your Kai Monastery on the Isle of Lorn. We will send word of this to Lord Rimoah
You acknowledge the Captain
You twist the portal
I am Priestess Song Tao,
she says, softly. Welcome.
You sense the aura of goodness that she exudes and it flows over you like a cool refreshing breeze (restore 1 ENDURANE point). You introduce yourself and tell her that you are the Kai Grand Master whom Anseng had been sent to escort to Pensei. She asks after your guide and she is deeply saddened to hear what became of him. She closes her eyes and a single tear trickles down her pale cheek. Slowly, she opens her eyes and holds you with a mesmerizing stare. Your Sixth Sense tells you that she is looking into your mind. When she is sure that you are indeed a Kai Grand Master, she uncrosses her hands and beckons you to follow her.
+You sense the aura of goodness that she exudes and it flows over you like a cool refreshing breeze (restore 1
There are some important people that are waiting for you. Come with me.
Mount up! Let
Quang and the Watchers leave their locations and race to their horses. Rapidly, you mount your horse and spur him towards the open doors. You are halfway across the barn when two Chagarashi appear in the open doorway and throw their arms wide. They spread their sinewy fingers and their razor-sharp talons glint in the dull light. They are attempting to block your escape.
You are almost upon them when your horse rears up in alarm. The Chagarashi seize this opportunity and leap forward to attack.
-You struggle to control your frightened horse throughout this combat. Its wild and erratic movement makes it hard for you to strike these enemies with precision. Deduct 4 points from your Combat Skill for the duration of this fight.
You may buy any of the items listed above for the price indicated. They are all backpack items that will take up one space in your backpack. You are under no obligation to make a purchase.
-Sheni will buy any items you have noted on your Backpack List (with the exception of Anseng
Shen will buy any items you have noted on your Backpack List (with the exception of Anseng
Shen and Meixiu bid you good night when you leave the shop.
Anseng tells you that his ornate bladed pole arm is called a kirusami. It resembles a short spear with a curved blade fixed at one end. The blade is beautifully engraved and razor sharp. This distinctive weapon says much about Anseng
Anseng tells you that his ornate bladed pole arm is called a
You shape your mouth precisely and shout the Old Kingdom power-word Gloar
. The concussive force of your shout hits the Doomgah in the chest and makes it reel back in the saddle. With difficulty, it clings to the horn of the Kraan saddle with its free hand until the force of your Old Kingdom battle spell subsides. The impact leaves him shaken but undeterred.
You shape your mouth precisely and shout the Old Kingdom power-word
. The concussive force of your shout hits the Doomgah in the chest and makes it reel back in the saddle. With difficulty, it clings to the horn of the Kraan saddle with its free hand until the force of your Old Kingdom battle spell subsides. The impact leaves him shaken but undeterred.
You intone the words of the Old Kingdom spell Speed and cast it on your flagging horse. Instantly, he responds with a dramatic surge of speed that carries you swiftly out of harm
A score of Skarada are shambling along the highway towards you. They took cover in the tall grass when you and your companions rode along this section of the highway two hours ago, and now they are trying to rejoin the survivors of last night
You intone the words of the Old Kingdom Spell
A score of Skarada are shambling along the highway towards you. They took cover in the tall grass when you and your companions rode along this section of the highway two hours ago, and now they are trying to rejoin the survivors of last night
Upon reaching the forest you find that the pines are widely spaced and you are able to maintain your fast pace with relative ease. However, this sparse border also makes it easy for a determined handful of Doomwolves to maintain their pursuit. The rumble of distant thunder and flashes of sheet lightning herald the return of heavy rain. This sudden change in the weather works to your advantage, dampening the scent of your horses and making it harder for the few remaining Doomwolves to track you. At length you come to a denser part of the forest that forces your mounts to slow their pace. It is criss-crossed with several narrow but deep gullies. You work your way around these fissures until you arrive at one that is much longer than the others. It stretches across your path and, at first glance, there appears to be no way to traverse it.
-Over there!
shouts Quang, pointing along the gulley towards the east. He has spotted a dead pine that has fallen across this narrow ravine. Its trunk spans the yawning gap and provides a natural bridge to the far side.
Over there!
shouts Quang, pointing along the gully towards the east. He has spotted a dead pine that has fallen across this narrow ravine. Its trunk spans the yawning gap and provides a natural bridge to the far side.
Quang takes the lead and you follow him in single file as he steers his horse safely across the fallen pine. When you reach the far side, you hear the ominous growl of a Doomwolf close behind. The pack leader and three of its foul brood are in hot pursuit. They have already reached the middle of the tree bridge and will soon be upon you unless you can do something to halt their swift and determined advance.
The Skarada are less than thirty feet away when Lieutenant Quang shouts Fire!
As one, your companions release their straining bowstrings and send a volley of arrows whistling into the advancing enemy. The missiles all hit their mark and three of the four Skarada tumble forwards, mortally wounded. The lieutenant
You are determined not to let it escape. Hurriedly, you urge your horse forward in pursuit of the wounded beast. In less than a minute you run it to ground among the pines. Roaring like a cornered tiger, the Skarad swings around and leaps towards your horse with its axe raised high, slashing the air as it strikes. Terrified by its ferocity, your mount rears up and shies away from the creature
This creature is immune to all forms of psychic attack except Kai-surge. If you possess this Grand Master discipline and wish to use it during this combat, you may only add 3 to your
Deng nods his head and salutes the Lieutenant. He wishes you both good luck before he leaves the quayside and walks away into the teeming rain. You watch him go. He does not look back.
It is best he goes with Bai tomorrow,
says Quang. If they should run into the enemy during their journey, they
It will be hard on them to tell Shen-Yin that she has lost her husband,
you reply.
Yes⦠yes it will,
says Quang, his voice tinged with bitter sadness. Her husband⦠and her sister too. When I spoke with Bai at the stables, he told me that when he searched the farm house next to the barn, he found the bodies of Shen-Yin
Yes
says Quang, his voice tinged with bitter sadness. Her husband
This is so sad,
you reply, I pray that Ishir will give her strength to bear her grievous loss.
Quang walks to the edge of the quay and loosens the rope securing the rowboat.
Perhaps we should wait until the storm abates,
you say.
You unsheathe your Kai Weapon and prepare to take the fight to the snickering Doomgah. You resolve to cut your way through them to the quayside beyond and make a hasty escape into the city. If you allow them to force you along the pier to the cargo ship, they will have the combat advantage for there is nowhere you can escape to once you are on the deck of the ship.
-Coolly, you advance along the pier. You show the vile creatures no fear, but you are stopped dead in your tracks when you hear the loud flapping of wings behind you. You glance over your left shoulder and see a Kraan landing at the end of the pier. Astride its back is a Doomgah, but one that is larger and more muscular than the others. A beast plate of black iron encases its chest and in its hand it carries a large kirusami, an exaggerated mockery of the Chai Imperial Guard weapon. Your Magnakai discipline of Divination informs you that this creature is Klüz, the Doomgah leader. It fixes you with a withering stare and its dull orange eyes flare brightly. It is preparing to dismount from the back of the cawing Kraan.
+Coolly, you advance along the pier. You show the vile creatures no fear, but you are stopped dead in your tracks when you hear the loud flapping of wings behind you. You glance over your left shoulder and see a Kraan landing at the end of the pier. Astride its back is a Doomgah, but one that is larger and more muscular than the others. A beast plate of black iron encases its chest and in its hand it carries a large
Quang and the Watchers skilfully shake off and outdistance their pursuing Doomwolves and together you plunge through the treeline of the Tviloi Forest. At first the pines are widely spaced and you maintain your fast pace with relative ease. However, this sparse border also makes it easy for a determined handful of Doomwolves to maintain their pursuit. The rumble of distant thunder and flashes of sheet lightning herald the return of heavy rain. This sudden change in the weather works to your advantage, dampening the scent of your horses and making it harder for the remaining Doomwolves to track you. At length you come to a denser part of the forest that forces your mounts to slow their pace. It is criss-crossed with several narrow but deep gullies. You work your way around these fissures until you arrive at one that is much longer than the others. It stretches across your path and, at first glance, there appears to be no way to traverse it.
-Over there!
shouts Quang, pointing along the gulley towards the east. He has spotted a dead pine that has fallen across this narrow ravine. Its trunk spans the yawning gap and provides a natural bridge to the far side.
Quang and the Watchers skilfully shake off and outdistance their pursuing Doomwolves and together you plunge through the tree-line of the Tviloi Forest. At first the pines are widely spaced and you maintain your fast pace with relative ease. However, this sparse border also makes it easy for a determined handful of Doomwolves to maintain their pursuit. The rumble of distant thunder and flashes of sheet lightning herald the return of heavy rain. This sudden change in the weather works to your advantage, dampening the scent of your horses and making it harder for the remaining Doomwolves to track you. At length you come to a denser part of the forest that forces your mounts to slow their pace. It is criss-crossed with several narrow but deep gullies. You work your way around these fissures until you arrive at one that is much longer than the others. It stretches across your path and, at first glance, there appears to be no way to traverse it.
+Over there!
shouts Quang, pointing along the gully towards the east. He has spotted a dead pine that has fallen across this narrow ravine. Its trunk spans the yawning gap and provides a natural bridge to the far side.
Quang takes the lead and you follow him in single file as he steers his horse safely across the fallen pine. When you reach the far side, you hear the ominous growl of a Doomwolf close behind. The pack leader and three of its foul brothers are in hot pursuit. They have already reached the middle of the tree bridge and will soon be upon you unless you can do something to halt their swift and determined advance.
You leap from the driver
Daruzhi Street leads to the quayside area of the city. Thunder rumbles all along the quay and the dark waters of the estuary roil and seethe, illuminated and tormented by jagged bolts of lightning. Scarlet flags are flying all along the quayside as a weather warning. It is forbidden to take a boat out when these flags are displayed. Most of the boats are securely moored and under canvas, save for a few foreign trading vessels that are berthed at a long stone pier. These are not under covers, but they are well secured with ropes and chains, their hatches battened down and their sails stowed away in lockers below deck.
-Opposite the stone pier you see a large tavern with a brightly painted façade. Warm amber light pours from the panes of its bow-fronted windows and a sign in the middle of its façade proudly announces its name: The Tkukoma Tavern.
+Opposite the stone pier you see a large tavern with a brightly painted fa
The Chagarashi spins around and crashes down into the damp foliage, its chest ripped open by your deadly blow. You rein in your horse and return to the fallen enemy to make sure it is dead. Quickly dismounting, you rush towards it with your Kai Weapon poised to strike if it shows the slightest sign of life. As soon as you are certain it is dead, you signal to your companions to come forward. There is something wrapped around the creature
We must proceed with caution,
you say. This creature may not have been the only one scouting this area.
You remount and lead the others through the treeline in single file, with all eyes peeled for the slightest movement among the pines and foliage ahead.
+You remount and lead the others through the tree-line in single file, with all eyes peeled for the slightest movement among the pines and foliage ahead.
Let
Quang and the Watchers rush to their horses. Rapidly, you mount your horse and spur him towards the open doors. You are halfway across the barn when two Chagarashi appear in the open doorway and throw their arms wide. They spread their sinewy fingers and their razor-sharp talons glint in the dull light. They are attempting to block your escape.
You are almost upon them when your horse rears up in fright. The Chagarashi seize this opportunity and leap forward to attack.
-You struggle to control your terrified horse throughout this combat. Its wild and erratic movement makes it hard for you to strike these enemies with precision. Deduct 4 points from your Combat Skill for the duration of this fight.
The sergeant salutes his senior officer and, without any murmur of dissent, he signals to his men to leave the blockhouse. He follows as they file out of the chamber and pauses only to close the stout door behind him.
I
Captain Voushan formally introduces himself and tells you what has happened in Pensei over the past few days.
-An attack was launched upon Fort Jhung, two days ago, by Bhanarian forces and a horde of Agarashi commanded by the dark wizard they call Zashnor. It was destroyed in a blizzard of lightning and crumbled to the ground. None of the fort
Captain Voushan bids you follow him to the keep of the Imperial Palace where Prince Lao Tin resides. You leave the blockhouse in his company and cross a parade ground on your way to the doors of the keep. On one side of the parade ground, illuminated by a circle of guttering torches, two men in torn clothing kneel in the pouring rain with their heads bowed and their hands tied behind their backs. Behind them stand two Imperial Guardsmen at attention with their kirusamis held diagonally across their chests.
+An attack was launched upon Fort Jhung, two days ago, by Bhanarian forces and a horde of Agarashi commanded by the dark wizard they call Zashnor. It was destroyed in a blizzard of lightning and crumbled to the ground. None of the fort
Captain Voushan bids you follow him to the keep of the Imperial Palace where Prince Lao Tin resides. You leave the blockhouse in his company and cross a parade ground on your way to the doors of the keep. On one side of the parade ground, illuminated by a circle of guttering torches, two men in torn clothing kneel in the pouring rain with their heads bowed and their hands tied behind their backs. Behind them stand two Imperial Guardsmen at attention with their
You raise and extend your right arm and point your fingers at the Claw of Naar. You intone the words of the Brotherhood spell Lightning Hand and feel a tingle of power run the length of your arm and explode with a blinding flash from your fingertips. A bolt of pure energy streaks toward the Claw and strikes the twisted shaft, sending it skittering away across the deck beyond Zashnor
You raise and extend your right arm and point your fingers at the Claw of Naar. You intone the words of the Brotherhood Spell
The robed figure jumps from the saddle to the deck of the ship. As soon as he is clear, the Kraan beats its leathery wings and ascends into the storm clouds overhead. With difficulty, the bald gaunt-faced man hobbles across the foredeck and descends the steps to the main deck. The smoking orb in his hand transforms into a long black staff as he fixes you with his cold dead eyes.
-I have returned, Kai wretch! I come to fulfill my vow. Vengeance shall be mine!
I have returned, Kai wretch! I come to fulfil my vow. Vengeance shall be mine!
A spike of freezing fear stabs at your heart like an icy dagger. In a moment of pure horror, you recognize this man. It is Xaol the Necromancer. He has kept his dying vow to return from beyond the grave and enact his revenge on you. You sense that he has been reconstructed by evil sorcery since you sliced him in two in Gazad Helkona . His crippled yet functioning body is chilling testimony to the power of Nadziran Zashnor.
He opens wide his rotting mouth to reveal an array of putrid needle-sharp teeth. A deafening sound emerges from this ghastly maw, a cry far louder than the noise of the thundering storm. The force of this unholy roar drags you to your knees and fills your head with blinding pain.
The moment you take the satchel from the Khea-khan
The moment you take the satchel from the Khea-khan
Whenever you are affected by the debilitating power of the Eye of Agarash, you may use Laumspur to help you recover. Normally, a healing potion of Laumspur restores 4
Your final fatal blow shatters the chest of the Ice Dragon Zashnor. It implodes with a deafening noise, like the simultaneous smashing of a thousand crystal chandeliers. The frosty wings and limbs become detached as the torso disintegrates upon the deck, and rapidly they melt into a milky cloud that engulfs the broken remains. For a few moments this opaque ball of mist churns and seethes until it loses the last fragments of its energy and is whipped away on the winds of the storm.
-The Imperial Zlanbeast circles above the deck of the Silver Virixe, cawing incessantly. When it detects that its master has been destroyed, it emits a despairing shriek before flying off in a westerly direction, across to the far side of the Tkukoma Estuary and beyond.
+The Imperial Zlanbeast circles above the deck of the Silver Virixe, cawing incessantly. When it detects that its master has been destroyed, it emits a despairing shriek before flying off in a westerly direction, across to the far side of the Tkukoma Estuary and beyond.
Lying at your feet is the grey robed form of Zashnor, torn and lifeless. You draw back the hood of its robe and reveal its true form. Its distorted goat-like skull is semi-transparent allowing you to see its brain which is as dark as night. Two small straight horns protrude from its forehead and its eye sockets appear unnaturally black, as if they are two holes through which you can see into another plain of existence. It is exceedingly rare to look upon a Nadziran in its true form. You recall something that Supreme Master Lone Wolf told you about the Nadziranim, that when they are destroyed they are destroyed utterly; nothing at all remains of their bodies or spirit. Zashnor was clearly an exceptional Nadziran. There are rumours that a select few Nadziranim have returned to Magnamund by the grace of Naar and by life-draining necromantic rituals after having seemingly been destroyed. Mindful of this, you resolve that Zashnor shall never join their ranks.
Driven by an overwhelming instinct, you raise your Kai Weapon above your head and bring it crashing down upon the Nadziran
The thunder and lightning cease abruptly and the violent storm begins to abate. The winds die down and the torrential rain recedes until it becomes little more than light drizzle. Calm is slowly returning to storm ravaged Chai as the power of Zashnor relinquishes its foul grip on nature. After so many days of raging turmoil, the natural balance of the elements is finally being restored.
@@ -4827,10 +4918,10 @@Shousan hurries away to prepare your food and you try to relax after the rigours of your long ride. The greenish ale helps. It is called Chai-cheer and it is a brew famous throughout Magnamund. It is deliciously malty and wonderfully refreshing. Quang tells you that he chose his words carefully when speaking to the innkeeper. To have said nothing would have stoked his fears and caused unnecessary anxiety among the villagers. He is in no doubt that Soushan will not keep what he has been told to himself for very long.
+Shousun hurries away to prepare your food and you try to relax after the rigours of your long ride. The greenish ale helps. It is called Chai-cheer and it is a brew famous throughout Magnamund. It is deliciously malty and wonderfully refreshing. Quang tells you that he chose his words carefully when speaking to the innkeeper. To have said nothing would have stoked his fears and caused unnecessary anxiety among the villagers. He is in no doubt that Shousun will not keep what he has been told to himself for very long.
Soon the innkeeper returns with your meals, four plates stacked high with slices of grilled pork and copious roasted potatoes. He places the food on the table and hands you each a key to your rooms on the floor above. You eat your food in silence and then retire, thankful to be out of the rain and in warm comfortable beds on this bleak and stormy night.
You fall asleep with ease but you do not rest easily. You are haunted by dreams filled with sinister shadowy images and premonitions of impending loss. Thrice you awaken during the night, drenched in cold sweat, and each time you do you find it hard to go back to sleep. When you wake a fourth time, an hour before dawn, you decide to leave your bed and sit by the window to await the coming light of day. Due to your poor night
Quang, Bai and Deng are waiting for you when you descend the stairs to the taproom below. Shousun
Quang, Bai and Deng are waiting for you when you descend the stairs to the taproom below. Shousun
Chao is in the market square when you arrive there, seated astride his horse. There is no need to ask him if he enjoyed his visit home; the smile on his face says it all. Quang tells you that it is a thirty mile ride from here to Valus and he wants to reach the town by late afternoon. The Watchers nod in agreement and together you set off along the highway heading east.
You step away from Mooldor
You step away from Mooldor
A loathsome Kraan emerges from the churning black clouds and swoops down to hover a few feet above the ship
With consummate skill, simultaneously you unshoulder your bow and draw an arrow from your quiver. Upon the instant that the feathered flights and the taut drawstring touch your pursed lips, you let slip the string and your arrow flies straight and true towards the creature
With consummate skill, simultaneously you unshoulder your bow and draw an arrow from your quiver. Upon the instant that the feathered flights and the taut drawstring touch your pursed lips, you let slip the string and your arrow flies straight and true towards the creature
You are in combat with 5 undead Nagah Ghouls. Lieutenant Quang fights fiercely by your side, and the three Watchers engage those ghouls that attempt to outflank you.
Youi may add 6 points to your
You may add 6 points to your
As the nausea subsides, you turn your attention to the Watchers who have all sustained wounds during the combat. By the use of your Magnakai Curing discipline, you are able to stop their bleeding and help them quickly to recover. You sense that you must now leave this location for there are more Nagah Ghouls in the vicinity and they are heading for the tavern garden, drawn by the foul smell of the spilt blood of their slain brethren. Hurriedly, you all remount your horses and press on with your journey to Vabou without further delay.
Mount up! Let
Quang and the Watchers leave their locations and race to their horses. Rapidly, you mount your horse and spur him towards the open doors. You are halfway across the barn when two Chagarashi appear in the open doorway and throw their arms wide. They spread their sinewy fingers and their razor-sharp talons glint in the dull light. They are attempting to block your escape.
You are almost upon them when your horse rears up in alarm. The Chagarashi seize this opportunity and leap forward to attack.
-You struggle to control your frightened horse throughout this combat. Its wild and erratic movement makes it hard for you to strike these enemies with precision. Deduct 4 points from your
You shape your mouth in readiness to utter the Old Kingdom power-word: Gloar! The force of your spell word hits the grouped Nagah Ghouls and sends them tumbling backwards to the ground.
+You shape your mouth in readiness to utter the Old Kingdom power-word:
Charge!
shouts Lieutenant Quang, and his stirring command galvanises the Watchers into action. Anxious to seize the advantage your power-word has provided, all five of you attack the fallen Nagah Ghouls before they can get back on their feet.
You spur your horse to the front of the wagon team and your stomach churns when you see what has frightened them. On the highway ahead, three ravenous long-limbed monstrosities with scaly green hides and dripping fangs are consuming the shredded remains of a luckless traveller and his horse. It is a horrific sight to behold.
-Suddenly you realise that you are not being subjected to an audio attack. The noise that fills your head is the effect of a powerful psychic assault on your senses. You call upon your advanced discipline to absorb and transform the hostile psychic energy into a positive physical effect: restore 3
Howling with frustration that its psychic attack has not harmed you, the ghoulish figure leaps forwards brandishing his black staff. In the blink of an eye, the staff transforms into a hissing serpent. It is disturbingly similar to the snake that emerged from the mouth of undead Anseng. You reach to your weapon and pull back as the serpent
Xaol is a powerful undead adversary. If your chosen weapon provides you with a bonus when used in a fight against an undead foe, be sure to calculate and add the bonus to your Combat Skill before this battle begins. If you possess the Kai Weapon Spawnsmite
or Valiance
you may add the bonus that you gain from its unique properties during this combat.
When the guard sees that you are carrying a kirusami, his attitude changes dramatically.
+When the guard sees that you are carrying a
My Lord,
he says, with respect. I had no idea you are an Imperial Guardsman. Why did you not tell me this? It would have spared you all this inconvenience.
It was no inconvenience, soldier,
you reply. I am conducting a test to see if you are carrying out your duties to the full. You have availed yourself well. I am impressed. I will commend your thoroughness to your commanding officer when I make my report.
The guard is impressed and delighted. Such a commendation will surely lead to the promotion he has coveted for so long. A new-found pride wells up inside him. He snaps to attention and salutes you. You return his salute and briskly he steps aside to allow you to enter the south gate.
@@ -5110,7 +5201,7 @@Using your Grand Master discipline of Assimilance, you effect a striking change to your appearance. Your facial features change so that you now resemble a typical Chai peasant. The rangers approach and gallop past you without paying you any undue attention.
-A few miles on, you see a large group of refugees assembled around a stone shrine dedicated to Goddess Ishir. They are kneeling in communal prayer, oblivious to the mud and the teeming rain. Your Sixth Sense detects an invisible aura of goodness surrounding the shrine. You bring your horse to a halt at the edge of the circle of devout worshipers and you feel a sensation of warmth and calmness following through you: restore 1
A few miles on, you see a large group of refugees assembled around a stone shrine dedicated to Goddess Ishir. They are kneeling in communal prayer, oblivious to the mud and the teeming rain. Your Sixth Sense detects an invisible aura of goodness surrounding the shrine. You bring your horse to a halt at the edge of the circle of devout worshippers and you feel a sensation of warmth and calmness following through you: restore 1
Pensei appears in view shortly before dusk. A night curfew has been imposed and you arrive at the south gate of the city just in time to enter before the heavy portal is chained shut until dawn tomorrow. You meet with no challenge from the guards at the gate; they are too busy dealing with a last rush of refugees who are desperate to leave Pensei before the gate is locked and the curfew begins.
Inside the south gate there is a large square ringed by shops and dwellings. You must make your way to the Imperial Palace, but it has been a long time since you last set foot in this ancient capital and you are not sure which avenue will lead you there. All you can remember is that the palace occupies the north-eastern precinct of the city.
Drawing upon your Animal Mastery discipline, you focus on the distant Chagarashi and command it to fall asleep. The creature slows its pace but it does not drop to the ground as you were expecting it to. Your Sixth Sense detects that this creature is unusually resistant to your psychic command. It shakes its head and emits a shriek of frustration before turning its feral gaze in your direction. On seeing you and your party it reacts in an instant. Swiftly, it turns about and lopes away through the trees in the direction of the roadblock.
I must stop it getting away,
you shout to your companions. If it makes it to the roadblock, we
You spur your horse to the gallop and charge at the fleeing Chagarashi. The creature panics and collides face first with a tree trunk in its desperation to evade your swift and sudden approach. Reeling from the impact with the tree, drunkenly it turns to face you as you bear down on it. You unsheathe your Kai Weapon and raise it in readiness to strike the beast a killing blow.
-Due to the speed of your attack, you can only engage in one round of combat with this enemy before the momentum of your charging horse carries you past it.
Honos and Zautro dash from the kitchen door and rush ahead of you along the alleyway to provide you with some cover from the leathery black archers in the passage beyond. Lord Honos casts a brace of flaming bolts that incinerate the nearest two enemies and transforms them to glowing heaps of ash. Herbwarden Zautro hurls a green glass sphere that smashes in the midst of the remaining four and ensnares them in rapidly growing tangle of barbed briars. They accompany you to the end of the alley and scour the adjoining passageway to check if the coast is clear.
Go, Grand Master,
says Zautro, Go now, and may Kai and Ishir go with you!
Mindful of Captain Jian Tzu
Mindful of Captain Jian Tzu
Upon the instant you defeat the Spectral Entity, its ghostly body and the dome of dark energy both vanish in the blink of an eye. Anseng regains his ability to speak, but the shock of the supernatural encounter leaves him agitated and wary. You sense that the presence of evil that has haunted you since entering this hilly and wooded area has now gone. Tranquility has returned to this region. Anseng and the horse team are reassured by this welcome return to normality and you resume your journey to Vabou with all haste.
+Upon the instant you defeat the Spectral Entity, its ghostly body and the dome of dark energy both vanish in the blink of an eye. Anseng regains his ability to speak, but the shock of the supernatural encounter leaves him agitated and wary. You sense that the presence of evil that has haunted you since entering this hilly and wooded area has now gone. Tranquillity has returned to this region. Anseng and the horse team are reassured by this welcome return to normality and you resume your journey to Vabou with all haste.
Night falls long before you reach the town. The way ahead is illuminated by bright moonlight that pours through a break in the leaden clouds and is reflected in the puddles that cover the waterlogged highway. You offer up a silent prayer of thanks to Goddess Ishir for this blessing she has bestowed upon you and your companions, for it enables the horse team to follow the highway across the Huzang Plain with little difficulty.
-It is an hour before midnight when you see the lights of Vabou in the middle distance. This large town is surrounded by a wooden palisade, lending it a fort-like appearance. Upon reaching the town
It is an hour before midnight when you see the lights of Vabou in the middle distance. This large town is surrounded by a wooden palisade, lending it a fort-like appearance. Upon reaching the town
Despite the late hour, the Golden Dragon is still open for business. The rains have returned and Anseng beckons you to follow as he climbs the wide stone steps from the street to the inn
The instant you slay Anseng, his cadaverous body is consumed by a ball of guttering blue flames. Hungrily they feed on his remains and the ball becomes larger, forcing you to retreat from its expanding power for fear of being drawn into the raging core. Abruptly, the ball transforms into a column of intense blue light that rapidly ascends into the storm clouds overhead. And then it is gone, leaving behind a heap of cold ashes on the muddy ground. Lying atop this mound is Anseng
Your Sixth Sense tells you that the aura of evil that surrounded Anseng and his weapon has now vanished. You kneel beside the ashes and place your hand upon the shaft of the kirusami. It feels cool to the touch. Your Kai senses detect that some of its fell power still lingers in the blade, but it is insufficient to cause you harm.
-The instant you slay Anseng, his cadaverous body is consumed by a ball of guttering blue flames. Hungrily they feed on his remains and the ball becomes larger, forcing you to retreat from its expanding power for fear of being drawn into the raging core. Abruptly, the ball transforms into a column of intense blue light that rapidly ascends into the storm clouds overhead. And then it is gone, leaving behind a heap of cold ashes on the muddy ground. Lying atop this mound is Anseng
Your Sixth Sense tells you that the aura of evil that surrounded Anseng and his weapon has now vanished. You kneel beside the ashes and place your hand upon the shaft of the
You ride ten miles through the gentle hills before turning east and heading back across the open grassland to the highway. You rejoin it near a place where a large group of refugees are assembled around a stone shrine dedicated to Goddess Ishir. They are kneeling in communal prayer, oblivious to the mud and the teeming rain. Your Sixth Sense detects an invisible aura of goodness surrounding the shrine. You bring your horse to a halt at the edge of the circle of devout worshipers and you feel a sensation of warmth and calmness following through you: restore 1
You ride ten miles through the gentle hills before turning east and heading back across the open grassland to the highway. You rejoin it near a place where a large group of refugees are assembled around a stone shrine dedicated to Goddess Ishir. They are kneeling in communal prayer, oblivious to the mud and the teeming rain. Your Sixth Sense detects an invisible aura of goodness surrounding the shrine. You bring your horse to a halt at the edge of the circle of devout worshippers and you feel a sensation of warmth and calmness following through you: restore 1
Pensei appears in view shortly before dusk. A night curfew has been imposed and you arrive at the south gate of the city just in time to enter before the heavy portal is chained shut until dawn tomorrow. You meet with no challenge from the guards at the gate; they are too busy dealing with a last rush of refugees who are desperate to leave Pensei before the gate is locked and the curfew begins.
Inside the south gate there is a large square ringed by shops and dwellings. You must make your way to the Imperial Palace, but it has been a long time since you last set foot in this ancient capital and you are not sure which avenue will lead you there. All you can remember is that the palace occupies the north-eastern precinct of the city.
The Doomgah leader raises its mighty kirusami and spouts of cracking blue flame erupt along the length of its razor sharp blade. It opens its maw to reveal a score of dagger-like fangs and a thin black tongue that writhes between them.
-Anseng
The Doomgah leader raises its mighty
Anseng
Weapons:
(Timeline of Notable Events in Magnamund) Changed Zha-zing
to Zha-zhing
. Changed Shararak
to Shasarak
. Changed MS 5101 Kalte, Sommerlund and Durenor
to MS 5101 Kalte, Sommerlund, and Durenor
. Changed leveled
to levelled
.
(1) Replaced woolen
with woollen
. Changed 6th
to sixth
. Changed pre-dawn
to predawn
.
(3) Replaced potholed
with pot-holed
.
(13) Changed 50ft
to 50 ft.
. Changed Weaponshop
to Weapon Shop
(cf. Section 221).
(15) Changed 1/6th
to
and multiple occurrences of 5/6ths
to
.
(17) Replaced both occurrences of treeline
with tree-line
.
(19) Replaced woodman
with woodsman
.
(30) Replaced woodman
with woodsman
.
(31) Replaced gulley
with gully
.
(33) Changed 1/6th
to
and multiple occurrences of 5/6ths
to
.
(45) Replaced 50ft
with 50 ft.
.
(46) Replaced it is has been
with it has been
.
(49) Replaced 4th
with fourth
. Replaced 3rd
with third
.
(49) Replaced all instances of 7th
with seventh
. Replaced 8th
with eighth
.
(54) Replaced Queng
with Quang
.
(55) Replaced birdsong
with bird song
.
(58) Replaced traveling
with travelling
.
(62) Added a quotation mark at the end of the paragraph starting with When he was a young boy,
.
(79) Added a quotation mark at the end of the phrase Steady, my Lord,
.
(66) Replaced 4th round
with fourth round
.
(63) Replaced worshiped
with worshipped
.
(73) Replaced 50ft length
with 50 ft. length
.
(78) Replaced Old Kingdom spell
with Old Kingdom Spell
.
(79) Added a quotation mark at the end of the phrase Steady, my Lord,
. Replaced treeline
with tree-line
.
(87) Added a quotation mark at the end of the phrase Hah!
and replaced Snorts
with snorts
.
(88) Replaced treeline
with tree-line
.
(92) Replaced gulley
with gully
.
(96) Replaced Brotherhood spell
with Brotherhood Spell
.
(98) Replaced traveling
with travelling
.
(99) Replaced treeline
with tree-line
.
(100) Replaced 7th round
with seventh round
.
(108) Replaced treeline
with tree-line
.
(114) Placed Madam Dai-ziathree minutes
. Added a period to the end of the last paragraph.
(123) Added a quotation mark at the end of the phrase Steady, my Lord,
.
(238) Added a quotation mark at the end of the phrase Grand Master,
.
(131) Replaced 2nd round
with second round
.
(134) Replaced gulley
with gully
.
(137) Replaced both occurrences of treeline
with tree-line
.
(142) Replaced treeline
with tree-line
.
(146) Replaced distain
with disdain
.
(151) Replaced actives
with activates
.
(157) Replaced ENDRANCE
with
.
(167) Replaced Brotherhood spell
with Brotherhood Spell
.
(170) Replaced Brotherhood spell
with Brotherhood Spell
.
(171) Replaced 50ft length
with 50 ft. length
.
(172) Changed 1/6th
to
and multiple occurrences of 5/6ths
to
.
(181) Replaced treeline
with tree-line
. Replaced gulley
with gully
.
(194) Replaced ENDRANCE
with
.
(198) Replaced both occurrences of treeline
with tree-line
.
(208) Changed Weaponshop
to Weapon Shop
(cf. Section 221).
(220) Replaced treeline
with tree-line
.
(238) Added a quotation mark at the end of the phrase Grand Master,
. Replaced Silver Virixe
with Silver Virixe
.
(240) Replaced ENDURANE
with
.
(242) Replaced Chagarashi Scouts (x2)
with 2 Chagarashi Scouts
.
(241) Added a quotation mark at the end of the phrase Thank you very much,
.
(245) Replaced Sheni
with Shen
. Replaced 50ft length
with 50 ft. length
.
(252) Replaced Old Kingdom spell
with Old Kingdom Spell
. Replaced treeline
with tree-line
. Replaced gulley
with gully
.
(264) Replaced treeline
with tree-line
. Replaced gulley
with gully
.
(265) Replaced 4th round
with fourth round
.
(267) Replaced treeline
with tree-line
.
(268) Replaced Chagarashi Scouts (x2)
with 2 Chagarashi Scouts
.
(270) Replaced Zasnhor
with Zashnor
.
(271) Replaced Brotherhood spell
with Brotherhood Spell
.
(273) Replaced fulfill
with fulfil
.
(275) Replaced it is has been
with it has been
.
(299) Replaced Meal.)You
with Meal.) You
. Replaced Shousan
with Shousun
. Replaced Soushan
with Shousun
.
(304) Replaced Youi
with You
.
(307) Replaced Chagarashi Scouts (x2)
with 2 Chagarashi Scouts
.
(314) Added a quotation mark at the end of the paragraph starting with When he was a young boy,
.
(318) Replaced Lone Wolf
with Lone Wolf
.
(322) Replaced worshipers
with worshippers
.
(324) Replaced ENDRANCE
with
.
(330) Replaced Tranquility
with Tranquillity
.
(337) Replaced worshipers
with worshippers
.