<data>
<p>You have survived the first volley but your ordeal is far from over. As soon as the front rank hurl their spears they retreat to let those behind them come forward to take their places at the rim of the pit. With cool defiance you stare back at this new rank of mutants. This time you count more than thirty spears held ready to be hurled at you upon Nza<ch.apos/>pok<ch.apos/>s command, far more than you can hope to avoid at once, even with the aid of magic. Yet, despite the overwhelming odds, you refuse to show this loathsome spawn any sign of weakness or despair.</p>
<p>You offer up a silent prayer to the God Kai to protect you, and then suddenly you recall part of the script of the Tome of Darkness that told of a secret name which can bind Nza<ch.apos/>pok when spoken aloud. This name could be the key to your survival, yet you have no time left to retrieve the book from your backpack. If you are to use this secret name you must try to recall it from memory.</p>
- <choice idref="sect171">If you think that Nza<ch.apos/>pok<ch.apos/>s secret name is Hulka, <link-text>turn to 171</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect105">If you think that the name is Khula, <link-text>turn to 105</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect56">If you think that the name is Lukha, <link-text>turn to 56</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect171">If you think that Nza<ch.apos/>pok<ch.apos/>s secret name is <quote>Hulka</quote>, <link-text>turn to 171</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect105">If you think that the name is <quote>Khula</quote>, <link-text>turn to 105</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect56">If you think that the name is <quote>Lukha</quote>, <link-text>turn to 56</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>Pick a number from the <a idref="random">Random Number Table</a> (0=10). The number you have picked is equal to the number of <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points you have lost as a result of your wounds. If you possess Deliverance, you may reduce this total by 1 point.</p>
<p>Aware now that the Lord of Decay seated on the right-hand throne is Jantoor, you stagger to your feet and shout out his secret name. Immediately the creature becomes immobile. The sight of his frozen form, and the sudden cessation of mind contact, throws his brother-lord into a state of panic and confusion. In a blind rage he utters a curse and, to your horror, you see the maggot swarm emerge from the shadowy recesses of the hall. As the tide of larvae writhe towards you they begin to swell grotesquely in size.</p>
<p>If you are to save yourself from this monstrous horde you must quickly use the secret name of the remaining K<ch.uuml/>nae. But there is no time to consult the Tome of Darkness<ch.emdash/>you must try to recall the name from memory.</p>
- <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is Rhunotar, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is Rhunadan, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is Rhunaguin, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunotar</quote>, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunadan</quote>, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunaguin</quote>, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>Successfully you dodge the onrushing lance of flame and it speeds across the chamber to smash harmlessly against the shimmering green metal of the hall<ch.apos/>s grand portal.</p>
<p>Aware now that the Lord of Decay seated on the right-hand throne is Jantoor, you shout out his secret name. Immediately the creature becomes immobile. The sight of his frozen form, and the sudden cessation of mind contact, throws his brother-lord into a state of panic and confusion. In a blind rage he utters a curse and, to your horror, you see the maggot swarm emerge from the shadowy recesses of the hall. As the larvae writhe towards you they begin to swell grotesquely in size.</p>
<p>If you are to save yourself from this monstrous horde you must quickly use the secret name of the remaining K<ch.uuml/>nae. But there is no time to consult the Tome of Darkness you must try to recall the name from memory.</p>
- <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is Rhunotar, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is Rhunadan, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is Rhunaguin, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunotar</quote>, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunadan</quote>, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunaguin</quote>, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>You hit out at the onrushing column of fire and it connects with the flat of your magical blade. There is a terrific flash of blinding golden light and you feel an electrifying jolt that sets every nerve in your body jangling. You follow through with your blow and send the K<ch.uuml/>nae flame rebounding from your blade to slam into the far wall where it dissipates harmlessly across its surface.</p>
<p>Aware now that the Lord of Decay seated on the right-hand throne is Jantoor, you shout his secret name and immediately the creature becomes immobile. The sight of his frozen form, and the sudden cessation of mind contact, throws his brother-lord into a state of panic and confusion. In a blind rage he utters a curse and, to your horror, you see the maggot swarm emerge from the shadowy recesses of the hall. As the tide of larvae writhe towards you they begin to swell grotesquely in size.</p>
<p>If you are to save yourself from this monstrous horde you must quickly use the secret name of the remaining K<ch.uuml/>nae. But there is no time to consult the Tome of Darkness<ch.emdash/>you must try to recall the name from memory.</p>
- <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is Rhunotar, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is Rhunadan, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is Rhunaguin, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunotar</quote>, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunadan</quote>, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunaguin</quote>, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>The seven riders keep their distance, yet they pass close enough to satisfy their curiosity before they turn and speed away into the void. As you watch them disappear, a deep sense of unease grips you. You are relieved to have avoided a confrontation yet you sense that their departure is but a temporary reprieve; they may yet return in greater numbers.</p>
<p>Shortly after, you witness several objects that appear like comets encircling a cluster of distant stars. As you glide towards these stars the comets break away from their orbit and come soaring to meet you, racing with each other to reach you first. A collision looks imminent, but your mounting fears are soon forgotten when the surfaces of these shooting stars undergo a stunning transformation. Their leading surfaces take on the semblance of human faces.</p>
- <choice idref="sect127">If you have ever been to the city of Torgar in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 127</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect127">If you have ever been to the city of Torgar in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 127</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect91">If you have never visited this city, <link-text>turn to 91</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>You draw upon your Grand Mastery to supply a burst of life-saving vitality (restore 20 <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points). As this wave of Kai energy surges through your battered body, you find the strength to scramble to your feet and rush towards the glowing portal. You leap through it just as the retracting coil of rock reaches the mouth of the dragon-gate, and the crash of stone echoes in your ears as you fall headlong through the corridor of swirling flame that lies beyond this mysterious portal. Your Platinum Amulet protects you from the fierce conflagration, and it also feeds you with a steady warming stream of energy which radiates from the centre of your body outwards to soothe your aching limbs.</p>
<p>Pick a number from the <a idref="random">Random Number Table</a> (0<ch.endash/>10). Now double the number you have picked. This total equals the number of <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points you may restore as a result of the healing effects of the Platinum Amulet (remember your <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> score cannot exceed the total with which you began this adventure).</p>
<p>After a short time the swirling corridor of flame gradually darkens and you feel the speed of your fall begin to decrease. Then, in a breathtaking instant, your feet slam into hot cindery ground and you crash forwards to land in a tangled heap.</p>
- <choice idref="sect125">If you have ever visited the Palmyrion town of Scade in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 125</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect125">If you have ever visited the Palmyrion town of Scade in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 125</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect215">If you have never visited this town, <link-text>turn to 215</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>Through the criss-crossed ropes of your net prison you see the surrounding flock. They are swooping and cawing delightedly, like successful hunters returning home with their captured prey. Above, you can make out the claws and leathery black bellies of the three winged creatures that are hoisting you ever higher into the rainswept clouds. You are tempted to use your kai powers to break free and slay your abductors, but a glance below at the rapidly receding ground is enough to dissuade you, at least for now.</p>
<p>For more than an hour the flock transports you northwards through sickly green skies, hundreds of feet above a ceiling of storm clouds. Gradually this cloud cover thins until you are able to note that the swamp has given way to a tropical jungle which is thinly veiled by a swirling mist. A river snakes through this dense foliage, winding its way towards a coastline on the horizon. As you approach the distant sea, the river becomes wider and flows into a delta. Your captors follow the river and begin a slow descent to an islet on the eastern side of the delta, towards an area near its seaward shore where the jungle has been hacked down to make room for a primitive settlement.</p>
<p>As the flock encircles the settlement prior to landing, you are able to make out a cluster of strange-looking huts, seemingly constructed from the hides of reptiles and the bones of huge fish. In the middle of these huts there is an expanse of cleared ground and a large circular pit. The shrieks of the fliers draws an expectant crowd, a score of creatures of two distinctly different species. From the air they resemble gigantic ants and deformed, pale-skinned humanoids.</p>
- <choice idref="sect97">If you have ever visited the icy realm of Ixia in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 97</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect97">If you have ever visited the icy realm of Ixia in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 97</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect301">If you have not, <link-text>turn to 301</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>With cool defiance you stare back at the ghoulish mutant horde. You count more than thirty spears raised and ready to be hurled at you upon Nza<ch.apos/>pok<ch.apos/>s command, far more than you can hope to dodge at once, yet still you refuse to show him and his loathsome spawn any sign of weakness. Then, in the face of imminent death, you suddenly recall part of the script of the Tome of Darkness that told of a secret name which can bind Nza<ch.apos/>pok when spoken aloud. This name could be the key to your survival, yet you have no time left to retrieve the book from your backpack. If you are to use this secret name you must try to recall it from memory.</p>
- <choice idref="sect171">If you think that Nza<ch.apos/>pok<ch.apos/>s secret name is Hulka, <link-text>turn to 171</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect105">If you think that the name is Khula, <link-text>turn to 105</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect56">If you think that the name is Lukha, <link-text>turn to 56</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect171">If you think that Nza<ch.apos/>pok<ch.apos/>s secret name is <quote>Hulka</quote>, <link-text>turn to 171</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect105">If you think that the name is <quote>Khula</quote>, <link-text>turn to 105</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect56">If you think that the name is <quote>Lukha</quote>, <link-text>turn to 56</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>Pick a number from the <a idref="random">Random Number Table</a> (0=10). The number you have picked is equal to the number of <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points you have lost as a result of your wounds. If you possess Deliverance, you may reduce this total by 1 point.</p>
<p>Aware now that the Lord of Decay seated on the right-hand throne is Jantoor, you stagger to your feet and shout his secret name. Immediately the creature becomes immobile. The sight of his frozen form, and the sudden cessation of mind contact, throws his brother-lord into a state of panic and confusion. In a blind rage he utters a curse and, to your horror, you see the maggot swarm emerge from the shadowy recesses of the hall. As the larvae writhe towards you they begin to swell grotesquely in size.</p>
<p>If you are to save yourself from this monstrous horde you must quickly use the secret name of the remaining K<ch.uuml/>nae. But there is no time to consult the Tome of Darkness<ch.emdash/>you must try to recall the name from memory.</p>
- <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is Rhunotar, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is Rhunadan, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is Rhunaguin, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunotar</quote>, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunadan</quote>, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunaguin</quote>, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>Upon reaching the crater you are relieved to discover that its steep sides are covered with hardened lava, dusted with loose volcanic ash. You climb towards the rim, pausing halfway to take cover from the searing hot winds in the lee of a jagged boulder. While you are sheltering here, you take the opportunity to consult the Tome of Darkness given to you by Lord Rimoah. Its metallic pages appear as blank as when you first looked through them, but then you discover a page that is now very different. Bold black text stands out from a page that glimmers like mirrored steel. Using your Magnakai Discipline of pathsmanship, you are able to decipher much of the arcane script which fills this page.</p>
<p>The text tells of a creature called Huan<ch.apos/>zhor the Dragonlord, and of his throne of power which is located within <quote>a nest of fire atop the Tree of the Wyrm</quote>. It lists the many acts of Evil perpetrated by Huan<ch.apos/>zhor during his long existence, for which he has been generously rewarded by Naar; the Dark God has granted him this fiery domain within the Plane of Darkness. It continues at length to describe the creatures who are enslaved to him, which include the Lavas, the Zarthryn, and the Chugotha. But most interestingly it reveals his secret name<ch.emdash/><quote>Zheva</quote><ch.emdash/>which can be used to bind him, and tells of a magical item<ch.emdash/>the Scarab of the Wingless Dragon<ch.emdash/>which can be found in the <quote>nest of fire</quote> and which can be used to effect an escape from his realm.</p>
<p>You close the tome and slip it back into your pack. From your makeshift shelter you command a view over the surrounding landscape in which there is nothing that remotely resembles a nest or a tree. All you are able to discern with any clarity is the blazing firestorm which is now sweeping across this charred land. Fearful of what could befall you when the firestorm reaches this exposed flank of the crater, you continue your climb and seek cover within the crater itself.</p>
- <choice idref="sect194">If you have ever visited the city of Tahou in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 194</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect194">If you have ever visited the city of Tahou in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 194</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect339">If you have never visited this city, <link-text>turn to 339</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>As you wait for the rain to abate, you inspect the inside of the hollow and the pendulous insect hive. Despite the seemingly haphazard lie of the stone slabs, the rain does not penetrate into the interior and the inside of the hollow stays remarkably dry. On the ground lies a thick carpet of soft leathery leaves. They are spattered with a yellow, honey-like, substance which is oozing from the base of the hive. It smells sweet but your Kai senses warn you not to taste any: it is poisonous. (If you wish to take some of this, record it on your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a> as Muntaag Honey. You can wrap it in a leaf and store it as a Backpack Item.)</p>
<p>You are busy cleaning the acidic rain from your equipment with a handful of leaves when suddenly your sixth sense warns you of approaching danger. You peer out through a crack in the stones and catch sight of a flock of bat-winged creatures. They are swooping down from out of the rainy sky towards your hiding place.</p>
- <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect252">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 252</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>The column of fire speeds across the hall and roars through the body of your double before impacting harmlessly against the surface of the closed portal. Aware now that the Lord of Decay seated on the right-hand throne is Jantoor, you shout his secret name and immediately the creature becomes immobile. The sight of his frozen form, and the sudden cessation of mind contact, throws his brother-lord into a state of panic and confusion. In a blind rage he utters a curse and, to your horror, you see the maggot swarm emerge from the shadowy recesses of the hall. As the larvae writhe towards you they begin to swell grotesquely in size.</p>
<p>If you are to save yourself from this monstrous horde you must quickly use the secret name of the remaining K<ch.uuml/>nae. But there is no time to consult the Tome of Darkness<ch.emdash/>you must try to recall the name from memory.</p>
- <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is Rhunotar, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is Rhunadan, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is Rhunaguin, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunotar</quote>, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunadan</quote>, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunaguin</quote>, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>The moment you enter the beam, you feel yourself descending through the centre of the temple in a cocoon of shimmering blue light. Gradually the heat of the nest of fire gives way to a pleasant coolness, but as you continue your descent deeper and deeper into the unknown, this equable temperature slowly transforms into an unbearable icy chill. Never before have you experienced the terrible coldness that engulfs you now. Fortunately, the magical properties of the Scarab of the Wingless Dragon protect and keep you from freezing to death. (Record this Scarab on your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a> as a Special Item which you keep in your pocket.)</p>
<p>As the temperature slowly begins to rise, you are able to examine the scarab that you took from Huan<ch.apos/>zhor<ch.apos/>s nest, and at once you notice two runic numerals on the back of the wingless dragon, engraved on its surface. (The numerals comprise the number 31. Make a note of this number in the margin of your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a> for future reference.) Having satisfied your curiosity, you place the scarab into the pocket of your tunic and wait patiently for the beam to complete its seemingly endless descent.</p>
<p>Eventually the shimmering light fades and you feel solid ground materialize beneath your feet once more. Stretching before you now lies a gigantic cavern. Its walls of cracked and stained obsidian rise to a high-arched roof where twelve stalactites of glowing lime-green stone form a circle. On the floor directly below this circle are the shattered remains of a crystal dais, its broken fragments glimmering in the cavern<ch.apos/>s eerie, icy gloom.</p>
- <choice idref="sect84">If you have ever visited the city of Helgor in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 84</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect84">If you have ever visited the city of Helgor in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 84</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect124">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 124</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>The insects fall under the spell of your mental command and enter the core of their hive to sleep. When all their number have entered and you are sure that it is safe to approach, you squeeze yourself through a gap in the stones and take shelter here from the rain.</p>
<p>As you wait for the rain to abate, you inspect the inside of the hollow and the pendulous insect hive. Despite the seemingly haphazard lie of the stone slabs, the rain does not penetrate into the interior and the inside of the hollow stays remarkably dry. On the ground lies a thick carpet of soft leathery leaves. They are spattered with a yellow, honey-like substance which is oozing from the base of the hive. It smells sweet but your Kai senses warn you not to taste any: it is poisonous. (If you wish to take some of this, record it on your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a> as Muntaag Honey. You can wrap it in a leaf and store it as a Backpack Item.)</p>
<p>You are busy cleaning the acidic rain from your equipment with a handful of leaves when suddenly your sixth sense warns you of approaching danger. You peer out through a crack in the stones and catch sight of a flock of bat-winged creatures. They are swooping down from out of the rainy sky towards your hiding place.</p>
- <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect252">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 252</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>The moment you pass through the portal you are assailed by an overwhelming odour of decay. The vile stench of putrefaction has been ever-present since you landed upon the shores of this unwholesome realm, but the reek that occupies the chamber you have now entered is immeasurably worse. Your innate Magnakai Discipline of Nexus protects you from the harmful effects of this diseased odour, yet even so you feel nauseous and heavy-headed: lose 1 <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> point.</p>
<p>The walls drip with a yellow slime that radiates a dim fluorescence by which you can see an open archway in the far wall. Eager to escape from this stench-filled chamber, you enter and explore a tunnel which lies beyond the archway. Unfortunately the stench is no better here. In fact, the further you explore this twisting passageway the worse it becomes. Yet you press on regardless, allowing your instincts and your Kai senses to guide you to the source of the alien power that lies somewhere within this foul lair.</p>
<p>The tunnel continues for more than a mile, descending deeper by ramp and stair until it arrives at a vast circular chamber. Here you discover a huge door fashioned from a strange, shimmering green metal. Runes adorn its carved panels, mirroring those that are engraved in a large circle in the centre of the stone floor.</p>
- <choice idref="sect265">If you have ever visited Mogaruith in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 265</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect265">If you have ever visited Mogaruith in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 265</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect41">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 41</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>From the depths of the void seven glowing shapes appear. At first they defy your direct gaze, as if these shadowy semblances can only be observed from a particular angle, but as steadily they draw closer so they solidify and their fearsome shape becomes plain to see. They appear as seven skeletal riders, each cloaked in a glowing robe and mounted upon a hellish, supernatural steed. They wield lances wreathed with white flames and their eyes are pin-points of red fire.</p>
- <choice idref="sect176">If you have ever visited Yanis<ch.emdash/>the Shining City<ch.emdash/>in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 176</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect176">If you have ever visited Yanis<ch.emdash/>the Shining City<ch.emdash/>in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 176</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect47">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 47</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>For a few moments the insects are rendered motionless, then suddenly they re-animate and stream out of the hollow in all directions in a chaotic rush to escape. You watch as the last few disappear into the encroaching curtain of acidic rain and, when you are sure that the hollow beneath the stones is now empty of insects, you squeeze yourself through a gap and take shelter.</p>
<p>As you wait for the rain to abate, you inspect the inside of the hollow and the pendulous insect hive. Despite the seemingly haphazard lie of the stone slabs, the rain does not penetrate into the interior and the inside of the hollow stays remarkably dry. On the ground lies a thick carpet of soft leathery leaves. They are spattered with a yellow, honey-like substance which is oozing from the base of the hive. It smells sweet but your Kai senses warn you not to taste any; it is poisonous. (If you wish to take some of this, record it on your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a> as Muntaag Honey. You can wrap it in a leaf and store it as a Backpack Item.)</p>
<p>You are busy cleaning the acidic rain from your equipment with a handful of leaves when suddenly your sixth sense warns you of approaching danger. You peer out through a crack in the stones and catch sight of a flock of bat-winged creatures. They are swooping down from out of the rainy sky towards your hiding place.</p>
- <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect252">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 252</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p><quote>Excellent!</quote> she murmurs. <quote>Soon she shall pay for what she did to me.</quote></p>
<p>The Demoness Shamath rises from her throne and turns towards the seething pool of black fluid which is set into the floor close by. The shimmering waters grow calm and you see her scarred reflection in the pool. Then the fluids seethe afresh and her image swirls and changes. When it reforms you see, to your horror, that the reflection is no longer that of the Demoness. The face staring back from the surface of the pool is yours!</p>
<p><quote>Ayeeeeeee!</quote> howls Shamath, <quote>it is Lone Wolf! The Kai Lord is here!</quote></p>
- <choice idref="sect22">If you have ever encountered Demoness Shamath in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 22</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect22">If you have ever encountered Demoness Shamath in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 22</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect227">If you have never encountered this being before, <link-text>turn to 227</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Beyond the Bridge of the Damned, you enter the vast forest of fire that encircles the perimeter of Naar<ch.apos/>s realm. You sense that your platinum amulet is keeping you safe from the hellish heat of this region, and your Kai ability to spirit-walk is propelling you on a swift and steady course towards the central crater.</p>
<p>Upon reaching the lip of this crater, the forest of fire comes to an abrupt end and you get your first clear view of the desolation which surrounds the stronghold of Dazganon. Cosmic winds blow across this barren plain, moaning like tortured souls. Now and then you hear cries of pain, bursts of mocking laughter, and haunting alien howls that chill your blood. Then you see swirling gossamer shapes that grow and multiply as your psychic senses become attuned to their presence. Millions of evil souls are swirling around the crater which encompasses Naar<ch.apos/>s stronghold, and as you watch their endless passage with a sense of awe and disbelief, you realize that this is the Plain of Despair detailed upon the last page of the Tome of Darkness. You stare at the ceaseless torment of these evil souls and you are deeply shocked by the visage of one spirit which rises out of the howling mass.</p>
- <choice idref="sect79">If you have ever visited the Isle of Khor, in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 79</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect79">If you have ever visited the Isle of Khor, in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 79</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect207">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 207</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Your advanced Kai skill alerts you to a stone slab, one of a dozen which form the floor of this hut. You can detect the presence of a valuable mineral buried somewhere beneath the slab and, after first checking that it is not booby-trapped, you manage to prise it loose and lift it away. Lying in a hollow in the dark earth you discover a radiant gem the size of a walnut. (If you wish to keep this Blue Diamond, record it as a Special Item which you carry in your pocket.)</p>
<p>Suddenly your attention is distracted from your discovery by the sound of screeching. You glance out of the doorway and catch sight of a flock of bat-winged creatures flying low over the surrounding trees.</p>
- <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect252">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 252</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Beyond the archway you see a vaulted cavern ringed by pillars of ice. A huge marble throne and a table of carved marble stand before two massive black gates which gleam like polished jet. Located behind the throne, and within an arm<ch.apos/>s length of the grand gates, you glimpse a well-like pool set flush into the frosted cavern floor. The surface of this well is seething and swirling, as if its black waters were about to bubble and boil over.</p>
<p>The sight of this wondrous cavern is a stunning spectacle, yet it pales in comparison to the visage of the creature which is occupying the massive marble throne.</p>
- <choice idref="sect302">If you have ever visited Lake Vorndarol, in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 302</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect302">If you have ever visited Lake Vorndarol, in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 302</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect183">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 183</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>You whisper the words of the Brotherhood Spell <spell>Vigour</spell> and feel a sudden surge of energy course through your body. You stagger to your feet and rush towards the glowing portal, leaping through it just as the retracting coil of rock reaches the mouth of the dragon-gate. The crash of stone echoes in the far distance as you fall headlong through a corridor of swirling flame. Your Platinum Amulet protects you from this fierce conflagration, and it also feeds you with a steady warming stream of energy which radiates from the centre of your body outwards to soothe your aching limbs.</p>
<p>Pick a number from the <a idref="random">Random Number Table</a>. (0=10). Now double the number you have picked. This total equals the number of <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points you may restore as a result of the healing effects of the Platinum Amulet (remember your <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> score cannot exceed the total with which you began this adventure).</p>
<p>After a short time the swirling corridor of flame gradually darkens and you feel the speed of your fall begin to decrease. Then, in a breathtaking instant, your feet slam into hot cindery ground and you crash forwards to land in a tangled heap.</p>
- <choice idref="sect125">If you have ever visited the Palmyrion town of Scade in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 125</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect125">If you have ever visited the Palmyrion town of Scade in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 125</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect215">If you have never visited this town, <link-text>turn to 215</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>The few remaining insects that survive your blows hurriedly flee across the swamp and disappear into a curtain of acidic rain. Mindful of the damage this rain is inflicting upon your clothes and equipment, you turn and run back towards the pile of fallen slabs. The hollow beneath these stones is now empty of insects and so you squeeze yourself through a gap and take shelter here.</p>
<p>As you wait for the rain to abate, you inspect the inside of the hollow and the pendulous insect hive. Despite the seemingly haphazard lie of the stone slabs, the rain does not penetrate into the interior and the inside of the hollow stays remarkably dry. On the ground lies a thick carpet of soft leathery leaves. They are spattered with a yellow, honey-like substance which is oozing from the base of the hive. It smells sweet but your Kai senses warn you not to taste any: it is poisonous. (If you wish to take some of this, record it on your <a idref="action">Action Chart</a> as Muntaag Honey. You can wrap it in a leaf and store it as a Backpack Item.)</p>
<p>You are busy cleaning the acidic rain from your equipment with a handful of leaves when suddenly your sixth sense warns you of approaching danger. You peer out through a crack in the stones and catch sight of a flock of bat-winged creatures. They are swooping down from out of the rainy sky towards your hiding place.</p>
- <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect252">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 252</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>You rush towards the glowing portal and leap through it just as the retracting coil of rock reaches the mouth of the dragon-gate. You hear a crash of stone echoing in the far distance as you fall headlong through a corridor of swirling flame. Your Platinum Amulet protects you from this fierce conflagration, and it also feeds you with a steady warming stream of energy which radiates from the centre of your body outwards to soothe your aching limbs.</p>
<p>Pick a number from the <a idref="random">Random Number Table</a>. (0<ch.endash/>10). Now double the number you have picked. This total equals the number of <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points you may restore as a result of the healing effects of the Platinum Amulet (remember your <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> score cannot exceed the total with which you began this adventure).</p>
<p>After a short time the swirling corridor of flame gradually darkens and you feel the speed of your fall begin to decrease. Then, in a breathtaking instant, your feet slam into hot cindery ground and you crash forwards to land in a tangled heap.</p>
- <choice idref="sect125">If you have ever visited the Palmyrion town of Scade in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 125</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect125">If you have ever visited the Palmyrion town of Scade in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 125</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect215">If you have never visited this town, <link-text>turn to 215</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>You strike out at the onrushing column of fire and it connects with the flat of your magical blade. There is a terrific flash of blinding golden light and you feel an electrifying jolt that sets every nerve in your body jangling. You follow through with your blow and send the K<ch.uuml/>nae flame rebounding from your blade to slam into the far wall where it dissipates harmlessly across its surface.</p>
<p>Aware now that the Lord of Decay seated on the right-hand throne is Jantoor, you shout his secret name and immediately the creature becomes immobile. The sight of his frozen form, and the sudden cessation of mind contact, throws his brother-lord into a state of panic and confusion. In a blind rage he utters a curse and, to your horror, you see the maggot swarm emerge from the shadowy recesses of the hall. As the larvae writhe towards you they begin to swell grotesquely in size.</p>
<p>If you are to save yourself from this monstrous horde you must quickly use the secret name of the remaining K<ch.uuml/>nae. But there is no time to consult the Tome of Darkness<ch.emdash/>you must try to recall the name from memory.</p>
- <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is Rhunotar, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is Rhunadan, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is Rhunaguin, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunotar</quote>, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunadan</quote>, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunaguin</quote>, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>Your speed and agility save you from being burnt to a cinder. The column of fire speeds over your body and impacts harmlessly against the surface of the hall<ch.apos/>s closed portal. Aware now that the Lord of Decay seated on the right-hand throne is Jantoor, you leap to your feet and shout his secret name. Immediately the creature becomes immobile. The sight of his frozen form, and the sudden cessation of mind contact, throws his brother-lord into a state of panic and confusion. In a blind rage he utters a curse and, to your horror, you see the maggot swarm emerge from the shadowy recesses of the hall. As the larvae writhe towards you they begin to swell grotesquely in size. If you are to save yourself from this monstrous horde you must quickly use the secret name of the remaining K<ch.uuml/>nae. But there is no time to consult the Tome of Darkness<ch.emdash/>you must try to recall the name from memory.</p>
- <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is Rhunotar, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is Rhunadan, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
- <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is Rhunaguin, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect96">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunotar</quote>, <link-text>turn to 96</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect311">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunadan</quote>, <link-text>turn to 311</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect289">If you think the secret name is <quote>Rhunaguin</quote>, <link-text>turn to 289</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>The portal opens into a vaulted corridor lined with wall-paintings that exude a crude aura of evil. This procession of gaudy murals depict nightmarish scenes: diseased creatures, alien landscapes blighted with pestilence, hosts of larvae writhing in awful triumph over the goodly forces of Kai and Ishir. This macabre celebration of decay fills you with revulsion, yet it pales in comparison to the sight awaiting you at the corridor<ch.apos/>s end.</p>
<p>Beyond the corridor lies a vast chamber, rough-hewn from the bedrock of this rotting land. The decomposing carcass of a gigantic reptile rests here upon a floor which shimmers in the eerie yellow half-light. Bile rises in your throat when suddenly you realize why the floor is shimmering<ch.emdash/>it is carpeted with a seething sea of maggots. Gagging with fear and nausea, you snatch your cloak to your mouth and steady yourself against a pillar as you survey this ghastly hall. Mounted upon the broken back of the great reptillian carcass are two throne-like chairs carved from black wood. Between and below them, lying deep within the creature<ch.apos/>s exposed ribcage, is a dark semi-circular shadow that resembles the entrance to a cave. Drawing upon your Magnakai Discipline of divination, you scan the hall and quickly determine that all is not what it seems. You detect the presence of three powerful entities protected by spells of illusion and invisibility. You feel sure that two of them are the K<ch.uuml/>nae<ch.emdash/>the rulers of this hellish domain<ch.emdash/>but the third eludes you. Its aura feels oddly familiar yet you cannot readily determine its location or identity.</p>
- <choice idref="sect18">If you have ever visited Mogaruith, Kaag, or Helgor, in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 18</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect18">If you have ever visited Mogaruith, Kaag, or Helgor, in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 18</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect320">If you have never visited any of these places, <link-text>turn to 320</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>You settle yourself down on the stone floor of the empty hut and, as you wait for the rain to abate, you busy yourself by cleaning the acidic rain from your equipment. After a few minutes your sixth sense warns you of approaching danger. You peer out through the open doorway and catch sight of a flock of bat-winged creatures that are flying low over the surrounding trees. Suddenly they turn in mid-air and come swooping down from out of the rainy sky towards your hiding place.</p>
- <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect107">If you have ever been to the Ruins of Maaken in a previous <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure, <link-text>turn to 107</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect252">If you have never visited this place, <link-text>turn to 252</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p><quote>Thank you, Grand Master. I shall never forget what you have done for me. Had you not returned when you did I would have forfeited my freedom to the Dark God. And freedom, to me, is the most precious of things. For without freedom I would cease to be.</quote></p>
<p>For a moment, the whirling frigid darkness of the Shadow Gate is illuminated brightly by the flaring rays of the Moonstone. Alyss passes the sacred artifact into your safe keeping, kisses you fondly on the cheek, and with the parting words<ch.emdash/><quote>Farewell Lone Wolf. Kai and Ishir should be proud. You are indeed their most worthy champion</quote><ch.emdash/>she flashes you an impudent smile and in the blink of an eye she is gone.</p>
<p>Congratulations, Grand Master, for you have braved the many terrors of the Plane of Darkness and emerged triumphant, your quest fulfilled. By denying the Dark God the power of the Moonstone you have won a great and lasting victory which will help keep your world secure. Your achievement will live forever in the legends of Sommerlund, and the tales that will be told of your valiant deeds will inspire future generations of Sommlending to follow the ways of the Kai.</p>
- <p>Your triumph over Naar paves the way for your accedence to rank of Kai Supreme Master. It also heralds the dawning of a new age, when new challenges will arise to test the courage and bravery of your New Order Kai. Under your paternal stewardship, the first of the New Order adventures is about to begin with the return of the fabled Moonstone to the remote and mysterious Isle of Lorn. If you wish to accept the challenge of the new era, the first exciting quest awaits you in the next Lone Wolf adventure which is entitled:</p>
+ <p>Your triumph over Naar paves the way for your accedence to rank of Kai Supreme Master. It also heralds the dawning of a new age, when new challenges will arise to test the courage and bravery of your New Order Kai. Under your paternal stewardship, the first of the New Order adventures is about to begin with the return of the fabled Moonstone to the remote and mysterious Isle of Lorn. If you wish to accept the challenge of the new era, the first exciting quest awaits you in the next <cite>Lone Wolf</cite> adventure which is entitled:</p>
<p><bookref series="lw" book="21votm"><cite>Voyage of the Moonstone</cite></bookref></p>
</data>
</section>
Project Aon Git Repositories / project-aon.git / commitdiff