Lone Wolf - 02 - Fire On The Water
Lone Wolf - 02 - Fire On The Water
Lone Wolf - 02 - Fire On The Water
You are Lone Wolf — last of the Kai Lords. Bitter war rages through
your homeland as the evil Darklords of the west lay siege to the
capital.
In Fire on the Water, the King has sent you on a desperate journey
to retrieve the only power in Magnamund that can save your people:
the Sommerswerd, the sword of the sun. Ahead of you lie terrible
dangers — ferocious sea-storms, the tunnel of Tarnalin, and the
ghostly death-hulks of Vonotar the Traitor. Use your skills wisely — for
only you can save your land from the devastation of the Darklords.
Joe Dever, the creator of the bestselling Lone Wolf adventure books
and novels, has achieved world-wide recognition in three creative fields
— as an award-winning author of international renown, as an
acclaimed musician and composer, and as a games designer
specialising in role-playing games.
Five years later, in 1982 at the Origins Game Fair, Joe won the
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons World Championships in Baltimore,
an event held before 16,000 people. Inspired and encouraged by his
success at Origins, Joe decided to quit the music business and devote
his time to writing and games design.
The Lone Wolf series ended after 28 books and 14 years. Joe has
continued to work in the games industry as script writer and games
design consultant.
Gary Chalk, the illustrator of the early Lone Wolf series, was born in
1952, grew up in Hertfordshire, England. Being interested in history,
he began playing war games at the age of fifteen. When he graduated
from college with a Bachelor of Arts in design, Gary spent three years
training in a studio before becoming a teacher in art and design.
Gary was working at Games Workshop when Joe Dever asked him to
illustrate some of his manuscript of Flight from the Dark. The two
teamed up after that and they continued to work together until the
eighth book in the series, The Jungle of Horrors.
Gary has also drawn the illustrations in Redwall and related books,
The Prince of Shadows gamebook series, and several books which he
also authored. Gary continues to enjoy war gaming and works as an
illustrator and model maker.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
The Story So Far …
The Game Rules
Kai Disciplines
Equipment
Rules for Combat
Levels of Kai Training
Kai Wisdom
Numbered Sections
Map of the Lastlands
Action Chart
Combat Rules Summary
Combat Results Table
Random Number Table
Errata
Footnotes
Table of Illustrations
Project Aon License
Dedication
Acknowledgements
‘I would be especially pleased if my granting of the rights to distribute
my books in this way was seen as my “millennium gift” to all those
devoted readers who have kept the Kai flag flying high, through all the
good times, and the not-so-good. It would make me very proud indeed
if this enterprise laid the foundations of a lasting legacy, securing the
longevity of Lone Wolf by making my creation freely and readily
accessible to current and future online generations. For them, for us,
for Sommerlund and the Kai. … ’ Joe Dever
Project Aon would first like to thank Joe Dever for making this
generous offering of the books that we have all loved from the
beginning. We are also grateful for the generosity of Rob Adams, Paul
Bonner, Gary Chalk, Melvyn Grant, Richard Hook, Peter Andrew
Jones, Cyril Julien, Peter Lyon, Ian Page, Graham Round, and Brian
Williams for contributing their portions of the world of Magnamund to
Project Aon. We would also like to acknowledge the following
members of Project Aon for their diligent work:
Credits
Transcription
Andrew Black
Illustration Transcription
Jonathan Blake
Paul Haskell
Simon Osborne
Daniel Strong
XML
Jonathan Blake
Jeff Dougan
Alternate Illustrations
JC Alvarez (Action Charts)
Alex Hambly
Ingo Klöcker
Mark Laird
LeRoy McSwain
Simon Osborne
Timothy Pederick
Johan Ronn
Thomas Wolmer
Coordination
Jonathan Blake
Special Thanks
Jan Charvát, David Davis, Benjamin Krefetz, Tony Lenzo, Dewi
Morgan, Laurence O'Toole, Timothy Pederick, Keith Sheldon,
Arthur Yin
The Story So Far …
In the northern land of Sommerlund, it has been the custom for many
centuries to send the children of the Warrior Lords to the monastery
of Kai. There they are taught the skills and disciplines of their noble
fathers.
In olden times, during the Age of the Black Moon, the Darklords
waged war on Sommerlund. The conflict was a long and bitter trial of
strength that ended in victory for the Sommlending at the great battle
of Maakengorge. King Ulnar and the allies of Durenor broke the
Darkland armies at the pass of Moytura and forced them back into the
bottomless abyss of Maakengorge. Vashna, mightiest of the Darklords,
was slain upon the sword of King Ulnar, called ‘Sommerswerd’, the
sword of the sun. Since that age, the Darklords have vowed
vengeance upon Sommerlund and the House of Ulnar.
You are Lone Wolf, a young Kai initiate who was learning the secret
skills of the Kai Lords. Two days ago, your peaceful country was
plunged into war when a vast Darklord army suddenly invaded
Sommerlund and completely destroyed the Kai Monastery. All the Kai
Lords were in attendance for the feast of Fehmarn, and all were killed
as the monastery was surrounded and destroyed, the walls collapsing
in on the assembled company. You, the only Kai Lord to survive the
massacre, vowed then to avenge their deaths. You knew your first task
had to be to warn the King, for without the Kai Lords to lead her
armies, your country, Sommerlund, would be unable to mobilize in
time to drive the Darklords back.
Your journey to the capital was perilous indeed. The enemy had
overrun much of the country and were marching upon Holmgard, the
capital itself. But despite the many dangers, you fought your way
through to the capital and delivered your warning to the King's court.
There you were greatly praised for your skill and bravery but told your
mission was not complete: with the Kai Lords dead, there remained
only one power in all of Magnamund that could save your people from
the Darklords — the Sommerswerd.
The King has given you the Seal of Hammerdal. Your quest is to travel
to Durenor to fetch the Sommerswerd back. But meanwhile the
enemy have broken through the outer defences to the capital and are
preparing to besiege the city wall. As Captain D'Val of the King's
Guard leads you to the Royal Armoury to equip you for your mission,
the King's words keep coming back to you:
‘Forty days, Lone Wolf. We have strength to stand against them for
only forty days.’
The Game Rules
You keep a record of your adventure on the Action Chart.
The first number that you pick from the Random Number Table in this
way represents your COMBAT SKILL. Add 10 to the number you picked
and write the total in the COMBAT SKILL section of your Action Chart
(i.e. if your pencil fell on 4 in the Random Number Table you would
write in a COMBAT SKILL of 14). When you fight, your COMBAT SKILL will
be pitted against that of your enemy. A high score in this section is
therefore very desirable.
The second number that you pick from the Random Number Table
represents your powers of ENDURANCE. Add 20 to this number and
write the total in the ENDURANCE section of your Action Chart (i.e. if
your pencil fell on the number 6 on the Random Number Table you
would have 26 ENDURANCE points).
If you are wounded in combat you will lose ENDURANCE points. If at any
time your ENDURANCE points fall to zero or below, you are dead and
the adventure is over. Lost ENDURANCE points can be regained during
the course of the adventure, but your number of ENDURANCE points can
never go above the number with which you start your adventure.
Over the centuries, the Kai monks have mastered the skills of the
warrior. These skills are known as the Kai Disciplines, and they are
taught to all Kai Lords. You have learnt only five of the skills listed
below. The choice of which five skills these are, is for you to make. As
all of the Disciplines may be of use to you at some point on your
perilous quest, pick your five with care. The correct use of a Discipline
at the right time can save your life.
When you have chosen your five Disciplines, enter them in the Kai
Disciplines section of your Action Chart.
Camouflage
Hunting
This skill ensures that a Kai Lord will never starve in the wild. He will
always be able to hunt for food for himself except in areas of
wasteland and desert. The skill also enables a Kai Lord to be able to
move stealthily when stalking his prey.
If you choose this skill, write ‘Hunting: no need for a Meal when
instructed to eat’ on your Action Chart.
Sixth Sense
This skill may warn a Kai Lord of imminent danger. It may also reveal
the true purpose of a stranger or strange object encountered in your
adventure.
If you choose this skill, write ‘Sixth Sense’ on your Action Chart.
Tracking
This skill enables a Kai Lord to make the correct choice of a path in
the wild, to discover the location of a person or object in a town or
city and to read the secrets of footprints or tracks.
Healing
If you choose this skill write ‘Healing: +1 ENDURANCE point for each
section without combat’ on your Action Chart.
Weaponskill
Mindshield
The Darklords and many of the evil creatures in their command have
the ability to attack you using their Mindforce. The Kai Discipline of
Mindshield prevents you from losing any ENDURANCE points when
subjected to this form of attack.
If you choose this skill, write ‘Mindshield: no points lost when attacked
by Mindblast’ on your Action Chart.
Mindblast
This enables a Kai Lord to attack an enemy using the force of his
mind. It can be used at the same time as normal combat weapons and
adds two extra points to your COMBAT SKILL. Not all the creatures
encountered on this adventure will be harmed by Mindblast. You will
be told if a creature is immune.
Animal Kinship
This skill enables a Kai Lord to communicate with some animals and
to be able to guess the intentions of others.
If you choose this skill, write ‘Animal Kinship’ on your Action Chart.
If you choose this skill, write ‘Mind Over Matter’ on your Action
Chart.
Guard Captain D'Val leads you to the Royal Armoury where your
green tunic and Kai cloak are taken from you to be repaired and
cleaned. While you await their return, Captain D'Val hands you a
pouch of Gold for your journey. To find out how much gold is in the
pouch, pick a number from the Random Number Table. Now add 10
to the number you have picked. The total equals the number of Gold
Crowns inside the pouch, and you may enter this number in the ‘Gold
Crowns’ section of your Action Chart. (If you successfully completed
Book 1, you may add this sum to the total of any Crowns you may
already possess.) On a large table in the centre of the armoury, a
number of items have been laid out for your choice. You may take any
two of the following:
Sword (Weapons)
Mace (Weapons)
Quarterstaff (Weapons)
Spear (Weapons)
Broadsword (Weapons)
If you are already carrying Weapons from Book 1, you can take this
opportunity to exchange one or both of them.
List the two items you choose on your Action Chart, under the
heading given in brackets, and make a note of any effect it may have
on your ENDURANCE points or COMBAT SKILL.
Now that you have your equipment, the following list shows you how
it is carried. You don't need to make notes but you can refer back to
this list in the course of your adventure.
Any item that may be of use and can be picked up on your adventure
and entered on your Action Chart is given capital letters in the text.
Unless you are told it is a Special Item, carry it in your Backpack.
Weapons
Weapons aid you in combat. If you have the Kai Discipline of
Weaponskill and the correct weapon, it adds 2 points to your
COMBAT SKILL. If you enter a combat with no weapons, deduct 4
points from your COMBAT SKILL and fight with your bare hands. If
you find a weapon during the adventure, you may pick it up and
use it. (Remember you can only carry two Weapons at once.) You
may only use one Weapon at a time in combat.
Backpack Items
During your travels you will discover various useful items which
you may wish to keep. (Remember you can only carry eight items
in your Backpack at once.) You may exchange or discard them at
any point when you are not involved in combat.
Special Items
Each Special Item has a particular purpose or effect. You may be
told this when the item is discovered, or it may be revealed to you
as the adventure progresses.
Enter on your Action Chart a map that you found in the ashes of
the Monastery.
You begin this section with the Seal of Hammerdal, a ring that
you wear on your right hand. Enter it on your Action Chart under
Special Items.
Gold Crowns
The local currency is the Crown, which is a small gold coin. Gold
Crowns can be used on your adventure to pay for transport, food,
or even as a bribe! Many of the creatures that you will encounter
possess Gold Crowns, or have them hidden in their lairs.
Whenever you kill a creature, you may take any Gold Crowns that
it has and put them in your Belt Pouch.
Food
You will need to eat regularly during your adventure. If you do not
have any food when you are instructed to eat a Meal, you will lose
3 ENDURANCE points. If you have chosen the Kai Discipline of
Hunting as one of your five skills, you will not need to tick off a
Meal when instructed to eat.
Healing Potion
This can restore 4 ENDURANCE points to your total when
swallowed after combat. It cannot be used to increase ENDURANCE
points immediately prior to a combat. There is only enough for
one dose. If you discover any other potions during the adventure,
you will be told then of their effect. All Healing Potions are
Backpack Items.
There will be occasions during your adventure when you have to fight
an enemy. The enemy's COMBAT SKILL and ENDURANCE points are given
in the text. Lone Wolf's aim in the combat is to kill the enemy by
reducing his ENDURANCE points to zero while losing as few ENDURANCE
points as possible himself.
1. Add any extra points gained through your Kai Disciplines to your
current COMBAT SKILL total.
2. Subtract the COMBAT SKILL of your enemy from this total. The
result is your Combat Ratio. Enter it on the Action Chart.
Example
3. When you have your Combat Ratio, pick a number from the
Random Number Table.
4. Turn to the Combat Results Table. Along the top of the chart are
shown the Combat Ratio numbers. Find the number that is the
same as your Combat Ratio and cross-reference it with the
random number that you have picked (the random numbers
appear on the side of the chart). You now have the number of
ENDURANCE points lost by both Lone Wolf and his enemy in this
round of combat. (E represents points lost by the enemy; LW
represents points lost by Lone Wolf.)
Example
The Combat Ratio between Lone Wolf and Winged Devil has
been established as −3. If the number taken from the Random
Number Table is a 6, then the result of the first round of combat
is:
Evasion of Combat
During your adventure you may be given the chance to evade combat.
If you have already engaged in a round of combat and decide to
evade, calculate the combat for that round in the usual manner. All
points lost by the enemy as a result of that round are ignored, and you
make your escape. Only Lone Wolf may lose ENDURANCE points during
that round, but then that is the risk of running away! You may only
evade if the text of the particular section allows you to do so.
Levels of Kai Training
The following table is a guide to the ranks and titles that are bestowed
upon Kai Lords at each stage of their training. As you successfully
complete each adventure in the Lone Wolf series, you will gain an
additional Kai Discipline and gradually progress towards mastery of
the ten basic Kai Disciplines.
1. Novice
2. Intuite
3. Doan
4. Acolyte
5. Initiate — You begin the Lone Wolf adventures with this level of
Kai training
6. Aspirant
7. Guardian
8. Warmarn or Journeyman
9. Savant
10. Master
Beyond the ten basic skills of the Kai Master await the secrets of the
higher Kai Disciplines or ‘Magnakai’. By acquiring the wisdom of the
Magnakai, a Kai Lord can progress towards the ultimate achievement
and become a Kai Grand Master.
Kai Wisdom
Your mission will be one of great danger, for the Darklords and their
servants are a cruel and fierce enemy who give and expect no mercy.
Use the map to help you steer a correct course for the capital. Make
notes as you progress through the story, for they will be of great help
in future adventures.
Many things that you find will aid you during the adventure. Some
Special Items will be of use in future Lone Wolf adventures and others
may be red herrings of no real use at all, so be selective in what you
decide to keep.
There are many routes to Hammerdal, but only one will enable you to
retrieve the Sommerswerd and return to Sommerlund with the
minimum of danger. A wise choice of Kai Disciplines and a great deal
of courage, will enable any player to complete the mission, no matter
how weak their initial COMBAT SKILL or ENDURANCE points score.
The fate of your country hangs on the success of your perilous quest.
Good luck!
1
Captain D'Val and his guards escort you to the citadel gate where a
small covered wagon awaits you. As soon as you clamber in, the gates
are thrown open and you are hurried away through the crowded
streets of Holmgard. After a short but uncomfortable journey, the
wagon stops and the driver pulls open the canvas flap.
‘This is the quay, my lord. There is your ship, the Green Sceptre.’ As
he speaks the driver points across the quay to a sleek trade caravel
anchored near to the harbour wall.
‘The first mate's name is Ronan. You will find him waiting for you
across the square at the Good Cheer Inn.’ Then the driver bids you
farewell and quickly disappears into the teeming crowds.
You reach the inn to find the front doors locked and the window
shutters barred. You are trying to decide what to do next when a hand
grabs your arm and you are pulled into the darkness.
You are travelling along a narrow section of coast road which follows a
dizzy course beneath high, overhanging cliffs. A rockfall has blocked
the road ahead and you must stop to clear it. You are helping the
driver to lever a large rock from the path of the carriage, when you
hear the sound of falling rocks. A boulder crashes down from the
overhanging cliff, killing the driver before you can make any attempt
to save him. He was standing less than six feet away from you at the
time of his death.
You enter a small alleyway behind the shop, at the end of which you
can see a horse tethered to a post.
If you wish to take this animal and flee the village, turn to 150.
If you do not want to take the horse, leave the alleyway by turning
to 19.
4
The door bursts open and in rushes a Helghast, its black sword raised.
You strike the creature as it enters the hold and open a terrible gash in
its chest. It lets out a hideous cry but although badly wounded, it leaps
forward to attack you. You must fight this creature to the death.
Turn to 166.
6
The boy has spotted you following him. Once outside, he turns and
runs south. You give chase but he has soon disappeared into the maze
of alleyways and warehouses lining the waterfront.
You turn east into Oxyoke Way and walk past another entrance to the
trading post. A little further on, you notice a sign above the door of a
small shop:
Dorier jumps away from the table and draws his sword. In an instant,
his brother Ganon is by his side. You must fight them both as one
enemy.
Due to the surprise of your attack, add 2 points to your COMBAT SKILL
for the first round of this combat only. Because of their combined
strength of will, a skill developed during their training as knights, they
are immune to Mindblast.
Your sleep is deep indeed — and it is a sleep from which you will
never awaken. During the night you are bitten by a sand snake. Its
deadly venom takes only seconds to work.
It is early morning on the fifteenth day of your quest when you open
your eyes to the breathtaking spectacle of Hammerdal, the mountain
city. The capital of Durenor, unlike other cities in the Lastlands, does
not need man-made fortifications. The encircling peaks of the
Hammerdal Range offer a far more secure protection to the people
within.
Illustration I—The King's Tower, a magnificent structure of glass and
stone.
The carriage speeds through the lush farmlands surrounding the city
with its many towers and wide streets. On a hill in the very centre of
Hammerdal stands the King's Tower, a magnificent structure of glass
and stone. As the carriage halts at the tower gates, you suddenly
realize for the first time that as a wielder of the Sommerswerd, your
destiny is to become part of the oldest legend of the Lastlands.
Turn to 196.
10
You pocket the ticket (mark this as a Special Item on your Action
Chart) and the man takes you to a coach that is waiting near the east
gate of the seaport. It is empty and you take a seat near one of its
circular windows. You are relieved to find that the seat is quite
comfortable, for the journey to Port Bax will take seven days.
Stowing your equipment beneath the seat, you settle back in comfort
and doze off.
When you awake, there are five other passengers and the journey to
Durenor has already begun.
Covering yourself with your Kai cloak, you hide inside a large wooden
barrel. But it is to no avail, for in less than a minute the trapdoor is
thrown open and four angry villagers drop to the stone floor, torches
and swords held high in their hands. As you are dragged kicking from
the cellar, the screams of the crowd drown your pleas for mercy.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you have the Kai
Discipline of Sixth Sense, you may add 2 to this number.
Your Kai sense reveals that the left path is the quickest route to Port
Bax. You adjust the load of your equipment on your back and set off
once more.
Turn to 155.
14
As the contest begins, you use your Kai Discipline to weaken your
opponent's concentration. Beads of sweat stand out on his forehead
and his eyes gradually close as he withers under your relentless
Mindblast. In less than a minute he has collapsed to the floor
completely unconscious.
Turn to 305.
15
He places the following items on a large oak table and invites you to
take your choice:
Broadsword
Mace
Quarterstaff
Healing Potion (restores 3 ENDURANCE points)
Enough Food for 3 Meals
Backpack
12 Gold Crowns
As you are about to leave the tower, he points out the direction you
should take.
‘When you reach the Rymerift, take the track northwards. You will
come to a bridge guarded by the King's men. When they ask for the
password, answer them with the word “sunset”. The road beyond the
Rymerift leads to Port Bax. Godspeed, Lone Wolf.’
You thank the brave warrior and leave. You must abandon your horse
at the watchtower, for it would be impossible to pass through the
dense trees on horseback.
Turn to 244.
16
You pick up an ale glass and smash it across the edge of the table. The
jagged glass is razor-sharp. As you draw it across the back of your left
hand, a long cut appears trickling blood. Covering this wound with
your right hand, you concentrate and feel the warmth of your power
as the wound heals. When you remove your right hand, no trace of
the cut or any scar remains. The sailor stares at you in amazement.
Turn to 268.
17
You have pulled yourself halfway through the deck when the door to
the hold below bursts open. A Helghast runs shrieking towards you.
You cannot escape in time and it badly wounds you in the legs with its
black sword. You lose 5 ENDURANCE points and drop to the hold. You
must fight this creature to the death.
If you kill the Helghast, you may leave the hold by the open door.
Turn to 166.
18
Less than twenty yards away, a small search party is marching along
the wet cobblestones. You run towards the darkened doorway of a
small shop and quickly enter to avoid the mob. With your heart
pounding in your chest, you pray that you have not been spotted.
Turn to 71.
20
Turn to 186.
21
The trickster lies dead at your feet. Rolling him over with your foot,
you remove several cards from the sleeves of his jacket and throw
them on the table. The crowd soon disperses and the tavern is a bustle
of noise and activity once more. The other card players retrieve their
gold from the table and leave the remainder for you.
To find out how much has been left on the table, pick a number from
the Random Number Table. (In this instance, 0 = 10 instead of zero.)
Now multiply this number by 3. The total is the number of Gold
Crowns that are on the table. You may also take the Card Sharp's
Dagger if you wish. Remember to mark all the items on your Action
Chart.
As the body is being dragged outside, you walk to the bar and call for
the innkeeper. You press a Gold Crown into his hand and ask for a
room for the night.
Turn to 314.
22
In the morning you are awoken by the cry of the deck watchman:
‘Wreckage off the starboard bow!’
Quickly dressing, you climb up on deck and join the captain at the rail.
Casting your eye around the crowded tavern, you notice that many of
the local villagers are playing various gambling games. Near to the
main door, a young rogue has three upturned wooden cups on the
table in front of him. He spins them around and challenges anyone to
point out the cup that contains a small glass marble. If they guess
correctly, he will pay them double the money they have gambled.
If you have the Kai Discipline of Sixth Sense or Mind Over Matter,
turn to 116.
You are staring into the hollow eye sockets of a walking corpse.
Twisted and disfigured though he is, you recognize Captain Kelman.
You are in fact standing upon the deck of the Green Sceptre which
sank during the storm twenty-eight days ago, and which has been
raised from its murky grave this very morning to join the death-hulk
fleet.
Illustration II—Twisted and disfigured though he is, you recognize
Captain Kelman.
The dead captain extends a broken hand towards you and a ghastly
voice begs you to lay down the Sommerswerd: ‘Put down your sword
and my soul will be spared this torment.’
If you wish to place the Sommerswerd upon the deck, turn to 248.
You walk for over three hours along the lonely coast road before night
begins to fall. You are very tired and you decide to get some sleep and
continue at dawn. You remember the tales told by your Kai masters of
the Wildlands between Sommerlund and Durenor, where packs of wild
dogs roam the wastelands at night.
With these stories in mind, you decide to spend the night in the safety
of a large leafy tree at the edge of the road.
Your rest is very refreshing. Restore 2 ENDURANCE points (if any have
been lost on your adventure so far) and turn to 312.
28
The cowardly Szalls squeal in terror and run in all directions to avoid
your blows. They have soon fled from the clearing and you turn to
help the dying man. He is barely alive and far too weak to talk.
If you wish carefully to remove the spear from his chest, turn to
106.
If you would rather search his pack for useful items, turn to 320.
29
You release the lock and slide back the hatch cover. The sudden
draught of air causes flames to billow out of the hold. You stumble
backwards, clutching your burnt face. Lose 2 ENDURANCE points.
In panic the crew fight to put out the flames. It takes over an hour to
control the blaze. The damage is considerable — the entire store of
food and fresh water was in that hold, and the fire has completely
ruined both, as well as weakened the structure of the ship.
As you stand surveying the wreckage, the captain approaches you, his
face blackened by the smoke. He is carrying something in a bundle
under his arm. ‘We must talk in private, my lord,’ he says quietly.
Without replying, you turn and follow him below to his cabin.
Turn to 222.
30
You land on the rotting timbers and crash straight through to the deck
below. You are unharmed by the fall, but the stench of decay that fills
your nostrils is overwhelming. You clamber up and unsheathe the
Sommerswerd. Four ghastly zombies stagger out of the gloom, their
twisted hands extended towards your throat. You must fight them as
one enemy.
Early next day, you are taken to an enclosed garden at the rear of the
consulate where Rhygar and three of his best soldiers await you on
horseback. They are to be your bodyguard and guides on the 230 mile
ride to Hammerdal. The streets of Port Bax are just beginning to
come to life as you ride through the town. Passing under the moss-
covered city gate, you now feel confident that your mission will
succeed.
You awake at dawn to the sound of a shrill cockcrow. You can see the
crooked streets of Ragadorn through a veil of heavy rain beating down
on the cobblestones outside. It has been six days since you left
Holmgard and you are still 200 miles from Port Bax.
You are in the loft of a very large coach station. A group of green-clad
men have arrived and have started to clean out one of the coaches.
You overhear one of them say that the coach leaves for Port Bax at
one o'clock this afternoon and that the journey will take seven days.
You are hungry and must eat a Meal here or lose 3 ENDURANCE points.
After the Meal, if you decide to approach the coachmen and ask to
buy a ticket for the journey to Port Bax, turn to 136.
If you would rather descend the ladder to the street outside, turn to
238.
33
The other travellers stare with horror and disbelief at what you have
done. Before you can explain yourself, there is a loud crash as the
front door is thrown open. In rush six armoured soldiers led by the
innkeeper. They are the town guard, and the one-eyed innkeeper is
screaming at them to arrest you.
As you close the door of your cabin, you hear the frantic shouts of the
crew as they prepare to fight off the attackers. Suddenly you hear the
dull thud of something hitting the rear deck followed by the shrieks of
creatures you know only too well — Giaks! The Zlanbeast are
dropping nets of Giaks onto the ship. The door of your cabin bursts
open and you are faced by three of the hideous grey-skinned
creatures. Their jagged swords are covered in blood. You cannot evade
and you must fight them as one enemy.
Stepping over the unconscious soldier, you quickly dash past the tower
into the forest. If more guards appear they are likely to attack first and
ask questions later.
You have been walking for over two hours when you come to a fork in
the road by a stunted oak tree.
The food tastes delicious and it is only a matter of minutes before you
empty your plate. You decide to take a short nap before meeting the
others in the bar room. But as you are about to lie down, a terrible
pain grips your stomach. Your legs buckle and you fall trembling to the
floor. You feel as if your whole body is on fire. One word repeats itself
over and over again in your mind — poison … poison … poison …
Inside the coach it is warm and dry. Shaking the rain from your Kai
cloak, you notice three other passengers on board: two women and a
man who is snoring loudly. One of the women looks up and smiles.
Illustration III—Inside the coach, it is warm and dry.
‘We should reach Ragadorn in six hours,’ she says, placing her basket
on the floor so that you can sit beside her. You learn that she lives in
Ragadorn and she tells you a little about the port.
‘Since Killean the Overlord died three years ago, Ragadorn has been
ruled by Lachlan, his evil son. He and his mercenaries are nothing but
pirates. They bleed the people dry with their heavy taxes, and if
anyone complains, they are quietly disposed of. It's a sorry state of
affairs. If you take my advice you'll leave Ragadorn as soon as
possible.’
During the journey you must eat a Meal or lose 3 ENDURANCE Points.
Then in the distance you hear a bell tolling. You look out of the
window to see the city wall of Ragadorn. The coach passes through
the west gate and pulls to a halt. As you jump to the ground, you are
greeted by the awful smell of this dingy seaport. A rusty sign nailed to
a wall says ‘Welcome to Ragadorn’.
The woman tells you that you can board a coach to Port Bax at the
coach station near the east gate of the city.
If you wish to head south along West Bank Walk turn to 323.
You grab the shaft of the Spear and thrust it upwards into the rib cage
of the Helghast. It screams in agony and rage, and releases its grip on
your throat. You roll away in time to see the hideous creature fall
writhing on the ground, desperately trying to pull the spear from its
body.
If you wish to grab the shaft of the Spear and drive it deeper into
the Helghast, turn to 269.
At dusk the coach stops at an inn on the coast road to Port Bax. The
cost of a room for the night is 1 Gold Crown for coach passengers
and 3 Gold Crowns for anyone else. As you are about to enter, the
coach driver demands to see your ticket.
If you have a ticket for the journey to Port Bax, turn to 346.
The muster of the army and the preparation of the Durenese fleet
takes fourteen days to complete, during which time you remain as a
guest of the king in Hammerdal. As each day passes, you despair for
your besieged countrymen of Holmgard and pray that they have
enough strength to resist the Darklords until you return.
Every day of your reluctant exile you devote long periods to exercise
and meditation. You are also visited by a Durenese herbwarden called
Madin Rendalim, who is famous throughout the Lastlands for his
knowledge and skill in the healing arts. He restores all the ENDURANCE
points you may have lost so far on your adventure, and he gives you a
potent Laumspur potion that will restore 5 ENDURANCE points if
swallowed after combat. (Mark this under Backpack Items on your
Action Chart.)
You are in luck, for the boat has seen your distress signal and is
heading towards you. It is a small fishing boat from the port of
Ragadorn. The fishermen are a rough-looking bunch, but they wrap
you in a warm blanket and offer you some food. The captain suggests
that you sleep, as it will be two or three hours before they arrive back
in Ragadorn.
If you wish to take his advice, restore 1 ENDURANCE point and turn
to 194.
If you prefer to stay awake and keep watch for any other survivors
of the storm, turn to 251.
42
You sense that someone is on the cliff above and that you were the
intended victim of their attack. Someone is trying to kill you!
Turn to 168.
43
You swing the Sommerswerd in a wide arc and hit four of the zombies
in one sweep, but no sooner do their corpses drop to the deck than
others press forward to take their place. You will never kill them all
before they overwhelm you. As they start to tear at your cloak, you
are forced to dive overboard into the sea to avoid certain death.
Turn to 286.
44
The venom is in your bloodstream. Your arm feels numb and you are
beginning to sweat. The last sound you hear is the gentle lap of the
surf and the cries of vultures high above.
You are galloping along the forest road towards the cloaked riders
when you see one of them raise a black staff high above his head. A
knot of twisted black steel crowns the tip and it is starting to flow with
a vivid blue flame. You are just ready to strike when a searing bolt of
energy hurtles from the evil staff and explodes beside you. Thrown
sideways by the force of the blast, you tumble into the undergrowth.
You try hard to remember the significance of the orange door, but
without success.
The soldiers quickly descend from the roof of the hut and grab their
spears. They advance towards you and one of them shouts,
‘Password, stranger!’2
If you know the correct password for this bridge, turn to 111.
Pointing at a jug of ale on the bar, you tell the sailor to watch very
closely. Closing your eyes, you concentrate on the jug until you can
picture it in your mind's eye. As you will the jug to rise in the air, you
hear the sailor gasp in amazement.
Turn to 268.
49
For three days and nights, the fleet of Durenor spread canvas and sail
swiftly towards the Holmgulf. But although the voyage is fast, each
ship in the fleet is cursed by misfortune. Sails tear, ropes mysteriously
untie themselves and timbers warp and leak. The men become short-
tempered in the cramped quarters, and fighting — often to the death
— is commonplace. By the third night of the voyage, Lord Axim is
close to despair.
As he speaks, you can see the dawn of the next day breaking. You
think it may bring promise of relief, but the calm waters that now
surround the fleet contain a far deadlier threat.
Turn to 100.
50
You are soon across the swollen river and the journey continues.
Turn to 249.
51
You hear whispering among the crew and catch the words ‘ghost-
ships’ and ‘cursed voyage’, but the whispering stops when the
captain's voice calls for all hands on deck. A silence descends on the
Green Sceptre as Captain Kelman addresses the crew in a loud voice.
‘Men, we are three days' sail from Port Bax, but with a strong wind
and a stout heart we'll drop anchor and feast there in two. The fire has
claimed many of our provisions and rations are hereby cut to one meal
a day. A guard shall be placed upon the freshwater cask. But we are
strong. We shall endure. Any man found thieving will receive a
hundred lashes. That is all.’ The crew seem unhappy at the captain's
decision, but none of them dares to challenge his authority.
Later that afternoon, you are invited by both the crew and by the
captain to take your evening meal with them.
As you race through the door, you are knocked off your feet by the
force of a spear thrust into your chest. As the moonlight fades, the last
thing you see of this world is a circle of screaming villagers as they
stab and hack you to death.
‘ 'Tis a fine blade, wrought of Durenese steel. It can be yours for only
12 Gold Crowns.’
The innkeeper hands you a key. ‘Room 4, second left at the top of
the stairs. I expect you out an hour after dawn.’
Your room contains nothing more than a bed, a chair, and a small
table. You lock the door and prop the chair against it for good
measure, before settling down to sleep. You resolve to find some other
route to Durenor in the morning.
Turn to 127.
57
With the back of his gloved hand, the guard knocks the gold from your
grasp and it drops into the dark waters of the Rymerift. Pick a number
from the Random Number Table to determine how much gold you
have lost (0 = 10 Gold Crowns).
‘We would not sell the security of our land so cheaply,’ he says. ‘Only
a bandit or a fool would try to bribe a soldier of Durenor, and I fancy
that you are both.’
Unfortunately, you have insulted their honour and they intend to teach
you a harsh lesson.
Turn to 282.
58
‘Bad luck, Lone Wolf. Your strategy is daring, but I think I have you
now.’
The captain moves his ornate keystone across the board and you
realize that the game is lost. You congratulate him on his mastery of
Samor and hand over 10 Gold Crowns.
Turn to 197.
59
You spur your horse towards a cloaked Helghast that is about to strike
a helpless soldier. This creature is immune to Mindblast and can only
be wounded by a magical weapon.
If you do not, you must evade the combat and dive into the cover of
the forest. Turn to 311.
60
He is unable to fight back for the first two rounds due to the surprise
of your attack. Do not deduct any ENDURANCE points you may lose
during these first two rounds. If he is still alive for the third round of
combat, he comes at you with a dagger.
Through the pouring rain, you can just make out the dark shape of a
city patrol marching towards you. If they should stop you and ask your
business in Ragadorn, you could end up in the dungeons of Lachlan
the Overlord. Rather than risk being arrested, you retreat along Black
Knight Street and quickly turn into Sage Street as the soldiers march
past.
Turn to 181.
62
You enter a large room full of ledgers and files. A man wearing the
uniform of a Durenese naval officer is seated opposite at a large desk.
He peers at you inquisitively from behind a huge book and says, ‘You
must have pressing business in the naval quadrant to apply for a red
pass at this late hour. I shall need to see your access papers and proof
of your commanding officer's authorization.’
If you do not have either the Seal or the documents, leave the room
and return to the outer hall by turning to 318.
63
You are awoken during the night by the weight of something on your
chest. You slowly open your cloak and are horrified to see a sand
snake nestling beneath.
If you want to try to grab this deadly snake behind its head and
throw it into the road, turn to 188.
If you wish to jump up and brush the snake away, turn to 201.
64
Ahead you can see a passenger wagon similar in design to those that
use the coast roads of Ragadorn. The horses have been cut free and it
appears to be deserted. You notice the bodies of three soldiers lying
beneath it. Their uniforms are heavily bloodstained.
If you wish to search the wagon for food and equipment turn to
134.
If you would rather ignore the wagon and continue on your way,
turn to 208.
65
As you run along Watchtower Street, you hear the curses of the guard
fading behind you. You reach Tomb Square, and spot four soldiers
marching up Tomb Street towards you. Quickly you head south to
avoid them. You have been running along the cobbled street for nearly
ten minutes when you spot a large stable and coach station in the
gloom ahead. Under cover of the darkness, you enter and spend the
night safely hidden in the hay-loft.
Turn to 32.
66
As you raise the glowing blade, the zombie captain pulls an evil-
looking dagger from inside his tattered jacket. You must fight him to
the death.
You quickly deduce that the impostor must have escaped by the main
entrance to the tavern, and if he is still in the harbour area he must be
in or around the main square.
You search the buildings and alleyways round the square but there is
no sign of him at all. Rather than waste more time in a fruitless
search, you return to the quayside and untie a small coracle from its
mooring. As you row towards the Green Sceptre you begin to feel
uneasy that so early in your mission your enemies seem already to
have found you.
Turn to 300.
68
Turn to 306.
69
One of the cloaked strangers removes a black staff from beneath his
robes and holds it aloft. A blue flame ignites at the twisted iron tip and
a searing blast of energy leaps towards you. There is a deafening crack
as the bolt is turned away by Rhygar's shield.
Illustration IV—One of the cloaked strangers holds aloft a black staff
and a blue flame ignites at the twisted iron tip.
Turn to 311.
70
You gasp with pain as the serpent's fangs sink deeply into your arm.
Grabbing the snake behind its ugly head, you rip away the thrashing
creature and hurl it into the long grass. But your wound is deep and
inflamed by venom.
You slam the door shut and draw the bolt. The shop is dark but you
can still make out a staircase to your right, a trapdoor in the centre of
the floor and another door in the opposite wall. Suddenly there is a
crash as an axe splinters a panel of the door behind you. You have
been spotted entering the shop and the mob are breaking down the
door.
If you decide to open the trapdoor and hide in the cellar, turn to 11.
The innkeeper takes your Gold Crown and places a foaming tankard
of ale on the bar. The ale is strong and fortifying. Restore 1
ENDURANCE point to your current total.
If you want a room for the night, pay the innkeeper 2 Gold Crowns
and turn to 56.
The climb is very difficult, for you have only one free hand — the
other holds the glowing hilt of the Sommerswerd.
You eventually reach the rim of the tower and quickly hook a leg over
the narrow ledge. You are about to jump into the tower and attack
when a thin voice makes you freeze.
The sorcerer is standing in the far corner of the tower, his left hand
pointing at your head. ‘Your quest has failed, Lone Wolf. Now you
must die!’
A blinding flash of orange flame shoots from his hand towards your
face.
Turn to 336.
74
Placing your hands upon his chest, you try to seal the open wound.
He has lost a lot of blood and although he is sweating heavily, his skin
is cold to the touch. His eyes suddenly roll open and he shouts a
garbled warning.
The captain is soon unconscious once more. You wrap him in blankets
and place a cushion beneath his head, but he has drifted off into a
sleep from which he will not awake. Back on deck, the bodies of the
dead crew have been gathered together. Captain Kelman approaches
you and hands you a vicious-looking black scimitar.
‘This is no pirate sword, Lone Wolf. This weapon was forged in the
furnaces of Helgedad. It is a Darklord blade.’
Turn to 240.
75
You enter a musty office where two men sit hunched over desks
bowed beneath the weight of books and papers.
‘Good evening, sir,’ says one of the men, his long waxed moustache
twitching as he speaks. ‘Sir requires a merchant's pass?’
Before you can reply, the man passes to you a fistful of complicated
forms. ‘If sir would care to sign these, I can issue sir's pass
immediately. The fee is 10 Gold Crowns.’
If you wish to sign the forms and purchase a White Pass, mark it on
your Action Chart and turn to 142.
Tearing open his bloodied robes, you are shocked to discover there is
no evidence that he was your would-be assassin. All that you find are 2
Gold Crowns and a Dagger. You may take these items if you wish.
Turn to 33.
77
During the period of your Kai training, your masters taught you many
of the languages and dialects of northern Magnamund, one of which
was Szall. The creatures in this clearing are Szalls and they are
screaming at you that the wounded man is not a man at all. They say
he is a Helghast, a powerful shape-changing servant of the Darklords.
If you believe that they are telling the truth, check what the man has
in his pack by turning to 320.
If you suspect that the Szalls are lying to stop you interfering with
their spiteful game, fend them off with your weapon by turning to
28.
78
You dive backwards, but only just in time to avoid the falling mast as it
smashes straight through the deck. You stagger upright and peer into
the mass of shattered timbers. Pinned beneath the broken mast is the
lifeless body of Captain Kelman.
As you stare in horror, a loud crack fills the air as the storm breaks
open the already damaged hull of the Green Sceptre. As the ship
breaks up you are hurled over the side and into the raging sea.
Gasping for air, you claw your way up to the surface but strike your
head on a hatch cover. Lose 1 ENDURANCE point and pull yourself onto
this makeshift raft. If you are wearing a Chainmail Waistcoat, you
must discard this now or you will surely drown. In the grey light of the
storm, you watch as the broken ship sinks beneath the heaving sea.
You are feeling dizzy and very sick. Hanging on to the cover with all
your strength, you gradually slip into unconsciousness.
When you eventually awake, the storm has passed. The only trace of
the Green Sceptre is the hatch cover on which you lie. By the
position of the sun you suppose it to be late afternoon. In the
distance, you can see a small fishing boat and beyond it, the coastline
stretches out along the horizon.
If you wish to use your cloak to try to signal to the fishing boat, turn
to 278.
If you want to ignore the boat and paddle towards the shore instead,
turn to 337.
79
This weapon was forged long before the Sommlending, the Durenese,
or the Darklords dwelt in the Lastlands. Its makers were of a race that
men would now call gods. To release the power that it contains, only a
Kai Lord may wield it. Should it be used in combat by anyone who is
not a Kai Lord, its power will fade and be lost forever.
You now realize you hold the only power in Magnamund that can save
your people. Slowly the light starts to fade and you become aware of
Lord Axim's hand upon your shoulder.
Make the necessary adjustments to your COMBAT SKILL total now that
you possess the Sommerswerd.3 Note the powers of the sword under
the Special Items section of your Action Chart.
Turn to 40.
[3] The Sommerswerd is a weapon-like Special Item. The +10 COMBAT SKILL bonus referred to
for Weaponskill is a combination of the +8 COMBAT SKILL that the Sommerswerd grants
naturally and +2 for Weaponskill with Short Sword, Sword, or Broadsword (as each of them
grant proficiency with the Sommerswerd). It is not an additional bonus. When used in combat,
treat it like a one-handed sword, regardless of Weaponskill bonus. The text or footnotes will
always remind you to double your enemy's ENDURANCE point loss if it is undead.
80
The knight sheathes his broadsword and ushers you inside the tower.
You follow him to a large room at the top of a flight of stone steps,
where a log fire blazes warmly.
‘If you are who you claim to be, you must be in possession of the Seal
of Hammerdal. Show it to me,’ he orders.
If you do not have the Seal or do not wish to show it, turn to 189.
81
You awake the following morning to the cries of the lookout from high
in the crow's nest above.
You climb up on the deck and meet the captain, bracing yourself
against the fresh breeze. Less than fifty yards off the port stern, a
damaged longboat bobs up and down in the heavy sea. On board are
three men huddled together against the wind.
When you are certain that the angry mob has passed, you jump from
the hay-wain and run stealthily along the street, dodging from one
shadow to the next. To your left there is a shop with a sign above the
door.
Just inside the main door sits a kindly old man with a long beard. He
is studying a huge leather-bound book that rests on a lectern before
him. He has not noticed you enter the city hall.
If you wish to leave and try to find your own way there, turn to 191.
85
Viveka kicks over the table. Her reactions are lightning-fast and you
have not gained the advantage of surprise over her. She draws her
short sword and attacks you.
There are many ships of all sizes and nationalities moored on this side
of the harbour. The River Dorn, which divides the city of Ragadorn, is
always busy.
You are about to give up your search, when you spot the thieves'
fishing boat. There is nobody aboard, but a thorough search of the
cabin reveals a Mace and 3 Gold Crowns hidden inside a folded
hammock. The hammock bears a label that reads: North Star Tavern
— Barnacle Street
You take the Mace and Crowns and return to Stonepost Square.
As you raise your weapon and strike at the knight, you realize too late
that you have made a dreadful mistake, for he is a champion
swordsman and the soldiers are from the élite regiment of King Alin
IV's bodyguard. Thinking you are a Helghast, they quickly surround
you and cut you to pieces.
Your mission and your life come to a tragic end here in Tarnalin.
88
Although night has fallen, a full moon casts a bright light upon the
village. Behind the tavern, you see a small wheelwright's shop with
two horses hitched to a hay-cart.
As you jump, you are spotted by the driver. He quickly stops the coach
and turns to confront you, a sword already in his hand.
If you wish to stop and pay him for the ride, turn to 233.
Two Szalls and three angry villagers are running up the stairs to attack
you. You must fight them one at a time.
You may evade the fight at any time by jumping through a window.
To do so, turn to 132.
The boy is thrown out of the trading post by two black-clad guards.
The merchant thanks you and offers you the choice of any two items
of his cargo. (Remember that you must take the Backpack in order to
carry any of the Backpack Items.)
Quarterstaff
Blanket
Enough food for 2 Meals (each Meal counts as one item of the
merchant's cargo)
Backpack
Dagger
30 Feet of Rope
Choose any two of the above items and record them on your Action
Chart. After thanking the merchant, you leave by a side door.
Turn to 245.
92
The hideous creature lets out one last cry as it collapses at your feet.
As you step back to avoid the putrid smell of its rotting corpse, you
see three more Helghast advancing towards you. To remain here
would be suicide. You shout a warning to Rhygar as you turn and flee
for the safety of the woods.
Turn to 183.
93
Deduct however many Crowns you wish to give to the beggars from
your Action Chart. They thank you, but many other beggars have
appeared and demand that you give them money as well. You
eventually push through the crowd and continue on your way.
Turn to 137.
94
You urge the captain to investigate the vessel, but he ignores your plea
and orders the crew to continue with their duties. As the trading ship
disappears from view, you stare at it and wonder why the captain was
so reluctant to do anything.
You descend below deck and take care to lock the door of your cabin
behind you.
Turn to 240.
95
You spur your horse through the tangle of trees until you enter a small
clearing. Six Szalls are jumping excitedly around the writhing body of
a man on the ground. A strangely carved spear is stuck in his chest,
and lying dead beside him is the body of a Knight of the White
Mountain. The creatures are shrieking at each other and appear to be
unconcerned with the man's obvious agony.
Your Kai sense warns you that this place harbours evil. You are
standing directly outside the orange door when something strikes you.
Turn to 112.
97
You have noticed during your rigorous training exercises with the
Sommerswerd that your Kai Discipline of Sixth Sense has become
more sensitive than ever before: you knew exactly what Madin
Rendalim's sad news was long before he actually told you. You may
find that your improved Sixth Sense will be an important advantage
upon your return to Holmgard.
Turn to 152.
98
Your Kai sense reveals that there are no tracks in this part of the
Durenor Forest, but it does tell you the correct direction to Port Bax.
However, the forest that lies before you is so dense that you will have
to abandon your horse at the watchtower before you can continue.
The following morning you are woken by the cry of the ship's lookout
from high up in the crow's nest.
You clamber up a narrow ladder and join the captain at the stern.
‘Your eyes are younger than mine, see what you can make of her, my
lord,’ he says, and hands you an ornate telescope.
You can make out the red sails and black flag of a Lakuri pirate
warship on the horizon.
A veil of sea fog has rolled across the still ocean from the broken spine
of land known as the Kirlundin Isles. Strange dark shapes hide within
this mist. They are growing larger, and slowly the distinct outlines of
ships become plain.
‘Prepare for battle!’ The admiral's cry is repeated along the many
decks of the Durenese fleet.
As the black ships approach through the fog, a horrific sight befalls
you. They are death-hulks, sunken ships crewed by the living corpses
of drowned sailors. They have been summoned to the surface by great
wizardry, and they are closing for battle. Suddenly the fog vanishes,
and you can now see that the death-hulks bar the entrance to the
Holmgulf. In the centre of the line is their sinister flagship. Swiftly it
sails towards you, a huge ram protruding from its black prow. As it
rips its way through the hull of the Durenor, you hear the admiral's
last desperate order.
Illustration VI—Their sinister flagship swiftly sails towards you, a
huge ram protruding from its black prow.
‘Abandon ship!’
You are now in the thick of the enemy fleet and the Durenor is
sinking fast.
If you wish to jump onto the deck of the death-hulk flagship, turn to
30.
If you wish to dive into the sea and try to swim to another Durenese
ship, turn to 267.
101
As you burst into his cabin, the captain looks up in surprise from his
chart table. ‘Fire in the hold,’ you gasp, breathless from your run.
In an instant, the captain is through the door and ordering the crew to
fill buckets with water and gather blankets to smother the fire. By the
time you reach the forward hold, the smoke is dense. Suddenly the
ship is thrown into a frenzy as flames erupt from the hatch cover. It
takes over an hour to contain the blaze and the damage is great. The
entire store of food and fresh water was in that hold, and the hull has
been badly weakened.
The captain climbs out of the smoking hold and approaches you, his
face black with soot. He is carrying something in a bundle under his
arm. ‘We must talk in private, my lord,’ he says quietly. Without
replying, you turn and follow him to his cabin.
Turn to 222.
102
As you walk along the paved road, you get an uneasy feeling that
perhaps the Helghast have arrived at Tarnalin before you. You have
been walking for nearly an hour when the tunnel splits in two.
Laumspur is a delicious herb, much sought after in the Lastlands for its
healing properties. You have picked enough for one Meal. Eating this
meal will restore 3 ENDURANCE points to your total.4 (Remember to add
this to your Action Chart if you possess a Backpack. Otherwise you
must consume it now or abandon it.) You wrap the herb up, and
return to the coach with the other passengers.
Turn to 249.
[4] This Meal of Laumspur may be consumed when instructed to eat a Meal in which case it
fulfils the Meal requirement in addition to restoring 3 ENDURANCE points. Laumspur may also
be consumed at any other time to restore 3 ENDURANCE points without having any significance
as a Meal.
104
The fishermen stare at you with open mouths as if they have just seen
a corpse return from the dead. Suddenly one of them kicks over the
table and they make their escape through the back door of the tavern.
In one bound, you leap over the table and pursue them out of the
tavern, into the darkness beyond.
Unfortunately for you, the rope has been nearly cut in two by a sword
blow, and it is likely to snap under your weight.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table to see if the rope and
your luck holds.
You are amazed to see the man jump to his feet, and then horrified to
see the dreadful change that comes over him. The skin of his face
appears to writhe and change colour, growing darker and shrinking as
it decays on his skull. His eyes burn with a bright red glow and long
fangs protrude from his bottom jaw. You choke with fear as you
realize it is a Helghast, a nightmarish agent of the Darklords. It is
attacking you with its powerful Mindforce. If you do not have the Kai
Discipline of Mindshield, you will lose 2 ENDURANCE points for every
round of combat that you fight with this creature. Normal weapons
cannot harm it and it is immune to Mindblast. You can only wound it
in combat with the Magical Spear. (The Magic Spear is a weapon-like
Special Item. Remember that you only get a Weaponskill bonus in this
fight against the Helghast if you have Weaponskill with Spear.)
You cannot evade this creature and you must fight it to the death.
If you win the combat, you can keep the Spear. Mark it on your
Action Chart under the Special Items section as a ‘Magic Spear.’
The captain orders his crew to go alongside. As they board the trader,
you are shocked by the sight that awaits you. Dead sailors cover the
deck, many pierced by arrows. It seems they must have put up a
desperate fight to defend their cargo, but not a trace of it remains in
any of the ship's holds. Below deck, you discover the captain in his
cabin. He is very badly wounded and near to death.
One of the wheels jams in a deep rut and three of the large wooden
spokes are shattered. You are forced to stop and replace the wheel
before you can continue to Port Bax. You volunteer to help the driver
by levering the coach axle with a small tree trunk, so that the spare
wheel can be slid into position.
You are pushing down on the stout branch with all your strength,
when the horses suddenly rear up and race forward. The trunk springs
back and catches you square in the face, knocking you backwards to
the ground. You are stunned and you lose 2 ENDURANCE points. The
driver is not so lucky. The coach has run over him. As the poor man
dies in your arms, his last words are: ‘No accident … I saw — ’
Blinking the foul water from your eyes, you can see that the flagship
of the death-hulk fleet is now ablaze. Black smoke is pouring from the
decks, and tongues of orange and yellow flame flicker from its rotten
black hull.
Suddenly, you are aware of the beating of wings directly above you.
You are shocked to see a Kraan hovering above, trying to grab at you
with its sharp claws. Its hooked talons catch your cloak and suddenly
you are snatched up into the air. But it is to be a short flight. You draw
the Sommerswerd and sink it into the soft belly of the creature. With a
shriek of agony, it releases its grip and you fall. You pray that luck will
be on your side and that you will land safely.
Turn to 120.
110
The guard does not believe you, and he attacks you with his sword.
If you do not have a weapon, deduct 4 points from your COMBAT SKILL
for the duration of this combat.
The guards reluctantly lower their weapons and allow you to cross the
bridge. As you slip past, they stare at you and whisper to each other.
Once you are safely across the Rymerift, you quickly hurry on your
way in case they change their minds and arrest you. After nearly an
hour of walking along the forest road, you arrive at a junction where a
signpost points to the east.
You smile and set off eastwards. You should be there in just under an
hour.
Turn to 265.
112
You suddenly remember what he said about the shop with the orange
door. It is the headquarters of the Silent Brotherhood, Lachlan's
notorious secret police. To enter here would be more perilous than
entering a roomful of Drakkarim!
You quickly turn away from the orange door and hurry northwards.
Turn to 230.
113
You may climb the tower and attack Vonotar by turning to 73.
If you do not wish to risk your life against this powerful magician,
escape from this ship by jumping overboard and turning to 267.
[5] It is likely that the information provided here is a combination of the information given to
you previously by Banedon and the Kai Discipline of Sixth Sense, both of which you must
have in order to receive the Crystal Star Pendant.
114
You have walked for over three hours along this lonely coast road
when night starts to fall. The land is flat and barren, and you have
seen no sign of life here at all. You finally decide to rest beneath the
branches of a large tree standing close to the highway. Making a
pillow of your backpack, you pull your warm Kai cloak around yourself
and drift off into a deep sleep.
The area around the watchtower door has been cleared of foliage, and
the ground is well-trodden. You are looking for a lock or keyhole in
the iron-clad door when it suddenly opens. Standing before you is a
Knight of the White Mountain, a broadsword held in front of his face.
‘State your purpose and mark your words well. My steel will be my
answer if you lie!’
If you wish to tell this knight the true purpose of your mission to
Durenor, turn to 80.
If you want to lie about why you are here, turn to 324.
If you want to draw your weapon and attack the knight, turn to
162.
116
Using your Kai Discipline, you can tell which cup hides the marble, for
to you, the clay is as transparent as glass itself.6
Pick a number from the Random Number Table and add 5 to it. This
equals the number of Gold Crowns that you win before the rogue
suspects something is wrong and ends the game.
With gold in your purse once more, you return to the bar and hand
over 1 Gold Crown for a room.
Turn to 314.
[6] Neither Discipline literally gives you the ability to see through clay.
117
‘We're bound for Ragadorn — due there by noon today. A seat will
cost you 3 Gold Crowns, but you can ride on the roof for only one.’
If you wish to ride inside, pay the driver 3 Gold Crowns and turn to
37.
If you would prefer to ride on the roof, pay him 1 Gold Crown and
turn to 148.
If you cannot pay the fare, you must let the coach continue and
begin your journey on foot. Turn to 292.
118
You bid Rhygar farewell and enter Tarnalin. Over a hundred feet in
height and width, the tunnel runs to the capital on the far side of the
Hammerdal Range, and is lit by torches for its entire length. The
highway through the mountain is usually alive with the traffic of
merchants to and from Port Bax, yet now the entrance and interior
are deserted except for an overturned fruit wagon. As you walk deeper
into Tarnalin, a doubt nags at you. Have the Helghast arrived here
first?
Illustration VII—The strange creature is wearing a splendid jacket of
patched leather and carrying what appears to be a spear.
You have been walking for half an hour when you see a strange
creature on top of a wagon in the road ahead. It is two feet high and
resembles an overgrown marsh rat. You assume it is some sort of
tunnel dwelling rodent until you notice that it is wearing a splendid
jacket of patched leather and carrying what appears to be a spear. As
you get nearer, it suddenly turns to face you. Its whiskered nose is
sniffing the air and its bright black eyes are peering into the gloom. It
sees you and scampers off into the darkness of a smaller tunnel to
your left.
Shattered beams, pieces of planking and torn sails litter the white-
flecked waves. It is all that remains of a merchant ship. But then
suddenly you notice a body clinging to a broken hatch cover. A rope
ladder is quickly lowered and the poor man is brought aboard.
‘This crime bears the mark of the Lakuri pirates,’ the captain confides
in you, ‘but it is unusual to run across them in these waters. They must
be in search of a rich cargo to sail so far from their tropical islands.’
As the ship resumes its course for Durenor, you cannot help but
wonder if that ‘rich cargo’ is you.
Turn to 240.
120
Luck is with you, for you land safely on the deck of the Kalkarm, a
Durenese warship. The soldiers here have been involved in a
desperate battle but have fought off the enemy and are cutting the
grappling ropes that hold the ship to a death-hulk. From out of the
smoke strides Lord Axim, his face bloodied and his shield badly
scarred.
‘Thank the gods you are alive, Lone Wolf. The fight has been bitter
and our losses are high, but I am heartened indeed to see you standing
before me now,’ he says and leads you to the ship's rail. ‘Look yonder,
their flagship is ablaze.’
Through the fog of war you can see that the huge death-hulk is slowly
sinking beneath a plume of dense black smoke. The Kalkarm is
eventually freed and slowly it manoeuvres out of the tangle of
wreckage. A wind begins to stir, filling its tattered sails and carrying
away the smoke of battle. Lord Axim orders the Royal Arms of
Durenor to be hoist aloft so that other ships can rally to the Kalkarm.
For the first time since the battle began, you can now see the other
Durenese ships. It is an amazing sight for as the enemy flagship sinks
beneath the waves, so every death-hulk on the horizon returns to its
watery grave.
‘Their sorcery is broken. We have won this battle,’ says Lord Axim.
And within a few minutes, not one of the death-hulks remains afloat.
Turn to 225.
121
As you run along Lookout Street, you quickly reach the waterfront
where the River Dorn separates the east and west sides of the city. To
your left is the Ragadorn Bridge, an ugly construction of rusted iron
that provides the only connection between the two halves of
Ragadorn. With the shouts of the street thieves echoing in your ears,
you push your way through the people crowding the bridge. By the
time you have got across, the street thieves have given up the chase,
and you enter a rubbish-strewn thoroughfare known as East Trade
Lane.
Turn to 186.
122
This street follows the city wall northwards. On your right you notice a
shop with a bright orange door. Unlike all of the other shops in this
street, it bears no sign above it. You suddenly remember the tales of a
Kai Lord who returned from a visit to Ragadorn about a year ago. He
mentioned this orange door in one of his many stories.
But almost immediately the light starts to fade and you are aware of
Lord Axim's hand upon your shoulder. ‘Come, Lone Wolf. There is
much to prepare for your return to Sommerlund.’
Turn to 40.
124
You quickly search her body but find no evidence that she was your
would-be assassin. You discover 42 Gold Crowns, a Short Sword, and
a Dagger. Take any of these items if you wish, and mark them on your
Action Chart.
Turn to 33.
125
You quickly dash through the side door of the tavern and run the
length of the alleyway towards the main square. Through the crowds
of people you can see many boats and coracles tied up to the
quayside. The thugs are close behind and you must act quickly.
Untying one of the small boats, you jump from the harbour wall and
land with a crash, splintering the wooden seat. It has one paddle
which you use to make your way towards the Green Sceptre,
anchored three hundred yards across the water.
Turn to 300.
126
The man pulls a hidden bell-rope, and suddenly four armed guards
burst into the room.
Before you can explain, you are seized by both arms and marched
away to the city gaol. All your equipment is confiscated, including all
Special Items and Weapons, and you are thrown into a cell full of evil-
looking villains. You notice that several of these ruffians bear the
strange tattoo of a serpent on their left wrists: the sign of Vonotar the
Traitor. By the time the guards have examined your possessions and
realized your true identity, you have been strangled to death by the
wizard's evil agents.
Your life and your quest come to a tragic end here in Port Bax.
127
You awake at dawn to the sound of heavy rain falling on the cobbled
streets outside.
It has been six days since you left Holmgard, and you must eat a Meal
here or lose 3 ENDURANCE points. You gather your equipment and
leave the room. As you descend the rickety stairs, you see the
innkeeper cleaning the floor with a mop and bucket.
If you wish to ask the innkeeper how you can get to Durenor, turn
to 217.
If you wish to leave the inn without speaking to him, turn to 143.
128
You pass several narrow warehouses lining the waterfront, and reach
the harbour wall. Here the road bears sharply to the right into Tomb
Street.
Marching along the centre of this street are four heavily armed city
guards. Rather than be stopped and possibly arrested by these
soldiers, you dodge into an alleyway off to your right. The guards
suddenly halt opposite the alley entrance. If one of them should turn
his head, you will be spotted for sure. Behind you is a small window,
leading into a crowded tavern.
Turn to 4.
130
The priest approaches you and says, ‘You need to rest, as we all do. I
understand your problem my friend. Please allow me to practice what
I humbly preach,’ and with these words he leads you to the bar and
places a Gold Crown into the hand of the innkeeper. ‘A room for my
friend,’ he says and smiles.
Turn to 314.
131
You ask them what they want of you. In answer, they simultaneously
produce long, curved daggers from inside their jackets. Their leader
steps forward and demands your gold. As you hesitate, he shouts,
‘Take 'im!’ and all three attack you.
Deduct 4 points from your COMBAT SKILL and fight them bare handed.
You must fight them one at a time.
You crash to the muddy street in a shower of broken glass. You are
winded by the fall, but otherwise unharmed. An angry villager armed
with a cudgel tries to smash your skull, but you roll aside, jump to your
feet and sprint away down the twisting street before he has struck his
blow. Then an ugly Szall on horseback charges towards you with a
raised spear. He is about to stab you when you sidestep and grab the
weapon, pulling it and the Szall from the saddle.
If you wish to stab the Szall with his own spear, turn to 317.
Looking directly into the sailor's eyes, you concentrate your Mindblast
at his open hand. Suddenly the man falls backwards from his chair,
clutching his hand as if he had just picked up a red-hot coal. When
you explain what has happened to him, he looks at you in
amazement.
Turn to 268.
134
The knight points to the woods behind you and says in a gruff voice,
‘There is your shelter.’
Before you can reply, he has stepped back into the tower and bolted
the heavy door. The forest here is very dense and the undergrowth is a
tangle of weeds and briars. It will prove impossible to enter the wood
on horseback, so you must abandon your mount before continuing on
foot.
Turn to 244.
136
If you do not have enough money for the fare, turn to 238.
137
You reach a junction where Beggar Lane turns south into Black
Knight Street. A few yards along there is another lane called Anchor
Street, which heads off towards the east. The rain has become much
heavier now.
If you wish to head south along Black Knight Street, turn to 259.
You have been walking for nearly two hours when you reach the peak
of a hill and see the Durenor Forest stretched out before you. The
road bears eastwards and enters the trees at a point where a large
wooden tower has been built. You can see the silhouette of a soldier
on guard.
If you would rather avoid the guard, make a wide detour and enter
the forest further south by turning to 244.
139
The training that you received in the art of Hunting has taught you to
recognize most of the poisonous and non-poisonous fruits to be found
in northern Magnamund. These purple fruits are larnuma, a sweet and
nutritious food. You quickly eat your fill and then store enough of them
in your Backpack for 2 Meals.
Beyond the larnuma trees, you notice a wide coast road that
disappears towards the east and the west.
Both guards stare at the Seal in awe. The legend of the Seal of
Hammerdal is well known to all the people of Durenor. It is said that
of all the lost treasures of Durenor, the Seal of Hammerdal is the one
they would not wish returned. The anxious faces of the two guards
show they clearly realize its significance.
One of the guards escorts you across the Rymerift and along a forest
road that eventually ends at a junction. A signpost points to the east.
‘I must leave you now and return to the Rymerift. I fear that war will
soon cast its black shadow upon this land and I shall be needed at the
border. Godspeed to you Sommlending, godspeed.’
You watch for a few minutes as the soldier returns along the forest
track before you set off eastwards. You should arrive in Port Bax
within the hour.
Turn to 265.
141
As the mast smashes into the deck, a splintered beam hits your head
and you are knocked overboard. Gasping for air, you fight your way to
the surface and catch hold of a hatch cover. You are half-stunned. You
lose 2 ENDURANCE points.
You pull yourself onto this makeshift raft and cling to it with all your
strength. If you are wearing a Chainmail Waistcoat, you must discard it
now or otherwise you will be drowned for sure.
You feel dizzy and sick. As the heaving sea buffets you relentlessly, you
gradually slip into unconsciousness. When you awake many hours
later, the storm has passed. By the position of the sun, you judge it to
be late afternoon. In the distance you can see a small fishing boat and
beyond it, on the horizon, land. The only trace of the Green Sceptre
is the hatch cover on which you now sit.
If you wish to use your cloak to try to signal to the fishing boat, turn
to 278.
If you wish to ignore the boat and paddle towards the shore, turn to
337.
142
The man takes your money and hands you a White Pass that is valid
for the next seven days. (Mark the White Pass on your Action Chart as
a Special Item.) You thank him and leave the building. Outside you
turn left and walk towards the guards at the end of the street.
Turn to 246.
143
You head south and follow the quayside until you come to a junction
where the street heads off towards the east. Most of the shops in this
street are still closed except for one to your right. There is a sign
above the door.
Then the large Noodnic addresses you, saying he is the leader of this
colony. His name is Gashgiss and he welcomes you and invites you to
join him on top of a raised platform in the centre of the chamber.
Illustration IX—The large Noodnic, wearing a brightly coloured
cloak of patchwork silks, addresses you.
‘Iza show yooze z'way past zem, eh?’ he offers. You nod your
agreement and follow him down the steps of the platform, to the hall
below.
The Noodnics seem to have overcome their shock and react to you
now as if you were one of them. Before you leave, a pretty female
Noodnic offers you some food for your journey ahead. There is
enough for two Meals. You thank her for her generosity and then
follow Gashgiss along one of the many passages leading out of the
cavern. After an hour of trekking through the dark, he stops and
points towards a shaft of light that is pouring through a crevice in the
far distance. ‘Yooze goez left, yooze be zafe,’ he says.
You thank Gashgiss for his help and silently thank your Kai masters
who taught you the skill of Animal Kinship. The many years of
instruction have probably saved your life. You squeeze through a
fissure in the rock wall and drop three feet to the pathway below. You
are thinking how kind the Noodnics were when you discover that they
have stolen all your gold! You will have to mark this on your Action
Chart.
You are becoming weaker and weaker. After what seems an eternity
of painful struggle you find the Laumspur and force yourself to
swallow the dry leaves. Within seconds you are violently sick, after
which you drift off into a restless sleep.
It is nearly an hour before you awake and you still feel dreadfully ill.
Deduct 5 ENDURANCE points. (As the dry leaves merely helped purge
the poison from your stomach, you do not regain any ENDURANCE
points through consuming the Laumspur in this instance.)
As you slowly regain your strength, the shock of what has happened
soon turns to anger. You grab your equipment and stagger out of the
room, intent on confronting your would-be assassin.
Turn to 200.
146
You were right. The cloud is made of huge Zlanbeast and many Kraan,
a smaller species but one that is just as deadly. Hanging below their
black bellies are nets full of Giaks. As the Zlanbeast descend on the
Green Sceptre, a net of shrieking Giaks crashes onto the deck behind
you. Some are crushed in the fall, but many more have survived and
waste no time attacking you. You must fight them as one enemy.
Your senses reveal that the path is a dead end. The only way that you
can cross the Rymerift and reach Port Bax is via the bridge.
Turn to 47.
148
You wrap yourself in your Kai cloak and raise the hood. The driver
shouts and whips the horses and soon you are on your way along the
tree-lined coast road to Ragadorn. During the journey, you talk to the
driver and learn some useful things about the seaport of Ragadorn.
Ever since Killean the Overlord died three years ago, Ragadorn has
been ruled (or misruled according to the driver) by his son, Lachlan. It
seems that he and his men are nothing more than pirates. They tax
the people heavily, and murder all who oppose them.
You are hungry and during the coach ride, you must eat a Meal or lose
3 ENDURANCE points.
At last, in the distance, you can just make out the city wall of
Ragadorn. A bell is tolling — it rings twelve times. Eventually the
coach passes through the west gate of the wall and pulls to a halt.
‘If you want to get to Durenor, you can catch a coach from the stable
at the east gate. Best hurry mind, it leaves at one o'clock,’ the driver
tells you.
You thank the driver for the advice and jump to the cobblestones
below. For the first time, you suddenly notice the awful stench of this
dirty seaport. A rusty sign nailed to a rot-infested house says ‘Welcome
to Ragadorn’.
If you wish to head south along West Bank Walk, turn to 323.
You can sense that this guard is a loyal Durenese soldier. If you were
to attempt to bribe him, he would be likely to consider it a grave insult
and attack you.
If you would prefer not to show it, if you do not have it, or if you
wish to pretend to be a merchant on your way to Port Bax, turn to
250.
150
You spur the horse along the twisting village street across a wooden
bridge and up a steep path towards the crest of the cove. In the light
of the moon, you catch a glimpse of a signpost pointing eastwards.
You ride all night without sleep. As the dawn breaks, you are greeted
by a startling change of landscape. The barren Wildlands have given
way to moors and waterlogged fens. And a dark shadow runs the
length of the eastern horizon for as far as the eye can see. This is the
Durenor Forest, the natural frontier of the mountain kingdom where it
borders the untamed Wildlands. It is indeed a welcome sight.
You are no more than a day's ride from Port Bax, but you are tired
after your night ride and you must eat a Meal or lose 3 ENDURANCE
Points. If you have the Kai Discipline of Hunting, you may use this
skill to trap a wild moor-rat or marsh-bird for your breakfast. (You are
leaving the Wildlands and heading into the Durenor Forest and may
once again use Hunting to hunt for food.) After an hour's ride you
come to a fork in the road. There is no signpost.
Using your skill to mimic the gruff Ragadornian accent, you bluff the
guard, saying that there is a fight in Tomb Square. You say that the
city watch have been overpowered, and that he is needed at once.
To see if your bluff has been successful, pick a number from the
Random Number Table.
The preparations for war have been completed. The galleons of the
Durenese war fleet lie at anchor in the harbour, impatiently awaiting
the order to set sail for Sommerlund. On board each ship are many
brave soldiers from the mountain kingdom, a tough army of skilled
warriors, eager to face the Darklords in battle. Each man has sworn to
avenge their besieged allies, or die in the attempt.
In less than an hour, the harbour lies far behind you. The domes of
Port Bax are now merely dots on the horizon.
You forget about the rogue with his cup and marble game and instead
watch a card game in progress near the tavern stairs. You notice that
one of the players is cheating.
If you would rather ignore what you have seen, turn to 130.
154
The crew's quarters are cramped and stifling. But despite a lack of
space and a poor evening meal (so poor in fact that you lose 2
ENDURANCE points!) the men are pleased that their invitation was
accepted and you are treated as an honoured guest.
After supper, they invite you to play ‘Portholes’ with them, and wager
a little gold on the fall of the dice.
If you would prefer to decline the offer, bid them goodnight and
return to your cabin by turning to 197.
155
After travelling a mile along the left track, you arrive at a long stone
bridge. At first glance, the river that it crosses seems to be swollen and
in danger of flooding the banks. Then you realize that this is the
Rymerift. The waters of the Rymerift are two miles across at the
widest point and over a mile deep for most of its length. Here, the
land has slipped away and a natural gap has appeared separating
Durenor from the rest of Magnamund.
You breathe a sigh of relief, for you are on the correct path and should
be in the city within the hour.
Turn to 265.
156
The driver becomes very angry and shouts, ‘There's a long walk ahead
of you, stranger,’ as he slams the door in your face. You cannot afford
to buy a room for the night, so you decide to bed down with the
horses in the stable next door.
Turn to 213.
157
The guard is furious and charges down the stairs at you, his sword
raised above his head. If you do not have a weapon, remember to
deduct 4 points from your COMBAT SKILL and fight the guard open-
handed.
The priest does not seem to be surprised by your attack, and he draws
a black sword from beneath his robes.
You eventually come to a halt at the base of a huge fir tree. You try to
stand, but the pain in your legs and side is so great that you collapse
and lose consciousness. It is a sleep that will spare you the pain of the
Helghast blades, but it is also a sleep from which there is no
awakening.
‘Forgive me, my lord, I did not mean to startle you.’ The man seems
nervous, and the open hand that is extended towards you is shaking
quite visibly.
With some caution you accept the gesture of friendship, and sit with
the man at a tavern table. The place is deserted save for a couple of
mice gnawing at a large chunk of cheese.
If you do not possess any of the above Kai skills, or if you do not
wish to demonstrate your skill, turn to 348.
161
The shop appears to be empty. You wait and look at the merchandise
for nearly five minutes, but still no one appears. You are about to leave
when you notice a map hanging inside the door. It is a plan of the
Port of Ragadorn. The Ragadorn stables and coach station is clearly
marked near the east gate of the city. This is where land transport can
be found to take you to Port Bax. You memorize the map route to the
east gate and leave the shop. You run back to Axe Lane and turn east
into Sage Street. At the end of this winding lane you arrive at the
Ragadorn Bridge, the only connection between the east and west sides
of the city. You push your way across the crowded bridge and run
along the cobblestones of East Trade Lane.
Turn to 186.
162
You may evade combat at any time by running into the trees and
turning to 244.
‘We've a full sail and a sharp prow. There's not a warship on the
northern seas that'll catch the Green Sceptre,’ says the captain.
He is proved right, for the pirate ship soon disappears over the
horizon. ‘Twenty-five years at sea and I've never known the Lakuri
pirates to venture this far north to raid,’ he says, stroking his beard
thoughtfully. ‘They must be after a valuable cargo to sail so far from
their tropical islands.’
As the captain descends below deck to his cabin, you get an uneasy
feeling that the valuable cargo may be you.
Turn to 240.
164
You have walked for nearly a mile along this deserted tunnel when you
see a flight of steps cut into the rock-face to your left. They lead to a
platform which runs the length of the tunnel ceiling. It is used to
service the torches.
If you wish to climb the steps and investigate the platform, turn to
52.
If you wish to ignore the steps and continue on your journey, turn
to 256.
165
Placing the gold in your pouch, you remove the Seal and hand it to
her. She snatches it and examines it closely. As you leave the shop,
you hear her sniggering quietly to herself, and you wonder if you have
done the right thing.
Turn to 186.
166
You make your way up a flight of stairs and onto the crowded deck.
Fierce battle rages all around you as the Durenese fleet is engulfed by
the rush of ghostly death-hulks. Suddenly a flash of searing flame
shoots from a tower at the rear of the death-hulk you are on, and
explodes into the side of a Durenese warship less than fifty yards
away. You watch with horror as soldiers leap from the deck, their
clothes and hair in flames.
Illustration X—Soldiers leap from the deck, their clothes and hair in
flames.
‘You play a daring strategy, Lone Wolf. But I think I have you now.’
Captain Kelman moves his ornate keystone across to your side of the
board with a triumphant smile. But it soon fades to a look of shock as
you unexpectedly counter his move. ‘Stalemate,’ you reply coolly. The
captain stares at the board in disbelief.
‘The skills of the Kai never cease to amaze me,’ he says, slowly
scratching his head. He is still staring at the Samor board when you
finally bid him goodnight and return to your cabin.
Turn to 197.
168
Slowly, one by one, the other travellers appear and stare in shock at
the dead coachman. ‘We must bury him,’ says the priest.
You silently nod your agreement and prepare a grave in which to lay
the corpse. As you all walk back to the coach, you discuss what should
be done.
‘I know the road to Port Bax. I had better drive the coach,’ volunteers
Halvorc.
‘I do hope we're not blamed for his death,’ says the priest nervously.
‘I shall testify to that,’ says Ganon. ‘Lies are never spoken by Knights
of the White Mountain.’
It is true that in Durenor, a true knight will speak only the truth
whether for his own good or ill. His words seem to reassure the priest
and you are all soon once more on the road heading towards the
eastern horizon. It is late in the afternoon when you arrive at a coach
station in a small coastal village known as Gorn Cove, which is mainly
populated by outcasts, thieves, and Szalls.
There is only one inn at the village, a tavern known as the Forlorn
Hope. Its state of disrepair is typical of all the other hovels in this poor
sea village. A room for the night costs 1 Gold Crown.
You leave the gaming-house and walk dejectedly back towards the
coach station. In the distance you can see the east gate of the city.
Waiting below it is the coach to Durenor. You must get to Port Bax —
the future of Sommerlund depends on it. You slip past the guard and
board the coach without him seeing you enter. As the departure time
gets nearer, five other passengers climb into the coach and seat
themselves around you. The guard slams the door and you begin your
journey to Port Bax.
The guard looks at your white card and sneers, ‘This is a merchant's
pass. It's of no use to you here. You must have a red pass to gain
access to the naval quadrant.’ He flicks the card back at you and
returns to his post at the gate.
Turn to 327.
171
Behind the trees you notice a wide coast road running from east to
west.
Your Kai sense warns you that there is something evil hiding in the
darkness of the platform.
If you wish to climb the stone steps and confront it, turn to 52.
If you wish to sprint past the steps and platform, turn to 256.
If you want to run back to the junction and take the left path, turn
to 64.
173
Then, by chance, you notice a small boy steal a money pouch from
the belt of a merchant, and slip it into his boot.
If you decide to grab the boy and make him hand back the pouch,
turn to 91.
If you follow the boy outside and steal the pouch from him, turn to
6.
If you just ignore what you have seen and examine the goods for
sale, turn to 283.
174
The knight steps towards you and says, ‘I've yet to meet a peasant
who could afford to buy his own horse. You are not a peasant, but I'd
wager you to be a thief.’
With a flick of his broadsword, he unhorses you and heavily you fall to
the ground. Instinctively, you draw your weapon in self-defence as the
knight attacks you.
Turn to 162.
175
‘It seems our bird has flown,’ says the captain, pointing to a longboat
moving swiftly towards another ship on the horizon. ‘She flies no flag,
and her hull is of a strange shape. I've ne'er before seen the like.’
For three days and nights, you have ridden along the highway as it
follows its route up the river valley of the Durenon. In the distance are
the peaks of the Hammerdal Mountains, one of the highest ranges in
all Magnamund. The capital lies at the very centre of those mountains.
It is now the morning of the fourteenth day of your quest. You have
made camp near a waterfall where the fast-flowing Durenon drops
over 120 feet. You are about to leave, when a group of six hooded
riders appears on the forest highway above, blocking your exit from
the camp.
Lord-lieutenant Rhygar demands that they let you pass, adding that
you bear a royal dispatch. In Durenor, it is a treasonable offence to
hinder a King's messenger, but unfortunately, the cloaked riders do not
seem impressed by his warning, and they remain where they are.
Illustration XI—Lord-lieutenant Rhygar demands that they let you
pass as you bear a royal dispatch.
‘If you do not care for reason, perhaps our swords will turn your tails,’
says Rhygar. He draws his sword, and orders his men to attack.
If you have the Kai Discipline of Sixth Sense, turn to 322.
As you re-enter the tavern, you can see that most of the sailors are
clustered around the centre table to watch an arm-wrestling contest.
Although the delicious smell of the food is making your mouth water,
you suspect that something is very wrong. You set the tray down by
the door. Your hunger has made you tired, and you decide to take a
short nap before meeting the others in the bar.
When you awake, you see the bodies of two dead rats lying beside the
food tray — they have been poisoned. The shock soon turns to anger
when you realize that the poison was in the food intended for you.
You grab your equipment and leave the room, intent on discovering
your would-be assassin.
Turn to 200.
179
If you would rather take a horse and leave the village, turn to 150.
You conclude that the crew are either blind or have no intention of
rescuing you. The fishing boat continues on its course out to sea and,
without seeming to notice you, disappears over the horizon. Pulling
off a loose plank from the hatch cover, and using it as a makeshift oar,
you set about paddling towards the shore.
Turn to 337.
181
This street seems dirtier and smellier than the one you have just been
down. The cluttered window of a shop to your left catches your
attention. In the window are many useful items, all of which bear a
price tag.
You may enter and purchase any of the above items. Remember to
mark them on your Action Chart. When you have completed your
purchases, you continue your way along Sage Street, towards the
Ragadorn Bridge. This bridge is the only connection between the east
and west sides of the port and you push your way through the crowds
of people and carts. You find yourself in a rubbish-strewn thoroughfare
known as East Trade Lane.
Turn to 186.
[7] According to Lone Wolf Club Newsletter #12: ‘Realistically, you can only wear one
Backpack at a time, and carry a maximum of eight Backpack Items (Special Items not
included).’
182
You must find shelter for the night or you will risk being arrested by
the city guard. Your Kai sense tells you that the best course of action is
to return to the tavern and ask the innkeeper for a room. Refreshed
by a comfortable night's sleep, you can then make plans to reach
Durenor first thing in the morning.
Turn to 177.
183
The forest drops away steeply at the edge of your campsite, and in
your haste you trip and fall headlong through the trees.
As the Drakkar dies at your feet, the pirates falter at the sight of such
a powerful warrior floored, and then flee to their sinking ship. Captain
Kelman rallies his crew and leads them against the retreating enemy,
driving them into the water with the fury of the attack.
The Green Sceptre pulls free of the pirate ship, which keels heavily to
starboard.
‘Our thanks, Kai Lord.’ The captain grasps your hand. ‘We are proud
and thankful to have you with us.’ A cheer resounds along the deck,
and the crew voice their praise.
You help tend the wounded whilst repairs are carried out to the
damaged prow. Within the hour, the wind fills the sails and you are
back on course for Durenor once more.
Turn to 240.
185
You may evade at any stage of the combat by diving into the sea.
Turn to 286.
If you kill them both in combat, you can then jump to the deck of a
nearby Durenese ship by turning to 120.
186
You are standing opposite a large building with a sign on the wall:
RAGADORN STABLES AND COACH STATION
If you wish to approach the coachman and ask to buy a ticket for
the journey to Port Bax, turn to 136.
2 Spears
2 Swords
6 Gold Crowns
You roll the bodies into the Rymerift and then run across the bridge in
case anyone saw the incident. The forest track continues for over an
hour before you arrive at a junction, where you see a signpost.
You adjust your equipment and set off towards the east.
Turn to 265.
188
Your quick wits and skill have saved you from a venomous bite. As the
snake disappears into the long grass beyond the road, you gather
together your Backpack and climb the tree, where you spend the rest
of the night safely above the ground.
Turn to 312.
189
‘Impostor!’ he cries, and draws his weapon. Before you can react to
his attack, his sword has grazed your arm and you lose 2 ENDURANCE
points. He runs at you and knocks you backwards through the open
doorway. In a tangle of limbs and curses, you both fall headlong down
the watchtower stairs. You stagger to your feet, but the knight is
already up and searching for his broadsword.
If you would rather abandon your horse and run for the safety of the
trees, turn to 244.
190
Using the edge of a steel rule to prise open the lock, you suddenly feel
a sharp pain in your chest. A cunning trap has been laid, and as you
open the box, a small needle shoots out and embeds itself in your
flesh. It is tipped with a deadly poison. You die instantly.
At the end of the avenue, the cobbled street turns abruptly to the
right. Opposite this point is a tall, white stone building with a plaque
above the door.
You can see that the cobbled street ends at a high stone wall. There is
a large red gate in this wall and it is guarded by two soldiers. Beyond
the gate, you can make out the masts of ships moored in the harbour.
The drunken sailors roar with delight, money changes hands and bets
are settled. You notice your opponent wink at two of his henchmen.
They begin to move towards you. Without a moment's hesitation, you
rise from the table and punch the sailor so hard in the face that he
somersaults backwards crashing into his surprised friends. You leave
them sprawled in a heap on the floor.
As you reach the tavern door, an ugly sailor draws his sword and
blocks your escape. But before you have a chance to do anything,
there is a loud thud and he falls to his knees. Behind him stands the
serving girl, a large wooden club in her hand, smiling at you. You
thank her, and wink as you race out of the door and into the darkened
street beyond.
After running blindly in the dark for many minutes, you notice a stable
and coach station through the gloom ahead. With the shouts of angry
sailors still ringing in your ears, you run to the building and climb a
ladder where you spend the night safely hidden in the hay-loft.
Turn to 32.
193
‘How I pray that this storm will lift, for even if the fleet arrives intact, I
fear our men will be too weak to break the enemy.’
Then, as if in answer to his prayer, the dawn of the next day heralds
an end to the raging storms. But the calm waters now surrounding the
fleet contain a danger far greater than any storm.
Turn to 100.
194
When you awake, you are shocked to find yourself lying beneath a
wooden jetty, and the shallow water surrounding you fills your nostrils
with a foul stench. As you stand, your head throbs violently as if you
had been knocked unconscious. This is exactly what has happened to
you, and your Gold, your Backpack, your Weapons, and all your
Special Items (including the Seal of Hammerdal) have been stolen by
the fishermen.8
With a groan of despair, you climb out of the slimy water and pull
yourself onto the jetty. Looking up you see a faded sign.
Welcome to Ragadorn
You fear the rumours about this place are true. It is nearly dark and it
has started to rain. You must find the Seal if you are to persuade the
Durenese to give you the Sommerswerd. Looking round, you see a
large market square with a stone signpost in the centre, indicating the
various roads that lead off the square.
If you would rather go west back to the jetty and search for the
fishing boat, turn to 86.
[8] In the Collector's Edition, you do not lose any of your Special Items except for the Seal of
Hammerdal. You may choose to follow these instructions instead.
195
You have been travelling for nearly two hours when the driver shouts,
‘Toll bridge ahead. One Crown apiece.’
Looking out of the window, it is pouring down with rain but you can
just make out a wooden bridge and a log cabin in the distance. The
driver halts the coach at the log cabin and an ugly creature appears at
the doorway. It is a warty-skinned Szall, a harmless and cowardly
breed of Giak. They have been natives of the Wildlands since the Age
of the Black Moon, when thousands of their kind migrated from the
Durncrag Mountains to avoid the tyranny of Vashna, the mightiest of
the Darklords.
The Szall demands one Gold Crown from each passenger before the
coach will be allowed to pass. The other passengers each place one
Crown upon a small plate and hand it to you.
If you have enough gold to pay the toll, do so and continue on your
journey by turning to 249.
King Alin IV sits alone in his domed tower, viewing his mountain
domain through one of the many portals of tinted glass. You and Lord
Axim are formally announced as you enter the chamber, and you
respectfully bow to his Majesty. Then, Lord Axim removes the Seal of
Hammerdal from your finger and walks over to the King's side.
(Remember to erase the Seal of Hammerdal from your Action Chart.)
For nearly an hour they talk, their sombre faces reflecting the
seriousness of the situation. There is a short pause of silent
meditation, and King Alin suddenly rises from his throne and
addresses you for the first time.
‘Alas, the Darklords have woken once more, and once more does
Sommerlund come in search of our aid. I had prayed that my reign
would be remembered as a time of peace and fulfilment, but in my
heart I knew it was to be otherwise.’
The King removes a golden key from the pocket of his white robe and
inserts it in a marble dais standing in the centre of the chamber. A
gentle humming fills the room, as the stone cover slides back to reveal
the hilt of a golden sword.
‘Take the sword, Lone Wolf. It is foretold that only a true son of
Sommerlund can release the powers that lie within its blade.’
As you grasp the glowing hilt, a tingling sensation runs up your arm
and radiates throughout your body.
As dawn breaks, a fierce storm rises and you are woken by the violent
rocking of the ship. The floor of your cabin is awash, and the shouts
of the crew can hardly be heard above the howling wind. You quickly
dress, gather up your equipment, and make your way to the deck.
You are soon joined by the captain, who takes hold of your arm and
orders you to return to your cabin. Suddenly, as you start to go down,
there is a thunderous crack as, high in the rigging, part of the mast
snaps. You look up to see the shattered pole falling towards you.
You have covered less than twenty yards when your horse rears up
and bolts. You are thrown to the ground and you lose 1 ENDURANCE
point. Brushing the dirt from your cloak, you curse as the animal
disappears out of sight. You will have to continue your journey from
here on foot.
Turn to 138.
199
The innkeeper pockets the Crown and says in a mocking voice, ‘You
can get there by putting one foot in front of the other — like this,’ and
with a loud laugh he walks behind the counter and disappears into the
kitchen beyond. You curse his trickery and leave the inn, pausing only,
in your anger, to kick over his bucket of dirty water.
Turn to 143.
200
By the time you reach the bar, the others are all seated at a large table
awaiting your appearance. Drawing closer to the table, you realize you
have found your would-be assassin. You will have to attack without
giving any warning to your enemy, so study your fellow travellers
carefully and then make your decision.
If you wish to attack the Knight of the White Mountain called Dorier,
turn to 7.
If you wish to attack the Knight of the White Mountain called Ganon,
turn to 270.
201
As you rise, the snake hisses and strikes at your arm. You dodge to
one side, but are you quick enough to avoid its deadly fangs?
The soldier salutes and allows you to pass through the red gate. You
walk into an open square lit by the tall beacons lining the quayside. To
your relief, you sight the marble pillars of the Sommerlund Consulate,
and the familiar sun-flag of your country flying above it in the fresh
night breeze.
As you climb the stone steps, you are recognized by the Sommlending
guards on duty at the main door. They disappear inside and quickly
return in the company of a tall grey-haired official. His anguished
expression suddenly changes to a smile of joy as he beholds your
ragged Kai cloak and tunic.
‘Hope beyond hope! Thank the gods that you live, Kai Lord. The
scant news that has reached us from the west has caused us great
alarm.’
Turn to 31.
203
‘Feeling hungry?’ you say, peering at the two busy house mice in the
far corner. ‘Perhaps you would care for some cheese?’
Using your Kai Discipline, you order the two mice to bring the cheese
to you. The sailor looks on in amazement as the two furry creatures
deposit the cheese at your feet and then scurry away.
Turn to 268.
204
The keen sight you have developed through your Kai Discipline of
Tracking has enabled you to identify the talisman that sits on top of
the black staff. It is the crescent and crystal star emblem of the
Magicians' Guild of Toran in northern Sommerlund. This man is a
renegade of the guild and a traitor to your country.
If you wish to climb the tower and attack this treacherous magician,
turn to 73.
If you do not wish to risk your life against this powerful sorcerer,
jump overboard by turning to 267.
205
The innkeeper frowns at you and points to a side door. ‘If you can't
afford a room, you can go and sleep in the stable.’
As you walk towards the exit, you feel the stare of the other
passengers burning into your back. The door is slammed shut and you
stand shivering in the cold night air.
Turn to 213.
206
You are woken during the night by the baying of wolves in the
distance. Rather than risk being torn to pieces in your sleep, you climb
the tree and spend the rest of the night in safety, high above the
ground.
Turn to 312.
207
You have walked less than a hundred yards when the track disappears
over the edge of a precipice towards the deep waters of the Rymerift
below. It is impossible to go on any further in this direction. You will
have to return along the path and cross the river at the bridge.
Turn to 47.
208
You have just passed the wagon when you hear a noise behind you.
Spinning around, you scan the walls and ceiling but you can see
nothing in the gloom of the tunnel.
Turn to 134.
209
The crew start to whisper. You hear the words ‘ghost-ship’ and ‘cursed
voyage’, but the muttering stops when the captain's voice booms out
an order for all hands on deck. Only the creaking of the timbers can
be heard as Captain Kelman climbs to the rear deck to address the
crew.
‘Men, we're three days' sail from Port Bax. The fire has robbed us of
our provisions and our freshwater has been fouled. We shall have to
steer a new course for Ragadorn, where we shall make good our
repairs and replenish our stores. That is all.’
The crew seem pleased by the captain's announcement, and set about
their duties with renewed vigour.
Then the captain turns to you. ‘We're about eight hours from
Ragadorn, my lord. My orders are to see you safely to Port Bax and
pass you into the care of the Sommlending consul, Lord-lieutenant
Rhygar. But time is not our ally and I fear the repairs may take a week
or more to complete. When we drop anchor, you will have to find
your own route to Durenor — by sea with us or alone by the coast
road.’
As you return to your cabin, the King's words haunt your thoughts:
‘Forty days, Lone Wolf. We only have strength to stand against them
for forty days.’ You do not have long to complete your dangerous
mission.
Turn to 197.
210
You place both hands on your stomach and try to fight back the pain
as you concentrate on focusing your skill. The familiar warmth of your
healing power numbs the pain, but the poison is very strong and your
struggle is not yet over.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table. May the luck of the
gods steer your choice, for your life now hangs on the number that
you pick.
You ask the man how you can obtain a red pass.
You thank the old man and leave the city hall.
Turn to 191.
212
You climb to the top of a pile of sheaves of hay and pull your warm
Kai cloak around your shoulders to keep out the chill wind. You
quickly fall asleep, little knowing you will never open your eyes again.
One of the other passengers on the coach who is an agent of the
Darklords creeps out and assassinates you in the dark chill of the
night. Do you know who it was?
Your life and your quest have come to a tragic end here.
214
Once you are inside, you are immediately aware that this is not a shop
at all. The room is cold and bare except for a large table in the centre.
You notice sinister large iron manacles attached to each of its corners.
It may interest you to know that after a long week in the prison of the
chief inquisitor you did not let a single Kai secret pass your lips. It is a
record that has yet to be equalled, but not one that spared your life.
Thirty yards along on the left side of the street, you hear the sound of
merriment drifting out of a large ramshackle building. There is a
creaking sign above the door.
For three days and nights the mighty fleet of Durenor steers swiftly
towards the Holmgulf, a strong wind filling the sails of the warships.
But although the voyage is fast, the soldiers' confidence and eagerness
for battle has slowly faded as if their will has been drained by some
invisible vampire. Lord Axim is close to despair.
‘This black mood that haunts our decks is the evil work of the
Darklords. I know of their power to turn a man's mind, but the curse
that befalls us is a sorcery we cannot even see to destroy. How I pray
that this spell would end, for even if we arrive at our destination, I fear
that we are too weak in mind to break our foe.’
Turn to 100.
217
The big man looks at you and says in a cynical voice: ‘The coach
station. A coach leaves for Port Bax this afternoon. For a Gold Crown
I'll tell you how to get there.’
You look up from the dead captain to see the macabre faces of the
other crew members. They are surrounding you. There are at least
twenty of them and they are armed with cutlasses and axes.
Already the venom is taking effect. Your wounded arm feels stiff and a
cold sweat has broken out on your brow. Quickly you remove the
Pendant that Banedon gave you at the Ruins of Raumas. Using a
sharp point of the star, you cut a deep V through the two puncture
holes made by the fangs, and suck out the venom.
The charm is lucky indeed — and so are you. You lose 3 ENDURANCE
points but not your life. You decide to climb the tree and spend the
rest of the night safely above the ground.
Turn to 312.
220
Searching the body, you discover all you need to prove that he was
the assassin. Inside his pockets, you find a half-empty vial of gnadurn
sap, the deadly poison that was used to taint your food. Then there is
a scroll written in Giak, giving details of your expected arrival in Port
Bax. He must have located you at Ragadorn and hatched his murder
plans there. You notice that the weapon he carries is a Darklord blade,
fashioned of black steel and forged in the furnaces of Helgedad, the
infernal city of the Darklords beyond the Durncrag Range. Only there
in all of vast Magnamund can black steel be made. But the final proof
of his true identity is the serpent tattoo on his left wrist. The harbour
thugs who attempted to kill you before you had even left Holmgard
bore exactly the same mark.
His purse contains 23 Gold Crowns which you may keep. Do not
forget to mark them on your Action Chart.
Turn to 33.
221
The floor of the tavern is covered with the blood and bodies of the
people you have killed. Outside in the main street you can hear the
chant of a mob. The local inhabitants believe that you are a mad
murderer and they intend to lynch you. Quickly, you make your
escape through the rear door as the sound of the mob gets closer.
Turn to 88.
222
After taking care to close his door, the captain opens the mysterious
bundle and tips the contents onto his cabin table. A large charred
earthenware jug and several blackened rags drop in a heap. They give
off a strange oily smell.
You both stare at the burnt rags as if they hold the answer to your
questions. Suddenly a cry from up on deck breaks the silence.
Grabbing his sword and telescope, the captain disappears through the
door and up the ladder to the deck above.
If you would rather make a quick search of his cabin, turn to 315.
223
The guard stares at the magnificent ring in awe. The legend of the
Seal of Hammerdal is well known to the people of Durenor. It is said
that of all the lost treasures of the Durenese, the Seal of Hammerdal is
one that they would not wish returned. The guard's anxious face
shows he clearly recognizes the ring's dreadful significance.
‘I will not hinder your urgent mission, but I cannot help you except to
set you on the road for Port Bax. Continue on this forest path and you
will come to a fork near a stunted oak tree. Take the left track — it is
the quickest way.’
You thank the loyal guard, and push on once more into the forest. A
mile or so along the road, you come to the fork and take the left track.
It leads to a stone bridge across the Rymerift. The waters of the
Rymerift are over one mile deep and up to two miles at its widest
point. Near to the bridge you find a signpost.
You breathe a sigh of relief for you should arrive there in under an
hour.
Turn to 265.
224
The following morning you are woken by the cry of seagulls as they
wheel and soar above the clipper. The wind is strong and it fills the
sails. You breakfast with Captain Kelman who is in better spirits than
the previous day. He tells you that the Green Sceptre is making good
speed and should arrive at Port Bax, the main Durenese seaport,
within a week. Suddenly you hear a cry from the crow's nest.
You and the captain climb up on deck and brace yourselves against the
fresh sea breeze.
If you wish to stay on deck, ready your weapon and turn to 146.
Seventy Durenese warships left Port Bax, but only fifty now enter the
Holmgulf. The battle has claimed many brave men including Admiral
Calfen, who died aboard the flagship Durenor, the first ship to be
sunk. But despite the heavy loss, a great victory has been won, a
victory which inspires the Durenese soldiers with new strength so that
the past ordeal of both the voyage and the battle are now forgotten.
As their optimism and determination return, all are eager to reach
Holmgard and raise the siege.
It is dusk on the thirty-seventh day of your quest when you sight the
spires of Holmgard on the horizon. The city still stands defiantly
against the army of Darklords, although constantly under siege.
Flickering in the darkness you can see the small fires which burn
throughout the capital. A confident Lord Axim joins you at the prow.
‘The moonless sky will aid us this night. We shall enter the harbour
unseen. Come the dawn, my men will scatter the wretched foe like
dead leaves upon the wind of a storm.’
As you enter Holmgard harbour at the head of the Durenese fleet, you
unsheathe the Sommerswerd and prepare to fulfil your destiny.
Turn to 350.
226
‘He and his mercenaries bleed the people dry with heavy taxes, and if
y'complain, you end up in the harbour with a dagger in your back.’
The big man shakes his head and pours another round of ale for the
drunken sailors.
If you wish to buy a room for the night pay the innkeeper 2 Gold
Crowns and turn to 56.
If you wish to try your luck at winning some Gold Crowns at arm-
wrestling, turn to 276.
227
Marching along the centre of the street are four heavily armed city
guards. Rather than risk being arrested, you quickly dodge into an
alley on your left. The guards suddenly halt opposite the entrance. If
one of them should turn his head, you will be spotted for sure. Behind
you is a small window that leads into a crowded tavern. Without
hesitation, you climb in as quickly as possible.
Turn to 4.
228
They are larnuma trees and their fruit is very nutritious as well as being
sweet and juicy. After your Meal you feel much stronger. You pick
enough fruit for 2 Meals and store it in your Backpack.
Looking behind the trees, you see a wide coast road that stretches into
the distance to the east and west. There are no signposts.
Your sense warns you that the wagon contains an evil presence.
If you want to dash past the wagon and run for safety, turn to 208.
If you want to return to the junction and take the right hand tunnel,
turn to 164.
230
You follow the street until it turns abruptly eastwards into Beggar
Lane. You can see how this street got its name, for there are scores of
ragged men, women, and children huddled in doorways, all holding
out their begging bowls.
As you walk towards the junction at the end of the street, you are
assailed from all sides with pleas for gold.
If you wish to give any of your gold to these beggars, turn to 93.
If you wish to push them aside and continue on your way, turn to
137.
231
The back door opens onto a small square, in the centre of which is a
large tomb. The fishermen have disappeared into the gloomy streets;
all that is except one who has slipped on the wet cobblestones and
knocked himself out. He is lying in the gutter with his face submerged
in a puddle.
You roll him over with your foot and search him. You discover 5 Gold
Crowns, a Dagger, and to your great relief the Seal of Hammerdal on
his finger. Mark on your Action Chart those items you take with you
and continue.
You are less than twenty yards from the tower when the guard steps
forward and demands to know your business. You notice that the
soldier is wearing the red coat of a Durenese man-at-arms, and realize
that you have reached the border of Durenor. You need to find some
way of getting past him.
If you decide to say you are a merchant on your way to Port Bax,
turn to 250.
If you want to show him the Seal of Hammerdal (if you still have it),
turn to 223.
233
‘We're bound for Ragadorn — due there by noon today,’ he says, his
face almost completely hidden by the wide brim of his hat. ‘A seat
below will cost you 3 Crowns, but you can ride on the roof for only
one.’
If you wish to ride inside the coach, pay the driver 3 Gold Crowns
and turn to 37.
If you would prefer to stay on the roof, pay him one Gold Crown
and turn to 148.
If you cannot pay the fare, you must leave the coach and walk. Turn
to 292.
234
Before you can defend yourself, the Helghast has smashed into you
and you both fall onto the highway below.
It may be some comfort to learn that your death was swift and
painless. Your neck was instantly broken and you were spared the
agony of the Helghast's black fingers tearing and burning their way
through your throat. The Seal of Hammerdal is now on its way to
Holmgard, which will now fall to the Darklords.
As you reach the landing of the next floor, you hear the door crash
open and the angry mob pour through. At the top of the stairs, a
Short Sword hangs on a hook by the fireplace. You may take this
weapon if you wish. Looking around you, you see that there is only
one way to escape from this room and that is to jump through the
window to the street below.
If you wish to stand and fight the mob as they run up the stairs, turn
to 90.
236
The captain appears from out of the smoking hold and approaches
you, his face black with soot. He is carrying something in a bundle
under his arm.
Turn to 222.
237
The dead zombies lie around your feet. By now, the soldiers' fear of
the undead has turned to sheer hatred. A chorus of Durenese battle-
cries resounds along the deck. You lead the charge along a boarding
plank and onto the deck of the death-hulk, cleaving the zombie crew
aside like a scythe through wheat. Then suddenly a black-cloaked
figure blocks your path, a twisted sword held in its shrunken black
hand. It is a Helghast, and you must fight it to the death.
You are excited by the chance of being able to win some gold and you
quickly enter. Any Weapons you may have must be left with a guard at
the door. You can recover your Weapons when you decide to leave (do
not erase them from your Action Chart). You are given a silver token
worth 1 Gold Crown, that can only be used in this gaming-house. (You
only receive the free silver token once, regardless of how many times
you may enter the gaming-house.)
The entrance hall opens out into a huge room where many gambling
games are in progress. One that catches your eye is called
‘Cartwheel’. At one end of a long table, an attractive young woman
spins a black dish divided into ten sections marked 0–9. As the dish
spins, she drops a small silver ball into it which eventually comes to
rest in one of the numbered sections. Several merchants are seated
around the table and they are betting heavily on the fall of the silver
ball.
Illustration XIV—An attractive young woman spins a black dish
divided into ten sections marked 0–9.
To play ‘Cartwheel’, you must first decide the number you would like
to bet on and just how many Gold Crowns you would like to stake.
Make a note of these numbers and then pick a number from the
Random Number Table. If you pick exactly the same number, you win
8 Gold Crowns for every 1 Gold Crown that you gamble. If the
number you pick is immediately before or after the correct choice, you
win 5 Gold Crowns for every 1 Gold Crown that you stake. (Note that
0 sits between 9 and 1 in Cartwheel.) There is a limit to how much
you can win on this table: 40 Gold Crowns.
You may play as many rounds of ‘Cartwheel’ as you wish until either
you lose all your Gold Crowns, or you decide to pick up your winnings
(maximum of 40 Gold Crowns).
You try to apply your hands to the injured man's chest, but the Szalls
are pulling at your cloak and trying to drag you away.
If you do not possess this skill, you must attack the Szalls in order to
save the man's life. Turn to 28.
240
After three uneventful days at sea, you find shipboard life rather
dreary. If you have the Kai Discipline of Healing, any ENDURANCE
points that you may have lost on your adventure so far are restored.
This will bring your ENDURANCE points score back to your original one.
If you do not possess the skill, restore half of any points you have lost
in combat.
On the afternoon of the fourth day, you are talking with an injured
sailor up on deck when you smell smoke seeping from the hold.
A hush descends on the tavern as the man you have accused turns to
face you.
When you use the sword in combat it will add 8 points to your COMBAT
SKILL total (10 points if you possess the Kai Discipline of Weaponskill
with any sword). It has the ability to absorb any magic used against
you and doubles the total of all ENDURANCE points lost by undead
enemies (e.g. Helghast) during combat.9
Turn to 152.
[9] The Sommerswerd is a weapon-like Special Item. The +10 COMBAT SKILL bonus referred to
for Weaponskill is a combination of the +8 COMBAT SKILL that the Sommerswerd grants
naturally and +2 for Weaponskill with Short Sword, Sword, or Broadsword (as each of them
grant proficiency with the Sommerswerd). It is not an additional bonus. When used in combat,
treat it like a one-handed sword, regardless of Weaponskill bonus. The text or footnotes will
always remind you to double your enemy's ENDURANCE point loss if it is undead.
243
Seeing their master slain, the Giaks falter and retreat towards the
stern. Captain Kelman rallies his crew and attacks, leading his men
against the snarling creatures and driving them back until they leap
into the sea to avoid the rain of swords. Knowing the battle to be lost,
the Kraan leave the masts and fly back to the distant coastline.
‘Our thanks, Kai Lord,’ the captain says and shakes your hand. ‘We
are proud and thankful to have you with us.’
A cheer resounds along the deck as the crew voice their praise.
You help tend the wounded whilst repairs are carried out on the
damaged masts. Within two hours they are complete, the wind fills the
sails, and you continue your voyage to Durenor.
Turn to 240.
244
You push on through the dense forest for nearly three hours before
you discover a track heading north, running parallel to the Rymerift,
whose rushing waters are over one mile deep. In the distance, you
spot a bridge that spans the dark water at a narrow point. A small hut
with a flat roof has been erected in the centre, on top of which stand
two soldiers. A sign points across the bridge.
PORT BAX
If you wish to avoid the bridge and continue along the path, turn to
207.
245
You turn east into Oxyoke Way and notice a sign above the door of a
small shop to your left.
One of the guards steps forward and demands to see your pass.
If you do not have a pass, you will be refused entry to the harbour.
Turn to 327.
247
You are mesmerized by the falling mast and feel totally powerless to
escape. As you are crushed beneath the enormous weight of
splintering timber, the last thing that you remember are the horrified
faces of Captain Kelman and his crew staring down at you.
As you lay the golden sword upon the deck, the zombie captain dives
at you and pins you down. His strength is unnatural. As he sinks a
dagger into your throat, the last thing you hear is a hideous laugh of
victory.
During the course of the afternoon's journey, you chat with your
fellow travellers and learn about their backgrounds.
Illustration XV—You chat with your fellow travellers and learn about
their backgrounds.
Sitting opposite are two brothers named Ganon and Dorier. They are
knights in the Order of the White Mountain, warrior lords of Durenor
who have pledged allegiance to protect the country from raids by the
bandits of the Wildlands. They own a castle and land near Port Bax.
Next to them sits Halvorc the merchant. His nose is swollen and his
face is badly bruised thanks to Lachlan, the Overlord of Ragadorn. A
little misunderstanding about port taxes lost him his cargo and most of
his gold. Seated by the far door is a priest called Parsion. Like you, he
is a Sommlending who has journeyed across the Wildlands by coach
on his way to Port Bax. Beside you sits a young woman called Viveka.
She is a mercenary adventuress who earns her gold by fighting for it,
and sells her services to the highest bidder. She is returning to Port
Bax having collected payment for a successful adventure in Ragadorn.
Turn to 39.
250
If you are to get past this border guard alive, you will have to come up
with an alternative plan.
If you wish to walk away, make a wide detour and enter the forest
further south, turn to 244.
If you choose to reveal the Seal of Hammerdal (if you still possess
it), turn to 223.
251
It is nearly dark when the small fishing boat passes through the
harbour entrance of Ragadorn. You have still seen no sign of survivors
from the storm and you fear the worst.
You notice that three of the fishermen are acting very suspiciously.
They whisper to each other and their eyes often glance at your money
pouch. As the boat sails into the estuary of the River Dorn, they
surround you and demand that you hand over all your gold. You are
about to fight them when an unexpected blow from behind knocks you
to the deck. You see one of the fishermen raise his foot. As it strikes
your head, suddenly everything fades into darkness.
Turn to 194.
252
You try to remember some of the stories told to you by an old Kai
master called Wise Hawk. He was envoy to Port Bax for many years,
and he knew and loved this city as well as any native Durenese. You
recall him saying that the consulate overlooked Alin Square in the
naval quadrant of the city. There is a sign to your left pointing along
the avenue.
Certain this is the right direction, you walk confidently along the tree-
lined avenue.
Turn to 191.
253
This street follows the harbour wall towards the River Dorn where it
then turns south into Booty Walk. As you pass the warehouses lining
the waterfront, you recognize the stone signpost in the centre of the
square ahead.
If you wish to walk along Barnacle Street and return to the tavern,
turn to 177.
254
For three days and nights you have followed the highway to the capital
as it runs parallel to the River Durenon. The river valley is a wide belt
of rich, cultivated land that climbs towards the Hammerdal Mountains,
one of the highest ranges in all of Magnamund.
If you wish to draw your weapon and prepare to fight, turn to 69.
If you do not want to fight, you can evade by running into the
woods before combat begins by turning to 183.
255
Taking hold of your weapon, you demonstrate the Kai skills of balance
and speed, as taught to you by your Kai masters. With breathtaking
speed, as you spin and twist the weapon around your head and body,
the movement of your hands becomes a dazzling blur. To finish your
display of Weaponskill, you strike the edge of a pewter plate and send
it spinning across the room so fast that it embeds itself in the cellar
door.
Turn to 268.
256
You pass the stone steps and continue along the highway. You have
just passed under the platform when you hear a noise above you. You
stop and stare upwards but you can see nothing in the gloom of the
tunnel ceiling.
Turn to 134.
257
If you wish to continue north and enter Black Knight Street, turn to
335.
The stench of the ship is making you choke. You lose 1 ENDURANCE
point. You must get out of this vile hold or you will suffocate.
If you wish to leave the hold through a door in the far wall, turn to
5.
259
Through the pouring rain, you can make out the dark shape of a city
patrol marching towards you. Rather than risk being stopped and
possibly arrested, you dash into a nearby shop.
Turn to 161.
260
The captain orders the ship to go alongside and pick up the three
men. They are fishermen from the Sommerlund port of Tyso. Their
boat was attacked last night by pirates, and they are the only survivors.
You give them food and warm clothing and they can barely hold back
their tears of gratitude. As you prepare to continue your journey to
Durenor, one of the men offers you a fine Sword as a token of his
thanks. If you wish to accept this gift, remember to mark it on your
Action Chart.
Turn to 240.
261
The road follows a course along a high, grassy ridge for many miles
before turning northwards to the coast. You pass a village where the
houses curve in a circle around a large pond of stagnant water. As you
ride through, a gaggle of Szall children come running towards you,
shouting and throwing stones.
You descend into the deep valley beyond and gradually the moor gives
way to richer land that has been cleared and ploughed. The hillside
opposite is heavily wooded. You are not far from the coast and you
can see the tall cliffs with their multicoloured bands of rock jutting out
into the ocean.
Then just as you are passing through a small copse, you hear
desperate cries for help off to your right.
If you wish to ignore their desperate pleas, continue riding along the
road by turning to 198.
262
The guard roughly pushes you aside and runs out of the watchtower
towards Tomb Square. There is a small room off the staircase and you
decide to enter and search it before he returns. In it you discover:
Sword
Mace
Quarterstaff
Enough Food for 1 Meal
6 Gold Crowns
Potion of Orange Liquid
If you wish to take any of these items, mark them on your Action
Chart.10
As you are leaving, you collide with another guard and you both
tumble down the stairs, but before he can gather his senses, you have
sprinted off into the night.
Turn to 65.
[10] You have lost your Backpack and therefore cannot carry the Meal or the Orange Potion.
263
The man stares at the Seal with a look of shocked dismay. Without
saying a word, he gets up from his chair and beckons you to follow
him up a flight of spiral stairs that lead to a domed chamber. Here you
meet the captain of the port watch. He listens intently as you tell of
the war in Sommerlund and of your urgent mission.
You collect your Red Pass, leave the port watchtower, and hurry along
the street towards the harbour guards. (Mark the Red Pass on your
Action Chart as a Special Item.) Turn to 246.
264
Turn to 312.
265
At dusk on the tenth day of your quest, you experience your first sight
of the magnificent city of Port Bax. Like a diamond set in the green
velvet shore, the towers of the city glimmer in the pale light of a
waxing moon. To the north is the harbour and the formidable war
fleet of the Durenese navy. To the east, beyond the moss-covered city
wall, stretches the Forest of Durenor. And there, on the crest of a hill,
stands a castle tall and proud, the crowning glory of this beautiful port.
You enter Port Bax through an unguarded gate in the green city wall,
and make your way through the darkening streets towards the
harbour.
As you turn into a tree-lined avenue, you notice the wide stone steps
of a domed building to your right. You stop to read the brass plaque.
CITY HALL
As you enter, a bell rings and a small man in a padded leather jerkin
bids you welcome. He is busy polishing a rusty suit of armour with a
wire brush. The prices of his weapons are displayed on a wooden
board above the counter:
You may purchase any of the above weapons if you have enough
money to do so. The weaponsmith will also buy any Weapons that
you may already have for 1 Gold Crown less than the price shown on
his wooden board. Mark any necessary changes on your Action Chart
before bidding him goodnight and returning to the street.
At the end of Oxyoke Way, on your right you find a large stable and
coach station. It is now very dark and you must find somewhere to
spend the night. Climbing a ladder at the side of the building, you
spend a comfortable night hidden in the hay-loft.
Turn to 32.
267
As you surface, you see that battle now rages all around you and the
sea is choked with the bodies of the dead and drowning. You manage
to swim thirty yards and scramble over the rail of a Durenese warship.
Here, a bitter struggle is being waged against a long death-hulk that
has grappled alongside. The zombies have clambered aboard and are
slaughtering the terror-struck Durenese soldiers.
If you wish to draw the Sommerswerd and charge into battle, turn
to 128.
‘You are indeed a Kai Lord,’ says the sailor, but the astonishment on
his face quickly changes to an unpleasant sneer.
As he speaks, a door crashes open behind you and you turn to see
three harbour thugs advancing towards you. Each is armed with a
scimitar and you have no choice but to fight all three as one enemy.
Harbour Thugs: COMBAT SKILL 16 ENDURANCE 25
The horrific sight of the writhing creature fills you with loathing for the
Darklords and their evil minions.
When the Helghast has finally crumbled to nothing and you are quite
sure that it has been destroyed, you remove the Magic Spear and wipe
the tip on its smouldering robe.
Anxious to leave this place, you run down the tunnel as fast as you
can.
Turn to 349.
270
Ganon rolls away from his chair and draws his sword. An instant later
his brother Dorier is by his side. You must fight them both as one
enemy.
Due to the surprise of your attack, add 2 points to your COMBAT SKILL
for the first round of combat only. Because of their exceptional
strength of will, they are immune to Mindblast.
You enter the tower archway and climb a stone stair where you are
suddenly confronted by an armoured warrior. His head is encased in a
steel helm and he wears the emblem of a black ship on a red crest. He
steps forward and draws his sword saying, ‘Halt and give the
password!’
If you wish to evade him by running from the tower, turn to 65.
272
Turn to 5.
273
You manage to divert your blow at the last moment and your weapon
smashes the back of a wooden chair. The beads of sweat that have
broken out on the sailor's face appear to confirm that he speaks the
truth.
Before you can leave by the front door, more angry villagers have
forced their way into the shop. You can only leave now by the first-
floor window.
Turn to 132.
275
You become weaker and weaker until your body finally surrenders to
the welcoming arms of death. Your assassin has successfully
completed his mission.
As you face the sailor across the table, bets are made throughout the
tavern.
If you do not have this skill, conduct the wrestling contest as if you
were in combat. The first one to reach 0 ENDURANCE points, loses the
match.
When the contest is over, restore your ENDURANCE points to the same
total that you had before the contest.
As Rhygar and his men gallop nearer to the riders, one of the cloaked
horsemen draws a black staff from beneath his robes. A fierce blue
flame shoots from its tip and explodes beneath Rhygar's horse,
sending him head over heels into the dense undergrowth. Rhygar's
men furiously attack with their swords. Their sharp blades slice clean
through their enemies' cloaks and bodies, and then you realize that
they are having no effect. For these are Helghast, fell captains of the
Darklords. They have the ability to adopt human form but they are
invulnerable to normal weapons. The cloaked staff-bearer gives a
hideous laugh that tears at your mind. He is using a very powerful
Mindblast against you. You know you are outnumbered by a superior
enemy and you must act quickly if you are to survive this ambush at
all.
If you wish to abandon your horse and dive for cover in the thick
undergrowth, turn to 311.
You desperately wave your Kai cloak above your head until you are
near to exhaustion.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table to see if your effort
has been rewarded.
For two days and nights, the coach follows the trade route across the
flat, treeless Wildlands. It stops only to allow the driver to sleep. But
on the morning of the ninth day of your quest, there is an unfortunate
accident.
Turn to 240.
282
Both soldiers stab at you with their spears and try to force you off the
bridge. As you lash out at one, the other dodges past you and attacks
you from behind.
You cannot evade and you must fight them both to the death.
You stare in awe at the variety of merchandise. Silk and spices from
the opulent bazaars of Vassagonia; jewels from the mines of Bor; the
finest weapons and armour from the smithies of Durenor; furs from
the Brumalmarc of Kalte; cloth from Cloeasia; and all kinds of food
and drink cover the tables.
Near the centre of the trading post you notice that the prices are
displayed on large pieces of stretched vellum. One of the signs in
particular catches your eye:
If you have enough money, you may purchase any of the above items.
When you have concluded your purchases, you may leave the trading
post by a side exit.
Turn to 245.
284
Cautiously, the soldiers surround you and take your Weapons and
Backpack. (You do not need to adjust your Action Chart.) The knight
steps forward and raises the visor of his helm.
You tell him that you are a Kai Lord from Sommerlund on an urgent
mission to King Alin. He seems unconvinced by your words until you
show him the Seal of Hammerdal. Then, without hesitation, he orders
his men to return your belongings and ushers you through the wall of
wagons. Beyond, you can see a horse-drawn carriage waiting in the
centre of the crowded tunnel.
‘Back to Hammerdal without delay,’ he orders the driver, and you are
thrown back in your seat as the coach moves off at breakneck speed.
You soon learn that the knight is Lord Axim of Ryme, commander of
King Alin's personal bodyguard. He was on his way to Port Bax when
the Helghast entered Tarnalin. He and ten soldiers were the only ones
to survive a deadly encounter with these evil creatures.
During your ride through the Tarnalin, you must eat a Meal or lose 3
ENDURANCE points. The journey to the capital will take five hours and
you are advised by Lord Axim to get some rest. As you slowly drift off
to sleep, you begin a dream about the Sommerswerd. You picture a
triumphant return to Holmgard and the defeat of the Darklord siege.
Perhaps it will be a good omen of events to come?
Turn to 9.
285
You feel the snake's fangs catch in the arm of your tunic, but that is
all. You are lucky that the only damage done was to your clothing. As
the serpent disappears into the long grass, you quickly climb the tree
and spend the rest of the night safely above the ground.
Turn to 312.
286
You hit the water and swim submerged for over a minute to avoid the
falling bodies and burning debris of the battle. When you are finally
forced to the surface for air, you catch a glimpse of a sight that raises
your hopes of fulfilling your quest.
Turn to 109.
287
You focus your concentration on the small, brass lock. After a few
seconds, you hear a faint click that tells you that the inner latch is now
unlocked. Inside is a scroll bearing the royal seal of Sommerlund and
containing confidential orders about your mission to Durenor. As you
put the box back into its hiding place, you notice that a deadly trap
had been hidden in the lid. Your Kai Discipline has saved you from the
swift death of a poison needle. Closing the drawers, you quickly check
that nothing looks as though it has been disturbed before joining the
captain on deck.
Turn to 175.
288
Without uttering a word, the knight points to the woods behind you
and returns to the watchtower. He disappears inside and bolts the
door.
The forest here is very thick and the undergrowth is a tangle of weeds
and briars. It will be impossible to enter the wood on horseback. You
realize you will have to abandon your mount and continue on foot.
Turn to 244.
289
‘What a magnificent ring! Is it for sale?’ she asks, her eyes lighting up
with excitement. You tell her firmly that it is not but she will not accept
your refusal. She offers you any choice of the hundreds of potions that
fill the glass cabinets behind her counter. As you turn to leave, she
offers you 40 Gold Crowns.
The food smells delicious, but you notice that there are two or three
drops of clear liquid on the side of the plate and another on the tray.
At first you suspect that it is only water, until you touch the fluid and
notice that it is sticky. You recognize it as sap from the gnadurn tree, a
deadly poison used by assassins because of its lack of flavour or scent.
The shock of your discovery soon turns to anger and you race out of
the room, intent on discovering the identity of your enemy.12
Turn to 200.
[12] You must eat another Meal in place of this poisoned food or lose 3 ENDURANCE points.
291
Turn to 244.
292
You have been walking in the rain for over three hours when you are
confronted by seven horsemen. They are mercenaries employed by
the Overlord of Ragadorn and they bear his emblem, a black ship on a
red crest, upon their shields.
They demand that you hand over all your gold or they will kill you.
When they discover that you have no gold, they chase you and
eventually cut you down with their longswords. As you lie dying on the
road, the last sight that you remember is the outline of Ragadorn on
the distant horizon.
Turn to 155.
294
As you wrap the injured man in a large blanket, he drifts off into a
sleep from which he will never awake. Back on deck, the bodies of the
dead crew have been laid together.
You cast the evil sword into the sea where it quickly sinks beneath the
waves, and return to the Green Sceptre. As the crew make ready to
set sail for the east, you watch with sorrow as the Durenese trader
sinks beneath the waves.
Turn to 240.
295
You turn and sprint along the narrow corridor until their angry cries
begin to fade. You reach the entrance to where the passage connects
with the main tunnel, and continue your journey from there.
Turn to 340.
296
The people flee the tavern as the town guard attack. There are six of
them and you must fight them one at a time.
You may evade at any time by running out of the back door and
turning to 88.
Halfway along this street on the left-hand side is a large stable and
coach station. As it is now completely dark, you decide to enter. You
spend the night safely hidden in the hay-loft of the stables.
Turn to 32.
298
You hear the footsteps behind you quicken, and you spin round just in
time to see them draw their daggers to attack you. You must deduct 4
points from your COMBAT SKILL and fight them open-handed. They
attack you one at a time.
If you win the combat and kill all three street thieves, turn to 301.
299
For six hours you run without rest. The Helghast are on the highway
and you are forced to make your way through the steep and wooded
foothills to avoid the risk of capture. Many times you feel that you just
cannot go on, that the pain and the fatigue are too much to bear. But
each time you falter, you are spurred on by Rhygar. You marvel at his
endurance, for he is not a young man and he is clothed in the heavy
armour of a Sommlending knight.
Rhygar sits beside you and takes some bread and meat from his pack.
‘Eat this, Lone Wolf. You must sustain your strength for the journey to
Hammerdal, for from here you must venture alone through the
Tarnalin. I shall remain here and hold the enemy back for as long as I
have the strength to fight. Do not argue — that your mission should
succeed is the only thing that matters.’
If you wish to give him your Magic Spear so that he can defend the
tunnel entrance, or if you do not possess a Magic Spear, turn to
118.
As you paddle towards the sleek trade caravel, you notice to your
surprise that the boarding ladder is being pulled up. A mean-looking
sailor leans over the gunwale and curses at you. He seems to think
that you are a refugee trying to stowaway on board. But when you
shout that you are Lone Wolf and you were ambushed by an impostor
at the tavern, the ladder is soon lowered again. As you climb over the
side of the ship, you are met by a tall man in a gold-braided uniform.
His face is almost totally covered by a shock of bright red hair and a
bright red beard.
‘Haul anchor!’ he booms. The crew spring into action as if their very
lives depended on it.
The captain ushers you below to his cabin where he pours two glasses
of wanlo, a strong spirit. His face shows concern as you tell him what
has happened.
‘There is evil treachery at work and the enemy already has plans afoot
to thwart your quest,’ he begins when you've told your tale. ‘It seems
that you have lost the element of surprise — and I have lost a
courageous first mate. Let us only hope that the voyage to Durenor be
swift and safe.’
You search the bodies and discover 3 Gold Crowns, 3 Daggers, and a
Short Sword. If you wish to take any of these, mark them on your
Action Chart.
Turn to 20.
302
Stepping over the body, you set about a quick search of these living
quarters. You find:
Mace
Broadsword
Quarterstaff
Healing Potion (restores 3 ENDURANCE points)
Enough Food for 3 Meals
Backpack
12 Gold Crowns
Take whatever items you wish and quickly leave the watchtower in
case someone discovers you.
You realize that the forest is very thick in this area and you will have to
abandon your horse and continue on foot.
Turn to 244.
303
Piles of rotting garbage litter this stretch of the waterfront, giving off
such an evil smell that you are forced to cover your mouth and nose
with your cloak. Ahead to your left, you notice the glow of torchlight
streaming from an open door. Above the door is a sign.
After running for ten minutes in the dark, you spot a large stable and
coach station through the gloom ahead. With the shouts of angry
sailors still ringing in your ears, you quickly enter the building and
spend the night safely hidden in the hay-loft.
Turn to 32.
306
The soldier stabs at your chest with his spear, but you quickly sidestep
and it merely grazes your arm. The guard is determined to fight but
you do not want to have to kill him in combat, so you decide to try to
knock him unconscious.
Fight the following combat as normal, but double all ENDURANCE points
lost by the enemy. When his score reaches zero or below, you will
have succeeded in knocking him out. All ENDURANCE points that you
lose still count as wounds and are deducted from your current
ENDURANCE points total.
The guards look angry and ready to attack. You will have to think of
something quickly.
If you decide to show them the Seal of Hammerdal (if you still have
it), turn to 140.
If you think it is safer to draw your weapon and attack, turn to 282.
308
A sailor called Sprogg sits beside you and explains the rules of the
game ‘Portholes’. First he shows you two diamond-shaped dice made
of red glass. Each die has ten sides and they are numbered 0–9. Each
player rolls both dice and adds the numbers together (0 = zero). If
anyone throws two 0s, they shout ‘portholes’ and automatically win.
Each player stakes 3 Gold Crowns per throw. There are two other
players in the game and they all place their stake money into a hat
before the dice are rolled.
Pick two numbers from the Random Number Table for each of the
other two players, and note these scores down. Now pick two
numbers from the Random Number Table for yourself. If your total is
higher than the other players, you win 6 Gold Crowns. If either of the
other players beat your score, you lose 3 Gold Crowns. You may leave
the game at any time, but you must stop playing if you lose all your
Crowns (bad luck!).
When you finally decide to leave, you may return to your cabin by
turning to 197.
309
As you advance along the deck, the hideous creatures turn and flee
from the golden light of your sword. You notice something strange
about this death-hulk, something familiar, but you are not quite sure
what it is. Suddenly, a ghastly voice behind you cries out your name.
You raise the Sommerswerd and spin around to face the voice. The
sight that confronts you fills your senses with a mortal terror.
Turn to 26.
310
You soon reach the end of Oxyoke Way where it is crossed by another
street running north to south. It is now so dark that you are unable to
read the street signs. You must find shelter for the night. To your right
you see a light above a sign.
Under cover of the dark, you enter by a side entrance and spend the
night safely hidden in the hay-loft.
Turn to 32.
311
‘We must flee these demons, Lone Wolf.14 Strength and steel will not
avail us here.’
You glimpse the silhouette of six Helghast on the forest road above.
Their minds bent on the slaughter of Rhygar's men, they fail to see
you both slip away under cover of the wooded hillside.
Turn to 299.
[14] If you have not already been told, the Helghast are the riders who attacked your party.
Helghast are ‘fell captains of the Darklords. They have the ability to adopt human form but
are invulnerable to normal weapons.’
312
If you wish to get down from the tree and flag it down, turn to 117.
The gruesome death-cries of the Helghast finally fade and you risk
stopping for a few seconds to catch your breath. You wince as you
discover that the creature's fingers have burnt into your neck. The
wounds are very sore and painful and you must lose 4 ENDURANCE
points. Tearing the edge of your tunic, you make a bandage before
continuing on your journey through the Tarnalin tunnel. (Erase the
Magic Spear from your Action Chart.) Turn to 349.
314
The innkeeper is a thin old man with only one eye. He hands you a
key and points to a balcony opposite. ‘Number two, the red door,’ he
says.
The other travellers each pay their one Crown, collect a key, and
make their way across the crowded tavern floor towards the stairs.
‘We must make plans for tomorrow,’ says Dorier. The others all nod in
agreement. ‘I suggest we meet here in the bar in one hour to decide
what to do.’
As you close the red door of your room, for some unknown reason
you recall the words of Captain Kelman when you left Holmgard
harbour: ‘There is evil treachery at work and the enemy already has
plans afoot to thwart your quest.’
If you do not want to eat this food, you must eat a Meal or lose 3
ENDURANCE points and turn to 178.
315
Keeping one eye on the door, you quickly search the drawers of an
ornate chart table. There does not appear to be anything unusual
about the contents. You find mainly charts, island maps, and
navigational instruments. You are about to abandon this fruitless
search when you notice a small lever hidden below the tabletop. You
push it and a panel flips open to reveal a small wooden box with a
brass lock.
If you have the Kai Discipline of Mind Over Matter, turn to 287.
If you wish to replace the box and join the captain on deck, before
he suspects something is wrong, turn to 175.
316
The following morning you are woken by the cry of the ship's lookout
high in the crow's nest: ‘Ship ahoy! Ship off the starboard bow!’
You climb up on deck and brace yourself against the fresh sea breeze.
On the horizon, you can see the wooded coastline of eastern
Sommerlund, but in the middle distance is a merchant ship that looks
badly damaged. It is low in the water and has only one mast remaining
intact. It flies the flag of Durenor but the flag is upside down, a signal
of distress.
The shriek of the dying Szall is soon echoed by your own death-cry as
two crossbow bolts embed themselves in your back.
You are standing in a large, empty hall. Opposite are two doors, each
with a brass sign above them.
If you wish to enter the door marked ‘White Passes’, turn to 75.
If you wish to enter the door marked ‘Red Passes’, turn to 62.
If you wish to leave and approach the guards at the end of the
street, turn to 246.
319
You search in his pack and are horrified to find that it contains a scroll
of human skin upon which a message has been written in a strange
runic script. The only word that you can make out is ‘Kai’. You also
find an evil-looking dagger with a black blade, and a block of cold
obsidian.
These items bear the signs of the Darklords' craft. Something is very
wrong here. You drop the pack as quickly as if it were red-hot and
turn to mount your horse. To your dismay, you find it is no longer
there: the Szalls must have stolen it. Wearily, you realize you will now
have to continue your journey on foot.
Turn to 138.
321
‘I have a confession to make, Kai Lord. The fire destroyed our entire
food store; we had barely enough in the galley for this meal. I fear that
we will have to survive on a diet of fresh fish until we reach Port Bax.’
Unless you have food in your Backpack, the poor meal leaves you
hungry and you lose 2 ENDURANCE points.
If you wish to decline the game, bid the captain goodnight and
return to your cabin to sleep by turning to 197.
322
Turn to 277.
323
You follow this dingy street until it turns sharply eastwards into
Lookout Street. In the far distance, you can see the River Dorn which
separates the east and west sides of Ragadorn.
As you walk through the pouring rain, three suspicious men appear
from an alley and start to follow you.
Will you:
Say you are lost and ask for shelter for the night? Turn to 135.
You sense that the left tunnel is the quickest route to Hammerdal by
about two miles. Just before you reach the junction you come across a
large puddle in the centre of the highway. You notice that two sets of
footprints, about the size and shape of a man's boot trail away from
the water and lead off into both tunnels. The prints are still wet and
you judge that they were made within the last twenty minutes.
The captain orders the crew to hoist all the sails to attempt to outrun
the vessel, but the pirate ship is fast and is trying to cross the bows of
the Green Sceptre. A collision seems imminent.
As the pirates clamber aboard, you are horrified to see the black-clad
shape of a Drakkarim warrior in their midst. He has spotted you and
he is advancing towards you, a large broadsword raised above his
head. You must fight him to the death.
You are slowly walking back along the cobbled street, trying to think of
the best course of action, when a young boy approaches you. ‘I can
get you into the harbour, mister,’ he says, ‘but it'll cost you.’
If you wish to buy the documents, pay the boy 6 Gold Crowns. If you
refuse them, he will soon lose interest in you and will disappear. When
you have made your decision, you return to the port watchtower.
If you would rather walk back along the tree-lined avenue to the city
hall and enquire how you can reach the consulate of Sommerlund,
turn to 84.
[15] If you do not have 6 Gold Crowns, the boy will sell the papers to you for however many
you have, including 0 Crowns. These papers need not be marked on your Action Chart (and
thus do not require a Backpack to carry them in). Without these papers, it would be possible
to wander endlessly in Port Bax.
328
Two zombies try to block your passage but you cleave them in half
with one sweep of the Sommerswerd. You are at the foot of the tower
and you can now see a hunchbacked man in crimson robes above you.
He wears a tall, curved tokmor, a magician's head-dress. It bears the
emblem of a serpent. In his right hand is a black staff.
If you wish to climb the tower and attack the hunchback, turn to 73.
He reaches into his waistcoat pocket and hands you a small pouch
containing 10 Gold Crowns. You thank him for the game and offer
him the chance to win back his stake the following evening. With a
wry smile, he accepts your offer and bids you goodnight.
Within seconds, you are violently sick and then drift off into
unconsciousness. It is nearly an hour before you awake. You feel
dreadfully ill but you have survived the poison. Deduct 5 ENDURANCE
points. As you slowly regain your strength, the shock of what has
happened turns to anger. You grab your equipment and stagger out of
the room, intent on discovering the identity of your would-be assassin.
Turn to 200.
331
You quickly search the dead guard and discover a Sword, a Dagger,
and 3 Gold Crowns. You may take any of these items and mark them
on your Action Chart.
Suddenly you hear the sound of iron-shod boots descending the stone
steps, and you look up to see another watchtower guard on the
landing above. As you run into the street, you can hear him cursing
you.
Turn to 65.
332
You may evade at any stage of the fight by diving into the forest and
turning to 183.
333
The sailor who claimed to be First Mate Ronan seems to have escaped
during the fight. You quickly search the bodies of the harbour thugs,
but find nothing of value. However, you do notice that each of them
has a tattoo of a serpent on their left wrist. Whoever sent them to kill
you must already know of the importance of your quest.
You leave the tavern by the side door and discover the dead body of a
sailor lying beneath some stairs. Inside the collar of his bloodstained
jacket is a tag bearing the name ‘Ronan’. This must be the real
Ronan. He has been murdered. You cover the body and turn towards
the quay, where the Green Sceptre is anchored about three hundred
yards from the harbour wall.
If you wish to use one of the many small boats or coracles that are
roped to the quayside, turn to 300.
After a few miles, the track becomes tangled and overgrown, until all
trace of it has completely disappeared. The ride becomes slow and
difficult as you strain to avoid the bogs and pot-holes of this moor.
After several hours you reach the edge of Durenor Forest, and above
the ferns, you notice a tall watchtower. A spiral of smoke rises lazily
from a hidden chimney.
If you wish to enter the forest and investigate the tower, turn to
115.
If you wish to ignore the tower and search for a forest track, turn to
291.
335
If you wish to enter this shop and ask how you can reach Durenor,
turn to 161.
If you wish to dive into the sea and swim after him, turn to 109.
When you are only fifty yards offshore, you slip into the waves and
swim towards land. When you finally reach the beach, you sink your
fingers deep into the wet sand and slowly claw your way up the beach
to the shelter of some dunes. You are exhausted and very hungry. The
only possessions that you have saved are your Gold Crowns, your
Backpack, and any Special Items that you did not discard in the storm.
Any Weapons and Backpack Items that you possessed before the
storm have been lost. Make the necessary adjustment to your Action
Chart. However, a few hundred yards away, you notice clumps of
small twisted trees laden with purple fruit.
If you do not wish to eat this fruit, lose 3 ENDURANCE points and turn
to 171.
338
You grasp the haft of the spear and level it at the approaching
Helghast. It shrieks a desperate cry for it knows that it cannot avoid
being impaled on the sharp tip of your spear. The shock of impact
knocks you backwards and you crash to the highway below, losing 2
ENDURANCE points. The Helghast hits the ground barely seconds later,
driving the spear through its black heart, and dying instantly.
If you would rather leave the spear where it is and run away from
here as quickly as possible, erase the Magic Spear from your Action
Chart and turn to 349.
339
If you can pay the tax, do so and the coach will be allowed to go on
its way. Turn to 249.
You have been walking along the deserted tunnel for a further half-
hour when the highway splits in two.
Shattered beams and torn sails are all that remain of the unfortunate
merchant ship. You ask the captain to search for survivors but he
ignores your plea and orders the crew to continue their duties. As the
wreckage gradually disappears from view, the nagging fear that a
similar fate could await you makes your throat dry. You descend below
deck and take care to lock the cabin door behind you.
Turn to 240.
342
If you wish to buy some ale, pay the innkeeper 1 Gold Crown and
turn to 72.
If you wish to stay here for the night, pay the man 2 Gold Crowns
and turn to 56.
If you want neither, but merely wish to ask him a little bit about
Ragadorn, turn to 226.
343
You sense that you were the intended victim of this supposed accident.
One of the passengers is trying to kill you!
Turn to 168.
344
Your Kai sense reveals to you that the strangers are Helghast, fell
captains of the Darklords. They have been sent from the Darklord city
of Helgedad on a mission of assassination. They have the ability to
take on the appearance of humans and they are immune to normal
weapons and Mindblast.
You turn to shout a warning to Rhygar as you run for the safety of the
forest.
Turn to 183.
345
A fierce battle now rages throughout the ship as the evil Giaks fight to
win control of the Green Sceptre. Perched high up in the masts, the
Kraan are rending the sails with their talons and razor-sharp teeth
whilst the Zlanbeast have flown back towards Wreck Point to pick up
more nets of malicious Giaks.
The driver nods and hands back the ticket. The inn is warm but poorly
furnished. You must eat a Meal here which will cost you 1 Gold Crown
unless you have a Meal in your Backpack.
If you can afford the 1 Gold Crown for the room, turn to 280.
At the end of this street is a large stable. To your right, you can see
some of the mob searching the shops and houses. Suddenly, one of
them sees you and raises the alarm. ‘There he is — there's the
murderer!’
There is no time to think. You rush into the stable and freeing one of
the horses you leap onto its back. As you ride out into the moonlight,
an axe flies through the air and grazes your shoulder. You lose 1
ENDURANCE point and make your escape into the night.
Turn to 150.
348
‘Perhaps neither you nor I are all we claim to be. No matter. You will
not live long enough to discover who I really am!’ You hear a door
crash open behind you. Spinning round, you see three harbour thugs
moving towards you. Each is armed with a scimitar and you must fight
them as one enemy.
You may evade after two rounds of combat by using a side door and
turning to 125.
You have covered nearly three miles when you see a group of wagons
in the distance. They have been strung out across the highway to form
a barricade. Soldiers in red uniforms line the roofs of the wagons and
a large crowd of people have gathered behind them. You can hear
their excited chatter echoing along the tunnel. As you get closer, there
is a sudden silence as all eyes turn to stare at you. A detachment of
ten soldiers, led by a knight whose shield bears the royal arms of
Durenor, advances towards you.
If you wish to raise your hands and walk towards them, turn to 284.
350
Holmgard has suffered much since your departure. Many of the shops
and houses you remember passing on your way to the quay, are little
more now than heaps of ashes. The Darklords' army with their evil
engines of war surround the walls, and the flaming arcs of fireballs
shooting through the air continually light the night sky as they rain
down on the streets below. The people fight the fire as best they can,
but they are hungry and exhausted and close to surrender. At first, as it
enters the harbour, the fleet is mistaken for the enemy and cries of
despair can be heard all along the quay. But as the first of the soldiers
set foot in the city and unfurl the royal arms of Durenor, the news of
your return spreads quickly. The cries of despair have changed to a
chorus of cheers: ‘The Kai Lord has returned.’
You are standing at the top of the great watchtower, high above the
main gate of the city, when the first light of dawn creeps slowly over
the horizon. Thousand upon thousand of the black-clad enemy are
massed around the city wall, huddled like beetles in the trenches that
cover the plain. In the midst of this horde, a great red tent has been
erected bearing the symbol of a broken skull. It is the mark of Zagarna,
Lord of Kaag, a Darklord of Helgedad. His great ambition is the
destruction of Holmgard; his fiercest desire to lead his army to victory
over the House of Ulnar and claim Sommerlund for his own.
But victory is not to be his this day. Raising the Sommerswerd high
above your head, a shaft of dawn sunlight catches upon the tip of the
golden sword and a brilliant flash of blinding white flame runs the entire
length of the blade. The power of the Sommerswerd electrifies you.
Your senses reel and now your body reacts instinctively. You lower the
Sommerswerd and point the blade towards the tent of Lord Zagarna.
There is a mighty roar as the power of the sun-sword is unleashed in a
searing white beam. The tent explodes and a brilliant fireball of white
flame mushrooms skyward. A long and terrible cry rends the air. It is
Lord Zagarna. The leader of the evil army is no more.
Illustration XX—There is a mighty roar as the power of the sun-
sword is unleashed in a searing white beam.
Gripped with fear and panic, the vast black army rise up and run in
chaos from the city wall. The impossible has happened, their invincible
master is slain. Again the Sommerswerd has returned to defeat them.
The army and the allies of Durenor ride out of the city gates in pursuit
of the panic-stricken enemy as they run blindly towards the Durncrag
Mountains. The victory is yours. Holmgard is saved and the murder of
the Kai has finally been avenged.
But for you, Lone Wolf, a life of high adventure has only just begun. A
new challenge awaits you and the Sommerswerd in Book Three of the
Lone Wolf series:
The Caverns of Kalte
Numbered Sections
1-10: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11-20: 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21-30: 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31-40: 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41-50: 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51-60: 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61-70: 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71-80: 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81-90: 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
91-100: 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
101-110: 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
111-120: 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
121-130: 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130
131-140: 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140
141-150: 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
151-160: 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160
161-170: 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170
171-180: 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180
181-190: 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190
191-200: 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200
201-210: 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210
211-220: 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220
221-230: 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230
231-240: 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240
241-250: 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250
251-260: 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260
261-270: 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270
271-280: 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280
281-290: 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290
291-300: 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300
301-310: 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310
311-320: 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320
321-330: 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330
331-340: 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340
341-350: 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350
Action Chart
To Evade Combat
1. You may only do this when the text of the adventure offers you
the opportunity.
2. You undertake one round of combat in the usual way. All points
lost by the enemy are ignored; only Lone Wolf loses the
ENDURANCE points.
3. If the book offers the chance of taking evasive action in place of
combat, it can be taken in the first round of combat or any
subsequent round.
Combat Results Table
Random Number Table
Errata
Introduction
Errata List
(The Game Rules) Replaced all occurrences of ‘ie’ with ‘i.e.’. Removed
‘ that you will find in the front of this book. For further adventuring
you can copy out the chart yourself or get it photocopied.’ Split the
last paragraph into two starting with ‘Through your experiences’.
Replaced ‘on to’ with ‘onto’. Replaced ‘fall to zero’ with ‘fall to zero or
below’. Replaced ‘Chart. (you’ with ‘Chart. (You’. Replaced ‘Items).’
with ‘Items.)’. Replaced each occurrence of ‘Action Chart. (ie’ with
‘Action Chart (i.e.’. Replaced ‘14.)’ with ‘14).’. Replaced ‘points.)’
with ‘points).’. Replaced ‘ENDURANCE points and’ with ‘ENDURANCE
points, and’.
(Rules for Combat) Removed ‘ on the inside back cover of the book’.
Removed ‘ on the last page of the book’. Replaced ‘on the page after
the Random Number Table’ with ‘in the back of this book’. Replaced
‘reduced to zero’ with ‘reduced to zero or below’. Replaced ‘points
reduced’ with ‘points possibly reduced’. Replaced ‘at which point the
one with the zero score is declared dead.’ with ‘at which point that
combatant is declared dead.’.
(Levels of Kai Training) The Levels of Kai Training section did not
originally appear in this book, but has been added for the reader's
information.
(50) Replaced the first word ‘The’ with ‘A’. This is the first time you
meet the priest — the introduction to the other coach members comes
later.
(62) Replaced ‘requires, or’ with ‘requires or’. Added ‘if you possess it’
after ‘Seal of Hammerdal’ and switched the first and second choices to
make it clearer that if the reader possesses the access papers, the only
way to avoid showing them is to also possess the Seal of Hammerdal.
(63) Moved the Animal Kinship choice into the first position. Replaced
‘sandsnake’ with ‘sand snake’.
(64) Replaced ‘it, their’ with ‘it. Their’. Moved the Sixth Sense choice
into the first position.
(75) Replaced ‘Sir, requires’ with ‘Sir requires’. Replaced ‘white pass’
with ‘White Pass’.
(78) Replaced ‘risk drowning’ with ‘you will surely drown’ in harmony
with the Collector's Edition. Replaced ‘on to’ with ‘onto’.
(79) Replaced both occurrences of ‘Kai lord’ with ‘Kai Lord’. Replaced
‘enemies, eg Helghasts, in’ with ‘enemies (e.g. Helghast) in’. Added a
period to the end of the illustration's caption. Replaced ‘Durenese or’
with ‘Durenese, or’. Replaced ‘much preparation for’ with ‘much to
prepare for’.
(91) Replaced ‘cargo:’ with ‘cargo. (Remember that you must take the
Backpack in order to carry any of the Backpack Items.)’. Replaced
‘two Items’ with ‘two items’. Replaced ‘above Items’ with ‘above
items’. Replaced ‘Food’ with ‘food’. Added ‘(each Meal counts as one
item of the merchant's cargo)’.
(95) Moved the choice to heal the wounded man into the first position.
Replaced ‘potion or some Laumspur, and’ with ‘potion, or some
Laumspur and’.
(100) Replaced ‘on to’ with ‘onto’. Added a period to the end of the
illustration's caption.
(102) Moved the Tracking choice into the first position. Replaced
‘Hammerdal range’ with ‘Hammerdal Range’.
(103) Added ‘if you possess a Backpack. Otherwise you must consume
it now or abandon it’ after ‘add this to your Action Chart’ based on a
similar change in the Collector's Edition.
(118) Moved the Animal Kinship choice into the first position. Added
a period to the end of the illustration's caption. Replaced ‘Hammerdal
range’ with ‘Hammerdal Range’.
(122) Replaced ‘Kai lord’ with ‘Kai Lord’. Moved the Sixth Sense
choice into the first position. Replaced ‘Pick’ with ‘If not, pick’.
(131) Replaced ‘If you have no Weapon, deduct’ with ‘Deduct’ since
Lone Wolf has had no opportunity to acquire Weapons.
(132) Moved the paragraph about keeping the Magic Spear before the
choices.
(142) Added ‘(Mark the White Pass on your Action Chart as a Special
Item.)’.
(145) Added ‘(As the dry leaves merely helped purge the poison from
your stomach, you do not regain any ENDURANCE points through
consuming the Laumspur in this instance.)’ in harmony with the
Collector's Edition.
(148) Replaced ‘East Bank Walk’ with ‘West Bank Walk’ since you are
west of the River Dorn at this stage, though not on its banks; nor does
the street go to the river bank, as Section 323 strongly implies that it
ends and becomes Lookout Street (cf. erratum for Section 86
regarding ‘Westbank Wharf’).
(160) Replaced ‘me my lord’ with ‘me, my lord’. Added ‘are carrying a
Weapon and’.
(176) Moved the Sixth Sense choice into the first position. Replaced
‘despatch’ with ‘dispatch’ in the illustration's caption. Replaced
‘Hammerdal mountains’ with ‘Hammerdal Mountains’. Replaced
‘king's’ with ‘King's’. Added a period to the end of the illustration's
caption.
(194) Replaced ‘on to’ with ‘onto’. Replaced ‘Weapons and’ with
‘Weapons, and’. Replaced ‘jetty, and’ with ‘jetty and’. Replaced
‘Westbank Wharf’ with ‘Eastbank Wharf’ since the geography clearly
indicates that you are on the east bank of the River Dorn at this stage,
since walking west from Section 86 to Section 194 leads to the jetty
(cf. erratum for Section 37 regarding ‘East Bank Walk’).
(222) Replaced ‘on to’ with ‘onto’. Added a period to the end of the
illustration's caption.
(228) Replaced ‘distance to left and right’ with ‘distance to the east
and west’. Replaced ‘Larnuma’ with ‘larnuma’. Replaced ‘go left’ with
‘head east’ and ‘go right’ with ‘head west’ (cf. Section 171).
(231) Moved the Tracking choice into the first position. Replaced ‘on
to’ with ‘onto’.
(232) Moved the Sixth Sense choice into the first position.
(234) Replaced ‘on to’ with ‘onto’.
(243) Replaced ‘Kai lord’ with ‘Kai Lord’. Replaced ‘sails and’ with
‘sails, and’.
(246) Replaced ‘red pass’ with ‘Red Pass’. Replaced ‘white pass’ with
‘White Pass’.
(254) Moved the Sixth Sense choice into the first position.
(258) Moved the Sixth Sense choice into the first position.
(265) Replaced ‘warfleet’ with ‘war fleet’. Moved the Tracking choice
into the first position. Replaced ‘forest of Durenor’ with ‘Forest of
Durenor’.
(268) Replaced ‘Kai lord’ with ‘Kai Lord’. Added a period to the end
of the illustration's caption.
(274) Replaced ‘Crowns and’ with ‘Crowns, and’. Replaced ‘first floor’
with ‘first-floor’.
(276) It makes sense to restore your ENDURANCE points to the total you
had before the match regardless of whether you win or lose. We
changed this to be more clear. The original read:
If you lose, restore your ENDURANCE points to the same total that
you had before the contest, and turn to 192.
(298) Replaced ‘If you do not have a Weapon, you’ with ‘You’ since
Lone Wolf has had no opportunity to acquire Weapons.
(Section 299) The original edition of this book reads: ‘If you wish to
give him your Magic Spear, so that he can defend the tunnel entrance,
turn to 102. If you do not possess a Magic Spear, or do not wish to
give it to Rhygar, turn to 118.’ Later editions came out reversing these
two choices (i.e. the first choice leads to Section 118, the second
choice to Section 102). Both of these versions are very problematic to
game flow and inspired a controversy among the members of Project
Aon. The version that you see in our text is a mixed scenario intended
to most closely match the author's surmised original intention, even
though it does not appear in either previously published version.
(302) Replaced ‘climb the watchtower stairs and quickly search the’
with ‘set about a quick search of these’ in harmony with the
Collector's Edition. Replaced ‘whatever Items’ with ‘whatever items’.
(313) Added ‘(Erase the Magic Spear from your Action Chart.)’.
(314) Replaced ‘at work when’ with ‘at work and’ as this is a direct
quote of Captain Kelman's words in Section 300. Moved the Hunting
choice into the first position. Replaced ‘tomorrow.’ says’ with
‘tomorrow,’ says’. Added a period to the end of the illustration's
caption. Replaced ‘key and make’ with ‘key, and make’. Replaced ‘If
you do not want to eat this food,’ with ‘If you do not want to eat this
food, you must eat a Meal or lose 3 ENDURANCE points and’ in
harmony with the Collector's Edition. Replaced ‘The food smells most
appetizing. You have not eaten today and now you must eat a Meal or
lose 3 ENDURANCE points.’ with ‘You have not eaten today and the
food smells most appetizing.’ in harmony with the Collector's Edition.
(315) Moved the Mind Over Matter choice into the first position.
Replaced ‘maps and’ with ‘maps, and’.
(328) Replaced ‘If you possess a Crystal Star Pendant, turn to 113’
with ‘If you have ever been given a Crystal Star Pendant, turn
immediately to 113’ based in part on the Collector's Edition. This
makes it clear that the reader should take this path in preference to
the Tracking path leading to Section 204.
(334) Moved the Tracking choice into the first position. Replaced
‘Durenor forest’ with ‘Durenor Forest’.
(337) Moved the Hunting choice into the first position. Replaced
‘Backpack and’ with ‘Backpack, and’. Replaced ‘Any weapons’ with
‘Any Weapons and Backpack Items’ based on a clarification made in
Lone Wolf Club Newsletter No.2
(338) Added ‘erase the Magic Spear from your Action Chart and’.
(345) Replaced ‘jet black’ with ‘jet-black’.
[2] (Section 47) You must have learned the password (i.e. have read
Section 15) during this same adventure (not only during a previous
reading) in order to use it.
[6] (Section 116) Neither Discipline literally gives you the ability to see
through clay.
[8] (Section 194) In the Collector's Edition, you do not lose any of your
Special Items except for the Seal of Hammerdal. You may choose to
follow these instructions instead.
[10] (Section 262) You have lost your Backpack and therefore cannot
carry the Meal or the Orange Potion.
[12] (Section 290) You must eat another Meal in place of this
poisoned food or lose 3 ENDURANCE points.
[13] (Section 299) See the erratum for this section for details of the
gameplay changes made to this section. Note: the results of the
choices presented here are discussed.
[14] (Section 311) If you have not already been told, the Helghast are
the riders who attacked your party. Helghast are ‘fell captains of the
Darklords. They have the ability to adopt human form but are
invulnerable to normal weapons.’
[15] (Section 327) If you do not have 6 Gold Crowns, the boy will sell
the papers to you for however many you have, including 0 Crowns.
These papers need not be marked on your Action Chart (and thus do
not require a Backpack to carry them in). Without these papers, it
would be possible to wander endlessly in Port Bax.
Table of Illustrations
The following is a list of all Sections containing illustrations found in
this book:
Primary Illustrations
Illustration I (Section 9)
Illustration II (Section 26)
Illustration III (Section 37)
Illustration IV (Section 69)
Illustration V (Section 79)
Illustration VI (Section 100)
Illustration VII (Section 118)
Illustration VIII (Section 134)
Illustration IX (Section 144)
Illustration X (Section 166)
Illustration XI (Section 176)
Illustration XII (Section 200)
Illustration XIII (Section 222)
Illustration XIV (Section 238)
Illustration XV (Section 249)
Illustration XVI (Section 268)
Illustration XVII (Section 284)
Illustration XVIII (Section 314)
Illustration XIX (Section 326)
Illustration XX (Section 350)
Map of the Lastlands
Action Chart
Secondary Illustrations
Equipment
Kai Disciplines
Section 1
Section 4
Section 6
Section 12
Section 18
Section 31
Section 41
Section 55
Section 62
Section 73
Section 82
Section 95
Section 109
Section 127
Section 138
Section 146
Section 150
Section 160
Section 173
Section 181
Section 191
Section 202
Section 215
Section 230
Section 240
Section 245
Section 257
Section 276
Section 300
Section 303
Section 335
Section 342
Project Aon License
21 August 2009
0. Preamble
Joe Dever, author of the Lone Wolf game books, and Ian Page, author
of the World of Lone Wolf books are providing certain of their works
for free (gratis) download from the internet. Rob Adams, Paul Bonner,
Gary Chalk, Melvyn Grant, Richard Hook, Peter Andrew Jones, Cyril
Julien, Peter Lyon, Trevor Newton, Peter Parr, Graham Round, and
Brian Williams are similarly offering the illustrations that they did for
these books. This license is intended to protect the rights of the
authors and the illustrators, grant rights to their readers, and preserve
the quality of the books distributed in this way.
This section does not contain the legally binding terms of this license.
Please read the precise terms and conditions of this license that follow.
The current version of this license can be found at the following URL:
http://www.projectaon.org/en/Main/License
1. Definitions
1.0
1.1
‘Authors’ shall hereafter refer to Joe Dever, Ian Page, and Gary Chalk,
copyright holders for the literary works covered by this license. Where
Joe Dever, Ian Page, or Gary Chalk is mentioned singly, they will be
referred to by name.
1.2
1.3
1.4
The following are the works written by Joe Dever which are being
offered in English and Spanish under the terms of this license:
The following are the works written by Ian Page which are being
offered in English under the terms of this license:
The illustrations created by Rob Adams for the following book are part
of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this License:
The illustrations created by Paul Bonner for the following books are
part of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this License:
The illustrations created by Gary Chalk for the following books are
part of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this License:
The text written by Gary Chalk for the following book is being offered
in English under the terms of this License:
The illustrations created by Melvyn Grant for the following book are
part of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this License:
The illustrations created by Richard Hook for the following book are
part of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this License:
The illustrations created by Peter Andrew Jones for the following book
are part of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this
License:
The illustrations created by Peter Lyon for the following book are part
of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this License:
The illustrations created by Trevor Newton for the following book are
part of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this License:
The illustrations created by Peter Parr for the following books are part
of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this License:
Black Baron;
The illustrations created by Graham Round for the following book are
part of the illustrations being offered under the terms of this License:
The works distributed under the collective title Lone Wolf Club
Newsletters — which are composed of, in part, portions of the above
named works — will also be distributed under the terms of this
License.
‘Internet Editions’ shall not refer to any other works by the Authors,
nor any other illustrations by the Illustrators unless the Authors or
Illustrators amend this License. ‘Internet Editions’ shall refer solely to
the text and illustrations of the above works when made available
through the Internet.
1.5
1.6
‘Distribution Point’ shall hereafter refer to the specific Internet site or
sites to which the Authors and Illustrators have granted rights to
distribute the Internet Editions under the terms of the License.
1.7
2. Terms of Distribution
2.0
The terms of this License are limited to the distribution of the Internet
Editions. No other form of distribution is covered under the terms of
this License.
2.1
The Authors and Illustrators grant you the right to receive a copy or
copies of the Internet Editions from the Distribution Point at no
charge provided that you agree to all of the terms and obligations of
this License. If you do not agree to all of the terms and obligations of
this License, you are not granted any rights by this License.
2.2
You agree to refrain from redistributing a significant portion of the
Internet Editions in any form, electronic or otherwise, to any other
person or persons for any reason by any means. You are granted the
right to receive a copy or copies only for your own personal use.
2.3
The Authors and Illustrators retain all other rights to their respective
portions of the Internet Editions not covered by this License. The
Authors or Illustrators may, at any time, without notice and without
need to show due cause, revoke the rights granted to you by this
License to their respective portions of the Internet Editions.
2.4
3.0
If for any reason you are unable to comply with any of the terms and
obligations of this License, you agree to destroy all copies of the
Internet Editions of which you have control within fourteen calendar
days after the first violation.
3.1
4. Jurisdiction
4.0
5.0
The Authors and the Illustrators may publish revisions of this License
in the future to address new concerns. Any further revisions will be
legally binding at the time that you receive notification in any form of
the revision.
6. NO WARRANTY
6.0
6.1