loathsome scuttling creatures. At once you attempt to use your Magnakai powers of Animal Control to determine if these creatures are hostile, but your efforts go unrewarded.
If you possess Animal Mastery, turn to 7 .
If you do not possess this Discipline, turn to 171 .
85
There is a slight gradient to the tunnel and, gradually, as the stone floor ascends, you feel a draught of warm air wafting gently in your face. It feels comfortable and yet it is far from welcoming for the air is sticky and humid, as if the breath of some great jungle beast was being exhaled along the passageway.
In the distance you hear a fire-like roar, and another sound — squeaking — which forewarns you that Vazhag lie ahead. You advance, masked by your Magnakai skills, and step forth into a massive chamber which is lit by the fierce light of volcanic fire. From a crater-like pit at the chamber's centre, a jet of red-gold flame roars up to a towering height, and clouds of steam fill the cavernous roof space where it plays upon a ceiling of damp rock. Around the pit are constructed several small, domed huts, all made of volcanic clinker scavenged from the crater's edge. The huts house a colony of Vazhag; you count more than fifty females and their young scurrying around the crude dwellings and estimate that at least that number again could be sheltering inside.
Illustration V —From a pit at the centre of a massive chamber, a jet of red-gold flame roars up to a towering height.
Using your skills, and the advantage of the flickering shadows which dance upon the rough cavern walls, you circle around the settlement unseen. On the far side there is an onion-shaped archway guarded by six Vazhag males, all of whom are heavily armed and armoured. You move a little closer, confident that your natural abilities will get you past these oversized spear-toting rodents unnoticed, but you are brought to a halt by a daunting sight. A few feet beyond the archway stands a massive portal, a wall of solid black iron.
If you possess Grand Huntmastery, turn to 342 .
If you do not, turn to 127 .
86
Holding on to the ladder with your left hand, you unsheathe your weapon with your right hand and lash out at the Acolytes above in a desperate attempt to gain the platform.
Acolytes of Vashna (One with Medallion of Protection): COMBAT SKILL 36 ENDURANCE 50
Due to the disadvantageous position, and the length of your enemies' weapons, you must reduce your COMBAT SKILL by 4 for the duration of this combat.
If you win the fight, turn to 305 .
88
The saliva burns several holes in your tunic's right arm and back. Fortunately, the power of your Grand Mastery skills saves your body from suffering a similar fate.
Turn to 117 .
89
You watch helplessly as the Vazhag disappear into the trees. You are tempted to give chase, fearful that if allowed to escape they will raise the alarm and bring all of Mogaruith down upon you. But the Vazhag are creatures of this forest and tracking two of them, even for a hunter as gifted as yourself, would be no easy task.
You decide instead to let them go and use the zombie in an attempt to gain entry to Mogaruith. You stoop to retrieve the poor creature's chain and, with pounding heart, walk slowly along the trail towards the crowded drawbridge.
Turn to 12 .
90
Mustering all your courage, you abandon your hiding place and rush to attack the Cener. Instantly he spins to face you and screams at his Vazhag to defend him. With a foul, snickering cry the Vazhag race to do their master's bidding and, before you can reach the druid, they leap upon you, hacking and stabbing with their rusty blades.
Vazhag pack: COMBAT SKILL 34 ENDURANCE 44
If you win this combat, turn to 149 .
92
Determined not to be defeated by a closed door, you kneel down in front of the keyhole and attempt to pick the lock. It takes you just a few seconds to defeat it, but upon the very instant you do so, the spell which shields the mechanism
If you possess Animal Mastery, turn to 7 .
If you do not possess this Discipline, turn to 171 .
85
There is a slight gradient to the tunnel and, gradually, as the stone floor ascends, you feel a draught of warm air wafting gently in your face. It feels comfortable and yet it is far from welcoming for the air is sticky and humid, as if the breath of some great jungle beast was being exhaled along the passageway.
In the distance you hear a fire-like roar, and another sound — squeaking — which forewarns you that Vazhag lie ahead. You advance, masked by your Magnakai skills, and step forth into a massive chamber which is lit by the fierce light of volcanic fire. From a crater-like pit at the chamber's centre, a jet of red-gold flame roars up to a towering height, and clouds of steam fill the cavernous roof space where it plays upon a ceiling of damp rock. Around the pit are constructed several small, domed huts, all made of volcanic clinker scavenged from the crater's edge. The huts house a colony of Vazhag; you count more than fifty females and their young scurrying around the crude dwellings and estimate that at least that number again could be sheltering inside.
Illustration V —From a pit at the centre of a massive chamber, a jet of red-gold flame roars up to a towering height.
Using your skills, and the advantage of the flickering shadows which dance upon the rough cavern walls, you circle around the settlement unseen. On the far side there is an onion-shaped archway guarded by six Vazhag males, all of whom are heavily armed and armoured. You move a little closer, confident that your natural abilities will get you past these oversized spear-toting rodents unnoticed, but you are brought to a halt by a daunting sight. A few feet beyond the archway stands a massive portal, a wall of solid black iron.
If you possess Grand Huntmastery, turn to 342 .
If you do not, turn to 127 .
86
Holding on to the ladder with your left hand, you unsheathe your weapon with your right hand and lash out at the Acolytes above in a desperate attempt to gain the platform.
Acolytes of Vashna (One with Medallion of Protection): COMBAT SKILL 36 ENDURANCE 50
Due to the disadvantageous position, and the length of your enemies' weapons, you must reduce your COMBAT SKILL by 4 for the duration of this combat.
If you win the fight, turn to 305 .
88
The saliva burns several holes in your tunic's right arm and back. Fortunately, the power of your Grand Mastery skills saves your body from suffering a similar fate.
Turn to 117 .
89
You watch helplessly as the Vazhag disappear into the trees. You are tempted to give chase, fearful that if allowed to escape they will raise the alarm and bring all of Mogaruith down upon you. But the Vazhag are creatures of this forest and tracking two of them, even for a hunter as gifted as yourself, would be no easy task.
You decide instead to let them go and use the zombie in an attempt to gain entry to Mogaruith. You stoop to retrieve the poor creature's chain and, with pounding heart, walk slowly along the trail towards the crowded drawbridge.
Turn to 12 .
90
Mustering all your courage, you abandon your hiding place and rush to attack the Cener. Instantly he spins to face you and screams at his Vazhag to defend him. With a foul, snickering cry the Vazhag race to do their master's bidding and, before you can reach the druid, they leap upon you, hacking and stabbing with their rusty blades.
Vazhag pack: COMBAT SKILL 34 ENDURANCE 44
If you win this combat, turn to 149 .
92
Determined not to be defeated by a closed door, you kneel down in front of the keyhole and attempt to pick the lock. It takes you just a few seconds to defeat it, but upon the very instant you do so, the spell which shields the mechanism
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