Free Legion of Shadow by Michael J. Ward

into the catacombs.
    Will you:
    Attempt to push aside the lid of the tomb? — 173
    Continue onwards? — 1
    89
    As you step out of the cabin, you see the angry mob approaching, still jeering and egging each other on as they advance towards the witch’s home. You hold up your grisly
trophy for all to see. There are gasps of astonishment from the crowd as they halt at the edge of the clearing, mouths agape. Then a loud cheer echoes through the forest.
    ‘The witch is dead!’ shouts one of the women.
    ‘The witch is dead!’ calls another.
    The chant is soon taken up by the whole crowd. Several of the farmers rush forward and hoist you up onto their shoulders.
    Like a hero returning from a grand crusade, you are carried back into Tithebury Cross, where the Speaker is waiting for you on the steps of the village hall. He is rubbing his hands together in
glee.
    After being lowered to the ground, you drop the crone’s head at his feet. ‘You have served me well,’ he grins, his gaunt features looking particularly skull-like in the
flickering torchlight. ‘This is a great victory.’ He removes the money pouch from his belt and hands it to you. (You have gained 30 gold crowns).
    ‘A drink!’ roars a nearby villager. A drink for our hero!’
    You soon find yourself in the crowded tap room of the ‘Pie and Blackbird’, its walls resounding with song and merriment. As you recount your tale of heroism to the spellbound
audience, you notice the village priest watching you from the doorway. He shakes his head sadly, then turns and leaves.
    ‘Come on!’ insists one of the farmers. ‘What did you do next?’
    A fresh mug of ale is placed in your hands and within minutes you are back to sharing your impressive tale: ‘Now, did I tell you the bit about the toad?’
    Your quest is now complete. Return to the map to continue your adventure.
    90
    The passageway ends in a rectangular chamber, its walls lined with cobwebbed recesses. Within each one you can see piles of bones and skulls, glinting in the yellowy-green light
that seeps from the cracked flagstones. Across the other side of the chamber, two passageways lead off into deeper sections of the catacombs.
    As you step into room, you notice two decayed skeletons, leaning against the left-hand wall. Sensing your presence, they immediately jerk into life, raising their rusty swords and shields. With
slow, faltering steps the skeletons amble towards you. You must now fight:

    Special abilities
    Body of bone: The skeletons are immune to bleed and venom .
    If you defeat the skeletons, turn to 166 .
    91
    You have defeated Spindle, the queen of spiders. You may now take one of the following rewards:
    Venomous fang
  
Spindlesilk mantle
  
Spindle’s eye
(main hand: dagger)

(chest)

(talisman)
+1 brawn

+1 magic +1 armour

+1 speed
Ability: venom

Ability: spindlesilk set

Ability: charm
    If you previously set fire to the web, turn to 270 . Otherwise, turn to 48 .
    92
    ‘So be it,’ says the witch, with a hint of regret. ‘You are not the first, and certainly won’t be the last, to underestimate an old lady.’ She
raises her hands, and green lightning begins to flicker and crackle along the lengths of her wrinkled fingers. ‘Can we do this quickly?’ she insists. ‘There is a mob on their way
here, and I must be gone from this place.’

    Special abilities
    Warts and all: At the end of each combat round, roll a die. If the result is athen the witch has temporarily transformed you into a warty toad! As a toad, you can only roll 1 die to determine your attack speed at the start of the next
     combat round.
    If you defeat the witch, turn to 155 .
    93
    The moment you step within range of the roots, they immediately come alive, whipping and thrashing through the air. To reach the footlocker you will have to fight your way
past:

    You may leave the combat at any time by simply moving out of range of the roots. If you take this option, then you leave the room via the