closes around the hilt you hear the unexpected sound of rushing wind. Suddenly a spear-like missile hits the creature in the back and explodes from its chest. The impact sends the beast cartwheeling past you to slam into the ice-boat's mast. You look towards the watchtower and see Prarg at the parapet, standing behind a catapult-like pantard, his clenched fist raised in triumph. You return his salute, thankful that his aim was true.
The pantard bolt has pinned the creature to the mast but it has not destroyed it. Howling with anger, it twists and writhes to get free. Then, as if drawn by its unhuman cries, a mass of skeletal warriors come charging down the gangplank towards you. Instinctively, you draw your weapon and strike the plank a mighty blow, splitting it cleanly in two. Both sections collapse and the onrushing skeletons tumble helplessly into the icy water.
Turn to 288 .
137
You lasso the spur of rock on your first attempt and pull yourself out of the cloying mire barely seconds before the unseen creature, which is circling below the surface, moves in to attack your legs. On reaching the spur, you retrieve your rope and set out to climb the wall of this shaft.
Above, the snickering horde of Chaos-creatures watch your ascent with eager anticipation. When you are within a few feet of the top, you unsheathe your weapon and get ready to fight your way out of the shaft one-handedly.
Chaos-horde: COMBAT SKILL 46 ENDURANCE 46
Unless you have attained the Kai rank of Sun Lord, you must reduce your COMBAT SKILL by 4 for the duration of this combat, due to your disadvantageous position. Unless you have Grand Weaponmastery and are a Sun Knight or higher, you may not use a two-handed weapon (i.e. Broadsword, Quarterstaff, or Spear) for this combat.
If you win the combat, turn to 82 .
138
Frantically you strike out for the shore with the jaws of the gruesome Gybia snapping at your heels. Fortunately, as you reach the shallows, the creature is forced to abandon its pursuit and let you escape. Coughing and retching violently, you stagger out of the icy water and stumble to the cover of some boulders which lie embedded in the shore. Here, as you slowly recover, you find to your dismay that during your hasty escape from the Gybia, you lost all but two items from your Backpack.
Erase all of your Backpack Items with the exception of those which you have recorded in spaces 4 and 6 on your Backpack Items list.
To continue, turn to 304 .
140
With your briefing now concluded, King Sarnac ushers you all into his court chamber. There you bid him, Lord Ardan, and Guildmaster Banedon farewell, and they in turn wish you good luck and godspeed before Captain Prarg escorts you to the harbour. It is snowing heavily, and few of Vadera's inhabitants notice as the two of you are welcomed aboard the
Maycastle
, the square-rigged man-o'-war which will carry you to Azgad Island.
You leave Vadera within the hour and begin the long, cold voyage northwards. During the voyage, Captain Prarg tells you about the raids which have destroyed several small Drakkarim settlements along the Gulf of Konkor and the coast of the Shakoz Bight. On the twelfth day of your two-week sea journey, you catch a glimpse of one such settlement, near to the mouth of the River Lenag. All that remains is a wispy pall of smoke which hangs above the burnt-out hovels, darkening an already stormy sky.
For most of the voyage, a host of seabirds have accompanied the
Maycastle
, attracted by the scraps of food regularly thrown out by the ship's galley. But at dawn on the thirteenth day, as the ship enters the Gulf of Konkor, the usual flocks of shrieking gulls are nowhere to be seen. It is as if they have suddenly become aware of impending danger and have turned back, eager to stay out of harm's reach. Later in the day, a fierce squall arises from the east which whips the iron-grey waters of the gulf into a maelstrom. The crew fight desperately to control their ship
The pantard bolt has pinned the creature to the mast but it has not destroyed it. Howling with anger, it twists and writhes to get free. Then, as if drawn by its unhuman cries, a mass of skeletal warriors come charging down the gangplank towards you. Instinctively, you draw your weapon and strike the plank a mighty blow, splitting it cleanly in two. Both sections collapse and the onrushing skeletons tumble helplessly into the icy water.
Turn to 288 .
137
You lasso the spur of rock on your first attempt and pull yourself out of the cloying mire barely seconds before the unseen creature, which is circling below the surface, moves in to attack your legs. On reaching the spur, you retrieve your rope and set out to climb the wall of this shaft.
Above, the snickering horde of Chaos-creatures watch your ascent with eager anticipation. When you are within a few feet of the top, you unsheathe your weapon and get ready to fight your way out of the shaft one-handedly.
Chaos-horde: COMBAT SKILL 46 ENDURANCE 46
Unless you have attained the Kai rank of Sun Lord, you must reduce your COMBAT SKILL by 4 for the duration of this combat, due to your disadvantageous position. Unless you have Grand Weaponmastery and are a Sun Knight or higher, you may not use a two-handed weapon (i.e. Broadsword, Quarterstaff, or Spear) for this combat.
If you win the combat, turn to 82 .
138
Frantically you strike out for the shore with the jaws of the gruesome Gybia snapping at your heels. Fortunately, as you reach the shallows, the creature is forced to abandon its pursuit and let you escape. Coughing and retching violently, you stagger out of the icy water and stumble to the cover of some boulders which lie embedded in the shore. Here, as you slowly recover, you find to your dismay that during your hasty escape from the Gybia, you lost all but two items from your Backpack.
Erase all of your Backpack Items with the exception of those which you have recorded in spaces 4 and 6 on your Backpack Items list.
To continue, turn to 304 .
140
With your briefing now concluded, King Sarnac ushers you all into his court chamber. There you bid him, Lord Ardan, and Guildmaster Banedon farewell, and they in turn wish you good luck and godspeed before Captain Prarg escorts you to the harbour. It is snowing heavily, and few of Vadera's inhabitants notice as the two of you are welcomed aboard the
Maycastle
, the square-rigged man-o'-war which will carry you to Azgad Island.
You leave Vadera within the hour and begin the long, cold voyage northwards. During the voyage, Captain Prarg tells you about the raids which have destroyed several small Drakkarim settlements along the Gulf of Konkor and the coast of the Shakoz Bight. On the twelfth day of your two-week sea journey, you catch a glimpse of one such settlement, near to the mouth of the River Lenag. All that remains is a wispy pall of smoke which hangs above the burnt-out hovels, darkening an already stormy sky.
For most of the voyage, a host of seabirds have accompanied the
Maycastle
, attracted by the scraps of food regularly thrown out by the ship's galley. But at dawn on the thirteenth day, as the ship enters the Gulf of Konkor, the usual flocks of shrieking gulls are nowhere to be seen. It is as if they have suddenly become aware of impending danger and have turned back, eager to stay out of harm's reach. Later in the day, a fierce squall arises from the east which whips the iron-grey waters of the gulf into a maelstrom. The crew fight desperately to control their ship
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