Free The Caverns of Kalte by Joe Dever Page A

approach the hall.
    To your delight you discover that one of the magnificent jewelled doors is unlocked. You gently push it ajar and enter Vonotar's chamber.
    Turn to 173 .

300
    For three days and nights, you trek northwards across the bleak and inhospitable glacier. Irian and Fenor have both suffered from severe snow-blindness, and the relentless north wind seems to sap everyone's strength. On the morning of the fourth day on the glacier, the wind finally drops. A bearing can now be taken to find out your exact position. To everyone's dismay Irian announces that you have veered a long way off course.
    You turn to face the ancient grey peaks of a mountain range, looming up out of the northern snow. It is a bleak and forbidding sight. ‘The Myjaviks,’ says Dyce, disappointment written all over his bearded face. ‘We've come too far east.’
    The Myjavik Mountains now lie between you and Ikaya. To cross them will mean having to leave the sledges and Kanu-dogs, packing your equipment on your backs and continuing on foot. There is an alternative, but it could lose you two precious days: you can retrace your route to the glacier and resume the march from there.
    If you wish to abandon the dogs and sledges, and cross the Myjavik Mountains on foot, turn to 12 .
    If you decide to lose two days and trace your way back to the Viad Glacier, turn to 238 .

304
    The mighty sword illuminates the passage with its golden glow. The Helghast shrieks a hideous cry and retreats, its eyes glowing a fiery red with hatred and fear. It recognizes the power you wield, a force that spells death and eternal destruction to its kind. In blind panic, it attacks you with a powerful Mindblast. Unless you possess the Kai Discipline of Mindshield, you must lose 2 ENDURANCE points for every round of combat you fight with this creature. It is immune to Mindblast. However, because the creature is one of the undead, remember to double all ENDURANCE points that it loses due to the power of the Sommerswerd.
    Helghast: COMBAT SKILL  22    ENDURANCE  30
    If you win the combat, turn to 20 .

305
    The heavy beast rolls off the sledge and lies motionless on the ice. Fenor has managed to light a torch and is thrusting the flaming brand at the other two Baknar. They are terrified by the fire and quickly turn and flee. You cheer as they disappear and turn to congratulate your brave guides, but are stunned to see that they have already started to skin the dead Baknar. You watch with disgust as Dyce opens the beast from throat to belly with his sharp hunting knife. He quickly pulls back the white fur and scoops out handfuls of thick oil from under the skin. The smell of this oil is horrible, so horrible in fact that even the Kanu-dogs bury their noses into the snow to avoid it. You cannot believe your eyes when the two guides start to rub this vile oil all over their faces and inside their clothes.
    Illustration XVII —They have already started to skin the dead Baknar.
    ‘Baknar oil,’ shouts Fenor enthusiastically. ‘Nothing like it for keeping warm and dry.’ He pulls his hand from the dead beast and offers you a fistful of the putrid jelly.
    If you wish to accept his offer, turn to 8 .
    If the thought of smelling like a vat of rancid cheese does not appeal to you, turn to 281 .

312
    You desperately claw at your foot, but the sledge is already beginning to fall into the crevasse. As you tumble hundreds of feet into the void, the last sound that you hear are the horrified cries of your guides fading above you.
    Your life and your mission end here.

313
    The mutants lie dead at your feet. You are about to step over them and attack their controller, when more of the unfortunate wretches appear at his side. You are greatly outnumbered and you must escape now, or you will surely perish in this evil hall. You sprint back to the door and run the length of the main corridor, as fast as your shaking legs will carry you.
    Turn to 130 .

314
    You have explored only a