The Fall of Blood Mountain

by Joe Dever

  If you possess Telegnosis, turn to 157.

  If you do not, turn to 12.

  36

  As you watch the manic behaviour of the Shom'zaa Agarashi, you resolve to make an immediate attempt to reach the north tunnel on the far side of ‘The Hub’. The vast numbers of the enemy gathered here will make the task a difficult one, yet their crazed state of mind may yet be to your advantage.

  Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess Assimilance, add 3 to the number you have picked. If you possess Grand Huntmastery, add 2. If you possess Kai-screen, add 1.

  If your total score is now 1 or lower, turn to 104.

  If it is 2–7, turn to 168.

  If it is 8 or higher, turn to 185.

  37

  You trek across five fields of barley before you come to the far side of this titanic cavern. Several cart tracks converge at the approach to a wide stone ramp that ascends to the mouth of an unguarded tunnel in the cavern wall. You climb the ramp and, as you enter this torchlit tunnel, you discover a number of broken weapons lying discarded on the ground. Among them you find 1 Arrow and a Sword that are still serviceable. (If you decide to keep them, adjust your Action Chart accordingly.)

  You follow the tunnel for several hundred yards until you come to a junction where a smaller passageway leads off to the right. A stone plaque that once indicated the name of this passage lies smashed in pieces. You are trying to put the pieces back together when suddenly you hear the sound of Brozal riders approaching along the main tunnel. Quickly you move into the shadowy passageway and use your camouflage skills to hide there as you wait for the riders to pass.

  While you are waiting, unless you possess the Discipline of Grand Huntmastery, you must now eat a Meal or lose 3 ENDURANCE points.

  To continue, turn to 283.

  38

  You call upon Ishir to guide your arm as you draw back the crystal and hurl it at Shom'zaa's head.

  Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If your current ENDURANCE points score is 20 or lower, deduct 1 from the number you have picked. If your current ENDURANCE points score is 30 or higher, add 1.

  If your total score is now 7 or lower, turn to 331.

  If it is 8 or higher, turn to 121.

  39

  The creature discharges an icy blast to counter your bolt, but it does not act swiftly enough to prevent your magic missile from striking the target, with devastating effect. It splits open a keg of powder and, in the next instant, there is a tremendous explosion as the platform is consumed by a searing blast of yellow and scarlet flame.

  Turn to 130.

  40

  The portal opens and four muscular minions stand before you, silhouetted in the glow of the torchlit tunnel that lies beyond the bronze door. These creatures are larger than those you have encountered so far, and their reptilian eyes glint with a malevolent light that betrays their intelligence and ruthless cunning. They snicker with delight as they raise their bladed weapons and attack you simultaneously.

  Shom'zaa Agarashi: COMBAT SKILL 44 ENDURANCE 44

  If you win this combat, turn to 167.

  41

  You scramble to your feet and climb across the corpses of the slain Shom'zaa minions that are heaped before the barricade. Strong Drodarin hands reach out and grab you by the arms, and you are hauled bodily over the tangle of barrels and planks.

  ‘You sure ran pretty!’ says a bearded War-thane, as he slaps you heartily on the shoulder.

  ‘You just lost me ten Ain,’ says another, jokingly. ‘I bet old Borin that y'wouldn't make it!’

  These battle-hardened defenders are clearly impressed by your courage, and they are not too proud to show it. But then a gruff cry from the far end of the line sends them hurrying back to their positions: ‘Here they come again!’

  A grey-bearded warrior, his arm bandaged in a makeshift sling, takes hold of your sleeve and pulls you away from the barricade as the Shom'zaa Agarashi launch another assault. He ushers you into the Throne Chamber of Andarin and, as you accompany him, he tugs something from your Backpack: it is the shaft of an enemy arrow. Your pack prevented this missile from penetrating your spine. (The arrow damaged one item. Erase any item of your choosing from your list of Backpack Items.)

  To continue, turn to 190.

  42

  The blazing wall of flame is being fuelled by powerful Drodarin incendiaries, and the temperatures they are generating are far higher than your Magnakai Discipline of Nexus can withstand.

  If you possess Grand Nexus, turn to 182.

  If you do not possess this Grand Master Discipline, turn to 69.

  43

  As the icy blast speeds nearer, you throw yourself down behind the barricade to avoid being hit.

  Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess Grand Huntmastery, add 2 to the number you have picked. If your current ENDURANCE score is 10 or lower, deduct 1.

  If your total score is now 4 or less, turn to 8.

  If it is 5 or more, turn to 226.

  44

  A terrific force hits you in the middle of your back and hurls you head-first along the narrow passageway. Pick a number from the Random Number Table. (In this instance 0 = 10.)

  The number you have picked equals the number of ENDURANCE points you lose as a result of being hit in the back by two balls of sorcerous fire.

  If you have survived your wounds, turn to 336.

  45

  You draw upon your Magnakai Discipline of Nexus and focus this power upon a large, oil-filled lantern which hangs directly above the platform. By the force of your will alone, you attempt to cause the lantern to tilt and spill some of its blazing fuel onto the kegs below. Unfortunately, the creature senses the danger and it counters your attempt to tip the lantern by freezing it solid with a blast of ice-magic. Then it shrieks at a group of Shom'zaa Agarashi, and immediately they close in on you with their swords drawn. You unsheathe your Kai Weapon and hold it ready, steeling yourself to meet their determined advance.

  Shom'zaa Agarashi: COMBAT SKILL 40 ENDURANCE 32

  If you win this combat in three rounds or less, turn to 65.

  If you win the combat in four rounds or longer, turn to 189.

  46

  A piercing pain lances through your head as Shom'zaa's inaudible cry invades your mind: lose 3 ENDURANCE points.

  Hurriedly, you call upon your Magnakai Discipline of Psi-screen to erect a defensive wall against this sonic attack, and gradually the pain subsides.

  Turn to 154.

  47

  The fog fails to slow the Shom'zaa lancers and they come charging through the vapours undeterred. Sensing that you cannot reach the cover of the tall crops before they press home their attack, you halt and spin around to face this enemy. Coolly you unsheathe your Kai Weapon and brace yourself to meet their determined charge.

  Shom'zaa Agarashi Lancers: COMBAT SKILL 44 ENDURANCE 40

  If you win this combat, turn to 55.

  48

  You drag yourself into the passageway, and as you get closer to the clean air of the main tunnel, you feel your strength slowly returning.

  Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If the number you have picked is odd (i.e. 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9), deduct 2 ENDURANCE points from your current score. If the number you have picked is even (i.e. 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0), deduct 3 ENDURANCE points.

  If you have survived your close encounter with Zaxx, you can leave the passage and continue along the main tunnel by turning to 220.

  49

  You hurl yourself along the tunnel to avoid being caught by the falling rocks, and your lightning-swift reactions save you from being crushed to death. However, you do not escape unscathed.

  You are hit by several jagged chunks of granite and suffer wounds to your torso and legs: lose 4 ENDURANCE points.

  To continue, turn to 246.

  50

  The rock creature stops in mid-stride and turns towards Prince Leomin. As his crushing feet tr
ead a slow, deliberate path towards the prince's head, you unsheathe your Kai Weapon and rush forward in a desperate attempt to halt the creature.

  Illustration III—You unsheathe your Kai Weapon in a desperate attempt to halt the rock-creature.

  Rock Golem: COMBAT SKILL 40 ENDURANCE 70

  This being is immune to all psychic attacks. If the Kai Weapon you wield is ‘Magnara’, you will benefit from the bonus gained due to its unique properties.

  If you win the combat, turn to 74.

  51

  Your eye falls upon a two-wheeled field cannon which stands 20 yards from the portcullis. Its bronze muzzle is fashioned in the likeness of a dragon's mouth, with a serpent-like tail that winds back along its barrel to the touch-hole. You magnify your vision and you are able to see that the cannon is primed, loaded, and set ready to fire. If you could reach the cannon and set a light to its touch-hole, it would discharge its shot straight at the portcullis.

  If you possess a Tinderbox, turn to 23.

  If you do not possess this item, turn to 243.

  52

  Your escape is slowed by the tangle of bodies underfoot. You have covered barely 50 yards when suddenly you hear an angry shriek echoing in the tunnel. With mounting dread, you glance over your shoulder to see a dozen Shom'zaa Agarashi in hot pursuit. They are led by a thin creature with ebony skin and iridescent eyes. It takes aim with its skeletal claw, and then it fires a blast of frigid energy which builds momentum as it comes streaking along the tunnel.

  If you possess Kai-alchemy and wish to use it, turn to 61.

  If you possess Magi-magic and wish to use it, turn to 188.

  If you possess Elementalism and wish to use it, turn to 20.

  If you possess none of these skills, or if you choose not to use any of them, turn to 274.

  53

  You draw upon your Grand Master Discipline to help you determine the correct order in which the buttons should be pressed. With the tip of your index finger you trace the outline of each rune and detect that the first button in the unlocking sequence is 3.

  If you possess a Bronze Disc, turn to 21.

  If you do not possess this Special Item, turn to 281.

  54

  Your mastery of the Kai healing skills alerts you to the first symptoms of Zaxx poisoning. This mine chamber is filled with Zaxx — an invisible, scentless, highly poisonous gas. It forms in pockets within the granite mountains of Bor and Boden, and for centuries it has been the bane of all Drodarin miners. Your Discipline is slowing its insidious effects, but you are not immune to its toxins: lose 2 ENDURANCE points.

  Forewarned by your healing skills, you leave this chamber and return quickly to the main tunnel.

  To continue along the main tunnel, turn to 220.

  55

  As the last of their riders falls from the saddle, the Brozal steeds turn and flee for their lives. You sheathe your Weapon and call upon your Magnakai Discipline of Animal Control to command one of these fleeing mounts to calm itself. Responding to your mental suggestion, it slows rapidly to a halt.

  You summon the Brozal to approach you and it responds again with calm obedience. Deftly you climb onto the creature's scaly back and settle yourself in the saddle; then you turn it towards the east and urge it to enter the tall wheat. Carefully you skirt around the area of blazing crops before turning again, this time to the north.

  The Brozal lopes through the yellow stalks with a swift and easy gait, and you cover ground at a far swifter pace than would be possible on foot. But when you come unexpectedly to a muddy ditch, a boundary between the wheat and a neighbouring crop of barley, the Brozal misses its footing. It stumbles badly and you are thrown headlong from the saddle.

  Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess Grand Huntmastery, add 1 to the number you have picked.

  If your total score is now 4 or lower, turn to 92.

  If it is 5 or higher, turn to 122.

  56

  You are able to cause the lantern to rock from side to side until it begins to drip burning oil onto the powder kegs. The creature is unaware of the danger until it is too late. One burning drop of oil falls through an open bung-hole, and in an instant, the platform is consumed by a thunderous ball of flame.

  Turn to 130.

  57

  The icy bolt smashes into your shield-spell and explodes in a great cloud of steam. As the vapour clears, you unsheathe your Kai Weapon in readiness to meet the first wave of the attacking Shom'zaa horde.

  The horde hit the barricade and the War-thanes fight them with ruthless efficiency, felling ten of the enemy for every Drodarin who falls. But the enemy are gripped by a battle-frenzy that drives them like demons, and you are hard-pressed to keep them from breaking through the barricade.

  Shom'zaa Horde (in battle-frenzy): COMBAT SKILL 47 ENDURANCE 45

  This enemy is immune to Mindblast (but not Kai-surge).

  If you win this combat, turn to 100.

  58

  Your vision swims in and out of focus as you stagger drunkenly to your feet. Drawing upon your Magnakai curing skills, you staunch the flow of blood that is trickling into your eyes from your wounded scalp. As your sight clears, you see Captain Vagel lying trapped beneath the overturned chariot. Arrows thud into the ground as you scramble to his side and attempt to drag him free. But your valiant effort is in vain; he is mortally injured and close to death. You place your hands upon his chest and use your healing skills in a final effort to save his life. Briefly he responds. His eyelids flicker open and he raises a broken hand to point towards the north wall of the quarry.

  ‘Go that way … throne chamber … ten miles … ’ he gasps. These are his final words.

  You magnify your vision and see the entrance to a vertical pit shaft located at the base of the quarry wall. It is partially hidden by a heap of sawn timbers.

  Turn to 161.

  59

  The flailing fist glances your shoulder and burns deep into your flesh: lose 4 ENDURANCE points. Gritting your teeth against the agonizing pain of this wound, you roll away from the door and scramble for the cover of Andarin's tomb.

  Suddenly the portal bursts open and slams against the wall with a tremendous crash. An icy trickle of fear runs down your back when you peek over the tomb and look upon the squat creature that is now framed in the doorway. It has a bloated, veined body and waxy skin that is as pale as a frozen corpse. From its fanged mouth there flickers a forked tongue, and its scarlet eye-slits radiate an evil light that chills the marrow in your bones. As it advances into the chamber with its arms outstretched, you swallow hard with disbelief when you stare at its white-hot fists. They are flaring and pulsating like two great balls of fiery plasma.

  If you wish to attack this creature, turn to 212.

  If you wish to attempt to evade it, turn to 79.

  60

  The War-thanes of King Ryvin's army capture ‘The Hub’ and smash the Shom'zaa horde as it flees there in chaos from its defeat at the barricade. Then the army arrives, marching in double file through the north tunnel and into the cavern. Prince Torfan orders the barricade to be opened, and a joyful reunion of brother-warriors takes place before the Throne of Andarin.

  Lord Rimoah emerges from among the ranks of the Drodarin, and he beams with joy when he sees that you are alive. Warmly he clasps your hand in friendship and respect, and he praises you for the success of your mission.

  ‘The Kai should be proud to count you among their number,’ he says, reverently. ‘Your victory here has brought great honour upon you, your country, and your noble order.’

  Turn to 350.

  61

  You raise your hands and hurriedly recite the words of the Brotherhood Spell Counterspell. The air shimmers with heat as the spell takes effect. When the deadly blast of ice passes through this scorching air, it is quickly transformed into a stream of tepid water.

  Your effective use of magic to counter the icy attack unsettles the Shom'zaa Agarashi
commander. His nerve breaks and he turns to flee with his minions following closely on his heels. Soon they have disappeared from sight and a deathly silence descends upon the tunnel.

  If you wish to search the bodies that are lying in this tunnel, turn to 144.

  If you choose to explore the tunnel further, turn to 160.

  62

  You rush from your hiding place beneath the stone channel and sprint towards the tunnel's mouth. Aided by your camouflage skills, you are able to escape from the smelting cavern without being seen by the Shom'zaa minions.

  To continue, turn to 270.

  63

  The basket lands at the base of the shaft and you see a freshly-excavated tunnel stretching away to the east. You leave the basket and, as you follow the prince, you notice that the walls of this passage are layered with a fibrous mineral that shimmers like strands of polished silver. Now you understand what tempted Leomin to defy ancient Drodarin lore and mine the lower levels of Bor, for these are strands of pure korlinium — the rarest of minerals. You feel its raw energy revitalizing you as you walk along the tunnel (restore 3 ENDURANCE points), yet you cannot help but conclude how foolish it was of Leomin to succumb to his temptation. For centuries the goodly power of this mineral has acted like the bars of a prison, keeping Shom'zaa and its horde secure.