The Heart of Fire

by Michael J. Ward

Ability: wither

  Ability: windblast

  Ability: disrupt

  If you are hexed then you have gained an extra reward, turn to 708. Otherwise, return to the quest map to continue your journey.

  788

  Back in the reading room, you may now investigate the crystal door in the north wall (turn to 809), leave via the south exit, where the echoing rumble can still be heard (turn to 854), or head east, back into the maze of aisle ways (turn to 839).

  789

  Thick flakes of ash rain down from the sky, glowing like embers as they burn against your weapons. You breathe in the stench of brimstone and allow yourself a smile. Whatever it was, the wind demon has now been defeated.

  Amongst the deepening piles of ash, you spot a glimmer of treasure. You assume it must have been caught up inside the demon’s body, but somehow managed to survive its deadly crushing forces.

  If you wish, you may now help yourself to one of the following rewards:

  Mourn helm

  Dark star

  Abyssal firestone

  (head)

  (left hand: mace)

  (ring)

  +2 speed +2 brawn

  +2 speed +3 magic

  +1 armour +2 health

  Ability: impale

  Ability: barbs

  Ability: fire aura

  (requirement: warrior)

  When you have updated your hero sheet, turn to 825.

  790

  Your weapons carve a blazing trail through the tight press of shrieking creatures, blood and severed limbs flying in all directions. The onslaught seems endless – as soon as one monster falls, there is another to take its place. Back-to-back with Avian, your attacks blur into an angered frenzy, chopping and blasting at the buzzing, shrieking swarm.

  You are still swinging your weapons, snarling with anger, long after the last fury has fallen. It isn’t until you hear the crack of gunfire, tearing through the silence, that you snap out of your reverie, blinking past the sweat and blood stinging your eyes.

  Virgil spins his pistols, a boot resting on the corpse of the last hound. He watches you with a mix of admiration and uncertainty. ‘Demons against demons,’ he sniffs, holstering his guns. ‘Now there’s a pretty sight . . .’

  For your victory over the furies, you may now choose one of the following rewards:

  Warfists of fury

  Wings of fury

  Brace of fury

  (gloves)

  (cloak)

  (chest)

  +1 speed +3 brawn

  +2 speed +3 magic

  +2 speed +3 brawn

  Ability: knockdown

  Ability: surge

  Ability: critical strike

  (requirement: warrior)

  (requirement: mage)

  (requirement: rogue)

  When you have made your decision, turn to 798.

  791

  You search through the grisly remains of the golem, wondering if there is anything of value that can be salvaged. Amongst the charred bones and magic-imbued flesh, you find one of the following special rewards:

  Gore-soaked fists

  Serrated scapula

  Blood soul

  (gloves)

  (main hand: axe)

  (talisman)

  +1 speed +4 brawn

  +2 speed +4 brawn

  +1 speed +1 brawn

  Ability: slam

  Ability: fallen hero

  Ability: weaver

  When you have updated your hero sheet, turn to 877.

  792

  The last sprite is extinguished in a cloud of fizzing steam. Victorious, you advance towards the cauldron, its runed pot still shaking and bucking with violent force. Suddenly its blazing contents erupt into the air, forming a cascading column of molten fire. It sweeps up high into the shimmering haze, then comes crashing down like an angry wave. You dive for cover, shielding your face, as the sizzling droplets coalesce into an immense giant of flame, its head crowned with spines of rippling smoke.

  The fiend reaches for a black-iron hammer, resting next to the hearth. With its other hand, it grabs the black anvil and rips it from its foundations. Stone and dust cascade from its underside, as the giant lifts its newfound weapons into the smoky air.

  Virgil fires his pistols. The giant twists around, deflecting the shots with the iron anvil.

  ‘It’s using the anvil as a shield!’ shouts Virgil, springing back as the hammer comes crashing down.

  You roll under the next swing, getting as close to the fiend as you dare. Its body is a raging bonfire, scorching your scaled skin and filling your lungs with blistering-hot smoke. Virgil staggers back, the heat too much for him to bear.

  ‘Burn!’ snarls the demon. ‘Your mortal flesh will feed my forge!’

  The demon raises its hammer once again. With an answering roar of your own, you hurl your weapons and magic against its blazing form. It is time to fight:

  Special abilities

  Whirling hammer: If Chard wins a combat round, he rolls 3 damage dice for his total damage score. You may use armour as normal to absorb this damage.

  Anvil shield: Chard is using the anvil as a shield. While the anvil has health, Chard has an armour of 16. If the anvil is disabled (by reducing it to zero health), then Chard’s armour is reduced to 8.

  Blazing inferno: For each combat round that you spent fighting the sprites, Chard may add 2 to its starting health.

  Body of flame: Chard is immune to backdraft, fire aura, sear and searing mantle.

  Dwarven stone: The anvil is immune to all combat abilities and passive effects, including bleed, thorns, piercing and snake strike.

  In this combat you roll against Chard’s speed. If you win a combat round, you can choose to apply your damage to Chard or the anvil. Once Chard is reduced to zero health, the combat is automatically won.

  If you manage to defeat this hot-headed hulk, turn to 887.

  793

  As the defeated giant stumbles backwards, lightning flares from the runes carved into its stonework. The crackling lines flicker across its scarred body, seconds before it smashes to the ground in an explosion of fire and rock.

  You breathe a sigh of relief and are about to turn away, when Lorcan shakes his head and points with the end of his weapon.

  The shattered rocks are shifting and trembling as if alive, the lightning still crackling over their misshapen forms. Suddenly they lift up, grinding and scraping together to create three squat humanoids. They look like miniature versions of the rock giant but, instead of fire, their black bodies are surrounded by lightning.

  ‘Why don’t giants ever stay dead?’ You scowl, remembering the colossus in the forest of thorns.

  ‘Clearly they enjoy the punishment.’ Lorcan offers you a sly wink before charging into their midst, the purple runes on his arm pulsing with demonic power. (You must fight this next stage of the combat with the health and abilities you have remaining.)

  Special abilities

  Stone dust: Once an elemental is destroyed, it creates a cloud of stone dust. This reduces both heroes’ speed by 2 for the remainder of the combat. (NOTE: Stone dust is only applied once, when the first elemental is reduced to zero health.)

  Lightning: Each time a hero’s damage score/damage dice causes health damage to an elemental, they must take 2 damage in return, ignoring armour. If a hero has the insulate ability, they can ignore this damage.

  Both heroes must choose the same elemental to attack in each combat round (unless one hero has elected to support). If successful, the winning hero strikes against the elemental as normal. If both heroes lose, the chosen elemental strikes back as a single opponent, rolling for a damage score as normal. Only one elemental will attack a round.

  If you manage to finally defeat this monstrous creation, turn to 651. If you are defeated, you must return to phase one of the combat if you wish to attempt this challenge again (turn to 610).

  794

  For defeating Erkil,
you may now help yourself to one of the following special items:

  Rune of murder

  Grips of living stone

  Blackthorn twister

  (special: rune)

  (gloves)

  (left hand: sword)

  Use on any item to add the special ability savagery

  +1 speed +4 armour

  +2 speed +4 brawn

  Use on any item to add the special ability savagery

  Ability: might of stone

  Ability: cruel twist

  If you are hexed then you have gained an extra reward, turn to 878. Otherwise, return to the quest map to continue your journey.

  795

  After brushing ink over the bronze plates, you lower them onto the paper. When you lift up the cross-piece, you are pleased to see that the parchment is now marked with your chosen sigils. Your book is almost complete; all that remains is to bind the loose pages. If you wish to choose a binding of black iron, turn to 380. If you would prefer to choose a binding of drake scales, turn to 600.

  796

  Using your chosen reagents you craft a black-bladed sword, its serrated edge rippling with phoenix fire. If you wish, you may now lay claim to:

  Ravenos, bringer of ruin

  (main hand: sword)

  +2 speed +5 brawn

  Ability: deep wound, sear

  (requirement: warrior/rogue)

  If you wish to craft another item, turn to 755. Otherwise, return to the map to continue your adventure.

  797

  From the hall, you enter a network of windowless passageways. They wind and twist through the black rock, constantly intersecting with other shafts and corridors to form a maddening maze. Most of the passages are blocked with rubble, others simply wind back on themselves, leading you round in an infuriating loop.

  At last you sight a red glow, filtering through a crack in the wall. You squeeze through, finding yourselves at the top of a sloping ledge. Below you, through the fingers of mist, you can see the magma lake and its tiny islands, bobbing on the surface.

  ‘There!’ Virgil pats your shoulder and points. The three goblin looters are now scurrying down the rock, less than a hundred metres away. He raises his pistol to take a shot, but curses as the ledge takes them safely behind cover. ‘Come on!’ The witchfinder reels off in pursuit. ‘We might still have a chance of catching them.’ Turn to 820.

  798

  Avian lowers his swords, his gilt-edged armour coated with black blood. He turns and looks back at you, offering a thin smile.

  ‘Good work.’

  You step over the corpses of the furies, wondering what corruption of magic could account for such creatures. Their bodies are misshapen, no two alike, and yet all have the characteristic wings and collars of matted hair. They remind you of vultures.

  ‘Ragnarok,’ states Avian, pushing one of the bodies over with his foot. ‘These were men and women once. Then the sword took their souls and turned them into this.’ He lifts his chin, eyes roving across the dwarven city. ‘We will encounter more of its dark work, I am sure . . .’

  Virgil removes his hat, poking a finger through a scorched hole in its brim. ‘There’s one thing I don’t understand.’ He kicks the hound carcass lying at his feet. ‘Why did they ignore Cernos?’

  ‘He has the heart,’ replies Avian, sliding the ends of his staff back together. They lock with a faint click, sending a flicker of magic dancing along the runed shaft. ‘It will afford him some protection from the guardians of Tartarus.’

  You glance at Avian. ‘What is this heart he carries?’

  ‘Some would believe it a divine relic – part of the One God himself.’ The mage purses his lips. ‘From what I’ve witnessed, I’d say it’s a magic anomaly. From the time of the Great Cataclysm.’

  ‘Bad news is what it is.’ Virgil flips his hat back onto his head. ‘Still, look on the bright side. It is very bright.’ He points to a spot further along the bridge, where you can see a white circle of light silhouetting Cernos’ maimed form. The winged demon is limping beneath an arched tower.

  Avian gives a sigh. ‘Cernos may have safe passage, but I doubt our own crossing will be as charmed. That is a guardian tower – and it will have defences. Prepare yourselves.’ Turn to 670.

  799

  The hat and gloves float off towards the back of the shop. They disappear through a small doorway, returning a moment later with a small black iron chest. The ghost places it on the dusty counter, then flips open the lid. Inside are several glowing stone tablets.

  You may purchase any of the following for 300 gold crowns each:

  Rune of winter

  Glyph of the titan

  Rune of shadows

  (special: rune)

  (special: glyph)

  (special: rune)

  Use on any item to add the special ability silver frost

  Use on any item to add 1 armour

  Use on any item to add the special ability vanish

  If you wish to make further purchases, return to 557. Otherwise, you thank the ghostly proprietor and resume your journey.

  800

  Congratulations, for defeating Ixion while hexed you have won an extra reward:

  Blood-sworn chestguard

  (chest)

  +2 speed +4 brawn

  Ability: unstoppable, blood-sworn set

  (requirement: hexed)

  Once you have updated your hero sheet, return to the quest map to continue your journey.

  801

  You hurry through the doorway, only to skid to a halt a second later at the edge of a vertigo-inducing drop. Arms waving at your side, you manage to stumble back, knocking into Virgil.

  ‘Easy,’ he scowls, nudging you away. ‘I could have skewered you on my blade.’

  ‘Where are we?’ you gasp, catching your breath.

  ‘The Abussos,’ replies the witchfinder.

  You are standing at the edge of a narrow pathway, fashioned from a translucent green stone. It winds around the insides of a gigantic stone shaft, its beginning and end lost to the darkness. Both above and below you the path hugs the walls, occasionally forming circular platforms which hang suspended over the dizzying heights.

  As your eyes follow the curving walls you see that they are covered in thousands of carvings, detailing various characters and scenes. Each one glows with a soft green light.

  ‘This is how the dwarves recorded their history,’ says Virgil. ‘The stone holds their memories.’

  You put a hand to one of the carvings, snatching it back quickly. The stone is freezing cold, its touch sending a bone-numbing chill along your spine. When the sensation fades, you are left with a dull ache between your shoulder blades – a familiar pain that has been tormenting you since your fall from the bridge. Reaching behind your back, you feel at the bony stumps now protruding from your flesh.

  Virgil gives an audible gasp.

  You drop your hand quickly, concerned that you have drawn further attention to your on-going transformation.

  But Virgil is staring into the shaft, a sudden gust of wind tugging at his coat. ‘No . . .’

  You hurry to the edge. Below you, the glowing carvings of the Abussos are winking out one by one, snuffed out by a rising tide of darkness.

  ‘We need to move!’ snaps Virgil. ‘Quickly!’

  He starts sprinting up the pathway, his boots squeaking across the smooth stone. You follow without question, all too aware of the wailing screams that are mounting in volume.

  ‘Can’t we fight it? What is it?’ You dare another glance into the shaft, horrified by the roiling, twisted shape that is fast-approaching. It looks like a black thunder-cloud, flickering with lightning.

  ‘It’s Nyx!’ Virgil shouts above the screaming din. ‘A greater demon from the abyss. We have to get out of this shaft – before it overtakes us!’

  As you approach the first of the circular platforms, you are startled to see figures moving across its surface. They have the appear
ance of ghosts, glowing with the same green light as the carved walls. Sounds start to fill your ears, the cries of battle and the ring of steel.

  ‘The magic here is tainted!’ yells Virgil. ‘The Abussos will turn against us, use the memories to defend itself . . .’

  The ghosts on the first platform fade, leaving a lone Lamuri warrior standing at its centre. He is a head taller than you, with a cloak of tiger skin draped across his broad shoulders. In one hand he holds a large bone club, banded with silver and gold.

  Virgil skids to a halt, eyeing the phantom warily. ‘Let us pass, we mean you no harm.’

  The tiger-cloaked warrior spits at the ground. ‘I am mighty Shonac! First prince of Hanuman.’ He beats his chest three times. ‘From the forest I come, to lay claim to the jewelled throne. Seven years of exile. Seven years I watch you grow weak. Look upon me, my people – you see Shonac, First of the Bloodied Claw – the ancestors chose me for your king!’

  ‘It’s just a ghost – a memory,’ you implore, confused by the witchfinder’s hesitation. ‘It can’t harm us.’

  However, when you try and step around the warrior his face suddenly creases into a savage snarl. He springs forward, his club snapping around in a green blur. The blow smashes into your side, sending you skidding and tumbling to the very edge of the platform.

  ‘Just a ghost.’ Virgil scoffs derisively. ‘I told you – the Abussos is using its magic to defend itself ! If we don’t get past these guardians, we’re done for.’

  As you scramble back to your feet, you catch sight of the wind demon hurtling up the shaft. Its black form is ripping through the jade pathways like they were nothing but paper, sucking the broken fragments into its whirling vortex. Determined not to share a similar fate, you turn back to the phantom warrior. You will have to defeat him and the many other ghosts of the Abussos, in order to outrun the demon and find a means of escape. Turn to 630.