Flight from the Dark (16 page)
Read Flight from the Dark Online
Authors: Joe Dever
Tags: #Fiction, #Fantasy, #Lone Wolf, #Magnamund
You have followed this twisting track for about twenty minutes when you hear the beating of wings high above the trees. Looking up you see a large Kraan approaching from the north, its huge black wings casting a gigantic shadow on the trees below.
On its back are two creatures armed with long spears. They are Mountain Giaks — small ugly creatures full of hatred and malice. Many centuries ago, their ancestors were used by the Darklords to build the infernal city of Helgedad, which lies in the volcanic wastelands beyond the Durncrag mountain range. The construction of the city was long and torturous, and only the strongest of the creatures survived the heat and poisonous atmosphere of Helgedad.
Quickly you dive for the shelter of a large fern tree as the Kraan passes overhead. With heart pounding, you pray that your quick reactions have saved you from being spotted.
Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
.
If the number you have picked is 0–4,
turn to 345
.
If the number is 5–9,
turn to 74
.
Reaching for your weapon you manage to hack your way through the tangle of wood and twisted branches to the clearer forest beyond. Your cloak is torn in several places and your right leg is badly bruised above the knee.
Lose 1
ENDURANCE
point and
turn to 213
.
When you awake, you find yourself lying at the foot of a steep slope in a tangle of tall grasses. Your Backpack and Weapon are missing and your head aches. You cannot tell how long you have been unconscious, but you realize that you must not delay in pressing on with your mission.
Standing up, you see your Backpack is intact but the Weapon is broken in two and is now useless. Remember to cross it off your
Action Chart
. (If you have more than one weapon, only one of them is broken — you may choose which one it is.) You quickly pick up your Backpack and move off into the trees ahead.
You quickly leave the path and gallop off along the track heading towards the capital. When you reach the point where the Doomwolves stopped, you can see just beyond a meadow the main highway which runs from the northern port of Toran to Holmgard. You should reach the capital by morning.
You clamber over the loose rocks and into the mouth of the cave, and then quickly turn to push a large rock over the entrance.
After a few minutes you see the Giaks on the rocky ledge outside, their evil yellow eyes furtively searching every crevice of the hillside. They are so close that you feel sure that they must spot you any second now.
Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
.
If the number you have picked is 0–6,
turn to 112
.
If the number is 7–9,
turn to 96
.
As you begin your climb, you hear the beat of wings approaching from the west. Kraan! By the noise they are making you estimate there are at least ten, perhaps more. You curse your bad luck, for the hillside offers no cover from the sky. If you are attacked during this difficult climb, you will find it nearly impossible to fight back and remain upright at the same time.
If you decide to draw your weapon and remain completely still, in the hope that the Kraan will not spot you,
turn to 327
.
If you decide to quickly descend the hillside and take cover in the tunnel,
turn to 170
.
As you race through the trees you can hear the horrible cackle of the Giaks close behind you. Soon the trees start to thin out and directly ahead you can see a rocky hillside.
If you break cover and climb up the hill,
turn to 311
.
If you change direction and continue your run through the forest,
turn to 77
.
Looking above the heads of the crowd, you notice that one of the shops opposite the main gate is the timbered surgery of a city physician. Suddenly, a bold plan springs to mind. Bracing yourself against the tide of bodies, you struggle across to the other side of the street. You quickly enter to find that there is no sign of life, apart from a brightly coloured parrot in its cage by the window.
Taking a selection of small bottles you slip on a white surgeon's cloak, and fight your way back to the main gate. ‘An emergency!’ you bluff, as guards stop and question you. ‘It's the royal cook's wife … she's having a baby.’
The guards hesitate for a moment, but you assure them that the matter is most urgent and they decide to let you in. One of the great doors swings open about two feet, and you are roughly pushed through the narrow gap into the courtyard beyond.
You are only ten feet or so away from the robed stranger when the raven squawks a warning to its master who instantly spins around. You are frozen in your tracks by the hideous apparition of a Vordak, a lieutenant of the Darklords and one of the undead. You must fight him.
Due to the surprise of your attack, you may add 2 points to your
COMBAT SKILL
for the first round of combat only.
Unless you have the Kai Discipline of Mindshield, deduct 2 points from your
COMBAT SKILL
for the second and subsequent rounds of fighting, for the creature is attacking you with the power of its Mindforce as well as with a large black mace!
Vordak:
COMBAT SKILL
17
ENDURANCE
25
If you win,
turn to 123
.
Your passage through the Graveyard will not be easy, for the ground is broken and covered with a thorny graveweed. This wicked briar tears your cloak and cuts your legs. The air hangs heavy and still. Foul gases seep from open crypts and the haunting murmur of distant whispering fills your ears.
Illustration XVI—Your passage through the Graveyard is not easy — the ground is broken and covered with thorny graveweed.
Carefully, you approach a gap between two ancient pillars, and part the graveweed with your cloaked hand. Suddenly, the ground collapses beneath you and you fall in a tumble of earth and stone.
With a sickening thud, the chunk of marble cracks open the back of the Giak's head. The creature drops to its knees and slowly falls forward, down to the ruins below. Elated by your skill, you race forward to aid the young wizard.
Messengers of death — and ones eager to deliver their news — the Doomwolves surround and then attack you. Valiantly you fight, but it is to no avail for there are too many of them.
As your life's blood seeps away and eternal dark approaches, the last sight you remember is the glint of sunlight on the spires of Holmgard.
You have failed in your mission.
The track soon disappears completely into a tangle of thorny brambles and low-branched fir trees.
If you decide to return to the junction and head east,
turn to 13
.
If you decide to hack your way slowly through the undergrowth in this present direction,
turn to 330
.
As you reach the walls of the fieldworks, the large oak gates open and you are quickly hurried inside. A sergeant, bloodstained and battle-weary, calls to an officer who turns and recognizes your cloak.
‘My Lord,’ he says. ‘Where are the other Kai Masters? We are in desperate need of their wisdom. The Darklords press us most cruelly and casualties are high.’
You inform the brave officer of the terrible fate of your kinsmen, and the urgency of your mission to seek the King's council. Without saying a word, he motions to a soldier to bring forward two horses. You both mount and gallop off towards the high city wall of Holmgard.
The two guards look tired and anxious. They nervously hold their royal halberds in front of themselves, using the weapons to push away anyone who comes too close to the gates. An angry woman attacks one of them, pounding his chest with her clenched fists making him fall against the other guard. All three collapse in a struggling heap of flailing arms and legs. Seeing your chance, you dash forward and pull the large lever which opens the great doors.
You slip inside and the doors close without either of the guards seeing you enter.
Inside the long box is a Quarterstaff wrapped in leather. You may take this Weapon if you wish. You close the box and descend the ladder to the clearing below, taking care to use only the sound rungs.
The two Giaks lie at your feet, their bodies twisted and lifeless. A quick search reveals 6 Gold Crowns, 2 Spears, and a Dagger.
You may keep the Gold and take either the Dagger or a Spear. Remember to mark this on your
Action Chart
.
The Kraan flew off during your battle, and the track is now deserted. You adjust your Backpack and continue your mission.
The last thing that you experience of this life is the feeling of being sucked into the void of darkness. No trace of you remains in this world, for you have passed into a realm of timeless existence. You have become a slave of an ancient evil.
Your adventure ends here.
With a wave of his hand, Banedon leaves the ruins and you continue your mission, pushing on through the thick woods ahead. You have not gone far when you realize several pairs of yellow eyes are watching you from the undergrowth to your left. Suddenly, a black arrow skims the top of your head. It is a Giak ambush and you must run as fast as you can to escape it.
Staying underwater for as long as you can, you finally surface to see the Giaks far behind you. You have lost your Weapon(s) and Backpack but at least you are still alive.
You wade out of the muddy water and continue your journey under cover of the trees that line the right-hand bank.
Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
.
If the number you pick is 0–2,
turn to 230
.
If the number is 3–6,
turn to 190
.
If the number is 7–9,
turn to 321
.
You have continued your journey for about fifteen minutes when suddenly a black arrow whistles past your head and embeds itself in a tree. Instinctively you duck and draw your weapon.
If you wish to remain where you are in order to try to spot the hidden archer,
turn to 185
.
If you wish to run for the cover of denser undergrowth,
turn to 92
.