Dawn of the Dragons (12 page)
As the sun rises above the waters of the Holmgulf, it sheds its golden light upon the hopeful citizens of Holmgard who have gathered to cheer your departure. You ride out of the King's Citadel at the head of the Guard Cavalry regiment, with Captain D'Val at your side. Bouquets of Sommlending roses are thrown before the hooves of your warhorse, and your ears ring to the jubilant cries of the crowd as you, and the brave horsemen at your back, ride with pride through the city streets that lead to Holmgard's north gate.
Once outside the city, you order your troop to couch their lances and form up in column, four abreast, in readiness for a swift ride north. At midday, you cross the River Unoram and meet with a patrol of Border Rangers who are guarding a junction. A track emerges from the Fryelund Forest and joins with the main road from the west at this point. Although it is unsigned, you recognize its rutted surface at once: it is the Alema Trail, one of several forest tracks which lead to the Kai Monastery, thirty miles distant. Captain D'Val tells you that the enemy line is weakest at a place several miles along this trail.
The Border Rangers come quickly to attention when they see you approaching. Their leader, a sergeant with a battle-wounded leg, warns you that the enemy were seen earlier flying over this area of the forest. You acknowledge his salute, and then you give the order for the regiment to form up in column, two abreast, before leading them along the trail and into the Fryelund Forest.
You have covered less than a mile of this woodland track when you find yourself descending a gentle slope towards a stream, a tributary of the Unoram. There once was a bridge which crossed the watercourse at this point, but it has long since collapsed. Its ancient stones now form a ford which carries the trail over to the far side of the stream.
If you possess Grand Huntmastery and have attained the Kai rank of Sun Lord or higher,
turn to 203
.
If you do not possess this skill, or if you have yet to attain this level of Kai Mastery,
turn to 151
.
You focus your Magnakai powers of Psi-surge and launch a pulse of energy at the prisoner's mind in an attempt to weaken his resolve. Unexpectedly, you discover that his memory is protected by a magical shield and it takes a great effort for you to break through this defence (reduce your
ENDURANCE
score by 4 points).
Suddenly the man's mind shield crumbles. He shrieks with fear and his body is racked by uncontrollable tremors. You command the prisoner to reveal the identity of the person who sent him here to Garthen to murder you, and a mass of images begins to swirl and solidify in your mind's eye. They are the images of a past meeting in a far-off place which you recognize to be Duadon, the capital city of Eldenora. You see a shadowy figure, sheathed in ornate chainmail, handing a bulging pouch of gold to the prisoner in a dimly lit alleyway. The figure speaks your name before melting away into the shadows.
‘Who is this person?’ you say, commanding the trembling prisoner to answer. He parts his bruised lips and tries to utter a name but no sound emerges. You sense that he is fighting to overcome the remnants of the shielding spell placed upon his mind. Moving closer, you try to make out the name he is struggling hard to whisper.
You resolve to reach a clearing in the Fryelund Forest, a mile to the east of the monastery, where a secret entrance and passageway are located. The passage leads directly to your vault beneath the Tower of the Sun, and it is your intention to gain entry to the monastery by this way.
Before you set off towards the woods, you use your psychic
Mindblend
ability as an extra camouflage precaution. Quickly it proves to be wise, for no sooner have you begun to run for the trees, than a flight of winged Lavas come soaring out of the clouds overhead. You throw yourself to the ground and they pass by without slowing.
Once they have disappeared beyond the ridge, you get to your feet and continue your run for the trees.
You leave your horse at the derelict barn and make your way on foot towards the ferry post, arriving there just as the boat is docking at the jetty. Using your Kai camouflage skills, and aided by the frenzy of activity, you merge with the crowds of anxious travellers who are jostling to get aboard. An impatient trio of Eldenoran soldiers are collecting tickets from passengers before allowing them off the jetty. When it is your turn to board, you say that you have dropped your ticket and lost it.
‘Pay again!’ shouts one of the soldiers. ‘Yeah!’ sneers another. ‘Cough up another 2 Crowns, y' scab, and be sharpish about it!’
Hurriedly you give the soldier 2 Gold Crowns (erase these from your
Action Chart
) and take your place aboard the crowded boat.
As if in answer to your prayer to the Goddess Ishir, the blade of your divine sword suddenly radiates a blinding halo of golden light. You sense that you hold in your hands a weapon capable of destroying the dragon and this realization greatly lifts your spirits (restore any
ENDURANCE
points lost so far).
The dragon growls with disdain as the light of your sword washes over his scaly hide. He raises a claw-tipped forepaw and lashes out in an attempt to swat the Sommerswerd from your grasp, but you duck the blow and thrust the blade into his side. He roars with pain, but then he leaps at you with frightening speed.
Vaxagore:
COMBAT SKILL
56
ENDURANCE
52
This creature is immune to all forms of psychic attack, except Kai-surge and Kai-blast. Due to the increased power of your sword while upon the Plane of Darkness, you may add 4 to your
COMBAT SKILL
for the duration of this fight.
If you win the fight,
turn to 288
.
You look up to see the loathsome creature circling directly above, less than twenty feet above the tops of the trees. Instinctively, you crouch down and take cover amongst the nearby foliage, your weapon drawn in readiness, as it attempts in vain to force a landing amongst the densely-packed pines. Its incessant cawing and the crash of its leathery wings against the upper branches bring Dorst and his men hurrying to investigate. They each pause to grab a bow and quiver from their saddlebags, and then they loose off a volley of arrows at the beast. Shrieking with frustration, the Kraan takes to the night sky and quickly disappears, heading away to the north.
A chill night wind whistles through the trees and you shiver. But it is not the cold that is chilling your blood — it is the nagging fear that you may never live to see your homeland again.
From a secret drawer beneath the stone table, Gwynian brings forth a golden crystal the size of an apple. Its multi-faceted surface radiates a myriad tiny beams which shimmer and sparkle with the fiery energy that is locked within its core.
‘This is a Sun-crystal, Grand Master,’ he says, placing the object into the palm of your hand. Its surface feels pleasantly warm, inviting your touch. ‘If you are to save your brethren, you must close the Shadow Gate for good. This crystal can achieve this aim. It contains power sufficient to destroy the Shadow Gate and prevent its return.’
Illustration VI—‘This crystal contains power sufficient to destroy the Shadow Gate,’ Gwynian tells you.
You look down at the glowing crystal with fearful respect. Gwynian notes your concern and smiles.
‘You need not fear the crystal's power for it cannot cause harm in our world. Only if it is cast into another plane of existence will its powers be released. Grand Master, you must cast it into the Shadow Gate that Naar has created.’
‘So this is how I can save my brethren,’ you whisper, as you peer into the glittering head of the crystal.
‘Just so,’ replies Gwynian. ‘Just so.’
‘Then I must away at once,’ you say, placing the Sun-crystal into the pocket of your tunic. ‘Now that I have the weapon I need to save my people, I can stay not a moment longer; I must leave for Casiorn at once.’
‘Yes,’ says Gwynian, still smiling, ‘I know of your plans, and I have made provision for you to travel to the City of Merchants more swiftly. Come, follow me, and all will be revealed.’
Record the Sun-crystal on your
Action Chart
as a Special Item. You must discard another item in its favour if you already possess the maximum number permissible.
The figure beside the fireplace does not reply. Instead, it stretches out a gloved hand and takes up an iron rod which is lying upon the stone mantle. The moment its fingers close around the haft, a crackling blue flame ignites at its tip.
‘Draw steel!’ commands Nathor, and his men respond by unsheathing their swords in readiness for combat. The Sommerswerd hums with power as you release it from its scabbard and hold it before your face. You sense that the figure is not human: it possesses an aura of evil that marks it as a dark disciple, a magician versed in the forbidden black arts of the Nadziranim.
Suddenly there is a low, concussive boom and a spiral of blue flame shoots the length of the hall, fired from the tip of the figure's iron stave. It connects with the blade of your divine sword and rebounds, shattering one of the tall windows into a thousand glittering shards.
‘Take him!’ shouts Nathor, and his men rush forward, but a second blast from the stave puts an end to their brave advance. All three are cut down by an arc of blue fire that leaves their corpses heaped and smouldering in the middle of the hall.
Nathor curses the sinister figure and it responds by uttering a chilling, inhuman laugh. Now you sense a new danger approaching — the being's sickly laughter is summoning its minions to the hall.
‘Lord Nathor!’ you cry. ‘We cannot prevail here. We must escape … Follow me!’
And with these words, you race to the window and leap feet-first through the shattered pane.
Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
.
If the number you have picked is 0–4,
turn to 219
.
If it is 5–9,
turn to 301
.
Your Arrow penetrates deeply into the dragon's eye. Its entire length disappears into the black cornea and he reacts to the sudden, agonizing pain by emitting a ground-shuddering roar. He rears up on his hind legs and, for a few terrifying moments, he claws wildly at the sulphurous sky before keeling over on his side. You have slain the dragon!
You dismount and toss your horse's reins to a sniffing stable-boy before entering the dry and welcome warmth of the inn. The innkeeper is a burly, ginger-bearded man with an incongruous lisp, who attends to his small group of patrons with an air of bored indifference. You hand him 2 Gold Crowns and in return you receive a small and draughty room over the stables.
You sleep well (restore 3
ENDURANCE
points) and wake at dawn. The innkeeper offers you breakfast, but the unsavoury plate of stale cheese and bacon rind that he produces from under the taproom counter does little to excite your appetite. You decline his offer, collect your horse, and set off on the trail which heads east out of Ellio.
The sun is now above the horizon and this hamlet is slowly stirring to life. You decide to wile away the next hour or so by looking around its simple shops and riverside stores. One building in particular catches your eye: it is a hall perched precariously on the end of a wide wooden jetty. You can hear an old man's voice trailing from its open doors, answered by the occasional murmur of a crowd. Inside you discover a wizened old cleric administering to a sick woman whose head is swathed with bandages. The cleric is attempting to cure the woman of her ills by laying-on his hands, but the pressure is simply making the pain in her head feel worse.
‘Charlatan,’ mumbles one onlooker. ‘Old fake,’ whispers another. The aged cleric hears these dissenting voices and he becomes flustered. Although he may be incompetent as a healer, you sense that he is a good man at heart and so you decide to save him from the disgruntled crowd, who look as if they are on the brink of throwing him in the river at any moment.
‘Hold, good brother!’ you say, moving swiftly through the crowd to the small stage on which he and the bandaged woman are standing. ‘You should not be placing your hands upon this good woman's head. Surely the source of her pain stems from her aching heart!’
And with this you take hold of the man's hands and place them on the woman's chest. Her first reaction is one of shock and she starts to pull away, but when you transmit your own healing powers through the cleric's hands and into her body, the pain in her head suddenly vanishes. A smile of pure joy lights up her face and hurriedly she strips off her bandages.
‘Ishir be praised!’ she cries. ‘I'm cured. I'm completely cured!’