Grey Star the Wizard (14 page)

Taking careful aim, you fire at the chariot as it crosses the bridge. Because of the distance between you and your target the attack costs you 2
WILLPOWER
points.

Your shot misses narrowly, falling just short of its target, but the fiery blast startles the team of black horses and causes the driver to lose his control over them.

Turn to 255
.

You run through the open archway and into a narrow passage that slopes downwards at a steep angle. As the passage becomes darker, a feeling of disquiet overcomes you.

Turn to 333
.

The dead bodies of the Shadakine lie at your feet. A thorough search reveals 10 Nobles and 2 Meals. Shan takes a sword from one of the bodies, smiling at you cheerfully. ‘Souvenir,’ he says in jest.

You may take the other Sword if you wish. Remember to make the necessary adjustment to your
Action Chart
before continuing on your journey towards the Azan River.

Turn to 39
.

The Kleasá seems to be growing stronger as it erodes your will. No matter how badly you damage the fabric of the creature, you cannot alter the phantom's ability to feed on your spirit.

Suddenly the creature grows, wrapping its whole body around you, engulfing you in a terrible darkness. You lose 5
WILLPOWER
points and 5
ENDURANCE
points.

If you are still alive and your
WILLPOWER
score has now fallen to zero or below,
turn to 177
.

If you are still alive and your
WILLPOWER
is above zero,
turn to 192
.

You turn and stride purposefully towards the man who has been following you. Unfortunately, before you can reach him, he calls out to two Shadakine warriors and they advance towards you.

If you wish to try to escape from them,
turn to 241
.

If you wish to confront the two Shadakine,
turn to 11
.

‘Run — both of you!’ you shout to your companions.

Both Tanith and Shan ignore your command, bravely standing their ground by your side, though neither has a weapon. The chariot has now reached the bridge and it thunders on towards you.

If you wish to unleash a long-range attack at the chariot,
turn to 162
.

If you wish to stand your ground and allow the chariot to draw closer,
turn to 180
.

The sail lifts and you head out into the ever deepening waters. The Shadakine coast lies far to the west, and you prepare for a long voyage. Two monotonous days and a night pass. During this time you must consume 2 Meals (cross these off your list of Backpack Items) and lose 1
ENDURANCE
point due to fatigue, since you have had very little sleep, constantly ensuring that the ship maintains a steady course.

Turn to 140
.

Before you can approach the bridge, a crossbowman who has broken away from Shan's bungled attack, jumps into the foliage where you are hidden. He levels a loaded crossbow at your heart, grinning fiendishly. Suddenly his expression freezes in a grimace of pain. He falls forward and you see that Tanith's knife protrudes from his back. With a sigh of relief you bless her timely appearance.

‘Quickly,’ she snaps. ‘Shan is in trouble. Help me.’

Turn to 203
.

If you have a prepared vial of Ezeran Acid,
turn to 73
.

If you do not have this potion, you can try to open the door with your Magical Power of Sorcery:
turn to 159
.

If you would prefer to take the right-hand exit,
turn to 163
.

A quick search of the body reveals 5 Nobles, which you may keep. You may also keep the guard's Sword if you wish. (Remember to mark these items on your
Action Chart
.)

Now head for the other flights of stairs by
turning to 137
.

Calmly you sift through these Powers and the extent of your mastery of them to determine the most effective choice. You make your decision.
¹⁹

If you wish to try to escape with the aid of Sorcery,
turn to 95
.

If you wish to use the Power of Enchantment,
turn to 124
.

If you would rather use Elementalism,
turn to 271
.

If you wish to use the Power of Alchemy,
turn to 151
.

If you wish to use the Power of Psychomancy,
turn to 236
.

If you wish to use the Power of Prophecy,
turn to 211
.

If you would rather contact the spirit realm of the dead through the use of Evocation,
turn to 250
.

‘Fool!’ she says, angrily. ‘Now I must destroy you.’ She points your Staff at you and unleashes a mighty blast that plunges directly into your heart. The burning bolt fells you instantly; you have become a victim of your own power.

Your life and your quest end here.

Shan is exhausted and you are obliged to help him along. The sky is full of Quoku, circling above you like expectant vultures. Ahead you can see the great Shenwu Falls that feed into Lake Shenwu, the source of the Azan River.

Shan whimpers in hoarse sobs. ‘I can't go on … I can't go on … ’

‘You must!’ you shout at him.

A few hundred yards further on, Shan collapses to the ground, his body racked with fatigue. You look behind and see a familiar, yet amazing, sight …

Turn to 148
.

‘You have power, young stranger,’ murmurs Mother Magri. ‘I sense some wizardry in you. How came this to be I wonder? Whom do you serve?’

Illustration X
—‘I sense some wizardry in you,’ murmurs Mother Magri.

If you do not resist the power of the Kazim Stone, your quest and its origin will be revealed to this servant of the Wytch-king.

If you have the Power of Sorcery and wish to use it to destroy the Kazim Stone,
turn to 191
.

If you have the Power of Sorcery and wish to use it to try to shield your mind from the probing power of the Stone,
turn to 116
.

If you would rather resist the power of the Stone with
WILLPOWER
,
turn to 226
.

Panting for breath, your heart pounding against your ribs, you step onto the landing.

If you have the Gaoler's Keys and wish to lock the door behind you,
turn to 153
.

If you would prefer to save time and continue immediately,
turn to 60
.

You are too weak to resist and your soul is devoured by the dark phantom. You fall to the ground, a lifeless shell; you are another victim of the malice of Mother Magri and the dark servants of the Shadakine Empire.

Your life and your quest end here.

A young girl brings three bowls of rice, and lingers for a while to stare at you through the iron grille of the door. You thank the girl kindly for this simple act. ‘Blessed is the giver, richer through the giving of a gift,’ you say, according to the old Shianti custom. Startled, the young girl disappears.

You go over to the old man, who is obviously dying, and offer him some food. ‘Twenty years,’ he rants, gripping your arm. ‘Twenty years I've been here, for no crime at all. Soon I will die.’ Sadly, you learn that the old man was once a Shianti priest, a worshipper of the memory of your Shianti masters, imprisoned for his religion and for keeping alive the memory of the Shianti.

If you have some Laumspur and wish to ease the old man's suffering,
turn to 160
.

If you do not have any Laumspur, or if you would rather keep it,
turn to 93
.

Raising your Staff, you attack the Yaku. A fiery bolt burns into the heart of the plant and it releases its grip immediately. The attack has cost you 1
WILLPOWER
point.

Suddenly Shan falls to the ground, emitting a startled cry; a snaking creeper is wrapped tightly around his legs.

If you wish to loose a bolt at the Yaku as it drags Shan towards its centre,
turn to 285
.

If you wish to rush to Shan's side,
turn to 240
.

You can see two Shadakine warriors standing in the chariot as it rumbles towards you. Just as you are about to hurl a beam of force at them, Tanith steps in front of you, directly in the chariot's path. She calls out in a shrill voice. ‘
Katta Chi!
’

To your surprise, the team of horses suddenly rears up, neighing in panic and confusion. ‘I was taught the mastery of beasts long ago,’ she cries, beaming with pride.

Turn to 255
.

With deep concentration you send your thoughts out to the Elemental Plane, unsure as to the kind of aid the elementals will send. The cost of this is 1
WILLPOWER
point.

The clouds above your head darken, and with a smile you realize the nature of the help that has been sent to you. A sudden shower drenches the plants around you, their red hearts growing pale and their sharp barbs opening out into rows of tubules, drinking in the rarity of water from the sky.

As the plants lie limp and quiescent, you and Shan jump, with unchallenged ease, past the lethal Yaku and on towards your goal. As night begins to fall, Shan gives a sigh of relief: far off in the distance you catch your first glimpse of the Great Wall of Azakawa.

You break into a stumbling run, anxious to reach the boundary of the Azanam before nightfall.

Turn to 325
.