new alleyway that heads off towards the Grand Palace, turn to 179 .
55
The temperature rises steadily until you are bathed in sweat. Ahead, you see a chamber filled with steam that rises from its bubbling floor. You are about to enter the chamber when you catch a glimpse of the danger awaiting you; the stone walkway ends abruptly, only a few yards into the chamber. Ten feet below, lying before you like the surface of a huge bubbling cauldron, is a tar-sorkh : a mud geyser.
These geysers are common in Vassagonia. Much of the desert empire is unstable, but although it is subject to constant earth tremors, it rarely results in great destruction. The Vassagonians call these tremors: ‘Tasa-Dophiem’ , which means ‘The Wrestling Gods’.
This particular mud geyser has been put to practical use. It provides a constant source of heat for the dwellings built over the chamber. The steam from the tar-sorkh rises into a pair of huge, circular chimneys in the domed ceiling, which in turn feed heat to the buildings above. Your only way out of this chamber is by climbing one of these chimneys. Although there are no ladders, the rock-hewn chamber wall offers many footholds.
If you wish to climb the left chimney, turn to 162 .
If you wish to climb the right chimney, turn to 23 .
57
The door is unlocked, and for a moment your heart sinks; if this room is the Imperial Apothecary where the Oede herb is kept, why is the door not locked and guarded? Anxiously you slip inside and survey the interior.
It seems to be an apothecary. Glass retorts bubble and steam over jets of blue flame, and strange fluids pass back and forth through a crazy maze of tubes and tunnels. Hundreds of herb jars line the far wall, and ten large copper urns, each full of rainbow-coloured powder, hang suspended from the soot-blackened ceiling. You begin searching through the herb jars, and suddenly you discover why the door was left unlocked. Creeping slowly towards you is the cat-like creature that guards the apothecary. Its eyes glow with a vivid green luminescence as it prepares to strike.
Elix: COMBAT SKILL 17 ENDURANCE 32
If you have ever fought an Elix before, add 2 to your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of this fight. You cannot evade combat and must fight it to the death.
If you win the combat, turn to 2 .
60
You leap towards the first warrior, feigning a blow that makes him dodge to the left. You anticipate his move and catch him in mid-step. He doubles up and then crumples into the slimy water, clutching his wound. The others hesitate and then back away.
Suddenly a voice echoes along the tunnel. ‘Leave him to me, you fools!’ Maouk appears from the shadows, a dart held high in his hand. He hisses a curse and flings the missile at your chest.
Turn to 25 .
61
Suddenly, the door bursts open, and in rush the Sharnazim. You make a dash for the open window but are grabbed from behind and pulled to the ground. Lashing out with your feet and fists you free yourself, only to be overpowered by more of the dark-skinned warriors. As they drag you out into the courtyard, you catch a glimpse of the man who opened the gate; he smiles at you as he slips a pouch of silver into his pocket.
Turn to 176 .
62
Instinct and experience warn you that it would be rash to attack the guards so close to a crowded mess hall; any noise of combat would immediately be heard by the soldiers inside. There's now only one course of action for you to take — you must hide outside on the ledge running around a palace wall.
Turn to 152 .
64
You have barely taken a dozen steps along the walkway when you hear a low, inhuman growl. Then, the noise suddenly changes to an abominable and high-pitched sputter, as the huge bulk of a Kwaraz emerges from out of the dark. It is upon you before you can take any evasive action.
Kwaraz: COMBAT SKILL 20 ENDURANCE 30
The giant reptile is very susceptible to psychic power. If you have the Kai Discipline of Mindblast,
55
The temperature rises steadily until you are bathed in sweat. Ahead, you see a chamber filled with steam that rises from its bubbling floor. You are about to enter the chamber when you catch a glimpse of the danger awaiting you; the stone walkway ends abruptly, only a few yards into the chamber. Ten feet below, lying before you like the surface of a huge bubbling cauldron, is a tar-sorkh : a mud geyser.
These geysers are common in Vassagonia. Much of the desert empire is unstable, but although it is subject to constant earth tremors, it rarely results in great destruction. The Vassagonians call these tremors: ‘Tasa-Dophiem’ , which means ‘The Wrestling Gods’.
This particular mud geyser has been put to practical use. It provides a constant source of heat for the dwellings built over the chamber. The steam from the tar-sorkh rises into a pair of huge, circular chimneys in the domed ceiling, which in turn feed heat to the buildings above. Your only way out of this chamber is by climbing one of these chimneys. Although there are no ladders, the rock-hewn chamber wall offers many footholds.
If you wish to climb the left chimney, turn to 162 .
If you wish to climb the right chimney, turn to 23 .
57
The door is unlocked, and for a moment your heart sinks; if this room is the Imperial Apothecary where the Oede herb is kept, why is the door not locked and guarded? Anxiously you slip inside and survey the interior.
It seems to be an apothecary. Glass retorts bubble and steam over jets of blue flame, and strange fluids pass back and forth through a crazy maze of tubes and tunnels. Hundreds of herb jars line the far wall, and ten large copper urns, each full of rainbow-coloured powder, hang suspended from the soot-blackened ceiling. You begin searching through the herb jars, and suddenly you discover why the door was left unlocked. Creeping slowly towards you is the cat-like creature that guards the apothecary. Its eyes glow with a vivid green luminescence as it prepares to strike.
Elix: COMBAT SKILL 17 ENDURANCE 32
If you have ever fought an Elix before, add 2 to your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of this fight. You cannot evade combat and must fight it to the death.
If you win the combat, turn to 2 .
60
You leap towards the first warrior, feigning a blow that makes him dodge to the left. You anticipate his move and catch him in mid-step. He doubles up and then crumples into the slimy water, clutching his wound. The others hesitate and then back away.
Suddenly a voice echoes along the tunnel. ‘Leave him to me, you fools!’ Maouk appears from the shadows, a dart held high in his hand. He hisses a curse and flings the missile at your chest.
Turn to 25 .
61
Suddenly, the door bursts open, and in rush the Sharnazim. You make a dash for the open window but are grabbed from behind and pulled to the ground. Lashing out with your feet and fists you free yourself, only to be overpowered by more of the dark-skinned warriors. As they drag you out into the courtyard, you catch a glimpse of the man who opened the gate; he smiles at you as he slips a pouch of silver into his pocket.
Turn to 176 .
62
Instinct and experience warn you that it would be rash to attack the guards so close to a crowded mess hall; any noise of combat would immediately be heard by the soldiers inside. There's now only one course of action for you to take — you must hide outside on the ledge running around a palace wall.
Turn to 152 .
64
You have barely taken a dozen steps along the walkway when you hear a low, inhuman growl. Then, the noise suddenly changes to an abominable and high-pitched sputter, as the huge bulk of a Kwaraz emerges from out of the dark. It is upon you before you can take any evasive action.
Kwaraz: COMBAT SKILL 20 ENDURANCE 30
The giant reptile is very susceptible to psychic power. If you have the Kai Discipline of Mindblast,
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