Eventually you succeed, and limp down the stairs as fast as your injuries will allow.
Turn to 241 .
30
You leap over the bodies of the dead Drakkarim and rush forward to plug the hole in the West Gate. Inspired by your heroic action, the scattered gate guards rally themselves and erect a makeshift barricade to seal the breach. When the door is secure, you leave the West Gate and follow the battlements north towards the sound of renewed battle.
Turn to 168 .
31
The tunnel is narrow, but there is sufficient headroom to allow you to enter on horseback. You lead the way, steering your nervous horse through the winding passage, which is lit by the glow of mine flies swarming in the roof overhead. Gradually the tunnel descends to a cavern where the floor is covered with puddles of a milky liquid which bubbles up from fissures in the rock. Your horse lifts its head, sniffs the cool air, and gives voice to a harsh neigh, alerting you to danger: in the distant shadows something alien is stirring.
Turn to 129 .
32
Your light has awoken and angered the sleeping Roctopus, which uncoils its long, slimy tentacles swiftly from the wall. They surge towards you like a mass of wriggling snakes.
Illustration II —The Roctopus uncoils its long, slimy tentacles.
Roctopus: COMBAT SKILL 18 ENDURANCE 18
This creature is immune to Mindblast and Psi-surge. Owing to the confines of the passage, you must reduce your COMBAT SKILL by 2 points for the duration of the fight.
If you win the combat, turn to 139 .
35
Using your improved Kai Mastery you focus on a distant tower, one of several that reinforce the city wall. This one marks the boundary between the city's North and West Districts, and as your vision magnifies, your suspicions are confirmed. Standing at the top of the tower is your companion, Banedon. You are relieved to know that he is still alive and resolve to make your way to the tower without delay.
Turn to 131 .
36
Your Kai Mastery alerts you to the attack, and you resist it with breathtaking speed. In one swift movement you unsheathe your weapon and lash out at your attacker, shearing off his arm at the elbow. Arm and dagger fall to the table and the soldier collapses screaming to the floor.
Shocked by what he has seen, his comrade kicks back his bench and retreats from the table. However, the drunken crowd goad him to retaliate and their gibes sting him into action. He pulls his blade free of its scabbard and leaps forward to attack.
Drunken Mercenary: COMBAT SKILL 15 ENDURANCE 26
If you wish to evade combat, turn to 328 .
If you stay and win the fight, turn to 170 .
37
The hermit takes you back into the gorge and leads you to a place where a massive outcrop of rock overhangs a tangle of bushes and foliage. Hidden behind this leafy cover is the entrance to a cave. A rivulet of fresh water trickles from the cave mouth and the sound of constant dripping echoes in its distant depths.
‘Follow the straight path through the cave. Do not stray from it. Soon you will emerge from the hills and see Tahou before your eyes. Godspeed.’ And with that farewell wish the hermit hobbles away, eager to return to his hut and devour the fresh food you have given him.
Turn to 282 .
39
Using the cover afforded by the crowds, you escape across the precinct that surrounds the Senate House and enter a labyrinth of passages that disappear into a neighbourhood known as the Parish of Thieves. However, your escape has not gone completely unnoticed. From a tower of the Anarium, the Captain of the Senate Guard has been watching your getaway through his telescope, and he has dispatched a troop of his best men to track you down.
On the corner of a dark alley you hear the sound of drunken laughter floating up from the battered door of an ale cellar. You turn away but the sudden tramp of booted feet echoing along the passage behind makes you change your mind. Quickly you descend the steps and take shelter in this lowly
Turn to 241 .
30
You leap over the bodies of the dead Drakkarim and rush forward to plug the hole in the West Gate. Inspired by your heroic action, the scattered gate guards rally themselves and erect a makeshift barricade to seal the breach. When the door is secure, you leave the West Gate and follow the battlements north towards the sound of renewed battle.
Turn to 168 .
31
The tunnel is narrow, but there is sufficient headroom to allow you to enter on horseback. You lead the way, steering your nervous horse through the winding passage, which is lit by the glow of mine flies swarming in the roof overhead. Gradually the tunnel descends to a cavern where the floor is covered with puddles of a milky liquid which bubbles up from fissures in the rock. Your horse lifts its head, sniffs the cool air, and gives voice to a harsh neigh, alerting you to danger: in the distant shadows something alien is stirring.
Turn to 129 .
32
Your light has awoken and angered the sleeping Roctopus, which uncoils its long, slimy tentacles swiftly from the wall. They surge towards you like a mass of wriggling snakes.
Illustration II —The Roctopus uncoils its long, slimy tentacles.
Roctopus: COMBAT SKILL 18 ENDURANCE 18
This creature is immune to Mindblast and Psi-surge. Owing to the confines of the passage, you must reduce your COMBAT SKILL by 2 points for the duration of the fight.
If you win the combat, turn to 139 .
35
Using your improved Kai Mastery you focus on a distant tower, one of several that reinforce the city wall. This one marks the boundary between the city's North and West Districts, and as your vision magnifies, your suspicions are confirmed. Standing at the top of the tower is your companion, Banedon. You are relieved to know that he is still alive and resolve to make your way to the tower without delay.
Turn to 131 .
36
Your Kai Mastery alerts you to the attack, and you resist it with breathtaking speed. In one swift movement you unsheathe your weapon and lash out at your attacker, shearing off his arm at the elbow. Arm and dagger fall to the table and the soldier collapses screaming to the floor.
Shocked by what he has seen, his comrade kicks back his bench and retreats from the table. However, the drunken crowd goad him to retaliate and their gibes sting him into action. He pulls his blade free of its scabbard and leaps forward to attack.
Drunken Mercenary: COMBAT SKILL 15 ENDURANCE 26
If you wish to evade combat, turn to 328 .
If you stay and win the fight, turn to 170 .
37
The hermit takes you back into the gorge and leads you to a place where a massive outcrop of rock overhangs a tangle of bushes and foliage. Hidden behind this leafy cover is the entrance to a cave. A rivulet of fresh water trickles from the cave mouth and the sound of constant dripping echoes in its distant depths.
‘Follow the straight path through the cave. Do not stray from it. Soon you will emerge from the hills and see Tahou before your eyes. Godspeed.’ And with that farewell wish the hermit hobbles away, eager to return to his hut and devour the fresh food you have given him.
Turn to 282 .
39
Using the cover afforded by the crowds, you escape across the precinct that surrounds the Senate House and enter a labyrinth of passages that disappear into a neighbourhood known as the Parish of Thieves. However, your escape has not gone completely unnoticed. From a tower of the Anarium, the Captain of the Senate Guard has been watching your getaway through his telescope, and he has dispatched a troop of his best men to track you down.
On the corner of a dark alley you hear the sound of drunken laughter floating up from the battered door of an ale cellar. You turn away but the sudden tramp of booted feet echoing along the passage behind makes you change your mind. Quickly you descend the steps and take shelter in this lowly
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