Fire on the Water (2 page)

Guard Captain D'Val leads you to the Royal Armoury where your green tunic and Kai cloak are taken from you to be repaired and cleaned. While you await their return, Captain D'Val hands you a pouch of Gold for your journey. To find out how much gold is in the pouch, pick a number from the
Random Number Table
. Now add 10 to the number you have picked. The total equals the number of Gold Crowns inside the pouch, and you may enter this number in the ‘Gold Crowns’ section of your
Action Chart
. (If you successfully completed Book 1, you may add this sum to the total of any Crowns you may already possess.)

On a large table in the centre of the armoury, a number of items have been laid out for your choice. You may take any two of the following:

• Sword (Weapons)
  
  
• Short Sword (Weapons)
  
  
• Two Meals (Meals)
  
  
• Chainmail Waistcoat (Special Items). This adds 4
  ENDURANCE
  points to your total.
  
  
• Mace (Weapons)
  
  
• Healing Potion (Backpack Item). This can restore 4
  ENDURANCE
  points to your total, when swallowed after combat. There is only enough for one dose.
  
  
• Quarterstaff (Weapons)
  
  
• Spear (Weapons)
  
  
• Shield (Special Items) This adds 2 points to your
  COMBAT SKILL
  when used in combat.
  
  
• Broadsword (Weapons)
  
  

If you are already carrying Weapons from Book 1, you can take this opportunity to exchange one or both of them.

List the two items you choose on your
Action Chart
, under the heading given in brackets, and make a note of any effect it may have on your
ENDURANCE
points or
COMBAT SKILL
.

Now that you have your equipment, the following list shows you how it is carried. You don't need to make notes but you can refer back to this list in the course of your adventure.

• Sword — carried in the hand.
  
• Short Sword — carried in the hand.
  
• Food — placed in the Backpack
  
• Chainmail Waistcoat — worn on the body.
  
• Mace — carried in the hand.
  
• Healing Potion — carried in the Backpack.
  
• Quarterstaff — carried in the hand.
  
• Spear — carried in the hand.
  
• Shield — slung over the shoulder when not in combat, otherwise carried in the hand.
  
• Broadsword — carried in the hand.
  

Weapons

The maximum number of weapons that you may carry is
two
.

Backpack Items

These must be stored in your Backpack. Because space is limited, you may only keep a maximum of eight articles, including Meals, in your Backpack at any one time.

Special Items

Special Items are not carried in the Backpack. When you discover a Special Item, you will be told how to carry it.

Gold Crowns

These are always carried in the Belt Pouch. It will hold a maximum of fifty crowns.

Food

Food is carried in your Backpack. Each Meal counts as one item.

Any item that may be of use and can be picked up on your adventure and entered on your
Action Chart
is given capital letters in the text. Unless you are told it is a Special Item, carry it in your Backpack.

Weapons

Weapons aid you in combat. If you have the Kai Discipline of Weaponskill and the correct weapon, it adds 2 points to your
COMBAT SKILL
. If you enter a combat with no weapons, deduct 4 points from your
COMBAT SKILL
and fight with your bare hands. If you find a weapon during the adventure, you may pick it up and use it. (Remember you can only carry two Weapons at once.) You may only use one Weapon at a time in combat.

Backpack Items

During your travels you will discover various useful items which you may wish to keep. (Remember you can only carry eight items in your Backpack at once.) You may exchange or discard them at any point when you are not involved in combat.

Special Items

Each Special Item has a particular purpose or effect. You may be told this when the item is discovered, or it may be revealed to you as the adventure progresses.
Enter on your
Action Chart
a
map
that you found in the ashes of the Monastery.
You begin this section with the Seal of Hammerdal, a ring that you wear on your right hand. Enter it on your
Action Chart
under Special Items.

Gold Crowns

The local currency is the Crown, which is a small gold coin. Gold Crowns can be used on your adventure to pay for transport, food, or even as a bribe! Many of the creatures that you will encounter possess Gold Crowns, or have them hidden in their lairs. Whenever you kill a creature, you may take any Gold Crowns that it has and put them in your Belt Pouch.

Food

You will need to eat regularly during your adventure. If you do not have any food when you are instructed to eat a Meal, you will lose 3
ENDURANCE
points. If you have chosen the Kai Discipline of Hunting as one of your five skills, you will not need to tick off a Meal when instructed to eat.

Healing Potion

This can restore 4
ENDURANCE
points to your total when swallowed after combat. There is only enough for one dose. If you discover any other potions during the adventure, you will be told then of their effect. All Healing Potions are Backpack Items.