Legion of Shadow (53 page)

If you manage to defeat this epic foe, turn to
708
.

455

You silence the vampire with a killing blow, watching as the woman’s delicate, porcelain features crumble into a fine powdery dust. Lady Roe has been defeated. You may now
take one of the following items:

Eldias is still sparring with his foe, appearing to take delight in dodging the baron’s slow and heavy swings. At last, the black-coated man sheathes his blades and pulls
out two flint-lock pistols. Aiming them towards the ceiling, he fires two shots in quick succession. There is a grinding, ripping sound – then the huge crystal chandelier hanging above the
baron’s head, plummets to the ground, its spear-like tip staking him straight through the heart.

As the dust settles, Eldias spins his pistols and then holsters them. He flashes you a cocky grin. ‘Now that, my friend, is how you do it in style.’

You can’t help but marvel at the man’s self-assured skill. He makes killing these deadly foes look like child’s play. It seems you are not the only one to appreciate his
performance.

‘Bravo!’

The sound of clapping forces you to turn. The count is standing amidst the wreckage of his hall, watching you both with dark, hungry eyes. At his side stand two guards, dressed in heavy chain
mail armour.

‘It is time,’ hisses the count, his lips curling back over his fanged teeth, ‘for you to die.’ Turn to
392
.

456

Using the book, you are able to translate the symbols. They represent a series of numbers, arranged within a square-like pattern. Around the edge of the stone is an inscription,
written in angular Dwarven script:

Shay wanders over and looks at the markings. ‘Ooh, puzzles! I love puzzles!’ She takes your book and flicks through the pages. ‘Hmm, a Dwarven treasure chest.
I wonder what the answer could be.’ After several minutes of studying the numbers she snaps the book shut in irritation. ‘Those show-off dwarves. Why couldn’t they just use a key
and a lock like any normal person!’

If you are able to work out the answer, then ‘speak your answer’ and turn to the corresponding entry number. If you can’t solve the puzzle, then after much head-scratching, you
decide to leave the cave, taking the tunnel north. Turn to
393
.

457

The wet banks of fog surround you on all sides, plunging the featureless landscape into a cold, murky twilight. After what feels like an eternity of trudging through a constant
veil, the mists finally begin to thin, affording you a rare glimpse of your surroundings.

Ahead of you, stretching across a low line of hills, is a set of black-stone ruins. They stand in stark contrast to the gleaming white fog, which curls around the dark columns and crumbling
temple-like structures. As you near the ruins, you cannot help but wonder who, or what, would have chosen to live out in this treacherous, bleak marsh.

458

You allow your mark to absorb the shadow magic. The moment the magic comes in contact with the squirming snakes, your feel a rush of powerful energy flowing through your body.
You may raise your
brawn
and
magic
score by 2 for the next two combats that you fight. Turn to
539
.

459

Tanner runs through the potions that she can make, and the ingredients she will need to make them. If you have the ingredients written on your hero sheet, then Tanner will make
the potion for free. However, you must remove the relevant herbs and ingredients from your hero sheet afterwards. All potions are backpack items and have 1 use only:

Make a note of this entry number. Return here at any time to turn your herbs and ingredients into useful potions. Remember, you will need
Lorinwold’s Field Guide to
Herbs, Roots and Leaves
to identify and collect the herbs that you need. Turn to
421
if you wish to view Tanner’s other items, or
371
to examine
Totsvig’s potions.

460

You turn away as the vampire disintegrates into powdery black ash. You may now take one of the following items:

Spink is standing over the cauldron of soup, pouring the bottle’s contents into the oily-looking liquid. Once the bottle has been drained, he turns to you and beckons you
over. ‘Come on – help me with this!’

The boy grabs hold of the cauldron and attempts to tip it over. You join him and add your strength to the task. Within moments, the cauldron is on its side, spilling its contents across the
floor of the hall. As the sizzling liquid comes into contact with the vampires, they immediately scream and screech – then explode into thick clouds of dust.

‘Holy water,’ smiles Spink. ‘What a kick!’

As you turn back to the fight, you see the man in the black coat and hat weaving dextrously through the ranks of vampires, spinning twin swords in an elaborate pattern of swirling blades.
Wherever he moves, his enemies are cut down, reduced to dust the moment they come into contact with his magical swords.

Elsewhere you see the blacksmith, crucifix in one hand and bloody stake in the other, valiantly defending himself against a wave of undead. You start across the room to join him, but skid to a
halt when you see two vampires striding purposefully towards you. One you recognise instantly. It is the Lady Roe, her long white gown splattered with blood. Next to her walks a tall,
barrel-chested man. A thick fur cloak is flung back across his shoulders, making them appear even wider than they already are. In his massive hands, he carries a double-headed axe.

Suddenly, the black-coated stranger appears at your side. ‘I’m Eldias Falks,’ he says, his eyes twinkling beneath the brim of his hat. ‘Glad you could make the
party.’ He watches as the two vampires approach, bowing to them with exaggerated flourish. ‘Ah, the Lady Roe and Baron Greylock. An honour to make your acquaintance. A shame it will be
such a brief meeting.’

461

Shay is examining the tree roots, her face alight with fascination and excitement. ‘These are elder roots! You know what that means, don’t you? There must be an
elder tree that is still alive.’

You nod, offering her a knowing smile. ‘Yes, there is. Do you want to meet him?’

Her eyes widen further. ‘What? You’ve met a tree elder? Why yes. Yes!’

Together, you backtrack through the network of caves and tunnels, until you arrive back at the withered glade. It is a sad and sobering moment as you walk through the bleak landscape, littered
with the stunted remains of the dead trees. All their magic has gone – taken by the giant beetle to feed its insatiable hunger.

Woad is the only tree left standing, his mighty branches stretching high into the sky. Shay gives a giggle of delight as you both approach the last of the elders.

‘Thank you,’ says the tree, his deep-set eyes now glittering with a newfound vigour. ‘I can feel my magic again – I can feel myself healing at last.’

You describe to the tree what you saw in the caves. The tree listens intently. When you have finished your tale, he gives a heavy sigh, blowing out the tips of his lichen moustache.

‘It is as I thought,’ he says. ‘The rock has mutated the wildlife. It has turned them into things that nature never intended. While the splinter remains in our side, I fear
this glade will never fully recover.’

Shay steps forward and gives a nervous bow. ‘Great elder, I am Shay Blackwell, of the Royal Botany Society. You have my word that I will return here with my team, and we will remove that
horrid thing as soon as possible. Something like that should not be allowed to wreak further havoc to this beautiful woodland.’

The elder looks pleased. ‘You are most gracious,’ he says. ‘Please, accept my blessing as a token of my gratitude.’ There is the creak and rustle of branches as the tree
begins to sway. Then, all of a sudden, you feel a tingling rush of magic course through your body. (You have received Woad’s blessing. For your next combat, you may temporarily raise your
brawn
or
magic
score by 1.)

After thanking the tree elder, you leave the withered glade to continue your journey. Return to the quest
map
.

462

You cross to the island, using the thick roots as a makeshift bridge. The old woman is still huddled over the water, continuing to sob and wail. You ask if you can help, but she
shows no signs of having heard you. Tentatively, you put out a hand, to touch one of her scrawny shoulders and announce your presence. Suddenly, with a heart-stopping scream, the woman swings
round, tossing her shawl aside. You stagger backwards in shock. The creature that is now revealed is no old lady! It is a fang-toothed monster – its body coated in black oozing slime. You
barely have a chance to ready your weapons before this shape-shifting beast is upon you:

Special abilities