The Jungle of Horrors (20 page)

A mile from the tavern you slip from the saddle and crash onto the highway. Paido wheels his horse around and comes to your aid, his face etched deep with anxiety. From his pocket he takes a healing pad of Laumspur and presses it on your shattered arm, holding it in place with a strap from his saddlebag. The strap acts as a tourniquet and stems the flow of blood that has discoloured the muddy soil so much that it resembles a red blanket.

‘This is cursed luck, Lone Wolf,’ says Paido, as he lifts you carefully back onto your horse. ‘Your quest has hardly begun and already you have fallen foul of a poisoned bolt, and by no fault of your own.’

If you possess the Magnakai Discipline of Curing and have reached the rank of Primate,
turn to 156
.

If you do not possess this skill, or if you have yet to reach the Kai rank of Primate,
turn to 322
.

You scramble behind the table, the only cover offered on this side of the refectory, to find yourself crouched beside Paido. He is still breathing, although unconscious. His blue-steel sword rests across the back of his legs, and the hilt of a dagger protrudes from the top of his boot.

If you wish to take his sword,
turn to 47
.

If you wish to take the dagger and throw it at the Helghast,
turn to 211
.

As soon as your hand closes around the fruit, it splits wide open, its red skin forming a star-shaped cluster of tentacles that wrap themselves around your wrist to prevent you from casting it away. Needle-like spines shoot from its core into your palm, injecting a powerful anaesthetic that paralyses your arm.

If you have a dagger,
turn to 97
.

If you do not possess this weapon,
turn to 132
.

The tap-room becomes a scene of total chaos as hysterical passengers stampede towards the stairs. Paido is forced into a corner by the loathsome spiders; Trost is nowhere to be seen. The necromancer turns to face you. He screams a curse, his hands weaving shapes in the air. You draw a weapon and press forward, but you are literally frozen in your tracks. Frost sparkles on your hair and clothing; ice sheens your eyes. Your breath comes in misty clouds as you labour to stay conscious.

If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Nexus,
turn to 345
.

If you do not possess this skill,
turn to 159
.

Hope returns and your spirits rise with the expectation of finding the lost temple beyond the isle of red rock. You set off without delay, anxious to cover the ten-mile trek before the sun sets and darkness engulfs the Danarg.

For the most part the swamp mire is firm underfoot and the inhabitants pose no problems that cannot be solved by a few shouts or well-placed weapon blows. But, as the sky darkens and you draw nearer to the plateau, the going becomes more difficult. A carpet of vines, thick with mould, covers a surface of muddy holes and hollows. Often a seeming puddle proves to be a bottomless fissure. Progress becomes so slow that you fear you will never reach the island before dark.

Turn to 307
.

You hear approaching footfalls and the yap of hounds in the distance. Without further delay, you pull yourself through the hatch and tumble into the kitchen.

Turn to 191
.

With a crash, the tavern door slams shut and once more you find yourself outside in the teeming rain. ‘A warm-hearted bunch, these plains folk,’ jokes Paido, as you trudge through the mud to the stables. ‘Do you think they'd object if I asked for my food back?’

You smile at his jauntiness, but you know that all his provisions now lie scattered on the tavern floor. You can rely on your basic Kai Discipline of Hunting to provide you with nourishment, but Paido also needs food to sustain him. If you have a Meal in your Backpack you must give it to Paido (remember to delete it from your
Action Chart
) before continuing your journey northwards.

Turn to 318
.

Paido's condition deteriorates rapidly. His coma deepens until finally his heart and brain simply cease to function and he dies. Sadness fills your senses, and in the lonely confines of the passage, you mourn the loss of your brave companion. But grief soon turns to anger as you remember the base trickery which ended his life, and so nearly put an end to yours.

A rage grows within you, fuelled by a need for revenge. You take Paido's sword and vow to avenge his death by washing it in the blood of his murderers. Heedless of caution and the warning cry of your senses, you pull a lever which activates the secret pedestal lift and return to the hall above in search of vengeance.

As you reach the recess beneath the pulpit, you are transfixed by a blinding flash. A searing pain rips through your chest and a deafening
bang
rings in your ears. Three monks, armed with Bor muskets, have lain in wait in case you reappeared. It seems that their wait was not in vain.

Your life and your quest end here.

The undergrowth stops abruptly at the edge of a gorge. A gust of chill air wafts up from the yawning blackness as you totter on the brink.

Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
. If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Huntmastery and have reached the rank of Primate, add 3 to the number you have picked.

If your total is now 0–4,
turn to 69
.

If it is 5–12,
turn to 140
.

Paido's plan works perfectly. The guards are too busy checking the passengers to notice that there are two extra herdsmen with the consignment of horses. You slip into Tharro unnoticed and find yourselves in River Gate Square. Three streets lead away from the square: Copperpiece Lane, Flagon Alley, and Globe Walk.

If you wish to go west into Copperpiece Lane,
turn to 35
.

If you wish to go northwest into Flagon Alley,
turn to 332
.

If you wish to go north into Globe Walk,
turn to 82
.

As soon as you step into the cabin you are attacked by a man wielding a pick-axe handle. He is a lean, hollow-eyed rogue with a vivid scar, which runs in a ragged line from his forehead to his chin. He shouts a curse and makes a swing for your head.

Rogue Miner:
COMBAT SKILL
 17   
ENDURANCE
 25

Unless you have the Magnakai Discipline of Huntmastery, reduce your
COMBAT SKILL
by 3 points for the first two rounds of combat due to the surprise of the attack.

If you win the combat,
turn to 321
.

An hour passes before Paido's sharp eyes catch sight of a river barge in the distance. A team of bedraggled ghorkas are hauling the vessel upstream, seemingly unaffected by the storm-strengthened flow. Eventually it arrives at the jetty and stops to allow a motley assortment of peasants and travellers to disembark.

‘You two goin' to Tharro?’ shouts the barge captain. ‘The fare's 40 Lune apiece, an' that includes y'horses.’

If you wish to board the barge, pay the captain 40 Lune (or 10 Gold Crowns) and
turn to 266
.

If you do not want to board the barge, or if you cannot afford the fare,
turn to 348
.

A froth of green scum marks the edge of the pool, and you use it as a guide to avoid stepping too close to the water. On your left, the pools become more numerous until you find yourselves walking a narrow strip of mossy mounds flanked by dark water.

‘By the gods!’ grumbles Paido, slapping insects from his face. ‘How I wish for some good solid ground rather than this spongy muck!’

As if in answer to his request you see a spur of volcanic rock looming out of the mud ahead, forming a causeway above the pools of greasy water. You follow it and soon it splits in two: one spur disappears to the west, the other continues to the south.

If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Nexus and have reached the rank of Primate,
turn to 326
.

If you wish to take the west spur,
turn to 105
.

If you wish to continue along the south spur,
turn to 123
.

The red-skinned fruit is the size of an orange and its peel is similar in texture to orange peel.

If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Huntmastery,
turn to 148
.

If you wish to pick one of these juicy-looking fruits,
turn to 290
.

If you decide not to touch the fruits,
turn to 177
.

You empty the tankard in one go and wipe the froth from your lips. Seconds later the floor of the hold begins to rock from side to side, gently at first, but gathering momentum until you are forced to cling to the table to prevent yourself from falling over. The other passengers seem unaffected by the violent pitching and rolling, as if their feet were nailed to the deck. You shout a warning that the barge is about to sink, that they should try to save themselves before it is too late. They cackle and sneer at your concern for their safety, their faces growing larger and more grotesque and the sound of their laughter building to a deafening crescendo. A man in a red coat looms before you, his face twisted and deformed. He grabs your shoulders and you feel his fingers sink painlessly into your flesh. Recoiling in horror, you draw a hand weapon to defend yourself from this frightening apparition. As you step forward to strike a blow, a wave of giddiness robs you of all balance and you crash headlong to the floor.

Illustration XVI
—The other passengers cackle and sneer, their faces growing larger and more grotesque.

Turn to 104
.

The whistle of your Arrow can be heard above the rumbling hoofbeats of the approaching cavalry. It flies straight and true, tearing through the chainmail links that protect the leader's throat. The sudden pain makes him snatch at his reins, and his horse falters, stumbles, and then falls. The wounded leader is flung forward over the horse's head, and he crashes into the ground with a sickening crunch. With their leader slain, the morale of the other men is badly shaken. They break off their ambush, wheeling their horses about and galloping away in disorder.

‘Let us fly,’ shouts Paido, ‘before they regroup and strike again.’ You shoulder your Bow and follow Paido as he leaves the track and rides along the stream to the west.

Turn to 136
.

The bowyery owner, a bony man with a ratty beard and moustache, which he habitually tugs whilst talking, takes a special interest in your Silver Bow. He asks if he may have the pleasure of firing a flight of arrows using your bow. There is an indoor archery range at the rear of his bowyery, and he invites you to come and make use of it.

If you wish to follow him into the archery range and let him use your Bow,
turn to 117
.

If you refuse his request, you can leave the bowyery and continue;
turn to 264
.

First through the archway comes a brace of hunting dogs. They lope along the central aisle with unnerving speed, their jaws agape and their eyes open wide with the excitement of the hunt. As they see you they increase their speed and get ready to pounce.

If you have a Bow and
two
Arrows, and wish to use them,
turn to 164
.

If you do not have a Bow, you must prepare yourself for combat, for the dogs are almost upon you.

Hunting Dogs:
COMBAT SKILL
 15   
ENDURANCE
 25

If you win the combat,
turn to 231
.

Inside the mill two great granite stones grind corn at a terrific speed, powered by the flow of the swollen stream water. A ladder ascends through a hole in the ceiling to a tiny room above the milling chamber. It is sparsely furnished — only a bed, a chair, and a wooden chest occupy the dusty garret.

The chest contains a Map of Tharro, enough food for 1 Meal and an Axe. You may take any of these items but remember to record them on your
Action Chart
.

To leave the mill and continue your ride north,
turn to 318
.

Paido is leading the way across a tangled mat of barbed vines when a wave disturbs the muddy ooze below. Suddenly the great head of a silver swamp python bursts through the rotting creepers and raises its tree-thick coils high in the air. Awesome jaws set with double-tiered fangs tower above you, glistening in the fading light. A drop of venom falls from the fangs and sets the quagmire boiling.

Illustration XVII
—Suddenly the great head of a silver swamp python bursts through the rotting creepers.

If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Animal Control and have reached the rank of Primate,
turn to 45
.

If you do not have this skill or have yet to reach this level of Magnakai training,
turn to 155
.