Voyage of the Moonstone (27 page)
Read Voyage of the Moonstone Online
Authors: Joe Dever
Tags: #Fiction, #Fantasy, #Lone Wolf, #Magnamund
The landlady's frowning face softens when you hand her 3 Gold Crowns (erase these from your
Action Chart
). She slips the money into the pocket of her apron and from this same pocket she removes a key which is stamped with the number 4. She hands it to you, and then she points to a corridor on the ground floor which leads to a room at the rear of the building.
As you are about to insert the key into the lock, you hear a suspicious noise coming from inside. Silently you unsheathe your weapon, unlock the door, and then fling it wide open.
You focus on the tip of the arrow that is now speeding towards your chest. Drawing upon your natural Kai agility, you twist aside at the last moment in an attempt to avoid being hit by this deadly missile.
Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
. If your current
ENDURANCE
total is 20 or lower, deduct 2 from the number you have picked.
If your total score is now 4 or lower,
turn to 44
.
If it is 5 or higher,
turn to 261
.
You enjoy a restful sleep at the hostel and you wake at daybreak to the sound of voices and the crashing of iron pots and pans. Your room is located above the kitchens and through the cracks in the bamboo floor you can see the owner and his wife preparing food for breakfast. You put on your cloak and gather up your equipment before going down to the paddock to collect your horse. The hostel-keeper waves farewell from the kitchen window as you mount your horse and canter away across the courtyard.
The marines load and fire three volleys at the cliff-top. You watch the target area and your Sixth Sense tells you that their shots, although they do not hit the creature directly, pass close enough to scare it. With relief, you sense the unseen creature is retreating in the face of this barrage and, as it abandons its sorcerous attack, so the whirlpool ahead ceases to spin violently.
As the waters of the channel return to normal, Raker commends the marines for their gunnery skills. Then he commands his crew to unfurl every remaining square inch of canvas. The sails catch the prevailing winds and carry the ship swiftly through the narrow channel and away from the menacing shadow of the cliffs.
The incident at the tavern and the loss of your horse leave you feeling angry and confused. For more than an hour you walk the dark, deserted streets of Hikas as you struggle to make sense of what has happened. You are passing a junction where the cobblestoned street joins with a larger avenue, when suddenly you hear the approaching tramp of booted feet. A stern but anxious voice calls out, commanding you to halt, and when you peer into the darkness you see a dozen Vakeros militiamen. They are armed with spears and throwing nets, and they are standing in a line abreast to seal off the avenue.
If you wish to obey the militiamen and remain standing where you are,
turn to 105
.
If you wish to attempt to evade them,
turn to 36
.
As you duck to avoid the onrushing missile, you glimpse your Arrow strike the archer in the chest and knock him backwards to the ground. His arrow grazes your cheek (lose 1
ENDURANCE
point) as it whistles past your head and then embeds itself in the dried mud wall of a nearby building.
For a few uncertain moments the marines believe that you have been mortally wounded, but they are quick to cheer when they see you get to your feet and come running towards them. Sligh helps you to retrieve your horse and quickly you remount him and gallop along the avenue which leads out of this unfriendly town.
You move nearer to the trembling man and try to calm him with soothing words and a promise that you will protect him. You look to the bell and use your Sixth Sense in an attempt to locate the creature, but you can detect nothing unusual. Then you hear a faint gurgling growl and a knot of fear tightens in your throat. Now you can detect a powerful aura of evil. You glance at the cowering cleric and your fear becomes an icy terror when you realize that
he
is the source of this evil. He continues to plead with you to save him, but then he sees the shock register on your face and he abandons his pretence.
The pupils of his eyes shimmer and become spheres that glow darkly amber and, in a terrifying instant, his body transforms. One moment he is a bearded holy man and, in a split-second blur, he becomes a snarling hulk of black-furred death. With breathtaking speed he leaps at you and slashes at your throat with his razor-sharp talons. Instinct makes you propel yourself backwards to avoid these deadly claws and, as you spring away, you slip and tumble headlong down the spiral stairs.
Illustration XVII—In a split-second, he becomes a snarling hulk of black-furred death.
Pick a number from the
Random Number Table
.
If the number you have chosen is 0–4,
turn to 248
.
If it is 5–9,
turn to 94
.
Rhous picks up the Kutyan Emerald and holds it to the light. You can tell by his expression that he is impressed by its flawless cut, yet still you sense he is a little disappointed: he had hoped for something more exceptional than this fine gem. After assessing its worth he offers you 25 Gold Crowns. You haggle with him and finally you settle on a sum of 30 Gold Crowns.
(If, in addition to the Kutyan Emerald, you also possess any of the other items, Rhous would be willing to pay you 10 Gold Crowns for the Iron Skull, and 20 Gold Crowns for the Siyen Crown. Be sure to amend the details on your
Action Chart
before continuing your adventure.)
Skilfully you ascend the rigging and approach the giant spider from behind and below. It is busily tearing at the mast and topsail with its fanged maw, and at first it fails to notice you. When you pause for a few moments to unsheathe your weapon, suddenly the creature swivels its head and fixes you with a pair of ghastly green eyes. Chittering excitedly, it rubs its forelegs together and sparks appear, warning you that it is preparing to launch a bolt of energy. Quickly you cut free a trailing rope and swing away from the rigging just in time to avoid being burnt to a cinder when it launches its burst of crackling blue fire. Your swift reflexes save you, but as the momentum of your swing carries you back towards the rigging, you see that the creature is preparing a new form of attack.
It waits until you come to rest upon the criss-cross of ropes and then it ejects a stream of sickly grey fluid from a sac located below its gaping maw. This fluid hardens as it passes through the air, and is transformed into several long and sticky strands which threaten to engulf you.
If you possess Magi-magic and wish to use this Discipline now,
turn to 303
.
If you possess Elementalism and wish to use it,
turn to 210
.
If you possess neither of these Grand Master Disciplines, or if you choose not to use either of them,
turn instead to 162
.
Snarling and spitting, the savage beast comes hurtling through the darkness to rake you with her terrible claws. Bravely you stand your ground and prepare to strike your first blow in this desperate fight to the death.
Deathstalker (mate):
COMBAT SKILL
42
ENDURANCE
40
This creature is immune to Mindblast (but not Kai-surge).
If you win the combat,
turn to 76
.
By using your basic Kai skills you are able to determine that this man is a rich trader from Casiorn — the city of merchants. He seems harmless enough, his only fault perhaps is that he has consumed too much ale. Yet you are suspicious of the fact that he has identified you as a journeyman, which leads you to suspect that perhaps he has met other Kai in the past. You are about to ignore him and retire to your room when he repeats his request that you join him at his table. Out of curiosity you decide to find out what he wants.
The elder moves his staff so that its tip scans back and forth across your body, and abruptly he stops when it is pointing at your Kai Weapon. At first his face registers puzzlement, and then slowly this expression changes into a solemn frown.
If you possess Temujun's Ring,
turn to 118
.
If you do not possess this Special Item,
turn to 143
.
You utter the words of the Old Kingdom Spell
Shield
and you see the air shimmer as the magical power of your incantation takes effect. The gout of sticky fluid strikes your sorcerous shield and is deflected away from your body. You move away from this protective umbrella and climb hurriedly the remaining few feet towards the creature's perch. Frantically it lashes out at you with its rubbery legs as you attempt to plunge your weapon into its vulnerable belly.
Otokh:
COMBAT SKILL
40
ENDURANCE
40
This creature is immune to all forms of psychic attack except Kai-surge.
If you win the combat,
turn to 315
.
Torvax commands the guardsmen to halt. Then he swaggers over to where you lie and he looks down on your fatigue-racked body with a sneer of disdain.
‘Insolent dog!’ he hisses. ‘You are not worthy even of a public execution.’ And with this chilling remark he signals to the surrounding guardsmen. As he walks away, they raise their Bor muskets and take aim. Suddenly an explosion of noise and colour obliterates your senses as you are hit by a volley of musket balls. Death is mercifully swift.
Tragically, your life and your quest end here in the gladiatorial arena of Bavari.
The meteor is deflected by a plume of water that you are able to summon from the towering waves of the sea. The power of this plume is sufficient to repel the fireball and send it hurtling back into the raging sky with a tail of steam hissing in its wake.
To continue,
turn to 132
.
Using your innate Magnakai skills, you magnify your vision and scan the island. The shoreline appears deserted, but when you cast your eyes towards the east you notice two tiny specks on the horizon. You alert Captain Raker to the threat but he dismisses your warning, saying it is merely heat haze.
Several minutes later the ship's lookout confirms that there are two ships on the eastern horizon. Raker brings his telescope to bear and after a few moments' observation he says: ‘You were right, my lord. I should have known better than to doubt the eyes of a Kai.’
Lowering his telescope, he turns and shouts an order to Paoll: ‘South by southwest, if you please, First Mate. Looks like we've got comp'ny!’
The timbers creak as the ship turns about and forges a new passage through deep water. Following the change of bearing the wind is now no longer in your favour and Paoll is forced to tack against it to make headway. The lighter ships have the advantage and they quickly draw closer. Soon you can see that they are Vassagonian men-o'-war, although they fly no flags of allegiance or origin. Judging by their poor general condition it is clear that they are pirate raiders. Raker orders his men to their battle positions and Sergeant Dryan issues an order to his marines to stand ready at the cannons as the pirate raiders bear down upon the port bow.
If you wish to stay with Captain Raker on the rear deck,
turn to 263
.
If you choose to stand with Sergeant Dryan at the port bow,
turn to 144
.
The basket lurches as the effects of your Kai Discipline cause the balloon to veer away from the mountainside. It misses the outcrop with but a few feet to spare. Yranai manages to regain control of the engine and he steers the craft back towards the middle of the pass, to where the thermal currents are less volatile.
As you emerge from the high mountain pass, you enter denser and more stable air that cushions your flight and soon all trace of turbulence is left behind.
‘Well, that was exciting, wasn't it!’ says Yranai, ruefully. It takes a great deal of self-control not to throttle the old man for his incompetence, but you keep your hands firmly on the rail and you force a smile. Silently you vow never to fly with him again.
You are looking forward to setting your feet down safely on firm ground when you see something in the distance that fills you with unease.
