deafening roar fills the stairwell as a bolt of raw energy hurtles from the rod. You stare aghast as it speeds towards your chest and explodes with a splash of colour that is the last you will ever see.
In the council chamber of the Elder Magi in Elzian, the golden torch flickers and dies. The members of the High Council hang their heads in sorrow for they know that your life and their hopes have ended here in Zaaryx.
Your quest is over.
153
The gap between each rung measures approximately one foot, and you gather in over 400 rungs before reaching the end of the ladder. The thought of having to descend such an enormous depth fills you with dread, but your desire to find the Lorestone overcomes this fear. You feed the rope ladder back into the void and begin your descent.
Turn to 231 .
156
The room, which overlooks the courtyard and stables, is small yet surprisingly clean and comfortable. You sleep well, but you are rudely awoken at dawn by the clang of a brass hand-bell. Guyuk's wife is walking around the courtyard ringing it for all she's worth. ‘Daybreak, daybreak! All awake, all awake!’ she cries, her voice only slightly less piercing than her bell. Quickly you wash and dress before gathering together your equipment and heading for the stables. Banedon is already there, having risen before dawn to prepare the horses.
The sky is cloudless and the air is warm and still as you ride out of Chadi. Open grasslands stretch before you, broken occasionally by the low, whitewashed farm buildings and peasant dwellings. It is noon when you arrive at a mass of standing stones that line the highway approaches to the village of Phea. Banedon recalls a local legend that the Black Zakhan of Vassagonia once came to wage war on the defenceless inhabitants of Phea, who had no army. The besieged people offered up prayers to the Goddess Ishir, who was sufficiently moved by their plight to cause the wicked Vassagonians to become petrified right where they stood, clad in full armour and clasping their weapons. It strikes you that the Pheans may very soon have cause to pray for Ishir's help a second time.
A mile beyond the village you see a cloud of dust on the highway.
If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Huntmastery and have reached the rank of Principalin, turn to 69 .
If you do not possess this skill, or if you have yet to reach this Kai rank, turn to 240 .
162
Once again you come face to face with the sergeant. He curses and strikes you across the cheek with the hilt of his sword, leaving you stunned and bloodied: lose 2 ENDURANCE points.
You are dragged back to your cell and four armed guards are placed outside the door with orders to shoot to kill if you should attempt another escape.
Turn to 227 .
164
At once you recognize Sogh, the thief who helped you escape from the South Gate tower. ‘Hail, Northlander,’ he says, a wide grin spreading across his mouse-like face. ‘So we meet again. What prompts you to visit the Purple Purse ale cellar?’
Before you can reply, the door bursts open and in rush six heavily armed Senate House guards. Thinking that the ale cellar is being raided, something of a routine event here at the Purple Purse, the shady patrons drop their drinks and flee towards the open door in an attempt to escape arrest. Sogh grabs your sleeve and points to a shadowy archway. ‘Time to leave,’ he hisses. ‘Follow me.’
Turn to 135 .
165
Sogh looks at the guard then looks at you in awe. ‘How did you do that?’ he asks, incredulous. ‘No time to explain,’ you reply, as you scramble out from beneath the stairs and move towards the unconscious guard.
Turn to 177 .
166
As you draw closer you can make out the gruesome features of the shadow. It is a ghoul, similar to those you encountered at the lake, but this creature looks even less human. Its swollen skull is set lopsided on its withered frame and its tongue drips with a sticky black venom. It raises a wasted hand and launches a whirl of
In the council chamber of the Elder Magi in Elzian, the golden torch flickers and dies. The members of the High Council hang their heads in sorrow for they know that your life and their hopes have ended here in Zaaryx.
Your quest is over.
153
The gap between each rung measures approximately one foot, and you gather in over 400 rungs before reaching the end of the ladder. The thought of having to descend such an enormous depth fills you with dread, but your desire to find the Lorestone overcomes this fear. You feed the rope ladder back into the void and begin your descent.
Turn to 231 .
156
The room, which overlooks the courtyard and stables, is small yet surprisingly clean and comfortable. You sleep well, but you are rudely awoken at dawn by the clang of a brass hand-bell. Guyuk's wife is walking around the courtyard ringing it for all she's worth. ‘Daybreak, daybreak! All awake, all awake!’ she cries, her voice only slightly less piercing than her bell. Quickly you wash and dress before gathering together your equipment and heading for the stables. Banedon is already there, having risen before dawn to prepare the horses.
The sky is cloudless and the air is warm and still as you ride out of Chadi. Open grasslands stretch before you, broken occasionally by the low, whitewashed farm buildings and peasant dwellings. It is noon when you arrive at a mass of standing stones that line the highway approaches to the village of Phea. Banedon recalls a local legend that the Black Zakhan of Vassagonia once came to wage war on the defenceless inhabitants of Phea, who had no army. The besieged people offered up prayers to the Goddess Ishir, who was sufficiently moved by their plight to cause the wicked Vassagonians to become petrified right where they stood, clad in full armour and clasping their weapons. It strikes you that the Pheans may very soon have cause to pray for Ishir's help a second time.
A mile beyond the village you see a cloud of dust on the highway.
If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Huntmastery and have reached the rank of Principalin, turn to 69 .
If you do not possess this skill, or if you have yet to reach this Kai rank, turn to 240 .
162
Once again you come face to face with the sergeant. He curses and strikes you across the cheek with the hilt of his sword, leaving you stunned and bloodied: lose 2 ENDURANCE points.
You are dragged back to your cell and four armed guards are placed outside the door with orders to shoot to kill if you should attempt another escape.
Turn to 227 .
164
At once you recognize Sogh, the thief who helped you escape from the South Gate tower. ‘Hail, Northlander,’ he says, a wide grin spreading across his mouse-like face. ‘So we meet again. What prompts you to visit the Purple Purse ale cellar?’
Before you can reply, the door bursts open and in rush six heavily armed Senate House guards. Thinking that the ale cellar is being raided, something of a routine event here at the Purple Purse, the shady patrons drop their drinks and flee towards the open door in an attempt to escape arrest. Sogh grabs your sleeve and points to a shadowy archway. ‘Time to leave,’ he hisses. ‘Follow me.’
Turn to 135 .
165
Sogh looks at the guard then looks at you in awe. ‘How did you do that?’ he asks, incredulous. ‘No time to explain,’ you reply, as you scramble out from beneath the stairs and move towards the unconscious guard.
Turn to 177 .
166
As you draw closer you can make out the gruesome features of the shadow. It is a ghoul, similar to those you encountered at the lake, but this creature looks even less human. Its swollen skull is set lopsided on its withered frame and its tongue drips with a sticky black venom. It raises a wasted hand and launches a whirl of
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