onrushing bolt of energy. The massive flame-ball passes over your back and explodes at the far end wall of the chamber with devastating effect. It tears open a great hole in the steel-hard crystal wall, more than ten feet in diameter, and it fills the air with razor-sharp shards. Fortunately, due to your swift reflexes, you suffer only minor injuries: lose 1 ENDURANCE point.
As you spring to your feet, you suddenly see an opportunity to grab the initiative and carry the attack to the Deathlord.
Turn to 108 .
94
The narrow passageway leads you to a chamber carved from glittering blue ice. Steps have been chiselled into its translucent north wall, a slippery staircase which ascends to a landing positioned high above the ice-cavern. As you climb the steps, the sub-zero temperature plummets even further, making you shiver involuntarily despite the combined protection of your Platinum Amulet and your Magnakai skills.
After a tiring climb you reach the landing to be greeted by the sight of an unguarded cave mouth. Through this opening you see a bleak and desolate wasteland of rock and ice. A blizzard is raging, whipped up by a fierce electrical storm that blazes above a distant mountain range. The jagged grey peaks are illuminated by the flashes of the storm's ghostly, blue-white fire.
After checking your equipment, you reluctantly leave the cave mouth and set off into the raging blizzard in search of the city of Xaagon.
Turn to 44 .
97
You steer the ship slowly along a string of narrow fjords which cut an uncertain route through this treacherous field of icebergs. Your hands, slick with nervous sweat, grip the wheel tightly and inch it back and forth in response to the pilot's frantic signals. It is a gruelling ordeal which takes its toll on all aboard. Every few minutes your vision is obscured by gusts of powdery snow which swirl across the deck, blown down from the tops of the surrounding ice cliffs. During these fierce blasts you often lose sight of the pilot and are forced to rely solely upon your Kai instincts to see you through.
The wind howls incessantly, accompanied by the tortured screech of the hull as it skims and grazes banks of submerged ice. The sounds send shivers of dread coursing down your spine. The crew are also clearly terrified by the noises; they cower beside the ship's rail and stare up at the encroaching walls of ice, mouthing prayers, their eyes haunted with fear.
Then, almost without any warning, the snow-laden wind abates and the ship emerges from the iceberg field into the open waters of the Tozaz Sea. The crew give a hearty cheer, relieved that their icy ordeal has at last come to an end. One man pulls the cork from a bottle of black rum which he has been keeping for a special occasion. He takes a mighty swig, and then passes it to a comrade. Just as the second man is raising the bottle to his lips, you hear unexpectedly the pilot's voice echoing along the deck: ‘Ship ahoy!’
Fear returns to tie a knot in your stomach as you turn and focus your eagle eyes upon the distant vessel.
Turn to 195 .
99
Before you reach the cover of the ice-shelf, you are caught up in the avalanche and swept away to the bottom of the pass. Buried and crushed beneath the irresistible mass of ice and rock, your death is mercifully swift.
Tragically, your life and your quest end here in the mountains of Ixia.
101
You show Banedon your Korlinium Scabbard and tell him how you came by it. The seemingly plain belt and scabbard were given to you several years ago by Lord Rimoah, for a similar purpose — to conceal the power of the Sommerswerd from the Darklords of Helgedad.
‘I trust it will serve you just as well in Ixia,’ says Banedon, nodding his approval.
Turn to 22 .
102
You pull away from the speeding missile but it curves in mid-air and impacts against your forehead. Vibrant flashes of white light instantly obliterate your vision and steely fingers of pain tighten themselves about your throat and
As you spring to your feet, you suddenly see an opportunity to grab the initiative and carry the attack to the Deathlord.
Turn to 108 .
94
The narrow passageway leads you to a chamber carved from glittering blue ice. Steps have been chiselled into its translucent north wall, a slippery staircase which ascends to a landing positioned high above the ice-cavern. As you climb the steps, the sub-zero temperature plummets even further, making you shiver involuntarily despite the combined protection of your Platinum Amulet and your Magnakai skills.
After a tiring climb you reach the landing to be greeted by the sight of an unguarded cave mouth. Through this opening you see a bleak and desolate wasteland of rock and ice. A blizzard is raging, whipped up by a fierce electrical storm that blazes above a distant mountain range. The jagged grey peaks are illuminated by the flashes of the storm's ghostly, blue-white fire.
After checking your equipment, you reluctantly leave the cave mouth and set off into the raging blizzard in search of the city of Xaagon.
Turn to 44 .
97
You steer the ship slowly along a string of narrow fjords which cut an uncertain route through this treacherous field of icebergs. Your hands, slick with nervous sweat, grip the wheel tightly and inch it back and forth in response to the pilot's frantic signals. It is a gruelling ordeal which takes its toll on all aboard. Every few minutes your vision is obscured by gusts of powdery snow which swirl across the deck, blown down from the tops of the surrounding ice cliffs. During these fierce blasts you often lose sight of the pilot and are forced to rely solely upon your Kai instincts to see you through.
The wind howls incessantly, accompanied by the tortured screech of the hull as it skims and grazes banks of submerged ice. The sounds send shivers of dread coursing down your spine. The crew are also clearly terrified by the noises; they cower beside the ship's rail and stare up at the encroaching walls of ice, mouthing prayers, their eyes haunted with fear.
Then, almost without any warning, the snow-laden wind abates and the ship emerges from the iceberg field into the open waters of the Tozaz Sea. The crew give a hearty cheer, relieved that their icy ordeal has at last come to an end. One man pulls the cork from a bottle of black rum which he has been keeping for a special occasion. He takes a mighty swig, and then passes it to a comrade. Just as the second man is raising the bottle to his lips, you hear unexpectedly the pilot's voice echoing along the deck: ‘Ship ahoy!’
Fear returns to tie a knot in your stomach as you turn and focus your eagle eyes upon the distant vessel.
Turn to 195 .
99
Before you reach the cover of the ice-shelf, you are caught up in the avalanche and swept away to the bottom of the pass. Buried and crushed beneath the irresistible mass of ice and rock, your death is mercifully swift.
Tragically, your life and your quest end here in the mountains of Ixia.
101
You show Banedon your Korlinium Scabbard and tell him how you came by it. The seemingly plain belt and scabbard were given to you several years ago by Lord Rimoah, for a similar purpose — to conceal the power of the Sommerswerd from the Darklords of Helgedad.
‘I trust it will serve you just as well in Ixia,’ says Banedon, nodding his approval.
Turn to 22 .
102
You pull away from the speeding missile but it curves in mid-air and impacts against your forehead. Vibrant flashes of white light instantly obliterate your vision and steely fingers of pain tighten themselves about your throat and
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