and its Liganim followers add to this hellish cry with a chorus of cackling laughter as they spread out quickly to surround you. You have stumbled into a sector of Helgedad that is the domain of Darklord Taktaal, an arch-rival of Darklord Ghanesh whose colours you wear. With the thought of your slaughter fixed in their minds, the minions of Taktaal launch their attack. You cannot evade this combat and must fight them as one enemy.
Minions of Taktaal: COMBAT SKILL 31 ENDURANCE 43
If you possess the sword Helshezag and wish to use it, remember to add the appropriate bonuses to your COMBAT SKILL .
If you possess the Sommerswerd and wish to use it, turn to 208 .
If you win the combat, turn to 164 .
105
Your Arrow speeds towards its target and disappears. Seemingly uninjured, the Xargath draws back its head in readiness to strike, its awesome jaws poised to seal your doom. Death seems but moments away, when suddenly the creature freezes. It shudders, its green eyes roiling in their sockets, and then gives vent to a scream so loud that you are forced to cover your ears for fear of being deafened. The scream grows louder until, with a mighty splash, the Xargath lurches sideways into the fog-wreathed sea.
Turn to 217 .
106
No sooner has the Xaghash crashed dead at your feet than you see yet more of its loathsome kind emerging from the surrounding towers. There is no time to search the dead body — to stay would be suicidal. Without hesitation, you turn on your heel and run for your life.
Turn to 48 .
108
‘Okak nenrak!’ growls the Giak, unsheathing his short sword. Your offer of a bribe has aroused his suspicions; he thinks you have stolen the Zlanbeast and he intends to kill you, thereby securing promotion for himself.
Aarnak Giak Sentry: COMBAT SKILL 17 ENDURANCE 20
If you win the combat, turn to 52 .
109
You are fighting a horde of winged Crypt Spawn. You cannot evade this combat and must fight the loathsome creatures to the death.
Crypt Spawn Flood: COMBAT SKILL 30 ENDURANCE 36
If you win the combat, turn to 255 .
110
The deck heaves and shudders, and the metallic whirr of the ironclad's engine rises to a deafening roar as it fights to extricate itself from the stern of the sinking
Intrepid
. Then a war-horn blares, signalling to the enemy troops to break off their attack and return to their vessels. Everywhere you look Drakkarim marines and Sommlending crewmen are sheathing their weapons and scrambling towards the ship's rail. Clouds of acrid yellow smoke waft across the decks, adding to the chaos and confusion as scores of men hurl themselves into the dark waves of the Kaltersee.
Illustration VII —Scores of men hurl themselves over the ship's rail into the Kaltersee.
‘Jump!’ shouts Davan.
‘But what about the captain?’ you reply, anxiously.
‘Forget the captain,’ he says, pointing at the enemy craft. ‘No one can help him now. The ironclad that rammed our stern completely demolished his cabin. No one could have lived through that.’
You pull yourself over the rail and wait for the smoke to thin before you leap. But the
Intrepid
lurches violently, and, before you can stop yourself, you slip and fall head-first into the swirling yellow smog.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table .
If the number you have picked is 0–4, turn to 194 .
If it is 5–9, turn to 16 .
112
The creature soon accepts that you are its new master and becomes totally obedient to your commands. It lowers its head and allows you to climb onto its back, where you settle into a comfortable saddle, high-backed and luxuriously padded. A tug on the gem-encrusted reins, and the Zlanbeast takes to the air, climbing with breathtaking speed into the night sky. High above the ironclad fleet, you turn the beast towards the west and begin a journey that you pray will end safely in Aarnak.
Turn to 36 .
114
You sense the creature weaken as your psychic barrier prevents your fear which it
Minions of Taktaal: COMBAT SKILL 31 ENDURANCE 43
If you possess the sword Helshezag and wish to use it, remember to add the appropriate bonuses to your COMBAT SKILL .
If you possess the Sommerswerd and wish to use it, turn to 208 .
If you win the combat, turn to 164 .
105
Your Arrow speeds towards its target and disappears. Seemingly uninjured, the Xargath draws back its head in readiness to strike, its awesome jaws poised to seal your doom. Death seems but moments away, when suddenly the creature freezes. It shudders, its green eyes roiling in their sockets, and then gives vent to a scream so loud that you are forced to cover your ears for fear of being deafened. The scream grows louder until, with a mighty splash, the Xargath lurches sideways into the fog-wreathed sea.
Turn to 217 .
106
No sooner has the Xaghash crashed dead at your feet than you see yet more of its loathsome kind emerging from the surrounding towers. There is no time to search the dead body — to stay would be suicidal. Without hesitation, you turn on your heel and run for your life.
Turn to 48 .
108
‘Okak nenrak!’ growls the Giak, unsheathing his short sword. Your offer of a bribe has aroused his suspicions; he thinks you have stolen the Zlanbeast and he intends to kill you, thereby securing promotion for himself.
Aarnak Giak Sentry: COMBAT SKILL 17 ENDURANCE 20
If you win the combat, turn to 52 .
109
You are fighting a horde of winged Crypt Spawn. You cannot evade this combat and must fight the loathsome creatures to the death.
Crypt Spawn Flood: COMBAT SKILL 30 ENDURANCE 36
If you win the combat, turn to 255 .
110
The deck heaves and shudders, and the metallic whirr of the ironclad's engine rises to a deafening roar as it fights to extricate itself from the stern of the sinking
Intrepid
. Then a war-horn blares, signalling to the enemy troops to break off their attack and return to their vessels. Everywhere you look Drakkarim marines and Sommlending crewmen are sheathing their weapons and scrambling towards the ship's rail. Clouds of acrid yellow smoke waft across the decks, adding to the chaos and confusion as scores of men hurl themselves into the dark waves of the Kaltersee.
Illustration VII —Scores of men hurl themselves over the ship's rail into the Kaltersee.
‘Jump!’ shouts Davan.
‘But what about the captain?’ you reply, anxiously.
‘Forget the captain,’ he says, pointing at the enemy craft. ‘No one can help him now. The ironclad that rammed our stern completely demolished his cabin. No one could have lived through that.’
You pull yourself over the rail and wait for the smoke to thin before you leap. But the
Intrepid
lurches violently, and, before you can stop yourself, you slip and fall head-first into the swirling yellow smog.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table .
If the number you have picked is 0–4, turn to 194 .
If it is 5–9, turn to 16 .
112
The creature soon accepts that you are its new master and becomes totally obedient to your commands. It lowers its head and allows you to climb onto its back, where you settle into a comfortable saddle, high-backed and luxuriously padded. A tug on the gem-encrusted reins, and the Zlanbeast takes to the air, climbing with breathtaking speed into the night sky. High above the ironclad fleet, you turn the beast towards the west and begin a journey that you pray will end safely in Aarnak.
Turn to 36 .
114
You sense the creature weaken as your psychic barrier prevents your fear which it
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