streets, rusting tenements, and squalid slave huts. All bear the effects of the corrosive atmosphere, except one building, which is situated near the centre of the city. It is a tower, tall and unbent, its surface free from any sign of decay.
Confident that you have found where the Slavemaster resides, you bring the Zlanbeast in to land nearby. A Giak, his mouth hanging open in awe of your arrival, stands guard at the tower entrance. As you approach, he bows and stands aside, allowing you to enter the gloomy ground floor.
Turn to 346 .
128
You draw the sun-sword from its korlinium scabbard and instantly the blade is caressed by cool, golden flames. The Drakkarim leader freezes in his tracks, his eyes bulging fit to burst as he stares with awe at the magical Sommerswerd.
‘Naog!’ he breathes, incredulously. ‘Gadajok-shezag! Aki-amaz! Okak naog gaj!’ He hesitates, and then begins to retreat towards the rail. At this moment the first of his troops clamber onto the deck. Fearful of the consequences should he be branded a coward in their eyes, he shouts a battle-cry and commands them to attack.
‘Shez dok tot!’ they scream, and come thundering towards you with murder blazing in their cruel, inhuman eyes.
If you wish to evade their attack, turn to 274 .
If you decide to stand your ground and receive their attack, turn to 39 .
129
Guided by your instructions, Captain Borse commands his helmsman to steer ‘hard a' port’, a manoeuvre that will take the
Intrepid
clear of the enemy line. Swiftly the ship changes course. You watch the Darkland ironclads looming larger with each passing minute, and note the formidable array of weapons aboard their steel-skinned decks. Huge, black funnels protrude from the middle of each craft, which emit clouds of choking, sulphurous smoke. As the
Intrepid
rounds the last ironclad in the line, this acrid smoke wafts across the water and engulfs the crew, causing them to cough and retch violently. The sound of their coughing alerts the enemy lookouts who immediately raise the alarm.
Illustration VIII —The Darkland ironclads surge towards the
Intrepid
.
Suddenly, a flash of blue-white light illuminates the bow of the ironclad and a fiery projectile arcs across the sky towards the
Intrepid
.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table .
If the number you have picked is 0–6, turn to 20 .
If it is 7–9, turn to 180 .
132
Holding your breath, you unsheathe your weapon and press yourself to the cliff wall. You plan to take the approaching Giaks by surprise, cut your way through them to the summit, and then escape before the pursuing group can catch up. It is a bold manoeuvre and one that does not allow for the night-sharp eyes and cruel cunning of the Giak commander. From his position atop the cliff he watches your every move.
‘Koga!’ he shouts, and both search parties freeze in their tracks. ‘Dulaga zaj!’ Suddenly there is a sound like rushing water, and then a terrible pain rips through your chest as you are hit by a score of black arrows, fired by Giak archers kneeling at the edge of the cliff. You gasp for breath as a terrifying numbness spreads throughout your body. Although you fight to stay on your feet, you can no longer feel your legs. Stiffly you fall from the path and crash to your doom on the beach below.
Your life and your mission end here on the shores of the Darklands.
133
Your hand closes around the hilt of the black sword moments before Kraagenskûl's claw-tipped fingers rake the floor where it lay. You raise the blade and feel a surge of cold power run the length of your arm. It courses through your brain, willing you to attack the cowering Darklord and slaughter him unmercifully. This new-felt need to wallow in the killing of an enemy stirs you to a fearful rage. Desperately you draw on your inner strength to overcome this barbaric urge, and control it, as you prepare to fight with Darklord Kraagenskûl.
Darklord Kraagenskûl (without Helshezag):
Confident that you have found where the Slavemaster resides, you bring the Zlanbeast in to land nearby. A Giak, his mouth hanging open in awe of your arrival, stands guard at the tower entrance. As you approach, he bows and stands aside, allowing you to enter the gloomy ground floor.
Turn to 346 .
128
You draw the sun-sword from its korlinium scabbard and instantly the blade is caressed by cool, golden flames. The Drakkarim leader freezes in his tracks, his eyes bulging fit to burst as he stares with awe at the magical Sommerswerd.
‘Naog!’ he breathes, incredulously. ‘Gadajok-shezag! Aki-amaz! Okak naog gaj!’ He hesitates, and then begins to retreat towards the rail. At this moment the first of his troops clamber onto the deck. Fearful of the consequences should he be branded a coward in their eyes, he shouts a battle-cry and commands them to attack.
‘Shez dok tot!’ they scream, and come thundering towards you with murder blazing in their cruel, inhuman eyes.
If you wish to evade their attack, turn to 274 .
If you decide to stand your ground and receive their attack, turn to 39 .
129
Guided by your instructions, Captain Borse commands his helmsman to steer ‘hard a' port’, a manoeuvre that will take the
Intrepid
clear of the enemy line. Swiftly the ship changes course. You watch the Darkland ironclads looming larger with each passing minute, and note the formidable array of weapons aboard their steel-skinned decks. Huge, black funnels protrude from the middle of each craft, which emit clouds of choking, sulphurous smoke. As the
Intrepid
rounds the last ironclad in the line, this acrid smoke wafts across the water and engulfs the crew, causing them to cough and retch violently. The sound of their coughing alerts the enemy lookouts who immediately raise the alarm.
Illustration VIII —The Darkland ironclads surge towards the
Intrepid
.
Suddenly, a flash of blue-white light illuminates the bow of the ironclad and a fiery projectile arcs across the sky towards the
Intrepid
.
Pick a number from the Random Number Table .
If the number you have picked is 0–6, turn to 20 .
If it is 7–9, turn to 180 .
132
Holding your breath, you unsheathe your weapon and press yourself to the cliff wall. You plan to take the approaching Giaks by surprise, cut your way through them to the summit, and then escape before the pursuing group can catch up. It is a bold manoeuvre and one that does not allow for the night-sharp eyes and cruel cunning of the Giak commander. From his position atop the cliff he watches your every move.
‘Koga!’ he shouts, and both search parties freeze in their tracks. ‘Dulaga zaj!’ Suddenly there is a sound like rushing water, and then a terrible pain rips through your chest as you are hit by a score of black arrows, fired by Giak archers kneeling at the edge of the cliff. You gasp for breath as a terrifying numbness spreads throughout your body. Although you fight to stay on your feet, you can no longer feel your legs. Stiffly you fall from the path and crash to your doom on the beach below.
Your life and your mission end here on the shores of the Darklands.
133
Your hand closes around the hilt of the black sword moments before Kraagenskûl's claw-tipped fingers rake the floor where it lay. You raise the blade and feel a surge of cold power run the length of your arm. It courses through your brain, willing you to attack the cowering Darklord and slaughter him unmercifully. This new-felt need to wallow in the killing of an enemy stirs you to a fearful rage. Desperately you draw on your inner strength to overcome this barbaric urge, and control it, as you prepare to fight with Darklord Kraagenskûl.
Darklord Kraagenskûl (without Helshezag):
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