The Curse of Naar Read online

  If you possess Kai-screen and have attained the Kai rank of Grand Crown or higher, turn to 297.

  If you possess Kai-screen but have yet to attain this level of Kai rank, turn to 133.

  If you do not possess this skill, turn to 37.

  171

  You speak the name aloud but to no effect. For a moment there is an uneasy silence; then the rubbery mouth of Nza'pok emits a hideous, bubbling laugh. He is mocking your futile attempt to save yourself by calling upon the powers which bind him in fealty to the Dark God. As his foul form wobbles with undisguised mirth, you quickly unshoulder your Backpack and tear open the flap to retrieve the Tome of Darkness. Nza'pok ceases to laugh when he glimpses its jet-black cover for he is aware of its origins and the powerful secrets it contains.

  With a terse growl, he gives the signal to his minions and they hurl their spears into the pit with chilling accuracy. You are struck by more than a dozen of these deadly lances. Mercifully, unlike most who have fallen foul of Nza'pok, your death is swift and painless.

  Sadly, your life and your quest for the Moonstone end here.

  172

  You consider ignoring the combination lock and forcing your way through the trapdoor, but your Kai Sixth Sense warns you against this. The shielding spell which protects this hatch is terrifyingly powerful. If you were to force an entry the sudden release of this power would turn you, and your Platinum Amulet, into glowing cinders in the blink of an eye. Out of frustration you tap a number of the hollows at random, in the hope of hitting the correct sequence, but unfortunately this activates a silent alarm which attracts a host of Lavas to the temple. They swoop in, surround your hiding place, and then launch a merciless attack. You fight them bravely, dispatching more than a dozen before you are finally overwhelmed by their sheer weight of numbers.

  Sadly, your life and your quest end here in the Temple of Huan'zhor.

  173

  As the gout of crackling fire speeds across the hall towards you, you throw yourself to the floor in a desperate attempt to avoid being hit.

  Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess Grand Huntmastery or Assimilance, add 1 to the number you have picked.

  If your total score is now 5 or lower, turn to 83.

  If it is 6 or higher, turn to 39.

  174

  With total confidence in your own stealth and agility, you step out from the column of light and tiptoe silently towards an open archway at the base of the tower. The Lavas fails to detect you. Upon reaching the archway you quickly descend a spiral stairway to a landing, one level below, where you see something that makes you freeze in your tracks.

  Turn to 270.

  175

  You let fly your Arrow and it hits the creature's forehead, but its thick skull bone deflects the steel tip and the shaft fails to penetrate.

  The hyena-beast shrieks and twists its head violently. Then it suddenly opens its great jaw and coughs up a ball of vile phlegm which it spits at you with stunning force. You dive to the floor to avoid being hit by this evil-smelling projectile and it speeds over your shoulder to splatter loudly against the portal. Droplets of saliva spray the back of your legs, leaving tiny white stains where it instantly removes the checked dyes from your breeches. You wipe your legs with the hem of your cloak but your stomach heaves when you detect that the creature's saliva contains a virulent plague bacteria.

  Fortunately, your innate Magnakai Disciplines of Nexus and Curing immediately neutralize this deadly plague virus, rendering it harmless to you. The creature howls with anger and frustration; it has never before encountered any living being capable of resisting its deadly plague-ridden saliva, and your unexpected survival makes it feel suddenly anxious and uncertain.

  If you possess Animal Mastery, turn to 137.

  If you do not possess this Grand Master Discipline, turn to 293.

  176

  You recognize these creatures for you have encountered them once before, when your Magnakai quest took you to the fringes of the Neverness in the Daziarn Plane. They are Shadow Reavers, wholly evil spirit-entities. They serve Naar's champions of darkness as scouts and messengers upon the non-corporeal planes of existence.

  Turn to 47.

  177

  You unsheathe your weapon and advance towards the stairwell, using your Kai senses to guide and hide your stealthy approach. When you reach the threshold of the open entrance you scour the surrounding archway for traps, but detect nothing untoward. With caution you move inside and discover the interior is slick with moisture that glistens like sweat on the smooth, glassy walls. A wide stone ramp descends from the entrance to a sealed portal which is engraved with runes. You cannot immediately decipher them but you sense that they are evil in design and possess some destructive power locked within their jagged forms. They cover every square inch of its surface.

  You have begun a detailed examination of the portal in the hope of fathoming some of its secrets, when you suddenly hear a noise above and behind you. Instantly you spin on your heel and reach for your weapon, but the outline that you see silhouetted in the archway at the top of the ramp is so shocking that you are unable to close your trembling hand.

  Turn to 268.

  178

  You use your Discipline to will the insects to fall asleep. Unexpectedly, despite their size, you sense an unusually strong resistance to your mental command.

  Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess the Grand Master Disciplines of Kai-surge and Nexus add 3 to the number you have picked.

  If your total score is 5 or less, turn to 323.

  If it is 6 or higher, turn to 191.

  179

  You descend the spiral stairs to the base of the tower and make your way quickly through the narrow alleys of this subterranean settlement. Your Kai camouflage skills keep you hidden from the Lavas and dragons that soar overhead, and you are able to reach the edge of the quarry unnoticed. Here you observe teams of reptilians chiselling freshly quarried stone into perfect cubes. Other teams load these heavy blocks into nets, fourteen to each, and then fix them by hooks and harness to the dragons who transport them across to the far side of the chasm.

  Illustration X—Teams of reptilians chisel the freshly quarried stone into perfect cubes.

  Stealthily you make your approach to an area where full nets are awaiting transport. Using your Magnakai Discipline of Nexus, you open a sealed net and hide yourself inside among the blocks of stone before closing up the seal behind you. Minutes later you hear the beat of large wings and the frenzied chattering of the reptilian work crews as they struggle to affix the net to a dragon's harness. Then the wings beat faster and you feel yourself swinging free from the ground. Slowly the great dragon hauls its heavy cargo into the air. As it begins to level out, you peer down through a gap in the blocks to see the chasm looming nearer. Then you see a river of scarlet lava flowing along the base of this great divide, more than a mile deep. The dragon is approaching the far side when suddenly it dips its huge head and looks down at the cargo hanging below its belly. An icicle of fear stabs your heart when you see its ghoulish eye staring directly at the place where you are hiding.

  If you possess Animal Mastery and wish to use it, turn to 149.

  If you possess Kai-surge and wish to use it, turn to 62.

  If you possess Kai-screen and wish to use it, turn to 205.

  If you do not possess these skills, or if you choose not to use them, turn to 42.

  180

  You reach to your throat and close your fingers upon the Platinum Amulet which hangs by a cord around your neck.

  ‘Ah, I see that you already possess a sigil of power,’ says Lord Rimoah, upon noticing the oblong of precious metal as you withdraw it from beneath the collar of your robes. ‘It would appear that you are better prepared for the quest than I had anticipated.’

  With a nod of his head he motions to Lord Ardan who then retrieves an almost identical amulet from among the items on the table. Ar
dan gives the amulet to Rimoah and he slips it into his pocket.

  ‘You'll not be requiring this after all,’ he says, ‘but there is something which I'm sure you will find most useful. And I'm certain that you have not come across anything of its like before.’

  Once again Rimoah motions to Ardan and the elderly wizard responds by taking up a small package that is wrapped in a silk handkerchief. Carefully he unfolds the patterned silk square to reveal a book which is bound in jet-black hide. A wave of nausea makes you swallow hard as your natural Kai instincts detect that the origins of this book are wholly evil. Ardan offers it to you and, reluctantly, you take it from him.

  ‘It was discovered a decade ago in Northern Dessi,’ says Ardan. ‘A party of our brethren found it on the Isle of Khor. It was buried in the ruins of Kazan-Oud.’

  Carefully you open the stiff black cover and, to your surprise, you discover that the inner pages comprise several sheets of pliable metal. They have the feel of parchment but they sparkle and glimmer like plates of polished steel. You turn through the pages and note that every one appears to be empty, devoid of script, pictures, or diagrams of any sort.

  ‘I do not see how this book will help my quest,’ you say, as you flick back and forth through the seemingly empty pages.

  ‘This may be true while you are here in Sommerlund,’ replies Lord Rimoah, ‘but once you arrive upon the Plane of Darkness I suspect that its secrets will be revealed. We of the High Council believe it contains information about the many realms and territories within Naar's domain. It may help guide you to the location of his throne hall and, with luck, to the Moonstone of the Shianti.’

  You are dubious as to the true value of this item but, in deference to Lord Rimoah's judgement, you agree to take it. (Record this Tome of Darkness on your Action Chart as a Special Item. You need not discard another Special Item in its favour if you already hold the maximum number permissible.)

  To continue, turn to 329.

  181

  You make a brave leap for the last wagon in the line and land among its cargo of glowing ore with a stunning jolt: lose 2 ENDURANCE points. This wagon is only partially filled and you are able to stay hidden as it trundles on its way. You soon pass a junction where another tunnel joins with this main passageway, and from here onwards you feel the temperature steadily rising. Although your Platinum Amulet protects you from the increasing heat, your senses warn you that you are in grave and ever-increasing danger. The ore in this wagon is highly radioactive and your Kai skills and amulet can afford you only limited protection from its deadly gamma rays.

  Fearful of this deadly cargo, you haul yourself over the rear of the wagon and get ready to abandon your ride. Your pulse races in anticipation of the jump for the wagon is moving at high speed and the rocky tunnel floor is no more than a speeding blur just inches below your feet.

  Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess Grand Pathsmanship, add 1 to the number you have picked. If you possess Grand Huntmastery, add another 1.

  If your total score is now 0–2, turn to 342.

  If it is 3–7, turn to 117.

  If it is 8 or higher, turn to 221.

  182

  You speak the arcane words of the Old Kingdom Spell Invisible Fist and project your clenched right hand at the attacking creature. The beast is in mid-air when an invisible shock wave hits it squarely in the chest and sends it spinning head over tail to crash heavily against the wall. Limp and unconscious, it slides down the moisture-slick wall and arrives at the bottom of the ramp in a twisted heap.

  With the beast now unconscious, you turn your attention to the portal and examine its surface in the hope of finding a way to open it. Using your advanced Kai skills you are able to decipher enough of the runic text to discover the secret code which keeps it secure. Confidently you press a section of the surface and, just as you believe it will, it moves inwards with an audible clunk! Moments later the portal creaks open and you hurry through, slamming it shut behind you to prevent the beast from following in your wake when eventually it recovers its senses.

  Turn to 210.

  183

  Seated on the throne is a huge being whom you judge to be more than seven metres tall. She appears to have the body of a human female, although it is difficult to be completely sure for she is slumped forward over the adjacent table, her face buried in her crossed arms as if asleep. She has a coarse mane of black hair and the skin of her hands has a deathly corpse-like pallor. The few remaining parts of her body which are visible are sheathed in pieces of shiny black armour. Your skin prickles with apprehension when you stare at this sleeping giantess for you sense that she is the Demoness Shamath, the ruler of this realm.

  Suddenly the sound of approaching footsteps echoes from one of the nearby tunnels. Anxious to avoid the risk of a confrontation, you slip into the chamber and take cover behind one of the icy pillars that encircle the walls. Moments later, you see two robed figures glide into the hall. They are carrying between them a large phial of golden fluid which rests upon a pillow of purple silk. As they pass close by your hiding place, you hastily call upon your Kai skills to mask your physical and mental presence.

  Turn to 243.

  184

  With your back pressed hard against the wall of the pit, you quickly recite the words of the Brotherhood Spell Invisible Shield as you draw a circle in the air directly above your head. Nza'pok growls the order to his minions and immediately a clattering deluge of spears rains down upon you. Most shatter when they hit the invisible barrier you have created, but some ricochet off the pit wall and their sharp tips gouge your flesh.

  Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you possess the Grand Master Discipline of Assimilance, add 2 to the number you have picked.

  If your total is 4 or less, turn to 206.

  If it is 5 or more, turn to 154.

  185

  Two great scaly legs, each tipped with razor-clawed talons, precede the huge bulk of Huan'zhor as he lowers himself down upon his nest of flames. You take cover as best you can among the piles of treasure, but when his talons descend to within an arm's length of where you are cowering the Dragonlord suddenly detects your presence. He emits a deafening roar and bolts of flame shoot from his mouth to explode with shattering effect among the piles of precious artefacts that lie close to where you are sheltering. Hurriedly you roll away from your hiding place and unsheathe your weapon as you scramble to your feet. There is now no place for you to hide, and you dare not enter the transporter beam without the Scarab of the Wingless Dragon for fear of certain death. Your quest and survival now depend on the outcome of your imminent combat with the mighty Huan'zhor.

  Huan'zhor the Dragonlord: COMBAT SKILL 56 ENDURANCE 60

  This being is immune to all forms of psychic attack, except Kai-blast and Kai-ray. If you possess a Blue Diamond, you may add 3 to your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of this combat. If you possess Skarn-Ska, you may add 2 (in addition to all other combat bonuses applicable for this Special Item) to your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of this combat.

  Conduct this fight using normal combat procedures. However, as soon as your enemy's ENDURANCE score falls to 20 or less, do not continue. Instead, turn immediately to 70.

  186

  Your killing blow sends the warrior tumbling from the stone beam to plummet headlong into the yawning black chasm. A ring of fire bursts around him as he falls, illuminating the distant base of this vast pit which is filled with a sea of black flame. You observe his fall with a sense of grim satisfaction until you suddenly become aware that you are still in mortal danger. The tongue of rock is continuing to roll steadily towards the dragon-gate, and unless you hurry to enter this glowing portal you risk being crushed to death in its stony coils.

  If your current ENDURANCE score is 4 or less, turn to 276.

  If your score is 5 or more, turn to 303.

  187

  You feel the raw power of the attacking Mindforce crash into the fabri
c of your consciousness like a tidal wave that leaves you reeling under its impact. Your Kai defences absorb much of the destructive mind-energy; however, you do sustain damage from this assault which leaves you in a state of psychic shock: lose 6 ENDURANCE points.

  If you have survived this psychic wounding, you can continue by turning to 290.

  188

  You draw your sword and sense at once that its mere physical presence within their throne hall is causing the Künae a great deal of discomfort. You detect a surge of anxiety in the mental communication passing between them. The creature seated upon the left throne becomes agitated and begins to flail the foul air with its snaky limbs. Then it utters a sinister command to its partner and you hear the words echo in your mind: Slay him, Jantoor!

  Illustration XI—The sinister command echoes in your mind: Slay him, Jantoor!

  The creature seated upon the right throne responds immediately. It raises its right limb and a gout of fire shoots from the palm of its leprous hand and comes speeding towards your chest.

  If you wish to attempt to dodge this gout of fire, turn to 130.

  If instead you wish to try to deflect it with the blade of your sword, turn to 319.