awkwardly upon a crooked neck which wobbles with every movement the lumbering beast makes. A livid crimson gash just below the eyes serves as its mouth, and a long tail, ridged with sharp spines, swishes behind it.
Illustration VI —You see a creature advancing towards you whose ghastly visage is the very stuff of nightmares.
With unexpected speed the beast is suddenly upon you, stabbing and slashing at your body with its sword-sharp talons.
Degradon: COMBAT SKILL 49 ENDURANCE 36
This creature is immune to Mindblast and Psi-surge (but not Kai-surge).
If you win this combat, turn to 296 .
122
The Vazhag inform you that they are returning from a place called the Temple of Dzenya. Brother Hoylez, the druid in charge of the temple, recently resurrected this human from the temple's grave-pits. They have been ordered to deliver it to Brother Croumah at the Hall of Sacrifice in Mogaruith.
‘Excellent!’ you reply, convincingly. ‘I myself am on my way to seek counsel with Brother Croumah this very instant. You will escort me there. Now, lead on!’
The Vazhag appear to relax upon hearing your order, as if they had half-expected you to punish them, and they set off readily towards the drawbridge with you following close behind.
Turn to 233 .
125
You sense that Cadak's command is no simple trick for you can feel another presence in the room, moving towards your back. You sidestep to your left and turn, keeping the Arch Druid still in sight as you glance across your shoulder at the rest of the chamber.
You had been half-expecting to see one of Cadak's henchmen sneaking forward with a dagger in his hand, and so the terrible sight which greets your gaze now is doubly shocking.
Stepping from out of the tapestry which covers the wall is a gigantic, bull-like creature, with the head and face of a man. Two needle-sharp fangs protrude from its bloodstained upper lip, and its eyes gleam with a murderous lust that chills your soul. What had once, only minutes before, been woven into the fabric of the tapestry, now strides towards you with slow purposeful steps, its taloned hands outstretched in eager readiness to tear you apart.
Illustration VII —A gigantic, bull-like creature steps towards you out of the tapestry.
Exterminus: COMBAT SKILL 50 ENDURANCE 50
You may evade this combat after 4 rounds by turning to 2 .
If you win the fight, turn to 320 .
129
Coughing and retching, you haul your way out of the stinking bog and collapse upon the soft forest floor. For a few moments you lie there, unable to see through the mask of filth that hangs down in front of your eyes. Then, with the edge of your hand, you slowly scrape the slime from your face and look back at the threads of dark crimson blood which trace a marbled pattern against the green surface scum. They are testimony to your hard-won fight.
With the memory of your battle against the bog creature still vivid in your mind, you clamber to your feet and hurry along the track heading east.
Turn to 242 .
131
Using your Magnakai power of Nexus, and the strength of your own two hands, you force open the barred door and gain access to the anteroom beyond. It is unlit and every surface is thick with a dust that has lain undisturbed for many years. On a marble dais, which occupies most of the floor, there stands a large rectangular stone casket. It has no lid, and as you approach it you see that it contains the mummified remains of a creature you cannot readily identify.
Illustration VIII —You approach a marble dais containing remains of a creature you cannot identify.
You can feel no evil in the vicinity of this corpse, and your senses tell you that there is nothing, other than yourself, alive in this room. Confident in this knowledge you lean forward to examine the corpse.
Without warning, a powerful spike of psychic energy penetrates deep into your mind. Its icy cold attack numbs your senses and leaves you trembling helplessly with shock —
Illustration VI —You see a creature advancing towards you whose ghastly visage is the very stuff of nightmares.
With unexpected speed the beast is suddenly upon you, stabbing and slashing at your body with its sword-sharp talons.
Degradon: COMBAT SKILL 49 ENDURANCE 36
This creature is immune to Mindblast and Psi-surge (but not Kai-surge).
If you win this combat, turn to 296 .
122
The Vazhag inform you that they are returning from a place called the Temple of Dzenya. Brother Hoylez, the druid in charge of the temple, recently resurrected this human from the temple's grave-pits. They have been ordered to deliver it to Brother Croumah at the Hall of Sacrifice in Mogaruith.
‘Excellent!’ you reply, convincingly. ‘I myself am on my way to seek counsel with Brother Croumah this very instant. You will escort me there. Now, lead on!’
The Vazhag appear to relax upon hearing your order, as if they had half-expected you to punish them, and they set off readily towards the drawbridge with you following close behind.
Turn to 233 .
125
You sense that Cadak's command is no simple trick for you can feel another presence in the room, moving towards your back. You sidestep to your left and turn, keeping the Arch Druid still in sight as you glance across your shoulder at the rest of the chamber.
You had been half-expecting to see one of Cadak's henchmen sneaking forward with a dagger in his hand, and so the terrible sight which greets your gaze now is doubly shocking.
Stepping from out of the tapestry which covers the wall is a gigantic, bull-like creature, with the head and face of a man. Two needle-sharp fangs protrude from its bloodstained upper lip, and its eyes gleam with a murderous lust that chills your soul. What had once, only minutes before, been woven into the fabric of the tapestry, now strides towards you with slow purposeful steps, its taloned hands outstretched in eager readiness to tear you apart.
Illustration VII —A gigantic, bull-like creature steps towards you out of the tapestry.
Exterminus: COMBAT SKILL 50 ENDURANCE 50
You may evade this combat after 4 rounds by turning to 2 .
If you win the fight, turn to 320 .
129
Coughing and retching, you haul your way out of the stinking bog and collapse upon the soft forest floor. For a few moments you lie there, unable to see through the mask of filth that hangs down in front of your eyes. Then, with the edge of your hand, you slowly scrape the slime from your face and look back at the threads of dark crimson blood which trace a marbled pattern against the green surface scum. They are testimony to your hard-won fight.
With the memory of your battle against the bog creature still vivid in your mind, you clamber to your feet and hurry along the track heading east.
Turn to 242 .
131
Using your Magnakai power of Nexus, and the strength of your own two hands, you force open the barred door and gain access to the anteroom beyond. It is unlit and every surface is thick with a dust that has lain undisturbed for many years. On a marble dais, which occupies most of the floor, there stands a large rectangular stone casket. It has no lid, and as you approach it you see that it contains the mummified remains of a creature you cannot readily identify.
Illustration VIII —You approach a marble dais containing remains of a creature you cannot identify.
You can feel no evil in the vicinity of this corpse, and your senses tell you that there is nothing, other than yourself, alive in this room. Confident in this knowledge you lean forward to examine the corpse.
Without warning, a powerful spike of psychic energy penetrates deep into your mind. Its icy cold attack numbs your senses and leaves you trembling helplessly with shock —
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