a small campfire and share with him an evening meal. The captain is unusually quiet; it is as if he is brooding over an unresolved problem. You ask him if he is angry that you did not volunteer to lead the scouting party, and he replies: ‘No, Grand Master. Not at all. I was just thinking about my family. They are in Pensei … and I fear for their safety.’
You try to reassure the captain by telling him that when the caravan reaches Tazhan, the Khea-khan will rally the New Kingdom armies and return to rid Chai of its tyrannical neighbour. Chan seems cheered by your assurances and he is soon back to his talkative self. You are finishing your meal when Sergeant Yeng and the scouting party return to the encampment. They have with them something that is causing a stir among the nervous courtiers.
To continue, turn to 198 .
183
You see six swarthy-faced tomb robbers emerge from the crypt. They are carrying sacks filled to bursting with stolen burial ornaments and treasures. As they clumsily load their ill-gotten gains onto their wagon, you move closer and take cover behind a fan-shaped tombstone. Suddenly the ground shifts beneath your feet and you feel yourself sinking. As you grab the tombstone to steady yourself, you let slip a stifled cry of alarm. To your dismay, the robbers hear your cry and come rushing into the graveyard to investigate.
Turn to 225 .
184
You are left alone at the main gate, peering through an arrow slit at the enemy line. Your heart pounds as you wait for the Bhanarians to withdraw their armoured shield-wagon, for you expect to find yourself staring directly into the muzzle of their formidable steam-cannon. But when the wagon is finally drawn aside, you are shocked and surprised by what you see.
Turn to 197 .
185
You recite the words of the Brotherhood Spell Counterspell , and direct its powers at the concealed trapdoor. There is a sudden and unexpectedly violent reaction as your Brotherhood Spell triggers a booby trap placed here by a sorcerer, hundreds of years ago, to keep this portal secure. You are blinded by an explosion of hissing sparks, and you suffer flash burns to your face and hands: lose 4 ENDURANCE points.
(If you possess Deliverance, you may reduce the damage you have suffered by half, i.e. 2 ENDURANCE points.)
To continue, turn to 265 .
186
Before you release your bowstring, you cast the Old Kingdom Spell Penetrate upon your Arrow. Then you let fly and send your magically-enhanced missile arcing towards the Bhanarian signalman. He hears its approaching whistle and ducks below the parapet, but the shaft punches its way clean through the planks behind which he has taken cover. There is a scream of pain; then moments later you see him tumble to the ground with your Arrow embedded deeply in his chest.
To continue, turn to 195 .
187
‘Very well, Grand Master,’ says Chan, a little disappointedly. ‘As you wish. But please excuse me while I go to the armoury myself. The Imperial Caravan will leave shortly from the palace courtyard. I shall meet you there in twenty minutes' time.’
After bowing respectfully to the Khea-khan, Chan strides out of the throne room and disappears along the corridor beyond. Nearby, a group of silk-robed courtiers are gathering up hundreds of Chai court scrolls and other papers of state. You volunteer to help them place these valuable manuscripts into wickerwork baskets, and then carry them outside to the Imperial Caravan in readiness for the long journey east.
The caravan consists of three large carriages, each drawn by a team of eight horses, plus an escort of twenty Imperial Cavalry troopers clad in plain crimson tunics. The golden ornamentation that once embellished the state carriages has been stripped away, and their fine lacquered sides have been painted a dun brown to camouflage their true origins. You approve of their ordinary appearance for it will be far less likely to attract unwanted attention on the long road ahead.
You are
You try to reassure the captain by telling him that when the caravan reaches Tazhan, the Khea-khan will rally the New Kingdom armies and return to rid Chai of its tyrannical neighbour. Chan seems cheered by your assurances and he is soon back to his talkative self. You are finishing your meal when Sergeant Yeng and the scouting party return to the encampment. They have with them something that is causing a stir among the nervous courtiers.
To continue, turn to 198 .
183
You see six swarthy-faced tomb robbers emerge from the crypt. They are carrying sacks filled to bursting with stolen burial ornaments and treasures. As they clumsily load their ill-gotten gains onto their wagon, you move closer and take cover behind a fan-shaped tombstone. Suddenly the ground shifts beneath your feet and you feel yourself sinking. As you grab the tombstone to steady yourself, you let slip a stifled cry of alarm. To your dismay, the robbers hear your cry and come rushing into the graveyard to investigate.
Turn to 225 .
184
You are left alone at the main gate, peering through an arrow slit at the enemy line. Your heart pounds as you wait for the Bhanarians to withdraw their armoured shield-wagon, for you expect to find yourself staring directly into the muzzle of their formidable steam-cannon. But when the wagon is finally drawn aside, you are shocked and surprised by what you see.
Turn to 197 .
185
You recite the words of the Brotherhood Spell Counterspell , and direct its powers at the concealed trapdoor. There is a sudden and unexpectedly violent reaction as your Brotherhood Spell triggers a booby trap placed here by a sorcerer, hundreds of years ago, to keep this portal secure. You are blinded by an explosion of hissing sparks, and you suffer flash burns to your face and hands: lose 4 ENDURANCE points.
(If you possess Deliverance, you may reduce the damage you have suffered by half, i.e. 2 ENDURANCE points.)
To continue, turn to 265 .
186
Before you release your bowstring, you cast the Old Kingdom Spell Penetrate upon your Arrow. Then you let fly and send your magically-enhanced missile arcing towards the Bhanarian signalman. He hears its approaching whistle and ducks below the parapet, but the shaft punches its way clean through the planks behind which he has taken cover. There is a scream of pain; then moments later you see him tumble to the ground with your Arrow embedded deeply in his chest.
To continue, turn to 195 .
187
‘Very well, Grand Master,’ says Chan, a little disappointedly. ‘As you wish. But please excuse me while I go to the armoury myself. The Imperial Caravan will leave shortly from the palace courtyard. I shall meet you there in twenty minutes' time.’
After bowing respectfully to the Khea-khan, Chan strides out of the throne room and disappears along the corridor beyond. Nearby, a group of silk-robed courtiers are gathering up hundreds of Chai court scrolls and other papers of state. You volunteer to help them place these valuable manuscripts into wickerwork baskets, and then carry them outside to the Imperial Caravan in readiness for the long journey east.
The caravan consists of three large carriages, each drawn by a team of eight horses, plus an escort of twenty Imperial Cavalry troopers clad in plain crimson tunics. The golden ornamentation that once embellished the state carriages has been stripped away, and their fine lacquered sides have been painted a dun brown to camouflage their true origins. You approve of their ordinary appearance for it will be far less likely to attract unwanted attention on the long road ahead.
You are
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