[LUPO SOLITARIO] Libro IX: The Cauldron of Fear

[Bortas]

massacramoli tutti compreso il capitano

[Jesper]

Continuiamo a menare!

Roll...1
Lupo Solitario -4 (33)
Deldenian Mercenaries -7 (8)

Roll...4
Lupo Solitario -2 (31)
Deldenian Mercenaries -10 (morti!)

E morite col maligno!

The soldiers in the crowded hall look at you with awe and grudging respect. They pride themselves on their fighting ability, but none can match your swift and skilful disposal of the Deldenians. You step over the bodies and head towards the door, but, before you reach it, it slams open and a squad of guards from the South Gatehouse rushes in, summoned by the owner of the hall. They are all armed with crossbows, and they aim them at your chest. Resistance would be suicidal, and reluctantly you both raise your hands in surrender.

The guards escort you back to the South Gatehouse tower. Banedon, because he is a magician, is taken to another part of the city wall for interrogation, while you are imprisoned high in the tower itself.

Place an ‘x’ beside each of the Special Items, Backpack Items, and Weapons that are listed on your Action Chart to indicate that they are no longer in your possession. Only if you rediscover them at a later stage of your adventure may you erase each ‘x’ and reuse them.

Turn to 134.

POLIZIA CANAGLIA!

(notare che hanno arrestato anche Banedon )

The iron door slams shut and you are left alone to contemplate your unfortunate arrival in Tahou. The cell is narrow and damp, with patches of mould that discolour the red stone walls. The uneven floor is strewn with filthy, mouldy straw and the stale air is heavy with the stench of rotting food and sewage. A solitary window is criss-crossed with bronze bars, green with age, and below it a thousand scratches record the passing days of another visitor that fell foul of the gatehouse guard. Anxiously you cast your eyes around this filthy prison, searching for a chink in its armour that could lead to your escape.

If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Nexus, turn to 202.

If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Psi-surge and have reached the Kai rank of Primate or higher, turn to 47.

If you possess neither of these skills, turn to 227.

Nada

You pace the cell like a caged lion, cursing your predicament and trying to think of a way to escape. After an hour you resign yourself to your fate and settle down on your haunches to sleep.

The prod of a spear haft wakes you from your slumber. ‘On your feet,’ snarls the brutish sergeant-at-arms, standing over you with his spear poised to strike again. Two soldiers grab you roughly by the collar and shove you through the open cell door into the arms of an escort that has come to take you before the Chief Magistrate. Your hands and feet are shackled with chains and you are bundled into a covered wagon waiting beside the South Gate. It moves off at breakneck speed, and by the time it reaches its destination, you are covered in bruises: lose 2 ENDURANCE points.

Turn to 142.

The courthouse of the Chief Magistrate is a grim, grey building. Devoid of any decoration or embellishment, its stark bare walls serve to remind the Tahouese of its sober purpose. It is a place where justice is meted out to wrongdoers. Harsh punishments are imposed: floggings and executions take place here every day of the week. All trials are conducted before a magistrate, and his decision is final as there are no juries in Tahou. The Chief Magistrate presides over crimes that are serious enough to warrant the death penalty, and your heart sinks when you learn that he is to sit in judgement of you.

You put up quite a struggle, but your shackles prevent you from breaking free of your armed escort. They drag you into the courtroom and throw you face down into an iron cage that stands before the Chief Magistrate’s chair. A bell is struck to signal the arrival of the Chief Magistrate and he enters the court surrounded by an entourage of scribes. The bell rings once more and the scribes say with one voice, ‘This hearing is now in session.’

If you have ever visited the city of Varetta or a hut on the Ruanon Pike in a previous Lone Wolf adventure, turn to 294.

If you have never visited either of these places, turn to 54.

AHAHAH ma sto vecchio di merda salta fuori da tutte le parti

You shake your head in disbelief when you see who is sitting in the Chief Magistrate’s chair. It is Gwynian, the Sage of Varetta, the man who foretold the dangers of the Chasm of Doom and helped you find the Lorestone of Varetta.

‘Our stars unite, Lone Wolf,’ he says, the trace of a smile wrinkling his kindly face. ‘Destiny has decreed that we should meet again.’

Turn to 54.

Arrogantly the sergeant-at-arms presents the case against you, but Chief Magistrate Gwynian is unimpressed with his account of your crimes. ‘Do you not know who it is that you have brought before this court?’ he asks. The sergeant looks puzzled, and a thin film of sweat breaks out on his reddening face as his confidence begins to crumble. After a long and embarrassing silence, he replies, ‘Er…no, sir.’

‘This is Lone Wolf, the last Kai Master of Sommerlund. Have you not heard of this man?’

‘Yes, sir,’ he replies, hoarsely, scarcely able to believe what he is hearing.

‘I order his possessions be restored to him forthwith, and all charges against him to be dropped.’

A bell is rung to signify the end of the hearing and the courtroom is cleared. You are released from the cage and ushered into the Chief Magistrate’s private chambers, where all your Weapons, Backpack Items, and Special Items are returned to you. (Remember to erase the ‘x’ marks from your Action Chart.)

Turn to 76.

C'è andata di culoooo!

‘The Elder Magi sent word of your coming, Lone Wolf,’ says Gwynian. ‘They knew of my appointment to the city judiciary when I came to live here two years ago. My home, the Halls of Learning in Varetta, was destroyed by a fire set by agents of the Darklords. Like yourself, I am a sole survivor, the last of my order. The Elders asked me to afford you what protection I could and to help you in your quest for the Lorestone of Tahou.’

He leads you to a table, the surface of which is engraved with a huge map of the city. With a rod of glass he points to the location of the Tahou Cauldron: it is in the Square of the Dragons in the West District of the city. ‘The Cauldron is a funnel-shaped hollow with a circular shaft at its base. The shaft descends to the ruins of the ancient city of Zaaryx, 500 feet below Tahou. Legend tells us that the Lorestone was thrown into the Cauldron to prevent the Black Zakhan of Vassagonia from capturing it during the Great Khordaim War. The shaft was closed off and has remained sealed for the last 360 years.’

You ask Gwynian if he can order the release of your companion. ‘It has already been done,’ he replies. ‘I released Banedon into the custody of his former mentor, Chiban the Magician, three hours ago. He is with him now at his house on Leech Street. He is quite safe, but you must not delay your quest any further by going there yourself. At dawn the enemy will be at the gates of the city, and the battle for Tahou will have begun. There is only one man that can help now, for there is only one person that can grant you access to the shaft of the Cauldron that descends to Zaaryx. That man is President Toltuda of Anari. Come, I will arrange an audience with him immediately.’

Turn to 105.

Gwynian dispatches a messenger to the Anarium, the House of the Senate, where members of the governing council have gathered for an emergency assembly called by the President himself. Within the hour, the messenger returns with a furled parchment bearing the presidential seal. ‘He has agreed to hear your plea, Lone Wolf,’ says Gwynian, his eyes scanning the official reply. This news raises your flagging spirits but the sage seems a little disappointed.

‘I was hoping for a private audience with the President,’ he says, ‘but in view of the current crisis, I suppose it is the best we can expect. You must appear before the Senate this evening, and state your reasons for wishing to enter the Tahou Cauldron. They will consider your request and vote accordingly. Their decision will be final.’

He hands you the scroll and arranges for his personal carriage to take you to the Anarium. As you climb aboard and sink into the plush, upholstered seat, you exchange a farewell wave with Gwynian the Sage. ‘May the gods watch over you,’ he says, ‘and may you live to fulfil your destiny.’

Turn to 300.

Mmm, non so perchè poteva andare meglio

The great flagstoned precinct at the entrance to the Anarium is packed with hundreds of people. Senate officials, soldiers, and citizens crowd the steps that give access to the grand foyer and outer chambers of the hall. You notice that a side entrance is being used exclusively by army scouts who arrive with dispatches and leave with orders for the lookouts hidden in the surrounding hills. You take a calculated gamble and order the carriage driver to draw up at the side entrance. This bold move pays off; upon seeing your presidential scroll not only do the guards allow you into the Anarium, but you are escorted to the Appellant’s Gallery inside the assembly hall itself.


Illustration XVII—President Toltuda occupies a seat in the centre of the hall and presides over a heated discussion.

From your seat in the gallery you stare down at an oval hall, ringed by twelve arches beneath which the senators of Anari sit upon their throne-like chairs of lacquered oak. President Toltuda occupies a seat in the centre of the hall and presides over a heated discussion that is raging back and forth. Having heard all sides of the argument he calls for a vote, and the issue is decided by a show of hands.

‘We now come to a quite extraordinary matter, which has been raised by one of our most eminent citizens,’ says President Toltuda, introducing your appeal to the Senate. He turns to the gallery and calls out, ‘Sommlending Lord, Lone Wolf, please make yourself known to the assembly.’

You rise from your seat and bow to the senators. ‘Please present your request to us, Lone Wolf,’ says the President, and a hush descends on the hall as you explain the purpose of your journey to Tahou. When you have finished, the President calls upon the senators to speak.

‘I say we should help the Sommlending,’ pipes the shrill voice of Senator Zilaris. ‘If he finds the Lorestone, its power could turn the tide and save Tahou from the clutches of Darklord Gnaag.’ A murmur of agreement stirs in the hall.

‘And I say we should refuse to open the Cauldron,’ booms the powerful voice of Senator Chil. ‘I say that if it were not for his presence in our city, we would be spared the attention of the Darklords. He is the object of their anger and spite. I say we should give him to them, and in doing so we will save our city, our country, our people, and ourselves!’ A surge of support echoes from the arches, and your skin prickles at the thought of what could happen. President Toltuda calls for a vote to decide whether the Senate should allow you to enter the Cauldron, or use you to bargain for peace with the Darklords.

Tensely you await the result. The votes are cast and counted and the Senate is split evenly: six votes for you and six votes against. The decision now rests with the President himself. He must cast the deciding vote.

Pick a number from the Random Number Table.

If the number you have picked is 0–4, turn to 58.

If the number is 5–9, turn to 137.

Possiamo difenderci? Possiamo usare la nostra Kai-Oratoria? Possiamo far pesare il fatto di essere l'eroe di Magmamund? Oppure random roll!



Roll...1

Standing beside the President’s chair is a solid marble plinth with a bronze beacon—the Anarian symbol of law and order—fixed to the top. The President moves his hand to the padded arm of his chair and presses a button. All eyes are on the beacon. There is a flash of ignition and a jet of green flame roars upwards towards the domed ceiling.



‘The Senate votes to aid your quest, Lone Wolf,’ says Senator Zilaris. ‘Come, we will escort you to the Square of the Dragons and make preparation for the Cauldron to be opened.’

The assembly is dissolved and the state coaches are summoned to take you and all the senators to the Tahou Cauldron. You share a carriage with the President, Senator Zilaris, and Senator Chil, who is anxious to apologize for opposing the majority vote. ‘I trust you will forgive me, Lone Wolf,’ he says, unctuously. ‘I merely proposed what I thought was best for my country, but I now realize I was wrong.’ You nod benignly, in the hope that he will cease his fawning. He smiles and turns to the President. ‘Sir, I feel I must make amends for my misguided action in the Senate. If Lone Wolf is to enter the Cauldron tonight, surely it is our duty to ensure that he is adequately equipped. I propose that we visit one of my warehouses, where he is free to take anything he requires.’

The President agrees and the carriage is redirected to a warehouse near the Square of the Dragons. Senator Chil has many business interests in the city, and he supplies much of the weaponry and armour that equips the army. His warehouse is full of supplies, and you are encouraged to take whatever you need. From the vast stores you select the following:

Rope
Short Sword
Blanket
Mace
Bow
Flask of Water
6 Arrows
Quiver
Broadsword
Lantern
Dagger

If you wish to keep any of the above items, remember to adjust your Action Chart accordingly.

Turn to 124.

Kai-Culo resta la disciplina più potente Ditemi se vogliamo qualcosa dalla lista!

In addition to your supplies, Senator Chil provides the winch, ropes, and cradle by which you will be lowered into the shaft that descends to Zaaryx. Upon your arrival at the Square of the Dragons he supervises the assembly of these vital components, while you stand with Senator Zilaris and stare in awe at the Cauldron itself.



In the glow of a hundred lanterns it takes on the appearance of a huge, steep-sided sink that is stoppered with a plug of stone. The key to this plug is a rod of Korlinium that, until this evening, was kept locked in the vaults of the Anarium. Now it rests in the hands of the President. Senator Chil signals that his work is complete and the President inserts the crystal rod into the plug of ancient stone. At first nothing happens. Then you sense a vibration beneath your feet. Crackling tongues of pale blue fire lap the rim of the plug and the hiss of escaping air breaks the seal of three centuries’ grime that holds the plug in place. Levers and ropes are brought into action and slowly the great block is lifted and the shaft to Zaaryx uncovered.

Turn to 205.

Prima o poi Dever si ricorderà che è un librogame

‘There will be troops posted here at the Cauldron, ready day and night to pull you up when you are ready to leave Zaaryx,’ says Senator Zilaris, as he helps you into the cradle that will lower you into the shaft. ‘Just give the rope three stout tugs—that is the signal.’

Senator Chil appears to tell you everything is prepared for your descent. ‘Good luck, Lone Wolf. I hope I will be here to welcome your safe and successful return, and that you will come to know me as a friend.’

The cradle rises and you are swung into position above the entrance. You stare down into the black abyss, your pulse quickening as a damp and icy wind whistles out of the shaft, carrying with it the cloying smell of decay.

With a wave, you signal your readiness and you are slowly lowered into the void.

Turn to 226.

ABBIATE FEDEH!

For the first few minutes of your descent you can see the red stone walls encircling the cradle. Then a jagged rim of rock marks the end of the shaft, and you are plunged into total blackness. You can make out no walls or floor and the shaft itself is now just a small circle of grey in the darkness above.

If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Divination, turn to 251.

If you do not possess this skill, turn to 53.

Niente Divination...

The rope shudders and instinctively you grab the rim of the cradle as it jerks violently to one side. Your knuckles whiten and cold sweat bathes your brow. The cradle swings and twists wildly; then a crack echoes in the darkness above as the rope snaps and you plunge headlong into the abyss.

Turn to 141.

Divination: "stai per precipitare in un abisso"

You fall like a stone into the whirling blackness. In desperation you thrust out your arms, hoping to seize an outcrop or ledge, but there is nothing in the void for you to grasp. The freezing wind screams past your face and your senses are overwhelmed by the horror of your impending doom. Suddenly an icy shock engulfs you as you strike the surface of a lake and plunge into its lightless depths. Stunned by the sudden impact and numbed by the icy water, you sink several fathoms before you can muster your strength and strike out for the surface.

Pick a number from the Random Number Table. If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Nexus, add 4 to the number you have picked.

If your total is now 0–3, turn to 4.

If it is 4–7, turn to 289.

If it is 8 or more, turn to 114.

Niente Nexus! Incrociamo le dita...

Roll...6!

The icy water clogs your nose and throat and numbs you to the bone. Desperately you fight to control the panic gnawing at your insides as your air-starved lungs fill your chest with an agonizing pain.

If you have a Vial of Blue Pills, turn to 25.

If you do not possess this item, turn to 329.

Niente Viagra

Although you cannot gauge how deep you are, you know that your strength is fading fast. If you are to avoid a watery death, you must shed some of your equipment.

If you wish to discard half the number of items in your Backpack, turn to 91.

If you decide to discard your Backpack completely, turn to 346.

Ok, è passato un secolo ma finalmente una scelta! E una interessante anche!

L'acqua nemica reclama la nostra rumenta. Quanto decidiamo di sacrificare?


************************************************** ***********************
Lupo Solitario, Kai Tutelary

CS: 34 (Sommerswerd +8, Silver Helm +2, Shield +2, Mindblast +2, +3 Weaponmastery, +1 Solaris, +1 Fire)

EP: 39/39 (Padded Leather Waistcoat +2 EP, Chainmail +4, +3 Solaris, +3 Light, +2 Fire)

Discipline Magnakai
- Pathmanship
- Invisibility
- Huntmastery
- Curing
- Animal Control
- Weaponmastery (Sword, Bow, Dagger, Spear, Mace, Axe)

Circoli completati
- Circle of Solaris (+1CS, +3EP)
- Circle of Light (+3EP)
- Circle of Fire (+1 CS, +2 EP)

Weapons (2): Axe, Spear

Backpack (8): Rope, Booze, Laumpspur (cura 4 EP), Argento, Blanket, Silk Jacket, Crystal Decanter

Special Items (12): Sommerswerd!, Dagger of Vashna, Silver Bow of Duadon, Padded Leather Waistcoat (+2 EP), Firesphere, Silver Helm (+2 CS), Chainmail (+4 EP), Shield (+2 CS), Quiver (4), Pass, Fireseeds (3), Invitation

Money (50): 43


MORTOMETRO: VII
- Istakillato dall'esca+party hiddato (Libro I)
- Caduto in una trappola da caccia Giak (Libro I)
- Inchiappato nel sonno da un agente dei Darklords (Libro II)
- Fatto Bunjee Jumping senza l'elastico insieme ad un Helghast (Libro II)
- Vittime di una Cantina (Libro IV)
- Tentacle-raped (Libro VII)
- Sparati da un Nano storpio (Libro VIII)
************************************************** ******

[Tibù]

metà

[-=Rho=-]

91

[Kaluisurrr]

buttiamo booze, argento, silk jacket, blanket

[Earenia]

io dico tutto tanto abbiamo solo fuffa

[Bortas]

Ciao zaino via tutto è l'ora delle pulizie di primavera 346

[Kat]

Via tutto senno si schiatta.

[Sturm]

Si babbè siamo in culo al mondo,in un abisso totale e buttiamo l'unica corda che abbiamo e la pozza?
Strano a dirsi ma sta botta sono quasi d'accordo con Emosuirr:
metà zaino via,buttiamo booze,Silk Jacket, Crystal Decanter,blanket.

Mi pareva strano che Dever non avesse infilato un po d'acqua mortale qui

[Defender]

Sticazzi dello zaino a parte la pozza ci son solo cagate, buttiamo tutto sennò fisso c'è un roll con instadeath incorporato se failiamo

346

[-=Rho=-]

sticazzi al cazzo , io voglio tenere il mio completo da gentleman

[Jesper]

Ci sara' un appuntamento galante nel futuro di LW? Ci verra' chiesto se abbiamo la giacca di seta, il booza e il decanter di cristallo? E perche' dei Giak stavano rubando queste cose? Le stavano rubando, o erano loro? Era il loro appuntamento galante? Dopotutto, erano in due in una localita' deserta...

La risposta a queste e a molte altre domande a breve! (il solito )

[Sturm]

Una cena galante nel cauldron of fear? Speriamo in Kai che non ci facciano fare i passivi

[Jesper]

Inutile a dirsi, siamo ingovernabili come al solito grazie al porcellum 4 a 4, il dado deciderà!

Pari metà, dispari tutto!

Roll...7!

Diciamo addio alla nostra fantastica robaccia

Freed from the weight of your equipment, you are able to rise swiftly through the black water and reach the surface, coughing and gasping for air. At first the incredible coldness stunned your limbs, but now it revives your senses and spurs you towards the distant shore that gleams dimly in the faint half-light.

Aching and numb to the bone, you heave yourself out of the lake and collapse on the flat, spongy rocks that line the shore.

If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Divination, turn to 298.

If you do not possess this skill, turn to 41.

Siamo vivi! Ma non abbiamo Divination.

As your eyes become accustomed to the strange, blue-green half-light, you notice something unusual lying on the shore a hundred yards away. You approach cautiously and discover that it is the rope that once supported the cradle. The cradle itself now lies at the bottom of the lake, but a section of the rope fell to the shore. You examine it and discover that the end has been cut through with a sharp blade. The shock of this discovery sets your heart racing and you rack your brain, trying to think who would commit this act of deliberate sabotage. You know of only one who could have done such a ruthless deed.

Turn to 298.

In tutto questo: Bademon ?

Gradually, as the feeling returns to your frozen limbs and your heart ceases to hammer in your chest, you feel bitterness and resentment welling up inside. You lift your face and give vent to an angry shout, cursing Senator Chil for his act of callous treachery that so nearly sealed your doom. Your voice travels through the dark towards a tiny speck that is the shaft of the Cauldron, 500 feet above, but none hear your cry. The Senate is convinced that you have perished in the fall and have ordered the plug to be lowered back into position. Helplessly you stare into the void and watch, with fear and frustration, as the tiny speck flickers and then disappears.

Turn to 218.

E' bello che noi abbiamo i superpoteri e il nostro accompagnatore di turno in genere no (ok, Banedon è un mago), ma a loro non succede mai un cass

COmunque sia, dopo aver fatto la nostra migliore interpretazione di Kirk che urla "KHAAAAAAAN!", andiamo avanti.

Your spirits sink as you contemplate your fate, for the only way you know of escaping from this gigantic underground grotto has now been sealed off. However, you are not completely without hope, for your senses detect a powerful presence. It is a feeling you have known before when you have been close to discovering a Lorestone, but never has the sensation been as strong as it is here in this dark, subterranean world.

As your eyes become accustomed to the half-light, you look across the lake to see tiers of grey stone rising out of the water. They are the steps of a gigantic staircase, which ascends to an arch of rock veined with glittering minerals. You skirt the edge of the lake and arrive at the foot of these steps to discover a cave-like hollow chiselled from the stone.

You are exhausted, and must now eat a Meal or lose 3 ENDURANCE points. (If you possess the Magnakai Discipline of Huntmastery, you are able to forage for food from the wasteland of Zaaryx and therefore you do not need to make any deductions.) Rather than attempt to go on, you climb into the empty hollow and settle down to sleep.

Turn to 97.

Ci mangiamo licheni, spore e muffe, probabilmente...

You are awoken by the stench of decay. A grey-skinned being, squatting on its haunches, stares down at you with grim, inhuman eyes. Drool trickles from its ragged lips and the rusty sword it holds in its twisted, man-like hand is lifted to kill.


Illustration VI—The Zaaryx Ghoul stares down at you with grim, inhuman eyes.

Zaaryx Ghoul: COMBAT SKILL 19 ENDURANCE 27

Owing to the surprise of this attack you cannot make use of a Bow. Unless you possess the Magnakai Discipline of Huntmastery, deduct 3 from your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of the fight. If you wield the Sommerswerd in this combat, you may double this undead creature’s ENDURANCE point loss.

If you win the combat, turn to 338.

MA PER FAVORE...COMBAT RATING +15

Roll...5
Lupo Solitario -1 (36)
Zaaryx Ghoul -14(+28) (morto!)

Your killing blow knocks the ghoul out of the hollow, sending it tumbling into the lake. More of the corpse-like creatures can be seen creeping along the shore, and the sound of their snuffling whispers and curses makes your blood run cold. They move with unnatural speed, eager to feast on your flesh.

If you have a Bow and wish to use it, turn to 22.

If you wish to evade the ghouls by leaving the hollow and climbing the steps, turn to 104.

If you wish to draw a hand weapon and prepare to fight them, turn to 254.

Ok, che si fa ?

************************************************** ***********************
Lupo Solitario, Kai Tutelary

CS: 34 (Sommerswerd +8, Silver Helm +2, Shield +2, Mindblast +2, +3 Weaponmastery, +1 Solaris, +1 Fire)

EP: 39/39 (Padded Leather Waistcoat +2 EP, Chainmail +4, +3 Solaris, +3 Light, +2 Fire)

Discipline Magnakai
- Pathmanship
- Invisibility
- Huntmastery
- Curing
- Animal Control
- Weaponmastery (Sword, Bow, Dagger, Spear, Mace, Axe)

Circoli completati
- Circle of Solaris (+1CS, +3EP)
- Circle of Light (+3EP)
- Circle of Fire (+1 CS, +2 EP)

Weapons (2): Axe, Spear

Backpack (8):

Special Items (12): Sommerswerd!, Dagger of Vashna, Silver Bow of Duadon, Padded Leather Waistcoat (+2 EP), Firesphere, Silver Helm (+2 CS), Chainmail (+4 EP), Shield (+2 CS), Quiver (4), Pass, Fireseeds (3), Invitation

Money (50): 43


MORTOMETRO: VII
- Istakillato dall'esca+party hiddato (Libro I)
- Caduto in una trappola da caccia Giak (Libro I)
- Inchiappato nel sonno da un agente dei Darklords (Libro II)
- Fatto Bunjee Jumping senza l'elastico insieme ad un Helghast (Libro II)
- Vittime di una Cantina (Libro IV)
- Tentacle-raped (Libro VII)
- Sparati da un Nano storpio (Libro VIII)
************************************************** ******

[-=Rho=-]

22