Legion of Shadow by Michael J. Ward Read Free Book Online Page A

cry. You quicken your pace, pushing your way past gnarly branches and stinging nettles.
    You emerge in a large clearing dominated by a series of ivy-covered ruins. A number of men are fleeing towards the tree line – spades and other equipment left scattered around a half-dug
hole. Wondering what has spooked the men, you enter the clearing.
    At that moment, a creature steps out from behind an old crumbling tower. It is at least a head taller than a man, with curved horns and goat-like feet. Its hairy body is covered in black sigils
that seem to writhe and change before your very eyes.
    ‘You! You do not run,’ hisses the bestial creature, pointing a taloned finger in your direction. ‘At last, an opponent worthy of my attention.’ You prepare yourself for
combat as the nightmarish creature advances:

    Special abilities
    Black sigils: At the end of every combat round, your hero automatically suffers 1 damage. This ability ignores armour.
    Bewitched: Re-roll anyordice results for Zalladell. The results of the re-rolled dice must be used.
    If you defeat Zalladell turn to 80 . If you are defeated, you have no choice but to return to the quest map .
    50
    You drive your blade deep into the creature’s body, watching as its pale form dissolves back into the mist. Before the grisly totem can summon any more guardians, you
lunge forwards, slicing it in two. As the severed wood topples to the ground, the magical green light flashes, then is gone. A few seconds later, the mist begins to disperse. Soon, you can feel the
warmth of the sunlight once again – its heat evaporating the last of the chill fog.
    ‘Yer did it! Yer did it!’ The elderly farmer skips and jumps through the corn towards you. ‘Me fields – they’re back! Thank you stranger, thank you!’
    Will you:
    Demand a reward? — 36
    Bid the farmer farewell? — Return to the map
    51
    You decide that the stranger must have made a mistake. Angry that your time has been wasted, you stride out of the barn and bump straight into the scruffy-looking man coming the
other way. On seeing you, his eyes widen in surprise.
    ‘They’re alive! They’re still alive! Boss! Boss!’ He turns and starts sprinting towards the nearby farmhouse.
    Will you:
    Immediately take chase? — 144
    Let him go and leave the farm? — Return to the map

52
    The king falls to his knees, his head bowed. ‘I yield . . . now begone from this cursed place.’ There is a faint serpentine hiss from somewhere in the darkness, then
the spectral body of the king vanishes, leaving behind a golden casket, engraved with runes.
    As you watch, the lid creaks open of its own accord, revealing a series of magical treasures inside. You may now take one of the following before the chest closes and disappears:
    Nightbringer
     
Nightfall
(main hand: sword)

(main hand: staff)
+4 brawn

+4 magic
Ability: might of stone

Ability: might of stone
    When you have made your choice and updated your hero sheet, turn to 170 .
    53
    The barman gives another grunt. ‘Not heard that name for a while now. Strange fella, lives in that castle, across the gorge. Been there for as long as I remember, but he
seldom comes ’ere.’ He leans towards you, beckoning you to do the same. ‘I’d stay away from the likes of him. Something ain’t right when a man lives as long as I have,
but doesn’t look a day older.’ The man taps his grey, balding pate. ‘Look at me, fifty years to me name. But that Avian – still looks younger than my son. I smell magic
there, and no good ever comes of magic.’
    Will you:
    Ask for directions to Avian’s castle? — 84
    Ask if he has heard any rumours? — 245
    Talk about the weather? — 42
    Turn your attention back to the taproom? — 11
    54
    The man nods and starts dealing out two hands of cards. He asks you how much you wish to gamble. (Choose how many gold crowns you would like to bet. These are placed in the
middle of the table. The man then matches your bet with the