Vampirium by Joe Dever Read Free Book Online Page B

them die of exhaustion, and a third becomes too lame to continue. You are forced to abandon them and continue your journey on foot. You head east, and take shelter on a wooded hillside while you wait for the rains to abate.
    While you are resting, unless you possess the Discipline of Grand Huntmastery, you must now eat a Meal or lose 3 ENDURANCE points.
    To continue, turn to 59 .

33
    Your spell fails to split the iron skin of the cannon's pressure cylinder. Alerted now to your presence, a handful of Bhanarians leave the fight at the archway and come running towards the antechamber with their swords and axes raised to strike. You offer up a short prayer to Ishir to protect you as you draw your Kai Weapon ready to meet their determined attack. With your battle-cry upon your lips, you pull open the door and flail at the first Bhanarian who comes within striking distance of your deadly blade.

    Bhanarian Guards: COMBAT SKILL  37    ENDURANCE  40
    If you win this combat, turn to 144 .

35
    You tug the Claw from your pack and toss it onto the floor.
    ‘No! He'll not have it!’ screams Gildas, and he leaps forward to kick the artefact away. It skitters across the floor, and its clawed tip embeds itself in the base of the log fire. The captain's actions have angered the Autarch. He storms forward and deals him a crushing blow with his armoured forearm, sending him crashing against a bookcase on the far side of the chamber. His head drops limply to his chest and he slithers to the floor.
    Turn to 344 .

36
    Your killing blow severs the creature's head from its body. For a few moments its dismembered torso stands erect; then slowly it keels over backwards and tumbles into the mountain pass.
    To continue, turn to 18 .

37
    The moment you step outside the tavern, you and your companions are set upon by the one-eyed man and his brutish cohorts. They are armed with knives and clubs, and they are determined to show you no mercy. You must fight them.
    Bhanarian Roughriders: COMBAT SKILL  38    ENDURANCE  41
    You may add +2 to your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of this fight, for Gildas and his men are helping you to fight off these enemies.
    If you win the combat in five rounds or less, turn to 256 .
    If you win the combat and it takes six rounds or more, turn to 105 .

39
    The Autarch's men react swiftly to their squad leader's call, and soon they are following closely on your heels as you race through the copse. When you break from the cover of the trees, the nearest enemy warrior hurls his dagger at your fleeing back. Your Kai Sixth Sense alerts you to the flying missile and you dodge aside, but the tip of the knife grazes your side and makes you stumble and fall into the long grass: lose 1 ENDURANCE point.
    To continue, turn to 85 .

42
    As you make the jump, your horse strikes his forelegs on the barrier and you are jolted out of the saddle. You twist as you fall and strike the back of your skull when you hit the ground: lose 5 ENDURANCE points.
    If you survive this heavy fall, turn to 108 .

43
    The squad leader advances along the trench with the Claw of Naar poised to fire a second blast, yet a timely volley of arrows from the rangers forces him to abandon his attack and dive for cover. When he scrambles to his feet, he commands his scattered squad to rally to his cry. They come running forward and he scrambles out of the trench to meet them. Then an arrow skewers the sleeve of his tunic, and he spins around and looses off the second flame-bolt in reply. It explodes among the rocks above and you hear Sergeant Paviz cry out in pain. The crackling hum of the Claw rises to an almost deafening pitch when the leader allows the supernatural weapon to recharge to maximum power. Turning towards the rocks that block the mountain pass, he points the Claw at the base and lets loose a third blast of dark flame which blows a big hole in the heaped debris. With a wild cheer, the Bhanarians race through the smouldering gap and make good