Votes registered, Hector Eliwood will follow.
102
They take you to their house. The old man asks the girl to prepare for her trip and when she skips away he introduces himself as Ono-maki, a monk of the Wazarri. The girl, he explains, is his ward. She is due to travel to the great monastery for initiation. ‘But these times are dangerous, the old religion is deemed heretical by those that conquer. I hope that you are the One that legends speak of but nevertheless I must put you to the Test.’ You agree to be tested. He takes you to a room full of circles painted on the floor and hands you a cube with dice markings.
[spoiler]
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/y28When.png)
[/spoiler]
You stand on circle A. Ono-maki explains that you must throw the cube to find your True Path and to indicate the Awareness of your Being. Throw a die. If you throw 1-3, move up by one circle. If you throw 4 or 5, move right by one circle. If you throw a 6, do not move and deduct 1 point from your STAMINA. Repeat as many times as it is necessary to get to Levels 1-9.
If you achieve Levels 1 or 2, turn to 314. If you achieve Levels 3 or 4, turn to 343. If you achieve Levels 5-9, turn to 247.
[spoiler]
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/deXz4kO.png)
[/spoiler]
(For the purposes of this trial, the player’s position will be described by column and row. Circle A is on the bottom left of the triangle, and its position is noted at Column 1, Row 1. Level 9 is located on Column 1, Row 10, Level 8 is located on Column 2, Row 9, and so on.)
The rolls:
[spoiler]Roll 1: 1, Player moves to Column 1, Row 2.
Roll 2: 2, Player moves to Column 1, Row 3.
Roll 3: 1, Player moves to Column 1, Row 4.
Roll 4: 2, Player moves to Column 1, Row 5.
Roll 5: 1, Player moves to Column 1, Row 6.
Roll 6: 3, Player moves to Column 1, Row 7.
Roll 7: 3, Player moves to Column 1, Row 8.
Roll 8: 6, Player loses 1 Stamina and is now at 9 Stamina.
Roll 9: 5, Player moves to Column 2, Row 8.
Roll 10: 6, Player loses 1 Stamina and is now at 8 Stamina.
Roll 11: 6, Player loses 1 Stamina and is now at 7 Stamina.
Roll 12: 3, Player moves to Column 2, Row 9, Player achieves level 8.[/spoiler]
Hector Eliwood reaches level 8 in this trial and takes 3 Stamina of damage in the process.
247
[spoiler]
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/U3Np3oh.png)
[/spoiler]
The monk smiles and leads you into another room. It has no windows and has been carved out of the solid rock. Two torches light up the room. He stands in front of a series of symbols that represent warriors holding daggers and shields in various positions of the compass. ‘Look carefully and learn the Alphabet of Talin. A warrior language that has long ago fallen into disuse among the others of this country, it is still taught to the young in this village, especially those destined to be Wazarri. It may be of great help when you need it most.’ He points at the symbols from top left to right, ‘These are the letters a to h in the vulgar tongue. The symbols from middle left to right represent the letters i to p, the third row left to right are those from q to x, and the last two symbols are y and z.’ He sits in silence for a while as you concentrate on the characters.
He then asks you if you know the name-that-cannot-be uttered. If you
do, do not read the next paragraph.
He sighs, then begins to speak again. ‘I will now utter the name. It means that I will die in a year and a day, but, no matter, my time is soon. XEN is the secret name of the religion. Look for it and you may pass into secret places.’
The monk then pulls out a bag and hands you six Black Cubes (add them to your Cube box). You thank him for all his help, and he shows you the path to take out of the village: over a wall and into the nearby fields. You thank him again. ‘But it is we that must thank you,’ he replies, ‘for you have the great task. You are the Torchbearer who may save us from our oppressors.’ Turn to 164.
164
You do as you are directed and drop into a field. You look back at the road leading to the main village gate. Six-black-cloaked riders are patrolling up and down. You keep in low profile, cross streams back and forth, double-double-back, jump a few trees: in fact you do all the things that Captain Laski taught you in ‘losing the scent’ exercises. When you are sufficiently clear of the environs of the village, you climb a tree and look around. Ahead you see a great forest (turn to 367) and to the right is a road that may or may not be Salik’s Way (turn to 172). Which route do you take?
Please make your votes before 8:30 PM PDT to guarantee that they will be counted.
Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Hector Eliwood
SKILL: 10
Initial Skill = 10
STAMINA: 7
Initial Stamina = 19
LUCK: 7
Initial Luck = 8
PROVISIONS: 10
CITADEL WALLS: 10/14
Notes:
Alphabet of Talin is provided on section 247
XEN is the secret name of religion
GOLD: 13
CUBES:
10 Black Cubes
GEMS:
1 Star Crystal
CLUES, OBJECTS FOUND:
Potion of Fortune
Sword
Leather Armour
Backpack[/spoiler]
Say No To Fascism. The left is the one true way to go.