Votes registered, Zen-Kut-Sedatche will put 7 Gold Pieces in the wooden box and go down tunnel 273.
273
You step warily into the mouth, expecting a trap to be sprung at any moment. But nothing happens and you are able to walk on until the passage ends at yet another junction. If you wish to go left, turn to 372. If you wish to go right, turn to 393.
I have said it before, but I believe there already exists a sufficient number of votes to go right in this scenario as well, so I will skip voting for this part. Please let me know if you object to this automatic decision.
393
The tunnel grows noticeably warmer and is now also bathed in a soft, purple light. As you walk on, it gets even hotter and the light becomes brighter. You begin to sweat and have to squint to reduce the glare of the strong purple light. Suddenly the floor gives way beneath you, and you find yourself sliding, feet first, down a steep, coiling chute. You see the end of the chute coming but are sliding too quickly to be able to stop yourself from falling out. You land with a splash in a pool of hot purple liquid, which is situated in the centre of another cave. You climb out of the pool and realize that purple light envelops you, radiating out from your body. If you drank the water from the fountain earlier, turn to 42. If you did not drink there, turn to 160.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
Zen-Kut-Sedatche has drunk the water from the fountain earlier.
42
Drinking the Water of the Gods has saved you from a horrible death. The radiating glow gradually dies down and soon you are back to normal. You look round the cave and find no exits leading from it. A man’s face is carved in the rock wall, its eyes closed and its mouth open. As you walk over to examine it closer, the eyes open and a deep voice booms out of the mouth, saying, ‘I am the Oracle. Although you are not welcome here, I admire your determination and effort. No matter how noble your cause, you must pay for the answers to your questions. I too will ask you questions in return. Answer any incorrectly and you will pay with your life. I will start the proceedings, as I know everything. First, you may start by bestowing gifts upon me. You were in Zengis recently. I hope you took the trouble to buy me a brass owl, and I must know how much you paid for it.’ If you have a brass owl and can remember how many Gold Pieces you paid for it, turn to that number. If you do not have a brass owl, turn to 206.
Zen-Kut-Sedatche does have a brass owl, and he paid 10 Gold Pieces for it.
10
You reach into your backpack and pull out the brass owl. ‘Put it down on the floor,’ continues the Oracle. ‘Good. But, alas, I am very greedy and want something else. Do you have a green vase you could give me?’ If you have a green vase and can remember how many Gold Pieces it cost, turn to that number. If you do not possess a green vase, turn to 297.
Zen-Kut-Sedatche does have a green vase, and he paid 20 Gold Pieces for it.
20
‘Excellent!’ booms the Oracle’s voice as you pull out the vase from your backpack. ‘Now I’m going to ask you a question, but I’ll let fate decide on its difficulty. Let me roll my dice.’
Test your Luck. If you are Lucky, turn to 341. If you are Unlucky, turn to 263.
The Luck roll yielded a 6, meaning that Zen-Kut-Sedatche was Unlucky.
263
‘You are very unlucky, so I am forced to ask you a question that you may find a little obscure,’ continues the Oracle. ‘I have also been fascinated by the sea and seafaring, and once I met a man called Obigee. He lives in Zengis and works at an inn. Perhaps you stayed there? He loves racing and sails on the
Harem. Now, here’s the question. How many crew sail on board
Harem?’ If you know the answer, turn to that number. If you do not know the answer, turn to 108.
Zen-Kut-Sedatche knows the answer which is 8, according to the picture that Obigee showed him back at Helen’s House.
8
‘Well answered, my friend,’ says the Oracle. ‘Now, the final test. I want you to perform some magic for me. You can hear me, but you cannot see me. I think we should be equals. Make yourself invisible!’ If you own a pet Hopper, turn to 224. If you do not own this creature, turn to 108.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
Zen-Kut-Sedatche does own a pet Hopper.
224
The docile creature sitting on your shoulder awakes from its slumber as you tap it gently on the head. Hoping the Hopper will have the powers its vendor claimed for it, you try to recall the numbers that will trigger its invisibility. If you know the number, turn to it. If you do not know the number, turn to 303.
Zen-Kut-Sedatche does know the number, which is One, one, one. So we will turn to 111.
111
The Hopper makes several peculiar signs with its funny little hands while uttering a strange noise in the back of its throat. Suddenly you are invisible. You clap your hands but cannot see them. A few minutes later, you return to your visible state.
‘There’s just one more thing,’ the Oracle says frustratingly. ‘I need a gold brooch. My daughter says she needs one – although I don’t know what for, because she is ninety-eight years old. So, if you would be so kind as to give me a gold brooch, I will be in a position to help you.’ If you possess a gold brooch, turn to the number that is inscribed on it. If you do not possess a brooch, turn to 297.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
Zen-Kut-Sedatche does not possess a gold brooch, but an item wish will be used here to obtain one. Please let me know if you object to this. The golden brooch has the number ‘89’ inscribed on it, so we will turn to that section next.
89
‘Thank you so much,’ says the Oracle, ‘And now, how can I help you?’ You explain that you believe the Oracle can help you to defeat Agglax; you ask if this is true. ‘So, you wish to destroy the Shadow Demon? It is good that you have your army with you, as you would never reach Agglax alone. His forces are too great in number for you to slip through them. You must battle your way through to him. You will find a trail of destruction east of the Forest of Fiends. Follow that trail and you will soon catch up with the Shadow Demon’s army of death. Even if you destroy his army, however, Agglax will fight on alone. Your weapons will not harm him. Only a void spell will obliterate the Demon. You must find the Crystal of Light. When you are within six feet of Agglax, hold the crystal in both hands and say “Three, two, one – begone.” That is how you will rid this land of the Shadow Demon. Goodbye and good luck.’ The eyes of the stone face close again and you hear a grating sound behind you. Looking round, you see a section of wall sliding back. Filled with new confidence, you step into the tunnel that is revealed. Turn to 280.
280
The wall slides back into place behind you and you feel suddenly trapped as you walk on. Further along the tunnel you notice a piece of paper on the floor. If you wish to pick it up and read it, turn to 343. If you would rather just walk on, turn to 166.
Please make your votes before 6:00 PM PDT to guarantee that they will be counted.
Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Zen-Kut-Sedatche
SKILL: 10
Initial Skill = 10
STAMINA: 3
Initial Stamina = 17
LUCK: 3
Initial Luck = 7
SOLIDERS:
WARRIORS: 95
DWARFS: 50
ELVES: 50
KNIGHTS: 20
RIVER RAIDERS: 10
NORTHMEN: 10
MARAUDERS: 10
GOLD PIECES: 110
TREASURE:
Shield
Key with the number ‘222’
Yeti tooth
Axe
Ring with the number ‘45’
Hopper (Say “One, one, one” to turn invisible if hopper is sitting on shoulder)
Copper lantern
Helmet
Ivory box
Obigee’s sword
Green pill (+8 Stamina when used)
Gold seal with the number ‘332’
BOONS:
1 Rewind
3 Restorations
2 Item Wishes[/spoiler]