The Cursed Catacombs, page 15
Whatever spell the old wizard was casting, Seth knew he was the target.
Remove the amber talisman from your inventory. Then go to 157 if you have the cold iron coin, or 159 if you don’t.
* * *
BRISTLEBOOR’S PUNCH CAUGHT SETH BY surprise. He’d never seen the wizard resort to a physical attack before. Still, Seth thought maybe he’d lucked out. He could take a punch better than he could take a fireball to the face.
And Bristleboor’s punch was particularly weak. Now that Seth knew the truth, it was easy to see that his mentor was as much corpse as man, with atrophied muscles and frail bones.
“Is that the best you got?” taunted the imp.
Bristleboor’s brow furrowed. “No,” he said. “It’s not.” And, stepping back out of Seth’s reach, the wizard made the opening gesture of a sign Seth didn’t recognize and spoke a word of power that filled the room with a static charge. It felt as if the air itself were ready to combust at Bristleboor’s command.
“Thanks a lot,” Seth told the imp.
Whatever spell the old wizard was casting, Seth knew he was the target.
Lose 1 Health Point for that hit, then go to 157 if you have the cold iron coin, or 159 if you don’t.
* * *
AT BRISTLEBOOR’S COMMAND, CONCENTRIC RINGS of luminous force radiated toward his wayward apprentice. Seth threw his hands up in defense, as if flesh and blood and scale could do anything to divert a spell of sheer mystical malignance. He knew better than to expect Bristleboor to show him mercy.
And yet, the spell passed harmlessly through Seth. It was nothing but color and light…and a sudden chill, emanating from Seth’s pocket.
“The coin,” he said, gasping. “From the shade! It protected me somehow.”
“And here I thought it was a cheap tip,” said Calivore, a purring playfulness to his voice. “But that’s just turned the tide in our favor, Sethy.”
Judging from the uncommon fear in Bristleboor’s eyes, the old wizard agreed.
Go to 200.
* * *
“SETHY, WATCH OUT!” CALIVORE’S ROILING form billowed outward, forming a veil between Seth and Bristleboor. As the old wizard continued to intone his words of power, and the chamber continued to buzz with the growing threat of his spell, Calivore expanded its form, reaching to the four corners of the room. Seth thought of a blanket tossed atop a fire. Would the imp smother Bristleboor’s spell—or would it only add fuel to the coming inferno?
There was an eerie hush as Bristleboor completed his dirge and then drew his fingers across the air like a maestro silencing an orchestra. Then, chaos.
It was as if the air itself were rent open, and hell awaited on the other side. Some nauseating, reality-warping energy rushed from the tear.
But the imp was faster. It intercepted the stygian energy, taking the brunt of the attack. It was not without cost; the imp’s billowing form seemed immediately to contract, as if wincing in pain. Within moments, the great dark cloud of Calivore had shrunk to a paltry fog clinging to Seth’s legs.
“Are you okay?” Seth asked. “You don’t look so good.”
“You should…see the other guy,” said Calivore.
And Seth realized that the imp was right. Bristleboor had gotten the worse of the exchange. The skeletal spellcaster had sunk to the floor.
“Fie!” said Bristleboor. “Do your worst.”
Go to 200.
* * *
AT BRISTLEBOOR’S COMMAND, CONCENTRIC RINGS of luminous force radiated toward Seth. He threw his hands up in defense, as if flesh and blood and scale could do anything to divert a spell of sheer mystical malignance.
It was no use. Bristleboor’s magic was too potent…and the man himself too merciless.
Go to 111.
* * *
SETH’S FIRST FIREBALL SPELL WAS everything he could have hoped for. Unlike many spells, this one required two hands, each with fingers splayed out as far as he could manage. The word of power was a single, satisfying syllable: “Pir.” The mana cost was substantial, but Seth knew he might not get another chance.
Hoarding mana wouldn’t do him any good if he ended up dead.
A sun-bright flare of light erupted in the heart of the room. Bristleboor was caught in the very epicenter. The old mage was blown off his feet, ribbons of flame trailing after him from his smoldering robes.
Seth, from behind his splayed fingers, could feel the sudden blast of heat. He was certain his eyebrows were singed. But he was otherwise unharmed. The imp, likewise, appeared undamaged.
“Whew! Now that was a spell,” said the imp. “How about you hit him while he’s down?”
Sounds like a Constitution Check! With a 5 or higher, go to 170. Otherwise, 171.
* * *
SETH’S FIRST SHROUD SPELL MADE him feel un-touchable. The sign involved drawing one hand across his face as he spoke a word of power: “Argys.” His mana reserves gutted, but unusually, that didn’t leave him tired. The spell itself was invigorating, as if a mantle of crackling energy from some higher plane had settled on his shoulders.
“That won’t help you,” said Bristleboor, and he made a sign of his own—aggressive and quick. It was almost certainly an attack spell.
Before he could even finish casting, however, the energy around Seth flared and crackled, lashing out in retaliation. In a flash of multicolored light, Bristleboor was knocked right off his feet. He bellowed in surprise on the way down.
“I knew you had it in you, Sethy!” said Calivore. “But don’t let up now. Hit ’im!”
Hit him with a Constitution Check! With a 5 or higher, go to 170. Otherwise, 171.
* * *
SETH LOCKED EYES WITH BRISTLEBOOR, laced the fingers of both hands together, and spoke the word of power with authority: “Tet.”
The Siphon spell was supposed to infuse him with new energy. But Bristleboor had precious little energy to be taken. Still, the old wizard gasped as if struck. He clutched his chest and dropped to his knee. “You…you knave,” he said, wheezing. “You’re no better than a common thief.”
“He’s way better than a common thief,” said Calivore. “A thief woulda taken your priceless tomes or your weird reagents. But Seth here just took the only thing of real value in this whole place: the last of your power.”
Bristleboor looked up at them, fury in his eyes. His glamour wavered; Seth saw the true corpselike visage behind the illusion of nose and lips. “Not all my power,” he growled.
“Wuh-oh,” said the imp. “Sethy, quick! Hit ’im!”
Hit him with a Constitution Check! With a 5 or higher, go to 170. Otherwise, 171.
* * *
IT DIDN’T TAKE MUCH TO get a spell wrong. The unintentional crook of a finger…a slight elongation of a vowel…
Seth wasn’t totally sure what he did wrong. All he knew was that the spell did not have its intended effect.
It did something, though. Bristleboor stumbled back, wincing, shielding himself from some invisible force.
“Imp magic?” he said, almost growling, and Seth saw the edge of the wizard’s beard was singed. “I suppose you’ve been doing some extracurricular study, eh, apprentice?”
“There’s more lessons where that came from, too,” said the imp, and it lashed out with an umbral tendril, which sent Bristleboor reeling once more.
“Fie!” said the wizard.
“I’d never suggest you hit a man while he’s down,” Calivore said to Seth. “But a lich, on the other hand…”
Hit him with a Constitution Check! With a 5 or higher, go to 170. Otherwise, 171.
* * *
SETH CURLED HIS FINGERS UP into a fist. He tucked his thumb to the side, the way Roe had taught him.
Bristleboor could reshape the building blocks of reality at a whim. He could cheat death with a rage that defied the grave’s inexorable pull. But could the wizard take a punch?
Seth let his fist fly. It struck the side of Bristleboor’s head with a satisfying smack. The old curmudgeon reeled back in pain and surprise. Worth it, Seth thought to himself. Whatever happens next…that was worth it.
Let’s hope so! Because now it’s Bristleboor’s turn. Go to 169.
* * *
SETH CURLED HIS FINGERS UP into a fist. Bristleboor could reshape the building blocks of reality at a whim. He could cheat death with a rage that defied the grave’s inexorable pull. But could the wizard take a punch?
Seth let his fist fly. But he’d forgotten to tuck his thumb in as Roe had taught him. He glanced the side of Bristleboor’s head, and the old curmudgeon reeled back—more in surprise than pain, but Seth still found the sight satisfying.
But the attack had brought him into Bristleboor’s range, and, unthinking, the wizard lashed out to retaliate with a fist of his own.
Do you have the bone shard? Go to 166.
If not, but you do have the amber talisman, go to 167.
Otherwise, go to 168.
* * *
SETH WAS SURPRISED TO SEE the learned mage react physically.
He was even more surprised when Bristleboor stopped himself.
As Seth braced for the retaliatory punch, a strange change came over Bristleboor. His hand had been raised in a fist, but now he lowered it, unclenching his fingers. His eyes had been narrowed with malice; now they were clouded with confusion.
“I…I can’t,” said Bristleboor. All the fire and contempt were gone from his voice; he sounded suddenly ancient and small. “I can’t bring myself to hit you.”
Seth had never been so confused in his entire life. Was this some kind of trick? He took a few steps back, just in case.
“Oh-ho-ho!” Calivore chortled. “I know what’s happening. It’s the shard!”
“The shard?” said Seth. “You mean from the skeleton?”
“Yeah! It’s got the necromantic control rune on it, remember? And being dead…Bristleboor’s susceptible.”
“How dare you,” said Bristleboor. The fire had returned to his eyes, and the movement had returned to his limbs. Either he was already regaining control of his body, or else the shard only prevented him from making a physical attack. “No more will I suffer these petty indignities.” He had lifted his hands once more and was making the opening gestures of a sign Seth didn’t recognize.
Whatever spell the old wizard was casting, Seth knew he was the target.
The sigil is out of power, so remove the bone shard from your inventory. After that, there’s not much you can do except go to 169 and hope for the best.
* * *
SETH HADN’T EXPECTED BRISTLEBOOR TO hit him back. The mage had never seemed especially physical. But Seth’s attack must have gotten under the old goat’s papery skin.
In any case, the wizard’s punch was entirely ineffectual. It glanced off Seth’s face as if Bristleboor’s fist weighed no more than a raindrop.
Seth did, however, feel something in his pocket break.
“The amber talisman,” Bristleboor said darkly. “I knew I’d regret giving it to you.”
“Too bad it can only take one hit,” said the imp. “Would have made a nice memento of the day we beat you into tar.”
“Tar, is it?” Bristleboor grinned wickedly. “That puts me in mind of a particularly nasty spell.”
The wizard had evidently remembered that he had better tools at his disposal than his fists. As Seth took a few faltering steps back, Bristleboor made the opening gestures of a sign Seth didn’t recognize.
Whatever spell the old wizard was casting, Seth knew he was the target.
Remove the amber talisman from your inventory. Then go to 169 and hope for the best.
* * *
BRISTLEBOOR’S PUNCH CAUGHT SETH BY surprise. He’d never seen the wizard resort to a physical attack before. Still, Seth thought maybe he’d lucked out. He could take a punch better than he could take a fireball to the face.
And Bristleboor’s punch was particularly weak. Now that Seth knew the truth, it was easy to see that his mentor was as much corpse as man, with atrophied muscles and frail bones.
“Is that the best you got?” taunted the imp.
Bristleboor’s brow furrowed. “No,” he said. “It’s not.” And, stepping back out of Seth’s reach, the wizard flexed his fingers and made the opening gesture of a sign Seth didn’t recognize.
“Thanks a lot,” Seth told the imp.
Whatever spell the old wizard was casting, Seth knew he was the target.
Lose 1 Health Point for that hit, then go to 169.
* * *
BRISTLEBOOR HAD SUCCESSFULLY HIDDEN HIS status as a lich from his apprentices, but he’d never been especially good at hiding his emotions. The man wore his passions upon his wizened face for all to see—and as a petty, power-hungry pedant, his feelings were rarely very nuanced.
Seth recognized the rage that animated him in the wake of his apprentice’s punch.
And Seth saw that rage give way to cruel amusement as the wizard launched into the perfect spell with which to punish his wayward apprentice.
There was something like joy on his face as he made the sign and spoke the word of power, the satisfaction of a master practicing his craft.
And then panic—devastation—when he realized he was lacking that crucial final ingredient.
The sprite had robbed him of his mana.
He was powerless.
And, before Seth could blink, the rage had returned to Bristleboor’s features.
Seems like a great time to show off. After all, you can still cast spells, and you’ve got a new one to try.
If you learned Fireball, subtract 5 Mana Points and make a Constitution Check. With a 5 or higher, go to 176. Otherwise, go to 179.
If you learned Shroud, subtract 5 Mana Points and make a Charisma Check. With a 5 or higher, go to 177. Otherwise, go to 179.
If you learned Siphon, subtract 5 Mana Points and make a Cleverness Check. With a 5 or higher, go to 178. Otherwise, go to 179.
* * *
SETH CURLED HIS FINGERS UP into a fist. He tucked his thumb to the side, the way Roe had taught him.
Bristleboor could reshape the building blocks of reality at a whim. He could cheat death with a rage that defied the grave’s inexorable pull. But could the wizard take a punch?
Seth let his fist fly. It struck the side of Bristleboor’s head with a satisfying smack. The old curmudgeon reeled back in pain and surprise. Worth it, Seth thought to himself. Whatever happens next…that was worth it.
Let’s hope so! Because now it’s Bristleboor’s turn. Go to 175.
* * *
SETH CURLED HIS FINGERS UP into a fist. Bristleboor could reshape the building blocks of reality at a whim. He could cheat death with a rage that defied the grave’s inexorable pull. But could the wizard take a punch?
Seth let his fist fly. But he’d forgotten to tuck his thumb in as Roe had taught him. He glanced the side of Bristleboor’s head, and the old curmudgeon reeled back—more in surprise than pain, but Seth still found the sight satisfying.
But the attack had brought him into Bristleboor’s range, and, unthinking, the wizard lashed out to retaliate with a fist of his own.
Do you have the bone shard? Go to 172.
If not, but you do have the amber talisman, go to 173.
Otherwise, go to 174.
* * *
SETH WAS SURPRISED TO SEE the learned mage react physically.
He was even more surprised when Bristleboor stopped himself.
As Seth braced for the retaliatory punch, a strange change came over Bristleboor. His hand had been raised in a fist, but now he lowered it, unclenching his fingers. His eyes had been narrowed with malice; now they were clouded with confusion.
“I…I can’t,” said Bristleboor. All the fire and contempt were gone from his voice; he sounded suddenly ancient and small. “I can’t bring myself to hit you.”
Seth had never been so confused in his entire life. Was this some kind of trick? He took a few steps back, just in case.
“Oh-ho-ho!” Calivore chortled. “I know what’s happening. It’s the shard!”
“The shard?” said Seth. “You mean from the skeleton?”
“Yeah! It’s got the necromantic control rune on it, remember? And being dead…Bristleboor’s susceptible.”
“How dare you,” said Bristleboor. The fire had returned to his eyes, and the movement had returned to his limbs. Either he was already regaining control of his body, or else the shard only prevented him from making a physical attack. “No more will I suffer these petty indignities.” He had lifted his hands once more and was making the opening gestures of a sign Seth didn’t recognize.
Whatever spell the old wizard was casting, Seth knew he was the target.
The sigil is out of power, so remove the bone shard from your inventory. After that, there’s not much you can do except go to 175 and hope for the best.
