### 279

As you unfurl the Scroll and begin to read its ominous contents, the Baron struggles to his feet. Word for word he echoes the prophetic verse.

> When the full moon shines o'er the temple deep,
> A sacrifice will stir from sleep
> The legions of a long forgotten lord.
> When a fair royal maid on the altar dies,
> The dead of Maakengorge shall rise
> To claim their long-awaited reward.

'You must save her, Lone Wolf. You must prevent the sacrifice.' The Baron's voice is choked with emotion.

'Save who? Who must he save?' questions Captain D'Val, as he tries to calm the distressed Baron.

'My daughter, Madelon. Barraka has found the Dagger of Vashna. He plans to sacrifice my daughter upon the altar of Maaken to release the undead of Maakengorge.'

The Baron explains that during the Age of the Black Moon, King Ulnar of Sommerlund killed the mightiest of all the Darklords, Vashna, with the Sommerswerd, the sword of the sun. His body and the bodies of all his soldiers were hurled into the bottomless abyss of Maakengorge. 'He plans to lead the dead to victory first to conquer Sommerlund and then all of the Lastlands,' he says in despair.

You stare at the Baron in stunned silence. If Barraka completes the sacrifice, all is lost. What mortal army can stand against a legion of the dead?

Captain D'Val ushers you from the chamber and closes the door. 'I feared he was insane, but your Scroll confirms my worst nightmare. He speaks the truth!'

As the dreadful significance of the verse begins to sink in, your thoughts are broken by the shrill blast of a war-horn. Captain D'Val strides over to an arrow slit and peers out across the plain. As he turns to speak, you notice that his face is ashen grey. 'The bandits . . . they're launching an attack!'

If you possess Captain D'Val's sword, turn to 327.

If you do not possess it, turn to 289.

Text copyright © 1985 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1985 Gary Chalk.