### 125

Pain sears your body as the black fire hits you: reduce your ENDURANCE total by half, rounding fractions up to the nearest whole number. All the while the foul laughter of Agarash the Damned fills the hall. At the cost of 1 WILLPOWER point you strike Shasarak's head with a powerful blow. His tortured scream fills the air, and he grabs at your Staff. He will not let go, and a shimmering burst of fire travels from Shasarak's hands up the length of your Staff. Shasarak is using it as a bond between you. He is attempting to pit all his remaining strength against yours.

If you wish to continue this duel of life-forces, turn to 310.

If you wish to evade this combat by wrenching your Staff from Shasarak's hand, turn to 129.

Concept copyright © 1986 Joe Dever and Gary Chalk.
Text copyright © 1986 Ian Page.
Illustrations copyright © 1986 Paul Bonner.