### 47

This blue-steel blade was forged in the furnaces of Elzian, crafted by the Elder Magi as an instrument of good. The Helghast senses its latent power and hurriedly casts another sparking fireball, but it is poorly aimed. You strike the missile as you vault over the table, sending it hurtling back to its sender. It glances off the creature's shoulder and jars the staff from its shrunken hand. You seize the advantage and attack before it can retrieve the deadly weapon.

Gnaag Helghast: COMBAT SKILL 28 ENDURANCE 40

This creature is immune to Mindblast (but not Psi-surge). Unless you possess the Magnakai Discipline of Psi-screen, you must reduce your COMBAT SKILL9 by 2 points at the beginning of every round that you fight this creature. If you have completed the Lore-circle of the Spirit, you may increase your COMBAT SKILL by 2 points for the duration of the fight.

If you win the combat, turn to 195.

[9] It seems peculiar that you are instructed to reduce COMBAT SKILL at the beginning of every round if you do not have Psi-screen. This loss would be cumulative so that during the first round you fight with 2 fewer COMBAT SKILL points, the second round with 4 fewer points, the third with 6 fewer, etc. This loss is certainly intended to be for the duration of this Combat only--not permanently--since Joe Dever always makes special note of instances where you permanently lose COMBAT SKILL. It is possible that this penalty is an error, and that you are meant to lose 2 ENDURANCE points rather than COMBAT SKILL points at the beginning of every round.

Text copyright © 1987 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1987 Gary Chalk.