### 169

With your forefinger you draw the symbols in the doughy material and push against the mighty door, expecting it to rumble open. The portal remains firm and your inscription begins to fade until there is no trace of it at all. The rush of fearful premonition steals your breath away seconds before a massive charge of crackling power leaps from above the door and stabs you viciously in the chest: lose 10 ENDURANCE points.

If you survive this serious wounding, turn back to 25 and study the remaining symbols very carefully before you attempt to open the door again.

Text copyright © 1987 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1987 Brian Williams.