### 5

Your adversary is little more than a few feet away when you release your bowstring to send an arrow streaking towards his chest. It hits with terrific force but, to your utter amazement, it fails to penetrate his flesh; the shaft shatters into a dozen harmless shards. With a scream of gleeful vengeance, the Drakkar officer swings his scimitar down to cleave your neck in two. Instinct alone saves you from its razor-sharp edge. Immediately, he strikes again, swinging his blade back in a vicious arc that is aimed at your throat. You block the blow but it costs you your bow, chopped almost in half as it stops the blade barely inches from your chin (remember to delete this weapon from your Weapons list). Hurriedly you fumble for a hand weapon as he steadies himself to strike again.

Drakkar Marine Officer: COMBAT SKILL 27 ENDURANCE 38

You are unable to draw a weapon until the beginning of the second round of the combat, and must fight the first round unarmed.

If you win, and the fight lasts four rounds or less, turn to 232. 1

If you win, and the fight lasts longer than four rounds, turn to 148.

[1] Be aware that these choices originally read 'three rounds or less . . .' and 'longer than four rounds . . .'. We've arbitrarily changed the first choice to read 'four rounds or less . . .', erring in the reader's favour.

Text copyright © 1988 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1988 Brian Williams.