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‘Death to the Shadakine!’ you scream, caught up in the berserk fury of the mob. With a triumphant cry, the crowd deposits you on the ground and then withdraws to form a circle around you and the warrior. The Shadakine stands sweating and panting before you; his eyes dart wildly in every direction but he sees no escape. As the jeering crowd hurls insults and taunts at the trapped soldier, you notice that the shaven-headed warrior’s eyes are totally white, completely lacking pupils. Resolutely, he steps forward, sword and teeth bared, snarling his defiance. ‘To the death then, boy,’ he spits.

Illustration XII—The Shadakine steps forward snarling his defiance.

You cannot avoid the combat owing to the circle of people around you and must fight the Shadakine to the death.

Shadakine Warrior: COMBAT SKILL 13 ENDURANCE 20

If you win, turn to 127.