### 54

You land heavily at the edge of the chasm and the soil disintegrates on impact. Desperately you lunge for a tangle of roots and hold fast as your legs swing wildly in the void. Just as you begin to recover from the shock of the fall, you hear a scrabbling sound coming from somewhere deep within the rock-face. Suddenly a section of the sheer wall crumbles away, exposing the head of a ghastly, worm-like creature with huge, clacking mandibles. You have disturbed a hungry Lapillibore and it is intent on eating you alive.

Lapillibore: COMBAT SKILL 16 ENDURANCE 50

Owing to your precarious position, deduct 3 points from your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of the fight. Unless you possess a weapon-like Special Item, reduce your COMBAT SKILL by a further 4 points and fight the creature unarmed. You may not use the Silver Bow of Duadon in this combat (if you possess this Special Item). If you have reached the rank of Tutelary and possess the Discipline of Weaponmastery, you only need deduct 2 points from your COMBAT SKILL if you do not possess a weapon-like Special Item.

If you win the combat, turn to 237.