### 163

You retreat hurriedly from the onrushing horde and evade them by descending a stair which leads down into the ship’s hold. Above, you can hear the frenzied shouts of the Lencian crewmen as they engage the undead Drakkarim in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Suddenly, the body of a Lencian comes tumbling down the stairwell to land in an untidy heap at the bottom, the hilt of a rusty sword protruding from his chest. Then the clatter of steel-shod boots on the steps warns you that his killers are about to appear, and quickly you scan the darkness looking for a place to hide.

If you possess Assimilance, turn to 208.

If you do not possess this skill, turn to 26.