### 281

You unshoulder your Bow and let fly an Arrow at the nearest robed creature. The shaft arcs through the snowy sky and hits the target but, to your dismay, it passes clean through and splinters harmlessly against a distant wall.

The target creature utters a sound that resembles a mocking laugh. From a pocket of its tattered robe it draws a silvery rod and levels it at your head while its ghoulish companions circle around in an attempt to get behind you. Reflexively you dive for cover, avoiding certain decapitation as a searing bolt of energy surges from the tip of the rod. It passes within inches of your back before impacting against a pillar of crystal, the resultant explosion peppering you with splinters: lose 2 ENDURANCE points.

You scramble to your feet and run but your escape is thwarted by the creature’s two companions. They block your path and you are forced to take on all three of them in a desperate hand-to-hand fight.

3 Cabalah: COMBAT SKILL 53 ENDURANCE 54

These undead creatures are immune to Mindblast, Psi-surge, and Kai-surge.

You may evade this combat after four rounds by turning to 41.

If you win the fight and you used the Sommerswerd, turn to 173.

If you win the fight without using the Sommerswerd, turn to 293.