Equipment

Before leaving Holmgard on your voyage to the Vassagonian capital of Barrakeesh, you are given a map of the desert empire and a pouch of gold. To find out how much gold is in the pouch, pick a number from the Random Number Table. Now add 10 to the number you have picked. The total equals the number of Gold Crowns inside the pouch, and you may now enter this number in the Gold Crowns section of your Action Chart. (If you have successfully completed previous Lone Wolf adventures, you may add this sum to the total of any Crowns you may already possess. Remember you can only carry a maximum of fifty Crowns.)

You may take your pick of the following items (in addition to those you already possess, but remember you may only carry two weapons). You may take up to four of the following:

• Dagger (Weapons)
  
  
• Potion of Laumspur (Backpack Items). This potion restores 4 ENDURANCE points to your total when swallowed after combat. There is enough for one dose.
  
  
• Sword (Weapons)
  
  
• Spear (Weapons)
  
  
• 2 Special Rations (Meals). Each of these Special Rations counts as one Meal, and each takes up one space in your Backpack.
  
  
• Mace (Weapons)
  
  
• Shield (Special Items). This adds 2 points to your COMBAT SKILL when used in combat.
  
  

List the four items that you choose on your Action Chart, under the heading given in brackets, and make a note of any effect it may have on your ENDURANCE points or COMBAT SKILL.

How to Carry Equipment

Now that you have your equipment, the following list shows you how it is carried. You don’t need to make notes but you can refer back to this list in the course of your adventure.

• Dagger—carried in the hand.
• Potion of Laumspur—carried in the Backpack.
• Sword—carried in the hand.
• Spear—carried in the hand.
• Special Rations—carried in the Backpack.
• Mace—carried in the hand.
• Shield—slung over the shoulder when not in combat, otherwise carried in the hand.

How Much Can You Carry?

Weapons

The maximum number of weapons that you may carry is two.

Backpack Items

These must be stored in your Backpack. Because space is limited, you may only keep a maximum of eight articles, including Meals, in your Backpack at any one time.

Special Items

Special Items are not carried in the Backpack. When you discover a Special Item, you will be told how to carry it.

Gold Crowns

These are always carried in the Belt Pouch. It will hold a maximum of fifty crowns.

Food

Food is carried in your Backpack. Each Meal counts as one item.

Any item that may be of use and can be picked up on your adventure and entered on your Action Chart is given capital letters in the text. Unless you are told it is a Special Item, carry it in your Backpack.

How to Use Your Equipment

Weapons

Weapons aid you in combat. If you have the Kai Discipline of Weaponskill and the correct weapon, it adds 2 points to your COMBAT SKILL. If you enter a combat with no weapons, deduct 4 points from your COMBAT SKILL and fight with your bare hands. If you find a weapon during the adventure, you may pick it up and use it. (Remember you can only carry two weapons at once.) You may only use one Weapon at a time in combat.

Backpack Items

During your travels you will discover various useful items which you may wish to keep. (Remember you can only carry a maximum of eight items in your Backpack at any time.) You may exchange or discard them at any point when you are not involved in combat.

Special Items

Special Items are not carried in the Backpack. When you discover a Special Item, you will be told how to carry it. If you have successfully completed previous Lone Wolf books, you may already possess Special Items. Before you begin Shadow on the Sand, you may choose to leave any or all of these items in ‘safekeeping’ at your Kai Monastery in Sommerlund. Special Items in ‘safekeeping’ cannot be used, but neither can they be lost during your adventure.

Gold Crowns

The currency of Sommerlund and Vassagonia is the Crown, which is a small gold coin. Whenever you kill a creature and search the body, you may take any Gold Crowns that you find and put them in your Belt Pouch.

Food

You will need to eat regularly during your adventure. If you do not have any food when you are instructed to eat a Meal, you will lose 3 ENDURANCE points. If you have chosen the Kai Discipline of Hunting as one of your five skills, you will not need to tick off a Meal when instructed to eat (unless you are in an area of desert where the opportunity for hunting is limited).

Potion of Laumspur

This is a healing potion that can restore 4 ENDURANCE points to your total when swallowed after combat. There is enough for one dose only. If you discover any other potions during the adventure, you will be informed of its effect. All potions are Backpack Items.