Dawn of the Darklords is a short gamebook that retells the start of Flight from the Dark from Banedon's perspective.
Plot[]
Banedon is dispatched by the Guildmaster of the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star to send an urgent message to the Kai Monastery, warning them of the upcoming attack by Archlord Zagarna on the Kai Monastery. As Banedon hurries through the woods surrounding the Kai Monastery, he is too late to reach it, with the attack underway, and is attacked by Giaks, Kraan and possibly Helghast. As he nears the Kai Monastery, he is ambushed by another Giak, but it is slain by a Kai Lord, Silent Wolf, the sole survivor of what would be called the Massacre of the Kai. As a token of solidarity, Banedon gives Silent Wolf his Crystal Star Pendant, and the two go their separate ways.
Mechanics[]
Dawn of the Darklords is a short gamebook, with only 80 sections.
The player plays as Banedon, a magician from the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star. He possesses 10 + Random Number Table roll Combat Skill and 20 + Random Number Table roll Endurance, and can cast magical spells. For this gamebook, five of the following spells can be picked:
- Lightning Hand: Fires a bolt of lightning, costing 3 Endurance points
- Mind Charm: Causes the target to trust the caster
- Invisible Shield: Creates an invisible barrier that can protect against missiles and enemies, but not magic, costing 2 Endurance points
- Net: Creates a web-like net of magical rope to ensnare an enemy or to be climbed
- Vigour: For one combat, increase Combat Skill by 3 at the expense of 3 Endurance points. Cannot be used if Endurance is below 10
- Counterspell: Protects the caster from magic, costing 2 Endurance points
- Levitation: Causes the caster or target to rise in the air for a few minutes, costing 2 Endurance points
- Sense Evil: Detects the presence of evil nearby, but not traps nor poison
- Mend: When standing in water, repairs items. Can also be cast on themselves, restoring 5 Endurance points
- Silence: Muffles the sound of any movement the caster makes
The player starts with 10 + Random Number Table roll Gold Crowns and four of the following Backpack items:
- Blanket
- Healing Potion: Restores 2 Endurance points after combat
- Rope
- Torch
- 2 Meals
- Tinderbox
- Bottle of Wine
The player also possesses a Short Sword in a scabbard.
Combat is fought in the same was as other Lone Wolf books.
Publication[]
Dawn of the Darklords was first published in 1986. It was later republished in the Magnamund Companion.
In the 40th Edition of The Skull of Agarash, a graphical novel remake of Dawn of the Darklords was included within.