"If we want to survive this drought, you will have to make it rain."
In this short-and-sweet Choose Your Own Adventure book, you will be taken on a quest to discover why the rains haven't fallen on your tiny little chinese village - and to remedy...
The road that reaches the mountain from the North seems a shorter, safer bet. Therefore, as your family and friends wave goodbye from the gates of the village, you let your feet take you along the left path when you reach the crossroads.
The dragon's cave should be a couple days' walk from your home, but it's not an easy one. You go on for hours and hours, your feet aching, your legs heavy, your pack bearing down on your back with the weight of your belongings. The sun beats down mercilessly upon you, barely covered every once in a while by the shade from the few trees.
You've never walked this far, this long, and in these conditions. Dehydration is a real threat - so is simple death from exposure.
Do a Constitution test, by throwing one dice for a result of 2 or more, or by getting a random number of 2 or more from a 1-6 draw.
If you make it, you manage to find a stream and fill up on water. You stumble upon a good campsite and manage a decent night. You will survive this life of adventure yet.
If you fail, you trip on a rock and tumble. You sprain your ankle, giving you a -1 to your next physical test's dice roll(write it down!).
After a day and a half's arduous walking, you hear noise from the path ahead as it climbs up the beginning of the mountain. The trees are more numerous here and blocks your view. You stop in your steps, ready for anything that comes, when a man appears at the turn. He is coming down the mountain, dressed in clothes of good quality, with a light pack on his shoulders and a long walking stick. On his head is a wicker hat, on his feet sturdy shoes.
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He stops when he sees you and looks you up and down. He doesn't seem to consider you too much of a threat, but as you attempt to initiate dialogue, he frowns and steps back, hands on his walking stick. You're going to have to prove to him that you are of good will.
Do a Charisma test, rolling one dice for a result of 3 or more, or get a random number of 3 or more from a 1-6 draw. Then go to the corresponding paragraph.
Results:
1: You obviously either look horrible or talk like a raging babboon, because your attempt at charming the traveller is about to end in tears. He feels threatened by your ways of communication... and attacks. Go to the Combat paragraph.
2: You've still got some skills to learn in communication. The man doesn't like you one bit. He throws himself to the side and takes off running through the bushes, down the mountain. Do a Speed test with one dice for a result of 3 or more, or a random number of 3 or more from a 1-6 draw. If you manage to catch him, he will talk - go to Chapter Six. Otherwise, the man is much too fast for you. All that is left of him is a cloud of dust and a small scrap of parchment that escaped from his pack. You pick it up. Read Appendix 5 and go to Chapter Seven.
3+: Go to Chapter Six.
Combat:
The man isn't a warrior, but he does have a big stick.
Life points: 2 Weapon: walking stick. Counts as a Long/Heavy weapon.
Dice rolls: throw two dice - get a random number from a 1-12 draw. 1 to 4 : you fail your attack and the man strikes back. Lose 1 life point. 5 to 7 : the man blocks your attack. 8 to 12 : your attack carries. The man loses 1 life point. Repeat until one of you is dead.
If you survive this fight, you find on his person a piece of torn cloth with a picture on it, as well as a piece of scrap parchment. Read Appendix 4 and Appendix5, then go to Chapter Seven.
