Let's Play Fighting Fantasy #45: Spectral Stalkers

angelfromanotherpin · Sat Oct 26, 2013 11:55 pm

Yeah, seriously, what the hell?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 12:07 am

'I am the Oracle,' the old woman cackles, 'and you are a warrior on a perilous quest. I sense that you carry a great burden and are hunted by fell and remorseless creatures. But all this you know, and all too well, I suspect. Tell me something that you do not yet understand and I will unravel it for you.'

You are almost speechless with shock after the events in the sunlit parkland and your sudden arrival in this cave, but you manage to stammer an account of your recent experiences. You show the crone the Hunting-Horn. 'l can explain these things,' she says. 'But first, give me gold! Two pieces of gold to hear the words of the Oracle!' This demand takes you by surprise. If you give her 2 Gold Pieces, deduct them from your Adventure Sheet. Or are you unwilling or unable to pay?

angelfromanotherpin · Sun Oct 27, 2013 12:10 am

Chump change, why not?

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:09 am

Aww dude, you're in mortal danger, 2gp or gtfo. What an ass. I hope Semeion Cryptoglyphos works for free.

Edit: (Actually, random guess: she's not an oracle, she makes money cold reading adventurers, every single one of whom is on a perilous quest. But pay her anyway.)

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:05 am

Hand out glod.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:00 pm

The old woman tosses the coins into the air and they disappear. You hear a distant metallic tinkle, as if the coins had reappeared and landed in a nearby cavern. 'Listen to the words of the Oracle!' the crone intones. 'You, warrior, have been within a dream. And no ordinary mortal's dream, but the dream of a god. Which god? That I know not, for there are many gods in the Macrocosmos. But I hazard that he is a god of hunting! While inside his dream you acquired his Horn - not the most potent of items to steal from a god, but perhaps it will be useful. Sound it when you are faced with danger; it will deter those opponents who fear loud noises, at least. And now you must depart, for your pursuers are very vigilant. Before you leave, accept this charm.' The old woman traces a pattern in the air; regain 1 point of LUCK. 'l know,' she continues, 'that you have your own means of traveling, so I will refrain from advising you, but if as I suspect, you are collecting signs and portents that have to do with your burden, I suggest that the market in the town below my cave might be of interest.' The fires flare up, then die and the old woman has gone. The exit from the cave is revealed by a distant glimmer of daylight; you can leave through it, or use the Aleph to travel elsewhere.

Adventure Sheet
G.I. Average Joe
SKILL 10/10
STAMINA 11/19
LUCK 9/9
TRAIL: 3
Equipment: Trusty Sword, Silver Dagger, Extinguisher
Provisions: 2 (+4 STAMINA each)
Gold Pieces: 10
Items: Jewel of Sleep, Blue Gem of Healing (restores 6 STAMINA at any time, one use), 2 Glowcandles, A God's Hunting-Horn
Signs: Rune-Inscribed Wheel Hub, Circular Inn Sign, Clay Ball, Conjuror's Circular Calling Card

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:08 pm

Go to town!

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:21 pm

Visiting the town is more potential use than random hopping.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 6:16 pm

Yes, explore as much as possible while we're not being murdered.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 7:55 pm

You emerge onto a steep and rocky path that meanders down a mountainside. At the foot of the mountain you come upon a small town. It is market day, and the narrow main street is crowded with townsfolk and farmers. The stalls are selling farm produce—vegetables, honey, oil and chickens—and you can see nothing that seems significant to you. The last stall in the street, however, has a display of earthenware and metal goods. In pride of place is a finely-crafted, circular bronze plate, which somehow reminds you of the Aleph. The scene engraved across it is a depiction of the Hunt of the Gods that is an exact portrayal of the giants and the war-beasts that you encountered. The stallholder wants 3 Gold Pieces for the plate and is not prepared to haggle. If you have enough money, and want to buy the plate, record the transaction on your Adventure Sheet. You have now reached the end of the town; there is nothing to do but wander into the countryside and use the Aleph to travel elsewhere.

(I assume we buy.)

You take the Aleph from your backpack and hold it in your hands. The countless vistas that swarm within the shining sphere, tiny yet perfect in every detail, entrance you immediately. Strange creatures, alien peoples, towns, continents, planets, swirling stars and cloudy galaxies swim before your eyes. You feel yourself being enveloped by the Aleph, and transported within it. Roll one die. (1; the result is an odd number.)

(Davros looks awfully happy to see us.)

You find yourself in a small chamber made entirely of glowing, interconnected rods. Through them you can see that the chambers inside a complicated mechanism of whirring cogs and humming bulbs of light. One side of the chamber is open, and beyond the opening you see a room crammed with other mechanical devices. The walls are covered with bookshelves and complex charts. A bizarre figure trundles into view—a humanoid, you decide, but only just. Riding on a self-propelled cart with four wheels, the robed being is extremely thin, so that his torso looks too small and weak to support his huge bald head. Long metal fingers protrude from the sleeves of the robe, wire meshes bulge from the sides of his head where you would expect ears to be, and round glass lenses sit in his eye-sockets. 'A visitor!' he cries in a piping voice. 'It is such a long time since I last had a visitor. Quickly, step from the machine while you may!' Will you emerge from the chamber, or stay inside it?

Adventure Sheet
G.I. Average Joe
SKILL 10/10
STAMINA 11/19
LUCK 9/9
TRAIL: 3
Equipment: Trusty Sword, Silver Dagger, Extinguisher
Provisions: 2 (+4 STAMINA each)
Gold Pieces: 7
Items: Jewel of Sleep, Blue Gem of Healing (restores 6 STAMINA at any time, one use), 2 Glowcandles, A God's Hunting-Horn
Signs: Rune-Inscribed Wheel Hub, Circular Inn Sign, Clay Ball, Conjuror's Circular Calling Card, Engraved Bronze Plate

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:03 pm

I bet 5 gp on the chamber being a teleporter. Also, we come out.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:09 pm

Yeah, I don't like the sound of that 'while you may.' Emerge.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 12:11 am

Don't be alarmed by my appearance,' says the strange wheeled being as you step from the machine into his study. 'I realize that you barbarians don't comprehend the advances of science, but I am quite harmless. I am Metron, the Mapmaker.' You gaze in wonderment at the maps and charts that cover the walls and desks, and, perhaps because they remind you of the Aleph, you are particularly intrigued by a collection of maps that are painted on the surfaces of wooden balls. 'l see you are surprised to see spherical maps,' Metron squeaks. 'No doubt you think the world is flat - or built on terraces, as the fabled Ziggurat World is supposed to be. I can tell you, my friend, that I have studied worlds throughout the Macrocosmos; and whatever shape they are supposed to be, after I have measured and mapped them they are round. But tell me: have you brought anything with you? I am always looking for new objects to measure.'

You wonder which of your items you should ask Metron to examine. If you possess them, you could offer him Cerod the Harp, a clay ball that rattles or a god's Hunting Horn. Or do you refuse to allow Metron to see any of your possessions?

(I've always been disappointed that you can't show Mr. REAL SCIENCE here Extinguisher; it seems like nothing but hilarity could come from it.")

Dr_Noface · Post by **Dr_Noface** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 1:05 am

I feel like this nerd will waste our charges or worse, roll a 1 on his UMD check. Give him squat.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:34 am

Agreed.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:02 am

The Mapmaker is amused at your attitude. 'You barbarians,' he chuckles, shaking his domed head, 'you're always so protective about your belongings. I expect you believe that everything you own has a lucky charm in it. It's all mumbo jumbo, my friend. In all my years of research I've not found a single magical item. It's all superstitious nonsense; it dissolves in the face of Science. But let me offer you something. Your home world is Titan, you say? Here, inscribed on a wooden sphere, is an exact map of your world. You may have it for only two Gold Pieces.' You are infuriated by Metron's words, but fascinated by the finely-detailed round map that he is offering to you; its size and shape are reminiscent of the Aleph. Do you decide to stifle your anger and buy the map? If, however, you cannot contain your rage, you attack the Mapmaker.

(By this point I'm sure you guys want to buy the map. Forgive me if I'm wrong.)

You exchange 2 Gold Pieces for the spherical map of Titan. Metron also insists that you take several sheets of paper and a strange writing implement called a pencil, saying that you never know when you might need to make a map of your own (record this transaction on your Adventure Sheet.) The Mapmaker then busies himself at a desk, making calculations and scribbling notes and papers. After a few minutes he tums and seems surprised to see you. 'Are you still here?' he says. 'Run along now. Can't you see I'm busy? Be off with you!'

Do you want to return to the small chamber from which you arrived in the Mapmaker's study; or would you rather use the Aleph to take you elsewhere?

Adventure Sheet
G.I. Average Joe
SKILL 10/10
STAMINA 11/19
LUCK 9/9
TRAIL: 3
Equipment: Trusty Sword, Silver Dagger, Extinguisher
Provisions: 2 (+4 STAMINA each)
Gold Pieces: 5
Items: Jewel of Sleep, Blue Gem of Healing (restores 6 STAMINA at any time, one use), 2 Glowcandles, A God's Hunting-Horn, Pencil and Paper
Signs: Rune-Inscribed Wheel Hub, Circular Inn Sign, Clay Ball, Conjuror's Circular Calling Card, Engraved Bronze Plate, Spherical Map of Titan

Dr_Noface · Post by **Dr_Noface** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:33 am

ummm.. aleph? It seems to take us where we need to go.

MisterDee · Post by **MisterDee** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:26 am

Yeah, we got the Round Thing already, let's Aleph to the next Round Thing.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:32 am

Use the Aleph. So far it hasn't dropped us into a volcano or a dragon's colon, and it better stay that way.

(I'd have given him the Aleph. Have fun with fractal dimensions, dude.)

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:48 am

You pull the glowing sphere from your backpack and cup it in your hands. Instantly you are mesmerized by the myriad visions, so tiny and yet so detailed, that swarm within the Aleph. The longer you gaze, the more you can see; strange creatures, alien peoples, towns, continents, planets, swirling stars. You feel yourself being enveloped by the Aleph; but what thoughts pass through your mind as you are transported?
If you are anxious to find someone who can explain the meaning of the objects that you have collected since you were given the Aleph
If you are keen to continue on your travels, hoping to find more significant items of booty
If your only concern is to hurry on to the end of your quest

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 6:03 am

Item #1 on the agenda - dafuq is all this shit we're dragging along?

Dr_Noface · Post by **Dr_Noface** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 6:51 am

I am drawn to booty!

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:43 am

Let's find out what this shit is.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 9:19 am

Dunno, I don't want to cash out just yet. There's still phat loot we haven't found and might want to find, including Corrective Fluid and the harp, and probably a couple of corresponding round things, too.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 9:45 pm

(Go back to the time-honored tradition of rolling a die to break ties. Odds we go to ask, evens we go to loot. Rolled a 2; we go to loot.)

You are staring down into a steep-sided gorge. Hundreds of meters below you, in the cleft between the thickly-wooded cliffs, you make out the silver ribbon of a fast-flowing stream. You look up: the cliffs rise above you and on the far side of the gorge, the sky a thin strip of blue between the craggy cliff-tops. You are on a narrow path that meanders precariously along the midpoint of one of the sides of the gorge .You have no choice but to walk—carefully—along it.

You walk for hours. You meet no one, and see no sign of habitation. Dusk is falling, and the bottom of the gorge is already hidden in inky darkness, when you round a bend and see that your way is blocked by a grim fortress. The path ends at a doorway beneath a turreted gatehouse. Approaching cautiously, you see that the castle is derelict and apparently deserted. There are gaps in the battlements, and fallen blocks of stone lie scattered across the path. Then, suddenly, flickering lights spring into life behind the arrow-slits. A moving shape—the silhouette of a child—appears on the battlements and the silence is broken by an eerie scream. Do you want to follow the path through the forbidding castle doorway? If not, you must use the Aleph to take you away.