[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 38 - Vault of the Vampire

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 1:53 pm

Kicking down the door seems as good a plan as any.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 2:17 pm

Mighty Blade doesn't let some pansy barrier get in the way of his penetration.

The gates are made of solid, inch-thick iron bars; you cannot open them. Roll one die and add 2: if the total is less than or equal to your FAITH, turn to 192; if it is greater than your FAITH tum to 243.

....maybe I spoke too soon.

We roll a 6 and get 8 (>7).

You abandon your attempt to get into the Crypt. You see a flare of light from under the brass doors to the north; you could either:

Investigate these doors
Or run to the south door and open that, if you haven't already done so.

(In this case, scoring higher than our faith was a good thing; rolling less means that our "good aura" attracts the attention of a murderous Shadow who can't be hurt without a magic weapon, which we do not have.)

Where to go now?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 2:28 pm

The south door isn't an instakill, so check it out.

Silent Wayfarer · Post by **Silent Wayfarer** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 2:29 pm

Investigate the north doors.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 4:44 pm

The "if you have not already done so" makes me think that the south door isn't a viable route either. It looks like the railroad leads right up to the brass doors. Choo choo, all aboard.

Mr Shine · Post by **Mr Shine** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 4:55 pm

"If you have not already done so" suggests some benefit as why would the rider be needed for an unambiguously bad path? Although it could be included to jerk our chain I'd go with the South.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:18 pm

It makes me think it's a dead end.

Mr Shine · Post by **Mr Shine** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:56 pm

But probably a dead end with a benefit.

MisterDee · Post by **MisterDee** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 7:10 pm

And we're all about the (friends with) benefits here.

Go south.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 2:47 am

We go south for the possible benefits.

You open the door. It is very dark within, and you need your lantern to see by. Peering in, you can make out sacks of grain and some scurrying rats. There is a door in the west door of the room.

Will you:

Move to the west door in the storeroom?
Leave and approach the Crypt, if you haven't done so before?
Leave and approach the north doors in the courtyard?

I think I'll skip the votes this time, since this is a meaningless "are you sure" option and it seems clear to everyone that the north doors are the only ones that advances the plot and prevents backtracking. We haven't even started looking yet, so might as go on.

You are just getting close to the door when the rats start to squeak, then they rush forward to attack you! There are too many for you to fight.

You can

Either open the west door and go through?
Or retreat back into the courtyard?

YES! YES! WE ARE SURE! Scaring a hero off with rats? Seriously?

You fling open the door, then slam it shut behind you to keep the squeaking horde at bay. You find yourself in a dusty chamber with a wooden spiral staircase leading upwards; it is dark and cobwebbed, so you need your lantern to see by. As you head towards the filth-encrusted wooden steps, two manlike figures loom out of the shadows. The stench of death is strong about them, and their half-rotting hands clutch rusted swords! Roll one die and add 2. If the total rolled is less than or equal to your FAITH, turn to 212. If the total is greater than your FAITH, turn to 265.

We roll a 3 and gets 5 (<7).

These Zombies - as you can see these pathetic things must be - hesitate and allow you time to dash up the stairs without having to fight.

Now this is an example of how high Faith score can benefit Blade in this adventure, allowing him to potentially to skip a lot of meaningless fights that he doesn't need. Most of the time there's an option for him to attack and get an advantage/free blow anyway if he wants, but not this one.

The stairs end at a landing, where you come to a door of black wood embellished with runes inlaid in silver. As you try to open it, the handle turns into a claw and grasps your wrist. 'Leave this place,' the door intones sonorously, 'you're not allowed in here. 'The claw releases your hand. A talking door!

Try to get past it?
Give up and go back to the courtyard?

.....yet another "do you want to turn back" option. That's the 3rd one we've seen since taking the south door. Is a talking door enough to turn us back? And if not, do you guys want me to proceed if we run into more choices like this until we actually find something (or are given different kinds of options other than "are you sure")?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 4:42 am

The "are you sure" prompt typically means that it's the best course of action, unless it's Ian Livingstone writing. So go on ahead.

Silent Wayfarer · Post by **Silent Wayfarer** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 5:59 am

Blade abides by no cockblocking doors. The maiden will be his!

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 6:34 am

The constant "are you sures" make me think that this was written with the belief that it would be scary, and that our nerve would eventually fail us if enough creepy things were committed to text.

As it stands, I think we need to proceed. Let's move forwards and see whether this is a dead end with pie or a dead end with punishment.

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 11:58 am

Proceed fearlessly!

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 12:01 pm

The intent might have been to scare us, but personally I've always found the idea of talking furniture to be on the comedic side. Probably because it happens too much in cartoons.

You hammer on the door with the hilt of your sword, to avoid damaging its blade. The door retaliates by jabbing you firmly in the midriff with the metal doorknob! Eventually you break the door down, but you have to take some damage in the process. Roll one die; the number rolled is the number of STAMINA points you lose before you manage to smash the door down. Beyond, the stairs continue upwards and you see the dim outline of a bell tower, You can also hear a high-pitched squeaking and fluttering. You can either:

Press on upwards
Or go back down to the courtyard

We roll a 5. Ow.

And I don't think we'd want to turn back now after taking all those jabs to the ribs by a freakin' doorknob for nothing.

As you enter the bell tower, a flock of bats rises up and starts swarming in the at in front of your face. You must Test your Luck.

Ok, this could be bad, our Luck is our weakest stat......

Die roll: 4+1 = 5

Lucky!

You swing your lantern around and drive the bats off. They fly squeaking out into the enveloping blackness of the night You see before you in the dirty bell tower some old bronze bells and one silver bell, which seems to glow with a very faint blue light. Roll one die and add 3. If the total is less than or equal to your FAITH, turn to 179. If the total is greater than your FAITH, turn to 233

We roll a 3+3 = 6 (<7)! That was close!

The silver bell radiates a sense of goodness to you. You look it over carefully, and inside the bell you find a name etched: SIEGFRIED HEYDRICH. Although it could raise an alarm, on impulse you ring the bell.

Siegfried. You may remember the name. According to our ranger friend Valderesse, he was the evil Count's good brother who ruled here before him....

The clapper strikes the silver bell soundlessly and a sudden shock runs through your body. You feel lightheaded and half swooning; a majestic figure stands radiant in the air before you. Clad in shining chainmail, bearing a shield of the purest white with a great red cross and holding a magnificent long-sword stands the shade of Siegfried Heydrich, former Count of the Castle in happier times. He stands just under seven feet tall, and his flowing blond locks frame his noble, smooth-complexioned and flawless face.

The apparition speaks. 'Cleanse this place of shame and horror, brave warrior My brother slew me by treachery, and I call on you to restore our good name and free the people from Reiner's thrall. In this place he has hidden my armour, my shield, and my great sword, Nightstar. I know not where they are; but I do know that a lesser magical blade, that of my faithful vassal Mikhail, is hidden below this tower; it is to be found in a secret chamber below a hidden trapdoor at the base. Go now, my friend, and destroy the dread evil of this Castle!' Then the ghost is gone.

The first bit of exposition dump since we started the adventure, now we know what McGuffins we're supposed to be looking for...

You make your way down the stairs with renewed vigour and faith; gain 1 FAITH point and 1 LUCK point. At the base of the bell tower you find the concealed trapdoor and retrieve the sword Siegfried described. Add the Magic Sword to your Possessions. This Magic Sword is not a powerful one. It does not add anything to your SKILL when you use it. However, creatures are lurking about which can be hurt only by magical weapons, so the sword is very valuable! Also, when you tell it to do so, it will shine brightly in the dark, so you will not need to use your lantern again. Now you return to the courtyard.

......and of course, new shiny loot is nice! And the Faith point is almost as welcome. We've also regained the Luck point we spent on the Luck test earlier.

Now back to the railroading.....

Back in the main courtyard, you can investigate the Crypt, if you haven't already done so, or head for the main north doors.

We've tried the Crypt earlier, so....

You push open the brass doors and walk into a well-lit entrance hall which is deserted. Floor mosaics and wall-hangings of plain black and red give the chamber a sombre appearance, and for a moment you think you heard a faint moaning sound . . . There are three exits from the hall. Will you leave through:

A door to the north?
A corridor to the east?
A door to the west?

Finally, some actual choice!

And last but not least, the votes have officially confirmed our hero's name:

Adventure Sheet:

Name: Blade Belmont von Alucard
SKILL 10/10
STAMINA 16/21
LUCK 8/8
Faith: 8
Equipment: Sword, Leather Armor, Shield, Lantern, Garlic, Magic Sword
Provisions: 12 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Afflictions:
Gold Pieces: 2

angelfromanotherpin · Sun Jul 06, 2014 12:04 pm

West.

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 12:46 pm

When in doubt, run leftgo west.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 12:51 pm

You open the door into a dusty, cobwebbed storage chamber that is full of lumber. If you search here, you could possibly be surprised by someone entering the main hall, so will you:

Search this storage room?
Leave here and open the north door?
Leave here and follow the east Passage?

Do we want to search and risk being "surprised by someone entering the hall"?

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 12:57 pm

I'm glad we ignored my pessimism earlier. That was a useful infodump.

Go west, young man!

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 1:10 pm

I think we should risk the surprise and search, since we've got a lot of stuff to find.

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 1:18 pm

We are nosy.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 2:02 pm

Search the timber room.

Silent Wayfarer · Post by **Silent Wayfarer** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 4:50 pm

Blade does not need to search the timber room, he has enough wood for a forest already.

However, just because he doesn't need to, doesn't mean he shouldn't loot it just in case.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 2:05 am

Blade never misses the opportunity to get some more wood. You can't get enough of that.

Roll two dice. If the total is less than or equal to your SKILL, turn to 156. If the total is greater than your SKILL, turn to 214.

We roll a 3 (2+1).

You make a lucky find in the middle of all the junk - a crystal vial with silver filigree banding worth 4 Gold Pieces (add this to your Treasure). You return to the entrance hall, and here you can open the north door or take the east passage.

More shiny! Now do we penetrate another barrier, or enter deep into the open passage?

Adventure Sheet:

Name: Blade Belmont von Alucard
SKILL 10/10
STAMINA 16/21
LUCK 8/8
Faith: 8
Equipment: Sword, Leather Armor, Shield, Lantern, Garlic, Magic Sword
Provisions: 12 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Afflictions:
Gold Pieces: 2
Treasure: Cyrstal Vial (worth 4 gp)

MisterDee · Post by **MisterDee** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 2:50 am

We have deflowered enough doors for the moment. Go balls-deep into the long, black tunnel.

The Gaming Den

[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 38 - Vault of the Vampire

Which of the below should be the official name of our hero?