Let's Play Fighting Fantasy 41: Master of Chaos

SlyJohnny · Post by **SlyJohnny** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 2:45 am

You mutter a few embarrassed words about not slaying helpless creatures in cold blood, and the Dark Elf nods in agreement. Your surprise that an undoubtedly evil creatures could share your opinion is interrupted as he says, 'I myself am not without honour in such matters. We follow different paths, Man; I serve Evil, and you do not. But, by strange circumstance, I find myself in your debt. Although I may have to kill you in days to come, it will be by a fair fight. As for now, I owe you this -' and he takes from a leather pouch a small golden flask. This is a single Potion of Healing. When you drink it (which you can do at any time except during combats), you will regain 5 STAMINA points. The Dark Elf also points to an intricately decorated Bronze Bracelet left by one of the men. You may take both Potion and Bronze Bracelet add them to your Possessions. The Dark Elf heads for the door. 'One last piece of advice. We have an enemy in common: Vardrath the Necromancer. I shall be dealing with a couple of his thugs tonight. For your part, seek out the Gambling Hall. The Gnomes there are servants of his; they will probably invite you to help them in a little expedition if you show yourself to be friendly towards them. Go with them, and you will meet Vardrath. Kill him. That way, when we meet again, we shall not have that despicable carrion-raiser to deal with afterwards.' Then the Dark Elf is gone, silent and dark as the night itself. You can either head for the Gambling Hall or decide that it is time to call it a day and find somewhere to sleep.

Oh, that mysterious evil dark elf. So dreamy!

Adventure Sheet

Huge Nuge

SKILL 11/11
STAMINA 15/17
LUCK 11/12

Notoriety: 5/8

Skills: Blindsight, Acute Hearing, Tracking, Move Silently

Equipment: 2/12 Provisions
Boots with hidden coin compartments
18gp (including 2 hidden)
Silver Whistle
Backpack
Waterskin
Leather armour and shield
Lantern
Ring of Endurance
Boots of Stealth
Medicinal herbs, 2 bags
Preservative spices, 2 bags
2x Potion of Healing
Bronze Bracelet

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:42 am

See? Now we have a reason to go seek out that Grave-robber!

Gambling hall!

Dr_Noface · Post by **Dr_Noface** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:01 pm

gambuhling

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:12 pm

Huge Nuge has some gambling to do.

SlyJohnny · Post by **SlyJohnny** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 6:51 am

You stride into Stavian's Gambling Hall, past the beefy guards at the door who give you intimidating stares, and into the smoke-filled gambling den itself. Small groups of men, a sprinkling of Dwarfs, and a group of four Gnomes sit concentrating on their cards and dice, and there's even a solitary Half-Ogre sitting with a tack of gold at the knuckle-bones table (where they use real knuckle-bones to play the game). Will you sit down at a table and venture a few Gold Pieces at a game, head for the bar and order some food and drink, or, deciding it's time to find a place to sleep, leave here?

Adventure Sheet

Huge Nuge

SKILL 11/11
STAMINA 15/17
LUCK 11/12

Notoriety: 5/8

Skills: Blindsight, Acute Hearing, Tracking, Move Silently

Equipment: 2/12 Provisions
Boots with hidden coin compartments
18gp (including 2 hidden)
Silver Whistle
Backpack
Waterskin
Leather armour and shield
Lantern
Ring of Endurance
Boots of Stealth
Medicinal herbs, 2 bags
Preservative spices, 2 bags
2x Potion of Healing
Bronze Bracelet

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 6:55 am

The Dark Elf said to look for the Gnomes, and the Gnomes are gambling. Join their game.

MisterDee · Post by **MisterDee** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 6:58 am

Yeah, go meet the gnomes.

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:26 am

Thirded.

(On an unrelated note, our hero's name sounds funny in my mind with a french accent. 'Uge Nuge. Heh.

He also has a petit moustache.)

SlyJohnny · Post by **SlyJohnny** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:59 am

Monsieur 'Uge Nuge throws it all out on the table.

You will need to stake at least 3 Gold Pieces in order to gamble; if you don't have this much, you will have to call it a day and find somewhere to sleep - tum to 22. But if you have the money and you're willing to gamble, who will you gamble with? Will it be:

Men?
Dwarfs?
Gnomes?

I'm going to assume Nuge goes straight for the gnomes, as you guys specified.

You sit down with the Gnomes and begin to play dice; you are fortunate, winning 2 Gold Pieces. Then two of them leave for the bar, and the other two edge closer to you. 'Big strong warrior, aren't you?' one says softly.'We could use a man like you. Want a job for the evening? Not exactly legal, but it pays well. A word somewhere where the walls don't have ears,' and you get up with them, leave and walk as far as a quiet and deserted, darkened back-street. 'All you've got to do is keep look-out. Our master, he's interested in, like, research. Needs a few bones and stuff down at the cemetery. Five Gold Pieces in it for you. Coming?' Will you agree to help the Gnomes or refuse to do so?

Again, to hustle things along, I'll assume you're sticking to the plan at least for now.

'Fine,' one of the Gnomes leers, and they head off through the maze of back-streets, past wretches puffing at foul-smelling pipes, freaks with horrid mutations, and other lowlife sights and smells. Eventually you reach the cemetery; the Gnomes head for a big piece of sculpture looming over a large crypt, and one of them expertly picks the lock on the gates, opening the way down to the tomb. The other lets out a morbid chuckle, and they beckon you down the stairs. 'Come on, we're all in this together,' they gloat. You can decide to get out of this or enter the tomb with them.

Adventure Sheet

Huge Nuge

SKILL 11/11
STAMINA 15/17
LUCK 11/12

Notoriety: 5/8

Skills: Blindsight, Acute Hearing, Tracking, Move Silently

Equipment: 2/12 Provisions
Boots with hidden coin compartments
20gp (including 2 hidden)
Silver Whistle
Backpack
Waterskin
Leather armour and shield
Lantern
Ring of Endurance
Boots of Stealth
Medicinal herbs, 2 bags
Preservative spices, 2 bags
2x Potion of Healing
Bronze Bracelet

MisterDee · Post by **MisterDee** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 3:30 am

Sure, we keep going.

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:50 am

My Ackbar sense is tingling. Half a vote to leave.

Dr_Noface · Post by **Dr_Noface** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:18 am

keep going

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:26 am

We haven't seen the Necromancer yet, which was the whole point of coming here in the first place. Keep going.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 3:48 pm

Huge Nuge ain't afraid of no ghosts. Or gnomish traps. Keep going.

SlyJohnny · Post by **SlyJohnny** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 1:21 am

You descend the tomb stairs with the Gnomes. One of them lights a torch so you can see your way down the clean steps; there is little dust and no cobwebs, but the air is chill, and you feel apprehensive. You reach a mausoleum lined with family tombs, and one Gnome takes a small iron bar from a bag he is holding and hands it to you. 'Get the lid off that one,' he says, pointing to a very fresh-looking coffin. You prise the lid off and find a newly dead corpse inside staring at you! The Gnomes hiss at you to get the body out and carry it up. You can decide that you have had enough of this or do as they ask.

Do we gots this, or was do we defer to our favourite calamari admiral on this one?

Adventure Sheet

Huge Nuge

SKILL 11/11
STAMINA 15/17
LUCK 11/12

Notoriety: 5/8

Skills: Blindsight, Acute Hearing, Tracking, Move Silently

Equipment: 2/12 Provisions
Boots with hidden coin compartments
20gp (including 2 hidden)
Silver Whistle
Backpack
Waterskin
Leather armour and shield
Lantern
Ring of Endurance
Boots of Stealth
Medicinal herbs, 2 bags
Preservative spices, 2 bags
2x Potion of Healing
Bronze Bracelet

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 1:44 am

Like I said before, we came to find their master the Necromancer, and he's still not here. Keep doing as they ask until he shows up.

Then stab punch him in the face.

Dr_Noface · Post by **Dr_Noface** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 3:48 am

Eh, I vote we book it. The necrodude is probably hanging out outside waiting to jump us.

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:30 am

I'm sticking to my guns. If for no other reason than to just be able to say "I told you so" if things go south.

MisterDee · Post by **MisterDee** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 4:13 pm

I think we keep going - lots and lots of chances to turn back is generally code for "good loot if you stay the course"

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 5:25 pm

Continue on current path.

SlyJohnny · Post by **SlyJohnny** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:35 pm

So that's two votes for pussying out like a child because corpses are scary, and three votes for staying on course out of idiotic male bravado and foolishly stumbling into an obvious trap

You heave the body on to your shoulder and ascend the stairs, to find someone waiting outside!

Outside, in the thickening night mist, stands a pale figure dressed all in black. The smell of death is strong about him, and his pale flesh shines slightly, as if a fine coating of scales covered his skin. He stretches out a hand to you; it looks like a skeletal claw, covered in shiny parchment. Are you carrying a body? (We are.)

'Your reward,' the Necromancer says, dropping a clinking bag into your hand. This contains 5 Gold Pieces (add it to your Treasure). The Gnomes scuttle off with the body and the Necromancer slowly walks away. You can attack him or leave without attacking him.

Do we stick to the plan and go all Jet Li on this bony asshole, or are we just happy he paid us?

Adventure Sheet

Huge Nuge

SKILL 11/11
STAMINA 15/17
LUCK 11/12

Notoriety: 5/8

Skills: Blindsight, Acute Hearing, Tracking, Move Silently

Equipment: 2/12 Provisions
Boots with hidden coin compartments
25gp (including 2 hidden)
Silver Whistle
Backpack
Waterskin
Leather armour and shield
Lantern
Ring of Endurance
Boots of Stealth
Medicinal herbs, 2 bags
Preservative spices, 2 bags
2x Potion of Healing
Bronze Bracelet

Sirocco · Post by **Sirocco** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:07 pm

Can we attack him now?

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 11:07 pm

Huge Nuge may be an accessory to necrophilia but he is no traitor.

Unless we got specifically told we had to apply shiv to necromancer or something.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 12:38 am

Omegonthesane wrote:Unless we got specifically told we had to apply shiv to necromancer or something.

Our new Dark Elf frienemy advised us to kill him because he's our "common enemy", which was the main reason we came to find him.

There wasn't any detailed explanation why he's an enemy, but I think the implication is that all 3 of us wanted the Staff of Power, so we want to kill of one of the contenders early.

The Dark Elf might have been trying to manipulate us into killing someone for him, but I'm inclined to trust him, because the text implies that he's honourable in his own way. And I don't think there's much doubt here that the Necromancer is evil, he has all the signs (graverobbing, dressed in black, smell of death, skeletal hand, etc).

Also if we don't attack him, we'll probably get arrested for the graverobbing ourselves. If we get the main culprit, we can hand him (or his corpse) to the authorities and throw the blame on him!

Pimp-slap the half-dead guy.

Dr_Noface · Post by **Dr_Noface** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 1:46 am

Slay the necromonger!