[LP] DestinyQuest 2: The Heart of Fire

[Omegonthesane]

Agreed on both counts.

[Darth Rabbitt]

(It's an left hand sword that gives +1 brawn/magic and heal, so we weren't missing much at this point in the book.)

You leap over the rail of the ship, your attention focused solely on the cannon team. In alarm, you see that they are now turning the cannon to fire across the deck, heedless of whether they will hit friend or foe. Quickly, you charge towards them, dodging the pockets of battle that are already raging across the deck.
As you near, a larger goblin intercepts you, dressed from head to toe in rusted chain mail. He swings a club into your side, sending you reeling back against the mast pole. Behind the goblin, you see the gunner pushing an iron ball into the muzzle of the cannon while his spindly companion struggles to light the fuse using a tinder box.
You stumble to your feet, desperate to stop the cannon from firing—but once again, the armored goblin is blocking your way, patting its mighty club with an ugly grin. You will have to defeat this brutish foe to have any chance of striking against the cannon team. It is time to fight:

	Speed	Brawn	Armor	Health
First mate	2	2	2	20
Cannon team	-	0	1	15

Special abilities
Blast off: The cannon team will fire their cannon at the start of the sixth combat round. (See below.)
Cowardly: If the first mate is defeated first, then the cannon team will automatically jump ship, winning you the combat.

If you win a combat round against the first mate, you can choose to apply your damage to the first mate or the cannon team. If the cannon team are not defeated by the start of the sixth combat round, then they will fire the cannon, wiping out everyone on board the ship! This means you automatically lose the combat.

(Taking out the cannon team first, due to their literal "win combat in 6 rounds" ability).
Round 1: Patio 9+4, Goblins 3+2. Damage 2+4-1=5, Cannon team is at 10 *Bleed* They're at 9.
Round 2: Patio 8+4, Goblins 9+2. Damage 2+4-1=5, Cannon team is at 4 *headshot* Cannon team is dead.
Round 3: Patio 2+4 (charm'd, 7+4) Goblins . Damage 6+4-2=8, First mate is at 12. *Bleed* He's at 11.
Round 4: Patio 4+4, Goblins 2+2. Damage 1+4-2=3, First mate is at 9. *Bleed* He's at 8.
Round 5: Patio 9+4, Goblins 7+2. Damage 6+4-2=8, First mate is dead!

Congratulations! Your boarding party has managed to wrest control of the ship. The captain picks up the leader's pirate hat and turns it around thoughtfully. 'Nice bit of headwear.' He tosses it to Surl, who giggles with delight as he places it on his head.
You take a moment to search the bodies of the cannon team. You may choose up to two of the following rewards:

Goblin bones (backpack) These might prove valuable to the right person
Rusted chainmail (chest) +1 speed +1 armor
Sailor's sandals (feet) +1 speed ability: surefooted (1/combat, reroll all of your hero's attack speed dice)

Pick loots to proceed.

[Omegonthesane]

Sailor's Sandals are literally Pilgrim's Progress by another name, so take Rusted Chainmail and *checks price of goblin bones* Sailor's Sandals.

[angelfromanotherpin]

Agreed.

[Darth Rabbitt]

'Stop gawping and get searching this ship,' barks the captain, glaring at the remnants of his rag-tag band. 'I want some answers to this sorry mess!' He stabs a finger in the direction of the poop deck. 'What yer waiting for, a cannonball up yer rear? Move it!'
You must now decide which search party you will join.

Will you:
Search the captain's cabin?
Investigate the crew's quarters?
Explore the cargo hold?

Name: Mr. Patio
Speed: +4, Brawn: +4, Magic: +2, Armor: +3
Health: 30

Slot	Item	Speed	Brawn	Magic	Armor	Ability
Head	White Mane		+1	+1		Charm
Necklace	Blood Iron Knot				+1	Charm
Cloak	Saddle Blanket				+1
Main Hand	Rusted Knife	+1				Bleed
Left Hand	Falk's Firestarter	+1	+1			Headshot
Gloves
Chest	Rusted Chainmail	+1			+1
Feet	Sailor's Sandals	+1				Surefooted
Talisman	Wishing Well Coin					Charm
Ring 1	All Hallow's Ring		+1
Ring 2	Warded Wood		+1	+1

Backpack	Item
1	Pot of Healing
2	Pumpkin Squash (2 uses)
3	Holy Water (2 uses)
4	Angelica Wreath (ability: holy protector)
5

Safe House	Item
1	Cutthroat's Carver
2
3
4

Prophecy
bones
sure blade
calling
prevail
mixer
gatherer
meadowsweet, lemongrass, and white willow
raven
duty
Map of Carvel
Handy Herbalist's Spotter's Guide
Red quest at 277
Money Pouch: 141 Crowns

[angelfromanotherpin]

The captain probably has the best portable stuff.

[Omegonthesane]

Agreed, steal from the captain's cabin.

[Darth Rabbitt]

You follow Vas into the captain's cabin. Like the logger's camp, the place has been ransacked. Paintings have been slashed to ribbons, charts and maps have been torn apart—in one corner, a chair lies in broken pieces, its seat stuffing spilling out across the grimy floor—everywhere you look, the goblins have smashed and ruined whatever they could get their hands on.
'Goblins,' growls Vas. 'Crazier than the captain.' She kneels down and picks up the remains of a tattered chart. 'This could be interesting.'
You help her clear out a space on the table, so that the chart can be spread out. It appears to show the north and west coasts of Valeron, with various areas marked with red circles. Vas nods her head. 'Pirates. These are prime spots for ambushing traders, especially army ships moving between Skardland and Beeches Fort.'
You move around the table to get a better look. As you do so, a loose panel in the floor buckles slightly under your weight. Intrigued, you take a closer look—pushing down on the panel with the heel of your hand. The other end lifts slightly, revealing a dusty cavity.
'Well, aren't you the detective,' grins Vas. 'What's in there?'
You reach into the space and pull out a heavy sack. Inside you find a small pouch of money, a golden compass and a highly-polished pirate's cutlass.
'Halves on the money,' smiles Vas. 'And I'll let you have first pick of the treasures.
You are left with 10 gold crowns and may choose one of the following rewards:

Cutlass of the seven seas (left hand: sword) +1 speed ability: parry (1/combat, prevent damage after losing a round)
Betsy's second compass (necklace) ability: safe path (1/combat, +2 speed for one round)

With little else of interest in the room, you both head back to the deck.

Pick a loot to proceed.

Name: Mr. Patio
Speed: +4, Brawn: +4, Magic: +2, Armor: +3
Health: 30

Slot	Item	Speed	Brawn	Magic	Armor	Ability
Head	White Mane		+1	+1		Charm
Necklace	Blood Iron Knot				+1	Charm
Cloak	Saddle Blanket				+1
Main Hand	Rusted Knife	+1				Bleed
Left Hand	Falk's Firestarter	+1	+1			Headshot
Gloves
Chest	Rusted Chainmail	+1			+1
Feet	Sailor's Sandals	+1				Surefooted
Talisman	Wishing Well Coin					Charm
Ring 1	All Hallow's Ring		+1
Ring 2	Warded Wood		+1	+1

Backpack	Item
1	Pot of Healing
2	Pumpkin Squash (2 uses)
3	Holy Water (2 uses)
4	Angelica Wreath (ability: holy protector)
5

Safe House	Item
1	Cutthroat's Carver
2
3
4

Prophecy
bones
sure blade
calling
prevail
mixer
gatherer
meadowsweet, lemongrass, and white willow
raven
duty
Map of Carvel
Handy Herbalist's Spotter's Guide
Red quest at 277
Money Pouch: 151 Crowns

[angelfromanotherpin]

Hoo, if that's the best, I'd hate to see the worst. Let Vas have both, and move along.

[Omegonthesane]

Agreed, parry isn't superior to +4 damage possibly at all, certainly not by enough to justify the loss of pizazz.

[Darth Rabbitt]

The captain listens to everyone's reports with interest. It appears that the original crew were indeed pirates, smuggling and pillaging along the west coast. However, something must have happened to them out at sea as the entire crew have strangely disappeared, leaving their ship—the Celeste—to drift into this cave. The hold is flooded, but it looks to have contained a large number of explosives, some of which have been taken.
The captain looks around at the ragged corpses of the goblins. 'Somethin' must have really spooked them to want to hole up here as a last defense. Goblins hate water.' His gaze shifts to the far shore, where the banks are littered with the remains of the ant-men. 'I think I can guess why.'
Lowering the gangplank your party leaves the ship, crossing back to the rocks. As you follow the ledge around the cave, Surl spots the entrance to another tunnel. It winds deeper into the mountain, leading you through into another large cave.

You have barely entered the cave before you sense that something is wrong—a cold tingle races up your spine. The others seem less perturbed, briskly marching forward, eyes scanning their new surroundings. As with the previous areas, the cave is lit by phosphorescent fungi, growing in clusters around a series of stone pillars. These pillars form a dense forest, obscuring the other side of the cave.
'Are we looking for ants or gobboes?' growls Surl, his fingers clenching and unclenching around his broadsword.
'Both, you idiot,' snaps Vas, spinning her daggers in her hands. 'Shut up and keep watching.'
The party advances through the cave, taking a snaking path between the pillars of rock. You still can't shake your sense of dread—your sense that something very bad is about to—
There is a scream from behind you.
One of your party members grips their chest, looking down at a blossoming wound. You see green venom bubbling between their fingers. With a gargling cry, they drop to the ground dead. There is no sign of a weapon or even an attacker.
'What's happening?' growls the captain, turning on the spot. 'Spread out—talk to me. What you see?'
'I don't see nothing!' cries Surl, a hint of fear in his voice.
There is another squeal. You spin around to see someone else from your group toppling to the floor, venom pouring from a puncture wound. Then you catch it—from the corner of your eye. Some kind of green mist, moving fast. You hurry towards it, but in the poor light it is impossible to keep a track of.
'You see anything?' shouts Vas, backing up against a pillar. 'I thought I...there!'
You follow her gaze, to where the party's last surviving mage is standing. A green-skinned ant-man is looming behind them, its human arms mutated into sharp blades. With a single, precise movement, the ant drives one of its blades through the chest of its victim. You see a spray of venom, then the mage keels over, dead before they hit the ground.
In the blink of an eye, the ant-man has vanished.
'It's just picking us off,' whimpers Surl. 'It ain't fair!'
You sense something behind you, a subtle movement of the air. Your skin prickles...In a flash, you whirl around to find yourself face to face with the giant bug. It lunges forward, its venom-laced blades looking to run you through. It is time to fight:

	Speed	Brawn	Armor	Health
Assassin ant	3	2	2	35

Special Abilities
Venom: Once you take health damage from the assassin ant, you must lose 2 health at the end of every combat round.

Round 1: Patio 9+4, Ant 10+3. Tie.
Round 2: Patio 9+4, Ant 9+3. Damage 2+4-2=4, Ant is at 31. *Bleed* Ant is at 30.
Round 3: Patio 8+4, Ant 5+3. Damage 5+4-2=7, Ant is at 23. *Bleed* Ant is at 22.
Round 4: Patio 7+4, Ant 9+3. (Prophecy'd, no damage.) *Bleed* Ant is at 21.
Round 5: Patio 3+4 (surefooted'd, 9+4), Ant 9+3. Damage 5+4-2=7, Ant is at 16. *Bleed* Ant is at 15.
Round 6: Patio 7+4, Ant 2+3. Damage 2+4-2=4, Ant is at 11. *Bleed* It's at 10.
Round 7: Patio 10+4, Ant 6+3. Damage 2+4-2=4, Ant is at 6. *Bleed* It's at 5. *Headshot* Ant is dead!

You match your enemy's speed, expertly dodging the bug's attacks and responding with your own. For the onlookers, the battle must be a frenzied blur—but for you, it is a dance, your heightened awareness alerting you to each of the creature's attacks a moment before they happen.
At last you sever the ant's head, sending it spinning away in a spray of slimy ichor. The rest of the body shakes and convulses, then topples over, leaving its spindly legs to twitch feebly in the air. You may now take one of the following items:

Assassin's veil (head) +1 magic ability: vanish (1/combat, after losing a round, prevent combat damage)
Green blaze (chest) +1 speed +1 armor ability: haste (1/combat, roll +1d for attack speed)
Mighty claw (main hand: fist weapon) +1 speed +1 brawn ability: sideswipe (1/combat, deal 1d6 armor-ignoring damage to an opponent who damaged you)

'How'd you do that?' asks Surl, his eyes wide with amazement. 'I've not seen anyone move like that.'
You shrug your shoulders, unsure how to respond. Since your body was introduced to the Elysium in the inquisitors' dungeon, your powers appear to have taken on a new form; your gift of prophecy becoming something more immediate and instinctive.
'I don't care what tricks you got hiding up yer sleeves,' growls the captain. 'We work as a team. And this team is moving. Now!'
Out of the original party, only yourself, Surl, and Vas remain. Thankfully you reach the other side of the cave with no further encounters. In the facing wall, a jagged hole leads through into another rough-hewn tunnel.

(I do appreciate the playing up of the PC's badassery here. Blowing Scyther's brains out is an accomplishment worth noting, even if Colonel Captain Sanders is a buzzkill about it.)

The tunnel is littered with bones and rusted weapons. A quick examination reveals that they were once goblins. If you wish you may help yourself to any/all of the following items:

Goblin bones (backpack) These might prove valuable to the right person
Bug splatter (left hand: club) +1 speed +1 brawn
Pot of speed (backpack) Use anytime in combat to raise your speed by 2 for 1 combat round

After another hundred metres the passageway descends steeply, opening out into a wide chamber. Here the glowing fungi are joined by green-glowing crystals, sparkling from the rock face. The glow gives the cavern a sinister, eerie feel as you silently advance, eying the shadows for any sign of attack.
The skittering patter of feet is your first warning that your are not alone. Then a large rock smashes into the ground ahead of you, throwing up a thick cloud of dust.
'We're under attack!' shouts the captain. 'Form up! Form up!'
Surl and Vas rush to his side, the latter pulling a pair of pistols from her belt. The skittering sound gets louder and louder, echoing in the vast chamber.
Then you see them: a glittering swarm of black beetles moving swiftly across the ground, their abdomens glowing with a blood-red light.
'What are they?' cries Surl.
Another boulder explodes nearby, raining shards of sharp stone across the cave. The captain staggers, holding a hand to his side. 'Above us!' he growls. 'They got artillery!'
You look up to see one of the giant ant-men perched on a rock shelf. It is lifting up slabs of heavy granite and tossing them into the chamber.
'Someone get that thing!' snarls the captain, turning to face the oncoming swarm of beetles. 'Surl! Cover my back!'
Vas levels her pistols at the rock-flinging ant. 'I could do with some help here!' she calls.

Will you:
Climb onto the ledge and attack the ant?
Help the captain to fight the beetles?

Also pick loots from the ant and goblin corpses.

[Omegonthesane]

Green blaze is a strict upgrade to rusty chinmail at least.

Take goblin bones and pot of speed. (Inclination: take them in that order and shunt the bones to the safehouse)

[angelfromanotherpin]

Blaze, bones, speed pot; then climb.

[SGamerz]

Agree on loot choice and climb.

[Darth Rabbitt]

While Vas blasts away at the flying boulders, you quickly clamber up the rock face. You barely have time to pull yourself onto the ledge before the ant-man is upon you—a huge boulder raised upon its head. It is time to fight:

	Speed	Brawn	Armor	Health
Bombardier ant	3	2	2	40

Special Abilities
Bullet storm: If the ant wins a combat round, roll a die. On a roll of 4 or more, Vas has hit the boulder that the ant was holding, shattering it to pieces. This means it does not roll for damage and the combat round automatically ends. A roll of 3 or less and the ant rolls damage for normal.

In exchange for getting 5 more health than the previous one, this ant gives up venom and only has a 50% chance of damaging us.
Round 1: Patio 9+4, Ant 6+3. Damage 5+4-2=7, Ant is at 33. *Bleed* It's at 32.
Round 2: Patio 11+4, Ant 8+3. Damage 3+4-2=5, Ant is at 28. *Bleed* It's at 27.
Round 3: Patio 8+4, Ant 5+3. Damage 1+4-2=3, Ant is at 24. *Bleed* It's at 23.
Round 4: Patio 7+4, Ant 8+3. Tie. *Bleed* Ant is at 22.
Round 5: Patio 5+4 (surefooted'd, 11+4), Ant 5+3. Damage 2+4-2=4, Ant is at 18. *Bleed* It's at 17.
Round 6: Patio 3+4 (charm'd, 11+4), Ant 6+3. Damage 3+4-2=5, Ant is at 12. *Bleed* It's at 11.
Round 7: Patio 10+4, Ant 5+3. Damage 6+4-2=8, Ant is at 3 *Headshot* It's dead.

Ant didn't even get the chance to check its 50% miss chance.

The bugs have been defeated, but you are the only one from your party left standing. Sheathing your weapons, you hurry to the captain's side. His breathing is labored, teeth clenched tight against the pain from his wound. The bodies of Surl and Vas are sprawled nearby.
'Go on,' gasps the captain, gripping your arm. 'To stop the flood...you must go straight to the source. Find out...what is causing this.' He gives a shudder, his eyelids flickering. 'Avenge us...' Then his eyes darken and his hand goes slack, dropping to his side. Gently you lower him back to the ground, before rising to your feet.

Across the other side of the cave is a deep fissure, cutting through the rock. As you approach, you see that it is edged with a thick black soot. You wonder if the goblins had created this, using the explosives. Perhaps they had intended to dig deeper into the mountain, looking for treasures. Instead they released a plague of bugs.
Ducking your head, you pass through the fissure into another vast cavern. The walls and floor are slick with a gooey slime. At the far side, glittering in the green glow from the rock crystals, is a gigantic ant. Unlike the others, this one is female. Black scales cover her segmented body, rising along her spine to form a black crown on her head.
'The queen...' you gasp.
From the back of the creature's black carapace a silken tube spits out a steady stream of eggs, which gather in an ever-increasing pile against the cave wall.
Hundreds of eggs.
You realize that this must be the source of the bug threat. However, as you gaze upon the queen's thick armor and monstrous, blade-like arms, you wonder if you have the power to defeat such a foe.

You march forward into the cave, determined to end this thread once and for all. The queen has clearly sensed you, lowering her head as if to charge.
'Tzzk chkk, my brood!' she snarls. 'Tzzk chkk, do not defile the eggs!'
With a deafening screech, the queen surges forward, breaking free of her silken egg sac. The ground trembles as she approaches, her spiked crown and bladed arms looking to spit you through. You must fight:

	Speed	Brawn	Armor	Health
Queen Bellona	3	2	3	40

Special Abilities
Pin cushion: Every time you cause health damage to Bellona, you must take 1 damage in return, ignoring armor.
Look out for larvae!: Roll a die at the start of each combat round. If you roll 3 or less then one of the eggs has hatched, producing a larva. These maggot-like creatures may be small, but they are still deadly—and cause you 1 damage (ignoring armor) at the end of every combat round. (You must take 1 damage from each larva that is in play.)
Bug blaster: If you have a borehole charge, you can use this item instead of rolling for a damage score. This will automatically inflict 10 damage to Bellona, ignoring armor. It will also lower Bellona's armor by 2 for the remainder of the battle. (Once the charge is used, you must remove it from your backpack.)

Now this is an ant worth fighting. Shame we don't have a borehole charge.
Round 1: Die roll: 3, larva spawned. Patio 5+4 (surefooted'd, 8+4), Bellona 7+3. Damage 1+4-3=2, Bellona's at 38, Patio's at 29. *DoTs* Bellona is at 37, Patio is at 28.
Round 2: Die roll: 6, no larva spawned. Patio 13+4 (haste'd), Bellona 4+3. Damage 6+4-3=7, Bellona is at 30, Patio is at 27. *DoTs* Bellona is at 29, Patio is at 26.
Round 3: Die roll: 1, larva spawned. Patio 8+4, Bellona 8+3. Damage 2+4-3=3, Bellona is at 26, Patio is at 25. *DoTs* Patio is at 23, Bellona is at 25.
Round 4: Die roll: 3, larva spawned. Patio 7+4, Bellona 5+3. Damage 6+4-3=7, Bellona is at 18, Patio is at 22. *DoTs* Bellona is at 17, Patio is at 19.
Round 5: Die roll: 5, no larva spawned. Patio 5+4, Bellona 12+3 (prophecy'd, no damage). *DoTs* Bellona is at 16, Patio is at 16.
Round 6: Die roll: 4, no larva spawned. Patio 11+4, Bellona 7+3. Damage 4+4-3=5, Bellona is at 11, Patio is at 15. *DoTs* Bellona is at 10, Patio is at 12.
Round 7: Die roll: 4, no larva spawned. Patio 9+4, Bellona 9+3. Damage 5+4-3=6, Bellona is at 4, Patio is at 11. *Headshot* Bellona is dead!

The queen ant has been defeated! Quickly, you set about destroying her eggs, putting an end to the bug infestation. You may now choose one of the following rewards:

Pins 'n' needles (ring) ability: thorns (at the end of every combat round, automatically deal 1 damage to each opponent, ignoring armor.)
Crown of spite (head) +1 armor ability: curse (1/combat, your opponent rolls 1 fewer die when calculating attack speed, for one round.)
Eye of the swarm (necklace) +1 magic +1 brawn ability: swarm (1/combat, instead of rolling damage, unleash a swarm of bugs to deal 1d6 armor-ignoring damage to an opponent. That opponent has -1 speed for the next round.)

With your mission complete, you leave the caves and return to Carvel. There, you deliver your report to the Church. It appears the goblins were simply fleeing their own caves, which had become overrun by ant-men. With the threat eradicated, the woodsmen should now be able to return to their logging camp. The Church awards you 20 gold crowns for your bravery.

I also assume we sell the goblin bones for another 10 gold (correct me if I'm wrong here). Pick a loot and a new destination!

Name: Mr. Patio
Speed: +4, Brawn: +4, Magic: +2, Armor: +3
Health: 30

Slot	Item	Speed	Brawn	Magic	Armor	Ability
Head	White Mane		+1	+1		Charm
Necklace	Blood Iron Knot				+1	Charm
Cloak	Saddle Blanket				+1
Main Hand	Rusted Knife	+1				Bleed
Left Hand	Falk's Firestarter	+1	+1			Headshot
Gloves
Chest	Green Blaze	+1			+1	Haste
Feet	Sailor's Sandals	+1				Surefooted
Talisman	Wishing Well Coin					Charm
Ring 1	All Hallow's Ring		+1
Ring 2	Warded Wood		+1	+1

Backpack	Item
1	Pot of Healing
2	Pumpkin Squash (2 uses)
3	Holy Water (2 uses)
4	Angelica Wreath (ability: holy protector)
5	Pot of Speed

Safe House	Item
1	Cutthroat's Carver
2
3
4

Prophecy
bones
sure blade
calling
prevail
mixer
gatherer
meadowsweet, lemongrass, and white willow
raven
duty
Map of Carvel
Handy Herbalist's Spotter's Guide
Red quest at 277
Money Pouch: 181 Crowns

[angelfromanotherpin]

Take the Pins'n'Needles, ditching All Hallow's Ring. Then hit 73 on the rocks.

[Omegonthesane]

Agreed - +1 damage hit or no that stays around if we respec to magic beats +1 damage on hits.

[SGamerz]

Agree with both.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Quest: Behind the mask

(Note: you must have completed the green quest Curse of Crow Rock before you can start this quest)

You hurry across the open moors, buffeted by wind and snow. How quickly the weather changes in this strange land. Only hours before you had been wandering through a tranquil forest, ringing with bird-song and the chatter of water over rocky stream beds. And then, as you trudged out into the wilder country, the skies had darkened and the snows had come. You considered turning back, but something—perhaps a willful stubbornness not to surrender—kept you blundering onwards into the face of the storm.
After what feels like an hour, shivering and shaking from the cold, you spy a ridge of rock, cutting a grey line through the white haze. The sight immediately raises your spirits, promising you shelter to wait out the storm.
As you near, you see that the ridge is dominated by a single rocky bluff, which thrusts up out of the mist like a giant fist. Firelight dances at the base of the rock, flickering within its many pits and hollows. It appears you are not the only one to have come here for shelter.
You cautiously put a hand to your weapon before approaching. A jagged cleft runs down one side of the bluff, forming a natural overhang. Here you see two horses tethered to a finger of rock, shifting nervously in the chill wind. The cleft goes deeper and rises, forming a a rocky shelf, where a small fire has been lit. A black-coated man with short grey hair is poking at the contents of a cooking pot. You catch a waft of stew and find your stomach knitting into a growl of hunger.
You step closer. The man looks up startled, his hand reaching towards his pack. There you see a scabbarded sword, its hilt gleaming with jewels. As the firelight shifts across his features you see that he is an elderly gentleman, with a neatly clipped mustache and beard. His appearance speaks of wealth and high class, a cravat and formal shirt visible between the collars of his coat. Mindful that both horses are still saddled, you quickly scan behind him, looking to see if he has company. It seems he is alone.

Will you:
Ask what he is doing here?
Ask if his companion is lost?
Demand that he hands over his sword and gold?

Name: Mr. Patio
Speed: +4, Brawn: +3, Magic: +2, Armor: +3
Health: 30

Slot	Item	Speed	Brawn	Magic	Armor	Ability
Head	White Mane		+1	+1		Charm
Necklace	Blood Iron Knot				+1	Charm
Cloak	Saddle Blanket				+1
Main Hand	Rusted Knife	+1				Bleed
Left Hand	Falk's Firestarter	+1	+1			Headshot
Gloves
Chest	Green Blaze	+1			+1	Haste
Feet	Sailor's Sandals	+1				Surefooted
Talisman	Wishing Well Coin					Charm
Ring 1	Pins 'N' Needles					Thorns
Ring 2	Warded Wood		+1	+1

Backpack	Item
1	Pot of Healing
2	Pumpkin Squash (2 uses)
3	Holy Water (2 uses)
4	Angelica Wreath (ability: holy protector)
5	Pot of Speed

Safe House	Item
1	Cutthroat's Carver
2	All Hallow's Ring
3
4

Prophecy
bones
sure blade
calling
prevail
mixer
gatherer
meadowsweet, lemongrass, and white willow
raven
duty
Map of Carvel
Handy Herbalist's Spotter's Guide
Red quest at 277
Money Pouch: 181 Crowns

[angelfromanotherpin]

Ask what do.

[SGamerz]

Ask what he's doing?

[Darth Rabbitt]

'Hopefully, about to fill my stomach with rabbit stew,' the old man replies. You flinch as he leans closer to his pack, his hand passing over the jeweled sword. But he doesn't take it. Instead, he simply lifts a pouch from a side pocket. 'Salt,' he grins, bouncing it in his hand.
Suddenly, you hear a bellowing roar coming from somewhere deep inside the rock. It is followed by a cry and a loud ground-trembling boom. The man hesitates for a second, glancing up at the rock behind him. Then he sets about adding salt to the stew as if nothing untoward has happened.
'What was that?' you ask worriedly.
'What was what?' asks the gentleman, stirring the stew. 'Would you like some tea? I brewed some earlier. Silver Grey, the finest.'
There is another monstrous roar, dislodging stone and dust from the rock walls. The man moves around the fire and settles down on a blanket. 'You can join me if you like,' he says, raising a cup of steaming tea to his lips. 'I plan on being here for a while.'

Will you:
Join him by the fire?
Ask about the disturbance?

[SGamerz]

I feel we should get all the info out of him first. Ask about disturbance.

[angelfromanotherpin]

Uh, what the fuck was that?

[Darth Rabbitt]

'Oh, it's nothing to worry about,' he says, with no hint of mockery. 'The situation is well in—'
A man's pained cry echoes back from the rock. There is another dull boom followed by an ear-piercing shriek. You can't tell if the latter was human or something else.
'What's going on?' you insist, craning your neck back to take in the dark, high walls of the bluff.
'Extreme sports,' replies the old man, holding his tea cup to his lips. A sudden tremor sends more dirt and dust pluming into the cleft. The man's tea cup shakes in his hands, spilling tea down his coat. 'Oh, how bothersome,' he grimaces, putting the cup aside to brush at the stain.
You frown, confused by the man's actions. He doesn't seem remotely bothered by what is happening. 'Perhaps we should investigate,' you urge, stepping out of the way of a falling rock. It is accompanied by an anguished roar and a series of hollow thuds—as if something large is beating against the ground. Each one sends a tremor through the rock walls, rattling the porcelain tea cups on their tray.
'Very well,' sighs the man, pushing himself to his feet. 'But I assure you, my master is an expert at what he does.'
There is another wailing scream.
'Extreme sports?' you ask, with a quizzical frown.
'Just a little spelunking,' he proffers with a shrug. 'Cave diving...he likes the adrenaline rush.'
Suddenly there is an almighty bang, as the side of the bluff explodes outwards, hurling rock and dust through the snow-drenched sky.

A dark body is flung out of the ruptured hole, soaring high overhead with a hollering cry. You glimpse a tattered cloak and black clothing then it is gone, turning and twisting through the thick clouds of snow. The old man is on his feet in seconds, snatching a brand from the fire and hurrying out of the shelter. You follow, picking your way past the fallen boulders that now pockmark the snow-covered ground.
A few meters from the bluff, a gnarled rowan tree grows from the side of a rocky hummock. A man is now dangling from its branches like a yuletide decoration, his long cloak snagged on the thorny limbs.
'My lord!' The old man raises his brand, its flames guttering in the wind. 'What happened, sir?'
There is a loud rip, then suddenly the black figure is dropping, tumbling and bumping his way through the lower branches to finally land in a heap in the snow. He grunts, rubbing his side.
'Extreme sports?' you enquire once again.
The man in black looks up. You see that he is wearing a mask over half of his face, the nose piece giving him the appearance of a bird. He smooths back his wet blond hair with a gloved hand.
'That could have gone better,' he grimaces. 'Jeeves, I do believe we have a problem.' He looks up at the old man, holding out an arm for assistance. He groans as he finds his feet, the tattered cloak parting to reveal the hilts of several knives.
'Indeed we do, sir.' Jeeves clucks his tongue, dusting the grey dirt and bark from the man's shoulders. 'This is the fifth costume in as many days. I'll have to go get more cloth-'
The masked man waves him away. 'We've got bigger problems than my wardrobe, Jeeves.'
At that moment, the howling wind is joined by a bone-chilling shriek. It is coming from the bluff behind you. Spinning around, you gasp in horror at the monstrous creation that is now perched on the rock. At first, you mistake it for some devilish bird—its immense wings rising like dark sails from its shoulders. But this is no bird. Its body is humanoid, with thick arms and bowed legs. The head forms a sleek crest, fronted by red glowing eyes and a wide maw filled with fanged teeth.
'It's bigger than I expected,' states Jeeves, still soundly oddly detached from the situation. 'Not your usual margoyle is it, sir?
The masked man gives an impatient sigh. 'No, Jeeves, not your usual margoyle.'
The beast takes to the air with another deafening screech, its giant form moving with a startling speed. Half-blinded by snow, you raise your weapons, ready to defend yourself. Then you see a cascade of glimmering steel flash past your shoulder. Knives. They strike harmlessly against the creature's stony skin as it sweeps in to attack. The man in black races forward to head it off, his hands moving in a blur as they send more knives flickering towards it. The beast bats them away with its wings, then swings one of its clawed fists in the warrior's direction. He tries to twist aside, but is struck by the full force of the blow and is sent tumbling backwards into the snow.
The beast turns to face you, its diamond-sharp fangs gnashing together. Up close, you can see the blood-red veins that crisscross its grey skin, pulsing with a demonic magic. Jeeves has already scurried away, to tend to his companion. You are now alone and must fight:

	Speed	Brawn	Armor	Health
Margoyle	3	3	3	50

Special Abilities
Stone blood: If the margoyle rolls a 4 or more for its damage score, its fangs latch onto you, sucking your blood. This causes damage as normal, but also raises the margoyle's armor by 1 (up to a maximum of 6) as the blood runs through its magical veins.

Round 1: Patio 9+4, Margoyle 10+3. Tie. *Thorns* It's at 49.
Round 2: Patio 9+4, Margoyle 8+3. Damage 5+3-3=5, Margoyle is at 44 *DoTs* It's at 42.
Round 3: Patio 6+4 (charm'd, 9+4), Margoyle 7+3. Damage 5+3-3=5, Margoyle is at 37. *DoTs* It's at 35.
Round 4: Patio 6+4 (surefooted'd, 7+4), Margoyle 7+3. Damage 6+3-3=6, Margoyle is at 29. *DoTs* It's at 27.
Round 5: Patio 6+4 (charm'd, 6+4), Margoyle 7+3. Tie. *DoTs* Margoyle is at 25.
Round 6: Patio 8+4, Margoyle 3+3. Damage 2+3-3=2, Margoyle is at 23. *DoTs* It's at 21.
Round 7: Patio 7+4, Margoyle 8+4. Tie. *DoTs* Margoyle is at 19.
Round 8: Patio 13+4 (haste'd), Margoyle 7+3. Damage 6+3-3=6, Margoyle is at 13. *DoTs* It's at 11.
Round 9: Patio 8+4, Margoyle 5+3. Damage 6+3-3=6, Margoyle is at 5. *Headshot* Margoyle is dead!

(It didn't even get the chance to touch us, let alone bite us. Patio is apparently a lot better at knifing margoyles than this man in black is.)

With the beast defeated you may now choose one of the following rewards:

Stone blood (talisman) +1 armor ability: heal (1/combat instantly restore 4 health)
Windbreaker (left hand: shield) +1 speed +1 armor
Dark vein bracers (gloves) +1 speed

Exhausted from the fight, you drop to your knees in the snow, your breath coming in fitful gasps. Behind you there is the crunch of booted feet. Someone kneels close beside you, putting a hand on your arm. You hear words being spoken but you cannot make them out...a white noise is roaring in your ears. Feeling dizzy, you sway backwards. The grip on your arm tightens. You see a face, eyes glinting behind the slanted holes of a black mask.
Then darkness takes you.

The forest is vast, stretching away in every direction as far as the eye can see. But not an ordinary forest. This place reeks of corruption, an all-pervading sense of doom that infects the very air, chilling your skin and gnawing at your soul. It is the trees. A warped and misshapen mass of thorny branches, twisted into unnatural shapes. There is some malign sentience to this forest, as if it is alive, a single creature with a single purpose...
You struggle through the wiry branches, aware that the thorns are ripping at your clothes, scratching at your skin. But you must keep moving. There is a darkness at your back and the light is ahead of you, promising freedom.
'Free me...' A voice in your head. A whisper.
At last you break out of the trees, stumbling into a clearing. The light is blinding, a radiant pillar of whiteness that rises up from the craggy earth into the star-lit heavens. Tired from your journey, you stagger and fall, dragging yourself across the ground into the light. Somehow you know this is the reason you are hear.
A voice, back in the forest, calls out. You can't make out the words but they sound like a warning. You ignore it, crawling onwards...ever onwards towards the light.
'Free me...' The voice in your head. Persistent. Commanding.
You manage to find your feet, stumbling into the light, hands held out blindly before your face. Then the light is gone. You feel powerful tendrils wrapping around your body. A snake-like face hovers before your own, its mouth widening to reveal yellowed fangs. You try and scream but there is no breath left in your body. The breaking, snapping sound is your bones, shattering like the dead wood of the forest.
In the distance, a lone voice calls.

You jerk wake to find yourself lying on a comfortable mattress, covered in thick blankets of fur. Bright sunlight filters through the shutters of a window, falling across the man who is watching you intently from the end of your bed. He is tall and handsome, his blond hair cascading across broad shoulders. The face, the smile, seem strangely familiar.
'Well, I see you have woken at last,' he smirks, rubbing absently at a bruise along his left cheek. Jeweled rings sparkle from his fingers. 'I was starting to wonder if Jeeves would have to sing to get you to rise. And trust me—that would be a last resort.'
'Who are you?' you ask hoarsely, pushing yourself up in the bed.
'I have a few names about town,' he grins. 'But Lazlo is my birth name. Will that suffice?'
Something of his manner pulls at a memory. Then realization dawns. 'You were the masked man!' you exclaim, eyes widening.
Lazlo spreads his arms and takes a formal bow. 'Indeed I am,' he smiles impishly.

Will you:
Ask him about the strange dream?
Enquire as to your whereabouts?
Ask about Carvel's 'masked crusader?'

Also pick a loot, although I'm pretty sure I know which one you're going to pick.