[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 23 - Masks of Mayhem!

Queen of Swords · Post by **Queen of Swords** » Tue Jan 19, 2021 4:56 pm

There's probably some reason we're given two chances to cross the ploughed field - either it's dangerous (seems unlikely) or we might find something there. So, another vote for the ploughed field.

pragma · Post by **pragma** » Tue Jan 19, 2021 7:20 pm

Ploughed Field.

Like Queen, I think we should take the hint.

JourneymanN00b · Post by **JourneymanN00b** » Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:12 pm

My vote is to cross the ploughed field, as that could be another source of clues.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:29 am

When you reach the far side of the field, you stop to remove the mid which has stuck to your boots and is weighing them down. When you look up from your task, you find the farmer glowering at you. By his side are two snarling Kalagarian Ridgebacks - half dog, half wolf, highly intelligent killers. No doubt you could take all three of them on, but you don't want to offend Hever by harming any of his people, so when the farmer rages at you for tramping over his newly seeded field, you offer to pay for any damage you may have caused. Will you offer:

2 Gold Pieces?
Cholumbara?
A copper nugget?

If you have none of these, turn to 266.

The PC being automatically inclined to go for a non-violent resolution, with zero op0tions to draw his sword and attack anyone and everyone in his path, is relatively rare for the FF series, especially at this still relatively-early point.

What bribe/gift do we offer?

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:20 am

What's a cholumbara and how likely are we to regret not having it later?

Queen of Swords · Post by **Queen of Swords** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:05 pm

Omegonthesane wrote:What's a cholumbara and how likely are we to regret not having it later?

We found a statuette in the mine. "On the base of the statuette are runes which give the goddess's name as Cholumbara, a minor agricultural deity of Khul."

I'd say we hand this over.

pragma · Post by **pragma** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:50 pm

Yeah, I think give him the Cholumbra statue. The copper nugget feels a bit cheap/offensive.

JourneymanN00b · Post by **JourneymanN00b** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 4:50 am

My vote is to offer the Cholumbara statue, as I don’t think the nugget is valuable enough here.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 9:32 am

The farmer is overjoyed at your gift. "This will more than compensate," he says. "Cholumbara's presence will increase my crops for sure." You are pleased to have got out of an ugly situation so easily (and also to have shed the weight of the statuette). Add 1 LUCK point. You make your way to the castle gates.

And our LUCK is back to full at last!

It is evening when you reach the gates. Two Dwarf guards ask your business, then show you inside to a sparsely furnished waiting-room. One of them returns before long. "My Lord Hever is dining," he says, "and asks whether you will join him." Will you accept and go straight away, or ask to be shown to your room first?

Do we want to meet our host now? Or go touch-up our make-up in our room before that?

Adventure Sheet:

Name: King Arthur Anric
SKILL 12/12
STAMINA 13/15
LUCK 9/9
Equipment: Sword, Leather Armor, Backpack, Potion of Fortune (+1 to Initial LUCK, restores LUCK to new Initial value), Helmet, sorrels, Iron Sceptre ("There should be just one ruler"), Copper Nugget, Pick-axe head, Snatta-cat's Tusk (11 dragons engraved), Apple Pips (x8), Water Flask
Provisions: 7
Notes: 1) When allowed to call on Galrin's help, turn to section 100.
Number of failures:
1) Randomly shot in the back by a random Blackheart in some random mine shaft.
2) Fell down a chasm of unknown depths in the same random mine shaft

JourneymanN00b · Post by **JourneymanN00b** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 10:02 am

My vote is to accept and go straight away, as I do not believe that it is a good idea to keep nobility waiting.

Thaluikhain · Post by **Thaluikhain** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 10:04 am

Yeah go meet.

Queen of Swords · Post by **Queen of Swords** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 2:50 pm

I don't see anything to be gained by going to our room first, so let's go meet him.

pragma · Post by **pragma** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 6:22 pm

I'm fine with go meet.

Maybe we have mud on our shoes or something that we could clean in our room.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:11 pm

You enter the feast-room. Seated at the tables is a strange assortment of creatures. Humans rub shoulders with Elves; Bird Men are talking with Dwarf warriors; there is even a friendly Giant, tucking into half a roasted ox. But over them all, lord of his own domain, sits Hever, to whom anger and merriment are equally pleasing. You are led to the high table, where the place of honour at Hever's right hand has been kept free for you. "You are welcome, cousin," booms Hever. "For so I think I may address you. Be seated, and forget your tiresome journey for the hours that you pass here. Why don't I have your things taken up to your room?" If you accept, you retain your sword, but your other belongings are taken away by the guard who ushered you into the great hall. If you decline, turn to 389.

Do we want to hang on to our stuff through the feast?

Queen of Swords · Post by **Queen of Swords** » Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:07 pm

SGamerz wrote:If you accept, you retain your sword, but your other belongings are taken away by the guard who ushered you into the great hall.

That's weird. In a supposedly friendly place, why would you keep a weapon but give up everything else?

So if we have the option to keep all our stuff, let's take it. I hope we also get the option to eat some bread and salt so we invoke guest-right, just in case.

pragma · Post by **pragma** » Fri Jan 22, 2021 5:05 pm

Keep stuff, I guess.

This feels like a lose-lose, I'm worried both about theft and about offending Hever.

JourneymanN00b · Post by **JourneymanN00b** » Fri Jan 22, 2021 7:46 pm

My vote is to decline, as I want King Arthur to keep his gear in case this situation is a trap.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Fri Jan 22, 2021 8:41 pm

"I appreciate your kind offer but please, do not burden yourself on my account"

Besides, we've got one backpack presumably full of this shit, we're travelling light and don't need a hand.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 1:37 am

"No matter, no matter," laughs Hever, "if that's how you want to sit at the table." You talk about your respective cultures during the feast, although at the back of your mind is the matter of Hever's horn and how to ask him about it. When the meal is over (restore 4 STAMINA points), Hever invites you to join him in his Privy Chamber to listen to the castle bard. The wine you drank at the feast is already making your limbs feel like lead. Refreshing sleep seems not just desirable, but necessary. Will you politely refuse Hever's invitation and ask to be shown to your room, or will you go with him?

Our stats are all back to max value.

Do we like some music before our bedtime?

Queen of Swords · Post by **Queen of Swords** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 5:19 am

I'd rather we didn't say, "No, I don't want to join you. Can I have that horn now?"

So, go with him and listen to music. If we fall asleep in the middle of that, blame it on the bard.

Thaluikhain · Post by **Thaluikhain** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:50 am

Be polite, go with.

JourneymanN00b · Post by **JourneymanN00b** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 10:01 am

My vote is to go with him. King Arthur does need to follow etiquette in this case.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 3:18 pm

One paranoid breach of etiquette is enough for today. Go with him.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sun Jan 24, 2021 1:20 pm

You and Hever continue the small talk of the table for a while, until you are joined by the bard. He is a young man, branded on the forehead with the traditional mark of his kind, so that wherever he may roam in civilized lands, he will be treated as a sacred guest.

As he tells a few traditional tales, you are struck by the fact that he is not very good! You glance curiously at Hever, and he whispers the reason to you: "This lad was the apprentice of my former bard, who was the best in the land. But he was abducted a few months ago, and has not been heard of since. Still, this lad in improving: he is learning to weave a song around any tale you want him to."

This, of course, is the traditional bardic skill. As his guest, Hever tells you, you can ask the bard to sing something. It would be impolite to turn down this invitation. Will you ask him to sing about the old story of Pyke and the Firefox, or to make up a song about your own visit to Fallow Dale?

What is our taste in music? Old classics, or original composition?

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Sun Jan 24, 2021 2:09 pm

Be self-aggrandising.