Let's Play Secrets of Salamonis (#70) redux?

[Dogopolis]

Before you leave, you go through his pockets. You come across a letter apparently addressed to the man’s sweetheart in Salamonis. And there are a few silver pieces. The dead man’s sweetheart has no knowledge that the letter exists. Salamonis would involve a day's detour. will you deliver it? Or just keep the silver pieces?

’

[Beroli]

Keep the silver pieces.

[Dogopolis]

The circle breaks apart, revealing an archway that would appear to lead to the inner sanctum of the temple. Sensing that this is the way they want you to go, you walk through: the archway into a grand chamber adorned with banners bearing strange esoteric symbols. A throne stands atop a dais that appears to have been carved from some dark stone, along with a pair of burning braziers. Standing before the throne at the top of the dais isa tall, bald man off slender build, wearing a red robe like the other cultists but with his head and arms bare. Both are covered in tattoos a the same symbols that decorate the banners, and his eyes” seem to shine silver in the flickering flames of the brazier.

We have a new initiate to our order!’ the man declares. “Praise be!’

You have no doubt in your mind that this is Cardinal Zyn, and before the rest of the Sisters of the Brotherhood can file into the chamber behind you, you make your move.

----------------------------

You bound to the top of the dais, sword in hand, ready to take the zealot prisoner and march him out of the temple with your blade to his throat to stop any of his devotees trying to stop you. But Cardinal Zyn has other ideas. He pulls a dagger with a long, curved blade from within his robes and prepares to fight for his freedom.

CARDINAL ZYN SKILL 10 STAMINA I1

Code: Select all

Z 19 LMJ 17 LMJ at 10
Z 20 LMJ 19 LMJ at 8
Z 17 LMJ 18 Z at 9
Z 21 LMJ 19 LMJ at 6
Z 16 LMJ 20 Z at 7
Z 17 LMJ 16 LMJ at 4
Z 19 LMJ 18 LMJ at 2
Z 15 LMJ 18 Z at 5
Z 18 LMJ 20 Z at 3

if you reduce Zyn's STAMINA Score to 3 points or fewer,

----------------
Y

ou knock the dagger from his hand and the battle is over; However, before you can take him prisoner, Cardinal Zyn : grabs the wrist of the hand in which you hold your sword and pulls himself on to the blade. You watch in horror as the insane priest breathes his last. You suppose you have elivered him to a justice of sorts. However, as his last breath escapes his body, you are sure you see something like a black wisp of smoke slip from between his lips. If you have an Empty Bottle and want to try to capture his last breath within it…

--------------------

You quickly grab the bottle from your pack and the instant you open it, the curious wisp of smoke darts inside it and you replace the stopper again. You have trapped Cardinal Zyn’s dying breath inside the bottle! (Add the Last Breath to your Equipment List.)

---------------------

Their leader dead, the Sisters of the Brotherhood are in disarray. They are disruptors, who work to unbalance the status quo, believing that only through constant struggle can-authority be maintained. However, they don’t like it when their own world is rocked! Before any of them get any ideas about taking revenge on you directly, you use the braziers to set light to the banners and make your escape
in the midst of the ensuing chaos. However you don’t leave before helping yourself to the contents of the chest you spot under the Cardinal's throne. (Gain 2 Amonor points and add 30 Gold Pieces to the Money box on your Adventure Sheet.)

Move the Wheel of the Week on 1 day

it’s time you got some much-needed rest and recuperation.

Today is not Fireday

As you are a member of the Adventurers’ Guild, you the right to rent a room for the night there. Board lodging at the Guild will cost you 2 Gold Pieces, but you will be able to restore up to 4 STAMINA points. Alternatively, you can take a room at an inn, such as the Half-Darned Sock, for just 1 Gold Piece, but the food is not as filling or the beds as comfortabie, so a night spent there will restore up to 2 STAMINA points. Then again, you can sleep rough on the street free of charge, but will wake feel less than refreshed, at a cost of 1 stamina point.

Today is Seaday

You are woken before dawn by the most terrible screaming and for a minute you imagine portals to the Netherhells have opened and disgorged a demon plague into the world.

Although the horrific sound sets your limbs shaking, you nonetheless find yourself drawn towards it. Entering Titan Square, you begin to wonder if your initial supposition was correct, For you can see hideous creatures that are neither fish nor fowl, but some grotesque combination of both swarming around the square, attacking the City Guard. Shakily drawing your short sword, you run to join the guards in their battle against the horrors, but as the first light of dawn breaks over Salamonis, the strange swarm turns and flies away northwards, the creatures’ hideous. shrieking fading into the distance until all you can hear are the groans of the injured and dying, and the sobbing of terrified people. As the rest of the city starts to wake up, a delegation of concerned citizens — including merchants, market traders, minor nobility, guildsmen and guardsmen — makes its way to the Temple of Asrel, the Goddess of Love, and demands an audience with Archbishop Kalivan. You tag along, sensing adventure is at hand, and listen from the back of the great cathedral as a heated debate rages at the other end of the vaulted space.

--------------------------------

These attacks have gone on for too long,’ declares a merchant, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed grey beard wearing opulent silk robes. "The people of Coven have endured attacks by the Shriekers for months now.’ ‘Could it be the work of Zharradan Marr?’ asks a concerned noblewoman. ‘Or maybe the demi-sorcerer Balthus Dire?’ ‘l saw the Shivering Man just before the Shriekers attacked!’ pipes up a grizzled guardsman. “You saw the Shivering Man in Salamonis?’ asks a man wearing the wax-stained livery of the Candlemakers’ Guild. ‘I've heard it said that whenever the Shivering Man appears the Shriekers soon follow,’ mutters the merchant. ‘Then we must hunt down and kill the Shivering Man!’ a noblewoman declares, and the crowd joins in with chants of “Kill the Shivering Man! Kill the Shivering Man!’ ‘No!’ Archbishop Kalivan's voice suddenly cuts through the chanting of the crowd. ‘I too have heard tell of this Shivering Man, and rumour has it that he is cursed, It is not his fault that wherever he goes the Shriekers follow,

for that is all part of the curse. He seeks only to be cured, but whenever anyone gets close enough to help him, the Shriekers drive them away. We must show compassion, or we are no better than ores. That is what our Lady Asrel teaches. So rather than kill the Shivering Man, we must find a way to cure him.’‘lL believe | might know a way,’ comes a voice from among the silenced crowd. It is Healing Hans, who you first met on the boat to Salamonis. ‘But I will need help.’ "Bless you, my son,’ the Archbishop says. "Who else among you will aid this noble soul in his quest to cure the Shivering Man?’

Before you can volunteer, another voice comes from among the assembly. “I will!’ It is an ancient Dwarf with a long white beard. ‘And so will I!" you cry.

------------------------

And so it is that two hours after dawn, you are standing in Titan Square with Healing Hans and the grizzled Dwarf veteran, who introduces himself as Longbeard.
‘Not the Longbeard who wrote Legends of the Windward Plains?’ you exclaim. “The very same,’ replies the Dwarf proudly. ‘This is all well and good,’ interrupts Healing Hans. “But if we are to complete our quest, and reap the rewards that no doubt await us, we need to know where the Shivering Man is hiding.’

‘| thought you knew how to cure the Shivering Man,’ you say pointedly. "I think I do,’ replies Hans testily, "but i don't know how to find him. | thought one of you would be able to help with that.’ Longbeard shakes his head slowly, ‘I'm afraid | have no idea.” “Then what about you?” Hans says, addressing you. "Do you know where the Shivering Man could be?’ if you think you know the location where the Shivering
Man could be hiding, turn the name into numbers using the code Awl, B=2.... Z"26, and then turn to the section that is the same as the total.

We don’t know where he is

Do you have Spelling?

We do

You prepare both the Spelling Sheet and yourself, and then wait for the Oracle to guide your thoughts once more…

Your quarry dwells where gleaming, mirrored seams cut through the earth, and hands dig to uncover what the eye desires, but the shiny metal is not yours...
[_ _LV__/M__E]
If you know what the Oracle is trying to tell you, fill in the” missing letters and then use the Spelling Sheet to turn the” answer into numbers, add them together and then turn.
to the section with the same number as the total.

----------------

‘I think he could be hiding out in a silver mine, in the hills to the north of the city,” you say.
“Then that is where we will look for him,’ Hans replies.

---------------------------------

The three of you set off, but you do not reach the silver mine until after Glantanka the Sun Goddess has passed the zenith, Standing at the entrance to the mine, you consider your options. "We mustnot delay in finding the Shivering Man, Healing Hans says, eager to draw this quest to a conclusion.

“Mines can be treacherous places,’ Longbeard warns. ‘I think it would be better if we had some help. If only I still had my Dragon Horn. Any Dwarf who hears its call would know that another was in need of aid and would come to our assistance.’

Do you have a Dragon Carnyx?

We do

My Dragon Horn!’ Longbeard exclaims when you take it from your backpack. ‘But how did you come by it?’ You tell the Dwarf about how you found it for sale at the Bruise Brothers’ stall. ‘Oh, it was those ne'er-do-wells, was it? I expect it was one of them who stole it from me in the first place. Anyway, at least | have it back now, thanks to you.’ (Gain | AMONOUR point.) Not wasting another moment, Longbeard puts the horn to his lips and blows. A booming, resonant note sounds from the carnyx and echoes from the cliff face before you. ‘What happens now?’ Healing Hans asks the Dwarf. ‘Now we wait,’ Longbeard replies sagely. You do not have to wait very long. Gradually Dwarfs start to appear from the mine workings nearby, answering the call of the Dragon Horn, and emerge blinking into the daylight. Soon a group of six has gathered around the veteran adventurer and explorer. Longbeard tells them what they need to do, and the seven of them then enter King Salamon’s Mine with Longbeard leading the way. Several hours pass before the Dwarfs emerge again, this time dragging a net between them, in which they have trapped the Shivering Man. His hair is wild, his straggly beard unkempt, his eyes are ringed red as ifhe hasn't slept in days, and his body is shaking continually. But no sooner have they emerged from the mine than a dreadful shrieking can be heard echoing from the tunnel mouth behind them, and you feel your heart start to race and your limbs shake in fear. The Shriekers are on their way.

-------------

You use the Beeswax to plug your ears and immediately the feeling of panic that was threatening to overwhelm you begins to subside. (When you come to fight the Shriekers, you can ignore the penalty you will be told to apply to your Attack Strength

The Shriekers swarm out of the tunnel and attack, as you and the Dwarfs fight to drive them off while keeping Healing Hans and the Shivering Man safe from harm. Fight the Shrieker Swarm as if it was one creature However, whilst fighting the undead flying fish, you m
reduce your Attack Strength by 2 points, due to the terrible screams that constantly issue from their fanged mouth and put you off.

SHRIEKER SWARM skill 8 STAMINA 8

Code: Select all

SS 13 LMJ 17 ss at 8
ss 16 lmj 19 ss at 6
ss 13 lmj 21 ss at 4
ss 17 lmj  19 ss at 2
ss 15 lmj 18 ss dead

If you win

Deterred by your daring defence, the Swarm breaks off its attack and the Shriekers return to the darkness of the mine’s deepest tunnels and forgotten galleries. Healing Hans sets about enthusiastically filling glass phials with the creatures’ blood, which is a putrid green colour and gelatinous in consistency. When you ask him why he fs doing this, he replies, ‘Because it is a potent alchemical concoction and is needed to break the curse that has the Shivering Man in its thrall.’

Add the Shrieker Blood to your Adventure Sheet

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We do not have any time to lose,ns Hans says We must journey to the Forest of Spiders and seek out the Rainbow Ponds: ‘The Forest of Spiders?’ Longbeard says in a gruff voice. ‘But that's three days’ walk away.

Or one day’s ride,’ you say, as you catch sight of a group of mounted figures heading in your direction soon the riders are-close enough for you to make out who they are. You are both surprised and delighted to see that it is a band of mercenary Strongarms being led by a familiar face ~ Nanoc the Barbarian. But most surprising of all is that riding with them is Ruznik Ullsen. ‘What are you doing here?’ you ask Ruznik. ‘Let's just say we were sent by an interested party to help you complete your quest,’ he says mysteriously. “But we cannot delay here. Itis time to get going.’ Longbeard, Healing Hans and the Shivering Man all mount up behind one of the Strongarms, while you ride with Nanoc. Bidding farewell to the Dwarf miners and promising them a share of any reward money that might be coming your way, you set off for the Forest of Spiders at a gallop. You cross Trolltooth Pass and keep travelling north as the dark expanse of woodland comes into view at the edge of the Moonstone Hills.

‘Aren't the Rainbow Ponds under the protection of the Elves of Stittle Woad?’ you hear Longbeard ask.

They are indeed,’ replies Ruznik Ullsen Then how do you expect t them them to let‘TUS us get with within a league of them?’

Do not worry,’ Hans says. “l am known to the Elves of
Stittle Woad. As the grasslands of the pass give way to the densely twisting trees of the Forest of Spiders, the riders are forced to slow their pace in case their mounts trip on an exposed tree root and send them flying from the saddle. Dusk is settling over the land, and under the forest canopy itis as if night has already fallen. Tall Speartip trees rise around you | ind the deeper you go into the forest, the darker and more twisted the vegetation becomes. There is a sudden THWACK! and an arrow embeds itself in a tree trunk . not two yards 5 from where you and Nanoc are riding. The big Barbarian brings his horse; to an abrupt halt
as a voice comes from among the trees: Who dares enter the realm of Eren Durdinath?’ i do!’ vou declare boldly, and state your name. Ruznik, Longbeard, Hans and Nanoc give their names tn turn, as do the other Strongarms.

Why do you come here bearing arms?’ the voice then demands, "We only seek to cure the Shivering Man,’ you reply. ‘He is under a terrible curse, and we have heard that the Rainbow Ponds can perform miracles of healing. For a moment, the forest is silent again, and then several figures drop from the trees to the ground. They are all clearly Elves, but what sets them apart from others of their kind is their long, pure white hair. Their leader steps forward then and says, ‘Our Queen told us to expect adventurers seeking our aid. The gods have seen fit to show! her a vision of the future, but are you the ones she saw In her dream?’

Are you are wearing a Golden Oak Leaf,

If not. do you have an amonour score of 25 points or higher?

If your Amonour score is lower than 25 points, do you have the Charisma Special Skill?

we are wearing an oak leaf

‘T see you are acquainted with the Yorefolk,’ the Elf Says, ‘and they do not bestow the leaves of the Golden Oak upon just anyone.’

-----------

‘| sense that you are clearly an honourable soul and a mighty warrior to boot, so I bid you and your companions welcome to the realm of the Queen of Eren Durdinath, the leader of the white-haired Elves says, inviting you to follow as she and the other Elves set off through the Forest
of Spiders ahead of you. As you walk through the penumbral darkness beneath the Speartip trees, you tell the leader of the Elves, whose name is Gaya Inuriel, about the sequence of events that brought you here, and she in turn tells you about the Queen's prophecy.
‘It was sent to her by the gods. It showed a band of brave heroes in search of ald, a tortured soul cursed to a wretched, twilight existence, and a terrible threat that has. been allowed to grow unchecked,’ ‘So does your Queen know the identity of the Shivering Man?’ you ask. ‘No,’ Gaya replies, ‘only that he has an important role to play in the time of darkness to come. A storm is brewing over Trolitooth Pass and an alliance of the forces of Good is the only thing that can stop it.’

Suddenly the trees part and you enter an enchanted glade among the tangled trees, bathed in moonlight, the sun having set long ago. The scene before you takes your breath away. The glade is filled with a series of rock pools that are fed by a trickling stream. They are so beautiful ~ surrounded us they are by tall orange lilies, colourful peacock flowers, and silver, bell-shaped flowers that tinkle gentlyas they are stirred by the breeze — you could believe they were designed by the gods themselves! They are truly wondrous to behold. Not only that, but by the eerie light of the moon you can see that the water in each of the rock pools is a different colour. One is the colour of rubies, another is amber, and yet another is turquoise. “Cast your eyes upon the Rainbow Ponds,’ Gaya says. "The healing pool you seek is this one.’ She indicates a pool. Its rippling waters glimmer as if the rock pool is filled with quicksilver. “The silver pool can restore a person's health and reason, but it cannot break the power of a potent magical curse. A curse such as the one the Shivering Man is under requires powerful magic to break it.’ “Drat!* exclaims Hans. ‘1 know of such a potion, but the recipe requires a number of very specific and extremely rare ingredients.”

First, we require Medusa Grass.”
Do you have some Medusa Grass?

We do

The next item you need is incredibly difficult to get
of, says Hans. ‘It is called Alicorn and is a potent medicinal
ingredient made from powdered Unicorn horn. It’s t
much to hope you have such a thing, | suppose?"

We do

“We might as well give up now” Hans says irritably “It’s even less likely you’ll have this, we need the breath of the person who uttered the curse”

We have that as well.

"The final ingredient we will require is Shrieker blood.’ Do
you have such a thing?

Indeed we do

Yes!" Hans exclaims, taking the bottle of viscous green blood he collected after your battle with the winged fish horrors from his bag. Hans prepares the ingredients while the Shivering Man waits patiently, now accepting that you are all trying to help him. Having consumed the crushed Medusa Grass and powdered Alicorn, inhaled Cardinal Zyn’s last breath, and drunk the foul blood of the Shriekers, the Shivering Man is led into the healing pool by Hans and Gaya. It is then that a horribly familiar sound reaches your ears. Echoing from the forest comes the sound of screaming. The Shriekers are coming!

Do you have Beeswax?

------------------

Knowing what is coming, you quickly grab the Beeswax from your backpack, as you have done before, and use it to plug your ears. If you find yourself in battle with one of more Shriekers, you can ignore the penalty you will be told to apply to your Attack Strength

They come swimming through the trees, beating the air with their ragged wings, their fang-filled mouths emitting their hideous, madness-inducing screams and their eyes glowing in the darkness. You can see the terror in your companions’ eyes but tell them to steel themselves and draw their weapons, which they do, Nanoc and Longbeard engage the first of the Shriekers with their axes, as Ruznik readies a spell. Hans is focusing all his attention on helping the Shivering Man. It is then that you catch sight of something even worse approaching from the far side of the enchanted gtade. It looks just like the other Shriekers, apart from the fact that its tail is a great arching sting and it is ten times larger than any of its kin. Your persistent harassment of the Shriekers has roused the fury of the Shrieker Queen!
How do you want to meet the monster's challenge? With cold steel or using something you have collected during your adventure?

------------------------------

What do you have in your backpack that you think might
be effective against the Shrieker Queen?
A Holy Symbol?
A Length of Rope?
A Brass Ring?

Or would you prefer to just fight?

I slept at the Guild and ate 2 meals so we're back to full health.

[Beroli]

No especial reason to associate brass, rope, or holy power with these creatures that I know of. Use the holy symbol.

[Thaluikhain]

Half vote to use rope, maybe we lasso it.

[deaddmwalking]

I like holy symbol.

Edit - Incidentally I watched Inside Out 2 and they spoof kid's shows like Dora the Explorer and Mickey's Toon Adventure where there's an item that can let you pick something useful in the situation but one of the items is dynamite, which turns out is always a good solution. But since dynamite isn't an oprion...

[Dogopolis]

As you brandish the pair of scales before you, the Shrieker Queen hisses, as if in anger, and darts forward to attack. You are caught off guard, meaning the monster automatically gets in an unopposed strike. (Lose 3 STAMINA points.) Hastily drawing your sword, you prepare to defend yourself as the Queen tries to bite off your head.

SHRIEKER QUEEN SKILL 11 STAMINA 14

Code: Select all

sq 22, 2nd chance roll sq 19, lmj 19 draw
sq 17 lmj 18 sq at 12
sq 19, lmj 18 sq at 10
sq 16 lmj 15 2nd chance roll lmj 17 sq at 8
sq 18 lmj 17 lmj at 7
sq 20 lmj 15 lmj at 5
sq 17 lmj 16 lmj at 3
sq 18 lmj 21 sq at 6
sq 20 lmj 18 lmj at 1
sq 14 lmj 21 sq at 4
sq 18 lmj 19 luck used, 10 is unlucky sq at 3
sq 19 lmj 15 lmj dead.

Even using both our second chance rolls we come up short, although we were 1 luck roll away from victory. Using our last 3 points to give a STAMINA refresh.

Code: Select all

sq 16 lmj 18 sq 9 ins unlucky sq at 2
sq 18 lmj 19 sq dead.

At your killing blow, the Shrieker Queen drops out of the air and into the silver waters of the healing pool with a splash. The purifying waters are like acid to the undead flesh of the horror. The creature's body immediately begins to liquefy — flesh, bones and all — turning into a putrid mist that then dissipates in the air. At the same time, the monster gives voice to one final soul-shredding scream, which is echoed by the rest of the Swarm. As their Queen dies, so the rest of the Shriekers dissolve into black smoke that is carried away by the wind. As the screams of the Shrieker Queen and her spawn are silenced at last, you turn your attention to the healing pool and see the Shivering Man emerge from its silvery waters, shivering no more. He is almost unrecognizable. It is as if the years have fallen from him and you can see noble, almost regal features underneath his wet hair and sodden beard. “‘Th-Thank you,’ he says at last, his eyes — now bright and sparkling ~ alighting on each person in turn, from Gaya and the other Elves, to Nanoc and his fellow Strongarms, then Longbeard, Ruznik, Healing Hans, and finally you. ‘Thank you, all of you. You have brought me back from a living death!"

The curse has been broken and the Shivering Man has been restored to his former self. (Gain 4 Amonour points.) “But who are you?’ you ask, unable to contain yourself. ‘I am Prince Jared,’ the man says, bowing low before you, ‘second son of King Salamon LVI, and Commander of the Knights of Salamonis. I was cursed by Cardinal Zyn of the Sisters of the Brotherhood, but | believe he was working on the orders of another.’ You are reminded of the expression a king may wear robes of office but beneath he is naught but a mortal man. “Powerful rival forces covet the lands surrounding the Trolltooth Pass and our spies believe that war is now all but inevitable, After all, the fires of war are tindered only by man’s pride. When those two opposing powers come into conflict, Salamonis will be caught in the middle. Clearly, someone wanted the commander of the King’s forces out of the way, so that their empire-building might go unchallenged. But rather than resort to murdering a member of the royal family, which would ultimately have led to Salamonis strengthening its defences, they sought to sow confusion. At the same time, they used their Shrieker Swarm in a campaign of terror across the land. But thanks to you, their plan failed!’

Having thanked the Elves of Stittle Woad for their help, you and your companions return to Salamonis, Prince Jared leading the way. During the ride back to the city you have much to think about, but curiously, the further you get from the Forest of Spiders, the more your memory of that place fades until you cannot even remember the path you followed to reach the Rainbow Ponds.

----------------------------------

You arrive at the Royal Palace as dawn is breaking over Salamonis, Your party receives the warmest of welcomes and there is much rejoicing when King Salamon and his family hear of the return of Prince Jared, who had been lost to them for over a year. That evening, a great feast is held at the palace in celebration of Prince Jared’s return. When he greets you at the banquet, he in a changed man; his beard is gone, his hair is clean and tidy, and he is wearing his royal raiment. At the height of the feast, King Salamon calls for silence. “My lords, ladies, and gentlemen,’ he says us a hush falls over the Great Hall. “You may not realize it, but we owe a debt greater than can ever be repaid to these brave heroes.’At this he indicates the table at which you and your friends are sitting with a broad sweep of his arm. ‘But we can do
our best.” The King then calls up each member of your party in turn, awarding them the Star of Salamonis and a coffer full of gold. Last to be called to the dais is you. ‘If it was not for you,’ he says, ‘my son would not have been returned to me and Salamonis would have been left at the mercy of the demi-sorcerers whose rivalry even now threatens Trolitooth Pass with war. You have shown your Amonour to be beyond measure and for that you should be rightly proud. Should you wish to join their ranks, there will alwaysbe a place for you among the Knights of Salamonis,But | also bestow upon you another title, one that is unique toa hero of your standing.’ At that, Prince Jared himself steps forward, bearing a fine sword, polished so that it shines silver, and a great shield engraved with the letters ‘FF’, ‘1 declare you Fourga’s Favoured,’ the King says, handing you the shield. Then he passes you the sword, “From now on you shall be known as the Pride of Salamonis, the Bearer of the Uber-Biade, the Defender of the City!
A great cheer rises from the assembled guests and, beaming at your friends‘ delighted faces, you soak up their dulation, You have uncovered the secrets of Salamonis and saved the city as a result.

You slowly become aware of another presence at your side. You look down to see a tiny man — with a shock of orange hair and long pointed ears, and dressed in bright green clothes — standing there, staring back up at you. ‘So, everything turned out all right in the end, didn't it?’ the Leprechaun says, a smile curling his lips and a twinkle in his eye.

[Dogopolis]

That's it. It seems to be pretty well balanced, it's good that every character starts with the same stats and then can build it up. The clear weakness to the book's gameplay in my opinion is the way the Bruise Brothers and the Carnyx are set up. Nobody playing it for the first time is likely to forego going to the bazaar, (only straight after sleeping, going during a mission doesn't prompt the Pinchpenny and BB encounter) because there's no reason to and they are very unlikely to buy the Carnyx, and certainly won't be able to buy the shield, the sword and all the other good stuff.

If I'd thought about it better, I'd have changed it around a bit. I would have done Pinchpenny as normal, made the Firetop mountain dream on Earthday and made the Bruise Brothers a special encounter on Windsday.

Spelling was great for you, saved your life twice, avoided a Test Your luck or fail with the unicorn and made the Zyn quest a lot easier, the choice at the beginning where you asked Ruznik about learning was very critical.

Any comments or questions?

[Beroli]

Thanks for running this!

Would any of the items have helped against the Shrieker Queen?

[Dogopolis]

Thanks for running this!

Would any of the items have helped against the Shrieker Queen?

No really. Just attacking her gives a skill test that if fails loses 6 stamina then on to the fight. Using the rope gives a skill test that just enables you to avoid the other skill test so you need to fail a skill roll twice to lose the stamina but it doesn't help the fight at all. Brass ring is the trap option, fiddling with the ring autofails the skill test for 6 damage.

[Beroli]

Am I understanding correctly that if you try to solve the mystery of the Shrieking Sky the endgame automatically starts, and if you haven't done the Black Unicorn and Cardinal Zyn quests before then you just die?

[Dogopolis]

No, the endgame starts on Seaday morning. Every quest moves the week on 1, 8 or 15 days (i.e modulo 1). After the 5th quest, (or after 4 quests and a night in prison if you don't pay Pinchpenny first time) the endgame starts. You can do both the "solve the mystery" and "pest control" as 1 quest if you do "solve mystery" first.

[deaddmwalking]

I think the best way is to get a lot of money before returning to the bazaar, and it's unfortunate that the quests don't give you a suggestion of a good order.

Thanks for running this!

[Thaluikhain]

Thanks for running this.