[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 42: Black Vein Prophecy

[Thaluikhain]

Look for Velkos, half vote to avoid tie.

[SGamerz]

Set off on our own. There's been no reason to believe she's helpful or trustworthy.

(Gurer pbhyq unir orra n ovg zber pyhr gb uryc gur cynlre onfr gurve pubvpr ba gb znxr vg yrff enaqbz. Gnxvat njnl gur Fueviryyrq Pynj qrcevirf gur cynlre bs gur cbffvovyvgl bs thrffvat gung gurl zvtug abg unir orra noyr gb svaq gur oebbpu va n qvssrerag fpranevb - gung jnf rknpgyl jung bppheerq gb zr ba zl svefg gvzr ernpuvat guvf frpgvba. Vg jnf n cerggl boivbhf pyhr tvira lbh jrer purpxrq sbe gur vgrz ohg gur frpgvba unq abguvat gb qb jvgu fnvq vgrz. Fher, vg qbrfa'g chg lbh vagb vafgn-snvy vs lbh znxr gur jebat pubvpr, ohg fgvy.)

[Darth Rabbitt]

Nonzero chance that by stopping to check the brooch we're now unable to catch up with her. So I think we should probably just cut our losses and set off on our own.

[Beroli]

Remember, you can check the brooch at any time you're not in combat, so yes, it's very unlikely that doing so delays you.

("tvira lbh jrer purpxrq sbe gur vgrz ohg gur frpgvba unq abguvat gb qb jvgu fnvq vgrz" vf rknpgyl jul V svaq gung purpx gb xvpx zr bhg bs gur aneengvir. V haqrefgnaq gung fvatyr-cynlre tnzrobbxf fbzrgvzrf arrq gur rdhvinyrag bs inevnoyrf nccrnevat va gur zvqqyr bs gur fperra, ohg V arire pbafvqre vg orggre guna n arprffnel rivy.)

[Darth Rabbitt]

Whoops, missed that sentence. In that case I'll suggest going after her. We have no particular reason to trust her but pursuing her is more interesting than wandering around aimlessly.

[Beroli]

Shouts and the clash of metal warn you of a fight ahead. You edge closer, to find Velkos locked in combat with three ragged-looking desperadoes.

Go to her aid?
Stay hidden until the fight is over?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 18/19
Luck: 7/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
Brooch with Izkhao
[/spoiler]

[Darth Rabbitt]

Go to her aid.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to go to her aid of course. No need to *deliberately* leave her for dead.

[Queen of Swords]

I still don't like her, so stay hidden until the fight is done.

[SGamerz]

("tvira lbh jrer purpxrq sbe gur vgrz ohg gur frpgvba unq abguvat gb qb jvgu fnvq vgrz" vf rknpgyl jul V svaq gung purpx gb xvpx zr bhg bs gur aneengvir. V haqrefgnaq gung fvatyr-cynlre tnzrobbxf fbzrgvzrf arrq gur rdhvinyrag bs inevnoyrf nccrnevat va gur zvqqyr bs gur fperra, ohg V arire pbafvqre vg orggre guna n arprffnel rivy.)

Fvapr gur purpx tvirf gur cynlre n yrtvgvzngr pyhr gung Iryxbf fubhyqa'g or gehfgrq naq pbagvahvat gb fgvpx jvgu ure vf zber gebhoyr guna vg'f jbegu, V guvax gur purpx freirf zber guna whfg gur checbfr bs abgngvat na rirag. Znlor vg pbhyq unir orra erjevggra gb svg gur aneengvir orggre?

****

Why are we so sure that she's the wronged party here? Maybe those 3 were hunting her down for some legitimate wrong she did them in the past. Considering her companion Thandile was probably in the process of trying to rob our tomb when he died, I'd wager she or he probably stole something from them.

Stay hidden.

[Thaluikhain]

SGamerz makes a good point, but half vote for helping her anyway.

[Beroli]

Helping Velkos wins 2.5 to 2.

At your approach the three bandits run off; Velkos thanks you for your timely intervention. Together, you follow the trail down from the mountains into lusher lowlands.

You keep your wits about you as you follow Velkos. She heads towards a forest of tall, dark pine trees. Soon you are basking in their sweet scent. You pause for rest beside the bole of an ancient tree. Sounds are muted in the forest, but you can hear a clinking. Velkos stiffens. 'Sounds like trouble,' she hisses. 'Reckon you want to face it?'

Hide in the branches of a tree?
Stay where you are and wait to see who is approaching?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 18/19
Luck: 7/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
Brooch with Izkhao
[/spoiler]

[Thaluikhain]

Hide.

[SGamerz]

Hide.

[Queen of Swords]

Sure, hide.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to hide in the branches of a tree.

[Beroli]

Velkos shins up the trunk of the tree then reaches down to give you a helping hand. She climbs further up the tree as you settle yourself among the lower branches. The jingling of metal gets closer, and into the glade marches a gang of men, armed to the teeth and dressed in weather-worn leather; they carry heavy sacks. Their leader wears a pair of golden spurs on his boots. He looks around suspiciously and then turns his head rapidly in your direction. 'Climb down,' he calls. 'No one hides from me.' Reluctantly you lower yourself down the tree trunk, and are at once surrounded by bandits. You realize that Velkos has not come down.

Tell the bandit leader that Velkos is hiding in the tree?
Keep quiet about her?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 18/19
Luck: 7/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
Brooch with Izkhao
[/spoiler]

[Darth Rabbitt]

I think this is where we snitch on her. Since I suspect she’ll just leave us at the mercy of the bandits otherwise. otherwise

[Thaluikhain]

Half vote for neglecting to mention her.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to keep quiet about her, as snitching is generally not good in life.

[Queen of Swords]

Velkos is certainly loyal and helpful towards us. So I vote for keeping her with us, even if we have to snitch on her to do so.

[SGamerz]

I actually vote to keep quiet. It's one thing to do nothing and let her deal with her own problems, and another thing to directly try and bring trouble on her. If there has to be a direct betrayal, let her be the bad guy/girl and strike the first blow.

And more importantly, I trust ourselves to handle the situation more than I trust her to take the lead and negotiate with these guys on our behalf (which I suspect she will try to do if she shows herself).

[Beroli]

Keeping quiet wins 2.5 to 2.

You manage to restrain yourself from looking up into the tree where Velkos hides, and face the bandit leader.

'Now,' says the bandit leader, 'you had better be honest with me. If you are capable and trustworthy, I may let you join our band. What is your business, for I gain no clues from your apparel?'

Say you are a merchant?
Say you are a sorcerer?
Say you are a bandit?
Say you don't know?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 18/19
Luck: 7/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
Brooch with Izkhao
[/spoiler]

[angelfromanotherpin]

We seem to have sorcerer memories, but we seem to genuinely not know for sure, so I say we go for that.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to say that we don't know. The bandit asked us to be honest, so we should do that.