[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 43 - The Keep of the Lich-Lord

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 12:12 pm

I'll assume that "check out the new place" = "investigate new people".

As you draw nearer you see that what you thought was a rider is in fact a Centaur, a creature half-man, half-horse. It has the legs and trunk of a horse, but from the animal's shoulders sprout the upper torso, arms and head of a man. It holds d short spear in one hand and a small shield in the other and you notice several more javelins attached to a saddlebag. However, the poor creature looks close to collapsing from exhaustion. Three wolves are pursuing it relentlessly, snapping and biting at the Centaur's legs. Will you throw some food to the wolves - you must have at least 3 packs of Provisions to throw - or fight the wolves?

We have exactly 3 packs of Provisions. Do we want to use them all, or just make with the penetrating?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 12:13 pm

Make with the penetrating.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:03 pm

Let the stabbing commence.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:53 pm

You charge the wolfpack and they come at you, snarling. The Centaur stops running and turns to throw its spears at them from a safe distance. You must fight (treat the pack as a single opponent).

WOLFPACK SKILL 8 STAMINA 13

Roll 1 additional die at the end of each round of combat. On a throw of 1, the Centaur has accidentally hit you with a javelin, causing 2 points of damage to your STAMINA, On a throw of 4-6, he hits the wolves for 2 points of damage. On a roll of 2 or 3, he misses completely. If you win, turn to 27.

There's no option to tell the centaur to **** off and leave this to us. "Getting killed by ally's friendly fire" might just top "getting accidentally trapped in a burning house by ignorant goons" as Most Embarrassing Possible Death.

COMBAT LOG:

Wolfpack 15, Gonad 17. Centaur throws a 3 and misses. Wolfpack is at 10.
Wolfpack 14, Gonad 20. Centaur throws a 3 and misses. Wolfpack is at 7.
Wolfpack 14, Gonad 14. Centaur throws a 4 and hits a wolf. Wolfpack is at 5.
Wolfpack 20, Gonad 13. Centaur throws a 5 and hits a wolf. Gonad is at 8. Wolfpack is at 3.
Wolfpack 12, Gonad 15. Centaur throws a 4 and hits a wolf.....who's already dead.

At least the Centaur had the sense not to hit us!

The Centaur canters over to you and says in a haughty voice, 'Thank you, my friend I owe you - my life! Those wolves were out to eat me, hoof and hand! I arm Lord Salesh, Elf-friend, and most noble of the creatures o{ Shamdabag Wood. I serve the gods of Good - as do you, clearly. How may I repay you?' You tell him about your mission, explaining that you must get to Bloodrise Keep. 'Aha! I can help you in your excellent and most laudable quest, my friend. I pledge myself as your steed for ever, in gratitude for your saving my life! With me to carry you, Bloodrise Keep is but moments away and Mortis is as good as dead . . well, anyway, laid to rest- for, as we all know, he is already dead, ha ha! Come, comrade, climb up on my back.'

You mount up, realizing he will indeed be able to carry you quickly - but can you put up with his endless prattle? Salesh gallops along the road
through Shamdabag Wood at a good pace, much faster than you could travel on foot. He begins to tell you his life-story and of his 'great exploits', which soon begin to sound somewhat exaggerated.

A companion in an FF gamebook? What horrible fate is going to befall him?

After a while Salesh begins to complain of your weight, saying 'Bah, it is not right that a great lord like myself should have to serve as a mere beast of burden!' You remind him of his promise recently made, and he groans in annoyance. He leads you across country and on to the road that leads to
Borgos, a short-cut that avoids the inn. Then he stops. 'I must rest, my friend - but only for a short time' You dismount, eyeing the Centaur suspiciously. He looks at you. Then he slaps a hand to his forehead, as if a thought has just struck him. 'Ye gods,' he exclaims, 'the council meet! I must be there - and it had all but slipped my mind. 'It is transparently obvious to you that Salesh is lying through his teeth. 'Forgive me, noble friend, matters of state - I must return to Shamdabag Wood.'

'What of my vital mission to kill Mortis,' you say wryly, 'which after all in the long run is probably more important to you than it is to me?'

Ah, yes, well . . . I'm sure that a great warrior like yourself will have no trouble - in fact I would only be a hindrance. Well, my thanks, and good luck.' With that, he tums tail and canters off southwards. Shrugging your shoulders, you set off on foot on the road Lo Port Borgos.

And in classic FF-companion-fashion, he doesn't last more than 3 sections. Can't deny that he actually has the good sense to walk away and avoid the same fate that doomed the likes of Mungo, Throm and Jarren Farr.

As seemingly pointless as this sequence may seem, there's actually a point to acquiring this companion. If we hadn't got a ride on him, the book will try to keep track of how many sidetrakcs we took earlier. Since we took a side track to Mortis' Tomb (and got the Spear) and another one to Keladon, we would have wasted too much time, and the book ends in one of its rare auto-fails where Mortis and the Chaos Pirates have already defeated the Delphic Alliance before we manage to reach Bloodrise Keep. The short ride on the Centaur actually helped us make up for the extra time we spent earlier.

You travel all the next day along the featureless road to Borgos. After a while you notice many black birds wheeling in the sky ahead of you . Soon you come to a crossroads and a gibbet standing by the side of the road. Hanging from it is a cage in which some poor unfortunate is trapped. You observe the livery of Bloodrise Keep - the victim is an ex-soldier in the service of the castellan. As you draw nearer, he stirs and lifts a bedraggled hand towards you. He looks more than half starved, burnt by the sun, and he is filthy dirty with blood-stained, tattered clothes. The blackbirds overhead are crows, their cries filling the sky with despair. The road forks here, south towards Benari village and east to Port Borgos. Will you try to get the cage down in order to release the man or carry on, either towards Borgos or to the village of Benari?

Do we want to free the below charming guy:

If not, where do we go?

Adventure Sheet:

Name: Gonad the Penetrator
SKILL 9/9
STAMINA 8/18
LUCK 11/15
RESOLVE: 11 (12 for next test)
Equipment: Sharpened Sword (+1 damage), Leather Armor, Ring of Communing (1 charge remaining), Spear of Qadarnai (double-damage when fighting undead), Golden Whistle, Elixir of Lhyss, Suit of Fine Armour (-1 to all damage taken), Ring of Fays, Polished Shield (-1 SKILL to 1 Undead opponent during combat at a time)
Provisions: 3 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Gold: 41
Codeword: PIRATE

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 2:28 pm

Since this isn't UK Steve, freeing this guy won't result in an instadeath. It might not even punish us.

So free him.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:15 pm

As you step forward to cut the cage down, the crows shriek madly and swoop down to peck and claw at you with razor-sharp beaks and talons. You must fight them off; treat them as one opponent.

A MURDER OF CROWS SKILL 7 STAMINA 9

If you win, turn to 237.

COMBAT LOG:

Murder of Crows 13, Gonad 11. Gonad is at 7.
Crows 11, Gonad 16. Crows are at 6.
Crows 11, Gonad 16. Crows are at 3.
Crows 11, Gonad 17. A Murder of Crows are ....murdered.

You drive the last few crows away, and they away eastwards. Carefully you lower the cage to the ground, then you lift the bar and open it, reaching inside for the poor man. Suddenly he locks his hands round your throat in an iron grip. Startled, you look into his eyes and, with a thrill of horror, gaze into milky white orbs, staring and dead. His flesh is rotting, and you see a deep wound in his chest. The man is a Zombie! Mortis must have imprisoned him and watched him die, then brought him back as one of the Undead! You are caught completely unawares - Test your Resolve. If you succeed, turn to 117. If you fail, turn to 322.

Our effective Resolve is 12 (and likely to stay there since we keep getting to add 1 to it every time we pass a test), and so can't fail a normal test.

Forcing your rising panic down, you manage to resist the urge to flee blindly. Breaking the Zombie's grip is not difficult, for it has been exposed to wind min and, more importantly, sunlight. By now it is very weak and you are able to dispatch it quickly. All that you find lying on the floor of the cage is a heavy iron mace (note it on your Adventure Sheet if you take it). Will you continue on towards Borgos or visit the village of Benari first?

I see no reason not to take the mace.....

Where to next?

Adventure Sheet:

Name: Gonad the Penetrator
SKILL 9/9
STAMINA 7/18
LUCK 11/15
RESOLVE: 11 (12 for next test)
Equipment: Sharpened Sword (+1 damage), Leather Armor, Ring of Communing (1 charge remaining), Spear of Qadarnai (double-damage when fighting undead), Golden Whistle, Elixir of Lhyss, Suit of Fine Armour (-1 to all damage taken), Ring of Fays, Polished Shield (-1 SKILL to 1 Undead opponent during combat at a time), Heavy Iron Mace
Provisions: 3 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Gold: 41
Codeword: PIRATE

Shiritai · Post by **Shiritai** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 5:56 pm

Since our centaur pal got us past the speed check, may as well check out the village before entering the BBEG's fortress. Maybe they'll have a merchant!

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:20 am

Nah, we've tarried long enough already forgetting which hole we are actually meant to be penetrating. To Borgos!

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:14 pm

Check out the village, because Gonad is at low STAMINA and low Provisions. And keep the mace.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:32 pm

Plumes of black smoke rise skyward as you near Benari. When you finally reach it, your worst fears are confirmed: the whole place has been burnt to the ground; all that remains are the smoking hulks of homes and buildings. Several bodies lie scattered about, but not as many as you would expect from the destruction of the whole village. A few dogs slink away at the sight of you, and vultures go about their grisly business. Will you examine the bodies, investigate the ruined buildings or leave the smoking village?

Another burning village! This time with dead bodies to check out!

What to do?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:44 pm

Loot the bodies and hope that they aren't zombies.

Shiritai · Post by **Shiritai** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:36 pm

I would think that the buildings would be a likelier source of provisions, and the text implies the majority of the people were either carried off or hiding.

Edit: On the other hand, maybe the bodies have lootclues! Sure, examine those inanimates.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 2:21 pm

Gonad the Penetrator can never leave his hands off sexy dead bodies.

On closer inspection, you become aware that the bodies are all those of destroyed Zombies or Skeletons, the soldiers of Mortis; at least the inhabitants of Benari put up a fight. Presumably the villagers themselves are now Zombies in the service of Mortis. In one corner of the village you find a shrine to some local deity. At the foot of the rough stone altar lies a body which does not appear to have been one of the Undead. Will you investigate this body, leave Benari, or look over the ruined buildings?

I think there's been sufficient interest expressed by the voters in dead bodies for me to proceed with investigating.....

You turn the body over: it is that of a man, middle-aged, balding and with a thick black beard. He holds a chipped sword in one hand. Then, to your surprise, his eyes flick open - he still lives! 'Water, water,' he croaks. You give him a drink from your canteen. He is covered in blood and is obviously dying. Pulling you closer, he whispers in your ear. 'Listen to me. My name is Morlak and I was the chief of Benari,' he rasps. 'Mortis sent his hordes to destroy us. The Undead were led by some foul thing summoned by Mortis to this plane from the Lands of the Dead. It was like a giant skull on a myriad of skeletal legs. From its grinning maw it flung out tentacled tongues that pulled its victims into its clacking, snapping jaws. We tried to fight it but our swords and arrows barely seemed to harm its bony form. I think it must be vulnerable only to smashing weapons, such as clubs or maces. Remember this, if you should have the misfortune to meet it.' These are his last words, for he coughs spasmodically and the light of life leaves his eyes forever.

Sparing a brief moment of time to mourn the brave chief, you bury him beside the shrine, swearing that Mortis will pay for his evil. Will you now leave Benari or investigate the ruined buildings?

Do we want to stay and investigate further?

Shiritai · Post by **Shiritai** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:16 pm

Well that was a smashing good discovery. Let's check out the houses and hope our luck holds.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:56 pm

Investigate if the reference is the same as last time.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 10:06 pm

Starmaker wrote:Investigate if the reference is the same as last time.

This.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 7:14 am

Darth Rabbitt wrote:
Starmaker wrote:Investigate if the reference is the same as last time.
This.

I dunno - last time the clock was set by counting if we'd penetrated the whole village yet, rather than by changing the reference.

Leave this forsaken ruin.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:44 pm

Investigating the ruins does indeed lead to the same section.

Most are just ashes and embers, revealing nothing of interest. However, in the remains of one building you spot a trapdoor set into the floor. Will you lift it and go down or decide to leave the village?

Since this is the only place of interest, let's take a look. Besides, Gonad leaves no hole unpenetrated....

The trapdoor lifts up easily. A ladder descends into darkness. As you climb down, a voice addresses you from the shadows below. 'Who are you, and what do you want?' someone demands. Will you give your name and assure the unknown speaker that you come in peace or carry on down the ladder without replying?

Should we answer?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:52 pm

Answer. If it's an undead we can easily penetrate it with our spear.

Shiritai · Post by **Shiritai** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 5:52 pm

"We're just a travelling Hero, and as is tradition, we want to raid your house for any supplies to use against the Dark Lord."

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 5:47 am

Let's show this mystery guy some Gonad!

'Aha!' says the voice. 'You ale not undead - thank the gods!' A torch flares up and in the light you can see where you are - in an underground chamber. A desk and chair are the only furniture, and lots of alchemical apparatus is scattered about. At the far end of the room, three tunnels lead off into the darkness. A man dressed in a dark-blue robe covered in strange symbols is seated at the desk. He is an old greybeard, and looks rather frightened. 'My name is Hlassamon and I was the village alchemist here at Benari. When Mortis sent his Undead to destroy us, I fled to my cellar retreat; indeed the very sight of the living dead filled me with dread. Now I have brewed a Potion of Resolve so that I could get up the courage to try and escape. But I realize that the Undead must all have left, for how else could one such as you get here?'

You tell him that this is indeed the case and that he should be fairly safe now - so long as he heads straight for Siltport and takes a boat to get him off the island . . . if any remain to be had.

'Thank you for that good advice, my noble friend.' Then a look of pure greed crosses his features for a moment, 'Now that I no longer need it, perhaps you would be interested in purchasing this potion,' he says, reaching into his robe and drawing out a vial full of a bright blue liquid 'I will accept 35 Gold Pieces and not a piece less. Or some special item, if you have one that would interest me.' Will you pay the gold for the potion, if you have that much, show him the items you have collected, attack him and try to take the potion or decline his offer and leave Benari?

To save time, I'll show you what items happens if we offer a barter trade....

He is not interested in the slightest in anything you may have - except an Amulet of Ages. lf you have one, turn to 130; otherwise, turn to 87.

We don't have that, so it's out of the question.

That would have been our reward if we managed to save Paz's parents from the pirates back in Keladon.

So our choices are down to:

1) Pay the gold? (we have 41, so enough to buy the potion, though it'll leave us with just 6)
2) Kill and rob the guy?
3) Just leave?

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 9:37 am

We'd probably OD if we drank that thing, we've already got Resolve coming out of our eyeballs. Leave him.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 12:17 pm

Yeah, I doubt we need that potion.

Shiritai · Post by **Shiritai** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 4:12 pm

Agreed; he needs the resolve more than we do.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 4:56 pm

From Benari you can head northeast to Port Borgos or eastwards across country to the site of the ancient battle marked on your map.

Where to next?