Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:07 am
Guessing we don't need the vizier's robe anymore, and also the sword looks nice compared to a dagger.
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Do we want to try to initiate a body-switch with Mencius and get our body back now?You are just wondering where you should go next when a jaunty figure strides up to you, grinning all over its too-familiar face. It's Mencius, flaunting his borrowed body. There are people all around, so you hope that he will be loath to attract attention to himself with serious magic; all the same, your eyes dart around for possible venues of escape. "I promised revenge, and I shall have it," he says in your own language, but with a friendly smile on his face and an easy tone in his voice. "It will be my pleasure to extinguish your soul utterly, and it will be especially easy, as this magic-rich world has amplified my powers threefold. As a small gesture of my contempt for your abilities, by the way, allow me to present you with this." So saying, he hands you a box. Your scalp prickles as you imagine what may be within. If you have a Book of Craft, turn to 33; otherwise, turn to 275.
pragma is right on the money, and we got our pistol back!You open the box gingerly. Inside is your pistol, box of powder, and a lead bullet (note them on your Adventure Sheet). "I will see you again," says Mencius, "but for now I had better hurry back to my tower." So saying, he hurries off. If you follow him, turn to 312. Otherwise, turn to 241.
Thankfully, we didn't sell the robe at the market earlier!Al-Haddar decides to throw a feast in your honour, inviting several of his friends to join him. The fine food and lively conversation go on for several hours, and Al-Haddar entertains you with a continuous stream of funny stories. If you do not have the word trail, and you do have both the word 'kal' and either a vizier's robe or Al-Bakbuk's glass, turn to 397. Otherwise, if you have the word 'trail', or if you don't have the other items, turn to 244.
We are apparently playing a CYOA story within a CYOA gamebook.....As the feast draws to an end and the guests leave, you prepare to retire, but Al-Haddar beckons you near. If you have a companion, you notice that he is snoring happily.
"Now is a good time for stories," your host says quietly. You thought he had spent the whole evening telling stories, and you say so, but Al-Haddar chuckles. "those were the kind of story by beloved brother, Al-Bakbuk the Prattler, likes - but my real stories are a different matter." He ushers you into a comfortable drawing room, settles down on a pile of cushions, and starts his tale. "Many years ago, in a certain city far away, there lived an upright man whose name was Jaddar. He had made a name for himself by catching criminals, especially those who dabbled in magic in order to cheat their victims. At the time of my story, Jaddar had spent a whole year chasing a villain by the name of Abdul Al-Azrad whom he had pursued from city to city, crossing the mountains, seas and deserts. He finally caught up with Abdul Al-Azrad in a forest and, hurrying close, prepared to shoot the fiend with his magic bow. But Abdul Al-Azrad was a wily wizard. Just as the arrow was loosed from Jaddar's bow, he transformed himself into an animal, avoiding the missile. Which do you think Al-Azrad turned himself into, a snake or a bird?
If you say a snake, turn to 54. If you say a bird, turn to 282.
Our first combat of the game! Same SKILL, but at least we have double the STAMINA. Let's just hope he won't drain out STAMINA too much, because I wouldn't be surprised if there are more story-battles after this..."There was no time for Jaddar to load another magic arrow before Al-Azrad, in the form of a snake, was upon him. The battle was mighty indeed..."
Al-Haddar has told his tale so vividly and with such expressive gestires that you feel you are living the story. Now he starts to wrestler you, calling, "Who will win, the snake or the man?"
AL-AZRAD THE SNAKE SKILL 6 STAMINA 6
Fight as normal; however, you cannot die in this fight. If you defeat the snake, recover 2 points of STAMINA for every three lost, and turn to 294. If you lose, turn to 151.
Probably not too surprising that Mason would do the "story within a story" structure after all the obvious Arabian Nights influence, but this means we're now playing a CYOA within a CYOA within a CYOA! How far can Mason stretch this art form?"So finally the snake lay dead. Jaddar cut off its head and put it in his pouch, then turned his head homeward. Three days and three nights he travelled, full of joy that once again he would see the city he loved. On the fourth day, however, he saw a dejected figure on the road before him. Approaching closer, he saw it was a vizier who had entertained Jaddar as a guest on many occasions and had supported his cause. The vizier's clothes were torn and dirty and, as soon as he saw Jaddar, he began to wail: "Evil trachery, blasphemy against the will of Hazah!" Jaddar asked him what was the matter: from him he learned that there was a new Emir in the city, a man of evil moods and doubtful faith. "Oh give me a sword, that I may fight against this injustice!" the vizier pleaded. Jaddar willingly have him his own sword and, magic bow in hand, accompanied him back to the city. On the way, the vizier told Jaddar a story.
Ok, he's almost our equal. We're going to need luck here..."My tale concerns a true prince among the Genii, his name Al-Ra'ad al-Kasif, who dwelt in the Omnipresent Tower in days gone by. From this place he could visit any land struck his fancy, and he was welcomed at the courts of the mighty, both Genie and mortal. But and enemy, jealous of his power, resolved to put and end o him. Coming upon the tower by stealth, he tricked Al-Ra'ad al-Kasif into wasting his power, then attacked him while he was weak."
AL-RA'AD AL-KASIF SKILL 6 STAMINA 10
Conduct the battle between yourself and Al-Ra'ad al-Kasif the Genie Prince as normal. However, note that you cannot die: if your STAMINA is reduced to zero or less, turn to 151. If you defeat Al-Ra'ad al-Kasif, turn to 228.
I always thought a mountain lion isn't an actual lion, but apparently they're the same in whatever world JVG came from, since one of those 3 creatures have been called both."With his dying blow, the Genie Prince hurled his vanquisher out of the window of the tower. Before he landed on the sort sand, Al-Ra'ad Al-Kasif with a piteous wail expired, and was seen no more in this world. His killer, meanwhile, turned back towards the tower, but he found his way blocked by three opponents: a venomous. hissing snake, a snarling mountain lion, and a fluttering raven. A voice sounded from behind the brass-studded door of the tower. "You must fight the most dangerous of these three if you wish to enter the tower." Which of the three will you choose?
The raven?
The lion?
The snake?
His SKILL is slightly higher, but we only need to get lucky twice to knock it out, so it's not hopeless..."You swing at the flapping black bird, twisting to avoid its swoops. The snake and the lion both fade in nothingness."
RAVEN SKILL 7 STAMINA 4
Fight the raven as normal; however, you may not die. If your STAMINA is reduced to zero or less, turn to 151. If you defeat the raven, turn to 95.
We have 3 of the items listed (pistol and bullets are counted as a set). Which one do we give him?"As you hack the evil bird out of the air, its oily black feathers cascade down around you. You just place your foot on the first step leading to the door of the Omnipresent Tower when a voice from behind calls you back. It is Hanif Al-din Hasan, the loyal vizier of the Caliph of Khorasan. His clothing is torn and dirty, and his dust-begrimed face bears a partly healed wound.
"'In the name of Hazah, before you enter the tower, assist me," he pleads. "I have fled from Khorasan, where an evil sorcerer has replaced me with a sorcerous creature that resembles me exactly. If you will aid me, I can return to the palace, slay the impostor and set matters aright."
You may not have another chance to enter the tower. Instead, you should offer the vizier something to help him. Check your Adventure Sheet. Provided you have it, you may give him any one of the following items: Holy Symbol, Book of Craft, ruby ring, wizard's pouch, gold hex, vizier's robe, magic amulet, pistol and bullets, serrated knife or a sword. Cross off the item you give to him, then turn to 382.