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

[SGamerz]

Look, these are bandits, not psychiatrists, there's no need to be honest with those guys.

Claim to be a sorcerer so that they'll be too scared to mess with us.

We've already been told that we know how to cast at least 2 spells, so if they want verification we can easily demonstrate our powers. On them, if necessary.

[Thaluikhain]

Claim to be a sorcerer.

[Queen of Swords]

Say we don't know. Any other answer and we'd probably have to prove it.

[Beroli]

"I don't know" wins 3-2.

The bandit leader's brow creases. 'What kind of person doesn't know what they are?' he asks. He looks you up and down.

Tell him you came from an isle over the sea?
Tell him you have lost your memory?

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

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

[angelfromanotherpin]

Do not tell them we came from Insane Tomb Island. Just a simple amnesiac, that's us.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, tell him we've lost our memory.

[SGamerz]

Do not tell them we came from Insane Tomb Island.

Insane Tomb Island sounds like a fun place. I totally think we should claim that.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to tell him we have lost our memory, as I do not think we should reveal the fact that we came from an isle over the sea unless we have to.

[Beroli]

The bandit leader looks at you for a moment, then understanding dawns on his face. He winks. 'Lost your memory, have you? Well, there's several of us none too good at recalling our past. Still, you're one of us now.'

You accompany the outlaws to the stump of a huge tree, within which they hide the sacks of treasure they have captured. Then they decide to visit the nearby village. You have nearly reached the buildings when you are overtaken by a fat fellow, bouncing up and down on the back of a donkey. The outlaws nod at him, and nudge you meaningfully. It's clear they want you to tackle and rob him.

Sidle up to the merchant and tell him to hand over his valuables?
Refuse to rob him?

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

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

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to refuse to rob him. Our hero is not a criminal.

[angelfromanotherpin]

I would like to have valuables.

[Queen of Swords]

If we refuse to rob him, we're going to have problems with the bandits, so I don't think we have much of a choice here. Ask for his valuables.

[SGamerz]

If we refuse to rob him, we're going to have problems with the bandits, so I don't think we have much of a choice here. Ask for his valuables.

We literally have a choice here. A choice which we can enforce via a Disruption spell up the ass of anyone to tries to force us to do something we don't want to. I'd have preferred to have given them some fair warning beforehand by letting them know that we know magic, but either way, screw this, I'm not doing errands for these guys. If we want valuables, we should be ordering this bunch to get it for us, not the other way round.

Refuse to do robbery. At least, not for these guys.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Refuse and zap them with magic, then take their loot since we know where it’s hidden.

This isn’t UK Steve Jackson so I suspect we’ll be punished for just looting a random civilian, but looting bandits is fair game.

[Beroli]

Refusing to rob the man wins 3-2.

Sevmiroda, the outlaw leader, whispers at you threateningly: 'What are you playing at? You're supposed to be one of us.'

Try to persuade Sevmiroda that you're not cut out for the bandit life?
Run from the bandits?
Try to defeat the bandits?

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

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

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to try to defeat the bandits, as running from them is probably not a good idea, and I doubt that Sevmiroda can be persuaded otherwise.

[SGamerz]

Kick the bandits' asses, take their stuff, and show them who's boss.

Maybe if we do it well enough, they'll make us their boss, too.

[Thaluikhain]

Defeat banditry!

[Beroli]

Attack the bandits with your greatsword?
Cast a Mutation spell?
Cast a Disruption spell?
Call upon Izkhao?

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

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

[SGamerz]

Don't mutate them - X-Men taught me that mutation may give them superpowers and that's the last thing we want.

While they were guilty of trying to order us around, they hadn't actually caused us any direct harm yet, so maybe we should give them a chance and not incinerate them just yet. Let Izkhao deal with them first. If they have any good sense they should surrender without us having to blow them up.

[Queen of Swords]

Agreed, use Izkhao.

[angelfromanotherpin]

I'm against calling on the thing that we have no idea what its powers, motivations, or general deal is. For all we know it does magical housework and will just be chopped up by bandits, or is a genie with one wish left and is an egregious waste to use on some hoodlums.

Half a vote each for Disruption or greatsword, I don't really care which.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to use Disruption, as Izkhao and Mutation are just too risky to use at this point in the story, and using the greatsword is just asking to get killed by bandits.

[Thaluikhain]

Disruption seems reasonable, though I sort want to see if we can make some horrible monster out of multiple bandits with Mutation, but that's getting into really weird and dark places, so disrupt away.

[Beroli]

Casting Disruption wins 2.25 to 2.

Your face reddens and your breathing comes hard. Sevmiroda looks at you anxiously, not certain of what is happening. Red-hot bristles scratch at the inside of your skin. Then an expanding globe of flame coalesces around you. It seems to move so slowly, yet the nearest outlaws have time only to turn and scream before they are caught in its searing path. The rest flee. You notice the merchant staring at you fearfully, then he spurs his donkey to an unexpected turn of speed and bounces off towards the village. Exhausted from your efforts, you follow the merchant towards the village at a leisurely pace.

Your hopes for rest and sanctuary fade as you wander through the village. The few stone buildings still standing are dirty and squalid. Ragged children chase one another across the square, brandishing wooden swords and screaming obscenities. The adults are no better: drunken revellers stagger out of the local tavern, aptly named 'The Aqua Vitae', and what trade there is seems to deal exclusively in weaponry. The locals eye you with deep suspicion. In the ruins of a cottage, a group of wretched travellers huddle around a large fire. You are cold, hungry and exhausted.

Try to enter the local bar?
Buy something to defend yourself with?
Settle down with the travellers in the ruin?

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

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