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

[Thaluikhain]

Calm.

26 +42 +55 +7 = 130

[Dogopolis]

All is.calm.., Opening your eyes again, you see the Unicorn is standing perfectly still, as if waiting for something. Slowly you creep towards it through the undergrowth. You can see its ribcage heaving under its silky black coat, its ears twitching, its eyes unblinking.

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

The Black Unicorn is under your power now. There is nothing to stop you removing its horn and taking your prize... Or is there? You suddenly become aware of movement in the trees around the Silver Pool and then it is as if the forest has come to life, as half a dozen figures emerge from the shadows between the trees. They are all dressed in forest-coloured clothes, and approach with their bows drawn. These are the Half-Elven Yorefolk, and it is their sworn duty to protect the sacred woodland and its inhabitants from those who would seek to cause harm. ‘Adventurer,’ their leader says in a lilting, almost hypnotic voice, ‘we have followed your progress through the forest, and you are clearly someone of great courage, intelligence and potential. | cannot fathom what you want with the Black Unicorn, but I beseech you to let the animal go.” Will you do as the Half-Elf requests and release the Unicorn from your control or are you determined to complete your quest and take its horn?

[deaddmwalking]

We need the horn, but I suspect that we can get it from the Elves without taking this one. So I think we let the creature go.

[Thaluikhain]

Release it, yeah.

[Beroli]

Release the unicorn.

[Dogopolis]

You do as the hypnotic voice bids and the Yorefolk lower their bows. “Thank you,’ says their leader. ‘As 1 said, we huve seen great potential in you and believe you might have what the Grand Wizard is looking for.’ ‘The Grand Wizard?’ you exclaim in surprise. “The Grand Wizard of Yore?" ‘The very same,’ replies the Half-Elf. ‘He is seeking new recruits for his School of Magic, for one of his students will be required to undertake a most vital task. Will you come with us now to meet Vermithrax Moonchaser in person?” The Half-Elf gives you a brooch that looks exactly like an oak leaf made out of gold: ‘As a lasting symbol of our friendship and trust, And take this too.’ He hands you a leather bag. ‘It contains a precious substance called Alicorn. You will know when you need to use it.’ Record the Golden Oak Leaf and the Alicorn on your Adventure Sheet.

Do you want to go with the forest guardians? Otherwise move the Wheel of the Week on 8 days and return to Salamonis.

[SGamerz]

Go with them.

[Beroli]

Go with them.

[deaddmwalking]

Yes. Go with them and meet the Grand Wizard of Yore.

[Dogopolis]

‘Very good,’ says the Half-Elf, He introduces himself as Arian Thornel, and then his companions. Your party of seven sets off, deeper into the forest, leaving the Black Unicorn drinking at the Silver Pool, heading ever deeper into the ancient woodland. “Now tell me,’ Arlan says as you leave behind your career as an adventurer to become » student of the Grand Wizard of Yore, ‘what do you know of a certain demi-sorcerer warlord by the name of Balthus Dire and his Citadel of Chaos?’

Story continues at viewtopic.php?t=54087

At least it's better than being thrown into Deathtrap Dungeon in a manner in which you couldn't possibly be the Hero described. Assuming you don't want to change your name to Manstaff Cockbeard and go off on a completely different gamebook, for 2 help points we can just head straight back to Salamonis.

You all know the drill now
It is Windsday so we do the TWoFM dream and get 26 gold and 2 luck. That leaves you with 49.8 GP to use at the Bazaar or for sleeping and then quest.
Please vote on what to get from the bazaar, what quest to do and how to sleep.

SKILL: 11/11
STAMINA: 10/12
LUCK: 7/7
AMONOUR: 17
MONEY: 10 Salacoins = 1 Gold Piece
49 Gold Pieces
8 salacoins
Possessions: spare clothes, short sword, Longbeard’s Legends of the Windward Plains, Holy Symbol, Strongman armband, Token, Dragon carnyx, glass bottle, ancient treasure map, brass ring, beeswax, noseplug, oil lamp, length of rope, potion of luck, Medusa grass, alicorn, Golden Oak leaf
Provisions: 2
Special Skills: Spelling, Brawling, 2nd chance rolls (x2), Instant Death roll(x2)

Today is: Windsday

Help points used:
Failure to get backpack -3
extra salacoin at bazaar -1
killed by elves-3
Become hero of a completely different gamebook-2
3 remaining.

[deaddmwalking]

Let's do the 1 gp sleep (get 2 stamina) so we're at full. Might as well buy the potions we don't have and go after Zyn?

[Beroli]

Let's do the 1 gp sleep (get 2 stamina) so we're at full. Might as well buy the potions we don't have and go after Zyn?

Sounds good. And that's actually a very cool and interesting mechanic.

[SGamerz]

Hey, even if the playthrough does end here, that's not a bad way to end. I'd count that as a successful ending. Unlike the Assassins of Allansia, our PC isn't doomed to an inevitable death in another book.

Pay for a proper bed, buy potions, hunt down Zyn.

(Oh, and pretty curious that Steve Jackson decided to use material from the half of the book that's penned by Livingstone for his dream sequence, instead of the half written by himself.)

[Dogopolis]

"Bringing Cardinal Zyn to justice will be no mean feat,’ theGuildmaster says."Why?" you ask, ‘Who is Cardinal Zyn and what crime has he committed?’ “The quest was posted anonymously, the veteranadventurer explains, ‘so | do not know who wishes him to face Libra’s justice. As to who he is...’ The Guildmaster lowers his voice and beckons you closer, before going on in a conspiratorial manner. ‘It is said that Cardinal Zyn is the head of an outlawed cult that goes by the name the Sisters of the Brotherhood. Who the members of this cult are or where they meet, nobody knows.’

‘Somebody must know,’ you put in, ‘otherwise how do people know there is such a-cult?" But finding them won't be easy. They are believed to have cursed a number of prominent individuals ~ including a prince of the royal household, if the rumours are true.’ To what end?’ you ask."To sow chaos and discord, But it would be wrong of me 0let you even attempt such a challenge, if you are not up to it!”

Is your Amonour score 16 points or higher?

It is

‘Very well,’ says the Guildmaster, ‘but I must warn you that your chances of success are slim,’ "You keep saying that rumour says, SO where have these rumours been heard?" you ask, If 1 were you, 1 would make enquiries in the Temple District. Beyond that, it's all up to you.’ You leave the Adventurers" Guild once more, pondering how you are going to track down the mysterious Sisters of the Brotherhood.

Do you want to do as the Guildmaster suggests and visit the Temple District?
If you have a Beggar's Mark perhaps there is someone else you could ask for help.
Alternatively, if you have Visited the Half-Darned Sock, maybe you can think of another approach
Then again, if you have the Spelling Special Skill, you could try casting a Spell to find out where the cult is hiding.

[Beroli]

Cast a spell.

[Dogopolis]

Calmly, you lay the Spelling Sheet on the ground in front of you and spread your hands over its lettered gt id. Closing your eyes, you empty your mind and wait for the Oracle to reveal the secret location of the place where you will find the Sisters of the Brotherhood...

The enemy of order, nothingness and all things, confusion, pandemonium, madness and death... [C__O_]

This is a dark portent indeed! If you think 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.

[Beroli]

Chaos. 26+30+42+5+8=111.

[Dogopolis]

A circle symbolizes both nothingness and all things, which is the paradox at the heart of Chaos. So, the Sisters of the. Brotherhood are a Chaos cult of some kind. As soon as you make that connection, a flood of information fills your mind that can only have come from the Oracle.

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

You know when and where the Sisters of the Brotherhood is meeting, and the secret knock that will grant you access! (Gain 1 Luck point, You arrive at the House of he Behemoth just before midnight and rap on the door seventeen times: A moment passes in which nothing hanpens, and then the door suddenly opens, and you are hauled inside,

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

You are hurried along a dark passageway by faceless figures wearing long red robes with the hoods pulled up. The cultists lead you to a chamber in which more of their cloaked brethren are waiting. You are pushed into the centre of the room, and they form a circle around you.
‘Another seeks to join our number,’ says one of the faceless figures."Then they must be put to the test,’ comes a voice from the other side of the circle. “Yes, the test,’ says a third. The rest of the cultists take up the chant: “The test. The test. The test!’ “Silence!” demands a fourth voice, and the chant drops to become a murmur, You turn to face the speaker, who then says, To be admitted to the Sisters of the Brotherhood you must face the ordeal by dilemma.’ What can they possibly mean?

“You believe that all human life is sacred, takes up another of the cultists, "Walking through the hills above Trolltooth Pass you hear a man crying for help. He has been bitten by a serpent, the venom of which is known to be deadly. The man is slowly dying and is in great pain.

He pleads with you to put an end to his agony. What will
you do?"

Seeing as how you are surrounded by the cultists, and you do not actually know which one of them is Cardinal Zyn, you decide it is probably best if you play along with them, at least for the time being. So how will you reply?

‘Put a merciful end to his misery he is destined for a higher place.’
‘Leave him be and continue my journey.’

[Beroli]

"All life is sacred"...even brief and miserable life. My only question is whether we're actually supposed to give a logical answer, or a logically contradictory answer.

Nevertheless, the answer that contradicts our prescribed beliefs also sounds too good for an evil cult we're infiltrating, so: leave him be and continue our journey.

[Thaluikhain]

Second that.

[deaddmwalking]

Here's to hoping. My inclination is to kill him.

[Dogopolis]

Yet another of the cultists takes up this curious tale: “You explain that you cannot put him out of his misery as your
religion prevents you from harming other men. You are about to set off again when the man begs you to deliver aletter he has about his person to his sweetheart and take what money you find in his pockets as payment. With that, the snake's venom reaches his heart, and he dies. Do you want to search his body or leave him alone and go on your way?’ What will you say?

‘Search him."
‘Go on my way.”

[Beroli]

Search him.

[SGamerz]

Continue to opt for the choice that goes against the average FF PC's usual insinct:

"Go on my way."

[Thaluikhain]

Half vote for search.