[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 61 - Bloodbones

[Queen of Swords]

Gambling pits.

[Beroli]

The Gambling Pits lie within the area of the city known as the Claws - the poorest and most dangerous part of the port. The Pits themselves are housed in a vast, stone building with a large, iron-studded oak door. This entrance is flanked by two Troll guards. As you walk past them, and through the door, they give you a cursory glance and one says roughly, 'Remember, no fighting.' Inside, the Gambling Pits lie under a thick cloud of pipe-weed smoke and are packed with the unsavoury and roguish clientele you would expect. Mingling with the crowds, you check out the different games that are on offer. After a brief look round, you discover three that interest you.

Investigate the Arrow of Providence?
Investigate Calabrius' Calculator?
Investigate the Amazing Armarno?
Leave the Gambling Pits?

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 9/10
Weapon: Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox
Gold Pieces: 16
Time Elapsed: 1 Hour

[Queen of Swords]

Calabrius’s Calculator. Math puzzles seem to be the safest way to earn money.

[Thaluikhain]

That sounds reasonable, yeah.

[JourneymanN00b]

I also vote for the Calculator game.

[Beroli]

Calabrius's Calculator is a large, mechanical contraption, made up of countless cogs, levers and crankshafts. The main feature of the machine, however, is a large panel with five windows in it, behind which are five drums with numbers embossed on them. Standing next to the calculating device is its operator, a wizardly-looking man who you assume is Calabrius. 'Step up, step up. Who will accept the challenge of Calabrius's Calculator? Only two Gold Pieces and you could win ten!' the man calls out. You imagine that this challenge involves solving some kind of puzzle generated by the machine.

Accept Calabrius' challenge?
Look at the Arrow of Providence?
Visit the Amazing Armarno?
Leave the Gambling Pits?

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 9/10
Weapon: Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox
Gold Pieces: 16
Time Elapsed: 1 Hour

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to accept the challenge, of course.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, accept the challenge.

[Thaluikhain]

Accept, expectig this is likely to be interesting rather than a great idea.

[Beroli]

'Ahh, a contestant!' Calabrius exclaims. 'Come forward, don't be shy. Now where's your money?' You hand the man your 2 Gold Pieces. Calabrius moves to the side of the huge calculating device and pulls a lever. There is a lot of noisy clanking and the number drums spin round at great speed. Gradually, one by one, they come to a stop behind their windows, the last one revealing itself to be blank so that the panel looks like this:

1 9 25 57 -

'The Calculator has devised its cunning conundrum. This machine can baffle even the greatest minds in Ruddlestone. Can you work out what the next number in the sequence should be?'

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 9/10
Weapon: Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox
Gold Pieces: 14
Time Elapsed: 1 Hour

[Thaluikhain]

121

Assuming it's going + 8, + 16+ 32 and then +64

[JourneymanN00b]

I also vote for 121, as my calculations follow the same logic and give the same results as Thaluikhain.

[Queen of Swords]

Thirded.

[Beroli]

'That is correct. Congratulations,' says Calabrius, with a forced smile, and reluctantly hands you a bag containing 10 Gold Pieces. Regain 1 Luck point.

Look at the Arrow of Providence?
Visit the Amazing Armarno?
Leave the Gambling Pits?

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox
Gold Pieces: 24
Time Elapsed: 1 Hour

[Queen of Swords]

Leave while the going is good.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to look at the Arrow of Providence, just to see if there's anything that Bonnie Blood needs to get there.

[Thaluikhain]

Half vote for looking at the arrow.

[Beroli]

Looking at the Arrow of Providence wins 1.5 to 1.

The Arrow of Providence is a popular game of chance in the Gambling Pits. It is made up of a large circular board divided into twelve sections, each painted with a legend. An arrow-like pointer has been attached to the centre of the board so that it can be spun. To play the game will cost 2 Gold Pieces but you will be playing for a potential jackpot of 10 Gold Pieces.

Play?
Visit the Amazing Armarno?
Leave the Gambling Pits?

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox
Gold Pieces: 24
Time Elapsed: 1 Hour

[JourneymanN00b]

I don’t like the odds of winning a random game, so I vote to leave the pits.

[Thaluikhain]

Don't play, half vote for visiting Amazing Armarno.

[Queen of Swords]

Don’t push our luck any further, leave the pits.

[Beroli]

Test your Luck; a 10 succeeds (barely).

As you elbow your way through the bustling crowds, above the hubbub you hear a gruff voice say in a harsh whisper, 'The Virago sails for Bone Island at midnight.' Looking round you see two knavish-looking characters part company and go their separate ways among the throng. You will not be able to follow them now.

Pushing through the bustling hordes of gamblers, you suddenly feel something pushed into your hand. Quickly looking about you you think you see an old woman hurrying away but she is soon lost in the crowds. You have been given a sealed envelope. You wait until you are outside before breaking the wax seal and opening the envelope. Inside are a letter and an iron key. The letter reads as follows:

If you are determined to defeat the Pirates of the Black Skull, go to room 101 at the Silent Donkey.
A Friend.

You can choose to follow this up at any time while you're in the Port of Crabs; I won't be listing it as an option constantly.

For now, add 2 Hours to Time Elapsed.

Go to the markets to equip yourself for your quest?
Look for the help of the authorities against Cinnabar, though Governor Montargo has certainly allowed the port to remain a safe haven for buccaneers and freebooters?
Since the cult of Quezkari is involved, go to the Temple of Vinar and look for help from the Overpriest?
Look for the pirates' hidden base?

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 9/10
Weapon: Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox
Gold Pieces: 24
Time Elapsed: 3 Hour

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to go to the markets to equip our hero for the adventure.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, go to the markets.

[Thaluikhain]

Makes sense, to the shops.