[Let's Play] Sorcery Warrior 4 - The Crown of Kings

[Beroli]

This is the fourth and final part of the game that started here and continued here and then here.

This is not soon, as expected, but I'm hoping more people will be interested in participating now.

The Archmage of the fortress city Mampang sent Xamen Birdmen to steal the magical Crown of Kings from Analand, planning to use it to unite the squabbling residents of that evil city into an army of conquest. The warrior Jason Beckett Mordred has crossed the Baklands to retrieve it and is finally closing on the Archmage's fortress. Because he successfully defeated the Seven Serpents, the people of Mampang have no idea that he is approaching. The Serpent Ring compelled each of the Serpents you spoke to to give you a clue. The clues are as follows: Four guards protect the entrance to the Fortress of Mampang; offer no gold to Valignya if you value your life; eat not from the larder of Throg if your journey should cause you to meet her; in the dark chamber of night, do not light your way with the blood candle; pay respect to Naggamentah the torture master should you meet him; the Archmage is not as he seems, for this will warn you of his presence in Mampang.

Crown of Kings.JPG (134.46 KiB) Viewed 5558 times

Like a gigantic claw clutching at the sky, the Mampang Fortress is a forboding image etched into your mind. Although it is the goal of your mission, its appearance in the distance gives you no sense of relief at the approach of your journey's end. The feeling is rather one of high apprehension and danger as you pick your way towards the great castle on high, which is partly obscured by the billowing clouds which shroud the uppermost peaks of the Zanzunus.

The going becomes harder as your trail climbs through Low Xamen. The Zanzunu foothills are evidently little used by creatures on foot, and the path is indistinct. Where the way is muddy you can make out hoof-marks along the trail; they are days, if not weeks, old. But what sort of creature has made them?

The sun fades behind dense clouds and the sky darkens. Perhaps a storm is brewing? A deep distant rumbling from the heavens confirms your suspicion. You had better prepare yourself. It is already late in the evening, so perhaps it would be wise for you to find a suitable place to camp for the night. There is plenty of shelter under the vegetation to avoid the rain, but you would feel safer in a cave of some sort if you are going to get some sleep.

You pause to consider which way would offer you the best chance of shelter. To the east and west, leaving the trail, the undergrowth would make the going heavy, with no real cover which you would be happy to sleep under. No, the path ahead to the north is really your only way forwards. Your eyes follow it. A few hundred metres ahead it turns to the right around a rocky ridge. With a bit of luck there may be a nook of some sort in the side of the ridge in which you will be able to shelter. You press on.

When you reach the bend in the path you are able to see what lies ahead. To your right you can see exactly what you were looking for. Not one, but three caves are set into the rock! The nearest one has the smallest entrance, which probably opens into quite a shallow cave. The central cave looks large enough for you to light a fire inside, although the cave could be quite deep and therefore dangerous. The third cave is of a similar size, but looking at the the trail, you notice that the hoof-prints lead off into this cave. Which cave will you try for shelter?

Caves.JPG (135.56 KiB) Viewed 5558 times

The smallest cave?
The middle cave?
The far cave?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 12/12
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 8 Meals
Gold Pieces: 7
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

Glad you are here to help hold the LP hosting line, Beroli!

I will vote for the smallest cave to minimize potential dangers.

[Thaluikhain]

Shallow cave.

[Dogopolis]

I'm abstaining as I know which cave you have to enter.

[deaddmwalking]

The cave with the hoof tracks seems promising. If they're days old they probably have moved on but they would have known which cave is best. I also think it's suspicious that nothing was said about the size of the cave.

[Beroli]

Thanks, JourneymanN00b!

The smallest cave wins 2-1.

You step up to the small cave mouth and kneel down to look inside. Although you will be able to crawl into the cave, the entrance will be a tight squeeze. But as your eyes become accustomed to the darkness, you can see that there will be enough room for you to fit comfortably. The back of the cave is black, so you are unable to tell whether or not the cave is completely empty. You get down on all fours and poke your head into the cave.

Oooowwouou! A shrill howling comes from inside the cave and all but deafens you! Instinctively you jerk your head out again, away from the danger. The noise sounded as though it came from a hound of some sort. You spring to your feet and draw out your weapon, ready to face whatever is inside. But nothing emerges from the cave. When your courage has returned, you must make a decision.

Enter the cave and face whatever is inside?
Instead try the middle cave?
Instead try the far cave?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 12/12
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 8 Meals
Gold Pieces: 7
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

Going to vote to enter the cave and face whatever is inside, as whatever is making that sound will probably be a reasonable enough size for our hero to deal with.

[Thaluikhain]

Enter the cave.

[deaddmwalking]

Vote for far cave.

[Beroli]

Going into the small cave wins 2-1.

The beast inside must be taught a lesson. Its howling will not prevent you from resting in its cave! You draw your sword.

As you enter the cave, the howling starts again. It is horrendously loud. You give several thrusts into the blackness to warn whatever it inside that you are armed. You touch nothing. Pushing yourself right inside, you slash about with your weapon. It hits the side of the cave wall, but nothing else. Suddenly, the howling stops and you feel something brush against your ankle! A scurrying noise catches your attention and you watch as a small ball of fur, no bigger than a cabbage, races out of the cave on two short, stumpy legs.

Jib-Jib.JPG (160.57 KiB) Viewed 5467 times

You breathe a sigh of relief and chuckle. This must have been a JIB-JIB. Although this has been your first sighting of such a creature, you have heard about them from the scholars of Analand. Possessing neither teeth nor claws, Jib-Jibs defend themselves with their tremendous voices, which deceive would-be attackers into thinking they are facing dangerous beasts! You watch the harmless little creature scurrying into the undergrowth.

But what of your intended home for the night? The cave itself seems to be ideal. Its narrow entrance will easily be defended and, although you are not able to stand up inside, there is room for you to be comfortable. You have not yet discovered how deep the cave is, but there is no sound coming from the back.

Eat a meal?
Check to make sure there is nothing in the back of the cave?
Go to sleep?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 12/12
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 8 Meals
Gold Pieces: 7
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[Dogopolis]

Check the back.

[deaddmwalking]

Check the back.

[JourneymanN00b]

I also vote to check the back of the cave.

[Beroli]

With your weapon at the ready, you grope around deeper into the cave, following the line of the wall. You find no hidden tunnels, nor any more Jib-Jibs in the back of the cave. The whole cave is perhaps three or four metres deep and is, thankfully, empty. But as you feel about, your hand touches something cold. You grasp hold of the object and bring into the light to get a closer look. You have found a dirty old bottle with a stopper firmly jabbed into its neck. The glass is a dark brown colour and it is difficult for you to make out whether there is anything inside. The weight of the bottle indicates that it is empty, but there is a faint sound as you tip it up and down.

Open the bottle?
Leave it?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 12/12
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 8 Meals
Gold Pieces: 7
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to open the bottle.

[Dogopolis]

open it

[deaddmwalking]

I wish take it with you was an option, but since it isn't, I'm for unleashing a genie. Open it.

[Beroli]

Holding the bottle well away from you, you pull at the stopper. It is fixed firmly in place and will not budge. Again you try and, this time, it slips a little in the neck of the bottle. Giving it another twist, you manage to remove it with a soft pop.

Looking inside you can see a small piece of parchment. It is an awkward job to pull the parchment from the bottle but, using a twig, you manage to draw it out. You unroll it and try to read it. The writing is in a language that you do not understand and you puzzle over it fruitlessly for a few minutes before giving up.

Take the parchment and eat a Meal before you go to sleep (you will take damage from hunger if you do not eat)?
Take the parchment and go to sleep?
Leave the parchment and eat a Meal before you go to sleep?
Leave the parchment and go to sleep?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 12/12
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 8 Meals
Gold Pieces: 7
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to take the parchment and eat a Meal.

[deaddmwalking]

Agreed. Take the parchment and eat a meal.

[Thaluikhain]

Take the thing and eat another thing.

[Beroli]

The storm breaks during the night, waking you several times. You are thankful for the shelter your cave affords. Rain pelts down, and muddy puddles form in the cave entrance. But by morning, the rain has stopped and the sun is fighting its way through the low-hanging clouds. You rise early and prepare yourself for the day. Judging the distance as best you can, you should reach the Fortress by the end of the day. Regain 2 Stamina for rest (you have taken no damage). Do not take hunger damage as you did eat the previous day. If you wish, you may take with you some stone dust and three small pebbles which you can pick up from the cave. Now you must leave your cave and set off on your journey.

As you climb through the foothills of Low Xamen, you notice how few animals are about. Certainly animals would hide from you, but there are no signs of wildlife. Perhaps the terrain is too treacherous. The going is undoubtedly becoming harder and, by the late morning, you are climbing steeply. Ahead, the narrow trail splits to offer you two ways onwards. To the right, the path continues to wind up the mountainside, while to the left, a narrow rope bridge spans a gully and joins another path. Both lead upwards in the direction you are heading.

Go left?
Go right?
Also vote on whether to take stone dust and pebbles.

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 12/12
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, incomprehensible parchment, 7 Meals
Gold Pieces: 7
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[Dogopolis]

Always take stuff you can trade with someone who says they want an item from you.

Go right

[Thaluikhain]

Take stuff, may as well go right.

[deaddmwalking]

Bridge seems likely to fail. Go right. Take all the stuff.