[LP] Sorcery! Now Playing: The Crown of Kings

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:42 am

Definitely middle cave.

angelfromanotherpin · Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:12 pm

You step up to the cave entrance and peer inside. It doesn't smell particularly pleasant in there, but it seems to be safe enough. The thing that is a little worrying, though, is the depth of the cave. You cannot see the back: the cave just disappears into the blackness. If you feel you would be safer in one of the other caves you may:
• Approach either the smallest cave...
• ... or the farthest cave...
• Otherwise, you can venture inside this cave.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:17 pm

...I feel like fighting that dog.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:06 am

Sure, why not?

(Sorry for being slow to respond. I could've sworn I replied to this.)

angelfromanotherpin · Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:59 am

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? √
• Try the middle cave?
• Try the far cave?

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

• Enter with weapon drawn?
Or cast a spell?
• DOC
• FAR
• HOW
• YAP
• KIN

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:02 am

YAP is worth trying.
(edit: it might as well be "lol its just wind i troll u", what with the vague "sounded as though it came from a hound" simile, but it's better to spend 1 stamina on maybe-reassuring a monster we're friendly than 6-8 stamina fighting said monster).

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 12:19 pm

Agreed.

angelfromanotherpin · Fri Apr 18, 2014 12:40 pm

Deduct 1 STAMINA point. If you have a Green-Haired Wig...

You place the Wig on your head and cast your spell. Again, the howling comes from inside the cave, but this time its tons form sounds which take on their own meanings. Something inside is protecting its home! You talk to it and discover that it is a JIB-JIB. These creatures are small and harmless, but their defence is a powerful voice which makes them sound ferocious. You tell the little beast that you intend to enter his cave to spend the night. A scurrying is followed by a rush as a small ball of fur, the size of a cabbage, races out of the cave into the undergrowth. You climb inside the cave, which is quite shallow.

• Do you want to eat a meal?
• Get down on all fours and explore the back of the cave?
• Or just settle down and sleep for the night?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 12:55 pm

Would there have been an epic Jib-Jib fight scene if we had entered with weapon drawn? Anyhow, let's explore.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 4:55 pm

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.

• Do you want to risk opening the bottle?
• Or not?

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:35 pm

Open it.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 8:55 pm

Open.

angelfromanotherpin · Sat Apr 19, 2014 10:56 pm

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. You may take this with you on your journey if you wish, to try to fund someone who can interpret it for you. When you first meet someone whom you would like to ask about this parchment, deduct 20 from the reference number you are on at the time and turn to this new reference. If that person knows how to translate the parchment, the text will make sense. If that person does not know how to translate it, the text will be meaningless to your situation.

If you have any food with you, you may now eat. If you have not yet eaten today, you will gain 2 STAMINA points for this meal. If you have already eaten you will gain only 1 STAMINA point. Make the necessary adjustments on your Adventure Sheet and prepare to settle down to sleep for the night.

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. You may add 2 STAMINA points for the rest. If you did not eat at all yesterday, you must deduct 3 STAMINA points, as you are now hungry. 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.

• Right?
• Left?

Name: Fletch Beckett
SKILL: 9
STAMINA: 23
LUCK: 13
Favor of Libra: √

Backpack
Bag of Teeth (1 Goblin, 1 Giant)
Beeswax
Torch
Tinderbox
Gold-Backed Mirror
Incomprehensible Parchment Scroll
Green-Haired Wig
Bracelet of Bone
Serpent Ring
Galehorn
Chakram
Vial of Yellow Powder
Crystal Orb
Pearl Ring (worth 10 gp in trade)
Brass Pendulum
2 Provisions
Mail Shirt (+1 SKILL, DR 1 on a 5+)
Snake-Bite Antidote
Hewing Axe (-2 CS)
Vial (for Sleepless Ram)
Sand
Stone Dust x2
7 Pebbles
Jewel-Studded Medallion
Calling-whistle
Potion (cures disease)
Other Incomprehensible Parchment (-20)

I'm pretty sure we were still fed from last book.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 1:18 am

Let's cross the bridge; we can levitate if it tries to fall apart on us.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:16 pm

You follow the path along to the rope bridge. Examining it, you find it looks strong enough to hold you, but it sways about dangerously as you step on to it. The gully it spans is deep and a fall from the bridge would certainly kill you. Test your Luck.

7 is Lucky.

You manage to hold on as the bridge sways under your weight. When you reach the other side you breathe a sigh of relief and continue along the trail.

The trail winds up the mountainside and you follow it until a sight ahead makes you stop. To the left, higher up the rocky cliffs, is a strange structure made out of twigs, branches and moss. This looks like a huge bird's-nest perched on a ledge.

• Climb up the side of the mountain to investigate it?
• Ignore it and continue along the path?

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:16 pm

You follow the path along to the rope bridge. Examining it, you find it looks strong enough to hold you, but it sways about dangerously as you step on to it. The gully it spans is deep and a fall from the bridge would certainly kill you. Test your Luck.

7 is Lucky.

You manage to hold on as the bridge sways under your weight. When you reach the other side you breathe a sigh of relief and continue along the trail.

The trail winds up the mountainside and you follow it until a sight ahead makes you stop. To the left, higher up the rocky cliffs, is a strange structure made out of twigs, branches and moss. This looks like a huge bird's-nest perched on a ledge.

• Climb up the side of the mountain to investigate it?
• Ignore it and continue along the path?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:10 pm

Investigate.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 10:31 am

Climb up there.

angelfromanotherpin · Tue Apr 22, 2014 11:08 am

There is no trail leading up to the great nest. You must climb up the rock-face, taking care not to let any of your belongings fall. A couple of times your foot slips and sends a cascade of small pebbles down to the path below, but eventually you reach the ledge. As it seemed earlier, the nest is like a huge eyrie, but with nooks and crannies where objects could be hidden.

• Investigate the possible hiding-places?
• Or think not so much about possible treasures but more about what may live in this giant nest? And then climb back down to the path and continue your journey?

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 11:10 am

Search for phat loot. That's why we climbed up here, after all.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 11:58 am

Clear out the place.

angelfromanotherpin · Tue Apr 22, 2014 12:13 pm

You climb into the nest and start your search. Something glinting in the sunlight catches your attention. From underneath a small pile of twigs you pull a shimmering mirror with a golden back! Hastily, you place this in your backpack and look around for any more treasures.

But you are so preoccupied with your search that you do not notice the danger approaching. Finally, the flurry of flapping wings makes you spin round. Standing on the edge of the nest and casting a shadow across you are three man-sized creatures with long feathered wings. Their hair is wild, and sharp, hooked beaks project from their faces. Vicious talons protrude from their hands and feet. BIRDMEN! You curse silently; you should have recognized the signs. Xamen Birdmen are among the most hated and feared creatures known in the Zanzunus. One of them beats his wings and springs into the air. The others follow suit. Together they descend on you before you have a chance to react. Their sharp talons dig into your flesh and they lift you into the air. With a loud call, they drop you onto the path. From this height, your death is certain. And the pain in your shoulder makes it impossible for you to concentrate on a spell. Your journey has come to an end...

Ugh, such bullshit. 'Hey, a totally manageable number of enemies wtfpwn you, and your magic doesn't work for reasons, even though you have totally cast under worse circumstances before.'

Fortunately, nothing's happened that wasn't deterministic, so after the save restore, we can come right back here and just not search the nest. Or we can go the other way and not cross the rope bridge.

• Don't search the nest?
• Don't cross the bridge?

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 12:16 pm

Don't search the nest.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 12:19 pm

Since the nest is plain useless, let's try not crossing the bridge, maybe there's a positive encounter that way. (It also saves us a Luck point.)

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:28 pm

Agreed with Starmaker.

Goddamnit UK Steve, I was just thinking about how good you were being about not having lots of bullshit auto-deaths in this series (although it did have the single most bullshit auto-death ever back in book 1.)