Since nobody voted, Ben Richards will charge the door open with his shoulder.
91
Roll two dice. If the total is the same as or less than your SKILL, turn to 332. If the total is greater than your SKILL, turn to 357.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
Rolling the dice yielded a 7, which is less than Ben Richards’ skill, to nobody’s surprise.
332
You stand back before throwing your full weight against the door. It bursts open and you draw your sword and step into the darkness before you. Turn to 219.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
219
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
The temperature inside the derelict room is much lower than in the tunnel. You begin to shiver as soon as you step into the room, and you can see your breath hanging in clouds in the cold air. In the far wall of the room you see a large tunnel entrance from which you can hear the sound of slow footsteps coming towards you and a long, low hissing sound. You stand your ground, sword in hand, as a hideous beast enters the room. It has a bloated green stomach, like that of a huge toad, and a grotesque, misshapen head supported by a blubbery neck. It has a circular, extended mouth, whose fat purple lips surround rows of sharp teeth: the beast slices its prey and then sucks the innards out. Fresh intestines are the delicacy of the Coldclaw, and it intends to eat yours as punishment for entering its lair.
COLDCLAW SKILL 10 STAMINA 11
As the vile beast lumbers towards you, the temperature appears to drop even further. Reduce your SKILL score by 1 for this combat only. If you win, turn to 252.
The fight:
[spoiler]Round 1: Coldclaw Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 18;
Coldclaw Stamina: 9, Player Stamina: 12
Round 2: Coldclaw Attack Strength: 14, Player Attack Strength: 15;
Coldclaw Stamina: 7, Player Stamina: 12
Round 3: Coldclaw Attack Strength: 19, Player Attack Strength: 17;
Coldclaw Stamina: 7, Player Stamina: 10
Round 4: Coldclaw Attack Strength: 18, Player Attack Strength: 18;
Coldclaw Stamina: 7, Player Stamina: 10
Round 5: Coldclaw Attack Strength: 13, Player Attack Strength: 14;
Coldclaw Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 10
Round 6: Coldclaw Attack Strength: 18, Player Attack Strength: 14;
Coldclaw Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 8
Round 7: Coldclaw Attack Strength: 21, Player Attack Strength: 20;
Coldclaw Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 6[/spoiler]
Due to some poor luck, Ben Richards’ Stamina is now reduced to 6, while the Coldclaw is at 5 Stamina. Should Luck should be used to improve our hero’s chances of surviving the rest of the fight? If so, should we use it to reduce the damage that Ben Richards takes or to inflict additional damage?
The first choice to receive a 2-vote majority will be used to resolve the rest of the battle. If no choice has a winning margin before 9:00 AM PDT, I will make the choice based on which votes are cast.
Adventure Sheet:
[spoiler]Ben Richards
SKILL: 12
Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 6
Initial Stamina = 21
LUCK: 7
Initial Luck = 11
NOTES AND ITEMS:
Sword
Leather Pouch
1 Gold Ring
Bone Medallion
Phial of Red Dust (turn to paragraph 238 to use)
BOONS:
2 Rewinds
2 Restorations
2 Extra Gold Rings[/spoiler]