[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 53 – Spellbreaker

[Thaluikhain]

Oh, relics, check those out.

[JourneymanN00b]

Taking a closer look at this stall received 3 votes, so Ariel Faust Constantine will check it out.

80
As you approach the stall, the vendor behind it rubs his hands together greedily and under his hood you see pointed ears. The half-Elf welcomes you and eagerly explains what relics he has for sale. ‘In this casket,’ he says, pointing to an ornate reliquary, ‘rest the bones of a sage from the Cloudcap Mountains. Many sought his advice, and his wisdom may be imparted to you through his remains.’ The man holds up a tapestry embroidered with threads of all colours, including silver and gold. It depicts a group of pilgrims undergoing many trials on their journey to a sacred shrine. ‘This was made by a wife and daughter to celebrate the husband’s perilous, but ultimately successful, pilgrimage to the shrine of Achilla at the edge of Lake Libra in Analand.’ He also points out a bottle containing the blood of a priest, the small, pocket-sized portrait of a bishop, a fragment of the shroud of Aline the Innocent (which looks suspiciously like an old piece of linen) and a yellow topaz pendant. After you have bought what you want, turn to the appropriate paragraphs to find out what you now possess.

Sage’s bones       20 Gold Pieces       Turn to 140
Analand tapestry       15 Gold Pieces       Turn to 244
Priest’s blood       8 Gold Pieces       Turn to 398
Bishop’s portrait       6 Gold Pieces       Turn to 303
Shroud       3 Gold Pieces       Turn to 197
Topaz pendant       12 Gold Pieces       Turn to 16

When you have finished at this stall, you continue to make your way round the market. Turn to 218.

218
The next stall is owned by a falconer, who at present is involved in selling an eagle to a visiting noble. If you are interested in purchasing a hawk, turn to 235. If not, you move on to see what the next vendor has to offer (turn to 365).

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Please make your votes on what to buy and whether to see about purchasing a hawk before 9:00 AM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to be sure that they will be counted.

[SGamerz]

The hawk is more interesting than all the items at the stall, but we don't know the price for that. Grrr...

Animal pets tend to cost quite a bit, and most of the stuff in the stalls look expensive too. I vote to just buy the shroud, and check out the hawk.

[Queen of Swords]

Sage's bones, 20 GP? For that much I'd want the entire sage.

I'm fine with SGamerz's plan, which will leave us with 23 GP to spend on the hawk and on any other items that we need.

[Darth Rabbitt]

I’ll agree to that plan.

[JourneymanN00b]

Buying the shroud and showing interest in purchasing the hawk received 3 votes, so Ariel Faust Constantine will do that.

197
Without realizing it, the man really has sold you part of the shroud of the priestess Aline the Innocent, and already you can feel its power working (add 2 points to your FAITH score). Now return to 80.

235
When the falconer has finished dealing with the noble, he explains to you that you can buy a trained falcon, and a protective leather gauntlet, for 15 Gold Pieces. If you can afford this price and want to buy the bird, turn to 148. If you do not, you go on round the market (turn to 365).

Please make your votes before 9:00 AM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to be sure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Ariel Faust Constantine
SKILL: 12 Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 24 Initial Stamina = 24
LUCK: 12 Initial Luck = 12
FAITH: 5
GOLD PIECES: 23
PROVISIONS: 5
EQUIPMENT AND TREASURE:
Sword
Lantern
Tinderbox
Backpack
Aramance
Silver Key With ‘252’ Engraved
Shroud
Notes:
Knows Demonic Word of Command
RESURRECTIONS: 6[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Buy the bird (and hope like heck it's worth the price).

[Thaluikhain]

Buy the bird.

(Hmmm, if priest's blood is valuable, shame we didn't cut anyone at the monastery, or do monks not count?)

[SGamerz]

Buy the hawk!

[Darth Rabbitt]

Buy the hawk.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered; Ariel Faust Constantine will buy the bird.

148
You pay the falconer and he tells you that to send the falcon in pursuit of something you need only say, ‘One, two, away.’ In this way you can get the bird to help you fight against an opponent. The falcon has the attributes SKILL 7 STAMINA 5. The falcon has only one attack in a battle, but you can decide which opponent it will be against. The bird will fight only if you are doing so too. With a fine hawk perched on your shoulder you proudly move on to the next stall. Turn to 365.

365
[spoiler][/spoiler]

A gaudily painted sign over the next stall reads ‘Hemlock & Hogweed – Apothecaries’. The stall itself is crammed with bunches of herbs, jars and bottles, and a set of brass weighing scales. Two men are standing behind their wares with sickly smiles on their faces. The first is piggy-looking with beady little eyes. His companion is tall and thin and with a deathly appearance. ‘Hogweed, my dear chap, I do believe we have a customer,’ says the tall man, who you assume is Hemlock. If you want to see what Hemlock and Hogweed have to offer, turn to 160; otherwise, turn to 389.

Please make your votes before 6:00 PM PST to be sure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Ariel Faust Constantine
SKILL: 12 Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 24 Initial Stamina = 24
LUCK: 12 Initial Luck = 12
FAITH: 5
GOLD PIECES: 8
PROVISIONS: 5
EQUIPMENT AND TREASURE:
Sword
Lantern
Tinderbox
Backpack
Aramance
Silver Key With ‘252’ Engraved
Shroud
Falcon
Protective Leather Gauntlet
Notes:
Knows Demonic Word of Command
Say ‘One, two, away’ to send a falcon with SKILL 7 STAMINA 5 against an opponent
RESURRECTIONS: 6[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

It’s the second coming of Kilmarney and Hogg!

Let’s see what they have to offer.

[Darth Rabbitt]

See what they have to offer but do not drink anything they offer us while we’re in their shop.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes recognized; Ariel Faust Constantine will see what Hemlock and Hogweed have to offer.

160
You discover that bunches of common herbs cost 1 Gold Piece each, whereas bunches of rarer herbs cost 3 Gold Pieces each. The apothecaries also offer their own Healing Infusion for only 2 Gold Pieces; this, they claim, cures all maladies and agues. ‘We also do teeth-pulling and minor amputations,’ Hemlock adds cheerfully. If you are interested in the common herbs, turn to 290. To purchase some rarer herbs, turn to 113. If you want to buy a tot of Healing Infusion, turn to 35. If nothing here encourages you to part with your money, turn to 389.

Please make your votes before 9:00 AM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to be sure that they will be counted.

[Queen of Swords]

Oh, their infusion which cures everything under the sun is only 2 GP? Very plausible.

Check out their rare herbs first.

[SGamerz]

Yeah, the Healing Infusion is almost 100% fake. If there's any magical cure-all to be found in this city, I'd bet it's water from that Healing Well that was mentioned earlier.

While they're probably 90% conmen they probably do have some genuine stuff to keep in business. I think look at the common herbs first, since they're likely to cost the least so we won't lose much money even if we're conned. But I'm fine with looking at rare herbs too, since it doesn't look like we'll be obligated to buy anything.

[Darth Rabbitt]

The common herbs just suggest we’re showing interest in them while the rare herbs suggest we’re just buying. Get the ones it sounds like we can look over before buying.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes counted, Ariel Faust Constantine will show interest in the common herbs, since that won over the rare herbs by a 2-1 votes.

290
The common herbs for sale are the following: Madder, used in potions known to physicians as ‘wound drinks’ because it stops bleeding and prevents inflammation; Belladonna, a tried and tested protection against the bite of were-creatures; Scarlet Lady, often burnt as an incense; and Drake Nettle, used in some fire protections. You may buy as many bunches of herbs as you like, at 1 Gold Piece per bunch, as long as you can afford them. When you are ready, you can also buy some rarer herbs (turn to 113), or a tot of Healing Infusion (turn to 35), or leave the apothecaries’ stall (turn to 389).

Please make your votes before 6:00 PM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to be sure that they will be counted.

[Queen of Swords]

We only have 8 GP, so I vote for Scarlet Lady and Drake Nettle, which should leave 6 GP for the rare herbs.

[JourneymanN00b]

Vote registered, Ariel Faust Constantine will buy a bunch of Scarlet Lady and a bunch of Drake Nettle. I assume from the previous posts that the next step will be to go buy some rarer herbs, so Ariel Faust Constantine will do this.

113
Rarer herbs on offer include Phoenix Grass, a red-and-orange-coloured herb from Far Analand; Tagrin, to ward off contagion; and Sprite Weed, to enhance magical performance. You may buy as many bunches of herbs as you like, at 3 Gold Pieces a bunch, provided you can afford them. When you are ready, turn to 290 to buy some common herbs, or turn to 35 to purchase a tot of Healing Infusion. If you want neither, turn to 389.

Important Note: In addition to the herbs offered here, I will also have Hogweed offer Ariel Faust Constantine a special bundle of an Ilithorn rose and a gourd of Heal-all. When our hero questions the offer, citing the Healing Infusion that Hemlock and Hogweed are peddling, Hogweed quickly replies that the Healing Infusion is reserved for the common folk. “For an adventure who has got a Demon killing thing about you, you are going to need something much stronger, and that is where the Heal-all comes in. It will cure any malady and ague with great haste, and leave the drinker more powerful than before. Also, this white flower you see here is a very rare and sacred plant. Those Earth-mother initiates treat this beautiful plant like a goddess, and it is bound to help a strong lady like yourself at some time or another. I am loathe to part with these items, but since both of us honestly need the Gold Pieces, I am offering this bundle to you with the absolute low price of 3 Gold Pieces! Here, put your hand over the gourd to feel how powerful it is.” Upon doing so, Ariel Faust Constantine does feel a powerful sense of Goodness emanating from the gourd. Hemlock quickly closes the box containing the Ilithorn rose and Heal-all gourd, saying, “You touch it, you buy it!” Touching the Heal-all gourd will give our hero 3 Faith points, but will also cost her two resurrections, as Hogweed has enchanted the Heal-all to drain the owner’s spiritual force for the Heal-all waters to work their magic.

Now, I am providing this alternate option because the Ilithorn rose and Heal-all are powerful, yet easy to miss, items in this adventure. I also believe that it is somewhat credible for our Hemlock and Hogweed to sell these rare items to try to empty the pockets of any reluctant customer who enters their store, from a storytelling perspective.

Please make your votes on what to buy before 8:00 AM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to be sure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Ariel Faust Constantine
SKILL: 12 Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 24 Initial Stamina = 24
LUCK: 12 Initial Luck = 12
FAITH: 5
GOLD PIECES: 6
PROVISIONS: 5
EQUIPMENT AND TREASURE:
Sword
Lantern
Tinderbox
Backpack
Aramance
Silver Key With ‘252’ Engraved
Shroud
Falcon
Protective Leather Gauntlet
Scarlet Lady
Drake Nettle
Notes:
Knows Demonic Word of Command
Say ‘One, two, away’ to send a falcon with SKILL 7 STAMINA 5 against an opponent
RESURRECTIONS: 6[/spoiler]

[SGamerz]

Pay for the Heal-all, and also a bundle of Phoenix Grass.

[Queen of Swords]

Agree with SGamerz.

[Beroli]

In other words, we already missed something vital and can sacrifice resurrections or die inevitably.

Certainly, buy the Heal-all.

[JourneymanN00b]

Paying for the Heal-all bundle received 3 votes, so Ariel Faust Constantine will accept the offer and hand over the 3 Gold Pieces. Upon use, the Heal-all restores our hero’s Stamina and Skill levels to their Initial levels and restores up to 2 Luck points, unless the text states otherwise. This universal remedy can be used only once, but it can be used at any time except during combat.

Ariel Faust Constantine will also buy a bundle of Phoenix Grass, since there are 2 votes to do so. Since she has no more Gold Pieces left as a result of her purchases, we will turn to paragraph 389 to continue the story.

389
There is nothing else of interest to you in the Market Square, so you decide to leave. Will you now set off to the west (turn to 98) or the south (turn to 272)?

Please make your votes before 8:00 AM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to be sure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Ariel Faust Constantine
SKILL: 12 Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 24 Initial Stamina = 24
LUCK: 12 Initial Luck = 12
FAITH: 8
GOLD PIECES: 0
PROVISIONS: 5
EQUIPMENT AND TREASURE:
Sword
Lantern
Tinderbox
Backpack
Aramance
Silver Key With ‘252’ Engraved
Shroud
Falcon
Protective Leather Gauntlet
Scarlet Lady
Drake Nettle
Heal-all (restores Skill and Stamina to Initial levels and +2 Luck)
Ilithorn Rose
Phoenix Grass
Notes:
Knows Demonic Word of Command
Say ‘One, two, away’ to send a falcon with SKILL 7 STAMINA 5 against an opponent
RESURRECTIONS: 4[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Good thing we won that story competition, because the gold drain is worse than in Curse of the Mummy.

And we're supposed to go west, so west it is.