[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 53 – Spellbreaker

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered; Ariel Faust Constantine will do as the outlaw says but with the intention of tricking her.

232
You lay down your sword and, pulling the purse containing your gold (or lack of it) from your backpack, toss it in front of you on to the road. Just as you hoped, the leader of the outlaws jumps down from the branch to pick up the purse. Now is your chance to secure your freedom. With lightning speed, you pick up your sword and dash at the woman in the hopes of taking her hostage. Test your Skill. If you are successful, turn to 253. If you fail, turn to 363.

Rolling the dice yielded a 3, which is obviously less than Ariel Faust Constantine’s Skill, so she is successful in taking the woman hostage.

253
Before she can even reach the money, you grab the outlaw and twist her arm behind her back while you press your sword against her neck. You tell the rogues to drop their weapons, but you spin around as you hear another of the brigands trying to creep up on you. You do not react in time, however, to stop the club making contact with your shoulder (lose 2 STAMINA points). Turn to 312.

312
In an instant you are surrounded by the band of outlaws. If you have their leader as a hostage, you manage to dispatch two of your attackers using the woman as a shield, before she frees herself from your grasp. Roll one die. If you roll 1-2, you trip up one rogue, sending him flying into his companion, leaving the two stunned. If you roll 3-4, you knock out one opponent with your sword hilt. Any outlaws you deal with come from the top of the list below. You must fight the remaining outlaws, two at a time.

VETERAN BRIGAND SKILL 8 STAMINA 6
SCARRED RUFFIAN SKILL 6 STAMINA 7
DWARF ROGUE SKILL 6 STAMINA 5
STAFF-WIELDING OUTLAW SKILL 8 STAMINA 7
BLACKGUARD SKILL 7 STAMINA 5
OUTLAW LEADER SKILL 7 STAMINA 7

If you defeat the other outlaws and reduce the Outlaw Leader’s STAMINA to 3 points or less, turn to 223.

Rolling the die yielded a 5, so only the top two attackers are dispatched due to taking the outlaw leader hostage.

The fights:
[spoiler](Dwarf Rogue and Staff-Wielding Outlaw, targeting Staff-Wielding Outlaw)
Round 1: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 20, Staff-Wielding Outlaw Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 16;
Staff-Wielding Outlaw Stamina: 7, Player Stamina: 16
Round 2: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 19, Staff-Wielding Outlaw Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 22;
Staff-Wielding Outlaw Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 16
Round 3: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 14, Player Attack Strength: 20, Staff-Wielding Outlaw Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 24;
Staff-Wielding Outlaw Stamina: 3, Player Stamina: 16
Round 4: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 23, Staff-Wielding Outlaw Attack Strength: 11, Player Attack Strength: 23;
Staff-Wielding Outlaw Stamina: 1, Player Stamina: 16
Round 5: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 18, Staff-Wielding Outlaw Attack Strength: 12, Player Attack Strength: 18;
Staff-Wielding Outlaw Stamina: -1, Player Stamina: 16

(Dwarf Rogue and Blackguard, targeting Blackguard)
Round 1: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 16, Blackguard Attack Strength: 14, Player Attack Strength: 20;
Blackguard Stamina: 3, Player Stamina: 14
Round 2: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 11, Player Attack Strength: 19, Blackguard Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 15;
Blackguard Stamina: 3, Player Stamina: 12
Round 3: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 10, Player Attack Strength: 20, Blackguard Attack Strength: 12, Player Attack Strength: 20;
Blackguard Stamina: 1, Player Stamina: 12
Round 4: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 12, Player Attack Strength: 19, Blackguard Attack Strength: 14, Player Attack Strength: 22;
Blackguard Stamina: -1, Player Stamina: 12

(Dwarf Rogue and Outlaw Leader, targeting Dwarf Rogue)
Round 1: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 11, Player Attack Strength: 21, Outlaw Leader Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 19;
Dwarf Rogue Stamina: 3, Player Stamina: 12
Round 2: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 17, Outlaw Leader Attack Strength: 19, Player Attack Strength: 15;
Dwarf Rogue Stamina: 1, Player Stamina: 10
Round 3: Dwarf Rogue Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 19, Outlaw Leader Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 21;
Dwarf Rogue Stamina: -1, Player Stamina: 10

(Targeting Outlaw Leader)
Round 4: Outlaw Leader Attack Strength: 14, Player Attack Strength: 22;
Outlaw Leader Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 10
Round 5: Outlaw Leader Attack Strength: 14, Player Attack Strength: 19;
Outlaw Leader Stamina: 3, Player Stamina: 10
Outlaw Leader’s Stamina is now at 3[/spoiler]

Ariel Faust Constantine loses 8 Stamina from several lucky blows from her opponents before she kills all the outlaws except the Outlaw Leader and reduces the Outlaw Leader’s Stamina to 3.

223
You prepare to deliver the final blow when the outlaw blurts out, ‘The Mask will hear about this! You’ll never get out of the forest alive!’ Who was that she mentioned? If you want to press the woman for more information about the Mask, turn to 26. If you do not, ignoring her threats you dispatch the outlaw; turn to 158.

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

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Ariel Faust Constantine
SKILL: 13 Initial Skill = 13
STAMINA: 10 Initial Stamina = 24
LUCK: 10 Initial Luck = 12
FAITH: 9
GOLD PIECES: 6
PROVISIONS: 9
INFECTION: 0
Turn to 13 if INFECTION is 15 or more
EQUIPMENT AND TREASURE:
Sword
Lantern
Tinderbox
Backpack
Silver Key With ‘252’ Engraved
Shroud
Falcon
Protective Leather Gauntlet
Scarlet Lady
Drake Nettle
Ilithorn Rose
Phoenix Grass
Charmed Pipes
Jar of Powder
Golden Sickle
Skullsgrig
Shield
Notes:
Knows Demonic Word of Command
Say ‘One, two, away’ to send a falcon with SKILL 7 STAMINA 5 against an opponent
Reduce any additions to INFECTION by 1 point
RESURRECTIONS: 4[/spoiler]

[Beroli]

Ask for more details about the Mask.

[Omegonthesane]

Mask who?

...Ask about the Mask, because inevitably we're going to get fucked for not having poked every blind alley.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, get more information about the Mask.

[JourneymanN00b]

Pressing the woman for more information about the Mask received 3 votes, so Ariel Faust Constantine will proceed to do that.

26
In sheer panic she tells you everything. The Mask is the leader of all the outlaws and brigands who frequent the forest. Some, like her, act as his lieutenants, patrolling the roads and paths of the forest with their own bands on the lookout for suitable victims to rob. The Mask himself returned from just such an excursion round Hallow’s Well last night and is now back in the outlaw camp which she tells you how to reach. After tying up the outlaw, you must decide whether to make the diversion and go after the Mask (turn to 149), or press on in search of the Black Grimoire (turn to 158).

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

[Queen of Swords]

Go after the Mask. Also, eat a meal.

[Omegonthesane]

no missed sidequest ever goes unpunished; go clear out the bandit camp.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered, Ariel Faust Constantine will make the diversion and go after the Mask, and to eat a meal.

149
Swathing yourself in one of the outlaws’ dark robes you set off, following the woman’s directions. The overgrown pathways twist and turn, taking you deeper into the dense woodland. Suddenly you hear an owl hooting in the trees near by – but it is still the middle of the day! Will you carry on along the path (turn to 178) or try to imitate the call before proceeding (turn to 281)?

[spoiler][/spoiler]

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

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Ariel Faust Constantine
SKILL: 13 Initial Skill = 13
STAMINA: 14 Initial Stamina = 24
LUCK: 10 Initial Luck = 12
FAITH: 9
GOLD PIECES: 6
PROVISIONS: 8
INFECTION: 0
Turn to 13 if INFECTION is 15 or more
EQUIPMENT AND TREASURE:
Sword
Lantern
Tinderbox
Backpack
Silver Key With ‘252’ Engraved
Shroud
Falcon
Protective Leather Gauntlet
Scarlet Lady
Drake Nettle
Ilithorn Rose
Phoenix Grass
Charmed Pipes
Jar of Powder
Golden Sickle
Skullsgrig
Shield
Notes:
Knows Demonic Word of Command
Say ‘One, two, away’ to send a falcon with SKILL 7 STAMINA 5 against an opponent
Reduce any additions to INFECTION by 1 point
RESURRECTIONS: 4[/spoiler]

[Beroli]

Imitate the call. Worst that can happen is that we'll give away our location to bandits who already suspect we're the enemy.

[Queen of Swords]

Sure, let’s do that.

[Omegonthesane]

do an aminal impersonation

[JourneymanN00b]

Trying to imitate the call before proceeding received 3 votes, so Ariel Faust Constantine will attempt this.

281
You manage a fair impression of an owl hooting by cupping a hand round your mouth. The bird-call you heard was made by one of the Mask’s lookouts. The outlaws know they must reply to the signal, since anyone who does not hoot back must be a trespasser and all trespassers are killed on sight. Restore 1 LUCK point.

At least the trees thin out and you enter a large clearing. Before you is the Mask’s camp, built inside the ruins of a walled outpost. You reach the wall without being noticed and, using creepers growing between the stones to help you, easily climb up to the battlements. Making sure that no one can see you, you survey the area. To your right is the main gate, flanked by guard towers. Beyond that, inside the wall, are the stables and standing beside them is a cart full of hay. In the middle of the camp is a well and to your left are the remains of a small keep. The only other people visible are a group of brigands, sharpening their swords and knives, on the other side of the courtyard. Most of the outlaws must be out patrolling the forest. You drop down silently from the wall and consider your next move. Will you make directly for the keep (turn to 227) or first try to cause a distraction in order to divert attention away from your actions (turn to 315)?

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

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Ariel Faust Constantine
SKILL: 13 Initial Skill = 13
STAMINA: 14 Initial Stamina = 24
LUCK: 11 Initial Luck = 12
FAITH: 9
GOLD PIECES: 6
PROVISIONS: 8
INFECTION: 0
Turn to 13 if INFECTION is 15 or more
EQUIPMENT AND TREASURE:
Sword
Lantern
Tinderbox
Backpack
Silver Key With ‘252’ Engraved
Shroud
Falcon
Protective Leather Gauntlet
Scarlet Lady
Drake Nettle
Ilithorn Rose
Phoenix Grass
Charmed Pipes
Jar of Powder
Golden Sickle
Skullsgrig
Shield
Notes:
Knows Demonic Word of Command
Say ‘One, two, away’ to send a falcon with SKILL 7 STAMINA 5 against an opponent
Reduce any additions to INFECTION by 1 point
RESURRECTIONS: 4[/spoiler]

[SGamerz]

Try to cause a distraction.

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, distraction sounds best.

[Queen of Swords]

Agreed, cause a distraction.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes acknowledged; Ariel Faust Constantine will first try to cause a distraction in order to divert attention away from her actions.

315
That cartload of hay next to the stables should be ideal – if only you can set fire to it! No one at the gate takes any notice of you as you stroll towards the stables, dressed as one of their own. Just as you reach the cart, a large, bearded man steps out of the stables. Test your Luck. If you are Lucky, turn to 70. If you are Unlucky, turn to 154.

Rolling the dice yielded a 5, which means that Ariel Faust Constantine was Lucky.

70
Using the tinderbox used to light your lantern, you set fire to the hay in the cart. From a safe distance you watch as the haycart becomes a blazing conflagration in seconds and the fire spreads to the stables. Horses break free of their stalls while panic-stricken outlaws run around in the courtyard, trying to douse the flames. With all this confusion going on round you, it is an easy matter to enter the keep undetected. Turn to 125.

125
Your search at last brings you to a stone spiral staircase that climbs up into the keep. At the top is a short corridor leading left and right, ending in a door both ways. Will you go through the door to the left (turn to 381) or the door to the right (turn to 215)?

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

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Ariel Faust Constantine
SKILL: 13 Initial Skill = 13
STAMINA: 14 Initial Stamina = 24
LUCK: 10 Initial Luck = 12
FAITH: 9
GOLD PIECES: 6
PROVISIONS: 8
INFECTION: 0
Turn to 13 if INFECTION is 15 or more
EQUIPMENT AND TREASURE:
Sword
Lantern
Tinderbox
Backpack
Silver Key With ‘252’ Engraved
Shroud
Falcon
Protective Leather Gauntlet
Scarlet Lady
Drake Nettle
Ilithorn Rose
Phoenix Grass
Charmed Pipes
Jar of Powder
Golden Sickle
Skullsgrig
Shield
Notes:
Knows Demonic Word of Command
Say ‘One, two, away’ to send a falcon with SKILL 7 STAMINA 5 against an opponent
Reduce any additions to INFECTION by 1 point
RESURRECTIONS: 4[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Try the left door.

[Omegonthesane]

reject fascism, turn left

[Thaluikhain]

Ugh, blind choices again, go left.

[SGamerz]

We're looking for the Mask, and he sounds like the fascist type. Right.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes counted; Ariel Faust Constantine will go through the door to the left, as that won over going through the door to the right by a 3-1 vote.

381
Sword in hand, you kick open the door. You enter a small room but, instead of finding the Mask, you have found his second-in-command. The Master Brigand picks up two curved swords from a table and whirls them dexterously round his head, one in each hand. Because this opponent uses two swords, he has two attacks each Attack Round to your one, as if you were fighting two opponents.

MASTER BRIGAND       SKILL 10       STAMINA 9

If you win, back in the corridor you try the other door. Turn to 215.

Important Note: The Wizard publication has reduced the Master Brigand’s Skill from 10 to 9, and his Stamina from 9 to 8. These changes will be applied in Ariel Faust Constantine’s battle with the Master Brigand.

The fight:
[spoiler](Only the Player’s Attack Strength 1 counts for dealing damage to the Master Brigand)
Round 1: Master Brigand’s Attack Strength 1: 18, Player Attack Strength 1: 22, Master Brigand’s Attack Strength 2: 17, Player Attack Strength 2: 24;
Master Brigand Stamina: 6, Player Stamina: 14
Round 2: Master Brigand’s Attack Strength 1: 14, Player Attack Strength 1: 18, Master Brigand’s Attack Strength 2: 13, Player Attack Strength 2: 19;
Master Brigand Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 14
Round 3: Master Brigand’s Attack Strength 1: 14, Player Attack Strength 1: 18, Master Brigand’s Attack Strength 2: 15, Player Attack Strength 2: 20;
Master Brigand Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 14
Round 4: Master Brigand’s Attack Strength 1: 18, Player Attack Strength 1: 20, Master Brigand’s Attack Strength 2: 17, Player Attack Strength 2: 18;
Master Brigand Stamina: 0, Player Stamina: 14[/spoiler]

Ariel Faust Constantine flawlessly kills the Master Brigand.

215
[spoiler][/spoiler]

Bursting into the lavishly furnished tower room, you catch its occupant off guard; he is counting his ill-gotten booty at a large oak table. The man looks up at your rude interruption. He is wearing a long black cloak and under his hood is an iron face-plate – the Mask! ‘So, we have an intruder in our midst, or perhaps you are a spy!’ he says, drawing a sword which glows with a faint blue light from its scabbard with a gauntlet-clad hand. ‘Fool, you shall pay for your audacity with your life!’

THE MASK       SKILL 11       STAMINA 12

If you defeat the devious outlaw, turn to 351.

Important Note: The Wizard publication has reduced the Mask’s Skill from 11 to 10, and this change will be applied in Ariel Faust Constantine’s battle with the Mask.

The fight:
[spoiler]Round 1: The Mask Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 18;
The Mask Stamina: 10, Player Stamina: 14
Round 2: The Mask Attack Strength: 18, Player Attack Strength: 20;
The Mask Stamina: 8, Player Stamina: 14
Round 3: The Mask Attack Strength: 14, Player Attack Strength: 18;
The Mask Stamina: 6, Player Stamina: 14
Round 4: The Mask Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 17;
The Mask Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 14
Round 5: The Mask Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 15;
The Mask Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 12
Round 6: The Mask Attack Strength: 18, Player Attack Strength: 25;
The Mask Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 12
Round 7: The Mask Attack Strength: 19, Player Attack Strength: 19;
The Mask Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 12
Round 8: The Mask Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 20;
The Mask Stamina: 0, Player Stamina: 12[/spoiler]

Ariel Faust Constantine kills The Mask, who manages to land a single blow of 2 Stamina damage before giving up the ghost like his second-in-command did.

351
Your victory will bring peace to many of the villages in the area and make the roads at least a little safer for travellers and pilgrims. You take a moment to look more closely at the Mask’s incredible sword. The weapon has been finely crafted and the blade is engraved with strange runes. You pick up the sword and once more it starts to glow with a faint blue light. Reading the runes, you see that they spell out a name: Deliverer! The magical weapon you now hold in your hands is the legendary Blessed Blade of the warrior-priest, Gwythain the Protector. Add 2 FAITH points and restore 1 LUCK point for your find. You may also add 1 SKILL point to your current and Initial SKILL scores while you are using Deliverer. Curiosity finally gets the better of you and you lift the iron mask from the dead man’s face. What you see beneath makes you recoil in revulsion. The Mask’s face is terribly disfigured by scars and burns, and its left side is skull-like in appearance. Not wishing to stay in the outlaws’ camp any longer, you prepare to leave, but not before pocketing some of the Mask’s booty for your trouble. Roll one die and add 6. This is the number of Gold Pieces you are able to pick up. Lying among the treasure on the table is an ornately carved, dark wooden box with a silver lock. If you have a silver key on a chain, turn to the number engraved on it. If you do not have the key, no matter how hard you try the box seems to be protected in some way and cannot be forced open (turn to 373).

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Rolling the die and applying the modification yielded a 9, which is how many Gold Pieces Ariel Faust Constantine picks up.

Ariel Faust Constantine does have a silver key on a chain, so we will turn to paragraph 252.

252
Remembering Lady Attana of Ide’s request, you pick up the jewellry box and, turning the key in the lock, find it opens easily. Inside is a necklace of Elven prayer-beads. You take the necklace, as Lady Attana said you could, and feel their power (add 1 to your FAITH). Turn to 373.

373
You decide it would be too dangerous to make your way back through the keep, since the outlaws will doubles have been alerted to your presence, so you look for an alternative exit. The only one you can find is the window. There are no tress growing within jumping distance so, carefully trying to assess how far above the ground you are, you drop from the window. Test your Skill. If you succeed, you land fairly safely, suffering only minor bruising (lose 2 STAMINA points). If you fail, unable to control your fall you hit the ground painfully, hurting your shoulder and your back (lose 4 STAMINA points and 1 SKILL point). If you are still alive, you follow the outlaw’s directions again, this time away from the camp. Back on the road, and having discarded your disguise, after two hours you reach the village of Fenford. Turn to 100.

Rolling the dice yielded an 11, which is obviously less than Ariel Faust Constantine’s Skill, so she lands fairly safely and suffers only minor bruising.

100
It has gone midday when you enter the village of Fenford. The sky remains cloudy and grey, and the whole village seems very quiet. You may rest here to eat Provisions if you wish. In the middle of the village is an inn, the Brindled Cat; perhaps someone there can help you in your search for the Black Grimoire. Will you enter the Brindled Cat (turn to 34) or will you pass straight through and leave the village (turn to 48)?

[spoiler][/spoiler]

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

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Ariel Faust Constantine
SKILL: 14 Initial Skill = 14
STAMINA: 10 Initial Stamina = 24
LUCK: 11 Initial Luck = 12
FAITH: 12
GOLD PIECES: 15
PROVISIONS: 8
INFECTION: 0
Turn to 13 if INFECTION is 15 or more
EQUIPMENT AND TREASURE:
Sword
Lantern
Tinderbox
Backpack
Silver Key With ‘252’ Engraved
Shroud
Falcon
Protective Leather Gauntlet
Scarlet Lady
Drake Nettle
Ilithorn Rose
Phoenix Grass
Charmed Pipes
Jar of Powder
Golden Sickle
Skullsgrig
Shield
Deliverer
Necklace of Elven Prayer-Beads
Notes:
Knows Demonic Word of Command
Say ‘One, two, away’ to send a falcon with SKILL 7 STAMINA 5 against an opponent
Reduce any additions to INFECTION by 1 point
RESURRECTIONS: 4[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Eat a meal, then go to the inn.

[Thaluikhain]

Hmm, think we should eat two meals and then go to the inn.

Also, without the +1 sword, the Mask seems less impressive that the dual sword wielding Master Bandit.

[SGamerz]

Since we're going into an inn, we may have the chance to eat anyway, so I say just 1 meal for now.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Eat a meal and go to the inn.