[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 17 - Appointment with F.E.A.R. (Take 2)

[Queen of Swords]

Might as well go shopping.

[SGamerz]

Strolling downtown, you stop first at the bank to get some cash. Next stop is a pizza parlour for a bite to eat. You take a stool facing out across Banner Street and watch the shoppers passing as you eat your pizza. On the far side of the road is a man you recognize. It is Drew Swain, a retired millionaire who made his fortune manufacturing the collection tins used by charities. He steps into a baker's shop; when he comes out, something strange happens. He takes a step forward and suddenly freezes, held like a statue in an off-balance pose. A blue van draws up and obscures your view. When the van drives off, Swain is gone! You saw it with you own eyes! But it happened so quickly that you are now a long way behind the kidnappers. Will you nip into the toilets in the back of the shop and change costume? If so, will you follow the van, or ask questions at the bakery? If you are determined to have an afternoon off and to do nothing, turn to 428.

Maybe we should do nothing and hope that this millionaire is secretly a Superhero himself and will summon his Bat Mobile to save himself?

[Queen of Swords]

Change costume and follow the van.

[Thaluikhain]

I like the option of not bothering, but yeah, change and follow.

[SGamerz]

You race down the street after the van. But by now it is long gone. Unless you have Super Strength, you are wasting your time. Turn to 428. If you have Super Strength, turn to 414.

The text did tell us that we're a long way behind the kidnappers, so it makes sense that the one with the power tp fly is the one who has a chance to pursue a speeding van. Kind of disappointing that ETS can't fashion any gadgets that helps to track down a vehicle though.

You resume your shopping-tour downtown. Will you make for 'Verging Records' to go and have a look at what new albums have come out recently, or will you have a look in the window of Epiphany's, the famous jeweller's?

And strangely the choice to ask questions at the bakery is now gone.

[Queen of Swords]

The jeweller's.

[Thaluikhain]

May as well.

(And, I did think the van would have gotten away, I was assuming that the book didn't. Ah well)

[SGamerz]

As you step up to Epiphany's window, you notice a familiar figure taking an unhealthy interest in the diamond rings - Porcelain Percy, so called because his punishment for once betraying a former boss was to have all his teeth filed down to the gums and they all had to be built up with porcelain caps. He stands aside nervously as you step up to the window. You play with him a little. Did he not have something to do with the smash-and-grab at De Lager's jeweller's last week. Wasn't he see talking to Timmy the Tongue? Maybe it would be better for all if you were to just hand him over to Big Ben and Slicer; it would save the police a lot of effort... Porcelain Percy starts to sweat profusely and agrees to give you some information if you will just forget you have even seen him. Apparently he knows that the Poisoner has plans which threaten the lives of all the inhabitants of Titan City. He also tells you more about what the Poisoner's plans are. If you find yourself searching for the Poisoner, deduct 30 from the reference you are on when you are given the opportunity, and turn to this new reference. You may add 1 LUCK point for this information. Then you allow the skinny little man to go home. The rest of the evening is uneventful and you get a good night's rest. You may add 6 STAMINA points.

STAMINA restore is a much-needed one.

The NPC has a more interesting background than all the actual villains.

Next morning you leave for work early. You are sorely tempted to leave your Crimewatch behind; you dare not miss another day's work! But your fears are unwarranted. To your utter amazement, your Crimewatch is silent. You arrive at work early. Jonah Whyte cannot believe his eyes when he enters the office to find you hard at work at your desk. At lunch-time you catch up on the day's news on the teletext TV. Two stories catch your attention. One is of a strange attack in Audubon Park. A woman has been seriously mauled by what she calls 'a monster', but a specialist at the hospital thinks the claw-marks of an animal of some kind. The second story is of a man who had his chest crushed in the grounds of the Natural History Museum. There are no clues as to who or what was responsible. It is as if whatever caused the man's death simply walked away. Both incidents are being investigated by the police. You decided to do a little investigation of your own. You change into the Silver Crusader and set off to make your inquiries. Where will you head first:

The Natural History Museum?
Titan Zoo?
Warnum and Wailey's Travelling Circus?

Adventure Sheet:
[spoiler]Name: Jean Lafayette
SKILL 11/11
STAMINA 15/23
LUCK 7/7
Super Power: Psi-Powers
Hero Points: 20
Clues:
1) A young boy, Timothy Grant, known as the Brain Child, has extremely vivid dreams which seem to come true In certain instances. He lives on 100th Street.
2) Daddy Rich, an eccentric millionaire who has everything money could buy, gets his kicks by murdering innocent victims and revels in their fear. He has very expensive tastes and lives in a penthouse apartment at 113, 58th Street.
3) Man wearing gold watch is trying to keep some dark secret from the Silver Crusader that involves a pawnbroker's shop that is next to a diner.
4) The F.E.A.R. meeting will be on 5th Avenue.
5) Watch for the sign of the Mantrapper - a metal slug with a letter M engraved on it. Add 60 to the reference you are on at the time and turn to this new reference when we find evidence of the Mantrapper's activities.
6) If we come across Mustapha Kareem, we may question him about his activities by doubling the reference number we are on at the time and turning to this new reference.
7) Deduct 30 from the reference we are on when given the opportunity to search for the Poisoner, and turn to this new reference.
No. of failures thus far: 1
[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

The Natural History Museum, I guess.

[Thaluikhain]

May as well.

[SGamerz]

The curator of the National History Museum is very helpful and agrees to show you round the exhibits. Will you ask him to show you the model reconstructions of dinosaurs or the 'large mammals' section?

[Queen of Swords]

Flipped a coin, large mammals.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Dinosaurs are more likely to have weird supervillain plots so I’d prefer that, but also I don’t want to cause a tie.

[Queen of Swords]

I'm fine with the dinosaurs too.

[SGamerz]

The dinosaur exhibits are very realistic, but the curator merely laughs when you suggest the possibility of one of them being responsible for the man's death. "Apart from the fact that these creatures have been dead for several million years," he chuckles, "how on earth would you suggest they got out of the building? Through the doors? One of these brutes would take the side of the museum with it if it decided to go out and look for another home! No, if you're looking for clues to the murderer, I suggest you try Titan zoo. You'll have better luck there." You feel a little foolish for even making the suggestions. If you want to try the zoo, turn to 408. Otherwise, turn to 148.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Try the zoo.

[Queen of Swords]

I have a feeling the zoo will be another dead end, but I'll go along with it.

[SGamerz]

When you arrive at the zoo gates, you question the attendant, asking whether there have been any reports of animals escaping from their cages over the last couple of days. The attendant is obviously excited to see you. "Gosh. Hi, Crusader!" he stammers. "Er, yes. I did hear something about an escape. But I don't know any more about it. You'll have to ask the Director. I'll take you to him if you like." You tell him to lead the way. But as you turn to follow him, a beep - beep - beep comes from your wrist. You hold the Crimewatch up to your ear. "MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN HERITAGE," it speaks. Do you want to follow its advice and head straight away for the museum, or will you ignore this message and instead follow the attendant?

[Queen of Swords]

Go to the museum.

[SGamerz]

The Museum of Egyptian Heritage is in the mid-town area. Everything seems perfectly normal when you enter and you make for the Head Curator's office. Dr Kablah is an elderly professor-type with white hair and a thick white moustache that hangs over his mouth. He is surprised to see you but assures you that, as far as he knows, everything is in order. He offers to double-check all his treasures to make sure nothing has disappeared. Do you wish him to do this, or will you ask him to get someone to show you round?

[Queen of Swords]

Being shown around ourselves sounds a little more active than letting him check everything on his own, so let's take a look around.

[Thaluikhain]

I guess, we could fight Egyptology Man.

[SGamerz]

Two doormen are outside the curator's room. "Ah, Abdul Aziz and Mustapha Kareem. Would one of you take our honoured guest on a tour of the exhibits?" They both stand to attention. "Abdul, perhaps you would be so kind?" The man bows slightly and begins to escort you round the museum. There are many fine treasures in the building and Abdul Aziz gives you an interesting commentary on the life and times of the Pharoahs. The exhibits seem to be all intact. Finally you reach the largest room, which houses the exhibition's main attraction.

There are no options on this page...but we have a clue that gives us access to a hidden option!

At the mention of his name, your eyes fall on Mustapha Kareem. He holds your gaze, then breaks away, nervously. You grab his shoulder and ask him to answer a few questions. To the great surprise of the Curator, Kareem breaks free and rushes off downstairs into the vaults of the museum, with you hot in pursuit. You catch up with him in a daily lit room in which several wooden crates stand. Kareem is cornered. But as you advance, a wicked smile spreads across his lips. His skin begins to wither. He eyes become sunken pits in their sockets. He stands before you as a Mummy and raises his arms as he comes towards you to attack. If you have Energy Blast, turn to 170. If you have Super Strength, turn to 109. Otherwise, turn to 61.

You know, I don't really have any objections to there being a Mummy super-villain. Nor do I have anything against a crime that involves the Museum of Egyptology. But do the 2 have to be connected? I wonder if the Mummy is even allowed to be involved in any other crime that doesn't involve Egyptology. A super villain like Rhino must be relived that he only exist in Marvel Universe but not in Titan City. If Tiger Cat is limited to robbing dairies and stealing fish while Mummy's territory is limited to museums, poor Rhino would probably spend all his time in grasslands chewing on vegetation and petting oxpeckers.

The sight of the transformation shocks you, and the Mummy advances. You are not sure how to tackle the creature. Will you rush in to attack, or run back upstairs away from the creature?

[Queen of Swords]

Those are our only two options? We can't use Psi-Powers or fire or anything else?

I guess the only heroic thing to do would be to attack him.

[Thaluikhain]

Half vote for running away to look for a good option.

(Also, why is the Mummy automatically evil?)