[Let's Play] Fighting Fantazine Adventure 5: Bones of the Banished

[Thaluikhain]

Skirt around, yeah.

[Beroli]

Okay, with no votes on what to take and yet me somehow thinking no one means to vote "don't take anything," I'll default to taking two Meals.

The path takes you into a narrow pass wedged between two steep-sided hills. The tops of the hills are crowned with tight thickets of towering heavenstip trees. Nesting in the tall trees are groups of Wingfingers who hiss and squawk at your approach through their narrow, elongated jaws.

As you enter the pass, the winged reptiles become more agitated, chattering to each other and rustling their claw-tipped, membranous wings. Unbeknownst to you, many of the creature’s nests hold newly-born young, and they see your intrusion as a threat to their children. A cluster of Wingfingers suddenly drops from their branches and swoop towards you.

PTERODACTYLS Skill 8

You cannot hope to defeat the entire flock; instead you must sprint to far end of the pass and hope that they give up their attack once you have left their territory. You must fight (1d6) 5 rounds. Each time they win, you take damage; each time you win, you have merely fended them off.

George's Attack Strength: 13, Pterodactyls' Attack Strength: 17 George's Stamina: 13
George's Attack Strength: 18, Pterodactyls' Attack Strength: 20 George's Stamina: 11
George's Attack Strength: 14, Pterodactyls' Attack Strength: 19 George's Stamina: 9
George's Attack Strength: 14, Pterodactyls' Attack Strength: 20 George's Stamina: 7
George's Attack Strength: 18, Pterodactyls' Attack Strength: 17

Luckily your hunch is right, and the winged beasts leave you alone the moment you exit the pass. Gain 1 Delays.

It is just past midday when you arrive at the edge of the Cauldron, a vast circular valley created by a cataclysmic event in ancient times. It stretches out before you, a verdurous, steaming expanse of grasslands and jungle. The land to the east is dominated by the remnants of a once-mighty empire; its crumbling ruins poke haphazardly out of the ground like jagged teeth. To the west the lush terrain becomes a large swamp, carpeted with reeds. In the distant south the far side of the Cauldron pushes up against the impenetrable Mountains of Grief. Somewhere in this immense crater lies the key to the salvation of your tribe.

First, however, you must find safe passage down into the valley. The cliffs here are too steep to descend, but a short distance to the right a steep, narrow track plunges down to the valley floor. In some places it is little more than a thin ledge poking out from the sheer cliff walls. Clearly it will be a dangerous trail to take, but also the most direct. Following the crater’s edge around to the left you see that the cliffs give way to a gentle pass, but it will take you at least a couple of hours to reach.

Descend the path to the right?
Head left and take the longer journey to the pass?

Also highlighting the option to eat here, but remember you can only eat one Meal at a time.

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 7/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: 7 provisions, Rope, Torch, weird metal-and-wood staff, 0 empty slots
Delays: 1
Deaths:

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to descend the path to the right, as delaying for too long is obviously not a good idea, and it is worth succumbing to fascism to keep the Delays score low.

[Queen of Swords]

Eat a meal and go left, I don't want to take the risk of the dangerous path.

[Thaluikhain]

Left, in case of more pterodactyls while climbing down

[Beroli]

Left wins 2-1, eating a Meal wins 1-0.

You follow the northeastern rim of the massive crater until the sheer cliffs become a gentle slope. A trio of Oldbone warriors are waiting there for you, left behind by Valgrek to deal with anyone who might dare follow him. They advance silently towards you; their blankly staring eyes glowing red in their hairy faces. You must fight two of the warriors at the same time; Kuwi will deal with the other.

First OLDBONE Skill 7 Stamina 9
Second OLDBONE Skill 8 Stamina 8

Vote on how to use Luck here and which to target first.

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 11/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: 6 provisions, Rope, Torch, weird metal-and-wood staff, 0 empty slots
Delays: 1
Deaths:

[Thaluikhain]

I vote to target the second, as they have higher skill and are thus more of a threat, and less stamina to make them slightly quicker to kill.

[JourneymanN00b]

I also vote to take out the Second Oldbone first, and to eat a Provision afterwards. I vote not to use Luck for these fights.

[Beroli]

George Attack Strength: 14 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 9 George Attack Strength: 14 Second OLDBONE Attack Strength: 12 George wins. Second OLDBONE's Stamina is 6.
George Attack Strength: 20 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 19 George Attack Strength: 18 Second OLDBONE Attack Strength: 18
George Attack Strength: 20 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 18 George Attack Strength: 18 Second OLDBONE Attack Strength: 15 George wins. Second OLDBONE's Stamina is 4.
George Attack Strength: 19 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 15 George Attack Strength: 18 Second OLDBONE Attack Strength: 12 George wins. Second OLDBONE's Stamina is 2.
George Attack Strength: 16 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 15 George Attack Strength: 18 Second OLDBONE Attack Strength: 14 George wins. Second OLDBONE is dead.
George Attack Strength: 21 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 10 George wins. First OLDBONE's Stamina is 7.
George Attack Strength: 14 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 14
George Attack Strength: 19 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 13 George wins. First OLDBONE's Stamina is 5.
George Attack Strength: 14 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 9 George wins. First OLDBONE's Stamina is 3.
George Attack Strength: 15 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 9 George wins. First OLDBONE's Stamina is 1.
George Attack Strength: 16 First OLDBONE Attack Strength: 9 George wins. George's final Stamina is 11.

You find that Kuwi has also conquered her foe. Together you descend the slope to the lush valley floor. Gain 1 Delays. As per JourneymanN00b's vote, you eat another Meal.

At last you have made it to the bottom of the Cauldron. You are surrounded by greenery more lush and verdant than you have ever witnessed before. The shattered remnants of a once-mighty kingdom lie jumbled before you, covered in moss and tangled vines. Insects as large as your arm whir overhead, darting between the vibrant flowers that seem to carpet every surface. It astounds you that a place so full of life is also a haunt for the restless dead.

Somewhere in this valley is the key to discovering where Valgrek has taken your people, and you are sure it lies somewhere in the ancient stone ruins that dot the landscape. Off to your left stand the remains of a tower, leaning awkwardly towards the distant mountains. To the right an enormous columned building sits atop a great spur of rock thrust out of the broken earth. Immediately before you is a dark opening that leads beneath the ground, but to where you do not know. Now, where will you begin your search?

The leaned tower?
The columned building?
The dark opening?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 15/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, Torch, weird metal-and-wood staff, ___________, _________
Delays: 2
Deaths:

[Queen of Swords]

The dark opening in the ground seems the most dangerous place, so let's leave it for last. Leaned tower.

[JourneymanN00b]

I also vote to check out the leaned tower.

[Beroli]

In centuries past, the ancient tower would have stretched proudly into the sky. Now, however, its crumbling stone blocks are tilting dangerously to the south, bound together by little more than the choking vines that cover its surface. You cannot find a doorway and so enter the tower through a window that is close to ground level. Inside you find the remains of a twisting stairwell that leads both upwards and downwards into darkness.

Go down the stairs into the gloom?
Go up the stairs to the top of the tower?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 15/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, Torch, weird metal-and-wood staff, ___________, _________
Delays: 2
Deaths:

[Queen of Swords]

Let's try going up the stairs first.

[JourneymanN00b]

Sure, I also vote to go up the stairs to the top of the tower.

[Thaluikhain]

Illuminated route first, so go up.

[Beroli]

The staircase is missing many of its stone steps but, due to the severe lean of the tower, you are able to climb up it with ease. A square opening is set into the ceiling of the tower, where a wooden trapdoor once sat. You poke your head through the opening and come face-to-face with a long, daggerlike beak that jabs painfully into your forehead--lose 2 Stamina points! The beak belongs to a large winged reptile with a broad crest projecting backwards from the top of its head. It screeches angrily and prepares to strike again with its toothless jaws. If you wish to explore the top of the tower, you will have to kill the thing!

You may also choose to Escape at any point and either go down the stairs into the darkness, or leave the tower and go to either the columned building or the dark opening.

PTERANODON Skill 7 Stamina 12

Considering your effective Skill difference, I'll assume you'll fight to the death.

GEORGE Attack Strength: 17, PTERANODON Attack Strength: 17.
GEORGE Attack Strength: 18, PTERANODON Attack Strength: 10. PTERANODON's Stamina is 10
GEORGE Attack Strength: 20, PTERANODON Attack Strength: 10. PTERANODON's Stamina is 8
GEORGE Attack Strength: 14, PTERANODON Attack Strength: 14.
GEORGE Attack Strength: 23, PTERANODON Attack Strength: 17. PTERANODON's Stamina is 6
GEORGE Attack Strength: 21, PTERANODON Attack Strength: 14. PTERANODON's Stamina is 4
GEORGE Attack Strength: 21, PTERANODON Attack Strength: 9. PTERANODON's Stamina is 2
GEORGE Attack Strength: 15, PTERANODON Attack Strength: 9. PTERANODON is dead.

Your foe crumples into a heap, its paper-like wings torn to shreds by your weapon. Free to continue, you haul yourself through the opening to the roof of the tower. Unfortunately, you find nothing of interest up here except the creature’s stinking nest of branches and bones. Gain 1 Delays.

Go down the stairs to the bottom?
Leave the tower and go to the columned building?
Leave the tower and go to the dark opening?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 13/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, Torch, weird metal-and-wood staff, ___________, _________
Companions: Kuwi
Delays: 3
Deaths:

[Queen of Swords]

Go down the stairs to the bottom.

[Thaluikhain]

Stair at the bottom.

(And a pteranodon instead of pterodactyls this time, huh. I'd not be able to tell you the difference off the top of my head)

[Beroli]

Well, now you know that the difference is that pterodactyls guard outdoor nests in flocks and have a Skill of 8, while pteranodons build solitary nests inside buildings and have a Skill of 7.

You carefully work your way down the winding staircase, stepping over gaps where the stonework has crumbled away. The sunlight from above slowly fades until you are navigating through near-total darkness. You may light your torch if you wish.

Eventually you come across a gap in the stairs that is too vast to step across. Your only hope is to leap across the gulf to where the steps continue once more.

Leap across the gap carrying a lit torch (Test your Skill with a -1 penalty)?
Leap across the gap into darkness (Test your Skill)?
Leave the tower and go to the columned building?
Leave the tower and go to the dark opening?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 13/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, Torch, weird metal-and-wood staff, ___________, _________
Companions: Kuwi
Delays: 3
Deaths:

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to leap across the gap with a lit torch, as leaping into darkness is just asking for trouble.

[Thaluikhain]

Second that.

[Queen of Swords]

Thirded.

[Beroli]

You Test your Skill with a -1 penalty; a 10 fails and you fall.

The cold wind whistles past you as you plunge into the darkness. Several awful moments pass before you crash into the hard, stone-flagged floor of the tower. Take (1d6+2) 6 damage. If you are still alive, you stagger to your feet and get your bearings. The lit torch you were carrying is lost and you do not have another torch to light.

The floor of the tower is littered with the broken remnants of the steps that have crumbled away over the years. A row of exotic metal weapons lines the curved stone wall, hanging from metal hooks. An arched doorway leads to a small, dark cave.

Examine the weapons?
Explore the cave?
Climb back up the staircase?

Also highlighting the option to eat here, since you just took damage.

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 7/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, weird metal-and-wood staff, _________, _________, _________
Companions: Kuwi
Delays: 3
Deaths:

[Thaluikhain]

Eata meal and examine weapons.

[Queen of Swords]

Agreed.