[Let's Play] Fighting Fantazine Adventure 11: Ascent of Darkness

[JourneymanN00b]

Since a flaw was checked here, I think the proper move is to spare him, so I will vote for this.

[Thaluikhain]

Spare.

[Queen of Swords]

Agreed, spare him.

[Beroli]

Since a flaw was checked here, I think the proper move is to spare him, so I will vote for this.

That logic would lead to the conclusion that you should have declined the druids' challenge to a race, which would have meant dying from the poisoned arrow. However.

You let the courtier go, and he thanks you profusely. He offers you a gift for sparing his life. It is a ring of charm – wearing it will make people react more favourably towards you. Obviously, it does not work on people who are enraged with you. You take the ring and tell the courtier that you never want to see him again.

Your mother is in the dining room, ordering the servants to clear up the mess that both the courtiers and yourself have made. When she sees you, she runs to embrace you. As she does, she cries with joy.

‘I am so glad to see you again. I cannot thank you enough for ridding me of those disgusting men,’ she says. ‘But now you must avenge your father. Search the city, find those responsible and kill them.’

You swear that you will not rest until your father’s murderers are dead. Once your house has been cleaned up, you and your mother enjoy a fine meal, and healers tend to your wounds. You feel blessed for ridding your house of a poisonous element. Restore your stamina to its Initial level and restore 1 Luck point. Your mother also gives you part of your inheritance – several hundred gold pieces in coins, gems and jewellery. Note that you have 1000 Gold Pieces. You also have a trireme which is moored at the docks, but you must find a new crew as your mother dismissed the old one when your father died. Also, if you lost your spear, you may take a new one (you didn't).

Once you have finished, you set out into the city to find out who killed your father. Where will you enquire first?

The markets?
The docks?
The taverns?
The Wizards’ Guild?
The palace?
The temple of Pangara?
The temple of Telak?
The temple of Logaan?
The temple of Ashra?
The temple of Vuh?

Name: Hermes Conrad
Sex: Male
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 24/24
Luck: 14/14
Cunning of Logann
Hubris
Inventory: Sword, spear, shield (-1 to enemy Attack Strength), Steel helmet, 1050 Gold Pieces, food, 5 torches, flint and tinder, water skin, leather gloves covered in thorns (once per combat, you may either automatically win one combat round or automatically succeed at one heroic stunt), bracelet of green metal (immune to poison, regain 3 Stamina at the end of each combat), obsidian bat amulet (once per combat, you may either increase your Attack Strength by 2 for one round or, when you have hit an opponent, deal an extra 4 damage to them), ring of charm.

[JourneymanN00b]

I say we check out the markets.

[Queen of Swords]

Agreed, markets first.

[pragma]

Markets seem fine.

[Beroli]

The markets sell all kinds of goods for the people of Carsepolis. There are no common items that you need, for you can get them all at your mansion, but there are several rare and magical items being sold at the market.

A potion of healing (100 Gold Pieces).
A lucky charm (150 Gold Pieces).
A silver throwing dagger (250 Gold Pieces).
A masterfully crafted shiny shield (100 Gold Pieces).
A finely wrought sword (500 Gold Pieces).
A spear with a metal haft which is as light as wood (500 Gold Pieces).
A warhammer made from a metal with a blue sheen (500 Gold Pieces).

Which, if any, will you buy?

Name: Hermes Conrad
Sex: Male
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 24/24
Luck: 14/14
Cunning of Logann
Hubris
Inventory: Sword, spear, shield (-1 to enemy Attack Strength), Steel helmet, 1050 Gold Pieces, food, 5 torches, flint and tinder, water skin, leather gloves covered in thorns (once per combat, you may either automatically win one combat round or automatically succeed at one heroic stunt), bracelet of green metal (immune to poison, regain 3 Stamina at the end of each combat), obsidian bat amulet (once per combat, you may either increase your Attack Strength by 2 for one round or, when you have hit an opponent, deal an extra 4 damage to them), ring of charm.

[JourneymanN00b]

I half vote to get the warhammer, shield, dagger, and charm in the following order of preference.

[Queen of Swords]

I'm fine with getting all those items except the lucky charm - do we really need it with our high luck? I also want to have some gold left over at the end, just in case something else comes up that requires money.

[JourneymanN00b]

That is a good point. I would like to remove the lucky charm from the shipping list in light of this.

[Thaluikhain]

That lists makes sense.

(I was expecting 1000 gold to be a big deal, for raising armies or something. Massive deflation is going to take place in Carsepolis over the next few hundred years)

[pragma]

I'm ok with this list

[Beroli]

The warhammer is enchanted and can be used to crush rocks with ease. However, you cannot carry both it and your sword; if you do not wish to drop your sword, you may get a refund (vote if you desire this).

Despite being highly polished so that it reflects like a mirror and being well decorated, this shield is not enchanted. However, it is no worse than your ordinary shield, so you keep it.

This magical throwing dagger may be used before combat – it will automatically hit your opponent and deal 2 stamina points of damage to them. You may recover the dagger after combat if you did not Escape.

You return to the centre of Carsepolis in order to continue your investigations. Where would you like to go to now?

The docks?
The taverns?
The Wizards’ Guild?
The palace?
The temple of Pangara?
The temple of Telak?
The temple of Logaan?
The temple of Ashra?
The temple of Vuh?

Name: Hermes Conrad
Sex: Male
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 24/24
Luck: 14/14
Cunning of Logann
Hubris
Inventory: Enchanted warhammer, spear, reflective shield (-1 to enemy Attack Strength), steel helmet, 200 Gold Pieces, food, 5 torches, flint and tinder, water skin, leather gloves covered in thorns (once per combat, you may either automatically win one combat round or automatically succeed at one heroic stunt), bracelet of green metal (immune to poison, regain 3 Stamina at the end of each combat), obsidian bat amulet (once per combat, you may either increase your Attack Strength by 2 for one round or, when you have hit an opponent, deal an extra 4 damage to them), ring of charm, magical silver throwing dagger (2 damage to enemy at the start of combat).

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to drop the sword and half vote to head to the Wizards' Guild next.

[Beroli]

You approach the large doors of the Wizards’ Guild and knock on the brass knocker. A young apprentice in blue robes answers the door and welcomes you to the guild. The apprentice asks you how he may be of help.

You ask to see the head of the guild with an urgent request.

You wait for half an hour before an old wizard in dark blue robes appears in the antechamber. However, it is not the guildmaster, nor any senior wizard that you have ever seen. ‘Good day, I am Erishum, deputy guildmaster. How may I help you?’ You tell him that you have something urgent but only for the guildmaster. ‘You may tell me anything you could tell the guildmaster,’ says the wizard. When you insist on seeing the guildmaster, he waves his hand with impatience. ‘It seems that we are getting nowhere, so I will get you somewhere.’ Before you can protest, you find yourself in the city centre.

Where would you like to go to now?

The docks?
The taverns?
The palace?
The temple of Pangara?
The temple of Telak?
The temple of Logaan?
The temple of Ashra?
The temple of Vuh?

Name: Hermes Conrad
Sex: Male
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 24/24
Luck: 14/14
Cunning of Logann
Hubris
Inventory: Enchanted warhammer, spear, reflective shield (-1 to enemy Attack Strength), steel helmet, 200 Gold Pieces, food, 5 torches, flint and tinder, water skin, leather gloves covered in thorns (once per combat, you may either automatically win one combat round or automatically succeed at one heroic stunt), bracelet of green metal (immune to poison, regain 3 Stamina at the end of each combat), obsidian bat amulet (once per combat, you may either increase your Attack Strength by 2 for one round or, when you have hit an opponent, deal an extra 4 damage to them), ring of charm, magical silver throwing dagger (2 damage to enemy at the start of combat).

[JourneymanN00b]

I half vote for the docks next.

[Queen of Swords]

Sure, try the docks.

[Thaluikhain]

May as well

[Beroli]

You go down to the docks where you see your trireme, a fine ship, ready to sail. All she needs is a crew and a destination.

You do not have a crew.

Do you wish to hire a crew here?
Alternatively, you can return to town and go somewhere else.

Name: Hermes Conrad
Sex: Male
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 24/24
Luck: 14/14
Cunning of Logann
Hubris
Inventory: Enchanted warhammer, spear, reflective shield (-1 to enemy Attack Strength), steel helmet, 200 Gold Pieces, food, 5 torches, flint and tinder, water skin, leather gloves covered in thorns (once per combat, you may either automatically win one combat round or automatically succeed at one heroic stunt), bracelet of green metal (immune to poison, regain 3 Stamina at the end of each combat), obsidian bat amulet (once per combat, you may either increase your Attack Strength by 2 for one round or, when you have hit an opponent, deal an extra 4 damage to them), ring of charm, magical silver throwing dagger (2 damage to enemy at the start of combat).

[JourneymanN00b]

I do not wish to hire a crew yet, and vote to head to the palace next.

[pragma]

Ditto, I suspect there's a recruitable crew somewhere in the city.

[Thaluikhain]

Makes sense.

[Beroli]

You approach the large doors of the palace and request to see the king on a matter of the utmost urgency. The guards let you in with a salute but they leave you waiting in the antechamber. You are getting very irritated by the time a priest in white robes appears. He introduces himself as High Priest Ikunum. You have never heard of this man before and you thought you knew everybody ‘I am sorry that the king cannot see you my lord, but is there anything I can help with?’ You tell him that you have a message of utmost importance and that it is for the king’s ears only. ‘Then you will have to return another time for the king is indisposed with the affairs of state.’ Ikunum asks the guards to escort you from the palace. Six heavily armed guards approach you. You do not want to fight the king’s men so you leave.

Hang around the palace to see who this Ikunum is and what he is up to?
Go back to the center of town and make a different choice?

Name: Hermes Conrad
Sex: Male
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 24/24
Luck: 14/14
Cunning of Logann
Hubris
Inventory: Enchanted warhammer, spear, reflective shield (-1 to enemy Attack Strength), steel helmet, 200 Gold Pieces, food, 5 torches, flint and tinder, water skin, leather gloves covered in thorns (once per combat, you may either automatically win one combat round or automatically succeed at one heroic stunt), bracelet of green metal (immune to poison, regain 3 Stamina at the end of each combat), obsidian bat amulet (once per combat, you may either increase your Attack Strength by 2 for one round or, when you have hit an opponent, deal an extra 4 damage to them), ring of charm, magical silver throwing dagger (2 damage to enemy at the start of combat).

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to check out this Ikunum.