[Let's Play] Sorcery Warrior 3 - The Seven Serpents

[Beroli]

Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 16, FERRYMAN Attack Strength: 16.
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 18, FERRYMAN Attack Strength: 14. FERRYMAN's Stamina is 4

The Ferryman surrenders and agrees to take you across the lake for nothing.

He disappears into the undergrowth and reappears a few minutes later dragging a heavy boat. 'Give me a hand, idiot!' he barks, and together you pull the boat into the water and climb in. He throws you the oars and snaps 'Take the oars, fool, and start rowing.' Somehow his manner has changed and his tone is more aggressive.

Do as he says?
Demand he do the rowing?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 11/11
Stamina: 17/19
Luck: 11/11
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 7 Meals
Gold Pieces: 1
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Serpents Killed: Moon, Earth, Fire
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to demand that he do the rowing. This change in tone is a huge red flag.

[Thaluikhain]

Demand he do the rowing. This is reminiscent of them grave diggers who want us to do the digging in that other adventure, which was written by someone else.

*checks FF wikia* Moonrunner, by Stephen Hand

[Beroli]

With your hand on your weapon, you order the ferryman to take the oars himself; you are not going to row his boat. You turn angrily towards him but stop in mid-sentence as you see a transformation taking place. Before your eyes, the ferryman is shriveling as if the air was being let out of a balloon! From his collapsing form, a jet of gas rises into the air, swirling around and forming the shape of a winged serpent!

'So you have the Serpent Ring, Analander!' the Air Serpent hisses. 'If such be the case, I am bound by its power to aid you with advice. But even the Serpent Ring will not protect you from my wrath! Very well: in the dark chamber of night, do not light your way with the blood candle. Such is my advice. But it will be of no use to you, for these next few moments will be your last on this earth!'

Draw your sword?
Investigate the ferryman's body?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 11/11
Stamina: 17/19
Luck: 11/11
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 7 Meals
Gold Pieces: 1
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Serpents Killed: Moon, Earth, Fire
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to check out the ferryman’s body.

[Thaluikhain]

It's obviously not the right thing, so must be the right thing, check out the body.

[Beroli]

As you bend down towards the old ferryman, the swirling Air Serpent becomes agitated and darts about quickly trying to fix itself about your face. Its choking gas will harm you if you breathe it in for any length of time. Poking through the ferryman's clothes, you find a shrivelled snakeskin and, as you pick it up, the Serpent rises into the air as if in terror. An unearthly voice cries out, ordering you to put the skin back.

Say that if the Serpent leaves you alone, you will put the skin back?
Rip the skin apart?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 11/11
Stamina: 17/19
Luck: 11/11
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 7 Meals
Gold Pieces: 1
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Serpents Killed: Moon, Earth, Fire
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to rip the skin apart.

[Thaluikhain]

Rend and tear!

[Beroli]

Gripping the two ends of the snakeskin, you firmly snap them apart. A loud cry comes from the Serpent, which now hangs in the air separated into two parts. You rip up the halves until they remain as small flakes of skin. Above you, the Serpent has been similarly dispersed. All that remains are puffs of smoke which are soon scattered by the wind. You have found the Air Serpent's weakness!

Having rid yourself of the Air Serpent, you set off. You take the oars of the boat and row yourself across the great lake. The going is not easy as the water is thick and heavy. In the centre of the lake you stop. Several yards ahead of you the water is bubbling up.

Investigate the bubbling?
Steer a wide course around the bubbling?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 11/11
Stamina: 17/19
Luck: 11/11
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 7 Meals
Gold Pieces: 1
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Serpents Killed: Moon, Earth, Fire, Air
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to check the bubbling out.

[Thaluikhain]

Investigate random things.

[Beroli]

You take the boat carefully up to the disturbance to see what is happening. But you can see nothing. Perhaps this is simply a natural occurrence where an underground spring or air passage breaks through the bed of the lake. You shrug and sit down again, ready to take the oars. Suddenly, the boat lurches violently in the water! The bubbling has moved and is now directly under the boat! You are thrown from the seat and must Test your Luck.

10 succeeds.

Desperately you grab at the side of the boat and in the nick of time you find something to hold on to. The boat tosses about for a short while, then steadies itself. The waters go calm. An unnatural stillness hangs in the air. You have the feeling that something even more dangerous is about to happen.

Without warning, the bubbling starts again, this time on the port side of the boat. Breaking through the surface of the water, a shape rises into the air. A snake-like coil rises from the lake on watery wings and hovers, dripping, in the air. This creature is made from water itself and it glares down at you, ready to strike.

'The Serpent Ring!' hisses the creature. 'Its power will not save your life, Analander, but I am bound by its power to aid you. I will tell you this: pay respect to Naggamentah the torture master should you meet him. But that is all I am bound to tell.'

Draw your weapon and fight?
Look through your backpack for something to use?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 11/11
Stamina: 17/19
Luck: 11/11
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 7 Meals
Gold Pieces: 1
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Serpents Killed: Moon, Earth, Fire, Air
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to look in the backpack to see if there is an item to use here.

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, look in backpack.

[Beroli]

Take out:

A flask of oil?
A lucky talisman?
Snake venom antidote?
Close your backpack and draw your sword?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 11/11
Stamina: 17/19
Luck: 11/11
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 7 Meals
Gold Pieces: 1
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Serpents Killed: Moon, Earth, Fire, Air
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I don’t think the talisman will help, so I vote to close the backpack and draw Jason’s sword.

[Beroli]

WATER SERPENT Skill 10 Stamina 11

Your Serpent Staff reduces its Skill to 8.

Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 23, WATER SERPENT Attack Strength: 14. WATER SERPENT's Stamina is 7
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 24, WATER SERPENT Attack Strength: 12. WATER SERPENT's Stamina is 3
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 17, WATER SERPENT Attack Strength: 16. WATER SERPENT is dead.

You catch your breath for a few moments, then set off towards the north shore of the lake. Half an hour later, you are pulling the boat up on to the marshy shore. You have crossed the lake. (Which will be a lot harder for the next person to expect the ferryman to come to the sound of the whistle, but having made the lives of residents of the Baklands harder is way down the Seven Serpents' list of concerns.)

You tie the boat up in a sheltered spot and wade through the Vischlami Swamp. Test your Luck; a 7 succeeds.

Eventually the water becomes shallow and you step out onto marshy ground. You find a spot where you may rest and eat if you wish. As it would be your first meal of the day, restore 2 Stamina if you do.

As you get ready to leave, you hear a crashing in the distance, followed by cries. Something-–or a group of somethings-–is heading your way.

Stay where you are but hide?
Stand and wait?
Run away from the approaching something?

Also vote on whether to eat.

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 11/11
Stamina: 17/19
Luck: 11/11
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 7 Meals
Gold Pieces: 1
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Serpents Killed: Moon, Earth, Fire, Air, Water
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to eat, stand and wait.

[Thaluikhain]

Half vote to eat and hide.

[Beroli]

Eating wins 2-0, standing and waiting wins 1-0.5.

The noises get louder and louder until a group of three Marsh Goblins breaks through into your clearing. You stand and face each other. They are snub-nosed, ugly-to-humans creatures with webbed fingers and they are evidently most surprised to see you.

Draw your sword?
Talk to them?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 11/11
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 11/11
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 6 Meals
Gold Pieces: 1
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Serpents Killed: Moon, Earth, Fire, Air, Water
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[Thaluikhain]

Talk to them.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to draw Jason's sword.

[Thaluikhain]

I'll change my vote to a half vote to avoid a tie.

[Beroli]

As you draw your weapon, so do the Goblins. Resolve this battle:

First MARSH GOBLIN Skill 7 Stamina 6
Second MARSH GOBLIN Skill 6 Stamina 5
Third MARSH GOBLIN Skill 6 Stamina 6
Fourth MARSH GOBLIN Skill 5 Stamina 6

Fight them one at a time. You can Escape but I'm pretty sure you won't.

Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 17, First MARSH GOBLIN Attack Strength: 12. First MARSH GOBLIN's Stamina is 2
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 18, First MARSH GOBLIN Attack Strength: 10. First MARSH GOBLIN is dead. Second MARSH GOBLIN's Stamina is 5
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 17, Second MARSH GOBLIN Attack Strength: 12. Second MARSH GOBLIN's Stamina is 1
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 21, Second MARSH GOBLIN Attack Strength: 11. Second MARSH GOBLIN is dead. Third MARSH GOBLIN's Stamina is 6
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 20, Third MARSH GOBLIN Attack Strength: 17. Third MARSH GOBLIN's Stamina is 2
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 20, Third MARSH GOBLIN Attack Strength: 8. Third MARSH GOBLIN is dead. MARSH GOBLIN's Stamina is 6
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 24, MARSH GOBLIN Attack Strength: 15. MARSH GOBLIN's Stamina is 2
Jason Beckett Mordred Attack Strength: 23, MARSH GOBLIN Attack Strength: 17. MARSH GOBLIN is dead.

Searching through the bodies, you find 6 Gold Pieces, a parchment scroll which you cannot understand, and enough nuts and berries for two meals. Then a noise startles you, coming from the same direction the goblins were running from.

You are a warrior.

The soft voice of a woman reaches your ears. You look around but can see no one. 'Be not afraid,' it whispers. 'You cannot see me but I am with you. I come to warn and advise you. For the scroll you have found is a valuable aid, but one which a warrior such as yourself could not hope to understand. Scribed on this parchment is a chant which will render powerless the Serpent of Time. Use it and you need not fear the creature. That is all I can tell you, except for this: If you encounter the Serpent, do not try to fight it with your weapon or magic. Instead hold up the scroll and recite the chant to the best of your ability.' The voice disappears and you unroll the parchment.

You quickly collect your things together and make off through the reeds away from whatever it is that approaches. Soon the noise is well behind you. Without leaving the swamp, you continue under cover of the vegetation.

You continue cautiously through the reeds and grasses until a loud rustling noise to your right makes you stop. The rustling turns into a loud hissing and a large snake-like head rises into the air above the vegetation. It swivels to the left and right as if looking for something. But when its eyes fall on you, steam hisses from between its fangs and it flaps its wings. It rises into the air and circles over you, preparing to strike.

So the Analander has the Serpent Ring!' hisses the Serpent as it hangs in the air. 'Then I must tell you that the Archmage is not as he seems, for this will warn you of his presence in Mampang. But you will never survive to reach the Fortress!'

Does the scroll suggest a number to you?
If not, you'd better use your sword.

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 11/11
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 11/11
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 5 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 8 Meals
Gold Pieces: 7
Libra's Favor: Not yet used in this adventure
Serpents Killed: Moon, Earth, Fire, Air, Water
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé