Let's Play Fighting Fantasy #16: Seas of Blood

[Corsair114]

Let's land. Maybe we'll find some valuable eggs or something.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Dropping anchor in a steamy volcanic lagoon, you proceed ashore with your crew. The countryside is almost jungle, with thick foliage, exotic animals and hundreds of thousands of insects. Will you head to the higher slopes of the central mountain or stay in the lowlands, searching through the jungle?

[Korgan0]

let's get ready to ROCK and scale this dang mountain

[Corsair114]

Up, up, and away!

[Darth Rabbitt]

Climbing towards the mountain peak, you stumble across an enormous nest constructed from tree-trunks and boulders. It contains three eggs, each as large as a man. It is obviously a Roc nest. Looking inside, you discover the narrow opening to a rough-hewn tunnel leading into the mountain-side. Just inside, you discover the narrow opening to a rough-hewn tunnel leading into the mountain-side. Just as you crawl in, alone, to have a closer look, a terrible flapping sound fills the air. The Roc is returning to its lair! Your crew, still outside the tunnel, scatters in panic, and run at full pelt towards the jungle. The Roc lands on its nest with a squawk. You decide to follow the tunnel down.

(Damn crew better be getting the guns ready; the Banshee has already scored a Flawless on one of these birds, so what's another to us?)

Only a short distance down the tunnel, you come across the bodies of half a dozen men. The marks on their bodies show that they have been badly mauled by some large avian - most probably the Roc that attacked you. Will you search their bodies for loot, or continue down the tunnel?

[Corsair114]

We must go deeper.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Without warning, some massive and unseen creature grasps you by the neck and starts to strangle you. You slash out with your sword, and the beast lets out a startled shriek and drops you. When you turn to look, you can see nothing but the tunnel. Then the creature strikes again, smashing you in the face with its invisible fist. For the duration of this combat, reduce your SKILL by 2 points.

INVISIBLE STRIKER SKILL 7 STAMINA 6

Combat Log:

Striker 16, Leeroy 18. Striker is at 4.
Striker 16, Leeroy 16. Tie.
Striker 14, Leeroy 18. Striker is at 2.
Striker 14, Leeroy 19. Striker is dead.

(Even if we can't see it, we can kill it. Flawlessly.)

The creature, still unseen, ceases its attacks, so you assume it has been repulsed. Continuing down the tunnel, you come to a dark cavern. Rough-hewn stairs lead down into impenetrable gloom; beside them, a precarious-looking ledge climbs upwards along the side of the cavern, also disappearing into darkness. Will you inch your way along the ledge, or walk down the stairs?

[Corsair114]

We'll inch our way along the ledge.

It's not like it could possibly collapse and send us falling to our doom.

[Darth Rabbitt]

The further you go along the ledge, the narrower and more uncertain it becomes. A stone collapses as you step on it, sending you sprawling out into the darkness of the cavern. Test your Luck. (3,4=7; Lucky.)

You slide down the side of the cavern, bumping against rocks and stones on the way, but hitting the bottom at a slow enough pace not to injure yourself grievously. You are some way down the staircase you earlier chose not to follow. You stand up and brush the grime of the fall from your clothes before proceeding down the stairs.

You walk down for some considerable distance before seeing a light below. Creeping forward, you see four Troglodytes creeping from a small side-passage on to the stairs. They are all armed with spears, and two are also carrying a heavy chest between them. You slide behind a large boulder to remain out of sight. The chest looks as though it might contain something valuable, so will you:

Throw small pebbles further down the staircase, to distract the Troglodytes and split them up, before attacking?
Draw your sword and charge the creatures?
Use your sword as a lever to roll the boulder you are hiding behind out on to the stairs and down to crush the Trogs?

Adventure Sheet
Captain Leeroy Jenkins
SKILL 11/12 (13/14 in personal combat)
STAMINA 11/19
LUCK 7/10
LOG 28/50
The Banshee
C. STRIKE 12/12
C. STRENGTH 16/16
Booty:
193 Gold Pieces
7 slaves
Gear: Abbot's Sword (+2 SKILL in personal combat)
Magic Blessings: Barge's Tiller, Sea Sprites' Blessing (roll 2d6 for C. STRENGTH tests), Unicorn Horn

[Korgan0]

charge- we don't want to crush the chest and we can totally own these noobs.

[Corsair114]

1. Called it.

2. Charge for the exact reasons noted by Korgan.

[Darth Rabbitt]

(Sure you called it Corsair, but you also voted we go that way.)

You run into the midst of the creatures, slashing from side to side with your curved blade.

FIRST TROGLODYTE SKILL 9 STAMINA 6
SECOND TROGLODYTE SKILL 8 STAMINA 6
THIRD TROGLODYTE SKILL 7 STAMINA 4
FOURTH TROGLODYTE SKILL 7 STAMINA 4

Combat Log:

Trog A 19, Leeroy 19. Tie.
Trog A 18, Leeroy 15. Leeroy is at 9.
Trog A 15, Leeroy 18. Trog A is at 4.
Trog A 14, Leeroy 16. Trog A is at 2.
Trog A 18, Leeroy 20. Trog A is dead.
Trog B 12, Leeroy 21. Trog B is at 4.
Trog B 16, Leeroy 19. Trog B is at 2.
Trog B 16, Leeroy 19. Trog B is dead.
Trog C 9, Leeroy 22. Trog C is at 2.
Trog C 16, Leeroy 24. Trog C is dead.
Trog D 19, Leeroy 24. Trog D is at 2.
Trog D 14, Leeroy 17. Trog D is dead.

(We got really low rolls and the Troglodytes got really high ones... which means that their SKILL 9 leader hit us once and the others still couldn't touch us. That one hit brings us to the single digits in STAMINA, though.)

With the Troglodytes defeated, you split open their chest and finding exactly 100 Gold Pieces. Carrying all of this booty up with some difficulty, you turn up the side passage and emerge, after a few hundred yards, into sunlight. You are outside, in the forests of the Roc. Heading for the beach, you run into several members of your crew who had been searching for the island, with the rest of your men, in the hope that you were still alive. You return triumphant to the Banshee and continue your journey.

Once in the Southern Sea, will you:

Travel to Shurrupak, to sell any slaves you might have and to recruit more crew?
Head into the great Kish Delta and travel upstream to the Dead City?
Sail through the center of the Southern Sea, aiming for Nippur?

Adventure Sheet
Captain Leeroy Jenkins
SKILL 11/12 (13/14 in personal combat)
STAMINA 9/19
LUCK 7/10
LOG 28/50
The Banshee
C. STRIKE 12/12
C. STRENGTH 16/16
Booty:
293 Gold Pieces
7 slaves
Gear: Abbot's Sword (+2 SKILL in personal combat)
Magic Blessings: Barge's Tiller, Sea Sprites' Blessing (roll 2d6 for C. STRENGTH tests), Unicorn Horn

[Starmaker]

Since Shuruppak serves a dual purpose of gaining $$ and compensating for losses, the Dead City must be more profitable. Let's loot it.

[Darth Rabbitt]

The Banshee heads along the west coast, bringing you to the Kish Delta. Roll three two dice. (Regardless of what we roll, it will be less than our CREW STRENGTH.) Add 4 days to your LOG. Under the cover of darkness, you sail up one of the mouths of the Delta rivers, edging your way through the shallow waters to avoid hitting any sand-bars. Test your Luck. (1,6=7; Lucky.)

The Banshee's keel scrapes the bottom several times, but does not stick. With an hour to dawn, you reach the point where the river passes between the mighty anti-barbarian walls of Kish. These heavily defended walls, punctuated with high towers, run for hundreds of leagues to either side of the river, completely encircling the state of Kish. As you try to pass between the towers that stand on either bank, the bow of the Banshee catches an enormous iron chain which stretches across the entire width of the river. You are brought to a halt. Will you send a few crewmen ashore to unshackle the chain from where it is connected to one of the towers, or turn back to the sea?

Adventure Sheet
Captain Leeroy Jenkins
SKILL 11/12 (13/14 in personal combat)
STAMINA 9/19
LUCK 6/10
LOG 32/50
The Banshee
C. STRIKE 12/12
C. STRENGTH 16/16
Booty:
293 Gold Pieces
7 slaves
Gear: Abbot's Sword (+2 SKILL in personal combat)
Magic Blessings: Barge's Tiller, Sea Sprites' Blessing (roll 2d6 for C. STRENGTH tests), Unicorn Horn

[Corsair114]

Let's unshackle it.

(And what I meant by called it was that we'd go up then the path would collapse and we'd fall downwards, which is exactly what happened. I was surprised to have been pretty much spot on in my guess of what would occur.)

[Darth Rabbitt]

Taking the ship's boat, six of your crew row towards the nearer shore, disappearing into the pre-dawn gloom. A few minutes pass, then a scream, followed by shouts and the sounds of fighting, shatters the still air. Alarm fires spring up on the nearest towers; horns blow. A few moments later, the sounds of fighting cease and a lone crewman, badly wounded, paddles back to the Banshee. "Guarded, captain," he manages to gasp out before collapsing. Deduct 2 points from your CREW STRENGTH. Having no other option, you turn back down the river and head for the sea.

(This area is 110% bullshit. If you fail the Luck test earlier, you die, so there is literally nothing to be gained for heading here other than -2 C. STRENGTH.)

Renegotiating the tricky Kish Delta, you return to the Southern Sea. Will you head for the island of Kazallu to search for provisions, or steer well clear of the Kishian coast and sail out into the center of the Southern Sea?

Adventure Sheet
Captain Leeroy Jenkins
SKILL 11/12 (13/14 in personal combat)
STAMINA 9/19
LUCK 6/10
LOG 32/50
The Banshee
C. STRIKE 12/12
C. STRENGTH 14/16
Booty:
293 Gold Pieces
7 slaves
Gear: Abbot's Sword (+2 SKILL in personal combat)
Magic Blessings: Barge's Tiller, Sea Sprites' Blessing (roll 2d6 for C. STRENGTH tests), Unicorn Horn

[Corsair114]

Let's head for the center of the south sea. Maybe we can find ourselves a merchant man to plunder.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Roll three two dice. (Even with our recent losses, any roll will be less than our CREW STRENGTH. Thank you Sea Sprites!) Add 2 days to your LOG.

You sail out into the Southern Sea, heading south of Shurrupak towards Nippur - add 2 days to your LOG. The further you go south, the rougher the sea gets and the more unpredictable the weather. One evening, when a supernatural and freezing fog has cut visibility down to mere yards, you see a glowing mountain of ice floating in the sea. The Banshee is under full sail and heading straight towards this white monolith. Test your Luck. (2,1=3; Lucky.)

You swing the wheel, turning the Banshee just enough to miss a fatal collision. As you cruise past the ice mountain, the fog lifts momentarily, allowing you to see a large galley which is resting on the ice several hundred yards in from the water-line. Will you heave to and approach the ice mountain in the ship's boat, or steer away from the monolith and continue on your journey south?

Adventure Sheet
Captain Leeroy Jenkins
SKILL 11/12 (13/14 in personal combat)
STAMINA 9/19
LUCK 5/10
LOG 36/50
The Banshee
C. STRIKE 12/12
C. STRENGTH 14/16
Booty:
293 Gold Pieces
7 slaves
Gear: Abbot's Sword (+2 SKILL in personal combat)
Magic Blessings: Barge's Tiller, Sea Sprites' Blessing (roll 2d6 for C. STRENGTH tests), Unicorn Horn

[Corsair114]

Heave to and ready for looting!

[Darth Rabbitt]

You paddle to the icy shore and disembark. The galley lies about two hundred yards away in the center of a deep valley of ice. Will you approach it by walking in the middle of the valley, or by walking as close to one of the steep sides as possible?

[Corsair114]

Let's edge along the sides, with any luck we won't fall through the ice... unlike walking down the center. Then again, an avalanche will probably land on us or something. Oh well, definitely along the sides.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Reaching the stranded vessel, you climb up on its deck, and come face to face with a large, shaggy white beast that is busy feeding on one of the galley's dead crew. It growls at you and bares its fangs. You try to edge away, but the beast decides to attack, swinging huge claw-studded paws at your midriff. Drawing your sword, you defend yourself.

ICE BEAST SKILL 9 STAMINA 10

Combat Log:

Beast 13, Leeroy 20. Beast is at 8.
Beast 15, Leeroy 18. Beast is at 6.
Beast 16, Leeroy 21. Beast is at 4.
Beast 20, Leeroy 24. Beast is at 2.
Beast 13, Leeroy 25. Beast is dead.

(The beast...
(•_•)
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■)
...just got iced.)

With the beast dead, you search the ship at leisure, and discover masses of frozen crates, but no treasure other than a flame-red jewel set in a gold ring. The ring is inscribed on one side with a riddle:

Where in Albion would you find that which lies between above and below?

And on the other side is what you presume to be the answer:

At the end, next to yourself.

Odd. As you find nothing else, you return to the Banshee.

Pulling away from the icy monolith, you continue south. You will have to take on some provisions and fresh water to be able to reach Nippur. You can get these by landing either at the island of Kazallu or the islands of the Three Sisters.

Adventure Sheet
Captain Leeroy Jenkins
SKILL 11/12 (13/14 in personal combat)
STAMINA 9/19
LUCK 5/10
LOG 36/50
The Banshee
C. STRIKE 12/12
C. STRENGTH 14/16
Booty:
293 Gold Pieces
7 slaves
Gear: Abbot's Sword (+2 SKILL in personal combat), Gold Ring
Magic Blessings: Barge's Tiller, Sea Sprites' Blessing (roll 2d6 for C. STRENGTH tests), Unicorn Horn

[Corsair114]

(The beast...
(•_•)
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■)
...just got iced.)

YEEEAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

Let's head for the islands of the Three Sisters.

[Korgan0]

Yeah.

[Darth Rabbitt]

The Banshee cuts through the Southern Sea towards the Three Sisters. Roll three two dice. (Regardless of what we roll, it will be less than our CREW STRENGTH.) Add 4 days to your LOG. As you approach the three islands, you see they are grouped together quite closely. The nearest island is low and looks fertile, with neatly tended orchards and small villages of thatched huts. The next island is actually an extinct volcano, its cone rising thousands of feet into the air, while the lower slopes are heavily timbered. The other island is, like the first, quite low, but is dominated by palms and sand. Which will you land on:

The neat-looking island?
The volcanic island?
The palm-covered island?

Adventure Sheet
Captain Leeroy Jenkins
SKILL 11/12 (13/14 in personal combat)
STAMINA 9/19
LUCK 5/10
LOG 40/50
The Banshee
C. STRIKE 12/12
C. STRENGTH 14/16
Booty:
293 Gold Pieces
7 slaves
Gear: Abbot's Sword (+2 SKILL in personal combat), Gold Ring
Magic Blessings: Barge's Tiller, Sea Sprites' Blessing (roll 2d6 for C. STRENGTH tests), Unicorn Horn