[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 57 - Magehunter

[SGamerz]

There's something very unusual about Mencius: not only is his hair streaked with grey, but also his skin has aged. Apart from the wound in his head, blood is also flowing from the bullet-wound in his belly. Although the silver bullet pierced his skin, you know that his sorcerous power must have drawn the edges of the wound together. It seems that Mencius has no power left, for how else could the wound have re-opened? You untie the rope of human hair, keeping it handy in case the mage shows any signs of regaining his magic. Now, what to do about the wound? If you stanch it, turn to 379. If you remove the silver bullet first, turn to 219.

[Thaluikhain]

Not seeing any point stanching it with the bullet in, so remove.

Also, IIRC we get to keep the silver bullet if we do, and those are rare and presumably useful

[Darth Rabbitt]

Loot bullet from body.

[Queen of Swords]

If it was a Junior Mint, I might leave it inside him, but I'd prefer to take the bullet out.

[pragma]

Take the bullet, though I fear the book is presenting us with a sneaky "kill him for loot" or "save him for a hint" dilemma.

[JourneymanN00b]

My vote is to remove the silver bullet first, as I feel that we are going to need all of the silver bullets that we can get in this adventure.

[SGamerz]

Examining the wound, you can see the full gleam of the silver bullet, lodged in Mencius's gut. Without proper tools, you'll just have to use your fingers! As you probe into the cavity, Mencius's body jerks in spasms of unconscious pain. As quickly as you can, you get a grip on the bullet with your thumb and finger and ease it out. Pocketing the blood-stained silver bullet, (note it down on your Equipment List), you rip up Mencius's robe to make a wad of cloth. It's a crude way to bandage a wound, but, tied in place, it seems to work.

Mencius soon comes round, and stares up at you, bleary-eyed. "What sorcery is this?" he demands. "You look exactly like me!" His eyes contain none of the infernal malice you are used to, only bewilderment. The truth hits you like a charging bison - Mencius has switched bodies! The poor wretch before you is really Reinhardt, whose body you now inhabit. You tell him what has happened, and he begs you to set things right.

Which means, of course, that real Mencius now occupies our original body. I think most of you can figure out why rolling maximum stat is a terrible thing for the player in this book....

Erase the following items from your Adventure Sheet: pistol, 3 bullets, box of powder, broadsword, undyed clothes, mirrors, compass needle and silver pieces. Erase all your Provisions. In addition to anything you acquired since passing through the magic portal, you now have the following: rapier, fine red clothes, jewellery, rope of human hair and 10 gold pieces. Lose 3 points from your SKILL and 6 points from your STAMINA (this loss is permanent until you are told specifically that it is restored). If you try to find a way to switch bodies with Reinhardt, turn to 276. Or you can prepare to move: turn to 175.

And of course, it's now apparent that removing the silver bullet first was important, since we just lost our original one. Of course, we also no longer have a gun to fire that bullet with, at the moment....

It's kind of weird that Reinhardt's stat is completely relative to the PC (SKILL ranging from a decent 9 to a paltry 4). consequence of starting with low Initial stats means that we're currently stuck with a SKILL of 5 and STAMINA of 13).

What do we do now?

Adventure Sheet:

SKILL 5/5
STAMINA 13/13
LUCK 11/11
Money: 10 Gold Pieces
Equipment: Rapier, Fine Red Clothes, Silver bullet, Jewellery, Rope of Human Hair,
Provisions: 0

[Queen of Swords]

I'm guessing it won't be easy to switch bodies so soon. Prepare to move.

[Omegonthesane]

Not only do I think body hopping won't exactly be easy, I also assume Mencius' body won't necessarily be much better than Reinhardt's beyond any goodwill from getting him back in his intended location.

This could all have been avoided if we were allowed to just murder Mencius quickly before the funeral.

[Thaluikhain]

We are in the body of a young prince, and he's in the body of and old guy with a bullet wound, so, we've got no time for that.

Mencius soon comes round, and stares up at you, bleary-eyed. "What sorcery is this?" he demands. "You look exactly like me!" His eyes contain none of the infernal malice you are used to, only bewilderment. The truth hits you like a charging bison - Mencius has switched bodies! The poor wretch before you is really Reinhardt, whose body you now inhabit. You tell him what has happened, and he begs you to set things right.

I like how we've worked out what happened that quickly.

Also, since we've not actually decided on a name, I suggest "Jamie Lee Curtis", or some variation, because she was in horror films and Freaky Friday.

I would have suggested Lindsay Lohan, also in Freaky Friday, but she hasn't done much horror and has punched a "psychic" in the face for reals.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Since we're specifically an otherworldly elite warrior who body switches, I would suggest Captain Ginyu.

Prepare to move. Even if we had reason to believe that we could switch back right now, I doubt we'll have access to Mencius' magic in his body, and I doubt that Reinhardt would survive the jump back in his current state.

[pragma]

Prepare to move is fine by me. I don't think we could switch back, that requires sorcery and we're explicitly anti-that.

[JourneymanN00b]

Move! Move! Move! My vote will be to prepare to do just that.

Switching bodies with Reinhardt's current body is a bad idea, considering that Mencius' body is wounded and Abraham Van Helsing (in Reinhardt's body) does not have any Provisions or other healing items right now. We need to begin the search for Mencius and Abraham Van Helsing's original body right now, as the trail is going cold and he can do a lot of damage to Abraham Van Helsing's reputation with every passing minute.

[SGamerz]

Thus far, we have 3 different suggestions for names: Abraham Van Helsing, Jamie Lee Curtis, Captain Ginyu. Any other players wish to second any of these?

You have no idea where you are. You left the Margrave's castle in late autumn, but now the heat of the sun shining from a clear sky is almost unbearable. The terrain here is unfamiliar - you don't even recognize the trees and shrubs. How do you propose to track Mencius? Do you:

Follow the river downstream?
Light a fire?
Draw a Holy Symbol?
Climb to the mountain top?

Where do we start?

[Thaluikhain]

Holy Symbol seems nice and easy. But then that's only the closest wizard.

The fire has to be a a certain time of the moon, which might not be now.

(Abraham Lee Ginyu? No?)

[Queen of Swords]

I like Abraham Lee Ginyu too.

Since Mencius fell into the river, follow the river downstream.

[pragma]

Not Captain Van Curtis?

Follow the river, seems most practical given the meta knowledge that we're in Titan and our anti-wizard tricks might not work.

[JourneymanN00b]

Jamie Van Ginyu sounds much better in my opinion. We were told that the figure rolled down the scree slope and plunged into the river, so my vote will be to follow the river downstream, until it joins hands with the sea.

[Darth Rabbitt]

I'm personally a fan of Jamie Van Ginyu, although I'd settle for Abraham Lee Ginyu.

Regardless, our hero should go to the river, since we actually saw something go there. The magehunting stuff might fail for at least one of two different ways (we're in another world and the bodyswap shenanigans might make mage detection unreliable anyways.)

[Omegonthesane]

Full vote for Jaime Van Ginyu, and follow the river.

[Thaluikhain]

Regardless, our hero should go to the river, since we actually saw something go there. The magehunting stuff might fail for at least one of two different ways (we're in another world and the bodyswap shenanigans might make mage detection unreliable anyways.)

While this is true, it might be nice to know if it does work or not early on before it really matters.

(Not based on playing this before, I can't remember this bit)

[SGamerz]

You haven't walked far before Reinhardt collapses, complaining that he tripped because of the wretched body he now inhabits, so you agree to a brief rest. Five minutes later, a slight dizziness overcomes you and your scalp prickles. Test your Luck. If you are Lucky, turn to 296. If you are Unlucky, turn to 228.

Dice roll = 10 (Lucky!)

Good think we started with a high LUCK score.

Failing this roll may prevent us from reaching the best ending.

Glancing around, you happen to catch Reinhardt's eye. You lock stares, and the dizziness grows stronger. There is a feeling like falling through the air, and you find yourself staring into Reinhardt's eyes - but now Reinhardt is back in his own body! A sharp pain in your stomach confirms that you are now in the body of Mencius! Reinhardt us delighted to be restored to his natural state. In the box marked 'Companion' on your Adventure Sheet, write '5' next to SKILL and '8' next to STAMINA. Then tick the box marked 'Switch' in the bottom right-hand corner. This box shows that you have switched bodies with your companion. Unless you switch back, you will use the SKILL and STAMINA scores of your companion. Write any equipment you gain while in this body in the bottom part of the Equipment box, so that you keep track of who has what. You now know how to switch bodies. Whenever your scalp prickles, you can change bodies with Reinhardt or Mencius. You will not be given this as an option, but you may choose to switch anyway. To switch, simply add together the digits of the paragraph you are at, then add the result to the paragraph you are at. For example, if you were at paragraph 283, you would add the digits (2+8+3 = 13), then add this total to the paragraph you were at (13 + 283 = 296) and then turn to the paragraph 296. Now that he has his body back, Reinhardt is eager to track Mencius down and find a way back to his own land. He drags you to your feet and you set off again.

Well, it turns out that switching bodies is easier that most of us anticipated. The 'Lucky' result doesn't seem like much of a blessing in he short-term, since we're now stuck with even crappier stats (same SKILL, lower STAMINA) and Mencius' body doesn't seem to be carrying anything useful (which makes sense, I guess, since he just got out of prison), but finding out how to switch bodies is obviously potentially useful.

We do still have access to the items that Reinhardt's body is carrying...as long as we aren't separated from him. Actually, while this isn't explicitly stated, there's really no reason we can't just decide to take everything off him (since he doesn't stop us from using them anyway) and just carry everything with us. Should we do that? We certainly lack a weapon, which Reinhardt carries...

As you follow the river, your mind starts trying to catch up with what has happened to you. You notice that even the air smells unusual, and the clamminess of your skin is unnerving. Mencius's spell has obviously propelled you far from the Margrave's domain. You try to remember everything you know about the far-flung reaches of the world. Unfortunately, geography was never your strong suit. Beyond some lurid tales of the hot southlands, where men's skin is bright red and the earth is yellow, you are at a loss. If you have a Book of Craft, turn to 110. Otherwise, turn to 18.

The PC doesn't know that, but I doubt being good at geography would have helped him much in an entirely alien universe....

We don't have a book...

Something catches your eye - a pile of clothes lying close to the bank of the river. When you pick them up, you realize that it is your own undershirt and breeches of undyed linen. You must be on the trail of your quarry! One strange thing is: rips j have appeared in the fabric, as if it has been torn asunder. Still, it can be repaired, and it's surely preferable to what you're currently dressed in. Note down 'undyed clothes' on your Equipment List and turn to 110.

Not bad...is it too much to hope for that Mencius has been dropping the rest of our stuff on the way as well, and we can just pick them up as we track him?

Yeah, probably.

Further down the river, you join up with a path - obviously well frequented. A few minutes later, you reach a town. At least, you assume it's a town. Where you come from, towns don't have walls round them, or towers with tops shaped like onions. The path leads to a gate in the wall, guarded by swarthy fellows bearing wickedly curved swords. They look human - just - which reassures you a little. If you try to enter the town, turn to 40. If you pass by, turn to 232.

There have been some online speculation as to whether the PC is supposed to have originated from the 'real world' (during the ancient times where witch-hunts were common), but the fact that the text implied he was half-expecting to see non-human humanoids in a town kind of suggest against that.

Check out the town?

Adventure Sheet:

SKILL 5/5
STAMINA 13/13
LUCK 10/11
Money: 10 Gold Pieces
Equipment: Rapier, Fine Red Clothes, Silver bullet, Jewellery, Rope of Human Hair,
Provisions: 0

Companion (Switched)
SKILL 5/5
STAMINA 8/8
Equipment: Undyed clothes

[Thaluikhain]

Something catches your eye - a pile of clothes lying close to the bank of the river. When you pick them up, you realize that it is your own undershirt and breeches of undyed linen. You must be on the trail of your quarry! One strange thing is: rips j have appeared in the fabric, as if it has been torn asunder.

Our original body is a werewolf. Or Mencius is a nudist.

There have been some online speculation as to whether the PC is supposed to have originated from the 'real world' (during the ancient times where witch-hunts were common), but the fact that the text implied he was half-expecting to see non-human humanoids in a town kind of suggest against that.

I'd not read it that way, but never occurred that we might supposedly be from the real world.

Anyway, try to enter the town.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, check out the town.

[Omegonthesane]

The fact Mencius pretty clearly demonstrates actual magical powers rather puts paid to the idea that we're from the "real" world if you ask me.

And yeah, be a tourist.