[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 47 – The Crimson Tide

[Thaluikhain]

I'd vote for warning the magistrate first, and for using luck next time we fight the Death's Messenger.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Wow, that's absolutely brutal for an early game fight. Though I suppose at least this monster who literally has the maximum potential stats a PC could have had at this point isn't a game over if we lose.

I don't think the magistrate will be of much help, so go to the monastery.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes counted, Xu Shiyou will start the journey to Baochou, as that won over visiting the magistrate by a 3-1 vote.

365
Zhonggao warns you about the strictness of the monks. ‘They will test you to see whether you are suitable. You must show determination or they will never allow you in.’

Yubei presses a small bag into your hand as you leave. Inside are 10 Gold Pieces: more money that you’ve seen in your life. You thank her for her kindness and promise your uncle that you will not fail.

Zhonggao instructs you to travel north, back to your village, and then to continue past Traole until you reach the Golden Crane Mountains. The monastery is to be found at the summit of the highest peak. Note down the word ‘king’ on your Adventure Sheet and turn to 115.

115
You find your way back to your village without much difficulty. The little settlement is deserted now, and tears spring to your eyes at the sight of the world you have known lying in ruins. As you kneel silently at your father’s grave, in your mind you see once more the glaring mask of the butcher who cut him down.

The danger you have already faced on your way to Yenshu has forewarned you against setting off unprepared. Now you are on your own, so you scavenge around for anything that may be of use. You find one of the pronged spears used against Mudworms in the paddy fields, 30 copper coins on a string, a wide-brimmed hat to protect you from the sun and some sturdy walking sandals. (Add these to your Equipment List.) You head off alone. If you travel south, towards Yenshu, turn to 371. If you head north, turn to 18.

Please make your votes before 6:00 PM PDT to guarantee that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Xu Shiyou
SKILL: Temporary: 6 Permanent: Undetermined
STAMINA: Temporary: 5 Permanent: 5
LUCK: Temporary: 9 Permanent: 10
FEROCITY: 7 When FEROCITY = 0, turn to paragraph 200
AGE: 13 Initial Age = 13 When AGE increases, lose 2 FEROCITY
MONEY: 10 Gold Pieces, 30 Copper Coins
EQUIPMENT LIST:
Wooden Sword
Pronged Spear
Wide-brimmed Hat
Walking Sandals
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 1
NOTES:
King
RESURRECTION USED?: No[/spoiler]

[Beroli]

North is the way to the monastery; let us not blink this early. And is this the time of King Poo Ta, then? (Rhetorical.)

[SGamerz]

Really no reason whatsoever for us to backtrack now, really. We haven't even run into any obstacles on our way to to the monastery yet. North.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, go north to the monastery.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered, Xu Shiyou will head north.

18
You walk for days, sometimes resting in the huts of friendly farmers but more often sleeping rough. You are used to hard work, but now you drive yourself to spend every waking hour on the march. Add 2 points to your Permanent STAMINA. Eventually you are climbing through vine-covered hills to overlook the city of Traole, provincial capital of this region. If you enter the city, turn to 377. If you continue past it, towards the mountains which loom on the horizon, note down the word ‘offers’ on your Adventure Sheet and turn to 81.

Please make your votes before 9:00 AM PDT or a 3-vote majority is reached to guarantee that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Xu Shiyou
SKILL: Temporary: 6 Permanent: Undetermined
STAMINA: Temporary: 7 Permanent: 7
LUCK: Temporary: 9 Permanent: 10
FEROCITY: 7 When FEROCITY = 0, turn to paragraph 200
AGE: 13 Initial Age = 13 When AGE increases, lose 2 FEROCITY
MONEY: 10 Gold Pieces, 30 Copper Coins
EQUIPMENT LIST:
Wooden Sword
Pronged Spear
Wide-brimmed Hat
Walking Sandals
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 1
NOTES:
King
RESURRECTION USED?: No[/spoiler]

[SGamerz]

That codeword may be important, and I'm afraid that we may miss it if we delay, so head for the mountains.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Head for the mountains (and the codeword).

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, go towards the mountains.

[JourneymanN00b]

Continuing past Traole towards the mountains which loom on the horizon received 3 votes, so Xu Shiyou will proceed in that direction.

81
You trudge along the road, passed by the occasional merchant. After two days of marching you find yourself among the foothills. The road is now no better than a track, climbing steadily up the sandy slopes. To your left you can see the highest peak of the mountain; another track branches off to the right. If you press on ahead, turn to 97. If you take the branching path, turn to 253.

Please make your votes before 9:00 AM PDT or a 3-vote majority is reached to guarantee that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Xu Shiyou
SKILL: Temporary: 6 Permanent: Undetermined
STAMINA: Temporary: 7 Permanent: 7
LUCK: Temporary: 9 Permanent: 10
FEROCITY: 7 When FEROCITY = 0, turn to paragraph 200
AGE: 13 Initial Age = 13 When AGE increases, lose 2 FEROCITY
MONEY: 10 Gold Pieces, 30 Copper Coins
EQUIPMENT LIST:
Wooden Sword
Pronged Spear
Wide-brimmed Hat
Walking Sandals
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 1
NOTES:
King
Offers
RESURRECTION USED?: No[/spoiler]

[Darth Rabbitt]

We were told that the monastery is at the highest peak, so press on ahead.

[Thaluikhain]

Press on in a determined manner.

[Queen of Swords]

Press on till we reach the summit of the highest peak or develop pulmonary edema, whichever happens first.

[JourneymanN00b]

Pressing on ahead received 3 votes, so Xu Shiyou will do this.

97
[spoiler][/spoiler]

The path winds upwards and you squint up at the looming majesty of the chief of the Golden Crane Mountains. You can’t see any buildings or signs of life at the summit. Ahead, a sandy path forks off to the left. At the junction sits a shaven-headed fellow in the red robes of a monk. Will you:

Ignore him and carry straight on? Turn to 295
Bow to him? Turn to 229
Ignore him and take the left fork? Turn to 338
Ask him if Baochou Monastery lies at the summit of the mountain? Turn to 161

Please make your votes before 9:00 AM PDT or a 3-vote majority is reached to guarantee that they will be counted.

[SGamerz]

Bow to the wise monk for his guidance.

[Queen of Swords]

Bow to him (though I don't like the smirk on his face).

[Beroli]

Bow to the unphotogenic monk.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Hmm. I’m wondering if this is supposed to be another test of determination, in which case I think the most determined thing we could do is ignore the monk (turning away and asking are right out so it’s really just a question of bowing or walking past).

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes counted, Xu Shiyou will bow to him, as that option won 4-1 over ignoring the monk.

229
You bow respectfully to the monk. For a moment you think he hasn’t seen you, but then he looks up with a smile and says, ‘Answer me this: I have roots deep in the ground, and I loom up, up, up, above your head, yet I never grow. What am I?’ What will you reply:

A pine tree? Turn to 112
The heavens? Turn to 173
A mountain? Turn to 397
A giant? Turn to 57

Or, if you’d rather carry straight on down the path, turn to 295.

Please make your votes before 6:00 PM PDT to guarantee that they will be counted.

[Darth Rabbitt]

A mountain.

[Beroli]

I do not think it is factually accurate that mountains never grow (either in the sense of getting bigger, or in the sense of their being vegetation on them), but it's obviously the intended one and there's no option to protest all his suggestions, so mountain.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, a mountain.

[JourneymanN00b]

“A mountain” already received 3 votes, so Xu Shiyou will issue that as the reply.

397
‘You are correct, in so far as any question has an answer,’ he replies. ‘Follow me.’ He turns and makes his way along the left-hand path.

As night falls, you ascend the mountain, finally reaching what seems to be a huge gateway into the mountainside. Your escort indicates a narrow gap between the colossal doors. ‘Enter!’ he says. If you have the word ‘silk’ written on your Adventure Sheet, turn to 3. Otherwise, turn to 241.

Xu Shiyou does not have the word ‘silk’ written on his Adventure Sheet.

241
[spoiler][/spoiler]

You step through the doors into a massive chamber. There is a clunk! as the doors close behind you, and echoes dance about. Facing you is a large statue of Am, god of the Isles of the Dawn. At his feet, a small metal bowl gives off a thick green smoke. From a side passage steps a monk. ‘I am Dry Jade. Abbot of Baochou Monastery,’ he says. ‘You are welcome.’ If you tell him that you wish to become a monk, turn to 109. If you ask him for assistance in your quest, turn to 355.

Please make your votes before 6:00 PM PDT to guarantee that they will be counted.

[Beroli]

I'm glad the monk acknowledged that arguably none of the answers fits.

Ask for assistance in our quest.