[Let's Play] Fighting Fantazine Adventure 5: Bones of the Banished

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to eat a meal and examine the weapons as well.

[Beroli]

There are weapons of all sorts hanging from the wall-–swords, axes, halberds, clubs and javelins-–all of them rusted and useless. Except, that is, for one gleaming blade that appears to have escaped the ravages of time. The moment you touch the sword, the temperature seems to drop by several degrees. A chilling green mist appears in the tower, coalescing into the hazy shape of an armoured warrior. The ghostly form drifts towards you, bearing a spectral replica of the sword hanging on the wall. ‘The power of Thrandeus endures! The Slaver Gem commands me still, beyond death until the end of time!’ the spectre moans.

SPECTRE Skill 9 Stamina 9

Whenever the Spectre wins an attack round, you have a 50% chance of losing one Skill in addition to the usual 2 Stamina. You fight with a -2 Attack Strength penalty because you do not have a lit torch. Perhaps worst of all, you do not have a magical weapon and so you cannot hurt the Spectre; you must instead fight until you win two consecutive Attack Rounds and then flee up the staircase.

George Attack Strength: 18, SPECTRE Attack Strength: 17.
George Attack Strength: 19, SPECTRE Attack Strength: 16. You are able to flee up the stairs.

You clamber back up the staircase to the window where you first entered the tower. This time you are ready for the gap in the steps and jump it easily. Gain 1 Delays.

Leave the tower and go to the columned building?
Leave the tower and go to the dark opening?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 11/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, weird metal-and-wood staff, _________, _________, _________, _________
Companions: Kuwi
Delays: 4
Deaths:

[Queen of Swords]

Columned building.

[Beroli]

The great stone building stands aloft of the other ruins, perched on a wedge of rock that must have been heaved into the sky during the great upheaval that formed the Cauldron. Thick green vines trail down from the stony spike like the tendrils of some unfathomably large monster. It is only by clambering up one of these vines that you are able to reach the mostly intact structure, which is held up by rows of fat stone columns, covered in disturbing tentacled imagery.

You ascend wide, cracked steps to a vast, airy entrance hall; golden shafts of daylight penetrate the otherwise gloomy interior through great rents in the ceiling and walls. Strewn throughout the halls are the crumbled remains of stone tables, altars and more columns. Amidst the ruins, eyes firmly fixed on you, stands a bizarre beast.

It stands upright on two long hind legs, balanced by a heavy tail. Sitting atop the creature’s short, thick neck is a head crowned by a large rounded dome, edged with bony knobs and small spikes that run down to its beaked muzzle. The strange thickheaded lizard stands over what appears to be a pale humanoid figure, mostly concealed in the rubble.

Risk approaching the animal to investigate the figure?
Give it a wide berth and explore the chambers beyond the hall?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 11/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, weird metal-and-wood staff, _________, _________, _________, _________
Companions: Kuwi
Delays: 4
Deaths:

[Thaluikhain]

Investigate.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, investigate.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to approach the animal to investigate the figure.

[Beroli]

The bony-skulled beast flinches as you approach but stands its ground. Slowly, step-by-step, you edge across the hall towards the creature and the mysterious figure at its clawed feet. When you are about a dozen metres away, the beast snorts in agitation, lowers its domed head and points it directly at you.

Continue your advance?
Rethink your approach?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 11/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, weird metal-and-wood staff, _________, _________, _________, _________
Companions: Kuwi
Delays: 4
Deaths:

[Thaluikhain]

Continue.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to continue the advance.

[Queen of Swords]

Agreed, continue.

[Beroli]

You have barely taken another step when the creature launches itself at you, sprinting across the rubble-strewn floor on its large hind feet. With no time to flee, you hurl yourself out of the path of the charging beast, but it is too quick for you! Test your Skill; a 6 succeeds. The bony crest of the animal only clips your side; take 2 damage. You stagger to your feet and try to make your escape.

Hands held outstretched in supplication, you hurriedly back away from the disturbed beast. The creature answers by charging towards you, domed skull aimed right for your chest. Quickly you throw yourself behind a stone pillar, which the beast promptly crashes into head-on. The pillar is cracked in two, shards of stone flying everywhere, but amazingly the creature still stands! Grunting in annoyance, it steps around the shattered column and attacks once more.

PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS Skill 8 Stamina 10

Vote on how to use Luck here.

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 9/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, weird metal-and-wood staff, _________, _________, _________, _________
Companions: Kuwi (+2 Attack Strength)
Delays: 4
Deaths:

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to only use luck when George reaches 5 Stamina, and to eat a meal when the fight is concluded.

[Queen of Swords]

I’ll go with that too.

[Thaluikhain]

I agree with that, though I'm voting to use luck to increase enemy damage, not decrease our own, which wasn't specified.

[Beroli]

George Attack Strength: 16, PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS Attack Strength: 12. PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS's Stamina is 8
George Attack Strength: 21, PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS Attack Strength: 10. PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS's Stamina is 6
George Attack Strength: 22, PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS Attack Strength: 10. PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS's Stamina is 4
George Attack Strength: 22, PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS Attack Strength: 17. PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS's Stamina is 2
George Attack Strength: 14, PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS Attack Strength: 10. PACHYCEPHALOSAURUS is dead.

Having disposed of your opponent, you eat a Meal and investigate the fallen figure, only to reveal the marble statue of a man, toppled during the cataclysm. Its stern carven eyes seem to stare accusingly at you. Fighting back a wave of disappointment, you decide to leave the cursed mansion and hope to find better fortune elsewhere. Gain 1 Delays.

Only the dark opening remains.

The humid heat of the surrounding jungle swiftly gives way to a chilling cold as you enter the gloomy opening. It is difficult to see anything in the darkness; if you still possess an unlit torch, you can choose to light it now, but you don't. You have a -4 Attack Strength penalty until you return to daylight.

You descend a steep set of stairs that plunge into the earth for what feels like hundreds of metres. Eventually they terminate at a tunnel that continues along for a short distance before meeting a T-junction. Hanging on the wall in front of you is a large stone disc, carved with the image of crossed swords above a mythical winged serpent. Below this is a metal plate engraved with peculiar markings you cannot read. You gather that I – XXVI is left and XXVII – LII is right, but you can't make head or tail of the five words between them.

Go left?
Go right?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 13/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, weird metal-and-wood staff, _________, _________, _________, _________, _________
Companions: Kuwi (+2 Attack Strength)
Delays: 5
Deaths:

[Queen of Swords]

Try left.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to go left to stand against the threat of fascism, of course.

[Beroli]

The passage continues unchanged for a time before you encounter a pair of stone doors facing each other. A short distance further on is another pair of doors, and so on, until the tunnel comes to a dead end. There are twenty-six doors in total, thirteen in each wall. The doors have no handles with which to open them and, try as you might, you cannot pull them open.

You notice that two of the doors are slightly ajar, leaving gaps wide enough for you to squeeze through. The door on the left has the symbol XI carved in to its surface; the other on the right is marked with VI.

Go through the door to the left?
Go through the door to the right?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 13/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, weird metal-and-wood staff, _________, _________, _________, _________, _________
Companions: Kuwi (+2 Attack Strength)
Delays: 5
Deaths:

[Queen of Swords]

Might as well try left again.

[Beroli]

You slide through the gap and enter a long, low-ceilinged chamber. Dominating the centre of the room is a stone sarcophagus, the lid of which is carved into the shape of a youthful warrior, clad in archaic armour and resting both hands on the pommel of a broadsword. Two metal braziers, long since burnt out, hang down from the ceiling on other side of the tomb.

There is little else of interest in the chamber, and you prepare to leave. Suddenly the braziers burst into flame, flickering with a cold green fire. At the same time, the heavy stone door slams shut with a resounding boom. You push against the door with all your might but cannot shift it – you are trapped!

‘Greetings intruder,’ a cold, disembodied voice echoes throughout the chamber, ‘in life I was famed for my skill in battle, but in truth I preferred tests of the mind to tests of the blade. Answer the following question and you shall earn your freedom:

‘Seven knights arrived at the battlefield, and each of them shook hands once with each of the others. How many handshakes were given?’

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 13/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, weird metal-and-wood staff, _________, _________, _________, _________, _________
Companions: Kuwi (+2 Attack Strength)
Delays: 5
Deaths:

[Queen of Swords]

If I estimate correctly, 21.

[Beroli]

‘Correct!’ intones the ghostly voice, ‘go free with my blessing.’ The stone door swings open, and you swiftly leave the chamber. Gain 1 Delays but restore 2 Luck.

Now, will you:
Go in the other door?
Go back to the entrance and go down the passage to the right?

Adventure Sheet
Name: George
Sex: Male
Skill: 10/11
Stamina: 13/15
Luck: 10/10
Weapon: Dagger
Rucksack contents: Meal, Meal, Meal, Rope, weird metal-and-wood staff, _________, _________, _________, _________, _________
Companions: Kuwi (+2 Attack Strength)
Delays: 6
Deaths:

[Queen of Swords]

Damn, I was hoping we'd get a little more as a reward.

Try the other door.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to try the other door as well.