[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 58: Revenge of the Vampire

[Darth Rabbitt]

Agreed on both counts.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, let's buy the meals and wait for the monster.

[Beroli]

The Count has sent his hunter after you! The creature comes into view in the gloom. It is manlike and carries a huge wooden club, studded with chunks of metal. It wears only black sacking and appears to have been cobbled together from bits of various bodies. The monster stands an arm's length taller than you and is immensely muscular and strong. It seems to be sniffing at the ground around, as if trailing someone. But you have the advantage of surprise here. (You do not have a longbow.) Add 2 to your Attack Strength in the first round.

The Corpse Golem is a very dangerous opponent indeed. If its Attack Strength is 20 or higher it will automatically damage you (if your Attack Strength is 21 or higher at the same time, you both damage each other). If its Attack Strength is 22, it hits you a massive blow for 4 damage.

CORPSE GOLEM Skill 10 Stamina 14

[spoiler=Corpse Golem]
Round One: Eric 24, Corpse Golem 16. Corpse Golem is at 12 Stamina.
Round Two: Eric 19, Corpse Golem 15. Corpse Golem is at 10 Stamina.
Round Three: Eric 23, Corpse Golem 15. Corpse Golem is at 8 Stamina.
Round Four: Eric 21, Corpse Golem 20. Corpse Golem is at 6 Stamina, Eric is at 18 Stamina.
Round Five: Eric 23, Corpse Golem 18. Corpse Golem is at 4 Stamina.
Round Six: Eric 23, Corpse Golem 15. Corpse Golem is at 2 Stamina.
Round Seven: Eric 23, Corpse Golem 14. Victory.[/spoiler]

You stand over the remains of the gruesome monster in the middle of a growing throng of excited villagers. Pushing through them is a man with a hard-lined face, short black hair, steely grey eyes and plain brown robes. He waves people out of his way with a hawthorn stick and they part to let him through. He takes you by the arm and stares you in the eyes with an unflinching gaze. 'Come and eat,' he says simply. 'You were fortunate to survive such a hunter. Fortunate, and brave.'

You go with the long-striding man to an austere house where a silent servant brings bowls of hot soup, cheese, fruit and fresh-baked bread. 'You are pursuing the Count,' the man says in a matter-of-fact way. 'l have sensed his flight here. It will not be long before he brings his plans to fruition.' Then he coughs horribly, and covers his mouth with a handkerchief. You realize that, despite initial appearances, he is very ill. When he has recovered, he stares at you again in his disturbing way; there is something very sinister about him, of that there can be no doubt. Will you:

Trust him and go on talking with him? Turn to 357.
Leave him and begin your search for the Ghoulcrypts alone? Turn to 319.

(You now know that these both wind up at 319, one of them after another brief exchange, so:)

'l am known by some people as the Gatekeeper,' the man says cautiously. 'l know the way into the crypts. They are far below the old Bluestone mines to the north of the village. Do you have Sewarth's Codex with you, by any chance?' (You do not, and there's no option to bring up that you spoke to Siegfried, and so the conversation ends there.)

The man is clearly disappointed at your decision to [not have Sewarth's Codex and] depart. Now you will have to wander around alone, looking for any crypt entrances outside the village. (A room for the night costs 1 Gold Piece, choosing to sleep outside instead would cost 2 Stamina and 1 Meal; I think I can guess which you'll choose but you need to vote on this anyway. You also have another chance to buy Meals on the same terms as recently, which is irrelevant to you but would be useful if you'd taken a ton of damage from the Corpse Golem.) After endless searching round the outskirts of the village, all you have turned up is the entrance to some long abandoned mines. If there are any crypts below them, no one is saying so, but the villagers are a furtive lot and have little to say anyway. You must lose 2 Blood Points for this delay in searching. It's time to go down into the depths!

A long, winding path leads down to the old lead mines. Stepping carefully over the debris of rock and leaves blown in from outside, you descend into the entrance cave. Rotted pit-props and the drip of water from above warn you that the place is hardly safe to walk in, but you must press onwards. Ahead of you, to your left, is a domed chamber with many rocks on the floor and a chink of daylight beaming down; the glint of metal is visible in the middle of the rock clutter.

Explore the domed chamber? Turn to 167.
Go straight on past it? Turn to 275.

Also vote on whether to pay for a room for the night. Please vote by 9 PM EDT and before there is a three-vote majority to be sure it will be counted.

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]Name: Eric Cross Brooks
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 11/11
Faith: 13
Blood Points: 14
Equipment: 2 Magic Swords (+1 Attack Power), Magic Gauntlets (+1 Attack Power), Nonmagic Sword, Leather Armor, Shield, Backpack, Lantern, 2 Herbal Brandy (+4 Stamina), Resin, Garlic, Silver Stake, Mallet, Silver Mirror, Climbing boots for hill-climbing, Rope, 15 pages of sage correspondence, 90-Faceted Red Crystal Heart, 2 Potions of Stamina (+9 Stamina), Mystery Potion, Baleful Red Lantern, Cooking Oil, Blackfire
Provisions: 12 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Gold Pieces: 39
Special Notes: [/spoiler]

[Thaluikhain]

Hmmm...while it looks like paying for the room is the better option, if we buy 2 meals for the same cost, we have one meal we are required to eat, and another that we can eat to restore both the 2 stamina we lost due to being outside and for being hit once by the monster. But, if we pay for a room and also 2 meals that we only get 2 stamina out of, doesn't really matter at this point.

And also, for a round of drinks for everyone since we've got more money than we need. Pity we can't hire an angry mob with pitchforks or something.

Oh, and check out the dome again.

[Darth Rabbitt]

The dome just got us a rock slide last time, right? Though I suppose we can’t fail the skill test. Still, I think we should avoid it.

[SGamerz]

Siegfried Heydrich...which looks surprisingly different from FF38 (surprising because the interior art for both books were done by the same artist).



And why waste time going to the same place where we already found out that nothing good happens? Just move along and go past it already.

[Beroli]

(With no clear vote on where to spend the night, staying in an inn.)

Avoiding the rockfall wins 2-1.

You hurry on downwards, through a cavern with bright red-orange stripes in the grey limestone, somewhat resembling a side of bacon,if rather more colourful! Ahead of you is a yawning chasm and two rock platforms cross it to more caverns beyond; both of them look strong and safe to cross.

Take the right-hand platform? Turn to 110.
Take the left-hand platform? Turn to 307.

Please vote by 9 AM EDT and before there is a three-vote majority to be sure it will be counted.

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]Name: Eric Cross Brooks
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 11/11
Faith: 13
Blood Points: 14
Equipment: 2 Magic Swords (+1 Attack Power), Magic Gauntlets (+1 Attack Power), Nonmagic Sword, Leather Armor, Shield, Backpack, Lantern, 2 Herbal Brandy (+4 Stamina), Resin, Garlic, Silver Stake, Mallet, Silver Mirror, Climbing boots for hill-climbing, Rope, 15 pages of sage correspondence, 90-Faceted Red Crystal Heart, 2 Potions of Stamina (+9 Stamina), Mystery Potion, Baleful Red Lantern, Cooking Oil, Blackfire
Provisions: 12 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Gold Pieces: 38
Special Notes: [/spoiler]

[SGamerz]

Left worked fine last time, so left again.

[Queen of Swords]

Take the left.

[Beroli]

With a sigh of relief you reach the far end of the rock bridge and see fluted pillars of sculpted stone ahead of you. You approach them carefully and discover that they are massive stalactites. There is plenty of room to pass between them, so you push on ahead and downwards, following the passage as it descends into a huge cave with many more, if less spectacular, stalactites growing down from the ceiling. These have bulbous globes on their tips, yellow-orange centres and a milky surround. There is an unpleasant smell in this chamber, not unlike that of rotting eggs. Far to the north, in the darkness, you can hear rushing water. You can also see a small constellation of sparks gliding lazily towards you through the air.

Enter the cavern immediately? Turn to 14.
Stay back for now? Turn to 374.

(In light of what you know, I'm going straight to the "stay back" option.)

Discretion was certainly the better part of valour this time! The cave is suddenly filled with sheets of flame as the sparks ignite the gas you could smell. Then all is quiet again, but the spark-creature is still bobbing around in the cave. You decide to move forward and confront it. (But not having gotten blasted, you don't take 8 damage and need to fight it with a -1 Attack Strength penalty.)

The Cave Wisp is a very difficult opponent. It attacks you by firing sprays of sparks and, while you only need two strikes to destroy it, it is extremely hard to hit!

CAVE WISP Skill 11 Stamina 4

[spoiler=Cave Wisp]
Round One: Eric 25, Cave Wisp 18. Cave Wisp is at 2 Stamina.
Round Two: Eric 17, Cave Wisp 16. Flawless victory.[/spoiler]

You press ahead and come to the waterfall at the end of the cavern. Water tumbles down from a stream or lake far above and pours down over rock ledges and down a jagged chasm which clearly descends some way. As far as you can see, this is the only route down to the realms below the mines, so you must descend here. The rocks are very slippery and ordinary climbing will be very difficult.

Use climbing boots and a rope?
Drink a mystery potion and hope for flight?
Climb down? Turn to 263.

Please vote by 9 PM EDT and before there is a three-vote majority to be sure it will be counted.

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]Name: Eric Cross Brooks
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 11/11
Faith: 13
Blood Points: 14
Equipment: 2 Magic Swords (+1 Attack Power), Magic Gauntlets (+1 Attack Power), Nonmagic Sword, Leather Armor, Shield, Backpack, Lantern, 2 Herbal Brandy (+4 Stamina), Resin, Garlic, Silver Stake, Mallet, Silver Mirror, Climbing boots for hill-climbing, Rope, 15 pages of sage correspondence, 90-Faceted Red Crystal Heart, 2 Potions of Stamina (+9 Stamina), Mystery Potion, Baleful Red Lantern, Cooking Oil, Blackfire
Provisions: 12 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Gold Pieces: 38
Special Notes: [/spoiler]

[Thaluikhain]

Huh, was assuming that the dome wouldn't take use to the exact same spot right away as walking past it.

Anyhoo, we have boots and rope, so we shoul use those.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Use climbing boots and a rope, since we know the other blue option is a bad time.

[Queen of Swords]

Yes, I remember what happened when we drank the mystery potion at this point last time. Climb down with the boots and a rope.

[Beroli]

Huh, was assuming that the dome wouldn't take use to the exact same spot right away as walking past it.

Anyhoo, we have boots and rope, so we shoul use those.

You were assuming that when it said "there's nothing useful here, just a rockfall, and now you continue" it meant something other than "there's nothing useful here, just a rockfall, and now you continue"?

Anyway.

Your boots are really designed for hill climbing, but they do provide some extra grip here. You fasten the rope round the biggest rock you can find, then lower yourself down the abyss, keeping as far away from the weight of the water as you can. Your boots crunch on the wet rock, and you are almost at the end of your rope when you find yourself standing on a rock ledge.

You edge forward along a winding passage with a low ceiling. Flickering blue light glimmers ahead and the passage straightens, the walls grow smoother and the floor easier to walk along. On either side of you are three wall-alcoves, and inside each is a skeletal figure. In the distance you can see that the passage continues and there is a side-turning to your left. You have a pretty good idea that the skeletal figures will come to life as you approach them, so what are you going to do?

Throw Blackfire at the skeletons?
Fire an arrow at the skeletons?
Throw acid at the skeletons?
Grip your sword tightly and attack the first skeleton? Turn to 104.
Just walk straight ahead? Turn to 327.

Please vote by 9 AM EDT and before there is a three-vote majority to be sure it will be counted.

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]Name: Eric Cross Brooks
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 11/11
Faith: 13
Blood Points: 14
Equipment: 2 Magic Swords (+1 Attack Power), Magic Gauntlets (+1 Attack Power), Nonmagic Sword, Leather Armor, Shield, Backpack, Lantern, 2 Herbal Brandy (+4 Stamina), Resin, Garlic, Silver Stake, Mallet, Silver Mirror, Climbing boots for hill-climbing, Rope, 15 pages of sage correspondence, 90-Faceted Red Crystal Heart, 2 Potions of Stamina (+9 Stamina), Mystery Potion, Baleful Red Lantern, Cooking Oil, Blackfire
Provisions: 12 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Gold Pieces: 38
Special Notes: [/spoiler]

[SGamerz]

I voted to trust in our Faith and just walk ahead last time, even though it didn't win the majority votes. My opinion in this matter remains unchanged. We're better off saving our time and resources than waste time fighting (literally) faceless mooks with nothing to gain out of it.

[Queen of Swords]

I agree, and I'd rather save the Blackfire for the tougher fights to come.

[Thaluikhain]

You were assuming that when it said "there's nothing useful here, just a rockfall, and now you continue" it meant something other than "there's nothing useful here, just a rockfall, and now you continue"?

I thought it meant we continue through that section in which there is no useful items, but there was one entrance and one exit.

Anyhoo, walk past random skelemooks.

[Beroli]

Roll two dice. If the total is equal to or greater than your Faith score...(not possible). The skeletons remain inert.

Take the left-hand turning in the passage? Turn to 164.
March straight ahead? Turn to 202.

Please vote by 9 PM EDT and before there is a three-vote majority to be sure it will be counted.

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]Name: Eric Cross Brooks
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 11/11
Faith: 13
Blood Points: 14
Equipment: 2 Magic Swords (+1 Attack Power), Magic Gauntlets (+1 Attack Power), Nonmagic Sword, Leather Armor, Shield, Backpack, Lantern, 2 Herbal Brandy (+4 Stamina), Resin, Garlic, Silver Stake, Mallet, Silver Mirror, Climbing boots for hill-climbing, Rope, 15 pages of sage correspondence, 90-Faceted Red Crystal Heart, 2 Potions of Stamina (+9 Stamina), Mystery Potion, Baleful Red Lantern, Cooking Oil, Blackfire
Provisions: 12 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Gold Pieces: 38
Special Notes: [/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Go left, because now we have the lantern that might help us with the mysterious creatures.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Go left.

[Beroli]

The side-passage ends at a black wooden door with silver banding, but between you and the door are several wall-alcoves housing Ghoul-like figures. You cannot see them distinctly because they are shrouded in opaque cocoons, like grisly undead insects, waiting to spring out and strike you down should you enter this passage. You have a lantern with red-coloured lenses which depict similar creatures.

You light the red lamp and its baleful light illuminates the passageway. The shrouded forms moan, tossing and turning inside their cocoons, then settle back in their wretched slumber. You make for the door ahead of you.

The door here is locked and you have no key to open it with. You can break it down, but this will take time and you will make a lot of noise in the process.

Break the door down? Turn to 211.
Return to the main passage and head further into the Ghoulcrypts? Turn to 202.

Please vote by 7 AM EDT and before there is a three-vote majority to be sure it will be counted.

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]Name: Eric Cross Brooks
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 11/11
Faith: 13
Blood Points: 14
Equipment: 2 Magic Swords (+1 Attack Power), Magic Gauntlets (+1 Attack Power), Nonmagic Sword, Leather Armor, Shield, Backpack, Lantern, 2 Herbal Brandy (+4 Stamina), Resin, Garlic, Silver Stake, Mallet, Silver Mirror, Climbing boots for hill-climbing, Rope, 15 pages of sage correspondence, 90-Faceted Red Crystal Heart, 2 Potions of Stamina (+9 Stamina), Mystery Potion, Baleful Red Lantern, Cooking Oil, Blackfire
Provisions: 12 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Gold Pieces: 38
Special Notes: [/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Break it down.

[Beroli]

Roll two dice. If the total is greater than your Faith score...(not possible). Unfortunately, this is a bad Faith check.

From behind your back a spectral figure comes flying at you; it is one of the many undead which haunt the crypts. The Wraith has a chill aura about it and, if it strikes you, you will be in serious trouble!

WRAITH Skill 8 Stamina 9

After the fight, if it has struck you at all, you need to roll a die, and if the roll is 1-4 lose 1 Skill. That being the case, pausing for votes on how and if to use Luck in this fight.

Please vote by 7 PM EDT and before there is a three-vote majority to be sure it will be counted.

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]Name: Eric Cross Brooks
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 18/20
Luck: 11/11
Faith: 13
Blood Points: 14
Equipment: 2 Magic Swords (+1 Attack Power), Magic Gauntlets (+1 Attack Power), Nonmagic Sword, Leather Armor, Shield, Backpack, Lantern, 2 Herbal Brandy (+4 Stamina), Resin, Garlic, Silver Stake, Mallet, Silver Mirror, Climbing boots for hill-climbing, Rope, 15 pages of sage correspondence, 90-Faceted Red Crystal Heart, 2 Potions of Stamina (+9 Stamina), Mystery Potion, Baleful Red Lantern, Cooking Oil, Blackfire
Provisions: 12 Meals (+4 STAMINA)
Gold Pieces: 38
Special Notes: [/spoiler]

[Darth Rabbitt]

Our Attack Strength is 7 points higher than this thing, so I think we're honestly fine without using luck.

[Queen of Swords]

Agreed. And now I really want to see what's behind that door.