[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 42: Black Vein Prophecy

[JourneymanN00b]

We need to turn away from the evils of fascism, so I vote to go left!

[Beroli]

Darkness now surrounds you. By trailing your fingers against the wall to your left, you make your way safely along the passage, which meanders for some time, hopelessly confusing your sense of direction. A glow appears ahead, and you stumble into a chamber lit by limpid trails of luminescent slime. By this ghastly light you can see pile upon pile of nuts, berries, leaves...and gemstones. Sparkling in the dim light they lie there, beckoning you with the comforting finger of wealth. As you stare, a wisp of smoke writhes into the chamber beside you. You turn...and more billows out from the tunnel.

Make for the opposite tunnel immediately?
Grab some gems and then do so?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 16/19
Luck: 5/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
[/spoiler]

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to make for the opposite tunnel immediately. The gems spell “deathtrap” written all over them.

[Queen of Swords]

Agreed, especially since there's been no indication so far that we'll need gemstones. Get out asap.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Yeah, ignore the obvious bait.

[Beroli]

You dare not run, lest you bump into something in the dim light. You hurry along the passageway, then stop abruptly as a dark form rears up in front of you.

'Quick, the Thaaza smoke is near!' Velkos's voice urges you on. She grabs your arm and drags you down another tunnel. A screeching noise echoes down the tunnels, and after a while you pass a side-tunnel from which issue pitiful, half-human screams. As you pause at the tunnel mouth, Velkos grabs you roughly. 'lt's just some Cressent young,' she hisses. 'Leave them for the traders.'

Follow Velkos?
Go down the side tunnel?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 16/19
Luck: 5/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
[/spoiler]

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to follow Velkos, as her information indicates that the side tunnel is not a good place to visit.

[Queen of Swords]

Damn. Ignore the Cressent babies, or ignore Velkos?

I'll risk going down the side tunnel.

[SGamerz]

Side tunnel to rescue Cressent babies.

[Beroli]

'Fool!' Velkos calls back to you as she hurries off. You follow the screeching to a large wooden door which blocks the tunnel. The door is not barred, but a dislodged chip of stone wedges it shut. As frantic hands thump on the other side, you kick the stone away. The door flies open and dozens of young Cressents pour out, sweeping you along with them. One of them gestures al you, but you can't make out what he is trying to communicate. Behind them seep tendrils of smoke. Soon light appears ahead of you, and the Cressents quicken their pace. You emerge on the mountainside to see traders and Cressents alike fleeing from an incandescent creature, its shapeless body surrounded by whiplashes of flame. Bolts fly from it, incinerating all they touch. You notice Velkos among the fleeing traders.

Run from this creature of wizardry?
Stand and face it?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 16/19
Luck: 5/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
[/spoiler]

[SGamerz]

Face it.

[Queen of Swords]

Face it, and fingers crossed that we're not incinerated.

[angelfromanotherpin]

Run like smoke and oakum.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to run from this creature of wizardry, as I am pretty sure that we cannot fight wizards at this point in the story.

If this ends up being a tie, make my vote a half one.

[Beroli]

Facing the creature wins 2 to 1.5.

You face the blazing Elemental and compose yourself for action.

Cast a Mutation spell?
Charge the creature?
Circle and dodge, waiting for an opportunity?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 16/19
Luck: 5/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
[/spoiler]

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to circle and dodge, waiting for an opportunity. Casting polymorph is like playing roulette where the odds are against you, and charging is simply suicide.

[SGamerz]

Circle and dodge.

[Beroli]

You know that you cannot afford to be in the way of one of the creature's bolts, so you circle warily, looking for a vulnerable spot. A bolt streaks towards you and instinctively you hold out your hands to ward it off...the bolt stops, inches from your palms. You push out with your hands and the bolt streaks back at the Polybleb. There is a flash, and the creature vaporizes in a fine splay of scintillating particles. You remember that the spell you just turned back against its caster is called Disruption, and wonder which other spells you learned in your forgotten past.

Gain 2 points of Luck. The Polybleb has been defeated,but now you are alone among the calcinated remains of its victims. Before you continue, you need some rest.

As you rest, you decide to check through your possessions. You are surprised to discover a brooch in a small pocket of your robe. It is carved with glyphs which remind you of your dreamlike emergence from your tomb. There is a little clasp on the brooch. You can open it now, or at any point in the future except when in combat, so if you do not choose to open it right now, remember that you can; for obvious reasons I won't be putting "or open the brooch" as an option in every post until you do open it.

You have a refreshing rest (restore 2 points of Stamina). You think you can remember in which direction Velkos fled.

Look for her?
Set off on your own into the lusher lowlands?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 18/19
Luck: 7/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
Brooch (can be opened at any time not in combat)
[/spoiler]

[SGamerz]

Open the brooch now before we forget about it.

[Queen of Swords]

Sure, open the brooch.

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to open the brooch and set off on our own into the lusher lowlands, as Velkos is probably long gone by now. No use going after a companion that probably is going to die soon.

[Thaluikhain]

I suggest following Velkos, but only half vote to avoid tie.

Opening brooch because we'll forget about it in a few posts makes sens.

[Beroli]

You prise open the brooch and find yourself staring at a grinning face: it looks like that of a malevolent baby and, as you watch, it winks. There is a crackle, a sharp tang of ozone...and the grinning faces is before you, attached to a small, smooth body.

As the creature regards you expectantly, a word surfaces in your memory.

'Izkhao,' you say. 'Obey me.'

'I o-b-b-b-bey,' replies the smirking homunculus. With a mocking bow, he disappears back into the brooch.

Now, look for Velkos?
Or set off on your own into the lusher lowlands?

[spoiler=Adventure Sheet]
Name: ????????
Skill: 10/10
Stamina: 18/19
Luck: 7/7

Greatsword
Haversack
Provisions: 5
Brooch with Izkhao
[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Set off on our own, because it doesn't seem like Velkos is going to be terribly helpful or anything like that.

[angelfromanotherpin]

Look for Velkos.