[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 36 – Armies of Death

[Queen of Swords]

I'm only surprised he tapped us on the shoulder rather than sinking an axe into our back.

Fight him for the ring.

[SGamerz]

A ring with a number on it is worth keeping, so fight for it.

(And next time bring a minder or two from our giant army)

Agreed on both. It's got a number on it so we absolutely can't give it up.

And it definitely would have made more sense for the army commander to bring a few guards along for safety.

[Beroli]

Ask him politely to explain the finger size discrepancy.

That's not an option? Then stab him. As politely as possible.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered, Zen-Kut-Sedatche will fight the Axeman. And sorry for the delay, as I overslept after a rather busy night yesterday.

150
The Axeman stands back, cutting a figure-of-eight through the air with the battle-axe which he wields in both hands.

AXEMAN SKILL 8 STAMINA 8

If you win, turn to 101.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

The fight:
[spoiler]Round 1: Axeman Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 16;
Axeman Stamina: 8, Player Stamina: 15
Round 2: Axeman Attack Strength: 13, Player Attack Strength: 21;
Axeman Stamina: 6, Player Stamina: 15
Round 3: Axeman Attack Strength: 12, Player Attack Strength: 18;
Axeman Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 15
Round 4: Axeman Attack Strength: 19, Player Attack Strength: 16;
Axeman Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 13
Round 5: Axeman Attack Strength: 13, Player Attack Strength: 14;
Axeman Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 13
Round 6: Axeman Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 18;
Axeman Stamina: 0, Player Stamina: 13[/spoiler]

Zen-Kut-Sedatche kills the Axeman after taking a single hit of 2 Stamina damage in the process.

101
While taking his axe, you spot a leather pouch on the Axeman’s belt; before you have time to open it, however, you see two town guards running up the street towards you. If you want to open the pouch and risk being caught, turn to 281. If you would rather run off with only the gold ring, turn to 64.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Please make your votes before 1:00 PM PDT to guarantee that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Zen-Kut-Sedatche
SKILL: 10 Initial Skill = 10
STAMINA: 13 Initial Stamina = 17
LUCK: 6 Initial Luck = 7
SOLIDERS:
WARRIORS: 95
DWARFS: 50
ELVES: 50
KNIGHTS: 20
RIVER RAIDERS: 10
NORTHMEN: 10
GOLD PIECES: 550
TREASURE:
Shield
Key with the number ‘222’
Yeti tooth
Axe
Ring with the number ‘45’
BOONS:
1 Rewind
3 Restorations
3 Item Wishes[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Run off with the gold ring.

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, we've got a numbered ring, that's probably the important thing.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered, Zen-Kut-Sedatche will run off with only the gold ring.

64
The guards call out for you to stop, but you run on as fast as you can, keeping an eye out for a tavern into which to dash. Turn to 52.

52
[spoiler][/spoiler]

Two minutes later, you see a crooked wooden sign hanging over the door of an old wooden building. A crude drawing of a dragon is painted on it, above the words ‘The Black Dragon’. There is much shouting and laughter coming from inside the tavern and you decide to enter at once. You climb a few well-worn stone steps and push open the heavy oak door. Even though it is daytime, the tavern is dark inside and candles are burning as the small grubby windows let in virtually no daylight. From the doorway you see that the tavern is bustling with life, although none of it looks too savoury. Groups of cloaked vagabonds are huddled together in dark corners, while boisterous rogues, much the worse for the ale they have already drunk, sit in the middle of the tavern insulting all who pass by them, including the harassed barmaids who have to squeeze between the tables carrying their loaded trays. You look from table to table and decide where to sit. Will you:

Sit at the bar? Turn to 197
Sit with a drunken rogue? Turn to 378
Sit with three vagabonds? Turn to 18

Please make your votes before 3:00 PM PDT to guarantee that they will be counted.

[Beroli]

Sit with vagabonds.

[JourneymanN00b]

Vote registered, Zen-Kut-Sedatche will sit with three vagabonds.

18
You sit down at the table with the three vagabonds and they immediately introduce themselves as End, Laz and Jip. They ask you what you are doing in Zengis. If you wish to tell them about your mission, turn to 395. If you would rather tell them that you are in Zengis to visit your cousin, turn to 35.

Please make your votes before 5:00 PM PDT to guarantee that they will be counted.

[Queen of Swords]

I'm not sure it's convincing that we're in Zengis to visit our cousin, but we're at a bar with no cousin in sight.

On the other hand, loose lips. But I doubt the three are Agglax-supporters, so tell them about our mission.

[SGamerz]

We're going to be recruiting for an army here, so it's not like we can keep our mission secret for long. Tell them about it.

[JourneymanN00b]

Gah, my afternoon nap was much longer than expected. I have registered your votes to have Zen-Kut-Sedatche tell them about his mission.

395
The vagabonds’ interest increases when you mention that you are willing to pay for information about Agglax. ‘We know where this Agglax is building his army and we can mark the place on a map,’ says Laz, sensing the smell of gold. ‘But,’ he continues with a smug grin on his face, ‘more importantly, we know how to help you defeat the Shadow Demon. For 10 Gold Pieces, we’ll show you where Agglax is. For another 90 Gold Pieces, we’ll tell you how to weaken him.’ If you want to pay the vagabonds 10 Gold Pieces, turn to 322. If you are willing to pay 100 Gold Pieces, turn to 56.

Please make your votes before 8:30 PM PDT to guarantee that they will be counted.

[SGamerz]

I honestly don't think we need their help to find a whole friggin' army. Information about these tend to get around when they start operating. It's information on how to beat them that really matters. Pay them 100.

Although I'm surprised there's no option to turn down both offers and pay nothing. We didn't exactly sign a contract to buy their help just because we told them about the mission.

[JourneymanN00b]

Vote registered, Zen-Kut-Sedatche will pay 100 Gold Pieces.

56
Not knowing whether you have made the right decision to trust the vagabond, you nevertheless hand over 100 Gold Pieces to them. Laz takes out a map from under his robes and lays it out open on the table. Zengis is shown in the middle, and to the south is marked the village of Karn. Further south-east are the Starstone Caves. To the east of Zengis there is the Forest of Fiends, which starts where the River Kok splits and runs east, almost to the edge of the map. Laz takes out a black crayon and marks a large cross on the eastern edge of the map, just where the Forest of Fiends ends. ‘That’s where you’ll find him,’ says Laz. You fold up the map and put it in your tunic pocket. ‘And your only hope of defeating Agglax rests on visiting the Oracle,’ whispers Jip. ‘But whether or not the Oracle will talk to you is another matter. It depends on what mood the Oracle is in and what gifts you bring him. The Starstone Caves is where you’ll find him,’ You thank the vagabonds for the information and leave the tavern to explore Zengis further, wondering who the Oracle is. Turn to 382.

382
After passing a row of old wooden houses you come across a curious shop. There is nothing displayed in the window except straw and an empty birdcage. Brown paint is flaking off the window-frame and also the door, above which is a sign which reads: ‘Pets – normal and unnatural’. If you want to enter the pet shop, turn to 112. If you would rather keep on walking, turn to 218.

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]Zen-Kut-Sedatche
SKILL: 10 Initial Skill = 10
STAMINA: 13 Initial Stamina = 17
LUCK: 6 Initial Luck = 7
SOLIDERS:
WARRIORS: 95
DWARFS: 50
ELVES: 50
KNIGHTS: 20
RIVER RAIDERS: 10
NORTHMEN: 10
GOLD PIECES: 450
TREASURE:
Shield
Key with the number ‘222’
Yeti tooth
Axe
Ring with the number ‘45’
BOONS:
1 Rewind
3 Restorations
3 Item Wishes[/spoiler]

[SGamerz]

Yes, of course we want exotic pets!

[Queen of Swords]

Let's rescue a pet from the shop.

[Thaluikhain]

Hmmm, recruit hamster army!

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered, Zen-Kut-Sedatche will enter the pet shop.

112
[spoiler][/spoiler]

As you open the door, a small brass bell tinkles above your head. A thin, bearded old man is sitting on a stool behind a wooden counter talking to a large crow, perched on his hand. ‘Who’s an ugly boy, then?’ squawks the crow in reply, much to your surprise. The old man appears unconcerned at your entrance; you look round the shop and see many small animals – cats, birds and small rodents – and also other, strange creatures. There is one that sits up on its two hind legs like a kangaroo, but it is less than two feet tall and is green and lacks fur. Another is a small winged creature with leathery amber skin; it seems quite content to fly from one side of the shop to the other. Other creature are equally odd and you are standing looking at them in amazement when the old man suddenly says, ‘You are fascinated by my pets, are you not? Are you interested in buying one of them? I have both household pets and familiars that can talk. Some are very special indeed and can even create a little magic. You look like an adventurer to me, so I presume it may be a familiar that you require. Would you like to buy a talking familiar such as my crow here (turn to 47) or would you like a special creature (turn to 369)?

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

[Beroli]

A special creature.

[Queen of Swords]

Definitely a special creature.

[SGamerz]

A special pet for a special us!

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered, Zen-Kut-Sedatche will ask for a special creature.

369
‘Might I suggest that you buy this wonderful little Hopper,’ the old man says with a smile, pointing to the kangaroo-like creature that you were watching a few moments ago. ‘His name is Roob and he’ll perch on your shoulder quite happily all day long – although he can hop along at walking pace if you tire of him sitting on you. Not only does Roob speak, he can also cast an invisibility spell on himself, and on you too, if he happens to be sitting on your shoulder. Just say “One, one, one,” and puff, you’re invisible. He also understands the Troll tongue. All I’m asking for Roob is 50 Gold Pieces.’ If you wish to buy the Hopper, turn to 335. If you would rather leave the shop without buying the familiar, turn to 218.

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

[Queen of Swords]

A creature that can turn us invisible? Buy it.

[SGamerz]

A spell-casting kangaroo that trolls speaks Troll is all I'd ever wanted.

(Although it's a little surprising that Ian Livingstone actually revealed the precious numerical reference to the spell before the player even decide to buy it.)

[Thaluikhain]

Buy it, yeah.