[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 51 – Island of the Undead

[Thaluikhain]

Investigate the wreck.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes acknowledged; Shaggy will descend and investigate the wreck.

291
You descend to the shoreline and discover a small rowing boat, bobbing up and down in the seaweed-choked waters near the shore. You could reach the wreck of the sailing ship, which is already breaking up, using this boat. This venture would certainly be hazardous; the wind is whipping in from the sea and the waves are growing higher. But the wreck may have supplies aboard which you could use, and possibly even some information about what has been happening on the island. If you decide to row out to the wreck, turn to 367. If you think better of it and wish to explore elsewhere, turn to 70.

I am going to be visiting family now, so I will not have reliable access to the internet until Sunday afternoon. Please make your votes before 4:00 PM PST on Sunday to guarantee that they will be counted. I might update sooner if a 3-vote majority is reached before that time, but I would not count on that.

[SGamerz]

Row out to the deck.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Yeah, row out to the wreck. Shaggy has decent stats and lots of food.

[Queen of Swords]

Row out to the wreck.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes acknowledged; Shaggy will row out to the wreck.

367
[spoiler][/spoiler]

Through the squalls and choppy grey waters you struggle to reach the creaking timbers of the sailing ship, its back broken on rocks that you manage to avoid. You grab some ropes hanging down the ship’s side, fasten your own rowing boat safely, and haul yourself up on deck. You see a half-smashed lifeboat lying partly over the railing of the ship, an empty berth from which another lifeboat must have been launched, a large hold with flapping tarpaulin covers, and a set of wooden steps, close to the wheelhouse, leading down below decks. On the main mast, a crow’s nest seems to have a slumped figure of some kind in it. Will you:

Investigate the hold? Turn to 343
Climb to the crow’s nest? Turn to 5
Descend the steps below decks? Turn to 52

I will not have any more access to the Internet until Sunday, so this will be my final post until then. Please make your votes before 3:30 PM PST on Sunday to ensure that they will be counted.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Head up to the crows nest and (ideally) make our way down.

[SGamerz]

Investigate the hold.

Considering the title of the book, it's probably a zombie in that crow's nest.

[Darth Rabbitt]

True. While the zombie might have useful loot, we don't know how these guys zombify others so we might be just risking infection or instant death for nothing, or something minor. So I'd be willing to change my vote for hold.

[Queen of Swords]

That's a good point. Try the hold.

[JourneymanN00b]

I am back from my family visit and hope that everyone has had a nice Thanksgiving. The votes all say to investigate the hold, so Shaggy will do that.

343
Drawing back the tarpaulin, you see that the hold is awash with seawater; the few goods stored there must be ruined. But there is something lurking here which you don’t see until it rakes you with a claw; deduct 2 points from your STAMINA. This Sea Zombie, strong and heavily muscled, had been the first mate of the ship and it is more powerful than most. You must fight it here.

SEA ZOMBIE SKILL 8 STAMINA 9

If you win, will you:

Climb to the crow’s nest? Turn to 5
Go down to the steps below deck? Turn to 52
Get off the ship and leave this area? Turn to 272

The fight:
[spoiler]Round 1: Sea Zombie Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 17;
Sea Zombie Stamina: 7, Player Stamina: 13
Round 2: Sea Zombie Attack Strength: 13, Player Attack Strength: 18;
Sea Zombie Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 13
Round 3: Sea Zombie Attack Strength: 19, Player Attack Strength: 16;
Sea Zombie Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 11
Round 4: Sea Zombie Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 17;
Sea Zombie Stamina: 3, Player Stamina: 11
Round 5: Sea Zombie Attack Strength: 13, Player Attack Strength: 20;
Sea Zombie Stamina: 1, Player Stamina: 11
Round 6: Sea Zombie Attack Strength: 12, Player Attack Strength: 16;
Sea Zombie Stamina: -1, Player Stamina: 11[/spoiler]

Shaggy loses 2 more Stamina from the Sea Zombie before he destroys it with his sword.

Please make your votes before 7:00 PM PST on what to do next to ensure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Shaggy
SKILL: 11 Initial Skill = 11
STAMINA: 11 Initial Stamina = 19
LUCK: 9 Initial Luck = 10
PRESENCE: 5
TIME ELAPSED: 0 days
ENEMY ENCOUNTER:
None
EQUIPMENT LIST:
Knife
Backpack
Waterskin
Leather Jerkin
Pot of Thick Glue
Sword
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 12
POSSESSIONS:
Bottle of Olive Oil
Pouch
6 Gold Pieces
Boons:
2 Entity Wishes
1 Restoration[/spoiler]

[SGamerz]

Below the deck.

[Queen of Swords]

Sure, go below the deck.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered; Shaggy will go down to the steps below deck.

52
Below decks you see a door swinging loose. It opens into the seamen’s mess where hammocks swing wildly as the boat rocks in the water; there’s no one there, and nothing to catch your eye. However, there are also two closed main doors and one of them has a strange magical symbol etched on it. Beyond them is a double door, which you guess may open into a large hold at the bow of the ship. Will you:

Open the double door? Turn to 85
Check the magical symbol on one of the cabin doors? Turn to 97
Open the other cabin door? Turn to 114

Please make your votes before 8:30 PM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to ensure that they will be counted.

[Queen of Swords]

Check out the magical symbol.

[SGamerz]

Yes, magic symbol.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes acknowledged; Shaggy will check the magical symbol on one of the cabin doors.

97
[spoiler][/spoiler]

Study the symbol carefully. Unless you can decode the number concealed within it you won’t be able to enter the room beyond. If you think you know what the number is, turn to the paragraph with that number. If you can’t decipher the number, you must find somewhere else to go, so turn to 356.

Important Note: The inscription on the top right part of the circle should read “BJQDKF” not “BJQDNF”.

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

[Queen of Swords]

Using the backwards-and-forwards code, the words read "Square the circle, add a square." I'm guessing that since the circle is divided into six parts, this means six squared (36) plus adding a square (4?). Let's try 40.

[SGamerz]

This is not just similar to a puzzle in Vault of the Vampire ("forward and back" code to be deciphered to open chest containing magic armour), it even has 1 letter misspelled just like the other puzzle. Is this like a Keith Martin trademark or something?

Yeah, the answer should be 40.

[Darth Rabbitt]

40 sounds right.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes acknowledged; Shaggy will turn to paragraph 40.

40
You tap gently the indicated number of times and the door swings open. The cabin behind the door is clean and tidy. A small book lies open on a desk, a half-eaten meal some days old rests on a table and a set of robes is laid out on the bunk bed. A small wooden coffer is wedged under the bunk bed. There is no sign of the person who occupied this cabin. Checking carefully first, you then drag the coffer out from under the bunk. You force it open and find a small Gold Key (make a note of this paragraph number as the one where you found this key) and a Potion of Stamina. This Potion can be drunk at any time, except during combat, and will restore lost STAMINA points up to one-half of your Initial STAMINA (round fractions up). You also find a vellum scroll secured with a black ribbon; you untie it and read with interest:

     Dear Shantizair,

     Your Work in tracking down the Elementalists is much appreciated. Take great Care if you plan more direct Investigations! Consult Brother Kendris at the Monastery of Hamaskis before you contemplate entering the Circle of Summoning itself – if you can reach it! Indeed, a Spirit there might serve you, but practise Caution! Kendris may have found a Truename which will give you Power over one of the Wizards. And he will have the Crystals which will protect you against their Magic. Almost certainly the Shrine will be used to safeguard at least some of them. Old Father Honorton has a Key to the old Crypt below the Tower, which might also be important if you decide to investigate the Wizards directly.

The scrawled signature is illegible. Pondering the meaning of the information in the note, it’s time for you to go elsewhere. Turn to 356.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

356
Where will you go now? Will you:

Search the forward hold, if you haven’t done so before? Turn to 85
Study the magical symbol, if you haven’t done this already? Turn to 97
Open the other cabin door, if you haven’t before? Turn to 114
Leave the ship and return to shore? Turn to 272

Shaggy has already studied the magical symbol. Please make your votes on where to go next before 6:00 PM PST to ensure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Shaggy
SKILL: 11 Initial Skill = 11
STAMINA: 11 Initial Stamina = 19
LUCK: 9 Initial Luck = 10
PRESENCE: 5
TIME ELAPSED: 0 days
ENEMY ENCOUNTER:
None
EQUIPMENT LIST:
Knife
Backpack
Waterskin
Leather Jerkin
Pot of Thick Glue
Sword
Potion of Stamina (restores up to one-half of Initial Stamina when used)
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 12
POSSESSIONS:
Bottle of Olive Oil
Pouch
6 Gold Pieces
Small Gold Key (Found in paragraph 40)
Boons:
2 Entity Wishes
1 Restoration[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Try the other cabin door.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Yeah, cabin door and then forward hold.

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, may as well try other door.

[SGamerz]

I would have gone to the forward hold first, but OK, I think we should check both anyway.