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

[JourneymanN00b]

Since Shaggy did not visit the lighthouse itself, I will allow voting to return to it. Since everyone voted to do that, he will head there by going to paragraph 333.

Upon arrival, he arrives at the lighthouse and decides to enter it by turning to paragraph 299, as he obviously has no wish to return to the wreck, and I assume you guys do not want to leave the area yet.

299
[spoiler][/spoiler]

You peer through the open door into the circular room at the base of the lighthouse. Fortunately, just enough light is filtering down from the dome into the gloom to make general outlines just visible. Simple, plain stone steps cut in a spiral staircase lead upwards, while a wooden trapdoor shows that there is something below ground level. There is also a repulsive monster slobbering and drooling in the half-dark here! It looks like an obese, slime-dribbling giant maggot with several sets of human arms protruding from its segmented body, and its head has the vestiges of human features. With a vile shudder the Slimeworm expels a great gobbet of evil-smelling muck at you; then it squirms towards you, lunging with its surprisingly hard nails outstretched and extending the suckered, bony plates of its slobbering mouth. You may be able to evade combat here; will you:

Attack the Slimeworm? Turn to 29
Try to dodge the monster and run up the stairs? Turn to 228
Run away and descend to the wreck? Turn to 291
Run away and find somewhere else to visit? Turn to 70

For continuity purposes, descending to the wreck is not available, as Shaggy has no interest in returning there. Please make your votes before 6:00 PM PST to ensure that they will be counted.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Try to dodge and run up the stairs.

[Queen of Swords]

Sure, let's try evading it.

[SGamerz]

Wouldn't we still have to confront it when we come back down?

I vote to just fight.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes tallied; Shaggy will try to dodge the monster and run up the stairs, as that won over attacking the Slimeworm by a 2-1 vote.

228
Unfortunately you slip in a pool of the horror’s slime as you make a dash for the stairs. You fall heavily and the Slimeworm sprays filthy acidic liquid over you; deduct 3 points from your STAMINA. Now will you:

Attack the Slimeworm? Turn to 29
Flee from here and run down to the wreck? Turn to 291
Run away from here and find somewhere else to visit? Turn to 70

Since Shaggy has no interest in returning to the wreck, please make your votes on whether to attack the Slimeworm or run away from here and find somewhere else to visit before 9:00 AM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to ensure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Shaggy
SKILL: 11 Initial Skill = 11
STAMINA: 11 Initial Stamina = 17
LUCK: 8 Initial Luck = 10
PRESENCE: 6
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)
Flask of Grog (+4 Stamina, +1 Attack Strength temporary bonus for one combat)
Magic Sword (+1 Attack Strength)
Shield
Rope
2 Small Bottles of Monk’s Herbal Liqueur (each half-bottle gives +4 Stamina)
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 11
POSSESSIONS:
Bottle of Olive Oil
2 Pouches
13 Gold Pieces
Small Gold Key (Found in paragraph 40)
Glass Bottle
Lantern
Pestle and Mortar
Herbiary with 3 Dog-eared Pages (page 311 on Rat-tailed Fungus, page 175 on Pitcher Plant, and page 266 on Axeplant)
Sapphire with 50 Facets
Topaz with 24 Facets
Glowing Stone with 100 Speckles of Light
Magical Scroll with ‘Incantation of Light’ Inscribed
Skeleton Key
Boons:
2 Entity Wishes[/spoiler]

[Thaluikhain]

I vote to kill it, we've got plenty of provisions if we take damage.

Also, this book has more unpleasant looking monsters than most.

[SGamerz]

Kill it.

[Queen of Swords]

Doesn't look like we have much of a choice now. Attack it.

[JourneymanN00b]

Attacking the Slimeworm received 3 votes, so Shaddy will commence with the slaughtering.

29
The gross, filthy horror advances towards you with a disgusting undulation, squelching in its own acidic slime, eager to devour you!

SLIMEWORM SKILL 8 STAMINA 10

If you win, will you:

Climb the stairs? Turn to 376
Open the trapdoor? Turn to 261
Leave and make for the wreck? Turn to 291
Leave and find somewhere else to visit? Turn to 70

The fight:
[spoiler]Round 1: Slimeworm Attack Strength: 10, Player Attack Strength: 21;
Slimeworm Stamina: 8, Player Stamina: 11
Round 2: Slimeworm Attack Strength: 19, Player Attack Strength: 16;
Slimeworm Stamina: 8, Player Stamina: 9
Round 3: Slimeworm Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 19;
Slimeworm Stamina: 6, Player Stamina: 9
Round 4: Slimeworm Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 19;
Slimeworm Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 9
Round 5: Slimeworm Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 19;
Slimeworm Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 9
Round 6: Slimeworm Attack Strength: 19, Player Attack Strength: 17;
Slimeworm Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 7
Round 7: Slimeworm Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 19;
Slimeworm Stamina: 0, Player Stamina: 7[/spoiler]

Shaggy slaughters the Slimeworm after losing 4 Stamina from the Slimeworm’s attacks in a harder than expected fight.

With the wreck not being an option, please make your votes on whether to climb the stairs, open the trapdoor, or leave and find somewhere else to visit before 9:00 AM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to ensure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Shaggy
SKILL: 11 Initial Skill = 11
STAMINA: 7 Initial Stamina = 17
LUCK: 8 Initial Luck = 10
PRESENCE: 6
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)
Flask of Grog (+4 Stamina, +1 Attack Strength temporary bonus for one combat)
Magic Sword (+1 Attack Strength)
Shield
Rope
2 Small Bottles of Monk’s Herbal Liqueur (each half-bottle gives +4 Stamina)
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 11
POSSESSIONS:
Bottle of Olive Oil
2 Pouches
13 Gold Pieces
Small Gold Key (Found in paragraph 40)
Glass Bottle
Lantern
Pestle and Mortar
Herbiary with 3 Dog-eared Pages (page 311 on Rat-tailed Fungus, page 175 on Pitcher Plant, and page 266 on Axeplant)
Sapphire with 50 Facets
Topaz with 24 Facets
Glowing Stone with 100 Speckles of Light
Magical Scroll with ‘Incantation of Light’ Inscribed
Skeleton Key
Boons:
2 Entity Wishes[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Climb the stairs.

[Thaluikhain]

Climb the stairs.

[SGamerz]

I'd actually like to check the trapdoor first.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Yeah, I’d be in favor of checking the trapdoor first.

[Queen of Swords]

I'll change my vote to the trapdoor to avoid a tie.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes tallied, Shaggy will open the trapdoor, since that won over climbing the stairs by a 3-1 vote.

261
The trapdoor opens to reveal a set of stone steps leading down to a cellar. Here, some stored items may be of value to you. There is a rope, a wooden pole and enough food for 4 meals. You return to the main room in the lighthouse; will you:

Climb the stairs, if you haven’t done so before? Turn to 376
Leave and make for the wreck? Turn to 291
Leave and find somewhere else to visit? Turn to 70

I will assume that 1 of the 4 Provisions will be consumed to bring Shaggy’s Stamina to 11 and that another Provision and all of these items are taken, unless somebody objects. Shaggy has already investigated the wreck, so please make your votes on whether to climb the stairs or leave and find somewhere else to visit 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 = 17
LUCK: 8 Initial Luck = 10
PRESENCE: 6
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)
Flask of Grog (+4 Stamina, +1 Attack Strength temporary bonus for one combat)
Magic Sword (+1 Attack Strength)
Shield
2 Ropes
2 Small Bottles of Monk’s Herbal Liqueur (each half-bottle gives +4 Stamina)
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 12
POSSESSIONS:
Bottle of Olive Oil
2 Pouches
13 Gold Pieces
Small Gold Key (Found in paragraph 40)
Glass Bottle
Lantern
Pestle and Mortar
Herbiary with 3 Dog-eared Pages (page 311 on Rat-tailed Fungus, page 175 on Pitcher Plant, and page 266 on Axeplant)
Sapphire with 50 Facets
Topaz with 24 Facets
Glowing Stone with 100 Speckles of Light
Magical Scroll with ‘Incantation of Light’ Inscribed
Skeleton Key
Wooden Pole
Boons:
2 Entity Wishes[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

Climb the stairs.

[Thaluikhain]

Climb the stairs, and I recommend eating another provision.

[SGamerz]

Yes, stairs, and eat another meal.

[JourneymanN00b]

Climbing the stairs already received 3 votes, so Shaggy will do this. He will also eat another meal, as requested.

376
You drag your weary legs up what seems like an endless procession of steps leading to the very top of the lighthouse tower. In a bright, airy chamber at the top there is a spinning glass globe close to the roof, but no light radiates out from it. If you know an Incantation of Light, turn to the paragraph with the same number as the flecks of light in the Magic Stone you carry. If you don’t have a Magic Stone, you may be able to return here if you find it later. For now, though, there’s nothing you can do here, so you leave; you can descend to the wreck in the bay below if you haven’t already done so (turn to 291), investigate the trapdoor downstairs if you haven’t done so already (turn to 261), or leave here and find somewhere else on the island to visit (turn to 70).

Shaggy does know an Incantation of Light, so he will go to paragraph 100, which is how many flecks of light are in the Magic Stone he carries.

100
At the top of the lighthouse you fling the Magic Stone in the air and recite the incantation on the scroll; the yellow globe flashes into brilliant radiance. The Magic Stone disappears in a tiny flash of its own light (remove it from your Possessions). Once again, seamen will be protected by this beacon from the hazards of the rocks. Gain 1 LUCK point and 1 point of PRESENCE. You head down the stairs to ground level … and there’s something awaiting you. It looks like a small, spiny-backed dragon with a forked tail and very find, rainbow-coloured wings. It’s about 20 centimetres long from its pert little snout to the tip of its tail. Buzzing in the air, the tiny Pocket Dragon plants a message telepathically into your mind. You fool, it says, now you’ve announced to the necromancers that there’s someone on their island. It buzzes angrily for a minute, then it calms down. Oh well, I suppose you’re going to need all the help you can get, it continues. Let me tell you a bit about the place … Will you:

Listen to the Pocket Dragon? Turn to 14
Leave and investigate the wreck in the bay? Turn to 291
Go down and investigate the trapdoor, if you haven’t already? Turn to 261
Leave and find somewhere else on the island to visit? Turn to 70

Shaggy has already investigated the wreck, so please make your votes on whether to listen to the Pocket Dragon, investigate the trapdoor, or leave and find somewhere else to visit before 6:00 PM PST to ensure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Shaggy
SKILL: 11 Initial Skill = 11
STAMINA: 15 Initial Stamina = 17
LUCK: 9 Initial Luck = 10
PRESENCE: 7
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)
Flask of Grog (+4 Stamina, +1 Attack Strength temporary bonus for one combat)
Magic Sword (+1 Attack Strength)
Shield
2 Ropes
2 Small Bottles of Monk’s Herbal Liqueur (each half-bottle gives +4 Stamina)
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 11
POSSESSIONS:
Bottle of Olive Oil
2 Pouches
13 Gold Pieces
Small Gold Key (Found in paragraph 40)
Glass Bottle
Lantern
Pestle and Mortar
Herbiary with 3 Dog-eared Pages (page 311 on Rat-tailed Fungus, page 175 on Pitcher Plant, and page 266 on Axeplant)
Sapphire with 50 Facets
Topaz with 24 Facets
Magical Scroll with ‘Incantation of Light’ Inscribed
Skeleton Key
Wooden Pole
Boons:
2 Entity Wishes[/spoiler]

[Thaluikhain]

Listen.

(And, random question, it earlier said we could visit the lighthouse if we haven't already, but then it this part said if we didn't have the magic stone we could revisit the top of the lighthouse if we later it. Am I reading something wrong or is there a problem there?)

[JourneymanN00b]

Listen.

(And, random question, it earlier said we could visit the lighthouse if we haven't already, but then it this part said if we didn't have the magic stone we could revisit the top of the lighthouse if we later it. Am I reading something wrong or is there a problem there?)

It has to deal with how the story is ran. The hero was technically not supposed to be able to return to the lighthouse after visiting the wreck, and returning to the lighthouse after getting the magic stone required fighting the Elemental referenced in paragraph 336. Since that did not make logical sense, I have slightly adjusted the hero’s visiting abilities in order for him to visit the lighthouse area where the Incantation of light is to be used.

Vote registered; Shaggy will listen to the Pocket Dragon.

14
[spoiler][/spoiler]

The Pocket Dragon continues its telepathic messages. I’m a wizard’s familiar, it explains. Belonged to Shantizair, Great Wizard of Gallantaria; I suppose you’ve heard of him, hmmm? You have no reply. Oh well, anyway, he’s dead now. Drowned in the wreck down there. He was trying to investigate the wizards of Solani. They’d been dredging up the dead from the sea, playing with animating them by magic, then there was some kind of argument – Shantizair wasn’t certain about that, but it was something to do with a stone circle in the woods as I recall. The monks at the monastery along the coast, one of them had found out something. He hid some crystals, left some secret with the hermit of the woodlands, and went to the shr …

The Pocket Dragon’s message stops abruptly as a stony fist smashes down on the tiny fluttering creature.

You stare in horror at the creature which seems to have appeared spontaneously in the lighthouse cupola. The bestial, inhuman thing has wild hair, mad eyes and clawed fingers, and is dressed in rotting rags. Its skin is covered in stony nodules and plates, and its undead claws rake at your flesh. You must fight the Stonewight for your life.

STONEWIGHT SKILL 9 STAMINA 10

If you win and you were struck twice at most by the Stonewight, turn to 135. If you win, but you were struck three times or more, turn to 190.

The fight:
[spoiler]Round 1: Stonewight Attack Strength: 13, Player Attack Strength: 22;
Stonewight Stamina: 8, Player Stamina: 15
Round 2: Stonewight Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 24;
Stonewight Stamina: 6, Player Stamina: 15
Round 3: Stonewight Attack Strength: 18, Player Attack Strength: 19;
Stonewight Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 15
Round 4: Stonewight Attack Strength: 16, Player Attack Strength: 21;
Stonewight Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 15
Round 5: Stonewight Attack Strength: 13, Player Attack Strength: 18;
Stonewight Stamina: 0, Player Stamina: 15[/spoiler]

Shaggy flawlessly destroys the Stonewight, so we will go to paragraph 135.

135
You pick up from the ground a small gold chain that the Pocket Dragon has on its crushed body. It is divided by beads into eight sections, each of a dozen links (make a note of this). Now will you:

Investigate the wreck in the bay, if you haven’t already? Turn to 291
Open the trapdoor on the way out, if you haven’t before? Turn to 261
Leave and find another area of the island to visit? Turn to 70

Shaggy has already investigated the wreck and opened the trapdoor, so he will leave and find another area of the island to visit.

70
You head back across the moorland towards the centre of the island and eventually find shelter below a rocky outcrop. It’s beginning to grow late; you need rest, sleep and food. You must eat a meal here. Drawing your blanket over you, you manage some restless sleep during a warm night. Regain 2 lost STAMINA points, but in the morning you must eat a meal. Roll one die; if you roll an odd number, turn to 111. If you roll an even number, turn to 212.

Rolling the die yielded a 5, so we will go to paragraph 111.

111
You are fortunate; as you get up and shake the grass off your blanket, you spot a nest of large eggs near by. Raw eggs may not be as ideal as a food, but they’re nutritious and there are enough here for 2 meals (add 2 to your Provisions). Gain 1 LUCK point for this fortunate find. Turn to 212.

212
The weather is worsening: the skies are a leaden grey and the sea is getting choppy as a wind begins to build, coming in from the eastern seaboard. Where will you go now? Will you head:

East towards the stone building, if you haven’t been there before? Turn to 18
South-west towards the woodlands? Turn to 57
South towards the central hillock? Turn to 186
Back to the lighthouse, if you haven’t already entered it? Turn to 333

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Shaggy has already been to the stone building and entered the lighthouse. Please make your votes whether to go to the woodlands or the central hillock before 9:00 AM PST or a 3-vote majority is reached to ensure that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Shaggy
SKILL: 11 Initial Skill = 11
STAMINA: 17 Initial Stamina = 17
LUCK: 10 Initial Luck = 10
PRESENCE: 7
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)
Flask of Grog (+4 Stamina, +1 Attack Strength temporary bonus for one combat)
Magic Sword (+1 Attack Strength)
Shield
2 Ropes
2 Small Bottles of Monk’s Herbal Liqueur (each half-bottle gives +4 Stamina)
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 11
POSSESSIONS:
Bottle of Olive Oil
2 Pouches
13 Gold Pieces
Small Gold Key (Found in paragraph 40)
Glass Bottle
Lantern
Pestle and Mortar
Herbiary with 3 Dog-eared Pages (page 311 on Rat-tailed Fungus, page 175 on Pitcher Plant, and page 266 on Axeplant)
Sapphire with 50 Facets
Topaz with 24 Facets
Magical Scroll with ‘Incantation of Light’ Inscribed
Skeleton Key
Wooden Pole
Gold Chain Divided Into 8 Sections with 12 Links Each
Boons:
2 Entity Wishes[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

The hermit is in the woodlands so let’s go there.

[SGamerz]

Woodlands.

[Thaluikhain]

Try the woodlands, I guess.

[JourneymanN00b]

Heading south-west towards the woodlands received 3 votes, so Shaggy will do this.

57
Striding out into the deciduous woodland, your acute hearing picks up the sound of quiet birdsong and the scurrying of small creatures in the thick undergrowth. Your nerves are on edge here; every snapping twig, every rustle or sudden whirring of a startled bird taking flight preys on your mind. You edge forward cautiously; and soon your path diverges within the woods. Will you take the southern fork (turn to 345) or the northern fork (turn to 8)?

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