[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 61 - Bloodbones

[Queen of Swords]

Eat one meal and try the puzzle.

[Beroli]

Eating two meals wins 2-1. Studying the carving you deduce that the inscription around it reveals how to open the door.

Mechanism.JPG (132.36 KiB) Viewed 1017 times

Can you derive anything from it?

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 19/20
Luck: 9/11
Weapon: Bone Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox, Shark's Teeth Bracelet, Magic Compass, Rope, 3 Gas Globes (when you choose to smash one before an enemy at the start of a battle, that enemy fights the battle with a -2 Attack Strength, provided they are not immune; Undead, Demons, and magical creatures are immune), Bolarang (Test Skill before a fight to do 2 damage), Throwing Dagger, Crab Doubloon, 3 Meals, candle, 2 dice, burned letter, Bottle of Rum (+4 Stamina), Map of Bone Island, Sword
Spells: Insect Repellent (will repel any number of insects of any size for the duration of one encounter; inflicts 2 damage on caster when cast)
Gold Pieces: 38
Time Elapsed: 7 Hours
Deaths: Contracted fast-acting malaria from a giant mosquito

[JourneymanN00b]

According to the prisoners from earlier, the High Priest told one of his acolytes of a code involving the phrase "Back two, forward two. Back two, forward two" I am guessing that we need to go back two letters for the first letter, then forwards two letters for the second letter, and so on.

Going clockwise, starting from the skull, this is the transcribed inscription before applying the code:
VMGLVCTRJCEPAQVYNAJYOZGPMLQAMRYCPRADKTGRKKGQGJGTGLVGOCU

Applying the code gives:
TOENTERTHECRYSTALCHAMBERKNOCKTWENTYFIVETIMESELEVENTIMES

Which gives a message stating:
To enter the crystal chamber knock twenty five times eleven times.

This is a fairly nice puzzle IMO.

[Beroli]

The door opens and you step through into a large, circular room. At its centre is a magnificent sight: the biggest crystal you have ever seen stands on a plinth, glowing with an inner light. However, covering the floor around the plinth are countless writhing snakes, and despite the mystical beauty of the crystal, an incipient sense of evil permeates this place. You are sure the artefact has something to do with the power of Quezkari on the island.

Try to destroy the crystal?
Go back out into the corridor?

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 19/20
Luck: 9/11
Weapon: Bone Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox, Shark's Teeth Bracelet, Magic Compass, Rope, 3 Gas Globes (when you choose to smash one before an enemy at the start of a battle, that enemy fights the battle with a -2 Attack Strength, provided they are not immune; Undead, Demons, and magical creatures are immune), Bolarang (Test Skill before a fight to do 2 damage), Throwing Dagger, Crab Doubloon, 3 Meals, candle, 2 dice, burned letter, Bottle of Rum (+4 Stamina), Map of Bone Island, Sword
Spells: Insect Repellent (will repel any number of insects of any size for the duration of one encounter; inflicts 2 damage on caster when cast)
Gold Pieces: 38
Time Elapsed: 7 Hours
Deaths: Contracted fast-acting malaria from a giant mosquito

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to try to destroy the crystal, as cowardice is not the answer here.

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, destroy

(Oh, and well done JourneymanN00b for getting that "Back two, forward two. Back two, forward two" was the key to reading the inscription)

[Queen of Swords]

Try to destroy the crystal.

[Beroli]

Hissing menacingly, the snakes slither towards you. Fight them as if they were a single opponent.

SNAKES SKILL 8 STAMINA 11

The snakes have venomous bites and do 4 damage. Taking a tot of Poison Antidote will reduce their damage to standard (you don't have one to take). With that in mind, vote on whether to use Luck or a Gas Globe here.

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 19/20
Luck: 9/11
Weapon: Bone Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox, Shark's Teeth Bracelet, Magic Compass, Rope, 3 Gas Globes (when you choose to smash one before an enemy at the start of a battle, that enemy fights the battle with a -2 Attack Strength, provided they are not immune; Undead, Demons, and magical creatures are immune), Bolarang (Test Skill before a fight to do 2 damage), Throwing Dagger, Crab Doubloon, 3 Meals, candle, 2 dice, burned letter, Bottle of Rum (+4 Stamina), Map of Bone Island, Sword
Spells: Insect Repellent (will repel any number of insects of any size for the duration of one encounter; inflicts 2 damage on caster when cast)
Gold Pieces: 38
Time Elapsed: 7 Hours
Deaths: Contracted fast-acting malaria from a giant mosquito

[JourneymanN00b]

Bonnie Blood has 4 more attack strength than the snakes, so I vote not to use Luck or a Glass Globe.

[Thaluikhain]

Half vote to use a gas globe, as we have three of them we've been carrying around for ages and not used.

[Beroli]

Not using a Gas Globe wins 1 to 0.5.

Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 14, SNAKES Attack Strength: 11. SNAKES's Stamina is 9
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 24, SNAKES Attack Strength: 16. SNAKES's Stamina is 7
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 19, SNAKES Attack Strength: 19.
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 16, SNAKES Attack Strength: 19. Bonnie Blood's Stamina is 15
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 14, SNAKES Attack Strength: 14.
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 20, SNAKES Attack Strength: 14. SNAKES's Stamina is 5
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 22, SNAKES Attack Strength: 15. SNAKES's Stamina is 3
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 22, SNAKES Attack Strength: 14. SNAKES's Stamina is 1
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 17, SNAKES Attack Strength: 16. SNAKES is dead.

You clear a path to the crystal through the snakes and, swinging your blade in a mighty arc, strike the glowing rock Test your Luck; a 6 succeeds.

The crystal explodes in a blaze of light, blasting shards of rock around the chamber, but incredibly you manage to get away fairly unscathed! (Lose 2 Stamina points.) There is nothing more you can do here so you leave the crystal room.

The tunnel winds ever onwards under the mountain. The monotony of the passageway is finally broken when you come to an alcove in the left-hand wall. In the alcove is a bowl of smouldering incense and flower petals. The aromatic smoke billows out into the corridor and as you smell it you begin to feel lightheaded. You will have to walk through the smoke to proceed any further, but as you do will you:

Breathe in deeply?
Hold your breath?

Also vote on whether to eat before reaching the smoke corridor.

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 13/20
Luck: 8/11
Weapon: Bone Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox, Shark's Teeth Bracelet, Magic Compass, Rope, 3 Gas Globes (when you choose to smash one before an enemy at the start of a battle, that enemy fights the battle with a -2 Attack Strength, provided they are not immune; Undead, Demons, and magical creatures are immune), Bolarang (Test Skill before a fight to do 2 damage), Throwing Dagger, Crab Doubloon, 3 Meals, candle, 2 dice, burned letter, Bottle of Rum (+4 Stamina), Map of Bone Island, Sword
Spells: Insect Repellent (will repel any number of insects of any size for the duration of one encounter; inflicts 2 damage on caster when cast)
Gold Pieces: 38
Time Elapsed: 7 Hours
Deaths: Contracted fast-acting malaria from a giant mosquito

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote for Bonnie Blood to eat a meal and hold her breath, as I do not want her to pass out from the smoke here.

[Thaluikhain]

Second that. If it's a stat increase we don't need it, if it's a curse we don't want it.

[Beroli]

Passing through the sweet-scented cloud, you follow the passageway until you reach a wooden door in the righthand wall, barred from the outside. Listening at the door you can hear a scratching and snuffling sound.

Open the door?
Carry on without hesitation?

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 13/20
Luck: 8/11
Weapon: Bone Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox, Shark's Teeth Bracelet, Magic Compass, Rope, 3 Gas Globes (when you choose to smash one before an enemy at the start of a battle, that enemy fights the battle with a -2 Attack Strength, provided they are not immune; Undead, Demons, and magical creatures are immune), Bolarang (Test Skill before a fight to do 2 damage), Throwing Dagger, Crab Doubloon, 3 Meals, candle, 2 dice, burned letter, Bottle of Rum (+4 Stamina), Map of Bone Island, Sword
Spells: Insect Repellent (will repel any number of insects of any size for the duration of one encounter; inflicts 2 damage on caster when cast)
Gold Pieces: 38
Time Elapsed: 7 Hours
Deaths: Contracted fast-acting malaria from a giant mosquito

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to resist the temptation of fascism and carry on without hesitation.

[Thaluikhain]

Half vote for opening door.

[Queen of Swords]

I’m curious about what’s behind the door, so open it.

[Beroli]

Opening the door you enter a small room with a straw-covered floor, and face the full fury of the beasts imprisoned within. The result of some perverse ritual, one is a large-fanged, bristle-backed pig, the other a mutated two-headed cockerel. Not distinguishing the difference between you and their incarcerators, the enraged animals attack on sight.

HELLHOG Skill 7 Stamina 6
DEVILFOWL Skill 6 Stamina 5

Bonnie Blood targets the Hellhog first, throwing the bolarang for 2 damage.

First round: Bonnie Blood wins. Hellhog Stamina is 2.
Second round: Bonnie Blood wins. Hellhog is dead.
Third round: Bonnie Blood wins. Devilfowl Stamina is 3.
Fourth round: Bonnie Blood wins. Devilfowl Stamina is 1.
Fifth round: Draw.
Sixth round: Bonnie Blood wins. Devilfowl is dead.

You hurry on along the corridor.

Continuing along the passageway, eventually you reach the entrance to a vast, well-lit chamber. At one end of the cavern a man, dressed in black flowing robes and with a headdress of crow's feathers, is chanting a spell over the corpse of a tribesman lying on a large, stone slab. Surrounding the sorcerer and filling much of the room is a horde of Mask Zombies. Fascinated, you watch as the tribesman's corpse becomes pallid and withers. The sorcerer then places a mask, which glows with an eldritch light, on its head and instantly the zombie sits up. Then the sorcerer looks directly at you! With a screeching cry he points in your direction and his undead servants shamble forward. There is only one exit from the chamber not blocked by the Zombies.

Run for it?
Stand and fight?

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 17/20
Luck: 8/11
Weapon: Bone Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox, Shark's Teeth Bracelet, Magic Compass, Rope, 3 Gas Globes (when you choose to smash one before an enemy at the start of a battle, that enemy fights the battle with a -2 Attack Strength, provided they are not immune; Undead, Demons, and magical creatures are immune), Bolarang (Test Skill before a fight to do 2 damage), Throwing Dagger, Crab Doubloon, 2 Meals, candle, 2 dice, burned letter, Bottle of Rum (+4 Stamina), Map of Bone Island, Sword
Spells: Insect Repellent (will repel any number of insects of any size for the duration of one encounter; inflicts 2 damage on caster when cast)
Gold Pieces: 38
Time Elapsed: 7 Hours
Deaths: Contracted fast-acting malaria from a giant mosquito

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to run for it, as facing a horde of anything is a very bad idea.

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, if it was one or two, but it's a horde, so leg it.

[Queen of Swords]

Agreed, I couldn’t see anything in our possessions that might help, so run for it.

[Beroli]

Evading the grasping hands of the Zombies you rush past them and along the new tunnel. Your heart racing with adrenalin, you skid to a halt on entering another cave. The Zombies are quite a way behind you now, but there is something far worse ahead. A fissure in the cave roof is open to the outside world and much of the chamber is a tangle of sticky webs. Crawling down from the crack on the glistening threads is a creature you had hoped never to meet again - the Scarachna! Since last you encountered the hybrid the spider-scorpion has regained its strength and this time it is determined not to let you get away.

SCARACHNA Skill 11 Stamina 12

If the monster wins an attack round, roll one die. On a 6, something will happen. If you ever lose two Attack Rounds in succession, something else will happen. If you are still fighting after twelve Attack Rounds, something else again will happen. Bearing all that in mind, vote on how and whether to use Luck and/or a Gas Globe.

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 17/20
Luck: 8/11
Weapon: Bone Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox, Shark's Teeth Bracelet, Magic Compass, Rope, 3 Gas Globes (when you choose to smash one before an enemy at the start of a battle, that enemy fights the battle with a -2 Attack Strength, provided they are not immune; Undead, Demons, and magical creatures are immune), Bolarang (Test Skill before a fight to do 2 damage), Throwing Dagger, Crab Doubloon, 2 Meals, candle, 2 dice, burned letter, Bottle of Rum (+4 Stamina), Map of Bone Island, Sword
Spells: Insect Repellent (will repel any number of insects of any size for the duration of one encounter; inflicts 2 damage on caster when cast)
Gold Pieces: 38
Time Elapsed: 7 Hours
Deaths: Contracted fast-acting malaria from a giant mosquito

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to use a Glass Globe here, but not use Luck in case we need it for Luck tests.

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, gas it, but save luck.

[Beroli]

Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 18, SCARACHNA Attack Strength: 17. SCARACHNA's Stamina is 10
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 24, SCARACHNA Attack Strength: 18. SCARACHNA's Stamina is 8
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 22, SCARACHNA Attack Strength: 13. SCARACHNA's Stamina is 6
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 18, SCARACHNA Attack Strength: 21. Stunt result 2, nothing happens. Bonnie Blood's Stamina is 15
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 23, SCARACHNA Attack Strength: 18. SCARACHNA's Stamina is 4
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 18, SCARACHNA Attack Strength: 13. SCARACHNA's Stamina is 2
Bonnie Blood Attack Strength: 16, SCARACHNA Attack Strength: 11. SCARACHNA is dead.

Your battle over, you suddenly find yourself surrounded by Mask Zombies. Unable to take on all of the sorcerer's undead slaves you soon find yourself restrained and dragged from the Scarachna's web-Iair. Hauled into the inner sanctum of the temple, you are brought before Ramatu, the High Priest of Quezkari. At one end of the chamber is a statue of the death-god just as in the shrine back in the Port of Crabs, only this one is even larger and more macabre. The High Priest himself is an intimidating figure. He wears crimson and scarlet robes, no doubt dyed in blood, a feathered headdress like that of Quezkari and a necklace of shrunken human heads. On his chest is the tattoo of a huge black skull, and in one hand he is holding an upturned human skull full of a foul green liquid. 'Intruder,' he says, speaking for the first time, 'you have trespassed within the Temple of the Dark One. As punishment, you must drink the Ichor of Quezkari!' Held in the tight grip of the Mask Zombies your mouth is forced open and the foul liquid is poured down your throat and you are made to swallow. Immediately you are assailed by all manner of phantasmal creatures: cruel jeering spirits and grotesque half-human things. Test your Skill; a 7 succeeds.

You do not have an Ivory Lion Charm.

Test your Stamina on three dice; a 10 succeeds.

Deep down you know that the nightmares you are witnessing are not real and manage to convince yourself that they are merely illusions. At once the phantasms vanish. However, Ramatu is obviously expecting you to be overcome by fear and, surrounded by Zombies, you are in no position to stop him. In a brilliant piece of acting, you let out a loud scream and collapse on the floor. Satisfied that he has broken your will, Ramatu dismisses the Mask Zombies and retums to his blasphemous rituals. When you are sure the coast is clear, you leap to your feet and run at the High Priest, yelling.

You did smash the crystal.

By destroying the Crystal of Esoteric Energies you have weakened the High Priest's own magical powers. Unable to cast his spells at you he pulls a golden dagger with an obsidian blade from his robes with which to attack you.

RAMATU Skill 10 Stamina 9

As you fight, the dagger lets out an ear-piercing shriek, which you find very disconcerting (reduce your Attack Strength by 1 point for the duration of this battle). Accordingly, vote on how/whether to use Luck or a Gas Globe.

Name: Bonnie Blood
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Skill: 12/12
Stamina: 15/20
Luck: 8/11
Weapon: Bone Sword
Backpack contents: Lantern, Tinderbox, Shark's Teeth Bracelet, Magic Compass, Rope, 2 Gas Globes (when you choose to smash one before an enemy at the start of a battle, that enemy fights the battle with a -2 Attack Strength, provided they are not immune; Undead, Demons, and magical creatures are immune), Bolarang (Test Skill before a fight to do 2 damage), Throwing Dagger, Crab Doubloon, 2 Meals, candle, 2 dice, burned letter, Bottle of Rum (+4 Stamina), Map of Bone Island, Sword
Spells: Insect Repellent (will repel any number of insects of any size for the duration of one encounter; inflicts 2 damage on caster when cast)
Gold Pieces: 38
Time Elapsed: 7 Hours
Deaths: Contracted fast-acting malaria from a giant mosquito