[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 69 – Crystal of Storms

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes tallied, using a Calming Potion won by a 2-1 vote. Since there was a vote to do that, Icarus Morningstar will eat 2 ears of corn as well.

130
The spell leaves the chest and the lid sinks down, lifeless once more. Inside you find a flask of fire oil and a piece of paper. You unfold the paper carefully. It looks like a page torn out of a ledger from one of the fishery docks in Incus. A few names are marked on the page, but one name, Commander Mathias Talliman, has been circled several times. Scrawled next to it are the words Where is he?
     You can add the Incus ledger page and the fire oil to the Equipment List on your Adventure Sheet.
     (The fire oil can be used once to light a fire, or it can be used against an opponent at the start of a battle, and will automatically cause your enemy 3 STAMINA points of damage.)
     That last fight really took it out of you, and you realize that you’ve been held up by a mixture of fear, adrenalin and anger until this point. Now you could do with a little old-fashioned shut-eye.
     If you want to take a nap, turn to 184. If you would rather leave the Watchhouse, turn to 335.

Please make your votes before 7:00 PM PDT or a choice receives 3 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
Icarus Morningstar
SKILL: 11 INITIAL SKILL: 12
STAMINA: 16 INITIAL STAMINA: 20
LUCK: 12 INITIAL LUCK: 12
ITEMS:
Clothes
Backpack
Lantern
Hovers
Healing Potion (+4 STAMINA)
Calming Potion
Coin Bag
Small Jar of Healing Honey (+3 STAMINA)
Dried Fish (+2 STAMINA)
Dried Cuttlefish (+2 STAMINA)
Methedus’s Shard
Silk Cloth
Dried Stink Fruit (+2 STAMINA)
Aeronaut’s Helmet (+1 SKILL, can go above Initial level, -1 damage taken from weapons in combat on a roll of 5 or 6)
2 Cabbage Leaves (+2 STAMINA)
Hand Axe
Incus Ledger Page
Fire Oil (3 STAMINA damage to opponent if used at start of battle)
GOLD: 13
PROVISONS: 0
WEAPONS:
Short Sword
Ornate Dagger (+1 Attack Strength)
CODEWORDS:
Hazi
Bubble
HOME ISLAND: Cumulus
RESURRECTION USED: No

[deaddmwalking]

Vote to take a nap. The bonus from the aeronaut's helmet is not currently included in the stat block above? If not, I vote we put the helmet on prior to napping.

I ask because Skill was 12/12 on post 571416 (investigate the Sky Bridge) and Skill was listed as 12/12 and was still listed as 12/12 on post 571422 which included putting the helmet on (page 95). I think that the skill should have been 13/12 before the chest attacked and should now be 12/12 (though technically we could boost it to 13 if we could restore the lost point of skill).

[JourneymanN00b]

The skill bonus of the helmet, as well as the attack strength bonus from the dagger, is accounted for when calculating combat rolls and skill tests. It makes things easier and more logical in the event the helmet is lost for some reason. The 11 Skill is the *base* skill, and our hero could theoretically get the lost skill point back and have a total skill of 13.

Hope this makes sense.

[deaddmwalking]

Yep! So we would get the +1 if we were rolling opposed tests, but we're not tracking it outside of that.

[Beroli]

Yes, let's go to sleep where we've already been attacked once.

Leave the watchhouse.

[Thaluikhain]

I vote to leave, yeah.

[JourneymanN00b]

After counting up the votes, it looks like that Icarus Morningstar will leave the Watchhouse, since that won over taking a nap by a 2-1 vote.

335
You head for the Watchhouse door. You’re just about to step through when whoosh, whoosh, whoosh – vine tendrils shoot across in front of you, blocking your exit. A bunch of grapes explodes, showering you with an acidic goo. (Lose 2 STAMINA points.)
     The rest of the vines start to creep across the ground towards you.
     If you want to use a Calming Potion on the plant, turn to 223. If not, you are going to need to fight the vines if you want to get of here alive.

GRAPES OF WRATH     SKILL 7     STAMINA 8

If you win, turn to 32.

Please make your votes on whether to use a Calming Potion or not before 9:00 AM PDT or a choice receives 3 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
Icarus Morningstar
SKILL: 11 INITIAL SKILL: 12
STAMINA: 14 INITIAL STAMINA: 20
LUCK: 12 INITIAL LUCK: 12
ITEMS:
Clothes
Backpack
Lantern
Hovers
Healing Potion (+4 STAMINA)
Calming Potion
Coin Bag
Small Jar of Healing Honey (+3 STAMINA)
Dried Fish (+2 STAMINA)
Dried Cuttlefish (+2 STAMINA)
Methedus’s Shard
Silk Cloth
Dried Stink Fruit (+2 STAMINA)
Aeronaut’s Helmet (+1 SKILL, can go above Initial level, -1 damage taken from weapons in combat on a roll of 5 or 6)
2 Cabbage Leaves (+2 STAMINA)
Hand Axe
Incus Ledger Page
Fire Oil (3 STAMINA damage to opponent if used at start of battle)
GOLD: 13
PROVISONS: 0
WEAPONS:
Short Sword
Ornate Dagger (+1 Attack Strength)
CODEWORDS:
Hazi
Bubble
HOME ISLAND: Cumulus
RESURRECTION USED: No

[Thaluikhain]

Keep potion, kill monster.

(I'm not going to say the Grapes of Wrath is the stupidest FF monster, but this book is lucky someone thought the Bum Faced Monster was a good idea.

Unless this turns out to be an allegory for the Dustbowl and the evils of capitalism. Then I take it back.)

[Beroli]

Fight.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered; Icarus Morningstar will fight the vines.

The fight:
Round 1: Grapes of Wrath Attack Strength: 10, Player Attack Strength: 24
Grapes of Wrath Stamina: 6, Player Stamina: 14
Round 2: Grapes of Wrath Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 20
Grapes of Wrath Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 14
Round 3: Grapes of Wrath Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 21
Grapes of Wrath Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 14
Round 4: Grapes of Wrath Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 20
Grapes of Wrath Stamina: 0, Player Stamina: 14

As expected, Icarus Morningstar flawlessly destroys the Grapes of Wrath.

32
You fight your way through the angry vines until they retreat away from the door, giving you enough time to escape. You notice a bunch of unexploded grapes lying on the floor. You prod them very gently with your sword, but they seem more stable when not connected to the vine. It will take more force to active their corrosive properties. Thinking they might come in useful, you carefully put them in a small leather pouch and take them with you. (Add the corrosive grapes to your Adventure Sheet.)
     You leave the Watchhouse and are just wondering if you should go to the north of Cirrus and locate a Goblin flyer to take you onwards to the other islands when you hear an indistinct yelling in the distance.
     If you want to follow the sound of the yelling, turn to 168. If you want to investigate the plume of blue-green smoke, turn to 137. If you want to head north, turn to 255.

Please make your votes before 7:00 PM PDT or a choice receives 3 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
Icarus Morningstar
SKILL: 11 INITIAL SKILL: 12
STAMINA: 14 INITIAL STAMINA: 20
LUCK: 12 INITIAL LUCK: 12
ITEMS:
Clothes
Backpack
Lantern
Hovers
Healing Potion (+4 STAMINA)
Calming Potion
Coin Bag
Small Jar of Healing Honey (+3 STAMINA)
Dried Fish (+2 STAMINA)
Dried Cuttlefish (+2 STAMINA)
Methedus’s Shard
Silk Cloth
Dried Stink Fruit (+2 STAMINA)
Aeronaut’s Helmet (+1 SKILL, can go above Initial level, -1 damage taken from weapons in combat on a roll of 5 or 6)
2 Cabbage Leaves (+2 STAMINA)
Hand Axe
Incus Ledger Page
Fire Oil (3 STAMINA damage to opponent if used at start of battle)
Corrosive Grapes
GOLD: 13
PROVISONS: 0
WEAPONS:
Short Sword
Ornate Dagger (+1 Attack Strength)
CODEWORDS:
Hazi
Bubble
HOME ISLAND: Cumulus
RESURRECTION USED: No

[Dogopolis]

Lets investigate the yelling, we might not get another chance. The blue-green smoke is something we can investigate from the island hub.

[Thaluikhain]

Second that.

[deaddmwalking]

Also agree - investigate the yelling.

[Beroli]

Investigate the plume of smoke.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes tallied; following the sound of the yelling won over investigating the plume of blue-green smoke by a 3-1 vote.

168

The branches are covered with tiny, snapping dragon heads

You cautiously follow the sound of the yelling to an orchard. There you find an elderly woman grasping a spade and fending off a marauding fruit tree which has gained both life and an aggressive streak. Instead of the beautiful spiky red fruit that the tree normally bears, the branches are covered with tiny, snapping dragon heads.
     One of the heads lunges at the woman and she smacks it with her shovel. The head looks dazed for a moment, and then turns a stream of fire on her. She uses her shovel as a shield, but the metal melts away. She’s out of defences.
     She drops the melted shovel, rolls up her sleeves and readies her fists. If she’s going to go out, she’ll go out swinging. But then she spots you.
     “Give us a hand, would you, Officer?”
     You cannot leave the old woman to fend for herself against the plant, and so you engage the Dragon Fruit Tree in battle yourself.

MARAUDING DRAGON FRUIT TREE     SKILL 8     STAMINA 9

If you win, turn to 303.

The fight:
Round 1: Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 20
Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Stamina: 7, Player Stamina: 14
Round 2: Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Attack Strength: 10, Player Attack Strength: 18
Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 14
Round 3: Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Attack Strength: 18, Player Attack Strength: 19
Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Stamina: 3, Player Stamina: 14
Round 4: Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Attack Strength: 18, Player Attack Strength: 19
Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Stamina: 1, Player Stamina: 14
Round 5: Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Attack Strength: 19, Player Attack Strength: 19
Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Stamina: 1, Player Stamina: 14
Round 6: Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Attack Strength: 11, Player Attack Strength: 17
Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree Stamina: -1, Player Stamina: 14

As expected, Icarus Morningstar flawlessly destroys the Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree.

303
With a shake of its few remaining heads, the Dragon Fruit Tree sinks its roots back into the earth and becomes still again. The little dragon heads close their eyes and start to snore gently. The old woman looks relieved.
     “Thank you, Officer,” says the woman, who introduces herself as Maude, also known as “Maude the Mauler” from her adventuring days. “Good job you turned up when you did, I wasn’t looking forward to trying to give those little fellows the old one-two punch.” (Add 1 point to your LUCK score.)
     Maude asks about what’s happened over at the Nimbus. Her daughter is in the Sky Watch and went over there for the meeting. Maude is very worried about what might have happened to her.
     If you want to tell her the truth, that you don’t know, turn to 24. If you want to tell a white lie and reassure her that everything is all right, turn to 329.



Please make your votes before 9:00 AM PDT or a choice receives 3 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

[Thaluikhain]

Tell the truth.

(If the plant is rooted to the ground, couldn't she have just take a few steps away and been safe?)

[Beroli]

Tell the truth.

(Presumably if it sinks its roots into the earth, that means its roots were out of the earth, Thaluikhain.)

[Dogopolis]

Watchman honesty.

[deaddmwalking]

Truth (and consequences).

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered; telling her the truth.

24
You say that honestly, you don’t know, but you’re doing everything you can to find out what caused the explosion and hopefully find a way to restore Nimbus. Maude gives you the hard stare, weighing up what you said. Turn to 364.

364
“Well, you’ll be needing a bit of help then,” says Maude, going into her little cottage and coming out with a War-Hammer and a Healing Potion. “Use them well and wisely. I’ll be ordering a few more Cloudkin from Altos just in case these trees start firing up again.”
     (If you use Maude’s War-Hammer, you may add 1 point to any damage you cause an opponent, but must reduce your Attack Strength by 1 point, due to its weight. The Healing Potion will restore up to 4 STAMINA points when drunk. Record the War-Hammer and the Healing Potion in the Equipment box on your Adventure Sheet.)
     If you now want to investigate the plume of blue-green smoke, turn to 137. If you want to head north, turn to 255.

Please make your votes on what weapon to equip and where to go next before 7:00 PM PDT or a choice receives 3 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
Icarus Morningstar
SKILL: 11 INITIAL SKILL: 12
STAMINA: 14 INITIAL STAMINA: 20
LUCK: 12 INITIAL LUCK: 12
ITEMS:
Clothes
Backpack
Lantern
Hovers
2 Healing Potions (+4 STAMINA)
Calming Potion
Coin Bag
Small Jar of Healing Honey (+3 STAMINA)
Dried Fish (+2 STAMINA)
Dried Cuttlefish (+2 STAMINA)
Methedus’s Shard
Silk Cloth
Dried Stink Fruit (+2 STAMINA)
Aeronaut’s Helmet (+1 SKILL, can go above Initial level, -1 damage taken from weapons in combat on a roll of 5 or 6)
2 Cabbage Leaves (+2 STAMINA)
Hand Axe
Incus Ledger Page
Fire Oil (3 STAMINA damage to opponent if used at start of battle)
Corrosive Grapes
GOLD: 13
PROVISONS: 0
WEAPONS:
Short Sword
Ornate Dagger (+1 Attack Strength)
War-Hammer (-1 Attack Strength, +1 Damage)
CODEWORDS:
Hazi
Bubble
HOME ISLAND: Cumulus
RESURRECTION USED: No

[Thaluikhain]

To the smoke!

(Presumably if it sinks its roots into the earth, that means its roots were out of the earth, Thaluikhain.)

Ah, true.

[JourneymanN00b]

Forgot to mention this, but if you are going to investigate the plume of smoke, please also vote what you want to do next in order to save time.

[pragma]

Head North, it's unexplored while the plume is.

[deaddmwalking]

At the smoke we can charge up the hover or explore the shed (already done - that was where the scarecrow attacked). Agree with head North and explore something new. We now have 2 healing potions so I vote to use 1 now (bringing us to 18 stamina).

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes counted; heading north won over investigating the plume of blue-green smoke by a 2-1 vote. As requested, a Healing potion will be used to restore 4 STAMINA.

255
You reach the north end of Cirrus and look for the Goblin flyer which normally takes the inhabitants on to the other islands. You eventually find the flyer, but its balloon is deflated, and its Goblin pilot is rummaging angrily in his tool bag whilst muttering to himself.
     You approach him carefully. Turn to 346.



346
“Would you look at that?” he grumbles, gesturing to his damaged balloon when he sees you approach. “I was just having a spot of lunch and minding my own business, when I hears a huge bang and a great big rock hits the old girl and gives her a gaping big hole in her side! And I dropped my best pie over the edge of the island!”
     He sadly strokes the deflated balloon. “There, there, old girl,” he murmurs gently. “Soon as Grax finds you a patch and some glue, we’ll get you up and floating about again.”
     You ask if you can be of any help.
     “Thank you, Officer,” says Grax, looking a little more cheerful. “If you happen upon something I can fashion into a patch, that would help. Or if you’ve got some coin, you can charge up the crystal in those hovers of yours. They won’t take you to the furthest islands, but they should get you to Altos or Cumulus. Usually you’d be able to use the Sky Bridge to Cumulus, but it’s been closed, due to some unusual energies on the Cumulus side, so your hovers or my flyer are your best bet for now.
     If you have a cabbage leaf or a silk cloth, turn to 200. If not, you have no choice but to pay to charge up your hovers – turn to 80. If you do not have any Gold Pieces, you can continue no further and your adventure is over.



Icarus Morningstar has a cabbage leaf and a silk cloth.

200
You hand over the item. (Cross it off your Adventure Sheet.) Grax studies it, trying to gauge whether it might help him fix his beloved flyer.
     “Yes! Yes! I think that should do the trick. Now all I need is something to glue it down with. You got anything?”
     If you have some toad goop or healing honey, turn to 340. If not, you will have to charge up your hovers – turn to 80.

Icarus Morningstar has some healing honey.

340
You rummage in your pack until you find something which might act as a glue. You hand it over to Grax. (Cross it off your Adventure Sheet.)
     “Perfect!” he says, delighted. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll have her ready for you. I only have Incus on my licenced route, so if you want to go to Asperitas, you’ll have to go to the north end of Incus and pick up the Goblin flyer from there. As for Altos or Cumulus, you’ll have to use your hovers. Just tell me where you’d like to go.”
     If you want to charge up your hovers for 1 Gold Piece and fly to Altos or Cumulus, turn to 80.
     If you’d like to take the flyer to Incus, the fishing island, turn to 8. (If you have Silas with you, he will stay on Cirrus and you will lose your attack and damage bonuses. Adjust this on your Adventure Sheet.)

Icarus Morningstar does not have Silas with him. Please make your votes on whether to use a cabbage leaf or silk cloth to fix the balloon, what weapon to equip for upcoming combats, and where to head to next before 9:00 AM PDT or a choice receives 3 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

Adventure Sheet
Icarus Morningstar
SKILL: 11 INITIAL SKILL: 12
STAMINA: 18 INITIAL STAMINA: 20
LUCK: 12 INITIAL LUCK: 12
ITEMS:
Clothes
Backpack
Lantern
Hovers
Healing Potion (+4 STAMINA)
Calming Potion
Coin Bag
Dried Fish (+2 STAMINA)
Dried Cuttlefish (+2 STAMINA)
Methedus’s Shard
Silk Cloth
Dried Stink Fruit (+2 STAMINA)
Aeronaut’s Helmet (+1 SKILL, can go above Initial level, -1 damage taken from weapons in combat on a roll of 5 or 6)
2 Cabbage Leaves (+2 STAMINA)
Hand Axe
Incus Ledger Page
Fire Oil (3 STAMINA damage to opponent if used at start of battle)
Corrosive Grapes
GOLD: 13
PROVISONS: 0
WEAPONS:
Short Sword
Ornate Dagger (+1 Attack Strength)
War-Hammer (-1 Attack Strength, +1 Damage)
CODEWORDS:
Hazi
Bubble
HOME ISLAND: Cumulus
RESURRECTION USED: No