Let's Play Secrets of Salamonis (#70) redux?

[Dogopolis]

You continue on your way along the pass, the motion of the horse beneath you lulling you into a more relaxed state as the day progresses. As a result, when the attack comes, it takes you entirely by surprise. Arrows rain down from the sides of the pass, fired by a dozen Hill Goblins riding huge Dire Wolves, and sending Luquin Garreau and bodyguards into a panic. If you have the Spelling Special Skill and you want to use it now……

I'm just going to assume you do.

You must act fast! Snatching the scroil from your backpack, you lay the Spelling Sheet on the ground and call upon the Oracle for guidance. As the swish of the Goblins’ arrows slicing through the air fades you hear the voice of the Oracle inside your head...

Battle barrier, swordsman’s saviour, fighter’s friend… __I_L_

If you know what the Oracle is trying to tell you, fill in the missing letters and then use the Spelling Sheet to turn the answer into numbers, add them together and then turn to the section with the same number as the total.

[Thaluikhain]

Shield

8 + 30 + 111 + 3 + 55 + 60 = 267

[Dogopolis]

A split second before the arrows land you hear a series of thuds as the bolts hit the magical shield you have conjured into being over your party, saving everyone from the Goblins’ ranged attack, (Gain 1 AMONOUR point.)

Forward!’ Nanoc commands, and the caravan, as well as its escort, picks up the pace as Goblin Wolf Riders bear down on you from the top of the pass. But the cavalcade has no hope of escaping the hunting party and it is only a matter of time before you are forced to defend yourself against the Goblins. Do you have the Brawling Special Skill?

We do

One of the tricks you learned during training was how to fight an opponent whilst seated in the saddle, holding your sword in one hand and the horse's reins in the other. You must fight two of the Goblin Wolf Riders, but you can do so one at a time,

First GOBLIN WOLF RIDER SKILL 7 STAMINA6
Second GOBLIN WOLF RIDER SKILL 6 STAMINA 7

Code: Select all

G1 17 LMJ 16 LMJ at 9
G1 13 LMJ 17 g1 at 4
g1  15 lmj 15 draw
g1 19 lmj 17 lmj at 7
g1 14 lmj 19 g1 at 2
g1 9 lmj 19 g1 dead
g2  14 lmj 18 g2 at 5
g2 17 lmj 19 g2 at 3
g2 14 lmj 17 g2 at 1
g2 15 lmj 17 g2 dead

f you defeat your enemies,

Goblin rider 1 getting 2 surprising hits
----------------------------

The other bodyguards have dealt with another six of the Wolf Riders between them. Their numbers dramatically reduced, the rest of the hunting party turns tail and fleesback into the hills, leaving their dead behind. Nanoc gives the order for the caravan to stop, so that wounds can be seen to, and giving you the opportunity to search the bodies of the two Goblins you killed. You find a total of 5 Gold Pieces and 8 Salacoins between them. (Record this in the Money box on your Adventure Sheet.)

You are soon underway again and a couple of days later, you have left the Craggen Heights behind and are advancing across the borderlands of the Southern Plains

The landscape is a waterless waste. A warm wind is blowing over the plains, piling the sandy soil into rippling dunes. Test Your Luck.

9 is unlucky

Do you want to roll again?

SKILL: 11/11
STAMINA: 7/12
LUCK: 6/7
AMONOUR: 15
MONEY: 10 Salacoins = 1 Gold Piece
15 Gold Pieces
8 salacoins

Possessions: spare clothes, short sword, Longbeard’s Legends of the Windward Plains, Holy Symbol, Strongman armband, Token, Dragon carnyx, glass bottle, ancient treasure map
Provisions:1
Special Skills: Spelling, Brawling, 2nd chance rolls (x2), Instant Death roll(x3)

Today is: Fireday

[Beroli]

Vote no on rolling again.

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, one failed luck test probably isn't that bad.

[Dogopolis]

Before you are aware of what is happening, something bursts from the sand beside the trail, startling your horse and striking you with a savage claw! (Lose 3 STAMINA points.)

-----------------------------------

The creature standing before you now is thin and sandycoloured, with sealy skin and an arrow-shaped head somewhere between that of a snake and a lizard. It stands upright on its hind legs, like a man, and is as tall as-you are. A forked tongue darts from between long fangs, but most fearsome of all are its claws. What passes for its hands each end in a single long talon that is as sharp and as curved as a desert nomad’s dagger. Several more of the monsters have emerged from beneath the sand and now have the caravan surrounded, clearly in search of a Meal. You have no choice but to draw your sword and attack the nearest GRETCH!

GRETCH SKILL 9 STAMINA 10

The creature's claws are capable of slicing through flesh and bone alike. If the Gretch injures you, you must deduct 3 STAMINA points rather than the usual 2

Code: Select all

G 17 LMJ 23 Instant death

Well that was lucky.

If you win...

--------------------------

As your fellow bodyguards cut down the rest of the reptilian attackers, you consider the specimen you fought. It is emaciated and was clearly starving. Times must have been hard for the Gretch, which is why they risked ambushing such a well-protected caravan. Gretch hide under the desert sands, close to watering holes and well-travelled trade routes, leaving only two tiny holes for their keen eyes to watch for the approach of suitable prey. Although this group clearly have not fed for some time, there might have been the remains of past Meals buried under the sand with them. And those ‘Meals’ might have been carrying treasure.

Do you want to search the Gretch’s hiding place would you rather continue your journey, keen to end it
as quickly as possible?

[Thaluikhain]

Search random holes, as per usual.

(A little googling and Gretchs seem not to be an imitation of D&D's Hook Horror, just an original creature that also has hooks instead of hands)

[deaddmwalking]

I would like to search, yes.

[Beroli]

Eat our Meal, then search the Gretch's hiding place.

[deaddmwalking]

Yes, we should eat the meal.

[Dogopolis]

Dismounting, you dig about in the sandy hole from which the Gretch emerged, and it is not long before you find some bones, picked clean of flesh. They appear to be human. However, on a bony finger is a Brass Ring. (if you want totake it, add it to your Equipment List.)

----------------------------------

Finally, several days after leaving Salamonis, you reach Shazaar. Passing through the main gate, you find yourself on Moon Street, As the caravan makes the final part of its journey, you pass many small, brightly painted huts, as well as spiralling towers and bizarre forms of architecture that seem to have no rhyme or reason behind their design.

Meanwhile, lining Moon Street, you see all manner of surus, fakirs and religious cults, their bodies either nearnaked and covered with curious piercings and strange tattoos, or shrouded in voluminous robes so that not even their eyes are visible. Not for nothing is Shazaar also known as the City of Madness!

The caravan finally comes to a halt in Star Square, which, rather appropriately for such a nonsensical place, has six sides. While his servants unload the cargo, Garreau sets about making deals with the local traders. You suddenly hear a "Psst!" behind you and turn to see a Hobbit maiden haif-hidden by the shadows of an alleyway. The Hobbit beckons to you, and, out of curiosity, you go up to her, ‘Have you come from Salamonis?’ she asks, When you reply that you have, she says, “My master needs something delivered to the great sage Noreth Janagen. Will you take it for him? He will pay generously.

Do you agree or do you think you should stay with the caravan?

Please vote on whether you want the brass ring and whether to help the filthy hobbitses

[Beroli]

Take the ring, help the hobbits.

[SGamerz]

Take ring, deliver parcel

[deaddmwalking]

Delivering letters to sages - it takes me back to the heady days when Might and Magic: Secret of the Inner Sanctum was new to the world. I agree, let's take the ring (it's not doing anyone any good where it is now) and deliver the parcel.

[Thaluikhain]

Agree, though I half suspect it's contraband.

(What are surus? A quick google fails me on this)

[Dogopolis]

Gurus. The Automated text reader failed and I missed that one.

[Dogopolis]

You are sure that Nanoc and the others won't miss you for a few minutes, so you follow the Hobbit girl along the
alleyway to a house with a blue door. Once inside, she leads you up a spiral staircase to an opulent chamber, You are taken aback when you see who, or what, is waiting for vou there. The creature has deep red, scaly skin, and a long snout filled with protruding teeth. As you enter the chamber, momentarily lost for words, a long pink tongue darts in and out between the teeth ‘You have someone for me, Lissa?" says the Lizardine for that is what the creature is — in a low, hissing voice, as smoke curls from its nostrils, “Excellent, excellent. Crossing the room, its silken robes flapping behind it, the Lizardine hands you a parcel and a velvet bag. “The money is for you,’ It says, “but you must deliver the package to my friend Noreth Janagen. He lives in a tower on Brightstar Street. It is vitally important he receives this parcel, Do not let me down.

You promise the Lizardine that you won't, and Lissa shows you out. As you make your way back to Star Square, you put the parcel in your backpack and then look inside the bag and are delighted to discover that it is full of shiny gold coins. (Add 8 Gold Pieoes to the Money box on your
Adventure Sheet.)

----------------------------------------------------------

You wait with the other Strongarms as Luquin Garreau concludes his business and, after spending an evening at Shazaar’s most famous inn, The Fatted Pig, you begin the long journey back to Salamonis. You arrive several days later. Nanoc pays you the rest of your fee (gain 10 Gold Pieces) before sending you on your way again. (Move the Wheel of the Week on 15 days.) Do you have a parcel to deliver?

-----------------------------

As you make your way to Brightstar Street, your curiosity gets the better of you and you open the parcel the Lizardine paid you to deliver, It is full of a rare herb called Medusa Grass that is used in all manner of magical and alchemical concoctions. Do you want to keep the Medusa Grass for yourself or do you want to complete the delivery?

SKILL: 11/11
STAMINA: 11/12
LUCK: 6/7
AMONOUR: 15
MONEY: 10 Salacoins = 1 Gold Piece
33 Gold Pieces
8 salacoins

Possessions: spare clothes, short sword, Longbeard’s Legends of the Windward Plains, Holy Symbol, Strongman armband, Token, Dragon carnyx, glass bottle, ancient treasure map, brass ring
Provisions: 0
Special Skills: Spelling, Brawling, 2nd chance rolls (x2), Instant Death roll(x2)

Today is: Earthday

[Beroli]

Complete the delivery.

[Thaluikhain]

Half vote to nick the stuff, despite not wanting to.

(Ah, gurus, that makes sense, thanks)

[deaddmwalking]

We need 1 more point of Amanour so hoping delivering it will get us that.

[Dogopolis]

There is only one tower on Brightstar Street. On the ground floor is a grand door painted red. You knock on the door, and it is opened by a tiny humanoid with black skin, big eyes and a cherubic face. It is a Chervah. When you say that you are here to deliver a package to Noreth Janagen, the creature ushers you inside. It leads you up a winding staircase to a room at the very top of the tower. The room is full of magical paraphernalia, as well as a library's worth of scrolls and ancient texts, and even a complicated-looking brass telescope mounted on a wooden tripod.

Standing at the centre of all this scholarly clutter is a creature as curious as the Lizardine that asked you to deliver the parcel of herbs. Under its robe, as far as you can tell, it is humanoid, but its head resembles that of a vulture!

lt is a Hamakei, a member of a race of scholarly and very powerful sorcerers. Noreth Janagen thanks you profusely for delivering the package and then says, mysteriously, ‘I saw that you would come in my scrying glass, and | saw many other things too. I think you might be in need of this.’ With that, he gives you some of the Medusa Grass from the parcel before sending you on your way again. (Record the MedusaGrass on your Adventure Sheet and gain 2 amonour points.)

Do you have a Swampsnake Skin and want to try to sell it to
the Hamakei?

We don't

The sun is already setting beyond the rooftops of the city
as you leave Noreth janagen’s tower.

-----------------------------------

it’s time you got some much-needed rest and recuperation.

Today is not Fireday

-----------------------------

As you are a member of the Adventurers’ Guild, you the right to rent a room for the night there. Board lodging at the Guild will cost you 2 Gold Pieces, but you will be able to restore up to 4 STAMINA points. Alternatively, you can take a room at an inn, such as the Half-Darned Sock, for just 1 Gold Piece, but the food is not as filling or the beds as comfortabie, so a night spent there will restore up to 2 STAMINA points. Then again, you can sleep rough on the street free of charge, but will wake feel less than refreshed, at a cost of 1 stamina point.

Today is not Windsday or Seaday

Not long after dawn, with the sun rising in the sky, you set off for the Adventurers’ Guild, ready to take on another quest to help raise your profile among the adventuring fraternity and the people of Satamonis. Do you want to stop at the Bazaar on your way or do you want to head straight to the Guild?

----------------------------

There are all manner of stalls set up within the Bazaar, selling everything from astronomical instruments to zodiac readings. Looking around, you make a mental note of the items you think could prove most useful to you now that you are a full-blown member of the Adventurers" Guild. You may buy as many items as you want, as long as you have enough money to pay for them.

Ancient Treasure Map 6 Gold Pieces
Bag of Salt 2 Gold Pieces
Basilisk-Skin Boots 10 Gold Pieces
Beeswax 1 Gold Piece
Copper Armband 2 Gold Pieces
Empty Bottle 5 Salacoins
Length of Rope 2 Gold Pieces
Medusa Grass 12 Gold Pieces
Nose Plugs t Gold Piece
Old Lamp 3 Gold Pieces
Potion of Luck 5 Gold Pieces
Potion of Skill 5 Gold Pieces
Potion of Strength 4 Gold Pieces
Provisions 5 Salacoins per Meal
Shazaarian Ale 3 Gold Pieces

When you drink a Potion of Luck, restore your LUCk score to its Initial level. If you drink a Potion of Skill, you may restore your SKILL scoreto its Initial level, while the Potion of Strength will restore your stamina score to its Initiallevel. Each Meal will restore up to 4 sTAMINA points and you may eat Provisions at any time, apart from when you are engaged in combat. The Shazaarian Ale will also restore up to 4 STAMINA points, but you must reduce your Attack Strength by | point for the duration of the next
battle you have to fight. Do you have a Swampsnake Skin and want to try to sell it to
one of the stallholders?

Please vote on sleeping arrangements and what to buy from the bazaar.

[deaddmwalking]

Recommend we sleep on the street, but 2 provisions, 1 beeswax, 1 noseplug, 1 oil lamp, 1 length of rope. We should also buy a potion of luck.

[SGamerz]

Sleep on the street again.

I will echo the votes for beeswax, noseplug provisions and lamp. Neutral about the rest.

[Dogopolis]

OK, with no objections or additions I'll buy deaddmwalking's list in full.

‘So, what’s it to be?’ the Guildmaster asks as you examine the Quests Board outside the Guild.

Take a look at the illustration above. On it you will see a list of available quests, with a job number next to each one. To embark on a quest, turn to the section that is the same as the number that has been allocated to that job by the Guildmaster. (Please note that you may only attempt each quest once unless expressly stated otherwise in the text.)

SKILL: 11/11
STAMINA: 10/12
LUCK: 6/7
AMONOUR: 17
MONEY: 10 Salacoins = 1 Gold Piece
23 Gold Pieces
8 salacoins
Possessions: spare clothes, short sword, Longbeard’s Legends of the Windward Plains, Holy Symbol, Strongman armband, Token, Dragon carnyx, glass bottle, ancient treasure map, brass ring, beeswax, noseplug, oil lamp, length of rope, potion of luck, Medusa grass
Provisions: 2
Special Skills: Spelling, Brawling, 2nd chance rolls (x2), Instant Death roll(x2)

Today is: Earthday

[Beroli]

Pest control at the mine.