[Let’s Play] ACE Gamebook 05 - 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas

[Beroli]

Leave the room.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered; leaving the dining room through a door on the far side.

492

You find yourself in a broad corridor, lit with holly-wreathed Christmas lanterns, that runs both left and right. Echoing from the right you can hear a noisy clattering, while to the left you can hear nothing at all. So which way do you want to go?

Left?     Turn to 461.
Right?     Turn to 362.

Please make your votes before 9:00 AM PST or a choice receives 2 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

[Thaluikhain]

Left as is traditional.

[Beroli]

Right. I'm unaware of anything we're trying to avoid and we want to find the Krampus.

[deaddmwalking]

I think right.

Clatter isn't the most obvious way of describing a strange noise, but it was used in the poem 'A Visit From St. Nick' (usually called 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'). I'm wondering if that's a signal that the noise is related to Jolly Santa Claus.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes tallied; going right and succumbing to the allure of fascism won by a 2-1 vote.

362

Making your way along the lantern-lit corridor, you eventually come to a set of double doors which swing open at your touch, and you find yourself at the entrance to a cavernous kitchen.

Everywhere you look, strange, overweight goblin-like creatures, wearing food-stained aprons and tall chef’s hats, are preparing platters of the most marvellous confections. You can see trays of marzipan fruits, candy canes, meringues, candied fruits and toffee apples, as well as the most magnificent jellies, bowls of boiled sweets, mountains of mince pies, doughnuts, cakes and cream horns.

The sight of the sublime sweetmeats and the delectable syrupy scent that fills the air have your mouth watering in moments.

A great oven bathes the kitchen in its infernal glow, whilst making it almost unbearably hot for someone wearing a dressing-gown.

On the far side of the kitchen stands a set of double doors, which you hope will lead you up to Father Christmas’s workshop.

The kitchen is so chaotically busy that you are confident you could sneak across it – ducking under tables and behind pillars as required – and escape without being spotted by the curious confectioners.

And so you set off, dropping to your hands and knees to crawl under a table when a goblin chef walks past carrying a tray of iced buns. It would be easy to snaffle a prize from one of the trays of tempting treats as you make your way through the kitchen.

Do you want to give in to temptation and help yourself to a cooling toffee apple (turn to 332), or will you attempt to make your way across the kitchen without giving in to temptation (turn to 308)?

Please make your votes before 7:00 PM PST or a choice receives 2 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

[deaddmwalking]

Half vote foe saying no to temptation.

[Beroli]

It keeps phrasing eating here as "giving in to temptation." As long as that's the case, no.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes recognized; making his way across the kitchen without giving in to temptation.

308

If you have any uses of your Naughty or Nice special ability left, turn to 300. If not, turn to 332.

Important Note: According to publicly available errata, the section should read "If you have any uses of your Naughty or Nice special ability left and you want to use it, cross it off and turn to 300. If not, turn to 332."

Please make your votes on whether to use the said ability or not before 9:00 AM PST or a choice receives 2 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

[deaddmwalking]

That seems weird. There's no indication that we should want to use it now. Seems very meta.

Half vote to do it to see why this book is crazy..

[Thaluikhain]

I agree with that logic, randomly use ability for no reason.

[Beroli]

Don't use it, since it was erratad to optional, which does not strike me as compatible with "use it here or suddenly die." Hopefully the errata-er wasn't more of a dick than I expect.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes counted; using the Naughty or Nice ability won by a 1.5-1 vote.

300

Reaching the far side of the kitchen, you push open the double doors and leave the sickly-sweet cloying atmosphere behind.

On the other side is a flight of stone steps. Climbing these you open another door and are assailed by the clattering, chugging and crashing of a factory production line running at full tilt.

Turn to 418.

418

You are standing at the entrance to a vast chamber that is full of noise, machinery and Elves. At least you take them for Elves, until you focus on their hideous features and horrible leering demonic sneers.

The hub of Father Christmas’s toy factory is one vast production line. Miles and miles of clanking wooden conveyor belts criss-cross the vaulted space, which is also decorated with a veritable forest of Christmas trees, and which in turn are adorned with miles of tinsel and a profusion of blown-glass baubles.

The scale of the operation takes your breath away; everywhere you look there are mountains of presents, tied with ribbon. The horrible impish creatures working at the production line are adding to the stacks all the time, although you’re not sure the toys they are making are on anyone’s Christmas list this year. There are grim-faced dolls wielding bloody axes, headless teddy bears, and clockwork creations with snapping gin-trap jaws.

Over the clattering of the assembly line, you can hear the cackling cacophony of the imps’ singing.

“On the first day of Christmas, Lord Krampus made for me,
Mass carnage and cruel devilry.
On the second day of Christmas, Lord Krampus made for me,
Two pudding bombs, and mass carnage and cruel devilry.”

And then suddenly one of the horrors catches sight of you. At the imp’s shout of surprise, several of the Elf-imposters break off from what they are doing and advance towards you, improvised weapons in hand.

You have attracted the attention of Krampus’s little helpers but how do you want to respond?

Prepare to face them in battle?     Turn to 463.
Try to run away?     Turn to 434.
Use the Box of Delights (if you can)?     Turn to 267.



Please make your votes before 7:00 PM PST or a choice receives 2 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

TWAS – The Krampus Night Before Christmas Adventure Sheet
Clark
Agility: 11
Combat: 11
Endurance: 20
Equipment:
Pyjamas
Dressing-gown
Bed Socks
Pair of Slippers
Blacksmith’s Axe (+1 Combat Rating in battle)
Key Embossed With ‘37’
Mistletoe Spear Circled By Twelve Bands
Ice Sword (+2 Combat Rating and +1 Damage against imps, devils, and demons)
Special Abilities:
The Pen Is Mightier: 0 uses
Naughty or Nice: 0 uses
Meals: 3
Codewords:
Kold
Kruel
Kind
Krowned
Kurious

[deaddmwalking]

We've got the ice sword. I feel like we should face them.

[Beroli]

We don't have the Box of Delights, so face them.

[JourneymanN00b]

Preparing to face them in battle received 2 votes, so Clark will fight them.

463

The impish factory workers come for you then, armed with everything from mallets and ladles, to screwdrivers and even peppermint candy canes as big as shepherd’s crooks!

If you want to use The Pen is Mightier special ability at this point, cross off one use and turn to 413. If not, turn to 490.

Clark is out of The Pen is Mightier uses.

490

As the warped workers bear down on you, you have no choice but to fight the nearest four all together! (In this battle, the Imps have the initiative.)

First IMP     COMBAT 7     ENDURANCE 6
Second IMP     COMBAT 6     ENDURANCE 7
Third IMP     COMBAT 6     ENDURANCE 6
Fourth IMP     COMBAT 7     ENDURANCE 7

If you vanquish all of the Imps, you begin to despair as, unperturbed, another four step forward to take their place – turn to 413.



I assume that Clark will use the Ice Sword in this battle.

The fight:
Round 1: Clark’s Combat Rating: 11+11+2=24, First Imp’s Combat Rating: 9+7+1=17, Second Imp’s Combat Rating: 9+6+1=16, Third Imp’s Combat Rating: 8+6+1=15, Fourth Imp’s Combat Rating: 6+7+1=14;
Clark’s Endurance: 20, First Imp’s Endurance: 3, Second Imp’s Endurance: 4, Third Imp’s Endurance: 3, Fourth Imp’s Endurance: 4
Round 2: Clark’s Combat Rating: 10+11+2+1=24, First Imp’s Combat Rating: 10+7=17, Second Imp’s Combat Rating: 7+6=13, Third Imp’s Combat Rating: 4+6=10, Fourth Imp’s Combat Rating: 6+7=13;
Clark’s Endurance: 20, First Imp’s Endurance: 0, Second Imp’s Endurance: 1, Third Imp’s Endurance: 0, Fourth Imp’s Endurance: 1
Round 3: Clark’s Combat Rating: 6+11+2+1=20, Second Imp’s Combat Rating: 8+6=14, Fourth Imp’s Combat Rating: 9+7=16;
Clark’s Endurance: 20, Second Imp’s Endurance: -2, Fourth Imp’s Endurance: -2

413

The imposter-Elves suddenly scatter as a phalanx of wind-up toys whirrs towards your position. They look like a cartoonist’s interpretation of a bomb – each having a spherical black body, with a sparking fuse sticking out of the top, and a gleeful, painted-on face – and they advance with clumping steps.

And then you see the fuse on each is rapidly burning down and you come to the horrible realisation that they really are bombs, and they are about to explode!

But surely you can outrun them! Turning round, you see that you are surrounded by the self-propelled explosive devices, and they are steadily closing in, with you their intended target.

If you have the word code word Komet recorded on your Adventure Sheet, turn to 379. If not, turn to 398.

Clark does not have the code word Komet recorded on his Adventure Sheet.

398

You decide that your only chance of escaping the clockwork bombs is to make a break for it, bounding right through the middle of the advancing devices. But as you do so, the first of them detonates, initiating a chain reaction.

Roll one die and add 2. Deduct this many Endurance points. (Alternatively, pick a card and deduct its face value from your Endurance score, unless it is 9 or above, or a picture card, in which case deduct 8 points from your Endurance score.)

If you have lost a total of 5 Endurance points or more, you must also deduct 1 point from your Agility score, and if you have lost a total of 7 Endurance points or more, also deduct 1 point from your Combat score.

If you are still alive, turn to 121.

Rolling the dice and applying the modification yielded a 6, so Clark loses 6 Endurance points and 1 Agility point.

121

With a scream of rending metal and shearing axles, something somewhere within the production line suffers a catastrophic failure and the clattering conveyor unravels, as gears jam and the belt is ripped apart.

Screams of panic fill the workshop as Satan’s little helpers fall victim to the self-destructing machinery.

Finding yourself at the foot of a wooden staircase, with nowhere else to go, you run up it to escape the encroaching chaos, taking the stairs two at a time, and throw yourself through the pair of finely-carved doors at the top.

Turn to 485.

485

You are standing in what can only be described as a large office. The room is dominated by a huge stone fireplace, and there is a roaring fire burning within it even now. On one wall is a vast noticeboard, onto which have been pinned work schedules and a calendar-based planner on which the 24th December has been ringed in thick red pen. On the opposite wall is a huge map of the world.

Despite being larger than many people’s homes, the office is crammed with filing cabinets and desks, and in one corner of the room is a veritable mountain of mail bags. Piles of opened letters cover the work stations.

Passing one of them, you see that it is covered with curled squares of yellowed parchment with things written on them like ‘Jingle, don’t forget to feed the reindeer’, and ‘Remind me to get something nice for Mrs Christmas’.

The largest desk – a monster of a thing that looks like it must have been put together from an entire oak tree – stands in front of the fire, and clearly belongs to the boss. There are stacks of open envelopes on this desk too, as well as a large, leather bound book.

However, the office is entirely devoid of human life, or any other form of life for that matter.

As well as the double doors leading to the factory floor, there is another, smaller way in and out facing the fireplace.

You can’t help feeling that time is running out so do you want to leave the office through the smaller door without further delay (turn to 66), or do you want to examine the things on Father Christmas’s desk first (turn to 462)?



Please make your votes before 7:00 PM PST or a choice receives 2 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

TWAS – The Krampus Night Before Christmas Adventure Sheet
Clark
Agility: 10
Combat: 11
Endurance: 14
Equipment:
Pyjamas
Dressing-gown
Bed Socks
Pair of Slippers
Blacksmith’s Axe (+1 Combat Rating in battle)
Key Embossed With ‘37’
Mistletoe Spear Circled By Twelve Bands
Ice Sword (+2 Combat Rating and +1 Damage against imps, devils, and demons)
Special Abilities:
The Pen Is Mightier: 0 uses
Naughty or Nice: 0 uses
Meals: 3
Codewords:
Kold
Kruel
Kind
Krowned
Kurious

[Beroli]

Examine the things on Father Christmas' desk. And eat a Meal.

[JourneymanN00b]

Vote registered; examining the things on Father Christmas’s desk first and eating a Meal.

462

Embossed onto the red leather cover of the huge tome in gold leaf are three words: Naughty or Nice. The letters are clearly those that children from all over the world have sent to Father Christmas.

Do you want to take a closer look at the book (turn to 474), or the letters (turn to 445)?

Please make your votes before 9:00 AM PST or a choice receives 2 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

TWAS – The Krampus Night Before Christmas Adventure Sheet
Clark
Agility: 10
Combat: 11
Endurance: 18
Equipment:
Pyjamas
Dressing-gown
Bed Socks
Pair of Slippers
Blacksmith’s Axe (+1 Combat Rating in battle)
Key Embossed With ‘37’
Mistletoe Spear Circled By Twelve Bands
Ice Sword (+2 Combat Rating and +1 Damage against imps, devils, and demons)
Special Abilities:
The Pen Is Mightier: 0 uses
Naughty or Nice: 0 uses
Meals: 2
Codewords:
Kold
Kruel
Kind
Krowned
Kurious

[deaddmwalking]

Look closer at the book. Maybe we'll get a recharge.

[Thaluikhain]

Look at the book.

[Beroli]

Look at the letters.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes counted; taking a closer look at the book won by a 2-1 vote.

474

The spine cracks as you open the ancient book, and you find yourself gazing upon column after column, and page after page, of names. Anywhere you look in the book, on the left hand side are the names of those who have been deemed ‘Naughty’, written in black ink, while on the right-hand side, written in red ink, are the names of those whose deeds for the last year have classified them as ‘Nice’.

Flicking through the huge ledger, gazing in wonder at the lists of names, you come to a double-page spread on which have been written only two names. On the left-hand page, in large black gothic letters is the name ‘Krampus’, while on the right hand page, in red ink, is your name!

(You now have one extra use of the Naughty or Nice special ability; record this on your Adventure Sheet. If you want to take the book with you, add the Ledger of Souls to your list of Equipment and make a note that your name appears on page 400.)

You are suddenly aware of a fluttering sound, coming from the stone-built fireplace. It sounds like something has got stuck up the chimney. Will you:

Go over to the fireplace and take a look?     Turn to 479.
Read the letters written by children from all over the world?     Turn to 389.
Leave the office and continue your search for Father Christmas?     Turn to 66.

Please make your votes on whether to take the Ledger of Souls and what to do next before 7:00 PM PST or a choice receives 2 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

TWAS – The Krampus Night Before Christmas Adventure Sheet
Clark
Agility: 10
Combat: 11
Endurance: 18
Equipment:
Pyjamas
Dressing-gown
Bed Socks
Pair of Slippers
Blacksmith’s Axe (+1 Combat Rating in battle)
Key Embossed With ‘37’
Mistletoe Spear Circled By Twelve Bands
Ice Sword (+2 Combat Rating and +1 Damage against imps, devils, and demons)
Special Abilities:
The Pen Is Mightier: 0 uses
Naughty or Nice: 1 use
Meals: 2
Codewords:
Kold
Kruel
Kind
Krowned
Kurious

[Beroli]

Take the book and read the letters.

[deaddmwalking]

Thinking we will have a chance to look in the chimney in a moment. Agree take the book and read the letters

[JourneymanN00b]

Taking the book and reading the letters got 2 votes, so Clark will carry this out.

389

Some demonstrate neat, careful penmanship, written in blue ink on headed notepaper, while others are barely more than notes scribbled in coloured crayon on any scrap of paper that came to hand at the time.

But what the letters all have in common is hope – the hope that Father Christmas will bring their authors the presents they really want this year – and that fills you with both the feeling that there will be a positive outcome to the night’s proceedings, and a renewed determination to save Santa.

(You now have one extra use of The Pen is Mightier special ability; record this on your Adventure Sheet.)

Now turn to 479.

479

If you have the code word Kreepy recorded on your Adventure Sheet, turn to 454. If not, turn to 437.



Clark does not have the code word Kreepy recorded on his Adventure Sheet.

437

With a furious flapping of wings, something suddenly flies out of the chimney and into the office, showering the work stations with soot.

The thing looks like a winged puppet – as of an angel, or the fairy you might expect to see perched on top of a Christmas tree. Underneath all the soot you are able to make out a filthy dress, while its oversized head is fashioned from cracked china. Glass eyes roll in their sockets until they finally come to rest on you. The puppet’s articulated jaw clacks open and gives voice to a high-pitched giggle that is like the tinkling of a musical box.

It is the Perchta – an ally of the Christmas Devil Krampus!

Giggling insanely, the animated puppet reaches for you with twitching wooden fingers.

If you want to use The Pen is Mightier special ability, and you still can, cross off one use and turn to 82. If not, turn to 30.

Please make your votes before 7:00 PM PST or a choice receives 2 votes to guarantee that they will be counted.

TWAS – The Krampus Night Before Christmas Adventure Sheet
Clark
Agility: 10
Combat: 11
Endurance: 18
Equipment:
Pyjamas
Dressing-gown
Bed Socks
Pair of Slippers
Blacksmith’s Axe (+1 Combat Rating in battle)
Key Embossed With ‘37’
Mistletoe Spear Circled By Twelve Bands
Ice Sword (+2 Combat Rating and +1 Damage against imps, devils, and demons)
Ledger of Souls (Clark’s name appears on page 400)
Special Abilities:
The Pen Is Mightier: 1 use
Naughty or Nice: 1 use
Meals: 2
Codewords:
Kold
Kruel
Kind
Krowned
Kurious