[Let's Play] Sorcery Warrior 4 - The Crown of Kings

[deaddmwalking]

Refuse.

[Beroli]

Do you wish to bargain with him, offering him gold if he helps you into the inner keep? If so, choose whether to offer him 1, 2, or 3 Gold Pieces.

Offer him gold for help into the inner keep?
Do not offer him gold?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 12/13
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 6 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 4 healing fruits (+4 Stamina), genie bottle, stone dust, blessed hardwood spear, medicinal potion, holy water, cloth skullcap, horn, key to first Throben Doors, vial of sand, vial of glue, ring of green metal, lucky pendant (when put on, increase Initial Luck by 1 and restore current Luck to Initial value), flask of holy water, rusty sword (-1 Skill), bone bracelet, 2 Goblin Teeth, 9 Meals
Gold Pieces: 33
Libra's Favor: Used
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote not to offer him gold.

[Thaluikhain]

That we can give different amounts of gold makes me think it might be worth it if we go big, but still, no gold giving.

[deaddmwalking]

The snake seemed pretty clear that we shouldn't offer him any gold. So I go with no gold, again. I want to live!

[Dogopolis]

The Venn diagram between gold we have and gold he's getting are 2 separate circles.

[Beroli]

'I see we have a visitor who does not like to part with gold! Or perhaps our friend has something else to offer?'

You can offer him something from your backpack. He'll accept anything that has ornamental value.

Give him your Pearl Ring?
Give him the Serpent Ring?
Give him the ring of green metal?
Draw your sword and attack him and his Jaguar?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 12/13
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 6 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 4 healing fruits (+4 Stamina), genie bottle, stone dust, blessed hardwood spear, medicinal potion, holy water, cloth skullcap, horn, key to first Throben Doors, vial of sand, vial of glue, ring of green metal, lucky pendant (when put on, increase Initial Luck by 1 and restore current Luck to Initial value), flask of holy water, rusty sword (-1 Skill), bone bracelet, 2 Goblin Teeth, 9 Meals
Gold Pieces: 33
Libra's Favor: Used
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote for Jason to draw his sword and attack the greedy fascist and his Jaguar.

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, make with the stabby stab.

[deaddmwalking]

I feel like the Pearl Ring is the right choice. I don’t think fighting will be instant death, but not all problems can be solved with violence.

[Dogopolis]

Give him something. Pearl ring has been mentioned but I'm happy with any of them.
Edit, since this creates a tie, make it half a vote

[Beroli]

Attacking him wins 2 to 1.5.

You leap across the table and grab the man by the throat. His pet snarls at you, but you threaten Valignya's life if he does not call off the Jaguar. Nervously, he does so. You demand to know how you may get through into the inner keep.

'All right!' he agrees. 'I will tell you the password you will need to pass through the Throben Doors.' You stop him and demand that you must have proof that it is the right one. A quick flash of disappointment flickers over his face, and you smile. You have guessed right. He would have tried to trick you. 'You are a shrewd one, and no doubt,' he says. 'But I will do as you say.' He opens a drawer in the table and pulls out a book. Handwritten on its pages are diagrams of the courtyard and sketches of the lands of High Xamen. It is the drawings of the courtyard that take your attention. He points to a representation of the double doors. Written in ink next to the doors is a meaningless word: 'Alaralatanalara.' 'And that,' he says, 'is the password. Whisper it to the lock on the gates and the handle will turn. Now be gone, and leave me in peace.' You leave the miser's room. But after such an encounter you are not feeling at your most honest. You cannot resist pocketing a small pouch lying on his desk. Outside of the room you open the pouch. Your guess was right. Inside are 10 Gold Pieces. Add 2 Luck points for the snatch.

You pass along the hallway and through the Mucalytic's room. At the end of the next passageway, you open the door to the entrance-chamber. The short, stocky creature that let you in is no longer there. You open the door to the courtyard and step outside. The way is clear to the large double doors and you follow the wall towards them.

You step up to the large double doors.

Use the silver key?
Use the key that opened the first Throben Doors?
Whisper 'Alaralatanalara' to the lock?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 13/13
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 6 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 4 healing fruits (+4 Stamina), genie bottle, stone dust, blessed hardwood spear, medicinal potion, holy water, cloth skullcap, horn, key to first Throben Doors, vial of sand, vial of glue, ring of green metal, lucky pendant (when put on, increase Initial Luck by 1 and restore current Luck to Initial value), flask of holy water, rusty sword (-1 Skill), bone bracelet, 2 Goblin Teeth, 9 Meals
Gold Pieces: 43
Libra's Favor: Used
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to whisper Alaralatanalara to the lock.

[Thaluikhain]

Whisper new password.

[Beroli]

You speak the password. With bated breath you wait for something to happen. A tiny click sounds hopeful. You gather your courage and reach for the large handle. You turn it. The door opens! You have now managed to pass through two Throben Doors and you may enter the inner keep.

Slowly the door opens. As soon as it is open wide enough, you step inside. Behind the door is a short path leading up to the inner keep. It branches in two directions. To the left, it leads to a solid wooden door which looks as if it must be the main entrance to the keep. But this door is guarded by Birdmen! Two Birdmen by the door are talking to each other and laughing. They have not noticed you. A head appears at the door and beckons them inside. This could be your opportunity to nip inside if you are quick. But then anywhere you find Birdmen cannot be safe. To the right, the path leads to a smaller door. Steam is spouting from a window by this door and noises-–clanking and voices-–are coming from inside. Perhaps this is the tradesmen's entrance?

Take the path to the left and risk the Birdmen?
Take the path to the right and risk the noises?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 13/13
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 6 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 4 healing fruits (+4 Stamina), genie bottle, stone dust, blessed hardwood spear, medicinal potion, holy water, cloth skullcap, horn, key to first Throben Doors, vial of sand, vial of glue, ring of green metal, lucky pendant (when put on, increase Initial Luck by 1 and restore current Luck to Initial value), flask of holy water, rusty sword (-1 Skill), bone bracelet, 2 Goblin Teeth, 9 Meals
Gold Pieces: 43
Libra's Favor: Used
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote to reject fascism by taking the path to the left and risking the Birdmen.

[Dogopolis]

Check out the Birdmen.

[Beroli]

You creep up to the door, listening for any sounds which indicate the return of the Birdmen. (Return of the Birdmen sounds like a never-published FF title...) You can hear voices--Birdmen voices--coming from somewhere inside, but the door seems safe enough. You open it and step through.

Inside is a wide hallway which stretches into the keep. Doors, some of them open, line both walls. There is also a weapon-stand by the side of the door where swords have been left. (You have a sword and thus do not take one.) Your ears prick up at the sound of voices coming from further down the hallway. Someone is coming! You decide to hide quickly behind one of the doors leading from the hallway.

The nearest door on the left?
The nearest door on the right?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 13/13
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 6 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 4 healing fruits (+4 Stamina), genie bottle, stone dust, blessed hardwood spear, medicinal potion, holy water, cloth skullcap, horn, key to first Throben Doors, vial of sand, vial of glue, ring of green metal, lucky pendant (when put on, increase Initial Luck by 1 and restore current Luck to Initial value), flask of holy water, rusty sword (-1 Skill), bone bracelet, 2 Goblin Teeth, 9 Meals
Gold Pieces: 43
Libra's Favor: Used
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[JourneymanN00b]

I vote once again to say no to fascism and head to the nearest door on the left.

[deaddmwalking]

Sure, Left.

[Beroli]

Birdmen.JPG (148.85 KiB) Viewed 4409 times

You step into the room just in time, as three Birdmen turn round a corner and head towards you. You breathe a sigh of relief and turn round to lean back on the door. But as you do so, your heart stops! Out of necessity, you did not check the room before you entered. Now you can see where you are. There is an old Baklands expression which is appropriate here: 'Hiding from Snattacats in a Stranglebush"...

Rising to their feet, and glaring at you over pointed beaks, are three more Birdmen!

Try to talk to them?
Think desperately of a good excuse and leave?
Simply run back out into the corridor?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 13/13
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 6 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 4 healing fruits (+4 Stamina), genie bottle, stone dust, blessed hardwood spear, medicinal potion, holy water, cloth skullcap, horn, key to first Throben Doors, vial of sand, vial of glue, ring of green metal, lucky pendant (when put on, increase Initial Luck by 1 and restore current Luck to Initial value), flask of holy water, rusty sword (-1 Skill), bone bracelet, 2 Goblin Teeth, 9 Meals
Gold Pieces: 43
Libra's Favor: Used
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé

[deaddmwalking]

I'm pretty sure this is going to get violent one way or another, and it's mostly a question if we fight 3 or 6. I say we try talking.

[JourneymanN00b]

I also vote to try to talk to them.


On another note, is there any interest from this community in playing a specific gamebook in the future? I *might* be able to reserve enough time to run a gamebook within the next several weeks if work and personal duties permit me to do this. If the gamebook is reasonably priced and there are 3 votes for running a specific gamebook, I will see if I can buy the requested title through Amazon (as I have some credit there). If there are no real suggestions, I might consider a slight nudge towards ACE Gamebooks 2: The Wicked Wizard of Oz in honor of the newly released Wicked movie.

[Thaluikhain]

Also vote to try to talk.

[Beroli]

You think quickly.

Tell them you have come to see if they would like any food while they wait?
Make out that you have traveled a great distance and ask for any news of the Fortress affairs?
Try to be polite and ask how they and their families are?

Name: Jason Beckett Mordred
Sex: Male
Skill: 13/13
Stamina: 19/19
Luck: 13/13
Weapon: Sword
Inventory: Large Backpack (need not leave behind an item to take another item), Blimberry Juice (+3 Stamina), silver key, Borrinskin boots, Ragnar's Armband of Swordmastery (+2 Attack Strength when using a sword), backup sword, torch, tinderbox, Lucky Talisman (+1 bonus to all Luck tests), Lucky Talisman (do not deduct a Luck point after Testing Luck), bow and quiver of 3 silver arrows, Serpent Ring, Galehorn, Chakram (Test Skill with -1 penalty at the start of a fight to do 2 damage, once), Yellow Powder, pearl ring, Hewing Axe (-2 Attack Strength weapon, cuts down trees), chainmail (+1 Attack Strength, 1/3 chance to reduce wounds), brass pendulum, small glass vial of gas, Serpent Staff (-2 Skill to each of Seven Serpents), 6 pebbles, leaves with six lobes, yellow feathers, calling-whistle, cure disease potion, 4 healing fruits (+4 Stamina), genie bottle, stone dust, blessed hardwood spear, medicinal potion, holy water, cloth skullcap, horn, key to first Throben Doors, vial of sand, vial of glue, ring of green metal, lucky pendant (when put on, increase Initial Luck by 1 and restore current Luck to Initial value), flask of holy water, rusty sword (-1 Skill), bone bracelet, 2 Goblin Teeth, 9 Meals
Gold Pieces: 43
Libra's Favor: Used
Deaths: Unable to reach the North Gate of Kharé