[Let's Play] Revenge of the Red Dragon: Flametongue

[JourneymanN00b]

Check out the caves.

[Beroli]

There are three entrances to the caves. None look promising. Something strong and powerful must have ripped those big brass doors open. It looks like a giant worm ate through the wooden doors. That last small silver door is dwarf sized, but the runes make it look the most dangerous. You must choose one.

Enter the brass doors?
Enter the wooden doors?
Cast a spell to turn into human form and enter the silver door?

[JourneymanN00b]

Enter the wooden doors.

[Beroli]

Ugh! If there's one thing you hate--it's bugs!

The Stegocentipedes have 21 Hit Points and do 9 damage per hit. What strategy do you wish to use to fight them?

[JourneymanN00b]

I will just use claws and fangs until the Stegocentipedes either dies or deals 18 damage to Flametongue. If the latter happens, then I will use the Scare spell before resuming my attacks.

[Beroli]

Flametongue hits for 11 damage. Sistoo misses, and throws the Throwing Wedge for 3 damage. The Stegocentipedes miss.
Flametongue hits, finishing the Stegocentipedes off.

You leave quickly, ignoring all the treasure. You don't want anything those foul creatures have touched! As you leave the cave, the Ghost Dwarf appears before you and restores a total of 9 Hit Points to your group. (Flametongue is healed for 1.)

Fly to the Swamp Lair of the Blue Snake?
Fly to the Cloud Giant's Castle?

[JourneymanN00b]

I will fly to the Cloud Giant’s Castle.

[Beroli]

And now you wait for Raven Quickblade to finish his current turn.

[Beroli]

Raven Quickblade has just used an 11-point healing ointment to heal his companion Scorch, the Efreet. Do you wish to have Gridelin negate it?

[JourneymanN00b]

Yes I want Gridelin to negate it, and to also summon the Giant Snake as soon as possible, and negate the first double damage roll.

[Beroli]

As you approach the Cloud Giant's Castle, you realize the Black Knight is approaching it as well.

You have one chance to retreat before battle is joined. Will you do so?

[JourneymanN00b]

I do not wish to retreat, and would like battle the Black Knight to the death. After Gridelin casts the two spells, I would like Sistoo (or Flametongue if Sistoo cannot use items) to use the Iron statue. I would like to see how many companions the Black Knight has before I begin the first attacks, however.

[Beroli]

Raven Quickblade has chosen to retreat.

You've heard about this Cloud Giant, and you know his magical power is great! Flying in closer to scout around, you notice that the roof is unguarded. It would be easy to sneak inside and take a peek around.

Then suddenly, you see something that makes your blood boil! The Cloud Giant has captured a female Red Dragon and is keeping her chained at the bottom of the steps of the magical castle. You could fly down and release her, but can you spare the time?

Hurry toward the Knight's Castle to make sure he doesn't get around you, by flying to the Witch's Brambles?
Land on the roof to look around?
Release the Red Dragon from her chains?

[JourneymanN00b]

The Black Knight is probably closer to the Knight’s Castle than Flametongue is after the retreat, so I will reluctantly leave the Red Dragon behind and hurry to the Witch’s Brambles.

Arrrgh.

[Beroli]

Flying over the huge bramble patch in search of the Black Knight, you see movement down below. Diving down to take a closer look, you discover a lovely woman trapped in a prison of brambles!

"Free me, gallant dragon," she cries, "and all I have will be yours."

Rescue her?
Do not?

[JourneymanN00b]

I will not rescue her, as this smells like a trap.

[Beroli]

"Foul beast!" the woman shouts as you leave. "You will suffer for your cruelty!"

Looking back, you realize that the woman is a Sorceress and you are under attack!

She throws nine magical Spheres at you.

Luckily, only one hits, doing 9 damage.

You fly to the Knight's Castle.

You remember this place! You looted in centuries ago. It was filled with rich treasures then, and is probably filled with richer treasures now! Too bad that wizard put a spell on the castle that keeps you out until you defeat the Knight.

All you have to do now is wait for him to return. While you wait, you eat all his cattle and horses, renewing your strength in preparation for the battle. (Until the Knight reaches the castle, dies, or somehow compels you to leave, you heal 3 points of damage each time it would be your movement turn.)

Flametongue Hit Points: 61/67

[JourneymanN00b]

Well, since the woman was a sorceress, it was probably a “devil and the deep blue sea” scenario.

Can Sistoo use items in like the iron statue in battle, or is it only Flametongue? Asking to plan the Black Knight battle process.

[Beroli]

Sistoo can use items, and activating the iron statue is free--when you want to use it in a fight, it starts that fight as a party member.

[Beroli]

You have been magically compelled to move one area back. You can go to the Thieves' Caves or, if you want to help the sorceress after all (or would rather have her take more shots at you than go to the Thieves' Caves), Witch's Brambles.

[JourneymanN00b]

I will go to the Thieves' Caves, as I feel the Witch's Brambles is a no win situation.

[Beroli]

It occurs to you that the Black Knight could be in league with the thieves who live in these caves.

Charge into the large cave to your right?
Use a spell to change into human form and charge into the small cave to your left?
Fly to the Knight's Castle?

[JourneymanN00b]

I will play it safe and return to the Knight’s Castle.

[Beroli]

You fly to the Knight's Castle.

You remember this place! You looted in centuries ago. It was filled with rich treasures then, and is probably filled with richer treasures now! Too bad that wizard put a spell on the castle that keeps you out until you defeat the Knight.

All you have to do now is wait for him to return. While you wait, you eat all his cattle and horses, renewing your strength in preparation for the battle. (Until the Knight reaches the castle, dies, or somehow compels you to leave, you heal 3 points of damage each time it would be your movement turn.)

Flametongue Hit Points: 64/67

[Beroli]

As you finish healing your wounds (you are now at 67/67), the Black Knight comes into sight.

He has 45/45 Hit Points and his sword strikes for 11 damage.
With him are:
A Nightmare, Phantast, with 20/20 Hit Points and fangs which strike automatically each turn for 3 damage.
An Efreet, Scorch, with 21/21 Hit Points and fists which let him attack twice per Combat Turn for 4 damage each hit. Scorch can also cast spells, though you'll only learn the details when the Black Knight chooses to use them. His fists do fire damage; as long as Sistoo or the iron statue is in is in the fight, Scorch will attack one of them in preference to Flametongue (you can usually choose which of you the Knight's group will attack, but not when attacking Flametongue would be an obvious mistake).
A Djinn, Euras, with 19/19 Hit Pointswho can attack for 11 damage with a magic Sword of Striking. Euras can also cast spells, though you'll only learn the details when the Black Knight chooses to use them.
A Couatl, with 39/39 Hit Points, whose bite will reduce anyone it hits to half of their current Hit Points (round up). The Couatl can only attack every other Combat Turn, but can also cast spells when not attacking.
Two magical Lions, each of which has 7/7 Hit Points and strikes for 4 damage.
Gridelin, of course.

You act before he does. I presume the Iron Statue is active for this fight as, one way or another, it will be the end. Do you still wish to have Gridelin cast the spells you previously chose, and otherwise how will you attack on the first round? If you cast Sleep, you can choose who it targets; your physical attack targets are chosen by the Black Knight except that he cannot choose to direct fire attacks to the Efreet.