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

[Beroli]

The only thing in this chamber is a fountain, but what a strange fountain! It fills the chamber with its magical aura. Thankfully you notice tunnels leading out of here!

As you investigate the fountain, you hear the water whispering words that you can't quite make out.

Stay in this chamber, hoping to figure out what the magical fountain is trying to tell you?
Leave this complex by the passage to the west which might lead to Deadman's Valley?
Stay in the complex and go south toward a smell of rotting flesh?

[deaddmwalking]

So far, fountains have been good to me. Let's get the warning from the magical fountain.

[Beroli]

You try all the standard tests on the fountain to see if it's magical. Nothing happens. It tastes bitter. It doesn't heal wounds. It's time to try something a little more daring. Looking over your magic items, you select one and throw it into the fountain.

Suddenly you can understand the fountain's words:

In return for your gift, Gracious Knight, I will either heal one member of your group, give you information about your enemy, or give you a gift.

Choose which magic item you no longer have. Then choose which you will ask the fountain to do, or if you will decide you don't trust it and either leave the complex to go to Deadman's Valley, or explore the south corridor that smells of rotting flesh.

[deaddmwalking]

It looks like the 4-point Healing Potion is a valid option for the magical items, so I'll sacrifice that. I'm a bit of a greedy bastard, so I'll take the gift over the information.

It actually reminds me of a joke that I'll share with you (and hopefully the other team when this is all over.

A man finds a lamp and figuring, 'why not?' gives it a rub. Imagine his surprise when a genie pops out and tells him he will be given his greatest desire - one wish he makes will come true. The man was hoping for 3 wishes, but with only one wish he quickly narrows it to two options: vast wealth or incomparable wisdom. After some reflection he decides that he wishes to be the wisest person in the world. As soon as the wish is granted he looks at the genie and says, "I should have taken the money".

[Beroli]

Heh. Well then.

"Take one of these as a gift, Knight," the fountain whispers to you.

The Leather Potion Bottle: 15-point healing potion.
The Crystal Coffer: When you open this coffer, you can avoid one combat encounter entirely. Cannot be used on the Red Dragon. Used up when used.
The Drum of Panic can be used by any member of your group in lieu of doing anything else in a Combat Turn. If they get an 18, 19, or 20, one enemy flees. Can be used an infinite number of times.
The Iron Statue can fight at your side in one battle. It has 11 Hit Points and does 10 damage per hit.
The Lightning Bolt Thrower does 12 electrical damage per hit. Any member of your group can use it in lieu of doing anything else in a Combat Turn. Each time you fire it, hit or miss, you use up one of its six charges.

Now will you:

Leave the Lich's Way and go west to Deadman's Valley?
Go south toward the horrible smell of rotting flesh?
Decide you deserve two items from this fountain, and choose a second one (state which one if you choose this)?

[deaddmwalking]

Gordon Gekko tells me greed is good, but there's too much of a good thing. I think I'll take the Drum of Panic. Hopefully it will work at least once.

Feeling pretty invincible, we're willing to investigate the smell to the south, the stone lions pacing around my legs.

[Beroli]

You go south and encounter four Trolls! Whenever one of them is wounded but not killed in a Combat Turn, it will run away (if there is at least one other troll present to cover its retreat) and come back in two rounds with full health. You have to fight them one at a time, in the following order:

The First Troll has 13 Hit Points.
The Second Troll has 12 Hit Points.
The Third Troll has 11 Hit Points.
The Fourth Troll has 10 Hit Points.

Each does 4 damage per hit.

What strategy will you use to fight them?

[deaddmwalking]

By 'fight them one at a time' I presume that only one of them can attack each round, too? Also even though they run away and come back, they wouldn't if affected by the drum?

Round 1)
Euras will use the Sword of Striking. Gridelin will use the drum. All three Lions will be active. Scorch will cast Flame Spell. Raven and Phantast will attack normally. With the cloak they won't have a chance to attack.

With luck we might outright kill 3 of them.

Round 2)
If there are 2 or more active, Euras will cast Wind Gust presuming that the 'fight one at a time' means that it can affect the one I'm fighting; if there is only 1 he'll attack normally. If Euras casts and the spell fails Scorch will cast wall of stone, otherwise he'll cast wall of fire. Gridelin will continue to use the drum, and the lions, Raven, and Phatast will attack normally.

Round 3)
If it goes to a Round 3 I'm going to have to decide based on status.

[Beroli]

Raven gets a Special result. A dangerous maneuver succeeds! You do triple damage with your sword this Combat Turn! Troll 1 is dead.
Phantast hits for 6 damage.
Scorch casts Flame Spell and hits for 10 damage. Troll 2 is dead.
Euras misses.
The Drums of Panic do nothing.
Lion One hits for 4 damage. Lion Two hits for 4 damage. Lion Three hits for 4 damage. Troll 3 is dead.
Raven hits for 12 damage, killing Troll 4.

You have reached a dead end!

Go to the Dwarven Hills?
Go to the Cloud GIant's Castle?
Go to Deadman's Valley?

[deaddmwalking]

It's not really a dead end when it leads to two places that the last room didn't. I didn't really want to go to Deadman's Valley anyway. I actually want to go to BOTH of the other options. And I suspect if I go to the dwarves first, I could. On the other hand, the Cloud Giant is so close to safety.

If fun was the primary goal we'd do Dwarves. But I also want to win. So I'm going to the Giant's.

[Beroli]

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

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

[deaddmwalking]

Yes

[Beroli]

You have been forced to retreat. The Imp's magic has saved you--or has it?

"Look, your knightness, there's no such thing as a free lunch," the Imp informs you. "I got no choice but to save your hide three times. This is the first. You have two more left. But lemme warn you--the retreats could be more dangerous than hanging around to finish what you started."

"Now here's the deal. First, I'll heal those wounds for you." (You and all allies are restored to full health.) Second," the Imp continues, "I'm gonna let you pick a gift from my magical tree. Now don't get your armor steamed up. You won't find any weapons on that tree. In fact, it's gonna be a surprise. You like surprises, don't you, kid? The tree is in that cave over there. Go grab something, then come back." Yawning, the Imp gestures vaguely at a dark, gloomy cave.

You never did like this Imp, and it galls you to owe him your life. Walking with as much dignity as possible, you head for the cave with the magical tree.

The magical tree is lovely! Its blossoms fill the air with perfume. Going up to examine it, you see many objects hanging from its branches. There is a glowing Chalice studded with gems, filled with a mysterious liquid. There is a Book of Skill, dealing with battles and combat skills. You see a beautiful Necklace in the shape of a shield. A small silken Bag hanging from a branch reminds you of a story you heard once about a magical Bag of Holding. Finally you see a gleaming Crystal Ball.

Take the Chalice?
Take the Pendant?
Take the Book of Skill?
Take the Silken Bag?
Take the Crystal Ball?

[deaddmwalking]

Let's take the book. Pendant was tempting, bit I have the helmet...

[Beroli]

"Why'd you pick a book, fool?" the Imp asks, laughing at you. "You can't read! Oh, well, I suppose you can always look at the pictures! In fact, you're in the pictures! It's a training book, but you'll have to survive to appreciate it! You must fight yourself until you're better than yourself. Shouldn't really be much of a contest--for either of you!" Giggling wildly, the Imp disappears.

Turning around, you come face to face with two images of yourself! Both are attacking you!

To resolve this combat, you must use the Combat Table until you get a Special result. Each other result causes you, personally, 3 damage.

You fail 8 times, taking 24 damage, before you achieve that result and escape from the book. You now deal 2 more damage per successful strike with any weapon.

Travel to the Wizard's Tower?
Travel to the Swamp Lair of the Blue Snake?

Raven Quickblade's Hit Points: 21/45.

[deaddmwalking]

I'm going to take 2 of the 6-point healing potions now.

What is Scorch at currently?

Choosing randomly we're going to the Swamp Lair of the Blue Snake.

[Beroli]

Scorch is fully healed, as per the Imp's having healed you all before he threw you alone into a deathtrap.

The only way through this yucky swamp is across a road. Glancing around nervously, you realize it would be a wonderful place for an ambush! All of your allies are prepared to fight. Good thing too! A giant Blue Snake suddenly emerges from the muck! But the Talisman of the Snake disintegrates and the Snake retreats.

Raven Quickblade Hit Points: 33/45

You ride for the Enchanted Lake (when Flametongue finishes his current turn, which is at the Witch's Brambles).

[Beroli]

You arrive at the Enchanted Lake as Flametongue arrives at the Knight's Castle.

Wheh! Was this place misnamed! It should be called Yicky Smelling Pond. Reluctantly riding closer, (holding a handkerchief over your nose) you discover that it does appear to be enchanted. A huge river dumps tons of water into this small pond, and it isn't growing larger! Maybe its magic could work for you?

Take a drink from the foul-smelling water, risking being poisoned?
Stir it with your magic sword?
Toss a magic item into the water (specify which one)?

[deaddmwalking]

Let's try magic item in the water. Last 6 point healing potion. And I'll use the ioun stone on Raven.

[Beroli]

The moment you toss the potion into the lake, a Water Sprite rises to the surface.

"Thank thee for thy gift, Sir Knight," the Water Sprite says gaily. "In return, I will make thy enemy fly backwards." The Dragon will be moved one step backwards from your Castle.

Pleased with your good fortune, you wonder what other gifts this Enchanted Lake might yield.

Take a drink from the foul-smelling water?
Stir it with your magic sword?

[deaddmwalking]

Neither of those sound like good things. But I suppose I have two Swords so we'll try stirring.

[Beroli]

The magic water summons your greatest enemy! You now face the Red Dragon and all his allies!

You can retreat once again. If you do not do so, you'll have to fight the final battle now.

[deaddmwalking]

Tempting. But I think we'll use the imp again. I really want to recruit an ally (like a giant). Retreat.

[Beroli]

"Hey, man, you back again?" the Imp snarls. "I was just going out to dinner! Boy, you sure know how to wreck an evening! This is your second rescue. You have one more left. Next time, try to get yourself into trouble during working hours! Well, let's make this snappy. First, you and all of your allies are completely healed. Now, it appears to me that you need a little more practice at your craft. I'll let you shoot at Leroy the Dragon or you can pick from the magic tree again. It's your choice."

Risk the magic tree again?
Take shots at Leroy the Dragon?

[deaddmwalking]

Let's take the pendant.