[Let’s Play] ACE Gamebook 03 – Neverland: Here Be Monsters!

[Thaluikhain]

As mentioned, tar pits are not great places to light fires, so amulet.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered; relying on the glowing amulet to provide Tiger Lily with enough light to see by.

556

You approach one heavily shadowed archway and the glow from your tribal talisman penetrates the darkness beyond, revealing swags of dusty cobwebs and yet more of the elaborate carvings. Your progress through the dark won’t be hindered at all by not having another light source.

Turn to 578.

578

Where do you want to explore first? Through the archway in the northern wall of the chamber (turn to 756), or through the archway on the southern side of the chamber (turn to 599)?

Please make your votes by 9:00 AM PST or before a choice receives 3 votes to ensure that they will be counted.

[Dogopolis]

north

[Thaluikhain]

North.

[Beroli]

Check the archway on the north side.

[deaddmwalking]

That's my vote too, based on the hieroglyphs.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes recognized; exploring the archway in the northern wall of the chamber.

756

You follow the tunnel as it winds through the catacombs of the temple-city, your light source picking out the faces of warriors carved into the walls, as well as the stone-born shapes of great beasts and giant lizards.

You pass through another archway into another chamber, although this one is significantly smaller than the one by which you entered this eerie place. It is dominated by the carving that covers the entirety of the wall you are facing. Not only that, but elements of the carving appear to have been picked out in seams of the same crystal that is at the heart of your tribal talisman, and they are glowing in sympathy with it.

On the right-hand side, the cone of a volcano is erupting, blasting rocks into the sky. To the left of that a powerful warrior-queen, riding a lion clad in leather armour, is pointing towards a glowing portal, through which more warriors are passing. And surrounding the image is more of the carved picture writing of the Ancients.

If you have the Hieroglyphs special ability, and you want to use it now, turn to 776. If not, turn to 125.

Please make your votes by 7:00 PM PST or before a choice receives 3 votes to ensure that they will be counted.

[deaddmwalking]

I'm for using it. This isn't Cthulu. Reading is FUNdamental.

[Beroli]

Use Hieroglyphs.

[Thaluikhain]

Use hieroglyphics.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes acknowledged; using the Hieroglyphs special ability.

776

(Cross off one use of your Hieroglyphs special ability.)

Slowly you piece together the meaning behind the picture script chiselled into the wall of the chamber.

And with her dying breath Queen Lai Tai’Glaa told the people, “When Kra’Tum speaks again, heed His roar and seek your home anew, beyond the fractured veil.” And then she died, and there was great mourning in the lands of our forefathers.

Now turn to 125.

125

The inner light coming from the frieze seems to bring the eerie figures and colossal creatures to life. Not fully aware of what you are doing, as if in a trance, you reach a hand towards the intricate carvings and lay your palm against the glowing stones…

Suddenly you are no longer in the chamber underneath the ruined city but in the jungle that surrounds the temple-city. The ground is shaking and the sky is dark, and it takes you a moment to realise that the volcano at the heart of the island is in the throes of a massive eruption. You can see a boy and a girl, fleeing from the spreading lava, along with the great beasts of the island…

And then suddenly you are at the heart of the Citadel, before the monolith that holds the sacred Earth Stone, and the Earth Stone is pulsing with green light. You see a hole opening in the very air before you and the light intensifies, as the aperture widens, blinding you…

And then you are back in the subterranean chamber, sitting on the floor, your heart pounding and cold sweat sticking your clothes to your skin. The ethereal light within both your amulet and the crystals embedded in the carving starts to dim.

You are not sure what you have just witnessed but you are filled with the certainty that what you have just seen will come to pass!

You are still trying to make sense of your vision when you return to the buried chamber, by which you entered this subterranean world. You freeze as the largest spider you have ever seen – the sort of thing that haunted your bedtime stories as a child – emerges from the archway in the southern wall, followed by another, and then another.

The leg-span of each of the horrors is at least as much across as you are tall, and as a hunter in the making yourself, you know that the hunter has become the hunted.



There is only one way out of here that might lead you to safety, and that’s back the way you came, through the hole in the roof. The roots of trees have broken through the walls of the chamber and lianas hang down from the opening high above, so there are plenty of ways for you to climb back up to the top, it’s just a case of whether you can so before the spiders catch you.

Will you:

Start climbing, without further delay?     Turn to 192.

Prepare to fight the arachnids?     Turn to 172.

Throw a Torch at the spiders (if you have one)?     Turn to 152.

Please make your votes by 9:00 AM PST or before a choice receives 3 votes to ensure that they will be counted.

NEVERLAND Here Be Monsters! ADVENTURE SHEET
Character: Tiger Lily
Agility: 10
Combat: 11
Endurance: 20
Equipment:
Spear
Tomahawk
Shardstone Amulet
3 Meals
Special Abilities:
Hieroglyphs: 1 use
Earth Lore: 2 uses
Strength of Will: 2 uses
Tracking: 3 uses
Companion: No
Code Words:
None
Mutiny: N/A
Steed: Sabretooth Tiger
Agility: 10
Combat: 10
Endurance: 24

[Beroli]

Start climbing.

[Dogopolis]

Climb

[deaddmwalking]

Climb without delay.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered; starting to climb without further delay.

192

Grabbing hold of a dangling root, you start to climb. You easily find all manner of hand- and foot-holds among the dislodged stones of the chamber wall, but out-climbing the spiders is another matter entirely.

One of them scuttles up the wall after you and sinks its fangs into your leg. You cry out in pain and almost release your grip on the wall, so painful is the bite. (Lose 2 Endurance points.)

There’s no way you can escape the spiders, but will you drop to the floor of the chamber to fight them (turn to 172), or will you throw your torch at them, if you have one (turn to 212)?

Tiger Lily does not have a torch, so she will drop to the floor of the chamber to fight them.

172

The three horrors close on you, their mouthparts snapping together horribly. (You must fight the spiders two at a time, and they have the initiative in this battle.)

First GIANT SPIDER     COMBAT 8     ENDURANCE 7
Second GIANT SPIDER     COMBAT 7     ENDURANCE 8
Third GIANT SPIDER     COMBAT 8     ENDURANCE 8

If you manage to kill all of the arachnids, turn to 232.

The fight:
Round 1: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 7+11=18, First Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 8+8+1=17, Second Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 8+7+1=16;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 18, First Giant Spider’s Endurance: 5, Second Giant Spider’s Endurance: 6
Round 2: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 4+11+1=16, First Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 7+8=15, Second Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 4+7=11;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 18, First Giant Spider’s Endurance: 3, Second Giant Spider’s Endurance: 4
Round 3: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 7+11+1=19, First Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 10+8=18, Second Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 2+7=9;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 18, First Giant Spider’s Endurance: 1, Second Giant Spider’s Endurance: 2
Round 4: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 9+11+1=21, First Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 9+8=17, Second Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 8+7=15;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 18, First Giant Spider’s Endurance: -1, Second Giant Spider’s Endurance: 0
Round 5: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 9+11+1=21, Third Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 4+8=12;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 18, Third Giant Spider’s Endurance: 6
Round 6: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 9+11+1=21, Third Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 6+8=12;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 18, Third Giant Spider’s Endurance: 4
Round 7: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 2+11+1=14, Third Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 7+8=15;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 16, Third Giant Spider’s Endurance: 4
Round 8: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 9+11=20, Third Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 7+8+1=16;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 16, Third Giant Spider’s Endurance: 2
Round 9: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 5+11+1=17, Third Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 10+8=18;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 14, Third Giant Spider’s Endurance: 2
Round 10: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 3+11=14, Third Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 9+8+1=18;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 12, Third Giant Spider’s Endurance: 2
Round 11: Tiger Lily’s Combat Rating: 10+11=21, Third Giant Spider’s Combat Rating: 5+8+1=14;
Tiger Lily’s Endurance: 12, Third Giant Spider’s Endurance: 0

Tiger Lily surprisingly takes quite a bit of damage in the form of 6 Endurance before she is able to take out the three Giant Spiders.

232

The spiders dealt with, you haul yourself up, using the trailing roots and lianas, and return to the plaza above, where you find Fang waiting for you.

Turn to 252.

252

You can’t shake the image of Mount Thunderpeak erupting out of your head. Such a potent vision must be of great import and so it is your duty to return to your tribe and inform your father, Chief Great Panther.

Remounting your faithful friend, with a whisper in his ear, while projecting the impulse into his mind, you start to ride west, leaving the foothills of Mount Thunderpeak and the ruined city of the Ancients far behind.

Passing through the steaming jungle you come at last to the eastern edge of the Teeming Plains. To the north, the distant line of trees curves round to where it eventually becomes part of the sweltering coastal forests that lie between the lands of the Accala lands and Shipwreck Bay.

Unbelievably, there, in a marshy hollow where a spring rises from deep below the plain, you see a pronounced, three-toed footprint.

It can’t have been left by the Horned Lizard you were tracking, can it? You lost that beast’s spoor a long time ago and far from here. But no matter whether it is the same great lizard or not, you can’t help imagining how wonderful it would be to arrive back at the village with the creature’s head stuck on the end of your spear. It would seem that your quest, to prove yourself worthy to join the warrior cadre of the Accala tribe, is on the verge of completion. But then your thoughts return to the vision and what it might mean for your people.

Do you want to ignore the lizard’s footprints and head out across the Teeming Plains towards your tribal homelands (turn to 273), or do you want to set off after the creature and complete your hunt first (turn to 333)?

Please make your votes by 7:00 PM PST or before a choice receives 3 votes to ensure that they will be counted.

NEVERLAND Here Be Monsters! ADVENTURE SHEET
Character: Tiger Lily
Agility: 10
Combat: 11
Endurance: 12
Equipment:
Spear
Tomahawk
Shardstone Amulet
3 Meals
Special Abilities:
Hieroglyphs: 1 use
Earth Lore: 2 uses
Strength of Will: 2 uses
Tracking: 3 uses
Companion: Yes
Code Words:
None
Mutiny: N/A
Steed: Sabretooth Tiger
Agility: 10
Combat: 10
Endurance: 24

[deaddmwalking]

I feel like the 'good ending' is getting our hunt and returning to our people. Since time is abstract in this book killing the beast and getting back 'in time' seems a real possibility. I vote for hunting the beast.

[Beroli]

Complete the hunt first.

[Dogopolis]

Warn our people.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes tallied; setting off after the creature and completing her hunt first won by a 2-1 vote.

333

You follow the tracks across the veld, crossing several streams – Fang having to wade across a shallow river at one point, much to his obvious annoyance – as you head in a northerly direction, towards the line of trees that marks the boundary between the Teeming Plains and the coastal forests that lie between here and Ring-Reef Bay, or Shipwreck Bay, as some would have it.

And the tracks don’t stop when they reach the forest either, but head on into the trees, and so you keep following them.

Turn to 353.

353

Fang is forced to slow his pace as you penetrate deeper into the dense forest. The fronds of ancient ferns the size of trees keep the forest in a permanent murky twilight.

You can hear the sounds of something crashing through the undergrowth – or rather several somethings – and then Fang suddenly freezes, a low growl rising from his furry throat.

The fern fronds part suddenly before you as something huge comes crashing through them. With its blunt reptilian head, red and ochre markings, tiny forelimbs and huge, powerful hind-legs – not to mention the rounded horn above its nostrils, the horn in front of each eye and the row of low spines running the length of its back – there can be no doubting that this is the Horned Lizard you’ve been hunting.

Do you want to employ your Strength of Will special ability against the creature (turn to 374), or will you take up your spear and prepare for battle (turn to 394)?

Please make your votes by 9:00 AM PST or before a choice receives 3 votes to ensure that they will be counted.

[deaddmwalking]

Half vote for Strength of Will. I know it's limited uses, but if we win here quickly we should be able to return home.

[Dogopolis]

This looks like a good time to use a limited resource. Strength of Will.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered; using the Strength of Will special ability against the creature.

374

(Cross off one use of your Strength of Will special ability.)

You fix the overgrown lizard’s beady eyes with a furious glare of your own whilst projecting the thought that it should submit to you. But the cold, emotionless reptilian brains of the terrible lizards are not like those of the great mammals.

Giving voice to a great bellowing roar, the Horned Lizard charges at you, forcing you to hastily take up your spear to defend yourself, while Fang bares his claws, ready for another savage battle. (The Horned Lizard has the initiative in this battle.)

HORNED LIZARD     COMBAT 10     ENDURANCE 20

After four Combat Rounds, or if you reduce the Horned Lizard’s Endurance score to 10 points or fewer, whichever is sooner, turn to 416.



The fight:
Round 1: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 4+10=14, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 9+10+1=20;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 20, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 20
Round 2: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 11+10=21, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 10+10+1=21, Tie Roll: 3;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 20, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 20
Round 3: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 5+10=15, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 4+10=14;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 20, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 16
Round 4: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 6+10+1=17, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 7+10=17, Tie Roll: 5;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 20, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 16

The Sabertooth Tiger and the Horned Lizard each deal 4 Endurance points of damage during the four rounds.

416

Realising that it is losing the battle, the Horned Lizard suddenly turns, swinging its mighty tail at you. Fang crouches to avoid the tail strike, but you are not so lucky. The meaty tail hits you with enough force to send you flying from Fang’s back.

You land at the foot of one of the tree-like ferns, winded and feeling like the monster has cracked a few of your ribs.

Lose 4 Endurance points and, if you are still alive, turn to 527.

527

Fang pads over to you, clearly concerned, and licks your face as you struggle to recover your breath. By the time you feel able to move again, the Horned Lizard has gone. But its tracks are still there for you follow.

Struggling back into the saddle, you set off after your prey, Fang racing through the foliage, as unhappy as you about the lizard getting away, and determined not to let it happen again.

And then, suddenly, Fang bursts from the trees onto a secluded beach, and there in front of you is the Horned Lizard, threatening a girl and a boy. You are more shocked by the presence of the teenagers than you are at having caught up with the carnivore you’ve been hunting.

But the answers to questions such as ‘What is Peter Pan doing on the beach?’ and ‘Who is the girl?’ will have to wait. For you have cornered your prey at last and this time it will be a fight to the death.

Continue your battle with the Horned Lizard, and if you win, turn to 547.

The fight, continued:
Round 1: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 7+10=17, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 4+10=14;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 20, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 12
Round 2: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 3+10+1=14, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 9+10=19;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 16, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 12
Round 3: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 5+10=15, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 11+10+1=22;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 12, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 12
Round 4: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 9+10=19, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 6+10+1=17;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 12, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 8
Round 5: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 3+10+1=14, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 3+10=13;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 12, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 4
Round 6: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 6+10+1=17, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 7+10=17, Tie Roll: 1;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 12, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 4
Round 7: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 3+10=13, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 4+10=14;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 8, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 4
Round 8: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 6+10=16, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 7+10+1=18;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 4, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 4
Round 9: Sabretooth Tiger’s Combat Rating: 5+10=15, Horned Lizard’s Combat Rating: 8+10+1=19;
Sabretooth Tiger’s Endurance: 0, Horned Lizard’s Endurance: 4

The Sabretooth Tiger manages to mortally wound the Horned Lizard down to 4 Endurance, but the Horned Lizard kills Fang, and quickly slaughters Tiger Lily, to the horror of Peter Pan and Wendy. Truly a sad end for our hunter.

I will work on my next title, which will be 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas. I anticipate that it will be ready after the Thanksgiving holidays. Thank you to everyone who participated in this Let’s Play.

NEVERLAND Here Be Monsters! ADVENTURE SHEET
Character: Tiger Lily
Agility: 10
Combat: 11
Endurance: 8
Equipment:
Spear
Tomahawk
Shardstone Amulet
3 Meals
Special Abilities:
Hieroglyphs: 1 use
Earth Lore: 2 uses
Strength of Will: 1 use
Tracking: 3 uses
Companion: Yes
Code Words:
None
Mutiny: N/A
Steed: Sabretooth Tiger
Agility: 10
Combat: 10
Endurance: 0

[deaddmwalking]

I'm saddened to be dead, but I still think killing the beast was the thing to do. Too bad it went so badly for us. I would have liked to know what happened if we met Peter and presumably Wendy.

[Thaluikhain]

Thanks for running this

[Beroli]

Thanks for running this.