Queen of Shades (Issue 7 adventure)

[The Editor (Alex B)]

A Hungarian translation was published in issue 8 of Kaland Játék Kockázat.

[champskees]

Error: Para 34. Assumes you have lost an eye when you could have used holy water to get to this paragraph.

[champskees]

The adventure is reminiscent of Khare: Cityport of Traps and as such, those who enjoyed the original Steve Jackson masterpiece will likely enjoy it. The clues you receive are mostly useless or lead you astray. Having multiple endings proved interesting but the best ending doesn’t really require any items or knowledge. Stamina is also an issue as it is fairly hard to regain lost points unless you take the Koorda fruit path. The colourful group of adventurers that travel with you are probably the highlight of the adventure.

Skill 9+ is recommended for this adventure.

You start with:

- Small Knife.
- Backpack.
- Quarterstaff.
- D6+4 Gold Pieces.

- Try to talk to the warrior women.
- Turn and jump out the window.
- D6 Damage. Can Test Luck to reduce damage by 2.
- Do not eat here.
- Grab her arm and try to calm Jardakka.
- You would rather rely on magic.
- Pay a visit to Hagbut the Gnome.
- Try some of the fruit.
- Use all of your gold here.
- Take 5-10 Koorda Fruit (restores 2 Stamina when used, -X Gold Pieces).
- Keep walking.
- You want to attract his attention.
- You have no gold. Give him nothing (-1 Luck).
- You do not have 30 Gold Pieces.
- Take the sword by force.
- Pay the merchant a visit.
- You have not been here before.
- Hand over your quarterstaff.
- You plan to scare the merchant by revealing that the mirror is cursed.
- Take the merchant’s money and leave.
- Take 40 Gold Pieces.
- Leave the house.
- Add note: If you see her again, add 99 to current para.
- Use the remaining daylight to look around the area.
- Eat at the guild hall.
- You have not yet eaten today (-2 Gold Pieces).
- Raid the house of the merchant.
- Follow the wall.
- Hide and wait to see what happens.
- Run across and try the door.
- Use a Koorda Fruit on the beast.
- Open the double doors.
- Open the small door to your left.
- Creep up the stairs to the first floor.
- Open the third door.
- Search the bedchamber.
- Take Mirror of Iltikar (+1 Luck).
- You do not have a rope.
- D6 Damage. Can Test Luck to reduce damage by 2.
- Pay your way (-4 Gold Pieces).
- Test Skill.
- If fail:
        o 2 Damage.
        o Fight Sk 7 St 10 Soldier Mant. Each round, Roll D6. 5-6 = 2 Damage to enemy.
- Investigate the body.
- Test Skill of 9. Success = 3 Damage.
- Fight Sk 9 St 6 Serpentine.
        o If enemy hits twice in a row: Death.
- The curse has been lifted and you are back in favour with Libra.

[a moderator]

This mini-adventure gets a Sightmasterly scrutiny rather than a Red-Eye-style roasting at my blog.

[Peter]

This one was a bit different. Having companions made for a very interesting story, quite a different tone from most. Especially as they didn't always see eye-to-eye (weak pun, I know).

I liked reading a new story set in a familiar setting. And it was a tricky adventure - it took me a few attempts to find out what was needed to win.

And good illustrations Alex.