|
Post by vastariner on Sept 6, 2021 23:14:55 GMT
Discretion is the better part of valour, and cowardice the better part of discretion, so let's valiantly leg it.
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Sept 7, 2021 6:31:18 GMT
Back in the clearing with the Giant Scorpion. 218 >> 792
792
The place hasn't changed much since your last visit. It is unlikely that there is a second large predator around, but this does not stop you from observing the surroundings carefully. You soon conclude that there are no creatures threatening you this time, but that doesn't mean that crossing the clearing will be easy. You know how treacherous the muddy ground can be, and even if you're on your guard, it's not impossible that you'll get stuck again. If you prefer not to risk it, you can freely return to the clearing from which you came. A Growth Gem or an Ice Gem will allow you to cross without difficulty. If you have used a Growth Gem here on a previous visit, the vegetation carpet you have created still exists. If you have used an Ice Gem here on a previous visit, the ground is still frozen, provided you have only visited one clearing in the meantime. If you attempt to cross the clearing without the help of magic, you must Test Your Luck. If you are Lucky, you do not encounter any difficulties. If you are Unlucky, you suddenly sink into waist-deep mud and must Test your Luck again. If you are Lucky this time, the effort you have to make to get out of this natural trap costs you 1 STAMINA point. If you are Unlucky again, you also manage to get out of this quagmire, but you discover that several huge LEECHES have latched onto your legs to feed on your blood. You get rid of them without too much difficulty, but you lose 3 STAMINA points and 1 HEALTH point. If you leave the clearing by : the south, turn to 361. the west, turn to 767. the east, turn to 109.
Rolled 3. Lucky. SKILL: 10 STAMINA: 14 LUCK: 7 HEALTH: 10
|
|
kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,467
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
|
Post by kieran on Sept 7, 2021 11:41:24 GMT
How about south?
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Sept 7, 2021 13:16:33 GMT
Already visited, empty clearing with yellow mushrooms.
|
|
|
Post by CharlesX on Sept 7, 2021 13:25:31 GMT
Then we go east, 'cause we've been the other ones.
|
|
kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,467
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
|
Post by kieran on Sept 7, 2021 15:06:59 GMT
Isn't east back to the Mistress of Flowers? Probably don't want to bother her again so west?
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Sept 9, 2021 11:26:49 GMT
767 In front of you the path gradually widens, and you soon come to a new clearing. It is number 38. If you have been there before, and have already searched the area, turn to to 586. If not, read on. This clearing is surprisingly large, one of the largest you have yet crossed. Numerous pools of stagnant water and some tall grass are the only features of the landscape. The ground is soft and you fear it may contain quicksand. Apart from the path by which you entered the clearing, there are two other ways to leave it. Finally, the place seems empty but as you examine the muddy ground you see that it is marked by the fresh footprints of three-toed creatures.
If you want to risk searching this place, turn to 944. If you don't want to spend too much time here, go to 428.
|
|
|
Post by CharlesX on Sept 9, 2021 11:50:17 GMT
There might be treasure here, or just monsters. It does sound like we'd get stuck in quicksand if we went searching and I don't fancy risking my life on a luck 7 gamble. My considered opinion is it's too risky and we should go. However, we're adventurers, so I'm open to other voices.
|
|
|
Post by Peter on Sept 10, 2021 9:03:22 GMT
I want to explore, but you are probably right. What would we be likely to find? Stagnant pools and some tall grass are the only features. Maybe someone may have lost a locket or something, but I think we should heed the warning in the text. Let's leave.
Translation note: "the largest you have ever crossed" isn't the way I would say it. Possibly "the largest you have yet crossed".
|
|
|
Post by vastariner on Sept 10, 2021 9:57:02 GMT
Big empty space with three toed prints? Sounds like someone's home. I vote we vamoose.
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Sept 10, 2021 12:31:23 GMT
428 There are three ways to leave the clearing: If you want to go north, turn to 469. If you want to go east, turn to 218. (Giant Scorpion)
If you choose to go south, turn to 350. (ex-Master of Spiders / Efrit)
469 As you progress, the air becomes more and more foul, and the sticky mud weighs down your steps. You are in clearing 50. If you have been here before, turn to 343, otherwise read on. You are faced with a mound about two metres high that appears to be covered in a black, slimy sludge. Greenish miasma emanates from the bubbles bursting at the surface. The sky is an uninviting khaki fog with a hazy light filtering through... As you wonder whether you should turn back or continue in this direction, the silt behind you makes more and more "bloops bloops", even causing ripples on the surface of the viscous liquid! Intrigued, you turn around and notice with horror that the mud is almost reaching your height while bubbling with green fetid gas... The thing is blocking your path and coming closer to you while constantly changing shape. What are you going to do about it? - Trying to force your way out the way you came in? Turn to 214. - Fight this thing with a sword? Turn to 623. If you want to use a Magic Gem, choose one of these: - Fire Gem Turn to 417. - Ice Gem Turn to 743. If you prefer to run away from this thing, choose your direction: Climb the mound Turn to 228. Go around it to the right Turn to 678. If you prefer to go left Turn to 457
|
|
|
Post by vastariner on Sept 10, 2021 13:26:58 GMT
Well, that went well. No point going backwards, and I doubt a sword will work on a mass of mud. Only Ice would - and given that we have a route out I would suggest not using it.
I would also suggest that the way to flee a rising tide of mud is that we should similarly go high.
|
|
|
Post by CharlesX on Sept 10, 2021 14:10:22 GMT
Concur, ice gem sounds like our best bet.
|
|
|
Post by Peter on Sept 11, 2021 2:38:48 GMT
Stay off the mound, don't turn around, don't use our sword, I vote for going around to the left, so we can possibly head west from here.
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Sept 14, 2021 8:37:18 GMT
So what is the decision ? Climb up, ice gem or go left ?
|
|
|
Post by CharlesX on Sept 14, 2021 9:05:45 GMT
I misread Vastariner's post (!), but I've changed my mind either way, I think an Ice gem could get us into trouble (more importantly, with the mud thing blocking our path, we wouldn't be able to escape via somewhere else). I'm as torn as the others about climbing or going left or going right. The problem is climbing could leave us trapped and\or in danger. I don't even know whether to suggest going left or right. Are you 100% non-partisan linflas, or do you have a suggestion because we're tied? If we absolutely absolutely don't know I will flip a coin today on whether to go left or right?! Help, anyone?
|
|
kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,467
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
|
Post by kieran on Sept 14, 2021 11:37:42 GMT
Climbing seems like it might leave us trapped. I would be up for trying the ice gem but since the consensus is against that, let's try left.
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Sept 14, 2021 12:09:11 GMT
Are you 100% non-partisan linflas, or do you have a suggestion because we're tied? Partisan only when tied, but as I pre-read the possible solutions, I keep silent as long as possible. Let's go left then. (for example, you really really should have remained motionless with the Giant Scorpion ! )
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Sept 14, 2021 12:29:50 GMT
457 You step back, then turn around and walk to the left of the mound. You notice that the silt is becoming more and more "bubbly" on the right side. You seem to have made the right choice. However, the mud is still very slimy and slows down your progress. After ten metres, you notice that the ground is sinking dangerously, and you risk not being able to stand. Watching the columns of mud approaching from your right, you desperately look for a shallower way... Unfortunately, there is none and you turn back to avoid being at the mercy of the piles of shifting mud. The only 'passable' path - that is, thigh-high mud - is towards the mound... If you wish to make your way there to escape your pursuers, turn to 411, otherwise be prepared to fight at 941.
|
|
|
Post by CharlesX on Sept 14, 2021 12:54:06 GMT
Tough call, but my guess is take our chances with the mud thing rather than the 'greenish miasma' from the mound.
|
|
|
Post by CharlesX on Sept 14, 2021 17:32:17 GMT
Personally I'd rather do neither thing - I don't fancy fighting in higher than thigh-high mud, but I don't fancy the mound, either - so I'm gonna sit it out and hear the others views (changing my mind). I don't think I'm very good at this book - you tell me what I should or shouldn't have done, and even after that, I don't see why it was the smarter thing to do. Having a 50 50 chance of choosing the right way in a binary choice doesn't sound fair either though đ”.
|
|
|
Post by vastariner on Sept 14, 2021 21:07:27 GMT
I'm still Team Climb. If the mud is rising, it gives us more time. And it may stop.
|
|
|
Post by CharlesX on Sept 15, 2021 4:45:44 GMT
I'm still Team Climb. If the mud is rising, it gives us more time. And it may stop. Vote to do that.
|
|
|
Post by Peter on Sept 15, 2021 6:47:28 GMT
Affirmative.
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Sept 15, 2021 7:25:47 GMT
411 You attempt to climb the slimy muddy surface that acts as a hill in this nightmare place. The slush accumulated by your circumvention does not help your escape. Your clumsy movements and the nausea caused by the green miasma emanating from your pursuers combined with the stream of mud flowing down the slope prevent you from making proper progress. After four unsuccessful attempts, you end up lying in the foul sludge and vomit the mud that has entered your mouth in disgust. You lose 1 HEALTH point. Your sixth sense suggests that you turn around because the situation is changing... And not to your advantage... Turn to 941.
SKILL: 10 STAMINA: 14 LUCK: 7 HEALTH: 9 941
Things end up taking a rather precise humanoid form... A bit too much, in fact, because you find yourself facing a dozen women who look like you! Fortunately you are alone, if you were with teammates, it could have really become dangerous and you could have ended up killing each other... These things having finished their transformation, they attack you all together. Treat them as a single opponent, as you will soon realise that a single blow turns them back into amorphous sludge that slumps to the ground! So you have 15 replicas to fight. Each time you succeed in an attack, remove 1 point from your opponent's STAMINA (which in this case represents 1 opponent). If you lose an Assault, the green federated breath of the mud monsters infects you, and you lose 1 HEALTH point. Finally, add 1 STAMINA point to your opponent every 5 Assaults (this means that a creature has finished transforming and is involved in the fight).
LIVING MUD SKILL: 4 STAMINA: 15
If you manage to kill all your doubles, the ground is clear enough to run out of there at full speed, turn to 343.
Won fight. Piece of cake. No STA points lost.
SKILL: 10 STAMINA: 14 LUCK: 7 HEALTH: 9
343 You don't want to fight those stinking doppelgÀngers again, so you run as best you can to the exit of your choice: North Turn to 1017 South Turn to 767 West Turn to 813
|
|
|
Post by Peter on Sept 15, 2021 8:43:57 GMT
I think west is an unexplored direction. Correct me if I'm wrong, otherwise go west.
|
|
|
Post by vastariner on Sept 15, 2021 11:38:39 GMT
If it is, then let's go. That fight seemed needlessly long and complicated - I think a minimum of 22 attack rounds against a weak opponent. Loads of dice rolls with minimal risk.
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Sept 17, 2021 7:52:09 GMT
813 You enter a very large clearing. This is number 25. If you have already been there, turn to 858, otherwise read on.
You are astonished to discover a landscape that you would not have expected to find in the middle of a swamp. The place is like an island of wilderness lost in the middle of a swampy ocean. As far as the eye can see, it is nothing but thickets, brush and wild grass reaching above your waist. Entrusting your sword with the somewhat ungentlemanly task of picking your way through this teeming vegetation, you make your way along the path, cutting to the right and to the left, when you suddenly feel the Copper Ring warm on your finger... Danger is near! You won't know how, but you have the feeling that someone - or something - is watching you. What will your next reaction be?
Running away? Turn to 474. Keep going as if nothing had happened? Turn to 72. Stop your progress and stand guard, looking out for the slightest movement? Turn to 338. Dive into the high grass to cover yourself from the enemy's view? Turn to 268.
|
|
|
Post by CharlesX on Sept 17, 2021 8:30:57 GMT
The grass is probably too thick for running away to work, and keeping going as if nothing had happened doesn't sound wise. Out of the other two, I suggest stopping and standing guard, because the dangerous enemy might be wel!-adapted to high grass, whereas we aren't.
|
|
|
Post by Peter on Sept 17, 2021 9:55:10 GMT
My initial thought was that diving into the high grass is foolish - we will be exposed to anyone from above and we will be lying down. What could the danger be? Something in a tree? Something creeping through the grass? The grass itself?
I agree with Charles. Stand guard.
|
|