55) Deathmoor Solution

[champskees]

This is an okay adventure. Could have been great, but a few things were amiss. Obviously if a player goes to all the trouble of finding the three hard to find keys to Arachnos’ lair, they should have some advantage. I also thought it quite limiting to make certain items mandatory i.e. the Truthstone. The most heinous faux pas however is the treatment of Arachnos. The finale is extremely anticlimactic, in fact when I first read the ending I double checked my calculations to make sure I didn’t skip a paragraph or something. Are you serious? Also, a lot of the paragraphs are wasted on one time choices or questions, so the adventure is a little shorter than the average FF.

For this adventure, I recommend 9+ Skill & 8+ Luck.

You start with:

- Sword.
- Scarlet Pearl.
- 10 Food.
- 20 Gold Pieces.
- Potion of Fortune (+1 to Initial & current Luck when used).

Arion

- Consume Potion of Fortune immediately.
- Stay in Arion.
- Add note: ‘Pen...’
- Try to find a place to sit.
- Try to join the group at his table.
- Respond to his taunts with insults of your own.
- Test Luck. Fail = Start again (you have missed an essential quest item).
- Test Skill. Fail = 2 Damage & -6 Gold Pieces & play again until successful.
- Take King Jonthane’s Letter ‘88’.
- Test Luck. Fail = Fight Sk 6 St 8 Thug & Sk 7 St 9 Yob together.
- Go and see what he wants (+1 Luck).
- Add note: ‘...garl’.
- Point out that the rest of his furniture is hardly less scarred & battered.
- Stay in Arion for a while.
- You have the royal letter.
- Go to ‘The Bushel’ on the right.
- Pay & go in (-2 Gold Pieces, +4 Stamina).
- Stay here, to be questioned by the guards.
- Say ‘Pengarl’.
- Add note: Go to Room ‘56’ tomorrow morning.
- Call it a day.
- Fight Sk 7 St 8 Pelagine.
        o Your blows deal only 1 damage.
- Fight Sk 6 St 5 Pelaginette.
        o Your blows deal only 1 damage.
- Remain in the city a while longer.
- Visit the guard. Turn to Para 56.
- Decide on the Truthstone.
- Take Truthstone.
- Go to the market-place.
- Take Needle & Thread (-2 Gold Pieces).
- Take Lodestone (-2 Gold Pieces).
- Take 2 Food (-2 Gold Pieces). Optional.

At this point you can either choose to learn the secret of the ogres and fight the Baron (who can be a real pain), or you can just leave Arion and fight the three ogres together at the end. I personally think either path works, but you will need at least 5 Gold Pieces at this point in order to make use of the Baron path.

If you want to kill the Baron first:

- Take Tinderbox & Flint (-2 Gold Pieces).
- Take Large Phial of Sallow Seed Oil (-2 Gold Pieces). Optional.
- Ensure you have at least three Gold Pieces left.
- Make your way down to the docks.
- Ask them if they know anything about Princess Telessa’s kidnap.
- You think it’s worth visiting the Baron.
- Fight Sk 7 St 16 Gutterlags.
        o 1 Damage per even round.
- Look for another way in.
- Try to climb the wall.
- Climb the western wall.
- Test Luck. Fail = 1 Damage.
- Let yourself down into the passage & go southwards towards the Baron’s garden.
- Lift the hatch-door which appears to lead to a cellar.
- If you do not have any Sallow Seed Oil:
        o Stay where you are.
        o Fight Sk 7 St 8 Ogre.
        o Go on through the hatch.
- Open the wooden door to the east.
- You have a Tinderbox.
- Search last month’s file (+1 Luck).
- Add note: The two other ogres loathe one another ‘312’.
- Roll D6.
        o If 6:
                o Take Note ‘261’.
                o You have started a fire.
- Add note: Can remain in the Baron’s house for a maximum of 7 Paragraphs.
- Leave by the only available door.
- Leave the torture-chamber by the stone stairs leading up to a sound-proofed door.
- Stand your ground.
- Fight Sk 7 St 12 Baron Den Snau.
        o If hit once: Provisions will only restore 3 Stamina for the rest of the adventure.
        o If hit twice: Death.
- Leave the house.
- Fight Sk 6 St 6 Porter.

Leaving Arion (Paragraph 200)

- You have King Jonthane’s Letter. Turn to Para 88.
- You have not heard the name before.
- Do NOT do as he says.
- Test Luck. Fail = 2 Damage.
- Fight Sk X-2 St 12 Fang-zen.
        o X is your current Skill.
- Take 4 Gold Pieces (+1 Luck).
- Take 3 Food.
- Take Lamp.
- Seek shelter in Outpost.
- Stay.
- Spend the night in the burned out shell of a cottage.
- Cross the threshold of the cottage.
- Draw your sword in preparation for whatever it may turn out to be.
- Persist in a gentler approach.
- Add note: When you find yourself in a Stand of Oaks, add 50 to paragraph.
- Roll D6.
        o 1-3:
                o Fight Sk 6 St 8 Timber Wolf.
                o Lose half your Provisions (rounded down).
        o 4-6:
                o Fight Sk 6 St 8 Timber Wolf.
- You are at a stand of oaks. 216+50=266. Turn to Para 266.
- Take Crescent Moon Key ‘112’ (+1 Luck).
- Follow the river upstream to the north.
- Try to cross the river on the bobbing platforms.
- Platform 1: Roll D6. 6 = 2 Damage & repeat until successful.
- Platform 2: Roll D6. 5-6 = 4 Damage & go back to Platform 1.
- Platform 3: Roll D6. 4-6 = 4 Damage & go to West Bank.
- Platform 4: Roll D6. 3-6 = 2 Damage & go to West Bank.

West Bank

- Camp until morning.
- Go north.
- Carry on.
- Stand & face the rattling horde of human skeletons.
- Offer them your sword (+1 Luck).
- Do not drink from the well.
- Fight Sk 6 St 7 Pterolin.
- Continue westwards.
- Turn slightly to the north past it.
- Fight Sk 9 St 14 Giant Nandibear for four rounds.
- Ignore it (+1 Luck).
- Push through in a westerly direction.
- Get up even though any movement seems hopeless.
- If you have a needle, lodestone & thread:
        o Test Skill.
                o If successful:
                        • You now have a compass.
                        • Go to Navigating with compass.
                o If fail:
                        • You lost your needle.
                        • Go to Lost.
- If you do not have a needle, lodestone & thread:
        o Go to Lost.

Lost

- Turn to Para 154.
- You have not been here before.
- Climb inside the hollow trunk (+1 Luck, +2 Stamina).
- Turn to Para 99.
- If you lost a needle:
        o Attack it with your sword.
        o Fight Sk 7 St 6 Marsh Orc.
        o Search the body.
        o Take 1 Gold Piece.
        o Take Needle.
        o You have recently lost a needle.
        o You now have a compass.
        o Go to Navigating with compass.
- If you did not lose a needle:
        o Silently avoid it.
        o Turn to Para 365.
        o You have not been here twice before.
        o Turn to Para 76.
        o Do give in to the feeling.
        o Fight Sk 10 St 16 Flesh-Eater.
        o Turn to Para 311.

Navigating with compass

- Go north.
- Fight Sk 7 St 8 Marsh Orc & Sk 7 St 7 Marsh Orc together.
        o If you take 4 Damage: Continue fighting them.
- The hut is still standing. Search it (2 Damage).
- Continue up the ladder (+2 Stamina).
- Take 3 Gold Pieces.
- Take ‘A’ Medallion. Stow it among your possessions.
- Go to the north.
- Fight Sk 6 St 14 Semerle.
        o If you hit enemy, Roll D6. 5-6 = 2 Damage to yourself.
- Fight Sk 7 St 10 Hargon.
- You lose your compass here.
- Turn to Para 311.

Para 311 – Arachnos’ Lair

- Do not follow them.
- Pray to Glantanka.
- If Luck is less than 6, death.
- Restore 3 Stamina, lose D6 Stamina, +2 Luck.
- Go north (+2 Stamina, -2 Food).
- Walk along its eerily deserted main street.
- If your stamina is 14+:
        o Explore it.
        o Climb the stairs to the landing.
        o Jump for the next stair up.
        o Test Luck.
                o If successful:
                        • Your stamina is 14+.
                        • Take Potion of Invisibility (+1 Luck).
                        • Jump through the hole in the ground floor & pray that the water is deep enough.
                o If fail:
                        • Roll D6. Even = 2 Damage. Odd = 3 Damage.
                        • Go back inside the imposing building you just left & jump into the flooded basement.
- If your stamina is <14:
        o Carry on down the street.
        o Go back inside the imposing building you just left & jump into the flooded basement.
- You did not drink from a well earlier.
- Climb the wall behind you.
- Wait.
- Take it.
- Take Helmet with ‘A’ symbol.
- If you have a Potion of Invisibility:
        o Continue descending.
        o Carry on down.
        o Float past.
        o You have a Potion of Invisibility.
        o Fight Sk 7 St 7 Renegade Dwarf.
        o Take 4 Gold Pieces.
- If you do not have a Potion of Invisibility:
        o Enter this tunnel.
        o Fight Sk 8 St 12 Ogre Smith.
        o Take ‘A’ Helmet.
- Turn right.
- Move it up.
- You have a lamp.
- Continue straight on.
- Fight Sk 5 St 4 Giant Rat & Sk 5 St 4 Giant Rat together.
- Continue down the tunnel.
- A Millipede is not pursuing you.
- Fight Sk 9 St 14 Pool Crawler.
- Push the lever up (+1 Luck).
- You are wearing an ‘A’ helmet.
- Present an ‘A’ Medallion.
- If you know a secret about the two giants:
        o 312+66=378. Turn to Para 378.
        o If you have 10+ Gold Pieces:
                o Fight Sk 9 St 12 Otus.
        o If you have <10 Gold Pieces:
                o Fight Sk 8 St 12 Ophis & Sk 8 St 10 Oman & Sk 9 St 12 Otus together.
- If you don’t know a secret about them:
        o Fight Sk 8 St 12 Ophis & Sk 8 St 10 Oman & Sk 9 St 12 Otus together.
- You have a Truthstone. Use it on Otus.
- Puzzle:
        o Lowest common multiple of 6,12,7 = 84.
        o 1/6*84 = 14.
        o 1/12*84 = 7.
        o 1/7*84 = 12.
        o 14+12+7 = 33. 33+5=38.
        o 84-8 = 76. 76 is half of 38.
        o Add note: Answer is 84.
- Use Otis’ clue. Turn to Para 84.
- Your bolt pierces Arachnos’ black heart. Telessa rushes into your arms. Without its leaders, Arachnos’ army will soon turn to civil war. The land is safe... for now.

[lordomnibok]

I have no doubt that Champskee’s solution offers the best route through this book from a perspective of risk reduction and probability of success; that seems to be his indomitable forte. I am posting an alternative route for those readers who want to complete the book AND find all three keys to the lair; for me, the hidden keys forged the beating heart of the book, and finding that final key was the moment I enjoyed the most – it took me quite a while, and Waterfield certainly did conjure my feelings of despair when I was wondering fruitlessly around in that marsh for the fifth time. If anyone is curious as to how to reach all of the keys, this is how I did it. (Max skill; this is barbarian style)


- Stay in Arion.

- Write down the first name fragment: ‘Pen...’

- Find a place to sit.

- Join the group.

- Insult this muppet! How dare he mug you off!

- Test your Luck; you must pass this test, or all will be in vain!

- Test Skill and play until successful.

- You have acquired King Jonthane’s Letter ‘88’. Lovin’ it.

- Test your Luck.

- Go and see what he wants.

- Write down second name fragment: ‘...garl’.

- Dude, take a look at the rest of your junk.

- Stay in Arion.

- You have the letter.

- Go to The Bushel

- Go in.

- Stay.

- You recall and combine the two name fragments, making ‘Pengarl’. You may now go to room ‘56’ in the morning.

- Call it a day.

- Defeat the fishy menaces. How dare they steal back what I stole?!!

- Remain in the city.

- Visit the guard (page 56)

- Cheers Geeza, I think I’ll take that Truthstone, thank you very much. Catch ya lata bruv, I’m off to the market-place now.

- Needle, thread, a Lodestone and some of that sallow seed oil please me old chappy. And two portions of grub while we’re at it. Good day to you kind chap, I’m now off to save a princess.



As Champskees mentioned, you can make your way down to the docks at this point to ask about the kidnapping, then you can go to have words with that dastardly baron. I skipped it on this run through, but if you have got great stats and want to risk confronting him, you can do so before leaving. His demise would contribute to the future safety of the land, I guess, but it’s up to you if you can be bothered. Just don't use the Truthstone yet.



Okay then, it’s time to bust out of Arion and get this princess back home.

- Page 200. You have King Jonthane’s Letter. Turn to 88.

- Otherwise...

- Whatever mate, I ain’t staying here!

- Ah, Fang-zen! Back for another beating, ay?

- Seek shelter in Outpost.

- Stay.

- Hmmm, that burned out shell of a cottage looks comfy.

- Cross the threshold.

- Draw your sword in preparation for whatever it may turn out to be.

- I think I’ll chill for a bit and go for a gentler approach.

- A Stand of Oaks, you say? Thank you, old hag.

- Fight Timber Wolf - I personally felt a bit rotten at having to kill this beastie, but I don’t imagine my character would have.

- You are at a stand of oaks. (Add 50 to paragraph)

- First key. Crescent Moon Key ‘112’. Two left to find.



- This is where The Champ would suggest that you follow the river upstream to the north. He is, of course, correct in that this is probably the safer option. But I’m a brash adventurer, teleported here from East London on a mission to find three keys that I don’t actually need so that I can complete this book in the most heroic manner and save some hot princess and retire to Florida; can I be bothered to hop around on some bobbing platforms - Hell no, I’m off the other way to kill bad guys and snakes and stuff. Key two and three will be mine!

- You meet two Blackhearts; there is an insta-death chance whilst battling here, but you would have to be massively unlucky to die. Bump these guys off and tip them into the river.

- Aha! An ‘A’ Medallion! This looks important. Cheers Geeza, I’ll take the clothing option, not neck or possessions, thank you, then I’ll mosey on to the south.

- Test your Luck.

- You call yourself a snake?

- Wade across.

- Kill the Granny.

- Camp until morning.

- Go South.

- I ain’t drinking from no random well mate, I’ve read too many Ian Livingstone books.

- Dude, have you not seen the size of my sword? Kill the Pterolin. Go west.

- North

- Lataz Nandibear.

- Ignore it.

- Push through in a westerly direction.

- (Ah, the marsh. Playing by the rules, I stumbled around here so many times without finding the next key. This was the last key that I found.)

- Get up even though any movement seems hopeless.

- Why yes, per chance, I do have a needle, lodestone & thread.

- Test Skill. (If you fail the skill test, prepare to wonder around and get lost a lot. Have a nice time.)

- If you are successful in the skill test:

- West.

- Carry on.

- Get to the sixth.

- Get to that skiff!

- Maybe I won’t retire to Florida... Fight the Gator!

- I think I’ll pay one gold, coz I ain’t that generous bruv.

- Try on the crown.

- Gimme that cylinder.

- Second key; Cylinder ’55!’ Cheers Skeletor, catch ya in the afterlife, I’m outta here!

- North.

- Allow yourself to do this.

- North-west.

- (Okay, this may not be the most sensible page to turn to, but this is my most favourite beasty in the book and it also features on the front page, so let’s chop its head off before carrying on.)

– Kill the Cradoc!)

- Chop off the Ogre head.

- I just killed a Cradoc, think I’ll take a break from fighting.

- I’m just gonna wait for a bit; been a long day.

- They do not find it among my possessions.

- Why yes, I do have these things.

- I was chillin’ on the post mate.

- Third key. Branchy key thing ‘158’! Cheers bruv, I’ve been looking everywhere for that! I’m off to save a princess now but I’ll come back for a pint with ya another time. What a smashin’ geeza!

- Go down.

- Yeah I’ve got some.

- Flippin’ ‘eck, you ain’t looking so good! Ah, so you’re dead then. Well thanks for nothin’, I’m off to finish my mission with my three awesome keys!

- “In the livid glow of a Deathmoor sunset, you come to an ancient door set in the hillside” ...Nice.

- I pull out my keys

- 112 + 55 + 158 = 325 (Turn to 325)

- Hmmm... Some signs. I think I’ll go right.

- Wait...

- waaaait.....

- Rumbling ay? Sounds exciting, let’s go in there!

- Wohoo! An awesome picture! Slay Bob the Ogre Smith.

- Take the helmet marked with the letter ‘A’.

- Turn right.

- Move it up.

- You have a lamp.

- Continue straight on.

- Fight rats.

- Continue down the tunnel.

- A Millipede is not pursuing you.

- Fight the Pool Crawler.

- “Few battles have come tougher than that” (unless you’ve played an Ian Livingstone book.)

- Push the lever up.

- You are wearing an ‘A’ helmet.

- Present an ‘A’ Medallion.

- If you know a secret about the two giants, you should know what to do, if not;

- Fight these brutes together.

- Use the Truthstone on Otus.

- Puzzle. Answer is 84.

- I killed a Cradoc mate, you ain’t nothin’. Use Otis’ clue. Turn to 84.

- “Your bolt pierces Arachnos’ black heart. Telessa rushes into your arms.”

- You write a letter to King Jonthane to tell him that you are holding his daughter captive. You demand one billion gold coins. Who is he going to send to rescue her anyway, Fang-Zen? The desperate king bows to your demand, and Arion is bankrupted overnight. However, now that the money is yours, you decide not to return the princess to him. She has fallen madly in love with you, so you go and find the Aleph (which you know of from another book) and it teleports you to the south of France where you retire together happily ever after. The End. (Okay, that last bit wasn’t in the book, but as it’s my walkthrough I figure I can extend the ending as I please. Hopefully this will be a useful guide to any adventurers who shared my desire to find all the keys. Chow. Lord OmniBok. Have a good day.)

[electricwater]

Deathmoor and Magehunter are the only two books missing from my collection, but they are stupidly expensive to obtain. Does anyone know if there are pdf copies of these available anywhere? (or any other suggestions)

[thealmightymudworm]

Sept 21, 2017 13:13:17 GMT electricwater said:

Deathmoor and Magehunter are the only two books missing from my collection, but they are stupidly expensive to obtain. Does anyone know if there are pdf copies of these available anywhere? (or any other suggestions)

There certainly are copies of FF books including Deathmoor and many more available for download as scanned pdf's.
However as these are presumably in breach of copyright I'm not going to post a direct link here – it could bring trouble to the forum so the mods would have to delete it anyway.

If you want an actual book, occasionally someone finds a copy in a charity shop and offers it for something less extortionate than on eBay. Maybe become a member here and keep an eye on the Trading Post subforum.

[electricwater]

Thanks for the fast reply. Yes, I'd not really thought through the copyright thing (someone still owns it even though it's no longer in print), and I wouldn't want to bring the forum into disrepute!
I'll take you up on your recommendation and check the Trading Post.
Thanks again.