Fighting Fantasy The Introductory Roleplaying Game

[kieran]

Talbion raises the bucket again, looking pointedly at the others for help

[thealmightymudworm]

*Jack lends his good friend Talbion a hand*

"So Prex, I've a mind you scooped the remainder of the plunder from the room of the winged chest for safekeep. Very wise. How many shinies and gleamstones were at the bottom of the barrel? 'Twas less than clear who took a share afore ye."

[thealmightymudworm]

Dec 17, 2019 0:30:09 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

"I Mr Hermitus Mcgrumpy have been wandering back and forth for some time and would have lowered the rope if you were trapped for a gold coin from your pouch but it seems my distant relative somehow managed to survive and you seem to have managed to return from the absurd venture of lowering yourselves into a well. May I suggest entering a blast furnace as your next venture but I require the gold coin prior to the venture itself".

"Mr Hermitus Mcgrumpy might join you in a further adventure though I have no interest if people are there whose minds are clouded by the black vapours of the bile".

"Though Mr Hermitus Mcgrumpy is something of a witch or warlock themselves I am nevertheless interested in others who are passionate, clever, witty, experienced or insightful".

"I may be minded to take another search for loot if it is of a promising nature – after a tavern-break or two – and join with ye if ye have useful talents. I am somewhat less minded to pass you gold without excellent reason."

[johnbrawn1972]

Dec 17, 2019 16:28:07 GMT thealmightymudworm said:

Dec 17, 2019 0:30:09 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

"I Mr Hermitus Mcgrumpy have been wandering back and forth for some time and would have lowered the rope if you were trapped for a gold coin from your pouch but it seems my distant relative somehow managed to survive and you seem to have managed to return from the absurd venture of lowering yourselves into a well. May I suggest entering a blast furnace as your next venture but I require the gold coin prior to the venture itself".

"Mr Hermitus Mcgrumpy might join you in a further adventure though I have no interest if people are there whose minds are clouded by the black vapours of the bile".

"Though Mr Hermitus Mcgrumpy is something of a witch or warlock themselves I am nevertheless interested in others who are passionate, clever, witty, experienced or insightful".

"I may be minded to take another search for loot if it is of a promising nature – after a tavern-break or two – and join with ye if ye have useful talents. I am somewhat less minded to pass you gold without excellent reason."

I think you would have been pleasantly surprised if you had given me a gold coin from the pouch as carried by my distant relative.

I wanted to make a gesture to lower the rope in case you had trapped yourselves as I am not sure the rope was securely tethered at the start of the journey.

I remember a few things from the book such as the bizarre magical passageway. Also you are supposed to articulate the password with a distinct emphasis. I think avoiding that tedium was a good idea.

I work in an office with a strange customer base and having similar encounters here was too much like being at work all day.

If after a few weeks people want to do the second adventure that is fine. I am interested in bravery, humour, being resourceful, treachery and foolhardiness but I do not want to be at war like I am at work all day.

[a moderator]

The rope wasn't going to wind itself back up, though.

[deadshadowrunner]

(As there are discrepancies between Champskees' spreadsheet and what supposedly went down in the treasure room, I'm going to ignore the spreadheet here and only count what was explicitly stated to be taken from the treasure room, which is:

7 gold and a gem by Jack
11 gold by Redric
14 gold by Civil
11 gold by me)

"I'm surprised you're so interested in the treasure, Jack, considering you already took more than a fair share."

I rummage through my backpack and take out 5 gold and 2 gems.

"Here's the remainder of the loot, I reckon."

[thealmightymudworm]

"Curious it is that you believe I've taken more than my fair share, Prex. That's fighting talk on the seas – even times when 'tis clear that it is the truth! But I do not ask to claim more, only to settle the dispute."

[Launches into favourite subject]
"There be but two methods, broad, to divide plunder.

First: the greater to those who show more pluck and wits. To those who are first through doors to face beasts and traps, find keys for chests and bring the least folly on their crew.

I favour this method. Else if the corpse-botherer had lived we should be passing him an equal share! Some are of more value in seeking loot. "Some open doors; some chase mermaids" as the old saying goes. That is the Blacksand way, and I say I have earned my portion.

But if the shinies are for spreading even, 'tis fine by Jack. Yet my eyes saw no spreading of the gold from the corpse in the darkroom. Do ye still have it, wench? Likewise the barbarian holds two gems – one a fine greenstone – to go with his sack of gold.

If we divide it even, we divide it all - and flip coins for the odds if the division cannot be even ...and less any which was pelted at the shades of dead men too! I'll not restore wasted gold.

Or, mayhap, we divide the gold as even as can be, then draw of five long straws and two short for which of us takes a gleamer also. I likes this method also – and I would like a gem! There be a barmaid who waits for black pearl that may have run aground. A gem would settle my debts, and be worth a little more.

Lastly, if ye favour none of these methods, we hold what we hold and those discontent can challenge another to a duel to the death, or the yielding, for all they hold. [Rests hand on cutlass hilt as if this outcome is familiar.]

What is it to be mateys? Jack will be guided but will not be gulled."

[champskees]

Dec 18, 2019 1:10:52 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

Dec 17, 2019 16:28:07 GMT thealmightymudworm said:

"I may be minded to take another search for loot if it is of a promising nature – after a tavern-break or two – and join with ye if ye have useful talents. I am somewhat less minded to pass you gold without excellent reason."

I think you would have been pleasantly surprised if you had given me a gold coin from the pouch as carried by my distant relative.

I wanted to make a gesture to lower the rope in case you had trapped yourselves as I am not sure the rope was securely tethered at the start of the journey.

I remember a few things from the book such as the bizarre magical passageway. Also you are supposed to articulate the password with a distinct emphasis. I think avoiding that tedium was a good idea.

I work in an office with a strange customer base and having similar encounters here was too much like being at work all day.

If after a few weeks people want to do the second adventure that is fine. I am interested in bravery, humour, being resourceful, treachery and foolhardiness but I do not want to be at war like I am at work all day.

[schlendrian]

[OOC] Once Jack retires he should become university lecturer on pirate business [/OOC]

"A share based on contribution is always hard to assess, friends. I wouldn't want bad blood between us after this adventure and would advise on an even distribution. What has Murg, slayer of the spider king, to say on this matter?

My distant relative Hermitus, you throw accusations of a war against you and black vapours around and demand treasure of me. I would ask you to be more specific for I don't think I've given you reason to be so hostile?!"

[johnbrawn1972]

Dec 18, 2019 13:13:12 GMT schlendrian said:

[OOC] Once Jack retires he should become university lecturer on pirate business [/OOC]

"A share based on contribution is always hard to assess, friends. I wouldn't want bad blood between us after this adventure and would advise on an even distribution. What has Murg, slayer of the spider king, to say on this matter?

My distant relative Hermitus, you throw accusations of a war against you and black vapours around and demand treasure of me. I would ask you to be more specific for I don't think I've given you reason to be so hostile?!"

"I noticed someone whose mind was clouded by the black vapours of the bile was no longer with you and it is such people I want to have no truck with as a warlock who lives in the shadows".

"As I have been wandering back and forwards I was not sure whether the rope was securely tethered and I was willing to lower the rope or help the first looter so you band of brigands were not trapped in the depths".

"I was willing to help for only 1 gold piece from the pouch of my distant relative and I think you may have been pleasantly surprised because you would not have lost out".

"I hope that is clear enough but I fear I am hearing some strange accents from somewhere over yonder".

[schlendrian]

"Fair enough."

Civil raises his eyebrows

"What makes the goldpiece from the pouch so different from all the other goldpieces, that you would ask for it especially?"

[johnbrawn1972]

Dec 18, 2019 9:13:05 GMT champskees said:

Dec 18, 2019 1:10:52 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

I think you would have been pleasantly surprised if you had given me a gold coin from the pouch as carried by my distant relative.

I wanted to make a gesture to lower the rope in case you had trapped yourselves as I am not sure the rope was securely tethered at the start of the journey.

I remember a few things from the book such as the bizarre magical passageway. Also you are supposed to articulate the password with a distinct emphasis. I think avoiding that tedium was a good idea.

I work in an office with a strange customer base and having similar encounters here was too much like being at work all day.

If after a few weeks people want to do the second adventure that is fine. I am interested in bravery, humour, being resourceful, treachery and foolhardiness but I do not want to be at war like I am at work all day.

Help. Are you saying I am being unfair? If so I am rarely unfair if unwilling to put up with drivel.

Otherwise are you saying be ready for adventure number 2?

If I am being a unreasonable I would rather you give a reason else you are being bullying.

[johnbrawn1972]

Dec 18, 2019 19:57:10 GMT schlendrian said:

"Fair enough."

Civil raises his eyebrows

"What makes the goldpiece from the pouch so different from all the other goldpieces, that you would ask for it especially?"

Good grief. I cannot believe someone has not helped you by now.

The whole point of the strange items was some were cursed and some were not.

I would have lowered the rope for 1 gold piece from the pouch because the pouch was magical and would have replaced the 1 gold piece ensuring none of you would have lost out.

[Insult redacted]

I am fully prepared to deal with brigands who might well be clever, bold, treacherous and creative depending on their personal proclivities.

[Further insult redacted]

I do not know how I can be any clearer than this.

[schlendrian]

Wow. Where did that come from?

No, I was unaware, that some of the items were cursed - how would I know? What is more important, however, is that my character doesn't know, and that makes his question a very reasonable one, given Hermitus' insistence on the coin coming from the pouch.

The rest of your post really doesn't merit any answer, just to your last sentence: I don't ask you to be any clearer. I ask you to apologize or else stay away from me.

[kieran]

Talbion feels he is somewhat losing track of this conversation.

'If someone wants to give me five gold pieces, I'll take that as my share and be done with all this arguing.'

[champskees]

Dec 18, 2019 22:38:23 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

Dec 18, 2019 19:57:10 GMT schlendrian said:

"Fair enough."

Civil raises his eyebrows

"What makes the goldpiece from the pouch so different from all the other goldpieces, that you would ask for it especially?"

Good grief. I cannot believe someone has not helped you by now.

The whole point of the strange items was some were cursed and some were not.

I would have lowered the rope for 1 gold piece from the pouch because the pouch was magical and would have replaced the 1 gold piece ensuring none of you would have lost out.

[Insult redacted]

I am fully prepared to deal with brigands who might well be clever, bold, treacherous and creative depending on their personal proclivities.

[Further insult redacted]

I do not know how I can be any clearer than this.

Can I politely suggest that you refrain from posting until I have concluded this adventure? Will have plenty of time to discuss the adventure afterwards, but creating a new character and forcibly inserting them as a way for you to spoil the adventure demonstrates a complete lack of awareness as does your rude and odious comments towards other players.

[deadshadowrunner]

(So, I'll just pretend this whole Hermitus thing didn't happen since it's a pretty major spoiler. One that may well lead to a bloodbath. Between Jack and I at least.)

"You misunderstand, Jack. To someone like me, more than a fair share is a fair share. Fighting talk this is not; I am not keen for a brawl here. Nor am I keen to divide all of our loot evenly. Only the treasure from the chest remains to be divided, no? I believe what we have acquired before that should be ours to keep.

As for how I propose to divide it, Talbion seems happy enough with 5 gold pieces. That leaves Throma and Murg who have not taken a share, so they each get a gem. How does that sound?"

[Andrew Wright]

Murg: "This is fine by me. I have gained honour, glory, friendship and treasure!"

[johnbrawn1972]

Dec 18, 2019 22:38:23 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

Dec 18, 2019 19:57:10 GMT schlendrian said:

"Fair enough."

Civil raises his eyebrows

"What makes the goldpiece from the pouch so different from all the other goldpieces, that you would ask for it especially?"

Good grief. I cannot believe someone has not helped you by now.

The whole point of the strange items was some were cursed and some were not.

I would have lowered the rope for 1 gold piece from the pouch because the pouch was magical and would have replaced the 1 gold piece ensuring none of you would have lost out.

[Insult redacted]

I am fully prepared to deal with brigands who might well be clever, bold, treacherous and creative depending on their personal proclivities.

[Further insult redacted]

I do not know how I can be any clearer than this.

This stinks of double standards Champskees was unconscionably bullying towards someone on the other posts and that was not picked up. He even called him the village idiot about a map not being provided.

Please explain this.

[johnbrawn1972]

Dec 19, 2019 2:18:32 GMT deadshadowrunner said:

(So, I'll just pretend this whole Hermitus thing didn't happen since it's a pretty major spoiler. One that may well lead to a bloodbath. Between Jack and I at least.)

"You misunderstand, Jack. To someone like me, more than a fair share is a fair share. Fighting talk this is not; I am not keen for a brawl here. Nor am I keen to divide all of our loot evenly. Only the treasure from the chest remains to be divided, no? I believe what we have acquired before that should be ours to keep.

As for how I propose to divide it, Talbion seems happy enough with 5 gold pieces. That leaves Throma and Murg who have not taken a share, so they each get a gem. How does that sound?"

Please explain how this is a spoiler when the adventure is over.

[a moderator]

Dec 19, 2019 13:57:46 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

Dec 18, 2019 22:38:23 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

Good grief. I cannot believe someone has not helped you by now.

The whole point of the strange items was some were cursed and some were not.

I would have lowered the rope for 1 gold piece from the pouch because the pouch was magical and would have replaced the 1 gold piece ensuring none of you would have lost out.

[Insult redacted]

I am fully prepared to deal with brigands who might well be clever, bold, treacherous and creative depending on their personal proclivities.

[Further insult redacted]

I do not know how I can be any clearer than this.

This stinks of double standards Champskees was unconscionably bullying towards someone on the other posts and that was not picked up. He even called him the village idiot about a map not being provided.

Please explain this.

Your use of ablist slurs was more transgressive. Nevertheless, in the interests of impartiality:

Champskees, don't call people idiots again.

Please explain how this is a spoiler when the adventure is over.

If the party is going on to another adventure and retaining the items acquired in this one, revealing as yet undiscovered properties of any of those items is a complete spoiler.

[schlendrian]

"Well, Talbion and Murg have agreed, I'm content with what I have now, so unless Throma objects I guess we are set. Onwards to the next alehouse, I'd say!"

(Working under the assumption, that Murg was agreeing to Prex' proposal of gaining another gem, one for Throma and 5 gold pieces for Talbion)

[champskees]

*yes I agree with the suggestion of ignoring the hermitus encounter and the spoilers attached to it*

== Epilogue ==

After helping Civil out of the well, the party divvies up the gold and gems found in the treasure room. The sky is now overcast, and the last rays of sunlight are signalling the end to the day. The party decide to return as a group to the nearby village, and after a short while they retire to the local inn for the night, just as the first droplets of rain begin to fall down around them. The seven adventurers, haggard, bleeding from a dozen cuts and armed to the teeth, cause the occupants of the inn to fall silent as they enter. After you and your friends stride the distance from the door to the bar, sit down and order some ale however, the patrons quickly return to their own drinks and conversations.

One dwarven patron settles down next to you, and as you are about to pay for your drinks, he calls out to the barkeep. 'Their drinks are on me, Angus,' the dwarf says as he smiles toward you and your party, extending his hand. 'Barron's the name. I work for a small mercenary company that operates around these parts. Been waiting on a couple of prospects. One's a bit of a nut, the other's his daughter. Both dwarves, like me.' After hearing the descriptions of the dwarf's 'prospects', you decide to let him know of the fate that befell Thrushbeard and Moira, Thrushbeard's daughter. After hearing your story, Barron places one hand under his chin, makes a short 'hm' sound, and reaches into his jerkin. Pulling out a piece of vellum and a black ink pen, he crosses out a couple of lines on the document and puts it back, turning to the group. Impressed with their exploits in the Wishing Well, he offers them a quest, if they are interested. An old client of his, a dark elf named Shaggradd, has need of a group of treasure-hunters; warriors like yourselves who are experienced in the art of dungeon delving. A couple of the adventurers are keen for more information, but the rest are so tired that they decide to get up and enquire about rooms for the night. Barron offers to pay for all of your lodgings for the night, as long as you agree to consider his proposal in the morn.

The next day, several members of the party accept Barron's quest, and, after replenishing their supplies and spending a few more days in town, head off toward their next adventure:

SHAGGRADD'S HIVES OF PERIL

[champskees]

...and that's a wrap!

After many months of adventuring, the Wishing Well scenario has come to an end. A big thank you to all players involved, ended up being a lot more work than I initially imagined it would be. The other adventure in the book is indeed Shaggradd's Hives of Peril, but I am definitely GM'd out and it will be a while before I decide to run that adventure (it's over twice the size of the wishing well adventure!) So if someone else wants to take over the reins as GM, I am more than happy for that to happen!

Very interested in everyone's feedback in regards to the adventure itself, how it was run and any suggestions/criticisms for future reference. 

[kieran]

Thanks for doing that Champskees!

No criticisms for you although maybe a couple for Steve Jackson! - That zombie room was very annoying. And what was the point of that empty room next to the mummy?

[a moderator]

IIRC, if the Mummy wasn't burned, it would come back to life after a certain amount of time had passed, and the empty room could potentially get the party to waste enough time searching for secret doors that they'd have to fight the Mummy all over again once they finally gave up and went back the way they'd come.

[deadshadowrunner]

I think you a great job champskees considering how dull the adventure is, compared to say Hives. No complains from me either and thanks for your work.

Prex is also pleased to have taken an 8 gp gem under everyone's noses.

[daredevil123]

I have no criticisms of your GMing champskees although I found the adventure itself to be quite lacking in story - it mainly consisted of walking into a room and fighting something! I'd be more than willing to try Shaggradd's Hives of Peril though.

[thealmightymudworm]

Yes, mostly my criticisms would be reserved for Steve Jackson.
The zombie room was frustrating because it seemed exactly like the sort of encounter which could be made easier by applying cunning. Was there anything else we could have done? As it was it was purely a GM decision to allow Civil to read two pages at a time, otherwise it would have taken even longer.

If I've understood the passageway correctly – that it just carries on endlessly and you gradually get more and more tired – it's one of the worst ideas ever. Rule 1 of a roleplaying game (or any form of entertainment really) is surely, "Do not actively try to induce boredom".

In general the GMing was very good. If I had a criticism it would be that in a couple of cases the mechanics were so unsuitable for spread time-zone play that it might have been worth junking them entirely. The webbing in the spider-king encounter is probably quite tolerable, even exciting, when everyone is together and can roll their dice every 1-2 minutes, but after two weeks of glumly rolling dice once a day with no decisions or action available I was desperately tempted to cheat. (Admittedly that was partly with the idea that Jack could generously cut Talbion down and then follow up with "Yer not getting a damn gem ye know!"). Obviously re-writing rules on the fly is easier said than done.

As a side note, for a self-described sadistic GM, Champskees took a more generous interpretation of the rules than I would have done on the webbing – I'd have subtracted a STAMINA point every round that someone was in the red, (which would have made that fight a bit hair-raising, as the noble Redric would presumably have felt compelled to turn his back on the spider-king to free at least one of Talbion, Prex and Civil).

Thanks for the GM-ing Champskees.

Dec 21, 2019 7:13:55 GMT deadshadowrunner said:

I think you a great job champskees considering how dull the adventure is, compared to say Hives. No complains from me either and thanks for your work.

Prex is also pleased to have taken an 8 gp gem under everyone's noses.

I was going to bring that up! I wasn't quite sure whether to raise it as a point of possible misinterpretation on the OOC thread, (whether you were assuming without saying it that Talbion had taken a gem) or cut straight to Jack jabbing his finger at you over here. But I figured Jack wouldn't want to rock the boat on any solution which allowed him to keep the share he had taken (and Greg didn't feel like spending another three days posting about it all).

So did Talbion end up with about seven gold pieces and no gems then? That seems like rather weak negotiation on his part. Perhaps he was just glad to have survived...?

It's kind of neat that there was genuinely some confusion about where all the loot had gone, and a thieving bastard like Prex might very well have taken advantage of that.

[kieran]

Dec 22, 2019 0:46:20 GMT thealmightymudworm said:

So did Talbion end up with about seven gold pieces and no gems then? That seems like rather weak negotiation on his part. Perhaps he was just glad to have survived...?

Well, his main reason for entering the well was to prove his valour rather than for loot. Since he was near dead and people looked like they were about to come to blows there, I reckoned a cowardly character would just accept something small rather than risk a fight by pushing for slightly more. Especially as other characters seemed to blame him for the mermaid incident and he had already seen them kill Kradon.

On a related note, I guess another complaint I would direct at Mr. Jackson is the lack of loot. I know there were probably more of us than the adventure was designed for, but even had there only been 4 of us we probably would have ended up with about 20-25gp each. Some gamebooks have you starting off with more than that!