The Forest of Doom: 1, 261: SHOPPING!

     Well, after a neatly personal Background that establishes that Lucky knows about as much of what's going on as a drunk messenger pigeon lost in the Large Hadron Collider, it's time to begin our adventure proper. So...

     Once upon a time, in a far off forest, there lived a horrible lizard creature...

     "I wissssssh"

     A strange old wizard.

      "More than anything."

      Some hammerless dwarfs...

      "I wish."

      And their champion.

      "More than anything!"

     That is a tower. Fantasy adventure, here we come!

     The trees tops do look like clouds, lacking internal detail, but I kind of like it. Makes it easy to focus on the important details. Less a fan of how the forest looks like a wooden wall, but you can't win them all.

     A store that is difficult to find... this is either the sign of a poor store owner or one operating outside of the law. Still, according to the map... it should be around here somewhere. The path goes right by it. Who builds a tower next to a road and then hides it so far away? Does he not want to sell anything?

No, it was pretty wild, true or not.

     With a whistle on my lips I knock on the door.

     I am slightly embarrassed to have knocked before noticing the bell, but I'm impressed by the quiet forest. They say animals dislike magic, so it may be a sign of genuine power.

     "I am called Lucky," I call back, "I was sent here by a dying dwarf to buy goods from a great mage named Yaztromo." I take it from the door remaining closed that this is not a well trained servant I'm speaking with.

     Uh... yeah. I just wrote that.

     Oh, good, the merchant wizard answers his own door, promising.

     At no point has the text indicated that the door was actually opened for me to go in. Just the wooden eye-slot. How am I supposed to follow him through that?

      It is bad luck to attack a wizard, doubly so in his own home, and triply so on false pretenses. I follow him inside.

Choice: Follow Him: 261

     The wizard has difficulty ascending one flight of stairs, and yet chooses to remain in this tower so far from any help or sensible flooring plans. All of this bodes most exceptionally well, and definitely isn't a sign that something very wrong is going on here.

     My fingers find my token of the Lady and fiddle with it without my commanding them.

      I take the slate with resignation. Anyone who writes prices after looking at you is going to to scam the teeth off of you.

     Ooh boy, there's a list. You know what? Let's do this. 30 Gold Pieces. Quick fire round!

Misspelt. It's for training dogs.

      Not dying is always a plus.

Buy: 30-3=27

Remember, magicians, set up your plant before controlling them.

     In a forest? Seems ideal. Do you drink it or spray it on the target?

Buy: 27-2=25 

It's just ice.

     Potion of what? Why would you want to be still? How dumb does this wizard think I am?

Skip.

Insects are well known fr their discipline. This spell replicates it!

     Hm... again, in a forest, that's a lot of horrible things to control. Bet it tastes gross, though.

Buy: 25-2=23

Warning: Anti-Poison is highly toxic when consumed without poison. Do not drink when well.

     Yeah, not dying still ranks high on my list.

Buy: 23-2=21

Fresh sweat from Calneth the Bold Himself!

     Well, if it said which god, maybe. Can't risk taking water from a god the lady disapproves of.

Skip.

Changes spectrum to match your mood!

     "Ring of... Light? Like it glows? I have a lantern, thanks."

Skip

As worn by Tarhiel, the Bosmer mage (deceased)

     It's one way to reach the top shelf.

21-2=19

So... a rope?

      "What's so special about the rope?" I ask the Yaztromo.

      "It's magically good for climbing," he says. He does not elaborate.

Skip

That... that's definitely just a net.

     "Is this even magic," I say, pointing at the net on the list. The wizard just shrugs. Bet he thinks it's mysterious.

Skip

It's just a rainbow with the word 'Pride written on it."

     That's what I need! Come to Lucky!

Buy: 19-3=16

They've got flubber on them.

      I hold up the glove in question. "It's left handed."

      Yaztromo looks at me over his spectacles. "And?"

     "Dextrous means 'right'."

      He sighs in aggravation, "But dexterity means skilled."

      "Seems unfair."

      He shrugs with incredible ease.

Buy: 16-2=14

One branch with a single fork.

     "Can it tell what water is foul and what is fresh?" I ask.

     "Buy it and see," Yaztromo says.

      I glare at him. 

      He smiles smugly back.

Buy: 14-2=12 

You stick them in your ear to hear the sounds of France.

     "This... this is garlic. It's not magic," I say, holding up the bulbs.

      "Isn't it?" he asks, with an intentional layer of enigmatic-ness. 

       I'm about to continue this debate when my stomach rumbles.

Buy: 12-2=10

Highly elastic. Keeps the eyelids pulled back tight so you at least look focused.

     "Concentration?" I ask in surprise.

      "Hm...?" he says, looking up from a book with a bemused expression.

      Yeah... wouldn't want to end up like that in the woods.

Buy: 10-3=7

A small label on each says simply, "NG".

      Fire in the woods seems... dangerous... so that's a "duh".

Buy: 7-3=4

New evergreen scent! 

     Considering all the stenches of the Forest, I buy them without a thought.

Buy: 4-3=1

     I keep the last coin. My lucky coin.

     "Could I maybe see the labels before buying them?"

      Or, for that matter, after?

     Oh... right... this is going to take a bit...

Ta-Da!

     I nod along, "Right, he can't arouse his people without his hammer. Yeah, I see where this joke is going."

     "Joke?" the old wizard asks.

      "Yeah," I continue, "How he can't construct an erection anymore. How he-"

      "Young lady!" Yaztromo snaps. "I meant nothing of the sort! Arouse their passions! Their patriotism! Not their genitals."

      "Oh... sorry."

Arm... trapped... under... infodump... must... saw...off...

     "I... who told you those rumors?" I ask.

      Yaztromo shrugs, "The forest talks."

      "What, like birds and trees and stuff?"

      "What is it, exactly, that you think wizards do all day?"

      "Uh... read books? Talk to the inanimate things? Cast spells?"

       He shakes his head. "I have heard things. Leave it at that."

     "Well, if what you've... heard is accurate, then I expect you have been a truly great help. Thank you kindly, and may the Lady bless your steps."

     "I bless my own steps," Yaztromo replies, holding up the flask of Holy Water and tipping it towards me. "Thank you for your custom."

Choice: Down: 177

The Forest of Doom: Lucky's Background

Skill: 8

Stamina: 17

Luck: 12

      Interesting that I have another stand out. Very lucky, not terribly skilled, and on the lower side of Stamina, at least for a hero of this kind. Good to know. Let's shape things a moment...

     Luck isn't always something you are born with. Kajal had not been born with much luck. Her family was poor when she was born, and poorer afterwards. They prayed to the usual host of gods and goddesses in the hope of greater luck. It never seemed to take. Kajal's parents turned to hard work and dedication to craft, but Kajal thought that was a silly choice when there was Luck in the world. She began to grab up lucky charms at a young age, learning the arts of superstition to banish bad luck and gain good luck. She devoted herself to an incredible array of these superstitions and checked her luck each day at the gambling halls. When she won big, she bought more charms, when she lost she went through her rituals.

    She became known not as Kajal, but as Lucky, and she kept the name, for she thought it too would bring her luck. With luck she ran into a sword master when he was broke and penniless, and could be bought with food and loose change. With luck she got her first jobs fighting with wicked forces, and with luck she triumphed.

     It was also with luck that she cleaned out a casino and found herself on the run from the criminals who owned it. And, of course, it was with luck that she stole a luck potion on her way out into the wilds. Luck provides, but the Lady is finicky.

     Since then, she's been more careful with her luck. Testing it only when necessary, and hoarding anything that can get it for her. Jewels, potions, holy blessings, whatever. She's made her way in the world as a thief, mercenary, vagabond, and occasionally, when things got really bad, actress.

     Potions are back this game, and Lucky is obviously grabbing a Luck Potion (because, once again, increasing Initial unique to the Luck Potion, and that's pretty great). Potions only have 1 measure now, not 2, so there's that to worry about.

      Oh, hey, 3 books in and we finally have a section that explains how the actual reading works. Kinda.

     See, that's useful information.

     Okay, no History, no Rumours, just...

     My kingdom? Ha. The kingdom owns me, not the other way round. I touch my rabbit's foot and my horseshoe. Maybe one day, though...

In fairness, I think village life spurned Lucky first.

     If only life was as simple as only killing evil men and beasts. More than a few men have fallen to my blade who may well have been good, or at least acceptable. Sometimes there are misunderstandings. Sometimes there are opportunities. I say a prayer to the lady and kiss my her image on my necklace. 

     Perhaps I should give up on all the adventure, and just live in the woods...

     I think of the snow in this land, and decide that is a fool thought.

Rabbit is not a feast.

     I frown at the full moon. I take time to reapply the henna symbol on my right hand, the blazing sun. The stain is far from fading, but I will have it as bold as I can if we are to face a full moon. I lay a ring of salt around the sheepskin, and place the necklace of the lady beneath my pillow.

      I wave a hand at the moon and say, "Foul Moon, I know what ill you bring. It is not welcome here. Take it somewhere else," and I ring the bell secured on belt. I make sure to mute the bell again afterwards.

     Ah, it is to be one of these nights. I curse the Moon, but silently now. No need to draw more anger. Perhaps if I–

     Thoughts of the troll visions and the ill fate of those who rest under a full Moon fill my mind. Any manner of foul thing may happen now...

How little? Can he fit in my palm?

     I come to the man cautiously. It could be a trap... but, no... I think the Moon's ill fate has befallen this man, instead of me.

     I wince at the sound of the shouting, and try to shush the man, with a finger to my lips. "Even if you are not stalked by your assailants," I hiss at him, "It is still bad luck to raise your voice in the night!"

     I immediately regret rousing him. Should have just let him rest.

     "Yes, yes, whisper, let us speak calmly. It is fine, you are not yet lost!"

Friend? That's a bit presumptuous.

     "Wait," I say, studying the dwarf, "You were by the little people? Aren't you the little people?" I take a note of Yaztromo and his magic, though. Sounds like a useful thing to have.

     And a foul breath it is, too. I scrunch my nose as I retreat from it. 

     30 Gold Pieces... and a map. I think the Lady has given me luck, even as she has taken it from this dwarf. Such it is. I fish her necklace up from where it still sits on the ground and kiss her image again. "Thank you, my Lady."

     Then I unfurl the map.

Oh, it's beautiful! So much useful information!

     The map shows a few useful features, but most of it is dominated by the uncharted Forest before me. The Darkwood. It is a most unlucky place. 

     When you are dealt a lucky hand, you play it.

     I bury the man deep, despite the difficulty with what equipment I have. It's unlucky to bury anyone shallow, and dwarfs belongd eep below, I think. I pray over him. Hopefully he will find some rest.

     I hope this Yaztromo is well chosen by the Lady.