As breakfast nooks go, this one is rather miserable. It will have to do. I lean back against the wall and get out a meat pasty Mrs. Tiller gave me the recipe for. It really loses something cold, but it's still good. Images of the village at the base of the mountain dance through my head as I eat. Hopefully I'll get back.
Then I head West. Might as well keep the pattern.
Eating Provisions: 11+4=15 Stamina. 9-1=8 meals.
Choice: West: 18
 |
| Godsdamn shoddy workgoblinship! |
Luck: 10-1=9
Choice: Back to the Junction: 261
Choice: Eastwards: 345
So, thinking about it... if I were playing right and making a map I'd have a lot of questions about incline and levels. There'sno reason to assume these caves and corridors are perfectly level, after all.
But, let's go straihgt. No turning East for Henrietta!
 |
| Oh, hey, I think it says... "I prepared... explosive runes this... morning..." |
I press my hand over the inscriptions. Hm... not a language I know. Maybe the Warlock's son got a whittling knife and went to town. I take a breath. The horrors of this journey have been many, but I'll never find the Warlock if I don't look for him.
I was going to establish that Henrietta can't read, bu she read the label on the Invisibility potion earlier, so I guess she can. Her father was educated by wizards in the city when he was finding his fortune as a young man. He decided his children would reap the benefits of that education.
Choice: Open the Door: 84
 |
| Hah! Got it this time! |
You know, the description mentions several chairs. I just see one. This room is so narrow that the old man has to scoot against the wall to get in and out. Very dignified. Man needs to organize his bookshelves.
I almost missed the creature on his shulder in all the line work. Had to go back and check for it after reading the description.
"Oh, so you do speak," I say, "Well, I suppose we can have a wager. Maybe my coin against your information?"
 |
| Ah, look at the little guy! |
Reminds me of old medieval images of demons.
Mind, the thing at the top of the chair could also be the winged creature.
Is that bat flashing me?
It looks like a muppet having a stroke. It really does look like a creature sitting there, rather than part of the chair. Too much flesh texture for wood. Still, the text says the thing's on his shoulder... so I'm going to stick with the anorexic imp over the pudgy bat.
 |
| He's modeling a number we like to call, "Wizard classic." |
"Are you the Warlock?" I ask as I stand in front of the man. The creature on his shoulder laughs, a high-shrill sound. Like a bird chirping... if the bird was delighting in the suffering of a worm instead of singing.
The man doesn't answer, just gestures again to the table.
With a sigh, I sit down. "At least you aren't trying to kill me on sight," I tell him.
Choice: Sit down: 204
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| Add caption |
The horrible creature smirks. The man's face stays passive.
Choice: Betting: 130
 |
| So... I can win money and stats? |
I smile and put forward 20 gold pieces. Might as well have some fun.
Henrietta's Burse: 25-20=5
Oh dear... well, I can try and get at least some of that back. I put another gold piece on the table. The old man smiles, from behind his fresh stack of coins. The dice go clattering.
Henrietta's Burse: 5+1=6
Skill (7+2=7)
Stamina (15+2=17)
Luck. (9+1=11)
"Aha!" I cry out. The small creature just laughs. I look at it angrily. "I guess you're right," I say. "I don't think I should be spending all my time here. I've got to find the Warlock. So... unless you want to gamble information about the Warlock..." I trail off meaningfully.
The old man just smiles and touches his money meaningfully. The little creature laughs again.
"Okay..." I say, "I think that's enough for me." I get up and walk out.
Choice: Leave: 280
And I guess that's a good cut off.
Choice: The other Passage: 311
Henrietta Chalk
Skill: 7/7
Stamina: 17/19
Luck: 11/11
1 Fortune Potion (2 Measures)
8 Meals of Provisions
"99" Key
6 Gold Pieces
Silk Glove
1 Potion Invisibility (1 Dose)
1 Sweet Smelling Cheese
It is intensely odd that the game provides you with a game of chance, but does not allow you to Test Your Luck about whether or not you win. You'd think this would be a great time for that. (You'd probably have to not recover luck on winning, of course.)
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