The Forest of Doom: 142, 366, 178: "Magnificent White Beast"

Someone call the FDA, because there is horse in the beefcake!

     That is one lumpy centaur. It's a little known fact of anatomy that human abdominal muscles are actually four water balloons full of jelly, and horses are 80% tumors. It's good to see a picture showing both of those qualities!

     Of course, we know this centaur is a good guy because he has a bow. Just like Chiron.

"Magnificent white beast" is one of the phrases that deserves its own underline.

     I pause and stare at the Centaur for a time. The water droplets on his naked body shimmering in the Sunlight. It's... quite an effect. Then I wave at him and say "Good day!"

Choice: Conversation: 366

     Isn't it, though, Livingstone?

     I like interacting with things in a game in ways other than stabbing. 

     "I'm afraid I have no such money left, for a thief took that from me." I truly am sorry about it. A lift from a centaur would have been something. I feel very unlucky to miss it, but, then, I would not have had the coins even if I wasn't robbed.

      The centaur nods, as though this were expected. His eyes linger on my bag, and I wonder if he perhaps thinks I am lying.

Choice: Wade: 178

     I wave goodbye to the Centaur, and realize I don't even know his name. Rude, Lucky. Ask people's names. Well, he didn't ask mine, so at least I wasn't distractingly rude. I wade into the freezing water and try not to think too much about what might be down there. It's fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. Everything's fine.

      "Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!" I inform the leech as I toss salt upon it and watch it shrivel away. "Ew!" I fling it into the river and check I am not still bleeding. I am not. I am never bleeding after a leech does its work. I don't know why that is, but it's creepy.

      I rather dig having a Provision used up as a penalty here. I mean, sure, 4 Stamina is a bit steep for a Leech in absolute numbers, but it works and it varies things up rather than just a Stamina loss.

Provisions: 9-1=8

     The horrid creature still in my mind, and the terribly wet water still upon my shivering body, I shiver my way into the night. The oak tree provides support and my sheepskin some comfort, but the night is chill and the forest noisy. I find myself awakening far too often. If the darkness did not make the woods so much more treacherous, I would forego sleep entirely tonight and be on with it.

      "Lady, protect me," I say as I settle into the sheepskin and try to rest.

Choice: Sleep: 298