Let's Play Lone Wolf

[pi4t 6]

30

The three men exchange wary glances before offering you a seat. A

pock-marked warrior snaps his fingers and shouts across the crowded

hall: ‘Wench! Four flagons of ale!’

Beer is drawn into four large earthenware vessels, each of which

holds half a gallon of ale. Staggering beneath their weight, the serving

girl finally arrives and places the flagons on the table.

‘Eight Gold Crowns, sir,’ she says, breathlessly, the perspiration standing out on her freckled brow.

If you wish to pay for the ale, turn to 230.

If you cannot or do not want to pay for the ale, turn to 159.

 

Well, do we pay?

[Αμφίονας 41]

Pay the drinks. Gold is to be spent and we are already in bad terms with the normal guards.

[Richi 0]

Pay! Give to the poor to befriend the scary!

[James Undercroft 129]

Les' do it! No point offering to pay if we are just going to be like: ACTUALLY, HAR! WE MADE YOU BUY DRINKS YOU COULDN'T AFFORD!

 

Damn, these are some expensive drinks though, using gold to buy BEER? O_o

[Jibuis Winterborn (Vinnie) 72]

THIS IS STILL GOING?

[pi4t 6]

Right, following on from an accidental archiving of this topic, we pay 8GC for the drinks.

 

We have 42/50GC.

 

230

‘A toast to our gallant friend,’ cries the soldier with the
pock-marked face. ‘Honour in battle!’ shouts the red-haired man to his
left. ‘And a rich purse for the victor,’ retorts the other. They laugh
heartily and raise the flagons to their lips. Their smiling faces are
completely hidden by the jugs as they drink their fill. A full minute of
silence passes before the three jugs are slammed to the table, emptied
of ale.

The strong beer soon dissolves any guardedness, and they become very
talkative about themselves. You take this opportunity to ask them what
they know of the Lorestone of Varetta.

‘Legend,’ belches the red-head, ‘myth or legend.’ ‘Not so,’
interrupts Pock-face. ‘It’s real enough, but it was lost years ago. The
Lorestone is magical—it holds a power that can turn an ordinary man into
a king.’

               

On hearing this, the other soldiers snigger, but Pock-face ignores
them and continues. ‘The Lorestone was once set into the throne of
Lyris, at the Tower of the King in Varetta. Hundreds of years ago,
during the War of the Lorestone, it was stolen by a Salonese prince
called Kaskor. He set the stone upon a gold sceptre and used it in
battle to inspire his followers. He believed that it made him
invulnerable, but it was not so. He was killed in a battle on board his
royal barge at Rhem, and the Lorestone was lost when it fell from his
hand into the depths of the River Storn. However, that is not the end of
the story. There are many tales about the sceptre having been found,
but on the whole they have turned out to be fake or merely fanciful. The
legend says whoever wields the Lorestone is the rightful ruler of all
the Stornlands. For this reason above all others, the Lorestone is
sought by many evil or unscrupulous men to further their dreams of
power. If you wish to know more, you should go to Varetta. There are
many learned men who have devoted their lives to the study of the
Lorestone—the scholars and sages of Brass Street—they are the people to
help you!’

You thank the soldier for his help and take your leave of the company.

If you now wish to order some food, turn to 172.

If you decide to go to the bar and enquire about a room for the night, turn to 232.

 

Well, we've gained information, and the name of a street. Now what? Are we hungry?

[CowsGoMoo 267]

Yes. Yes we are hungry.

We STILL have not gotten the icecream we had worked extremely hard for.

I'm starting to doubt this bar's truthfulness about it's icecreams. >:I

[Richi 0]

Since I forgot what eating does, I would have to say yes. Food is a must! Eat all the ice cream!

[James Undercroft 129]

Icecream.

[Αμφίονας 41]

FREE STYLE TIME

WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY, ALL THE OTHERS WANTED CAKE

BUT THEN I DECIDED THAT THIS DESERT IS ALL TOO FAKE

SO I TRIED AND I SWEAT AS A PAPERBOY IN TOWN

THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T LEARNED WHAT THE HELL IS FOWN

SO I DROPPED OFF SCHOOL BUT WITH MONEY IN MY HAND

OH THE TASTY ICECREAM! WHAT I WANTED NOW AND THEN!

Yeah I have no idea why I did this. Anyway order a meal, lets feel our belly.

[James Undercroft 129]

Cake? Fake? Cake is not fake!
I obfuscate that assertion mate!
Paperboy, taperboy, that's not cool
Just to by an icecream, imma give you the school
 
Cake, cake, its the best you'll ever taste
Not like that icecream crap that tastes like waste!
So when you get any money in your hand, boy
By a cake, or you just 'aint cool
 
Yeah.

 

Or maybe not. I'll stick to my essays.

[pi4t 6]

172

You choose a seat near the corner: one that is laid for dinner and

offers a clear view of the hall. A serving girl soon appears carrying a

platter laden with roasted meat bowlful of icecream, and she proceeds to stack a generous

helping on your plate.

‘Two Gold Crowns, if you please, sir,’ she says, presenting an open hand bloodied frozen by the food.

You pay (remember to deduct the Crowns from your Action Chart)

and settle down to your feast. While you are eating, you are approached

by the innkeeper. He is a fat, oily individual with small, piggish

eyes.

‘My lad tells me that he’s tended to your mare—she’s in good ’ands

’ere—the best stables in all o’ Quarlen.’ The man shifts nervously from

one foot to the other, as if he is uncomfortable in your presence.

‘You’ll be wantin’ a room, I take it?’

You finish a mouthful of food before nodding your reply. ‘You’re in

luck, my friend,’ he answers, obviously relieved that you have turned

out to be a paying guest. ‘We ’ave one room left—Room 17.’

He produces a plain iron key from his apron pocket and sets it down

beside your plate. ‘That’ll be 3 Gold Crowns, sir—in advance.’ You pay

the innkeeper and slip the key into your pocket.

Turn to 219.

 

 

We lose 2+3GC = 37/50

 

219

 

Suddenly, there is a mighty crash as the hall door is slammed shut. Into the tavern strides a black-browed young lordling, wearing a

flamboyant costume of ebony and gold. He makes a ceremonious display of

removing his velvet cloak and pompously demands food and wine, and it

takes three serving girls and the innkeeper to see to his wishes. His

manner is so insulting that you are not surprised to see the many scars

that disfigure his young face. He must be continually provoking fights

and duels.

The lordling chooses to seat himself at a table already occupied by a

small, thin, inoffensive old man. Within seconds there is a thunderous

outburst of foul language. The lordling grabs the old man by the throat,

lifts him one-handedly from his seat, and hurls him to the floor. ‘You

snivelling toad, how dare you sit with me!’ he bellows.

               

Bewildered and frightened, the little man fumbles an apology, but to

no avail. The lordling kicks back his chair and towers over the wretch,

his hand clasped around the hilt of his sword. The tavern crowd view the

scene with relish, like spectators at a Vassagonian arena, for the

lordling clearly intends to kill the old man.

If you possess a Bow, turn to 301.

If you do not possess a Bow, turn to 78.

 

Ah. We don't have a bow. Someone remind me why again? Oh, yes:

 

For equipment, we could take a bow and arrows, but we're not Katniss! We're Lone Wolf!

 

78

You prepare yourself for combat and leap to the defence of the helpless old man just in time to turn aside the lordling’s sword.

‘Curse you, scum!’ he cries. ‘I am Roark, highborn of Amory. How dare you interfere with my sport.’

He feints withdrawal but you are not taken in by his street-brawl

tactics. As his sword cuts the air in a vicious backhanded slash, you

are ready to parry the blow. The tavern crowd cheer in anticipation of a

good fight.

Roark: COMBAT SKILL 24   ENDURANCE 30

If you reduce Roark’s ENDURANCE to 11 points or less, do not continue the combat but turn instead to 180.

 

Combat Ratio = 26-24 = 2

Our E total = 26/26

Roark's E total = 30/30

 

Round 1

Random Number = 8

We take no damage = 26/26

Roark takes 11 damage = 19/30

 

Round 2

Random Number = 0

We take no damage = 26/26

Roark takes 14 damage = 5/30

 

Ok, I admit it, we didn't need a bow there.

 

180

Trembling with pain and fury, the wounded lordling staggers back

towards the door. ‘I shall have your life for this—mark my words,’ he

cries.

The mocking cheers of the crowd echo in his wake as he turns and disappears into the night.

Turn to 281.

 

Yeah, good luck with that.

 

 

281

‘My humble thanks,’ says the frail old man as you help him to his feet. ‘I am forever in your debt.’

Taking him by the arm, you escort him to his table where he gathers

up his scattered belongings. ‘My name is Cyrilus. I am a magician,’ he

says meekly, as if apologizing for some weakness or abnormality. ‘I

claim no great understanding of the arcane—my talents are modest by any

standard. I only dabble in simple tricks, earning my keep with

amusements and sleights-of-hand to amuse the courtiers of Varetta.’

Your eyes obviously betray you; the old man is quick to note your sudden interest in the word ‘Varetta’.

If you wish to ask him about the Lorestone of Varetta, turn to 83.

If you do not wish to question him, bid him goodnight and turn to 239.

 

 

Well, we can get some more information, perhaps?

[James Undercroft 129]

You consider asking the old man about the Lorestone of Varetta. Instead, however, you hold up your hand and pardon yourself for a moment. Quick as a ninjacat, you dash back to your table and grab the half-finished bowl of icecream, before returning to the old magician as quickly as you had left. 'Tell me, Cyrilus, what do you know of the Lorestone of Varetta?' You stare at the old man with interest as you begin to munch away at another scoop of icecream. Damn, this is some crunchy icecream. You think.

 

(83!)

[Αμφίονας 41]

"I came here to kickass and eat icecream. And you just interrupted the man from his icecream."

~Lone Wolf~

Sure ask him. We just saved his life so he should be trustworthy.

[CowsGoMoo 267]

I don't think I have ever laughed this hard in my life...

I'm satisfied now.

We got the icecream, so just do whatever. Just make sure no one touches our bowl of sweet goodness.