The Masters of Darkness – Attempt 1, Part 2

Aside : Sorry for the slight delay in entries, but my gorgeous wife reckons, for some reason, that our family computer is more important for her tertiary study than for my restrospective gamebook saga!

In any event, I’ve just defeated a hideous sea monster that, unsurprisingly, had a name starting with X.

Aside : I think every villain in this series has a name starting with K, X or Z (with one or two Hs).

I just know that someone in the comments will lawyer me by pointing out a villain with a name starting with a different letter.

Yeah, I suppose I’ll have to get around to the first paragraph of this entry.

Eventually.

As I strike the killing blow against the Xargath, it lets out a scream so loud that I have to block my ears, to protect from being permanently (!!) deafened.

This, of course, begs the question as to why this creature didn’t just scream at the outset of this encounter to gain an advantage in the ensuing combat, but I guess it was too busy what with its head being trapped beneath the deck….

As we survey the wounded sailors, I manage to find Captain Borse, who is unconscious with two broken legs.

My newfound Magnakai Discipline of Curing manages to bring Borse back from the brink, so that he manages to instruct his first mate to hand over some of the captain’s prized possessions to me.

I get both a Bronin Vest (+3 CS, +1 E) and Silver Bracers (+2 CS. +1 E).  I am instructed that I must discard my Chainmail Waistcoat, but I reckon the trade is well worth it.  I have to discard a Special Item and, after racking my brain, I leave the Fireseeds behind.

Oh by the way, I don’t mention the Captain’s condition again because, you know, :

LOOT!

More importantly, over half of the crew of the Intrepid is dead or injured, and the ship is badly damaged.

Sort of like certain friends’ houses after a Saturday night party….

The dangerous prognosis is that while we can patch up the ship as best we can, if we hit a storm while out to sea….

Let’s just say it won’t be good.

Long story short, we are becalmed in the fog for a couple of days, while repairs are carried out.  We then decide to hug the coast, since meeting an enemy ship (which is a risk of being close to shore) is preferable to the ship simply sinking with all hands lost.

The good news is that we reach the coast, and make plans to move along it.

The bad news is that two enemy warships spot us, and give chase.

The Darkland ironclads outrun (?!) us (interesting term for waterborne vessels) and we prepare to repeal boarders.

NOT THOSE KIND OF BOARDERS, LONE WOLF, YOU IDIOT.

As one ironclad smashes into the Intrepid, a unit of Drakkarim soldiers spring over the side, and its on!

Project Aon link – Nasty Drakkarim saw-toothed swords

One Drakkarim marine is dumb enough to challenge a Kai Master!

Drakkarim Marine : CS – 23, E – 27

Ummm….

You’re challenging moi with those stats?

*ahem*

Lone Wolf – CS 44 E : 32

In a completely expected result of my hubris, I lose three Endurance in the first round (due to an R10 of 1!) before instakilling the Drakkarim varmint in the second.

Just like Clubber Lang knocked Rocky out in the second, mmm?

[Identifies briefly with Mr T]

Davan (the first mate, and acting captain) and I make quick work of several other enemies before facing the leader of the assault team.

Shall we dance?

Drakkarim ‘Marine Sergeant’ – CS : 26, E : 30

Lone Wolf – CS : 44, E : 29

I don’t muck around – a single blow of my MEGASWORD is enough to cleave him (it?) in twain.

As the leader collapses in death, his soldiers gaze in disbelief.  For some reason, my Kai skills are sufficient to note that he has led them for six years (remembering that I’ve been absent from this world for eight) and that his sudden death is a shocking development.

As I cleave my way through the MEGASWORD fodder, Davan tries to warn me of an archer, who is busily launching a volley at me while clinging to the rigging.

I need to make an R10 check, but my possession of Huntmastery and the Lore Circle of Spirit gives a relieving +5 bonus to same.  In any event, my (unaltered) R10 of 8 is more than enough for the best result.

The archer is unable to fire a follow-up because two of his comrades charge at me, and I thank them for their help by introducing them forcefully to my Sommerswerd.

In something which is nothing more nor less than simply showing off, I then grab a dagger from one of the fallen foes and fling it accurately at the chest of the archer.

I then manage to reach the wheel of our ship, and desperately try to steer it away from the second ironclad.

I need a 10 (!!) or more on my R10 check, although I do get to add 6, due to my possession of 9 Magnakai Disciplines.

9!!

Although the second ironclad strikes our ship a glancing blow, we manage to evade a serious collision, and our crew slices the grappling ropes which came from the first attacker.

And then, on a mini-shiphanger, I am told that my ‘confidence is shattered’ by an ‘unexpected attack’……

Base Stats : CS : 22, E : 28, GC 22

Final Stats : CS : 44/44, E : 32/32

Weapons : Sword, Dagger

Weapon-Like Special Items : Silver Bow of Duadon (+3), Sommerswerd (+8 CS), Dagger of Vashna

Backpack : Rope, Lantern, Potion of Laumspur (+4E), Meals (3)

Special Items : 1. Sommerswerd (+8 CS) (with Korlinium scabbard) 2. Platinum Amulet / Gold Amulet, 3. Dagger of Vashna 4. Shield (+2 CS),  5. Padded Waistcoat (+2 E), 6. Bronin Vest (+3 CS, +1 E) 7. Blue Stone Triangle Pendant, 8. Psychic Ring 9. Quiver (6 arrows), 10. Silver Bracers (+2 CS, +1 E) (6), 11. Crystal Explosive 12. Silver Bow of Duadon.

Kai Monastery storage :

• Backpack Items : Sack of Silver (3)
• Special Items : Map of Tekaro, Diamonds (2), Boat Ticket, Power Key, Copper Key, Ornate Silver Key, Jewelled Mace, Obsidian Seal, Brass Whistle. Quiver (4 arrows), Pass, Vial of Clear Liquid, Crystal Star Pendant, Receipt, Invitation, Signet Ring

Magnakai Rank : Archmaster

Magnakai Disciplines : Weaponmastery (+4 CS in Sword, Bow, Mace, Dagger, Spear, Quarterstaff, Broadsword, Warhammer, Axe), Pathmanship, Huntmastery, Divination, Invisibility, Nexus, Psi-Screen, Psi-Surge, Curing

Lore-Circles : Fire (+1 CS, +2 E), Solaris (+1 CS, +3 E), Spirit  (+3 CS, +3 E)

Kai Disciplines : Camouflage, Animal Kinship, Tracking, Hunting, Sixth Sense, Healing, Mind Over Matter, Mindblast (+3CS), Mindshield, Weaponskill (+2 CS in Short Sword)

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