Let's Play Lone Wolf: Book 29 and beyond!

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > Let's Play Lone Wolf: Book 29 and beyond!

Tiggum: Oct 24, 2007; Your life and your quest end here.

Kanthulhu posted:

It seems we are going west so south is left.

That checks out.

The Kingdoms of Terror posted:

You rein in your horse beneath the wide stone archway of the south gate. From an arrow slit in the wall echoes a harsh voice: �Rider, show your pass!�

There is the dull clunk of a bolt being drawn and two swarthy guards dressed in chainmail appear. They eye you suspiciously and repeat the demand to see a pass.

Do we stop and explain that we have no pass, just try to ride past them, or offer to bribe them?

Watch out, they're swarthy!

# ? Nov 29, 2017 02:44

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# ? Jun 6, 2024 14:08

Kanthulhu: Apr 8, 2009; NO ONE SPOIL GAME OF THRONES FOR ME!

IF SOMEONE TELLS ME THAT OBERYN MARTELL AND THE MOUNTAIN DIE THIS SEASON, I'M GOING TO BE PISSED.

BUT NOT HALF AS PISSED AS I'D BE IF SOMEONE WERE TO SPOIL VARYS KILLING A LANISTER!!!

(Dany shits in a field)

it's Explaining time

# ? Nov 29, 2017 09:53

achtungnight: Oct 5, 2014; I get my fun here. Enjoy!

Explain to these guards it�s in their best interests to let us pass.

# ? Nov 29, 2017 10:07

WhiskeyWhiskers: Oct 14, 2013; "هذا ليس عادلاً."
"هذا ليس عادلاً على الإطلاق."
"كان هناك وقت الآن."
(السياق الخفي: للقراءة)

Ride past Lone Wolf clearly wouldn't recognise the authority of these men.

# ? Nov 29, 2017 10:37

Comstar: Apr 20, 2007; Are you happy now?

Explain that there is a perfectly reasonably explanation.

# ? Nov 29, 2017 11:02

Mikl: Nov 8, 2009; Vote shit sandwich or the shit sandwich gets it!

There is an explanation and that is some gold coins for you if you let me pass.

# ? Nov 29, 2017 12:26

Tiggum: Oct 24, 2007; Your life and your quest end here.

Kanthulhu posted:

it's Explaining time

Listen, I have a really good reason for not having a pass, and it's that I didn't bother to find out that I needed a pass.

The Kingdoms of Terror posted:

�Bah!� exclaims a guard contemptuously. �We have no time for witless wanderers. Go back to Casiorn if you have no business here.� He spits at the ground and the guards turn towards the open town gate.

We could still try to bribe them or ride past, or we could go try the north gate instead?

# ? Nov 29, 2017 14:27

achtungnight: Oct 5, 2014; I get my fun here. Enjoy!

North Gate, hopefully it�s not restricted access.

Side Edit- 1 year ago today, Joe Dever passed away. His work is still classic :argh:

achtungnight fucked around with this message at 19:22 on Nov 29, 2017

# ? Nov 29, 2017 14:58

Mikl: Nov 8, 2009; Vote shit sandwich or the shit sandwich gets it!

Mikl posted:

There is an explanation and that is some gold coins for you if you let me pass.

# ? Nov 29, 2017 15:11

Leraika: Jun 14, 2015; Luckily, I *did* save your old avatar. Fucked around and found out indeed.

We must gather our party by venturing North

# ? Nov 29, 2017 16:09

WhiskeyWhiskers: Oct 14, 2013; "هذا ليس عادلاً."
"هذا ليس عادلاً على الإطلاق."
"كان هناك وقت الآن."
(السياق الخفي: للقراءة)

Ride past

# ? Nov 29, 2017 17:06

Guy Fawkes: Aug 1, 2014; Lvl 62, +5 meadow defense

North.

# ? Nov 29, 2017 20:35

Guy Fawkes: Aug 1, 2014; Lvl 62, +5 meadow defense

achtungnight posted:

Qinifer would probably be an even better wielder for the Sommerswerd than Lone Wolf. What with her obvious Mary Sue ness and all.

Agree.

# ? Nov 29, 2017 20:36

Kanthulhu: Apr 8, 2009; NO ONE SPOIL GAME OF THRONES FOR ME!

IF SOMEONE TELLS ME THAT OBERYN MARTELL AND THE MOUNTAIN DIE THIS SEASON, I'M GOING TO BE PISSED.

BUT NOT HALF AS PISSED AS I'D BE IF SOMEONE WERE TO SPOIL VARYS KILLING A LANISTER!!!

(Dany shits in a field)

Ride past them

A Kai Lord doesnt have time for this nonsense.

# ? Nov 29, 2017 21:05

Tiggum: Oct 24, 2007; Your life and your quest end here.

Mikl posted:

There is an explanation and that is some gold coins for you if you let me pass.

Why doesn't anyone ever try to explain anything to me that way?

Shadow on the Sand posted:

The guards exchange glances and nod their heads in agreement. �Ten Gold Crowns will make you a welcome guest in our town, stranger,� whispers the shorter of the two men, holding out his gauntleted hand in expectation.

We have 50, so we can pay them if we want. Or we could still try to ride past or turn around and try the north gate?

These sections work a lot better when you're reading the book by yourself and can just skip through them very quickly rather than having to vote on each one.

# ? Nov 30, 2017 02:39

achtungnight: Oct 5, 2014; I get my fun here. Enjoy!

Tiggum- Yes, but audience participation may also be important to LPs depending on author and reader preference.

To provide money space later, pay the guards off.

# ? Nov 30, 2017 02:43

Ratatozsk: Mar 6, 2007; Had we turned left instead, we may have encountered something like this...

Money is hardly ever a pressing concern, so fork it over.

# ? Nov 30, 2017 03:13

WhiskeyWhiskers: Oct 14, 2013; "هذا ليس عادلاً."
"هذا ليس عادلاً على الإطلاق."
"كان هناك وقت الآن."
(السياق الخفي: للقراءة)

WhiskeyWhiskers posted:

Ride past Lone Wolf clearly wouldn't recognise the authority of these men.

WhiskeyWhiskers posted:

Ride past

# ? Nov 30, 2017 10:28

Comstar: Apr 20, 2007; Are you happy now?

Gather our party of us and our horse and venture North gate.

# ? Nov 30, 2017 11:16

Tiggum: Oct 24, 2007; Your life and your quest end here.

achtungnight posted:

Tiggum- Yes, but audience participation may also be important to LPs depending on author and reader preference.

To provide money space later, pay the guards off.

Which is why I am putting it to the vote every time. It just seems a little unfair to the people who voted for the initial decision if the book gives an option to back out and we end up going with that, or being a bit slow and redundant if we end up going with the original choice anyway. I don't know how to resolve that, but it does bother me slightly when it comes up.

We now have 40 Gold Crowns.

Shadow on the Sand posted:

You enter a wide street where black iron lanterns swing above the doors of shops and houses, their oily black smoke staining the walls and adding a pall of gloom to the darkening sky. The street descends towards the River Quarl, where flatboats lie moored at the rich merchant wharves. Quarlen stands at the most northerly point on the river that can be navigated by boat and barge, and it is here that the river meets the caravan routes to Casiorn and the Lastlands, so ensuring the future of the town.

At the approach to a wide stone bridge, you see an impressive-looking hostelry, with stables and outhouses. A painted shield hangs above the courtyard gate proudly displaying its name:

THE BARREL BRIDGE TAVERN

The moment you enter the courtyard, a stableboy appears from nowhere and bids you welcome. He takes charge of your horse and shows you the door to the tavern hall. It is crowded, despite the early hour, and a roaring fire blazes in its great stone hearth. The smell of roasting beef makes your mouth water, reminding you that you have not eaten today.

Shall we take a seat and order some food, or just ask about a room for the night?

# ? Nov 30, 2017 13:49

achtungnight: Oct 5, 2014; I get my fun here. Enjoy!

Tiggum- Counting new votes repeatedly for a decision where you can back out doesn�t seem like too big a deal to me, but you can always keep votes for repeated options from previous approaches if you like. That�s what I would do here.

Green-Cloaked Kai Master... Needs Food... Badly.

# ? Nov 30, 2017 14:01

anakha: Sep 16, 2009

I got the munchies.

# ? Nov 30, 2017 14:54

Materant: Jul 22, 2010; see, what you don't understand is he now has

THE MANLIEST MUSTACHE

_{_{_{_{it defies physics}}}}

I wouldn't worry too much about decisions that give you an option to back out of something before you commit. There's usually a very good reason for them, so it's worth putting them to the vote.

There are exceptions, though. See: Shadows on the Sand, part 1, escape, where almost every choice gives you the option to just give up and turn yourself in until you get to the Baga-daroosh.

Materant fucked around with this message at 20:25 on Nov 30, 2017

# ? Nov 30, 2017 20:23

Guy Fawkes: Aug 1, 2014; Lvl 62, +5 meadow defense

Let's have some snacks.

# ? Nov 30, 2017 20:43

Tiggum: Oct 24, 2007; Your life and your quest end here.

The Kingdoms of Terror posted:

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, 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 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.

There's a slight problem with this bit of the book - it never checks if you have enough money to pay for the food and room. There's a different path for if you have no money at all, but if you've got between 1 and 4 Gold Crowns then you end up paying money you don't have.

The Kingdoms of Terror posted:

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.

Normally you get to choose whether or not to use your bow if you have one, but in this instance it's mandatory for some reason.

The Kingdoms of Terror posted:

With the speed and grace of movement that marks you as a Kai Master, you load, take aim, and fire. Your Arrow pierces the lordling�s forearm as his sword descends, causing the blow to splinter stone, not skull. He utters a shrill cry and spins backwards, cradling his wounded arm as he falls.

�Curse you, scum!� he shrieks. �I am Roark, highborn of Amory. I shall have your life for this�mark my words!�

Trembling with pain and fury, he staggers to his feet and demands his cloak from the innkeeper before stumbling into the night with a welter of threats and curses.

�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�.

Should we ask him about the lorestone? I'm sure everyone in Varetta knows all about it! Or do we just leave him and go to bed?

We now have 35 Gold Crowns and 5 arrows.

# ? Dec 1, 2017 00:47

Leraika: Jun 14, 2015; Luckily, I *did* save your old avatar. Fucked around and found out indeed.

Let's shake down this old man even more than he's already been shaken down

# ? Dec 1, 2017 01:08

achtungnight: Oct 5, 2014; I get my fun here. Enjoy!

I probably would have chosen to shoot that Lordling anyway, he seems like an A-Hole.

Just because other people may know about the Lorestone doesn't mean we can find them easily. Chat up the old man.

# ? Dec 1, 2017 01:21

Snorb: Nov 19, 2010

Ohhhh, I look so forward to killing Lord Roark later.

Since we saved his life, let's ask about the Lorestone.

# ? Dec 1, 2017 04:59

Comstar: Apr 20, 2007; Are you happy now?

So ah,...ever heard about the Lorestone of your home town, than I am in no way very very interested in?.

# ? Dec 1, 2017 09:19

Tiggum: Oct 24, 2007; Your life and your quest end here.

The Kingdoms of Terror posted:

The old man narrows his mousy eyes and looks at you with a cautious stare. �It is but a legend. Some say it contained great power; others say its power existed only in the minds of those who craved to own it. Whatever the truth is, the Lorestone has been lost for hundreds of years.�

You sense that the old magician is not telling you all he knows about the Lorestone.

Should we tell him who we are and why we're after the Lorestone, or leave him be and go to bed?

# ? Dec 1, 2017 12:32

WhiskeyWhiskers: Oct 14, 2013; "هذا ليس عادلاً."
"هذا ليس عادلاً على الإطلاق."
"كان هناك وقت الآن."
(السياق الخفي: للقراءة)

Do you know who I am old man? I'm very important.

# ? Dec 1, 2017 12:52

Mikl: Nov 8, 2009; Vote shit sandwich or the shit sandwich gets it!

I�ll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Kai Order, and I�ve been involved in numerous secret raids on the Darklords, and I have over 300 confirmed kills. I am trained in bow warfare and I�m the top sniper in the entire Sommerlund armed forces.

# ? Dec 1, 2017 13:08

achtungnight: Oct 5, 2014; I get my fun here. Enjoy!

Old Man, let's take a look at my life... I am someone very special...

# ? Dec 1, 2017 13:38

Ratatozsk: Mar 6, 2007; Had we turned left instead, we may have encountered something like this...

EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP AND OPEN PALM SLAM A BOOKMARK INTO THE BOOK. ITS THE BOOK OF THE MAGNAKAI AND RIGHT THEN AND THERE I START DOING THE MOVES ALONGSIDE WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER, SUN EAGLE. I DO EVERY MOVE AND I DO EVERY MOVE HARD. MAKIN WHOOSHING AND TWANGING SOUNDS WHEN I SLAM DOWN SOME SPAWN BASTARDS OR EVEN WHEN I MESS UP A DISCIPLINE. NOT MANY CAN SAY THEY BATTLED NAAR�S MOST DANGEROUS CREATIONS. I CAN. I SAY IT AND I SAY IT OUTLOUD EVERYDAY TO PEOPLE IN MY FREYLUND AND ALL THEY DO IS PROVE PEOPLE IN RURAL SOMMERLUND CAN STILL BE IMMATURE PEASANT JERKS. AND IVE LEARNED ALL THE LINES AND IVE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE MYSELF AND MY HALF-BUILT MONASTERY LESS LONELY BY SHOUTING EM AT THE TOP OF MY KAI AUGMENTED LUNGS. 2 HOURS INCLUDING WIND DOWN EVERY MORNING. THEN I DIG

# ? Dec 1, 2017 14:38

Leraika: Jun 14, 2015; Luckily, I *did* save your old avatar. Fucked around and found out indeed.

Ratatozsk posted:

EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP AND OPEN PALM SLAM A BOOKMARK INTO THE BOOK. ITS THE BOOK OF THE MAGNAKAI AND RIGHT THEN AND THERE I START DOING THE MOVES ALONGSIDE WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER, SUN EAGLE. I DO EVERY MOVE AND I DO EVERY MOVE HARD. MAKIN WHOOSHING AND TWANGING SOUNDS WHEN I SLAM DOWN SOME SPAWN BASTARDS OR EVEN WHEN I MESS UP A DISCIPLINE. NOT MANY CAN SAY THEY BATTLED NAAR�S MOST DANGEROUS CREATIONS. I CAN. I SAY IT AND I SAY IT OUTLOUD EVERYDAY TO PEOPLE IN MY FREYLUND AND ALL THEY DO IS PROVE PEOPLE IN RURAL SOMMERLUND CAN STILL BE IMMATURE PEASANT JERKS. AND IVE LEARNED ALL THE LINES AND IVE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE MYSELF AND MY HALF-BUILT MONASTERY LESS LONELY BY SHOUTING EM AT THE TOP OF MY KAI AUGMENTED LUNGS. 2 HOURS INCLUDING WIND DOWN EVERY MORNING. THEN I DIG

Mikl posted:

I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Kai Order, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret raids on the Darklords, and I have over 300 confirmed kills. I am trained in bow warfare and I’m the top sniper in the entire Sommerlund armed forces.

# ? Dec 1, 2017 15:32

Materant: Jul 22, 2010; see, what you don't understand is he now has

THE MANLIEST MUSTACHE

_{_{_{_{it defies physics}}}}

Ratatozsk posted:

EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP AND OPEN PALM SLAM A BOOKMARK INTO THE BOOK. ITS THE BOOK OF THE MAGNAKAI AND RIGHT THEN AND THERE I START DOING THE MOVES ALONGSIDE WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER, SUN EAGLE. I DO EVERY MOVE AND I DO EVERY MOVE HARD. MAKIN WHOOSHING AND TWANGING SOUNDS WHEN I SLAM DOWN SOME SPAWN BASTARDS OR EVEN WHEN I MESS UP A DISCIPLINE. NOT MANY CAN SAY THEY BATTLED NAAR�S MOST DANGEROUS CREATIONS. I CAN. I SAY IT AND I SAY IT OUTLOUD EVERYDAY TO PEOPLE IN MY FREYLUND AND ALL THEY DO IS PROVE PEOPLE IN RURAL SOMMERLUND CAN STILL BE IMMATURE PEASANT JERKS. AND IVE LEARNED ALL THE LINES AND IVE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE MYSELF AND MY HALF-BUILT MONASTERY LESS LONELY BY SHOUTING EM AT THE TOP OF MY KAI AUGMENTED LUNGS. 2 HOURS INCLUDING WIND DOWN EVERY MORNING. THEN I DIG

# ? Dec 1, 2017 20:42

Tiggum: Oct 24, 2007; Your life and your quest end here.

Those are some excellent votes.

The Kingdoms of Terror posted:

Cyrilus� eyes open with such surprise that you can see the startled whites around his mousy-brown pupils. �Lone Wolf,� he whispers, incredulously, �I should have known. Humble apologies, my lord. I thought that you sought the Lorestone for less than honourable reasons.�

Cyrilus talks at great length about the legend of the Lorestone. You learn that it remained in Varetta after Sun Eagle�s quest, where it was set into the throne of Lyris in the Tower of the King. 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 fanatical followers and crush his foes. He believed it made him invulnerable, but this was not so�he was killed on his royal barge during a battle at Rhem, and the Lorestone was lost when the gold sceptre fell from his hand into the depths of the River Storn. There were many accounts of the sceptre having been found, but they had always proved to be untrue or simply fanciful. It was said that whoever wielded the Lorestone was the rightful ruler of all the Stornlands. For this reason alone it was often sought by evil or unscrupulous warlords, and many had pursued the quest, all without success.

Cyrilus does not know where the Lorestone is, but he does know a man in Varetta who claims to know its exact whereabouts. �Let me ride with you to Varetta; in return for the privilege I shall take you to this man.� Your basic Kai instincts tell you his offer is genuine. You nod your agreement and arrange to meet him in the tavern courtyard at dawn.

A shrill cockcrow heralds the break of day. By the time you have dressed and gathered together your equipment, Cyrilus is waiting for you in the courtyard below.

�A glorious day,� he says cheerfully, pointing up at the cloudless sky with his slender oaken staff. �We�ll have no difficulty reaching the Halfway Inn by nightfall.�

You bid farewell to the innkeeper and his son and urge your horses out onto the narrow street that leads to the west gatehouse. By mid-morning you are riding across gentle hills crested with yellow-leaved trees. The hilltops are shrouded with mist, but occasional rays of sunshine break through to lighten the lush green fields below. Time passes swiftly as Cyrilus recounts the histories and legends of the area. You learn that the rich and fertile kingdoms bordering the River Storn have a wild and turbulent past, swept by wars, divided by empires, split by national rivalries and the ambitions of petty princes who prey upon one another and the rest of the populace. Lyris is embroiled in war with Magador, Delden with Salony, and Salony with Slovia. Battles are fought, lives are lost and the land is pillaged with grim regularity�only the mercenaries and the crows seem to prosper from the continual conflicts.

It is mid-afternoon when you catch sight of a small village on the road ahead. There are many wagons parked at the side of the highway, and a crowd has gathered in a field nearby. As you ride past, you notice a large placard nailed to one of the wagons:

ARCHERY TOURNAMENT ENTRANCE FEE: 2 GOLD CROWNS FIRST PRIZE: THE SILVER BOW OF DUADON

Shall we enter the archery tournament? Or give it a miss?

Cyrilus would have joined us and told us about the Lorestone regardless of what we did or said, there's no way to leave Quarlen without him.

# ? Dec 2, 2017 00:30