Talisman of Death - Attempt 3

So far, both of my attempts to beat Talisman of Death have come unstuck in the Temple of Fell-Kyrinla. The first was because I couldn't polish off a guard quickly enough, and the second was because the high priestess Hawkana is tough as balls. Hopefully, with good enough stats, I can get through the temple this time.

The dice were mostly with me as I rolled my character: I got a Skill of 12, a Stamina of 20 and a Luck of 8. The Potion of Fortune was my obvious choice here. I was feeling pretty good about my chances.

I'll gloss over the opening stages, as I've covered them previously and I didn't make any different choices.

• In the Rift, I told the four crusaders that I was from a different planet, and they gave me the Talisman of Death and 10 gold pieces before teleporting me to the surface.
• I went through the forest, helping the wolf and meeting Wodeman, who gifted me with a golden apple.
• I avoided the basilisk entirely.
• Some followers of Fell-Kyrinla picked me up and escorted me to Greyguilds after I told them I was a merchant.
• Upon reaching Greyguilds my stats were still at maximum, but I had used two provisions (leaving me with 8).

And now I'll resume with the adventure.

* * *

After being dropped off in Greyguilds, I decided to walk down Store Street. My attention was drawn to a woman in green robes, who approached and politely asked me who I was. (I say politely, but as far as I'm concerned the politest thing a stranger can do for me is shut up and keep on walking.) I told her I was on a holy quest, and she asked if I had encountered a green-robed man in my travels. I told her about Wodeman, and she revealed that she was Lillantha, a priestess of the All-Mother. I decided to accompany her to her temple, where she was going to pray.

The temple was in a magnificent hanging garden, and after a few moments of prayer Lillantha said that the All-Mother had instructed her to help me on my quest. She gifted me with a fine suit of magical chainmail (which would give me a +1 Skill bonus if I wasn't adhering to the rule about not exceeding initial scores), and told me that the city gates are guarded by followers of the All-Mother in the evenings for three days after market-day. I thanked her, and returned to Store Street.

Further along I found that the street was empty; empty, that is, except for a stylin' black carriage carrying a coffin with my own name on it. An equally stylin' man with a cane stepped out of the carriage, and demanded the Talisman in "a voice of doom". Before I could respond, he transformed into a skeleton wielding a rapier: an Envoy of Death!

I attacked the Envoy (Skill 8, Stamina 4) immediately, dealing him a wicked blow. He fought back, but feebly, and was not able to strike me before I killed him. (This meant I avoided his Skill-draining ability.)

Continuing along Store Street, I came to a library on one side and a Guild of Learning on the other. I decided to investigate the guild (having already been to the library on both of my previous attempts). I found a reading-room, and a did a bit of research on magic, but I didn't learn anything of note except for a lot of different words for "wizard". Just as I was about to leave, I noticed a red book bound with multi-coloured scales. Unable to resist a sinister-looking book, I took a peek inside. The was titled Tome of Misfortune, which turned out to be appropriate: I was the victim of an ancient curse (which reduced my Luck score to 7). They really should print titles like that on the front cover.

I left the Guild of Learning, only to find the streets deserted once again. I moved cautiously, expecting another Envoy. Instead, I stepped in a man-trap (reducing my Stamina to 18) and was accosted by followers of the God of Death. Before they could take the Talisman, followers of Fell-Kyrinla arrived and took it themselves, leaving me to die in the trap.

Luckily a friendly sage named Apothecus rescued me and took me back to his place for a rest and some food (restoring my Stamina to 20). He gave me a Ring of Weaponskill (+1 Skill), and told me that I should find some thieves at the Red Dragon Inn to help me steal the Talisman back from the temple.

I thanked Apothecus and left immediately. On the way I saw two students fighting. I saw that one of them had dropped a brass tiger charm, and I picked it up just in case it might prove vital to my quest. (I decided to play it like this adventure was written by Ian Livingstone for a little bit.)

At the Red Dragon I tried to talk to the barman, but instead of my usual glib, charming patter I found myself calling him a fat pig, with a squalid pus-ridden face that made me want to vomit. Naturally this didn't go down too well, and I ended up in battle with the barman and another cut-throat who came to his aid.

The Barman (Skill 7, Stamina 8) and the Cut-Throat (Skill 8, Stamina 9) would have been more than a match for most, but with my peerless skill I was able to drive them both back and earn their respect. (At this point I had to Test my Luck, leaving me with a Luck of 6. I failed the test, which meant I still had possession of the tiger charm.) I learned that the Thieves' Guild was in a coal-hole on Hornbeam Road.

The barman regaled me with a tale about some psycho named Tyutchev, a worshipper of Chaos, and said that I might be just as good as him. Of course, right at that moment Tyutchev walked in, accompanied by a warrior named Cassandra. She sat down opposite me, and before I could work my magic on her I was telling her to get lost, and calling her a wrinkled hag.

Cassandra (Skill 9, Stamina 10) drew her sword, which was glowing and rimed with frost (it would deal 3 damage on a successful blow). She cut me once (reducing my Stamina to 17), but I was able to wound her enough to force her to retreat. Tyutchev (Skill 10, Stamina 12) stepped in to defend her, and although he wounded me twice (reducing my Stamina to 13) I was able to humble him in a similar fashion. He called to his god Anarchil for aid, and was rewarded with an earthquake that covered his escape with Cassandra. After the quake had stopped I crawled from the wreckage, and threw the tiger charm away. (My Luck was restored to 7 for surviving the inn, which is honestly only difficult if you take the charm in.)

A small boy approached me with a job offer, and I ended up following him back to the home of two scholars who wanted me to fight their pet. Said pet ended up being a Vivisect (Skill 8, Stamina 9) , a nightmarish mix of ogre, crocodile, and cockroach. Even so, I backed my own skill, and was able to defeat it after a long but easy battle. The scholars rewarded me with a Scroll of Agonizing Doom.

I returned for dinner with Apothecus and his friend Diodorus, who told me that there was a portal on Mount Star-Reach to the south-east that might take me back to Earth. I was also told that I might call for aid from the All-Mother if I got in dire straits, although it wouldn't work inside another god's temple. Thankful for this knowledge I went to sleep (restoring my Stamina to 17) and went to find the Thieves Guild.

On the way I passed an illusionist entertaining the crowd, but I ignored him and carried on to Hornbeam Road and into the coal-hole. There I found the guild and met Vagrant, the guild-master. I told him that I wanted his help retrieving the Talisman of Death from the Temple of Fell-Kyrinla, and he was all about it. I was assigned a posse of four thieves with rad named like "Bloodheart" and "Jemmy the Rat", and we were ready to raid the temple. Before we left, I downed my Potion of Fortune (raising my score to 9).

We entered the temple from the roof, dropping down through a window to a staircase. At that point I noticed an old servant passing by, and I silenced him with a blow to the head rather than run him through. One of the thieves stepped in to cut his throat, and I didn't stop him; the mission was too vital to jeopardise. (This callous decision reduced my Luck to 8, but there's a battle and a Luck test if I don't let the bloke get murdered, so I reckon I came out ahead.)

We infiltrated past the guards and all the way to the inner sanctum, but at the sight of the high priestess Hawkana my comrades bolted. Before I could follow, she cast a spell and the doors slammed shut.

Outraged at my presence, Hawkana tried to fry me with a pillar of flame, but I was able to dodge most of it (by rolling under 5 on one die; I still had my Stamina reduced to 14). I retaliated with my Scroll of Agonizing Doom, blasting her with a sphere of lightning, but she survived as well. Drawing her sword, Hawkana (Skill 12, Stamina 6) was upon me. We were evenly matched, trading blow for blow, but she was weak due to a bad case of AGONIZING DOOM, and I was able to kill her (my Stamina was reduced to 10) and reclaim the Talisman (which restored my Luck to 9).

Much to my dismay I saw that Hawkana's wounds were closing, and she was once more rising to her feet. I dashed to the doors, but they were still held fast so long as she lived. We fought again, but she was slower this time (Skill 9, Stamina 6). Even so, some inner fury must have driven her on, because she fought wildly and almost killed me (reducing my Stamina to 4). Even so, I was at last able to defeat her, and strip her of the Ring of Regeneration that was keeping her alive. I placed it on my own finger, and felt instant relief from my wounds (my Stamina was restored to 10).

I decided to search the inner sanctum for treasure, but almost straight away I felt a pain in my finger and saw that the ring was shrinking. It contracted into a solid ball, severing my finger completely (which reduced my Stamina to 8; it should have reduced my Skill to 11, but I've recently started using Skill bonuses from items to offset such penalties, at least that way they serve some purpose).

The thieves were waiting for me outside the inner sanctum, and together we escaped from the temple. Just as we were nearly out a group of guards appeared, and Bloodheart chose that moment to try and kill me. I dodged his dagger thrust, and he was peppered with arrows from the guards. I left him behind and climbed out of the temple window. The other thieves had jumped from the temple roof to another building, and I was agile enough to follow (succeeding at a Skill check).

Fearing more betrayal, I scattered the thieves with my sword, and they were happy enough to run from the killer of Hawkana. I raced away across the rooftops, until I could find a place to rest before leaving the city.

At least, I thought I'd be able to rest. As I was catching my breath, I was confronted by Tyutchev, Cassandra, and the magician I had seen performing tricks earlier, an illusionist named Thaum. The thieves had told them about my success, and now they were here to kill me and take the Talisman. Thaum made a gesture, introducing "Harg" as an ugly troll wielding a hammer stepped from a nearby building.

Reasoning that Thaum was a master of illusions, I stood my ground as the troll attacked, offering no resistance. Seeing this, Thaum dismissed the illusion instantly. He followed up with a ball of flame, which I decided was real, and dived out of the way. I was right, but the fireball still scorched my back (reducing my Stamina to 5).

I charged at Tyutchev, dealing him a blow, but at the same time I noticed Thaum turning invisible, and that wrinkled hag Cassandra about to join in the battle. Outnumbered and low on strength, I decided to call on the All-Mother for aid. I was rewarded with the aid of a Giant Eagle, who swooped down to carry me away. (There's a small error here; Thaum turns invisible, but a little bit later it says that you see him make another gesture.)

I'd hoped the Eagle could fly me all the way to Mount Star-Reach, but the weight of the Talisman's power proved too much, and it dropped me in an alley still inside Greyguilds. Remembering the advice of Lillantha, priestess of the All-Mother, I decided to wait until evening to make my move. (At this point I ate three provisions, leaving me with five and restoring my Stamina to 17.)

I lay low in the alley until evening, but just as I was about to set off I noticed a small hooded figure; it was a Dark Elf, who must have tracked me all the way from the Rift. The little bloke should have stayed there, because I was able to kill him easily. Even so, I figured there must be more around, so I made my way to the city gates. As I had hoped, followers of the All-Mother were on guard, and they let me pass out of the city.

After several miles I got some sleep in a hayrick (restoring my Stamina to 19). In the morning I had to choose one of three paths to Mount Star-Reach: the direct route across the moor-land; an old trade route that headed south then east; or I could head east to some hills and then south. I figured the direct route would be the most dangerous, and I'd be more likely to be found on the road, so I opted to head east toward the hills.

It started to rain as I crossed the heath, and so I didn't notice the Griffin (Skill 8, Stamina 14) that swooped out of the sky and took a piece out of me (reducing my Stamina to 17). I fought back, and was able to subdue the beast without killing it. It was thankful that I had spared its life, and offered to fly me anywhere. I hopped up on its back and told it to head for Mount Star-Reach.

I thought I was on the road to an easy victory, but just as hope dawned it was crushed by... a Pteranodon? Yes, without warning, dinosaurs were happening. I was knocked to the ground, but luckily a jungle fern broke my fall. The Pteranodon (Skill 7, Stamina 15) pressed its attack, but despite its size and ferocity it only managed to wound me once before I could kill it (leaving me with 15 Stamina).

I struggled through the hot jungle, swarmed by insects. A tree-trunk near me snapped, and out of the trees crashed a huge Triceratops (Skill 8, Stamina 30).

I was able to hold it off without injury, until luckily (due to a Luck Test that reduced my score to 8) a Tyrannosaurus chose that moment to make the Triceratops its lunch. While the two behemoths fought, I made my escape.

After an arduous journey, I made my way out of the jungle and into the foothills of Mount Star-Reach. I started climbing, and soon came to a wide cave which smelled faintly of sulphur. Intrigued, I decided to enter. (The book didn't give me a choice here. I probably would have gone in anyway, but it does seem like a pretty stupid thing to do in the circumstances.)

The smell of sulphur grew stronger, and I soon came to a narrow tunnel branching off from the main passage. Figuring that if anything lived in the cave it might be too big for the smaller tunnel, I chose to go that way. It wound around for some time, until it opened into a huge cavern. Right in front of me was the ridged back of an enormous dragon, and beneath the dragon was a huge pile of treasure. Resisting the urge to steal some treasure or take some scales (or to stab the dragon in the back) I fled the cavern as quickly as possible. I ain't messing with no dragon.

I pressed on despite the thinning atmosphere, and finally reached the top of Mount Star-Reach. There before me was my goal, a shimmering rectangle of silver hanging suspended in the air. It almost seemed too easy, and it was; before I could enter the portal the dragon flew down and blocked my path. It was the guardian of the portal, and refused to let me pass. There was nothing for it but to do battle, but I was hopelessly outmatched. Before I could do anything the dragon breathed, and I was blasted to ashes. I don't mess with dragons, but there ain't much to be done when one decides to mess with you. My adventure was over.

THE POST-GAME

Well, not necessarily. This is one of those points where the book gives you the option of trying again. Given my stats, I think I'll probably take that option, but I'm undecided. If I do, I'll be back in a few days to let you all know how I did. The book restores you to a point just after Greyguilds, and it's very tempting to skip past all of that stuff.

As for this game, there really was little I could have done. That final dragon encounter was an instant death, no options, no combat, no nothing. I guess I had to do something else in its lair, or perhaps take another path away from Greyguilds. I'll try both of those on my next attempt, and see how it goes.

Talisman of Death - Attempt 2

It's time to recount my second attempt at Talisman of Death, with complete clarity and 100% accuracy. Yes indeed, the fact that I did this play-through several weeks ago will in no way impede the quality of this post. I have a memory like a steel trap, after all. Never mind that steel traps are inanimate and non-sentient. It's all up here somewhere. (Okay, so I did this a while ago and I might not remember everything. Luckily, I take pretty good notes.)

For my second attempt, I rolled a Skill of 9, a Stamina of 22, and a Luck of 9. I chose the Potion of Fortune, and it was time to once more set off on my quest to protect the titular talisman.

(As a side note, I won't be using the resurrection option that this book provides unless I roll up a spectacularly buff character. I'd like to keep these posts to a manageable level, and it also would be a waste of time to take multiple chances with hopeless stats.)

I'll run through the opening stages quickly: after the gods transported me into the Rift, I stood my ground to await the adventurers who were approaching. I was much more trusting of them than I had been in my last attempt, and they entrusted the Talisman of Death to me without the need for magical coercion. Finally they gifted me with a bag of 10 gold pieces, and teleported me to the surface just before a horde of dark elves overwhelmed them.

On the surface I chose to take cover in a nearby forest rather than chance the plains. I was confronted by a wolf, but giving her some provisions (and lowering my supply to 9) granted me the favour of Wodeman, a powerful druid. He gave me a blessing, as well as a golden apple, and sent me on my way.

In a wooded valley I came across a basilisk lazing in the sun. I tried to sneak past it, but stepped on a twig (the result of a failed Luck test which reduced my score to 9). The basilisk turned its gaze on me, and I flung myself into the undergrowth just in time to avoid being turned to stone by its gaze. Even so, I was partially petrified, and my muscles were damaged (reducing my Skill to 8).

Further along the trail there was a pond, with an old woman up to her neck in the water. She claimed to be drowning, and unable to escape due to being entangled in the weeds. Despite this dubious story, I decided to help her anyway. As soon as I took her hand, tendrils shot out of the water, and a bloated body rose out of the water. I knew it!

Grendel (Skill 8, Stamina 9) was a tough battle: she wounded me five times before I could kill her (reducing my Stamina to 12). She was also a pointless battle; with no treasure to be claimed, there was nothing to do but continue my journey.

Once out of the forest and onto the plains, I was confronted by a group of mounted warrior-women who demanded to know my business. I told them I was a merchant from Serakub, and they offered to escort me to the city of Greyguilds. (Also, the woman I got to ride with was Elvira, which is pretty exciting. You know what I'm talking about. Unless you're too young to know about Elvira. But you're probably not if you're reading this blog.)

Once in Greyguilds, I opted to go down Smith Street (I had chosen Store Street in my previous attempt). I passed by an armourer's shop and went in, but all they had for sale were swords. I bought one for 7 gold pieces, even though I didn't really need it.  Further along the street was deserted, except for a cowled figure who approached me. Inside the cowl there was no face, and as it drew nearer the figure demanded the Talisman.

I attacked immediately, and was engaged in battle with a Minion of Death (Skill 7, Stamina 5). I was able to defeat it, but not before it wounded me with its chilling touch (leaving me with a Stamina of 10, and draining my Skill to 7). The Minion's cloak fell to the ground, empty, and I ran on until I reached Silver Street.

I was startled by voices, which were being carried to me from a nearby house by a drain pipe. The men I was overhearing were planning to rob a jeweller, so ran to the jeweller's shop to warn him. When I arrived the jeweller, a small man with a monocle, was locking his safe. At that point the thieves arrived, and I leaped to the jeweller's aid.

One of the thieves attacked the jeweller, and the others went for me. The two thieves (Skill 6, Stamina 7 & Skill 5, Stamina 6) were easy pickings, though I was wounded (reducing my Stamina to 8) before I could kill one of them. The jeweller had also killed his opponent, and the last fled in terror. As a reward, he gave me 10 gold pieces and a magnificent ruby (which restored my Luck to 9).

Silver Street turned into Booker's Walk. One one side of the street were some blue-robed students, and on the other was a library. I entered the library, and asked for a book on the history of Greyguilds. I learned much of the city, but little that seemed relevant to my quest. Soon the other library patrons started filing out as night fell, and I followed them out into the street.

I started searching for an inn, but instead I found a man-trap that closed on my leg when I stepped on it (reducing my Stamina to 6). Priests of Death surrounded me, and took the Talisman. Before they could leave, followers of the goddess Fell-Kyrinla arrived and drove them away, claiming the Talisman for themselves. I was left to rot in a man-trap, "cursing bitterly". (A lot of Fs and Cs, I can assure you. It's the Australian way.)

Just as my swearing intensified, a man helped me out of the trap and offered me a place to stay for the night. I accepted, and got a good night's sleep at the home of Apothecus (restoring my Stamina to 10; I also ate two provisions, which brought my Stamina back to 18). In the morning I told him everything, and he advised me that I should seek the help of the Thieves' Guild to get the Talisman back from the Temple of Fell-Kyrinla. He also gave a magic ring of weaponskill (which restored my Skill to 8), and a jade rose which I could use to guarantee my identity if I returned to his house.

Following Apothecus' advice, I went to the Red Dragon Inn, ignoring two quarreling students along the way. At the inn I met half-a-dozen ne'er-do-wells, and told them that I needed help with some "unfinished business". They told me to meet them in the coal-hole on Hornbeam Road.

Before I could leave the inn, two dangerous-looking warriors named Tyutchev and Cassandra entered, and sat opposite me. I introduced myself and, throwing all caution aside, told them everything about my quest. Tyutchev said he had no time for such things, but he was obviously interested, and was talking to the thieves as I left the inn. Maybe spilling my guts had been a bad idea?

I decided to go back to have dinner with Apothecus. On the way a boy approached and asked if I wanted to make some money by helping a scholar. I decided to accept, and was taken to a greenhouse where two scholars in blue robes greeted me. I was told I could earn 20 gold pieces for a few minutes work, so I went with them into the greenhouse, where nothing bad could possibly go wrong. Warning bell one sounded when they told me they were into vivisection. Warning bell two was the huge pit ringed with downward-facing spikes. Warning bell three?

The scholars told me they wanted me to fight this thing, and that they'd put it to sleep with a spell if anything went wrong. "This should be interesting," I replied, with the kind of emotional flatness reserved for mass murderers and sociopaths, and I jumped into the pit.

I fought the Vivisect (Skill 8, Stamina 12) while the scholars took notes. The creature hammered me (reducing my Stamina to 8), but I was eventually able to kill it. The scholars were upset that their creature was dead, and it turned out that they didn't even have the money to pay me. Seeing my anger, and perhaps remembering the killer's edge in my voice earlier, they rewarded me instead with a Scroll of Agonizing Doooooom, which sounded way cooler than any amount of gold pieces. (To be honest, I should have known something was up as soon as I learned that one of the scholar's was named "Moreau". Even the character in the book should know, he's from Earth!)

I returned to Apothecus, returning the jade rose to prove myself, and had a good old chat with him and another Sage who told me about a portal I could use to get back to my own world. After a refreshing rest (restoring my Stamina to 12), I bid Apothecus farewell and went to meet the thieves.

Along the way I saw a magician performing magic tricks, and stayed to watch. Tyutchev, the man from the Red Dragon appeared, and both he and the magician disappeared in a puff of smoke. While I pondered this scene, a man approached and invited me to drink some sherry with Mortphilio, an elder of the city. The guy's name is Mortphilio? Sign me up!

I followed the man to an old gothic building, where I met Mortphilio, a decrepit invalid. As I entered, a skull on the mantelpiece said that I was "the one". Mortphilio ordered it to attack me, and it hurtled towards me on shadowy wings.

The Winged Skull (Skill 7, Stamina 6) gave a better fight than I had expected, wounding me three times (reducing my Stamina to 6). While I was fighting Mortphilio had taken the time to summon some skeletal reinforcements, so I made a quick retreat to safety. Oh, did I say safety? Because I really meant to say that I ran right into the Temple of Death in the middle of a congregation.

The high priest intoned his ritual, and six mounted wraiths emerged from a lake of boiling blood. Charged with retrieving the Talisman, the wraiths spurred their black hell-steeds down the aisle. (How did this not get an illustration?) While this was going on, I noticed one of the congregation walk to the back of the church, put on a helmet, and vanish. Vanishing seemed like a good idea, so (disguised in a hastily donned black robe) I grabbed one of those helmets and jammed it on my head. It was magical, as not only did it teleport me out into the street, it also conferred quickness of thought (raising my Skill to 9).

I made my way to Hornbeam Road, and into the coal-hole. There I met Vagrant, and told him about the Talisman. He was eager to help, and assigned a bunch of his thieves to help me rob the Temple of Fell-Kyrinla. Before the mission began, I drank my Potion of Fortune (raising my Luck score to 10), and ate three provisions (restoring my Stamina to 18).

As we were entering the temple, I noticed a servant passing a doorway, and decided to knock him out. One of the thieves, "Lord Min", decided that slitting the old man's throat would be a good idea, but I stopped him. Unfortunately, this sent his dagger clattering down the stairs, sounding the alarm. The thieves scattered, and I pressed on alone.

I could hear footsteps coming up the stairs, so I hid behind an arras as the guards passed by (testing my Luck successfully to remain hidden, and reducing that score to 9). At the bottom of the stairs a guard was on duty before some double doors. I attacked the guard (Skill 7, Stamina 8), and was able to silence her before her comrades could return. (I had to do this within 5 rounds, and I used a Luck point to ensure my success.)

I opened the doors, and entered the Inner Sanctum of the temple. There I met Hawkana, the high priest of Fell-Kyrinla, who was enraged at my presence. She summoned a pillar of flame to strike me down, but I was able to avoid most of it (reducing my Stamina to 15). I retaliated with my Scroll of Agonizing Doom, and Hawkana was engulfed in a ball of crackling electricity. Unfortunately, she survived, and was none too happy.

Hawkana was wounded badly (Skill 12, Stamina 6), but the battle went badly for me. She struck me six times in a row, and the only blow I landed in return was a minor one (I tried to use my Luck to do more damage, but failed). After that she finished me off, and my quest to destroy the Talisman was over.

THE POST-GAME
With her Stamina fairly low, I thought I had a chance to kill Hawkana, but she just kept on rolling high numbers. If my memory serves, this is the point where I usually fail this book. I'm not sure how to get past it, aside from rolling a higher Skill score. Perhaps if I get through the temple without setting off the alarms? Or maybe if I find a Unicorn Horn Amulet, or some Vapours of Speed (the other items that were given as options alongside my scroll.) Next time, I suppose.