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Remembering the possible future where you inhaled toxic fumes, you turn your head away as you lift the glass dome. The only scent that reaches your nostrils is the fresh fragrance of spring flowers. But the flowers aren't fresh; in fact, they may never have been real flowers. Closer examination reveals them to have been sculpted of some waxy substance.
You've felt th flowers, and smelled them. Perhaps you should taste them?
Do you:
A: Taste the flowers?
B: Replace the flowers and look at something else?
Why is there never a cool middle option like "KEEP the flowers, but don't eat them"?
I agree. Sounds stupid to eat them. I am curious about what would happen, but last time something sounded stupid (the getting into the fountain thing), it was also deadly, so I'm going to have to say pass.
So, that means we're back to the previous choices, so let's not waste a whole day just saying we're going back... let's choose.
Go back to an earlier choice AND investigate the firepits.
Agreed. I definitely want to keep the flowers for later. But as we can't, to the firepits if is.
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You place the flowers back in the dome, and turn your attention to the pits. As you study them, you suddenly realize that some of the flame in the right-hand pit is breaking away. It's a fire elemental!
You leap back, hand upon your blade, but then you hear the crackling sounds of flame changing into recognizable sounds - words, in fact.
"IIII cannnn beeee yourrrr guidddde outttt of thissss chammmmber," are the words you think you hear through the crackling noises. Ignan was never your strongest language.
Do you:
A: Think what you're hearing is your imagination and you want to fight the elemental immediately?
B: Feel like you'd better try to hear more?
Hear more. I wonder if it knows something
hear more, though not sure why we need a guide. Are we trapped and didn't realize it?
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"Alright," you reply warily. "I'm listening. How can you help?"
"Jusssst dropppp innnnsiddde thissss ffffirepitttt, andddd youuu willll getttt outttt offfff herrrre."
Your head spins at the horror. Getting away from this hellscape is welcome, but leaping into a roaring blaze? And how can you know if the elemental is telling the truth? You don't have any particular resistance to flame, but perhaps you could follow the elemental's instructions without getting burned - or at least, not too badly.
Do you:
A: Follow the elemental's instructions?
B: Decline and investigate something else?
Decline. It might be true, but I'm not interested in trying it when we haven't even explored any further. And burning is a crappy way to die, and I don't really think that elementals are any more trustworthy than fey.
Decline. We only have one crystal left.
Chariot
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The chariot is a magnificently constructed vehicle of fine, stout wood, with hand-wrought decorations covering its surface. The shafts bear tooled leather traces, and mounted on the peak of the front is a huge gem that shimmers with magic as you examine it.
Do you:
A: Take the gem?
B: Hitch the chariot to the nightmare?
Take the gem.
Holy choices batman. Both of those could go oh so very wrong, and this time no choice to back away slowly. :)
I'm going to go with hitch to chariot.
... The nightmare is a magical thingie too, just saying. :)
... The nightmare is a magical thingie too, just saying. :)
+1
I'm just hoping our sword of Nightmare control keeps working. :)
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You drag the chariot forward so the shafts can be fastened to the harness on the nightmare's sides. Cinching the leather straps tightly, you turn the nightmare and chariot around so you face the tunnel entrance. Mounting the chariot, you brace your feet against the front and give the reins a sharp flick, all the while uttering a brief prayer to the gods.
Instantly, the creature bursts into motion, starting the chariot with a sharp jerk. Before you can react, it is out in the open and the sun is pouring down upon you. With flaming, thundering hooves, the nightmare pulls you at such sped that you can't tell where you're going or even where you've been! Then, suddenly, the creature slows and you find yourself beside a narrow bridge over a yawning chasm. You step out of the chariot, and just as you turn your attention to the glowing gem on the chariot, the nightmare races off again, back the way you came. You had no chance to take the gem.
You now find yourself in a huge underground cavern. Instantly you see that if you want to get out of the cavern, there's nowhere to go but forward, across the bridge that stands before you. But a mean-looking, huge, and altogether unpleasant troll stands at the other end of the bridge, and you have the distinct impression that it's not going to let you past!
What's the troll doing above the bridge? you wonder. Aren't trolls supposed to be under bridges?
At least the monster doesn't seem inclined to come across to get you, so you have time to ponder your next move. All around you is bare rock, with no crevices or tunnels. In front of you is a narrow, seemingly bottomless chasm. There's no way you can leap across it, so your options are limited.
Do you:
A: Investigate the bridge pillars, which seem to have some writing on them?
B: Take the chance that the troll is too heavy for the bridge and go out to to look at the golden hoop lying in the middle of the structure?
C: March across the bridge and attack the troll?
D: Use a flying carpet?
Investigate the pillars.
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The pillars are decorated with magic writing. You stand by one and trace its patterns with your fingers.
Try as you might, you discern nothing unusual about the pillars, nor can you decipher the writing. As the troll growls at your continuing presence, you decide upon your next action.
Do you:
A: Investigate the bridge pillars, which seem to have some writing on them?
B: Take the chance that the troll is too heavy for the bridge and go out to to look at the golden hoop lying in the middle of the structure?
C: March across the bridge and attack the troll?
D: Use a flying carpet?
Look at the golden hoop.
Again, scary choices. This seems like it will throw us into a chasm, if we walk onto a bridge we think the troll will break. :)
But whatever... fighting him or maybe getting a magic hula hoop, I'm going hula hoop.
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Hoping the troll won't change its mind and venture out on the bridge, you carefully move out toward the hoop. The troll just grumbles and grunts, rather like a rumbling volcano must sound.
The hoop is just lying there on the bound-pole surface of the bridge. It's god and appears to be about eight inches in diameter. You're somewhat disappointed to discover that it's merely a plain gold hoop with no ornamentation whatsoever, although at second glance, you do see a small bangle hanging from one side. Maybe it's supposed to be a necklace - it looks like it will fit over your head.
The distant rumble of the troll suddenly turns into growling words. "Let me have the hoop, stranger, and I'll let you by." You can barely discern what the troll is saying, it's rather like hearing a rock talk!
Do you:
A: Toss the hoop to the troll and hope it keeps its word?
B: Throw the hoop at the troll and hope you hit it?
C: Take more time to ponder the matter (and, incidentally, drive the troll crazy) by playing ring-toss with the hoop and trying to get it over a bridge pillar?
D: Put the hoop over your head and wear it as a necklace?
E: Throw the hoop in the chasm?
F: Keep the hoop and use it if you ever need a ring?
If we'd murderhoboed the trolll earlier we might not have lived to get the hoop. Still I agree with your selection and opt to use the hoop as a necklace
Why would we murder him? Unless he attacks us, we should leave him alone. Trolls are people too... or, um... sentient beings at least. :)
I think testing it on the bridge pillar might have been wiser, to see if it does something to it, but necklace is good too. Find out what it is before we trade it away, for sure.
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Well, it's shiny, you think to yourself. Might as well wear it. You place it over your head and with a flash you disappear from the bridge. The hoop drops back down to the bridge slats, remaining behind.
You, however, find yourself in a much more serene environment. You appear to be back outdoors, where little faerie folk laugh and chatter and buzz around. A human-sized swing hangs from a bough, seeming to beckon you to enjoy it. Relaxing beneath the tree where it hangs is an elf dressed in a green tunic, with a sword on his hip.
"A mortal!", he says with a grin, getting to his feet. "What brings you here?"
"My name is Riderch, sir elf, and I am searching the mound for the lute of Danann."
"You have no chance to succeed, mortal," the elf replies, his smile still upon his face. "But fortune smiles upon you this day. While I was resting my feet here, I just got to thinking that I have not helped in a hopeless cause in a long, long time. Then, suddenly, you appeared! I know not whether you came in answer to my thoughts, or if you appeared unbidden, but I will not ignore such a portent. I will accompany you on your quest and fight side by side with you, until death do us part. Lead on, my newfound friend!"
As you stand there enjoying the sunshine and lazy drifting clouds, several of the little faeries fly over your head. You look up at them and smile...until you see them preparing to sprinkle you with something!
"Is...is that faerie dust?" you ask, somewhat alarmed. Your bardic training had stories that faerie dust could make humans do weird things.
"Yes, it is," a tiny, lilting voice says. "Please let us sprinkle some on you. We guarantee that it will only be helpful."
Helpful?, you think. But for whom?
Do you:
A: Let the faeries sprinkle you with faerie dust?
B: Refuse the faerie dust?
Refuse. It could have us ejected from the mound
The Elf's name is Zade. And the decision has already been made, but yeah... toss up on whether it would be good or bad. They might get mad if we refuse, but then again, letting them might do something bad too, so I'm fine with what you guys went with.
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You shake your head and reply, "No, thank you." The faeries stamp their tiny feet and insist, but if anything, that galvanizes your resolve in having made the right decision. The faeries leave in a huff, casting dire warnings of doom and disaster as they go.
Free to look around at last, you weigh your options.
Do you investigate:
A: A sizable mushroom?
B: A pouch hanging in the tree?
C: A wrought-iron gate?
D: The swing?
E: A bottle held by two flying faeries?
F: A path through the flowers?
The bottle,
the pouch.
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You look up in the sky, where two faeries are flying around carrying a bottle between them. You chuckle as you try to imagine what they're doing with it. Suddenly, you notice that the bottle has an inviting green glow it. The faeries deliberately fly near to you and drop the bottle at your feet.
Do you:
A: Pick the bottle up and examine it?
B: Ignore it and investigate something else?
A. Why else would I want to annoy the fairy.
This is a set up, but I hope investigating it won't kill us. Pick it up.
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The bottle certainly looks ordinary enough. You turn it around and give it a cautious sniff. There's no hint of aroma or anything, so you uncork the bottle. Instantly, there's a great rushing shriek and a whooshing sound fills the air. This does not issue from the bottle, but from the huge red dragon that has been called forth by the bottle of summoning you've opened!
"I knew this was a lost cause!", Zade says, drawing his blade with glee. "I shall protect you from the dragon!" He prepares to leap at the beast, but you draw Cwythia and pipe the same tune you used to put a different dragon to sleep in the mound.
Just as Zade is about to close the distance and attack the dragon, you finish your tune, and the dragon lows, quickly succumbing to slumber. "Perhaps your quest is not as impossible as I thought," he says, sheathing his elf-steel blade. You hear a faint flutter near your head, and you see the faeries turning to the meadow.
"Couldn't you have warned me that was a bad idea?", you ask peevishly.
"We did," they reply. "In our own sort of way, that is." They release a few grains of faerie dust into the breeze.
"Oh," you reply, as you consider your next move carefully.
Do you investigate:
A: A sizable mushroom?
B: A pouch hanging in the tree?
C: A wrought-iron gate?
D: The swing?
E: A bottle held by two flying faeries?
F: A path through the flowers?
Pouch it!