Neighbourhood Necromancer - Another fine CYOA from Choice of Games

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > Neighbourhood Necromancer - Another fine CYOA from Choice of Games

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Crepuscule Adepte: Feb 21, 2008; Why is my hair purple? It's from the blood of everyone that lost a bet against me.

clean, clean, clean... We're seriously lacking in the Energy department.

# ? Feb 24, 2015 04:29

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# ? May 13, 2024 09:54

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

Clean!

# ? Feb 24, 2015 04:44

Darth TNT: Sep 20, 2013

I challenge you to a lecture off!

# ? Feb 24, 2015 09:35

Oblivion4568238: Oct 10, 2012; The Inquisition.
What a show.
The Inquisition.
Here. We. Go.; College Slice

quote:

You heft your blue plastic bag and point out that industrial-strength cleaning products vastly outnumber the few items of cheap food you purchased. The woman glares, like she thinks you have another bag somewhere filled with toys and pornography.

This relationship appears to be stalled. You ask the woman who she actually is.

quote:

A gleam comes into her forbidding eyes. "Some call me She Of The Fairy Mounds. Some, The Washer At The Ford. For truth, I am the bean nighe and I walk the ways that death will follow. And frankly, when you then turn up and reverse the flow down those ways, it makes my job a nightmare."

Unsure, you ask her to repeat those words�were they Gaelic?

"Bean nighe�oh, I can't bear to hear you slaughter it. 'Banshee' will do."

She drifts from side to side, appraising you. One long, twig-like finger rises to point at your face. "The undead are not playthings for your childish whimsy. I will be here to care for them, and protect them. And I will be keeping my eye on you, young lady. Now, when was the last time you gave this zombie a shampoo? I suppose you think that the undead have no need for hygiene. Well, you're about to learn different. Have you got the hot water on?"

Ask where exactly she has come from.
Ask what her regular job is.
Ask how she found you.
Ask about the humerus.

Here we find the other variant of Fake Choice, the "Heroes Rise" variety, wherein our choice has literally no value, not even a different line of text. Of course, it's used here to set up the Banshee's whole questions gimmick. I can't think of any others in this game like this, so I suppose it can slide.

quote:

"'Ere you ask me a question, you must answer three of mine." She smirks and swings away. You point out that she has already answered at least one question, but she dismisses you with a spindly hand.

The banshee drifts off down the hall, leaving a caustic green vapour in her wake. It's no good. She seems to have an affinity with the undead, and she seems to have taken it upon herself to move in. You could demand she leaves�but something tells you you're not going to get very far with that.

You sigh, and begin to unpack the shopping.

Next Day posted:

It's a new day.

The banshee is at the window, fixing a chaffinch in the garden with her penetrating stare. It looks around and chirps.

What will you do?

Visit the graveyard to recruit more undead.
Go to school.

Stats posted:

A successful necromancer must manage an array of vital character statistics.

Control: 68%
Energy: 44% (+2)
Luck: 79%
Corruption: 1%
Humanity: 13%
Your activities have attracted some attention.

Your undead army consists of:
Skeletons: 2
Zombies: 2
and it has killed 2 people in total.

# ? Feb 25, 2015 01:56

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

Graveyard!

# ? Feb 25, 2015 02:06

Fangz: Jul 5, 2007; Oh I see! This must be the Bad Opinion Zone!

Go to school and meet Max.

# ? Feb 25, 2015 02:31

legoman727: Mar 13, 2010; by exmarx

Let's actually get more undead for once.

# ? Feb 25, 2015 02:35

Darth TNT: Sep 20, 2013

More deadies!

# ? Feb 25, 2015 08:39

Shei-kun: Dec 2, 2011; Screw you, physics!

We need more undead. For reasons.

# ? Feb 25, 2015 22:32

Oblivion4568238: Oct 10, 2012; The Inquisition.
What a show.
The Inquisition.
Here. We. Go.; College Slice

quote:

Alone, you weave your way out of town to the graveyard. It's a lonely, windy spot crammed between the ruins of the church and a potato field. The gates are patchy with rust. They open with a squeal which seems to touch all the frequencies painful to human hearing.

Near the front, the stones are old, grey; crooked like bad teeth. Moss chokes the inscriptions and many of them have been worn smooth by years of cold rain.

Further back are signs of more recent use. Some marble stones gleam among the granite, gold still visible on their inscriptions.

quote:

You shiver as you walk among the headstones. It's one thing controlling a shambling figure of wasting flesh or a clackety, hyperactive collection of bones. But these are still people, lying deep in the earth, some for a very long time. Do you really want to interrupt their eternal rest to boost your horde?

Recruit in the older section of the graveyard. (Skeletons, raised by Control or ~~Luck~~ Too much Humanity for Luck)
Recruit in the newer section of the graveyard. (Zombies, raised by Humanity or Corruption)
Take your time and look at the stones. (Choose from above again, or Leave flowers; Luck ~+20, Humanity +2)

Stats posted:

A successful necromancer must manage an array of vital character statistics.

Control: 68%
Energy: 44%
Luck: 79%
Corruption: 1%
Humanity: 13%
Your activities have attracted some attention.

Your undead army consists of:
Skeletons: 2
Zombies: 2
and it has killed 2 people in total.

# ? Feb 26, 2015 04:54

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

Skeletons.

# ? Feb 26, 2015 05:01

legoman727: Mar 13, 2010; by exmarx

Zombies.

# ? Feb 26, 2015 05:17

Darth TNT: Sep 20, 2013

Zombies

# ? Feb 26, 2015 09:01

Stephen9001: Oct 28, 2013

Skeletons

I can have moments of... eccentricity and sometimes be quite curious about things. Please forgive me if I do something foolish or rude.

# ? Feb 26, 2015 11:17

Rogue AI Goddess: May 10, 2012; I enjoy the sight of humans on their knees.
That was a joke... unless..?

# ? Feb 26, 2015 11:24

RedMagus: Nov 16, 2005; Male....Female...what does it matter? Power is beautiful, and I've got the power!; Grimey Drawer

Ooky Spooky skeletons

# ? Feb 26, 2015 23:08

Shei-kun: Dec 2, 2011; Screw you, physics!

Look at that potential luck boost.

Wow.

Holy poo poo.

Eh, we can boost them later let's get some skeletons.

# ? Feb 27, 2015 00:01

Oblivion4568238: Oct 10, 2012; The Inquisition.
What a show.
The Inquisition.
Here. We. Go.; College Slice

quote:

You stand among the old stones and take out the humerus. Its weak pulse is difficult to see in daylight; it manifests as a sickly tint on your skin. If it's responding to the presence of bodies in the ground, they must be buried deep�or perhaps they have decayed beyond the point where they can be animated. Who knows? They don't teach this stuff in school.

Attempt to pull undead from the ground with an active force of will. (Raise the rounding of Control/25, Control ~+5)
~~Try to free your mind and contact the dead.~~ (Humanity >=10; Result = Control ~-10, Humanity +1)
~~Move to the newer section instead.~~ (Zombies instead)

You're here for skeletons, so I assume you would pick the only option that leads to skeletons.

quote:

You plant both feet square on the earth and adopt a dramatic and hopefully solid stance. You close your eyes.

The bone channels your will. You send a command deep into the ground, calling the long-time dead. Come. Now is your time. Arise and serve me. It's old-fashioned, hokey stuff, but then, there's not a single tombstone in this area more recent than the 1930s.

quote:

In front of you, the earth cracks and parts, as the dead rise again at your command.

Bones slide from the broken ground, twisting and reassembling into three new skeleton warriors. Grave dirt drains from their cavities as they ready themselves for action.

A wave of fatigue pours over you. Calling the dead requires serious concentration. You head for home with weary steps, your obedient, new undead trailing behind.

Next Day posted:

It's a new day.

You come down to find the undead shuffling around in glaring sunlight. The banshee has put your curtains in the washing machine. "They were filthy," she hisses.

This can't go on, of course. You've watched enough cop shows to understand that somebody hiding a big enough secret will always get caught. And having a house full of bloodthirsty undead is a fairly large secret. Sooner or later, when you least expect it, the local police will come knocking at your door. You could avoid that moment by making a pre-emptive strike�

What will you do?

Return to the graveyard for another try. (Groundskeeper will be in)
Go to school.
Challenge the local police.

If we do go back to the graveyard today, there are ways to raise the dead without killing or alerting the groundskeeper, though you can of course summon more dead right in front of him if you feel like. Also, the one extra Corruption below comes from raising the dead. It seems that raising any amount of undead during a graveyard visit gives you 1 Corruption.

Stats posted:

A successful necromancer must manage an array of vital character statistics.

Control: 69% (+1)
Energy: 44%
Luck: 79%
Corruption: 2% (+1)
Humanity: 13%
Your activities have attracted some attention.

Your undead army consists of:
Skeletons: 5 (+3)
Zombies: 2
and it has killed 2 people in total.

# ? Feb 27, 2015 07:30

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

Let's go to the graveyard. Maybe we can lecture the groundskeeper.

# ? Feb 27, 2015 09:09

Anchors: Nov 27, 2007

Challenge the Police, clearly they need to also be lectured.

# ? Feb 27, 2015 11:51

Darth TNT: Sep 20, 2013

lecture the groundskeeper

# ? Feb 27, 2015 13:25

Oblivion4568238: Oct 10, 2012; The Inquisition.
What a show.
The Inquisition.
Here. We. Go.; College Slice

quote:

Alone, you weave your way back out of town to the graveyard. A car roars past you as you draw close. The sound of its engine recedes until all you can hear is far-off bird cries.

Arriving at the squeaky gate, you see it's already open. And you hear a new sound, regular and rhythmic. First there is a dull thunk, then a light patter. It repeats: thunk, patter.

Someone is digging.

quote:

You slip through the gate and advance through the graveyard, walking on the grass. You're careful to avoid the crunch of the gravel paths. About halfway back, a man comes into view: a grey, bent figure in a flat cap. He works the spade, shovelling loose earth into an open grave. Thunk, patter.

There is nothing furtive about his body language. You guess this is the groundskeeper or some kind of council caretaker. This will make it awkward to raise new minions�unless you're not worried about being noticed.

Come back another time. (Luck ~+10, Control ~-5, End Day)
Talk to the groundskeeper. (Because we've raised dead, Luck ~+5, Visibility +1, End Day)
Wait to see if he leaves. (Luck >40; Success = Luck ~+10, Recruit)
Go ahead and raise some dead anyway. (Control >52; Success = +1 Zombie, Luck >52; Success = +1 Skeleton, After raising, +10 Visibility, ~+5 Control, +1 Corruption)

We could spook the groundskeeper for fun, but letting him leave and doing the normal raising would have better returns on either zombies or skeletons. Or we could just talk, but we can't really turn it into a lecture since we'd just be questioned about the body-snatching that's been happening here lately.

# ? Feb 28, 2015 03:49

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

We have enough luck to wait.

# ? Feb 28, 2015 03:54

Shei-kun: Dec 2, 2011; Screw you, physics!

ultrafilter posted:

We have enough luck to wait.

This. Let's see about MORE MINIONS again.

# ? Mar 1, 2015 01:56

Oblivion4568238: Oct 10, 2012; The Inquisition.
What a show.
The Inquisition.
Here. We. Go.; College Slice

quote:

You find a hidden spot behind a Victorian headstone which is sheltered from the worst of the weather. There, you draw your legs up and listen to the groundskeeper work. As his spade shifts the mound of earth, he sings a lonely lament.

After about half an hour, the rhythm of the spade ceases. You peer round the headstone. The groundskeeper shrugs a sack onto his back, braces the spade over his shoulder, and heads for the gate. Five minutes later, the graveyard is yours.

quote:

You shiver as you walk among the headstones. It's one thing controlling a shambling figure of wasting flesh or a clackety, hyperactive collection of bones. But these are still people, lying deep in the earth, some for a very long time. Do you really want to interrupt their eternal rest to boost your horde?

Recruit in the older section of the graveyard. (Skeletons, raise by Control)
Recruit in the newer section of the graveyard. (Zombies, raise by Humanity or Corruption)
Take your time and look at the stones. (Choose from above again, or Leave flowers; Luck ~+20, Humanity +2)

Stats posted:

A successful necromancer must manage an array of vital character statistics.

Control: 69%
Energy: 44%
Luck: 81% (+2)
Corruption: 2%
Humanity: 13%
Your activities have attracted some attention.

Your undead army consists of:
Skeletons: 5
Zombies: 2
and it has killed 2 people in total.

# ? Mar 1, 2015 03:11

legoman727: Mar 13, 2010; by exmarx

Zombies this time.

# ? Mar 1, 2015 05:10

Darth TNT: Sep 20, 2013

skeletons

# ? Mar 1, 2015 09:47

Oblivion4568238: Oct 10, 2012; The Inquisition.
What a show.
The Inquisition.
Here. We. Go.; College Slice

Skeletons = Heads
Zombies = Tails

quote:

You stand among the old stones and take out the humerus. Its weak pulse is difficult to see in daylight; it manifests as a sickly tint on your skin. If it's responding to the presence of bodies in the ground, they must be buried deep�or perhaps they have decayed beyond the point where they can be animated. Who knows? They don't teach this stuff in school.

Attempt to pull undead from the ground with an active force of will.
Try to free your mind and contact the dead.
Move to the newer section instead.

quote:

You plant both feet square on the earth and adopt a dramatic and hopefully solid stance. You close your eyes.

The bone channels your will. You send a command deep into the ground, calling the long-time dead. Come. Now is your time. Arise and serve me. It's old-fashioned, hokey stuff, but then, there's not a single tombstone in this area more recent than the 1930s.

quote:

In front of you, the earth cracks and parts, as the dead rise again at your command.

Bones slide from the broken ground, twisting and reassembling into three new skeleton warriors. Grave dirt drains from their cavities as they ready themselves for action.

A wave of fatigue pours over you. Calling the dead requires serious concentration. You head for home with weary steps, your obedient, new undead trailing behind.

Next Day posted:

It's a new day.

The banshee is perched in an armchair, engrossed in a Muriel Spark novel. She doesn't react to your arrival but her hair drifts through the air as if it were underwater.

Your doorbell clangs. Moving with quiet steps, you peer between the curtains. A police car is parked outside. A tall shadow in a cap darkens the front door.

Answer the door. (Potential to take an advantage or flee, leads to fight in house)
Hide and wait. (Only leads to fight in house)
Go out the back door and over the wall. (Takes the fight to the Police Car scene)

Stats posted:

A successful necromancer must manage an array of vital character statistics.

Control: 70% (+1)
Energy: 44%
Luck: 81%
Corruption: 3% (+1)
Humanity: 13%
Your activities have attracted some attention.

Your undead army consists of:
Skeletons: 8 (+3)
Zombies: 2
and it has killed 2 people in total.

# ? Mar 2, 2015 07:16

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

Go out the back. Let's go for max visibility.

# ? Mar 2, 2015 07:23

Shei-kun: Dec 2, 2011; Screw you, physics!

Let's Answer the door and see if there's anything we can do besides kill the cop for once.

# ? Mar 2, 2015 08:31

Darth TNT: Sep 20, 2013

Banshee, go open the door for me.

# ? Mar 2, 2015 08:53

Crepuscule Adepte: Feb 21, 2008; Why is my hair purple? It's from the blood of everyone that lost a bet against me.

I bet we can lecture the cop. Let's try to lecture the cop!

Answer the door.

# ? Mar 2, 2015 12:44

Ouroborus: Mar 31, 2010; I really only come here for the Paradise Lost: Clash of the Heavens CYOA these days.
SA was one of the first websites I ever frequented, waaaaay back in the day. I only got off my ass and got an account about 8 years ago. I bought the platinum upgrade recently.

Crepuscule Adepte posted:

I bet we can lecture the cop. Let's try to lecture the cop!

Answer the door.

Tell him we're a freewoman on the land and the law he enforces isn't applicable to us. Sovereign Necromancer!

# ? Mar 2, 2015 18:38

Oblivion4568238: Oct 10, 2012; The Inquisition.
What a show.
The Inquisition.
Here. We. Go.; College Slice

quote:

You recognise the portly policeman at the door. PC McMurdo. You're not sure but you think Georgia actually only has one policeman.

"Your parents in? I need a word."

Well, this is awkward.

Run for it. (Go to car scene)
Invite him in to ambush him. (Get advantage in fight)
Say that they're not available. (Fight without advantage, flee (again), or try to get arrested and lose multiple minions)

# ? Mar 3, 2015 12:16

Darth TNT: Sep 20, 2013

Would you like a cup of ~~skeleton~~ tea? (invite)

# ? Mar 3, 2015 12:36

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

Invite.

# ? Mar 3, 2015 19:41

Shei-kun: Dec 2, 2011; Screw you, physics!

Invite him in for a tea party

# ? Mar 3, 2015 21:40

Ouroborus: Mar 31, 2010; I really only come here for the Paradise Lost: Clash of the Heavens CYOA these days.
SA was one of the first websites I ever frequented, waaaaay back in the day. I only got off my ass and got an account about 8 years ago. I bought the platinum upgrade recently.

Invite

# ? Mar 4, 2015 00:04

Oblivion4568238: Oct 10, 2012; The Inquisition.
What a show.
The Inquisition.
Here. We. Go.; College Slice

quote:

You invite PC McMurdo in. He sniffs as he walks through the hall. You offer him a seat in the lounge, reasoning that his bulk will make it difficult to get up in a hurry. Instead of sitting down, he proceeds to tour the room, examining little details like objects on the mantelpiece. He sniffs again. Then he notices a couple of stains the zombies made on the carpet.

"We've had some reports�" he eyes the stains, then looks up at you, "�of unusual activity around this house. Do you have any comment on that?"

His eyes fix on yours. He steps closer. As your hand flicks to the humerus in your pocket, he follows the movement. Your fingers wrap around it and pull the undead.

quote:

Before you can throw in a minion, the banshee streaks through the air, green and shrieking. Her long pale fingers claw at the policeman while her hair stands up in an electric spray.

It might be too many doughnuts or too many days riding around in a Vauxhall Astra, but PC McMurdo reacts slower than he should. The banshee forces him back against the wall and her eerie fingernails tear two long scratches across his cheek.

He twists and thrusts her away, then lifts a hand to his face. Blood drips to your carpet.

A minion stands ready.

SKELETON ATTACK (Energy >42; Success = Max Energy ~+10, Luck ~+5, Victory)
ZOMBIE ATTACK (Control ~+5, Luck ~-5, Visibility +2, McMurdo flees, option to pursue)
COMBO ATTACK (Energy ~-40, Control >33; Success = Luck ~+5, Victory)
Try to reason with the policeman. (Control ~-5, repeat choice)
Take the fight outside. (Control ~+5, Flee (again again))

Also, there was a Luck ~+5 for the Banshee tearing up McMurdo's face that I didn't look far enough ahead last update to notice. But our Luck is high enough now that ~+5 doesn't even cover a single point of increase anymore, so I suppose it didn't matter anyways.

Also it really likes giving us options to take this fight out to the road, huh?

Stats posted:

A successful necromancer must manage an array of vital character statistics.

Control: 70%
Energy: 44%
Luck: 81%
Corruption: 3%
Humanity: 13%
Your activities have attracted some attention.

Your undead army consists of:
Skeletons: 8
Zombies: 2
and it has killed 2 people in total.

# ? Mar 4, 2015 04:36

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# ? May 13, 2024 09:54

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

Let's do the skeleton attack for that sweet, sweet max energy boost.

# ? Mar 4, 2015 04:45

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > Neighbourhood Necromancer - Another fine CYOA from Choice of Games

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