Register a SA Forums Account here!
JOINING THE SA FORUMS WILL REMOVE THIS BIG AD, THE ANNOYING UNDERLINED ADS, AND STUPID INTERSTITIAL ADS!!!

You can: log in, read the tech support FAQ, or request your lost password. This dumb message (and those ads) will appear on every screen until you register! Get rid of this crap by registering your own SA Forums Account and joining roughly 150,000 Goons, for the one-time price of $9.95! We charge money because it costs us money per month for bills, and since we don't believe in showing ads to our users, we try to make the money back through forum registrations.
 
  • Post
  • Reply
Tiggum
Oct 24, 2007

Your life and your quest end here.


Well, on the whole that series wasn't good. But it could have been at least decent if the author had spent literally any time at all on editing. There are still some design problems, particularly in that there's a lot of trial and error and few actual choices to make that aren't "make the correct one or die", but they really don't make much impression compared with all the typos, mispellings and terrible grammar. It would also really have helped for him to have another person read it and give some feedback, and gone back and reread/rewritten a lot of it, because there's a bunch of bad writing.



I was actually wrong earlier when I said we had to go through Dessi to get to the neutral ending; we didn't, but it was a fun diversion anyway. As you can see, this is another one where you can just skip most of it. Go straight to Sommerlund, use the key you picked up in a previous book, fight the boss, win the game.

I think we'll take a break here because I do have another book lined up, but it's not available yet. They haven't actually said when it will be out, but I've already pre-ordered the collector's edition of The Hunger of Sejanoz, so look forward to both the extended version of that, and a new bonus adventure. The original version of the book had only 300 sections (a mandate from the publisher, according to Ben Devere - who seems to have changed the spelling of his name for some reason - although that doesn't make a lot of sense to me, since the number of sections is not tied to the number of pages, which seems like the actual thing they'd care about) so Devere and Lazzari have taken it upon themselves to "fix" that. As I recall, the original wasn't great to start with and I'm not a big fan of Devere's writing, so I don't have high hopes. But we're going to play it anyway!

Adbot
ADBOT LOVES YOU

Wafflecopper
Nov 27, 2004

I am a mouth, and I must scream

well, that was horrible to read, maybe, if the author didn't use so many commas, it would have been more tolerable, but, as it was, it was painful, and, even if there weren't so many, and, aside from the typos and grammar, the flowery prose was terrible, even by fantasy standards, but, thank you, anyway, tiggum, i appreciate you running this, for us, and suffering, with us, while we wait, for the final book

Black Robe
Sep 12, 2017

Generic Magic User


Wafflecopper posted:

well, that was horrible to read, maybe, if the author didn't use so many commas, it would have been more tolerable, but, as it was, it was painful, and, even if there weren't so many, and, aside from the typos and grammar, the flowery prose was terrible, even by fantasy standards, but, thank you, anyway, tiggum, i appreciate you running this, for us, and suffering, with us, while we wait, for the final book

Basically yes. Also amused at the 'yeah the story sucked but BIBLE!' clarification, as if we couldn't all have guessed that was the source of the heavy handed message here. If you're going to write a villain story you need to go all out, not make it fizzle out in a wet fart so evil doesn't win.

Can't wait for the next book of arbitrary blind choices and bad writing. I mean that sincerely, these are fun in a sad sort of way.

Wafflecopper
Nov 27, 2004

I am a mouth, and I must scream

I actually don't think blind choices are so bad in a gamebook, so long as you aren't punished for choosing one. A bit of flavour so they're not just "left or right" is ideal, but from a design perspective, as long as they're just different paths with different dangers and/or rewards, they add replayability. If a whole book was just obvious choices with a clearly telegraphed wrong answer that would hurt or kill you every time, that would be almost as bad as a bunch of blind choices with instadeath for choosing the wrong one.

Wafflecopper fucked around with this message at 09:02 on Aug 26, 2022

Black Robe
Sep 12, 2017

Generic Magic User


Oh, yeah, I meant blind instadeath choices specifically. Or blind choices that put you into dead man walking and you don't find out until later that it killed you.

Xarn
Jun 26, 2015
lmao the ending and author's note

I enjoyed the novelty of the first book, but it was already not good and I feel like the books gotten worse over time.

Guy Fawkes
Aug 1, 2014

Lvl 62, +5 meadow defense
It's over, for good.

I stood out of this because the "villain quests" always tend to fall in two categories: so edgy that you cut yourself only by reading the text, or go completely bonkers. Apart for that, being a villain is more often than not is written as being an a$$hol€, and that is NEVER funny.

moosecow333
Mar 15, 2007

Super-Duper Supermen!
I thought this series had a somewhat decent start, if only for the novelty of being an evil Lone Wolf, but it did really start to fall apart.

Despite having a clear goal (as far as conquering the world can count as clear) the story started to feel pretty aimless with us just wandering around.

Ofecks
May 4, 2009

A portly feline wizard waddles forth, muttering something about conjured food.

I thought the premise of the series was ok, even liked the evolution aspects and the bonkers abilities that could be acquired (sometimes mid-adventure). Also liked the multiple endings.

But the author ruined it with his attempt to shove evangelism down our throats. Soured the entire thing for me.

achtungnight
Oct 5, 2014
I get my fun here. Enjoy!
I detest evangelism.

I also don't like it when you get things like multiple arms or eyes and it doesn't do anything but create a mental picture in the mind.

This was a mildly entertaining diversion, that's all. :(

nelson
Apr 12, 2009
College Slice
I liked the multiple endings of the last book personally.

Tiggum
Oct 24, 2007

Your life and your quest end here.


No new book yet, but here's the latest update (for what it's worth):




Also, some news about future books:

Black Robe
Sep 12, 2017

Generic Magic User


Well, better than radio silence, I suppose.

Tiggum
Oct 24, 2007

Your life and your quest end here.




Based on the apparent size of the book, it seems they haven't expanded it too much - for which I'm thankful. I wouldn't have put it past Ben to basically stick an entire novel's worth of extra content in there, but I'm guessing he's mostly just added the "missing" 50 sections as a semi-standalone side-quest.


And an unnecessarily antagonistic answer to a reasonable question:

Andyzero
May 22, 2009

I used to spoil, I'm sorry.
One thing Hunger of Sejanoz has is a new puzzle in the bandit lair where you retrieve your Kai Weapon.
If you solve it, you get a substance you can use twice on non-special item Steel weapons and armor. That adds 2 CS to weapons and 2 EN to armor. Including the ang'sei armor and chai spear/kirumsami

Tiggum
Oct 24, 2007

Your life and your quest end here.


My copy should be arriving within the next few days. In the meantime, here's some more news:



I not optimistic about these "exciting plans" for the bonus adventures. Hopefully they won't be altering them to any greater degree than the Project Aon versions of the books, but who knows? I wouldn't put it past them to "improve" them by writing a whole lot of new content that no one asked for, and never release the original versions. And Q3 2024 is a fair wait before we get Light of the Kai (which apparently they haven't even started writing yet?).

achtungnight
Oct 5, 2014
I get my fun here. Enjoy!
Whatever happens with LW32 and other bonus adventures, I will probably only experience them here. Thx for the news and your LP efforts.

Tiggum
Oct 24, 2007

Your life and your quest end here.


The book is here!

The Hunger of Sejanoz



The Hunger of Sejanoz posted:

The Story So Far … 

It is early summer in the year MS 5085 and you are a Grand Master of the New Order of the Kai, the warrior élite of Sommerlund.

Thirty-five years ago, the First Order of the Kai was massacred by the Darklords of Helgedad, a host of powerful creatures sent by the evil God Naar to destroy the world of Magnamund. Lone Wolf, the supreme leader of your illustrious fighting order, was the only survivor of their attack upon the Kai. As a young initiate he stood amidst the burning wreckage of the old Kai Monastery and vowed to avenge the slaughter of his comrades. Twenty years later he kept his pledge when alone he infiltrated the foul domain of the Darklords and destroyed their infernal city of Helgedad, the base of their evil power.

With the destruction of Helgedad, chaos befell the Darkland armies who had, until then, been poised to conquer all Magnamund. Quickly their disorder escalated into a mutinous civil war, allowing the Freeland Alliance armies of Magnamund time in which to recover and launch a successful counter-offensive. Against all odds, a swift and total victory was secured over the feuding armies of evil.

Following the demise of the Darklords, peace reigned in your homeland of Sommerlund. Under the direction of Lone Wolf, the ruined Monastery of the Kai was rebuilt and restored to its former glory and a New Order was established. You are one of this new generation of Kai recruits. You were born in Sommerlund in the year MS 5063, during the time of the war against the Darklords. When you were seven years old you were sent by your father to the Kai Monastery. There, under the tutelage of Lone Wolf, you developed your martial skills and honed the special Kai abilities which lay dormant within you. Your skills were nurtured and sharpened to perfection by years of study and rigorous training. Your exceptional talents helped you to master all of the Kai and Magnakai Disciplines, and you rose swiftly through the ranks of the New Order to become one of only five who now hold the high rank of Kai Grand Master. It is an achievement that has brought great honour upon you and your family.

In the year MS 5077, your skill and courage were put to the test when an attack was launched upon the Kai Monastery during Lone Wolf’s absence. By means of a Shadow Gate (an astral corridor between the physical world of Sommerlund and the many ethereal domains which lie beyond it), Naar sent forth a host of dragon-creatures to besiege the monastery and lay waste to all Sommerlund. He had chosen his time well, yet his evil plan was thwarted by the tenacious defence that you and your fellow warriors maintained until the siege was raised by Lone Wolf and the King’s Army of Sommerlund.

During the seven eight years since the defeat of his minions, Naar has sought vengeance upon the Kai. He commands many agents of evil upon Magnamund, and they wait quietly in the shadows for the chance to serve their fell master.

Less than a month ago, Lord Rimoah of Dessi came to the Kai Monastery aboard the flying ship Cloud-dancer. This wise counsellor is one of the Elder Magi, an ancient race of goodly magicians who have remained steadfastly loyal to the Kai for many centuries. His visit was unexpected and you sensed at once that something was wrong. Lone Wolf summoned you to his chamber where, with mounting dread, you listened to Lord Rimoah’s account of events in Southern Magnamund which threatened to destroy the fragile peace of that a distant part of that continent.

The Elder Magi had received word that Autarch Sejanoz, the evil ruler of Bhanar, had secretly dispatched a squad of his personal guards into the Doomlands of Naaros. At first, the Elders could not fathom a reason why the Autarch had done this. The Doomlands are one of the most inhospitable regions in all of Magnamund, a barren wasteland of ash and cinder that was the domain of Agarash the Damned. At its centre his mighty fortress-city of Naaros once stood. Yet, following his defeat by the Elder Magi, all that remains of it now is a titanic chasm of molten lava and heat-fused rock. Loyal rangers were dispatched to the Doomlands to spy on the Autarch’s men and attempt to discover their true purpose. After many weeks spent tracking their prey, they observed them excavating an unmarked burial mound near to the ruins of Naaros. Within this mound the Autarch’s men discovered the Claw of Naar.

The Claw of Naar is an ancient wand of power crafted by the evil God himself. It was used by Agarash the Damned during his conquest of Magnamund. Legend held that it had been lost forever in the molten ruin of Naaros, but now it had resurfaced, and its return boded ill for the peaceable New Kingdoms bordering the Autocracy of Bhanar.

The rangers reported that the Autarch’s squad were returning to Bhanar with the Claw in their possession. Their chosen route would take them through the Southern Dammerdon Mountains, and so the rangers went ahead to hide themselves in a gorge called Sunderer Pass, where they awaited their arrival. Their plan was to ambush the squad in the narrow confines of the pass and steal the Claw. However, the ranger leader was wisely anxious that the power of the Claw might overwhelm his small group, and so he requested that help be sent urgently. Rimoah responded in turn by seeking the aid of the Kai.

‘I have come to ask for the help of the Kai,’ said Rimoah. ‘We of the Elder Magi have the power and the means to destroy the Claw of Naar, but only when we have that accursed object in our possession. To secure the Claw will require skills and courage that only the Kai possess. And, so, I come here seeking your aid, Supreme Master.’

‘It will not be an easy task,’ replied Lone Wolf, ‘but we have the advantage of both speed and surprise. Sunderer Pass is no more than a day’s journey away by skyship.’

‘Aye,’ replied Rimoah, ‘but we must depart this afternoon if we are to be certain of reaching the pass before the arrival of the Autarch’s squad.’

Lone Wolf had been tempted to accept the challenge himself, yet he was committed to urgent duties at the King’s court and so he requested that you journey to Bhanar in his stead and help Lord Rimoah to secure the Claw of Naar. You accepted the mission without hesitation and, within the hour, you found yourself standing beside Rimoah at the deck-rail of the sleek flying ship Cloud-dancer, watching the Kai Monastery shrink away into the distance as the craft soared into a clear blue sky.

By late afternoon of the following day, you reached Sunderer Pass and made contact with the rangers. Their leader informed you that a trap had been set to ensnare the enemy and their foul relic as they came through the pass. However, this ambush went badly wrong, and in the ensuing chaos you were separated from Lord Rimoah when Cloud-dancer was attacked by a horde of winged horrors that swarmed from out of the Doomlands. In the ensuing battle Lord Rimoah was forced to flee.

Despite this serious setback to your mission, you resolved to press on and attempt to deny Autarch Sejanoz the Claw of Naar. Aided by the rangers, you pursued the Autarch’s men and captured the Claw. Yet this success proved to be only temporary, for the Claw was soon snatched back and hurriedly conveyed to the Bhanarian city of Yua Tzhan. In a daring raid upon the military barracks of that formidable city, you and your brave comrades succeeded in stealing it back once more. A daring flight to the friendly land of Chai ensued where, in the border town of Zuda, you were confronted by the Autarch himself. A desperate fight took place here, during which your ranger companions were slain overpowered by the evil tyrant. Yet their sacrifice was not in vain, for you were able to maintain possession of the Claw and effect a successful escape to Fort Jhung, a nearby Chai stronghold, where you were unexpectedly reunited with Lord Rimoah. You delivered to him the Claw of Naar and he vowed that the accursed artefact would be destroyed by the Elder Magi to prevent it from ever falling into the hands of Autarch Sejanoz.

Soon after your reunion with Rimoah, you journeyed together to the Chai capital of Pensei aboard Cloud-dancer where you were greeted and fêted by the court of Khea-khan Xo-lin, Chai’s venerable ruler. However, it was during these festivities that calamitous news arrived at the Khea-khan’s palace: Autarch Sejanoz had begun a massive invasion of Chai.

The tyrant’s armies were swarming across the borders, sweeping all resistance before them. In the west the strongholds of Fort Jhung and Fort Xian had fallen. In the south, a vast seaborne invasion force had established a beachhead near to the port of Valus and swiftly overrun the ill-defended city of Dwala. Messengers were arriving at the palace with grim regularity to report the latest defeat. From these reports it quickly became clear that the Autarch’s main objective was the capture of Pensei itself.

Fearing that the Claw of Naar could yet fall into the Autarch’s hands, Lord Rimoah resolved to journey at once to Dessi aboard Cloud-dancer. Fearing for the safety of their aged Khea-khan, the courtiers of Pensei pleaded with their beloved ruler to flee to the safety of distant Dessi with Rimoah. But the Khea-khan steadfastly refused their requests, fearing that he would be thought a coward if he were to abandon his land and his subjects in this hour of approaching darkness.

Despite the pleas of his advisors and his family, the obstinate Xo-lin vowed to remain in Pensei. He put his faith in the skill and tenacity of his famous Imperial Guardsmen, believing that these warriors would halt the advancing Bhanarian armies. But when news arrived of their defeat and decimation in a battle at the town of Vabou, little more than a hundred miles south of Pensei, suddenly a terrible realization struck the aged ruler. There were now too few Chai warriors left to prevent the enemy legions from seizing the capital and enslaving its citizens. With heavy heart, the Khea-khan reluctantly agreed to leave Pensei. Yet, resolutely, he refused to go with Lord Rimoah. Instead, he ordered his courtiers to prepare a caravan of horse-drawn carriages for the speedy evacuation of himself, his family, and selected members of his court entourage. They would journey east, following the trade route to the Lissanian city of Tazhan. Here the Khea-khan could be sure of finding sanctuary in this New Kingdom stronghold. Upon his arrival he would rally the armies of his loyal allies and then return with them, across the vastness of the Great Lissan Plain, to free his land and its people from the Autarch’s ruthless occupation.

Fearing for the safety of the Khea-khan, and the disastrous consequences that will befall the New Kingdoms if he should be captured by the enemy, Lord Rimoah urged you to accompany Xo-lin’s entourage. Your experience and your Kai skills could be crucial to their survival during the seventeen days that it will take for them to reach the city of Tazhan. Once the Claw of Naar is safely in Dessi, Rimoah promised to return and journey directly to Tazhan by skyship. There he will inform its ruling council of the Bhanarian invasion, and try to elicit their martial support in readiness for Xo-lin’s arrival.

You agreed to Rimoah’s request to escort the aged ruler, and as the court of the Khea-khan began hasty preparation for the evacuation of the palace, you bade farewell to Lord Rimoah.

‘Until we meet again in Tazhan, Grand Master,’ he said, solemnly, ‘I shall pray to Ishir to watch over you on the road that you must travel. It is vital that Xo-lin arrives in Tazhan alive. He is the only one who can rally the New Kingdoms to rise up and repel the Bhanarians. Without him, I fear, the New Kingdoms will fall to the inexorable might of Sejanoz.’

Just some very minor changes so far. But now it's time for our first decision: Do we
  1. play as Braveheart, exactly as she was the first time;
  2. play as Braveheart, but choose a different Discipline and equipment for this book;
  3. roll up a new character, as though we were playing this book as a stand-alone adventure;
    or
  4. create a new character of the same rank as Braveheart (Grand Thane), just without the accumulated equipment of the previous books?

Wafflecopper
Nov 27, 2004

I am a mouth, and I must scream

Tiggum posted:

[*]roll up a new character, as though we were playing this book as a stand-alone adventure;

let's do this and die horribly a whole bunch of times

achtungnight
Oct 5, 2014
I get my fun here. Enjoy!
New character, stand alone adventure.

We are… uh, Braveheart’s brother Frostfox.

Black Robe
Sep 12, 2017

Generic Magic User


achtungnight posted:

New character, stand alone adventure.

We are… uh, Braveheart’s brother Frostfox.

sure, why not

RudeCat
Aug 7, 2012

The rudest cat for the rudest jobs


achtungnight posted:

New character, stand alone adventure.

We are… uh, Braveheart’s brother Frostfox.

Guy Fawkes
Aug 1, 2014

Lvl 62, +5 meadow defense

achtungnight posted:

New character, stand alone adventure.

We are… uh, Braveheart’s brother Frostfox.

Well, that could be interesting...

Decoy Badger
May 16, 2009

achtungnight posted:

New character, stand alone adventure.

This, except we're Braveheart's fuckup cousin, Bravebutt. Let's experience the inevitable cavalcade of bullshit as it was intended, like we're a grade schooler in the 80s.

Ofecks
May 4, 2009

A portly feline wizard waddles forth, muttering something about conjured food.

Wafflecopper posted:

let's do this and die horribly a whole bunch of times

Yeah, let's go for that Fresh Start cheevo.

Tiggum
Oct 24, 2007

Your life and your quest end here.


All right, fresh start it is. So first thing we do is roll for Combat Skill and Endurance:

CS: 2 + 25 = 27
EP: 8 + 30 = 38

That is... bad. Next, we must decide our Kai Name:
  1. Frostfox;
  2. Bravebutt;
  3. <something else>;
    or
  4. <random>?

As a new character we get all the Kai and Magnakai disciplines, most notably:
  • Curing: Restore up to 10 Endurance over the course of the adventure, at a rate of 1 per numbered section in which we are not involved in combat.

Next we have our Grand Master Disciplines, of which we get to pick five:
  • Grand Weaponmastery: +5 CS when using one type of weapon.
  • Animal Mastery
  • Deliverance: The first time our Endurance drops below 9 in combat, we instantly restore 20 EP. This can be used again only once 20 days have passed.
  • Assimilance: Advanced Invisibility.
  • Grand Huntmastery
  • Grand Pathsmanship
  • Kai Surge: +8 CS & -1 EP/round or +4 CS with no loss of Endurance.
  • Kai Screen
  • Grand Nexus
  • Telegnosis: Advanced Divination
  • Magi-magic: Shield; Power Word; Invisible Fist; etc.
  • Kai Alchemy: Lightning Hand; Levitation; Mind Charm; etc.
  • Astrology
  • Herbmastery
  • Elementalism
  • Bardsmanship

Next is equipment. First we get some Gold Crowns:

5 + 20 = 25.

Then we get to pick up to five options from this list:
  • Broadsword
  • Sword
  • Flute
  • Dagger
  • Quiver (contains 6 arrows)
  • 2 Meals
  • Bow
  • Potion of Laumspur (+4 EP)
  • Axe
  • Rope

And finally, our Kai Weapon. Every Kai weapon grants a +5 CS bonus, with an additional bonus under particular circumstances. If we choose Weaponmastery, the weapon type we master will be the same as whichever Kai Weapon we end up with. So do we want:
  1. Spawnsmite: An axe that grants an additional +1 CS versus reptilian enemies;
  2. Alema: An axe that grants an additional +2 CS versus undead enemies;
  3. Magnara: An axe that grants an additional +3 CS versus rock or stone enemies;
  4. Sunstrike: A sword that grants an additional +1 CS when used in daylight;
  5. Kaistar: A sword that grants an additional +2 CS when used at night;
  6. Valiance: A sword that grants an additional +3 CS versus magicians and creatures born of magic;
  7. Ulnarius: A sword that grants an additional +4 CS when used underwater;
  8. Raumas: A broadsword that grants an additional +1 CS versus winged enemies;
  9. Illuminatus: A broadsword that grants an additional +2 CS when used underground;
  10. Firefall: A broadsword that grants an additional +3 CS versus fire-emitting enemies;
    or
  11. <random>: Roll for it.
Alema is Braveheart's weapon in our "canonical" run, but I'm sure she'd lend it to us if we asked nicely.


So there are our choices. We need votes for name, gender, Disciplines, equipment, and Kai Weapon.

Tiggum fucked around with this message at 03:26 on Dec 7, 2022

nelson
Apr 12, 2009
College Slice
Frostfox, male.

Grand Weaponmastery, Animal Mastery, Deliverance, Magi-magic, Kai Alchemy

Bow, quiver, 2 meals, Potion of Laumspur, Rope

Spawnsmite

Black Robe
Sep 12, 2017

Generic Magic User


Frostfox, male.

Grand weaponmastery, deliverance, assimilance, magi-magic, Kai alchemy

Bow, quiver, Laumspur, rope, meals

Valiance

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

Black Robe posted:

Frostfox, male.

Grand weaponmastery, deliverance, assimilance, magi-magic, Kai alchemy

Bow, quiver, Laumspur, rope, meals

Valiance


This.

Guy Fawkes
Aug 1, 2014

Lvl 62, +5 meadow defense

Black Robe posted:

Frostfox, male.

Grand weaponmastery, deliverance, assimilance, magi-magic, Kai alchemy

Bow, quiver, Laumspur, rope, meals

Valiance


Good starting kit.

Ofecks
May 4, 2009

A portly feline wizard waddles forth, muttering something about conjured food.

<random name>, <random gender>

Grand Weaponmastery, Kai-surge, Kai-alchemy, Grand Huntmastery, Bardsmanship (:v:)

Bow, Quiver, Flute, meals, Laumpsur

<random Kai weapon>

Tiggum
Oct 24, 2007

Your life and your quest end here.


Ofecks posted:

<random name>

achtungnight posted:

Grand weaponmastery

nelson posted:

Animal Mastery


    Action Chart

    Name: Wise Hawk
    Gender: Male
    Rank: Kai Grand Master Senior
    Combat Skill: 41 (27)
    Endurance Points: 0/38
    Grand Master Disciplines:
  1. Grand Weaponmastery (+5 CS w/ swords)
  2. Deliverance (Once every 20 days, if EP < 9, restore 20 EP - used 7 days ago)
    Curing (Restore 1 EP per numbered section, used 10/10 times this book)
  3. Assimilance
  4. Kai-surge (+8 CS, -1 EP/round)
    Mindblast (+4 CS)
  5. Animal Mastery
    Weapons:
  1. Bow
  2. Chai Spear (+1 CS)
    Belt Pouch (money)
  • 2 Gold Crowns
    Backpack:

  1. Flute

  2. Bottle of Rice Wine

  3. Meal
  4. Andui Flask (purifies any liquid placed in it)
  5. Bottle of Rice Wine

    Special Items:
  1. Quiver (5/6 arrows)
  2. Valiance (sword; +5 CS; +3 CS magicians or creatures born of magic)
  3. Ang’sei (Enemies get -2 CS)
  4. Xo-lin's Samor Archer
  5. Arrow of Atonement







  6. Xi-die
    Deaths:
  1. Died of clumsiness.
  2. Dropped our weapon again.
  3. Knocked off a horse.
    Would have died if we hadn't already been dead.
  4. Exploded.
    Probably would have died again.
  5. Possessed by a "vampire shadow" and then shot with cannons.
  6. Waylaid by skeletons and then shot with cannons again.
  7. The vampire shadow and Tahrani skeletons got us again.
  8. Arrowed!!!

Tiggum fucked around with this message at 04:16 on Jan 29, 2023

Tiggum
Oct 24, 2007

Your life and your quest end here.


The Hunger of Sejanoz posted:

An electric hum fills the throne room of the Khea-khan’s palace as the chosen courtiers and guards make swift preparation for the evacuation to Tazhan. In the midst of all this frantic activity, the aged ruler of Chai sits upon his ebony throne and confers with his trusted advisor, Kau-Doshin, the head of the Imperial Palace household. The lines etched deeply upon their faces convey the gravity of the hushed words that pass between them.

In a far corner of the chamber you see Princess Mitzu consoling her tearful son, the five-year-old Prince Kamada. He is the Khea-khan’s great-great-grandson, and he is next in line to rule Chai upon the death of venerable Xo-lin. Having comforted him and dried his tears, Princess Mitzu places the young boy into the charge of his matronly tutor, Shavane. Then Mitzu leaves the throne room, passing by Guard Captain Chan who is entering through its grand arched doorway. Dutifully, he clicks his heels and salutes as the Princess glides past him with regal grace.

Chan scans the throne room and narrows his sharp almond eyes when he catches sight of you. The Guard Captain will be responsible for the personal safety of the Imperial Family during the overland journey to Tazhan, and as he strides across the throne room towards you, it is easy to see why this élite warrior has been entrusted with such an unenviable task.

‘Hail, Grand Master,’ he booms in greeting. ‘It pleases me greatly that you have chosen to accompany us to Tazhan. I welcome your valued assistance.’

You return Chan’s formal compliment and then ask him when the Imperial Caravan will be leaving.

‘Within the hour, my lord Grand Master,’ he replies. He pauses to wipe away a trickle of sweat from the brow of his wide oval head, and then he says in a quieter tone: ‘I see you possess a fine Kai blade.’ His eyes glitter as he looks upon the Kai Weapon that is sheathed at your side. ‘As you can see, I am myself unarmed. Before we depart I must visit the Imperial Palace Armoury and equip myself. Would you care to accompany me? I trust you’ll be impressed by the quality of Chai weaponry, and you’ll be very welcome to take any item you find desirable.’
Shall we accompany him, or decline?


A couple of minor modifications to the text, here. I wonder if they've made all references to the protagonist gender-neutral? It's the only reason I can think of for that second change. Not sure why they got rid of the word "almond"; is that considered a racist description or something?

Black Robe
Sep 12, 2017

Generic Magic User


Accompany him, free stuff is free stuff after all.

RudeCat
Aug 7, 2012

The rudest cat for the rudest jobs


Accompany him, let's start out by looting.

Regarding "almond", while it may not be as racist as some words it's a trite and reductive description. It's certainly othering, the books don't really spend any time talking about the particular roundness of anyone else's eyes.

achtungnight
Oct 5, 2014
I get my fun here. Enjoy!
I bet as soon as we’re alone he’s going to try to kill us and steal the blade, possibly after turning into a Helghast. Let’s take care of the obvious traitor.

Accompany him.

If we completed this book already I have no memory of it btw.

Tiggum
Oct 24, 2007

Your life and your quest end here.


achtungnight posted:

If we completed this book already I have no memory of it btw.

We began the original version on Feb 5, 2019 and finished on Feb 27.

Black Robe
Sep 12, 2017

Generic Magic User


Tiggum posted:

We began the original version on Feb 5, 2019 and finished on Feb 27.

Ah, back in the Before Times.

nelson
Apr 12, 2009
College Slice

Black Robe posted:

Accompany him, free stuff is free stuff after all.

Adbot
ADBOT LOVES YOU

Ofecks
May 4, 2009

A portly feline wizard waddles forth, muttering something about conjured food.

Gear up.

Can I get a TLDR version of the backstory for this? What I think I remember is Claw of Naar: very bad trinket, and we stole it last book (Vampirium), and now Sejanoz and his entire evil army are invading Chai to get it back?

Hey Tiggum, how are you getting the words from the printed page to forum post? Are you scanning the book?

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Post
  • Reply