[169] Catacombs

So it's now 2 in the morning, and I have to work all of Boxing Day. This is... unfortunate. Still, it is what it is, so I might as well do something. Sleep is proving itself out of the question, and since I'm feeling both unproductive and nostalgic, how about a li'l retrospective?

( 2013, as best as I remember it. )

[389] [289] [396] [242] Die hard

Quickie update as I run out the door, running on very little sleep and hoping a sausage McMuffin will be enough to carry the day. Still love you, boners!

Checking our surroundings for something to use against the eponymous Warlock it is. Luck roll!

You look frantically round the room but can see nothing to aid you. Suddenly your eyes stop on the pack of cards he was fingering as you entered, and you remember the rumours and stories the villagers told you: 'The Warlock's power comes from his cards.' The sorcerer sees your interest in them and you both rush for the table. You get there first. 'Leave those alone,' he screams, 'or you risk my fullest wrath!' But you move backwards and set fire to one with your lantern. He cries out wildly and then begins to plead with you to leave them alone. One by one you burn the cards and, as you do so, the Warlock diminishes in stature. As the last card goes up in flames, he stands facing you, a broken man. 'My book!' he croaks, and he tries to unlock the door on the far side. You race across to him with your sword drawn and spring at him. Resolve this battle:

WARLOCK (Skill 7, Stamina 12)

Oh, with clearly reduced stats like that, you resolve it, all right. You resolve it good.

With the Warlock now defeated, you know your quest is almost over. You approach the door with two locks. There are no keys around. You retrieve two keys from your pack and try them in the locks. They turn! You open the door and peer round.

The door opens to reveal a small, dimly lit room. The walls are hung with ornate curtains, laced in silver and gold. A single flame burns in one corner, throwing light on a low table in the middle of the floor. On this table is a large chest. You step up to investigate the chest and from all around, yet from nowhere, a mysterious sound fills the room. It sounds like the rumbling of thunder clouds preparing to make storm.

You approach the chest and can see that it is held shut by three locks. As you approach, the noise gets louder.

Poll #14763

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 6

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What will you do?

View Answers

Hack at the box with your sword to try to split it open.
1 (16.7%)

Search through your bags to see if you can find keys to fit.
5 (83.3%)

[139] Fin

I don't typically do two updates in one day like this, but the vote seems pretty decisive and, well...

During your adventure, you will have come across various keys and should have collected some of these. You may now use three of these keys to try to open the locks on the chest.

OKAY, LET'S SEE. We've got a bronze key with #99 on it... a red key with #111 on it... and... um... well.

This is the end of your journey. You sit on the chest and weep as you realize that you will have to explore the mountain once more in order to find the keys.