Welcome, one and all. It's another dose of childhood nostalgia as I delve back into the flagship series of fantasy gamebooks, Lone Wolf. Let me just say, with minor spoilers obviously, that this instalment will be the final part of Flight From the Dark before we move on to the second book.
I've really enjoyed replaying this book. It's a simple, and perhaps generic, fantasy world, sure. But it's the coming of age fantasy in its purest form. And the lack of focus on building a unique world instead places that emphasis on the player - making the narrative all about the individual. I think this playthrough has really emphasised that fraught chase through nature which underlines the narrative. The encounters have been sparse and I've spent the entire thing outside. I know from previous playthroughs there are certainly some interesting setpieces (and rockhard enemies).
In the previous instalment, we discovered the perils of the countryside as we left the Prince, fatally wounded by the Gorgaz, to die and (if Shaun Hutson is to be believed) dump arse. Our path to the Capital found us fighting off Doomwolves, Kraans, Giaks, and the alt-right's favourite punchbags - refugees. We ended with the Capital in view, but with an evil army approaching...
Check out Part One, Part Two, and Part Three for the journey in full.
Section 202: My horse and I gallop along the road to the Capital. Cast your mind back to the previous instalment, and you'll remember this route is along open road with a vast evil army approaching. Not long into the journey my horse slows down and begins limping. The terrain is too rough and I've pushed him too hard. With my beloved horse injured, I have no option but to continue on foot.
A horse, a horse, my expeditious progress for a horse...
I break into a run, and we go to section 58.
Section 58: I go forward at a steady pace; to the west the army of Tolkien rejects presses forward. Reaching the Capital city, Holmgard, before those Ghosts of Mars antagonists lookalikes will certainly be no small task.
We've been running for about twenty minutes when I spy a pack of Doomwolves at a ridge on my right. You may remember my last run in with just one these creatures left me on 6 endurance points - down from 10.
We can:
Hide and wait amongst the rocks at the side of the road, go the 251.
Draw my Quarterstaff and attempt to run by them, go to 160.
The speed of progress is vital here. I only have 6EP, and a vast army is approaching. Perhaps the reckless approach will save me. I'm going to continue running and go to 160.
Section 160: The book here asks us to pick a number from the Random Number Table. I don't use that, so I'm rolling my trusty d10. I may also add, that this is the same d10 that regularly screws me over during Dungeons & Dragons.
Roll:
If it is 0–4, I have been seen. Turn to 286.
If it is 5–9, they do not spot me and they slowly file away along the far side of the ridge. Turn to 10.
I rolled...a 9! I escape unharmed and slink off to section 10.
Section 10: Nearby I see a cottage. This being a role-playing-game, the convention is that I interrupt some poor peasant and break/steal all his shit.
We can:
Enter the cottage, go to 115.
Move on, go to 83.
Though the Black Friday hoards are rapidly converging on the Capital, with their 'I want to speak to the manager' haircuts and dickhead children, there's always the chance the Ultimate Sword +10 is hidden in some country bumpkin's home. I'll enter, turning to 115.
Section 115: Upon entering the building, I can smell cooked meat. The place is laid out as if its owner was setting down for a meal before leaving. Anyone would think there was a war coming. There is bread and water on the table.
We can:
Take a quick Meal, turn to 150.
Search the building, turn to 177.
Leave now and continue our run, turn to 83.
Well, I'm never one to turn down a free meal. Plus I'm rather exhausted from the day's adventures. As Captain Oates should have said: "By 'eck, it's warm and comfy in here. I'm staying here. I may be some time". If only all my friends weren't dead: I could tell them all about my amazing gains today.
I'll eat the meal, and go to 150.
Section 150: Like a government subsidised school lunch, the paltry meal and water does its job. Seeing no reason to delay further, we go to 83.
Section 83: After running towards the Capital for sometime, three soldiers jump out from underneath a drawbridge. They're a rough-lot, unshaven and bloodstained, but they're wearing the army colours. The leader amongst them wants me to stop and cast aside my weapons. Like I'm some redneck and they're a Democrat lawmaker.
We can:
Use the Kai Discipline of Sixth Sense, go to 45.
Surrender, and turn to 205.
Prepare to fight them, turn to 180.
Demand to know what they want, go to 232.
Remember what I said in instalment one? In Lone Wolf books, people = shit. No way am I surrendering. And just to make sure my prejudices are accurate, I'll use my Sixth Sense (45).
Section 45: Just as I suspected, these are not common city guards. Their armor is clearly pilfered from the slain, and their weapons are too well made for some average guard.
They're armed with crossbows. Run, and I'm dead. Surrender, and well...you've seen Deliverance haven't you? I turn to 180.
Section 180: I decide to meet them in combat, and we raise our weapons. Though there're three of them I must fight them one at a time. Like in a Bruce Lee film.
Combat
Iron Stats: Combat Skill = 18 (16 base + 2 for Mind Blast), Endurance = 6/21, Weapon = Quarterstaff
Bandit Leader: Combat Skill = 15, Endurance = 22, Weapon = Sword, Crossbow
Soldier 1: Combat Skill = 13, Endurance = 20, Weapon = Sword
Soldier 2: Combat Skill = 12, Endurance = 20, Weapon = Sword
I don't fancy my chances against this rush of enemies. Fortunately, the book provides the option of attempting to flee this combat. We turn tail and turn to 22.
Section 22: I push aside the Leader and attempt to flee. I don't get very far when I hear the click of a crossbow. Ah, shit. Hopefully I'm better at evading arbalists than Rickon Stark is at avoiding archers.
Roll:
If it is 0–4, go to 181.
If it is 5–9, go to 145.
I roll...a 6 and turn to 145. Hmm.
Section 145: No. No, I'm not. I don't get very far before taking one from behind like Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain. I eat dirt and pass out (165)...
Section 212: When I reawaken I'm fine. In fact, my Endurance Points are fully restored. The religious chap comes to greet me:
"You have passed close to death and have seen his face, Kai Lord, but the Grey One has not claimed you for his flock. You are healed in body but I sense that you are wounded in spirit. What is it that troubles you so?"
So, I tell him the tale thus far, like some attention seeker on Facebook airing their laundry. After this I realise from his finery that the bloke is one of the King's clerics and we are in the citadel of Holmgard. He drags me out of bed and tells me we must meet the King. Fucking Hell guy, give me a minute to wake up. We go to section 350.
Section 350: The cleric drags me to the Chamber of State, all decked out with the finery and opulence of the Tory Party HQ. The King and his advisers are hunched over a map, looking worried. I'm introduced to the King and realise he's the guy from the playing cards. I tell him my heroic story (probably leaving out all my cowardly deeds and the part where I left his son to die). After much applauding from the council for my particular set of skills, the King grants me a new quest:
"Lone Wolf, you are the last of the Kai—you have the skills. Will you journey to Durenor and return with the Sommerswerd, the sword of the sun? Only with that gift of the gods may we crush this evil and save our land."
Oh, fuck off you demanding bastard. Do you know how long it took me to get here? Let me have a cuppa first at least. And what about my goddamn horse? I'm sick of you crackers.
Our only option is to
To be continued...
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