Gnomes 100, Dragons 0

[Cazmonster]

Rye feels something within himself... rising.

He's going to go to the woman.

[DMDarcs]

Even over her sobs, the woman must have heard your footsteps. She turns toward you, and something about her movement, her robe, her outline in the semidarkness -- you don’t know what -- but something tells you that she is a medusa! Instantly, she realizes that her masquerade is over and there’s no point in subtleties. She attacks!

You hit the medusa for 5 points of damage!
The medusa misses you!
You hit the medusa for 7 points of damage!

Somehow, you manage to keep your eyes pinned to the floor as you punch, and punch, and punch, and punch the evil figure. Finally, it falls to the floor where you have been staring, but the medusa is dead and can do no more damage. You cheerfully leave her alone and look around to decide where to go. You can return through the hole or investigate the passageway you see on the other side of the medusa’s chamber.

RYE
Life Points: 10/10
Armor Points: 36/40
Day: 1/22


WHAT DO YOU DO?
climb back through the hole and investigate the gnome with coal bucket
climb back through the hole and investigate the tunnel at back
climb back through the hole and investigate the imp perched on wall
climb back through the hole and investigate the gnome by mushrooms
climb back through the hole and investigate the huge boiler
investigate the new passageway

[Cazmonster]

Can’t give up yet. I want to explore the new passageway.

[Eliahad]

If we can beat a Medusa with our eyes closed, we can explore a new passage doing the same thing!

[DMDarcs]

EXPLORE THE NEW PASSAGE

The passage from the medusa’s chamber takes you up a steep incline.

A day passes.



The clanks and clatters of a whole room full of gnomes working on metal strike your ears as you enter the chamber. But the floor is cleaner than in most parts of Mount Nevermind because all the metallic clutter has been gathered (by magic?) to a huge horseshoe-shaped object hanging from the ceiling. Whoops! There on the top of the horseshoe is another imp! It appears to be of no immediate danger to you, since it’s so far away, but you’ve already had some bad experiences with imps. On the other hand, some have left you alone.

You can deal with the imp before you explore the chamber. Of, if you think it’s safe to ignore the malicious little creature, go ahead and begin exploring.

WHAT DO YOU DO?
deal with the imp
investigate the gnome at center front
investigate the big device on right
investigate the tunnel at back
investigate the huge magnet
investigate the crystal door
investigate the gnome working at left
investigate the slide

RYE
Life Points: 10/10
Armor Points: 36/40
Day: 2/22

[Cazmonster]

Investigate the gnome at center front.

(We should probably figure out what these gnomes are up to.)

[Eliahad]

I would also talk to the gnome, but then we should probably deal with the imp, too.

[DMDarcs]

INVESTIGATE THE GNOME AT CENTER FRONT

The gnome sitting on the floor working on the smallish machine introduces himself as the magnate, or leader of the gnomes whose Life Quests are magnetism. He tells you that if you want to do anything useful in this chamber, you’re going to have to take your power armor off, otherwise you’ll be trapped here forever by the vicious magnetism in the chamber.

“Then how do you manage to work in here, with metal tools?” you ask, piqued.

“The rock in this part of Mount Nevermind is all made of a mineral we call Reorxite. If we mine it, we can get a metal from it called agnomium — though some of the fellows over in another part of the mountain insist on calling it agnominium, silly creatures. Anyway, for some reason, it doesn’t get attracted to that thing up there.”

You thank the magnate for his advice. If you’re reluctant to shed your power armor, you can leave the chamber and return to the gnomeflinger chamber. If you are willing to take a chance, however, you may choose another option.

WHAT DO YOU DO?
return to the gnomeflinger chamber
deal with the imp
investigate the big device on right
investigate the tunnel at back
investigate the huge magnet
investigate the crystal door
investigate the gnome working at left
investigate the slide

[Cazmonster]

Strip off the armor and deal with the Imp. Can't trust those little outsiders anyway.

[DMDarcs]

I had to cheat a little bit and read ahead to make sure of this, but taking off the armor isn't an option right now. If you want to deal with the imp, you have to do so in armor.

[Cazmonster]

Cool - can't leave this place yet, we spent hit points and a day to get here!

Strip armor and investigate the Crystal Door.

[DMDarcs]

Sorry, let me clarify again. There doesn't seem to be an option to strip armor. The way the book is written, it doesn't look like there is an option to actually take it off. It can only be forced off.

[Limitations of Choose Your Own Adventure style books.]

[Cazmonster]

Oops, Okay.
Investigate the Crystal Door.

[Eliahad]

Let's check out that door!

[DMDarcs]

INVESTIGATE THE CRYSTAL DOOR

You find yourself reluctant to touch the crystal door with the jagged bolt of lightning cut into it. But as you near it, you feel no tingly warning sensation in your skin. When you ask one of the gnomes what is behind the door, he just quickly replies, “Just more of the same.”

You’re not sure what that means. Do you want to go through the door?

WHAT DO YOU DO?
go through the door
deal with the imp
investigate the big device on right
investigate the tunnel at back
investigate the huge magnet
investigate the gnome working at left
investigate the slide

[Cazmonster]

A vague warning and an dangerous looking door? Oh, you know I want to go through it.

[Eliahad]

Um, yes! Door! Door!

[DMDarcs]

GO THROUGH THE DOOR

As you open the door, that tingly sensation you were expecting begins to arise in your skin. But now you’re curious, so you go on.

A day passes.



Although two large werebears are prowling the chamber when you enter, your attention is immediately drawn to a chuckling sound coming from behind a giant-sized, vertical comb (which itself catches your interest, but it will have to wait until later). The mean, little laugh, which you recognize as an imp’s, resounds even over the sparks and whooshes and crackles coming from the big machines in the room.

WHAT DO YOU DO?
talk to the imp
fight the imp
investigate the werebears
investigate the tall crystal structure
investigate the huge comb
investigate the items on comb
investigate the disk at back
investigate the double doors
investigate the machine at left
investigate the little antennae at front

RYE
Life Points: 10/10
Armor Points: 36/40
Day: 3/22

[Cazmonster]

...before Rye am torn to pieces by the werebears, Rye wants to talk to the imp.

[DMDarcs]

TALK TO THE IMP

As you lean toward it, the imp starts to reach for your nose with its little clawed fingers, but you quickly say, “Wait! I have news for you.” Its fingers pause in midair and a quizzical look comes over its face. “The gate to your plane is open. You can leave now.”

The imp gets an excited look on its little brown face. As it turns and flutter/scurries away, you think you hear it saying, “Oh goodiegoodiegoodie
goodiegoodie! Ididn’tlikeithereanyway!” Clearly it’s lived with the gnomes too long.

WHAT DO YOU DO?
investigate the werebears
investigate the tall crystal structure
investigate the huge comb
investigate the items on comb
investigate the disk at back
investigate the double doors
investigate the machine at left
investigate the little antennae at front