Let's Play: Faxanadu! part three
Faxanadu is a seriously tough game. It barely gives you any leeway; if you're not incredibly
careful, you'll wind up in the same situation I was in last update. Anyway!
The Ruby Ring secured upon my finger, I returned to the fountain to find it flowing once
again... But that accursed rock still stood over the spout, preventing the water from moving
freely. I climbed onto the pedestal and summoned my strength, giving the rock a mighty push. Within moments, it had cleared the water and tumbled to the ground, shatterng. As it did so,
there was a loud grinding, and a ladder slid down the wall beyond the fountain.
I ascended the ladder and found a door at the top, locked, with the word "Queen" inscribed upon
the lock. The keysmith in Forepaw had a stock of keys labeled Q, and I'd bought one prior to
setting out, thus avoiding the need to return to town.
As I closed the door behind me, I felt as if I had wandered into a dream. The air was so thick
with fog I could scarcely see a yard in front of me. I continued forward with caution,
uncertain whether my next step would be solid ground or a barely-concealed pitfall.
The Dwarves were getting tougher, as well: Some were wielding swords and wearing full sets of
armor, but they were still no match for my sword.
I found a break in the dense cloud of fog, and within that break a town. I asked the first
person I saw how this was possible, but he was less than friendly.
At least I knew now that I had reached the next goal on my quest. But where to from here?
The tavern had a serving wench, who was friendly but had little of import to say. The barman
was a bit more useful.
So, the stone that had stood upon the fountain was called a "metorite," and if this man was to
be believed, there was more of this meteorite somewhere within the World Tree. I knew I must
destroy it before it could be used to poison any more of my people. But first, more
information would be needed, and of course any better gear I could buy.
Mascon's shop sold mattocks like the one I had struggled to acquire many days before, and
probably of the same cheap quality. I bought one, along with the shield and Thunder spell,
knowing that I'd need it before my quest was complete.
Had the Dwarves begun a cult around the metorite? What was special about it?
Having learned all that the people of Mascon saw fit to tell me, I departed.
Immediately outside town, I found a new creature, resembling a flying, one-eyed skull. Barely a
threat, especially with the spell of Thunder, which used more magic than Deluge, but had far
more power.
I found the remains of a once-proud castle futher on. That it survived at all was a testament
to its builder's skill. Within, I found a married couple who had taken residence in the only
remaining liveable chamber.
If it did, I dread what might happen if its powers were used...
This mansion had fared far better than the castle had, and I entered the door closest to me.
Some force stopped me from wielding my blade or my magic against the Dwarf, so I left before it
could attack me, and tried the next door.
Within was a guru who had once been Mascon's religious leader, but had seen few people since
the meteorite struck.
The third room contained a beast I had never seen before. I chose to leave rather than face the
possibility of it attacking me while I was helpless to fight back.
At last, the Tower of Suffer! And in front of it, some strange springlike snake, which seemed
so preoccupied with its bouncing that it could not be bothered to attack me.
Within, I was confronted by a woman beating on a strange drum. As she did so, a light blinded
my eyes and my entire body stung. I quickly ascended to her level and destroyed her and her
drum.
At the end of the tower was a red potion, and a strange creature that resembled some sort of
leaping cauldron. I realized that I had been had, and this was not the Tower of Suffer after
all.
This was the true Tower of Suffer, which was locked by another Queen's lock.
(At this point, I figured I'd save some money by going back to Forepaw and buying a Q Key
there, since they were cheaper by $100. I forgot that there was another Q lock after the
fountain, so all I managed to do was spend $1000 when I could've just stayed in Mascon and
spent $600.)
Just within this dungeon, I was ambushed by a goblin who tried to attack me by jumping down the
ladder... I snickered as it fell to its demise and moved on.
Another leaping beast.
...And another.
And another still, this one accompanied by a ladder-climbing snake, which I had the good
fortune to not have to actually fight.
Eventually, I found the Hour Glass, which the nurse in Mascon had mentioned had the ability to
slow down time and prevent monsters from attacking.
A short trek in the other direction, and I came upon yet another gargoyle.
Despite my repeated victories against these beasts, they were no easier to destroy.
This one left behind a small fortune, along with an Amulet, which I assumed would be of use to
me in my quest.
Utilizing the Hour Glass, I returned to the guru to rest and plan my next move...
careful, you'll wind up in the same situation I was in last update. Anyway!
The Ruby Ring secured upon my finger, I returned to the fountain to find it flowing once
again... But that accursed rock still stood over the spout, preventing the water from moving
freely. I climbed onto the pedestal and summoned my strength, giving the rock a mighty push. Within moments, it had cleared the water and tumbled to the ground, shatterng. As it did so,
there was a loud grinding, and a ladder slid down the wall beyond the fountain.
I ascended the ladder and found a door at the top, locked, with the word "Queen" inscribed upon
the lock. The keysmith in Forepaw had a stock of keys labeled Q, and I'd bought one prior to
setting out, thus avoiding the need to return to town.
As I closed the door behind me, I felt as if I had wandered into a dream. The air was so thick
with fog I could scarcely see a yard in front of me. I continued forward with caution,
uncertain whether my next step would be solid ground or a barely-concealed pitfall.
The Dwarves were getting tougher, as well: Some were wielding swords and wearing full sets of
armor, but they were still no match for my sword.
I found a break in the dense cloud of fog, and within that break a town. I asked the first
person I saw how this was possible, but he was less than friendly.
At least I knew now that I had reached the next goal on my quest. But where to from here?
The tavern had a serving wench, who was friendly but had little of import to say. The barman
was a bit more useful.
So, the stone that had stood upon the fountain was called a "metorite," and if this man was to
be believed, there was more of this meteorite somewhere within the World Tree. I knew I must
destroy it before it could be used to poison any more of my people. But first, more
information would be needed, and of course any better gear I could buy.
Mascon's shop sold mattocks like the one I had struggled to acquire many days before, and
probably of the same cheap quality. I bought one, along with the shield and Thunder spell,
knowing that I'd need it before my quest was complete.
Had the Dwarves begun a cult around the metorite? What was special about it?
Having learned all that the people of Mascon saw fit to tell me, I departed.
Immediately outside town, I found a new creature, resembling a flying, one-eyed skull. Barely a
threat, especially with the spell of Thunder, which used more magic than Deluge, but had far
more power.
I found the remains of a once-proud castle futher on. That it survived at all was a testament
to its builder's skill. Within, I found a married couple who had taken residence in the only
remaining liveable chamber.
If it did, I dread what might happen if its powers were used...
This mansion had fared far better than the castle had, and I entered the door closest to me.
Some force stopped me from wielding my blade or my magic against the Dwarf, so I left before it
could attack me, and tried the next door.
Within was a guru who had once been Mascon's religious leader, but had seen few people since
the meteorite struck.
The third room contained a beast I had never seen before. I chose to leave rather than face the
possibility of it attacking me while I was helpless to fight back.
At last, the Tower of Suffer! And in front of it, some strange springlike snake, which seemed
so preoccupied with its bouncing that it could not be bothered to attack me.
Within, I was confronted by a woman beating on a strange drum. As she did so, a light blinded
my eyes and my entire body stung. I quickly ascended to her level and destroyed her and her
drum.
At the end of the tower was a red potion, and a strange creature that resembled some sort of
leaping cauldron. I realized that I had been had, and this was not the Tower of Suffer after
all.
This was the true Tower of Suffer, which was locked by another Queen's lock.
(At this point, I figured I'd save some money by going back to Forepaw and buying a Q Key
there, since they were cheaper by $100. I forgot that there was another Q lock after the
fountain, so all I managed to do was spend $1000 when I could've just stayed in Mascon and
spent $600.)
Just within this dungeon, I was ambushed by a goblin who tried to attack me by jumping down the
ladder... I snickered as it fell to its demise and moved on.
Another leaping beast.
...And another.
And another still, this one accompanied by a ladder-climbing snake, which I had the good
fortune to not have to actually fight.
Eventually, I found the Hour Glass, which the nurse in Mascon had mentioned had the ability to
slow down time and prevent monsters from attacking.
A short trek in the other direction, and I came upon yet another gargoyle.
Despite my repeated victories against these beasts, they were no easier to destroy.
This one left behind a small fortune, along with an Amulet, which I assumed would be of use to
me in my quest.
Utilizing the Hour Glass, I returned to the guru to rest and plan my next move...