One of the challenges of URW is having to deal with life-threatening issues. Because there is no save gave, decisions matter. Lars Kaumolainen, the only character I've played in v2.8, was heading to the border of the map on a quest. After 3 1/2 game years, I've decided to do the advanced quest. (He's going to get nets, nets, and maybe some more nets). Anyway:


Kilometers from anywhere, in unexplored terrain, Lars realized he was getting a cold. No problem, he thought. He's as strong as an ox, it's only yellow, this will pass. He goes to sleep, only to wake to rain. He shivers through the night and in the morning, the influenza gets worse.

No problem, he hopes. He has maximum endurance, the wound is only orange, these things usually take a few days. He pushes on towards the border, building a shelter that night. The next morning he wakes up, and the flu has gotten even worse.

Hm, this could be a problem. But he's as strong as an ox, it's dark orange, what are the chances it gets worse 3 times in a row? It's bound to get better. He pushes on, going to sleep next to a burning log that night. Sure enough, when he wakes up, it is worse - deadly serious - brick red.

Forget pushing on. Lars make a beeline back towards a village he visited some month before, about 10 km away. 3 km from the village is a pen where he had left a pig and a dog; he figures he'll pay the healer in pork, but stumbles over a sleeping wolf pack before getting to the pen. He shoots one wolf and drives the rest off. Wolf cutlets for the healers today, he thinks, pausing only to gather up the hide, a nice one.

He makes it to the village before sundown, hires two healers in quick succession (bringing the wound up to yellow, then sea green), and finds an empty cottage. Normally he prefers to sleep away from other people, but this was getting too serious - he needs to heal and maybe this will help. He goes to sleep, thankful the wound isn't brick red.

The next morning, the influenza passes. Lars thanks the two sages repeatedly and leaves the village at noon, determined to make it to the border, and eventually, his destiny.

Faurric, I just wanted to write in to say your stories are the best. After reading "Close Call" and the earlier inimitable "Tale of Vegro", I went and bought the game. :D

Ooooo where are Kassiah's stories??

Nowhere near the genius of "Vegro & Co.", in my humble opinion :D