#Casket of Souls

[vintagerpg]

Oh man, Casket of Souls (1987) is the second (and last) Fantasy Questbook, this one written by Ian Livingstone and published by Penguin instead of Puffin, but it still has something indelibly “Fighting Fantasy” about it. Unlike The Tasks of Tantalon, this puzzle book had a prize — a gold-plated casket made by Citadel miniatures, reproducing the titular treasure right there on the cover.

Plot is straight up — demon takes over the world, the only thing that can stop him is the casket and the proper spell. You’re guided through story by the ghost of a wizard (who gives you the casket at the end) and you have to divine the hints in his narration to locate the twelve treasure that will lead the way to the twelve words of the spell (and their proper order). Unlike Tasks, these are all hidden picture puzzles. Somehow, that doesn’t make it any easier. We recorded a podcast on this book and at that time, I had spend about two hours looking and found three and suspected the location of one more. I’ve devoted another two hours now and I’ve only gotten one more, and that involved turning the book upside down. I suspect mirrors are needed to solve the one I am half sure of, I just can’t be bothered because I’m old and bitter. It’s fun though, even if I am convinced some of the puzzles are bullshit. This book hurts my head way less than Tasks.

This is largely because of the art by Iain McCaig. I mean, just look at it. The puzzle elements are subtle enough that every page in the book is a fantasy art portfolio piece. The cover, and the illustration of the wizard and his smoking hand, are high on my list of all-time great fantasy paintings (and I think both are reproduced in McCaig’s art retrospective book, and a lot of the piece were also recycled for the short-lived BattleCards game). Just gorgeous all the way through!

[haveyoureadthisfantasybook]

vote yes if you have finished the entire book.

vote no if you have not finished the entire book.

(faq · submit a book)

[triumviiirate]

i spend a lot of time thinking about the empty space between jim and bones at spock's funeral

[im-not-buying-it-ether]

Oh hey @thefantasmarex and all other Cap adopts Kon AU enthusiasts

Fun idea, but Billy has delt with resurrections and spirits before and can visit different afterlives and gods for many a reason. How much you wanna bet he’d go on a huge, months long search across every afterlife and banging on the door of every pantheon looking for Conner after he dies?

Or failing that, Superboy Prime is canonically a prisoner of the Monsterlands in the rebirth comics; so how much you wanna bet Billy is going to make his life hell after taking away a member of his family?

[roguecoffeebean]

Crazy how the moment you unleash your OCs into the public you lose all agency over them. You can be like actually you know what I hate his guts & people would be like didn't ask, don't care, gimme more

[iphigeniarising]

[laurelwinchester]

i don’t understand the obsession some parts of the spn fandom have with the bunker.

‘‘it’s their home! they’ve never had a home and now they have the coolest home ever! i love it so much! the show got so much better when they gave them a homebase!’’

motherfucker it DOESN’T HAVE ANY WINDOWS

[shackld]

suspect r is the love of chief's life but zoya is literally her soulmate and they kiss i hope this helps

[50sfem]

Went to my grandma's funeral yesterday. Idk why I had put makeup on I just cried it off.

[paradife-loft]

huh. because they're basically the same kind of item & shape, I had always assumed the little headstone Ciaran sets up for Artorias in the coliseum was a miniature version of the main headstone in Sif's arena

but they're actually not the same design at all - the initial marker looks like it came from a broken piece of the actual panel walls of the arena itself (the carved ones with the cloranthy & fleur-de-lis-esque symbols). the large gravestone meanwhile has some carved text and a different, kinda generic geometric motif seen in a couple of other places in Anor Londo.

[vintagerpg]

Don’t forget to bring a mirror! This week on the Vintage RPG podcast, we’re looking at Casket of Souls (1987), a puzzlebook by Ian Livingstone that spins out of the success of the Fighting Fantasy series. You, too, can pore over Iain McCaig’s lush art work, looking for clues to solve the riddle and win the titular, gold-plated casket! Well, you could in 1987, anyway. The contest is long over, but half the fun is the journey right? Well, maybe not…this is one of the hardest puzzlebooks I’ve ever encountered…

[acesheart]

tags.

[minutes1a]

𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐲

[nightingale-prompts]

Just your average coffee shop AU-DCxDP prompt

What do you do when you've been blacklisted from every coffee chain in Gotham?

You have to find other sources.

That is Tim's current predicament but he put out a few messages out and an informant got back to him about a new café that opened on the outskirts of the city.

There wasn't much else on it other than the fact that it was located in an old cemetery. No details or anything.

Desperate for the black icker that made up his blood by this point Tim went.

Walking down the cobblestone path Tim began to doubt if the shop was real. The decrepit tombstones seemed to be the only people here but as he passed the mausoleums he saw a single stone crypt that had a sign.

Hours:

Tues-Saturday 12pm-3:00 am

Sunday: All day

Mon: Closed

(Vlad Masters is banned)

Tim opened the stone door and heard the faint sound of violins and saxophones. A staircase led deeper to an aged wooden door.

The rusty door henge screeched as he opened the door like a doorbell. The room was a lounge with plush seats and smooth wood tables. A dance floor was in the center currently occupied by well dressed patrons. The scent of fresh dark roast coffee filled the air. A band played live music, it was a blend of gothic folk and Jazz. The booths were filled with a few patrons cheering for the performers as they drank coffee and played cards.

The counter where he could order his drink was a bar. Despite what you'd assume they weren't selling alcohol at least not yet. The man behind the counter beckoned him over.

The barista dressed in a white dress shirt and a black buttoned vest embroidered with a ribcage design. He had fingerless gloves with matching skeletal hand design. The man's face was a pale bit warm tone with a blueish green hue on his cheekbones. His lips were a dark ashen black with a subtle shine. It was probably just the aesthetic.

"Evening, traveler." His voice practically purred as he greeted the weary young man"The rhythm's alive, and the spirits are waiting—how can I make your afterlife?"

"Coffee. Black." Tim said gruffly despite to get it in his system.

"Oh, you got it bad, don't you? Let me get you something that will actually help." The bartender said turning to brew a cup.

Tim's eyes scanned the chalkboard menu that hung above the bar.

Hot Coffee Drinks:

Graveyard Brew – A rich dark roast with a hint of smoked caramel. (Tucker's pick)

Phantom Flat White – A smooth flat white with ghostly foam art. (Danny's pick)

Latté of the Damned– A spiced pumpkin latte with black cinnamon dust. (Jazz's pick)

Eternal Espresso– A bold, double-shot espresso.

The Velvet Casket – Mocha with dark chocolate and a touch of vanilla.

Sepulcher Spice – Chai-spiced coffee with a hint of nutmeg. (Val's pick)

Necromancer’s Nitro – Nitro cold brew with a dash of maple syrup. (Dan's pick)

Iced Coffee Drinks:

Cold-Brew Crypt– Smooth cold brew with a splash of sweet cream.

Chilled Cadaver– Iced coffee with coconut milk and a shot of hazelnut. (Dani's pick)

The Frosted Requiem – Blended mocha with chocolate drizzle.

Soulful Swirl– Iced latte with caramel and a swirl of blackcurrant syrup.

Moonlit Macchiato– Vanilla macchiato with activated charcoal. (Sam's pick)

Tim definitely sensed a theme here.

"I added a few shots of expresso and some dark chocolate liquor. It should get you right and some minor heart palpitations. I think I'll call it 'The Black Veil'." The barista smiled very cat-like.

"Am I getting my name on the board?" Tim quipped without thinking as he sipped the hot coffee. Actually, it was cooler than he thought it would be. It was the perfect temperature. And the taste was amazing.

"Only if you're a regular and I think your drink might be too much for anyone else." The barista laughed softly.

"So...this place is pretty um...gothic?"

"This place used to be just for the dead but we've recently over up to the living."

"Heh, I get it."

"Get what?"

Tim coughed awkwardly. He didn't want to stop talking to the goth barista yet and the quality coffee was convincing. Maybe it was the environment. It was like walking into a different world.

"So what's this place called? So I know what Im coming back to." Tim tried to sound cool but let's face it, he's been beat.

"This is the Catacomb Club. Where the spirits swing and the night never sleeps. You should come again soon, cutie. I think I got a good surge of inspiration just looking at you." He purred in delight as he leaned over the bar tapped Tim's cheek.

Tim felt his face burn, the touch felt like electricity tickling his skin. A string of babbling seemed to come out of this mouth as he tried to respond.

"Heh heh, don't keep me waiting dear," he laughed "Oh, and by the way. My name is Danny. Catch me in the early shift. My brother works the late shift mixing the alcohol. But if you want you can catch me on the stage or on the dance floor. I might even make you an extra cup or two." Danny said.

Tim found his footsteps on the way up lighter and only when he made it back the cematary gate did he notice.

He never paid.

[traduccionesdelibros]

Thero mi idolo