Lord Apollyon

*For the Encounter in Endless Adventures, see Lord Apollyon (Endless Adventures).*

*"You have to wonder why anyone would help you. At least, my motives are clear."*

## Event 1

*You return to the fine mansion of Lord Apollyon and are granted an immediate audience.*

*"How goes your quest to save Ariadne?" Lord Apollyon asks.*

1) Explain that you lack the blessings required to visit the High Priestess.

*"Perhaps I could be of some assistance? I must confess that I have a weakness for games of chance."*
*Apollyon leads you to a table in another room. A set of cards is already set out upon it.*
*"If you win then I will provide the blessings you require."*
*Apollyon nods as he adds, "Yes, I have the means - you'd be surprised what magical trinkets end up in my possession as part of my work.*
*"If I win, then... You must pose with me for my next portrait. It will be titled, 'Champions of the Empire'. Perhaps I shall have a statue of us made, as well."*
*He gestures for you to sit.*
*"I'll even stack the deck in your favour - after all, I enjoy the excitement of the game and care little for actually winning."*
A) Accept.
*"I'm sure you'll do well," Apollyon smiles.*
**Chance Cards Gambit** (3 Success, 1 Failure)
Success
*"Well done!" Apollyon claps in appreciation. "I think you've played this game before."*
*He gestures to a darkly robed man, who you failed to notice standing in a shadowed corner. The man comes to stand before you, his deep voice slowly intoning words in a foreign tongue.*
*"My associate is a follower of an ancient religion that you may not be familiar with, but rest assured that his devotion is second to none."*
*As you sit through the lengthy ritual you feel yourself drifting in and out of consciousness, whether from the droning voice or the potent incense being burned you cannot say.*
**The player acquires 4 Blessings.**
*You suddenly awake, Apollyon watching you with mild amusement from across the table.*
*"I expect you'll want to begin your journey to the High Priestess immediately. I sincerely hope your friend makes a full recovery."*
Failure
*"You seem to have struggled in that round. I should have explained the rules better," Apollyon comments as he clears the cards aside.* *"Let's try again. Concentrate this time."* **Chance Cards Gambit** (3 Success, 1 Failure)
Success
(insert text here)
Failure
*Lord Apollyon smiles. "Today is not your day for cards. Worry not though, for I shall not let Ariadne perish due to your bad luck."*
*He gestures to a darkly robed man, who you failed to notice standing in a shadowed corner. The man comes to stand before you, his deep voice slowly intoning words in a foreign tongue.*
*"My associate is a follower of an ancient religion that you may not be familiar with, but rest assured that his devotion is second to none."*
*As you sit through the lengthy ritual you feel yourself drifting in and out of consciousness, whether from the droning voice or the potent incense being burned you cannot say.*
**The player acquires 4 Blessings.**
*You suddenly awake, Apollyon watching you with mild amusement from across the table.*
*"I expect you'll want to begin your journey to the High Priestess immediately. I sincerely hope your friend makes a full recovery."*
*"We can get that portrait of you and I organised next time you visit."*
B) Decline.
*"Perhaps another time," Apollyon suggests.*
*Conversation turns to your adventures for the remainder of your visit.*
2) Say that you have the blessings required.

*"Really?" he asks, surprised. "Well, that is good news."*
*He sits enthralled as you give a detailed account of your adventure so far.*
*"I must attend to some pressing business now, but please, visit any time. And let me know if you ever need assistance."*
## Event 2

*You return to the fine mansion of Lord Apollyon and are granted an immediate audience.*

*"You say that another of your friends is in peril?" Lord Apollyon remarks. "How fascinating."*

*You relate some detail as to Malaclypse's situation. "We live in dangerous times indeed," Apollyon says, shaking his head.*

If the player is not at full Life:

*"I see you still bear the marks of battle yourself," Apollyon remarks, sending his butler for a healing potion.*
**The player acquires a Gain 50 Life Card.**
*"How goes your quest to save Malaclypse?" Lord Apollyon asks.*

1) Confess that you cannot convince the village of Rumstock to free him.

*"Those dreadful peasants in the provinces can be savage folk," Apollyon declares. "But I have a solution - if you will but play the cards once more."*
*"If you win then I will use my considerable influence to spread word of your great deeds in my service to the people. Bards will sing your praises across the Empire."*
*"The rabble love nothing more than a hero, a real defender of the people," Apollyon explains dryly.*
*"If it helps I'll even have my personal herald accompany you."*
*"Your needs are more particular in this case, so I must insist that you up your ante. If I win, you must stay and entertain my guests with tales of your adventures."*
*"What do you say? Does the prospect of another winning hand entice you?"*
A) Accept.
*"That's the spirit!" Apollyon exclaims with a laugh.*
**Chance Cards Gambit** (2 Success, 2 Failure)
Success
*"Another win!" Apollyon exclaims. "You are adept at both combat and the finer arts."*
*"I shall make plans with my associates tonight to support your cause," Apollyon declares. "By the time you reach Rumstock your name will be legend."*
*Your fame in the region grows.*
**The player's Fame increases to 40.**
Failure
*"It is kind of you to volunteer for my little dinner event this evening," Apollyon comments, "but I think we should play again, if only for Malaclypse's sake."*
**Chance Cards Gambit** (2 Success, 2 Failure)
Success
(insert text here)
Failure
*"I think perhaps you are letting me win," Apollyon admonishes with a smile.*
*"You are too kind, but you leave your frined in peril. I insist you allow me to help you."*
*"I shall make plans with my associates tonight to support your cause," Apollyon declares. "By the time you reach Rumstock your name will be legend."*
*Your fame in the region grows.*
**The player's Fame increases to 40.**
*After staying through to the end of a long, tedious dinner party with some of the wealthier citizens of the capital, Apollyon thanks you for your time and wishes you luck on your journey.*
B) Decline.
*"Perhaps another time," Apollyon suggests.*
*Conversation turns to your adventures for the remainder of your visit.*
2) Say that you have the situation under control.

*"Really?" he asks, surprised. "Well, that is good news."*
*He sits enthralled as you give a detailed account of your adventure so far.*
*"I must attend to some pressing business now, but please, visit any time. And let me know if you ever need assistance."*
## Event 3

*You return to the fine mansion of Lord Apollyon and are granted an immediate audience.*

*"You say that another of your friends is in peril?" Lord Apollyon remarks. "How fascinating."*

*You relate some detail as to Colbjorn's situation. "We live in dangerous times indeed," Apollyon says, shaking his head.*

If the player is not at full Life:

*"I see you still bear the marks of battle yourself," Apollyon remarks, sending his butler for a healing potion.*
**The player acquires a Gain 50 Life Card.**
*"How goes your quest to save Colbjorn?" Lord Apollyon asks.*

1) Explain that you do not have the ransom gold.

*"I'd like to help if I may," Apollyon says, earnestly. "Would you mind terribly indulging me in another little game?"*
*"If you win then I will give you the required gold to pay the ransom for your friend. No need to repay it, no strings attached."*
*"If I win then... shall we say that you owe me a day's service?" Apollyon suggests.*
*"I have business interests in the northern hills that require some important deliveries. As you know, the land is still rife with Northerner warriors, despite the Emperor's claims."*
*"How about it adventurer? Colbjorn's life could be saved with the turn of a card."*
A) Accept.
*"Excellent!" Apollyon exclaims. "Let's begin."*
**Chance Cards Gambit** (1 Success, 3 Failure)
Success
*"Ha, you win again! I think perhaps you are working a con on me, hm?" Apollyon laughs.*
*With a gesture from Apollyon, a small humanoid creature brings over a chest of gold.*
**The player acquires a Gain 150 Gold Card.**
*"I hope with that gold you get your friend back in one piece! Do visit again sometime and let me know how it went."*
Failure
*"Luck is not with you today, it seems. Let's play again. If I win this round then you must act as my personal bodyguard at the next winter solstice festival."*
**Chance Cards Gambit** (1 Success, 3 Failure)
Success
*"Ah, perhaps you were toying with me for that first game?" Apollyon suggests, dryly.*
*With a gesture from Apollyon, a small humanoid creature brings over a chest of gold.*
**The player acquires a Gain 150 Gold Card.**
*"I hope with that gold you get your friend back in one piece! Do visit again sometime and let me know how it went."*
Failure
*"You still lack the funds to retrieve your friend. I shall gift you the gold and perhaps one day you will be able to return the favour."*
*With a gesture from Apollyon, a small humanoid creature brings over a chest of gold.*
**The player acquires a Gain 150 Gold Card.**
*"I hope with that gold you get your friend back in one piece! Do visit again sometime and let me know how it went."*
B) Decline.
*"Perhaps another time," Apollyon suggests.*
*Conversation turns to your adventures for the remainder of your visit.*
2) Say that you do have the gold.

*"Really?" he asks, surprised. "Well, that is good news."*
*He sits enthralled as you give a detailed account of your adventure so far.*
*"I must attend to some pressing business now, but please, visit any time. And let me know if you ever need assistance."*
## Event 4

*You return to the fine mansion of Lord Apollyon and are granted an immediate audience.*

*"You say that another of your friends is in peril?" Lord Apollyon remarks. "How fascinating."*

*You relate some detail as to Estrella's situation. "We live in dangerous times indeed," Apollyon says, shaking his head.*

If the player is not at full Life:

*"I see you still bear the marks of battle yourself," Apollyon remarks, sending his butler for a healing potion.*
**The player acquires a Gain 50 Life Card.**
*"How goes your quest to save Estrella?" Lord Apollyon asks.*

1) Ask for help rescuing Estrella.

*"It is no trivial thing you wish to gamble for this day," Apollyon says, looking concerned.*
*"Even I cannot sway the Emperor's decision on your friend, and helping you intervene would be tantamount to treason."*
*"Perhaps if you win then I could give you the means to rescue your friend," Apollyon concedes. "But if I were to make such a gamble, then you must risk something equally significant."*
*Apollyon leans forward, fixing you with his gaze. "If I win, you must serve me until I release you. Or until I die, of course." Apollyon smiles softly at the suggestion.*
*"Well, champion?" Apollyon asks, clearly eager to begin the game. "Are you willing to gamble one life for another?"*
A) Accept.
*Apollyon smiles wickedly and deals the cards.*
**Chance Cards Gambit** (4 Failure)
Huge Success (only possible with Eternal Hope)
*Apollyon sits silently for a moment, glaring at the cards before turning on you in anger.*
*"You cheated! How did you do it? Tell me what magic you possess!"*
**The player gains 8 Fame.**
*The room falls into shadow as Apollyon throws the table aside with a flick of his wrist and advances on you.*
*Flames erupt from the hearth and Apollyon seizes you, declaring, "I must grant your prize, mortal, but know that I will not forget this!"*
*The world fades to darkness.*
**The player is transported to the Imperial Justice encounter.**
**The player is given a Gain +100 Max Life card.**
Failure
*"And now you are mine," Apollyon says, standing. He gestures for you to rise and you feel unnaturally compelled to do so.*
*"Follow me, 'hero', and we shall see what mischief we can put your talents to now."*
*Apollyon leads you through a door etched in strange symbols and down a long, long set of stairs into darkness.*
*Your old life and the fate of the Empire is left behind forever.*
**The player fails the Challenge.**
B) Decline.
*"Ah," Apollyon sighs. "It would have been a fine game. Perhaps you will reconsider when you realize the futility of your quest without my help."*
2) Change the topic of conversation.

*"Of course," Apollyon says. "Shall we discuss your past exploits once more? Tell me more about that Ogre you encountered."*
*You talk at length of your adventures and before you realize, several hours have passed.*
*"I must attend to some pressing business now, but please, visit any time. And let me know if you ever need assistance."*
## Notes

* *Apollyon* is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Biblical term *Abaddon*.