GRAIL QUEST

 I mentioned in my last post that I’m in a second gaming group now. The game master is an old friend, Carlisle. He was part of our first gaming group when we first started our The Fantasy Trip adventure years ago. He got me and a couple other local gamers to join him in playing the 1980 programmed adventure GRAIL QUEST.

GRAIL QUEST was written by Guy W McLimore Jr for MetaGaming. It was the third “microquest” after Steve Jackson’s Death Test and Death Test 2. It is a programmed adventure for one to four players set in Arthurian England searching for the legendary cup of Christ.  When Grail Quest was written gamers were using Steve Jackson’s original rules. Our group is playing the updated rules and examining how these newer rules might affect the adventure. Our group is comprised of three players experienced with TFT. Carlisle is our game master, and one player is unfamiliar with the system, but learning fast. 

After two Session Zero practice games, we started. Leaving Camelot we choose a direction and travel to the next point on the map where there maybe a village or inn and villagers who may have information to pass on. As we travel we face random challenges like bandits, wolves, or wandering knights who will challenge us to single combat. Some locations have their own unique challenges like this:
 

Day 29: The party arrives at the castle of Lord Krast, who is holding a noble woman captive. From the tower the woman calls down to us to help her. The guards allow only one of the knights to enter and Sir Titus chooses to face Lord Krast. They meeting the castle courtyard. Krast says he will only release the noble woman if Titus can best him in combat. They face each other across the courtyard.

Sir Titus charges across the yard and attacks with his spear. Krast responds with a mighty blow with his sword. Now toe to toe they exchange blows. Lord Krast’s sword bites deep and Titus disengages for a moment. Sir Titus strikes again with his spear and then disengages again, but it is only to back up and charge attack again. Lord Krast though is ready and knocks Sir Titus to the ground.

3Once Sir Titus is conscious Lord Krast offers the party hospitality and allows Sir Titus to rest and heal for four days. Unfortunately as the loser, Titus must forfeit his horse and all his arms. The party pools their resources and buys back Titus’s possessions.

Day 37: After resting at the inn, the party returns to the castle. This time Sir Barnard challenges Lord Krast.

The two men run at each other and clash shields in the center of the courtyard. Lord Krast hits first with his sword while parrying Sir Barnard’s blow with his shield. The two combatants move around looking for an opening. Krast swings and misses while Barnard’s sword hits, but does little damage. Lord Krast’s sword gets under Barnard’s shield and draw blood again. 

Sensing advantage, Krast strikes and hits, but over extends himself and drops his sword. Sir Barnard hits and forces Krast back, preventing him from reclaiming his sword. Barnard swings again, but is blocked by Krast’s shield. Krast responds by slamming into Barnard with his shield. Thrown a little unbalanced, Barnard drops his sword when he attacks again. Lord Krast draws his dagger and thrusts, but cannot pierce Barnard’s armor. Barnard quickly picks up his sword. Krast desperately lunges  again with his dagger, but leaves himself open and Sir Bernard’s blade strikes true. 
 
Lord Krast drops to his knee and yields. He will release the noble woman to the knights and presents Sir Barnard with his chainmail, shield, and magic (+2) broadsword. Before they leave Krast tells the knights that his spies have found no sign of the grail in the west.