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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Joshua Randall" data-source="post: 9637207" data-attributes="member: 7737">Still in the Yellow Marsh, we realize there is one more target for pointless polymorphing: the unseen creature in the fog.---150"Listen to this," you whisper excitedly [to Dalris]. Before she can object again, you rapidly translate the description of the Polymorph Other spell. "Don't you understand, Dalris? I can change that thing in the fog into a harmless insect, or a mouse, or….""Wake up, Carr!" the bard interrupts. "Perhaps Landor could have done what you're suggesting, but you've only been studying magic for five years. Polymorph Other is too powerful for you to attempt without careful research."I've done background studies, Dalris," you insist. "I've just never actually attempted to cast the spell. Isn't it worth a try before we go probing into that stinking cloud with just a sword and a staff?"The bard's stern expression shifts to one of exasperation. "Do it, Carr. Just do it! You won't be content until you've played with everything in the book."---Commentary:I sympathize with Carr here. The characters are in a desperate situation. Ideally, Carr would've practiced Polymorph Other in a controlled setting, changing a harmless target into another harmless form. But we are not in a controlled setting. And by definition, he can only do this once because he hasn't actually acquired 4th level spells yet. So at this point in the story, Polymorph Other is a single use magic device.I also note this phrase: "you rapidly translate the description of the Polymorph Other spell." A description of the spell implies more than just the title. Meaning that Carr can translate a spell (via his permanent Read Magic) without accidentally casting it -- just as the AD&D rules allow. Which means that Carr should never have been surprised by the functions and requirements of any of these spells (such as the lengthy casting time for Enchant An Item).That aside, back to the pointless polymorphing.---[INT test vs. 26. On success…]116At first, you think that the powerful Polymorph Other spell isn't going to work. Then you hear a terrible cry of agony, the bellowing and thrashing of a huge creature."It worked!" you exclaim, listening to the sound of a heavy body thudding to the marshy ground. The noise stops abruptly, followed by a shrill squeal."You haven't destroyed the thing's intelligence, Master," warns Rufyl. "I can still sense its thoughts — and its fury!""Now what?" mutters Dalris.You follow her gaze to the ground, where an irate field-mouse is charging through the mire toward the three of you. It would be easy to smash the tiny rodent with your staff before it reaches you (204), although you're tempted to let Dalris use her druid skills to soothe its anger (47) and let it live.---Commentary:I have zero sympathy for Shanif the Marid here. He could have used his mega-telepathy to "speak" with us and tell us what's up any time he wanted to. Instead he lurked in the fog like a creeper and made no efforts to communicate. So the fact that he ends up polymorphed into a field-mouse serves him right.Also, the image of a really angry rodent charging at us through the swamp is HILARIOUS.If Carr chooses to be a murderhobo jerk and tries to smash the mouse, then Shanif uses his own magic to polymorph Carr into a cricket, with the implication that he's going to eat us. Yikes!If Carr chooses to be a reasonable human being and allows Dalris to soothe the mouse, then somehow Shanif is able to dispel the polymorph on himself and we move on to the ask-one-question path.So your choices for getting the One True Answer are:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">whack a giant hand with your staff</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">cast a low-level spell that the marid shrugs off because magic</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">or turn the marid into a mouse, then spare its life</li> </ul>Silly, eh? But par for the course in this gamebook.</blockquote>

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