Who says milking a sheep is hard? Let's Play Kyrandia Book 2: The Hand of Fate!

LP Part Index
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
LP Complete

This is the second LP in what will hopefully be a series of three. You can find the first game's completed LP right here.

Taking the lessons learned from my last LP (most important being to not mess with the queue), I've decided to tackle the sequel to Legend of Kyrandia, called The Hand of Fate (no relation to Manos: The Hands of Fate, thank Torgo). In a stark departure from the first Kyrandia game, this one is much more user-friendly. It still features about 10 ways to die, but it also warns you that what you're doing is stupid at least once before each death (so you can back out and not get killed). And it has puzzles that actually tend to make some sort of sense. Usually. Also, there are no "you are screwed" points, meaning they were taking their cues from LucasArts instead of Sierra this time.

As before, I'll be going the snarky route, because it worked so well before and because Kyrandia games just fit with it. The update schedule should once more be about 3 times a week. So, let's get started!

Introduction - A Disappearing Kyrandia



An ominous giant hand? In a game called Hand of Fate? Shock, SHOCK I say!




Once again, I have the CD version, so I can't show you the intro text. I'll just have to sum it up.

So basically, about 2 or 3 weeks after that nimrod Brandon took the throne, Kyrandia started to experience total existence failure. Yeah, I totally called that one way back when. Tip: don't put egotistical douchebags on the throne in fantasy worlds, it tends to piss off the god or god equivalents in your fantasy world. I'm just sayin'.



You know, maybe it's not such a bad thing after all that Kyrandia is disappearing. I mean hey, no more Serpent's Grotto!



Naturally, the Mystics are totally baffled. Also, is it just me, or does putting a fire-breathing dragon in a library full of highly flammable books sound like a bad idea?



I mean, I'm just sayin'...



Oh look, it's an ominous giant hand. In a game called Hand of Fate. I guess he moonlights as a title screen feature? But I'm sure he's totally not going to be a significant character in the plot or have any bearing whatsoever on what happens. Also, nice companion the hand has there in the foreground. Such fashion sense. I bet he's going to turn out to be totally straight.





He's a hand with a plan, though! A very strange plan, if you ask me. Basically, his idea is to get something called a MacGuffin... sorry, Anchor Stone, from the center of the world, which will save Kyrandia. Somehow. But hey, it's better than just letting Kyrandia vanish under Brandon's inept rule.



Remember Zanthia? Appeared for nearly 5 minutes in the first game? Yeah, she's our main character this time. And she's... actually pretty funny and likeable. And also isn't a coward, which is more than I can say for the first Kyrandia protagonist. I guess they learned their lesson with Brandon.

I remember this place... Anyway, Zanthia's planning to open a portal to the center of the earth with some Blueberry-derived potion. Somehow I doubt it will be that easy.



OH NOES! Somebody has ransacked La Casa Zanthia! Great, looks like we've got our work cut out for us.





But first, gratuitous outfit change! Zanthia does that a lot, and it never serves any real purpose, but it's kind of neat anyway. Especially later when she doesn't just palette-swap. It shows that they put actual effort into distinguishable characters and environments in this one, unlike the first one.

So Kyrandia is screwed and we need to get an Anchor Stone to fix it. But no instant teleporting there, because let's face it, it'd be a pretty short game that way. When we begin next time, we will descend into the swamps and see if we can't find some direction. Seriously, Kyrandia games are horrible about letting you know where you need to go first. Until next time!

There's a Giant Hand, holding a pointer, pointing out Zanthia as the lead protagonist. A hand, holding a pointer.

A hand.

Have I mentioned that I've absolutely fallen in love with these games?

You know, I never noticed how fundamentally ridiculous that was until just now.

Technically when it's established this early in the story it's a MacGuffin, not Deus Ex Machina.

Ah, thank you for the correction. I never can keep straight which term to use when.

Part 1 - Searching Swamps for Stuff

NOTE: This part is a doozy. But there's a lot that has to be covered, so bear with me. Also, we're jumping right in because the intro is so short, as usual.



Thanks, Faun. Still an asshole, I see.

Well, the lab's gotta have a few good things hiding about. Let's see...



Water, and more importantly, a flask. That's a good start. Okay, outside, then.



Hey, it's those eyes again. LET'S GET OUR HUG.



Oh hai. I can has hugs nao for reels plz?



NOOO YOU BE EATIN MAH




Oh.




Hehehe....



And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Zanthia is way cooler than Brandon. Well, one of the many, many reasons why, anyway. Onwards!



Oh look, Kyrandia is still disappearing. Ho hum. Damn it, Brandon! Stop being inept! You're pissing off the deity/deities of Kyrandia!



That has to be the most spurious use of the term "weed patch" ever. Venus fly traps have nothing on those monstrosities.

Now what were those rules of adventure games? Oh right! Adventure Game Rule #2: Pick up everything that's not nailed down or on fire, and if it is nailed down or on fire, try to find a hammer or water so you can pick it up! Let's look at that stump and see if there's anything not nailed down or on fire inside of it!

If you're wondering, Adventure Game Rule #1 is the same as pretty much every game ever: save early, save often!




Score! I bet that's important. You know, since it has its own inventory spot separate from normal inventory and all. Too bad it's apparently been vandalized. Let's take a look inside.

Wow, it's like a textbook full of puzzles! Sounds like we don't have everything we need to make any of these potions, though. Yet.





Zanthia gets sarcastic, with good cause really. Let's go north.



More rule #2 to exercise! Let's nab an onion and a tree branch!




Yes, the tree branch did grow back near-instantly. The Gnarlybark keeps moving in your inventory, too. It's actually kinda creepy. Well, let's go.



Oh, the fairy, er, ferry! Hey, a fairy runs the ferry! That's almost (but not quite) entirely unlike funny. Let's talk with this fellow.






No dice, huh? Where are we going to get that kind of money? Wait, alchemists turn lead into gold, right? So we just need some lead, and... whatever it is alchemists use to turn lead into gold. Okay, quest get! Onwards!

You are standing at a crossroads. Obvious exits are north, south, and Dennis.

And yeah, a rock just disappeared in front of Zanthia for no reason. I wonder if this is going to be a trend. Also, that bird's nest might make good soup material. Yoink!



A feather? Yeah, I totally meant to get the feather, and not the nest. Yep. Ahahahaha... I'm going to the next screen now.



No.



NO.



NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Fireberries! Arrrrgh, the horrible memories!

Actually, they're only here as a reference to the first game. They serve no purpose, are labeled as "ever-glowing" (which they are), and you can make Zanthia eat one after cooling it off with water. Like this!



Teehee. Okay, enough dinking around, let's go check out that house.



It's a house full of frogs. And there's stuff to grab! Like...





A stool! That used to belong to a toad. It's a... toad stool. Oh, that is bad... So was the pun those toads made... Let's see, what else is there to steal, er, borrow?



And a bag of manure. Well, I'm sure that'll be useful. Maybe.




He's not kidding either. Okay, we're stocked and stoked, so let's go back to the crossroads and head Dennis! I mean south!

Quicksand! Let's cross.



Oh give it a shot, Zanthia. Nah, let's just walk across.



I mean, everybody knows quicksand is harmless, right?




See, told ya.



Oh hello Mr. Hand, can I help you?




OMG HAX! Load!




There we go, obvious solution. Come on, Zanth, push that tree!



Suuure. Face it, Zanthia, you just suck.




Or not. Right, let's cross. But first...



Not so tough now, are you, Mr. Hand? Gimme that! Right, across we go.

That's totally a threatening aligator. Yep. Zanthia would never dare touch it.





Or she would. Brave of her. Bet she won't do it again.




Well, uh... she shouldn't have done it again, anyway. Load!

Let's check out that tree hollow. You know something good's gotta be in there.




There was! Now we have everything necessary to mix-a-mix-a lotta potions, yo! Looks like the path continues, so...



A hot sulphur spring? And Zanthia has already made a beeline for what looks like a yellow rock. Gold, perhaps?



Nope, it's sulphur. Well, that stinks. Let's go back and torture that alligator.



Unfortunately, I have no weapons, so it'll have to be tickle torture.



Oh, don't be such a baby.



Reptile's tears. Can reptiles actually cry? I suspect not. Also, don't tell me what you are and aren't going to do, Zanthia. YOU WILL DRINK, NOW!



Ha HA! That's what you get for telling ME what to do! ...Okay, time to get some more alligator tears, then move on. There was actually another path past the fairy, er, ferry.

It's two fishermen. Who can't catch anything. I wonder why?




Yeah, I bet that's why. Moving on!





Bizzarre affliction, indeed. Why DOES Kyrandia only seem to disappear when Zanthia's nearby? Could it be that the designers didn't want to confuse the player by having landmarks vanish when she's not there to see it? Probably.



Oh great, it's Captain Fashion Sense. And no, he didn't just teleport in, he walked out of that cave.




A rope trick? Seriously? I'm sure the kids at your next birthday party will be very impressed, but...



Heh! Zanthia's about as impressed with him as I am.



Yeah, that's totally why she thinks you're a laughingstock. Brilliant deduction, Pastel Wonder. (His name is Marko, if you're curious.)



That is not a question you want a woman to be asking you, incidentally. The answer is usually... awkward.




Hiking in the swamp? Your partner has some issues, Marko. And no, the hand did not teleport in either, he "walked" in on his index and middle finger.

"...but that would mean standing close enough to have to look at you, and I don't think my retinas can take that much ugly."

Actually, she goes on about how her stuff's been stolen and how she has to walk to the center of the earth.



Gahahahahahaha...! I mean, uh, I'm not sure how much help you would be...



Independent woman, tellin' it like it is. Alright, into that cave!



Oh, so it goes in deeper. Fair enough.





Oh rats. How to get past this guy?




Obviously not by reasoning with him. So, in case you didn't guess, we have a bit of a puzzler on our hands here. I'll be presenting the solution next time, but see if you can figure out what's supposed to be done yourself. All the clues can be found in this part. Until next time!

Oh my goodness, the puns! The magnificent, awful puns!

I was lollin'.

Yeah, this one is loaded with puns. So naturally, I just had to contribute a few of my own. And I planned out the whole "Fireberry freak-out" some time ago. It had to be done, it just had to.

I love this game. It was, what, fourteen years ago I first played it? I lost the disks some time ago. Maybe I'll track down a CD copy.
Thank you so much for this LP, SkyRender.

I should note now that my copy's a bit different than most peoples'. It's the European release. Meaning that some of the terms have odd spellings (like sulphur instead of sulfur), and others are different (like arse instead of butt, though that happens later). For the most part, I doubt many people will even notice.

I bet they meant for this to be a crocodile, for then you would have crocodile tears.

I'm calling it now:

That hand? Best character in the game.

Aha, so it was another subtle pun! Good eye.

And yes, the Hand does have the limelight now, but just wait. Zanthia's most faithful companion has yet to emerge...

Puzzle solving! I don't need to spoiler-text my guesses, do I?

Presumably we need to use the snake spell to scare the rat. We've got tears and an onion, we definitely need a "woof" and some egg smell. Also a toadstool, but maybe the small stool we've got counts?

You're definitely on the right track there. Another key piece to solving this puzzle is recognizing one of the trends so far, which PapillonReel pointed out: the penchant for puns this game has.

Windy woof... Roof?

"Windy woof" really trips people up. It tripped me up too, actually, when I first played the game. I basically solved this puzzle by trial and error item inclusion. After I found out what "windy woof" meant, I realized why it confused me so: I'd misunderstood what "windy" meant. Or rather, I'd misread it...

We also got us some egg smell from the sulfer! Can we mix yet!?

Even if the full solution isn't figured out before I post the next part (which should be early tomorrow), I'll be revealing the solution there. So far, it's been deduced what all of the ingredients are save the "windy woof". Remember, it has to be something that can be put in the cauldron, so it's an item you can pick up. Any guesses?

If anybody knows French or German, these shots might also help:

Oh, it's the gnarly bark. I get it! Gnarly = windy, bark = woof.

Aced. I knew somebody would spot it.

Ah, you mean...




stick

BENDY ROOT!
edit: poop