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Lone Wolf: Difference between revisions
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The books take many [[RPG]] elements and incorporate them into playing/reading, such as [[Hit Points]] (called Endurance points), "Combat Skill", skills (Kai / Magnakai / Grand Master Disciplines), and an inventory system. Each book can be read as a standalone adventure, but finishing a book allows one to [[Old Save Bonus|gain an extra Discipline and carry over most (usually) of his inventory]]. You can cheat, but you can cheat at Solitaire too.
There are 20 books out that follow Lone Wolf himself, then 8 after that following a student of his, with more being written. There's also a four-books ''World of Lone Wolf'' [[Spin-Off
'''Kai series'''
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* [[Absurdly Spacious Sewer]]: The Baga-darooz in Barrakeesh, and a few others.
* [[Alien Non
* [[All There in the Manual]]
** The novelizations introduce several key characters such as Naar or Alyss. (Good luck knowing who or what Alyss is otherwise.)
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** {{spoiler|Darklords Zagarna (Book 2) and Gnaag (Book 12) are destroyed without a fight by the power of the Sommerswerd. In gameplay terms an anticlimax, but the satisfying and incredibly badass descriptions of these literal embodiments of evil being annihilated in a blast of holy sunfire makes up for it.}}
** {{spoiler|Wytch-king Shasarak and Agarash the Damned}} from the ''World of Lone Wolf'' books starring Grey Star end up being these. The former turns out to be a pathetically weak fighter and is easily defeated in battle. Grey Star beats the latter by simply {{spoiler|throwing the Moonstone at the gate Agarash is trying to pass through, thus preventing his escape}}.
* [[Arrows
* [[Art Evolution]]: Darklord Gnaag's appearance between Book 8 and Book 12, which is primarily due to the change in illustration artists. The [[Updated Rerelease]] changes his appearance further, again, due to a new artist.
* [[Artifact of Death|Artifacts of Death]]: The Doomstones and Death Staff. If not already undead when starting to use them, you may become one soon.
* [[Artifact of Doom|Artifacts of Doom]]: Many. Doomstones, Darklord weapons, the Death Staff, etc.
** And in ''The Skull of Agarash'' graphic novel, the eponymous demonic cranium.
* [[Ascend to
* [[The Atoner]]: The Redeemers, a silent order of healers that helps Lone Wolf from time to time, are atoning not for their own misdeeds, but for the misdeeds of their ''ancestors'', {{spoiler|the Patar. The Patar played a key role in the near extinction of their former masters the Elder Magi by plague}}. Ashamed, they vowed that they and their descendants would dedicate themselves to fighting disease in all its forms.
* [[Attack Reflector]]: The Sommerswerd can sometimes be used to volley a magical attack back at the caster.
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** The Giak language, lingua franca of the Darklands and Drakkarim.
** There is also a "dark tongue" that only the Darklords have been seen using. It is described as a harsh, guttural language, with words and sounds that the mouths of men could never form.
* [[Blessed
* [[Body Armor
* [[Boisterous Bruiser]]
** The mercenary captain in Book 6.
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* [[The Chosen One]]: Lone Wolf himself.
* [[Chronic Backstabbing Disorder]]: The Darklords, as evidenced by Archlord Gnaag's reaction when he walks in on Lone Wolf (in disguise as Darklord Ghanesh's minion) slaying Darklord Taktaal: "Your master would be proud of you!" The fact that Darklord weapons like Helshezag and the Dagger of Vashna give ''combat bonuses'' when fighting other Darklords -- and are among the very few things, besides the Sommerswerd, which can kill a Darklord -- is further proof of their treacherous nature.
* [[Clean Cut]]: Can happen with the Sommerswerd due to [[Cutscene Power to
* [[Clear My Name]]: In Book 19, Lone Wolf is arrested for the crimes of his [[Evil Knockoff]], Wolf's Bane.
* [[Combat Tentacles]]: Burrowcrawler, Crypt Spawns, Akraa'Neonor, Giant Meresquid, Roctopus, Octagtah, Ictakko, Stragnah, Korozon, Ixian Mhagani....
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*** the [[Phantasy Spelling|Sommerswerd]];
*** the [[Ancestral Weapon|Ironheart Broadsword]];
*** [[Exactly What It Says
*** [[Alliterative Name|Skarn-Ska]] ("Wolf's Blade").
** Lone Wolf can ''make'' a bunch of these with the new discipline of Kai Weaponcraft once he reach the rank of Kai Supreme Master. In the New Order Kai books, the protagonist receive one of these named weapon (an axe, sword or broadsword). These "Kai-weapons" all offer +5 CS normally and provide bonus CS depending on enemy type, environment, or time of day.
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* [[Dark-Skinned Blond]]: Paido
* [[Deadly Dodging]]: Rarely comes into play, as most fight sequences are straightforward. There's an example in book 6, however: in the ruins of Castle Taunor, if Lone Wolf flees from the enraged monster waiting in ambush, you can lure it into jumping down a precipice by dodging at the last moment.
* [[Deal
* [[Death World]]: The goal of the Darklords is to turn Magnamund into this for everyone but themselves.
* [[Dem Bones]]: Skeletons warriors constitute the main troops of the Ixian [[The Undead|Undead]].
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* [[The Dragon]]: [[Big Bad]] Naar has had several Dragons in the [[Backstory]] and throughout the series. The most notable was Agarash the Damned, described as his most powerful champion of evil. Agarash in turn had his own Dragon, the Deathlord Ixiataaga, the [[Big Bad]] of Book 17. Ixiataaga even had his ''own'' Dragon, {{spoiler|Demonlord Tagazin}}.
* [[Dual-Wielding]]: Technically not allowed. However, this hasn't stopped [[Munchkin|some players]] to homebrew their own rules to gain the bonus of two magic weapons at once.
* [[Due to
* [[Dungeon Bypass]]
** The only way to escape [[The Maze]] in ''Castle Death''.
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* [[Enemy Civil War]]: The Darklords ''really'' needed a system of succession that didn't involve a massive civil war every time someone whacked the current Archlord.
* [[Energy Absorption]]: The blade of the Sommerswerd can harmlessly absorb most offensive spells directed at its wielder. Sometimes, the energy is even used to heal Lone Wolf. However, the protection can rarely be foiled if the attack comes from an artifact at least as powerful as the Sword of the Sun, like with Kimah's [[Artifact of Doom|Orb of Death]] or Vonotar's [[Ring of Power]].
* [[Everything's Deader
* [[Everything's Worse
* [[Everything Trying to Kill You]]: The number of death traps, cold-blooded assassins, evil armies, cursed artifacts, hostile fauna, poisonous (and man-eating) flora, malevolent undead, and hidden ancient evils sealed all over the place that Lone Wolf runs into means ''something'' is ''always'' trying to kill him. Even when he ''isn't'' in a war.
** Book 1: Lone Wolf may barely escapes sinking in a bog that claims his horse, just to be attacked by a very poisonous snake next. Even lampshaded in the text:
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** And in the Grand Master series, if Lone Wolf is a Sun Lord with Grand Weaponmastery, he can set any normal weapon's edge aflame for extra damage in battle.
* [[Forced Prize Fight]]: In book 21, the New Order Kai Grandmaster must fight Dromodon the Invincible, the champion gladiator, after accidentally killing his intended opponent due to ''drinking from the wrong fountain''. While the Grandmaster is initially sorry to have to kill the man to earn his freedom, he "looks into his eyes" and somehow realizes that Dromodon {{spoiler|is a worshipper of [[Big Bad|Naar]]}}, meaning it's okay to kill him. A fairly transparent attempt to keep the Grandmaster from appearing too morally grey.
* [[Forged
* [[Gaiden Game]]
** The ''World of Lone Wolf'' books serve as this, following the wizard Grey Star who lives at the very southern tip of Magnamund, whereas Lone Wolf hangs out mainly in Northern Magnamund.
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** The Moonstone too. {{spoiler|In ''The Buccaneers of Shadaki'', just showing the artefact to an undead immediately destroys it.}}
* [[Hook Hand]]: In Book 5, during the palace prison escape path, you can meet "Hammerfist the Armourer", a huge weaponsmith with a hand replaced by a warhammer for both fighting and metalworking.
* [[I Am He
* [[Idiot Ball]]: This being a [[Choose Your Own Adventure]] type of series, the player can make Lone Wolf hold it if he's faced with a situation where some of the choices are clearly dumber than the others. Some examples:
** Book 1: {{spoiler|If you fall into a tomb in a graveyard known for being the home to ancient horrors... why yes, do open the sarcophagus please, what could go wrong?}}
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* [[The Man Behind the Man]]
** {{spoiler|Naar, King of the Darkness}} is the real [[Big Bad]] of the entire series, and the one who created {{spoiler|the Darklords}}. Possibly subverted; though he's not mentioned in the first twelve books, being a {{spoiler|god of evil}}, his existence was probably widely known already. He is heavily mentioned in the [[All There in the Manual|novelizations]].
** A better example of this trope exists in the ''World of Lone Wolf'' books starring Grey Star. {{spoiler|[[Sealed Evil in
* [[The Many Deaths of You]]: Especially in the earlier books that read more like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. The sheer number of non-combat-related ways Lone Wolf can die in the series rivals ''[[Shadowgate]]''.
* [[Mauve Shirt]]: Don't get too attached to any of the named characters who get characterization and accompany Lone Wolf on any of his adventures. If they stick around for more than a few page turns, chances are they're going to die horribly. Depending on the path taken, examples of ill-fated Mauve Shirts can be found in Books 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 18. In other words, practically the entire series. The guy's called "Lone Wolf" for a reason.<br />There are exceptions, however, notably Vakeros Warrior Paido, Guildmaster Banedon and Captain Prarg. If one of them happens to die while they accompany Lone Wolf, the hero meets his end shortly thereafter (making these books somewhat [[Escort Mission|Escort Missions]]). {{spoiler|The three of them get captured by the enemy at some point, but are later rescued by Lone Wolf.}} Sadly, {{spoiler|Paido isn't an exception to the end. He was killed off-screen by Gnaag at the end of Book 10. Lone Wolf learns this in Book 20 when he finds Paido's soul being tortured in the Plane of Darkness. Ouch.}}
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* [[Mordor]]: A few examples in the series, most especially the Darklands.
* [[Mugged for Disguise]]: It is not rare for Lone Wolf to kill some [[Evil Minions]] for clothes before sneaking into enemy strongholds. This can happen in Book 5 to a Vassagonian messenger, in Book 12 to a Drakkar horseman, in Book 13 to a Cener Druid or in Book 16 with a Disciple of Vashna.
* [[Mugging the Monster]]: Various rogues (robbers, thieves, bandits, pirates, backstabbers, grave diggers, pickpockets, brigands...) regularly try to mug Lone Wolf or his disciple in their travels. More often than not, it's the hero who ends up richer (and the cutthroats dead). Later in the series, the book may not even involve the player in such encounters. You get an off-hand paragraph that you're set upon by bandits, demanding gold but instead [[Cutscene Power to
* [[Mushroom Samba]]
** The calacene mushrooms in Book 4.
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* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]
** Maybe a mild example here, but most people probably wouldn't be too eager to meet beings named "Kraagenskûl" or "Haakon", even if they weren't [[Evil Overlord|Darklords]]. (On the other hand, Haakon was/is a fairly popular name for Norwegian royalty for more than 1000 years.)
** Another example is the eponymous "Castle Death" from Book 7, which is [[Exactly What It Says
** Then there's the Deathlord of Ixia. Even the ''Darklords'' feared this guy. So will you.
* [[The Necrocracy]] (Type I): Ixia
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: Destroying the Rune that controls the [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|Soultaker]] in ''Rune War'' also left it stranded in Magnamund. As if having a pissed-off demon trapped on your world wasn't bad enough, {{spoiler|said demon kidnaps Lone Wolf at the end of the book.}}
* [[Nintendo Hard]]
** Book 11 concludes with three boss-level fights in close succession (one of which is virtually impossible [[Blessed
** Book 17 is pretty bad too. Nearly every enemy encounter verges on [[Demonic Spiders]] territory, and the battles against the [[Big Bad]] and his [[The Dragon|Dragon]] are some of the hardest in the series. And just like the battles in Book 11, there is almost no chance to heal in between the boss fights. And in this case you might actually ''need'' the [[Infinity+1 Sword]] to beat the boss. {{spoiler|Man, ''screw'' the Power Spike.}}
* [[No Body Left Behind]]: Among others, the Darklords and Nadziranim fade into nothingness when killed. See also [[I'm Melting]].
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* [[One Riot, One Ranger]]: Lampshaded in book 4: "Your presence here is worth a hundred men."
* [[One-Winged Angel]]: The Nadziranim ("dark sorcerors") always adopt a more appropriate combat form before entering a fight; their favorite is that of an Ice Dragon (sometimes wielding a [[Flaming Sword]] in addition to the deadly cold [[Breath Weapon]]).
* [[Only Known
* [[Only Smart People May Pass]]: Constantly. Sometimes the series gets cheeky by giving you a riddle with a numerical answer and asking you to turn to the page with that number.
* [[Order Reborn]]: Lone Wolf eventually rebuilds the Kai Monastery and trains several apprentices.
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* [[Phantasy Spelling]]: The Sommerswerd -- not sw'''o'''rd. It's Danish, or a derivative of some nordic tongue. The Sommlending (people of Sommerlund, the "Summer Land") tend to have nordic-derived names for places and objects, as well as being clearly nordic racially as well. A vowel shift appears to have occurred since they [[All There in the Manual|sailed across the ocean from their original native islands on their mission from Kai]].
* [[Plaguemaster|Plaguemasters]]: The Cener Druids
* [[Powered
* [[Power-Up Letdown]]: In book 12 Lone Wolf can gain a chainmail jacket made from a special metal, and it can even be carried over into the Grandmaster series. It actually improves his health less than the regular chainmail he could get in the early books.
** [[Averted Trope|Averted]]: the page on which you obtain it states "Because it is so light, it can be worn beneath any padded or metallic body armour you may possess." You can stack the Magic Chain, Magic Vest, and the padded armor that is obtainable semi-regularly. The only time you ''cannot'' stack armor is the Bronin Vest & Chainmail Waistcoat, and only with each other.
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* [[Schizo-Tech]]: Magnamund may not have a technological future, but it's sure got a lot of technology in places. The [[Mordor|Darklands]] are heavily industrialized, while the good guys' lands are locked in [[Medieval Stasis]].
* [[Science Is Bad]]: The bad guys use a lot of technology; the Darklords use ironclad steamships and mechanical foundries, which have the double effect of fueling their war machine and polluting the environment for them ([[Green Aesop|since they're weakened in clean, pristine environments]]). Science-fiction technology is also used on other worlds controlled by Naar. But Magnamund itself is kept in [[Medieval Stasis]] if the Kai win, and Lone Wolf never uses any technological weaponry or devices except for a very few examples of [[Magitek]], such as ''[[Global Airship|Skyrider]]'' and the Crystal Explosive.
* [[Sealed Evil in
* [[Sealed Good in
* [[Second Person Narration]]
* [[Sequential Boss]]: In Book 14, you face {{spoiler|a fire-breathing demonic monkey, whose corpse turns into a swarm of man-eating insects. After you deal with them, they come together and form an ice dragon.}}
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* [[Swarm of Rats]]: [http://www.projectaon.org/en/xhtml/lw/07cd/ill3.htm One of the many niceties] welcoming you in ''Castle Death''.
* [[Sword Beam]]: That's how the Sommerswerd blasts any Darklord if it can get a ray of sun. {{spoiler|Or just from the energy accumulated by not using it for most of Book 12 until the end.}}
* [[Tactical Suicide Boss]]: There are very few weapons that can kill Helghast-level undead, and even less for Darklords or worse. (In the remake, it's commented that the Sommerswerd is the only ''Good'' weapon that can kill a Darklord.) If you don't have the Sommerswerd, there's almost always some way to use the [[Hoist
** Especially apparent with {{spoiler|the Helghast attacking the king in the updated remake of the first book. If he hadn't nonchalantly thrown a magic dagger at some poor sod, there would have been no way to stop it.}}
* [[A Tankard of Moose Urine]]
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* [[Taxidermy Is Creepy]]: Why you shouldn't trust Chanda the Taxidermist.
* [[Time to Unlock More True Potential]]: Happens once, when Lone Wolf discovers the Grand Master disciplines previously unknown to even exist (which even Sun Eagle couldn't do).
* [[Town
* [[Trapped in Another World]]
** Lone Wolf's predicament in the Daziarn Plane in Book 11.
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* [[Trickster Archetype]]: Alyss
* [[Turncoat]]
** Vonotar [[Exactly What It Says
** For the good guys' side, on the other hand, there's the Slavemaster of Aarnak.
** The [[Backstory]] mentions the Patar, the servants of the Elder Magi, who {{spoiler|allowed the Cener Druids access to the Elder Magi's knowledge, which they used to engineer a plague to almost wipe them out, ending the Age of the Old Kingdoms}}.
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** Book 8 has you fight a timed battle against two Vordaks, with individual Combat Skill and Endurance scores (meaning, overkill won't help you for the other guy). For players starting with that book, you absolutely ''need'' a completely massive string of luck for both your Combat Skill that you rolled at the beginning and all four rounds you had to fight -- ''and'' all the CS-increasing items you could obtain during the journey -- ''and'' the Weaponmastery ability for the weapon you use against the enemies. Roll a 3 for your CS or get anything below an 8 during battle, you're screwed.
** In Book 17, ''The Deathlord of Ixia'', it is more or less impossible to win if you do not have the Sommerswerd ''from book 2'', since you have two fights against opponents with much higher Combat Skill than you and far more Endurance, and you have to fight them in a row with no healing, having already gone through the demonlord before the 2-round survival battle. This is particularly fun as the Sommerswerd will make several other books much harder.
* [[Updated Rerelease]]: To go with getting a new publisher, all previously released books are being rereleased with new art, fixed typos, and a [[Gaiden Game|bonus adventure]] tacked on to the end. In the case of the first book, this also involves heavy re-writting in many areas -- notably having Lone Wolf participate in the doomed defense of the Kai Monastery rather than sitting it out due to [[Tap
* [[Upgrade Artifact]]: The Lorestones.
* [[Useless Useful Spell]]: Grey Star's Prophecy and Psychomancy are pretty good at eliminating variables when faced with a choice -- sometimes. Psychomancy can just give you a warped riddle that may or may not be right, and Prophecy sometimes completely fails to illustrate the nature of your impending doom. Use it when you're in a valley of poison gas, it just goes "GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT" without saying which way to go.
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