A Dinner Date

Now that you have some cash, you can make a few major purchases.  Head to the Healer's House, and buy a flask of Undead Unguent--you're going to need it for this next quest.  You should also stock up on potions, but don't go too crazy.  Fighters and Magic-Users have some more things to buy.

Fighters:  Take the 50 gold you received for freeing the Baronet over to the Dry Goods store, and buy the chainmail armor (F3) that I'm sure you've been yearning for.  It will cost 500 silver, the exact amount of your reward, but Kaspar is a trader as well and will cut the price by 50 silver in trade for the leather armor you no longer need (if you don't have enough money after buying the unguent, go kill some goblins at the camp).  Thieves and Magic-Users can buy the chainmail as well, but it's not necessary.

At some point in the morning, go into the tavern.  EGA users will need to have really good eyes for this, but there will be a note on the floor near the middle stool.  Get the note (2, but no points if you've picked up the earlier note) to find out about an urgent meeting at noon at the archery range.  At midday, go to the archery range, approaching from the east or west, and you'll see Bruno talking to a brigand.  Listen to their entire conversation (12) to learn about a back door to the Brigand Camp, where someone named Fred will get mad if you don't say "Hiden Goseke" (hide-and-go-seek, anyone?) before entering.  After Bruno leaves, wait a moment before you also leave, to give him time to get away.  Fighters will need to then leave and enter the range from the south to kill Brutus and get the key he carries (be sure to search the body).  Thieves and Magic-Users can kill him if you wish, but you have other ways of getting past locked doors.

Spend the rest of the day doing what you would normally do.  That is, practice your skills as much as possible.  Magic-Users and Thieves will probably want to work on combat skills at the Goblin Camp--they're not necessary, but it's a good way to make some extra cash for those potions.  At any time during the day (I prefer to wait until nightfall, but you can do it at any time) head three screens west from Heinrich's farm (the Goblin camp) and then two screens north.  You'll see a large wooden fence adorned with skulls, surrounding a hut that stands on chicken legs.

As you approach the gate, Bonehead the skull will tell you that you'll need to deal with him if you want to get inside.  Ask about the deal, and he'll whine about how he can't see.  He needs something to make his eyes glow, and you just happen to have something that fits the description.  So tell Bonehead you'll make the deal (2) and then give the gem to him (10), and he'll be happy to open up for you, saying something about a rhyme you need to remember as he disappears.

Leave this screen and come back.  Ask about the rhyme and he'll tell you that it is "Hut of brown, now sit down."  Some security guard, giving out the password like that.  Anyway, ask him to open the gate, and he will.  Say the rhyme (7) and the hut will do what it's told (make sure you're out of the way).  When the door opens, go on in (2).

As soon as you move in here, Baba Yaga will appear and start spouting bad poetry at you, casting spells left and right.  Listen to her banter, and tell her when she asks that yes, you do have a name.  She'll then ask if you're brave, and again tell her yes.  Finally, she'll propose a favor, and if you value your life, you'll agree to do it.  Listen to what she says about the Mandrake Root.  If you don't follow the instructions precisely, well... let's just say it isn't easy being green (this is the quest I mentioned earlier that has the time limit).  She'll teleport you back outside, returning you to your human form as an afterthought.

Now wait until midnight.  Try to find a Cheetaur to kill.  Fighters will fight them normally, Magic-Users should use Flame Dart as much as possible (this is one reason we practiced today), and Thieves should throw daggers to weaken them before the actual fight begins.  When the Cheetaur is dead (F4), get the claws to sell to the Healer later.  Fighters are the only ones who get points for the actual killing, but all classes get points for selling ingredients.

As you're running around, be sure you don't accidentally go past the middle of the night.  Once you see the message "You are getting tired", go straight to the Graveyard.  EGA users will be best approaching from the north, and VGA users from the west (since the northern path is blocked in the VGA version for some reason).  Before you go in, though, make sure to use the Undead Unguent (2) to keep those ghosts off your body.  You'll know when you're close by the spirits you'll see floating around in the trees.

In the Graveyard, go over to the Mandrake Root that's growing on the tombstone (be careful not to fall into any open graves) and get the root (6).  Then high-tail it back to Baba Yaga's house, say the rhyme when Bonehead opens up for you, and go inside.

After a bit of deja vu, the ogress will ask if you brought the Mandrake.  Tell her that you did, and she'll turn you back into a human and pluck the root from your backpack (3), giving you your life as a reward.

No skills, no loot, and you've spent 100 silver on that Unguent, but you got the points and learned a bit about the Baron's arch-nemeses.  That's something you'll need to learn about heroing--not every day is profitable.  Oh well.  Time to find a place to sleep.