Ahoy there!
The Analand Sorceress is taking a break from her heroics in the land of Kakhabad, to carry out a mission in Ruddlestone on the northern coast of the Old World for a change. The visible constellations are slightly different here, so there will be very little magic this time, mostly good old-fashioned swordplay.
The quest is to find and defeat the scurvy seadog Cinnabar, who killed your family and is now trying to use the powers of voodoo and black magic to become immortal.

Even in Adventurer mode this game is tough on the stats.

In Hardcore Hero mode don't even bother trying unless you have maximum skill and very high luck & stamina. Also, you start with less gold (13 g.p.) so you can buy fewer helpful items at the market, making your purchase of items more important.

Furthermore, you don't receive the customary potion-of-your-choice at the start of the quest, in any game mode.

The actual path to victory remains the same. This route is extremely narrow, far more than any other FF mission i have undertaken. Almost every choice is critical. Fail to do something and you cannot succeed.

There are seven Steam achievements for this title.
Three are self-explanatory: Free-read win, Adventurer win & Hardcore Hero win. Simply follow this guide to complete the quest in each mode.
The remaining four achievements can also be unlocked during a single winning quest. They are indicated in the walkthru where they occur.

So you have rolled your stats, read the intro and arrived at port. No gentle starters here, it's straight into action!

Don't waste time. Charge the thugs without warning: SK6 ST5 & SK6 ST4
Attack the half-ogre: SK8 ST5
+bottle of rum (Don't drink this unless you really have to! It will be useful to give to someone later.)

Go to the gambling pits.
Go to the arrow of providence, but don't play. (It's highly unlikely you will win.)
Move away.
Luck test. Pass: + info, Fail: miss out
Play Calabrius' calculator challenge. Accept his challenge. -2 g.p.
Answer = 121 +1 luck, +10 g.p.
Leave the gambling dens.
2 hours have passed.

Ignore the letter. (It's a trap!)

Go to the markets.
Go to exotic wares.
Buy sharks tooth bracelet. (This item is essential. Without it you cannot succeed.)
Buy ivory lion charm. (Not essential, buy still very helpful later on.)
Do NOT buy the darkwood armband. If you do, you will be unable to to do something essential later on.
Also:
Hardcore Hero: Buy potion of giant strength.
Adventure: Buy lock of elvin hair.

Go to practical equipment.
Hardcore Hero: buy 1 provision. (You will pick up plenty more food later.)
Adventurer: Buy throwing knife & poison antidote, then as many provisions as poss.
Leave the markets.
1 hour has passed.

Follow man.
Then, decide to go back. (If you don't, you die!)
Fight two devotees: SK6 ST6 & SK7 ST6
Skill test. Pass: ok, Fail: -2 sta.
Fight Crivens: SK8 ST7
+6 g.p., +throwing knife, +fake doubloon.

Go into Mundi Pelago's shop.
Offer gold: -2 g.p. Map reference. (370 east)

Start looking for the pirate's secret base.
Visit Madame Galbo.
Buy help: -4 g.p.
Choose 2 x zombie repellents.
1 hour has passed.

Start searching for base.
Visit the ruined lighthouse.
Investigate light.
Fight three wreckers: SK7 ST5 & SK6 ST7 & SK8 ST7
+5 g.p., +skeleton key.
Return to the lighthouse.
Find password: CROSSBONES. +1 luck.
Leave Mallan's Point.
1 hour has passed.

Go to the cemetery.
You are under no / minimal suspicion.
You have a crab doubloon.
Luck test. Pass: ok, Fail: fight two smugglers SK 8 ST 7 & SK 7 ST 8, then 2nd Luck test: Pass: ok, Fail: Death!
1 hour has passed.
Give password: crossbones.
Go left.
Search. +10 g.p., +5 provisions, +sword
Luck test.
Pass: + 8-sided blue gem. Fail: bitten by spider. -3 sta
1 hour has passed.

Attack nine tails immediately.
Skill test. Pass: ok, Fail: -4 sta.
Fight nine tails: SK10 ST10
Achievement: Dead Cats Tell No Tails

Open door. (Ignore the cave.)
Taken 8 hours or less.
Use shark tooth bracelet. +1 luck.

Go downstairs.
Skill test. Pass: ok, Fail: - 1d6+1 sta.
Fight Bladderwrack: SK8 ST10
+4 sta and +4 provisions.

Now try the door marked "Captain".
Open globe. +24 g.p., +diamond necklace.
Open chest. +bottle of rum.
Look at ship in bottle.
Smash glass. Map Reference (460 south)
Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: heard and captured! Go to ** below.

Go thru far door.
Fight one attack round against each of 3 opponents: SK6 & SK5 & SK7
If you win all 3, you break free! Go to ***below.
If you draw of lose any round you are captured. Go to ** below.

**
Skill test.
Pass: fight Dr. Malefact SK7 ST6, Garboil SK6 ST8 & Strake SK7 ST7. (If you defeat them all within 15 attack rounds: continue at *** below. Otherwise: Death!)
Fail skill test: Death!

***
If you have managed to break free, you jump overboard!

Fight shark: SK9 ST10 Your attack strength is reduced by 2 and you must defeat shark within 7 attack rounds or drown, so use any throwing knives you have at the start of battle to get started.
Also, in Hardcore Hero mode use your potion of giant strength, otherwise the odds will be heavily against you.

Yes, you saved a ship from the rocks.
Tell Conyn the east & south distances. (370east; 460south)
Play safe, go round the reefs. +1 skill, +6 sta, +1 luck.
Approach ghost ship.
Personally board the Sea Maiden.
Stand your ground. +1 luck.
Go downstairs.
Fight Captain Velyarde: SK10 ST10
+1 luck.
Achievement: Aye, Aye, Spectre

(Ideally you want stamina of at least 18 and luck as high as poss at this next point.)

3xd6 stamina test. Pass: survive. Fail: Death!

Luck test. Pass: survive. Fail: Death!

Your stamina is reduced by half.
Search for food. +3 provisions.
Search wreckage. Roll 1d6. 1-3: -2sta. 4-6: +bottle of rum
Search for survivors.
Offer something.
Offer bottle of rum (or grog).
Go with him.

Examine potions.
Drink essence of expertise. (It's a potion of skill!)
Drink Infusion of fate. (It's a potion of fortune!)
Study Mythica.
Study Arcanum.
Learn Trueskill. (This spell means you can choose to pass skill tests automatically, altho you lose 2 stamina on each occasion you cast it. I have still included where the skill tests occur, so you can choose whether or not to use the spell each time. If your stamina is good you should cast it, as the consequences for failing skill tests from here on are often fatal....)

Skill test. Pass: fight scarachna. Fail: Death!
Fight scarachna: SK11 ST12 and reduce it to 7 sta or less.
Achievement: Nope Nope Nope

Go south.
Ignore village.
Fight giant mosquito: SK7 ST6 In Hardcore Hero mode use a luck test to increase damage, because if you lose an attack round you die of malaria without the poison antidote!
(This is one of the danger points of the game in Hardcore Hero mode.)
If you manage to win without losing any attack rounds: +1 luck.

+2 stamina
Talk to man about island.
Ask him about treasure.
Give him diamond necklace.
Set off to find treasure.
Use lantern and enter.

Fight 3 giant bats: SK5 ST4 & SK5 ST5 & SK5 ST4
Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: -(1d6 + 2) sta
Go on in.
Skill test. Pass: ok. Fail: -3 sta
Continue deeper in.
Dive into water.
Take closer look at bone weapon. +bone sword (+1 A.S.)
Fight treasure golem: SK9 ST10
Leave straight away. (leave the treasure)

Roll 1d6. 1-4: ok. 5-6: fight 3 zombie pirates: SK6 ST6 & SK5 ST7 & SK7 ST6.
Head north.
Enter the village.
You DON'T have a darkwood armband.
You haven't spoken to him.
2 x Skill test. (both with skill score temporarily reduced by 1)
Pass both: remain in village.
Fail either: -2 sta & have to leave village. You cannot then complete quest, so might as well stop here!
Take challenge of cat.
Wrestle (fight) jaguar: SK8 ST7 (You have -2 a.s. for this combat. Reduce Jaguar to 2 sta, or win two successive attack rounds.)
+4 sta, + 1 luck.
(Otherwise you have to leave village and cannot complete quest, so might as well stop here!)
Use bone sword. (You learn the sword's command from Zyteea.)
Defeat spirit beast: SK10 ST12
+ bolarang

Head to mountains.
This means nothing to you.
Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: fight chameloenite: SK7 ST7.

Luck test.
Pass: ok. Fail: Take Skill test. Pass: -1 sta. Fail: Death!

Pass thru the right-hand archway.
Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: -(1d6 +2) sta.

Take new path.
Roll 1d6: Roll 2-6: survive. Roll 1: DEATH! (This is the critical moment in the game. There appears to be no way to avoid this point. It doesn't matter what stats you have, or what items/knowledge you have gained. If you roll a one, you die. End-of. Bah!)

Go left.
Fight the guards.
Use your 1st zombie dust.
Help the prisoner. + clue, +1 luck

Skill test. Pass: ok. Fail: Death!

Go left.
Attempt to remove their masks.
Use your 2nd zombie dust.
Attempt the puzzle. 275
You solve the puzzle.
Try to destroy the crystal.
Achievement: Aaargh! My Shakra!

(Adventurer mode: Use poison antidote now if you still have it.)
Fight the snakes: SK8 ST11 (They inflict 4 sta damage.)
Luck test. Pass: -2 sta. Fail: -(1d6 +2) sta.
Leave.
Attempt to hold your breath.
Go on without hesitation.
Run for it!
Fight scarachna again: (it has recovered slightly) SK11 ST8 (You must win within 12 attack rounds, so use the bolarang to inflict 4 sta damage on it immediately.)

Skill test. Pass: ok. Fail: Death!

1d6 Stamina test. Pass: ok, Fail: Death!

You have smashed a crystal.
Fight Ramatu: SK10 ST9
Pick up the fetish.
Take the pearl. Restore skill & stamina to maximum. +2 luck.
Leave.
-1 sta
You have lifted a curse from ghost ship.

Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: -5 sta.

Roll 1d6:
1/2: fight first mate: SK8 ST8, then Mirel the red: SK11 ST10
3/4: fight chaos champion: SK9 ST7, then Mirel the red: SK11 ST10
5/6: fight Mirel the red immediately: SK11 ST10

Skill test. Pass: ok. Fail: -2 sta.
Fight Cinnabar: SK11 ST16
Yes, you possess a quezkari fetish.
Use something against it.
Use a blue gem.
You have a bone sword.
You know how to release it's magic.
You have an ivory lion charm & a white feather wristband.
Fight quezkari: SK10 ST12

You have destroyed Cinnabar permanently and completed your quest. YAY!