Heroica RPG - Cruel Angel's Thesis ~ Day One

[Sandy]

DAY ONE ~ AN UNOPPORTUNE VISITOR

Heroica Hall, about two years ago...

There was a knock at the door. Everyone froze as the Copper Fox, one of the leaders of the organization (who were collectively known as the Veterans), went to unravel the spells and locks placed on the great double doors and pushed one of them open. It was pouring rain outside, and immediately a pool of water appeared on the floor in front of the doors.

"What do you want? We're a bit... busy here at the moment."

A dripping wet wide-brimmed hat peeked inside, with a toothy grin showing underneath it.

"Don't you remember poor Sham Poo, who spent his childhood toddling around this very hall? I'm here to meet my mother, like every good son should."

"This really isn't the time for social calls..."

"Nonsense! Mother has always said I'm welcome back any time. Besides, it's raining out here. Please let me in, Mr. Fox!"

"Very well, but don't say I didn't warn you, Sham."

The half-orc (half-who-knows-what) walked in, and the Veteran resealed the door behind him. Everyone present at the hall stared at the visitor incredulously.

"Welcome to what's about to become a hell on earth", said the Copper Fox before leaving.

Sham Poo wondered what the Veteran was yammering about as he made it up the staircase carrying his fully-loaded backpack. On top of the stairs was his mother Scheherazade's saloon, which she had inherited from the man that saved her from slavery. Greenskins - orcs, goblins, hobgoblins, ogres and gremlins - were not particularly liked in this corner of the world after the Orcish Invasion 250 years ago. The future generations of greenskins had paid dearly for the war ever after that, as they had been taken as slaves by the nations their ancestors sacked. But things were changing, and Sham had been born and raised as a free greenskin.

Well, free from everything except his mother's whims. For some reason, Scheherazade was not pleased at all to see her son even after so long had passed since his last visit.

"Sham Poo! What in Azazot's flames are you doing here?! Who let you in? I'm going to wrangle that person!"

"But mother, I'm here to see you, after a year spent abroad selling my wares and making a fort..."

"No, no, no! You must leave, immediately! Follow me, we'll find the Veterans and tell them to let you out."

"Mother, it's raining..."

But the orcish matron wouldn't hear any of it. She led her son into the library of the Hall, where Byblos the Librarian - a member of the gorilla-like Metasimian race - was searching for books about angels for the Dragonlord and the Sand Queen, two more of the Veterans.

Scheherazade explained the situation to the Veterans, but they just shook their heads.

"I'm deeply sorry, but we cannot let news of these events pass to anyone outside the Hall. Nobody would be able to trust Heroica if they heard that we were being attacked from the inside."

"Sham should not have been let inside in the first place! Now he's stuck with us."

"What's going on, mother?"

Letting out a heavy sigh, Scheherazade explained the whole situation to his son. Heroica had been inflitrated by a cult calling themselves the Nephilim. Already they had killed several heroes, including one of the Veterans. Nobody knew who they were, except that they were among the members of the organization. Every single member who was present in Eubric Freeport was summoned to the Hall and sealed inside until the Nephilim had been discovered. The Veterans were afraid that there would be no way to avoid bloodshed.

Something lit in Sham Poo's eyes. Scheherazade knew that glimmering look all to well. His son was sensing a good business.

"Bloodshed, you say? Then they should be very interested in what I have to offer..."

Grinding her teeth, Scheherazade led Sham into a recluse corner of the Heroes' Gallery, where portraits of all members of Heroica - past and present - were hanging on the walls.

"Here. The place is packed with everyone staying here for now, so this is the only spot for you to run your business. Break a leg."

Sham Poo rubbed his hands together. This situation could be lucrative, and mother wouldn't hold a grudge towards him if he bought her a brand new gold necklace after it was all over.

Meanwhile, the last two of the surviving five Veterans, the Feathered Serpent and the Falconer, ran into each other. They exchanged worried looks.

"Can you feel the tensity in here? I could cut it with a blade... It's only a matter of time before someone snaps."

"Yes. The Nephilim won't dare to show themselves in broad daylight, but who is to say it's them who draw the first blood? I am uncertain if locking everyone in here was the best idea..."

"We have to protect outsiders from our internal matters. The letter that the Nephilim sent said they wanted to destroy Heroica from the inside. This is the only way we can hope to catch them, even if it means the loss of more valiant souls. I just wish I could have said goodbye to my husband and daughter... But no, they must not know anything about this. Maybe we will survive, and I will get to see them again."

"We can only hope that you do."

Yes, the way the locked-up champions of Heroica glared at each other and spreaded rumours was a sure sign that things would go downhill sooner than later. Who would make the first move?

*****

RULES:

1. ALIGNMENTS: There are two sides in this game, trying to beat each other.

Heroica

wins if they manage to find and kill all of the Nephilim.

The Nephilim

win if they outnumber the heroes loyal to Heroica. The Nephilim know each other, but the others don’t know who the Nephilim are. There are also

neutral

players, who have their own special victory conditions.

2. PHASES: The game is played in two alternating phases - "Days" and "Nights", both lasting up to

48 hours

- during which the players can use their abilities on each other. All players can

use one ability per phase

. During the

Night

-phase, the game is played through Private Messages between the host and the players, and all actions are private, revealed only to the target. During the

Day

-phase, all actions are public, and are shown in the Day-topic to everyone. Ranged attacks and spells are an

exception

, their performer is never revealed.

3. RESULTS: The results of the abilities are tallied

at the beginning

(for Night-actions)

and the end

(for Day-actions)

of the Day-phase

. When a player’s health is completely depleted, they are

killed off

from the game. The player who delivered the killing blow will get all of the victim’s gold and items, and gain experience (see

Leveling Up

). The alignment of each killed player is revealed when they die. Anyone who kills a Nephilim will gain

50 extra gold

from the Veterans.

4. STATISTICS:

Level

signifies the player character’s overall experience.

Health

is initially equal to level, and attacks reduce it while healing restores it.

Ether

is equal to about a half of the level, and is used for spellcasting, healing and scroll-reading.

Defense

is gained from shields and most artefacts, and it reduces the damage taken.

WP

means weapon power, while

SP

means shield power. All statistics except Level are kept a secret from other players.

5. ABILITIES: All player characters have their

own sets

of 3-6 abilities they can use during the game, related to their job classes. These skills include (but are not limited to) attacks, spellcasting, healing, tracking, stealing items, blocking, buffing, debilitating and using items. To best make use of these varied skills, the players should consider forming alliances.

6. ITEMS: All players start out with

10 gold

, a

weapon

with 2-6 WP and a random array of

other items

, such as restorative potions, artefacts and tools. Like the statistics, these inventories are kept as a secret from other players. During the Day-phases of the game, upgrades and more items can be bought from

Sham Poo

in exchange for gold. You are free to trade items with other players, but you need to notify the host whenever you do that.

7. LEVELING UP: Gaining a

level

increases

the player character’s current and maximum

health and ether by 1

. When a player kills another player, they will gain experience according to this chart:

- Level 1-9: a full level

- Level 10-19: 1/2 of a level

- Level 20-29: 1/3 of a level

- Level 30-39: 1/4 of a level

- Level 40 onwards: 1/5 of a level

8. ELEMENTS & EFFECTS: There are five

elements

in the game: fire, ice, lighting, light and darkness. Elemental spells and attacks are twice as effective as normal attacks, but consume ether. They can also be blocked with the right piece of equipment. There are both

positive and negative effects

in the game as well, including encouraged, enforced, stunned, poison, sleep, blinded, sealed, confused and enamored. These can be inflicted by certain abilities and scrolls. Negative effects last until removed by a Remedy or a suitable ability.

9. BEHAVIOR: When you play this game, you are bound by honor to your alignment – even if it changes mid-game. That is why you

must not discuss the game

outside of the topics and PMs related to it, under the threat that you are instantly killed off if you do. Sharing information via PMs and forming alliances between the players is allowed, but must be done by knowing the risk that the other might be lying or deceiving you. Things will get brutal and cut-throat in this game, and you can get killed off at any time, but any of that is not to be taken as a personal insult. Please

post

in-character

at all times to ensure that your player persona is separated from your real self. Remember that

the dead don't talk

, so once you are out of the game, you must not speak of what you know to anyone until the whole game is over.

You are free to roleplay with your character, and most of all, have fun!

PLAYER CHARACTERS:

Brienne Deercourt (Brickdoctor) ~ 29 years old female human ~ Level 26 Paladin

Calico Meatpie (CallMePie) ~ 16 years old female halfling ~ Level 9 Rogue

Capriccia Gianpaolo (Capt.JohnPaul) ~ 123 years old female vampire ~ Level 11 Cleric

Corelin Moordog (CorneliusMurdock) ~ 282 years old female dwarf ~ Level 25 Warden

Cromeo Nightingale (Chromeknight) ~ 22 years old male half-elf ~ Level 35 Harlot

Doranee Grandeur (Dragonator) ~ 44 years old female elf ~ Level 12 Ranger

Ein Surefoot (Esurient) ~ 397 years old male dwarf ~ Level 8 Cleric

Emmanuelle Janus (emjajoas) ~ 33 years old female human ~ Level 6 Knight

Enya Dorgamel (Endgame) ~ 23 years old female human ~ Level 22 Evoker

Eris (Eric Su) ~ 26 years old female orc ~ Level 27 Sorcerer

Ezeal (Etzel) ~ 28 years old male werelion ~ Level 14 Barbarian

Fernandu Elysiam (Fred Daniel Yam) ~ 36 years old male minotaur ~ Level 18 Shaman

Fleyra (Flare) ~ 29 years old female Rito ~ Level 38 Winged Warrior

Geosmos Phiephyrphoe (joeshmoe554) ~ 52 years old male cyclops ~ Level 32 Infiltrator

Heron Jujube (herrJJ) ~ 19 years old male human ~ Level 7 Cleric

Jeddam Ashenbow (Jedi master Brick) ~ 25 years old female hobgoblin ~ Level 10 Ranger

Jinnipher Buchaire (JimButcher) ~ 71 years old female elf ~ Level 13 Knight

Kharybdis (Kadabra) ~ 26 years old female Octopial ~ Level 39 Beast Warrior

Kob (Kintobor) ~ 21 years old male orc ~ Level 5 Mage

Lorth-Anoob (LordoftheNoobs) ~ 42 years old female Pantanan ~ Level 28 Witch

Luridan Voros (Lord Duvors) ~ 53 years old male gremlin ~ Level 41 Alchemist

Maxi Ebdul (Masked Builder) ~ 35 years old male Asteriad ~ Level 13 Rogue

O’Blix (-obelix-) ~ 27 years old male goblin ~ Level 31 Regulator

Pallas Thaddicus (Palathadric) ~ 103 years old male Lucustoid ~ Level 15 Druid

Panduin Oreheart (Pandora) ~ 148 years old male dwarf ~ Level 12 Barbarian

Pauline Jillian Boyle (Purpearljellyblob) ~ 18 years old female Mopag ~ Level 8 Mage

Percival Montmartre (Peppermint_M) ~ 24 years old male human ~ Level 14 Ranger

Piro the Visionary (Pyrovisionary) ~ 227 years old male wereturtle ~ Level 20 Battle Mage

Retak Ysp (PsyKater) ~ 2013 years old male Fenarian ~ Level 37 Necromancer

Sir Rubinstein (Rumble Strike) ~ 47 years old male human ~ Level 34 Skirmisher

Scamander Taurros (Scubacarrot) ~ 34 years old male satyr ~ Level 33 Minstrel

Shadir Oswain (Shadows) ~ 466 years old male elf ~ Level 21 Mystic Knight

Skrupp Oxstrong (Scorpiox) ~ 30 years old male norseman ~ Level 16 Raider

Swinehurst (swils) ~ 31 years old male porc ~ Level 19 Berserker

Theodor Legion (The Legonater) ~ 73 years old male human ~ Level 30 Cannoneer

U’dargan (Darkdragon) ~ 29 years old male U’kin ~ Level 40 Dragoon

Usharnam Madima (UsernameMDM) ~ 38 years old male Naga ~ Level 36 Chi Monk

Werther Brickton (Waterbrick Down) ~ 49 years old male zombie ~ Level 17 Assassin

Weyrdág (Wedge09) ~ 341 years old female Nôrn ~ Level 24 Hunter

Zarissa Curie (Zakura) ~ 58 years old female gnome ~ Level 23 Sage

Zelphie (Zepher) ~ 815 years old female fairy ~ Level 42 Artisan

Zpilf (Flipz) ~ 85 years old male ogre ~ Level 29 Black Knight

SHAM POO’S EMERGENCY SHOP FOR HEROES IN NEED:

"You can visit my shop any time during the day! Remember that buying stuff only costs you gold, so you won't spend your action by doing business with me."

Weapons:

Axe

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Bow

(WP:1, ranged weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Dagger

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Handcannon

(WP:1, ranged weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Hammer

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Instrument

(WP:1, ranged weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Spear

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Staff

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Sword

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Whip

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Shield

(SP:1, defensive equipment) – Costs 10 gold

Artefacts:

Flameproof Armor

(Artefact: +1 SP, nullifies fire-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Warm Boots

(Artefact: +1 SP, nullifies ice-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Conductor Helmet

(Artefact: +1 SP, nullifies lightning-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Sunglasses

(Artefact: +1 SP, nullifies light-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Shadow Cloak

(Artefact: +1 SP nullifies darkness-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Counterstrike Gloves

(Artefact: allows you to instantly counter a close-ranged attack if you survive it, damaging your attacker equal to the damage you received.) – Costs 25 gold

Gems & Scrolls:

Ruby

(Gem: allows casting fire-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Opal

(Gem: allows casting ice-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Topaz

(Gem: allows casting lightning-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Diamond

(Gem: allows casting light-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Amethyst

(Gem: allows casting darkness-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Scroll of Sleep

(Scroll: prevents target from taking action until woken up by an attack. Costs 1 ether to use.) – Costs 30 gold

Scroll of Blinding

(Scroll: prevents target from performing attacks. Costs 1 ether to use.) – Costs 30 gold

Scroll of Sealing

(Scroll: prevents target from performing ether-based actions. Costs 1 ether to use.) – Costs 30 gold

Scroll of Confusion

(Scroll: causes target’s actions to hit a random person with a 1/2 chance. Costs 1 ether to use.) – Costs 30 gold

Consumable Items:

Potion

(Consumable: restores full health to target when used.) – Costs 5 gold

Tonic

(Consumable: restores full ether to target when used.) – Costs 10 gold

Remedy

(Consumable: removes negative effects from target when used.) – Costs 5 gold

Venom

(Consumable: causes poison to the target, depleting it’s health by 1 per every phase when used.) – Costs 15 gold

Bomb

(Consumable: causes 10 damage to the target from a distance when used.) – Costs 20 gold

Phoenix

Essence

(Consumable: revives a dead person with full health when used.) – Costs 100 gold

Grating Stone

(Consumable: increases a weapon’s WP by 1 when used) – Costs 25 gold

Bright Polish

(Consumable: increases a shield’s or an artefact’s SP by 1 when used.) – Costs 25 gold.

Level-Up Mushroom

(Consumable: gain a level when used.) – Costs 50 gold

Tools:

Bedroll

(Tool: restores full health and ether and removes negative effects whenever used.) – Costs 20 gold

Telescope

(Tool: allows the user to see all actions aimed at the target on the current phase whenever used.) – Costs 40 gold

Magnifying Glass

(Tool: allows the user to see the target’s alignment whenever used.) – Costs 60 gold

Host Note: Welcome to the game! Please read through the rules again, since there has been some important additions, especially to the section about behaviour. Remember that these Day-topics are meant for in-character discussion and using actions only.

[Pyrovisionary]

Piro takes a deep breath, and sighs. He'd heard rumors, horrible rumors that he didn't want to believe... But he must.

Edited August 27, 2013 by Pyrovisionary

[Emjajoas]

Emmanuelle sighs to herself. How... uncivilized. The crowded spaces of the Hall were often hard to navigate, and the constant presence of other heroes would be enough to drive anyone batty.

Though the crowd was frustrating, to say the least, the worst part by far was the somber and cloying air. The Hall itself wasn't small, and although the amount of people may have been clogging, the atmosphere was what made it claustrophobic. Death seemed to hang in the air, and the tension was thick enough to cut.

Sadly, her spear was not meant for cutting.

[Scubacarrot]

"Wow man, why can't we just be like.... chill... and stuff... about this. I mean like... I got this jam I want to work out... And I saw this smoking lute for sale in the Marketplace the other day, oh man. This is like, not rad." Scamander shook his head. and started playing a ditty on his flute. Fallen angels, Nephilim, killing. Why were the city folk always so complicated?

[Duvors]

Lorian sighed deeply,he should never have left his homeland in Moone, never come to this city, never tried to join the Guild, never joined Heroica.

But it was to late.

He walked over to Scamander with the queer jerky gait of a gremlin and said"Guid mornin tae ye, I would say, but a guid mornin tis not, t'day."

[Scubacarrot]

"Yeah... It would be a good morning if everyone didn't look their pipeweed went sour and act like they had a treetrunk up their behind, man."

[Scorpiox]

Skrupp leans back in his chair.

"Ahhh. Ain't it half boring being locked in here on our lonesome with nothing to do? Best get this buisness over with if ya' ask me. Let them Nephilum gits come and get it, sure I can take 'em if they try."

He grins wolfishly.

"But, ain' t no point in complaining, that won't get us outa' this mess. Anyhow, we're stuck here, isolated... with only a helpin' of ale and a handful of women to pass between us. Kharybdis, my old girl, why don't ya' slither on over here and keep me company? Them tentacles of yours get me going ev'ry time."

[Cutcobra]

Eris thinks that this night will not be as horrible as everyone think it will be. She just takes the situation like another long, boring quest.

"Oooh Nephilim this is soooo exiting. " She walks over to Scheherazade and asks "Can I get a drink, auntie?"

[Duvors]

"Yeah... It would be a good morning if everyone didn't look their pipeweed went sour and act like they had a treetrunk up their behind, man."

"Treetrunk up rear, impossible is, still, gener'l feelin', summed up, ye have."

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"Wow. Who would ever think of such a ridiculous thing could have occurred? How shall we start?"

[Scorpiox]

"Wow. Who would ever think of such a ridiculous thing could have occurred? How shall we start?"

"We can start however ya' like, honey, just say the word."

Skrupp winks overtly.

"If ya' know what I mean."

[The Legonater]

I don't believe this. Back in the Bonaparte, this sort of thing would have been dealt with before it started. Now there's a Veteran dead and a civilian at risk - this is getting out of hand. What we all need is a good drink to clear our heads, and then to put those heads together and to get this mess figured out, ASAP!

[Pyrovisionary]

"Wow. Who would ever think of such a ridiculous thing could have occurred? How shall we start?"

"Oh Yer bet it's thim Naga. Thair alwees sneaky loike. They raided me Village ant thair prob'lly Bee'oind this'un too!"

[Oh you bet it's the naga. They're always sneaky like. They raided my village and they're probably behind this one too!]

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"We can start however ya' like, honey, just say the word."

Skrupp winks overtly.

"If ya' know what I mean."

"Ahh... you silver-tongued dog! No no no, you just say the word. Some rest can heal you."

[swils]

The entrance of the young half-orc had caused some commotion, only adding to the tension in the Hall. Why was Scheherazade so unhappy to see him? Looking around the room, Swinehurst could only pick out a few other greenies. Had the evils of the past truly been forgotten? There was a proud orc among the Veterans, but would that be enough? Did Scheherazade want her son to leave before another race war broke out? So many questions.

Theodor had just raised a good point. Swinehurst makes his way past the loud norseman and joins Eris at the bar for a drink.

"Make that two droinks, Scheherazade. Eris really thoink situation not get ugly?" he asks, with a grunt.

[Brickdoctor]

Yes yes, first statement; oh, the horror; someone please think of the children; how could this happen; who would do this; do we really have to fight each other; we will find the Scum, and all that.

[Cutcobra]

"No dear, I just think the situation won't get exiting. What do you think?"

[Peppermint_M]

"Ah, what I would give to be sat amongst the trees in this rain, talking to squirrels and listening to birds argue over the trees is better than being cooped up here!"

[Kintobor]

Kob is curious as to why individuals who want heroes wouldn't kill all of them in one fell swoop? Kob would now, Kob booted from house in one fell swoop. Or at least, what was left of Kob's house.

[Flipz]

Zpilf grunts, still standing next to the Quest Board, which was still littered with papers pertaining to the previously-prosperous business the Hall had run. Major announcements, bills of trade, sign-ups for Quests that now would never depart. The ogre spotted his own name, the thin, neat lines contrasting with the messy scrawls of most of the Heroes. "Pheh. 'sif it'd 've been worth it an'way. Th' Mercutians won't ferget this, tho."

I don't believe this. Back in the Bonaparte, this sort of thing would have been dealt with before it started. Now there's a Veteran dead and a civilian at risk - this is getting out of hand. What we all need is a good drink to clear our heads, and then to put those heads together and to get this mess figured out, ASAP!

Yes yes, first statement; oh, the horror; someone please think of the children; how could this happen; who would do this; do we really have to fight each other; we will find the Scum, and all that.

"Eh. T'be hones', 'M s'prised 's not happened 'fore now. Ev'ryone knows y'can't trust a Hero. Or any'n else, fer that mat'er."

[Duvors]

"Well,seeing ye, later I shall."

So saying Luridan jerked away up the stairs and into the saloon.

Spying Eris and Theodor at the bar Luridan jerked over, clambered into a seat next to them.

"A bad day, t'will be, sad tae, afore all tis done."

Edited August 27, 2013 by Lord Duvors

[Scorpiox]

"Ahh... you silver-tongued dog! No no no, you just say the word. Some rest can heal you."

"Don't make me beg ya', lady. My raider cousins would kill to lie with one of the Valkyrie kin; your strength and speed are legend. You would honour me."

Oxstrong rises to his feet and makes his way slowly towards Cappricia, grinning.

"Dog, that's one word for me; but there are others too. D'you want to know why they call me 'Oxstrong'?"

He draws close to her and begins circling.

"Rest is undeserving of the credit it gets (overrated) - how 'bout you and I find out just how long we can last without it? Cappricia, babe, I've always wondered if those legends were true..."

Grin, again.

Yes yes, first statement; oh, the horror; someone please think of the children; how could this happen; who would do this; do we really have to fight each other; we will find the Scum, and all that.

"You can join us, if you like."

[CMP]

In one corner of the saloon, despite the gravity of the upcoming fight to the death, one of the hall's smallest heroes was enthusiastically recounting oneof her Quests to the turbaned cyclops across the table.

"-and so the answer was pret-ty obvious, if I do say so myself. Time, of course, the answer was time, and the rotten little thing got pissier than, like, a paladin in Baltarok, started hissing and spitting farther than I can crack a whip, it was just gross. So anyway, he says to me, 'assssk usss, assk uss!' and he said it, like, just like that, all hissy and stuff-" the halfling downed another goblet of apple juice between words. "-and I was all like 'what?' but he was just like 'asssk uss!' so I started freakin' out, I still had the broken nail from when I fell, I can't tell you how much THAT threw me off, and he's still all like 'asssk us, assk uss!' And after, like, an hour I finally asked it - 'what have I got in my pocket?'"

"And of course THAT took the wind outta his sails like a merperson outta water, and then, and then he looked at me, like, all angry-like, and he started accusing me of being unfair! It was like, TOTALLY uncalled for. But I managed to calm him down - I'm a nice person like that - and he started guessing, right? His first guess was so stupid. 'Handses!' he said, and he said it just like that, it was so dumb. And his next guess was 'knife!' which was, like, yeah, right, as if I've got a knife on me, woulda' shanked him a long time ago - and then, this is the dumb part - he said 'string, or nothing!' which was, like, the dumbest thing ever, because everyone knows that Rockling-made clothes never have loose threads. So then he started thrashing around and whining, and it was just really, really awkward, and when he finally stopped, which was, like, hours later, he turns to me and he asks - like as if I hadn't just handed his megablocks to him - he looks at me, and-" Calico stifled a giggle. "-he says - 'what has it got in its pocketses?' and- and I says - 'I'm wearing a skirt, moron!'"

The young rogue laughed rather squeakily at the top of her lungs, a trait no doubt well-used by her many halfling ancestors over the ages, completely irregardless of the severity of the current situation in the hall.

"True freakin' story! And I still made off with all his coin!"

[Duvors]

"Don't make me beg ya', lady. My raider cousins would kill to lie with one of the Valkyrie kin; your strength and speed are legend. You would honour me."

Oxstrong rises to his feet and makes his way slowly towards Cappricia, grinning.

"Dog, that's one word for me; but there are others too. D'you want to know why they call me 'Oxstrong'?"

He draws close to her and begins circling.

"Rest is undeserving of the credit it gets (overrated) - how 'bout you and I find out just how long we can last without it? Cappricia, babe, I've always wondered if those legends were true..."

Grin, again.

Luridan shudders as he is unable to avoid hearing this, why on Olegaia do gremlins have such long ears?

In one corner of the saloon, despite the gravity of the upcoming fight to the death, one of the hall's smallest heroes was enthusiastically recounting oneof her Quests to the turbaned cyclops across the table.

"-and so the answer was pret-ty obvious, if I do say so myself. Time, of course, the answer was time, and the rotten little thing got pissier than, like, a paladin in Baltarok, started hissing and spitting farther than I can crack a whip, it was just gross. So anyway, he says to me, 'assssk usss, assk uss!' and he said it, like, just like that, all hissy and stuff-" the halfling downed another goblet of apple juice between words. "-and I was all like 'what?' but he was just like 'asssk uss!' so I started freakin' out, I still had the broken nail from when I fell, I can't tell you how much THAT threw me off, and he's still all like 'asssk us, assk uss!' And after, like, an hour I finally asked it - 'what have I got in my pocket?'"

"And of course THAT took the wind outta his sails like a merperson outta water, and then, and then he looked at me, like, all angry-like, and he started accusing me of being unfair! It was like, TOTALLY uncalled for. But I managed to calm him down - I'm a nice person like that - and he started guessing, right? His first guess was so stupid. 'Handses!' he said, and he said it just like that, it was so dumb. And his next guess was 'knife!' which was, like, yeah, right, as if I've got a knife on me, woulda' shanked him a long time ago - and then, this is the dumb part - he said 'string, or nothing!' which was, like, the dumbest thing ever, because everyone knows that Rockling-made clothes never have loose threads. So then he started thrashing around and whining, and it was just really, really awkward, and when he finally stopped, which was, like, hours later, he turns to me and he asks - like as if I hadn't just handed his megablocks to him - he looks at me, and-" Calico stifled a giggle. "-he says - 'what has it got in its pocketses?' and- and I says - 'I'm wearing a skirt, moron!'"

The young rogue laughed rather squeakily at the top of her lungs, a trait no doubt well-used by her many halfling ancestors over the ages, completely irregardless of the severity of the current situation in the hall.

"True freakin' story! And I still made off with all his coin!"

Luridan is unable again to help hearing what is being said, and this time takes note, turning around he sees a halfling fashion disaster and turns back to the counter as fast as possible.

"Sae-much-pink."

[Brickdoctor]

Swinehurst sent me a message on a potato saying that I should tell you something about myself. I like the color green.

"Eh. T'be hones', 'M s'prised 's not happened 'fore now. Ev'ryone knows y'can't trust a Hero. Or any'n else, fer that mat'er."

Oh, that's a revolutionary new way of approaching the first Day, not trusting anyone and not making the same statement that everyone else does; I agree with you! I'm going to follow you around like a sheep.

"You can join us, if you like."

Will it improve my stats in a quantifiable way?