StickFig

Matthias does his best to stay quiet and unnoticed, while also doing his best to keep Chesterine at arms distance and the red heat of a blush from creeping back into his face. Without much to add to the conversation, the gnome reaches out through the ether towards the strange dwarf, trying to sense whether nurturing would have any effect - is he perhaps a true Founder, but under some sort of spell?

Matthias, who surprised everyone else by not getting airsick during the dragon ride, surprised himself in that he actually kinda enjoyed Ziegfried's attention - No! Don't admit that to yourself! - his sense of self-worth thunders in his head. He whips his cannon up to the ready in what he hopes is a swashbuckling gesture, and attempts to lead the way to the cellars, only to trip over his own feet and land facedown on the sitting room carpet. Raising one arm above his head to indicate that he's alright and that the party should head downstairs, the gnome calls out, "Let's head to the tomb, quickly!"

OK now, Heroes, let's not get carried away with silliness, we have a job to do here! Matthias blushes even redder, if that were possible.

Matthias' face alternately blanches red and green as he can't decide whether to be embarrassed or sick at the thought of another dragon ride. He decides there's no way he's letting the party abandon him with the young wizardess. Once again the gnome wishes for the opportunity to kick another hero under the table. Matthias sees his chance. "Yes, why don't we all get going right now! The faster we get back to the Dragon House, the faster we can get back here!"

The tiny druid blushes furiously and does his best to stare off in a diferent direction. Matthias wishes his legs were long enough to kick Rone under the table... and he wishes there was a table to kick him under. Taking a comically big gulp of air behind his comically big hat, the gnome gives his best impression of a sweeping bow from a seated position and just barely manages not to drop his topper on the floor. "Why yes, I'd be enchanted to have you along for our quick and very safe," Matthias eyes the Ziegfried matron with another gulp, "dragon ride to the Dragon House. Mi'lady."

"OK, so do we bring the Golden Dragon's body here?" Matthias addresses the party.

Something the lady wizard said earlier sticks in Matthias' ears. "I'm sorry to go backwards, but no, we aren't sure it's actually the Golden Dragon; all the evidence seems to say yes but the very reason we wanted to consult with you is that we have no way of knowing. And if you can only reach the 'faintest glimmer' of memories, that may not help anyway." The gnome ponders for a moment. "I don't suppose there is any way you can converse with the dead without a body? I mean, a way to reach their souls in whatever plane of existence they inhabit after death?" The question itself troubles Matthias. Bearing Orrick's anvil means the gnome is certain of his deity's existence, but even immortality provides little certainty about the condition - or possibility - of an afterlife.

The gnome nods to each of the Ziegfrieds as they are introduced, carefully noting their titles, and raises his eyebrows as the younger male Ziegfried's address is given simply as 'half-brother'. "Met and now introduced," the gnome remarks to no one in particular. "And I'm enchanted, to be sure. But back to the matter at hand, what is going on in Eubric?"

Matthias giggles internally, but finds himself still irritated from the void and a little bored with the small talk. "What do you know of what is happening in the city - I mean, the real, behind-the-scenes happenings, Lady ...?" The druid trails off, realizing that while he has introduced himself and many of the others seem in familiar company, he has no idea who the ladies are.

Matthias blushes self-consciously as he notices the girl. "Hi." is all he can muster, so he climbs onto a chair. As he realizes introductions are called for, he scrambles to his feet - on the chair - and then realizes his boots are probably muddy so he hastily steps down. "Matthias the Druid, at your service. Peace be with you." Done intoning the formal greeting, he climbs into the chair again, as irritated at his own lack of poise as he had been at being trapped in the Void.

Matthias echoes Ablesword's glare as he checks his things and wonders what's next.

Be afraid... be very afraid.

Matthias recovers from his dragonflight-induced seasickness in the park and follows the others, a little unsteadily, into the house.

Matthias heals Emorith, Rone, Ablesword, Shadeaux, and himself, then downs 3 tonics as he scrambles onto the dragon, unsure of what to hold onto but still clinging on for all he's worth.

Matthias grimaces as his ears bleed. He pushes himself to extend more healing ether. He shouts a meager shout against the echoes, trying to stay Ablesword's hand before the dragoon wastes precious liquid. > Matthias: If Matthais injured, Heal (Stave) v. Self; otherwise, Extraorindaire v. Obsidian A > Mathias: If Dyric injured, Heal (Stave) v. Dyric; otherwise, Extraorindaire v. Obsidian B > Matthias: Heal (Stave) v. Bellanotte; otherwise, Extraorindaire v. Obsidian A @CMP @UsernameMDM If Hoke is going to use a Phoenix Essence, he should do it on his second turn, conditionally, at the end of the battle order (after Althior and Matthias but before Torc, obviously).

Matthias reels from another stunning blow, then gathers himself to heal his own wounds and those of Shadeaux. > Matthias: Recover from *Stunned* > Matthias: Heal (Stave of Grasping Thorns) v. Self > Matthias: Heal (Stave of Grasping Thorns) v. Bellanotte, assuming he gets a third turn

He is down now, but needs an action (two? because of Bellanote?) because he will be up by his turn.

Matthias tugs on the prophet's sleeve. "Let me try first, Master Althior." The gnome readies a nostrum and swings his staff around, channelling nurturing ether towards Bellanotte, Althior, and the others. Recommended Battle Order: > Bellanotte: Rapid March Hoke Hoke Torc: Make Matthias lucky? Torc: If Matthias not *Lucky*, make Matthias lucky; otherwise, make Althior *Lucky* > Matthias: If *Lucky*, Heal (Stave of Grasping Thorns) vs. Bellanotte; otherwise, Nostrum v. Self > Matthias: If Althior injured, Heal (Stave of Grasping Thorns) v. Althior; otherwise, Extraordinaire v. Vermillion A > Matthias: If any party member injured, Heal (Stave of Grasping Thorns) v. first (by battle order) injured party member; otherwise, Extraordinaire v. Speckled A > Althior: If any party member injured, Heal v. injured party member (Fire spell on Alea Iacta Est); otherwise, ... > Althior: If more than one party member *KO*, Phoenix Incense v. Party; otherwise, ... ... Reasoning is this: Bellanotte can give Matthias a third turn, and Torc can make him lucky, so they should go before Matthias. Hoke should also go before Matthias, so that if he goes down (Hoke? Never!), he will benefit from any raising that happens. Then Matthias should take all of his turns, *Lucky*, hoping for Roots of Life at least once (66% chance if Torc makes him lucky, 52% if not). Then Althior should take first turn at healing (and using a Fire spell to dispell the Comforting Spores), just to make sure he's not going to raise everyone (31% chance if he's *Lucky*); only after all those have been exhausted should he use the incense.

Matthias feels Bellanotte's song drives his hands, feet, and thoughts to a faster tempo, so he uses his extra time to try and heal Althior. > Matthias: Recover from *Stunned* > Matthias: Heal (Stave of Grasping Thorns) vs Himself > Matthias: Heal (Stave of Grasping Thorns) vs Althior

Matthias shakes himself back to reality and calls ether to patch up his own wounds. > Matthias: Recover from *Stunned* > Matthias: Heal (Stave of Grasping Thorns) vs Himself Just let me know if that's not how *Stunned* + *Hastened* works.

Matthias downs a smelling salts and attempts to heal Althior, staff in hand. > Matthias: Heal (Stave of Grasping Thorns) vs. Althior

Matthias raises his Extraordinaire and fires at Vermillion A, then Vermillion B. > Matthias: Extraordinaire v. Vermillion A > Matthias: Extraordinaire v. Vermillion B

Matthias nods assent to the departure plan. "Let's close it back up, and reset the key-tiles. No sense in making it easy for anyone to come through behind us and destroy her." The gnome shivers a little as he looks in again, then helps to close the tomb before heading to the unexplored tunnel. Whoops! Had a crazy few days at work and lost track of time! I'm so sorry, y'all!

Careful of the glowing trap runes, Matthias climbs up to see. "It looks pretty well intact, so I guess we go with that, but we still have no way to prove it. Whoever is messing with us might have staged this whole thing for all we know. Did you ever see her alive, Master Dyric? Or are you just thinking it looks like her from a portrait in the Hall?" The gnome looks carefully - without touching! - around the body, and reaches out into the ether, not knowing what he's doing, hoping somehow to find traces of what once was, marks left behind by the life before him.

Not close enough (or tall enough) to see the puzzle the others are working on, Matthias replies from his spot near the exit. "A body proves nothing - we have no way to know it is the actual Golden Dragon, unless you think Master Althior - or perhaps myself - powerful enough to revive someone so long dead. And every part of that scenario seems like a bad idea to me. But as you note, we have 'ancient veterans' appearing out of nowhere, so I don't know what to think. I suppose if, even after only a few years in Heroica, I have found eternal life - if not true immortality, now that the Norns' artifact is gone - it is possible that others much more experienced and much more powerful than any of us existed. But I don't believe it. I think someone with quite a bit of coin is meddling behind the scenes, and we are in their way."