StickFig

Matthias also asks 'XX' if he recognizes the voices.

Ummmm, I wasn't aware we were bolding our actions in this thread - but I suppose it's a good idea to tell the QM when we're here or gone... so, what are the plans now?

Matthias gives Alexis a quizzical look. "You think someone there is in danger? In any case, we should definitely investigate." he says, and then asks the animals, "Do any of those voices sound familiar?"

Matthias decides that he needs a little levity. "Ooooh, don't hurt me with your big bad sword, Mister Crab!" the gnome calls out in his best 'maiden in distress' voice. He doesn't bother to translate any of the conversation for Fenral or Berthadhiell.

Hahahaha that's what I meant, and then when I proofread my post before submitting I must have changed it by accident! P.S. - So Purpearl really needed a level of experience, huh Edit to avoid double post (where is everyone?): Heckz? Considerate?

Matthias stands in the darkness of the culvert, waiting for the bigjobs to crawl in behind him and hoping his eyes adjust quickly to the lack of light. He kicks a dirt clod in frustration as Nerwen and Purpearl each work to be more haughty than the other. Elves, he thinks, way scarier than I supposed. "Sir Pigley, Master Russel, are you coming?" he calls, wanting nothing more than to move on.

The entire lead-up to the battle has been a roleplaying event.... Really it was @Purpearljellyblob who brought about the battle; @Zepher handed us a situation and it got roleplayed extensively... one character didn't like the outcome, so they did something about it, and now lots of other characters are at the very least uneasy with the situation. e.g. Matthias used to think Purpearl was about the closest thing he had to a friend in Heroica, but now he's a lot less enthusiastic.... Since half the party did nothing, and one of the two who did attack roleplayed it as an accident, I think you're right...

"Agreed." Matthias ignores the morally questionable loot and drags his cannon into the drain archway, not waiting on the others. He's even more conflicted than before; glad that the creeping legless monster is gone, and also glad his unintended explosion wasn't the cause. Hahaha we'll take it - it's not like anyone but the NPCs was effective at all in that round/battle.

Translating for Ruffers and Pigley, Matthias simply says, "Lady Purpearl intends to honor our agreement with Sir Peter the Solid."

Matthias, standing behind Purpearl and still wondering how they got here, doesn't do anything but as he sets the Fireball down he accidentally brushes the striker and the overpacked cannon goes off, making everyone jump. > Matthias: Extraordinaire vs. Snake! from the Back Row

+1 UoP vote for General Building: Minifig Posing (although the Peregrinus scouts are fairly vanilla, the skeletons are excellent); Hydrology: Still Water (really digging the transition from shallow to deep) and Geography: Oceanside. Heh, I always get so caught up in UoP credit that I forgot to say: I love the white figurehead on the ship, and I love that the ship is tilted ever so slightly - that tilt really makes the scene.

+1 UoP vote for Landscape Design: Tree 1; Hydrology: Underwater; and General Building: Forced Perspective. I'm not read deep enough into Historica yet to comment on History, but it's a really cool build!

Happy birthday Sandy!!! 1) This is an Endgame boss we're talking about, right? What makes you think it would blink at 6000 poison damage? 2) You can't marry someone you just met!

Matthias, having grown up believing that all elves were goody-goody nature-pansies, is taken aback at Purpearl's sudden aggressiveness. Is this the same mage who adamantly defended the lives of orcs in Baltarok? The gnome watches Purpearl's performance with rapt attention, and as she draws up to attack realizes that he's been fidgeting with his cannon the entire time they've been talking, and the Fireball is now absolutely packed with powder. Lacking any other options, and disappointed that he still doesn't know if Sir Pigley floats, the ranger aims his cannon at the object of his fear and prepares for the inevitable. "Snake, the lady elf says your mere presence threatens her; she doesn't accept your terms," he calls out, still slightly conflicted at this outcome but trusting his party leader.

Wait a second, that was an option? Can I change my vote?

Matthias rolls his eyes, but awkwardly, as he doesn't want to let the snake out of sight. "Let's just go through, already."

Matthias wholeheartedly agrees with the crab, and halfheartedly agrees with the pig, but can't really see a good way out. Thanks, QM! Exasperated with indecision and tired of dealing with the vile snake, he makes a decision without waiting for further input. "Snake," he says, "we will deal with the frog if and when we return from our mission inside. It is the best we can offer, since we are limited in time and there is no way for us to find the frog again unless he comes to us. We are ready to go through now, if you will allow us." To the other Heroicans, he says, "I've promised we'll deal with the frog once our task inside is complete. I didn't say what 'deal with the frog' meant, so I hope that someone," he looks pointedly at Calmcacil, then Fenral, then Berthadhiell, and finally at 'XX' for good measure, "can figure out a way for us to do so. For now, I want to go through and we can figure this out later."

The ranger frowns as the 'extras' start to pipe up behind him - I knew this would happen, he thinks to himself. He turns his head back to the others, keeping the despised reptile in his peripheral vision. Ignoring 'XX', Matthias addresses Ruffers and Pigley. "So what would you have me do? The snake is asking us the same favor Sir Peter did - each one wants us to remove the other. Are the Frog Paladins higher in your eyes than the rest of Orrik's creation? Do you have a good reason to pick sides? I wish you would tell me if you do." "We can go through," the gnome translates for Fenral and Berthadhiell, ", but the serpent wants to know when we are going to deal with Sir Peter - before or after our errand in the mansion. What should I tell it? How are we going to deal with him?" he asks Purpearl.

Matthias turns red as Purpearl pats him. "I'm a gnome, not a child," he says sullenly. "Even if I don't like snakes," he mutters. Turning back to the coiling vermin, the ranger steels himself and screws up his courage. He steps out in front of the party. "Snake," he begins, the struggle apparent in his voice, "we will do all in our power to ensure Sir Peter bothers you no further, but we cannot promise that he or others of his order will not return when we are gone. Will you now allow us passage through this arch?"

Matthias, clearly not excited about being put on the spot, gives Berthadhiell a wry look. The gnome ponders for a second, shaking his head as if to clear any lingering alcoholic effects, and looks around a second time to see if Sir Peter has shown up again. Not seeing the frog, he resigns himself to a decision. "You know how I feel about that wriggly nightmare," Math shudders, "and I don't feel good about breaking our word with Sir Peter, but he didn't even come with us. Let's leave the snake in peace." Turning to Nerwen, the ranger says, "As a fellow paladin, do you have influence to ensure Sir Peter does retire from this mission?"

Matthias looks disgustedly one more time at the snake, but says simply, "I don't know the frog, and I don't know the snake, and our errand is only to get past that archway and into the mansion. I abstain from the decision." The gnome shudders once more, wanting to simply get on and pass out of sight of the frightening serpent. "Should we ask 'XX', Master Russel, and Sir Pigley, or keep this between the Heroicans?" he whispers to Purpearl, almost as an afterthought.

Matthias is indignant. "I've threatened you?!" he exclaims. "It seems the snake will let us pass, on condition we rid it of Sir Peter the Solid," he says to the others. "We can either find the frog and make him promise to leave, or make the slimy slithering menace leave."

Matthias simply shudders.

Matthias looks at Calmcacil quizically. "So, are we doing this peaceful or murder?" he queries, hoping none of the animals will catch his tone. "Master Russel thinks that frog's word was good enough, but I'm not especially fond of just crushing that..." the gnome shivers, and not from cold, "that slithering viper. I could probably be convinced, though," the ranger adds with another wide-eyed glance at the Hissvetian.

Matthias takes one look at the big snake and jumps behind Purpearl. "We want you gone, and we want to pass through this archway." Apparently the fright of the snake sobered him up impressively. The ranger turns to Ruffers and the Pig and whispers loudly through his teeth. "Sheesh, you two couldn't be quiet? And where did that frog go?" Peeking out from behind Purpearl but definitely not looking at the snake, he says to the party, "What do we think? I've asked that slimy thing to vacate the area but there's no guarantee it will and that frog wants it dead..." He leaves the implications hanging but surreptitiously begins to dribble powder into his cannon.