Enceladus

Na'im chuckles "Well my friend, I'd hate to be in that young ladies position if you two ever meet again! It sounds like you two had a serious grudge growing, hmph? I suppose some people are just narrow minded and only view others by the tone of their skin." Na'im sighs and leans back in his chair again, noting an influx of people around the bar, particuarly a pair of young mystic knights sitting a few tables away. Na'im watches the half elf's feeble attempts at courtship in amusement and nudges Germ "Do you know either of those two heroes master Germ?"

Did I say Torresta? I meant Farmolis...or whatever the Octan home world is! Of course being a spaceship, it could really be set anywhere. Having read over the rules again, I think it's best to make my weekly build count as much as possible, so I think I'll reconsider-is there anywhere particularly where we are focusing out efforts this week?

Na'im smirks "well I should hope most employers see matters differently, because you and me master Germ, we are just small fish In a big pond" he says glancing at the Fenarian archmage who had rescently visited the quest board "Of course most people probably have racial stereotypes as well that influence their choice. Do you have any idea why people dislike you generally master Germ?" Na'im asks in a genuinely interested tone

Na'im snorts "I would doubt they would bother. Good food dosen't come cheap, you see." Na'im pauses as he hears Germ discuss the other quest "You have to see it from the employers piont of view." Na'im begins in a serious voice "Let's say there are two heroes who have signed up for the quest. But then the employer notices that one has signed up for another one as well! Now which one do you suppose they will pick for the position on their quest?" Na'im asks spreading his hands grandly and relaxing back in his chair

It ain't always rags to riches kid... Backstory: Raymus Caludius was bought up on earth, in a high society family. At school he showed a talent for accountncy and soon after leaving university, he was snatched up by Octan coporation for their accountancy department. At Octan, Raymus showed himself to be a rising star with an exceptional talent for administration and logsitics-some whispered it could only be a matter of time before he repalced his boss, Director Farvin on Octans administrative board. However, his life turned upside down when his boss decided to hijack Octans accounts, transferring 200,000 credits to a secret account in the Helid system, and defecting to M.A.N.T.I.S. In the ensuing investigation, Octan's security forces were desperate for someone to blame and demoted Raymus to the rank of Ensign in Octan's engineering corps. Raymus remains thirsty for revege on his former boss, but knows that with the might of M.A.N.T.I.S behind him, it will be impossible to mount a sucessful court case aginst his old boss thorugh conventional channels, withhout a powerful ally. Octan also knows this, but needs his talents in the field. As long as Octan keep up the pretence of being prepared to help Raymus bring Farvin to Justice, an uneasy realtionship exsists between the two... Its great to officially be joinig AG! I don't know how active I'll be, having never been part of a LUG or sometihng like this on EB, but I'll do my best! Currently, I've got a small introductory build in the Torrsta system ready to be photographed, and I have another in the making for challenge one

"My thanks master Germ" Na'im says, taking the invitation to sit "Although I make it a piont never to eat at the hall. Why eat here when you are in a city that is the very melting pot of cultures form all over Olegia? Think, Luosh honeyloafs! Dragon liver straight from Dastan! I've heard the Aoi have some intersting cuisine as well...Ah, Eubric has so much to offer master Germ!" Na'im pauses feeling a little foolish from getting carried away "I have indeed signed up for a quest-something about prospectors I believe-they always seem to be able to pay a pretty penny for protection. It's a big biusness you know..."

The doors to the hall creak open once again revealing a tall figure clothed entriely in black. He rubs his eyes and sets off to obseve the current quests, scratching his chin as he dose so. Eventually, after much indescion he decides to sign up for quest 136 with that done he weaves his way through the tables in the salon to the bar, when he spots his old quest mate Germ in the corner. "Master Germ!" Exclaims Na'im "I see you have returned from your adventures. Did you find what you were, ah...looking for in Eubric forest?" Na'im says hovering next to the demon hoping for some sign of reconition

All right! I've decided to take the plunge and sign up: Introducing Specialist Ensign Claudius of the Octan corporation, applying as an engineer! Name: (Ensign) Claudius Affiliation: Octan Corporation Job: Engineer Hooray! I got Brickshelf working again

Quick question (prepares for outrage and general criticism) are 'fleshies' alowed? If so then I will aim to have my sigfig up at some piont tomorrow.

Doh! You know, I do seem to recall Cutcobra saying that at one piont but it must have vanished from my head over the duration of the quest, but thanks for the sets anyway! The reason I say they weren't as good as usual, probaly has something to do with them being on a less 'epic' scale than some of your more rescent sets, such as vega or Salamanda, but they were still great anyway Perhaps those are the wrong words...more like (I don't know if there is a better way to put this) that sometimes he seems older than he really is because of all his past experiences. I hope that clears that up, and I certinaly wouldn't confuse him and Skrall-for starters Boris seems a lot more brash and implusive, while Skrall seems a lot more stubbon and reflective I'm not entirely surprised-only myself and Quarryman play Fenarian Heroes, but they do have their own entry at the embassy(http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=76855), so I haven't just made them up. They are also about to get some more coverage in quests 135 & 136. I can assure you though, Na'im is definatly not a cyclops

For starters I'd just like to say thanks again to cutcobra for hosting us-he's been an amazing QM, for sticking with us all the way The quest I thourght that the story was pretty solid. Of course the heroes should probaly know not to trust alchemists at all by now, as nothing they do is ever as it seems. In short an apparently simple quest suddnely became a lot more involved-sort of like WBDs quests really. Now I'm not amazing at puzzles or mysteries, so the ending still left me with a lot of questions: How did Ralli actually get the red death What was Zugs role in the whole thing and was he as innocent as he made out to be? However, I do feel the quest suffered from timing issues especially at the beggining-I know what you were trying to do with building up the suspense but I don't know if the effect came across so well in a browser based RPG, as say a tabletop one. Also I would reccomend in your next quest you give the party a few more possible routes-in places it did just feel like a railroad with a few good/evil chioces to compensate. Just to add I really loved the sets. The photography was great too, and although they weren't quite up there with Sandy's, they were definatly some of the best I've seen in the game to date The Battles IMO, The battles seemed fair (almost too fair too fair in places) and we brushed thorugh them with relatively little trouble, although I don't know if that was just through good rolls (Me and Golaith seemed to roll an exceptional number of shield rolls) and WBDs experience. Loot was meagre for most of the battles, but the situational drops in the final battle kind of made up for that-these were a brilliant idea by the way I think, and I'd like to see more of them. The characters As the player behind Heckz's charecterisation, I expected some great NPCs and i wasn't dissapionted! I loved Rhyszicz and Warkboofhine They were a great duo and I just loved their boundless optimism and I would love to see them again as reccuring NPCs. I don't know if this was your inspiration for them but they kind of reminded me of Russel and Pigley from Zephers storylines. I also liked Ralli, although his pompous manner was a bit frustrating at times (was there any particular reason why he seemed so hostile to the heroes?) and I feel the red asassianns could have been interesting characters if we allowed them more charecterisation As for the party members: Boris:I liked Boris. As party leader, he seemed to become more assertive and I saw him somewhat as the 'glue' of the party, struggling to keep them together (and with the party trying very hard to resist his efforts-all I can say is that its a miricale the entire party made it thorugh the quest ). It was also intersting to see how he reacted to predjduce from Germ and Mihnak. Overall he seemed like an wise world weary veteran, and unique in Heroica Germ: As ever, I always find Germ an immensly intersting character to read. He seems almost alien at times with ihs strange sentimnts (e.g: His desire to meet Rosier again) and his offhand speech and causal remarks. Nonetheless, I think Na'im and Germ got along well and I wouldn't mind questing with Germ again Nalguz: Nalguz is...creepy. He dosen't say much but in a way I think this adds to this image of a figure who is litally rotten to the core. He makes no secret of his lack of mercy or motives other than gold and I think you pull him off well Mihank: Minhak strikes me as your typical dwarf. Brash, outspoke and obsessed with gold. Not that that's a bad thing though-there aren't enough dwarfs in heroica and I'd like to see more Na'im: As Na'ims first quest with heroica he has learned a lot. Namely that you shouldn't trust your employer, and least of all your fellow heroes. But I'd like to know what you guys thourght of him as well Overall I really enjoyed myslef and thourght it was an excellent first quest with all the neccesary ingredients and I'd love to see more Cutcobra quests

Na'im shrugs "Ah I see...well I doubt you will find anything master Germ. We are on the edge of Eubric Freeport, not backwater Babaleth. If there was anything unusual about the forest I am sure it would be uncovered already. Well, I suppose I shall see you back at the hall then." and with a swish of his cloak Na'in plunges once again into the alleys of Eubric, retracing his steps to the hall

Na'im shrugs and strolls out of the house at his own casual pace, whistling merrily as he dose so. He tips his hat to Germ and Boris and turns to head back to the hall when he sees Germ standing dead still by the forest "Evereything quite alright master Germ?" Na'im aks. In a quieter voice he continue "If there is any treasure in the woods you uncovered but don't want to tell master Burehalv about, your secret is safe with me." he says with a wink OOC: Once agin thanks very much for the brilliant quest Cutcobra! And also thanks to my fellow questees for putting up with me . It seems incredible its been nearly three months since the quest begun, but it sure has been fun! I'll be putting my thourghts in the QM lounge in the next few days

Sounds good Sandy! I'm probaly a bit biased here but, it's great to see lore being built pu for Fenario and Spelisea. Sadly, Na'im is probalt too low a level to experience a Sandy quest but maybe Purplejellyblob will be willing to take on a certain Fenarian?

Na'im frowns "Ah but surely if the red asassians come after you this is the first place they would thikn ot look, incompotent as some of them are-wouldn't you be ah...safer going somewhere else?" A thourght occurs to Na'im "So are you going to share this 'forbidden' knowledge with us-what do you know about the circumstances behind the doctors death that we do not?" Na'im sighs and begins polishes his spectacles after Mihnak turns down his offer "Very well then. Well, it has been a pleasure working with you master Mihnak. I daresay we shall meet again back at the hall." and with that he tips his hat to the dwarf and turns back to face Zug

Na'im blanches at Germs comment about burying the doctor "But the red death...it might be contagious!" he says aghast "how else would the doctor have picked it up? Nay, I am not risking my health, just to do justice to the doctors dignity." Na'im now edges away from the doctors body Na'im turns to Mihnak "Don't listen to master Germ here-I shall pay good money for that scroll if you aren't interested In it. 30 gold shall we say?" Turning to Boris Na'im says reassuringly: "Naturally, naturally master Burehalv naturally. Just a bit of investigative work that is all!"

"Oh please master Burehalv-you and I both know that our red assassin friend here is no more Rillo than I am Warkaboofhine!" Na'im laughs at his own joke "Surely you have not been bought in by this farce?" Na'im turns to Minhak curiously "Did you not say that it was gold that makes the world go round? Why are you so reluctant to put that ideal into practise?"

Na'im throws the dwarf a simrk "Oh but my dear Mihnak we are just getting started! With the old doctor here expired, his pocessions are free pickings!" and Na'im presently joins in pilfering the doctors shelves,, keeping a close eye on Rillo/Zug for any suspicious behaviour. He also checks the doctor for any marks or items that would distinguish him as a red asassain

Na'im smiles at this turn of events "Excellent thinking master Germ! It seems the red asassain were true to their word after all. No matter. I expect they would have killed us anyway." Na'im accepts his portion of gold and pins the badge of the smokemaster to the front of his cloak (equips it)

Na'im nods in approval at Boris "Well said master Burehalv. So be it" with an air of finality Na'im turns to the doctor and bows "Your genorisity with your libary is much appreciated master bookeater. Untill we meet again, farewell I say. I look forward to working with you again"

"I suppose" sighs Na'im looking somewhat dejected Na'im stares at Boris for a while after his last statement "You are a very strange cleric you realise master Burehalv" Na'im says slowly removing his glasses as to see Boris better "In my land most people, even clerics-especially clerics-would just leave the orc to suffer. Selflesness is not a trait that is highly valued back in Fenario, you see. Wrong it may be to leave the man to suffer at the doctors hands but when we go home today, it will hardly affect our futures whether he lives or dies. He is but one man and we owe him nothing. I ask again, why should we intervene?" His pupiless red eyes never once leaving Boris' face. He sounds more curious than angry

Na'im scratches his chin and frowns "I don't know master Burehalv." He says quietly: "the assassins tale dose seem to add up. It is clear to me that the doctor and the assassin are not even distantly related and I would hazard a guess that the assassin is under some sort of enchantment that the doctor administered soon after knocking him out on his doorstep. But make us leave early? If our assassin friend here recovers I think the doctor will struggle to hold his own against him without our help-no I think he wants us out of the way so he can dispose of him quietly-a knife in the back perhaps.But it dose raise the question master Burehalv: is it any of our business-I mean we have finished the job we were set." Na'im finishes looking interestedly over at Boris Na'im turns to the doctor "Now correct me if I am wrong master Bookeater, but it seems that the place where your nephew ended up in this sorry state was right on your very front door! The assassins we met even boasted an elite member had been sent to the house before them 'to deal with your nephew'!" Na'im says meaningfully making it clear to the heroes he was referring to the assassin leaders words "Certainly the attacker could still be at large! Tell me young Rillo did you see anything unusual when you arrived at this house-as a matter of fact what were you doing here in the first place?" Suddenly Na'im turns to Boris and grips his arm "the hunter and his hound-do you think it's a coincidence they showed up when they did? And the hound did let slip his master killed targets for gold-what if they were the elite red assassins? We never did look at that contract of his did we?"

"We had a deal master Bookeater. I sincerely hope you are giving us our full reward" Na'im says his voice dangerously soft and hollow. Na'im glances fearfully at Boris. He wanted his reward and was afraid that if Boris continued to argue, the alchemist may refuse to reward then all together! "I'll have the scroll of sealing if you may master Bookeater" Na'im says hastily

"Now really doctor!" Exclaims Na'im "we have just risked our lives several times over to recover your precious elixir. We have done precisely as you have asked so I do not see what the harm is. If anything we deserve a clap on the back and our promised reward" Na'im concludes with a wry smile

"If I remember correctly we killed those so-called assassins just fine master Mihnak" says Na'im cooly "But of course if you ask who I considor a true hero, the answer is staring you In the face!" Na'im says sweeping his arms and indicating the rest of the party "It certainly seems that way sometimes" Na'im says his breath