Rumble Strike

Hi guys, I've been away for a few weeks since the end of Tarn's last quest, not had much time to spend on Eurobricks, but I have been mulling over some ideas for my next character. I know people saw Tarn as a bit generic, so to combat that I'm thinking of making a male teenage Rogue next. Only kidding! Since Tarn was a melee-based non-Ether class I was thinking of going for a female Mage. Or maybe a Ranger - I don't recall there being many of them, male or female. Also I haven't been following other Quests much recently - do we have anything established for the Chima lions in Heroica? I remember the weregators were from Terra Chima, and I recall Azeal was a werelion in CAT, but is there any lore on these? Also, has there been a female lion face in the Chima range? I know there wasn't for wave one, even though most of the other tribes had females. I have a face picked out already (may even be the one Azeal had), just have to put some female-ish hair on it and it should hopefully be OK. Hopefully!

I think Lego could be on to a real winner here - bright, colourful recognisable characters, blind bagged. Seeing how many times the Movie CMFs had to be restocked even at a high price point in the UK makes me think these could also do well. Another fantastic review Whitefang, and very interesting to see the unique Simpsons pieces on regular minifigs and vice versa.

Tarn clasped Pretzel on the shoulder. "Thank you for the offer, my friend, but you keep the Insense. Hopefully you will never need to use it, but I would not take it from you and leave you without." He looked around the Hall, perhaps for the last time. "I must make my way now, to catch Princess Ella at the Temple before we leave. Take care all, may you forever be known as heroes of Heroica!" With a smile, the tall Raider departs.

Tarn looked aghast as Pretzel stated talking about annihilating enemies with bombs. "Pretzel, did you not hear of what happened in Dastan with a Bomb XX thrown by my hand? It was a terrible tragedy, and a good woman died because of my actions..." He paused, not wanting to continue that line of thinking. "The favour I wanted to ask you for, is to let people know where I have gone. I have made good friends here like Atramor, Nyx, Thothwick, Ellaria, Benji, Haldor and Tesni. Please let them know what has become of me."

Yep, I have no problem Tarn being mistaken for Hoke. They are fairly quiet people and both get on with things with the minimum of fuss. That's a wedding and now babies for suggestions! I hope you are taking notes Zeph! And I did not know that, Chromeknight. I guess most words, even if you think you've made them up, exist elsewhere in other languages. I remember Myrddyn showing what Hlin and Vell meant in the initial Maginastra quest.

Tarn gives Monk Pretzel the Counterstrike Gloves, and gives back to Arthur the Phoenix Essence he had just given. "Take these as well, both of you, with my thanks and gratitude that we were able to accomplish much for the Princess." He took another swig of his ale, and wistfully said, "It shall soon be time for me to leave. Can I ask a favour of you both?"

That was Tarn's first Quest Also I have had several renames of the battle axe I got on that Quest due to elemental gems being embued. I remember one was Kyrferath; I can't remember what Helbaerend meant but I think it was based on a combination of Ice and water. Been a long time!

Tarn blushed, embarrassed at the public display, but he raised his glass and clinked it with the others. "Thank you Arthur, your words are unnecessary, but kind, and I do appreciate them. Here is the Noble Mask, you certainly earned this keeping Ella safe below the ocean waves."

"I may not ever be back, Hybros. I hope to stay in Dastan and be a bodyguard to the Emperor Victor, that way I can stay in touch with Ella. Dastan was an incredible place, and the different people there are fierce warriors."

"Greetings, Monk Pretzel. Yes, I shall be going back to Dastan with Princess Ella very soon. She has a few things to take care of at the Temple, so I thought I would come here one last time. It was an honour Questing with you and Arthur. I have never been in such a small party but we were very effective as a team. Please take this Skull Shield in repayment for your fine performance against the enemy ship. Arthur, is there anything you would like? You kept Ella safe, your word was good. I will still require my primary weapons and armour in Dastan, but perhaps I have something useful in my inventory for you. Although with the amount of items you leant me during the Quest, maybe not." He grinned and took a sip of beer. He would miss this place, and the heroes within it. He had made many friends here.

I thought you played Ella very well. It is clear she has a lot going on inside her head, but she keeps to very formal speech, the bare necessity to convey what she means. It feels like she is very down to earth, very to the point. She is certainly no simpering lovesick damsel in distress, never has been. I hopefully haven't been too over the top with Tarn. Flipz mentioned the boat roleplaying, but that was him really opening himself to her and telling her about his past. It's taken two and a half years for him to talk about it, even if I have alluded to it now and again OOC. I think their feelings have grown pretty organically, and provided storyline and impetus for Tarn in several quests after Dastan.

I was conscious that I might be hogging Ella a bit, so as much as I wanted to go down in the depths, in storyline terms it did make sense for Arthur to go, and I am glad it helped with a bit of your own roleplay.

Tarn regarded the Imp with a wan smile, remembering the trial by combat of the pagoda and the waterfall. "Hybros, did I not tell you that you were right? That the Jade Flagbearer had holed up with the rest of the Constellation and attacked myself and the party when we went to rescue Jun. You cautioned me on my decision, said that I would suffer its consequences, and it did come back to bite me on the behind. We showed him no mercy this second time, and he fell - as did all of the 108 Stars of Destiny." He stops when Arthur approached him. "Greetings Arthur, no, I have not made for dastan yet. I wanted one last free beer first!", he smiled. "I still have some items of yours that you loaned to me for the duration of the Quest." Tarn gives Arthur back the Unlucky Horseshoe, the Spider's Leg, the Overkill Gloves, the Gladiator Trident and the Duplovian Helmet of the Guard.

Tarn strode into the Hall again, knowing that it would be for the last time. His Quest to find a lost book of fairytales had been successful. Ably complemented by Monk Pretzel and Arthur, they had helped Princess Ella Septrine find a piece of her heritage. She had asked him to come back to Dastan with her, and he had accepted. He did not want to be apart from her any longer. He pulled up a seat, ordered a beer, and waited for Arthur and Pretzel to return. He still carried items of theirs from the Quest that he needed to give back, and there were several item sin his inventory that he may not need anymore.

I see where you are coming from, Pie, but to be honest I didn't mind it for that battle as we were supposed to be up against it. Initially I was concerned that Tarn couldn't really attack directly but he was still useful as a support character and buffer. I think that perhaps Tarn was expected to go down to the depths with Ella. I for one am very keen to see what happened down there

I have really enjoyed playing as Tarn and been on some fantastic Quests with a lot of great people. When I used to play City of Heroes I used to create a lot of characters, different classes, different looks, all with backstory that fit the City of Heroes lore, and I've had a hankering for a long time to play someone different. I guess hosting my own Quests and creating some characters for that scratched the itch a bit, but it's not the same as playing a character long term.

Tarn is going with Ella to Dastan, I shan't be playing him anymore. His role in Heroica is finished, although he may still appear in NPC form in any future Zepher Dastan/Ella Quests. He shall pop into the Hall for one last free beer and perhaps some loot distribution, and then I'll have to decide on a new character. It has been a lot of fun playing as Tarn, hopefully you will all agree this is a fitting end to his Heroica career

Hi Zeph, Thank you so much for letting Tarn walk off into the sunset with Ella. Since the Dastan Quest she has had a real effect on him and I think it was the perfect conclusion. What you wrote for the passages within the lost book was lovely and a fitting end. Tarn had a blast being with Pretzel and Arthur, and likewise I had a great time with Palathadric and Flipz. I've never quested with these two before and they were good company! Thank you to both for strategy and tactics, it's never been mine or Tarn's strong point! I think the Quest was a bit slow in places, but that couldn't be helped. It wasn't a WORLD-SHATTERING EPIC like some Zepher Quests but there was enough of a hook and mystery to the story. Zeph, your NPCs are always very well fleshed out and I loved Captain Lane. The ship battle was innovative but I must admit, I thought that the Guardian Angel would only protect the players and not the ship. That might have made things harder. Thanks again!

Tarn's eyes misted over as he heard Ella recount the tales of the Prophetess and the Warrior. The bond those two had shared, long ago now, was made clear by the charm and the wonder in her words. To hear Ella say them out loud was strange, almost that she were the Prophetess and he the Warrior. The love they clearly had for each other spoke to him in a way he had not felt before. When Ella asked him to come to Dastan, to be with her, it was an easy choice to make. They would not be apart again. They were destined to be together. "Yes, my love," Tarn spoke softly. "I will come to Dastan with you. I will be by your side, and we shall help each other through whatever life throws at us."

OOC: If it's Arthur's loot, I'm not going to distribute it. He did it himself down there, it wouldn't be fair. And no, we did not get any loot for our battle, but we did show them who's boss. Tarn had only just noticed that Ella had a treasure chest with her. "Does that hold the book?" he asked Arthur. He had heard the Mystic Knight and Paladin talk of what had happened. "These pirates also had a Prophet, and also wanted the book?" A look of confusion passed across the Raider's face, "but why?"

OOC: Zeph, where did the loot come from? And Tarn should be fully healed due to his Barbarian-ness. "Monk Pretzel, Captain Lane, I commend you on your valiant skill. We certainly showed them we were not to be messed with!" He is interrupted by the return of Arthur and Ella, and falls silent, just relieved that everyone had survived the encounter. He hugs Ella fiercely, not caring that she was a princess and he a lowly orphan from a small Titaan village. In that moment, she was the most precious thing in the world to him.

He also appears in the MetalBeard's Duel set. I got that mainly for MetalBeard but was surprised just how cool the Robo-SWAT figure is. Looks very smart in silver with good printing, and that lovely rifle. The helmet works very well with the robotic face.

"Good work, Monk Pretzel!" shouted Tarn as one of the cannons fell into the sea. "I suggest you focus on Cannon B whilst the good Captain aims for Cannon C. I shall hold the machine and U'Voros can watch this all unfold." Battle Order Monk Pretzel Monk Pretzel Captain Lane Tarn Valco U'Voros

OOC: Sorry Zeph, I didn't notice it hadn't happened! "We are still in good shape, keep at it!" encouraged Tarn, who will help Daneeka with the machine from the back row whilst U'Voros rests in the back row. "Captain Lane, can you target Cannon C, back row?" Battle Order Monk Pretzel Monk Pretzel Captain Lane (just the once then! ) Tarn Valco U'Voros

The Maginastra basically had a TARDIS in fact, Chromeknight even called it that straightaway from the picture.