Rumble Strike

It's entirely up to you, I don't mind. As Scuba says, it's all good for RP.

I distinctly remember Tarn sticking up for De'kra several times, but Guts really would not quit with all that nonsense at the time.

Ah, that's slightly better, I guess

That looks really nice. So much character in it, with the spooky, run-down look. My favourite part is the record player, love how they've done that!

So De'kra is comparing Tarn to a despotic ruler whose lust for power and control drove an entire empire to it's knees? Overreact much, small clicky Rogue?

Tarn was glad that none of the heroes seemed to blame him too much for using the bomb, not that he had stopped blaming himself. Cronk was right, the best way to move on was to fulfill their mission. They still had Victor to protect. He was keen to know if their ranks had swelled, if the heroes they had met would be sticking around.

Tarn looked at the Elf warily. It didn't seem more than a few seconds ago they had been on opposing sides. "My wounds from the explosion are my burden, I ask not for any healing. There is no balm for such regret that I carry, save to continue our mission here and hope we end up making a difference to the people of Dastan. But I thank you for your concern, it touches me and shows that there may be some light approaching this nightmare."

Love the bickering between Atramor and Thothwick. It's been god value all Quest, even more so now. I've just done Tarn's reaction to all this, quite pleased with it. Given him plenty to think about.

Tarn watched as the heroes argued. He appreciated the presence of Thothwick, helping him stand. There was a part of his mind that insisted on thinking his party leader a coward for not taking a side. That part of his mind had helped cause this catastrophe, his need for action, to do something. He now knew that Thothwick was the bravest of all of them, he alone had the courage to stand up for what he believed in and not fight because he was not entirely sure wht was correct. They had been so sure. Felton had been their ally, Constance an icy, demeaning hag. But Felton had been wrong. He had owned up to his crime, the ringleader of this disaster, but Tarn knew that he had been the instrument of their downfall. He should never have thrown that bomb. In his desire to bring this fight to a quick conclusion he had thrown away any kind of moral high ground that Rystael would have wanted him to take. He had failed himself, Heroica, these heroes present, and his old mentor. How could he go back to the Hall now? How could he call himself a hero? Atramor handed him some spoils of the battle, but Tarn handed them back. "I will not profit from this massacre." He spoke softly, unable to look any hero in the eye.

Let the epic roleplay fallout begin!

Tarn should have 16 health due to natuarl respite, he did also slot his grand potion into his hollow blade, and Bomb XX should be removed from his inventory. Tarn saw a world enveloped by fire after he threw the bomb at the traitorous turncoat Constance. He did not know if he would survive the blast, did not really care. He was destroying evil, and if that cost him his life, then so be it. When he awoke in a pile of rubble, badly burned from the explosion, he could barely breathe. It felt like a crushing weight on his chest, but he crawled back just as the Emperor and Victor were taking away Felton. "Constance... not a traitor?" he slurred, blood filling his mouth as he tried to speak. He felt in even more pain. He had been wrong. They had all been wrong.

Right, but under what justification? You shouldn't know in-character what we are planning to do.

I fear this is the issue with having the battle order and chosen targets for two rounds available to see. It does affect strategy.

Tarn nods grimly. "Yes, we should not draw this out any further than we need to. Ironic that one of XX's bombs is going to hurt Constance!" Tarn will throw Bomb XX.

Yeah you guys in Quest#28 are making it a rivitting read, great stuff!

Tarn looks at Atramor, his acting party leader now that Thothwick was sitting the battle out. "Atramor, if both William and myself use the bombs, their power will finish this quickly, but they are somewhat of a statement of intent. Are you happy for us to be so... destructive?" Plus I wanna go hit that Barbarian over there!

Thanks Zepher, I'll get you profiles of Hlin and the Maginastra for the Index.

Tarn had been in deep thought for a while, as heroes all around him made their decisions. He spoke quietly, but forcefully. "I have Quested with Atramor and Mr Harkenshire before, and together we helped stop a plague being unleashed on Eubric. During this Quest Nyx has been a close and invaluable ally. Mr Felton was with me as we fought to stop U'Vires mad plan succeeding. I trust their judgement, as it matches my own. I side with Team Felton."

"Felton drank, along with everyone else. He did not chose his own drink, they were assigned by us. There was no way for him to know what drink he was getting, had he been in on the subterfuge. I think not. He is a good man. My memory of the rescue is slightly hazy, as I had many enemies to fight and they were beating me down. Constance rescued us at the last minute, but she was with Victor, who is our sponsor for the whole Quest. Victor is the one who convinced Emperor Septrine to use Heroica, as he had met several of you before, in the Arena. He was known as 'Phil' then, if that means anything to the heroes that were on that Quest."

"I have found Felton to be an honourable man and a capable fighter. When our party were forced by U'Vires to drink tainted drinks before fighting some brainwashed foes, even after two of our party were felled by those drinks, Felton stood resolutely with me and William. We were defeated by their sheer numbers, but it was Constance who ultimately saved us, even though she was too late to prevent the death of U'Stus."

Based on that, definitely easier!

"Nice to see you again De'kra!" said Tarn, who had not noticed the small cloaked Rogue initially as the two teams of heroes met up. He listened to the Shade's summary, finding his diction difficult to understand as always, but glad to hear what had happened from someone he knew. "Thank you for filling us in on what your team has been doing. It is interesting that you ran into the third Heroica team as well. I cannot help but think we are all being manipulated. Regardless, inaction is not something I was taught. It is likely I will side with Felton."

Tarn looked at Nyx appreciatively. She had articulated well one of the concerns on his mind. "Look, this Constance is a rude, horrible woman, of that there is no doubt. But Victor specifically charged us with protecting her. Do we throw that aside? Do we attack someone who we have been asked to protect? I have no qualms with Felton - he has been an invaluable ally here in Dastan, but he still has his own agenda as a Wren Hunter. And now, we knew other heroes were in this land - the Heroica Hall sign-up board told us so, but to what end were all of us asked to be here? Like this Galen said, are we all being used here in a bigger game?"

As I said to WBD privately, this is exactly the thing I had in mind when creating Hlin. I love the class and am glad that others do too. Top work WBD!

"Listen, lady. U'Stus was very much like yourself, and insisted time and time again that he did not need protection. In the end, we listened to him, although Nyx remained with him in case anything happened. I feel his loss, it hurts me, we acceded to his wishes and it cost him his life. So you can bet your lovely sword that we are now not going to listen to you. Because you are also one we are charged to protect. So we must decline your request to leave, our work here is not yet finished."