Rumble Strike

"Thank you for the heal, my friend!" grinned Tarn at Atramor. With renewed vigour he rushed at Bombster A from the front row. I hate to say it but Tarn attacked from the back row that previous round, so those damages should be halved.

I love Nagure's new look. That's one hell of an axe!

No, no specific numbers, in case we see them again.

High numbers!

Thanks all for the positive comments, it's great to know other QMs enjoyed watching it, as well as peeps who played in my previous Quest. Scuba asked me if it would have anything to do with Sorona and Haroka, and I told him no, which wasn't quite true, but really this one just set a little bit more of a scene before we see them again. WBD, I would have liked to have done another puzzle, but didn't have one for pacing reasons. The warping door would have been another small puzzle similar to the dark room. As promised, if you guys would have taken on the Maginistra, this is what you would have faced: I can also take more pics of the Guardians, if anyone is interested. Just let me know. I realised I hadn't set Snowy's pic to public, so apologies for that.

Tarn grunts in pain as he takes the hit from the Bombster. He looks around and sees that most of the party require healing, so simply grits his teeth and takes on Bombster A from the back row. Hmmmm, maybe instead of a Bezerker, training as a Shaman would be more useful in battle. I could heal my own wounds and tend to others if needed. Tarn focused on the battle once more.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the kind words. The learning curve I had when making MOCs has been enormous, as I only build stuff for Heroica, but I am very pleased with what I managed to create for the Guardians. I wanted them to look childlike, as if they had been created by children, and the cartoony Cars eyes seemed to do that nicely. I used the black pieces from 8078 Portal of Atlantis because I wanted to give the third floor of the mansion a different feel from the first two floors which were lighter in look. I was actually limited by how many things I have in my collection, like doors! I had to build floors one and two separately because I didn't have enough. As for the main part of the Quest, I didn't want the Maginastra to be a stereotypical bad guy. I do like some shades of grey. You guys had figured out a lot of it by the time you met him, but I hope that his urbane and charming nature made you question things. I had a blast playing him, and also Hlin, who was initially just a throwaway character in Quest#13, but I had such fun playing him then that I decided to bring him back. I am sure both characters will return at some point - as you can see, this one did tie in with the overall story from Quest#13, so there does need to be a concluding part to the saga. I do have a picture of the Maginastra and his team, prepared well before Erik's turn against the others. That was awesome by the way - the way Myrrdyn justified his actions completely in character, I liked it a lot. As a QM I like to think that my plots and story are just a canvas for you guys to roleplay on, and I think most of you really took that opportunity at the end, so even though there was no fight, I hope you all enjoyed that. Thanks again for playing, and I hope everyone following along also had a good time. Special thanks as always go to Sandy for allowing me to host Quests and add to the rich tapestry everyone has created.

Final party stats after Quest complete: Party Erik Tyrvarr, Level 5 Barbarian (Myrddyn) 18 years old male human Power: 10 Health: 12/12 Gold: 307 Inventory: Spear (WP: 5), Axe (WP: 3), Potion x4, Mead, Remedy Sorrow, Level 5 Rogue (Endgame) **Party Leader** Power: 10 Health: 11/11 Gold: 366 Inventory: Longsword (WP: 5), Scythe (WP: 3) Potion x2, Venom, Phoenix Essence, Ice Bomb Mizuki Kimura, Level 5 Rogue (zakura) 21 years old Female Human Power: 10 Health: 11/11 Gold: 325 Inventory: Dagger (WP: 5, envenomed), Black Katana(WP: 3), Potion x3, Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Grand Potion Nagure, Level 5 Barbarian (Costy) 34 Year old male Yeti Power: 10 Health: 12/12 Gold: 272 Inventory: Axe (WP: 5), Club (WP: 3), Potion, Bottle of Mead x2, Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Pickaxe Drake Flamerobe, Level 5 Knight (xxlrocka) 39 year old male human Power: 10 Health: 14/14 Gold: 297 Inventory: Greatsword (WP: 5), Torch(WP: 3), Shield(SP: 2), Potion, Tonic, Phoenix Essence, Shovel Drake, I healed up to full health, as you would be once you were in the Hall. Mizuki, you put your venom on before all the arguments broke out, as it was in the previous update. I guess since technically you haven't been in your next fight yet, it will remain envenomed until you do have another fight. Thanks again all!

I find this talk of beating me irksome. Creatures of my Mansion, come to me and we shall feast on the corpses of these silly heroes! Well now, it looks as though after all the ill will between the party, we have come to an accord. You guys should have listened to Erik in the first place, he made very convincing arguments against fighting me. For a Barbarian, he is most wise. As a gesture of good faith, I will decree any consumables used in the buildup to this argument to be returned to you, unconsumed. Now, farewell heroes. Perhaps we shall meet again one day soon... The Maginastra and the mansion itself disappears in a blinding white light, leaving the heroes, and Hlin, standing in the middle of a field, with no mansion in sight. "Weren't we three stories up just now? Not that I want to get any falling damage! Anyway heroes, despite all the fighting and craziness of the last few hours, this Quest has been successful. We rescued all of the children! That's a very good thing! I get to kiss my beautiful, sweet daughter tonight, and it's all down to you, so thank you. The town of Ve'er will sing the praises of Heroica!" The dashing lawman leads the party to the small Town Watch office and carefully takes out 1000 gold coins from a small safe. "The original quest poster said 800 gold to share, but it wouldn't be fair to expect you to suffer because I chose a fifth party member, so that's why there's a thousand gold coins. Quite a sum in anyone's book, be they King or wandering minstrel." Party Leader (if we can still call you that!), please divide the loot. Equally. That's it, people. Once Endgame distributes the reward, I will post up the final party stats and you will be free to go your very separate ways. Thank you for playing and being very active, it has allowed the Quest to finish within the expected timeframe on the initial signup thread (4 weeks). Please give me any feedback on the Quest Masters Lounge thread, I would love to know your thoughts on how this all went.

Sorry, I got you confused with Rangers, who do get a smoke bomb. Yes thank you BAP, that's karma I guess

All Rogues get a smoke bomb during class creation. Did you unwisely use it in the Arena?

No, you could use a Smoke Bomb from your inventory.

I think we can assume that Drake won't take on the whole party, yes. I wouldn't let him do that on his own! I still want the Maginastra to find the whole "we're gonna take you out" thing irksome and lay the smackdown on you all, but in good faith, I won't this time.

You could have Flee'd the battle as a Rogue, ensuring no team wipe? Same for Mizuki on the other side. And even I'm not mean enough to have Drake vs the Maginastra and the rest of the party.

I've had too much experience in dealing with smartarse Rogues, obviously

It would be a tough fight, and the penalty for a "Sorrow" team wipe would be that you guys personally would fail the Quest. To be fair, I would have to say also that if you defeated Erik, Mizuki and the Maginastra's team, then the player characters would likewise fail the Quest.

"I know I was mad at the Maginastra for taking Vell and the others, but he has basically apologised and I do accept that apology. Let me assure you heroes, as the Quest said when it was posted at Heroica Hall, your job was to find the missing children, and you have done that. I did not put out a bounty for whoever was behind it. I have already told you that we could leave here and I will give you the reward. Don't you think that you might be biting off more than you can chew?" Looks like I picked the wrong day to go to Legoland! As far as I can tell now, it's Sorrow, Drake and Costy against the Maginastra, Erik, and Mizuki, with Hlin yet to absolutely declare a side? Plus whoever the Maginastra brings to the fight - this guy created the Guardians, rememeber Last chance to back down, or I will run this!

Yes, Mizuki should chose which side to fight on, even though the majority has spoken. Also I will be away and unable to post for around 20 hours, will be able to post again in the evening UK time, just to let you all know.

You are mistaken my furry friend, I have just stated that I realise now I have done wrong by everyone. You have all helped open my eyes, especially this cloaked Barbarian here. I have been misguided, it is not enough to keep the children safe, hidden away. They may be safe, but not seeing how glorious life can be is too steep a price to pay for this safety. Truly heroes, it would be best for us to go our separate ways, peacefully and not get drawn into an unnecessary conflict which would only end in your deaths. I am considering Erik's position regarding the fight. I think I'll allow it, if it does happen, as it would be very interesting. There is still a chance to back down, party people!

I am amazed at the turnaround. I thought the Quest was pretty much all wrapped up. The Maginastra had stated his case, Hlin had vented a little, as I wanted to give him something to say as the father of one of the missing children, but it all seemed quite amicable until the final decision. How strange. I give Myrddyn a lot of credit for thinking through his answer and roleplaying the decision, and not basing it on getting more xp and loot.

I am older than I care to admit to anyone here, Knight. So, you have heard my side, why I have done the things I have done. What now, heroes? Do we go our separate ways - you back to your organisation and me back to my realm - or do we still have... unfinished business here? I need everyone to chip in on this decision, it's not just Sorrow's to make as Party Leader.

"Keep at them! They will pay for the heinous acts they did earlier!" Knowing that Atramor had hexed Bombster A, Tarn switched his focus to Bombster B, attacking him from the front row. I wouldn't be able switch targets, had I had the Bezerker training. How much do I want a shield? But then, how often would I change who I attack anyway? Tarn shrugged off his thoughts and tried to focus on the battle that was still going on.

Byverion the Maginastra looked at Mizuki and smiled sadly. Child, my fates are tied to the magics within this mansion you see before you. Outside of here, I would have no power, and no way to protect anyone. I will admit that my initial task had been accomplished in a manner displeasing to those it was only trying to protect, people such as the good Captain here. No malice was ever intended, it was just the agreed course of action. I will have to report to my superiors that this whole thing became a bit of a mess and recommend that the idea be scrapped. Interesting that some of you still harbour thoughts of defeating me, though. Surely you can see, with my abilities, in my house, that taking me on is an absurd notion? Granted, you overcame each one of my Guardians, and I do respect you for that, but really? You're going to "take down beardy"?

Hlin looks at Sorrow and the others, completely outraged. "You said we were going to show this Maginastra the error of his ways, now you're going to let him smooth-talk his way out of a beatdown just because he felt what he was doing was the right thing to do?" Hlin squares up against the Maginastra, still livid should really have taken a pic of this, seeing as they are both NPCs!. "You stole my daughter away from me! I am a lawman in this "sleepy hamlet", I can protect her, yet you gave me and Vell no choice, allowed no discussion about this "chaos" and whether we wanted protection! I would never entrust Vell's safety to another, I am her father and she is my responsibility. I'm sure all the parents in Ve'er would say the same. We do not possess the magical abilities or powers you clearly have, all we can do each day is the right thing, and hope that it will be enough to make a difference. Each one of these children already had a Guardian."

My task is not to save the parents - they are already forfeit, already swallowed by the chaos that surrounds us all. No, my task purely focuses on the children, the next generation of Olegaia. To keep them safe whilst the chaos rampages through this world, to return later, and forge it anew.