Rumble Strike

I allowed you into this mansion, allowed you to loot anything that wasn't nailed down, allowed you to access the four realms of sanctuary to test the Guardians in a combat situation. I will admit, you have done very well, and now I know that I must do better and create stronger Guardians.

This world crumbles into chaos. Each day, there is more. Across the lands of Dastan, war has broken out, with huge empires and mighty armies at each others throats. Even here, in this sleepy little hamlet, a great darkness rested for years and years. It was inadvertently released by a set of heroes from Heroica, new to the pressures of heroism much like yourselves. But what happened cannot be undone. No magic exists for that to happen, and now the Great Scourge is back. The Dark General and his mistress will not be content to just wander through Olegaia, taking in the sights. Already, they are rebuilding their forces at Miranda. Creating more darkness, more chaos. That is why I took the children away from here. Ve'er is not safe. Nowhere is safe. By keeping them here in the realms I can create, with the Guardians to look after them, they have a chance.

The Maginastra answers the questions in his calm, slightly amused manner. As you no doubt have guessed, I am Byverion the Maginastra. I am from a realm far away from Eubric. No, I am not a Ji Pei but I do know of them. A wonderful people, very clever. You wish to know why took the children? You already know this. To keep them safe!

Thae party cautiously wander into the chamber: It is indeed the chamber of the Maginastra, as he is right there, holding a wicked-looking staff, an amused look as Nagure tries to take his gold-coloured pillow. Don't take that, my good man. It's comfy and the colour is quite nice against these rather stark and bare walls. His voice is melodious and entirely reasonable.

Sorrow carefully places the items into the cauldron; First, the Toy lamb, representing the season of Spring Then the Parasol, representing the season of Summer Next, the Fallen Leaf, representing the season of Autumn Finally the Sled, representing the season of Winter With another blinding flash, the items in the cauldron disappear and the door creaks open, slowly. The skull somehow turns to the party and addresses them gravely: You have solved the riddle and may now see the Maginastra. But beware, those who seek to do him ill will soon regret their impudence in the face of such power he wields. With the strange door open, they can see into another room. Have they finally found the lair of the Maginastra? What will the party do?

Fresh off of his frenzy, using Helbaerend in a whirling dance of flashing blade whilst bellowing an ancient Titaanian curse word, Tarn attacks Bombster A again from the front row.

"As all of the enemies are targeted, I'll help Atramor finish off Bombster A from the front row."

Hlin stopped Sorrow putting the items in. "Maybe this is a regional thing? Where I am from, I like the sound of Drake's order for the items. They correspond to the calendar seasons that way." Sorry guys, I know we have at least two Aussies here and the seasons as we learned them in England might be moved along due to our winter being their summer, which I believe is where the confusion is. It's interesting that xxlrocka give the sequence in the order I was expecting as he is also from England. Apologies again, I obviously hadn't thought this one through enough

It's a sequence, there are no clues, inscriptions or anything beyond what is already provided. One of you has stated the correct answer.

Tarn looked at Atramor curiously. He knew that his former party leader had certainly outgrown his Rogueish roots, but his eagerness to fight surprised him. He hadn't been like that before.

"How will keeping up appearances matter if you are assassinated? Your kin will still blame us. "It was U'Stus's consorting with outsiders!", they will say. Normally I am opposed to splitting up our party, but I agree with my team-mates, I feel it would be wise for someone to stay, even if they double back later and remain hidden."

I will give you no help and no clues; between the 5 of you, you should be able to work this out.

One does not simply walk into the Maginastra's chamber. If you have visited the four realms of sanctuary and defeated the Guardians tasked with keeping things safe, then you will have acquired certain items. You must place these items into the cauldron IN THE CORRECT ORDER for the door to the Maginastra's chamber to open. Once an item is in the cauldron it cannot be taken back out, so choose the order carefully, or you will never get to see the Maginastra. Finally, a puzzle! Please heed what the stone skull says and talk this over between yourselves before placing the items in. As Sorrow has them in his possession, he should be the one to actually do this. As always, when you wish to place the items in, please bold your action when you do it.

"So we've been charged to protect Constance and U'Stus, and yet neither want our help protecting them. A fine conundurum we find ourselves in once again!"

Tarn nodded to Thothwick about Dragon Heart. He has happy for the Metasimian Rogue to use it. He then spoke up after U'Stus's revelation about Constance. "Why does Constance hate you and the U'Kin so much?"

Mizuki goes across to the stone skull: This being the magical mansion of the Maginastra, you guessed it, it spoke aloud. Who disrupts the slumber of the Maginastra? Speak now, or find yourselves lost.

I knew you'd like the reference

Tarn takes the plate of biscuits, bowing graciously, and offers it to Nyx. "Thank you for inviting us into your home, U'Stus. What information do you have on our assassins? As you say, the more we know, the better we can protect you and the others."

The party goes back to the "dark room" door they just came out of... only to find that it does not open again. In fact, if they'd try to go back into any of the rooms, they would discover that all the doors are locked up tighter than Atramor Gibbin's... purse of gold. Except the entrance door, obviously. That being done, it is clear that the party intend to seek out this mysterious Maginastra, and so along with Hlin, they head up the second set of stairs: They find themselves in a much smaller antechamber, a strange door in front of them, with a cauldron and a stone skull sat on a display case. What would the party like to do? And what would Mizuki like to try and take first?

That's why, when I used Lion Knights as the Ve'er Town Watch, I made sure I picked ones without the crest on the torso. I may have locked out the Musketeer torso with Captain Hlin Horkkba though, but as far as I am concerned anyone else can use that. They just won't be as cool as Hlin

Hlin bustles up the stairs from the lower hallway and appears in the upper hallway. "Have you heroes decided your next move?"

Party with loot updated (and Mizuki's poisoned blade from earlier): Party Erik Tyrvarr, Level 5 Barbarian (Myrddyn) 18 years old male human Power: 10 Health: 12/12 Gold: 107 Inventory: Spear (WP: 5), Axe (WP: 3), Potion x4, Mead, Remedy Sorrow, Level 5 Rogue (Endgame) **Party Leader** Power: 10 Health: 11/11 Gold: 166 Inventory: Longsword (WP: 5), Scythe (WP: 3) Potion x2, Venom, Phoenix Essence, Ice Bomb, Parasol (Quest Item), Fallen Leaf (Quest Item), Toy Lamb (Quest Item), Sled (Quest Item) Mizuki Kimura, Level 5 Rogue (zakura) 21 years old Female Human Power: 10 Health: 11/11 Gold: 125 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: 72 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: 8/14 Gold: 97 Inventory: Greatsword (WP: 5), Torch(WP: 3), Shield(SP: 2), Potion, Tonic, Phoenix Essence, Shovel

The party backtrack until they find themselves overwhelmed by bright light once again, and appear back in the upper hallway. Erik takes the key and uses it on the chest. It works! Inside the chest is: 2 potions Ice bomb Shovel Pickaxe Party Leader, please distribute the loot. I am not penalising you for doing a bit of roleplaying, Endgame, it's something I like to see. I would also have accepted other creative ideas, such as Nagure being more able to see in the dark, as he is a Yeti. Sometimes it can't just be about HP and stats. Myrddyn and yourself did well there.

It's a good job the party is shrouded in darkness as the fact that Erik has managed to impale his party leader in the hand with his spear is a bit of an awkward scene. However it does allow the two the chance to search the area for the metallic object whilst not making too much noise. Erik grabs what feels like a key with his free hand.

This is a good chance to think a little outside the box, so I will allow this. Who wants to hold the pointy end of Erik's spear?