Pandora

Nyx's legacy to Heroica: the Flaming Gumball! I'm (pleasantly) surprised King Earl Lord Laurence Boomingham would wish to be seen drinking a fruit-based (yet alcoholic) drink through a pink crazy-straw that's garnished with a small paper umbrella!

"Well, we've already whittled away half the Necromancer's health, and I'm the only one bruised at the moment, so I think we're doing well. Atramor, I agree with you about me using my darkness magic on the Lizardman while you punch the Minotauren. Rufindel, I believe that Atramor will have to spend a turn picking up the shiv to be able to use it, so I'm hoping there will be an opportunity for him to do so after he's kicked the horns off the Minotauren. For now, I'd like to hold onto our bombs - we're currently doing ok, and this is only the beginning of our journey, but it is a wise observation Cronk and one that I hadn't considered." Nyx begins summoning a roiling swirl of darkness magic to aim at the Lizardman from the back row. Party Order: Cronk Nyx Atramor Rufindel OOC: Deepest apologies Scubacarrot, I had indeed forgotten the blessing was a 50:50 chance, sorry.

"I want my Dawnstar back. Aaanyway, let's keep going. I have another fireball with your name on it, uhm, whatever your name is, Necro dude, from the back row." OOC: Doesn't Atramor regain 3 health from being blessed?

"Atramor, it would appear we have found something productive for you to do; namely punch the Metasimian in the face until he falls down or breaks free from the Necromancer's spell. For myself, it'll be another fireball, aimed at whatshisname the Necromancer from the back row." Party Order: Cronk Nyx Rufindel Atramor

Nyx is uncharacteristically quiet for a few moments, firstly due to the unexpected pain in her hand, which dissipates remarkably quickly as her temper flares once more, and then as she sees Cronk's angel for the first time. "Cronk.... your angel.... so... beautiful! " Nyx shakes her head, as if clearing it. She then begins to summon another fireball to cast on Cthuskel from the back row. Party Order: Cronk Nyx Rufindel Atramor

Just to check, how does this affect Mages? Surely if I still have my elemental gems I (like Clerics who can still heal) can still cast elemental spells, just only doing damage according to my base power (not WP)?

"Pfffft " Nyx rolls her eyes at the shouty skeleton and starts preparing a fireball "One day, one day, I'll get my hands on a diamond, but until then it's Fire Magic on Cthuskeltornoctusdamus (now Cthu for short I think) from the back row. Cronk, are your healing powers just as effective from the back row as the front? I just wonder as then you'd take less damage if you're unlucky, and Atramor, I suggest you save your strength in case another prisoner joins the fray. That is unless you suspect Cthuskeltornoctusdamus is allergic to chickens. " Party Order: Cronk Nyx Rufindel Atramor

"Uhhhm, actually it did... but it might have.. sort of.. burned down... Anyway, moving on, Mr Cthuskeltornoctusdamus, you still haven't told us what the sphere was? That one you just hid? Just now as we came to talk to you?"

Nyx smiles sweetly at the shouty skeleton.. Hello Cthuskeltornoctusdamus. Sorry I haven't heard of you, but I'm sure you're a fearful Necromancer and all that, and that DOOM and DEATH await a lot of people, but seeing as CHAOS is waiting and you're locked in here, could you spare us a few minutes to tell us why you're here, and if you know anything about the missing guards we've heard about, and what that shiny thing was that you were just hiding is? Thank you very much.

"Thanks very... oh, you aren't listening any more, well anyway thanks dudes, for the blessing." Nyx thinks a bit about the Paladins' warning about the skeleton, but reasons it is maybe a little tricky to be walking around as a skeleton and not be a bit undead. Presumably if he were a really, really bad skeleton he would have been vanquished, rather than locked up, she muses, and so far things haven't been quite as they seem, so she decides to talk to him. "Hello Mr Skeleton, my name's Nyx. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?"

"May I ask the name of your ship? And yes, a blessing would be lovely, thank you very much, that's very nice of you. I really hope you get your...uhm.. situation straightened out soon. "

"Atramor, please don't provoke these nice gentlemen, especially as we are locked in here without our weapons, and considerably outnumbered." Having whispered urgently to Atramor, Nyx turns to the two Paladins "Kind sirs, you mentioned that you were tricked. Please may I ask who it was who tricked you? And you say it happened again, may I also ask what happened last time?"

"I believe Cronky is our most diplomatic group member, and he is very friendly, so perhaps Cronk could start off questioning his kinsman, the Orc? When we see how that goes, perhaps he could continue the questioning of the gentlemen in blue, the skeleton and then the seeming Wolfgang member? That is unless the rest of the group feel that the gentlemen in blue may respond better to Rufindel? Or would prefer a different order? Oh, let's just go with this plan for now, this cell smells awful, and goodness knows what I'm standing in."

"Those four seem to cover everyone's choices (I think Rufindel meant the blonde elf with the obvious elvish ears), and there doesn't seem to be any dissent, so I guess these are the prisoners we would like to talk to within the allotted time."

"Please Mr guard, do take good care of my pretty pink Dawnstar, and mind the pointy bits as they're razor sharp. " "Dear friends, and.. uhm.. chicken, shall we discuss with whom we'd like to speak before speaking to them? (Obviously that'll be once we can see who they are.) There might only be four prisoners in there, but I doubt it and I'm worried that the wrong word may just anger the prisoners. "

"Hello Acting Captain Patricia. Uhm, so how many of your guards have you lost so far, then? And is there a particular time of day or night that they disappear? And has anything ever been found at the scene of a disappearance?"

"Always late, always, always late..." Nyx mutters to herself as she rushes up to the waiting group. Seeing the guard, she demurely curtseys, and addresses him: "Hello, sir, we are your selected heroes from Heroica, and we are here to aid you as best we can. Nice moustache, by the way." A large grin spreads across Nyx's face as she regards her fellow questers for this adventure. "Cronk! I haven't seen you in aaaages, and you look so shiny now! So good to be questing with you again. And old pointy-ears! It's been even longer still since we last fought side by side. Ok, so not side by side technically as I was always in the back row and you were... oooh! A chicken! You must be that chicken dude! I remember you, you were the first person to walk into Heroica after me and pointy-ears here got back from Draida Bay. Still got the chicken then I see, not been tempted to eat it or anything?" Still grinning, Nyx turns back to the finely moustachioed guard to await further instructions.

Nyx is still sitting at her table quietly watching the goings-on in the hall, most especially the interactions between the various birds with a fine phoenix, seemingly near the beginning of a new life cycle. As she gazes she can feel the warmth emanating from the bird which sympathetically resonates with her own fire magic. Her reverie is broken as a moustachioed man runs into the hall and, with a slightly quivering voice, calls her name for the quest to aid Eubric's guards. Once summoned, she drains her drink from its glass, with a slight suggestion of smoke curling from each nostril, and rises slowly to cross the room. As she walks she sees Boomingham saying farewell to her fellow questers, but before she knows it she too is caught in his arms. The man is so drunk he hugs like a bear; her new barbarian strength just about allows her to breathe, but her breath somehow still seems to catch. She hears Boomingham whisper in her ear, and can smell the booze on his breath. "Larry..." is about all she can manage. Feeling a strange sadness and sense of foreboding, Nyx's attention is distracted by Barty. She hears his warning about the chicken, but doesn't fully understand, or really notice. Instead she whispers back: "Barty, look after the drunken old fool for me will you? Just until I get back.." and with that she composes herself, walking straight out the door without turning back, unsure of the thoughts racing through her mind, as Boomingham lurches, laughing and singing, towards the nearest table for fresh beer and fresh conversation.

How did I not spot this sooner??? Izzy, this is beautiful, truly beautiful. I love the fact that it's so open so that we can see all of the fantastic details, but that you've engineered it so that there is a really nicely built chandelier. I really like that chandelier. You've kept the "old castle" sense but added the Hogwarts fantasy/ luxury that is described in the books, and I agree with others that the flow of water and water itself in the giant bath works brilliantly. The tiling and plated steps down to the luxuriously large bath only add to the grandeur. Great build, Iz.

Similar things have been discussed before. There is the inherent problem of being able to spot people's normal posting styles even when disguised by the account. It wouldn't be surprising if players then tried to obscure their posting styles by trying to imitate other players, but even then some are easier to hide/ spot than others. Keen observers would note the times when posts were made and who else is/ isn't online at the same time (and the likely timezone of the poster), plus Staff members might have an advantage.

Thank you so much Siegfried! This is a fantastic opportunity for us to see this Architecture set early, and you've absolutely made the most out of it by producing this extensive and thorough review. As others have said, the comparisons with the real Sydney Opera House add a wonderful depth to the review and show (to me at least) that Adam Reed Tucker achieved his objective in creating an artistic interpretation of this beautiful landmark in LEGO form. I can see this being an ideal gift shop purchase, and appealing even to people who don't even realise they're AFOLs (yet). I have no doubt that we'll end up buying this set, and it will sit nicely alongside our other Architecture sets. It would also perhaps serve as a nice reminder that one day we really should go and see the real thing.

The Dragon has spoken - plenty of Mafia School games to go round. It's normal (but not compulsory) for Mafia School games and Advanced games to run concurrently.

Hope you have a truly wonderful birthday, lovely Fangy! Many, many happy returns of the day, and I wish you lots of LEGO and cake!

A fantastic album with some great, great songs. Incidentally the unofficial soundtrack to IMHOTEP. Another fantastic album, with songs I just can't get out of my head at all, is Arcade Fire - The Suburbs. A bunch of great songs, but Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) is just....

Thank you Dragonator! I shall wear it with pride and honour. And thanks everyone! Especially Foooooog - congrats mate, I know I'm in good company with you. See you at the bar!