Palathadric

"I've got you covered." I repeat.

"I'm sure your presence would be enough to satisfy him, considering that he has, no doubt, spent many birthdays without his brother present. I'm sure we could think of something else though...especially if we accept the 200 gold from our 'friend' here."

Arriving at the designated meeting spot in a location far, far away, the heroes are only met by the sight of...well...a wall...and a closed window in it too. It seemed their employer was running a little late. Perhaps now would be a good time to get to know each other. Party: Quintessa of Heartland (Sandy) 67 years old human female Barbarian Level 1 *Immune to fragile* Power: 4 Defense: 5 Health: 8/8 Gold: 60 Equipment: Rolling Pin (WP:3, club), Heavy Armour (SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians, knights, dragoons, skirmishers, regulators and vindicators; bodywear.) Inventory: Consumables:5x Potion, 3x Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Mead, Smelling Salts, Nostrum, 2x Smoke Bomb Tools:: Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Compass Kheyli (K-Nut) 327 years old female Fairy Level 5 Barbarian Power: 10 Health: 12/12 Gold: 350 Equipment: Gelum Blade (WP:5, Ice-elemental, ignores SP of foes weak to Ice, cannot be disimbued; greatsword), Cultist Cap (regular attacks do damage to Undead; headwear, suitable to anyone) Inventory: Weapons: Rat Club (WP:5, deals Afraid to Vermin-type enemies and Poisoned-by-1 to enemies of all types; club), Electrum Blade (WP:5, Lightning-elemental, ignores SP of foes weak to Lightning, cannot be disimbued; greatsword), Barrager (WP:3 Greatsword) Consumables: 3x Potion, Mead, Poison Bomb, Aeolus Bomb (Deals 100 wind-elemental damage to all opponents when used.) Cree (Pedguin) 27 year old Mopag Level 1 Knight Power: 4 Defense: 2 Health: 10/10 Gold: 0 Equipment: Blade (WP: 3, greatsword) Shield of Defending (SP: 2) Inventory: Weapons: Artifacts: Consumables: Potion, Holy Bomb Tools: Bedroll Keliim "Demon sworn" (Mencot) 37 year old male Human Level 12 Barbarian Power: 17 Health: 19/19 SP: 2 (4 against Free Hits) Gold: 7 Equipment: Dwarven Orichalcum one handed battleaxe (WP: 5, Axe), Heroic Helm (SP:2, Helm's SP doubles on free hits, Headwear) Inventory: Weapons and Shields: Order Imperial Longsword (WP: 5), Scarab Shield: (SP: 3, Bearer takes half damage from vermin) Artifacts: Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Earth, Headwear), Wolfish Fedora (+5 WP for each standing hero with Wolfgang reputation and Wolfgang NPC in the party, headwear, suitable for heroes with Wolfgang reputation), Королева's Blessing (When equipped the player gains the ability to Animal Speak to Spiders only, and all spiders are Enamored with him for the first three rounds of battle, accessory) Consumables: 9x Potion, 2x Grand Potion, 3x Mead, Smelling Salts, 2x Smoke Bomb, Venom, Dirt Bomb, 5x Holy Bombs, Double Rainbow (Gives the user the encouraged, lucky, poisoned by 1, and confused effects), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently), 2x Obsidian Shard (may be affixed to a blunt weapon to give the Bleeding 2 effect for one battle), 2x Charion beetle horn. Tools: Shovel QM Note: Here we go! Check over stats to make sure they're good. I had to do a lot of formatting on some of them. Mencot, you hadn't updated your gold. Also, I have no idea what the Charion Beetle Horns are or do or where they came from. Pedguin, please post a link to your stats in your signature. Also, I don't know how to get your picture to appear in the topic.

"Thing is, Gabriel is not rescuing a life, his brother had his arm chopped off by a demon or something of the like. As heroes of heroica, we have vowed to perform acts of heroism, which means sometimes performing what is for the greater good than merely what we are contracted to do. Some people seem to forget this fact very quickly. Now, I think most people would agree that saving a life is of greater importance than healing someone's arm, but we do not know you and we have no proof that you need this leaf for the purpose you stated. Alchemists are an odd lot, I should know. I helped one make a sword, which was supposed to bring health and life, but as soon as we had given him the ingredients, he used it to make an army. I am not interested in your money. No true hero should be, but in this case, though I will argue your case before our employer, I would have to side with him. After all some of us know his brother's family, so we know the plight he's going through is true." Turning to Gabriel, "Gabriel, I support your decision, whatever it is, but it's hard to have any respect for someone who shrugs off the chance to save a life as if it meant nothing to him. You say you have emotions restored, then stop to think about the life that is wasting away. If you truly think your brother's situation is worth more than this life, then I will stand by you, but if you are so quick to shoot down someone's request, like you did, it becomes very difficult to support you with a clean conscience. "I know it's hardly a good substitute, but I have seen a hero who had a mechanical arm built for him, which I'm sure your brother would appreciate more than no arm..."

Quest should be up tomorrow or the day after. Experienced a computer crash today, but I have a backup, and it seems to be running alright. PS: Make any marketplace buys you need and don't forget to update your stats page.

I look to Gabriel. "We are here for you. Are you willing to part with your brother's birthday present to save the life of another?"

I repeat my attack knowing that Adair couldn't hurt me even if I can't hurt him either.

"I am sorry, madam, but in my country, one would not sell such drinks to someone of my age, regardless of whether I wear armour or not." I continue slashing at Hanged Man Adair from the Front Row.

I hand said items to Lind. "Lucky, perhaps, but dangerous. A man with no emotions can do anything in any way for anybody, and it wouldn't make a difference to him. That is why automatons are so dangerous to the future of Eubric, because they have just as little qualms killing a baby as they would killing a man or a beast. It's easier for them to burn a city down with all of its inhabitants than to search out a few individual targets. Conscience and emotions serve as a balance to the evil side of human nature, when they are not present..." Turning to Gabriel, "I have to wonder, if you felt no emotions, why did you do what you did?"

"You only got your emotions back? Where were they at the time I have to wonder? Did you lose them and get them back by choice? Intriguing to say the least." "I suppose I should. Calamity, you should probably hold onto these gems and scrolls until the end of the quest should you need them. You may as well also hold onto this Ethereal Cloak for now, if you are not opposed to wearing it. If any of the rest of you want to borrow something of mine, feel free...for now." I proceed to hand Calamity one of each of my gems and one of each of my scrolls and the Ethereal Cloak. I equip the Order Imperial Prophet's Armour instead of the Darksteel Armour.

Blowing a drop of sweat away from my eye, I repeat.

"I don't know if it's your plan, but if you want to make some good coin from this blacksmith work, you should make your shop a little easier to locate and get to. People in Eubric, heroica especially would clamor for this kind of work."

"I can take one of the hits of their hits against my new shield. That will help us to concentrate our efforts more."

I attack Hanged Man Adair from the Front Row. "Hey, Ezeran, you should attack one of these prisoners and take a hit from another, you may find yourself strengthened from doing so. In any case, they can't harm you."

"You are a fine Blacksmith, I can say that much. I would very much like to take up your offer. Hmm...let me see, I'll pay 150 gold for you to Sharpen the Edges of my Dual Staff and I'll pay 162 gold for you to Blunt the Pommel of my Splinter Broom. That should be 312 gold in total."

"We are heroes of Heroica, captain, determined to do good and help out where we can. We have been pursuing this Triffid for some time and it has proven to be a peskier pest than I could have imagined. We have severely weakened it, though, so I believe there should be little left to do to complete the work."

"Immortalis? And who might that be the great grandpappy of the Death Progg or something? "I'm ready to go when the rest of you are," I say, sighing as Calamity and Lind exchange another spat.

"My fault?!? The Black Knight was supposed to take a hit, something he ignored for the chance to attack. I'm tired of leading parties that cannot obey orders. I cannot babysit everyone's moves and make sure they're doing exactly as I tell them. If I tell someone something, I expect them to follow the advice for the sake of the party, others seem to think otherwise. If you want to lead, then by all means do so. Let's see how you do with keeping stubborn headstrong fellows in line!" I hand the Ectoplasm to Calamity and then turn to Jinnipher. "If you want, then take your pick of the loot. You can even divide it however you feel is fair considering the loss you said. Trust me, there can be worse things that getting knocked out in battle. A friend of mine was knocked out and then when he recovered discovered that his party had someone sold his soul, along with theirs, to the devil while he was in an unconscious state. Bloody business!"

Oh...I don't know, I thought so long as they're in the same battle order it was fine. Don't know if I've ever done a trade like this before though. If it's all the same to you, I could have just not given Jinnipher the bomb and thrown it that round and then thrown another one this round, but thought it would be more fun to share the load...but whatever...I guess JimB is ultimately the one who is affected.

Jinnipher was before Pretzel in the battle order?

"Hmm...I don't think I would be allowed to buy a Nostrum if I wanted to...unfortunately, but perhaps I could do some work on my sword and shield." Going to the marketplace, I purchase a Longsword and Shield for 100 gold and then sell my old ones for 25 gold, I then purchase 2 Potions for 10 gold, leaving me with 15 gold.

I throw a Fire Bomb. "Black Knight, throw you bomb already!"

"Hmm...I cannot accept the gold, because that would be like payment for an act of heroism...but you are giving it for a worthy cause that we can destroy this menace, so I will accept the gold. I thank you for your kindness, my lady." I plant a kiss on Drucilla's hand.