Endgame

"The doll is useless on my personage. It's either the doll or my wedding ring, and I'm not taking off the ring. I'm sorry."

"Ah, no, I meant that if your father was named Dzahr, and you just inherited the business. Yes, gods rest his soul. Age... Does wait for some of us, though. I'm an example. We're looking for a lost missionary of Ennoc in Farrech, if I'm remembering things right."

"Yeah, that is pretty nice. How'd you get the promotion? Wasn't this always a Dzahr's company?" "Yeah, it is. People like that stick around for the hall's unlimited tap of booze, and that's it. Hmph."

Who knows! I think "Stabbed With Ever Color Of The Rainbow" is my new favorite special, purely because of the name, though. Also, Masson can't equip the Paper Doll. It's an accesory, and he has his Wedding Ring, which he'll refuse to take off.

"I... Thanks, Karie. That's... Really selfless of you. But I can't equip it... And I'm not taking off this ring." "I suppose this will be my last dance. I was only ressurected to do battle with you once more. Let us hope this bout is worthy of being our last!" Prepare For Hidden Boss Battle! "Hahahahaha!" Oculoid Collosus, Level 95 Dark Collective HP: 3500/3500 Immune to Weakened, Jinxed, Blindness, and Sealing! Specials: Ocular Obliterator: The Collosus fires a beam of darkness from his eye, razing the battlefield. All heroes take damage equal to their level, disregarding row and SP. Mystic Mist: An ominous fog rolls over the battlefield, obscuring the hero's vision and making their attacks clumsy. For the next round, all heroes have a 1/3 chance of being Counterstruck from any of the Collosus' limbs. Life Drain: Reduces the hero who rolled Special Damage to 1 HP and 1 Ether, and then heals himself by 200 HP. Specials cycle. Drops: 900 gold, Silver Sword Prismatic Impaler, Level 50 Light Collective HP: 3500/3500 Immune to Weakened and Sleep! Specials: Stabbed With All The Colors Of The Rainbow: In a remarkably elegant display, the hero who rolled Special Damage taking 60 damage and becoming Confused by the dazzling colors. Bright Light Blight: The Prismatic Impaler releases a burst of Light, all heroes having a 1/2 chance of becoming blind. Specials decided by die roll. Passive Specials: Prismatically Pierced: The Prismatic Impaler defies SP when dealing damage. Drops: Diamond Tempest Impaler, Level 50 Wind Collective HP: 3500/3500 Immune to Weakened and Sleep! Specials: Tornado Slice: The Tempest Impaler stirs up a wind storm with a mighty slash. All heroes take 30 damage, and a have a 1/6 chance of being Stunned. Stiff Breeze: In sudden lunge the Tempest Impaler stabs the hero who rolled Special Damage, dealing 60 damage and dequipping all of their artifacts. Specials decided by die roll. Passive Specials: Cyclone Shredder: The Tempest Impaler defies row when dealing damage. Drops: Sapphire Blazing Tentacle, Level 75 Fire Collective HP: 3500/3500 Immune to Weakness and Sealing! Specials: Fire and Brimstone: The Blazing Tentacle lights all of the heroes on fire, all heroes recieving the Burning 5 effect. Hellfire: The Blazing Tentacle inflicts the Burning 25 effect on the hero who rolled Special Damage. Specials alternate. Drops: Smoke Bomb x3, Phoenix Essence x2 Hex Tentacle, Level 75 Dark Collective HP: 3500/3500 Immune to Fragile and Sealing! Specials: Bewitching Burst: The Hex Tentacle unleashes a hypnotic wave. The hero who rolled Special Damage is Hexed, and the heroes above and below them in the battle order become Confused. Percussive Persuasion: The Hex Tentacle smashes the hero who rolled Special Damage over the head, dealing 80 damage and Confusing the hero who rolled special damage. Specials decided by die roll. Drops: Remedy x5, Grand Tonic x3 Combination Attacks: At the beginning of every round, the Collosus chooses two tentacles to combine into one attack. At the end of the round, it launches the attack, and chooses two more. THIS ROUND: Tempest + Hex (Bewitching Breeze) Tempest + Prismatic = Lightstorm: All heroes take 9 damage, disregarding row and SP, from a blinding flash of light. Tempest + Fire = Sundowner: A fiery beeze slashes through the party, three random heroes recieving the Burning 6 effect. Tempest + Hex = Bewitching Breeze: One random hero becomes Hexed. Prismatic + Fire = Burning Beam: A focused beam of light sweeps the party, all heroes having their SP reduced by 2 by the heat ray. Prismatic + Hex = Widespread Witchcraft: The widepsread Hex poisons the heroes' minds, all heroes recieving the Poison 3 effect. Fire + Hex = Trial By Fire: One random hero has a 1/3 chance of becoming Hexed, and a 2/3 chance of becoming Doomed, and a 2/3 chance of recieving the Burning 5 effect. (All seperate rolls.) The Party: Lord Lawrence Boomingham (Zepher) Level 32.2 Paladin *Immune to Darkness-, Fire-elemental; Immune to Fragile, Sleep, Weakened, and Blindness* Power: 51 Power Bonus: 5 Defense: 10 Health: 48/55 Ether: 30/30 Gold: 838 Equipment: Scupperer (WP: 14; Darkness-, Fire-elemental; inflicts Bleeding (-5) and Poisoned (-10); great sword) Round Metal Shield (SP: 7), Tome of Affluence (+10 Gold if equipped for the entirety of a battle; Immune to Fragile, Sleep, Weakened, and Blindness; Immune to Darkness-, Fire-elemental; accessory), Counterstrike Gloves, Mopag Helm (SP: 3; headwear), *Pseudo's Blessing (+4 Power; not an artifact)* Inventory: Frozen Saber (WP: 9; Light-, Ice-elemental; inflicts Stunned; great sword), Lullaby Wand (WP:6, Inflicts Sleeping Effect), Sabre (WP:6, Longsword), Darksteel Greatsword (WP: 10, Blinded Effect, Greatsword), Grand Potion, Grand Tonic, Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Health Core • Hood of Belthazar Bluehood (Power +4; Ether -6; headwear) Cloak of Blood Magick (+5 ether, attacks made with darkness magic weaken the enemy, bodywear suitable for Mages, Necromancers, Chi Monks) Scarlet Hood (Sutiable for anyone, headwear. SP: 4, Immune to Stunned.) Chains of the Pongcanis Chief (Hero Pierces SP if fighting from Front, Enemies ignore SP if hero fights from the back row, cannot be removed in battle)• Garnet, Sapphire, Amethyst • Scroll of Recklessness (Encouraged and Fragile; costs 5 Ether; 50/50 chance), Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragility, Scroll of Sealing, • Fire Brandy (Encouraged, Immune to Ice), Fireball Whiskey (Immunity to Fire One Battle OR 20 Fire Damage All Enemies), Emerald Lamp of Summoning, Hamantasch (Lucky, Blessed), 3x Mead, x2 Nostrum, Ambrosia, Smelling Salts, Hair of the Dog, Grating Stone • Bedroll *Chicken Leg (+2, Quest 28), Drumstick (+1, Quest 70) **Pseudo's Blessing (+4, Quest 40), Big Apple (+1, Quest 70) Karie Alderflask-Cour 23? years old human female Level 27 Witch Defence: 2 Health: 44/44 (7+26+8+2) Ether: 26/33 (1+24+4+2) Gold: 711 Equipment: Blazing Palm (WP: 14, Fire elemenetal, whip, succeful hits lower the target's level by one.)Catsuit (Wearer becomes nimble and has a 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER, DAMAGE, and Free Hits, suitable to women only; body wear), Ethereal Cloak (SP: +2, Max. Ether: +4, back wear), Witch's Talisman (Makes the witch's poisonous attacks cause poisoned by 10-effect instead of poisoned by 1, suitable for witches; accessory) Inventory: *Weapons: Spring Staff (WP: 12, healing someone else through this staff also heals the user by the same amount; water elemental staff), Grumpy's Staff (WP: 10, fire elemental staff), Sexy (WP: 9, disregards SP, longsword), Heirloom Dagger (WP: 3), Rusty Dagger (WP: 2, deals poisoned by 10 effect, breaks after 3 uses), Oculoid Palm (WP: 11, successful hits lowers the target's level by 1; coils around the users arm when outside of battle, whip), *Minstrel Weapons: Angelic Trumpet (WP: 5, user is blessed, instrument), Vagrant's Guitar (WP: 5, user is lucky) *Artefacts: Glittering Dress (The user's job traits are replaced with those of a Harlot: Promiscuity, Flee, and Money Maker; suitable for women only, body wear), Medal of Valour (This pendant is awarded by the Bonapartes to those who show their heroism in the battle against piracy. The wearer gains double experience in battle. Accessory), Skull Mask (SP: 1, wearer can pose as undead, headwear), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Changes user's appearance into an elf, accessory), Paper Doll *Minstrel Artefacts: Encore Plectrum (If the same battle song is sung more than one round in a row, the song's ether cost for the consecutive rounds is halved; suitable for minstrels; accessory) *Gems: Ruby (Fire) *Scrolls: Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Newtity *Battle Songs: True Love's Serenade (restores 50 health to the rest of the party per round, cost 10 ether; Battle Song) *Consumables: Potion, Grand Potion x2, Tonic, Grand Tonic x5, Remedy x5, Phoenix Essence x4, Nostrum x3, Mulled Wine, 9 Venoms, Pumpkin Bomb (causes poisoned by 1, asleep, blinded, sealed, and confused to all opponents when used), Neutralizer x2, Tasty Pretzel (1/3 chance each of granting lucky, hastened, and encouraged-effects upon consumption), 5 Herbal Infusions (Removes negative effects and causes Blessed and Transcended effects), Deadly Venom *Tools: Telescope, Bedroll, Magnifying Glass, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magic Compass *Sheep: Baaffy (Pet Sheep, whenever unleashed, puts random enemy fast asleep, unlimited use) Quest Items/Roleplay Item: Masson's Journal Entry 11, Map of Brendenton, Spider Coin (worth 1 gp), Forest Journal, Blue Syndicate Uniform, Kayla's Mask, Ulric's Letter Jeaux Elmfyre (joeshmoe554) Automaton male, Evoker Level 20.66 *Blessed* *Transcended* *Immune to Sealing, Bleeding, and Confused* Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 2 Health: 29/29 Ether: 16/20 Gold: 788 Equipment: Divine Cannonade (WP:13; gives blessed- and transcended-effects to user; Poison 7 and Cursed; Phoenix Essence; handcannon), Spellbound Gloves (Spellpower +5), Automaton Armor (SP:2, immune to bleeding and confused; suitable to automata only; bodywear) Inventory: Enchanted Bracelet (protects from sealing; accessory), Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 items per round; accessory), Professor's Kit (successful attacks on Mechanical enemies have a 1/3 of turning them to the hero’s side for the next three rounds as a tamed monsters, accessory), Crescent Shield (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield), Topaz, Diamond, Amethyst, Soma, Tonic, Grand Tonic x2, Grand Potion, Phoenix Essence x3, Remedy x2, Venom x2, Volatile Venom x4, Jinxy Juice, Smoke Bomb, Water Bomb, Bedroll, Bone x6, Experienced Turdwing (Deals the confused and poisoned by 1 effects on an opponent when used, fly familiar), Ruby, Sapphire, Ectoplasm, Oculoid Fireworks x3, Ether Core Summons: Nilrem (Paladin Armor, Lightning Armor, Demon Armor) Mortimer "Em" Mahzan (Em) *Party Leader!* Unknown age human male Warden Level 20 Power Bonus: 5 Defense: 25 (50) Health: 39/39 Gold: 116 Equipment: Blazing Bow (WP: 14, Fire-elemental)Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Vigilant (SP 12, halved damage from elemental attacks, immune to electricity, shield), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory) (Power +3, SP +3, Max. Health +3, Max. Ether +3. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year) Inventory: Consumables: Smoke bomb, Nostrum, Remedy x2, Venom, Grand Potion x5, Mead x2, Ambrosia, Silver Ore Weapons: Doppleganger (WP: 10, Retribution: The user inflicts any negative effects he or she has on the target enemy on successful hits; longsword), Aquabow (WP: 7, Water-elemental), Tools: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe Equipment: Crescent Shield (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield), Frost Helm (SP: 3, immune to ice, suitable for anyone), Eyepatch Buffs: Permanent + 3 HP, +2 Power, and +1 Ether from Crystal Sovereign. Erdathcath Madilinas, 199 years old, Level 24.33 Druid Power: 39 Health: 17/38 Ether: 26/27 Gold: 225 Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:16, Fire-elemental, permanent poisoned 7, cursed), Satchel of Awesomeness (Permanent Lucky-effect; bodywear, suitable for anyone), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; accessory, suitable to Erdathcath only) Inventory: *Qlice (WP: 8, club, permanent Poison 4), Longbow (WP:7), Quick bow (WP: 6, bow, provides hastened effect for one round each battle) Machine's Heart (The hollowed out heart of Monolith, after being defeated, halves all damage from Earth, Electrical, and Mechanical type enemies; bodywear, suitable for anyone) *Mage's muffler (protects from sealing; accessory, suitable for anyone), Helmet (+1 max. health; headwear, suitable for anyone), Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrified; accessory, suitable for anyone), Helmet (+1 max. health), *Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, *Scroll of Weakening *6 Potions, Grand Potion x2, 7 Mead, 2 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 2 Deadly Venoms, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 1 Fire Bomb, 3 Smoke Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, 2 Air Bombs, Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Saber teeth, Jinxy Juice x2, Grand Tonic x3, Love Potion, Blind Fury, Grating Stone, Mythril Shard x2, Silver Ore, 3 Elixirs, 2 Phoenix Essences, Emergency Essence x2, Agni Bomb, Sushi (restores 5 HP and 5 Ether), Neutralizer, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Equilibrium Tonic, Remedy, Silver Ore, Smoke Bomb Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts) 25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider *Hastened!* *Lucky!* Level: 31.5 Power Bonus: +0 (0art+0perm) Health: 45/45 (lvl30+cls7+7perm+0art) Defense: 5 (5art+0Shield+0perm) Ether: 0/0/30 (lvl30 Kept Effects: *Natural Respite* *Restoration**Immune to: Fragile* *1.5 stealing multiplier* *Hide of The Bleeding* Temporary Effects: Gold: 3895 Equipment: Weapon: Muckraker (WP:+13, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators, *Water, Wood, Earth*, Causes *Weakened*) Shield: Artefact 1 (1+): Heavy Armour (suit: Bararians/Knights, SP:+5, *Immune to Fragile*) Artefact 2 (10+): Hide of The Bleeding (suit: Anyone, +10HP +5ETH for every enemy user defeats) Artefact 3 (20+): Sticky Gloves (suit: Rogues/Beast Warriors, 1.5 multiplier for stealing) Artefact 4 (30+):Barbarian's Boots (suit: Barbarians/Chi Monks/Beast Warriors, *Restoration*) Artefact 5 (40+): Artefact 6 (50+): Artifacts: Simple Helmet (suit: Anyone, HP:+1), Pseudo's hood (suit: Anyone, Ignores Undead immunity), Quiver of Poisoning (suit: Rangers/Beast Warriors/Infiltrators/Winged Warriors, Causes *Poisoned by 1* using bows/crossbows), Blessed Amulet (suit: Anyone, *Immune to cursed*), Dog Statuette (Rover) (suit: Anyone, SP:+1), Counterstrike Gloves (suit: Anyone, deals damage equal to level when hit with free-hit), Sterile Gloves (Suit: Anyone, *Immune to Poisoned/Bleeding*), Bravado Boots (suit: Anyone, 1/6 chance of receiving *Lucky* at start of battle), Scarlet Hood (suit: Anyone, pwr:+4, *immune to stunned*) Weapons: Sword of Decay (WP:+8, suit: Barbaians/Knights/Mages, Causes *Decayed by X-3 rounds* X=dmg dealt/4, Effect does not stack), Greatsword (WP:+3, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators), Focal Staff (WP:+5, suit: Clerics/Mages, Ability: Roll 3 at cost of 5 ether), Gladius (WP:+15, suit: Anyone, Darkness, 1/3 chance of causing *Fragile* on succesful hits), Stalker’s Mallet (WP:+8, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Harlots, 1/2 chance of causing *sealed*), Lullaby Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *asleep*), Lovelorn Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enamored*), Scaridy Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *afraid*), Wand of Wrath (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enraged*), Shield (SP:+5, Suit: Knights/Dragoons/Regulators/Skirmishers), Old Whip (WP: 10/20 against Beasts) Consumables: Potions (25), Grand Potions (18), Tonics (0), Grand Tonics (1), Health Cores (1), Phoenix Essences (2), Remedies (9), Mead (14), Smelling Salts (15), Nostrums 13), Venoms (10), Deadly Venoms (7), Smoke Bombs (1) , Fire Bombs (1), Water Bombs (5), Lightning Bombs (14), Bones (13), Skeleton Decoys (1), Ambrosia (2), Mulled Wine (1), (1)Trial Brews (1), Ectoplasms (1), Level-Up Mushrooms (1), Grating Stones (1) Elements: Aquamarine (2), Emerald (1), Garnet (1), Opal (1), Ruby (1), Sapphire (1), Topaz (1), Diamond (2), Amethyst (2) Scrolls: Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (1), Scroll of Confusion (1), Scroll of Frailty (1), Scroll of Weakening (1) Tools: Shovels (1), Pick-axes (2), Magic Compasses (1), Water Canteens (2), Magniscopes (1) Quest/RP/Misc. items: Blue Rose (Invasion of Luosh) (1), Fifty Shades of Bley (1), Mythril Shards (1), Silver Ore "Lets go!" Punii, Level 21.66 Alchemist HP: 37/37 SP: 3 Gold: 19 Equipment: Yellow Carapace (SP: 3, Backwear, cannot be dequipped, suitable to Punii only... Unless you want to skin him alive?), Tiny Tail (WP: 7, cannot be dequipped, suitable to Punii only... Unless you want to amputate it?) Inventory: Health Core, Ether Core, Grand Tonic x2, Nostrum, Bad Breath, Bravado Brew "My first real fight..." Alice Incor, Level 20.33 Sage *Invisibility!* HP: 30/30 Ether: 22/22 SP: 2 Equipment: Leather Armor (SP: 2, Bodywear) Invisibility Cloak (Backwear: 1/6 chance of dodging rolls of Damage and Free Hits), Ivory Hammer (WP: 12), Diamond, Amethyst Inventory: Grand Potion x2, Smelling Salts x2 "This... Won't be easy." Masson Cour, 26 years old, Level 50 Paragon HP: 70/70 SP: 5 Power Bonus: 5 Gold: 50 Equipment: Darksteel Zandatsu (WP: 15, Longsword) Ivory Syndicate Cowl (SP: 5, Headwear, suitable to Masson only), Regretful Robes (+5 power, Bodywear), Quickdraw Sheathe (1/6 chance of starting every battle Hastened, Backwear), Wedding Ring (Immune to Enamored, Suitable to Masson only, cannot be dequipped, Accesory), Inventory: Spare Dagger (WP: 8), Remedy x3, Grand Potion x3, Paper Doll "BURN!" Alatreon, Level 60 Barbarian HP: 60/60 Power Bonus: +7 SP: 7 Equipment: Dragonhide (SP: 7, Power +7) Ancient Fang (Dagger, WP: 10, succesful hits remove a random enemy immunity.) Inventory: 2 gold, Health Core, Mead, Emergency Essence

"Hello too, Sarge. New armor, I see."

Rather quiet and contemplative in these past few months, I spot a familiar face after my long trial in the Aacdemy. "Althior. Back from an adventure?"

"I'll return to this soon, but first I have the other rabble to deal with." "I wouldn't be so sure. True, you have your - to use your exact words while you were enthralled - "pet boyfriend" with you, but that hardly changes a damn thing. After all, you were his last mental lifeline, but when we convinced him you were just a harlot, a seductress who wanted him for his body and money... Well, his loyalty toppled like dominoes after that. I'm surprised he can look at you without being thoroughly disgusted." "...What...? You did... what...?" "Yes, we shall." The Cheif's horrible tentacles emerge from the floor, bristling with power, ready to murder and maim... QM Note: I'll begin the battle in a couple of hours!

"I... I think. Yes, I'll fight. And, Boomingham... Would you have really... Harmed our child...? That... Was just something to snap me out of The Regret's control, yes?" "Yes, you've killed our kind before. But really... The only foe you've faced here in the Citadel have been just us, the many eyes, limbs, and mirrors of The Regret. You've been locked in perpetual battle with him for some time, now - an endless duel as you race to the top. It's exciting, isn't it?" Am I being a boring host? That'll change in a moment. The spell is nearing completion..." "Sad, but true. When we are part of the harbinger of a new world order, well, its hard not to be. I treated you like lessers once before, and I died because of it. I took that battle seriously, mind you. But sometimes the best isn't enough. So, I'm weaving a brand new spell, one that is now entering its final stages." The globs of Oculoid ink, both living and dead, begin to amass around the Chief. The huge black splotch begins to shimmer and rumble as it spreads through the porous floor, the ground shaking as the massive amount of Oculoid plasm began to take disgusting shape. Tentacles burst from the ground, tipped with deadly weapons. From the main cluster a massive head emerges, a menaving eye visible through the mass of darkness. "Not so bland anymore, huh?! I present to you, the largest amalgam of Oculoids ever created, the Oculoid Collosus! Alatreon, you really must be more careful with your leftovers. All it took was a handful of troops, and some of the corpses you leave behind, and I weas able to become EXPONENTIALLY more powerful in a snap." The massive Oculoid amalgam towered over an undaunted Alatreon. Alice and Punii, however, were visibly unnerved. "I will immolate you in my fire, and devour your kind all the same! Come, heroes, let us dispose of this horrid stain." "I realize you're a dragon, Alatreon, but we should be careful... That thing is a combination of 50 oculoids, living and dead, at least. And with that Chief at the helm, who knows what it's capable of...?" "They can *wheeze* combine?!"

Good points all around, JimB. I think this time its especially glaring though, because if the information about Baba really was anything remotely important, it's going to crop up in some form later. I think that is what I really meant by one choice just "postponing" the main storyline: the reward is 1000 gold (That's more than my second character will probably get before she hits Level 15), and the penalty is just having to wait the arc a bit more.

"Yeah, kind of... Helpers fo rhire, I guess? I hear some of the stuff we do isn't so heroic, some of our organization, but we've been pretty heroic so far, I think."

I enjoyed watching Quest 100 - as Heroica's first dive into the triple digits, it was a great read. It had a lot of really high ups, but also a few downs, and it highlighted some underlying problems in the main story. First of all: babeleth was fantastic. Everything from Vega to the marshlands to the mutant's territory to the tower was executed wonderfully. The builds were huge, detailed, well photographed - a tie with 93, in my mind. You handled the party splitting up very, very well. Pacing may have suffered, but the amount of tolerance you had for something like that happening was much higher than almost any other QM. For that, I applaud you. The overall story had a few nice twists and turns as well. I thought the stroy began to droop near the end (but the epilogue saved it to a degree, but more on that later.) The stroy definitely hit its peak as the Four revealed their identities. Individually, I thought the battles were good... But simply out of order, really. You had the Fateful Four as a good starter, which escalated into the downright brutal mutant battle, to the Buwarkheen battle, to the Golem battle. I thought the battles were well balanced this time around individually, but ultimately they didn't fit into the curve well. I know that isn't your forte, however, so I'll stop harping on you for it. I think 100 exposed some issues with the strcture of the main story, though. -I feel as if the lot of the big choices in your quests have something in common, Sandy: Both choices rarely have impact on the main story. 58 was, in terms of your hosting portfolio, 7 quests ago. 58 had a fantastic choice: Nemo or Reno. No matter what choice, the plotline would be changed irreversibly, and so would Eubric. In some of your decisive choices, hoever, the choice is either advancing the main plot... Or recives lots of loot, and just postponing it. Sometimes, Sandy, I feel as if the quest design involves some plot being lost at the very end of the quest, only to be discovered later. This was fine, but in Quest 100, the stage had already been set - let the show go on! No need to keep pushing these plot details further and further back. -The Wolfgang are kind of in a no man's land of sympathy. You have Ulric's view, who is sympathetic enough... But then it's never shown through him or his minions. We've never seen the Wolfgang do anything nice, per se. And then you have Baba, who is even admitted by the blindly loyal Walbartan to be bad news, and she's the one shown doing stuff that affects the plot. It's like the Wolfgang is trying to be dragged in two directions, and has become ineffective as a result.

QM Note: I'll move this along when more people respond.

I'm exicted to see the Wandering Monsters, to be honest. I almost want to design one, but it'd be freakishly difficult.

What you need is someone who is on a minimum of 2 hours a day and can run roundfs in less than 20 minutes. (AKA me, but I didn't sign up for the FoG. )

Especially considering that the fields have been made more difficult, I highly suspect that we're not seeing any more high GP prizes bought for a long, tlong time. Unless wandering monsters drop a million GP or something.

"I am of his ilk, if that makes you feel any better. In the times where Seerus hand crafted every Oculoid, I was created."

"And I'm definitely not your mother, Polly... I'll try my best to keep you out of hamr's way, though. Sound like a deal?"

"Hmm, I'm noticing something odd in your cadence, and more specifically, your mind. Don't forget our mind reading abilities. I'm not Seerus. I'm an old enemy of Johon and Karie - I go by my rank, the Oculoid Chief. There are others of the same rank, but I suppose I am... Definitive, in a way. They murdered me in the Eubric Forest, but I'm back. The memories of all rank-and-file eventually end up in The Regret's mind somehow. It is how he has achieved nigh omniscience. All he had to do was create an Oculoid body with no mind, inject my memories in, and just like that... Back from the dead. Neat trick, huh? I'm honored you thought I was Seerus, though. I am not an Oculoid of his caliber, but I also don't fight my wars alone." "...You're the bastard who scarred my wife."

"Idle talk, oh, no." The party realizes that the Cheif's underlings were drawing odd runes on the floor, the trails of ink glowing ominously as the remains of the Oculoids Alatreon had executed beginning to squirm towards the Chief. "We're just preparing a delightfully destructive spell for you. Do you know what an amalgam is, by any chance?"

"We... We'll talk later. But... Were you telling the truth when you said you were, uh, pregnant?" "Not break, though... But I was relatively high ranking in The Regret's legion, for a brief time. I.... I think I have the clearance high enough to release him..." Masson squirms over to the post holding down Alatreon's chains, and sets to work to releasing the chains. His fingers feebly dance across a number pad, before the chains begin to hiss and steam. Before long they detach from Alatreon's harness, the dragon throwing his head back in joyous laughter! "A hah hah! Never thought I'd see the day! Thank you, humans, thank you. Never was I expecting to see a human in this Citadel, and now you have done me an excellent service. Perhaps I will obtain my title of "The Brilliant Black Flame" once more! My days of looting are long gone, though. Perhaps I shall rejoin my family in Dastan." "I'm glad that we *wheeze* freed you, Mr. Alatreon... And Masson, too. Things are looking *cough* up, now!" "By all of the gods, I never thought I would see a living dragon, and certainly not here. What a day..." "A creep? The word you are looking for is "genius", my old adversary." A horde of oculoids began to drift into a room, led by a familiar Oculoid Chief. "It's been too long since our last encounter, heroes. To think, you went from trying to get documents on the Lifespark to marching your way up to the damn thing. You can't escape fate, though. You weaselled out of my ambush, and freed the Commander, but... I am not going to be so easily trumped. I wasn't last time."

"Would a remedy perhaps cover the charges?"

Purple sparks dance across Masson's spine as he pants out a reply. "I'm... sorry. I'm so sorry." Mortimer blasts the parasite with an arrow, the odd inky being's large tnedrils curling up before it rolled into a ball. It began to bubble and dissolve, dead.

With a mighty lurch, the paraiste tears off from Masson's back, tiny little holes of ink spread up and down his spine. Boomingham tosses the horrible creature away, grazing it midair with his sword for good measure, the man it was attached to stirring. Masson draws a sharp breath and throws off his mask quickly before vomiting. He rolls over, shuddering, quickly assembling some words. "Huhhhhh.... Hufff... What... What's... Happening..." His skin was a few shade paler, but it seemed like his color was already returning in blotches. "We... We *cough* freed him...!" "You... You... You actually did it, you actually... Thank you, heroes. Thank you so much!" With a relieved sigh and a solemn nod, Royce's phantom dissapates. "The deed is done."