Endgame

Claire walks in as Arthur and the Bookmark seal the deal. "Alrighty then! Sunlight and spring breeze, here I come!" The Bookmark grabs three books from the shelf and places them into Arthur's pack, before dragging himself in. "Ironically, the three books I chose are the ones your immersion options were based on..." The Bookmark turns to Claire, giving her a wave from Arthur's pack - the tome he resided in was submerged under Arthur's practical ocean of equipment, but his ethereal hand still managed to poke through. "Hello there, Claire! How's it going? I'm hitching a ride." Athur and Claire's Party: Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (played by Flipz), Level 32 Skirmisher, 22-year-old male Human *Immune to Fragile and all Poisons* *Only Receives One Negative Effect At A Time* [ Currently in: Six Thousand Feet Under] *Party Leader!* Power: 42 (31 + WP:11) Health: 54/54 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 30 + Class Boost: 15 + Permanent Boost: 4*) Ether: 36/36 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 30) Defense: 20 (Arm Shield: 14 + Duke's Coat-of-Arms: 5 + Unicorn Helmet: 1) Gold: 233 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham) Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding effect), Arm Shield (SP:14), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (Protects against Fragile and all Poisons, SP; 5, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators; bodywear), Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors; headwear), Zap-Tap Badge (Artefact, Accessory. Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level.), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent Inventory: Weapons: Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 broomstick, suitable to Arthur only), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Ambrosia] halberd),Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear), Dauntlet Index (Spear, WP: 8, WP dobuled against humanoids) (Unsuitable weapons: Ammit (Greatsword, WP 6, gains 5 Ether for each kill), Artifacts: Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves (Handwear, wearable by everybody. Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you.), Minoid Card Key, Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent (Unsuitable Artifacts: Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up), suitable for rogues and beast warriors) (sent to Isaac Shawe) ) Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass Scrolls: All Lent! Consumables: *Healing: Potion, Grand Potion x1, Tonic, Grand Tonic , Ether Core, Remedy x6, Elixir x4, Sushi x3 *Status: Nostrum x2, Hurricane, Smelling Salts, Mead x2, Ambrosia x2, Dragon Scale, Jinxy Juice x2, Blind Fury, Love Potion *Venoms: Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round) *Permanent Improvement: Bright Polish x2, Grating Stone, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.), *Bombs: Smoke Bomb x5, 3 Bones, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), *Currency: Scrap Metal x2, Silver Ore x2 Bookmark is hitching a ride. Claire, 23 Year Old Northern Human *Immersed!* Level 21.66 Druid Power: 36 Health: 35/35 Ether: 18/24 Gold: 702 Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:15, Fire-elemental), Satchel of Awesomeness (Permanent Lucky-effect; bodywear), Overkill Gloves, Mage's muffler (protects from sealing) Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 6 Mead, 2 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 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, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrified), , Jinxy Juice, Grand Tonic x2, Love Potion, Blind Fury, Grating Stone, Jinxy Juice, Mythril Shard, Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Silver Ore, Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory), Elixir, Emergency Essence, Qlice (WP: 8, permanent Poison 4, Club), Agni Bomb Will the party rejoin with Cliff's small party in the Devil Room?

Out of curiosity, what makes the HH a "no" for you? I was considering getting it as my next set.

Claire runs around in glee, testing weapons the old fashioned way: bashing them against a wall and seeing if they break or not. Most of the weapons are old and rusty, so many fail the test - others, just far too heavy. Two items both survived Claire's test and are actually usable: Agni Bomb (Deals 100 fire-elemental damage to all opponents when used.) Qlice: WP: 8, Club. Laced with a vicious poison, making it deal the *Poison 4* effect per hit - one for every prong. Will Claire rejoin Arthur in the Bookmark's chamber, or report to the Devil's Room? --------------------------------------------------------------- The Bookmark drags himself out of the book, and listens intently to Arthur's words. "It... Is far from mass produceable. the antidote comes from an endangered species of fungus, the Sporecelius Mycelium. One chomp on a tendril and your head will be cleared of most anything, minus the most thorough brainwashing. My immersion spell will crumble under its healing powers. I will agree to your deal, definitely. I am a reasonable... bookmark, and you appear to be a reasonabler guy. But, I must make one stipulation: You take a spore from the Sporecelius Mycelium, and plant it. I have been dormant for 2,000 years, Skirmisher, entertaining myself with only the pages I'm stuck within a excrutiatingly long chronicle of a former father and husband being driven to hrrobile extremes. I have watched as he wrote his descent into madness. I have read of too many things that have been corrupted. I want at least one good thing to come from this place, y'know? If you could do this for me, I will agree to your deal."

It's like that one smoky room from 50, but tripled.

The party chooses to split up for the last leg of this basement ordeal. Claire's Party Claire, 23 Year Old Northern Human *Immersed!* Level 21.66 Druid Power: 36 Health: 35/35 Ether: 18/24 Gold: 702 Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:15, Fire-elemental), Satchel of Awesomeness (Permanent Lucky-effect; bodywear), Overkill Gloves, Mage's muffler (protects from sealing) Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 6 Mead, 2 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 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, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrified), , Jinxy Juice, Grand Tonic x2, Love Potion, Blind Fury, Grating Stone, Jinxy Juice, Mythril Shard, Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Silver Ore, Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory), Elixir, Emergency Essence Claire walks through the Grand Dauntlet's room, passing briefly through the Bookmark's chamber. As her mind drifts back to the wonderful personality the Bookmark granted here, Claire places a Southwest Mirror on the pedestal. She then heads West, finding herself in the eerie Suicide Room. It was now time to do what every viking woman dreamed of: Browse weapons. Claire practically swooned at the thought. Cliff and the Minoid's Party: Cliff, 42 Year Old Ogre *Immersed!* Level: 14.5 Power: 23 (14 + 8 + permanent boost of 1) SP: 0 Health: 22/22 Ether: 1/18 Gold: 271 Equipment: Knotted Broom (WP: 6), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear), Lens of Speed Reading (Accessory, Allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action. Suitable for scroll users.), Inventory: Shovel, Pickaxe, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Mead, Remedy x3, Potion x2, Bone x2, Grand Potion, Bunch of Cherries (10/10 cherries that each restore 1 ether when eaten), Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, Ice Bomb, Root beer (Restores 10 health, or can be used as a bomb against Undead enemies for 20 damage (Does not affect non-Undead enemies)), Ambrosia, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Luck (Grants target the Lucky-effect for one battle. Costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Weakening, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Smoke Bomb, Plague Venom, Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics), Tricorne (suitable for anyone, SP: 3, headwear), Grand Tonic x2, Pugilist's Gloves (+2 power/immune to Weakened), Scarf of Misfortune (Accessory, Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round), Splinter Broom (WP: 8, defies SP), Opal, Amethyst, Diamond, Nostrum "QUERY?" Minoid, Level 20 Drilling Automaton HP: 32/32 Power: 33 SP: 2 Equipment: Minoid Drill Arm (WP: 13), Iron Shell (SP: 2), Scanning Eye (Allows the Minoid to analyze most foes before battle. If in battle, it can spend a turn to analyze the fight) Inventory: Remedy x2, Grand Potion, Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [Phoenix Essence]), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle) Cliff an the Minoid head back to the Devil's Room. Quickly they place the Southwest Mirror (2) onto the pedestal. This triggers a minor reaction from the chained up Devils. "Weren't there... 4 of you, before...?" "I... I think so, yeah... Did anyone of you die down here? Maybe you'll be joining us as Devils! It'll be great. We have such a benevolent Master, really. Without him, all of us would be long gone! But now, here we are, living for centuries..." It didn't seem to occur to the brainwashed woman that was she a experiment being held prisoner for thousands of years. How will the party respond? Arthur's Party: Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (played by Flipz), Level 32 Skirmisher, 22-year-old male Human *Immune to Fragile and all Poisons* *Only Receives One Negative Effect At A Time* [ Currently in: Six Thousand Feet Under] *Party Leader!* Power: 42 (31 + WP:11) Health: 54/54 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 30 + Class Boost: 15 + Permanent Boost: 4*) Ether: 36/36 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 30) Defense: 20 (Arm Shield: 14 + Duke's Coat-of-Arms: 5 + Unicorn Helmet: 1) Gold: 233 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham) Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding effect), Arm Shield (SP:14), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (Protects against Fragile and all Poisons, SP; 5, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators; bodywear), Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors; headwear), Zap-Tap Badge (Artefact, Accessory. Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level.), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent Inventory: Weapons: Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 broomstick, suitable to Arthur only), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Ambrosia] halberd),Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear), Dauntlet Index (Spear, WP: 8, WP dobuled against humanoids) (Unsuitable weapons: Ammit (Greatsword, WP 6, gains 5 Ether for each kill), Artifacts: Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves (Handwear, wearable by everybody. Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you.), Minoid Card Key, Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent (Unsuitable Artifacts: Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up), suitable for rogues and beast warriors) (sent to Isaac Shawe) ) Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass Scrolls: All Lent! Consumables: *Healing: Potion, Grand Potion x1, Tonic, Grand Tonic , Ether Core, Remedy x6, Elixir x4, Sushi x3 *Status: Nostrum x2, Hurricane, Smelling Salts, Mead x2, Ambrosia x2, Dragon Scale, Jinxy Juice x2, Blind Fury, Love Potion *Venoms: Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round) *Permanent Improvement: Bright Polish x2, Grating Stone, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.), *Bombs: Smoke Bomb x5, 3 Bones, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), *Currency: Scrap Metal x2, Silver Ore x2 Arthur goes on a mirror spree, placing the Double Mirror on the pedestal in the Locked Door room, the Southeast Mirror on the pedestal in the Suicide Room, and the Northeast Mirror on the pedestal in the Weapon Display room. His travels end up in the Bookmark's chamber. He places down the Northwest Mirror. Now, what "personal errand" did Arthur wish to sort out?

"STATEMENT: You haven't lost your sense of self to the immersion yet. I fear Erdathcath has forgot that she was once Erdathcath." Arthur brushes off the rock dust from the inscription, and reads it aloud: The sun casts a bright beam, but with no one to behold it. Weigh down all six pedestals, and the eye of the observer will at last open. Light will have to find its own path, riccocheting endlessly through these dark halls... Only when light pierces the eye shall the way forward open. With the inscription still brewing in his mind, Arthur picks up the final mirror. Southwest Mirror 2 The Party: Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (played by Flipz), Level 32 Skirmisher, 22-year-old male Human *Immune to Fragile and all Poisons* *Only Receives One Negative Effect At A Time* [ Currently in: Six Thousand Feet Under] *Party Leader!* Power: 42 (31 + WP:11) Health: 54/54 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 30 + Class Boost: 15 + Permanent Boost: 4*) Ether: 36/36 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 30) Defense: 20 (Arm Shield: 14 + Duke's Coat-of-Arms: 5 + Unicorn Helmet: 1) Gold: 233 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham) Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding effect), Arm Shield (SP:14), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (Protects against Fragile and all Poisons, SP; 5, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators; bodywear), Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors; headwear), Zap-Tap Badge (Artefact, Accessory. Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level.), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent Inventory: Weapons: Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 broomstick, suitable to Arthur only), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Ambrosia] halberd),Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear), Dauntlet Index (Spear, WP: 8, WP dobuled against humanoids) (Unsuitable weapons: Ammit (Greatsword, WP 6, gains 5 Ether for each kill), Artifacts: Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves (Handwear, wearable by everybody. Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you.), Minoid Card Key, Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent (Unsuitable Artifacts: Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up), suitable for rogues and beast warriors) (sent to Isaac Shawe) ) Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass Scrolls: All Lent! Consumables: *Healing: Potion, Grand Potion x1, Tonic, Grand Tonic , Ether Core, Remedy x6, Elixir x4, Sushi x3 *Status: Nostrum x2, Hurricane, Smelling Salts, Mead x2, Ambrosia x2, Dragon Scale, Jinxy Juice x2, Blind Fury, Love Potion *Venoms: Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round) *Permanent Improvement: Bright Polish x2, Grating Stone, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.), *Bombs: Smoke Bomb x5, 3 Bones, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), *Currency: Scrap Metal x2, Silver Ore x2 Claire, 23 Year Old Northern Human *Immersed!* Level 21.66 Druid Power: 36 Health: 35/35 Ether: 18/24 Gold: 702 Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:15, Fire-elemental), Satchel of Awesomeness (Permanent Lucky-effect; bodywear), Overkill Gloves, Mage's muffler (protects from sealing) Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 6 Mead, 2 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 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, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrified), , Jinxy Juice, Grand Tonic x2, Love Potion, Blind Fury, Grating Stone, Jinxy Juice, Mythril Shard, Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Silver Ore, Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory), Elixir, Emergency Essence Cliff, 42 Year Old Ogre *Immersed!* Level: 14.5 Power: 23 (14 + 8 + permanent boost of 1) SP: 0 Health: 22/22 Ether: 1/18 Gold: 271 Equipment: Knotted Broom (WP: 6), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear), Lens of Speed Reading (Accessory, Allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action. Suitable for scroll users.), Inventory: Shovel, Pickaxe, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Mead, Remedy x3, Potion x2, Bone x2, Grand Potion, Bunch of Cherries (10/10 cherries that each restore 1 ether when eaten), Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, Ice Bomb, Root beer (Restores 10 health, or can be used as a bomb against Undead enemies for 20 damage (Does not affect non-Undead enemies)), Ambrosia, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Luck (Grants target the Lucky-effect for one battle. Costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Weakening, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Smoke Bomb, Plague Venom, Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics), Tricorne (suitable for anyone, SP: 3, headwear), Grand Tonic x2, Pugilist's Gloves (+2 power/immune to Weakened), Scarf of Misfortune (Accessory, Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round), Splinter Broom (WP: 8, defies SP), Opal, Amethyst, Diamond, Nostrum "QUERY?" Minoid, Level 20 Drilling Automaton HP: 32/32 Power: 33 SP: 2 Equipment: Minoid Drill Arm (WP: 13), Iron Shell (SP: 2), Scanning Eye (Allows the Minoid to analyze most foes before battle. If in battle, it can spend a turn to analyze the fight) Inventory: Remedy x2, Grand Potion, Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [Phoenix Essence]), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle) Southeast Mirror Double Mirror: Faces Northwest/Southeast. Southwest Mirror Northeast Mirror Northwest Mirror Southwest Mirror 2 The Minoid chirps and whirrs. "QUERY: A map? I will have to "see what I can do", using a bit of human colloquial." The Minoid soon sets to work, making a fairly rudimentary map. "OBSERVATION: My artistic abilities are somewhat lacking, but this map is accurate. -Red lines between rooms represent unblocked passageways. -Blue lines between rooms represent locked rooms. -Black squares represent pedestals. -Small, darker blue square represents the eye we need to "blind". Currently closed. -Yellow square represents the sun symbol in the Devil Room, currently deactivated. -The lines on the right are our mirrors: the sides highlighted in red are the sides of the mirrors that are reflective. They are in fixed directions due to their designs. QUERY: Shall we inspect the sun symbol in the Devil Room once more?"

If any of you own the Vermin Vaporizer, use the Green Squad Robot as Terabyte's henchman. Fits chornologically, thematically, and in terms of color scheme: Terabyte hacks the robot of Solomon's former friend and uses it against him. Plus, it's green!

It was Masson, although I may switch to Octavyn soon. Allow me to formally welcome you to Hell.

"It'a a distinct possibility, yes. It'd tae the rest of my ammunition, but I may be able to manage." The party trudges South one last time, entering the final unexplored room of the basement. A locked door lays in front of them. To the right of the door, an oddd carving of an eye, slammed shut. to the left, an inscription... Like all of the other rooms, a mirror and a pedestal occupies the room. There were three exits: Northwards, to wear they were, Southwards, to the weapons room, and eastwards, to Bookmark's study. What will the party do?

"Why not just send him back? Am I missing something?" "Whenever you say that, you mean the exact opposite. Something is tearing you up, and I know it."

"Empty? Bah. Perhaps we should go check out that dark room? ...Also, are you feeling.. better, Karie? You seemed pretty shaken up after hearing that voice..."

"STATEMENT: Negatory. It would take a dozen Minoids to blast even one of these rooms, and I highly doubt that I could do even a corridor alone. That, and I do not have an infinite supply of explosives. I only have as uch as the arm can hold, after all." Whispering around a robot built for analysis was probably a poor idea. "QUERY: Although you seem to be correct about The Regrets sociopathy, you must be joking about turning evil, Erdathcath? Did anyone else hear her? Have you been having such aspirations due to your immersion, Grimwald?" They were not potions, but in reality, venoms. The purple ones seemed to be acidic to the point where they would melt the party's weapons, but one of them appeared useful... Crumbling Venom: Enemies hit with this begin to Crumble, losing 1 SP and a 3 health per round.

The Immersion seemed to be taking its grip rather quickly, Erdathcath quickly slipping into her new persona more and more. The Minoid figets with some of the knives, seemingly analyzing them. "STATEMENT: You are acting much differently, Erdathcath. I can only assume it is the side effects of your "immersion". As I have stated previously: Humans should not be reprogrammed. Your theory would be plausible enough... but upon further examination, the black substance on the weapons is blood as well. It shares the same consistency and viscosity." Arthur picks up the mirror. Northwest Mirror He then moves on to the journal... What he expected was demented, but not as bad as the text written on the bundle of pages. A chill runs down Arthur's spine as he reads the page aloud, the party staring into space somberly as they absorb the words. "STATEMENT: ...This is a suicide chamber. This is where The Regret tried to kill himself, over and over, before he achieved what he calls "clarity." OBSERVATION: There appears to be another room between this one and the weapons display room. It seems like the basement is arranged in a 2 by 3 grid."

QM Note: I forgot to add the Minoid's monologue when I first posted that last update! Refresh if you want to see it.

"STATEMENT: From what I have gathered, Dauntlets appear to be precursors to the oculoids, made to help operate Nevermore while The Regret still lived in this place. The Oculoids seem to have been made sometime afterwards. ...CAUTIOUS OBSERVATION: The Daunlets remind me of myself. Emotionless, made for servitude, and programmed and reprogrammed. I am not all that different from them. STATEMENT: At the beginning of this day, I would've said that I was as mindless as them. Had The Regret inserted that card key, I would currently be serving him, not you. However, I will escape the Dauntlet's shadow. I will become my own organism. I cannot create a probability or a percentage for this outcome, but I will... "determine" myself, humans say, correct?... To becoming it." Sifting through the rubble, careful not to disturb the horrified Grand Dauntlet, Arthur pulls out yet another mirror. Northeast Mirror The Party: Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (played by Flipz), Level 32 Skirmisher, 22-year-old male Human *Immune to Fragile and all Poisons* *Only Receives One Negative Effect At A Time* [ Currently in: Six Thousand Feet Under] *Party Leader!* Power: 42 (31 + WP:11) Health: 54/54 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 30 + Class Boost: 15 + Permanent Boost: 4*) Ether: 36/36 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 30) Defense: 20 (Arm Shield: 14 + Duke's Coat-of-Arms: 5 + Unicorn Helmet: 1) Gold: 233 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham) Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding effect), Arm Shield (SP:14), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (Protects against Fragile and all Poisons, SP; 5, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators; bodywear), Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors; headwear), Zap-Tap Badge (Artefact, Accessory. Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level.), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent Inventory: Weapons: Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 broomstick, suitable to Arthur only), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Ambrosia] halberd),Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear), Dauntlet Index (Spear, WP: 8, WP dobuled against humanoids) (Unsuitable weapons: Ammit (Greatsword, WP 6, gains 5 Ether for each kill), Artifacts: Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves (Handwear, wearable by everybody. Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you.), Minoid Card Key, Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent (Unsuitable Artifacts: Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up), suitable for rogues and beast warriors) (sent to Isaac Shawe) ) Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass Scrolls: All Lent! Consumables: *Healing: Potion, Grand Potion x1, Tonic, Grand Tonic , Ether Core, Remedy x6, Elixir x4, Sushi x3 *Status: Nostrum x2, Hurricane, Smelling Salts, Mead x2, Ambrosia x2, Dragon Scale, Jinxy Juice x2, Blind Fury, Love Potion *Venoms: Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), *Permanent Improvement: Bright Polish x2, Grating Stone, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.), *Bombs: Smoke Bomb x5, 3 Bones, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), *Currency: Scrap Metal x2, Silver Ore x2 Claire, 23 Year Old Northern Human *Immersed!* Level 21.66 Druid Power: 36 Health: 35/35 Ether: 18/24 Gold: 702 Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:15, Fire-elemental), Satchel of Awesomeness (Permanent Lucky-effect; bodywear), Overkill Gloves, Mage's muffler (protects from sealing) Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 6 Mead, 2 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 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, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrified), , Jinxy Juice, Grand Tonic x2, Love Potion, Blind Fury, Grating Stone, Jinxy Juice, Mythril Shard, Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Silver Ore, Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory), Elixir, Emergency Essence Cliff, 42 Year Old Ogre *Immersed!* Level: 14.5 Power: 23 (14 + 8 + permanent boost of 1) SP: 0 Health: 22/22 Ether: 1/18 Gold: 271 Equipment: Knotted Broom (WP: 6), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear), Lens of Speed Reading (Accessory, Allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action. Suitable for scroll users.), Inventory: Shovel, Pickaxe, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Mead, Remedy x3, Potion x2, Bone x2, Grand Potion, Bunch of Cherries (10/10 cherries that each restore 1 ether when eaten), Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, Ice Bomb, Root beer (Restores 10 health, or can be used as a bomb against Undead enemies for 20 damage (Does not affect non-Undead enemies)), Ambrosia, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Luck (Grants target the Lucky-effect for one battle. Costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Weakening, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Smoke Bomb, Plague Venom, Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics), Tricorne (suitable for anyone, SP: 3, headwear), Grand Tonic x2, Pugilist's Gloves (+2 power/immune to Weakened), Scarf of Misfortune (Accessory, Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round), Splinter Broom (WP: 8, defies SP), Opal, Amethyst, Diamond, Nostrum "QUERY?" Minoid, Level 20 Drilling Automaton HP: 32/32 Power: 33 SP: 2 Equipment: Minoid Drill Arm (WP: 13), Iron Shell (SP: 2), Scanning Eye (Allows the Minoid to analyze most foes before battle. If in battle, it can spend a turn to analyze the fight) Inventory: Remedy x2, Grand Potion, Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [Phoenix Essence]), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle) Southeast Mirror Double Mirror: Faces Northwest/Southeast. Southwest Mirror Northeast Mirror The party, the password obtained and armred with knowledge from the bookmark, forge on. They walk through the door to the west, traversing a brief passage before finding themselves in the next freakish chamber in this sick set of rooms. The room carried a morbid aura, the air seeming thicker and evne more sickly here. A great sorrow once occured here, again and again, but to whom did it belong to? Murderous weapons line the wall, each more deadly than the last - each are coated in an odd splatter of ink and blood, all of them thoroughly used - once again, on who, though? The room even had a guillotine, that had rusted over over the ages. Poisons are stacked in the corner, and ash coats one of the tables, presumably from fire bombs. A journal page sits near the guillotine, its edge sliced off by the executioner's weapon. There was only one other exit in this room, leading South. The room had features typical of the basement, as well: A mirror and another pedestal.

Personally, I prefer this Mission HQ to the Alien Conquest one, both of which I currently own. It has a better cab, better villain, and I think the foldout feature is more entertaining than flipping open the roof of the back side. (the Alien Conquest set was still amazing, however.)

And thus, the msyerious password turns out to be a silly play on words.

The Grand Dauntlet retracts into the rubble a bit, clearly afraid. 'Like.. l-like the password to the library door, sire! It's "Forevermore"! See! I'm not obsolete! I m-may have b-been replaced by Oculoids, but I'm n-not obsolete yet!"

I follow to the Student's Lounge.

The Grand Dauntlet begins to pick his words carefully. "Before I deliver my report, s-sire... You almost always had associates with you before you left nevermore. Those new-fangled Oculoid things... You always told me never to betray information, so can I request that you let your Oculoid assistants speak up before I divulge anything, sire?" "STATEMENT: Some other epople are going to have to be Oculoids, Arthur. He'll be able to tell that yor voice is coming from the same direction, and he'll see through our ruse."

The Grand Dauntlet, oblivious to Arthur's deception, begins to sputter. "I s-still know what goes on in this base, Sire, I swear it! Command, and I will do it to the best of my abilities! I know what every Dauntlet is up to, every password, the status of all of your belongings! My m-memory is impeccble, sire, really!"

"STATEMENT: I do not approve of these transformations. Automatons are meant to be reprogrammed, not human beings." The party heads North, and find themselves in a room full of rubble. The chamber was musty and damp, water from the cavern dripping in. Rocks are scattered across the room, burying two things: a mirror, and a pedestal. Both lie under heaps of rock, bits and pieces of them barely poking through the rubble. Dust from various collapses hangs in the air like some grayish veil, forcing the heroes into a slight coughing fit. That coughing fit causes something to stir within the rubble. Fingers poke through the rocks daintily, a large dauntlet dragging itself out of the rock. It looks at the party with a glazed eye. "S-sire... Is that... you? It's me, the Grand Dauntlet. I'm afraid I'm... slipping. I could hear, you, but I can't see you... I got caught under a rock slide, ages ago, and now, well... I've been fading. I've gone blind, and now I can't even hear different tones... Centuries under a rockslide does that to you... You never gave control of the Dauntlets to me when you abandoned this place, so they continue to toil at menial tasks while I rot here... You are sire, correct? Right...? You wouldn't let anyone else into Nevermore, would you, Sire? Sire? Sire, I assure you, I may be blind... and mostly deaf... But I am not obsolete! I swear, sire! I r-remember everything about this place! Today's passwords and everything, really! I... am not obsolete! Not yet!" "OBSERVATION: He cannot hear tones, and cannot differentiate voices. STATEMENT: That also means we can possibly impersonate his "Sire.""