Endgame

"These eyes aren't what they used to be..." I mumur. I've adjusted my counts a bit. Do they match up with everyone's counts?

Octavyn murmurs, tapping his foot. "It'd explain the lack of general entrance and conventional door. Demons usually don't have to abide by such corporeal rules..." Octavyn taps his foot in thought as the others continue their search. Karie heads over to the chemical rack, reading the notes pinned up to it... Love Potion x2: A dangerous chemical used to create sudden feelings of romance. Can be used on an enemy to make them Enamored with the user for 3 rounds. Blind Fury x2: A dangerous chemical used to stir sudden feelings of absolute rage and hatred. Can be used on an enemy to make them Blind and Enraged for 3 rounds. "H-heh... Did you use that pink one on Masson, Karie?" Karie could tell what Octavyn was attempting: easing her worries by drifting her thoughts to more pleasant ones. Still, it was a half-hearted attempt at best... That, or perhpas he just couldn't resist a joke. Likely a combination. Octabvyn goes over to Skrall. "Just standard syringes, probably to inject that emotion-altering stuff Karie found."

"May I see that picture for a second?" I borrow the painting, carefully dabbing on colored blotches of ink on it. I show the rest of the party the marked-up drawing. Color - Item - Quantity (These do not include items under Items That Appear Unique - partnehteses inidicates totals with unique items included.) -Blue - Pickaxe - 8 Red - Shovel - 15 Light Blue - Black Shovel - 4 -Total Shovels: 19 (20) -Orange - Crowbar - 10 -Purple - Wrench - 9+2=11 for one unarked ones -Brown - Magnifying Glasses - 5 (7 if including unique) -Green - Hammer - 5+5=10 because of five unmarked ones -Dark Magenta - Broom - 2+2=4 because of two hidden ones I failed to mark Items That Appear Unique (Glowing White - possible clues or indicators?) -Purple Crystal Magnifying Glass -Silver Magnifying Glass -Green Shovel -Odd Silver Pipe Thing Odd Stuff: Green/Purple dot: Wasn't sure if hammer or black shovel, but going with shovel, because it makes my count agree with the Monk's. "Thoughts, everybody?"

"...Ehat? Who's doing all this, then? You know...?" Skrall picks up the sharp axe, a fine layer of white poweder and red stains running across the top of the blade: It seemed to be made for clean slices, but was too small to be an effective weapon. Perhaps this axe was meant to perform surgical amputations? "There is still plenty more to be investigated in this room... Perhaps those chemicals would be a good next step..."

Round Four of the Riot Battle! >Sarge VS Siri (back): Miss Hit (17+18=35x2=70/2=35x2=70-3=67 damage) >Sarge VS Jetorix (back): Hit Hit (17+18=35x2=70/2=35x2=70-5=65 damage, Counterstriking!) >Erdathcath VS Sister Torch (back): Damage Roots Of Life (32 damage healed to all allies) >Erdathcath VS Sister Pitchfork (back): Special Damage Damage (19/2=10 damage) >Em VS Masked Mage (back): Miss >Mr. M Opoly VS Sarge: 18/2=9 damage! Sarge slashes at Jetorix again, doing minimal damage. Still, it is enough to provke his defensive position, the racist warlord getting into a combat ready stance: he seemed ready to tear the heroes to shreds. The roots of life come unprovoked, the mob doing damage after they subside back into the ground. The Battle Rages On! "C'mon, try and hit me!" Jetorix, Level 48 Humanoid *Badly Poisoned!* *Counterstriking!* HP: 879/999 SP: 5 Specials: Arc Slash: In a wide swing, all heroes take 28 damage from Jetorix. Bonebreaker: Jetorix crushes the hero who rolled Special Damage with his axe, dropping their level, max HP, and max Ether by 4 each for the rest of the battle. Mob Stampede: The hero who rolled Special Damage is assaulted by the combined strength of the mob, taking damage to all of their levels added together divided by 2. Specials decided by die roll. Passive Specials: Defensive Postion: Jetorix has a 1/6 chanc eof Countersriking at the end of every round he is succesfully hit. Drops: Jinxy Juice, Frost Helmet, 40 gold. "Lovely ring, darling, but I'm afraid its worn off. Now, where would you like to be stabbed: forehead or chest?" Siri, Level 40 Humanoid *Badly Poisoned!* HP: 322/498 SP: 3 Specials: Cloak and Dagger: Using her robes to her advantage in an attack, Siri Confuses a hero and makes Fragile for 3 rounds, as well a reducing them to half HP. More Than A Concubine: With a sway of her hips, all male heroes become Enamored with Siri, as well as causing them to drop their weapons. That hero must spend a turn to pick up that weapon. Drops: Lover's Locket, Love Potion, Blind Fury ". . ." Masked Mage, Level 20 Humanoid HP: 66/130 SP: 5 Specials: Firewall: Creates a line of fire, engulfing the Back Row in flame. Anyone who attacks in the back row takes 8 damage, disregarding row and SP. Passive Specials: Ether Drain: The Masked Mage sucks 1 ether from all ether-users at the end of every turn. Drops: Grand Tonic "...F-for Jetorix!" Mr. M. Opoly, Level 18 Humanoid HP: 139/160 Specials: Bankrupt: Mr. M Opoly steals 50 gold, healing himself by 50 HP. He adds it into his inventory: Every turn he has it, he stashes 10 gold, prventing the heroes from retrieving it. Drops: 80 gold. "Yay, it's wearing off..." *Confused! 1 rounds remaining* Sister Pitchfork, Level 19 Humanoid HP: 84/150 Specials: Pitch Forks and Torches: Ina barrage of stabs and fire, all heroes take 25 damage and begin to Burn, taking 2 damage per round. Frenzied Jabbing: With the lost of her sister, Sister Pitchfork frantically stabs the hero who rolled Special Damage, doing anywhere from 1 to 50 damage. (Decided by RNG.) If Sister Torch is alive, Pitch Forks and Torches is used. If not, Frenzied Jabbing is used instead. Drops: Grating Stone "Accursed roots..." Sister Torch, Level 19 Humanoid *Confused! 1 rounds remaining* HP: 60/150 Specials: Pitch Forks and Torches: Ina barrage of stabs and fire, all heroes take 25 damage and begin to Burn, taking 2 damage per round. Frenzied Flaming: With the lost of her sister, Sister Pitchfork frantically scorches all heroes, all of them becoming Burned, and taking 2 damage per round until remedied. The hero who rolled Special Damage becomes enraged as well. If Sister Torch is alive, Pitch Forks and Torches is used. If not, Frenzied Flaming is used instead. Drops: Military Grade Fire Bomb Riot Party: Sgt Jon. Mcency (Pyrovisionary) *Lucky!* 54 years old male human witch Level 18 *Dual Strike* *Immune to blinded* *Hastened* Power: 37 (18+17+2) Health: 29/38 (7+17+8+3+3) Ether: 19/19 (+1) Gold: 277 (70 owed to Brickington) Equipment: Demonic Scissors (WP:17, dual strike, Light, Darkness, Hollow (empty) daggers), Witch's talisman (All attacks Cause the badly poisoned effect), Pegleg of Hastening (Permanent hastened-effect to the user; Immune to Blinded, suitable to Sarge only; footwear) Inventory: Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow (-) halberd), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Mythril Shield (SP:20), Pheonix essence x2 , Potion x4, Grand Potion x5, Remedy x5, Venom x3, Deadly Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying glass, Business Card, Bone x2, 2x Gold Ring (worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Counterstrike gloves Erdathcath Madilinas, 199 years old, Level 19.5 Druid *Hastened!* Power: 29 Health: 33/33 Ether: 22/22 Gold: 299 Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:13), Satchel of Awesomeness (Causes lucky-effect; bodywear), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory) Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 7 Mead, 9 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 Deadly Venoms, 1 Super Deadly Venom, 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, Grand Tonic, Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Ruby, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrify), Phoenix Essence, mage's muffler Name: Unknown. Most call him "Em," though his real name remains largely mysterious. *Encouraged!* Unknown age male human ranger Level 14.5 Power: 23 SP: 2 Health: 21/21 Gold: 30 Equipment: Aquabow (WP: 7, Water-elemental), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory) (Power +2, SP +2, Max. Health +2, Max. Ether +2. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year)[/font], Syndicate Cowl (SP: 2, Immune to Doomed effect) Inventory: Consumables: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone x2, Nostrum x2, Potion x5, Remedy x4, , Venom, Ice Bomb, Grand Potion, Mead, Quality Cutlass (WP:6, Dagger) Equipment:White Marksman's Hat (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear), Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by (Asleep), Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe,Bow(WP:5), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Ambrosia, Crystal Sovereign -------------------------------------------------------------------------- QM Note: Jedi master Brick hasn't responded here for quite a few days, so I relinquish control over to Elgar to Jeaux for now, Joeshmoe. Hope you don't mind. Jeaux rifles through the stacks of boxes, trying to find anything interesting... He tears through layers of duct tape, plywood, stone, and other miscellaneous construction materials before finding: Tar Bomb: An industrial invention made by the Proggs. It is meant to seal up cracks in stone, splattering a fine layer of synthetic tar over whatever it is thrown at it. Does 25 Earth-elemental damage when thrown. The specks on the floor seemed to have come off from the cieling... This place wasn't going to last much longer.

Karie picks up the loose piece of parchment, chills beginning to rac eup her spine.

Karie and Skrall's observations match up with Baradock's test: the discolored patch was both thin, hollow, and off-color. Octavyn nods and runs his hand down the patch of off-stone. "Huh. Thin, porous, hollow, off-color... This is the place to strike, alright. I imagine that the screams got broadcasted from these pours, and echoed by this ridge." With a click Octavyn seperates his corseque into two pieces, octavyn sheathing the bottom half and taking the top. "On the count of three, okay, Baradock? One, two, three... Swing!" Octavyn and Baradock swing in synchonization, both of their blades colliding with the wall at the same time. The force proves too much ad it crumbles, pieces of rock scattering inwards from the impact. Octavyn reconnects the two halves of his corseque, triumphant. "And that is that little mystery solved. Onto the bigger one... Shall we forge ahead?" The party follows the gold-clad Admin into the breach... ...And into some sort of lair. Something felt very wrong about this place... Even Octavyn seemed a bit disturbed. An aura of fear surrounded this place... This feeling wasn't helped by the contents of the room itself: myserious flames, weathered books, syringes, vials, paperwork... "Well... I think we've found our perpetrator's lair. Let's begin our search: We should be thorough, and search everything before we move on."

"You going to be safe balancing there, friend? I usually have to split my corseque into two pieces to holster it: the top half should be pickax-esque enough to work. Thing is, I'd have to know where to hit..." Karie continues her mass florocide, tossing the seaweed into the briny deep. Yarrr.

"Well, actually, it was the junkies who first set this net up, likely to check this place out... However, it begs the question about how the perpatrators get here." Karie clears some seaweed. A grim sense of foreboding almost seems to be oozing through the cracks...

Octavyn looks at the three raving junkies, his golden corseque in hand. "Good thinking, Skrall." With three expertly placed jabs, octavyn slams the hilt of his corseque into the three druggies' necks, rendering them unconscious. The elf's breath dies as she is about to once again go into a sreeching fit, Octavyn silencing them. He goes over to the rail, looking down the side. "That'll keep em' quiet. Now then. In the immort words of... someone... Seriously, who said this first. Anyway, ahem: GERONIMO!" With a gallant backflip off the edge, Octavyn leaps from the rail gracefully, seemingly just plunging down into the water below. However, the party hears no splash; after a few seconds of stunned silence, Octavyn pops back up, clutching on the ladder. He sways from side to side as he reports back in, the storm's progressing winds whipping his ladder back and forth. "Yep, there's a ridge, all right. Shall we proceed?" The party forges down the ladder, careful to not let themselves be torn away in the storm's winds. The party manages to climb down the fishnet ladder without major difficulties - even Skrall! When they reach the ladder's bottom they hop into a ridge into the size of a clifftop, fearoms elooking stalagmites obscuring anyone from seeing them from the outside. However, the ridge itself seemed... desolate. "...Have we hit a dead end? There must be something..."

That's how it works.

Heroica would be absolutely amazing in sitcom form. We already have Throlar and Octavyn!

QM Note: Could someone specifiy a battle order? ---------------------------------- Stepping over a couple of dislodged rocks, the party makes their way into room 1B. It was a fairly spacious room, some boxes stacked up against a wall. A large, rolled up carpet leans against the apartment's sides - apparently nothing had moved in here yet. The party feels as if this room would likely be rather cozy if it was furnished - and din't have a gaping hole in its right side.

The main reason I was so apprehensive on following the speicifc rule was that because the Oculoid Amalgam went through 16 different drafts by the end. If you love something, though, sometimes you just gotta let it go.

Definitely the most important lesson I've learned while QMing - To be honest, I usually know the stats of my enemies better than I know the stats of the heroes.

I chuckle. "Old age is not going to be fun for you, my friend."

"...Wait, what? No. I don't even know where you live. Do we have that suff on file?" Octavyn was clearly not all that great at the clerical portion of his job. ironic, considering he was an "Admin". "Well, when he's not engrossed by his daily game of solitaire, the cleric is a really efficient guy. He probably thought that, whatever he was doing, breaking and entering would be easier than just telling you to do something. And Masson? For all of his intelligence and combat skills, he is pretty socially - and I'd imagine romantically - awkward. He probably thought breaking into his girlfriend's house would be an easier alternative to knocking. Under the mask, he's cool, clam, collected, aware of the entire situation and knows how to remedy it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Underneath the cowl, though? Heh. I poke fun at him enough, I think. " The elf attempts to claw at Baradock, apoplectic, but the combination of the drugs, pumpkin bomb, and beatdown she had recieved renders her efforts futile. "AAAAAIIIIIYYE! You idiot! I had to go a full week without getting my pixie Dust fix to purchase that wand. A week!"

"Oh, nothing much, just a 40 foot tall ancient aquatic monster made almost entirely out of water." Octavyn notes Karie's shocked expression. "Oh, sorry, not in Eubric. Masson's researching them in his fee time; apparently three of them are defending some abandoned castle on some island in the north. Apparently any ship that gets two close to comfort gets sunk - Ameobosses can create and turn into waves nigh-effortlessly, so they can pretty much sink most ships by backhanding them. Just a little bit of an in-joke. Has masson ever showed you his apartment? His notes are pinned all over his office."

It seems that the elf was still too incompetent to keep her mouth shut, still high. "I don't care about saving whatever poor bastard is done there! I just wanted the glory! I wanted to be praised! You call me a disgrace?! We'll never cooperate with filthy dirty rotten yucky ogres like you! Never ever ever ever!" The drugged up woman screeches. "We had suuuuuch a great plan, too... it's the best plan in the history of ever! We heard that the sounds are from below, right? So we, like, riaded some fishnet and slung a ladder over the side of the rail, so we could inspect beneath this place! Genius, right?!" Octavyn goes over the fishnet ladder is question, inspecting the knots. "Hmmm... Waves did carve something of a passage into the side of Eubric, atleast near the lighthouse. Small, yes, but still able to fit a human standing upright. These knots seem... Suprisingly sound, really. And it does seem long enough... Hey Skrall, you're a Krakenwhacker, right? Can you make sure the Ameoboss doesn't get me while I'm climbing down? I should be able to survive a little swim if the ladder doesn't hold, so no need to worry."

I look at the blonde-haired hero. "You care a lot about physical appearance, don't you?"

The only foe more deadly than the floor is the cieling.

Actually, I never planned a Punii encounter back then. I belive he was always holding 2 or so bombs.

I think it's more of a Crinklecrackwheezewheezewhatareyoudoing?!than a smush, but touche.

Most likely because Punii would've blasted you all sky-high if you crossed him.

Stealing all the good stuff and going too far for acquiring good loot. (I highly doubt it is, I'm just joking. ) Yeah, if I brought Pretzel along, I think he would defect.