Endgame

I was tempted to smack this knight with my glassy hand. Laceration tends to be a bit too painful for my tastes, though... "Look, I'm afraid if I tell you what happened last night, your mind is just going to drift off into whatever dimension it currently resides in. Are you currently firmly anchored to reality? This reality?"

I snort. "Try to see if you can squeeze any info out of that alcohol addled brain of yours. The word "maginastra" bring back any memories?"

I absentmindedly raise my glass-barbed hand in response to the knight's outburst.

The steel door prevented much sound from escaping, but there was definitely something making noise in there - a conversation, by the sound of things.

There seemed to be a few recent specks of dirt on the iron walkway in front of the door, but other then that, nothing.

The Party: Lord Lawrence Boomingham (Zepher) 46 Years Old, Human, Level 24 Paladin *Immune to Fragile, Sleep and Weakened* Power: 37 (+4**) Defense: 12 Health: 17/45 (+2*) Ether: 22/23 Gold: 113 Equipment: Scupperer (Great Sword, WP: 10, Darkness Fire, causes Bleeding Effect for 5 Damage until remedied or healed to full health) Round Metal Shield (SP: 7), Counterstrike Gloves (On Free Hits, Deals damage to enemy equal to Boomingham's level), Heavy Armor (SP: 5, Immunity to Fragile), Tome of Affluence (Generates 10 Gold if equipped for the entirety of a battle, immunity to sleep and weakened, accessory) ****Pseudo's Blessing's Blessing (Not an Artifact, +4 Power) Inventory: Frozen Saber (Great Sword, WP: 9, Light Ice, stunned effect), Bedroll, 3 Meads, Fire Brandy (Encouraged, Immunity to Ice), Emerald Lamp of Summoning, Marksman's Monocle, Scroll of Recklessness (Encouraged and Fragile for rest of battle, 5 ether, 50/50 chance), Scroll of Blindness, 1 Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragility, Scroll of Sealing, Garnet, Sapphire, Hood of Belthazar Bluehood (+4 to Power, -6 to Ether), Hamantasch (consumable, lucky + blessed effects upon consumption for the length of one battle), Admantite Shard, Everlasting Venom. Remedy, Seventh Heaven, Pixie Dust Debts: 128 Gold Arthur, 1 gold Docken, 75 gold Sorrow Arthur Justus Regulus VII (played by Flipz), Level 24 Sorcerer, 21-year-old male Human *Immune to Sealed* [ Currently in: Quest #70: The Syndicate] *Encouraged!* *Lucky!* *Hastened!* Power: 37 (24 + WP:13) Health: 34/36 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 23 + Class Boost: 4 + Permanent Boost: 4*) Ether: 26/34 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 23 + Class Boost: 1 + Robe of the Archmagi: 5) Defense: 3 (Robe of the Archmagi) Gold: 1029 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham; owed 50 gold by Grimwald Gjinko; owed 70 gold by En Sabah Nur,) Equipment: Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Robe of the Archmagi (Bodywear, SP:3, Max Ether +5, Immune to Sealed), Lens of Speed Reading (Accessory, Allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action. Suitable for scroll users.), Overkill Gloves Inventory: Weapons: Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics), Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [Mulled Wine]), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Healing Staff (WP:5; heals instead of damaging), Healing Staff (WP:5; heals instead of damaging), Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear; unsuitable) Artifacts: Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent), Ancient Crown (Headwear, First successful strike of battle deals Cursed-effect), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves, Sticky Gloves Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass Scrolls: Scroll of Blindness, 2x Scroll of Sealing (1x Lent to De'kra), Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, 2x Scroll of Frailty (1x Lent to Nyx), 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 Badly Poisoned 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, Consumables: Grand Potion x4, Remedy x8, Elixir x3, Nostrum x 3, Smelling Salts x 4, Mead x 3, Jinxy Juice x2, Ether Core, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Badly Poisoned effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Zoot's Plaything, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Tesla Bomb, Grand Tonic, Double Rainbow Karie Alderflask (Played by Kintobor) 22 year old Human Rogue, lvl 11.5 *Encouraged!* Power: 17 (lvl 11 + WP: 6) Health: 17/17 Gold: 217 Defence: 0 Equipment: Sexy (WP: 6, Rapier, Disregards SP, usable by Knights and Rogues), Catsuit (Wearer has 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER and DAMAGE and Free Hits; suitable to women only; bodywear. ), Lover's Locket (Protects from enamoured effect) Inventory: Potion (4), Mead (2), Remedy (2), Venom (1), Smoke bomb (1), Telescope (1), Bedroll (1), Heirloom Dagger (WP:3), Map of Brendenton (1), Spider Coin (worth 1 gp) (1),, Topaz, Scroll of Newtity (costs 10 ether)(usable by ex-Amphibians only), Ethereal Cloak (SP +2, Max. Ether +4), Leather Armor (Bodywear, SP: 1) Arnulf Bishop (Shoker86) 30 yrs old male human Rogue *Encouraged!* Level 10 Power: 19 (9+9+1) Defense: 3 Health: 16/16 (7+9) Gold: 144 Equipment: Cheesy Dagger (WP:8, Double damage to vermin), Tricorne (SP:3), Scarf of Misfortune (Accessory, Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round) Inventory: Leather Armor(SP:1), 4 Potions, 3 Venoms, Remedy, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, 1 Meads, Smelling Salts Name: Unknown. Most call him "Em," though his real name remains largely mysterious. Unknown age male human ranger Level 10 Power: 16 Health: 13/15 Gold: 98 Equipment: Bow(WP:5), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), White Marksman's Hat - (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear) Inventory: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone, Nostrum, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Potion x5, Remedy x3, Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by Asleep.), Venom, Ice Bomb, Grand Potion The party inputs the directions given to them by the dog, punching in the numbers 3, 1, 5, and 9. The console beeps as the mechanism above the Portcullis springs to life with a metallic hiss, pulling up the giant steel door. In a few moments it clangs as it reaches maximum height - hardly over 2 feet. This machinery wasn't too reliable anymore, it seems - not even machinery was spared the stains of time. The party ducks under the giant portcullis, walking their way through one final desolate alley. The crescent moon hung in the sky now, providing the only light the party had. In a few minutes, they reach a grand steel door: the Armory. The glinting spears on either side of the door made this building's designation painfully clear - this was the Armory. Nestled at the dead end of Sceleris Alley, this was the supply of wolfgang weapons. The party comes to a grim realization: this was the literal end of the road for Sceleris, and they had not laid eyes on The Stealer once. The party almost begins to panic as they realize that The Stealer may very well be in this armory... Their confrontation, or a meeting, at any rate, with The Stealer of Senses was nigh. QM Note: You'll get to prepare even after you step in the armory. Roleplay a bit and I'll move you into the Armory soon...

I'm more referring to the fact that I was crushed by a literal metric ton of them.

I know, but they're still tangentially related. Sort of. My thought process works like a tree, gradually branching outwards - which is why I always start with the villain and let the quest grow from there. First Fantome fight we did get curbstomped, though. I blame the ether cores.

I still don't consider that third Fantome battle strictly canon. For now, I'll just think Sorrow had one too many smelling salts.

QM Note: Number string, please? I just wanted to complicate your lives a bit more, so I didn't let Arrow give you the numerical code... that, and dogs can't read.

Or do what Endgame does, and throw 'em off a tower fighting an ominicidal monarch bent on the destruction of mankind.

QM Note: A smidge longer then 15 minutes, but... With their business done in this corner of the alley, the party retreats back to the junction.. With the drug depot looted and devoid of anything but a few boxes, the party takes the other path. They walk through another set of disgusting alleyways, stepping over trash and mud among other things. The alleys slither left and right like serpents, thankfully devoid of saboteurs. The sun has nearly completed its descent at this point, night minutes away. They reach the Portcullis described to them by Arrow. If the dog was right, the Armory was not too far now... The party's stomachs twist into a knot as they realize the Armory is the only place he could be. Thankfully, they were almost done spelunking through these passages, the Sceleris Alleys being more disgusting then expected. A glowing console sits next to the sturdy steel portcullis. It houses 9 buttons, arranged into a 3 by 3 grid: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A small display sits above the keypad, asking for 4 letters.

Dequip artifacts, and slow the hero at the same time!

Arthur writes a note for the dog, the trained hound carefully securing the parchment with his teeth. He speaks through the envelope: <Ohhffkaayff. I'llf taffke thisff letterf to Liliff asf fquick asf pasiffible." And with that, with a slight limp, Arrow scampers off. The party looks down at the two frothing mutts, the drugs practically numbing their minds. It was no telling whether or not they'd even survive the trip they were taking... Arthur takes out his Opal and engulfs the two dogs in a sudden burst of ice, their movements halting instantly. It was a rather peaceful end compared to the one they were experiencing. The Party: Lord Lawrence Boomingham (Zepher) 46 Years Old, Human, Level 24 Paladin *Immune to Fragile, Sleep and Weakened* Power: 37 (+4**) Defense: 12 Health: 17/45 (+2*) Ether: 22/23 Gold: 113 Equipment: Scupperer (Great Sword, WP: 10, Darkness Fire, causes Bleeding Effect for 5 Damage until remedied or healed to full health) Round Metal Shield (SP: 7), Counterstrike Gloves (On Free Hits, Deals damage to enemy equal to Boomingham's level), Heavy Armor (SP: 5, Immunity to Fragile), Tome of Affluence (Generates 10 Gold if equipped for the entirety of a battle, immunity to sleep and weakened, accessory) ****Pseudo's Blessing's Blessing (Not an Artifact, +4 Power) Inventory: Frozen Saber (Great Sword, WP: 9, Light Ice, stunned effect), Bedroll, 3 Meads, Fire Brandy (Encouraged, Immunity to Ice), Emerald Lamp of Summoning, Marksman's Monocle, Scroll of Recklessness (Encouraged and Fragile for rest of battle, 5 ether, 50/50 chance), Scroll of Blindness, 1 Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragility, Scroll of Sealing, Garnet, Sapphire, Hood of Belthazar Bluehood (+4 to Power, -6 to Ether), Hamantasch (consumable, lucky + blessed effects upon consumption for the length of one battle), Admantite Shard, Everlasting Venom. Remedy, Seventh Heaven, Pixie Dust Debts: 128 Gold Arthur, 1 gold Docken, 75 gold Sorrow Arthur Justus Regulus VII (played by Flipz), Level 24 Sorcerer, 21-year-old male Human *Immune to Sealed* [ Currently in: Quest #70: The Syndicate] Power: 37 (24 + WP:13) Health: 34/36 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 23 + Class Boost: 4 + Permanent Boost: 4*) Ether: 26/34 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 23 + Class Boost: 1 + Robe of the Archmagi: 5) Defense: 3 (Robe of the Archmagi) Gold: 1029 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham; owed 50 gold by Grimwald Gjinko; owed 70 gold by En Sabah Nur,) Equipment: Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Robe of the Archmagi (Bodywear, SP:3, Max Ether +5, Immune to Sealed), Lens of Speed Reading (Accessory, Allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action. Suitable for scroll users.), Overkill Gloves Inventory: Weapons: Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics), Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [Mulled Wine]), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Healing Staff (WP:5; heals instead of damaging), Healing Staff (WP:5; heals instead of damaging), Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear; unsuitable) Artifacts: Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent), Ancient Crown (Headwear, First successful strike of battle deals Cursed-effect), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves, Sticky Gloves Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass Scrolls: Scroll of Blindness, 2x Scroll of Sealing (1x Lent to De'kra), Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, 2x Scroll of Frailty (1x Lent to Nyx), 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 Badly Poisoned 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, Consumables: Grand Potion x4, Remedy x8, Elixir x3, Nostrum x 4, Smelling Salts x 5, Mead x 4, Jinxy Juice x2, Ether Core, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Badly Poisoned effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Zoot's Plaything, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Tesla Bomb, Grand Tonic, Double Rainbow Karie Alderflask (Played by Kintobor) 22 year old Human Rogue, lvl 11.5 *Encouraged!* Power: 17 (lvl 11 + WP: 6) Health: 17/17 Gold: 217 Defence: 0 Equipment: Sexy (WP: 6, Rapier, Disregards SP, usable by Knights and Rogues), Catsuit (Wearer has 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER and DAMAGE and Free Hits; suitable to women only; bodywear. ), Lover's Locket (Protects from enamoured effect) Inventory: Potion (4), Mead (2), Remedy (2), Venom (1), Smoke bomb (1), Telescope (1), Bedroll (1), Heirloom Dagger (WP:3), Map of Brendenton (1), Spider Coin (worth 1 gp) (1),, Topaz, Scroll of Newtity (costs 10 ether)(usable by ex-Amphibians only), Ethereal Cloak (SP +2, Max. Ether +4), Leather Armor (Bodywear, SP: 1) Arnulf Bishop (Shoker86) 30 yrs old male human Rogue *Encouraged!* Level 10 Power: 19 (9+9+1) Defense: 3 Health: 16/16 (7+9) Gold: 144 Equipment: Cheesy Dagger (WP:8, Double damage to vermin), Tricorne (SP:3), Scarf of Misfortune (Accessory, Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round) Inventory: Leather Armor(SP:1), 4 Potions, 3 Venoms, Remedy, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, 1 Meads, Smelling Salts Name: Unknown. Most call him "Em," though his real name remains largely mysterious. Unknown age male human ranger Level 10 Power: 16 Health: 13/15 Gold: 98 Equipment: Bow(WP:5), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), White Marksman's Hat - (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear) Inventory: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone, Nostrum, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Potion x5, Remedy x3, Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by Asleep.), Venom, Ice Bomb, Grand Potion QM Note: Need 10-15 minutes to prepare the next scene, and I'll move you guys there (since this clearing is now finished.) We may meet The Stealer tonight, folks!

You thought Eidolon was harder then Perfect Regret? You guys had to use an Incense for PR, while in the Emperor battle you suffered only 2 KOs...

Speaking of hardest battle ever, what would you guys say the hardest (completed) battle would be? My choices are (in no order): >The Goddess Wren >Battle of Dastan >The Sisterhood >Mirror Heroes >Perfect Regret >Emperor Eidolon

Arrow seemed to murmur... <The Wolfgang sometimes takes them out to help convince their targets. Pretty sure the dark brown one might have rabies... Is there any message you'd like me to carry back, Arthur? I'm not sure whether or not they'll be a ranger back at the HQ, but it can't hurt. I don't feel well enough to go back into the fray yet...> Despite the drugs being purged, the poor dog still seemed to wobble.

Crumbling! Crumbling for all!

The dog wags his tail, happy to help a fellow officer. <I've been in the armory once - they have this big steel door thingy, and this weird machine with 9 buttons on it. The wolfgang member pressed the top right, the top left, the middle, then the bottom right button. After that, it opened. Useful?>

Arrow cocks his head. <Stealer of Senses? Umm... I don't think that was what happened... I wasn't getting along with the wolfgang dogs, so the wolfgang member who was tending to the dogs kicked me. I bit her, and then she grumbled about something when she got my food. It must've been drugged... of course, the other dogs, being the greedy beasts they were, stole some of my food too. Eventually, we all ended up as high as a kite. No Stealer of Senses involved. It was a woman who did it, not even a man...> Arrow's ears perk up when the Armory is mentioned. <Armory?>

The Party: Lord Lawrence Boomingham (Zepher) 46 Years Old, Human, Level 24 Paladin *Immune to Fragile, Sleep and Weakened* Power: 37 (+4**) Defense: 12 Health: 17/45 (+2*) Ether: 22/23 Gold: 113 Equipment: Scupperer (Great Sword, WP: 10, Darkness Fire, causes Bleeding Effect for 5 Damage until remedied or healed to full health) Round Metal Shield (SP: 7), Counterstrike Gloves (On Free Hits, Deals damage to enemy equal to Boomingham's level), Heavy Armor (SP: 5, Immunity to Fragile), Tome of Affluence (Generates 10 Gold if equipped for the entirety of a battle, immunity to sleep and weakened, accessory) ****Pseudo's Blessing's Blessing (Not an Artifact, +4 Power) Inventory: Frozen Saber (Great Sword, WP: 9, Light Ice, stunned effect), Bedroll, 3 Meads, Fire Brandy (Encouraged, Immunity to Ice), Emerald Lamp of Summoning, Marksman's Monocle, Scroll of Recklessness (Encouraged and Fragile for rest of battle, 5 ether, 50/50 chance), Scroll of Blindness, 1 Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragility, Scroll of Sealing, Garnet, Sapphire, Hood of Belthazar Bluehood (+4 to Power, -6 to Ether), Hamantasch (consumable, lucky + blessed effects upon consumption for the length of one battle), Admantite Shard, Everlasting Venom. Remedy, Seventh Heaven, Pixie Dust Debts: 128 Gold Arthur, 1 gold Docken, 75 gold Sorrow Arthur Justus Regulus VII (played by Flipz), Level 24 Sorcerer, 21-year-old male Human *Immune to Sealed* [ Currently in: Quest #70: The Syndicate] Power: 37 (24 + WP:13) Health: 34/36 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 23 + Class Boost: 4 + Permanent Boost: 4*) Ether: 26/34 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 23 + Class Boost: 1 + Robe of the Archmagi: 5) Defense: 3 (Robe of the Archmagi) Gold: 1029 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham; owed 50 gold by Grimwald Gjinko; owed 70 gold by En Sabah Nur,) Equipment: Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Robe of the Archmagi (Bodywear, SP:3, Max Ether +5, Immune to Sealed), Lens of Speed Reading (Accessory, Allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action. Suitable for scroll users.), Overkill Gloves Inventory: Weapons: Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics), Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [Mulled Wine]), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Healing Staff (WP:5; heals instead of damaging), Healing Staff (WP:5; heals instead of damaging), Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear; unsuitable) Artifacts: Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent), Ancient Crown (Headwear, First successful strike of battle deals Cursed-effect), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves, Sticky Gloves Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass Scrolls: Scroll of Blindness, 2x Scroll of Sealing (1x Lent to De'kra), Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, 2x Scroll of Frailty (1x Lent to Nyx), 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 Badly Poisoned 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, Consumables: Grand Potion x4, Remedy x8, Elixir x3, Nostrum x 4, Smelling Salts x 5, Mead x 4, Jinxy Juice x2, Ether Core, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Badly Poisoned effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Zoot's Plaything, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Tesla Bomb, Grand Tonic, Double Rainbow Karie Alderflask (Played by Kintobor) 22 year old Human Rogue, lvl 11.5 Power: 17 (lvl 11 + WP: 6) Health: 17/17 Gold: 217 Defence: 0 Equipment: Sexy (WP: 6, Rapier, Disregards SP, usable by Knights and Rogues), Catsuit (Wearer has 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER and DAMAGE and Free Hits; suitable to women only; bodywear. ), Lover's Locket (Protects from enamoured effect) Inventory: Potion (4), Mead (3), Remedy (2), Venom (1), Smoke bomb (1), Telescope (1), Bedroll (1), Heirloom Dagger (WP:3), Map of Brendenton (1), Spider Coin (worth 1 gp) (1),, Topaz, Scroll of Newtity (costs 10 ether)(usable by ex-Amphibians only), Ethereal Cloak (SP +2, Max. Ether +4), Leather Armor (Bodywear, SP: 1) Arnulf Bishop (Shoker86) 30 yrs old male human Rogue Level 10 Power: 19 (9+9+1) Defense: 3 Health: 16/16 (7+9) Gold: 144 Equipment: Cheesy Dagger (WP:8, Double damage to vermin), Tricorne (SP:3), Scarf of Misfortune (Accessory, Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round) Inventory: Leather Armor(SP:1), 4 Potions, 3 Venoms, Remedy, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, 2 Meads, Smelling Salts Name: Unknown. Most call him "Em," though his real name remains largely mysterious. Unknown age male human ranger Level 10 Power: 16 Health: 13/15 Gold: 98 Equipment: Bow(WP:5), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), White Marksman's Hat - (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear) Inventory: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone, Nostrum, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Potion x5, Remedy x3, Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by Asleep.), Venom, Ice Bomb, Grand Potion The black dog slowly creeps towards Arthur, still recognizing Arthur's outfit despite his stupor. He laps up the remedy given to him, emptying the bowl in seconds. A fog seems to lift in his eyes, the shaking stopping as the healing brew enters his system. He walks up to Arthur and licks his face once, curling up next to the Town Watch patrolman. He looks around the dismal alley, seemingly glad all the bodies are gone. He looks into the eyes of each and every party member before turning to Arthur and asking: <What... what's going on?>

One of the dogs seem appalled by the concept. <Bite the master...?! No, but you're going to be next in line!!> The other one foams at the mouth over the idea, angered by the party's intrusions. <ROOOAARRWLLRGH!> However... fighting the spasms and the twitches, one dog shambles in front of the others, pleading in his eyes. He looks up at the party as if sorrowful, hardly standing up on his shaking legs. He whimpers, and, fighting the drug's hold over him, says: <Yes.> What will the party do?

If you solve the dog puzzle quick enough 70ers, you may meet everyone's favorite purple clad menace earlier then expected... (This weekend.)