Endgame

At least consult me if you're gonna go Ghostbusters on poor Regret's soul. Or are you trapping him in a book or something or

Yep, hes gone mad, folks. You're not going to try and sell The Regret's soul again, are you? That'd be bad. For you.

Holy text glut, Batman - I didn't expect it to be that long! But, to hear my take on how The Regret coincides with Prometheus's story:

The Regret's eyes narrow into slits over Sylph's constant tirade over remarks. He was unfazed - simply annoyed that the Druid though he could penetrate with his words. The Progg is cloaked in a veil of snow as the frigid draft picks up, freezing the party further. "Hmph. You think you can simply upset me with your hollow words... I have experienced pain beyond any comprehensible measure, dragged myself through every hell known to Olegaia. Your words are as meaningless as your life, Druid. Rewind a bit - back to when the members of the first Gladius Unit were all about 800 or so, before I had my fallout with Primii - in fact, before I was The Regret. Back when I was simply Prometheus. We were in the early stages of planning the siege - back then, it was a mere concept that seemed so out of reach. Nevertheless, in the short time we were given between acts of menial labor, we conspired against them. After one of my meetings, I went to go back to the mines... there, I was to dig up gems for those tyrannical spell-slinging bastards. Why? No damn reason whatsoever. They didn't utilize them - they established slave labor just a means of control. That night, my supervisor got a bit more drunk then he was used to. That bastard must've downed an entire keg of booze. Nevertheless, with an opportunity to slip out of "work" presented to me... I got a brazen idea. A foolish idea, a stupid idea. I broke into the slavemasters' library. This was no typical, as you would expect - a sprawling source of all arcane knowledge known to them, carefully cataloged. Of all of the pieces of magic I could snatch, one enamored me more then any other type of magic I have ever seen - the forbidden scroll: Animutilav, the mutilator of souls. A cryptic piece of magic - if used on the living, it splits their soul in two. If used on the dead, it can re-tether a soul to a dead body... powerful. Most powerful. By now, most copies have been burned for their devastating power. Anyway, to continue with our little tale. The next day, with my smuggled piece of dark magic in tow, I went back to my little slave post. I suppose I was skittish - my master remained drunk, but I was overly cautious. I was deep underground, mining for gems for those dictators... and then I made a mistake. I suppose I was nervous - unfocused. Either way, I'm not sure how it happened, but I managed to cave myself in. In a mere second, I had loosened a stone of obsidian and crushed my way out. In a second, I had entombed myself deep itno the world, and not a single damn being, person or progg, would know. It would take them days, weeks, to tunnel me out... and why go to that length? I was just a lowly slave who died on the job. I... I went mad. Hunger and thirst came over me, gnawing at me always... the isolation whittled me down... all I had was myself, almost a mile beneath the surface. Allk I could do was confront the hellish reality I was in, and accept it. But I didn't. I... I unfurled the Animutilav, studied it for days on end. I would get no sleep, scrutinizing every single detail for hours on end in my madness. Then one day... I did it. I didn't want to die, and I was in dire straits. I was left skeletal from the lack of food, not a scrap of food or a drop of water blessing me for almost two weeks. I was afraid of death. Petrified it. So, in an insane attempt to cheat death I cast Animutilav... on myself. The repercussions were insant, and the regret immediate. It was excruciating beyond measure - the greatest pain one can feel! Have you ever felt it, heroes...?! To have your very soul ripped and torn into pieces, slowly but surely splitting your spirit, your being, and reducing it to shreds?! It was torture! The pain came quick and escalated even faster... for three days, I wasn't just close to hell - I wasn't just in hell - in those days, I somehow delved into somewhere deeper. All I could do was scream and beg for mercy as the magic I had brought upon myself ripped my very soul apart... It mutilated by body, as well as my soul. I was reduced to a ghostly pale color, spines emerging from my back and tearing holes in it to emerge... by the time the magic had ran its course, Prometheus was dead. Parts of my soul had drifted into the realm of the dead, while through sheer will I managed to at least keep a portion attached to my now disfigured body. Despite being separated by the greatest distance possible, the pieces of my soul were still able to communicate... and thus, from the Animutilav, the spirit medium Regret was born. Prometheus killed himself that day, and in his tattered corpse only The Regret remained..." The Regret sighs for a moment, but a hint of maniacal laughter is subtly intertwined within it... he allows the horrifying tale to sink in before he continues. "After using Animutilav on myself, I was considered dead by my own body. As a result, I didn't grow after the little incident - thus my smaller size, despite my age." "Unsurprisingly, when I got out of the prison of my own creation, things did not fare better. Primii was, understandably, disgusted by me... I reached out to her, but she wouldn't have it. In her eyes, her husband was Prometheus... And Prometheus was dead. The abomination before her was just a twisted monster, an imposter. In one fell swoop, my life, the very woman who was created so that we could be together, my children, and their descendants... all of them gone, taken away from me. My name sunk into taboo, then legend... soon, my existence became a myth. Little did Progg-kind know it was The Regret that gave them life."

I'm not even done yet!

"Do you not remember seeing the little larva hatch? Hmph. After you lot are dispatched, I may apprentice him... be the father he never had. Heh heh heh..."

"Rhodus and Eidolon had no son - only Aquos, to leave a heir. Aquos's son will be the only Progg to have that mixed bloodline. Lucky him, woohoo."

"Not all, mind you. Only about 100 or so. But from there, we only multiplied faster." The Regret seems to become more attached and as aloof as ever when his wife's fate was mentioned. "Dead. Killed in the siege - Eve suffered the same fate. By the time she was dead, Primii... we had been divorced, I suppose you could say, for over a thousand years by that juncture. The only contact we had at that point was minimal - her doing. To think... I somehow drove away the one Progg that was made for me... Cruel, cruel fate. Shall I continue on top the next chapter of our tale?"

"Am I the ultimate just because I jump started the species? A very controversial question. Mythrogg got the title of king through seniority, and I must confess he did a far better job then I ever could've or would've. We were equals, back then, but I knew he was the better Progg to hold the crown. Not a single lie was ever written about the Mythrogg. He truly was invincible."

"1,000 year olds making a 3,000 year old. Yes, your logic is absolutely sound. Haha, no. I already told you... The Gladius Unit you murdered was the second generation. Creating a summon permanently tethered to this world requires all of the resources of a dozen Evokers... an enormous amount of magic, more then most mages uses in a lifetime. The Mythrogg was created first. The humans got incredibly lucky when creating him - after all, this was the first time such an ethereal feat was ever performed. I will confess, our creators were meticulous - they managed to create the Mythrogg correctly. However, one Progg was useless to them - thus, they set to work creating a wife for the Mythrogg. This was far trickier, and it didn't work as well as it should've. For several years, it seemed as if Eve was created just as well as they had hoped... but then they noticed a glaring flaw. Eve couldn't serve the purpose she was created for. Somewhere along the line, the Evokers made a mistake - and Eve was rendered unable to have kids. Despite this, Eve and the Mythrogg loved each other dearly; meant the world to each other. No surprise, considering they were quite literally made for each other. Only until she and her husband were about two-thousand could they give birth to Rhodus, Aquos, and Eidolon in a stroke of luck... Still, a mere three compared to three hundred. But we are skipping a couple thousand years. Mythrogg and Eve essentially obsolete to them, they went to work once again a mere week after, creating a second pair of Proggs. Re-evaluating their calculations and mustering all of their resources, they performed two more rituals, back to back... and from this Prometheus and his wife, Primii, were born." The Regret goes into a sadistic fit of chuckling over the party's bewilderment. This wasn't making any sense... how was any of this possible? "You guessed it, heroes... Prometheus and Primii came out as well as their slavemasters had hoped. And from them, an entire species blossomed from them. The four Proggs, being the original Proggs created from ether alone, eventually banded together to plot to overthrow their tyrannical slavemasters. Thus, the four formed The Gladius Unit... Generation One. Your ears are not deceiving you, heroes. Every single Progg that you have killed and encountered... Barring the Princes, all of them were descendants of I. Let it allll sink in..."

"I sift through my heart and find the kindness to call you one of the sharpest humanoids I've ever met, and yet... now you say this. Do you have ears beneath that piece of scrap metal? I thought I was quite clear previously... I despise you humans. Each and every one of you, sick, diseased beings bent on snuffing out everybody's life and happiness but your own. A plague of destruction and suffering has sprung forth onto Olegaia, and every single human is the host... and all you do is spread it. All you do is cause pain - disputes become arguments, arguments into feuds, feuds into rivalries, rivalries into war. The only way to purge the despicable virus is to unite all humans under one rule.... and yet, it seems impossible. Although your species has been given century after century, millennium after millennium, eon after eon, you still always fail! Your kind has been given more second chances then it ever deserved... the only way to kill this disease is to wipe out each and every creature who carries it! Your kind took everything from me, you know... riddle me this. If the Mythrogg and his wife, Eve, only had 3 children... where did the rest come from?"

The party looks wearily at the doors of the Town Hall, sinister black gas still leaking out. Knowing that a grueling battle may very well be ahead, they stock up on a plethora of goods - even paying the depot's exorbitant fees. They'd need every single bit of help they could get in this battle... The Regret was waiting for him, and his intentions were as enigmatic as ever. The Progg was not a foe one should want to face in open combat. "Hey, hons - while you're in the presence of a nurse, why don't you let me heal you up? The Party: Sylph Solanum (Dannylonglegs) *Party Leader!* unknown age, unknown race Druid Level 21.33 Power: 29 (21+7+1) Defense: 0 Health: 37/37c(21+17+7+1) Ether: 24/24 (5+16+1) Gold: 37 Equipment: Shrapnel Bow (WP: 9, Bow. Every successful hit drops the target's SP by 1) , Ranger's Quiver (WP +1 to bows and crossbows), 20-20 glasses (headwear, +1 turn of effect for scrolls) Inventory: Mockthril Rod (WP:7), Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Confusion, 2 Potions, 1 Grand Potion, Tonic, Venom, Smoke Bomb, 2 Fire Bombs,Ice Bomb, 3 Water Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, Floral Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, 6 Bones, Signet Ring, Saber Teeth, Journal of The Bleeding, Sword Fragment (1), Helmet (Max. health +1), Quartz, Tale of the Invincible King, Psych Documents, Merry Bow (WP:7, ranged, steals 1 gold with each successful hit except Shield-skills), Journal of The Wound, Sword Fragment (2), Emerald, Trial Brew x3, Suffering's Journal, Sword Fragment (3), Smelling Salts, Nostrum x2, Grand Tonic Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts) 25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider Level: 22.33 Power: 34 (22+8+4) Health: 39/39 (22+8+1+7+0) Shield Power: (5) Ether: ~/0 Positive effects: *Immune to:* (*Fragile*, *Cursed* *Stunned* *Poisoned!*), *Natural Respite* Negative effects: (none) Gold: 1882 (186G(1), 0GB(50), 0CB(50), 0GO(80), 0CC(70), 0GC(100), 0M) Equipment: Sword of Decay (WP:8)(once the target is inflicted with damage they lose a quarter of the power of the strike each following turn for three turns. the effect cannot be compounded with more strikes. Suitable to Mages, Knights and Barbarians.) Heavy Armour – SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians and knights, Bravado Boots (1/6 chance of being Lucky at the beginning of every battle), Scarlet Hood (+4 to power, immunity to stunned) Extra Artefacts: Helmet (+1 max health), Blessed Amulet – Protects from cursed-effect. Dog Statuette - (suitable for anyone, SP: 1, once named (Rover), speaking the name summons a dog almost certainly to tag along on madcap adventures and make snippy comments.), Hide of The Bleeding (Backwear, restores 10 HP and 5 ether for every enemy the wearer kills, suitable for anyone), Hide of The Suffering (Bodywear, Power +7 when under a negative status effect. Doesn't stack.) Extra Weapons: Greatsword (WP:3), Meteor Blade (WP:8, Light elemental), Focal Staff (WP:5, Focus Fire-Roll a 3 for 5 ether Suitable for clerics and mages) Tools: Shovel (1), Pick-axe (2), Magnifying Glass (1), Magic Compass (1) Consumables: Potion (6), Venom (2), Trial Brew (1), Remedy, Smelling Salts (2), Mead, Nostrum Elements: Aquamarine (1), Emerald (1), Topaz (1) Scrolls: Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (2), Scroll of Confusion (1) Quest items: (None) Elgar Gligin (played by Jedi master Brick) Level 21.33 Evoker *Immune to Fragile!* *Lucky!* Power: 32 Defense: 6 Health: 31/31 Ether: 20/20 Gold: 621 Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11), Chainmail (SP: 2, Bodywear: half damage from Fire elemental enemies and double from Electric elemental enemies) Emerald Hood (SP: 4, headwear, protects from Fragile) Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz, Opal, Venom x4, Spade, Pickaxe, 4 Potions, Trickster's Mask of the Elf(Accessory, Changes user's appearance into an Elf),Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the badly poisoned effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Needlessly Large Rod (Non-Artifact Item, Curses a random enemy. Usable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion x3, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sealing, Fireworks, Remedy, Tonic x3, Dualis Scepters (WP: 8, Club/Staff, Dual-striking), Phoenix Incense Alexandre le Chevalier (Played by Capt.JohnPaul) Level 20 Paladin, 20 year old elf male *Lucky!* Power: 30 Defense: 13 Health: 40/40 Ether: 20/20 Gold: 151 Equipment: Sword of the Elven Blademaster (WP: 10 ;ignores SP, +1 gold per successful strike), Cross Heater Shield (SP: 10) (Mail of the Renegade Commander (SP: 3; Damage of all Free Hits is halved; suitable for Knights and Barbarians), Dapper Hat (Headwear, wearer has a 1/6 chance of becoming encouraged at the start of each battle) Inventory: Potions (5), Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Tonic x2, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Potion, Grand Tonic, Scroll of Sealing, Elixir, Feather Duster of DOOM (WP: 1) Deadly Venom, Decaying Venom Lycan Romulus Dean (played by theBoyWonder) Level 15 Rogue *Immune to weakened* *Immune to Stunned* Power: 35 Health: 19/19 Gold: 751 (95 gold owed to Thormanil and 30 to Loreal) Equipment: Combrys (WP: 15, consecutive successful strikes raise Combry's WP by 1, unsuccessful strikes drop it to it's base WP), Pugilist Gloves(Power +2, protects from weakened) Inventory: Bedroll, Staff of The Frog Paladin (WP:6, 1/6 chance of Amphibianocs Blessing (protects from damage)), Throwing Dagger (WP6), Deadly Venom, Venom x3, Sylvania's Cowl(grants Animal Talk to Wearer), Garnet, Scarlet Hood (Headwear, Power +4, Protects from Stunned), Mead, Garnet, Phoenix Essence x2 Galen Woodward (Fugazi) 36 year old male human Rogue Level 17.5 Power: 27 (17+10) Defense: 1 (+1) Health: 27/27 (7+15+4) Gold: 3257 Equipment: Murkwood Thread (WP: 10), Chimera Headdress (Headwear, Suitable for Rangers and Rogues, +1 SP +4 Health), Stretchy Rubber Band (Accessory, returns thrown weapons immediately) Inventory: Fauxthril Shuriken (WP:5, ranged), Throwing Dagger (WP:4, ranged), Bedroll, Venom x2, Grand Potion x2, Fire Bomb, Goblin's Wrench(WP:10 ,retrievable), Black Katana (WP:8), Trial Brew x3, Goblin's Wrench (WP:10,retrievable), Cast, Leather Armour (SP:1), Hide of The Wound (+6 power to throwing weapons), Smokebomb, Potion, Mead, Remedy, Soma, Phoenix Essence, Deadly Venom, Plague Venom "One more *wheeze* battle..." Punii, 2 month year old Progg Alchemist Jellies: Red x4, Green x3, Blue x3 "Hmph." Hal Bohrd, Luosh Guard Captain Level 19.5 Power: 29 Defense: 3 Health: 36/36 Gold: 50 Equipment: Halberd (WP: 10) Luoshian Armor (SP: 3, Bodywear) Inventory: Rolls: 6: Charge! Does damage to the target equal to all conscious party member's WP added together. The special effects in the weapon (such as decay) are not transmitted. 5: Critical Hit: WPx3+Level Some party members have already downed their obligatory consumable cocktails, knowing that behind the door may very well lay hell itself... you could never know with The Regret. He was a complete enigma, but if the beast was true to his word, then the twisted history of the Proggs would be laid bare. All 7 solemnly stand in front of the gargantuan door, the entryway dwarving them all... the massive door was taller then even Eidolon. Resolute, the party unsheathes their weapons and goes to open the collosol door. The putrid black gas seems to creep out from even the smallest cracks, slithering towards the party... as if trying to pull them in. "I though this nightmare was over. I had hoped this nightmare was over. But... I guess not. Our final battle could be waiting behind this door, heroes - that beast could easily reduce Luosh to ashes. The only thing stopping him right now is his sick desire to "enlighten" us. If he has ill will against Luosh, Eubric, or anybody... vow to take him down and out." "This is *wheeze* it, heroes. I'm... I'm kind of scared, really. The Regret is twisted horribly, warped more then any Progg I have ever seen... But he *cough* can't be allowed to hurt another soul." With that, Johon tries to push open the door... but to no avail. Then Romulus joisnn in, then Galen, then Elgar... one by one, everybody combines their might to open the massive gate, the entry creaking open effortlessly when Punii joins in. Another mind trcik? Nevertheless, the party stares into the inky blackness before them, not a single them discernible in the shadow that had engulfed the Town Hall's interior. Trading nervous waves of good-bye with the Toxiproggs and Beatrice, the party takes a collective deep breath... and walk into the depths of darkness. Even when walking into the inky depths of the shadow, nothing was discernible. Not even the party could see each other as they cautiously tread through the darkness. There was nothing... nothing to feel, nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to smell. And that was what frightened the heroes most. It seemed that they had stumbled through the dark void for hours... although they didn't share the feeling, they knew they were all feeling it. Dread engulfed their entire beings, fear plaguing their minds. it almost seemed like they were damned to wander in the void forever when it began to thin... the heroes became visible to each other, and the sickening shadows began to disperse. The immense darkness was immediately replaced by a cold wind, a freezing draft billowing through the entire party. As they shiver, the veil of darkness lifts... Only for the party to get even more baffled about where they were. They were now nearly knee deep in snow, Punii once again clinging to Sylph's leg to prevent getting stuck in the white powder. They were outside... but certainly not in Luosh! Above them hung crystal clear night sky, dotted with various constellations. A brilliant streak of shimmering light ran across it,slowly moving in a wave-like formation. Wet, heavy snow fell from the sky in erratic patterns, every square inch of the earth covered in snow. Trees dot the landscape, mounds of the white substance piling up. A small rock ridge ran across in the East, dotted with various shards of ice. A biting wind scattered the snow in every which way, the party becoming colder then ever... Even colder when they were when confronting Rhodus. In the middle of this disturbingly serene scene stood The Regret. He was chuckling softly, apparently unaffected by the freezing climate. "Welcome, heroes. Enjoying the cold, I take it? You know, this place goes by many monikers, even by its residents... There is a list a mile long of how many names this island has been called. "The Winter Wonderland", "Unending Season Isle", "Pyyroll", "Cryogg", "Island of Four Drafts", "Fahre", "Origin", "Hell", for those who didn't particularly enjoy being a slave here... But. There is one name that sailors use that I think describes this fateful place best. The Lonely Isle. This, I suppose, is where this 3,000 year long tragedy began... So welcome, heroes. Welcome to my home. Welcome to our home. Welcome to The Lonely Isle."

QM Note: I'll move this along when everyone buys what they want... Revelations are coming up, folks, and I'm eager to get this final chapter of our story going!

"I'll pass on any bar booze - I can make my own cocktails." I mix together and chug down a Mead, Nostrum, and Smelling Salts. "Ahh... urgh. tastes revolting, but one never argues with results. Now then, I believe our next lead was at Triad Park?

Beatrice gives a sigh - in it both sorrow and happiness are mixed in. Though he can't really tell, Galen was certian Beatrice was giving a small smile back. As if reaidng his mind, she says... "Yeah, been a really tough day for everyone, hasn't it? Hopefully when you seven end this once and for all, we can finally have some time together... not in a genocide or on a battleground, Galen. Be a nice change of pace, wouldn't it, hon?"

The Party: Sylph Solanum (Dannylonglegs) *Party Leader!* unknown age, unknown race Druid Level 21.33 Power: 29 (21+7+1) Defense: 0 Health: 37/37c(21+17+7+1) Ether: 12/24 (5+16+1) Gold: 282 Equipment: Shrapnel Bow (WP: 9, Bow. Every successful hit drops the target's SP by 1) , Ranger's Quiver (WP +1 to bows and crossbows), 20-20 glasses (headwear, +1 turn of effect for scrolls) Inventory: Mockthril Rod (WP:7), Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Confusion, 2 Potions, 1 Grand Potion, Tonic, Venom, Smoke Bomb, 2 Fire Bombs,Ice Bomb, 3 Water Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, Floral Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, 6 Bones, Signet Ring, Saber Teeth, Journal of The Bleeding, Sword Fragment (1), Helmet (Max. health +1), Quartz, Tale of the Invincible King, Psych Documents, Merry Bow (WP:7, ranged, steals 1 gold with each successful hit except Shield-skills), Journal of The Wound, Sword Fragment (2), Emerald, Trial Brew, Suffering's Journal, Sword Fragment (3), Smelling Salts, Nostrum Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts) 25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider Level: 22.33 Power: 34 (22+8+4) Health: 39/39 (22+8+1+7+0) Shield Power: (5) Ether: ~/0 Positive effects: *Immune to:* (*Fragile*, *Cursed* *Stunned* *Poisoned!*), *Natural Respite* Negative effects: (none) Gold: 1942 (186G(1), 0GB(50), 0CB(50), 0GO(80), 0CC(70), 0GC(100), 0M) Equipment: Sword of Decay (WP:8)(once the target is inflicted with damage they lose a quarter of the power of the strike each following turn for three turns. the effect cannot be compounded with more strikes. Suitable to Mages, Knights and Barbarians.) Heavy Armour – SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians and knights, Bravado Boots (1/6 chance of being Lucky at the beginning of every battle), Scarlet Hood (+4 to power, immunity to stunned) Extra Artefacts: Helmet (+1 max health), Blessed Amulet – Protects from cursed-effect. Dog Statuette - (suitable for anyone, SP: 1, once named (Rover), speaking the name summons a dog almost certainly to tag along on madcap adventures and make snippy comments.), Hide of The Bleeding (Backwear, restores 10 HP and 5 ether for every enemy the wearer kills, suitable for anyone), Hide of The Suffering (Bodywear, Power +7 when under a negative status effect. Doesn't stack.) Extra Weapons: Greatsword (WP:3), Meteor Blade (WP:8, Light elemental), Focal Staff (WP:5, Focus Fire-Roll a 3 for 5 ether Suitable for clerics and mages) Tools: Shovel (1), Pick-axe (2), Magnifying Glass (1), Magic Compass (1) Consumables: Potion (6), Venom (2), Trial Brew (1), Remedy, Smelling Salts Elements: Aquamarine (1), Emerald (1), Topaz (1) Scrolls: Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (2), Scroll of Confusion (1) Quest items: (None) Elgar Gligin (played by Jedi master Brick) Level 21.33 Evoker *Immune to Fragile!* Power: 32 Defense: 6 Health: 21/31 Ether: 2/20 Gold: 621 Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11), Chainmail (SP: 2, Bodywear: half damage from Fire elemental enemies and double from Electric elemental enemies) Emerald Hood (SP: 4, headwear, protects from Fragile) Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz, Opal, Venom x4, Spade, Pickaxe, 4 Potions, Trickster's Mask of the Elf(Accessory, Changes user's appearance into an Elf),Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the badly poisoned effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Needlessly Large Rod (Non-Artifact Item, Curses a random enemy. Usable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion x3, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sealing, Fireworks, Remedy, Tonic x3, Dualis Scepters (WP: 8, Club/Staff, Dual-striking), Phoenix Incense, Nostrum Alexandre le Chevalier (Played by Capt.JohnPaul) Level 20 Paladin, 20 year old elf male Power: 30 Defense: 13 Health: 22/40 Ether: 3/20 Gold: 306 Equipment: Sword of the Elven Blademaster (WP: 10 ;ignores SP, +1 gold per successful strike), Cross Heater Shield (SP: 10) (Mail of the Renegade Commander (SP: 3; Damage of all Free Hits is halved; suitable for Knights and Barbarians), Dapper Hat (Headwear, wearer has a 1/6 chance of becoming encouraged at the start of each battle) Inventory: Potions (5), Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Tonic x2, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Potion, Grand Tonic, Scroll of Sealing, Elixir, Feather Duster of DOOM (WP: 1), Nostrum Lycan Romulus Dean (played by theBoyWonder) Level 15 Rogue *Immune to weakened* *Immune to Stunned* Power: 35 Health: 19/19 Gold: 956 (95 gold owed to Thormanil and 30 to Loreal) Equipment: Combrys (WP: 15, consecutive successful strikes raise Combry's WP by 1, unsuccessful strikes drop it to it's base WP), Pugilist Gloves(Power +2, protects from weakened) Inventory: Bedroll, Staff of The Frog Paladin (WP:6, 1/6 chance of Amphibianocs Blessing (protects from damage)), Throwing Dagger (WP6), Deadly Venom, Venom x3, Sylvania's Cowl(grants Animal Talk to Wearer), Garnet, Scarlet Hood (Headwear, Power +4, Protects from Stunned), Mead, Garnet Galen Woodward (Fugazi) 36 year old male human Rogue Level 17.5 Power: 27 (17+10) Defense: 1 (+1) Health: 27/27 (7+15+4) Gold: 3826 Equipment: Murkwood Thread (WP: 10), Chimera Headdress (Headwear, Suitable for Rangers and Rogues, +1 SP +4 Health), Stretchy Rubber Band (Accessory, returns thrown weapons immediately) Inventory: Fauxthril Shuriken (WP:5, ranged), Throwing Dagger (WP:4, ranged), Bedroll, Venom x2, Grand Potion x2, Fire Bomb, Goblin's Wrench(WP:10 ,retrievable), Black Katana (WP:8), Trial Brew, Goblin's Wrench (WP:10,retrievable), Cast, Leather Armour (SP:1), Hide of The Wound (+6 power to throwing weapons), Smokebomb, Potion, Mead "...Regret...?" Punii, 2 month year old Progg Alchemist Jellies: Red x4, Green x3, Blue x3 "One thing after the next!" Hal Bohrd, Luosh Guard Captain Level 19.5 Power: 29 Defense: 3 Health: 36/36 Gold: 50 Equipment: Halberd (WP: 10) Luoshian Armor (SP: 3, Bodywear) Inventory: Rolls: 6: Charge! Does damage to the target equal to all conscious party member's WP added together. The special effects in the weapon (such as decay) are not transmitted. 5: Critical Hit: WPx3+Level The Regret shuffles a bit closer to Galen, chuckling under his breath. His eyes narrow into slits as he looks Galen, as if sizing the Rogue up... "Hah. You demand answers now, and yet you know that you will not receive any. All loose ends will be tied up soon enough, heroes. I'm veeerrry curious to see how much your sister truly matters to you, Rogue. My powers are not a resource to be exploited, nor are hey just to be bought away with gold. No, I'm afraid you're going to have to pay up with something far dearer then that... I'm interested to see where this will be going, Galen. Maybe we will cut a deal, and you will learn about your oh-so-beloved sister. Or perhaps I will simply slaughter you, and you too will die in the massacre that I will bring to your party. I have said it once, and I shall say it again... Only time can tell." The Regret sneers and continues, a faint Halo of light surrounds his body, laying low on the ground. It is slowly expanding, growing brighter and brighter... "I shall meet you at the Town Hall. There, you shall get the answers you seek... and the death you creatures deserve. Til' then!" With a mocking wave of goodbye, the halo collapses inward. The Regret dissapears in a distorted blur, his exit blasting a dark whirlwind outward. The party is thrown off their feet and on to their rump. They dust themselves off as they stagger up, getting ready for the impending clash with the enigmatic creature. Everything he said contradicted with something else... and only he could untwist this tangled knot and bring clarity to this bloodstained night. Dini looks up at them, resolute. However, looking deeper into the mage's eyes, even the egotistical spellslinger was feeling fear. "I'll protect Roni, and hold down this fort - maybe weed out any remaining Proggs lingering about here. You have a far more vital battle on your hands, heroes... I have the feeling that detestable fellow has more to him then he lets on. I'll deactivate the Mystrinitri Fores spell for a few minutes - run, before you get trappe dwithin there again!" Having only time to nod at the mage's advice, the party instantly beelines out through the hole The Regret had left in the wall. The rain was now tranquil, only a few drops trickling from the sky; the storm may have been defused, but the situation certainly wasn't The Regret now had the magical power of all of the princes combined, plus his own - as well as over 1,000 years of expertise. Who knew how strong he would be? The party makes a mad dash through Mystrinitri Forest, the once boggling woods now just a straight run from the manor to the mushroom gardens. Taking a sharp right at the gardener's house, Punii grabs old of Hal's back armor and climbs to his shoulder, the little yellow creature simply unable to keep up. Rushing down a dirt road, the party finds themselves back to the center of the town.... the town hall. An air of tension seems to hang around the towering building, the massive structure almost a floor taller then Dini's belltower. Ornate pillars run up and down it, blue accents lining the top and bottom of each story. Through every door and window a wicked black smoke billows out, the cloud of darkness seemingly slowly creeping towards the heroes. Ghastly tendrils seem to spiral out of the emerging cloud, reaching out then pulling back in. The Toxiproggs stand solemnly outside, Beatrice with them. The Progg Nurse seems to warm up when Galen draws closer. "Galen hon, and heroes... you made it back! You guys really are a lot tougher then I thought when I first met you, tee hee." She giggles, but it is nervous and halfhearted. "It seems like defeating Eidolon only caused a new evil to crawl out of its disgusting den, though..." The Toxiprogg with all of his arms attached cradles his hea din his four arms. "This, this isn't good... We were all playing a nervous game of bridge in the Town Hall, waiting for you guys to come back with Eidolon's cracass... but then The regret threw the doors open - and a putrid cloud of black decided to follow him in! We grabbed as many items from the stands and dashed out, but all the others... Ayla, The Mayor, The Rihts family, Adam, Shaun... they are all still trapped in there, and we don't have a clue what the hell is going on in there! We tried to go back in, but that darkness... thingy... just sealed our way in. We'd walk in then immediately wake up back at our burrow. I... I think he is waiting for you, heroes." The other Toxiprogg, this Progg the amputated one, speaks up. You notice he purposely distance dhimself from Beatrice after their fallout... He pulls out a bulging sack and begins laying out the goods. "Here is what we retrieved. You may want to stock up..." ~Desperation Depot~ Deadly Venom: 50 gold Decaying Venom: 60 gold Plague Venom: 130 gold Remedy: 14 gold Potion – Restores 10 health to the target. Costs 9 gold. Tonic – Restores 5 ether to the target. Costs 20 gold. Grand Potion – Restores 25 health to the target. Costs 15 gold. Grand Tonic – Restores 15 ether to the target. Costs 40 gold. Elixir – Restores 50 health and 10 ether to the target and removes all negative effects from the target. Costs 55 gold. Phoenix Essence – Revives a fallen ally with full health during a battle. Costs 75 gold. Mead - Causes the encouraged-effect, doubling the target's attack power for the duration of one battle. Costs 25 gold. 2 remaining! Smelling Salts - Causes the hastened-effect, allowing the target to act twice in one round for the duration of one battle. Costs 35 gold. 2 remaining! Nostrum - Causes the lucky-effect, allowing the target to roll the battle die twice and get the better result of the two for the duration of one battle. Costs 45 gold. 2 remaining! Soma – Causes the blessed-effect, allowing the target to recover 3 health at the end of each round for the duration of one battle. Costs 55 gold. Trial Brew: Halves the drinkers max HP, max ether, and max SP for the duration of one battle. These effects are irremediable. Surviving a battle without getting knocked out in this state nets you double EXP. Being revived after being knocked-out removes these effects. Costs 80 gold. "All money goes directly into the "Repair Luosh" fund." The party could make some pruchases before walking into the Town Hall... though what lurked within?

110 pages in 5 months isn't shabby.

Well, Wren is pretty much toast in one/two more rounds... unless Zeph has a third phase planned. That'd be plain naughty.

QM Note: I know that Galen might want to talk to The Regret, so I'll wait until Fugazi posts until I move this along. "Paladin, what do you mean by "returning"? Did you truly believe that I am simply going to walk off into the sunset, devestating power in hand? Ha! Do not be deceived... I harbor a hatred for your kind as undying as myself. I have more reason then any Progg you have ever met to want to slaughter each and every human in Olegaia. A tad unobtainable, but greater feats have been performed in my time... You seem so keen to forget that most of you humanoids are fragile little creatures killed in an instant. Not everyone can be a paragon, you know! All shall be revealed by sunrise, heroes... Here simply isn't the correct place to reveal it." "Hmph. You do not even know my story yet. The words I will soon speak may create an oceanic rift between us, Druid... or perhaps they will close the chasm. We may be completely different... or we may be virtually identical. Only time can tell!"

"I'll do it from the back. Sorry, Assassins aren't meant to take front row damage." Agh, 48 is eating my time up.

You're right with the age, but not the identity. The Mythrogg is said to be big enough to destroy palaces with a single haymaker... Doesn't quite fit The Regret. The two were related in some manner, however, but not everything can come to light in Dini Manor.

"Hah, Druid. You're among the sharpest humanoids I've ever seen... Well done. But I'm afraid that isn't saying much at all, since the most of you seem dull - remarkably so. But I can feel an unearthly age coming from you as well, Sylph. We're not as different as you may like to think... Old souls, you and I." "I'm afraid you're quite wrong. I am not the Mythrogg... merely a close friend. Did you know that the Gladius Unit you've slain thus far was actually the second? But, ah ah, not everything can come to light here. There is a whole 3,000 years of history you must catch up on heroes, and you will learn it in due time. But for now, I'm afraid some secrets can't come out... not here, anyway." QM Note: I'll move this along when everyone gets a chance to post.