Endgame

I watched the program till midnight, only to see they didn't drop the stinking ball. :skeptic: Lame! Happy New Year to all!

Selfast, back row!

Aquos turns around, his back towards the party. His voice is nearly a whisper - a whisper filled with a 1,000 years of unfulfilled wishes and sorrow. "...Being able to see." He quickly turns back around to face the heroes. "Oh, they most certainly do! You humanoids... you sicken me. You really do. If there is a god, how could he engineer such crippled beings? Such lowly creatures, disgusting, obnoxious, thieving, rude, bloodthirsty and greedy. You humanoids are the scum of Olegaia - you've done nothing but cause pain and sorrow. And you think a genocide makes you any better then us? You think your mindless killing is any different then ours? You're worse then us Proggs, for the simple reason that you are fighting because of incentive. We are fighting for our people. And you, Druid. You couldn't care less about any of the people you are saving. Because you'd think you'd remember their names!"

"I've spent over 1,000 years blind. You get used to the quips, of which yours are the weakest of. And yes, you are vermin. Small, insignifigant little pests that can be squashed with a single motion. "Vermin" suits you quite nicely."

Aquos first responds to Sylph. "Good, thank you. My son is very close to hatching, no thanks to the turbanned Rogue. By the by, I believe I still see some scars on your face, Galen. Did I smash your ugly little face into the rock wall too hard? tsk, tsk. All of you are such fragile creatures, broken like a twig in a mere instant. You may be the paragons of your kind, but make no mistake: i will devour you just as easily as I have any other of your pitiable species. Such sorry souls you are, tethered to such flimsy bodies. I kill you out of mercy. Truly, I do. I feel it is just the right action, freeing a soul from its disgusting prison. Shame we cannot make you Proggs... ah, well, you tampered with us too much already." Aquos glares at Sylph. "All of you filthy vermin went past the point of redemption long ago. So, yes, hostility is quite necessary." Will the party prepare?

Punii looks over the edge, staring at his reflection in the water. he backs up, terrified, when the ground he was on previously cracked off and sunk. "RUN!" The party sprints across the stone pedestals, the platform they were previously on now crumbling at a rapid pace. When the last of them had reached the other end, the platform was nothing but a collection of pebbles floating on the water's surface. The party looks warily at the gold. Upon closer inspection, it was remarkably... Aquos-sized...? Underneath the gold, a abomination closes his eyes. Not that it helped, of course. He tried to piece together the sounds echoing and bouncing around the room... trying to get a feel for the room's newest layout, and where its guests were. The sounds were like an infinite puzzle to the beast, a puzzle he dealt with every waking moment... and one he never was able to truly saw. Deep in thought, the gargantuan creature manages to assemble the sounds into one cohesive image. With the puzzle put together, the ground begins to rumble and shake beneath the heroes... Suddenly, the gold pile practically explodes, chunks and bars of the precious material being scattered every which way. They land into the water, sinking into the deep abyss below. Underneath the pile of gold, was, oddly, a dome of rock. The heroes slowly reach towards it, when suddenly a tentacle shoots out - and another, and another, and another, then 4 more at once, decimating the rock dome. All that was left was their gargantuan adversary: Aquos had revealed himself at last! He tapped his tail lightly on the floor, making sure to keep a constant reading on the heroes. He held his 8 disgusting tentacles above his head, all pointed at the party. His colossal tail sways back and forth, as if ready to strike at any time. His two eyes shine like a green flame, illuminating the dark cavern - though, both he and the heroes knew those 2 eyes were just for show. Always have been, and always will be. The party takes a step or two back from the gigantic Prince, stunned by his daring entry. "We meet again."

Lycan waltz across slowly, getting to the other side, but not touching the gold. Nothing happens... or so the party thinks at first. The starting platform they were one begins to crumble slightly... Were they being herded?

The arrow cuts through the room and lands dead smack on a piece of gold, emitting a twang as it stuck to its surface. Nothing happens.

Page-wise, I believe that it was Quest 30 previously, with 61 pages.

Nothing happens. A trend is beginning to appear... "Maybe *cough* it is just time to acknowledge *wheeze* the elephant in the room, Sylph..."

QM Note: We are offically the longest quest! Huzzah. Again. Nothing happens.

Are you going to inspect every brick of the grotto?

The arrow lands on the water's surface and it begins to sink slowly as it pierces the surface. Nothing extraordinary happens - plain old water.

Is the party approaching the gold?

Elgar attempts to lift the gold, but at this distance, he is unable to: that, and the pile was extremely heavy. it was definitely real gold, at any rate!

The Party: Sylph Solanum (Dannylonglegs) *Party Leader!* unknown age, unknown race Druid Level 19.5 Power: 27 (19+7+1) Defense: 0 Health: 35/35c(9+17+7+1) Ether: 15/23 (5+16+1) Gold: 19 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, 1 Potions, 1 Grand Potion, Tonic x3, Venom, Smoke Bomb, 2 Fire Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 3 Water Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, Floral Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, 8 Bones, Signet Ring, Saber Teeth, Crumbling Venom, Journal of The Bleeding, Sword Fragment (1), Smelling Salts x2, 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), Ether Core, Journal of The Wound, Sword Fragment (2), Grand Tonic Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts) 25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider Level: 21 Power: 29 (21+8+0) Health: 36/36 (19+8+1+7+0) Shield Power: (1 + 5) Ether: ~/0 Positive effects: *Immune to:* (*Fragile*, *Cursed*), *Natural Respite* Negative effects: (none) Gold: 753 (186G(1), 0GB(50), 0CB(50), 0GO(80), 0CC(70), 0GC(100), 0M) Equipment: 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.), 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.) Hide of The Bleeding (Backwear, restores 10 HP and 5 ether for every enemy the wearer kills, suitable for anyone) Heavy Armour – SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians and knights. Extra Artefacts: Helmet (+1 max health), Blessed Amulet – Protects from cursed-effect. 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 (4), Grand Potion, Venom, Ice Bomb (1), Mead (2), Phoenix Essence (3), Trial Brew (1), Smelling Salts (2), Remedy, Nostrum (2) Elements: Aquamarine (1), Emerald (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 20 Evoker *Immune to Fragile!* Power: 31 Defense: 6 Health: 28/28 Ether: 10/19 Gold: 210 Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11), Chainmail (SP: 2, Bodywear: half damage from Fire elemental damage and double from Electric elemental damage) Emerald Hood (SP: 4, headwear, protects from Fragile) Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz, Opal, ,3 Venoms, Spade,Pickaxe,3 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) ,Goblin's Wrench(WP:10,retrievable), Needlessly Large Rod (Non-Artifact Item, Curses a random enemy. Usable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion x2, Grand Tonic x3, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sealing, Fireworks, Remedy, Tonic, Dualis Scepters (WP: 8, Club/Staff, Dual-striking), Nostrum Alexandre le Chevalier (Played by Capt.JohnPaul) Level 18 Paladin, 20 year old elf male Power: 28 Defense: 13 Health: 38/38 Ether: 6/18 Gold: 0 Equipment: Sword of the Elven Blademaster (WP: 10; ignores SP), 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 (4), Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Tonic x2, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Potion, Grand Tonic, Scroll of Sealing, Tonic Lycan Dean (played by theBoyWonder) Level 12 Rogue *Immune to weakened* *Immune to Stunned* Power: 32 Health: 16/16 Gold: 0 (95 gold owed to Thormanil and 30 to Loreal) Equipment: Combrys (WP: 14, consecutive successful strikes raise Combry's WP by 1, unsuccessful strikes drop it to it's base WP), Pugillist Gloves(Power +2, protects from weakened), Scarlet Hood (Headwear, Power +4, Protects from Stunned) 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, Nostrum, Potion, Sylvania's Cowl(grants Animal Talk to Wearer), Nostrum x3 Galen Woodward (Fugazi) 36 year old male human Rogue Level 15.5 Power: 25 (15+10) Defense: 1 (+1) Health:25/25 (7+13+4) Gold:750 Equipment: Murkwood Thread (WP: 10), Chimera Headdress (Headwear, Suitable for Rangers and Rogues, +1 SP +4 Health), Leather Armour (SP:1), Hide of The Wound (+6 power to throwing weapons), Inventory: Fauxthril Shuriken (WP:5, ranged), Throwing Dagger (WP:4, ranged), Bedroll, Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bomb XX, Grand Potion x4, Remedy x3, Nostrum x3, Mead x3, Fire Bomb, Deadly Venom x2, Crumbling Venom, Goblin's Wrench(WP:10,retrievable), Black Katana (WP:8), Phoenix Essence x2, Smelling Salts x3, Trial Brew, Goblin's Wrench(WP:10,retrievable), Cast, Potion, Leather Armour (SP:1), Soma "Bring it, *cough* Aquos! Punii, 2 month year old Progg Alchemist Jellies: Blue x2, Green x2, Red x1 The party members bicker, but reach an ultimatum: they had to stop Aquos and now. Knowing that a confrontation with Aquos was near, the party splurges. Artifacts bought, consumables acquired, weapons forged to be even deadlier. With their shopping spree over and done with, with Sylph leading the way, they head back to the Docks. Beatrice and the Toxiproggs wave and wish them luck as they walk off, the 3 friendly Proggs knowing in the back of their minds that Aquos would be a far more formidable foe then anything else the party had encountered... As promised, Hal and his two men were in the same place as before. the two guards stand sentry-like, breathing a sigh of relief as the heroes approach: their monotonous shift was nearly over! "Good luck with that tentacled... thing, okay? You handled Rhodus, now it is time for you to cut another branch off of the Progg princes' wretched family tree." The two guards speak up. "Best of luck, aye?" "Stick him one in the eye - for Luosh!" With that, the party steps on to the boat. The waters had calmed down significantly since their first visit, although it was still far too tough to swim. This, combined with the party's vigorous rowing, made a short trip to the lonely little island. Stepping off of the rowtrain, the party notices the island's only distinguishing feature: a massive grate in the center of the island. The members of the party grab the gargantuan, progg-sized gate and flip it open, it swinging open with a creak and slamming with a thud. A spiral staircase lies beneath the rusty grate. Cautiously going down it in a single file line, the party finds themselves in yet another underground grotto. This one far smaller then the one they were in before, water drips from the ceiling. The clear water swirls around the cavern, yet still somehow so deep they could not see the bottom. One feature demands the heroes' attention: a massive pile of gold! What will the party do?

QM Note: Found it, Capt:

Acerpulsum is probably one of my favorite underdeveloped races in the game: I don't recall seeing much of them, and I'd love to see more just from Triad's character. And no, not just because I think the mnifig head they use (which is it? ) looks cool.

QM Note: Shall I move this along? You all seem to have splurged significantly, most of you are nearly out of gold (), and the Toxiproggs don't have any new gossip. I'm excited for this next part...

Embassy looks amazing, scorpiox , though it appears some entries are randomly italicized.

Yep, would be useful!

"Since it seems that Sorrow was stupid enough to only ask for one item, I suppose I shall make a list! Fifty Shades of Bley for Alexis. Who am I to stop a perfectly decent woman from brainwashing herself into a slut? For Guts, a grinding stone for his Lifestealer. And tap-dancing lessons, dear god his jigs make my eyes burn. For Ellaria, her baby back. Come on, people, I'm not heartless. For Galen, a stretchy rubber band. For whatever he may desire to use it for. Ooh la la. For Sylph, who seemed like a nice enough guy when I met him, an Emerald. For Johon, since he seems to get whacked around quite a bit, a Nostrum to keep him company. For Lycan, who served alongside me in Charis, a mint. Oh, and a mead. For Elgar, an ether core. Give it to me and I slit your throat. For Alex le Chevalier, a sum of 50 gold. Take it or leave it. For Nagure, a Dragon Scale. Poor "teddy bear" gets smacked around too much. And for Mizuki, some Trial Brew. I heard it goes well with cookies and milk."

I hope Father Gorgmas decides you have been very naughty this year. Excited to see what Gifts will be handed out! A day left... maybe half of one, depending on timezones.

... I laugh because the alternative is crying.

I don't get the "Corn" part. But if it is the latter, well... lets see that Aquos is going to have his level quadrupled.