Endgame

The party seems to be taking as many preemptive precautions as possible. Pfft, as if their QM would throw them in another battle so quickly: he'd have to be plain evil to do that! The noise from the manor momentarily gets louder, then softens. The party can make out some screams in the brief patch of loudness... Where will the party go next? QM Note: I'll post the party when everyone decides where to go next/makes their preparations.

I look as Guts rushes the arrogant Floodgate, fire in his eyes and murder in his heart. Realizing that my leader would probably have her reduced to pebbles in mere seconds, I decide to reevalute my strategy. "I'll get Irek from the Front Row."

Of course Luosh, of all places, would be one of the few places in the world of Heroica to feature such sterile and modern architecture. Depending how far along the 48 party is by the end of december, I may be able to send you a pitch for a quest far, far smaller in scale, Sandy.

QM Note: These builds took longer then expected, especially the second picture: sorry for the delay! The party, having broken the news to the banker, trudges off to the Docks. They find 2 sturdy oak docks, both with several hook and poles: presumably to tie recreational boats to. Sapphire Pond was a bit of a misnomer, to be sure.. It's waters certainly beared semblance to a polished sapphire, the sparkling water completely clean. The water was actually rather choppy, presumably from the miniature earthquake the Proggs caused when tunneling here. However, size wise, it was certainly not a pond. It was almost big enough to be a lake, and the body of water sprawled out nearly as far as they eye could see. Fortunately, no Proggs appeared to be present. Standing on the end of the dock, the heroes see the small island Aquos liked lounging on. (Un?)fortunately, the beast didn't seem to be there. Turning their heads, they saw one of the most extraordinary building. It was a giant white house, suspended over the water by 2 giant oak pillars. Despite being soaked from all angles, the sturdy posts did not seem to waver in the slightest: even when the water was this choppy. It seemed to flow past the pillars and into a grotto of sorts. The astonishing house seemed to also be leaning against a rock ridge. The party can faintly hear a ruckus in the direction of the manor. What will the party do?

"Hm. I'm tempted to attack Floodgate and hope I can get an assassination on her. Maybe somebody can give me a nostrum this round? I'll gladly pay you back."

The banker looks clearly disappointed with the news; at first. But here frown soon turns into a bittersweet smile. She sighs and addresses the heroes. "When Morxes and Lyrol told me they were born at the Murkwood... I expected something like this would occur. Still, who am I to deny them from living with their true family? Living in their real home? After all this is over, me and Punii will have to visit. Thank you for telling me the truth, heroes." Heaving one last sigh, she slowly walks back into the town hall. QM Note: Like all morning updates, this one I can't cram too much into. I'll get the docks up this afternoon!

As Sylph boldy proclaims the party's next destination, they are just about to walk to the Docks when they see Ayla running towards them, panting. "*haack, hooorf* Can't... remember... last time... I ran that fast! Deep breaths..." The banker regains her normal composure and asks the heroes a question. "Been looking all over for you guys! Where is Morxes and Lyrol?" The banker's face looks concerned.

"It is that big blue body of water you see. Riht's Manor overlooks it."

"He probably has more then Prometheus, but probably less expertise with it. Proggs are atheist."

...Try mythology reference?

"Eidolon is probably the strongest prince. You know, Rhodus didn't always have his magic abilites: they got them recently. I heard not only does Eidolon have the most combat experience, he has the most magic in store as well."

Glancing back at the map, you realize that you'll have to go through the Mushroom Gardens to reach the Mystrinitri forest and, of course, the Dini Manor.

Gah, some of the mistakes I am making really are inexcusable. I always start off on quests like an idiot.

"Only been a couple of days since that Charis victory and I'm already slipping. I'll go for Corlos again, because of instakill and all that."

"Hope you dislike your sanity, because you won't have any when you go into there! It is usually just a quiet little scenic path... but Dini has recently turned on some sort of spell or incantation or something. You can go back the same way you came in and find yourself on the other end of the forest... I can slash 12 Deadly Venom to 500 gold."

I revive Guts, back row.

QM Note: Whoops, TBW, I forgot yo wanted to do that. The Party: Sylph Solanum (Dannylonglegs) unknown age, unknown race Druid Level 18.5 Power: 26 (18+7+1) Defense: 0 Health: 34/34c(9+17+7+1) Ether: 9/22 (5+16+1) Gold: 64 Equipment: Merry Bow (WP:7, ranged, steals 1 gold with each successful hit except Shield-skills), Ranger's Quiver (WP +1 to bows and crossbows), Helmet (Max. health +1) 20-20 glasses 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 x2, Grand Tonic x2, Remedy, 2 Venoms, 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) Galen Woodward (Fugazi) 36 year old male human Rogue Level 14 Power: 24 (14+10) Defense: 2 (+2) Health: 24/24 (7+13+4) Gold: 391 Equipment: Murkwood Thread (WP: 10), Chimera Headdress (Headwear, Suitable for Rangers and Rogues, +1 SP +4 Health), Leather Armour (SP:1) Inventory: Fauxthril Shuriken (WP:5, ranged), Throwing Dagger (WP:4, ranged), Bedroll, Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bomb XX, Grand Potion x5, Remedy x3, Nostrum x5, Mead x5, Fire Bomb, Deadly Venom x2, Crumbling Venom, Goblin's Wrench(WP:10,retrievable), Black Katana (WP:8), Phoenix Essence, Smelling Salts x2 Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts) 25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider Level: 20.5 Power: 28 (20+8+0) Health: 35/35 (19+8+1+7+0) Shield Power: (1 + 5) Ether: ~/0 Positive effects: *Immune to:* (*Fragile*, *Cursed*), *Natural Respite* Negative effects: (none) Gold: 385(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 (3), Grand Potion, Venom, Ice Bomb (1), Mead (2), Phoenix Essence (3), Trail Brew (1), Nostrum (2), Smelling Salts (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 19 Evoker Power: 30 Defense: 0 Health: 27/27 Ether: 16/18 Gold: 420 Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11) Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Emerald,SapphireTopaz ,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. Usuable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion x2, Grand Tonic x3, Opal Lycan Dean (played by theBoyWonder) Level 10.5 Rogue *Immune to weakened* Power: 21 Health: 14/14 Gold: 78 (95 gold owed to Thormanil and 30 to Loreal) Equipment: Combrys (WP: 8, 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), Sylvania's Cowl(grants Animal Talk to Wearer) Inventory: Bedroll, Staff of The Frog Paladin (WP:6, 1/6 chance of Amphibianocs Blessing (protects from damage)), Throwing Dagger (WP6), Warhammer (WP:4), Grand Potion, Deadly Venom x2, Venom x3, Mead, Phoenix Essence, Smelling Salts x2, Nostrums x5 Alexandre le Chevalier (Played by Capt.JohnPaul) Level 16.5 Paladin, 20 year old elf male Power: 24 Defense: 13 Health: 36/36 Ether: 10/16 Gold: 61 Equipment: Sword of the Elven Blademaster (WP: 8; 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) Inventory: Potions (4), Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Tonic x2, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Potion, Remedy, Grand Tonic, Mead, Phoenix Essence, Nostrum, Deadly Posion "That *wheeze* was quick..." Punii, 2 month year old Progg Alchemist Jellies: Green x3, Red x1, Blue x1 "I can slash the price for all 12 from 600 to 550... but that is it." "Now then, let's start with the names. The Bleeding's real name is Cardic, while The Regret's real name is Prometheus. ...And that is all I got regarding that. Now then, Aquos the blind. As you probably know, Aquos is one of the princes you have to kill. And, well, he is blind. Completely. Has never seen a thing in his entire 1,102 years. but it gets weirder then that. Besides sporting gills and being able to swim through the water, he also has 8 tentacles. Do not underestimate him, though, because he is a superior fighter to Rhodus - rumor has it he somehow uses ultrasound or something to detect, well, everything. There is a little island in the center of Sapphire Pond he likes to sleep on, I guess. Aerial Proggs? Well, Eidolon is one. And he has his very own skycorp, too."

QM Note: if you still want to make an order at the smithy's, go ahead! I'll just be moving this along to the Toxic Burrow. ~The Toxic Burrow~ Information "I got some new topics, both pretty juicy." Information Topics: -Aquos the Blind -The Gladius Units' Real Names (pt 1) Venoms "Oh, I managed to make 1 more Plague Venom while you guys were out doing whatever in the Murkwood." Venoms for Sale Venom: 8 gold "You don't do away with the classics, y'know?" Deadly Venom: 45 "Don't try drinking this at home, kids." Decaying Venom: 50 gold "Our own exclusive blend! Does 3 damage and subtracts 1 SP each round from any enemy that is poisoned by this stuff." Plague Venom: 120 gold "If the price doesn't knock ya out, the venom certainly will! This is our premium, top-fo-the-line blend. Does 15 damage and -1 SP per round. We only have 4 in stock, but we'll replenish from time to time." Remedy: 12 gold "Yeah, yeah, I know it is more expensive then you are used to. But they are hard to come by, and we need them ourselves sometimes. As embarrassing as this sounds... sometimes we poison ourselves."

"I have once, actually. I switch my target to Corlo, back row. There is a chance I instantly kill this bastard, and I'm going to put good use to my new abilities."

"It is the fumes, lad. I have to heat venom to imbue it on the blade. During this, it also emits some pretty noxious fumes. I just have a stockpile of remedies I chug during the procedure."

"It'll last forever, yeah. I can't do both on one blade, sorry. The venoms start mixing and it just gets messy. 300 is a BARGAIN, lad! Do you realize how dangerous it is working with all these toxic chemicals? Though, I guess if you use the Blacksmith's Writ, I can drop down to 150. You'll still need to snag the venom itself, though."

"Yes. And normal venom I'll need 50. Plus, of course, 300 gold. Also keep in mind that I (or I doubt anyway else for that matter) can't swap the perma-venom when it's there. I hope you really like whatever you're gonna put it on." Not even touching that Plague Venom stuff. Old geezer like me can't take even a drop of that stuff getting near him, nosiree."

"I'll need 12 Crumbling Venoms to do that. Plus 300 gold. So your tab for that would be... 900 gold.

Yes. Besides, the amount of consumables needed for it's upkeep will quickly become expensive: not to mention a nostrum doesn't guarantee a hit.

"Possible, but it won't be cheap. What type of venom are you talking?"