Endgame

I blink a couple of times and hang back, unsure why you were here. "And what have you been up to, Silvia?"

Thanks for the comments, all! Yeah, 143 was made for a few reasons: 1) There was a wicked bad drought of quests at the time 2) After a fairly heavy 138, I didn't want to jump from that to an even heavier finale quest, so I thought 143 would be a good breather episode. 3) I wanted to tie up some lore before the end. After 138 had a lot of just "fluff" characters, I tried to make every character matter in this one. I'm glad to see people got attached to the secondary characters, like Garson, Marionne, Flavius, and the Bogossus, and some of the interparty relationships, plus your interactions with Gabriel, were good. In case you couldn't tell, Gabriel is a bit of an megablocks. He's getting better, though. I feel like he differenetiated himself faily firmly from Masson in this one, while still showing some inner confusion over his emotions and morals, without really saying it. Also, the whole "storm is coming, Gabriel is scared Immortalis is a-knockin;" was just something I improvised. I was out of time for the day I wanted to give you guys something to talk about, so I remembered how Gabriel was afraid of Charon/Immortalis from 138 and kinda just threw it out there. I think the Bogossus worked well as a bait and switch, and the conflict with Garson was a fitting finale. I was originally going to have only two bleak outcomes (Garson is killed by the heroes, or Gabriel fails you), but I could tell you guys were really trying to reach a good resolution for all parties, and it would clash in tone with the rest of the quest, so I elected not to. Plus, you guys did something I didn;t expect - nstead of talking Garson down, you pleaded towards Gabriel's conscience. And you borught it out, so kudos.

"Why y'all doing all this, anyway? Ain't this just gonna lead to war no matter what?"

"Thank you for the birthday wishes and the gift! Have a good night." "Against common sense, I'll be in Eubric. See you around." "Thank you. Maybe if you drop in one day you'll catch me playing the guitar." "...I seem to be awful thick when questing with you. Good thing I have you around to keep my head straight, huh." Gabriel takes Jinnipher's arm. She could tell he was smiling. "I know a good Charisian place around the block." The Party: Monk Pretzel and His 99 Pieces, the Super Sleuth (Played by Palathadric) 463-year-old male "hermit" Artisan *reinforced* Level: 35 Power: 47 35 + 10 + 2* Defense: 32 Health: 63/63 9 + 15 + 34 + 3 + 2** Gold: 2077 Equipment: Dual Staff (WP: 10; Ice, Lightning, Fire, Wind, Light; Dual Strike; Staff *Bleeding 3!*), Darksteel Armour (SP: 6; Max. Health +3; Bodywear), Armour of Dark Arts (SP: 10; Takes up: Bodywear, Handwear, Footwear slots; counts as one artifact; Suitable to Knights, Dragoons, and Skirmishers), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced effect; Suitable to Marauders; Backwear), Soul Link Chain (Allows the user to pair up with another party member, each of them gaining all the effects that the other has. The partner has to equip the chain as well (ie. one chain can be shared by two people); Accessory) Inventory: Weapons and Shields: Flying Cross (WP: 11; Darkness; Broomstick), Splinter Broom (WP: 9; *1/2 chance of Stun* Broomstick; defies SP), Whip of Savage Overlords (WP: 9; ⅙ chance of inflicting the Slowed effect; Whip), Steak (WP: 1, instantly kills vampires on successful hits; suitable for all), Staff of the Necromancer (WP: 12; damages Undead; +1 Level to raised Undead; Staff), Shadeaux Mace (WP: 9; deals Fragile effect, Mace), Mythril Shield (SP: 20) Artifacts: Strategist's Shako (+5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back; Headwear), Duplovian Helmet (SP:2; Immune to Magic and Healing; Headwear), Burning Knuckle Helmet (SP: 10; Wearer suffers Burning -3 effect; Suitable for Anyone; Headwear), Bumble Fanshirt (SP: 1, Vermin with level less than half of the wearers are scared and won't directly attack the wearer; Bodywear), Order Imperial Prophet's Armor (SP: 8; Grants Command; Suitable for Prophets; Bodywear), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP: 5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; Suitable for Knights, Dragoons, Skirmishers and Regulators, Bodywear), Cloak of the Barbaric Runecaster (SP: 3; wearer creates and deploys a Skeleton Decoy at the start of every battle; Suitable for Battle Mages, Necromancers, and Scholars; Backwear), Ethereal Cloak (SP: 2, Max Ether +4; Backwear), Rock Gauntlets (Grants the wearer Iron Fist at no ether cost; Suitable for anyone; Handwear), Counterstrike Gloves (Handwear), Soothing Slippers (Meditation restores 5 ether; Footwear), Shackles of War (Accessory), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Gems: 2 Amethysts, 2 Emeralds, Garnet, 2 Aquamarines, Diamond, Ruby Scrolls: Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness x 2, Scroll of Confusion x 2, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Minimizing (Has 1/2 chance of causing the minimized-effect on the target; costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Arc Sleep Consumables: 8 Potions, 16 Grand Potions, Cherry (Restores 1 ether), 2 Tonics, Ether Core, 10 Remedies, 3 Neutralizers, Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), 2 Phoenix Incenses, 5 Phoenix Essences, 5 Meads, 2 Smelling Salts, 2 Nostrums, Soma, Mulled Wine, Dragon Scale (lucky & blessed), Titan Heart (encouraged & inspired), Tiger Balm, 5 Venoms, 5 Deadly Venoms, 2 Paralyzing Venoms, 3 Jinxy Juices, 5 Smoke Bombs, Holy Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb, 2 Blind Bombs, 2 Seal Bombs, 2 Sleep Bombs, 6 Bones, Raw Meat (+5 max. health upon consumption), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects permanently), Strong Wasabi (-2 Poisoned permanently), Grating Stone Tools: Bedroll, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Shovel, Magic Compass, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest) Calamity (Scubacarrot) 24 year old human Mage Level 11 Power bonus: 2 (spell) Health: 15/15 Ether: 14/15 Gold: 216 Equipment: Renegade’s Crook (WP: 10, successful healing also poisons the target’s weapon by 3, staff), Gold skin Gloves (Spell power +2, Usable by mages, Handwear), Focus Sash (Gains +2 Defense for every successful hit, resets to zero when hit or when the battle ends, accessory, suitable for babarians, mages, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, regulators, vindicators, and winged warriors, and paragons) Inventory: Bedroll, 6x Potion, 2x Tonic, 3x Remedy, Scroll of Blindness (Enables casting the Blinded-effect to the target, making it unable to use a physical attack for the next three rounds. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.), Amethyst, Skull-Topped Staff (WP: 3, staff), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently) Jinnipher Buchaire (JimBee) 76-year-old female Moon Elven Knight Level 11 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 20/20 Defense: 26 Gold: 160 Equipment: Brine Blade (WP:5, deals Poison 5 and Bleeding 3; greatsword),, Moone Mail (SP:3; bodywear), Mythril Shield (SP: 20) Cloak of Necrotic Shielding (SP:3, grants Special Guard against undead enemies; backwear) Inventory: The Beheader (WP:15, defies SP; greatsword), Full Moon Shield (SP:5), Vorpalis Conquerors (Power +0; goes up by 2 for every enemy defeated, drops back down to 0 if the wearer is knocked out or if the battle ends; footwear), Paper Doll (protects from Hexed-effect; accessory), 3x Potion, Grand Potion, Greater Tonic, 3x Remedy, Venom, Bone, Bedroll, Shovel, Letter of Recommendation, Opal (Ice), Gloves of the Aspirant Zieg-friend (Spellpower +5, Max Ether +5; suitable to those with reputation among the Ziegfrieds only; if reputation is great, values are doubled; if reputation is outstanding, values are tripled; handwear), Natural Shield (SP:6, bearer deals half damage to and takes half damage from Beasts, Plants, and Vermin; shield), Fire Bomb, Mead Lind Whisperer *Encouraged at half health* * *Immune to Dark* *Double damage to humanoids* *Halved damage from Holy/Light enemies* *1/3 chance of dealing Fragile* *STEALS on rolls of Hide* 22-year-old Human Class: Black Knight Level: 22.66 Power: 34 (12+22) Defense: 13 (3+4+6) Health: 38/38 (7+22+9) Gold: 23 Glory Points: 14 Equipped Gear: Gladius (WP: 16, darkness-elemental greatsword, 1/3 chance of causing Fragile on successful hits), Invader's Armour (SP: 3, wearer is encouraged when their current health is at half or below the wearer's maximum level), Swift Boots (Changes HIDE into STEAL & HIDE, allowing the wearer to steal gold equal to the target’s level if it carries gold in addition to hiding; suitable to rogues; footwear.), Vorpalis Netherwings (SP: 4, the wearer deals double damage to humanoid type enemies and takes half damage from Holy/Light enemies. Backwear, suitable for anyone.), Skull Shield (SP:6; immunity to dark-elemental damage; suitable to Black Knights only; shield.) Unequipped Gear: Steel Knife (WP: 12, throwing weapon), Star-Breaker (WP: 5, darkness-elemental halberd *1/2 chance of stun*), Trickster's Mask of the Human (suitable for anyone, changes users appearance into a human of the same gender, accessory), Mugger's Mask (Protects from loss of gold from gold stealing enemies, headwear.), Akrone Fez (Artifact; SP: 1, Max. Health: +1, Headwear, suitable for anyone), Plasma Shield (SP: 3, user absorbs electric attacks) Unequipped Weapons: Darker Ethereal Deck (Playing Cards) (WP:7, throwing weapon), Ethereal Deck (Playing Cards) (WP:7, throwing weapon) Gems: Ruby Potions: x3 Potions, Bone, Last Wish Powder, Military Grade Firebomb x2, Grand Potion x2, Remedy x2 Tools: Bedroll, Shovel QM Note: Sorry that the pacing pettered off at the end, but thanks for coming along for the irde! Any comments/criticism in the QM's lounge would be much appreciated.

I knock, and, if no one answers, try the door.

"Used to be able to slash right past their sword, and they'd be far too slow to parry. They were always poised to handle righties. Well, it's an advantag they lost." "...Yes. She is a person. And I will." "No idea how we're still married, then." "You guys are free to go whenever you like. It is a succesful quest, after all. ...And Jinnipher. Can I finally get you that dinner I asked about a while back?" Final loot update coming soon.

"The Syndicate is basically the Town Watch but more coordinated. They're a subsidiary of the Watch." "Heh, it's nothing much to applaud over - I used to be much better, back when I had both arms. I try to keep myself nice for her. You know Karie?"

"It's ore than just a razor on a stick, there's a lot of stuff you have to account for. Nevertheless, even though I'm a blacksmith, not a miracleworker, you folks have safe travels." The party leaves the couple's house, feeling more experience after their morally complicated confrontation with Garson. They past by the Severas... "ahlt! Intru- oH. Ohhhh. Just you. Sorry, move along..." ...and lower themselves over the ridge, cutting back to Eubric as the sun begun its descent. "Chances are Masson is at work, the Syndicate HQ. Lets check there first." They do just that. Heading through the moonlit streets of Eubric, the party arrives at a warehouse-like building. He knocks at the door, and... What resembled a clone of Gabriel stepped out of the door. He was rubbing the stump of his arm, wincing a bit, before he notivces who was at the door. Had he still had his arm, he would've been a mirror image of Gabriel, especially in that suit. "Oh, uh, hi. I didn't expect you tonight, Gabriel, and not with so much... company." "Why the suit?" "Got dinner reservations. Figured I'd show up to pick up the wife already dressed. More romantic." "Well, I can tell you are busy, but... Happy birthday." Gabriel hands Masson the Brace Blade. His eyes widen and light up, and a grin spreads across his face. "Gabriel, you got this...?" Masson straps it to his arm and takes a few curosry swings. His swordsmanship, despite using his untrained, off hand, was precise, quick, and disciplined. "I, uh. Well. I haven;t been able to swing around a sword this well in a year. So.... Thanks a lot Gabriel. Really." "Couldn't have gotten it without these guys' help." says Gabriel, cracking a rare smile. He motions back to the party. Masson sheathes his blade. "Really? I don't suppose you're Heroicans? Thank you very much for your help with this, regardless. Really. I'm out in the field every day, this could be a life saver." "Yeah, they're Heroicans. I told them a little bit about you. Was I wrong when I said we basically look like clones?" "Yeah. But you're thirty one and I'm twenty six - sorry, twenty seven - now, old timer."

"I suspect a trap. Nevertheless, lets head there, post-haste."

"I already shaprned it. I can't do both without damaging the weapon. Would you consider perofmring another service on a different weapon?"

And it looks like the Clash of the Houses is beginning to liven up as well.

"Oh, I'll be here. I've been thinking about going down slope a little bit, getting some plants, and starting a garden. Until then... Bye!" The party returns to Flavius and Marionne's cottage briefly, an idea clearly brewing in Gabriel's head. Marionne lights up. "Any Azureleaf, dears?" "Afraid not. Someone else got it..." "Oh, dear... I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do for your borther's pahntom pain..." "That's fine, Marionne. Flavius?" "Yes?" "My brother was used to weilding his blade two handed. Minus one arm and his dominant hand, he's having trouble adjusting. Think you could whip something up? I have the gold." Flavius runs his fingers across his chin, consdeiring what he could do. "It'll be a chllanege, but that's what I holed myself up in the mountains for, yeah? Give me some time..." Hours pass, and the sun dips below the horizon. Flavius works tirelessly, and eventually comes out with a slender sword that is part blade, part gauntlet. "I call it the Brace Blade... It should help get your brother's swordsmanship back in shape." Gabriel sizes up the blade, accepting it in his hands. he weighs it, admiring the craftsmanship. "...I'm more of a handcannon fellow, but this is some good craftsmanship. Heroes, since we ended up with a gift in the end, I'm comfortable calling this quest succesful. We'll head out tonight to meet with my brother, if you fellows don't want anything from Flavius."

No, he just spawned a certain number of them per round, and got buffs/free hits/special activated if they weren't slaughtered fast enough.

The boss from 79 used Satellites to attack.

Gabriel gives it some thought. "He's in law enforcement, so he uses a weapon daily... And ever since he lost the arm, his swordsmanship hasn't been the same. If we can get our hands on a better weapon... Good idea, Lind."

...I don't think I've ever used ether based attacks? The only time I put ether on an enemy stat is when I label it as "infinite" because that's spoooooky.

It's an endless, ravenous cycle, as your min-maxing only causes QMs to buff stuff even more.

"Nope. What makes you say that?"

"...I have not once heard that in my life. I play guitar too, you know." Gabriel snarks.

From a QMing standpoint, I'd put Zane's stats that high to delibrately show that the party really can't oppose him - which may or may not be justified in this case. But yeah, Zane and Natasha's stats? Holy shit, they're strong. I think Zane has more HP than the Eternal Reaper, without all of that fragility and enocuragement shenanigans that made that fight winnable?

"He's kind of still traumatized over his last encounter with demons. Thanks, but no thanks."

"...Thanks. I have no idea what, though. I... Don't know him as well as I should. That's what I get for being away for so long, huh?"

"Fair points, Lind and Pretzel. And Jinnipher... I'm sorry I didn't listen." "Calamity, I admire your caution - and the dedication all of you have to the mission - but..." Gabrel motions for the Boggossus to lean down. It slowly complies, and the sniper plucks the Azureleaf off of the tree on its head. Gabriel feels the silky texture of the leaf between his fingers, contemplating something, before handing it to Garson. "...But I've decided the mission has changed. Send Vella my regards, Garson." Garson heaves a sharp sigh of relief, his hands trembling happily as he accepts the leaf. "Thank you, tahnk you, thank you... So much. Listen, here..." Gabriel tosses the party the 200 gold promised. "I won't go back on my word. And I promise to tell Vella just who saved her. Thank you so much!" Garson quickly stashes the loeaf away and begins to make his exit, heading back down the trail with a giddy hop in his step. Gabriel passes the party another 80 gold. "There. You got your full monetary reward. I have no clue whether this is a quest completed or failed, to be honest... And as much as I wanted that leaf, he needed it more. Are we going back to Flavius's, or are we heading back to Eubric? Your call." Meanwhile, the Boggossus shyly clops towards the heroes. "I-it was nice meeting you..."

"You wish to speak with us, sir?" I say, choosing my words carefully.

Sometimes, a choice has to be made. This is the last confrontation of 143, so I'll probably be talking about this in the QM lounge over the weekened when it wraps up.