Endgame

Lind stomps his boots through the mud, and leaps. He manages toget some decent height, enough for his fingers to brush the Azureleaf, but not pull it down. He misses, and plops back into the mud. He has trouble getting his bearings, especially because the mud began to shake and stir. The ground began to rumble, forcing the Black Knight to try with all of his might to not get thrown into the trembling terrain. He scurries, as a wooden looking limb emerges from the mud. Followed by another, and another, and another... The tree uproots itself, and the impressive beast rises from slumber. "YAAAAAAAAAWWWWWRRRRRRRGHHHH!" "...Shit."

"...I would not know, Vindsval. Perhaps they died too young, and the parent did something out of grief that wasn't entirely level-headed. Or perhaps she's simply the child of an undead couple? I know I could reproduce."

"An army in Charis." "It's mud, Lind. A little dirt and a little water never hurt anybody too bad."

"I kind of just loitered around until I got conscripted. Handed me a gun and it turned out I was a good shot. Ended up giving my services to other people when my assignment ended, and eventually just became a solo mercenary. The "why" was that I just needed to do something I was good at." The party eventually comes to the tree they were seeking. Sunset casts a reddish light over the rocky terrain, the skinny tree's roots firmly rooted in some goopy mud. "I can barely guess which one is the Azureleaf. Anyone need a boost? I'm guessing most of you don't want to lie down in mud."

"I believe our plan was to wait for our pair of sleepers, and then head to the cemetary, no?"

"Simpler? No. And do I have any guilt about things now? Not really. I defined what kind of person I was back then. Guilt is pointless. I just do what I do, except when the day is done now I can do things and actually enjoy it. Hedonistic, sure, but it works for me. You seem awfully... attached to the time when I was hollow."

"...No. I just have a father who was realy screwed up in the head, and he passed down some of that illness to me- namely, a lack of emotions. After inhaling some fear gas from an ancestral dragon, I felt fear - and every other meotion kind of just tumbled in from there, I guess. Not fun at first, but it got better."

"Hey, lets be fair here. I only just got my emotions back three months ago. Still getting, uh, acclimated. ...It's weird. I look through thirty one years of memory and say, "hey, that should have made me sad" or "wow, I'd be kind of pissed right now". It's... bizzare, o say the least. Kind of like I'm obligated to feel like that. I'll shut up now, before I put you to sleep. I know you prefer strong and silent." "In appearance only. And only sometimes, Calamity. Only sometimes. ...Not far to the Bogossus tree now."

I stand by, hoping the puppy belonged to the young girl. "Is this your friend?"

"He's not some extravagant guy. Kind of quiet, kind of shy, very intelligent... and to be honest, kind of awkward."

"We aren't twins. I'm a half decade older."

Rain pours down as Flavius tirelesly works away on the weapons. The party sits nd sips at their drinks, until their weapons return. The billowing grey clouds recede, and the rain ceases. "My work here is done. Thank you kindly for your patronage, and I apologize again for those hard headed bastards. I would decommission them if the wife would let me..." "Oh hush, you. Gabriel, here are your directions." Marionne passes the sniper a list of directions to the Bogossus tree. Gabriel nods and pockets the directions. "Thank you. We'll be off now." "Safe travels. Thank you for the business." The party leaves the Severa Cottage, and Gabriel leads th way, instructions in hand. The group treks along for some time, until a thought occurs to Gabriel. "Will you guys actually want to meet my brother, or what? ...You're gonna be slightly creeped out at first, because he is pretty much identical to me - despite being four years younger - but he's a nice guy."

"...Has to, huh." says Gabriel, with an edge to his voice. "No, hun, a Bogossus's foot is big enough to crush a Floraphant. They're nasty, nasty critters. Azureleaf is great for a ton of different cures, but it won't do diddly squat if you don't bring back the whole thing. You may have to tusle for quite a while if the Bogossus is protective of its tree." "I'll get working now. But to be honest, no interest in the coin. I just like doing the work when it drifts in. Sometimes people bring in some really interesting raw materials, and I can make fine armor with it - you don't get those type of people if you're just a runo f the mill blacksmith at the city." Gabriel pours Jinnipher's drink and hands it to her, taking a sip from his glass afterwards. "Oh, I'm just paranoid over Big, Blue and Electric. We may have taken Vorpalis down, but he still wreaked havoc... and to be honest, I have the feeling Immortalis is even stronger than he lets on. He seems the humble type, which, given the fact he's a forty foot tall dragon that trained one of the world's most prolific conquerors... He's at least as srong as Vorpalis, and that is bad news for Eubric. But I think I'm worrying too much. Maybe some gin will help." Gabriel raise shis glass for a toast with Jinnipher. "Calamity, you need any work done here?" The Party: Monk Pretzel and His 99 Pieces, the Super Sleuth (Played by Palathadric) *Party Leader!* 463-year-old male "hermit" Artisan *reinforced* Level: 34.75 Power: 46 34 + 10 + 2* Defense: 32 Health: 62/62 9 + 15 + 33 + 3 + 2** Gold: 2017 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 10.5 Power bonus: 2 (spell) Health: 14/14 Ether: 13/14 Gold: 146 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) *Party Leader!* 76-year-old female Moon Elven Knight Level 10.5 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 19/19 Defense: 26 Gold: 90 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: 22.33 Power: 34 (12+22) Defense: 13 (3+4+6) Health: 38/38 (7+22+9) Gold: 43 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), 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 "..." Gabriel Cour, Level 31.5 Sniper *Immune to Sleep/Deep Sleep* HP: 37/46 SP: 4 Gold: 300 Lethality: 1/6 Equipment: Somnamblast (WP: 13, 1/6 chance of inflicting Sleep on succesful hits, handcannon), Sandblasted Helmet (SP: 2, immune to sleep/deep sleep), Sandblasted Robes (SP: 2) Inventory: Grand Potion x3, Old Guitar (WP: 0), Phoenix Incense, Cigars x2 (Smoking them permanently boosts Sandman's lethality by 1 for the battle.)

"He's a big blue dragon who can pretty smite whatever the hell he feels like with lightning. And he has his eyes set on Eubric." The party follows Flavius. The path inclines more and more, and the vegetation simply become clusters of rock perched on the Eubric Mountains, before the party reaches the house of Flavius and Marionne Severa. "Honey, I'm home! And I have some customers." "Oh, good! But we couldn't the Specters bring them up here?" "The Specters had other ideas." "Oh, those thick-headed little... I'm sorry, dears, the Specters get very antsy, and think they can solve every problem with those silly little sowrds of theirs. Is there anything I can do for you to make up for it?" "Besides alchemy? A drink would be nice." "Is some gin fine?" "Perfect." Marionne brings out a bottle and a tray of glasses. Gabriel pours himself one. "Jinnipher, you want any?" "While Scowls over there does whatever, any of you need to tune up your weapons? I have more technique than the crummy blacksmith in your marketplace, and I intend to prove it." In addition to all standard services, Flavius offers... Sharpen The Edge: Makes the weapon do a permanent Bleeding 3 effect. Costs 15 gold for each of the weapon's WP. (So 150 gold for a WP: 10 weapon.) Blunt The Pommel: Upgrades the pommel of a weapon, allowing the heroes to pummel their foes with it. Makes the weapon have a 1/2 chance of dealing Stunned on a succesful hit. Costs 18 gold for each of the weapon's WP. (So 180 gold for a WP: 10 weapon.) Each weapon can only have one of these treatments applied to it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile, Gabriel speaks to Marionne. "I don't suppose you're aware of a cure for phantom pain." "I am aware of one, dear, but I'm out of the ingreident needed. Phantom Pain isn't the most common ailment in the world, and not a lot of people have it stick around for more than half a year or so. How long has this person had the pain?" "Of course you are out of the ingredient... A year now." "My goodness, that's awful! Poor, poor soul... No wonder why he needs something besides time." Marionne grunts as she heaves alarge booklet up. "Lets see... All the mundane substitutes I could use are across the sea. There is one local one... Azureleaf. It grows on Bogossus trees, which grow in the mountains 'round these parts." Gabriel sighs a sigh of relief. "Perfect. So we go and get a blue leaf off a tree and you'll brew the cure." "Not so fast, dear. Bogossus trees are typically near Bogossi. They can be rather nasty fellows... Four big legs like tree trunks, these awful claws, and one beady eye. You best not take that thing lightly.... They typically begin to migrate when Grogmas comes a knockin', but if you have any luck, you may catch a straggler." The sniper grunts. "Looks like we may have to fight for the Azureleaf, heroes." "I'll draw up the directions when the storm ends, dears. Don't go out in that mess." Gabriel takes is glass of gin and looks sternly out the window. Rain pours down and lightning cracks the sky, illuminating the cottage. The sniper looks visibly worried, his brow knitted and his face just a shade paler than normal. "It better not be him... I don't need that shit right now."

Because it was my boss fight that got tripped up by it.

"Vindsval and I are going to deliver the dog. You two, rest, and we'll wait here for you to come back. After that, we'll all head to the Graveyard."

I thought after the Aquos battle in Q48, it was agreed that Healing has no risk of getting attacked, sans a free hit.

"No. I'm afraid that any storm that rolls through Eubric may be Immortalis coming to knock on our door."

Clouds roll in and rain begins to come down. "Lovely. Rain. Well, at least we're heading for shelter shortly.... I just hope we don't have any lightning. I've been wary of it as of late." QM Note: Just need a loot distribution until I can move this along.

I was just looking through 139, and holy shit the Mythril Edge is strong as hell now.

"If Pretzel is fine - if you could call it that - relinquishing the role, you can be party leader, Jinnipher."

QM Note: Alright then. I apologize again, and will probably find some wa to make it up with loot drops, but for now, back to RPing. "Armors and weapons, mostly. I took note of that poor elf's sword when she was sprawled out... JHinnipher, right? That's a draconic sword, I take it? I'm afraid whoever forged those parts hardly forged 'em well. The finest materials in land, and that's the sword that comes out? Damn pity. I can help you enhance it, though. I'm not going to be able to really bring out that draconic might without the raw materials, but we can try to salvage it. Mister Monk, you're the de facto leader here, right? Ready to go?

QM Note: It is definitely a unique situation. The first time, I had completely neglected the free hits of that round, and by the time I added them, the fact that I changed the battle order was out of my mind. If JimBee would like, just to keep roleplaying continuity, I could add the EXP retroactively

QM Note: I didn't think that the receiver could appear before the giver in the battle order (after all, someone has to give you the item before you can receive it, and the battle order does determine how things work, chronologically) and I thought you just made a typo, so I switched it.

"Nice to meet you, Calamity. And I'm going to take half of that as a warning, if you don't mind..."