Flipz

Well of course...but the Priests have to have a specific interpretation for their specific teachings. I was referring to Sandy's mention that Steerpike killed the previous High Priest, as well as that priest's name.

"Actually, I do have one final preparation, now that I think of it. Lord Boomingham, I'd like you to pass these Sterile Gloves to Ambassador Shanxian Ji Pei, with my complements. Just an extra degree of insurance." EDIT: In case that's not clear, Arthur hands Boomingham his Sterile Gloves.

We're probably going to be fighting a different enemy; Boomingham's group gets the are where Barbariccia will be, after all. We'll likely have to deal with the evil lieutenant, either as a pestering annoyance or a traitorous enemy. Speaking of which, that reminds me, we need to spread out our Smoke Bombs, so that we can be available to intercept up to three different hostiles at once but can still Flee if needed. ...I may be overthinking this.

Allana, in that very same bit.

End of Quest 38. Arthur doesn't know, but Valentine has a chat with Arthur's mother in the past where she spells (no pun intended) it all out.

Yeah, I can't decide if she's the villain in disguise or the first victim...

I think there's a Batman reference to be made there, but I never watched The Dark Knight or The Dark Knight Rises, so I wouldn't know. ...aaaaaand beaten to the punch.

"My apologies for not explaining this to you earlier, Lieutenant. I will not be negligent in such regard again." Arthur salutes respectfully, before turning to Captain Patricia. "Understood, Captain. Sorrow and I have made our preparations, so with your leave we will set off as soon as Nagure is ready."

You mean tap shoes? I, personally, see Guts as doing one of those Russian-esque twirling dances, so if he gets enough Dance turns he basically ends up doing Spinjitsu.

OOH! I just realized that Valentine might be present. Arthur might not meet her in-person (which is perfect), but she might be meeting people who do... This will be interesting to watch...after all, she DOES know Arthur's her son and that he's in Heroica, and despite what Arthur thinks, she DOES care about him... ...no, bad Flipz! No hijacking! Me too. :drool_wub: I'm loving the team I get to lead. RE: the "sp on weapons" debate: why can't we just use the ruling Sandy already made for the Pheles Rod? The same logic applies.

EDIT: Snarky comment removed. I need to let it go. Thanks for more Mercutio info, Sandy! I really am putting a lot of work into figuring out the practicalities of Mercutio and his religion. For example: That goes against Mercutio's principles. As I see it, he's more than happy to help people make money, but they have to make some on their own already; sort of "the gods help those who help themselves" kind of morality. To Mercutio, it's more about the way you live your life (being clever and cunning and using your skills for gain) than about how MUCH money you make--he'll reward you for effort, but he won't make the effort for you. ...I've got a LOT of back-notes on this stuff.

As I see it, it's the exact same rules as the Pheles Rod's Aura: goes into effect the moment it's switched to, stays in effect until the moment it's switched away from. So, for example: Round 1: Guts (Lifestealer) vs. Generica : Special Damage Special Damage (all Heroes take 15 damage) Haldor (Bear Claw Gloves) vs. Generica: Damage (10 damage - SP:10 = 0 damage) Guts (Lifestealer) vs. Generica: Special Damage Special Damage (all Heroes take 15 damage) Free Hits: Generica (Hastened) vs. Guts - (whatever) Generica's minion vs. Haldor - (10 damage - SP:10 = 0 damage) For the first Special Damage, Haldor only has SP: 7; for his Damage, the second Special Damage, and the Free Hit, he has SP:10. Likewise, if we run a second Round... Round 2: Guts (Lifestealer) vs. Generica : Special Damage Special Damage (all Heroes take 15 damage) Haldor (Zoot Er Isen) vs. Generica: Damage (10 damage - SP:7 = 3 damage) Guts (Lifestealer) vs. Generica: Special Damage Special Damage (all Heroes take 15 damage) Free Hits: Generica (Hastened) vs. Guts - (whatever) Generica's minion vs. Haldor - (10 damage - SP:7 = 3 damage) Haldor still has SP: 10 against the first Special Damage, but has only SP:7 versus the Damage, second Special Damage, and Free Hit. ...that would be a yes. But really, Arthur's only a Sorcerer because none of the other classes fit him. Like he put it, he sees himself as an endless font of negativity, so he's going to do what good he can by directing these negative things toward enemies that deserve them.

I thought the SP on the claws was just unupgradeable.

"If you say so..." Arthur was thrown by Boomingham's sudden shift in tone. "Er--I'm not sure if it's my place to say...she first met him in Dastan. A sellsword, like us, but not with Heroica; works for the highest bidder. Specializes in explosives--that staff of hers and that odd-looking gizmo she can slot onto a bomb are both his handiwork. If you ever meet him, he looks kind of like me, but a little older and a lot better looking. Seems a decent sort, despite having fought on the other side--left soon as his contract was fulfilled, even gave Lady Nyx a parting present she used to great effect against Wren." Arthur sighs at the mention of Wren. "Wren is...was...she...well, it's..." Arthur trails off. "She's a hard one to explain. She used to be a Hero, like the rest of us, but ran into the Temple of Zoot underneath the city...not unlike me, actually. She turned to Chaos worship, went to Ennon and turned half her party to stone and left the rest to the monstrous minions of a demented splinter of Ennoc...but regretted doing it the whole time. Or at least, that's what it seemed like when we saw the memories...anyway, she disappears. Next thing we know, she kidnaps a bunch of Heroes and throws 'em into an Arena. I think you're friendly with Docken and Hybros? They're two of the Heroes who were there, plus there's a record in the Library if you're interested. Very informative. Anyhow: she's using the Arena to make Chaos, long story short the Heroes bust out with the help of three people trapped there, Wren escapes, the Arena fighters swear revenge. A few months later, they inform Heroica that Wren's in Haddon, and had her fingers in the civil war there. She tricks the Heroes into backing the rebels instead of the Guard, but the Heroes figure it out and chase her off again, meeting a Dragon, a Frog Paladin, and the Captain of Haddon's Town Guard along the way. After that she went to Dastan...that whole thing was a gigantic clustermegablock, I'm not even gonna TRY to summarize that one. Wren was working with that guy there, you know, that bombster? It's how Nyx met both him and Wren. Anyway, she gets away again, and I end up on a team sent to Ennon to find out what happened over there. We go over, free the Lost Party, and beat down Ennoc. Wren pops up, grabs this little trinket she'd been after the first time, and runs away. In the end, we end up in Eubric, with all of our allies gathered, chasing Wren and her troops around the city before she could release enough Chaos to summon Zoot, who she'd planned to summon and usurp. I act like a dick, Atramor gets half our allies killed, and the rest of the party beats down Wren. I'm honestly not sure if she's dead or on another Plane somewhere, and honestly I don't care. I thought I could use Chaos for good. I thought I could change Wren. Both betrayed me. End of story. I was stupid, and then fate decides to save me instead of perfectly good people who already had done and would have done good things, a lot better things than I'll ever do. So now I've got to do my time, do what good I can." "Look, Chaos? It's not something you can walk away from. It settles inside of you, and no amount of cleansing will ever take it away. All it's good for is destruction. All I'm good for is destruction. So, best just point me at the stuff that needs to be killed, and try to keep clear of the blast zone. And, uh..." He looks to make absolute sure Nyx isn't looking. "The scars are just as bad. Not the ones from battle--the ones on the inside. Those wounds really mess you up, and they never really close--they just sit there and fester until your whole soul is nothing but black. It ain't a fate I'd wish on anyone, believe me. I mean, in my opinion the people who mess with Chaos and have to be killed have it a hell of a lot better than the sods stuck fighting 'em. Believe me--I've done both." "But enough about the past. I'm done focusing on me, on the past--it's time we hunt down this gangster and end him, before he can hurt anyone else."

It's supposed to be a puzzle, I think, so perhaps you simply found the "solution".

Arthur nods, then gestures to the party. "It's a habit of mine. You should have seen how I worked my magic on my last Quest. Most of us swapped around at LEAST half our gear, as Sir Thothwick and Lady Nyx can attest." Arthur pauses, and leans in close and speaks in a quieter voice, so only Sorrow and Boomingham could hear. "I...owe her. Big time. And not in the way that money can pay. Keep an eye on her for me, will you, Boomingham? Our battles were not kind to her, and I...said some things. Her temper, you know, and I overreacted. Well, and I was a deluded raving maniac, but that's no excuse for words of the kind I used with her. Not to mention, I refused to attack her sworn enemy, even tried to convince both sides to back down, when that enemy was a madwoman. I'm...not the best of Heroes. Truth be told, I hope there's a chance for me to give my life. There's nothing left for me in this world anymore, but if by my death I can save others--even just one life--then the sacrifices made by our friends will not be in vain. And maybe if I'm gone, the people I've wronged can find some peace. I'd be gone already, but it's not enough to just die--I have to die well." Arthur straightens and clears his throat, speaking to the entire group. "If any of you think you can make better use of my gear than I am, please, speak up. I am happy to provide assistance in any way possible."

"It once belonged to an Emperor of Dastan. It lays a Curse -3 max health per Round upon the first target you successfully hit in a battle."

Also, is there anyone I didn't talk to and/or interact with in that post?!

Phew, monster post! Hopefully things will be a little less complex after this. If anyone wants to borrow one of Arthur's spare Artifacts, just ask.

Arthur salutes sharply. "Captain, the only one who will die tonight will be Steerpike and whatever cronies he sends to do his dirty work." Seeing that there were a number of new Heroes on the Quest, he approaches the smallest, a Gnome who seemed to be hanging around the newest Heroes--the one who had, in fact, borrowed Gold from him recently. One of several, it seems. "Hello again. Lord Boomingham speaks truly. None of us will tolerate anything less than your best work. However...fight well, and you will be remembered as a true Hero." Arthur lends Grimwald one of his Healing Staves for the duration of the Quest. "That will allow you to heal your allies without need of Ether, simply by striking them with it--just don't attack your enemies with it, or you'll heal THEM instead. I'll need that back at the end of the Quest, but for now...use it well." Arthur gives an appraising glance toward the other two newer Heroes. "I have little that would be of great aid to either of you. Perhaps this Ancient Crown might serve you well, Miss Knight, at least until the end of the Quest?" Arthur turns to the more experienced Heroes. With a nod, he hands the Yeti Nagure his Spider Leg for the duration of the Quest, then turns to Nyx. "Excuse me, Lady Nyx...if it may aid you, I offer you a Scroll of Frailty for the duration of our Quest?" Finally Arthur turns to Boomingham and Sorrow. "Well met. Indeed, for once I feel well-prepared for this Quest. We will not fail, even if I have to give my life to ensure it." Arthur walks up to Bilbert Wigglepike. "It's been a long time since we last met, Mr. Wigglepike. How's that nephew of yours? Lambert, was it? When you toured in Zut'tau'ri, he was twice my age and half my height, but he still managed to beat my father when they sparred. Is he still set on adventuring, or did you finally convince him to act in your troupe?" "While we're on the subject of business, may we have a copy of the list of everyone invited to the ball? I've also heard rumors of a fine singer being here for Foundation Day. What can you tell me about her?" Finally, Arthur turns to the rest of his fellow Guardsmen and gives them a full salute. "Greetings. Any news since this morning?"

Seeing his fellow Guards move past the Hall doors, Arthur knows it is time. "Cinna, I trust we may negotiate later, through the means we discussed. Dwarf, if I come into a surplus of funds on this Quest, I may be willing to offer you more for your Scroll as well. Farewell." Arthur Leaves the Hall, heading toward the Theatre.

Walking back to Cinna, and seeing that Amma still seemed to be listening, Arthur speaks to the Mystic Knight with a tone that betrayed his tiredness. "It seems the way of the mage is the way of debt--first to the elements, and then to our peers. Perhaps that is why we are prone to madness--we pay fate with our sanity. Do you still have that Journal I gave you? Let us use it continue our negotiations for that Scroll of Disenchantment after I have departed. I will pay any price you wish, within reason, and am even willing to make a down payment. You, of course, would keep the Scroll until I have paid the full amount. Does that seem reasonable?"

NO. I know people may think otherwise, but I'm NOT in favor of blatantly OP items, even if they are items that I would be able to use. And seriously, I think that'd be OP...UNLESS it's something like: "Scroll of Doom: Has a 50/50 chance to inflict the Doomed status on the target and the user at the cost of 50 Ether." Sort of a "Dangerous Forbidden Technique" that's basically self-sacrifice in exchange for the lives of the party. And even then, I think the item is OP and the ether cost low. Let's also not forget that Doomed follows the same immunities as Assassination and other instant-KO. So it may not be as useful for player use as one might think. ...but I'm probably overreacting. Re-reading, that was probably a joke and I just missed it. I'm sorry.

Arthur notices the greedy shine and understands. That had been him, once, and not so long ago, either. "You overestimate its worth. At ten Ether per casting, it's an expensive effect for the reward, not to mention it's likely to fail and waste the Ether. Seeing that you are likely seeking enough Gold to purchase two gemstones, I will raise my offer to 84 Gold, but I cannot deviate from that offer at this time. Even this similar Scroll here, that grants me Luck for 10 Ether, only cost me 80. I was once a basic Mage, I know the trials of the penniless pocket. Do not fret. You will earn Gold in time, just have patience." "If you change your mind, just seek me out. My Gold is as good as any other Hero's, and my word is even better."

Arthur sees a note on the Quest board. "Excuse me for a moment, Cinna, I'll be right back." Arthur approaches the Dwarven mage who had posted the notice. "Pardon me, but I hear you are selling a Scroll of Inspiration? Since according to Byblos they are sold for 100 gold, that makes them worth 50 when selling to Marketplace merchants. What do you say I split the difference and offer you 75 Gold for your Scroll?"