Flipz

I probably won't make it. But I'll try my hardest anyway! I'm shocked Haldor hasn't realized where Arthur got his penchant for self-righteous pontification--this is just like Arthur yelling at Haldor, only Althior isn't at all penitent.

Still think you should switch to Assassin again. Keep up the class-switching antics. Also, Kintobor, I hope you realize the sort of fan-fic you're encouraging with phrases like "as awkwardly as possible:... Sandy, I've updated my Hero Stats page for your convenience. Internet's going away again in about 5 minutes, so Endgame still has control of Arthur. Again, sorry for the inconvenience!

As Skrall continues his conversation, he notices a small package on the bar, addressed to him, containing 200 Gold and a note. If I misunderstood your PM, WBD, just disregard this.

OOC: Thanks, Endgame. I don't have long, but I think I have time to update my Hero Stats before I'm offline again. FYI, Nagure owes Arthur 200 gold total, for the cost of the scrolls themselves as well as for the imbuing. After concluding his deal with the Yeti Nagure, Arthur slots his Elixir into his Hollow Blade Dagger in place of his Potion.

Since my internet access MAY be spotty tomorrow (isn't it lovely when organizations provide a huge vague period of time in which they might do what they said they're going to do? ), I'm handing control of Arthur to Endgame until my access is stable (shouldn't last more than 24 hours). This includes some roleplaying, some trades, and some Marketplace purchases to be completed before the Quest starts, which I have outlined for him in PM. Sorry for the inconvenience!

I turned Arthur evil, and all I got for it was a KO from an exploding robot and a bad rap from my next party. It's hard to play a character who's deliberately mean, or even particularly blunt, unless you have it in yourself and are comfortable being that way.

Something to remember: You'll be needing a Nostrum for the first battle of every Quest, otherwise your WP does jack squat to the enemy on a Critical Hit.

That would by Sylph/Sylvania, right? Because he/she's secretly an Elder God wandering the earth?

Afraid Atters got too Lawful for his own good. He's trying to do the Right thing, has been for a while. Especially since he ditched McCafferey. I think Althior would kick Atramor's behind in an "amorality fight" at the moment.

"Well, no, that was the whole...but if she needs..." "Sorrow's right. Everyone dies. It's what we do in life that counts." Arthur suddenly tears off back toward the Hall.

I don't think it's shipping, all things considered. Does anyone ship anyone with Jun Ji Pei? What about Attina Bonaparte? They haven't actually met AFAIK, but: Sorrow/Dr. Cula? Oh, and let's not forget the classic: Galen/Beatrice! To be fair, a LOT of it is Freudian. Besides, shipping is just the most fun way to misuse my knowledge.

"...yes. I do."

I already ship Erdzel (Erdathcath + Monk Pretzel), and EVERYONE ships Nyx/xx (OK, it's official, I'm calling that NyXXX ) and Tarn/Ella; it's not surprising that I found a new one here. But seriously, aside from the insanity/voices in her head bit, the way Nessa is playing it isn't too far off from my theory. Karie, on the other hand, comes off as unashamedly bi; the reason she fights with Nessa is that she is honestly irritated by her, but yet still has the hots for her. ...what, I've studied dramatic theory and criticism. Analyzing characters' psychology is part of the job! Speaking of ships/actual pairings that people seem to have missed cues for: Nerwen/Alexis (potential ship), Tensi/Namyrra (actual pairing, if I'm reading things right).

It's my personal opinion that Nessa's in the closet, and the reason Karie bugs her so unreasonably much is that Nessa has the hots for her.

"...so that's where I get it. Althior, I--" "This may be insensitive, given your condition, but...is death any better? Hell, is being with me any better? I'm a Zootist, for crying out loud. I may despise the god now, but that doesn't change who I've been. That puts a mark on my head, as sure as if I'd joined the Wolfgang. A mark of hatred and disgust for me, for everyone around me..." He pauses, sorrow and grief choking him up. "But she...doesn't care. That's why I love her--she doesn't care about the darkness of my past, she just loves me as I am, for who I am today. And I can't...I can't...I can't let her be with me. I can't let her share in my destruction." He wipes a tear from his eye. "No one dies for me. Ever again. I won't let them." Arthur gathers himself, regaining his more military bearing. "I won't let them," he repeats. "Alexis, Skrall, Dyric...none of them. I will not let any of them die. Not for me. And not at all, if by any means I can prevent it."

Arthur hears Althior walk up behind him and Sorrow, apparently following the pair to the Marketplace. "Hello, Althior. You don't exactly seem the same, yourself...but to answer your question. It's guilt, Althior. Guilt for my sins. Same reason I didn't offer a greeting. Wasn't sure if you'd even want one from me."

"Not exactly. I once met a man who was a follower of Helvetia, though he distances himself somewhat from it now. You see, he was a former member of the Cold Circle, a particularly fanatical group that encouraged self-mutilation in their rituals. I'm not sure if he still worships the goddess anymore, or if his research into her forms of magic were simply an attempt to undo his injuries. We never got to speak more about his past...or mine." Arthur decides to change the subject. "So, you're an Assassin, are you not? Do you have a bow yet? I know...Alexis...won't be needing hers much longer; perhaps you should look into buying or borrowing it."

Looking at some pics of the real Flying Scotsman, it almost seems like the tenders should be just a plate or two lower than the roof of the cab, rather than exactly the full height as I first thought. Between that and the 8-wide modifications, I think that should make the tenders perfect.

Arthur returns the salute, loosely. "I hope I have provided some assistance." "It's not that convenient--most of the stuff in the repository at the time was mine anyway. The gangs seem to have gotten smart enough to keep their best gear off of their least talented mooks. Not that that's any more reassuring for dealing with the competent ones..." Arthur sighs. He thought this would come up. He looks around, but fails to recognize Haldor, not being familiar with the back of the Nord's head. "There are some here who may be upset by this, but..." He sighs again. "You may have heard there was a Quest here in Eubric, in which two Town Watchmen--Private Gnash and Captain Bennetton--were killed assisting the Heroes. What you may not have heard was--it was my fault. I killed Gnash, and Bennetton, and Hans, Felton, Passion, Triad, as surely as if I had wielded the blade myself. For you see, I had sided with Chaos, and believed that the Dark Lady Wren would redeem it and bring a new age of life to Eubric. I was a fool. And I got people killed, and blamed others for it. It took a Nord's passionate derision to bring me back to my senses. So, last night, I turned myself in to the Town Watch, confessed my crimes. Whether I was executed or exiled, whatever punishment was given me, I had resolved to take it. So imagine my surprise when Captain Patricia refused to declare me guilty." "She said--and I quote--'You didn't kill them, that's enough for me not to arrest you. You want to repent? Make yourself useful, take the blue and red. Now get out of my office.' So I accepted. My first assignment is to make sure my fellow Heroes do their job with Steerpike--and that's a duty I shall take very seriously." Arthur jumps as he hears Alexis' voice; he hadn't heard her walk up behind him. He looks at her nervously--something seemed different, but what? He puts two and two together, and realize she knows, that she saw him leave. He opens his mouth to speak, but quickly closes it again. "I'm sorry, Alexis. You're safer away from me," he murmurs. Arthur replies without turning. "If you're talking about the Watch, you're sorely mistaken. Heroica and the Watch need each other, more than ever." He turns around only to see Althior. "Oh." Unsure of what to say, he catches Alexis glancing at the scene and decides to walk over and speak to her--even if he couldn't make things right with his old master, he could at least make them right with her. "Alexis...I'm sorry. You're better off without me. Safer. That...what just happened...hell, what happened before with Haldor. That's my life. That's the life of penance. And that road ends in death. You don't deserve that life. You deserve better. And you deserve better than me." Kissing her hand for the last time, he walks quietly away, sadness etched in his face. But he composes himself. He had a job to do. His unity was broken, his destiny lost...but he still had his duty. That would be his life now. "Sorrow, is it? Care for a walk down to the Marketplace? I believe there are a few preparations we should make before we return to headquarters."

Zeph, how are you making your avatar change every couple of minutes?! First it was Triad, now it's Phil...

We do. Arthur has a Healing Staff. Two, actually. There's obviously something between them, given the way she talks to him in Guts' original intro. Maybe they had a thing together way back in the day? Who knows? Apparently not you. She did seem warmer towards Alexis and Nyx, but maybe that's just me.

"I...do know of one 'easy' solution, but the cure is far worse than the disease, I'm afraid." "In truth, an overly strong desire for drink stems only partly from the body. The first desire comes from a deep pain of the spirit. It is a dark I know well. Perhaps in speaking of the source of your pain, you can begin to heal from it?" "Ah, greetings! I apologize for what happened last night--I hope that my monetary compensation was enough to make up for it? It is truly ironic--just the next morning, minutes after Captain Patricia admitted me to our ranks, the Watch repository was raided! I was unable to catch the thief, though he seems to have dropped most of his haul--which was mine, anyway." "It seems we will be Questing together in the hunt for Steerpike--may I offer you any assistance in your preparations?" Arthur salutes Thothwick sharply as the Metasimian passes him on the way out of the Hall.

CJP HAS stated he wants to go Black Knight... Indeed! I'm looking forward to getting to Quest with Boomers and Sorrow, and hopefully not ignoring poor Thothwick this time around. Arthur doesn't need any sense smacked into him, Haldor managed that already. He just needs someone to point out that he's overcompensating. To who, Guts? I honestly can't picture Patricia as married, she strikes me as slightly misandristic. Yeah, that's what I figure, too. Excellent, my team has three strong strategists...

Well, it IS a non-Gold reward... Plus, I imagine Bert interceded a bit; he's the more level-headed of the two who got the story out of Arthur, and the one least likely to blame him for something that wasn't directly his fault. In any event, Arthur finally has a residence outside of the Hall...even if it is just a bunk at the Barracks.