Flipz

Arthur catches the dagger before responding to Hoke's offer. "In another life, maybe," he says quietly. "But I've caused too much harm. To my family, to this world, to all of you. I need to heal this world, and this staff is the best symbol of that duty I can think of." Arthur looks down at the fallen Wren Hunters' graves. "And I owe it to them, to everyone I've harmed, to stay on that path. I never want to forget. This staff will remind me." Arthur raises his Garnet, and seven handsome slabs of polished stone rise from the ground. Using his new dagger, he begins to carve the names and likenesses of the Wren Hunters into them. "Sir Cronk, Emperor Phyllus, you knew Hans and Felton best, better than most of us. You certainly knew them the longest. And Haldor, you and Sir Cronk were closest to Gray and Triad in Ennon. Do you, perhaps, have a suitable epitaph for our fallen comrades?"

Arthur's in no mood to ask for loot, but: I'd prefer a larger share of the Gold to anything else.

OOC: OK, this should all be correct, but CHECK ME! I may have missed a few permanent trades. MDM, are we still on for that trade of one Topaz for that Hollow Blade dagger? "I have some." Arthur overlooks the graves he has finished digging, the bodies of Gnash, and Hans. "I'm sorry, both of you. This should have been me." Arthur places Gnash's halberd atop his body and helps Thothwick lower him in. Arthur hears Dyric's speech. He cannot bring himself to look at the man, nor any of the others, but tears fall from his face into the freshly-turned earth. "It should have been me..." he whispers again.

Gosh, I'm hating myself right now...trying to figure out all the item switches.

"Me," he says quietly. Arthur readies his shovel to dig graves for the deceased at Skrall's order.

Sorry. We had something planned, but we didn't bank on such a serene ending. Just pretend you saw nothing!

Garg, I was afraid it would end up forced. My bad. It's okay, Zeph, we can wait. It'll give us time to polish the concept. To the other 53ers, just ignore that last bit. It'll come up some other time, when it's more appropriate.

Arthur supported as much of the weight of the body as was physically possible, and perhaps even more; the mage was in no condition to regulate his Ether output. "It was my sword he held in death. My sword. Maybe...if he'd had his own weapon...if I hadn't felt...he wouldn't..." Arthur contemplated Sir Roderick's blade with a worrisome gleam in his eye...well, worrisome to Dyric or Alexis. To Skrall, perhaps. He doubted many of the others would care, one way or the other. Some might even relish it, a conclusion borne out by the Nord's words a moment later. "You tell me." From his tone, it was clear he agreed with the Nord's assessment of him. "Some nights I wish that this all could end...but I still wake up, and I'm still not sure what I stand for." He looks to Skrall. "What do I stand for? What do I stand for? Most nights...I don't know anymore." Arthur turns his face back to Roderick's sword, staring in mournful contempt at his reflection in its unnaturally reflective surface.

What's really weird is how well it applies to both Arthur and to me. The only part of it that doesn't fit either one of us is the bit about the nephew, which is really weird and doesn't fit the rest of the piece anyway. Oh, and if they don't get it now, they should soon.

Same question. IF it's a matter of confusion, I can figure it out after noon Pacific time. Arthur nods, wipes his face once more, and moves to pick up Gnash. He hums a tune quietly, but stops after a few short moments. "So this is it? I sold my soul for this? Washed my hands of gods for this? Miss my mom and dad for this?"

Sounds like a good name for a radio show. ...Flare, you HAVE to parody CarTalk at some point. It is your destiny!

Arthur's pulse is weak and irregular, but present--he should have been conscious by now. The only clue Thothwick could see was a single tear resting in the corner of the Sorcerer's closed eye. But the point was moot. Feeling the Metasimian's fingers on his wrist, Arthur's eyes burst open, watery with tears. He quickly turns his face and wipes them away, but he can't bring himself to look at the others. "...a waste...all of it...I'm sorry..."

Battle Summary: Vipera revives Phil Emerald Jinn vs. Chaos Beast of Life (Front Row) >Hoke uses Phoenix Essence on Alexis (Back Row) >Cronk heals Nyx (Back Row) >Cronk uses Health Core on Nyx (Back Row) OR if Nyx already healed, heals Skrall (Back Row) >Haldor uses Phoenix Essence on Felton (Back Row) >Thothwick (Banana Sabre) vs. Chaos Beast P (Back Row) >Nyx uses Phoenix Essence on Mallelio (Back Row) >Mallelio uses Phoenix Essence on Poletad (Back Row) >Poletad heals Hoke (Back Row) >Felton (Sabre) vs. Wren (Back Row) >Skrall (Hunter's Crossbow) vs. Wren (Back Row) McColt encourages Alexis >Alexis (Mockthril Longbow) vs. Wren (Back Row) >Alexis (Mockthril Longbow) vs. Chaos Beast of Death (Back Row) >Phil (if revived) Hammer of Dastan vs. Wren (Back Row) Free Hits: Wren vs. Emerald Jinn Master Chaos Beast A vs. Hoke Master Chaos Beast B vs. Cronk All actions are in.

Back when BIONICLE was still going, I had dreams that ended up predicting the storyline several months before the story was revealed. This was before I had discovered the internet, mind you, so nothing ever came of my accurate predictions, but it was still pretty cool.

I agree, but at the same time I also think the effects shouldn't be (primarily) punitive. Perhaps now some of the men who were loyal to Reno will remember that he refused to fight their leader, and will show some sort of gratitude. That's an important thing to remember in terms of consequences: for almost every action, there is someone who will approve of and/or appreciate that action.

I'm talking more about NPCs, here. Also, as far as we the players are concerned, any of our fellow party members could also have a "death clause" on, and we wouldn't know it; I think that's part of why CM's been so cautious with us.

I should probably also note that I'm a little more sour than usual because of being KO'd--it's REALLY not fun not being able to participate. Which is another reason getting KO'd is to be so feared. I think the problem is that different Heroes have different ideological principles, and mechanically the system doesn't allow them to oppose the majority's principles without disrupting the Quest itself.

Telling people that KO is permanent and that characters will die if not revived is not conducive to making them unafraid of KO. I look forward to the mechanics of this becoming clear. The non-transparent mechanics are one of the most frustrating things here. I still think that the Blindness weakness should have transferred--we fought for that Spire, and in the end it was useless. Same with the final Zee Spire and Wren draining our Ether; if we had known the effects of those Spires were going to be ignored later on, then we would have ignored them and fought more of the Spires increasing Health and Power.

No, it should have 21 since it was summoned AFTER Atters rolled Special Damage, meaning it can't be KO'd by the Beast of Death. This way, Alexis has another shot at Wren.

Wren's being Encouraged at any time is completely overkill. Even when NOT encouraged, she's a one-hit kill for almost EVERYONE.

Well, uh, my plan is...mostly concrete. Does that count? This battle is...man, I don't even know. (Well, actually, I do, I'm just holding in my rage until a.) it abates enough for me to engage in polite discussion about it, and b.) the post-Quest analysis. ) I don't think we were intended to beat Wren, I think we were just supposed to waste all of our consumables on an impossible fight. Sort of like the Chaos Beasts at the end of Drakencourt. Is that an accurate assessment of your design intention, Zeph?

"Save...Poletad...save...Phil..." It was too much. Arthur fell into blackness once more, his final act a hate-filled glare at the Witch who had cost him so much... Now, remember that Alexis deals Paralyzed to all the enemies on a successful attack. That means, if she's successful, you only have to target the Chaos Beast of Death (which Alexis herself can do as her first attack normally do but can't this round because f*ck Wren's f*cking passive specials) and Wren (which Skrall can do), and all Free Hits are managed (remember, the beast of Life cannot hurt anyone at all.) The above only applies to most rounds. Gee, gotta love that Passive. OK, we need to revive Hans because he has more health and more SP, which means he can live slightly longer if the f*cking area Specials are rolled. If you DO stay and fight, don't even bother with any NPC besides Hans OR Felton (ONE of the two), since they're the only ones who are even remotely capable of seriously damaging this thing--maybe Phil, although his rolls completely suck. Atramor is a danger to the party and to himself, but he's a healer and a good meatshield...then again, even if he Hexed all of the vulnerable Chaos Beasts, it wouldn't do much good, since they'd be Paralyzed and half their Specials involve self-damage (meaning they'd just kill him or the party again). Dyric doesn't want to be revived...I honestly would OK. OK. I think I've got it. Suggested Battle Strategy: Vipera revives ??? (Take your pick, though keep in mind Gnash, and Atramor are rather poor choices mechanically; also, MAKE SURE all revival actions are CONDITIONAL, so if your target is already up you move on to the next revial target in line.) >Emerald Jinn vs. Chaos Beast P (Back Row) (this ensures it will survive to take Wren's Free Hit, and there's a chance it will protect Haldor next Round) >Cronk uses Health Core on Nyx (Back Row) >Hoke uses Phoenix Essence on Alexis (Back Row) (Cronk and Hoke can take the Free Hits of the Masters) McColt Encourages Alexis >Thothwick (Banana Sabre) vs. Chaos Beast of Death (Back Row) (Thothwick can take a Free Hit from Beast P so Nyx doesn't have to) >Nyx revives Felton (Back Row) (I'm going Felton, because if he rolls Rally, we're all safe from Free Hits while if he rolls a SHIELD, then Alexis and Skrall have an easier time of it. >Felton (Sabre) vs. Wren (Back Row) (we need him to do this, simply for the shot at Rally or a SHIELD; it's better he goes before Skrall and Alexis, so that if he gets a SHIELD, Skrall can one-hit Wren) >Haldor revives Mallelio (because either we revive him now or else we lose the Essence he's got anyway, so sure why not) >Mallelio revives someone (Back Row) (my rolls are better than Phil's, but if you insist on saving an NPC instead, go with Phil for added meatbagginess, or if Phil's already up and you still want to save an NPC, pick Poletad) >Skrall (Hunter's Crossbow) vs. Wren (Back Row) (duh) >Alexis (Mockthril Longbow) vs. Wren (Back Row) (clearly) >Alexis (Mockthril Longbow) vs. Wren (Back Row) (obvious) >whoever is revived vs. Wren (Back Row), OR if Poletad, heal most injured ally (Back Row) OR if Arthur, Healing Staff vs. Mallelio, Back Row Just keep in mind the overall revival order: Alexis -> Felton -> Phil -> Arthur or Poletad or Hans

*Enigmatic yet devilish grin* You shall see...one day, you shall see...

Heh heh heh heh heh... I just love it when the pieces begin falling together...back to OneNote!