Flipz

Not with shields. Also, welcome Emjajoas! I know we've already chatted elsewhere, but to reiterate: Docken is a BAD, BAD EXAMPLE of how to be a Ranger.

Hmm, is Chromeknight looking towards Sage, I wonder?

You know, it's interesting...Wren and the Court show different evil sides of Chaos...to me, the Darkstar is an artifact of the evil side of Order. A powerful one at that, one that'd be putting out vibes across half of Uland. I think Arthur would want to destroy it as much as Guts.

Well, actually, based on the wording it'd be a permanent effect that couldn't be remedied, so he'd be Sealed and unable to use the Special again. Also, if anyone wanted to waste a Tonic on him, that'd be another way of avoiding the insta-KO Special. You had your chance to join the Quest and you skipped out on us. Please come help us! Pie, please do me a favor and post here what Docken would look like at Level 30 (just pretend he OD'd on Level-up Mushrooms) with the Cobweb Cowl, Dread Hat, that amulet, and Counterstrike Gloves equipped?

Eh. It's an Accessory, we have tons of those. I have two already that give me abilities I like a lot better. Though I do have to admit, it's a nice add for Witches, who thrive when they roll Special Damage against effect-dealing enemies. Speaking of which, it's a shame Atters isn't immune to Sealed, he totally could have Special Mirrored Mephisto and absolutely ruined him. If/when we get to Vonnetate, I think he ought to wear Alexis' ring and try to Special Mirror him.

Why not? She doesn't use Ether anymore, and her Lucky and Hastened effects are both permanent...

But then you don't get my wonderful battle advice! Once the enemies have been cut down a bit, Alexis should target Mephisto since he can't steal her effects and Sealing is useless against her. Interestingly enough, if/when we actually fight Vonnetate in person, I'm guessing she'll be most valuable against him (or at least, someone who is wearing her ring), since I think it's highly likely that he'll be the one with the Back Breaker special Zeph previewed for us ages ago. He IS the only major NPC here whose Special is a complete mystery.

Actually, you can only attack twice if you physically attack. I'd recommend using the spell. Sorry, I meant the Court. The other party is TOTALLY going to crush the Chaos Beasts.

Soulless cannot be KO'd, if I recall correctly. The only reason you should target the Magician would be to avoid a Free Hit, and I have a feeling she'll owe you if you manage to leave her alive at the end of the fight...

Screwed. So screwed. They're all so screwed. Meanwhile, Arthur gets to have character development instead of getting pissed off by more Court dickery!

Just to make sure everyone sees it in an easy-to-read format... OOC: Suggested party split: Sewers--Chaos Beasts Skrall Cronk Hoke Haldor Hans Phil Poletad Nyx? Court of Demons Dyric Thothwick Atramor Alexis (Zane, Zander, Arthur) (McColt/Bennetton/Gnash? if still alive) Sewers--XX Nyx (explicitly non-combat for roleplaying, then move to Chaos Beasts) Suggested equipment trades: Hoke --> Lend Cultist's Hat to Dyric (Dyric should equip the Cultist's Hat and the Scarf of Misfortune) Possibly more (Pie, any suggestions?) "Passion...ẗ̥̩̝̯͛͋̏ͧ̍͊͠ḧ̙͔̯͍̲́ͣ̈ͣ̌e͕͊̀͞ ̪͙̞͛ͫ͑̏ͅf͈̗̻̜͐ͪ̏i̷̘̓͒͑̓n̙ͤͭ͐̑ͥ͐ͤ͢ḁ̼͚̩̠ͬ͆̉͂̿͆l͂͆͠ ͙̟̱̈̌ͭ͘S̯̫̣͉͋̂̅͘ṗ̯ͪi̷͖͍̭r̡̟̣̩̤̙͖̍ͅe̮͓̘͔̟͞.̼̯̦̩͌̋̎̉ͥ̌̄͘.͔̅ͩ͡.̳̰̭̲̱̠̜̋̽ͪ͌î̙̟̞̝̝̱̾̎̐͛͛ẗ̵͎͓͚̘́̍͑͋ͮ̊ ̠̥̺̖̮̠̊͝ị̭̤̖̰̈̊̑͑̓̚š̫̻̣̩͙̙̞̃͆ͪ̎ͥ̐ ̶͓̙͐ͯ͐ͨ͒H̞e̘̘͔ͣ̉̏̋ͣr̼̥̜̀ő͓̌ͮ̈́̉ͮͯi̶̩͈ͫc͍̣̞̥̙ͤ̓͡a̰̼̼̍͠ ͈̪͙̘̲̗͠Hͯ̀͂̔̆̀a̴̫̮̝̝͙̠͖ͩ̔͂̾͋̃l̽͡l̦̜̦̞͕͋ͭͫ.͍͎̬̠̣̠ ̺̬̾̋̐ͪ ͉̣͓̟̜̝̓S̹̼̹̱̹̩̐̒ͅe̓͋̿ͭ͠a̜̞̗̔̍̋͘r͇̲͎͕͈̹̮ͤ̔̕c̛̻ͣ́ḣ̞̦͊ͤ̆̌͑̄ ̴͇͉̋͛̓y̗̗̜ͫ͐̀o̥̼ͫ͒͢u̢̝̠͙͕͖̠̓̑r̳̰̼̺̞͇̔́̿́ ̛̱̜̣̻͉̳̯̈́̎͌̄̄ͤf̿̍̓̆͊e̢̦̻͈̮ͤ̈ͪė̶͉̗̬̗̭͗̃ͨͥ̈̏l̖͕̫̺̯̉̓i̘̼̳͔̮ͧ̐̅ͣ̾̂͜n̊ͬ͏͍͔̫̝g̤̻̠̠ͬ͗̒ͧ͡s̬̼̄̋̐ͪͨ̆̇ͅ,̫͎̪̭̱͖ͧ̿͂̎ͮ͑͘ ̙̣͈͇͚͙̲͊̓ͫ̑̔̾͐ȳ̮̬̞̦̌̃͋͊̏ͤ͞ó͇u̳̽̓̌̓ͩ ͕̱͚̪k̘͙͖͔ṅ͕̜̺̀̊ͣ̚o̱̣̟̺̰͖̾͞w̹̒ ̱͔̟̫͙̘̯̑̄̉ͦi̯͉͊t̝͖̘͚͈͈̾͗ͨͯ̚ ̻̞̲̫̻̿͗̇̿t͔̣̺̪͋ͧͦ̅̓͟o̓҉̱̙͇̘ ̷̮̲̝͖̺̈̍̃ͫͫ̐̄b̘̲̞̋ͧ͞e̶͉͈ͦͭ͆̐ͦ͌̚ ̙̹̩͈̺̪̗ͥ̿́ͩ̍̉t̵̊͋͛̂̑̐r͖̺̝̤͆ͣ͠ȕ̙̩̖̿ͩͥ́͐̂e̙͗ͦ̑̉ͨ.̔̀̅ͦ̂͐ ̘͇͖͌͒̏̚ ̖̾I̦̟ͯf̻̖͓͔̫̱̬͒̏ ̘̗͓̰͂w̱̤̹͖ͅe͎͊ͨͤ̒ ̸͍̤̼̳͓̮c̪̖̦͕̯͙̤̏͒o̰̳̺̪͐ͩ̇ͭͥͦ̀n̅͌ͪͯ̈̀̚t͐҉̤i̝͖͕̯̺̝͚̾ͯ̚n̺̐̊̈́ų̗̩̠̻̒̋̽̽̆e̡ͥ̈́ͧ̏͑ ̸͇̹͖̱̱̞͇̒t̞̱ͥő̯̭͙̖͚̭̻̅͊̄̏ͥ̓ ̹̱̘̫̦̅̓ͅf̺̝͖͎ͥͦ̒ͦ͛̐i͈͕ͪ̂̄g͉̱͔͇̔ͦ͗̈͆͂h͙̱͎̝̳̫͚͒̄̎̒̎̽t̻̜ͧ̀̈͞,͖̣̩͎̯̺̈̽͑̑͝ ̨̤̥ͮ̅̌you̼̎̏̌ͬ̏͒͛ͪ̚͏̘̗͍̺̻ ̩͈ͦ͊ͮ͌̍̎ͯ͜ͅͅͅm̤͂̏u̯̗̮͕̦͍͐̈̎̾ͥșͮͧ̀̋͢t̙̮̙̪̼͖ͯͨ͊̉ͩ̓̚ ̶̺͆̄̆m̢̟̪̰̜̯̥̩̅ͣͫ̋a͕̳̐́k͙͔̐̎ͯͅe̥̰̘̥̖̜͚ͦ̄ͯ̔ p̵̩̝̩͔͍̫̓̏̔ͯr͔̺͑̃̄͝e͊ͭ͒ͬp̀̐͒̐̂͐a̶̘̞̰̖̜ͤ͒ͯ̐̾̆r̩̖̞̭͕̒̓̋̏͋̀a͎̥͈̓t̗̙̀̐̅i͐҉̦͉o͚̩͍̭̓̃̓̊ͧͨn̡̻̭̜͖s̨̭ͥ̒̔̆͑ ̖͈͈̜̻̩̜tͬͬͯͮͮ͢ḫ̟͙̌͐̇́ͧ͟ͅer͎͖̮̬͒ͪ̍eͨ̾ͪ͂ͦ̉̕ ̞͈̰̥͙̣̰̅̓ͬ̓̋ͮͭâ̈́̎͌͋͏̰͔͓š̰̱͓͍ͮ͋ ̳̻̯͈͖̜ͩ͋͡w̧̩̪͈͒ͫͦ̃ͥe͙͕̘̹̱̫ͯ͆l̛̹̬̟̗̝̯͔͆ͪͪ̽̀̅̅l͊.͚̱̻̲̈̓ͯ"

For some reason, I wish Sylph were here... ...and not just because we SO need a Druid. Best. Typo. EVER.

Yeah, Doc, stop wanting stuff, as soon as you want something, Sandy knows it's time to nerf it.

I, personally, don't like the idea of shields being "weaponized" like that--at least not without some sort of material cost to it. (I.E. an "Etherboost Shield" that can be used to attack the enemy with strength equal to SP, at the cost of 15 Ether, suitable to Mystic Knights and Paladins.) Generally, if a shield is going to do something special, it should involve something that's naturally defensive in nature. I have one such item planned as loot in my Quest (one that's actually based off of an item that another QM made), but it's less about increasing the damage output of the Hero wielding it, it's more about reducing the amount of damage the enemy can do to the Hero, in this case through an effect as well as its SP. That, and in order to get the loot, they'd have to choose to fight an enemy that will have that same effect on anyone who tries to attack it.

I wonder if a shield that does a fixed amount of damage would be OK? Or a "spiked shield" that inflicts the Bleeding-effect to those who damage the hero?

I have to say, I love the diary comics, Def, really brings back how life was when I lived in Japan.

Just wait for Arthur to do it to himself.

I̖͚̲̣̝̫͋ͬͣt ̙̹̐͗ͧ͒̋ͬ̃͡ḍ̷̬͎͖̪͎̯̐ͭe͍̦̪̫̟̦ͥͦ̕ͅp̸̥͉̠̺̝͊̓̈̌̽͑ͅe̋̓̂̒̅̓n͋ͫͣ͌ͫ̿͞d̜̰̻̺͇͉ş͍̭͓̿ͬ̎̔̈́̊ͤ;͔̟ͩ̅ͅ ̸̗͑ͭ͌c̛ͤằ͉͛͊̎̿̂͟n̞̻̈̍̄ͧ ̫̟͇̯̯̦ŷ̙̱̣͇̤̭̯̀̈́ͥ̓͆o̹̟͓͑̑ͪ͆̈͢u̡̗̰̭ͬ͑̏ͣ̋ͫ ̥͔͢ḧ̴̥͕̼͌ͦ̉͂͌̀a̝͈̱͖͢n͍̲̭̒͌d͍̜͗̑ͭ͟lė̵̊̃̈́̈́ͭ ̰͙̮̩ͫͭ͗b̯̥̫͚̳̞͛̑ͅa̺̖̼̮̱͚̻t͈͚ͦ͊̐̍ͥ̿͡t̵̟͓͋l̘̯̟͇̝͊͗̽̐͛e̛ͫ͐ͩ̽̌ ̪̲̯̬̃ͧͮ̎̀́s̖̼̜͗̎̈̆̚͘tr̵͎̞̹ͩ̔ͧͭͯa̟̰t͚̮̮̄̉̑ͦ̓ͥ̚e̘g͈̬̹̫̬íẻ̫̤̣̱̻͓́͂ͥ̅ͅs̗͋͑ͨ̍͌ ̺̣̝͓̖̲̃͒t͔̭̫ͪ̇ͨ̅ͫ̈́̀̚h̓̄ͭ͑ͥ̊͝aͧ͒̓̏̏ͮ̈́t̷͙͓̫ͮ̅̆ͦͤ ͙̼̠̙̖̙̺̈͊̅ͯͤ͑͟l̞͊̽̊̀o̤̙̩̘̗̬͚ͬ͊̓o̴͍̩̝͕̥̅ͭ͒͐̒ḱ͙̝̩͈͇̯̩ͣ̐̉ ̵̭̞̼̞̦̽ͭl̨̝͚͇̪̉ͭ̃ͩ͌ͥ̀i̹͙͇̫k̞̰̠̼̮͓̃̈ͪe̥͆́̎̊̂ͥ̃͡ ̵̥ṱ̲͖͉̜̞͕͛͂̌̅h̬̥̼i̦̭̾ͪ͠ś̱ͦ͛͐͝?̭̦͕͕̩̠ͨͣ̑̐͛̈́ͯ ͣͣ҉̫͖̠̱̰͚ Probably not, he had a REALLY close encounter with that Spire, it's majorly affected him. If he were forced into battle, his actions (or at least, his compliance with the actions dictated for him) would be determined by die roll. If someone doesn't like the result, they can yell at Arthur, prompting a new set of die rolls. (I.E. roll a die to see Arthur's specific action--Healing Staff. Roll a die to see if he attacks intended faction--success, attacks allies. Roll a die to determine Arthur's target--Alexis. This would result in me posting something like, 'Arthur confusedly draws his weapon, his eyes not seeing the things of this world. He suddenly swings a weapon toward Alexis, but to everyone's relief it appears to be his Healing Staff. Or: roll a die to see Arthur's specific action--Scroll + Attack. Roll a die to determine scroll--Scroll of Weakness. Roll to determine faction--failure, attacks allies. Roll to select target--Haldor. Roll to determine Arthur's attack weapon--Staff of Ennon. Roll to determine spell--failure, physical attack. Roll to determine faction--success, attacks enemies. Roll to determine target--<insert enemy here>. Results in: 'Arthur, blind to the material realm, unfurls a Scroll of Weakening, aiming the glowing paper towards Haldor even as his Staff of Ennon swings toward <insert enemy here> from the Back Row.)

"I͐̆̓͜ ̣̝̣̠̼̀̐ͦ͜l̡͕̪̫̰͖̠̫ͧä̡ͨ͑̑̚y͈̘̔ͮ͠ ̬̩͓̍w̶̘̜̲̺͈͈̙̿̓̍ï͎̟̞̫̝̮͖̇̔̀̐t͖̘͖̂ͫ̋͟h͓͇̜̪̬̭ͥ̔̈́̑i̖͚̻̋͐n̪̰̳͓̜̟̩ͦ͂̾͜ ̰̞̥͕͇͔t̻ͧh̦̩͇̰ͮ̒̊̿̐ȩ̮͈̲̝̼̰͉̈̋ͦ̏̚ ̵̘͚̇̏͆̉̇͌͐c̰͓ͯ̉̓̇͊͒ǘ̿̇̿҉͎̪̞r̛̪̻̙s̋ͥ͒͊̋ͫe̓ͦ͏͈ ͙͔̘͕͗ͦ͆ͪ͝ͅo̬̲͚̓͂̍ͤͦͯͭf̬͍͔̹͎͟ ͣZ̛̩͉̝͙̪͊͋̊e͉͇ͨḑ̠͔ͤ͌̄͋͐͛̃.͈̣ͣͥͤ͢ ̥̬͎͇͇̮̼̔͒̊̾ͮͧ́ ̏͜Iͩ̓̾̅҉͇̖ ̪̙̬͉́̋̌ͫ̍͘s̽̚͠e̲ͦͤ̀ȓ̷v̰͖̬̘̑̑̊ͫ͌͊̚e͉̘̩̜̋̊ ̩͚̮̹̼̰̑ͥ̇̾͘C̞̱̮ͥͨ̿ͪ̆h̫̼͈͔̙̳ͬ̒̓̆ͅa̱̱̗̖̰̝̥ͩ̉o̙͔̱͚̳ͫ̋͞ͅs̷͉͖͒̑͐̆ͥ͒ͅ ͛̾f̋ͬ̄ͣ̓a̸͙̪͕̻͎̞͗ͨ̊ͣ̾ͅi͔̣͍͇̿͂̚t҉͕͓̪̠h̯̑̽f͉̮ͯ̇̇̈́͐ͩu̡̝̎̐̈́ͅl̥͉͖̹̱̣͂͂ͬ͑͊͡l͍̯̗̬̰̐́͌͆̓̽ẙ̗ͩ͐͒̿̇ͪ͝,̮͚̲̠̮̲͓ͣ̉ ̐̑҉̻̪̪͔ą͋ͦ̂̓̇̔̇s̶̞̯̠͌̒ͯͧͫͅ ̫̦͝I͈͝ ̛̺͗̇̋̇ͯ͑̋w̡̩͇͓͚̩͇̅̒͒̽a̶̘̯̭ͅs̩̳ ̪̩̞̦ͫ̄͂͆̕ͅb̸̝̥̪͆̌̋ͨ̌ȍ̴͆̚r̜̱̩̹̭̎̉̅ͭ͂͝n͇̲̪̙ͨͭ͗e̶̠̺ ̢̺̤̖̜̖͇ͅt̸̙͙͍̠͉ȯ̡̝͒͆̾̚ ̻̗̗͔͓ͨ͗͊̾͛̚͝i͇̯ͭ̒̽̑͛̆̏t̤,̹͉͚̹̊͋̊̇̃ͤ͠ ͛b̹̙ͦ̓̃ͥ͂u̗͔̬͙͖̻̟͐̓ͩt̻̬̣ ͉̬t͚̗̀̽̆̅̓̍ho̵̰͓̲̩̗ͭs̺͉̳̺̥̼͌̇̋ͧ̇̽͞e͙͙̼̎̉͒͘ ́̏͆̒͏̜̼̣͍b̤̖̘͔ͯ͋͆̈́ͮ̃ͬ͝ǒ̙̦̳̚rͯͦ͑͂ͮ̀̌͘n͎̐͆e̮ͥ͋͆̓͞ ͔͉̩̊͑ö̵́́̇f̛̣̌ͪ̆̇͂̀ ̓͐̀͋ͬ̚i̍͋̿ͭ̉̚҉̠̱̝̙ẗ̹̩̭͆ͯͨ͞ ̶̮̤̝̟ͯh̡̻̬̝̮̥̗̳̐ͤ̽a̜ͤt̛̙̼͎h͖̪͓̝͇̥ͨ̽ͧ̽̽͐͢ͅ ̙̟̖͗̂̇̇p͚̞̬ͭ̆ͮ̓̀o̥̼̊̏̃̾ͧ͐̒͘w̤̞ͧ̎͛̂̉er̗̽̃̎ͧͣ̾ ̄̔̂ͯ̿̚҉̟̖͇̙b̿͑ͯͯͫ̚ě͊y̳̤̤̜̱̹o̦͍̱̜ͅn̙̹̭̦̂ͮ́̌̇͡d̴͚̮̳̦͇̬̀̌ͅ ͚̤͕̘ͯ̏̄̽̇̂̋͘a̷̞̤̰̲͒͗l͠l̩̼͖͕̝̰͇͗̓̿̔͊͘ ͕̫͚̦̣̋̒ͭ̓ǐ̭̪͕͈̙̤̹̒͐̑m̶̼̩͇̍̌͌͒̓͂a̖̼͓̻̮ͩ̉ͤg̅̚i̵͚̰̯̓̐ͣ̉ͨ͒͊ṉ̡̠̰̼͖͍͌̍̊̂i͙̭n̹͙̦̰̥̼ͩ̿͆͂̉̍ͩ͠ͅĝ̵̀ͭ̌́ͣ̇ͅ.͍͓̰̳̬͑ͯ̓W̞̩̑̌͂͊ͪ͒ͣ͠e͇͇͎̝̲ͬ̅̐ͬͨ̾̀͘ ̠͈̥ͮ̃ͥͥa͕̙̠̤͕̗̻̋ͬ͐̊r̝̣̤͈̟̉ͣ͐̂͟e͔̝ͦ̓͗ͯ͊ ̨̫̪͎̪͍̟̃͆͆p̉̋̓ͫ̑̉̃u͔̺̦̺̠̓ͭ̍̾̄̓͟nͫͦͦy̝͔͇͓̮̎̕ͅͅ,̼͍̬͐̌ ̶͔̳͚̼̪̞ͤͤ̈͐͛͊ͅan̋ͫͪ̍̎͗͘d̶̤ͤ͑ͬ ̤͍͖͔̥͈̦͋͂̆̾̾̈̑w̮e̍́̌͆̈́͋ͭ҉͔͉͓ ̤ͧw̠̗ͧ̎į͎̳̰̟̎̂̐̿͗̏l̨̻͚̳̳͚͍̈́͌ͯ̚ͅl̞̠͖̮̺̣͔͂̆̍ͭͯ̓͞ ̥̙̫ͮf͚̘̺̒ͬ́̈̚̕a͇͙̺͛͆ͬͩͮlͨ͂̓͒l̖̦͎̟̬̚ ̬̌ͭ̓̈̉w̧̻̺̤̮̰ͤ̐i̔̔t̟͎ͬ̏ͥͤͮͩͧȟ̤͇͓̥́ͫ̈ ̠ͨͬͅṫ͋̏͏̱̬̰͓̦ͅh̺̖̙̲͉͕ė ̩̊̓͞õ̽҉̲̼t̫͚̥̝̝̹̻̊̐ͪ̃̌ͮh̥͖͉͓̋̐̓ͭ̆ͤë͎͔͈́͘r̽ͥͯ͌̆ͦ̚͝s̜.̠͊̃̄̏̌" "Ḭ̺͙̬̣̼͐͗̿̇t̷̺̻̬͇̯̬̙̏ ̙̼̇̊̋w̝͍͝ͅo̵̩̻̖̱̜̠̐͌ͩ͆͗ͮn't bē̵̟̩͙̒̈͗̓ ͚̭͓͚̲̖̓̃̃͞ḛ̮̘͚ͨ͘n̰̺̄͂̾̄ͭõ̤̝̰̉͞ͅu̼͊̅ͬ͂̒͞g̰ͤ̄̅̓̓̏̄h̪̭̳̗͓͕͔̿̽̒̔̏̌̈́.̩̟́ͨͦ̊͒̀ W̢̺̽̽ͦͩ́e̱̪ ͉̳͊̿̈͋ͦ̌́̚ḧ̯̺̟̙́̊͑͒ͧ͐ạ̓̌͒ͨv͎e̞̜͈͔̩̘ͯ̏͛́ ̄͂ͮsͥ͂ͩͩ҉̺̯͓̮̹̹ả̜̞͖͇̝͞ç̣̯ͭ̈́ȑ̳̌͒̆iͬ̈̆̃҉̬fi̋͐̃̊̈͏c̫̬̟͎̄͒ͤ͠e̛̹̜̣̬̟ͬ̔͊̾d̰̗ ̬͖̩̀̅ͤ̐̊͗͑m̞̅̏̌̒͐ǚ̫͚̍̇͂͢c̢͎̗̼̼̘̗̑ͦ͗̈h̬̉̅̄ͪ,̭̍̾̓̉ͥ͐ ͚ͥ͂͂͌b̆͏̙̟̳̱̯̖̮ű̬̲̥̞͉̜͆̿̍̿t̙̣̯̦́ ͆ͤͦ̓̆ĩ̘̲̘̯̈́͂̑ͨͫ̂͡t͚͓̫̮̝͞ ̱̠͕a͍̳̙̖̗̗̹ͬͥ͒ͣ͌̽̃̕l̽̃̿ͫ҉̞͓̩l̘̯̖͔̖̭̤̍̐ ͪ͏͍̱̪h̲̫̩as n͚̭̪ö̫̳̣̺̭̾͗ͩ͛̈́̄ ̩̘̯̼̋p̘̂̋ǘ̘̗̘̞͉͇̯r͍̳ͩ͂̈́͛͒p̗̦̩̝̽o͕͇̪̩̙̍͒ͫs̔̏ͭe͙̞̮ͦ̉̽. T͔̰̱̻̭͇͛ͩͣ̑͂͛ͅh͖͇͙̱̞̰ͬ́ͥͫe̦̙͝ ̮̌̋L̘͔̿ͫa̤̖̰͓͔ͤ͊͆ͧ̎̚̕ͅd̢͇̬̣͔͊͊̔̐ͥ̒y̡̮͒͊ ̱͚͙̮̦̓ͤͧ̑W̡͔̙ren will fail. T͇̗̞h̳͔̟̠̥̱ͅe̱̣̹ L̰̩̬̮̞ͅo̻͓̺r̮͚d̟̺͎͍͖̝̥ ͔ọ̝͚̪͕͚f͖̤̳̮̩͚ C͕͔̮̪̼͕̗h͚̟a͈̺̪͓͈̭o͕̼̳̱̜s ͈l̠o̰̩͉̜̘̳v̝͍e͉s̬͉̫͉̞͕̘ ̤̳͎͍̫̦̫n̼̞o̼͕͓ ͔̳̱m̗̙̣̘̗or͎̲̙͖̲̬̫ta̳̥͍̲l͇̜̖. Bu̼̙̥͙̯̬͎ẗ͍̬́ͯͦ̒̀ͅ ͂̍̀͗̓̓̚͝s̫̩͕̭̗̙̼͐͊̄̂̾ḫ̗̻ͮ́͟ē̼̟͐̉̍̀͆ ̶͍̿ͭ̈ͦ̑̅ͅi͗s̮̞ͣ̊́̏̂ ̨̦̤͔̰͔̔ͦ̅̇ͭr̦ͪ̾ȉ̸̤̗̙͚͉̓̄̑ͪͤğ̠͈̩̥̼͐ͨ͞ͅĥ̡̒̃ͧ͊̓̓t̵ͯ̿ͦ,ͦ̓͘ ̨̜̱̗̰̑͊̄̃i̳ͩ̈́̒͒ͣn͓͚͉̑̓ͩ̔̔̊ͥ̀ ̙̲̼̥̜̦̝͌̂ͨ̆̇ͫͭ͞a̢̰̬͍̜̩͚̘̍̉ ̊͋ͪͦ͋w͎̠͎̘̲̜ͩ͒̌̈̌a̐̄y̛͍͇͙͉̘̘͎̾̉̍.̙̟̤̱̫͎͕͑̒̑ H̦͈͕̜̹͇͊̈́ͪͥ̆ͨ̓e̘̥̫̒̈ͣͮͯr̪ͧ̅̔ͣ̂o̙̹̬͍̮̬͔̍͒̇̃̽̔i̹ͣ͊c̘̺͇̦̋ͥ̓̅a͇̺͇̤̦͙̍́ ͈͓̘̲̹̱w̳͚̣̬͎i͖ͬ̈́ͫ̉̆ͧͤl̠͖͑̐ͩ͋l͖ͪ̎͛ ̪̬̦̩͔͂̑͌f̞̦̳̃͂ͫ̋̔̅ͅͅa̫̪ͅl͖̣͕̗͉ͪ̿ͦͯ̿l͎͕ͥ̆͗ͤ̅͑.͕̼̦̮̐ͅ ̝̽̉ ͈̠͓ͪͤ̀̔Ź̪̟̾̀ͫ̄̊ͣo̤̘̳̟͎̭͑ͅo̟̠͚ͤ̓͗͒̉t̿̋ͮ͊̀ͣ̄ ̣̝̩̱ͪw̹͔͍̙̪͗ͪͅi͚̫͉̳̫͂l̹̮͖̦͔̐͊̈́l̑ͨ ͔̪̫̳̘ͭ̒ͦ̿̏ͪr͈̣̗̭͎̞̺̊͛̋̾͌i̼̥̰̜̇̐s̘̭̿̆ͨ̒̂ḛ̠̳̺̄ͮ̈́.̮̞̫̲̼̒̉̃̑ͭ̍͗ ̥̭̥ͣ̿̅̈̓ ̼͉̦T̰͙ͅh̩̟̟̜̮e̒ͭͭ ̰ͩ̋̌ͨẁ̳̗̟̪͈͍̥͗͊ͥ̚o̚r̠͉̫͓̱̫̮ͤ̒̂̌l̜͈͓͋ͧ̓ͅd͈̼͎͓̗̺ͭ ̖̭̩̏̃́̇ͧ̇w̮͍̟̼̭͑͐̒̈́ͣi̲̦ḽ̜̦͓ͬͫ͋͐l͇̹͈ͮ̀̉̔ ͕̦̜̇̓b͍̝͖̍͐̃̔̂̀ͣu͙͍ͥr̭̪̹̮̭̳ͮͩn̖̗̥̭ͣ͗ͫ̚.̗̖̺͇̥ͤͦ͂͛̋́̚.̳͓.̳̪̼͗ͧ͛ͤ̄ͭf̥͖͑ͤ̃r̖̖̮͇̙͇ͮ̐̇̍͗ȇ̼̩̥͓͕͚̌ͦͨe͉͍̣ž̲̭̪̭ͩͫ̽̄ͨͅe.̩͔̈̔̆.͍͎͓͔͎ͅf̱͈̙͙̋r̪̬̄̀̃̐̾ý̞̽̋.̜͈̫̩̬̊̑ͧ̈.̺̟̭ͪ̋ͪ.̗̓́ͭ̅ͩa̳̟̐͂̏ͯͤñ̬̩̺͊̑̎͋d̲͔̙̜̳̗ ̍̀͒̅̔ͅH̦̝͍͕̭̯̩̅e̥̿͂̈̌͋ͅr̻̳͉̻̖̘̦͐ͣ̅ͪ̔ͮó̖̟͍͓̞̊̂͒ͅi͖͑̄ͮͦͫ̎ͩͅc̱̱̮̬̻ͅa̫͙̼̭̜͖ ̪ͦ̈́w̳̬̝͉̗͕͇̏ͬͣ̔i̺̲̖̮̦ͅl̳̝̰̳ͮ͐̊l͕͉̤̮͚̃̆͐̆̆ ͓̪̥̔̍̏b͒̌̔ͮ̎̓ͨe̝̘̘̎̊ ͚̪̑h͕͕̭͍͑ͩͨ̒̆̎i̗̰̓̽́ͤs̜͉̭̳͔̟̊̇͋̈͊ͭͦ ͔̩͍̬͑̑ͫ̓ͫͧ͒t̩̗͖̲͐̍ọ͊̚ ̤̂̋̇ͭ̌͌̊e̠̝͇͚̤͍̟͒a̝̰̳͖͚͉͐̋̉ͬ̃t͉̏ͥ́.͙̩̠̺̦̙͂̐ͭ͆̔͛̚"

I have something similar planned, but it uses a slightly different effect. Conterstriking is great, but I feel that it's such a useful new ability that it should have to take up an artifact slot (unless it's part of a particular Expert Class). Then again, one or two Counterstriking shields might be OK...

As I see it, we want Skrall on Chaos Beasts for 9x damage, Cronk or Haldor on Chaos Beasts thanks to Light weapons, and Hoke on Chaos Beasts for Light damage and so he has a shot at his Plaything. Meanwhile, at the Court we want Dyric with Scarf and Hoke's Cultist Hat for Jinxing damage vs. undead, Thothwick for damage vs. undead, Atters for Deadly Poison and Fragile and Mass Illusion vs. undead, and Alexis for Hastened Lucky assassination. Also, Arthur is either going to the Court or else remaining with Gray, he has no motivation to take the sewers. If we really need him, he'll do more good at the Court anyway. "Alexis...Ḭ̯̖̬̰̗̤̏̏̂ͮ͒͌ ̱̮̻̗͇ͩw͇͋̏͘i̱͇͋̾ͤ͝l͉̟͍͛͋̾͐̔̆̄́l̤͚̦ ̵̩̮ͦ̀ͅṕ̫͔̏͌e̱̲̫͆ͣ͆̽̾ͣ̑ͅͅr̺̿ͨͥ͑͟ị̤̹ͬ̽̅ͥͩ̒̅͡sh̬̤̳̤͉̺̿́ͭ͝ ̰̳̥̜̝̭̬͂̆̈̎͐w̦̫i̟̔̀̓t͈̻͎͓ͩ̓̈́̈ͤ́ͅh͖̳ͥ͆͛̄ͤͧ ̡̖͓̖t̼̠̩͛͐̉̂̆͆ͬ͞hͮ̏̓ͥ̒͏̞eͤ͜ ̱ͭr̻͚̦̯ͥe̶̐́s͍̫ͩ̄ͯ͑ͯ̔ͥ͟ṯ̰̱̹̜̞̄̊͌̐͗̒̅.͛̔ͬͪ͏̬͓͎̞̣ ̜ͣ̑̓ͨ̈́͂ͤ ̥̽̃M̃͑ͨy̛͈̘ͯ̈́̓ͬ̊͆̒ ̛͓̰̲͕͉̜̯̆̾d̪̕e̯̔̍l̽ͧ̑̀̐̾͆҉̫͖͔̪͍u͈̩͍͑̾ͯ̾ͭ̍͡s̞̬̦í̲̗̎ͣͭͨ́o͔̞̝̼̔͌ͦͪ̚͟n͇̳͔̖̰̪̔̅ͬ̐̏ͣ͂sͪͭ ̦̑͂͂̊̒̚o͌͒̌͊̑҉͇̗̟f̳̘̖̳͕̣̲̋̇ͮ͑ ̭̫̗̳̳̠̫ͯ̔ͪ͐ğ҉͕̣̘̲̬r̸͇̺̺̠̣̅ͪ̈e̴ͩat͔̺̩̫͔̉́͊̊ͮ̏̚̕n̛̜̺̻̜̬̗e̱̬̤̖͚s̱̹͓̠̬̰̘̓͋ͯͭ̅s͔̠͙̮̩̬̓ͧ̋̾̂̿̚ ͐͏͖̺͍͇a̽̿ͥ̀ṋ̺̼͌̓̄̀d̘̮̖̗̘͊ͫͥ̚͜ͅ ̺̪̫̖̦̪͚̄ͭͦg̠͔̮͕ͦ͌ͨ̐͂ͫr̔̔aͦ͜ͅn̛͕̤̫d͕͍̖̠͉͍̫̏ͫ̔̑ė͎̱́͌ͤ̀̅u͙̞͍̻̺͔̭ͦ́̀̀ͨ͒̎r̥̟͖͍͙͔̙͌̏ͨͨ͊́,̳͈̩̟͓͗̈́̍ͭ̓̓ ̞̮̻͉̀͘o͉͞f͇ ͣ̂̅͏̭̜͔̩̱̯r͍̱̭͉͋ͯ̀͂̈́ͨi̯̥̤̣ͮḡ͚̹̀ͨ̊̈́h̩͚̼͞ṱ̴̣̤̽̇̿ë͇̻͖͙̙̮͖́̑̎̃o̯̩̱͆̑̓ͧ̀ͤu͎͖̦̱͟s̉͊͗͛̑͆̂҉̞̼̖̥͇̣̝n̳̹ͮͯ̚͡e̺̣̘͈̮ͮ̔̃ͪ́͗ͩs̝̪̦̼̜͍̓͂̉̅́͗͘s̶͛̀̄ͣ̓ͅ ̌̓ͮ͏a̳̺̻͌̔n̵̅̚d͉͓̖ͤ́͡ ̦͓̬͍͍͇̀p̹̯̩̼͇͙̯̿͋ͮ̏̃͟ơ͔̩w̤̳͎̬̼͊ͮ͒ͅe̤̝͍̖͉̎͌͗r̵̩͇̩̯͚ͭͭ̔ͫ͊̋̄-̝̥̫͕̻̞ͅ-͕͍̣͙͚ͥ̑̐̈t̞̗̥h̯͇̖͚̖͖͗e̞̜̲ͧỹ̠͖̼̗͊̒̽͐͝ ̵̞̮͒ͨ̒a̡͉̬ͭ̌̐ͩ̚r̹̦̭̳͙̻͗ͯ̑́ͣ̉ẹͦ̏̌͊͒͟ ̴̖n͒o̦̗̮̩ͮ̃ͣt̉ͮ̈̅̄̌̚ ͔̬̟̰̻͖̃ͨͤt̩̾̅͟hͥ̿̒e͍ͦ͋ͯ̏̓̂ ͦͭ̌ͥ̋̚w͍͈͎̼̪̥̬̌̈͞a͍̹͚͌̿̀͟ͅỷ̖̺̑̿͗̋̒ͦ ̤͓͓̬͒́̚o̺͓̖͓̳̠̭͗͒́̀f̺̞ ̘̮̝̯̻̱̅C̗̖̺͑̽h̽͊̾a̖̫̗͕͙̗ͨ̂̋͋o̐́͆̽ͨ̕s̹̲͆̇ͮ̑͆.̺̯͔͎͇͔̭̒̕ ̣̞͆̕ ͖̱̬̺͜A͔̤̜̤̬ͮn͎̼̣̠̺͍̩ͭ̽̚d̷͕̯̯ ̤̗̦́̈͒̀͝t̴̮̤̤ͮ͛͒́ͫh̴͇̖͕̤̬ͦ̐̐ͫ̓͗ͅê̛̊ͣͤ̅ẙ̬̖̼̮̐̒̔ͯ͛̚ ̹̪̠͚̾͋͆͒̑̋͗w͎ͬ̆͢i̡̬̺̩̐͐͆̾͂̈l̛͓̗͕̪̯̹͌ͣ̋ͭ̅ͥ̐l̻̝̼͉̱̓͌ ͉͈̞̅̔̄ͤͅn͇̳̰o̜ͩ̍ͫ͆̿̚t̝ͫͮͫͧͧ̿ ̅̋͏s̋̓͝a̤ͥͤ̏ͥͮ͘v͎̰̳̞̦̀̊̽e̘ͬ̀ ͖ḿ͈̗̻̫͙̩̦ͬͪ̈̈́ͪ̈́e͔͖̹̟͔͈ͫ̃̇ͧ͑ ̯̪ͅį̑ͯ̄͛͌͒̋n͕̙̘͖͖̱̱ ͓͍̙͚̉̂̓t̡̖h̹̣͍ͯ͒͑ͦͮ͑̋e̾͑͆̏͑ͮ҉͍̦̗ ͇ͩͪͧ́ͅͅè̘̗̞̞͇̣̚ͅn̘̠̬̻͕̠̱͆̓̉d̛̮̤̳͙͇̺͙.̬̽͋͞ ̯̩̮̰̇͆ͬ̓͆͒͒ ͍̠̹ͬ̌̄ͫ͆I͎ͤ̓ͣ͝n̩̲͓̦͊ͤͫ̔͛̎̇́ ̸̦̣̥̗͂͗̅̅͌ͣtͩ͌͒̌̌̿͞ḧͥ͋̉̈́͛҉̼̥̳̰e͍̠̞̰̠̜͌ͪ̒͋ͮ͑ ̬͞ë̪́͑͡n̝͓͕͌̃̄̈́͌͡ḏ̫̫̦̯͚͗̒̀̒̆ͬ ̖̟̜̹̩̰̬͂̋̽̑͗ͯ̃͘ṭ̻ͦ̆̒ͥͅh̯̱̍ͦ̉͌̽̓e̖̞̖̅͑̂̿ͦͨ ̴̜̺̱͉ͫ̓͌ͥ͛ͩ̚ẁ̴̹̝͈̦̝ͣ̎̎͐o̅ͭ̌̑͒ͧ͏r͍̥̗̱͒ͬ̽ͬͤ̽l̤̤̦ͧ̇̈ͯ͌ͪͥd̝̙̺̬͕ͯ͐ ̵̭̝͙͍̠̤ͅw͚̜̙͉͢i͙̰̝̮̙l̠͔̬̝̺l̶̜̙̮͇̭̏̓ͅ ̺̱͙̦̠͚ͣ̈͂͆̏b̢͔̟̎̆ͩ͛u̐̊̊ŗ̖ͧ̃̊͂ň̴͈̟̹̫̬̭̜ͪ.̗̬̱͇͔̹̀͊̑ ͗ͣ͐ ̣͂̑ͨ̄F͔̲͇̳̲͇͓̄̃ͨͪͬ͗̂r͇̤̺͓̘͇͊͆ͥͤ͒̒̋͝ę͕̹͚̉ͬͤ̓ͧ̌̚e̡̹̙͕͊̀͑͐zḛ̵̠͚̳̇́̌̍ͦ.̴͓̝͍͍̒ͧ̃̄͊ ͜ ͚̼̞͔̹͎̒̅̀̆ͩ̊ͤͅF͕̯͖͍̫̳͌r̼̜̝͕ͣͥ̓ͬ͛̓́yͧ̓ͭ̽ͮͧ͢.͗̔̓ͪ̋҉̺̩̻̻͕̝̪ ͍̜̤̘͙̼̇ͮ͌ͮͮ ͙̖̟̦̥̮̯ͭ̌ͦͩͦ̕İ̙̲̩̳̐ͣ͗̅̆͛ͅ ̴̪̞̳̻͈ͯͨå͚͕̩͠m̖̟̙̓͡ ̗͉̘̺̥̄̅ͣ̐̄n̹̪̪̙͇̙̬ͯ͗ͣ̇͌̊o͔̹͕ͯͥ̇ͅt̖͍̫͠ĥ͙̝̽ͥͣ̏ing..."

... *begins massive re-write to reduce predictability* Hey, I was upset because his CLASS was useless, and because he ran and got Triad killed.

Ha ha ha. For your information, *begins speaking gibberish*. Forget sticking around the Hall, he needs to come help us!

Hate doing this in OOC, but saying it IC would both be unreadable and would require knowledge of stuff that Arthur doesn't know IC. Our team should go after the Chaos Beasts, since the XX team would only benefeit Arthur (and besides, he doesn't even have his Scroll of Sealing, so it'd be pointless to defend it). However, Nyx should go to the XX spire unarmed and seduce negotiate with XX, just for roleplaying (i.e. "I can't and won't fight you right now, but hear me out" or something). Hastening is astually not too big a deal, since we have Counter-Strikers and a Cloak of Deception, meaning we can turn it to our advantage. In terms of teams, I'd keep one Assassin on each team, put Haldor in the Court group, Hoke in the Chaos Beast group...and still working on the rest. Also, I need to point out that even if Arthur goes to the Court, he's out of action for now and so won't be fighting. And it's probably best for the team if Atters is not in a group that Arthur may go with, so I'd send him after the Chaos Beasts as well, along with Skrall. I think Dyric would be best with the Court group, though he should borrow Hoke's Cultist Hat so he can keep the Scarf equipped. That means Alexis should go after the Chaos Beasts. Also, Cronk has to go with the Court, so he can recruit any guards they may meet. "Alexiss͇̖̤̓̈́s͍̬͓̀̾̀͋͂̚š̲̼̽̍̾s̅ͫ̂̉s̠̱̪s͉̺͚s̳͇͕̖͚͚͈̄͒̓̔͜s̘̞̪̑̓̏͌ͥͦ̚s͉͈͎̘̜͐s͚͓̑ͯ͛́s̠̘͇̥̬̩̠ͯ̚s̝̦̙̣͚͔̑͛̑s̨͉̖̉̏.̙̤.̴̬̥͖ͧͧ.̮͚͎͉͚͙͉" Arthur hands the Lucky Die to Alexis.

Q53ers: No, that's not a virus. If you don't want to mess about trying to read it, basically Arthur (or is it...? ) is saying the result will be the same whether he stays with Gray and the others back at base, or if he goes to the Court with the others.