Flipz

So I can blame Cronk's Angel for his stubbornness? ...Then what's Haldor's excuse?

I think Boomingham's been a bad influence on Barty. Well, him or Pretzel.

"Can't speak for Filmore, but seeing as the rest of you seem a decent bunch, I'll explain a few things for you...just as soon as Filmore's gone. I don't trust him--he smuggled cargo onboard without the consent of his extremely fair and reasonable captain, knowing that you wouldn't approve of the shipment, and besides, I loaned him my Telescope and he scarpered without giving it back. I'd actually like that back now. Even if his intentions were innocent, someone told him to smuggle this aboard, and I definitely don't trust them." Arthur crosses his arms and refuses to speak until Filmore is out of earshot, his posture indicating to the rest of the party to do the same.

Stop reminding me what my real life is missing! Whoops, IRL affecting online again. I concur!

Damn it. Sorry, Pie, I can't respond right now, stupid RL inconveniences are stupid. I'll reply to Illdria in a couple of hours.

Hey, you almost took out Thalion, and that was a 10+-round fight. Plus I'm low on Ether, and with this only being the second fight so far, I know that'll come back to bite me later. It could have gone a LOT worse for us. On the plus side, my choice to take an Opal as my first gem FINALLY paid off. 96; he lost his effects from being KO'd.

No kidding. Looks like the party'll have to focus all their fire on Corlo this round to avoid failing the Quest.

NRG ninja or ZX ninja? The ZX ninja are pretty common, and appear in both sets AND spinners; the NRG ninja only appear in spinners, and Jay apparently sold out months ago (according to both my local store and LEGO Shop At Home. EDIT: Seriously? The board software won't let me use the old abbreviation for Shop At Home anymore?

"All right, De'kra, you and the others look through the cargo, I'll listen at the door to try and overhear the conversation."

"Little thief...! Well, if he won't cough up the Telescope next time we meet him, he can cough up some Experience for the rest of us...De'kra, could you please Track him Down? He can't have gone far..."

I have to say, I really appreciate all the different varieties of Venom that are starting to appear. It adds an extra element of strategy to picking which one you want to use, which is always nice. OK, so now that the battle is over, Pie, what exactly would have happened if De'kra had gotten a Sudden Death on the Spiders-in-a-Barrel?

Arthur's eyes widened. "De'kra...this infection--could the infected spread it to other creatures, through bites or cuts? And did this venom happen to let off a smoky green gas?" "Many years ago, at the height of the Bio Beast infestation, my ancestors used the remains of one of those creatures in a ritual to open a Gate to a different dimension, one full of bio-mechanical beings. We exchanged ideas and technology, but unfortunately that wasn't the only thing exchanged. Some creatures of that realm escaped through the unstable Dimension Door--in those days, my people did not have a permanent Gate that could be fortified--and multipied within the forests to our west. One of those was called Khaggra--Kagarikr--anyway, our people called them Kah'grak'tharachna, a corruption of their original pronunciation combined with my people's word for 'spider.' The creature sounds somewhat similar to the ones you described. My grandfather and great grandfather once managed to hunt and kill one of these beasts, and study of its remains was the basis for our fixed Gate technology." "Anyway...I ask because we never did learn the origin of the Bio Beasts--they appeared before my people opened our Dimension Door to the other world, and according to the Archives the people of that realm denied all knowledge--they were perplexed as we were by the creatures. I...my friends and I discovered a vial of green gas that, when struck with the Staff of Chaos, produced a new Bio Beast. If this is the venom you described--if it is the source of the Bio Beasts--then it's possible that my people's use of the Gate is somehow producing them--and if that's the case, then I must warn them to stop using the Gate, no matter what the cost." Arthur notices Filmore cowering back in the hallway. "Well, kid, I hope you've learned something from watching us fight. If you don't mind, I'd like that Telescope back, if you please." Arthur holds out his hand, but turns for a moment to address the rest of the party before returning his attention to the crewman. "Everyone else, let's have a look-see at what's inside those crates. GENTLY, and neatly--no need to make a mess."

Steak (WP:1, instantly kills vampires, suitable for all classes) Where was this in Quest 28?! Or Quest 34?!

Arthur's brow furrowed with concern. "De'kra, are you sure you're alright? Perhaps...perhaps you ought to explain why spiders upset you so."

Loot distribution is hard. Fortunately, I've taken a leaf out of WBD's book (I think he's the one that said it) and started an Excel sheet for loot. De'kra's still coming out a bit ahead even after this battle thanks to that handcannon he got before and his Gold Reaping, but I still feel bad that he's only getting one thing out of this battle (well, two if you count the Blunt Dagger, but that's only 5 Gold). Sorry, pal!

Arthur should have 21 Gold, seems one of his Magnetic Mojos wasn't counted. Also, Tanma, I promise De'kra will get something nice soon! "De'kra, you really deserve both of these venoms, but I'd like to keep one to myself. For...other...purposes." Imagine that venom somehow imbued into my staff... "You mentioned before being uncomfortable with bombs, so if it's alright with you I'd like to give your Dirt Bomb to Thalion and your Ice Bomb to Barur. I meant to give you the blunt dagger earlier, but apparently forgot--it's worth 5 Gold, and is better suited to you anyhow, even as weak as it is. Now, Thalion, Barur...one of you will get the Lightning Bomb, the other the Water Bomb. Do either of you have a preference?" Loot Division: Arthur- 1 Noxious Venom De'kra- 1 Noxious Venom Thalion- 1 Fire Bomb, Ice Bomb, Smoke Bomb, 1 additional bomb (Lightning or Water) Barur- 1 Fire Bomb, Dirt Bomb, 1 additional bomb (Lightning or Water)

"Yes, I'll deal with the spider. Once the barrel is destroyed, Thalion, just hang back and do nothing; De'kra, same goes for you with the spider, unless a new one is summoned. Barur, could you continue to attack the Barrel from the Front Row, please, unless someone drops below half health, in which case you should heal them." Arthur casts a Frailty Spell and an Ice Spell at the Bright Widow, Back Row. Battle Order: De'kra Arthur Thalion Barur Aside from the Frailty spell, consider this an ideal plan for auto-rolling.

Arthur casts another Ice spell at the Spiders in a Barrel, Back Row. Battle Order: De'kra Arthur Thalion Barur Barur, could you be on healing guard, in case one of us takes damage?

Arthur casts Frailty on the barrel from the Back Row and follows up with an Ice Spell. Battle Order: Arthur Thalion (Ice back row) Barur (Physical attack, front row) De'kra (do nothing unless a spider appears, in which case attack it, Back Row) This is my last spellcast for this fight; after this it's Physical attack, front row until he takes damage, then physical attack, back row.

And sorry to make you run them again (especially after I got some Gold), but...

Hate to point it out, but the Glow Widow is immune to Stunned, which totally changes the battle results. Additonally, I would have switched to Ice spells from the Back Row once I took the first Damage, though you couldn't have known that. Also, as long as doing so would not result in a Free Hit, Arthur would use the Healing Staff on Thalion anytime he took damage, so Barur could keep focusing on the Barrel. For purposes of future auto-rolls.

Arthur physically attacks the Glow Widow, Front Row. "Barur, take the Spiders in a Barrel. De'kra, you know what to do." Battle Order De'kra Arthur Barur Thalion Pie, you forgot to give De'kra his Gold; also, I gave him the Blunt Dagger before the battle started.

"Ouch. Barur, make sure that IF you attack, you attack the Spiders in a Barrel--the Curse from that Crown will be wasted on anything else. Thalion, take the Glow Widow with your Opal." Arthur aims a Frailty spell at the Glow Widow, then a Darkness spell at the White Widow, both from the Back Row. Battle Order: De'kra If both the deflection AND the spider-summoning happen, does that mean we get a spider minion? Arthur Barur Thalion

Arthur quickly lets off a Frailty spell at the Baby Tomb Widow, before casting a Light Spell at the Baby Dusk Widow from the Back Row. "No, that's the perfect action, Barur, just take a step back. Get it Cursed, and then we can ignore it for the rest of the fight. De'kra, go ahead and take a turn to switch cloaks--it'll actually help us this Round, so it's worth the risk. Thalion, NEXT round can you try out your Opal against the Glow Widow? On the off chance I get a Shield, it'd be the only enemy not Stunned, and I'd like to take a Nostrum next round if possible.." Battle Order Arthur De'kra Barur Thalion

"De'kra, care to examine the white crate with your Magnifying Glass?"