Flipz

OOC: Raijin is dead; Hans took her down to 1586 health, then Arthur's calculation should have been ([20*3]+42=102*2(Encouraged)*2(Humanoid from weapon)*2(Darkness vs. Humanoid)*2(Darkness doubled by Dim)=1632 damage (KO)). As a result, none of the enemies should have any positive effects. You also gave Miirym too much damage on Fahrenheit, I think; unlike Veken, she only deals neutral damage to Fahrenheit (so *2 for Encouraged, *2 Dim, *2 modifier from SHIELD, *2 Humanoid /2 Ethereal, so only 8x her Level instead of 16x). Also, the Dark Spirit again should be dealing more damage: 75*2(Darkness vs. Humanoid)*2(Darkness doubled by Dim)=300 damage. Actually, looking at it Chauncey should have done more damage as well, along with the Dark Genie. I'm not 100% sure, but I think Veken might be dead? It'll take me a couple minutes to calculate, I'll get back to you in a few minutes. "Go to Hel, Zee, I don't have the patience to deal with you right now." "<Any suggestions, allies? Or opponents, as the case may be.>" OOC 2: Unless my calculations are incorrect, Veken should be alive, but with 19 health. EDIT: make that 169 health, forgot the Dark Genie was in the Back Row. OOC 3: Also, the Dark Genie should have taken Zed's Free Hit, not Vorpalis', that one should have gone onto Arthur instead. OOC 4: And also, this should be Round Eight of the Astral Voyagers, just so I can keep everything straight in my head.

Given the degree of his enthusiasm, I'm pretty sure it's more "worked alongside" as in "Lind worked his way alongside Immortalis in the confined space, the sensation of the dragon's sinewy scaly skin sending shivers down his spine as it slid across his own." Zeph mentioned this weekend being busy. If there's still nothing on Monday, then I'll start worrying.

There are tons of things called "tools" that add to an Artisan's Critical Hit, they just don't have special SHIELD-altering effects, since only Gnomeo's tools (the ones an Artisan would be most familiar with) are specified. I'd say let the Angel mask make the user emit light; it's a cool little feature, and it's supported by pretty much all of the depictions of angels in the game. It's not really overpowered or anything; this isn't D&D after all.

"Maybe consider swapping out that die of yours for your Sticky Gloves or those old rags next Round? Last time we fought together, your luck actually improved when you took it off." "Ah...nnnnnnnno, that wasn't part of the plan. But looking at the situation...sorry, Zelphie, there just isn't a safe target for you. Maybe you could throw that Fire Bomb of yours? It's better than nothing." Zelphie throws her Fire Bomb from the Back Row.

"...yes, of course, I completely forgot to have Triad heal you like I'd intended. Triad, please use another Health Core on Dyric, from the Back Row. You're quite right, Dyric, it serves no one for any of us to fall, which is why we're leaving Zed unattended; all the other Lucky party members are accounted for, and you are...well...not so much, it seems. I'd prefer all of us be fighting fit before we risk my dear cousin's elemental blast.""

Jeez, Sandy, you wanted us to fight Raijin when we were 10+ Levels lower with worse rolls, less SP, and no way to remove the enemies' positive effects, on top of all the other guards?! I am suddenly even more glad we left her to die the first time.

OOC: The Light Spirit should have done double damage to Veken because of Light vs. Undead (Humanoid doesn't resist Light) and it happening before the Dim weather, and then the Dark Spirit and Miirym should have dealt double damage thanks to the Dim weather doubling Darkness-elemental damage. Also, Chauncey should have taken the Free Hit from Fahrenheit because I failed to rearrange the Battle Order after Dyric's target change, so he should be down 11 HP. Arthur realizes too late he's left Chauncey open to his great uncle's retaliation and winces at the blow; fortunately, it seems that the wound inflicted was merely minor. "My apologies, Lord Chauncey,it seems I mistimed our actions. It looks like you might have to take another hit if we're going to play this safe, unfortunately." Miirym holds her head higher as Vorpalis feeds her pride. "<It is a worthy technique, and I am a quick learner.>" Her eyes gleam as her fellow Dragon tears through her teammates. "<But you have chosen to harm Arthur. That means it is time for you to learn the meaning of regret.>" Arthur, meanwhile, responds to Raijin. "Well, Captain, I may not know that particular pain, but if it makes you feel any better you would have died anyway had you tried to harm Lady Shanxian. It's a shame you devoted yourself to such an oppressive regime." (For clarity, Miirym uses her Breath on Raijin from the Front Row.) Battle Order and Actions: Light Spirit v. Veken - Dark Spirit v. Veken - >Chauncey (Darkness) v. Veken - >Dark Genie v. Veken - Arthur uses Hope's Blessing on Miirym >Triad uses Health Core on Dyric >Dyric uses Hope's Blessing on Hans Hans v. Guard Captain Raijin - Miirym v. Guard Captain Raijin - >Zelphie uses Fire Bomb

Grimwald and Darksten, IIRC. Since Grimwald was the only one with elemental attacks, he was the only one actually dishing out decent damage, so the enemies were wearing them down a lot every battle. We really do need a few more "newbie" Quests in the Hall, there's been a ton of Quests aimed at higher-level Heroes and continuing storylines and nothing new and off-the-cuff. (...this coming from the QM with not one but two higher-level/continuing storyline Quests in the works. )

Anyone can sign up, but prior to around Level 15 most Heroes just don't have the damage output to chew through the enemies' HP pools before getting KO'd themselves, and they generally don't have enough healing/restoration capability before that point, either. Source: am the only Fields QM who has ended a party's run via TPKO.

No worries, I just didn't want to make the poor defense party have to fight a bunch of extra bosses if our party was a little behind.

Wait, seven Rounds? Voyagers have only gone five Rounds, if that affects anything for you.

OOC: Yeah, we cross-posted. Hans could take Zed or Veken, Malkoth is guaranteed dead this Round thanks to Hope's Blessing.

OOC: Gotcha. Also, you will what? OOC 2: Um...smokescreen doesn't stack with itself each round, does it? You know what, never mind, 25 SP/Round is overpowered enough it has to die this Round no matter what. Miirym does not respond to Malkoth's failure to notice her, but the dangerous glint in her eye says the insult was registered. Unfortunately, the distraction is enough to divert her from her course, and she takes a claw to the stomach as a result. Her hardened scales protect her from the worst of it, but she still feels the pain searing through her and hisses sharply. "<Next time, I will not fail,>" she retorts, as she circles back around for another pass, spewing smoke all the while. "The latter," Arthur replies, as his strongest strike shatters Sycamore's soul. "Great Uncle Fahrenheit can't touch me, but he can help me achieve our goal. He--" Arthur groans as he turns to see the new arrival. "Gods damn it! We need to kill the newcomer now. Chauncey, I'm going to need you to use Hope's blessing on Miirym. Miirym--" "<I am already on it,>" Miirym replies, already adjusting her trajectory. Arthur smiles. "That's my girl." It is difficult to tell, but the corners of Miirym's mouth appear to lift minutely. Then she's off again, charging straight for Malkoth. "<The Assassin brought no Dragon ally, did he? Perhaps not. He did one better: he brought Arthur...and Arthur brought me.>" At the last moment, Miirym sweeps straight up, revealing a charging Arthur right behind her. The Dragoon drives his spear deep into the vampire, then braces his feet on Malkoth's chest, removing his spear and beginning a high backflip at once. Miirym executes a perfect loop, sweeping below the leaping Arthur as her sparking claws ignite her smoky breath, unleashing a swath of elemental Darkness that tears through Malkoth and blackens his fellow vampire, even chipping away at the venerable Fahrenheit. Arthur lands in a ready stance, prepared to fend off the remaining vampire's inevitable retaliation as Miirym alights upon the ground behind him. "<Is that enough of a Dragon for you, Master Guffington?>" Miirym asks, glancing over her shoulder at her and Arthur's employer. Arthur completes his Jump Hit. Chauncey uses Hope's Blessing on Miirym from the Back Row. Miirym uses her Breath on Malkoth from the Front Row. Battle Order >Chauncey uses Hope's Blessing on Miirym Arthur (Dauntlet Index) vs. Sycamore Ziegfried - Completes Jump Hit Light Spirit v. Veken - >Triad (Shuriken) v. Zed Ziegfried - Hans v. Zed Ziegfried - Dark Genie v. Zed Ziegfried - Dark Spirit v. Veken - Miirym v. Malkoth - >Dyric v. ??? The smoke clears to reveal...whatever is left of Malkoth. "No need, Brother," Arthur replies. "Care to take on the enemy Dragon? You should manage to hit this Veken fellow and dear old Cousin Zed in the process, both of which would prove helpful."

Eh, it's plenty interesting for me, but I think that partially stems from me trying to keep everyone else on their feet. It also helps that I have a squishy Dragon to have to keep safe; I can't imagine what battles would be like if the base HP was 30 total instead of 30 + 30 from starting at Level 30. I dunno, it's nice to have one playing piece I don't really have to worry about while I'm shuffling around all the other characters and targets. Sir Leonard Kniveton. They weren't as close as Arthur and Lord Knyghton, but the guy did choose Arthur for his first Quest ever.

On the plus side, my Dragoon build is finally starting to pay off. I am really good at single-target damage, and the splash damage off of Miirym has been nice as well. Then again, I think I'm only doing as well as I have been because my SP is higher than my Level; Hoke is a full ten levels ahead of me and has a much stronger weapon, but MDM has mentioned a few times being dissatisfied with how the class is treating him, and I think the HP-to-SP-to-Power ratios are to blame. I dunno, I like the toys I've gotten off of the smaller Quests a lot more than the ones I've gotten off of the big ones.

OOC: Every single enemy so far has been Immune to all negative effects or Immune to Blinded. Annoys me, too, but that is what they had last time they were fought.

Get them to fight the rest of the party, all of the "worst offenders" are highly vulnerable to PvP. ...actually, counter-question, how do you suggest Dyric do anything? Literally every enemy in this fight is immune to his special skills (Blind and Assassination), and half of them have been immune to his attacks. Poor guy can't seem to catch a break. ...then again, looking back at his history he has been very bad at informing Arthur when Arthur's friends have been killed on his watch...

I went through at least three different plans for that Round. Blast it all, if we have to get Veken in our fight, can the defense at least get an ally out of Jules? Seriously, though, that defense fight...remind me never to Quest with Hoke and Hybros again, they get the worst bosses.

OOC: Just realized, Dyric's Aim (and any earlier attacks) should have done no damage to the Ziegfrieds, since his attacks are both Light- and Darkness-elemental, so there's two ineffective elements to only one effective one. Maybe *Attacks are Light-elemental and deal Blind* should be added to his stat block to remind us both? Also, how exactly does Chauncey's dual summons work? Does he have to be using his Diamond to get the second summon, or does it come out on a SHIELD even when he's casting Darkness? Miirym emits a strange, almost satisfied hissing sound. A miasma of dark mist begins to issue from her mouth, and a peculiar gleam appears in her eye--almost as if she is taking notes. "<We shall.>" Miirym attempts to use the same maneuver Vorpalis used (OOC: Breath) on Vorpalis himself from the Back Row. "...okay, one of you needs to explain to me at some point what happened on this 'Magpie job'." "Indeed, but not quite yet...we need to focus down Sycamore for now, too few of us can actually do anything about my relatives. But first, you desperately need a heal--Triad, could you use a Health Core on him? Hans needs help, too--wait until we have a chance to heal you, Hans. Chauncey, you're our best choice for taking on the vampire at the moment, care to take a shot? Genie, we need you to keep Zed occupied, it'd be great if you can help with that effort. I've got Cousin Sycamore." Arthur attacks Sycamore Ziegfried with his Dauntlet Index from the Front Row. "Everyone targetting Zed: if the weather goes Dim, switch to Sycamore, no sense taking unnecessary risks." Battle Order and Actions Arthur v. Sycamore Ziegfried - Dark Summon v. Sycamore Ziegfried - >Chauncey (Light) v. Veken - >Triad uses Health Core on Dyric >Dyric (uses Grand Potion on Hans?) >Hans does nothing >Zelphie v. Zed Ziegfried - OR if weather Dim, >Zelphie v. Sycamore Ziegfried Dark Genie v. Zed Ziegfried - OR if weather Dim, Dark Genie v. Sycamore Ziegfried >Miirym v. Restrained Vorpalis -

OOC: Worse than it looks: not only are we unlucky as for you to not hit, but we're unlucky enough that you're getting Damage instead of the Special Damage that would make literally everything easier. "Zieglinde and Ziegfried, perhaps? It would be fitting, though she has been gone for countless generations. Fortunately, very few of our family have passed in the last few years." "<Is this the Dragon from your vision, Arthur?>" Arthur shakes his head. "I don't think so. For one, they look somewhat similar, but distinctly different. For another, that great Dragon was an ally, not an adversary. He sought to stop the Darkness; if this truly was the same being, he would not be standing in our way." Arthur stares up at the fearsome yet magnificent creature. "Care to prove us wrong by standing aside?" he asks Diplomatically.

A shudder runs through Miirym as she appraises the spirit of the enormous Elder looming before her. Even Bellerai, massive as she had been, would be dwarfed by the newcomer's massive might. "<You...I know not who you are, newcomer. But you will not harm he who has taken me in. Stand down!>" Arthur looks back and forth between the two Dragons, with no small amount of concern. "I don't recognize this soul...friend of yours, Dyric? Chauncey? Either way, I'm not letting him hurt Miirym." "I couldn't agree more, Hans. Care to take on Zed with Dyric and Zelphie? Chauncey, if you could use one of your lamps, now might be the time." OOC: If the lamp can attack on the same turn it's summoned, Chauncey should use a lamp and the summon should attack U'Vires, otherwise Chauncey should just target U'Vires himself. Battle Order and Actions: Arthur (Zoot's Rebel) v. Restrained Vorpalis - >Hans (Sir Roderick's Sword) v. Zed Ziegfried - >Zelphie (Staff) v. Zed Ziegfried - >Dyric (Crossbow of Incessant Warmongers) v. Zed Ziegfried - Dark Summon v. U'Vires - >Chauncey (Darkness) v. U'Vires - OR if U'Vires down (or if summon can attack this round), >Chauncey uses Amethyst Lamp of Summoning Amethyst Lamp of Summoning summon v. U'Vires OR if U'Vires down, Amethyst Lamp of Summoning summon v. Zed Ziegfried - >Miirym v. Sycamore Ziegfried -

"I see you hesitate, Great Uncle, cousins. I know that you do not wish to fight me. Stand aside, and trust that I have our family's best interests at heart."

"No, cousin. I'm afraid it is you who are out of yours. I'll give you this, your plans so far have not been poorly made. But as they were in the dollhouse, it is far too little, and far too late. Great Uncle Fahrenheit should have approached me long ago, before I'd met Dyric, if he wished to lure another Ziegfried down the demonic path." "Indeed. Hopefully Hans can halve her health, and then one of us can use Hope's blessing on him to immediately replicate the result and keep him Chaotic. Sound like a plan, Hans? I wouldn't mind Zed putting up some Dim weather, either, if he's going to insist on fighting us. What do you say, cousin?" Battle Order: Arthur (Duplovian Swift Halberd) v. Zed Ziegfried - (completes Jump Hit) >Zelphie (staff) v. Zed Ziegfried - >Dyric (Crossbow of Incessant Warmongers) v. Zed Ziegfried - Dark Summon v. U'Vires - >Chauncey (Darkness) v. U'Vires - >Triad uses Grand Potion on self >Hans de-equips Aqua Gear >Miirym (breath) v. Sycamore Ziegfried -

All right, things are looking stable enough that I should be able to consider myself "back". Time to go see what I missed in the meantime.

OOC: Arthur should have +5 SP from Fahrenheit; he should also not have taken damage thanks to the Mail of the Renegade Commander halving Free Hits. Also, shouldn't Miirym's part of Arthur's SHIELD have damaged Fahrenheit? Darkness supereffective vs. Humanoid should cancel out Darkness ineffective vs. Ethereal. Also, if Chauncey's Blessed is healing him to full health, Bleeding should be gone. "Our family is doing just fine without you, thanks. And rest assured, I will do everything in my power to ensure their safety. Which in this case means finding the soul we're actually looking for." If the enemies refuse to step aside (as he knows they won't), Arthur uses the Phoenix Incense in his Duplovian Swiuft Halberd and attacks Zed Ziegfried with it from the Front Row and Miirym uses her Breath on Zed from the Back Row. Battle Order and actions: Arthur uses Phoenix Incense from Hollow Blade Arthur (Duplovian Swift Halberd) v. Zed Ziegfried - >Triad (Shuriken) v. Zed Ziegfried - >Miirym (breath) v. Zed Ziegfried - >Zelphie (staff) v. Zed Ziegfried - >Hans (Sir Roderick's Sword) v. Zed Ziegfried - Dyric (???) v. ??? - Dark Summon v. U'Vires - >Chauncey (Darkness) v. U'Vires - "Nobody target U'Vires except Lord Chauncey, he will take him down soon enough. I can take Fahrenheit's attacks just fine, focus on other opponents. Stay safe, save your strength for our future foes--for there will be more."