Flipz

Arthur stares at Dyric. "Zane? Funny you should mention him..." Arthur's face relaxes into a grin. "We're bringing back Passion. Or at least, Guffington will, using the artifacts we've gathered, if we can get the Council to approve. They govern Etheria, and determine whether or not a proposed magical experiment is too risky to attempt. There's five that I know of: Amarcolm, Bombast, Piglina, Iceborn, and The Mother. Like I said, Amarcolm's pretty amenable about the whole thing, so that leaves just two or three more to convince. Or bribe, as the case may be." "As for our trip...well, short version, some jerk named Sven was trying to kill Emperor Phil and stir up a new revolution in Dastan, so Hoke beat him up while I went toe-to-toe with a Pongcanis in single combat. When we visited the home of the Dragons, one Dragon named Bellerai tried to eat us for trespassing, but Miirym discovered her elemental breath and we fought her off, letting Hybros get a spark of the Dragon Heart Flame. Then in Xu, we visited a mountaintop monastery where we met Lord Chauncey and spent a few days learning and meditating, and eventually Hybros and I learned how to access the First Breath." Arthur purses his lips. "Huh. Sounds a lot less impressive when you sum it all up like that." "<If you are looking for wares, the lightning elemental over there is named Zeus the Electrical Emperor. He possesses a vast array of useful wares, you would do well to make a few requests.>" "Yeah, he has some seriously impressive skills," Arthur adds, indicating the Coat Hanger and Mail of the Renegade Commander he'd purchased. "I may have to find a way to earn some extra coin while we're here, his goods are just too good to miss." As Arthur speaks, a bottle of shimmering polish appears in his hand, a pink envelope bearing his name attached. Arthur opens it, smiles, and stows the bottle in his pack. OOC: Shining Polish (SP +2 to one shield or artifact that has SP when consumed.) Just so neither of us forgets about Arthur's Grogmas Gift.

"Dyric!" Arthur exclaims, rushing to embrace his beloved friend. "You made it! I was so worried--since learning the Breath, I've had such visions..." Arthur notes the presence of Matthias and Guts as well, and pats them both absently. "Right...okay. You're all real. Good. Piglina warned us that the past and present and future sort of...bleed into each other here, and sometimes you see their ghosts...I'm pretty sure I saw a ghost of Bombast meeting you, actually, he said it was a day later--wait, it's been a day? It's been three hours, max...or has it been three weeks?...well, anyway, no matter how you slice it, it's been far too long--" Miirym cuffs Arthur with her wing. "<Breathe,>" she commands regally. Arthur complies, using the First Breath to calm down as he had with Amarcolm. While Arthur is momentarily meditating, Miirym addresses her fellow party members. "<Greetings, Heroes. I trust you recognize me in my new form? I'm...still growing into it, myself.>" "That's right," Arthur notes, substantially calmer than he had been mere moments before, "you haven't seen Miirym since before Dastan. They sure grow up quick, don't they?" He grins, then grows serious. He lowers his voice so as not to draw any unwanted attention. "Okay. So before we can complete our mission here, we'll need to get more than half of the Council on our side. I've already spoken to Amarcolm, he was an easy sell but he'll probably be our only one. He mentioned that someone called 'the Alt'--I'm guessing The Mother?--will probably be sympathetic to us. The others will need some convincing. I was thinking of talking to Bombast in a little while, would anyone else be interested in joining me?" Miirym nudges Arthur's shoulder. "Hm? What is it?" Miirym says nothing, simply staring pointedly at the travel-worn Heroes he had just greeted. It takes Arthur a moment to realize. "Oh! Right. So, how was you guys' trip? Did you have all the fun without us?" With a groan, Miirym begins faceplanting repeatedly against the wall at her partner's sudden lack of social grace.

Hexed should last a full Round, otherwise a Witch rolling a Hex at the end of the Battle Order is completely useless. Besides, the effect description specifically states "until the end of the next Round", not "until the end of the Round".

Yeah, time to see how thorough a re-write I have to do of Stormy Weather.

"Amarcolm, you have yourself a deal. Thank you for meeting with me; it's rare to meet someone who understands Chaos these days, especially after Wren's defeat. You and Lord Chauncey both have been a welcome breath of fresh air." Arthur bows respectfully to Amarcolm; Miirym also gives a short nod. "Melquiades, to the City Center, please." "<What he said, Melquiades.>"

Eh, they're minifig feet, same size as everyone else. Edit: FREAKING FINALLY!!!

Arthur opens his mouth to reply, but Miirym beats him to it. "<The strong survive, do they not? If something on this island seeks to bring Arthur harm, I will personally ensure it learns of its weakness.>" A little stronger than I'd put it, Arthur thinks to himself, but not exactly an unwelcome sentiment. He focuses on Amarcolm. "You mentioned sweetening the deal. I don't suppose there's anything Miirym and I could do to help you out, any favor that would encourage a more...personal investment in our cause?" Miirym sits up straighter and unfurls her wings impressively (or at least, as best she can in the confined space). "<Do not forget that I am a Dragon, Mr. Amarcolm. The aid of a Dragon is not to be underestimated.>"

Arthur sighs. "I was afraid that your advice would fall along those lines. You're right, but acceptance is easier said than done." The Dragoon ponders for a moment, considering Amarcolm's argument. "Perhaps the world should be in balance. Perhaps it should not. 'Should' and 'should not' are only exp<b></b>ressions of an individual's opinion, it is up to them to make it happen or not. But inner balance is practical, useful. When the world shifts and changes, the balanced man may ride the wave in either direction, whereas an extremist either wins or gets washed away by the tide. But I'm rambling." Arthur stops again, thinking of how best to shore up his own argument. He begins again, speaking measuredly, Diplomatically. "You say you are a sucker for throwing new things into the mix. In a way, I am the complementary inverse. I detest pieces being needlessly removed from the board, particularly those I find compelling. Passion is one of those pieces, removed far too soon. With him gone, there is less vitality, less interplay in the affairs of the Old Gods and their interactions with the mortal world. I do not know what is coming next. I doubt it can be stopped--at least, not before it has arrived and made itself known. Delayed...maybe. But not halted. So it was with Wren, and so it shall be now. Without Passion, these forces will continue unchecked, their actions set to follow their plans. With him returned, those plans must be amended, and their outcome in turn becomes less certain. Passion's presence will definitely make things more interesting...wouldn't you agree?"

Its only drawback: Fire doesn't do double damage against vermin (as my last Fields party will attest). It'd do rather well with an Opal.

Yay, my gift to Cronk went through! Now someone go tell CM we've bribed him to come back. I deliberately designed the item to be powerful, a la Sarge's pegleg; it's a game-changer for the character, and something that fits them far more specifically than anything else could, so of course you want it to be something they'll be able to use all the time and/or base their build around. I'm also super happy Throlar got the talisman I suggested for him, he's really earned it. ...you know, looking at Terry's gift, I really want to sell him the staff I got from Calibor.

Arthur is disoriented, yet somehow relaxed, as if a part of him was satisfied by the chaos of the island in a way nothing else could. He speaks Diplomatically to the Council member. "I'll get straight to the point: I was there the night Passion died, the night Wren tried to usurp Zoot. We want to revive him, with four artifacts that came from Etheria itself, and we're hoping for your support in approving such a venture." Arthur breathes, allowing the First Breath to calm him, to renew his focus in a non-combat manner. "On top of that...there is the manner of my own form." Arthur relaxes against the desk, allowing his arm to melt into a pool of inky blackness. Zoot's Rebel allows his weapon form to rise from the pool, and the rest of him to assume a darker form, not unlike the one Passion himself had been forced into in the final hours of that fateful night. Miirym takes a few nervous steps back, but for the most part tries not to show her distress. "As you can see, I have a...unique relationship with my Zoot's Plaything. And yet, real comfort eludes me." Arthur, noticing Miirym slinking slowly away, quickly reforms, though his weapon form remains in his hand. "I feel...things...toward this part of me...I'm not sure what. Fear? Shame? Guilt? It's hard to tell which are toward my form, and which are towards the mistakes I made while a Chaomancer. I need to make peace with those memories, those feelings. I want to accept myself as I am, instead of wasting time and energy wishing I could go back to being a normal human. I want this to be a gift I can use, not a curse weighing me down. I need to take care of my issues, so I can take better care of her." Miirym opens her mouth as if to speak, but decides to say nothing. Arthur pulls out his Dauntlet Index, holding it side-by-side with his weapon form. "Two weapons, alike in power. One I use, commonly, with confident strength. The other, a guarded secret, kept hidden from those who would not understand. At times, the life I lead and the nature of my being feel as separate as these two weapons. If only I could somehow unite them as one....I can only imagine how much stronger I would be. You are a master of Chaos, what advice can you give towards correcting my own imbalance?"

Holy hell those were some good rolls!

OOC: price quote on Icy Halberd? "It would do much to increase one's Ether stores, at the cost of a little physical endurance. But then, that's par for the course as a mage, as I myself experienced when I was an avid spellcaster." Arthur shrugs. "If I happen to pass by Strange Beach, I'll be happy to put in a good word for you." As the Orc approaches, Arthur offers a hand. "Arthur Ziegfried," he says in introduction, "and my companion Miirym." Miirym dips her head in acknowledgement. "I hear that Amarcolm has a deep history with Chaos. I'd like to discuss with him the events of a particularly Chaotic night, and the...consequences of it, which have led my employer and our party here. But, forgive me, it is a discussion better suited for a more private environment." Arthur gives the Orc an appraising look. "I don't suppose you'd be able to get me and Miirym an audience?" he asks, suspecting that he might in fact be speaking with Amarcolm himself.

Oh dear, it seems Kinto is suffering from Endgame's code overload syndrome...

"Hmm...I see. Once the others arrive, I would be willing to speak to Amarcolm. I would speak to Bombast, but as Piglina warned, he will likely wish me to retrain as a Weather Mage, and my refusal to do so may negatively impact his opinion of us. Hopefully, Amarcolm will be a little more amenable to one who has trained in Chaos himself, especially given my...condition." Miirym raises her head. "<Do you think it wise? To reveal such information to a stranger?>" Arthur shrugs. "Honestly, I'm not sure myself. But it is a card in my hand that few if any others may play. Right now, I'll take any advantage I can get."

I know I keep harping about it, but it's been a few days since I last asked--how are the Grogmas Gifts coming along?

OOC: Now that I'm not longer on mobile: LINK And for convenience' sake: Arthur purchases the Mail of the Renegade Commander, hanging it on the Coat Hanger and equipping said coat hanger in place of his Tin Gloves. Arthur reaches into his pack and offers to sell Zeus Ella's Pie. "Perhaps you could make better use of this than I could? How much would you value this concoction?"

The personality of the angel determines the type of Nephilim you get. Simple as that.

OOC: Icy Halberd is from the Decamon Tournament, it was a prize for turning in one of the cards.

Holy crap, is that a public post in Quest 136? I never thought we'd see one of those again!

It means Lind was mass-PM-ing people with potential Crescent rep yesterday. I ignored the one I got (Arthur isn't joining any union except MAYBE Wolfgang), but I guess he got a somewhat positive response.

The Ji Pei don't have an army, that's why they've had to hire Heroes so much...

You want to see more Quests handing out Wolfgang rep, help me build my sets.

Happy 2016, eveyone!

Tesni voted for him, too.