Flipz

Why are rubies so desired here? I really don't understand. Yes, in a medieval world, fire is much more powerful than it is in the modern day, but for most of our roleplaying purposes torches will suffice. That means the draw must be game-mechanical, but even then I can't really see the appeal over Topaz or, more specifically, Opal. The only thing that Ruby hits that Opal cannot is icy monsters, and unless a QM is REALLY creative you'll be able to see Icy monsters coming a mile a way and choose not to go on that Quest until you have a suitable weapon. In addition, Fire has two weaknesses to Opal's one--granted, both are covered by a single supplementary gem (aquamarine), but even so, Garnet can hit Icy, Electric, and Firey monsters for double damage, synergizing beautifully with Opal and Topaz in fewer gems. To put it another way, let me create a chart illustrating the overall strengths and weaknesses of a Mage using Opal-Topaz-Garnet versus one using Ruby-Aquamarine-Topaz: Opal-Topaz-Garnet Super-Effective Against (9): Beasts, Plants, Vermin, Aquatic, Flying, Mechanic, Fiery, Icy, Electric Weaknesses (1): Icy (covered by Garnet), Electric (covered by Garnet), Flying (Covered by Topaz), Rock Ruby-Aquamarine-Topaz Super-effective against (8): Beasts, Icy, Plants, Fiery, Rock, Aquatic, Flying, Mechanic Weaknesses (1): Fiery (covered by Aquamarine), Rock (covered by Aquamarine), Aquatic (Covered by Topaz), Electric So as you can see, Opal-Topaz-Garnet has an additional Super-Effective opportunity for the same number of uncovered weaknesses than Ruby-Aquamarine-Topaz. If, however, the also unexplainably-popular Emerald is switched into the latter trio to cover the Aquamarine's Aquatic weakness instead of Topaz, we get: Ruby-Aquamarine-Emerald Super-effective against (6): Beasts, Icy, Plants, Fiery, Rock, Aquatic, Weaknesses (1): Fiery (covered by Aquamarine), Rock (covered by Aquamarine), Aquatic (Covered by Emerald), Plants (covered by Ruby), Vermin That's only 6 SE's this time, and the weakness is a big one: Vermin (rats) are common, so that's not a good thing. We don't want to cover Vermin by adding Opal, as that would be rather redundant with Ruby, so let's try adding Sapphire: Ruby-Aquamarine-Emerald-Sapphire Super-effective against (8): Beasts, Icy, Plants, Fiery, Rock, Aquatic, Flying, Vermin Weaknesses (1): Fiery (covered by Aquamarine), Rock (covered by Aquamarine), Aquatic (Covered by Emerald), Plants (covered by Ruby), Vermin (covered by Sapphire), Mechanical So now, for FOUR gems (instead of three), we still only have 8 SE hits, and we have a weakness against the second- or third-most common type in the game (Mechanical). Not exactly stellar. Now, for roleplaying purposes, or when imbued into weapons (as that follows slightly different strength/weakness rules than I used here), these elemental combos are quite potent. However, for a Mage, mechanically, Ruby and Emerald are both overshadowed by other gems that offer superior type coverage with less overlap.

Arthur nods. "Perhaps when we return to one of the Emperors' palaces." Arthur is itching to guzzle the potion, but he holds himself in check for De'kra's sake. OOC: And now you see why Arthur hasn't attacked anyone yet. Arthur accepts the Purple Potion, and reclaims his gear from Luke. "Speaking of my gear, Skrall, you, uh, gonna hold onto my Telescope or can I have it back?" While he waits his thoughts drift back to the potion, and the power that he was now convinced lay within. Violet. The color of magic...the color of darkness...the color of power. He steals another quick, dark look at Nerwen. Greedy Cleric. Probably just wants it for herself. Dirty Elf--no, no, it's not that, Luke's an okay guy. He glares at Isabella, and at Nerwen both. Perhaps I was wrong about Isabella--about the Rogues. De'kra is still just the same, and he bears me no ill tidings. While studying his foes, he stumbles upon a "solution." Ah, yes. I see it now. It is now as it once was...as it always was... "I should have learned then," he mutters. OOC: Thanks Chromeknight for the chance to set up more backstory stuff, I've had this one in my pocket for quite a long time.

Arthur shoots a quick glare at Nerwen, but stops as asked. "Very well then, I'll leave it up to De'kra, since it is his potion. De'kra, do you want this, or want to give it to another? The Elf's words are convincing, but there truly is only one way to know what these potions do, and as I'm sure most of my Quest-mates will tell you, I am the one among them who would be least missed." He pauses, thinking. "In fact, it would be better to suffer whatever ill effects it may have here, when there are many Heroes to deal with it, than later, when we may be split against our will." He looks to De'kra for permission to drink the Purple Potion.

"No luck? All right, then. Hold this." Arthur has Luke hold all of his gear. "I want this back the moment I finish drinking the potion, unless I'm dead or unconscious." Arthur then drinks the Purple Potion. OOC: Hope that's OK, De'kra HAD handed it to Arthur for analysis earlier. If anyone has an objection, just stop Arthur.

"Say, Luke, do ya think ya might be able ta identify tha' mysterious purple potion Master De'kra has, or should we just feed it ta Arthur and see what it does?" The rest of the party distinctly hears Arthur mutter something about the potion and Isabella, but it's just quiet enough that they can choose whether or not to ignore it. OOC: Also, Dharkan says you control Isabella until she gets back, WBD.

Cutting off Arthur, who was about to speak (and in Knyghton's view, possibly turn the whole battalion against them), Count Knyghton replies, "As a matter of fact there is. Were you told tha' our attachment of Lion Knights would be dispatched to tha Empire to help you fight off tha Rebellion? In fact, were you aware of Emperor Alandri's involvement in these affairs at all?" "Also, we've had ta deal, rather unexpectedly, with resistance from a group called tha Cult of tha Chimaera. Do ya know anythin' about them, an' if they're workin' with tha Rebellion?"

"Say, what kind o' weapons are those? Mind if I take a look? A nice new spatha might be jus' tha thing fer me."

"I agree. I'm staying with Skrall, and I'd like it if De'kra came with us, in this place 'tis best to keep one's allies close at hand. And I want to be away from that schutta Isabella as soon as possible."

Arthur's attitude is worryingly carefree. "I wouldn't worry about it. My family's used dimensional magicks for generations, Planewalking and all that. We've got quite the collection of relics in the Vault back home. Besides, it not like the dimensional targets can be changed or anything..."

OOC: Aww! Spoilsport! Especially after you attacked me when I was (admittedly accidentally) healing you!

"Cronk? Who are you looking for?" Arthur asks curiously. "Perhaps we should get Skrall to Track them Down?" Arthur looks at the potion, mystified. "Ah, well. Only one way to know for sure. Bottoms up--" Knyghton snatches the vial away before Arthur can drink it. "You. Blithering. Idiot! That could have killed you!" Knyghton pauses for a moment, and then offers it back to Arthur. "On second thought, drink up, 'pal.'"

OOC: Got it. Remember what Arthur's dad is, though, and the way the runes are jumbled together gives a cluse as to they way their spells were designed... "That's...odd. It's part of my father's spell runes, my ancestors have added to and improved on them for generations. Dimension Gates makes sense, though..." Arthur looks up at the others, as if to see if they'd be annoyed by a complex explanation, then decides he doesn't care. "When you write on these journals, you aren't writing on paper. Well, it is paper, but it's not the paper of the journal; in actuality, the pages of each journal are keyed apertures to an individual Semi-Elemental Plane of Eternal Parchment. I understand that some mages gifted in the school of Conjuring draw upon this plane for their Endless Scroll spell, but this usage is far more useful in my view." Arthur pauses for breath and for effect. "Since the apertures are identically keyed for each journal, they open to the same spot, allowing both users to see the same message--it's just like having two windows side by side in different rooms, they both see the same landscape outside. The real genius comes from the zero-mass bonding, which allows the gateways to operate without perspective parallax and with a seamless frame, disguising the device as an ordinary journal." Seeing Skrall giving him the universal look for 'huh?', Arthur grins devilishly and adds, "Yeah, when operational, the device is actually more valuable than the organs and combined incomes of everyone in Eubric." "Ah, it woulda happened sonner or later. Prob'ly better this way, later Arthur might not've been as helpful." Knyghton shakes his head at Arthur's comment and sighs.

OOC: It's a plot point, but only for Arthur; not necessarily for the Quest itself. As to the journals, that's basically what I had figured OOC, though perhaps not directly. Wanna know exactly how the journals work? De'kra noticed a set of runes not dissimilar to the writing of his home land, though heavily distorted and interspersed with other, unfamiliar runes. He could make out '-LMAK' and 'K-N-KA', among others. Count Knyghton notices the other party glancing at him and Luke with suspicion, and decided to clear the air. "Ah, I don't believe either of us have formally met any of ya, besides Xander here, o' course. I'm Count Lewis Knyghton, Engineer in service o' tha Lion Knights. Tha Sage is my good friend Luke, he an' I both helped to repel tha invadin' Brobric Elves at Bric'Bay, along with Sir Alexandre, our Knight, and Miss Isabella, tha pretty little Rogue over in tha corner. Watch yer coin purses around her, she's a sneaky lil' devil," he jokes. "Ye've met Arthur already, an' of course you know Xander, they were both at Bric'bay, as well. Master Skrall's tha new addition to tha team, but he's got a sound head on 'is shoulders, he's an ogre of wisdom. He can sure pack a punch with those Hunter skills o' his, though, tha's fer sure!" "Now, don' be intimidated by Luke. I'm a bit harsh at times, but I've never really seen Luke get really mad at anyone--even when they deserve it," he adds with a pointed glance at Arthur. "He's a big softie, a Pacifist, so he don' like ta add his full strength ta his attack, tha way he does fer his healin'. The Strength o' his weapon alone determines how hard he hits tha enemy." He glances at Arthur. "Speakin' o' which, Arthur, it's time ya did somethin' useful fer a change, give Luke yer staff." At Arthur's look of alarm and suspicion, Knyghton rolls his eyes. "Not tha Cultist's staff, ye greedy jerk, tha other one. Tha one that used ta belong ta tha Elven Necromancer." Slightly less suspicious, Arthur hands over his WP:5 Staff of Elven Necromancy to Luke.

Arthur nods. "Your words are wise. You can have Isabella." He throws an angry glare at his original party, as if daring them to defy him. Gingerly taking the purple potion, he unstoppers it and gingerly sniffs it for any clues. OOC: And yes, "Lion-y" is a clue. "Where did you find this, De'kra? And just what HAVE you been up to lately? I've been trying to contact you with this," he says, pulling out the useless journal and tossing it to the floor in disgust, "but the megablocking thing's worthless in this godsforsaken place." He notices De'kra looking at the book and adds, "Don't worry about what's in there, it's mostly gibberish and magic runes, trying to get the damn thing working again." All of the previous pages of entries are blank, as are their corresponding pages in De'kra's copy, but Arthur's journal holds two entries of note: After several pages of incoherent ramblings, the last entry is strikingly rational.

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Apparently I'm a few days late, but...welcome to Eurobricks, Ace!

De'kra doesn't understand such things.

"I've no clue what happened up there. I mean, I was there, but my mem'ry went all hazy soon as I got up tha stairs. Can these...things you speak of do that to a person? He did mention somethin' similar to you, but..." Count Knyghton hesitates. "I, uh...I know it's Arthur who said it an' all, but I see no reason why he'd lie about ya losin' yer mem'ry, so you'll understand if I don't recount his version o' events in more detail." "I could take a crack at identifying those potions, if you'd like, mind showing them to us? Luke, come over here, we need your help."

Just be glad Skrall went through first, not Arthur, or my initial action would have stood and it WOULD have been a fight.

"Dimitri...Dimitri...I've heard this name before. In the Library, I think. Give me a moment to check my notes--too bad we can't bring the whole Library with us..." Count Knyghton pulls De'kra aside for a moment. "Arthur has...changed. You're tha' Shade he used to write to, aren't you? Decker, was it? I'm Count Knyghton, I was one of Arthur's friends at Bric'bay...well, tha old Arthur. I dinnae if I like tha new model." He scowls momentarily. "Something's changed with him. He's been acting funny ever since he saw--" Arthur's head jerks up suddenly. "DON'T say it." He points at De'kra. "He goes all funny and forgets the last few minutes whenever it's mentioned. Best to just leave it alone," he says, an unnecessary amount of anger in his tone. Knyghton sighs heavily. "You see how he is. Attackin' without thinkin'. Angry with ev'ryone. An' after what he did ta tha' Tethusial, well..." he pauses uncomfortably. "I dinnae if he's the same person anymore." "FOUND IT!" Arthur calls out. "Dimitri Allen Finegold, brother of Edward Finegold. They were wanted by the Bonapartes for some reason, my notes don't say why. Atramor and Alexis were on that Quest, so I took a few notes, but not as many as I should have, apparently." He frowns at the incomplete nature of his summary. "They fought the Heroes, Dimitri apparently went down first, but he survived, while his brother did not." Arthur ponders for a moment. "Atramor's in Dastan now, if I recall he left just before we did. Perhaps we ought to Track him Down, see if we can make sense of this?" And then I'd have a chance to chat with McCafferey about what's happening to me...