JimBee

Not a bad idea, but mine was first. I would also imagine there are more fitting names for a weapon that causes floods. I must also say that Petaldan's Brine Blade is quite the weapon! I didn't realize Flood dealt Slowed to all enemies. In the hands of a Knight it's not that great, but if a Raider or Mystic Knight, or even a Marauder were to wield it, that's a 1/6 chance for Flood on every successful hit. Still balanced IMO but potentially very dangerous.

Interesting name for a sword.

"Hmph. I've been focused on the mission the whole time." "You put a bullet between his eyes and I'll cut his head off. Maybe we'll have to fight for it." Jinnipher grinned. "Show me what you've got."

QM Note: Changed the price for the Lovely Perfume - misread the original description. Shelby looked at the gold appreciatively, but soon grew suspicious of the whispering among the heroes. "Hey, before you do anything stupid... I'll let you upstairs, for just a few minutes. Don't touch anything and look only at what you need to." Party A: Kid Reddson (dum) 19-year-old Male Human (1/4 Leprechaun) Ranger Level 5 *Aims become Hits* Power Bonus: 0 Health: 10/10 Gold: 2 Equipment: Crossbow (WP 3), Quiver of Homing Arrows (Rolls of AIM become HIT; can only be used with a bow or a crossbow; backwear.) Inventory: 3 Smoke Bomb, 2 Potion, Phoenix Essence, Venom, Fire Bomb, Sterile Gloves (Grants Immunity to Poisoned and Bleeding effects, Handwear), Bedroll Ezeran Yavarr (MysticModulus) 42 year old male human Mage Level 14 *Immune to wood and fire* *Absorbs Darkness* *Enemies that hits Ezeran become slowed* Power Bonus: 0 (+2 spellpower) Defense: 3 Health: 18/18 Ether: 18/18 Gold: 3 Equipment: Ancient Sapphamber Staff (WP:8, doubled against Ancient enemies, Wind-elemental; staff), Sneezing Demon (SP:2; enemies that hit the wearer becomeslowed; immunity to wood and fire; suitable to Ezeran only; bodywear.), Hood of the Elementalist (SP:1, *Absorbs darkness*; headwear, suitable to anyone), Inventory: Emerald (Wood), Ruby (Fire), Remedy X3, Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Pick Axe, Trickster’s Baubel (WP:6, each hit causes one random effect: stunned, poisoned by 1, asleep, blinded, sealed or confused; wand), Grand tonics X2, Potions X5, Nostrum X2, Feather of Lithe (grants Nimble-effect for 3 rounds) Hunkan Silvertoss (BountyBeast) 53 year old male dwarf Rogue *Immune to Blinded* Level 7 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 13/13 Gold: 166 Equipment: Ebony Scorpion Dagger (WP: 5, deals Poisoned-by-3), Goggles (Provides immunity to Blinded effect, Headwear) Inventory: Potion, Phoenix Essence, Nostrum, Remedy, Fire Bomb, Wooden Sword (WP:7; Suitable to Anyone), Shovel, Pickax "Thou sure has't many questions. Suffice to sayeth such things art tradition. This is a mask." "None that I can think of. She was quite liked by most." "Such a shame about the girl, but alas I doth not." "The Crimson Crown, of course. I representeth a group of people did dedicate to the removal of magicks and oth'r such things in the w'rld. Given recent ailments in this city I has't off'r'd mine own counseleth and s'rvices to the Baron and his folk."

"Boy are you thick. I've been following the quest just fine on my own, not undermining it like you. There will be no 'us' if you screw up again. And believe me, if I had wanted to threaten you, you would know it. I believe Immortalis can deal with you all on his own." Jinnipher also turned her back and strode over to Gabriel. "What could be our last hour will be amateur hour. Great."

"Yes, I would have preferred that. They chose their fate, and better them than me. That's no teaching of any god, that's pure and simple logic." Jinnipher crossed her arms. "Did you not see the flock of angels circling the battlefield the whole time!? We didn't win that battle, and we're lucky we got out alive. The plan was to battle back the angels in charge just enough for us to escape the dozens of others. The fact that you found it in your heart to bury the dead that you so honorably struck down while their brothers and sisters flocked above sickens me. And," Jinnipher forced out a laugh. "Me, childish?! Look around you. If this is the best Heroica has to send to save the city, then I truly worry for the sake of Heroica, Eubric, and Olegaia. The shade nearly blew our mission from the beginning in Eschaton, the kid and the dragoon bicker among themselves over some moral irrelevance, and you'd risk all our lives to honor our dead enemy. I may be the only one in this party truly focused on the mission while you people don't have a damn clue. I've seen Heroica crumble before by such carelessness, and I will die before I see it again. So think again on who is childish here, greenskin. Your life may depend on the correct answer."

"Uh... sure." Jinnipher eyed Siercon suspiciously. "Galadrya and Celebryon are the creators of my kind. They represent art and beauty as well as knowledge and civilization - everything the big bad dragon is trying to destroy. And they certainly don't whisper acts of stupidity in my ear. I don't look down on you because you're a big ugly green giant. I look down on you because of your idiocy. That little ceremony of yours could have cost us our escape or worse. I suggest you think twice before putting me in danger like that again." Jinnipher rolled her shoulders and lightened her expression just a little. "Anyway, thanks for the heal. At least your god lets you do that, if you really think it's him that's doing it."

"Very well." Shelby handed Ezeran the gold. "From people like you, travelers from the surface, otherwise I visit up there myself sometimes. Um, no, I don't think she knew she was getting killed that night, if that's what you're getting at." "Wally. A good kid, good with a wrench. I have no doubt he's doing fine on his own, but he really should have visited his mother once in a while... poor kid." Shelby looked away sadly. "Now if you're not going to buy anything, I do have work to do..." "Preposterous! Maggie's death caught everyone by surprise, including herself, probably. Wally can take care of himself, and she knew it. It still doesn't hurt to visit your mother every once in a while. I would keep that in mind if I were you, kiddo." The Cardinal accepted Petaldan's hand. "And thee, dram one. Our 'rganizations has't w'rk'd togeth'r in the past to some grise of success, though I wilt sayeth thou art quite young."

"Oh, I've seen those before. I can give you 21 gold for the Cowl, and 6 for each Remedy."

"Just because I don't believe in your god doesn't mean I don't believe in mine. While you're offering, I could use a heal."

"No, your organization took care of them a few years ago. Maggie, she was a nice girl. She helped around town with various things but she was a mother first. Her son Wally disappeared some time ago, we have't heard from him." Just then the door to the office opened again, and a masked figure walked in. "Art I interrupteth something?" "Ah! The heroes wanted to meet you. They are here to investigate Maggie's death, like we talked about before. Heroes, meet The Cardinal." --- "She helps - um, used to help - in the store. She also had a son to take care of, though he hasn't been around for some time... Gods! He probably doesn't even know!" "Certainly not! But that doesn't mean I'll let just anyone upstairs. Listen, why don't you take a look at what I have to sell, and buy something? Trying to keep up with the work in the shop alone is hard enough, it'd at least be a little help if I made some gold." Shelby's Scavenged Specialties: Diamond - Costs 70 gold. One in stock. Grand Elixir – Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects. Costs 70 gold. One in stock. Rubber Band - Returns thrown weapons immediately without having to be retrieved; accessory. Costs 100 gold. One in stock. Minimizing Dust - Inflicts the minimized-effect, reducing maximum power/level, HP, and ether to 10% of the normal for three rounds. Costs 30 gold. Two in stock. "Fifty Shades of Bley" - Grants access to the Harlot expert job class. Costs 800 gold. One in stock. Shovel - Allows the user to dig the ground in search of a treasure. Costs 8 gold. 3 in stock. Pickaxe - Allows the user to dig through a breakable wall or obstacle. Costs 14 gold. 2 in stock. Neutralizer - Removes all temporary effects from all allies and all opponents. Costs 32 gold. 3 in stock. Lovely Perfume - Makes all opponents enamored with the user for 3 rounds when used; consumable. Costs 44 gold. 2 in stock. Feather of Lithe - Makes the user nimble for three rounds, giving them a 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER and DAMAGE and Free Hits. Costs 18 gold. 2 in stock.

"Well then I suppose we should move onto the castle."

"Oh can't you just let her rest in peace? I think she's been through enough lately, I don't think she would appreciate strangers rifling through her stuff. Not to mention all the work she left me..." "I suppose someone could have come through the windows... I lock the front door every night, which is when Maggie was killed. Her and I were the only ones to have keys, though it is not out of the question for someone to break in, of course." "I don't hold anyone above doing this, but this never happened before the imps arrived." "I am well aware of Heroica's work and their regard for their own missions. Yes you've done a thing or two for Zylstra but that does not put you above the law here. Just keep that in mind. The Cardinal comes and goes as she pleases, perhaps you will see her. How have things been!? Someone was murdered, how do you think they've been!?"

Hybros shrugged. "Perhaps someone with a less demon-like appearance would like to try."

"So you're going to carry them around? What happens when they wake up? And how will you carry a lance and shield, let alone ride a dragon? All for the sake of some false justice you seem to uphold. I have news for you, pal: a lot more people are going to die if we don't stop wasting our time with crap like this." "If I had to guess, the white dragon died for the same reason his black-scaled brother did."

QM Note: Good catch, I've updated the post. "Poor Maggie lived upstairs." Tears began to trickle down Shelby's face. "Murdered right above my own store... I'm afraid I can't let just anyone in. Her belongings are all that's left of her."

"I meant in this very temple."

"That sounds like our man." "Do we have any reason to believe an archdemon is in here? I was simply hoping for some help or knowledge on what has been going on here..."

There is a door to the left of the counter that presumably leads upstairs. "Outsiders? Uh, besides you, my advisor. You may see her around. Criminal record? Not since those Sewer Wolves came around. The one who died was Maggie, may she rest in peace. I pray her death is avenged." "As if I had any clue. I knew it was a bad idea letting those imps stay here, though! Nothing good ever comes from something so unnatural!"

The heroes decide to split up. Kid, Ezeran and Hunkan venture into town looking for the home of the gnome who was killed. It's not a very big town so it doesn't take them long to figure out that the home is on the second story, above Shelby's Scavenged Specialties. The heroes enter, and a female gnome awaits them behind a counter cluttered with various items. "Welcome to... Oh. Hello there, is there something I can help you with?" She seemed to regard the heroes with a bit of caution, and her eyes and tone told them she was sad. Party A: Kid Reddson (dum) 19-year-old Male Human (1/4 Leprechaun) Ranger Level 5 *Aims become Hits* Power Bonus: 0 Health: 10/10 Gold: 2 Equipment: Crossbow (WP 3), Quiver of Homing Arrows (Rolls of AIM become HIT; can only be used with a bow or a crossbow; backwear.) Inventory: 3 Smoke Bomb, 2 Potion, Phoenix Essence, Venom, Fire Bomb, Sterile Gloves (Grants Immunity to Poisoned and Bleeding effects, Handwear), Bedroll Ezeran Yavarr (MysticModulus) 42 year old male human Mage Level 14 *Immune to wood and fire* *Absorbs Darkness* *Enemies that hits Ezeran become slowed* Power Bonus: 0 (+2 spellpower) Defense: 3 Health: 18/18 Ether: 18/18 Gold: 0 Equipment: Ancient Sapphamber Staff (WP:8, doubled against Ancient enemies, Wind-elemental; staff), Sneezing Demon (SP:2; enemies that hit the wearer becomeslowed; immunity to wood and fire; suitable to Ezeran only; bodywear.), Hood of the Elementalist (SP:1, *Absorbs darkness*; headwear, suitable to anyone), Inventory: Emerald (Wood), Ruby (Fire), Remedy X3, Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Pick Axe, Trickster’s Baubel (WP:6, each hit causes one random effect: stunned, poisoned by 1, asleep, blinded, sealed or confused; wand), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants "Animal Talk", Headwear), Grand tonics X2, Potions X5, Nostrum X2. Hunkan Silvertoss (BountyBeast) 53 year old male dwarf Rogue *Immune to Blinded* Level 7 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 13/13 Gold: 188 Equipment: Ebony Scorpion Dagger (WP: 5, deals Poisoned-by-3), Goggles (Provides immunity to Blinded effect, Headwear) Inventory: Potion, Phoenix Essence, Nostrum, Remedy, Fire Bomb, Wooden Sword (WP:7; Suitable to Anyone) ---- Meanwhile Ellaria leads Goliath and Petaldan to the Baron's office situated inside of a giant mushroom. "Who- Oh, heroes. I see you made it down for the investigation. Not that you'll find anything, but I suppose it was only fair to let the little demons try. We're not executioners in Zylstra, but it seems our guests are. What can I help you with?" Party B: Ellaria Arbour (Sandy) ~Party Leader~ 25 years old female human Alchemist Level 34 2/4 *Immune to Fire* *Three rolls for Mixture* *Transfer poisoned and bleeding upon being hit* *No Free Hits for 3 rounds* Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 6 (1+5) Health: 55/55 (9+33+10+1+2) Gold: 233 Equipment: Mythril Mallet (WP: 20, wood- and darkness-elemental; Hollow [-]; hammer), Rubber Gloves (For Mixture, the die is rolled three times instead of twice, and the highest two results determine the created item; suitable to alchemists; handwear.), Robe of the Magi (SP:1, suitable for mages, clerics, alchemists, chi monks, decamon drafters, necromancers, regulators, scholars and weather mages; bodywear.), Spider Helmet (SP:5, passes poisoned and bleeding effects to the enemy when the wearer is hit; immunity to fire; headwear), Spirit Robe (Renders wearer invisible to the enemy for the first three rounds of battle so they do not take free hits; backwear) Inventory: Weapons Ignis Fatuus (WP:13, permanently poisoned by 15, fire- and lighting-elemental staff), Sylvania's Crossbow (WP:10, wood-elemental crossbow), Pan Flute (WP: 7, instrument), Wizard's Staff (WP:1, fire-, wind-, water- and earth-elemental staff), Wormtail Whip (WP:15, earth-elemental, whip) Artifacts: Ranger's Quiver (WP: +1 to bows and crossbows, suitable for rangers, beast warriors, infiltrators, and winged warriors; backwear), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Max Ether +5, protects from sealing; suitable for mages, clerics, necromancers, scholars and weather mages, bodywear), Cherokee Rose (Doubles potency of both incoming and outgoing restorative consumables and healing; suitable for Ellaria only; accessory.) Spell Items: Scroll of Inspiration (Inspired for rest of battle, 10 ether, 50/50 chance) Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Serenade of Water (Causes Water damage equal to the minstrel's level to all enemies per round for as long as the song is sung. Costs 10 ether per round. Battle Song) Consumables: 10 Grand Potions, Health Core, 4 Tonics, Diluted Arc Tonic (Restores 10 ether to all allies), 3 Grand Tonics, Ether Core, 2 Hyper Arc Tonics (Restores full ether to all allies), 2 Elixirs, Arc Elixir (Restores 60 health and 15 ether to all allies and removes negative effects.), 2 Remedies, Neutralizer, Tiger Balm, 3 Phoenix Essences, Last Resort (revives all knocked allies to 1 health), 3 Meads, 3 Smelling Salts, 2 Nostrums, 2 Soma, 2 Mulled Wines, 2 Smoke Bombs, Hot'n'Cold Bomb (Causes 30 fire- and ice-elemental damage to all enemies), Holy Rain Bomb (Causes 20 water-, wind- and light-elemental damage to all enemies), Bad Breath (Poisoned by 1-effect to all enemies), Feather of White, Demon Repellent Tools etc.: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Chemistry Set (Allows the user to use Mixture outside of battle, costs 2 Gold Bars/un-modified roll, suitable for alchemists; tool), 3 Gold Bars Paladin Petaldan Parfenius (Played by Palathadric) 5-year-old male "wonder" Knight Level: 11.5 *Immune to Stunned, Bound, Petrified and Earth* Power: 16 Defense: 9 Health: 22/22 10+10+2* Gold: 153 Equipment: Brine Blade (WP: 5, 1/6 chance to trigger a Flood (see Weather Mage) when dealing damage, Longsword), Shield (SP: 5; Shield), Gloves of the Boy Wonder(SP:2; immunity to *Stunned*, *Bound*, and *Petrified*; suitable to Petaldan only; handwear), Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Earth) Inventory: Weapons: Slimy Sword (WP:12, can be split into several weaker Slimy Swords or combined with other Slimy Swords to increase WP and split apart again at any time, Longsword) Gems: Emerald Consumables: 2x Potion, 2x Grand Potion, 2x Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Ambrosia, 2x Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb Tools: Bedroll Goliath (Goliath) Automaton Barbarian Level 1 Power: 4 Defense: 0 Health: 10/10 (8+2) Gold: 0 Equipment: Ebony Scorpion Spear (WP:5, deals Poisoned-by-3; spear) Inventory: Potion x4, Mead x3, Plasma Cutlass (WP:3; Greatsword), Magma Maul (WP: 6, 1/6 chance to trigger an Inferno (see Weather Mage) when dealing damage, hammer), Tonic x2, Bunch of 10 Cherries (Each cherry restores 1 ether when eaten), Smelling Salts, Nostrum, Blind Bomb, Dirt Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel Debts: 20 Gold (Torald)

Hybros also drank a Mead and knocked on the door. "Erm, hello? Heroes of Heroica, we are here to help." OOC: Please add one Guffington's Seal (Proves the Hero is a Friend of Guffington. The hero starts every quest with one "Hero's Cocktail") to Hybros' inventory. Hero's Cocktail (Makes the hero encouraged, hastened, lucky and inspired)

Jinnipher simply rolled her eyes. Jinnipher eyed the threads. "Let me guess, a black shadow thing has eighteen lives? What the Hel are you, anyway?" "...Well that was dramatic. Weren't we supposed to be running from those angels, not beheading them and burying them?" "As for these two," Jinnipher nodded to the unconscious angels. "It was stupid to bring them along. We can't let them go and we can't bring them with us. The only solution is to kill them now or lock them up somewhere, though I don't trust a few iron chains to hold them for long." "Falconer, allow me to apologize for the idiotic behavior from these so-called heroes. As I told the Dragonlord you really need to start having tryouts or something. Remember the last time we let just anyone in?" The moon elf frowned and furrowed her brow. "We need you to get us to Eschaton."

"The Baron knows alright, and he's none too happy about it, heh. But he agreed it would be fair to have a third party investigate, and that is why Moke was sent to get you. Is there anything you can know for sure? I think not. You're welcome to investigate us as well, but the only way you'll find answers is if you look for them."

QM Note: You may split up, but note that there or may or may not be positive/negative consequences for doing so.

Nahzka seemed a little taken aback, but replied coolly, "For the same reason you are all yellow, child. I do not suppose you were painted at birth, either." "Death comes for us all one way or another. I understand your difficulty but perhaps you should be thankful to be preserved longer than your old body would have allowed." "Drifters and wanderers all find a home eventually. Perhaps you will find one sooner than you think." "Very well, thank you all for sharing some things about yourselves. I believe it is best to get to know someone before you trust them with anything. And it is fair that I tell you about my people now." Nahzka closed her eyes. "Long ago, the imps lived freely among forest and earth. It was a prosperous life for many of us before the races of men, gnomes or even dwarves were born. Soon our race would collide with the others. We were nothing more than animals to these ancestors who arrived from the east to the continent once known as Mercution, the ancient home of imps and several other peoples. The greed of men, dwarves and elves drove the imps deep underground. The imps are no warriors; we had a few who could manipulate the nature around them but they were not nearly enough to stop the endless numbers of the newcomers. After some time even the underground was not safe. The greed for precious minerals ran deep, and paladins and others began to think of our race as demons. After most of our numbers were wiped out, the rest were banished to the realm called Azazot, the home of demons. There we stayed for many years and ages, preserved by the different flow of time there. But we eventually returned to Olegaia, quite recently in fact. We were fortunate enough to have a safe place in this city, away from the eyes of the many. Who knows how the world would perceive us after so much time?" The imp queen opened her eyes again. "It has turned out that it would not remain long before we were discovered and became known by the people on the surface. As we expected we would not be welcomed by some. This is our problem, heroes of Heroica. A gnome from Zylstra was killed last week, or so we are told. The gnomes seem to think we are fault. It is common knowledge here that we came from Azazot. And it is true that still some of our people are there, We have not yet figured out a way to retrieve them, but it is no secret that we seek to do so. This, the people of Zylstra fear. If we opened a doorway to Azazot we might let loose demons of all sort bent on destruction of Olegaia. They believe this fear came true last week. I can assure you we have done no such thing." "Your job, heroes, is to find a way to prove our innocence in this matter. Investigate the town for clues and speak to the people. If you can find enough evidence to clear our names, perhaps we can resolve things with the town peacefully. That is all we want, after all." She stepped back a bit, and another imp, this one a male, appeared before the party, as if on cue. "Sigil will explain the details to you, but I will be here to answer any question you may have. Good luck, heroes." The male imp approached and began to speak. The heroes note that his voice was quite normal compared to Nahzka's, if high-pitched and scratchy compared to a human's. His words were also interlaced with clicks and chirps that were supposedly inherent in impish language. "Right then. Before you go out you should know about the town and places to investigate. Of course, there is our settlement here. There are a few of us who would be able to speak to you more about ourselves or anything you wish. In Zylstra itself, there is the Sluice, a tavern where many of the citizens gather. You may find some answers from the common people there. Next door there is a shop where you can resupply, and in the big mushroom building is the Baron's office. He is something of a mayor to the town. We know of a masked woman who has been visiting him recently. We are not sure of her intentions, but she is not a gnome. Perhaps most importantly there is the home of the gnome who was killed - you may be able to investigate the crime scene. Lastly, there is a dig site that once led to a part of Mercution, though the tunnel is collapsed. There have been rumors of strange sounds coming from that area lately." "You are to investigate these areas, but you may do so in any order you wish. You will report back to us when you have found something. Are there any questions?"