JimBee

OOC: Ellaria's going to go down either way - there's no way she can defeat the soul without being defeated herself. Unless she heals herself or Hybros is revived and does some healing. Or Skrall can just defeat it and use an Incense. Hybros lay motionless on the ground. Battle Order: Skrall Deborah Nyx Ellaria Minoid

OOC: If WBD doesn't post, Skrall attacks Light Soul A from the back row with the Hunter's Crossbow. EDIT: Weird, we posted the same thing at the same time

You only get half the value of weapons when selling them back. So a WP:5 weapon gets you 25 gold.

OOC: I should've dealt more damage before I went down thanks to my power boosts ([5+1]x2=12 more damage). Skrall could revive Hybros, or try to help Ellaria defeat hers so Roots of Life will work, or just wait it out and attack another soul to minimize free hits. Hybros managed to fling one orb of darkness towards the soul in front of him before the light consumed him. He fell, realizing his failure, and hoped his allies would survive long enough to revive him... "No... I can not fail now..." he murmured in an unconscious state. Battle Order: Nyx Deborah Skrall Ellaria Hybros Hybros

I couldn't help thinking these same thoughts throughout the quest as well, though less so about the second point. The narrator of the main story arc in this game, Sandy, has a story to tell that may or may not change over time, but I have a feeling he has known already (at least to some degree; a rough idea) what that ending to the story will be. It's a pitfall that's hard to avoid for any QM or game designer, but I agree that it would seem more authentic if the choices actually changed something. If the heroes had chosen to complete their mission for Heroica, what would the Wolfgang lose in the grand scheme of things? It doesn't seem like they would lose much. There'd probably still be a Wolfgang quest in the future and a following arc where they try to take over Eubric, as has been the plot so far. Would things actually change? It's a difficult question to answer for any of us, maybe even Sandy himself. But I definitely agree that the consequences should have been more apparent. They got a ton of gold and Wolfgang rep for switching sides, don't you think the Veterans would be upset enough with them to consider kicking them out of Heroica? Of course that's not realistic for the game and the players can't be punished that way for being given the option to fight with the Wolfgang, but some kind of penalty should have been incurred in my opinion (other than the loss of the quest reward). As for the Wolfgang's portrayal, I felt that Warlbatan and the others were good, genuine characters, and reflected the goals of the Wolfgang better than we've ever seen before. With the exception of maybe the Foundation Day Ball quest, we've only seen ruthless thugs and the mercilessness of the Wolfgang. Maybe that's a good thing, since thugs don't necessarily share the views and intelligence of their leaders rather than following blindly and act as muscle. But before this quest, I definitely thought it was hard for any halfway moral character (hero) to follow the Wolfgang. The change with that in this quest was surprising, but appropriate now if not ever. Those criticisms aside, I did really enjoy following 100 and I felt that it effectively moved the plot along in a significant way. The NPCs were diverse and entertaining. I loved seeing Roland again, thank you Sandy for putting him in at my request. I like the way he's developed. In my eyes, he's never been an evil man (on the contrary his actions in the Dastan Trilogy were for "justice"), but seeks to achieve his goals in a less moral or twisted way. His role in developing Vega is largely a good thing for Babeleth because it acts as a center of commerce where there used to be just a swamp. But it's also a hive for crime and indecency where he rules as something like a king. It reminds me of how Louis Kaestner and Nucky Thompson raised Atlantic City from the muck in pre-Prohibition era U.S. (any Boardwalk Empire fans here?). So, well done with that Sandy. I also liked Periwinkle a lot. I'd like to see Khorne develop Eric in some way with her in the future. Lastly, well done to the players. Eric was magnificent, and is also one of my favorite PCs. He's so arrogant but can usually back that up with a strong fist or defiance, and I love reading what he has to say. And he doesn't disrupt quests, but still seems genuine (Flipz said something about this a while ago). Althoir was a good leader, but I'm a little lost on who he has become at this point. Is he still a moping undead necromancer, or has he gone back to his old ways? Or something completely new? It was a little hard to tell. Nur was hilarious as always, and I agree with K-Nut that it's cool how he kind of goes to the beat of his own drum. Sarge is consistent, and I like reading him. Have him and Pretzel ever been on a quest together? They'd be great. And although Throlar didn't complete the quest, I have to give him credit for sticking to his guns (and also applaud Sandy for allowing this - it was a big decision to make and it would have been unfair to force the whole party to pick one side). Overall a great read, and I look forward to the next part of this arc.

Hybros recovered silently and prepared to try again. Same BO.

Hybros nodded nervously to Skrall. "I can not be sure of that. If my people are in there, I need to get them out. At any cost. Do you understand Skrall? This is my purpose. I do not know why they are in there or how they got there, but I know they do not belong there." He turned to face the soul in front of him. Hopefully it wasn't one of his own kind's soul. He conjured up orbs of darkness magic, akin to Nyx's power, and threw them at Light Soul A from the front row (twice). Battle Order: Skrall Deborah Nyx Hybros Hybros Minoid Ellaria

Hybros listens with eyes wide open. He barely recalls Daneeka's shout and the route over to him. He suddenly finds himself in front of the door, all of the information in front of him. He stares straight ahead. "This... This is it. This is what I have been searching for. The creature in my vision... That was one of my own. They lived here, in Uland, long ago... That is why I was brought to Heroica. That is why I had a vision in Wren's dungeon. This is my purpose..." He held Zoot's Reaper in his hands. It has begun whispering loudly in his head, as it did on many occasions before that: in the Temple of Zoot, in the realm of the Moon Elves. The Pheles Rod, too, had whispered to him. The archdemon of gluttony had spoken to him. Both manifestations seemed to compel him towards something, a destination of his journey. That destination was here. The only concern - what did his people have to do with these ancient realms and the doings of angels and demons? The possibilities were... Disturbing to him. Hybros felt numb to the emotions. "It is time." Time to find his people.

"Ehem, erm, yes, that is right. I forgot that we did not end up in the same place we left." "Yes please." Hybros looked on anxiously. "All my life I have been waiting for this."

"If we are not willing to stand for what we want, then this world belongs to those already in power. I do not know where my people are, but I deserve to at least know what happened to them. I have defeated many that have gotten in my way to get to this point, including the Imperial Order and others who wish to keep this knowledge buried. They are not the ones who will determine the fate of my people or anyone else! We must make our own choices free of fear..." "If your mind is made, then so be it. But I will not let this chance slip past me." Hybros returned to his search.

Hybros shrugged. "I am glad you found answers then. But is it much to doubt? Daneeka is right; we must choose to believe. I have seen ancient civilizations like these, and the Moon Elf Kingdom and the Temple of Zoot were preserved. Here we stand in another ancient ruin that could hold the secrets to many things. You are willing to forgo that?"

"Only a few? Could we not come back down here from the way we came and bring them all up?" Nonetheless, Hybros began trawling anxiously through the books, looking for one that would indicate anything about his people. "Erm, Doctor, I could use a little help with the letters, eheh..." Hybros paused his search momentarily to squint his eyes at Ellaria. "You knew we were coming down here for answers. Here they are. Why have you changed your mind so suddenly? You sound like those Imperial Order people..."

Hybros frowned at the others' disappointment. "I was not sure what to expect when I signed up for this quest. I had hoped to find answers. So far it has only been more questions, and witches with their tricks. But now... a library, probably full of ancient knowledge... I have spent enough time in Byblos' realm to know the value of such knowledge, hehe..." He tipped his hat back to scratch his head. "A library is more than I had expected. What we have found down here is certainly better than just dirt, which is what most would find. But there is a reason we are here. I know it. The journey to find answers for me has been very long. When you have been looking for as long as I have, you learn to appreciate what you do find. And you learn to be patient. These books must hold answers to many things, perhaps records this old will know of my people." He sensed his companions' discomfort. He looked on with determination, but there was also fear in his eyes. "Please... this is more than I have ever had. Every path that I have taken so far has lead here. There must be something that I can use down here. There has to be. I know it..."

"Perhaps so, Doctor..." Hybros looks at the ceiling cautiously before continuing. "Deeper than Nu Mercution? I did not know there were cities older than that..." He continues to the library, and begins browsing the books, amazed that such a thing could exist for so long below the surface. It gave him hope. "If we did not find what we were looking for, then perhaps this is worth the venture. Daneeka, you could probably spend the rest of your days reading this library..."

Hybros nods. "I am no fan of this Wren, either. But perhaps without her I would not be here now. Perhaps the same could be said of you and Nyx, eheh..." He follows suit with Skrall and begins sipping a Soma.

The Iris Shield started at SP:0, but I guess that's beside the point. Which is, non-SP artifacts can't be given SP. It's cool that you're thinking about what routes to take down the road, but keep in mind that it will probably take a while before you get there, and by then you could have gotten better equipment, your character could have changed, and the quests you've been on would have affected your decisions. Some of us have been playing this game from the start and after three years we're just hitting level 30. Not saying there's anything wrong with speculation, but just something to keep in mind.

Hybros recalls the stories of Wren exchanged between heroes in the Hall. Atramor, Nyx, Skrall, and the wizard named Arthur all seemed to have gone on the same quest. "Ehehm, yes, so you have visited this temple as well? Then you know the knowledge to be found down there. There was a book that shared the secrets of archdemons and old kingdoms down there - perhaps we will find something that will share more of such wisdom with us... Tell me, Nyx, what was it that you found there when you visited?" Hybros turns to look at the party members following, and calls back to Skrall. "Are you going to be okay? I know small space are not the best for you but... if worse comes to worse down here we will need a way out. We will have to stay together." He dug in his Bag-of-Holding for a Mead, and offered it to the ogre. "Scheherazade calls this liquid courage..."

"Hm... I have been here before, or somewhere like it. The ruins of Nu Mercution are buried deep beneath Eubric. This is where the Moon Elves were. There was also a Temple of Zoot and an archdemon down here. If that witch was responsible for our visions, then perhaps she and her kind know of the other secrets held here, eheh..." Hybros begins to follow Hewyrt up the stairs. "The only thing I worry about is... how do we really know this is real? This could be another vision, and we may not have found anything at all, and those witches could be deceiving us..." Somehow, even upon saying it, Hybros doubted it. How could they know about the vision he had all that time ago while in Wren's dungeon? Perhaps the magic was powerful enough to somehow read his mind. After all, there was magic that could allow people to enter others' dreams... The imp shook his head. "The only way forward is through. Let us keep going."

OOC: Oops, of course! Loot: Ellaria: Ectoplasm (raises max ether by 2 permanently), Paper Doll Nyx: Bright Polish, Amethyst Hybros: Grating Stone Skrall: Amethyst Hybros listened to the stories of the other visions. He nods. "Perhaps the meaning of these visions will become clear as we move on. I have never seen such a being before, but Ellaria if you know this witch, then perhaps the others will be waiting for us. Let us continue digging."

Hybros rubbed his head and took a moment to recover. "Yes... I saw what you saw, Ellaria. And Nyx. I do not know how any of that happened, but perhaps the significance of these visions has to do with ourselves. I remember... going to a place very familiar to me, a place that I have seen in a dream once. And the other experience... There was a child, and death itself visited. Perhaps that has some meaning to Ellaria." he nodded to the druid. "What else did the rest of you see?"

Thanks for having me.

Yeah, when Flipz proposed the item, I said the same thing, but I think there is some small reason for them... Flipz?

Oh, duh.

Sorry Pala but I have to point out that as an artisan you can't wear the heavy armor.

What?! Nooo! We won't even get to see the MOC that has taken all this time to build? I thought it was alright. Her character has been a little inconsistent between Chromeknight and I (mostly because CK is a better roleplayer), resulting in a determined-yet-playful personality overall. I thought you portrayed her well. For choices and behind-the-scenes consequences like this (and also Phil fighting the dragoons on his own side quest). This is something really cool and consequences of choices in quests don't always have to be immediate or even apparent to the players at the time. I'd like to see more of this. As for WW, I'm aware that it's broken. I've been trying to make improvements to it but I guess there hasn't been much call for it since no PC has chosen that class (Pretzel is the only one who can currently). One of my suggestions was changing the SHIELD roll.