Sandy

The rule pages for the Veteran Job Classes are up at the Training Room. Go check them out to see whether you want to return to your roots when you hit Level 40.

Ellaria's anger melts into a nasty smile. "That's what I wanted to hear", she said, drawing her staff and stepping next to Boomingham to face the raiders.

Ellaria steps in front of Lawrence, ignoring the minotaur. "The leaders of the resistance may have been hired, but I talked to the commoners! Are you saying that only leaders are worthy to be listened to? Sellswords make decisions based on what benefits them the most, true heroes think of greater good. Negotiating with these butcherers and pillagers is not in the interest of R'kilf, even though you might get something out of it, Lawrence Boomingham!" Ellaria pokes his broad chest with her finger as she speaks. Her cheeks become flushed with anger and frustration.

The Anubian lays one more cloak on the counter and takes the gold from Namyrra. "460 gold it is! May your days be ever basked in sunlight, Madame!" Party: Atramor Gibbin (CallMePie) 31 year old male human Regulator Level 30 *Immune to Fire, Water, Lightning, Wood, Light, Darkness, and Doomed* *Negative Effects Last One Round* *Battle Style: Orderly* *Aura* Power: 50 (30+20) Defense: 25 (4+6+3+12) Health: 120/120 60/60 (7+29+12+6+6) Gold: 55 Equipment: Pheles Rod (WP: 20, user generates an Aura, doubling the user's maximum health but drawing all attacks to them, fire, ice, lightning, earth, wind, light, darkness elemental staff), Robust Shield (SP: 12, shield), Amulet of the Court (Suitable for anyone, negative effects last only one round on the wearer, immune to water, lightning, and wood, accessory), Rat's Hide (Suitable for anyone, SP: 4, backwear), Galactic Armor (Suitable for anyone, SP: 6, +6 max health, immune to fire, light, darkness, and doomed, bodywear), Tricorne (Suitable for everyone, SP: 3, headwear) Inventory: General's Dagger (WP: 7, pierces SP, cannot be upgraded, dagger), Tiger Claws (WP: 15, double WP against humanoids, darkness elemental, dual strike, daggers), Sylvania's Cowl (Suitable for anyone, grants Animal Talk, headwear), Desert Cloak (Immunity to fire-, earth- and wind-elemental damage; backwear), Pickaxe, Shovel, Bomb XX (Deals 30 damage to all enemies and 10 damage to all heroes, all damage ignoring SP/row), 2 Elixirs, Ether Core, 3 Health Cores, 2 Mulled Wines, 2 Phoenix Essences, Potion, Remedy, Smoke Bomb, Soma Bartholomew Docken, The Dragonslayer (Brickdoctor) 32-year-old male human Warden Level 32 1/4 *Gains Triple XP* *Takes Halved Damage from Free Hits* *Scary* *Counterstriking* *Immune to Defense Reduction, Removal of Positive Effects, Confusion, Blindness, Badly Poisoned, and Fragile* Power: 42 (32+10) Defense: 23 (20+3) Health: 63/63 (6+31+8+18) Gold: 1160 Equipment: Darksteel Crossbow (WP: 10; Blinded-effect), Mythril Shield (SP: 20), Dread Hat (permanent Scary-effect; immune to Defense Reduction, Removal of Positive Effects, Confusion, Blindness, Badly Poisoned, and Fragile; Headwear), Mail of the Renegade Commander (SP: 3; Damage of all Free Hits is halved; Bodywear), Medal of Glory (Mark of true talent that allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles; Accessory), Counterstrike Gloves (After the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, he counters with strength equal to his Level; Handwear) Inventory: Pan (WP: 1; +1 Max HP; suitable for all classes), Fishstick (WP: 7; deals double Damage on ships; club) • Cobweb Cowl (immune to Instant-KO; Backwear), Desert Cloak (Immunity to fire-, earth- and wind-elemental damage; backwear) • Health Cores (3), Grand Potions (5), Remedies (5), Phoenix Incense, Phoenix Essences (2), Bones (7), Smoke Bombs (3), Teleportapple, Adamantite Shard (1/4 Adamantite) • Bedroll, Shovel, Magnifying Glass Namyrra Uq (Quarryman) 1337 years old female Fenarian Necromancer ***Party Leader*** Level 33 1/4 *Gains triple XP* *Immune to Sealing* Power: 58 (33+25) Defence: 10 (5+3+2) Health: 47/47 (5+32+5+5) Ether: 52/52 (5+32+1+1+5+4) Gold: 835 Equipment: Crystal Mace (WP:25 (5 multiplied by the amount of gems imbued), fire, ice, wind, water, lightning elemental), Fanged Helm (SP:5, headwear), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Ether:5. immune to Sealing, bodywear), Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max. Ether +4, backwear), Medal of Glory (earns triple XP) Inventory: Empyreal Staff (WP:15), Staff of the Necromancer (WP:12; damages undead; +1 level to raised undead; staff), Oriental Crossbow (WP:7, Crossbow), Gold Dragon Crown (+6 max ether, immunity to lightning and stunned), Seductive Perfume (adds Enamored effect to all attacks), Desert Cloak (Immunity to fire-, earth- and wind-elemental damage; backwear), Nocturne Flute (WP:6, asleep effect, instrument), Amethyst, Emerald, Topaz, Garnet, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, 5x Potions, 4 Grand Potions, Health Core, Tonic, 4 Ether Cores, 2 Remedies, Phoenix Incense, 3 x Phoenix Essence, Demon Repellant (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons during one battle), 7 Meads, 7 Smelling Salts, 6 Nostrum, 5x Venom, 2x Ambrosia, 3x Smoke Bombs, Holy Bomb, 8 Water Bombs, 3 Dirt Bombs, Ice Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Flash Bomb, Soul Cage (doomed-effect to all combatants), Skeleton Decoy, Pickaxe, 4x Bone, Bedroll, Jade Lamp of Summoning (summons Mediq) Nyx (played by Pandora) 19 years old female human Battle Mage Level 28 1/3 *Natural Respite* *Immune to Sealed, Asleep and Fast Asleep* Power: 44 (15+28+1) Defense: 4 Health: 39/39 (5+27+5+2) Ether: 39/39 (5+27+1+5+1) Gold: 536 Equipment: Zee Standard (WP: 15, ice- and darkness-elemental, necromancers raise enemies with 2 extra levels, staff), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:4, Max. Ether +5, protects from sealed-effect), High Heels (+1 Power), Sandman's Parasol (Immune to Asleep and Fast Asleep effects) Inventory: Book of a Thousand Creatures (WP:14, each roll has a 1/6 chance to summon a creature to aid the hero), Explosive Staff – WP: 12 (Does 1/2 damage to all enemies on a successful hit (normal damage to targeted enemy) and 1/2 WP damage to self on a roll of 4 (disregarding SP/row)), Healing Staff (WP: 5), Dagger of the Blue Assassin (WP: 4, Aims become Hits), Shiny Helmet (+1 max health), Monkey Bar (all minions, pets, summons etc are Hastened), Desert Cloak (Immunity to fire-, earth- and wind-elemental damage; backwear), Chef’s Apron (Bodywear, Immunity to fire and poisons), Phoenix Dress (Max. Ether +5, full ether restored upon revival, immunity to fire and lightning, suitable only to female mages, clerics, chi monks, minstrels and necromancers; bodywear), Ruby, Diamond, Amethyst, Topaz, Sapphire, Emerald, Garnet, Aquamarine, Opal, Scroll of Sleep, 3 Meads, 2 Nostrums, Smelling Salts, Doomshroom Cap (+1 max Ether when consumed), Oneupshroom Cap (works as a Phoenix Essence when eaten), 4 Deadly Venoms, Phoenix Essence, 3 Cosmic Essences (Revives a knocked out ally with full health and ether and gives them the blessed-effect), Potion, 3 Tonics, 2 Grand Tonics, Ether Core, Fire Bomb, Smoke Bomb, 2 Chaotic Bombs (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bomb 'X2' (May be combined with a bomb to get it to ignore SP), 2 Bedrolls, 5 Bones Byblos (NPC, controlled by Quarryman) 28 years old male Metasimian Scholar Level 30 *Well-read* *Fast Learner* *Fragile* *Weakened* *Slowed* *Immune to Fire, Earth & Wind* Power: 60 (30+30) Health: 40/40 (10+29+1) Ether: 40/40 (10+29+1) Gold: 0 Equipment: Pandemonicon (WP:30 [equal to user's level], inflicts hexed on demons and doomed on humanoids; retrievable book), Tattered Robe (Max. Health +1, Max. Ether +1; bodywear), Desert Cloak (Immunity to fire-, earth- and wind-elemental damage; backwear) Inventory: "Gone With the Mind" (WP:12, inflicts enamored; retrievable book), "Classical Philosophic Theories" (WP:11, inflicts fast asleep; retrievable book) "100 Venoms for Beginners" (WP:10, inflicts badly poisoned; retrievable book), Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Confusion, Banana (restores full health to user)

The merchant stares Atramor coldly with his gleaming yellow eyes, but his voice is pure honey, creating a stark contrast. "Indeed I have canteens to sell. Why don't you browse my wares to see what else you would like." Potion – Restores 10 health to the target. Costs 10 gold. Tonic – Restores 5 ether to the target. Costs 30 gold. Grand Potion – Restores 25 health to the target. Costs 20 gold. Grand Tonic – Restores 15 ether to the target. Costs 60 gold. Elixir – Restores 50 health and 10 ether to the target and removes all negative effects from the target. Costs 80 gold. Remedy – Removes all negative effects from the target. Costs 20 gold. Phoenix Essence – Revives a fallen ally with full health during a battle. Costs 100 gold. Venom – Use on a weapon to make it cause a poisoned-effect on any enemy it hits for the duration of one battle. A poisoned enemy loses 1 health each turn. Costs 10 gold. Deadly Venom – Use on a weapon to make it cause the badly poisoned-effect on any enemy it hits for the duration of one battle. A badly poisoned enemy loses 10 health each turn. Costs 100 gold. Smoke Bomb – Allows the party to escape the battle. Costs 10 gold. Water Canteen - Carries 3 portions of water; essential in deserts to avoid dehydration; accessory. Costs 60 gold.

Ellaria gives a sideway look at Boomingham. "Are we really negotiating with this mob, Lawrence? The citizens of R'kilf ask for retribution, let's just give it to them!"

The Anubian shifts his unwavering grin towards Namyrra. "You've got yourselves a deal, Madame!" As the merchant lays four cloaks on the counter, Byblos tucks Namyrra by a sleeve. "What do you mean four? Aren't you counting me?"

"You will not find finer cloaks anywhere, sir. Let me make you a special offer: two for 200 gold. What do you say?"

The Anubian merchant grins, bearing his nail-sharp teeth. "Sunny days to you, sir! If you are braving the Desert of Demons, then you simply must wear one of my custom-made cloaks." Desert Cloak - Immunity to fire-, earth- and wind-elemental damage; backwear. Costs 120 gold.

~A new quest has been posted on the Quest Board (#86 by Endgame)!~

"Hahaha! You'll be just fine in my brother's capable direction. I was just poking fun at him. He wouldn't want me to intervene in his businesses, anyway. Thanks for the compliments, though." The heroes then leave the bar and the elven siblings behind and head to the harbor by the glimmering Pearl Sea. There they find a long, wide pier with colorful market stalls on it - the Pier Market, as the locals know it. Two of the stalls seem the most interesting. The other sells cloaks and other artefacts, while the other sells various potions as well as the much-desired canteens. At the end of the pier, there's another stall. The heroes can hear a loud voice shouting there. "Come on, Ifrita! Just one more game! I feel today's the day that Fabula Sibylla smiles benevolently at me!" "She didn't smile at you on your first three games of the day, Hathor. I fear you are becoming addicted to Lucky Clams. Besides, shouldn't you be back at your bar already?" "Pish-posh, those drunkards can wait! Pretty please, Ifrita! I have the gold here, look!" What stall will the heroes approach first?

Ellaria smiles sheepishly. "That's quite alright, Nerwen. I'm not a great strategic genius, anyway." She then turns to the group of resistance members she was leading. "Thank you all for a battle well fought! Now we will vanquish the Pongcanis leader so you can continue your lives here at R'kilf in peace."

Dammit, another batch of superb sets! Now I have to get all four of them again.

QM Note: Dammit, do not question the fancy mechanics I add to make this quest more challenging! "Azzurat Desert is not your average sandbox, Miss. Compared to Abra, it's has more heat, more sandstorms and much more demons. It'll wear you down in an instant if you're not prepared." Upon coming closer, Nyx sees pointy ears jutting out of the sides of the woman's head. The elven woman turns to her, sizing her up with her eyes. "What a brusque question... Well, if you really want to know, I have been a weather prophet since birth. With these eyes of mine, I can see what kind of weather there will be in the near future. That is why it is a bliss to live in a place that has sunshine almost every day of the year. What other's call a gift, I call a curse." Then Nizam steps out of the bar as well. "Ah, Ororo, my dearest sister! It seems you have already met my latest batch of daring adventures that I must guide through the desert. Luckily everyone knows that I, Nizam, am the most trusted guide when the Desert of Demons is in question." The elven woman snickers. "That you are, my brother Nizam."

My wireless connection here at home is 144 mbps...

The pictures are posted like that already, two side-by-side. Maybe your screen resolution just isn't wide enough to fit them like that...

"That happens to be my expertise. The trek across the desert is far from easy, though. You'll need suitable clothing as well as water canteens, both of which you can purchase at the pier market. Once you're all geared up, I'll show you the safest way to the ruins, no problem!"

But having both the pictures and the text in the topic doesn't solve the loading issue, only makes it worse.

OoC: Where are everyone? "It would only make things worse, trust me. I'm not the prettiest flower in the garden, after all." The woman continues to sip her drink, slipping the mug beneath her veil. Then she adjusts the position of the intimidating bowgun that's leaning against the counter. The dark-skinned elf flashes a smile, showcasing a row of pure white teeth. "Do I know him?! Why, he's the swellest feller in this mangy outback village! I'm talking about myself, of course. Nizam, at your service. What can I do for you?"

Sorry. When I originally thought of posting rules as pictures rather than text, I didn't take into account that not everyone has a fast internet connection. We're pretty much pampered by fast connections in my country... Would people rather see the job classes posted as plain text?

The woman glances at Byblos. "You mean the old monkey woman? She said she was going to the pier market to make some purchases, since business was so slow, and told me to watch the liquor. I wouldn't be so trusting of someone who looked like me, personally."

Ellaria moves south-east again, with her target in sight.

The woman looked up from her cup, and sized Atramor up with her dark eyes. Then she returned in gazing down her cup. "No. I'm not from around here."

Post-relaunch Whovian here! Also #1 fan of Donna.

Byblos looks to be in pain in the searing heat, even though he was born and raised in the equally hot and humid Mistland jungles. "Ungh, I had forgotten what this kind of climate feels like, after all those years spent in the coolness of the Library. But yes, let us go visit my great-aunt and our supposed guide first." The party walk ahead to a gaudy house with a carving of a mirthful monkey on top of the door. A couple of people are chatting in front of the house: a red-clad man and a woman with striking purple eyes. Walking inside the bar, the party see three more people: a veiled woman in a long dress, a dark-skinned elf and a passed out man in the corner. "Huh? No sign of Hathor..." The party can talk to the people inside the bar as well as those outside. They can also head to the harbor or the desert at any time, or even return to Eubric through the portal.