Sandy

To give at least some explanation to the vast amount of abilities and the way they were revealed, I made the mistake of thinking people would have no moral problems of attacking other players out of sheer fun of it. I expected the death toll to be much higher and the pace to be much more frantic, so the level-headedness and thoughtfulness most of you put into this game came a bit of a surprise to me. I also thought that making the actions public would cause paranoia, but the minute I saw someone say "hey, what if the townies just don't attack at all?" I had a big facepalm moment. So yeah, this was supposed to be a bloodbath game with a hint of strategy, but it turned out to be a very strategic game with minimal bloodshed. I'd definitely do many things differently if I were to host something like this again, but as many of you guessed right, C.A.T. was a total time-sink and very arduous to host - especially when there were 42 players. But I saw that at least most of you were enjoying the concept, so it kept me going - as always. So again, thank you for all your dedication and time spent on another one of my creations. It means the world to me. EDITED OUT THE CHARACTER ENTRIES BECAUSE THE CODE WAS ACTING UP.

FINAL DAY ~ QUESTIONS OF LIFE AND DEATH Once more Scheherazade was the first one to discover the bodies left from the bloody night. Heron Jujube was dead again, and so was Zpilf, the ogre that had suddenly sprouted wings. "By gods, how long will this carnage last?!" The matron had her answer as the vision of the dark angel appeared again, this time over Zpilf, and this time brighter than ever before. {You may thwart me over and over again, but you can never slay an angel! Heroica will fall as Azazot rises again from the ashes of Mercution! Your destruction is inevitable, heirs of Morduin the Doomsayer!"} "Yeah yeah, quit flapping your lips and fly back to whatever nest you crawled out of!" As the Veterans awoke, Scheherazade recounted the angel's words to them at the Saloon. "I cannot sense the dark wings over us anymore. But there is a shroud of darkness over this city, something even more sinister than the angel..." "You really sound like the heir of the Doomsayer when you talk like that, dear Sand Queen! Sheesh, can't we just rejoice the fact that we can stop killing each other now?" "If the threat is really over, that is. I almost can't believe it...." "Uh, I think we ought to tell those guys that, too." The Feathered Serpent pointed down at the main hall, where the remaining heroes had gathered, armed and ready for another arduous day of bloodshed and paranoia. "Everyone, drop your weapons, this instant! And listen up!" The confused heroes did as the Dragonlord told, and the Veterans gathered on the balcony to explain the situation. "...so we firmly believe that the last of the Nephilim died with Zpilf. We can finally reopen the doors to the world outside and continue performing great acts of heroism in the footsteps of the original Veterans. Why don't you join us for a celebratory toast here in the Saloon, first?" Silence fell on the crowd below. "Forget about it, just let us out!" someone shouted. "Yeah, I've had just about enough of this crap. I quit!" "Me too! This isn't what I signed up to!" There was no talking them around. As the doors were opened, all of the surviving heroes marched out, leaving Heroica behind for good. Six days and nights of killing their friends and companions had just been too much for any of them to bear. There was but one hero who lingered behind, but only because she wanted to talk with her aunt Scheherazade first. "All this Heroica stuff was really boring, you know? I can't believe you talked me into this! And just when it was about to get exciting, I was killed! My head was lobbed right off by a dwarf, can you believe that?! So no, nothing you say will make me change my mind - I'm outta here!" "So am I, momma! Off to find new fools to sucker and drain out of their gold. I'm going to get you that Inn you always dreamed about, just you wait!" "Fine, get lost, both of you! Don't worry about little old me, I can manage fine all on my own! Especially now that all my customers are gone... Well, at least I don't have to start each day by mopping up blood from the floors anymore!" Scheherazade literally kicked both Sham and Eris out of the Hall, and returned to tending the Saloon, grumbling about insolent and ungrateful youngin's all the way up the stairs. Some time later, the doors of the Hall were opened once again, and in stepped the three enlisted heroes that the organization had left: Åsa Niflheimr, a Nôrnish Battle Mage; Ezekiel Drake, a roguish explorer; and Madame Adeline Rouge Doux, socialite extraordinaire. The Copper Fox was the first to greet them. "Mr. Copper Fox, I am so relieved to see you alive! I ran into Weyrdág at the Nôrn building, and she told me all about what happened here!" "Yeah, we arrived from our quest a few days ago and were perplexed to see the Hall's doors shut tight. Nobody would even answer our knocks!" "Phew! This place reeks of death! Did you really lynch each other here?" "Wow, we had almost forgotten about you guys! Glad to see we have at least some active members left. Wait here, I'll go fetch the others." The Veterans told the whole story to the three puzzled heroes, beginning from the death of Lothoros Eldar and ending with the fact that everyone else quit the organization. "We have already gotten messages from the Six Houses that their trust in Heroica has been seriously damaged by this incident. If we can't even keep our own members from killing each other, how can they trust us to uphold peace and order in the Free Island? Joining Heroica has always been a risky business, but it's not like we can cheat death, can we?" "Actually, I might have something that could benefit Heroica. We Nôrns have kept them a secret for now, but we brought something with us when we fled Nôrnia: relics from our Goddess... At that moment, Byblos the Librarian dashed into the Hall from a side door. "By Orang Pendek's fists, I'm free again! Last night I uncovered something that will help us solve this case without further bloodshed! Only I was kidnapped and tied into a closet, and only now I was able to set my self free, and..." The Metasimian froze as he saw a familiar face in the crowd. A deep blush spread over his cheeks. "Ooh, Madame Rouge Doux! How did you get in?" "The case is closed, Byblos. The Nephilim are dead, so you can save your breath." "B-b-but... Did you know that Lucifuge must've dwelled underneath the Doomsayer's Island? It used to be called Angel Island before the Veteran settled in there. And just recently, a group of heroes went on a quest there..." "Yes, we figured that all out when the last of the Nephilim died. They had all been on the same quest, save for Brienne Deercourt, who must've been recruited later. The island has now been put under a quarantine - no hero of Heroica must ever step onto it again. We don't know what the Doomsayer did to that angel there, but Lucifuge sure as hell ain't dead. We can't risk him brainwashing any more of our kind." "They're all dead, then... So all these nights spent awake to study had been for naught?!" "Don't say that, Byblos-darling! I love a man with brains." "M-madame Rouge Doux!!!" After the incident was over, Åsa Niflheimr was promoted as the sixth Veteran, and she took the monicker of the Valkyrie. The Veterans became more careful about covering their true identities, in the fear that Heroica would one day be infiltrated again. But despite the mistrust the organization had gained among the Six Houses ruling Eubric Freeport, the organization recovered - mostly thanks to the Nôrns' miraculous items that prevented heroes of Heroica from dying as long as they were members - and grew larger than ever. The Dragonlord ended his story by drinking his goblet empty. Scaro and Hoptet looked at the Veteran in awe. "So yeah, that was how it all went down. Now off you go, gentlemen - make me proud!" The two champions looked at each other as they left the Saloon. "I always say, city people are crazy!" "Yes, agreed. To kill friends because birdman say so... No Metasimian would never do so." "Neither werehyena. We smart." The two nodded in agreement. ~FIN~ SPECIAL ENDING: Town Watch Barracks, two years ago... "Constable Phiephyrphoe, report at once! Why haven't I heard from you in six days? Was your secret mission to spy on Heroica endangered?" "To say... the least... Captain Lilbelly! Where should I...even begin..." ***** Thank you so much for playing, everyone! I know the game concept wasn't the most successful one, but I truly hope you guys at least had fun with it! I sincerely apologize for the people who played as Nephilim - you did an outstanding job, but unfortunately the mechanics made it impossible for you to win, and I realized it too late. I will post the entry PMs for everyone later, so you can see what kind of skills and items your fellow players had, but that will have to wait for tomorrow. Here's the final list of players (and winners): PLAYER CHARACTERS: Ein Surefoot (Esurient) ~ 397 years old male dwarf Cleric ~ Heroica (survived) Emmanuelle Janus (emjajoas) ~ 33 years old female human Knight ~ Heroica (survived) Enya Dorgamel (Endgame) ~ 23 years old female human Evoker ~ Heroica (killed on Night Three but resurrected on Night Five, survived) Eris (Eric Su) ~ 26 years old female orc Sorcerer ~ Heroica (killed on Day Two but resurrected on Day Six, survived) Fleyra (Flare) ~ 29 years old female Rito Winged Warrior ~ Heroica (survived) Geosmos Phiephyrphoe (joeshmoe554) ~ 52 years old male cyclops Infiltrator ~ Neutral (survived) Jinnipher Buchaire (JimButcher) ~ 71 years old female elf Knight ~ Heroica (survived) Lorth-Anoob (LordoftheNoobs) ~ 42 years old female Pantanan Witch ~ Heroica (survived) Luridan Voros (Lord Duvors) ~ 53 years old male gremlin Alchemist ~ Heroica (survived) O’Blix (-obelix-) ~ 27 years old male goblin Regulator ~ Heroica (survived) Pallas Thaddicus (Palathadric) ~ 103 years old male Lucustoid Druid ~ Heroica (survived) Panduin Oreheart (Pandora) ~ 148 years old male dwarf Barbarian ~ Heroica (survived) Piro the Visionary (Pyrovisionary) ~ 227 years old male wereturtle Battle Mage ~ Heroica (killed on Day Two but resurrected on Day Three, survived) Sir Rubinstein (Rumble Strike) ~ 47 years old male human Skirmisher ~ Heroica (survived) Scamander Taurros (Scubacarrot) ~ 34 years old male satyr Minstrel ~ Heroica (survived) Swinehurst (swils) ~ 31 years old male porc Berserker ~ Heroica (survived) Theodor Legion (The Legonater) ~ 73 years old male human Cannoneer ~ Heroica (survived) Usharnam Madima (UsernameMDM) ~ 38 years old male Naga Chi Monk ~ Heroica (survived) Werther Brickton (Waterbrick Down) ~ 49 years old male zombie Assassin ~ Heroica (survived) Weyrdág (Wedge09) ~ 341 years old female Nôrn Hunter ~ Heroica (survived) Zarissa Curie (Zakura) ~ 58 years old female gnome Sage ~ Heroica (survived) Zelphie (Zepher) ~ 815 years old female fairy Artisan ~ Heroica (survived) DEAD CHARACTERS: Kob (Kintobor) ~ 21 years old male orc Mage ~ Heroica (killed on Day One, raised as an undead on Night One but perished again on Day Three) Pauline Jillian Boyle (Purpearljellyblob) ~ 18 years old female Mopag Mage ~ Heroica (killed on Day One) Ezeal (Etzel) ~ 28 years old male werelion Barbarian ~ Nephilim (killed on Day Two) Skrupp Oxstrong (Scorpiox) ~ 30 years old male norseman Raider ~ Heroica (killed on Day Two) U’dargan (Darkdragon) ~ 29 years old male U’kin Dragoon ~ Heroica (killed on Day Two) Calico Meatpie (CallMePie) ~ 16 years old female halfling Rogue ~ Heroica (killed on Day Three) Doranee Grandeur (Dragonator) ~ 44 years old female elf Ranger ~ Heroica (killed on Day Three) Retak Ysp (PsyKater) ~ 2013 years old male Fenarian Necromancer ~ Nephilim (killed on Day Three) Fernandu Elysiam (Fred Daniel Yam) ~ 36 years old male minotaur Shaman ~ Nephilim (killed on Day Four) Maxi Ebdul (Masked Builder) ~ 35 years old male Asteriad Rogue ~ Heroica (killed on Day Four) Shadir Oswain (Shadows) ~ 466 years old male elf Mystic Knight ~ Nephilim (killed on Day Four) Jeddam Ashenbow (Jedi master Brick) ~ 25 years old female hobgoblin Ranger ~ Heroica (killed on Night Four) Brienne Deercourt (Brickdoctor) ~ 29 years old female human Paladin ~ Nephilim (killed on Day Five) Capriccia Gianpaolo (Capt.JohnPaul) ~ 123 years old female vampire Cleric ~ Heroica (killed on Night Five) Cromeo Nightingale (Chromeknight) ~ 22 years old male half-elf Harlot ~ Nephilim (killed on Night Five) Kharybdis (Kadabra) ~ 26 years old female Octopial Beast Warrior ~ Heroica (killed on Night Five) Corelin Moordog (CorneliusMurdock) ~ 282 years old female dwarf Warden ~ Nephilim (killed on Day Six) Percival Montmartre (Peppermint_M) ~ 24 years old male human Ranger ~ Heroica (killed on Day Six) Heron Jujube (herrJJ) ~ 19 years old male human Cleric ~ Heroica (killed on Night One, raised as an undead on Night Two but perished again on Day Three, then resurrected on Day Four but killed yet again on Night Six) Zpilf (Flipz) ~ 85 years old male ogre Black Knight Winged Warrior ~ Nephilim (killed on Night Six) Thank you again! Long live Heroica! Oh, and just in case someone wonder's where I pulled off such a quirky title for the event, it's actually the name of the main theme of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. Here's an English fan-version of the song:

The game is officially over! Please continue the discussion at the conclusion-topic.

The results of Night Six have now been sent. Please be patient with the next Day-topic to come up (my bf has our camera at work, so I need to wait for him to get back home to shoot the pics).

Ellaria notices that Arwen did not mention her at all when she gave the others commands about their turn to act. "Ahem, Nerwen? I'm here too... But I can act last by all means, in the case the Roots of Life come up again. Anyway, I will also attack Swordsman B from the front row."

SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE HEROICA MASTER! The following item has been changed to prevent future grievances: Exterium: A substance that can wreak havoc on someone's insides if consumed. Can be used on an enemy to make them Confused and Plagued for 3 rounds. Also, the QM has failed to explain what the Plagued-effect does, exactly, so using this item is up to the holder's responsibility.

If there is more than one enemy in the battle, Triple Shot is divided between the target and the two enemies listed after it. If the list ends before the shots end, then the shots will be dealt from the beginning of the list of enemies. Maybe I should rephrase the skill to make it clearer... And I don't care how it was done in Quest#2, that's how it's done now. If I remember correctly, Mediq was voted to be an exception to that. I could be wrong, though. The FAQ has been updated: Q: How does the ranger's Triple Shot work when the target is listed last on the enemy order? What about when there's only two enemies? A: The three shots are always divided between the enemies if there's more than one of them. If the target is listed last or second to last on the list of enemies, then the remaining shots will be dealt to the enemies at the beginning of the list. If there's only two enemies, the target will get hit by two shots and the other enemy with one. Q: Can I use Bright Polish on any artefact? A: No, the Bright Polish can only be used on shields and any artefacts that already give SP.

Well, it wouldn't be the first time I contradicted myself on these nitty-gritty issues. Go ahead and use it on the Robe, Pandora, if that's what I've first said.

It can only be used on shields or artefacts named "armor". It's supposed to make metal more shinier and sturdier, thus increasing SP. I don't think you can make robes shinier... (unless you use some very powerful detergent. )

~A new quest has been posted on the Quest Board (#83 by Kintobor)!~

Zepher was supposed to give me a list of all the reputation you guys gained on that quest, but I haven't heard from him about that yet...

Ellaria was glad to see Boomingham, Arthur and even Nerwen, along with their newfound allies. "It seems everything is coming around nicely. With Alexander's tracking skills, we can trace the remaining Pongcanis and maybe find a solution to this whole mess." Ellaria follows the tracks along with the rest of the party. OoC: BD, Ellaria healed herself as well.

Ellaria was so caught in the heat of the battle that she had totally forgotten about keeping everyone healthy. "Ah, you are right, Alexander!Time for a round of healing!" She then heals herself, Ahvialyn and Sir Abarlomi at the total cost of 3 ether.

Do not play the game outside of the Day-topics and PMs. It's in the rules.

After the battle was done, Ellaria looked around to see where the people who were with the Pongcanae had went. "Did you see that? The Pongcanae were collaborating with some people! Any thoughts on this, Sir Abarlomi?"

The conclusion to Day Six is now up! Thank you so much for playing, CorneliusMurdock and Peppermint! And welcome back, Eric Su! Like I said, one more "Night" and one more "Day". The Sudden Death phase will take place on Night Seven, unless the game is somehow resolved before that.

At the Library, Zpilf, Sir Rubinstein, Fleyra, Luridan, Geosmos, Pallas, Corelin, Swinehurst and Ein all participated in cracking the code that Byblos had found. "Great teamwork, everyone! I think we have correctly translated the foreign letters. Let's see what the passage says..." "So one of the Free Islands used to be called Angel Island, then? Could it be the key for solving this whole business with the Nephilim and Lucifuge? Hmm, I must check a few books... But first, help me clean up this mess!" During the day, Sham was visited by Zpilf and Usharnam, both looking for bombs. "I should become a full-time Bomb Salesman. These babies are flying off the shelves, so to speak!" But the bombs were bought for a sinister reason. Once again, heroes turned against heroes in the desperate search for the remaining Nephilim. This time Corelin Moordog was not able to cover herself in time, before the angry lynch mob got to her. Percival Montmartre was also chased into a corner, where he met his end. The nôrn Weyrdág was also a target of heavy assault, but she managed to swig down a potion, preventing her from being done in. Other things took place as well: Zarissa retreated to meditate; Luridan made another mixture under the protection of Sir Rubinstein; Geosmos continued his whispers, this time to Usharnam; Lorth-Anoob investigated Zelphie, who in turn made her staff even more powerful. Another lost soul was revived, as Luridan used the phoenix essence he created on Eris, the niece of Scheherazade. The Veterans once more gathered the bodies to see what happened, and true enough - the vision of Lucifuge appeared over Corelin's corpse. "I can sense the dark wings finally lifting over us, but the future still looks hazy. The threat is not over, I fear." As the night descended upon Eubric and Heroica Hall, Byblos continued to work at his Library. The five past nights with little sleep were taking their toll on the Metasimian, as he could barely keep his eyes open. "*yawns* Oh, here it is! Angel Island... Ooh, so that's where it is! Wasn't there a quest that took place there just a while ago...?" Then he heard the doors to the library creak open behind him. He glanced behind him, startled by the sound. "Oh, it's you! You gave me a jump there, hehe. Listen, I found out..." *THUMP* Day Six is now over. You can start sending in your night actions now.

The results for Day Six have been sent, but I can't get the conclusion up before tomorrow morning, so please be patient with your night actions. AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! This game will go on for one more "Night" and one more "Day". If the game has not been resolved by then, we will move onto a Sudden Death Phase. More about that if/when it takes place.

THE DAY HAS ENDED! Please wait for the conclusion to be posted before sending in your night actions.

Ellaria looks at the dwarf incredulously. She was not pleased to see the dwarf butt in on the battle, with all the disruptive behaviour he had posed earlier. And now he was being demeaning as well. "Thank you, Mr. Wineghilm, but this is not my first battle by any means. I am aware that's the best course of action." Ellaria asks Sir Abarlomi to attack the Pongcanis Lieutenant from the front row while she herself focuses on healing Ahvialyn from the back.

"Ahem! You have roughly seven hours to send in your actions, or else..." The Dragonlord makes a snapping motion with his hand, reminding everyone of his hungry pet dragon.

OoC: No, you're just the only one of us who has time to be online 24/7... And there's such a thing as timezones to consider, as well. Ellaria and Sir Abarlomi both repeat.

As the ogre Zpilf emerged from his sleeping corner, the others immediately noticed something different about him. The Black Knight had become a Winged Warrior overnight!

There was (of course) a mistake in Byblos's challenge #5, but it's fixed now. Sorry if it managed to cause confusion!

"Abarlomi, take on the Lieutenant! I will target the Swordsman." Both Ellaria and Sir Abarlomi attack their targets from the front row.