Sandy

"This is the one, I'm sure of it. We've certainly got our share of gold, jewels and ancient artefacts, but from what I've heard the Wolfgang bitch is striking where it hurts the most. Losing the Cornucopia would be a major setback to our family's future, I believe." "Oh darling, you and your superstitions..." "This is the best opportunity to catch that thieving wench, in any case. I'm willing to let the Cornucopia to be used as a bait for tonight, but if this Violetta makes no appearance, I will put it away in our most secure vault. Do not let me down." The party decides to watch over the Cornucopia for the night. The night falls upon the city, and the three heroes crouch down into the shadows of the anteroom, keeping their eyes on the doors and the windows. Hours pass, but then a shadow appears behind the window. The dark figure silently pries open the shutters, and in a flash of red jumps inside. The heroes surround the red-clad figure, but even in the dimness they can see that it is not Violetta, but a male elf. "Oh, I wasn't expecting company. Step aside, or you'll fall to the blade of the Crimson Reaper", the elf boasts. When the heroes point their weapons at him, he loses some of his poise. "Uh, I have no qualms for you. I just have a job to do. Let me pass, and I will not bother you any more than this." Will the party let the flamboyant elf pass, or face him in battle?

I was actually thinking of using that hat for Zelda, since grey's her color. I saw the movie, but the concept of Cornucopia originates from antiquity. Not everything is a reference to modern pop culture.

OoC: You already did. There was nothing to be found.

Umm, thanks for the suggestion, but raping men and killing their own babies doesn't quite fit what I had in mind for the nôrns.

Party: Dak Shadeaux (played by Darth Nihilus) Level 11½ Rogue Power: 21 (16 for ranged attacks) Health: 17/17 Gold: 6 Inventory: Mockthril Knife (WP:10, lightning-elemental), Throwing Knife (WP:5, ranged, retrievable), Twin Longswords (WP:3), 2 Venoms, Potion, 2 Meads, Nostrum, Smelling Salts, Bedroll, Shovel Dyric Rone (played by The Legonater) Level 12 Rogue *Lucky* Power: 22 (16 for ranged attacks) Health: 19/19 Gold: 344 Inventory: Double Chain Whip (WP: 10), Throwing Knife (WP:4, ranged, retrievable), Longsword (WP: 3), Loaded Die (permanent lucky-effect), Potion, Venom, Smelling Salts Guts Holla (played by Scubacarrot) *Party Leader* Level 14½ Rogue *Encouraged* *Hastened* *Lucky* Power: 26 52 (22 44 for ranged attacks) Health: 20/20 Gold: 72 Inventory: Lifestealer (WP:12, ice-elemental, attacks restore 3 health), Throwing Knife (WP:8, ranged, light-elemental, retrievable), Beholder's Eye (allows one round of battle to be replayed per quest), 2 Grand Potions, 5 Meads, 2 Nostrums, 2 Smelling Salts, Bedroll, Shovel, Diluted Potion (quest item) The beggars just mumble something incomprehensible and leave to find someone else to bother. Is the party ready to wait for nightfall?

The party decided to watch Hinckwell Villa first, so Captain Patricia sent them on their way with an encouraging "don't screw up". The mansion of the Hinckwells, acclaimedly the wealthiest family in Eubric, lies on a restricted area on top of Sungold Hill. With a note from the Town Watch, the heroes were permitted to enter, and soon they were greeted by the head of the family, Heinrich Hinckwell, himself, alongside his wife Laureline. The pair took the heroes upstairs to their personal quarters, where their most valuable treasure was placed on a pedestal. "This is the Cornucopia, passed down along the family line for generations", Heinrich explained. "The Cornucopia was brought into our family by my great-great-greatgrandmother, who you might know under the monicker of Lady Luck. And if you don't know, she was one of the original founders of your noble organization." "I don't really see why the burglar would want that dusty old horn", Laureline mused. "We've kept it out in the open in this anteroom the whole time and nobody has even attempted to take it before this." "But you don't understand it's true value, my jewel", Heinrich said, stroking the horn gently. "When my father passed this 'dusty old horn' to me, he revealed that it is the source of the entire Hinckwell fortune. He believed it brought luck and prosperity to our family, and so do I. If the Wolfgang are only after one heirloom in this whole house, this would be the one." "If you say so, dear..." Laureline said, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, you are welcome to stay in this room tonight to keep an eye on it. Just avoid causing a ruckus, I sleep lightly." Does the party wish to ask something of the Hinckwell couple before they settle down for the night?

I meant a little of both, I guess. By giving a list of races some people might feel restricted to use only those listed, or the specific variant of the race based upon the description. Remember that there are many types of humans, so why couldn't there be many subcultures of orcs, elves, Pongcanis and U'kin, as well? I guess this issue can be fixed with a note about creative freedom added to the race index, if/when someone compiles it. Alright, since there's apparently some interest towards the heads, I can tell that the Barriss/Luminara heads form an all-female race called nôrns that hail from the high north. Some of them came to Eubric in the past because Norsemen Vikings destroyed their home village, raping and killing most of its residents. I have a quest planned featuring the nôrns, so you'll find out more about them then. Just don't ask how they reproduce, because I haven't decided that yet.

"Very vell. I vill leave everything in your handth for nov. Jutht know that if you vail in your tathk, you can come back here and ve vill vigure out another vay to tholve thith matter." The party leaves the eccentric alchemists to the laboratory and head to Triad Park to familiarize themselves with the area. A stark contrast to the picturesque Hanging Gardens at Sungold Hill, Triad Park is where the lower class citizens spend what little time for leisure they have. It is located in between the Harbour, Crescent Hill and the Hovels, three of the most notorious parts of Eubric. Many questionable affairs are dealt under the shady trees and lightless corners of the park, and very few honest people dare to even enter it during the dark hours. The park itself contains four specific locations. At the center lies the dramatic Fountain of Three Gods, portraying the three mythical sons of Mercutio: Power, Wealth and Fame. The peculiar Stone Garden was built as a statement by some halfwitted artist. Lanterns of every color give the Luminous Passage its name. And the Grove of the Forsaken is a memorial place for the countless forgotten souls that have been engulfed by the ruthless city. During the daytime only a few beggars approach the three rogues, otherwise they can walk around the park unbothered.

"Hmpf! If I had unlimited resources I would turn this city around stone by stone until every criminal was hanging from their neck at the city walls, but unfortunately I just have to make due with what I'm given. I'm sending my own men to the two places where you don't go, anyway. Remember that almost all of the families have their own personal guards as well, but somehow Violetta has managed to elude them all so far." "I can't get inside Violetta's head, but to me it seems she took care of the more difficult places first to benefit from the element of surprise. The remaining houses all know that's she's coming for them, so they will do whatever they can to stop her. No matter where she strikes next, she'll be up against a whole lot of resistance. I still don't think you three make much of a difference, though."

"I don't thee vhy not. Are you thinking ov opening a pop-up bar in the middle ov Triad Park?"

Kayla stays silent. "Answer them, dammit! Ah, I should've had you hanged in the first place, useless wench..." "A-alright, I'll talk! I don't know much, but Ulric, the big boss at the Den, you know, gave the other leaders these powers. They're faster, stronger, more agile... You'll know what I'm talking about if you ever face one of them in a battle. Y-you better hope you don't..." "Ha! Your precious leaders are as good as dead! Serves them right for messing with higher powers and making my daily life that much more difficult..."

It just happened I had no race name for Madame Ladybug yet, and the appearances of the U'kin came at an opportune moment. I've also been toying with the idea of a race index, but on the other hand I don't want to restrict anyone's creative juices. I do have at least one more new race in my sleeve that uses the tan heads of Barriss Offee and Luminara Unduli, so I really hope nobody thinks of using them before me.

"When I left the Wolf's Den, she was preparing to go out tonight. You just have to make a lucky guess where she'll hit next." "You will have to negotiate that with the families themselves. These are their most prices possessions we're talking about, they might not want any strangers near them." "I just said why. She's one of our leaders, she has powers beyond your imaginations." Kayla glares at the heroes, showing the courage of a rat chased into a corner. What place will the party go first? The Ji Pei Palace, the Hinckwell Villa or the Ziegfried Manor?

"Like I said, we don't know where Violetta will strike next. It's one of the three remaining houses she has not broken into yet, that much we know." "O-of course I'm afraid! Do you think I would go against the gang by choice? No, these sadists caught me and gave me a choice of either ratting out what I know or hanging from the gallows. I just don't want to die... But you three are fools if you think you can go against Violetta. She's Ulric's pet and one of our leaders. You don't get into such a position within the Wolfgang if you're weak. Violetta successfully broke into Fort Bonaparte of all the places, can you imagine that?! It's the most heavily guarded place in this whole city, and it's surrounded by water. Only a handful of burglars have managed to do that before her, but none of them got out to tell the tale. Do you really think you three can catch her?"

"Oh no, that ith ekthactly vhy I diluted it. He vill get some thtomach crampth, at motht. Hovever, I'll leave it up to you to vigure out hov to make him drink it."

"Oh no, I vouldn't vant you breaking an entry to Thateau de Thadeaux! The count ith thaid to go on a thtroll at the Triad Park every night. That'th the betht plathe to thpot him, thince you vill never thee him in broad daylight." "Thir, pleathe don't touth anything. Thome ov the thingth here are ekthtremely ekthplothive." Suddenly the door to the laboratory opened, and a strange creature in a long green gown entered. The rogues instinctively fiddled their weapons. "Hmmm? I see you are trying to take an upper hand at our little wager, Alphonse", the creature said in a distincively female voice. She then turns to the heroes and sees their surprise. "Hmmm, you haven't seen a U'kin before, have you? I don't blame you, since my kind rarely travels outside Dastan. As ugly as I seem to appear to you, I'll have you know that I was once considered a great beauty among my own people, hmmm." "Don't bore our guetht vith anthient hithtory, dear U'lalah. Heroeth ov Heroica, meet the one vho callth herthelv Madame Ladybug. The'th a true thorn at my thide." "Every rose must have thorns, hmmm, otherwise it wouldn't be a rose at all, Alphonse-darling. Have you explained your plan to these gentlemen yet, hmmm?" "I wath jutht about to vhen you barged in." So the doctor explained that the party must find Count Shadeaux at Triad Park that night, and perform an experiment on him to see if he was really a vampire. "Thith ith a Diluted Pothion. Make the count drink it, and thee him gag hith lungth out. Vampireth and healing jutht doethn't meth, hehe." The vampire doctor handed the Diluted Potion to Guts, and asked for the final time if the party has understood their mission.

"If you mean Donny's disguises, then no, Violetta has no need to pose as different identities", Captain Patricia answers. "She just hides behind that cat mask of hers." The tall guard looks down at the spectral butler. "I ate my porridge when I was a kid. Simple as that." "That's what he wants to tell you", the dwarven watchman laughs. "But in reality Constable Longjon just doesn't want to admit that his father shagged a giant!" "Shut your trap, midget!" the tall watchman shouts and smacks the dwarf on the head with the blunt end of his spear. "Get out, you two!" Captain Patricia shrieks. "This is intolerable behaviour! I did not sign up to be a nanny!" The captain was fuming. The Wolfgang girl looked to be searching for an escape route with her eyes.

Three rogues left Heroica Hall and made their way to the guildhouse of Invision, the alchemist's guild. The three were: Dak Shadeaux (played by Darth Nihilus) Level 11½ Rogue Power: 21 (16 for ranged attacks) Health: 17/17 Gold: 6 Inventory: Mockthril Knife (WP:10, lightning-elemental), Throwing Knife (WP:5, ranged, retrievable), Twin Longswords (WP:3), 2 Venoms, Potion, 2 Meads, Nostrum, Smelling Salts, Bedroll, Shovel Dyric Rone (played by The Legonater) Level 12 Rogue *Lucky* Power: 22 (16 for ranged attacks) Health: 19/19 Gold: 344 Inventory: Double Chain Whip (WP: 10), Throwing Knife (WP:4, ranged, retrievable), Longsword (WP: 3), Loaded Die (permanent lucky-effect), Potion, Venom, Smelling Salts Guts Holla (played by Scubacarrot) *Party Leader* Level 14½ Rogue Power: 26 (22 for ranged attacks) Health: 20/20 Gold: 72 Inventory: Lifestealer (WP:12, ice-elemental, attacks restore 3 health), Throwing Knife (WP:8, ranged, light-elemental, retrievable), Beholder's Eye (allows one round of battle to be replayed per quest), 2 Grand Potions, 6 Meads, 3 Nostrums, 3 Smelling Salts, Bedroll, Shovel At the guildhouse the party was instructed to find Dr. Cula's laboratory on the second floor. Eventually they came to a door with the correct name on it. Inside, they met the pale doctor who was busy at work with his latest concoctions. "Velcome, velcome, my vriendth! I apprethiate that you took the time to come and help uth tholve thith little debate ve have going on vith my colleague. I vill try to make it vorth your vhile, trutht me." The alchemist explains the situation. He and his colleague Madame Ladybug have made a wager about the true nature of Count Noctus Shadeaux, the head of the renown merchant family. Now they need the party's help in order to find out if the count is really a vampire or not. "I am convinthed that the count ith my brethren in vampirithm, but on the other hand I have never theen him in any of the nocturnal conventhionth. Madame Ladybug thinkth he jutht hath thome thort of rare medical condithion. I have devithed a little plan to get to the bottom ov the truth. But bevore I ekthplain it, do you have any quethtionth about the thituathion?" QM Note: Please check your statistics, I had to update some of them myself. And Darth Nihilus, I'm not sure if the picture I used for Dak is the most recent one, since the one on your signature has disappeared.

Three accomplished heroes went to the Town Watch Barracks to help the watchmen catch the notorious Wolfgang burglar Violetta. Those three were: Alexis Fenral (played by Masked Builder) *Party Leader* Level 19 Evoker *Hastened* Power: 29 (21 for Flute) Defense: 0 Health: 25/25 Ether: 20/20 Gold: 102 Inventory: Mockthril Longbow (WP:10, ranged), Quickdraw Quiver (permanent hastened-effect), Flute of the Magi (WP:3, Fast Asleep -effect), Opal (Ice), Topaz (Lightning), Ruby (Fire), Aquamarine (Water), Smoke Bomb, Potion, 2 Meads, Tonic, Grand Tonic, Venom, Lightning Bomb, Pickaxe, Shovel, Bedroll, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Bone Spirits: Ocven the Ice Dragon (Opal), Shalma the Thunderbird (Topaz), Sarp Zarra (Aquamarine) Althior Emorith (played by K-Nut) Level 17½ Sage Power: 22 Defense: 4 Health: 27/27 Ether: 23/23 Gold: 90 Inventory: Dragoro (WP:8), Robe of the Elven Necromancer (SP:4), Diamond (Light), Topaz (Lightning), Amethyst (Darkness), Ruby (Fire), Sapphire (Wind), Garnet (Earth), Opal (Ice), Aquamarine (Water), Emerald (Wood), Skeleton Decoy x2, Potion x2, Tonic, Shovel, Bedroll, Remedy, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb Benji Carvenhall (played by Flare) Level 16 Warden Power: 26 Defense: 0 Health: 31/31 Gold: 54 Inventory: Crossbow of the Pongcanis (WP:10, ranged, darkness-elemental, ice-elemental), Armor of the Draugr (max health +2), Pickaxe, Bedroll, Shovel, 2 Grand Potions, 6 Potions, 3 Venoms, 2 Remedies, 2 Meads, Smelling Salts, 2 Smoke Bombs, Jo-no Tree Seed Inside the barracks the three heroes encountered the current head of the Town Watch, Captain Patricia Cousland, with two watchmen. "Ah, there you are, 'champions of justice'", said the captain dryly. "I wouldn't have to turn to you if I wasn't surrounded by such a ragtag bunch of incompetent, illiterate and probably illegitimate imbecils!" Captain Patricia glared at the two watchmen standing next to her. Both men winced. "The Wolfgang is pissing off the houses in power again, and of course the high and mighty ones channel their frustration to me. The recent ploy of the Wolgang has been to send Violetta, the notorious cat burglar, to break into the mansions of the powerful families and steal their most valuable heirlooms. That wretched woman has already stolen the Medal of Valour from the Bonapartes and the Libra Signet from the Shadeaux, and just now these dimwits brought the message that last night Violetta broke into the Invision Guildhouse and stole their coveted Moebius Ring. These are no trinkets, I tell you. Rumours say that these items are the very reason why the specific houses are so powerful in the first place." "I'll leave it up to you three to help my men clean up this mess, catch the meowing thief, and restore the lost artefacts." The captain then shows the heroes a poster with Violetta's image on it. "That's the one you're after. But we haven't been entirely helpless. The mole we've got inside the Wolfgang has told us that the plan is to steal the heirlooms of all six houses in power. That would really drive them over the edge, so you better make sure it doesn't happen. I've put patrols to guard the Ji Pei Palace, the Hinckwell Villa and the Ziegfried Manor day and night. Our mole tells us that Violetta is going to strike again tonight, but she didn't know where. Well, I'll let you ask her yourself. Constable Llowlyfe, bring in Kayla!" "Right away, ma'am!" said the dwarven watchman, and soon returned with a timid rogue girl wearing the Wolfgang symbol. "Go ahead, ask anything from either me or Kayla here", Captain Patricia urged.

Ahem, 15... It looks like druid was the last advanced job to be picked, so I timed my "advancement" perfectly. And since yesterday was Mother's Day here in Finland, it was also a perfect time for Ellaria to return.

Ellaria smiles at the elven mage. "Actually, I'm a champion of Heroica as well. And nobody will hurt my baby, or they will pay for it dearly. She is under the protection of higher powers, I'll have you know." She then turns to Alexis and Althior. "My friends, it feels great to be back. I really needed the fresh air. Unfortunately I'm not going to participate in any quests for a while still, there's something I've got to do first. But I wish the best of luck to both of you on your quest. What little I've heard about the Wolfgang is not nice. It seems to me they will do anything to break the fragile peace of this city. But now I've got to go, before Elpis gets restless. See you later!" Ellaria waves goodbye to her friends, and heads towards the Training Room.

The extra power is not WP, so out of your examples it would be the first option. Critical hits only multiply the weapon power, but elemental strengths multiply the entire power of the attack. STATISTICS TIME! I just chose the players to my new quests, so I also had to consider which of them would be suitable party leaders. I went through the list of quests in the Library-topic and saw that actually very few players have acted as party leaders, and some people have gotten the priviledge several times. Female characters also tend to get chosen as party leaders more often in proportion to their low number. Here's some statistics about that: Alexis Fenral: 1 Althior Emorith: 1 Atramor Gibbin: 1 Bartholomew Docken: 2 Benji Carvenhall: 1 Cinna the Dark: 1 Cronk: 2 En Sabah Nur: 2 Eric: 1 Guts Holla: 1 Knifk: 1 Lawrence Boomingham: 1 Maurice Ratibor: 1 Nerwen Calmcacil: 1 Nyx: 2 Rufindel Galadhras: 1 Sarick Lanse: 2 Skrall: 3 Sorrow: 1 Sylph Solanum: 1 Tarn Valco: 2 Tesni Hightribe: 2 Thothwick: 1 Tomas: 2 This is in no way meant as a slide to anyone, these are just some neutral observations. As far as I know, all party leaders have done a fantastic job so far.

CHOSEN PLAYERS: Quest #33: WANTED! Violetta the Cat Burglar Althior Emorith, Level 17½ Sage (K-nut) Alexis Fenral, Level 19 Evoker (Masked Builder) *Party Leader* Benji Carvenhall, Level 16 Warden (Flare) Quest #34: The Dark Secret Dak Shadeaux, Level 11½ Rogue (Darth Nihilus) Dyric Rone, Level 12 Rogue (The Legonater) Guts Holla, Level 14 Rogue (Scubacarrot) *Party Leader* Please make any preparations you need. The quests will launch within a couple of days.

No, please don't do that. It'll only cause confusion. The extra power is added to the base power, and is affected by the various multipliers. So a Level 10 mage with 10 WP and 2 extra power would cause 44 damage with a fire spell against an icy enemy, for example.

Ellaria stepped timidly into the Training Hall, and saw several heroes training to advance their skills. She placed Elpis' basket on the floor next to the wall, and waited to get the attention of the Veteran instructor. She did get it eventually, when Elpis started shrieking her lungs out. Ellaria tried to calm the baby down when a shadow fell upon them. "This is not a very safe place for a child, you know? There's arrows flying around, and some of these people are only rehearsing flinging spells." Ellaria stood up to face the grinning Veteran. Copper Fox was his monicker, she had heard. "I'm all she's got, and I need to train. So she goes wherever I go. Sylvania will guard her where my eyes avert." The Copper Fox was a little taken aback by Ellaria's confidence. "You sure seem to be strong in your faith. You must be a cleric, then. So, what skills do you wish to train, then?" "There is only one way for me", Ellaria answered. "Sylvania showed it to me." My child. You have survived against the odds, you have endured pain and hardship, and you have laid all your faith in me. It has now time to embrace your destiny. You are a child of the woods, the daughter of the trees and the sister of all wild creatures. You have the power to hurt and heal, to punish and reward, to take a life and create a new one. Now, seek your way back to my abode. Back home. "I wish to train as a druid", Ellaria said. "I already bought a crossbow. Please teach me to use it." "Haha, you're one determined lass, I'll say!" the Veteran trainer laughed. "Very well. You already know how to heal, but in order to become a druid, you need to become one with the nature. I cannot teach you that here, so meet me at the eastern gate at midnight. If you can find someone to look after your baby for that time, that is." "I will meet you there. This is what I need to do." And so Ellaria trained with the Veteran in the woods outside Eubric until she knew all the plants and the trees, the language of all the animals, and all the laws of nature. All that came almost naturally for her, but it was learning to shoot with the crossbow that proved to be the most arduous task for Ellaria. Time and again she threw away the bow in frustration, but the Copper Fox always made her pick it up and practice again. And finally, one day.... "Bull's eye! I did it!" Ellaria shouted, and ran to her instructor to give him a hug. "You certainly did it", the dashing Veteran said with a big smile. "You, Ellaria Arbour, can now without a doubt call yourself a true druid." Ellaria Arbour ~ Level 16 Druid ~ Power: 26 (22 for ranged attacks) Health: 31/31 Ether: 21/21 Gold: 62 Inventory: Ignis Fatuus, Sylvania's Crossbow, Potion, 2 Grand Potions, Tonic, Grand Tonic, 2 Elixirs, Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Nostrum, Venom, 2 Smoke Bombs, Flash Bomb, 2 Fire Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bombs, Bedroll, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass