Sandy

Sarge sent Heckz and Periwinkle into the Buried Pyramid along the left path, while the two werelions took the right one. The heroes moved through all empty tiles by investigating them first (13 turns). Along the way Heckz destroyed two barricades with magic, spending 2 ether (17 turns), and jumped over one hole (19 turns). They also discovered one trap from the path and jumped over it (21 turns). Meanwhile, the Rakshasa advanced through the empty tiles without investigating them (6 turns). They destroyed one barricade with shovels (9 turns) and jumped over two holes (13 turns). They stumbled upon one trap on the way (18 turns) but got to the treasure first despite of that! When Heckz and Periwinkle made their way to the end of the path, the werelions had already turned back, leaving behind a group of angry goblins. "Where ist my precious?! Tells me, your fools! Who tooks it?!" "Not seen it, Princess Gobbledegook!" "Nuh-uh, it ist gone like poof!" "Maybe those peoples tooks it!" "Thiiieves!!! Catches them, dumb underlings! Give me back my preeeciooous!!!" "Hey, it wasn't us!" But it was no use trying to convince the enraged goblins, so Heckz and Periwinkle had to fend them off and hope that Sarge could stop the Rakshasa on his own. PREPARE FOR BATTLE! Enemies inside Buried Pyramid: Goblin Princess Gobbledegook *Immune to sealed, petrified, doomed and sudden death* Type: Humanoid Level: 57 Health: 524/524 Ether: 5/5 Special: Wild Magic – Causes 57 random-elemental damage to all opponents at the cost of 1 ether. If ether runs out, nothing happens. Drops: Tiara (worth 150 gold) Goblin Underling A Type: Humanoid Level: 36 Health: 162/162 Special: Gobsmacked – Causes 39 damage and the confused-effect to the target. Drops: 10 gold Goblin Underling B Type: Humanoid Level: 36 Health: 162/162 Special: Gobsmacked – Causes 39 damage and the confused-effect to the target. Drops: 10 gold Goblin Underling C Type: Humanoid Level: 36 Health: 162/162 Special: Gobsmacked – Causes 39 damage and the confused-effect to the target. Drops: 10 gold Party inside Buried Pyramid: John 'Heckz' Brutenhal, the Ghostbuster, the Super Sleuth and the School Inspector (Cutcobra) 32 year old male human Sorcerer Level 26 *Jinxed Spells at Double Cost* *Darkness Spells Cause Weakened* *Encouraged* Power: 38 (26+12) (Spellpower: 48 (26+12+10)) Defense: 0 Health: 34/34 (5+25+4) Ether: 35/37 (5+25+1+5+1) Gold: 450 Equipment: Solemn Dagger (WP: 12, darkness-elemental dagger, 1/2 chance of causing sealed), Magician's Gloves (Spellpower +10; suitable for mages; handwear), Cloak of Blood Magic (+5 ether, attacks made with darkness magic cause weakened; suitable for mages, necromancers and chi monks; bodywear), Bad Luck Charm (Makes the sorcerer’s spells - including Razzmatazz and Sleight of Hand - cause an additional jinxed-effect, increasing their ether cost by 1; suitable for sorcerers; accessory) Inventory: Rawr (WP:9, dagger), Bone Whip (WP:9, damages undead, whip), Harlot's Outfit (SP: 2, immune to poisoned; suitable for Witches, Sorcerers and Harlots; bodywear/footwear), Buffoon's Hat (Prevents anyone from taking the wearer seriously; protects from Free Hits unless the wearer is the last hero standing; headwear), Watt's Artifact (Makes the user’s attacks and spells three times more effective against demons; accessory), Robe Of The Archmagi (SP:3, Max. Ether + 5, immune to sealed; bodywear), Opal (Ice), Garnet (Earth), Amethyst (Darkness), Aquamarine (Water), Ether Core, Neutralizer, Mead, Demeter Bomb, 2x Smoke Bomb, 2x Deadly Venom, Heady Perfume (Makes non-humanoid monsters avoid attacking the party unless provoked. Effect lasts for one section of the day before wearing out.), 7 Bones, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Compass, Blue Jelly, Fifty Shades of Bley (Grants holder access to Harlot), Old Teddy (quest item), Flower-tailed Flying Squirrel (quest item), 2x Meat Lump (quest item) Periwinkle (NPC, controlled by Khorne) 19 years old female human Cleric Level 31 2/4 *Divert Attacks* *Immune to stunned, poisoned, bleeding, cursed, asleep, fast asleep, confused and hexed* Power: 32 (31+1) Health: 39/39 (9+30) Ether: 35/35 (5+30) Gold: 18 Equipment: Jaws' Mop (WP:1, double damage against aquatic enemies; broomstick), Narcissus Mirror (User has 1/2 chance to divert direct attacks to the next ally in turn; accessory), Periwinkle Ribbon (Grants immunity to stunned, poisoned, bleeding, cursed, asleep, fast asleep, confused and hexed; suitable for Periwinkle only; headwear) Inventory: Remedy, Neutralizer, Phoenix Essence Sarge was waiting outside the pyramid in case the werelions won the race. He was not at all surprised to see them emerge victorious with a sparkling gem in their possession, but he was prepared. "Are you seriously playing it dirty, grampa? You can't just admit defeat?" "Your friends are in some steep trouble inside there with a bunch of furious goblins. Go help them instead of messing with us!" What would Sarge decide? Battle the werelions for the gem, or rush in to help Heckz and Periwinkle against the goblins? Party outside Buried Pyramid: Sgt. Jon McEncy (Pyrovisionary) *Party Leader* 54 year old male human Black Knight Level 23 *Immune to Blinded and Stunned* *Poisonous Defense* *Permanently Hastened* Power: 48 (23+21+2+2) Defense: 20 (16+4) Health: 47/47 (7+22+9+3+3+3) Gold: 150 Equipment: Demonic Greatswords (WP:21, dual strike, Light and Darkness elemental greatsword, Hollow [Potion]), Serpenthead Shield (SP:16, causes poisoned by 2-effect to anyone physically attacking the user, shield), Pegleg of Hastening (Permanent Hastened effect to the user; Immune to Blinded, suitable to Sarge only; footwear), Black Knight's Armour (SP:4, protects from stunned-effect; suitable for black knights; bodywear), Swift boots (Changes HIDE into STEAL & HIDE, allowing the wearer to steal gold equal to the target’s level if it carries gold in addition to hiding) Inventory: Weapons Wooden Spear (WP:4, wood-elemental spear) Artifacts Monkey Armor (SP:4, immune to earth and bound; suitable to knights, beast warriors, dragoons, skirmishers and winged warriors; bodywear), Ranger’s Quiver (WP +1 to bows and crossbows, suitable for rangers, beast warriors, infiltrators and winged warriors; backwear), Sterope’s Headdress (Grants the ability to spend a turn to fly out of a battle and return to it later if it is still going; the wearer cannot affect the battle in any way when they are away from it; suitable to winged warriors only; headwear), Encore Plectrum (If the same Battle Song is sung for more than one round in a row, the song’s ether cost for the consecutive rounds is halved; suitable to minstrels; accessory.) Spell Items: Garnet (Earth), “True Love Serenade” (restores 50 health to the rest of the party per round; costs 10 ether; Battle Song) Consumables: 3 Potions, 2 Grand potions, Health Core, 4 Remedies, 2 Phoenix Essences, Nostrum, 4 Venoms, Deadly Venom, 3 Smoke Bombs, Sleep Bomb, Gaia Bomb (Deals 100 earth-elemental damage to all opponents when used.)2 Bones, Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.) Tools etc.: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Business Card, Mistarian Grey Panther (quest item)

Results of Round Two of the Birds & Worms Battle: Rex vs. Serpivine B - Hit (Serpivine B: 248 health-95 dmg=153 health) Boomingham (Frozen Saber) vs. Serpivine A - Critical Hit (Serpivine A: 373 health-(67x8=536 dmg)=0 health) >Eric (Diseased Silverfish) vs. Bird-of-Paradise - Special Damage (Angel Feathers - All enemies: blessed, effects removed) Tweetybird A + Serpivine C - Free Hit on Rex (Rex: 73 health+12 SP-(10+21=31 dmg)=54 health) Tweetybird B - Free Hit on Boomingham (Boomingham: 47 health+11 SP-10 dmg=47 health) Tweetybird C - Free Hit on Eric (Eric: 50 health+5 SP-(10/2=5 dmg)=50 health) Serpivine B - Blessed (+34 health) Rex lands another hit on the Serpivine he's engaged in a duel with, while Boomingham manages to rip through another one with his Frozen Saber. The Bird-of-Paradise then blesses all its allies, making them automatically restore health. The heroes need to damage them more than they can heal from now on. Enemies: Bird-of-Paradise *Can only be hit by ranged attacks, spells and items* *Blessed* Type: Flying/Holy Level: 38 Health: 342/342 Special: Angel Feathers – Bestows the blessed-effect to all allies and removes all negative effects. Drops: Soma, Meat Lump (quest item) Tweetybird A *Immune to sealed* *Blessed* Type: Flying Level: 10 Health: 99/99 Special: Song of Silence – Causes the sealed-effect to all opponents. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Seal Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the sealed-effect to all opponents when used.) 4-6: Meat Lump (quest item) Tweetybird B *Immune to sealed* *Blessed* Type: Flying Level: 10 Health: 99/99 Special: Song of Silence – Causes the sealed-effect to all opponents. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Seal Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the sealed-effect to all opponents when used.) 4-6: Meat Lump (quest item) Tweetybird C *Immune to sealed* *Blessed* Type: Flying Level: 10 Health: 99/99 Special: Song of Silence – Causes the sealed-effect to all opponents. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Seal Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the sealed-effect to all opponents when used.) 4-6: Meat Lump (quest item) Serpivine B *Immune to poisoned* *Blessed* Type: Vermin/Plant Level: 21 Health: 187/373 Special: Poisonous Coil – Causes poisoned by 6- and bound-effects to the target. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Deadly Venom 4-6: Floral Bomb Serpivine C *Immune to poisoned* *Blessed* Type: Vermin/Plant Level: 21 Health: 373/373 Special: Poisonous Coil – Causes poisoned by 6- and bound-effects to the target. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Deadly Venom 4-6: Floral Bomb Party at Kalakita Bog: Eric (Khorne) 30 year old norseman Raider *Party Second-in-Command* Level 27 1/3 *Natural Respite* *Evasion* *Immune to Fragile, Weakened, Asleep, Water and Earth* Power: 47 (27+18+2) Defense: 5 Health: 50/50 (8+7+26+4+5) Gold: 223 Equipment: Conspirator (WP:18, causes Blinded; longsword), Pugilist's Gloves (Power +2, protects from Weakened; handwear), Heavy Armor (SP:5, protects from Fragile; bodywear), Boots of Evasion (Wearer takes half damage in front row + Immunity to Water, Earth and Asleep; footwear) Inventory: Weapons: Godricsleif (WP: 22; Ice-, Lightning-, Darkness-elemental; greatsword), Drengazuli Grom'az (WP:6; Dual Strike; axe), 2 Diseased Silverfish Wings (WP:8, causes cursed-effect, retrievable, throwing weapon) Spell Items: Garnet (Earth) Consumables: Potion, 10 Grand Potions, Health Core, 3 Elixirs, 3 Remedies, Neutralizer, 7 Meads, 6 Smelling Salts, 3 Nostrum, 5 Mulled Wine, Ambrosia, Dragon Scale, Venom, Deadly Venom, 2 Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Aeolus Bomb, 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.), Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Bone Tools etc.: Lord Lawrence Boomingham (Zepher) 48 years old human Paladin Level 34 *Immune to Darkness, Fire, Fragile, Stunned, Sleep, Weakened, and Blindness* Power: 53 (34+14+4+1) Defense: 11 (7+4) Health: 47/57 (10+33+11+2+1) Ether: 30/34 Gold: 70 Equipment: Frozen Saber (WP: 14; light-, ice- and wind-elemental; inflicts stunned; great sword), Round Metal Shield (SP:7), Tome of Affluence (+10 Gold if equipped for the entirety of a battle; grants immunity to fragile, asleep, weakened, blinded, darkness and fire; accessory), Counterstrike Gloves (If the wearer is damaged by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to their level; handwear.), Scarlet Hood (SP:4, grants immunity to stunned) Inventory: Weapons: Scupperer (WP: 17; darkness-, fire- and earth-elemental; inflicts bleeding and poisoned by 10; has 1/2 chance each to inflict blinded, sealed, weakened and fragile; greatsword), Lullaby Wand (WP:6, inflicts asleep), Silver Sword (WP: 18, Longsword), Artifacts: Hood of Belthazar Bluehood (Power +4; Ether -6; headwear), Chains of the Pongcanis Chief (Hero Pierces SP if fighting from Front, Enemies ignore SP if hero fights from the back row, cannot be removed in battle), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; accessory, suitable to Erdathcath only) Spell Items: Amethyst (Darkness), Scroll of Recklessness (Encouraged and Fragile; costs 5 Ether; 50/50 chance), Emerald Lamp of Summoning (0/3), “True Love Serenade” (restores 50 health to the rest of the party per round; costs 10 ether; Battle Song) Consumables: Potion, Health Core, x2 Remedy, Elixir, Phoenix Essence, x6 Mead, x4 Nostrum, Ambrosia, x2 Smelling Salts, Fire Brandy (Encouraged, Immune to Ice), Fireball Whiskey (Immunity to Fire One Battle OR 20 Fire Damage All Enemies), Hamantasch (Lucky, Blessed), Jinxy Juice, Feather of Flight (Allows the user to flee from the battle when used.), Hair of the Dog, x2 Grating Stone, Oculoid Miasma, Oculoid Fireworks, Saber Teeth, Mythril Shard Tools: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe Rex the Rhinotaur, the Mighty Mercenary (NPC, controlled by Zepher) 35 years old male wererhino Paragon Level 60 *Initiative* *Restoration* *Aura of Honor* *Gamble* *No Escape* Power: 95 (60+30+5) Defense: 12 Health: 54/92 (8+59+25) Gold: 625 Equipment: Grindoceros (WP:30; halves target's defense with every successful hit; hammer), Mighty Cuirass (SP:12, suitable to paragons only; bodywear), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing battles; accessory.) Inventory: Greater Potion (Restores 50 health), Greater Tonic (Restores 30 ether), Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Mead, Smelling Salts, Nostrum QM Note: I'll update the other party soon!

Results of Round Two of the Void Battle: >Nerwen sings Lucky Chant - (All other allies: improved battle results for the round; Nerwen: -8 ether) >Namyrra uses Smelling Salts on herself - (Namyrra: hastened) >Namyrra (Mythril Empyreal Staff) vs. Void Eater - Special Damage/Hit (Void Eater: 500 health-(77/2=39 dmg)=461 health) Thormanil lands on Right Claw - (Right Claw: 250 health-149 dmg=101 health) Arx vs. Right Claw - Special Damage/Breath (no effect) >Johon (Old Whip) vs. Right Claw - Hit/Special Damage/Special Damage (Right Claw: 101 health-(42/2=21 dmg)=80 health) >Johon (Old Whip) vs. Left Claw - Steal/Shield/Damage (Ravage - Void Eater: 461 health-(52/2=26 dmg)=435 health; Left Claw: 250 health-(52/2=26 dmg)=224 health; Right Claw: 80 health-(52/2=26 dmg)=54 health; Johon: +50 gold) The heroes attack with fervor, managing to make some cuts and bruises all over the ethereal beast. It is still not enough to bring it down, though. Enemies: Void Eater *Immune to all negative effects and sudden death* Type: Ethereal Level: 50 Health: 435/500 Special: Devour – Removes the target from the combat. If all heroes are devoured, the quest fails. Drops: 15 Potions, 10 Tonics, 10 Remedies, 5 Phoenix Essences, 500 gold Left Claw *Immune to all negative effects and sudden death* Type: Ethereal Level: 25 Health: 224/250 Special: Grasp – Clutches the target into a tight hold, preventing the target from taking any actions. The claw needs to be hit successfully before the end of the next round to free the target, or it will be automatically devoured (removed from the battle). Drops: nothing Note: If the Void Eater is defeated before the claw, it will be automatically defeated as well. Right Claw *Immune to all negative effects and sudden death* Type: Ethereal Level: 25 Health: 54/250 Special: Grasp – Clutches the target into a tight hold, preventing the target from taking any actions. The claw needs to be hit successfully before the end of the next round to free the target, or it will be automatically devoured (removed from the battle). Drops: nothing Note: If the Void Eater is defeated before the claw, it will be automatically defeated as well. Party: Johon, The Champion of Darkness (Bricksandparts) 26 years old male human Raider Level 32 3/4 *Natural Respite* *Permanently Lucky* *1.5 stealing multiplier* *Hide of The Bleeding* *Hastened* Power: 42 (32+10) Defense: 1 Health: 46/46 (32+7+7) Gold: 6315 Equipment: Old Whip (WP:+10, suit: Rogues/Artisans/Beast Warriors/Decamon Drafters/Harlots/Marauders/Necromancers, 2X damage vs. Beasts), Satchel of Awesomeness (suit: Anyone, *Permanently Lucky*), Hide of The Bleeding (suit: Anyone, +10HP +5ETH for every enemy user defeats), Sticky Gloves (suit: Rogues/Beast Warriors, 1.5 multiplier for stealing), Dog Statuette (Rover) (suit: Anyone, SP:+1) Inventory: Weapons: Muckraker (WP:+13, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators, *Water, Wood, Earth*, Causes *Weakened*), Sword of Decay (WP:+8, suit: Barbaians/Knights/Mages, Causes *Decayed by X-3 rounds* X=dmg dealt/4, Effect does not stack), Greatsword (WP:+3, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators), Focal Staff (WP:+5, suit: Clerics/Mages, Ability: Roll 3 at cost of 5 ether), Gladius (WP:+15, suit: Anyone, Darkness, 1/3 chance of causing *Fragile* on succesful hits), Stalker’s Mallet (WP:+8, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Harlots, 1/2 chance of causing *sealed*), Lullaby Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *asleep*), Lovelorn Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enamored*), Scaridy Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *afraid*), Wand of Wrath (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enraged*), Shield (SP:+5, Suit: Knights/Dragoons/Regulators/Skirmishers), Qlice (WP:+8, club, Causes *Poisoned-by-4*), Luminous Bow (WP:+9, suit: Rangers/Beast Warriors/Weather Mages/Winged Warriors, 3X damage vs. Fiery/Dark, 0X damage vs. Plants/Aquatic) Artifacts: Simple Helmet (suit: Anyone, HP:+1), Pseudo's hood (suit: Anyone, Ignores Undead immunity), Quiver of Poisoning (suit: Rangers/Beast Warriors/Infiltrators/Winged Warriors, Causes *Poisoned by 1* using bows/crossbows), Blessed Amulet (suit: Anyone, *Immune to cursed*), Barbarian's Boots (suit: Barbarians/Chi Monks/Beast Warriors, *Restoration*), Counterstrike Gloves (suit: Anyone, deals damage equal to level when hit with free-hit), Sterile Gloves (Suit: Anyone, *Immune to Poisoned/Bleeding*), Bravado Boots (suit: Anyone, 1/6 chance of receiving *Lucky* at start of battle), Scarlet Hood (suit: Anyone, pwr:+4, *immune to stunned*), Steel Core (suit: Anyone, +7 power), Heavy Armour (suit: Bararians/Knights, SP:+5, *Immune to Fragile*), Tin Helmet (suit: Anyone, *Immune to Hexed/Confused*) Spell Items: Aquamarine (2), Emerald (1), Garnet (1), Opal (1), Ruby (1), Sapphire (1), Topaz (1), Diamond (2), Amethyst (2), Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (1), Scroll of Confusion (1), Scroll of Frailty (1), Scroll of Weakening (1), Scroll of Antimagic (1) Consumables: Potion (27), Grand Potion (17), Tonic (0), Grand Tonic (1), Health Core (3), Phoenix Essence (2), Remedy (10), Mead (15), Smelling Salts (17), Nostrum 16), Ambrosia (2), Mulled Wine (1), Venom (10), Deadly Venom (7), Smoke Bomb (1) , Fire Bomb (1), Water Bomb (5), Lightning Bomb (14), Bone (14), Skeleton Decoy (2), Trial Brew (1), Ectoplasm (1), Level-Up Mushroom (1), Grating Stone (1), Blind Fury (1), Neutralizer (1), Equilibrium Tonic (1), Oculoid Miasma (1) Tools etc.: Shovels (1), Pick-axes (2), Magic Compasses (1), Water Canteens (2), Lonely Island Magniscope (1), Blue Rose (Invasion of Luosh) (1), Fifty Shades of Bley (1), Mythril Shards (1), Silver Ore (1) Namyrra Uq (Quarryman) *Party Leader* 1337 years old female Fenarian Necromancer Level 49 2/5 *Immune to Sealed, Slowed, Bound, Confused, Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning and Earth* *Earn Triple XP* *Hastened* Power: 77 (49+28) Defense: 10 Health: 48/63 (5+48+5+5) Ether: 68/68 (5+48+1+5+4+5) Gold: 546 Equipment: Mythril Empyreal Staff (WP:28), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Ether:5. immune to Sealing, Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning and Earth, bodywear), Medal of Glory (gain triple XP; accessory), Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max. Ether +4, backwear), Fanged Helm (SP:5, headwear), Winged Sandals (Immune to bound and slowed, footwear) Inventory: Weapons: Crystal Mace (WP: 45 (5*gems imbued); Fire-, Ice-, Wind-, Water-, Lightning-, Earth-, Wood-, Light-, and Darkness-elemental; Mace), Nocturne Flute (WP: 6; inflicts the Asleep effect; Instrument), Pongcanis Shield (SP: 7; Shield) Artifacts: Gold Dragon Crown (max Ether +6; immune to Stunned; suitable for anyone; Headwear), Desert Cloak (immune to Fire; suitable for anyone; Backwear), Water Canteen (Carries 3 portions of water; Accessory), Cobweb Cowl (immune to Sudden Death; suitable for anyone; Backwear), Winged Sandals (immune to Bound and Slowed; suitable for anyone; Footwear), Paper Doll (immune against Hexed, Accessory) Spell Items: Amethyst, Emerald, Topaz, Garnet, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Aquamarine, Scroll of Blinding, Scroll of Arc Blinding, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Naamah's Hourglass (Randomly causes either Hastened or Slowed to the target at the cost of 3 Ether), Jade Lamp of Summoning (summons Mediq, restoring Health equal to the Level of the summoner at the cost of 5 Ether) Consumables: Potions (9), Grand Potions (5), Health Core, Tonics (4), Ether Cores (4), Remedies (10), Phoenix Essences (4), Phoenix Incenses (2), Mead (13), Smelling Salts (5), Nostrum (6), Ambrosia, Deadly Venom (3), Smoke Bombs (2), Holy Bomb, Water Bomb (14), Lightning Bomb (14), Dirt Bomb (3), Aeolus Bomb, Flash Bomb, Demon Repellant (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons for one battle, unless the user is the last one standing), Soul Cage (Doomed-effect to all combatants), Skeleton Decoys (2), Bones (17) Tools etc.: Pickaxe, Bedroll Nerwen Calmcacil (Chromeknight) 264 year old female Elven Minstrel Level 38 *Immune to sealed* *1/2 chance of Lightning Counter* Power: 52 (38+6+8) Defense: 2 (1+1) Health: 52/52 (9+37+11-5) Ether: 32/50 (5+37+4+1+3) Gold: 492 Equipment: Nocturne Flute (WP:6; causes asleep-effect; instrument), Lesser Ethereal Cloak (SP:1, Max. ether +3, immune to sealed; backwear), Zap-Tap Badge (1/2 chance to make lighting-elemental counterstrike an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level; Accessory), Leather armour (SP:1; Bodywear) Inventory: Weapons: Mutt's Flute (WP:10; inflicts Weakened-effect; instrument), Party Maracas (WP:4; user is hastened; instrument), Battered wooden flute (WP:6; Darkness-elemental; instrument), Sword of the Warrior of the Light (WP: 14; Light-Elemental, Meditate becomes hits; longsword), Mourning Star (WP: 10; Fire-elemental; inflicts Fragile-effect; mace), Bent Crowbar (WP: 8; 3x damage to Mechanical enemies; hammer), Axe of the Minotaur Champion (WP: 30; user is Slowed and Immune to Hastened, cannot be equipped at the same time as a shield; axe), Artifacts: Medal of Valor (Double experience from battles; accessory), Shield (SP: 5), Nordic Stomach Guard (SP: 3; Immunity to Ice and Water; Bodywear; Suitable for Barbarians, Regulators, and Beast Warriors), Shield of the Red Lizard (SP: 2; Immune to Blind), Seal of the Warrior Priestess (At the beginning of the battle the user has a 1/6 chance to be Transcended, a 1/6 chance to be Blessed, and a 1/6 chance to be Inspired; Accessory; Suitable for Paladins), Trickster's Mask of the Angel, Order Imperial's Assassin Cowl (Immune to Light and Darkness, Wearer is Nimble; headwear; Suitable for Assassins, Chi Monks, Infiltrators, Rogue Thieves, Paragons), Razor (user is Blessed and Immune to Bleeding, Enraged, and Encouraged; May take up any artifact slot; requires a shaved head), Helm of the Lord of Light (Immune to Light and Jinxed; headwear; Suitable for Knights), Sylvania's Cowl (Permits Animal Talk, Headwear), Counterstrike Gloves Spell Items: Opal (2), Topaz (2), Diamond (2), Amethyst, Garnet, Sapphire, Emerald, Aquamarine, Ruby, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragile, Scroll of Confusion, Hundred Hero Hymn (Inspired-effect to all allies for 10 ether; song), Consumables: Potions (7), Grand potion (2), Health Core, Grand tonic (2), Ether Core (2), Elixir (2), Remedy (4), Neutralizer (2), Tiger Balm (2), Phoenix Essence (2), Nostrum (2), Smelling Salts (2), Ambrosia (4), Venom (4), Fire Bomb, Ice Bombs (2), Lightning Bomb, Water Bombs (2), Dirt Bombs (2), Air Bomb, Bone, Milk (restores 15 HP and 15 Ether), Red Death Blood (Once applied to a weapon the first successful hit deals doomed, consumable) (2), Sushi (restores 5 health and ether), Feather of Lithe, Grating Stone Tools etc.: Shovel, Bedroll, Magnifying Glass, Telescope Thormanil Nihai, Dragonslayer, Orc-kin (swils) 23 years old male vertically challenged giant Dragoon Level 46 2/5 *Immune to Darkness, Light, Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Asleep, Blinded, Bound, Confused, Fragile,Slowed, and Weakened* *Gains Triple XP* *Jumping* Power: 69 (48+20+1) Defense: 13 (10+3) Health: 68/68 (8+45+15) Gold: 1999 Equipment: Dragonsbane Lance (WP: 20, triple damage to enemies with 'Dragon' in their name, lance),Skirmisher's Shield (SP:10, shield), Bright Armor (SP:3, Wearer is immune to Darkness, bodywear), Winged Sandals (Wearer is immune to Light, Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, and Lightning, and the Asleep, Blinded, Bound, Confused, Fragile, Slowed, and Weakened-effects; footwear), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains triple experience, accessory) Inventory: Weapons: Shishkebab (WP:16, dual-strike, darkness-elemental, lance), Gladiator Trident (WP:11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Guardian Halberd (WP: 5, target's defense is used as additional WP, halberd), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, deals Stunned, halberd), Tongue on a Stick (WP:1, Miss -> "Aim"), Frozen Saber (WP:9, longsword, Stuns enemies), Repeater Crossbow (WP:7, crossbow. Hastened for first round of combat while equipped.), Mercutio's Dagger of Mugging (WP:5, +5 gold from stealing; dagger), Composite Bow (WP:11, ignores defense, bow) Artifacts:Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Weredog (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Accessory), Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Aqua Gear (Wearer deals and is immune to water-elemental damage) Spell Items: 2x Amethyst (Darkness), Emerald (Wood), Opal (Ice) Consumables: Potion, Diluted Arc Tonic, Grand Tonic, 2x Remedy, 2x Phoenix Essence, Neutralizer, Milk, 2x Elixir, 2x Nostrum, 3x Smelling Salts, 3x Mulled Wine, Soma, Jinxy Juice, 2x Feather of Lithe, 3x Venom, 2x Deadly Venom, 2x Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, 3x Smoke Bomb, Ice Bomb, 5x Water Bomb, Doomsday Bomb (99 damage to all enemies), 2x Grating Stone, Teleportapple Tools etc.: Pickaxe, Shovel, Magnifying Glass Arx the Youngling (Pet Dragon controlled by swils) Level: 46 2/5 Health: 76/76 (30+46) Element: Ice Devoured: Monk Pretzel and His 99 Pieces, the Super Sleuth (Palathadric) 463-year-old male "hermit" Artisan Level 33 3/4 *Permanently Reinforced* Power: 42 (33+1+2) Defense: 32 (16x2) Health: 61/61 (9+32+15+3+2) Gold: 953 Equipment: Steak (WP: 36, instantly kills vampires on successful hits; suitable for all),Darksteel Armour (SP: 6; Max. Health +3; Bodywear), Armour of Dark Arts (SP: 10; Takes up: Bodywear, Handwear, Footwear slots; counts as one artifact; Suitable to Knights, Dragoons, and Skirmishers), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced effect; Suitable to Marauders; Backwear), Soul Link Chain (Allows the user to pair up with another party member, both of them gaining all the effects that the other has. The partner has to equip the chain as well (ie. one chain can be shared by two people); Accessory) Inventory: Weapons: Flying Cross (WP: 11; Darkness; Broomstick), Splinter Broom (WP: 9; Broomstick; defies SP), Whip of Savage Overlords (WP: 9; ⅙ chance of inflicting the Slowed effect; Whip), Dual Staff (WP: 7; Ice, Lightning, Fire, Wind, Light; Dual Strike; Staff), Staff of the Necromancer (WP: 12; damages Undead; +1 Level to raised Undead; Staff), Healing Staff (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging), Shadeaux Mace (WP: 9; deals Fragile effect, Mace), Mythril Shield (SP: 20) Artifacts: Strategist's Shako (+5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back; Headwear), Duplovian Helmet (SP:2; Immune to Magic and Healing; Headwear), Burning Knuckle Helmet (SP: 10; Wearer suffers Burning -3 effect; Suitable for Anyone; Headwear), Bumble Fanshirt (SP: 1, Vermin with level less than half of the wearers are scared and won't directly attack the wearer; Bodywear), Order Imperial Prophet's Armor (SP: 8; Grants Command; Suitable for Prophets; Bodywear), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP: 5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; Suitable for Knights, Dragoons, Skirmishers and Regulators, Bodywear), Cloak of the Barbaric Runecaster (SP: 3; wearer creates and deploys a Skeleton Decoy at the start of every battle; Suitable for Battle Mages, Necromancers, and Scholars; Backwear), Ethereal Cloak (SP: 2, Max Ether +4; Backwear), Cloak of Necrotic Shielding (SP: 3; Provides Special Guard against Undead enemies; Backwear), Rock Gauntlets (Grants the wearer Iron Fist at no ether cost; Suitable for anyone; Handwear), Counterstrike Gloves (Handwear), Soothing Slippers (Meditation restores 5 ether; Footwear), Shackles of War (Accessory), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Spell Items: 2 Amethysts, 2 Emeralds, Garnet, 2 Aquamarines, Diamond, Ruby, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness x 2, Scroll of Confusion x 2, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Minimizing (Has 1/2 chance of causing the minimized-effect on the target; costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Arc Sleep Consumables: 2 Potions, 15 Grand Potions, Cherry (Restores 1 ether), 2 Tonics, Ether Core, Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), 6 Remedies, 3 Neutralizers, 2 Phoenix Incenses, 4 Phoenix Essences, 4 Meads, 3 Smelling Salts, 3 Nostrums, Soma, Mulled Wine, Tiger Balm, 5 Venoms, 5 Deadly Venoms, 2 Paralyzing Venoms, 3 Jinxy Juices, 5 Smoke Bombs, 2 Fire Bombs, Holy Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb, 2 Blind Bombs, 2 Seal Bombs, 2 Sleep Bombs, 6 Bones, Raw Meat (+5 max. health upon consumption), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects permanently), Strong Wasabi (-2 Poisoned permanently) Tools etc.: Bedroll, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Shovel, Magic Compass, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest)

OoC: You forgot to substract the bomb's damage from the latter two enemies. Both Dumora and Ellaria repeat their actions, with the same battle order.

QM Note: By all means!

"So, the enemies are not made of rock, then. Must be garden variety dwarves, then." Dumora attacks the Mystery Assailant A from the front row this time and repeats her oath, while Ellaria tosses a Lightning Bomb at the enemies and repeats her attack. The battle order is the same.

QM Note: Just flashlight reflecting from a black tile. Results of Round One of the Birds & Worms Battle: Rex vs. Serpivine B - Critical Hit (Serpivine B: 373 health-125 dmg=248 health) Boomingham (Frozen Saber) vs. Serpivine A - Deflected Damage (Boomingham: no deflection, 57 health+11 SP-21 dmg=47 health) >Eric (Diseased Silverfish) vs. Bird-of-Paradise - Steal (no effect) Tweetybird A + Serpivine C - Free Hit on Rex (Rex: 92 health+12 SP-(10+21=31 dmg)=73 health) Tweetybird B - Free Hit on Boomingham (Boomingham: 47 health+11 SP-10 dmg=47 health) Tweetybird C - Free Hit on Eric (Eric: 50 health+5 SP-(10/2=5 dmg)=50 health) Rex manages to deliver a solid hit on one of the serpents, but Boomingham and Eric get too heavily assaulted by the wildlife to do anything. All enemies are still standing. Enemies: Bird-of-Paradise *Can only be hit by ranged attacks, spells and items* Type: Flying/Holy Level: 38 Health: 342/342 Special: Angel Feathers – Bestows the blessed-effect to all allies and removes all negative effects. Drops: Soma, Meat Lump (quest item) Tweetybird A *Immune to sealed* Type: Flying Level: 10 Health: 99/99 Special: Song of Silence – Causes the sealed-effect to all opponents. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Seal Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the sealed-effect to all opponents when used.) 4-6: Meat Lump (quest item) Tweetybird B *Immune to sealed* Type: Flying Level: 10 Health: 99/99 Special: Song of Silence – Causes the sealed-effect to all opponents. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Seal Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the sealed-effect to all opponents when used.) 4-6: Meat Lump (quest item) Tweetybird C *Immune to sealed* Type: Flying Level: 10 Health: 99/99 Special: Song of Silence – Causes the sealed-effect to all opponents. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Seal Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the sealed-effect to all opponents when used.) 4-6: Meat Lump (quest item) Serpivine A *Immune to poisoned* Type: Vermin/Plant Level: 21 Health: 373/373 Special: Poisonous Coil – Causes poisoned by 6- and bound-effects to the target. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Deadly Venom 4-6: Floral Bomb Serpivine B *Immune to poisoned* Type: Vermin/Plant Level: 21 Health: 248/373 Special: Poisonous Coil – Causes poisoned by 6- and bound-effects to the target. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Deadly Venom 4-6: Floral Bomb Serpivine C *Immune to poisoned* Type: Vermin/Plant Level: 21 Health: 373/373 Special: Poisonous Coil – Causes poisoned by 6- and bound-effects to the target. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Deadly Venom 4-6: Floral Bomb Party at Kalakita Bog: Eric (Khorne) 30 year old norseman Raider *Party Second-in-Command* Level 27 1/3 *Natural Respite* *Evasion* *Immune to Fragile, Weakened, Asleep, Water and Earth* Power: 47 (27+18+2) Defense: 5 Health: 50/50 (8+7+26+4+5) Gold: 223 Equipment: Conspirator (WP:18, causes Blinded; longsword), Pugilist's Gloves (Power +2, protects from Weakened; handwear), Heavy Armor (SP:5, protects from Fragile; bodywear), Boots of Evasion (Wearer takes half damage in front row + Immunity to Water, Earth and Asleep; footwear) Inventory: Weapons: Godricsleif (WP: 22; Ice-, Lightning-, Darkness-elemental; greatsword), Drengazuli Grom'az (WP:6; Dual Strike; axe), 2 Diseased Silverfish Wings (WP:8, causes cursed-effect, retrievable, throwing weapon) Spell Items: Garnet (Earth) Consumables: Potion, 10 Grand Potions, Health Core, 3 Elixirs, 3 Remedies, Neutralizer, 7 Meads, 6 Smelling Salts, 3 Nostrum, 5 Mulled Wine, Ambrosia, Dragon Scale, Venom, Deadly Venom, 2 Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Aeolus Bomb, 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.), Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Bone Tools etc.: Lord Lawrence Boomingham (Zepher) 48 years old human Paladin Level 34 *Immune to Darkness, Fire, Fragile, Stunned, Sleep, Weakened, and Blindness* Power: 53 (34+14+4+1) Defense: 11 (7+4) Health: 47/57 (10+33+11+2+1) Ether: 30/34 Gold: 70 Equipment: Frozen Saber (WP: 14; light-, ice- and wind-elemental; inflicts stunned; great sword), Round Metal Shield (SP:7), Tome of Affluence (+10 Gold if equipped for the entirety of a battle; grants immunity to fragile, asleep, weakened, blinded, darkness and fire; accessory), Counterstrike Gloves (If the wearer is damaged by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to their level; handwear.), Scarlet Hood (SP:4, grants immunity to stunned) Inventory: Weapons: Scupperer (WP: 17; darkness-, fire- and earth-elemental; inflicts bleeding and poisoned by 10; has 1/2 chance each to inflict blinded, sealed, weakened and fragile; greatsword), Lullaby Wand (WP:6, inflicts asleep), Silver Sword (WP: 18, Longsword), Artifacts: Hood of Belthazar Bluehood (Power +4; Ether -6; headwear), Chains of the Pongcanis Chief (Hero Pierces SP if fighting from Front, Enemies ignore SP if hero fights from the back row, cannot be removed in battle), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; accessory, suitable to Erdathcath only) Spell Items: Amethyst (Darkness), Scroll of Recklessness (Encouraged and Fragile; costs 5 Ether; 50/50 chance), Emerald Lamp of Summoning (0/3), “True Love Serenade” (restores 50 health to the rest of the party per round; costs 10 ether; Battle Song) Consumables: Potion, Health Core, x2 Remedy, Elixir, Phoenix Essence, x6 Mead, x4 Nostrum, Ambrosia, x2 Smelling Salts, Fire Brandy (Encouraged, Immune to Ice), Fireball Whiskey (Immunity to Fire One Battle OR 20 Fire Damage All Enemies), Hamantasch (Lucky, Blessed), Jinxy Juice, Feather of Flight (Allows the user to flee from the battle when used.), Hair of the Dog, x2 Grating Stone, Oculoid Miasma, Oculoid Fireworks, Saber Teeth, Mythril Shard Tools: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe Rex the Rhinotaur, the Mighty Mercenary (NPC, controlled by Zepher) 35 years old male wererhino Paragon Level 60 *Initiative* *Restoration* *Aura of Honor* *Gamble* *No Escape* Power: 95 (60+30+5) Defense: 12 Health: 73/92 (8+59+25) Gold: 625 Equipment: Grindoceros (WP:30; halves target's defense with every successful hit; hammer), Mighty Cuirass (SP:12, suitable to paragons only; bodywear), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing battles; accessory.) Inventory: Greater Potion (Restores 50 health), Greater Tonic (Restores 30 ether), Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Mead, Smelling Salts, Nostrum

"I knew it!" Ellaria snapped when she stepped into the darkened room. "Dumora, we will need your oaths to come up top here." Dumora strikes Mystery Assailant A from the back row, and swears an Oath of Retribution against it. Ellaria throws a Water Bomb at the enemies, and then attacks Mystery Assailant B from the back row. Battle Order: Dumora Ellaria Ellaria

I will add it to Nerwen's stock.

QM Note: Zepher, feel free to post actions for Khorne, as well as the battle order, if he's delayed. QM Note: A little clarification is in order: you don't need to do the actions one by one for this puzzle. Just give me a full list of what you want to do on the path and how, and I'll calculate the turns your plan will take against the turns the werelions take. Inspecting every single tile may put you behind the werelions even if they stumble upon a trap. Also, barricaded tiles do not cost a turn to cross, since you need to be on them to destroy the barricade, and neither can they be jumped over. Only empty tiles contain traps. It is taken granted that if you find a trap, you will jump over the tile, and of course you need to jump over holes.

Results of Round One of the Void Battle: >Nerwen sings Lucky Chant - (All other allies: improved battle results for the round; Nerwen: -10 ether) >Monk Pretzel (Steak) vs. Void Eater - Special Damage/Special Damage (Devour - Monk Pretzel: removed from battle) Namyrra (Mythril Empyreal Staff) vs. Left Claw - Damage/Damage (Namyrra: 63 health+10 SP-25 dmg=48 health) Thormanil (Dragonbane Lance) vs. Right Claw - Damage/Jump Hit (Thormanil: jumps into air) Arx vs. Right Claw - Damage/Breath (Right Claw: no effect) >Johon uses Smelling Salts on himself - (Johon: hastened) Johon (Muckraker) vs. Right Claw - Hit/Special Damage/Steal (Right Claw: no effect) Nerwen's singing echoes through the Void, but even it cannot help Pretzel as he gets chomped into the Void Eater's gaping maw. Namyrra floats backwards as the creature slashes it with its left claw. Thormanil leaps high above the battle with Arx's help, but the dragon's icy breath has no effect on the ethereal monster, and neither does Johon's elemental weapon. Are the heroes helpless against the fearsome monster? Will it devour them one by one? Or will they find a way to turn the tide and triumph in the end? Enemies: Void Eater *Immune to all negative effects and sudden death* Type: Ethereal Level: 50 Health: 500/500 Special: Devour – Removes the target from the combat. If all heroes are devoured, the quest fails. Drops: 15 Potions, 10 Tonics, 10 Remedies, 5 Phoenix Essences, 500 gold Left Claw *Immune to all negative effects and sudden death* Type: Ethereal Level: 25 Health: 250/250 Special: Grasp – Clutches the target into a tight hold, preventing the target from taking any actions. The claw needs to be hit successfully before the end of the next round to free the target, or it will be automatically devoured (removed from the battle). Drops: nothing Note: If the Void Eater is defeated before the claw, it will be automatically defeated as well. Right Claw *Immune to all negative effects and sudden death* Type: Ethereal Level: 25 Health: 250/250 Special: Grasp – Clutches the target into a tight hold, preventing the target from taking any actions. The claw needs to be hit successfully before the end of the next round to free the target, or it will be automatically devoured (removed from the battle). Drops: nothing Note: If the Void Eater is defeated before the claw, it will be automatically defeated as well. Party: Johon, The Champion of Darkness (Bricksandparts) 26 years old male human Raider Level 32 3/4 *Natural Respite* *Permanently Lucky* *1.5 stealing multiplier* *Hide of The Bleeding* *Hastened* Power: 45 (32+13) Defense: 1 Health: 46/46 (32+7+7) Gold: 6265 Equipment: Muckraker (WP:+13, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators, *Water, Wood, Earth*, Causes *Weakened*), Satchel of Awesomeness (suit: Anyone, *Permanently Lucky*), Hide of The Bleeding (suit: Anyone, +10HP +5ETH for every enemy user defeats), Sticky Gloves (suit: Rogues/Beast Warriors, 1.5 multiplier for stealing), Dog Statuette (Rover) (suit: Anyone, SP:+1) Inventory: Weapons: Sword of Decay (WP:+8, suit: Barbaians/Knights/Mages, Causes *Decayed by X-3 rounds* X=dmg dealt/4, Effect does not stack), Greatsword (WP:+3, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators), Focal Staff (WP:+5, suit: Clerics/Mages, Ability: Roll 3 at cost of 5 ether), Gladius (WP:+15, suit: Anyone, Darkness, 1/3 chance of causing *Fragile* on succesful hits), Stalker’s Mallet (WP:+8, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Harlots, 1/2 chance of causing *sealed*), Lullaby Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *asleep*), Lovelorn Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enamored*), Scaridy Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *afraid*), Wand of Wrath (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enraged*), Shield (SP:+5, Suit: Knights/Dragoons/Regulators/Skirmishers), Old Whip (WP:+10, suit: Rogues/Artisans/Beast Warriors/Decamon Drafters/Harlots/Marauders/Necromancers, 2X damage vs. Beasts), Qlice (WP:+8, club, Causes *Poisoned-by-4*), Luminous Bow (WP:+9, suit: Rangers/Beast Warriors/Weather Mages/Winged Warriors, 3X damage vs. Fiery/Dark, 0X damage vs. Plants/Aquatic) Artifacts: Simple Helmet (suit: Anyone, HP:+1), Pseudo's hood (suit: Anyone, Ignores Undead immunity), Quiver of Poisoning (suit: Rangers/Beast Warriors/Infiltrators/Winged Warriors, Causes *Poisoned by 1* using bows/crossbows), Blessed Amulet (suit: Anyone, *Immune to cursed*), Barbarian's Boots (suit: Barbarians/Chi Monks/Beast Warriors, *Restoration*), Counterstrike Gloves (suit: Anyone, deals damage equal to level when hit with free-hit), Sterile Gloves (Suit: Anyone, *Immune to Poisoned/Bleeding*), Bravado Boots (suit: Anyone, 1/6 chance of receiving *Lucky* at start of battle), Scarlet Hood (suit: Anyone, pwr:+4, *immune to stunned*), Steel Core (suit: Anyone, +7 power), Heavy Armour (suit: Bararians/Knights, SP:+5, *Immune to Fragile*), Tin Helmet (suit: Anyone, *Immune to Hexed/Confused*) Spell Items: Aquamarine (2), Emerald (1), Garnet (1), Opal (1), Ruby (1), Sapphire (1), Topaz (1), Diamond (2), Amethyst (2), Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (1), Scroll of Confusion (1), Scroll of Frailty (1), Scroll of Weakening (1), Scroll of Antimagic (1) Consumables: Potion (27), Grand Potion (17), Tonic (0), Grand Tonic (1), Health Core (3), Phoenix Essence (2), Remedy (10), Mead (15), Smelling Salts (17), Nostrum 16), Ambrosia (2), Mulled Wine (1), Venom (10), Deadly Venom (7), Smoke Bomb (1) , Fire Bomb (1), Water Bomb (5), Lightning Bomb (14), Bone (14), Skeleton Decoy (2), Trial Brew (1), Ectoplasm (1), Level-Up Mushroom (1), Grating Stone (1), Blind Fury (1), Neutralizer (1), Equilibrium Tonic (1), Oculoid Miasma (1) Tools etc.: Shovels (1), Pick-axes (2), Magic Compasses (1), Water Canteens (2), Lonely Island Magniscope (1), Blue Rose (Invasion of Luosh) (1), Fifty Shades of Bley (1), Mythril Shards (1), Silver Ore (1) Namyrra Uq (Quarryman) *Party Leader* 1337 years old female Fenarian Necromancer Level 49 2/5 *Immune to Sealed, Slowed, Bound, Confused, Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning and Earth* *Earn Triple XP* Power: 77 (49+28) Defense: 10 Health: 48/63 (5+48+5+5) Ether: 68/68 (5+48+1+5+4+5) Gold: 546 Equipment: Mythril Empyreal Staff (WP:28), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Ether:5. immune to Sealing, Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning and Earth, bodywear), Medal of Glory (gain triple XP; accessory), Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max. Ether +4, backwear), Fanged Helm (SP:5, headwear), Winged Sandals (Immune to bound and slowed, footwear) Inventory: Weapons: Crystal Mace (WP: 45 (5*gems imbued); Fire-, Ice-, Wind-, Water-, Lightning-, Earth-, Wood-, Light-, and Darkness-elemental; Mace), Nocturne Flute (WP: 6; inflicts the Asleep effect; Instrument), Pongcanis Shield (SP: 7; Shield) Artifacts: Gold Dragon Crown (max Ether +6; immune to Stunned; suitable for anyone; Headwear), Desert Cloak (immune to Fire; suitable for anyone; Backwear), Water Canteen (Carries 3 portions of water; Accessory), Cobweb Cowl (immune to Sudden Death; suitable for anyone; Backwear), Winged Sandals (immune to Bound and Slowed; suitable for anyone; Footwear), Paper Doll (immune against Hexed, Accessory) Spell Items: Amethyst, Emerald, Topaz, Garnet, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Aquamarine, Scroll of Blinding, Scroll of Arc Blinding, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Naamah's Hourglass (Randomly causes either Hastened or Slowed to the target at the cost of 3 Ether), Jade Lamp of Summoning (summons Mediq, restoring Health equal to the Level of the summoner at the cost of 5 Ether) Consumables: Potions (9), Grand Potions (5), Health Core, Tonics (4), Ether Cores (4), Remedies (10), Phoenix Essences (4), Phoenix Incenses (2), Mead (13), Smelling Salts (6), Nostrum (6), Ambrosia, Deadly Venom (3), Smoke Bombs (2), Holy Bomb, Water Bomb (14), Lightning Bomb (14), Dirt Bomb (3), Aeolus Bomb, Flash Bomb, Demon Repellant (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons for one battle, unless the user is the last one standing), Soul Cage (Doomed-effect to all combatants), Skeleton Decoys (2), Bones (17) Tools etc.: Pickaxe, Bedroll Nerwen Calmcacil (Chromeknight) 264 year old female Elven Minstrel Level 38 *Immune to sealed* *1/2 chance of Lightning Counter* Power: 52 (38+6+8) Defense: 2 (1+1) Health: 52/52 (9+37+11-5) Ether: 40/50 (5+37+4+1+3) Gold: 492 Equipment: Nocturne Flute (WP:6; causes asleep-effect; instrument), Lesser Ethereal Cloak (SP:1, Max. ether +3, immune to sealed; backwear), Zap-Tap Badge (1/2 chance to make lighting-elemental counterstrike an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level; Accessory), Leather armour (SP:1; Bodywear) Inventory: Weapons: Mutt's Flute (WP:10; inflicts Weakened-effect; instrument), Party Maracas (WP:4; user is hastened; instrument), Battered wooden flute (WP:6; Darkness-elemental; instrument), Sword of the Warrior of the Light (WP: 14; Light-Elemental, Meditate becomes hits; longsword), Mourning Star (WP: 10; Fire-elemental; inflicts Fragile-effect; mace), Bent Crowbar (WP: 8; 3x damage to Mechanical enemies; hammer), Axe of the Minotaur Champion (WP: 30; user is Slowed and Immune to Hastened, cannot be equipped at the same time as a shield; axe), Artifacts: Medal of Valor (Double experience from battles; accessory), Shield (SP: 5), Nordic Stomach Guard (SP: 3; Immunity to Ice and Water; Bodywear; Suitable for Barbarians, Regulators, and Beast Warriors), Shield of the Red Lizard (SP: 2; Immune to Blind), Seal of the Warrior Priestess (At the beginning of the battle the user has a 1/6 chance to be Transcended, a 1/6 chance to be Blessed, and a 1/6 chance to be Inspired; Accessory; Suitable for Paladins), Trickster's Mask of the Angel, Order Imperial's Assassin Cowl (Immune to Light and Darkness, Wearer is Nimble; headwear; Suitable for Assassins, Chi Monks, Infiltrators, Rogue Thieves, Paragons), Razor (user is Blessed and Immune to Bleeding, Enraged, and Encouraged; May take up any artifact slot; requires a shaved head), Helm of the Lord of Light (Immune to Light and Jinxed; headwear; Suitable for Knights), Sylvania's Cowl (Permits Animal Talk, Headwear), Counterstrike Gloves Spell Items: Opal (2), Topaz (2), Diamond (2), Amethyst, Garnet, Sapphire, Emerald, Aquamarine, Ruby, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragile, Scroll of Confusion, Hundred Hero Hymn (Inspired-effect to all allies for 10 ether; song), Consumables: Potions (7), Grand potion (2), Health Core, Grand tonic (2), Ether Core (2), Elixir (2), Remedy (4), Neutralizer (2), Tiger Balm (2), Phoenix Essence (2), Nostrum (2), Smelling Salts (2), Ambrosia (4), Venom (4), Fire Bomb, Ice Bombs (2), Lightning Bomb, Water Bombs (2), Dirt Bombs (2), Air Bomb, Bone, Milk (restores 15 HP and 15 Ether), Red Death Blood (Once applied to a weapon the first successful hit deals doomed, consumable) (2), Sushi (restores 5 health and ether), Feather of Lithe, Grating Stone Tools etc.: Shovel, Bedroll, Magnifying Glass, Telescope Thormanil Nihai, Dragonslayer, Orc-kin (swils) 23 years old male vertically challenged giant Dragoon Level 46 2/5 *Immune to Darkness, Light, Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Asleep, Blinded, Bound, Confused, Fragile,Slowed, and Weakened* *Gains Triple XP* *Jumping* Power: 69 (48+20+1) Defense: 13 (10+3) Health: 68/68 (8+45+15) Gold: 1999 Equipment: Dragonsbane Lance (WP: 20, triple damage to enemies with 'Dragon' in their name, lance),Skirmisher's Shield (SP:10, shield), Bright Armor (SP:3, Wearer is immune to Darkness, bodywear), Winged Sandals (Wearer is immune to Light, Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, and Lightning, and the Asleep, Blinded, Bound, Confused, Fragile, Slowed, and Weakened-effects; footwear), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains triple experience, accessory) Inventory: Weapons: Shishkebab (WP:16, dual-strike, darkness-elemental, lance), Gladiator Trident (WP:11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Guardian Halberd (WP: 5, target's defense is used as additional WP, halberd), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, deals Stunned, halberd), Tongue on a Stick (WP:1, Miss -> "Aim"), Frozen Saber (WP:9, longsword, Stuns enemies), Repeater Crossbow (WP:7, crossbow. Hastened for first round of combat while equipped.), Mercutio's Dagger of Mugging (WP:5, +5 gold from stealing; dagger), Composite Bow (WP:11, ignores defense, bow) Artifacts:Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Weredog (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Accessory), Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Aqua Gear (Wearer deals and is immune to water-elemental damage) Spell Items: 2x Amethyst (Darkness), Emerald (Wood), Opal (Ice) Consumables: Potion, Diluted Arc Tonic, Grand Tonic, 2x Remedy, 2x Phoenix Essence, Neutralizer, Milk, 2x Elixir, 2x Nostrum, 3x Smelling Salts, 3x Mulled Wine, Soma, Jinxy Juice, 2x Feather of Lithe, 3x Venom, 2x Deadly Venom, 2x Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, 3x Smoke Bomb, Ice Bomb, 5x Water Bomb, Doomsday Bomb (99 damage to all enemies), 2x Grating Stone, Teleportapple Tools etc.: Pickaxe, Shovel, Magnifying Glass Arx the Youngling (Pet Dragon controlled by swils) Level: 46 2/5 Health: 76/76 (30+46) Element: Ice Devoured: Monk Pretzel and His 99 Pieces, the Super Sleuth (Palathadric) 463-year-old male "hermit" Artisan Level 33 3/4 *Permanently Reinforced* Power: 42 (33+1+2) Defense: 32 (16x2) Health: 61/61 (9+32+15+3+2) Gold: 953 Equipment: Steak (WP: 36, instantly kills vampires on successful hits; suitable for all),Darksteel Armour (SP: 6; Max. Health +3; Bodywear), Armour of Dark Arts (SP: 10; Takes up: Bodywear, Handwear, Footwear slots; counts as one artifact; Suitable to Knights, Dragoons, and Skirmishers), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced effect; Suitable to Marauders; Backwear), Soul Link Chain (Allows the user to pair up with another party member, both of them gaining all the effects that the other has. The partner has to equip the chain as well (ie. one chain can be shared by two people); Accessory) Inventory: Weapons: Flying Cross (WP: 11; Darkness; Broomstick), Splinter Broom (WP: 9; Broomstick; defies SP), Whip of Savage Overlords (WP: 9; ⅙ chance of inflicting the Slowed effect; Whip), Dual Staff (WP: 7; Ice, Lightning, Fire, Wind, Light; Dual Strike; Staff), Staff of the Necromancer (WP: 12; damages Undead; +1 Level to raised Undead; Staff), Healing Staff (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging), Shadeaux Mace (WP: 9; deals Fragile effect, Mace), Mythril Shield (SP: 20) Artifacts: Strategist's Shako (+5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back; Headwear), Duplovian Helmet (SP:2; Immune to Magic and Healing; Headwear), Burning Knuckle Helmet (SP: 10; Wearer suffers Burning -3 effect; Suitable for Anyone; Headwear), Bumble Fanshirt (SP: 1, Vermin with level less than half of the wearers are scared and won't directly attack the wearer; Bodywear), Order Imperial Prophet's Armor (SP: 8; Grants Command; Suitable for Prophets; Bodywear), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP: 5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; Suitable for Knights, Dragoons, Skirmishers and Regulators, Bodywear), Cloak of the Barbaric Runecaster (SP: 3; wearer creates and deploys a Skeleton Decoy at the start of every battle; Suitable for Battle Mages, Necromancers, and Scholars; Backwear), Ethereal Cloak (SP: 2, Max Ether +4; Backwear), Cloak of Necrotic Shielding (SP: 3; Provides Special Guard against Undead enemies; Backwear), Rock Gauntlets (Grants the wearer Iron Fist at no ether cost; Suitable for anyone; Handwear), Counterstrike Gloves (Handwear), Soothing Slippers (Meditation restores 5 ether; Footwear), Shackles of War (Accessory), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Spell Items: 2 Amethysts, 2 Emeralds, Garnet, 2 Aquamarines, Diamond, Ruby, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness x 2, Scroll of Confusion x 2, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Minimizing (Has 1/2 chance of causing the minimized-effect on the target; costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Arc Sleep Consumables: 2 Potions, 15 Grand Potions, Cherry (Restores 1 ether), 2 Tonics, Ether Core, Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), 6 Remedies, 3 Neutralizers, 2 Phoenix Incenses, 4 Phoenix Essences, 4 Meads, 3 Smelling Salts, 3 Nostrums, Soma, Mulled Wine, Tiger Balm, 5 Venoms, 5 Deadly Venoms, 2 Paralyzing Venoms, 3 Jinxy Juices, 5 Smoke Bombs, 2 Fire Bombs, Holy Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb, 2 Blind Bombs, 2 Seal Bombs, 2 Sleep Bombs, 6 Bones, Raw Meat (+5 max. health upon consumption), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects permanently), Strong Wasabi (-2 Poisoned permanently) Tools etc.: Bedroll, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Shovel, Magic Compass, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest)

Ellaria was also suspicious about the noises coming from the Archives, but she was also frustrated enough not to really care. She had Dumora's sword to back her up if there was a tight spot. "I think I've just about had it with dwarven bureaucracy. We are coming in, like it or not!"

It hasn't been established yet, but I'd imagine it is an ancient magic tome.

I've used Bossk's head for the Ziegfried butler, Schuester. He is not of any specific race, but he looks that way because of a spell gone awry. I'm off to Helsinki Pride now, and to my understanding it's Pride Weekend in several other countries as well, so HAPPY PRIDE to everyone! See you tomorrow!

I don't want to shun discussion, but I'm not going to change Dragoon so significantly at this point in the game. It will remain the Shadeaux expert job class and that's that. Maybe in future versions of Heroica RPG (if there will be any), we can try a different approach with pet dragons, but there is no sense switching things up storywise anymore. The faction storylines are all moving towards their finales, after all.

Not when it comes to the expert job classes, but it will have a significant purpose in the endgame. Which will eventually come. Some day. I have big plans, at least. Also, some faction-based artifacts give different bonuses depending on reputation.

QM Note: Thanks, it is really a great day for equality in the US! Finland will get an equal marriage law in 2017, too. And thanks for noticing, I updated the last post with the doctor's reply.

QM Note: The next update will be on Sunday, because of Helsinki Pride. The Copper Fox nodded in approval, but with a sly grin on his face. "What a group of upstanding heroes we have here! I am sure there's not a shred of doubt in their minds..." "We will send you on your way. Just beware; my visions of your future is hazy, which means there are a lot of things that can go wrong on your quest. For all of our sakes, may Fabula Sibylla be on your side." "Bah! Don't trust spirits, trust your weapons! You're among our elite - you've faced worse than a brainflaker or what was it called!" The Sand Queen and the Valkyrie stepped on each side of the archway, and soon a spiralling blue portal emerged into it. "This should take you straight to Spesialia. We will keep it open until your return, so be sure to remember the spot where the portal leads you. Be safe, everyone!" The five heroes and the dragon were swept into the whirling radiance. They travelled through the Void with the speed of light, until their journey came to a sudden halt. An enormous creature with a gaping jaw and long claws had stepped into their way. They had no other option but to draw their weapons. PREPARE FOR BATTLE! Enemies: Void Eater *Immune to all negative effects and sudden death* Type: Ethereal Level: 50 Health: 500/500 Special: Devour – Removes the target from the combat. If all heroes are devoured, the quest fails. Drops: 15 Potions, 10 Tonics, 10 Remedies, 5 Phoenix Essences, 500 gold Left Claw *Immune to all negative effects and sudden death* Type: Ethereal Level: 25 Health: 250/250 Special: Grasp – Clutches the target into a tight hold, preventing the target from taking any actions. The claw needs to be hit successfully before the end of the next round to free the target, or it will be automatically devoured (removed from the battle). Drops: nothing Note: If the Void Eater is defeated before the claw, it will be automatically defeated as well. Right Claw *Immune to all negative effects and sudden death* Type: Ethereal Level: 25 Health: 250/250 Special: Grasp – Clutches the target into a tight hold, preventing the target from taking any actions. The claw needs to be hit successfully before the end of the next round to free the target, or it will be automatically devoured (removed from the battle). Drops: nothing Note: If the Void Eater is defeated before the claw, it will be automatically defeated as well. Party: Johon, The Champion of Darkness (Bricksandparts) 26 years old male human Raider Level 32 3/4 *Natural Respite* *Permanently Lucky* *1.5 stealing multiplier* *Hide of The Bleeding* Power: 45 (32+13) Defense: 1 Health: 46/46 (32+7+7) Gold: 6265 Equipment: Muckraker (WP:+13, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators, *Water, Wood, Earth*, Causes *Weakened*), Satchel of Awesomeness (suit: Anyone, *Permanently Lucky*), Hide of The Bleeding (suit: Anyone, +10HP +5ETH for every enemy user defeats), Sticky Gloves (suit: Rogues/Beast Warriors, 1.5 multiplier for stealing), Dog Statuette (Rover) (suit: Anyone, SP:+1) Inventory: Weapons: Sword of Decay (WP:+8, suit: Barbaians/Knights/Mages, Causes *Decayed by X-3 rounds* X=dmg dealt/4, Effect does not stack), Greatsword (WP:+3, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators), Focal Staff (WP:+5, suit: Clerics/Mages, Ability: Roll 3 at cost of 5 ether), Gladius (WP:+15, suit: Anyone, Darkness, 1/3 chance of causing *Fragile* on succesful hits), Stalker’s Mallet (WP:+8, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Harlots, 1/2 chance of causing *sealed*), Lullaby Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *asleep*), Lovelorn Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enamored*), Scaridy Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *afraid*), Wand of Wrath (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enraged*), Shield (SP:+5, Suit: Knights/Dragoons/Regulators/Skirmishers), Old Whip (WP:+10, suit: Rogues/Artisans/Beast Warriors/Decamon Drafters/Harlots/Marauders/Necromancers, 2X damage vs. Beasts), Qlice (WP:+8, club, Causes *Poisoned-by-4*), Luminous Bow (WP:+9, suit: Rangers/Beast Warriors/Weather Mages/Winged Warriors, 3X damage vs. Fiery/Dark, 0X damage vs. Plants/Aquatic) Artifacts: Simple Helmet (suit: Anyone, HP:+1), Pseudo's hood (suit: Anyone, Ignores Undead immunity), Quiver of Poisoning (suit: Rangers/Beast Warriors/Infiltrators/Winged Warriors, Causes *Poisoned by 1* using bows/crossbows), Blessed Amulet (suit: Anyone, *Immune to cursed*), Barbarian's Boots (suit: Barbarians/Chi Monks/Beast Warriors, *Restoration*), Counterstrike Gloves (suit: Anyone, deals damage equal to level when hit with free-hit), Sterile Gloves (Suit: Anyone, *Immune to Poisoned/Bleeding*), Bravado Boots (suit: Anyone, 1/6 chance of receiving *Lucky* at start of battle), Scarlet Hood (suit: Anyone, pwr:+4, *immune to stunned*), Steel Core (suit: Anyone, +7 power), Heavy Armour (suit: Bararians/Knights, SP:+5, *Immune to Fragile*), Tin Helmet (suit: Anyone, *Immune to Hexed/Confused*) Spell Items: Aquamarine (2), Emerald (1), Garnet (1), Opal (1), Ruby (1), Sapphire (1), Topaz (1), Diamond (2), Amethyst (2), Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (1), Scroll of Confusion (1), Scroll of Frailty (1), Scroll of Weakening (1), Scroll of Antimagic (1) Consumables: Potion (27), Grand Potion (17), Tonic (0), Grand Tonic (1), Health Core (3), Phoenix Essence (2), Remedy (10), Mead (15), Smelling Salts (18), Nostrum 16), Venom (10), Deadly Venom (7), Smoke Bomb (1) , Fire Bomb (1), Water Bomb (5), Lightning Bomb (14), Bone (14), Skeleton Decoy (2), Ambrosia (2), Mulled Wine (1), (1)Trial Brew (1), Ectoplasm (1), Level-Up Mushroom (1), Grating Stone (1), Blind Fury (1), Neutralizer (1), Equilibrium Tonic (1), Oculoid Miasma (1) Tools etc.: Shovels (1), Pick-axes (2), Magic Compasses (1), Water Canteens (2), Lonely Island Magniscope (1), Blue Rose (Invasion of Luosh) (1), Fifty Shades of Bley (1), Mythril Shards (1), Silver Ore (1) Monk Pretzel and His 99 Pieces, the Super Sleuth (Palathadric) 463-year-old male "hermit" Artisan Level 33 3/4 *Permanently Reinforced* Power: 42 (33+7+2) Defense: 32 (16x2) Health: 61/61 (9+32+15+3+2) Gold: 953 Equipment: Dual Staff (WP: 7; Ice, Lightning, Fire, Wind, Light; Dual Strike; Staff), Darksteel Armour (SP: 6; Max. Health +3; Bodywear), Armour of Dark Arts (SP: 10; Takes up: Bodywear, Handwear, Footwear slots; counts as one artifact; Suitable to Knights, Dragoons, and Skirmishers), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced effect; Suitable to Marauders; Backwear), Soul Link Chain (Allows the user to pair up with another party member, both of them gaining all the effects that the other has. The partner has to equip the chain as well (ie. one chain can be shared by two people); Accessory) Inventory: Weapons: Flying Cross (WP: 11; Darkness; Broomstick), Splinter Broom (WP: 9; Broomstick; defies SP), Whip of Savage Overlords (WP: 9; ⅙ chance of inflicting the Slowed effect; Whip), Steak (WP: 1, instantly kills vampires on successful hits; suitable for all), Staff of the Necromancer (WP: 12; damages Undead; +1 Level to raised Undead; Staff), Healing Staff (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging), Shadeaux Mace (WP: 9; deals Fragile effect, Mace), Mythril Shield (SP: 20) Artifacts: Strategist's Shako (+5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back; Headwear), Duplovian Helmet (SP:2; Immune to Magic and Healing; Headwear), Burning Knuckle Helmet (SP: 10; Wearer suffers Burning -3 effect; Suitable for Anyone; Headwear), Bumble Fanshirt (SP: 1, Vermin with level less than half of the wearers are scared and won't directly attack the wearer; Bodywear), Order Imperial Prophet's Armor (SP: 8; Grants Command; Suitable for Prophets; Bodywear), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP: 5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; Suitable for Knights, Dragoons, Skirmishers and Regulators, Bodywear), Cloak of the Barbaric Runecaster (SP: 3; wearer creates and deploys a Skeleton Decoy at the start of every battle; Suitable for Battle Mages, Necromancers, and Scholars; Backwear), Ethereal Cloak (SP: 2, Max Ether +4; Backwear), Cloak of Necrotic Shielding (SP: 3; Provides Special Guard against Undead enemies; Backwear), Rock Gauntlets (Grants the wearer Iron Fist at no ether cost; Suitable for anyone; Handwear), Counterstrike Gloves (Handwear), Soothing Slippers (Meditation restores 5 ether; Footwear), Shackles of War (Accessory), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Spell Items: 2 Amethysts, 2 Emeralds, Garnet, 2 Aquamarines, Diamond, Ruby, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness x 2, Scroll of Confusion x 2, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Minimizing (Has 1/2 chance of causing the minimized-effect on the target; costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Arc Sleep Consumables: 2 Potions, 15 Grand Potions, Cherry (Restores 1 ether), 2 Tonics, Ether Core, Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), 6 Remedies, 3 Neutralizers, 2 Phoenix Incenses, 4 Phoenix Essences, 4 Meads, 3 Smelling Salts, 3 Nostrums, Soma, Mulled Wine, Tiger Balm, 5 Venoms, 5 Deadly Venoms, 2 Paralyzing Venoms, 3 Jinxy Juices, 5 Smoke Bombs, 2 Fire Bombs, Holy Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb, 2 Blind Bombs, 2 Seal Bombs, 2 Sleep Bombs, 6 Bones, Raw Meat (+5 max. health upon consumption), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects permanently), Strong Wasabi (-2 Poisoned permanently) Tools etc.: Bedroll, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Shovel, Magic Compass, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest) Namyrra Uq (Quarryman) *Party Leader* 1337 years old female Fenarian Necromancer Level 49 2/5 *Immune to Sealed, Slowed, Bound, Confused, Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning and Earth* *Earn Triple XP* Power: 94 (49+45) Defense: 10 Health: 63/63 (5+48+5+5) Ether: 68/68 (5+48+1+5+4+5) Gold: 546 Equipment: Crystal Mace (WP: 45 (5*gems imbued); Fire-, Ice-, Wind-, Water-, Lightning-, Earth-, Wood-, Light-, and Darkness-elemental; Mace), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Ether:5. immune to Sealing, Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning and Earth, bodywear), Medal of Glory (gain triple XP; accessory), Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max. Ether +4, backwear), Fanged Helm (SP:5, headwear), Winged Sandals (Immune to bound and slowed, footwear) Inventory: Weapons: Mythrilized Empyreal Staff (WP:28), Nocturne Flute (WP: 6; inflicts the Asleep effect; Instrument), Pongcanis Shield (SP: 7; Shield) Artifacts: Gold Dragon Crown (max Ether +6; immune to Stunned; suitable for anyone; Headwear), Desert Cloak (immune to Fire; suitable for anyone; Backwear), Water Canteen (Carries 3 portions of water; Accessory), Cobweb Cowl (immune to Sudden Death; suitable for anyone; Backwear), Winged Sandals (immune to Bound and Slowed; suitable for anyone; Footwear), Paper Doll (immune against Hexed, Accessory) Spell Items: Amethyst, Emerald, Topaz, Garnet, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Aquamarine, Scroll of Blinding, Scroll of Arc Blinding, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Naamah's Hourglass (Randomly causes either Hastened or Slowed to the target at the cost of 3 Ether), Jade Lamp of Summoning (summons Mediq, restoring Health equal to the Level of the summoner at the cost of 5 Ether) Consumables: Potions (9), Grand Potions (5), Health Core, Tonics (4), Ether Cores (4), Remedies (10), Phoenix Essences (4), Phoenix Incenses (2), Mead (13), Smelling Salts (6), Nostrum (6), Ambrosia, Deadly Venom (3), Smoke Bombs (2), Holy Bomb, Water Bomb (14), Lightning Bomb (14), Dirt Bomb (3), Aeolus Bomb, Flash Bomb, Demon Repellant (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons for one battle, unless the user is the last one standing), Soul Cage (Doomed-effect to all combatants), Skeleton Decoys (2), Bones (17) Tools etc.: Pickaxe, Bedroll Nerwen Calmcacil (Chromeknight) 264 year old female Elven Minstrel Level 38 *Immune to sealed* *1/2 chance of Lightning Counter* Power: 52 (38+6+8) Defense: 2 (1+1) Health: 52/52 (9+37+11-5) Ether: 50/50 (5+37+4+1+3) Gold: 380 Equipment: Nocturne Flute (WP:6; causes asleep-effect; instrument), Lesser Ethereal Cloak (SP:1, Max. ether +3, immune to sealed; backwear), Zap-Tap Badge (1/2 chance to make lighting-elemental counterstrike an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level; Accessory), Leather armour (SP:1; Bodywear) Inventory: Weapons: Mutt's Flute (WP:10; inflicts Weakened-effect; instrument), Party Maracas (WP:4; user is hastened; instrument), Battered wooden flute (WP:6; Darkness-elemental; instrument), Sword of the Warrior of the Light (WP: 14; Light-Elemental, Meditate becomes hits; longsword), Mourning Star (WP: 10; Fire-elemental; inflicts Fragile-effect; mace), Bent Crowbar (WP: 8; 3x damage to Mechanical enemies; hammer), Axe of the Minotaur Champion (WP: 30; user is Slowed and Immune to Hastened, cannot be equipped at the same time as a shield; axe), Artifacts: Medal of Valor (Double experience from battles; accessory), Shield (SP: 5), Nordic Stomach Guard (SP: 3; Immunity to Ice and Water; Bodywear; Suitable for Barbarians, Regulators, and Beast Warriors), Shield of the Red Lizard (SP: 2; Immune to Blind), Seal of the Warrior Priestess (At the beginning of the battle the user has a 1/6 chance to be Transcended, a 1/6 chance to be Blessed, and a 1/6 chance to be Inspired; Accessory; Suitable for Paladins), Trickster's Mask of the Angel, Order Imperial's Assassin Cowl (Immune to Light and Darkness, Wearer is Nimble; headwear; Suitable for Assassins, Chi Monks, Infiltrators, Rogue Thieves, Paragons), Razor (user is Blessed and Immune to Bleeding, Enraged, and Encouraged; May take up any artifact slot; requires a shaved head), Helm of the Lord of Light (Immune to Light and Jinxed; headwear; Suitable for Knights), Sylvania's Cowl (Permits Animal Talk, Headwear), Counterstrike Gloves Spell Items: Opal (2), Topaz (2), Diamond (2), Amethyst, Garnet, Sapphire, Emerald, Aquamarine, Ruby, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragile, Scroll of Confusion, Hundred Hero Hymn (Inspired-effect to all allies for 10 ether; song), Consumables: Potions (7), Grand potion (2), Health Core, Grand tonic (2), Ether Core (2), Elixir (2), Remedy (4), Neutralizer (2), Tiger Balm (2), Phoenix Essence (2), Nostrum (2), Smelling Salts (2), Ambrosia (4), Venom (4), Fire Bomb, Ice Bombs (2), Lightning Bomb, Water Bombs (2), Dirt Bombs (2), Air Bomb, Bone, Milk (restores 15 HP and 15 Ether), Red Death Blood (Once applied to a weapon the first successful hit deals doomed, consumable) (2), Sushi (restores 5 health and ether), Feather of Lithe, Grating Stone Tools etc.: Shovel, Bedroll, Magnifying Glass, Telescope Thormanil Nihai, Dragonslayer, Orc-kin (swils) 23 years old male vertically challenged giant Dragoon Level 46 2/5 *Immune to Darkness, Light, Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Asleep, Blinded, Bound, Confused, Fragile,Slowed, and Weakened* *Gains Triple XP* Power: 65 (48+16+1) Defense: 13 (10+3) Health: 68/68 (8+45+15) Gold: 1999 Equipment: Shishkebab (WP: 16, dual-strike, darkness-elemental, lance), Skirmisher's Shield (SP:10, shield), Bright Armor (SP:3, Wearer is immune to Darkness, bodywear), Winged Sandals (Wearer is immune to Light, Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, and Lightning, and the Asleep, Blinded, Bound, Confused, Fragile, Slowed, and Weakened-effects; footwear), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains triple experience, accessory) Inventory: Weapons: Dragonsbane Lance (WP: 20, triple damage to enemies with 'Dragon' in their name, lance), Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Guardian Halberd (WP: 5, target's defense is used as additional WP, halberd), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, deals Stunned, halberd), Tongue on a Stick (WP:1, Miss -> "Aim"), Frozen Saber (WP: 9, longsword, Stuns enemies), Repeater Crossbow (WP: 7, crossbow. Hastened for first round of combat while equipped.), Mercutio's Dagger of Mugging (WP:5, +5 gold from stealing; dagger), Composite Bow (WP:11, ignores defense, bow) Artifacts:Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Weredog (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Accessory), Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Aqua Gear (Wearer deals and is immune to water-elemental damage) Spell Items: 2x Amethyst (Darkness), Emerald (Wood), Opal (Ice) Consumables: Potion, Diluted Arc Tonic, Grand Tonic, 2x Remedy, 2x Phoenix Essence, Neutralizer, Milk, 2x Elixir, 2x Nostrum, 3x Smelling Salts, 3x Mulled Wine, Soma, Jinxy Juice, 2x Feather of Lithe, 3x Venom, 2x Deadly Venom, 2x Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, 3x Smoke Bomb, Ice Bomb, 5x Water Bomb, Doomsday Bomb (99 damage to all enemies), 2x Grating Stone, Teleportapple Tools etc.: Pickaxe, Shovel, Magnifying Glass Arx the Youngling (Pet Dragon controlled by swils) Level: 46 2/5 Health: 76/76 (30+46) Element: Ice

QM Note: The next update will be on Sunday, due to Helsinki Pride. Keeping the rainbow flag high! Sarge and the begrudging Periwinkle joined Heckz at the Buried Pyramid, where the werelions had just uncovered an entrance. "Hey, did you just make us do all the hard work for you?!" "Nevermind that, we just have to beat them to the gem. Come on!" The werelions disappeared inside the pyramid, with the party following suit. The corridor went in two different directions: left and right. "Err... Which way now?" "Let them decide. That way Nalah can't blame us for choosing wrong." ~TREASURE HUNT #1: BURIED PYRAMID~ The party must decide whether to take the left or the right path from the start to the treasure. But both paths are full of perils that hinder movement, so the party must tread with care. Whichever party reaches the treasure with the least amount of turns taken, wins the race. Tiles: Start Empty Hole Barricade Treasure (Gobbledegook's Gem) Possible actions: Walking through an empty tile: 1 turn Jumping over a tile: 2 turns Removing a barricade with bare hands: 6 turns Removing a barricade with pickaxe or shovel: 3 turns Removing a barricade with spell: 2 turns Getting caught in a trap: 5 turns Inspecting a tile with a microscope for traps: 1 turn The Rakshasa are equipped with shovels. Which path will the party choose and how will they advance? Party at Luxor Dunes: Sgt. Jon McEncy (Pyrovisionary) *Party Leader* 54 year old male human Black Knight Level 23 *Immune to Blinded and Stunned* *Poisonous Defense* *Permanently Hastened* Power: 48 (23+21+2+2) Defense: 20 (16+4) Health: 47/47 (7+22+9+3+3+3) Gold: 150 Equipment: Demonic Greatswords (WP:21, dual strike, Light and Darkness elemental greatsword, Hollow [Potion]), Serpenthead Shield (SP:16, causes poisoned by 2-effect to anyone physically attacking the user, shield), Pegleg of Hastening (Permanent Hastened effect to the user; Immune to Blinded, suitable to Sarge only; footwear), Black Knight's Armour (SP:4, protects from stunned-effect; suitable for black knights; bodywear), Swift boots (Changes HIDE into STEAL & HIDE, allowing the wearer to steal gold equal to the target’s level if it carries gold in addition to hiding) Inventory: Weapons Wooden Spear (WP:4, wood-elemental spear) Artifacts Monkey Armor (SP:4, immune to earth and bound; suitable to knights, beast warriors, dragoons, skirmishers and winged warriors; bodywear), Ranger’s Quiver (WP +1 to bows and crossbows, suitable for rangers, beast warriors, infiltrators and winged warriors; backwear), Sterope’s Headdress (Grants the ability to spend a turn to fly out of a battle and return to it later if it is still going; the wearer cannot affect the battle in any way when they are away from it; suitable to winged warriors only; headwear), Encore Plectrum (If the same Battle Song is sung for more than one round in a row, the song’s ether cost for the consecutive rounds is halved; suitable to minstrels; accessory.) Spell Items: Garnet (Earth), “True Love Serenade” (restores 50 health to the rest of the party per round; costs 10 ether; Battle Song) Consumables: 3 Potions, 2 Grand potions, Health Core, 4 Remedies, 2 Phoenix Essences, Nostrum, 4 Venoms, Deadly Venom, 3 Smoke Bombs, Sleep Bomb, Gaia Bomb (Deals 100 earth-elemental damage to all opponents when used.)2 Bones, Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.) Tools etc.: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Business Card, Mistarian Grey Panther (quest item) John 'Heckz' Brutenhal, the Ghostbuster, the Super Sleuth and the School Inspector (Cutcobra) 32 year old male human Sorcerer Level 26 *Jinxed Spells at Double Cost* *Darkness Spells Cause Weakened* *Encouraged* Power: 38 (26+12) (Spellpower: 48 (26+12+10)) Defense: 0 Health: 34/34 (5+25+4) Ether: 37/37 (5+25+1+5+1) Gold: 450 Equipment: Solemn Dagger (WP: 12, darkness-elemental dagger, 1/2 chance of causing sealed), Magician's Gloves (Spellpower +10; suitable for mages; handwear), Cloak of Blood Magic (+5 ether, attacks made with darkness magic cause weakened; suitable for mages, necromancers and chi monks; bodywear), Bad Luck Charm (Makes the sorcerer’s spells - including Razzmatazz and Sleight of Hand - cause an additional jinxed-effect, increasing their ether cost by 1; suitable for sorcerers; accessory) Inventory: Rawr (WP:9, dagger), Bone Whip (WP:9, damages undead, whip), Harlot's Outfit (SP: 2, immune to poisoned; suitable for Witches, Sorcerers and Harlots; bodywear/footwear), Buffoon's Hat (Prevents anyone from taking the wearer seriously; protects from Free Hits unless the wearer is the last hero standing; headwear), Watt's Artifact (Makes the user’s attacks and spells three times more effective against demons; accessory), Robe Of The Archmagi (SP:3, Max. Ether + 5, immune to sealed; bodywear), Opal (Ice), Garnet (Earth), Amethyst (Darkness), Aquamarine (Water), Ether Core, Neutralizer, Mead, Demeter Bomb, 2x Smoke Bomb, 2x Deadly Venom, Heady Perfume (Makes non-humanoid monsters avoid attacking the party unless provoked. Effect lasts for one section of the day before wearing out.), 7 Bones, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Compass, Blue Jelly, Fifty Shades of Bley (Grants holder access to Harlot), Old Teddy (quest item), Flower-tailed Flying Squirrel (quest item), 2x Meat Lump (quest item) Periwinkle (NPC, controlled by Khorne) 19 years old female human Cleric Level 31 2/4 *Divert Attacks* *Immune to stunned, poisoned, bleeding, cursed, asleep, fast asleep, confused and hexed* Power: 32 (31+1) Health: 39/39 (9+30) Ether: 35/35 (5+30) Gold: 18 Equipment: Jaws' Mop (WP:1, double damage against aquatic enemies; broomstick), Narcissus Mirror (User has 1/2 chance to divert direct attacks to the next ally in turn; accessory), Periwinkle Ribbon (Grants immunity to stunned, poisoned, bleeding, cursed, asleep, fast asleep, confused and hexed; suitable for Periwinkle only; headwear) Inventory: Remedy, Neutralizer, Phoenix Essence Doctor Jiivni seemed appreciative. "Thank you. For finding it! The Grand Library. Will be open. Once again! Please. Come by. Later. When you. Have the time." Their third day in Salmanda turned into an evening when Boomingham, Eric and Rex reached the Verdant Wetlands of Kalakita Bog. With Rex's tracking skills they caught up with the treasure hunting werelions. "Come on, Liara! There's nothing to be afraid - you're safe with me." "I am not afraid. What exactly makes you think that, Sumba Warmane?" "Umm, you know... You're a girl, and we're in a swamp full of creepy crawlies and other ugly HOLY HYENA WHAT IS THAT?!" "It's just a chameleon. But don't worry - you're safe with me." The werelion's scream made all the birds and the serpivines flee from the trees - straight towards the party. PREPARE FOR BATTLE! Enemies: Bird-of-Paradise *Can only be hit by ranged attacks, spells and items* Type: Flying/Holy Level: 38 Health: 342/342 Special: Angel Feathers – Bestows the blessed-effect to all allies and removes all negative effects. Drops: Soma, Meat Lump (quest item) Tweetybird A *Immune to sealed* Type: Flying Level: 10 Health: 99/99 Special: Song of Silence – Causes the sealed-effect to all opponents. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Seal Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the sealed-effect to all opponents when used.) 4-6: Meat Lump (quest item) Tweetybird B *Immune to sealed* Type: Flying Level: 10 Health: 99/99 Special: Song of Silence – Causes the sealed-effect to all opponents. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Seal Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the sealed-effect to all opponents when used.) 4-6: Meat Lump (quest item) Tweetybird C *Immune to sealed* Type: Flying Level: 10 Health: 99/99 Special: Song of Silence – Causes the sealed-effect to all opponents. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Seal Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the sealed-effect to all opponents when used.) 4-6: Meat Lump (quest item) Serpivine A *Immune to poisoned* Type: Vermin/Plant Level: 21 Health: 373/373 Special: Poisonous Coil – Causes poisoned by 6- and bound-effects to the target. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Deadly Venom 4-6: Floral Bomb Serpivine B *Immune to poisoned* Type: Vermin/Plant Level: 21 Health: 373/373 Special: Poisonous Coil – Causes poisoned by 6- and bound-effects to the target. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Deadly Venom 4-6: Floral Bomb Serpivine C *Immune to poisoned* Type: Vermin/Plant Level: 21 Health: 373/373 Special: Poisonous Coil – Causes poisoned by 6- and bound-effects to the target. Drops (varies by roll): 1-3: Deadly Venom 4-6: Floral Bomb Party at Kalakita Bog: Eric (Khorne) 30 year old norseman Raider *Party Second-in-Command* Level 27 1/3 *Natural Respite* *Evasion* *Immune to Fragile, Weakened, Asleep, Water and Earth* Power: 47 (27+18+2) Defense: 5 Health: 50/50 (8+7+26+4+5) Gold: 223 Equipment: Conspirator (WP:18, causes Blinded; longsword), Pugilist's Gloves (Power +2, protects from Weakened; handwear), Heavy Armor (SP:5, protects from Fragile; bodywear), Boots of Evasion (Wearer takes half damage in front row + Immunity to Water, Earth and Asleep; footwear) Inventory: Weapons: Godricsleif (WP: 22; Ice-, Lightning-, Darkness-elemental; greatsword), Drengazuli Grom'az (WP:6; Dual Strike; axe), 2 Diseased Silverfish Wings (WP:8, causes cursed-effect, retrievable, throwing weapon) Spell Items: Garnet (Earth) Consumables: Potion, 10 Grand Potions, Health Core, 3 Elixirs, 3 Remedies, Neutralizer, 7 Meads, 6 Smelling Salts, 3 Nostrum, 5 Mulled Wine, Ambrosia, Dragon Scale, Venom, Deadly Venom, 2 Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Aeolus Bomb, 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.), Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Bone Tools etc.: Lord Lawrence Boomingham (Zepher) 48 years old human Paladin Level 34 *Immune to Darkness, Fire, Fragile, Stunned, Sleep, Weakened, and Blindness* Power: 56 (34+17+4+1) Defense: 11 (7+4) Health: 57/57 (10+33+11+2+1) Ether: 30/34 Gold: 70 Equipment: Scupperer (WP: 17; darkness-, fire- and earth-elemental; inflicts bleeding and poisoned by 10; has 1/2 chance each to inflict blinded, sealed, weakened and fragile; greatsword) Round Metal Shield (SP:7), Tome of Affluence (+10 Gold if equipped for the entirety of a battle; grants immunity to fragile, asleep, weakened, blinded, darkness and fire; accessory), Counterstrike Gloves (If the wearer is damaged by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to their level; handwear.), Scarlet Hood (SP:4, grants immunity to stunned) Inventory: Weapons: Frozen Saber (WP: 14; light-, ice- and wind-elemental; inflicts stunned; great sword), Lullaby Wand (WP:6, inflicts asleep), Silver Sword (WP: 18, Longsword), Artifacts: Hood of Belthazar Bluehood (Power +4; Ether -6; headwear), Chains of the Pongcanis Chief (Hero Pierces SP if fighting from Front, Enemies ignore SP if hero fights from the back row, cannot be removed in battle), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; accessory, suitable to Erdathcath only) Spell Items: Amethyst (Darkness), Scroll of Recklessness (Encouraged and Fragile; costs 5 Ether; 50/50 chance), Emerald Lamp of Summoning (0/3), “True Love Serenade” (restores 50 health to the rest of the party per round; costs 10 ether; Battle Song) Consumables: Potion, Health Core, x2 Remedy, Elixir, Phoenix Essence, x6 Mead, x4 Nostrum, Ambrosia, x2 Smelling Salts, Fire Brandy (Encouraged, Immune to Ice), Fireball Whiskey (Immunity to Fire One Battle OR 20 Fire Damage All Enemies), Hamantasch (Lucky, Blessed), Jinxy Juice, Feather of Flight (Allows the user to flee from the battle when used.), Hair of the Dog, x2 Grating Stone, Oculoid Miasma, Oculoid Fireworks, Saber Teeth, Mythril Shard Tools: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe Rex the Rhinotaur, the Mighty Mercenary (NPC, controlled by Zepher) 35 years old male wererhino Paragon Level 60 *Initiative* *Restoration* *Aura of Honor* *Gamble* *No Escape* Power: 95 (60+30+5) Defense: 12 Health: 92/92 (8+59+25) Gold: 625 Equipment: Grindoceros (WP:30; halves target's defense with every successful hit; hammer), Mighty Cuirass (SP:12, suitable to paragons only; bodywear), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing battles; accessory.) Inventory: Greater Potion (Restores 50 health), Greater Tonic (Restores 30 ether), Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Mead, Smelling Salts, Nostrum Location: Verdant Wetlands, Kalakita Bog Time: Evening of the Third Day Influence: 6 Subquests:

When it forces me to explain painstakingly obvious rules (or rather, makes people confused about them), it does hurt a bit. Treat your pet dragon like another party member, not like an item. That way you will know what you can use on it and what you can't.

Exactly. I wonder how people can even misinterpret such a clear rule... You can blame me not being native English speaker for that. I always thought they were synonymous, until I read about it from Wikipedia recently. You are incorrect about the difference, though: venoms are toxins that are injected by a sting or a bite of an animal, while poison refers to any substance that causes disturbances to organisms when absorbed by a sufficient amount (ie. just about everything). But as this is a game, we cannot really be willy-nilly about terms and make our own wild interpretations, but must follow the spirit of the rules when in doubt. Otherwise there's no point in having rules at all.

~PRELUDE~ Somewhere underneath Eubric Freeport... "So, you are back. You disappeared quickly once the truth came out. I was beginning to worry that you had bailed our cause." "I had to prepare, Ulric-dear. I wasn't ready for my little secret to come out soon, but everything is not yet lost." "I see you have lost your perfect complexion, Barbie. I assume you have worked your magic, then?" "I have had to resort to some... extraterrestrial measures, yes, and I admit it has worn me out a bit. But I assure you, everything is tightly in my control." "So, you're a mindflayer. Of the ancient sort, even. Never could have figured that out myself. Care to tell me more about it now that it's public? I really ought to know." "Very well, if you have the time to listen. It is a really long story. Where should I begin...?" Spesialia, the Realm of the Star Elves, was established thousands of years ago and was the first elven kingdom in the world. It was soon caught up with inner turmoil as the many families fought for power. Eventually the civil war came down to two mightiest families, the Alphieth and the Fenari, duking it out. The Fenari and their supporters lost to the more powerful alliance formed around the Alphieth, and were banished from Valastra, the capital city. Having no other place to go, the Fenari and their allies retreated underground. There the elves discovered crystals with immense magical properties they named Nekrastones. The power of the Nekrastones made them nigh immortal, but also twisted their appearances, making their skin pallid white and eyes bloodshot, and deteriorated their pointy ears. They became known as Fenarians, and their subterranean realm became called Fenario. This newfound power gave them power to strike back at the Star Elves, devastating the seven cities around Spesialia and forcing the Alphieth to seal away Valastra for good. That put the whole kingdom in decline, cutting out most outside influences and making the elves introverted and conservative. The constant state of war did not benefit the Fenarians, either, for they were practically trapped below the ground, having to fend of the multitude of monsters that dwelled in the dark caverns - among them the primordial Mindflayers that sucked powers and life-force from other living creatures. The Fenarian council of sorcerers, known as The Trine, invented a Psycrown that tracked down Mindflayers and prevented from accessing the wearer's mind. That way the Mindflayers of the old were vanquished to the brink of extinction. One of them managed to gather enough power and knowledge to escape Fenario before being discovered by the Psycrown, though. That Mindflayer travelled the world in search of people with great power to add to her own, starting with the sorcerers of the Tower of Babel. "I assume you are talking about yourself. Then the Heroicans heading to Spesialia to find a way to kill you are a real problem." "To say the least. If they learn about the Psycrown and obtain it from the Fenarians, they will gain the upper hand on me. But like I said, I have been making preparations..." ~*~*~*~*~*~ Five heroes and a small dragon were called to the Veterans' Chambers in Heroica Hall. There they found the six leaders of their organization standing by a golden archway. "Everyone is accounted for, yes? Now, let us not make this quest end up all messy like the last one did. You have one clear mission: find a way to rid the world of the immortal witch Baba." "Not witch but a mindflayer, remember?" "The one from the ancient myths, to be exact, not the relatively harmless variety found nowadays. It is not clear if Baba is even related to the modern mindflayers, but the Spesialian Scriptures describe an ancient breed capable of not only telepathy, but absorbing lifeforce and magic from other living beings." "That's why Baba has been able to live through the centuries - she has robbed the lives of other people, like that poor Ziegfried lad." "And the scope of her skills is beyond most mages. She has been witnessed summoning spirits and demons, forming portals and controlling crowds with her singing. She was there during the War of the Sun and the Moon that was waged between Ennon and Mercution, and I wouldn't be surprised if she had been using the Mad King Haeresias to her own ends." "And now she is helping a new king rise to power. History must not be allowed to repeat itself!" "That is your cue. The women will send you through this archway into the heart of Spesialia - the only place on Olegaia that has recorded history with these ancient Mindflayers. According to the scriptures, they were eradicated once, so surely there are means to take out this last one. But before we whisk you away, we need to make sure you are up for the task. If there is any hesitation in your mind, speak now." Party: Johon, The Champion of Darkness (Bricksandparts) 26 years old male human Raider Level 32 3/4 *Natural Respite* *Permanently Lucky* *1.5 stealing multiplier* *Hide of The Bleeding* Power: 45 (32+13) Defense: 1 Health: 46/46 (32+7+7) Gold: 6265 Equipment: Muckraker (WP:+13, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators, *Water, Wood, Earth*, Causes *Weakened*), Satchel of Awesomeness (suit: Anyone, *Permanently Lucky*), Hide of The Bleeding (suit: Anyone, +10HP +5ETH for every enemy user defeats), Sticky Gloves (suit: Rogues/Beast Warriors, 1.5 multiplier for stealing), Dog Statuette (Rover) (suit: Anyone, SP:+1) Inventory: Weapons: Sword of Decay (WP:+8, suit: Barbaians/Knights/Mages, Causes *Decayed by X-3 rounds* X=dmg dealt/4, Effect does not stack), Greatsword (WP:+3, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Beast Warriors/Necromancers/Regulators), Focal Staff (WP:+5, suit: Clerics/Mages, Ability: Roll 3 at cost of 5 ether), Gladius (WP:+15, suit: Anyone, Darkness, 1/3 chance of causing *Fragile* on succesful hits), Stalker’s Mallet (WP:+8, suit: Barbarians/Knights/Harlots, 1/2 chance of causing *sealed*), Lullaby Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *asleep*), Lovelorn Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enamored*), Scaridy Wand (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *afraid*), Wand of Wrath (WP:+6, suit: Mages/Necromancers, Causes *enraged*), Shield (SP:+5, Suit: Knights/Dragoons/Regulators/Skirmishers), Old Whip (WP:+10, suit: Rogues/Artisans/Beast Warriors/Decamon Drafters/Harlots/Marauders/Necromancers, 2X damage vs. Beasts), Qlice (WP:+8, club, Causes *Poisoned-by-4*), Luminous Bow (WP:+9, suit: Rangers/Beast Warriors/Weather Mages/Winged Warriors, 3X damage vs. Fiery/Dark, 0X damage vs. Plants/Aquatic) Artifacts: Simple Helmet (suit: Anyone, HP:+1), Pseudo's hood (suit: Anyone, Ignores Undead immunity), Quiver of Poisoning (suit: Rangers/Beast Warriors/Infiltrators/Winged Warriors, Causes *Poisoned by 1* using bows/crossbows), Blessed Amulet (suit: Anyone, *Immune to cursed*), Barbarian's Boots (suit: Barbarians/Chi Monks/Beast Warriors, *Restoration*), Counterstrike Gloves (suit: Anyone, deals damage equal to level when hit with free-hit), Sterile Gloves (Suit: Anyone, *Immune to Poisoned/Bleeding*), Bravado Boots (suit: Anyone, 1/6 chance of receiving *Lucky* at start of battle), Scarlet Hood (suit: Anyone, pwr:+4, *immune to stunned*), Steel Core (suit: Anyone, +7 power), Heavy Armour (suit: Bararians/Knights, SP:+5, *Immune to Fragile*), Tin Helmet (suit: Anyone, *Immune to Hexed/Confused*) Spell Items: Aquamarine (2), Emerald (1), Garnet (1), Opal (1), Ruby (1), Sapphire (1), Topaz (1), Diamond (2), Amethyst (2), Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (1), Scroll of Confusion (1), Scroll of Frailty (1), Scroll of Weakening (1), Scroll of Antimagic (1) Consumables: Potion (27), Grand Potion (17), Tonic (0), Grand Tonic (1), Health Core (3), Phoenix Essence (2), Remedy (10), Mead (15), Smelling Salts (18), Nostrum 16), Venom (10), Deadly Venom (7), Smoke Bomb (1) , Fire Bomb (1), Water Bomb (5), Lightning Bomb (14), Bone (14), Skeleton Decoy (2), Ambrosia (2), Mulled Wine (1), (1)Trial Brew (1), Ectoplasm (1), Level-Up Mushroom (1), Grating Stone (1), Blind Fury (1), Neutralizer (1), Equilibrium Tonic (1), Oculoid Miasma (1) Tools etc.: Shovels (1), Pick-axes (2), Magic Compasses (1), Water Canteens (2), Lonely Island Magniscope (1), Blue Rose (Invasion of Luosh) (1), Fifty Shades of Bley (1), Mythril Shards (1), Silver Ore (1) Monk Pretzel and His 99 Pieces, the Super Sleuth (Palathadric) 463-year-old male "hermit" Artisan Level 33 3/4 *Permanently Reinforced* Power: 42 (33+7+2) Defense: 32 (16x2) Health: 61/61 (9+32+15+3+2) Gold: 953 Equipment: Dual Staff (WP: 7; Ice, Lightning, Fire, Wind, Light; Dual Strike; Staff), Darksteel Armour (SP: 6; Max. Health +3; Bodywear), Armour of Dark Arts (SP: 10; Takes up: Bodywear, Handwear, Footwear slots; counts as one artifact; Suitable to Knights, Dragoons, and Skirmishers), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced effect; Suitable to Marauders; Backwear), Soul Link Chain (Allows the user to pair up with another party member, both of them gaining all the effects that the other has. The partner has to equip the chain as well (ie. one chain can be shared by two people); Accessory) Inventory: Weapons: Flying Cross (WP: 11; Darkness; Broomstick), Splinter Broom (WP: 9; Broomstick; defies SP), Whip of Savage Overlords (WP: 9; ⅙ chance of inflicting the Slowed effect; Whip), Steak (WP: 1, instantly kills vampires on successful hits; suitable for all), Staff of the Necromancer (WP: 12; damages Undead; +1 Level to raised Undead; Staff), Healing Staff (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging), Shadeaux Mace (WP: 9; deals Fragile effect, Mace), Mythril Shield (SP: 20) Artifacts: Strategist's Shako (+5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back; Headwear), Duplovian Helmet (SP:2; Immune to Magic and Healing; Headwear), Burning Knuckle Helmet (SP: 10; Wearer suffers Burning -3 effect; Suitable for Anyone; Headwear), Bumble Fanshirt (SP: 1, Vermin with level less than half of the wearers are scared and won't directly attack the wearer; Bodywear), Order Imperial Prophet's Armor (SP: 8; Grants Command; Suitable for Prophets; Bodywear), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP: 5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; Suitable for Knights, Dragoons, Skirmishers and Regulators, Bodywear), Cloak of the Barbaric Runecaster (SP: 3; wearer creates and deploys a Skeleton Decoy at the start of every battle; Suitable for Battle Mages, Necromancers, and Scholars; Backwear), Ethereal Cloak (SP: 2, Max Ether +4; Backwear), Cloak of Necrotic Shielding (SP: 3; Provides Special Guard against Undead enemies; Backwear), Rock Gauntlets (Grants the wearer Iron Fist at no ether cost; Suitable for anyone; Handwear), Counterstrike Gloves (Handwear), Soothing Slippers (Meditation restores 5 ether; Footwear), Shackles of War (Accessory), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Spell Items: 2 Amethysts, 2 Emeralds, Garnet, 2 Aquamarines, Diamond, Ruby, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness x 2, Scroll of Confusion x 2, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Minimizing (Has 1/2 chance of causing the minimized-effect on the target; costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Arc Sleep Consumables: 2 Potions, 15 Grand Potions, Cherry (Restores 1 ether), 2 Tonics, Ether Core, Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), 6 Remedies, 3 Neutralizers, 2 Phoenix Incenses, 4 Phoenix Essences, 4 Meads, 3 Smelling Salts, 3 Nostrums, Soma, Mulled Wine, Tiger Balm, 5 Venoms, 5 Deadly Venoms, 2 Paralyzing Venoms, 3 Jinxy Juices, 5 Smoke Bombs, 2 Fire Bombs, Holy Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb, 2 Blind Bombs, 2 Seal Bombs, 2 Sleep Bombs, 6 Bones, Raw Meat (+5 max. health upon consumption), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects permanently), Strong Wasabi (-2 Poisoned permanently) Tools etc.: Bedroll, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Shovel, Magic Compass, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest) Namyrra Uq (Quarryman) *Party Leader* 1337 years old female Fenarian Necromancer Level 49 2/5 *Immune to Sealed, Slowed, Bound, Confused, Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning and Earth* *Earn Triple XP* Power: 94 (49+45) Defense: 10 Health: 63/63 (5+48+5+5) Ether: 68/68 (5+48+1+5+4+5) Gold: 546 Equipment: Crystal Mace (WP: 45 (5*gems imbued); Fire-, Ice-, Wind-, Water-, Lightning-, Earth-, Wood-, Light-, and Darkness-elemental; Mace), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Ether:5. immune to Sealing, Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning and Earth, bodywear), Medal of Glory (gain triple XP; accessory), Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max. Ether +4, backwear), Fanged Helm (SP:5, headwear), Winged Sandals (Immune to bound and slowed, footwear) Inventory: Weapons: Mythrilized Empyreal Staff (WP:28), Nocturne Flute (WP: 6; inflicts the Asleep effect; Instrument), Pongcanis Shield (SP: 7; Shield) Artifacts: Gold Dragon Crown (max Ether +6; immune to Stunned; suitable for anyone; Headwear), Desert Cloak (immune to Fire; suitable for anyone; Backwear), Water Canteen (Carries 3 portions of water; Accessory), Cobweb Cowl (immune to Sudden Death; suitable for anyone; Backwear), Winged Sandals (immune to Bound and Slowed; suitable for anyone; Footwear), Paper Doll (immune against Hexed, Accessory) Spell Items: Amethyst, Emerald, Topaz, Garnet, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Aquamarine, Scroll of Blinding, Scroll of Arc Blinding, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Naamah's Hourglass (Randomly causes either Hastened or Slowed to the target at the cost of 3 Ether), Jade Lamp of Summoning (summons Mediq, restoring Health equal to the Level of the summoner at the cost of 5 Ether) Consumables: Potions (9), Grand Potions (5), Health Core, Tonics (4), Ether Cores (4), Remedies (10), Phoenix Essences (4), Phoenix Incenses (2), Mead (13), Smelling Salts (6), Nostrum (6), Ambrosia, Deadly Venom (3), Smoke Bombs (2), Holy Bomb, Water Bomb (14), Lightning Bomb (14), Dirt Bomb (3), Aeolus Bomb, Flash Bomb, Demon Repellant (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons for one battle, unless the user is the last one standing), Soul Cage (Doomed-effect to all combatants), Skeleton Decoys (2), Bones (17) Tools etc.: Pickaxe, Bedroll Nerwen Calmcacil (Chromeknight) 264 year old female Elven Minstrel Level 38 *Immune to sealed* *1/2 chance of Lightning Counter* Power: 52 (38+6+8) Defense: 2 (1+1) Health: 52/52 (9+37+11-5) Ether: 50/50 (5+37+4+1+3) Gold: 380 Equipment: Nocturne Flute (WP:6; causes asleep-effect; instrument), Lesser Ethereal Cloak (SP:1, Max. ether +3, immune to sealed; backwear), Zap-Tap Badge (1/2 chance to make lighting-elemental counterstrike an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level; Accessory), Leather armour (SP:1; Bodywear) Inventory: Weapons: Mutt's Flute (WP:10; inflicts Weakened-effect; instrument), Party Maracas (WP:4; user is hastened; instrument), Battered wooden flute (WP:6; Darkness-elemental; instrument), Sword of the Warrior of the Light (WP: 14; Light-Elemental, Meditate becomes hits; longsword), Mourning Star (WP: 10; Fire-elemental; inflicts Fragile-effect; mace), Bent Crowbar (WP: 8; 3x damage to Mechanical enemies; hammer), Axe of the Minotaur Champion (WP: 30; user is Slowed and Immune to Hastened, cannot be equipped at the same time as a shield; axe), Artifacts: Medal of Valor (Double experience from battles; accessory), Shield (SP: 5), Nordic Stomach Guard (SP: 3; Immunity to Ice and Water; Bodywear; Suitable for Barbarians, Regulators, and Beast Warriors), Shield of the Red Lizard (SP: 2; Immune to Blind), Seal of the Warrior Priestess (At the beginning of the battle the user has a 1/6 chance to be Transcended, a 1/6 chance to be Blessed, and a 1/6 chance to be Inspired; Accessory; Suitable for Paladins), Trickster's Mask of the Angel, Order Imperial's Assassin Cowl (Immune to Light and Darkness, Wearer is Nimble; headwear; Suitable for Assassins, Chi Monks, Infiltrators, Rogue Thieves, Paragons), Razor (user is Blessed and Immune to Bleeding, Enraged, and Encouraged; May take up any artifact slot; requires a shaved head), Helm of the Lord of Light (Immune to Light and Jinxed; headwear; Suitable for Knights), Sylvania's Cowl (Permits Animal Talk, Headwear), Counterstrike Gloves Spell Items: Opal (2), Topaz (2), Diamond (2), Amethyst, Garnet, Sapphire, Emerald, Aquamarine, Ruby, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragile, Scroll of Confusion, Hundred Hero Hymn (Inspired-effect to all allies for 10 ether; song), Consumables: Potions (7), Grand potion (2), Health Core, Grand tonic (2), Ether Core (2), Elixir (2), Remedy (4), Neutralizer (2), Tiger Balm (2), Phoenix Essence (2), Nostrum (2), Smelling Salts (2), Ambrosia (4), Venom (4), Fire Bomb, Ice Bombs (2), Lightning Bomb, Water Bombs (2), Dirt Bombs (2), Air Bomb, Bone, Milk (restores 15 HP and 15 Ether), Red Death Blood (Once applied to a weapon the first successful hit deals doomed, consumable) (2), Sushi (restores 5 health and ether), Feather of Lithe, Grating Stone Tools etc.: Shovel, Bedroll, Magnifying Glass, Telescope Thormanil Nihai, Dragonslayer, Orc-kin (swils) 23 years old male vertically challenged giant Dragoon Level 46 2/5 *Immune to Darkness, Light, Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Asleep, Blinded, Bound, Confused, Fragile,Slowed, and Weakened* *Gains Triple XP* Power: 65 (48+16+1) Defense: 13 (10+3) Health: 68/68 (8+45+15) Gold: 1999 Equipment: Shishkebab (WP: 16, dual-strike, darkness-elemental, lance), Skirmisher's Shield (SP:10, shield), Bright Armor (SP:3, Wearer is immune to Darkness, bodywear), Winged Sandals (Wearer is immune to Light, Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, and Lightning, and the Asleep, Blinded, Bound, Confused, Fragile, Slowed, and Weakened-effects; footwear), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains triple experience, accessory) Inventory: Weapons: Dragonsbane Lance (WP: 20, triple damage to enemies with 'Dragon' in their name, lance), Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Guardian Halberd (WP: 5, target's defense is used as additional WP, halberd), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, deals Stunned, halberd), Tongue on a Stick (WP:1, Miss -> "Aim"), Frozen Saber (WP: 9, longsword, Stuns enemies), Repeater Crossbow (WP: 7, crossbow. Hastened for first round of combat while equipped.), Mercutio's Dagger of Mugging (WP:5, +5 gold from stealing; dagger), Composite Bow (WP:11, ignores defense, bow) Artifacts:Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Weredog (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Accessory), Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Aqua Gear (Wearer deals and is immune to water-elemental damage) Spell Items: 2x Amethyst (Darkness), Emerald (Wood), Opal (Ice) Consumables: Potion, Diluted Arc Tonic, Grand Tonic, 2x Remedy, 2x Phoenix Essence, Neutralizer, Milk, 2x Elixir, 2x Nostrum, 3x Smelling Salts, 3x Mulled Wine, Soma, Jinxy Juice, 2x Feather of Lithe, 3x Venom, 2x Deadly Venom, 2x Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, 3x Smoke Bomb, Ice Bomb, 5x Water Bomb, Doomsday Bomb (99 damage to all enemies), 2x Grating Stone, Teleportapple Tools etc.: Pickaxe, Shovel, Magnifying Glass Arx the Youngling (Pet Dragon controlled by swils) Level: 46 2/5 Health: 76/76 (30+46) Element: Ice QM Note: Welcome to the quest, finally! Sorry for making you wait. There shouldn't be too many delays from here-on-out, expect for this Saturday, when I am participating in Helsinki Pride for the whole day.

Also, fantasy names are generally harder to discern and remember than real-life names. Most everybody can spell Elizabeth, despite it being a relatively long name, but Erdathcath is a whole different issue...

Ellaria's heart sunk as she saw the papers. Everything seemed to literally require going through the rock to achieve down there... "And the archives are free access, I assume? Or is there a different stack of papers that I need to fill?" Ellaria searched for a way to the archives.

Ellaria smiled at the portly dwarf. "It was my pleasure to help. I am Doctor Ellaria Arbour from the alchemist's guild in Eubric, by the way. I might take up on your offer, Mr. Stoute. It seems our business here in Brumpknob will take some time..." Ellaria sighed, ready to give up on the bureaucratic dwarves. "I do not, for I am merely the carrier of the remains. I wish Miss Thisbeen had warned me about this beforehand... Just hand me the papers and I will do my best to fill them in. With your kind assistance, Dumora."