Sandy

Ellaria followed Hybros silently, hearing her heart beat loudly. Suddenly a luminous figure appears in front of her, blocking her view of the others. She quickly swings her staff at it from the back row.

"Hope you find what you are looking for", Ellaria muttered at Hybros' back. "And not something else..." She then settled down at the entrance of the library, waiting for the others to get ready.

"You have to remember what happened to the Moon Elves and the worshippers of Zoot. If that's the price of knowledge, I really am ready to forgo that."

Yes, you cannot pick and choose cards. And of course players can trade cards just as they can any other items.

"Please don't misunderstand me, Hybros", Ellaria begged, feeling increasingly uneasy. "I'm not stopping any of you from getting whatever books you want. I just don't want them. I only came on this quest for the reward, but I ended up finding out the answer to the one question that has been troubling me for years now. That in itself is more than I could've dared to ask for." She motioned around her. "But can't you feel it, too? This library is not natural. These tomes should be nothing but dust by now, if this place predates even the Moon Elven Kingdom. I'm no scholar, but even I know that much."

After pulling Hodurr out of the cellar, the party left the Tower of Babel. They followed the fuse wires out of the gate on the wall, where Dain and Walbartan were already waiting. The fuse ended at a contraption the alchemist had referred to as the detonator that allowed him to make the bombs explode from a safe distance. "I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined I would one day be responsible for demolishing one of the greatest landmarks in whole Olegaia. Well, at least I will be known for something. No chance for regrets, because here we go!" The boom was earshattering. Fire and smoke rose from the bottom of the tower as it began to crumble down with increasing speed. The magenta lights flickered in the upper windows until they were covered in the cloud of smoke. It was an awe-inspiring vision. Then it was over. The Tower of Babel was no more, its secrets erased for eternity. The party stood silently on the Blood Brick Road, gazing at the smoke rising from the other side of the wall, until they heard footsteps approaching. "Theee deeed iiis dooone. Miiistress wiiill beee pleeeased." Mr. Gaunt grinned widely. Bluto Ziegfried stood behind him, looking pale and ashamed. "No doubt about that..." muttered Walbartan, bitterly. "Ev'rything went SMOOTH as ale down me THROAT. Ye can thank ME fer a BIG part in that!" Hodurr boasted. "Psst!" Dain leaned towards Periwinkle and whispered. "Who are these people?" "They're from the Foxband. That creepy one is Mister Grunt, and that bearded man is actually a little boy on stilts wearing a fake beard. Or that's the impression I got, at least. They serve the witch Barbapapa, the one who wanted the Tower destroyed. She also apparently eats people, although that part was a bit hazy to me too." "Uh, alright... Got it." Dain thought it best not to ask anything more. "Weee wiiill depaaart baaack tooo Eeeubric nooow throoough a maaagic pooortal. Yooou aaare freee tooo cooome wiiith uuus, uuunleeess yooou haaave unfiiinished buuusineeesses heeere iiin Baaabeleeeth." Would the party leave Babeleth with the Wolfgang members instantly, or find their own way back to Eubric?

Got me thinking, how would the gambling trait be implented in practice? With the Rogue Thief's Gamble, the QM can ask whether the player wants to use it after each round with a successful stealing, but doing that for attacks seems complicated. Just think about it: Round 1, the Drafter does damage to the enemy, and so do his allies. He then decides to gamble and gets nothing, so the QM would have to first go back to the previous round, re-calculate it, and then roll for the next round, rinse and repeat. Or maybe the Drafter gets double, ends up killing the enemy and making his allies' attacks get diverted to another enemy, which would force the QM to calculate everything again. So it sounds like it would make rolling for battle results unnecessarily slower and cause confusion - especially to the poor QM! As you should well know, we are not computers, so calculations aren't made in an instant.

Starter decks would be available for purchase during the event, of course. If Throlar had approached the Decamon Stall in the Emerald Palace Casino, he would have gotten a chance to buy cards, as well.

Ellaria frowned with concern. "No, this is not right. Darkness led us to this library, and my every sense is warning me about this place. I do not want anything to do with any of these books. They must have gotten lost from the memories of mankind for a very good reason."

"Alright, so we found what we were supposed to - although I thought we were looking for demons. Now what?" Ellaria was a bit miffed about Daneeka's nonchalantness. There was something really distressing in the atmosphere down there. "Are we going to just stand watch here as you go through all of these dusty tomes? Are they even written in our language?"

Umm, but WBD's suggestion allows the job class to summon as many minions as the hero has cards. The party would never get hit by Free Hits in that case.

No, minions such as summons, undead, pet dragons or tamed monsters cannot be given any effects, neither negative nor positive. Too many follow-up questions would ensue. The aforementioned minions cannot equip anything, either, but of course someone could create an artefact for the Dragoon that boosts the pet dragon in some way.

The rules state that trading items in a battle takes a turn from both the giver and receiver, simple as that. Switching artifacts also takes a turn. If there was a one-sided trade in Quest#53, then it's on Zepher for allowing that, but it is not and will not become official practice. QMs can make some amendments to the rules in their quests on a case-to-case basis, but I prefer everyone would just stick to the written rules. It would prevent discussions such as this one.

I'd say non-elemental summons, unless WBD has a better idea. One of the latter two job traits could be replaced with this: Decamodifying Expert - The Decamon Drafter can use a Decamodifier to turn enemies with half (instead of a quarter) health into cards, if applicable.

Ooh, how interesting! So, would the summons be returned to cards after each battle, or carried onto next battle until the Drafter rolled a Shield? This job class would be a perfect main prize for the Decamon Tournament event I was planning to host in the future.

QM Note: Effects do not carry over to other quests, sorry. There would be one optional battle left, in case you make a specific choice, but we'll see about that a little later. I have to go to work now, but prepare for a blast when I get back.

Kintobor explained to me what the situation is about, so I'm going to have to take my words back and say no after all. You'd be bending the rules too much... Sorry! You are making this waaaaay more complicated than it needs to be. You know you are in a battle when you read the line "PREPARE FOR BATTLE!" and you see your character listed in the participating party. After that, the only way you don't gain experience is if you are knocked out or you flee.

QM Note: You said Eric was ready to move out of the room, so he did. See the pictures for reference. Walbartan wouldn't have said what she did if Eric was still present, anyway. "It would have only antagonized him with Ulric, I'm afraid. The Wolfheaded Messiah does not welcome challengers." "It is as it is. Aye, perchance I will find peace. Is there such a thing? But be aware that Ambergaze's secrets will not be buried with Babel.The truth is out there. She has lived long enough to leave a lasting mark on this world. And the boy knows more than she thinks he knows. Protect the boy." Althior glanced quickly at Walbartan, but the pongcanis looked unphased. It seemed the statue had only spoken in his mind for once. With the Keeper's words ringing in his head, Althior left the room with Walbartan on his heels. Alfred obediently changed the robe to the clothing Nur offered. "I look like... you." Dain instructed Hodurr how to tie the bombs onto the pillars with the fuse, and then the alchemist took the fuse out of the door to attach it to the detonator that was placed outside the circular wall. "I need a breath of fresh air", said the distraught Walbartan, following the alchemist out. "Alright, ev'rything should be SET now. Gimme a HELPIN' hand so I can finally get UP, will ye?" "If it was up to me, you'd stay down there to rot with your furry friend", Periwinkle murmured, still pissed off about how she had been treated by Walbartan. The heroes looked at each other. What would they do? Party inside the Tower (the undead golems are waiting outside): Althior Emorith (K-Nut) *Party Leader* 32 years old male human Necromancer Level 42 1/5 *Gain Triple Experience* *Absorbs Earth* *Immune to Petrified* *Unarmed Attacks Absorb Health* *Encouraged* *Hastened* *Lucky* *Blessed* Power: 58 (42+16) Defense: 7 (2+5) Health: 53/53 (5+41+5+1) Ether: 0/57 0 (5+41+5+4+2) Gold: 40 Equipment: Scepter of Divine Affinity (WP:16, Has ⅙ chance to deal Cursed effect on attacks and ⅙ chance to deal Blessed effect on successful healing, Staff), Metal Claw (Unarmed attacks drain health from the enemy equal to 50% of the strength of the attack (rounded up); handwear), Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max Ether +4, backwear), Medal of Glory (Wearer earns triple experience, accessory), Robe of the Seneschal (SP:5; wearer absorbs earth-elemental damage and is immune to petrified; suitable to clerics, mages, chi monks, necromancers and scholars; bodywear) Inventory: Weapons: Metasimian Dory (WP:9, pierces defense; spear), Artifacts: Robe of the Elven Necromancer (SP:4, bodywear), The Rat Queen's Cape (Backwear, all Vermin type are Enamored with the wearer for the first three rounds of combat, Suitable for Alchemists, Beast Warriors, Chi Monks, and Witches), Spellbound Gloves (+5 spellpower, Handwear) Spell Items: Diamond (Light), Topaz (Lightning), Amethyst (Darkness) x2, Ruby (Fire), Sapphire (Wind), Garnet (Earth), Opal (Ice), Aquamarine (Water), Emerald (Wood) Consumables: 4 Potions, 8 Tonics, 3 Grand Tonics, 2 Ether Cores, 7 Remedies, 2 Elixirs, Phoenix Incense, Nostrum, Garnet Lamp of Summoning, 2 Grating Stones, Skeleton Decoy, 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 Flight (Allows the user to flee from the battle when used.) Tools & Treasure: Bedroll, Pickaxe, 2 Bones En Sabah Nur (Jebediahs) 31 year old male human Evoker Level 31.25 *Immune to Darkness* *Converts Ether to Health* *Reflects Ether-Based Attacks* Power: 49 (31+18) (67 against Humanoids (31+36)) Defense: 1 Health: 48/48 (5+30+3+5+5) Ether: 0/42 0 (5+30+1+2+4) Gold: 75 Equipment: Quarterstaff (WP:18/36 against humanoids, staff), Traveler's Cloak (SP:1, backwear), Lichen Armour (The wearer’s ether is counted as additional health if health is depleted, Darkness Immunity, suitable to classes with ether, bodywear), Sedge Hat (+4 Max. Ether, headwear), Magic Mirror (The user reflects all ether-based attacks back to the caster without getting damaged by them, accessory) Inventory: Weapons: Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Sangriste Dagger (WP:5), En & Sabah & Nur (WP:5, Shurikens 3/3), Poisonous Rod (WP:5, causes poisoned by 5-effect; staff), Wooden Shield (SP:5, immunity to wood) Artefacts: Cobra Nemes (Absorbs poison, recovering health instead of taking damage from poisoning, suitable to clerics, mages, chi monks and necromancers, headwear), Fire Amulet (Makes physical attacks do double damage to all enemies that are weak to fire, accessory), Sealed Heavy Armour of Brilliance (SP:5,Immune: fragile, blinded, sealed effects, suitable for barbarians, knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators, bodywear), Little Jane's Muff (Protects from sealed-effect, accessory), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing battles, accessory), Lock & Chain (prevents items in the inventory from getting stolen; accessory) Spell Items: Garnet (Earth), Aquamarine (Water), Topaz (Lightning), Ruby (Fire), Scroll of Confusion Consumables: 6 Potions, 2 Grand Potions, Tonic, Grand Tonic, 3 Ether Cores, Milk (restores 15 health and 15 ether upon consumption), 5 Remedies, Phoenix Essence, Phoenix Incense, 2 Meads, Titan Heart (Grants encouraged- and inspired-effects when consumed), 5 Venoms, Deadly Venom, 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 Flight (Allows the user to flee from the battle when used.), Alfred (Nur can call his golem minion once per battle to protect him from all damage and effects for the remainder of the round.) Tools: Bedroll, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass Summons: B.A.S.H. (Aquamarine), Chidoris Obelisk (Topaz), Earthen Shield (Garnet), Emerald the Rockling (Ruby) Decamon Deck: Shy Shell (Aquatic 2), Demon Ray (Aquatic 3), Will-o'-the-Wisp (Fiery 1), Barghest (Electric 2), Automaton (Electric 5), Vampire Bat (Flying 3), Specter (Icy 2), White Widow (Icy 3), Golden Scorpion (Luminous 2), Gold Golem (Luminous 6), Toxic Toad (Plant 1), Tangleweed (Plant 3), Scarab (Rock 1), Mud Frog (Rock 2), Stone Golem (Rock 8) Eric (Khorne) 30 year old Human Nord Level 25 Raider *Natural Respite* *Immune to Fragile and Weakened* *Evasion* *Encouraged* *Hastened* Power: 42 (25+15+2) Defense: 5 Health: 43/43 (8+24+7+4) Gold: 206 Equipment: Conspirator (WP: 15, causes blinded; longsword), Pugilist's Gloves (Power +2, protects from weakened-effect), Boots of Evasion (Wearer takes half damage in front row), Heavy Armor (SP:5, protects from fragile-effect) Inventory: Godricsleif (WP: 22; Ice-, Lightning-, Darkness-elemental; longsword), Drengazuli Grom'az (WP:6; Dual Strike; axe), 6 Silverfish Wings (WP:8, retrievable, throwing dagger), 2 Diseased Silverfish Wings (WP:8, causes cursed-effect, retrievable, throwing weapon), Small Spiked Club (WP:5, earth-elemental club), Pitchfork of Abomination (WP:1, pierces all defenses but breaks after one use; suitable to all classes), Counterstrike Gloves (after the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to their level), Crocodile Belt (Max. health +2, immunity to water; accessory), Garnet (Earth), Scroll of Sleep, 6 Grand Potions, Health Core, 3 Remedies, Neutralizer, Phoenix Essence, 6 Meads, 5 Smelling Salts, 4 Nostrum, 3 Mulled Wine, Dragon Scale, Venom, Deadly Venom, Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Bone, 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.) Sgt. Jon McEncy (Pyrovisionary) 54 year old male human Black Knight Level 23 *Gain Triple Experience* *Immune to Blinded and Stunned* *Poisonous Defense* *Permanently Hastened* *Encouraged* Power: 48 (23+21+2+2) Defense: 14 (10+4) Health: 47/47 (7+22+9+3+3+3) Gold: 149 Equipment: Demonic Scissors (WP:21, dual strike, Light and Darkness elemental, Hollow [Potion], dagger), Serpenthead Shield (SP:10, 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), Medal of Glory (Allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles, accessory) Inventory: Clockwork Lance (WP:12, has 1/3 chance to cause slowed-effect on the target; lance), Spark Hammer (WP:8, lightning-elemental hammer), Wooden Spear (WP:4, wood-elemental spear), 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), 2 Garnets (Earth), 3 Potions, Health Core, 4 Remedies, 2 Phoenix Essences, 4 Venoms, Deadly Venom, 3 Smoke Bombs, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Business Card, 2 Bones, Gold Ring (worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), 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.) Hodurr Thornback (NPC, controlled by K-Nut) 167 years old male dwarven Berserker Level 40 2/5 *Natural Respite* *Thorny Defense* Power: 50 (40+10) Defense: 4 Health: 57/57 (8+39+10) Gold: 14 Equipment: Amethyst Axe (WP:10, darkness-elemental axe), Thorny Leather Armor (SP:4; causes damage equal to the armor's SP to all that attack the user physically; suitable to barbarians and beast warriors; bodywear) Inventory: Smelling Salts, Soma Periwinkle (NPC, controlled by Khorne) 19 years old female human Harlot Level 30 3/4 *Money Maker* *Divert Attacks* *Immune to stunned, poisoned, bleeding, cursed, asleep, fast asleep, confused and hexed* Power: 37 (30+7) Health: 51/51 (7+29+15) Gold: 43 Equipment: Leather Whip (WP:7, makes target enraged; whip), Narcissus Mirror (User has 1/2 chance to divert all 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, Tiger Balm Party outside the Tower: Walbartan (NPC, controlled by K-Nut) 45 years old female pongcanis Druid Level 44 Power: 51 (44+7) Defense: 3 Health: 61/61 (9+42+7+2) Ether: 0/50 (5+43+1+1) Gold: 104 Equipment: Oaken Mace (WP:7, wood-elemental mace), Crinkah Tribal Armor (SP:3, Max. Health +2, Max. Ether +1; suitable to pongcanae only; bodywear) Inventory: Herbal Infusion (Remove negative effects and cause blessed- and transcended-effects) Dain Almight (NPC, controlled by K-Nut) 72 years old male dwarven Alchemist Level 2 *Instant Items* *Immune to elements* Power: 15 (2+13) Health: 11/11 Gold: 100 Equipment: Oculoid Claw (WP:13, 1/6 chance of infecting the targeted enemy on successful hits; club), Safety Goggles (Grant immunity to all elements; suitable for Dain only; accessory) Inventory: Bombastic Mace (WP:5, can be used to launch bombs at enemies, adding the WP to the bomb's power; mace), Potion, Tonic, Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Smoke Bomb, 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.)

Oh boy, should've known this would happen as soon as I say something. Trading items takes a turn from both the giver and the receiver, so that's a big, resounding no.

Yes, the job classes that can use shields can equip them alongside a weapon and artifacts. A shield is not an artifact, but a separate piece of equipment.

Unfortunately Hinckley's minifig collection is not as vast as mine.

One of the forum admins, Hinckley, made it when the Heroica RPG subforum was launched. The first three ones are supposed to be Rufindel, Ellaria and Nyx, and there's Shadina as well, but the others are just figbarfs to my knowledge.

An odd question, but if both players agree to that, then why not? No, the Flagpole doesn't have an SP value in itself. It's just the weapon's special effect to give a boost to other party members' SP. No.

Alfred shook his head. "They were nameless labor, created without hearts. They did as they were told, and when they broke, I sent them to the geomancer for repairs. They did not even have the wit to defend the Tower or themselves unless I told them to. I wonder if I am the last golem with a heart in the world..."

Ellaria shrugged. "I'm sorry, Nyx, but they were such mysterious figures that it was impossible to tell what their intention was. Me and Atramor and a few others were on a quest to solve the mystery behind a cursed play that had engulfed an entire theater in Bric'lin under it's spell, and these three witches seemed to know an awful lot about the case. It made me wonder why they couldn't just go and solve the mess themselves, but something tells me the witches aren't your garden-variety cacklers."