Sandy

As soon as Ellaria regained her vision, she sat on the ground and buried her face into her hands. Two distinctively different memories hovered in her mind, making everything seem unreal. "Was it all a dream?" she asked the others. "I found the answer I have been looking for, but if it was all a figment of my imagination, then it means nothing. Please tell me you saw what I saw. Skrall? Hybros?"

The golem accepted the clothing and began to dress itself. "Thank you for the clothing, although we golems do not feel neither cold, heat nor shame. In my opinion the Seneschal is no longer a fitting name for me, but I will keep it if you request so. I have to apologize, I have no recollection of a witch of that name. I was created to serve the Tower only after the sorcerers had perished or fled, in any case. The golems guarding the Tower were all destroyed in the battle against you and your companions. But I thank you for the notion of wanting to rescue them, even if it is somewhat hypocritical." "Hmm, that means I better find myself a new job."

Cinnabar cackled when Nur wrapped his stony arm around her. "By all means, keep your arm - it suits you. I can even give you a matching pair for your other arm. No? Very well, let's just put this golem's heart to use. One perfectly sculpted minion coming up!" Once again, Cinnabar chanted words into the mud pit as she tossed the heart into it. An amber light swirled around the spot where the heart had dropped, and soon a figure rose from it. The reborn Seneschal stepped out of the mud to Cinnabar. "You have given me my shape back, and for that, I am in debted to you. What are my orders?" "Don't look at me, dearie. You are Nur's golem now." Cinnabar pointed Nur to the golem. "He has use for your services, so don't let him down." "I will not", the golem said to Nur. "I remember your strength from when we battled. I will follow you. What are my orders?" The golem stared at the evoker with his garnet eyes, waiting for an answer. Walbartan bared her canines at Eric. "I may be weak, but I am still a Pongcanis! You cannot threaten me, norseman, not with my knife on your harlot's throat! If you do not come downstairs with me this instant and destroy this place, I will run straight to Mr. Gaunt and make sure he knows you've betrayed us! You can kiss your fame and fortune goodbye, then!" "You weren't even supposed to meet the Keeper! I had no knowledge of this orb or it's importance. But you are right, destroying it might not be enough for Barbariccia. She wants the Keeper dead as well. Ask no more questions, Althior, not in the Keeper's presence! I will take it as a sign that you abandoned our cause." "Gaze into the crystal. If you want to know the fate of Nu Mercution, gaze into the crystal. The crystal will show you what happened. The tragedy." A moving image appeared inside the crystal orb. What would the heroes do?

"Ah, then it's just a wee stubborn spell. Nothing a geomancer of my caliber couldn't handle. They didn't hire me to make golems for the Tower for nothing, you see?" Cinnabar waved her stubby hand. "Alright, come to Auntie Cinnabar and I'll see what I can do about it... Yes, yes... A tricky pattern, this spell has, but nothing that can't be unweaved with a little effort. Dip your arm into the mud and I'll get to work. With some luck, the spell will come off cleanly. With less luck, you don't have an arm to worry about anymore. It's a win-win situation, if you ask me!" The Keeper's voice resounded only in Sarge's mind. "O the weakness of the mortal body. I am no healer. I only preserve. You must turn to the Sisters of Danab to find a cure. Not just any of the Sisters. Travel to Salmanda and find the Eldest Sister. She can heal anything that can be healed. She may help you. If that is to be." Walbartan looked desperate. "Althior, please... I've travelled with you for enough days to know who I am dealing with. Whatever your opinions or assumptions of Barbariccia are, you cannot turn coats on us now. You made a promise under the Wyrd Tree! What makes you so certain Barbariccia wants to destroy Eubric? How can you know that?" The pongcanis glanced at the statue. "The Keeper has the answers. She could tell you the truth about Barbariccia. You are right, she could even tell me. But I don't want to know! I am no one important, I can't bear that responsibility! My task was only to make sure you carry out your mission. It is not for any of us to know the truth. The truth doesn't matter! Only Ulric's vision matters. The world cannot change without faith, and I have every reason to have faith in Ulric. When my tribe abandoned me to die, he was the one who took me in. He didn't see the weakness in me that my tribesmen did, he saw potential. He gave me a new purpose, gave me hope for a better tomorrow. I owe him my life - all of us in Wolfgang do. Can't you understand that?" Periwinkle let out a sob. "I am so sorry, Peri, but you are currently my insurance. I cannot hope to defeat you three in battle, nor do I wish to try. I just want us all to trust Ulric's judgment and follow our orders. Please!" "No. You cannot remove the crystal. That must not happen. If it breaks, all memories will be lost. Leave. Just leave, and let the memories be." Walbartan's teary eyes widened. "So we don't have to destroy the entire Tower. Destroying that crystal will suffice..." "Old memories would be lost forever. A new beginning. A new crystal. The Tower could begin collecting memories a-new. What would be the sense in that?" Silence fell into the room.

You've said this before, and now you see how I am willing to reach out and let others control my NPCs for a change. It's not that I wouldn't be intimidated to give my NPCs into other people's hands anymore - because I still am a bit -, but at least Flipz did a tremendous job. That's an odd thing to say. She certainly didn't "suddenly turn evil", she had to resort to desperate measures because the heroes were planning to betray her faction. She obviously doesn't like what she has to do... And please, don't make me discuss #100 before it's over more than this!

The geomancer raised her brows as Nur unveiled his mutated arm. "My, what a studly limb you have there!" Cinnabar said, her voice thick with admiration. "Are you sure you aren't part Rockling? Not that I've ever heard of a human mating with one of our kind before... Anywho, how did you end up with an arm like that? I need to know in order to assess if anything can be done about it. It can't be merely petrified, you could take care of that with a simple remedy... And you seem to be able to move it just fine." The statue remained silent for some time, before the voice in their heads continued. "You are right. I am the Keeper Mnemosyne, the last in the long line of Keepers of this Tower. A long, long line. Or rather, I am what is left of her. What is left of myself. The might of Babel is long gone. Power corrupts. The sorcerers turned on each other. There was a battle... Death. Destruction. Desolation. Only I stayed behind. Sealed the Tower. Sealed the knowledge. Sealed the memories. Sealed myself into this statue so I could watch over Babel for eternity. But nothing is eternal... It seems still have time to answer your questions. About her. I remember Ambergaze. I remember her. I remember Baba. Maeb. Brahne. Songbird. I remember Barbariccia. What of her? What of her?" Before anyone could answer, the door slammed open again. "Eric..." Periwinkle had a knife on her throat, held by Walbartan. Tears rolled down both of the women's faces. "Please, just stop this. Right now, " the druid pleaded. "I don't want to do this. Just stop talking to the Keeper and come downstairs with us. Let's finish what we came here for. I beg of you!" "Eric, I don't want to die..." What was the heroes' decision?

Necromancy! Glad to hear, though.

Cinnabar took the item and a big smile spread on her jagged mouth. "This is a very rare item you have here. Not many of these around anymore, no... The sorcerers of yore created these to give an artifical soul to a golem - a true conscience, a free will. You see, golems are fiercely loyal to the task they were created for. They will work tirelessly until they practically break down. But a golem with one of these - let's call them hearts for the heck of it - have a mind of their own. They can learn and experience and make sense the world around them. And unlike other golems, they can do whatever they want. But there lies the catch - golems do not have any wants or needs, save for the need to please their owner. So a golem with a heart is in fact a loyal and intelligent servant who does not get tired or hungry or sick. A perfect minion, so to speak." Cinnabar's eyes twinkled as she gave Nur a crafty look. "Just like a certain haughty golem in grey robes that works in the Tower. So you robbed poor Seneschal his heart, then? What are you going to do with it, if Auntie Cinnabar may ask?" The berserker cursed loudly as he fell down the hatch and landed among the skeletons. "I was S'PPOSED to look after YE lot, not swim in a sea of BONES! What NOW, then?" The alchemist looked uneasy, not wishing to get thrown into the cellar as well. "I think I should stay here to direct Mr. Thornback - if you don't mind! I will find the optimal spots to plant the bombs, I promise." The heroes wordlessly decided to leave the two dwarves to their work and ascended the winding staircase. On top of the stairs they came to another metallic door. Like the front door, it was unlocked. The room beyond was basking in an eery magenta illumination. In the middle of it stood a stone well covered by a large crystal orb. Behind the well was a pedestal in which stood a statue depicting a figure wearing robes and an elaborate horned helmet with its hands extended towards the crystal orb. Just as the three heroes expected, the statue spoke to them. It did not move its mouth, but rather communicated with them in their minds in whispers. "You. You come to destroy the Tower, but you are late. You are late. This place has been devoid of life for a long time. A long, long time. Only memories of the power it once possessed remain. Only memories. You are desecrating a tomb. Do not disturb the tomb."

Hodurr pushed Althior back. "I'm COMIN' in, lyke it or NOT! Someone's GOTTA see that ye FINISH the job. The Pongcanis is too PRISSY about getting her FUR entangled." Walbartan scowled at the berserker, hearing his words to the courtyard. Althior turned his attention back to the hole and tossed a bone in it. It didn't take long until it hit a pile of other dry bones and sent them clinking and clanking. "Now we know where all the people in this Tower went..." Dain said with a gulp. Suddenly a ray of light fell through the doorway and illuminated the room. The heroes saw a set of stairs on the other side of the room going up. There was nothing else in the hall except used torches. "The lower we can plant the bombs, the better. That means going down there among the corpses, unfortunately..." "Hodurr THORNback ain't afraid of a few SKULLS and BONES!" The berserker swung his axe in midair to demonstrate his bravery, and nearly decapitated Sarge. 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: 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, 4x Agni Bomb, 4x Gaia Bomb, 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 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, Military Grade Fire Bomb, Demeter Bomb (Causes 100 wood-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 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 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, Fire 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.), Fuse & Detonator (quest item)

The two women stared in astonishment as Nur decided to split from the group and return to the Mud Pit. "These people are barking mad..." Walbartan sighed. She had seen the party's lines crack one time too many. "Are you calling my honeyboo names?!" "Trust me, I included you as well." The sun was already high when Nur finally arrived back to his destination. Hearing him tussle down the crater, the rockling geomancer Cinnabar came out of her rickety house to greet Nur. "Ah, returned for a rematch so soon, dear?" Party at the Mud Pit: 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: 8/42 (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), Robe of the Elven Necromancer (SP:4, bodywear) 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, 3 Fire Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, Dirt Bomb, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Trail of Dust Bombs (Causes 5 earth-elemental damage to all opponents and allows the party to flee the battle when used.), Flood Bomb (Causes 20 water-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 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.), Golem's Heart (Quest Item) 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)

~A new quest has been posted on the Quest Board (#114 by CallMePie)!~

As a collector of parts - especially minifig parts - I really don't mind. This set is a treasure trove for me!

Sarge looked around him, but there were no loose stones at hand. The hall had been meticulously cleaned. "There's no workforce like golems, it seems. I must consider buying one when I make it big in Eubric." Meanwhile, back at the courtyard, the two Wolfgang members looked restless. "You really should go after them, Hodurr. I still cannot trust them completely. What if the Keeper makes a better counteroffer?" "Why ME? If ye're so worried, why don't YE go?!" "I... I don't like that place. I feel it draining my ether, and it feels like pieces of me are being torn away. It must be much worse inside..." "Ye furry WUSS!" Hodurr groaned and started to march towards the stairs.

As others said, it doesn't work like that. And the same goes to the health/ether/power bonuses you get from the job classes - the bonuses don't carry over when you switch classes, but each class has their own bonus.

No, the Archmage still needs to target a specific enemy even if attempting an Arc Spell, and only that targetted enemy's Free Hit is prevented. Remember the rule: if an enemy has no chance to attack when being attacked, then that enemy gets a Free Hit.

It was too dark to see anything around them or in the traphole. The sun was climbing up, though, so they would have more light in a few moments. "Sight is not our only sense, Mr. Emorith. We can hear perfectly well inside here, so why don't you drop something down there to see how deep the hole is."

If Pala wants to go through all the trouble of becoming a self-appointed shopkeeper, I'm not going to stand in his way.

Fed up with the mission, Althior lead Eric, Sarge and Dain into the Tower of Babel. The entrance hall was pitch black and the absence of magic was so perplexing to him that the necromancer was caught by surprise when the floor suddenly gave in under his feet. For a few long seconds, Althior hovered over the dark pit that had opened below him, about to fall in.

QM Note: It's okay, I'm in no hurry. I just need some sort of plan of approach from you guys, or at least a notion that you will all storm the Tower together.

"Umm, do we all need to go in?" Periwinkle asked, seemingly terrified about the imposing monument. "Shouldn't someone stay on a lookout in case someone comes? Eric and I volunteer!" Periwinkle wrapped herself around Eric's muscular arm, as if she could hold her back. Party: 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: 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, 4x Agni Bomb, 4x Gaia Bomb, 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, 3 Bones Jade Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 37 Feldspar Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 36 Iron Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 35 Granite Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 34 Copper Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 33 Gold Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 29 Clay Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 27 Mud Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 26 Sand Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 24 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, Military Grade Fire Bomb, Demeter Bomb (Causes 100 wood-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 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.), 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: 8/42 (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), Robe of the Elven Necromancer (SP:4, bodywear) 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, 3 Fire Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, Dirt Bomb, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Trail of Dust Bombs (Causes 5 earth-elemental damage to all opponents and allows the party to flee the battle when used.), Flood Bomb (Causes 20 water-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 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.), Golem's Heart (Quest Item) 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) 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: 20/50 (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) 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 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, Fire 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.), Fuse & Detonator (quest item)

"My apologies, Mister Knight, but the Arm-mounted Shield is an accessory that cannot be upgraded by a blacksmith. It can be equipped with a normal shield, though. Do you still wish to purchase it?"

Climbing the stairs to Althior, Nur also felt his ether rapidly draining out of his reach. Investigating the threshold with the magnifying glass, Nur could make up a faint glow around the doorway. It seemed there was a strong anti-magical field inside the Tower, preventing the use of ether.

QM Note: Thank you so much for handling the battle for me and keeping my players busy, Flipz! Now, onto the explosive conclusion of the hundreth quest... The morning sun's first rays appeared over the northern mountains, slowly illuminating the courtyard the heroes stood on. The Tower of Babel rose in front of them, and nothing stood in their way but the metal front door on top of a set of stairs. Walbartan took the tonics and began to drink them up. "Thank you Althior, I'll get to it. We should be as prepared as we can, for we have no idea what awaits us behind that door. Golems by the score, arcane traps, monsters beyond imagination... Or just dusty halls devoid of life." "Wouldn't THAT be anticlimatic or WHAT?!" To Althior's surprise, the doors creaked open with a hard push. The hall beyond was dark, but what scared Althior more was that standing on the threshold, he couldn't feel the connection to the ether flow anymore. The bombcrafter knocked on the side of the tower and investigated it through his lens. "I do not know what material this is, but it seems hard as metal and thick as stone. I don't know how many bombs it would take to even get through that wall. We are better off planting the bombs inside, demolishing the interior pillars, and letting gravity handle the rest. We should spread the bombs into two or three floors of the Tower, just to be sure. We then use the fuse to connect them and the detonator to make them explode from a far. Trust me, you do not want to be anywhere near that place when it comes down!" Nur's research awarded him with the golem's heart. It was still warm, even though the rest of the corpse was as cold as stone which it was made of. It also felt somehow sentient, as if the Seneschal's consciousness was still stored inside. Party: Althior Emorith (K-Nut) *Party Leader* 32 years old male human Necromancer Level 42 1/5 *Gain Triple Experience* *Absorbs Earth* *Immune to Petrified* *Encouraged* *Hastened* *Lucky* *Blessed* Power: 58 (42+16) (Spellpower: 63 (42+16+5)) 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), Spellbound Gloves (+5 spellpower, 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: 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), Metal Claw (Unarmed attacks drain health from the enemy equal to 50% of the strength of the attack (rounded up); handwear), Robe of the Elven Necromancer (SP:4, bodywear) 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, 4x Agni Bomb, 4x Gaia Bomb, 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, 3 Bones Jade Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 37 Feldspar Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 36 Iron Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 35 Granite Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 34 Copper Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 33 Gold Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 29 Clay Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 27 Mud Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 26 Sand Golem (Undead) Element: Darkness Power: 24 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, Military Grade Fire Bomb, Demeter Bomb (Causes 100 wood-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 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.), 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: 8/42 (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, 3 Fire Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, Dirt Bomb, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Trail of Dust Bombs (Causes 5 earth-elemental damage to all opponents and allows the party to flee the battle when used.), Flood Bomb (Causes 20 water-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 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.), Golem's Heart (Quest Item) 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) 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: 20/50 (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) 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 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, Fire 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.), Fuse & Detonator (quest item)

~A new quest has been posted on the Quest Board (#113 by The Legonater)!~

Amazing series, altogether! The building sets are superb, and the whole line has great appeal for more mature fans of Lego, like the LotR and Hobbit sets have. The characters in the storyline are also intriguing and bring a sense of depth and purpose into the sets. The whole contrast between a desert nation and a snowfield nation is interesting, so for the sequels you need factions that live in a forest and at sea.