Zepher

Boomingham exhales sharply. "It's your call, Em, but I say leave the chap. His Reaper is almost dead, and he'll die with him." Boomingham winks at Seerus. "I thought you were always bragging about how he was a puppet master and what not. Don't see why your opinion should suddenly change." Boomingham repeats.

Hold Off the Order Imperial Battle Round One Karl v. Archer - Hit (5 Damage) Keliim v. Leader - Special Damage (Leader will not take damage following round) Boris v. Soldier - Damage (4 Damage) Karl continues his attack, and Keliim tries to do the same. When he gets in close enough to strike, however, he is blinded by a flash of light and as he fumbles backwards, blinking fiercely, he sees an angel barring his path. Boris can barely get out of the sewage before the soldier maliciously kicks him right on back in. The Enemies Order Imperial Squad Leader Level 8 Light Humanoid *Immune to Darkness* *Immune to Damage (1 Round)* HP: 9/21 SP: 2 Special: Angelic Aid - The Squad Leader calls forth an angel and is protected from damage the following round. Drops: Phoenix Essence, Order Imperial Light Armor (SP: 2, Bodywear, Immunity to Darkness, Suitable to Clerics, Knights, Regulators, and Vindicators) Order Imperial Crossbowman Level 4 Humanoid HP: 8/18 Special:Triple Shot- The Guard hits the Hero, as well as the hero above and below them in the battle order for 5 damage. Passive Special: Trained in Marksmanship- The Order Imperial Crossbowman attacks from the back row, receiving halved damage from melee weapons from the front row. Drops: Potion, 10 Gold Order Imperial Soldier Level 6 Humanoid HP: 18/18 Special: Low Blow- The Guard wounds the hero in the stomach, giving them the Bleeding -3 effect. Drops: 30 Gold, Order Imperial Longsword (WP: 5) The Party Karl (surname unknown) (Bionicle_fanatic) *Party Leader* 18 year old male human Rogue *Encouraged* Level 3 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 9/9 Gold: 30 Equipment: Shuriken (Throwing Weapon, WP:3) Inventory: Bedroll, Venom x2, Potion, Little Flame (WP: 2, Fire Elemental, Dagger) Boris Bruhalv (Waterbrick Down) 38 year old male vampire Cleric *Immune to Stunned and Poison* Level 4 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 4/12 Defense: 2 Ether: 4/8 Gold: 24 Equipment: Simple Mace (WP: 3, mace), Rusty Chainmail (SP: 2, Immune to Stunned and Poison) Inventory: Potion, Remedy Keliim the cruel (Mencot) Age 35, male human Barbarian *Encouraged* *Immune to Rock* Level 4 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 11/11 SP: 2 Gold: 17 Equipment: Rusty one handed battleaxe (WP: 3), Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Rock) Inventory: Mead, Potion

Bobby scratches his head and starts to subconsciously hum out little bits of the tune that he heard earlier from the arbomancer. It is shockingly pretty accurate and in tune.

Hold Off the Order Imperial Battle Round One Keliim - Hit ([7*2]-2=12 Damage) Karl - Hit ([5*2]/2=5 Damage) Boris - Damage (6-2=4 Damage) "You fool! Is it possible you do not know the true army of the righteous light? We are not mere sewer dwellers, we are the true sword!" "Enough! They will know us through our actions." The battle begins all messy-like. Keliim is able to hack at the leader, denting his armor and knocking the wind out of him. Karl too has some luck, propelling himself off a wall and poking the archer in the arm. Only Boris has a bad round, his mace blocked mid-swing and then a heavy punch to side that plunges him off the thin walkway and into the sewage. The Enemies Order Imperial Squad Leader Level 8 Light Humanoid *Immune to Darkness* HP: 9/21 SP: 2 Special: Angelic Aid - The Squad Leader calls forth an angel and is protected from damage the following round. Drops: Phoenix Essence, Order Imperial Light Armor (SP: 2, Bodywear, Immunity to Darkness, Suitable to Clerics, Knights, Regulators, and Vindicators) Order Imperial Crossbowman Level 4 Humanoid HP: 13/18 Special:Triple Shot- The Guard hits the Hero, as well as the hero above and below them in the battle order for 5 damage. Passive Special: Trained in Marksmanship- The Order Imperial Crossbowman attacks from the back row, receiving halved damage from melee weapons from the front row. Drops: Potion, 10 Gold Order Imperial Soldier Level 6 Humanoid HP: 18/18 Special: Low Blow- The Guard wounds the hero in the stomach, giving them the Bleeding -3 effect. Drops: 30 Gold, Order Imperial Longsword (WP: 5) The Party Karl (surname unknown) (Bionicle_fanatic) *Party Leader* 18 year old male human Rogue *Encouraged* Level 3 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 9/9 Gold: 30 Equipment: Shuriken (Throwing Weapon, WP:3) Inventory: Bedroll, Venom x2, Potion, Little Flame (WP: 2, Fire Elemental, Dagger) Boris Bruhalv (Waterbrick Down) 38 year old male vampire Cleric *Immune to Stunned and Poison* Level 4 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 8/12 Defense: 2 Ether: 4/8 Gold: 24 Equipment: Simple Mace (WP: 3, mace), Rusty Chainmail (SP: 2, Immune to Stunned and Poison) Inventory: Potion, Remedy Keliim the cruel (Mencot) Age 35, male human Barbarian *Encouraged* *Immune to Rock* Level 4 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 11/11 SP: 2 Gold: 17 Equipment: Rusty one handed battleaxe (WP: 3), Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Rock) Inventory: Mead, Potion

"I'm down for the girl on the left too. She looks dope. And she's colorful, and that dude loved flowers. But the girl on the right is in green, so, you know what I'm saying. Tough call, yo. I'm down for whatever the big man picks." Bobby nods confidently to Darksten.

OoC: I attacked the Open Wound from the front row, and so my damage should not have been divided by 2. Also, check your PM. Boomingham tries to bounce back up out of his disgraceful tumble in the snow, and it's just then that the energy beam sweeps by him and nails him in the back, forcing him back down. He spits out the powder best he can as he struggles back to his feet and brushes himself off. "Damn." He shakes his head (his jowls flapping) to clear his mind. Surveying the battle field he watches as Em stands clear in front of the Reaper, bow drawn. Nothing for it. Best to just take down the beast as best he can and hope. He climbs back onto the shell and attacks Open Wound C twice, once from the front row and once from the back.

I enjoy that Dyric comes from Duplovia. We've seen the place fleshed out nicely in your quests, and it's a strong character trait that is driven entirely by back story but never over-shadows the current action. This is a prime example to other players (particularly new ones!) of how back story can be part of your character without being your character.

"Ennoc is a small and petty god with small and petty servants. You are better off without him, better yet to rise to his challenge." Chauncey's response is a bare shrug. "Ma'm is fine. Nona as well." "Well, it's been a fun talk." Chauncey bows to the heroes. "I wish you the best of luck. What will happen will happen." And then he's gone, and Nona ushers them down a branch of the sewer. The heroes trudge forward a very brief minute before they hear voices up ahead. "The others have met resistance. An evoker," reports one voice. "We're on." The heroes soon see three armored men making their way towards them. "Heathen!" cries the leader. "Of course they're protecting the witch. Seize the men, kill the vampire. No one will stand in the way of the Order Imperial!" The Enemies Order Imperial Squad Leader Level 8 Light Humanoid *Immune to Darkness* HP: 21/21 SP: 2 Special: Angelic Aid - The Squad Leader calls forth an angel and is protected from damage the following round. Drops: Phoenix Essence, Order Imperial Light Armor (SP: 2, Bodywear, Immunity to Darkness, Suitable to Clerics, Knights, Regulators, and Vindicators) Order Imperial Crossbowman Level 4 Humanoid HP: 18/18 Special:Triple Shot- The Guard hits the Hero, as well as the hero above and below them in the battle order for 5 damage. Passive Special: Trained in Marksmanship- The Order Imperial Crossbowman attacks from the back row, receiving halved damage from melee weapons from the front row. Drops: Potion, 10 Gold Order Imperial Soldier Level 6 Humanoid HP: 18/18 Special: Low Blow- The Guard wounds the hero in the stomach, giving them the Bleeding -3 effect. Drops: 30 Gold, Order Imperial Longsword (WP: 5) The Party Karl (surname unknown) (Bionicle_fanatic) *Party Leader* 18 year old male human Rogue *Encouraged* Level 3 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 9/9 Gold: 30 Equipment: Shuriken (Throwing Weapon, WP:3) Inventory: Bedroll, Venom x2, Potion, Little Flame (WP: 2, Fire Elemental, Dagger) Boris Bruhalv (Waterbrick Down) 38 year old male vampire Cleric *Immune to Stunned and Poison* Level 4 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 12/12 Defense: 2 Ether: 4/8 Gold: 24 Equipment: Simple Mace (WP: 3, mace), Rusty Chainmail (SP: 2, Immune to Stunned and Poison) Inventory: Potion, Remedy Keliim the cruel (Mencot) Age 35, male human Barbarian *Encouraged* *Immune to Rock* Level 4 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 11/11 SP: 2 Gold: 17 Equipment: Rusty one handed battleaxe (WP: 3), Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Rock) Inventory: Mead, Potion

Bobby passes a potion to Leofwin. "Drink up, my dude, you need it!" Bobby turns to the arbomancer. "Yo, I don't think it's silly at all, dude. Seems like a dope job, and if you dig it you dig it, know what I mean? I'm Bobby, yo, and it's awesome to meet you!" Bobby offers his hand. "You were humming this far out tune when we found you, my dude, and we were just wondering where you heard it!"

"I don't recognize them." She stares hard at the vampire. "You were a Paladin once. Where has your angel gone? They have angels with them too, some of them. Small beasts of burden with big heads, no offense to your's, I'm sure. I don't like the little light creatures. But they aren't Paladins. And they know what I am, or at least have an idea of it."

Nona smiles maliciously. "That is the place of witches on Olegaia. You are mere children in our eyes - nay, infants. We do not draw trouble, we draw everything."

Are they all the same person you tell me.

Chauncey raises an eyebrow as Karl stops mid-sentence, failing entirely to detail what portions of the sewers he had navigated in the past. "Very well then let's go down under the streets, heroes." Lord Chauncey flings out his hand and a manhole cover nearby flies up and then turns suddenly to dust. Lord Chauncey waves them forward. "We will meet you at the house, I believe," he says to Elba and U'Or. The heroes and Chauncey descend, leaving Elba and U'Or to their own devices. "Are you not worried that we are going to go have a meeting with the Wolfgang?" Chauncey asks the heroes. "Or are you the sort of heroes who don't get their pants all in a tizzy over simple things like that?" He chuckles. "We aren't going to go meet the Wolfgang, though, so you don't have to worry. We are on our way to meet something supernatural, though. I know that you are well versed in the supernatural, but this... being... is even more so than you may be used to." He blushes. "But what do I know? I just ask you be respectful. She is easily... agitated." "Glad to see you're not late. Everyone else is. Where the Hel is Morta? She was supposed to be here days ago to take over this shift." The woman sighs. "She's probably at a bar or something. What a pain to have as a sister. Of course she's off having fun while I'm stuck with the thankless duty of keeping an eye on Baba Yaga." The woman turns to the heroes. "These are the mortals you got to assist you?" She sniffs them. "Karl, Keliim, Boris. Pah. They're weak." "If you ask for my assistance, you will have to simply put up with the way that I choose to operate." He turns to the heroes. "This is Nona, since she seems unlikely to introduce herself. She's a witch." "Yeah, but not like those witches you've got in your Hall. Weak imitations. Disgust me. Don't know how Copper Fox learned anything about us. And not like Baba either. That woman is a witch only in one sense of the word." "Relax, Nona. No one made any comparisons. What can we help you with?" Nona grunts. "There are some soldiers poking around. Not the Wolfgang type - can't hardly call those soldiers - but a more armored brutish sort. They're here for me in particular. They're marching on me right now, actually. Two forces. I'd deal with them myself, but... well, you know how it is. That whole don't act megablocks deal that Deci has us on." "So you want us to disarm them, then?" "That's the idea. The ones from the North have got a powerful man with them. Not to be messed with. I think it's best you go deal with them. There is a second force though, smaller, but equally prepared to capture me should the first fail. That's what your weaklings can do. They're to the south." "Are you prepared then, heroes?" asks Chauncey.

I do have a better suggestion. That doesn't happen.

Yeah, I think the distinction here is that Arthur is actually using his to potentially gain some information (is that window unlocked?). It will become pretty weird RP-wise too once the dragons get big, but weirdly don't help out in combat. But, no, it hasn't really bothered me at all either, though in this case I understand where Sandy is coming from.

Hoke has been doing it for a quest or two.

OoC: The Eternal Reaper's level should be down by 16 due to lost limbs. "You can get them back up if you like," says Boomingham to no one in particular. "I'm killing this beast." Boomingham's gaze flits over to Octus before he raises his Frozen Sabre once more and attacks the Open Wound B from the front row, and then as he leaps back slashes at Reaper's Tail B from the back row. He hits the snow hard and not quite sticking his landing tumbles around a little, getting a mouth full of powder.

It's fine, Hybros has 16 health cores. What's the point of buying consumables if you're not forced to use them?

"His name is Lord Chauncey." "I will handle introducing myself- if that is quite alright with you. My name is Lord Chauncey, and I am from the town of Bric'Lin or rather that is where I currently live." Lord Chauncey's eyes stayed steadily aimed at the heroes, seemingly making eye contact with them all at once. "I am a good friend of Gerald Guffington, or at least I would hope to think so. He is, at the very least, a good friend of mine, as are all of his stellar employees. Doc Daneeka, as I mentioned, has done much work that I have found intriguing over the years and so I believe it is time that I thank him." He turns to Elba and U'Or. "May I borrow your heroes for my mission? It involves the sewers, and I know you do not like going down into them much and besides my contact down there does not like to be seen by more eyes than necessary." "What do you say, U'Or? We've got a bit of time to kill before the party." "Of course you may borrow them, Lord Chauncey!" "Well in that case it is just up to your heroes." Chauncey continues to stare them down. "What do you say, heroes? Would you be willing to assist me as well?"

"Yo man, it's your flowers, your call!" Bobby drops a smoke bomb and drags Darksten away to safety.

The party sits down and has a drink with their employers and their friends. Conversations snippets float around, but the bar is loud and it's hard to catch anything in particular if you're not focusing on it, and mostly the heroes are taking in the scenery as opposed to the conversation topics. Besides, they hardly seem relevant to them... more the sort of thing more advanced heroes might have to investigate. "And the Golden-Eyed fellow almost did tear me limb from limb, just because of that damn Hinckwell - the one time he steals my shipment instead of the other way around..." "Righto, amigo, that was a the Weeping Inn, right? That's the place. Zane, XX and I stopped there after leaving Eubric that time that chaomancer got all crazy. I'll tell you, Zane is a hoot when he's drunk because it's not just him drinking, it's like fifty souls or something drinking and they all start to try to express themselves..." "And the second... or maybe it was the third time, they ended up just trying to kill everyone. Tsk. Not the approach I would have taken." U'Or clears his throat and looks at Elba. "Well, gentlemen, ladies, this has been fun." He stands up and so does Shawe. "I'll bring it to the Manor tonight. Thanks for the help, heroes, Elba, U'Or." The Party Karl (surname unknown) (Bionicle_fanatic) *Party Leader* 18 year old male human Rogue *Encouraged* Level 3 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 9/9 Gold: 30 Equipment: Shuriken (Throwing Weapon, WP:3) Inventory: Bedroll, Venom x2, Potion, Little Flame (WP: 2, Fire Elemental, Dagger) Boris Bruhalv (Waterbrick Down) 38 year old male vampire Cleric Level 4 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 10/12 Ether: 5/8 Gold: 24 Equipment: Simple Mace (WP: 3, mace), Rusty Chainmail (SP: 2 Inventory: Potion, Remedy Keliim the cruel (Mencot) Age 35, male human Barbarian *Encouraged* Level 4 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 11/11 Gold: 17 Equipment: Rusty one handed battleaxe (WP: 3) Inventory: Mead, 1 Potion, Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Rock) The heroes and their employers leave the Hovels and make their way back through the city. "Only thing left to do is make sure they show up with the presents, huh?" The heroes turn into an alley and start to make their way down in when suddenly there is a noise like a thunderclap! Standing in front of the heroes is a strange glowing figure in red robes, hand raised. "The master would like to see you," it intones grimly. U'Or turns around quickly and looks in the other direction, but there's another thunderclap! And the way is blocked by another glowing humanoid shape. "The master has been looking for you." A stream of billowing smoke flies through the sky, aiming right towards the heroes. U'Or covers his head as the smoke slams down into the ground next to them... but all that emerges from it is a regular looking man. He snaps his fingers and the strange glowing creatures fade away. "Oh, good, I have been looking for you everywhere." "Nevron save us, there isn't a less terrifying way for you to get our attention?" Elba glances over at U'Or. "You can uncover your eyes, U'Or, it's just Chauncey." "Oh... oh..." pants U'Or, but then he giggles in relief. "Chauncey, thank all the Gods. How long have you been in town long?" "I just arrived. I hear that you are doing some shopping for the Doc. I would like to assist. He has helped me with an impossible to count number of projects over the last many years and I would like to get something that will help an interest of his." He bows to the heroes. "Hello."

Well... sometimes a good bit of PvP is required.

Just to let you know, most QMs don't find that a selling point.

I enjoy that he is generally on the moral high ground, but then his hot head certainly makes him seem like a villain.

Even the narrator of Throlar's life is finding his insistence on PvP to be repetitive.