Zepher

Bobby trades in his cards for a Grand Potion, a Health Core, a Fenghuang Essence, a Baldur bomb and a Rudra bomb.

Karl and Boris continue to search alongside each other, while Kellim and Elba check the more analytical history. U'Or, apparently dead certain that he's on to something, has a difficult time tearing himself away from the shipping records, even as he tsks and sighs and grows more frustrated. Elba and Kellim peruse the most recent articles to see if Henry is mentioned at all. The most recent tome ends with a mention of a Foundation Ball and a marriage that was called off, and going back the heroes find an account of a stolen magical trophy. Further back still is a tale of Heinrich's rise to the head of the house. Scattered throughout are little mentions of other notable deals and investments, but Henry's name only comes up once or twice in passing. Kellim is on the wrong path. The other heroes are able to find mentions of Henry's name in a myriad of journals. They take note of the ones in which it appears. -Haymitch Hinckwell's Journal, Henry's Father -Harriet Hinckwell's Journal, Henry's Mother -Heinrich Hinckwell's Journal, Henry's Brother -Henry Hinckwell's Journal -Mary Sue Hinckwell's Journal, Henry's Wife -Roderick Hinckwell's Journal, Henry's Son -Lorcan Hinckwell's Journal, Henry's Nephew

Sounds awesome, Sandy! I wasn't really suggesting we kill off the heads of all the houses, by the way. But yeah, would love to see the Guild and Zeigfried developed a little more, in particular how they effect the city. We've seen the people being wary of the Ji Pei, and the Bonapartes do certainly have the worst rap. The Hinckwell and Shadeaux are both rich without giving back, which isn't quite the same as the Bonapartes but still certain to anger the people. But the Guild and the Zeigfried appear to keep to themselves and appear equally able to flourish in this Eubric as in one run by the Wolfheaded Messiah. I say its time to drag them out of the shadows a little.

Oh, I agree! I just think it's time to throw in another death - Bonapartes had Reno (which I'd argue was really just a status quo death, though the heroes did choose it) and House Ji Pei has been radically changed with Shaxanian losing her legs, Legonardo leaving and Jun swearing off his swords. I'd like to see even more of that! The Hovels were blocked off over the course of the game, which I think has more implications than we've explored as a group. And Patricia seized power, which I think was big. But we haven't had a bloody coup yet (again, suppose it could have been Reno). That's a more radical, and more of a left turn without killing a whole house. Really, the Ji Pei are most easily my favorite house at the moment, and I think it's BECAUSE we've seen what the radical changes they've experienced have brought out in them. Dastan is another good example - the very first thing time we went there we saw a radical change, and all the quests following that have dealt with the fall out, and have always been impressive in my opinion. On a totally unrelated note, just noticed Purpearl edited in her second side-quest from 102 (so long ago now). If anyone wants to see some low level Wolfgangers hanging with Purpearl, or see Severen beat the crap out of a hero, I advise giving it a read!

Ah who says. I think the game could easily still survive down a house or two. Don't any of you watch Game of Thrones. But I'm mostly just playing Devil's Avocado.

Karl and Boris both look into Debts and Slights, while Kellim begins to check out the shelves with the Family History. U'Or begins his work in Shipping Records, while Elba and Grady follow Kellim to the Family History section. Grady hangs back a little while Elba and Kellim start to look through the titles of different tomes. "I don't believe he is a strong reader," Elba says to Kellim. Boris and Karl search through the titles in their section, but find very few books that appear to be from more recent years. They open up a few, but they make few mentions of actual members of the family, and most of them are scratched out with the words "PAID" or "FORGIVEN" or "PUNISHED" written next to them. They feel that they are most certainly in the wrong section. Any debts or slights between family members, it appears, would not be here but rather in the Family History Section. Elba and Kellim have better luck. Simply by opening a few pages of various books they see that Henry is mentioned in quite a few tomes. They can tell they're on the right track, but must choose between two distinct set of books. The first is an analytical history of the family, written by a number of historians, a sort of compilation of history. Surely here the details of Henry's life can be found. The other side is a strange set of mismatched books, journals of various family members. The topics range from personal thoughts to favorite recipes. Where will the heroes look? -Analytical History -Assorted Journals

OoC: I believe we're all ready! If we could get back on the 24 hour update clock for this second final battle I think we'd all appreciate it.

Haha, also something I noticed, but figured we'd all let slide - some of us who don't have quite as extensive of a collection have already re-used certain combos. Well, that wasn't exactly how I'd expect change to occur, but it's still something I think would be awesome (and might be eventually coming too). And sure, the houses don't like each other a ton right now, but if Heinrich and Noctus were brutally murdered I wonder if Lyren and Nuiten might not force an alliance. Storylines where the norm comes under siege is always awesome, because you see wildly new character dynamics. I'm still moving for the Bonapartes to just be randomly killed off and for Eubric to become a pirate haven with even fewer laws with the Ji Pei running wild.

Looks good, Sandy! Hope to see it in use, but also sort of secretly hope we don't lose our only Regulator.

The heroes are led into a backdoor of the Hinckwell Villa. They glance around a little, but Grady keeps a careful eye on them and they can tell by the grinding of his teeth that, if he had other options, they probably wouldn't be there. They are led down a dusty staircase to a room full of barrels and pickled foods in jars. Grady glares at them. "Don't touch anything." He throws open a trap door in the floor and they descend to another basement. This one is dustier, and sprawls out in every direction. There is aisle after aisle of bookcase. "Well, let's get looking." The heroes are faced with four major sections to start in, all labelled with old parchments tacked to the bookcases: -Family History & Journals -Shipping & Trade Records -History of Uland and Surrounding Islands -Debts & Slights OoC: Welcome to your first puzzle of Heroica, heroes! Here's how it works. The library is built in a sort of "branching tree". There is a specific book somewhere in the library that will tell the cause of Henry's misery. If you can find it without making THREE MISTAKES, you will be given a level of experience! You may search together or separately - if you search together, obviously you will be able to follow fewer branches and your mistakes will be collective... but if you find the answer, you will all gain experience! If you search separately, your mistakes will be counted separately, but only the person who finds the book will gain experience. You may handle it anyway you like, and don't have to declare a specific search method (if you all want to take your first try separately and then team up, or vice versa, that's fine).

Damn. 120 is exactly the change that I want to see in Sandy story lines. I hope that something of similar magnitude happens in Eubric soon. What if the council had been heads of houses instead. :thumbup:

Absolutely stunning work once again! Like some of the others I remember when Copyright came out and I adored it. This entry into the series is just as sharp - great fun absurd humor (gotta love the red shirt and blue jeans segment... and the giant acorns [lovely little bird house in that scene by the way]) and the characters are as strong as ever: good pals, but certainly still unique from each other. And of course the animation is impossibly good. Congrats. :thumbup:

Bobby's head begins to clear up a bit. "Yo, this Hall is whack, man," he mutters to himself. "I gotta find a book or some coffee or some booze to get my head spun back on right." He signs his name to Quest #122 and then wanders off towards the bar.

I have gotten to the point of my quest-hosting that I'm starting to notice some of the tropes I lean on. Apparently I really love old books and libraries. There's an library in 30, 92, 107, and now 123. That's a whole lot of libraries playing important parts. And Sandy, the Orcish Invasion wiki article looks great. We're also working on compiling a list of taverns throughout the world of Olegaia: http://heroica-rpg.wikia.com/wiki/Taverns . That's only a taste... there are apparently a lot of them.

"Both Elba and I have lived in the city all our lives too, and have yet to become heroes." U'Or smiles. "It is a good profession if you ask me it's a good profession, but I would be a disaster." "You'll have your reward. No need for fearsome words." Elba smirks. "It is a good day when heroes are still willing to hunt down cheats. On a boat cheats are not tolerated. They have few places to run on the open sea. That is why I find most sea-faring men to be honest men." "Hinckwell Villa is at the top of Sungold Hill." U'Or inhales deeply. "A little bit of a hike, yes. But not impossible for adventurers like us it is not impossible." But soon enough the heroes and their two employers arrive at the outskirts of the Hinckwell Villa. They speak to a guard or two, who lets them through. The heroes keep hearing the name Grady passed around. Once inside the walls of the Villa their employers do not lead them into the main building, but rather circled around it until they came to an armored man. He nodded curtly to them, and gave a venomous look to the heroes, but instead of addressing them immediately pointed to a window that he had just moments before been staring through. The heroes and their employers gather around. Inside sits a man, staring at the fire. In his hand is a big glass of wine, and around him are a few empty bottles. His eyes look a little red. Music floats through the air, playing off a strange device few of the heroes recognize. The man is silent save for humming along brokenly every few bars. "He gets like this every year," says the man. He barely glances at the heroes as he introduces himself. "Sir Grady the Bold, by the way. Don't even think about crossing me. I already don't like heroes, don't give me a reason to stick my sword in your ribs." "Grady!" "They should know where their Hall and I stand." Grady sighs. "Ah, Hels, you're right. I need their help, at least for the day. That man in there is named Henribald Hinckwell, you probably know him by Henry, or more likely not at all. He handles over seas business for his family. Henribald hasn't had the kindest life. The younger brother, never the heir, he's served his family valiantly for many years. He lost his wife when their only son was very young, and his son a short time after that to your organization's 'quests'. And it all comes crashing out around Grogmas and the Winter Feasts." Grady cracks his knuckles. "I don't owe many people much, but Henry has always treated me well and looked after me. He won't tell me why the time of year depresses him, but Heinrich tells me he's been this way since he was young. I intend this year to find out why, and set things right." "Feel free to let us know what you need," says Elba a little more curtly than the heroes have seen him the past. "Extra hands more than anything. Below this house is a labyrinth of old shipping records, old family history, debts, tales, notes, wish lists, lists of enemies, many things. I don't doubt for a moment that the reason for Henry's sadness this time of year is buried somewhere down there, but I could never read through it all on my own..." the knight kicks a stone angrily. "I need some extra hands and eyes." "That could take a while." "You're not getting your present for the Doctor until I find what I'm looking for." Elba shrugs. "It's your present, U'Or. You still want this?" "Are you ready to do some reading heroes are you ready to do some reading?"

OoC: I should be hastened, lucky and encouraged. Archmages need ether. "Drink up, chaps, and let's kill a monster."

What an absolutely lovely MOC. The white is an awesome background color - obviously it is the freshly fallen snow, which is beautiful on its own, but it also serves to make the landscape a little surreal which makes the whole thing just a little bit more magical. The way that it coats everything (the roof is a beautiful example, along with the "white trees") sets a wonderful mood. Love the icicles too, and the dark blue is a nice color to off-set it with. Really stand-out work.

"Are you from Eubric? I always assume that all heroes are from far away, I assume. I know that the city has some resident vampires. Why, one of my closest friends is Madame Butterfly of the Guild of Invision... or, at the very least, I consider her a close friend, I hope she considers me a good friend I hope. One of her close acquaintances is Dr. Cula is one of her close acquaintances." "You're hardly answering the question, U'Or." Elba chuckles. "Thoughts of Madame Butterfly have you flustered?" "No, no, no... no... you know our relationship is strictly professional is the way our relationship is no no no." Inhaling deeply, U'Or turns back to Boris. "I do not know what Grady will require us to do. He is having us meet him at the estate, so surely it will not be too adventurous or dangerous." A light snow begins to fall.

"He needs a favor from us before he is willing to help us. That is the way things work in Eubric you'll find out quickly that's the way things work in Eubric." "He's not the most generous of the Hinckwell brood, though none of them are particularly loose with their money or valuables."

Elba shakes Keliim's hand firmly, a quick and efficient motion. "Glad you asked-" he says before finding himself distracted by Boris. "If only we were so lucky, though I think we'll leave the sailing to Lane. We have some errands to run in the city, and we really could use the extra hands. U'Or, would you like to explain our mission, or shall I carry that burden?" "Oh dear, if I were to talk I'm sure the heroes would get a headache if I talked." The U'Kin blushes. "I do not always have my accent - this is how U'Kin speak in Dastan U'Kin speak this way - but when I drink it returns sometimes." U'Or screws up his eyes, trying to focus. "Doing good deeds for free, huh? So I guess you won't mind if I hold onto your payment." "Go ahead and explain what we're doing today, Elba, please." "Alright, alright." Elba holds up his hands in defeat. "Never hurts to have a little chit chat. But, regardless heroes, we must be getting down to business. Now, since you all seem the savvy type, I am sure you are well aware of the Great Gerald Guffington of Guffington Manor fame. But, if you don't know, Guffington is a very rich and very kind man who employs both U'Or and I." "He's a good man," echoes U'Or. "He has one other full time employee: one Doctor Daneeka, a very old Sayyip - you don't see many of them around anymore these days, so don't fear if it's not a name you recognize. They are a species of a forgotten time, back when Acerpusculum and Nepheliem and their ilk roamed Olegaia. But that's neither here nor there. It appears that Daneeka has spent a considerable amount of his time of Olegaia perfecting the art of gift giving. Year after year he buys both U'Or and I the most lovely lovely gifts, and we give him paltry returns." "If we are being frank, it is starting to get embarrassing if we're being frank." "So, this year, at Guffington's Winter Feast, we plan to present Doctor Daneeka with the best gifts we can possibly think to rustle up. It will be a full day expedition, and we will not rest until we are sure that we can crack a grin on that ol' bastards face." "The gift I thought up is an old book is the gift I thought up. Doc Daneeka is an avid reader, and I have done research and tracked down an old surviving book that tells a of a history of his race. Some of the great deeds his race did. Unfortunately..." "The Hinckwells are also an old family, as I'm sure you know. They have a great many tomes gathering dust in the basement of their mansion. We wish they'd give us one out of the goodness of their heart... but that's not the case. We have a contact within the family who is willing to give us the book, but he demands payment. Quid pro quo. So, that is our first stop... before we go and pick up my far superior gift." "We'll see who has the better gift at the end of the day we'll see who has the better gift." The U'Kin blushes again. "Can you walk and talk heroes? I will lead the way to the Hinckwells now, and you may ask questions as we walk and talk if you are able to do that." The Captain and U'Kin set off down the busy streets, and the heroes have to hustle to keep up.

I really do think that you've done a commendable job of not ret-conning anything, but letting them inform a strong new character instead. Flipz, it's worth noting Arthur is well on his way to that as well. EDIT: How many books do you think I can have heroes retrieve for Daneeka? Do you think I can have them build him a full library?

"Thanks dude, I had a blast."

I've also been adding to the wiki pretty studiously over this break. I plan to have a great number of my quests cataloged (7 is in, 19 is half-way done, 92 is done) and make at least a dent into my NPCs (Everyman is my newest addition) while hacking away at Boomingham's extensive bio. It's a lot of fun, and I suggest others take a shot at it too!

No, he's singing an incredibly poor rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Legend of Korra is one of the absolute best shows.

You'll get them! In practice they are much easier to catch onto, don't worry.