Zepher

I have to say I'm pretty excited that Benji has become the first hero to really campaign for the Wolfgang. It gives the Wolfgang a lot more credence all of sudden if one of the heroes of the hall are willing to speak up for them. :thumbup:

It's not like you attacked the Wolfgang to try to protect the girl.

"Aren't all those soldiers brainwashed slaves? That doesn't even take the thought power of manipulation." "Lawrence may be an idiot, but he's not weak." Barty crosses his arms. "So we angels are mortal. All things are except the light and the darkness, of course. You are too, you know that, right?" Barty darts forward and then back. "You did kill an angel. But the darkness cannot swallow light. One angel may die, but you will be crushed."

"Em, you'll have to remind me, where'd you meet this Progg? Was he a threat then and has grown weak since then, or was he always just talk? Because he seems like just talk. He sure talks a lot." "He is a great evil," says Barty popping into view, "but not a great force, apparently. Maybe we can discuss some of the missteps you've made here, Boomingham. For example, you forgave Alice rather quickly after she betrayed you, don't you think? Don't you see that her heart was swallowed by darkness then?" "She seems alright now, doesn't she?" Boomingham swings Scupperer at the Claw of Destruction from the back row as Barty floats around his head. "Haven't we learned yet that second chances mean nothing?" "I feel like this is all we talk about."

Both Sandy Quests are, as is typical, pretty awesome so far.

Boomingham shoulders his way in front of Johon. "I can take the sword." He swings again.

Bobby wanders around the Emerald Palace. "Yo, this place is tight. I can dig it." He walks up to the automaton and cocks his head at it, getting a few different angles at it. "Dope," he says. "You just put gold in and it gives you cards?" He tests it out by inserting 75 gold and buying a Gambler's Hand.

"I'd be glad to take care of those nasty blades he's got on him," says Boomingham in response to Em. He turns to the Regret and swings at at the Left Saber from the back row.

Boomingham draws his sword.

Alright, let's finally get down to it! Alexis - I was a little worried picking Alexis for this quest. There have been times in the past where I've selected her, or seen her selected, and she's sort of fallen off the face of the earth. I think, however, that Alexis was a great choice for this quest. While the rest of the party built a bizarre layered hateful/fearful dynamic, Alexis remained aloof the entire time. She was impossible to predict (much like Purpearl) but the fact that she appeared to genuinely have no vested interest in any side what-so-ever really made her the MOST neutral character in the party, and the fact that she was also the most powerful balanced nicely with that. It is terrifying to know that the person with no feelings towards any happenings is also the one that can have the most effect. Even that final battle proved it - if any other single hero had sided with Chauncey, he'd likely be dead now. I think there's sometimes a complaint in PvP that the longer playing players could steam-roll players who have played for less time, but I think it's a dynamic we must preserve because of characters like Alexis. I think it is IMPORTANT to her character that she can strike out alone and do whatever she wants. I also liked playing up some of her previous interactions. It was a little hard to tell how she felt towards XX - in theory I don't think she'd like him because of 53, but they really didn't cross paths THAT MUCH in that quest upon re-reading it. He respected her abilities for sure, and was the only hero he knew, but you keep Alexis so neutral even he didn't know what to make of her. I like that. Her dismissiveness over Arthur and Althior is also awesome - a good way to have her transformed character be shaped by events that no longer make sense for them. Instead of ignoring them you use them as a tool to show where she is now, and I really dig that. The issue the others raised with battle issues is something to note, it really does make it look like you're not paying attention. I repeat often too because I also have a character who wouldn't chat too much in battle, but sometimes a little flourish adds a lot, and proves to everyone else that you're still really playing. But over all, I really like Alexis. Nerwen - Well, it was my second quest in a row hosting Nerwen, and I think before that I was questing with her and debating religion and free will and punishment and all that, so she's sort of become a Nyx to me - it's easy to watch a character grow if you're forced to read every line they say for that long. Nerwen is awesome. I'm sure I said it at the end of 88, but she's complex because her strengths and weaknesses are the same thing. Nerwen is resolute, and does not allow bad things to happen, but because she is so resolute once something is "bad" in her mind it will never and can never be good. Nerwen's interactions with just about everyone was great. It became clear early in the quest, I think, that Nerwen and Purpearl would not get along. But, and this is why I like long quests, watching their relationship fall apart over a week, all the hidden resentment... it was superb, and really did culminate in the final battle with Russel and Pigley - Nerwen would NOT allow them to die, and Purpearl wanted to take some down because she's a raging lunatic. I enjoyed everything Nerwen did. I really do think that she and Purpearl and Alexis are three of the best played elves in the game - you often talk about how their perception of time makes them so unbudging (they're just moving slowly in our opinion). I think it stood out in this quest, and they all played with it well together: the hastiness, the superiority, the certainty of actions. It was great to see, and I think Purpearl and Nerwen are prime examples of rivals within Heroica. You also never neglected to show her softer side. Just as she is steadfast in her opinion on evil, she is likewise steadfast on her friends. I could never see her abandoning Russel and Pigley, and her dedication to XX just for Nyx's benefit shows her incredible willingness to stick by those she is loyal to. Another reason I love her and Guts, and feel I will love Matthias and her in the future: once she has chosen someone, there can be fights and disagreements but they will always be someone that she sticks up for. The conversation with Samuel, Raguel's apprentice, was lovely too. Nerwen can feel regret, but she still stands by what she has done. Purpearl - I also really genuinely loved Purpearl. She was a terror, and I had no idea what way she might bend. I was incredibly pleased that she was the party leader. The power went to her head almost immediately, but I think that's because that's how Purpearl is. She actually reminds me a little of Zelphie, without the perverse charity side of things. Purpearl and Nerwen were awesome together because they both have strict moral codes that don't have anything to do with traditional moral codes, but also don't have anything to do with each other. Purpearl is brutal. She does not spare many people. I'm not entirely sure what she wants right now, on a higher level, if anything. She seems prepared to live the life of a full out mercenary, but she has so much drive that I feel she is striving for something more, something bigger. But maybe she doesn't - that'd be quite the character too, an incredibly driven unflinching character with no exact end destination, just a forward push. Purpearl and XX have that in common, for the moment at least. They both just want gold (though XX wants it for booze and bombs) and aren't too squeamish about getting it. The two bonded over it quite a bit, so much so that XX is fairly certain that Purpearl saved his life in that final fight. I was really glad that they got a side quest together. It was fitting, and they clearly gelled together. If XX hadn't met Nyx first, he may have been making eyes at Purpearl instead. Of course, Russel and Pigley are terrified of her. Matthias - I didn't design the quest for anyone in mind, Avery is a character from a previous quest which WAS designed for the aforementioned four. Debts didn't have a particular audience in mind, but I'm incredibly thankful I got Matthias. Matthias is awesome. I'm glad that he was the outsider in this quest: three women who live five times his lifespan. That's scary. So yes, Matthias played a different game, but I think it was a good one. Matthias was trying to find a powerful ally to stand with him against the bad things in the world. But he doesn't have complex thoughts on good and bad, like Nerwen and Purpearl - for him, good and bad is very simple, and I love that. This quest served to show him that the rest of the world doesn't think the same way, but he's already started to learn how to navigate it. Sure Nerwen and Purpearl and Alexis didn't conform to his ideas of "good" and "evil" and he wasn't powerful enough to exert his will alone, but he found he could draw out allies, make smart choices, navigate these dangerous waters, in other words, and still have a good effect on the world. Matthias also served as a great companion to all the NPCs. Russel and Pigley trust and adore him. XX is fond of him too, even after they're many arguments, there's something about two men with guns that XX just can't give up. I think he likes Matthias' "simple" view of a black and white world. But I really do think that Matthias grew without giving up his core being, and I think that's a powerful statement. He learned that there is much darkness out there in Olegia, AND some dangers in the Hall, but he didn't up and leave. He stayed. Because he's just as committed as the fearsome Nerwen and Purpearl, because he may be a small player now but I think Matthias knows if he continues to work hard he may grow strong enough to spare Sam and Keith or to protect the little man. He has learned that being good isn't going to be easy, that the Gods aren't always automatically on the side of good, but he has still decided to keep the course, and that's a powerful statement very few players have made with their heroes before. Matthias has doubt, but he also has faith in himself and that what he's committed himself to is right, and that's a strong character who has all but vanished from the story of Heroica. I think we need more of them. The allies and enemies and nuances that arose over 5 months was incredible, and made me really happy to have picked this long of a quest for such a strong party. That's it, Would love to discuss if anyone has any more thoughts on the quest, but if not I'll just be sitting around tinkering with my next few! -Zeph

"Sounds like it will be. So it's a forward march, then? Right up to the big beast?" Boomingham smiles. "It sounds like a good plan to me. Should we move on out?" He fishes a mead out of his satchel and starts to sip at it. "Or would anyone else like a little liquid courage first?" Boomingham glances down at Punni. "I'm glad you're alright, by the by. Wasn't too worried about you, chap - figured you could take care of yourself - but it's never a bad idea to have your friend's back in a fight, huh?"

Boomingham rubs his head. "Didn't a bunch of ghosts give us some cryptic advice on how to kill him? Let him consume the Lifespark or something?" He shakes his head, moving his massaging hands to his neck. "This is why I hate magic. Doesn't make an ounce of sense but it can still blow up Olegia."

Pie's solution is what my suggestion was going to be, and seems easy enough.

I thought you were purposely saving it because Alexis or Zelphie would remedy it. But yes, that was an option, though it probably would have been a waste of the item in my personal opinion.

I pinky promise I haven't forgotten character evals for 102, 102ers. They're coming... eventually!!!

"Yo man, it's your call! I'll call you Captain Holla for the time being, alright, boss?" Bobby looks Guts over. "Yo, you ain't got big weapons and cr*p like everyone else here. No cannon-" a look at Matthias' weapon, "or any of that. What do you do for the Hall, my man?"

OoC: We had guardian angel, so no. But I would like to know what "In the Red" means before posting an action. "Always good to see you," grunts Boomingham as the little angel fades away, looking pretty pooped from fending off any and all attacks.

"I lived just outside the Hovels. Eubric has been my home all my life, know what I'm saying. Once my family went to Bric'lin to see the theatre, that was dope, some f*ck up Stirlance shiz called "Twelve Kings of Carn". That play is straight crazy, yo. I dug it. But other than that just did some reading and errands for the folks, you know how it goes." "Naw dog, that's just the issue. I don't know shiz, but I'm trying to learn. Best way to learn is to travel, that's what I'm telling my dude Matthias over here." Bobby shoots his hand out, a mechanical motion, going for the handshake. "Yo, my name is Bobby Bucks, it's a pleasure to meet you my dude."

"Yo, I dunno. I guess you could say I'm new - I've noel been on one adventure. But I'm not sure how much people adventure, you know? Like, how long is a hero a hero for before they get a different job. Shiz man, this is the sort of thing about the world I know nothing about, know what I'm saying? Like Baltarok, you know, I try to read the news and all that stuff, but what even is it? Like I know its the land of the Orcs and all that whiz but like what is it really, know what I'm saying? Must have been a trip offing going there for real. That's how you get to know how things really are, know what I mean. Like being there for real? Some a-holes tell me they know what's what just cause they read the paper and books, and Hel, I do that too of course, but it doesn't mean I actually know jack, know what I mean, and I'm always saying to my pals 'listen b*tch, just cause you read doesn't mean you know anything' and they're all pissed about it, but it is what it is. That's why you gotta go really adventuring, so you can know shiz like what's actually going down in Baltarok. I mean, that shiz effects us, know what I'm saying? Whole worlds all interconnected."

"Well it's nice to meet you, my man. I dunno what I'm drinking yet, can't get the bar tender to look my way! Heyo, lady!" Bobby waves his hands, but Scheherazade has stepped away to help someone or perhaps to grab her broom to give the Hall a good cleaning. "What've you got? Is it good?"

A snort - his own - awakes Bobby from his slumbers. He rubs his eyes and looks around. "Oh shiz, wonder how long I was out." He looks around and finds a seat at the bar next to a gnome. "How's it hanging, little dude? I'm guessing you're a hero, ain't ya? That's cool, that's cool, I am too! Name's Bobby." Bobby offers his hand while glancing over his shoulder for the bar maid.

Boomingham cracks his knuckles. "You've been rather quiet, Barty. Nothing to say?" "You're doing an alright job of fighting something who is, in this angel's opinion, bleakly evil and chaotic. Not in the light at all." Barty smiles sternly. "We can critique the nitty gritty when all is said is done. But I have been taking notes, and no, you won't like them."

"Right you are, madam. I say once the weapons are gone it's full fledged against that big ol' heart of his." OoC: What is "weak heart"? Shouldn't we know since the heart is now exposed?

OoC: Still should be encouraged/lucky. Boomingham draws Scupperer and swings it at the enormous shield from the front row. "I say we disarm him, and then get that heart."

I drove down from upstate New York to downstate New York, and the first night saw a friend who goes to school in Nashville. Outside I was comfortable in a light sweater, he had on a scarf, hat, and heavy winter coat. Crazy, subjectivity.