Zepher

I'm going to hit a rut when I get to 53 anyway - there's a lot of typing to do for that one. Don't worry too much about it.

Justin happily scoops up the gold that the Heroicans leave on his counter and then shepherds them out the door. They once more set out towards Bric'Lin. It is about mid-day that they hear some hushed voices off the side of the road. Dyric leads his compatriots past the fence a little, and they listen in while hiding behind a tree. "...mb Hinckwell is probably still wondering where the Hel we are." "But what if he comes after us, Bors!" "He won't come after us. Lift your side of the chest, would you! These damn things are heavy." "How can you be sure?" "He probably thinks that the Shadeaux killed us off. Now come on, let's get to the road. Set up a trap for caravans. Who knows, either the Hinckwell or Shadeaux could be sending something else this way right now. Idiots." What would the heroes like to do?

NPC index updated! Along with the 50ers added (that's a pretty nice number, right?!) the October NPCs have also added, all nominated by CMP. EDIT: I love Hybros' and Guts' relationships. I can't tell if they trust each other, distrust each other, hate each other, are friend, or all of the above.

Quest 50 Jun Ji Pei - Aoi - The Ji Pei He is the son of Ambassador Shanxian Ji Pei and the late General Yeong Ji Pei of Xu. He was born blind and with a bad temperament, but whereas the house inventor Vincent Legonardo restored his sight with the neurored lenses (at least partially, since he still couldn't see colours), training among the Tao Warriors at the Hoshin region taught him discipline and self-control. But when he heard that bandits calling themselves the "108 Stars of Destiny" had invaded the Pagoda of Nine Elements, the base of the Tao Warriors, and slaughtered everyone inside, Jun's temperament flared up again and he took off on his own to avenge his brotherhood. His mother sent heroes of Heroica after him to help him out, but the task was too difficult even to them. The heroes survived, but Jun went missing, presumed dead. Missing, in Xu Lee Long - Human - The Ji Pei This warrior monk from Xu came to owe his life to the family of Ji Pei when they saved him from execution sentenced to him because of insolent behaviour against an aoi. Instead, he was sent into exile, never permitted to return to Xu again. The Ji Pei helped him again by taking him with them to Eubric to act as a personal bodyguard to Shanxian Ji Pei, the matriarch of the family. He never leaves her side, and it is rumoured that the two even share a bed together. He acts as a father figure to Shanxian's son Jun, who lost his own father at a young age. Alive, Ji Pei Palace Doctor Monalisa Gioconda - Human - The Ji Pei/Tritech Company Dr. Gioconda is the head engineer of the Tritech Company, a group of scientists founded by Vincent Legonardo, the famous inventor. She was taught the secret technology of the east by Legonardo, including the manufacture of automatons. At one point she helped build defense systems for the pirate captain Jolly Roger, but after that failed, she saw it best to stay by her master's side to learn even more from him. Alive, Ji Pei Palace Sham Poo - Half-Orc - No Allegiance Sham is a wandering merchant with wares that are most certainly not stolen property. He adores his mother Scheherazade, the matron of the saloon in Heroica Hall, and sometimes returns to her to get his doze of tought love. He has promised to buy his mother her own Inn when his business picks up, but has so far failed to keep that promise. The identity of his father is a big mystery even to him. Always on the look-out for more profit, Sham travels all around the globe, and you never know where you might encounter him next. So far he has appeared in Jolly Roger's Grotto at the Crystalline Ocean and the Pagoda of Nine Elements in Xu. Alive & Wandering Shanxian Ji Pei - Aoi - The Ji Pei She is a masterful architect and one of the very few blue-skinned aoi still left in the world. She came to Eubric a few years ago as an ambassador to Xu, her homeland, but quickly got involved into the city's politics. She sees the Freeport as a perfect base to build a new kind of society that is based on technology and progress. She is aided by the genius inventor Vincent Legonardo in this mission. A chi monk called Lee Long acts as her personal bodyguard. She has one son, Jun, who returned to Xu to avenge the deaths of his brotherhood, the Tao Warriors. Shanxian sent heroes of Heroica after him, but they failed to bring him back. Thinking Jun is dead, it is Shanxian's turn to swear vengeance. Alive, Ji Pei Palace Vincent Legonardo - Human - The Ji Pei/Tritech Company Monsignore Legonardo is the biggest all-around genius the whole Olegaia has ever seen. He studied under the aoi of Xu for decades, and then returned to his old hometown of Eubric with the House of Ji Pei some years ago. Together he and the family quickly rose to fame by selling their mechanical and architectural inventions to the people of Eubric. Some rumours say that Legonardo might not even be from this time and age, that's how advanced his creations are. It was he who taught the people of Xu to build airships. His own vessel, Destiny's Bounty (Mark XVI), is naturally the fastest and most advanced of all airships, and with it he can travel around the world in a matter of weeks. Alive & Genius, Ji Pei Palace

Someone just did that in 84 .

The heroes go to bed, and the next morning wake up early. They descend down the stairs and are greeted by Justin. "Ah, good morning," he sniffles. "Your friends just headed out about an hour ago. I guess that man Mac found those mercenaries - he and that Shawe man left with a few others." Justin sniffs again. "Everyman checked out too. Said you had agreed to cover the cost of his room." Would the heroes like to walk, talk, or do both?

"Alright boys, let's hit them where it hurts." The Knights attack twice more, or move north should they kill their foes on their first attack.

The Enforcer glances around at all three of the heroes and Samuel Shawe. "I have heard of Heroica before. I will trust you to help Shawe regain this lost shipment, but make no mistake, if it is not within my sight in Loush in three days, I will return here, find Shawe, cut his HEAD off, and then probably find you too and do the SAME THING!" The Enforcer shoots a dirty look at Samuel before he quite abruptly storms back out the door that he never bothered to close. The party feels they've gained some world experience - not every conflict needs to end in violence. "Thank you, heroes! I don't know what would have happened had you not been here. I'll very happily pay for your beds for the night, if you'd let me." Everyman crawls back out from hiding and grins confidently. "Looks like I'll live in fear yet another day," whimpers the barkeep. The Party Dyric Rone *Party Leader* Level 21 2/3 Assassin *Immune to Wood, Water, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness* *Lucky* *Steals 50% more gold* *Reinforced* Power: 33 Defense: 3 6 Health: 33/33 Gold: 792 Equipment: Requiem (WP: 20; wood, light and darkness-elemental, ranged), Lucky Die, Tricorne (SP:3, Water, Wood, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness - elemental) Sticky Gloves (Increases amount of gold stolen by 50%; handwear) Inventory: Double Chain Whip (WP:10), Throwing Knife (WP:4, ranged, retrievable), Longsword (WP: 3), Aquamarine (Water), Diamond, 4 Potions, 5 Grand Potions, Elixir, 2 Remedies, Mead, 2 Venoms, Smoke Bomb, Skeleton Decoy, 3 Mythril Shards (3/4 of a Mythril), Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold), Bone, Winged Sandals, Pheonix Essence, Smelling Salt Bedroll, Shovel, Banana (Restores full health to target), Diamond Lamp of Summoning, Tonic Thothwick Level 24 2/3 Black Knight *Damage Undead* *Immune to Stunned* Power: 38 (34 Ranged) Defense: 10 Health: 39/39 Gold: 114 Equipment: Banana Sabre (WP:13, Heals Metasimians when used on them), Skull Shield (SP:6; immunity to darkness-elemental damage; suitable to Black Knights only), Black Knight's Armour (SP:4, protects from stunned-effect), Cultist's Hat (regular attacks do Damage to Undead) Inventory: Shuriken (WP 8), Sabre (WP 10), 1 Bedroll, 1 Telescope, 1 Potion, 9 Cosmic Essences, 1 Venom, 5 Deadly venoms, Grand Zoot Cookie, Sapphire, Dragon Scale, 4 Meads, 5 Grand Potions, Ambrosia Karie Alderflask Level 18 Witch *Hilariously and Luckily Drunk* Power: 25 Defense: 2 Health: 32/32 Ether: 24/24 Gold: 85 Equipment: Oculoid Palm (WP: 11, Whip, successful hits lowers the target's level. Coils around the user's arm and mimics a tattoo outside of battle.) by 1. Ethereal Cloak (SP +2, Max. Ether +4),Catsuit (Wearer has 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER and DAMAGE and Free Hits; suitable to women only; bodywear) Inventory: Grand Tonic, Mead (1), Remedies (3), Venom (7), Smoke bomb (1), Pixie Dust (1),Telescope (1), Bedroll (1), Emergency Essence (1), Grand Tonic (3), Nostrum (1), Smelling Salt (1) Quest Items: Entry 11, Map of Brendenton (1), Spider Coin (worth 1 gp), Forest Journal Aretefacts/Weapons: Heirloom Dagger (WP: 3), Scroll of Newtity (costs 10 ether)(usable by ex-Amphibians only), Lover's Locket (Accessory, Protects from enamoured effect), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Accessory, changes user's appearance into an Elf) Sexy (WP: 8, Rapier, Disregards SP, usable by Knights and Rogues), Paper Doll (Accesory, prevents Hexing) Gemstones: Topaz

Nostrum as the most expensive was what I meant by price hike. Just a price hike for it. I think 80 gold would be a fair price - still doable, but not for every battle, much like Mulled Wines, they will be prized that way.

"He made a deal with me, and I with the guild. That's what shipping groups do. I swear, though, that I was robbed. I have every intent of getting your shipment to you when I retrieve it." "My employers are an excavation group in Dastan. They're trying to bury deep into Olegia to find remains of the Ancient Lion Knights Kingdom and some bones of the Ancient Dragons, which are said to be even larger than the dragons of today."

I stand by a price hike.

The creature, seemingly calmed in some way by Thothwick's harsh tone, does lower his sword a little and look towards Dyric. "I don't CARE for mystery. My job is to make sure that I get MY shipment." The sword wavers a little. "I am the Golden-Eyed Enforcer." He snarls a little. "What are you? Members of House Shadeaux? Why should I TRUST your word any more than your employers? How can you ENSURE me you will get back the shipment and get it to me?"

Quest 49 High Priestess Alisameth - Human - The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 16, 49 The spiritual leader of the Paladin Order in Eubric. She has a more open minded approach towards orcs and other greenskins than many others in the Order and even gave the hero Cronk her blessing when he decided to become a Paladin. She has employed the heroes of Heroica twice, first as reinforcements to the 1st battalion fighting in Tanco on the island of Moone. And the second time for delivering an important letter to priestess Mandrea Melifano. Alive, In Eubric Ansar the Gardener - Human - Employed by The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 49 Ansar is the gardener at the convent The House of Ennoc's Children and takes care of the convent's crops and flowers. Thanks to his skills the convent is more or less self-sufficient in vegetables. As young Ansar was a powerful and promising mage but had his source of ether removed as he never felt comfortable working with magic. The removal was done by a witch and included a lot of chanting and different brews and was described by Ansar as very painful. At the convent Ansar found peace by working with the plats and crops, and together with his friend Fat Mats, the chef, he runs a small secret tavern. There is also indication of that Ansar and the novice Najdalena might have had an affair together. Alive, in The House of Ennoc's Children Emiria the Novice - Human - The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 49 Emiria is the youngest of the novices at the convent The House of Ennoc's Children but probably the most enthustiastic one. She is still a child and likes to play around with her best friend Jossin and together they play pranks on the other members of the convent. When alone, Jossin usually calls Emiria by her nickname "Small Socks". Alive, in The House of Ennoc's Children Fat Mats the Chef - Human - Employed by The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 49 Fat Mats is the chef in the convent The House of Ennoc's Children and cook and serves all the meals for the novices and the employees. The heroes that visited the convent at the time of the murder of sir Mandric Melifano nearly drove Fat Mats insane by never being able to make it in time for the meals. Together with his good friend Ansar, the gardener, Fat Mats runs a small secret tavern at the back of the kitchen to earn some extra money. It is without the permission of priestess Mandrea though. Alive, in The House of Ennoc's Children Sir Helmer - Human - The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 16, 49 Sir Helmer is a champion swordsman in the Paladin Order. He is born and raised in Eubric, but since he joined the Order he hasn't had the opportunity to visit his home city very often. Sir Helmer has served in the 1st Battalion of Light and Justice under Sir Kapriel, including the defending of the town Tanco on the island of Moone. During that time he met and defeated a hero by the name Tomas in a duel. Sir Helmer left the 1st Battalion shortly after to do his service at the convent The House of Ennoc's Children. There he trained the novices in hand to hand combat and strategy, a duty he didn't enjoy very much. Sir Helmer often uses a downgrading language when talking to orcs and other greenskins and is clearly affected by the strong anti-greenskin atmosphere of the Order. However, after the hero Cronk had beaten him in a training fight, Sir Helmer seemed to treat him with more respect then before. As a hobby Sir Helmer likes to collect stones which he keeps neatly sorted in large crates. Alive, in The House of Ennoc's Children Jorke the Cleric - Human - The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 49 Jorke was a cleric of the Paladin Order that worked at the convent The House of Ennoc's Children. He taught the novices about the art of Healing and Meditation, as well as a bit about potions and tonics. In his early days Jorke worked as a cleric in the Bonaparte navy, but was recruited to the Paladin Order and spent many years in the 2nd Battalion of Light and Justice. However, a conflict with the commander, Sir Mandric Melifano, led to him leaving the military branch of the Order and settle in the convent. When sir Mandric was killed, Jorke was chosen as the suspect by the hero investigators and handed over to the 2nd Battalion. Reports claim that Jorke died during the following interrogation. Dead Jossin the Novice - Human - The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 49 Jossin is a 14 year old novice that has studied at the convent The House of Ennoc's Children for three years. She is a natural prankster and together with her best friend, Emiria, she causes all kinds of shenanigans at the convent. The two friends often call each other by code names, Jossin being Queen Sunshine. The older girls at the convent sees the younger as childish and sometimes Jossin and Najdalena get into fights with each other. Alive, in The House of Ennoc's Children Mandrea Melifano - Human - The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 49 Mandrea Melifano is priestess and head of the convent The House of Ennoc's Children, located just north of Bric'lin trading post. She and her brother, Mandric Melifano, were very close and the priestess had a hard time following her brother's death in the middle of her own sanctuary. Thankfully the heroes present could help her catch a suspect. Alive, in The House of Ennoc's Children Sir Mandric Melifano - Human - The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 49 Mandric Melifano was the Commander of the 2nd Battalion of Light and Justice in the Paladin Order. He spent most of his days out on expeditions and on the battlefield, but as often as he could he would pay a visit to his sister's convent, The House of Ennoc's Children. Apart from meeting with his only living family member, it seems that sir Mandric also spent his time at the convent blackmailing the cook and the gardener because of their secret pub, and also visiting one of the novices during the night. During his time among the top names of the Paladin Order he inevitably made some enemies and during his last visist to the convent his sister got a letter that declared that sir Mandric was banned from the Order and going to be put on trial for crimes against the Order. He was mysteriously killed during the next night when three heroes from Heroica was visiting the convent. The cleric Jorke was accused of the murder and "taken care of" by the 2nd Battalion. Dead Najdalena the Novice - Human - The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 49 Najdalena was the oldest of the novices studying at the convent The House of Ennoc's Children when the heroes visited it. She will soon do her final exams and be ready to start working as a cleric in the Paladin Order. She seemed to have had an affair with the gardener, Ansar, but she then might have been charmed a handsome Norse hero visiting the convent. Alive, in The House of Ennoc's Children Sira the Novice - Human - The Paladin Order Appeared in: Quest 49 Sira is the second oldest novice at the convent The House of Ennoc's Children. She is a quiet but talented student and will soon be ready to advance to the next stage in her education, probably as an assistant to the priest or priestess at one of the shrines in the Order. The late sir Mandric Melifano had some kind of interest in Sira and liked to talk to her whenever he visited the convent, but his constant drunkness made the meetings uncomfortable for the novice. She saw the man who murded him during the night, but the investigators went with another theory when solving the murder. Alive, in The House of Ennoc's Children

"I will NOT lower my VOICE!" bubbles out the creature at Karie. "I represent very IMPORTANT and INFLUENTIAL clients who will NOT be TRIFLED WITH!" The creature cocks its head at Dyric's statement, but sucks in an angry breathe and continues to shout. "These are just WORDS! They MEAN nothing! How do I KNOW that he had the EXPLOSIVES in the FIRST PLACE. I CANNOT allow someone who has tricked me to LIVE!" the creature yells radically. Finally, it turns to Thothwick, and the Black Knight seems to give it some pause. "I will NOT sheath my WEAPON... but I WILL listen to you. Do you know this Shawe man? Are his words TRUE?!" The creature glances around at Dyric, Thothwick and Karie and seems to realize for the first time that it is maybe outnumbered.

Morta eventually smiles dully. "I'm sorry, I'm very tired, I believe I will retire for the evening." Morta begins to walk up the stairs, and Marcellus follows her. Anguy also stumbles up the stairs, leaving the heroes alone with Justin, Everyman, and Samuel Shawe. "Well, looks like everyone is clearing out for the evening," says Shawe as he begins to get up, but just then the door to the tavern flies open and a strange creature in an even stranger outfit stands in the doorway. "SAMUEL SHAWE!" it gurgles out angrily in its drowned voice. "WHERE IS OUR SHIPMENT! We did not expect the SHADEAUX family to CROSS US like THIS! We PAID you HALF, where are our EXPLOSIVES?!" The creature steps into the tavern, revealing an outrageously large sword. It advances on Shawe. "Oh no," moans Justin. "My day has finally come." Everyman, true to form, hides under a table. Shawe steps forward to try to reason with the creature. "I'm glad you came to find me, I'm in the midst of getting everything sorted-" "No EXCUSES!" bellows the beast, and takes another menacing step forward. If the heroes are going to intercede, either with word or action, now is the time.

"Kind of profession?" asks Morta mildly. "There is no kind of profession for witches. You witches of Heroica are different - I've met many of your kind before. Mere imitations. Witchcraft is not something that can be breed, it is something that is born into you. Your powers are only a shadow of my own." Morta smiles her sinister smile again, but there is always kindness in her eyes. "I guess my sisters and I pretend at greater things too, when we call you mortals and call ourselves more than that. We are mortals too, just as the ones we serve are not gods, just as the gods themselves are not as all-powerful as they'd have us believe. There is an end to all." The witch seems to be in her own world now. "I apologize, Karie. I may have had one wine too many. We have no profession but life, my Marcellus and I, him for a shorter time than I unless something happens to either of us." Her shoulders slump. "As of now we are seeing Uland. We inspire others to do, though we ourselves do not do. That is our current business and profession, I suppose."

"Yes, I can actually. There were four men who assaulted me - the leader of them was a huge brute of an orc who steadfastly refused to wear a shirt. They came out of the forest and overwhelmed my two guards while Mac and I fled." "Business," Morta sighs. "So it is with mortals. Always on and on about business." She smiles wanly. "Marcellus and I are just here to get a drink. Well, I'm here for a drink. Marcellus doesn't drink, but he's such a sweetheart he decided to come protect me." "There are always dangers, Miss."

I like my witch trio! Morta and Marcellus had to show up in a tavern. Also, I'm SO pissed that I've never used a tavern as a plot mechanic before - so many fun NPCs in one place.

"Oh, hello there, another witch! Hi, Karie." The woman offers her hand. "My name is Morta. I'm a witch of death. This little lump of love is named Marcellus." "Is this another one of the Heroica brood?" asks the grumpy gremlin. "Yes, yes, now be friendly." Morta smiles. "How is the grand world treating you, Karie?" "Not willingly, no. As I was explaining to Dyric, my trusty caravan driver - Mac - has been sent to collect some sell-swords and cut throats to help me retrieve my goods."

And we're back to trucking, 84! Even with delays like that on the weekends, I don't think the quest will take more than a month at the most.

"He has a will and force, but needs his agents here on Olegia to enact it. He is a God, we cannot understand all of his ways." The Warrior Priest sighs. "I am tired. I believe it is time for me to retire, we have a long way to travel tomorrow. I wish you the best of luck, Karie." He and General Hamilton walk up the staircase on the far end of the room, though Anguy remains behind to down a few more drinks. The red robed lady and U'Voros also head upstairs. The bar is clearing out for the evening, it seems. "Oh look, another member of our merry band! Thothwick, was'int? I'm well enough, thank ya for askin'!" Everyman seems almost oblivious to Thothwick's scare-tactics. He burps loudly. "It's not too dreadful, I'm sure I'm going to get it back." Samuel turns to Thothwick. "Hi there, my name is Samuel Shawe," he offers his hand to shake.

Boomingham snorts. "I know how to fight a war, boy." Boomingham, nevertheless, moves his troops north west and then orders his troops to attack Spearmen D.

I think a price hike would be fair, actually, and I complain about gold issues all the time. I think it just needs to be Nostrums, and they just to be hiked up high enough that it will no longer be reasonable to buff EVERY single battle. I'd be happy if they cost 75 gold. That way, its still reasonable for non-Rogues to buy one for particularly hard battles, and Rogues can't buy up to much. It doesn't seem particularly high now either, BUT keep in mind that with lucky being more expensive Rogue's spendings will drop as well, so that they too will have to consider if they want to buff. I think buffing is a huge part of the strategy of the game, and should not be removed (I know I said earlier that I'd be okay with it, but I've rethought that) - I just think it should have to remain a CHOICE as opposed to the only option. So 75, 80, 85 gold I think would be a good choice.

Didn't we just change a rule? Let's let the game run for a week without something changing. It's not that broken.

It'd be more fun to get them as drops that way too. Maybe put them on a rotating cart, but that's a lot of work for Sandy - I would also be in favor of just pulling them, though I don't feel particularly strongly either way.