Zepher

OoC: I don't think you can be 21.5, Legonator... so, what level are you? The Party Dyric Rone *Party Leader* Level 21 1?/3 Assassin *Immune to Wood, Water, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness* *Lucky* *Steals 50% more gold* Power: 33 Defense: 3 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 24.33 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 17.5 Witch Power: 24 Defense: 2 Health: 31/31 Ether: 23/23 Gold: 102 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 "It was many years ago that he went missing, and he and I were never particularly close. He knew he'd never rule this family, and so he left it. It was a foolish and selfish thing to do. I support my brother and his heirs, and he supports me. I loved Roderick, but I do not miss him terribly." The older man shook his head, whether in disappointment or sadness it is hard to tell. "The bandits wouldn't have much of a reason to rob us if they weren't working for the Shadeaux. It is rare for bandits to attack us or the Shadeaux, truth be told. Generally it isn't such a good idea." Sir Grody grins "There are wealthier and more poorly defended caravans than ours'. The chances of one group of bandits surviving an attack on the Shadeaux and then turning around and attacking us is unlikely. They wouldn't want to risk the wrath of both families, and their numbers wouldn't hold up. I'm not saying its impossible, just highly unlikely." "Bors is a sellsword, much like you. He works with a crew of four people total. You Heroicans always seem to think that you're the only sellswords around." The Hinckwell man snorts. "There are many, and some at better prices than you. The Red Assassins, Blue Assassins, there's talk of an explosive expert who has been wandering the island. Wereravens will sell their swords happily, and most Pongcanis work for hire if you can offer them the right price." "The Shadeaux have long wanted to work with the Guild of Invision. I guess they must have an interested buyer. I know that Samuel Shawe has been trying to secure a contract with Madame Ladybug for a long time, but she has been refusing. They're most likely jealous of my negotiation skills and looking to hurt the family." "We were traveling the Eubric Highway. It will probably be best to set out that way and see what you see." Do the heroes have any more questions?

Already a good start. And yes, Henry Hinckwell is the father of Roderick. I need to expand the Great Families - I really want to feature them, but I don't have any of the pieces for their current leaders. EDIT: Huzzah! I've been hoping we'd see the three apprentices again some time! Nice call, CMP. I think they could be further developed. I think it would be a lot of fun if we threw together a bio of every family INCLUDING the characters that don't belong to Sandy. They've got interesting stuff going on too - Henry Hinckwell, both Shawes, Patricia Ziegfried, the Apprentices to the Guild, the Bonaparte Cadets, etc. EDIT II: OH, and of course the Town Watch which is ever growing.

A small group of heroes leave the Hall at first light and make their way outside the walls of the city. They are.... The Party Dyric Rone *Party Leader* Level 20 1/3 Assassin *Immune to Wood, Water, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness* Power: 32: Defense: 3 Health: 32/32 Gold: 115 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, 4 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, Grand Potion, Winged Sandals, Pheonix Essence, Smelling Salt Bedroll, Shovel Thothwick Level 24.33 Black Knight *Damage Undead* *Immune to Stunned* Power: 38 (34 Ranged) Defense: 10 Health: 39/39 Gold: 449 Equipment: Banana Sabre (WP:12, 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 Karie Alderflask Level 17.5 Witch Power: 24 Defense: 2 Health: 31/31 Ether: 23/23 Gold: 302 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), Remedy (1), Venom (7), Smoke bomb (1), Pixie Dust (1),Telescope (1), Bedroll (1), Emergency Essence (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: 7, Rapier, Disregards SP, usable by Knights and Rogues), Paper Doll (Accesory, prevents Hexing) Gemstones: Topaz The city walls of Eubric look as haphazardly thrown together as everything else in the bustling port. They had the appearance that the contractor had totally forgotten that he had agreed to build them, and then the day before the project had been due some friend had taken mercy on him and reminded him that he had agreed to construct them. Stones are piled high with mortar. Some places have intricate arches and stone work, most do not. The years have not been kind to the walls - they are now supplemented with huge wooden beams. The heroes wander around a little before they find their employer - Lord Henry Hinckwell, brother to the esteemed head of the Hinckwell house. He sits proudly on his horse, staring down at them with slight annoyance and slight intrigue. "Hello heroes, I hope that you are well rested, you have a long day of travel before you. Here is the situation. I have recently arranged with the Guild of Invision to send a shipment of explosives to the High Kingdoms for mining purposes. Sadly, it looks like the explosives will not be making it there on time. Sir Grady the Bold was en route to Bric'Bay Fort when he was belayed by a group of mercenaries. Sir Grady, tell them." "My troops and I were carrying the crates north when on the Eubric Highway a group of disreputable fellows plunged out of the forest. They slaughtered my troops and I barely escaped with my life. I was able to disarm and kill one of the bandits, and when I picked up his sword, I found that it was Shadeaux made." "The Shadeaux have had an eye on this shipment for a long time, and I have very good reason to believe that they have taken it and will be attempting to sell it to someone else. Our families have always been at odds, but we never fight openly - it would make sense if they or one of their cronies, probably a Shawe, hired bandits to make it appear like a random attack. I responded in turn by hiring a group of bandits led by Strong-Chested Bors, but they have not returned and I fear the worst. I am forced to turn to your organization. Make no mistakes, I have no love for you. My own son, Sir Roderick Hinckwell, mysteriously disappeared in service to you, and your representatives at Lord Guffington's party were troublesome to say the least. Besides that, I have heard that you are in many ways responsible for the troubles we suffered in Brendenton. My nephew Lorcan has assured me that he has worked well with a least a few of your numbers in the past, however, and I'm running out of options. You are to find Shawe, find the shipment, and return it to me. Are there any questions?"

It does indeed! Thank you! Quest topic in... a few seconds.

If someone would be so kind as the make a banner for Quest 84 (Sandy? BD?) I'd be extremely thankful. And Pala, as I explained, it is going to be too difficult to update every entry for every NPC each time, so their most recent quest will have their most recent info - in this case, Triad was alive at the end of 38, but will be listed as "Dead" when I put together the stuff for 53.

A man in Hinckwell garb walks into the hall and tacks a note over the sign-ups for Quest 84. "I guess we'll just have see how these heroes do." OoC: You have a few hours to shop.

Quest 48 I have no information for this quest, Endgame.

"Knights, I think we'll do our best work flanking these fellows. Let's start by moving northeast and then southeast. Make sure you stick to the alleys."

Quest 84 Sign-Ups -Thothwick, Level 24.33 Black Knight -Arasmyth RuGard, Level 15.5 Evoker -Althior Emorith, Level 30.5 Necromancer -Karie Alderflask, Level 17.5 Witch -Dyric Rone, Level 20 1/3 Assassin -Johon, Level 26 Raider -Sign Ups Will Close in ~24 Hours-

That's alright. I'm going to have to take a break when we get to 53 anyway because I have a bunch of actual work to do for that one.

"We gave your elves a second chance. You stopped me from charging in and destroying them. You said I lacked understanding of them." Boomingham shrugs, but there is a flickering flame in his eyes. "I do not expect the Pongcanis to prove themselves more than beasts, but I expected the same out of the elves. It is your decision, Nerwen. The Pongcanis have humans with them who do not seem to fear them. It gives me pause where before I had none." Boomingham unsheathed his sword. "I like a good battle as much as the next man. But I like to know that its a righteous battle I'm fighting, not a massacre."

Quest 47 I have no information for this quest, Capt!

I haven't had time to catch up much over the last few days, but tomorrow I'll read it. Consider me excited. PLEASE NOTE (Sandy in particular: are you okay with this?) the sign-ups for Bad Blood will be closing on Oct. 1st now. This weekend is busy for me, so I want the party together to be able to role-play before I'll be all spotty. Sorry, our filming schedule got all out of whack due to technical difficulties this weekend, so I'll be busier than expected. EDIT: I'm also happy to say that amid all the "I have no information" posts in the NPC index, posts for two of my very favorite quests so far (35 and 42) have just come in! So backlog a little and check 'em out!

"But they've got humans with them. Don't you want to know why?" Boomingham grumbles. "We gave your elves a chance, why not the Pongcanis? I've told the boy I'm not a huge fan of unreasonable second chances, but first chances seem fair."

Its been a while since I wrote a full Boomers speech.

"Alright, then," says Boomingham when Shawe fails to answer. "Lady Nerwen, I know that you wanted to meet with the leader of the Pongcanis, and while I'm more than aware that I was dubious of the idea earlier, these humans with them change the matters slightly. So here's what we're going to do. We'll scatter one of our resistance forces through the town. The elven wardens will spread out in the field to the north and east - if the Pongcanis attempt to scale the wall and flee, they should be easy pickings for the crossbows, and if one or two make it the elves, they've got their swords with them." Boomingham licks his lips. "It's our part that will be a little tricky. First, a brief story. Once, in the Orcish War, I was faced with a force much bigger than mine. Stinky Pete and Ralf the Riddler both advised me to turn tail and run, but that wasn't, as you might imagine, my style. So I told Old Maris and Bill the Boot to take a majority of my force into the forest on either side, and I kept my best fighting men with me." Boomingham sighs. "Next morning, the Orcish Army fell on us. The leader came forth and offered us a shot at surrendering - whole big thing about Orcs trying to pretend they had honor or something, some battle where they showed respect for a Paladin and vice versa - and don't get me wrong, there is no greater respect than that between two combatants who are matched, but that's not true with Orcs and Pongcanis, far as I can tell, so the whole thing was a farce on their side as well as ours. So, this Orcish general offers us a chance to surrender, and I in turn offer him a chance to surrender." Barty pops back into existence and drifts lazily, rolling his eyes every other sentence. "I was, shockingly, unable to make him see reason, and so this army bore down on us. Now, I had this mage in my battalion..." Boomingham licks his lips again and then tries to speak. His throat awkwardly catches, he sputters and then coughs violently once - twice - and then gurgles and clears his throat. "Sorry. I had a mage in my unit. At the time, I thought he was a good lad. Anyway, I had him fire off this signal using a ruby, whole big thing, and in comes crashing Bill and Maris from either side. The Orcs couldn't turn one way or another without being stabbed in the back. Half of them were dead before they even knew what happened." "So this is what I suggest. The leaders, us Heroicans, and the Knights walk right into that park, and call out. Probably their leader will come forth. There's no respect in beasts, like I said, but they recognize it in us and like to pretend at it. We ask him about his human pals, and when he no doubt tells us he already ate them, I'll whack his head off. Then the Pongcanis come out to us, a real flush out, and the boy fires up a blast of fire, and the two remaining resistance groups close in on them while we hold the center. It's a good ol' fashion trap. The question is this - can you fight well enough to stay alive while we wait for the Resistance to strike? Shawe, you've got a sword, so I'll assume the best, and I think the Knights should be able to hold their own. What about you, elf?"

I actually do have a speech and plan prepared for 77 now.

"Well, looks like the party is finally getting started. Shawe, a word first if you would." Boomingham waves his hand, beckoning over the resistance leader. "There are some men with the Pongcanis. Do not think that this means that the resolve of me and my compatriots is lowered, but, if you know who these people are, now would be the time to tell us." Boomingham then turns around again and calls to the Knights gathered. "Patuqun knights, front and center. I want to see what I've got to work with." Boomingham glances over his shoulder at Nerwen. "I think it would be safest to leave at least one of the resistance groups in the town to defend it, should some of the Pongcanis slip through our ranks some how. I'll tell you the rest of my thoughts once I know exactly what we've got going for us."

Quest 46 I have no information for this quest, Endgame.

There have been many. As myths, there is really no limit to how many there can be. Or, at least I think there have been many.

Hoke, come back! I'll expand the requirements from 3 to 4 people and then we'll really have fun. EDIT: I'm just kidding, sadly. I need that three person party so that we can play around with a swing vote.

Yes, Sandy is the master. Okay, I'm going to assume that followers of Ennoc believe in a Paradise. It's for a quest well down the line (as always ) but never the less, it will be important. Every time I predict how many quests I have left before a finale, my head hurts. I'm hoping to pound out THREE before the end of the year, and then there will only be Guffington III and Russel III before I'm ready....

"It's all your's, dwarf." Boomingham glances over at Nerwen. "What do you think, mi'lady? The humans? Traitors, traders?" He shrugs.

Quest 45 I have no information for this quest, Khrone.

Boomingham follows instructions.