Zepher

CMP gave a link earlier on the page. WBD quoted it.

As I post some side-quests, some hints/things y'all may have not noticed. -Lady Marsh knew she was being drugged by her husband. She was looking for a "Lover's Locket", something that would stop her from being enamored. She asked a hero to steal it from Lady Felix. That was your first clue that something strange was happening in their relationship. -Likewise, whenever she was talking to Clippard when a hero entered the kitchen, she was inviting him to come to Gull and cook her and her husband dinner... so that he would poison Lord Marsh and she'd be free. -The "battle description" for the use of the Amulet is the same exact "battle description" that Sandy used in quest 34, with names subbed out. Time travel, am I right? -Lord Hinckwell, on the jumps where a hero did not offer to off Shawe for him, asked Lord Marsh for help in the matter. That is why he so adamantly defended him those times. Pandora - one of the reasons I had a lot of trouble writing responses for this quest was trying to recall what each NPC knew about each hero each jump. I try very hard to make sure that the relationships between NPCs and heroes are real and consistent - it is hard with this many NPCs, and having to rememorize everything five times. AND, something to consider: Everstien and Felix had their Amulets before you did. Maybe they travelled one time before you... to assess the heroes. You'd never know.

I know its annoying to bump an already finished quest, but I like to publish side-quests a little after the fact, and so much of this quest happened there that I feel that I really should let them be known! They have to come in parts - too many quotes in one post and the server wigs out... and too many posts right next to each other and they all merge, but they'll all be up within a few hours.

OoC: As always, the side-quests. I will also post a summery of all reputation gains, and make sure Sandy gets them. If something looks wrong, continue in the long standing tradition of correcting me! DOCKEN - Events Occur After the Second Jump (I Believe) And then, after a few rounds of combat, the events of the kitchen became public!

"It seems he picked my option," says Boomingham with a wink.

Boomingham smiles lightly. "Nerwen, I once more must beg your pardon." Boomingham draws Scupperer and holds it expertly in front of him, widening his stance and standing sideways, sword in front of him... attempting, at least, to present a smaller target. "For someone who speaks so elegantly, you certainly enjoy savage hobbies. While my young mage friend may wish to see if you will stop burning men, if he asked nicely, I am not so amiable. I have both gold and precious items. Would you like to try to take them off of me?"

"Defenders of the town," says Boomingham, drawing up his body in a mighty fashion. "This is lady Nerwen, and I'm King Boomingham. We're with Heroica. I'm sure you've heard of us, most have." Boomingham's hand strays to his sword. "You were actually our welcoming party to R'kilf, believe it or not. We saw you burn some poor traveller. So, I for one am not too pleased with you, but Nerwen here seems to think that there's more to you. So, who were those folks you were with? And have you got a part of the tale of this city that's more compelling than 'we burn random folks'? If so, now would be the time to share it."

"Lawrence inspires as much in me as I in him," grunts the Angel before puffing back into obscurity, apparently done with mortals for the time being. Boomingham blinks a few times and licks his fat lips. "Well, didn't really see this coming, did we? Perhaps we do have to parlay." Boomingham turns to his new companions. "Knight, elves. I like to know what sort of folks I'm fighting beside. Kadarphazân, we met briefly a day ago, but you elves remain a mystery. So I will ask you this - will you be willing to follow Nerwen and I's lead?" Boomingham lets the question hover in the air for a second, turning back to his own commander. "I say we go and talk to them. We don't know who the men are. If they're civilians... we must take into account their opinions. Though I can't see them siding with those killers, and can't see myself offering much pity if they do... best to hear them out. Weapons sheathed but at our side, just the two of us? Arthur can stay here with the elves and knight - come to our aid should we need them."

With Nyx and Guts suring up their relationship, and Nerwen and Boomingham doing the same, I think we're racing ever closer to the quest where the four of them finally work together.

Knows his sh...ociology [ What can I say? Corny knows what they teach at college these days! ]

"There's a lot of you. All you mortals, bustling around and doing stuff. We hardly have the time to get to know you all, and after knowing just a few of you I'm sure you can understand if we're entirely turned off by the idea of getting to know more." The pouty angel puffs some shimmering golden air out of his irritated mouth. "But such is our lot in life."

"Well, there are a lot of ants," says Barty cagily.

"I don't know if we choose to act in society so much that we have. Where else would we go?" Boomingham snorts. "Also, if you both don't mind, I always feel that this is likely to give my tongue a little courage and strength, and we've been wagging ours for some time now." Boomingham fishes into his satchel and pulls out a mead, that he begins to gulp down. "So you're just talking about folks with influence then, Nerwen. Sure, I believe in those well enough. Speaking of unfairness that grinds people down, I've got to have a few more words with Guts about this Pseudo from Strivvi. You may do well to look into him as well, Nerwen." Barty nestles down into Nerwen's hand. "I haven't lost my ability to be surprised. If Lawrence took even a little interest in me, he'd know that angels can see the future more than you mere mortals, but less than your seers. We don't get visions. Just little flavors." The angel wags his head. "Change comes. It just comes slowly. Can you tell ants apart? I look at you from the God's view - Ennoc has trouble telling the men apart, but they all build the temples together. And he won't fall, by the way. Ennoc is eternal and all powerful. You're just an elf." Barty gives a efficient nod.

As I'm sure Scuba will remind you, Wren was no Goddess. I do miss her, though. I think that many other QMs can back me up in this - when your story gets mentioned (as Wren does from time to time) it makes your heart swell a little bit.

I think one of the things that this game best highlights is that events are permanent and people's opinions of you are cemented on only how you've presented yourself to them, and WHEN they met you, and what they've seen you do since then. Its funny how opinion and friendship and hatred are all based in sort of randomness.

"Really, language fails you sometimes? You'd never know it." Boomingham gives a hearty 'ho ho ho'. "As for you using only one word on the ooglies, we'll just have to see about that." "And you'll have to forgive my resurrecting a topic you've declared dead, my dear, but you can't simply have your say and then put the gods away. I do believe that there is are things that affect my life that don't come out of me - they're you and Arthur and the Shawe man and the elves. Nothing high and holy. Besides, don't you figure that gods that can die aren't really gods? Isn't that the whole point?" Barty zips around a little and floats by Nerwen. "They are young, Nerwen. You say that they can change, but I don't see it. They seem to be one tracked to me. It is the races that evolve, not individual men. Elves are different, they have more time to change, more of the world moves about them, but I haven't ever seen a man change. And I've seen many men - probably even more than you." "But none of them were as charming as me, I'm sure." Boomingham caresses Scupperer's hilt. "It is the fate of man to be lonely, Arthur. You've got that right, at least, amid all your mumbo jumbo. And then at the end you die." Boomingham laughs meekly. "I guess that's why we make allies, so someone at least remembers us a bit after we've gone."

OoC: Yeah, of course! I want to further Lawrence's relationships with Nerwen and Arthur anyway, I think that they could both be interesting. "Wow, you've got quite a mouth on yourself as well, Nerwen. I know you're an elf and I trust you, but its like I say, I know you by your actions, not by your words. If you told me a tale or two about being a hero, I wouldn't trust you any more than I would a stranger on the street, but having seen you actually work for the Hall. Well, you get what I'm saying. I could promise to not stab Arthur here, but it wouldn't stop me from stabbing him." Boomingham shrugs again. "As for all your blood-dimmed tides - poetry, by the by - I can see why you're saying it, but its dangerous for the mage to hear. No doubt he'll try to befriend the blood-dimmed tide. He's got a knack for it. Say, Arthur, if these animals happen to have a crush on Nerwen, are we going to spare them too?" Boomingham snorts. Barty on his shoulder shimmers angrily. "As for the Gods, Nerwen, well, you know what my opinion on them are. This little fellow can tell you," a jerked thumb to Barty- "that mortals do what mortals do. There aren't any gods. If you're saying no to that blood-dimmed tide, its because you, Nerwen the elf, said no to that blood-rimmed tide. The gods are just an excuse for those who are too weak to own up to their own actions, good or bad." "There's no point trying to fight with him on it," sighs an ever dejected Barty.

Its inevitable, if we're used to it, it won't be as bad.

Boomingham cocks his customary eyebrow. "You're as yappy as ever, mage, and not about anything cheery either. I know you think that everyone deserves a second chance." Boomingham sighs, and his face sags a little bit. "You're waiting on a ending day, are you? I suppose it does have to come, one way or another. Kingdoms rise and fall." He scratches the back of his head. "We live pretty small lives, I suppose." He laughs briefly and loudly. "Maybe we should stop in the bar before we go and kill a bunch of fur-balls."

I don't know if I can afford to take on any further projects.

OoC: I hope its okay with you if we roleplay the walk a little, BD. If something should have happened while leaving the inn, I guess we can do it retroactively? Boomingham bounces down the street with a purposeful walk that jostles all of his extra flesh. He whistles through his teeth. "Things are certainly looking up," he says the Nerwen merrily. "I have to admit, I wasn't so sure about the elves and Shawe being fast friends, but they both seem to be at least willing. Strange, isn't it." He shrugs. "I don't think I've ever helped folks make friends before, in a quest. Its mostly been slaughtering beasties. I was once in Strivvi, and I think these two young lads could have done with some friendship making." Boomingham's gaze wanders a little, looking at one of the broken houses. "You think the elves can be trusted? I don't like what they've done with the town, I'll make no secret of it."

I don't mind role-playing walking for a day or two if you need time, BD. Just tell us that we're actually on our way, and we can talk.

It's really a little tragic if you think about it. Lots of symbolism in there. I wonder how many people Boomingham has promised a drink and then never got around to it with.

I think the true story of Heroica is a tragic tale of a few friends who want to drink together (ALL together) just once, but never quite get the chance.

Boomingham whistles a jaunty if out of key tune as he waits for the others to be ready...