Zepher

Zelphie nods and bring her staff swinging back around against Brienne. "I would like to finish the job," she admits mildly. "I met briefly with her last night, but she blocked my attack."

Seeing that Brienne is aptly covered with assaults, Zelphie too changes her attack to Chromeo.

"It is important to note that our marvelous Maxi's death also cleared Fleyra. I have trusted Fleyra through the whole ordeal, as she and I have quested together from time to time in the past, and I'm glad to her her proven. I am also happy to finally find the puppet-master that Calico died for. Poor sweet Calico."

Zelphie enchants her staff and then attacks Brienne.

The Party Hybros *Party Leader* Level 26 2/3 Assassin *Lucky* Power: 32 Power Bonus: 1 Defense: 0 Health: 30/40 Gold: 2105 Equipment: Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 6, gains 1 WP every kill made with it, light- and darkness-elemental; longsword), Sticky Gloves (Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up); handwear), Eye of the Beholder Amulet (Accessory, Once per quest the hero may re-roll the last round), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Backwear, Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins) Inventory: Zoot's Reaper (WP:15, earth-elemental; scythe), Clock Cog (WP: 14, retrievable), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all, retrievable), Eye-poking Sai (WP:8, blinded-effect, dagger), Twin Kunai (WP:6, dual strike, dagger), Blessed Amulet (protects from cursed-effect; accessory), Wrench (WP:3, decreases the target’s level by 1, retrievable), 14 Potions, 14 Grand Potions, 22 Health Cores, 11 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, 2 Elixirs, 5 Phoenix Essences, Deadly Venom, 2 Smoke Bombs, 3 Lightning Bombs, 3 Holy Bombs, 13 Nostrums, 3 Meads, 5 Mulled Wines, Minimizing Dust, Bedroll, Shovel, Skeleton Decoy, Bone, Cloak of the Red Assassin, Golden Armor (user is permanently hastened and cursed, fire-, water-, earth-, wind-, wood-, ice-, lightning-, darkness-, light-elemental, grants immunity to Sleep, Blindness, Confusion, Frailty, and Weakening; bodywear), Adamite Shard, x3 Mythril Shard Bartholomew Docken, Dragonslayer Level 32 1/4 Warden *Takes Halved Damage from Free Hits* *Scary* *Immune to Defense Reduction, Confusion, Blindness, Badly Poisoned, and Fragile* *Aura* Power: 42 Defense: 24 Health: 111/126 Gold: 1177 GP: 4 Equipment: Darksteel Crossbow (WP: 10; Blinded-effect), Mythril Shield (SP: 20), Dread Hat (permanent Scary-effect; immune to Defense Reduction, Confusion, Blindness, Badly Poisoned, and Fragile; Headwear), Mail of the Renegade Commander (SP: 3; Damage of all Free Hits is halved; Bodywear), Eye of the Beholder Amulet (Accessory, Once per quest the hero may re-roll the last round) Inventory: Health Cores (3), Grand Potions (5), Remedies (5), Phoenix Incense, Phoenix Essences (2), Bones (7), Smoke Bombs (3), Teleportapple, Bedroll, Counterstrike Gloves (After the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, he counters with strength equal to his Level; Handwear), Medal of Glory (Mark of true talent that allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles; Accessory), Cobweb Cowl (immune to Instant-KO; Backwear), Chef’s Apron (Bodywear, Immunity to fire and poisons), Pan (WP: 1, +1 Max Health, suitable for all classes), Fishstick (WP: 7, deals double damage on ships, club), Nostrum, Mead, Smelling Salts, Phoenix Essence, Doomshroom Cap, Growshroom Cap, Oneupshroom Cap Nyx Level 28 1/3 Battle Mage *Natural Respite* *Immune to Sealed effects* *Immune to Asleep and Fast Asleep effects* *Hastened* Power: 42 Power Bonus: 1 Defense: 3 Health: 39/39 Ether: 37/40 Gold: 873 Equipment: Zee Standard (Staff, WP: 14 Ice and Darkness Elemental, Necromancers Raise Enemies with 2 extra levels), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Max. Ether +5, protects from sealed-effect), High Heels (+1 Power), Sandman's Parasol (Immune to Asleep and Fast Asleep effects) Inventory: Book of a Thousand Creatures (WP:14, each roll has a 1/6 chance to summon a creature to aid the hero), Explosive Staff – WP: 12 (Does 1/2 damage to all enemies on a successful hit (normal damage to targeted enemy) and 1/2 WP damage to self on a roll of 4 (disregarding SP/row)), Healing Staff (WP: 5), Shiny Helmet (+1 max health), Monkey Bar (all minions, pets, summons etc are Hastened), Ruby (Fire), Diamond (Light), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Sapphire (Wind), Emerald (Wood), Garnet (Earth), Aquamarine (Water) Opal (Ice), Scroll of Sleep, 2 Meads, 4 Deadly Venoms, 3 Cosmic Essences (Revives a knocked out ally with full health and ether and gives them the blessed-effect), Potion, 3 Tonics, 2 Grand Tonics, Ether Core, Fire Bomb, Smoke Bomb, 2 Chaotic Bombs (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bomb 'X2' (May be combined with a bomb to get it to ignore SP), 2 Bedrolls, 5 Bones, Scroll of Weakening, Nostrum, Cloak of the Blue Assassin (SP: 1), Dagger of the Blue Assassin (WP: 4, Aims become Hits), Spinning Bolas (WP: 5, deals the Slowed effect, but the effect is removed when retrieved, throwing weapon) Guts Holla Level 27 1/3 Raider *Immune to Weakened, Fragile, Asleep, Confused and Blinded**Immune to Darkness, Light, Water, Fire, Air, Earth, Wood, Lightning and Ice Elemental Damage* *Encouraged* *Hastened* *Lucky* *Reinforced* Power: 57 (37 for ranged attacks) Power Bonus: 1 Health: 41/41 Defense: 4 8 Gold: 1085 Equipment: Lifestealer (WP: 29, Ice, Darkness, attacks restore 3 health, dagger, Deadly Poisoned), Dancing Shoes (Wearer dances well, in the turn after a miss is rolled, the wearer can act twice. +Immunity to Asleep, Confused, Fragile and Blinded, + Immunity to Darkness, Light, Fire, Air, Earth, Wood, Lightningand Ice Elemental Damage, footwear), Crocodile Armour (+4 Defense +Immunity to Water Magic, bodywear), Eye of the Beholder Amulet (Accessory, Once per quest the hero may re-roll the last round) Inventory: Stag Antlers (WP:10, Intimidation, halberd), Throwing Knife (WP: 9, Light, Retrievable), 9x Mead, 9x Smelling Salts, 8x Nostrum, 20x Grand Potion, 4x Health Core, 1x Elixir, 1x Grand Tonic, 12x Remedy, 3x Phoenix Essence, 5x Smoke Bomb, 3x Deadly Venom, 3x Neutralizer, Shovel, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, 4x Mythril Shard, Metasimian Ale, Opal, Grating Stone, Pugilist's Gloves (2+ Power, Immune to Weakened, handwear), Voucher to the Guild of Invision (Good for one lesson in Alchemy), Chauncey's Diamond Lamp of Summoning (Summons ???), Clippard's Poison (When applied to a weapon, all damage dealt will instantly KO enemies unless they are immune to poison, deadly poison, or sudden death. Can be applied 3 times [0/3]).

Eubric Freeport by Emma Etheric Windmill, Xu Peninsular by Cara Many beautiful entries, congrats all!

Boomingham grins and winks. "Wonderful. Glad to see you're a lady of action." Boomingham turns back to Shawe, the Duke, and the elves. "Might as well go scouting out these encampments."

Lots of enemies are immune to poisons and instant kills, particularly strong ones. I think it's a fair enough item, and even if its not, it will be gone sooner or later. Hopefully Guts will save it and revenge himself upon me for these last few months, making my next quest a breeze.

It doesn't permanently imbue the weapon, never fear. It has a (powerful) life of three battles, and that's it.

"If you'd afford me a second with my leader," says Boomingham, sweeping Nerwen to the side. "So, then, Nerwen, are you still bent on envoying with the brutes? Seems like now might be your only chance, and seeing as those Patuqun folks want to take the Pogs out quick and quietly, seems we'd have to do it on the down low. So, shall we give our new allies the slip for a moment or two, or lead the charge?"

You've never gotten surprise items before? The Certificate I leave up to whichever QM you present it to. The Lamp will be a nice surprise . (Like, actually a nice one, not nasty playing nice. It's a summoning lamp like the others, just a powered up one - should you use it, I will send the QM what it should do. I think we've had items like that before, I like them).

I'm going to go ahead and respond to all of this, because I think a lot of it deserves a response. Again, my main thing is an apology. I think a lot of these complaints are well founded. I agree. I tried a more free form quest, and I don't like them. They won't be happening from me again. I think that I could have hinted more. Pictures - Agreed! I will never do a quest with this few pictures ever again. It is not fair to you all. The kitchen was indicated - the bedrooms were not because they were not supposed to be part of the quest. YOU all incorporated them, but once you did I planned out EVERYTHING that would happen around there. Lots of replies to this part: Firstly, Lady Marsh was NOT a Blue Assassin. Lord Marsh lied to you about it - indicated by the fact that you found the note to a Blue Assassin in HIS dresser, not hers. But you guys fell for it hook line and sinker. Avery was not hired by Guffington. Her employer was pretty much the only mystery you didn't uncover - sorry. The conclusion - one of my BIGGEST failings this quest. It was irresponsible. I set out to connect this quest to other quests, but I felt bad for the last month or so knowing that would be all the pay-off you guys got. It is unfair. It is bad story telling. From here on in, I will NEVER do a conclusion like that. It makes me sick. The characters - there were originally going to be more already introduced characters (Issac Shawe, for example, was replaced last minute as BD told me he had plans for him that we all now know). I agree that there were too many new characters. It is hard to do a mystery quest in that regard - you will ALWAYS assume it is one of the new characters versus one of the already established who has done the evil deed. I had to, in some ways, introduce a bunch of new characters, but I agree that some of them were poorly realized. I personally actually like a few of them (Lady Felix, Everstien, Avery) but agree too many of them were poorly developed (Watters, Thomas, The Marshes, Lord Chauncey). You could have. If you had taken him aside any of those times, you could have. If you hadn't caused such a commotion and attacked the whole party that first time, you would have found the Blue Assassin then, and known enough to effectively end the quest a second time. As for preconceived routes.... oh, do I have those. Literally, I do, for all the characters. The reason it may have looked like it was crazy was BECAUSE you guys split up so much - with four factors changing things, it was very tough to keep the same stuff. There were too many factors. So that is one of the few things I put back on you guys. Another thing I'm putting on you guys. I felt the interaction was weak too. If you guys had exchanged theories and information more, I think this quest would have been over sooner. The battles too were supposed to be easy and quick, but when it was only one of you guys versus someone I made easy for three or four of you guys, it started to drag. I'm sorry, but this is the ONE place I'd actually say I thought you guys fell down on your bit of the contract. Hopefully it hasn't scared you off from the next Zepher Quest you're interested in, I'd love to have Hybros back! As I said to JimBee, all these are valid. Nothing to say but sorry. I actually DO agree. I considered giving you guys a level at the end, but didn't go through with it. It was supposed to be a shorter quest, but due to many factors on many ends (BD had choppy internet, I had a more intense summer than anticipated, JimBee went camping, etc.) it was longer than expected. I probably should have added more loot, but that isn't my style. I did add in 500 gold from Marsh (in the bedroom) but I can see to a player like you, who already has gold out the kazoo, that it doesn't seem like that good of a bonus. As for the great item - I DID say at the beginning you'd be in trouble for killing any of the wrong guests. I HOPE another QM gives you that item. It wasn't in the cards this quest. I agree. I will have more pictures in the future. I like to build all my own sets - call it being an auteur, if you will. But I fell down this time and will NOT fall down on that front in the future. The enemies are always made party blind (though I did toss in a Red Assassin for Hybros). As I said earlier, I think the battles seemed particularly challenging because you fought enemies balanced for a number of you one-on-one. As for the roleplaying and XP and loot... I have to say, I did warn you. I've never tried to convince someone to not go on a quest - and I didn't attempt to do that here - but I told you a few times before that it may not interest you as much as other quests because of the distinct lack of your interests in the game. You decided to come along anyway. So, I'm sorry if it seemed underwhelming, but I did actually warn you.

"I will pass on my recommendation. I still hold sway there. The Ji Pei know to listen to great minds." Hybros relinquishes his Recommendation, but feels that the Ji Pei will certainly hear of his feats. "I'll be heading out to Dastan, I suppose. Or maybe I'll head north. These amulets don't need to be returned immediately. What are they doing in a museum but gathering dust." Lady Felix shrugs. "I lifted this from the chef while I was collecting Avery, by the by. Thought you said you wanted it." Lady Felix hands Guts Clippard's Poison (When applied to a weapon, all damage dealt will instantly KO enemies unless they are immune to poison, deadly poison, or sudden death. Can be applied 3 times [0/3]). "I think we shall be seeing each other soon enough, Lady Nyx. It was a pleasure." He shakes her hand. OoC: Will you divide the loot here, or in the Hall, JimBee? Just want to know so I can post the final stats!

A lot of it was harsh, a lot of it was warranted. I'll post my full thoughts after everyone else gets their chance.

What can I say, I'm taking Contemporary Sociology, so I think I know my shit.

"Our gorgeous Gremlin has a point. Should Maxi be our third victim for the day, I will need a little assistance. Just a nudge."

Keep it restrained. You're playing a game with 42 other people right now (I count Sandy and the dead). Play to your best ability. You made a commitment and agreed to the rules. Humans live in communities - it is best to figure out how to maintain your status in them, even if it is a community as frivolous as an online RPG. Actually, especially if its something that frivolous.

"Yes," answers the Doctor in his matter-a-fact voice.

I know you prefer it that way, but its entirely impossible to maintain.

What a long and messy quest. Sorry all. I had a ton of fun, but I'd still label it as both those things. I'll post side-quests/my opinion on the thing tomorrow after we finish all the post-discussion, but you can say whatever you want now.

Lady Felix walks by with Avery as the heroes speak. The Red Assassin has a sly smile upon her lips as she passes by. "I'm always thankful when my work is done for me," she tells the heroes. She then turns her eyes on Hybros. "Little Imp, should you require further instruction, come to find us. The Red Assassins work together and alone. It may appeal to you more than this life of heroes." And with that, she is gone, stepping past the destroyed door and out of their lives. Daneeka passes through the door a few moments later, hauling Lady Marsh. U'Or and Elba follow him in. "Perhaps I won't invite you to the next party," says Guffington to Guts, but his stern smile remains on his face. "But yes, if everyone would be so kind as to return their Amulets to Lady Felix... there is a museum in Dastan we owe them to. Now, an explanation. I'm sure you're all tired, but I'm equally sure you'd all like to understand what has happened here. You have heard that our dear friend and business partner, Lord Hughes, was recently found dead, aka, to my mind, murdered. Lord Hughes and I were engaged in a business venture along with Lord Chauncey, a pet project of all of our's from a distant age - the research of the Old Gods. By using myself as bait as the next target, I could potentially lure in the killers, and confirm the reason for his death." Guffington shrugs. "It worked in half, at least. Captain Elba, U'Or, I must apologize for keeping you out of the loop. It was not that I suspected you. The fewer who knew, the less chance of my schemes being uncovered." "And we have yet to discover the killers - though I have not given up hope. Lady Marsh, did your husband have dealings with anyone who may have hired him to facilitate Guffington's death?" The frightened and haggard Lady Marsh looks up, but her eyes look... almost hopeful, and much clearer than they have previously. "Thank you, heroes," she gasps up. "I knew for a long time that my husband had some how bonded me to him... I do not know how long it went on... but I was desperate for escape." She shudders, and Elba and Daneeka support her. "I... I heard talk before we left. Found a note... said something... I didn't read it, I was too scared, but it was signed by the Bearer of the Golden Light. I... it didn't look like a normal shipping contract. That's all I know." "Thank you." Guffington waves the faun server, almost forgotten, over from the corner of the room. "Thomas, be so kind as to take Lady Marsh upstairs." The two shuffle out of the room. Guffington shakes his head. "I suppose that is it, heroes. A new day, a new foe. Such is life, I suppose. I heard a saying once, heroes. Its either funny, or its tragic." Guffington reaches into his pocket and pulls out a few shards of this and that. "Your payment. Thank you, again, heroes." Guffington hands Hybros 400 gold, 3 Mytril Shards, and 1 Adamantite Shard, to divide in any way he sees fit. "Maybe we'll meet again in merrier times." Guffington bows slightly and sweeps by the heroes. The quest is successful! Shawe, Lord Chauncey, Everstien and Lady Felix still mill around the room, along with all of Guffington's staff. The heroes may speak to them, or return to the Hall. (There are minor bonuses/story clear ups if you speak to them, but if you want to head out, I won't blame yah! Final stats will be posted when you divide the loot.)

Oh, yes, its been so long you don't even know the protocol. It is tradition for the QMs to send in the bios of their own NPCs. I would have nagged you when I got up to your quests. The process is taking me a long time because of its nature - I previously transferred the entire thing to a Quest basis, but that has proved too difficult to update and maintain, so now I have to convert it BACK to an alphabetical nature. I also have to wade through my back logs, making sure that I incorporate all the NPCs that have been sent to me in the last year, and ALSO making sure that I keep a log of the quests I'm missing. Its mostly my own mistakes, but its still tedious work. A wiki would serve best, IMO, but I'm also of the opinion that we should not expand off site.

The Blue Assassin Cloak isn't quite so glamorous... And yes, after this quest I'll be taking a week and a half hiatus to get done with the NPC index updates, and then I've got a 3 person Hinckwell v. Shadeaux Quest on its way!

"I indicated my intention to attack Maxi should others accept the action, and you told me to act," Zelphie smiles a thin smile, "surely you cannot be shocked by my target after I so clearly announced it."