Zepher

It is a little annoying that when healing an undead, the worst thing that could happen to the hero is that they have to try again next round. There is no way that things go poorly for them (failure doesn't result in damage OR lost ether). However, I see no reason to change it. It is just something QMs need to take into consideration when using Undead enemies.

"I am giving up one soul, Mephisto, so I only require one soul. That will be payment enough. You don't have to give me anything else, that term has been met. You do have to solve the riddles first though. That's a fun game for me." "As for all this speaking in our tongue... we've shown we can speak common. Why not just do that. Our ancient tongue is used only when a deal must be made between us." "The Dark Lady is indeed Wren. My brother knows why he must do what he must do. Perhaps he will tell you, perhaps he will not. I will leave that up to you." "There is one more stimulation. Before I give you the location, you sort of have to become a member of the Court of Demons. Sorry, but that's how it goes. I made a deal with Mephisto that I wouldn't tell anyone who wasn't in the Court. But joining is easy enough. You must swear to be a member... and that's it. Well, there is a little more, actually. By becoming a member of the Court, you will be briefly leaving service in Heroica. You'll be free lance. Which means you'll be outside the Falconer's protection. You see, Heroica, just like the Court of Demons and many other ancient organizations, has some old magic worked into its seams. You'll notice that most always when you could be killed, you aren't. This isn't because your enemies are infatuated with you- this is because the Hall protects the lives of its own. Sometimes someone slips through the cracks, but mostly... regardless, by denouncing the Hall and accepting the Court of Demons, you will be putting yourself in harm's way. Say the word, and I'll induct you, give you the riddle, and then give you the location." OoC: Once you have all agreed to the terms, you will be able to be perma-KO.

Admittedly harder for a non-native speaker. Don't worry, everything they're discussing will be explained later, those who break the code just get a little preview.

No translations!! Put in the work.

Ugh, you think I want to have to figure things out on my own quest?! I have to decipher all that.

Well, that at least makes Scouty a little more credible. I guess it doesn't really say anything about his affiliation since we don't know which kill belongs to which team, but the case against him seems weaker now that we know he wasn't lying. Again, I feel Hinckley is drumming up a lot of hullabaloo over nothing in the hopes of lynching a townie who was playing a dangerous but intelligent strategy, because the next day he can be "well, look, I was wrong" and still seem somewhat credible.

Are you saying you want... comprehensible plots? I'm confused. Do people like those or something?

Hopefully that sheds SOME light on the situation.

The Gray Wizard opens his mouth, but the Master of Regret holds up a finger to stop him. "That is a story I shall tell later. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. One thing as a time." The Master of Regret takes the stake and looks at it. "This will serve. Here." The Master of Regret dips the stick in one of the huge basins next to him and then returns it to Cronk. "A gift. For something lost." Cronk receives the gift as the Master begins his tale (Pointy Bloody Stick II (WP: 1)). "Once upon a time in the city of Eubric there was a poor little sad girl. She was all alone in a big city with no friends. Her parents had died a short while ago, and she herself had been subject to many cruelties that I will not tell you now. Sparing the young ones. One day, the little girl decided to take revenge on the city by becoming more powerful than it. More impressive. She decided to outlive it. She prayed to the Gods, but they would not answer. They aren't here, on Olegia. But she remembered her mother telling her that her great-grandmother had once prayed to Older Gods, Gods who walked the Earth and fed on human emotion. They harvested the most powerful thing that humans put out. Desire. They swallowed it up. Because they did this, humans did not always get what they desired. The Old Gods were believed in because people realized the energy they put out into the world did not return to them always." "So the girl looked for the Old Gods, and eventually she read of them - the Mother of Hope, called other names in other lands, the Master of Regret, called other things in other lands, and the most powerful and important of them all, the Harvester of Passion. She set out to look for them- and sometimes when someone desires something long enough, the Gods find them." "The girl's desire was in the form of Regret, and so it was the Master who tracked her down and made her a deal. If she wished to outlive the city, she must feed him. So she went out and gathered four people to him, and he made them each a deal. He would eat their regretful desire, and when they died he would receive their souls, the Master of Regret loves souls, they are always regretful. In return, the four would get something they desired- whatever they desired the most. The young woman told them of the deal, and the implications. They would owe her for bringing them to the Master of Regret, and they would owe the Master their souls when they passed away. She neglected to tell them that there was another plan in motion." "The Master of Regret is wise and wilily. He decided to trick the four, to further add to their regret. Their contracts with him they regretted almost immediately. But the powers they gained were the worst. The young woman knew what would become of them, and as a deal to not warn the four, she was promised eternal life." "The young man named Jonah went first. Jonah had once been a young member of the Paladin Order, but when he saw the Lightness killing many, his young mind snapped and he hoped for only the death of everything. His brain grew savage. He asked for the power to end life quickly, and he received it. The Master of Regret had snagged a scrap of Zed's soul as he fled this life, and a piece of Abaraxas' power with it. He infused them into the boy. Jonah became Zander, and his glee for death increased ten fold, as did his ability to implement it. He was driven mad in the process. The little part of Jonah that remains, tucked somewhere inside Jonah... he regrets that very much. I can feel it." "Jonah had already been so insane, his decline in mental state did not warn the others. The next to go was a young woman named Beatrice. She was a devote worshipper of Zoot, and wished to see him rise on Olegia. I gave her the scraps of Sycamore I had. The two were too strong willed for each other, and they ate each other up. Zee was born." "An old man named Nestor hoped for greatness- a place in history. He was too proud. He saw Beatrice's destruction, but he was sure he could master the great demon Mephisto. I gave him but a small sliver, the only part not banished back to Zoot. His man was eaten quickly, and Mephisto, or a perversion of him at least, was reborn." "The final member of the four, a young Orc freed from slavery through the sweat on his own brow watched the others and planned. He warned Nestor to not take Mephisto, but Nestor did not listen." "I told him that the eater of souls was not likely to share a body," Zane tells them with a shrug. "The Orc conferred with the young woman and learned of her plan. For her advice he offered her a favor. She granted her counsel, and when the Orc's turn came, he begged that I give him bite size morsels of many souls, so that he may gain many powers, but that they would not overwhelm him. He consumed a soul that taught him to use ether, a soul that gave him access to the Spirit Pools, one that taught him combat, one that taught him to conjure things from thin air, another that taught him to rhyme, and yet another that taught him how to see glimpses of the future and past. He was the strongest of the four, but the others did not include him. They called him the Fool." "Me in particular," brags Zander. "He is a fool. So weak. He has all the powers, but such small amounts of it. What's the point? What can he do? I fought him after we left, to show the others how weak he was. It was great. I burned his chest permanently. He still can't breath right. He's just lucky I let him live. Mephisto told me I had to, because Mephisto had found him and brought him before the Magician and so Zane still owed him a favor." Zane bares his teeth and his eyes droop menacingly. "You are the fool, Zander. Not I. You gave up control of yourself. What good comes of that? It was terrifying to walk in a room knowing you'd emerge out the other side another person. You died, in a small way. All four of us were brave, but only three of us were foolish. What use is passion without brains?" "But why not back Wren?" asks Felton suddenly. "I do not wish for you to, but I must understand." The Master of Regret looks at Felton sadly. "You belong to my brother. Too smart for me by a long shot. It is too bad. You have much desire- for greatness, for understanding... but they are not regrets, nor are they hopes. You live now." "That does not answer my question." "Wren does not serve any of us. She has desire enough, both regret for her past, hopes for her future, and she most certainly lives in the passionate and active now. But what she strives to do... I will not stop her. It is very likely it leads to regret. But if it doesn't. If she becomes the new God of Chaos, and reigns forever upon her throne- she means to break the balance. There is some order in the universe. We consume some of the desire, but much of it does come back. Those who hope receive some of what they hope for, those who are passionate live in that passion, and some who regret will drink the bittersweet feeling and be bettered for it. We are not cruel, none of us. I do not stand against Wren, but I do not stand for her. If anyone should, it is my brother. He once loved her as a child. She has more passion than anyone I have met. She could keep him alive forever, especially if she becomes Queen of Chaos and puts out passion forever. You must ask him why he does not side with her, not me." "I do not side with her because I am of the Old Gods. I am Passion, and I will not allow her to destroy the passion of others for herself. It is as I say- Passion is gray. All passion helps some, and hurts others. But I myself, as Harvester of Passion, feel it stronger than most. And she does not deserve to be Queen of Chaos. She will destroy the passion of too many others. This is something I feel passion for. And brother, we must know where to find Mephisto. If he has the soul of Mephisto, he knows all the ways into the Temple." "That he does, brother. But I will not give him up willingly. He paid me his dues. You must do the same if you want him." "What do you propose?" "What do I always propose? A game and a deal. A soul for a soul. Fair is fair." "What are the terms?" "Xjep vje Fasl Mafz donet gos zou, zou nutv ammox jes vo vale zou. That will be regret enough for me. Your mortal must also win the location in a fair contest in which you may not help." "Fope. If it must be so." "Are you ready for a game of riddles then, heroes? I do love riddles."

Zane looks Nyx up and down. "You're the whelp Zee beat? No wonder. It would have been really nice if you'd killed her, but guess you couldn't manage. It's alright, I think you'll get another shot. Their sister isn't around, thank Oleg. I hear she's rather a bore in comparison to the two of them. Too sunshiny, head in the clouds. Doesn't really make smart choices. As for my debts... I owe one to Hoke, Skrall, Arthur and Haldor, and one to the Magician. They spared my life, and for her... a deal is a deal." "The Master of Regret would like to introduce himself, I think. He has a certain flair." The Gray Wizard shakes his head sadly. "Better I than him. Guard yourself carefully, Haldor. You are a good man, but you will fall prey to weakness if you are not careful." "It is true we continue to grow, Dyric. We learn more with each passing day, about the world and ourselves. I am lucky to have such thoughtful allies. I too am pleased with the lot the gods have given us." "Gods didn't give you diddley squat. You pick and choose your allies and your enemies." Felton smiles shrewdly. "Perhaps you speak truly, Zane." "This too is true, Skrall. Those who take responsibility for their actions leave them behind better. Where we have been has made us who we are. It is best not to forget, but best not to regret. The world is a beautiful place, and chaotic, and those two are mutual. The web is too intricate for us to see. That perhaps it what I aspire to, some day. Perhaps that is the final fate that Dyric spoke of for me. Perhaps one day I will get to see how everything effects everything, how our stands and actions and regrets and choices somehow become beautiful." Then Felton shrugs. "It is, of course, equally possible my ultimate fate is to pick up all the vermin Zander kills. Or to clean the stables. After Wren, I do not know what I should do. What I can do. Surely not return to my town. I tried that while we prepared. I know too much for that now. Hans and McColt feel the same. We have grown much in a little time. I guess that is part of the beauty too." Zane simply shrugs. "You're a long winded fellow, aren't you? I'm surprised you haven't died from lack of oxygen yet. You can think chaos is a thing all you like. It's no skin off my back if you don't take charge of your life. You live and die as you like. I owe you once, but that's all." <I do not know that Regret, and do not hope to grow acquainted with him.> "The two of them don't have anything in common more than their affinity for the dead." Zane stops suddenly. The stairs have taken the heroes to a small cavern. Ahead of them is a huge black door. The Gray Wizard steps forward alone and strokes the doors lovingly, bitterly. He turns back to the heroes and Vipera lands on his outstretched hand. "Brace yourselves, heroes. I love my brother, in my own way, but he is dangerous." The Gray Wizard turns to Arthur, Haldor, Vipera and Felton each in turn. "Whatever he is, he is honest. I have not bothered to tell you what I am, but he most likely will. Keep an open mind heroes. I am sorry for the lies I have told you, and I hope you can still trust me after this." Zane claps slowly. Zander laughs weakly. "Hey, I know where we are! This is where we got to eat the dead people!!" "Poetic." Zane shoves past the Gray Wizard and opens the door. The heroes step inside. A figure- more a shadow- stands before them. He looks ready to hug them. "Heroes!!! Welcome, welcome to my humble abode! And my brother. How sweet of you to stop by. I was afraid that I wasn't going to get to see you! Oh, let me not forget my manners. Hello heroes, I am known by many names. The Master of Regret, King of Souls, The Fearsome Past, more than I can count, really. They're all equally sweet. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The Master of Regret dips into an outrageously low bow. "How can I be of service? Any friend of my brother is a friend of mine." "Hold off on your new friends. First, we have a deal. I brought you your brother. That's my half. Now you owe me." "Oh, I was hoping you'd forget." The shadow pouts, but even so unfurls a huge scroll in one hand (appearing apparently out of nowhere) and it bursts into flames. Zane smiles and leans against a wall, suddenly at ease. "Now, then, what can I do for you! "You will hear me speak." "Tsk, tsk tsk, brother. What happened to not becoming involved in human affairs? Let your heroes play with me for a short while, then we shall speak." "You became involved." "Oh, you're just sour because I backed a different group than you. Besides, it was you who originally told us not to get involved. I was the one who said we were no Council of the Watchful Eye. They aren't of this realm, we are. We're supposed to be involved." "You can't help the Court. They mean to bring Zoot here." "Better them then Wren. Or your heroes. Besides, they paid my price. A soul for a soul. That's my deal. Fair is fair, brother." The Master views the heroes. "Though some of you could feed me well. I'm sure my brother has been skimming off you. I'm surprised, brother, you don't back your protégée Wren. She feeds you better than heroes. Thinks in the moment, that one." "Doesn't matter. I must remain above that. There is more at risk here than our hunger." "Bah. We will make a deal shortly, and then your heroes will get to play a game with me, and perhaps make a deal or two of their own. But first, I have a tale of caution." The Shadow seems to smile maliciously. "Would you like to hear the tale of the Court of Demons, and how it came to be?" Zane suddenly stops leaning against the wall and grows a little tense. Zander's eyes light up. "Would we?!" "Not you, Zander. You've already made a deal with me, you have nothing left to offer. But the heroes..." the Master licks his lips greedily. "We will make a number of deals before the night is out, heroes. You and I and my brother. But I'm a fair immortal. Tell me what you'll offer for the story, and I'll see if it is to my liking. Doesn't have to be much. We'll play the higher risk games later. This is just a taste."

OoC: Crowkin should no longer be immune to hits. VP, by not responding to our strategy, and listening to what we're asking you... you're hurting the team a bit. At least explain to us why you won't take the smelling salts if you refuse, please. "Well, at least we're still alive. Pongcanis is mine. Ellaria, attack the bird and the dwarf, and Harkenshire, you're to attack J. Smith. Harkenshire, take your smelling salts." Boomingham barks out. Barty zips around him once more, and he retreats to the back row. The enemies were many. Battle Order Boomingham Harkenshire Ellaria

Why does everyone assume that the scum would be idiots? Why would they make up a role that doesn't correspond to something we've seen? Why would he pretend there was a day killer if there wasn't one? How much time would that buy him, if he were lying? Not much. I have more faith in Scouty than that, if he were scum. I think he would make up a more logical claim. Remember when we voted off a snake charmer action and it was real? That was dumb. People don't make up ridiculous claims to save themselves, they make up believable ones.

Sounds like a reasonable story. It sounds, in fact, like a sound strategy, and was what I suspected you were doing after reviewing the PMs. Hinckley doesn't like when people try strategies he's not in on. After he repeatedly called me out for something that I didn't do (editing a post) both in thread and PM, he asked me if I had any information for him (after calling me scummy). I am tired of this attitude. Either he is scum trying to stop the town from playing a smart game (def told us to be scummy if we hoped to survive- he gave us a tool that Hinckley is trying to destroy), or he is an extremely stubborn townie who is hurting the town by destroying any strategy he's not personally privy to. Either way, he's being far more prickly than usual (last time he was the most cuddly quarter eating hedgehog you could ask for, and now he's all bristled). Hincks smart, I think he's trying to form a town block by "doing townie things", and making the town feel like it shouldn't play the game it was told to play. And calling out someone for editing (especially when they explain patiently numerous times it was impossible) and trying to get them in trouble for it-- that seems like scum trying to remove a townie on a technicality. And it just rubs me the wrong way. I feel good about this vote. Vote: Hinckley.

OoC: That makes SO MUCH more sense. I skimmed those specials, and was confuse by the fact that they both made the hero target J.Smith.

Again, as I said to you in PM, as a Duke I am unable to edit posts without the site making note of it. As in it is literally impossible. And I also have reviewed all my posts and can find nothing wrong with them. In fact, you quote them in their entirety directly below them... so... they're clearly all the way they were...

Did I? I believe I just posted twice in a row because I realized I had more to say. They merge if you do it quick enough... Mr. Admin.

Hincklette sure is acting as if he knows a lot of information we don't. We're on Day Two. How can you be so sure Scouty is scum and that there's no day killer and that Shadows has been converted? These seems like a lot of assumption on little evidence. Why not give them a night to be investigated, and condemn or clear them both? I doubt a converted member could be a godfather, so we're likely to get Shadow's real alliance. You were going to save your findings for tomorrow, so why are you afraid to wait the night and have them investigated? Or, hell, as I said, wait to see if there's a day kill. Or at least hear what Scouty has to say. I didn't say I wouldn't vote for him, just wanted to hear some more and see some more beforehand. Assuming there is a day kill that we haven't seen yet, and Scouty is the only one who can protect against it- well, needless to say it wouldn't be so hot to lose him, unless you want the (potential) day kill to be unblockable. Honestly, why would he make up a day kill blocking action when we haven't seen a day kill yet? It doesn't sound like a smart ploy, it sounds like a truth. Maybe it was directed against you the first day and he saved your big behind and now he's getting screwed over by you.

"Alright folks, let's make use of Barty. Ellaria, keep your firing up, and put down your enemy quick as possible. Harkenshire, do me a favor and fire on the Seedy Sorcerer, we need him to go down. In fact, if you'd like to take your smelling salts before your attack, that may be a good idea." Boomingham himself also swings at the Sorcerer, from the front row. Battle Order Boomingham Ellaria Ellaria Harkenshire

I'd say the case against Scouty would be open and shut. Except that in this sort of game it isn't, and here's why: Hinckley, you think that this Watcher may be trying to draw out Scouty by pretending to be scummy. You think he was trying to get information, right? Couldn't the same argument be made for Scouty? You think that he contacted two separate people (both you and the watcher) and acted all scummy? Think about it logically, he's looking for ONE team, so why would you act all scummy towards TWO people? That doesn't make any sense. I don't feel like I'm articulating my reasoning enough, but basically acting scummy towards two people would most likely result in a) them being a team (so it would have been unnecessary) or the only real alternative b) they're not a team and one of them is town and rats him out. So, I actually don't find Scouty that scummy from that evidence alone. I say before we place any more votes we both hear from him, see about that day killer, and consider a few other options. Best option really would be to investigate Shadows tonight, which would probably clear or condemn both him and Scouty.

The heroes walk through the quiet streets of Eubric. "Truth be told, I'm not too in love with the idea of Zoot eating everything either. I owed Mephisto and Zee, but that debt was paid when Skrall shot me with an arrow. Now I owe no one- well, no Chaos users at least. I've got two other debts to settle." <Master Arthur, if you believe you can contact the Spirit Pools, then you may tell me your tale. My mind is a buzz with noise, it would do me good to give me something to focus on.> Felton has lagged behind near his old allies. He turns to Dyric and Skrall as they speak. Zander limps along beside him, little eltrical charges flying across his skin from time to time. "I have been hoping to have a word with the two of you. I have been very busy reading those damned books, and have not had a chance to speak with nearly anyone. You two are some of my oldest allies. I must ask for your assistance for that reason. Skrall you speak wisely, as you always do. We are playing with fewer clues than ever, it seems. Why is that? I urge you to be careful. For all his madness, Zane speaks more reasonably than the Gray Wizard. He sees cracks in us, no doubt, but his half truths are better than the secrecy we have been receiving from the Gray Wizard. I have been both too trusting and not trusting enough in the past, yet still I find myself questioning him." Felton sighs and rubs his forehead with two hands. "When I was in my small town, I thought there was something greater for me to do out there in the big world. Now I know that there was, but it does not make my life any easier. Sometimes I wonder if ignorance is indeed bliss." Felton thinks briefly, and then his cutting voice comes back, hard and sure as ever. "Regardless, it is too late for that. We must keep our wits about us. Remember, Chaos is the way of the world, we can only, as Wren and Arthur always reminds us, direct the flow. Let us direct it smartly, heroes. I will share more words with you when we have more time, but I fear that we may be approaching this battle wrongly. I think perhaps now is the first time we've been on the right path. I am anxious to meet the Master of Regret." "Hey, check this out!" says the King of Power as he zaps a rat that is running beside a building. It squeals in pain. "I'm getting better!" "Charming. I will warn the vermin of the city." "Haha. The whole city is vermin!" Zane glances back as Zander. "Fate? Chance? There are no such things. The world treats me as the fool, but it should look at itself. Arthur, was that your name...? Weak men use those made up words to describe made up things to excuse their weaknesses." Zane spits. "The Master of Regret will love you. He preys on the weak, just as his sister does. Maybe that's why you seem to rub the Gray Wizard the wrong way. The Magician says he's the strongest of the bunch." "Everyone seems to rub him the wrong way," Felton says with a grin and a dangerously provocative wink at the Gray Wizard. The Gray Wizard smiles as Haldor sadly. "Still so green, Haldor. You betray your age by your statements. We all have things to regret. The older you get, the more. Would that Tesni was here. The last time we met, I told you a leader must stand aloof, and that they lead lonely and sad lives. You will soon find both why I hold that belief, and that I am hypocritical in it. My brother may have much to say to me, and I doubt it will all be kind." The heroes stop. They are at the edge of the city, facing the wall to the west. Before them is a ratty old building... or so it appears. Each time they blink the building seems to appear and then disappear. It is much easier to see out of the corner of their eyes. "Where are you taking us?" "Zoot isn't the only ancient God to have a temple buried under the city, now is he?" Zane steps forward and opens the old wooden door. It creaks on its hinges to reveal a rickety old staircase spiraling downward. The heroes begin their descent into the darkness...

It is interesting that we're assuming that the scum killed Corny. Why are we assuming that? Perhaps because certain people here know more than others? It is possible that a vigilante got him, is it not? That's a kill method we haven't seen yet (the cutting the throat from behind). It is possible that the scum or SK (whoever killed with chandelier yesterday) was blocked. Why has no one considered that option? Chandelier and knife to the throat don't seem like similar methods of killing to me.

Yes, well, you just described why I need to make battles seem impossible. Imagine how scared your enemies are of you! They deserve a fair shot too. EDIT: I'll update tomorrow, I want to see some more role playing now that you're all together and have lots of things and people to discuss!

Why aren't any of you happy with the artifacts you have?!

Battle Order Boomingham Ellaria Harkenshire

OoC: You ignored Ellaria's SP, and the fact that I attacked from the back row. "Ellaria, heal yourself and then attack. William, back row, chap, and fire off a bolt towards both the beaked man and the Dwarf. I myself will continue my attack." Boomingham steps now into the front row and swings at the Pongcanis.