Zepher

And that is the first time Boomingham has ever "surprised" me.

Barty goes ballistic, yelling after Nur. "Traitor! You are a traitor!! Do you hear me?! You will burn and freeze and the wrath of all the Gods shall be unleashed upon you! You are a traitor. You allow the cretin of the world to walk free. They soil it. They are like a disease. They spread and spread and spread. You do not understand. None of you understand. Don't you see?! Don't any of you see?! You will all perish unless you wipe out the evil. You can not let one villain walk and kill others. That is not the way of the world! Return, you filthy magic user! Return you traitor to the light! Traitor! You are a traitor! TRAITOR!" Boomingham swats the pest out of the sky. "Track him down, make sure he doesn't go far. I trust Nur as much as a mage can be trusted. He hasn't betrayed me yet... but I guess that's the trouble with mages. He's cunning, perhaps he has a plan. Let's no jump to conclusion, alright Barty." Boomingham looks uneasily down the alleyway that Nur exited through. He sweats profusely. His face is red. "And you! You, you do not understand. You have no honor. You are no King. Your Kingdom is dead. You are forgotten. You have nothing. And you fill it with meaningless nothings. You are nothing. You are a void. You don't matter. You are nothing." Boomingham slashes through Barty and the little angel explodes into a silver powder the shimmers and then disperses. Boomingham looks at his King of the Desert. "That was a surprise," Boomingham whispers. He stares forlornly at the spot that Barty had been floating in a few seconds ago. "Barty... Barty?" Boomingham dabs his forward with his kercheif before returning in to his pocket and redirecting his sword at the Werewolf Thug while calling over to the Metasmian. "Sorry about this, Metasimian. If the battle isn't going your way, feel free to depart at any time. I won't track you down. Forward, chappos."

"Eh, the other group had other things to deal with. I understand that. Leave each man to their own business, that's what I say. No point arguing. Once someone gets a goal in mind, it isn't so easy to change that goal. Either oppose 'em if you've got to, or let them go on their merry way. The other group have got some political figures that need looking after. Ya know, Skrall, that me and politics don't mix. Before the Arena, back when I lived in a quiet village, I got orders and I followed them because I knew they were right. After the Arena, I had orders from myself to track down Wren, and again I knew they were right. I let Felton talk politics with the politics. He's good at it, I ain't. Confuses me to no ends. It always appears to me that everyone is gonna do what they're gonna do, and talking about it won't change that. Am I rambling? Point is, Felton tries to win others, I just quietly do my business, and we both let the other do what they ought to be doing. That's what a team is, ain't it?" Hans blushes at Arthur's compliment. "If I could repay the favor, Regulus, was it? Well, if I knew who ya were, I'm sure I'd be a fan. The heroes of Heroica has across the board proved themselves time and time again. I've no reason to doubt you'll be any different. I'm sure I got a bandage or something lying around." Poletad hops up, and drops an old rag in Arthur's hand. "Ah, yes, I forgot I had that on me. That little frog remembers everything. It's a good thing ya picked him up when ya did, Skrall. He's proved to be as brave as anyone. And of course, he helps Felton and I keep our heads. Mostly me." Skrall searches for tracks again, and finds that they have in fact resurfaced, heading off over the wall and towards a near-by pass between two more heavily forested hills.

OoC: All actions in now! I will run round 1 and 2 back to back. The "offensive team" will change each round.

Naw, don't worry, I'll bow over to the players eventually if that's the case. I just wish there wasn't all this debate. Critique us later, please. It throws a wrench in the quest hosting process if there's a huge uproar while you're hosting and try to introduce something new. And you give us far too much credit. We planned ahead from early January, I believe. The Dastan Quests were planned after Issac had already done his thing. I don't know what BDs plan was if you figured things out. I will tell you that a number of things from previous Wren Quests will come into play in the final one, and that previous actions will be accounted for. So far, of the NPCs in the WRen Quests who reoccur, Poletad could have been lost once, Hans once, McColt once, and Felton twice. Those actions carry over and would have effected the story line for the following quests in varying degrees.

OoC: Alright, thanks everyone! Let's get this party started. Constance downs her mead and rubs her Dragon Scale and picks up her shield, and the the battle begins. Team Constance Nerwen Calmcacil (played by Chromeknight) Level 9 Cleric Power: 15 Health: 16/16 Ether: 7/12 Gold: 47 Inventory: Peace (Hammer, WP: 6), Wooden Staff (WP:3), Bedroll, Shovel, Potion, 2x Tonic, Remedy, Nostrum, Elixir, Grand Tonic, Venom, Bone, Fire Bomb Galen Woodward (played by Fugazi) Level 8 Rogue Power: 13 Health: 14/14 Gold: 31 Inventory: Sword of Bashing (WP: 5, Ice), Throwing Dagger (WP:4), 2x Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Nostrum Sarick Lanse (played by Xarrzan) *Party Leader* Level 10 Mage Power: 17 Health: 14/14 Ether: 5/14 Gold: 38 Inventory: Dragon's Wrath (Staff WP: 6), Healing Staff (WP:5, healing effect), Opal(Ice), Sapphire(Wind), Topaz(Lightning), Potion, Tonic, Bone, Fire Bomb Xander Unth'or (played by posades) Level 13.5 Barbarian Power: 21 Health: 20/20 Gold: 311 Inventory: Pongcanis Club (WP: 8), Double-Sided Battle Ax (WP:6, Aim), Enigmatic Hammer (WP: 3), Robe of the Pongcanis Champion (WP: 1 Front Row)(SP: 1 Back Row), Potion (2), Grand Potion, Phoenix Essence, Horse (WP: 1 Front Row), Fire Bomb, Skeleton Decoy, 2x Venom, Elven Bomb, Green Potion Constance (NPC) *Encouraged* *Lucky* *Blessed* Level 15 1/2 Dragon Knight Power: 30 SP: 3 Health: 30/30 Gold: 150 Inventory: Dragon Heart (WP: 15, Fire/Wind Elemental), Mead, Nostrum Shield – Heart of the Dragon: Does 10 damage to target and burns them, dealing another 2 damage at the end of each round. Critical Hit - WPx3+Lvl Team Felton Atramor Gibbin, Level 18 1/2 Witch *Acting Party Leader* Power: 27 Health: 21/21 (-14 for remainder of Quest) Defense: 2 Ether: 7/7 (-9 for remainder of Quest) Gold: 12 Inventory: Ratsbane, WP: 10, Sand Worm Hide, Witch's Talisman, Black Katana, WP: 8, Staff of the Elven Warlock, WP: 5, Scroll of Sealing, Bone x2, Grand Tonic, Fire Bomb, Phoenix Essence, Ether Core Cronk (played by CorneliusMurdock) Level 19.5 Paladin Power: 31 SP: 9 Health: 39/39 Ether: 14/20 Gold: 49 Inventory: Zoot's Bane (WP:12, Light), Healing Staff (WP:5 Healing effect), Bloody Pointy Stick (WP:1), Lance (WP:12), Ennoc's Blessing (Shield, SP:7), Elaborate Helmet (SP:2), 2x Potion, Holy Bomb, Bedroll, Paralyzing Venom, Blacksmith Writ, Bone, Cultist Documents, Lightning Bomb Nyx, Level 19 Battle Mage Power: 32 Health: 29/29 Ether: 24/24 Gold: 0 Inventory: Book of a Thousand Creatures (WP:13, each roll has a 1/6 chance to summon a creature to aid the hero), Dawnstar II (WP: 9), Healing Staff (WP: 5), Shiny Helmet (+1 max health), Ruby (Fire), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Sapphire (Wind), Emerald (Wood), Garnet (Earth), Sandman's Parasol, Potion, Remedy, 3 Tonics, 2 Grand Tonics, Holy Bomb, Bedroll, 5 Bones, Wooden Shield (SP:2), Bomb XX, Phoenix Essence, Ether Core, Dragon Scale De'kra (played by Tanma) Level 14.5 Rogue Power: 19 Health: 20/20 Gold: 124 Inventory: Kapura (WP:5, Fire), Pongcanis Dagger (WP:5, Lightning), Shadeaux Dagger (WP:5), Fauxthril Hand Cannon (WP:5, unsuitable), Cloak of the Blue Assassin(SP: 1), Cloak of the Elven Spy, Bedroll, Pickaxe, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Venom, 6x Potion, 2x Remedy, Water Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Smoke Bomb, Phoenix Essence, Bone Tarn Valco, Level 15 Barbarian Power: 25 Health: 22/22 Gold: 13 Inventory: Helbaerend (WP: 10, Water, Ice and Lightning Elemental, Hollow Blade), Fauxthril Spear (WP: 6), Phoenix Essence, Grand Potion, Remedy, Holy Bomb, Shovel, Pickaxe, Bomb XX, Dragon Scale William Harkenshire, Level 13 Ranger Power: 18 Health: 18/18 Gold: 20 Inventory: Hand Cannon (WP: 5; Lightning, Wood) Repeating Crossbow (WP: 5 May not be upgraded; Fire; Hastened), Potion (2), Remedy, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Mead, Smelling Salts, Pickaxe, Horse, Skeleton Decoy, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Venom, Elven Bomb, Fire Bomb, Bomb XX Felton (NPC) Level 16 Wren Fighter Power: 16 Health: 56/56 Gold: 0 Inventory: Rapier of Dastan (WP: 5), Phoenix Essence, Felton's Hat (+10 Health, -5 Power) Shield – Deceive – Deals damage to enemy equal to enemy’s level x2. Critical Hit – WPx2+Lvl Everyone state your actions. Team Constance will attack Round 1, and then Team Felton will attack Round 2, and so on and so forth.

I do want to apologize Tanma. I just went for a relatively quick and totally unrelated walk, but I did think about our conversation, and I do hope that I didn't come off as angry, because I wasn't, just explaining my stance. Please, ALWAYS try to outwit the QM within the mechanics of the game. I thought you were refusing the scenario by changing the rules, whereas you're refusing the scenario by following the rules. The first one would bother me, the second one is admirable.

OoC: Galen and De'kra have yet to bold choices, unless I've missed something. Sorry.

Ah. I believe I've misunderstood you. You're right, all mechanics of a normal battle will be allowed. Smoke bombs, flees and all the things you may normally do are 100% allowed, as is passing up a turn. I'm just telling you, if both sides flee the battle, then it will revert to a 50/50 chance of the revived NPCs dying. The NPCs can't ressurect themselves... except in the same way that players can. When the battle ends, they return to "being alive", with one health. Unless their whole team falls, or flees, which is the same as losing the battle, you're right.

"It looks, Haldor, that once more you and I have alliances that lay in different places. I say that the Metasimian gets him once the blood paws are out of the way. He's reasonable, will give us the gold and information, and is just defending his turf. That's honor, my man. If someone cretin walked onto the soil of my kingdom, back when it had people living in it and was, you know, existent and all, I would kill them dead too."

Sometimes you do what the QM asks. I'm giving you fair warning because I don't want you to plan and then "fail" after "succeeding". The NPCs will fall to a KO, just like anyone else in a fight. At the end of the fight, just like everyone else, they'd be brought back to 1/X health. Unless their entire team was defeated, thus failing their "objective". You are as free as anyone to sit out the fight. That was one of the options given, and one of the options that was taken. And sorry, I've edited this post like five times at this point so as to make my point clear and also not appear rude. The Quest Masters put ridiculous amounts of time into planning quests. We try to offer certain amounts of freedom. I have created two side quests already this Quest that were totally unplanned because people chose to go places. I even rewrote 1/7th of my quest because of the choice that one of my players made. But sometimes we say: sorry, game mechanics say we want you to fight until one of the teams are defeated, and we are expecting that. We put in hours writing a story, and when the characters say "look, the Emperors are boring, can't we go find the 15 magical rats of Dastan instead?", well, it throws us for a loop. I have to take pictures of all these sets, write all this dialogue, and know where the quest is going. In video games, you are given an objective, you complete it. Here we offer more freedom, but the point is still the same, there is a story, you follow it, complete objectives, and we try our hardest to let you do what you want to do within those confines.

OoC: Read his one other item. Also, just warning you in advance, I love that you're planning, but you'll all have to fight until the end. Dropping the NPCs will not end the fight. One team giving up will result in their NPC being killed.

The (over-due) NPC Index has been updated once more with the NPCs from the Quarry Clean-Up Quest. Go check out the three new additions and remind yourself of all the reoccurring characters we've got! Quests 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 all has characters who are already listed! Which reminds me: BD, while I've hijacked your thread, I'm still waiting on those NPC write-ups from your previous Quest! Rumble Strike, after you pick a side in CvF (abbreviated for those other Dastanian Questies), if you want to write up those NPCs from #32, that would be great (PS: that was a nice timely quest, congrats!).

OoC: Haddon is in the High Kingdoms. Also, you've just run into Hans, not Felton. Probs should have not assumed you'd remember, it's been a while. "Well forgive me for being friendly," laughs Hans. "Life is full of surprises. Most of them ain't so good, so when a nice one is thrown your way, being happily surprised is the reaction you ought to have, ain't it! And this is a happy surprise. This is land full of traitors and confusion. A straight forward old pal is exactly what we need." "I dunno what this wall is all about. Probably thanks to the war going on, ya know? There looks to be a skirmish a little while over, there are a few broken weapons and a few raised mounds, probably graves. As for Vipera, haven't heard heads or tails of her. Is she around the area? Maybe she'll drop by." <She's popped into my head once or twice to say hello! Lovely Dragon she is, isn't she?!> "Look, we could use your help. If these Lion Knights are Rogue, which is the looks of things, I dunno if Poletad and I could take 'em on all by ourselves. You know Wren is a force that's best left stopped, and these Lion Knights are the issue you're here to deal with. We've got a trail, it's led us this far, but we sure could use a Hunter now. Sounds like you're on her buddy's trail anyhow. So, how's about it? Want to lend an old pal a hand?"

Felton (NPC) Level 16 Wren Fighter Power: 16 Health: 56/56 Gold: 0 Inventory: Rapier of Dastan (WP: 5), Felton's Hat (+10 Health, -5 Power) Shield – Deceive – Deals damage to enemy equal to enemy’s level x2. Critical Hit – WPx2+Lvl Constance (NPC) Level 15 1/2 Dragon Knight Power: 30 Health: 30/30 Gold: 150 Inventory: Dragon Heart (WP: 15, Fire/Wind Elemental), Mead x2, Nostrum, Dragon Scale Shield – Heart of the Dragon: Does 10 damage to target and burns them, dealing another 2 damage at the end of each round. Critical Hit - WP x3 +Lvl

WBD, please give it out as a prize to something I am a part of, I absolutely 100% want to play that class. It is awesome and fits Boomingham perfectly.

"Well, it looks like we've come to a reasonable solution. Metasiman, you get your kill. We'll take care of the Blood Paws, get our information, and then you may punish the Wolfganger for his transgretion. Sorry, Wolfie, but you're buddies have wronged me, so I've got the set the score straight. As for you Blood Paws, well, it's really not looking like we're going to get to a peaceful solution with you. Jess and I want the gold, and I want his information, and you said we'd have to fight you for either of those things... so..." "I fear you're becoming more and more immoral every day. Do not spare any of these cretins. They all must pay. To free the world of evil, we must sponge it all out."

"I will die a noble death if I'm to die, Witch. I will not bring my men down to die with me. Their services are still required. Nor do I plan to escape. I will protect myself for the sake of Dastan. Like it or not, Dastan is in need of me." "Victor and Emperor Septrine told me about the treachery, yes. They have sent word to the final Emperor, and asked him to try to track down Roland. The reason the heroes are in Drakencourt is that the resources of the empire are stretched too thin currently. Emperor Septrine does not have any choice. The other two Emperors left to fight the war, he was left to defend the capital. He must keep all the troops he has here. I do not disagree with this decision. Roland must show his face here if he does indeed wish to win the Empire. Tracking him down would be a waste of time."

The party follows a set of tracks, but soon the early morning mist starts to block the heroes' visions. The come to a small military wall, built very recently. They follow it, and eventually are greeted by some familiar faces. "Skrall, is that ya! Haha! What are the chances, what are the chances. Is it good to see ya!" Sir Poletad hops up in down in big exaggerated jumps, extremely excited to see his old friend. He croaks loudly a number of times, but Skrall is unable to understand him. However, Skrall finds himself slowly recalling the Language of the Frogs. Perhaps because he had practiced it so much beforehand. Or perhaps for Poletad and the QM's sake, because the QM loves writing for Poletad. <Skrall! Mr. Skrall! What a pleasure it is to see you again! How is everyone? Did you bring Tesni, or Hoke? We could sure use them right now. Or Mr. Dyric, or of course Jess. Dastan is a crazy place to be, it sure is nice to see a friendly face! Mr. Harkenshire is nice and all, but he doesn't like to chat as much as you do! Will you be joining us, Master Skrall?> "I'm assumin' that Poletad told ya what we're up to. Hunting Wren, nothing new, right? We think she may be in the area. We've been out of Drakencourt for nearly a week now, no sign of her, and then yesterday Poletad had a spotting. She was talking with some Lion Knight, I think. Felton has told me about them, he does all that reading and information gathering at pubs you know, said he heard that you fellows had run ins with them... and now I just saw that you have a few with ya. Alright, well, these fellows wore slightly different colors that your friends. We lost the trail, but maybe Skrall, you'll be able to pick it up? That is of course assumin' ya'll don't have anything more pressing to do. The other Heroica party, the one in Drakencourt, they're not too willing to help us out."

"I've got nothing to say to it. This is why there should not be outsiders in Dastan. Felton claims that the Emperor and Victor are blind to my betrayal because they've known me too long. I say they are certain of my good intentions because of that same reason. We have the blood of Dastan in us. You heroes and the Wren Hunters do not. This is why you should go." "I can prove that to you, if you would like. The insider must be Dastainian. Whoever allowed Wren in, for example, must have spoken to the guards at a gate somewhere. I do not have that authority. Phil had to let me and Hans and Poletad in, and he left instructions for safe passage for all heroes. Someone else must have allowed for the passage of Wren and the Assassins. Which reminds me of another interesting point... when we talked to Phil after the battle at Atramors, he said that Constance had refused wanted signs for the assassins, saying it would incite the people. Perhaps she refused them to protect her allies."

"I understand that. I am not a part of Dastan, and I too have encountered the same problems that you have. I have been granted permission to hunt Wren and had it revoked a number of time already. It seems every person I run into wants a different thing from every single person they run into. I cannot prove to you that I am the real Felton. All I can say is that no one had an appropriate time to make the change. I've been under the watch of the party, clerics, and Dastanian officials nearly the entire time I've been here. I have presented my case, rogue. You may make the choice that makes most sense to you." "Phil is in the palace currently. I just came from a meeting with him and the Emperor Septrine. I do not know where Hans and Poletad are. They must still be out tracking down evil in the countryside. We have no way to recall them at the moment. I have made my case against Constance. We know that the assassins have an insider. Someone has been allowing them passage into the city. That is how they got to U'Stus, that is how they got to Mallelio, that is how they brain washed all those poor party guests." "Yes. I am asking you to throw that all aside. I am asking you to do the right thing as opposed to the thing you were paid to do. At the hospital you were all certain that Constance was not on our side. What has changed? Listen heroes, the world does not serve up evil on a silver platter. Sometimes you are faced with a decision where you do not know all the information." Constance stands, holding her sword, her eyes trained on Felton.

Boomingham holds up a hand, telling the parties involved to halt. He then produced a wine-skin and took a swig. He returned it to his items sack, and unsheathed his King of the Desert. He twirled it in his hand. "Sorry boys, I was really going to let you walk, but my angel won't let me, and I need that Wolfganger to lead me to his friend. Besides, you made me mad, Mr. Werewolf. So I think I'll go ahead and take you out, and then follow this chap to Ergthew. Don't worry, I'll make sure the Wolfgang not to trespass on your grounds from here on in." Boomingham then turns to the metasimean and uses his diplomacy. "You seem reasonable and I'd be sad to fight you. One of my fellow heroes at the hall, Mr. Thothwick, has always proven himself to be a friendly and reasonable individual, so I'm predisposed to figure that your entire species is that way. I'll make you deal, if you don't mind. Let me take this Wolfganger, alive, and I'll make sure that the Wolfgang hears that Heroica has your back in this whole turf war. Alternatively, you could remain here and try to fight alongside these Werewolves, but there are five of us and only three of you, and chances you'd end up being as sad fighting me as I would be fighting you."

The could use a bit more oomph, though. Hastened for the rest of the battle after defeating an enemy seems really cool and worthwhile. It wouldn't happen for the first few rounds, when being hastened is really coveted, so it wouldn't be OP'd and would still leave them to buy smelling salts, but would come in to "clean up house" closer to the end of the battle. Duelist also seems a little weak. If you think about how much gold Rogues mop up... that really don't seem like that much in comparision, and their attacks are dependent on reaping gold. Also, someone with Hybros would destroy with this class, so I'd change the following: Right now, you have (WPx(g/100)+lvl). With Hybros' like WP 15 weapon and 1000 gold, that would be a ridiculously high number. So, I advise this change: Critical Hit: ((WP+(Gold/100))x2+lvl) Hit: ((WP+(Gold/100))+lvl)

I would 100% play as that class. It looks awesome AND very in character for Boomingham.

Boomingham chuckles. "I thought I'd heard of turf wars down here, looks like we've stumbled upon one. I'm no fan of the wolfgang, heavens knows, so don't allow me to stop you, gentlemen. I do have a few questions though. Do any of you happen to know a Roland Ergthew, or a Natnail? Could you direct me in their direction. Also, if you wouldn't mind giving any of the gold that man has on him. The Wolfgang happens to owe me a bit of gold, and of course you're just roughing him up to show who's on top 'round here, right?" Barty zips over to Haldor. "I don't think it would be a bad idea to return that favor that he paid you earlier. Knock him out before he lets them walk free. You will of course need to take care of all these ruffians either way, even the bleeding one. They've lost their way, and they must be punished."