Zepher

OoC: I apologize. I am travelling this weekend and will update tomorrow evening. OoC: Turns out I'm once more better at finding Wifi then I thought! "This is good news... mostly. I am sorry to hear that a Dragon has perished, but am pleased that Mallelio is still alive. I will make sure he speaks to you once he recovers, but that may not happen for a number of days. 50 gold will be added your reward for his safe return. I again thank you heroes, Mallelio is a friend as well as an important member of the court. I warn you, however, that the reports rolling in each day are becoming grim. Dastan is in danger. Emperor Alandri sends information of Lion Knight forces each day. He requires more and more troops. Emperor Emeraldo fights off Cultists, just as you do. His forces seem scattered, and reports are difficult from him. We have feared he has fallen to an ambush a number of times. Be careful, heroes. You know the old saying: If the arms and legs go different directions, and body falls apart." Phil, Felton, and Hans leave the heroes. Poletad, who hung back, hops past them, and nods at Tarn and Nyx gallantly before following the others. The heroes retire to their beds, and the next day awaken late. Thothwick, Level 16 Rouge *Party Leader* Power: 24 (21 Ranged) Health: 27/27 Gold: 481 Inventory - Sabre (WP 8), Whip Chain (WP 6), Shuriken (WP 5), 2 Venoms, 1 Deadly Venom, 1 Floral Bomb, 1 Bedroll, 1 Telescope, Cultist's Hat, Phoenix Essence 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 Atramor Gibbin, Level 18 Witch Power: 27 Health: 26/26 (-9 for remainder of Quest) Defense: 2 Ether: 7/7 (-9 for remainder of Quest) Gold: 0 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, Tonic Tarn Valco, Level 14 1/2 Barbarian Power: 24 Health: 21/21 Gold: 0 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 12 1/2 Ranger Power: 17 Health: 17/17 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 Night has already fallen on Drakencourt as they make their way out to their normal meeting spot. They are greeted by a face only familiar to Atramor. "Hello, hired hands. I have a mission for you." Constance pauses quickly, and gives a rushed briefing of the other's locations. "Victor has left Drakencourt to investigate the area of your battle yesterday. That is not official business. He is wasting time. Your frog ally and the man with the helmet have also exited the town, searching for one of the assassins... the female one. The Chaos one. The man with the hat is lurking around the city. He aggressively attempted to approach me earlier. I gave him a stern talking to and had him dragged to a safe distance. Mallelio is still recovering." That out of the way, Constance powers on to her main purpose. "The idea that I need protection is ludicrous. I am a Dragon Knight. I have trained in combat for years. You are hired hands. Many of you have no training. It is not proper that you protect me, so I will instead give you a purpose more fitting. This sword here is called Dragon Heart. It has served me well, as Atramor has seen first hand. However, in a number of days I will finally receive the honor of being shipped off to the front lines. I want Dragon Heart in top form. Clara left the garrisons last night, I have no doubt the idea of leaving soon for the front lines scared her out. Being a Dragon Knight is not for everyone. Regardless, I have no one to take my sword for me, so I will be giving you the job. Take this to the Great Market and have it improved. There is a Pongcanis there. He will do the job." How will the heroes respond?

OoC: You may all post in this thread again. Sphinx leans against the rock face huffing and puffing as the heroes advance, preparing to take him into custody. Suddenly, on the other side of the hill, Claw and two Chimera Guards peak their heads over the rise. They rush forward and surround their leader. "Prepare to be disposed of, just as we did to your friends. They were easy to defeat." Sphinx wheezes. "Let them go. Let them take Mallelio. It is the Chimera's will." Claw places his commander on his shoulder and disappears over the edge of the mountain, followed by the two guards. Tarn pick up Mallelio, and the heroes walk a while down the mountain and encounter their two allies - Thothwick and Harkenshire. They are both wheezing and bruised. Their faces and skin are charred, and their cloths are tattered. They are silent as they make their way back to Drakencourt. They are greeted by Ella, Atramor, Felton, Phil, and Hans. "Do you have him?!" asks Ella, rushing forward. She grabs Mallelio, still unconscious, off of Tarn shoulder and hugs him. She cries a few tears and kisses Tarn gratefully on the cheek. "I will get him a cleric," she says, and Hans hands the torch off to Phil and helps her carry the body up to the palace. "I will hear a report now, and I will let you all catch up. After that, you must sleep, you must be exhausted. No one will be in harms way during the morning. In the evening, I have arranged for you to meet with U'Stus and see if you can't convince him that he needs protection. What happened today, heroes? Atramor, you should fill in your fellow heroes on your adventures as well."

OoC: Sorry, will update later tonight. I have a rehearsal/show that I'm late for. Round Eight Sphinx Battle Nyx v. Sphinx - Shield Sir Poletad heals Tarn - Shield Tarn v. Sphinx - Miss Nyx starts off the round, firing off a spell that knocks Sphinx to the ground. He tries to lift himself, but is incapable. The battle is victorious! The Party Tarn Valco, Level 14 1/2 Barbarian Power: 24 Health: 14/21 Gold: 0 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 Nyx, Level 19 Battle Mage *Stand-in Party Leader* *Burned* Power: 32 Health: 27/29 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 Sir Earl Poletad (NPC) *Burned* Level 16 Frog Paladin Power: 16 Health: 19/21 Ether: 13/16 Gold: 0 Shield – Croak: Restores health of all party members an amount equal to his level. Miss – Ribbit: All party members regain one ether. Spoils: Dragon Scale (x2) - Consumable. Makes the user both Lucky and Blessed. Divide the spoils, and the plot will continue later this evening. Sorry guys.

It's hard to convince others when they aren't listening. There are only three people who understand the situation right now - the two assassins who are chuckling to themselves, and myself. We all know that I'm the real king. The other three people alive on this barge are running a terrible risk that will not pay off. I don't even get to wish you luck tomorrow, and pray that my death helps the town, because there won't be a tomorrow. Doesn't the lack of concern for my claim betray them? The fact that they refuse to consider the fact that I might be king. Only the assassins should have that conviction. Everyone else should back down and reassess the facts, because lynching the King would end the game for them. Please reconsider. This is my final plea.

You're really going to risk this? There is literally nothing I can do in that case. And don't worry, there won't be a tomorrow for you to get lynched during Charles. As for the inventor not sounding too Kingly, yes, I agree, which is why I was so confused with all this mumbo jumbo about our roles being tied to our action. You are all taking a huge risk and it will not pay off. It is my belief that Clemance and Cuthber are the two final assassins. Sorry Polly, it seems I was wrong about you. Please, Bess, Polly, Charles, I really think we need to turn this thing around. I can't ask another King to step up. You're right. But is this really how you want this game to end? Lynching your King? And there is a way for me to survive the night. It's not likely, but it's sure as hell more likely than surviving a lynch. Unvote: Polly (Pandora) Vote: Cuthber (CorneliusMurdock) Sorry if you happen to be a royal, Cuthber, but people won't lynch Polly, and I can't let you all lynch me, for both mine and your sake.

Well, since an appeal to logic seems to be failing me, I'll play the trump card. I am the King. Yes, yes, this is what a member of the scum would say, yata yata, go to town with that accusation. It is also, however, what the King would say. Now, I can only hope that there are action roles out there that can help protect me tonight. You've rather forced my hand. Need proof? Well, I can't really give it to you 100%. I can, however, prove that I'm not the killer. How do you know this? Luckily, unlike Polly, there is someone still alive who can confirm my action. During the first night, I invented and gifted Cuthber Neal Memlow with a one-shot blocking chain. He is the only person still alive I have gifted something to. Can you confirm this story, Cuthber? Please, please, let us move our votes off me and on to someone more productive. It doesn't have to be Polly if you all think that her story is true. That's who I think it is, but it doesn't have to be. We need to dig now and find ourselves an assassin.

OoC: Fair enough, thought I'd see if it was worth trying! Round Eight Sphinx Battle Edgar v. Sphinx - Damage Nyx v. Poletad - Hit Sir Poletad heals Nyx - Heal Tarn v. Sphinx - Critical Hit Edgar flies at his opponent, who beats him back (-15). The fiery gaurd around Sphinx lashes out at the spider (-3). Nyx successfully rams her weapon into Poletad, who in turn heals her. Tarn hacks at their opponent, dealing (-((10x3)+14)x2=88), though he scorches himself on the fiery layer (-3). The poison and burns do what is expected of them (-2) (-1). Edgar the spider dissolves into charred remains that the wind sweeps away. The Enemies Sphinx *Poisoned* Level 15 Humanoid Health: 71/600 Special I (Used if Health 600-401): Lion’s Claw – Deals 20 damage to hero. Special II (Used if Health 400-201): Lion’s Roar - Burns all heroes for 3 damage, and gives all burned effect, causing 2 more damage at the end of each turn. Special III (Used if Health 201-1): Lion’s Mane – If targeted the following round, the hero targeting them receives 3 damage regardless of row/SP, no matter what is rolled. Drops: x2 Dragon Scales The Party Tarn Valco, Level 14 Barbarian *Encouraged* *Burned* Power: 24 48 Health: 14/21 Gold: 0 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 Nyx, Level 18 1/2 Battle Mage *Stand-in Party Leader* *Burned* Power: 31 Health: 26/28 Ether: 23/23 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 Sir Earl Poletad (NPC) *Burned* Level 15 1/2 Frog Paladin Power: 15 Health: 18/20 Ether: 12/15 Gold: 0 Shield – Croak: Restores health of all party members an amount equal to his level. Miss – Ribbit: All party members regain one ether.

"I think he's standing right in front of us. This chap fits the descriptions that the others have described!" Boomingham offers his hand to the Minotaur. "Greetings. We have a few questions for you, sir, if you don't mind. Is there somewhere that would be more comfortable?" Boomingham turns to Barty and shoots him a look. Barty nods and whizzes over to Nur, whispering in his ear. "En Sabah Nur, you must talk to the other two while Boomingham questions Swifthorn. We doubt that Sifthorn will break if he has done anything fishy, but the other two... they're more likely to slip if they've seen something fishy, as opposed to Swifthorn, who may have done something fishy."

No. Her claim fits the lies that she fed us yesterday too well. She HAPPENED to block her ACCUSER on the ONE NIGHT with no kill, when there were 11 options of people to block? Doesn't that sound at all fishy? Doesn't that sound a little too perfect? And the reason she doesn't block anyone on Night Two doesn't make any sense. She claims that she thinks that there wasn't a kill NOT because of her block, but because Ruben, the target, was protected. But that doesn't make sense because we knew going into Night Two that Ruben was scum, and the protection on him was NOT the reason for no kill. So why wouldn't she block Jane again if she's the only blocker and blocking Jane was the thing that "prevented the kill" on Night One? Look at her story. There are nonsensical leaps everywhere. She was cornered and lied to save herself. But the holes in the story are apparent now. And don't you see why saying if you've blocked someone last night could be important. If you blocked someone and they step forward, we'll know your action claim to be true. "Luckily" for you, Jane is dead and your other attempt was unsuccessful, so no one can confirm your action to us. And final question: Who were they lucky for? Her? Do you realize that the evidence she presented saved her and lynched Jane, and that's it? It would be lucky if she by chance blocked Jane Night 1, and then we lynched Jane and she was the killer. But that's not what happened... her "lucky/unlikely" breaks didn't help anyone except herself... and her scum buddy.

Alright, fine, you're right. I'm dumb. Alright, let's look at her actual statement now, knowing that Jane was the Prince. Night 1 she blocks Jane. There happens to be know kill that night. Sounds like a random lucky break. However, what are the chances that Polly blocked the person who happens to attack her a number of days later? At that point... 1/11. Night 2 she doesn't block anyone, even with Ruben being lynched. She reasons that as Ruben was protected, she couldn't be sure that Jane was an assassin. But that doesn't hold water. By the end of the day, we were all pretty damn certain Ruben was scum. So him being protected does not stand as a reason to not block Jane. If the protection was not the reason for no kill, the blocking was. It would certainly be worth testing, right? If Jane was blocked two nights in a row, and there were no kills, well, you'd want to test that theory out asap, right? Night 3, she blocks Jane, and is unsuccessful. What are the chances of the scum blocking the blocker who is blocking their killer? 1/5. Possible... but still not likely. It is a pretty varied way to sell the story that Jane could be the killer. Night 1, Jane was blocked and there was no kill, the other two nights, for different reasons, Jane wasn't blocked and there was a kill. Very well told story... but I think there's too many lucky moments in it. Tell us, Polly, who'd you block last night?

Don't you see how Polly is an assassin though? There's two strikes against her. She has claimed protector, and was in contact with Meahon. The evidence against Meahon was that he claimed to be in contact with the protector, but when Shanonlon asked someone to come forward as a protector, no one did, and Meahon was lynched. Why did Polly not come forward then? Because she didn't want to be looked into by Shanalon, who had an investigative ability. Bear in mind that Shanalon had led the lynch of an assassin at this point, and everyone had essentially put their trust in her(him). Not only that, Polly DID contact Shanalon saying that she trusted him, but did not protect Meahon. The alternative to all this is that Meahon was the protector he claimed to "be in contact with". That pokes just as many holes in Polly's story, and justifies why Shanalon thought that Polly must be an assassin if Meahon was innocent. Jane told us that Shanalon said that, remember. Vote: Polly (Pandora)

I refuse to vote until I know what sort of funny pants substitute Cornelius is wearing during the 24 hour mark. That makes all the difference. All the difference.

OoC: To speed this along (sorry to rush you guys, but the side-quests/other quests sort of mandate it at this point ) could you both, along with your next attack, state if you'd be okay with me auto-playing a few rounds under the assumption that Poletad will heal you? Say an amount of health that you'd like to stop attacking once you reach too. Sorry and thanks!

OoC: That's quite alright! I figured you just needed a reminder. Round Seven Sphinx Battle Edgar v. Sphinx - Special Damage Nyx v. Sphinx - Damage Sir Poletad heals Tarn - Heal Tarn v. Sphinx - Special Damage Edgar continues his bites, but is tossed back as Sphinx's entire body is set aflame. The next round, if anyone targets him, they will be dealt 3 damage. Nyx is shocked by the suddenly flaming opponent, and he is able to shoot some of the fire out of his armor and into her stomach (-8). Poletad fully heals Tarn. The poison and burns do what they do (-1) (-2). The Enemies Sphinx *Poisoned* Level 15 Humanoid Health: 160/600 Special I (Used if Health 600-401): Lion’s Claw – Deals 20 damage to hero. Special II (Used if Health 400-201): Lion’s Roar - Burns all heroes for 3 damage, and gives all burned effect, causing 2 more damage at the end of each turn. Special III (Used if Health 201-1): Lion’s Mane – If targeted the following round, the hero targeting them receives 3 damage regardless of row/SP, no matter what is rolled. Drops: x2 Dragon Scales The Party Tarn Valco, Level 14 Barbarian *Encouraged* *Burned* Power: 24 48 Health: 19/21 Gold: 0 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 Nyx, Level 18 1/2 Battle Mage *Stand-in Party Leader* *Burned* Power: 31 Health: 14/28 Ether: 23/23 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 Sir Earl Poletad (NPC) *Burned* Level 15 1/2 Frog Paladin Power: 15 Health: 14/20 Ether: 13/15 Gold: 0 Shield – Croak: Restores health of all party members an amount equal to his level. Miss – Ribbit: All party members regain one ether. Summoned Spider(controlled by Pandora) Level 5 Minion Health: 19/25 Shield roll = 2x level, plus poison effect. Critical hit = 2x level

I have also introduced an all-female race in one of the Dastan Side-Quests. So apparently there are two races that are all -female floating around Olegia. Hopefully there are enough males for them.

OoC: I'm running this round in 4 hours with or without you. The other three are waiting to regroup.

You're right. We are not in as much trouble as I thought at the beginning of the day, and it seems that Polly is a decided lynch. I apologize for panicking, but we must be 100% certain with the Polly lynch. If we kill a royal today, court of family, and another is killed in the night, again court or family, we have lost the game.

I'm sorry, you're correct. First night... it was revealed during the second day. Regardless, if we've lucky enough to have that person still floating around, their information would be valuable right around now...

And while I'm throwing out ridiculous theories: If there is still a blocker out there, your results are particularly important. Please come forward with who you blocked the second night. That person is (almost) assuredly a Kemsey assassin. There is no need for protection of our actions at this point. We are in that kind of bind at this point.

Further more, what else do we have to go on? The Kemsey are 2 of the 6 of us. Lynching someone at random is essentially a loss at this point unless they happen to be the Kemsey. And don't point fingers at me. The one way that we win this is catching a scum today in a lynch. The scum win literally every other way. I don't think they're going to be playing an outrageous game all of a sudden. Give me anything else to go on. Literally anything else. I'm not pretending it's not extreme. It is. But we lose if they don't lose a member to a lynch today. So we need something that actually gives us a shot at this point.

No, think about it. It's not a bad plan at all. The actions are not linked to the true identity at all... it even says so in the rules... I don't think God plays that way. 1) Everyone PMs me their honest night actions. 2) The Royals will tell the truth. The Kemsey will have to lie, because they can't say they were killing. 3) I publish all of them. I cannot tamper with them because you (personally, as you sent them to me) will know if they're tampered with. 4) All the actions will seem to fit together, except the killer's, because they will have to make up actions. Tell me a better plan. I really really honestly think this will work.

WAIT! Even better, send them to me! In PM. And I'll publish them here. You can check them then. And confirm that they are true. But I'll only publish them once they're all in. That way the Kemsey's stories will be the ones that clearly don't make sense. The other ones will all be honest, and so will fit together properly. The Kemsey have been killing. They can't admit to that, so they'll make up actions. And those actions will be transparent when they don't give with our actions. Please, please, consider this option. PLEASE.

I have a plan. Seriously, a really ridiculous plan, but a plan. All cards on the table. If you catch my drift. Let's all publish all our night actions and targets up to this point. The Kemsey are so close to a win, it won't matter. And if we all tell the truth, the only people lying will be the Kemsey. And the more lies they tell, the easier they'll be to catch. We all know that everyone has an action, so publishing them shouldn't give any sort of indication of who is who. The Kemseys will be caught if we do this. I really believe that. It's unconventional, but it's an option. And we have nothing else. What do you all think?

Well, we're ducked. If you know what I mean. Voting records will do very little - the vote was unanimous, and the Kemsey can't have known that they were lynching the prince... Polly is the only person that we have ANYTHING on right now. Does it seem to be the right time to test if our dearly departed prince was barking up the right tree?

I sometimes forget Boomingham doesn't care about people as much as I do. That's one of the hardest things to stick to. Sandy, thanks for the U'Kin shout-out (I know Madame Butterfly was already around, but thank you for keeping the species name ). Someday we have to put together an index of all the different races of Heroica. Pongcanis and U'Kin crop up every once in a while now. I think thats (yet another) one of the wonderful things about this game. As soon as a species or idea or group is introduced, other QMs jump at the chance to reference it and use it, because there is such a great respect between the QMs!