Zepher

OoC: Done. Necromancers... Again Round Three >Medusa v. Undead Treasure Hunters C - Special Damage (Burning -1) >Solisman v. Undead Treasure Hunters C/Undead Treasure Hunters - Critical Hit ([No Block] 50*2=100) (Have been ignoring his duel strike ability) >Parvati forecasts Bright - Poor Forecast (Bright Following Round, -1 ether) >Dyric v. Undead Treasure Hunters C - Damage/Damage ([60/2]-6=24, Dyric KO'd) Guts uses Phoenix Essence on Matthias Guts v. Kanvyral - Shield/Damage ([block] -1 hit horses) >Matthias v. Melvokuul - Shield (-5 ether, Dyric Revived) (Full health whole party, -5 ether, Negative Effects removed) All combatants (except Guts and Partavi) -1 burning Weather: Bright - Light damage is doubled. Dark damaged is halved. The Enemies Rogue Aj-Kahr Kanvyral Level 20 Holy Humanoid *Immune to instant kill, sealed, stunned, poisoned* *-1 burning* Health: 975/978 Ether: 3/5 Special I: Blood Ritual – Hobgoblin Kanrak draws 10 health from all heroes, ignoring row and defense, and heals the enemy with the lowest health equal to the health absorbed times ten, at the cost of 1 ether. Special II: Chant – Hobgoblin Kanrak chants furiously, working her allies into a rage and raising their levels by 3. Used when out of ether. Drops: Grand Tonic, Ancient Bone Rogue Aj-Vohl Melvokuul Level 35 Humanoid *Ranged* *Immune to blinded, bound, and slowed* *-1 burning* Health: 688/690 Special: Arrow Storm – Orc Melvokuul rains arrows down upon the party, dealing 5 damage ignoring row and defense 4-24 times, dividing hits as equally as possible. Drops: Smoke Bomb Note: Melvokuul is Ranged, causing him to take only half damage from melee attacks. Undead Treasure Hunters C Level 60 (10*6) Undead *Mob 6* *Immune to Asleep* *-2 burning* Health: 598/700 (100*7) Special: Once Like You - The Mob gains all effects of the attacking hero. Drops: 40 Gold NOTE: Destroyed when Kanvyral is KO'd. Skeletal Horses Hits to Destroy: 2 While the horses stand, they have a 1/2 chance to absorb any damage any enemy would take. This will cost them 1 hit. The Party Guts Holla (Scubacarrot) *Dancing**Dualstriking**Immune to all Elements, Weakened, Fragile, Asleep, Confused, Slowed, Afraid, Blinded* *Lucky* *Hastened* *Encouraged* 45 year old male human Marauder Level: 40 Power Bonus: 4 Health: 64/64 Defense: 4 Gold: 9046 Equipment: Balanced Rapier (WP: 20, ignores defense, second weapon ignores defense, Longsword, suitable for Marauders) & Mythril Edge (WP: 64, Ice, Darkness, Light, attacks restore 3 health, dagger), Dancing Shoes (Wearer dances well, in the turn after a miss is rolled, the wearer can act twice. +Immunity to Asleep, Confused, Fragile, Slowed, Afraid, Weakened and Blinded, + Immunity to Darkness, Light, Fire, Air, Earth, Wood, Lightning, and Ice Elemental Damage, footwear), Crocodile Armour (+4 Defense +Immunity to Water Magic, bodywear), Pugilist's Gloves (2+ Power, Immune to Weakened, handwear), Orange Mask of Z (Headwear, if an attack would KO a foe the remaining damage is applied to only the next enemy), Inventory: • Pronged Gauntlet (WP:6, dagger), M.U.C.A (WP: 12, bleeding 3, Axe) Giant Axe (WP:10, dual-strike, axe), • Jester's Hat (Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy, suitable for anyone), Rubber Gloves, Blessed Amulet (Immunity to Cursed, accessory), Bomber's Belt (Craft Bomb creates Potent bombs, doubling the damage output of all bombs created, does not stack, accessory, suitable for cannoneers), Magnar's Smaller Axe (Grants Dual Strike to classes wielding axes, can't wear shield. handwear), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced-effect, doubling defense; suitable to marauders; back wear), Blue Guardian Mask (Shield, SP: 2, Protects against Weakened, Fragile and Afraid), Grimmeau's Clothespin (Grants Immunity to first negative effect each battle. Headwear), • Beholder's Eye, Shovel x2, Telescope, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Decamodifier, Magic Compass • 92x Potion, 12x Grand Potion, 3x Health Core, 3x Diluted Arc Potion, 2x Arc Potion, 3x Elixir, 5x Phoenix Essence, 28x Remedy, Neutralizer, Crimson Serum (Grants Mutated Effect for one battle.), x2 Arc Elixir, Hyper Arc Tonic (Restores All ether to allies, consumable), 2x Ambrosia, 17x Mead, 9x Smelling Salts, 7x Nostrum, x4 Bad Breath, 2x Tonic, Grand Tonic, 3x Smile of the Gods, 3x Fortune Flush, 5x Venom, 4x Bone, Soma, Silver Ore (worth 60 gold), x2 Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Ether Core, Last Resort, 2x Bravado Brew, 12x Rum, x3 Grating Stone, • 5x Smoke Bomb, Dirt Bomb, 2x Water Bomb, Blind Bomb, 2x Confuse Bomb, 2x Poison Bomb, 2x Seal Bomb, Sleep Bomb, 5x Mystic Bomb, Sand Bomb (Deals 30 earth-elemental damage and the blinded-effect to all enemies), • Topaz, Amethyst, Sapphire, Crystal Ball (Worth 200 gold, 400 in magic shops), Gold Ring (Worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver) Half of Iceborn's Map (Quest Item), Guanette's Map (Quest Item) Dyric Rone (The Legonater) Human male, Assassin *Immune to All Elements and Blinded* *Steals 50% more gold* *Permanently Lucky* Level 31.75 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 6 Health: 43/43 Gold: 737 Equipment: Crossbow of Incessant Warmongerers (WP: 26; Darkness-elemental, on non-AoE rolls, also deals Damage to the enemies above and below the target upon a successful hit; Crossbow), Lucky Die (User is permanently *Lucky*; suitable for anyone; Accessory), Night's Helmet (SP: 6; immune to Water, Wood, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness, and Blinded; suitable for anyone; Headwear), Sticky Gloves (increases amount of Gold stolen by 50%; suitable for Rogues and Beast Warriors; Handwear) Inventory: • Mockthril Longbow (WP: 27; Ice-elemental; Longbow), Requiem (WP: 20; Wood- and Light-elemental; Longbow), Tarok's Wrath (WP: 20, 1/2; chance to Instantly Kill orcs; Dagger), Double Chain Whip (WP: 10; Whip), Throwing Knife (WP: 4; Throwing Weapon), Pongcanis Dagger (WP: 8; Dagger),, Double-Barreled Handcannon (WP: 15, fire-elemental, dual-strike, hand cannon), Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable throwing weapon, causes Jinxed-effect), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all; throwing weapon), • Winged Sandals (immune to Bound and Slowed; suitable for anyone; Footwear), Ambrose's Heart (Artifact, suitable to Evokers, Accessory, +5 power), Sigil of the Cold Circle - (Raise an Army costs twice as much ether, but raised undead are three times as powerful, accessory, suitable for necromancers), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; back wear), Cabin Boy's Rags (All other party members +3 power, bodywear) • Diamond, Opal, 3 Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold) • Bedroll, Shovel, Magic Compass • Potions (3), Grand Potions (6), Tonic, Remedies (2), Banana (restores full HP to target), Elixir (2), Cosmic Essence, Meads (2), Nostrum, Soma, Venom (2), Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects for the duration of one battle), Mythril Shards (4/4 Mythril), Military Grade Light Bomb, Military Grade Darkness Bomb, Fire Bomb, Smoke Bomb, Diamond Lamp of Summoning (1/3 uses left), Bones (2), Skeleton Decoy, Demon Repellent (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons during one battle unless the user is the only hero left standing; consumable), Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Crystal Ball (Worth 50 gold, 100 in magic shops), Earthwyrm Fang (Grants the encouraged-, lucky-, reinforced-, and blinded- effects for the duration of one battle), Phoenix Essence (2) Matthias the Carnival Crusader (StickFig) Level 25.33 Druid *Gains 10 gold for each Humanoid killed* *Immune to Bound, Slowed* Power Bonus: 20 (+2 WP) Defense: 4 Health: 35/35 Ether: 20/25 Gold: 1319 Equipment: Restored Fireball Extraordinaire (WP:9, also hits enemies listed above and below the target, Darkness- and Lightning-elemental, user is Slowed, hand cannon, poisoned -1), Hunter's Plate (SP:4, wearer gains 10 gold for each Humanoid killed, suitable for rogues, rangers, barbarians, beast warriors, infiltrators, regulators, and winged warriors) (Dreyrugr), Winged Sandals (Protects from Bound and Slowed effects, footwear), DDSSA (+2 health, +2 WP, +10 power) Inventory: Peashooter (WP:2, deals Burning -2, hand cannon), Pongcanis Crossbow (WP:8, crossbow), Ruby (Fire), 4x Bone, Deadly Venom, 2x Elixir, Grand Potion, Grating Stone, Potion, 2x Red Death Blood, 4x Remedy, 5x Tonic, Doomsday Bomb (Deals 99 damage, bomb), 2x Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Magic Compass, Dapper Hat (This amazingly dapper hat gives the wearer a ⅙ chance of being Encouraged at the start of any battle, headwear), Crocodile Handbag (Max. ether +2, immunity to water; accessory), 2x Phoenix Essence, Opal, Anvil of Oleg (Quest Item) Parvati Level 26 Weather Mage *Immune to Burning* Health: 34/34 (5+4+25) Ether: 23/26 (6+5+25) Equipment: Parvati’s Pouch (Accessory, Grants immunity to first five effects afflicted on Parvati each battle) Inventory: Tonic x2, Sandstorm Scroll (Replaces “Dry” with “Sandstorm” – Sandstorm doubles earth damage, halves electricity, and deals 1 earth damage to all combatants each round. Grants all combatants the ability to blind on successful hits), Blistering Heat Scroll (Replaces "Hot" with "Blistering Hot", fire-elemental is doubly effective and all combatants gain the -1 burning effect each round), Scroll of Blinding, Begone with the Wind Gems: Diamond, Ruby, Garnet Soliman Level 33 Winged Warrior *Immune to Wind, Fire, Blinded* Health: 53/53 (7+14+32) Equipment: Babeleth Spear (WP: 17, Pierces SP), Babeleth Golden Dagger (Grants Duel-Striking, Handwear) Breathable Darksteel Armor (Immune to Wind, Fire and Blinded, Suitable to Winged Warriors) Inventory: Elixir x2, Military Grade Fire-Bomb x3 Medusa Level 30 Skirmisher Health: 54/54 (10+29+15) Defense: 26 Equipment: Medusa’s Spear (WP: 30), Skirmisher’s Spikey Shield (SP: 10, While “Defending” deals damage equal to Shield’s SP), “Shiny” (SP: 14, Suitable to all shield bearing classes, Bodywear & Legwear), Thick Orcish Helmet (SP: 2, Immune to Earth) Inventory: Mead x2, Grand Potion, Remedy

"Aunt Anna... is she one of the sisters?" asks Boomingham as he pockets his new treasures. Attempting to slip his gold back into his pocket he misses his pocket and it clatters onto the floor. He scoops it up quickly, cursing his groggy mind and the lack of booze in it, and glances over at Sarge. "Hey, Pegleg, hold onto this, would you?" he asks as he passes the pouch of gold over to the old man. He turns his attention back to the snake chap. "If she's one of those sisters it ain't likely that she'd be looking to do them harm." He glances at his companions, a faint worry in the back of his mind. "Just the same, that Oracle seemed mighty agitated. I'm not that much of a superstitious chap, but... you haven't run into bad omens, have you? I say we get this skull to that fancy chap who owns the menagerie and then get ourselves back to our original mission." OoC: 780 gold to Sarge, and to my fellow questees I don't think Boomingham knows about the poisoning of the sister... does he?

OoC: Apologies, waiting for Purpearl and Flipz to catch up a little bit time wise! Will update again in about 12 hours! "I am, though I have never met the Gray Wizard as you and your friends have. I have a keen interest in him." Arthur, sipping his tea, feels peace descend upon him. It is not whole, however. It is clear that it will take even more practice, though he feels more centered than he has in a good long time. "Chaomancy has always interested me. My master in Uland, when I was a young, young mage, was a Chaomancer, and one of the best I've ever met. He studies in Etheria now, and serves as one of their leaders." "I know that many heroes choose to ignore that Grogmas night, but I have studied it in depth, and believe that it has put into motion many great events. Chaos, in our world of technology, advancement, and order is often viewed in a negative light. But it is not so in many cultures. Here in Xu chaos is viewed as part of the natural world. There is no order without chaos without chaos there is no order. And not even in that one is the opposite of the other, as many in Olegaia believe, that one need to exist in order to contrast the other. In truth, as you shall find in the temple, if you dig deep enough into order you shall find chaos, and if you dig deep enough into chaos you will find the most beautiful of orders. Do you feel this too, Arthur?"

"Well, you know, whatever you want to jive with? Like, whacking or defending? I don't want you to get all effed up in a fight, but I think they say the best defense is a good offense... or is it the other way around?" Bobby shrugs and leads Polly to Drala Schmied's Forge. He hopes that Elnath follows them, since he has no way to pay for the Barbarian's upgrades.

Boomingham scratches the side of his head as he passes by the Oracle. He wants to make a snide remark about scrambled brains and the dangers of unchecked magic... but she'd been right about Zelda, and besides, his own head was scrambled as all Hel and he'd since lost his fear of magic. Arriving at Vipersace's, he digs around in his satchel and produces 5 golden statues (The Henrys!) and hands them to Vipersace. "These are pure gold. I believe you'll find them damn valuable. Give me that there Redhawk Helmet, and whatever change you think is fair." Passing by the Prayer Beads, he suddenly thinks of the Gray Angel, and then a shiver passes down his spine as he thinks of a ghost that visited him in another desert city, commanding that he protect the weak... and even of little Barty. "I'll take two prayer beads as well." OoC: [320(how'd I get so much gold?!)+1000]-([150*2]+240)=780 gold

Jin looks at the sky. "Perhaps it is already time that we retire. Days go swiftly when you do little." He rises from the pools and puts back on some clothing, carrying his armor. Yu Shu follows suit, and the two of them head back to the temple to sleep. The heroes may retire whenever they wish.

"I think you'd be best at answering that, Jin." "The First Breath has many powers. It allows one to move swiftly, and think swiftly, to be here and not. Wind is about the ability to adapt, to expand, to subvert. So too can the First Breath be used. It is also analogous to intelligence - both mental, emotional, and spiritual. How you utilize it is up to you, but I would not worry about such things until you possess it." "Already I can see your technique growing. I would advise you to not lose patience. It will become easier, as I've said. Perhaps tomorrow you can once more join Yu Shu and I in training. It may do her good to face a foe different than myself." "It is not my understanding that the Vault deems one worthy or not. You simply have access, or don't."

Bobby looks around the shops. Nothing in particular interested him - it was mostly all mage-y shiz, but he saw an opportunity just the same. "Yo, Polly, you gotta get yourself some new crap, right? Like, we ditched all your old stuff. So maybe we should try to do that, you dig?"

OoC: I think (for obvious reasons) I will still be powering down the Mask of Z a bit. I'm willing to hear what you think a good solution would be while still being an interesting item, though! I don't think you can argue it's not OP as it is, though. Not with everyone, but with enough characters (even if Guts weren't around) it would just be too much. All Dragoons, Hunters, and Marauders would be OP with it, which makes it a bad item in general, not just in your hands. How can it still retain some of it's allure? Necromancers... Again Round Two >Medusa v. Undead Treasure Hunters C - Critical Hit ([block] Skeletal Horses -1) >Solisman v. Undead Treasure Hunters C - Aim ([block] Skeletal Horses -1) >Parvati forecasts Bright - Poor Forecast (Bright Following Round, -1 ether) >Dyric v. Undead Treasure Hunters C - Special Damage/Critical Hit ([block], Skeletal Horses -1) Guts switches Puglist Gloves Grimaeu's Clothespin for Mask of Z (Both Headwear!) (Guts no longer immune to burning) Guts v. Kanvyral - Special Damage/Special Damage (Melvokuul full health, -1 ether Kanvyral) (-10 health all heroes) >Matthias v. Melvokuul - Damage (35-4=31, Matthias KO'd) All combatants (except Guts and Partavi) -1 burning Weather: Bright - Light damage is doubled. Dark damaged is halved. The Enemies Rogue Aj-Kahr Kanvyral Level 20 Holy Humanoid *Immune to instant kill, sealed, stunned, poisoned* *-1 burning* Health: 976/978 Ether: 3/5 Special I: Blood Ritual – Hobgoblin Kanrak draws 10 health from all heroes, ignoring row and defense, and heals the enemy with the lowest health equal to the health absorbed times ten, at the cost of 1 ether. Special II: Chant – Hobgoblin Kanrak chants furiously, working her allies into a rage and raising their levels by 3. Used when out of ether. Drops: Grand Tonic, Ancient Bone Rogue Aj-Vohl Melvokuul Level 35 Humanoid *Ranged* *Immune to blinded, bound, and slowed* *-1 burning* Health: 689/690 Special: Arrow Storm – Orc Melvokuul rains arrows down upon the party, dealing 5 damage ignoring row and defense 4-24 times, dividing hits as equally as possible. Drops: Smoke Bomb Note: Melvokuul is Ranged, causing him to take only half damage from melee attacks. Undead Treasure Hunters C Level 70 (10*7) Undead *Mob 7* *Immune to Asleep* *-1 burning* Health: 698/700 (100*7) Special: Once Like You - The Mob gains all effects of the attacking hero. Drops: 40 Gold NOTE: Destroyed when Kanvyral is KO'd. Skeletal Horses Hits to Destroy: 3 While the horses stand, they have a 1/2 chance to absorb any damage any enemy would take. This will cost them 1 hit. The Party Guts Holla (Scubacarrot) *Dancing**Dualstriking**Immune to all Elements, Weakened, Fragile, Asleep, Confused, Slowed, Afraid, Blinded and first negative effect.* *Lucky* *Hastened* *Encouraged* 45 year old male human Marauder Level: 40 Power Bonus: 4 Health: 43/64 Defense: 4 Gold: 9046 Equipment: Balanced Rapier (WP: 20, ignores defense, second weapon ignores defense, Longsword, suitable for Marauders) & Mythril Edge (WP: 64, Ice, Darkness, Light, attacks restore 3 health, dagger), Dancing Shoes (Wearer dances well, in the turn after a miss is rolled, the wearer can act twice. +Immunity to Asleep, Confused, Fragile, Slowed, Afraid, Weakened and Blinded, + Immunity to Darkness, Light, Fire, Air, Earth, Wood, Lightning, and Ice Elemental Damage, footwear), Crocodile Armour (+4 Defense +Immunity to Water Magic, bodywear), Pugilist's Gloves (2+ Power, Immune to Weakened, handwear), Orange Mask of Z (Headwear, if an attack would KO a foe the remaining damage is applied to the next enemy), Inventory: • Pronged Gauntlet (WP:6, dagger), M.U.C.A (WP: 12, bleeding 3, Axe) Giant Axe (WP:10, dual-strike, axe), • Jester's Hat (Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy, suitable for anyone), Rubber Gloves, Blessed Amulet (Immunity to Cursed, accessory), Bomber's Belt (Craft Bomb creates Potent bombs, doubling the damage output of all bombs created, does not stack, accessory, suitable for cannoneers), Magnar's Smaller Axe (Grants Dual Strike to classes wielding axes, can't wear shield. handwear), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced-effect, doubling defense; suitable to marauders; back wear), Blue Guardian Mask (Shield, SP: 2, Protects against Weakened, Fragile and Afraid), Grimmeau's Clothespin (Grants Immunity to first negative effect each battle. Headwear), • Beholder's Eye, Shovel x2, Telescope, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Decamodifier, Magic Compass • 92x Potion, 12x Grand Potion, 3x Health Core, 3x Diluted Arc Potion, 2x Arc Potion, 3x Elixir, 6x Phoenix Essence, 28x Remedy, Neutralizer, Crimson Serum (Grants Mutated Effect for one battle.), x2 Arc Elixir, Hyper Arc Tonic (Restores All ether to allies, consumable), 2x Ambrosia, 17x Mead, 9x Smelling Salts, 7x Nostrum, x4 Bad Breath, 2x Tonic, Grand Tonic, 3x Smile of the Gods, 3x Fortune Flush, 5x Venom, 4x Bone, Soma, Silver Ore (worth 60 gold), x2 Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Ether Core, Last Resort, 2x Bravado Brew, 12x Rum, x3 Grating Stone, • 5x Smoke Bomb, Dirt Bomb, 2x Water Bomb, Blind Bomb, 2x Confuse Bomb, 2x Poison Bomb, 2x Seal Bomb, Sleep Bomb, 5x Mystic Bomb, Sand Bomb (Deals 30 earth-elemental damage and the blinded-effect to all enemies), • Topaz, Amethyst, Sapphire, Crystal Ball (Worth 200 gold, 400 in magic shops), Gold Ring (Worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver) Half of Iceborn's Map (Quest Item), Guanette's Map (Quest Item) Dyric Rone (The Legonater) Human male, Assassin *Immune to All Elements and Blinded* *Steals 50% more gold* *Permanently Lucky* *Encouraged* *Burning -1* Level 31.75 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 6 Health: 21/43 Gold: 737 Equipment: Crossbow of Incessant Warmongerers (WP: 26; Darkness-elemental, on non-AoE rolls, also deals Damage to the enemies above and below the target upon a successful hit; Crossbow), Lucky Die (User is permanently *Lucky*; suitable for anyone; Accessory), Night's Helmet (SP: 6; immune to Water, Wood, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness, and Blinded; suitable for anyone; Headwear), Sticky Gloves (increases amount of Gold stolen by 50%; suitable for Rogues and Beast Warriors; Handwear) Inventory: • Mockthril Longbow (WP: 27; Ice-elemental; Longbow), Requiem (WP: 20; Wood- and Light-elemental; Longbow), Tarok's Wrath (WP: 20, 1/2; chance to Instantly Kill orcs; Dagger), Double Chain Whip (WP: 10; Whip), Throwing Knife (WP: 4; Throwing Weapon), Pongcanis Dagger (WP: 8; Dagger),, Double-Barreled Handcannon (WP: 15, fire-elemental, dual-strike, hand cannon), Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable throwing weapon, causes Jinxed-effect), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all; throwing weapon), • Winged Sandals (immune to Bound and Slowed; suitable for anyone; Footwear), Ambrose's Heart (Artifact, suitable to Evokers, Accessory, +5 power), Sigil of the Cold Circle - (Raise an Army costs twice as much ether, but raised undead are three times as powerful, accessory, suitable for necromancers), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; back wear), Cabin Boy's Rags (All other party members +3 power, bodywear) • Diamond, Opal, 3 Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold) • Bedroll, Shovel, Magic Compass • Potions (3), Grand Potions (6), Tonic, Remedies (2), Banana (restores full HP to target), Elixir (2), Cosmic Essence, Meads (2), Nostrum, Soma, Venom (2), Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects for the duration of one battle), Mythril Shards (4/4 Mythril), Military Grade Light Bomb, Military Grade Darkness Bomb, Fire Bomb, Smoke Bomb, Diamond Lamp of Summoning (1/3 uses left), Bones (2), Skeleton Decoy, Demon Repellent (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons during one battle unless the user is the only hero left standing; consumable), Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Crystal Ball (Worth 50 gold, 100 in magic shops), Earthwyrm Fang (Grants the encouraged-, lucky-, reinforced-, and blinded- effects for the duration of one battle), Phoenix Essence (2) Matthias the Carnival Crusader (StickFig) Level 25.33 Druid *Gains 10 gold for each Humanoid killed* *Immune to Bound, Slowed* *KO'd* Power Bonus: 20 (+2 WP) Defense: 4 Health: 0/35 Ether: 25/25 Gold: 1319 Equipment: Restored Fireball Extraordinaire (WP:9, also hits enemies listed above and below the target, Darkness- and Lightning-elemental, user is Slowed, hand cannon, poisoned -1), Hunter's Plate (SP:4, wearer gains 10 gold for each Humanoid killed, suitable for rogues, rangers, barbarians, beast warriors, infiltrators, regulators, and winged warriors) (Dreyrugr), Winged Sandals (Protects from Bound and Slowed effects, footwear), DDSSA (+2 health, +2 WP, +10 power) Inventory: Peashooter (WP:2, deals Burning -2, hand cannon), Pongcanis Crossbow (WP:8, crossbow), Ruby (Fire), 4x Bone, Deadly Venom, 2x Elixir, Grand Potion, Grating Stone, Potion, 2x Red Death Blood, 4x Remedy, 5x Tonic, Doomsday Bomb (Deals 99 damage, bomb), 2x Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Magic Compass, Dapper Hat (This amazingly dapper hat gives the wearer a ⅙ chance of being Encouraged at the start of any battle, headwear), Crocodile Handbag (Max. ether +2, immunity to water; accessory), 2x Phoenix Essence, Opal, Anvil of Oleg (Quest Item) Parvati Level 26 Weather Mage *Immune to Burning* Health: 14/34 (5+4+25) Ether: 24/26 (6+5+25) Equipment: Parvati’s Pouch (Accessory, Grants immunity to first five effects afflicted on Parvati each battle) Inventory: Tonic x2, Sandstorm Scroll (Replaces “Dry” with “Sandstorm” – Sandstorm doubles earth damage, halves electricity, and deals 1 earth damage to all combatants each round. Grants all combatants the ability to blind on successful hits), Blistering Heat Scroll (Replaces "Hot" with "Blistering Hot", fire-elemental is doubly effective and all combatants gain the -1 burning effect each round), Scroll of Blinding, Begone with the Wind Gems: Diamond, Ruby, Garnet Soliman Level 33 Winged Warrior *Immune to Wind, Fire, Blinded* *Burning -1* Health: 31/53 (7+14+32) Equipment: Babeleth Spear (WP: 17, Pierces SP), Babeleth Golden Dagger (Grants Duel-Striking, Handwear) Breathable Darksteel Armor (Immune to Wind, Fire and Blinded, Suitable to Winged Warriors) Inventory: Elixir x2, Military Grade Fire-Bomb x3 Medusa Level 30 Skirmisher *Burning -1* Health: 22/54 (10+29+15) Defense: 26 Equipment: Medusa’s Spear (WP: 30), Skirmisher’s Spikey Shield (SP: 10, While “Defending” deals damage equal to Shield’s SP), “Shiny” (SP: 14, Suitable to all shield bearing classes, Bodywear & Legwear), Thick Orcish Helmet (SP: 2, Immune to Earth) Inventory: Mead x2, Grand Potion, Remedy

Hoke and Jin make their way to the Hot Springs and dip in with the others. Hoke too feels refreshed. "Sounds like the right idea," says Yu Shu. "But meditation is tough. Takes practice." "Yes. But there are many ways to learn how to meditate. It is not only sitting in a field. Personally, I find that I meditate best in battle. My thoughts often inhibit me from acting. Simply allowing my body to move to its own rhythm assures that I am always a step ahead of my foes." Master Kiga rises and leads Chauncey, Arthur and Miirym to the tea house, a small wooden hut nearby the Vault. "Tea huts in Xu are built out of wood," explains Chauncey as they prepare to step inside. "It is a tradition to burn them down every year and build a new one." The four step inside. It is silent as Kiga prepares the tea. Eventually he pours it, and after sipping it, Chauncey starts back up the conversation. "You are a scholar of Chaos, aren't you, Arthur?"

"We're going to go shopping. That should appeal to the boy-o." Boomingham leads the party to the Palace District, passing through the Holy District first.

OoC: I don't believe you're wearing it? Or am I wrong, and I just failed to update the stats?

OoC: Like I said, I'm really wedging these updates in when I can, and even when I'm really focused I make mistakes, so be even extra critical about making sure the battle was run correctly. "Stay out of the way?!" growls Medusa. "You and me, baldy. After we're done with these uzardo." Necromancers... Again Round One >Medusa v. Undead Treasure Hunters B - Special Damage (No Effect) >Solisman v. Undead Treasure Hunters C - Hit ([No Block] 50/2=25 Damage) >Parvati forecasts Bright - Poor Forecast (Bright Following Round, -1 ether) >Dyric v. Undead Treasure Hunters A - Damage/Aim ([No Block] No Assassination, 26 Damage Undead Treasure Hunters A&B, Melvokuul) Guts v. Kanvyral - Special Damage/Special Damage (-10 health all heroes, Treasure Hunter B back to full health) Guts v. Pongcanis Shaman - Critical Hit/Shield ([No Block] ((((20+64)x3)+40+4)x2x2x2)x2=4736, KO, Treasure Hunters A & B KO'd) (F*cking Guts ) >Matthias v. Melvokuul - Aim ([No Block], 11 Damage) All combatants are burned -1 Parvati and Guts gain immunity to burning All combatants -1 burning Weather: Blistering Hot - Fire-elemental attacks are doubly effective. All combatants are dealt the burning -1 effect each round. The Enemies Rogue Aj-Kahr Kanvyral Level 20 Holy Humanoid *Immune to instant kill, sealed, stunned, poisoned* *-1 burning* Health: 977/978 Ether: 4/5 Special I: Blood Ritual – Hobgoblin Kanrak draws 10 health from all heroes, ignoring row and defense, and heals the enemy with the lowest health equal to the health absorbed times ten, at the cost of 1 ether. Special II: Chant – Hobgoblin Kanrak chants furiously, working her allies into a rage and raising their levels by 3. Used when out of ether. Drops: Grand Tonic, Ancient Bone Rogue Aj-Vohl Melvokuul Level 35 Humanoid *Ranged* *Immune to blinded, bound, and slowed* *-1 burning* Health: 652/690 Special: Arrow Storm – Orc Melvokuul rains arrows down upon the party, dealing 5 damage ignoring row and defense 4-24 times, dividing hits as equally as possible. Drops: Smoke Bomb Note: Melvokuul is Ranged, causing him to take only half damage from melee attacks. Undead Treasure Hunters C Level 70 (10*7) Undead *Mob 7* *Immune to Asleep* *-1 burning* Health: 699/700 (100*7) Special: Once Like You - The Mob gains all effects of the attacking hero. Drops: 40 Gold NOTE: Destroyed when Kanvyral is KO'd. Skeletal Horses Hits to Destroy: 6 While the horses stand, they have a 1/2 chance to absorb any damage any enemy would take. This will cost them 1 hit. The Party Guts Holla (Scubacarrot) *Dancing**Dualstriking**Immune to all Elements, Weakened, Fragile, Asleep, Confused, Slowed, Afraid, Blinded and first negative effect.* *Lucky* *Hastened* *Encouraged* *Immune to Burning* 45 year old male human Marauder Level: 40 Power Bonus: 4 Health: 54/64 Defense: 4 Gold: 9046 Equipment: Balanced Rapier (WP: 20, ignores defense, second weapon ignores defense, Longsword, suitable for Marauders) & Mythril Edge (WP: 64, Ice, Darkness, Light, attacks restore 3 health, dagger), Dancing Shoes (Wearer dances well, in the turn after a miss is rolled, the wearer can act twice. +Immunity to Asleep, Confused, Fragile, Slowed, Afraid, Weakened and Blinded, + Immunity to Darkness, Light, Fire, Air, Earth, Wood, Lightning, and Ice Elemental Damage, footwear), Crocodile Armour (+4 Defense +Immunity to Water Magic, bodywear), Pugilist's Gloves (2+ Power, Immune to Weakened, handwear), Grimmeau's Clothespin (Grants Immunity to first negative effect each battle. Headwear), Inventory: • Pronged Gauntlet (WP:6, dagger), M.U.C.A (WP: 12, bleeding 3, Axe) Giant Axe (WP:10, dual-strike, axe), • Jester's Hat (Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy, suitable for anyone), Rubber Gloves, Blessed Amulet (Immunity to Cursed, accessory), Bomber's Belt (Craft Bomb creates Potent bombs, doubling the damage output of all bombs created, does not stack, accessory, suitable for cannoneers), Magnar's Smaller Axe (Grants Dual Strike to classes wielding axes, can't wear shield. handwear), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced-effect, doubling defense; suitable to marauders; back wear), Blue Guardian Mask (Shield, SP: 2, Protects against Weakened, Fragile and Afraid), Orange Mask of Z (Headwear, if an attack would KO a foe the remaining damage is applied to the next enemy), • Beholder's Eye, Shovel x2, Telescope, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Decamodifier, Magic Compass • 92x Potion, 12x Grand Potion, 3x Health Core, 3x Diluted Arc Potion, 2x Arc Potion, 3x Elixir, 6x Phoenix Essence, 28x Remedy, Neutralizer, Crimson Serum (Grants Mutated Effect for one battle.), x2 Arc Elixir, Hyper Arc Tonic (Restores All ether to allies, consumable), 2x Ambrosia, 17x Mead, 9x Smelling Salts, 7x Nostrum, x4 Bad Breath, 2x Tonic, Grand Tonic, 3x Smile of the Gods, 3x Fortune Flush, 5x Venom, 4x Bone, Soma, Silver Ore (worth 60 gold), x2 Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Ether Core, Last Resort, 2x Bravado Brew, 12x Rum, x3 Grating Stone, • 5x Smoke Bomb, Dirt Bomb, 2x Water Bomb, Blind Bomb, 2x Confuse Bomb, 2x Poison Bomb, 2x Seal Bomb, Sleep Bomb, 5x Mystic Bomb, Sand Bomb (Deals 30 earth-elemental damage and the blinded-effect to all enemies), • Topaz, Amethyst, Sapphire, Crystal Ball (Worth 200 gold, 400 in magic shops), Gold Ring (Worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver) Half of Iceborn's Map (Quest Item), Guanette's Map (Quest Item) Dyric Rone (The Legonater) Human male, Assassin *Immune to All Elements and Blinded* *Steals 50% more gold* *Permanently Lucky* *Encouraged* *Burning -1* Level 31.75 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 6 Health: 32/43 Gold: 737 Equipment: Crossbow of Incessant Warmongerers (WP: 26; Darkness-elemental, on non-AoE rolls, also deals Damage to the enemies above and below the target upon a successful hit; Crossbow), Lucky Die (User is permanently *Lucky*; suitable for anyone; Accessory), Night's Helmet (SP: 6; immune to Water, Wood, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness, and Blinded; suitable for anyone; Headwear), Sticky Gloves (increases amount of Gold stolen by 50%; suitable for Rogues and Beast Warriors; Handwear) Inventory: • Mockthril Longbow (WP: 27; Ice-elemental; Longbow), Requiem (WP: 20; Wood- and Light-elemental; Longbow), Tarok's Wrath (WP: 20, 1/2; chance to Instantly Kill orcs; Dagger), Double Chain Whip (WP: 10; Whip), Throwing Knife (WP: 4; Throwing Weapon), Pongcanis Dagger (WP: 8; Dagger),, Double-Barreled Handcannon (WP: 15, fire-elemental, dual-strike, hand cannon), Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable throwing weapon, causes Jinxed-effect), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all; throwing weapon), • Winged Sandals (immune to Bound and Slowed; suitable for anyone; Footwear), Ambrose's Heart (Artifact, suitable to Evokers, Accessory, +5 power), Sigil of the Cold Circle - (Raise an Army costs twice as much ether, but raised undead are three times as powerful, accessory, suitable for necromancers), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; back wear), Cabin Boy's Rags (All other party members +3 power, bodywear) • Diamond, Opal, 3 Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold) • Bedroll, Shovel, Magic Compass • Potions (3), Grand Potions (6), Tonic, Remedies (2), Banana (restores full HP to target), Elixir (2), Cosmic Essence, Meads (2), Nostrum, Soma, Venom (2), Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects for the duration of one battle), Mythril Shards (4/4 Mythril), Military Grade Light Bomb, Military Grade Darkness Bomb, Fire Bomb, Smoke Bomb, Diamond Lamp of Summoning (1/3 uses left), Bones (2), Skeleton Decoy, Demon Repellent (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons during one battle unless the user is the only hero left standing; consumable), Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Crystal Ball (Worth 50 gold, 100 in magic shops), Earthwyrm Fang (Grants the encouraged-, lucky-, reinforced-, and blinded- effects for the duration of one battle), Phoenix Essence (2) Matthias the Carnival Crusader (StickFig) Level 25.33 Druid *Gains 10 gold for each Humanoid killed* *Immune to Bound, Slowed* *Burning -1* Power Bonus: 20 (+2 WP) Defense: 4 Health: 24/35 Ether: 25/25 Gold: 1319 Equipment: Restored Fireball Extraordinaire (WP:9, also hits enemies listed above and below the target, Darkness- and Lightning-elemental, user is Slowed, hand cannon, poisoned -1), Hunter's Plate (SP:4, wearer gains 10 gold for each Humanoid killed, suitable for rogues, rangers, barbarians, beast warriors, infiltrators, regulators, and winged warriors) (Dreyrugr), Winged Sandals (Protects from Bound and Slowed effects, footwear), DDSSA (+2 health, +2 WP, +10 power) Inventory: Peashooter (WP:2, deals Burning -2, hand cannon), Pongcanis Crossbow (WP:8, crossbow), Ruby (Fire), 4x Bone, Deadly Venom, 2x Elixir, Grand Potion, Grating Stone, Potion, 2x Red Death Blood, 4x Remedy, 5x Tonic, Doomsday Bomb (Deals 99 damage, bomb), 2x Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Magic Compass, Dapper Hat (This amazingly dapper hat gives the wearer a ⅙ chance of being Encouraged at the start of any battle, headwear), Crocodile Handbag (Max. ether +2, immunity to water; accessory), 2x Phoenix Essence, Opal, Anvil of Oleg (Quest Item) Parvati Level 26 Weather Mage *Immune to Burning* Health: 24/34 (5+4+25) Ether: 25/26 (6+5+25) Equipment: Parvati’s Pouch (Accessory, Grants immunity to first five effects afflicted on Parvati each battle) Inventory: Tonic x2, Sandstorm Scroll (Replaces “Dry” with “Sandstorm” – Sandstorm doubles earth damage, halves electricity, and deals 1 earth damage to all combatants each round. Grants all combatants the ability to blind on successful hits), Blistering Heat Scroll (Replaces "Hot" with "Blistering Hot", fire-elemental is doubly effective and all combatants gain the -1 burning effect each round), Scroll of Blinding, Begone with the Wind Gems: Diamond, Ruby, Garnet Soliman Level 33 Winged Warrior *Immune to Wind, Fire, Blinded* *Burning -1* Health: 42/53 (7+14+32) Equipment: Babeleth Spear (WP: 17, Pierces SP), Babeleth Golden Dagger (Grants Duel-Striking, Handwear) Breathable Darksteel Armor (Immune to Wind, Fire and Blinded, Suitable to Winged Warriors) Inventory: Elixir x2, Military Grade Fire-Bomb x3 Medusa Level 30 Skirmisher *Burning -1* Health: 43/54 (10+29+15) Defense: 26 Equipment: Medusa’s Spear (WP: 30), Skirmisher’s Spikey Shield (SP: 10, While “Defending” deals damage equal to Shield’s SP), “Shiny” (SP: 14, Suitable to all shield bearing classes, Bodywear & Legwear), Thick Orcish Helmet (SP: 2, Immune to Earth) Inventory: Mead x2, Grand Potion, Remedy

Boomingham rolls over groggily. "Look, the boy-o found his way. What a sight to wake up to." He stands up and begins rolling up his sleeping roll. "I say we go to Marmaduc's, and stop by Vipersace's place in the meanwhile."

"I have studied the blade for over twelve years. I started when I was only sixteen. But there are more ways to improve your art than simply training. I would advise you consider meditation - once you feel able - or attending a tea ceremony. Now, let us retire to the hot springs." "The world is mighty small, but only for those of us who are the movers. I've recently been led to believe that some exterior forces sometimes drive us towards each other." "It is admittedly difficult to judge character. Usually I have to judge a lot off of my personal relationship with the applicant. But I do have some simple requirements: I expect them to be able to fight, make swift decisions, and be able to back them up. A willingness to make sacrifices is also important, and they need to be able to survive. We send them into dangerous lands, where Paladins are not always welcome." "And yes, years. There is often not ways to cheat the process. I am sure you will be aided by all the monks here, which might speed things along, but that's just the way things are." "Well she was still kicking last time I saw her, and I watched her fight, so she's out of it one way or another." "We discovered we've got a tough time ahead of us." Lady Felix relaxes into the water even more, seemingly entirely unworried about the challenges that lay ahead. "I say we sleep on it, and then see what we think to do next." At the Vault Watching Master Kiga, Arthur fails to hear footsteps approaching. A simple tap on the shoulder forces the Dragoon to turn around. "You'll have trouble getting verbal direction out of Master Kiga. He has taken a vow of silence," says Chauncey with a sly smile. "Arthur Regulus. I believe you and I have quite a few similar interests. Shall we see if Master Kiga would not allow us to join him for a Tea Ceremony, so that we might have a chance to talk and reflect?"

"No intention of fighting a battle. So, what, you're looking to run and saddle us with your trouble?" "Peace, sister." As she speaks the heroes notice that the woman in the turban has no hands. "Yeah yeah, Parvati. These nazaro get under my skin. Running, saying we'd pass time with these necromancer weaklings." "The Sar is the Sar," says the winged man. "And he wants you four alive, so I suspect you will meet him shortly. But first we must take care of these three." "Enough jibber jabber. Let's get 'em!" Weather: Blistering Hot - Fire-elemental attacks are doubly effective. All combatants are dealt the burning -1 effect each round. The Enemies Pongcanis Shaman Level 80 Beast Humanoid *Immune to Sleep, Sealed, Instant Death* Health: 1600/1600 Ether: 4/4 Special I: Raise the Dead - The Shaman raises 3 extra skeletons to join whichever of his armies has the least number of skeletons. Special II (if no ether remains): Meditation - The Shaman falls into deep meditation. He cannot act for the next two rounds. At the end of the two rounds, he recovers full ether. Passive Special: Hastened Healing - At the end of each round, the Shaman saps 10 health from a random hero, and heals his weakest ally by 100 health. Costs -1 ether. Drops: Bones x4, Potion, Phoenix Essence, Raw Meat (+5 max. heatlh) Rogue Aj-Kahr Kanvyral Level 20 Holy Humanoid *Immune to instant kill, sealed, stunned, poisoned* Health: 978/978 Ether: 5/5 Special I: Blood Ritual – Hobgoblin Kanrak draws 10 health from all heroes, ignoring row and defense, and heals the enemy with the lowest health equal to the health absorbed times ten, at the cost of 1 ether. Special II: Chant – Hobgoblin Kanrak chants furiously, working her allies into a rage and raising their levels by 3. Used when out of ether. Drops: Grand Tonic, Ancient Bone Rogue Aj-Vohl Melvokuul Level 35 Humanoid *Ranged* *Immune to blinded, bound, and slowed* Health: 690/690 Special: Arrow Storm – Orc Melvokuul rains arrows down upon the party, dealing 5 damage ignoring row and defense 4-24 times, dividing hits as equally as possible. Drops: Smoke Bomb Note: Melvokuul is Ranged, causing him to take only half damage from melee attacks. Undead Treasure Hunters A Level 70 (10*7) Undead *Mob 7* *Immune to Asleep* Health: 700/700 (100*7) Special: Once Like You - The Mob gains all effects of the attacking hero. Drops: 40 Gold NOTE: Destroyed when Pongcanis Shaman is KO'd. Undead Treasure Hunters B Level 70 (10*7) Undead *Mob 7* *Immune to Asleep* Health: 700/700 (100*7) Special: Once Like You - The Mob gains all effects of the attacking hero. Drops: 40 Gold Note: Destroyed when Pongcanis Shaman is KO'd. Undead Treasure Hunters C Level 70 (10*7) Undead *Mob 7* *Immune to Asleep* Health: 700/700 (100*7) Special: Once Like You - The Mob gains all effects of the attacking hero. Drops: 40 Gold NOTE: Destroyed when Kanvyral is KO'd. Skeletal Horses Hits to Destroy: 6 While the horses stand, they have a 1/2 chance to absorb any damage any enemy would take. This will cost them 1 hit. The Party Guts Holla (Scubacarrot) *Dancing**Dualstriking**Immune to all Elements, Weakened, Fragile, Asleep, Confused, Slowed, Afraid, Blinded and first negative effect.* *Lucky* *Hastened* *Encouraged* 45 year old male human Marauder Level: 40 Power Bonus: 4 Health: 64/64 Defense: 4 Gold: 9046 Equipment: Balanced Rapier (WP: 20, ignores defense, second weapon ignores defense, Longsword, suitable for Marauders) & Mythril Edge (WP: 64, Ice, Darkness, Light, attacks restore 3 health, dagger), Dancing Shoes (Wearer dances well, in the turn after a miss is rolled, the wearer can act twice. +Immunity to Asleep, Confused, Fragile, Slowed, Afraid, Weakened and Blinded, + Immunity to Darkness, Light, Fire, Air, Earth, Wood, Lightning, and Ice Elemental Damage, footwear), Crocodile Armour (+4 Defense +Immunity to Water Magic, bodywear), Pugilist's Gloves (2+ Power, Immune to Weakened, handwear), Grimmeau's Clothespin (Grants Immunity to first negative effect each battle. Headwear), Inventory: • Pronged Gauntlet (WP:6, dagger), M.U.C.A (WP: 12, bleeding 3, Axe) Giant Axe (WP:10, dual-strike, axe), • Jester's Hat (Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy, suitable for anyone), Rubber Gloves, Blessed Amulet (Immunity to Cursed, accessory), Bomber's Belt (Craft Bomb creates Potent bombs, doubling the damage output of all bombs created, does not stack, accessory, suitable for cannoneers), Magnar's Smaller Axe (Grants Dual Strike to classes wielding axes, can't wear shield. handwear), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced-effect, doubling defense; suitable to marauders; back wear), Blue Guardian Mask (Shield, SP: 2, Protects against Weakened, Fragile and Afraid), Orange Mask of Z (Headwear, if an attack would KO a foe the remaining damage is applied to the next enemy), • Beholder's Eye, Shovel x2, Telescope, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Decamodifier, Magic Compass • 92x Potion, 12x Grand Potion, 3x Health Core, 3x Diluted Arc Potion, 2x Arc Potion, 3x Elixir, 6x Phoenix Essence, 28x Remedy, Neutralizer, Crimson Serum (Grants Mutated Effect for one battle.), x2 Arc Elixir, Hyper Arc Tonic (Restores All ether to allies, consumable), 2x Ambrosia, 17x Mead, 9x Smelling Salts, 7x Nostrum, x4 Bad Breath, 2x Tonic, Grand Tonic, 3x Smile of the Gods, 3x Fortune Flush, 5x Venom, 4x Bone, Soma, Silver Ore (worth 60 gold), x2 Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Ether Core, Last Resort, 2x Bravado Brew, 12x Rum, x3 Grating Stone, • 5x Smoke Bomb, Dirt Bomb, 2x Water Bomb, Blind Bomb, 2x Confuse Bomb, 2x Poison Bomb, 2x Seal Bomb, Sleep Bomb, 5x Mystic Bomb, Sand Bomb (Deals 30 earth-elemental damage and the blinded-effect to all enemies), • Topaz, Amethyst, Sapphire, Crystal Ball (Worth 200 gold, 400 in magic shops), Gold Ring (Worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver) Half of Iceborn's Map (Quest Item), Guanette's Map (Quest Item) Dyric Rone (The Legonater) Human male, Assassin *Immune to All Elements and Blinded* *Steals 50% more gold* *Permanently Lucky* *Encouraged* Level 31.75 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 6 Health: 43/43 Gold: 737 Equipment: Crossbow of Incessant Warmongerers (WP: 26; Darkness-elemental, on non-AoE rolls, also deals Damage to the enemies above and below the target upon a successful hit; Crossbow), Lucky Die (User is permanently *Lucky*; suitable for anyone; Accessory), Night's Helmet (SP: 6; immune to Water, Wood, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness, and Blinded; suitable for anyone; Headwear), Sticky Gloves (increases amount of Gold stolen by 50%; suitable for Rogues and Beast Warriors; Handwear) Inventory: • Mockthril Longbow (WP: 27; Ice-elemental; Longbow), Requiem (WP: 20; Wood- and Light-elemental; Longbow), Tarok's Wrath (WP: 20, 1/2; chance to Instantly Kill orcs; Dagger), Double Chain Whip (WP: 10; Whip), Throwing Knife (WP: 4; Throwing Weapon), Pongcanis Dagger (WP: 8; Dagger),, Double-Barreled Handcannon (WP: 15, fire-elemental, dual-strike, hand cannon), Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable throwing weapon, causes Jinxed-effect), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all; throwing weapon), • Winged Sandals (immune to Bound and Slowed; suitable for anyone; Footwear), Ambrose's Heart (Artifact, suitable to Evokers, Accessory, +5 power), Sigil of the Cold Circle - (Raise an Army costs twice as much ether, but raised undead are three times as powerful, accessory, suitable for necromancers), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; back wear), Cabin Boy's Rags (All other party members +3 power, bodywear) • Diamond, Opal, 3 Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold) • Bedroll, Shovel, Magic Compass • Potions (3), Grand Potions (6), Tonic, Remedies (2), Banana (restores full HP to target), Elixir (2), Cosmic Essence, Meads (2), Nostrum, Soma, Venom (2), Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects for the duration of one battle), Mythril Shards (4/4 Mythril), Military Grade Light Bomb, Military Grade Darkness Bomb, Fire Bomb, Smoke Bomb, Diamond Lamp of Summoning (1/3 uses left), Bones (2), Skeleton Decoy, Demon Repellent (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons during one battle unless the user is the only hero left standing; consumable), Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Crystal Ball (Worth 50 gold, 100 in magic shops), Earthwyrm Fang (Grants the encouraged-, lucky-, reinforced-, and blinded- effects for the duration of one battle), Phoenix Essence (2) Matthias the Carnival Crusader (StickFig) Level 25.33 Druid *Gains 10 gold for each Humanoid killed* *Immune to Bound, Slowed* Power Bonus: 20 (+2 WP) Defense: 4 Health: 35/35 Ether: 25/25 Gold: 1319 Equipment: Restored Fireball Extraordinaire (WP:9, also hits enemies listed above and below the target, Darkness- and Lightning-elemental, user is Slowed, hand cannon, poisoned -1), Hunter's Plate (SP:4, wearer gains 10 gold for each Humanoid killed, suitable for rogues, rangers, barbarians, beast warriors, infiltrators, regulators, and winged warriors) (Dreyrugr), Winged Sandals (Protects from Bound and Slowed effects, footwear), DDSSA (+2 health, +2 WP, +10 power) Inventory: Peashooter (WP:2, deals Burning -2, hand cannon), Pongcanis Crossbow (WP:8, crossbow), Ruby (Fire), 4x Bone, Deadly Venom, 2x Elixir, Grand Potion, Grating Stone, Potion, 2x Red Death Blood, 4x Remedy, 5x Tonic, Doomsday Bomb (Deals 99 damage, bomb), 2x Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Magic Compass, Dapper Hat (This amazingly dapper hat gives the wearer a ⅙ chance of being Encouraged at the start of any battle, headwear), Crocodile Handbag (Max. ether +2, immunity to water; accessory), 2x Phoenix Essence, Opal, Anvil of Oleg (Quest Item) Parvati Level 26 Weather Mage Health: 34/34 (5+4+25) Ether: 26/26 (6+5+25) Equipment: Parvati’s Pouch (Accessory, Grants immunity to first five effects afflicted on Parvati each battle) Inventory: Tonic x2, Sandstorm Scroll (Replaces “Dry” with “Sandstorm” – Sandstorm doubles earth damage, halves electricity, and deals 1 earth damage to all combatants each round. Grants all combatants the ability to blind on successful hits), Blistering Heat Scroll (Replaces "Hot" with "Blistering Hot", fire-elemental is doubly effective and all combatants gain the -1 burning effect each round), Scroll of Blinding, Begone with the Wind Gems: Diamond, Ruby, Garnet Soliman Level 33 Winged Warrior *Immune to Wind, Fire, Blinded* Health: 7+14+32 Equipment: Babeleth Spear (WP: 17, Pierces SP), Babeleth Golden Dagger (Grants Duel-Striking, Handwear) Breathable Darksteel Armor (Immune to Wind, Fire and Blinded, Suitable to Winged Warriors) Inventory: Elixir x2, Military Grade Fire-Bomb x3 Medusa Level 30 Skirmisher Health: 54/54 (10+29+15) Defense: 26 Equipment: Medusa’s Spear (WP: 30), Skirmisher’s Spikey Shield (SP: 10, While “Defending” deals damage equal to Shield’s SP), “Shiny” (SP: 14, Suitable to all shield bearing classes, Bodywear & Legwear), Thick Orcish Helmet (SP: 2, Immune to Earth) Inventory: Mead x2, Grand Potion, Remedy

Hey all - I'll be on set this weekend, and hen not on set I'll be celebrating Halloween! So, updates will probably be a little sporadic, unfortunately, starting right now. But I'll try to cram them in if I have time.

I'll throw you a bone then! But don't worry, this is supposed to be a bit of an enigmatic puzzle. And believe it or not, each hero has already taken steps to solving it. Beyond that, it will get easier the closer you get. Don't be afraid to play your frustration into your character.

Bobby's brain ventures a bit back into time, and as the party walks he turns once more to Elnath. "Yo, so before we hopped on the boat you were saying how like we did the wrong thing trying to find someone to give the blue nekrastone to. So... like, what are you going to do with it? Also, like, won't the Fenerian's try to steal it? Doesn't Bain know we got it?"

OoC: Just a typo, sorry. "No need for conflict? You've already found yourself a conflict, hero. Are you hoping to leave us to fight your battle?" "I say we kill the nazar staalo. Trying to run from battle! Or at least leave them to die." "Do not be foolish, Medusa. You know the Sar wants them alive." "Enough talk! We'll kill you all!"

OoC: Sorry for the delay, I quite literally fell asleep 4 hours before I usually do, and quite unexpectedly. MDM, your new method will be implemented this round, primarily because it benefits you here. Round Four Training with Jin Jin focuses (+2 focus) Hoke attacks (4-3=1 Damage) Hoke attacks, while Jin once more centers himself. Master Jin Focus: 6 Health: 6 Hoke Focus: 1 Health: 3 "I will have you beat next time I act," says Jin. "Shall we take a break?" "The Paladin Order is varied, but I happen to select each Warrior Priests myself. I can promise you, they are all well-trained. And hopefully all loyal, now that we've gotten rid of a few snakes. I'm actually a little low of troops at the moment - quite a few have turned traitorous, gone missing, or been beheaded in the last year. But I've always subscribed to quality over quantity, and inaugurating youngsters would be no good - they'd weaken the organization, and get themselves killed on top of it." "I had no trouble with Avery. She was loyal to the last, but for that same reason I would fear being on the other end of her blade. She has more freedom now, having overcome the Red Death, but the morals of her assassins still run deep in her." "As for the Golden Crusade... they delivered on their promise, and helped us against the Order Imperial. What's more, they had cause and ability to strike me while I was down, and they restrained themselves. The little kobold is questionable, but at the very least Deborah has my respect. But... can they be trusted? That I don't know quite yet."

"Yo, Mide, I'm not trying to be a wuss or anything but like we haven't slept forever." Bobby yawns. "I'm effing beat, yo. Maybe we nap at that Inn, you dig?"

The heroes flee and plunge into the incoming sandstorm. With a snarl, their advisories follow them. Sand whips at everyone's faces. The heroes stumble along, barely able to make each other out. Their enemies howl behind them, around them. And then suddenly the sandstorm stops, dying entirely. The heroes turn around. "You're not being very kind to our newest friends, are you?" says the winged creature. "Out of my way or I eat you too." "I think not." He looks over his shoulder. "Are you prepared to fight, heroes?"

It's starting to get to the point in the game where all my NPCs know each other. It's a chore to keep track of. But when all else fails, they all know Hybros.

Round Four Training with Jin Jin attacks (6-6=0 Damage, -2 focus) Hoke attacks (6-6=0 Damage -2 focus) The two cross swords, but no damage is dealt. Master Jin Focus: 4 Health: 7 Hoke Focus: 4 Health: 3 OoC: And here is where the issue with my current system arises - neither of you will be able to break through your opponents focus. Let's change the ruling from this round forward: attacking can cause a minimum of 1 damage, never 0. Hopefully that's the last kink to work out. Thanks again for sticking with me, and like I said, you may find yourself playing this game lots, so it's worth it to way in. And there are perks for winning! "I recognize The Great Guffington. Everyone in Eubric knows him." She sinks deeper into the waters. "That's where I'm from too. Not originally, but for a long while. Do you know the Paladin Order? And the Warrior Priests? I am the lady in charge... well, not anymore. For the time being that'd be Samuel." She huffs. "I hail from Terra Chima, but my mother was from here originally. Me and my brother Oko were cast out at sixteen. Came here to train, and then travelled to Eubric." "I've actually worked with heroes before. Do you know Nerwen, Pretzel, Grimwald, or Kiray? Or, Hel, even the Red Assassin Avery seemed like she'd run across your organization quite a few times. That's how I got this way. The heroes, Avery, and these three others... what were they? The Golden Crusade. Deborah, this watery fellow, and a kobold called Gocklo or something. We took down a fortress of bigoted Order Imperial goons. But the bitch who was heading them up got me with some poison. Usually the Paladins can zap that right out of you, but seems she was using a special home brew." Kiga taps the parchment once more. "..." He sits down and stares straight ahead, his legs crossed. "More of this patience. Didn't you just arrive this morning?" Yu Shu clicks her tongue. "It'll take longer than that. Even with a guide like Kiga, it takes most people years to be able to access the Breath. And that's if they're lucky. Be patient, follow his leadings, and relax. Like you said, there's not too often a chance to do that."