Zepher

"No bro," Bobby says to Na'im. "I'm like with what's happening, like I get it, but like at the same time I don't get it. Like, it's seriously effed." Bobby turns to their employer. "Like, what was the whole point of doing all this, yo? Are we helping anything, do you think? You picking up what I'm putting down? Is this like what you were looking to get done?"

The party trudges a little forward until, in the distance, they see some shimmering figures drawing closer. They appear to be riding on horseback... but the horses are unusually thin. And finally they draw near... and things take a turn for the worse. "Hu hu hu," laughs the Pongcanis. "Who are we? Strange wanderers? Do you have water? Do you have food? My horse grows thin hu hu hu." "You can't pass through the Wastelands without our say so," chuckles a hobgoblin from behind the party. "Many have tried. And now their bones litter these grounds. He he he. But we bring them back, don't worry." "If you're lucky, the shamans might bring you back too..." "Hu hu hu. I will strip the flesh. I will eat them good. Then they will join my army." All around the heroes, skeletons arise from the cracking earth. 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.* 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* 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) Glancing behind the Pongcanis, the party is able to make out a sandstorm sweeping towards them at alarming speeds.

"Ah, Peg Leg, you upset the big boy," chuckles Boomingham before rolling back over and trying once more to fall asleep.

Bobby scratches the side of his head. "So we gotta pay to go chill in the city to go track down the Brown Nekrastone to give to the city's enemy's allies? It seems like Bain just gipped us, yo!" Bobby scowls. "This is cray. I literally don't even get a bit of what's going down anymore. And now there's war? That's effed! What could have happened?"

Boomingham attempts to shove his pillow over his ears, but he still catches the general gist of the conversation. He rolls over in his mat, unable to sleep, and blinks at the two. He licks his lips, ready to speak, but words aren't coming too easy to him. "Look," he says finally. "It- family is-" He wipes his brow with his hand. "Olegaia is tough to predict. This may not be what you always hoped for. I know, you can take care of yourself, Peri. And, Hels, who even knows if Peg Leg is right. But it's not the worst thing in the world either. I got a few younger heroes I look after. And they end up looking after me when I need it too. And I'm not saying we're a family or what not, but it isn't the worst thing in the world. So, if he doesn't make you sick, and vice versa, might be worth it to have someone to keep an eye out for you when you need it. Because he will. But that means you got to keep your eye out for him too." "And if he doesn't, I will. So, Hels, who cares who your father is. I'd say you should say a-okay and let it be what it is."

Matthias' compass spins wildly. Guts', still locked on to the other half of the map, stays strongly pointing in one general direction. "There are some ancient magics even I cannot overcome. I would hypothesize that the Fountain's location is purposely shrouded. As we have just discovered, these compasses are not particularly rare - if the Fountain were that easy to find, I don't think the outpost would have only three denizens. It would probably be a humming thriving city, with innumerable tour guides leading interested foreigners directly to the Fountain." "So we must use our wits." The sun has started to get particularly hot and painful. Even Daneeka is sweating at this point.

Round Three Training with Jin Jin attacks (8-4=4 Damage, -2 focus) Hoke focuses (+2 focus) Jin lands a hit, but fails to break Hoke's concentration. Master Jin Focus: 6 Health: 7 Hoke Focus: 6 Health: 3 "..." The Master smiles under his beard. Searching through his pockets he finds a parchment and passes it to Arthur. Felix strips down to her undergarments and joins the other three in the water as Chauncey and Guffington wander off for a chat. Purpearl and Hybros both feel deeply relaxed within the baths. "Once we were even, but no longer," she says with a short shrug. "I was never great at this patience crap, but it's a good practice. Saved my megablocks quite a few times, actually." She scratches her forehead. "So you lot are from Heroica, right?"

OoC: Ah, I can see how the wording of Guts' request could go either way... it was a little confusing. I thought he asked for it to point to the other half of the torn map aka the area where the physical map is. He meant for it to point to the area the half you had displayed... my mistake.

Guts digs again, and is rewarded with another bone. "There could be interference," says Daneeka as he passes the heroes another canteen. "Or the map itself could be moving. If you were to direct the compass at me, and I were to pace, would it not do a similar thing as it is now? We have half the map and were willing to go into the Wasteland. Perhaps someone else has retrieved the other half." "If that is the case, it may be a good sign. A person across the globe pacing would not excite the needle to movement - the map would have to be markedly closer than that."

Round Two Training with Jin Jin attacks (-2 focus) Hoke parries (-1 focus) Jin brings his sword swinging through the air, but Hoke is too quick for him, and blocks the blow. Jin smiles, but just barely. Master Jin Focus: 8 Health: 7 Hoke Focus: 4 Health: 7 OoC: Another possible fix: what if attacking cost 3 focus, but focusing only gained you 2? That might go a long way towards fixing the mechanics as well.

"If we are able to track down the other half of the map, we may not find ourselves so lost," says Daneeka as he follows behind Guts. "Of course, we can only hope that it is in the Wastelands. The compass may be taking us as far as half way around the world. What sort of range does your device have, Guts? Do you know?" The heroes march through the desert. Sand gets in their shoes, and the sun beats down. Daneeka keeps them hydrated, but it is difficult going, still. Every once in a while, the compass quivers and the needle changes where it's pointing ever so slightly. "Strange," remarks Daneeka as he watches over Guts' shoulder.

Very cool build! Love the contrast between the terrain and the industrial, and those generators (?) are a very cool build - love that they're different heights. The fence is awesome too, and I love how tall it is compared to the mini-figure - feels like a wall!

Boomingham watches with a certain brotherly fondness as Rex slips into sleep. He rolls over in his sleeping mat, hoping that Sarge might finish up whatever he was blubbering about so that everyone can get some rest.

At the Vault Arthur begins to meditate. For a few seconds he tries to focus on his breathing, but a cool breeze whips by and he quickly finds himself distracted by it, the scent of flowers, a cramp in his legs. A chuckle breaks his concentration as well. He glances up to see the slow moving Mater Kiga having a laugh, towering over him. "Hu hu hu." At the Training Grounds "It is not the worst way to get good at something," says Jin with a slight smile. "You may not notice improvement immediately, but it will come. Just because you cannot see something doesn't mean it isn't there." Round One Training with Jin Jin focuses (+3 focus) Hybros focuses (+3 focus) All the combatants prepare to strike. Master Jin Focus: 10 Health: 7 Hoke Focus: 5 Health: 7 At the Healing Springs Heading to the Springs, Hybros runs into Lady Felix, Guffington, Chauncey, and Purpearl. "We're going to have some trouble with this breath after all," says Lady Felix with a sly smile. "Looks like we should get comfortable up here on the mountain top." The party focuses on the springs, where Yu Shu is already relaxing, her helmet removed. "They don't do you any good if you don't get in," she says sarcastically.

Matthias' compass points in one direction, and stays there. Guts, meanwhile, asks his compass where the map is. It twitches, and before quickly pointing to the Iceborn's half map in his hand, it spins and points off in a very different direction than Matthias'. "There's a start."

OoC: Don't we have to spend the night first? I still have one or two things I want to do in the city - shop at Vipersace's, and turn in my Crystal Skull, and then I'm done. But I guess we should rest first? Boomingham unfurls his sleeping roll and snuggles up for the evening. "Tomorrow we'll finish things up, and see if the Conclave hasn't come to some sort of decision. I'm growing a little tired of all this sand. And I need a free drink, for a change." He glances at Rex. "Where are you headed after this? You said you came with some sisters, right? Which ones, and where'd they hail from?"

Looking for Marga, the compass does quiver in a specific direction... but only for a few seconds, before spinning wildly and landing on a different position. It quivers there fore a few seconds, before spinning again, and returning to the first. A third time it quivers, and then spins wildly until picking a third direction. Asking after the source of the fountain once more, the compass becomes a propeller, spinning too swiftly to really make out. "Are we assuming that no other treasure hunters had a compass?" asks Daneeka wryly. "Surely they were as well equipped as us. The only advantage we have over them is our half a map."

Picking the flower, Arthur is not disappointed. It quickly proves itself a flower of Sybil, though less potent than those in the Valley of Peace. In blurring images, he sees far into the past, rushing past decades of were-lions, humans, and even a select few Aois, all meditating outside the Vault. The Vault itself remains timeless. "Behind this? Hardly. This Vault far outdates my minuscule life." Round Three Training with Jin Jin attacks (-1 focus) (8-6=2 Damage Hoke, 2 Damage Hybros) Hybros focuses (+2 focus) Hoke focuses (+2 focus) The heroes prove unable to defeat Jin, as he holds a sword to each of their throats. "I would advise you learn how to clear your mind more before you attempt to face me again," he says, sliding both blades back into their homes. OoC: By increasing the cost of attacking I was hoping to counter-act that, so that parrying was a really viable action, so as to really cost the other player focus while you didn't lose as much. We'll test it out that way next time, and adjust as needed. There are ways for you guys to improve your odds.

"Yo, you sure he didn't just roll out on his own? Well, you know, hopefully the Fenerains will get to save him. That'd be tight. But like to be real with you we were there to grab you." "Yo, that's why you're one of my besties, chica. You know how to get shiz done."

It is not that simple, sadly. Dyric's compass points this way, and that way, and then starts pointing quickly in every which way, spinning.

Dyric's compass spins wildly. Perhaps he should ask it to point to something specific.

Arthur arrives at the Vault, which Zora, Guffington, and Purpearl stare at with confusion. Round One Training with Jin Jin attacks (-1 focus) (9-4=5 Damage Hoke, 5 Damage Hybros) Hybros focuses (+2 focus) Hoke focuses (+2 focus) Jin spins through the air, and his cool steel comes to rest on his sparring partners a number of times as they continue to keep their calm. Master Jin Focus: 8 Health: 7 Hybros Focus: 6 Health: 2 Hoke Focus: 6 Health: 2 OoC: I believe the mechanics are a little broken, I'm still testing it out a little. I will repair them for future rounds - I don't think it's impossible for you to win, but I do think things are incentivized properly. You'll probably be sparring quite a bit, so I'll fix it in future matches. My proposed changes are as such: Focus (+3 Focus) Parry (-1 Focus) Attack (-2 Focus)

Dyric tries to pick up on a trail, but sand is blowing across the cracked landscape so swiftly that there is nothing to track. Guts, meanwhile, digs, and is rewarded with a singular ominous bone.

Again, quests can run for months, so a three day absence hardly discounts you.

OoC: Sorry, I actually wasn't clear enough - I have his moves planned out five in advanced, but you don't have to do that with Hoke and Hybros - I will run each round individually. This is more so that I don't cheat, but I want to give you guys the opportunity to strategize as the battle progresses... particularly when you see why he doesn't underestimate himself. Round One Training with Jin Jin focuses (+2 focus) Hybros focuses (+2 focus) Hoke focuses (+2 focus) All the combatants prepare to strike. Master Jin Focus: 9 Health: 7 Hybros Focus: 4 Health: 7 Hoke Focus: 4 Health: 7