Waterbrick Down

"How dare you insult my grandmother! No quarter brothers." The Nords charge the party yelling war cries and raising weapons aloft. PREPARE FOR BATTLE! The Enemy: *Picture* Viking Fort Door Level 25 Door (No Elemental Strength/Weakness) *Counter-Striking* *Immune to Negative Effects & Instant Kill* Health: 300/300 Special Damage: Floor – This is a Door. Nothing happens. Drops: Nothing Note: Viking Fort Door does not get free hits. Bombs do x1.5 damage to Door. Destroying the Door will allow the party to flee or use Smokebombs to escape. Eric Steelbrow Level 60 Humanoid Health: 400/400 Special: Piercing Glance – The Hero is weakened and made fragile for the next 3 rounds Drops: Neutralizer Ralf Copperhand Level 80 Humanoid Health: 500/500 Special: Nordic Chant - All allies are cleared of negative effects Drops: Ambrosia x3 Beorn Bronzebottom Level 55 Humanoid Health: 450/450 Special: Nordic Cleave - Beorn Strikes the target with tremendous force halving their current HP and SP Drops: Smelling Salts x3 Fitz Leadfoot Level 25 Humanoid Health: 300/300 Special: Drink Up - Fitz consumes one of his Meads and encourages himself. Drops: Mead x3 Sigfried Goldtooth Level 20 Humanoid Health: 200/200 Special: Pillage – Viking Pillager steals gold equal to the hero’s level, and gains levels equal to the amount of gold stolen Drops: 100 Gold Viking Wall Guard A Level ?? Humanoid Health: 40/40 Special: Band Together – Viking Wall Guard gains permanent defense equal to the number of Guards in battle times two. Drops: 10 gold Note: Viking Wall Guard's level is equal to opposing hero's x1.5 Viking Wall Guard B Level ?? Humanoid Health: 40/40 Special: Band Together – Viking Wall Guard gains permanent defense equal to the number of Guards in battle times two. Drops: 10 gold Note: Viking Wall Guard's level is equal to opposing hero's x1.5 Viking Wall Guard C Level ?? Humanoid Health: 40/40 Special: Band Together – Viking Wall Guard gains permanent defense equal to the number of Guards in battle times two. Drops: 10 gold Note: Viking Wall Guard's level is equal to opposing hero's x1.5 Viking Wall Guard D Level ?? Humanoid Health: 40/40 Special: Band Together – Viking Wall Guard gains permanent defense equal to the number of Guards in battle times two. Drops: 10 gold Note: Viking Wall Guard's level is equal to opposing hero's x1.5 The Party: Cinna the Dark (darkdragon) *Party Leader* Level 25 2/3 *Immune to Stunned, Lightning and Earth* Power Bonus: 2 Defense: 11 Health: 44/44 Ether: 38/38 Gold: 109 Equipment: Mauryl (WP:19 + Darkness, broomstick), Turtleshell Shield (SP:9), Black Dragon Robe (Max. Health +6; immunity to earth; suitable to mages, rogues and chi monks; bodywear), Anniversary Medal:Y2 (+2 to all stats per year; accessory) Inventory: Healing Staff (WP:9, heals target; staff), Naginata (WP:10; halberd), Lumber Axe (WP: 8, wood-elemental axe), Party Maracas (WP:4, user is hastened, instrument), Pointy Hat (Max. Ether +2, suitable for mages and clerics; headwear), High Heels (Power +1, suitable for women; footwear), Blue Dragon Cape (Immunity to slowed and water; suitable to knights, rangers and dragoons; backwear), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Opal (Ice), Ruby (Fire), Emerald (Wood), Diamond(Light), Sapphire (Wind), Garnet (Earth), Aquamarine (Water), Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Disenchantment (Removes all positive effects from all opponents at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Sealing, 2 Ether Cores, 5 Grand Potions, 5 Remedies, Elixir, Phoenix Essence, 5 Meads, Smelling Salt, Soma, Tiger Balm (Grants immunity to all effects for one battle), 3 Deadly Venoms, Fire Bomb, Floral Bomb, Air Bomb, Aeolus Bomb (100 wind-elemental damage to all enemies), Bedroll, 2 Pumpkin Bombs, Raw Sushi (Consumable, Restores 5 Health and 5 Ether) Dreyrugr (Vash the Stampede) Level 20 Black Knight *Immune to Stunned, Water, Wind, and Fire* Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 13 Health: 39/39 Gold: 172 Equipment: Sharkjaw Scythe (WP:15, WP x2 against Aquatic type enemies, Darkness,Ice), Gloves of the Undead Assassin (For every enemy the wearer kills, it gains 5 HP, Immunity to Water, Usable by anyone, Handgear), Dragonbrand Shield (SP: 8, immune to wind and fire, shield), Black Knight's Armour (SP:4, protects from stunned-effect), Cloak of the Blue Assassin (SP: 1, backwear, suitable for anyone) Inventory: Venom x3, Bedroll, Remedy, 2x Smelling Salts, Mead x3, Net (if used in combat, 1/3 chance to slow enemy, 1/3 chance to be useless, 1/3 chance slow self, lasts 3 rounds, retrievable), Nostrum x2, Throwing Dagger (WP:3), Fauxthril Scythe (WP:5), 5 Bones, Bow (WP: 4), Grand Potion, Phoenix Essence x2, Soma, Mulled Wine, Crow-Claw Dagger (WP: 6, 50/50 chance to stun enemy on successful attack), Shuriken (WP:5, Wind), Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), Pseudos Hood (can damage undead with normal attacks), Deadly Venom, Scroll of Ice Armour Nagure (Costy) Level 21 2/3 Berserker *Natural Respite* *Trap Evasion* *Immune to Ice,Fire, Earth,Petrified, Fragile, Blinded, Confused and Asleep* *Counterstrike* Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 25 Health: 43/43 Gold: 25 GP: 4 Equipment: Xiaolin's Bident (WP:16; instantly kills Aoi; ice- and lightning-elemental spear), Yeti Fur Coat (SP:12, immunity to Ice, Fire, FragileBlinded, Confused and Asleep; suitable for yetis only, bodywear), Counterstrike Gloves; handwear), White Dragon's Greaves (SP:3, avoid traps on the ground, immunity to earth and petrified; suitable to knights, dragoons, skirmishers and winged warriors; footwear), Shield (SP:10) Inventory: Stone Hammer (WP: 15, Earth & Darkness-elemental, hammer), Tiger Slayer (WP:10/20 against enemies with “tiger” in their name; spear), Axe of the Croise (WP: 10, Light-elemental axe),Helmet (SP:1), Potion x2, Grand Potion x8, Remedy x4, Elixir, Phoenix Essences x2, Mead x3, Deadly Venom x2, Smoke Bomb x5, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Pickaxe, Lightning Bomb x2, Smelling Salts, Venom, Phoenix Incense x2, Teleportapple Purpearl Berthadhiell (Purpearljellyblob) Level 4 Mage Power Bonus: 0 Health: 8/8 Ether: 8/8 Gold: 20 Equipment: Crimson Arcanon (Wand WP:3) Inventory: Bedroll, Potion, Tonic, Party Bomb (x2) (20 damage to all enemies, 1/3 chance to stun every enemy), Ruby (Fire), Topaz (Lightning), Amethyst (Darkness), Scroll of Weakening, Raw Sushi (Consumable, Restores 5 Health and 5 Ether), 2x Tasty Pretzels, Grand Tonic, Mead Baradok Segul Cannari (Cryos) Level 5 Barbarian Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 2 Health: 11/11 Gold: 270 Equipment: Calcified Club (WP: 5, Earth-Elemental) Light Armor (SP:2) Inventory: Potion x2, Remedy, Phenoix Essence, Smelling Salts, Starter Halberd (WP:3), Doppel Vial, 2x Pumpkin Bombs, Raw Sushi (Restores 5 Health and 5 Ether) Matthias (nstickney) Level 2 Ranger Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 4 Health: 7/7 Gold: 20 Equipment: Tinker's Crossbow (WP: 3), 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) Inventory: Potion x2, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Grimmau's Clothespin (Prevnts the first negative effect inflicted on the wearer during a battle, headware) Boris the Magnificent *Lucky on Odd Rounds* *Controlled by Darkdragon* Level 25 Sorcerer Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 4 Health: 35/35 Gold: 50 Equipment: Wooden Staff (WP: 10), Boris's Cloak (SP 4, Provides Lucky effect on Odd Rounds, Backwear) Inventory: Diamond, Amethyst, Phoenix Essence, Smoke Bomb Mirona *Controlled by Cryos* Level 10 Barbarian Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 17/17 Gold: 0 Equipment: Lifting Wights (WP 5, Duel Wielding) Inventory: 2 Grand Potions Glup *Immune to Fire, Afraid, and Stunned* *Controlled by nstickny* Level 5 Rogue Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 2 Health: 11/11 Gold: 10 Equipment: Rapier (WP 6), Daredevil Belt (SP 2, Grants immunity to Fire, Afraid, and Stunned, Torsowear) Inventory: Mead, 3x Fire Bombs Nelvin *Dodgy (1/3 chance to avoid rolls of Damage)* *Controlled by Purpearl* Level 15 Assassin Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 30/30 Gold: 20 Equipment:Unobtrusive Dagger (WP 5) Tunic of the Elvin Acrobat (+4 HP, Provides Dodgy effect, Torsowear) Inventory: Smelling Salt, Smoke Bomb Party Leader, please give a battle order. Everyone, please state which action you are performing and from which row as well as the actions of your respective NPC's.

Round 2 of Avalanche vs. Throlar: >Avalanche vs. Throlar - Miss Throlar vs. Avalanche - Sentinel Avalanche swings wide again as Throlar readies his defenses against the Yeti's next assault. Avalanche, the Super Sleuth (Dragonfire) 29 years old male yeti Barbarian *Natural Respite* *Immune to Fragile* *Counterstriking* Level 12 Power: 18 (12+6) Health: 20/20 (12+7+1*) SP: 5 Gold: 130 Equipment: Trollsbane (club, WP:7, earth-elemental), Heavy Armour (immune to fragile, SP:5), Counterstrike Gloves (after the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to the damage taken) Inventory: 6x Potion, Grand Potion, Mead, Remedy, 2x Smelling Salts, Nostrum, Mulled Wine, Smoke Bomb, 5x Venom, Phoenix Essence, Phoenix Incense, Pumpkin Bomb (causes the stunned-, blinded-, poisoned by 1-, asleep-, sealed- and confused- effects to all opponents), Lightning Bomb, Dirt Bomb, 8x Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bumble Fanshirt (SP:1, vermin with less than half of the wearer's level are scared and won't directly attack the wearer, bodywear) vs. Throlar Wineghilm 134 year old male Dwarven Knight. Level, 9 Power, 14 Defense, 5 Health, 16/18 Gold, 407 Equipped; Elven Sword (WP 5, longsword), Poncanis Shield (SP 5). Inventory; Remedy, Mace and Chain (Mace, WP 3), Mopagsaber (WP 12, ice elemental, longsword), Bedroll, Round Shield (SP 2), Smoke Bomb, Mulled Wine, Phoenix Essence. Each of you declare an action and which row you are performing it from.

Knights already are useful. They are still the best class to soak up free hits, hands-down, even if they aren't returning maximum damage to slay the thing hitting them.

For the longest time, a hero just did damage equal to their level when they took a free hit. This however ended up causing high SP Knights to in some cases take 0 damage on free hits but deal out damage with no consequence. It's okay until you take into effects like reinforced which double SP, thus causing battle to simply become Knight's soaking up free hits and counter-striking while everyone else sits back. In order to change this the gloves were nerfed as Pie has reminded us and if there is any question of opinion on that matter, I believe it should stay with that iteration.

"I'm sure you do. Can't say it's been a bad day, got some free entertainment and now we're about to get some more." The Nord signaled to the other guards on the wall and four other vikings emerged from the barracks fully armed. Apparently they had been making ready to ravage the party in the early morning. The heroes sat atop their cart, the gate and first Nord before them and eight of the savage brigands behind them.

Round 1 of Avalanche vs. Throlar: Throlar vs. Avalanche - Special Damage (Throlar: 18+5 HP-(7x2=14/2=7 Damage)=16 HP) >Avalanche vs. Throlar - Miss Avalanche swings wide as his club whistles over the dwarf's helmeted pate. Throlar attempt to respond in kind but is meant with the backhanded swing of the Yeti's strike and stumbles back slightly dazed from the blow. Avalanche, the Super Sleuth (Dragonfire) 29 years old male yeti Barbarian *Natural Respite* *Immune to Fragile* *Counterstriking* Level 12 Power: 18 (12+6) Health: 20/20 (12+7+1*) SP: 5 Gold: 130 Equipment: Trollsbane (club, WP:7, earth-elemental), Heavy Armour (immune to fragile, SP:5), Counterstrike Gloves (after the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to the damage taken) Inventory: 6x Potion, Grand Potion, Mead, Remedy, 2x Smelling Salts, Nostrum, Mulled Wine, Smoke Bomb, 5x Venom, Phoenix Essence, Phoenix Incense, Pumpkin Bomb (causes the stunned-, blinded-, poisoned by 1-, asleep-, sealed- and confused- effects to all opponents), Lightning Bomb, Dirt Bomb, 8x Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bumble Fanshirt (SP:1, vermin with less than half of the wearer's level are scared and won't directly attack the wearer, bodywear) vs. Throlar Wineghilm 134 year old male Dwarven Knight. Level, 9 Power, 14 Defense, 5 Health, 16 Gold, 407 Equipped; Elven Sword (WP 5, longsword), Poncanis Shield (SP 5). Inventory; Remedy, Mace and Chain (Mace, WP 3), Mopagsaber (WP 12, ice elemental, longsword), Bedroll, Round Shield (SP 2), Smoke Bomb, Mulled Wine, Phoenix Essence. Each of you declare an action and which row you are performing it from.

The key with stuff like that is having either enough report with your players that they trust you when you as a QM decide to throw that at them, or you have asked their permission beforehand. If any QM asked me to do this for story reasons I would be fine with it, but there is a limited number of QM's that could tell me "I want you to act like a possessed/changeling" and have my compliance. As QM's we must always remember that a players character is their only method through which they can have a meaningful affect on the story as compared to the multitude of assets that are at a QM's fingertips, to take that away from them is to border on monopolizing the storyline and should be done sparingly.

"Perhaps, I should be a little more direct. I don't think yer leaving will be appreciated at all. In fact, you might say we don't want you leaving at any time." The Nord leveled his spear at the party.

"Better to perish by the sword with honor than to run away like helpless children." "I see we've picked up another hopeless romantic. We're all packed, Miss." "Good work Mirona. Exit stage left everybody." The party moved towards the double doors out of the fort as silently as they could. At the entrance to the gate, they come upon the Nord who first gave them entrance. "Bit early to be leavin' considering the late show last night, no?"

"Hiding in a filthy wagon? This is no rescue, this is plain cowardice! No we kill these Nords for daring to detain one such as Grishnod Ironnose."

To some degree, I always pictured them as an equivalent to DC Comic's League of Shadows, but have enjoyed how they've developed over the past few quests.

QM Note: The party will need to start doing things in the next 24 hrs as we need to keep on schedule with the other quests. Dreygugr and Boris made it back with Grishnod. "Alright chaps and chapesses, what next? I feel dawn will soon be upon us."

QM Note: Sorry folks. The dwarf and yeti are issued into the arena, a bell rings as they are lowered into the arena and the fight begins! Avalanche, the Super Sleuth (Dragonfire) 29 years old male yeti Barbarian *Natural Respite* *Immune to Fragile* *Counterstriking* Level 12 Power: 18 (12+6) Health: 20/20 (12+7+1*) SP: 5 Gold: 130 Equipment: Trollsbane (club, WP:7, earth-elemental), Heavy Armour (immune to fragile, SP:5), Counterstrike Gloves (after the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to the damage taken) Inventory: 6x Potion, Grand Potion, Mead, Remedy, 2x Smelling Salts, Nostrum, Mulled Wine, Smoke Bomb, 5x Venom, Phoenix Essence, Phoenix Incense, Pumpkin Bomb (causes the stunned-, blinded-, poisoned by 1-, asleep-, sealed- and confused- effects to all opponents), Lightning Bomb, Dirt Bomb, 8x Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bumble Fanshirt (SP:1, vermin with less than half of the wearer's level are scared and won't directly attack the wearer, bodywear) vs. Throlar Wineghilm 134 year old male Dwarven Knight. Level, 9 Power, 14 Defense, 5 Health, 18 Gold, 407 Equipped; Elven Sword (WP 5, longsword), Poncanis Shield (SP 5). Inventory; Remedy, Mace and Chain (Mace, WP 3), Mopagsaber (WP 12, ice elemental, longsword), Bedroll, Round Shield (SP 2), Smoke Bomb, Mulled Wine, Phoenix Essence. Each of you declare an action and which row you are performing it from.

Dreyrugr and Boris make it into the auxillary building unseen. Moments later the two emerge with a duplicate of Borris. "So this is your great plan? From my vantage point, I still see a whole contingent of vikings able to skewer us alive." "I'm sure my fellow companions still have a trick or two up their sleeves, my good orc."

"'Twould tax my ether reserves, my lady, but I think I could swing it."

Just after 5am, one of the Nords ducks into the auxiliary building to check on Grishnod. Moments later the guard steps out, four Nords still patrol the parameter of the outpost.

The party heads off to sleep, Cinna and Matthais take the first watch till about 1am. Nothing eventful happens, the Nords rotate the guards at that time, but no one approaches the party. Boris cracks open an eye before whispering from where he lays. "All's quiet so far?"

Probably not, I've got a little something else planned out a month or so from now that should showcase some of our fellow community members, though.

Pupearl notes a Nord on each of the walls.

Things begin to settle down and eventually the troupe of Mercutio's smile take their bows. All the Nords applaud before returning to their barracks for the evening. Mirona and Nelvin setup a few tents for everybody and a small fire to cook some food around. Night time soon comes and the heroes and troupe are left to themselves.

"Ah, dancing girls then." The viking turned to his compatriots. "You fellows finish up repairing those arms and then ya can join in the fun. Lead the way ladies."

Picture forth coming but unnecessary for story purposes Purpearl and Cinna make their way to the Barracks, they slip inside and see 5 vikings inside, some honing blades, others tending to weapons. Cots line the far wall and barrels filled with spears, swords, and other weapons lean up against another with a stack of shields. "No one told me they grabbed wenches on the last raid."

QM Note: I need to go build the one building I didn't think you guys would investigate. If you want to do any other actions, do them now as the circus's performance will soon be ending.

You were too friendly, we didn't have our traditional spat where we yell at each other for so long until we realize no sane scum would spend so much time arguing. For what it's worth, you read towny to me the rest of them just couldn't see it.

Thanks TPRU for letting me play, your hosting was top notch. As this was the first time I had playing a true neutral, I've got to say it felt very different. I didn't have to worry about giving away my scum team nor did I have to be concerned about hampering the town too much, so in a way it was very liberating while at the same time sort of lonely. Great job Scum Team, you all did a fantastic job as playing as a team. I was in a toss-up between targeting fhomess or Hinckley the night I was killed, but up until that point you both had me strung along in your PM's, so good work.