Waterbrick Down

"Aside from shouting on street corners, there isn't any. Why do you think I took to submitting articles to the Herald? If you want to win back the trust of the city, it'll have to be in action not words." "There the only ones with access to the other planes whether through wizardry or technology. Unless of course you know of any other individuals within the city with that sort of power."

"Ya got to wonder though, is it really such a good thing? Can't say I relish eventually seein' my kids up an' dyin' of old age while I keep on bein' fresh and healthy."

*Fffffzzzpp!* As the arrow crosses the threshold a small puff of smoke, similar to a z-mail, and the arrow vanishes. "Magic?"

"Just because they have it, doesn't mean they understand how to use it. It is a powerful artifact from my people, if the Founders do figure out how to use it though..." "We would need to find someone with access to a planar gate. As far as I'm aware, there are only two factions within the city with enough understanding to generate such an item, the Ziegfrieds and the Tritech Company."

As each hero crosses the threshold they vanish instantly! Bellanote glances at Dyric, "Umm... do you think we should knock?" QM Note: PM's forthcoming

"It's a sending stone, handy for getting messages across different planes of reality. Byblos, really? I suppose I should be too surprised, he was always resourceful. Your news concerning the Faerie is troubling, Euflear spoke of some sort of war the Fae were engaged in, but only shared the details with Cain. If s/he is operating apart from the Founders that may lend credence to your theory of their impersonation. It still doesn't explain who they really may be or what their intentions are. I think the phrase about joy and glum is still describing the Faerie, Byblos must have seen something of what happened. If we want answers we may need to see first hand what's going on." "Let's just say I applied some pressure to members of the Eubric Herald staff, the stories are truthful though or at least from what I can tell. As much as I hate to admit it, the houses brought this upon themselves. The Founders showing up to take advantage of their corruption is too much of a coincidence though."

QM Note: They represent the Passive Specials which will get revealed as the Party triggers them.

"Are you not familiar with the story of the Valkyrie? It is a legend of the northern lands and part of the shared mythos of flying women warriors. I needed a way to remind the people to not forget about you, the paper allows an op-ed from an alternate point of view once a week, with the witch hunt currently going on in the city, I couldn't risk the exposure from my real name." "Do you not deserve it? Have you not saved this city time and time again? Do not doubt yourself Kiray, the whole of Eubric has not forgotten the Heroica you helped build, they have merely been blinded by the promises of these Founders and who can blame them? I can't say the other Veterans and I did a good job of ensuring Heroica's neutrality in the politics of late." "It is good to hear that Jacq and Kukulkan are safe. Hestia, to my knowledge is still with her husband and what remains of the Bonaparte fleet in the Crystalline Sea. Semiramis went missing a few weeks back, I was following a lead to the Ziegfried's when the news of the Founders' take over spread. As for Cain..." The norn, regularly stoic, wipes a tear from her eye. "He is dead because of me... the Founders... they have the Nornalis. I've been investigating the whole issue discretely ever since." Åsa pauses for a moment, "They arrived months ago and slowly began orchestrating things in their favor behind the scenes, you've seen the Herald headlines lately, that was all the Founders. The outing of the Guild's research and the Ziegfried's family drama, them. The raising of Ms. Shadeaux, them. The bankruptcy and asset seizure of the Hinckwell's, them. The mutiny on Fort Bonaparte, them. The rumors of the Ji Pei invasion, them. With the houses in chaos and Heroica so closely linked to them, Eubric was prime for saviors and the Founders fit the bill. I don't know if they're the actually them. Most of them are supposed to be dead, at least that's what the records at Heroica said. But as you're all aware, in this line of work, death doesn't always have the same finality to it as others within this city. As for the Founders' goal? Their "council" seems to be tightening it's regulatory grip on the city every day, but to what end I don't know. The people of Eubric don't seem to care either... it's discouraging to say the least. But, you're here now, there's still some hope."

The door is unlocked and unguarded. The windows all have heavy curtains drawn in front of them, a faint candle glow peeks out between the crack in the curtains though.

"All talk until the stakes are too high? I heard about your precious life restoring artifact, afraid to live with the consequences of your actions?" "She's your founder, you tell me! She don't look undead, so it either her or a really good copy."

"Umm..." "It's alright Billian, keep an eye at the front. I want to make sure they weren't followed." Åsa's smiles slightly when she sees the paper. "Karie Alderflask, no? While we may have not met formally, I'm quite familiar with your... with all of your history. Yes, come inside." The Valkyrie leads the party into her room. The space is similarly furnished to the one upstairs, but more lived in. Clothes spread about the room, books on the desk, papers scattered about. The Valkyrie sits at the table and studies each of the heroes with a cold but determined stare before addressing the group. "Sorry about that, Billian was just doing me a favor. I helped him and his brother gain support for this inn many years ago. Now I'm sure you have a lot of questions, no?"

"So you can cause some plants to start smoking, the Doomsayer does that in his sleep." "I don't know for what reason my companions and I were brought back, all I know is we returned to this city to find it on the edge of war and the very organization we created to strive for higher ideals, mired in backbiting and power mongering. The Houses were corrupt and filled had too many skeletons in their closets. The people of this city turned on them when their deeds were exposed to the light. You may very well have served in the Orcish Wars, having just returned myself, I cannot be the judge of that validity. But if you did indeed serve, you know what we were fighting for. The enemies of this city today may not be green of skin, but their hearts are green with greed and envy for power. You question my companions and my suitability to lead, you abandoned that responsibility the moment you aligned yourself with the power brokers of this city and not its people. Tell me, when you accepted the nomination for King of Eubric, did you even consider the will of the populace or were you so desperate to regain a kingdom that you were fine sacrificing their well being just as you did the soldiers under your command on the battle field of the Orcish Wars?" "Isn't that how it always is though? Noble intent, but so narrow minded on who that help actually benefits. I won't discount you helped some, but that doesn't erase you and your friends complicitness in aiding the Houses in their corruption not to mention actively assisting activities of this notorious Wolf Gang." "Well, I had hoped it wouldn't come to that, but if you insist." Lady Luck reveals a number of daggers stored in her coat. PREPARE FOR BATTLE! Round 0 of Gazebo Scuffle Boomingham Vest of Faded Trials - Success - Boomingham Reinforced! The Enemy Lady Luck *Permanently Nimble & Lucky* *???* *???* *???* *???* *???* *???* *Quickened 9*Type: HumanoidLevel: 40Health: 8000/8000Special I: Run the Table - Swaps all of the target's positive effects for Lady Luck's current negative effects. In case of no effects uses "All In". Special II: All In - Lady Luck does damage to the party equal to the amount of Gold she currently has distributed equally amongst the party. Passive Special I: ???Passive Special II: ??? Passive Special III: ??? Passive Special IV: ??? Passive Special V: ??? Passive Special VI: ???Drops: Lucky Die (Makes the user permanently Lucky, Accessory), Robes of the Tumbling Acrobat (Makes the user permanently Nimble, Torsowear), Pick Pocket's Purse (Makes the user immune to having their equipment stolen, accessory), 100 Gold Note: The Quickened Effect is similar to the Hastened effect, with the number representing how many extra free hits will occur if the monster is not targeted, however these free hits can be cancelled if the monster is targetted as many times extra as that number. Hovel's Party Lord Lawrence Boomingham (Zepher) 48 year old male human Vindicator Level 36.75 *Immune to darkness, fire, fragile, sleep, weakened, and blinded* *Affluence* *Zweihänder Grip* *Encouraged* *Lucky* *Reinforced* *PARTY LEADER* Power Bonus: +5 (+5 front row) Defense: 10 20 Health: 58/59 Ether: 36/36 Stealth: 0 Gold: 358 Equipment: Scupperer (WP:19; darkness-, fire- and earth-elemental; inflicts bleeding and poisoned by 10; has 1/2 chance each to inflict blinded, sealed, weakened and fragile; greatsword), Tome of Affluence (+10 Gold if equipped for the entirety of a battle; grants immunity to fragile, asleep, weakened, blinded, darkness and fire; accessory), Vest of Faded Trials (SP:10, 1/2 chance of granting reinforced effect at the start of every battle, Immune to Fragile; Suitable for Knights, Barbarians, Dragoons, Skirmishers, Regulators, Vindicators; bodywear and headwear), Fighting Boots (Power +5 on the front row; suitable to barbarians, knights, rogues, beast warriors, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, skirmishers, regulators, vindicators and winged warriors; footwear.) Inventory: The Demon Germ (samurai-turtle) ??? years old ; Half Demon; Male Black Knight Level 22 *Immune to Slowed & Hastened * Power Bonus: +4 Defense: 7 Health: 39/39 Stealth: +3 Gold: 151 Equipment: Obsidian Scimitar (WP:20; Amethyst/Darkness-elemental; longsword), Spesialian Helmet (SP:2, SP:4 if wearer’s Star Elf, Health +2, Power +2, Suitable for anyone; headwear), Greaves (SP:2, immunity to Slowed and Hastened; footwear), Shadow Cloak (SP:1; backwear), Inventory: Torald Waruelf, Matchmaker (Alfadas)21 year old male human Battle MageLevel 16Power Bonus: +19Defense: 16Health: 40/41 Ether: 21/28 Stealth: 0Gold: 236Abilities: Pact of the Tome (Torald may spend his action for a 1/6 chance to cause the Doomed effect on a Humanoid enemy or the Hexed effect on a Demon enemy). Equipment: Torangu's Trident (WP: 20, SP: 5, cannot be used with Shield, Trident), Pandemonicon (+11 Power Bonus, HP, SP, Ether, Grants Pact of the Tome ability, accessory, Level 1, cannot be unequipped)Inventory: Petaldan Parfenius (Played by Palathadric) 5-year-old male "wonder" Paladin Level 16 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 18 Health: 37/38 Ether: 16/16 Stealth: 0 Gold: 73 Equipment: Mace (WP: 6, mace), Armour of Dark Arts (SP: 10; Takes up: Bodywear, Handwear, Footwear slots; counts as one artifact; Suitable to Knights, Dragoons, and Skirmishers), Cloak of Innocence (SP: 3; grants the wearer immunity to Darkness, if the health of the wearer is below 50% the wearer is also *Blessed*; Backwear; Suitable for Petaldan only), Inventory: Eric (Khorne), Self-proclaimed Siren-Slayer and Butcher of Basilisks 30 year old Human Nord Level 30 3/4 Vindicator *Evasion* *Protected from Weakened, Stunned, Poisoned, Bleeding, Cursed, Asleep, Fast Asleep, Confused and Hexed + Immune to Darkness, Water and Earth* *Zweihänder Grip* Power Bonus: +3 Defense: 0 Health: 60/61 Stealth: 0 Gold: 1360 Equipment: Conspirator (WP: 20, causes Blinded and has 1/2 chance to cause Confused with each hit, Ice- and Darkness-elemental; longsword), Pugilist's Gloves (Power +2, protects from Weakened; handwear),Boots of Evasion (Wearer takes half damage in front row + Immunity to Darkness, Water, Earth and Asleep; footwear), Periwinkle Ribbon (Grants Immunity to Stunned, Poisoned, Bleeding, Cursed, Asleep, Fast Asleep, Confused and Hexed; suitable for Periwinkle Eric only; headwear) Inventory: Ezeran Yavarr (MysticModulus)42 year old male human SorcererLevel 24.67 *Immune to Wood and Fire, Sealed and Blindness* *Enemies that hit Ezeran become slowed*Power Bonus: (+2 spellpower)Defense: 6Health: 36/37Ether: 8/32 Stealth: 1Gold: 552Equipment: Ooze Wand (WP: 10, 1/3 chance to Slow), Sneezing Demon (SP:3; enemies that hit the wearer become slowed; immunity to wood, fire and blindness, suitable to Ezeran only; bodywear), Etherium Pauldrons (SP:3, immune to sealed; backwear), Sedge hat (Max. Ether +4; headwear)Inventory: Sküld (NPC, controlled by Alfadas) 12 years old female nôrn Altar Girl *Immune to Burning* Level 15.5 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 21/21 Ether: 13/24 Defense: 0 Gold: 20 Equipment: Silk Fan (WP:10, wind-elemental, fan), Shrine Robes (Immune to Burning, +5 HP, Torsowear) Scroll of Intellect, Scroll of Minor Dispel, Scroll of Shielding, Grand Tonic Elphaba of Ozmath (NPC, takes suggestions from Zepher) ??? years old female Witch *Immune to Sealed, Bound, Blinded, Poisoned, Burning, Enamored, Cursed, Petrified, Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth* Level 35 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 59/59 Ether: 46/46 Defense: 15 Stealth: +4 Gold: 100 Equipment: Ozmath Witch's Talisman (Makes the Witch's poisonous attacks deal poisoned 10 and additionally drop the target's level by 1, Accessory), Ozmath Witch's Cloak (SP 5, Immunity to Sealed, Bound, Blinded, Poisoned, Burning, Enamored, Cursed, Petrified, Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth, Backwear), Ozmath Witch's Gloves (Healing also restores the target's ether equal to user's WP, Handwear), Ozmath Witch's Robes (+10 Health, +10 Ether, +10 SP, +1 Stealth, Torsowear), Hickory Broomstick (WP: 15, Broomstick), Roderick's Staff (WP: 10, 1/3 chance to Confuse, Staff) Party Leader, please determine the battle order. Everyone else, state your action and the row from which you will be performing it.

Posting here instead of the Quest Thread. No problem, glad to have you reading along!

"You're not even supposed to know she's here! If... if I tell her that people are looking for her and know she's here, she'll... she'll..." "She'll what Billian? Scold you for gossiping so loudly in the hallway? I wouldn't be surprised if all the guests on this floor now know about the issue." The heroes look up and see Åsa Nifelheimr, the Valkyrie, standing in the door of Room 4.

"You don't even know her name and you're supposedly her friends?" "I don't know if she writes for the herald, all I know is she doesn't wish to be disturbed."

"Roots? Seriously, you all are wanted criminals and you're spending your time gardening?" Lady Luck smiles. "I would think not, especially if you insist on pronouncing Ennoc's name wrong. And don't you worry, talk is cheap, action is what counts and I can guarantee you'll see some of that if you don't come peacefully."

"No, no, nothing's wrong, it's just no one is supposed to know she's staying here... I mean he's staying here... I mean..."

QM Note: Sorry folks, I'm still trying to find the Sandy's photo of the Ziegfried Manor. Torc takes off into the night and soon the party is swallowed up by the mist. It doesn't take long before they land in Triad Park, Torc hiding her form below the tree line. At the other end of the block Ziegfried manor sits quiet and undisturbed, though upon closer inspection the party notes crude graffiti and messages have been scrawled across the front of the house, mostly insults and references to the recent accusations of child endangerment. The windows are dark and the gate hangs open, slightly bent inwards.

Shrieks and the sounds of at least a dozen more sets of wings can be heard through the evening fog. Torc look expectantly at Hoke, waiting for his direction.

"Ummm... Discretion... As mentioned we look out for the privacy of our patrons and... The individual wishes to be undisturbed by the other guests that's all..." Billian looks nervously at his feet.

The group makes their way down to the second floor, room 4 stands at the end of the hall. Billian exits room 4 carrying a tray with dirty dishes. "Ummm... hello folks, room 8 is on the third floor did you get lost?"

"Roots? Do I look like a gardener to you?" "You lot are causing quite the stir up at the Hall. Yuliana's of the opinion you should be shot on sight, but I think a trial first would at least be appropriate."

"Who knows we're here? At this point nothing outside the Wolf Den is safe. If yer plannin' on stakin' the place out where do ya propose a safe place to watch it would be? I thought we're comin' here to find this Filly of yers, are ya sayin' ya think this is their room?"

"The wood magic in the area must be strong. It's good to see my garden hasn't been paved over like the rest of the city." The woman turns and surveys the group. "Bit bold, wandering around in broad daylight, isn't it?"

Thorlar notes that it is early evening and the sun would set in a few more hours.