Dannylonglegs

A cool breeze blew it the Hall as Sylph Solanum swept in. The red sun of morning was rising behind him, but he was tired. After the trials of the previous night, he simply wanted rest. He cued his bat to survey the bar as he shuffled towards a lonely table and put his head down.

Great Epilogue Endgame! They made statues of us! I forget, do the Rhitzs sell cloth or clothes. ~Insectoid Aristocrat

"I'm impressed," the cold woman smirked. She loosened her scarf from her head and pulled it down slightly, revealing her face as that of Ave Hinckwell. She bore an impressed grin now, her recently-crudely-cut short hair sticking out the sides of her head-scarf. She bowed deeply, extending her arms wide in an exaggerated gesture of false humility. "Not bad." She admitted, a challenging smile on her face. "You've quite the deductive mind." she pointed out, "But you're wrong about one thing.... I had no choice in marrying Dill." She stated coldly. "He needed a title to get into the Lord's counsel, and exiled royalty sells cheaply." She flashed a wounded grin. "He had economic sense, I'll give him that, but I would never have willingly taken a man like him. He forced me to be his wife, but he never loved me. I was just another possession to be kept and controlled." She grinned. "He had a thing for dirty blondes, though." She stated, sickness in her voice. "One even gave him a child. I was so surprised. I didn't think he had it in him. As far as I could tell, the only thing he really loved was money." She snarled. "Money. Money. Money. Day after day, I watched him destroy himself and those around him for money... And the more money that came in, the more he wanted. He simply couldn't get enough gold." She stopped and chuckled. "And I was forced to watched him as he methodically tore apart his soul for worthless currency.... And I learned. I watched him make his moves and after a while, I made better ones. As the Church's Accountant, I had my hands in many pots, and I grew flowers in those pots." She stated grinning coldly. "I made a better Merchant than he ever could have been. And you're wrong about another thing too." She smiled. "I couldn't stab him in the back, because he doesn't have a spine to puncture! He stole my idea for monopoly and claimed it as his own... And it wasn't the first time either." She chuckled hollowly, eyes intense. "But yes, I found a way to take advantage of his naive narcissism. hm." She huffed, pleased with herself. "I'll make more money as an individual than he will as a company man, now. 40,000 gold all to myself. That's money to die for." She stated, the look of cold intensity returning to her face.

I'm sorry I'm not updating really fast, 62ers. for once I'm too busy to update. ~Insectoid Aristocrat

How does Gimp even work. I tried it and wanted to shoot myself in the foot. I renamed the icon Smoking Dog. ~Insectoid Aristocrat

All but three of my photos were done there. It can't do rain or fire though, due to lack of a transparency feature on pictures. ~Insectoid Aristocrat

Alright. There we have it. Darling you've got to let me know? Will she stay or will she go!? That's right! It's time for Fight or Flight! It's not impossible, but the odds are definitely against you. I warned you from the start that if you took more than 2 or 3 optional battles, odds were that you'd miss her, so I'm not going easy on you just because you used up all your consumables. So, you've got two rounds unless you kill those poor dock workers. (or that Aquamancer) You can still chat her up if you miss her though. It's not going to be anticlimactic. Also, It was a total bitch to compile all those pictures. If I never have to use photoshop again, I'll be a happy man. Unfortunately, I still have to use photoshop for this quest. There are just certain things that paint+powerpoint can't do. Not many, but certain things. ~Insectoid Aristocrat

The party hurried. They drank their drinks as they ran down the muddy road that lead to the Harbour. They waved goodbye to Che Qi, and wished him well. He stared at them, confused, but to thankful to say anything. Why were hey running? What was their goal? The rain fell hard. The Party forced themselves against the wind and the rain, each step bringing them closer to their objective: Catch Fleur Beyland. The Party made it to the Docks. It was 5:07 When they arrived, they found, to their dismay, three Guards waiting for them. Dockworkers were piling the last of the crates of cloth onto the ship which bore the Bonapartes' colours. Fleur was nowhere in sight... Then, from the Helm of the ship, they heard a harsh yet boyish voice. "Damnit, Captain Quinton Brody, I hired you to sail at 5:00, no questions asked, yet we've been sitting here for seven minutes." "You're insane! This here's a hurricane, and you aren't a damn Sharkling. I'm waiting for your safety." came a deep growling reply from further back on the ship. The Boyish Voice laughed hollowly. "I'm safer in the storm than here." it growled, bitterly. "There's a band of five mercenaries coming... They've killed all my associates and now they've come for me. I told you not to ask Questions, and I payed you enough to run a blockade, Quinton, now, get this damn ship moving or so help me, I shall get out and move it myself." The deep voice grunted in acknowledgement. "Alright! you heard the boy, Aquomancers, ease the winds, drop the sails, haul anchor. We're leaving NOW!" The cloaked figure of Abe the Accountant stepped up to the rail. "They're here." She stated in a removed voice. "Guards! Arrest these men for murder. You, Aquomancer. See that these men are killed. Fly back to us when they're dead." She leaned down on the rail, her cloak churning like the ocean beneath her in the furious wind. Her face, slightly exposed by the wind, looked boyish, and somehow familiar. Her expression was that of cold, clinical anger and intensity... but in her eyes there was pain. The rain beat against her face like mad tears, though she was not sad. "So, you made it." Prepare for Battle!!! Fight or Flight Round 1. Advanced Guard A Type: humanoid Level: 12 HP: 120/120 SP: 4 Special: (If Both Advanced Guards remain capable of combat, Pin Down is used. If one Advanced Guard Stands, Defensive Stance. If Target is bound, Coup de Grace is used. ) Pin-Down: Both Guards Stab the Target, Dealing 24 Damage, and Binding target. Coup de Grace: Target is brought down to 1 HP. Defensive Stance: The Advanced Guard gains 6 SP for rest of this round and the next. Drops: Helmet (+1 HP), Halberd (WP: 5) Note: Both Advanced Guards must be killed in order to gain access to the Ship. Advanced Guard B Type: humanoid Level: 14 HP: 120/120 SP: 4 Special: (If Both Advanced Guards remain capable of combat, Pin Down is used. If one Advanced Guard Stands, Defensive Stance. If Target is bound, Coup de Grace is used. ) Pin-Down: Both Guards Stab the Target, Dealing 28 Damage, and Binding target. Coup de Grace: Target is brought down to 1 HP. Defensive Stance: The Advanced Guard gains 6 SP for rest of this round and the next. Drops: Helmet (+1 HP), Halberd (WP: 5) Note: Both Advanced Guards must be killed in order to gain access to the Ship. Harbour Guard Type: Humanoid *Immune to Fire* Level: 7 HP: 100/100 SP: 7 Specials: (Decided by Dice) Slow the Advance: All enemies gain 2 SP until the Harbour Guard is defeated (stacks) Call for Backup: Another Guard joins battle. Drops: Sword (WP 3), Impervious Shield (SP: 5) (Grants immunity to Fire) Note: While the Harbour Guard is living, all Dock Workers gain 5 SP. Dock Worker A Type: Humanoid Level: 4 HP: 56/56 SP: 0 5 Special: Pile-On: Deals Damage equal to the number of living Dock Workers times 4 Drops: 5 Gold, Mead Notes: A. Defeating a Dock Worker adds 2 rounds to Fleur’s Getaway Timer. B. Does not provoke free attacks. Do not need to be defeated in order to win combat Dock Worker B Type: Humanoid Level: 4 HP: 56/56 SP: 0 5 Special: Pile-On: Deals Damage equal to the number of living Dock Workers times 4 Drops: 5 Gold, Nostrum Notes: A. Defeating a Dock Worker adds 2 rounds to Fleur’s Getaway Timer. B. Does not provoke free attacks. Do not need to be defeated in order to win combat Dock Worker C Type: Humanoid Level: 4 HP: 56/56 SP: 0 5 Special: Pile-On: Deals Damage equal to the number of living Dock Workers times 4 Drops: 5 Gold, Mead Notes: A. Defeating a Dock Worker adds 2 rounds to Fleur’s Getaway Timer. B. Does not provoke free attacks. Do not need to be defeated in order to win combat Dock Worker D Type: Humanoid Level: 4 HP: 56/56 SP: 0 5 Special: Pile-On: Deals Damage equal to the number of living Dock Workers times 4 Drops: 5 Gold, Smelling salts Notes: A. Defeating a Dock Worker adds 2 rounds to Fleur’s Getaway Timer. B. Does not provoke free attacks. Do not need to be defeated in order to win combat Aquamancer Type: Flying, Beast, Watery *immune to ice* Level: 21 HP: 150/150 Ether 12/25 Specials: (Alternate) Calm before the Storm: Target is Stunned. Typhoon: Deals 20 water/wind damage to the entire party Drops: Spellbound Gloves, Aquamarine, Saphire, Scroll of Ice Armour Note: When The Aquamancer dies, he can no longer control the storm, adding 2 Rounds Fleur’s Getaway Timer, but releasing the hurricane winds. Fleur (on Ship) Type: Humanoid Level: 0 HP: 600/600 SP: 25 Special: Spectate: Fleur points out a flaw in the Target’s battle position. Target is Weakened and Fragile for a turn (uncurable). Drops: ??? Notes: Can only be damaged by non-thrown ranged weapons and magic. She’s on a ship. You’re not. When Fleur's Getaway Timer runs out or the Battle aboard the Ship commences, she exits this combat, but is still able to communicate with the party. Battle Notes: A. Once the two advanced Guards are defeated, a Hero may get onto the ship. That Hero leaves this combat and enters another. He or She gains experience as if he or she won the combat he or she left before engaging in the second battle. It takes a turn to get on the ship, and it must be done from the front row. Once the Battle aboard the Ship has started, Fleur (on Ship) Leaves the ground combat. Once Fleur's Getaway timer runs out, it is impossible to get on the Ship. B. In terms of loot, this combat follows the rules of "He who stabbed it grabbed it." C. Also, effects last both battles. D. Hurricane Winds: Every combatant, hero or monster, has a 1/6 chance to be hit by 10 wind/water damage every round after the Aquamancer dies. E. Fleur's Getaway Timer: She leaves in 2 rounds. The Party: Karie Alderflask (Played by Kintober) *Party Leader* *Encouraged* 22 year old Human Rogue, lvl 10 Power: 16 (lvl 10 + WP: 6) Health: 16/16 Gold: 51 Equipment: Sexy (WP: 6, Rapier, Disregards SP, usable by Knights and Rogues) *Poisoned* Inventory: Potion (5), Mead (2), Remedy (2), Venom (1), Smoke bomb (1), Telescope (1), Bedroll (1), Heirloom Dagger (WP:3), Map of Brendenton (1), Spider Coin (worth 1 gp) (1),Dagger (WP:4), Topaz, Fire Bomb (1), Wheelbarrow full of corpses, Scroll of Newtity (costs 10 ether) (usable by ex-Amphibians only), Ethereal Cloak (SP +2, Max. Ether +4), Favour from Che Qi Nessa Anárion (herrJJ) *Encouraged* 59 years old female elven Ranger Level 12 Power: 20 (Lvl. 12 + WP: 7+1=8) (23 vs. Werefolk) (24 vs. Aquatic Vermin) (27 vs. Aquatic Vermin Werefolk) Defense: 2 Health: 13/18 Gold: 0 Equipment: Silver Crossbow with Raven-Slayer Bolts and Newty Mag (WP 7 (+3 vs. werefolk (removable)) (+4 vs. Aquatic vermin (removable) (usable by ex-Amphibians only)) *Poisoned*, Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP), Ranger's Cowl (SP: 2) Inventory: Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Magic Compass, Venom x3, Mead, Potion x2, Croise Bow (WP: 6) (usable by Rangers), Smelling Salts, Favour from Che Qi Drake Flamerobe 25 year old male human Level 10 1/2 Knight Power: 15 Defense: 2 Health: 12/20 Ether: 0/0 Gold: 310 Equipment: Greatsword (WP:5), Shield (SP:2) Helmet Inventory: Torch(WP:3), Potion x2, Phoenix Essence, Tonic, Shovel, Bedroll, Mead, Smoke Bomb, Remedy, Fire Bomb, Bone, Amethyst, Oil of Newtism (+4 to SP vs. Aquatic Vermin (usable by ex-Amphibians only)), Tasteful Newt (Grants Blessed Effect) (Consumable), Mace (WP: 7), Favour from Che Qi Dreyrugr (Vash the Stampede) 1000 year old Male Vampire Rogue *Hastened* *Lucky* *Encouraged* Level 15 Power: 21 (Level 15+Weapon 6) Defense: 1 Health: 18/21 (Rogue Base 7+ Level Bonus 14) Gold: 107 Equipment: Crow-Claw Dagger (WP: 6, 1/6 chance to stun enemy on successful attack), Psuedos Hood, Gloves of the Undead Assassin (For every enemy the wearer kills, it gains 5 HP, Usable by anyone, Handgear),Leather Armour (SP: 1) Inventory: Venom x4, Bedroll, Remedy, Grand Potionx1, Smelling Salts x3, Amethyst, Shuriken (WP:5), Mead, 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, Potion, Throwing Dagger (WP:3) Fauxthril Scythe (WP:5), The Heads (Quest Item), Bone, Nostrum, Bow (WP: 4), Favour from Che Qi Amorith Marvelo (Played by legobodgers) *Hastened* *Lucky* *Encouraged* Level 15 Mage Power: 22 (15+8+1) Health: 16/19 Ether: 8/19 SP: 6 Gold: 25 Equipment: Dual staff (WP: 8) damages 2 enemies in one hit, Crow-Cursed Cloak (SP: 6 Suitable for Mages or Rogues) Inventory: Fang Dagger (WP: 5), opal (ice), ruby (fire), garnet (earth), diamond (light), amethyst (darkness), 4 potions, 9 tonics, 4 remedies, 1 elixir, 3 nostrums, 4 mead, 1 Nostrum, ice bomb, smoke bomb, shovel, bedroll, 4 bones, Scroll of Blindness, Fire Bomb, Phoenix Essence, Newtralizer, Favour from Che Qi Party Leader: Order-up! Everyone else: You know what to do.

Is it consumed? ~Insectoid Aristocrat

What does the Jo-jo berry do? ~Insectoid Aristocrat

Ok, 62, the Climactic Battle'll be up either in an hour or this evening. Again, I'm really sorry for making you wait so long. ~Insectoid Aristocrat

OK 62ers, due to several Snafus, the "climactic battle" may show up tomorrow morning as opposed to tonight. ~Insectoid Aristocrat

I find this apeeling. Hopefully the heroes can pearry the Demon Fruits' blows and beet the rotten veggies fast enough to keep Yesmar from splitting! ~Insectoid Aristocrat

I guess you do get to loot the room after-all!!! Also, 62ers, I'll get you to Fight or Flight around 9:00, my time. It's like 6:00 now. Things to consider: Right now before I update would be a great time to get ready to fight Fleur. This is the climactic fight, but there's a distinct possibility that you won't see half of it if you don't strategize properly. It's your prerogative to determine whether half a big fight is worth not taking consumables, or taking consumables and giving 120% to trying to catch Fleur before she gets away is more worth it. You will get XP even if you don't access the second half of the battle. You can't lose by not catching her. ~Insectoid Aristocrat

Well it's not like anyone aside from the Proggs and Galen knows or cares anything about that. And there's only one living female Progg. ~Insectoid Aristocrat

Johon, since Rome's got the Combys, and Galen's not asking for it, and Alex's got the Best sword out of all of us, I think you should have this one. Your Decaying Sword's pretty great too, but I can see this one being useful to you as well. No offense Galen, but before you made your purchases you had enough money to buy a small ship... Actually, I think I'll use it if no one minds. I would like to improve my Shrapnel Bow."

I agree very much. It was fun to have a changing effect that affected my strategy. I was even able to exploit some if his moves to my own advantage. Very interactive and a huge success in my opinion! Of course this style of fight should not common--keeping it to Big Big Bads of long plot Arcs is best--but I found it very enjoyable. I do agree though that I might be a bit biased, due to the fact that it was pretty much me vs. him. The other players did influence my strategy though, make no mistake. I listened to the party whenever they suggested a different course of action and way more than one did I change the strategy because they saw something I missed. (or you saw something I missed. ) I personally like the adjustable style, which I hope I've incorporated into my Quest. It's worked great with the baddies (although the Canon of the Po Brothers being the toughest badasses in town at-the-moment is interfering with my ability to up the stats on some of the optional villains.), but it's hard to reconcile my desire for consequences for taking all the optional battles and morally commendable actions with my desire to see the party catch Fleur and kill her. (I just want you 62ers to know, I'm rooting for you, but that it's not a sure-thing that you'll get her. ) I'm so excited! I really feel like I got to know him more when I began telling you who he was. Before he'd been allot of thoughts and notes, but without much character (which was sort of my goal considering who he is. easy-character development makes no sense at all.) but that didn't help me play for him consistently. At times he was wise and underspoken, and others he was a snarking jerkass, and most of that was because I was playing him at a very face-value level. Now that I've explored a little bit of his true thoughts I think I can go back to his usual shallow behavior and remain consistent. Speaking of which, if I've learned anything from being PL on this Quest for 6 months, it's that you have dental problems. Now I remember what tipped me off that Mythrogg was not the final boss! It was that Statue that, smart players we were, we destroyed with magic and might! That's what tipped me off to Regret's power, and when we didn't fight him before Eidolon, I figured something was up. No I didn't guess he was the final boss/bigger bad, but at that point I knew he was the Man behind the Man. I actually thought you'd let us off without fighting him. That would have saved us a whole month, I think. We all love him. I could have sworn he'd be making a heroic sacrifice at some point. I was quite surprised when it was Aranoc and not Hal. If Sylph could "feel anger" he'd have been pissed at the Regret. I know I was. Oh, goody! ~Insectoid Aristocrat

Sylph moved towards the Rhitz's Stall. He looked around for a bit, and then settled on the Emerald Hood. He brushed his gauntletted hand down the smooth Brendentonian cloth, admiring the bright earthy colour. "I'll buy this." Sylph stated at last. He handed the wealthy man his hard-earned gold, and took the largest cloak he could find in exchange. He draped it ceremoniously over his head. The thing was large enough to fit over his cold-iron animal-skull helmet and then some, concealing all but the bottom-most part of the face grid, and allowing a glimmer of light to reflect from his veiled eyes. 314-275=39 gold. +1 Emerald Hood. "Who wants the Writ? And have we decided who's getting the Sword?"

Just checking. I'll bring you guys to Fleur this evening. I don't quite have the time right now.

OoC: He doesn't know she's a woman. She's dressed like a man.