Chromeknight

I did not realise that you hate the Pongcanae so much that you desire to be the one delivering the killing blow. Keep close watch upon yourself Arthur, anger and hate lead to many things, few of them good. Nerwen again indicated for Saeavel to not attack and to stay put keeping an eye out for any other Pongcanae. Battle order >Elerylian - sword B, Elven blade >Arthur - sword B, darkness(rodrick's sword)(enchant shield) Kadarphazân - crossbowman, longsword Boomingham - crossbowman, scupperer >Nerwen - crossbowman, fragile scroll >Saeavel - no action

Why after Arthur?

Nerwen nodded to Arthur curtly, her focus as she chanted from the scroll sliding smoothly from one swordspog to the next. Battle order Boomingham - sword A, scupperer >Arthur - sword A, darkness(rodrick's sword)(enchant shield) >Nerwen - sword B, fragile scroll Nerwen - sword A, magical staff >Saeavel - sword A, Elven blade >Elerylian - sword A, Elven blade Kadarphazân - crossbowman, longsword Free hits Swordsman B - Boomingham good to go!

Nerwen stepped forward, deliberately treading on the corpse of the Pongcanis leader. Good against villagers is one thing. Good against the heroes is something else. Yes Arthur I will fragilize the first swordspog there. Saevael, please join me in attacking this first swordspog. But you stay back whilst I distract him from up front. Battle order Boomingham - sword A, scupperer >Nerwen - sword A, fragile scroll >Arthur - sword A, darkness(rodrick's sword)(enchant shield) >Elerylian - sword A, Elven blade >Saeavel - sword A, Elven blade Nerwen - sword A, magical staff Kadarphazân - crossbowman, longsword Free hits Swordsman B - Boomingham I think that's what everyone ordered. There are two swordspogs left, so if everyone could check, that'd be good. BD, if you could hold off running round until Flipz and Zepher have ok'd that'd be great. Thanks!

Thanks everyone! Especially Sandy.

It is simply a way of speaking. If I'd phrased it so it clear that I myself had something to say, you might want to hear it now or you might become unduly concerned about what I'll say, which might affect our interactions.

Nerwen exhaled softly. Yes. I am sorry Master Paragon. It is best if you strike last. Let us do this again. Battle order Boomingham - leader, scupperer >Arthur - crossbow, darkness(rodrick's sword)(enchant shield) >Nerwen - spearman, fragile scroll >Elerylian - spearman, Elven blade >Saeavel - spearman, Elven blade Nerwen - spearman, magical staff Kadarphazân - leader, longsword Free hits Swordsman A - Boomingham Swordsman B - Arthur or you could just copy/paste As for the lens, I am treating it as hastened, with the extra requirement that one of the actions must be using a scroll. Until told otherwise by item creator, QM or Sandy.

Of course Lord Boomingham. I should have remembered. Sir Cronk also favored turning enemies attacks back upon themselves. And yes, Arthur, that plan is sensible. Nerwen's fingers flicked quickly in the direction of the Elven rogue. Saeavel nodded as she saw the signs for spear-enemy, stay back and elf-blade. Battle order Boomingham - leader, scupperer >Arthur - crossbow, darkness(rodrick's sword)(enchant shield) Kadarphazân - leader, longsword >Nerwen - spearman, fragile scroll >Elerylian - spearman, Elven blade >Saeavel - spearman, Elven blade Nerwen - spearman, magical staff Free hits Swordsman A - Boomingham Swordsman B - Arthur

Nerwen notes the elven rogue moving beside her as the knight steps smoothly in front of the darkness channelling Sorcerer. Since there are six of us and only five of them, perhaps you two elves should take a target together. I suggest one of those swordspogs. Post above edited to include trait names and to ask another question.

Nerwen looked around to see Arthur and the others run up. Sir Kadarphazân, as a paragon, I am sure you use your initiative to hold them off whilst we use an item if we need to. Does anyone feel unready for the battle? Also, I understand that Sir Kadarphazân occasionally calls a truce in the middle of the battle. Do no be surprised if your target takes a break. I will organise our order of battle after more people have spoken up. Nerwen is not carrying the handbag, she is not immune to water (not that it matters any in this battle). who has control of the NPCs? I know some QMs retain control, others hand them over. if the latter. Zepher has control of Sir Kadarphazân and Chromeknight has control of the elves also, for the purposes of Nerwen's special guard is the spearpog's special equivalent to the afraid effect (except wtih a 1 round counter) or is it not an effect?

I'm sure your QM and quest mates will have things to say at the conclusion of #77

I thought that's what Barty's job was

He did have a good go at spelling it phonemically though.

Somewhere an economist faints at the idea of a caged Endgame boss being farmed for gold...

Nerwen whistled sharply, alerting the rest of the party. Then grinned wolfishly Laugh it up fuzzball. We will see who runs and who hides at the end. Perhaps I will try to create some art myself. I will call it pogs in pieces.

Nerwen's sharp eyes pick out the details of the pongcanis' face beneath the hair. would you say you enjoy the work of Bludspurt's red on red series or are you more partial to Gorefest's ludicrous gibs? Oh put it back away Lawrence. Can you see he is joking? As my companion has said, we are of Heroica and have been tasked with bringing some kind of order to this town. I am happy to do so by talking, whereas my companion here is ready to skip to the hitting and killing. So really, the choice is yours, talk or fight?

Nerwen looked around. Seemingly registering for the first time that the dwarf had not followed them from the inn. She shrugged. Wherever he was, she was sure that he was being bold in the use of diplomacy skill. She nodded briskly to Lawerence. So be it. Let us go speak to them. Softly. With big sticks.

Oh poor you. Nerwen says not entirely seriously. So you are saying that your knowledge, intimate knowledge of your charge does not engender love for him? A desire to see him thrive, prosper, fulfill his purpose and find justice under the aegis of Ennoc? That is sad indeed then. And reflects poorly upon your master. Seeing the mixed group around the corner, Nerwen said. Now Lawerence, we see your words translated to actions. Are these mere beasts and the men who consort with them condemned out of hand for showing very poor judgement or is there a hesitation to allow for a more nuanced judgement on all over there? Nerwen sweeps the white cloak off her shoulders and tucks it in her satchel. She then puts the lens on, gently pushing it into place and getting used it.

Ninja'd.

Do you mean that Ennoc knows the names of lots of ants or that he know the names of some and there are many that he does not know?

Just as society is not one single thing, there are many different societies, so there are many outside, or members only of very small societies. I have heard some tell of pseudos, but not much. But I would be surprised if Guts would tell you much. Like you he disdains the idea of gods. Nerwen bowed gracefully to Barty, her palm staying perfectly level, not disturbing the diminutative figure. I imagine that to know the names of ants I would need to become one myself. Or send a messenger to report back. But then if I did know their names, their hopes and dreams and the uses to which they could be put I would care for them. I would be made more by including them in my thoughts and plans and correspondingly lessened when they perished. I am glad to see you have unshakable trust in your master though. It should not be any other way for you.

Nerwen laughed with Boomingham's jovial tone. I only closed the topic because I feared to bore you. It is apparent that we think different things. I am happy for that to be so, since it does not stop us from working together. I also hope you accede there is a reality to things which I hope neither of us are arrogant enough to claim we fully comprehend. As for gods, perhaps I ought be more clear. Sometimes when using that word, I mean it as shorthand for 'very powerful being'. As in, "from the point of view of these ants, you are a god". It does not necessarily connote goodness or separateness or holiness. There are plenty of examples of gods that are neither good nor worth worshiping. And dying? I have been taught that is the price of entering the world, of having power over it. To bring in what Arthur has been saying, to choose to subject oneself to the world that one might influence it. But that is never a one way process. The act of acting changes the actor. And so, just as the nature of the world is that everything breaks, so to for gods acting in this world. Their power here can break, can fail, can die. Are they still gods then? In the sense that they are mightily powerful, yes. In the sense you might mean of being remote, unchanging and impassible, no. But how would we know such a god who stands outside the world, since we ourselves cannot leave? Nerwen extended her palm, that Barty might alight whilst they spoke. Perhaps the change is visible to me because I too have changed. On the other hand, perhaps the change I see in them is part of their circumstances and path. And viewed from a distance that includes all the influences on them, they are never anything more that what they will always have going to have been. I grant that you know more many more than me. That your perspective is as different from mine as mine is from theirs. I hope though that you have not lost your capacity for surprise. That one day a man might do the unexpected.

Nerwen's features took on a distant look. From experience, her companions knew she walked in living memory, seeing as vivid and present things that had passed and were gone. I think you failed to notice which side of the door the lock was on Master Regulus. The keep is a haven and a sanctuary. A bulwark against change and a place of preservation. In truth, what the elves are doing there is not different from what the Shadeaux are seeking to establish. As for spending extended time with a few, to whom I would give myself in community and common purpose, how could that be but a joy? Unless I were infected with some kind of greediness for things that drags one away from such partnership. But I acknowledge that such a life is not for all, and most especially not for the race of men, Elves do not fear being without others around. We have memory, which for us is clear and close. Yes there is the pain of loss there, everything breaks. But there is peace as well. We are not driven by fear into the future such that we neglect the past or are unmindful of the present. And besides, even solitude ends. But if one cannot bear one's own company, how will anyone else. A bit of seperation is good for the soul. I agree with your points about diversity and individuality. You will recall I said I believe "we are not strongest alone". Though it think you fight a straw man when you characterise my love of civilisation and order as a desire for totalitarian uniformity. But I do point out that participating in society carries as a minimal requirement that one chooses to participate in society. It makes no sense that people might have the benefits of order without accepting that, in some limited ways, order is beneficial. This is not a case of one taking another's freedom, but of one freely giving up one's freedom for the freedom of others. We choose to chain ourselves together so that we might do what cannot be done by one alone. As for fairness, it seems you now are the one obliterating difference and individuality by proposing one law for all. There is nothing wrong with unfairness that lifts people up, only with that which grinds people down. The fault lies not in inequality but in its application. But I fear we wander far from the situation here in R'kilf, or even in Eubric.

Nerwen's keen ears picked out the sound of battle. But she was unable to determine exactly where it was or who was fighting. Between words and actions are expectations. And powerful things they are too. When you say that you will not stab Arthur, I understand that the mere words do not physically restrain you. Nor do the words deprive you of your free will. No, they set the expectation between us, within our relationship, that you choose, and will continue to choose, not to stab Arthur. You are right to say that has no force outside what we already know of each other. Now understand the elvish point of view. When speaking to another elf that one has known for decades or centuries even, there is a depth of relationship and shared history that is simply not available when befriending men. I like you both, but I can say you are each different from when I first met you. You have each changed in these last two years. Possibly the same can be said of me, but it is more likely that you simply me better than that I have significantly changed. And we have discussed the gods also. I said before, everything breaks, everything fails. If that is true of tangible things in this world, is it not true of the intangible as well? Even gods, in the right circumstances can die. Certainly their avatars and agents can. But does that mean their power, limited as it might be, is still not worthy of respect? Just as you would have young Arthur here acknowledge your age, experience and skill, should you not also acknowledge theirs? Is a modicum of humility beyond your grasp? An acceptance that this world is far bigger than you and there are authorities, dominions and forces at work before whom you are but a playing piece in a great game? Nerwen sigh gently at Barty's words. You are right. He is like a man floating on the sea denying there are currents moving him along for he cannot measure where he is and where he is going. Let us leave discussions of gods then. We still agree on much regarding men and their works.

Nerwen looked at the men she was walking with. There is some irony in you asking me if these elves can be trusted, given that I myself am an elf and you trust me. But, I have said before that we ought not judge the whole from singular examples. I understand your reservations, elves are fallible too. All you can do is look forward to the keeping of their word, call them to account if they do not and keep close watch on your own promises also. As for the town, I am naturally disposed to share their point of view. It is a shame you did not get to see inside the keep, it might have given you an insight into where their priorities lie and how insignificant the lives of men can seem from the perspective of a few centuries. In time everything breaks. That is the great sadness of life. And is it made all the more grievous when the focus on the immediate drowns out the longer plan to preserve and protect. Arthur, you did see the arboretum. You saw what it is now, but can you imagine what it will be like in a century if it is cared for an tended carefully? I do not wish to be too blunt, but at two decades, half of one of which you have nearly no memory of, I expect that such a span of time is only dimly conceivable. And even if it is not, could you dedicate yourself truly to serving a purpose that takes so long to come to fruition? Could you deny yourself many good things now for an end two generations later might see, and could you inspire others to follow you in such privation for a purpose like that? If so, I applaud you. For I have met vanishingly few men who could, and only on who actually has. And your premonitions about the world? Here is wisdom. Everything breaks. Everything fails. Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold. But I am a servant of Galdrya, of Celeborn, those who bring order and civilisation. Who stand against self interest and self centredness. Who say, we are not strongest alone. Who say to be at our most free, to fulfill our potential the best, we must choose sometimes to not insist on our rights but to give them up in the service of others. Who say that to love something truly is to give even oneself up for it. Anything less is but a weak shadow of love. That is the power you see at work in heroica, individuals putting aside their own petty goals, standing side by side against the blood-dimmed tide and saying together "No, this shall not be." And Heroica is not the only place where that happens. Though it may be the only place in Eubric, the only hope for a city corrupt and ripe for destruction. Politics! To whomever is reading this quest, not merely my fellow questmates, as always feel free to PM to dig into my own personal beliefs and opinions if you want. But they're not too far off what Nerwen has said here.