CMP

Sorry for the slight delay, had the pictures but needed to edit them. "Hah," chuckled Lane, though whether or not he was under the impression Francis was joking seemed unclear. "May as well go now if it's that easy." "Heh. Seems this old bastard's still got his charms." He winked at Mizuki and skimmed the paper. "...the hell is this rabble...sea monster? For the love of bloody Neron....how am I supposed to get rid of a problem that goddamn big?" Lane looked over Ettin's shoulder, and shifted over to Mizuki. "Anything there that can help us?" "Wait!" cried the elf as Kiray leaves. "You're supposed to be heroes, aren't you? Why the hell aren't you helping me?? I can't help you right now, does that mean I deserve to lose everything?" "Oh, that's not true at all, miss..." The charismatic, well-practiced voice came from nearby, the leader of a group of three men approaching from Eubric. "It's just that not everyone in Eubric keeps the common folk in their hearts." The man was muscular and had a mouth lined with gold, clearly the leader of this little band. "...Indeed." "But what about the heroes Reg I'm scared. Please can we go back to the sewers." "Relax, men. We're only here to help the poor elf and her friend over there." The man reached into his cloak and pulled out a small sack of gold, which he tossed to the elf. She caught it, looking skeptical. "...that's...that's it? You don't need anything from me?" "Of course not. You merely seem to be having something of a rough day....just remember Ulric Wolfkin's generosity when the time comes, milady. The Wolfgang doesn't forget about the commoners, even when others do..." he glanced sideways at the heroes. The others on the docks watched the scene, some mumbling to one another and looking at the heroes a bit more suspiciously. It was clear the man had every intention to cause a scene, and had succeeded at that. The elf looked down at the gold incredulously while the man and his cohorts seemed to be waiting for some kind of reaction from the heroes.

Loot Dyric - Pongcanis Dagger, 44 gold Atramor - Pongcanis Sword, 8 gold Monk Pretzel - 64 gold Namyrra - 64 gold Atramor moves to V5 and searches the crate of tools.

There's a finite number of Grating Stones, and now everyone is aware of their value. Offense-based classes can put additional power to good use. Health and ether is an even more infinite resources that requires less time than gold to stockpile. You gain extra health and ether with every level just like power. Focusing on one more than others is just indicative of what kind of role your character is going to fill. He's also a ranger, so health is exactly half as relevant than it is to melee-focused classes. He'd get the best use out of power.

Miderun picks up the Tridentian Cloak and hangs it over her shoulder, before turning to Lacy. "We found a dead man by your orchard. It was a bit of a mess...you may want to ask William and see if he can get somebody other there to collect the body. He had a note, Benji still has it." Miderun elbowed Benji in the side, evidently intending he hand over the note.

He's investing for the future. How's he going to reliably increase his power when weapon upgrades cost upwards of 200 gold?

I think Asphalt's getting at that it's actually under Fabian's shop.

Miderun stowed her gold, pulled off her gloves and handing them along with the Phoenix Essences to Benji. She hesitated, then slipped into the high heels awkwardly. "Weird..."

"A bunch of 'fodder' isn't going to help much against this kind of creature. What do you intend to do, placate it by feeding it a few civilians?" The elf woman crossed her arms as Kiray and Lane mumbled to one another. "I'm sorry I can't help you right now. Really, I am. Even assuming my arm heals, it'll be weeks before I can use it for anything. Please, I just need a hundred gold. Just enough to keep me afloat for a while until I can get another boat. I have nothing now." The sobbing cleric took the elixirs. The hobgoblin took the gold and handed Mizuki a paper. "There miss goes, heheh. Rawg hopes she enjoys it, yes." Copy of The Eubric Herald - (Gives the target the transcended- and inspired- effects for the duration of one battle) Mizuki unfolds the front page. The cleric kneels down to feed the man the elixirs. He coughs, raising his one hand to his head. "...ugh...I'm...alive?" He blinks slowly, one eye bruised and bloodied. "...Thanks..I..." The man swallows, breathing heavily. "....I was adjusting one of our sails...Cedenra thought she spotted a school of fish and we were just...turning, when this...this thing lunged out of the water. It was...enormous. I don't even know what I was looking at....a neck...a tentacle?....it was just so...sudden....I couldn't even..." The man wipes some blood off his mouth. "...hold on....no, wait, I remember. As it rose up, I saw....I saw a harpoon, stuck up under one of its scales. I don't know what managed to get it in there, but....it was an old wound. The...the flesh was all swollen, and bloody....Frederick saw it too. He tossed a second harpoon, nailed it too." The man coughed, but a lopsided grin appeared on his face despite his sorry state. "That hurt it, bad. I could tell. Then it....swept down, and...." The smiles is gone just as soon as it came. The Party Assets The Hydra Captain Lane 'Old Wounds' Kiray Nastayo (KingoftheZempk) *Immune to Fire* *Lucky* *Party Leader* Level 10 Knight Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 5 Health: 19/19 Gold: 104 Equipment: Fleuret (WP:9, longsword, borrowed from Mizuki), Orcish Shield (SP: 4, double if user is a greenskin, borrowed from Mizuki), Flameproof Armor (SP:1, immune to Fire; bodywear, suitable for anyone), Loaded Die (Gives holder the Lucky-effect, accessory, suitable for anyone, borrowed from Mizuki) Inventory: Sword of the Kin (WP:3), x5 Potion, Banana (Restores full health when eaten), Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, Mediocre Pongcanis Brew (Encouraged + Enraged), Everlasting Venom (Adds the poisoned by 10-effect to one weapon permanently), Sleep Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the Asleep-effect to all opponents when used.), Remedy, Dragon Scale, 2x Nostrum, x3 Fire Bomb, x4 Venom, Sanctified Rito Longsword (WP:6, doubled against Flying enemies; longsword), Scutum Shield (SP:3; shield) Mizuki Kimura (zakura) *50% More Gold Stolen* *Death Mask* *Ignores Positive Effects* Level 24 Assassin Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 34/34 Gold: 0 Equipment: Dual Gladii (WP:12, Darkness and Light elemental, dual-strike), Sticky Gloves (Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Death Mask (Increases assassination chances to 1/3 when the target’s health is lowered to 1/3, headwear, suitable for assassin), Fox Tail (user not affected by opponent's positive effects, backwear) Inventory: 20 Venoms, 8 Nostrums, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, 1 Think Jeeax Scales, 1 Rito Feather (consumable, grants the hastened- and blessed-effects upon use for one battle), Gladiator Trident (WP:11, causes bleeding effect; spear), Tonic, 3 Potions, 1 Weak Potion 1 Fire Bomb, 2 Chicken Drumsticks, 2 Deadly Venoms, Neutralizer, Weak Regeneration Potion, The Eubric Herald (Gives the target the transcended- and inspired- effects for the duration of one battle) Actaeon Artus (Actaeon) *Hastened* Level 6 Ranger Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 11/11 Gold: 50 Equipment: Sanctified Rito Bow (WP:6, doubled against Flying enemies; bow), Quickdraw Quiver (Gives wearer the Hastened-effect, backwear, suitable for rangers, borrowed from Mizuki) Inventory: Smoke Bomb, Potion x2, Remedy x2, Bedroll, Scroll of Frailty, Stun Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the Stunned-effect to all opponents when used.), Trial Brew, Dragon Scale, Mead, Smelling Salts, Venom x2, Greaves of the Aubergine Dragoon (SP:2, protects from the Bound- and Slowed-effects. Footwear, suitable for anyone.) Francis Barkley (Captain Settle) Level 5 Ranger Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 3 Health: 10/10 Gold: 17 Equipped: Training Bow (WP 4), Tricorne (SP:3) Inventory: 3 Potions, smokebomb, bedroll, mead, longbow (WP 3) venom, Lustrous Cloak (1/6 chance of dodging damage rolls and free hits. Suitable for rogues, artifact, backwear), grand potion, grating stone, Top Hat (WP: 14, 50/50 chance of dealing the stunned-effect, retrievable, borrowed from Mizuki), Sylph Shuriken (WP:12, wind elemental, retrievable, borrowed from Mizuki) Captain Pierce Lane (NPC, controlled by KingoftheZempk) Level 10 Cannoneer Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 26/26 Gold: 0 Equipped: Hand Mortar (WP: 5, handcannon), Cannoneer's Sashes (The damage output of bombs consumed are added to the weapon power of attacks, suitable for cannoneers, accessory) Inventory: 2 Fire Bombs, Water Bomb, Dirt Bomb

Atramor steps into Q7, swinging at the green berserker from the back row. Battle Order Pretzel Atramor Namyrra Dyric

Just gold is cool. Miderun shielded her eyes a bit from the violent flash of light and color, then looked around, impressed, seeing Tridentia awash in vibrant hues. "Well....there you go, then. Crazy old man had it coming." Miderun hung the club from her belt. "I guess that means it's over then."

Shade of Gray II should be dead.

Miderun finishes beating the hell out of the shade and the cow, turning her club on Scared Townsperson from the front row.

Lane's eyebrow raised into his hat. "That's pretty extreme, don't you think?" "I'd *sniff* think so..."

"What was that about not hitting crap? You're falling behind now." Miderun grips her club with both hands, again ramming it into Bessie from the front row. "Alright cow, you totally asked for it."

As it turns out there aren't as many modern-day pictures of medieval-era ports as I thought, for whatever reason. Usually I don't have as much of an issue with it, I try not to leave that much blank space, but a building on the back of that set would've worked a lot better. Oh well. I'm kind of curious: Atramor's sitting at 34 base Defense right now. Is that the most any hero has had at once, disregarding the Reinforced effect?

"I never did any sailing myself, I just caught the fish. Everyone I know who could be an asset is now sitting in the stomach of that..monster." "I can captain the ship myself Kiray. What we need are fighters." The young hobgoblin grinned up at Mizuki with broken teeth enthusiastically. "20 gold miss. Little high but less likely to get shanked reading paper than asking around bars, yeah? Heheh. Rawg knows how it goes." The cleric has tears streaming down his face, and he seemed to sobbing loudly. "That'd be me I *sob* guess. I did the best I could, I mean it. But *sniffle* there was so much blood. I tried bandaging up his arm but it was too late. I had to- *sob* I had to- *choke* " The pale man burst into even more tears. "It would take a miracle to save him now *sob*. Or at least enough potions to restore 100 health... "

"At least I'm trying to hit my target...you have enough gold, lizard." Miderun repeated her attack.

...Sure. It was hard trying to find the right angle for that picture's background. Hard enough to make me wish I could just put a generic sky back there. But the dock couldn't really just sit out there on the water like an island. Typically with shots like this I try to get a LEGO-based background, but that angle was just terrible.

"Do I look like I'm in any shape to sail? I can't help you against that thing." The elf blinked, then frowned. "Wait...you're going out to kill that thing? You're Heroica, aren't you? Could you- perhaps spare me some gold? I don't need much, just...maybe a few hundred, just to get me started? Without a boat, I'm facing the Hovels again.." "No idea, lady. That's why I came out here." Ettin jammed his thumb towards the young hobgoblin hawking newspapers. "Eubric Herald always has decent news. I was about to pick up my paper." The man was alive, though in agony. He coughed in deep pain, blood staining the sea. His eyes slid to Francis, and pled: "Kill me..." The parrot eyes the rat beadily as Actaeon questioned them both. "<Yep yep yep, what a mess, what a mess. Big thing in the water nearly at the ship. Maxy over there got the best look at it when it took his leg off.>" The parrot flapped his wings at the mutilated man on the floor. "<No....>" squeaked the rat, evidently intimidated. "<I smelled something yummy, so I came over looking for a snack..>"

"Of course not," sneered the man. "I'm accountant for the Hinckwells. Name's Ettin, and I'm actually here on business. We've got ships reported missing left and right and Heinrich wants to know why." "It was a beast alright. I hardly even got a look at it, though. Maxwell over there might've seen it. I was trying to spot a dragonshark or at least some trout, next thing I know, the boat's nearly tipped over and the entire starboard side of it is gone, along with most of Maxwell and my husband..." The elf ground her teeth despite the obvious sorrow in her eyes. "I got thrown into the water by the second attack. Two strikes and we're paddling the frame of the boat just to get back to Eubric. Pirates we could handle. We had the equipment to stave off anything too big to catch. But how do you fight something like that?" She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Three hundred coins and eight years of marriage gone in a matter of minutes."

The elf sitting in the pier looked absolutely enraged by...something. One arm was laden with thick, fresh bandages, and she held a worn, cheap ring in her hand. "You could say that. My entire livelihood just got destroyed. That piece of wreckage? That's what I floated back on. A few hours ago that used to be a six-person fishing vessel. Mine." Mizuki could smell the man from a dozen feet away as she approached, reeking of wine and some substance in his oily hair. He gave the assassin a suggestive smirk as she walked up, sipping from his goblet. "The finest liquor milady. Remarkably expensive, but I happen to be in a lucrative business." He flexed what looked to be a gold-plated arm. "It takes a wealthy man to have this kind of lifestyle. Perhaps you'd like a taste?"

Lane nods. The guards turn back to the shifting elf as the party leaves, somewhat off-put by the lack of progress there. The air was thicker by the port. A slew of people waited there. A dying, weeping, hawking sort. The heroes drew more than one stare. The Party Assets The Hydra Captain Lane Kiray Nastayo (KingoftheZempk) *Immune to Fire* *Lucky* *Party Leader* Level 10 Knight Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 5 Health: 19/19 Gold: 106 Equipment: Fleuret (WP:9, longsword, borrowed from Mizuki), Orcish Shield (SP: 4, double if user is a greenskin, borrowed from Mizuki), Flameproof Armor (SP:1, immune to Fire; bodywear, suitable for anyone), Loaded Die (Gives holder the Lucky-effect, accessory, suitable for anyone, borrowed from Mizuki) Inventory: Sword of the Kin (WP:3), x5 Potion, Banana (Restores full health when eaten), Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, Mediocre Pongcanis Brew (Encouraged + Enraged), Everlasting Venom (Adds the poisoned by 10-effect to one weapon permanently), Sleep Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the Asleep-effect to all opponents when used.), Remedy, Dragon Scale, 2x Nostrum, x3 Fire Bomb, x4 Venom, Sanctified Rito Longsword (WP:6, doubled against Flying enemies; longsword), Scutum Shield (SP:3; shield) Mizuki Kimura (zakura) *50% More Gold Stolen* *Death Mask* *Ignores Positive Effects* Level 24 Assassin Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 34/34 Gold: 18 Equipment: Dual Gladii (WP:12, Darkness and Light elemental, dual-strike), Sticky Gloves (Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Death Mask (Increases assassination chances to 1/3 when the target’s health is lowered to 1/3, headwear, suitable for assassin), Fox Tail (user not affected by opponent's positive effects, backwear) Inventory:, , 20 Venoms, 8 Nostrums, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, 1 Think Jeeax Scales, 1 Rito Feather (consumable, grants the hastened- and blessed-effects upon use for one battle), Gladiator Trident (WP:11, causes bleeding effect; spear), Tonic, 3 Potions, 1 Weak Potion 1 Fire Bomb, 2 Chicken Drumsticks, 2 Elixirs, 2 Deadly Venoms, Neutralizer, Weak Regeneration Potion Actaeon Artus (Actaeon) *Hastened* Level 6 Ranger Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 11/11 Gold: 50 Equipment: Sanctified Rito Bow (WP:6, doubled against Flying enemies; bow), Quickdraw Quiver (Gives wearer the Hastened-effect, backwear, suitable for rangers, borrowed from Mizuki) Inventory: Smoke Bomb, Potion x2, Remedy x2, Bedroll, Scroll of Frailty, Stun Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the Stunned-effect to all opponents when used.), Trial Brew, Dragon Scale, Mead, Smelling Salts, Venom x2, Greaves of the Aubergine Dragoon (SP:2, protects from the Bound- and Slowed-effects. Footwear, suitable for anyone.) Francis Barkley (Captain Settle) Level 5 Ranger Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 3 Health: 10/10 Gold: 17 Equipped: Training Bow (WP 4), Tricorne (SP:3) Inventory: 3 Potions, smokebomb, bedroll, mead, longbow (WP 3) venom, Lustrous Cloak (1/6 chance of dodging damage rolls and free hits. Suitable for rogues, artifact, backwear), grand potion, grating stone, Top Hat (WP: 14, 50/50 chance of dealing the stunned-effect, retrievable, borrowed from Mizuki), Sylph Shuriken (WP:12, wind elemental, retrievable, borrowed from Mizuki) Captain Pierce Lane (NPC, controlled by KingoftheZempk) Level 10 Cannoneer Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 26/26 Gold: 0 Equipped: Hand Mortar (WP: 5, handcannon), Cannoneer's Sashes (The damage output of bombs consumed are added to the weapon power of attacks, suitable for cannoneers, accessory) Inventory: 2 Fire Bombs, Water Bomb, Dirt Bomb "Looks like it's been a busy day for these people. What the hell happened?" What will the party do? There's a lot to do here, so feel free to split up and chat with whoever.

"Don't think there's anything we can do for you then. Sorry." The lieutenant shrugged. Lane scratched his chin. "Hmph. Bit of a waste." The captain looked sideways at the heroes. "We off to the docks, then?"

"Hmm. If you're just looking for sailors, I can't help you much. Though I feel like there's something more to this." "Always is with heroes. Grash wondering what heroes need whole crew for." The orc leveled his eyes at Kiray. It was difficult to tell if it was with suspicion or just bluntness.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT.