CMP

Spoiler alert: U'Reeka was also the designer of the unarmed arm disarming arm to disarm unarmed arms with but a single armed arm.

The elf remained silent, still smiling oddly at the party. U'Reeka lowered his head. "Hybros. So I assume most everyone else here is Heroica too I assume." "Most. Not all." "Indeed...thank you for saving the citizens. It is by my own error they were put in harm's way by my own error. When Wally showed me the entrance to the Iron Spire, the tower we are in now, I knew I had to move my experiments down here. The benefits of using the Moon Elves' research and methods far outweighed the risks. You see, everything in this tower was constructed for the purpose of this." He nodded to the glowing green fire within the furnace. "Which I have labelled the Abyssal Forge I have labelled it. The Elves used pure dark magic, molded it into molds it was molded into. They waited until the moon was best visible, usually during a solar eclipse, and transmitted the light of the moon down here, where it was manipulated and liquefied to serve as the basis of their weapons, which I call starbeam. I attempted to recreate this reaction, using the two dimensional images printed by the AIUPIIUP to imprint the molds. Moonlight is a powerful magic, and the elves were very familiar with it. My first test was simple and beyond disastrous and simple." "What the hell happened, Doc?" U'Reeka dug a picture out of his satchel. It was of an apple. "This is what I tried to recreate." He pointed to a microscopic dot of missing ink within the apple's image. "This is where the shades came from. I modified the AIUPIIUP so that the printed areas of the image would be imprinted into a mold and then filled with moonlight after being imprinted into a mold. This mere spot was missing on the mold. A blank space. I don't know why it...mutated, I suppose. I theorize that to fill out that blank space, the darkest light of the moon found its way there, to naturally counteract the sheer brightness of the light surrounding it. That's the reason the process works in the first place - a mold of pure darkness to shape a creation of pure moonlight is the reason the process works. And now a spot within filled with the worst of both." "This all happened because...because the picbox ran out of ink?" "Yes. And that led to the creation of these shades."

The party enters the forge. A dim greenish glow waits to greet them at the end of a long hallway, lined with ancient, exquisite blacksmith equipment. At the end was a small, simple chamber, its only occupants being two figures and a surprisingly unimpressive forge, the strange glow from which serving to light the otherwise abnormally dark room. One was a tired-looking U'Kin, who was immediately spotted and rushed to by Wally, followed closely by Eva. "Doc!" "Wally? What on Olegaia are you doing here on Olegaia?" The other, elvish figure was quite tall and extremely pale, dressed in regal robes. But a shadow clung to her back like a cloak, and one arm seemed to be composed entirely of the substance, which strongly resembled that of the shades the party had been encountering. Soryx gripped the hilt of Vanquisher tightly, but she did not react, staring straight ahead at the heroes, a knowing smile on her face. The silence was tense. What will the party do?

It's funny because the assassin methods in 69 and 72 were already polar opposites.

I'd consider it depending on what exactly it'd entail.

I'll post the last sequence tomorrow. Posco carelessly tossed Jeaux some Spoiled Smelling Salts.

Atramor pressed his advantage after slicing cleanly through the paladin's armor, repeating his attack with a smirk.

Need? I don't think so. What if the PC just didn't have it?

"They cracked open the city a few months back and I heard my cousin Vinum's been livin' it up down here, so I paid him a visit. The Magpie's fine, the crew can get along without a cook for a few days." "I'm not helping you save the professor, but don't think I'm leaving this situation. On the chance he dupes you and you end up like these elves we keep finding lying around, I'll be waiting to kill anything that crawls out of this forge."

Did you calculate my 1/6 chance to deflect damage completely? Atramor stumbled backward slightly, grunting at the paladin's attack and striking back.

They were Grogmas Gifts.

"I do not make hasty judgments. I would very much like to hear what the doctor has to say first." "Er...heha. Yeah. This is a mite over my head, Hybros. I'm sure all of ye have our best interests in mind." "I'm POSITIVE it was just an accident. Doc would never ever do something like this." "I kinda wanna bite a few of his fingers off, but -" Wally blinks at her, horrified. "- I'm sure this is all some kinda misunderstanding."

"I think his fate is very much in our hands if I may say so. I will fight with you to the end, heroes. I am curious to understand the threat that has been spawned in this place, but don't mistake my professional interest for complacency - I am more than prepared to finish my mission."

I'm sorry to hear that. Take all the time you need. We're more or less at the end of this anyway. Basically. "No. My contracts...few were about dealing justice. My life is forfeit now since I've left the Blue Assassins - I'll be killed as soon as a whisper of my presence reaches them." "But I've spent a decade down here in this sewer. I've been staring death in the face since I was a child in the service of those marauders. Nobody here cares about that life or how many deaths I've dealt. None of these people have done anything to deserve this kind of punishment. That this Doctor would risk their lives to fulfill his careless curiosity...I'm not letting that endanger them again." "If you go in there without the intention of killing him, you won't have my company. If you do insist on rescuing him, make sure he doesn't set a foot in our city for the rest of his life." Wally crossed his arms, looking deeply troubled. Eva patted his shoulder and eyed the dim, greenish glow in the depths of the forge they were about to enter.

I'm actually genuinely amazed Arthur doesn't know every single thing that's happened ever on a Quest. In a good way.

"Scruffy rogue...do scruffy rogues use shields, idiot?" Atramor slashed at the annoying paladin with the Tiger Claws.

"Really. Wally said they dragged him down into the forge. I'm sure there's still at least a few more left to fight, probably the leaders if they have them. Knowingly excavating the ruins of an ancient, demon-infested city and using its magics is not the move of someone concerned with the well-being of those around him. I'm not standing by and letting him put everyone at risk again."

Jeaux placed the mirror, interfering with the beam of light to the point where it impacted the sphere overlooking the door in the corner. Fully lit up, the narrow, metallic black limbs serving to bar the door retreated. Their way had been cleared. "Awesome job!! Hopefully Doc's still alright in there..." "I wouldn't mind if we found his own monsters had devoured him." Wally shot Posco a startled look, but the aged assassin merely coughed, exhausted from the combat, and shook his head. "I know damn well when someone's in over their head with business they know nothing about. If we find the good Doctor alive in there, I'm not leaving until that changes. He's a threat to the entire city, if all of this wasn't enough to figure that out."

It's a magic mirror so it conforms to the exact length of the pedestal it's placed on. The mirror is reflective on both sides.

No, you're only placing the one mirror, but it has to be on the edge of one of the pedestals like the other ones. Jeaux looked up to get an idea of what destroying the AIUPIIUP had done to the flow of light in the room.

Atramor shook his head, drawing his Tiger Claws. "I'll fight ya'. Maybe if I don't kill ya' it'll prove we're not here to cause trouble."

Round Eleven of Observatory Battle A Battle Order Soryx attacks Shade B (and Shade B) - Damage (No effect) >Em attacks Shade B - Special Damage: Blackest Night (No effect) Jeaux attacks Shade B - Aim Aim (11 damage) Jeaux attacks Shade B - Shield Aim (11 damage) >Eva attacks Shade B - Shield Damage (No effect) Pretzel vs. Shade B - Special Damage Deflected Damage (No effect) Pretzel vs. Shade B - Deflected Damage Hit (38 damage) Hybros attacks Shade B - Lethal Aim Lethal Hit (37 x 2 = 74 damage, Shade B turned into Void Husk B) Hybros attacks Void Husk B - Special Damage Lethal Hit (No effect, no assassination) Wally attacks Void Husk C - Special Damage Enhancement (+1 WP) Posco attacks Husk C (and B) - Special Damage Lethal Critical Hit (200 damage to both Husks, both Husks KO'd) Posco attacks Husk C (and B) Melvin does nothing Jeaux lays down some suppressive fire as Pretzel and Hybros team up on the Shade, turning him into a husk just in time for Posco to kill them both. The party breathes a sigh of relief as their last enemies fall, and the silence settles in. THE BATTLE IS VICTORIOUS! Everyone gains experience. The enemies drop one Potion, 80 gold, a Diamond, and six Grand Potions. Party leader, how will the loot be divided? Junction A Party Jeaux Elmfyre (joeshmoe554) *Blessed* *Transcended* *Immune to Sealing, Bleeding, and Confused* *Party Leader* Unknown age automaton male Evoker Level 18 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 2 Health: 26/26 Ether: 19/19 Gold: 615 Equipment: Divine Cannonade (WP:11; gives blessed- and transcended-effects to user; hollow; handcannon), Enchanted Bracelet (protects from sealing; accessory), Automaton Armor (SP:2, immune to bleeding and confused; suitable to automata only; bodywear) Inventory: Eminus (WP: 5; bow), Ranger's Quiver (WP+1; backwear), Topaz, Soma, Tonic, Grand Tonic x2, Grand Potion x6, Remedy x2, Venom x2, Volatile Venom x4, Jinxy Juice, Smoke Bomb, Water Bomb, Bedroll, Bone x6, Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 Items; accessory), Amethyst, Experienced Turdwing (Deals the confused and poisoned by 1 effects on an opponent when used, fly familiar), 3 Health Cores, Phoenix Essence, Crescent Shield (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield) Summons: Nilrem Soryx Dourskull (NPC, controlled by Palathadric) *Favors Dark* *Counterstriking* *Immune to Darkness, Ice, Hexed, and Confused* 43 years old male wereviper Hunter Level 23 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 16 Health: 38/38 Gold: 26 Equipment: Vanquisher (WP: 23, light, ice, and lightning elemental, greatsword), Darksteel Armor (Suitable for anyone, SP: 6, max health +3, immune to darkness, hexed, and confused, bodywear), Counterstrike Gauntlets (Suitable for Soryx, SP: 7, if the wearer is damaged by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to their level), Frost Helmet (SP: 3, ice immune) Inventory: Dastan Dual Axes (WP: 7, 1/6 chance to seal dragons, dual-strike, axes), Cracked Starbeam Dagger (WP: 10, damages undead, double WP from dusk until dawn, breaks after one use, throwing weapon) Erveka "Eva" (NPC, controlled by joeshmoe554) *Regenerating* 19 years old female kobold Chi Monk Level 17.5 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 36/36 Ether: 18/20 Equipment: Magic Viper Skin (heals 1 health to wearer each round of battle unless knocked out; accessory) Inventory: Amethyst, Pointy Teeth (Suitable for kobolds, martial hits deal the bleeding effect, accessory) Em (emjajoas) Unknown age human male Warden Level 17 Power Bonus: 4 Defense: 19 Health: 35/35 Gold: 56 Equipment: Aquabow (WP: 7, Water-elemental, poisoned by 10), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Fashionable Shield (SP:7), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory) (Power +2, SP +2, Max. Health +2, Max. Ether +2. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year) Inventory: Consumables: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone x2, Nostrum x2, Potion x3, Remedy x2, Venom, Grand Potion x3, Mead x2, Ambrosia, Phoenix Incense Weapons: Quality Cutlass (WP:6, Dagger), Bow(WP:5), Aging Starbeam Blade (WP: 9, damages undead, double WP from dusk until dawn, breaks after one use, longsword) Tools: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Equipment: White Marksman's Hat (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear), Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by (Asleep), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), x2 Crescent Shields (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield), Posco Padfoot (NPC, controlled by emjajoas) *Immune to blinded* *Explodes when knocked out* 111 year old male halfling Assassin Level 75.4 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 10 Health: 69/90 Gold: 29172 Equipment: Hellfire and Damnation (WP: 50, dual strike, deals damage to undead, deals poisoned by 250, daggers), Cloak of the Ex-Blue Assassin (Suitable for former blue assassins, immune to blinded SP: 10, backwear), Tattered Hood (Suitable for Posco, attacks deal the fragile effect if assassination fails, headwear), Peasant’s Robe (Suitable for anyone, +4 maximum health, bodywear), Talisman of the Last Resort (Suitable for suicidal old men, wearer explodes on being knocked out, dealing 200 damage to all enemies, accessory) Inventory: 82 Spoiled Nostrums (Deals the doomed and lucky effects), 85 Spoiled Smelling Salts (Deals the bleeding and hastened effects), 89 Spoiled Meads (Deals the poisoned by 25 and encouraged effects), 55 Deadly Venoms, 45 Venoms Melvin (NPC, controlled by JimButcher) *Civilian* 82 years old male dwarf Minstrel Level 2 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 17/17 Ether: 5/10 Gold: 0 Equipment: Out of Tune Slidewhistle (WP: 1, instrument), Spare Mirror (Suitable for anyone, carrier is slowed, accessory) Inventory: Phoenix Incense Note: As a civilian, the NPC dies when knocked out at the end of battle. Wally (NPC, controlled by Palathadric) 11 years old male gnomish Artisan *Immune to Blinded, Doomed, Fire, and Light* Level 16 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 2 Health: 27/36 Gold: 0 Equipment: All-Purpose Wrench (WP: 17, damages undead, hammer), Neat-o Goggles (Immune to blinded, light, and fire, accessory, suitable for Wally), Syndicate Cowl (SP: 2, Immune to Doomed effect) Inventory: Telescope, Magnifying Glass, Bedroll, 2 Pickaxes, 2 Shovels, 4 Potions, 4 Grand Potions, 5 Health Cores, Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 Items; accessory) Hybros (JimButcher)*Hastened* *Immune to Cursed, Asleep, Blinded, Confused, Fragile, Weakened* *Immune to all elements* *Bonded with Pretzel* (*Immune to Fragile*) 53-year-old male imp Assassin Level: 30.5 Power Bonus: +1 Defense: 0 Health: 45/45 Gold: 1314 Equipment: Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 45.25, gains 1/4 WP every kill made with it, light-, darkness-, fire-, ice-, and wind-elemental; longsword, poisoned by 10), Golden Armor (user is permanently hastened and cursed, fire-, water-, earth-, wind-, wood-, ice-, lightning-, darkness-, light-elemental, grants immunity to Sleep, Blindness, Confusion, Frailty, and Weakening; bodywear), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; backwear), The Black Hat (Suitable for anyone, grants Intimidation, immune to darkness and cursed, headwear), Soul Link Chain (Allows the user to pair up with another party member, each of them gaining all the effects that the other has. The partner has to equip the chain as well (ie. one chain can be shared by two people); accessory) Inventory: Zoot's Reaper (WP:15, earth-elemental; scythe), Clock Cog (WP:14, retrievable), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all, retrievable), Justice (WP:8, causes blinded-effect, dagger), Twin Kunai (WP:6, dual strike, daggers), Spinning Bolas (WP: 5, deals the Slowed effect, but the effect is removed when retrieved; retrievable), Wrench (WP:3, decreases the target’s level by 1, retrievable), Cloak of the Blue Assassin (SP:1, suitable to Rogues; backwear), Sterile Gloves (grants immunity to poisoned- and bleeding-effects, handwear), Minuet of the Forest (Causes Wood damage equal to the minstrel's level to all enemies per round for as long as the song is sung. Costs 10 ether per round. Minstrel Song), 8 Potions, Grand Potion, 6 Health Cores, Tiger Balm, 11 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, 3 Elixirs, 2 Phoenix Essences, 2 Deadly Venoms, 3 Smoke Bombs, 3 Holy Bombs, 4 Nostrums, 3 Meads, 3 Mulled Wines, Minimizing Dust, Bedroll, Shovel, Skeleton Decoy, Bone, 4 Mythril Shards, 3 Pumpkin Bombs (causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used), x2 Gold Rings (Worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Pauldrons (suitable for knights, dragoons, and skirmishers, SP: 2, accessory), Fenghuang Essence (After being consumed, automatically revives the target with full health once when knocked out; cannot revive targets that are already knocked out), Ancient Starbeam Dagger (WP: 12, damages undead, double WP from dusk until dawn, breaks after one use, throwing weapon), Crescent Shield (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield), Sticky Gloves (gains 50% more gold, suitable for Rogues, handwear), Baron's Epaulets (Suitable for short heroes, grants Command over short NPCs) Monk Pretzel (Played by Palathadric) *Immune to Fragile* *Bonded with Hybros* (*Hastened* *Immune to Cursed, Asleep, Blinded, Confused, Fragile, Weakened* *Immune to all elements*) 463-year-old male "hermit" Paladin Level 28.66 Power Bonus: 5 in front Defense: 25 (30 in back) Health: 41/49 Ether: 26/37 Gold: 936 Equipment: Dual Staff (WP:8, Ice, Lightning, Fire, Wind, Light; dual strike; staff), Mythril Shield (SP:20), Heavy Armour (SP:5, Immune to Fragile, Strategist's Shako (+5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back; headwear), Soul Link Chain (Allows the user to pair up with another party member, each of them gaining all the effects that the other has. The partner has to equip the chain as well (ie. one chain can be shared by two people); accessory) Inventory: Heavy Flail (WP:5, causes fragile; mace), Flying Cross (WP:6; Darkness; broomstick), Steak (WP: 1; instantly kills vampires on successful hits; suitable for all), Impervious Shield (SP: 5; grants immunity to Fire), Duplovian Helmet (SP: 2; Immune to Magic and Healing; headwear), Bumble Fanshirt (SP: 1; Vermin with level less than half of the wearers are scared and won't directly attack the wearer; bodywear), Soothing Slippers (meditation restores 5 ether; footwear), Shackles of War (accessory), Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blinding, Scroll of Arc Sleep, 3 Potions, 7 Grand Potions, 5 Tonics, 2 Ether Cores, 7 Remedies, Neutralizer, Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), Phoenix Incense, 2 Smelling Salts, 5 Venoms, 5 Deadly Venoms, 2 Paralyzing Venoms, 3 Smoke Bombs, Fire Bomb, Holy Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb, Bedroll, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest), 10 Bones, Raw Meat (+5 max. health upon consumption), Archaic Starbeam Blade (WP: 15, damages undead, double WP from dusk until dawn, breaks after one use, longsword), 2 Health Cores, Bunch of Cherries (A bunch of 10 cherries that each restore 1 ether when eaten; it is up to the user to choose how many they eat at a time), Rock Gauntlets (Suitable for anyone, grants the wearer Iron Fist at no ether cost, handwear), Crescent Shield (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield), Counterstrike Gloves (handwear), Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max Ether +4; backwear)

"Then ask your friend to go do it. You're wastin' our time, mate."

"Go ask him." Atramor yawned, ensuring he had all his weapons on him, McCafferey snug on top of his hat.