CMP

Olmstyr nodded back to Nerwen. "Not likely. They have their orders and are set to march at any moment. The battle will have been well underway by the time I could reach the clan generals, if the orcs on the front let me through. Assuming they even listen to me, there's no telling how long it would take to get their men to pull back. I would do more good here."

I bet your notion didn't involve being on the bridge while it was gotten rid of, though.

"If this paladin is so against the orcs, I don't imagine he will have much use for me. If he has agents among my men, it takes but a single arrow or blade to silence me. And if I am dead, who is to talk some sense into David once this danger has passed?" "I think if we hold out long enough, both sides will stop throwing men at us so they can figure out what's going on."

No. If you side with the orcs, it means that if the orcs win, you win. If you side with the Kingdoms, if the Kingdoms win, you win. That's all it means. Neutral victory is a possibility, but you have to choose a side nonetheless.

"The men on the front lines here are under David's rule and this paladin's influence. They're willingly following their orders despite the fact that it goes against everything I've stood to prevent - me working to keep them off the bridge while I'm still believed to be held captive will not help matters." Again, this does not determine who you're fighting, but who you win with. All will be explained in the mechanics once everyone chooses a cause.

Maybe I should've worded it better....this ONLY determines which side you're winning with, nothing else just yet.

The bomb has been dropped, Baltarok questers.

"What I want is peace. Evidently, that's a fool's dream in this situation. My kin want to invade the Kingdoms, get revenge on these Lizards and Boulders, and free those of still imprisoned here. I'll have to settle for that, it seems." "I'm being realistic here. We have two armies ready to slaughter eachother, and now you think you can come up with a diplomatic solution? No. The Kingdoms refuse to see reason under their leadership now. The orcs are doing what they think is best." Olmstyr looked outside. The armies looked about ready to tear eachother to pieces while the heroes sat and argued in the watchtower. Valentino looked at Olmstyr, then at the heroes, then at the two armies outside, sighing in resignation. "I'll have to agree with you there, orc. We're cut off from the leadership, and I imagine this battle is going to start any moment now. If that's true..." He looked back at the heroes. "...The bridge is structurally unsound, heroes. It's incomplete; the tower we had to build puts too much weight on the center. We never expected a full-scale battle to be taking place on it." "...You mean to say that-" "If this war is as inevitable as it seems, and it comes to a head inside this tower, the entire bridge is coming down. With everyone still on it with it." Olmstyr paused at this statement rung in the air. "...We can't let that happen. Both armies will be utterly destroyed." The drums of war started to echo from the disorganized orcish side of the army. The Kingdoms side remained silent, lined up row after row. Olmstyr turned towards the heroes. "We need to defend this bridge. From both sides. If we don't, everyone will be paying for it. We don't have much time, heroes. Which cause do each of you fight for?" Everybody should speak up here, Quest 90 party especially. This will have a direct impact on your win conditions.

"I'm afraid I can't do that." "Sir?" "We're staying here as bait. It's the best chance we have of catching whatever's doing this. If they operate on the basement of silent kidnappings, I doubt they would try and assault five highly trained heroes. If your clues can tip you off as to what you're facing, you'll be better prepared when it comes to take me and Moke too. If we go with you, it, or they, or....whatever the hell this is, may never show its face. I can't imagine you'll need a map, what you saw on your way in is essentially everything. The gray building we're in now is administration, the flat building underneath us is the Flat, where most of us live, the black stovepipe building is Shelby's shop, the black one on the other bank is the workshop, and the big mushroom is the Sluice, our pub."

"Fighting a war doesn't make you a savage. If you want to see the work of savages, you should come back to Imaestym and see what the Kingdoms have wrought there."

"You say this like he's yours to hand over. If he's the one controlling this army, how do you expect him to just surrender? "Do you not the see the army being led by his upstart son cutting us off from the High Kingdoms? Whether you come up with a solution or not, Valentino's in no position to make it happen. They will try their very hardest to kill my kin nonetheless. That you suggest we lay down our weapons and try to negotiate with those just as responsible for the attack on Imaestym, those who still would see us all dead, is futility on your part. If there was any chance for peace, these Kingdoms have already thrown it away."

I saw that and still couldn't understand what I was seeing.

You get one more day to verbally beat the crap out of eachother. Then tomorrow you can start using swords and stuff to do it instead.

But this time mine are winning.

"The leader of that city believed in every word you fed him. Karstaal believed this bridge would open us up to the world, and had few dedicated soldiers. He wanted peace. Now his city lies in ruin. We're not rising up against the bridge, not anymore. We're rising up against you and these monsters you call allies."

Olmstyr spat on the shoes of the king. "Keep a wolf starved and chained to a post, expect him to strike back when you draw close enough. If you had tried to move past your history, we wouldn't be here. You tried to contain us, isolate us, and so Tarokai rose up and threw off his chains. You let your Kingdoms be destroyed, you killed our greatest hero, yet you learned NOTHING. And so here we are again."

"Don't spout your meaningless philosophy to, me, elf, that isn't going to solve our problems. We've spent a thousand years carving lives for ourselves in this barren hell. We exist and endure by being stronger than anything the world can throw at us. We did rise up. We banded together and tried to wrest these chains off of us, under a leader that your predecessors killed and formed your organization around. Don't you even think of lecturing me or any of my kin, Guts and all of my allies here included, on how to act in the face of conflict. We don't have the luxury of caring when all the world is trying to destroy us. All we can and will do is weather what's thrown at us as we have always done."

"And this army you have here? When we kill their leader, you expect them to just go home and forget all about this? If you killed an orc chieftain, you would have all his clan's might brought down on you. Are humans any different?" "Don't tell me you think killing one man is going to just end centuries of conflict. The Kingdoms made that very mistake when they had Tarokai killed."

"We're not out here to kill innocents," snapped Olmstyr. "We're here to kill the soldiers that stood back and let this happen, and to free those of us who remain enslaved by inheritance."

That was the Reget's plan all along. The typical world domination nonsense was just an act. He plans to rid the world of coats and replace them with sweaters The fiend.

I've never seen someone get so worked up over buttons.

PCs are in the middle of the bridge, Red Lizards plus Paladins and Raguel on the Kingdoms bank, Orcs on the other side. The Four Boulders aren't present.

"The last three, actually...it's hard to pin down just where and when several people have vanished, even at once. If I knew where our little militia disappeared, I'd send you there. Shelby, Vinum, and Erveka told me they were holing up in her shop, to....to avoid them getting all four of us in a single group. To draw them away from me," finished the Baron, bitterness in his voice obvious. "They knew they had to buy time for you to get here. Haven't heard back from them. I don't know if they've hit the same multiple times."

"I've hunted demons and dark entities posing threats to the world for the better part of my life. Often I'm called upon to investigate someone's disappearance only to find them having been consumed by darkness in some way, but nothing quite like this, I'm afraid." Soryx blinked at Hybros' strange appearance, but if he had any concerns, he didn't voice them, tilting his head towards the imp. "I can fight. My purpose here is to help you hunt down the threat that's taken these citizens, and destroy it." Soryx nodded back towards Em. "Things are well, monk. I have hunted a few more necromancers of the Cold Circle. They have been oddly active the past few months. And of course there are the typical errant demons roaming the world I am called upon to slay." The Baron clears his throat. "Yes, good, get to know eachother. Soryx will be working with you to find and, if necessary, kill whatever's taken my people. I'd like you to take a look in Shelby's shop first. That's where the biggest single disappearance took place, far as I know. Keep on the look out for anything out of the ordinary. Clues. Anything we can use to pin this threat down. Any more questions?"

Before the two parties can react much more, the heroes assisting the orcish clans stormed the bridge from the orcish side, coming face to face with their Kingdoms counterparts, plus the Circus and their heroes, all right underneath the tower built right into the middle of the bridge. The Party: Guts Holla (Scubacarrot) *Immune to Weakened, Fragile, Asleep, Confused and Blinded* *Immune to all elements* *Hastened* *Encouraged* *Lucky* *Deals Posioned by 10* *Party Leader* 44 year old male human Raider Level 30.33 Power Bonus: +2 Health: 44/44 Defense: 4 Gold: 695 Equipment: Lifestealer (WP: 32, Ice, Darkness, Light, attacks restore 3 health, dagger), Dancing Shoes (Wearer dances well, in the turn after a miss is rolled, the wearer can act twice. +Immunity to Asleep, Confused, Fragile, Weakened and Blinded, + Immunity to Darkness, Light, Fire, Air, Earth, Wood, Lightningand Ice Elemental Damage, footwear), Sticky Gloves (Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Crocodile Armour (+4 Defense +Immunity to Water Magic, bodywear) Inventory: Stag Antlers (WP:10, Intimidation, halberd), Twin Sai (WP: 10, dual strike, dagger), Ambrosia 3x Mead, Smelling Salts, 22x Grand Potion, 4x Health Core, 2x Elixir, 10x Remedy, 5x Smoke Bomb, 5x Deadly Venom, 2x Neutralizer, Shovel, Telescope, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, 4x Mythril Shard, 15x Grating Stone, Crimson Serum (Grants Mutated Effect for one battle.), Arc Elixir, Blessed Amulet, Beholder's Eye, Cosmic Essence, Agni Bomb, Pugilist's Gloves (2+ Power, Immune to Weakened, handwear), Gold Chalice, Gold Bar, Black Pearl, Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects for the duration of one battle) Thormanil Nihai, Dragonslayer (Played by swils) and Arx the Hatchling *Immune to Darkness, Wood, Asleep, Confused, Fragile, Weakened, Blinded, Bound, and Slowed* *Encouraged* *Inspired* Level 35.25 Dragoon Power Bonus: +1 Defense: 8 Health: 58/58 Gold: 1713 Equipment: Dragonsbane Lance (WP: 20, triple damage to enemies with 'Dragon' in their name, lance), Wooden Shield (SP:5, Null Wood), Bright Armor (SP: 3, Null Darkness), Winged Sandals (Wearer is immune to bound, slowed, asleep, confused, fragile, weakened, and blinded effects)., Medal of Glory (Wearer gains triple experience, accessory) Inventory: Weapons & Shields: Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding effect), Thundering Totem (WP:9, lightning, axe), Tongue on a Stick (WP:1, Miss -> "Aim"), Frozen Saber (WP: 9, longsword, Stuns enemies), Shishkebab (WP: 16, darkness-elemental, dual-strike, lance) Artefacts: Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Weredog (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf(Accessory), Aqua Gear (Wearer deals and is immune to water elemental damage) Consumables: Smelling Salts, Deadly Venom(2), Remedy (2), Jinxy Juice(1) (Q35), Fire Bomb(2), Milk(1), Potion(2), Venom(3), Lightning Bomb, Grand Potion(2), Smoke Bomb(2), Ice Bomb(1), Bones(3), Water Bombs(5), Mead, Tiger Balm(1), Neutralizer (1), Aquamarine, Emerald, Garnet, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, Amethyst, Elixir, Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects for the duration of one battle) Misc.: Pickaxe, Shovel, Amethyst, Grating Stone, Teleportapple Haldor Skovgaard (Played by Scorpiox) *Immune to Stunned and Blinded* *Encouraged* 34 year old male human Nord Shaman Level 31 Power Bonus: +4 Defense: 2 Health: 52/52 Ether: 32/42 Gold: 241 Equipment: Zoot er Isen (WP: 15, Ice and Light Elemental) Ethereal Cloak (SP: 2, +4 Ether, Protects from Blindness), Scarlet Hood (+4 Power, Protects from Stunning), Shamanic Plate (Max. Health +2, Max. Ether +2; Blood Ritual does double damage to the target; suitable to shamans only; bodywear) Weapons: Heavy Metal Rod (WP: 12, Water Elemental), Dualis Sceptres (WP: 13, darkness-elemental, Dual-Striking), Bear Claw Gloves (WP: 8, SP: 2) Artefacts: Pugilist's Gloves (+2 Power, Protects from Weakening), Gladiator's Helmet (SP: 3), Ognar's Beard (+8 power, wearer enraged, headwear, suitable for men), Heavy Armour (SP: 5, Protects from Fragility), Consumables: Health Core (x2), Potion (x4), Remedy (x8), Venom, Grand Tonic (x4), Ether Core, Smelling Salts, Grating Stone, Elixir, Cosmic Essence, Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects for the duration of one battle) Inventory: Scutum Shield (SP: 9), Shovel, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Sleep, Emerald Alexis Fenral (Masked Builder) *Immune to Blinded* *Counterstriking* 20 year old female elven Harlot Level 42.25 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 71/71 Gold: 722 GP: 9 Equipment: Cat-o'-Nine-Tails (WP: 20, damage divided between all enemies, Suitable For Rouges), Ring of Sight (protects fromblinded), Counterstrike Gloves, Medal of Glory (Artefact/Accessory - Mark of true talent that allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles) Inventory: Steel fan (WP:20, ice-, lightning-, and darkness-elemental), Death's Whip (WP:11, on successful hits there is a 1/6 chance to cause double damage), Quickdraw Quiver (permanent hastened-effect, suitable to Rangers), Healing Staff (WP: 5; healing effect), Staff of Ennon (WP: 5, light-elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4; staff),, Electro Gear (Adds lightning-element to physical attacks and protects from lightning-elemental damage, accessory), Smelly Hide (Suitable for barbarians and beast warriors, half damage from beasts and humanoids on Damage, bodywear), Aquamarine (Water), Diamond (Light), Sapphire (Wind), Topaz (lightning), Fifty Shades of Bley, Bedroll, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Remedy, 2 Somas, 8 Water Bombs, 2x Lightning Bomb, 2x Fire Bomb, 3 Dirt Bombs, Smoke Bomb, 4x Venom, 2x Deadly Venom, Health Core, 4x Potion, Grand Potion, Nostrum, 9 Meads, 3 Smelling Salts, 9 Remedies, 7 Grand Potions, Skeleton Decoy, 8x Bone, Deadly Venom, 2 Kraken Fangs (grants hastened- and reinforced-effects when consumed), Silver Ore (worth 60 gold), Demon Repellant (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons during one battle. Consumable), Winged Sandals (artifact; footwear; protects from bound and slowed effects), 2xTitan Heart (Grants encouraged- and inspired-effects when consumed), Mulled Wine, 2 Grating Stones, Lieutenant's Helmet (SP:3, protects from fragile), Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects for the duration of one battle) Alexandre le Chevalier (Played by Capt.JohnPaul) *Immune to Stunned, Slowed, and Bound* *Encouraged* 20 year old elf male Black Knight Level 25.66 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 14 Health: 43/43 Gold: 232 Equipment: Sword of the Elven Blademaster (WP: 10 ;ignores SP, +1 gold per successful strike, Poisoned -10), Cross Heater Shield (SP: 10), Black Knight Armor (SP:4, protects from Stunned effect.), Winged Sandals (Protects from bound- and slowed-effects; footwear) Inventory: Potions (7), Bedroll, Smoke Bomb 3x, Fire Bomb, Feather Duster of DOOM (WP: 1), Eyepatch (Headwear: 1/2 chance to prevent blinded-effect. Costs 20 gold. A hero cannot equip more than 1 eyepatch) Deadly Venom x5, Tome of The Regret, Volatile Venom x3, Mead 2x, Nostrum, Smelling Salts, Grand Potion 2x, Emerald (Wood), Mulled Wine, 1 fine Montresorian Wine, Ambrosia, 4 Grating Stones, Dapper Hat (Headwear, wearer has a 1/6 chance of becoming encouraged at the start of each battle), Remedy x2, Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects for the duration of one battle) Dyric Rone (Played by The Legonator) *Immune to all elements* *Lucky* *Encouraged* *Steals 50% more gold* Level 24.66 Assassin Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 3 Health: 36/36 Gold: 2005 Equipment: Requiem (WP: 20; wood, light and darkness-elemental, ranged), Lucky Die, Tricorne (SP:3, Water, Wood, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness - elemental) Sticky Gloves (Increases amount of gold stolen by 50%; handwear) Inventory: Double Chain Whip (WP:10), Throwing Knife (WP:4, ranged, retrievable), Aquamarine (Water), Diamond, 4 Potions, 4 Grand Potions, Elixir, 2 Remedies, 2 Meads, Nostrum, 2 Venoms, Smoke Bomb, Skeleton Decoy, 3 Mythril Shards (3/4 of a Mythril), Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold), Bone, Winged Sandals, Smelling Salts, Bedroll, Shovel, Banana (Restores full health to target), Diamond Lamp of Summoning (1/3 Uses Left), Tonic, Nordic Stomach Guard (SP: 3, Immunity to Ice and Water, Bodywear, Suitable for Barbarians, Regulators, and Beast Warriors), 1 Military Grade Light Bomb, 1 Military Grade Darkness Bomb, 3 Cosmic Essences, Mulled Wine, Soma, 2 Bones, Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects for the duration of one battle), Magic Bompass Olmstyr (NPC, uncontrollable/takes suggestions) *Deals Poisoned by 7 and Cursed* 33 years old male orc Warden Level 29 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 10 Health: 46/46 Gold: 0 Equipment: Serstyr (WP: 21, light-elemental, longsword), Traveller’s Cloak (SP: 1, backwear), Orc-Made Chainmail (Suitable for Olmstyr, SP: 9, half damage from humans, bodywear)