CMP

Althior doesn't get along very well with any Witches, does he?

"Okay, we're, like, totally on the same level here, Bones. I think it's a good idea we try and work together at, like, a reasonable level, such as this plan we've got goin' with the glass, but we need to at least, like, take action when we feel we need to, because, then, well, like, if we don't, then, like, well, we'll end up staring through the Magnifying Glass dusk 'til dawn 'til the Nifelheimrs put knives in our backs. I like your idea about ranged attacks, but, like, well, there's nothing stopping the Neflan from doing it, since they won't be spotted, right?" "And since I guess I forgot to mention it yesterday, Pauline Jill Boil or whoever sent me her suspicions too."

Alternatively, around the same time the Four Clans of Baltarok are seeking to restore thousands of years of honor, with or without the aid of the Kingdoms, if any heroes are willing to help hold them together long enough to do so. (And has also not been pitched yet.) One hell of a coincidence, huh?

"Already lifted some of the rotten old cabbage's stuff, don't think I can fight him at the same time, Fangs."

"Now we're getting somewhere!" squeaked Calico, standing on her barstool to get a better look at the naga thrash the gremlin. "Ten coins on the snakeman! Any takers?" "As if. I think it's high time somebody put words into action. Gremlin's been screwin' 'round all day, I say it's time he paid for it in blood and snot!"

"The automata aren't much more than scrap metal now, mate. The effects lie with him now, but if he's immune to them...the Mulled Wine's just to keep me alive. I have a feelin' I'll be takin' a lot more damage now that none of us are lucky."

Is it wrong that I'm genuinely interested in this? I'll be spending enough on the next-gen as it is, so getting a Wii U is pretty much out of the question. If it's comfortable enough to actually hold while you're playing it, I'd be happy with getting a discount just for the simplistic design and lack of 3D capabilities. I've missed Nintendo's exclusives, and the upcoming Super Smash Brothers game has me tempted.

Atramor ducked, shielding his eyes as Topazor and Emeray start to spark and Kai Tsi began to absorb their power. He growled, pushing himself back up to his feet, at full strength. "We don't need luck. We just need to get rid of his. Nagure, cover him in Tiger Balm." The witch gulped down a Mulled Wine and braced himself in the back row. "Everyone else, take this damn star outta the sky."

"You, like, don't have a clue what we're talking about, do you?" Calico rolls her eyes, shaking her head.

"Or we could stomp on his fire a couple dozen times until it gives in and just dies. Just, like, a thought..."

"You can't be sure. We can, like, never be a hundred percent confident in every plan we come up with. This is the best course of action right now, and as you're holding half a dozen peoples' gold, things might not go so well for you if'n you fail to spend it the way it was intended," snapped Calico, with an irritated glare that was surprisingly venomous given she was a halfling.

"Not particularly, but I'm, like, SERIOUSLY sure I could put whatever junk he's got to better use than he can. He's singing and dancin' 'round even more than our freshly-baked minstrel over there," explained Calico with a nod.

"You'd probably, like, be best off supporting whoever you think totally has the right idea with who they're suspicious of," suggests Calico distractedly, taking her sweet time painting her nails.

Round Nine of Black and Blue Nessa vs. Blue Assassin (Silver Crossbow) - Damage (40/2 - 3 = 17 damage) Sylph vs. Blue Assassin (Shrapnel Bow) - Hit (34 x 2 = 68 damage, no deflect) Pretzel vs. Blue Assassin (Flying Cross) - Shield: Guardian Angel (No damage or negative effects next round) Dreyrugr Erik Nessa is hit with a throwing knife, but Sylph returns fire as Pretzel calls upon his Guardian Angel. Dreyrugr lowers the crane to the ground as Erik takes a risky jump. He's just barely able to grab onto the hook before it hits the floor. Cat and Mouse - The Blue Assassin is attempting to escape. The heroes have five ten rounds to reach and engage him in physical combat. The timer will reset after the next engagement ends. - Rounds are run normally, but heroes have more freedom over their actions, such as examining or moving objects in the environment. - The heroes may attack the Blue Assassin with ranged weapons only at all times, but it will not count as an engagement. - If the Blue Assassin is not targeted, he will still deal free hits. He can be targeted with melee weapons, but nothing will happen. Enemies Blue Assassin Prodigy *Five rounds until escape* Level 40 Dark Humanoid Health: 697/994 Special I: Bolas to the Feet – Blue Assassin Prodigy tosses throwing bolas, entangling the hero, dealing the Bound and Slowed effects for the duration of the battle until remedied. The hero cannot move until both effects are removed. Can only be used once per engagement. Special II: Bladestorm – Blue Assassin Prodigy rains the party with throwing knives, doing 20 damage, ignoring row to each of them. Can only be used once per engagement. Special III: Shroud – Blue Assassin Prodigy becomes invisible, making them unable to be targeted for the duration of the round. At the beginning of the next round, they will pull the hero that rolled Special Damage into the darkness, causing them to be Blinded for the next 3 rounds and Stunned. Blue Assassin Prodigy will attempt to flee immediately after doing so. Cannot be used while not engaged. Passive Special I: Deflect – Successful hits and spells on the Blue Assassin Prodigy have a 1/6 chance of being deflected to a random ally. Passive Special II: Clean Getaway – Blue Assassin Prodigy will break combat after three rounds to attempt to flee. Drops: Nothing Immune to all effects and sudden death. Specials used in order, but I and II can only be used once per engagement. Party Monk Pretzel and His 99 Pieces, (Played by Palathdaric) 463-year-old male "hermit" Paladin *Party Leader* *Immune to Fragile* *Encouraged* Level: 18 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 11 Health: 38/38 Ether: 4/23 Gold: 95 Equipment: Cross of Light (WP:10; Light; Staff), Fashionable Shield (SP:7), Lighter Armor (SP: 4, immune to fragile, bodywear), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing, accessory) Inventory: Heavy Flail (WP: 5; deals "Fragile" effect; Mace), Flying Cross (WP:6; Darkness, Fire, Wind; Broomstick), Steak (WP:1, instantly kills vampires on successful hits, suitable for all), Potion (2), Grand Potion (4), Ether Core (2), Remedy, Soma, Phoenix Essence, Venom (2), Deadly Venom (5), Paralyzing Venom (2), Holy Bomb, Commerz Cannonball, Scroll of Sealing, Bedroll, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Shovel, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest), Bone (3), Rito Feather (consumable, grants the hastened- and blessed-effects upon use for one battle), Soothing Slippers (Footwear, Meditate restores 5 ether), Grating Stone, Smoke Bomb, Magnificent Magniscope (Magnifying Glass/Telescope), Scroll of Disenchantment (Removes all positive effects from all opponents at the cost of 5 ether, 50/50 chance of casting), Impervious Shield (SP: 5) (Grants immunity to Fire), 70 gold, Scrap Metal, Garnet, Emerald, Neutralizer, Wand of Poking (WP: 10, double WP for physical attacks, wand), Strategist's Shako (Suitable for anyone, +5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back, headwear) Erik Tyrvarr (Myrddyn) 19 years old male human barbarian. *Immune to Fragile* Level: 15 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 8 Health: 22/22 Gold: 1 Equipment: Titanic Axe (WP:11, Earth-elemental, has 1/6 chances of inflicting petrified-effect; axe), Hunter's Plate (SP: 4, wearer gains 10 gold for each Humanoid killed, suitable for rogues, rangers, barbarians, beast warriors, infiltrators, regulators, and winged warriors), Emerald Hood (SP: 4, headwear, protects from Fragile) Inventory: Spear (WP: 9, spear), Mead, Peacekeepers totem (Grants the "Diplomacy"-job trait; suitable to Erik only; accessory), Twin Axe (WP: 5, dual strike-axe), Phoenix Essence, Smoke Bomb, Diamond, 2 Bones, Barbarian's Boots (Natural Respite>Restoration; footwear), Mulled Wine, Voltedge (WP: 13, Lightning-elemental; greatsword/longsword), Sharkskin Armour (SP +1, immune to water; bodywear), Dreyrugr (Vash the Stampede) 1000 year old Male Vampire Black Knight *Immune to Stunned, Water, Wind, and Fire* Level: 18.5 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 12 Health: 37/37 Gold: 237 Equipment: The Muckraker (WP: 13, earth and water elemental, deals the weakened effect, greatsword), Gloves of the Undead Assassin (For every enemy the wearer kills, it gains 5 HP, Immunity to Water, Usable by anyone, Handgear), Dragonbrand Shield (SP: 8, immune to wind and fire, shield), Black Knight's Armour (SP:4, protects from stunned-effect) Inventory: Venom x3, Bedroll, Remedy, Smelling Salts, Mead x2, 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 x2, Throwing Dagger (WP:3), Fauxthril Scythe (WP:5), 4 Bones, Bow (WP: 4), Grand Potion x2, Phoenix Essence x2, Soma, Mulled Wine, Crow-Claw Dagger (WP: 6, 50/50 chance to stun enemy on successful attack, Darkness), Shuriken (WP:5, Wind), Spinning Bolas (WP: 8, deals the Slowed effect, but the effect is removed when retrieved, throwing weapon) Nessa Anárion 59 years old female elven Ranger Level: 15.5 Power Bonus: 7 under negative effect Defense: 3 Health: 4/21 Gold: 13 Equipment: Darkness Silver Crossbow with Raven-Slayer Bolts and Newty Mag (WP: 8, darkness elemental (WP: +3 vs. werefolk (removable)) (WP: +4 vs. Aquatic vermin (removable) (usable by ex-Amphibians only)), Tricorne (Headwear; SP:3), Hide of The Suffering (Bodywear, Power +7 when under a negative status effect. Doesn't stack.) Inventory: Bedroll, Magic Compass, Venom (2), Nostrum (2), Mead, Phoenix Essence, 7 Potions, Merry Bow (WP:7, ranged, steals 1 gold with each successful hit except Shield-skills), Opal, Pseudos Hood (can damage undead with normal attacks), Ranger's Quiver (WP: +1), 2 Bones, Ranger's Cowl (Suitable to rangers, SP: 2, headwear), Mulled Wine Sylph Solanum (Dannylonglegs) unknown age, unknown race Druid *Immune to Sealed* *Second Party Leader* *Encouraged* Level: 24.33 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 5 Health: 40/40 Ether: 8/36 Gold: 115 Equipment: Shrapnel Bow (WP: 10, Bow. Every successful hit drops the target's SP by 1) , Ethereal Cloak (Backwear; SP:2; Max Ether +4), 20-20 glasses (headwear, +1 turn of effect for scrolls), Robe of the Archmagi (Bodywear; SP: 3; Max Ether +5, immune to "Sealed") Inventory: Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Ice Armour, 2 Potions, 1 Grand Potion, 3 Tonics, 1 Venom, 2 Fire Bombs, 1 Ice Bomb, 3 Water Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 1 Floral Bomb, 7 Bones, Trial Brew x3, Helmet (Max. health +1)), Emerald, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Signet Ring, Saber Teeth, Journal of The Bleeding,Tale of the Invincible King, Psych Documents, Journal of The Wound, Suffering's Journal, Robe of the Magi (Bodywear, SP: 1), Smoke Bomb, Ranger's Quiver (WP +1 to bows and crossbows), Orcish Morning Star (WP: 9, mace), Mulled Wine Everyone, please choose an action. Party leader, create a battle order.

"Hypothetically speaking, because I TOTALLY do want to draw blood from this shriveled cabbage of a gremlin, I just thought I could do more by stealing offa him."

"Oh, thought you were, like, implying I would steal his items to keep them in the evil loop. Well, like I said, you don't have any way of knowing." "Couldn't you apply the same logic to an innocent?"

"You don't," remarked the halfling with a wink. "But if, like, I WAS part of an evil cause, I'm sure I'd totally have something more constructive to do than just, like, steal from one of my own teammates."

"Might be a bit of a drain on his resources" added Calico mischievously and quite suddenly from a seat opposite the saloon from the one she'd been occupying previously, not far from Luridan. The satisfaction in her eyes and the larger pouch at her side made it clear she'd just stolen from the gremlin. "At least now he's contributed one thing towards, like, ACTUALLY helping us find scum."

They're not rubbing it in, they're just playing the game. Everything there is in-character. Messing up is lot worse in mafia games, believe me.

"Well, not all of us can just huddle up in a corner and just, like, hope for the best."

"Fair enough, but don't go holding your breath for investigation results today, I'm pretty sure results only come up at, like, the end of the day."

Calico looked up after several minutes of brushing. "Let's quit beating around the bush. Would anyone seriously miss the gremlin if we took him out, like, right now? He's TOTALLY bugging the crap outta me, and I feel like he's distracting everyone else, too, not to mention considering we all know how to use weapons, he'll probably end up doing more harm than good in the long run."

"Then why don't you just shut up?" grumbled Calico to herself, finishing off her drink and moving to brush the curly pink hair on her feet meticulously.

"It also might make you feel better if you, like, dumped that crap in the loo rather than out your mouth, you wrinkled old bat," snapped Calico angrily in response.