CMP

Atramor nods in thanks to Cronk, stuffing the given loot into his cloak before helping the paladin carry Bennetton back to the barracks.

Skull for a face = needs to die. I was arguing against taking epic boss battle enemies prisoner. Especially those with skulls for faces. Given by Pandora, I think.

"Right now? Hell no. If there's an entire Temple underneath the Hall and Wren's headed there, I don't think she'll be displaced that easily. I think we need to go get everyone else, first, and at least bring back Bennetton's body."

Why did you put KO after Alexis' second Damage? Scared the crap out of me. Atramor looked on as Mephisto crumpled to the floor. The Temple....was below the Hall? He shook his head, glancing over Bennetton. He was much unlike most of the other guardsmen he'd seen. This was one who'd given a damn about trying to keep Eubric in one piece. He took a moment to heal Alexis, Hoke, and Gnash, before poking his staff through the loot. The end caught on something near Mephisto's corpse - holding it up to the light, there was an amulet of some kind hooked on it. He stared for several moments. This was what had been protecting him. He looked back toward Cronk. "Mind if I hold onto this, mate?"

I'm not part of this 'you've'. I'll never understand why heroes are so merciful to maniacs like Zane and Zander, neither in nor out of character. I can see the reasoning sometimes, but these guys are just plain crazy. Bittersweet yay.

It's just Atramor that doesn't like him. Plus, this is pretty much the third time he's escaped being killed. Why is Zepher constantly killing off the good NPCs but we never get to kill a bad one? Vonnetate, XX, U'Vires, Sphinx, Lyons, Zane, Zander....I know several have died, but it seems like NPCs always get the finishing blow. Only exception I can recall is Draco. Oh, and Mephisto. We are not dragging him along, I don't care what the story, any NPCs, or any PCs say. Skull for a face = needs to die.

Yeah, but if we don't get to loot it off of XX after beating the crap out of him, it's not the same.

I could use both...

Round One of Ghastly Marsh Mess Docken uses Darksteel Crossbow on Toxic Toad A, back row - Hit (37 damage, Toxic Toad A blinded) Benji uses Golden Handcannon on Skeleton Knight, back row - Damage Shield: Aura (Benji gains 38 health, draws all attacks) Xander uses Precision Bow on Skeleton Mage B, back row - Shield: Marking the Favored (No effect, Undead, Xander can Mark Undead) Thormanil uses Frozen Sabre on Skeleton Mage A, back row - Damage (Drawn to Benji, 26/2 - 7 = 6 damage) Althior uses light on Skeleton Knight, back row - Meditate (No effect, full ether) Spectres A, B, C, Toxic Toads B, and C use free hit on Benji - (24 + 24 + 24 + 13 + 13)/2 - 7 = 42 damage) Benji counterstrikes all of the above - (24/2 = 12 damage to Toxic Toads, no effect to Spectres) Docken shoots one of the frogs in the eye, Benji steps on the others. Xander unleashes a very well aimed shot that shatters against the mage's knee, but fails to do anything. He notes carefully on which bones seem more fragile. Althior takes the moment to meditate, while Benji is bludgeoning trying to protect his fellows. Enemies Skeleton Knight "Dir, krent muz!" Type: Undead Level: 26 Defence: 6 Health: 730/730 Special: Skull Guard – Protects self from all damage and negative effects for the next turn. Drops: Skull Shield (SP:6; immunity to dark-elemental damage; suitable to Black Knights only.) Note: Immune to sudden death. Skeleton Mage A Type: Undead Level: 26 Health: 579/579 Special: Dark Magic Burst – Deals 13 dark-elemental damage to all opponents, regardless of row. Drops: Pointy Hat (Max. Ether +2, suitable for mages and clerics.) Note: Immune to sudden death. Skeleton Mage B Type: Undead Level: 26 Health: 579/579 Special: Dark Magic Burst – Deals 13 dark-elemental damage to all opponents, regardless of row. Drops: Pointy Hat (Max. Ether +2, suitable for mages and clerics.) Note: Immune to sudden death. Spectre A Type: Icy/Undead Level: 24 Health: 490/490 Special: Freezing Touch – The target is petrified. Drops: Ice Bomb Note: Immune to sudden death. Spectre B Type: Icy/Undead Level: 24 Health: 490/490 Special: Freezing Touch – The target is petrified. Drops: Ice Bomb Note: Immune to sudden death. Spectre C Type: Icy/Undead Level: 24 Health: 490/490 Special: Freezing Touch – The target is petrified. Drops: Ice Bomb Note: Immune to sudden death. Toxic Toad A *Blinded, 3 rounds* Type: Vermin/Aquatic Level: 13 Health: 77/114 Special: Toxic Tongue – Causes poisoned- and confused-effect to the target. Drops: Venom Toxic Toad B Type: Vermin/Aquatic Level: 13 Health: 102/114 Special: Toxic Tongue – Causes poisoned- and confused-effect to the target. Drops: Venom Toxic Toad C Type: Vermin/Aquatic Level: 13 Health: 102/114 Special: Toxic Tongue – Causes poisoned- and confused-effect to the target. Drops: Venom Party Althior Emorith (And Finnegan) 33 years old male human Level: 24.33 Sage Power: 34 (39 for spells) Defense: 4 Health: 35/35 Ether: 30/30 Gold: 100 GP: 51 Equipment: Twin Sai Blades (WP:10, Dual Strike), Spellbound Gloves (+5 power when casting Spells, doubled if target is weak to Element), Robe of the Elven Necromancer (SP 4), Inventory: Dragoro (WP 8), Skeleton Decoy, Potion x2, Tonic x7, Grand Tonic, Nostrum, Mulled Wine, Ether Core, Venom x4, Shovel, Bedroll, Remedy x6, Lightning Bomb x3, Smelling Salts Amulet of Elven Horse Rider (Accessory), Diamond (Light), Topaz (Lightning), Amethyst (Darkness), Ruby (Fire), Sapphire (Wind), Garnet (Earth), Opal (Ice), Aquamarine (Water), Emerald (Wood), Grand Potion x3 Bartholomew Docken (Brickdoctor) 32-year old human male, Warden Level 27.33 *Scary* *Immune to Defense Reduction and Fragile* *Second Party Leader* Power: 37 Defense: 25 Health: 56/56 Gold: 16 GP: 49 Equipment: Darksteel Crossbow (WP: 10; Blinded-effect), Mythril Shield (SP: 20), Dread Hat (permanent Scary effect; Immune to Defense Reduction; headwear), Heavy Armor (SP: 5; immune to Fragile; bodywear), Counterstrike Gloves (After the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, he counters with strength equal to his Level; handwear) Inventory: White Marksman's Hat (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; headwear, lent to Thormanil Nihai), Lover's Locket (immune to Enamored; accessory), Potions (3), Grand Potions (2), Health Core, Remedy (4), Deadly Venom (2), Venom, Smoke Bomb, Grating Stone, Bedroll, Fire Bomb, Cobweb Cowl (immune to Instant-KO; backwear), Silver Ore Benji Carvenhall (Flare) 28 years old male half-elven Warden Level 24.33 *Counterstriking* *Deals Poisoned* *Double damage to Vermin* *Encouraged* *Lucky* *Aura* *Party Leader* Power: 37 Defense: 7 Health: 28/38 Gold: 1 GP: 33 Equipment: Crossbow of the Pongcanis (WP:13; darkness-, ice-, fire-, wind-elemental), Fauxthril Shield (SP:7), Ratmancer's Cowl (The wearer's physical attacks deal double damage against vermin; headgear), Counterstrike Gloves (After the wearer is struck by a Free Hit they counter with strength equal to their level; handwear), Quiver of Poisoning (permanent Poisoned effect; backwear) Inventory: Grogmas Handcannon (WP:12 + the number of the round of battle) Golden Handcannon (WP:9; lightning-, light-elemental), 9 Grand Potions, Health Core x2, Remedy, x4 Phoenix Essence, 3 Meads, Nostrum, 2 Venoms, 2 Smoke Bombs, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Shovel, 3 Bones, Emerald (Wood), Garnet (Earth), Skeleton Decoy, Lightning Bomb, Smelling Salts Thormanil Nihai (Played by swils) Level 24.66 Raider *Natural Respite* *Immune to Darkness* Power: 34 Defense: 3 Health: 38/38 Gold: 804 GP: 30 Equipment: Frozen Saber (WP: 9; Stuns enemies), Bright Armor (SP: 3, Null Darkness) Inventory: Wyvern's Tailblade (WP: 12, suitable for Barbarians & Knights), Thundering Totem (WP:9, lightning), Tongue on a Stick (WP:1, Miss -> "Aim"), 2x Smelling Salts, 2x Deadly Venom, Phoenix Essence, 4x Remedy, Pickaxe, Shovel, Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Weredog (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf(Accessory), Fighter’s Boots(Footwear, +10 damage to melee attacks. Suitable for QMs only), 2pc&biscuit, Jinxy Juice (Q35), Amethyst, Grating Stone, Fire Bomb, Milk, Potion, Venom, Lightning Bomb, x2 Grand Potion Xander Unth'or (posades) 24 year-old male human Hunter Level 23*Natural Respite* *Immune to Blindness and Fragile* *Favours Vermin and Beast Monsters* Power: 37 Defense: 5 Health: 36/36 Gold: 2 GP: 50 Equipment: Precision Bow (WP:12; all 'Aim's become 'Hit's), Hunter's Quiver of Marksmanship (WP:2 to a bow, allows the hunter to favor two types at the same time; protects from blindness-effect), Heavy Armor (SP:5, protects from fragile-effect), White Marksman's Hat (1/6 chance to assassinate flying monsters, headwear, borrowed from Barty Docken) Inventory: Pongcanis Club (WP:8), Enigmatic Hammer (WP:3), Amulet of the Elven Horse Rider (WP +1 from the front row, grants speed within quests; accessory), Aquamarine (Water), 3 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 5 Remedies, Nostrum, 2 Smelling Salts, Venom, Deadly Venom, Fire Bomb, Skeleton Decoy, Phoenix Essence, Silver Ore Heroes, please choose targets. Party leader, list the battle order. All untargetted opponents will get a free hit at the end of the round.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't easy to abandon Triad, I care about NPCs as much as anyone else, . But when they outnumber how much gold we're all bringing in, well....

And forfeit the only real loot this entire Quest? I'll die trying if it means getting more than 3 gold!

Knowing Zepher, he'll probably end up healing duplicating himself once we KO him...

Are you joking? You must be joking...well, I guess it could be worse, he's almost down. All black clouds have a gray lining or something or other. Atramor watches Hans nearly bisect Mephisto, evidently very impressed. "Now that, mate, was a damn good hit. I need to learn how to do that. Cronk, I think we should set up conditional actions to heal Alexis if she's injured. With all of this...I dunno, demon magic crap behind him, she's got the best chance of hittin' him. Hoke, you're a reasonable guy, so don't take it the wrong way when I say get off your megablocks and hit that damn zealot." The witch prepares his healing magic in the back row once again. If Alexis takes Damage, he will heal her. If Alexis is not injured, he will heal Gnash. "By the way, you're less Demonic than a Chaos Beast...hell, if anything, you look more like an Undead, my 'king'."

Nope.

Just finished watching The Truman Show. Really awesome movie.

Jeez. You know the stakes are high when Cronk struggles to convince someone else to execute a bleeding, soulless being.

I agree with JimB, but I'd add in one more gen between Quest 32 and, say, 41. Strictly in character Atramor's pretty much divided everyone into 'vets' or 'noobs'. I don't think these gens matter all that much. The slowed level progression at higher levels actually helps to keep the generations too far apart and unable to Quest with eachother.

"Mate, I nearly got killed by a horde of these things not hours ago. It's pointless to spare them, just as Cronk says. They're shells. They're beyond even undead. Why the hell should we waste mercy on them?"

Sorry. "Just kill the damn maniac, mate."

Like CM said, she's soulless, and she has stuff we want. Not to mention she's halving all your Spellspin damage...

Hoke should've done twice as much damage, his Encouragement isn't removed until the end of the round. "Damn it," grumbled Atramor, quickly attempting to heal Alexis from the back row, increasingly annoyed by Mephisto's random bursts of power. "Cronk, I think Hans should keep the bastard occupied, we've got healin' to do..."

I quite enjoyed Quest 42 as well, mostly for reasons Zepher already stated. I loved the characters and the whole atmosphere, it's quite different from the constant state of turmoil the rest of the world seems to be in. The battles were pretty awesome, too - surprisingly well balanced even considering you had a Lucky Druid with you.

Sandy, do weapons that deal effects but have no elemental imbuement inflict the effects on undead on successful hits?

Nice. Looks so organic and terrifying, I like the hints of dark brown and red. Really gives it color. Fighting a Tyrannosaurus is one thing, fighting a xenomorph is another - fighting both, you're going to die, one way or another.

The heroes head west. GHASTLY MARSH The ground becomes inches of watery mud lined with dead leaves and grass. The smell is not unlike a Wyvern's nest. It's surprisingly quiet, until the heroes are surrounded by a few vermin. They grip their weapons, confident that it was to be an easy fight, but a few pale shapes suddenly started dragging themselves out of the murk ahead. PREPARE FOR BATTLE! Enemies Skeleton Knight Type: Undead Level: 26 Defence: 6 Health: 730/730 Special: Skull Guard – Protects self from all damage and negative effects for the next turn. Drops: Skull Shield (SP:6; immunity to dark-elemental damage; suitable to Black Knights only.) Note: Immune to sudden death. Skeleton Mage A Type: Undead Level: 26 Health: 579/579 Special: Dark Magic Burst – Deals 13 dark-elemental damage to all opponents, regardless of row. Drops: Pointy Hat (Max. Ether +2, suitable for mages and clerics.) Note: Immune to sudden death. Skeleton Mage B Type: Undead Level: 26 Health: 579/579 Special: Dark Magic Burst – Deals 13 dark-elemental damage to all opponents, regardless of row. Drops: Pointy Hat (Max. Ether +2, suitable for mages and clerics.) Note: Immune to sudden death. Spectre A Type: Icy/Undead Level: 24 Health: 490/490 Special: Freezing Touch – The target is petrified. Drops: Ice Bomb Note: Immune to sudden death. Spectre B Type: Icy/Undead Level: 24 Health: 490/490 Special: Freezing Touch – The target is petrified. Drops: Ice Bomb Note: Immune to sudden death. Spectre C Type: Icy/Undead Level: 24 Health: 490/490 Special: Freezing Touch – The target is petrified. Drops: Ice Bomb Note: Immune to sudden death. Toxic Toad A Type: Vermin/Aquatic Level: 13 Health: 114/114 Special: Toxic Tongue – Causes poisoned- and confused-effect to the target. Drops: Venom Toxic Toad B Type: Vermin/Aquatic Level: 13 Health: 114/114 Special: Toxic Tongue – Causes poisoned- and confused-effect to the target. Drops: Venom Toxic Toad C Type: Vermin/Aquatic Level: 13 Health: 114/114 Special: Toxic Tongue – Causes poisoned- and confused-effect to the target. Drops: Venom Party Althior Emorith (And Finnegan) 33 years old male human Level: 24.33 Sage Power: 34 (39 for spells) Defense: 4 Health: 35/35 Ether: 30/30 Gold: 100 GP: 51 Equipment: Twin Sai Blades (WP:10, Dual Strike), Spellbound Gloves (+5 power when casting Spells, doubled if target is weak to Element), Robe of the Elven Necromancer (SP 4), Inventory: Dragoro (WP 8), Skeleton Decoy, Potion x2, Tonic x7, Grand Tonic, Nostrum, Mulled Wine, Ether Core, Venom x4, Shovel, Bedroll, Remedy x6, Lightning Bomb x3, Smelling Salts Amulet of Elven Horse Rider (Accessory), Diamond (Light), Topaz (Lightning), Amethyst (Darkness), Ruby (Fire), Sapphire (Wind), Garnet (Earth), Opal (Ice), Aquamarine (Water), Emerald (Wood), Grand Potion x3 Bartholomew Docken (Brickdoctor) 32-year old human male, Warden Level 27.33 *Scary* *Immune to Defense Reduction and Fragile* *Second Party Leader* Power: 37 Defense: 25 Health: 56/56 Gold: 16 GP: 49 Equipment: Darksteel Crossbow (WP: 10; Blinded-effect), Mythril Shield (SP: 20), Dread Hat (permanent Scary effect; Immune to Defense Reduction; headwear), Heavy Armor (SP: 5; immune to Fragile; bodywear), Counterstrike Gloves (After the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, he counters with strength equal to his Level; handwear) Inventory: White Marksman's Hat (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; headwear, lent to Thormanil Nihai), Lover's Locket (immune to Enamored; accessory), Potions (3), Grand Potions (2), Health Core, Remedy (4), Deadly Venom (2), Venom, Smoke Bomb, Grating Stone, Bedroll, Fire Bomb, Cobweb Cowl (immune to Instant-KO; backwear), Silver Ore Benji Carvenhall (Flare) 28 years old male half-elven Warden Level 24.33 *Counterstriking* *Deals Poisoned* *Double damage to Vermin* *Encouraged* *Lucky* *Party Leader* Power: 37 Defense: 7 Health: 38/38 Gold: 1 GP: 33 Equipment: Crossbow of the Pongcanis (WP:13; darkness-, ice-, fire-, wind-elemental), Fauxthril Shield (SP:7), Ratmancer's Cowl (The wearer's physical attacks deal double damage against vermin; headgear), Counterstrike Gloves (After the wearer is struck by a Free Hit they counter with strength equal to their level; handwear), Quiver of Poisoning (permanent Poisoned effect; backwear) Inventory: Grogmas Handcannon (WP:12 + the number of the round of battle) Golden Handcannon (WP:9; lightning-, light-elemental), 9 Grand Potions, Health Core x2, Remedy, x4 Phoenix Essence, 3 Meads, Nostrum, 2 Venoms, 2 Smoke Bombs, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Shovel, 3 Bones, Emerald (Wood), Garnet (Earth), Skeleton Decoy, Lightning Bomb, Smelling Salts Thormanil Nihai (Played by swils) Level 24.66 Raider *Natural Respite* *Immune to Darkness* Power: 34 Defense: 3 Health: 38/38 Gold: 804 GP: 30 Equipment: Frozen Saber (WP: 9; Stuns enemies), Bright Armor (SP: 3, Null Darkness) Inventory: Wyvern's Tailblade (WP: 12, suitable for Barbarians & Knights), Thundering Totem (WP:9, lightning), Tongue on a Stick (WP:1, Miss -> "Aim"), 2x Smelling Salts, 2x Deadly Venom, Phoenix Essence, 4x Remedy, Pickaxe, Shovel, Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Weredog (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf(Accessory), Fighter’s Boots(Footwear, +10 damage to melee attacks. Suitable for QMs only), 2pc&biscuit, Jinxy Juice (Q35), Amethyst, Grating Stone, Fire Bomb, Milk, Potion, Venom, Lightning Bomb, x2 Grand Potion Xander Unth'or (posades) 24 year-old male human Hunter Level 23*Natural Respite* *Immune to Blindness and Fragile* *Favours Vermin and Beast Monsters* Power: 37 Defense: 5 Health: 36/36 Gold: 2 GP: 50 Equipment: Precision Bow (WP:12; all 'Aim's become 'Hit's), Hunter's Quiver of Marksmanship (WP:2 to a bow, allows the hunter to favor two types at the same time; protects from blindness-effect), Heavy Armor (SP:5, protects from fragile-effect), White Marksman's Hat (1/6 chance to assassinate flying monsters, headwear, borrowed from Barty Docken) Inventory: Pongcanis Club (WP:8), Enigmatic Hammer (WP:3), Amulet of the Elven Horse Rider (WP +1 from the front row, grants speed within quests; accessory), Aquamarine (Water), 3 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 5 Remedies, Nostrum, 2 Smelling Salts, Venom, Deadly Venom, Fire Bomb, Skeleton Decoy, Phoenix Essence, Silver Ore