CMP

"We found out what was wrong and we fixed it. Mythril flow should be fine."

If you're expecting the Crimson Serum to be some sort of instant win potion you're gonna be disappointed...but now I do have to go back and see what I told Sandy it actually does.

All lightsabers are homemade.

Miderun heads back to the inn along with the rest of the party after they'd finished shopping around the marketplace.

Which worries me. I really want Wolfgang reputation for Miderun but it's A. rare and B. never advertised outright.

Yeah, I intended to put that in the epilogue/very final stats, which I have yet to shoot.

Miderun watches the others go about their business quietly, leaning against a nearby building and very nearly falling to sleep. She keeps an eye on the ninja that appears to be on top of the supply shop.

Atramor follows the party's mystic knight over to Fodmin's, and hands over a quartet of trophies that are somehow identical to Nur's that he stumbled across. How curious. All melted down, the gold is worth 800 gold total. He has both his Mythril Claws and Silver Katana imbued with Living Steel Alloy. Additionally, he has the Silver Katana reforged into a greatsword, for a total cost of 650 gold.

"Aye, heroes can be like that. We're like a...bad rash. That only goes away when justice is served. With the religious fanatic with delusions of grandeur behind bars, and me covered in blood, it looks like it's been served well enough. Things always this excitin' in your line of work, too?"

"Really?" Atramor scratched his head. "That explains the beard you were draggin' 'round for a few years."

"Don't have to ask me twice. Won't breathe a word of this to the Bonapartes." He glanced at his party members. "Aye?"

Miderun heads over to Drala Shmied's Forge.

Atramor takes the schematics and rolls them up, tucking them into his cloak. "Aye. He would've expanded his way outta this hole and...I dunno, I guess try to take over the surface. He was stealin' this Mythril right out from under your noses."

"Now...I explain to my superiors why there's no chance of allying with Heroica. And why you kill our agents. And why you will continue to do so until time and corruption finally erodes what you are." She stands, turning to face Calamity. "...I am glad you at least saw what was needed. I would tell you to abandon what isn't, before you become dependent on it." She tilted her head towards Calamity's staff and gem in-hand. "There are no greater threats to our world than that which we don't and cannot understand. Doubtless you tire of me sharing that view, but there will likely not be another chance for you to hear it peacefully." Avina looks up once more towards the slowly lightening, soft purple sky, and then walked off. "We are sworn, bound to do everything necessary to ensure the continuation of mortalkind....so I sincerely hope that none of you cross paths with the Crimson Crown again." The thicket fell quiet as the remaining heroes were left alone to find their own way back to the Hall. Party Mortimer "Em" Mahzan (Emjajoas) Unknown age human male Warden *Immune to Electricity, Fire, Water, and Ice* *Half damage from elemental attacks* Level 26 Power Bonus: 6 Defense: 29 Health: 47/47 Gold: 339 Equipment: Tritech Handcannon (WP:16, permanent poisoned 17, cursed), Vigilant (SP 12, halved damage from elemental attacks, immune to Electricity, Fire, and Water; shield), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory, Power +4, SP +4, Max. Health +4, Max. Ether +4. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year), Frost Helm (SP: 3, immune to ice, suitable for anyone, headwear) Inventory: Weapons: Blazing Bow (WP: 14, Fire-elemental), Doppelganger (WP:10, Retribution: The user inflicts any negative effects he or she has on the target enemy on successful hits; longsword), Balanced Main-Gauce (WP: 10, Riposte has a 1/6 chance of instantly killing the/each target, dagger, suitable only for marauders), Crescent Shield (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield), Carpenter's Gloves (Enhancement is automatically successful, traps deal double damage, handwear, suitable for artisans), Flash Cannon (WP: 10, has a 1/2 chance of dealing the blinded-effect, light-elemental handcannon) Consumables: Health Core x2, Remedy, Mead, Venom, Ambrosia (3), Mulled Wine, Feather of Flight (Allows the user to flee from the battle when used.), Nostrum, Smelling Salts, Elixir, Bone, Smoke Bomb (5), Floral Bomb (2), Ice Bomb (2), Lightning Bomb, Fire Bomb, Water Bomb (2), Holy Bomb (2), Dirt Bomb (2), Air Bomb (2), Chaotic Bomb (100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently) Misc: Bedroll (2), Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Reaper's Heart, Mythril Shard (2), Amethyst, 5 Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold), Oath of Renewal (When the targeted enemy is killed, the Vindicator regains full health. Oath, suitable for vindicators), Lover's Lyrics (Minstrel's Battle Song; deal the enamored-effect to all enemies at the cost of 1 ether per affected enemy.) Annienal Anavir (Kintobor) "19" year old elven female Mystic Knight *Bonaparte Reputation* *Immunity toSudden Death and Fragile* *Takes half damage from elemental attacks* Level 18 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 17 Health: 27/33 Ether: 3/18 Gold: 240 Equipment: Bonaparte Cutlass (WP:9, doubled if the user has reputation among the Bonapartes; longsword), Crescent Shield (SP: 9, Halved Damage from elemental attacks; shield), Heavy Armour (SP: 5, immunity to fragile, body wear, suitable for barbarians, knights, dragoons, skirmishers, regulators, and vindicators), Lethauros Fellwings (SP: 3, wearer is immune to Sudden Death, backwear Inventory: Ammit (WP: 6; greatsword, user gains 5 ether for every kill), Anointed Gladius (WP: 8, deals damage undead; great sword), Sanctified Rito Longsword (WP: 4, Hits doubled against flying enemies, longsword), Training Sword (WP:4), Shark’s Tooth (Power increased by 5 against Aquatics, Accessory), Tridentian Cape (Max Ether +3; protects from Blinded effect; suitable for mages, clerics, necromancers and scholars; backwear), ), Tobacco Pouch (1/2 Chance of Blinding with attacks, accessory), Helmet (Max Health +1, headwear), Pauldrons (SP: 2, suitable for knights, dragoons, and skirmishers; accessory), Plain Shield (SP: 5), Lethauros Mask (SP: 2, wearer deals double damage to Beasts and Vermin, headwear, suitable to everyone), Locustoid Greaves (Max Ether +4, immune to Earth, suitable to ether users, footwear) Emerald (Wood), Sapphire (Wind), Aquamarine (Water), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Mythril Shard Consumables: 2x Potions, 2x Grand Potions, Phoenix Essence, 4x Remedies, Venom, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Telescope, Pickaxe, 4 Depleted Ether Cores (Restores half the user's max ether), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently) Scrolls: Scroll of Fire Warding (1/2 chance to make the target immune to fire for the duration of one battle at the cost of 1 ether), Scroll of Ice Warding (1/2 chance to make the target immune to ice for the duration of one battle at the cost of 1 ether), Scroll of Water Warding (1/2 chance to make the target immune to water for the duration of one battle at the cost of 1 ether), Scroll of Wood Warding (1/2 chance to make the target immune to wood for the duration of one battle at the cost of 1 ether), Lapis Lamp of Summoning (Summons the djinn Mayrene to conjure an Ethereal Barrier around the target at the cost of 5 ether, giving them a 50/50 chance to avoid Damage, Free Hits, and Special Damage. The barrier dissipates when the target takes damage from any source.) Calamity (Scubacarrot) 24 year old human Mage Level 10 Power bonus: 2 (spell) Health: 14/14 Ether: 9/14 Gold: 146 Equipment: Renegade’s Crook (WP: 10, successful healing also poisons the target’s weapon by 3, staff), Gold skin Gloves (Spell power +2, Usable by mages, Handwear) Inventory: Bedroll, 6x Potion, 2x Tonic, 3x Remedy, Scroll of Blindness (Enables casting the Blinded-effect to the target, making it unable to use a physical attack for the next three rounds. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.), Amethyst, Skull-Topped Staff (WP: 3, staff), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently), Focus Sash (Gains +2 Defense for every successful hit, resets to zero when hit or when the battle ends, accessory, suitable for babarians, mages, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, regulators, vindicators, and winged warriors, and paragons) Keliim (Mencot) 35 years old male human Barbarian Level 12 Power Bonus: (+5 WP for each hero with Wolfgang rep) Health: 19/19 Defense: 0 Gold: 42 Equipment: Dwarven Orichalcum Axe (WP: 5), Wolfish Fedora (+5 WP for each standing hero with Wolfgang reputation (including the wearer) and Wolfgang NPC in the party, headwear, suitable for heroes with Wolfgang reputation) Inventory: Order Imperial Longsword (WP: 5),Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Rock), Королева's Blessing (When equipped the player gains the ability to Animal Speak to Spiders only, and all spiders are Enamored with him for the first three rounds of battle, accessory), Scarab Shield (SP3 Shield, bearer takes half damage from vermin), Heroic Helm (Headwear, SP:2, Helm's SP doubles on free hits) Consumables: x9 Potion, x2 Grand Potion, Mead, 2X Smoke Bomb, 1X Venom, 1X Dirt Bomb, 5 Holy Bombs, Double Rainbow (Gives the user the encouraged, lucky, poisoned by 1, and confused effects.), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently) Misc: Shovel, 2X Obsidian Shard: may be affixed to a blunt weapon to give the Bleeding 2 effect for one battle. 2X Charion beetle horn. 1 X Crystal Shard(treasure item, worth 20 gold)

Miderun nodded at Bain. "Good. Thank you. Perhaps we will intercept these weresnakes later. Everyone buy what you will from the marketplace, we will go the inn as soon as we are done." "They attacked us, Elnath. Why should we give it to them outright when we know what Latte has doing? We will tell the Gourmyro when we must. Hopefully with the Blue and Brown rocks we can make their leaders meet and force a peace between the two. Hide the stone while you sleep, it will be bad if it is taken."

"I'd like the scroll, some gold, and that shield. I s'pose the Ether Cores'll be split between me and Nur." Atramor shuffled the Pegasus back into its deck, and, unable to suppress his curiosity, walked around the Nautilis, examining it thoroughly while mumbling under his breath about various parts of a ship he recognized (or didn't).

"...I-....maybe." Ervie shrugged. "We were out of time. It was take a risk or let you catch up. You seemed....really convinced of yourselves." "I've been close with him since before all this. Since, you know...before the Eubric Knight. I saw what you people did to U'Reeka and the shades. Whether I thought you had it coming or not, I can sure as hell see why Wally did. It felt right. It still kinda does." "Right, whatever you say..." "Believe me, I'm out of here. But you should know that Wally is gonna come back someday, if not for me, then for all of you. He's pretty resourceful, too...wouldn't be surprised if he did find a way to start taking you out. But maybe you're not all...." Ervie trailed off, then shrugged again, with a bit of a chuckle. "Heh, this is what happens when he's not around, no sense of dedication...I do hope I see him again." She turns to leave the area, but then pulls something off of her arm and tosses it back to the party. "Here. Guess I won't really be needing it." And with that, the kobold vanished into the slowly brightening woods. Focus Sash (Gains +2 Defense for every successful hit, resets to zero when hit or when the battle ends, accessory, suitable for babarians, mages, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, regulators, vindicators, and winged warriors, and paragons) Avina turned back around to face the party, her voice low and quiet, and even having lost its disapproving bite. "Yes. We're done." Perhaps to some heroes' surprise, she reached into her cloak, pulling out a sealed package, and sliced it open, handing a glowing red vial to each hero. THE QUEST IS SUCCESSFUL!..? Crimson Haze - (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently) "My mission is complete, and our temporary collaboration dissolved. You can return to Eubric whenever you wish." She explained hollowly, leaning back against a tree, looking up silently into the sky as the sun slowly eked into view. Rays of sunlight caught her mask and cast a shadow on the slightly smoking, dented exit hatch of the Eubric Knight's hideout. Whether it was to anyone's liking or not, the Eubric Knight was ended, even if the heroes had a new threat to look forward to in the future. They had paid a price to save one life, and whether that cost was ultimately worth it in the end was up to those who paid it. Party Mortimer "Em" Mahzan (Emjajoas) Unknown age human male Warden *Immune to Electricity, Fire, Water, and Ice* *Half damage from elemental attacks* *Party Leader* Level 26 Power Bonus: 6 Defense: 29 Health: 47/47 Gold: 339 Equipment: Tritech Handcannon (WP:16, permanent poisoned 17, cursed), Vigilant (SP 12, halved damage from elemental attacks, immune to Electricity, Fire, and Water; shield), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory, Power +4, SP +4, Max. Health +4, Max. Ether +4. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year), Frost Helm (SP: 3, immune to ice, suitable for anyone, headwear) Inventory: Weapons: Blazing Bow (WP: 14, Fire-elemental), Doppelganger (WP:10, Retribution: The user inflicts any negative effects he or she has on the target enemy on successful hits; longsword), Balanced Main-Gauce (WP: 10, Riposte has a 1/6 chance of instantly killing the/each target, dagger, suitable only for marauders), Crescent Shield (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield), Carpenter's Gloves (Enhancement is automatically successful, traps deal double damage, handwear, suitable for artisans), Flash Cannon (WP: 10, has a 1/2 chance of dealing the blinded-effect, light-elemental handcannon) Consumables: Health Core x2, Remedy, Mead, Venom, Ambrosia (3), Mulled Wine, Feather of Flight (Allows the user to flee from the battle when used.), Nostrum, Smelling Salts, Elixir, Bone, Smoke Bomb (5), Floral Bomb (2), Ice Bomb (2), Lightning Bomb, Fire Bomb, Water Bomb (2), Holy Bomb (2), Dirt Bomb (2), Air Bomb (2), Chaotic Bomb (100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently) Misc: Bedroll (2), Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Reaper's Heart, Mythril Shard (2), Amethyst, 5 Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold), Oath of Renewal (When the targeted enemy is killed, the Vindicator regains full health. Oath, suitable for vindicators), Lover's Lyrics (Minstrel's Battle Song; deal the enamored-effect to all enemies at the cost of 1 ether per affected enemy.) Annienal Anavir (Kintobor) "19" year old elven female Mystic Knight *Bonaparte Reputation* *Immunity toSudden Death and Fragile* *Takes half damage from elemental attacks* Level 18 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 17 Health: 27/33 Ether: 3/18 Gold: 240 Equipment: Bonaparte Cutlass (WP:9, doubled if the user has reputation among the Bonapartes; longsword), Crescent Shield (SP: 9, Halved Damage from elemental attacks; shield), Heavy Armour (SP: 5, immunity to fragile, body wear, suitable for barbarians, knights, dragoons, skirmishers, regulators, and vindicators), Lethauros Fellwings (SP: 3, wearer is immune to Sudden Death, backwear Inventory: Ammit (WP: 6; greatsword, user gains 5 ether for every kill), Anointed Gladius (WP: 8, deals damage undead; great sword), Sanctified Rito Longsword (WP: 4, Hits doubled against flying enemies, longsword), Training Sword (WP:4), Shark’s Tooth (Power increased by 5 against Aquatics, Accessory), Tridentian Cape (Max Ether +3; protects from Blinded effect; suitable for mages, clerics, necromancers and scholars; backwear), ), Tobacco Pouch (1/2 Chance of Blinding with attacks, accessory), Helmet (Max Health +1, headwear), Pauldrons (SP: 2, suitable for knights, dragoons, and skirmishers; accessory), Plain Shield (SP: 5), Lethauros Mask (SP: 2, wearer deals double damage to Beasts and Vermin, headwear, suitable to everyone), Locustoid Greaves (Max Ether +4, immune to Earth, suitable to ether users, footwear) Emerald (Wood), Sapphire (Wind), Aquamarine (Water), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Mythril Shard Consumables: 2x Potions, 2x Grand Potions, Phoenix Essence, 4x Remedies, Venom, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Telescope, Pickaxe, 4 Depleted Ether Cores (Restores half the user's max ether), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently) Scrolls: Scroll of Fire Warding (1/2 chance to make the target immune to fire for the duration of one battle at the cost of 1 ether), Scroll of Ice Warding (1/2 chance to make the target immune to ice for the duration of one battle at the cost of 1 ether), Scroll of Water Warding (1/2 chance to make the target immune to water for the duration of one battle at the cost of 1 ether), Scroll of Wood Warding (1/2 chance to make the target immune to wood for the duration of one battle at the cost of 1 ether), Lapis Lamp of Summoning (Summons the djinn Mayrene to conjure an Ethereal Barrier around the target at the cost of 5 ether, giving them a 50/50 chance to avoid Damage, Free Hits, and Special Damage. The barrier dissipates when the target takes damage from any source.) Calamity (Scubacarrot) 24 year old human Mage Level 10 Power bonus: 2 (spell) Health: 14/14 Ether: 9/14 Gold: 146 Equipment: Renegade’s Crook (WP: 10, successful healing also poisons the target’s weapon by 3, staff), Gold skin Gloves (Spell power +2, Usable by mages, Handwear) Inventory: Bedroll, 6x Potion, 2x Tonic, 3x Remedy, Scroll of Blindness (Enables casting the Blinded-effect to the target, making it unable to use a physical attack for the next three rounds. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.), Amethyst, Skull-Topped Staff (WP: 3, staff), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently) Keliim (Mencot) 35 years old male human Barbarian Level 12 Power Bonus: (+5 WP for each hero with Wolfgang rep: x4) Health: 19/19 Defense: 0 Gold: 42 Equipment: Dwarven Orichalcum Axe (WP: 5), Wolfish Fedora (+5 WP for each standing hero with Wolfgang reputation and Wolfgang NPC in the party, headwear, suitable for heroes with Wolfgang reputation) Inventory: Order Imperial Longsword (WP: 5),Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Rock), Королева's Blessing (When equipped the player gains the ability to Animal Speak to Spiders only, and all spiders are Enamored with him for the first three rounds of battle, accessory), Scarab Shield (SP3 Shield, bearer takes half damage from vermin), Heroic Helm (Headwear, SP:2, Helm's SP doubles on free hits) Consumables: x9 Potion, x2 Grand Potion, Mead, 2X Smoke Bomb, 1X Venom, 1X Dirt Bomb, 5 Holy Bombs, Double Rainbow (Gives the user the encouraged, lucky, poisoned by 1, and confused effects.), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently) Misc: Shovel, 2X Obsidian Shard: may be affixed to a blunt weapon to give the Bleeding 2 effect for one battle. 2X Charion beetle horn. 1 X Crystal Shard(treasure item, worth 20 gold) After Emjajoas divides the Focus Sash, you can either chat with Avina or return to Eubric. Thanks for questing, everyone.

The Pegasus gives an angelic whinny as it stomps Guard Mob B into oblivion. Atramor slashes at Spear Mob B from the back row.

"Right...then we will go see Bain," nodded Miderun, struggling to get used to the feeling that for the first time all day they were not in immediate danger of being attacked.

Avina glares at the party, and opens her mouth to retort something to them. But after a moment's hesitation, she simply stops, as if slowly realizing the futility of her argument. She silently pulls her mask back on and helps the party hammer blows against the chamber. It takes nearly a minute, but finally the sealed glass gives way, shattering. Ervie climbs out with only a few cuts, but Avina grabs her arm - quite roughly. "There. Now we go." With little reason to stay, the party, with their charge in tow, rushed into the elevator. Avina pulled on the level inside, remaining deathly quiet as the contraption chugged upward, dangerously slowly. At last, they reach the top, and the door slides open, revealing.... Woodland. It's quiet late, evidently the party has spent quite some time in their hunt for the Eubric Knight. A low, thrumming buzz assaults their ears, however, like an enormous insect. Slowly, their eyes move uwpard. "...Ervie." There's an almost pained edge to the inventory's voice. "...You are very, very lucky." "It was this, or your crusade ends." "I'm doing this so that THEY learn a lesson, it's not worth sacrificing-..." he trails off, weapons still primed and facing the heroes. Avina tenses. "...keep clinging to hollow morals, heroes. It won't save you in the end - I'll be back for you Ervie, and I swear that when I do, I'll have a more permanent solution, for Heroica, and those it would call allies." The flier swivels in midair, its propeller blades whirring as the ether cores mounted on its side glow, and before they know it, the Eubric Knight has flown off into the darkness. Silence falls, for a moment, then the sound of an earth-rumbling boom echoes through the earth. The ground tremors for a second, then goes still. Ervie grunts as Avina reflexively twists her arm. "...Some victory, heroes," she grumbles through gritted teeth. "One idiot kobold lives, and now Heroica has an enemy actively researching ways to kill you!" The alchemist sighs heavily, rubbing her forehead with one hand. "Here I was hoping for a practical alliance, and it turns out you're a guild of...naive idealists, thinking you can solve everyone's problems without ever getting your hands dirty. And you're willing to let your enemies use it against you!! What's- How do you-" Avina slowed down after a few seconds, unclenching her fists. She pushed Ervie towards the party, turning away from them. The kobold stares up at the heroes. "...so, something tells me Lady Cultist isn't in charge." Ervie cracks her knuckles. "Well...you know where my loyalty lies. I don't know where Wally's gotten off to. I do know what comes next...uh, generally speaking...what're you gonna do with me?"

Pegasus repeats. Atramor splashes some Jinxy Juice on the High Priest from the back row.

Avina doesn't have a vote. You can't split up the party at this point, but I trust you all to remain in a group regardless. So it's 3-to-1 right now in Ervie's favor.

"Would she really leave herself in here if it was so easy for us to find him again??" Avina sighs heavily. "He knows he can't kill you now, would he really stick around in Eubric now that his army is dismantled? If he gets away now, there's no way we'll find him again, that much I can tell you." I've got the last pictures to take/I'm going to be reasonably busy today, so you've got 24 hours to change your answer if you wish.

"The one I met called a group of myvrkuun to try kill us," responded Miderun curtly. "A witch who used those around her. They claim she is gone now...we will see." Miderun was all too glad to slide off of Grigorlis, striding quickly away from the dragon as it took off. She sighed, rubbing combined sweat and grit off her forehead as she let Na'im take the lead. This quest for some abstract peace was reminiscent of simpler hunts in Baltarok....a lot of hard work and extremely little rest. But there was no complaint, or any consideration of stopping. They had to venture on....or all this land would pay for it. Baltarok had been saved. They would save this land too, or die in the effort.

Guard Mob should've gotten a free hit on Ellaria and then been hit by Dumora because of her oath. Atramor attempts to cast his Scroll of Arc Frailty from the back row. The Pegasus tramples Miner A.