CMP

"You're using our people as hostages?" A fiery red spark of rage seemed to glow behind Midern's eyes. "These are the Star Elves of myth? War-ravaged failures, murderous cowards, stewing with your LIES in your last city, clinging to every last SCRAP of superiority even as your lands and your people DIE around you!?" She fell quiet, fuming silently while the rest of the party questioned the elves, eventually calming enough to respond to some of them. "They'll have to pry it from our corpses," snapped Miderun loudly, before blinking, shaking away some of the more...extreme thoughts about the cowardly Star Elves. "...taking Hung and Lyrion captive is-...holding hostages is the mark of the truest monsters of the world. Those who won't fight their own battles. Hiding behind our own people. It's..." The orc glared up at the sky, where they'd flown off to. "...it's pathetic." "We should stick together for now. First thing's first...we need to find the Brown Nekrastone. Bain, can you lead us to it?"

It sounds like the new regime in Xu is supposed to be one. It should be left like that, it's (for lack of a better word) 'historically' accurate to have mostly monarchies and other forms of government like them in such a time period.

Atramor tossed back a Grand Potion from the back row.

"Meet them?" grumbled Miderun, shooting an annoyed, sideways look at Bobby. "I know. This is ridiculous. If these people were orcs we wouldn't be wasting time 'making deals' and 'offering trades', and doing all this...talking. We'd fight our enemies and go home. Somehow we all have different ideas of who our enemies are..."

"Then I still don't see any reason to be helping the Star Elves. So far the most of them have been attempting to kill us. Two friendly ones on flying horses don't make up for that, meanwhile the one Fenarian we've run into has been fighting at our side the whole time..."

"He did say both of those things. Lights and lasers aren't exactly 'pummeling', and it seems like you provoked them well enough." Grash looks over Annie's shoulder at the map. "Hmm. Elf lady is right. Antiquary nowhere near the route back to Gontzo's house." Gontzo starts blubbering something loudly and feverishly in his own language. Grash translates again. " 'I woke up and I was blinded! Really! That part isn't a lie!' " " 'I was buying Elixirs, I already told you! I didn't look to see how many I was firing, honest. I think I'd like to hold onto my crossbow, obviously you people have no intention of protecting me should I be attacked again...interrogating the victim....' " Avina leans against the wall, crossing her arms and quite intently watching the heroes work. Gontzo wiped some mucus-laced sweat off the back of his bulbous head...or maybe it was somewhere near where his neck should be. In either case, the thug slug was obviously very on-edge. It wouldn't take much more for him to snap. Clearly the heroes poking holes in his story was getting to him... "Nal kon chuba, mochua plinke robasca kachula,-?..." Gontzo trails off quietly. " 'Are you done here, or did you want to continue interrogating the traumatized victim?' "

It seems extremely unlikely. The Bladerang's full AoE damage is only justified because it's a Throwing Weapon and has to be retrieved.

It's very wrong, in many different ways...

Miderun stands, brushing the dirt off of herself. "I used to spend a lot of time hunting, guess it came in handy here. I'll have to take you up on that once we're done here." Miderun frowns up at the mounted Star Elves, crossing her arms. "Don't bother with them Bain. We have things to do, and fighting these people isn't one of them. Now, what do you want?" "Oswain? That Latte guy Bain mentioned?" Miderun frowned, looking the black knight up and down. "You guys have been in battle...are you telling me Mhinak's little 'save the forest' plea didn't work out? Il nazarazh rok, what a travesty..," stated Miderun flatly, in a rare display of sarcasm. "So you ran into the person we're supposed to be delivering this seal and magic rock to, and he tried to KILL you?"

Yeah, actually that half of the quest is going to split off again into another three quests. Me, Zepher, and WBD are now happy to announce Quest #139.3: Around the World (The Baltarok Trilogy 2: The Orcs Awaken (To Start a Third War). )

"Uh, choy?..." "Hang on, the girl's right. There's no Elixirs here." The lieutenant narrowed her eyes a bit at Gontzo. Gontzo blinked, shaking his bulbous head somehow and mumbling something to Grash, who translated: " 'It didn't seem to do any permanent damage, because it came back with the other three in the attack on my home. The home assault. As I am the victim, might I remind you. They didn't take anything or do anything else. It, well...hurt. I couldn't see anything for a long while, the lights...blinded me.' "

The bottles appeared to be a Potion, a Tonic, and a Venom. "Well, I died in service to them..." "Emelia not really part of Town Watch anymore. Not like Grash is." "Well, they didn't exactly have the chance to fire me, did they? I was one of the earliest infiltrators, even if I'm dead they probably don't want my skills going to waste." "Probably being key word." The thug slug rolls his eyes. "Mota mota mota...koda echuda locata keecho. Anoka oshuda calee boto..." " 'Questions questions questions...those three machines didn't stop for any of those, at least. Let me just tell you the whole story...' " Gontzo starts talking in his own language to Grash for the orc to translate. Avina lowers her voice again. "Be wary, it wouldn't surprise me if this slug was lying to our faces. Take note of what he's said so far, and see if there are any inconsistencies in his story we can use to put the squeeze on him..." "Okay, Grash has full story from Gontzo. Supposedly. 'I had been visiting the Marketplace in the afternoon. Very busy as I'm sure you can guess, there were many witnesses who can confirm this, a slug of my stature has a tendency to stand out. I was shopping around for a few mixtures at Priscilla's Potions. I was chatting with the lovely proprietress about the prices of Neutralizers or something or other while I picked up some Elxiirs. After paying - the full asking price, I assure you, good heroes - I decided to make my way home, as the sun had set quicker than I expected. I must've taken a wrong turn at the Antiquary on the route back here to my house when I slid into a rather dark alleyway. My eyes strained, but I could hardly make out the details. I did manage to discern a group of figures, no less than four to be sure, and all of them were advancing on my with some sort of lights blinking all over them. They were armed, clearly, so I was forced to - understandably - open fire on them with my crossbow, which I had the foresight to bring with me. I must have hit one of them somewhere where it hurt, as it began spitting sparks and distracting the others, long enough for me to escape, luckily enough. I fled the dastardly muggers and came home as quick as I could, locking the door behind me. Assuming I was safe, I put away my purchase, which you can clearly see on this shelf here. But the machines managed to force their way in through my door. They never touched me, but instead fired blinding lights and some sort of fiery...beams at me. Before I knew it, I was knocked out.' Certainly breaking in would explain the noises the neighbors reported later that night to the passing guardsman. What do heroes think of the story?"

One per year is two more than most artifacts get. :laugh: And it's really not. And there aren't any banned artifacts.

The prizes have changed a bit over the past three. Anyone, whether in the Hall or on a quest, can participate.

I'm willing to Vote: Tar Egg-Chaser (Tariq J.) Vengeful seems like a really convenient claim. And his defense amounts to "yeah, I know I'm scummy, but so are these guys, look at them instead!"

Tesni repeats her attack. Dumora slashes Body B with her Foe Smiter from the front row. The dwarves attack the enemy with the least health. Battle Order Atramor Ellaria Tesni Dumora Nur Dwarves

"Doesn't surprise me, seems like you heroes are always working...no matter how stretched the definition is..." "I'm Lieutenant Emelia, this is Constable Grash. We've been investigating these strange attacks for nearly a year now. I'm sure you know about them. We deal with vigilante pretenders all the time, but from what we can tell, the assailants seem to be machines of some sort. The higher-ups are understandably upset about this turn of events. There's an image to maintain. The Town Watch is the law in Eubric, and these vigilantes are obstructing rightful justice." "Grash can translate for Gontzo. Grash and Emelia have been interrogating him for nearly half an hour now-" "Achuba doka no subi chezka kula! Daska ban moska aloota mal ne koba chal chutta." " 'An unwarranted interrogation! I have suffered more than enough - being pummeled and clubbed in my own home, and now this!' " "I- what?" Emelia gives Calamity a somewhat confused stare as she addresses Gontzo, who slurps out of his mug of Mead sloppily. The thug slug gives a sour look, then rattles something off in his own language, half-mumbled with his mouth full of his drink. Grash translates: " 'Fine, but I expect to be treated with respect, being the victim in this unfortunate matter. I did nothing to provoke my attacks, not one finger lifted against them.' " The chest is full of broken-down furniture of some sort. She does spot a slight glimmering object, however, which she pulls out with little trouble, unnoticed. Topaz (Enables lightning-elemental spells.)

That fact that I have been near the end of the pack for voting is simply just down to unfortunate timings, I've come on here and most of the members have started voting already... You're being voted for, now is not the time to try and deflecting suspicion, you've had over 24 hours to bring up any suspicions you may have had.

The Town Watch folk and Gontzo gave Em and Kellim the blankest stares that have ever been given. "...choy? Kee baatu baatu, loca koochoo." " 'What? You bother me, foolish idiots.' Gontzo is as confused and annoyed as Grash is, Emelia." "This is not a party. We're investigating a disturbance, and I don't know what this thug has told you about a party, but he is not entertaining guests right now, and I am definitely not entertaining drunken fools." The zombie, Emelia, pried Kellim's arm off her shoulder with rotting fingers, twisted it around his back and pushed him into Em, causing each of them to take 1 damage. "Yesterday night we received reports of a disturbance taking place in this home. One of our people took a statement from Mister Gontzo here, and he claims he was attacked by...figures of some sort. We're gathering details now, and they match up with a string of other such attacks that have been looked into over the past few months." "It looks like we got here late " Avina muttered to the party. "But maybe we can still ask the slug a few questions. I doubt these guardsmen will get in our way." "Grash is curious about civilians....they are well-armed, drunk, and barging into people's homes unannounced." "What are you imply- oh, of course..." "Heroes." "Well, I'm sure you have a good reason for being here...possibly?" She looked at Em and Kellim a bit critically. Grash frowned and looked on his guard.

Germ moves to G5.

The party leaves the abandoned bookshop and heads west, to Way's End. Avina rifles through her folder some more and passes a page to the party. "This is what we have on Gontzo. He doesn't seem like the cooperative type, so be ready to press him for answers regarding his claimed automaton attack." The sun is high over Eubric, and the roads become denser as they leave the empty street. Soon enough, they managed to find their way to a large residential block Avina leads the party to one of the doors nearby, giving it a few rough knocks before pushing it open with little hesitation. There seems to have been some sort of heated discussion going on inside, that dies down as soon as the door is opened. "...keepuna....hi chuba da naga, wer-" "No no no, I don't think so. We're the ones asking the questions here, sir." The zombie woman (in what looks like a very outdated and decaying Town Watch uniform) turns and frowns at the party. "Excuse me, but you're barging on a very important Town Watch investigation. Please step outside, civilians." "Hmph. Somehow Grash doubts these people are civilians." What would the party do?

Hmm... Conversion or traitor, the scum have to be up to something. Their kills seem to have petered out, which is very strange.

Atramor attacks Tail B from the back row, having slashed the other right off the enormous scarlet worm's rear end.

"His name is Chalvo Erith. Shipmaster for the Ji Pei, coordinates all the deliveries, usually Tritech, moving in and out of Eubric Freeport along the shipping lanes. He had access to some pretty top-of-the-line schematics and parts of one of their automatons a few years ago. It would've been trivial for him to copy them. But we don't know what his motivation would've been, or like I said, where he even is now." "We all believe in the goals of the Crimson Crown. We're not looking for sovereignty over the world, we want to make sure mortalkind can grow and advance without the influences of magic and technology we shouldn't have yet. There are many things in this world too dangerous for us to meddle in. "The automatons make their hits against troublemakers in the city. They don't even kill them, just disable them for a time. The fact that they were stirring up trouble is about the only connection we can draw between all the victims." "Well, Cardinal wanted Razkor on the job..." "But she is deferring to the Rose on this matter. We don't need you. There are some who don't even want you." "But the Rose knows better than to make an enemy out of Heroica. In fact, she seems to think you could be a valuable ally. Thus, you're here, and I'm coming with you." Avina pulls her mask and hood on, looking vaguely familiar to Em. "Shall we go, then?" 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 24 Power Bonus: 5 Defense: 28 Health: 44/44 Gold: 304 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 +3, SP +3, Max. Health +3, Max. Ether +3. 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) Consumables: Health Core x5, Potion, Remedy, Mead, Venom, Phoenix Esssence (3), Ambrosia (4), Mulled Wine (2), 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 (2), Fire Bomb, Water Bomb (2), Holy Bomb (2), Dirt Bomb (2), Air Bomb (2), Chaotic Bomb (100 random elemental damage to all opponents) Misc: Bedroll (2), Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Reaper's Heart, Mythril Shard (1), 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) Annienal Anavir (Kintobor) "19" year old elven female Mystic Knight *Bonaparte Reputation* *Immunity to Earth and Fragile* *Takes half damage from elemental attacks* Level 15 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 10 Health: 30/30 Ether: 19/19 Gold: 20 Equipment: Bonaparte Cutlass (WP:9, doubled if the user has reputation among the Bonapartes; longsword), Crescent Shield (SP: 5, Halved Damage from elemental attacks; shield), Heavy Armour (SP: 5, immunity to fragile, body wear, suitable for barbarians, knights, dragoons, skirmishers, regulators, and vindicators), Locustoid Greaves (Max Ether +4, immune to Earth, suitable to ether users, hand wear) Inventory: Ammit (WP: 6; greatsword, user gains 5 ether for every kill), Anointed Gladius (WP: 8, deals damage undead; great sword) Wicked Javelin (WP: 7, throwing weapon, retrievable, 1/6 chance to slow), 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), Lethauros Fellwings (SP: 3, wearer is immune to Sudden Death, 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) Emerald (Wood), Sapphire (Wind), Aquamarine (Water), Amethyst (Darkness) Consumables: 3x Potions, Grand Potion, Field Rations (Restore 15 health), 2x Phoenix Essences, 4x Remedies, Mead, Venom, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Telescope, Pickaxe, x2 Grand Tonics 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) Calamity (Scubacarrot) 24 year old human Mage Level 5 Power bonus: 2 (spell) Health: 9/9 Ether: 9/9 Gold: 81 Equipment: Skull-Topped Staff (WP: 3, staff), Gold skin Gloves (Spell power +2, Usable by mages, Handwear) Inventory: Bedroll, 4x Potion, 3x Tonic,4x 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 Keliim (Mencot) 35 years old male human Barbarian Level 9 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 16/16 Defense: 2 (doubled against free hits) Gold: 37 Equipment: Dwarven Orichalcum Axe (WP: 5), Heroic Helm (Headwear, SP:2, Helm's SP doubles on free hits) 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) Consumables: x10 Potion, Grand Potion, 3X Mead, 1X Smelling salt, 2X Smoke Bomb, 1X Poison, 1X Dirt Bomb. 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) Avina Truenal, Crimson Crown Alchemaster (NPC, controlled by Emjajoas) *Immune to Cursed, Jinxed, Hexed, Transcended, and Blessed* 36 years old female human Alchemist Level 14 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 33/33 Gold: 40 Equipment: Zeta and Sigma (WP: 13, dual strike, daggers), Leather Gloves (For Mixture, the die is rolled three times instead of twice, and the highest two results determine the created item; suitable to alchemists; handwear), Masque (Immune to cursed, jinxed, hexed, transcended and blessed, accessory, suitable to members of the Order of the Crimson Crown) Inventory: 5 Potions, 2 Remedies, Phoenix Essence, Cloud of Celerity

Did you account for the Ice and Fire Armor in the free hit? And Atramor should've done 388 damage and KO'd Tail A. 20 + 41 + 36 = 97 x 2 (ice) x 2 (wind) x 2 (light) /2 (darkness).