Heroica RPG - Quest#120: Hand of Blue

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall pounds down a mead from the back row.

[CMP]

Atramor storms the front row and attacks the Defensive Automaton.

[Flipz]

Sighing at the situation, Arthur stabs his Gladiator Trident at the Offensive Automaton from the Front Row.

Battle Order:

Arthur

Atramor

Skrall

[Sandy]

Results of Round Four of the Battle Flow:

Arthur (Gladiator Trident) vs. Offensive Automaton - Shield (Dragon's Wrath: Petit Breath - Offensive Automaton: 1000 health+60 SP-(34x2=68 dmg)=992 health; Defensive Automaton: 1000 health+120 SP-(34x2=68 dmg)=1000 health)

Atramor vs. Defensive Automaton - Deflected Damage (Atramor: no Aura; 64 health+26 SP-30 dmg=60 health)

>Skrall uses Mead on himself - (Skrall: encouraged)

Miirym breathes acid on the automata again, this time with even less effect. The other Automaton attacks Atramor while Skrall stays back to boost himself more. The heroes would need a lot of strength if they were to bring down the machines.

Two enemies remain!

Enemies:

Offensive Automaton

*Immune to cursed, sealed, petrified and doomed* *Inspired* *Reinforced*

Type: Mechanical

Level: 60

Defense: 30 60

Health: 500/500 992/1000

Special: Debilitating Strike – Causes 60 damage as well as the weakened- and fragile-effects to the target.

Drops (varies by roll):

1-3: Grating Stone (WP +1 to one weapon when used)

4-6: nothing

Defensive Automaton

*Immune to cursed, sealed, petrified and doomed* *Inspired* *Reinforced*

Type: Mechanical

Level: 30

Defense: 60 120

Health: 500/500 1000/1000

Special: Force Field – Restores 300 health and bestows the inspired- and reinforced-effects to all allies.

Drops (varies by roll):

1-3: Bright Polish (SP +1 to one shield or defensive artifact when used)

4-6: nothing

Party:

Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (Flipz)

22 year old male human Dragoon *Party Leader*

Level 34 *Immune to Magic, Healing, Blind, Confused, Fragile and all Poisons* *Ignores Free Hits from Beasts*

Power: 44 (34+10)

Defense: 32 (14+5+2+10+1)

Health: 57/57 (5+33+15+4)

Gold: 944 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham)

Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Arm Shield (SP:14, shield), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP:5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; bodywear, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing; headwear, suitable for anyone), Shadeaux Cape (SP:5, Immune to Blind and Confused, suitable to those with reputation among the Shadeaux only; if reputation is great, SP is doubled; if reputation is outstanding, SP is tripled; backwear), Fur Leggings (SP:1, Beast enemies do not deal free hits to the wearer; footwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

Weapons: Spider Leg (WP:10/20 against flying enemies, Lightning-elemental; spear), Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 "halberd", suitable to Arthur only), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Clockwork Lance (WP:12, has 1/3 chance to cause slowed-effect on the target; lance), Stag Antlers (WP:10, grants Intimidation; halberd), Metasimian Dory (WP:10, pierces defense; spear), Dauntlet Index (WP: 10, doubled against humanoids, Darkness-elemental; spear), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, halberd, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Phoenix Essence])

Artifacts: Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; headwear, usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear, suitable for anyone), Cloak of Deception (Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent; Backwear, suitable for anyone), Stingy Gloves (Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you; handwear, wearable by everybody), handwear, suitable for anyone), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing battles; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Zap-Tap Badge (Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Macabre Collar (Provides immunity to Insta-Kill and Doomed; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Scarf of Misfortune (Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (changes the wearer into an elf of the same gender when worn; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Pointy Hat

Spell Items: Opal (Ice), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Weakening

Consumables: Potion, Grand Potion x7, Tonic, Grand Tonic, Ether Core, Remedy x10, Elixir x3, Hurricane, Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round), Blind Fury, Love Potion, Grating Stone x2, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.), Smoke Bomb x5, Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), Bone x3, Silver Ore x2

Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass

Atramor Gibbin (CallMePie)

32 year old male human Regulator

Level 34 2/4 *Immune to all elements, poisoned, and doomed* *Negative effects last one round* *Battle Style: Orderly*

Power: 54 (34+20)

Defense: 26 (4+6+4+12)

Health: 60/64 (7+33+12+6+6*)

Gold: 656

Equipment: Pheles Kris (WP: 20, wielder has a 1/2 chance to generate an Aura whenever using the weapon, doubling the user's current and max. health but drawing all attacks to them, fire, ice, lightning, earth, wind, light, and darkness-elemental dagger), Robust Shield (SP: 12, shield), Amulet of the Court (Negative effects last only one round on the wearer, immune to water, lightning, and wood, accessory, suitable for anyone), Rat's Hide (SP: 4, backwear, suitable for anyone), Galactic Armor (SP: 6, +6 max health, immune to fire, earth, wind, ice, light, darkness, and doomed, bodywear, suitable for anyone), Helmet of Azzurat (SP: 4, immune to poison, headwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

- Tiger Claws (WP: 15, double WP against humanoids, fire- and darkness-elemental, dual strike, daggers), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, staff, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd), Staff of Ennon (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, staff, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Healing Staff A (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging), Healing Staff B (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging)

- Bracers of Insatiable Avarice (Power +2; user gains 25 Gold for every enemy he kills, handwear, suitable for hunters, berserkers, battle mages, beast warriors, dragoons, marauders, regulators, and skirmishers), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants Animal Talk, headwear, suitable for anyone)

- Scroll of Arc Frailty (50/50 chance to inflict the fragile-effect to all enemies for ether equal to the number of enemies), Scroll of Fire Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of fiery armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the burned by 10-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Ice Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of ice armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the stunned-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether)

- 2 Grand Potions, Phoenix Essence, Health Core, Jinxy Juice (Deals the jinxed-effect to the target), Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, 3 Bones, Grating Stone

- Flint and Steel (Handy for starting fires), Pickaxe, Shovel, Rope, Decamodifier (Transforms an enemy with a quarter or less health left into a Decamon card when used, if there is a corresponding card. The monster will not drop anything if it is modified. Tool.)

Decamon Deck: Sylph (Electric 3), Thunderbird (Electric 4), Cloud Gigas (Electric 9)

Skrall (Waterbrick Down)

81 year old Male Ogre Hunter

Level 36 3/4 *Natural Respite* *Favors Flying and Humanoid enemies* *Immune to Fragile, Blinded, and Confused* *Gains Triple experience* *Lucky* *Encouraged*

Power: 50 (36+12+2)

Defense: 8 (3+5)

Health: 50/50 (6+35+6+3)

Gold: 138

Equipment: Hunter's Crossbow (WP:12/24 vs. Beasts, fire, ice, wind, and darkness-elemental), Hunter's Quiver (Bows and Crossbows +2WP, allows Hunters to favor two types of enemies, back wear), Tricorne (SP: 3, head wear), Heavy Armor (SP: 5, wearer is immune to fragile, blind, and confused effects, body wear), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains 3x experience from fights, accessory)

Inventory: Composite Bow (WP:12, ignores SP, light, lightning, water, wood, and earth-elemental; bow), Oversized Greatsword (WP: 16 - Double damage on targets that are clearly smaller than the hero, greatsword), Lucky Doubloon (Grants "Special Guard"; accessory), Overkill Gloves (Gives the wearer 1 gold for every point of damage they do extra when they defeat an enemy (example: Enemy has 50 HP left, you do 75 damage, you earn 25 gold)), Potion, 1 Grand Potion, Ether Core, Phoenix Essence, 5 Phoenix Incenses, 8 Meads, 2 Nostrums, 4 Remedy, 2 Smelling Salts, 6 Venoms, 1 Deadly Venoms, 8 Smoke Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, Fire Bomb, 5 Water Bombs, Lightning Bomb, Rudra Bomb (Deals 100 lightning-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 4 Bone, Blind Fury, Wolfgang Insignia, Black Goo

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall pulled back on his Composite Bow and sighted an arrow at the Defensive Automaton from the back row. "We'd best finish this up quick."

[Flipz]

Arthur repeats his attack.

Same Battle Order

OOC: Arthur will repeat until he either lands a Hit or High Assault, or until he rolls Damage or Special Damage twice. If the former, he'll switch to his clockwork lance and continue to attack until he applies Slowed or until he hits 1 HP.

[CMP]

Atramor repeats his swing.

"This could take some time, mates."

[Sandy]

QM Note: Because the battle was harder than I thought, I've decided to omit the variability of drops, and just make the enemies drop all items with full guarantee.

Results of Round Five of the Battle Flow:

Arthur (Gladiator Trident) vs. Offensive Automaton - Special Damage (Debilitating Strike - Arthur: 57 health+32 SP-60 dmg=29 health+weakened)

Atramor vs. Defensive Automaton - Rally (Defensive Automaton: 1000 health+120 SP-54 dmg=1000 health; Atramor: no aura; All allies: safe from Free Hits)

>Skrall (Composite Bow) vs. Defensive Automaton - Shield/Critical Hit (Marking the Favoured - Defensive Automaton: 1000 health-(74x4=296 dmg)=704 health; Skrall: mark mechanical as favoured type?)

Arthur and Atramor are nigh powerless against the automata, but Skrall has just the weapon for the occassion. He finds the weak spot in the Defensive Automaton and pierces an arrow right through its defenses. Skrall has a chance to mark mechanical enemies as favoured type.

Two enemies are left!

Enemies:

Offensive Automaton

*Immune to cursed, sealed, petrified and doomed* *Inspired* *Reinforced*

Type: Mechanical

Level: 60

Defense: 30 60

Health: 500/500 992/1000

Special: Debilitating Strike – Causes 60 damage as well as the weakened- and fragile-effects to the target.

Drops: Grating Stone (WP +1 to one weapon when used)

Defensive Automaton

*Immune to cursed, sealed, petrified and doomed* *Inspired* *Reinforced*

Type: Mechanical

Level: 30

Defense: 60 120

Health: 500/500 704/1000

Special: Force Field – Restores 300 health and bestows the inspired- and reinforced-effects to all allies.

Drops: Bright Polish (SP +1 to one shield or defensive artifact when used)

Party:

Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (Flipz)

22 year old male human Dragoon *Party Leader*

Level 34 *Immune to Magic, Healing, Blind, Confused, Fragile and all Poisons* *Ignores Free Hits from Beasts* *Weakened for 3 rounds*

Power: 44 (34+10)

Defense: 32 (14+5+2+10+1)

Health: 57/57 (5+33+15+4)

Gold: 944 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham)

Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Arm Shield (SP:14, shield), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP:5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; bodywear, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing; headwear, suitable for anyone), Shadeaux Cape (SP:5, Immune to Blind and Confused, suitable to those with reputation among the Shadeaux only; if reputation is great, SP is doubled; if reputation is outstanding, SP is tripled; backwear), Fur Leggings (SP:1, Beast enemies do not deal free hits to the wearer; footwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

Weapons: Spider Leg (WP:10/20 against flying enemies, Lightning-elemental; spear), Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 "halberd", suitable to Arthur only), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Clockwork Lance (WP:12, has 1/3 chance to cause slowed-effect on the target; lance), Stag Antlers (WP:10, grants Intimidation; halberd), Metasimian Dory (WP:10, pierces defense; spear), Dauntlet Index (WP: 10, doubled against humanoids, Darkness-elemental; spear), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, halberd, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Phoenix Essence])

Artifacts: Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; headwear, usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear, suitable for anyone), Cloak of Deception (Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent; Backwear, suitable for anyone), Stingy Gloves (Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you; handwear, wearable by everybody), handwear, suitable for anyone), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing battles; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Zap-Tap Badge (Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Macabre Collar (Provides immunity to Insta-Kill and Doomed; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Scarf of Misfortune (Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (changes the wearer into an elf of the same gender when worn; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Pointy Hat

Spell Items: Opal (Ice), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Weakening

Consumables: Potion, Grand Potion x7, Tonic, Grand Tonic, Ether Core, Remedy x10, Elixir x3, Hurricane, Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round), Blind Fury, Love Potion, Grating Stone x2, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.), Smoke Bomb x5, Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), Bone x3, Silver Ore x2

Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass

Atramor Gibbin (CallMePie)

32 year old male human Regulator

Level 34 2/4 *Immune to all elements, poisoned, and doomed* *Negative effects last one round* *Battle Style: Orderly*

Power: 54 (34+20)

Defense: 26 (4+6+4+12)

Health: 60/64 (7+33+12+6+6*)

Gold: 656

Equipment: Pheles Kris (WP: 20, wielder has a 1/2 chance to generate an Aura whenever using the weapon, doubling the user's current and max. health but drawing all attacks to them, fire, ice, lightning, earth, wind, light, and darkness-elemental dagger), Robust Shield (SP: 12, shield), Amulet of the Court (Negative effects last only one round on the wearer, immune to water, lightning, and wood, accessory, suitable for anyone), Rat's Hide (SP: 4, backwear, suitable for anyone), Galactic Armor (SP: 6, +6 max health, immune to fire, earth, wind, ice, light, darkness, and doomed, bodywear, suitable for anyone), Helmet of Azzurat (SP: 4, immune to poison, headwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

- Tiger Claws (WP: 15, double WP against humanoids, fire- and darkness-elemental, dual strike, daggers), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, staff, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd), Staff of Ennon (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, staff, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Healing Staff A (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging), Healing Staff B (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging)

- Bracers of Insatiable Avarice (Power +2; user gains 25 Gold for every enemy he kills, handwear, suitable for hunters, berserkers, battle mages, beast warriors, dragoons, marauders, regulators, and skirmishers), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants Animal Talk, headwear, suitable for anyone)

- Scroll of Arc Frailty (50/50 chance to inflict the fragile-effect to all enemies for ether equal to the number of enemies), Scroll of Fire Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of fiery armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the burned by 10-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Ice Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of ice armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the stunned-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether)

- 2 Grand Potions, Phoenix Essence, Health Core, Jinxy Juice (Deals the jinxed-effect to the target), Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, 3 Bones, Grating Stone

- Flint and Steel (Handy for starting fires), Pickaxe, Shovel, Rope, Decamodifier (Transforms an enemy with a quarter or less health left into a Decamon card when used, if there is a corresponding card. The monster will not drop anything if it is modified. Tool.)

Decamon Deck: Sylph (Electric 3), Thunderbird (Electric 4), Cloud Gigas (Electric 9)

Skrall (Waterbrick Down)

81 year old Male Ogre Hunter

Level 36 3/4 *Natural Respite* *Favors Flying and Humanoid enemies* *Immune to Fragile, Blinded, and Confused* *Gains Triple experience* *Lucky* *Encouraged*

Power: 50 (36+12+2)

Defense: 8 (3+5)

Health: 50/50 (6+35+6+3)

Gold: 138

Equipment: Composite Bow (WP:12, ignores SP, light, lightning, water, wood, and earth-elemental; bow), Hunter's Quiver (Bows and Crossbows +2WP, allows Hunters to favor two types of enemies, back wear), Tricorne (SP: 3, head wear), Heavy Armor (SP: 5, wearer is immune to fragile, blind, and confused effects, body wear), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains 3x experience from fights, accessory)

Inventory: Hunter's Crossbow (WP:12/24 vs. Beasts, fire, ice, wind, and darkness-elemental), Oversized Greatsword (WP: 16 - Double damage on targets that are clearly smaller than the hero, greatsword), Lucky Doubloon (Grants "Special Guard"; accessory), Overkill Gloves (Gives the wearer 1 gold for every point of damage they do extra when they defeat an enemy (example: Enemy has 50 HP left, you do 75 damage, you earn 25 gold)), Potion, 1 Grand Potion, Ether Core, Phoenix Essence, 5 Phoenix Incenses, 8 Meads, 2 Nostrums, 4 Remedy, 2 Smelling Salts, 6 Venoms, 1 Deadly Venoms, 8 Smoke Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, Fire Bomb, 5 Water Bombs, Lightning Bomb, Rudra Bomb (Deals 100 lightning-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 4 Bone, Blind Fury, Wolfgang Insignia, Black Goo

[Flipz]

"Excellent, Skrall. I think if you Favor them we'll be in good shape."

Arthur repeats his attack, this time from the Back Row.

Same Battle Order

[CMP]

Atramor continues his attack

"Reminds me of that damn floor."

[Flipz]

Atramor continues his attack

"Reminds me of that damn floor."

"Oh, gods, that floor. "

[Waterbrick Down]

"No idea what yer talkin' about, I dealt with that floor quite handily." Skrall decides to favor the mechanical enemies as opposed to the flying ones from earlier, before loosing another arrow at the Defensive Automaton from the back row.

[Flipz]

"You and Hoke both. Doesn't mean I'll ever live down freaking out so much about fighting a freaking floor." He grimaces, remembering how many other things he'd said and done that night that he'd never live down. Well, I guess I've made some progress. On the plus side: I don't hate Atramor anymore. Never thought that'd happen. On the minus side, we seem to have swapped places.

Miirym looks at Arthur in puzzlement, but makes no reply. Her master was a mysterious creature, that was certain. Perhaps with time, she would come to learn more of his secrets.

[Sandy]

QM Note: Autorolling away!

Results of Round Six of the Battle Flow:

>Arthur vs. Offensive Automaton - Dragon Aid (Offensive Automaton: 992 health+60 SP-34 dmg=992 health)

Atramor vs. Defensive Automaton - Damage (Atramor: aura; 120 health+26 SP-30 dmg=116 health)

>Skrall vs. Defensive Automaton - Hit/Hit (Defensive Automaton: 704 health-(50x12=600 dmg)=104 health)

Miirym makes another futile attack in Arthur's stead. The defensive automaton damages Atramor, who again forms an aura around himself. In retaliation, Skrall sends a mighty arrow that severely damages the automaton.

Two enemies are left!

Results of Round Seven of the Battle Flow:

>Arthur vs. Offensive Automaton - Hit (Offensive Automaton: 992 health+60 SP-(45/4=12 dmg)=992 health+bleeding by 5)

Atramor vs. Defensive Automaton - Shield (Internal Conflict - Defensive Automaton: 104/2=52 health; Atramor: chaotic battle style, no aura)

>Skrall vs. Defensive Automaton - Hit/Aim (Defensive Automaton: 52 health-(50x12=600 dmg)=0 health)

Offensive Automaton - Bleeding by 5 (-5 dmg)

This time all heroes get a hit on the automatons, and the battle does not seem as impossible anymore. Only one enemy remains!

Results of Round Eight of the Battle Flow:

>Arthur vs. Offensive Automaton - Deflected Damage (Arthur: 57 health+32 SP-(60/2=30 dmg)=57 health)

Atramor vs. Offensive Automaton - Special Damage (Debilitating Strike - Atramor: no aura, 64 health+26 SP-60 dmg=30 health+weakened+fragile)

>Skrall vs. Offensive Automaton - Hit/Damage (Offensive Automaton: 987 health-(50x12=600 dmg)=387 health)

Offensive Automaton - Bleeding by 5 (-5 dmg)

The offensive automaton gets truly offensive, and attacks both Arthur and Atramor. Skrall lets loose another devastating arrow, though, pushing the machine back.

One enemy stands in between the heroes and the people they are trying to rescue!

Enemies:

Offensive Automaton

*Immune to cursed, sealed, petrified and doomed* *Inspired* *Reinforced* *Bleeding by 5*

Type: Mechanical

Level: 60

Defense: 30 60

Health: 500/500 382/1000

Special: Debilitating Strike – Causes 60 damage as well as the weakened- and fragile-effects to the target.

Drops: Grating Stone (WP +1 to one weapon when used)

Party:

Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (Flipz)

22 year old male human Dragoon *Party Leader*

Level 34 *Immune to Magic, Healing, Blind, Confused, Fragile and all Poisons* *Ignores Free Hits from Beasts*

Power: 45 (34+11)

Defense: 32 (14+5+2+10+1)

Health: 57/57 (5+33+15+4)

Gold: 944 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham)

Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP:11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Arm Shield (SP:14, shield), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP:5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; bodywear, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing; headwear, suitable for anyone), Shadeaux Cape (SP:5, Immune to Blind and Confused, suitable to those with reputation among the Shadeaux only; if reputation is great, SP is doubled; if reputation is outstanding, SP is tripled; backwear), Fur Leggings (SP:1, Beast enemies do not deal free hits to the wearer; footwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

Weapons: Spider Leg (WP:10/20 against flying enemies, Lightning-elemental; spear), Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 "halberd", suitable to Arthur only), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Clockwork Lance (WP:12, has 1/3 chance to cause slowed-effect on the target; lance), Stag Antlers (WP:10, grants Intimidation; halberd), Metasimian Dory (WP:10, pierces defense; spear), Dauntlet Index (WP: 10, doubled against humanoids, Darkness-elemental; spear), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, halberd, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Phoenix Essence])

Artifacts: Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; headwear, usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear, suitable for anyone), Cloak of Deception (Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent; Backwear, suitable for anyone), Stingy Gloves (Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you; handwear, wearable by everybody), handwear, suitable for anyone), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing battles; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Zap-Tap Badge (Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Macabre Collar (Provides immunity to Insta-Kill and Doomed; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Scarf of Misfortune (Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (changes the wearer into an elf of the same gender when worn; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Pointy Hat

Spell Items: Opal (Ice), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Weakening

Consumables: Potion, Grand Potion x7, Tonic, Grand Tonic, Ether Core, Remedy x10, Elixir x3, Hurricane, Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round), Blind Fury, Love Potion, Grating Stone x2, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.), Smoke Bomb x5, Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), Bone x3, Silver Ore x2

Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass

Atramor Gibbin (CallMePie)

32 year old male human Regulator

Level 34 2/4 *Immune to all elements, poisoned, and doomed* *Negative effects last one round* *Battle Style: Chaotic* *Weakened for 1 round* *Fragile for 1 round*

Power: 54 (34+20)

Defense: 26 (4+6+4+12)

Health: 30/64 (7+33+12+6+6*)

Gold: 656

Equipment: Pheles Kris (WP: 20, wielder has a 1/2 chance to generate an Aura whenever using the weapon, doubling the user's current and max. health but drawing all attacks to them, fire, ice, lightning, earth, wind, light, and darkness-elemental dagger), Robust Shield (SP: 12, shield), Amulet of the Court (Negative effects last only one round on the wearer, immune to water, lightning, and wood, accessory, suitable for anyone), Rat's Hide (SP: 4, backwear, suitable for anyone), Galactic Armor (SP: 6, +6 max health, immune to fire, earth, wind, ice, light, darkness, and doomed, bodywear, suitable for anyone), Helmet of Azzurat (SP: 4, immune to poison, headwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

- Tiger Claws (WP: 15, double WP against humanoids, fire- and darkness-elemental, dual strike, daggers), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, staff, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd), Staff of Ennon (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, staff, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Healing Staff A (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging), Healing Staff B (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging)

- Bracers of Insatiable Avarice (Power +2; user gains 25 Gold for every enemy he kills, handwear, suitable for hunters, berserkers, battle mages, beast warriors, dragoons, marauders, regulators, and skirmishers), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants Animal Talk, headwear, suitable for anyone)

- Scroll of Arc Frailty (50/50 chance to inflict the fragile-effect to all enemies for ether equal to the number of enemies), Scroll of Fire Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of fiery armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the burned by 10-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Ice Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of ice armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the stunned-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether)

- 2 Grand Potions, Phoenix Essence, Health Core, Jinxy Juice (Deals the jinxed-effect to the target), Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, 3 Bones, Grating Stone

- Flint and Steel (Handy for starting fires), Pickaxe, Shovel, Rope, Decamodifier (Transforms an enemy with a quarter or less health left into a Decamon card when used, if there is a corresponding card. The monster will not drop anything if it is modified. Tool.)

Decamon Deck: Sylph (Electric 3), Thunderbird (Electric 4), Cloud Gigas (Electric 9)

Skrall (Waterbrick Down)

81 year old Male Ogre Hunter

Level 36 3/4 *Natural Respite* *Favors Mechanical and Humanoid enemies* *Immune to Fragile, Blinded, and Confused* *Gains Triple experience* *Lucky* *Encouraged*

Power: 50 (36+12+2)

Defense: 8 (3+5)

Health: 50/50 (6+35+6+3)

Gold: 138

Equipment: Composite Bow (WP:12, ignores SP, light, lightning, water, wood, and earth-elemental; bow), Hunter's Quiver (Bows and Crossbows +2WP, allows Hunters to favor two types of enemies, back wear), Tricorne (SP: 3, head wear), Heavy Armor (SP: 5, wearer is immune to fragile, blind, and confused effects, body wear), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains 3x experience from fights, accessory)

Inventory: Hunter's Crossbow (WP:12/24 vs. Beasts, fire, ice, wind, and darkness-elemental), Oversized Greatsword (WP: 16 - Double damage on targets that are clearly smaller than the hero, greatsword), Lucky Doubloon (Grants "Special Guard"; accessory), Overkill Gloves (Gives the wearer 1 gold for every point of damage they do extra when they defeat an enemy (example: Enemy has 50 HP left, you do 75 damage, you earn 25 gold)), Potion, 1 Grand Potion, Ether Core, Phoenix Essence, 5 Phoenix Incenses, 8 Meads, 2 Nostrums, 4 Remedy, 2 Smelling Salts, 6 Venoms, 1 Deadly Venoms, 8 Smoke Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, Fire Bomb, 5 Water Bombs, Lightning Bomb, Rudra Bomb (Deals 100 lightning-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 4 Bone, Blind Fury, Wolfgang Insignia, Black Goo

[Flipz]

"It's all you, Skrall. Atramor, need an Elixir, or will you just hang back for a bit? "

If Atramor says he wants healing, Arthur uses an Elixir on him; otherwise he repeats his attack from the Back Row with his Gladiator Trident.

Same Battle Order

[Waterbrick Down]

"Sure thing, ya chaps better heal up while ya've got the opportunity." Skrall fires another arrow at the Offensive Automaton from the back row.

OoC: I imagine if Skrall rolls special damage he's going to want a heal or a remedy.

[CMP]

"I'll be fine, mate."

Atramor does nothing from the back row.

[Sandy]

Results of Round Nine of the Battle Flow:

>Arthur vs. Offensive Automaton - Hit (Offensive Automaton: 382 health+60 SP-(45/2=23 dmg)=382 health+bleeding by 10)

>Atramor does nothing

>Skrall vs. Offensive Automaton - Hit/Shield (Offensive Automaton 382 health-(74x12=888 dmg)=0 health)

Skrall quickly takes down the remaining Automaton. Mage Sun Qui and Spymaster Tanooki are safe now!

"Thank'h heavens!"

"I'll get gramps here somewhere safe, but you need to get to the Council Chambers. The leader of the machines went that a way!"

THE BATTLE FLOW CONTINUES!

Rules of the Battle Flow: As you advance along the hallway, you get into a battle with several stages. You cannot heal, use items or do anything else in-between the stages, and you don't gain experience or loot before it is over - it is considered a singular battle in that respect. However, you can choose to skip any stage of the battle. Skipping it means that the NPCs getting attacked will be killed, but the enemies they face will not pursue you. Fleeing the battle means skipping the current stage and moving on to the next. You will not gain experience if you skip all the stages.

The party rushed through the door to the entrance hall. There was the valiant Guard Captain Raijin fighting against three more automata by herself. One of the automata was the dual-blade wielding commander that had cut Lord Phang Ten in half.

"She is the last person we should be helping! Come on, now!" Shanxian motioned to the party to follow her to the chambers.

Would the party follow the ambassador or stay and help Guard Captain Raijin?

Enemies:

Offensive Automaton

*Immune to cursed, sealed, petrified and doomed*

Type: Mechanical

Level: 60

Defense: 30

Health: 500/500

Special: Debilitating Strike – Causes 60 damage as well as the weakened- and fragile-effects to the target.

Drops: Grating Stone (WP +1 to one weapon when used)

Defensive Automaton

*Immune to cursed, sealed, petrified and doomed*

Type: Mechanical

Level: 30

Defense: 60

Health: 500/500

Special: Force Field – Restores 300 health and bestows the inspired- and reinforced-effects to all allies.

Drops: Bright Polish (SP +1 to one shield or defensive artifact when used)

Operative Automaton

*Immune to cursed, sealed, petrified, doomed and sudden death*

Type: Mechanical

Level: 90

Defense: 40

Health: 1000/1000

Special I: Command to Conquer - If all allies have over half of their health left, they will all get an extra Free Hit.

Special II: Reconfigure Formation - If some of the allies have less than half of their health left, those allies will stand back to the back row.

Special III: Tactical Retreat – If all allies have less than half of their health left, they will all flee and the battle will end.

Drops: Ultraviolet Blade (WP:30, dual strike; first strike is fire-elemental, second strike ice-elemental; gems cannot be merged into or removed from the weapon; longsword)

Party:

Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (Flipz)

22 year old male human Dragoon *Party Leader*

Level 34 *Immune to Magic, Healing, Blind, Confused, Fragile and all Poisons* *Ignores Free Hits from Beasts*

Power: 45 (34+11)

Defense: 32 (14+5+2+10+1)

Health: 57/57 (5+33+15+4)

Gold: 944 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham)

Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP:11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Arm Shield (SP:14, shield), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP:5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; bodywear, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing; headwear, suitable for anyone), Shadeaux Cape (SP:5, Immune to Blind and Confused, suitable to those with reputation among the Shadeaux only; if reputation is great, SP is doubled; if reputation is outstanding, SP is tripled; backwear), Fur Leggings (SP:1, Beast enemies do not deal free hits to the wearer; footwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

Weapons: Spider Leg (WP:10/20 against flying enemies, Lightning-elemental; spear), Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 "halberd", suitable to Arthur only), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Clockwork Lance (WP:12, has 1/3 chance to cause slowed-effect on the target; lance), Stag Antlers (WP:10, grants Intimidation; halberd), Metasimian Dory (WP:10, pierces defense; spear), Dauntlet Index (WP: 10, doubled against humanoids, Darkness-elemental; spear), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, halberd, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Phoenix Essence])

Artifacts: Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; headwear, usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear, suitable for anyone), Cloak of Deception (Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent; Backwear, suitable for anyone), Stingy Gloves (Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you; handwear, wearable by everybody), handwear, suitable for anyone), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing battles; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Zap-Tap Badge (Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Macabre Collar (Provides immunity to Insta-Kill and Doomed; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Scarf of Misfortune (Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (changes the wearer into an elf of the same gender when worn; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Pointy Hat

Spell Items: Opal (Ice), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Weakening

Consumables: Potion, Grand Potion x7, Tonic, Grand Tonic, Ether Core, Remedy x10, Elixir x3, Hurricane, Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round), Blind Fury, Love Potion, Grating Stone x2, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.), Smoke Bomb x5, Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), Bone x3, Silver Ore x2

Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass

Atramor Gibbin (CallMePie)

32 year old male human Regulator

Level 34 2/4 *Immune to all elements, poisoned, and doomed* *Negative effects last one round* *Battle Style: Chaotic*

Power: 54 (34+20)

Defense: 26 (4+6+4+12)

Health: 30/64 (7+33+12+6+6*)

Gold: 656

Equipment: Pheles Kris (WP: 20, wielder has a 1/2 chance to generate an Aura whenever using the weapon, doubling the user's current and max. health but drawing all attacks to them, fire, ice, lightning, earth, wind, light, and darkness-elemental dagger), Robust Shield (SP: 12, shield), Amulet of the Court (Negative effects last only one round on the wearer, immune to water, lightning, and wood, accessory, suitable for anyone), Rat's Hide (SP: 4, backwear, suitable for anyone), Galactic Armor (SP: 6, +6 max health, immune to fire, earth, wind, ice, light, darkness, and doomed, bodywear, suitable for anyone), Helmet of Azzurat (SP: 4, immune to poison, headwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

- Tiger Claws (WP: 15, double WP against humanoids, fire- and darkness-elemental, dual strike, daggers), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, staff, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd), Staff of Ennon (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, staff, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Healing Staff A (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging), Healing Staff B (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging)

- Bracers of Insatiable Avarice (Power +2; user gains 25 Gold for every enemy he kills, handwear, suitable for hunters, berserkers, battle mages, beast warriors, dragoons, marauders, regulators, and skirmishers), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants Animal Talk, headwear, suitable for anyone)

- Scroll of Arc Frailty (50/50 chance to inflict the fragile-effect to all enemies for ether equal to the number of enemies), Scroll of Fire Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of fiery armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the burned by 10-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Ice Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of ice armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the stunned-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether)

- 2 Grand Potions, Phoenix Essence, Health Core, Jinxy Juice (Deals the jinxed-effect to the target), Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, 3 Bones, Grating Stone

- Flint and Steel (Handy for starting fires), Pickaxe, Shovel, Rope, Decamodifier (Transforms an enemy with a quarter or less health left into a Decamon card when used, if there is a corresponding card. The monster will not drop anything if it is modified. Tool.)

Decamon Deck: Sylph (Electric 3), Thunderbird (Electric 4), Cloud Gigas (Electric 9)

Skrall (Waterbrick Down)

81 year old Male Ogre Hunter

Level 36 3/4 *Natural Respite* *Favors Mechanical and Humanoid enemies* *Immune to Fragile, Blinded, and Confused* *Gains Triple experience* *Lucky* *Encouraged*

Power: 50 (36+12+2)

Defense: 8 (3+5)

Health: 50/50 (6+35+6+3)

Gold: 138

Equipment: Composite Bow (WP:12, ignores SP, light, lightning, water, wood, and earth-elemental; bow), Hunter's Quiver (Bows and Crossbows +2WP, allows Hunters to favor two types of enemies, back wear), Tricorne (SP: 3, head wear), Heavy Armor (SP: 5, wearer is immune to fragile, blind, and confused effects, body wear), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains 3x experience from fights, accessory)

Inventory: Hunter's Crossbow (WP:12/24 vs. Beasts, fire, ice, wind, and darkness-elemental), Oversized Greatsword (WP: 16 - Double damage on targets that are clearly smaller than the hero, greatsword), Lucky Doubloon (Grants "Special Guard"; accessory), Overkill Gloves (Gives the wearer 1 gold for every point of damage they do extra when they defeat an enemy (example: Enemy has 50 HP left, you do 75 damage, you earn 25 gold)), Potion, 1 Grand Potion, Ether Core, Phoenix Essence, 5 Phoenix Incenses, 8 Meads, 2 Nostrums, 4 Remedy, 2 Smelling Salts, 6 Venoms, 1 Deadly Venoms, 8 Smoke Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, Fire Bomb, 5 Water Bombs, Lightning Bomb, Rudra Bomb (Deals 100 lightning-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 4 Bone, Blind Fury, Wolfgang Insignia, Black Goo

[CMP]

"Son of a bitch...I knew it. This is a damn coup, isn't it?"

[Sandy]

"Son of a bitch...I knew it. This is a damn coup, isn't it?"

Shanxian put a finger on her lips to shush Atramor. There was no time for long conversations.

[CMP]

Atramor grit his teeth, glaring at Shanxian for a moment before glancing at the guard captain and cursing under his breath.

"Let's keep moving, then."

[Flipz]

"...you know what, fine. From the way she acted earlier, she'd probably try to kill us for ursurping her job or something." As he leads the party to move on, Miirym alights on his shoulder and gently nibbles his ear.

"Ow! What is it, Miirym?"

<I want one,> she trills, before staring longingly at the object of her newfound affection.

Arthur rolls his eyes, but nonetheless takes a moment to grab Lady Shanxian's attention. "Miirym has a request." He points to the Operative Automaton. "She wants one of them." The Dragoon pauses for a second. "Actually, that's not a bad idea--a device to reprogram mechanical foes to fight by one's side. Would have come in handy here to have some backup, if not an idea of what the hell we're actually doing here." Shaking his head in frustration and not a little confusion, Arthur dodges past the enemies and goes to open the door to the Council chambers.

[Waterbrick Down]

"Onward."

[Sandy]

The party decided to follow their employer loyally and pass the Guard Captain.

"Please!" Raijin shouted after the heroes while skillfully thrusting and slicing with her two blades. She was bleeding heavily in several places, her red uniform soaked in blue blood. "Do what I could not and save the counsellors! Xu will be forever in your debt!"

Raijin lead the automatons away from the door that the heroes pushed open.

THE BATTLE FLOW IS VICTORIOUS!

Skrall gains three quarters of a level while Arthur and Atramor gain a quarter. The enemies drop the following loot:

White Ninja Cowl (The wearer can choose to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits; the effect ends if the user targets an enemy; suitable to rogues, beast warriors, chi monks and infiltrators; headwear)

Smoke Bomb (Allows the party to escape the battle.)

Grating Stone (WP +1 to one weapon upon use.)

Bright Polish (SP +1 to one shield or artifact with pre-existing SP upon use.)

Party:

Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (Flipz)

22 year old male human Dragoon *Party Leader*

Level 34 1/4 *Immune to Magic, Healing, Blind, Confused, Fragile and all Poisons* *Ignores Free Hits from Beasts*

Power: 45 (34+11)

Defense: 32 (14+5+2+10+1)

Health: 57/57 (5+33+15+4)

Gold: 944 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham)

Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP:11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Arm Shield (SP:14, shield), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP:5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; bodywear, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing; headwear, suitable for anyone), Shadeaux Cape (SP:5, Immune to Blind and Confused, suitable to those with reputation among the Shadeaux only; if reputation is great, SP is doubled; if reputation is outstanding, SP is tripled; backwear), Fur Leggings (SP:1, Beast enemies do not deal free hits to the wearer; footwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

Weapons: Spider Leg (WP:10/20 against flying enemies, Lightning-elemental; spear), Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 "halberd", suitable to Arthur only), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Clockwork Lance (WP:12, has 1/3 chance to cause slowed-effect on the target; lance), Stag Antlers (WP:10, grants Intimidation; halberd), Metasimian Dory (WP:10, pierces defense; spear), Dauntlet Index (WP: 10, doubled against humanoids, Darkness-elemental; spear), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, halberd, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Phoenix Essence])

Artifacts: Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; headwear, usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear, suitable for anyone), Cloak of Deception (Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent; Backwear, suitable for anyone), Stingy Gloves (Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you; handwear, wearable by everybody), handwear, suitable for anyone), Shackles of War (Prevents anyone from fleeing battles; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Zap-Tap Badge (Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Macabre Collar (Provides immunity to Insta-Kill and Doomed; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Scarf of Misfortune (Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (changes the wearer into an elf of the same gender when worn; Accessory, suitable for anyone), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users), Pointy Hat

Spell Items: Opal (Ice), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Weakening

Consumables: Potion, Grand Potion x7, Tonic, Grand Tonic, Ether Core, Remedy x10, Elixir x3, Hurricane, Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round), Blind Fury, Love Potion, Grating Stone x2, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.), Smoke Bomb x5, Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), Bone x3, Silver Ore x2

Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass

Atramor Gibbin (CallMePie)

32 year old male human Regulator

Level 34 3/4 *Immune to all elements, poisoned, and doomed* *Negative effects last one round* *Battle Style: Chaotic*

Power: 54 (34+20)

Defense: 26 (4+6+4+12)

Health: 30/64 (7+33+12+6+6*)

Gold: 656

Equipment: Pheles Kris (WP: 20, wielder has a 1/2 chance to generate an Aura whenever using the weapon, doubling the user's current and max. health but drawing all attacks to them, fire, ice, lightning, earth, wind, light, and darkness-elemental dagger), Robust Shield (SP: 12, shield), Amulet of the Court (Negative effects last only one round on the wearer, immune to water, lightning, and wood, accessory, suitable for anyone), Rat's Hide (SP: 4, backwear, suitable for anyone), Galactic Armor (SP: 6, +6 max health, immune to fire, earth, wind, ice, light, darkness, and doomed, bodywear, suitable for anyone), Helmet of Azzurat (SP: 4, immune to poison, headwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory:

- Tiger Claws (WP: 15, double WP against humanoids, fire- and darkness-elemental, dual strike, daggers), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, staff, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd), Staff of Ennon (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, staff, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Healing Staff A (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging), Healing Staff B (WP: 5, staff, heals instead of damaging)

- Bracers of Insatiable Avarice (Power +2; user gains 25 Gold for every enemy he kills, handwear, suitable for hunters, berserkers, battle mages, beast warriors, dragoons, marauders, regulators, and skirmishers), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants Animal Talk, headwear, suitable for anyone)

- Scroll of Arc Frailty (50/50 chance to inflict the fragile-effect to all enemies for ether equal to the number of enemies), Scroll of Fire Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of fiery armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the burned by 10-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Ice Armor (50/50 chance to conjure a layer of ice armor over the target, giving them a 50/50 chance to deal the stunned-effect when hit by Damage or Special Damage at the cost of 5 ether)

- 2 Grand Potions, Phoenix Essence, Health Core, Jinxy Juice (Deals the jinxed-effect to the target), Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, 3 Bones, Grating Stone

- Flint and Steel (Handy for starting fires), Pickaxe, Shovel, Rope, Decamodifier (Transforms an enemy with a quarter or less health left into a Decamon card when used, if there is a corresponding card. The monster will not drop anything if it is modified. Tool.)

Decamon Deck: Sylph (Electric 3), Thunderbird (Electric 4), Cloud Gigas (Electric 9)

Skrall (Waterbrick Down)

81 year old Male Ogre Hunter

Level 37 2/4 *Natural Respite* *Favors Mechanical and Humanoid enemies* *Immune to Fragile, Blinded, and Confused* *Gains Triple experience*

Power: 51 (37+12+2)

Defense: 8 (3+5)

Health: 51/51 (6+36+6+3)

Gold: 138

Equipment: Composite Bow (WP:12, ignores SP, light, lightning, water, wood, and earth-elemental; bow), Hunter's Quiver (Bows and Crossbows +2WP, allows Hunters to favor two types of enemies, back wear), Tricorne (SP: 3, head wear), Heavy Armor (SP: 5, wearer is immune to fragile, blind, and confused effects, body wear), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains 3x experience from fights, accessory)

Inventory: Hunter's Crossbow (WP:12/24 vs. Beasts, fire, ice, wind, and darkness-elemental), Oversized Greatsword (WP: 16 - Double damage on targets that are clearly smaller than the hero, greatsword), Lucky Doubloon (Grants "Special Guard"; accessory), Overkill Gloves (Gives the wearer 1 gold for every point of damage they do extra when they defeat an enemy (example: Enemy has 50 HP left, you do 75 damage, you earn 25 gold)), Potion, 1 Grand Potion, Ether Core, Phoenix Essence, 5 Phoenix Incenses, 8 Meads, 2 Nostrums, 4 Remedy, 2 Smelling Salts, 6 Venoms, 1 Deadly Venoms, 8 Smoke Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, Fire Bomb, 5 Water Bombs, Lightning Bomb, Rudra Bomb (Deals 100 lightning-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), 4 Bone, Blind Fury, Wolfgang Insignia, Black Goo

Inside the Council Chambers the heroes encountered the five counsellors encircled by their guards. Also present were Maiwei Ji Pei and Vincent Legonardo.

"Does the attack still continue outside?" asked the Middlefinger. "To think someone would assault the House of the Blue Hand in broad daylight!"

"This is impossible! How can any enemy even reach Ai Xurong?!" shouted the shocked Forefinger.

"There's always a first time to everything", chuckled the Littlefinger dryly.

"I have my suspicions", the Ringfinger continued. "If the enemy did not come from the outside, then it must have come from the inside."

"That is right! The reports say that the assailants included white-clad ninjas as well as automata. Care to explain, Master Legonardo?" The Thumb pointed at Vincent with fury seething from his voice.

The inventor cleared his throat.

"I prefer the title monsignore, if you will. Anyway, I came here exactly to explain this to you: the Council of the Blue Hand is done for. Today marks the end of your reign, I am sorry to say."

"Now that we got my sister-in-law here with us, we can finally reveal our hand." Maiwei smiled at Shanxian, and there was no trace left of the earlier malice in her expression. "For a year now, there has been a rebellion going on right in front of your noses."

"We at the Tritech Corporation helped you build new energy plants, but all the time those were meant to be used against you, not to benefit you. An army of automata was being built in secrecy here in Ai Xurong, with ether flowing from the windmills just enough to get unnoticed.

"An alliance with Nagashan sealed the deal, and we now have control over the Citadel in the Clouds."

"This is preposterous!"

"You allied with our ancient enemies? Filthy traitors!"

"The ether windmills were a scheme?! But I trusted you, Vincent!"

"You will never leave this city alive! The generals will avenge us and the Azure Ark will blow you to smithereens!"

"That would be true, if I didn't have the Arkenstone that controls your mighty dreadnought." Shanxian pulls out a sparkling crystal under her covers. "Without this, all you have is an oversized balloon."

The counsellors let out an audible gasp.

"How did you get that into your hands?"

"The alliance we forged goes far deeper than just us three, Middlefinger. We realize that it will take Xu time to get accustomed to the new rule - the rule of the people - but the warfare, the oppression and the exploitation that we Aoi have practiced for millennia comes to an end today." Shanxian turns to the three heroes all of a sudden. "I am sorry to drag you into this unbeknownst, but I require your help one last time. Those six guards, they're nothing you can't handle, right?"

[Flipz]

Arthur thinks for a moment. "You should have just told us," Arthur remarks. "While I would have had a few reservations, a few simple words would have convinced me. It concerns me that you did not consider us competent enough to recruit to your cause."

"I guess we should address those concerns now. I'm inclined to side with you, but I need a few assurances. First, what happens to the people, after the Hand is deposed? Who will protect them, who will attend to their matters of state? How will you ensure that their interests are directly represented in their government? Second, what happens to your neighbors? What is Nagashan getting out of this deal? How will you ensure that Xu's other enemies do not move in and take over during this period of instability? Thirdly, what happens to the Aoi? While I can't imagine an entire race of people giving up their privilege willingly, I also cannot condone an exctinction-level event--not to mention the ill-will that the other peoples of Xu must have towards the Aoi for this rebellion to even be possible. Have you figured out a middle-ground solution that protects both the people and the Aoi from each other? And what measures will you take to preserve the history and culture of Aoi-ruled Xu, that future generations may learn from and avoid their mistakes?"

"And lastly, but perhaps most importantly: how does this affect Eubric? I imagine Heroica will be getting more calls from Xu as a result, but what of the Ji Pei and Tritech presence in the city? Would the Palace still be considered an embassy, or the capitol of a new outpost of Xu? I cannot support the latter; if this rebellion is truly about freedom, then the Free Islands must remain free as well."

"<You have thought much of this,>" Miirym remarks, aloud and audibly--if in Dragon tongue--for the first time.

Arthur nods. "I've considered long and hard what it takes to form a fair government. I do not claim to have all the right answers--nor do I know if this is the right way--but I know this is an opportunity to try and make things better. To not act here is to doom this land to generations of subjugation. The ideals expressed by the House in Eubric--progress, freedom, power given to the common people to help them build better lives for themselves--were close to my own. If you can reassure me that these ideals can be concretely implemented for Xu, Ladi Shanxian, then no amount of guards will be enough to stop me from bringing it to pass."