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Chapter 17: Clearing the Vale  Everyone ready to head out? Let me just tighten the straps on our moneybag. Gwen, you’ve been doing that over and over for ten minutes. I’m being cautious. Ever tried it? We’ve simply got to explore this toxic swamp! Think something might live back here? Nothing lives here. My itch tells me that something is dead here. This can’t be good. Au contraire, Zeke, we might get to fight it. Obviously we approach. It’s not…letting…me…closer… That might be for the best. It looks powerful. Tell…us…your…secrets… Keep trying! You’ll get there! She just wants to watch you push at a force field. We’ll be back. Cheer up, everyone, I found a trail of bones. There’s been a dramatic increase in the number of broken and gnawed bones. Hooray! That is rarely good news. I am rare. Ambush! Hydra ambush! When hydras lay an ambush, it’s called a “buffeting.” I’m not yelling that. Good old-fashioned slow spell to start. Kill the babies last! Phrasing, JV. But yes, do that.  Zeke gives Zeetha an overheal. That’s vital, because…  So much biting. This thing has at least three heads!My first party was brutally dismembered by this hydra, and I haven’t forgotten.  Take that, insane beast! No money? What would hydras need with money? At least this was probably good for local farmers. Yes, the hydra attacks were their biggest problem. Sourpuss. Those fungal trees are moving. We saw something like that in the school, I think? Zeetha killed them very quickly. I am not sorry. What’s that behind them? Some kind of stone circle? We have to get over there. That means killing the fungus. As if we weren’t going to anyway.  Well, this is horrible. You guys want to take this one? It will be over quicker if you help. Come dirty your hands with me! I will not do that. That was a lot of wiggling. How did this fungus have a “lair”? Best not to think about it. This ring is ugly as sin. It will keep you alive. Tell me your secrets, stone circle… Hmm. These runes say that only one of us may approach. Suspicious. No god I respect dwells here. I’m too old for kneeling. I’ll do it. If demons or something appear, back me up. I see…oh, I see… It’s gone. What did you see? I saw…oh no, I’m losing it… Why were you shaking like that? It was…beautiful… Let it go, Gwen.  …it’s gone. Whatever happened, I feel wiser in a way I cannot describe. Neat!The circle gives about 30 xp to a single character, once. Gwen’s got the most maluses so I picked her.  No point coming back here, then. Spirit! Another? I wonder if that shade we found in the wall by Marralis is related to these. Didn’t it hiss about spirits of the sick and dead? If these spirits weren’t here before the curse. I’ll bet they weren’t. It takes a big disruption to get wandering souls in your valley. Same as last time? Eesh, I do not like that shriek. Me neither…I wonder what their deal is. Oh goody, another swamp. And I just got clean from the fungus and hydras. Marsh, Gwen. I’m going, I’m going!  Great! Do you intend to ever use these herbs? If I remember I have them at the right moment. Long enough before the right moment to do some brewing, you mean. More side valleys? At least this one looks inviting.  This is nice. Too nice. Now what does that mean? Good farmland, no farmers. Suspicious. You might be right. Everyone, keep on the lookout for tricks. What are they plotting… This isn’t where a dark wizard would live. You’d be surprised. “Dark Wizard Pangle”? Hang on, that’s the guy Kevin mentioned in Marralis. He’s just a farmer. I’ve been a farmer. To keep this patch of land with the current troubles, I can guarantee this man has some kind of power. We should approach him honestly, but with caution.  Look, docile farm life! Livestock. Them too. Now hang on. …did that sheep just talk? So it did. Are we going to talk back? I suppose we must. *ahem*. Hail, good sheep! How are things? Keeping busy? I guess it must seem that way. I have to know, what life would you prefer? Respect. I’ve always wondered – what does “baaa” mean? Hmm…”baaaa”? Was that anything? You’d better try again. “Baaa”? Now I’m embarrassed. Em-baaaa-rassed, more like. Come on, kids, we’ve learned all we can from this sheep. Woof to you. Right bark atcha! Hello, good hound. That’s mean. That’s meaner! Depends on the favor. Absolutely not. I’ll do it, then. At least wait until we’ve talked to Pangle to insult his livestock. I’m still surprised you can talk. Uh. Yeah. Did you think the dog would have more information for you? I don’t know what I thought. Ah, it can’t hurt to look. What a variety of trash! Whatever, wonderboy. Now THIS is a variety of trash.  Some old coins here…these were minted twenty years ago! Nothing in this chest. Or the other. Great work, team. Let’s go see Pangle. Everyone stay calm, remember we’re here for information. And anything we can carry! I’m ready to light this whole place on fire, when you give the word. Or when I decide to. Stars above, JV, calm down. May we come in? … Oookay. I shall stand. She’s like that. Thank you, sir, for allowing us in. Are you Pangle? Why are you by yourself out here? Alright. Business then. We are trying to learn about the School of Magery. Can you help us? We do. We’ve found- -some things. What do you know, Pangle?  JV, we’re going to have to be honest. Fine. We’ve entered the school and found a massive toxic waste dump that’s leaking into the river. Also, it’s chock-a-block with monsters. So would we. You scavenged there?You can also bring up Kevin, from back in Marralis.  That gets him talking too. Why the closed-off attitude? Can you blame them? Problems? What problems could you possibly have? Yes, we met the animals. Seems like your farm is doing fine. Surely you must realize that your troubles are- Gwen, please. It’s never easy. But Pangle, we’re here to investigate the curse. We’re curious what you might know about the school. Papers? What do they say? We do want them… If you open the moneybag, I’ll open you. Pangle, those papers might be instrumental to solving the curse and saving lives. We won’t pay for them. Good news. We did that. Thank you, Pangle. Hmph. I’m searching your house. Haven’t seen this one before. This book is crazy! It says there are spellcasters in disguise everywhere, maybe even people we know… Don’t get conspiratorial. Drat. Oy! Just making sure your lock works! The motherlode…I shall study these at every opportunity. Fantastic work, everyone. We did not even need to burn down his home. One thing left to do. You’re not going to get involved in a childish livestock spat, are you? Will I ever get this chance again? Hey Grazer, Rover says you’re dirt stupid. You bet your wooly butt I will. Here we go… Hey Rover! Grazer says you stink! Everyone can smell it but you. Not you too… They are all too polite to say!  C’mon Zeke, join the fun. That’s a terrible thing to tell a sheep. This is the least consequential thing you’ll do today. Live a little. Fine. Hey, uh, Grazer. Rover says you’re only good for mutton. Have a good one, Grazer. Gwen? Zeke? I feel so devilish…it’s wonderful. Told ya. This would be the rock?  See, rudeness pays. So it does. Shame to leave this valley behind. It was pretty nice, once we figured out there wasn’t an evil wizard here. Eh. I prefer hard dirt and ceaseless battle. Some of us are human beings, Zeetha. What is that supposed to mean? And others of us are nephilim beings, Zeetha. Thank you. Jeffogel, you have lost me. Nevermind. More bears? If they attack us, they would attack others. So it is good to kill them. What if they don’t attack us? Guess we won’t have to worry about that. Bearsicles? Fur-eeze? You’re clearly snout of ideas.  This place looks nice. Smells good too. I do not trust it. I’ll bet there’s alchemical reagents in there…we’ll clear out the rest of the valley, then circle back. Do we have time for another winding side valley? When has a trip down a winding side valley not been worth it for us? That is a drake nest. Take caution. It might know something. Or have a hoard! Do not say that word where it can hear you. I’ll talk to it. You three stay back. Why? I’d rather keep my skin. Alright. If it wanted me dead, I would be. So. Greetings, good drake! Audience over, then. How was it? Did it threaten you? Did it know anything? Did it burn you to a crisp? No, no, and obviously no. It actually wanted something from me. The fang of a drake lord. Don’t we have that? My fang? Technically not your fang. True, I did not win it in honorable combat. But I like it. It promised magical knowledge. Think of all the drakes I could kill with better spells! I am convinced. Take it to him.  This isn’t a fantastic bonus, but JV does learn Smite. He did WHAT? Don’t judge, it seemed important to him. And in return, I am marginally more knowledgeable! The beauty of a fair trade. I am never giving up anything again.And that’s the overworld of Skylark Vale! We go to Sweetgrove and pawn our junk.  Thanks Bristow! I can’t get enough garbage! We have some things we didn’t sell, but don’t need. We should store them somewhere. I’ve got just the home of another person. What if they come back? Who would return to this place? I’m more concerned with Zeetha’s burgeoning skull collection. Skulls are not even a majority of the objects on the ground. See JV, it’s fine. Because we have not met enough species. Uh-huh. Back to that cave, then? I’m excited to explore this place. I do not like this. At all. C’mon, Zeetha, live a little! Man, it smells great in here…Next time: the FUNgal Cavern!
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May 6, 2023 16:15
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habeasdorkus posted:should really invest all that money to get some return rather than being loaded down with bags or boxes full of coin. Maybe we should buy some land, or a mill or something. Probably could get it dirt cheap in this valley, and then it'd become very valuable once we solve the poison problem! Tombot posted:Cool, now we have more money than we know what to do with and nothing to spend it on. Now I know how the bandits must have felt (before we murdered them all). Most of the out-of-pocket costs in this game are spells and potion recipes, the shops almost never have anything good. Because I stacked our starting spells, we're sitting on a hoard for the time being. SIGSEGV posted:Jeff would argue that he's merely calculating how many units of population can live off the excess agricultural output of a single unit of population at non starvation extraction rates, generalized to a region. Zee is somehow not smart enough for right wing anarchist thought. She's a post-structural melee interventionist. idhrendur posted:16% of the population as bandits most places? That seems high to me. Then again, we see far too few people farming in general in this series (magic?), so maybe it all works out. It's a rough estimate, but there's a lot of bandits in the world of Ermarian. Maybe it's biased by the games being about heroic bandit-killers. SallieKat7 posted:"invisible wand of the market" - well played 
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May 6, 2023 16:21
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Gwen's pun game has really been on point this update. 
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May 6, 2023 20:13
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Our random fumbling around the valley may have given us the key to solving this whole mess, I was hoping it might. But there may still be some new twists and turns before this is over.
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May 6, 2023 22:24
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Black Robe posted:Gwen's pun game has really been on point this update. Is this ursine of a great writer?
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May 7, 2023 04:26
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Chapter 18: The FUNgal Cavern! JV, some light, if you please? Oooh… Why, this is an underground wonderland! I do not like it. Relax, Zeetha, you don’t have to be on alert all the time. Wonder what happened to this guy. Probably a criminal, justly executed. Let’s go deeper! I could inhale this all day. You are acting strangely. What, I can’t have a good time? Herbs! This place must be full of them. Did no one else hear that? Hear what? And should you have your sword out in town? Town? You’re dodging the question. Zeetha, you seem really tense. There’s nothing unusual nearby. Ouch! Hello sir, I think you mistakenly raked your claws across my back there. Gwen, get back. Woah, Zeetha, I’m sure we can talk this out. No harm no foul! Clearly you are all insane. KYA! Gods below! You killed him! Zeetha, I said it was fine! Shut up, all of you. Stay behind me. Maybe this guy can talk some sense into you. Agh! Zeetha! Quit killing the locals! These “locals” thirst for our blood. I will kill them all. Let’s go deeper! Only if Zeetha promises to stop being so aggressive. Zeke, I respect you. Stop talking. Surely someone heard that. Those church bells? A long and low moan, little mage. We will get to the bottom of this. The light is dying. JV, cast more. Do not argue. On it, sheesh. I wonder why this town doesn’t have streetlamps? Oil is expensive. Thank you. Excuse me! Sir! You should leave before she- Oh dear. Sir, you should really - Die! Maybe we should leave town until she calms down. But I don’t want to leave. This is the first place in the valley that smells good. No one leaves until I find whoever has done this to you. I assume nobody heard that. Toadstools! Guess we’ve seen everything here. I feel like there’s more to this place… And what is this madness? Ooh, I bet we can enter this thing. Won’t the townsfolk mind? Not if we don’t tell ‘em. Then your mind is not completely gone. Huh? Come on, help me with these bricks. Could be old Trollish… What would it say in Old Trollish? “Pancakes twenty, development on top…”? So not Old Trollish. Probably not, no. Hey losers! We found an entrance!  This is a lot of crinkly party paper. Someone forgot to clean up. Gwen, these are…oh dear. Never been to a party? What? No, Gwen, these are bones! Bones! Where are we!? You fools! To arms! AH! They bite! Slowed them! I will handle the ones by the altar; Zeke, protect our rear. I…how did we get here? Assassination coming in handy. Owowow ZEEEEeeeke! Help! Right. Healing. Die, creatures of rot!  That is all of them. Is anyone hurt? I’m rattled. I’m sore. I’m so sorry. Zeetha, I don’t know what came over us. This place isn’t an idyllic town, it’s full of undead, and it stinks! I feel so stupid. Not stupid, enchanted. The two can be hard to tell apart. But Zeetha, why didn’t you get entrapped like us? My extreme mental fortitude? Maybe so… We would have been dead without you. Then it is just another day. Think nothing of it. What in the world is that? Let me sniff it. It seems it can rapidly repair a lot of bodily damage. This is potent stuff. Gwen, it is yours. Thanks, why? You are the weakest of us, and therefore the most likely user. Me? What about our dorm-room magician? Whatever else I may be, I can heal myself. Hmph. Fine then. And this dagger is… Useless to us. Not necessarily, I bet you could learn a lot about this cult from these etchings. Can you use that knowledge to obliterate the next band of ghouls that traps your mind? I guess not. Then we will sell it and eat well for an evening. I see something back there. After what they did to us? Obviously we take it all.   This is unjust, why am I caught in this spe- Hold in your guts, everyone, I’ve got you. Hang on, what are these etchings… Can you read them? Yes, actually, turns out it was Old Cultish. It says…hang on, it’s quite verbose…”We await the coming of the great one…strength of a thousand ox, yadda yadda,” standard cult stuff…oh. “She will be a princess from a barbarian land, who will scour all before her…tall as a man, bright-eyed as the summer sun, determined as a sprouting oak…in her honor we craft this blade.” Zeetha, that’s you! It cannot be. I am as tall as a woman. More men than women are six and a half imperial feet tall. It’s totally you, girl. That’s why the curse didn’t affect you! So they built this altar for me? And this sword. They could have tried harder. It’s the thought that counts. Eh. We sell it. Your call, O chosen one. Let us leave this place. And do not fall for the spell again. I think it’s been broken. You all see this ghoul for what it is? Yes, Zeetha. And this one? Yes, Zeetha. I’m glad to be gone. It smells terrible in here. Fresh air! Sunlight! I am curious, what did those ghouls look like to you? I’m embarrassed to say. Then I will. They were smiling, ruddy-cheeked townsfolk. They had little pink bows on their heads. You saw the bows too? I did. Wow. How did we fall for that? Have you all learned your lesson? Yes. Next time you start killing people, I’ll join you. Good, little mage. Very good.Next time: Blasting through Blinlock!
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May 27, 2023 14:05
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One more update under the sun, then it's back down to the school with us.Tombot posted:Our random fumbling around the valley may have given us the key to solving this whole mess, I was hoping it might. But there may still be some new twists and turns before this is over. I like Spiderweb games precisely because they encourage random fumbling. Slaan posted:Is this ursine of a great writer?
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May 27, 2023 14:09
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BackupDancer posted:I like Spiderweb games precisely because they encourage random fumbling.
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May 27, 2023 14:35
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When you come to a row of buttons in the wall, push them.
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May 27, 2023 15:49
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habeasdorkus posted:When you come to a row of buttons in the wall, push them. The way you phrased that implies that there are people in the world who wouldn't immediately push random buttons they discover, which is obviously ludicrous.
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May 27, 2023 16:00
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I wonder how many people ever found this weird little side-area? It makes me wonder how many others there are.
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May 27, 2023 19:16
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Chapter 19: Blasting through Blinlock We’ve got a few old quests to turn in here, then it’s on to Blinlock. I need better hiking shoes. Hail, Captain! We killed your bandits. To a man! I think a couple were women. My blade does not discriminate. We also killed a bunch near Marralis! “Good for you”? Never do work before striking a deal. Hail, bounty hunter! We found Efram. No one will ever find him again. Sidebar, everyone? But the bar is out there? It’s an expression. Ahh… Bruning could come with us. He seems like a skilled archer. I’m a skilled archer. I even use my hands to shoot my bow instead of downing sour beer. We might need the help. Over my undead body are we escorting someone else through the school. And what do you think? He would take two hits from an ogre’s club. Nothing we need. I guess you’re right.If you decide you want the help…   …Bruning joins as party member five! You can’t control him in battle or access his inventory, but you can heal/bless him and he’s a solid fighter. This is a cool little option that’s not in the newer Avernums. We’ll probably be taking on a certain person in a later scenario. But not yet.  To Blinlock, then? And after that, back to the school. We’ve been here, what, two weeks? The river hasn’t gotten visibly worse. But time is passing, yes. Night’s falling. We rest here. JV? Hmm? What are you doing up? Working on these scrolls Pangle gave us…I think I’m close to a breakthrough here.  They have something to do with the waste storage, at least this part does. Uh-huh. Just get enough sleep that you can throw fireballs tomorrow, alright? Of course. Goodnight, Gwen.  …is it morning already? I feel as fit as a fiddle!  We’re on our way.  This water is clear. There must be a spring back there. How did we miss this before? We were hugging the northern mountains. Mining town. Think they work steel? Look at this. Pure enough to swim in. We shouldn’t. They drink from here. I make water cleaner when I get in it. We cannot all be like you, Gwen. I will like it here. Any particular reason? Everyone has the muscles of hard work. Hail, good watchmen! Rude. Let me try. Can they talk? They must’ve applied for the job as guards, right? Perhaps they are grown in vats. Come on, everyone. Cold shoulders aside, let’s explore this place.  Hail, good baker! Oh no, are you sick? It doesn’t seem to be the waste… No, you’re not nearly green enough. The rare common cold. So you are this town’s baker?  I can guess why demand is so high. Yes, lucky… Why did the miners leave? We love disturbances. That we do. Let’s take a look at that food. I would sooner die than eat this woman’s phlegm bread. We’re just looking for now…is there anything we could do for you? For pay? Well, yes. That is true. Bye for now, Winstead. And we’ve found her bedroom. Purely for ransacking practice. I refuse to touch anything in here. The mayor should know more about the mines. I would hope! Hail, mayor! Can we sit? I can. I will not. She’s like that. We have some questions. Well then, Brown, you seem more composed than…others we have met. What is it you do here? An easy time, eh? So the curse has spared you.   And tell us about the mines? We enjoy disturbances. We do wish. No nastier than we are.  We should check this out. Due diligence and all. You’re hoping for a scroll tube. I see it in your eyes.  Nothing worth taking here. He must’ve found a better use for the paper… What do you mean by that? I’m not sure.If that popup is hinting at something, I don’t know what it could be.  Just one, worthless book. Isn’t it an Imperial standard for towns to keep records? I don’t see any inspectors. Standards slip.  This is why I don’t like calling it “the curse.” Brown’s got no sense of cause and effect. He thinks that the water is clean because this town was spared by “the curse,” not the other way around. How do you know it’s not a curse though? It’s obviously not. We’ve seen for ourselves, the cause was sloppy mage work. Maybe the valley was cursed with sloppy mages. You can’t just- Focus, please, everyone. This’ll be good. This is quite a lock… We can come back. What’s in here?  Garbage. Hang on, check that back wall. I knew it! …that’s a little disappointing. He probably took his best stuff when he left. Mines on our right. We’ll go there last. That man looks familiar. Hello, Unger. Hello, sir! And you suffer him to live? He amuses me. You are a working woman. Explain everything. “Kept,” huh.  Yes, we know what you mean. I hope. All the miners seem to have left. It must have been a while since then. Did you like being a foreman?  I am curious, as someone who lives the life of the mind…  …is it all muscles and labor in the mines? Are you especially skilled? We have a knack for gathering information. Uh. Of course we’ll help with that. If we can. What do you know about the school? Yeah, they, uh. Fascinating. It’s been good talking to you. She really got you, wonderboy. …I respect competence. I imagine this will be deserted.  Nothing worth taking in here. I didn’t realize how much I missed clean water. I wonder how those fish taste. Depends on how you cook ‘em. Cook?  This is my kind of building! …“cook?” Hail, hardy laborers! That we will. Of course. What do you do here? How’s the foundry keeping on? Do you know anything about the mines? Jeff wants you to take the quest. Not much point coming here otherwise.  Let us see your gear. Middling quality. We seem to be surviving without it. Do you know anything about the curse? It seems to have spared this town. Ah yes, the “curse.” It’s what we’re here to investigate, of course. Do you have any thoughts? How astute of you. What are they? Excellent. Let us engage in some detective work. What are you know about the cause? Hmm, very true. How about the timing? It certainly is. Jeffogel… And the effects, what are they? You’re right, the water could be important. I’m curious, why does the location matter? There’s hardly a place where we’d want this curse to happen. This boring, dull backwater does have one thing – the School of Magery. Have you heard of it? … And the solution? It won’t be easy to solve, no matter what. Let’s get some air. What a snide little man. And he led me on! You let yourself be led on. It had to get out eventually that we’ve entered the school. Who told? Who did we tell…the mayor of Sweetgrove? Anyone else? Just her, I think. It could have been one of the merchants we’ve been selling hundred-year-old gear to. Or a scavenger who found our tracks. Or someone noticed the dragon we released. Point is, we weren’t going to keep it under wraps forever. Then we must get back there and finish it. After the mines. Yes, after the mines. I’m going to enjoy this.   My nose is under attack. Undead, quite a few. We don’t know how powerful they are.  Disgusting…I hate the feeling of webs. Imagine that feeling, but with fur. Skeletons? Ha!  Zombies ahead, passage on the right. Clear the right. Don’t want anything attacking us from behind. Ghoul! No more ghoul.Assassination is triggering more as we level up.  Zombies. They closed the mines for this? That is a lot of silver. You have to wonder why they didn’t clean this out themselves. I suspect we shall find out soon. Did anyone else hear that? That was a summon spell. Zeetha, let us bless you. Then we charge. They’re blessing too. Whatever it is probably can’t take Zeetha. Probably? Okay, Princess. Whenever you’re ready. Die, stinking undead wretches! Focus on that spirit!      The feeling has faded. That was all of them. That was not so bad! But more than a mining town could handle.  This happens in mines quite a lot. You’d think they’d be prepared. They were prepared to hire adventurers. Not a lot in here, but these earrings would go for a pretty penny. I am also carrying several dozen pounds of silver ore. My hero!  It is- Very nice. Thanks, Brown. I already have a sword like this. We sell the spare. It’s rude to insult someone’s reward to their face. How, then, will they know to get better rewards? Sometimes, they won’t. That’s a problem for the next adventurers. Let’s get back to the school!   I didn’t miss this… We are significantly stronger and better equipped than the last time we were down here. And more knowledgeable! But no better at breathing acid. Speak for yourself. The rest of us can worry about that when we go back to waste storage. What do we worry about until then? Let’s find out.Next time: Student Quarters!
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Jun 10, 2023 15:58
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Next update, we finally return to the school. This trip around the valley took longer than I anticipated, but we're in the home stretch now.habeasdorkus posted:When you come to a row of buttons in the wall, push them. And when you come to a fork in the road, take it. Black Robe posted:The way you phrased that implies that there are people in the world who wouldn't immediately push random buttons they discover, which is obviously ludicrous. A terrifying thought! Tombot posted:I wonder how many people ever found this weird little side-area? It makes me wonder how many others there are. You might be surprised. I think these games self-select for players who find such areas. And there are many, many more, though not in this scenario.
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Jun 10, 2023 16:03
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I know you sorta blitzed through it, but that fight against the ghost looked rather tough. I don't know if it would have been as easy if you weren't so prepared from visiting all of the other areas.
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Jun 10, 2023 19:05
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Sometime in the future… Looks we have another choice to make. Which staircase to descend first? The darker one smells terrible. We go light. That means there is something to kill! Go into the dark. My eyes are old. We should go where it’s better-lit. I flipped a coin. You definitely didn’t. Mental coin. Dark won. Then we have another impasse.Decision time! Should we descend A) The darker staircase, or B) The lighter staircase, first? Strange and wonderful things await either way. I’ll count the votes on Monday.
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Jun 10, 2023 22:37
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BackupDancer posted:And when you come to a fork in the road, take it. I was going for more of a "if you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him" vibe. e: This seems like a Dark Dungeon. habeasdorkus fucked around with this message at 22:51 on Jun 10, 2023 |
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Jun 10, 2023 22:41
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Does one option exclude the other? If no, then I don't care so long as you do both eventually. If yes, then my choice is pointless because I don't know the merits of one over the other and I will never see the choice that loses.
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Jun 10, 2023 23:41
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It's a Spiderweb game, you'll know when you get to a critical choice, you'll really know, they like to make it extremely obvious. I played this years ago, I don't actually remember which is which, let's go Light. I like that the game itself openly notes and expands on magical hazards in mining and such, really adds to the flavor and effect.
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Jun 11, 2023 00:42
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The dorker staircase.
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Jun 11, 2023 00:58
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I'd say Dark, that way we have something to look forward to with the next staircase. (Also I sincerely hope this isn't some moral choice thing that makes our party evil or something weird like that, my heart wouldn't take it).
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Jun 11, 2023 02:38
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Tombot posted:(Also I sincerely hope this isn't some moral choice thing that makes our party evil or something weird like that, my heart wouldn't take it). Relax, the moral choices don't come along until much later.
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Jun 11, 2023 04:57
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I also flipped a mental coin and it gave me light whoda thunk
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Jun 11, 2023 06:08
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Whichever one's on your party's left. Which I'm pretty sure is Light, but whatever.
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Jun 11, 2023 06:08
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Dark first and get it over with.
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Jun 11, 2023 08:35
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To be clear, this is not a moral choice and we will see both eventually. This scenario, at least, is very linear. Please go off vibes, coin tosses, or your horoscope.habeasdorkus posted:I was going for more of a "if you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him" vibe. Is that a reference? That's violent advice even by the standards of our heroes. 
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Jun 11, 2023 16:14
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Darkness sounds more interesting.Tombot posted:I know you sorta blitzed through it, but that fight against the ghost looked rather tough. I don't know if it would have been as easy if you weren't so prepared from visiting all of the other areas.
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Jun 11, 2023 16:29
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BackupDancer posted:To be clear, this is not a moral choice and we will see both eventually. Dark first!
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Jun 12, 2023 00:07
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They need to go down the dark stairway first and just get it over with!
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Jun 12, 2023 05:51
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Dark wins the day! Posting has been (and will likely stay) irregular, so I am happy to see so many votes.Tombot posted:I know you sorta blitzed through it, but that fight against the ghost looked rather tough. I don't know if it would have been as easy if you weren't so prepared from visiting all of the other areas. Seconding Magus on this. It's the open world difficulty problem; any order we do things will result in a few hard fights and a lot of easy ones.
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Jun 13, 2023 01:32
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BackupDancer posted:Is that a reference? That's violent advice even by the standards of our heroes. It's a quote from a 9th century Buddhist monk!
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Jun 13, 2023 03:12
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Chapter 20: Student Quarters Potions…scrolls…spell energy…spell knowledge…food… Don’t get cold feet now. He is wearing thick boots. That makes it extra embarrassing! I just want to be prepared, okay? And I am. Let’s go.  Looks like we’re not allowed. Turn it around.  Think something lives here? Those frescoes didn’t deface themselves. Ow! What the cat-god is that? Gremlin. They’re attracted to ambient magic.There are many subtypes of gremlin. This one breathes fire. You singed my bandana, little thing. Come here…. Justice.  I see crystals, lockpicks, clothing…how I long to be back there. Where there’s a gate, there’s a key. Not here, though. Another gate…this will bug me all day. Reminds me of university. We had to put all our worldly possessions in storage too. Did you get them back? We were supposed to, but no one ever does. Ah, academic moneygrubbing. No, break-ins. The Tower hasn’t gone four years without losing everything in student storage since…oh, since ever, I think. Who would do such a thing!? Adventurers. True. It’s almost a rite of passage. You leave the Tower completely unmoored from your previous life. That’s why you’re all so well-adjusted. Seems there is a key. Is it the right kind? Or just for a normal door? Doesn’t say. And a healing scepter. So the mayor of Marallis was onto something. First time in his life, I’ll bet. I won’t be doing that. Huh, a new kind of gremlin. Two new kinds. And the type we saw before…oh my. To arms! That purple gremlin has a weakness spell. The grey ones put you to sleep when they hit. Fortunately, these two don’t. Ha! Your limbs are stubby!   Ah! Not my face! Your face lives another day. The world thanks you, Gwen. Zeetha, want some bones? I have standards. That’s where we want to be. Gwen, take a look at this lock?  I can’t pick open a wall. We’ll get in there somehow. More? Ha-ooh. I am woozy. Nobody move! Her mind is lost.Zeetha has been confused! If we were in combat mode, she would act as an enemy and probably kill us all. Since we’re not, we can just wait. The gremlins won’t attack her since she’s on their side. If we try to walk, Zeke will take potshots at her because she’s technically moving away from his zone of control with every step. Zeke, what do we do? We wait it out, and hope she doesn’t turn around. Need more…skulls…could use…nephilim…  Some turns later…  -ave at you, foul beasts! She’s back!You can see the gremlins wasting their confusion rays on Zeke, who has much better mental resistance.    My ears! More of them!  They die too fast. I’m not complaining.  It is quiet in here. Too quiet. This is where they spend their third year, the vow of silence. Did you take such a vow? I did. It is a great accomplishment. Be proud. Why, thank you. It wasn’t all that much- You must have struggled mightily. I cannot imagine you being silent for a single day, let alone a year. Yes, we all have our challenges. I would similarly struggle with a year of fasting. Princess, I will ignite your sleeping bag. I welcome the warmth. Gremlin! Bored gremlin?  Silver! Pure silver! A book! A dork! Let’s hang on to this. What are you gonna do, return it? Maybe, Ashfur. It’s only right. The scepter should be in here. This is well-appointed. Don’t want parents making a fuss just because their child died horribly. What sadistic creatures. Hey Princess, come look at this sprain! That is gnarly. I’d hate to be his dance partner. Come on, you two. Good thing I’ve got a million of these picks. Pincers and a bloody hatchet? Medicine isn’t always pretty. It’s got to be here somewhere. Hope you aren’t tired of lockpicking. Never. I’m tired of her lockpicking. Are you getting anywhere? Maybe you should learn a skill, JV. Try mime. Gwen, we’ll just have to come back for it. Hmph. Keep your chin up. There’s a lot more to explore here.Back in the halls…  We’re being flanked! Bless me now! Zeke, heal yourself! Everyone, please. Try to stay calm. Right. Of course. To business then.  Divide and conquer, my friends.   All that for some old robes? And peace of mind.  Don’t do it. I am doing it. Nothing? Disappointing. So sorry you didn’t get examined. I will be okay. Thank you, Gwen.  “Discipline?” Oh my. Sorry to interrupt!  I got nothing in the desk. Check the shelves. Ah-ha! Might this open those doors? I doubt it. Nope! From the layout, it looks like we could try the other side. How do you know the layout? Magical mental map. Yeah, Zeke. Duh. Gwendolyn Silvestris Ashfur, I will walk us back out into the acid cave. Sorry! Sorry! “Silvestris”? It’s my middle name, okay? I don’t know how he knows it… More gremlins! Yes! Give me more scars! Where will you fit them? I always find somewhere!   There’s something back in that room! Zeetha is under the Enfeebled (skull) and Scared (face) status effects; the former weakens your melee attacks, and the latter…I’m not sure. There is a separate “terrified” effect with a chicken icon which makes you run away from enemies; this isn’t it. What are you? I’m the Gremlord! Prepare to-    What do you think he was going to say? Nothing good.  I’ll take that wand. What’s this thing? Why, that’s a- -that’s a vahnatai cloak… Vahnatai? Like the cave aliens? They prefer to be called people of the caves, but yes. There’s not any here, are there? We can hope not. Cave magic is strong, stronger than us by far. No one’s heard from them since the empire war. This could be an old cloak. Why would an old vahnatai cloak be here, then? Some mages collect their artifacts. It can be quite the obsession. Look what I found! Oh my.  Care to explain? With this, we can shatter walls, boulders…any flawed stone. More access for us. I like that. Mines ahead. Gwen? Piece of cake. Now let’s see what’s in-   How do I look? Dashing. It’s very…pink. So are you, wonderboy. There’s something nasty behind this door. Is everyone hasted? Yes, Zeke. Good. Zeetha, on your mark. Breach! Charge! Ha, that doesn’t look so-  -bad? Back to the spirit realm with you! Slow spell in action!    They are like tissue paper! Colorful? You know what I mean! We’ve got it isolated! Kill, kill, kill!   Great work, team. I wasn’t worried for a second. Zeetha, want this? I already have one. Don’t you people have ten fingers? Magical rings break if you try to wear two or more. That’s stupid. It’s an agreement among craftsmen. Keeps quality high. Looks we have another choice to make. Which staircase to descend first? The darker one smells terrible. We go light. That means there is something to kill! Go into the dark. My eyes are old. We should go where it’s better-lit. I flipped a coin. You definitely didn’t. Mental coin. Dark won. Oh, fine. Dark it is.Next time: The Lecture Halls! Or what’s left of them…
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Jun 22, 2023 19:47
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We're back in the school, baby!SIGSEGV posted:I like that the game itself openly notes and expands on magical hazards in mining and such, really adds to the flavor and effect. For all the dragons, crypts, portals, and magic swords, Vogel keeps his world grounded. See also: every evil lair having a kitchen, a water source, and bathrooms. habeasdorkus posted:It's a quote from a 9th century Buddhist monk! I'll never get to Nirvana at this rate.
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Jun 22, 2023 19:57
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Finally, we get to the
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Jun 22, 2023 22:11
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habeasdorkus posted:It's a quote from a 9th century Buddhist monk! BackupDancer posted:I'll never get to Nirvana at this rate. Don't feel bad; I don't think that the monk has made it yet either.
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Jun 23, 2023 03:04
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Chapter 21: The Lecture Halls Oh, fine. Dark it is.  These are the lecture halls? Not much good for lecturing anymore.  Palhatis again? We know him. He gave Pythras the escape phrase. And his bedroom was like five floors up. Quite the commute.  Nothing on the shelf. Found a note here…says the conspirators were told to meet with Vinnia. And that “the tools are in place” in case of disaster. I’d like to see these tools! They can’t be far now. Let’s review what we know… Palhatis tampered with a “master control” to prevent a disaster, almost certainly the one we are here to fix. He also gave Pythras information she could use to free herself. Not quite – information she could give someone else, to free her. Much less valuable than what you said. Still a kind act. He or Pergaltho may have freed the giant friendly spiders as well, but they forgot the details. We know Vinnia was the hard-nosed administrator in charge of the school’s closing. And they keep talking about her “planning something.” No love lost there. And we found two mages, stabbed to death in a secret passage. By the Blood God! Yes? There was politicking happening! Yes. At this academic institution! Astute. Also, Vinnia had those two killed. By the Bloodier God!   We may be genuinely close to the “tools” Palhatis left for us. I only hope we can understand their use. Seems easy enough, we just-aiie! More gremlins. Everyone be ready to see some horrible things. How do you mean? It’s just…from what I’ve read, gremlin depravity knows no bounds; we may be irrevocably scarred today. I am irrevocably scarred already, see? Please put that back on. I’m afraid of nothing. Let’s witness some horrors! If you say so… Back to this…I am glad to have a sharp sword. This was a decent classroom. How does it compare to the Tower? This school clearly had a staggering budget. We had demons.  You in the back! Who, me? You smell! Ha ha! He said that you smell! I-what? Zeetha, kill him! Zeke, do I smell? No more than the rest of us. It’s intact…might be something here. No way. The Erika? You know about her? What do you think, I live under a rock? That’s a slithzerikai thing. Who is this? Erika Redmark, the most powerful archmage banished to Avernum. She made the trees, she made the mushrooms, she had Emperor Hawthorne assassinated. They love her and hate her, because that started the war that almost killed all of them.Major character in the original trilogy. Now dead. I would like to fight her. Or get dinner. The timeline of her life and the school could work, generously. There were cave-trees upstairs... Regardless, she’s long gone and her desk is empty. And who is this Graniok? Another legendary wizard? Never heard of him. Graniok is the brand of foot cream I use. Do you think…? If there’s a lifetime supply in there, it’ll have to wait. I keep plenty in my pack. I never want to get old. We know about this guy. Vinnia must have scoured his office too. It’s what I would do. Now here is something! Drat. Why does she get an obelisk? Back to the gremlin grind, then. Hooray!  Hey you! Don’t you dare. Mage-boy! Go on… That’s a stupid haircut! Hey! Ha ha! It is! Princess, shut up and- Hee hee… It’s hard to control magical scissors without a mirror, okay? Could you not use a magical mirror? Now there’s an idea. This looks…alcoholic. It’s a gremlin drink, so it’ll likely be stiff. With side effects. I’ll save it for later. I…resent…my inferiors…and my…superiors…and…my equals… Calm down, wonderboy. Don’t judge what he says, some day you’ll get charmed too. They’re cooperating. All in concert, working single-mindedly to some master plan we cannot comprehend.  I don’t see any stairs. They might be deep in the warren. Some kind of magic is seeping through this door. Untouched room? Lone spellbook? Let’s prepare for a fight. With a book? Oh yes. Everyone ready? I’m going in.  It was trapped! Sorry, everyone, I couldn’t stop myself from reading it. We know, JV. Turn around. To arms! Oh my. Let me see… I’ve got all these slowing wands. How do I use them? You point it and sort of… intend to slow your target. What does that mean, exactly? Intent as in volition, or as in attention paid? You just…haven’t you fired a wand before? Not in decades! Assist me! KYA! Assist her! Kya! Alright, here goes… Great job, Zeke! We still have to kill it!After much thrashing…  To the burning realms with you!This thing can one-shot even overhealed Zeetha with a lucky series of hits. Give it everything you’ve got, and don’t let it get a turn.  I am drawn to this. Do not put on the demon’s bracelet. Not until we get it identified. One place left to go. The warren…I don’t like how they’re all working together in the dark. Up to us to flush them out, then. The smell could be worse. Was that gremlin a chirugeon? Depends. What is a chirugeon? It’s a type of dark magic. They cut open their victims in sinister rituals. Some believe they have healing powers. Herbs and sharpened bones in his nest. The bones are for cutting! How awful! We kill so many gremlins. I’m skipping most of it.   Hey fatty! Fatty? Ha! He must mean me, you’re all very lean. Fatty fat fat! Kya! They’re hitting below the belt. You think I mind? This is the belly of a successful man! Oh no… Eggs? With embryonic gremlins inside. Please don’t say that. What? It’s true. Let us attack them! I need a sturdier sword. Gross…let’s get out of here. Walked through this wall on complete accident. Woah! I have found a passage! Nice work, Zeetha! Yes, “work.” Another one! We have to use it. Boys and their toys.  Does this scroll break any of your strictures, Zeke? Not a one. Wisdom of the School? Don’t mind if I do! Hey wonderboy, what’s this? That’s a…that looks like a razordisk! Meaning? It’s a throwing weapon. Unique to the vahnatai. Them again. It makes sense that there would be vahnatai gear in a magic school…like I said, antiquarians can’t get enough of them. Hang on. No it doesn’t. Why not? This school closed before the Empire discovered vahnatai! Oh, cave-poo poo. If there’s cave aliens here, what do we do? First of all, seriously don’t call them that. They’re arrogant. Don’t call them arrogant either. Or anything else. If we meet any, we must hope they are peaceful. And if not? Simple. We run. Hey you! Yes?  The mannish one! You look like an ox! Ha! How the tables have turned! What tables? It’s an expression. Now they’re insulting you! How does it feel? That was not directed at me. They meant you or Zeke. But they said “mannish.” I am a woman. I thought you knew that. No, but- JV, is this an argument you want to make? -perhaps not. Thank you, Ashfur. These must lead to the Experiment Halls. I’m excited for that. Another Gremlord is ahead. We can take him. Ha ha! You cannot weaken me enough to survive! Time to try these razordisks.  That’s pretty good! You call that strike lordly? See how real royalty fights! KYA! There goes his bloodline. And his blood. All that and they had an unelected ruler? Whose strangehold on power deprives the lesser gremlins of self-determination? What a crooked and evil civilization. Hang on, you two. Isn’t Empress Prazac unelected? Yes, but we like her. Speak for yourself. Come to think of it, from what we’ve seen, this is just a normal civilization. What about the sinister gremlin chirugeon and his bone implements? That’s a doctor. Oh, they’re too good for holy magic? What about the eggs? Humans have babies. And Nephilim. It is frequently gross. I prefer to forget that. What about the warren they’re burrowing out of these perfectly good lecture halls? They’re building a home. And no one has lectured here in a long time. They attacked us first! We are armed strangers invading their home. They also insulted the three of you. I can’t forgive anyone who calls me stinky. Yes, actually, they all deserved to die. It is settled!  Gather ‘round, everyone. Witness one of my favorite spells in action! Ooh… Aah… I see the use. That’s grim. Nothing grim about silver coins, baby! What’s that on the floor? Why, it’s gold! Looks a little grey. Sorry, which one of us took elementary alchemical divining with THE Professor Sssalthas? Okay, okay. Oh, finding secrets. Is there any feeling better?  Ask and ye shall receive…Thes are very nice, and I will be save-scumming if the last one breaks. There’s only so much Punishing Game Design™ that I tolerate. Plus I want to show off every room.  Axel, our best friend! Best give us good news, we almost died getting this. Don’t want an even messier floor, do you? Hot cat! Zeetha, put this on! I feel strange. Are you sick? No, like I am glowing. Or floating. Some diseases make you float. Girl, what you’re feeling is style. Does style aid in killing my enemies? Oh yes. More stairs, then? We shall have the calf muscles of gods after all this.Next time: The Team Finally Gets a Plan!
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Jun 28, 2023 16:54
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I'd say this path was definitely worth taking. Gwen got nice toys, Zeetha got a very stylish accessory, JV got upset and Zeke got to sigh in disappointment a lot.
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Jun 28, 2023 18:21
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Wow, such rude Gremlins 
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Jun 28, 2023 23:38
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Shame the Gremlins had an attack first policy.
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Jun 29, 2023 00:47
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Excellent update. I enjoyed many chuckles during this one.quote:Plus I want to show off every room I agree. I frequently will cheat/exploit games just to unlock content that would be barred or too resource intensive. I'm not one to replay games, especially bloody long RPGs, over and over to see everything eventually. In an LP, I think that it's even more important to show off everything in one go. By the way, BackupDancer, what's the expected level progression for the four scenarios in BoA? As you know there was a BoE LP that started before you, but in BoE there are only three canon scenarios. Those three are in this game plus one more. I presume that you intend to play through each one with the same band of bloody misfits (I mean bloody in every way possible), and I was wondering what levels a full party is supposed to have at the start and end of each scenario. BoA is a different engine than BoE and levels may not match up.
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Jun 29, 2023 01:40
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Do you suppose we are going to see the ancient cave alien folk at some point, or maybe their ruins? We've certainly found enough of their stuff lying around.
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Jun 29, 2023 17:12
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