1504 replies to this topic

[Usurper]

Ok, VOTING IS CLOSED! Here are the final votes:

Place	Name		Positive	Negative	Total	Last Time 
=========================================================================
 1	Keiria		 39		  0		39	(signing autographs)
 2	Kivan		 42		- 3		39	52 (2nd)
 3	Viconia		 38		  0		38	14 (9th)
 4	Shar-Teel	104		-71		33	8  (11th)
 5	Imoen		 36		- 7		29	63 (1st)
 6	Bub		 40		-11		29	2  (20th)
 7	Minsc		 29		-10		19	15 (7th)
 8	Kagain		 17		  0		17	14 (8th)
 9	Xan		 36		-20		16	17 (5th)
10	Skeezer		 16		- 3		13	(making his staff)
11	Dynaheir	  9		  0		 9	6  (14th)
12 	Jaheira		  7		  0		 7	2  (22nd)
13	Xzar		  7		  0		 7	5  (15th)
14	Safana		  5		  0		 5	(man hunting)
15	Finch		  5		  0		 5	16 (6th)
16	Rose		  4		  0		 4	4  (17th)
17	Will		  3		  0		 3	7  (12th)
18 	Edwin		  3		  0		 3	8  (10th)
19	Branwen		  2		  0		 2	24 (4th)
20	Khalid		  1		  0		 1	2  (21st)
21	Tiax		  1		  0		 1	6  (13th)
22	Mur'Neth	  1		  0		 1	31 (3rd)
23	Thorfinn	  0		  0		 0	2  (19th)
24	Gavin		  0 		  0		 0	3  (18th)
25	Bjornin		  0 		  0		 0	5  (16th)

Lower Reputation:
Yes:	..............................................
No:	.........................................................

Most popular award goes to: Keiria Silverstring! I guess having a really good stat does matter.
Steadiest maintainer award goes to: Kivan and Minsc! Kivan is holding steady at 2nd place, Minsc at 7th.
Most meteoric rise award goes to: Bub Snikt! Going from 20th place to 6th ain't so bad.
Furthest fall award goes to: Mur'Neth! Going from 3rd place to 22nd. Disappointing the audience can be a real bitch.

So it looks like our A team is going to be Keiria, Kivan, Viconia, Shar-Teel, and Imoen. And our B team is going to be Bub, Minsc, Kagain, Xan, and Skeezer.

And we are still going to be heroes, not villains.

Edited by Usurper, 19 April 2012 - 07:40 PM.

[Usurper]

5 Uktar, 1369

I've done it. I've truly done it. The bandit camp is nothing more than a pile of corpses. I have accomplished something that will affect the entire region for years, perhaps generations, to come. I'm... I'm actually a hero! We're all heroes! Hell yeah! I go back to the Jovial Juggler and shout out my accomplishments to the assembled crowd of friends and strangers alike. Everyone in this room has had their life affected by the bandits, and they all know what it means to have them gone. They all cheer in jubilation. It is party time!





We drink and dance and sing long into the night. And maybe into the next day. I'm not sure. I kinda lose track of time. Too much Westgate Wine. But eventually, one by one, we all give out and sleep. Some on tables, some in the corner, and some actually make it to beds. I am one of those lucky ones, although I do remember being lifted up and moved somewhere. I also think I heard Imoen's voice. She's great, that girl.

But then when I wake up and stumble down to get something to eat, I am in a different frame of mind. The bandit camp might be gone but the bandit leaders are still around. Tazok, Davaeron, and Sarevar? Sarevak? Someone. They are supposed to be somewhere in the Cloakwood. I guess I had better root them out before they send more mercenaries against me. It will be a dangerous mission - I've heard the place is full of poisonous creatures. I shouldn't force my companions to go if they don't want to.

I call a meeting of all the companions. I count them as they show up. We are now 25. There are 25 people who will follow me into battle, to fight and most likely die for me at some point. How is this possible? Why am I not following one of them? I have no answers, so I focus on the meeting. I lay out the plans that we have and I lay out what we must do. I emphasize that the Iron Throne has been angered by our actions, and they will most likely hunt down anyone associated with me. I say that we are all in danger. It is probably the truth. I outline a plan to keep us safe. First, a plan to fortify the Jovial Juggler against attack. And second, a plan for a small strike team to infiltrate the Cloakwood and eliminate the threat. That small strike team will consist of myself, Keiria, Kivan, Viconia, Shar-Teel, and Imoen. Each one nods in turn. I must be gifted by the gods to have so many trusted bodies following me around. Don't I owe them something? I'll have to be more generous with the magical equipment we get. Some day I hope to outfit them all with the best I can find.

Imoen clears her throat, startling me out of my reverie. Right. Security. Plan. Strike team. Did I mention all of that? I did. To the Cloakwood we go!

First, I give my old friends the rest that they deserve.



Undoubtedly! Just hang here and stick to the plan, girlfriend.

Finch seems relieved, but doesn't say anything. She goes back to her seemingly eternal conversation with Rose. The two are inseparable!



I shall, Minsc, I shall. After moment of wistful contemplation, I turn to our new companions.



It would be a pleasure to have your company again. A good Bard is always a welcome companion.

And that's that. Viconia is up next.



Many would judge you by your race alone, but I will give you ample opportunity to prove yourself as an individual.

I could ask for little else.

People seem to look at us a little askance when we pick her up. But I don't care. She's a damn good cleric.



Gameplay note: With Viconia in the group, our reputation drops to 12, average. It had previously dropped from 16 to 14 when we failed to steal something from one of those amazing item sellers in Restenford.



I do have need of you, but not because of your debt. Your skill is invaluable to me.

Make no mistake; I follow you only because of your prowess in battle. When that falters, so does my loyalty.

I see the lie in her eyes. Sure babe, sure. But she immediately questions me.




Men aren't that bad, Shar-Teel.

You are an idiot. And you deserve exactly what you're going to get.

Hey! I used to be a man!

Oh, hey, THERE he is! I lost track of that bad-tempered dwarf. He's got a cloak he lost in the Cloakwood.



I can't forget to try to find it. I wonder if its magical, though.

Then it is time for equipment allocation. Kivan, Imoen, and I mostly keep what we got. Kivan takes back the Helm of Mind Warding, though, because Shar-Teel wants the one he is wearing. He goes back to being a True-Seeing god of death.

Keiria Silverstring the Spellsinger gets Fabio's Lute, Varscona +2, and the Traveler's Ring to complement her already-formidable equipment. I also give her back her dispelling bolts for her crossbow that I had taken earlier for, uh, research.



I also let her dig through my spellbook and take spare copies of any level 1 or level 2 spells. I don't let her take any spells that she already knows or that I only have one copy of. She ends up memorizing Color Spray, Grease, Ray of Enfeeblement, Resist Fear, Stinking Cloud, and Web. She has so many spell slots available for each level that I just tell her to memorize one of everything. She can't really do that exactly, but she can get pretty close.





Then it is time to outfit Viconia. She gets the standard loadout that is becoming commonplace for the cleric in our party - Helm of Glory, Crystal Platemail, Sling +1, Boots of the Forgotten Ones. But she also doesn't seem to care about the origin of the Ring of Dwarven Bone. That's good because she wouldn't be able to wear the Crystal Platemail without it. Also I choose to give her the Cloak of Protection +1, because she's the cleric. She's gotta stay alive. Finally, I have some extra cash so I stop by Thunderhammer Smithy and buy her a Buckler +1.



With that last piece of equipment, she looks pretty good!



For spells, I ask her to memorize heals and cure poisons. We will need both in great amounts.





And finally, Shar-Teel. Oh, dear conflicted Shar-Teel. I hope she's okay with the equipment I've collected for her. She also gets a Helm of Glory, which fits nicely with the Full Plate Mail +2 that I got from the djinni. She equips the Gauntlets of Power Attacks, and wields the Flame of the North (of course). She also decides to take up the Strong Arm bow, since Kivan seems to be so attached to his bow. She wears two rings, a Ring of Regeneration and a Ring of Protection +1. She also wears the Girdle of Bluntness and the Gnomish Boots - I don't want her getting stuck in a Web somewhere. Finally, she wears the Cloak of the Wolf. I imagine she will make good use of it someday. And she definitely fits the profile.



Gameplay note: Since we decided to do this with Branwen's flirts, I will also do this with Shar-Teel's flirts. I will only screenshot unique flirts, and not repeat any of them that I can remember. Hopefully it will be more tolerable for the weaker voices among us who do not like strength or grace.




*She scowls, but there are so many emotions tangled in her scowl that you dare not interpret this facial expression one way or another.*

There is one more thing we should do before we go. We should turn in the bandit scalps we have - hopefully the last we ever see!



We get 450 gold for them. Not bad!

Gameplay note: I'd like to take some time out to talk about the AI scripts that I use for each character. The Big World Project comes with a lot of good AI scripts, but choosing the best one for each character is not always easy. Lets start with Syvishtara. I want her to be attacking bad guys and drinking healing potions automatically so she doesn't die, but I'd rather not have her casting spells on her own. That should be at my discretion. So the AI script I use for her is SCS Ease-of-Use AI. Here is a description of what it does:

The AI has 5 functions:

1) The character will fight, prioritizing opponents who are not immobile and helpless, not fighting if they're trying to Turn Undead, and not wasting Melf's Minute Meteors, Energy Blades, or Invisibility. You can shift the character between melee (D) and ranged weapons (F) using the hotkeys. If you'd rather that your character did not enter melee, you can toggle melee off by pressing (K). Characters with melee toggled off will fight if enemies are in weapon range but won't be proactive about getting into range.

2) The character will cast some long-duration spells when out of combat. There are 4 settings for this, which you can toggle through using (S). On setting 1, the character uses no spells. On setting 2 and up, the character will cast all of the following spells if they are memorized (and not already active): Stoneskin, Iron Skins, Armor, Melf's Minute Meteors, Goodberry.

3) On setting 2 and up, the character will consume Goodberries if injured and out of combat. On setting 3 and up, the character will also consume potions of healing. On setting 4, the character will consume potions of extra-healing.

4) On setting 2 and up, the character will automatically active the following items once per day: the Cloak of the Stars; the Gargoyle Boots; the Belt of Fortitude.

5) The character will cast some spells, by hotkey, on the whole party. This casting is highly accelerated, cannot be done in combat, and only casts on characters who are not already protected. Its main function is for later in the game when you can afford to carry enough spells to protect the whole party. The hot-keys are: C for Chaotic Commands; V for Death Ward; B for Protection from Fire, Protection from Lightning, and Protection from Magic Energy; Z for a paladin's Protection from Evil.

I find this very useful to manage a character who runs around killing things and drinking potions. Also it gets Syvishtara to cast Armor each morning. I guess some day I'll appreciate the advanced features but for now I just need the simple ones. I keep it on setting 3, because Syvishtara only has 33 hit points. This is also what I have Shar-Teel using.

But Viconia, as a cleric, needs a script that will make her focus on healing. The one I choose is Rastor's Improved Cleric Script.

This is a universal script for clerics. The cleric will ensure that your party is in reasonable health before casting any offensive spells and won't waste spells on enemies that will be unaffected by them. The cleric also wont cast spells on weak enemies.

This is the best choice for having a cleric that will stop what its doing and run over to heal your injured party members at the first sign of damage. This is essential, especially at low levels. The script generally reacts faster than I would.

For Imoen the thief, I like to use aTWEAKS - Simple Thief script.

This script will allow a Thief to either use his "Find Traps" skill or his "Hide in Shadows" skill whenever he is idle. By default the Thief will search for traps when there are no enemies nearby. Pressing the 'D' key toggles this setting and causes the Thief to attempt to hide in shadows as long as there are no enemies in his line of sight. Note that the Thief won't attack opponents nor defend himself while either of these skills is in use. Pressing the 'V' key toggles this setting and causes the Thief to stop using his skills and start attacking the nearest enemy. This script will never override player-assigned actions.

I usually hit the V key after assigning this, so that Imoen will always be looking for traps but attack when enemies are nearby.

For Kivan I use the default RANGER RANGED script.

The ranger will attempt to keep a distance between himself and enemies, firing with ranged weapons if possible. If injured will attempt to hide and drink healing potions before returning to battle.

A simple script. One undocumented feature is that it always tries to make the ranger hide, which is why you always see Kivan succeeding or failing to hide in shadows in so many updates.

And finally, with Keiria, I use the aTWEAKS - Simple Bard script.

This script will allow a Bard to sing his battlesong whenever he is idle. By default the Bard will only sing when enemies are nearby and stop once they are out of his line of sight. Pressing the 'D' key toggles this setting and causes the Bard to sing constantly, regardless of enemy presence. Note that the Bard won't attack opponents nor defend himself while sing the battlesong. Pressing the 'V' key toggles this setting and causes the Bard to stop singing and start attacking the nearest enemy. This script will never override player-assigned actions.

Because she has a 5% chance to lose a spell while singing the bard song, I'll tell her to sing it only in combat and also to attack enemies. That way she'll be twisting the song, I think. Singing it and then canceling it to attack enemies each round. I heard bards used to do that in Everquest? I never played it. Hopefully it'll give the benefit without that much drawback.

As we are leaving the Jovial Juggler...




*growls* Men!

Oh so now she remembers what I was. Great. With that, we are off!



And only two hours into our journey, we are ambushed!



BANDITS?!?



What the hell?



Why are they... oh they're all dead. But still, I'm disappointed I didn't get them all at camp.

It is difficult to separate shadow from the darkness here.

If you say so babe. Kivan picks up a total of 10 scalps and a measly 2 necklaces. We move on as if nothing happened.



So... Cloakwood. I know next to nothing about this place. I turn to Kivan. He obliges me by going out to scout.

He comes back with tales of tasloi in the trees.



I don't even know what they are. But he says they're little green guys in the forest. So, goblins? We go see what they can do. Turns out they can sleep pretty well.



When Shar-Teel gibs the last one,



we take a look at what they were carrying. But not before...




*She scowls... Oh, how she scowls. Like no one else under the sun, the moon, and the stars.*

Looks like the tasloi were carrying a bunch of ratty spears and a cloak. Could it be?



Is this cloak the one that belongs to



Oh. But don't you think we should



Oh. Ok. Well then. Imoen's new cloak is pretty cool.

[Usurper]

We have nothing left to do but send Kivan out again to scout again.

What he finds, he dreads.



He just keeps on moving, marking the location for later. He also manages to come across a collection of bears.



They aren't hostile, though. It is when he finds his first giant spider that he calls us in to kill it. I suppose even rangers hate giant spiders.



Viconia and I arrive first, and close to melee with the beast. But it Webs Viconia!



Thankfully it turns towards me after that, and Haiass is able to take it out.



And since we are almost already there, Kivan takes us to fight against the dread wolves. I begin by trying to soften them up through Nahal's Reckless Dweomer.



The Weave bursts wildly out of control and I close my eyes and brace for impact. I feel as though I will die in the next few seconds. But... nothing happens.



Thank Rhialto Fireballs didn't burst everywhere. I conceal myself with a few Mirror Images and begin to melee.



My friends and I are able to kill these wolves without worry.



Without care.



Without delay.



And most importantly, without injury.



Imoen volunteers to be the next scout, so I agree. She drinks a Potion of Invisibility and sets out. She manages to find some kind of building.



We all go over to see what the building is for.



Yes, we would.

Good men! I'm glad you had the sense of decency to help a man in my situation. Let me explain my predicament. My friends and I come here every year to do some sport hunting. This year however, a group of woodland savages threatened us with bodily harm if we did not stop our hunting trip. Being civilized men we realized that it's well within our rights to hunt where we damn well please. After a few more days of hunting the crass woodmen lost all pretense of humanity and murdered Elban, one of my oldest friends. I'm sure that they plan to attack our cottage here, so we had best be prepared.

Trespassers and butchers of our wood; I, Seniyad, have come to administer the punishment that you have bought down upon yourselves. Yet, who are the men that stand beside you? With them we have no quarrel. It is now to you that I speak; these men have most likely duped you into protecting their sorry hides. They have most likely not told of the druid they have slain in cold blood. I will allow you to rethink your earlier decision and leave these men to their most deserved fate.

Do not listen to these slavering wild men, my dear fellows; they lie as befits the uncultured barbarians that they are.

And you consider yourself 'cultured,' iblith? Don't make me laugh.

Aldeth is reminding me of the monk. He's trying to keep these woodsmen down, I just know it!

Sorry, Aldeth, but we're siding with the druids. They have this great Aloe-Vera balm they are giving away samples of, and my armor has been chafing a bit, ya know?

What!?! Have you gone mad, throwing your lot in with a band of madmen. You treacherous savages, you will suffer for you foolishness! I will deal with Seniyad after I kill you!

Say what now?



Hey man, there's no need to get this violent! Why don't we



Eugh. Noble chunks. We turn to Seniyad, wondering what he will do now.



He knows of the Iron Throne! Great! But we have foul beasts and Shadow druids to contend with before we get there. Hey, at least we know what to expect, right?

As Seniyad leaves, Kivan mentions that it might have been a colossal misunderstanding all along. The hunters might have been hunting and killing shapechanged druids without their knowledge. Damn. Talk about embarrassing!

We look around the rest of the area together. There isn't much here to threaten us. We find some of Haiass' savage cousins, and attack!



I try to divine the will of the Weave, casting a fireball through Nahal's Reckless Dweomer.



The magic goes off and hits Haiass. I check my boobies - still there. I look at everyone else. All boobs are appropriate. I think... I think I just changed Haiass into a bitch!



I'm stunned, too stunned to move, and it gives the dire wolves the opportunity to really take a chunk out of Keiria.



Keiria pops a healing potion, retreats behind Shar-Teel, and then casts Sleep. Wow, that was the perfect thing to do. She's so dreamy!



We are almost done with the wolves when the bears decide to join in on the fight. Gods, I hope none of them are shapechanged druids!



Then I hear a yelp from behind me and don't care anymore.



Haiass noooooo! I seek my vengeance.



I find it. Thank the Weave Viconia is here, she can raise him, I mean her, right away. Although it seems to take a whole lot out of her.



After we are done fighting animals, Imoen says, sooo what do ya think's in the lodge? Oh yeah, the lodge! We go back to investigate.



We find a Rainbow Obsidian Necklace, two Arrows of Ice, two Arrows of Fire, an Elixir of Health, and about 500 gold. Nice! Not a bad haul for a hunting cabin in the woods.

After that, there is nothing left to do but go over the bridge to the northwest. Strangely enough, however, we find an elf on the bridge.



Yes, tell us more.

Good, I'm glad you're smart enough to recognize opportunity when it comes knocking. The deal is this: I've been hired out by the mayor of Beregost to hunt down a great winged dragon that's been plaguing the caravan routes. He's offered 2,000 gold for its head. Now before you get cold feet, let me allay your fears. The only descriptions of the beast have always mentioned its deadly barbed tail. From what I know about dragons they don't have barbs on their tails: that's something unique to wyverns. So all we have to do is find this wyvern's nest and kill it. Our only worries are if it has friends over for dinner! So what is your decision, yea or nay?

You sound glad to discover that your adversary is the weaker critter. Hells and demons, but you are pathetic one, even for a male! Syvishtara, this idiot would be of no use for us. We can kill the wyverns without having to share the reward with him.

Yea.

Very well then. We shouldn't tarry any longer; let's collect the heads of those soon-to-be-sorry wyverns.

Gameplay note: Ok, and now we have our 26th potential companion, Coran! In the base game he is a fighter/thief, but that's completely boring. So lets change him. What class shall we make Coran?

1. He should be a duelist, a fighter kit. The elf will mess you up with that scimitar that's been gathering dust on the mule for months! (Note that as a fighter kit duelist Coran would not get any thief points.)
2. He'll mess you up alright, but that's because he's a Blade Master, another fighter kit (with no thieving points).
3. Come on, we all know that Coran is a dashing, daring Swashbuckler! He'll board your vessel and take your booty and you'll love every minute of it (comes with thief points).
4. Look. Let's put 2 and 2 together. The elf is out here in the forest hunting things. He's obviously a Huntsman. No question about it (comes with thief points).
5. Coran is the spirit of adventure! He is an Adventurer! Yay! (thief points go)
6. You are all so confused about Coran's true class because he's a Trickster. He's always so tricksy, you see (yes thief points).

And then, of course, there is the other decision to make. Should we pick up Coran or not?

A. No. Send him back to the Jovial Juggler.
B. Yes. Add him to the party!

And then the third question. If you want him in the party, who should he replace?

Alpha: Have him replace Shar-Teel.
Beta: Have him replace Viconia.
Gamma: Have him replace Imoen.
Delta: Have him replace Kivan.
Epsilon: Have him replace Keiria.

[Suslik]

Coran, go take a nap D:

[hook71]

3-B-Delta ie Swashbuckler-Yes-Kivan.

[William Imm]

3-b-Alpha - Swash, and do not replace the awesome murder machine - and I think we are fine with him replacing Shar-Teel.

Edited by William Imm, 20 April 2012 - 01:43 PM.

[Quiet]

3-B-Alpha )

[SapphireIce101]

3-B-Alpha.

[Tempest]

1-A

[Daxs]

Surely he should stay multiclassed? No, maybe a Duelist/Thief or the like?

My vote is to use Lvl1 NPCs to multiclass him and give him the winning kit whatever it may be. It'd be a shame to let 20 dex go to waste.

[Usurper]

Would a duelist/thief or a Fighter/Swashbuckler be better than a pure class?

[Daxs]

If Huntsmen cannot be good, then Coran shouldn't be that illegal aligned class.

Still, most of those fighter kits have studded leather limitations, perfect for a Multiclass thief. My mind is towards the blademaster or duelist.

Adventurer is an available kit for Nalia in conjunction with a specialist mage (use Npc Kitpack to get it) so let the kit shine for her.

Coran would reach 22 dex as a blademaster. Even with the slow leveling of being MC, a thief with 22 dex is plenty functional and you won't be getting the benefits from the level divisibilities of 5 anyway, let alone 10 that the duelist demands.

Edited by Daxs, 20 April 2012 - 10:07 PM.

[Crazee]

Hmm. 3-B-Delta. Don't think I've got much chance of getting my way on this one - but Kivan deserves a break, and a chance to reflect on everything. Also, it'd be nice to see some other people get to kill.

[Almateria]

4 b α
He even says he's a hunter! (This is the first time I see Coran in BG)

[Daxs]

There really is a severe lack of multiclass party members. The only one who is, is Tiax thus far. Out of 30+ options, ONE multiclass. Am I the only one who sees a problem?

[William Imm]

Now after seeing Daxs' opinion on this, I want to see Coran as a duelist/thief. Perfectly fitting, right?

[Usurper]

There really is a severe lack of multiclass party members. The only one who is, is Tiax thus far. Out of 30+ options, ONE multiclass. Am I the only one who sees a problem?

That's a good point, and I will have to consider more multiclasses in the future when changing classes or not. However, there is also Skeezer Lumpkin! He's a thief/illusionist.

Ok, here are the votes:

What class is Coran?

1. Duelist		...
2. Blade Master		...............
3. Swashbuckler		.............
4. Huntsman		..................
5. Adventurer		...
6. Trickster		...

Should we pick him up?

A. No.			..................
B. Yes.			........................................

Who should he replace?

Alpha.   Shar-Teel.	.................
Beta.    Viconia.	
Gamma.   Imoen.		
Delta.   Kivan.		......................
Epsilon. Keiria.	..

So it looks like Kivan will be taking a break and Coran the Huntsman will be taking over arrow-pushing duties for the immediate future. Also since Huntsmen cannot be good, I'll have to change Coran's alignment to Chaotic Neutral.

If you do romance Coran, please, for god's sake, change that awful fucking portrait of his. I'm all for trainwrecks, but who the hell would want to bed someone who looked like that?

On this topic, I'm always open to suggestions about character portraits. If you submit one I'll most likely use it.

Finally, we have a bit of a problem in starting the Coran romance mod. Syvishtara only has 10 CHA, but she needs 13 to attact Coran's eye. We have to work on our appearance somehow!

Edited by Usurper, 22 April 2012 - 04:01 AM.

[Usurper]

7 Uktar, 1369

I do believe it is time to give Kivan a break. He has brought death to dozens if not hundreds of bandits already, he can stand to use a few days or weeks in the Jovial Juggler. We say our goodbyes.



Our paths must run apart for a while. If I should need your help again, though, we should rendezvous at the Jovial Juggler in Beregost.

I will do this thing, but much remains to be done. Do not delay your return.

He is no sooner gone than Coran pipes up with some inter-racial insight.



Now, Coran, if you could only explain why elves dislike dwarves, as well...

After the elf has heroically slain the foul orc, there is only one thing left for him to do. He will die in sad reverie about his kin's glorious past and amid regrets of his inability to prevent their inevitable demise. Then a dwarf will come by and will try to bury him, but while digging his grave, he is as like as not to find a vein of mithril. So he'd use the tree to smelt the metal and he will have no time among his labors to worry about the elven corpse... And that is why elves dislike the dwarves.

What about halflings and humans and gnomes?

A halfling would open a small tavern on the spot and call it the "Elf and Orc," and boast unceasingly that he sells the best ale on Toril. That would be true, of course, since we are talking about the very last one. A human would peer at the elf's remains, thinking wistfully that he would never be able to die in such a mystic way, but aloud he would say that the arrogant bastard had found an appropriate end. I swear by Hanali Celanil's golden heart that I do not know what a gnome might do. Ask a gnome...

Gameplay note: This is the point where you can accuse Coran of prejudice.

Yeah, good story!

I hope that you'd trade me a tale or two of your own for this? Something about the fun times monks have in Candlekeep, maybe?

Funny. I can't seem to think of anything.

The elf doesn't look so bad, once he's decked out in appropriate equipment.





Gameplay note: The same mod that reduced Kagain's starting CON to 19 reduced Coran's starting DEX. The kit put it up by +1, so he's at 20.

He also has been busy making some special, custom arrows of his.



He also boasts that he is proficient in all kinds of trap-setting.

Gameplay note: This is true, I boosted him up to 90 in Set Traps. He's now the only thief who can reliably set traps.

Imoen also mentions to me that there was something I forgot to get off of that noble's corpse back at the cabin. She shows me the robe that she had found.



Wow! If only I knew a good mage.... oh I guess Dynaheir counts. I wonder how she's doing?

You have the most beautiful... er... eyes.

Flattery will get you nowhere.

Heh. We are ready to head out, so we cross the bridge and explore the rest of the area. We are ambushed, by wolves!



Viconia gets bit hard in the opening attacks.



But she drinks a healing potion and soldiers on. Shar-Teel does her fair share of wolf-killing.



As does Haiass.



Imoen is the next bit in the wolf onslaught.



But she also recovers and keeps going on. Shar-Teel rids us of the last of them as the sun goes down.



And that's that. We have cleared the Cloakwood Lodge area of all hostiles!



Coran leads us deeper into the woods by secret paths that few know. He says we will see waterfalls. I wonder if this is a good idea...



We travel for 16 hours and come to the top of a waterfall, just like Coran said we would. But as soon as we do, two Phase Spiders teleport right into our midst!



Everyone grabs their melee weapons and I protect myself the best way I know how.



Keiria strikes with Melf's Acid Arrow at one of the phase spiders. Interesting!



I turn around to take stock of things and realize that there are 3 spiders now. Where are they all coming from?!



Shar-Teel takes care of the first, no matter from where it hails.



Keiria and I cast spells at one of the spiders. Her Chromatic Orb, me Rhialto's Random Missiles.



We do a pretty good job of hurting it.



And then Keiria kills it off with her crossbow.



Imoen also wants to get in on the low-level spell action.



She singes Coran a little bit. Then Keiria finishes the spider off.



But now Imoen is poisoned! Viconia rushes back into the fight in time to cleanse her system and save the day.



Exhausted from our long trip and immediate fight, we rest right at the top of the waterfall. In the morning, Coran rises bright and cheerful, more so than even before!




Not surprisingly, I like you too, Coran. We vagabonds and bon vivants need to band together!

You like me? My beautiful lady just made the sun shine brighter! I shall fight like a lion, sweetling, when I know that your eyes look at me approvingly. Come now, let us continue our search for adventure before somber paladins kill all the dragons and all the wine dries out!

Excellent suggestion! I could use some more lightheartedness in my life! But right then, as if on cue...




*She looks at you and tries to scowl. She smiles instead and turns away quickly.*

Ah ha! Even Shar-Teel is in a good mood! I'm starting to really love the Cloakwood. Since we have not yet done so, we cross the stream and come face to face with a man named Tiber.



What is it that troubles you stranger?

Thank you! Thank... you... it's my brother you see. He and I went into the Cloakwood to clear the woods of the spider colony that infests it. I know it sounds foolish... but my brother had found the sword 'Spider's Bane'! The sword was created to kill spiders... and we thought we could become famous... the heroes of Cloakwood, and all that. But my brother hasn't returned yet... and it's been more than a week. Please, could you go into the woods and find him for me... my mother would be so shattered if Chelak were to be dead.

Foolish indeed. The death of the weak is to be encouraged; this natural selection is what has made my people so superior.

We'll find your brother for you, don't worry.

Oh yes! Please search quickly... his name's Chelak. Be careful.

Really, Viconia? Natural selection. Don't you think that's a little harsh?

We set out to explore the area, but then both Imoen and Viconia scream at us to freeze at the same time.

[Usurper]

We hear the words trap and enemy at the same time, and get ready for combat right where we are. Imoen disables the trap, whatever it was, but then the giant spider spits a web at Viconia and battle is joined!



Viconia tries to outrun the web, and I try to advance and cast a spell, but we are both hit with webs. There are more spiders!



Shar-Teel barks out some orders, real concern in her voice, and the others follow. They all drink Oils of Speed, except for Imoen. She drinks a Potion of Invisibility.



But as Coran and Keiria advance, yet another spider spits yet another web at the elf. He is held as well!



Keiria decides that this is unacceptable and casts Sleep upon the spiders.



It doesn't seem to have much effect. Shar-Teel, immune to any web-like effects in her gnomish boots, runs up to the first spider and kills it.



Imoen, in a stunning display of genius and forethought, spews out a Burning Hands right over all the spiders and into my face.



But of course it doesn't harm me at all. Excellent work on her part! Then she shoots a bow at the most injured spider, and it is down!



Masterstroke! Keiria's Stinking Cloud lands at that moment, but she needn't have bothered, because Shar-Teel takes out the last spider.



There is only one small problem left. I am Held, poisoned, and dying. Thankfully the webs of these spiders only last a few more seconds. I manage to drink an Elixir of Health and avoid certain death yet again.



But there is one more spider. I don't want to deal with web effects ever again, so I and Imoen cast magic missiles from afar while Keiria casts an Acid Arrow and Shar-Teel runs in with her boots.



The spider does not even survive the missiles. Shar-Teel looks disappointed. No sooner are we out of combat then Coran exults.




Yeah! That *would* be thrilling... and I bet a dragon's skull would be big enough to make into a rocking chair! Or a throne...

Why are you speaking of thrones? Are you one of those who lusts after power and dreams of becoming a sovereign?

It was a stray thought, Coran, no more. I was talking of the rocking chairs, and suddenly I saw a throne made of dragonbone, black jade and dark adamantine. It was strangely attractive and ugly at the same time.

You have the most strange visions and dreams, Syvishtara. Either you are indeed marked for greatness, or you are simply mad. I would prefer to go mad, rather than rule. Power is such a capricious mistress, and romance with her is so ultimately unrewarding! It turns you into a fat, arrogant and selfish squid, teaching others how to go about their lives even faster than marriage does.

Marriage? Eugh. We turn back to the task at hand, which is to try to get somewhere in this blasted forest. We advance slowly. I send Imoen first, but only after making her promise to drink a potion of invisibility. I don't want her getting ambushed.



She finds 3 spiders, hanging out by the seaside cliffs. She comes back and calls us in to help.



We send Shar-Teel in first with her gnomish boots to attract all the attention. Then we strike.



Shar-Teel kills the first just as I arrive.



Keiria takes out the next with her crossbow.



And Coran takes out the third and final spider. Great! It's good to know I am in the company of such competent persons.



Imoen goes out further on the cliffs, scouting ahead. But she doesn't find anything except a great view.



It looks as though we are forced to go back and head west.



But while I am looking at the map, we get ambushed by Phase Spiders!

Gameplay note: Literally, I was taking that map screenshot without pausing and I come back to this.



Keiria gets poisoned! And my sword whispers to me. I think it is trying to distract me from Keiria's plight, but I am not distracted.



Viconia cleanses Keiria and all is well once again.



Coran kills the final phase spider, but gets severely cut up for it, and poisoned too! I'm shocked at how fast he looks near to die.



But he drinks an antidote and will be alright.




*Shar-Teel rolls her shoulders back and forth in an impressive display of her raw power.*

We send Imoen off to scout again. She walks along the cliffs heading west.



She manages to travel an impressively long way without finding any hostiles, so she comes back to get us.



When we are all together again, we try to walk down the cliffside and see what there is to see... but we find a dragon!!!



We turn tail and try to run away. But the dragon... shoots Aganazzar's Scorcher at us?



I try to minimize the damage to my companions by charging straight at the dragon. Its fire cannot hurt me, after all.



Something else does, but I'm not sure what. My companions fire arrows and sling bullets at it from afar. I am engaged in a delicate dance - keeping the column of fire from the dragon occupied because it does not hurt me, and keeping it away from my companions, while also staying away from the dragon. It takes all my concentration. Keiria and Imoen cast Magic Missiles at it though.



I see their missiles injure it, but it does not fall. Additionally, I take some more mysterious damage, dropping my health. In anger, I turn myself to the dragon, ripping some health from it and returning it to myself.



It is too much for the beast, and it falls. I drained the rest of its life.

Gameplay note: That was unexpected, and a super lucky break that the pseudo-dragon fixated on me, the 100% fire immune dude, to be the target of his fire breath wrath. Otherwise we probably would have had a party wipe. We get 4500 xp for the kill though!



Upon closer inspection, the "dragon" has the head of a wyvern, which leads us all to believe that it was a wyvern.



Just a red-colored, fire-breathing wyvern. Geez. So many ways that could have gone wrong. The Weave is definitely with us this day.

After a 10 minute long breather, we get Imoen to scout out the area behind where the wyvern/dragon attacked us. It turns out to be a bland dead-end.



But as she angles out of that area and goes north, she runs across another big trap.



Who sets these traps I wonder? It must be those humanoid spider thingies. Whatever they're called.

Imoen explores north from there, and discovers a beautiful waterfall.



She has to turn inland here, and soon finds herself confronted by Ettercaps. Yes, that's what they're called. Those spider-wannabe things. Ettercaps.



She comes back and tells us of their location. Then all together we charge into the group.

[Usurper]

For some reason, two of the spiders focus on webbing Viconia.



In response, Imoen uses her Wand of Horror to make the bad spiders go away.



Shar-Teel wastes no time in slaughtering these new enemies.



Viconia is getting hard hit, though, so I rush back to try to heal her.



Imoen also casts Horror with her wand, Keiria uses Fabio's lute for Confusion, and in the chaos I manage to heal just in time.



Now all the baddies are running scared, but Shar-Teel doesn't care. She cuts down another.



And another.



Frightened spiders scatter, and we start to chase them all over the woods. I realize that this can only end in disaster, so I call my companions back to our original fight location. We wait for the spiders to come back to us. They do, and they web me!



Shar-Teel takes care of that little problem, though.



Coran is taking care of business on the other side of the battlefield.



But Shar-Teel kills the last.



Viconia realizes what she's been doing wrong this whole time. I guess that near-death brush was good for her in the long run.









Gameplay note: We'll have to go over these new spells that she has that are different from Branwen's next update.

Then it's back to the explore and disarm game.



While Imoen is out disarming traps made by evil inhuman monsters all by herself, Coran strikes up another conversation.



Unfortunately, I was. With my foster father dead, they won't let me back in.

Ha-ha! But you must be clumsy, Syvishtara. Nobody ever locked me out.

Are you sure? I didn't think you were all that good with stealth and locks.

Uhm, there was that one time when I had a rendezvous with a noble dame whose name I can't mention for obvious reasons.

Of course.

So, I decided to rekindle my acquaintance with a sophisticated society beauty after a few short years of absence. The lady was agreeable, and I didn't have a chance to see her close in a well lit room until I made it up her balcony.

But as she slipped to the window to open it for me, the moonlight shone straight onto her face...

Oh humans, humans...

A few short years... just how many exactly?

Ten or fifteen... it matters not. The result was devastating. *Shivers.*

A hag in the moonlight... All the old stories about hags of the magical kind leapt to my mind, how they bred with the likely lads of my disposition and then devour them.

So you must see why my romantic mood quickly diminished, and why I spent a good hour outside that window pretending that I could not get in.

Actually, it was very decent of you to spare the old woman's feelings.

Well, yes... that, and I needed time to recover before hitting the roofs. One won't go far on shaky feet!

By that time Imoen got back to say that she found more ettercaps. We go to where she says they will be, and sure enough. There they are. I think that I will try to take care of all of them before anyone else needs to, so I reach for the Weave and throw out whatever comes first.



Fire dances around me, and yet frost flies from my fingertips! I am like unto a vengeful force of nature!



WHAT?! Oh my weave, what have I done?

Gameplay note: Shar-Teel was slightly ahead of Syvishtara when she randomly cast Cone of Cold. I tried to get her to move out of the way, but as you can see she was unsuccessful.

Still, a golden goddess, wreathed in flames, a burning sword in my hand - surely I must win this fight.



Viconia takes up her mace and steps into melee with me as the rest of the party fires from range. Keiria kills one of them.



In the middle of combat, a crazed woman interrupts us.



After that interruption, Coran is the next to thin the herd.



Unfortunately Haiass falls in the battle. Again.



And Keiria is the one who kills the last beastie.



Seemingly late to the party, as if he was an old man, my sword taunts the already-dead.



Keiria and Coran divide up Shar-Teel's equipment between each other, and then we talk to the crazy lady again.



The ring she gives us is a Ring of Protection +2!



Gameplay note: We also get 1100 more xp!

I think I need to rethink my life. Shar-Teel is dead, again. And I killed her this time. My magic is always getting my friends killed. Why does the Weave act like that? Why does it lash out against... wait. The Weave doesn't do things for no reason, does it. Maybe she deserved it.