DUNGEONS & DRAG-QUEENS: CAPED COSPLAY!

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Let's locate the voice and do unspeakable things to it! see whats going on. Maybe that's the source of all this commotion. I'm just glad I didn't have to waste my beautiful string to tie those goblins up.
I'm not sure whether to be happy or offended. Let's go with happy.

Anyway, what's going on outside? Methinks I shall look through the window and see...
I'll step up and punch the gross little man straight in the face. This guy is obviously no good, and needs a good slap.

I'll say. "Men of lesser abilities have sacrificed life and will to make this world a better place! But here you stand, abusing your abilities just for personal power and wealth! You should be ashamed of yourself! I mean, seriously, you're all gross and stuff."
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
Man, we just tore up a goblin bar so bad that it's empty now. I'm gonna do a little looting before we leave. I'll grab the most expensive-looking bottle of goblin booze that isn't smashed yet, and pocket it. What else is around here? I bet the gobbies that got smooshed by the bar had something useful. Or at least some cash.

Then I'll catch up to Alex Rift.
Dudesoft
always a dudesoft, never a soft dude.
6309
Game Post 32
Wes
To your amusement, you peer out the window. It is growing late if the setting sun is any indicator. Here you can see a quaint garden of about five rows wherein you see and smell exotic flowers growing.
It is a blessed evening, except for the sight of Furto looming over a repulsed Olas. There is an air of puckered lips and repugnant intent about the LeFarte boy.
"For the last time, I shan't kiss you! Do behave yourself," Olas chastised.
"There is no one else here to witness it. Stand not to ceremony, and embrace me as your husband that I shall be in a fortnight."
"No husband of mine. I've agreed to no such thing."
"You are forgetting who my father is, Young Lady Baker. In the end, your say is little more than hogswash. Now kiss me..."

Alex Rift and Diamond
Outside the tavern, Alex Rift is privy to a conversation. It is between a couple of well-armed thug-life goblins, and some very interesting individuals. There, among the new group, stands a familiar-looking vampire, shaggy werewolf, and a large green man-creature. The last mentioned is so ugly it takes the eyes some getting used to just looking at it. The thing has thinning black hair, yellow teeth jutting out from his mouth at various angles, a stocky build almost twice that of a human, and eyes that glimmer out of the abyss of his overhanging brow.
It is a creature that Alex Rift had only heard of in bedtime stories, back home in Hubland City. It is an orc.
"What's the meaning of this?" The orc is first to speak. It is a Guttery growling voice that reminds Rift of a gorilla.
"The Sheriff is missing, sir!" squeaked a goblin guard.
"Not at his post!" piped in the second.
"Where's he live? I'll get his scent and fetch 'im quick!" roared the werewolf.
"No need for haste," the vampire added in a voice so thin it could cut butter. "Our orders require no law official."
Now, the vampire unfurled a long parchment and read. "To all Dark Things of the World, your strength is required in the world of light. Only together can we oppress the oppressor races of Human, Dwarf, and Elf. Band together under my banner, and we shall be victorious."
The two goblin guards looked at each other doubtfully, while the vampire rolled up the scroll.
"It is signed; Your Dark Lord and Master Shthuli," he added.
Behind Alex Rift, who had heard all this, the great stone creature approached on his knees.
Diamond Inventory
+1 Ale of Griddle
+10 gold

Rhys
In the rage of a wizard suddenly revealed, you storm across the hall and knock LeFarte so hard in the jaw that a giant 1960's Batman "BIFF!" appears, surrounding you and the hall are dazzled by a flashbang of orange and green light.
When this settles, you say, "Men of lesser abilities have sacrificed life and will to make this world a better place! But here you stand, abusing your abilities just for personal power and wealth! You should be ashamed of yourself! I mean, seriously, you're all gross and stuff."
Clutching his cheek, the gross individual says hastily, "Y-you're banished too!"
"What's all this?" announces a wizard who has entered the hall now, unannounced. "Turto LeFarte? What business does a stableman such as yourself have in giving orders?"
The entire hall turns to see the grey wizard. They call him that because of his clothing which is all grey.
Stepping forward, the grey wizard continues. "Does the King of Onesville no longer reign here?"
"Aridath Scoazom?" Turto splutters. "You are banished as well! Guards! Guards!"
With a sideways grin to Bruce Baker and his company, Aridath the grey wizard said, "Such big words for a dung-cleaner. On whose authority do you speak now?"
At this, the King began to mutter again. Turto recoiled like a serpent and was at his side again. "What's that? O King would like some salsa and scrambled eggs?"
"What is going on here?" Aridath roars. "Have you cast a spell on the once noble king?"
"No, he's just hung over. Big party last night!" Turto said apologetically.
Suddenly the room grows very dark, and only Aridath's staff is producing light. "And you did not invite me!?! This is an outrage! Do not take me some conjurer of cheap tricks! I am Aridath Scoazom! Wizard of the Seventh Order! Betray my trust again and I shall cast you away!"
At this bit, the wizard launches a flash of light at the king, causing him to wake up from his bleary hangover.
"Oh, my... What did I drink last night? Ah, Aridath! Bruce! Why it is my two favourite fellows! Come let us drink and be merry!"
Meanwhile, Rhys sees Turto scamper through a back door.
That poor girl. Well, I do believe it is best not to get involved with those two.
I'll just pretend I didn't see that and continue sitting around and drinking ale while waiting for dinner.
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
What's with these creeps? Did I hear them say something about a battle between humans and some sort of dark lord? I don't know if that's a sign of the impending apocalypse, or if this kind of thing happens every day in goblin lands. There could be a hundred dark lords all trying to do crap like this all the time and failing on a weekly basis, for all I know. Regardless, I'm worried.

Finding out more information from them is probably more important than stopping them for now... but neither of us is really cut out for stealth.

If we can follow them out of the goblin village, though, I can probably pose as a non-human and approach them. I say we tail them from maximum distance until they leave town, and then I can try to learn what they're up to by pretending to be a monster. I don't want to do it here, because there are goblins who saw me transform in the bar, and they'd give me away.
That sounds good to me. Although I fear the worst for you if you turn into the little girl while talking to them. First, I'll explain all I heard in case you missed something. These guys look like trouble.

I feel obligated to investigate further, due to the fact that I killed their sheriff.
Well, that was certainly odd. Time to get ready for dinner I suppose. This grey wizard seems like he has a lot of power. Perhaps he can help me find my lost companions?
Dudesoft
always a dudesoft, never a soft dude.
6309
Game Post 33
Rhys
As the feast preparations are under way, you manage to get Aridath as he is alone. It is a little difficult to do as everyone demands his attention; from Bruce Baker to the King, all want his autograph or advice. When you find the grey wizard, he is seated at the middle of the long cabin, where a large square fire pit sits. He is smoking fancy things with his pipe.
"Ah?" the wizard responds when you ask to be reunited with your friends. "And where might you be from? Your clothes are unfamiliar to me."

Alex Rift and Diamond
After agreeing to follow the strange horde of monsters, you are forced to retire through the back door as some goblins lead an investigation into the bar. Having found nothing, the familiar-looking vampire announces that it is time to set out and any further delay will ruin their plans of attack.
Within the hour every goblin - man, woman or child - are armed and ready to march out. The sun is setting from view of the valley, and you both see the giant horde march towards the town's only exit. It is a slender crevice in the rocks that leads into the outside world.
When all are gone, you both emerge and follow cautiously. It seems like such an easy plan. Now to execute!
Alas, the crevice exit is too slender for Diamond to fit! No manner of turning, tumbling, crawling, squeezing, or smashing will get him through.

Wes
At long last, Furto and Olas reappear in the living room. It is then that Andrella Baker arrives as well. She is hand in hand with her husband, Bruce Baker.
"Look, husband. Our daughter has herself a suitor!" Andrella sighs.
Bruce's eyes narrow and his teeth grit. "And this one?" he asks, pointing to you.
"That is a stranger we found in the fields north of town," Andrella explains dismissively. "He is our guest tonight for dinner."
"Then, there is matters we must discuss. Alone. Stranger, Olas, and... Furto. Please leave this house. The town is having a great feast. Please yourself with ale and meat there.
Before you know it, Olas, Furto and you are shown outside. It is a warm evening and the sun is setting. The perfect night to relax and unwind. With the two locals in the lead, you are able to look around and enjoy the sights. This town is surrounded by a wall of wood, with walkways along the tops, where scouts might patrol. However, you notice, the scouts are not at their posts. Everyone, from the sounds of it, are in the town hall. A huge long cabin with oil lamps strung up from the ceiling. Cooking pits set up here and there between the many long tables.
As you enter, it is easy to lose sight of Olas and Furto. In you go, met soon with more mead, ale, meat, cheese, bread, and sweet rolls than you could hope to eat.
Eventually you catch sight of a pair of wizards talking. As the one turns his head a bit, you at once recognise him as Rhys.
*gasp* Rhys! Is it really him? Ooh, I'm gonna go say hi!
And uh, ask him if he knows what the hell is going on with the ghosts in the mines and being teleported to this place and all the other weirdness.
"Well, I come from the north-eastern tip of a country called Rumpturnip. My companions and I were helping a local clear this cave with ghosts, when-"

I turn my head a bit and spot a man in a red dress.

"Wes?!"
Dudesoft
always a dudesoft, never a soft dude.
6309
Updated Calculations
Went back and calculated the EXP. Every kill = 1 EXP. I was only counting from when you all teleported to the Backwart Town / Onesville areas. So far Rift killed the sheriff solo. If you remember anything I missed, let me know! I is haphazards.
Then Diamond killed a few when Rift was nearby. I'll stamp the rule that you have to be in the near area to gain EXP. This will include any large scale battles or anything where you're not majorly separated.
The "few" I'm labeling as 5, which will bring us to an important point for all to learn.
2 EXP gets Rift and Diamond to Level 2. That gives them 1 HP and 1 MP. (None of your starting abilities cost MP. Most will only cost 1 MP until we get really complicated.)
3 remaining EXP gets Rift and Diamond to Level 3.
Now both of you will gain a Power Boost!
You can either spend that PB to gain a new power in the same Power Pools you currently hold.
(Read: Light Manipulation, and Transform: Human respectively.)
OR You can start a new Power Pool.
As always with DDQ, I will not hinder your imaginations with restrictions.
PM with any questions!
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
OK, I was really thinking about either starting a new power pool, or asking for my first power to be able to control turning back into stoneform, or maybe just asking for the name of my power pool to be changed to Transform: Ironic.

But instead I decided to roll with it and came up with a fantastic new form. For my new power, I want to learn Transform: Ranma 1/2. When splashed with cold or hot water, I transform into a female or male martial artist, respectively, specializing in the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts.
We must find another way to get through! Let's look for a secret exit or something.

Can I upgrade Limerek so I can change it to any color and it's more powerful.
Dudesoft
always a dudesoft, never a soft dude.
6309
Game Post 34
Rhys and Wes
As Rhys is trying to explain, "Well, I come from the north-eastern tip of a country called Rumpturnip. My companions and I were helping a local clear this cave with ghosts, when-" a familiar sort of squee comes ringing through the air. The squee of Wes, who recognizes Rhys at once. Reunited at long last, Wes drills Rhys for answers. Answers that he does not have.
Yet, at length, the pair settle down and notice that the wise Aridath is sitting right there, smoking his pipe in deep reflection.
"Say again where it is you come from?" Aridath implored.
Rhys explained what had transpired, while Wes kept quiet about his own adventures that took him far and wide from this land.
"Puzzling, that." Aridath sat in thought, and puffed rings of smoke that resembled a cowboys and natives battle. "Fore, Onesville is in the north-eastern tip of a country called Rumpturnip. Sadly, I have never in any of my years heard of 'Bakersville'. Why, the only Bakers here are the King's league of horseback hunters."

Diamond and Alex Rift
Diamond gains LVL1 in Transform: Human. Adding 16-Year Old Ranma 1/2 form to the mix. He has yet to define his subsequent abilities while in his two human forms. Please do so, Locke.
Alex Rift gains LVL1 in Light Manipulation. Adding 'Razzle' to the mix. A stronger orb of light that deals Light damage, as well as being presented in whichever colour the castor sees fit.

Deciding to find a new hidden path appears to be fruitless after a half hour of searching. The wall of rock that surrounds Backwart Town is impossible with only one exit. You are not 30 minutes slow pace away from your quarry. There must be SOME way to fit Diamond through the exit...
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
Well, let's head back to the crevice. I was hoping to hold onto it for incendiary purposes, and also hoping to not be stuck as a human, but that time has passed. I'll dump out the Ale of Griddle on my head in order to transform. Considering that it's goblin booze, it's probably mostly water.
Well gee this means we time traveled when the ghosts got us. But why?

Regardless, we need to figure out where Diamond and Alex Rift are.
Yep. It does look like we time traveled. Pretty crazy. So uh, yeah, I guess we should go find Diamond and Alex. Maybe we could ask the wizard about them? Like, maybe he can sense people who have time traveled or something? No, that silly... Huh... We have to find them somehow... But I'm out of ideas as to how. Do you have any ideas?
I say we stay put for the day and gather as much information from the townspeople as possible. I'll start with the king.