Kobold King

OK, so I've dug up two new files from the desk of David Charleston. Next time: the mysterious teleporter known as Traveler, and his uncanny resemblance to Nathan from the casino...

Agh. That's terrible. I looked, but I don't have any codes saved from you. I usually only collect codes when I'm using them for something, and I've never used yours before. Sorry.

If Quicksilver starts spending all his time fighting Panda, then Vondra will be perfectly justified in singing this song. I'm interested in seeing Big Hero 6, but I rarely manage to see films in the theater. Hopefully I'll get to though, since it sounds cool so far. Can the WWF logo be Panda's character icon? Aren't they going to Quicksilver right now? Or am I confused?

Well, firstly there's the fact that the club is probably just as much for wealthy vanillas as it is for Epics--think of the casinos in Newcago. Epics are probably given slightly higher priority and might get free service, but the clientele isn't limited to the few Epics in The Dalles. Secondly, they could hardly call it "The Cloak and Circlet," now could they? I think in a city where humans have managed to keep power in spite of Epics, Remington Springfield would become something of a folk hero like Robin Hood. I think there'd be a lot of places named after him, and Vondra would encourage it everywhere--especially in places where his Epics might get an overly inflated opinion of themselves. Thirdly, I don't think most of the Epics would care--free booze and gambling is free booze and gambling, after all.

It is efficient when you look at it from the perspective of an insane necromancer who wants to kill his Warriors as many times as possible to bring them fully under his control. Lightwards is the reason animal abuse laws exist. On a more cheerful note... who's up for calling The Dalles' Epic club "The Springfield Club?"

The ride down was uneventful, if filled with annoying chatter. Voidgaze and Lucentia did not seem to get along very well, which was to be expected; Rita Blue was not a pleasant person to work with. Perhaps a pleasant enough person in temperament, but undoubtedly too scatterbrained to be useful. Lightwards preferred focused, driven colleagues like Lucentia. On the ground, the falling saurians had made a far greater mess than he'd anticipated. Feeling only slightly annoyed, Lightwards wasted no time in raising them each to his side. With Epics and Warriors at his back, Lightwards began the journey with an air of anticipation and contentment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ross Island Bridge had held up well, considering. Some of the highways leading up to the structure were badly damaged, showing signs of pulverization, disintegration, and melting that only Epic duels could have created. The bridge itself, however, was fully intact and functional, though it was clear it had not been actively tended in the years since Calamity appeared. In all likelihood, Lightwards would have to blow it up. His knowledge of Portland geography was limited, but he knew the Willamette River flowed between the Empire of Light and Thoughttown. When the inevitable war with Altermind began, destroying all bridges connecting the two regions would be essential. Admittedly Sightline could teleport, but he didn't seem anywhere near as powerful as Doctor Funtimes--everything about him bespoke a contact-only teleporter, incapable of transporting large numbers of troops. While tonight he'd be scheming by their side, Thoughttown would require destruction eventually. And when Lightwards and Altermind finally came to blows, he'd need a plan to make sure he and he alone survived the war. The Empire's representatives came to the other end of the bridge, where they were met by a surprising--and pink--sight. There was an Epic skipping out of a dark alley. Not walking, not advancing in a slow and methodical approach--skipping. She was a young woman, skipping at an almost alarming speed towards their group. Despite the chill air, she wore no jacket, instead wearing a pink t-shirt and a short black skirt. She was barefoot against the cold asphalt, but her idiotic smile showed no sign of discomfort. "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeelooooooooo!" she exclaimed happily. Lightwards immediately felt his hand gripping around the handle of his pistol, dinosaurs issuing low growls behind him. The pink, barefoot, undoubtedly cold Epic continued grinning as she spoke. "Lightwards I presume? Mind if I call you LW? Or Elldubs? Hmm... Wardy? Ah we'll figure it out, and who have we here? Lucentia? Ooooh! Lucy! I always wanted a friend called Lucy, and um... Houdini?" The other Epics stared at her in perplexion--or in Lightwards' case, growing anger. Would no Epic in this city give him the slightest respect? His toy Warriors raised rifles at his thought, and he himself stepped close to the woman. His harsh gaze met her ditzy, idotic one, and he pointed his own pistol into her face. "I am assuming you had a greater plan for this introduction than infuriating the lot of us," he growled dangerously, running the possibilities in his mind. Was she an unaligned agent? Was she working for CorpseMaker--or worse, Funtimes? She seemed the kind of imbecile Funtimes would recruit... Focus. With some effort he forced himself to pay attention to the imbecile in front of him, rather than the one back in the Museum. "I am also assuming," he continued softly, "that your plan for this introduction does not involve your being ripped to shreds. Unless you inform me who you represent and why you felt bold enough to greet us with such disrespect, you will find out precisely how far off-plan this meeting can go." His eyes narrowed. "I have an Epic in my service who would love an airheaded young woman to toy with for a few hours. So please, begin explaining before I return to the Museum with a nice present for him."

You have to spend the time between levels imprisoned and tortured on a far-away hell planet.

Granted. It is given the dreadfully appropriate name of Boris Bootsbane. (You will never again own a decent pair of boots.) I wish that all wish-granting entities be forced to grant wishes in compliance with the intent of the wisher.

Twi, have you gotten to the part where [REDACTED] [DATA EXPUNGED] after [REDACTED]?

"By that logic you could justify spending your time reading those fantasy novels." "...That's a very good point. What would you say if I actually started doing that, during homework time?" "I'd say 'do your homework.'" "Uh, right. That's what I'm doing!"

Nightblood' always been one of my favorite parts of the book--which is saying something, since the book's filled with awesome characters like Lightsong. "You're doing your homework?" "Yes, of course." "Which homework?" * glances at Lightsong scene * "Uh... theology."

A prime invincibility is an ability that renders conventional methods of assassination useless, I believe. Neverthere would be difficult to track down, but she'd be as powerless as any human (or Backtrack) if someone burst into her room and shot her in the face. Regalia's similar, but she also has the ability to interact with her surrounds through her projections. (If the Coppermind is to be believed, at any rate.) She also has an exceptionally powerful offensive ability. With this being the case, she's a High Epic by sheer virtue of being utterly unstoppable--though it's debatable whether she actually possesses a prime invincibility.

Cool! It's up to you who goes next, Edgedancer. I'm prepared to write a post with LW now, but I can wait if you'd like to write a Lucentia POV first.

Could I get a physical description for Neverthere? Is she a younger woman, an older woman, does she wear a particular costume...?

Sure, I can do that. I've got the codes now, so I can put something together. I'll just need to read through his posts again and find a quote. It makes me so proud, seeing you soaring into heresy at my example. (Congratulations.) I don't mind if you want to go next. Like Voidus says, Lucentia seems better at quickly reacting to surprises. I can go next if necessary, though. Aldo doesn't mind being compared to Houdini. Who would?

Long story short: Backtrack's departure will probably have to wait until pandas are declared extinct in Oregon once more.

That should be a fairly sad farewell, from Backtrack's perspective. ...Or it would be, if he weren't currently the kind of guy who'd give Impact a pat on the rear on his way out. Someday he'll come back to The Dalles, and maybe then he'll finally finish his Scare 'Em Straight diploma.

I think Way of Kings is probably better, but I'd rate Warbreaker above the others. Which really pains me, since I love all Sanderson books about equally--but I really enjoyed Warbreaker. I've read it three different times now, which is a big deal since I don't re-read books very often. So Voidus, are Impact and MV likely to stay in The Dalles while Backtrack heads back to Portland?

I'm liking PP's new personality so far. The prologue is a little disturbing, yeah. But in my view, the book's awesome.

... A website asked permission to store cookies on my computer. What have you lot been up to this time?

Excellent. So Lightsworn, is the Panda Invasion being moved forward to afternoon? That would make it fit with Vondra more.

Maybe the pandas positioned themselves in the morning, but launched their attack in the afternoon? Or perhaps Panda's lost so much of his humanity he can scarcely remember when normal humans sleep. Yep. He'll simply be marching down the street with his companions and dinosaurs, so the traitor can get his attention then. Do you want to post next, then?

My initial reaction to Panda's introduction... 0.0 Then I get to this gem: Which changes my expression to Then I get to "Colonel Cuddles," which forces me to use two :D smilies. Then this happens: And once again, I find myself staring in mute shock, torn somewhere between hilarity and dumb horror. 0.o One could argue that a day where it rains flaming arrows from a panda army is never a normal day. I don't think there's much demand for Cipher's abilities in The Dalles, save for when an interpreter is required with new visitors. Cipher is probably kept in as much comfort as the city can afford to keep her happy. You know, I'm beginning to wonder if there's some sort of Epic club located in the city, providing entertainment for bored Epics prohibited from using their powers.

Yes. I'll fiddle with it in the creator later. "Hey baby, wanna watch me blow up the universe?" ...Yeah, try as I might I can't see the "romantic" part of that. My main question is what kind of personalities the ascended pandas in Panda's employ take on. Do they take on human-like quirks and mannerisms? Does Panda have any control over the personality of his minions?

Cool. I'll take a look at it. As I develop my worlds more I may start posting details about them to Creator's Corner. I similarly have no authority, but I see nothing wrong with keeping powers secret. It's canon that plenty of Epics engage in such secrecy--Fortuity's enhanced physical reflexes were kept secret, after all. As long as his secondary isn't something insanely overpowered like "LOL he can blow up the universe," I have no objections.