Personally, I'd throw it into the stew myself. Regenerate now ****!
You use your sword as a lever to pry the fingers from around your ankles and then shake your foot furiously to kick the severed arm away. The limb bounces on the floor a couple times before landing in the cooking fire with a loud pop. Suddenly, the troll emits the first true howl of pain you've heard from it, and the arm twitches in the flame for a brief time before finally shriveling to a black crisp and dissolving to ash.
Responses:
1. Continue to attack the troll with your sword.
2. Try to push the whole beast into the fire pit.
3. Grab a torch from a wall sconce and use the makeshift club to attack the troll.
4. Flee Mount Redigar and abandon the quest.
Not too far off on that stew suggestion. And while there isn't a user named "#", the forum software still wants to turn your censoring into a profile link.
Personally, I'd throw it into the stew myself. Regenerate now ****!
You use your sword as a lever to pry the fingers from around your ankles and then shake your foot furiously to kick the severed arm away. The limb bounces on the floor a couple times before landing in the cooking fire with a loud pop. Suddenly, the troll emits the first true howl of pain you've heard from it, and the arm twitches in the flame for a brief time before finally shriveling to a black crisp and dissolving to ash.
Responses:
1. Continue to attack the troll with your sword.
2. Try to push the whole beast into the fire pit.
3. Grab a torch from a wall sconce and use the makeshift club to attack the troll.
4. Flee Mount Redigar and abandon the quest.
Not too far off on that stew suggestion. And while there isn't a user named "#", the forum software still wants to turn your censoring into a profile link.
3. Grab a torch from a wall sconce and use the makeshift club to attack the troll.
Seeing the flaming club in your hand, the troll loses courage and begins to slowly give way, its arms raised in front of its face in defense. You lunge forward, thrusting the torch like a sword under the defending limbs to score a direct hit on the beast's chest. It howls in pain and, realizing it has nowhere to run, finally moves to the attack, but you bring the club up in a backhanded swing and connect with its jaw. You decisively press your advantage, and the troll again cedes ground, only this time it trips on one of the many piles of debris and plunges to the floor. You move quickly on the beast, hitting it repeatedly with the flame as it howls in pain and tries to crawl away. Within moments, it is still, and you use the torch to light the entire body on fire. Soon, the once-massive troll is little more than a pile of ash. You take a moment to collect both your bearings and your dropped gear and then proceed out the door opposite from where you entered. A short distance later, the passage widens into a room roughly thirty feet square with a recess in the far wall that is covered by heavy iron bars surrounding a crude, locked oaken door. At first, you see only darkness when you peer into the gloom behind the bars, but then the shadows shift and two figures emerge: a middle-aged man with piercing blue eyes and a wild, unkempt beard and a pretty young girl in her teens. The man eyes you warily. "You don't look familiar," he states hesitantly. "Are you with our captors?"
Responses:
1. Answer that you are not.
2. Answer that you are.
3. Ask who they are.
Die roll against troll (d6): 6. 5+ needed for success. The troll is dead and you have earned one action point.
He sighs, "I am Aldaron and this is Peldea, both of the village of Berenford. Peldea is a hostage kept here to ensure her father, a blacksmith, works adequately to supply Lord Fernault's troops with weapons. I came here some days ago hoping to talk the lord into leaving the region, and if he would not see reason, I was prepared to kill him. I am a priest of Lathander, you see, and I thought the Morninglord would protect me, but I was not prepared for what I found here." "I convinced the guards to let me meet Lord Fernault. They laughed, but in the end, they agreed. But when I was led into his chamber, I saw very little of Fernault. It was a huge cavern, and he spoke from the shadows. I pleaded with him to leave, but he gave my request no regard. After a few minutes, he tired of the conversation, and that's when he made his move." "The shadow itself surrounded me. I could barely take it in before I was knocked unconscious. The next thing I knew, I awoke in this cell, and I've been a prisoner ever since. I never got a good look at Lord Fernault, but this I know. He is most definitely not human, nor is he an elf or dwarf or anything else you might expect." "Now, I would beg you to free us, but the key is in Fernault's chamber, and I fear you will have no better luck than I did. However, if you can recover the keys and free me, I shall help you do battle with Lord Fernault if you so choose." You bid the pair farewell and continue on further into the mountain. The passage into the mountain now takes a deep plunge, and the air becomes stifling as the little breeze that once existed stills. After some time, the tunnel gives way to a large cavern dotted by torches that fail to completely illuminate the gloom. A crude throne sits upon a stone dais hewn into the far end, and the cavern is littered with large piles of coins and jewels.
Responses:
1. Enter the cavern cautiously.
2. Enter the cavern boldly.
You stride confidently into the chamber, coolly surveying the cavern for any signs of movement. The air is now so hot that sweat pours down your face, and you hear nothing except the popping of the flickering torches. Suddenly, a voice rings out in the gloom. "I see you, puny one," slithers the mellifluous tenor. The voice echoes around the cavern, but you are unable to see any living being through the gloom. "I am curious as to why you have entered the domain of Fernault the Ravager. That you have done so proves you are either very brave... or very stupid."
Responses:
1. Ask that Fernault leave the people here in peace.
2. Demand that Fernault leave the people here in peace.
3. Ask that Fernault free his two prisoners.
4. Demand that Fernault free his two prisoners.
5. State that you are a treasure hunter and are here for the gold and jewels.
1. Threaten the voice with death if it does not give in to your demands.
"Death? YOU think to cause MY death? So very foolish. But at least you are right in sensing that this conversation is bound to lead nowhere but violence." The very shadows begin to shift and coalesce into a frightening figure—tall, muscular, and bulky—that stands up, filling the cavern. Two expansive wings explode outwards and a pair of massive paws bearing a bevy of two-foot-long talons scrape down upon the floor a few feet in front of you. The entire figure is coated in thick scales, a seemingly impenetrable armor dark maroon in color. Two yellow orbs fly open above you and are soon joined by hissing fangs and smoking nostrils. "You wanted Fernault the Ravager?" the beast asks in the same lilting tenor that seems strangely light considering its girth. "Well, now you've got Fernault the Ravager!" The sight of the massive dragon is overwhelming, and fear begins to well up in you uncontrollably. You turn to flee, but the moment you sever your gaze from the creature, the fear dissipates to a controllable level. You have little time to think on it further as you draw your sword and turn to face the creature. The fanged jaws open and begin to inhale air in such volume that you fear you might be sucked up into them. Looking deep into the beast's throat, you see the air intake is acting as a bellows within the creature's gut. The great furnace within is even now building a large flame that erupts into the creature's throat, and you realize with dread that the air that is getting sucked in must also eventually be blown out. You dive back into the narrow passage, hoping the walls will protect you from the inferno about to be unleashed. The flames envelop you completely, and you know you must be burned alive, yet you remain amazingly unaffected. In fact, you view the flames around you curiously—almost academically—as they curl around you, hungrily licking your hands, face, and body while doing absolutely no harm to you. Eventually, the flames relent, and you turn around in the soot-blackened tunnel. You see a large reptilian eye peering up the tunnel at you. "Ahh..." the dragon exclaims as the eye widens in understanding. "The cloak you wear is enchanted with flame resistance. Very clever, mortal, but my talons and fangs are still more than enough. Come back out here and face me!"
Responses:
1. Return to the cavern and face the dragon.
2. Leave Mount Redigar and abandon the quest.
Roll (d6) versus dragon fear: 6. 5+ required for success. Though that fear save isn't the most important - if you fail it, you run away from the cavern so the dragon can't kill you immediately.
No roll versus the fire, as the cloak grants full-on immunity.
You return to the cavern, sword in hand, to find the dragon eying you with what might be described—remotely—as respect. "No fear, no flames," it mutters. "Looks like we'll have to do this the old-fashioned way!" Without any further warning, it swipes a massive talon towards you! You dodge the massive paw with an acrobatic roll and come up, sword swinging. You connect, severing one of the dragon's talons. The beast howls in rage and pushes upwards, wings outstretched into the gloom, but a telltale thud followed by collapsing rock reveals that the monster's mobility is severely restricted in what for it is a small space. Frustrated by his inability to maneuver, Fernault launches at you, this time with fangs bared!
Responses:
1. Meet its fangs with your sword head-on.
2. Take cover in the hallway.
3. Run towards the stone dais to gain some height.
Roll d6+1 versus dragon claws: 6+1=7. Success (6 or more required). But it takes more than one success to beat the dragon.
And yes, I've just rolled three natural sixes in a row for you this run.
3. Run towards the stone dais to gain some height.
You climb the first several steps by the time Fernault has properly rounded on you. As his maw again comes in for the kill, you drop to the floor and allow yourself to slide back down the steps until you are positioned under the jaw. You thrust upwards with your sword, piercing through the scales and burying your blade to the hilt. Fernault howls and rears backwards, pulling you up to a standing position as you wrench the blade free from its bleeding jaw. The dragon emits a mighty roar that again shakes debris loose from the ceiling. You realize you cannot dodge or parry all three attacks at once, but...
Hold on, I accidentally skipped a page. Let's do that again, on the right page...
The creature roars at you, blood trickling from its jaw. "Perhaps you are not so weak as I once imagined," it concedes warily, "but you are still little more than a worm compared to my draconic majesty! It is now time to end this!" Fernault again lunges, this time bringing both of his claws and his mouth to bear. You realize you cannot dodge or parry all three attacks at once, but you DO see an opportunity. With Fernault intently staring at you and his face lunging in for the kill, you see as in slow-motion his eyes are opened wide and growing ever larger in your view. A well-placed strike would pierce his brain and kill him. With no other options, you hurl your sword haft over blade like a giant knife right at the creature's eye...
OOC: Another minor error, patched - one of the options linked one state ahead in the chain. Also, no actual choice for the next step, just another die roll. Which I've already rolled, but I'll leave the cliffhanger here for a bit...
Die roll versus dragon fangs (d6+1): 5+1=6. Success (6 required). The magic sword did its thing. And you still have that action point in reserve, so the next die roll won't kill you.
...Your blade sails true! Fernault rears back, roaring furiously as he claws at his empty eye socket. He thrashes around the room, careening wildly into the walls and roof, sending an ever larger cascade of rocks from above. You realize that it is only a matter of time before Mount Redigar collapses in on itself, and you flee back down the hallway you came from. As you pass the prison cells, you see that the collapsing mountain has bent the bars such that the door has torn open. The man is ushering the young girl onwards, and the three of you flee up the ramp towards the sunlight beyond, the corridor collapsing perilously close to your heels as you run. At last, you burst into the open air amidst a cloud of dust and the deafening roar of a rockslide. You keep running until you are well away from the mountain. At last, you turn to see only a pile of rubble where once Mount Redigar stood. You know that Fernault is dead, for not even a dragon can survive a mountain collapsing on top of it, and without Fernault, his forces will scatter to the four winds. You are a hero upon your return to Berenford, and you are forever known as the slayer of Fernault the Ravager. The people love you and elect you mayor and high defender, both posts you are sure you could keep for life, if you so desire. The villagers send multiple expeditions to the ruined mountain, and over time they collect a large amount of coins and jewels, much of which they willingly give to you. They even find your sword, still buried to the hilt in the dragon's decaying skull, and the weapon's fame lives on long after even you have turned to dust. And so our story comes to an end. You have everything you could want: fame, wealth, and power. What you do with them is a story for another time. So what did you think? Was it a fun game?
Responses:
1. Yes, I enjoyed it very much.
2. Well, it was a game.
3. It wasn't very good, no.
Some behind-the-scenes mechanical details.
Die roll (d6+1) for throwing the sword: 6+1=7. Success (6 or more needed). The dice really wanted you to win this time - five rolls, each with a 2/6 probability of success, and you made all of them. You didn't even need that action point.
And no, I wasn't fudging anything. I was rolling an actual physical die, and reporting the results accurately.
Four out of five of those rolls were natural sixes. And it still wouldn't have saved you if I stuck to the original probabilities (1/6 chance of success on every roll). You would have failed one roll against the dragon, and been saved by your action point. Then with one less success, you would have needed to roll one more time ... a 4.
The way the final battle against the dragon works, once you get past the fear and breath:
You roll against the claws; a success injures one paw and progresses the battle. If you fail, you spend an action point to survive, but don't make progress. If you fail with no action points to spend, you die.
Next, you roll against the fangs; a success injures Fernault's jaw and progresses the battle. If you fail, you spend an action point to survive, but don't make progress. If you fail with no action points to spend, you die.
Finally, you roll to succeed throwing your sword; a success wins it all. If you fail, you spend an action point to survive, but don't make progress. If you fail with no action points to spend, you die.
You need three successes, and can have up to two action points to spend (one from the east/west decision point, one from the troll or human guards). And since the odds are against you on any one roll, it's pretty tough even with that safety net.
Comments
2) Try to shake the severed arm off your foot.
Personally, I'd throw it into the stew myself. Regenerate now b%*^#!
You use your sword as a lever to pry the fingers from around your ankles and then shake your foot furiously to kick the severed arm away. The limb bounces on the floor a couple times before landing in the cooking fire with a loud pop. Suddenly, the troll emits the first true howl of pain you've heard from it, and the arm twitches in the flame for a brief time before finally shriveling to a black crisp and dissolving to ash.
Responses:
1. Continue to attack the troll with your sword.
2. Try to push the whole beast into the fire pit.
3. Grab a torch from a wall sconce and use the makeshift club to attack the troll.
4. Flee Mount Redigar and abandon the quest.
Not too far off on that stew suggestion. And while there isn't a user named "#", the forum software still wants to turn your censoring into a profile link.
Fixed it. Poor at sign had to be replaced...
Seeing the flaming club in your hand, the troll loses courage and begins to slowly give way, its arms raised in front of its face in defense. You lunge forward, thrusting the torch like a sword under the defending limbs to score a direct hit on the beast's chest. It howls in pain and, realizing it has nowhere to run, finally moves to the attack, but you bring the club up in a backhanded swing and connect with its jaw.
You decisively press your advantage, and the troll again cedes ground, only this time it trips on one of the many piles of debris and plunges to the floor. You move quickly on the beast, hitting it repeatedly with the flame as it howls in pain and tries to crawl away. Within moments, it is still, and you use the torch to light the entire body on fire. Soon, the once-massive troll is little more than a pile of ash. You take a moment to collect both your bearings and your dropped gear and then proceed out the door opposite from where you entered.
A short distance later, the passage widens into a room roughly thirty feet square with a recess in the far wall that is covered by heavy iron bars surrounding a crude, locked oaken door. At first, you see only darkness when you peer into the gloom behind the bars, but then the shadows shift and two figures emerge: a middle-aged man with piercing blue eyes and a wild, unkempt beard and a pretty young girl in her teens.
The man eyes you warily. "You don't look familiar," he states hesitantly. "Are you with our captors?"
Responses:
1. Answer that you are not.
2. Answer that you are.
3. Ask who they are.
He sighs, "I am Aldaron and this is Peldea, both of the village of Berenford. Peldea is a hostage kept here to ensure her father, a blacksmith, works adequately to supply Lord Fernault's troops with weapons. I came here some days ago hoping to talk the lord into leaving the region, and if he would not see reason, I was prepared to kill him. I am a priest of Lathander, you see, and I thought the Morninglord would protect me, but I was not prepared for what I found here."
"I convinced the guards to let me meet Lord Fernault. They laughed, but in the end, they agreed. But when I was led into his chamber, I saw very little of Fernault. It was a huge cavern, and he spoke from the shadows. I pleaded with him to leave, but he gave my request no regard. After a few minutes, he tired of the conversation, and that's when he made his move."
"The shadow itself surrounded me. I could barely take it in before I was knocked unconscious. The next thing I knew, I awoke in this cell, and I've been a prisoner ever since. I never got a good look at Lord Fernault, but this I know. He is most definitely not human, nor is he an elf or dwarf or anything else you might expect."
"Now, I would beg you to free us, but the key is in Fernault's chamber, and I fear you will have no better luck than I did. However, if you can recover the keys and free me, I shall help you do battle with Lord Fernault if you so choose." You bid the pair farewell and continue on further into the mountain.
The passage into the mountain now takes a deep plunge, and the air becomes stifling as the little breeze that once existed stills. After some time, the tunnel gives way to a large cavern dotted by torches that fail to completely illuminate the gloom. A crude throne sits upon a stone dais hewn into the far end, and the cavern is littered with large piles of coins and jewels.
Responses:
1. Enter the cavern cautiously.
2. Enter the cavern boldly.
2. Enter the cavern boldly.
You stride confidently into the chamber, coolly surveying the cavern for any signs of movement. The air is now so hot that sweat pours down your face, and you hear nothing except the popping of the flickering torches. Suddenly, a voice rings out in the gloom.
"I see you, puny one," slithers the mellifluous tenor. The voice echoes around the cavern, but you are unable to see any living being through the gloom. "I am curious as to why you have entered the domain of Fernault the Ravager. That you have done so proves you are either very brave... or very stupid."
Responses:
1. Ask that Fernault leave the people here in peace.
2. Demand that Fernault leave the people here in peace.
3. Ask that Fernault free his two prisoners.
4. Demand that Fernault free his two prisoners.
5. State that you are a treasure hunter and are here for the gold and jewels.
OOC: Whelp, let's get right into it then. At least we have a cloak and an action point from the troll.
The voice sneers, "You are in no position to make demands of me, maggot! It is MY word that is law here, not yours!"
Responses:
1. Threaten the voice with death if it does not give in to your demands.
2. Offer gold if the voice will give in to your demands.
OOC: I wonder if the option to go after the wagon and horses would have provided some gold to use here?
"Death? YOU think to cause MY death? So very foolish. But at least you are right in sensing that this conversation is bound to lead nowhere but violence."
The very shadows begin to shift and coalesce into a frightening figure—tall, muscular, and bulky—that stands up, filling the cavern. Two expansive wings explode outwards and a pair of massive paws bearing a bevy of two-foot-long talons scrape down upon the floor a few feet in front of you. The entire figure is coated in thick scales, a seemingly impenetrable armor dark maroon in color.
Two yellow orbs fly open above you and are soon joined by hissing fangs and smoking nostrils. "You wanted Fernault the Ravager?" the beast asks in the same lilting tenor that seems strangely light considering its girth. "Well, now you've got Fernault the Ravager!"
The sight of the massive dragon is overwhelming, and fear begins to well up in you uncontrollably. You turn to flee, but the moment you sever your gaze from the creature, the fear dissipates to a controllable level. You have little time to think on it further as you draw your sword and turn to face the creature.
The fanged jaws open and begin to inhale air in such volume that you fear you might be sucked up into them. Looking deep into the beast's throat, you see the air intake is acting as a bellows within the creature's gut. The great furnace within is even now building a large flame that erupts into the creature's throat, and you realize with dread that the air that is getting sucked in must also eventually be blown out. You dive back into the narrow passage, hoping the walls will protect you from the inferno about to be unleashed.
The flames envelop you completely, and you know you must be burned alive, yet you remain amazingly unaffected. In fact, you view the flames around you curiously—almost academically—as they curl around you, hungrily licking your hands, face, and body while doing absolutely no harm to you. Eventually, the flames relent, and you turn around in the soot-blackened tunnel.
You see a large reptilian eye peering up the tunnel at you. "Ahh..." the dragon exclaims as the eye widens in understanding. "The cloak you wear is enchanted with flame resistance. Very clever, mortal, but my talons and fangs are still more than enough. Come back out here and face me!"
Responses:
1. Return to the cavern and face the dragon.
2. Leave Mount Redigar and abandon the quest.
No roll versus the fire, as the cloak grants full-on immunity.
And now, you get the chance to use your sword.
You return to the cavern, sword in hand, to find the dragon eying you with what might be described—remotely—as respect. "No fear, no flames," it mutters. "Looks like we'll have to do this the old-fashioned way!" Without any further warning, it swipes a massive talon towards you!
You dodge the massive paw with an acrobatic roll and come up, sword swinging. You connect, severing one of the dragon's talons. The beast howls in rage and pushes upwards, wings outstretched into the gloom, but a telltale thud followed by collapsing rock reveals that the monster's mobility is severely restricted in what for it is a small space.
Frustrated by his inability to maneuver, Fernault launches at you, this time with fangs bared!
Responses:
1. Meet its fangs with your sword head-on.
2. Take cover in the hallway.
3. Run towards the stone dais to gain some height.
And yes, I've just rolled three natural sixes in a row for you this run.
You climb the first several steps by the time Fernault has properly rounded on you. As his maw again comes in for the kill, you drop to the floor and allow yourself to slide back down the steps until you are positioned under the jaw. You thrust upwards with your sword, piercing through the scales and burying your blade to the hilt. Fernault howls and rears backwards, pulling you up to a standing position as you wrench the blade free from its bleeding jaw. The dragon emits a mighty roar that again shakes debris loose from the ceiling.
You realize you cannot dodge or parry all three attacks at once, but...
Hold on, I accidentally skipped a page. Let's do that again, on the right page...
The creature roars at you, blood trickling from its jaw. "Perhaps you are not so weak as I once imagined," it concedes warily, "but you are still little more than a worm compared to my draconic majesty! It is now time to end this!" Fernault again lunges, this time bringing both of his claws and his mouth to bear.
You realize you cannot dodge or parry all three attacks at once, but you DO see an opportunity. With Fernault intently staring at you and his face lunging in for the kill, you see as in slow-motion his eyes are opened wide and growing ever larger in your view. A well-placed strike would pierce his brain and kill him. With no other options, you hurl your sword haft over blade like a giant knife right at the creature's eye...
OOC: Another minor error, patched - one of the options linked one state ahead in the chain. Also, no actual choice for the next step, just another die roll. Which I've already rolled, but I'll leave the cliffhanger here for a bit...
...Your blade sails true! Fernault rears back, roaring furiously as he claws at his empty eye socket. He thrashes around the room, careening wildly into the walls and roof, sending an ever larger cascade of rocks from above. You realize that it is only a matter of time before Mount Redigar collapses in on itself, and you flee back down the hallway you came from.
As you pass the prison cells, you see that the collapsing mountain has bent the bars such that the door has torn open. The man is ushering the young girl onwards, and the three of you flee up the ramp towards the sunlight beyond, the corridor collapsing perilously close to your heels as you run. At last, you burst into the open air amidst a cloud of dust and the deafening roar of a rockslide.
You keep running until you are well away from the mountain. At last, you turn to see only a pile of rubble where once Mount Redigar stood. You know that Fernault is dead, for not even a dragon can survive a mountain collapsing on top of it, and without Fernault, his forces will scatter to the four winds.
You are a hero upon your return to Berenford, and you are forever known as the slayer of Fernault the Ravager. The people love you and elect you mayor and high defender, both posts you are sure you could keep for life, if you so desire.
The villagers send multiple expeditions to the ruined mountain, and over time they collect a large amount of coins and jewels, much of which they willingly give to you. They even find your sword, still buried to the hilt in the dragon's decaying skull, and the weapon's fame lives on long after even you have turned to dust.
And so our story comes to an end. You have everything you could want: fame, wealth, and power. What you do with them is a story for another time.
So what did you think? Was it a fun game?
Responses:
1. Yes, I enjoyed it very much.
2. Well, it was a game.
3. It wasn't very good, no.
Some behind-the-scenes mechanical details.
And no, I wasn't fudging anything. I was rolling an actual physical die, and reporting the results accurately.
Four out of five of those rolls were natural sixes. And it still wouldn't have saved you if I stuck to the original probabilities (1/6 chance of success on every roll). You would have failed one roll against the dragon, and been saved by your action point. Then with one less success, you would have needed to roll one more time ... a 4.
The way the final battle against the dragon works, once you get past the fear and breath:
You roll against the claws; a success injures one paw and progresses the battle. If you fail, you spend an action point to survive, but don't make progress. If you fail with no action points to spend, you die.
Next, you roll against the fangs; a success injures Fernault's jaw and progresses the battle. If you fail, you spend an action point to survive, but don't make progress. If you fail with no action points to spend, you die.
Finally, you roll to succeed throwing your sword; a success wins it all. If you fail, you spend an action point to survive, but don't make progress. If you fail with no action points to spend, you die.
You need three successes, and can have up to two action points to spend (one from the east/west decision point, one from the troll or human guards). And since the odds are against you on any one roll, it's pretty tough even with that safety net.
OOC: Yay! We won! Nice work guys. I think we deserve forum badges . . .
And special thanks to @jmerry for running it. It was a lot of work.
I'm glad to hear it. Would you, by chance, like to play again or perhaps choose another class?
Responses:
1. Okay, perhaps I will try another class.
2. No, I would rather quit.
2. No, I would rather quit.
OOC: But don't let me stop anyone else who wants to try the paths we didn't take.
Quit? I can't believe you'd really choose to quit such a fun game. Are you sure?
Responses:
1. Okay, perhaps I will try another class.
2. Yes, I am sure.
OOC: This is Noober here. Of course he's not going to take one no for an answer.
How about now?
Responses:
1. Okay, perhaps I will try another class.
2. Yes, even now.
?
What about now?
Responses:
1. Okay, perhaps I will try another class.
2. Oh, not this again!