Heroica RPG - Quest #141: A Bone to Pick

[MysticModulus]

Ezeran drinks a potion.

[Alfadas]

OoC: I don't have a lot of time, so for me you can just autoroll. I'll attack if the others tell me to attack, or I'll drink a potion if the need arrives.

[K-Nut]

Kheyli follows Jinniphers plan

[Flipz]

Round 8 of Forest Fighting Frenzy

Mac Encourages Jinnipher - Failure (roll of 6)

Jinnipher vs. Baby Battle Ant Mob - Hit (Baby Battle Ant Mob: 5+6=11 damage + Poison 5)

>Terry vs. Itsy-Bitsy Spider - SHIELD (Magic Burst of Ice: All enemies: 10+6=16*2*2=64 damage (all KO'd); Terry: -1 Ether)

Boris heals Terry - No Healing (roll of 5)

Torald vs. Baby Crimson Scorpion -

>Ezeran drinks a Potion

Kheyli vs. Baby Crimson Scorpion -

Jinnipher finally lands a solid hit, but, not to be outdone, Terry unleashes a powerful blizzard blast that brings to the enemies the cold chill of death.

THE BATTLE IS VICTORIOUS!

All party members level up! The enemies drop a Broken spear, a Natural Shield, Robes of the Murine Chieftan, a Venom, four Remedies, a Rat Club, a Poison Bomb, a Fire Bomb, a Crimson Scorpion Dagger, an Ebony Scorpion Dagger, and two scorpions.

The Party:

Terry Yelnats (played by Endgame)

*Party Leader!*

Male Human Mage

Level 7

Power Bonus:

0

Health:

2/11 (5+6)

Defense:

1

Ether:

6/11 (5+5)

Gold:

23

Equipment:

Grumpy's Staff

(WP: 10),

Leather Cap

(SP: 1)

Inventory:

Ether Lash Wand: (WP 3 Wand, at the cost of 1 ether per WP the Wand becomes dual strike for one attack.), Cattle Prod Staff (WP: 3), 3x Potion, Sapphire (Wind), Opal (Ice), 2x Bat Guano (can be thrown at an enemy to cause the Blind Effect), Bedroll

Jinnipher Buchaire

(JimBee)

76-year-old female Moon Elven Knight

Level 7

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

8

Health:

6/16

Gold:

115

Equipment: Brine Blade

(WP:5, deals Poison 5; greatsword),

Full Moon Shield

(SP:5),

Moone Mail

(SP:3; bodywear)

Inventory:

The Beheader (WP:15, defies SP; greatsword), Vorpalis Conquerors (Power +0; goes up by 2 for every enemy defeated, drops back down to 0 if the wearer is knocked out or if the battle ends; footwear), 3x Potion, Grand Potion, Greater Tonic, 3x Remedy, Bedroll, Shovel, Letter of Recommendation

Boris Bruhalv

(Waterbrick Down)

38 year old male vampire Cleric *Immune to

Stunned

and

Poisoned

*

Level 9

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

2

(2)

Health:

15/17

(9+8)

Ether:

13/13

(5+8)

Gold:

103

Equipment:

Simple Mace (WP: 3, mace), Rusty Chainmail (SP: 2, Immune to Stunned and Poison)

Inventory:

Defender's Ring (Accessory, Rolls of "Heal Less" become "Heal"), Scroll of Sleep (Enables casting the asleep-effect to the target, forcing them to miss its turn for three rounds or until woken up by an attack. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.), 2 Potions, 2 Remedies, Phoenix Essence, 4 Tonics, 1x Sleep Bomb, 3x Blind Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb (Deals 10 Fire damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Dirt Bomb (Deals 10 Ground damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Holy Bomb (Deals 10 Holy damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Lightning Bomb (Deals 10 Lightning damage to all opponents when used), Floral Bomb, Bone, Grating Stone

Ezeran Yavarr

(MysticModulus)

42 year old male human mage

Level 2

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

0

Health:

3/6

Ether:

5/6

Gold:

0

Equipment:

Staff infested with demonic slime (WP 3)

Inventory:

2x Potion, Emerald (Wood)

Torald Waruelf

(Alfadas)

20 year old male Human Barbarian

Level 2

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

0

Health:

4/9

Gold:

10

Equipment:

Old and Rusty Greatsword (WP: 3)

Inventory:

Potion, Mead, Tiger Balm

Kheyli

(K-Nut)

327 years old female fairy Barbarian

Level 2

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

0

Health:

5/9

Gold:

0

Equipment

: Barrager (WP:3 Greatsword)

Inventory:

3x Potion, Mead

Mac

(takes suggestions)

Has a 1/6 chance to grant Inspired

Has a 1/2 chance to grant Encouraged

Inventory:

3x Tonic, 3x Potion,

Note: Mac does not deal or take damage from enemies and cannot prevent Free Hits.

With the battle finally over, Mac wanders over next to a nearby tree, leaning heavily against it as he wipes sweat off of his brow.

"That," he says, breathing heavily, "was a lot more excitement than I'm used to, that's for sure. Wasn't expectin' the forest critters to be quite this rowdy. Ya all did well to fend 'em off."

After taking a moment to catch his breath, Mac looks over the spoils of battle, eventually fixating on the enemies' remains.

"Ya know..." he mutters thoughtfully, "two of those scorpions seem just fine to use as-is...same with the rat." He demonstrates, swinging the death-stiffened vermin around before tossing them back on the pile. "And the tip of that Spear maybe be broken, but I bet I could work somethin' up with those two cracked scorpions...just needs a little duck tape..."

A few minutes of stabbing, muttering, and fiddling later, and Mac's new weapon is completed.

Party Leader, please divide the spoils of battle:

Ebony Scorpion Spear

(WP:5, deals

Poisoned-by-3

; spear) (suitable for Barbarians, Dragoons, Skirmishers, and Winged Warriors)

Natural Shield

(SP:6, bearer deals half damage to and takes half damage from Beasts, Plants, and Vermin; shield) (deflective, suitable for Knights, Dragoons, Skirmishers, Regulators, and Vindicators)

Robes of the Murine Chieftan

(SP:2, Max Ether +2, grants

Command

over rats; bodywear, suitable to Ether-using classes)

Venom

(Use on a weapon to make it cause the

Poisoned-by-1

-effect on any enemy it hits for the duration of one battle, making the poisoned enemy lose 1 health each turn. Several venoms can be used to increase the effect.)

4x Remedy

(Removes all negative effects from the target.)

Rat Club

(WP:5, deals

Afraid

to Vermin-type enemies and

Poisoned-by-1

to enemies of all types; club) (suitable for Barbarians, Alchemists, Beast Warriors, Decamon Drafters, and Infiltrators)

Fire Bomb

(Causes 5

fire

-elemental damage to all enemies.)

Ebony Scorpion Dagger

(WP:5, deals

Poisoned-by-3

; dagger) (suitable for Mages, Rogues, Alchemists, Artisans, Harlots, Decamon Drafters, Infiltrators, Marauders, and Infiltrators)

Crimson Scorpion Dagger

(WP:5, deals

Cursed

; dagger) (suitable for Mages, Rogues, Alchemists, Artisans, Harlots, Decamon Drafters, Infiltrators, Marauders, and Infiltrators)

Poison Bomb

(Deals 5 damage and the

Poisoned-by-1

-effect to all opponents when used.)

[Endgame]

Terry sighs as the battle draws to a close.

"Good... good job, everyone, there. Boris, mind healing the lot of us up?

Anyone have preferences towards these? I'm eying the Murine Cloak, personally..."

[K-Nut]

Kheyli drops to the ground, using Barrager to support her. Clearly the battle took something out of her. "I see... what you mean..." she pants. Then, she takes a moment to regain her composure. "Seeing that me and Torald are the only ones that could use the spear or the club, I'd like to hold onto one of those, at least for the remainder of the quest. Torald can have first pick, though," she smiles warmly, holding back the pain.

[MysticModulus]

Ezeran ponders the sight of all the items. "One of those daggers would come in handy, maybe I could take the ebony scorpion dagger?"

Edited September 9, 2015 by MysticModulus

[JimBee]

Jinnipher sheathed her sword and crossed her arms. "Well, not bad Terry. None of those items are particularly useful to me, but I guess I could hold onto the shield for now."

[Waterbrick Down]

"I wouldn't mind a restock on the Remedies I used." Boris healed each of his companions, ​cold soothing power emanating from his hands.

[Alfadas]

"Phew, that was quite the battle" Torald laughs. He drops his sword and lays down in the grass. "If you don't mind, I'd like the Ebony Scorpion Spear. Don't really care about the rest of the items. Anyway, I'm glad we all made it out alive."

[K-Nut]

"Sounds good to me!" she smiles. "I guess I'd like the Rat Club then."

[Flipz]

QM Note: I will be gone most of the day tomorrow; updates will likely resume 6+ hours after my normal update time. I'm also waiting on Terry to post an official loot division.

[Endgame]

Sorry, been busy.

Terry: Murine Chieftain Robes

Jinnipher: Natural Shield, Venom

Torald: Ebony Scorpion Spear, Fire bomb

Kheyli: Rat Club, Poison Bomb

Ezeran: Ebony Scorpion Dagger

Boris: Remedy x 3, Crimson Scorpion Dagger

"This look good to y'all? I'm ready to keep moving 'long the road if you guys are."

[Waterbrick Down]

Boris looks strangely at the Crimson Scorpion Dagger and shrugs stowing the odd weapon in his pack. "I'm all set if the rest of you all are. We'd best be on the watch for a druid, might be more beasties if we aren't careful."

[Endgame]

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that it wasn't suitable for clerics. Want me to redistribute a bit?

[Waterbrick Down]

"I'm fine Terry, I'll find a use for it at some point."

[MysticModulus]

Ezeran looks at the mean-looking dagger and sheats it carefully. "I'm ready to go!" He says with grim determination. The symbiont is sporting a vile grin.

[Flipz]

QM Note: I'm so sorry, I am just too tired to finish this update. Assuming nothing else comes up, the Quest will resume in about ~20 hours. Again, my apologies for the delay.

I've equipped your weapons for you automatically if they were stronger than what you had; if you'd like to equip a new shield or Artifact, let me know.

Party Leader, there is still one more Remedy to distribute.

The Party:

Terry Yelnats (played by Endgame)

*Party Leader!*

Male Human Mage

Level 7

Power Bonus:

0

Health:

11/11 (5+6)

Defense:

1

Ether:

6/11 (5+5)

Gold:

23

Equipment:

Grumpy's Staff

(WP: 10),

Leather Cap

(SP: 1)

Inventory:

Ether Lash Wand: (WP 3 Wand, at the cost of 1 ether per WP the Wand becomes dual strike for one attack.), Cattle Prod Staff (WP: 3), 3x Potion, Sapphire (Wind), Opal (Ice), 2x Bat Guano (can be thrown at an enemy to cause the Blind Effect), Bedroll, Robes of the Murine Chieftan (SP:2, Max Ether +2, grants

Command

over rats; bodywear, suitable to Ether-using classes),

Jinnipher Buchaire

(JimBee)

76-year-old female Moon Elven Knight

Level 7

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

8

Health:

16/16

Gold:

115

Equipment: Brine Blade

(WP:5, deals Poison 5; greatsword),

Full Moon Shield

(SP:5),

Moone Mail

(SP:3; bodywear)

Inventory:

The Beheader (WP:15, defies SP; greatsword), Vorpalis Conquerors (Power +0; goes up by 2 for every enemy defeated, drops back down to 0 if the wearer is knocked out or if the battle ends; footwear), 3x Potion, Grand Potion, Greater Tonic, 3x Remedy, Bedroll, Shovel, Letter of Recommendation, Natural Shield (SP:6, bearer deals half damage to and takes half damage from Beasts, Plants, and Vermin; shield), Venom,

Boris Bruhalv

(Waterbrick Down)

38 year old male vampire Cleric *Immune to

Stunned

and

Poisoned

*

Level 9

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

2

(2)

Health:

15/17

(9+8)

Ether:

8/13

(5+8)

Gold:

103

Equipment:

Simple Mace (WP: 3, mace), Rusty Chainmail (SP: 2, Immune to Stunned and Poison)

Inventory:

Defender's Ring (Accessory, Rolls of "Heal Less" become "Heal"), Scroll of Sleep (Enables casting the asleep-effect to the target, forcing them to miss its turn for three rounds or until woken up by an attack. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.), 2 Potions, 2 Remedies, Phoenix Essence, 4 Tonics, 1x Sleep Bomb, 3x Blind Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb (Deals 10 Fire damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Dirt Bomb (Deals 10 Ground damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Holy Bomb (Deals 10 Holy damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Lightning Bomb (Deals 10 Lightning damage to all opponents when used), Floral Bomb, Bone, Grating Stone, Crimson Scorpion Dagger (WP:5, deals

Cursed

; dagger),

Ezeran Yavarr

(MysticModulus)

42 year old male human mage

Level 2

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

0

Health:

6/6

Ether:

5/6

Gold:

0

Equipment:

Ebony Scorpion Dagger (WP:5, deals

Poisoned-by-3

; dagger),

Inventory:

Staff infested with demonic slime (WP 3), 2x Potion, Emerald (Wood)

Torald Waruelf

(Alfadas)

20 year old male Human Barbarian

Level 2

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

0

Health:

9/9

Gold:

10

Equipment:

Ebony Scorpion Spear (WP:5, deals

Poisoned-by-3

; spear),

Inventory:

Old and Rusty Greatsword (WP: 3), Potion, Mead, Tiger Balm, Fire Bomb,

Kheyli

(K-Nut)

327 years old female fairy Barbarian

Level 2

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

0

Health:

9/9

Gold:

0

Equipment

: Rat Club (WP:5, deals

Afraid

to Vermin-type enemies and

Poisoned-by-1

to enemies of all types; club),

Inventory:

Barrager (WP:3 Greatsword), 3x Potion, Mead, Poison Bomb

Mac

(takes suggestions)

Has a 1/6 chance to grant Inspired

Has a 1/2 chance to grant Encouraged

Inventory:

3x Tonic, 3x Potion,

Note: Mac does not deal or take damage from enemies and cannot prevent Free Hits.

Ezeran looks at the mean-looking dagger and sheats it carefully. "I'm ready to go!" He says with grim determination. The symbiont is sporting a vile grin.

Ezeran attempts to sheath his new weapon, but between the pinching claws and poisonous stinging tail it quickly becomes apparent that the complete corpse of a dead scorpion does not come with a convenient sheath. He is eventually forced to settle for tucking the tail into his belt, keeping the creature's most lethal bits from causing too much discomfort.

"Ya doing okay there, Ezeran? You and that symbiont of yours seemed to be a magnet for trouble back there. That happen a lot to the two of ya?"

Boris looks strangely at the Crimson Scorpion Dagger and shrugs stowing the odd weapon in his pack. "I'm all set if the rest of you all are. We'd best be on the watch for a druid, might be more beasties if we aren't careful."

"If I had to guess, those critters probably came from the Fields of Glory. We're real close by in these woods, almost on top of the Western Reaches now. Ol' Farmer Donauld's always complaining about the monsters in his Fields, but he refuses to let anyone but Heroes help him. 'Course, if this lot was any indication, Heroes might be the only sort tough enough to handle them monsters--and then just barely--but it still rubs some of the...less Heroic types out there the wrong way." Mac chuckles, shaking his head ruefully. "Sakurai and Kiri both among 'em. Neither of 'em are too keen to admit when they aren't up to somethin', especially if it's put to them as a challenge. What with the way that farmer plays up his problems...well, let's just say that ridiculous schemes tend to be par for the course with the two of 'em. Gods help us if they ever meet face to face."

Edited September 10, 2015 by Flipz

[MysticModulus]

"Ya doing okay there, Ezeran? You and that symbiont of yours seemed to be a magnet for trouble back there. That happen a lot to the two of ya?"

Ezeran stretches his back and sighs. "Only since the beginning of time, the Gods doesn't seem to favour the demon-infested son of an accursed mage gone rogue into another realm...."

[Alfadas]

"Not a clue what I'm going to do with a fire bomb, but okay... I do like my new spear though" Torald says after stabbing the air in front of him multiple times.

[JimBee]

"Not a clue what I'm going to do with a fire bomb, but okay... I do like my new spear though" Torald says after stabbing the air in front of him multiple times.

"You could try throwing it." Jinnipher rolls her eyes at the new hero. She also hefts the Natural Shield and carries the Full Moon Shield on her back.

OOC: Flipz, I forgot that I bought a Paper Doll (protects from Hexed-effect; accessory) from Karie back in the Hall. I should have that in my inventory as well as 40 less gold.

[Alfadas]

"You could try throwing it." Jinnipher rolls her eyes at the new hero.

"And you catch it?" Torald asks jokingly.

[JimBee]

"And you catch it?" Torald asks jokingly.

"Try me."

[Flipz]

QM Note: Noted, I'll fix Jinnipher's stats next time I post them.

The party journeys through the forest, eventually reaching a clearing near a dilapidated fence. Just to the other side, a gray-haired, white-bearded man wielding a sapphire-tipped staff and a wicked-looking katana awaits. Even at this distance, given the circumstances his identity was unmistakable.

"That's him, Heroes. Sakrai Sato, scheming sorcerer extraordinaire."

Mac leads the group up to Sakurai.

"Huh. These the Heroes?"

"They are. You have the bones, Sato?"

"Good group. Strong, but not to where it gets expensive. Lot of rookies, good for low-maintenence, but a few novices with a notch or two on their belt so they're not completely green. Nice work, Mac."

"Thanks, Sato, but we're here for the bones, not to chat."

"You know, you really get me, Mac--"

"Sato," Mac says firmly, "the bones." The man holds out a hand expectantly.

There is a brief, awkward pause.

"Mac, I don't have the bones."

Mac puts his face in his hands in exasperation.

"Sato, what are you playing at this time? These are Heroes, Sato, they don't have time to waste on--"

Sakurai waves his hands to get Mac's attention.

"Hey, hey. Mac. Listen. When have I ever steered you wrong?" Mac's raised eyebrow gives Sakurai pause. "Okay, that one doesn't count, there was a woman involved, you know this. The point is," he continues, expanding his gaze to include the entire party, "I don't have the bones now, but I will. And you're going to help me acquire them."

Mac stands in stunned disbelief for a few moments before massaging his temples.

"Please tell me it's legal."

"It's legal...ish. And I guarantee there's only a slight chance of serious injury and/or maiming."

Mac stares at his friend in disbelief.

"So wait...you're telling me that you need these Heroes...so they can help you 'acquire' these Ancient Bones..."

Sakurai nods, his smirk betraying all the suave confidence in the world.

"...manually."

Mac is left literally speechless, flabbergasted by the audacity of Sakurai's plan. The Sorcerer turns to the Heroes, a confident smirk on his face. What would the party say?

[Endgame]

Terry is just as baffled as Mac.

"You're telling me that we're gonna have to do it? Then where the heck do you come in, mister? Ya can't just steer us towards some ancient beastie,tell us to do our thing, and expect to get a cut - you're not even a snake oil salesman, because ya don't have anything to sell!"