Heroica RPG - Quest #152: Wine and Di(n)e

[Sandy]

"That did not go as We planned..." Quintessa muttered. She was relieved her moment of disgrace had passed.

[KotZ]

As soon as Heckz woke up, he wanted to say something, but instead the only thing that came out of his mouth was vomit. For about 10 seconds, he couldn't stop the flow. Not that he didn't want to throw up. Those calories had to go some way or another, he thought.

"And that's why it's called vomead!"

"Well," Simon starts, still reeling from the vomead, "we still have to go prove I'm pious and I'm strong."

"I have an idea!"

"Oh no..."

"There's a fight club down in one of the sewers close to the marketplace. I don't know which sewer, so ask around. But be discreet. As for the pious thing. Well, I'm no priest but I'd say go check out a temple."

[UsernameMDM]

"There's a fight club down in one of the sewers close to the marketplace. I don't know which sewer, so ask around. But be discreet. As for the pious thing. Well, I'm no priest but I'd say go check out a temple."

"I'm pretty good at finding trouble in the sewers. Let's go."

[Cutcobra]

"I expect one of you will lend me a pair of boots 'cause I'm not entering a sewer with these pristine ones."

Heckz follows Hoke.

[Alfadas]

Torald mumbles something about Heckz and growing a pair.

Torald follows Hoke.

[KotZ]

So the party and Simon set off to the market.

The moon is high now. Drinking took them a long time. All but three shops had closed. One was manned by an old farmer, another had a short orc, and at the third, a map maker. There were three manholes by them, one per each.

[Alfadas]

Let's ask the mapmaker if he has a map of the sewers, so we don't get lost or anything.

[UsernameMDM]

Hoke approaches the short orc.

"Good eve. What might you have for sale?"

[Cutcobra]

Heckz goes to the old farmer.

"What exactly is so special about your food if you have to sell them late at night, I wonder?"

He impatiently awaits an answer.

[KotZ]

Let's ask the mapmaker if he has a map of the sewers, so we don't get lost or anything.

"Lawrence's finest maps of the underworld!" the mapmaker calls out. "You want 'em, we got 'em. Oh, greetings, sir. You said you wanted a map? I make these myself. What kind of map are you looking for?"

Hoke approaches the short orc.

"Good eve. What might you have for sale?"

Obsan the Orc looks Hoke up and down. "They may lack your taste, Sir Knight," he replies in a high-pitched nasally voice. "Mostly armor. I was just closing up shop for the night, but if you want, I can drag some stuff out for you."

Heckz goes to the old farmer.

"What exactly is so special about your food if you have to sell them late at night, I wonder?"

He impatiently awaits an answer.

He cautiously looks around before answering. "Let's just say this stuff isn't exactly... legal. Smuggled, untaxed, stolen. That's my specialty."

[Cutcobra]

He cautiously looks around before answering. "Let's just say this stuff isn't exactly... legal. Smuggled, untaxed, stolen. That's my specialty."

"Let's take a look at your 'exotic' goods then..."

Says Heckz, expecting to see some kind of rare lotion for his hair.

Edited July 30, 2016 by Cutcobra

[Alfadas]

"Lawrence's finest maps of the underworld!" the mapmaker calls out. "You want 'em, we got 'em. Oh, greetings, sir. You said you wanted a map? I make these myself. What kind of map are you looking for?"

Hmm, Lawrence, do you happen to have a map of the sewers? We are trying to find an underground fight club, and one member of our party doesn't like to get his boots dirty. So, a map with the cleanest route to the fight club please. If you have one, that is. Torald whispers, to not attract attention.

[UsernameMDM]

Obsan the Orc looks Hoke up and down. "They may lack your taste, Sir Knight," he replies in a high-pitched nasally voice. "Mostly armor. I was just closing up shop for the night, but if you want, I can drag some stuff out for you."

"I'll take a look then."

[Sandy]

While her quest mates chat with the merchants, Quintessa decides to snoop around every manhole cover, trying to differentiate them based on smell or noise coming from them.

[KotZ]

"Let's take a look at your 'exotic' goods then..."

Says Heckz, expecting to see some kind of rare lotion for his hair.

Hector's Not-so-Legal Wares

Forbidden Apple (has a half chance of causing blinded or transcended to the user) Costs 13 gold.

Half used elixir (has 1 1/3 chance of acting as a normal elixir, 1/3 chance to become petrified, and 1/3 chance to become bound) Costs 10 gold.

Smuggled Orange (Has a 1/2 chance of causing jinxed, 1/2 chance of causing Blessed) Costs 15 gold.

"OK to Eat Meat" (The user becomes Encouraged but is Bound and Cursed) Costs 20 gold.

Hmm, Lawrence, do you happen to have a map of the sewers? We are trying to find an underground fight club, and one member of our party doesn't like to get his boots dirty. So, a map with the cleanest route to the fight club please. If you have one, that is. Torald whispers, to not attract attention.

The map maker's eyes narrow into tiny slits. His voice falls to a whisper. "How dare you mention something like that at a full voice! Yu should know there are no illegal fight clubs! I only make maps of sewers! Do not talk to me!"

"I'll take a look then."

"Oh yes, sir! One moment!" He drags out all the armor he can. "There are some duplicates, but only one of my masterpiece."

Obsan the Orc's Shop

White Ninja Cowl (Once per battle, the wearer can choose to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits; the effect ends if the user targets an enemy; suitable to rogues, beast warriors, chi monks and infiltrators; headwear) Costs 60 gold.

Leather Armour (SP:1, suitable for barbarians, knights, rogues, rangers, beast warriors, cannoneers, dragoons, harlots, inflitrators, marauders, minstrels, regulators, skirmishers, vindicators and winged warriors; bodywear.) Costs 35 gold.

Knight’s Armour (SP:3, suitable for knights; bodywear.) Costs 100 gold.

Rickety Armor (SP: 4; suitable for knights and barbarians; bodywear.) Costs 140 gold.

Obsan's "Masterpiece" (SP: 10; suitable for knights, barbarians, beast masters, dragoons, marauders and regulators; Immune to Ice, Wind and Wood; bodywear) Costs 345 gold.

While her quest mates chat with the merchants, Quintessa decides to snoop around every manhole cover, trying to differentiate them based on smell or noise coming from them.

Quintessa finds that the manhole by the farmer has the cleanest smell. Nothing... too foul seems to be emmanating from that one. There's a tiny bit of noise but it sounds mostly like rats. The manhole by the orc is by far the loudest and smelliest. The rank odor of rotten food, feces, dead corpses and probably the odd Hinckwell rises up in waves out of the manhole cover. Perhaps Obsan was by it as he could be the only being who could tolerate that smell for so long. The manhole by the mapmaker smells and there is sound. But the sound seems to echo too much for Quintessa to properly make out. Was it... chanting? Screaming? Or was it the sound of rats scurrying along the sewers? But then, there was a loud splash in the sewer water. It was something big.

[UsernameMDM]

"How about I trade you my Heavy Armor and 100 gold for the Obsan's "Masterpiece"?"

[Cutcobra]

Heckz buys 2 Forbidden Apples and immediately eats one.

"Say, would you know of someplace where I could brawl? A secret guild of fighters or something? I've been meaning to train my muscles for a long time now."

Heckz holds back the tears of the taste of the apple.

[KotZ]

"How about I trade you my Heavy Armor and 100 gold for the Obsan's "Masterpiece"?"

"115 gold and you tell the next people you meet about my shop?"

Heckz buys 2 Forbidden Apples and immediately eats one.

"Say, would you know of someplace where I could brawl? A secret guild of fighters or something? I've been meaning to train my muscles for a long time now."

Heckz holds back the tears of the taste of the apple.

"Thank you for your purchase," Hector hands two apples to Heckz for 26 gold. Heckz, eating one, becomes blinded (rolled a 5, needed to roll an even number for transcended effect. "Eh, what did I tell ya. Not exactly legal. As for your question, I know that Heroica Guild has a training room and sparring place in the city, but you need to be a member for that. You certainly couldn't be one of them; you're too dapper. But, there is one that's not exactly... legal... down below the city somewhere. You might need to go look for it, or if you have friends in the underworld you can find it. I know it's in one of these manholes. You can either search each one or hopefully find someone who knows where it is."

The Party

Hoke Ablesword - Champion of the Northern Kingdoms, Kraken Whacker, Titan Smiter, Serpent Skinner, and Rock Champion of Decamon

(UsernameMDM)

*Party Leader*

Human Male Paragon

Level 56.2

*Blessed, Immune: Fragile, Dark, Earth, Fire, Wind / Absorbs Poison / Deals Poison +10 and SP -1, Cursed, Fragile, Dark, Light, Ice*

Power Bonus

: 7 (+2 Grand Zoot's Cookie, +5 Paragon), +3 WP

Defense

: 58

Health

: 119/119 (+10 Knight, +25 Paragon, +55 Level, +2 Chicken Drumsticks, +15 Raw Meats, +10 Helm of Prestige, +1 Warrior's Tread)

Gold

: 198

Equipment

:

Zoot's Order

(WP:40; Deals Darkness, Light, Ice, Cursed, Fragile, permanently Poisoned-by-10, hits reduce enemy SP by 1; spear, suitable for Hoke only [Hydra Tongue, Crimson Haze, Amethyst, Diamond, Ethereal Opal]),

Mythril Buckler

(SP:41, Amethyst, Mythril),

Sven's Heavy Armor

(SP:6, Immune to Fire, Earth, Wind and Fragile),

Hydra Skin

(SP: 2, wearer gains HP when poisoned instead of losing it, backwear),

Warrior's Treads

(SP:2, Health +1, footwear),

Helm of Prestige

(SP: 5, +10 Max HP, Wearer is Permanently Blessed, Headwear, suitable for Paragons),

Medal of Glory

(Wearer gains triple experience, accessory),

Bone Claws

(+3 WP, 2 SP, hand wear),

Inventory

:

Weapons

-

Vintul

(WP: 16; greatsword),

Gladiator Trident

(WP: 11, causes the Bleeding-by-5 effect; spear),

Wasabi Blade

(WP: 4, Fire-elemental long-sword),

Glistening Halberd

WP:10 (1/2; chance to caused stunned effect, lance),

Blue Steel Shield

(SP:5, Immune to Blind),

Fang Dagger

(WP:5, double damage to beasts, dagger),

Balanced Main-Gauce

(WP: 10, Riposte has a 1/6 chance of instantly killing the/each target, dagger, suitable only for marauders),

Blade of Tranquility

(WP: 2, deals the Sealed effect, Long-sword)

Artefacts

-

Sharkskin Gloves

(Accessory, provides immunity from water elemental attacks),

Samurai Helmet

(WP:+4, immune Confused, Sealed suitable to knights, dragoons, regulators, winged warriors),

Sterile Gloves

(Immune to poisoned and bleeding, handwear, suitable for anyone),

Cultist Hat

(damage vs undead),

Sigil of the Cold Circle

- (Raise an Army costs twice as much ether, but raised undead are three times as powerful, accessory, suitable for necromancers),

Heavy Armo

r (SP: 5, Immune to Fragile),

Electro Gear

(Adds lightning-element to physical attacks and protects from lightning-elemental damage, accessory),

Coat Hanger

(Allows for a second body wear, Accessory),

Pugilist Gloves

(+2 to power, immune Weakened),

Shadeaux Cape

(SP:1; suitable to those with reputation among the Shadeaux only; if reputation is great, SP is doubled; if reputation is outstanding, SP is tripled; backwear.),

Iceborn's Improved Summoning Amulet

(Can be used once per quest to revive a fallen enemy to join the party. The enemy has a level equal to their previous level, and health equal to the half the health of the hero reviving them. Their class can be determined by the QM, and they cannot be revived by Phoenix Essences. Accessory)

Gems

- Ruby (Fire), Etherial Sapphire (Sealed+Wind), Emerald (Wood), Etherial Aquamarine (Confusion+Water), Topaz (Lightning), Etherial Garnet (Slowed+Earth), Etherial Topaz (Lighting+Stunned), Opal

Scrolls

- Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Sleep

Tools

-

Guffington's Seal

(Proves the Hero is a Friend of Guffington. The hero starts every quest with one "Hero's Cocktail": encouraged, hastened, lucky and inspired), Bedroll, Pickaxe, Shovel 3x Smoke Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Water Bomb, Air Bomb, 2x Dirt Bomb, Confuse Bomb, Blind Bomb, Seal Bomb, x2 Stun Bombs, Skadi Bomb

Consumables

- 3x Phoenix Essence, 6x Grand Potion, Health Core, 2x Grand Tonic, 4x Remedy, 5x Ether Core, Elixir, 2x Ambrosia, Soma, 3x Mead, 2x Smelling Salts, 2x Titan Heart (Grants encouraged- and inspired-effects when consumed), 2x Flame-Distilled Brandy (Encouraged & Immune to Ice), 6x Venom, 2x Deadly Venom, 2x Feather of Flight (Allows the user to flee from the battle when used), Henry Award (Can be sold for 200 Gold or to give +1 HP or +1 Power to a character, Consumable, Soul-bound), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently)

Decamon Deck

- Nixie (Water 7), Reaper (Dark 8), Stone Golem (Rock 8), Carcinos (Aquatic 8), Storm Elemental (Electric 8)

Quintessa of Heartland

(played by Sandy as a second character)

67 years old human female Barbarian

Level 6

*Immune to fragile*

Power:

10

(6+3+1)

Defense:

5

Health:

15/15

(8+5+2)

Gold:

40

Equipment:

Rolling Pin (WP:5, causes bleeding by 3; club), Heavy Armour (SP:5, protects from fragile, suitable for barbarians, knights, dragoons, skirmishers, regulators and vindicators; bodywear.)

Inventory:

Artifacts:

Sylvania's Cowl (grants

Animal Talk

job trait, headwear), Pirate’s Patch (protects from blinded; headwear), High Heels (Power +1; suitable for women; footwear)

Consumables:

5x Grand Potion, Potion, 4x Remedy, First Aid Kit (restores full health and removes negative effects from the entire party), Phoenix Essence, 2x Mead, 2x Smelling Salts, 2x Nostrum, 2x Smoke Bomb, Perfume (Can be used on an enemy to make it enamored with its applier), Candycane of Doom (Causes the target to become doomed when used; breaks after 5 uses)

Tools etc.:

Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Compass, Bedroll

John 'Heckz' Brutenhal

, the Ghostbuster, the Super Sleuth and the School Inspector (Cutcobra)

32 year old male human Sorcerer

Level 28 1/3

*

Jinxed

Spells at Double Cost* *

Darkness

Spells Cause

Weakened

* *Blinded*

Power:

40

(28+12)

(

Spellpower:

50

(28+12+10)

)

Defense:

0

Health:

35/35

(5+27+4)

Ether:

44/44

(5+27+1+5+1+5)

Gold:

2426

Equipment:

Solemn Dagger (WP: 12,

darkness

-elemental dagger, 1/2 chance of causing sealed), Magician's Gloves (Spellpower +10; suitable for mages; handwear), Cloak of Blood Magic (+5 ether, attacks made with darkness magic cause weakened; suitable for mages, necromancers and chi monks; bodywear), Bad Luck Charm (Makes the sorcerer’s spells - including Razzmatazz and Sleight of Hand - cause an additional jinxed-effect, increasing their ether cost by 1; suitable for sorcerers; accessory)

Inventory:

Weapons:

Weatherfax Broom (WP:25, makes weather forecasts instant instead of being applied at the end of the round, broomstick), Rawr (WP:9, dagger), Bone Whip (WP:9, damages undead, whip),

Assassin’s Crossbow (WP:4, each successful assassination increases WP by one permanently; suitable to assassins; crossbow)

Artifacts:

Harlot's Outfit (SP: 2, immune to poisoned; suitable for Witches, Sorcerers and Harlots; bodywear/footwear),

False Lips (Rolling Pleasure House and KISS AND MAKE UP causes poisoned by 5 in addition to other effects, suitable for harlots only, accessory.), Venomari Helmet (SP:2, absorb poison as health; helmet),

Buffoon's Hat (Prevents anyone from taking the wearer seriously; protects from Free Hits unless the wearer is the last hero standing; headwear), Watt's Artifact (Makes the user’s attacks and spells three times more effective against demons; accessory), Robe Of The Archmagi (SP:3, Max. Ether + 5, immune to sealed; bodywear)

Spell Items:

Opal (

Ice

), Garnet (

Earth

), Amethyst (

Darkness

), Aquamarine (

Water

)

Consumables:

3x Remedy, 3x Mead, 2x Nostrum, 4x Smelling Salt, 2x Tonic, 2x Phoenix Essence,

Danab's Apple (Revives all fallen party members, restores full health and ether to the whole party and removes all negative effects from them; consumable),

Soma, Poison Bomb, Seal Bomb, Smoke Bomb, 2x Deadly Venom, 7 Bones, Forbidden Apple (has a half chance of causing blinded or transcended to the user)

Tools, etc:

Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Compass, Blue Jelly, "Fifty Shades of Bley" (Grants access to Harlot), "Begone With the Winds" (Grants access to Weather Mage),

Black Market Insignia (Allows the owner to seek out a black market dealer from any city they visit on a quest, as decided by the QM.), Vindicator's Seal (Grants access to the Vindicator expert job class; cannot be given away)

Torald Waruelf

(Alfadas)

20 year old male human Barbarian

Level 11.5

Power Bonus: 7

Defense: 3

Health: 20/20

Gold: 256

Equipment

:

Sludge Glaive

(

WP:8

, pierces defense and causes either

fragile

or

weakened

; halberd), Tricorne (

SP:3

, headwear; suitable to anyone). Fighting Boots (

Power +5 on the front row

; suitable to barbarians, knights, rogues, beast warriors, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, skirmishers, regulators, vindicators and winged warriors; footwear.)

Inventory

: ,

Old and Rusty Greatsword

(

WP: 3

), 4 Potions, 7 Mead , Phoenix essence, Tiger Balm, , 2 Venom,

Crocodile Belt

(

Max. Health +2

; accessory.), Fire Bomb,

Spark Hammer

(

WP: 8

Lightning

&

Wood

elemental Hammer.

Double WP against flying and mechanical

),

Shovel, Pickaxe

Simon

19 year old Human male Rogue

Level 8

Health: 13/13

Gold: 2

[UsernameMDM]

"Deal."

Hoke hands over 115 gold for the Masterpiece Armor.

Hoke removes his Warrior Treads and Medal of Glory and equips his Coat Hanger and Masterpiece Armor.

Edited August 2, 2016 by UsernameMDM

[Alfadas]

Torald walks to Hoke and says: I might have upset the mapmaker a bit, could you talk to him? And please, don't mention a fight club... I did, I know it was stupid, but I said it without thinking.

[Cutcobra]

"You're right. I am too dapper for those stinking peasent."

Says Heckz, questioning why he was still in Heroica, and then realising that he needed to make money somehow. Beggars with 2000 gold can't be choosers.

"Say, you wouldn't know where I could find my friends, would you?"

He shows the shady farmer his Black Market Insignia.

[Sandy]

Trying to figure out which manhole would be the wisest to use, Quintessa tries her luck with the map seller.

"Evening, esquire. How do you fare? We would like to purchase one map of the sewers below Us, please! And do not mistake Us as one of these ruffians. We are a lady of the highest ranking, after all."

[KotZ]

"Deal."

Hoke hands over 115 gold for the Masterpiece Armor.

Hoke removes his Warrior Treads and Medal of Glory and equips his Coat Hanger and Masterpiece Armor.

"I meant with the heavy armor you offered as well. I should have cleared that up."

"You're right. I am too dapper for those stinking peasent."

Says Heckz, questioning why he was still in Heroica, and then realising that he needed to make money somehow. Beggars with 2000 gold can't be choosers.

"Say, you wouldn't know where I could find my friends, would you?"

He shows the shady farmer his Black Market Insignia.

The farmer carefully looks at the insignia. A slight smirk comes across his lips. "Aye, I know. There's one down in the sewers by the club. All the fighters and spectators buy from it during matches."

Trying to figure out which manhole would be the wisest to use, Quintessa tries her luck with the map seller.

"Evening, esquire. How do you fare? We would like to purchase one map of the sewers below Us, please! And do not mistake Us as one of these ruffians. We are a lady of the highest ranking, after all."

He raises an eyebrow at the use of the royal "we". "Well I'm no esquire but I'll certainly take it. I can, uh, sell you one of these for 100 gold each."

[UsernameMDM]

"I meant with the heavy armor you offered as well. I should have cleared that up."

Hoke hands over his set of Heavy Armor from his inventory.

[Sandy]

He raises an eyebrow at the use of the royal "we". "Well I'm no esquire but I'll certainly take it. I can, uh, sell you one of these for 100 gold each."

Quintessa digs around her apron's pocket-of-holding, and realizes her gold is insufficient.

"Uh... Let Us get back to you."

She then coyly returns to her quest mates. "Listen up, gentlemen. The nice map seller is willing to part with a map of the sewers for 100 gold. Unfortunately We do not carry such amounts in Our person, so someone else ought to handle that business. We also discovered that the manhole by the farmer is nondescript, the manhole next to the orc is full of noise and bilgewater, and that there is something large hiding in the manhole near the map seller. The map should help us figure out which way to go, in any case."