Heroica RPG - Quest #79: Fading Spark

[Kintobor]

Karie wasn't thrilled about the ink markings on her back. She lets out a long, agonizing groan. It certainly wasn't going to be easily concealed, less so than the dual pronged scar. She put her clothes back on and heads back into the cabin.

"Sorry guys, apparently I've got bitten by some mite and I've got a bit of a rash happening. I should be fine."

She turns her attention to the villagers, something was bothering her.

"Did anyone else live here before? Has anyone left the village?"

[Endgame]

"I've been around since this village was made, and people come and go all the time - sometimes our population could swell up to 12, or even 14, people. Not a single soul has left this village bitter, however.

The last person who left Taurost was Mr. Arnold Keolo."

[K-Nut]

Althior sat up at the mention of Keolo's name. "I'm sorry, when did Keolo leave, exactly? Recently?"

[Endgame]

"About three months back. He decided to take a break from the job after he lost one of his aids in an expedieition - it devestated him that he gambled with lives so recklessly. He settled down here and lived quiet for about a year and a half, and left three months ago. Apparently he went back and completed the expedition that had killed one of his interns before, and actually made it out with the item he desired."

Will the party pick up the venom repellant?

Edited August 28, 2013 by Endgame

[Kintobor]

"I think we've got what we came for. Thank you for your time."

Karie was ready to leave, if the rest of the party was.

[Bricksandparts]

Johon gets up from his rest and walks over to where Karie was waiting for the party.

"I'm ready to leave when everyone's ready. I don't think we'll find any more answers here."

[K-Nut]

Althior follows the part out.

[Endgame]

Recieving one last wave of thanks from the patients, the party exits the cabin and returns to Margaret's Alchemy Hut. She is seen pouring a bright green liquid into a bottle, giving it one last shake before placing it on the counter. She turns around, seeing the heroes.

"Ah, great timing! The repellant is done - a few spritz and those vines won't even be near ya. Lik I said, it's on the house."

The party accepts the gift.

Venom Repellant - A potent brew that will cause the Plague Barrier to disperse.

With the alchemist's creation in hand, the party returns to the barrier.

The party sprays themself with the repellent, the scent of the creation a bit powerful. They carefully extend their hands towards the grotesque tendrils, the vines startling back as the heroes approach. Even the venom seems to slither away from the heroes, none of them wanting to even make contact: they could make passage through.

Not wanting to waste a single moment of their protection, the party heads through, coming to a junction.

This part of the forest seemed less tame then the others, the plants running freely - they had at last entered the Forest Deeps. Three paths lay ahead of them, and the party knew of three locations in the woods... A stump sits in the distance, a scrap of paper laying next to it.

The air was tense... Somewhere, there were Oculoids about...

Edited August 29, 2013 by Endgame

[K-Nut]

Althior walks over to the stump, sits down, and reads the paper.

[Endgame]

The paper turns out to be a journal page, written in nearly indecipherable script.

-Did some work on Taurost's Well today. That's the third oddball job of the day... oddly enough, I felt like I was being watched the entire time while i was working. Maybe I'm just paranoid. At least I'm putting that Master's Degree in engineering to decent use, though. Should last them a decade or two. Being driled down by eyes that aren't even there is a bit unnerving, at any rate.

-Probably going to see some sights here before I return back - might as well take another half hour to enjoy them while I'm here.

-I remember my aunt and uncle taking me to this forest once, so this is something of a stroll down memory lane for me. Some of my favorite locations still remains from the Deeps: The grove, the pond, Timber Pass... All there. I heard even my old classmate Margaret lived here now. However, those landmarks I mentioned... aren't quite in as good shape as I remember them to be, I don't think it's the nostalgia speaking, either. To the Northwest, Deep's Pond has turned a dark green, with black streaks... It even seemed slightly acidic. To the North, Timber Pass got hit the worst. Practically all the trees have withered and the roots are now exposed, jagged and sharp. The soil has practically been reduced to sand, and there doesn't seem to be a single living thing roaming around there any more. Chequer Grove doesn't seem to have suffered too much... Some patches have wilted entirely, and others are becoming overgrown, even for someplace set in the wilderness. Overall, though, the Grove is probably the least damaged place of them all.

-Well, after a day's work of oddball jobs, I've gotten my hands on enough gold for one or two months of rent, along with anything else I may need. Got an apartment at the Albatross Inn, and I'm paying it off through engineering work. Probably setting this last job's pay aside for something else, though... probably going to ask my girlfriend out to dinner or the theatre or something. Oh, the irony; one of the few paragons in Eubric is nervous about asking if the woman he loves would like to go out for dinner. I really am inept about this stuff. Still, it can't be easy for her either... Karie went to being terrified of me to being my girlfriend in a matter of two days. Was I really that horrible of a person just a week earlier? Ours wasn't the smoothest meeting, but I have faith it'll work out. I know it will.

-Hm... Space in the apartment might end up getting tight... I'll leave this journal page here. Maybe someone out there will find it insightful.

Deep's Junction

Three paths lie ahead of you - an easy, medium, and hard path. Each one houses a battle.Using the information you've learned recently, you should be able to determine which path is which and proceed accordingly. The harder paths hold more difficult conforntations, but also hold much better loot should you win. You may only choose 1 path.

Choose wisely...

Edited August 28, 2013 by Endgame

[Kintobor]

Karie hastily snatches up the journal page from Althior and stuffs it down her sweater, her face turning red.

"Nothing of real importance on this journal entry, nope nope, ha ha, ha... hmm. "

Karie looks down the forest paths inquisitively, still on edge from being in the great outdoors. What if they ran into some savage beast, or worse, an oculoid?

"Well, we have three choices of where to go. It seems the north path is going to be the most treacherous, the northwest will be slightly easier, and to the northeast: a stroll through the park. Any ideas on where we should go?"

[Bricksandparts]

"I say we go north and see what these morons are capable of. What was so important about those papers anyways?" Johon asks, having been unable to get a glimpse of the writing.

[Kintobor]

Karie begin to look slightly flustered, twiddling with her thumbs.

"Oh... nothing. It's not important at all. It's just that some of the things on the sheet are slightly... um... personal. To the author! Yes, it's very lucrative and what not and I think it's a little rude to peer through someone's personal belongings."

Karie tried giving a reassuring smile, but knew she was coming off as if she was hiding something.

Just ignore me Johon, nothing to see here...

[K-Nut]

Althior watches Karie snatch the paper, trying to keep secrets from him. He stands up abruptly with a stern look on face, shoving his gloved finger in her face. "Don't. Ever. Think you're more clever than me, witch," He'd seen more than enough on the sheet. He stands up as he speaks quickly, almost non-understandable. "Now, obviously, we have three choices. Easy, Medium, and Hard battles lay ahead. Now, we can assume we only have time for one battle. We could go to the easy one, but be left with what we have now, but have an easy battle. Or we could go to the 'medium' battle, which would still be somewhat easy and perhaps give us some good items we could put to our use later when (because we undoubtedly will) run across more Oculoid's. Or we could go on the hard path and get the best possible items to help us in our efforts, but it will cause us the most harm." Althior realizes his pacing and fast speech. He clears his throat and slows down. "So do we get their sooner, get better items, or make a compromise?"

[Kintobor]

"I'm thinking it right now."

Karie coughed after mumbling the small quip. She stretched before speaking up.

"I believe we should meet in the middle and take the northwest path. You know, so we don't come off as total wimps."

[K-Nut]

Althior hears Karie's snide comment and thinks nothing of it. He was surrounded by fools.

"I believe we should meet in the middle and take the northwest path. You know, so we don't come off as total wimps."

"But, we are total wimps! We're shoving pieces of paper down our corsets and talking way too much! Besides, if we weren't wimps, why not go on the hard path?" Finnegan snickers, obviously mocking the witch.

[Kintobor]

"But, we are total wimps! We're shoving pieces of paper down our corsets and talking way too much! Besides, if we weren't wimps, why not go on the hard path?" Finnegan snickers, obviously mocking the witch.

"Because unlike you and your master, I happen to have a brain."

Karie playfully stick her tongue out at Althior and the floating sack.

[K-Nut]

"Wow. way to brag..." Finnegan sniffs, obviously upset.

"Not your fault. He's just sad he doesn't have a tongue," Althior gives Finnegan an awkward glare.

"Or nose, ears, eyes, mouth, any of those cool accessories!"

"One, they're not accessories. Two, I'll get you a fez when we get back, okay? Fezzes are cool,"

"Oooooooo yay! Actually, I'd rather a bow tie. Bow ties are cool,"

Edited August 29, 2013 by K-Nut

[Kintobor]

"You can argue about fashion later. Right now, we need to make a decision, majority rules. I vote for the Northwest path."

[K-Nut]

"But there's four of us."

"You don't get a vote, Finnegan," Althior rolls his eyes. "Let's take the Northwest path,"

"Aura hater..."

[Endgame]

QM Note: The Venom Replennt icon, for those curious:

The Party:

Althior Emorith (And Finnegan)

Level 35 Necromancer *Earns triple XP*

Power: 47 (52 for spells)

Power Bonus: +5 Spells

Defense: 6 (4+2)

Health: 45/45 (5+5+Chicken Drumstick (1)+34)

Ether: 30/48 (5+5+34+4)

Gold: 100

Equipment: Scepter of Divine Affinity (WP:12, Has ⅙ chance to deal Cursed effect on attacks and ⅙ chance to deal Blessed effect on successful healing, Staff), Spellbound Gloves (+5 power when casting Spells, doubled if target is weak to Element, Handwear), Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max Ether +4, Backwear), Medal of Glory (Wearer earns triple experience, Accessory), Robe of the Elven Necromancer (SP: 4, Body Wear)

Inventory: Dragoro (WP:8, Wand), Skeleton Decoy, Potion x6, Tonic x10, Grand Potion x4, Grand Tonic, Ether Core x3, Bedroll, Remedy x8, Mead, Smelling Salts, Diamond (Light), Topaz (Lightning), Amethyst (Darkness), Ruby (Fire), Sapphire (Wind), Garnet (Earth), Opal (Ice), Aquamarine (Water), Emerald (Wood), Skull Shield (SP: 6, immune to darkness elemental damage), Bone x3, Elixirs x3, Phoenix Incense x2, Dragon Scales, Garnet Lamp of Summoning, Deadly Poison, Grating Stone x2, Tasty Fish

Undead Iron Scorpion, Level 28

Undead Iron Scorpion, Level 28

Shade of Erick, Level 30

Shade of Seymour, Level 22

Shade Of Silver, Level 15 "Gnnnnnggggh..."

Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts) 25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider *Lucky!* *Hastened!*

Level: 25.33

Power: 36 (24+8+4)

Health: 35/40 (24+8+1+7+0)

Shield Power: (5+1)

Ether: ~/0

Positive effects: *Immune to:* (*Fragile*, *Cursed* *Stunned* ), *Natural Respite*

Negative effects: (none)

Gold: 2800 (1726(1), 0GB(50), 0CB(50), 0GO(80), 0CC(70), 0GC(100), 0M)

Equipment:

Weapon - Sword of Decay (WP:8) - (once the target is inflicted with damage they lose a quarter of the power of the strike each following turn for three turns. the effect cannot be compounded with more strikes. Suitable to Mages, Knights and Barbarians.)

Shield - None

Artefact 1 (L1-9) - Heavy Armour - SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians and knights

Artefact 2 (L10-19) - Bravado Boots - 1/6 chance of being Lucky at the beginning of every battle

Artefact 3 (L20-29) - Sticky Gloves - Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up), suitable for rogues and beast warriors.[

Artefact 4 (L30-39) -

Artefact 5 (L40-49) -

Artefact 6 (L50+) -

Extra Artefacts: Helmet (+1 max health), Blessed Amulet – Protects from cursed-effect. Dog Statuette - (suitable for anyone, SP: 1, once named (Rover), speaking the name summons a dog almost certainly to tag along on madcap adventures and make snippy comments.), Hide of The Bleeding - restores 10 HP and 5 ether for every enemy the wearer kills, suitable for anyone, Scarlet Hood - +4 to power, immunity to stunned

Extra Weapons: Greatsword (WP:3), Focal Staff (WP:5, Focus Fire-Roll a 3 for 5 ether Suitable for clerics and mages),Gladius (WP: 15, Darkness elemental, 1/3 chance of Fragile on succesful hits), Stalker’s Mallet (WP: 8, usable by Knights, Barbarians, and Harlots. Has a 1/2 chance to seal the enemy) Tools: Shovel (1), Pick-axe (2), Magnifying Glass (1), Magic Compass (1)

Consumables: Potion (2), Venom (2), Mead (4), Smelling Salts (11), Nostrum (11), Trial Brew (1), Grand Tonic, Emergency Essence, Ambrosia

Elements: Aquamarine (1), Emerald (1), Topaz (1)

Scrolls: Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (1), Scroll of Confusion (1)

Quest items: Blue Rose

Karie Alderflask (Played by Kintobor) *Party Leader!*

22 year old Human Rogue Witch, lvl 16.5

Power: 21 (lvl 15 + WP: 6)

Health: 22/22

Ether: 16/22

Gold: 77

Defence: 2

Equipment: Sexy (WP: 7, Rapier, Disregards SP, usable by Knights and Rogues), Ethereal Cloak (SP +2, Max. Ether +4), Paper Doll (Accessory, Protects from the Hexed effect)

Inventory: Grand Tonic (2), Mead (2), Remedy (1), Venom (7), Nostrum (1), Mulled Wine (1), Smoke bomb (1), Pixie Dust (1), Grand Potion (2) Telescope (1), Bedroll (1)

Quest Items: Entry 11, Map of Brendenton (1), Spider Coin (worth 1 gp), Forest Journal

Aretefacts/Weapons:Heirloom Dagger (WP: 3), Scroll of Newtity (costs 10 ether)(usable by ex-Amphibians only), Lover's Locket (Accessory, Protects from enamoured effect), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Accessory, changes user's appearance into an Elf) The Rat Queen's Cape (Backwear, all Vermin type are Enamored with the wearer for the first three rounds of combat, Suitable for Alchemists, Beast Warriors, Chi Monks, and Witches), Catsuit (Wearer has 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER and DAMAGE and Free Hits; suitable to women only; bodywear)

Gemstones: Topaz

The party comes to a majority, deciding to take the average difficulty path: the path through Deep's Pond. Setting out Northwest, the party begins their trek through the forest. The Forest Deeps' prove harder to navigate, the tarrian uneven and covered in foliage. The party navigates through the twisting trail, even havingf to hack through planet life on some occasion to get to their destiination. After about twenty minutes of navigating through the Forest Deep's bending passages, the party find themselves at the Deep's Pond... and they weren't alone.

The green oculoid hovers over the murky waters, bits of ink dripping from his body into the polluted pond. The pond was just as the Journal described: a putrid green with black streaks, the water even emitting a foul odor. The pond's surrounding plantlife seems to have suffered from the pollution, the lily pads shriveled and the flowers dead. This portion of the forest was suffering, and it was obvious it was this Oculoid's doing. He glares down at the heroes menacingly.

"To be honest, heroes... I never thought you would've made it here. Being able to fend off the Chief like that was admirable... But just another nail in his career's coffin. Beating you here will be enough to secure me his job."

The demon cackles, sending chills through the party.

"Ambition does pay off, doesn't it? Either way, you really did choose poorly, heroes. The correct option was to run home and await mankind's end. Too late for that now, though... Kyah heh heh heh!"

[Bricksandparts]

"And even if that's what somehow happened, what exactly would you do? You want to bring an end to all life other than yourselves?"

[Endgame]

"No, just your verminous little kind. Believe it or not, I have nothing b ut respect for most other lifeforms... They are able to survive and thrive without destorying everything they touch."

The Raider could swear the Oculoid was giving a slasher smile.

"Did you not listen to my superior's insane ramblings, Raider? It is as the chief said: The Lifespark is ours. Our Master already weilds Death... And soon, he will weild Life as well. You have involved yourself in something far greater than you or me, heroes. You should've ran, heroes. You should've ran and hidden. Because you have tangled yourself in a reaper's rising, heroes. An unstoppable reaper so powerful that it will put an end to mankind.

It just sounds so... wonderful, doesn't it?"

Edited August 29, 2013 by Endgame

[Bricksandparts]

"Already been there already done that. Sounds like another quest by endgame... hmm. You don't have any power over us. Your plan doesn't sound good. What sounds good about it? You seem to completely forget what we have done. Yes, some of us destroy, sounds more like your type. I mean you're literally stealing life from the forest. We at least can help each other. You slither along and are ignorant of everything."

[Kintobor]

"Blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda. Keep telling yourself that, you hyprocrite." Karie attempts to be brave, standing straight, yet trying to avoid eye contact with Oculoid.

"Ditto to what Johon said. Also, I don't remember when genocide was listed as being wonderful by the dictionary."