Heroica RPG - Quest #110: Color Me Gone

[Flare]

OOC I read that but it wasn't clear what constitutes an artifact. I assumed incorrectly that it had to have a magical effect or labeled Artifact to count as an Artifact. I didn't realize that if it granted SP it qualified it as an artifact. Its all cleared up now.

Vindsval hands the Tiny hat back to Benji.

Thank you for the use of your garment Carvenhall.

OoC: Its ok

Benji accepts his Tricorne in return, and equips it in place of his Ratmancer's Cowl.

[Asphalt]

Do we continue or may we rest. I fear my reserves may be depleted if we continue on too quickly.

[CMP]

Miderun nodded in thanks as she collected her gold.

"Hell of a battle, but we need to find the orchard now."

[KotZ]

The Party:

Benji Carvenhall

, the Dragonslayer and the Champion of the Northern Kingdoms

(Flare)

*Party Leader*

29 year old half-elf

Level 44.6 Beast Warrior

*Natural Respite*

*Gains Triple XP*

*Immune to

Asleep

,

Blinded

,

Confused

,

Fragile

, and

Weakened

Effects

* *Immune to Ice and Water*

*Overkill Gloves*

Power:

64

(44+20)

Defense:

12

(6+3+3

)

Health:

70/70

(6+42+15+6)

Gold:

645

Equipment:

Meduiak (Precision Bow; WP:20; AIM's become HIT's;

darkness-

,

ice-

,

fire-

,

wind

- elemental), Medal of Glory (accessory, mark of true talent that allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles, immunity to asleep, blinded, confused, fragile, and weakened effects), Overkill Gloves [borrowed from Galen] (handwear, +1 gold for every point of damage done extra when defeating an enemy), Scaly Skin of the Allanoid (SP:6, backwear, suitable for Ranger and Barbarian Oriented Classes and Beast Warriors), Nordic Stomach Guard (SP: 3, Bodywear, Immunity to Ice and Water, Suitable for Barbarians, Beast Warriors and Regulators), Tricorne (Headwear, SP:3)

Inventory:

Crossbow of the Pongcanis (WP:17;

earth-

,

wood-

,

water-

,

lightning-

,

light-

elemental), Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf - (accessory), Sterile Gloves (Handwear, Immune to poisoned- and bleeding–effects), Winged Sandals (accessory, immune to bound- and slowed-effects), Snake Eye Charm (accessory, immune to petrified-effect), Health Core (4), Greater Potion (consumable, +50 health) (3), Grand Potion (9), Potion (3), Remedy (7), Phoenix Essence (2), Dragon Scales (3), Nostrum (4), Smelling Salts (4), Mead (4), Flame-Distilled Brandy (4), Mulled Wine (3), Venom, Smoke Bomb (3), Soma, Chaotic Bomb, Cosmic Essence, Skeleton Decoy, Lightning Bomb, Fire Bomb (2), Water Bomb, Bone, Magic Compass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Shovel

,

Tridentia Map

, Ratmancer's Cowl (headgear, the wearer's physical attacks deal double damage against vermin)

Bobby "Young" Bucks Jr.

(Zepher)

*Immunity to Wood*

19 year old human rogue

Level 2

Power: 7

(2 + 3 +3)

Health: 8/8

Gold: 87

Equipment: Dope Dagger (WP: 3), Brown Dragon Girdle (bodywear, power +3; immunity to wood; suitable to rangers, rogues, alchemists and beast warriors) (Lent by Flare)

Inventory: Potion, Venom, Phoenix Essence (2 lent by Flare), Mead

Vindsval Half-born (Asphalt)

37 year old, Male, Half Giant, Cleric

Level

:

3

Power:

6

Defense:

3 (

Light Armor)

Health:

11/11

Ether:

4/7

Gold:

45

Equipment: Montain Hammer (WP:3), Light Armor (bodywear, SP:3)

Inventory:

Potion, Smoke Bomb, Bed Roll, Phoenix Essence (1 lent by Flare), Mead

Miderun (CallMePie)

*Immune to Weakened Effect*

17 year old female orc Barbarian

Level 3

Power:

10

(5 + 3 + 2)

Health:

10/10

Gold:

80

Equipment:

Club (WP: 5), Puglist's Gloves (Handwear, +2 Power, Immune to Weakened Effect) (Lent by Flare)

Inventory:

Mead, Phoenix Essence (2 lent by Flare), High Heels(Power +1; suitable for women.), Remedy, Serstyral (WP: 3, axe)

Please check to make sure everything is perfectly good for your stats and all. Thanks.

------------------------------------------------------------

After the loot is divided, the party turns left to head to the orchard. They travel for the next few hours seeing the colors fade from the world even more. Eventually, the path narrows to where only one person can pass through at a time. The party forms up single file and makes the careful trek under the setting sun. Two miles in, the path opens up again into a giant field with various plants, surrounded by a large barrier of trees. The place seems quiet. Too quiet. But nothing jumps out. Off to the far right corner of the field lays a large barrel, with a figure lying against it. A bloody figure. Intestines have been ripped out and the red pool has dried. Flies buzz around the dead body, and what looks to be a crumpled up note barely hangs out of the figure's pocket. What shall the party do?

Edited September 10, 2014 by KingoftheZempk

[Flare]

OoC: Vindsval's armor isn't borrowed and I shouldn't have 2x against vermin any more

Benji runs and grabs the note.

[CMP]

"What a mess."

Miderun looks inside the barrel.

[Asphalt]

Strange, our benefactors in the village did not mention any deaths. Yet we have been besieged by the undead, and here lies a villager butchered. This seems wrong.

Vindsval searches the clearing.

OOC: yep wearing the light armor now, not the tricorn

Edited September 8, 2014 by Asphalt

[KotZ]

Benji grabs the note off of the body. On closer inspection, spilled ink has stained the--seemingly--man's trousers. The handwriting starts off clear and precise but as it goes on it becomes messier and rushed.

“My dear and lovely Lacy, your eyes are more luminous than the moon at night. The smell of you paints wonderful pictures in my head. Dare I ask for you to come visit me in my orchards some time? The berries taste delicious and they dye Tridentia’s linens the most sparkling colors as you know. What say you? I know you may say no, but I am still hopeful—“

The paper is still a full sheet, but it ends there, no more words have come.

Miderun finds only 10 discolored berries in the barrel, pocketing them. Vindsval sees nothing else in the clearing.

[Flare]

Benji digs with his shovel near the corpse, and afterwards investigates in the shubbery for clues.

[Zepher]

"Man, this is effed up. I thought we were investigating some trippy color thing, yo, but tons of these dudes are all dead and shiz. Not my jam."

[Asphalt]

​Vindsval kneels beside the dead man and does what he can to make the body more presentable. He then recites a short prayer for the dead over the remains.

We should return him to the town. Someone must know who he and this Lacy were. The man seemed a poet obsessed with the senses. I cannot be a coincidence that now the senses of all those on this island are being dulled.

[Flare]

"Man, this is effed up. I thought we were investigating some trippy color thing, yo, but tons of these dudes are all dead and shiz. Not my jam."

"Don't worry, with Heroica you'll get used to this 'shiz'. Time to change your jam's recipe I guess!" Benji says, smirking.

[KotZ]

Benji digs with his shovel near the corpse, and afterwards investigates in the shubbery for clues.

Benji overturns the dirt and analyzes the shrubbery. By the smell of the body, it couldn't have been dead for more than a week, and most of the innards were intact, as animals must have fled the decolorized area as well. Upon closer inspection of the shrubbery, Benji notices that ever so slightly, the more desaturated areas are coming from the north and north west, the direction where the right side of the orchard lies.

[Flare]

"Ok fellows, according to my investigations it seems that the monochromozation is strongest in the right end of the orchard. I suggest that we get a move on to the right end of the orchard!"

[CMP]

Miderun nods.

"Sounds good. It sounds like we have a date on when this mess started, too - the fellow here can't've been dead too long and the berries were still colorful when he was murdered. There must be a link."

[Asphalt]

So be it.

He looks at the corpse. I will return to put you at piece.

Let move off to the right end of the orchard.

[Zepher]

"Don't worry, with Heroica you'll get used to this 'shiz'. Time to change your jam's recipe I guess!" Benji says, smirking.

"Hey man, I can do with anything know what I mean - just gotta get some time to get used to all this, yo." And with a nod: "I'm ready to rock and roll, my man, let's hit up the far side of this orchid."

[KotZ]

The party rushes over to the right edge of edge of the orchard. And their investigation was correct, it was darker here than the other areas. Unfortunately, the are was so thick with trees and brush, they couldn't pass through. They could go back to the crossroads and to town or up to the cemetery, but passing through this thicket seemed impossible.

[CMP]

Miderun weighed Serstyral and looked at the nearest tree, then just shook her head.

"We don't have the time to chop our way through these woods. Let's head over to the cemetery."

[Flare]

"Aye, lets get a move on to the Cemetery. I mean really, where else can all the corpses be comin' from!?"

With that in mind, Benji takes out a mead and nostrum, and drinks them.

[Asphalt]

To the Burial Grounds then. I shudder to think of the desecration we are about to find there

[CMP]

I shudder to think of the desecration we are about to find there

"Keeping your dead intact like this is a terrible idea. You'd think once everyone figured out what necromancy was they'd start burning their dead like orcs do."

[Asphalt]

As do many in the northern regions. Though I suspect it came about as much from necessity as the fear of the undead. Digging graves in the frozen earth is no mean feat. But as you say, as necromancy spreads, so should burial rites be amended.

[KotZ]

The Party:

Benji Carvenhall

, the Dragonslayer and the Champion of the Northern Kingdoms

(Flare)

*Party Leader*

29 year old half-elf

Level 44.6 Beast Warrior

*Natural Respite*

*Gains Triple XP*

*Immune to

Asleep

,

Blinded

,

Confused

,

Fragile

, and

Weakened

Effects

* *Immune to Ice and Water*

*Overkill Gloves*

*Lucky*

*Encouraged*

Power:

64

(44+20)

Defense:

12

(6+3+3

)

Health:

70/70

(6+42+15+6)

Gold:

645

Equipment:

Meduiak (Precision Bow; WP:20; AIM's become HIT's;

darkness-

,

ice-

,

fire-

,

wind

- elemental), Medal of Glory (accessory, mark of true talent that allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles, immunity to asleep, blinded, confused, fragile, and weakened effects), Overkill Gloves [borrowed from Galen] (handwear, +1 gold for every point of damage done extra when defeating an enemy), Scaly Skin of the Allanoid (SP:6, backwear, suitable for Ranger and Barbarian Oriented Classes and Beast Warriors), Nordic Stomach Guard (SP: 3, Bodywear, Immunity to Ice and Water, Suitable for Barbarians, Beast Warriors and Regulators), Tricorne (Headwear, SP:3)

Inventory:

Crossbow of the Pongcanis (WP:17;

earth-

,

wood-

,

water-

,

lightning-

,

light-

elemental), Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf - (accessory), Sterile Gloves (Handwear, Immune to poisoned- and bleeding–effects), Winged Sandals (accessory, immune to bound- and slowed-effects), Snake Eye Charm (accessory, immune to petrified-effect), Health Core (4), Greater Potion (consumable, +50 health) (3), Grand Potion (9), Potion (3), Remedy (7), Phoenix Essence (2), Dragon Scales (3), Nostrum (3), Smelling Salts (4), Mead (3), Flame-Distilled Brandy (4), Mulled Wine (3), Venom, Smoke Bomb (3), Soma, Chaotic Bomb, Cosmic Essence, Skeleton Decoy, Lightning Bomb, Fire Bomb (2), Water Bomb, Bone, Magic Compass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Shovel

,

Tridentia Map

, Ratmancer's Cowl (headgear, the wearer's physical attacks deal double damage against vermin), Note

Bobby "Young" Bucks Jr.

(Zepher)

*Immunity to Wood*

19 year old human rogue

Level 2

Power: 7

(2 + 3 +3)

Health: 8/8

Gold: 87

Equipment: Dope Dagger (WP: 3), Brown Dragon Girdle (bodywear, power +3; immunity to wood; suitable to rangers, rogues, alchemists and beast warriors) (Lent by Flare)

Inventory: Potion, Venom, Phoenix Essence (2 lent by Flare), Mead

Vindsval Half-born (Asphalt)

37 year old, Male, Half Giant, Cleric

Level

:

3

Power:

6

Defense:

3 (

Light Armor)

Health:

11/11

Ether:

4/7

Gold:

45

Equipment: Montain Hammer (WP:3), Light Armor (bodywear, SP:3)

Inventory:

Potion, Smoke Bomb, Bed Roll, Phoenix Essence (1 lent by Flare), Mead

Miderun (CallMePie)

*Immune to Weakened Effect*

17 year old female orc Barbarian

Level 3

Power:

10

(5 + 3 + 2)

Health:

10/10

Gold:

80

Equipment:

Club (WP: 5), Puglist's Gloves (Handwear, +2 Power, Immune to Weakened Effect) (Lent by Flare)

Inventory:

Mead, Phoenix Essence (2 lent by Flare), High Heels(Power +1; suitable for women.), Remedy, Serstyral (WP: 3, axe). 10 discolored berries

------------------------------------------------------------

The party hurries back the way they came, past the long narrow pathway and finally onto the open road. Here, after seeing how dark the edge of the orchard was becoming, the more saturated colors-what was left at least-was a welcome sight. They reached the crossroads and continued north to the cemetery. When they reached the burial grounds, the Heroes pushed open the gates and entered. Some of the graves had been dug open.

Then, off to the side, they heard footsteps, heavy, metal footsteps. Then even more, a few clop-clops and more muffled, shuffling sounds.The party looked to the left to see a figure walking from a rotting horse towards them. He carried a large halberd and his face was all bone, but his hands and ripped parts of his clothes showed grayish skin. The skin seemed to pulse, as if it was trying to change color, or rather stay one color.

"Speak," the armored creature commanded. "I don't take kindly to those who hesitate, and I am curious what would bring strangers so far out here." His skin pulsed to a darker gray, and he leaned forward with his halberd, but then his skin pulsed again, flashing to a more human skin color.

[CMP]

"We're here to find some missing colors," Miderun explained, then, scratching her head, muttered under her breath. "Aito ei alto, that sounds so stupid..." She shook her head and barreled on, with little regard for the man's stature or attitude. "You seem to personally be having some problems with that, sir. Are you responsible for the undead we had to destroy on the way here?"