Heroica RPG - Quest #65: Breaking Down the Door

[The Legonater]

I grin.

I've met the man - if he can be called that - myself. Gave him quite the run for his money too, heh, heh. Here's 400 gold, I'll take any of the components or batteries you don't need, no matter how low the number. This is for justice, after all.

You got a name?

[Chromeknight]

Nerwen listens as the discussion turns from combat to commerce. The rogue, Dyric, casually laying down four hundred gold to cover the bat-thing's debts. The barbarian inside her raged and the aching urge to smash things that she thought she had tamed rose again. Had she provoked it in order to fuel her desire to break things? Perhaps she thought, and her frustration spilled into speech.

Well. That is super. Friends with this thing are you now? Want to be in the same league as Justice here, Dyric? I asked you what you meant when you said that you were an assassin of light. You replied that you saw it as your duty to take out high priority sources of evil. I wondered then who chooses those sources, and I wonder the same thing about man-bat. He sits not merely as accuser, but as judge and executioner too. Beholden to none of the community that he proclaims to defend, accountable to no one but himself, a self he is so ashamed of that he hids away, shunning examination of his deeds in fear that they would be exposed as vigilante murder, indistinguishable from the injustice he trumpets to combat.

I, Nerwen Calmcacil, have seen two and a half centuries of men, deluded by the thought that they are strongest alone, hoarding power like a child desperately clings to a handful of sand. I know what it is to stand in judgement of others and know that it is a grievously heavy thing. I held the apostate emperor of Dastan's life, but despite his crimes would not sentence him to death without the knowledge of his peers and community. I held the Admiral of the Bonepartes' life but would not condemn him without consideration of the destabilisation that his death would cause. I held the life of the one called the Dark General, and spared it, not for grand reason, but because I thought I was too exhausted to fight, a mistake I regretted bitterly and whose cost was paid by the innocent of Miranda. And tha is just in these last years, as a supposedly accursed sellsword. I can recount scores more and each lives in my memory, those that the world counts as success and those as failure.

Life has consequences and so does death. No man can see all ends and act with impunity toward an ideal. Anyone who claims otherwise is a blinded madman who acts against the good of the people he claims to be helping. By all means, strip him of his weapons and chemicals, disassemble his lair and render his twisted bitterness toothless. But do not aid him, for his methods are poison to the soul and by following them, you will, in the end, betray your principles and become the thing you seek to destroy.

Edited June 2, 2013 by Chromeknight

[posades]

Speaking to Nerwen in an even tone, Xander begins: "What you state is true, my friend. I am a man of simple upbringing, I see the world more through logic and calculation rather than emotion and feeling. Fighting and killing this single individual will bring us no where closer to completing what we set out to do, however, and what we hired to do in the first place."

Speaking to the entire group: "Who are we to judge a man ourselves? The people upstairs could be affiliated with more corruption, more hatred, and more blood on their hands than who we have standing before us. What Dyric is proposing sounds reasonable; our acquaintance here might seem like he is escaping without punishment, but life has a way of making things even in the end."

Thinking to himself, he shakes his head slightly at Nerwen's sudden change in behavior. This was not the even-headed elf he remembered from his earlier adventures....

Edited June 2, 2013 by posades

[CorneliusMurdock]

Cronk does not see a need for violence if this can be resolved otherwise. It is not party's job to issue moral judgments against tenants, just collect rent.

Besides, party was looking for a battery anyway.

[The Legonater]

Nerwen, you may see this man as a mindless murderer, and perhaps he even is - but if it is within my power I will not let him or anyone be crushed by his poverty. I have been betrayed by that I put my trust in, and I will not allow the same to happen others if I can help it. His path may be a dark and dreadful one, and we may not agree with it, but I can not deny its end goal is the same as my own, as well as many other Heroes, I should think. While the ends do not always justify the means, I can not say with good conscious that killing Wolfgang generals is a bad thing. When we left the hall, the Town Watch had stated that the Wolfgang were trying to attack the houses. As far as we know, this simple act could stop it - or it could make it worse! As you say, nothing is certain, but this I know for a fact - I will not kill this man in cold blood for trying to free Eubric in much the same way as I, or I will become a hypocrite I may as well go back home and face execution.

[Chromeknight]

I did not call him mindless, but deluded. He cannot even state his own goals without self contradiction.

As for poverty, the man who disdains money is not poor. Your friend here pretends to be above such concepts as wealth and places no value on it, further removing himself from society.

And disagreeing with his path but not standing in his way is a very weak and milky disagreement.

You are right to say the end does not justify the means, in fact the end is justified by the means. If one needs to take the step of murder to achieve one's end, it would be best to examine one's motives and goals.

Nerwen paused and laughed.

Killing Wolfgang generals? The men upstairs are not. In fact, they oppose the Wolfgang and are striving to remain free of its control. Killing them would aid the Wolfgang and further it's control over the city. You might not be able to see all ends, but surely you can see what is in front of you.

Edited June 2, 2013 by Chromeknight

[The Legonater]

What's in front of me is this - we were hired to get money from this man. I am trying to do that in a way that will cost as least blood as possible. Is that so wrong?

[Chromeknight]

And having secured goods instead of payment, our task is now to escort him from the building and evict him, given that he has clearly stated he does not intend to rent this room any longer. That is the path of least bloodshed.

For if you are concerned about bloodshed you also need weigh the blood of the gang leaders upstairs, who are paying guests of our employer. Man-bat seems bent on murdering them. You cannot leave this room without condemning someone, either man-bat, those upstairs or your own principles. Which is it to be, Assassin of the Light?

[The Legonater]

I-

Suddenly, it seemed the true test of my leadership had begun. I could not deny that Nerwen made many good points, but there must be another way... decisions like these should not be made on so little rest...

Bat-Man. We have given you the money needed for your payment. Make the payment and go. We have received news of a Wolfgang assault on the Theater tonight. At least one of the Generals will be there, if not more. If what you've said is true, you will know that taking out these generals in one fell swoop will be far greater gain for everyone than taking out the men above, and there is not time to do both. If you go now, you may be able to save the Theater and everyone in it.

[Waterbrick Down]

"My name matters not and it is for the best. Any man can be justice, even a Town watchman putting a blanket over a young were-beasts shoulders as he suffered from the defamation and discrimination of all those around him. I have no love for the houses, but they do hold what little morality of this city there is left together. I will go, but if I find you have spoken falsely hero, then you would best make sure you are start traveling far from this city, for no distance shall outrun justice."

The were-bat gathered his weapons, opened the window and in a moment was gone. Dyric surveyed the furniture around him and collected what little remained behind.

Seventh Heaven – Causes the hastened- and encouraged-effects, but also the fragile- and poisoned-effects.

Double Rainbow – Causes the encouraged- and lucky-effects, but also the confused- and poisoned-effects.

Pixie Dust – Causes the hastened- and lucky-effects, but also the weakened- and poisoned-effects.

Alchemical Batteries - A bunch of 9 Alchemical Batteries suited for powering moterized equipment. (Quest Item)

Party Leader, please divide the items.

Edited June 8, 2013 by Waterbrick Down

[CorneliusMurdock]

Well, were-bat seemed like nice fellow. A bit odd and dramatic, but nice.

Should party try to install battery in dumbwaiter now or check out more rooms?

[The Legonater]

I offer a sad grin at the turn of events, a weary, troubled expression behind it.

Does anyone have any preferences for these pills?

[CorneliusMurdock]

Cronk does not want any. Pills do not seem like good idea to Cronk.

[Chromeknight]

Nerwen watched the batman leave, her eyes cold and flat. Turning to Dyric she said quietly,

I will take what is not claimed. There may be ways to distill and refine such substances.

[The Legonater]

If Xander doesn't want them, you can feel free, Nerwen. Guts, Dak and I had the same sentiments as Cronk when we found the dealer of these chemicals in Triad Park. It's the least I can do.

You deserve an explanation, Nerwen, one not in the heat of such a decision.

You asked what it meant to be the Assassin of the Light. I wish I could say it was an easy thing to describe. As I've said before, I believe firmly that if we can hold out until the young sons of Hinckwell and Shadeux take charge, we will have peace. That is what I fight for. That is why I went on the team that fought Wren and killed Vonnetate. It's why I'm here now, because even small acts like solving debts helps stabilize the order. There are people out there that must be stopped, people that would destroy Eubric and crush its populace for their own gain.

But then it gets a little more complex. Then we get into people like the Man-Bat, who's motives are beneficial but who's path may or may not be destructive. These are the people that I struggle to deal with. Some are more destructive than others, and some dedicate themselves to only taking out high-threat targets. Everyone's a hero in their own way, but some are more like villains. These are the people I need to make choices with, and the choices won't always be right. I admit I'm not perfect - far from it. Bad mistakes? I've made a few. I've had my share of kicks in the face, but I've come through, and I mean to go on. One can only learn from their mistakes, after all.

As for the Man-Bat, I hope I have lead him towards a path less destructive than his current one. I do not know much about these gangs he was targeting, but he surely would benefit Eubric more targeting the Wofgang.

[Chromeknight]

Thank you Dyric, I am glad to see you thinking about the choices that lie before you. You know that as an elf, a reaction of Galadrya and Celebryon, order and harmony are what we crave in our world.

Which is why I stood against man-bat. If his path is destructive, his ends do not matter, good or bad. Remember that. You cannot defeat evil with evil means. But then not everything labeled evil is evil.

Happily we have Cronk here to bash whatever evil we do find. Let us go find some, my arm aches to bash alongside Cronk.

[posades]

"I wouldn't mind taking the Seventh Heaven, as it might prove useful with my immunity to fragility. Shall we continue on our way?"

[The Legonater]

I toss the Seventh Heaven to Xander, and the rest of the pills to Nerwen. 'Careful with those.

We might as well drop off these batteries before we head back upstairs.

[Chromeknight]

Nerwen nods and follows Dyric.

[Chromeknight]

Seeing Dyric pause indecisively, Nerwen says

Be bold in your actions, assassin.

[Waterbrick Down]

The heroes make their way back to the kitchen where they are greeted by Sash.

"Ah heroes. Back again I see."

Edited June 9, 2013 by Waterbrick Down

[Chromeknight]

Greetings again Sash. Did everyone enjoy their meals?

We found some alchemical batteries for the dumbwaiter. Also, I saw a large shiny platter here before. Can we borrow it?

No worries. Didn't mean to be pushy!

[Waterbrick Down]

"Well thanks I guess. Ever find that wolpertigger thing?"

[Chromeknight]

We did. That apple was just the thing. Where do the batteries go?

[Waterbrick Down]

Sash picked up the batteries and gave them a shake.

"Well they're pretty old, might cause a short in the dumbwaiter system if they aren't fully charged when we install them. We've got 9 here, if I remember correctly the bat upstairs was always throwin' them away 8 at a time. That probably means that 1 of them is fully charged and the other 8 are empty. Thankfully I do have one of those etherial volt scales on hand for when I'm making electric eel pies. The scale's just about shot though, I'd say it's only got about 2 accurate measurements left in it. Thankfully we can install as many batteries as we want on either side of the scale at a time. Got any bright ideas?"

The cyclops pulls out a strange contraption full of wires and buttons that slightly resembles a mass balance with slots for alchemical batteries on either side. Will the heroes attempt to find the fully charged battery and if so how?

QM Note: In case it isn't clear, you have 9 batteries, 8 are empty and 1 is full. The only way to distinguish between the full and empty batteries is to use the etherial volt scale which compares the amount of power on one side vs. the other. You can place as many batteries as you want on either side, but you only get 2 comparisons to figure out which is the full battery. When you think you've found the correct method, state it in bold.