Heroica RPG - Quest #81: Home Sweet Home

[Endgame]

~This Quest is for chosen heroes only. If you'd like to learn how to join, please refer to the

Heroica RPG Rules & FAQ topic.~

Knowing they were to help the Proggs - whatever they were - the heroes retire to their chambers, the shade of night falling over the hall. Come nightfall, their employer would post up information regarding their rendezvous. Deciding to get some rest before embarking on yet another quest, the heroes chosen slip into a deep sleep... an unnaturally deep sleep.

In their slumber, their normal dreams a slowly overtaken by a horrid sight...

Nightmares plague the heroes throughout the night. Visions of a prospering city crumbling to a fathomless cloud of darkness, hordes of unidentifiable creatures lunging out form the shadows to attack the terrorified, yet faceless, civillains... Building topples and are engulfed in purple flames, the landscape getting ravaged. The detail of the vision was frustratingly vague, yet frighteningly vivid in other places... In the course of one short nightmare, they saw an entire city torn to pieces, reduced to ash, and swept away.

Startling awake from their horrid nightmare, 5 heroes gather in the hall.

These heroes were...

The Party:

Sgt Jon. Mcency (Pyrovisionary)

54 years old male human witch

Level 18 *Dual Strike* *Immune to blinded* *Hastened*

Power: 35 (18+17)

Health: 35/35 (7+17+8+3)

Ether: 18/18

Gold: 498 (70 owed to Brickington)

Equipment: Demonic Scissors (WP:17, dual strike, Light, Darkness, Hollow (Potion) daggers), Witch's talisman (All attacks Cause the badly poisoned effect), Pegleg of Hastening (Permanent hastened-effect to the user; Immune to Blinded, suitable to Sarge only; footwear)

Inventory: Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow (-) halberd), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Mythril Shield (SP:20), Pheonix essence x3 , Potion x4, Grand Potion x5, Remedy x5, Nostrum, Venom x3, Deadly Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying glass, Business Card, Bone x2, 2x Gold Ring (worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Counterstrike gloves.

Erdathcath Madilinas, 199 years old,

Level 19.5 Druid

Power: 29

Health: 33/33

Ether: 22/22

Gold: 349

Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:13), Satchel of Awesomeness (Causes lucky-effect; bodywear), Mage's Muffler (protects from sealed)

Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 7 Mead, 10 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 Deadly Venoms, 1 Super Deadly Venom, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 1 Fire Bomb, 3 Smoke Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, 2 Air Bombs, Grand Tonic, Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Ruby, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrify), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory)

Elgar Gligin (played by Jedi master Brick)

Level 24 2/3 Druid *Immune to Fragile!*

Power: 34

Defense: 6

Health: 38/38

Ether: 24/24

Gold:706

Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11 Permanently Deadly envenomed), Chainmail (SP: 2, Bodywear: half damage from Fire elemental enemies and double from Electric elemental enemies) Emerald Hood (SP: 4, headwear, protects from Fragile)

Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz,,Opal, Aquamarine, Spade, Pickaxe, 3 Potions, Needlessly Large Rod (Non-Artifact Item, Curses a random enemy. Usable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion (x3), Fireworks, Remedy (x2), Hide of The Regret (halves damage from undead; suitable for anyone, backwear), Tonic, Grand tonic (x5), Root beer (Restores 10 health, or can be used as a bomb against undead enemies for 20 damage. The Root Beer does not affect non-undead enemies.) , Ambrosia

Name: Unknown. Most call him "Em," though his real name remains largely mysterious.

Unknown age male human ranger

Level 14.5

Power: 23

SP: 2

Health: 16/21

Gold: 285

Equipment: Aquabow (WP: 7, Water-elemental), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory) (Power +2, SP +2, Max. Health +2, Max. Ether +2. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year)[/font], Syndicate Cowl (SP: 2, Immune to Doomed effect)

Inventory:

Consumables: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone x2, Nostrum x2, Potion x5, Remedy x4, , Venom, Ice Bomb, Grand Potion, Mead x2, Quality Cutlass (WP:6, Dagger)

Equipment:White Marksman's Hat (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear), Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by (Asleep), Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe,Bow(WP:5), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Ambrosia

Jeaux Elmfyre (joeshmoe554)

Automaton male, Evoker

Level 15.5 *Blessed* *Transcended*

Power: 26 (Level 15 + WP: 11)

Defense: 0 (-2)

Health: 23/23 (6 + 3 + 14)

Ether: 16/16 (15 + 1)

Gold: 167

Equipment: Divine Cannonade (WP:11; gives blessed- and transcended-effects to user; hollow; handcannon), Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 Items; accessory), Enchanted Ring (Accesory, protects against Sealed)

Inventory: Golden Handcannon (WP:9; lightning-elemental), Eminus (WP: 5; bow), Ranger's Quiver (WP+1; backwear), Topaz, Grand Tonic x2, Phoenix Essence, Venom x2, Smoke Bomb, Holy Bomb, Water Bomb, Bedroll, Bone x6, Turdwing (fly familiar; causes confused to one opponent whenever used), Grand Potion x3

Summons: Thunder Mode

Referring to the questboard, the party sees yet another note posted ontop of the Quest 81 notice:

To The Chosen Heroes:

I have set up a rendezvous point so you may enter our colony undistrubed. When ready, please report to the alley to the left of the Albatorss Inn. I'll be able to cover the rest.

QM Note: Welcome to Quest 81! You folks have 24 hours confirm - when you all do, I'll move you folks to the rendezvous point.

Edited September 29, 2013 by Endgame

[Emjajoas]

Em crosses his arms, checking his bow and equipment in preparation for the upcoming quest. He waits patiently for the others to confirm.

[joeshmoe554]

OOC: Picked up a couple things at the market

Jeaux awoke with a start. His nightmare had been rather vivid and yet to hazy to gather much information from it. Could it be a memory from his past that had somehow managed to make its way back to his conciousness. Jeaux started to consider summoning Nilrem to talk about it, or perhaps asking Turdwing for some insight before thinking better of it. He would need his ether for the upcoming quest and Turdwing would likely be of little help. Jeaux headed into the hall to see if his new employer's had posted the location where they were to meet yet. He saw Em there, and decided to join him for the moment. It would be better if they departed as a group.

[Emjajoas]

Em nods to Jeaux, recognizing the man-- er, automaton-- from previous quests.

[Jedi master Brick]

"I am ready to move on, Em good to see you. I have to say though that I don't trust these proggs, although there is evidence to suggest that many of them are friendly I am not sure about having proggs underneath the city."

[Emjajoas]

Em nods to Elgar. "Good to see you as well," he replies. "I hold a great interest in Proggs; met a few young ones, while back. Told them I hoped to visit one day." Em nods to himself. "Luckily it seems I'll get that chance."

Em, however, wasn't quite sure what to think. He was happy to be going to see the Proggs and their home, but the nightmare set him on edge. He wasn't sure whether or not to mention it to his comrades-- Perhaps it was just him. Perhaps he was going crazy.

He pushes the thoughts from his mind as he waits for the others.

[joeshmoe554]

"You have met them before? What are kind of people are these proggs?"

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge himself woke up stabbing the nearest enemy in sight. Which turned out to be a drain pipe. He'd got drunk and went to sleep in the gutter again hadn't he? He gets up, and goes to meet the other heroes in the hall

"How many rangers do we need? I mean you're bloody good an' all. Anyways what the hell is a Prog? I signed up for the gold."

[Jedi master Brick]

"The proggs I met are either the most sadistic and callous beings you'll ever meet or extremely nice"

[Pyrovisionary]

"The proggs I met are either the most sadistic and callous beings you'll ever meet or extremely nice"

"That's encouraging. Em, those grating stones for sale? I'll give you 150 for each of them?"

Edited September 29, 2013 by Pyrovisionary

[Emjajoas]

"The proggs I met were friendly little critters; they helped us, actually. Sold us various things, as well."

Em shakes his head. "My grating stones aren't for sale, I've been savin' 'em for when I get a real nice bow."

[joeshmoe554]

Well, I hope these proggs are friendly. It seems unlikely they would hire heroes for no purpose beyond leading them into a trap. Though it would not be the first time it had happened." Jeaux recalled his first quest where the request came from the villain himself. He turned to other ranger in the group and introduced himself, "I don't believe we have met, My name is Jeaux."

[Pyrovisionary]

"I'm Sarge" Sarge says, to the universe at random

[The_Customizer]

"Greetings! Fellow heroes" Erdathcath quickly arrives to meet up with the others in her group, completely breathless, she continues on talking, "Sorry, I am late, had some business to take care of. I see we are all here, shall we begin?" She then stops talking for a moment to catch her breath, and prepares herself for yet another quest.

[Pyrovisionary]

"Good ta see ya Erdy. Now we can get to that rendezvous."

[Endgame]

QM Note: And so it begins.

The party heeds the not'esin struction, gathered up and ready to embark on their quest. Stepping outside the hall, they realize something: Night wasn't even over yet. it seemed the party only got a ferw hours of sleep before the nightmare startled them awake. Taking a short walk through Eubric, they reach the Albatross Inn. Instead of going in, however, they swerve into one of the neighboring alleys, meritting some awkward glances from nocturnal passerbys.

They arrive to a dead end, a soft patch of dirt sitting in the center of the cobbled clearing.

The party looks around, trying to identify some sort of lifeform in the desolate dead end; None were to be found. They were alone. Or so it seemed, until the ground began to tremble. The party gathers around the quaking dirt patch, two claws and a rather bulky tail shooting out from the turf. Before the party has time to react, the appendages grab them - seemingly as gently as possible - and pulled them through the ground. The party draw their weapons, ready for battle as they reach their underground destination... Only to see a strange creature before them.

The olive green giant was an odd sight to see, indeed. It appeared to be some sort of mixture between a crab and a scorpion, a huge hybrid, at that. It's tail sways gently from side to side, the creature only yawning at the heroes' battle stance Was this creature a Progg?

"Good thing your footsteps woke me up - you people are a lot earlier then Solon expected. You Heroicans are punctual, at least. Maybe to a fault."

[Pyrovisionary]

"A nightmare we can blame on you or some etheral being woke us up" Growls Sarge. "You're a progg I'm guessing?"

Edited September 29, 2013 by Pyrovisionary

[Endgame]

"Nice to meet you too. Rank?"

[Pyrovisionary]

"Nice to meet you too. Rank?"

"Sargent. But Heroica isn't a militia so the rest of the party are rank-less. Also, 2 things. Who's the party leader and what do we have to do?"

Edited September 29, 2013 by Pyrovisionary

[Emjajoas]

Em bows politely to the progg, though remains silent. He didn't want to make a bad impression.

[Endgame]

"Just to get introductions out of the way: Fydelle Dos, head of the Phalanx, right hand man to Regent Solon, your current escort. Let's have a bit of a walk and talk."

Fydelle motions for the heroes to follow him, briskly shuffling through the stone tunnel he created.

"Now, I'm technically not the one who is supposed to brief you. That job falls into Solon's hands. But, the basics: You're here for two reasons. One: This isn't the actual entrance to colony. This is purely makeshift, and will be collapsed by the week's end. However, some of you Eubricans somehow found the real entrance, despite us concealing it rather well. And they're forming into mobs and trying to bust into our colony on a daily basis. Technically we're the newcomers to Eubric, only starting contruction of the colony about 5 months back. That, and combined with the fiasco up in Luosh, we Proggs cannot use physcial force on humans. It'd be our death sentence. Of course, since they hate us and our guts, our attempts at diplomacy have failed as well. Thus, we need human aid to defuse the whole mess.

Second. Our construction site has been facing constant delays. Cave ins, equipment destroyed overnight, huge amounts of vandalism. We currently have a bit of an overcrowding problem, and we need to get that construction done ASAP. Of course, if humans are to blame for that one too, we Proggs can't do jack squat.

This entire situation is far too political for my tastes..." Fydelle groans.

[The_Customizer]

"Political issues? Ah, this should be much easier than I thought."

[Endgame]

"Far easier said then done, my arboreal madam. What makes you say that?" Fydelle questions.

[The_Customizer]

"Well, when it comes to politics, let's just say, I tend to have quite the convincing case, especially in my past few quests, those who disagreed with me, well lets just say they changed their minds soon after I was done talking".

[Endgame]

"Hate is not an easy thing to defuse, druid."

Fydelle sighs.

"...We Proggs know that better then anyone else."