Waterbrick Down

Skrall took up the crossbow and the satchel of bolts the sniper had carried with her. Even though the weapon was dwarfed by his hands, Skrall smiled he could easily reload his weapon with one hand if necessary giving him an edge in any upcoming battles. "Lead on friend Nur, the sooner we get out of this dank hole the better." The battle had taken Skrall's mind off of his claustrophobia momentarily but is was quickly and silently returning paining him almost as much as the wolfgang's explosive shrapenel.

Skrall mopped his sweat laden brow as he shouldered his long bow. "Well fought, boys. I'd suggest you each take one of the potions and I'll procure that annoying crossbow." The ogre grunted as he removed a piece of shrapnel from his calf, "I'm indebted to yer healin' Master Haldor. I would 'ave been a dead one after that last bolt if it weren't fer ya." "Nur, I suggest we take off after that splashin', I have a feelin' we're pretty hot on ol' Donny's trail given the resistance we've met. Do ya think we should heal up before chargin' in after him?" OOC: Scorpiox, we only regain full health or ether after we return from a quest, otherwise we have to use items.

Another bolt slammed into Skrall, this time into his shoulder, he grunted heavily as his wounds began to bleed more profusely. "Drat that wench!" he thought to himself. "I can barely use my bow in here let alone draw it to full power." He was beginning to see the advantage of such a small weapon in the confined space, he once again targetted the Wolfgang Sniper from the back row, in hopes that it would be the last time. As he did so, he called over to Haldor, "Haldor since only these two rapscallions remain, I could use some healin' if ya have the chance, in case this fight lasts longer than I hope."

Skrall's arrow had finally hit true, he quickly drew another arrow drawing a bead on the Wolfgang Sniper from the back row taking care not to strike Haldor from behind.

The crossbow may have had him on the quick draw, but when it came to reload speed, Skrall knew he had the upper hand. He shouted to his companions as the battle drew on, "you both finish off that dagger wielding chap, I'll deal with the crossbow." With that Skrall again targetted the Wolfgang Sniper from the back row noticing that the other archer was quickly readying another bolt.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss, my prayers and sympathies are with you. Make it back when you can, friends and family first.

The mechanical crossbow had been quick, before he had time to release his arrow, Skrall felt the prick of a crossbow bolt hit his thigh. The ogre grimaced the pain would help him take his mind off of his fear. Nur had drawn his dagger and was advancing on the club wielding thug, as he did Skrall drew another arrow and targetted the Wolfgang Sniper from the back row.

Skrall froze, Nur and Haldor were shouting as they had come across a group of bandits, but they sounded a mile away to the ogre. His memory flashed back to his childhood where he had been lost for an enitre week in a dwarven tunnel. He had roughed it out but since that day he had avoided confined spaces like the Grey Plague (which for an ogre his size was rather difficult). As the thugs advanced, he heard Nur call his name one last time, Skrall looked up to see a female figure hefting a crossbow in their direction. Steeling himself to his surroundings, Skrall drew from his quiver and sighted from the backrow, the Wolfgang Sniper, down the shaft of his arrow which was almost as long as the thug was tall.

Skrall quickly recovered his arrows and went to check on the manhole cover, he joked with his friend as he walked over. "'bout time you got that spell to work, you are a mage right? "

Skrall watched as Haldor took a slice from the thug's dagger. He drew back another arrow and targetted the Wolfgang Thug (Club) from the back row. "Keep at it friend cleric, we shall soon make these rifraf wish they hadn't got out of bed this mornin'"

Skrall ran after his companions taking care not to squash any innocent bystander as he lumbered through. The crowded streets. Turning the corner into the alley he noticed the two thugs with weapons drawn. The ogre unshouldered his long bow and nocked one of his grey goose arrows. "Har, har. It seems like we're on the right track mates. Now you scoundrels, surrender now and I won't flay ya allive, squash yar eyes to jelly, turn yar spleen in a stew, and pickle yar liver." In the unlikelyhood that they would refuse his offer, Skrall prepared to pin the Wolfgang Thug (Club) from the back row to the alley wall.

Skrall nudged his friend on the roof, "he's playin' it up quite nicely, it's a good thing his elf lady is on a quest of her own right now." Skrall chuckled as he looked at the crowd below trying to spot anything suspicious.

"Aye, let's shove off."

"Alrighty then, well Nur, I suggest that we give the 50 gold to Haldor and have him walkin' up and down the street proclaimin' his love to his fair elf maiden and we'll split the remainder between you and me that way if we end up gettin' picked while we're watchin' Haldor, we'll still have a little bit of leverage."

"Sounds good to me Nur, reminds me of my first ..er... job baitin' traps for big fat ..um... Oh, while we're here, would ya mind tellin' me my good captain if this Donny fellow is prone to wearin' disguises?"

No problem Sandy, it sounds like you've been pretty busy lately anyways. I'll be posting on my phone for the next two days, but after that I'll be back posting at full strength.

What about the rat?

Technically you don't need a heroica die, just a random number generator, which are easy to find online. I to am pondering on a quest idea, but I need to finish up my first one and then see how much scenery I can build with my limited collection at the moment.

"Ah Nur good to see ya join us, pull up a bench and order a drink! Barmaid I'll take a tankard of ale and some of that pork shank I smelled earlier." Turning to the mage, Skrall introduced him to the Norseman, "This fine gentleman is indeed Haldor Skovgaard, and take pity on the chap, do ya know how hard it is to woo an elf maiden, an experienced rogue at that? But down to business, and don't worry my good cleric, Nur and I have cleaned up our acts for the time bein', in hopes of better prospects, so you shouldn't have to worry about yar purse," the ogre chuckled. "I am concerned about the town watch meself, it would seem like we're helpin' the bandit catch the thief, but I ain't goin' to complain as long as the task will allow me to send a few coins home and put a dangerous no-good-doer behind bars. Concernin' stratagy, 'tween three of us we're ain't got much to bolster against a heavy fightin' force so we may need to plan accordingly should we come across any large groups of rifraf. You, Nur, should be able to handle any elemental beasts that may cross our paths as we're givin' chase, and my new ice bomb trinket should come in handy against any vermin. As far as findin' and catchin' this Dozenhands character, there in lies the actual challenge, though I expect our employer may have a few more details for us come the next day."

Skrall nodded at Haldor's tale, "As I've said to me friend En Sabah Nur, the mage who should be joining us shortly, I respect a man who forges his own path for himself. As for myself, I'm a traveler from the South, I grew up on the move with my family always fleein' from the hatred and oppression that met us in every 'civilized' village. When I got older I decided to make a name for myself, fightin' the oppression against the orc kind. My siblins had either gone into politics or academia, so I took up the life of a highway-troll, you know "Stealin' from the rich snobish races to give to the poor sufferin' orc". Well I sent what loot I hauled in to the family back home, but as of late the travelers 'round here have taken to arming their convoys with spell casters and the like, and while my arrows will pierce through plate armor, they've got no use against the wards and shields the mages are using these days. So here I am, ready to make a decent livin' plying my bow to fightin' for justice and all that, if it still exists for the orc kind. I've gotten some mixed reactions, but no ones tried to skewer me yet ."

Skrall the ogre walked into the hall, he grinned upon seeing his friend En Sabeh Nur's name affixed before his. He pondered upon the name of the other, it obviously hailed from the Northern lands and he had seen the barbarian Eric leaving on his quest earlier, so that only left the cleric whose behavior with the elf the other day Skrall had tried to explain to the rogue De'Kra. Skrall looked up around the bar as he walked up the stairs. He noticed the afore mentioned norseman at one of the tables and went to join him.. "Good mornin' to ya. Haldor ain't it? My name is Skrall and I believe we're to be fellow thief catchers in a day or two, so I thought I'd best come over an' introduce myself. I can tell from yar clothes and forename that ya hail from up North, but what brings ya to these fair weather lands?"

Skrall walked through the market place looking to see if any new wares had been advertised. He had heard that he had been selected for finding the thief Donny Dozenhands and had thought he might have a chance of spotting the pickpocket in the crowded square. Weighing his meager purse in his hand, the ogre approached a stall presenting potion and alchemical wears. "I'll take one of those Ice Bombs," Skrall requested of the stall worker. He emptied his purse of the 10 Gold, the price of the ingenious piece of weaponry, and stowed the bomb in his satchel. Thanking the vendor, Skrall set off for Heroica Hall eager to find out who the other members of his party were.

From reading the role descriptions and from observing the precedent set thus far by the completed and current quests, it only takes 1 ether for a cleric to heal a player to full health outside of battle (i.e. no die roll is required). This is analogous to mages being required to expend 1 ether to cast a spell outside of battle.

"That makes two reformed theives and we ain't even rogues to begin with," Skrall laughed. Receiving his cider, Skrall took a long draft. "But I agree with ya, I'm not much for brawlin' amongst the other heroes, the only thing matters to me is that I get paid for an honest deed of service. Tis curious we haven't heard hide nor hair from the other three houses since we arrived, mayhaps one of 'em will be needin' some heroes before long." "As to demons, you know of my feelin's towards mages to begin with, but at least ya can reason with a mage, those bein's from the underworld set my bones to quiverin' and believe ya me, I've seen my fair share of quiverin' sights in my days. I'm glad to hear ya don't take to dabblin' in to such matters of yar own free will, tis a walkin' on the edge of a sharp blade, so is the dividing line between the summoner and the summoned." Skrall finished his cider packed his quiver with his refletched arrows and bid the mage a good night. "Well, I'm off to find me a bunk for the evenin', I found me an inn run by some werehounds who aren't afraid to let the odd troll or two lodge with 'em so I think I'll turn in there. Have a good night, I hope we both shall soon be trackin' that thief Dozenhands come two days from now."

Skrall chuckled, "Oh come now my good mage, I'm sure growing up among orcs you've encountered worse. Besides, maybe a quest is just the thing he needs to jog his memory." Skrall ordered a tankard of mulled cider from the barmaid, lowering his voice he addressed the mage, "so what be yar thoughts concernin' the six houses these days, the rivalry between the Hinckwells and Shadeaux seems to be growin' by the hour, there's talk of a new corsair sailin' the waters and one or two new factions landside attemptin' to secure their own spots among the establishment. Speakin' about the six, I overheard a bit about some dark demon or another dwellin' in one of those crazy Ziegfried's mansions. You're familiar with the arcane arts what do ya think about it?"