Heroica RPG - Quest #53: Chaos in Eubric

[Professor Flitwick]

"One learns something new every day! Nice to meet you Mr...?"

"Ah, apologies, I believed I had already mentioned it. I am Thothwick, Ms. Fenral."

Thothwick took Alexis hand, and bowed politely.

"Once more, it's a pleasure."

[CMP]

"It's a weapon, not a damn shrine. Just because you're a Black Knight doesn't mean you're the crazed homicidal maniac people instantly associate with the class. You've got a stick crammed so far up your megablocks anyone could see that...point is, don't make assumptions. Not that I'd expect you to take advice from a witch," Atramor added, spitting on the ground.

[Masked Builder]

"Ah, apologies, I believed I had already mentioned it. I am Thothwick, Ms. Fenral."

Thothwick took Alexis hand, and bowed politely.

"Once more, it's a pleasure."

"Thanks Thothwick." She smiles. "Saesa omentien lle." (Pleasure meeting you) "Since, you're here I assume you've met Wren before. When was that?"

[UsernameMDM]

"I don't know where the notion that I have animosity with the Norseman emanates from. I introduced myself, and he responded in a rude manner, and has chastised me since. I have no 'problem' as it were." Thothwick said indignantly, affronted that a shared blame was being assigned to a verbal sparring.

"He carries a weapon called 'Zoot'. What little room for interpretation there was lead me to my assumptions. Oh - this should be good - come now Witch, what could you possibly be hinting at?" Thothwick changed his tone from defensive to jovial, as he addressed Atramor's points.

"It's a weapon, not a damn shrine. Just because you're a Black Knight doesn't mean you're the crazed homicidal maniac people instantly associate with the class. You've got a stick crammed so far up your megablocks anyone could see that...point is, don't make assumptions. Not that I'd expect you to take advice from a witch," Atramor added, spitting on the ground.

"Peace between us all at this moment. What was said is said and is done. By all accounts no one meant any harm. If the witch Wren were here she would be cackling with glee at the sight of seasoned adventurers bickering like back alley stray cats. This is to end now. We are as one or we are defeated before we even begin."

Edited December 21, 2012 by UsernameMDM

[Professor Flitwick]

"Not that I'd expect you to take advice from a witch,"

"At least you've learned pattern recognition."

"Since, you're here I assume you've met Wren before. When was that?"

"I was present when she launched her war on Heroica. I, along with Mr. Cronk here, and several others, were contracted to an Arena, much like our own training room. However it was a trap, and we were forced to fight eachother, and several strangers - including Mr. Hans and Mr. Felton. We fought our was out past Wren and her goons, and came back to Eubric. I was also present in Dastan, leading one of the three parties that successfully prevented their civil war. Once again, we dispatched many of her henchmen and lieutenants. Alas, it seems she has been recruiting again, if she has force enough to take on the forces of Eubric. What about you, Ms. Fenral? How did you come to confront Wren?"

[Masked Builder]

"I was present when she launched her war on Heroica. I, along with Mr. Cronk here, and several others, were contracted to an Arena, much like our own training room. However it was a trap, and we were forced to fight eachother, and several strangers - including Mr. Hans and Mr. Felton. We fought our was out past Wren and her goons, and came back to Eubric. I was also present in Dastan, leading one of the three parties that successfully prevented their civil war. Once again, we dispatched many of her henchmen and lieutenants. Alas, it seems she has been recruiting again, if she has force enough to take on the forces of Eubric. What about you, Ms. Fenral? How did you come to confront Wren?"

"Ah yes, I do believe I remember that quest, it didn't interest me at the time. I rescued the Wizard and Triad from a valley where their party had become lost because of Wren. Nasty business that was. I don't want to think about what kind of forces she has now. Time will tell I suppose."

[Scorpiox]

Haldor kicked the nearest object in exasperation.

"Alright, I'm ending this bollocks now. Thothwick, you keep your bloody mouth shut. No lectures, no more final words, no hypocrisy or ignorance. It's either helpful and courteous, or you don't say it. Agreed? Same goes to everyone else, we would do well to realise that by this, we're playing right into her hands. Okay, game over, finished. I swear if anyone tries to retort to this, I'm going to knock their damn teeth out."

With that (hopefully) settled, Haldor turned to Atramor, looking for a more civil conversation.

"So, Atramor, what experiance have you had with Wren in the past?"

[Professor Flitwick]

"I agree, as long as you concede to not be such an oaf to anybody we come across who tries to introduce themselves."

Turning back to Alexis, Thothwick dropped his voice to a whispher.

"A few pieces of advice should you visit the land of the Nords: Breath through your mouth, don't drink their water, and let the Nord have the last word."

[CMP]

"Mostly from Dastan. She was gettin' ingredients she needed to summon Zoot. Sapped the life of out me so I could get some damn answers as to what she was doin', killed some Chaos Beasts...you?"

[Masked Builder]

Alexis replies in an equally soft tone. "This is my third straight quest with him, I'll admit he is starting to get a bit on the annoying side."

[Professor Flitwick]

"I've been with him for ten minutes, and he's certainly grating on me. I can only surmise you have the patience of a saint!"

[Scorpiox]

"I agree, as long as you concede to not be such an oaf to anybody we come across who tries to introduce themselves."

Turning back to Alexis, Thothwick dropped his voice to a whispher.

"A few pieces of advice should you visit the land of the Nords: Breath through your mouth, don't drink their water, and let the Nord have the last word."

"Yeah, and what did I just say? Hypocrisy and feebly trying to get your retort in are now prohibited in this party. Watch yourself, pal."

"Mostly from Dastan. She was gettin' ingredients she needed to summon Zoot. Sapped the life of out me so I could get some damn answers as to what she was doin', killed some Chaos Beasts...you?"

"I've met her on two occassions now. The first time, we were in a town called Haddon, where some nasty people were plotting a coup. We ended up on the wrong side, thanks to a false Felton put up by the witch, nearly got us in too deep. But in the end we got back the real one, saved the day and all that. The next time was much more recent. We were in a godforsaken valley, searching for clues into Wren's past. In the end we found more than we bargained for, only just escaped with our lives from a trapped splinter of Ennoc trapped in some poor bastard's body. And at the end, she was there, she came to find us. And I promised that I'd meet with her one last time."

[UsernameMDM]

Alexis replies in an equally soft tone. "This is my third straight quest with him, I'll admit he is starting to get a bit on the annoying side."

"At least Jess isn't here," Hoke quipped with a sneaky chuckle.

[The Legonater]

After a great deal of running and tracking, Dyric finally catches up to the group. He find a spot to sit, and falls down onto it.

[Flipz]

"Ah, I see familiar paths in this party...as there were in Ennon, and in Dastan. Glorious, if inefficient. Perhaps the threads of destiny shall spin themselves into a different pattern this time around." Arthur makes eye contact with Haldor, simultaneous approval and reproach within his eyes. The Sorcerer leans back against the wall, practically basking in the Chaotic energies the party sent forth. He nods to McCafferey, indicating the Metasimian and the Norseman. "I suspect you find this as satisfying as I, though no doubt for different reasons, do you not?"

"I thought you said your people abandoned the worship of Zoot? Or is that where these 'unorthodox' applications of piety manifest themselves?"

"To answer your question, Metasimian, as to my unorthodox beliefs...well, first, my tale of my past was rather long, so I'll forgive you this time for failing to acquaint yourself with the details." Arthur's eyes flashed towards Haldor once more, this time unmistakably saying 'remember?', as to invoke the memory of the past. "To make a long story much shorter, my people did indeed prohibit the use of Chaos, over a generation ago; however, when we were children, two of my friends and I rediscovered our land's Temple and took our first steps down that path. When we nearly destroyed our homes, we quickly recanted, but the way of Chaos is not easily relinquished. It guided our steps, and indeed as I so recently discovered, all of us three have returned to our ways--though I alone truly embrace it as the way it truly is." He grins. "You see, the way of Chaos is not, as you might think, one of pure evil. Handled properly, it is about living in harmony with the rest of the universe, riding its ebbs and flows, trusting in the uncertain, and freely pursuing Beacons in the Gray despite the obstacles, or the costs...you see, as the remnants of the Lost Party can attest--" at this Arthur indicates Triad and Gray "--life is, in fact Gray. We are all struggling through life, as if through a heavy mist that obscures all. We light for ourselves Beacons within that Gray, toward which we must travel if we are to truly find our place, to truly be at one with ourselves and with the universe. It does not matter which direction we are traveling compared to others, what way they call 'right' or 'wrong'. These things, if they even exist for all people, are completely unknowable as universal standards; whatever distinctions we see are rules we have applied to ourselves. There are only two directions, and we can only define them as they relate to us: towards our destiny, or away from us. We cannot live by abitrary standards applied to us by others, for their beacons are not our own, their causes not ours even if we share a common faith or goal. The only truly universal crime is to interfere with another's journey--which, even then, is perfectly allowable if their path is directly counter to our own--as we shall do to Wren, whose path has driven as many away from their beacons as she has towards them. We must shape the world as we see fit, moulding it to our own image of the way it ought to be. For me, that means lighting the way for the world to live in harmony with itself, by helping others to light their own beacons, as Wren has done for me--for beacons may be lit by opposition as much as by alliance. Always remember that--though she must indeed be stopped, and has caused much harm, she has done great things in this world. Terrible, yes--but great."

"Of course, not all of my truths are shared by the Lady--nor, I suspect, do I share much with this Court of Demons. The Lady wishes to see herself God of Chaos in Zoot's stead, while the Court is likely to desire power from him. Both fail to see that the gods are not beings, but forces of power beyond ordinary conception--divine, yes, but sentient? Not in truth. Zoot is the cosmic force of Chaos, alienated in legend from the other gods not due to evil, as many prescribe to him, but by simple nature of divorce from the world at large. You see, in time before thought, before memory, the world was one. All was joined in Chaos, in darkness, in uncertainty. There was Unity of all, as beings performed their one Duty: to seek their Destiny, and to aid others in doing the same. But, as the world evolved, and society began to grow, the world was changed, and some things that should not be forgotten were lost. The foreign force of Order and privelege sprang up and tore at the heart of the universe, much as many percieve Chaos to do to Order today--Order is, after all, naught but the Chaos of Chaos. The hearts of the people were darkened, as duty became a dungeon, destiny a doom, and unity a commandment, not a covenant, not a choice. Their paths became prisons, and their spirits were bound in chains. At that time, Chaos was exiled from the so-called 'civilized' world, a cosmic power ripped from its rightful home and banished to the realm of the heavens. As the world so systematically rejected disorder, rejected uncertainty, rejected doubt, it is no wonder that the personification they applied to such things would be branded a force of evil, rather than the one thing that can heal the myriad broken lands of this world, this reality, this universe."

"You see, many seek to repair this city, seeing its disarray and wild, unchecked, unruly nature as evils to be cleansed. I do not see such a fate as 'repair', nor, I suspect, would the people of Eubric were they forced to actually endure such a fate. The Bonapartes have failed to learn this, to their peril, as they continue to oppress the powerless and attempt to inflict Order on the masses who clearly desire none of it. No, the healing this land needs is not a change to the way it is, but a way to embrace it as it exists; to teach the masses not to suppress the Chaos that suffuses every aspect of life, but to live with the Chaos that is already there amongst them."

Meanwhile, after lending Alexis his remaining Scrolls and his Lens of Speed-Reading, Arthur equips the Scarf of Misfortune, its tartan pattern complementing his usual clothes rather well. "Oh, and Master Ablesword, I would like to come to an agreement wherein I might purchase that Scroll of Weakening before the Quest is over. Feel free to broach the subject at any time. Did anyone want to borrow my Cloak? Perhaps you, Master Ablesword, or you latecomer--oh, hello Master Rone. I hardly recognized you there."

[UsernameMDM]

"I would welcome the use of your cloak. Many thanks."

[The Legonater]

I listen disgustedly, realizing this was a bad time to interrupt.

You speak as one of the new ruling order in my homeland; many words, but little depth. You say that chaos, handled properly, can lead to harmony. What foolishness! Chaos can not be controlled so imply! It is for that very matter that I know for sure white and black do exist. No, I cannot accept your Grey and Grey Morality. It sickens me. It betrays they very thing I lost all I know for! I devoted my life to protecting my kingdom, and I was cast down with rags on my back for it! Yet you honestly believe it. The standards I have devoted myself to are by no means 'arbitrary' Arthur Regulus. You seemed like a decent, intelligent man once. Tell me, what has happened to him? Since when has Regulus the seventh reasoned for madness? You say that Eubric needs only to give into the chaos it reeks of. Do you not see that it already has? This chaos has plunged them into despair! Into darkness and ruin! It is for this very reason we must fight it at every chance. Chaos is not something that can be controlled and used so easily, Regulus. You are meddling in the affairs of something far darker than you know. For chaos, by its very nature, cannot be used, nor controlled. Chaos has a will of it's own. It exists to destroy. To bring solid structures down. I have seen it happen once. I will not see it happen again.

[CMP]

Atramor blinks, and shakes his head.

"You're overthinkin' it, mate."

[CorneliusMurdock]

Arguing with Arthur on this subject is like talking to wall, Mr. Rone. Semantics is dangerous thing to come between friends anyway. Friends should just agree that Wren needs bashing and move on.

Cronk recommends focusing on task ahead. Finding and stopping Wren will likely prove difficult and dangerous. Philosophical discussion can wait until after.

[The Legonater]

Wise words, Cronk. Have we met? If so, then it has been a long time. In fact, I really should apologize, I barge in here and start arguing. The name's Dyric Rone, for those of you I haven't met. I'm afraid I'm a bit lost at the moment, all I know is that we're hunting down the Dark Lady. That was incentive enough for me.

[CorneliusMurdock]

Cronk does not believe that Cronk has met Dyric but Cronk has been hit in head many times since joining Heroica so Cronk has been known to forget some things. Well met, in any case, Dyric.

[Flipz]

Arthur lends Hoke his Cloak of Deception, and proffers his Ancient Crown as well. "You seem to have a nice hat already, but seeing as you can already damage undead with your spells, perhaps you'd like to take this crown for a spin? If you're lucky enough to pull off a Spellspin as a fight starts, you could Curse the entire group of enemies!" He unstraps the Spider Leg from his back as well. "Haldor, Skrall, Nyx? Any of you want to hold on to this for a bit? It's not much, but it'd wreak havok upon any aerial minions of the Lady."

I listen disgustedly, realizing this was a bad time to interrupt.

You speak as one of the new ruling order in my homeland; many words, but little depth. You say that chaos, handled properly, can lead to harmony. What foolishness! Chaos can not be controlled so imply! It is for that very matter that I know for sure white and black do exist. No, I cannot accept your Grey and Grey Morality. It sickens me. It betrays they very thing I lost all I know for! I devoted my life to protecting my kingdom, and I was cast down with rags on my back for it! Yet you honestly believe it. The standards I have devoted myself to are by no means 'arbitrary' Arthur Regulus. You seemed like a decent, intelligent man once. Tell me, what has happened to him? Since when has Regulus the seventh reasoned for madness? You say that Eubric needs only to give into the chaos it reeks of. Do you not see that it already has? This chaos has plunged them into despair! Into darkness and ruin! It is for this very reason we must fight it at every chance. Chaos is not something that can be controlled and used so easily, Regulus. You are meddling in the affairs of something far darker than you know. For chaos, by its very nature, cannot be used, nor controlled. Chaos has a will of it's own. It exists to destroy. To bring solid structures down. I have seen it happen once. I will not see it happen again.

"Madness? I think not. The decay we see all around us? That is madness. That...is Order! You see, Master Rone, this city and its people have not given in to the Chaos. Had they done so, the city would not be at strife. No, this is a world that defies Chaos, even as it sinks ever deeper within it. Once they stop fighting what holds them back--once they stop fighting themselves--they will be at peace."

"You fail to see the true nature of the use of Chaos--you make the same error as the Lady. You believe that the use of Chaos is the exercise of control--a laughable concept. The old Regulus--the one you claim to have held reason--believed otherwise. He was wrong--I was wrong. Chaos cannot be controlled any more than the sea or the storm--sure, ambitious mages may exert their own energies over it for a time, but none can command the full, universal force of any element, even for a moment. Like a fire, it may be set into motion, but control of it is merely illusion. The craft of Chaos is not that of control--it is the ability to adapt, to accept what is uncertain, to live with the rhythm and change of life. Don't you see? The man who masters such craft--that man can survive anything, and find peace within to boot. It is not meant to be a force of destruction, or might over others--it is a force of life, of strength within. THAT is the true power of Chaos."

"And as for your kingdom--pray tell, was there still a force of authority governing the land after you were cast out? That is Order, turning upon itself. Were those who cast down your land true adherents of Chaos, they never would have rebelled in the first place--they would have found way to shape the world from within. Only the misguided use Chaos in its raw form, and they are indeed the most destructive and depraved the world will ever know. They are fools, however; they act in Chaos, simply to attempt to set up their own vision of Order. They are kin in spirit to Roderick, the misguided young Hinckwell Knight who joined with Wren to betray the Gray Wizard, Triad, Bal, and Sasha seven years ago. He, too, sought to establish Order through Chaos, and he, too, met with a dire fate, but not before causing great pain and grief to all the world. Wren herself is, in part, a legacy of his error, for had he had the wisdom to guide her, her fate might have been more like to my own, and we would be facing a new era of enlightenement, rather than an imminent apocalypse."

"But Sir Cronk speaks the truth. The time for words is over. The time for action has begun."

"Speaking of action...where is Bal, anyway?"

[CMP]

"Good to meet ya', mate. I'm Atramor Gibbin. Any enemy of Wren's is an ally - grudingly or not -" he glanced seethingly at Thothwick, "- of mine."

[The Legonater]

Indeed, and in a hunt such as this, one could use all the allies they can find.

Say, I wonder if we can find anyone to train to help us along the way.

[Flipz]

Indeed, and in a hunt such as this, one could use all the allies they can find.

Say, I wonder if we can find anyone to train to help us along the way.

"I heard rumors of a dark-skinned man riding a horse who sells potions of odor control; the rumors say he is a trainer of 'memetic' proportions, whatever that means. There's also a possibility, for Cronk at least and perhaps Haldor and Alexis as well, that they could train with some of the Paladin Order. There, too, may be the possibility of training with the Zeigfrieds, though for the non-Ether-using members of our party, that particular venue may not be as helpful for them as they might like."