Heroica RPG - Quest #70: The Syndicate

[Shoker86]

"Not so well Karie, not so well" then he turned to see Arthur aproaching, and stoped to listen what mage have to say"So he visited you in your room too Arthur" Arnulf remarked "He's one hell of a creepy guy"

[Flipz]

"Yeah. Got caught with my pants down--almost literally, actually. Creep got away before I could finish getting dressed."

[Kintobor]

"I'm going to assume he met with the rest of you as well. Clever son of a-"

Karie cut herself off before swearing. They were locked inside the hotel, with no answer as to why. Her spine began to tingle at the thought of being trapped in a cell again.

"The Stealer knew we were going to be here. Wait, hold on... what if he's still here..."

Karie sneaks over to Boomingham's door and presses her ear against it.

[Shoker86]

"He was in my room also. But I was dressed, drank a wine, have a brief chit chat with the guy. Then he left, after I've turned him down" Arnulf said trying to keep coolness in his voice "Sooner we finish with him , the better"

[Endgame]

Karie sneaks over to Boomingham's door and presses her ear against it.

Karie hears the sound of sleep behind the door. Best to allow their party leader to get his rest before they get to the bottom of this...

[Kintobor]

Karie moves away from the door and scratches her head.

"Well, who's going to wake him up, because I won't. My personal pick goes for Arthur. I don't know why it's Arthur, but it should be Arthur."

Edited June 18, 2013 by Kintobor

[Emjajoas]

Em stays silent throughout the exchange, wondering how the interactions of his party members were different from his own. He almost felt out of place among the heroes, though he did his best to hide it. Shaking his head, he takes a seat on the floor, sighing.

[Flipz]

Arthur rolls his eyes. "So are we talking breaking THROUGH the door, or blowing it off its hinges entirely?"

[Kintobor]

"Just knock! If he doesn't wake up then we could probably just pick the door lock and pour some alcohol over him or something. Tends to work for me, it should work for him! Besides, your the representative of the town watch, your authority gives you the right to bust into a room and jostle people out f beds!"

Karie's voice was beginning to rise.

[Flipz]

"I...uh..." Arthur rubs the back of his head awkwardly. "Huh. Didn't think of that. Don't think I've actually had to knock on a door in years--always ended up having to bust it down or else just waltzed right in." In response to the party's collective facepalm, Arthur turned around and knocked exceedingly lightly on Boomingham's door--it probably would have been louder if he'd taken a quill pen and gently tapped the door with the feather end instead of his knuckles.

[Kintobor]

Karie slaps her palm onto her face. She moves Arthur out of the way.

"Put some effort into it, man! You gotta show you're here for business! Here, like so."

Karie raps her knuckles on the door, performing an improtu drum solo.

"That's how you knock on a door!"

Edited June 18, 2013 by Kintobor

[Endgame]

QM Note: I'll let Zepher decide how bad the sound barrier needs to be broken before Boomingham wakes up.

[Zepher]

Boomingham's door swings open and their party leader stands there with a tired smile and in full armor. "Morning. What's the report?" he asks.

[Kintobor]

"We're stuck. The door downstairs has been bolted shut from the outside, and it seems the Stealer visited all of us in the middle of the night."

Karie crossed her arms and looked about the hall. This whole scenario was getting weirder and weirder. It didn't help her mind was elsewhere.

[Shoker86]

"How thick is the door, maybe we could blast it with the bomb" Arnulf said "But the owner wouldn't like it"

[Flipz]

"Or I could just blast a hole in the wall with my Garnet, like I did to the Theatre. It's not a particularly effective trap, what's important is figuring out why. Is our captor really stupid enough to think this will keep us contained? Or is he waiting for us to bust out of this trap just in time to be ambushed--or caught in another trap. I say we climb out a window--I can use my Opal to create an ice slide if need be, or we can use the bedsheets as rope. I don't like the idea of taking the obvious way out--it's just TOO obvious, you know?"

[Kintobor]

Karie presses her ear against the door leading downstairs.

"There better be someone else here."

[Shoker86]

"We coud make a diversion at the front, but take the back way as you said Arthur" Arnulf said wondering "Throw them of the guard. Or he may think that we are cautios, and plant an anbush in the back. I think we need a diversion"

[Endgame]

The downstairs was a silent as a ghost... the only other route they have (without causing mass property damage without a warrant) is at the end of the inn room hallway. After about their 5 rooms, the hallway took a bend that led into a sun room.

[Kintobor]

"Nothing. It's dead quiet."

Karie looks down the hallway, noticing the door to the sun room.

"Who wants to guess that whoever locked the door wants us to go into the sun room?"

The inn was beginning to creep Karie out, more so than before. She slowly strides over to the sun room door, and peers in.

[Endgame]

The Party:

Lord Lawrence Boomingham (Zepher)

46 Years Old, Human, Level 25 1/3 Paladin *Immune to Fragile, Sleep and Weakened* *Encouraged!*

Power: 38 (+4**)

Defense: 12

Health: 46/46 (+2*)

Ether: 24/24

Gold: 148

Equipment: Scupperer (Great Sword, WP: 11, Darkness Fire, causes Bleeding Effect for 5 Damage until remedied or healed to full health) Round Metal Shield (SP: 7), Counterstrike Gloves (On Free Hits, Deals damage to enemy equal to Boomingham's level), Heavy Armor (SP: 5, Immunity to Fragile), Tome of Affluence (Generates 10 Gold if equipped for the entirety of a battle, immunity to sleep and weakened, accessory) ****Pseudo's Blessing's Blessing (Not an Artifact, +4 Power)

Inventory: Frozen Saber (Great Sword, WP: 9, Light Ice, stunned effect), Bedroll, 2 Meads, Fire Brandy (Encouraged, Immunity to Ice), Emerald Lamp of Summoning, Marksman's Monocle, Scroll of Recklessness (Encouraged and Fragile for rest of battle, 5 ether, 50/50 chance), Scroll of Blindness, 1 Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragility, Scroll of Sealing, Garnet, Sapphire, Hood of Belthazar Bluehood (+4 to Power, -6 to Ether), Hamantasch (consumable, lucky + blessed effects upon consumption for the length of one battle), Admantite Shard, Everlasting Venom. Remedy, Seventh Heaven, Phoenix Essence,

Debts: 128 Gold Arthur, 1 gold Docken, 75 gold Sorrow

Arthur Justus Regulus VII (played by Flipz), Level 25 1/3 Sorcerer, 21-year-old male Human *Immune to Sealed* [ Currently in: Quest #70: The Syndicate] *Lucky!* *Encouraged!* *Hastened!*

Power: 38 (25 + WP:13)

Health: 37/37 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 23 + Class Boost: 4 + Permanent Boost: 4*)

Ether: 35/35 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 23 + Class Boost: 1 + Robe of the Archmagi: 5)

Defense: 3 (Robe of the Archmagi)

Gold: 1435 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham; owed 50 gold by Grimwald Gjinko; owed 70 gold by En Sabah Nur,)

Equipment: Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Robe of the Archmagi (Bodywear, SP:3, Max Ether +5, Immune to Sealed), Lens of Speed Reading (Accessory, Allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action. Suitable for scroll users.), Overkill Gloves

Inventory:

Weapons: Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics), Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [Mulled Wine]), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Healing Staff (WP:5; heals instead of damaging), Healing Staff (WP:5; heals instead of damaging), Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear; unsuitable)

Artifacts: Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent), Ancient Crown (Headwear, First successful strike of battle deals Cursed-effect), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves, Sticky Gloves

Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth),

Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass

Scrolls: Scroll of Blindness, 2x Scroll of Sealing (1x Lent to De'kra), Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, 2x Scroll of Frailty (1x Lent to Nyx), Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Badly Poisoned effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Luck (Grants target the Lucky-effect for one battle. Costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Weakening,

Consumables: Grand Potion x4, Remedy x8, Elixir x2, Nostrum x 3, Smelling Salts x 4, Mead x 3, Jinxy Juice, Ether Core, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Badly Poisoned effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.), Zoot's Plaything, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Tesla Bomb, Grand Tonic, Double Rainbow, Bright Polish

Karie Alderflask (Played by Kintobor) *Lucky!*

22 year old Human Rogue, lvl 13.5

Power: 18 (lvl 13 + WP: 6)

Health: 19/19

Gold: 224

Defence: 1

Equipment: Sexy (WP: 6, Rapier, Disregards SP, usable by Knights and Rogues), Lover's Locket (Protects from enamoured effect), Leather Armor (Bodywear, SP: 1)

Inventory: Potion (3), Mead (4), Remedy (2), Venom (1), Smoke bomb (1), Telescope (1), Bedroll (1), Heirloom Dagger (WP:3), Map of Brendenton (1), Spider Coin (worth 1 gp) (1),, Topaz, Scroll of Newtity (costs 10 ether)(usable by ex-Amphibians only), Ethereal Cloak (SP +2, Max. Ether +4), Catsuit (Wearer has 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER and DAMAGE and Free Hits; suitable to women only; bodywear), Smelling Salts, Nostrum, Mulled Wine (2)

Arnulf Bishop (Shoker86)

30 yrs old male human Rogue

Level 11.5

Power: 20 (10+9+1)

Defense: 3

Health: 16/16 (7+9)

Gold: 265

Equipment: Cheesy Dagger (WP:8, Double damage to vermin), Tricorne (SP:3), Scarf of Misfortune (Accessory, Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round)

Inventory: Leather Armor(SP:1), 4 Potions, 3 Venoms, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, 3 Meads, Smelling Salts, Mulled Wine

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

Unknown age male human ranger

Level 11.5

Power: 19

Health: 16/16

Gold: 70

Equipment: Aquabow (WP: 7 *Badly Poisoned!*, Water-elemental), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), White Marksman's Hat - (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear)

Inventory: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone, Nostrum, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Potion x5, Remedy x3, Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by Asleep.), Venom, Ice Bomb, Grand Potion, Bow(WP:5), Mead x2

Karie walks past the row of inn rooms, turning the bend when she reaches Room 205. She walks a short stretch, going around the corner. What she sees nearly makes her drop Sexy and run back.

Four Syndicate member stand in perfect formation, bristling with weaponry. The fading stars in the sky silhouette the quartet, the four expertly adopting a fighting stance as Karie turns the bend. The rest of the party rushes around the corner to see the scene before them. The Sorcerer primes his staff, the weapon pulsing green. The hunter loads an arrow into his crossbow, and the Assassin begins to lazily swing his chain in his hands. It was quite the group. A watchman sits behind them on velvet cushions, his body resting on the window's cold glass. His eyes were open, but Karie saw no spark of intelligence in there. he was sedated, sleeping soundly despite having his eyes open in a look of astonishment. The gold-clad one steps forward, taking a bow in the presence of Karie. He twirls his corseque absentmindedly while addressing the party. You realize anyone ewho wasn't an expert with that weapon wouldn't have their limbs attached...

"Syndicate Admin Octavyn, at your service. What can we do for you fine people today?"

Edited June 18, 2013 by Endgame

[Zepher]

"What is your purpose here?" Boomingham asks officially, watching the weapons with an eagle eye. "How long have you served the Stealer of Senses?"

[Shoker86]

"Good Morning Syndicate Admin Octavyn" Arnulf downs the mead "Some skull crashing would be fine, it goes with the mead"

[Kintobor]

Karie downs a mead from the back, trying to be as unassuming as she can possibly be.

[Endgame]

"What is your purpose here?" Boomingham asks officially, watching the weapons with an eagle eye. "How long have you served the Stealer of Senses?"

Octavyn nods.

"You waste no time. An admirable trait.

Our purpose? Simple. Seal off all other exits to lure you in here. Simple dstrategy, really. Seal off all exits but one and the prey is destined to meander into the lion's den. If that doesn't work and you try to blow a hole in the wall - really, you shouldn't have to resort to property damage - we use your informant here to lure you back into here. Beat you guys quick, give you all a sniff of Exterlate to blur the past few days, and send you home. And just continue on with our plans.

I've worked with The Stealer since his apprentice died. 3 months, about."

His cheery and polite behavior seems to drop down a notch as he utters his last sentence. even through his face mesh they can see a grim determination in Octavyn's eyes.

"I didn't become the second-in-command of The Syndicate for nothing, heroes."

"Good Morning Syndicate Admin Octavyn" Arnulf downs the mead "Some skull crashing would be fine, it goes with the mead"

Octavyn sighs.

"Must we rush right to the bloodshed? I do enjoy some witty repertoire."

"Keeps the mind sharp."

"That it does friend, that it does."

Karie downs a mead from the back, trying to be as unassuming as she can possibly be.

"Hey, no need to hide. We're all friends here. Its not like The Stealer meandered into you guys rooms to hurt you or anything - quite the opposite. he meant nothing but well to a fair number of you, you included, miss."

"Keep your priorities straight, sir. Efficiency first, then perhaps a drink at the tavern."

"Point taken. I do believe combat is nigh, yes?"

"Heh. My area of expertise approaches!"

"Do try to keep the bloodshed to a minimum, Red..."

Edited June 19, 2013 by Endgame