Heroica RPG - Quest #113: Mystery in the Mines

[The Legonater]

The heroes head into the northern passage. There, they find a group of bodies - some Norgh, some mercenaries. None of them seem to be from this mysterious second group, however. William notices two notable sets of footprints - one the tread of aDelfrin commander, heading back to the Norgh Camp in this wing, and one strange but vaguely aquatic set heading west.

[Siercon and Coral]

Seeing William notice something, Siercon stopped searched the bodies and poked around with his shovel waiting for Williams thoughts on their next destination. Siercon didn't have a particular preference, but knew that he wasn't going back to the Guild Hall thinking "I wish I'd dug around more in that mine while I was there..."

Edited November 20, 2014 by Siercon and Coral

[-obelix-]

"Are those not-guite-human looking tracks leading west, William?" Thalion asked pointing and heading in the west direction.

[Fred Daniel Yam]

"Are those not-guite-human looking tracks leading west, William?" Thalion asked pointing and heading in the west direction.

"It appears so. I guess the other tracks can wait."

[Wedge09]

"Time to choose a path again..." murmured the elevn archer; this time, however, he used his Magic Compass to see the right direction they should go.

[The Legonater]

The compass, oddly enough, points to the Norgh Camp.

[Siercon and Coral]

"Thalion wait up, I'm sure we will fry that frog very soon. But looks like we should hit up the Norgh Camp first" Siercon heads to the Norgh Camp

[-obelix-]

"Thalion wait up, I'm sure we will fry that frog very soon. But looks like we should hit up the Norgh Camp first" Siercon heads to the Norgh Camp

"As long as we get to kill that frog I am fine with whatever road we take that will lead us to him, Archer and the rest. But we just came from there..."

[The Legonater]

I think you might have looked at the map wrong. You came from the main entrance and into the area with the old mine shaft. You never went across to the Norgh Camp in this wing until now.

The heroes wind down the path to the Norgh Camp. There, they find a group of the short miner armoured up.

Greetings, travelers. I am Uglrukh, knight and leader of the Norghs here. And who might you be?

[Siercon and Coral]

Siercon answered "Heroes of Heroica hunting the mercenaries who seem to have brough this mine into chaos..." He paused "Do you have any information or thoughts that may help us?"

[-obelix-]

"Their leader goes by the name of Archer..." Thalion added, "They also have a frog priest and female rouge whose names I do not remember. Have you seen them by any chance?"

[The Legonater]

I have not, but we recently found a commander from Delfrin who claims to have. Likewise, we recently allied ourselves with a group of men who have a rather violent past with these mercenaries.

[-obelix-]

I have not, but we recently found a commander from Delfrin who claims to have. Likewise, we recently allied ourselves with a group of men who have a rather violent past with these mercenaries.

"Who are the men you have aligned yourselves with, and where is the Delfrin commander?"

[The Legonater]

Lachterson took a patrol of the men up through the North West passage, you can likely find him there.

As for the men, that is more complicated. The Marked Men are a group of freedom fighters looking for a better way to run things. Many in the area have become disillusioned with the governments of Delfrin and Duplovia. The Orcs in Baltarok have reorganized themselves, some believe we can do the same. These men believe that if they can get on top of the situation here, they may be able to swing things in the proper direction.

[-obelix-]

"And what do you plan on doing now?"

[The Legonater]

We secure our position, and wait until the time is right.

[Fred Daniel Yam]

"Should we go through the North-West tunnel and find that man?" William asks the others

[-obelix-]

"Should we go through the North-West tunnel and find that man?" William asks the others

"Sure, I would only like to learn as much as I can first."

We secure our position, and wait until the time is right.

"Wait for what, exactly?"

[Siercon and Coral]

Siercon speaks softly to the other heroes. "I am pretty sure they are simply waiting for every other party to attack each other and thin out the competition (they do not support Delfrin and Duplovian rule). From what he has said, I have little doubt that when we defeat the true culprits they will attack us and try to take control. However, the marked men hate the mercenaries, and that's who we're trying to kill (for openly confessing evil plans). The enemy of my enemy is my current friend..."

Turning to the Norghs, Siercon said "We have recently fought with the Mercenaries, and forced them to flee up this shaft. Come join us in hunting them down? The enemy of my enemy is my friend... Then later we can sort out a peaceful agreement between the marked men and the two cities. You seem to be preparing for war, I imagine you bide your own time to take control. You and the marked men can either be the next faction like mercenaries, causing death for your own ends, or join us in bringing this land back into peace. The mercenaries are beyond diplomacy, once they are out of the way, are you?"

"What say you?"

The mechanical request is: Join us, help attack the Mercs, promise to work with us in a peaceful negotiation at the end.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Siercon and Coral

[The Legonater]

Hmm, an interesting offer. I suppose I will have to accept your offer.

[Siercon and Coral]

"Well then regardless of if we choose hunt this frog down first, OR meet up with the Delfrin patrol, our path heads north it would seem."

Siercon suggests heading north after taking another look around.

Edited November 25, 2014 by Siercon and Coral

[-obelix-]

"Excellent! Let us head out then!"

[The Legonater]

Up here.

The heroes continue up the passage, until they round the corner to a group of armed individuals - two Norghs, a man of Delfrin, and two well-armoured soldiers with a peculiar mark on their shields.

Seems you were more right than you know, Siercon.

Heroes! So you're the ones behind all this. I should have figured Duplovia would be backing you.

Uglrukh, what are you thinking!?

I figured we could use them in your boss' plan.

You figured what now?

Bardrick, is that you? What are you doing with these men?

Trying to find you.

What? But the Heroes-

What a mess of things you Norghs have made!

Please. You wouldn't have come half as far without us.

What is going on!?

[Siercon and Coral]

Siercon spoke quickly and articulately. Giving his statements in direct succession while facing each individual and locking eye contact.

He spoke first to the Commander.

"Commander, we Heroes fight for Delfrin and Duplovian peace. You can trust us. We have seen first hand the Mercenaries creating chaos to pit the moral few against each other. These 'Marked Men' whom you are with, have conscripted the Norgh in hopes to help control these mines under new rule towards the end of the chaos created by the Mercs."

Turning to the leader of the Marked Men, Siercon continued.

"My name is Siercon, I know our goals are different. But, from what I hear you have a bloody past with the Mercenaries we are currently hunting down. I don't know the depths of your masters plan and am interested in hearing it if it is just, and good. If it is, we can be comrades. If it is not, or you see fit to deceive or conceal it, then the best option we have is to ignore our differences until the Mercenaries are defeated. Then, we would seek diplomacy, unless blood is on your hearts."

Lastly, he gave a sweeping humble gesture to all of the Norgh.

"Our words and promises to you were true. We will truly seek your peace and a system of rule you can trust. But show the courage to seek Diplomacy. Don't be used, and certainly don't try to use others who are sincerely trying to help you. You have done nothing against us yet, but saying "use us for your plan"... sigh... are you willing to throw out our trust and potentially your future to follow his master's plan?

Siercon finished. "These are the pieces to the puzzle. We offer our hand to those wishing to join us in a peaceful solution with the least amount of bloodshed. Commander," Siercon said ending with him. "we've been seeking you out, these caves have been riddled with cryptic stories and false accounts, join us, we only give and seek the truth."

Distilled actions:

Commander: Join us. We'll also swap stories

Norghs: Don't attack us; consider joining us (Last bit mainly based on how Marked leader reacts)

Marked Men: Tell us your plan; Temporarily fight together against the Mercs.

[The Legonater]

Sadly, I think diplomacy will be more complicated than that. You're from the Hands of Throngs, aren't you?

You've heard of us?

A few of us were part of the investigation a year back that first exposed you. Are you still working that terrorist Morcrass?

Are you still working with those mercs from Heroica?

Terrorist? What are-

You are noble, heroes. I can see that, but the Norghs stand with the Hands.

Look, no one said anything about terrorism.

And no one should. We are freedom fighters. We have always had the future of the Kingdoms in mind, unlike some people.

And this is your idea of freedom? Last time we met Morcrass he was trying to ruin the peace treaty. This doesn't exactly factor into grand unity either.

The peace between Delfrin and Duplovia is a fragile one. What we're doing will eventually make a lasting one.

Besides, we're not the ones causing the problems here, we're only trying to help.

You can come with us if that is your desire, but we will continue forward anyways. The hour is approaching, and it is time to act.