Heroica RPG - Quest #114: The Tale of the Sea Fiend

[Actaeon]

Actaeon leans over to Kiray, "No one is inside. We aren't going to find any recruits here."

[KotZ]

"Which one of you is in charge here?" Kiray asked, ignoring Actaeon for the moment. "We're on official business and need some Crew members. Would either of you be interested or know anyone who would?"

[CMP]

"Which one of you is in charge here?" Kiray asked, ignoring Actaeon for the moment. "We're on official business and need some Crew members. Would either of you be interested or know anyone who would?"

"That would be me. Lieutenant Emelia Tanak."

"Lieutenant once Emelia means."

"I've got a second chance here. I don't know why, but I'm not going to waste it, Private Grash. You know that much."

"Fine. Grash just saying Emelia not official guard anymore."

"Sorry, we're really busy with this investigation here." Grash poked the elf again, who groaned. "I don't know if we can help you....what's Heroica need more people for, anyone? Just two or three of you guys can handle a whole bunch of problems. You have four plus a soldier."

[Actaeon]

Actaeon's suspicions grow as he listens to the two speak. "So this isn't official Town Watch business?" he asks, eyeing them both.

[CMP]

Actaeon's suspicions grow as he listens to the two speak. "So this isn't official Town Watch business?" he asks, eyeing them both.

"Well...no, but it's still important."

"Grash and Emelia patrolling. Found elf. Investigating now."

"The bar was closed when we got here a few hours ago. We had to make sure nobody disturbed the scene so we could investigate, so we couldn't let anyone inside. This is the third time this week we've found someone like this." Emelia put her hand on her chin. "Unconscious and left on the doorstep. Evidence of a single blow, usually to the head, but never leaving anything more than a bruise or broken nose. If you check under his eyelids, his pupils are completely washed out. The other victims suffered from the same: temporary blindness. When we question witnesses, generally the victim is causing trouble for a while...getting drunk, rowdy, angry. Then they get dragged out by a heavily armored figure. Then they're just dropped off like this wherever they were taken from. Nothing's taken, so this isn't a mugging. Gangs wanting to send a message would do far worse than this."

"It's a bizarre case, however you cut it."

[Tachyon]

Mizuki asked Kiray "Should we just move on and look for more crew, or do you want to get us involved with this ?"

"

[CMP]

Mizuki asked Kiray "Should we just move on and look for more crew, or do you want to get us involved with this ?"

"

"Oh, don't worry. We can handle this for ourselves."

"I have to ask, though. What are you barhopping for?"

[Captain Settle]

Francis was very interested by the case, but he knew they didn't have time for this.

"We're looking for crew members to man a ship for us in our own case. Now, I say we go back to the docks and look for people to recruit, and leave these two to carry out their investigation."

[KotZ]

"Unless you can offer us some assistance now or if this is quick enough for us to help and then be on our way, we'll be heading off."

[CMP]

"We're looking for crew members to man a ship for us in our own case. Now, I say we go back to the docks and look for people to recruit, and leave these two to carry out their investigation."

"Unless you can offer us some assistance now or if this is quick enough for us to help and then be on our way, we'll be heading off."

"Hmm. If you're just looking for sailors, I can't help you much. Though I feel like there's something more to this."

"Always is with heroes. Grash wondering what heroes need whole crew for." The orc leveled his eyes at Kiray. It was difficult to tell if it was with suspicion or just bluntness.

[KotZ]

"We're short on crew members for a ship to go on a quest and we're looking for more. It's as simple as that."

[CMP]

"We're short on crew members for a ship to go on a quest and we're looking for more. It's as simple as that."

"Don't think there's anything we can do for you then. Sorry." The lieutenant shrugged. Lane scratched his chin.

"Hmph. Bit of a waste." The captain looked sideways at the heroes. "We off to the docks, then?"

[KotZ]

"Yes, off to the docks."

[CMP]

"Yes, off to the docks."

Lane nods. The guards turn back to the shifting elf as the party leaves, somewhat off-put by the lack of progress there.

The air was thicker by the port. A slew of people waited there. A dying, weeping, hawking sort. The heroes drew more than one stare.

The Party

Assets

• The Hydra
  
• Captain Lane
  

Kiray Nastayo (KingoftheZempk) *Immune to Fire* *Lucky* *Party Leader*

Level 10 Knight

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 5

Health: 19/19

Gold: 106

Equipment: Fleuret (WP:9, longsword, borrowed from Mizuki), Orcish Shield (SP: 4, double if user is a greenskin, borrowed from Mizuki), Flameproof Armor (SP:1, immune to Fire; bodywear, suitable for anyone), Loaded Die (Gives holder the Lucky-effect, accessory, suitable for anyone, borrowed from Mizuki)

Inventory: Sword of the Kin (WP:3), x5 Potion, Banana (Restores full health when eaten), Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, Mediocre Pongcanis Brew (Encouraged + Enraged), Everlasting Venom (Adds the poisoned by 10-effect to one weapon permanently), Sleep Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the Asleep-effect to all opponents when used.), Remedy, Dragon Scale, 2x Nostrum, x3 Fire Bomb, x4 Venom, Sanctified Rito Longsword (WP:6, doubled against Flying enemies; longsword), Scutum Shield (SP:3; shield)

Mizuki Kimura (zakura) *50% More Gold Stolen* *Death Mask* *Ignores Positive Effects*

Level 24 Assassin

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 0

Health: 34/34

Gold: 18

Equipment: Dual Gladii (WP:12, Darkness and Light elemental, dual-strike), Sticky Gloves (Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Death Mask (Increases assassination chances to 1/3 when the target’s health is lowered to 1/3, headwear, suitable for assassin), Fox Tail (user not affected by opponent's positive effects, backwear)

Inventory:, , 20 Venoms, 8 Nostrums, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, 1 Think Jeeax Scales, 1 Rito Feather (consumable, grants the hastened- and blessed-effects upon use for one battle), Gladiator Trident (WP:11, causes bleeding effect; spear), Tonic, 3 Potions, 1 Weak Potion 1 Fire Bomb, 2 Chicken Drumsticks, 2 Elixirs, 2 Deadly Venoms, Neutralizer, Weak Regeneration Potion

Actaeon Artus (Actaeon) *Hastened*

Level 6 Ranger

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 0

Health: 11/11

Gold: 50

Equipment: Sanctified Rito Bow (WP:6, doubled against Flying enemies; bow), Quickdraw Quiver (Gives wearer the Hastened-effect, backwear, suitable for rangers, borrowed from Mizuki)

Inventory: Smoke Bomb, Potion x2, Remedy x2, Bedroll, Scroll of Frailty, Stun Bomb (Deals 5 damage and the Stunned-effect to all opponents when used.), Trial Brew, Dragon Scale, Mead, Smelling Salts, Venom x2, Greaves of the Aubergine Dragoon (SP:2, protects from the Bound- and Slowed-effects. Footwear, suitable for anyone.)

Francis Barkley (Captain Settle)

Level 5 Ranger

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 3

Health: 10/10

Gold: 17

Equipped: Training Bow (WP 4), Tricorne (SP:3)

Inventory: 3 Potions, smokebomb, bedroll, mead, longbow (WP 3) venom, Lustrous Cloak (1/6 chance of dodging damage rolls and free hits. Suitable for rogues, artifact, backwear), grand potion, grating stone, Top Hat (WP: 14, 50/50 chance of dealing the stunned-effect, retrievable, borrowed from Mizuki), Sylph Shuriken (WP:12, wind elemental, retrievable, borrowed from Mizuki)

Captain Pierce Lane (NPC, controlled by KingoftheZempk)

Level 10 Cannoneer

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 0

Health: 26/26

Gold: 0

Equipped: Hand Mortar (WP: 5, handcannon), Cannoneer's Sashes (The damage output of bombs consumed are added to the weapon power of attacks, suitable for cannoneers, accessory)

Inventory: 2 Fire Bombs, Water Bomb, Dirt Bomb

"Looks like it's been a busy day for these people. What the hell happened?"

What will the party do?

There's a lot to do here, so feel free to split up and chat with whoever.

[KotZ]

Kiray goes over to the elf at the end. "What's going on here? Busy day? Something wrong?"

[Tachyon]

Mizuki walks up to the cloaked man standing next to the bird with a goblet filled with some mysterious substance. "If you don't mind me asking, what's exactly inside the cup......."

[CMP]

Kiray goes over to the elf at the end. "What's going on here? Busy day? Something wrong?"

The elf sitting in the pier looked absolutely enraged by...something. One arm was laden with thick, fresh bandages, and she held a worn, cheap ring in her hand.

"You could say that. My entire livelihood just got destroyed. That piece of wreckage? That's what I floated back on. A few hours ago that used to be a six-person fishing vessel. Mine."

Mizuki walks up to the cloaked man standing next to the bird with a goblet filled with some mysterious substance. "If you don't mind me asking, what's exactly inside the cup......."

Mizuki could smell the man from a dozen feet away as she approached, reeking of wine and some substance in his oily hair. He gave the assassin a suggestive smirk as she walked up, sipping from his goblet.

"The finest liquor milady. Remarkably expensive, but I happen to be in a lucrative business." He flexed what looked to be a gold-plated arm. "It takes a wealthy man to have this kind of lifestyle. Perhaps you'd like a taste?"

[Tachyon]

"By the sounds of things, I'm going to guess that your lucrative business might not be exactly one hundred percent legal, isn't it ? You a smuggler, or just a merchant ?"

[KotZ]

"Gods, was it a storm? A creature perhaps?"

[CMP]

"By the sounds of things, I'm going to guess that your lucrative business might not be exactly one hundred percent legal, isn't it ? You a smuggler, or just a merchant ?"

"Of course not," sneered the man. "I'm accountant for the Hinckwells. Name's Ettin, and I'm actually here on business. We've got ships reported missing left and right and Heinrich wants to know why."

"Gods, was it a storm? A creature perhaps?"

"It was a beast alright. I hardly even got a look at it, though. Maxwell over there might've seen it. I was trying to spot a dragonshark or at least some trout, next thing I know, the boat's nearly tipped over and the entire starboard side of it is gone, along with most of Maxwell and my husband..." The elf ground her teeth despite the obvious sorrow in her eyes. "I got thrown into the water by the second attack. Two strikes and we're paddling the frame of the boat just to get back to Eubric. Pirates we could handle. We had the equipment to stave off anything too big to catch. But how do you fight something like that?" She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Three hundred coins and eight years of marriage gone in a matter of minutes."

[KotZ]

"How would you like to avenge your husband and get the beast back? We're going on an expedition to finally stop this creature. It won't be easy, but we need people who want to stop this thing."

[Tachyon]

"So what do you think has gone on with the dissapearences ? Pirates ? Storms ? Sea Creatures ?"

[Captain Settle]

Francis walks up to the man with missing limbs on the floor to check if he's still alive.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Captain Settle

[Actaeon]

Actaeon quickly squawks and squeaks to the parrot and mouse, "What happened here? Where you on board the ship when it was attacked?"

[CMP]

"How would you like to avenge your husband and get the beast back? We're going on an expedition to finally stop this creature. It won't be easy, but we need people who want to stop this thing."

"Do I look like I'm in any shape to sail? I can't help you against that thing."

The elf blinked, then frowned.

"Wait...you're going out to kill that thing? You're Heroica, aren't you? Could you- perhaps spare me some gold? I don't need much, just...maybe a few hundred, just to get me started? Without a boat, I'm facing the Hovels again.."

"So what do you think has gone on with the dissapearences ? Pirates ? Storms ? Sea Creatures ?"

"No idea, lady. That's why I came out here." Ettin jammed his thumb towards the young hobgoblin hawking newspapers. "Eubric Herald always has decent news. I was about to pick up my paper."

Francis walks up to the man with missing limbs on the floor to check if he's still alive.

The man was alive, though in agony. He coughed in deep pain, blood staining the sea. His eyes slid to Francis, and pled:

"Kill me..."

Actaeon quickly squawks and squeaks to the parrot and mouse, "What happened here? Where you on board the ship when it was attacked?"

The parrot eyes the rat beadily as Actaeon questioned them both.

"<Yep yep yep, what a mess, what a mess. Big thing in the water nearly at the ship. Maxy over there got the best look at it when it took his leg off.>" The parrot flapped his wings at the mutilated man on the floor.

"<No....>" squeaked the rat, evidently intimidated. "<I smelled something yummy, so I came over looking for a snack..>"