Heroica RPG - Quest #118: The Tale of the Stolen Spirits

[Flipz]

I push open the door.

The Warden shoved open the door, scattering spears and a handful of halberds across the floor. The interior of the building was dark and unlit, but even an untrained eye could make out the comfortable, if rustic, home furnishings of a happily married couple--all of it seemingly untouched over the past three days.

Ellaria investigates the weapons and shield, and if they are useful, she picks them up.

"Ashes... Sounds an awful lot like a dragon has visited this town. [No offense, Arx.]"

The trio of tools tell a tricky tale: the shortsword bent and the broadsword smashed, both had clearly been used against something, to little effect, before being discarded. Only the shield, a scorched specimen similar to several sighted in certain swampy settings, survived.

Skull Shield (SP:6; immunity to Darkness-elemental damage; suitable to Black Knights only; shield.)

[JimBee]

"Hm. No one home." Hybros lowers himself to one knee to inspect the dust pile.

[swils]

<None taken. Thormanil boasts the title of 'Dragonslayer', I'd hope he didn't earn it lopping the heads off of any cultured dragons. He said it was a fire breather from some fields.>

"Total pushover though, he spent too much time talkin' and not enough spittin' fire."

Sorry folks, had less down time at the conference than I'd imagined, and far more work to make up when I got back than I'd hoped. I should be back to normal by tomorrow or Weds, though.

[Sandy]

Ellaria shudders as she picks up the shield. "Okay, I'm getting some baaad vibes out of this shield. If anyone of you gentlemen wants it, it's yours. We should head to the general store that's over there next."

[Brickdoctor]

I look for any journals or other writings in the house that might have been left out.

"I don't really have a use for the shield either."

[Flipz]

"Hm. No one home." Hybros lowers himself to one knee to inspect the dust pile.

As he knelt down closer to the pile, the monk noticed something strange: his breath hardly disturbed the stuff at all; the seeming "dust" behaved more akin to sand or gravel than to ash.

More appealing to his materialistic side, however, was the small pouch he found containing 20 Gold.

I look for any journals or other writings in the house that might have been left out.

"I don't really have a use for the shield either."

Searching within the home, the green-clad man found little of interest, scavenging only a promissory note potentially valid back in Eubric.

Writ of Blacksmith Service (Voucher for one free weapon or shield upgrade at Anwyl's Smithy)

It was only upon exiting the home that the Warden noted a document matching his search: a scrap of burned parchment among the ashes of the forge, scribbled notes written in an unfamiliar hand.

Failure of...other possibilities. Consider...

...stoneskin...success. Establish...

Unsuccessful...loss of stability. ...mechanism of control...Consult Amara?

Ellaria shudders as she picks up the shield. "Okay, I'm getting some baaad vibes out of this shield. If anyone of you gentlemen wants it, it's yours. We should head to the general store that's over there next."

Leading away across the main road, the party's Druid was the first to arrive at the store that once served the town's needs. Unlike the other two buildings they had inspected, the front door hung ajar, while a well-worn path through the grass led towards the back. Which entry would they traverse first?

Edited November 13, 2014 by Flipz

[JimBee]

Hybros pocketed the gold and followed the party across the street. "Any clues?" He looked at the general store. "Always safer to go around back than walk into a potential trap," he shrugged, following the grass path.

[Sandy]

"Yes, let's go around the back." Ellaria pointed at the grass path. As they circled around the house, she tried to peek through the windows to catch a glimpse of what laid inside.

[Brickdoctor]

I pick up the note (and the Writ, if I haven't already).

"So, is anyone familiar with an 'Amara'? I haven't heard the name before."

[Sandy]

"So, is anyone familiar with an 'Amara'? I haven't heard the name before."

"Must be one of the villagers. Or even Miss Persephone's first name, we never did catch that either, did we?"

[Flipz]

"Yes, let's go around the back." Ellaria pointed at the grass path. As they circled around the house, she tried to peek through the windows to catch a glimpse of what laid inside.

As the Druid watched the windows, she saw naught but wooden planks boarding them from the inside. Arriving at the rear entrance--the entrance to the storekeeper's home, from the looks of it--they found here also the door unlocked and ajar. Venturing a peek inside, they soon saw a rather unexpected sight: the interior nearly completely stripped of its furnishings, and a pale, faceless figure grabbing up everything remaining it could find.

Spotting the party, the figure dropped its goods and barreled past the group, dashing directly back the way they had just come. Would the party pursue?

[swils]

Without giving it a second thought, Thormanil takes off after the figure.

[JimBee]

Hybros tenses in surprise, and expends 1 ether to grow the grass around the back where the figure ran off to and twist it around his leg to trip him.

[Sandy]

"Let's get him!" Ellaria shouted, and followed on Thormanil's heels.

[Brickdoctor]

As I start to pursue the figure with the rest of the party, I momentarily backpedal and use Animal Talk to ask the rat what happened here.

[Flipz]

Hybros tenses in surprise, and expends 1 ether to grow the grass around the back where the figure ran off to and twist it around his leg to trip him.

The monk charged a blast of Wood-elemental Ether, but to his surprise rather than growing to grip the fleeting figure, the grass grows into a gigantic fist, punching its prey for what appeared to be 133 Wood-elemental damage.

As I start to pursue the figure with the rest of the party, I momentarily backpedal and use Animal Talk to ask the rat what happened here.

"Sqeeeek! Squeek Squeek! Squeek eek squeee eek squee! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! <Monsters! Monsters everywhere! Going to kill us all! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!>"

The terrified creature fled, and the warden soon followed suit in pursuing his friends' fleeing foe.

Without giving it a second thought, Thormanil takes off after the figure.

"Let's get him!" Ellaria shouted, and followed on Thormanil's heels.

To no one's surprise, the being bolted into the General Store, flinging the door open and fleeing fast within.

Investigating inside, the group saw little out of place--save a well-concealed trapdoor near the back, its impeccably-disguised design foiled by the fleeing figure disappearing down it. A moment quicker and he would have vanished entirely. The three inside the shop heard the thunk of a bolt being thrown, but it mattered not--now knowing where it was, the disguised door would serve little an obstacle for their impish companion. Left a moment to breathe, the party had two options: continue their pursuit, or commence further investigation. Which would they decide?

[Sandy]

"Hybros, why don't you give that trapdoor a little punch? We can check this place out later, but now we have to catch the only human-shaped thing we've found from this village."

[swils]

Thormanil tugs at the crossbow, then the key.

[JimBee]

"Right." Hybros concentrated and focused his energy into his fist. An amber glow emanated from it, and the power of earth became imbued with his strike straight to the center of the door.

[Brickdoctor]

As I follow Hybros, I take a moment to grab the map lying on the table.

[Flipz]

Thormanil tugs at the crossbow, then the key.

With his dragon's help, the Dragoon soon stripped the wall of its valuables; the crossbow a standard one similar in strength to those found in the Marketplace, the key likely the one to the store.

Crossbow (WP:5)

As I follow Hybros, I take a moment to grab the map lying on the table.

As he pocketed the parchment, the Warden happened to notice it was not a map, but a note--but the time was not then to read it.

"Hybros, why don't you give that trapdoor a little punch? We can check this place out later, but now we have to catch the only human-shaped thing we've found from this village."

"Right." Hybros concentrated and focused his energy into his fist. An amber glow emanated from it, and the power of earth became imbued with his strike straight to the center of the door.

With a mighty blow, the door shattered before the Chi Monk's might, and the party ventured below into the darkness. Opening the ordinary door at the bottom of the cellar stairs, they soon saw a sinister sight...

...four golems, on the attack!

PREPARE FOR BATTLE!

The Enemies:

Masculine Golem

*Hastened*

*Immune to

Weakened

and

Sealed

*

Type:

Humanoid

Level:

92

Health:

617/750

Defense:

10

Special:

Expert Appraisal

- The golem appraises the target's weapon and then strikes its weak point, taking a Critical Hit in the process but subsequently reducing the target's Weapon Power to 0 for the remainder of the battle.

Drops:

Storekeeper's Note, Tower Key, Grating Stone

Feminine Golem

*Immune to

Blind

and

Confused

*

Type:

Humanoid

Level:

74

Health:

500/500

Defense:

5

Special:

Stonewall

- The Feminine Golem pushes the other golems to the Back Row for one Round. Any damage or negative effects directed at the other golems during that Round is instead redirected to the Feminine Golem.

Drops:

Emergency Essence, Pan (WP: 1; +1 Max HP; suitable for all classes)

Small Golem A

*Nimble*

Type:

Humanoid

Level:

46

Health:

400/400

Defense:

2

Special:

Rock & Roll

- The golem rolls out of reach, avoiding all action for the rest of the Round.

Drops:

2x Feather of Lithe, Smoke Bomb, 20 Gold

Small Golem B

*Nimble*

Type:

Humanoid

Level:

46

Health:

400/400

Defense:

2

Special:

Rock & Roll

- The golem rolls out of reach, avoiding all action for the rest of the Round.

Drops:

2x Feather of White, Smoke Bomb, 20 Gold

The Party:

Ellaria Arbour

(Sandy)

23 years old female human Druid

Level 30

*Immune to

Sealed

,

Poisoned

,

Bleeding

, and

Hexed

* *Ignis Fatuus: permanently

poisoned by 15

*

*Party Leader*

Power:

42

(30+12)

Defense:

7

(3+4)

Health:

46/46

(9+29+7+1)

Ether:

42/42

(5+29+5+1+2)

Gold:

193

Equipment:

Ignis Fatuus (WP:12, permanently poisoned by 15,

fire

- and

lighting

-elemental staff), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Max Ether +5, protects from sealing; bodywear), Sterile Gloves (immunity to poisoned and bleeding, handwear), Spider Helmet (SP:4, passes poisoned and bleeding effects to the enemy when the wearer is hit; headwear), Paper Doll (Protects from hexed; accessory)

Inventory:

Weapons

Sylvania's Crossbow (WP:10,

wood

-elemental crossbow), Pan Flute (WP: 7, instrument), Wizard's Staff (WP:1,

fire

-,

wind

-,

water

- and

earth

-elemental staff), Skull Shield (SP:6; immunity to

Darkness

-elemental damage; suitable to Black Knights only; shield.)

Artefacts:

Ranger's Quiver (WP: +1 to bows and crossbows. Suitable for rangers, beast warriors, infiltrators, and winged warriors), Spirit Robe (Renders wearer invisible to the enemy for the first three rounds of battle so they do not take free hits; backwear), Black Bandana (Power +3, pirate lingo; headwear),

Spell Items:

Scroll of Inspiration (Inspired for rest of battle, 10 ether, 50/50 chance) Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Serenade of Water (Causes Water damage equal to the minstrel's level to all enemies per round for as long as the song is sung. Costs 10 ether per round. Battle Song), Ruby (

Fire

)

Consumables:

3 Potions, 2 Grand Potions, 4 Health Cores, 4 Tonics, 5 Grand Tonics, Ether Core, Elixir, 2 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, Tiger Balm, 2 Phoenix Essences, 2 Meads, 2 Smelling Salts, 2 Nostrum, 2 Soma, Ambrosia, Deadly Venom, 2 Smoke Bombs, Flash Bomb, 3 Fire Bombs, Ice Bomb, 2 Lightning Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bombs, Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.)

Tools:

Bedroll, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass

Hybros (played by JimButcher)

53-year-old male imp Chi Monk

*Permanently Hastened*

*Immune to

Cursed

,

Asleep

,

Blinded

,

Confused

,

Fragile

,

Weakened

*

*Immune to all elements except wood*

*Intimidation*

*Natural Respite*

*Encouraged*

Level:

32.75

Power Bonus:

1 (6 in front row)

*

Defense:

0

Health:

53/53

(7+31+12+3*)

Ether:

34/34

(31+3)

Gold:

744

Equipment:

Golden Armor

(user is permanently hastened and cursed,

fire

-,

water

-,

earth

-,

wind

-,

ice

-,

lightning

-,

darkness

-,

light

-elemental, grants immunity to Sleep, Blindness, Confusion, Frailty, and Weakening; bodywear),

The Black Hat

(Suitable for anyone, grants

Intimidation

, immune to

darkness

and

cursed

, headwear),

Fighting Boots

(Power +5 on the front row; suitable to barbarians, knights, rogues, beast warriors, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, skirmishers, regulators and winged warriors),

Metal Claw

(Unarmed attacks drain health from the enemy equal to 50% of the strength of the attack (rounded up); handwear)

Inventory:

• Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 45.25 gains 1/4 WP every kill made with it; longsword), Zoot's Reaper (WP:15; scythe, suitable to Hybros), Clock Cog (WP:14, retrievable), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all, retrievable), Justice (WP:8, causes blinded-effect, dagger), Twin Kunai (WP:6, dual strike, daggers), Hollow Dagger (WP:6, hollow blade [nothing]; dagger), Spinning Bolas (WP: 5, deals the Slowed effect, but the effect is removed when retrieved; retrievable), Wrench (WP:3, decreases the target’s level by 1, retrievable),

• Sticky Gloves (gains 50% more gold, suitable for Rogues, handwear), Baron's Epaulets (Suitable for short heroes, grants Command over short NPCs), Cloak of the Blue Assassin (SP:1, suitable to Rogues; backwear), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; backwear), Sterile Gloves (grants immunity to poisoned- and bleeding-effects, handwear),

• Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Opal, Scroll of Luck (grants Lucky-effect for one battle, costs 10 ether)

• 13 Potions, 12 Grand Potions, 16 Health Cores, 11 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, 3 Elixirs, 3 Grand Tonics, Soma, 2 Phoenix Essences, 4 Phoenix Incenses, 2 Deadly Venoms, 3 Smoke Bombs, 3 Holy Bombs, 5 Nostrums, 4 Meads, 2 Mulled Wines, Minimizing Dust, 3 Pumpkin Bombs (causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used), 2 Gold Rings (Worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Skeleton Decoy, Bone

• Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, 4 Mythril Shards, Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently), Grating Stone

Bartholomew Docken

, Dragonslayer

(Brickdoctor)

34-year-old human male, Warden

Level 46.4

*Gains Triple XP* *Takes Halved Damage from Free Hits*

*Scary*

*Immune to

Defense Reduction

,

Removal of Positive Effects

,

Confused

,

Blinded

,

Poison

,

Fragile

,

Fire

,

Earth

,

Wind

, and

Sudden Death

*

*Counterstriking*

Power:

56

(Level 46 + WP: 10) (

Power Bonus:

0)

Defense:

23

(SP: 20 + SP: 3)

Health:

78/78

(base HP: 6 + Level bonus: 45 + Class bonus: 8 + permanent boost: 19*)

Gold:

511

(1 Gold loaned to Lord Lawrence Boomingham [Zepher])

GP:

27

Equipment:

Darksteel Crossbow

(WP: 10; inflicts the

Blinded

-effect; Crossbow),

Mythril Shield

(SP: 20; Shield),

Dread Hat

(permanent

Scary

effect; immune to

Defense Reduction

,

Removal of Positive Effects

,

Confusion

,

Blindness

,

Poison

,

Fragile

,

Fire

,

Earth

, and

Wind

; suitable for anyone; Headwear),

Mail of the Renegade Commander

(SP: 3; Damage of all Free Hits is halved; suitable for anyone; Bodywear),

Cobweb Cowl

(immune to

Sudden Death

; suitable for anyone; Backwear),

Medal of Glory

(Mark of true talent that allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles; suitable for anyone; Accessory),

Counterstrike Gloves

(After the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, he counters with strength equal to his Level; suitable for anyone; Handwear)

Inventory:

• Pan (WP: 1; +1 Max HP; suitable for all classes), Fishstick (WP: 7; deals double Damage on ships; club), Unlucky Horseshoe (WP: 13; inflicts the

Jinxed

-effect; Throwing Weapon [borrowed from Arthur Justus Regulus VII (Flipz)])

• Large Water Canteen (Carries 6 portions of water; Accessory), Aqua Gear (Adds

Water

-element to physical attacks, immune to

Water

, Accessory)

• Potions (4), Grand Potions (11), Health Cores (3), Remedies (10), Phoenix Essences (3), Phoenix Incense, Meads (2), Smelling Salts, Mulled Wine, Smoke Bombs (5), Water Bombs (5), Lightning Bombs (5), Bones (11), Venom (5), Deadly Venom, Skeleton Decoy, Teleportapple, Grating Stone, Adamantite Shards (3/4 Adamantite), Writ of Blacksmith Service (Voucher for one free weapon or shield upgrade at Anwyl's Smithy)

• Bedroll, Shovel, Magnifying Glass

• Silver Ore (60 Gold)

• Incomplete Formula (Quest Item, note, found: Blacksmith), ???'s Note (Quest Item, note, found: General Store)

Thormanil Nihai

, Dragonslayer, Orc-kin (Played by swils) and

Arx

the Youngling (

Ice

)

Level 41.8 Dragoon

*Immune to

Darkness

,

Light

,

Water

,

Fire

,

Air

,

Earth

,

Lightning

, and

Asleep

,

Blinded

,

Bound

,

Confused

,

Fragile

,

Slowed

, and

Weakened

*

*Gains Triple Experience*

Power Bonus

: +1

Defense

: 18

Health

: 60/60

Gold:

1626

Equipment:

Shishkebab (WP: 16, dual-strike,

darkness

-

elemental, lance), Iris Shield (SP: 15; reflects physical Damage back to the attacker regardless of Row or Defense, if the user survives the attack.), Bright Armor (SP: 3, Null

Darkness

), Winged Sandals (Wearer is immune to

Light

,

Water

,

Fire

,

Air

,

Earth

, and

Lightning

, and the

Asleep

,

Blinded

,

Bound

,

Confused

,

Fragile

,

Slowed

, and

Weakened

-effects), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains triple experience, accessory)

Inventory:

• Dragonsbane Lance (WP: 20, triple damage to enemies with 'Dragon' in their name, lance), Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Tongue on a Stick (WP:1, Miss -> "Aim"), Frozen Saber (WP: 9, longsword,

Stuns

enemies), Repeater Crossbow (WP: 7, crossbow. Hastened for first round of combat while equipped.), Schoolyard Sword (WP: 8 great sword), Wooden Shield (SP:5, Null

Wood

), Crossbow (WP:5)

• Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Weredog (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Accessory), Fighting Boots (Footwear, Power +5 on the front row, suitable to barbarians, knights, rogues, beast warriors, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, skirmishers, regulators, and winged warriors), Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Aqua Gear (Wearer deals and is immune to

water

-elemental damage)

• Pickaxe, Shovel, Magnifying Glass

• 2x Amethyst (

Darkness

), Emerald (

Wood

), Opal (

Ice

),

• Potion, 2x Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Neutralizer, Milk

• Mead, 2x Nostrum, Smelling Salts, 2x Mulled Wine, Jinxy Juice

• 2x Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, 2x Smoke Bomb, Ice Bomb, 5x Water Bomb

• 3x Venom, 2x Deadly Venom,

• 2x Grating Stone, Bright Polish, Teleportapple

Party Leader, please post the order of actions. Everyone else, choose your actions.

Edited November 15, 2014 by Flipz

[Sandy]

OoC: Care to clarify what the *Evasive*-effect is, please?

"Oh, there is a whole family of them!" Ellaria noted. She had a bad feeling about this. "What if this is what has become of the villagers...?"

Sticking to back row, Ellaria consumes Smelling Salts and casts a spell from the Scroll of Weakening on the Feminine Golem.

Battle Order:

Docken

Thormanil

Ellaria

Ellaria

Hybros

Hybros

[Flipz]

OoC: Care to clarify what the *Evasive*-effect is, please?

QM Note: It's the same effect as granted by the Feather of Lithe...oh, wait, I used the wrong name for the effect. Let me just fix that...

It's a 1/3 chance to dodge incoming damage and counterstrikes.

[Brickdoctor]

"I'll get the Masculine Golem. Even if he nullifies my Weapon Power, well, it's not as if I deal that much Damage anyways. And it would be nice if he were Blinded so that it were safer for Master Hybros to attack him, considering that Master Hybros doesn't use a weapon."

I attack the Masculine Golem from the Back Row with my Darksteel Crossbow.

[swils]

Shishkebab, front row, vs Small Golem A.