Heroica RPG - Quest #128: A Study in Red Death

[samurai-turtle]

Finding the "red pouch" wonders what is inside and check it out.

Hearing Na'im's words decided to use his Magnifying Glass to check out the "Red Pouch" for any tricks.

[Waterbrick Down]

Boris turns his back on the dwarf. "Germ finish up with that pouch and let's head back to the doctor."

Edited May 24, 2015 by Waterbrick Down

[Enceladus]

"I guess you can't see the reality of things with all that thick crust around your eyes - gold runs this world and gold speaks much more louder than any word, even yours and mine. The spider was ready to kill us for it! Now I wasn't going to betray my colleagues for gold. Like I said previously and before slaughtering these fine folk like pigs, we should hear them out and see there gold. A real hero knows when to spare a life when deemed necessary."

Mhinak looks furious at Boris.

"You know what? You're not even worth arguing with. Let's go."

Na'im sneers at the Mihnak "You have no idea what you are talking about dwarf" Na'im says for once abandoning the pretext 'master' "You speak of your love gold and then you talk of your duties as a hero! There is nothing heroic in sparing a life dwarf-only necessity dictates when and where slaughter should occur." He pauses for a second his clipped and snide tone vanishing for a second "Perhaps" he says quietly "you should leave the true heroes round here to decide on a course of action and next time think with your head instead of your hand cannon since you clearly seem incapable of seperating business and heroics"

[Yzalirk]

Na'im sneers at the Mihnak "You have no idea what you are talking about dwarf" Na'im says for once abandoning the pretext 'master' "You speak of your love gold and then you talk of your duties as a hero! There is nothing heroic in sparing a life dwarf-only necessity dictates when and where slaughter should occur." He pauses for a second his clipped and snide tone vanishing for a second "Perhaps" he says quietly "you should leave the true heroes round here to decide on a course of action and next time think with your head instead of your hand cannon since you clearly seem incapable of seperating business and heroics"

"For the record, it's one thing to stop a small bar fight or a petty thief, but to risk my life against skilled assassins who could kill us a moments notice is a completely other thing, so of course, I'd gladly take the gold for doing so. What I suggested earlier was that we hear them out, see what they have to say. They spoke of nothing useful and engaged us. Now let me ask you this, Na'im, who do you consider a hero - us or them? In their eyes, they're the heroes and we're the villains. The same thing applies with us but vice versa."

[Waterbrick Down]

Boris turns back, "What did you think you were signing up for?" Boris pauses for a moment, considering his next statement, "Heroes take the hard route even to their own detriment, if you were looking for something different you came to the wrong place."

[Enceladus]

"If I remember correctly we killed those so-called assassins just fine master Mihnak" says Na'im cooly "But of course if you ask who I considor a true hero, the answer is staring you In the face!" Na'im says sweeping his arms and indicating the rest of the party

Boris turns back, "What did you think you were signing up for?" Boris pauses for a moment, considering his next statement, "Heroes take the hard route even to their own detriment, if you were looking for something different you came to the wrong place."

"It certainly seems that way sometimes" Na'im says his breath

[Cutcobra]

Hearing Na'im's words decided to use his Magnifying Glass to check out the "Red Pouch" for any tricks.

Germ finds no traps in he small red pouch. As Boris insisted on leaving, he had no choice but to keep it for later.

As the heroes argue about being heroes or not, Rhyszicz and his friend look like they are about to start a speech and they all stay silent.[/i]

"Au revoir, my friendz. That mean zomething in charisian. Thank you very very much for zave me and Warkboofy. We iz very grateful."

"Woof! Bark! Woof... <I don't know what he just said, but I assume he just said goodbye and thanked you all for saving his life. Predictable. Anyways, I must also say farewell, even though only the nice dwarf with a weird eye can understand me for some reason. Guess it's hunting time for me and Rhyszicz... again.>"

Warkboofhine does a sound that can be resembled as a canine sigh. Rhyszicz looks at the sad direwolf and begins speaking in barks and growls.

"Woofz! Barkz! <Don't worry. Azzazzination might not be az bad az I thought it waz, and it really iz much more efficient than hunting. What do you zay, old friend? Want to experience the thrill of a new life again?>"

The direwolf raises his eyes and both him and the hunter set off into the night.

Rhyszicz and Warkboofhine have left the party!

:dsweet:

The heroes enter the alchemist's house once again (except for Nalguz who watches from the outside), and find the red assassin still intact and the doctor patiently waiting.

"Finally. You imbeciles sure took your time. I do not know what was so difficult to understand; Get my elixir back. Did your small little brains not catch that or was there some other problem that kept you from completing the easiest of tasks? Now, my potion if you please."

Party:

Boris Bruhalv (Waterbrick Down) *Party Leader*

38 year old male vampire Cleric *Immune to Stunned and Poisoned*

Level 8

Power: 11 (8 + 3)

Defense: 2 (2)

Health: 14/16 (16)

Ether: 8/12 (10)

Gold: 3

Equipment: Simple Mace (WP: 3, mace), Rusty Chainmail (SP: 2, Immune to Stunned and Poison)

Inventory: 2 Potions, 4 Remedies, Phoenix Essence, 4 Tonics, 1 Sleep Bomb, 3x Blind Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb (Deals 10 Fire damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Dirt Bomb (Deals 10 Ground damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Holy Bomb (Deals 10 Holy damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Lightning Bomb (Deals 10 Lightning damage to all opponents when used), Floral Bomb, Defender's Ring (Accessory, Rolls of "Heal Less" become "Heal"), Bone, Red Elixir (Quest Item)

Name -The Demon Germ (Samurai Turtle)

??? years old ; Half Demon; Male Rogue *Immune to Darkness*

Level - 8

Power - 13

Defense - 1

Health - 13/14

Ether - 0

Gold - 81

Equipped - Sanctified Rito Gypsy Dart (WP:5, doubled against Flying enemies; throwing weapon), Shadow Cloak (SP:1, immune to Darkness; backwear, suitable for anyone)

Inventory -

- Weapons - Wrench (WP:3, decreases the target’s level by 1; throwing weapon), Darker Ethereal Deck (WP:7; throwing weapon)[Holding for Lind Whisperer]

- Gear / Armor - Red Shield (SP: 8)

- Gems / Scrolls -

- Consumables - Potion (x2), Level-Up Mushroom [Loaned to Lind Whisperer], Phoenix Essence, Floral Bomb, Bone, Deadly Venom

- Tools - Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass,

- Others - Gold Ring (worth 15 gold, or can be given to someone else to make them Enamored with the giver), Red Pouch (What does it hold?; Quest Item)

- [Decamon Cards - Will-o'-Wisp (Fiery 1) ; Carrion Squirrel (Dark 1) ; Glow Worm (Luminous 1)

Mhinak, 40 Year Old Dwarf

Level 4 Ranger

Power: 7

Health: 9/9

Gold: 10

Equipment: Wooden Hand Cannon (WP:3)

Inventory: Red Handcannon (WP: 8), Potion, Smoke Bomb, Emerald, Phoenix Essence, Bone

Nalguz the Infinite, 63 year old male Arachanoid Rogue.

Level 4

Power: 7

Health: 10/10

Gold: 0

Equipment: Liquid Metal Dagger Façade (WP:3, Dagger)

Inventory: Cloak of the Red Assassin (Increases chance of assassination to 1/3; suitable to Assassins), Liquid Metal Enchanted Whip Façade (WP:1, 1/2 chance to cause enamoured), Potion, Venom, Phoenix Essence, Floral Bomb, 2x Bone

Na'im Thamir (Enceladus)

2,314 year old Male Fenarian Cleric

Level 4

Power: 7

Health: 10/12

Max ether: 6/7

Gold: 0

Equipment: Lucerna Beautus (WP: 3, Staff)

Inventory: Badge of the Smokemaster (Max. Ether +5; User can spend 5 ether in each battle to make the whole party flee; suitable to classes with ether; accessory), Potion, Remedy, Smoke Bomb, Phoenix Essence, Bedroll, 2x Bone

[Waterbrick Down]

OoC: Boris words were to finish up with the pouch before moving on, which would indicate Germ had plenty of time to figure out what was inside it. Your call, but just wanted to clarify it wasn't Boris's intention.

"We ran into some issues with the actual assassins. Fear not though, your potion is intact." Boris hands the Elixer to the doctor.

[samurai-turtle]

"Woofz! Barkz! <Don't worry. Azzazzination might not be az bad az I thought it waz, and it really iz much more efficient than hunting. What do you zay, old friend? Want to experience the thrill of a new life again?>"

"Finally. You imbeciles sure took your time. I do not know what was so difficult to understand; Get my elixir back. Did your small little brains not catch that or was there some other problem that kept you from completing the easiest of tasks? Now, my potion if you please."

It seems like some one wants to try a new path in life. Some how picking up something in the process.

If it was so easy you should of just got it your self.

Just hurry up and save him. Pointing to the so called nephew.

[Enceladus]

"Now really doctor!" Exclaims Na'im "we have just risked our lives several times over to recover your precious elixir. We have done precisely as you have asked so I do not see what the harm is. If anything we deserve a clap on the back and our promised reward" Na'im concludes with a wry smile

[Cutcobra]

If it was so easy you should of just got it your self.

Just hurry up and save him. Pointing to the so called nephew.

"Exactly. It was too easy. Do you actually think a man like me has time for mediocre tasks?"

The doctor quickly grabs the potion and starts taking out some scrolls. This time, there wasn't any smoke or suspense. After the last drop left the cure, the red assassin stopped coughing and slowly started getting up.

"Nephew. You almost had me worried. As you see, I wouldn't want that precious potion wasted on you for nothing."

The other half-orc appears happy.

"Uncle! Rillo thanks you for saving him. Rillo is sorry for wasting your potion, but Rillo doesn't know what happened. One minute Rillo knocks on your door, and th-"

The alchemist quickly interrupted him.

"Shush now. You are confused. Clearly this abominable near death experience has left you confused. You came to my door like this, do you not remember?"

"Umm.. not really... but you are smarter than Rillo so you are probably right."

"You know it."

Ralli walks to the a bookcase and opens it with a key. He takes out six items and immediately closes the bookcase again.

"I would of course have given you better items but you just had to be so slow, didn't you? Now, one each."

Scroll of Blindness (Enables casting the blinded-effect to the target, making them unable to use a physical attack for the next three rounds. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.)

Scroll of Confusion (Enables casting the confused-effect to the target, during which they have a 50/50 chance of targeting an ally instead of its opponents. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.)

Scroll of Frailty (Enables casting the fragile-effect to the target, causing it to take double damage for the next three rounds. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.)

Scroll of Sealing (Enables casting the sealed-effect to the target, making them unable to use a special skill for the next three rounds. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.)

Scroll of Sleep: (Enables casting the asleep-effect to the target, forcing them to miss its turn for three rounds or until woken up by an attack. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.)

Scroll of Weakening (Enables casting the weakened-effect to the target, halving their level for the next three rounds.. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.)

What will the party do?

[Robert10ant]

"I'lL tAkE The sCroLL Of FRailItY, dOc."

[Waterbrick Down]

"Hold up a second doctor. Something isn't adding up, why do you keep calling him Rillo, his name is Zug. Plus the only way he would have contracted the red death is if he didn't finish an assignment and last we checked it seems you were the one preventing him from completing his assignment? Did you actually inflict the red death upon him?"

[samurai-turtle]

"Exactly. It was too easy. Do you actually think a man like me has time for mediocre tasks?"

"I would of course have given you better items but you just had to be so slow, didn't you? Now, one each."

It might do you some good, in the long run if you do some "mediocre tasks".

Wait, their is a chance for better items. Kind of wondering, if their is some way to get them.

I guess it does not mater to me what scroll I get. I will take what ever is left. Directing more towards the party than the "Doc".

A little surprise by Boris' comments to the "Doc". Thinking about time you wise up a little. Then waiting for the "Doc" to answer. Thinking this could turn into another fight.

[Enceladus]

"We had a deal master Bookeater. I sincerely hope you are giving us our full reward" Na'im says his voice dangerously soft and hollow.

Na'im glances fearfully at Boris. He wanted his reward and was afraid that if Boris continued to argue, the alchemist may refuse to reward then all together!

"I'll have the scroll of sealing if you may master Bookeater" Na'im says hastily

[samurai-turtle]

I guess it does not mater to me what scroll I get. I will take what ever is left. Directing more towards the party than the "Doc".

Thinking about it some more, I guess I will take the Scroll Of Blindness if no one else wants it.

[Cutcobra]

"Hold up a second doctor. Something isn't adding up, why do you keep calling him Rillo, his name is Zug. Plus the only way he would have contracted the red death is if he didn't finish an assignment and last we checked it seems you were the one preventing him from completing his assignment? Did you actually inflict the red death upon him?"

"Ehem, Rillo here came to me all bloody and due to my sense of generosity I decided to help my family."

"Umm, yes! Rillo's name is Rillo. At least Rillo thinks it is Rillo..."

"We had a deal master Bookeater. I sincerely hope you are giving us our full reward" Na'im says his voice dangerously soft and hollow.

"I still have to make you known to the guild and unless your vampire friend stops with his ridiculous questions you can say goodbye to that reputation."

[Waterbrick Down]

Boris nods his head in understanding to the doctor, "Excuse me a moment." Quietly the cleric motions to Germ, "You best figure out what's in that pouch" The vampire pulls Na'im and aside and silently converses with the Fenarian. "What are your thoughts? How can Rillo not be sure of his own name? The assassins kept mentioning Zug, and Rillo here seems pretty unsure of everything before he arrived. Not to mention the doc seems pretty hasty to kick us out of here."

[Cutcobra]

As Germ opens the red pouch he found, he finds 500 gold in it.

Edited May 28, 2015 by Cutcobra

[Yzalirk]

OoC: Sorry I haven't posted yesterday, I didn't know what to say. I wanted to say something in a Dwarven text but I couldn't find anything for so. This should make up up for it.

Mhinak looks at Rhyszicz and Warkboofhine and smiles and responds.

"GhulGlus miz mauri. That means good day my friends, in my tongue. Farewell to the both of you, stay safe and I hope for a safe return for the both of you."

Mhinak scratches Warkboofhine's head and walks towards the house of the pompous alchemist. He overhears the chatter from Boris being peculiar about the alchemist and his name. Mhinak focuses his left "eye" to the alchemist.

"You and I both know that he is not your nephew. You act strange, even for someone with your particular set of skills. Clearly you have that man on some sort of poison that is corrupting his memory. So where did you abduct Zug and why?"

Mhinak uses his "eye" to study Doctor Bookeater for any flaws, like sweat beating from his forehead and what not.

[Enceladus]

Na'im scratches his chin and frowns "I don't know master Burehalv." He says quietly: "the assassins tale dose seem to add up. It is clear to me that the doctor and the assassin are not even distantly related and I would hazard a guess that the assassin is under some sort of enchantment that the doctor administered soon after knocking him out on his doorstep. But make us leave early? If our assassin friend here recovers I think the doctor will struggle to hold his own against him without our help-no I think he wants us out of the way so he can dispose of him quietly-a knife in the back perhaps.But it dose raise the question master Burehalv: is it any of our business-I mean we have finished the job we were set." Na'im finishes looking interestedly over at Boris

Na'im turns to the doctor "Now correct me if I am wrong master Bookeater, but it seems that the place where your nephew ended up in this sorry state was right on your very front door! The assassins we met even boasted an elite member had been sent to the house before them 'to deal with your nephew'!" Na'im says meaningfully making it clear to the heroes he was referring to the assassin leaders words "Certainly the attacker could still be at large! Tell me young Rillo did you see anything unusual when you arrived at this house-as a matter of fact what were you doing here in the first place?"

Suddenly Na'im turns to Boris and grips his arm "the hunter and his hound-do you think it's a coincidence they showed up when they did? And the hound did let slip his master killed targets for gold-what if they were the elite red assassins? We never did look at that contract of his did we?"

[Waterbrick Down]

"But they had a contract to remove the druid, who just so happened to be setting up vines to block our way when pursuing the assassins, seems strange that the Druid, a target of the assassins, would want to assist in their escape. Plus remember that they helped us track down the other assassins. I agree we've fulfilled our end of the contract, but should we let another man suffer simply because we turned a blind eye?"

[samurai-turtle]

As Germ opens the red pouch he found, he finds 500 gold in it.

For a second he think about keeping it but the others know he has it. I guess I will tell them later about it. Turning to Boris: It was what I thought it was, I will show you later. And puts pouch away for safety.

Na'im, that seems unlikely about our "new friends". And it seemed like they are thinking about becoming assassins to me. Then hearing Boris remarks stated: If any thing the "Druid" was with the "Red Assassins".

Then trying to trigger his memory: See you later "Zug Rillo" or is it "Rillo Zug"?

Edited May 28, 2015 by samuraiturtle

[Enceladus]

"I suppose" sighs Na'im looking somewhat dejected

"But they had a contract to remove the druid, who just so happened to be setting up vines to block our way when pursuing the assassins, seems strange that the Druid, a target of the assassins, would want to assist in their escape. Plus remember that they helped us track down the other assassins. I agree we've fulfilled our end of the contract, but should we let another man suffer simply because we turned a blind eye?"

Na'im stares at Boris for a while after his last statement "You are a very strange cleric you realise master Burehalv" Na'im says slowly removing his glasses as to see Boris better "In my land most people, even clerics-especially clerics-would just leave the orc to suffer. Selflesness is not a trait that is highly valued back in Fenario, you see. Wrong it may be to leave the man to suffer at the doctors hands but when we go home today, it will hardly affect our futures whether he lives or dies. He is but one man and we owe him nothing. I ask again, why should we intervene?" His pupiless red eyes never once leaving Boris' face. He sounds more curious than angry

[Waterbrick Down]

Boris gazes at Na'im as the other cleric's words register and then at Rillo, "'The roller of a stone will have it roll over them; the digger of a trap will fall into it.' Sayings of Molonos section twenty six, stanza twenty seven. Rillo has chosen the path of the Red Assassin, if this is where it has brought him, then so be it. The scroll of Sleep, Master Bookeater. If the dwarf desires a scroll, let him speak, If not we shall take our leave."

Edited May 29, 2015 by Waterbrick Down