Heroica RPG - Quest #138: Fade To Black

[Waterbrick Down]

The Munchkin rolled his eyes. "...Let me try explaining it as I might to another human, of a few less years than you. Say, about seventy-two.

Time. Does. Not. Pass. The same. Here.

Going at a normal speed, this whole jaunt would have only lasted a "few seconds." With our conversation, it will have lasted perhaps - and I'm being generous - two "few seconds". Vorpalis is fast, but if he could kill everyone on the island in less than a minute, I'm pretty sure he would have done it by now."

"I have a way with words..."

"Though what that way is, we may never know. Or wish to..." The ogre chuckled.

[Lind Whisperer]

Realism, something I can understand.

"Seconded."

Though why you're bothering to even spread this information when you have intentions of staying anonymous, beats me."

"Excellent question..."

The ogre paused at Lind's eloquent waxing and Jinnipher's questioning, "I'd think there wasn't enough meat nor conversation to satisfy the dragon."

"Munchkins aren't short," the Munchkin muttered.

"Though what that way is, we may never know. Or wish to..." The ogre chuckled.

"I out-talked an Elvish Mystic Knight once. That was an accomplishment."

[Endgame]

"Southern Ennon originally, for the past 5 years or so, Eubric Freeport. So it all comes down to numbers then? Realism, something I can understand. Though why you're bothering to even spread this information when you have intentions of staying anonymous, beats me." The ogre paused at Lind's eloquent waxing and Jinnipher's questioning, "I'd think there wasn't enough meat nor conversation to satisfy the dragon."

"Southern Ennon - Nathuz and Draida bay, right? Nice place. I ask, if only to prove my point that we have a global operation. Used to be a village of magicians there, studied in Earth magic. Used magical golems to protect the village. Smart. Thought it would've been a good idea to try and animate the smalles mountain of the Nathuz range as a golem. Not smart. Containing them was an... effort, but at least no blood was shed. Damn idiots would've sent a huge rock slide hurtling towards Draida otherwise.

You're sharp, Skrall - I was waiting for one of you to catch onto the name thing. As soon as someone nails down my name in a text, I change it. Been using Charon for a solid twelve centuries now, but its beginning to outlive its use, I think..."

The Munchkin rolled his eyes. "...Let me try explaining it as I might to another human, of a few less years than you. Say, about seventy-two.

Time. Does. Not. Pass. The same. Here.

Going at a normal speed, this whole jaunt would have only lasted a "few seconds." With our conversation, it will have lasted perhaps - and I'm being generous - two "few seconds". Vorpalis is fast, but if he could kill everyone on the island in less than a minute, I'm pretty sure he would have done it by now."

"I have a way with words..."

"Right now about a single minute has passed in Moone. We're almost at our stop..."

QM Note: I'm about to fall asleep on the keyboard, so I'll have to get you to Yukumo tomorrow. Hope you enjoyed this 3 page bonanza in eschaton.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Endgame

[JimBee]

The Munchkin rolled his eyes. "...Let me try explaining it as I might to another human, of a few less years than you. Say, about seventy-two.

Time. Does. Not. Pass. The same. Here.

Going at a normal speed, this whole jaunt would have only lasted a "few seconds." With our conversation, it will have lasted perhaps - and I'm being generous - two "few seconds". Vorpalis is fast, but if he could kill everyone on the island in less than a minute, I'm pretty sure he would have done it by now."

"I have a way with words..."

Jinnipher had had enough. She turned around quickly as if she was about to slap Lind across the face, but somehow resisted. Surprisingly, she didn't shout the words after. "Do NOT lecture to me as if you are superior to me. You are a child who thinks he knows everything because some cultists in the woods wrote a book about nonsense. This might be news to you, but you and your kind are absolutely insane. You know nothing outside of the scripts you read in your little forest, and you lack in any real knowledge from experience. And in your short, useless life you have belligerently refused to gain anything from your experiences other than apply the nonsense of your cult religion to them. In place of your conscience is a void that selectively filters out truth and sucks in twisted versions of it. You have no business being a 'hero' or any other kind of mercenary, period. I will make sure the King knows of your incompetence after that dragon is killed, if you are not killed first."

She removed all of Lind's lent equipment and shoved them back into his arms. "I can't even stand to touch anything tainted by your sheer ineptitude, let alone wear it."

[Lind Whisperer]

You're sharp, Skrall - I was waiting for one of you to catch onto the name thing. As soon as someone nails down my name in a text, I change it. Been using Charon for a solid twelve centuries now, but its beginning to outlive its use, I think..."

"I've always thought Urshanabi was a nice name..."

Jinnipher had had enough. She turned around quickly as if she was about to slap Lind across the face, but somehow resisted. Surprisingly, she didn't shout the words after. "Do NOT lecture to me as if you are superior to me. You are a child who thinks he knows everything because some cultists in the woods wrote a book about nonsense. This might be news to you, but you and your kind are absolutely insane. You know nothing outside of the scripts you read in your little forest, and you lack in any real knowledge from experience. And in your short, useless life you have belligerently refused to gain anything from your experiences other than apply the nonsense of your cult religion to them. In place of your conscience is a void that selectively filters out truth and sucks in twisted versions of it. You have no business being a 'hero' or any other kind of mercenary, period. I will make sure the King knows of your incompetence after that dragon is killed, if you are not killed first."

She removed all of Lind's lent equipment and shoved them back into his arms. "I can't even stand to touch anything tainted by your sheer ineptitude, let alone wear it."

Lind sighed.

"...Yeah, I have a way with women, too..." he muttered.

[Waterbrick Down]

"Southern Ennon - Nathuz and Draida bay, right? Nice place. I ask, if only to prove my point that we have a global operation. Used to be a village of magicians there, studied in Earth magic. Used magical golems to protect the village. Smart. Thought it would've been a good idea to try and animate the smallest mountain of the Nathuz range as a golem. Not smart. Containing them was an... effort, but at least no blood was shed. Damn idiots would've sent a huge rock slide hurtling towards Draida otherwise.

You're sharp, Skrall - I was waiting for one of you to catch onto the name thing. As soon as someone nails down my name in a text, I change it. Been using Charon for a solid twelve centuries now, but its beginning to outlive its use, I think..."

"I'm sure your work was... unappreciated. Yeh, that's the place. As fer names, I'd suggest something simple and unmemorable if yer shootin' for stayin' behind the curtain and all that."

"...Yeah, I have a way with women, too..." he muttered.

"I know a book that could fix that for ya..."

Edited July 24, 2015 by Waterbrick Down

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Karie decides it best to stay out of the ensuing argument between Lind and Jinnipher, and turns to Warlen.

"Soooo... got any interesting stories you'd like to share with me?"

Warlen looked at her oddly, then motioned for her to come away from the rest of the groups hearing.

"I... I think I've encountered Vorpalis before."

"I out-talked an Elvish Mystic Knight once. That was an accomplishment."

"Me? When did that happen?"

[Lind Whisperer]

"Me? When did that happen?"

"Not you, another Mystic Knight, on a different quest."

[Kintobor]

Warlen looked at her oddly, then motioned for her to come away from the rest of the groups hearing.

"I... I think I've encountered Vorpalis before."

Karie's eyes widened. She spoke to Warlen in a hushed voice, making sure the others didn't hear, particularly Fake Ears.

"Okay, I meant more along the lines of stuff you've seen while with this organization, but... okay, I'm all ears."

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Warlen took a deep breath, thinking back to the day, many years ago now.

"Many years ago, I was being trained by the elder mages, back in my home forest. It was a good, if not particularly exiting life. Anyway, one day, I heard that this dragon was nearby. A bunch of the other apprentices had heard about it, and, well, no one knew it's real name. At the time, we all just called it 'Nebulae', seeing how we had no idea what it even looked like.

Anyway, long story short, instead of the myth fading away, as myths do, it got worse. Eventually, the elders, including dad, started hiring people to fight it, among them the birdhouse wizard, the mad sorcerer, and some guy called Vecna. Later on it got to the point where anyone could come up and take a shot. That was when I met my friend Quarion. Back then he was still a living being. So anyway, we become friends, and then eventually the day comes when he was to face this 'Nebulae' fellow. "

Warlen sighs.

"It didn't go well. Quarion was burned by the Dragons hellfire, and basically died. No one could save him without endangering themselves, exposing themselves to the darkness. No one was willing to risk it. Well, almost no one."

Warlen turned back to Karie.

"I'm sure you can fill in who the dragon was, and what happened to me."

[Kintobor]

Warlen turned back to Karie.

"I'm sure you can fill in who the dragon was, and what happened to me."

"That was a pretty courageous thing you did there." Karie remarks, feeling guilty for potentially stirring up trauma. She takes a moment to take in everything Warlen said before responding. "Yeah, I've seen a party member get impaled and her soul sucked out by a psychopathic Progg. It's not something you ever forget, seeing carnage." Karie didn't like Erdathcath, but not even she deserved that.

"Why don't I change the subject? You dating anyone? A crush? I don't judge."

[The Chosen Minifigure]

"That was a pretty courageous thing you did there." Karie remarks, feeling guilty for potentially stirring up trauma. She takes a moment to take in everything Warlen said before responding. "Yeah, I've seen a party member get impaled and her soul sucked out by a psychopathic Progg. It's not something you ever forget, seeing carnage." Karie didn't like Erdathcath, but not even she deserved that

"Was that frog, or did I actually hear Progg?"

"Why don't I change the subject? You dating anyone? A crush? I don't judge."

Warlen blushed and looked awkwardly away, the image of a certain redheaded elf springing into his mind.

[Kintobor]

"Was that frog, or did I actually hear Progg?"

Warlen blushed and looked awkwardly away, the image of a certain redheaded elf springing into his mind.

"Progg. Big scorpion like creature, but not stupid." Karie states, making a pincer like motion with her hands. She gleams at Warlen mischievously as he blushes.

"Come on, who is it?" Karie inquires, grinning.

[The Chosen Minifigure]

"Progg. Big scorpion like creature, but not stupid."Karie states, making a pincer like motion with her hands.

"An actual giant scorpion, or something similar? Because I may have fought a Progg..."

She gleams at Warlen mischievously as he blushes.

"Come on, who is it?" Karie inquires, grinning.

His face turning as red as his spell when he helped defeat the aforementioned scorpion.

"You know that *mumble mumble mumble*?"

[Endgame]

"Already used Urshanabi."

Charon looks to Warlen.

"On the bright side, very few get two chances at the Vorpal Conqueror. And speaking of which..."

Charon stops in his tracks, lifts his cane, and uses it to tear open a portal.

"Out you go. Pleasure talking to you."

The party steps through the ring of light. Eschaton flickers away, and the smoggy Moone returns...

"Warlen as correct. Charon was... I think terrifying was the right word. I think."

The party finds themselves transported from the serene gardens of Charon's realm to the slightly dilapidated gate to Yukumo.

"...Care to explain why you guys just poofed in from thin air?"

"Someone else besides me should, I imagine."

Edited July 24, 2015 by Endgame

[Lind Whisperer]

"Already used Urshanabi."

"Rats."

Charon stops in his tracks, lifts his cane, and uses it to tear open a portal.

"...Okay, that's just plain awesome."

"Out you go. Pleasure talking to you."

"Very, very much the same to you, sir! Many, many thanks for the trip!"

The party steps through the ring of light. Eschaton flickers away, and the smoggy Moone returns...

"Warlen as correct. Charon was... I think terrifying was the right word. I think."

"I thought he was quite charming."

The party finds themselves transported from the serene gardens of Charon's realm to the slightly dilapidated gate to Yukumo.

The Munchkin lowered his voice, seeing the person standing under the gate."Glad to see this place didn't get hit as hard as Cenauri..."

"...Care to explain why you guys just poofed in from thin air?"

"Someone else besides me should, I imagine."

"I guess that's my queue..." The Munchkin took a stance, and waved his arms in the air as he spoke, trying to demonstrate the principles he was describing.

"We are travelers who have come from a great distance away. Well, Cenauri. But, we did travel a great distance. As a shortcut. Through the very fabrics of space, time, and dimension. A journey powered and enabled by a higher understanding of the higher laws of ether, ley-lines, and..." The Munchkin realized that everyone's eyes had glazed over during the sentence.

"Okay, imagine an apron. You have an ant standing on one end of the apron, and he wants to get to the other end. So, you use ether...or your hands, actually, your hands are standing in for ether-powered magic in this case, to draw the two corners of the apron together. The apron represents the fabric of space and time. Which is a thing.

Anyways, you hold the two corners of the apron together, and the ant then only has to travel a tiny fraction of the distance that it would have originally had to travel to cross the full length of the apron. So...The whole world is actually a giant apron, and we had a magician hold its corners together so we could travel faster. And escape a dragon."

[Endgame]

"I thought he was quite charming."

"I measure how formidable someone is based on how lethal they are. I am virtually never outright afraid of someone, because besides my... condition, I can think of a way to kill virtually anyone. Not Charon. I suspect he could've killed us before we could've done much of anything."

Sandman shakes his head and looks away from the poor woman as Lind speaks.

"I thought we already established communication was not your forte back in the garden."

Meanwhile, the woman raises an eyebrow, looking confused.

"Are you on drugs?"

[Kintobor]

"An actual giant scorpion, or something similar? Because I may have fought a Progg..."

His face turning as red as his spell when he helped defeat the aforementioned scorpion.

"You know that *mumble mumble mumble*?"

"Something similar. They can talk. Where did you fight this thing? That might help clarify what I'm talking about." Karie taps Warlen in the ribs her elbow lightly about his apparent love interest.

"Their name's "mumble mumble mumble"? Must be rather forgettable." Karie remarks, still grinning in her mischievous mood. She trying to get a rise out of Warlen.

"I guess that's my queue..." The Munchkin took a stance, and waved his arms in the air as he spoke, trying to demonstrate the principles he was describing.

"We are travelers who have come from a great distance away. Well, Cenauri. But, we did travel a great distance. As a shortcut. Through the very fabrics of space, time, and dimension. A journey powered and enabled by a higher understanding of the higher laws of ether, ley-lines, and..." The Munchkin realized that everyone's eyes had glazed over during the sentence.

"Okay, imagine an apron.

"You're the kind of person who would find a puppet master about as endearing as his puppets." Karie retorted before waving her arms in order to signify Lind should stop.

"Okay, look, stop, stop, stop. You had a chance for queuing yourself when you went headlong into a dragon's maw, now it's time you sat down and let someone who's qualified to yap do the yapping."Karie exclaimed, sounding irritated. She dusted herself off and looked towards the girl.

"I'm sorry about him, he's compensating. My name is Karie, and these are my cohorts. We managed to use some magic to get here. Teleportation, sort of, if that makes sense. We've been hired to take care of Vorpalis. Is it possible you could lead us into town?"

Edited July 24, 2015 by Kintobor

[Lind Whisperer]

"I thought we already established communication was not your forte back in the garden."

"Hey, you want to try explaining ether-fueled tesseraction, be my guest."

Meanwhile, the woman raises an eyebrow, looking confused.

"Are you on drugs?"

"No, you're thinking of the guy with the handcannon. I'm the sane man of the group. Of course, if I was the insane one, then I'd be thinking I wasn't the insane one. But if I wasn't sane, then I wouldn't be wondering if I wasn't.

Probably."

"Okay, look, stop, stop, stop. You had a chance for queuing yourself when you went headlong into a dragon's maw, now it's time you sat down and let someone who's qualified to yap do the yapping."Karie exclaimed, sounding irritated. She dusted herself off and looked towards the girl.

"Fine, you try explaining it..."

"I'm sorry about him, he's compensating.

*yawn* *eyeroll*

"First rule of mark. My name is Karie, and these are my cohorts. We managed to use some magic to get here. Teleportation, sort of, if that makes sense.

"But it wasn't teleportation! Teleporation is instantaneous travel between two points..."

We've been hired to take care of Vorpalis. Is it possible you could lead us into town?"

"And shopping, what stores are still open?"

[The Chosen Minifigure]

"Something similar. They can talk. Where did you fight this thing? That might help clarify what I'm talking about."

"Not a Progg, then. It was just a big, big scorpion."

Karie taps Warlen in the ribs her elbow lightly about his apparent love interest.

"Their name's "mumble mumble mumble"? Must be rather forgettable." Karie remarks, still grinning in her mischievous mood. She trying to get a rise out of Warlen.

Warlen looks at her, about to defend the elf, but sees the mirth in Karies eyes and sighs. "You know that redheaded elf?", he asks.

"I'm sorry about him, he's compensating. My name is Karie, and these are my cohorts. We managed to use some magic to get here. Teleportation, sort of, if that makes sense. We've been hired to take care of Vorpalis. Is it possible you could lead us into town?"

"That was much more well put. You told all the necessary information in about an eighth of the time, and didn't come off as crazy! Bravo!"

[Kintobor]

"No, you're thinking of the guy with the handcannon. I'm the sane man of the group. Of course, if I was the insane one, then I'd be thinking I wasn't the insane one. But if I wasn't sane, then I wouldn't be wondering if I wasn't.

"Pffft." Karie can't help but giggle as Lind tries explaining himself. "Oh, you're a riot, Lind."

Warlen looks at her, about to defend the elf, but sees the mirth in Karies eyes and sighs. "You know that redheaded elf?", he asks.

"That was much more well put. You told all the necessary information in about an eighth of the time, and didn't come off as crazy! Bravo!"

"Redheaded... I've met a brunette elf? With the freckles? She's the one you're with? Or are you looking to date her?" Karie winks.

Karie bows towards Warlen. "Thank you! I appreciate the stroking of my ego!"

[The Chosen Minifigure]

"Redheaded... I've met a brunette elf? With the freckles? She's the one you're with? Or are you looking to date her?" Karie winks.

Warlen, still looking a bit flustered, nods, shakes his head, tilts his head to think, before amending himself. "Brunette. Annienal. Looking to."

Ooc-I'm gonna be honest here, that was a typo.

Karie bows towards Warlen. "Thank you! I appreciate the stroking of my ego!"

"Yours is... tolerable..." he mutters, shooting a glance at Lind.

Edited July 24, 2015 by The Chosen Minifigure

[Lind Whisperer]

"Pffft." Karie can't help but giggle as Lind tries explaining himself. "Oh, you're a riot, Lind."

"That's what they tell me.

They also tell me to "get down off the soap box". Something or other about "disturbing the public peace"..."

"Redheaded... I've met a brunette elf? With the freckles? She's the one you're with? Or are you looking to date her?" Karie winks.

Overhearing the words "brunette, elf, and freckles, a certain Munchkin's head swung around. "Huh. Funny. Cause I've been flirting with a brunette elf with very prominent, attractive freckles..."

"Yours is... tolerable..." he mutters, shooting a glance at Lind.

"The sad part is that that's some of the highest praise I've ever gotten...

Warlen, still looking a bit flustered, nods, shakes his head, tilts his head to think, before amending himself. "Brunette. Annienal. Looking to."

Lind audibly growled. "Rrrrr..."

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall pushed his way next to Karie, "Please pay no mind to the squabbling, we're here to help, Mam. Good to see some remnants of civilization still survive."

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Overhearing the words "brunette, elf, and freckles, a certain Munchkin's head swung around. "Huh. Funny. Cause I've been flirting with a brunette elf with very prominent, attractive freckles..."

"*cough* overcompensating *cough*"

"The sad part is that that's some of the highest praise I've ever gotten...

"The fact that you are less tolerable than someone else isn't praise, Munchkin."

Lind audibly growled. "Rrrrr..."

Warlen walked right up and slapped Lind in the face.

"I think I speak for all of us when I tell you to SHUT UP!"