Heroica RPG - Quest #138: Fade To Black

[Lind Whisperer]

Gabriel nods and stands up.

"I'm... going below the deck. You guys stay out here and enjoy the view. And the booze."

Gabirle does as he says, and begins his walk below deck.

Father Steve nodded. "Thanks, but I have the strangest feeling I probably should leave off the booze part..."

He leant back.

"So - what House is everyone going to write on their Letters?"

[Waterbrick Down]

"Haven't given it much thought." Skrall pulls a small flask out of his satchel and takes a drink. The ogre leans over the edge of the railing looking off to sea in silence.

[The Chosen Minifigure]

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Karie settles into the boat, ready to return home. She still hated travelling by sea, especially with a lack of good company.

"Warlen, you doing alright? I mean, killing the dragon that murdered your friend?"

Warlen looks away from the horizon. He'd been silent all through the talking, and planning, and the farewells...

He sighed, and turned to Karie. "I just... I never realised how much that... well... revenge meant to me. I thought I'd moved past it, left it behind, but..."

He looked at her, almost scared. "I killed those people, and I killed Vorpalis, and I enjoyed it. I thought that maybe stopping Vorpalis would give me some... I don't know, closure. But it just hasn't. If anything..."

He trailed off, and a shadow slipped into the corner of his eye.

Edited August 14, 2015 by The Chosen Minifigure

[Lind Whisperer]

Warlen looks away from the horizon. He'd been silent all through the talking, and planning, and the farewells...

He sighed, and turned to Karie. "I just... I never realised how much that... well... revenge meant to me. I thought I'd moved past it, left it behind, but..."

He looked at her, almost scared. "I killed those people, and I killed Vorpalis, and I enjoyed it. I thought that maybe stopping Vorpalis would give me some... I don't know, closure. But it just hasn't. If anything..."

He trailed off, and a shadow slipped into the corner of his eye.

"This is horrible advice on my part...but some people just like fighting.

You could just...go with it. Team up with a black knight or someone. Be bash brothers. Use your love of fighting to clean up Olegia.

There are worse lines of business..." Father Steve shrugged.

Edited August 14, 2015 by Lind Whisperer

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Warlen shot a reproachful glance at Lind.

[Kintobor]

Warlen looks away from the horizon. He'd been silent all through the talking, and planning, and the farewells...

He sighed, and turned to Karie. "I just... I never realised how much that... well... revenge meant to me. I thought I'd moved past it, left it behind, but..."

He looked at her, almost scared. "I killed those people, and I killed Vorpalis, and I enjoyed it. I thought that maybe stopping Vorpalis would give me some... I don't know, closure. But it just hasn't. If anything..."

He trailed off, and a shadow slipped into the corner of his eye.

"Revenge is a weird concept. I understand the sentiment your going through." Karie ponders her own situation and its correlation with Warlen's. "There's times I've relished in ridding the world of people I despise. Heck there's people I still want dead. In this line of work, sometimes things get personal, and it's alright to relish victory, or cry over things that... well, get messed up. And they will get messed up.

There's something I want to talk to you about... alone." Karie gives a caustic glance at Lind and motions him to leave the two alone.

[Endgame]

Karie's desire for a private chat is made even easier by Jinnipher joining Gabriel below deck...

[Lind Whisperer]

"Revenge is a weird concept. I understand the sentiment your going through." Karie ponders her own situation and its correlation with Warlen's. "There's times I've relished in ridding the world of people I despise. Heck there's people I still want dead. In this line of work, sometimes things get personal, and it's alright to relish victory, or cry over things that... well, get messed up. And they will get messed up.

Father Steve nodded. "What she said."

There's something I want to talk to you about... alone." Karie gives a caustic glance at Lind and motions him to leave the two alone.

Father Steve stretched. "I have the strangest sudden desire to go to join our party leader at the railing...

Oh, one thing," He reached in his pocket and pulled out 35 gold.

"Here, might as well get this settled up." He tossed the gold to Karie, before joining Skrall at the side of the boat.

[The Chosen Minifigure]

"Revenge is a weird concept. I understand the sentiment your going through." Karie ponders her own situation and its correlation with Warlen's. "There's times I've relished in ridding the world of people I despise. Heck there's people I still want dead. In this line of work, sometimes things get personal, and it's alright to relish victory, or cry over things that... well, get messed up. And they will get messed up.

"But... *sigh*... I've never taken so much pleasure in, well, ending life, before. It was a feeling I've never felt before, an almost savage glee. And it... it just goes against everything I believe in."

There's something I want to talk to you about... alone." Karie gives a caustic glance at Lind and motions him to leave the two alone.

Warlen tilts his head curiously, but says nothing.

[Kintobor]

Father Steve stretched. "I have the strangest sudden desire to go to join our party leader at the railing...

Oh, one thing," He reached in his pocket and pulled out 35 gold.

"Here, might as well get this settled up." He tossed the gold to Karie, before joining Skrall at the side of the boat.

Karie grabs the gold but holds out her hand again, frowning. "My medallion, Lind? Or perhaps if your so interested in titles, you should take the name String-Binder, for it seems you enjoy being the puppet of others?" Karie raises an eyebrow.

"But... *sigh*... I've never taken so much pleasure in, well, ending life, before. It was a feeling I've never felt before, an almost savage glee. And it... it just goes against everything I believe in."

Warlen tilts his head curiously, but says nothing.

Karie took a deep breath. "I know the feeling. Murdering the Apprentice. I had so much rage in me, and so much anger. I wanted to see him dead... and I almost did it." Once Lind is out of ear shot Karie leans on the railing.

"I'm not looking for a bedfellow, if that's what your wondering. Unlike Jinnipher." Karie giggles to herself as she grabs a bottle of wine and uncorks it with her teeth. "I've asked a lot about you this quest, mainly because I'm nosey, and I actually think out of everyone in this group your the most sociable... well, besides string-binder. So... I feel it's only fair for you to ask some questions about me."

[Lind Whisperer]

Karie grabs the gold but holds out her hand again, frowning. "My medallion, Lind? Or perhaps if your so interested in titles, you should take the name String-Binder, for it seems you enjoy being the puppet of others?" Karie raises an eyebrow.

Father Steve smacked himself on the head. "My bad." He handed Karie the Medal of Valor, and Skrall the Phoenix Essence.

"Thanks for the loan - if I can ever return the favor, let me know.

Not sure how the puppet thing's related..."

[Waterbrick Down]

"Here, might as well get this settled up." He tossed the gold to Karie, before joining Skrall at the side of the boat.

"Flisperer." The ogre continued to look out to sea. "Ya figured out what hat yer wearin' when we make port?"

[Lind Whisperer]

"Flisperer." The ogre continued to look out to sea. "Ya figured out what hat yer wearin' when we make port?"

The Munchkin watched the sea as well. "I'm thinking...no hat. Just...hair in the wind.

You?"

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Karie took a deep breath. "I know the feeling. Murdering the Apprentice. I had so much rage in me, and so much anger. I wanted to see him dead... and I almost did it." Once Lind is out of ear shot Karie leans on the railing.

Warlen nods, but says nothing.

"I'm not looking for a bedfellow, if that's what your wondering. Unlike Jinnipher." Karie giggles to herself as she grabs a bottle of wine and uncorks it with her teeth. "I've asked a lot about you this quest, mainly because I'm nosey, and I actually think out of everyone in this group your the most sociable... well, besides string-binder. So... I feel it's only fair for you to ask some questions about me."

Warlen blushes awkwardly at the suggestion, and is clearly pleased at the change of subject.

"Well... tell me about the 'Proggs' you mentioned earlier."

[Kintobor]

Warlen blushes awkwardly at the suggestion, and is clearly pleased at the change of subject.

"Well... tell me about the 'Proggs' you mentioned earlier."

Karie laughs, smiling as she tries to describe proggs using various means. "Well, Proggs are these curious little scorpion creatures. Actually, littles a bad word to use, as they can grow to massive sizes. I've met a few of them, and most of the ones I've met were rather nice. The infants are rather cute, as they scuttle about and act all curious and weird. The adults, though, are much larger. Bigger than a horse, at times. They're rather intimidating at first, but the ones I've met were rather knowledgeable and brave." Karie decides not to mention the Regret although it does cross her mind several times.

Edited August 15, 2015 by Kintobor

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Karie laughs, smiling as she tries to describe proggs using various means. "Well, Proggs are these curious little scorpion creatures. Actually, littles a bad word to use, as they can grow to massive sizes. I've met a few of them, and most of the ones I've met were rather nice. The infants are rather cute, as they scuttle about and act all curious and weird. The adults, though, are much larger. Bigger than a horse, at times. They're rather intimidating at first, but the ones I've met were rather knowledgeable and brave." Karie decides not to mention the Regret although it does cross her mind several times.

Warlen nods, filing away the information away for another day.

"Interesting. Interesting. Ok, right, ummm... This may strike you as odd, but, well, you always seem pretty... well... cheery, or chirpy. Any particular reason? I know I used to be ridiculously pun-heavy, almost to the extent of annoyance, and that was me trying to, well. In retrospect, I guess I was hiding my insecurities, maybe. But anyway, like I say, you always seem fairly happy. Is it a facade, or is it all you?"

[Waterbrick Down]

The Munchkin watched the sea as well. "I'm thinking...no hat. Just...hair in the wind.

You?"

"Really? Makes me wonder what that one'll be like."

[Lind Whisperer]

"Really? Makes me wonder what that one'll be like."

"Brown. A bit messy. I should probably look up a barber-surgeon when we get back..."

[Kintobor]

This may strike you as odd, but, well, you always seem pretty... well... cheery, or chirpy. Any particular reason? I know I used to be ridiculously pun-heavy, almost to the extent of annoyance, and that was me trying to, well. In retrospect, I guess I was hiding my insecurities, maybe. But anyway, like I say, you always seem fairly happy. Is it a facade, or is it all you?"

Karie nods, taking her time to reply. "I always viewed myself as being more sarcastic and brash, but chirpy... yeah, I guess I'm a little chirpy." Karie takes off her domino mask and looks it over in retrospect, her pasty skin having been smudged underneath. "I'd rather be a somebody than a nobody, and although the chipper side of me is a part of me and my being... there are days that comes crashing down, and my insecurities come to remind me of the things that I've done, and what has happened to me, and it's all I can think about."

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Warlen nods.

"I know the feeling."

[Endgame]

The hours past. The heroes retire to bed, and the short voyage passes quickly. Before they know it, the familiar sight of Eubric appears over the horizon, and Excelsus pulls into the docks. Bruce and Armstrong set about to dropping anchor, pulling the ship into port and tying it down. Armstrong bids goodbye to the heroes as he drops a ladder down to the docks, allowing them to climb down from the lofty decks of the rocking ship.

"Good ferryin' ya again. You put a dent in the wine cabinet, but I think that's worth saving Moone. See ya around, heroes, if ya need me again."

The party exits the boat, and goes back into the bustling streets of Eubric, a far cry from the eerily quiet and lifeless roads of Mermont. Moone would rebuild in time, but Eubric was hardly a model warning... With immortalis's warning in mind, the party was all too aware of the dozens of potential injustices they saw as soon as they stepped off the boat. They make their way towards the Marketplace, Vorpalis's parts in hand, hoping the blackmisth would craft them some fine gear...

They eventually reach the blacksmith's shop. Smokebeard regards them with disdain...

"Let me get this straight... You want me to do work for free, just from some scraps you brought back-"

...That is, until he laid eyes on the materials the heroes brought. Materials from an ancestral dragon. Every blacksmith's dream to forge with. Anwyl stares at them, flustered, before eagerly scoffing them up in his hands.

"I-I can see what I can do!"

Anwyl spins on his heel in a huff and eagerly sets to work. Before long, he emerges with...

Armor forged with the parts of the legendary Vorpalis. Wear it, and wield his devastating power...

Vorpalis Crown: A black crown carrying the power of Vorpalis. Look upon your subjects and rule them with an iron fist; Look upon your enemies and reduce them to nothing. SP: 4, the wearer has a 1/3 chance of dealing Weakened to the targeted enemy on successful hits. Headwear, suitable for anyone.

Vorpalis Diremail: Armor that leaves a trail of dark fog. Beware its might; The Conqueror's soul may be lingering within the fog, and he may claim more lives yet... SP: 4, enemies that inflict damage on the wearer receive the Cursed effect. Bodywear, suitable for anyone.

Vorpalis Netherwings: Dark, clawed wings that spread over a myriad cities, covering them in a black fog. Wear them, and carry on the dragon's legacy of conquest. SP: 4, the wearer deals double damage to humanoid type enemies and takes half damage from Holy/Light enemies. Backwear, suitable for anyone.

Vorpalis Conquerors: Vorpalis seized glory and ended lives in a single slash of his claw. Go forth and conquer. Power +0; goes up by 2 for every enemy slain, and drops back down to zero if the hero is knocked out or if the battle ends. Handwear, suitable for anyone.

Vorpalis Purgers: The Ancestral Oppressor allowed no mutiny or dissent within his conquered lands. Crush those who would disobey beneath your heel. Power +0; goes up by 1 every single time a hero in the wearer's party (or the wearer themselves) rolls Damage or Special Damage, and resets to zero if the hero is knocked out or if the battle ends. Legwear, suitable for anyone.

Vorpalis Talisman: A talisman that has the undying will of the Vorpalis locked deep within it. Let not even death stop your conquest. The talisman has a 1/3 chance of reviving you with 1 HP and 1 Ether should you be knocked out. Accessory, suitable for anyone.

The Beheader: A razor sharp blade that can pierce through any armor, perfect for beheadings - a trail of fog follows in its wake. Greatsword. WP: 15, defies SP.

Gabriel silently appraises the gear.

"...Good stuff. I don't need any of it, though, so don't worry.

I'll be staying at the Albatross Inn for the next few months if you need me - asked the Captain, said there was an opening there. Skrall, Warlen, Lind.. If any of you want to go out on a drink, feel free to ask, it'll be on me. ...Under the condition you stick to water, Lind. Karie, whenever its convenient that I meet Masson, tell me. And Jinnipher..."

Gabriel smiles at the moon elf.

"You'll drop by sometime soon, yeah? Other than that, I think that we're done here."

And it was true. Moone had a few years of confusion ahead of it, but they had achieved what they set out to do - the country was liberated from Vorpalis's grasp, and the kingdom of lies Faust had built had come crumbling down. If what Immortalis said was true, Moone would be rebuilt even better than before, a comforting thought. By that same token, he also said Eubric was on the brink of calamity. However, not even that grim omen could fully dispel the triumph they had achieved, as bittersweet as it was. The party eagerly appraises the armor Anwyl had produced, another token of their victory. Without a doubt...

~The Quest Is Successful!~

QM Note: Final loot update will come when the armor is distributed, but other than that, the quest is done! You may return to the hall whenever. Please leave any comments/criticism of Q138 in the QM's lounge - I'll do my own analysis, but I'd like hear what others have to say first.

Thanks for playing!

Edited August 15, 2015 by Endgame

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Warlen picked up the mail.

"If I may request this, Skrall? Oh, and I can add these moons greaves to the loot pile to help pay for my share."

Edited August 15, 2015 by The Chosen Minifigure

[Kintobor]

Karie admires the armour but shrugs when she realizes there's not a lot for her to use.

"Eh, I'll take whatever. Call me a wild card in all this, but I'm willing to bargain for whatever item comes to me."

[Lind Whisperer]

The hours past. The heroes retire to bed, and the short voyage passes quickly. Before they know it, the familiar sight of Eubric appears over the horizon, and Excelsus pulls into the docks. Bruce and Armstrong set about to dropping anchor, pulling the ship into port and tying it down. Armstrong bids goodbye to the heroes as he drops a ladder down to the docks, allowing them to climb down from the lofty decks of the rocking ship.

"Good ferryin' ya again. You put a dent in the wine cabinet, but I think that's worth saving Moone. See ya around, heroes, if ya need me again."

"Thanks for the trip! Nice sailing with y'all!"

The party exits the boat, and goes back into the bustling streets of Eubric, a far cry from the eerily quiet and lifeless roads of Mermont. Moone would rebuild in time, but Eubric was hardly a model warning... With immortalis's warning in mind, the party was all too aware of the dozens of potential injustices they saw as soon as they stepped off the boat.

"Is it just me, or is this place going to the wolves?"

They make their way towards the Marketplace, Vorpalis's parts in hand, hoping the blackmisth would craft them some fine gear...

Before long, he emerges with...

Armor forged with the parts of the legendary Vorpalis. Wear it, and wield his devastating power...

"Oooh.... :wub: :wub:" Lind drooled over the beauties.

"I especially like the Netherwings. The Crown and the Purgers aren't bad, though - I personally think the Crown is the more preferable of the pair."

Gabriel silently appraises the gear.

"...Good stuff. I don't need any of it, though, so don't worry.

I'll be staying at the Albatross Inn for the next few months if you need me - asked the Captain, said there was an opening there. Skrall, Warlen, Lind.. If any of you want to go out on a drink, feel free to ask, it'll be on me. ...Under the condition you stick to water, Lind. Karie, whenever its convenient that I meet Masson, tell me. And Jinnipher..."

Gabriel smiles at the moon elf.

"You'll drop by sometime soon, yeah? Other than that, I think that we're done here."

"It's been good questing with you, Gabriel - I'll make sure to drop by sometime. For water." Lind shared a firm handshake with the mercenary.

~The Quest Is Successful!~

QM Note: Final loot update will come when the armor is distributed, but other than that, the quest is done! You may return to the hall whenever. Please leave any comments/criticism of Q138 in the QM's lounge - I'll do my own analysis, but I'd like hear what others have to say first.

Thanks for playing!

OoC: Thank you! This was an A-grade quest! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Edited August 15, 2015 by Lind Whisperer

[The Chosen Minifigure]

"Oh, and I'll buy that talisman off whoever gets it. Name a price. Or just give it to me outright. Whatever."