Heroica RPG - Quest #139: Around the World

[StickFig]

Matthias watches the interplay between Hoke and Felix and inwardly rolls his eyes, although he's glad that Hoke isn't rushing into things. His mind on Sir Pigley, the gnome touches the new bauble in his pouch, willing the ether to reveal the Orb's secrets.

[Zepher]

"Because you're a thief, and I'm not," Hoke said with a smirk,"Commit, at least, and we will be quick in the Frozen Room."

Hoke looks towards Melquiades.

"Whenever you're ready."

"Ready? Ready for what? I'm not taking you anywhere until the Lady delivers."

"Ah yes, a thief. But only in name. Just like you are heroes only in name." She sizes Hoke up. "But you're one of the noble ones, aren't you? Tell you what, give me a deposit and keep the eye while I'm on the date. 500 gold. Then we'll both feel safe."

Well that depends. How many other boats are leaving to Eubric? Any garbage scows, maybe?

Solimon takes a step towards Dyric, but Zane holds up his hand.

"You really hate me, don't you, Dyric. But what do you know about me? I was a slave in your city, won my freedom, and did whatever was within my power to gain some sort of standing. Can you really pretend you did anything different? I made a deal with the Court of Demons, sure, but you've worked alongside Old Gods when it suited your ideals as well. And we fought Wren tooth and nail, same as you. We sought the same fountain as you, and both Matthias and I drank. What do you know about me? Nothing." Zane grins lazily. "Enjoy your garbage scow if that's what you prefer."

Matthias watches the interplay between Hoke and Felix and inwardly rolls his eyes, although he's glad that Hoke isn't rushing into things. His mind on Sir Pigley, the gnome touches the new bauble in his pouch, willing the ether to reveal the Orb's secrets.

The Orb feels powerful, but whatever it's effects are, they are lost on Matthias. Perhaps that is because, as Piglina said, he would have no way to feel them. Someone who is already immortal cannot feel their life extended, and someone already under the greatest protection can feel no safer.

[StickFig]

"Tell you what, give me a deposit and keep the eye while I'm on the date. 500 gold. Then we'll both feel safe."

Matthias rolls his eyes inwardly again, wondering idly whether what remains of the party has been suckered into something ridiculous, or whether the Etherians are as bumbling and petty as they seem.

The Orb feels powerful, but whatever it's effects are, they are lost on Matthias. Perhaps that is because, as Piglina said, he would have no way to feel them.

"Master Hoke, if you wouldn't mind grabbing me before you head to the ice room..." Matthias says. "Master Melquiades, I'd like to return to Lady Piglina for now."

[The Legonater]

"You really hate me, don't you, Dyric. But what do you know about me? I was a slave in your city, won my freedom, and did whatever was within my power to gain some sort of standing. Can you really pretend you did anything different? I made a deal with the Court of Demons, sure, but you've worked alongside Old Gods when it suited your ideals as well. And we fought Wren tooth and nail, same as you. We sought the same fountain as you, and both Matthias and I drank. What do you know about me? Nothing." Zane grins lazily. "Enjoy your garbage scow if that's what you prefer."

The difference, Zane, is motivation. By your own admission, you strive to increase your standing. I was like that, once - but I'm not anymore. I strive to help the people, the innocent. Everything I do is for them. Do you honestly not see that?

Edited May 14, 2016 by The Legonater

[UsernameMDM]

"Ready? Ready for what? I'm not taking you anywhere until the Lady delivers."

"What, you don't trust her either?"

"Ah yes, a thief. But only in name. Just like you are heroes only in name." She sizes Hoke up. "But you're one of the noble ones, aren't you? Tell you what, give me a deposit and keep the eye while I'm on the date. 500 gold. Then we'll both feel safe."

Hoke laughs, then crosses his arms over his chest and looks her in the eye.

"You did nothing to get this, yet you want ME to put up collateral? It is you who should fulfill some part of this bargain before it ends. Mayhaps I should just keep the thing."

Edited May 14, 2016 by UsernameMDM

[Zepher]

Matthias rolls his eyes inwardly again, wondering idly whether what remains of the party has been suckered into something ridiculous, or whether the Etherians are as bumbling and petty as they seem.

"Master Hoke, if you wouldn't mind grabbing me before you head to the ice room..." Matthias says. "Master Melquiades, I'd like to return to Lady Piglina for now."

Matthias is deposited swiftly into Piglina's office. She faces the gnome.

"What can I help you with?"

The difference, Zane, is motivation. By your own admission, you strive to increase your standing. I was like that, once - but I'm not anymore. I strive to help the people, the innocent. Everything I do is for them. Do you honestly not see that?

"That is an illusion. I do things for others. I found Parvati and Medusa is the wastes of Baltarok and have decided to take them to the city of Eubric, all on my own. You heroes do things for money. When was the last time you freed an Orcish slave when there weren't some gold coins attached?" He smirks. "I'll see you in Eubric, Dyric."

Prince David watches with mild shock, but doesn't interject. Parvati and Solimon stare at Dyric, not maliciously but curiously, seeing if he might respond to their leader.

"What, you don't trust her either?"

Hoke laughs, then crosses his arms over his chest and looks her in the eye.

"You did nothing to get this, yet you want ME to put up collateral? It is you who should fulfill some part of this bargain before it ends. Mayhaps I should just keep the thing."

"Don't trust her?" Melquiades laughs. "Not her, you! Why not do things in the natural order, give her the Eye, have her fulfill her part of the bargain, and then I'll fulfill mine!"

"Let's see how this goes," says Lady Felix. "Melquiades, I will go on your date, no payment from the heroes necessary. Sit tight, Hoke. We'll be back in a bit." She pats the dragoon on the back and she and Melquiades warp away."

"Did you figure out how to get us into the Frozen Room?" asks the Norn as she approaches the dragoon. "I'd love to see what's so dangerous about it, or if Melquiades is just being petty."

[UsernameMDM]

"Did you figure out how to get us into the Frozen Room?" asks the Norn as she approaches the dragoon. "I'd love to see what's so dangerous about it, or if Melquiades is just being petty."

"Yes," Hoke says as he holds the Eye of the Blind up for the Norn to see ,"Are you simply curious, or do you have plans if I can access the Frozen Room? I have seen you in deep conversation with your companion. What is so important about the Frozen Room? What are you to discussing so fervently?"

Edited May 15, 2016 by UsernameMDM

[The Legonater]

"That is an illusion. I do things for others. I found Parvati and Medusa is the wastes of Baltarok and have decided to take them to the city of Eubric, all on my own. You heroes do things for money. When was the last time you freed an Orcish slave when there weren't some gold coins attached?" He smirks. "I'll see you in Eubric, Dyric."

I helped raise Baltarok itself to glory - not because of coin, but because it was the right thing to do.

I toss Zane the 50 coins David gave me.

You think all heroes are the same, but they're not. I couldn't care less if a quest had golden reward.

Do you know what I put every cent into? Potions, 'consumables', bettering my equipment. I don't spend it on frivolous enjoyment, I use it to be better in the field. So I can be more assistance to the people of the world.

That is who I am, Zane. What do you know about me, if not that?

[StickFig]

"What can I help you with?"

"I want to know what's happening to Sir Pigley. Why does he need this artifact? You're obviously not keen on using any of Etheria's power for causes outside the island, so what danger is your brother facing that's so dire you're willing to send this Orb to help him?"

[Zepher]

"Yes," Hoke says as he holds the Eye of the Blind up for the Norn to see ,"Are you simply curious, or do you have plans if I can access the Frozen Room? I have seen you in deep conversation with your companion. What is so important about the Frozen Room? What are you to discussing so fervently?"

The Norn looks at the Eye of the Blind with little to no interest.

"Pah! That trinket means little to me. As I explained to your companions, the Frozen Room was once a place for all who can harness the element of ice to train and live, but it has recently been banned by the Void Masters - Melquiades in particular. As a democracy I think that we should be allowed to roam freely as we please, do what we please-"

"But as we discussed, Skuld, it is perfectly within their right to refuse service..."

"But that's behind us now. The dragoon will get us into the room."

I helped raise Baltarok itself to glory - not because of coin, but because it was the right thing to do.

I toss Zane the 50 coins David gave me.

You think all heroes are the same, but they're not. I couldn't care less if a quest had golden reward.

Do you know what I put every cent into? Potions, 'consumables', bettering my equipment. I don't spend it on frivolous enjoyment, I use it to be better in the field. So I can be more assistance to the people of the world.

That is who I am, Zane. What do you know about me, if not that?

Zane picks up the 50 gold and weighs it.

"Thanks. Might buy us passage to Eubric." He shrugs. "Talk to me next time you step out of your way on the streets, no one begging you, and do a good deed."

Zane returns to his friends and continues talking.

"A spirited debate," says David. He has a quiet smile. "I am not such good friends with the Nords for... obvious reasons... but there are a few that brave that and trade near the water. You can most likely negotiate some sort of transport from them, at least to a closer port."

Is Dyric ready to return to Eubric?

"I want to know what's happening to Sir Pigley. Why does he need this artifact? You're obviously not keen on using any of Etheria's power for causes outside the island, so what danger is your brother facing that's so dire you're willing to send this Orb to help him?"

"You're a nosy little gnome. I already told you what it was for." She rubs her snot and deflates. "You're right, I don't like using Etheria's influence for outside affairs. There are a great number of wars we could be involved in - there are magic users nearly everywhere. The wisest thing to do is to deal with ourselves and only ourselves. That has been our MO since day one. But you saw the same thing I did. Pigley has never come to Etheria since he left here, much less begging for help. I don't know when that'll happen, or if it happened already and I refused him... time is difficult here, and you can find yourself talking to the dead more often than you'd think... but if something is coming for him, that Orb may help. Besides, I wasn't joking about him getting up in years. He'll not live forever, and he's the only family I have left. Mom was turned into bacon for a revel in the Low Kingdoms."

[UsernameMDM]

The Norn looks at the Eye of the Blind with little to no interest.

"Pah! That trinket means little to me. As I explained to your companions, the Frozen Room was once a place for all who can harness the element of ice to train and live, but it has recently been banned by the Void Masters - Melquiades in particular. As a democracy I think that we should be allowed to roam freely as we please, do what we please-"

Hoke chuckles in disbelief.

"It should mean more than a little to you; it's the key to the room you want to get into."

"But as we discussed, Skuld, it is perfectly within their right to refuse service..."

"But that's behind us now. The dragoon will get us into the room."

"You're going in?"

[The Legonater]

"A spirited debate," says David. He has a quiet smile. "I am not such good friends with the Nords for... obvious reasons... but there are a few that brave that and trade near the water. You can most likely negotiate some sort of transport from them, at least to a closer port."

Is Dyric ready to return to Eubric?

I seems to encourage spirited debated. Thank you for all your kindness, Your Highness. I hope we meet again.

I am ready.

[StickFig]

"You're a nosy little gnome. I already told you what it was for." She rubs her snot and deflates. "You're right, I don't like using Etheria's influence for outside affairs. There are a great number of wars we could be involved in - there are magic users nearly everywhere. The wisest thing to do is to deal with ourselves and only ourselves. That has been our MO since day one. But you saw the same thing I did. Pigley has never come to Etheria since he left here, much less begging for help. I don't know when that'll happen, or if it happened already and I refused him... time is difficult here, and you can find yourself talking to the dead more often than you'd think... but if something is coming for him, that Orb may help. Besides, I wasn't joking about him getting up in years. He'll not live forever, and he's the only family I have left. Mom was turned into bacon for a revel in the Low Kingdoms."

"I may be a bit nosy," Matthias concedes, "but I am also his friend. It seems to me that for a bunch of super-wise mages, y'all don't seem to have much of a handle on what's actually happening in the world. You can't tell me what dangers Sir Pigley - your own brother - might face; no one could tell us what the dangers of bringing Passion back might be, or the dangers of not bringing him back, for that matter." Matthias relents a little at his own harsh words and considers for a moment his own ignorance.

"Void Master, please return me to Master Hoke and Master Guts."

[Zepher]

"You're going in?"

"Of course. That was the whole point of all of this, to let me see what is happening in the room."

I seems to encourage spirited debated. Thank you for all your kindness, Your Highness. I hope we meet again.

I am ready.

Dyric sets sail for home after a number of exhausting months.

Dyric Rone

(The Legonater)

Human male, Assassin *Immune to All Elements and Blinded* *Steals 50% more gold* *Permanently Lucky* *Deals Darkness*

Level 32.5

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 6

Health: 44/44

Gold: 136

Equipment: Crossbow of Incessant Warmongerers (WP: 26; Darkness-elemental, on non-AoE rolls, also deals Damage to the enemies above and below the target upon a successful hit; Crossbow) (Deals Poisoned -7 and Cursed for One Battle), Lucky Die (User is permanently *Lucky*; suitable for anyone; Accessory), Night's Helmet (SP: 6; immune to Water, Wood, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness, and Blinded; suitable for anyone; Headwear), Crystal Shoes (Immunities become Absorption), Cabin Boy's Rags (All other party members +3 power, body wear),

Inventory:

• Mockthril Longbow (WP: 27; Ice-elemental; Longbow), Requiem (WP: 20; Wood- and Light-elemental; Longbow), Tarok's Wrath (WP: 20, 1/2; chance to Instantly Kill orcs; Dagger), Double Chain Whip (WP: 10; Whip), Throwing Knife (WP: 4; Throwing Weapon), Pongcanis Dagger (WP: 8; Dagger),

Double-Barreled Handcannon (WP: 15, fire-elemental, dual-strike, hand cannon)

, Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable throwing weapon, causes Jinxed-effect),

• Winged Sandals (immune to Bound and Slowed; suitable for anyone; Footwear), Ambrose's Heart (Artifact, suitable to Evokers, Accessory, +5 power), Sigil of the Cold Circle - (Raise an Army costs twice as much ether, but raised undead are three times as powerful, accessory, suitable for necromancers), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; back wear), Sticky Gloves (increases amount of Gold stolen by 50%; suitable for Rogues and Beast Warriors; Handwear), Quiver of Blinding Light (Attacks become light-elemental and cause blinded; can only be used with a bow or a crossbow; back wear),

• Diamond, Opal, 3 Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold), Ethereal Sapphire (Slowed+Wind)

• Bedroll, Shovel, Magic Compass

• Potions (4), Grand Potions (5), Tonic, Remedies (2), Banana (restores full HP to target), Elixir (2), Cosmic Essence, Nostrum, Venom (2), Mythril Shards (5/4 Mythril), Military Grade Light Bomb, Military Grade Darkness Bomb, Fire Bomb, Smoke Bomb (2), Diamond Lamp of Summoning (1/3 uses left), Bones (2), Skeleton Decoy, Demon Repellent (Makes the user impervious to direct attacks from demons during one battle unless the user is the only hero left standing; consumable), Feather of White (Allows the user to hide for up to three rounds, avoiding Free Hits. The effect ends if the user targets an enemy.), Crystal Ball (Worth 50 gold, 100 in magic shops), Earthwyrm Fang (Grants the encouraged-, lucky-, reinforced-, and blinded- effects for the duration of one battle), Phoenix Essence (4), Raw Meat (+5 health), Ancient Bone, Phoenix Incence

"I may be a bit nosy," Matthias concedes, "but I am also his friend. It seems to me that for a bunch of super-wise mages, y'all don't seem to have much of a handle on what's actually happening in the world. You can't tell me what dangers Sir Pigley - your own brother - might face; no one could tell us what the dangers of bringing Passion back might be, or the dangers of not bringing him back, for that matter." Matthias relents a little at his own harsh words and considers for a moment his own ignorance.

"Void Master, please return me to Master Hoke and Master Guts."

"Yes, we are ill informed when it comes to many things. That is why we act cautiously instead of rashly. We are not the free wheeling wizards of the Free Islands - ours is more a practice of patience and investigation. You may be used to the Zeigfrieds, who blast their spells and figure out the consequences later, but that is not the way we operate. And, as you may see, we have no lisping reptilian butlers we churned out by mistake and no arch demons attempting to ruin our families."

Melquiades appears and whisks Matthias back to Hoke and Guts. The Void Master has the faint smell of wine on his breath, but his abilities are not compromised in the least.

"Hope I didn't make you wait too long," he says as he, Matthias, and Lady Felix arrive back to Hoke, Guts, and Skuld. "Are we ready to prove me right?"

[UsernameMDM]

"Melquiades, Frozen Room please."

[StickFig]

Matthias nods assent.

[Zepher]

"Melquiades, Frozen Room please."

"I held up my end of the deal. You're not going to hold up yours? Just what I was worried about. I'll be coming to that room with you."

Melquiades whisks Felix, Matthias, Hoke, Torc and Skuld through the Void one final time and they arrive in a cavern of ice, beautifully shiny, worn smooth from years of practice. At first there is nothing strange about the room, but then a shiver goes down everyone's spine.

"There is something strange here," says Skuld as she begins to pace around.

"Told you." Melquiades leans against a icy stalagmite. "Ready to go?"

"So soon? You have no back bone. We should explore, we should discover. If there is a threat we must find it and extinguish it."

"Or just seal off the room and let it go away."

[StickFig]

"I held up my end of the deal. You're not going to hold up yours? Just what I was worried about. I'll be coming to that room with you."

"What part of what bargain did we not uphold?" Matthias asks Ablesword and Holla.

"So soon? You have no back bone. We should explore, we should discover. If there is a threat we must find it and extinguish it."

"Or just seal off the room and let it go away."

"Master Melquiades, what is it you're so afraid of? What did you let into this room that's so scary?"

[UsernameMDM]

"I held up my end of the deal. You're not going to hold up yours? Just what I was worried about. I'll be coming to that room with you."

"I thought you would want to," Hoke manages to say before the void masters warps them all into the Frozen Room.

Melquiades whisks Felix, Matthias, Hoke, Torc and Skuld through the Void one final time and they arrive in a cavern of ice, beautifully shiny, worn smooth from years of practice. At first there is nothing strange about the room, but then a shiver goes down everyone's spine.

"There is something strange here," says Skuld as she begins to pace around.

"Told you." Melquiades leans against a icy stalagmite. "Ready to go?"

"So soon? You have no back bone. We should explore, we should discover. If there is a threat we must find it and extinguish it."

"Or just seal off the room and let it go away."

Hoke casually tosses Lady Felix the Eye of the Blind with his eyes transfixed on the spectacle before him.

"Let's have a look," Hoke says as we walks out and inspects the icy cavern, shaking the shiver off. Torc does the same with a flick of her tail and shake of her neck.

Edited May 21, 2016 by UsernameMDM

[UsernameMDM]

"See anything interesting?" Hoke asks the group as he continues to inspect his surroundings.

He looks around a bit more, then has an idea. He calls Zoot's Order out and inspects the opal imbued within.

[StickFig]

Matthias joins Hoke in taking stock of the Frozen room, trying to figure out what the strange presence is.

[Zepher]

Sorry, busy weekend of graduating

"Master Melquiades, what is it you're so afraid of? What did you let into this room that's so scary?"

"I wouldn't say afraid-"

"I would!" Skuld stalks ahead.

"You did the work required to get in here. It is against my better judgement to bring you here, but if you truly want to be here, who am I to prevent you from exploring?"

Hoke casually tosses Lady Felix the Eye of the Blind with his eyes transfixed on the spectacle before him.

"Let's have a look," Hoke says as we walks out and inspects the icy cavern, shaking the shiver off. Torc does the same with a flick of her tail and shake of her neck.

Lady Felix catches the bauble. Inspecting it swiftly, she hides it somewhere within her robes and continues on with the others.

As the heroes continue on, they realize that the room is not quite as solid as it once was. They can hear, echoing around the cavern, a quiet dripping on water here and there, impossible to tack down in the dark room. They grow colder.

"See anything interesting?" Hoke asks the group as he continues to inspect his surroundings.

He looks around a bit more, then has an idea. He calls Zoot's Order out and inspects the opal imbued within.

The opal does not react poorly, but Zoot's Order does, failing to grow to it's normal size. It appears to be cowering.

Matthias joins Hoke in taking stock of the Frozen room, trying to figure out what the strange presence is.

Matthias is able to start to hear whispers all around him, but he can't tack down from where.

"We should go," says Melquiades.

"No. Go if you want. I'm not done here." She tosses Hoke and Matthias 1 Opal and 1 Etherial Opal and 50 gold. "There's your payment. Leave if you're scared."

[UsernameMDM]

Sorry, busy weekend of graduating

Woohoo! Now go get a job.

The opal does not react poorly, but Zoot's Order does, failing to grow to it's normal size. It appears to be cowering.

Hoke withdraws and recalls Zoot's Order several times to no avail. He stows the orb once again and pulls forth his Gladiator Trident instead.

He hefts the weapon a few times, as it has remaind unused. A bit unwieldy compared to his favored weapon, but it would do.

"No. Go if you want. I'm not done here." She tosses Hoke and Matthias 1 Opal and 1 Etherial Opal and 50 gold. "There's your payment. Leave if you're scared."

Is that for each PC or total? Please be kind and say that is EACH. Guts is also in the Frozen Room with us I believe.

Hoke catches the payment and tucks it into this pouch.

He looks over the ceiling and walls, and he looks over to Torc, issuing a command.

"Light it up."

Edited May 23, 2016 by UsernameMDM

[StickFig]

Sorry, busy weekend of graduating

Woohoo!!! Congratulations!

Matthias, uncomfortable from more than just shivering, places the anvil carefully in front of him as the Dragoon's command whispers through the space, and sights the Extraordinaire atop it to await what the light reveals.

[Zepher]

Hoke withdraws and recalls Zoot's Order several times to no avail. He stows the orb once again and pulls forth his Gladiator Trident instead.

He hefts the weapon a few times, as it has remained unused. A bit unwieldy compared to his favored weapon, but it would do.

Hoke catches the payment and tucks it into this pouch.

He looks over the ceiling and walls, and he looks over to Torc, issuing a command.

"Light it up."

OoC: Total. I think the Ethereal Opal will fetch a fair price, and you can always convert the other one. I also am not including Guts here - Scuba has not checked in for a month.

Torc blasts the ceiling with flames. The ice shimmers and reflects the light, and for a short moment the entire cavern is filled with light - revealing only ice and dripping water. The heroes and their companions are alone in the room. The whispering, however, continues.

"What are you doing?! We're trying to save the room, not destroy it!" And sure enough, the dripping intensifies as little droplets land on Torc's snout.

Woohoo!!! Congratulations!

Matthias, uncomfortable from more than just shivering, places the anvil carefully in front of him as the Dragoon's command whispers through the space, and sights the Extraordinaire atop it to await what the light reveals.

OoC: Thank you! Today I deal with the less exciting experience of packing up my life and tomorrow I get to move home.

Matthias glances around for something to fight, but there is nothing. Suddenly, Skuld begins to murmur strangely to herself. She turns to face Matthias and locks eyes with him.

"Give me that."

"Heroes...?"