Heroica RPG - Quest #143: Making Amends

[Lind Whisperer]

Calamity looks skeptically at the pile of goop Pretzel scoops into her hands.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

"You eat it, to increase your strength.

If you don't want it, I suppose I could give you a couple of gold and take it off your hands..."

[Endgame]

"If Pretzel is fine - if you could call it that - relinquishing the role, you can be party leader, Jinnipher."

[Scubacarrot]

"Eat it, huh." Calamity gulps at the unappetizing goop in her hands, and slowly but surely drains it until there is nothing left. As she licks a finger, she remarks: "Tastes weird. Very bland."

[Endgame]

Clouds roll in and rain begins to come down.

"Lovely. Rain. Well, at least we're heading for shelter shortly.... I just hope we don't have any lightning. I've been wary of it as of late."

QM Note: Just need a loot distribution until I can move this along.

Edited November 27, 2015 by Endgame

[JimBee]

QM Note: Alright then. I apologize again, and will probably find some wa to make it up with loot drops, but for now, back to RPing.

"Armors and weapons, mostly. I took note of that poor elf's sword when she was sprawled out... JHinnipher, right? That's a draconic sword, I take it? I'm afraid whoever forged those parts hardly forged 'em well. The finest materials in land, and that's the sword that comes out? Damn pity. I can help you enhance it, though. I'm not going to be able to really bring out that draconic might without the raw materials, but we can try to salvage it.

Mister Monk, you're the de facto leader here, right? Ready to go?

Jinnipher looked annoyed that the old man had interrupted her. "My sword works just fine."

"My fault?!? The Black Knight was supposed to take a hit, something he ignored for the chance to attack. I'm tired of leading parties that cannot obey orders. I cannot babysit everyone's moves and make sure they're doing exactly as I tell them. If I tell someone something, I expect them to follow the advice for the sake of the party, others seem to think otherwise. If you want to lead, then by all means do so. Let's see how you do with keeping stubborn headstrong fellows in line!"

She raised an eyebrow. "You're right, Lind is a coward and I wouldn't doubt it was his fault. You still should've accounted for that. I'll be sure to not make the same mistake."

Loot:

Jinnipher: 40 gold, Mead

Calamity: Ectoplasm

Pretzel: Remedy, Grand Potion, 20 gold

She considered for a moment, then tossed the other two Remedies and Grand Potion at Lind's feet. "Make yourself useful and patch the real heroes up when it's needed."

Seemingly pacified for the moment, Jinnipher looked up at the sky with Gabriel. "Afraid of getting wet?"

[Endgame]

Seemingly pacified for the moment, Jinnipher looked up at the sky with Gabriel. "Afraid of getting wet?"

"No. I'm afraid that any storm that rolls through Eubric may be Immortalis coming to knock on our door."

[Lind Whisperer]

She raised an eyebrow. "You're right, Lind is a coward and I wouldn't doubt it was his fault. You still should've accounted for that. I'll be sure to not make the same mistake."

She considered for a moment, then tossed the other two Remedies and Grand Potion at Lind's feet.

Ignoring the self-satisfied elf, Lind calmly picked the potions up and put them into his Bag of Hoarding. He made note of the discrepancy in the value of the loot the knight had distributed - if he raided anything of value, that action on her part would be taken into account before he'd decide whether or not to share.

"Make yourself useful and patch the real heroes up when it's needed."

"Hurry up and make yourself useful enough so that you don't have to rely on bombs to be of any value to the party.

At least the Death Mage is ranged."

"No. I'm afraid that any storm that rolls through Eubric may be Immortalis coming to knock on our door."

"As much as I personally respect him, I'm afraid I share the same fears. If he judges Eubric...well, I don't want to be caught in that cross-fire." Edited November 28, 2015 by Lind Whisperer

[Scubacarrot]

"So Jenny, can we go? I'd rather be inside Flavius' house looking at his work than here in the rain."

At least the Death Mage is ranged."

Calamity rolls her eyes at Lind. "I'm a Death Mage now? I'm far from a necromancer. Heroica has some, but not me. It's difficult stuff."

[Lind Whisperer]

"So Jenny, can we go? I'd rather be inside Flavius' house looking at his work than here in the rain."

"The same."

Calamity rolls her eyes at Lind. "I'm a Death Mage now? I'm far from a necromancer. Heroica has some, but not me. It's difficult stuff."

"You carry a skull around on a staff, 'Death Mage,' is the least you need to worry about being called."

[Scubacarrot]

"You carry a skull around on a staff, 'Death Mage,' is the least you need to worry about being called."

Calamity responded by scowling at the boy.

"You are a bad person, Lind."

[Lind Whisperer]

Calamity responded by scowling at the boy.

"You are a bad person, Lind."

Lind shrugged at the girl.

"I'm not the one carrying a skull around on a stick."

[Scubacarrot]

"I'm not the one carrying a skull around on a stick."

"True, but ignorance and intolerance are much worse things to carry around. And less useful for hitting people." Calamity says, almost regretfully.

[Palathadric]

"No. I'm afraid that any storm that rolls through Eubric may be Immortalis coming to knock on our door."

"Immortalis? And who might that be the great grandpappy of the Death Progg or something?

"I'm ready to go when the rest of you are," I say, sighing as Calamity and Lind exchange another spat.

[Lind Whisperer]

"Immortalis? And who might that be the great grandpappy of the Death Progg or something?

"He's the most impressive, most awe-inspiring dragon you can imagine."

"I'm ready to go when the rest of you are," I say, sighing as Calamity and Lind exchange another spat.

"I was ready to go two conversations ago."

[Endgame]

"Immortalis? And who might that be the great grandpappy of the Death Progg or something?

"I'm ready to go when the rest of you are," I say, sighing as Calamity and Lind exchange another spat.

"He's a big blue dragon who can pretty smite whatever the hell he feels like with lightning. And he has his eyes set on Eubric."

The party follows Flavius. The path inclines more and more, and the vegetation simply become clusters of rock perched on the Eubric Mountains, before the party reaches the house of Flavius and Marionne Severa.

"Honey, I'm home! And I have some customers."

"Oh, good! But we couldn't the Specters bring them up here?"

"The Specters had other ideas."

"Oh, those thick-headed little... I'm sorry, dears, the Specters get very antsy, and think they can solve every problem with those silly little sowrds of theirs. Is there anything I can do for you to make up for it?"

"Besides alchemy? A drink would be nice."

"Is some gin fine?"

"Perfect."

Marionne brings out a bottle and a tray of glasses. Gabriel pours himself one.

"Jinnipher, you want any?"

"While Scowls over there does whatever, any of you need to tune up your weapons? I have more technique than the crummy blacksmith in your marketplace, and I intend to prove it."

In addition to all standard services, Flavius offers...

Sharpen The Edge: Makes the weapon do a permanent Bleeding 3 effect. Costs 15 gold for each of the weapon's WP. (So 150 gold for a WP: 10 weapon.)

Blunt The Pommel: Upgrades the pommel of a weapon, allowing the heroes to pummel their foes with it. Makes the weapon have a 1/2 chance of dealing Stunned on a succesful hit. Costs 18 gold for each of the weapon's WP. (So 180 gold for a WP: 10 weapon.)

Each weapon can only have one of these treatments applied to it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Gabriel speaks to Marionne.

"I don't suppose you're aware of a cure for phantom pain."

"I am aware of one, dear, but I'm out of the ingreident needed. Phantom Pain isn't the most common ailment in the world, and not a lot of people have it stick around for more than half a year or so. How long has this person had the pain?"

"Of course you are out of the ingredient... A year now."

"My goodness, that's awful! Poor, poor soul... No wonder why he needs something besides time." Marionne grunts as she heaves alarge booklet up. "Lets see... All the mundane substitutes I could use are across the sea. There is one local one... Azureleaf. It grows on Bogossus trees, which grow in the mountains 'round these parts."

Gabriel sighs a sigh of relief.

"Perfect. So we go and get a blue leaf off a tree and you'll brew the cure."

"Not so fast, dear. Bogossus trees are typically near Bogossi. They can be rather nasty fellows... Four big legs like tree trunks, these awful claws, and one beady eye. You best not take that thing lightly.... They typically begin to migrate when Grogmas comes a knockin', but if you have any luck, you may catch a straggler."

The sniper grunts.

"Looks like we may have to fight for the Azureleaf, heroes."

"I'll draw up the directions when the storm ends, dears. Don't go out in that mess."

Gabriel takes is glass of gin and looks sternly out the window. Rain pours down and lightning cracks the sky, illuminating the cottage. The sniper looks visibly worried, his brow knitted and his face just a shade paler than normal.

"It better not be him... I don't need that shit right now."

Edited November 29, 2015 by Endgame

[Lind Whisperer]

"He's a big blue dragon who can pretty smite whatever the hell he feels like with lightning. And he has his eyes set on Eubric."

"I don't think he really wants to smite Eubric, he just...He just has to."

"While Scowls over there does whatever, any of you need to tune up your weapons? I have more technique than the crummy blacksmith in your marketplace, and I intend to prove it."

In addition to all standard services, Flavius offers...

Sharpen The Edge: Makes the weapon do a permanent Bleeding 3 effect. Costs 15 gold for each of the weapon's WP. (So 150 gold for a WP: 10 weapon.)

Blunt The Pommel: Upgrades the pommel of a weapon, allowing the heroes to pummel their foes with it. Makes the weapon have a 1/2 chance of dealing Stunned on a succesful hit. Costs 18 gold for each of the weapon's WP. (So 180 gold for a WP: 10 weapon.)

Each weapon can only have one of these treatments applied to it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lind grinned widely. "Hrmm, I think I may need to wait until we come back before I hire you to do some work - financial reasons - but I will definitely be hiring you."

"Not so fast, dear. Bogossus trees are typically near Bogossi. They can be rather nasty fellows... Four big legs like tree trunks, these awful claws, and one beady eye. You best not take that thing lightly.... They typically begin to migrate when Grogmas comes a knockin', but if you have any luck, you may catch a straggler."

"Are they anything like Floraphants? They sound rather like Floraphants."

"Looks like we may have to fight for the Azureleaf, heroes."

The black knight saluted. "Lead on, Cap'n."

"I'll draw up the directions when the storm ends, dears. Don't go out in that mess."

The Munchkin nodded, and leaned against the wall, waiting.

[Palathadric]

"You are a fine Blacksmith, I can say that much. I would very much like to take up your offer. Hmm...let me see, I'll pay 150 gold for you to Sharpen the Edges of my Dual Staff and I'll pay 162 gold for you to Blunt the Pommel of my Splinter Broom. That should be 312 gold in total."

[JimBee]

Jinnipher ignored Lind and sat next to Gabriel. "Well there's no sense in being paranoid about Immortalis bringing the apocalypse every time it rains a little. Besides, Vorpalis was just as cocky and we took him down."

"Jinnipher, you want any?"

She nodded. "Of course."

Looking over to the blacksmith and drawing the Brine Blade, "The dragon sword is just fine. How about you sharpen the edge on this one?" She tossed over 75 gold.

"It better not be him... I don't need that shit right now."

"Who?"

[Palathadric]

"I don't know if it's your plan, but if you want to make some good coin from this blacksmith work, you should make your shop a little easier to locate and get to. People in Eubric, heroica especially would clamor for this kind of work."

[Endgame]

"I don't think he really wants to smite Eubric, he just...He just has to."

"...Has to, huh." says Gabriel, with an edge to his voice.

"No, hun, a Bogossus's foot is big enough to crush a Floraphant. They're nasty, nasty critters. Azureleaf is great for a ton of different cures, but it won't do diddly squat if you don't bring back the whole thing. You may have to tusle for quite a while if the Bogossus is protective of its tree."

"You are a fine Blacksmith, I can say that much. I would very much like to take up your offer. Hmm...let me see, I'll pay 150 gold for you to Sharpen the Edges of my Dual Staff and I'll pay 162 gold for you to Blunt the Pommel of my Splinter Broom. That should be 312 gold in total."

"I don't know if it's your plan, but if you want to make some good coin from this blacksmith work, you should make your shop a little easier to locate and get to. People in Eubric, heroica especially would clamor for this kind of work."

"I'll get working now. But to be honest, no interest in the coin. I just like doing the work when it drifts in. Sometimes people bring in some really interesting raw materials, and I can make fine armor with it - you don't get those type of people if you're just a runo f the mill blacksmith at the city."

Gabriel pours Jinnipher's drink and hands it to her, taking a sip from his glass afterwards.

"Oh, I'm just paranoid over Big, Blue and Electric. We may have taken Vorpalis down, but he still wreaked havoc... and to be honest, I have the feeling Immortalis is even stronger than he lets on. He seems the humble type, which, given the fact he's a forty foot tall dragon that trained one of the world's most prolific conquerors... He's at least as srong as Vorpalis, and that is bad news for Eubric.

But I think I'm worrying too much. Maybe some gin will help." Gabriel raise shis glass for a toast with Jinnipher.

"Calamity, you need any work done here?"

The Party:

Monk Pretzel and His 99 Pieces, the Super Sleuth (Played by Palathadric) *Party Leader!*

463-year-old male "hermit" Artisan *reinforced*

Level: 34.75

Power: 46 34 + 10 + 2*

Defense: 32

Health: 62/62 9 + 15 + 33 + 3 + 2**

Gold: 2017

Equipment: Dual Staff (WP: 10; Ice, Lightning, Fire, Wind, Light; Dual Strike; Staff *Bleeding 3!*), Darksteel Armour (SP: 6; Max. Health +3; Bodywear), Armour of Dark Arts (SP: 10; Takes up: Bodywear, Handwear, Footwear slots; counts as one artifact; Suitable to Knights, Dragoons, and Skirmishers), Marauder’s Mantle (Grants permanent reinforced effect; Suitable to Marauders; Backwear), Soul Link Chain (Allows the user to pair up with another party member, each of them gaining all the effects that the other has. The partner has to equip the chain as well (ie. one chain can be shared by two people); Accessory)

Inventory:

Weapons and Shields: Flying Cross (WP: 11; Darkness; Broomstick), Splinter Broom (WP: 9; *1/2 chance of Stun* Broomstick; defies SP), Whip of Savage Overlords (WP: 9; ⅙ chance of inflicting the Slowed effect; Whip), Steak (WP: 1, instantly kills vampires on successful hits; suitable for all), Staff of the Necromancer (WP: 12; damages Undead; +1 Level to raised Undead; Staff), Shadeaux Mace (WP: 9; deals Fragile effect, Mace), Mythril Shield (SP: 20)

Artifacts: Strategist's Shako (+5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back; Headwear), Duplovian Helmet (SP:2; Immune to Magic and Healing; Headwear), Burning Knuckle Helmet (SP: 10; Wearer suffers Burning -3 effect; Suitable for Anyone; Headwear), Bumble Fanshirt (SP: 1, Vermin with level less than half of the wearers are scared and won't directly attack the wearer; Bodywear), Order Imperial Prophet's Armor (SP: 8; Grants Command; Suitable for Prophets; Bodywear), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (SP: 5, Protects against Fragile and all Poisons; Suitable for Knights, Dragoons, Skirmishers and Regulators, Bodywear), Cloak of the Barbaric Runecaster (SP: 3; wearer creates and deploys a Skeleton Decoy at the start of every battle; Suitable for Battle Mages, Necromancers, and Scholars; Backwear), Ethereal Cloak (SP: 2, Max Ether +4; Backwear), Rock Gauntlets (Grants the wearer Iron Fist at no ether cost; Suitable for anyone; Handwear), Counterstrike Gloves (Handwear), Soothing Slippers (Meditation restores 5 ether; Footwear), Shackles of War (Accessory), Lens of Speed Reading (allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action; accessory, suitable for scroll users),

Gems: 2 Amethysts, 2 Emeralds, Garnet, 2 Aquamarines, Diamond, Ruby

Scrolls: Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness x 2, Scroll of Confusion x 2, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Minimizing (Has 1/2 chance of causing the minimized-effect on the target; costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Arc Sleep

Consumables: 8 Potions, 16 Grand Potions, Cherry (Restores 1 ether), 2 Tonics, Ether Core, 10 Remedies, 3 Neutralizers, Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), 2 Phoenix Incenses, 5 Phoenix Essences, 5 Meads, 2 Smelling Salts, 2 Nostrums, Soma, Mulled Wine, Dragon Scale (lucky & blessed), Titan Heart (encouraged & inspired), Tiger Balm, 5 Venoms, 5 Deadly Venoms, 2 Paralyzing Venoms, 3 Jinxy Juices, 5 Smoke Bombs, Holy Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb, 2 Blind Bombs, 2 Seal Bombs, 2 Sleep Bombs, 6 Bones, Raw Meat (+5 max. health upon consumption), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects permanently), Strong Wasabi (-2 Poisoned permanently), Grating Stone

Tools: Bedroll, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Shovel, Magic Compass, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest)

Calamity (Scubacarrot)

24 year old human Mage

Level 10.5

Power bonus: 2 (spell)

Health: 14/14

Ether: 13/14

Gold: 146

Equipment: Renegade’s Crook (WP: 10, successful healing also poisons the target’s weapon by 3, staff), Gold skin Gloves (Spell power +2, Usable by mages, Handwear), Focus Sash (Gains +2 Defense for every successful hit, resets to zero when hit or when the battle ends, accessory, suitable for babarians, mages, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, regulators, vindicators, and winged warriors, and paragons)

Inventory: Bedroll, 6x Potion, 2x Tonic, 3x Remedy, Scroll of Blindness (Enables casting the Blinded-effect to the target, making it unable to use a physical attack for the next three rounds. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.), Amethyst, Skull-Topped Staff (WP: 3, staff), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently)

Jinnipher Buchaire (JimBee) *Party Leader!*

76-year-old female Moon Elven Knight

Level 10.5

Power Bonus: 0

Health: 19/19

Defense: 26

Gold: 90

Equipment: Brine Blade (WP:5, deals Poison 5 and Bleeding 3; greatsword),, Moone Mail (SP:3; bodywear), Mythril Shield (SP: 20) Cloak of Necrotic Shielding (SP:3, grants Special Guard against undead enemies; backwear)

Inventory: The Beheader (WP:15, defies SP; greatsword), Full Moon Shield (SP:5), Vorpalis Conquerors (Power +0; goes up by 2 for every enemy defeated, drops back down to 0 if the wearer is knocked out or if the battle ends; footwear), Paper Doll (protects from Hexed-effect; accessory), 3x Potion, Grand Potion, Greater Tonic, 3x Remedy, Venom, Bone, Bedroll, Shovel, Letter of Recommendation, Opal (Ice), Gloves of the Aspirant Zieg-friend (Spellpower +5, Max Ether +5; suitable to those with reputation among the Ziegfrieds only; if reputation is great, values are doubled; if reputation is outstanding, values are tripled; handwear), Natural Shield (SP:6, bearer deals half damage to and takes half damage from Beasts, Plants, and Vermin; shield), Fire Bomb, Mead

Lind Whisperer *Encouraged at half health* * *Immune to Dark* *Double damage to humanoids* *Halved damage from Holy/Light enemies* *1/3 chance of dealing Fragile* *STEALS on rolls of Hide*

22-year-old Human

Class: Black Knight

Level: 22.33

Power: 34 (12+22)

Defense: 13 (3+4+6)

Health: 38/38 (7+22+9)

Gold: 43

Glory Points: 14

Equipped Gear: Gladius (WP: 16, darkness-elemental greatsword, 1/3 chance of causing Fragile on successful hits), Invader's Armour (SP: 3, wearer is encouraged when their current health is at half or below the wearer's maximum level), Swift Boots (Changes HIDE into STEAL & HIDE, allowing the wearer to steal gold equal to the target’s level if it carries gold in addition to hiding; suitable to rogues; footwear.), Vorpalis Netherwings (SP: 4, the wearer deals double damage to humanoid type enemies and takes half damage from Holy/Light enemies. Backwear, suitable for anyone.), Skull Shield (SP:6; immunity to dark-elemental damage; suitable to Black Knights only; shield.)

Unequipped Gear: Steel Knife (WP: 12, throwing weapon), Star-Breaker (WP: 5, darkness-elemental halberd), Trickster's Mask of the Human (suitable for anyone, changes users appearance into a human of the same gender, accessory), Mugger's Mask (Protects from loss of gold from gold stealing enemies, headwear.), Akrone Fez (Artifact; SP: 1, Max. Health: +1, Headwear, suitable for anyone), Plasma Shield (SP: 3, user absorbs electric attacks)

Unequipped Weapons: Darker Ethereal Deck (Playing Cards) (WP:7, throwing weapon), Ethereal Deck (Playing Cards) (WP:7, throwing weapon)

Gems: Ruby

Potions: x3 Potions, Bone, Last Wish Powder, Military Grade Firebomb x2, Grand Potion x2, Remedy x2

Tools: Bedroll, Shovel

"..."

Gabriel Cour, Level 31.5 Sniper *Immune to Sleep/Deep Sleep*

HP: 37/46

SP: 4

Gold: 300

Lethality: 1/6

Equipment: Somnamblast (WP: 13, 1/6 chance of inflicting Sleep on succesful hits, handcannon), Sandblasted Helmet (SP: 2, immune to sleep/deep sleep), Sandblasted Robes (SP: 2)

Inventory: Grand Potion x3, Old Guitar (WP: 0), Phoenix Incense, Cigars x2 (Smoking them permanently boosts Sandman's lethality by 1 for the battle.)

Edited December 1, 2015 by Endgame

[Scubacarrot]

"I'm good."

[Lind Whisperer]

"...Has to, huh." says Gabriel, with an edge to his voice.

The Black Knight shrugged.

"No, hun, a Bogossus's foot is big enough to crush a Floraphant. They're nasty, nasty critters. Azureleaf is great for a ton of different cures, but it won't do diddly squat if you don't bring back the whole thing. You may have to tusle for quite a while if the Bogossus is protective of its tree."

"Interesting..."

[Endgame]

Rain pours down as Flavius tirelesly works away on the weapons. The party sits nd sips at their drinks, until their weapons return. The billowing grey clouds recede, and the rain ceases.

"My work here is done. Thank you kindly for your patronage, and I apologize again for those hard headed bastards. I would decommission them if the wife would let me..."

"Oh hush, you. Gabriel, here are your directions."

Marionne passes the sniper a list of directions to the Bogossus tree. Gabriel nods and pockets the directions.

"Thank you. We'll be off now."

"Safe travels. Thank you for the business."

The party leaves the Severa Cottage, and Gabriel leads th way, instructions in hand. The group treks along for some time, until a thought occurs to Gabriel.

"Will you guys actually want to meet my brother, or what?

...You're gonna be slightly creeped out at first, because he is pretty much identical to me - despite being four years younger - but he's a nice guy."

[Lind Whisperer]

"Will you guys actually want to meet my brother, or what?

...You're gonna be slightly creeped out at first, because he is pretty much identical to me - despite being four years younger - but he's a nice guy."

"...Why would we be creeped out? Identical twins aren't that uncommon."

[Endgame]

"We aren't twins. I'm a half decade older."