Heroica RPG - Quest #145: Rescue My People!

[Palathadric]

The heroes hear Pemo addressing the audience in the barn.

"We have collected this artifact out from under the very noses of the farmers themselves, from within their own house, as a proof that we can outfox them..."

This is followed by a murmuring.

Cheapy looks sheepish.

"Bonaparte clearly must not have been precise enough in his instructions. You said you never went to the farmhouse, right? Clearly, Bonaparte appears to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that you did. What tricks could Pimky have been playing? He is a loyal follower of Bonaparte though, probably much more so than even I am. It is strange to be sure."

Bonaparte staggers out of building, appearing to be dismayed.

"They rejected it. It is most odd! Most terrible indeed! I shall have to pacify them. Cheapy, you must take the heroes away immediately. Bring them to Pimky and find out what he's playing at. He said he'd be at his lookout until midnight, so he should still be there unless he has been compromised. This is bad indeed!"

"Right. Heroes, it looks like we may be going to the farmhouse after all. Let's go."

Once out of Bonaparte's earshot, Cheapy mutters.

"Don't be aggrieved heroes. Mistakes are common for any fledgling business...er...farm."

[Mencot]

"Aye, lead th' way.Let us see what th't brings.

[Palathadric]

Cheapy leads them back to the other barn, but they are only left to see an abandoned shovel. The low rumbling noise persists.

"How odd! He's always around at this time. What did he seem like to you, heroes? Were his words and actions more or less like those of Bonaparte's.

[Mencot]

"Nay, he wast nathin' never when we wast with him like Bonaparte. He wast nervous 'nd a screw-up but I thought th't he wast like just like th't!

What ist ye others opinion 'bout Pimky, anythin' th't wast wierd?

Edited February 27, 2016 by Mencot

[Palathadric]

"Most unusual. Perhaps we shall need to have a chat with the horses. If they were here when Pimky was around, surely they should know what Pixie Dust he had been inebriating to make him behave the way he did, but...what is this here?"

Cheapy peeks under the wood pile and a disheveled man-pig emerges.

"Drat! I've been compromised."

[Pedguin]

Cree notices them talking and swaps the cape for the cowl.

[Mencot]

Ah, there ye be! We be lookin' for ye, Pimky. The big man says when the pig is found, then he takes a more serious stance and closes in on Pimky,"What be goin' on Pimky? Why wast ye hidin'?

[Palathadric]

"Whoa! Whoa! Wait just a minute. How do you know my name? Shoot, has this skump, whoever he is, ratted on me?"

Pimky points an accusatory finger Cheapy's way.

Cheapy just rolls his eyes.

"I work for Bonaparte too."

"You work for Bonaparte too? That makes one think that I work for Bonaparte, which I do not. We work together. Anyway, enough with the technicalities, if you led people to me, you must be a traitorous vermin."

"These are the heroes you requested Bonaparte to hire."

"Heroes? How very odd they like. Why are they almost all wearing those horribly distasteful cowls?"

"So they can understand me. Not all of us are gifted with your ability to speak common, and none of them speak animal naturally."

"Humph! I could've sworn I asked Bonaparte to hire at least one Ranger? I have to say that without a ranger in the party, there's absolutely no reason why I should trust you. You could be spies."

"They have already proven their worth to Bonaparte."

"I usually like to have them approved by me, but what the heck, if they're approved by Bonaparte, they may as well be approved by me."

Ah, there ye be! We be lookin' for ye, Pimky. The big man says when the pig is found, then he takes a more serious stance and closes in on Pimky,"What be goin' on Pimky? Why wast ye hidin'?

"Hiding? Well...it's complicated..."

"He wasn't hiding. He was sleeping, I reckon."

"What an obnoxious little rat you are."

"At least I can perform my duty when I'm called upon. Apparently, the heroes visited this same spot earlier today and they only found someone posing as you."

"A man must sleep. Tiredness affects us all, besides, we have a long day tonight...er...you understand, I'm sure."

"Who could have been posing as you. It is worrisome indeed."

"If he actually claim to be Pimky and used my code name, that would be worrisome. Did he actually call himself by my name, heroes?"

[Sandy]

"So, we encountered an impostor! That makes sense considering the confusing events that unfurled... We do not remember if he used your name or not, Mr. Pimky, but he certainly led us on to believe he was you. Now, you have a real task for us, then?"

[K-Nut]

"I don't remember a codename....?" Kheyli says hesitantly.

[Mencot]

Keliim felt annoyed and like a jackass for being fooled by a counterfeit pig.

"If he actually claim to be Pimky and used my code name, that would be worrisome. Did he actually call himself by my name, heroes?"

"I donst think he ever said tae be Pimky or use any code name, we just took for grant'd th't he wast Pimky because he wast a werepig in th' place direct'd tae us."

[Palathadric]

"So, we encountered an impostor! That makes sense considering the confusing events that unfurled... We do not remember if he used your name or not, Mr. Pimky, but he certainly led us on to believe he was you. Now, you have a real task for us, then?"

"Yes, I most certainly do."

"I don't remember a codename....?" Kheyli says hesitantly.

"I'm sorry, Pimky is my codename, obviously. Who would actually call himself that!"

"I donst think he ever said tae be Pimky or use any code name, we just took for grant'd th't he wast Pimky because he wast a werepig in th' place direct'd tae us."

"Don't worry about it, anyone can make a mistake."

"Don't worry about it? Are you crazy? There is another pig...creature out there, just like you, running around claiming to be you. This could jeopardize everything!"

"Relax, rat with tail."

"Relax! How can you be so calm about this?"

"I'm sure it wasn't a major issue and we have bigger fish to fry. Heroes, I asked Bonaparte to summon you because, through intelligence I received, I have the good fortune to announce that the farmer and his wife will be out of town this evening going to gods only know where. This leaves us with the opportunity we've been waiting for. There is a statuette, of a cat, I believe, supposedly the first owned by farmers in these parts. He was a symbol of farmer cruelty as he lured many unsuspecting animals into farms where they became slaves to the farmers whims. There is no one so treasured by the farmers and their lot and their is none so fiercely detested by the farm animals themselves. Most farm animals believe that the statuette holds some protective power over the farmer. If, however, the statuette is destroyed in the view of the farm animals. They will believe that they have finally broken the yoke of bondage and can press forward to the freedom that awaits them. They demand this statuette though. Hence, we need to recover it, and tonight is the night to do it. The farmer and his wife rarely leave the farmhouse together on the same night, so we are faced with a golden opportunity. We simply cannot afford to let it slip by."

"But what about the fake Pimky?"

"We must push lesser matters to the back burner for now. We have a busy schedule ahead of us tonight. Are you with me, heroes?"

[Pedguin]

Yup. Let's destroy that statuette.

[Mencot]

"Aye, lets but lets also be careful!" The big man turns so that only Cheapy and the other heroes hear and says,"Dunno thinkst th't it be a coincidence th't both farmer 'nd wife art leavin' taenight. I thinkst we willst meet trouble, maybe even th' counterfeit Pimky, if we art lucky!"

Edited March 2, 2016 by Mencot

[Sandy]

"Indeed, we shall give our everything to recover that statuette, but we must also be alert in case of any trouble arises. Everything is not what it seems around here..."

[Palathadric]

"Unfortunately, heroes, I will not be able to go with you. I'm sure you can understand, but it is very hard for someone like me to disguise himself. I apologize for the inconvenience before, but fully trust that you will keep to your word."

"Speaking of this 'other Pimky,' you had better go and investigate what is up with it or I will."

"No! I mean, no, ahem, the heroes will need your help as a guide. You know where the farmhouse is and you should well enough know the statuette that we're after. You can ensure that they are not waylaid by any other 'false mes'."

"But I can't go!"

"And why not?"

"I'm a coward!"

"Enough said! Don't embarrass yourself unnecessarily. I trust these heroes have proven themselves in our service."

"I saw them take down Canicula himself."

"Is that supposed to be a good thing? Ah, well, no matter so long as we get the statuette. Make sure it happens. Besides, if the heroes took down Canicula, they should be more than able to protect you from any dangers you encounter along the way. Good luck!"

"Well, heroes, I guess it's just you and me again. Are you ready? You do seem to have many questions that you're begging to ask, but I understand if you don't feel like confessing them."

[Mencot]

"Aye we habt questions but from experince here so far, tae be moor straight forward nowst wouldst be bett'r! Jolly good th't ye be with us again, Cheapy." Keliim reaches out his hand to Cheapy "Come, I be ready tae go!"

Edited March 3, 2016 by Mencot

[Palathadric]

"Well then, that's good news. Let's go. The heroes once again follow Cheapy and he leads them to the farmhouse."

As they draw closer, they seem to see a light in one of the windows. Sneaking closer, they clearly see the light of a fire burning in the hearth.

"It certainly seems to me that someone is home, but we don't have many options as to what we can do. We need to get that statuette."

Edited March 3, 2016 by Palathadric

[Mencot]

"Alreacht, we be here but as couldst be guess'd th' house be not empty. Lets come up with a plan 'nd fast. I habt a idea howst tae proceed but what do ye others think we shall do? The big man looks at Quintessa, Cree and Kheyli

[Palathadric]

"Alreacht, we be here but as couldst be guess'd th' house be not empty. Lets come up with a plan 'nd fast. I habt a idea howst tae proceed but what do ye others think we shall do? The big man looks at Quintessa, Cree and Kheyli

"But how? Will we just break in and enter this window here?"

Edited March 4, 2016 by Palathadric

[Mencot]

The big man takes the Tricksters mask out of his pocket and shows it. "I wast thinkin' how 'bout th's?"

[Palathadric]

Cheapy looks somewhat shocked.

"Where...where did...you have one of those? How do you intend to use it?"

[Mencot]

"Aaa th's thing, aye it be a lang story... lets take talk 'bout it after th's quest ist finsih'd! My plan was th't me or someone equip th' mask 'nd go tae th' frontdoor tae see if someone ist inside 'nd make up somekind of story tae distract 'nd then steal th' statue."

He looks at the mask, " Ofcourse I don´t really knowst how th's thin' ist actually gonna work 'nd do?"

[Palathadric]

"Interesting idea. That is certainly a possibility. I do wonder where they keep the statuette. Perhaps we should take a swing around the house and check for other openings, though in truth I cannot see either you or Mrs. Fancydress sneaking in here, unfortunately."

[Mencot]

"Truu only one I actually see who canst sneak around th' best o' us ist Kehyli, not th't I ain't a smooth 'nd quiet walker but my bodysize makes it hard to hide, if need'd."

"I wouldst suggest we split up 'nd halv o' us go tae other side 'nd halv o' party stay here!"

Edited March 7, 2016 by Mencot