Heroica RPG - Quest #145: Rescue My People!

[Sandy]

"We are curious about how we are supposed to 'prove our loyalty' to the farm animals, exactly. Does it involve dressing into animalistic suits, perchance?" Quintessa asked.

[Palathadric]

"We are curious about how we are supposed to 'prove our loyalty' to the farm animals, exactly. Does it involve dressing into animalistic suits, perchance?" Quintessa asked.

Pemo's gutteral laugh fills the room.

"I should like to see that! No, unfortunately I will not require that of you. There are ways.... I'm sure we'll think of something when we get there. The animals need to learn to respect you while also seeing you as people who want to help them. There will be a meeting of animals at the farm. In fact, we may as well start heading there now."

Bonaparte gets up and the heroes follow him out of his "office" in the sewer. Before too long, they are making their way down the sewers, presumably in the direction of the farmhouse.

"I wish I could offer you a better, cleaner means of transportation, but I'm sure you understand the need for ... this. Even my coming out to the farm tonight will be a risk. Not only for me, but for you as well. If the farmers are to come in, they will no doubt suspect you, but the rewards of a successful quest will be well worth it. We simply have to do it.

"...Anyway, enough about me and my mission. Do you all know each other from before, or are you meeting for the first time? I hope you found Cheapy a capable guide?"

[Pedguin]

Well, no, I don't any of us knew each other before this.

[Palathadric]

Party:

Kheyli (K-Nut)

327 years old female Fairy

Level 5 Barbarian

Power: 10

Health: 12/12

Gold: 350

Equipment: Gelum Blade (WP:5, Ice-elemental, ignores SP of foes weak to Ice, cannot be disimbued; greatsword), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants "Animal Talk", Headwear)

Inventory:

Weapons: Rat Club (WP:5, deals Afraid to Vermin-type enemies and Poisoned-by-1 to enemies of all types; club), Electrum Blade (WP:5, Lightning-elemental, ignores SP of foes weak to Lightning, cannot be disimbued; greatsword), Barrager (WP:3 Greatsword)

Artifacts: Cultist Cap (regular attacks do damage to Undead; headwear, suitable to anyone), Magic Viper Skin (Restores 1 HP to wearer each round of battle unless knocked out; accessory), Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Earth, Headwear; Loaned from Kellim),

Consumables: Potion x4, Mead, Poison Bomb, Aeolus Bomb (Deals 100 wind-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), Bucket of Buffalo Wings (Max. Health +3 when consumed)

Keliim "Demon sworn" *Party Leader!*(Mencot)

37 year old male Human

Level 13 Barbarian

Power: 18

Health: 20/20

SP:

Gold: 4

Equipment: Dwarven Orichalcum one handed battleaxe (WP: 5, Axe), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants "Animal Talk", Headwear)

Inventory:

Weapons and Shields:

Artifacts: Heroic Helm (SP:2, Helm's SP doubles on free hits, Headwear), Wolfish Fedora (+5 WP for each standing hero with Wolfgang reputation and Wolfgang NPC in the party, headwear, suitable for heroes with Wolfgang reputation), Gauntlets of Recklessness (Hits become Mortal Hits, adding lost health to attack power; handwear), Королева's Blessing (When equipped the player gains the ability to Animal Speak to Spiders only, and all spiders are Enamored with him for the first three rounds of battle, accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Gender-Swap (swaps the wearer's gender when worn, suitable for anyone, accessory)

Consumables: 10x Potion, 2x Grand Potion, Remedy, 4x Mead, Smelling Salts, 2x Smoke Bomb, Venom, Dirt Bomb, 5x Holy Bombs, Double Rainbow (Gives the user the encouraged, lucky, poisoned by 1, and confused effects), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently), 2x Obsidian Shard (may be affixed to a blunt weapon to give the Bleeding 2 effect for one battle), 2x Charion beetle horn.

Tools: Shovel

Quintessa of Heartland (Sandy)

67 years old human female Barbarian

Level 2 *Immune to fragile*

Power: 5

Defense: 5

Health: 9/9

Gold: 60

Equipment: Rolling Pin (WP:3, club), Heavy Armour (SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians, knights, dragoons, skirmishers, regulators and vindicators; bodywear.)

Inventory:

Artifacts: Sylvania's Cowl (Grants "Animal Talk", Headwear)

Consumables: Grand Potion, 5x Potion, 4x Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Mead, Smelling Salts, Nostrum, 2x Smoke Bomb, Candycane of Doomed (Causes *Doomed* effect to the target when used; Breaks after 6 uses)

Tools: Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Compass

Cree (Pedguin)

27 year old Mopag

Level 2 Knight

Power: 5

Defense: 2

Health: 11/11

Gold: 0

Equipment: Order Imperial Longsword (WP: 5; Loaned from Kellim), Scarab Shield: (SP: 3, Bearer takes half damage from vermin; Loaned from Kellim), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants "Animal Talk", Headwear)

Inventory:

Weapons and Shields: Blade (WP: 3, greatsword), Shield of Defending (SP: 2),

Artifacts: Speed Cape (The wearer is permanently *Hastened* and *Nimble*, but rolls of 3 turn into Miss; backwear)

Consumables: Potion x2, Venom, Holy Bomb

Tools: Bedroll

Edited January 5, 2016 by Palathadric

[Mencot]

Bonaparte gets up and the heroes follow him out of his "office" in the sewer. Before too long, they are making their way down the sewers, presumably in the direction of the farmhouse.

As they walk through the sewer, Keliim walks silently trying to sence any dangers in the sewer or up a head the way towards the farm. He gets some odd feelings up coming their way but nothing more. Even though he changes the cowl for his Heroic Helm because of one thing not the need for it right now and the the other strange feeling he has that trouble is ahead. While going through his belongings he also finds a pair of Gauntlet that wasn´t there before. "Hmm whats be th'se, look real nice" he thinks and fits them on.

"I wish I could offer you a better, cleaner means of transportation, but I'm sure you understand the need for ... this. Even my coming out to the farm tonight will be a risk. Not only for me, but for you as well. If the farmers are to come in, they will no doubt suspect you, but the rewards of a successful quest will be well worth it. We simply have to do it.

"...Anyway, enough about me and my mission. Do you all know each other from before, or are you meeting for the first time? I hope you found Cheapy a capable guide?"

"Nae, like Cree h're said we art all new to each other. Cheapy wast more th'n capable, he seems like a great 'nd loyal servent of ye. He seem'd more like a good friend of ye, car'ing alot of ye, if I may say.

[Sandy]

"There are ways.... I'm sure we'll think of something when we get there. The animals need to learn to respect you while also seeing you as people who want to help them. There will be a meeting of animals at the farm. In fact, we may as well start heading there now."

"I wish I could offer you a better, cleaner means of transportation, but I'm sure you understand the need for ... this. Even my coming out to the farm tonight will be a risk. Not only for me, but for you as well. If the farmers are to come in, they will no doubt suspect you, but the rewards of a successful quest will be well worth it. We simply have to do it.

"...Anyway, enough about me and my mission. Do you all know each other from before, or are you meeting for the first time? I hope you found Cheapy a capable guide?"

"We will see when we get there, it seems... Do these sewers really run all the way into the farmlands? My, the northern infrastructure really is more developed than the one we have in the south..."

Quintessa glanced at her companions with a wry smile. "We have not had the pleasure of meeting these fine younglings before this, but they have proven to be quite capable allies. We look forward to completing this quest as a raging success with them."

[Pedguin]

As they walk through the sewer, Keliim walks silently trying to sence any dangers in the sewer or up a head the way towards the farm. He gets some odd feelings up coming their way but nothing more. Even though he changes the cowl for his Heroic Helm because of one thing not the need for it right now and the the other strange feeling he has that trouble is ahead. While going through his belongings he also finds a pair of Gauntlet that wasn´t there before. "Hmm whats be th'se, look real nice" he thinks and fits them on.

"Nae, like Cree h're said we art all new to each other. Cheapy wast more th'n capable, he seems like a great 'nd loyal servent of ye. He seem'd more like a good friend of ye, car'ing alot of ye, if I may say.

Seeing Keliim switch gear, Cree Also switches out the cowl for his grogmas gift, feeling danger as well.

[K-Nut]

"I mean, I've seen a couple of theses us around the hall, but not much else. You guys seem alright though, so hopefully we'll be seeing some more of each other!" she beams.

[Palathadric]

"Nae, like Cree h're said we art all new to each other. Cheapy wast more th'n capable, he seems like a great 'nd loyal servent of ye. He seem'd more like a good friend of ye, car'ing alot of ye, if I may say.

"Oh, um...really? I mean, he's actually new. I don't know him very well in truth. But it's good to hear that he's loyal. Sometimes one has a profound effect on ones said one doesn't know too well."

"We will see when we get there, it seems... Do these sewers really run all the way into the farmlands? My, the northern infrastructure really is more developed than the one we have in the south..."

Bonaparte laughs loudly.

"Ha, ha! No. These sewers don't lead all the way to the barn, unfortunately, but they should lead us out of the more densely populated areas at least. Once out, with this cloak I should be able to get by without too much difficulty, so long as we don't do something stupid like run into someone."

Some of the party switches their gear around a bit.

Party:

Kheyli (K-Nut)

327 years old female Fairy

Level 5 Barbarian

Power: 10

Health: 12/12

Gold: 350

Equipment: Gelum Blade (WP:5, Ice-elemental, ignores SP of foes weak to Ice, cannot be disimbued; greatsword), Sylvania's Cowl (Grants "Animal Talk", Headwear)

Inventory:

Weapons: Rat Club (WP:5, deals Afraid to Vermin-type enemies and Poisoned-by-1 to enemies of all types; club), Electrum Blade (WP:5, Lightning-elemental, ignores SP of foes weak to Lightning, cannot be disimbued; greatsword), Barrager (WP:3 Greatsword)

Artifacts: Cultist Cap (regular attacks do damage to Undead; headwear, suitable to anyone), Magic Viper Skin (Restores 1 HP to wearer each round of battle unless knocked out; accessory), Really Hard Helmet (SP: 2, Immunity to Earth, Headwear; Loaned from Kellim),

Consumables: Potion x4, Mead, Poison Bomb, Aeolus Bomb (Deals 100 wind-elemental damage to all opponents when used.), Bucket of Buffalo Wings (Max. Health +3 when consumed)

Keliim "Demon sworn" *Party Leader!*(Mencot)

37 year old male Human

Level 13 Barbarian

Power: 18

Health: 20/20

SP: 2 (4 to Free Hits)

Gold: 4

Equipment: Dwarven Orichalcum one handed battleaxe (WP: 5, Axe), Heroic Helm (SP: 2, Helm's SP doubles on free hits, Headwear), Gauntlets of Recklessness (Hits become Mortal Hits, adding lost health to attack power; handwear)

Inventory:

Weapons and Shields:

Artifacts: Sylvania's Cowl (Grants "Animal Talk", Headwear)Wolfish Fedora (+5 WP for each standing hero with Wolfgang reputation and Wolfgang NPC in the party, headwear, suitable for heroes with Wolfgang reputation), Королева's Blessing (When equipped the player gains the ability to Animal Speak to Spiders only, and all spiders are Enamored with him for the first three rounds of battle, accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Gender-Swap (swaps the wearer's gender when worn, suitable for anyone, accessory)

Consumables: 10x Potion, 2x Grand Potion, Remedy, 4x Mead, Smelling Salts, 2x Smoke Bomb, Venom, Dirt Bomb, 5x Holy Bombs, Double Rainbow (Gives the user the encouraged, lucky, poisoned by 1, and confused effects), Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently), 2x Obsidian Shard (may be affixed to a blunt weapon to give the Bleeding 2 effect for one battle), 2x Charion beetle horn.

Tools: Shovel

Quintessa of Heartland (Sandy)

67 years old human female Barbarian

Level 2 *Immune to fragile*

Power: 5

Defense: 5

Health: 9/9

Gold: 60

Equipment: Rolling Pin (WP:3, club), Heavy Armour (SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians, knights, dragoons, skirmishers, regulators and vindicators; bodywear.)

Inventory:

Artifacts: Sylvania's Cowl (Grants "Animal Talk", Headwear)

Consumables: Grand Potion, 5x Potion, 4x Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Mead, Smelling Salts, Nostrum, 2x Smoke Bomb, Candycane of Doomed (Causes *Doomed* effect to the target when used; Breaks after 6 uses)

Tools: Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Compass

Cree (Pedguin) *Hastened* *Nimble*

27 year old Mopag

Level 2 Knight

Power: 7

Defense: 2

Health: 11/11

Gold: 0

Equipment: Order Imperial Longsword (WP: 5; Loaned from Kellim), Scarab Shield: (SP: 3, Bearer takes half damage from vermin; Loaned from Kellim), Speed Cape (The wearer is permanently *Hastened* and *Nimble*, but rolls of 3 turn into Miss; backwear)

Inventory:

Weapons and Shields: Blade (WP: 3, greatsword), Shield of Defending (SP: 2),

Artifacts: Sylvania's Cowl (Grants "Animal Talk", Headwear)

Consumables: Potion x2, Venom, Holy Bomb

Tools: Bedroll

Edited January 7, 2016 by Palathadric

[Pedguin]

Ok. No bumping into people. Got it.

[Palathadric]

Despite fearing the worst, the heroes and Bonaparte end up making it to the barn in one piece...or five pieces in truth. They are greeted at the door by a collection of barn animals. Only Kheyli can understand.

Wasn't going to use these originally, but great pictures by Wedge09 for this quest sent over 1 1/2 years ago.

"Greetings, Mr Bonaparte!"

"Please do come in quickly so no one will spot you."

"Bonaparte!"

"What are they doing here?"

"These are our guests. They believe in our cause."

"Humans! Never trust humans."

The animals watch the party curiously.

"I have to check who is around and what's in order. Can you wait here and try not to get into trouble? Perhaps you should chat with some of the others. If you can get on their good side, it would certainly be a bonus."

What would the heroes like to do?

Edited January 6, 2016 by Palathadric

[Pedguin]

Cree Puts on the cloak, taking off the cape, and then says, "Greetings, animals! We are heros of heroica, and we are here to free you from the tyrannical farmers."

[K-Nut]

Kheyli walks up to the owl. "Greetings majestic one!" she tries to make a good impression. "My name's Kheyli, what's yours?"

[Mencot]

Keliim tells the others in the party, "I willst keep a bit distance for starters, we remember howst th' dogs acted against me. Altough I wast perfectly calm. "

The big man bows his head, takes of his helmet and puts it under his arm and lowers himself a bit for the animals, that he would not look so intimidating, so that he it scare them.

He puts the cowl back on altough he has a bad feeling that danger can be near.

"Hello, we mean no harm. We came withst Pemo to help ye." He says with a calm voice.

[Palathadric]

Kheyli walks up to the owl. "Greetings majestic one!" she tries to make a good impression. "My name's Kheyli, what's yours?"

The owl looks suspiciously at Kheyli,

"Greetings, Mistress Kheyli. I go by the name of Orhan. Why are you here with Mr Bonaparte?"

Cree Puts on the cloak, taking off the cape, and then says, "Greetings, animals! We are heros of heroica, and we are here to free you from the tyrannical farmers."

"Tyranical farmers!"

"Shut up!"

"Hello, we mean no harm. We came withst Pemo to help ye." He says with a calm voice.

"Yeah, right! You're probably just trying to take the farm for yourselves!"

The pig comes over and begins sniffing at Quintessa's garments.

Edited January 7, 2016 by Palathadric

[Pedguin]

Using Diplomacy, Cree says "Ok, tyrannical may not be the best choice of words, but they are tyrants, no? At the most, dictators over you animals, and at the least the most boring and mean people on Olegia. Pemo told us about the whole ordeal, and I say again, we have come to free you! Even the grumpy cat! No offense."

[Sandy]

Quintessa is satisfied with watching how her quest mates handle the threatening animals.

The pig comes over and begins sniffing at Quintessa's garments.

"Shoo! Shoo!"

[Mencot]

"Yeah, right! You're probably just trying to take the farm for yourselves!"

The pig comes over and begins sniffing at Quintessa's garments.

The big man lowers himself even more that he wouldn´t look so big next to the small rabbit. He could understand the animals were afraid of him and the others, they were armed warriors.

Maybe they were also afraid of Keliim because he was so big in size and smelled of direwolf.

"I am Keliim, th're be no needst t' be afraid, wee one. We mean ye no harm 'nd we ain´t herest to take over no farms. I am not so use to talkin' to animals, so th't I canst understand what they say back. Th's be why we habt these cowls, so th't we understand ye all. My mother wast good with animals, she wast an ranger 'nd warden of th' forest, 'nd she also train'd me 'nd by siblings in th' ways. But th't wast a long time ago, my mother ist dead 'nd I never completed my training. But nature 'nd th' animal life ist near to my heart, maybe more th' wild ones..."

"What be ye name, wee one?" he says to the rabbit.

[Palathadric]

Using Diplomacy, Cree says "Ok, tyrannical may not be the best choice of words, but they are tyrants, no? At the most, dictators over you animals, and at the least the most boring and mean people on Olegia. Pemo told us about the whole ordeal, and I say again, we have come to free you! Even the grumpy cat! No offense."

The hen cackles, scooting closer to Cree.

"Even the grumpy cat!"

"Grrrr..."

Quintessa is satisfied with watching how her quest mates handle the threatening animals.

"Shoo! Shoo!"

The pig jumps back in fright and scuffles away. Soon he is checking out Kellim.

"Look at them! Here for our good, indeed!"

"I am Keliim, th're be no needst t' be afraid, wee one. We mean ye no harm 'nd we ain´t herest to take over no farms. I am not so use to talkin' to animals, so th't I canst understand what they say back. Th's be why we habt these cowls, so th't we understand ye all. My mother wast good with animals, she wast an ranger 'nd warden of th' forest, 'nd she also train'd me 'nd by siblings in th' ways. But th't wast a long time ago, my mother ist dead 'nd I never completed my training. But nature 'nd th' animal life ist near to my heart, maybe more th' wild ones..."

The rabbit looks on skeptically.

"Well, since you're all talking about 'rescuing' us. What's your plan? What makes you think that you can do it when others couldn't? What makes you think we can't do it ourselves? You dissin' us? Why are you trying to help in the first place?"

"What be ye name, wee one?" he says to the rabbit.

The rabbit hesitates.

"The name's Gringer.

"...But if you try to use that against me, I'll...bite your fingers off."

[Pedguin]

Hey, hey, hey, I said no offense! It's just that you've been growling at us and I don't know your names. What are your names?

[Sandy]

The pig jumps back in fright and scuffles away. Soon he is checking out Kellim.

"Look at them! Here for our good, indeed!"

Quintessa saw the animals' reaction. "Oh, did We upset them? We were just trying to prevent the pig from spoiling Our dress with mud... But We know what will do the trick. Here, cupcakes for everybody!" She reached for her pocket-of-holding and pulled out a basket filled with sugary treats, and began to offer them to the animals.

[Mencot]

The pig jumps back in fright and scuffles away. Soon he is checking out Kellim.

Keliim try to pet the pig on its head, "Good piggy. Didst th' auld lady scare ye?"

The rabbit looks on skeptically.

"Well, since you're all talking about 'rescuing' us. What's your plan? What makes you think that you can do it when others couldn't? What makes you think we can't do it ourselves? You dissin' us? Why are you trying to help in the first place?"

The rabbit hesitates.

"The name's Gringer.

"...But if you try to use that against me, I'll...bite your fingers off."

"Nice to meet ye Gringer." He bows his head again. "We art herest to help cause Pemo, which ye all ofcourse knowst, ask'd us to help ye all. 'nd we wanna help. We dons't habt a big plan yet work'd out but to rescue ye from this farm isn´t an hard thing to do, I thinkst. One thing to think 'bout ist, Where shall we take ye all, after we rescue ye. Ye art Farm animals, ye won´t survive in th' wild for long, we willst habt to think also out a safe place t' take ye all!

Quintessa saw the animals' reaction. "Oh, did We upset them? We were just trying to prevent the pig from spoiling Our dress with mud... But We know what will do the trick. Here, cupcakes for everybody!" She reached for her pocket-of-holding and pulled out a basket filled with sugary treats, and began to offer them to the animals.

He looks at the old lady,

"Cupcakes, sorry but I don´t thinkst maybe animals eat cupcakes! 'nd th't much suger ain't good for anyone. Buuut, I couldst habt one, if ye may?"

Edited January 9, 2016 by Mencot

[Palathadric]

Hey, hey, hey, I said no offense! It's just that you've been growling at us and I don't know your names. What are your names?

"No offense!"

"You can call me 'Nightmare', because that's what I'll be to you...and in anyone else who tries to get in our way."

"'Nightmare'! Cluck, cluck!"

Quintessa saw the animals' reaction. "Oh, did We upset them? We were just trying to prevent the pig from spoiling Our dress with mud... But We know what will do the trick. Here, cupcakes for everybody!" She reached for her pocket-of-holding and pulled out a basket filled with sugary treats, and began to offer them to the animals.

"Bribery! No, bribery and poison."

The chicken, however, can't resists and clucks over to Quintessa, sampling the cupcakes.

Keliim try to pet the pig on its head, "Good piggy. Didst th' auld lady scare ye?"

"I am not deceiving anybody. Nobody likes me anyway..."

"Nice to meet ye Gringer." He bows his head again. "We art herest to help cause Pemo, which ye all of course knowst, ask'd us to help ye all. 'nd we wanna help. We dons't habt a big plan yet work'd out but to rescue ye from this farm isn´t an hard thing to do, I thinkst. One thing to think 'bout ist, Where shall we take ye all, after we rescue ye. Ye art Farm animals, ye won´t survive in th' wild for long, we willst habt to think also out a safe place t' take ye all!

"Even with the cowl you sound funny!

"I don't know about the others. If we all wanted to just run away, we could probably do that without too much difficulty. I can survive in the wild. It's in my blood. I'm a freedman. These others...weak! They need someone to look after them. That's why Pemo has such difficulty in helping them. Those who have never tasted the wild fear it. Not that I have, but...it's in my blood."

"Cupcakes, sorry but I don´t thinkst maybe animals eat cupcakes! 'nd th't much suger ain't good for anyone. Buuut, I couldst habt one, if ye may?"

"See? I warned you, stupid chicken! Poison!"

[Mencot]

The big man looks Quintessa with one eye and says to the animals, "Don´t mind th' auld lady, she be a bit silly b't totally harmless."

"I am not deceiving anybody. Nobody likes me anyway..."

"Why, why ist that, ye art a good piggy, right? 'nd who ist deceiving somebody?"

"Even with the cowl you sound funny!

"I don't know about the others. If we all wanted to just run away, we could probably do that without too much difficulty. I can survive in the wild. It's in my blood. I'm a freedman. These others...weak! They need someone to look after them. That's why Pemo has such difficulty in helping them. Those who have never tasted the wild fear it. Not that I have, but...it's in my blood."

"Soond funay, ME.... Naay." Keliim says with a smile and laughs a little. "Th's be th' way I talk. Aye, I can beleive th't ye 'nd th' Owl wouldst survive in th' wild but th' rest, no way. Th't ist why, ye need a place to go, 'nd we shall with th' help of Pemo figure it out."

Keliim thinks for awhile and looks around himself at the farm and the surroundings, "Whats th's farm like 'nd what kinds of humans art these farmers?"

Edited January 11, 2016 by Mencot

[Palathadric]

"Why, why ist that, ye art a good piggy, right? 'nd who ist deceiving somebody?"

"I'm no good piggy. Just an ordinary pig. Eat from morning till night, shit in the corner, and fart a lot. That's my life! I'll probably be eaten sooner rather than later. They say a feast is coming up and that I'm the fattest piggy around."

"Soond funay, ME.... Naay." Keliim says with a smile and laughs a little. "Th's be th' way I talk. Aye, I can beleive th't ye 'nd th' Owl wouldst survive in th' wild but th' rest, no way. Th't ist why, ye need a place to go, 'nd we shall with th' help of Pemo figure it out."

Keliim thinks for awhile and looks around himself at the farm and the surroundings, "Whats th's farm like 'nd what kinds of humans art these farmers?"

"Well, some of us are here to serve, some of us are here to be eaten...there's no two ways about it really. The masters aren't bad investors, their investments need to yield some produce. We being the victims is an unhappy coincidence."

"The masters are lazy and self-centered. They don't do anything for themselves except for making sure that we pull the loads for them. What do we get for our work? Food barely enough to survive on. The only ones well-fed are those being prepared for the chopping block like Wiggly the Jiggler over there."

"See?"