Heroica RPG - Quest #147: Judgment Day

[Endgame]

"Not a poor idea in theory, but it'd take just as long as swimming, I imagine, not to mention the ether it costs. At that point, freezing a path isn't really worth it, time-wise, material-wise, and damage-wise."

[Asphalt]

Vindsval has been far more quiet than usual, the water, the underground, the newness of seeing THIS all breath the feet of the city has kept his mind occupied.

This debate gets us nowhere. His deep boulders on granite voice echoes and reverberates in the tunnel complex. ​The path has been revealed to us. We know which way we must go and a decision must be reached. While I admire your tenacity and pride Commander Aqua Prog, I feel there is one flaw in your plan. The Non-Humans of our party. You are large an powerful creatures, but it would take far too many of you would it not, to move us through the tunnels quickly enough to reach the unflooded section in time to draw breath. Flooding the dry spaces is not an ideal solution, but we cannot predict what our situation will be upon our return. I do not believe this will be a weekend retreat. If you flood a portion of the unfinished section of your warren to allow us to meet the cause of this disaster it will give us the opportunity to end this calamity, and barring that it will give you the time to reach a more permanent solution. If the Wanderer wills it, these rains will be ceased, and the tunnels may drain of their own accord by the time of our return.

He turns his head to Solon and Fydell

This is your home and your people, the decision is ultimately yours to make. But it you wish for my input on the matter, with a heavy heart I would say evacuate your people, and Flood the Residential Chamber.

[Siercon and Coral]

"Yes, but I don't want to die. So I say we drain the tunnel and get The Falconer before anything else gets flooded or burned. So it looks like our votes cancel, brother."

"Flood it, keep warriors, give the enemy and storm less time." Siercon nods in agreement.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Siercon and Coral

[Kintobor]

Karie rubs her forehead. "I personally would prefer not destroying the residential district.​ We're here to help the populace, not destroy its living quarters."

[Asphalt]

Karie rubs her forehead. "I personally would prefer not destroying the residential district.​ We're here to help the populace, not destroy its living quarters."

If we are to leave the quarters unflooded, it would seem our only option is to split the party. I see no way that all of us could be pulled through the tunnels.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Asphalt

[Kintobor]

If we are to leave the quarters unflooded, it would seem our only option is to split the party. I see no way that all of us could be pulled through the tunnels.

"Yes, I've heard this, and both of our members who cannot make it through have both opted to not flood the residential district.

Aqua Progg leader- actually on top of this can I get names for the two of you- anyways, can you tell me how many aqua proggs you have at the ready?"

[Asphalt]

"Yes, I've heard this, and both of our members who cannot make it through have both opted to not flood the residential district.

Aqua Progg leader- actually on top of this can I get names for the two of you- anyways, can you tell me how many aqua proggs you have at the ready?"

We were chosen to walk this path. I cannot explain it, but I feel we must walk it together if we are to be successful in meeting this threat.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Asphalt

[Endgame]

"Thank you for hearing reason. I'm Anemos."

"Ferris. And you're making a mistake."

"Am I one of the two who can't make it through? It was my understanding we'd just be holding onto the Aqua Proggs as they swim through... I can't swim, but I could still hold on."

"I have 12 men working under me. 13 of us in all."

"Remember that I am deferring to your judgment here, heroes, and majority rules... You will have some work in swaying the rest of your party. And the residential district was still in construction, with finishing touches being made. No lives will be lost, but many Proggs will go homeless for quite some time."

[Asphalt]

Then tell us truthfully Anemos. Can you take us all?

[JimBee]

Karie rubs her forehead. "I personally would prefer not destroying the residential district.​ We're here to help the populace, not destroy its living quarters."

"We're running out of time. If we don't do anything now we won't have a choice at all. Homelessness is still better than death." Jinnipher crossed her arms.

[Endgame]

"Except the fellow who can't be exposed to water? Yes. Is there risks? Yes.

First of all, my men still need to get in there and scout out the tunnel fully, find some way through. The next is that fact that you're essentially trying to hold onto your breath and hold onto us as you race you through a water-filled tunnel - not to mention the return trip introducing more of a risk of injury. There is a risk of getting you through safely. I won't lie to you about that for a second."

Edited April 25, 2016 by Endgame

[Asphalt]

There is danger in all progression, or there would be no reason to grow stronger.

He looks around the group until he sees the one who spoke of Spheres of Air.

It was Siercon was it not? Consider this? You were considering casting a sphere of air to contain an entire man. I fear that would consume far too much of your power to be feasible, and giving his past experience I do not believe he would allow it.

He pulls a leather bag out of his travel satchel. places it to his mouth and blows into it, inflating it like a bladder

Could you instead bind a small sphere of breathable air to the inside of a sack or pouch? We could place the bags over our heads or against our mouths and thus reduce the chance of drowning on our journey?

[JimBee]

There is danger in all progression, or there would be no reason to grow stronger.

He looks around the group until he sees the one who spoke of Spheres of Air.

It was Siercon was it not? Consider this? You were considering casting a sphere of air to contain an entire man. I fear that would consume far too much of your power to be feasible, and giving his past experience I do not believe he would allow it.

He pulls a leather bag out of his travel satchel. places it to his mouth and blows into it, inflating it like a bladder

Could you instead bind a small sphere of breathable air to the inside of a sack or pouch? We could place the bags over our heads or against our mouths and thus reduce the chance of drowning on our journey?

Jinnipher rolled her eyes. "This is ridiculous. We have the best solution in front of us, where no harm will come to the proggs. I'm not risking my life for a couple of buildings."

[Siercon and Coral]

"We are fighting to save an entire kingdom of buildings and people. I love the proggs and their recent work here, but one large cavern seems small in the grand scheme of things. It's almost as if it was built specifically by providence to give us a place to drain this storm and storm immortalis ourselves. Not only will it allow access, but this will also restore communication among all of the proggs. It won't have to be completely rebuilt, simply strategically drained later. And your warriors can still come with us and aid us in the battle." Siercon added.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Siercon and Coral

[Endgame]

"We're running out of time. If we don't do anything now we won't have a choice at all. Homelessness is still better than death." Jinnipher crossed her arms.

"As someone who spent a solid few years bar hopping, homeless... Agreed."

"...You really need to tell me what you've been up to these past twenty years."

"We are fighting to save an entire kingdom of buildings and people. I love the proggs and their recent work here, but one large cavern seems small in the grand scheme of things. It's almost as if it was built specifically by providence to give us a place to drain this storm and storm immortalis ourselves. Not only will it allow access, but this will also restore communication among all of the proggs. It won't have to be completely rebuilt, simply strategically drained later. And your warriors can still come with us and aid us in the battle." Siercon added.

"I am sorry, but I am not willing to spare too many troops. Our home is in shambles, I need to keep Proggs here to hold down the fort."

"Permission to accompany them, Solon, regardless of their choice? Simply myself. I understand that much of my corps may be needed elsewhere due to the flood."

"...Granted."

[Kintobor]

"We've been putting our hides on the line since we joined this organization, and you guys are all fine with taking the easy way out at the expense of others. I don't really consider that something I can tolerate." Karie admits. "We can probably swim there quicker than we can walk there."

[Endgame]

"We've been putting our hides on the line since we joined this organization, and you guys are all fine with taking the easy way out at the expense of others. I don't really consider that something I can tolerate." Karie admits. "We can probably swim there quicker than we can walk there."

"The thing that slows down the swimming route is scouting. Progg tunnels fork in many places - they all lead to the same place in the end, but some paths are longer than others. I'd need to round up some of my men, and we'd have to plot a course. It takes time."

"Meanwhile, I take a five minute walk, yell at my men, and this tunnel will start draining. Time is of the essence, and you're wasting it."

[Asphalt]

Mistress Karie, your music carried us through the flames and you are our LEADER here. My first instinct is to drain the tunnel into the deep bowl of the housing cavern. It is the fastest means to our end, the defeat of the Father of dragons. But I will follow your decision. But the decision must be made now. If we swim, we swim. If we drain it we drain it. Either way decide.

[Kintobor]

Mistress Karie, your music carried us through the flames and you are our LEADER here. My first instinct is to drain the tunnel into the deep bowl of the housing cavern. It is the fastest means to our end, the defeat of the Father of dragons. But I will follow your decision. But the decision must be made now. If we swim, we swim. If we drain it we drain it. Either way decide.

"The decision's been made awhile ago. I don't think Arthur, Masson, and I's vote's going to sway the rest of you." Karie replied, crossing her arms. "I could stand here in your way, or the lot of you can reap the consequences of taking the easy way out.

Do what you will."

Edited April 26, 2016 by Kintobor

[Endgame]

"You made the correct choice, the lot of you. I will give the orders to my men."

Ferris shuffles off. Five minutes later, a series of tremendous bangs is heard, followed by the sound of rushing water. The sound travels from in front of the heroes and ehind them, as the tunnel is drained into the chamber they were in previously.

Ferris returns.

"We dug many drainage holes. Keep going. It'll drain fast."

"That's your cue, heroes. Best of luck."

Anemos looks at all the heroes, seemingly frowning at the majority, but shaking his head sadly at Arthur, Masson, Lind, and Karie.

"...You made a poor choice. But I will still stand by you in our mission. It's too important to let my bitterness jeopardize. Come on, heroes."

Anemos joins the party!

The party enters the drained tunnel. It dips down at first, and the group can still here the water digging out of the trenches Ferris had dug. The water level plunging, ht heroes descend with it, following the long, windy tunnel. it eventually hooks back up, moisture still clinging to its rocky walls, until it levels off once more. The party stops to see a familiar face standing in their way.

"...Charon."

"Gabriel! I see you decided to join this ragtag group of heroes. Your brother, the dragon, the dragoon, the paladin, and the Progg, too... You've got quite the group going."

"Who is this... "Charon"?" Anemos mutters to the party.

Edited April 26, 2016 by Endgame

[Lind Whisperer]

"The decision's been made awhile ago. I don't think Arthur, Masson, and I's...

Anemos looks at all the heroes, seemingly frowning at the majority, but shaking his head sadly at Arthur, Masson, and Karie.

OoC: You forgot Lind. I was the first person to vote for swimming..

"Who is this... "Charon"?" Anemos mutters to the party.

"Immortalis's second in command..." the Black Knight muttered back.

[Endgame]

"Would you believe it I'm not actually here to fight you?" chuckles Charon.

[Kintobor]

"Would you believe it I'm not actually here to fight you?" chuckles Charon.

"I don't see any humour in you being here." Karie states.

[Endgame]

"I don't see any humour in you being here." Karie states.

"I can understand. But know that I come to you with no intention of violence. Immortalis doesn't "let" me enter combat, usually... My powers are a bit too... fatal, shall we say.

So, wondering why I'm here?" says Charon, twirling his cane between two fingers.

[Asphalt]

Speak plainly Night Walker. We have an appointment to meet, and many miles yet to go.