Heroica RPG - Heroica Hall

[Scubacarrot]

Guts slowly raises his head from the hard wooden table, the morning light falling through the Hall's high windows hurting his eyes. The man scraped his throat, it was dry as sandpaper, and he felt like he had a hangover for the ages. What had they been feeding him, when he was in the... dream... thing? Dry bread and stale lager, probably, that's how it felt like, anyway.

Slowly Guts collected all the mess on and around the table, empty wooden plates, pieces of various cloth, a bunch of writing paper, two or three empty inkpots, a few glasses and a lot of empty bottles. Guts put everything in an empty jute sack, and dropped it behind the counter of the bar when Scheherazade was not looking.

Guts walked down the stairs with his eyes pinched, took a quick look at the Questing board, and was ready to walk back, when he heard a familiar voice, Guts said:

"Nerwen! How have you been? It's been a while."

[Chromeknight]

"Nerwen! How have you been? It's been a while."

Cam'wethrin. Guts. You look... well.

Despite not having seen Guts since his appearance changed, Nerwen has no difficulty recognizing the rogue from her first quest.

Heroing seems to have been good for you. You now clink when you walk!

You have had many opportunities to go questing?

Nerwen envied the speed at which he had risen in rank, having been on five, compared to her two.

I have been well though. Do you know De'kra? I have been speaking with him on the topic of love. No doubt you have an opinion as always...

The empty one, indicating Sorrow with her hand whose name I do not yet know chimed in. He says love dies but his actions belie his words. We are waiting to see which he will repudiate.

And De'kra. I have been bound by formals contract myself before. Once, with an elf called Lenwe. We specified the term of the contract and the conditions each wanted the other to fulfill. I sought to become a mother, which I did. Her name is Eldani. She would be nearly 100 now, still young for an elf though! She was learning herbal alchemy when I left to come here. For our people, love is important in such agreements, but it comes from harmony of persons. And there is no expectation that such partnerships would be lifelong.

Edited August 26, 2012 by Chromeknight

[Scubacarrot]

Guts sat at the table Nerwen and the two others were sitting. Guts absently touched his face, there was something weird about the woman not wanting to say how he looked. It had been long since Guts had even though about women in a romantic way, but that did not mean he did not still care. A little, anyway.

The bald man with the broken nose recognized Dek'ra, and with a look both disapproving and slightly annoyed, he answered:

"Yes. We have met. Love... it's difficult, and different for everyone, different races have different views and no one has a definition, and I don't think anyone ever will. Some will go their entire life without knowing it, others will have it multiple times. Some long for it, others hate it. I would describe it as an emotion, but not neccessarily a positive one. But, as far as emotions go, love is probably one of , if not THE, strongest. That's my view on it, anyway."

Guts looked at Nerwen, she was an elf, and Guts was well aware of the average lifespan of elves, but had still trouble of imagining her to be hundreds of years old. Pulling out an orange and starting slowly to peel it, Guts asked:

"What happned? With Lenwe?"

Edited August 26, 2012 by Scubacarrot

[Endgame]

You are nwalmaer?

Nerwen makes a sour face and a hissing noise from the back of her throat. Surprising the others around her with it's expressiveness.

From your story, it seems that you were such already before becoming involved with her. And she didn't know? Because you did not tell her? You can hardly have loved her and kept that from her.

But if you did love her, truly then you can not say that love dies, if those who are dead still love.

If love dies with dead then the dead do not love and you are not able to speak knowledgeably about love.

Which is it, Unguer?

Forgive the insults rendered in Elvish, don't worry about translating them, the meaning is evident contextually. Nerwen (and the elves that she was raised by) do not distinguish between dead and undead. They have no issue with something dead still moving, animated by magic. But that thing is still dead, unless it is resurrected and hence, no longer dead. The antipathy she expresses is a function of viewing her gods as gods of order and civilization. The moving dead are... not ordered, not natural. I'm sure Sorrow is used to such a reaction. Of course, Nerwen doesn't know Sorrow's whole story...yet

"Ooh, Elvish. Perhaps in exchange for learning some elvish, I can teach you some necromancer cant.

We were both aware of the fact that I was undead. On the interior I was decayed, but outside I looked like your average middle-class guy. Neither of us expected the decay that'd ensue.

I'm unsure if I'm actually dead. I appear to be stuck in some sort of hellish limbo, a shambling abomination. Some days I just wish a stray arrow would end this fiasco of a life I lead.

The screams kick in again. I twist and convulge, my heart rate spiking and becoming audible. My left hand, shaking, instinctively raises to my knife wound.

The love between us died nearly 400 years ago. Since that day, I have been nothing but a bitter old soul who is outlasting his welcome on this planet. One day my hear may just stop. And you know what? I wouldn't give a damn. Every day seems to have me welcoming that sweet release more and more."

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra froze, as his eyes struggled between colors and taking in information. Suddenly half the madness of Olegaia made sense, as disturbing wit was. Finally he stuttered, "So wait...people of Olegaia...or some...they enact...I mean political union is...it deal to...make eggs?"

After a pause De'kra clicked awkwardly, "Sorry, I people...spawn...from world, we are not egg users. Only know about eggs from...watch squids. Sorry. But it explain why Olegaia fire love seem to fixate on one person, while I people can have many. Sorry. I just assume...I not sure what I assume...it just not dawn on I that Olegaia...sorry...It just...different. Not necessarily bad! Just different. I...dig into Archieves are not I? I should stop talk about this should not I? Um...really sorry...so...um...you thought of what advance class you want to be yet?"

OOC: "sorry" = I am comparing you to parasitic squids in my mind.

OOC: De'kra is the definition of smooth

[Endgame]

IC: De'kra froze, as his eyes struggled between colors and taking in information. Suddenly half the madness of Olegaia made sense, as disturbing wit was. Finally he stuttered, "So wait...people of Olegaia...or some...they enact...I mean political union is...it deal to...make eggs?"

"Ding ding! Finally clicked, huh?

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra eyes shifted all over the spectrum, though they tended to revolve around shades of green. "I...really sorry," he clicked as he failed to get the image of Sea Squid egg clusters out of his head, "I...just not use to...that explain why you not as identical...and why...individualism...is value here. I...really sorry, I not mean to offend. It just...different. When more of I people are need new people just appear from world. We not involve and it. We not...sorry. Really sorry. I not mean to be use. I...Mata-Nui how many people have I offend? Sorry...sorry..I...sorry."

[Rumble Strike]

Tarn sees Guts back in the Hall, and brings him over a flagon of ale.

"Hail, Guts. Have a drink! How goes your advanced class training, you are much different to when we Quested together all those months ago."

[Scubacarrot]

Tarn sees Guts back in the Hall, and brings him over a flagon of ale.

"Hail, Guts. Have a drink! How goes your advanced class training, you are much different to when we Quested together all those months ago."

Guts lets out half a smile, put the flagon down on the table before him, not intending to drink from it, and answers:

"Valco. I'm... alright, been doing some odd jobs for this place. My training... it went well, I have trained in the way of what the Copper Fox calls a Raider. There's not much to it, really. He thought me a few tricks on how to get the most out of short weapons when facing multiple enemies, and how to handle heavier weapons than I'm used to. Not that I need that, Lifestealer is still serving me well."

With that, Guts pulls out the dagger, and lays it out on the table in front of him. He continues:

"Different? If you say so... Have you met Nerwen? Nerwen, meet Tarn Valco, gentleman at arms, Valco, meet Nerwen."

[Professor Flitwick]

"...and the Dragons, they looked so majestic. If only you could have seen them!"

"Yes. You already say that. You were say about last fight, before you distracted."

"My apologies. Yes. I fell victim to an enemies weapon, and missed the bulk of the battle. The elven maiden over there revived me, but alas, it was too late, and I could not make it to the final part of the fight."

"Maybe you just need some better equipment?"

"Good idea, we should head to the marketplace."

[Rumble Strike]

Tarn grimaces at Guts' insistence on calling him Valco, knowing the Raider only does it to wind him up does not make it any easier to take. He bows low to Nerwen. "We are already acquainted. Our paths crossed in Dastan when I made a tragic mistake. But I fought valiantly to rectify it afterwards."

[Scubacarrot]

Guts raises an eyebrow, and asked:

"You... fought? Each other? What happened?"

[Rumble Strike]

Tarn spoke sadly and does not look the older man in the eye. He would not have told anyone who wasn't there about this, but he actually respected Guts as a straightforward character who got things done.

"There was a misunderstanding which pitched 3 different groups of heroes from Heroica on to different sides. There was a Dragon Knight who we believed to be working for the enemy. Nerwen and some others did not believe this, and opposed us trying to take her in. In order to end the battle swiftly I used a dangerous bomb on everyone, blew myself through a wall, still have the scar on my head from the impact. The Dragon Knight did not survive, and we later found out she was an innocent. It is a decision I will regret til my dying day."

The words were somber and recounted mournfully.

[Scubacarrot]

Guts held his head with one hand, the other hand resting on the hilt of his dagger

"Bloody hell Valco. What were you thinking? Fighting your fellow "heroes"? You... All of you who took part in this... Should be ashamed. You acted like common mercenaries, how I hear it. I need a drink."

Guts shoved aside the flagon with a look of disgust, to the others at the table it was clear that look was not meant at the drink. Guts walked to the bar, and returned shortly with a wooden mug and a bottle of a to the others unknown spirit.

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra's gaze settled on yellow as he clicked gently, "Agreed Lewa, it was sad event, brother fought brother and once more mistakes were made. But it no one person's fault. It was not your idea to use bomb, and I am sure you not know its full strength. Only Thothwick sat out fight, rest of we equally at fault. I know I will not forgive myself for it. I should have look further into situation, just like Quest 4. I should have thought harder about it, how she was too fiercely loyal to Dastan to be traitor. But in end...we can not undo what has been done. No amount of desire can change past, nor should it. All we can enact is try to learn from it and move on. That is easier to say than enact, and I have no right to say it. But sometimes all we can enact is to move along."

[JimBee]

Hybros stepped into the Hall, looking around in the dimly lit room for other heroes. He spotted Guts, who looked grumpy as ever and was talking to an elf and another man. He hobbled over silently and tugged on Guts' coat. He pulled out his Mythril Shard. "Our discussions on the way back from the manor... are you still interested? Eheh..."

[Scubacarrot]

"Of course, I have already counted out the coin, here you go."

Guts reached into his coat and gave Hybros a coinpurse containing 200 gold, and accepted the Mithril Shard.

"Feel free to count it out, and have a drink, while you are it."

Guts, seemingly out of nowhere, put a second mug on the table, and poured in both from his unmarked bottle. The others could smell the strong scent of alcohol, and a hit of something else, a herb maybe.

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra turned to see Hydros. "Shadow-brother!" he clicked eagerly, "It much-good to see you! Long-time since we last met, how has time treat you? Quests in Dastan were overall success, though there were mistakes made. We meet glorious bird people call Rito too."

[JimBee]

Hybros simply stashed the coinpurse away beneath his cloak, and took a whiff of the unknown beverage Guts had poured. He still had poor memories of the last time he drank alcohol, on his first quest with Guts. He held the mug in his hands, but did not drink. Instead he addressed the others sitting at the table. "I am Hybros, pleased to meet your acquaintance eheh".

He then turned and saw De'kra, who must have been hiding in the shadows. "De'kra, it is good to see you again. Dastan? Tell me more about these Rito creatures, eheh. And time... eheh, well time has been somewhat difficult to keep track of. I was asleep for a full month not too long ago."

[Scubacarrot]

Guts puts up a small notice, that reads:

WILL BUY MITHRIL SHARDS AND AMETHYSTS, COME SEE GUTS HOLLA.

Edited August 26, 2012 by Scubacarrot

[Tanma]

Hybros simply stashed the coinpurse away beneath his cloak, and took a whiff of the unknown beverage Guts had poured. He still had poor memories of the last time he drank alcohol, on his first quest with Guts. He held the mug in his hands, but did not drink. Instead he addressed the others sitting at the table. "I am Hybros, pleased to meet your acquaintance eheh".

He then turned and saw De'kra, who must have been hiding in the shadows. "De'kra, it is good to see you again. Dastan? Tell me more about these Rito creatures, eheh. And time... eheh, well time has been somewhat difficult to keep track of. I was asleep for a full month not too long ago."

IC: De'kra nodded firmly and clicked, "Rito strong warrior people, that dwell in mountains of Dastan. In Quests we had to form alliance and them, to help Dastan defeat cultists, assassins, Lion Knight traitors, and traitors to Dastan Empire. We had many foes. After we beat two of them in battle they agree to help we, and join war. They had been consider join fight before, but Rito not found of Dastan emperors. It not hard to blame them, base on what we learn. Anyway while Rito help all over war, two of them specifically join in for final battle; Deneii and Flavius. Great fighters both! And and glorious wings! Aside from that they don clothes of hue of sand, and seem to mostly wield bows."

"That long time to sleep," he commented as he concluded, "I assume. Why you sleep last so long?"

OOC: the Teen Titan's cartoon compels me to describe flying with "glorious."

[JimBee]

"They sound like interesting creatures eheh... what it must be like to fly. And my slumber... was from an odd machine created by someone from the Ji Pei. Those people can do unimaginable things hehe... They sent us into someone else's dream to retrieve an important and influential man. To be honest, I... I am not sure whether or not it was even a dream..."

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra nodded thoughtfully and clicked, "I hear little of Ji Pei, can you tell I more? I...from what I hear they have best technology in known Olegaia, though not too I people's level. They might be able to help I remember who I am, or maybe get I back home. I mean, I know past of I people, but I not sure where I fit in to I past. I only see other people in memories, never I. I...never there in I memories...Sorry."

[Rumble Strike]

Tarn was surprised at Guts vehemence. He saw the Raider as being more pragmatic than him, thought that maybe he would have some gruff platitudes about 'at least you fought for what you thought was right', but no. Guts was disgusted. Tarn defended himself, his voice quiet as always. "You weren't there, Guts. Each group was being manipulated by traitors to Dastan, nothing was as it seemed. We made the best choice we could, even if it ended up wrong. I did not like fighting the other heroes, that's why I agreed to use the bomb. To end it quickly."

He was gratified that De'kra had spoken up too. Though the shade was hard to understand, he knew De'kra had been massively disturbed by his use of the bomb, and was pleased to see that they could still talk to each other after it all.

[Brickdoctor]

All the heroes I can see look busy, but I hope that some of them will glance at the announcements before they do any shopping. Approaching the quest board, I pin a piece of parchment nearby:

Selling:

Deadly Venom

-

Use on a weapon to make it cause the Badly Poisoned-effect on any enemy it hits for the duration of one battle. A Badly Poisoned enemy loses 10 Health each turn.

40 Gold

(you save 10 Gold compared to Portia's price)

Venom

-

Use on a weapon to make it cause a Poisoned-effect on any enemy it hits for the duration of one battle. A Poisoned enemy loses 1 Health each turn.

3 Gold

(you save 2 Gold compared to Portia's price)

Grand Tonic

-

Restores 15 Ether to the target.

20 Gold

(you save 10 Gold compared to Portia's price)

Soma

-

Causes the Blessed-effect, allowing the target to recover 3 Health at the end of each round for the duration of one battle.

35 Gold

(you save 10 Gold compared to Portia's price)