Heroica RPG - Heroica Hall

[Masked Builder]

Alexis wanders into the hall looking for Arthur. "Where has he gotten off to?" She says to herself. "He's still got some of my stuff!" As she's going through the hall she sees Nur and nods to him. Alexis moves towards a table where she can watch for Arthur to enter the hall from, then takes a seat.

[The Legonater]

Of course, I love myself a good mythril shard. Here you go.

[Jebediahs]

Nur grins and offers a slight bow. "The deal is done. How fair your travels of late?"

[The Legonater]

Troubling. My friend Haldor and I - as well as a crew of fourteen others - set out to hunt down the Dark Lady Wren and kill her for good. We were victorious... but not without losses.

Dyric looks down at the table, a solemn look on his face as his voice choked up a little.

Too many losses.

[Jebediahs]

Nur raises an eyebrow. "So many required to take down one woman...madness."

[The Legonater]

Heh, she was no mere woman. She wielded an impressive power. One of our party was nearly swayed to her side. She dead now, though. Well, sort of.

[Jebediahs]

"She had the power to bend wills? Scary magics those that control the mind. How is it that you managed to resist her influences?"

[The Legonater]

Perhaps I have misspoken. Wren has not per se the power of the mind, but the power of the tongue. She has corrupted many with her words, seeking to build Chaos. It helps not that this particular quester was already a Choas-worshiper. He strongly believe she would be its salvation, but the final battle finally brought him back into the light.

Still, she was a frightening enemy nonetheless. In the end, her power seemed too much for even her to control - random bursts of Chaos that would switch weapons, summon monsters and so on. At one point, Lady Nyx and Wren switched places entirely.

[CMP]

"Ya' give her too much credit, Dyric," interjected Atramor from his nearby table, pulling an empty rum bottle away from his lips and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Those who decided they'd die in her name were screwed up to begin with. They just found they all had common goals together under her banner." He'd taken quiet note of his most recent former questmates - Skrall, Hoke, Nyx, Haldor, Dyric, Alexis. Their lack of any real joy in Wren's defeat wasn't unexpected, obviously it was too much for him to expect any kind of celebrating after it. Heroing wasn't as nearly as predictable or simplistic as he once thought.

Edited March 30, 2013 by CallMePie

[Scubacarrot]

Skrall let out a low whistle, "Ain't she a beauty. Can't say I have much of an eye for ships though, only been on 2 my entire life. So this you're part time job outside of heroing?"

"Not yet, but she might be of help with that heroing. Thanks again, for your help. I would offer you a look on board, but I don't know if the walking plank will hold you, no offense. Just acquired her a few days ago, you see..."

[Pyrovisionary]

An slightly drunk Sargeant Jonathan Mcency walks through the doors, his metal pegleg clanking with every step. Sarge takes a chair from a table and collapses into it, putting his legs up onto the table and taking a cigar from his pocket. He strikes a match off of his false leg and puff out some smoke. I need to make some friends in this bitter organisation. There aren't that many like me. Too many green boys and no old men. I suppose this lot die young as heroes with a speech about freedom, glory, chaos and order on their dainty little throats. Sarge had never been good at making friends. Better at kiling foes. Well, random men who want to kill you. perfectly agreeable people to meet on the street. He decided to make conversation with a stranger. "So." he says to the long haired man on the next table (Atramor). "You look like you've been on one of those 'Ultimate showdowns of ultimate destiny' quests. You know, the ones with good guys, bad guys and eplosions as far as the eye can see? Let me guess, some dark lord wearing black?"

Edited March 30, 2013 by Skyrimguy

[Brickington]

Sir Brickington noticed his fellow quest-er enter the room. Sarge was obviously looking for someone to talk to. Thus, Sir Brickington walked up to him. "I don't think we have formally greeted yet, the name's Brickington."

[The Legonater]

"Ya' give her too much credit, Dyric," interjected Atramor from his nearby table, pulling an empty rum bottle away from his lips and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Those who decided they'd die in her name were screwed up to begin with. They just found they all had common goals together under her banner."

Atramor. Good to see you. That chicken of yours come back yet?

[CMP]

"Aye," confirmed Atramor with a nod to the peg-legged old man. "But if ya' ever get to Quests like that, you''ll find it's not as easy as ya' say." He turned his head to Dyric. "Good to see ya' too, mate. And no. Don't care for her to anyway."

Edited March 30, 2013 by CallMePie

[The Legonater]

Not nearly as honour and glory, either. I add on to Atramor's statement to the peg-legged man. Seeing as Haldor's been pretty quiet, I move to sit beside the old witch instead.

So, what are you going to get next? A parrot?

[Flipz]

Alexis wanders into the hall looking for Arthur. "Where has he gotten off to?" She says to herself. "He's still got some of my stuff!" As she's going through the hall she sees Nur and nods to him. Alexis moves towards a table where she can watch for Arthur to enter the hall from, then takes a seat.

Arthur feels Alexis' eyes on him as he enters the Hall from the Library. He could still hardly bring himself to look directly at her, but for a moment, anyway, he met her eyes as he sat down at her table, a faint remnant of his earlier smile still upon his face. "Hey, Lexie, what's up?"

Edited March 30, 2013 by Flipz

[Jebediahs]

Perhaps I have misspoken. Wren has not per se the power of the mind, but the power of the tongue. She has corrupted many with her words, seeking to build Chaos. It helps not that this particular quester was already a Choas-worshiper. He strongly believe she would be its salvation, but the final battle finally brought him back into the light.

Still, she was a frightening enemy nonetheless. In the end, her power seemed too much for even her to control - random bursts of Chaos that would switch weapons, summon monsters and so on. At one point, Lady Nyx and Wren switched places entirely.

Nur walks with Dyric as he moves to join his friend. "Into the light, hmmm? That's odd. I'd think a true agent of chaos would add as much benefit and positive contributions to a community as he would cause it turmoil. Of course, I am a simple man and have no experience with such grandiose endeavors. Enjoy your drink." En Sabah Nur grinned then descended the stairs and left the Hall once more to return to the streets of Eubric.

[Pyrovisionary]

"Aye," confirmed Atramor with a nod to the peg-legged old man. "But if ya' ever get to Quests like that, you''ll find it's not as easy as ya' say." He turned his head to Dyric. "Good to see ya' too, mate. And no. Don't care for her to anyway."

"Ha! I never said nothin bout easy. It's usually a band of us 'heroes' that kills em against huge odds an such. Gandalf they grey and gandalf the white and monty python and the holy grail's black knight. Or some people along those lines. Sell your soul for rock an trolls as they say. I really feel sorry for the families of those who are employed by evil people. The denizens or minions as they're called. They get killed in the millions the poor barstards "

Edited March 30, 2013 by Skyrimguy

[Masked Builder]

Arthur feels Alexis' eyes on him as he enters the Hall from the Library. He could still hardly bring himself to look directly at her, but for a moment, anyway, he met her eyes as he sat down at her table, a faint remnant of his earlier smile still upon his face. "Hey, Lexie, what's up?"

"I believe you still have my gems correct? I would like those back, I've been getting my weapons upgraded."

[Scorpiox]

Haldor snorts and rolls his eyes at Arthur's honey-coated words. He mutters to himself.

"Lexie? What kind of a nickname is that?"

But cringeworthy as the nord might find the two, he was in need of some assistance, well advice, from one of them. On returning to the hall, Haldor had discovered a letter addressed to him by a certain Novice at the Convent outside Eubric, and didn't know what to do. The shaman removed his boots from the table and sauntered over to the Elf, completely ignoring her human lover.

"Hey there 'Lexie', can I borrow you for a while? There is something that I could do with some... help with."

[Flipz]

"I believe you still have my gems correct? I would like those back, I've been getting my weapons upgraded."

"Of course, they're yours." Arthur pulls out an Amethyst, a Topaz, a Diamond, a Ruby, an Aquamarine, and a Sapphire and passes them to Alexis. "I'd recommend the Diamond and Amethyst together in that whip, dearest, it'll balance out quite nicely."

"Hey there 'Lexie', can I borrow you for a while? There is something that I could do with some... help with."

Arthur was doing his best to pretend the Nord didn't exist--at least, without being specifically rude. He figured it was the best way to repay his debt to the man--or more to the point, the only one the Nord would accept. Pushing aside his momentary annoyance, he stood and left the two to their conversation, leaving Alexis a glance full of warmth and a smile before he left. The smile slid from his face once his back was turned. Who did he still have to turn to? The two Heroes he longed to speak to most, Dyric and Skrall, were unavailable: Dyric was chatting with Atramor--another Hero he was serving through silence--and an old peg-legged sailor he didn't recognize, and Skrall he had not seen since the day they had all parted at the Wren Hunters' graves. With little else to do, Arthur sits down alone and opens his journal.

Greetings Nuparu, how goes your quest against Wren? I am currently sailing towards Dastan, to help the Rito with a dragon problem. It is so good to see them again, I wonder how Dastan might have changed since we last visited. From the sounds of it Dastan is dealing with the internal problems left from the war, so trade routes and borders are not as well protected. Hopefully we can help settle a few problems when we are here, or at the least not mess up.

Hopefully you are not at some big climatic battle right now, in which case I apologize for interupting. But if not, be careful. Wren is not the kind of person to care about others. I have never met her so I can not speak for all, but she has sowed wars, weakened alliances, and influenced battles to devastate lands. Even if that was just for her goal, she definitely does not lack the capacity for cruelty and violence. And in at least a few quests she went out of her way to mock heroes, when it wasn't necessary. Even if she wanted to make them improve by recognizing their flaws, that still might show that she thinks she knows better than them.

I know I don't know Wren, I didn't want to. I avoided her quests, I worried I was too vulnerable. I didn't have memories to draw on, even now I don't know my name. And sometimes my personality just shifts, I was worried I might be tricked again. So maybe I misjudge her, maybe if she succeeds in her quest she will then be apathetic to people and fly off to do her own thing, I don't know. But if she feels the need to go out of the way to mock relationships and tease questers, then I suspect she would not leave Eubric or Olegaia alone. But you know her better than I. Just...be careful. And apologies if any of this was worded wrong, I am in a really good place and I can't focus right now. The wind ripping about, my arms feel like wings across the sky. I feel like I could wind-fly.

Arthur steels himself, and begins penning a reply to De'kra.

Where to begin?

Watch over Dastan, Brother. Emperor Phyllus, Vipera, and Mallelio came to Eubric to help us, and were almost killed. From what Phil told us, they left very suddenly and without telling anyone, so there may have been repercussions they did not foresee. Fortunately, all three of them are back underway to Dastan. I hope that this information will aid you in your Quest, and that it will help you to salve the wounds of that land.

I...do not know what to think about Wren. She was at once closest kin and deadliest foe. But it matters not. Not anymore.

Wren is...gone. I do not know if she is dead, or ascended, or something else. She went with Felton, and he took her away, outside this Plane. It is how we escaped the Temple of Zoot--yes, we visited that terrible place. Did you know it lies directly underneath Heroica Hall? Something happened there when we finished Wren on Grogmas Day, and we escaped via another Plane, but time flowed differently there--we were gone for three months. I know little of what has happened in the intervening time, I have yet to sit down with the Quest records.

But the things we had to do to defeat her...De'kra, we left Heroica. To find the Court of Demons, who wished to summon Zoot for their own purposes, we had to disavow Heroica, leave the Veterans' protection behind, and swear allegiance to them. We found that the Gray Wizard, a Hero, a Cleric, and one of our staunchest allies, was a god--the god Passion. It was for his brother, the god Regret, that we had to leave, for it was he who traded the Court power in exchange for their souls, and he who held the secret of their location. Triad--another Hero, an Acerpusculum Ranger--was murdered and devoured by Pongcanis, Captain Bennetton of the Town Watch was slain, and in the end, Watchman Gnash and our devoted Wren Hunter Hans were also slain--slain by Atramor's carelessness. I was felled by the same blow, and was powerless to save them.

De'kra...I owe the Heroes such debt. I made choices of such wrong, I refused to attack--she was kin in Chaos, and she stood against Zoot--and I thought she would not betray my loyalty to the cause, but I was wrong, so wrong...

I owe my fellow Heroes such, such debt. But there is one man, who, though I owe him as I do all the others, I can never, ever forgive. Atramor Gibbin is a monster, a murderer, and a Pir'aka, and he cannot be trusted. Though I granted him great power to stand against the Pongcanae that threatened Triad, so that he could have stood alone against an army of foes, he fled like a coward, leaving Triad to be killed and consumed. Later, when I refused to attack Wren--even when I offered to heal those who would accept it!--he openly advocated cutting off my head and mounting it on the wall. And lastly, that final attack, that burst of power that felled so, so many of our allies, the one that killed Hans and Gnash, and would have killed Phil, Poletad, and Mallelio, too, were it not for the swift action of the other Heroes...all he hungers for is power, no matter who he must destroy to attain it. I am just thankful that his final attack went awry and felled him as well, before his actions could bring harm to those who withstood the blast. Do not trust him, De'kra, not even for a moment. Those in Dastan were right not to trust him, and you must protect yourself against him as well.

I do not know what I stand for anymore, De'kra. But I know that I value, I cherish the people closest to me greater than any of the treasures of this world. I am glad to say that I have met another man honorable enough to call Brother, and have seen the true wisdom of an old ally who is wiser than any Tur'ga. Dyric Rone is a true Toa, and the quiet wisdom of Skrall the Hunter is unparalleled. I urge you to seek them out upon your return to Eubric, for they are the worthiest of allies.

I hope my message finds you well.

--Arthur

Edited March 30, 2013 by Flipz

[The Legonater]

Out of the corner of my eye I see Arthur, and smile at him. My attention quickly becomes occupied with the Amethyst I had noticed before, however.

[Masked Builder]

"Of course, they're yours." Arthur pulls out an Amethyst, a Topaz, a Diamond, a Ruby, an Aquamarine, and a Sapphire and passes them to Alexis. "I'd recommend the Diamond and Amethyst together in that whip, dearest, it'll balance out quite nicely."

Alexis smiles. "Thanks honey. I can't say I really want them to balance out though, I'd like to score better hits."

But cringeworthy as the nord might find the two, he was in need of some assistance, well advice, from one of them. On returning to the hall, Haldor had discovered a letter addressed to him by a certain Novice at the Convent outside Eubric, and didn't know what to do. The shaman removed his boots from the table and sauntered over to the Elf, completely ignoring her human lover.

"Hey there 'Lexie', can I borrow you for a while? There is something that I could do with some... help with."

Alexis looks to the Nord. "What did you want help with Haldor?"

[LordoftheNoobs]

Grimwald woke up with a start and looked around. He saw a peg-legged human smoking a cigar, got out his pipe and went over to him.

"Hey there. Got a light?"

[Scorpiox]

Alexis looks to the Nord. "What did you want help with Haldor?"

"Theres a...problem." Haldor held the letter up so she could see it. "This letter is from Naj-Nadeline-Najde-something, whatever her name was, at the Convent, you remember her? Well, she's invited me to the theatre. What do I do, Alexis? I haven't seen hide nor hair of Jess for going on months now, she's never here, I can never find her in the city. Is she trying to tell me that I need to move on? Is it wrong for me to visit Bric'lin with this girl, so soon after my return?"

The nord looked imploringly at the Elf.

"You're a lass, you understand these things. You've got to help me, Alexis."