Heroica RPG - Heroica Hall

[TheBoyWonder]

"Deal to both."

Romulus chucks over both items, the venom to the dwarf, the hood to Haldor.

[LordoftheNoobs]

Grimwald face palms as he hands Romulus back his staff without saying a word.

Ooc: Sorry, forgot.

[Kintobor]

Karie slinks up to Romulus, none to impressed. Romulus was affiliated with the Wolfgang after all.

"Both Venoms."

She places the money down and notices the strange hooded man who sold her the catsuit. She knew she had to repay him, but not in the company of Boomingham. And who was he talking to? Another woman? She must be either incredibly naive, or incredibly dim.

[Endgame]

I look downcast, wondering what my next move should be. I was fading, and fast, it would seem; I just didn't have the skills I used to. I was detoriating, and the gold would probably help this battered body of mine through a couple more scraps. Still, was it right to demand payment on the garment of my dead granddaughter?

Now was not the time to dwell on the past, lest I put myself into another fit of cardiac arrest. I had to leave my emotions on the curb or die a remorseful fool.

"Excuse me, once again, Boomingham. Apologies."

I get up, cringing my teeth as my body literally creaks. Ugh. Over four hundred and I still wasn't used to that feeling. Sighing, I go over to the girl I sold the catsuit to her. Not like she knew my relation to Violetta. To her, it was likely just another piece of ransacked loot going from owner to owner in Heroica. It only held signifigance to me. I speak, trying to bury the stutter in my voice:

"Err... Hello. Are you ready to repay the other half of the bill on that suit? Or are you not ready? Whenever is fine..."

I sigh, my eyes glancing down at my mauled hand.

"It belonged to someone who I really wish I could've known better, but is is far, far too late for that, I suppose...

...It seems I was never meant to have a legacy..." I murmur.

Edited July 15, 2013 by Endgame

[Bricksandparts]

"Hello Sorrow. It's been a while since we briefly met." Johon says to the transparent character. "So you two have met?" Johon asks Sorrow and Karie.

[Endgame]

"Hello Sorrow. It's been a while since we briefly met." Johon says to the transparent character. "So you two have met?" Johon asks Sorrow and Karie.

"Ah, yes, hello Johon. How is the dragon doing?

Yes, briefly."

My mind drifts back to a past quest.

"Karie..."

No. Mere coincedence. Not possible. And... yet...

[Kintobor]

"Wow. Um, that's quite the story, Johon."

Karie feels somewhat guilty for most of the people in the hall. Sure her up bringing wasn't the best, but here people were with family deaths and time travel and- ugh. It was almost too much to bear.

Karie pulls her coin pouch out as she notices the individual walking towards her.

"I still don't have all the funds, but here, this should be half of what I owe you."

Karie begins counting out coins, summing up a nice pile of one hundred. As the man continues though, she slows down her counting, taking in all he's saying.

I sigh, my eyes glancing down at my mauled hand.

"It belonged to someone who I really wish I could've known better, but it is far, far too late for that, I suppose...

...It seems I was never meant to have a legacy..." I murmur.

She stops at the one hundredth coin and stares blankly at the pile, leaning back in her chair, dumbstruck by the revelation.

"How are you related to Kayla?"

Edited July 16, 2013 by Kintobor

[Endgame]

"So... her real name was Kayla... I suppose it isn't a secret anymore, considering I've told a few people."

I raise my glass barbed hand, placing it on the table.

"I'm 428 years old at this point. Ancient by any standards. I thought all of my relatives were gone - after all, I only had two. But... Violetta was my granddaughter. Or, more accurately, my great granddaughter. 17 "greats", to be precise."

I look down, my guilty expression concealed by the glow of my hood. Syntax bubbles up, trying to wretch control from me, but I forbid it.

"Really makes a guy feel old, doesn't it, huh? I killed her... I killed the only remote fmaily I had met in centuries... Before I even knew the relation. She didn't know that her murderer was her oldest ancestor, either... Only by presenting a sample of her blood on a cloth to Eubric's Oracle did I finally get the truth. After that..."

There is an unnatural pause, and a sigh.

"Too late. For everyone."

[Bricksandparts]

OoC: This was added the same time as Endgame's previous quote and was meant to be before it.

Johon adds 100 gold to the pile.

"It's the least I can do. I can't really do much with all this anyways."

Now

"Whoa..." Johon says. "You are..." Johon stops himself to let Karie decide whether or not to say what had just been revealed.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Bricksandparts

[Kintobor]

Karie nods as Johon places the extra money on the table.

"I could have paid it off myself, but thanks."

"So... her real name was Kayla... I suppose it isn't a secret anymore, considering I've told a few people."

I raise my glass barbed hand, placing it on the table.

"I'm 428 years old at this point. Ancient by any standards. I thought all of my relatives were gone - after all, I only had two. But... Violetta was my granddaughter. Or, more accurately, my great granddaughter. 17 "greats", to be precise."

I look down, my guilty expression concealed by the glow of my hood. Syntax bubbles up, trying to wretch control from me, but I forbid it.

"Really makes a guy feel old, doesn't it, huh? I killed her... I killed the only remote fmaily I had met in centuries... Before I even knew the relation. She didn't know that her murderer was her oldest ancestor, either... Only by presenting a sample of her blood on a cloth to Eubric's Oracle did I finally get the truth. After that..."

There is an unnatural pause, and a sigh.

"Too late. For everyone."

It was hard for Karie to swallow the info being directed towards her. She found it hard to breathe. Emotions built up inside her. Sadness, anger, hatred, regret, angst, hope, all bubbling in her.

"Look, here isn't the best place to talk. Why don't we... um, step outside."

She turns to Johon, clearly upset.

"It would be best for you to stay out of this."

[Endgame]

"This... This isn't going to be easy for either of us, I fear..."

I stand up, heading to the door. I hold it open for her.

"We'll have to talk outside, yes."

[Kintobor]

Karie leads the man to the front lawn of the hall, beneath an old tree.

"You don't know how much I want to kill you right now."

She turns around to face the man.

"You're responsible not only for the death of your ancestor, but the death of my sister."

She stares him down, trying to find his eyes under the glow of his hood.

"You killed my sister. And I don't care if you're my great-whatever grandfather, you murdered her. You admitted it."

[Endgame]

I sigh. Instead of avoiding her gaze like normal, I lock into it. A million thoughts race through my head, but one of us had to stay strong - even though my mind was in turmoil.

"Karie. Please, understand. If I knew we were related, I would not have laid a single finger on her. I would not have even pointed an arrow in her direction. If I didn't feel guilty, Karie, this glass?"

I hold up my mutilated hand.

"It would be removed. I'm guilty, Karie. I'm leaving myself permanently mutilated in a sick method of repenting. That is all I've been doing - all I've ever done for the past four hundred years! All I want to do is help others... It is the only purpose I have had for the last three hundred eighty years the only one I will ever have in whatever many years I have left. I thought that defeating a member of the Wolfgang would help Eubric, Karie. I never knew who she was. If she was... She'd be with us today."

I avert my gaze, looking down at my trembling hands. Emotion after emotion bubbles up inside of me.

"I have nobody left, Karie. No one. The person I did I murdered without even knowing the truth... and the other wants to kill me right now."

[Flipz]

"I just wanted to find out if My assumption that you were Arthur was correct, as you have verified that I would have nothing else to ask."

"However, you have just signed up for a quest that I have also signed up for,therefore there is a chance that we will be spending a great deal of time together so it would be a good idea to get to know each other first."

Throlar's voice grows calmer.

"I am genuinely sorry for annoying you, but I haven't had any sleep last night and that tends to make me disagreeable."

Throlar extends his hand.

"Throlar Wineghilm ambassador to the Wineghilm clan of Titaan and worst diplomat in the world."

"'A good idea?' Possibly. You may find records of my past in the Library--but if you wish to hear the short version: I am an experienced Sorcerer, who has fended off entire armies and delved farther into realms of magick far darker and more arcane than the mortal mind can comprehend. I have slain two gods made manifest upon the physical plane and personally conversed with two more, and ended the careers of two generals of the Wolfgang--permanently. I am the mechanical genius of my generation, second only to the Ji Pei themselves, friend of the Lion Knights, and a savior of Princess Ella Septrine of Dastan, herself, she who is both prophet and heir to the throne of Emperor Septrine. I have been the pinnacle of Order and Chaos both, and found them wanting."

"Among mortal men, my deeds would be legend--but you know something? They are as nothing compared to the deeds of the many others who have walked this Hall. Haldor Skovgaard, the Nordic Shaman; Sir Cronk, Paladin of Ennoc; Alexis Fenral--all of whom fought with me as we together battled both gods; Alexandre le Chevalier, who also served brilliantly with me in the campaigns of Bric'bay and Dastan and who, I hear, has recently rebuffed a third army in Luosh; Althior Emorith, the mighty magician who led Alexandre and I at Bric'bay; Skrall, who led us in Dastan and veteran of many other battles besides; Sorrow the Assassin and Nagure the Yeti Barbarian, who followed me as we broke the back of the Wolfgang by the death of its generals; Lord Lawrence Boomingham, who led our party at the Foundation Day Ball from within the ballroom itself--to say nothing of his other achievements. And there are many, many others--Tensi Hightribe, possibly the fiercest warrior ever to walk the Western lands; Tarn of Valco and Sir Thotwick, paragons of honor, courage, and virtue; Galen Woodward, a pioneer of the Heroes active since the Purge; Lady Nyx, a name who is legend all on her own."

"They, and many others, are far greater than I; I am humbled and honoured to be counted among the least of these. You would do well to remember the deeds of those who have walked these halls before you, and the gravity of the path we all walk."

SELLING SOME ITEMS, PLEASE INQUIRE.

Wight Scythe (Wp5, Damages Undead) 60 Gold

Throwing Dagger (Wp6, Retrievable) 50 Gold, same price as WP 5 one in marketplace.

Big Blocking Axe (Wp5) 40 gold, ten gold cheaper than similar item in marketplace.

2Venoms- 4 gold for one, 2for 7gold.

For Loan:

Staff of The Frog Paladin (WP 5or6 got to check, 1/6 chance of giving Amphibianoc's blessing) 5 gold per battle

"If I may offer some unsolicited advice, Raider I recognize but whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting, hold onto that scythe. It may not be very strong, but it at least ensures you always have a weapon with which you may attack a foe, no matter its type--even though it won't be at your full strength. It's always good to have a backup, after all."

Seeing Sorrow and Karie leaving the hall, Arthur's danger sense went into high alert. "Now, if you all would excuse me, I have matters of some importance to attend to." Packing up his papers and belongings, he hurries outside, unlimbering his staff as he goes. Here's hoping I'm not already too late...

As the doors swing shut behind him--he barricades them with a thick block of ice, just to ensure no unnecessary complications--Arthur spots the two facing off, the Witch ready to kill the Assassin...and the Assassin seeming willing to take it. I've been there, he thinks to himself, and probably will be again. But this isn't right. Readying his scrolls and his gems, he waits for Karie's next move--just in case she made the wrong one.

[Endgame]

I can hear the familiar sound of someone rushing out the wall, a barricade of ice slithering up the wall with a chilling crackle - a scroll unfurling. I don't avert my gaze from karie, but address the Sorcerer.

"Arthur. With all due respect. This is a family matter, I suppose. Please, don't complicate this further. I have no desire to make a scene."

[Kintobor]

I sigh. Instead of avoiding her gaze like normal, I lock into it. A million thoughts race through my head, but one of us had to stay strong - even though my mind was in turmoil.

"Karie. Please, understand. If I knew we were related, I would not have laid a single finger on her. I would not have even pointed an arrow in her direction. If I didn't feel guilty, Karie, this glass?"

I hold up my mutilated hand.

"It would be removed. I'm guilty, Karie. I'm leaving myself permanently mutilated in a sick method of repenting. That is all I've been doing - all I've ever done for the past four hundred years! All I want to do is help others... It is the only purpose I have had for the last three hundred eighty years the only one I will ever have in whatever many years I have left. I thought that defeating a member of the Wolfgang would help Eubric, Karie. I never knew who she was. If she was... She'd be with us today."

I avert my gaze, looking down at my trembling hands. Emotion after emotion bubbles up inside of me.

"I have nobody left, Karie. No one. The person I did I murdered without even knowing the truth... and the other wants to kill me right now."

"Put that thing down!"

She motions for him to put his hand away as she readies herself.

"Guilty or not, you're responsible for what happened! You had every right to stop Patricia from killing her, and you didn't! You stood there as she ran her through! You must have had a suspicion? Nothing at all? Don't give me that rubbish about her being her today! She's dead, and you're part of the blame! I swore I would avenge my sister for her murder, because that's what it was: murder."

She prepares to draw Sexy, but sees Arthur near the doors, heavily preparing himself with scrolls and gems.

"Arthur? What the hell are you doing? This... this doesn't concern you!!"

[Endgame]

My arms fall slack by my sides, my voice calm and composed. A far cry from what was really going on in my mind.

"Every woman that looks remotely like my fiance is not necessarily a relative - or so I thought, anyway. You two look almost just like my Sarah...

Yes, I didn't have a single suspicion. For almost the entire time her face was covered by a mask - only when she was unconscious did I see her face, and even then I thought it was just a delusion of my guilt.

What good would killing another family member achieve, Karie? Has anyone in your life ever encouraged you to not try to kill? That is the lesson I have been learning since Viol - No, Kayla's death."

[Flipz]

"Sorrow--I've stood in your shoes. Maybe not exactly in terms of deeds, but...that night, at the Barracks. When you saw me going to the Watch...I did not go there to join. I went there to die. I visited Patricia, with full intent to confess to her my complicity to the events on Grogmas Eve that led to the deaths of Gnash and Bennetton. She gave me a second chance--and I have offered that chance to everyone I've met. Kayla...Masson...I would be remiss if I didn't include you in that list as well. You made the wrong choice...a terrible choice...but there is still room for redemption. I'm proof of that."

"Karie...revenge is not the way. More bloodshed will not honor your sister's death, nor will it advance the cause she stood for: the betterment of Eubric. She made the wrong choice in that very way, by backing the power-hungry and bloodthirsty Wolfgang instead of finding a more peaceful way to heal the city."

Arthur reaches down and gently unwraps Kayla's mask from his belt. "You asked me before, at that warehouse, how I knew your sister would have been an amazing Hero. Remember? I didn't have an answer then, but I do now. You. You found a way, despite everything that had happened to you, to save Masson instead of killing him like Boomingham wanted to. You brought the Syndicate and the Watch together to make a better Eubric, rather than senselessly ending more lives. Don't turn your back on all that now." Arthur holds the mask out to Karie. "Be the Hero your sister couldn't be. Choose life...not death. Hope...not revenge."

Edited July 16, 2013 by Flipz

[Endgame]

"I have no intention of dying, Arthur. MI simply will not pull a weapon of my own."

[Bricksandparts]

Johon falls back in his chair, listening to the commotion outside worsen. He notices Arthur rush outside, and hopes the issue turn into a fight. He looks out the window to check if things are going to be ok.

[Flipz]

Dammit. What I wouldn't give for a shield--to be able to dive in between them and take the blow...

"Your tone of voice says otherwise, to say nothing of your actions. If you really wanted to Flee, you'd do it--you don't a weapon to do that. No, you choose to stay, deliberately failing to talk Karie down. You're trying to get yourself killed, and I won't let you. I swore, after what happened beneath the Hall, that no more of my friends would die on my watch. And you're not going to be an exception--not now, not ever."

Edited July 16, 2013 by Flipz

[Tachyon]

Mizuki steps towards Heroica Hall and sees some wizard rush outside. Noticing him rush towards Sorrow and some caped lady, Mizuki quietly steps towards them. Listening to their conversation, she notices that the caped lady plans to "avenge her sister". As Mizuki nears the group, she pulls out her Top Hat and listens further.

[Kintobor]

My arms fall slack by my sides, my voice calm and composed. A far cry from what was really going on in my mind.

"Every woman that looks remotely like my fiance is not necessarily a relative - or so I thought, anyway. You two look almost just like my Sarah...

Yes, I didn't have a single suspicion. For almost the entire time her face was covered by a mask - only when she was unconscious did I see her face, and even then I thought it was just a delusion of my guilt.

What good would killing another family member achieve, Karie? Has anyone in your life ever encouraged you to not try to kill? That is the lesson I have been learning since Viol - No, Kayla's death."

Karie takes a moment to think things through, slightly taken back.

"The Syndicate doesn't kill. Killing them would achieve less then nothing... I have no need nor desire to add to Eubric's body count."

"Killing you would get you nowhere. So I'll simply ensure you remember something. The last time I saw her, she was eleven years old. I was three. The last thing she told me? My mother and father loved me, and she always would too. I'll never know now thanks to you if the Wolfgang did truly corrupt her, or if what she said was true. If there was still some sense of affection towards me. I'll never know."

She lets her hand off of Sexy and turns to Arthur.

"Karie...revenge is not the way. More bloodshed will not honor your sister's death, nor will it advance the cause she stood for: the betterment of Eubric. She made the wrong choice in that very way, by backing the power-hungry and bloodthirsty Wolfgang instead of finding a more peaceful way to heal the city."

Arthur reaches down and gently unwraps Kayla's mask from his belt. "You asked me before, at that warehouse, how I knew your sister would have been an amazing Hero. Remember? I didn't have an answer then, but I do now. You. You found a way, despite everything that had happened to you, to save Masson instead of killing him like Boomingham wanted to. You brought the Syndicate and the Watch together to make a better Eubric, rather than senselessly ending more lives. Don't turn your back on all that now." Arthur holds the mask out to Karie. "Be the Hero your sister couldn't be. Choose life...not death. Hope...not revenge."

Karie cautiously grabs the mask out of Arthur's hands and rubs it through her fingers.

"You held onto this. Why?"

[Tachyon]

Seeing the caped lady calm down, Mizuki steps into the shadows and walks back to Heroica Hall.

[Flipz]

Karie cautiously grabs the mask out of Arthur's hands and rubs it through her fingers.

"You held onto this. Why?"

"After...that night...I went back by the scene. It was just...lying there. Flung from her in the struggle. When I saw it, I realized: this was her legacy. And whatever else she was, she deserved for that legacy to be remembered. This mask...it's a reminder. That even good intentions can turn to evil...and of what that can lead to."

"This world...it's full of Violettas. And part of our job as Heroes is to help them find the Kaylas within. Some days it doesn't work out...like with your sister. But some days...some days you find Massons. Those are the days you live for. That's towards what we have to strive."

Seeing the caped lady calm down, Mizuki steps into the shadows and walks back to Heroica Hall.

Without turning, Arthur blatantly and obviously extends his opal toward the wall of ice sealing the Hall doors, shattering it--making it unmistakably apparent that he had indeed seen her arrive, and had also watched her go.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Flipz