Heroica RPG - Heroica Hall

[Kintobor]

"If you'd like to talk about something, go ahead. It's just... at least not now on my end. I've gone through enough with those demons that bringing up what happened at the club might make me get... too emotional."

The banging from the front doors hit Karie's ears. It wasn't hard to notice as it seemed as if it was the only other noise besides her and Sorrow talking. She looked over only to see an iguana bashing the front doors.

"I swear, if it damages that door..."

[Endgame]

I sigh.

"Very well, then. Would you like to hear about your great grandmother?"

[Flare]

Hershey watches the iguana run it's way across the floor and down the stairs. She begins to follow him and watches him attempt to open the door.

"Mreeeow. Mreooow?<Hey. You look a little lost. The name's Hershey. Care to share yours, Mr. Iguana?>"

She sits down in front of the doors, her tail sweeping across the floor.

At first Benji is a little intimidated by the cat, startled at least. He rebukes this thought instantaneously after realizing that even in his current state of an iguana he probably could thrash the feline and her owner to shreds at a flick of his transforming muscles.

<"Umm, hello there Hershey. My name, is, umm, Iggy, and I am, umm, trying to escape this large prison, umm, do you think that you could, umm, help me get out? That big, umm, door is, umm, too strong for me to push, umm, open by myself, hmm...">

Edited September 28, 2013 by Flare

[Kadabra]

Arasmyth rolls his eyes. Ever since advancing to Evoker, he'd beempn hearing animals talk to each other and their chatter was incessant. No more purrs from cats, just bragging and snide, condescending remarks. It seemed that even lizards, who normally didn't make noises, were capable of 'animal talk'. Listening to the lizard stammer, he figured it was probably freaked out by the fact that a cat that was probably thinking about eating it was in the hall and that was why it was trying to get out. He gave a soft snort of amusement at the lizard's failed attempts to escape and his being cornered by the helpful-and-not-hungry seeming cat. Standing up, the elf went to the door and opened it just a crack. "Go on. Shoo."

[Kintobor]

I sigh.

"Very well, then. Would you like to hear about your great grandmother?"

Karie twiddled her thumbs, hesitant to hear his story. However, she knew he had to get it off his chest somehow, so perhaps now would be the best time since it seemed everyone had left. The banging on the door seemed to stop, as a silence fell over the hall.

"If it's something you feel I need to know, then yes."

At first Benji is a little intimidated by the cat, startled at least. He rebukes this thought instantaneously after realizing that even in his current state of an iguana he probably could thrash the feline and her owner to shreds at a flick of his transforming muscles.

<"Umm, hello there Hershey. My name, is, umm, Iggy, and I am, umm, trying to escape this large prison, umm, do you think that you could, umm, help me get out? That big, umm, door is, umm, too strong for me to push, umm, open by myself, hmm...">

Hershey stands up, stretching herself before getting close to Iggy and sniffing him.

"Mraoow-aooow? <Iggy? Cool name. So, planning a jail break, I see? Well, it seems this nice elf coming along here will do so. Mind if I follow?>"

The elf opens the door, as Hershey looks out to the busy streets.

"Mreow. <Or are you going alone?>"

[Flare]

Karie twiddled her thumbs, hesitant to hear his story. However, she knew he had to get it off his chest somehow, so perhaps now would be the best time since it seemed everyone had left. The banging on the door seemed to stop, as a silence fell over the hall.

"If it's something you feel I need to know, then yes."

Hershey stands up, stretching herself before getting close to Iggy and sniffing him.

"Mraoow-aooow? <Iggy? Cool name. So, planning a jail break, I see? Well, it seems this nice elf coming along here will do so. Mind if I follow?>"

The elf opens the door, as Hershey looks out to the busy streets.

"Mreow. <Or are you going alone?>"

"Umm, yes I need to, umm, go meet some friends, umm, yeah, umm, umm, yeah, so, maybe we will meet some other time, umm, nice meeting you Hershey."

OoC: Wait, what elf opened the door?

[Endgame]

"Not exactly a "need to know" thing, but I figured you'd want to hear about your history. Do you?"

[Kintobor]

Arasmyth rolls his eyes. Ever since advancing to Evoker, he'd beempn hearing animals talk to each other and their chatter was incessant. No more purrs from cats, just bragging and snide, condescending remarks. It seemed that even lizards, who normally didn't make noises, were capable of 'animal talk'. Listening to the lizard stammer, he figured it was probably freaked out by the fact that a cat that was probably thinking about eating it was in the hall and that was why it was trying to get out. He gave a soft snort of amusement at the lizard's failed attempts to escape and his being cornered by the helpful-and-not-hungry seeming cat. Standing up, the elf went to the door and opened it just a crack. "Go on. Shoo."

OOC: That elf.

"Mreoow-eoow? <Who you meeting up with? Can you tell me that? How about who you're friends are?>"

The cat inquisitively wagged it's tail back and forth, while giving off hints of childish curiosity in her voice.

"Not exactly a "need to know" thing, but I figured you'd want to hear about your history. Do you?"

Karie nodded. She felt ready. Although, her track record of saying something and following up on it was slightly skewed.

"I do."

[Flare]

OOC: That elf.

"Mreoow-eoow? <Who you meeting up with? Can you tell me that? How about who you're friends are?>"

The cat inquisitively wagged it's tail back and forth, while giving off hints of childish curiosity in her voice.

OoC: Oh, I didn't see that post for some reason. Thanks Arasymyth

"Umm, a friend, yes, a good friend, umm, yes, bye-bye Hershey."

With that Benji put on all his iguana strength to dash out the door. He finds a dark alleyway and hides there for the meantime. Finding that he was not in sight of the hall any more, he slowly transformed back into his human form.

His head hurt. His clothes were torn. Just hopefully that cat didn't follow him...

Benji looks around and notices that - no cat! So he strides out of the alley which he was in, and starts wandering around the city, heading towards the docks.

Edited September 28, 2013 by Flare

[Kintobor]

Hershey watches as the iguana rushes out the door. She stares at the door for a little bit before walking back up the stairs and to the saloon. She curls up by Karie's feet and begins to groom herself.

[Endgame]

I sigh mournfully, gathering my thgouhts - trying to remember. The trauma of the events had reinforced the memories

"Well, let us rewind about four hundred and eight years ago, before I met your great grandmother. Before I was Sorrow. Back then, I went by my true name - Vitus. I don't remember my last name. I don't know if I had one. When i was about twenty, my necromancer father was sealed - permanently. The rune was literally burnt on his back. With his power stolen from him, he grew a bit bitter... The abilities he worked years for, removed in an instant. The archmancer, one of the best necromancer of the century, would be forced to live among his powers, etherless. Of course, it also cut off his ether flow to me - what effects that would have on me were unknown.

My father was the only family I ever really had, at the time. I left the settlement and set off in the world , trying to find a way to help my father. But I found something else as well, in the first few years; love. I courted Sarah, an artisan at Draida Bay. She knew I was undead, but it didn't matter to her; at the time, I still looked exactly like a human. Three years of dating later, I proposed to her... She said yes. She was pregnant at the time. We lived happily together for some time later, but then... it hit.

The ether my body had stored inside itself depleted, and as I result, I began to decay. Acutely. I suddenly looked pale, sickly - my motor skills impaired. Sarah didn't care that her Vitus was decaying, but I did. I was vain, greedy. Decaying reminded me how artificial and fake it was, and could hardly stand it. Stumbling out of my sickbed while Sarah was at work, I decided to visit some of the shadier alleys of Draida. A monumental mistake, in retrospect... But so is the majority of what I've done.

I need ether, and fast. And what do you know, there was a dealer in Draida. Ether cores, he sold - or sdome shoddy knock-off. I could never truly tell. Back then, snorting tonics was popular. The magic went right up to your head, and outclassed almost any drug. Fried brain cells about three times faster, but most of the addicts really didn't give half a damn at that point.

I needed the Ether Cores for simply different, though. Had to slice the palms of my hands wide open, crush them, and allow the powder into my bloodstream. Rejuvenated me every day. And it was a daily ritual; I needed to do it to keep my appearance every day. There was no addiction by doing it that way. The only thing that kept me doing it was my own vanity and arrogance.

Of course, like all drugs, the price grew higher and higher and higher. And as a daily occuranc,e it was expensive. Ludicrously. To the point where I drained Sarah and I's collective savings, had to work 3 jobs instead of 1; All so I could keep the illusion of being an actual human. My Sarah was not some complecant women; she had no fear of getting her hands dirty, and wanted to help the household in any way she could. Unfortunately, jobs were not widely availible at the time. The only job availible to her? Harlotry.

We vowed to remain faithful for eachother as she headed out to the bars, every night. Little did she know I had already broken them, long ago. Even when she was selling her body to other men, unknowingly supporting my addiction, trying to do good for us, I continued to waste it all. Trying to hang onto the facade as long as possible. She'd come home bloody, bruised beaten, almost every night, and I could hardly stand it... But every day I kept buying the Ether Cores, and every night she would head back out to the city to earn what money she could.

Eventually, Sarah grew suspicious. My lies of taxes and landlords were not nearly as convincing anymore. One night, she followed me to my dealer... And as I was purchasing, called out. The dealer didn't take well to the commotion, knowing his reputation was on the line. He pulled out a dagger, and planned to kill us both. I grappled with him, telling Sarah to run and hide. The dealer got a few good stabs in, but ultimately I wretched the knife from him, and slit his throat. I looked back down the alley, seeing my beloved Sarah in tears, my fiance crying.

And I ran. Broke into our house, stole this hood, a relic from my old home, to hide my identity. Took all of my possessions, sold them in the dead of night, and left a bag of gold at our doorstep, hoping Sarah could climb out of debt with it. After I dropped off the gold, I slept on the alley, and came to a resolution over night: I had done nothing but hurt my beloved Sarah, and I wouldn't hurt her anymore. Come morning, I would be leaving Draida -- for good.

And leave I did. Cloaked by my hood and black hoods, indistinguishable and decaying, I walked out of Draida. The heart wrenching thing? As I was leaving, I saw my Sarah, still in tears, reporting my absence to a patrolman. Hoping I'd come back. It was an agonizing decision at this point, my heart shattered to pieces and my soul weary... But I knew I couldn't stay with her. I wished her luck, she never knowing it was her fiancee telling her good luck that day on the street. With that terse goodbye, I left my Sarah, pregnant but hopefully financially secure."

I pause.

"As you could probably guess, she did give birth. And my son or daughter eventually had a child... Then my grandchild had a great grandhcild. son on and so forth. And... now, we're here."

I place my head down at the table, my breathes sharp and labored, my heart getting worked up just telling the story.

But now, the true story was out. I could only hope it doesn't condemn me.

Edited September 28, 2013 by Endgame

[Kintobor]

Karie wasn't sure quite what to say. She knew Sorrow was hurt just speaking about it, but she couldn't quite figure out what to say. She spoke, melancholy drooling out of her mouth.

"The first guy who ever really evoked any emotion from me, died protecting me from the drug dealer I owed money to. I don't think I'm any worse than you, Sorrow."

[Endgame]

I breathe deeply.

"We're not so different, you and I, are we?"

[Kintobor]

"No, it appears not."

Karie was longing for a drink, some food, something to change the subject and get her mind off of Cliff.

"You sound... different."

[Endgame]

"Guilty. I sound guilty. I am guilty."

[Kintobor]

"Sorrow, that was almost four hundred years ago! You need to let it go. I suppose I'm somewhat hypocritical for saying this, but you'll never be able to take back what you did that day. You live with those mistakes, and you learn from them. I'm disappointed in what you did, but I forgive you. You've managed to forgive me, why can't I do the same for you?"

Karie's look of concern turned into a growing smile.

"Wow, do I ever sound like Arthur."

[Endgame]

I struggle to grab hold of my mind from Syntax, suppressing him so I could continue on with this conversation with my wits intact.

"Sorry, it's... it's a habit. That's when I took the name of Sorrow, you knew. it's the day that started.. everything, really. The persecution, the constant harassment, the death threats. All for being undead. That day... Even eafter four centuries... was my darkest."

I sigh, and begin again.

"I never had another partner, you know. It just seemed so... futile, afterwards. Like I was trying to fill some void."

[Kintobor]

"I understand how you feel. After Cliff's death, I tried my damnedest not to get back into a relationship with someone, with the fear I'd wind up hurting them... or worse. Perhaps the reason you never got into another relationship is because even after everything that happened, you still cared about Sarah. She was that one true love, and the fact that you never went courting other women says something: you're faithful."

She sheepishly looks down at her feet.

"Well, at least it's better than what I can say about myself..."

Edited September 28, 2013 by Kintobor

[Endgame]

"And yet... You currently are in one. What happened? Karie, please don't tell me you're just trying to fill a void. That almost never works out. I always feared that if I did find someone else, I would always just see them as a replacement..."

Edited September 28, 2013 by Endgame

[Kintobor]

"I don't know if you've heard this, but when I hit the street after flunking University, I got addicted to Pixie Dust. Often I'd pickpocket someone just to scrounge up some change for one hit. Cliff... he cleaned me up. He got me off the streets, and supported me. Eventually, his kindness turned into something else. He confessed his love to me, and confessed mine back. One night, after I finished up at the club, I was confronted by a drug dealer. He offered me some of that pink crap. The temptation was to much. I bought it off him.

For two months I squandered my money on those drugs. Cliff didn't realize until it was too late. I'd got some off the dealer on loan, and said I'd pay him back, but I couldn't. One night, he followed me home. He busted down the door. Cliff tried to call him off. And then he was stabbed. I grabbed a cleaver from the counter and lodged it into the dealers shoulder. That was the first time I killed a man, and I prayed the last. I collected my valuables, and got on the first ship to Eubric a week later. In that time, the Croise burnt down the Lucky Star Cabaret, killing almost everyone inside on suspicions of stirring up anti-Croise sentiment.

He reminds me of Cliff, Masson does. Maybe not in his appearance, or his demeanour, but definitely his actions. He helped me out when I needed it, and gave me support. He cares about me, just a Cliff did."

Karie pauses, looking down, trying to avoid the tears.

"Now you know why I left Charis. Now you know why I'm here."

[Endgame]

I was a bit stunned. What do I say?

"...These similarities are starting to run deep, aren't they? Karie, don't be afraid to just let it out. I'm sure nobody will judge you.

But I am glad to hear you found another person. I'm glad you found other people here to support you, to help you. I'll gladly be one of them, if you need me."

[Kintobor]

Karie sniffles slightly, taking a deep breath before looking back at Sorrow.

"No, I'm alright now. It's out there.

"I guess I could say the same for you Sorrow. I appreciate you taking some time to listen to me. It's one of those things that's been eating away at me."

Karie sat up, stretching.

"I'm getting something to eat. You want anything?"

[Endgame]

"Just a salad, thanks."

I was thankful for the resolution of serious topics, at least for a bit - although things were quickly crawling back into the "awkward" territory.

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge returns to the hall, lights a cigar, and idly sits in the corner. He listens to Sorrow and Karie's life stories Nobody ever asked him about his life story. He thought bitterly. Then again; it could be summarized within the loose terms of. Killed blokes for coin. He heard Karie mention the Croise "Ya can thank me, Sorrow an' Nagure that e's gone"

[Endgame]

Current Sign-Ups for Quest #81: Home Sweet Home:

>Heckz Brutenhal (Eric Su)

>Erdacath Madilinas (The_Customizer)

>Johon (Bricksandparts)

>Grimwald Gjinko (LordOfTheNoobs)

>Elgar Gligin (Jedi master Brick)

>Em (Emjajoas)

>Jeaux Elmfyre (JoeShmoe)

This is the last call for sign-ups! Quest #81 launches in 24 hours.

Edited September 28, 2013 by Endgame