Heroica RPG - Quest#12: Honey, I Shrunk the Youngins!

[Masked Builder]

"Ah yes! We defeated them. Which way can we go from here?"

[Peppermint_M]

"I will keep hold of the hat, who wants a venom? I feel bad about the scorpions but I am sure they will be about and scuttling soon..."

Tesni looked over at Alexis,

"Focus on the children again, try the compass?"

[Masked Builder]

"Oh you're right Tensi. I shall try to use my compass to find the children. I wouldn't mind a venom if no one else wants one."

[Jebediahs]

Alexis clears her mind and thinks of Szalinski's poor lost children. The magic compass points straight ahead.

[Peppermint_M]

"Onwards! Straight ahead!"

[Jebediahs]

Tesni passes a venom to Alexis and pockets the other two for now along with the jester hat.

Updated Party:

Tesni Hightribe

(played by Peppermint_M)

Level 12 Barbarian (Party Leader)

Power

: 20

Health

: 18/18

Gold

: 110

Inventory

: Cysgodion the Great Sword of Darkness (WP: 8, Darkness), Cryfder (WP:6), Training Spear (WP: 2), Training Morning Star (WP: 2), 2 Potions, Phoenix Essence, 2 Meads, 3 Venom, Jester Hat(quest item)

Alexis Fenral

(played by Masked Builder)

Level 12 Ranger

Power

: 20

Health

: 11/16

Gold

: 32

Inventory

: Mockthril Longbow (WP:8, Lightning), Smoke Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Potion, 2 Venom, Pickax, Shovel, Bedroll, Bone, Ancient Throwing Dagger (WP:7), Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass

The party ventures forth when they see a small boy bound to the trunk or stem of a plant. By the cocky expression on his face, the party concludes this is Szalinski's adventurous son, Oliveri. He appears to be in FAIR CONDITION. Before they can untie him, three arrows rush towards the party. Tesni's battle hardened senses aid her as she spins around, deflecting two arrows with Cysgodion. Hoke's shield diverts the third as Alexis nocks an arrow and takes aim in the direction the attack originated from. A large hound positions itself between the party and the boy while an orc bowman slowly emerges from the brush.

"Greetings heroes. Szalinski sent you sooner than expected. And you've gotten past the twins. Annoying little shits, aren't they?" The orc takes another step towards the party whose weapons are ready for action. His gaze lands on Alexis. Fire burns in his eyes. "Ah, I see you have a ranger with you and an elf no doubt. You will not believe it but I was raised and trained by elves. It must be why I'm more civilized than my companions."

The orc walked around the party and petted his hound. He looked to the sky and sighed. "I grow weary of this quest. I wish to return home. I'll tell you what, I'll give you the boy if your archer can win my challenge. You have one shot to simply hit the target on top of the boy's head...from over there." He points to an incredibly far distance. "Or, your entire party can fight us for him. The choice is yours. Discuss it among yourselves. We're not going anywhere soon." Tail wagging, the giant hound lies on the ground and the orc squats next to him.

QM Note: ATTENTION HEROES! Alexis must roll a 1, 2, or 3 to successfully knock the target from Oliveri's head. A 4 misses the target and a 5 hits the boy for damage, lowering his CONDITION. A roll of 6 kills the boy. I don't think Szalinski would appreciate that. REMEMBER, Alexis has only one shot (/roll)!

What will the party do?

- Accept Ranger Challenge

- Fight the Ranger

- Other

"Awesome! Accept the offer, heroes of Heroica! When you win I'll give you that guy's special quiver!"

Ranger Challenge Reward

: Quickdraw Quiver

- (Permanent Haste effect, suitable for Rangers)

"How did you...?"

[Peppermint_M]

Tesni looked at the distances and at their potential oponents.

"Alexis, do you think you can make it?"

[Masked Builder]

"Yes I think I could make it but do we really want to risk killing him? I will try my best to hit the target though. I would like that Quiver...."

[Sandy]

"Oh my, this is a horrible choice. On the other hand, the reward is spectacular, but the consequences of not hitting the target are grave indeed... And we might have to fight the ranger in any case. I say it's up to Alexis if she wants to take the risk. I personally wouldn't, but I will pray Sylvania to guide Alexis' arrow if she decides to take a shot. Sylvania is also the goddess of hunting, you see."

Ellaria closes her eyes and utters a silent prayer to the queen of the forests. She heard her before, so she could hear her again...

[Peppermint_M]

"We do have another option. Maybe we can try talking to the Orc? Hoke, use your knight diplo-matics? Alexis could talk to the hound..."

[Masked Builder]

"Okay sure. I'll try to talk to the hound."

[Scorpiox]

"This is when we need a loaded die...

If the diplomacy fails I think we should take the challenge."

[Jebediahs]

The orc ranger rises, walks over to young Oliveri Szalinski and tightens his bindings. Alexis uses the opportunity to use her Animal Talk job trait. The hound's ears perk up and he growls softly as Alexis slowly approaches. The elf senses an above normal intelligence behind the canine's eyes. She sticks out her hands to calm the beast who after a few moments visibly relaxes.

Translated: "Bark bark! Stay back! We found the boy first fair and square! Oh, you are a ranger. I like rangers. Before he found me I used to live with a whole family of rangers. We used to go into the forest for weeks on grand hunting trips. It was fun." The hound's tail began to wag. "This orc and his friends are grrreat to me but the magic one is pretty scary. I'd stay away from him if I were you. He was the first to capture a Szarinski pup." The canine's wagging tail stopped as he cocked his head looking over his shoulder at the orc who was finishing up with the captured gnome child. "I rike you! Good ruck if you accept challenge."

"Hey, get away from my dog!"

The orc scowled at the hound as Alexis quickly returned to the party and relayed what she'd learned. "Have you reached a decision?" The orc sat on a nearby boulder-size rock and began sharpening his arrows.

Edited November 2, 2011 by Jebediahs

[Masked Builder]

"Well I do it if you wish to Tensi. I have hit smaller targets. Though there wasn't anyone's life on the line then...."

[Peppermint_M]

"I trust your abilities Alexis. Try the shot."

[Sandy]

Ellaria covered her face. She couldn't bear to watch! Poor boy...

[UsernameMDM]

Hoke walks up behind Alexis and places a hand on her shoulder:

"Let me talk to the orc first."

Hoke uses his Diplomacy skill.

"You should untie the boy. WE can find another solution."

[Masked Builder]

"Okay Hoke," Alexis hisses, "but this had better work."

[Jebediahs]

The orc yawned deeply and waved dismissively at the knight.

"Your flowery words have no effect on me, knight. Those mind tricks are for the feeble-minded." The orc slapped his knees before hopping off the rock. "So elf, are you ready to shoot or must we settle this in a more barbaric fashion?"

[UsernameMDM]

"Okay Hoke," Alexis hisses, "but this had better work."

"I meant no offense to your pride, but the child's life and the quest are at stake. We must try every avenue to secure the child and successfully complete the quest. Personally I'd rather battle the orc. We could take his quiver after he is bested."

[Peppermint_M]

"Well, we do have a higher chance of beating the Orc and his hound than anything else. Cysgodion will make short work of him."

[Masked Builder]

"If you want to attack then Tensi, let's do it."

[Sandy]

"Oh my goddess, people! Just make up your minds already! This tension is killing me..."

[Peppermint_M]

"Ok, we fight. Chancing with the child is not wise and he did not want to talk or make an agreement."

[Jebediahs]

"C'mon! I thought you guys were heroes and heroes take chances! Don't worry if you hit me, I won't tell my dad as long as you don't kill me! Ha ha!" The boy manages to wriggle just enough to display the quiver the orc somehow missed upon his last inspection of the gnome's bindings. "I can't hide this thing from him forever!"

Ranger Challenge Reward

Quickdraw Quiver

- (Permanent Haste effect, suitable for Rangers