Heroica RPG - Quest#13: The Darkstar

[Rumble Strike]

QM note - After a bit of discussion on the Rules and Discussion topic I will run the round automatically to try to keep the quest flowing. I will use the same oder and actions as previous round.

Results of Round Six of the Giant Crocodile battle

Gorg vs Giant Crocodile = Special Damage (Which Special roll = Jaws of death)

Guts vs Giant Crocodile = Special Damage (Which Special roll = Tail whip)

Dak vs Giant Crocodile = Critical Hit

>Sarick vs Giant Crocodile = Damage

Nerwen vs Giant Crocodile = Special Damage (Which Special roll = Tail whip)

The battle raged on, even as the giant crocodile was on its last legs.

Gorg runs in with his spear, wanting to end this fight. Unfortunately, the valiant Orc Barbarian is once again caught between the beast's ravaged and bloody jaws.

Guts runs in, impatience etched on his face as he glares at the croc. He is distracted by the fate of Gorg, and takes a pounding by the behomoth's tail instead.

It falls to Dak, who couldn't hit the side of a barn door with his knife in the early part of the battle, to end it. He stabs the creature in the eye with his knife (13 damage), and lets out a scream of triumph as the beast collapses to the ground, dead.

The party watches in stunned silence as Gorg pulls himself out of the croc's jaws, covered in a mixture of blood and saliva and stinking to high heaven. He grins as he waves the croc's tongue around.

The party are victorious! Everyone gains a level!

Party:

Guts Holla

(played by Scubacarrot)

Level 6 Rogue

Power

: 10

Health

: 7/12

Gold

: 70

Inventory

: Mockthril Cutlass (WP:4) equipped, Rusty Shortsword (WP:3)

Poisoned

, Potion, Bedroll, Gold Ore, Shovel

Sarick Lanse

(played by Xarrzan)

Level 6 Mage

Power

: 11

Health

: 7/10

Ether

: 7/10

Gold

: 10

Inventory

: Healing Staff (WP:5, healing effect) equipped, Mockthril Staff (WP: 4), Shark Fang Dagger (WP: 3), Opal Gem (Ice), Potion, Phoenix Essence

Dak Shadeaux

(played by darthnihilus)

Level 6 Rogue

Power

: 10

Health

: 7/12

Gold

: 34

Inventory

: Mockthril Knife (Equipped)(WP:4), Twin Longswords (WP:3), Mockthril Whip (WP:4), 2 Venoms, Potion, Bedroll

Nerwen Calmcacil

(played by Chromeknight) ** Party Leader **

Level 5 Cleric

Power

: 9

Health

: 13/13

Ether

: 4/9

Gold

: 0

Inventory

: Mockthril Hammer (WP:4), Wooden Staff (WP:3), Potion, Remedy, Fire Bomb, Note (Quest Item)

Gorg

(played by Lordofdragonss)

Level 5 Barbarian

Power

: 9

Health

: 12/12

Gold

: 5

Inventory

: Mockthril Spear (WP:4), Bone club (WP:3), a bottle of Mead, Potion, Pickaxe, Venom, Giant Crocodile Tongue

Knifk

(played by Bioniclover)

Stunned

Level 6 Knight

Power

: 10

Health

: 9/15

Gold

: 5

Inventory

: Mockthril Katana (Greatsword, WP:4) Equipped, Mockthril Shield (SP: 4), Morning Star (WP:3), Wyrm Shield (SP:2), Potion, Venom

Party Leader, how will the spoils of the battle be distributed?

Elixir – Restores 50 health and 10 ether to the target and removes all negative effects from the target during a battle. Value: 40 gold.

Grand Potion – Restores 25 health to the target. Value: 10 gold.

Grand Tonic – Restores 15 ether to the target. Value: 30 gold.

QM Note - Not sure at the moment what effects I could give the giant crocodile tongue but felt that Gorg should take a little momento of his stay

[Chromeknight]

QM note - After a bit of discussion on the Rules and Discussion topic I will run the round automatically to try to keep the quest flowing. I will use the same order and actions as previous round.

The battle raged on, even as the giant crocodile was on its last legs.

Gorg runs in with his spear, wanting to end this fight. Unfortunately, the valiant Orc Barbarian is once again caught between the beast's ravaged and bloody jaws.

Guts runs in, impatience etched on his face as he glares at the croc. He is distracted by the fate of Gorg, and takes a pounding by the behomoth's tail instead.

It falls to Dak, who couldn't hit the side of a barn door with his knife in the early part of the battle, to end it. He stabs the creature in the eye with his knife (13 damage), and lets out a scream of triumph as the beast collapses to the ground, dead.

The party watches in stunned silence as Gorg pulls himself out of the croc's jaws, covered in a mixture of blood and saliva and stinking to high heaven. He grins as he waves the croc's tongue around.

The party are victorious! Everyone gains a level!

Party Leader, how will the spoils of the battle be distributed?

Elixir – Restores 50 health and 10 ether to the target and removes all negative effects from the target during a battle. Value: 40 gold.

Grand Potion – Restores 25 health to the target. Value: 10 gold.

Grand Tonic – Restores 15 ether to the target. Value: 30 gold.

QM Note - Not sure at the moment what effects I could give the giant crocodile tongue but felt that Gorg should take a little momento of his stay

Eaten again Gorg?I will take the Elixir and Grand Tonic, Gorg the Grand potion for you. Hang on to it, I will fix everyone up if we need to fight again. Let us go back to the door

Edited December 14, 2011 by Chromeknight

[Darth Nihilus]

Dak feels his knife connect, driving deep into the creature and killing it. He lets out a crow of pride, he has surely improved his blade skills in this battle. He yanks his knife out and wipes it on his cloak, spilling blood onto the fabric. Then, he reaches into the creature's mouth and helps Gorg out. He tucks his knife back into his belt, it has served him well. Only then did he notice the wounds dripping blood into the cavern on his legs. He quickly tears strips of fabric from his cloak and binds the wounds, wincing. Dak collapses against the wall, grinning like mad. He had finished the beast, and it made him feel very happy. Once again, just like after he had stabbed that thug, he wondered: Is it worng to feel pleasure at the prospect of war? Was this how he was for the rest of his life, forever killing and stealing? He pondered for a long while, but then stood up, realizing that Guts had been hit by the croc's tail. He limped over and pulled the older man up. Regardless of how Guts had treated him in the past, Dak still felt a small glimmer of compassion for him. He had obviously been through a lot, and he couldn't help who he was. No one could. Dak gently leaned Guts against the wall, and then moved away, towards Nerwen and Sarick.

"Are you all right?" he asked, worrying more about Sarick who had been wounded in the battle.

[Rumble Strike]

Party after loot distribution:

Party:

Guts Holla

(played by Scubacarrot)

Level 6 Rogue

Power

: 10

Health

: 7/12

Gold

: 70

Inventory

: Mockthril Cutlass (WP:4) equipped, Rusty Shortsword (WP:3)

Poisoned

, Potion, Bedroll, Gold Ore, Shovel

Sarick Lanse

(played by Xarrzan)

Level 6 Mage

Power

: 11

Health

: 7/10

Ether

: 7/10

Gold

: 10

Inventory

: Healing Staff (WP:5, healing effect) equipped, Mockthril Staff (WP: 4), Shark Fang Dagger (WP: 3), Opal Gem (Ice), Potion, Phoenix Essence

Dak Shadeaux

(played by darthnihilus)

Level 6 Rogue

Power

: 10

Health

: 7/12

Gold

: 34

Inventory

: Mockthril Knife (Equipped)(WP:4), Twin Longswords (WP:3), Mockthril Whip (WP:4), 2 Venoms, Potion, Bedroll

Nerwen Calmcacil

(played by Chromeknight) ** Party Leader **

Level 5 Cleric

Power

: 9

Health

: 13/13

Ether

: 4/9

Gold

: 0

Inventory

: Mockthril Hammer (WP:4), Wooden Staff (WP:3), Potion, Remedy, Fire Bomb, Note (Quest Item), Elixir, Grand Tonic

Gorg

(played by Lordofdragonss)

Level 5 Barbarian

Power

: 9

Health

: 12/12

Gold

: 5

Inventory

: Mockthril Spear (WP:4), Bone club (WP:3), a bottle of Mead, Potion, Pickaxe, Venom, Giant Crocodile Tongue, Grand Potion

Knifk

(played by Bioniclover)

Level 6 Knight

Power

: 10

Health

: 9/15

Gold

: 5

Inventory

: Mockthril Katana (Greatsword, WP:4) Equipped, Mockthril Shield (SP: 4), Morning Star (WP:3), Wyrm Shield (SP:2), Potion, Venom

------------------------------------------------------

The threat of the giant crocodile extinguished, the party go to the gemstone-encrusted door in the middle of the cavern:

As Guts discovered earlier, the gemstones are removable. Sorrow looks at them intently before turning to the others.

"It appears that in order to open this door, the gems have to be arranged a certain way."

The gems are arranged currently as:

O X O

X X X

X X X

O X O

O X O

QM Note - Finally, a proper puzzle! It's been over 4 weeks since the Quest started but finally there is one.

Don't pay too much attention to where the gems currently are, I had to put them somewhere so you knew how many you had to work with. When rearranging the gems please use the bolded Os and Xs format as shown above. You can see this correspondes to the door as shown in the picture. Xs are where you want the gems to be placed, Os are non-gem spaces. You can each have a guess if you wish (without waiting for me to confirm/deny the previous guess), but I'd appreciate it if you stuck to one guess each so that a single person doesn't hog it.

I hope this is self-explanatory, let me know if you don't get it.

Edited December 14, 2011 by Rumble Strike

[Scubacarrot]

Guts, still coughing a bit from the fight with the gigantic crocodile, spewed a small amount of blood on the floor in front of him. Guts sighed, he was getting too old for this shit, he knew it, and even the young Dak knew it, it would seem.

Looking at the now dead reptile, Guts wondered how such a being had lived down here in the dark, damp mine, and also how it had grown as large as it had. But it did not matter, they were not here to learn more about the local fauna. In fact, the matter as though why they were here, was still unresolved.

Before moving onward, Guts decided to dig one more time, to see if there was any more treasure, perhaps from the beast's earlier victims.

Also, Guts would like to get some rest, using his bedroll. Ooc: Can he?

Edit: I wrote this before I saw your last post, rumble, can these actions be done in the last area?

Edited December 14, 2011 by Scubacarrot

[Darth Nihilus]

"Okay, who should guess first? I don't have any ideas. I think, though, that we should take the gems after we figure out what the answer is, so as to discourage followers.Anyway, I'll sleep on it for a while."

Dak uses his bedroll.

Edited December 14, 2011 by Darth Nihilus

[Scubacarrot]

With a tired look in eyes, Guts looks at the door, and decides to do nothing, for the time being. Instead he says: "Remember the note, it spoke about a 3, I may be wrong, but I think that may be the key to opening this door."

With a slight smirk, invisible to the rest of the people in the mine he added:

"The pun was not intended."

Edited December 14, 2011 by Scubacarrot

[Darth Nihilus]

Dak slept, and he dreamed. About what, he could not say; only colors and seemingly random images flashed through his mind.

Edited December 15, 2011 by Darth Nihilus

[Rumble Strike]

QM Note - sorry folks, the picture and my grid did not match up. There are 9 gems, as shown in the picture. I will let Guts and Dak use their bedrolls to regain health but they must then wait to guess the puzzle as they will technically be asleep. This will give the others a chance to guess now that the 9 gems are confirmed.

Apologies again. I checked that post again and again but still didn't see the mistake!

[Xarrzan]

"Thank you for your inquiry but I am fine. I will be shedding my skin soon anyways and that will replace the missing scalesss."

Sarick removed a scale from the Giant Crocodile and placed it in a pocket. He then joined the others and slithered up to the door. He pondered it for a few minutes and decided to go with this pattern while Guts and Dak were sleeping

XXX

OOO

XXX

OOO

XXX

[Lordofdragonss]

"Ye did a great job fellows, Gorg thanks you! But now..."Gorg looked at himself, he was really dirty, but also proud, of him and of others from his party. He takes his loot, and said:

"Gorg don't like thinking, so if you don't mind Gorg will try to find some water to wash himself when you play with crystals. Or you want to smell this every time!"- Gorg laughs.

[Chromeknight]

"Thank you for your inquiry but I am fine. I will be shedding my skin soon anyways and that will replace the missing scalesss."

Sarick removed a scale from the Giant Crocodile and placed it in a pocket. He then joined the others and slithered up to the door. He pondered it for a few minutes and decided to go with this pattern while Guts and Dak were sleeping

XXX

OOO

XXX

OOO

XXX

Thinking about 3s Nerwen waits to see what effect Sarick's arrangement has.

She tries

XXX

OOX

OXO

OOX

XXX

[Rumble Strike]

Party after bedroll use. Both Guts and Dak are now at full health:

Party:

Guts Holla

(played by Scubacarrot)

Level 6 Rogue

Power

: 10

Health

: 12/12

Gold

: 70

Inventory

: Mockthril Cutlass (WP:4) equipped, Rusty Shortsword (WP:3)

Poisoned

, Potion, Bedroll, Gold Ore, Shovel

Sarick Lanse

(played by Xarrzan)

Level 6 Mage

Power

: 11

Health

: 7/10

Ether

: 7/10

Gold

: 10

Inventory

: Healing Staff (WP:5, healing effect) equipped, Mockthril Staff (WP: 4), Shark Fang Dagger (WP: 3), Opal Gem (Ice), Potion, Phoenix Essence

Dak Shadeaux

(played by darthnihilus)

Level 6 Rogue

Power

: 10

Health

: 12/12

Gold

: 34

Inventory

: Mockthril Knife (Equipped)(WP:4), Twin Longswords (WP:3), Mockthril Whip (WP:4), 2 Venoms, Potion, Bedroll

Nerwen Calmcacil

(played by Chromeknight) ** Party Leader **

Level 5 Cleric

Power

: 9

Health

: 13/13

Ether

: 4/9

Gold

: 0

Inventory

: Mockthril Hammer (WP:4), Wooden Staff (WP:3), Potion, Remedy, Fire Bomb, Note (Quest Item), Elixir, Grand Tonic

Gorg

(played by Lordofdragonss)

Level 5 Barbarian

Power

: 9

Health

: 12/12

Gold

: 5

Inventory

: Mockthril Spear (WP:4), Bone club (WP:3), a bottle of Mead, Potion, Pickaxe, Venom, Giant Crocodile Tongue, Grand Potion

Knifk

(played by Bioniclover)

Level 6 Knight

Power

: 10

Health

: 9/15

Gold

: 5

Inventory

: Mockthril Katana (Greatsword, WP:4) Equipped, Mockthril Shield (SP: 4), Morning Star (WP:3), Wyrm Shield (SP:2), Potion, Venom

------------------------------------------------------

The party wait as Sarick rearranges the gems and slithers back, but the door does not open. Nerwen then takes a turn at rearranging the gems, but the door again refuses to open.

[Scubacarrot]

Without saying a word, Guts walks up to the door, and forms the following pattern:

X X O

O O X

X X X

O O X

X X O

[Rumble Strike]

Guts stands away from the door after rearranging the gems. For a minute, nothing happens, but suddenly the party hear locks in the rock wall being pulled back, and the door falls away from them.

Guts successfully figured out the puzzle!

From the doorway, the party can see another room. Dak reaches down and tries to take one of the gems now that the door is open, but they won't move. Presumably they are now magically locked in place as part of the door.

What will the party do now?

QM Note - Well done to Scubacarrot!

[Xarrzan]

"Good job Guts. I'm glad I didn't get shocked or something for picking the wrong pattern hehe."

Sarick picked up a rock and threw it through the doorway and into the room. He listened intently for any movement and waited to see if any traps were set off. Seeing that nothing moved or exploded, he took a deep breath and then slithered into the room. He moved just past the doorway and coiled to the left of the door to give others room to enter but to also not move too far into the room.

[Darth Nihilus]

"Sarick, that might not be such a good idea. Those statues look awfully lifelike, and you're not at full health. I'll step in behind you." Dak draws his knife as he walks into the room, and keeps a wary eye on the statues.

OOC: Well done Scubacarrot!

[Lordofdragonss]

Gorg washed himself,and went back to the puzzle wall. "Oh, who did this? Gorg is impresed!"

All party member noticed that Gorg Shirt is gone, and now he wears only his goat-lether pants.

[Rumble Strike]

QM Note - It's times like these that Sarick probably wishes he'd spent his gold on something that spots traps rather than buying a magic hairbrush!

--------------------------------------------------

With two of the party inside the room with no ill-effects, Dak beckoned the others in.

The air was still, there was no sound at all. The focal point of the room was the mausoleum itself. It must have held a great warrior, as it was ornate and well decorated.

A plaque proclaimed:

Here Lies Haroka

Who Wielded

The Power

Of Darkness

Unto Death

Two statues flanked the mausoleum. The left-most one had been damaged in an apparent rockslide - rocks littered that side of the tomb and the statue was missing its head. A sabre can be seen on the floor:

Tfel Blade - WP:5, suitable for knights and rogues

Sorrow's eyes widened as she took in the tomb, and especially the elegant mausoleum in the centre.

"Haroka! It is you!"

What do the party want to do?

Edited December 15, 2011 by Rumble Strike

[Bioniclover]

"Good jub Guts!" Knifk enthusiastically says, then his attention is caught by the blade on the floor. He stares at it. "Knifk wants sword. Can Knifk have sword?"

[Chromeknight]

With two of the party inside the room with no ill-effects, Dak beckoned the others in.

The air was still, there was no sound at all. The focal point of the room was the mausoleum itself. It must have held a great warrior, as it was ornate and well decorated.

A plaque proclaimed:

Here Lies Haroka

Who Wielded

The Power

Of Darkness

Unto Death

Two statues flanked the mausoleum. The left-most one had been damaged in an apparent rockslide - rocks littered that side of the tomb and the statue was missing its head. A sabre can be seen on the floor:

Tfel Blade - WP:5, suitable for knights and rogues

Dak, Knifk, You are both still down in the loot count. Speak up, which of you wants this weapon?

Sorrow's eyes widened as she took in the tomb, and especially the elegant mausoleum in the centre.

"Haroka! It is you!"

What do the party want to do?

Speaking to Guts she said.

Now. Now is the time for talking. For revealing and deciding. Be ready.

To the orcs, in their native tongue, knowing that Sorrow does not speak it.

Beware! Watch her!

To Sorrow, moving to stand between her and the tomb as she addresses her, saying

We have brought you to your goal, brought you to your lost love. One whom you know and whose unquiet spirit knows you. Before you go any further, so that no rash decisions are made or hasty words spoken, you will tell us the story. Clearly you are older than you seem and have motives other than fulfilling a task from your purported masters.

Do you come to bring him peace or to restore him to the world?

[Bioniclover]

Knifk coughs and points at the post directly above Nerwen's, then realizes that this would break the fourth wall and instead tells Nerwen he would very much like the sword.

[Scubacarrot]

Ooc: Back in the croc's den I digged, did that get me anything?

Guts rolled his eyes, almost silently, he said: "Hate to say I told you so, but..."

Guts glanced at the weapon, the sabre looked ancient and crude, but the edge seemed sharp, still. The blade of the sabre was broad, and it was well crafted, it would be a good weapon for a good warrior.

His eyes shifted to the other statue, it was wielding a similair weapon. It would be valuable to have one of these swords in the hands of both Knifk and Dak, so perhaps he could try to take it.

Guts picked up a piece of rubble, that seemed to weigh as much as the sword would, and walked towards the stone thing. Before he took any action, he inspected the statue, specifically, the amount of dust on it, any sign of cracks or weakness, and if the weapon was stuck in the statue's hand, or could possibly be removed

[Chromeknight]

coughs and points at the post directly above Nerwen's, then realizes that this would break the fourth wall and instead...

Posting at same time... anyway spotted now. And watch that fourth wall, this is the first set where we've had one!

Knifk tells Nerwen he would very much like the sword.

Nerwen throws the sabre across the room, hearing it thrum as it spins in the air. It is thrown so that as it reaches Knifk it is an easy catch. Use it well friend!

For those playing at home, the loot totals (adjusted for quest spending and item use) are

Dak and Gorg 80g Sarick 100g, Nerwen 115g, Guts 130g and Knifk now 135g. Dak and Gorg are now top of list to get loot.

(I haven't taken into account earnings from muggings. So Dak and Guts will end a bit higher if that's counted.)

[Rumble Strike]

QM Note - Sorry, I missed that in all the confusion. I just rolled and you did find 10 gold. Perhaps being a prospector will pay more than heroing?

Party after loot distribution:

Party:

Guts Holla

(played by Scubacarrot)

Level 6 Rogue

Power

: 10

Health

: 7/12

Gold

: 80

Inventory

: Mockthril Cutlass (WP:4) equipped, Rusty Shortsword (WP:3)

Poisoned

, Potion, Bedroll, Gold Ore, Shovel

Sarick Lanse

(played by Xarrzan)

Level 6 Mage

Power

: 11

Health

: 7/10

Ether

: 7/10

Gold

: 10

Inventory

: Healing Staff (WP:5, healing effect) equipped, Mockthril Staff (WP: 4), Shark Fang Dagger (WP: 3), Opal Gem (Ice), Potion, Phoenix Essence

Dak Shadeaux

(played by darthnihilus)

Level 6 Rogue

Power

: 10

Health

: 7/12

Gold

: 34

Inventory

: Mockthril Knife (Equipped)(WP:4), Twin Longswords (WP:3), Mockthril Whip (WP:4), 2 Venoms, Potion, Bedroll

Nerwen Calmcacil

(played by Chromeknight) ** Party Leader **

Level 5 Cleric

Power

: 9

Health

: 13/13

Ether

: 4/9

Gold

: 0

Inventory

: Mockthril Hammer (WP:4), Wooden Staff (WP:3), Potion, Remedy, Fire Bomb, Note (Quest Item), Elixir, Grand Tonic

Gorg

(played by Lordofdragonss)

Level 5 Barbarian

Power

: 9

Health

: 12/12

Gold

: 5

Inventory

: Mockthril Spear (WP:4), Bone club (WP:3), a bottle of Mead, Potion, Pickaxe, Venom, Giant Crocodile Tongue, Grand Potion

Knifk

(played by Bioniclover)

Level 6 Knight

Power

: 11

Health

: 9/15

Gold

: 5

Inventory

: Tfel Blade (Sabre, WP:5) (Quest item), Mockthril Katana (Greatsword, WP:4) Equipped, Mockthril Shield (SP: 4), Morning Star (WP:3), Wyrm Shield (SP:2), Potion, Venom

------------------------------------------------------------

Sorrow spoke as Nerwen stood bravely between herself and the tomb. Unlike most times, there was no contempt in her voice, no sneer. She sounded younger, more.... human... than she ever had before:

"What the barkeep said was true. Haroka was a feared General, who took over many cities all over the world, centuries ago. My village was one of them. He'd raised it to the ground, burned all I knew, my friends, my family. But I was drawn to him, he was so powerful, so alive. He spared me, and took me for his court. He saw much in me that I did not see in myself, saw my blossoming magical powers. Eventually we became lovers, and I travelled the world with him as he conquered. I learned what gave him his power; the Darkstar. But evil is a corruption, and our love became black, tainted. He turned me away - me, who had offered him love and salvation!

I had spent so long in the presence of the Darkstar that I no longer aged as normal beings did, but it was a curse. Without Haroka, I had decades to wallow in self pity and regret. But then the new families arrived in Eubric, and I began to hear whispers, rumours in the dark. The power of the Darkstar was not gone. In some ways, I have always felt it inside me, taunting me. I have spent a long time trying to find Haroka's last resting place. I honestly do not know what I will do now. I barely know what emotions I feel.

But I do know this; the tomb will not give up its secrets easily, or without a fight."

As Guts looks at the second sword, the one being held by the statue with a head, he sees an inscription on the blade - Thgir. He pulls at the sword, but it is stuck fast and cannot be moved.