Heroica RPG - Quest#19: Let's Start a Riot

[Zepher]

<OoC, level 17 1/2 right?>

<Sorry, yes, I didn't level up anyone. My mistake.>

[The Legonater]

Behind the camp, I cough up blood.

[Zepher]

"Vonnetate would not send a letter asking for me if he met the same fate as Fredrick. Besides, I am sure he can fend for himself. While you visit the remaining rebels, I will visit him. As for what you must do, tomorrow, you have to visit a factory or a rebel, and the day after that do the opposite. The rebels are itching for war, we have very little time left. And which betrayer, Tesni? You mean McColt? He is only doing his job, he didn't betray anyone. He must die, but you're painting him in the wrong light. He's evil, but he's not secretive about it."

"Shut it, Felton, you'll bore them to death. Where'd the whelp go?" Hans goes to find Dyric, and once he does, he pats Dyric on the back. "That is what combat feels like. You're growing. You're going to be okay."

[The Legonater]

"Shut it, Felton, you'll bore them to death. Where'd the whelp go?" Hans goes to find Dyric, and once he does, he pats Dyric on the back. "That is what combat feels like. You're growing. You're going to be okay."

I give Hans a swift punch, and break his nose.

Listen, I'm no whelp. I've probably seen more combat than you have.

I walk away from Hans, to steam.

[Zepher]

Hans spits up blood and calmly walks back to the fire.

"My god, Hans, did you run into a tree or get into a fight with a bear? What the hell happened."

"The whelp happened. I was going to instruct you to stop leaving him out cold during battles, but I can see why once he's out, you'd want to keep him out. What a temperamental- if I see one more offense from him, I'll fight him myself."

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall unshoulderes his pack and glances around the fire at his quest mates, "Well I've a mind to visit the last of the rebels tomorrow, that way Felton can attend to the Pog. Hans you should get that nosed looked at, or avoid tree branches in the future. Anyone care to theorize on the next bit of the tale, not exactly bedtime story material, but I'm curious why we're havin' to play the audience for it."

Skrall looks around to see if Sir Poletad had returned and if he bare any news concerning their missing quest mates.

[Peppermint_M]

Tesni looked at Felton. "Someone told the guards where to find the rebel camp. That someone caused our friends to be captured." She gestured then to the note. "It may have been Wren, but there may be someone else leaking secrets and information. That person would have to be in trust and are therefore betraying that trust."

[Scorpiox]

Haldor walks calmly over to Dyric.

"Friend, you need to calm down. I understand that you've lost everything, but that is behind you now. You will one day be able to return and rectify your life, but now we have a job to do. Hoke and my love are out there somewhere, and I'll be damned if I lose her. You shouldn't have hit Hans, so why don't you go and apologise. And hopefully he'll apologise for insulting you. Violence is not the way to solve this, but be careful or that is what it will become. There is a line, don't make yourself cross it."

Haldor returns to the camp, and sits on a rock. He dreams of Jess, of her face, of the time they spent together. His eyes glow blue in the firelight, eyes that tell more than a thousand words...

[Zepher]

"Do you still suspect me of treachery, Tesni? Why would I betray you? It's all very nice to suspect me, but without motive it's a little fruitless."

"I'm here Skrall!!! Hello! Welcome back! I have some bad news for you, sadly. Your friends are in the castle. I met a lizard that met a frog that ate a fly that saw them there. I don't think you can get them until the rebels attack the castle. I'm so very sorry."

<I am waiting for you to start the next day before I do anything. You must choose to sleep.>

[Scorpiox]

"What else did the fly tell the frog that told the lizard that told you?!? Did they mention Jess? Was she alright!?"

Haldor calms down a bit.

"Well then we need to get a move on, so we should probably go to sleep now. Damn."

[Peppermint_M]

"I am not saying it was you, I am saying someone is out there. Now I need to sleep, whatever we do on the morrow, I will need rest." Tesni headed for the shadier areas of the camp and settled down for tht night.

[Waterbrick Down]

"I suggest we all get some sleep now, we'll attend to the rebel groups tomorrow."

[Zepher]

The heroes go to sleep.

Day Six

And the next morning, wake up. Those with bedrolls feel refreshed, those without them do not.

Where would the heroes like to go today? (Factory, Rebels)

The Party

Skrall

(played by WaterBrickDown)

Level 12 1/2 Ranger (Party Leader)

Power

: 21 (+4 Against Beasts)

Health

: 1/17

Gold

: 70

Inventory

: Hunter's Crossbow (WP:9, +4 vs. Beasts), Potion (3), Remedy (1), Tonic (1), Smelling Salts (1), Smoke Bomb (1), Water Bomb (1), Ice Bomb (1), Holy Bomb (1), Skeleton Decoy (1), Phoenix Essence (1), Military Grade Lightning Bomb

Tesni Hightribe

(played by Peppermint_M)

Level 17 1/2 Berserker (Back-Up Party Leader)

Power

: 23

Health

: 33/33

Gold

: 137

Inventory

: Cysgodion the Great Sword of Darkness (WP: 11, Darkness), Cryfder (WP:6), Mockthril Shield (SP:5) 2 Phoenix Essence, 4 Potions, 3 Mead, 3 Venom, 2 Nostrum,

Haldor Skovgaard

(played by Scorpiox)

Level 14 Cleric

Power

: 26 (24+1)

Health

: 22/22

Ether

: 20/20 (17+3)

Gold

: 25

Inventory

: Heavy Metal Rod (WP:11), Lesser Ethereal Cloak (SP:1, +3 Ether), Paper Doll (Hexed immunity), Frying Pan (WP:1+1 health, unequipped), Spike Coller (+1 power), Shovel, Pickaxe, Potion, Remedy, Venom and a fur-lined bedroll, Tonic, Phoenix Essence, Military Grade Fire Bomb

Dyric Rone

(played by Legonator)

Level 8 Rogue

Power

: 13

Health

: 1/14

Gold

: 261

Inventory

: Double Chain Whip (WP: 5), Throwing Knife (WP: 3), Longsword (WP: 3), Venom, Smelling Salts, Pre-Rolled Loaded Die, Potion, Grating Stone, Military Grade Lightning Bomb

[Scorpiox]

Haldor rises from his bedroll, a sad look in his eyes. He'd clearly been awake, worrying about his love, hoping for her safety. He got dressed and walked over to the camp.

"Good morning friends, what is the plan for the day? I thinks we should meet the rebels, then soon we can find this castle. And burn it to the ground. If they've hurt Jess I will find them, I'll burn them."

Haldor's voice changes momentarily from his coarse Nord accent to a roaring voice with the echo of a thousand souls. The soul of the Norse hero Grischnika DarkBane was clearly interested in the current predicament. He rarely made his prescence known, but Haldor's anger had caused him to rise. But Grischnika's judgement could easily fall ill What if he took control of Haldor and rescued Jess for him, annihilating everyone within a mile? What if he went after McColl, razeing half the town to the ground? What if he ended up killing all Haldor's friends when attempting to kill Wren?

Haldor needed to learn how to control Grischnika, lest he destroy Haldor's life in an attempt to save it.

Edited January 16, 2012 by Scorpiox

[Waterbrick Down]

"Alright let's set out for the last of the rebel camps. Haldor, ya think ya could spend some ether patchin' me and Dyric up before we head out."

<Sir Poletad, why don't ya accompany us today, it's always a help to have an extra set of eyes and ears in matters of diplomacy.>

[Scorpiox]

Haldor turns and heals Dyric and Skrall. His eyes returning to normal.

[Peppermint_M]

"What have we wrought..." Tesni sighed, rising from her slumber. "I wonder what chores those rebels have for us today?"

[Zepher]

The party treks through the mountains with Hans as Felton walks off in another direction, the same way the heroes went to get to Vonnetate's camp. After a few hours the party arrives at the training grounds of the next Rebel, who greets them warmly and gets right down to business.

The name is Samuel, and I ain't gonna sugar coat any of this fer ya lot. I'll give you twenty troops either way, no questions asked, but I'll give you a total of forty troops if you do me a favor. Go and kill that bastard Haddock. He thinks of himself as some leader, and I won't play games with ya, I don't like him, not one bit. Never can trust Orcs, and he's one of the worst! When we ransack that castle and rip off that McColt's head, I don't want him around. So, all you got to do is go kill him, and that's that. It isn't for any other reason other than the fact that he's a pompous prick. Alright?"

Hans says a few words to Samuel and pulls the heroes aside.

"We can go visit Haddock before we take Samuel's deal, heroes. He is an understanding man, and honest, in his way, I guess. So, he says you can go meet with Haddock before choosing anything. He thinks you'll hate Haddock as much as he does, of course."

What will the heroes do?

Edited January 16, 2012 by Zepher

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall speaks aside to his companions, "I ain't about to go killin' another,based solely against one human's prejudice. I'd be willin' to knock some sense into this fine chap should he continue in such a bigoted matter, but I say we first go give Haddock a visit and see if we can get a better grasp of the situation."

[Peppermint_M]

"Yes, maybe if we can evaluate this Haddock, who knows, he may goad us into a fight anyway..." Cysgodion gleamed as Tesni whispered her reply.

[The Legonater]

I'm sure could find a way to fake his death... orcs seems to look similar, don't they?

[Scorpiox]

"Aye, we should meet this man before agreeing to kill him. Let us depart."

[Zepher]

The heroes proceed with Hans through the mountains until the reach a decent sized shack against the mountains. The door is thrown open for them and an Orc, Haddock, ushers them in.

"Hello, hello, come in quickly. I assume that you have just come from visiting Samuel. That bastard wants me dead for no damn reason, I'll swear it. He did tell you to kill me, yes? Well, you won't, not unless you're stupid, which I won't rule out yet, but you don't seem too stupid, no, no. I'm sorry. Tea anyone?"

Haddock puts on some tea, and then turns to the heroes.

"What'd he offer you? You know what, doesn't matter. Here's my counter-offer. I have five troops, which I will give to you either way. But if you kill Samuel for me, I'll throw in something personal. I'm a alchemist, of sorts, and I have three vials of something I call "Thick Skin Potion". You kill Haddock for me, and I'll give you the vials."

Thick Skin Potion - A permanent +1 to health.

What would the heroes like to do? (Kill Haddock, Kill Samuel, Kill Neither)

Edited January 18, 2012 by Zepher

[The Legonater]

I wisper to Skrall

We should kill either of them. But I still stand by my theory of faking their deaths. That way we get the maximum amount of troops, plus both bonuses.

[Waterbrick Down]

"If ya'll excuse us for a moment my good orc," Skrall comments to their host. "I'm all ears Rone, it may be easy to pass an orc of to any old human, but deliverin' Samuel to Haddock ain't goin' be that easy. If we can't fool either of 'em it looks like it comes down to either 5 troops plus the potions, 40 troops, or 25 troops. I ain't keen on killin' either of 'em, but I certainly ain't killin' Haddock to satisfy Samuel's prejudices that's fer sure."