Heroica RPG - Quest #20: Missing Minerals!

[Bioniclover]

"Um, Knifk would love the Garnet for Tfel if Mage doesn't want it. Though, no matter who gets it eventually, we should let Mage man use for now."

[Rumble Strike]

"A swift yet sure attack. The Gods favour us." Tarn looked at Knifk. "You can have either the Gold Ore or the Garnet, it depends if you want to imbue your weapon with elemental forces. Whatever you choose, De'kra can have the other."

OOC: I think these two haven't had much loot so far.

Also QM, the Seal is not one-use as confirmed by Sandy, so Aberforth needs the Scroll of Sleep added back to his inventory

[Bioniclover]

"Knifk would like Garnet for sure if small Rogue-man is OK with that."

[Scubacarrot]

Loot, according to me, not taking in account mugs:

Knifk 10 gold, Venom, Bedroll

Tarn 10 gold, Ruined Map

Dak 10 gold, Mead

Aberforth: Ruby, 15 gold, Potion, Venom

Guts 10 gold, Venom, Potion

Dek'ra 10 gold

Dek'ra definitely got the least loot so far, with Tarn right behind him, as I don't the map actually does anything.

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra stared at the crystal shards, a little glad that he hadn't landed a blow on the creature. It wasn't too much of a surprisedthathe failed to damage the beast, his mind wasn't in the fight. There was something about the creature that haunted him, the fact that it was alive and inorganic particularly worked it's way on the shade. It just didn't feel right to harm one, especially based on what De'kra had begun to recall. Still, it was a hard and painful death that the creature suffered, and that did not sit easy in his mind.

Noticing the knight, De'kra shrugged, "You take it if you want." Right now the shade was too busy worried about fighting more of those creatures to care about the spoils.

Edited March 17, 2012 by Tanma

[UsernameMDM]

The Party:

Tarn Valco, Level 12.5 Barbarian, 21 year old human male ***PARTY LEADER***

Power: 22 Health: 19/19 Gold: 50

Inventory: Kyrferath, a Battle Axe (WP: 10, Water Elemental), Pole-axe (WP: 3), Mead x 2, Grand Potion, Shovel

Dak Shadeaux, Level 11 Rogue, 35 year old half-elf Mopag

Power: 18 Health: 17/17 Gold: 155

Inventory: Mockthril Knife (Equipped)(WP:7), Thgir Blade (WP:5), Twin Longswords (WP:3), Mockthril Whip (WP:4), 2 Venoms, 1 Potion, Bedroll, Shovel

Guts Holla, Level 10.5 Rogue, 42 year old male human

Power: 17 Health: 16/16 Gold: 133

Inventory: Lifestealer (WP:7 attacks restore 3 health), Potion, Bedroll, Shovel

Knifk, Level 11 Knight, 30 year old male Orc

Power: 18 Health: 20/20 Gold: 75

Inventory: Tfel Blade (WP:7), Mockthril Shield (SP:5), Garnet, Bedroll

De'kra, Level 12.5 Rogue, 11 year old Male Shade

Power: 17 Health: 18/18 Gold: 88

Inventory: Pongcanis Dagger(WP:5, Electricity), Shadeaux Dagger(WP:5), Fang Dagger(WP:4), Cloak of the Blue Assassin(SP: 1), Cloak of the Elven Spy(loaned to Atramor), Bedroll, , Potions (2), Pickaxe, Gold Ore

Aberforth Swindle, Level 6 Mage, 62 year old human

Power:8 Health: 10/10 Ether 9/9 Gold: 20

Inventory: Torch (2 WP, fire) Simple Staff (3 WP), Tonic, Venom, Amethyst, Ruby, Scroll of Sleep, Musty Bedroll

Party check your stats and inventories.

Edited March 17, 2012 by UsernameMDM

[Scubacarrot]

I don't suppose the digging got us anything? ;)

"Alright, so what are our options from here?"

[UsernameMDM]

The heroes search the alcove but come up with nothing. No other entrance to this tunnel could be found, so they determine that this creature must be the reason for the missing minerals. They pause for a moment and check out their options. They could head back and report to the Steward, or they could return to the previous level and explore two more tunnels, possibly gaining more experience and loot.

What would the party like to do?

[Scubacarrot]

"I am for exploring the two tunnels we have not been to yet "

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra nodded in agreement, for once. This creature might just be a false lead, and the real source of the problem might lurk still deeper inside the tunnels.

[Rumble Strike]

"I am likewise not convinced that this solitary Gobbler here could be the only thing behind the missing minerals. We would do well to continue our exploration of this mine and see what else we can discover, be it good or evil."

OOC: I have mentioned it before, but a while ago I equipped one of my two Meads into my Hollow Blade, so that I can use it without taking a turn in combat.

As for the loot distribution, as party leader I tend not to give myself much to show that I'm not using the party as a way to get all the loot.

[Scubacarrot]

"All right then. Does, uhm, the voice in the sky have two options where we can go?"

[Dwellington]

"Perhaps the creature left a trail we could follow?"

Swindle puts the torch low to the ground, to illuminate any possible tracks.

"Anyone see anything?"

[Tanma]

IC: Since not much was occurring, De'kra decided to send a message to Arthur.

Greetings, this is De'kra. It looks as though our quest is nearly complete, though we have decided to explore the caves some more. It is...odd being underground. Its like...being somewhere safe and warm, but it isn't physically warm. I felt something like this before once, when I stood beside a beach not to long after I woke up for the first time on Uland.

My memories are more common now, though I can't put them together in way that makes sense yet. I have heard a theory that might explain some of the contradictions, suggested by an element user on this quest. He proposes a theory about parallel worlds, basically the same world but somewhen in their past a different choice was made that altered their histories. The example in my head is about that world, Spherus-Magna. I still see it dying, and my failure to stop it. But I have started to seem glimpses of a different version.

In the second version of the tale, the scientists learn of the danger ahead of time. Maybe I warned them earlier, I don't know. Either way, the scientists were able to react in time to the coming crisis, and built a race of short entities with power over the elements. This race was made of flesh and steel, and with their power and agility managed to cleanse the planet's core of the substance, and prevent its destruction. I don't remember much beyond that, aside from the new race become a full member of the planet's societies, and the old kings being overthrown. I think I remember a name of one of those heroes though, a name which complicates matters.

Does any of this make sense? By the way, how are things going on the battlefield?

Edited March 19, 2012 by Tanma

[UsernameMDM]

The party searches the spot of the battle but do not find anything. Tarn decides to scoop up some of the crystalline shards as proof of their encounter. They make the arduous trek back to the previous level. After a few twists and turns, they come to the second of the two unexplored tunnels.

[Tanma]

IC: De’kra read the message again and again, worry somehow escaping his emotionless “face.” Finally he replied.

In the gloaming of the Core War, the scientists decided to end the war by any means necessary, at least in the world where Spherus-Magna ended. To this end they built assassins, who would kill anyone holding a weapon. Though these killers were not truly sapient like the artificial race in the other reality, they were extremely effective hunters.

The reason these machines were so effective, aside from the fact that their off-switch failed to work, was that they were shapeshifters. They could turn into boulders, trees, and bushes. They weren’t smart enough to mimic creatures or people, but everything else was fair game. Perhaps you could utilize some form of this technique, perhaps hiding some of your troops among the dead or in disguise, so they can ambush in secret.

A major part of my worlds was unity. Heroes fought together, and if necessary died together. Villagers would stand together against great odds, sometimes against foes that an individual hero might prefer to avoid. Unity was everything, and not just in culture.

Those short heroes I mentioned, along with some larger equivalents, each had only one elemental power, for some fire, for others water, and so on. Because of this heroes tended to work in groups with people of different elements, to solve problems. Although their powers were great apart, their might was even greater combined.

A hero of Fire and a hero of Earth or Stone for instance could cause a volcano to erupt together, and create magma even if they had no volcano to ignite. A hero of Air and a hero of Water could create a storm, while a hero of Fire and a Hero of Air could create a glass seal, should they have sand nearby. Heroes and Ice and Fire could also combine their strengths to form an instant seal to a hole.

But the greatest power was if six heroes of different elements combined their powers on one foe/object. This would create a seal, one that is unbreakable and indestructible. The only way to destroy that barrier is if the exact same six heroes combined their powers again on the exact spot. Otherwise, not even the strongest foes could destroy it.

I realize that the elements of my people are different than those of Uland, no one here commands Gravity or Magnetism for instance. But hopefully these ideas could help a little; the volcano plan might be useful, if destructive. And if you don’t awaken a volcano, you might disturb the ground enough to cause an earthquake to stun your foes. It might hit your castle though.

Likewise you could use power over plants to create a thick patch of thorns to rip and tear through your foes. Also if your freeze the ground, you might not only make the ground slippery, but also splinter the rock and weaken it. This might make the volcano idea more effective. If you have a great control of power over wind, you could also keep your foes in a vacuum by keeping the air out of it, but it might be easier to suffocate them with a sphere of water.

If you have control over fire and water you could create a cloud of steam which would obscure their aim. If you have weapons that can hit multiple targets, you can fire into the fog and still have a good chance of hitting them, while their aim would miss you, and they might stumble into traps. Not to mention if the fog is hot enough it could burn them slightly. Sending pulses of light might also blind them briefly, and could cause them to stumble into traps or mistake their fellows for enemies. Hopefully these ideas will help.

Upon finishing the message, De'kra clicked, "Heroes in Quest 17 claim to exist in big trouble. Any member of group have experience and sieges/warfare?"

[UsernameMDM]

Upon finishing the message, De'kra clicked, "Heroes in Quest 17 claim to exist in big trouble. Any member of group have experience and sieges/warfare?"

Let's finish this quest before we work on another one.

[Tanma]

Let's finish this quest before we work on another one.

OOC: As far as I know there is no rule that says we can't walk and talk at the same time. I do understand the concerns here and I will try not to slow the plot down.

IC: De'kra wondered why the group was standing here in front of the tunnel, and hadn't just entered it yet.

[Scubacarrot]

Guts moves onward to the tunnel they had not explored yet!

[UsernameMDM]

The heroes turn down the unexplored tunnel. After easily handling the Crystal Gobbler, the party seems a bit more relaxed and confident. They come to multiple tunnels meeting altogether. As they stop to set their bearings, they hear a rhythmic tapping. The heroes identify the tunnel the sound is coming from and head toward the source. The heroes find themselves in a roughly chipped out tunnel and see a lone figure swinging a pickaxe by lantern light. The figure senses the questers and spins around quick as a snake!

"What's that y'alls is doin' down hur in mah claim!"

What does the party do?

[Bioniclover]

"Hello friend, Knifk did not know he was in your claim. Knifk is investigating mysterious disappearances of rocks. Knifk apologizes very much for intrusion. Would friend happen to know about disappearing rocks? Knifk believes small rock creatures are gobbling the rocks. has friend seen Small rock gobblers? Knifk thanks friend very much for his time and apologizes profusely for his intrusion." Knifk asks diplomatically.

Edited March 20, 2012 by Bioniclover

[Scubacarrot]

Guts whispers to Knifk:

"Uh, I don't think he is a dwarf..."

[Scubacarrot]

Guts makes some movements with his hands behind his back, it is very obvious that he means 'watch this':

"And that reminds me.... You say this is your 'claim'? Can we see some documents to confirm that? As far as we know, this mine is owned by Eubric's Miner's Guild, you see. If you could show us that, we will be on our way. "

[Bioniclover]

Guts whispers to Knifk:

"Uh, I don't think he is a dwarf..."

"He looks like a tall dwarf. Like blacksmith back home. Knifk is relatively sure that dwarf friend is a dwarf."

[Scubacarrot]

"He looks like a tall dwarf. Like blacksmith back home. Knifk is relatively sure that dwarf friend is a dwarf."

"Uh, that guy is totally not a dwarf, Ill bet 5 gold on it!"