Heroica RPG - Quest #29: Journey to Dastan

[JimBee]

"Well if it's for the emperor... in any case I must return to battle. Please gather up what you need and leave, or help us with fending off these rebels. As for the lock, I have no key, but I'm sure you can figure it out yourself." The officer ascends the stairs, back to battle. Russel is nowhere to be seen.

What will the party do?

[posades]

"I feel the soldier will trust us more if we aid him in battle; however, wasn't one of our commands to not alert the lion knights of our presence? And Russel is not here...can he be trusted any longer?

[Fugazi]

"Well if it's for the emperor... in any case I must return to battle. Please gather up what you need and leave, or help us with fending off these rebels. As for the lock, I have no key, but I'm sure you can figure it out yourself." The officer ascends the stairs, back to battle. Russel is nowhere to be seen.

What will the party do?

"Well, I can try picking the lock if it's any help. If that fails, Sarick could try his freezing trick again.

As for fighting, I'm quite curious to see the faces of those Lion Knights, perhaps have a chance to interrogate them. But if there's a chance it might compromise our mission, we shouldn't risk it."

[Tanma]

IC: After the soldier leaves De'kra clicks, "I got reading on his stats. He has 250 health and he is not wounded at all, despite battle. I suppose he could just be lucky to avoid attacks though. It looks like he also summon another Dastan soldier if he lucky, might group care to know."

[JimBee]

Gale picks the lock on the gate, and is successful. The latch pops open and he slides the bars aside, revealing several explosives and parts to a catapult.

Party Leader, how will the loot be divided?

2x Fire Bomb

2x Lightning Bomb

[Xarrzan]

Sarick pocketed the 19 gold that was to go to Galen, he then handed:

1 fire bomb to Nerwen,

1 fire bomb to Xander,

1 lightning bomb to De'kra, and

1 lightning bomb to Cronk.

"We have the weaponsss and the Lion Knights do not know of our presence. Our next task is to return with the weapons. I'd like to help defend the fort but that isss not our task. What does the rest of the team think?"

[Chromeknight]

"We have the weaponsss and the Lion Knights do not know of our presence. Our next task is to return with the weapons. I'd like to help defend the fort but that isss not our task. What does the rest of the team think?"

You are right. We should go now. We have done what was asked of us.

[Fugazi]

Galen checks out the catapult parts, trying to figure out if the party would be able to carry them back to the carts.

"I agree it's not our role to fight here, but what about the insider the Emperor mentioned? Should we try to mingle with the troops and figure out who the traitor might be? There might be more money in for us if we kill him."

[Tanma]

Galen checks out the catapult parts, trying to figure out if the party would be able to carry them back to the carts.

"I agree it's not our role to fight here, but what about the insider the Emperor mentioned? Should we try to mingle with the troops and figure out who the traitor might be? There might be more money in for us if we kill him."

IC: De'kra clicks directly, "Might it be soldier team encountered? As I said, he was completely unharmed despite soldiers here currently being in battle, even if he was powerful and skill warrior, odds are he would get some damage from fight. Unless he was not fight in battle. Of course I theories very wrong before, and he could summon Dastan soldiers for help. Of course soldiers would not know if he was spy, and might believe they helping ally. What guide think of this?"

[CorneliusMurdock]

Did any friend notice where Russel went?

Cronk find it hard refrain from bashing when battle seem so close. Cronk would love to help with battle here but party was sent for specific reason. Cronk worried that if friends help here, War will be lost elsewhere.

[JimBee]

The Party:

Nerwen Calmcacil (played by Chromeknight)

Level 8 Cleric

Power: 14

Health: 15/15

Ether: 5/12

Gold: 35

Inventory: Peace (Hammer, WP: 6), Wooden Staff (WP:3), Bedroll, Shovel, Potion, 2x Tonic, Remedy, 2x Nostrum, Elixir, Grand Tonic, Venom, Red Potion, Bone, Tonic, Fire Bomb

De'kra (played by Tanma)

Level 14 Rogue

Power: 19

Health: 20/20

Gold: 112

Inventory: Kapura (WP:5, Fire), Pongcanis Dagger (WP:5, Lightning), Shadeaux Dagger (WP:5), Fauxthril Hand Cannon (WP:5, unsuitable), Cloak of the Blue Assassin(SP: 1), Cloak of the Elven Spy, Bedroll, Pickaxe, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Venom, 6x Potion, 2x Remedy, Ice Bomb, Water Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Smoke Bomb, Phoenix Essence, Purple Potion, Bone

Galen Woodward (played by Fugazi)

Level 8 Rogue

Power: 13

Health: 14/14

Gold: 17

Inventory: Sword of Bashing (WP: 5, Ice), Throwing Dagger (WP:4), Potion, Remedy, 2x Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll

Sarick Lanse (played by Xarrzan) *Party Leader* *Lucky*

Level 9 Mage

Power: 15

Health: 13/13

Ether: 7/13

Gold: 38

Inventory: Dragon's Wrath (Staff WP: 6), Healing Staff (WP:5, healing effect), Opal(Ice), Topaz(Lightning) Potion, Tonic, Blue Potion, Bone, Fire Bomb

Cronk (played by CorneliusMurdock)

Level 19 Paladin

Power: 31

SP: 9

Health: 39/39

Ether: 19/20

Gold: 30

Inventory: Zoot's Bane (WP:12, Light), Healing Staff (WP:5 Healing effect), Bloody Pointy Stick (WP:1), Ennoc's Blessing (Shield, SP:7), Elaborate Helmet (SP:2), 2x Potion, Holy Bomb, Bedroll, Paralyzing Venom, Blacksmith Writ, Bone, Cultist Documents, Lightning Bomb

Xander Unth'or (played by posades)

Level 13 Barbarian

Power: 21

Health: 20/20

Gold: 280

Inventory: Pongcanis Club (WP: 8), Double-Sided Battle Ax (WP:6), Enigmatic Hammer (WP: 3), Robe of the Pongcanis Champion (WP: 1 Front Row)(SP: 1 Back Row), Potion (2), Grand Potion, Phoenix Essence, Horse (WP: 1 Front Row), Fire Bomb, Skeleton Decoy, 2x Venom, Elven Bomb, Green Potion

Suddenly Russel returns down the stairs.

"Sorry for the delay, I had some trouble getting to the commanding officer safely and stealthily. I hope your task was without difficulty, if you're ready let us depart."

[Xarrzan]

"We are ready," said Sarick. "Let us get back with the supplies."

[Fugazi]

Galen eyes Russel suspiciously. Could he be the insider the Emperor warned them about?

"Let's go then. Our work is not done, we still have to deliver those weapons."

[JimBee]

The heroes prepare to leave, when even more footsteps can be heard coming down the stairs. Surprisingly, some familiar faces are seen. It's heroes from the Lion Knight quest, Skrall, Arthur, Isabella, and Alexandre! Behind them are two Lion Knights and Dastan solider. The Dastanian soldier sees the heroes taking the weapons.

"Thieves! Intruders! We need those weapons for the enemy! Heroes, stop them!" the soldier cries.

"These must be the insiders! Kill them quickly!" shouts Russel.

Prepare for battle!!

Quest #29 Party:

Nerwen Calmcacil (played by Chromeknight)

Level 8 Cleric

Power: 14

Health: 15/15

Ether: 5/12

Gold: 35

Inventory: Peace (Hammer, WP: 6), Wooden Staff (WP:3), Bedroll, Shovel, Potion, 2x Tonic, Remedy, 2x Nostrum, Elixir, Grand Tonic, Venom, Red Potion, Bone, Tonic, Fire Bomb

De'kra (played by Tanma)

Level 14 Rogue

Power: 19

Health: 20/20

Gold: 112

Inventory: Kapura (WP:5, Fire), Pongcanis Dagger (WP:5, Lightning), Shadeaux Dagger (WP:5), Fauxthril Hand Cannon (WP:5, unsuitable), Cloak of the Blue Assassin(SP: 1), Cloak of the Elven Spy, Bedroll, Pickaxe, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Venom, 6x Potion, 2x Remedy, Ice Bomb, Water Bomb, Lightning Bomb, Smoke Bomb, Phoenix Essence, Purple Potion, Bone

Galen Woodward (played by Fugazi)

Level 8 Rogue

Power: 13

Health: 14/14

Gold: 17

Inventory: Sword of Bashing (WP: 5, Ice), Throwing Dagger (WP:4), Potion, Remedy, 2x Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll

Sarick Lanse (played by Xarrzan) *Party Leader* *Lucky*

Level 9 Mage

Power: 15

Health: 13/13

Ether: 7/13

Gold: 38

Inventory: Dragon's Wrath (Staff WP: 6), Healing Staff (WP:5, healing effect), Opal(Ice), Topaz(Lightning) Potion, Tonic, Blue Potion, Bone, Fire Bomb

Cronk (played by CorneliusMurdock)

Level 19 Paladin

Power: 31

SP: 9

Health: 39/39

Ether: 19/20

Gold: 30

Inventory: Zoot's Bane (WP:12, Light), Healing Staff (WP:5 Healing effect), Bloody Pointy Stick (WP:1), Ennoc's Blessing (Shield, SP:7), Elaborate Helmet (SP:2), 2x Potion, Holy Bomb, Bedroll, Paralyzing Venom, Blacksmith Writ, Bone, Cultist Documents, Lightning Bomb

Xander Unth'or (played by posades)

Level 13 Barbarian

Power: 21

Health: 20/20

Gold: 280

Inventory: Pongcanis Club (WP: 8), Double-Sided Battle Ax (WP:6), Enigmatic Hammer (WP: 3), Robe of the Pongcanis Champion (WP: 1 Front Row)(SP: 1 Back Row), Potion (2), Grand Potion, Phoenix Essence, Horse (WP: 1 Front Row), Fire Bomb, Skeleton Decoy, 2x Venom, Elven Bomb, Green Potion

Quest #31 Party:

Skrall, Level 17 Hunter (Waterbrick Down) *Party Leader* *Favors Humanoid Enemies*

Power: 27

Health: 30/30

Defense: 0

Gold: 9

Inventory: Heavy Crossbow (WP: 8; Knock-back), Hunter's Crossbow (WP: 10; +4 vs. Beasts), Greatsword of Lion Nobles (WP: 20; User is Slowed), Potion, Tonic, Smoke Bomb, Skeleton Decoy, Telescope

Arthur Justus Regulus VII, Level 11.5 Mage (Flipz) *Party Second-in-Command*

Power: 18

Health: 15/15

Ether: 9/15

Defense: 1

Gold: 10

Inventory: Arthur's Staff of Elven Necromancy (WP: 5), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7; 50% chance of Fleeing instead of being KO'd), Robe of Magi (SP:1), Amethyst (Darkness), Opal (Ice), Potion(x2), Bedroll, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, Shovel, Grand Tonic

Isabella del Toboso, Level 10 Rogue (Dharkan)

Power: 17

Health: 16/16

Defense: 1

Gold: 237

Inventory: Fauxthril Dagger (WP:7), Golden Dagger (WP:3), Cloak of the Invisible Elf (SP: 1; untargetable for first 2 Rounds of every Battle), Venom, Potions (2), Bedroll, Fire Bombs (2)

Alexandre le Chevalier, Level 11.5 Knight (Capt.JohnPaul)

Power: 17

Health: 20/20

Defense: 7

Gold: 90

Inventory: Sword of the Elven Blademaster (WP: 6; ignores SP), Cross Heater Shield (SP: 7), Potions (2), Fire Bombs (2), Bedroll, Smoke Bomb

Luke, Level 17.5 Sage (controlled by Waterbrick Down) *Pacifist*

Power: 18

Health: 32/32

Ether: 15/24

Defense: 0

Gold: 0

Inventory: Wooden Staff (WP: 1), Diamond (Light)

Count Lewis Knyghton, Level 12.5 Engineer (controlled by Flipz)

Power: 15

Health: 19/19

Defense: 0

Gold: 0

Inventory: Spatha (WP: 3)

Party Leaders, choose the orders of actions.

All of you, choose your actions and from which row you'd like to perform them. Also mention if you'd like to use any items, cast a spell, or flee.

Any enemy not targeted will gain a free hit on the party.

QM Note: See this coming? I'll explain how this works, briefly. This battle will use arena rules, which means only WP is taken into account for attacks, and not level. See the Arena topic for more details on specific classes. Both parties will post in this topic for the time being, and everything else works the same as any other battle. If there's any questions, feel free to ask.

[Xarrzan]

Sarick slithered backward quickly in surprise. "Cronk, you seem to be good with wordsss, anyway you can diffuse the situation?" Sarick then attacked Count Lewis Knyghton from the back row with frost magic. "I will cool down your hot temper."

Battle Order:

Cronk

Xander

De'kra

>Sarick vs. Count Lewis Knyghton

Galen

Nerwen

[CorneliusMurdock]

(Diplomacy) Cronk is sure this is all misunderstanding. There no need for fellow heroes to fight. Friends were told by Emperor Roland that someone in army was working with Lion Knights and that friends should eliminate traitor. Cronk not sure what is going on but Cronk is sure that heroes are all on same side here. Heroes should talk this out before acting rashly.

What are other Heroes doing here? Cronk's party is here retrieving weapons for Emperor Roland. Cronk is sure Heroes can work something out.

[Waterbrick Down]

Luke stopped short upon seeing Xander, "Xander, my friend what are you doing here? I thought you were back in Eubric?"

Skrall took a double take at the crowded room, "Cronk, well yer the first person I think I could talk some sense with. What are ya doin' here, how did ya get into the fort? We were sent here to protect the fort from weapon theivin' rebel lion knights. Ask yer snake friend to diffuse that spell he seems to be brewin' up before I have to put a bolt through his hand."

Skrall called to the rest of the group, "Stay yer weapons all."

[CorneliusMurdock]

Sarick, friends can do this without violence.

Skrall, it seems that Heroes have been conned by someone here. After Cronk's party defeated cult leader, Emperor Roland sent friends in here to pick up some weapons for use at front lines. Party was under impression that weapons were Roland's. Roland warned there was traitor here and if friends found him while getting weapons, to dispose of traitor.

Cronk sense something odd about all this. Cronk knew something wrong when door here was left open. All Cronk knows is that all heroes seem to be on side of Dastan, There is no reason for heroes to fight.

Guide Russel, where did Russel just go again?

[Waterbrick Down]

"Sounds like the cultists were takin' care of good. Cronk from what I know of ya, ya've always been honest to a fault so I ain't got an reason to not trust ya. It sounds like this Russel character might have some questions to answer. I think we could all settle this if we talked with the commander of the fort, so here's my proposal and ya'll have to take it up with yer Party Leader, I'll take myself, the guy with the horned hat, Ms. Toboso the lady rogue behind me, the tall rogue with the green cape, Count Knyghton and the elven lady back there with me and go see the commander. You, the reptile gentleman, De'kra, Arthur, Luke, and Alexandre will head after this Russel fellow. We'll reconvene in the courtyard."

[CorneliusMurdock]

Cronk make sure Russel not go anywhere.

Russel said Russel just talk to commander. Russel did not inform friends beforehand.

Sarick, Cronk think this better option than fighting. One party is being manipulated. Cronk want to know which before jumping into bloodshed. Cronk not know other heroes all that well but Cronk had conversation with Skrall before leaving on quest and Skrall seem like nice fellow. Plus Cronk would rather fight beside Skrall than against Skrall.

[Waterbrick Down]

"Sounds good to me," Skrall unsheathes his greatsword resting the tip against the stone floor as the Parties search for Russel. "So ya said ya dealt with some cultists?"

[Flipz]

OOC: Fail, I totally missed Doc's link, thought it was plain text. I've struck out what no longer applies, more appropriate responses are underlined.

Arthur has a nagging feeling he recognizes that hammer, but pushes it aside. He snarls, and his eyes start to glow slightly as he begins charging his dark powers. After carefully memorizing the spells on his Scrolls, he leapsstarts to leap into the hallway, casting the Blindness spell on the red-cloaked figure from the Back Row.

Count Knyghton, too, has the nagging feeling that he knows that weapon, but unlike Arthur it clicks for him. "Arthur, no, that's--!" Before he can say anymore, Arthur rams into him mid-leap; Knyghton is slammed against the wall and momentarily Stunned.

Knyghton grabs Arthur roughly by his robe, stopping him short and sending the spell awry. Arthur hits the floor with an audible thunk. "What in BLEEDING BLAZES is wrong with ya, ya blitherin' fool! The Tethusial, then Isabella, now this? Wha' has gotten in ta ya?!"

Arthur pants roughly as he calms down. He sees the other Heroes, three of whom he recognizes. He gets awkwardly to his feet. "Urm...hi," he says lamely.

[Fugazi]

Galen draws his sword as the newcomers run down the stairs. He immediately notices that they are not wearing Dastanian uniforms. Then he is shocked by some faces that seem familiar. He never spent much time in Heroica Hall, but he could swear some of these fighters are Heroes. Of course he was aware of other Heroica missions to Dastan, he had signed up for all of them. But what were the odds?

He sheathes the Sword of Bashing and waits for things to sort themselves out.

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"Hold on a minute? Lion soldiers informed us of intruders, which means you didn't tell them you were coming. Correct? That seems highly suspicious. I will make sure none of you leave until someone explains a little bit."

To Skrall in a whisper: "You may want to get out that WP: 20 sword."

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra 's eyes widen in surprise as the world explodes with plot changes. De'kra suspected that a collision of quests was inevitable, but in this way? As he tried to assess the situation, De'kra noticed something was off with Arthur. Deciding to note it for later, De'kra pondered if he should speak. He had created a lot of trouble previously in quest 4 by talking, and he didn't want to make things work. But of course the absence of action can be worse than a flawed action.

Finally De'kra commented, "Team was told by Emperor Roland that small rogue Lion Knights got behind Dastan Empire lines, and were prepare to attack fort. Empoeror believe there to be insider, ally of rogue knights, as he not think they could get through by other ways. Team was told to go in without attract attention, take the weapons, and not be seen in case of insider and as Team could not afford to fall in battle. And if Team found insider, Team was to kill them. As far as I remember Team was not told that any Lion Knights were here to help Dastan Empire hold fort, but I amnesic so I memory not the best. Still, I would have thought he would stress that Lion Knight allies were in fort, so that this kind of situation no occur. But I not remember him clarify that Dastan Empire get help from any Lion Knights, in fact I think one of Team had ask if heroes amd I were to kill any Lion Knights heroes and I see, and I think answer was yes. Might Emperor Roland not know good Lion Knights here? Dastan Empire and Lion Knights have had bad blood in past, might good Lion Knights not tell Emperor they here to help? I not best at guess motives, but hopefully someone can salvage I thoughts and make them usable."

De'kra waited to see if the small wall of speech was helpful.