Heroica RPG - Quest #29: Journey to Dastan

[JimBee]

I used my fire bomb in the previous battle.

QM Note: Fixed.

"What would you like to drink... um, not sure I caught your name sir?"

"Oh well uh, you can just call me James. An ale would be fine."

The bartender looks up hopefully.

"What can I get you, sir?"

Ale – Restores 5 health to target (5 gold)

Wine – Restores all negative effects to target (8 gold)

Rum – Convinces the target to flee, usable only on certain enemies (15 gold)

Mead – Causes encouraged effect on target for one battle (25 gold)

Vodka – Unknown effect (50 gold)

Does Rirk know how Rito feel about Dragons?

"Rirk not know much else about Rito. Rito rarely heard from."

A woman clad in purple sitting across the table overhears the conversation.

"The Rito aren't much for riding dragons since they have wings of their own. Forgive me, the name's Malkyn. How long have you folks been in town? You're not merchants are you?" She noted Cronk's sword sheathed at his side.

[CorneliusMurdock]

"Rirk not know much else about Rito. Rito rarely heard from."

A woman clad in purple sitting across the table overhears the conversation.

"The Rito aren't much for riding dragons since they have wings of their own. Forgive me, the name's Malkyn. How long have you folks been in town? You're not merchants are you?" She noted Cronk's sword sheathed at his side.

Hello Malkyn. Cronk is not merchant but is in town on business. Does Malkyn know a lot about Rito? Cronk is interested. Cronk just thought that since Rito and dragons both fly that maybe two races have encountered one another. Cronk wondered if Rito and Dragons would be friends.

Cronk hear about beast called Chimera that Dragons not so keen about. Cronk wonders if Rito would feel same way.

[Fugazi]

"What can I get you, sir?"

"Please serve an ale to my friend James. Here are 5 gold. As for myself, the Roorum family has vowed abstinence generations ago, and we all still abide by that wise decision."

[posades]

Xander finds his way to De'kra, standing next to the shade. He was at the ready to assist any of his friends if things got out of hand; for now, though, he was content observing the people in the bar.

[JimBee]

Hello Malkyn. Cronk is not merchant but is in town on business.

"Then I suppose you missed the incident yesterday. One of Emperor Septrine's subjects visited here, and there were some sort of explosions. A group looking a lot like yourselves was here too, with some rugged looking guy. He was handsome though... Hans I think his name was... oh, um, excuse me. What I meant to say is, be careful. Things are getting rough around here with the Lion Knights and such."

Does Malkyn know a lot about Rito? Cronk is interested. Cronk just thought that since Rito and dragons both fly that maybe two races have encountered one another. Cronk wondered if Rito and Dragons would be friends.

Cronk hear about beast called Chimera that Dragons not so keen about. Cronk wonders if Rito would feel same way.

"Like Rirk here said, the Rito don't really have contact with the outside world. I know they can fly, but I don't think they're very similar to dragons. And a chimera you say? I'm afraid I don't know what that is, but if you want to know more about the Rito clan you should seek them out. Word is they don't take too kindly to strangers, though."

"Please serve an ale to my friend James. Here are 5 gold. As for myself, the Roorum family has vowed abstinence generations ago, and we all still abide by that wise decision."

"Certainly, sir, here you are."

James takes a large swig from the mug, and takes a look at the documents. The journal that reads "Dmitri" on the inside cover is mostly blank, but it appears to contain recent events, judging from the dates above each entry.

"Hmm, now let's see... forgive me, this particular dialect of Basic is very rare to see, and I am not used to reading it. A rough translation:"

My first chance to write in three days, after putting a large distance between myself and that hellish island. My brother is gone, killed by the wretched 'heroes' of Eubric. I hope that wizard leaves them alive, for I will kill them myself. I will take revenge if it's the last thing I do. But for now I must run. The Bonapartes are searching far and wide for me, and I will need to escape to the empire of Dastan. Word has it that there is a war brewing there, and their forces will be too distracted to investigate me. We sail for the Fang Coast.

We have arrived in Dastan. I am currently staying at an inn in a small village, I wonder how long it will be until I am discovered. They did not stop us at the border, but I had to leave the dozen of my men that remained so as not to gain any unwanted attention. Where to next, I do not know. Dastan is in peril, and I will not want to become involved in someone else's war. If the situation becomes serious, I plan to flee further East.

A peculiar man approached me at the inn today. He seemed to know a lot about me for a stranger, I barely told him anything. Are my emotions really so out of control that a mere stranger could gaze into my mind? I need to find peace. I feel lost without him. Perhaps we weren't so cut out for thieving as we once thought... perhaps we were in over our heads. In any case I will not be able to return to my ways in the foreseeable future, not without the means to do so in this strange land.

The strange man came to me again today, and our encounter was much more straightforward than the last. He said he knew about me, about my struggles. He said he could help. He even mentioned my brother, in a sort of indirect way, like I had told him the story by the look on my face. He told me that he could use someone like me, in a line of work like his. Naturally at first I refused, but this could be exactly what I am looking for. I plan to meet him again tomorrow morning.

I met the man, Gottfried, again at the inn. He told me to come with him to his 'residence'. I followed cautiously, this could have been trap set by the Bonapartes or the Dastan guard. One thing my brother and I have been gifted with is our instinct, our ability to become wary of danger in the safest of places.

I followed Gottfried up a mountain path, outside the village. I began to grow more chary, but he reassured me. I figured that he would have arrested or killed me by now if that was his purpose, and I followed him deep into a cave. He led me through many winding tunnels until for certain I thought he had lost his way, but then we came to a large chamber. There, my purpose in Dastan changed. He had several men under his employment, who seemed to have kidnapped several villagers. They were alive. Alive and scared. I could only watch as he ceremony was performed, around a blazing fire and with ancient chants being murmured. They burned the villagers alive, a torture more horrible than one can imagine. Then I watched, as the charred corpses were reanimated, brought back to life as the chants continued. I wanted very badly to leave, but my feet would not move.

The chanting stopped, and the corpses collapsed. Gottfried came to me and whispered in my ear. "You see" he said. "I know your pain. You don't have to live like this. We could return your brother." The words still echo in my mind, but I accepted them. I need this. I have seen many things in my life, but never anything like this. It was a change I needed.

James stopped reading.

"Hm, whatever this is it sounds very creepy. I won't be gettin' into any trouble by tranlatin' it, will I? The rest is very hard to read anyhow, like it was rushed. Something about reviving the chimera, whatever that is, and kidnappin' people. I think you folks need to find a better crowd to hang around if this is your idea of the sort you wanna keep outta trouble with."

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra turned to the human in purple and asked, "Strangers like this team? Was one mage cloak in blue and white and them? Also, I know Rito not often seen by outside world, but are there common themes in stories and descriptions about them?"

OOC: Ignoring the fact that we will probably encounter the Rito judging by the fact that they are mentioned, I have to ask if a Minifigure form of a Rito has already been made.

OOC: Interesting race these Rito, though for some reason I thought we would have found them on an island in a great sea.

[Xarrzan]

Sarick listened to the man's translation and his cold blood boiled. He was furious that the cult was not only kidnapping and sacrificing innocent people, but they were also recruiting scoundrels and scallywags! Sarick's fangs began to show but he quickly retracted them. There was no one here to release his anger upon. He would have to wait...patiently...and then he would strike as quickly as the viper...

[JimBee]

IC: De'kra turned to the human in purple and asked, "Strangers like this team? Was one mage cloak in blue and white and them? Also, I know Rito not often seen by outside world, but are there common themes in stories and descriptions about them?"

"Yes, very much like yourselves. No, I do not recall anyone of the description, though there was a lot of confusion in the attack yesterday."

"I've said all I know about the Rito."

OOC: Interesting race these Rito, though for some reason I thought we would have found them on an island in a great sea.

QM Note: Just wait and see.

[Tanma]

"Yes, very much like yourselves. No, I do not recall anyone of the description, though there was a lot of confusion in the attack yesterday."

"I've said all I know about the Rito."

QM Note: Just wait and see.

IC: De'kra nodded in response, though his expression was distracted. Finally he asked, "Might you know where group was go?" Turning to the other heroes he commented, "Other heroes think that was one of other teams sent to Dastan, or group of escape foes from Uland? I suspect it former, as person name Hans aid heroes in Quest 7, but it might be common name."

OOC: You tease me so. I love the Zora/Rito so much, so very much. Why are they not in Spirit Tracks?!? Why! Phantom Hourglass can be excused since it takes place in another realm, but New Hyrule is still in the Adult Timeline and universe. Zora should probably be in Skyward Sword, but I suspect the Parella might be a pre-Zora evolution. And we don't even hear if the Rito decided to stay in the Great Sea or not. The whole situation is making me obsessively write fan fictions with again, and nobody wants that.

[CorneliusMurdock]

Cronk strongly suspects that other group is heroes from Heroica. Hmm. If Hans from Arena with heroes, might mean horrible Wren lady around here somewhere. Cronk would not be surprised. Whole country full of confusion and war is just thing Wren would enjoy.

Cronk turn to translator. Please continue. Lives may depend on what friends learn. Gottfried wanted Dmitri for a dastardly reason. Cronk and friends need figure out what reason is.

[Fugazi]

"Hm, whatever this is it sounds very creepy. I won't be gettin' into any trouble by tranlatin' it, will I? The rest is very hard to read anyhow, like it was rushed. Something about reviving the chimera, whatever that is, and kidnappin' people. I think you folks need to find a better crowd to hang around if this is your idea of the sort you wanna keep outta trouble with."

"Don't worry James, we're trying to stop this sort of people from interfering with peace and fair trade in this kingdom. Your help is much appreciated and you might be relieved to know that this Dmitri is no longer a threat. However as you can tell he was a member of a shady group, and any clue to their whereabouts will bring us closer to putting an end to their activities. Is there anything else you can tell us about those documents?"

[JimBee]

IC: De'kra nodded in response, though his expression was distracted. Finally he asked, "Might you know where group was go?"

"In the mountains somewhere. Where exactly I do not know."

Cronk turn to translator. Please continue. Lives may depend on what friends learn. Gottfried wanted Dmitri for a dastardly reason. Cronk and friends need figure out what reason is.

"Is there anything else you can tell us about those documents?"

"I'm sorry, there doesn't seem to be anything else. Just some scribblin's of chimeras and ceremonies, no hints about other locations. And it sounds to me like these friends a' yours just used this Dmitri fellow, for his criminal skills and ability to uh, remain undetected." James downed the rest of his ale and belched loudly.

[Xarrzan]

Sarick slithered up to the members of the his party. "It seemsss our team has gathered all the information we can. If no one wants to return to Vendor's Square then I suggest we move on to the docksss."

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra nodded, as he too was ready to go to the docks. Despite its potential irrelevant nature of the Rito to this mission, De'kra's mind still drifted to the mountain people. The echo first and foremost hoped he won't have to fight any of the bird-people, as he had a fondness for birds, perhaps more than wolves. Oh wolves were great loyal fighters, but he had a history with birds, and crabs for that matter. Even if it was a humanoid bird, it would be hard to wrap his head around fighting it.

[CorneliusMurdock]

"I'm sorry, there doesn't seem to be anything else. Just some scribblin's of chimeras and ceremonies, no hints about other locations. And it sounds to me like these friends a' yours just used this Dmitri fellow, for his criminal skills and ability to uh, remain undetected." James downed the rest of his ale and belched loudly.

Wait. Tell friends more about these "scribbles". Can scribbles give friends clue as to how Cultists planned on reviving the chimera? If friends know process, friends can use knowledge to stop it.

[JimBee]

Wait. Tell friends more about these "scribbles". Can scribbles give friends clue as to how Cultists planned on reviving the chimera? If friends know process, friends can use knowledge to stop it.

"Hmm, let's see. Here's an entry about this chimera."

This organization is larger than I once thought. Gottfried is but a servant to a higher purpose. This cult spreads all across Dastan, led by a man named Sphinx. So far Gottfried has had me kidnap villagers and bring them here. I admit I sympathize for them, but no more than anyone else did for my brother. Naturally I question the purpose of these sacrifices, but Gottfried only tells me that it is "all necessary and part of the plan". When I asked what the plan was, he told me a legend of Dastan, how it used to be inhabited by Lion Knights. There was a war, and the Lions raised some sort of mythical beast, a Chimera he called it. And now Gottfried and Sphnix planned to revive it. And the sacrifices, necessary preparations for the grand entrance. He tried to explain how, something about inner energy, but it's all hocus pocus, just like that damned dark wizard on that godforsaken spit of land. The only reason I obey is that they can keep me safe and out of the emperors' eyes for now. And they promised me my brother back. I wouldn't believe it, but after seeing it with my own two eyes, well, I am left with little choice.

"Other'an that, I don't think this man knew too much in the grand scheme a' things. *hic*"

[posades]

Xander stood motionless as the stranger translated the papers they had found. What was described in the writing was unimaginable, torturing and killing innocents for a ritual steeped in evil mysticism; that another group of heroes from the hall were involved in this also worried him. Xander was ready to head to the docks; perhaps the fresh air would clear his mind.

[Chromeknight]

Nerwen's sharp elven hearing had also caught what the man had said. At the suggestion to move on to the docks she nodded her assent, and moved toward the door.

[CorneliusMurdock]

Then there may be other pockets of the Cult scattered throughout the country. Maybe time has come to move on and hope to combat this raging evil. Cronk hopes Cronk and Cronk's friends are up to the challenge. For all being's sake.

[Fugazi]

"Thank you James, you have been of great help. Thanks to you we have a better chance to put a stop to the activities of those sick people. If we survive our mission I´ll come back and buy you another ale!"

Galen is ready to move on.

[Fugazi]

OOC: As I will have poor Internet access during the next 2 days or so, feel free to decide actions for my character if I lag behind.

[JimBee]

QM Note: No problem Fugazi, have fun at the event.

Russel leads the party to the docks, where he locates the area where the medical supplies were supposed to be. The party is greeted by the glimmering waters of Lake Glaz, and two men "working".

What will the party do?

[Chromeknight]

Nerwen steps forward and speaks in a commanding tone.

Right lads! Step to. We're here for the medical supplies. This soldier here has the seal and signature. Let's see the goods.

[Tanma]

IC: De'kra took a step back at Nerwen's demanding tone. It was a bit more...active...than De'kra would have liked, although the workers should have been awake. In truth it was kind of sick to see them laying around like that, and neglecting their duty. Especially if that worker was having some crazy-juice, like some of the heroes at the hall. But the tone was still a surprise to him.

[Xarrzan]

Sarick surveyed the scene and then turned to Russel, "Are these the guardsss that are protecting the medical supplies? Do you recognize them or at least their uniform? I'd rather not hand over the envelope if you are not sure of their identity." Sarick slithered forward and added to Nerwen's words. "Which one of you is in charge here?"