Heroica RPG - Quest #40: The Strivvian Job

[Pandora]

"Oh, hello Purple, nice to meet you. I knew a Purple once, a looong time a go (remember, Rufie?), but she was a girl. Not that I'm saying it's a girl's name, nope, a fine name - good and strong. Very manly... "

Nyx coughs, smiles sweetly and carries on.

"So what are your companions' names? And do you have any special skills? I assume you must be handy with your weapons, given the state of those orcs there. "

[CMP]

Atramor is barely able to suppress a snicker at Nyx's comment.

"No, not really. I'm sure ya'll come in handy in Strivvi. And who're the rest of ya'?" he adds, looking between the other two guardsmassassins.

[Scubacarrot]

"Roman and Zoe. Special skills? We are the best. Of the best. Of the best. these orcs were nothing, Roman shot them down before they got to us. With one bolt. And yes, we are "handy" with weapons, we are trained in every common weapon from the Northern lands to the southern badlands. You look surprised, don't know who we are, and that's exactly right, because we don't exist, we are a force within the Town Guard specifically for doing what must be done without people knowing that something is being done. The criminals that hide behind money or laws, WE take them down. We don't have a name, but Captain Patricia calls us Mercutio's Muscle."

[Zepher]

Boomingham yawns impressively.

"Hopefully you'll be as good as you say you are. You'll be taking orders from me. Name's Boomingham." He gives a quick salute. "Now, as your commander, I've got to ask you about this Black Powder. What's it for?"

Boomingham leans in and whispers to Atramor. "You know Patricia better than me. What are the chances that she's got these fellows here for some alternative mission. I don't like having men under my command who I may be unable to trust. That's one thing I gotta give the lot at Heroica, when push comes to shove I know I can count on you all."

[CMP]

Atramor stepped back, allowing Boomingham to do the talking. Knights were supposed to be diplomatic...or something to that effect, so surely he'd have a better chance of getting information. He muttered to the paladin from nearby anyway.

"Likelier than you'd imagine. She don't trust anyone with the 'hero' label...but since this quest is all about savin' guards, I doubt they'd try to undermine us."

McCafferey seemed thoroughly bored at this point, gazing lazily at the group with half-lidded eyes.

Edited September 30, 2012 by CallMePie

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall taps his foot as he waits above deck, they had been down their for quite a bit and he still hadn't heard any sounds of a scuffle.

"All clear down there?"

Edited September 30, 2012 by Waterbrick Down

[CMP]

Atramor looked up at the ceiling, where the gruff voice of Skrall echoed.

"Aye, there's no trouble, we've just run into the guards that'll be assistin' us."

[Waterbrick Down]

Atramor looked up at the ceiling, where the gruff voice of Skrall echoed.

"Aye, there's no trouble, we've just run into the guards that'll be assistin' us."

"Hmfff... figures, probably were sleepin' on the job while we were up here workin' our behinds off." Skrall mutters to himself as he sheathes Leojagd.

"Captain, mind tellin' me why we're carryin' black powder?"

[Scubacarrot]

"That's the Captain's business, we are just passengers, same as you. Go up top, we will go there in a while."

"We carry black powder and lumber as our hold, in order to trade in Strivvi, I hope to return with a shipment of Strivvi's famous Darksteel weapons and hopefully some contracts with blacksmiths and the like. While getting you to Strivvi is our primary goal, that does not mean we can't be efficient doing it. Now, I said I would tell you what I know. Not everything I say, the watchmen need to know, so warn me if they come up. I was in prison when you, Atramor, Miss Nyx and Rufindel came there. I was there because of the gambling debts of one of my crewmembers, I was on my way to meet with the debt collectors, when I was knocked on the head, and awakened in prison. I was sure I would die, the Town Watch is not exactly known for their fair trials, when you came in, spoke with the Wolfgang fella, left, and not much later, all hell broke lose and we were freed. It was by a bunch of criminals, and we were blindfolded as soon as we left the prison, but still. We were put on a cart and then later dropped off again. When I removed my blindfoldings, I saw that the two Paladins, Jacob and Christian, and the Orc were there with me as well. The Orc ran off on his own, and Jacob and Christian went to their temple, only to search me out a while later. I don't know what you did and I don't want you to tell me, but I owe my life to you, Heroes, and that's why I volunteered to bring you Heroes to Strivvi. Let me tell you something, whatever those fancy guardsman say, I will take you back to Eubric, no matter what Patricia might think."

Edited September 30, 2012 by Scubacarrot

[Zepher]

"Not much more to say, then. Come aboard deck some time if you feel like it. Fresh air could do you good."

Boomingham marches back to the latch, turning to Nyx and Atramor as he goes and hissing to them in his lowest voice, which, again for Boomingham is still far from a normal whisper. "I'm not gonna ask them anything now. I doubt they'd give anything up if they've got motives beyond what we know, but I'm asking you two in particular to keep an eye on them. I've got to keep my eye on the objective, but I trust you two to make sure they don't get out of line."

Boomingham hollers up the hatch. "We're coming up, Ogre. Stow that blade of yours!"

Edited September 30, 2012 by Zepher

[Waterbrick Down]

"Already done yer Majesty."

Skrall stands aside as the group makes their way up, he quietly relays the captain's message to them.

"Fer the moment, I've got no reason to doubt him, but we should still keep our eye on him."

[Pandora]

Nyx follows Boomingham up the stairs back onto deck, wondering how she's going to keep an eye on people she can't see. On hearing Skrall's repeat of the Captains words, she can't help but comment.

"I knew it, he was the guy in the ridiculous hat! Although I didn't think it was ridiculous, more dashing, but it was described as ridiculous by somebody. Anyway, Ru, Atters, remember when we fought that skelly guy whose name nobody could pronounce or remember? Well Captain Lorenzo was there too, it's true! And we did have some strong words with Patsy about letting people go, so his story is quite believable. And he is very dashing. Do you think we could have a bit of a rest now? I could do with recharging some Ether, and I think others might need to, too."

[Zepher]

"Sounds good to me. Let's retire. Ogre, I'm putting you on crew watch duty. You keep an eye on them, got it? Just in case, as you said." Boomingham leads the others to their quarters so as to rest up.

[CMP]

"That's what I've been suspectin'. But he did just help us fight off a bunch of orcs, and I suppose if he's entirely honest about his background...I think he's fine. By the sounds of it, we already have more people to keep an eye on..." Atramor casts a glance back down below the cargo hold as they bulk of the part emerges back onto the deck, wincing a bit as the sudden rush of sunlight.

"Well, neither Skrall, Rufindel or I have bedrolls. But it'd be a waste to sleep when we're on the seas, in my mind, anyway. Ya'll can rest if ya' want."

[Zepher]

"I realize that I've got our eyes on more than enough people, but better safe than sorry. Unexpected insubordination has cost me more than I'd like to say in the past."

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall sits on the deck nodding to Boomingham as he rests his back to the main mast. Removing his ram horn pipe, Skrall lights the sour smelling contents surveying the activity of the crew. The ogre's mind wanders. Slavery, it can take many forms, not all imprisonments require bars or chains, sometimes even the embrace of a loved one could stifle.

[Rufus]

Rufindel searches hopelessly through his meagre belongings. 'What? No bedroll? I knew I'd forgotten something.'

Instead he pulls out a tonic. 'Down the hatch! Oh wait, we just did that.' He listlessly beats a soft pattern on his new drum with his thumbs, then continues looking slightly seasick.

[CMP]

Atramor spent the better part of the party's rest time halfway up the Armory's ratlines, silently observing the sea rock back and forth beneath him. On occasion he looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of Strivvi, but was otherwise indifferent to their quest. It was difficult to care about even important business, so enthralled in his element. Rufindel's quiet drumming and the sour scent of Skrall's pipe brought back vague memories of Dreida. Despite the crudeness of the port, he couldn't help but miss the place and its atmosphere - not even Eubric could match it. His gaze drifted west, towards the bay.

"Home. So close, yet so far," he chuckled, shaking the nostalgia out of his head.

McCafferey's beady eyes snapped the opposite direction, eastward.

"Indeed."

Edited October 1, 2012 by CallMePie

[Scubacarrot]

Last time, on the Strivvian Job:

The heroes decided to catch some Z's...

When they woke up, they saw their destination before them...

After choosing a fake name for themselves, and a cover to hide behind, the Heroes were ready to leave the boat and enter the city

Now, back to: The Strivvian Job.

When the Armory got closer to the city, a small sailing boat, manned by men in blue uniforms, came next to the trading vessel, and directed her to a dock at one of the two small islands in front of the city. After docking there, the Heroes, 'Purple' and his colleagues got into a rowboat, and rowed themselves to the shore (Skrall took one oar, Atramor with the other, you can imagine it did not go all that smoothly).

After they all got on shore, 'Purple' started talking:

"Right, before I forget, I have the Keystone. Do you want me to give it to one of you, or do you want me to hang on to it. Whatever happens, we can NOT lose it..."

'Purple' then got interrupted, it seemed like there was some sort of argument going on just ahead.

"Just what do you think you are doing here, armed and all!"

"This is as much my place to walk as yours, brother. You notice this side of the street is addorned in blue, as soon the whole city will be. No assassination attempt can scare me. Send everyone, they will all fail. "

"You think I send someone to kill you?! Don't be ridiculous, I will win this by diplomatic means, just wait. It is you who is armed!"

"Before you stopped me I was on my way to the blacksmiths, that's why, and don't pretend you need that stick for walking, both of you."

"Hah, and here it was me thinking you hated them with a passion and wanted them in chains, I haven't forgotten, brother."

"Please, just calm down everyone, we can't afford a fight in the street in broad daylight!"

"Stay out of this, this is not your place to talk."

"I won't be cleaning up this mess."

"Keep your lackeys in check, brother."

"Hmpf, talking about lackeys, what's he doing in the city."

"I am right here and can hear you, I go where I please to do trade."

"He has as much right to conduct his business in the city as everyone else, just because he lives out there, he should stay there? Remember we get a large portion of Strivvi's food from just outside these walls, we would starve without them, remember that."

"This squabbling is beneath you both, in three weeks is the next vote, let us pray a decision will be made then, finally."

The last speaker then turns to the heroes, he says:

"You, red or blue?"

What will the party say?

Updated Party: Putting here for frame of reference because the last one kinda got removed.

Lord Lawrence Boomingham

(Zepher)

-Party Leader-

Level 19.5 Paladin

*Counterstriking*

Power:

32

Defense:

7

Health:

41/41

Ether:

13/13

Gold:

160 (Owes 100 to Gurnam)

Equipment:

King of the Desert (Longsword)

(WP: 9,

Fire,

Darkness

,

Earth

)

Round Metal Shield

(SP: 7),

Hood of Belthazar Bluehood

(+4 to Power, -6 to Ether),

Counterstrike Gloves

(On Free Hits, Deals damage to enemy equal to Boomingham's level)

Inventory:

, Frozen Saber (WP: 9, stunned effect,

Light

), Scupperer (WP: 10, Causes

Bleeding

Effect for 5 Damage until remedied or healed to full health), Shiver (WP: 11,

Ice

), Shadeux Shield (SP: 5), Marksman's Monocle (Misses are rerolled), Dress Uniform (User is encouraged for the 1st round of battle), Bedroll, 5 Bones, 4 Meads, 1 Potion, 1 Phoenix essence, Pick-axe, 1 Grand Tonic, Emerald Lamp of Summoning

Skrall (Waterbrick Down)

*Favors

Humanoid

Enemies*

*Immunity to

Slowed

and

Bound

*

Level 21.66 Hunter

Power:

41

Health:

35/35

Gold:

199 (Owes 125 to Gurnam)

Equipment:

Leojagd

(Greatsword, WP:20, User is

Slowed

),

Hunter's Quiver

(Bows and Crossbows +2WP, allows Hunters to favor two types of enemies),

Winged Sandles

(Immunity to

Slowed

and

Bound

effects),

Lucky Doubloon

(Accessory, Grants "Special Guard"

Inventory:

Hunter's Crossbow (WP:11, +4 vs. Beasts), Heavy Crossbow (WP:8, Knockback), ), Smoke Bomb x1, Grand Potion, Zoot's Plaything, Mead

Nyx (Pandora)

Level 22.66 Battle Mage

*Immune to

Asleep

and

Sealed

effects*

Defense:

3

Health:

31/31

Ether:

32/32

Gold:

180 (Owes 125 to Gurnam)

Equipment:

Book of a Thousand Creatures

(WP: 13; each hit has a 1/3 chance to summon a creature Edgar to aid the hero),

Sandman's Parasol

(immune to

Asleep

)

Robe of the Archmagi

(SP:3, Max. Ether +5, protects from

Sealed

-effect)

Inventory:

Dawnstar II (WP: 9), The Fishstick (WP:7 Double damage while on ships), Shiny Helmet (+1 Max Health), Monkey Bar (all minions, pets, summons etc are Hastened), Healing Staff (WP: 5; healing effect), Wooden Shield (SP:2), Ruby (

Fire

), Amethyst (

Darkness

), Topaz (

Lightning

), Sapphire (

Wind

), Emerald (

Wood

), Aquamarine (

Water

), Garnet (

Earth

), Scroll of Weakening, Mead, Potion, Tonics (2), Grand Tonics (2), Holy Bomb, Bones (5), Ether Core, Bedroll, Explosive Staff – WP: 12 (Does 1/2 damage to all enemies on a successful hit (normal damage to targeted enemy) and 1/2 WP damage to self on a roll of 4 (disregarding SP/row)), Bomb XX

Atramor Gibbin (CallMePie)

Level 22.33 Witch

*Deals Badly Poisoned*

*Counterstriking*

Health:

39/39

Ether:

11/20

Gold:

205 (Owes 187 to Gurnam)

Equipment:

Ratsbane

(WP: 10, absorbs 2 health on successful strike,

Fire,

Ice,

Earth

,

Wind

elemental),

Witch's Talisman

(

Poisoned Hits

becomes

Badly Poisoned Hits

),

Counterstrike Gloves

(When hit by a Free Hit, immediately deals damage equal to level),

Ratmancer's Cowl

(Deals double damage against Vermin)

Inventory:

Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 6, gains 1 WP every kill made with it), Heavy Flail (WP: 5 Fragile Effect), Staff of the Elven Warlock (WP: 5,

wood

elemental), Topaz(

Lightning

), Fire Bomb, Bomb XX (Deals 30 damage to all enemies and 10 damage to all heroes, all damage ignoring SP/row), Dragon Scale (Gives Lucky and Blessed effects on consumption)

Ellaria Arbour (Sandy)

Level 17 Druid

*Immune to

Sealed

effect*

Power:

30 (26)

Health:

32/32

Ether:

22/22

Gold:

96

Equipment:

Ignis Fatuus

(WP:10,

fire

-elemental staff),

Mage's Muffler

(protects from

Sealed

effect)

Black Bandana

(+3 Power),

Inventory:

Sylvania's Crossbow (WP:6,

wood

-elemental crossbow), (Potion, 2 Grand Potions, Tonic, 2 Elixirs, Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Venom, 2 Smoke Bombs, Flash Bomb, 2 Fire Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bombs, Bedroll, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass , Scroll of Recklessness (Encouraged and Fragile for rest of battle, 5 ether, 50/50 chance)

Rufindel Galadhras (Rufus)

Level 14.5 Cleric

Power

:

24

Defense:

2

Health:

24/24

Ether:

20/20

Gold:

265 (Owes 125 to Gurnam)

Equipment:

Fauxthril Staff

(WP:10) ,

Warlord's Helmet

(SP:2 Grants 'Natural Respite')

,

Cloak of Chimera

(+2 Health, +2 Ether)

Inventory:

Malfunctioning Staff (WP:12, on succesful attack, has a 50% chance to do half of WP damage to self instead(Ignoring SP and Row))

,

Potion x2, Remedy x2, Bone x2, Pickaxe, Tonic, Bedroll, Venom, Deadly Venom, Grand Potion, Wooden Shield(SP:2), Orcish Drum (WP: 8)

[Pandora]

Nyx Lyssa turns to her friends and starts whispering so that no-one else can hear.

"What do you all think? My first instinct is always to say Red, as it matches my eyes, but the rest of you may feel differently. I wonder if this might be a quite important decision and will shape the continuance of our business here. Should we all agree on one colour, or would it be prudent to have half the party choose one and half the party choose another? Perhaps we would have access to more contacts that way? Plus we could go all political and show how Red and Blue types can walk the streets in harmony together, and maybe set some sort of example that changes Strivvi and then the world, or is that perhaps aiming a bit too high?"

[CMP]

Atramor glances between the red and blue brothers, then turns to his party as well, voice lowering to a mumble.

"I think these two are Marco and Maxis, the sons of the ruler or somethin' or other, fightin' for power. I like - er, Lyssa's - idea. If we split up it'll be a lot easier to access the entire city, and we could probably cover a lot more ground faster. On another note, I'd like to carry the Keystone. If thinks go badly in battle I can always run for it."

[Zepher]

Boomingham grunts.

"Might be best for us to all restate our code names. I can hardly remember them. Call me Blackhood the Slayer, if you please."

Boomingham rubs his eyes as the two men fight. He listens with interest as they squabble over trading rights and other things.

"Don't suppose there's any harm in splitting our numbers politically. Nyx, if you're looking to declare Red, I'll declare Blue. If someone's going to be in charge of the group, in case we get split up, I'd like it to be you. Atramor, Ellaria, I'd like the two of you to declare with me. If they won't hear of it, then I say we declare Blue. He seems a more reasonable fellow. He's got friends outside the city. Can't hurt to side with him."

Boomingham turns to Atramor.

"Listen, boy-o, I agree you're a smart choice to hold onto the Keystone, but if you do so, you must stick by my side at all times. No wandering off. I mean it. That's the job we were tasked with, and I was hired to make sure we all completed it."

[CMP]

"Again, call me Ratabor. I only hope sidin' with Blue won't affect our access to the blacksmith, I'd like to see what they've got over there. And if I might ask, what the hell do ya' mean 'wanderin' off'?" questioned Atramor, raising an eyebrow at Boomingham. Despite his roguishness, surely the paladin didn't believe he'd betray the party...?

Edited October 13, 2012 by CallMePie

[Zepher]

"I mean nothing by it except that we're hired as teams for a reason. Sometimes something shiny can catch a hero's eye, and they forget that. Just last quest a strong fighter and loyal party member got separated from the party while he chased down a member of the Wolfgang. He almost had the tar beat out of him by a ambush of Metasimians. Even I myself got defeated by a lowly pirate because my party was unable to assist me... though I was fairly... dull minded at the time. Point is, if you fall and lose the keystone, it will be on my head. I don't want that happening."

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall looks between the two before mentioning to his companions quietly "Now now, let's not get to feudin' amongst ourselves as well. I'm all for Atramor's suggestion, plus if there's to be any assassination, it's best some of us be around to keep things from becoming hectic. I'm fine with accompanyin' both Rufindel and Ms. Nyx, the two of us are of hardier stock so we won't be needin' as much healin' attention."