Heroica RPG - Quest #38: The Lost Party

[CorneliusMurdock]

OOC: Don't worry about the ether. I don't recall either or I wouldn't have asked.

Hooray for bashing evil!

Cronk will heal Haldor, Alexis, and Tesni.

Um, cave not look empty. Friends should proceed cautiously.

[Flipz]

Arthur picks up the Zoot's Plaything, and takes it over to the fallen Haldor. As the Nord regains consciousness, Arthur reaches out a hand to help the man up. "Try to understand," he says, "If I didn't care, I wouldn't bother to fight with you. Friends don't let friends destroy themselves, or walk blindly to their ruin. I don't exactly consider you a friend, and I doubt you think the same of me, but we're both Heroes. It's our duty to protect each other...even from ourselves. Do you understand?" Arthur proffers the Plaything to the Shaman. "The spoils, Party Leader." After relinquishing the dark orb to Haldor, Arthur digs near where the beast fell, to let off some stress, and then uses his telescope to try and take a closer look within the cave. "If I am not mistaken, that will be the Acerpusculum that was part of your party, Sasha, Gray Wizard. What was their name? And while we're on the subject, what is your name, Gray Wizard?"

Suddenly remembering something else, Arthur offers the Gray Wizard his Healing Staff. "Here, conserve your Ether for truly important healing, this staff should still heal plenty of damage."

Edited September 4, 2012 by Flipz

[Peppermint_M]

Tesni nodded at Cronk's warning. "Aye, I shall pick the flower, I can take a solid hit." Tesni keeps her blade drawn and gingerly plucks the flower from the earth.

[Scorpiox]

Haldor stood on his feet, resting awhile against the hewn cliff. Arthur approached him, and to his surprise, handed him the orb of Zoot. As the others looked around the scene, the Nord steadied himself to move forward. As he moved, the Shaman instinctively began to place Zoot's Plaything into the darker reaches of his bag, but he was rocked by an unmistakeable jolt of pain through his arm as he did so. The dark God still didn't agree with him. "Good work there, you lot, made short work of that thing. Thanks for having my back out, couldn't ask for better comrades." Haldor felt another jolt, and he nearly stumbled, this time from his side, where his satchel hung. "Now are we ready to move out? Good. Tesni, you take point, Cronk, you have the rear. Everybody keep an eye out, who knows what built, and now probably lives in, this little cave." The Nord walk ahead of Alexis and Cronk, he needed to catch up with Arthur, and when he was close enough, he spoke. "You know, I just don't get you, Arthur Justus Regulus VII. Not ten minutes ago, when we were locked in a dangerous fight, you felt compelled to pick apart my entire life, all of which you have only ever read about in books, and tell me how I am incapable of leading this band? Unprovoked, I'll add. And now, you want to mosey on down the road, as if it never happened, and you expect me to treat you like an ally? That would be all well and lovely, if it were just us two here, and we were just on a jolly stroll in the woods, but unfortunately, we're not. There are more important things going on here than you or me, so I don't want to hear any more of it, you understand? If you have a problem with me, you come over here and speak your mind. What you don't do, is raise a holler and shout all your bloody lungs out over the place, it doesn't help anyone, certainly not you. The last thing we need is the whole lot of us on-edge because you've singularly showed that we shoulda' never left the hall. Are we clear on this? No funny buisness, no pointless ranting, and no bringing up my whole damn past to prove a point, alright?

Edited September 4, 2012 by Scorpiox

[Flipz]

Arthur nods somewhat hesitantly, then lowers his voice to speak with Haldor. "I think I can agree to that if you can agree to stop calling people smartarses when they're only trying to share their expertise. This whole time it's seemed like the rest of us heroes are mere tools at your disposal; I'd like it if we were a little more important than that to you. Deal?"

[Scorpiox]

Haldor sighed, this quest wasn't turning out how well he had hoped."I called you a smartarse because that's what you were being at the time. I made a short comment, not directed at you, mind, that I thought that Wren musta' been here in the valley. While chargin' in for combat, as you well knew. I was locked in the middle of a fight, and you thought it would be a good time to correct me on what I had flippantly said beforehand. I'm happy to accept that I was wrong and that that thing..." He said, gesturing at the pulsating corpse off to the side."...being here is a comepletely unrelated coincidence, but not while I'm wrestling with big monsters with axes, if you please. How would you like it, boy? I were to preach to you about a tiny detail you wrongly uttered before your war cry, while a hulking great troll was about to sit on your sorry behind? Sound like a smartarse to you? Fine, I won't call you such things again, if it cuts you that badly." The Nord held up his hands. "But maybe you could heed your own advice, I can't address everyone if you're up in my face, and hey, we've hardly started yet."

[Zepher]

"I've already told you, Arthur, that I am known now as the Gray Wizard. My name before that is not important. We all come to Heroica for our own purposes, but once we join Heroica, we join to serve, and we must leave our reasons behind. We may not be able to right our own wrongs, but we get to right the wrongs of others."

"The Acerpusculum was named Triad. After the park in Eubric, I believe. That was where she was found, and she was brought to an orphanage and raised there before joining Heroica. She was one of the bravest and most honorable people I knew. She saved my life a total of three times. This quest here was the fourth quest I had gone on with her. She once killed another hero who let a known murderer escape because he offered them enough money."

Arthur quibbles and digs, finding a intriguing Curved Blade with three gouges in it, which divides the blade itself into four razor thin blades, all parallel. Alongside it he finds 40 gold and 2 potions. Before he can spy into the cave, however, Tesni gets in the way and picks the flower. A familiar feeling rushes over the heroes.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Roderick and Wren speak in whispers.

"I don't want to."

"It's time, Wren."

"But she doesn't deserve it. People should deserve their fate. They should earn it. She's earned something... better than this."

"It's the only way, Wren. She'll stand in the way. She won't understand. She won't help us slay Zoot. Sacrifices must be made for Order to prevail."

"But..."

"Do not fear now Wren. Now is the time. Now is our time. Go, summon your Beast. Use Zoot to slay Zoot."

Wren stares at the Ranger with teary eyes before mumbling a few ancient words. A Chaos Beast, the one that the heroes just fought, emerges into the world silently, without a sound. The Ranger turns slowly and does not raise a hand.

"We knew this was to come. We accept what may be. We hope that you perish in your foolishness. May mercy come to all."

The Chaos Beast raises its ax over Triad's head before the vision cuts out.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The heroes stand, panting, in the clearing. They can now see into the cave. Inside is the bloodied and beaten body of Triad.

Edited September 4, 2012 by Zepher

[Scorpiox]

"Damn, we were too late, seven years too late." Haldor's face turned gloomy, he was clearly angered of what had happened here, so long ago. He composed himself and managed to form some words. "Roderick, he did this, he was ordering Wren to do it. It seems...odd, that Wren accepted the will of another. How did Wren summon this creature, I wonder; I have never seen such a magic that could create a beast of chaos like this one. She must had some connection, even then. One thing that is true, is that this lady Triad did not deserve what she got, pure betrayal, that is." The Nord clenched his fist. "We should get moving, but I want to give her a proper burial. Not the Nord way, I don't think a pyre would be too safe here, she can be put in the ground, like you southern folks favour." Haldor unhitched his shovel and walked out, and started scooping earth out of the ground at a rapid pace. "Anyone who wishes to help, can."

The Shaman continues digging fervently until the hole is roughly six feet deep and wide enough to hold Triad. He then stands in the grave and waits to see if the others will help him bury the body.

Edited September 4, 2012 by Scorpiox

[Flipz]

The Shaman continues digging fervently until the hole is roughly six feet deep and wide enough to hold Triad. He then waits to see if the others will help him bury the body.

Arthur, too, joins in the digging, a grave silence befalling him. He had been wrong; the beast WAS Wren's. But hers from long ago, not from the present. Arthur turns to Haldor, apology in his eyes. "It appears that I, too, lost persective. I do not know if a Phoenix Essence would offer Triad hope at this point, I will trust to your judgement." With that, Arthur spoke no more, his mind clouded with the ghosts of the past...

A pink petal floated on the breeze. Impulsively, Arthur reached for it, and suddenly a second vision blossomed within the party members's minds...

---

"♪ I'm sayin' all the things that I know you'll like, makin' good conversation...♫"

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* There is a sound of keys jangling in the door.

"Hmm?"

"Artie! You're home!"

"Hi, Caroline."

"So how was work?"

"It was...hard..."

"Is Uncle Coe working you too hard again? Because I swear, if he tries to interfere in my personal business one more time--"

"Caroline..."

"Hmm?"

"It wasn't Coe."

"...oh."

"It's been seven years."

"Seven years since...?"

"Seen years ago today, my father walked into my room, gave me a hug goodbye, and hasn't been seen since."

"Oh, my Z--oh my gods. Oh, Arthur, I'm so sorry--"

*waves it off* "It's all right. My father's reputation hasn't exactly been celebrated since his disappearance...especially by your folks. I wouldn't expect you to--"

"Your father was good to me, back when we were all little. He and my parents might have had their fights, but remembering the day he left is the least I can do. We'll stop by the Gate tonight with a fresh boquet of nightlillies, he liked those, didn't he?"

"...thanks, Caroline. You're right, he always kept some in his garden. We should visit Mom, too, I'm sure she'll let us pick a few then. I worry about her, you know. It was bad enough when that witch...you know. Ever since Dad left, she's seemed so...sad. Not even her work with the Guard seems to cheer her up. And just the other day the girls said--"

"That sounds great. But Arthur, I want you to think about you. You spend so much time working for others...worrying about others...taking care of others. You waste all your energy. It'd be SO much better for you if you just worried about you."

Arthur shakes his head amusedly. "Caroline." The past Arthur gazes into Caroline's eyes, his voice full of emotion. "I love you, Caroline."

"I love you too, Arthur." The pair hold hands for several seconds, content merely to stare into each others' eyes. Caroline breaks the silence. "Artie...we have a couple of hours...maybe we could--"

The sound of the door opening repeats itself, and Caroline jumps back suddenly.

"Arthur? Caroline? Hey, where are you two?"

"Oh, there you are! Hey Arthur, long time since we've both been in the apartment at the same time, eh?"

"Indeed." Caroline's tone is one of uncharacteristic annoyance.

"Mind if I just drop my stuff in here? It's been a long day."

"Actually--"

"It's fine, I can take it to your room later."

"Thanks, Arthur, I'm bushed. Twenty hours on-shift will do that to you."

"Twenty hours??? Boy, your dad sure is harsh."

"You've got to be, when you're Captain of the Guard. How's life in the mines?"

"Same old same old. Someone found a Diamond, but it wasn't even in my division."

"I'll be right back."

"Man, my watch was boring, too."

"Well, I did have plenty to think about..."

"Wanna go hunt some direwolves?"

"...seriously? You're bringing up...?"

"Why would you...?"

The back door bursts open, and a woman races in.

"Mom???"

"Hi, Arthur. Vaygas, I'm glad I caught you. I'm...I'm so sorry..."

"...Mrs. Regulus?"

"Your father...there was...a Bio Beast..."

"What?!?"

"NO!"

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, Vaygas..." Arthur's mother hands Vaygas a Guardsman's hat. "Your father...before he...he said he wanted you to have this. You're captain now. I'm so, so sorry...Captain."

Arthur's mother leaves. Arthur and Caroline stand up as well.

"Take all the time you need, Vaygas. Caroline and I need to have a talk."

"..."

---

The image dissolves, but the memory continues, the voices carrying through a murky fog...

"Why, Caroline? Why did you go back?"

"For the same reason you want to, only you won't let yourself!"

"Zut'tau'ri sore Tok'zu, Zuk'kara Navahiin. It is our most basic oath. And you have betrayed it!"

"And you are a traitor to the world's natural order, yet how long have I kept that secret for you?"

"That...it isn't my fault. It's not a choice, Car. Not like..."

"This?" Caroline laughed. "Don't you see? We all do it. One way or another. We were birthed to Chaos, and raised in Chaos, and it permeates every step we take. All I chose to do was to acknowledge who I truly am--who we truly are."

"But this...Car bear, the Zut'tau'ri shun such things. We may not always succeed in our efforts, but the important thing is that we fight--"

"HA! Are you really going to deny to me the truth? I know you. Your curiosity, your thirst for knowledge. And I can see your innermost desires, your secret longing. You don't fear what I've become. You want it."

Arthur couldn't respond. While the mage struggled with his thoughts, Caroline slides behind him, taking him into her embrace, as she had many times before. But this time, something was different. The caring, comforting touch gone, replaced by desire, maniplulation...yet something of the old was there, a strange connection and certainty, one that had always been there. One that had been magnified with her change...

Arthur pushed his way out of the embrace. The feelings were too confusing, exascerbating his own conflicted state. He turned to face her. "Car...don't do this. We can get help." Both of us. "I'm sure when he gets back, my father can--" The woman snorts derisively. That response, at least, had not changed. "Car, I...please don't make me go to the Elders. I...I love you." Tears streamed down his face as he realized the futility of his plea.

The woman turned her back to Arthur. A single tear dropped down her face, though she managed to keep it otherwise blank. "I don't need help. Not yours, not anyone else's. If anything, it's you who needs mine." She looks over her shoulder, the tear-stained half of her face still hidden. "I just want you. Join me."

"You won't give it up?"

"No."

"Even for me?"

The hesitation was palpable. "...No."

Arthur buried his face in his hands for a moment, then steeled himself. "Then you know what has to happen." He opens the door and, with one last look of regret at the woman he had once loved, he disappears into the night.

The woman's sorrowful gaze follows him. "Yes...I do." Gathering a few of Arthur's belongings, she reads from a scroll, and vanishes in a wisp of black smoke.

---

The smoke clears, and the party finds themselves back in the present...along with a very, very silent Arthur.

[Zepher]

"It seems our past is not the only past we're diving into. You have much darkness inside you, young Arthur."

"It is much like the Gods of the North. My gods. They force growth through conflict. Do you know why my blade is a weapon of fire and ice? They are both forces of nature, and they are both harsh and destructive alone, but together, they temper one to be strong. That is what my people believe."

"You asked for my past. I will not share that with you now. We have enough distractions. But I will share with you why I chose my name. The Gray Wizard. It is the great truth that all green heroes fail to see. Young heroes with valiant hearts fail time and time again because they choose to see the world as good and bad, black and white. Each action is either peaceful, or harmful. I have aged out of that lie. I see the world as it is, Gray."

"It's something I've still got to learn, apparently. I fail to see how some of the actions we've seen today can be gray. A whole lot of them look black to me, but then again, what do I know? Just a small guard from a small town. I know, I know, much to learn. I can lead troops just fine, it's leading men I have trouble with sometimes. Regardless... will someone help me move the body? She deserves a soldier's funeral. That much I know."

McColt walks forward to lift the body. As he lays a hand on it, it shudders.

"We.... are..... not..... dead......... we...... are...... an Acerpusculum.... we do not..... die.... so........ easily......"

The heroes crowd forward.

"My lord... Triad?"

[CorneliusMurdock]

Hooray! Old Ranger only mostly dead! If Triad can be healed, Cronk will try do so.

"You asked for my past. I will not share that with you now. We have enough distractions. But I will share with you why I chose my name. The Gray Wizard. It is the great truth that all green heroes fail to see. Young heroes with valiant hearts fail time and time again because they choose to see the world as good and bad, black and white. Each action is either peaceful, or harmful. I have aged out of that lie. I see the world as it is, Gray."

That explain "gray" part. Cronk still little confused why cleric calls self "wizard". But now probably not good time for that either.

[Scorpiox]

Haldor tried to shake Arthur's vision out of his mind, as much as he was concerned, he knew that he shouldn't mention what had happened, out of kindness. As Triad moved a little on the graveside, and then spoke, Haldor jumped back in surprise. His face lit up at the sight of the apparently living hero, who he had considered to have been slain by those she trusted. The Nord dropped down a hand to help her up, as Cronk gave healing aid to the Acerpusculum. "Hello there...miss. It is great to see you well, we saw what happened, I was worried. Haldor, Nord, at your service, and some bugger has put me in charge here. May I call you Triad?" The Shaman enthusiastically helped her up, while keeping an eye on the surroundings. As Triad became stable, Haldor looked around toward Sasha, his arm remaining firmly on the Acerpusculum's shoulder. "Sasha, may I ask you something? You mention you follow the Northern Gods, do you perhaps mean our Gods? Do you hail from similar shores as me, Vártland maybe? I do not mean to intrude, it's just rare to find another child of Torrik around these parts."

[Peppermint_M]

Tesni snorted at the vision shared by Arthur. "I think I need a good ale to fry a few of those memories." She too was shocked by the ranger's vitality but the clerics were better served. Hearing the 'wizard' she grinned grimly.

"Aye, the shades of Grey, old one. I know of these. I could have done with your like in Haddon. There I was accused of evil for interpreting the shades instead of caroling praise to the white and good light." She sheathed her blade but not to the hilt, ready to draw at a moments notice. "Also, I do not wish to trumpet my own horn, nor to cause ill will between us, but I am no green hereo. I have fought many battles in many circumstances and led quests three times." She shifted her weight. "I respect your experience, but seven years is a long time, I am now counted among some the strongest and most experienced of the current Heroica roster. I think I have at least earned higher than green."

[Flipz]

Arthur stands mutely before Triad, offering both his hand and a Potion to the unfamiliar being.

OOC: Are all Acerpusculum female, or was Triad referred to as female earlier and I just missed it?

[Zepher]

[quote name=Flipz' date='04 September 2012 - 05:47 PM' timestamp='1346795245' post='1384690'

OOC: Are all Acerpusculum female, or was Triad referred to as female earlier and I just missed it?

Both. I'll update in a bit, keep roleplaying if you like! There will be a true "camp fire" role playing session before the end of the quest too, so save some for that too!

[Flipz]

Both. I'll update in a bit, keep roleplaying if you like! There will be a true "camp fire" role playing session before the end of the quest too, so save some for that too!

OOC: I would, but I have class in ten minutes. Thus why Arthur is temporarily mute.

Also, If I don't do so before we hit the campfire scene, remind me to photograph and PM you the "end of Quest" scenes, as it's important they get intro'd BEFORE Arthur gets back to the Hall.

[Masked Builder]

Aleixs is shocked between the similarity between her break-up and Arthurs. She manages to shake it off as they get to the ranger. "Fellow ranger, hello. It's good to see you alive."

[Zepher]

That explain "gray" part. Cronk still little confused why cleric calls self "wizard". But now probably not good time for that either.

"I promise you, Cronk, you and I will trade questions and answers when the time is right."

"I respect your experience, but seven years is a long time, I am now counted among some the strongest and most experienced of the current Heroica roster. I think I have at least earned higher than green."

"I do not doubt your prowess as a warrior, Tesni. You have shown that countless times to me already, taking on a challenge my more seasoned team was unable of combatting. When I refer to the green heroes, I refer to those who have not forgotten the darkness that they left behind, and fail to strive forward to correct the wrongs before them. I talk of heroes that have yet to understand the grayness of the world, and that they must make difficult choices, and sometimes people will be hurt. You are perhaps, not green in that way either, however. You speak with wisdom."

"Fellow ranger, hello. It's good to see you alive."

"We are just.... barely..... we have little strength to talk..... who is there?"

"Hi there Triad. It's Sasha, and the Gray Wizard is with me."

Cronk heals Triad. She sits up a little stronger, but it is clear that she is still in pain.

"We are very...... pleased that you both still live...... but we have little..... time for talk............... we must travel to the west for a half of a mile..... or so..... there you will find the rogue.............. he will be hurt..........."

Sasha's face goes pale.

"I'm sorry, Triad, but he's long dead. We have been here for seven years, these brave heroes have only now saved us."

"We know how long it has been, we--"

"Look, I don't know much, I've only been out of my little town one, and I've never met an Acurrism before, but I know the way things work. How are you still alive after seven years? Not be be ungrateful, but still, how do we know you aren't some trick? You should by all rights have perished one way or another. Even if you survived your wounds, you need food and water."

"Acerpusculums are an old species. We do...... not die easily........ we have suffered great...... pain before..... when in situations of distress, we may retreat within our mind and....... hide there. Our bodies die in many ways, but live in......... the least functional way, waiting for us to return to them........ mentally we disappear into another realm........ shared by all Acerpusculums........... but e still experience bodily pain......... and may still be killed if enough damage is done........ or if we do not eat within ten years............... we were growing worried that we would run out of time before.......... anyone came to get us.......... or that the pain would overwhelm us..... and we would choose to die fighting the beast instead of enduring........ the torture....... the torture........"

"I'm so sorry, Triad. This was my party. I knew that Wren and Roderick could not be trusted."

"We do not blame you..... there is nothing that you could do for us......... everyone knew the dangers of the valley and of the duo............ they were friends and also enemies...... a dangerous combination that is even harder to combat............. you did no wrong....... but now we must go save the rogue....... he is too frozen in time, as you were......... Wren spared him, I believe.........."

"You cannot come with us."

"We wish we could, but we know you speak truly. You must stay with us and attend to our wounds........ and we will be ready to fight once more when Sasha returns......... this tunnel is the only entrance to the Eye....... which is perched on a hill above........ we will lead the way when we are ready....... finally, mage, come forth......"

Arthur steps forward.

"You hold our blade now.......... if you flick it, it will become a large shuriken..... that only the strongest may throw...... it serves us no good now........ hold it until we are well......... save the rogue....... and be careful....... of the angel......."

Acerpusculum Blade (Acerpusculum Shuriken) - A weapon gifted to young and gifted Acerpusculum warriors. (WP: 15 [21, Retrievable], suitable for rangers/rogues)

OoC: A unique weapon, yay! It functions like this. The user may either choose to use it as a blade (halved damage from back row, normal from front row) or a Shuriken (full damage from the back row, but as retreivable).

"I will remain here and assist the Gray Wizard in his healing. He is still feeble, and he may need someone to protect him. I did not bring a weapon into this valley because I am an Ennoc loving man, but I am sure if the worse comes to worse, I can use the Gray Wizard's staff to ward off attackers."

The heroes nod and Sasha leads them off.

OoC: Not the "official roleplay until you drop section, but if you want to say anything to Sasha, now would be a good time! We're actually pretty close to the end of the Quest! A little over half-way through.

The Party

Haldor Skovgaard

Level 19 Shaman

*Immune to Weakened*

Power:

33

Defense:

2

Health:

36/36

Ether:

26/27

Gold:

50

(Owed 50 from Elgar Gligin (Jedi Master Brick), (Owes 33 to Dyric Rone (The Legonater)

Equipment:

Heavy Metal Rod (WP:12,

Light

and

Water

elemental), Ethereal Cloak (SP:+2, +4 Ether), Pugilist's Gloves (+2 Power,

Weakened

Immunity).

Inventory:

Bear Claw Gloves (WP:8, SP:+2), Paper Doll (

Hexed

immunity), Scroll of Blindness (

Blinded

effect), Shovel, Pickaxe, Diamond of Thoric, Bluehood's Aquamarine, Emerald Lamp of Summoning, Health Core, Potion (x3), Remedy, Tonic, Mead

Arthur Justus Regulus VII

Level 16 1/2 Sorcerer

*Immune to Sealed*

Power:

23

Health:

26/26

Ether:

20/26

Defense:

3

Gold:

139

(Owes

4

44

124 Gold to Alf (Bricksandparts) and

50 gold to Bartholomew Docken (Brickdoctor)

debt entrusted to Boomingham)

Equipment:

Cat-o'-Nine-Tails (WP:9;

damage divided between all enemies, suitable for rogues

), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Max Ether +5, Immune to Sealed), Ancient Crown (First successful strike of battle deals

Cursed

effect, borrowed from Atramor Gibbin)

Inventory:

Acerpusculum Blade (Acerpusculum Shuriken) (WP: 15 [21, Retrievable], suitable for rangers/rouges), Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7;

50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics

), Healing Staff (WP:5;

heals instead of damaging

), Opal (

Ice

), Amethyst (

Darkness

), Topaz (

Lightning

), Bedroll, Telescope, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Shovel, Grand Tonic, 2 Potions,

Sasha

Level 17 1/2 Barbarian

Power

: 31

Health

: 24/24

Gold

: 0

Equipped

: Axe of Ilrion (WP: 14, Fire Ice Elemental)

Inventory:

Mead, Nostrum

Alexis Fenral

Level 22 1/3

*Hastened*

*Immune to Fragile*

Power:

33

Defense:

3

Health:

30/30

Ether:

13/23

Gold:

142

GP:

3

Equipment:

Mockthril Longbow (WP:11, ranged), Quickdraw Quiver (permanent hastened-effect), Lieutenant's Helmet (SP:3, protects from fragile)

Inventory:

Flute of the Magi (WP:3, asleep-effect), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a successful hit), Opal (

Ice

), Topaz (

Lightning

), Ruby (

Fire

), Aquamarine (

Water

), Amethyst (

Darkness

), Diamond (

Light

), Tonic, Grand Tonic, Milk, 2 Meads, Nostrum, Venom, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Pickaxe, Shovel, Bedroll, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Raw Meat

Spirits:

Skorpios

(Amethyst),

Ocven the Ice Dragon

(Opal),

Shalma the Thunderbird

(Topaz),

Sarp Zarra

(Aquamarine),

Mandy

(Ruby),

????

(Diamond)

Cronk

Level 23 1/3 Paladin

Power:

35

Defense:

14

Health:

43/43

Ether:

9/26

Gold:

90

Equipment:

Zoot's Bane (Suitable only for Cronk; WP: 12,

Light

) Ennoc's Blessing (Shield, SP: 8), Elaborate Helmet (SP: 2), Paladin's Armour (Suitable for Paladins, +4 SP, +2 Max Ether)

Inventory:

Beast Skewer (Lance; WP: 12, Ice), Sword of Bashing (Longsword; WP:5), Healing Staff (WP: 5; healing effect), Heavy Armor (SP:6, Power -6), Blacksmith Writ, Bedroll

Tesni Hightribe

Level 25 1/2 Berserker

Power

: 45

Defence

: 11

Health

: 45/45

Gold

: 655

Equipped

: Dryw ar Zoot, Longsword, Holy (WP:14), Bone Claws(WP:3,SP:2), Mockthril Shield (SP:5), Dragon Bone Armor (SP:4)(+2 max health)

Inventory

: Mellt (Warhammer, Lightning, Ice (WP:10), Dryw ar Zoot (WP:14, Light, longsword), Cysgodion (WP: 11, Darkness, greatsword), Spiked Club (WP:8), Cryfder (WP:6), Emerald (Wood), 2 Potions, 2 Remedies, 2 Phoenix Essences, 2 Meads, 5 Venoms, Nostrum, Smoke Bomb, Minimizing Dust,

Edited September 5, 2012 by Zepher

[CorneliusMurdock]

Can Cronk do anything else for Triad?

Hooray for finding people alive! Much better than finding corpses.

[Zepher]

OoC: Stats updated to reflect ether Cronk spent on himself, Tesni, Haldor, and Triad.

[Flipz]

Arthur speaks, shortly, almost after the manner of Triad and her kin. "Thank you. I will use it well. May your recovery be swift and complete." Arthur takes the blade and gives it an experimental flick, learning its heft and balance. At last, he feels confident and well-equipped with this new tool.

Arthur turns to Sasha and Alexis. "Here, each of you take one of these potions. If Cronk, Haldor, and I all fall, you can at least heal yourselves."

After a long while of intense silence, Arthur was compelled to speak once more. "Sasha," he began, "Just what are your people's beliefs on Chaos? And where are you from? Your people are not known to the Zut'tau'ri--unless prhaps that information was destroyed in the Purge--but what you've said so far has matched the old ways quite closely. I am...curious to learn more."

Edited September 5, 2012 by Flipz

[Peppermint_M]

Tesni bowed to the ranger, a sign of respect for survival. On hearing angel she made sure Cysgodion was slack in his straps, ready for battle if needs be. "Wastelands eh? At least we know how to get to the eye anyway." She strode on, following the others to rescue the other party members.

[Scorpiox]

Haldor walked up to Arthur, taking his blade for a moment, once he was finished examining it, the Nord handed the weapon back. "This is a good blade, I'm sure that you will use it well. Good to have you on our side, Arthur. And thank you Triad for your assistance. We will go and find the rogue soon, but first, something else." The Norseman then cleared his throat, addressing Sasha. His face was strangely joyful for someone in this predicament.

"Sasha, may I ask you something? You mention you follow the Northern Gods, do you perhaps mean our Gods? Do you hail from similar shores as me, Vártland maybe? I do not mean to intrude, it's just rare to find another child of Torrik around these parts."

[Zepher]

After a long while of intense silence, Arthur was compelled to speak once more. "Sasha," he began, "Just what are your people's beliefs on Chaos? And where are you from? Your people are not known to the Zut'tau'ri--unless prhaps that information was destroyed in the Purge--but what you've said so far has matched the old ways quite closely. I am...curious to learn more."

"I'm sorry to say that I do not recognize that name. My people simply believe in the Gods of the North, who are Chaotic Gods, but not Gods of Chaos. We believe that Chaos is everywhere, but it is an agent of change and growth, not destruction."

"My Gods have no names, my fellow Nord. I come from the far north, where a night without a fire may mean a night of death. I do not know from where you hail, but no doubt our peoples have much of the same blood. We may not worship the same gods, or perhaps we do, and your's are simply named versions of our's, but we are family just the same. I have found that many places worship the same ideals under different titles and appearances."

[Peppermint_M]

"Shall we make hast to this frozen soul? I do not wish to leave our comrades unarmed in this vally for too long, this Triad hung on too long to see a friend and a new allie torn down by beasts of warped chaos." Tesni gestured forward.