Heroica RPG - Quest #48: Death's Homecoming

[Endgame]

"Master usually demands about an hour alone this time of day, but... now is not the time to respect his wishes. We have to get these shenanigans straightened out now."

"Please follow. We'll take you to the Elder's Den: the heart of the forest."

With that, the spiders turn on their eight legs and lead a party down a twisty passage. The glowing eyes of smaller spiders dot the sides, they younglings staring intently at the foreigners. Finally, they pass through a stone archway and see quite the scene.

A massive black and purple spider stands rigid in the center of the den. It's eyes are glazed over, and besides the occasional spasm, remains completely motionless. The gargantuan creature doesn't even seem to notice the heroes and his acolytes, and remains silent.

".........................................."

"...Daddy...!!"

The Progg on the other end of the den was seemingly conducting a ritual of sorts on the poor spider. He was a large Progg, clad in a ghostly white shell. Hearing the heroes' apporach, he lowers his glowing scepters and turns to face the intruders. The party recognizes his glowing pink eyes from the chariot wreck: they had found another member of the Gladius Unit!

"Hello. Come to see the puppet show of a lifetime?"

[TheBoyWonder]

Progg. Shoulda known.

[Endgame]

"Yes, you should have known. You all should have known. You humanoids are remarkably daft."

Edited November 24, 2012 by Endgame

[Dannylonglegs]

"Yes, you should have known. You all should have known. You humanoids are remarkably daft."

"Figures. Alright. Now I'm angry. If you're not prepared to fight, do it now. Men, let's burn this filth from the face of the earth and by doing so, purify the forest. "

Edited November 24, 2012 by Dannylonglegs

[Fugazi]

Galen stood petrified at the sight of the giant spider, dwarfing even the Progg.

"What... what is going on here?"

[Dannylonglegs]

Galen stood petrified at the sight of the giant spider, dwarfing even the Progg.

"What... what is going on here?"

"The Progg's got him under its control. As I suspected from the start. Nothing is sacred to these abominations."

[Endgame]

"Me? Fight you?? Come on, child. I have standards, for Helvetia's sake. You probably already guessed it, but I am The Regret: leader of the Gladius Unit. Our showdown is premature, heroes. Go ahead, attack me. I beg you, do put me to the test."

[Jedi master Brick]

"Should of guessed. Well lets ice this son of a gun crossbow! And to you Mr. Regret, I think it is fair to say it is time to relieve you of your duties."

Edited November 24, 2012 by Jedi master Brick

[Dannylonglegs]

"Me? Fight you?? Come on, child. I have standards, for Helvetia's sake. You probably already guessed it, but I am The Regret: leader of the Gladius Unit. Our showdown is premature, heroes. Go ahead, attack me. I beg you, do put me to the test."

"We killed Death, we'll kill you, and then we'll kill the more important Vermin. If you'd like to bow out now, that's fine. Make your move pest. You'll most certainly Regret messing with the forest though, I promise you that. This is my home-field."

Edited November 24, 2012 by Dannylonglegs

[Endgame]

"Sylph, we aren't *wheeze* all bad... though this Progg... you can almost feel his wickedness just stadning near him..."

"You... you... fiend!"

"Release our Elder! NOW!"

"Hah. And why, pray tell, would I do that? You're all inferior to me. Worthless. You could never take me, you foolish, foolish people."

Aranoc remains still, bewitched and completely unaware of the situation around him.

[TheBoyWonder]

Lycan decides to use his Smelling Salts.

[Jedi master Brick]

"You will regret your incompetence. It is time to kill the Regret!" Elgar loads a bolt into his crossbow and waited for Sylph's signal to attack

[Dannylonglegs]

"Sylph, we aren't *wheeze* all bad... though this Progg... you can almost feel his wickedness just stadning near him..."

"You... you... fiend!"

"Release our Elder! NOW!"

"Hah. And why, pray tell, would I do that? You're all inferior to me. Worthless. You could never take me, you foolish, foolish people."

Aranoc remains still, bewitched and completely unaware of the situation around him.

"Sorry Punii, I use the word abomination to refer to all of my enemies... Not just Proggs, but humans too." consoled Sylph seriously. "While most of your people are currently trying to destroy and kill, I hold no illusions that every last one of your people are evil. You in particular are an example of the potential good in anyone. Regret however, has to die." Sylph reached into his sack and pulled out a scroll of paper. "And, you, Regret, should know that I just don't care what you have to say." Sylph casts sleep on Aranoc.

Edited November 24, 2012 by Dannylonglegs

[Endgame]

"We killed Death, we'll kill you, and then we'll kill the more important Vermin. If you'd like to bow out now, that's fine. Make your move pest. You'll most certainly Regret messing with the forest though, I promise you that. This is my home-field."

Considering he is already in some kind of slumber, Sylph's scroll does nothing to effect Aranoc.

"Pest, you say? My... what an odd way of addressing your superior."

The Regret turns around, his back facing towards Sylph. Enraged by the Progg, who dared to defile nature, he let an arrow fly. The Regret turns around at inhuman speed, somehow plucks the arrow straight out of the air, and snaps it in half.

"The dead... I can converse with them effortlessly. They whisper in my ear day and night. That little arrow? If you must know, Rhodus actually alerted me to that attack. He has some words to tell with you, but they're... rather derogatory, even for him. I have enough class not to share."

Stunned by this development, Sylph takes a step back. The Regret raises a hand towards the sky... and clenches it into a fist. Suddenly, Sylph's arms involuntarily twist behind his back, and he drops his weapon. His legs shake until they buckle, and the Druid finds himself on his knees. Sweat pours out of his skin - he had no control over his limbs.

"You've learned your proper place, I see: on your knees." The Regret laughs cold, cruel laugh. A laugh enough to send chills sprinintg up and down every spine nearby. "My powers extend far beyond the simple gift of conversing with the dead, however. I am the master of all things Arcane. It is simply truth when I say I am your superior. The sooner you accept it, the better."

[Dannylonglegs]

Considering he is already in some kind of slumber, Sylph's scroll does nothing to effect Aranoc.

"Pest, you say? My... what an odd way of addressing your superior."

The Regret turns around, his back facing towards Sylph. Enraged by the Progg, who dared to defile nature, he let an arrow fly. The Regret turns around at inhuman speed, somehow plucks the arrow straight out of the air, and snaps it in half.

"The dead... I can converse with them effortlessly. They whisper in my ear day and night. That little arrow? If you must know, Rhodus actually alerted me to that attack. He has some words to tell with you, but they're... rather derogatory, even for him. I have enough class not to share."

Stunned by this development, Sylph takes a step back. The Regret raises a hand towards the sky... and clenches it into a fist. Suddenly, Sylph's arms involuntarily twist behind his back, and he drops his weapon. His legs shake until they buckle, and the Druid finds himself on his knees. Sweat pours out of his skin - he had no control over his limbs.

"You've learned your proper place, I see: on your knees." The Regret laughs cold, cruel laugh. A laugh enough to send chills sprinintg up and down every spine nearby. "My powers extend far beyond the simple gift of conversing with the dead, however. I am the master of all things Arcane. It is simply truth when I say I am your superior. The sooner you accept it, the better."

"Hmmm.... I see. So I can expect that most of my scrolls will have little effect on you... And perhaps you'll have some sort of spell resistance too. Sorry, pall, I'm not the accepting kind."

[Jedi master Brick]

"Now you have pushed it to far, you'll regret that!" Elgar uses a spell of ice on the Regret."I sure hope he does not have any spell resistance. I think it is time to fight The Regret."

[Fugazi]

Galen was slowly shifting his focus from the spider to the Progg.

"Is he really impervious to scrolls? What about venom then?"

Galen applies Crumbling Venom to the Sword of the Croise.

[Endgame]

"The fact that any sentient being can be so stupid boggles the mind. It really does.

However, I suppose an explanation is in order

All of us Proggs hate your guts. Truly, we do. And we didn't want you getting any better gear, so we abducted the frail old man and thrw him in a cage. We hauled the cage here, to this remote little forest. Now, Aranoc was orignally unwilling to guard the blacksmith... but when I mentioned that Rhodus had his long-lost children, he became far more compliant. Letting the eight-legged idiot waltz around with free will was a terrible idea, though. So, every day, I'd sneak over here and hex him a bit. it started out purely sublimnimally - after all, he has quite the strong will. However, the grief he had over his lost family provided a magnificent opening for my hexes. Every day I'd layer the mind-mojo on a bit more, turning him from a gentle giant into an unruly savage. But now... I think I broke him.

Awake, slave."

Suddenly, the rigid Aranoc raises his head and looks around. The dull sheen of obediance fills his eyes, and he seems to be pretty discombobulated. His gaze falls on Morxes and Lyrol, and for once, a small portion of what he once was shines through.

"M-morxes...? L-lyrol...?"

"Oh, nononono. You see, slave, these awful nasty people bribed some of your subjects to disguise themselves as your poor, lost children."

"NOT children...?"

"Heavens no. Oh, I have an idea. Why don't you kill the mean nasty people who tried to decieve you? And curse them, while you're at it!"

Aranoc pauses, as if considering the idea... then sudden ly flies into a complete homicidal eage. He snarls and roars, thrashing his fangs and flaling his legs. The spider seems to have one word left in his vocabulary: KILL.

"My work here is done. I have royalty to attend to: ciao!"

And with that, The Regret vanishes into thin air. The party was left with the homicidal Elder. Suddenly, crampes befall the entire party, and they nearly fall to the ground. They clutch their weapons and face their eight-legged adversary. Sylph's trial brew tasted lip-smacking good upon consumption, but now, it had some rather nasty side-effects...

"Grrr... No! The Murkwood curse! He may not be himself, but he is still a Murkwood spider, and can still bestow it."

"Drat! We may be able to reverse it, though... one person at a time."

Prepare for Battle!

"KILL!"

Brainwashed Elder Aranoc, Level 24 Dark Vermin

HP: 999/999

SP: 10

Specials:

Tangled Web: Entangles the hero who rolled Special Damage in web. As long as that web is active, that hero will be stunned: it must be destroyed if that hero wishes to move again.

Petrifying Bite: Takes a chomp out a hero. That hero becomes Petrified. (This effect can be removed for 9 ether or remedied.)

Life Steal: Transfers half of 3 random heroe's HP to himself, disregarding SP and row.

Specials decided by Dice Roll.

Passive Specials:

Partial Ethereal Immunity: Scroll effects last only 1 turn.

Drops: Deadly Venom, 120 gold, Murkwood Thread.

QM Note: Aranoc will be brought back to his senses when he has less then 100 HP.

The Party:

Sylph Solanum (Dannylonglegs) *Party Leader!* *Trial!* *Spider's Curse!*

unknown age, unknown race Druid

Level 17.5

Power: 25 (17+7+1)

Defense: 0

Health: 16/16c(9+16+7+1)

Ether: 11/11 (5+16+1)

Gold: 44

Equipment: Merry Bow (WP:7, ranged, steals 1 gold with each successful hit except Shield-skills *Badly poisoned!*), Ranger's Quiver (WP +1 to bows and crossbows), Helmet (Max. health +1) 20-20 glasses

Inventory: Mockthril Rod (WP:7), Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Confusion, 1 Potions, 1 Grand Potion, Tonic x2, Grand Tonic x2, Remedy, 2 Venoms, Smoke Bomb, 2 Fire Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 3 Water Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, Floral Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, 8 Bones, Signet Ring, Saber Teeth, Crumbling Venom, Journal of The Bleeding, Sword Fragment (1), Smelling Salts x2, Helmet (Max. health +1)

Galen Woodward (Fugazi) *Hastened!* *Encouraged!* *Lucky!* *Spider's Curse!*

36 year old male human Rogue

Level 13.5

Power: 22 (13+8)

Defense: 2 (+2)

Health: 23/23 (7+12+4)

Gold: 265

Equipment: Sword of the Croise (WP: 9 *Crumbling!*), Chimera Headdress (Headwear, Suitable for Rangers and Rogues, +1 SP +4 Health), Leather Armour (SP:1)

Inventory: Fauxthril Shuriken (WP:5, ranged), Throwing Dagger (WP:4, ranged), Bedroll, Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bomb XX, Grand Potion x5, Remedy x3, Nostrum x5, Mead x5, Fire Bomb, Deadly Venom x2, Crumbling Venom, Goblin's Wrench(WP:10,retrievable), Black Katana (WP:8), Phoenix Essence, Smelling Salts x2

Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts) *Encouraged!* *Lucky!* *Spider's Curse!*

25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider

Level: 20

Power: 28 (18+8+0)

Health: 34/34 (18+8+1+7+0)

Shield Power: (1 + 5)

Ether: ~/0

Positive effects: *Immune to:* (*Fragile*, *Cursed*), *Natural Respite*

Negative effects: (none)

Gold: 365 (186G(1), 0GB(50), 0CB(50), 0GO(80), 0CC(70), 0GC(100), 0M)

Equipment: Dog Statuette - (suitable for anyone, SP: 1, once named (Rover), speaking the name summons a dog almost certainly to tag along on madcap adventures and make snippy comments.), Sword of Decay (WP:8)(once the target is inflicted with damage they lose a quarter of the power of the strike each following turn for three turns. the effect cannot be compounded with more strikes. Suitable to Mages, Knights and Barbarians.) Hide of The Bleeding (Backwear, restores 10 HP and 5 ether for every enemy the wearer kills, suitable for anyone)

Heavy Armour – SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians and knights.

Extra Artefacts: Helmet (+1 max health), Blessed Amulet – Protects from cursed-effect.

Extra Weapons: Greatsword (WP:3), Meteor Blade (WP:8, Light elemental), Focal Staff (WP:5, Focus Fire-Roll a 3 for 5 ether Suitable for clerics and mages)

Tools: Shovel (1), Pick-axe (2), Magnifying Glass (1), Magic Compass (1)

Consumables: Potion (3), Grand Potion, Venom, Ice Bomb (1), Mead (2), Phoenix Essence (3), Trail Brew (1), Nostrum (2), Smelling Salts (2)

Elements: Aquamarine (1), Emerald (1)

Scrolls: Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (2), Scroll of Confusion (1)

Quest items: (None)

Elgar Gligin (played by Jedi master Brick) *Spider's Curse!*

Level 18.5 Evoker

Power: 29

Defense: 0

Health: 26/26

Ether: 17/18

Gold: 400

Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11)

Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Emerald,SapphireTopaz ,3 Venoms, Spade,Pickaxe,3 Potions, Trickster's Mask of the Elf(Accessory, Changes user's appearance into an Elf),Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the badly poisoned effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether) ,Goblin's Wrench(WP:10,retrievable), Needlessly Large Rod (Non-Artifact Item, Curses a random enemy. Usuable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion x2, Grand Tonic x3, Opal

Lycan Dean (played by theBoyWonder) *Lucky!* *Hastened!* *Spider's Curse!*

Level 10 Rogue *Immune to weakened*

Power: 21

Health: 14/14

Gold: 13 (95 gold owed to Thormanil and 30 to Loreal)

Equipment: Combrys (WP: 8, consecutive successful strikes raise Combry's WP by 1, unsuccessful strikes drop it to it's base WP), Pugillist Gloves^{(Power +2, protects from weakened)}, Sylvania's Cowl^{(grants Animal Talk to Wearer)}

Inventory: Bedroll, Staff of The Frog Paladin (WP:6, ^{1/6 chance of Amphibianocs Blessing (protects from damage)}), Throwing Dagger (WP6), Warhammer (WP:4), Grand Potion, Deadly Venom x2, Venom x3, Mead, Phoenix Essence, Smelling Salts x2, Nostrums x5

Alexandre le Chevalier (Played by Capt.JohnPaul) *Spider's Curse!*

Level 16 Paladin, 20 year old elf male

Power: 24

Defense: 13

Health: 36/36

Ether: 10/16

Gold: 41

Equipment: Sword of the Elven Blademaster (WP: 8; ignores SP *Badly poisoned!*), Cross Heater Shield (SP: 10) (Mail of the Renegade Commander (SP: 3; Damage of all Free Hits is halved; suitable for Knights and Barbarians)

Inventory: Potions (4), Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Tonic x2, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Potion, Remedy, Grand Tonic, Mead, Phoenix Essence, Nostrum

"Oh no..."

Punii, 2 month year old Progg Alchemist

Jellies: Green x3, Blue x2, Red x1

"We're doing this to help you, Elder!"

Aybdo (played by the Party Leader) *Spider's Curse!*

Level 10 Rogue

Power: 18

Health: 14/14

Gold: 0

Equipment: Murkwood Fangs (WP: 8, can bestow Spider's Blessing if used in conjuction with another pair of fangs)

Inventory: Nothing

"Forgive us!"

Threed (played by the Party Leader) *Spider's Curse!*

Level 10 Rogue

Power: 18

Health: 14/14

Gold: 0

Equipment: Murkwood Fangs (WP: 8, can bestow Spider's Blessing if used in conjuction with another pair of fangs)

Inventory: Nothing

QM Note:

Spider's curse works the same as normal Cursed (-3 Max HP per round). It is unremoavable and unremediable: only the Spider's Blessing can counteract it.

If both Acolytes are concious, they can both use up their turn to bestow the Spider's Blessing on one party member. This will nuetralize the Spider's Curse.

Edited November 24, 2012 by Endgame

[Jedi master Brick]

Elgar uses a wind spell on Aranoc from the back row "It will take more than a curse to stop us"

Edited November 24, 2012 by Jedi master Brick

[TheBoyWonder]

Elder, With Combrys, Twice. Use the blessing on The ones with Lowest HP first.

OOC: You messed my stats up, I should have 5 Nostrums 2 smelling salts.

Edited November 24, 2012 by TheBoyWonder

[Dannylonglegs]

"Alrighty then. This is going to be a hell of a fight... I really am sorry you two have to see this Morxes and Lyrol. We're going to fix your father up."

Order (If everyone agrees):

Punii: Mix Jellies

Aybdo: Bless Lycan, BR

Threed: Bless Lycan, BR

Sylph: Inhale Smelling Salts, BR

Sylph: Cast Blind on Aranoc, BR

Alex: Attack Aranoc, FR

Johon: Attack Aranoc, FR

Galen: Attack Aranoc, BR

Galen: Attack Aranoc, BR

Elgar: Wind Spell Aranoc, BR

Lycan: Attack Aranoc, BR

Lycan: Attack Aranoc, BR

Edited November 24, 2012 by Dannylonglegs

[Endgame]

"Please, help my daddy!"

QM Note: I'll round the run when everyone gets to place their input.

[Fugazi]

"It's too bad none of us have soma. Well, we'll do our best with what we have."

Galen attacks Aranoc twice from the back row.

[Endgame]

"It's too bad none of us have soma. Well, we'll do our best with what we have."

Galen attacks Aranoc twice from the back row.

Unfortunately, this curse drains your max HP. A soma would be ineffective in comparison...

[Dannylonglegs]

(OoC: Does Johon's Amulet prevent against this Curse?)