Heroica RPG - Quest #48: Death's Homecoming

[Endgame]

QM Note: I'll give a few more hours to respond to The Regret's final revelation before I move this along...

[Fugazi]

Galen stood motionless, frozen by the cold draughts and the sad horror of The Regret's story.

After a long awkward silence, he spoke.

"I gather that there is no way to reverse the effects of an Animutilav spell, or you would have found out about it. Besides, your special relationship with the dead must be... useful to you in some ways.

So what now? You want us dead with the rest of our miserable race, we want you to go away and never threaten Eubric again. I guess our objectives are incompatible, but if you wanted us dead we would probably already be. What do you want from us?"

[Jedi master Brick]

Elgar looked at the Regret before saying

"I guess killing the princes didn't mean much. We just killed your pawns and if we fail to kill you killing them would mean nothing. You would just get another pawn for you to manipulate and control. Well this is really the final battle."

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"Wow. So that's the full story? Now we all know. Elgar, this is not the time to fight. For all we know, Regret could just kill us all right now."

[Endgame]

"You're wasting your breath, Druid. I have spent more then two thousand years in this form... do you truly think that your words can make any difference?

Hah, you say we are different... and yet, when you look at the core of things, we are nearly the same. Two old souls, just trying to find their place in this world. And how "natural" can you really be? Hmph. You are a holier-then-thou protector of nature, and yet... there may not even be a face underneath that mask of yours. Tell me, druid. How is that natural in any sense of the word?

I brought you here for two reasons, heroes. One, to untangle the knot of Progg history that has eluded you for so long. And the second reason... to offer you an opportunity."

The heroes try not to show it, but their guts are immediately twisted into a knot... what was this maniac's next move?

"It is quite a simple proposition, really; and it extends to the entire party, not just you, Galen. The terms are as simple as can be. I allow you contact with one deceased person, or at least check whether or not they are dead or alive. Of course, as I have stated many times in the past, my services are not just some sort of tool to be used and kept. No, there is a price to this little deal - but, really, if you care about the people you wish to contact at all, the fee should be miniscule at best. In return for granting you a peek into the realm of the dead, you must fight with me and assist me in murdering you heroes.

I can sense layers of magic protecting you fools... but it is only a minor obstacle to a master of the Arcane such as I. Rest assured, should you refuse my offer, I will beat you within an inch of your life, and peel away the layers of ethereal protection one by one. You have escaped death far too many times then a creature deserves, heroes. If you dare face me in combat, you will perish at my hands.

Now then... what is more important to you, heroes? Honor or family? Love, or your fellow heroes? I will await all of your decisions... Heh heh heh."

The knot in the party's stomach tightens to an excruciating degree as the twisted beast presents his offer. The deal keeps echoing their mind, repeating over and over and over... All the beast does is look at the startled party and chuckle sadistically - he was trying to cause a split, and he could very well succeed. Turning hero against hero was the most sick and disgusting tactic employed thus far... but the ability to speak to lost loved ones, or confirm whether or not they are alive, was a very tempting offer indeed. Each hero would have to reach their own consensus...

QM Note: I'll give some time for this one. If you want to workshop anything with me, don't afraid to shoot me a pm.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Endgame

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"I must decline. I took an oath to free Luosh of the progg invasion, so I cannot join the forces I swore to defend against."

[TheBoyWonder]

"Maybe, just maybe I can find him. "

Romulus thinks back to when he was in Eubric. He had searched mile upon mile for Lupus. But nothing. Not a trace. Every single lead was a dead end. Maybe, The Regrets Proposition would allow Lupus to be found.

[Jedi master Brick]

Elgar remembered his family and how their death gave him an over-used back story. This was his one chance to speak to them, but he knew the dead should stay dead and should not be contacted. He had heard stories of people contacting the dead then going insane.

"I will not betray my friends. I will fight this sickening evil. I wish not to fight any hero because of being manipulated by a sadistic enemy. But if any hero accepts his offer they will leave me with no choice."

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"No one do it. There is a higher call! Who cares about our souls? We strive towards a larger goal. Our little lives don't count at all. Regret, listen, Rhodus is dead. Aquos is dead, Eidolon is dead. This invasion cannot continue successfully. Why all this bloodshed? Your slave masters are dead."

Edited March 24, 2013 by Capt.JohnPaul

[Endgame]

"But you know as well as I that humanity isn't dead. And that is an issue I'd like to remedy.

Try to talk your friends out of it as much as you want... whether or not you join makes little difference to me."

[Dannylonglegs]

"No, I don't want to change your mind." Spoke up the Druid. "I don't care what you think of me, my cause, my place in the world... I don't care, because you are part of that which I am sworn to destroy. You are a foul blight on Nature. You are, and have been from the moment a human breathed a cruel mockery of life into your cold husk from a spell in a stone building erected on the dead earth he broke, a desecration. You offer my men nothing but taint. You are spreading the plague that must be stopped. You are the sickness.... I.... I am a healer." His voice rang of ancient defiance and ruthless power. "And even now, after all these years, I have no dead loved ones. You cannot infect me."

Edited March 24, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[TheBoyWonder]

"Regret?"

" Yes? "

"I accept your proposition. I want to see if my son, Lupus is Alive. I had searched the whole way through Eubric, spoken to everyone who may know, but nothing. It was like he had just disappeared of the face of Olegaia."

"Ha. I knew one of you would be persuaded. The temptation too much, Lycanthrope? "

"JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION REGRET."

"Ha. I would feel sorry for you, but What's the point?"

"Wha-wha-What do you mean? "

"He's dead, shame about that, I sensed power in him. It seems you are alone in this worl- Wait. Another?"

"Another, but my father and mother are dead, and my son. They are the only ones who share my blood. Aren't they?"

A shadowy figure appears in between The Regret and Romulus. A humanoid. But not human, more ferocious. A lycanthrope.

"Regret, who is this?"

"It seems you have a brother."

"No, no, I can't of. "

"You do. Quite a powerful one by the looks of it. "

" Brother?"

"Romulus. "

"And your name?"

" Remus."

"Why now? Who are you? Where are you? "

" Slow down brother. Only now has an opportunity arisen. As you can probably guess, I'm in Eubric. I'm sorry about my nephew Lupus, he was a good kid. I tried to stop his murder, but their were too many, just too many. "

"Murder?"

"Yes, Murdered. We fought, believe me. We tried to save him. "

" By who? And who is we?"

" He was murdered by one of the gangs. The metasmians. Lupus was alone walking late at night, when they came. Sensing distress, I gathered some allies, A mixture of BloodPaw and Wolfgang. Your son was valuable, they both didn't want to let him die. But even a powerful group like us couldn't stop them. There was just too many. "

"We need to meet. Make plans. We need revenge."

"My thoughts exactly. Eubric, the fishmarket."

"Times up. "

"Im sorry Sylph, but My sword is with the Regret."

[Dannylonglegs]

"Im sorry Sylph, but My sword is with the Regret."

"Hmm...." Grumbled Sylph, deeply, sorrowfully. "You have made your choice. I've known your people to be of great integrity, strength, and love of nature.... It's a pity you do not share such inner-strength. You will fight against us? So be it. May Sylvania be merciful and allow you your life. I know she's more merciful than I."

[Fugazi]

Galen was appalled at The Regret's offer. Granted, the only reason he ever joined Heroica was to obtain the means to find his sister. So now that he had money and better equipment, perhaps that turning on other heroes wouldn't be so terrible -- he would have the information he needed and he could go his own way, assuming that she was still alive. It was perhaps the only chance to get a definite answer to the question tormenting him since that terrible day two years ago.

But he didn't feel that The Regret could be trusted. He only wanted to play with them, and in the end no human mattered to him. If Galen sided with this monster against the other heroes, The Regret would probably just kill him when the battle was over. The carrot was illusory, there was only a stick.

And it looked like Romulus was struggling with his own dilemma.

"Romulus, I know what you must be going through. But don't do this. It's not too late to change your mind. As long as the Regret is alive, you will never be safe. Even if you survive this battle, he will want you dead like every other humanoid on this world. Don't listen to his poisoned words, he's toying with us all."

[Bricksandparts]

"You betrayer. You back-stabbing, little piece of filth. There are other times for you to find your destiny, how could you?!"

Johon then uses his smelling salts, mead, and nostrum, and then runs towards Romulus, aiming a punch to his gut.

OoC: Looks like some stats battle time. And finally, a inner party battle!

[Dannylonglegs]

"You betrayer. You back-stabbing, little piece of filth. There are other times for you to find your destiny, how could you?!"

Johon then uses his smelling salts, mead, and nostrum, and then runs towards Romulus, aiming a punch to his gut.

OoC: Looks like some stats battle time. And finally, a inner party battle!

"You made the right choice, Galen." Spoke Sylph softly. "He would have humanity wiped off the face of the earth, all of nature bent to his tyrannical will.... That cannot happen. We must heal the world, not seek dominion over it."

Sylph took his Smelling Salts and Nostrum, reluctantly, but decidedly.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[TheBoyWonder]

Romulus dodges Johons punch.

"Sylph, do you know what it's like to despair over someone you have loved? To have lost everything? To find out there is something left? "

"I will not fight you though Sylph. As soon as the battle begins, I shall flee,and if I can join you again."

"See Johon? Perhaps if you had out some thought in."

[Jedi master Brick]

"I fear the Regret may be able to manipulate you. I am shocked at how quickly you fell in to his trap. I do understand what it is like to lose someone, but they are gone and nothing can change that. So I must save people before they are gone, the dead are not meant to contact the living."

[TheBoyWonder]

"But I contacted the living, Elgar.

I'll try fleeing as soon as the battle starts. "

[Endgame]

I'll try fleeing as soon as the battle starts. "

The Regret, for the first time the party has seen him, laughs. It is not a sadistic chuckle, or a cruel snicker - maniacal laughter, the sinister sound echoing in the still air. In one swift Motion he sinks his claw into the Lycanthrope's back, Romulus crumbling to his knees. His skin and fur turns a few shades paler, and a black rune is branded on his back. Intricate spirals slither about in the Rune, the venomous spell seemingly alive.

"Gahahaha...! You poor fool - you thought you could simply utilize my powers then simply flee?! I'm afraid that rune binds you to battle, Romulus. You're not fleeing battle any time soon.

So... anyone else wish to take a little peek into the realm of the dead? If not, they must not be worth much to you after all... Hahahahahhah."

[Bricksandparts]

Johon takes on Romulus in a 1 v. 1 battle.

Johon throws an underhand punch to Romulus.

[TheBoyWonder]

"Regret. I'll fight Johon, but I will not fight Sylph. "

[Bricksandparts]

OoC: Correct me if I'm wrong, but Romulus is most likely under mind-control. I doubt that you will actually be controlling yourself in this battle. So sit back and relax as you watch yourself get beaten to a pulp.

[Endgame]

"Hah. Hahahahah. No. You think an arcane master goes thousands of years without a few enthrallment spells? Your body will do as I tell it to... and your mind will remain fully aware. You'll get to witness beating your party to death with an unclouded mind!

You chose this fate for yourself, Romulus. I told you - my services come with a fee."

[Fugazi]

So... anyone else wish to take a little peek into the realm of the dead? If not, they must not be worth much to you after all... Hahahahahhah."

"I was wrong about you, you are mad. And now I know why, unsurprisingly your mind didn't withstand the torture your soul was inflicted. To think that you did it all on your own -- not that I don't understand, I may have done the same in your position. Strange irony that you had to die in order to survive. I pity the Progg people who now only have you as a leader.

The dead are worth nothing to me, Regret. Only the living matter. If my sister is dead, I would love to reach out to her, figure out what happened, tell her good-bye. But in the end, she would still be dead. I couldn't bring her back. And if she's alive, this deal with the devil wouldn't help me. I will find her on my own, somehow. Let go of Romulus, you twisted monster, he doesn't know what he's doing. You don't need him, and he doesn't need you."