Heroica RPG - Quest #48: Death's Homecoming

[Fugazi]

OoC: Sorry for being out of touch, the last days have been very busy for me!

Could the invasion really be over, wondered Galen as the diminished ghost of the Regret flickered above them. The last day had tested their strength, resolve and willpower beyond anything he could have imagined. He needed a stiff drink and a soft bed. Or the opposite, he wasn't feeling picky.

"I'm sorry Regret, it would seem that we can't help you. Many more years of self-torture probably lie ahead of you, and I sincerely wish we could have spared you this. Not to mention that I don't wish for humanity to run into you again. I do hope that your children, your people, will know happiness among our people despite our shortcomings.

I'm not even begging you to tell me about Brianna. Even if you were feeling generous, I couldn't believe a word of it. Goodbye, Regret. May you find peace in death, sooner than later."

[Endgame]

"we could impede his return for at-least a century."

The Regret gives a strained chuckle, his phantasmal form mangling the sound into something horrible.

"Optimism doesn't suit you, Druid."

With one last wheezy chuckle, the regret resigns and his spirit collapses. His dark shadowy forms flickers and distorts, fragments drifting off of the battered soul and disintegrating in the air. With a collective nod the party unsheathes their weapons - they had faced some of the greatest trials of their lives this night. The darkness that plagued the sky clears as the party draws closer and closer to dispelling the hateful beast. Knowing fully well that the mutilated creature before them was the root of thousands upon thousands of deaths, the party clutches their weapons in their hands... And charge. In one synchronized strike they all slash at The Regret, his pulsating form being thrown into the air after being hit by the massive attack. He clutches his face grid in pain as his decaying form rises into the now-clear night sky. Fragments begin to split off from the ghastly soul in bursts of black light, fading into nothingness. With one last blinding burst of darkness, the remains of The Regret's soul swirl away into the night's darkness, soon spiraling out of sight. The heroes sigh and smile as they finally see the sun rising over the horizon once more - the evil was banished, and it seemed today would be a beautiful day. In no more then 8 hours did the heroes undergo their greatest challenges, stop a genocide, and dispel one of the most powerful creatures in Olegaia... they all turn to look at each other, everybody amazed the tragedy was finally at an end.

Hal thoughtfully watches the slowly rising sun, almost keeling over from relief. it was clear he was using his halberd as a means of supporting his exhausted body.

"Never... never in my life did I think I'd ever witness so much...So much carnage, so much bloodshed, so many lives lost. And yet, I saw so much heroism, so many brave souls fighting for the safety of others... I can and will say this countless of times, and I am certain the citizens of Luosh will echo my sentiments. Thank you, heroes. Thank you for everything."

"I'm glad I could *wheeze* help, heroes. You've become legends! I just hope that *cough* the Proggs learn their lesson from all of this... We're made of tough stuff, though. We'll find our way through this trial, just like you guys did *wheeze* today."

The heroes turn their attention to Aquos. With The Regret dispelled, he too was vanishing away - he managed to cling on for some time and outlast his brothers, but it was time to let go. He had found redemption in his heart.

"Heroes... although it was you who slayed me, it was also you have gave me the greatest gift I could ever ask for. Galen, do keep an eye on Beatrice on my son, will you? i trust you'll take better care of them then I ever could.

Goodbye, heroes... til' we meet in another life."

With one solemn wave of his tentacle, Aquos allows himself to slip back into the realm of the dead. he vanishes in a wisp, peaceful and redeemed - he and his brothers would recuperate in due time. They had an eternity, after all.

As the heroes turn for the stairs to head down from the roof, they hear a soft crunch on the other edge of the roof... a voice speaks from behind, a pleasant voice with more then a bit of melancholy and age mixed in to it. It sounded wise and experienced, well-versed in the ways of Olegaia...

"I'd also like to send my thanks."

The party turns around, startled - it was indeed a soft and pleasant voice, but they saw a giant claw hanging off of the edge of the town hall! Another claw slowly raises and clutches the edge of the town hall, followed by two more... The giant claws tighten their grip on the roof and pull, raising up an equally gargantuan body.

The MYTHROGG?!

The colossal beast had managed to come into Luosh incognito, coming to bestow his blessings on the victorious heroes. The heroes look in awe, mouth agape, and the magnificent creature - if anything, the legends were understating the Progg. He was absolutely huge, as tall as his palace - his giant hands could scoop up the entire party. His tail was gigantic, virtually a pillar of pure muscle. He was unmatche din beauty, the majestic beast clad in head to tail in pure mythril. It composed nearly his entire body, the priceless mineral shining brilliantly in the morning sun. His eyes seemed to match the sun in brightness, white beacons of light shining out from is shell. This was the King of all Proggs... and, thankfully, he wasn't there to wage war.

"I know you've been bestowed thanks so many times this night, heroes, but I was hoping you'd accept mine."

[Dannylonglegs]

Sylph stood in awe of the thing. He couldn't speak. Millions of thoughts raced about in his head. Finally, he settled on the most coherent and least offensive phrase he could divine. "Wow. So this is the Mythrogg." He spoke with an unusually humble tone. "By Nature..."

[Fugazi]

Galen suddenly felt very small. Reality or illusion? He squinted at the beast and glanced at his companions while his brain was taking it all in.

He had thought that Mythrogg was short for 'mythical Progg'... But the real meaning of the name was strikingly obvious now. For a fleeting moment Galen wondered how he could chip some mythril off that moving mountain, then thought better of it.

"Thanks? I didn't think you would be thankful for us shedding the blood of your people. It's... a relief."

[Jedi master Brick]

Elgar stepped back in shock when he hears the Mythrog thank them. Elgar was speechless he tried saying something but nothing came out of his mouth

[Endgame]

QM Note: Busy morning - I'm afraid I won't be able to update this morning! After your conversation with the Mythrogg, you'll be allowed to buy stuff at the marketplace and can leave whenever. 48 is going to be over within a few days.

[Capt.JohnPaul]

Alexandre, unable to speak, stammers, "Uh, w-we, um, accept y-your thanks."

[TheBoyWonder]

"YOU MONSTER!"

Romulus falls to the ground,hands shielding his ears from the torment they were enduring.

"I can't take this. "

Romulus spins round and asks the Mythrogg one question.

"Can you make it stop?"

[Endgame]

"Wow. So this is the Mythrogg." He spoke with an unusually humble tone. "By Nature..."

"In the flesh. Though I am unsure how much a druid would appreciate the existence of an ether-born creature such as myself..."

"Thanks? I didn't think you would be thankful for us shedding the blood of your people. It's... a relief."

"We may never truly know who deserved to die tonight, out of the hundreds of proggs who lost their lives. But I thank you for freeing my people from my sons. When my Eve died, I was devastated... I was the strongest of my kind, but also the weakest. In my pity and wallowing I left behind my people - the species I ruled - and spent the greater part of this last millennium in isolation. Cut off from my colony my children, fueled by hatred, began tainting them... no creature, no species, should live life only to hate and destroy. It is more unnatural and vile then even I. So, when The Regret sent me some magic equipment, in hopes I would imbue myself and join him in his sick crusade..."

You recall Adam Envill's testimony...

I saw a huge flying one circling around directly south of here. He had some smaller flying fellas behind him, and they were carrying some crates. That's all I got."

Were those Aerial Proggs delivering the equipment?

"...I realized what was happening to Proggkind. Those poor souls that delivered the magic, though - The Regret must've discovered where I was hiding, and hexed almost an entire squadron out of their minds to deliver it to me. Killed themselves as soon as they set their packages down; The Regret's instructions, I imagine. The Regret - no, Prometheus - was very sick being, heroes. Did you know that it was I that split the sword you currently carry? It was a precaution it had to take. I returned home from my daily labor, only to find Prometheus with the blade in hand, inches away from his heart... I snatched the blade from him and shattered it in my rage, making sure to keep a close eye on him from that point on. His resent managed to trickle down to my children and corrupt their hearts, and nearly swayed all of Proggkind. Even as a Pariah, he was the one pulling the strings.

And for that, I thank you, heroes. For doing what I would be incapable. For purging the hate from my people."

"YOU MONSTER!"

Romulus falls to the ground,hands shielding his ears from the torment they were enduring.

"I can't take this. "

Romulus spins round and asks the Mythrogg one question.

"Can you make it stop?"

The Mythrogg looks concerned at the hero.

"What is the matter, young one?"

[TheBoyWonder]

"I heard him. I heard The Regret, I heard his voice. He spoke to me, tormented me, about my late son. "

[Dannylonglegs]

"In the flesh. Though I am unsure how much a druid would appreciate the existence of an ether-born creature such as myself..."

"At this point, it bothers me little," sighed the Druid.. "Despite your unnatural birth, I believe I've found that a creature can become more Natural through extended exposure to Nature, and pure thought."

Sylph stood content for a moment, and then appeared to double over in pain, grasping his helmed head. "Gggrrrrah!" He growled. "The fiend seems to be tormenting us all. He groaned and then gingerly returned to his calm posture. "I can never speak of what he just told me." The Druid stated gravely, a melancholy foreboding in his voice...

[Bricksandparts]

"He is telepathically speaking to all of us, it seems. Although it seems he is more remorseful in his message to me. I don't know though, and I still wonder if and when we will see him again."

[Dannylonglegs]

"He is telepathically speaking to all of us, it seems. Although it seems he is more remorseful in his message to me. I don't know though, and I still wonder if and when we will see him again."

"I don't think we'll be seeing him for quite some time... If I understand him correctly..." Spoke the Druid, his voice speaking of unsureness and doubt.

[Fugazi]

Galen was glad to hear reasonable words from the greatest Progg of all.

"Will you be guiding them, Mythrogg? They don't have a home, they don't have leaders, they don't have a mission any longer. They need your help now more than ever. Some are..."

Galen stopped and stood motionless, eyes glazed and mouth agape, listening to the whispers in his mind. After a moment, his head dropped and he pulled on the folds of his turban so that they would better conceal his eyes.

[Dannylonglegs]

Galen was glad to hear reasonable words from the greatest Progg of all.

"Will you be guiding them, Mythrogg? They don't have a home, they don't have leaders, they don't have a mission any longer. They need your help now more than ever. Some are..."

Galen stopped and stood motionless, eyes glazed and mouth agape, listening to the whispers in his mind. After a moment, his head dropped and he pulled on the folds of his turban so that they would better conceal his eyes.

Sylph, who had been eyeing the party to gauge their reactions upon hearing the mad Progg's final words noted Galen's peculiar response to the mental intrusion. Fascinating. He thought, spying Galen's sudden reaction. "Is everyone OK?" Demanded Sylph at his party. "I doubt any of us are weak-willed, but apparitions have been known to be able to manipulate the bodies of the living...." He stated, but it was more of a question than a statement. "It would be a tragedy if he managed to return so soon... Or to plant a seed in another."

Edited April 30, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Fugazi]

Hearing Sylph's words through the cacophony of his own thoughts, Galen moved closer to the druid and looked at him with tear-flooded eyes.

"Don't worry friend, it's been a very long day... And the Regret's parting shot was rather vicious."

[Dannylonglegs]

Hearing Sylph's words through the cacophony of his own thoughts, Galen moved closer to the druid and looked at him with tear-flooded eyes.

"Don't worry friend, it's been a very long day... And the Regret's parting shot was rather vicious."

Sylph retreated a bit, his figure taking on an apologetic demeanor. "He's gone now, then. He won't be back soon." stated Sylph, relief and tiredness in his voice. "It's over for now."

Having read through the spells chapter of Regrets' work, he handed the immense tome to Alex, glancing into the Paladins eyes for a brief moment to reassure himself that giving Alex the tome was the right thing to do. He then looked down at the loot, realizing that the Party had obtained all 4 of the sword shards. Addressing the behemoth before him, he spoke.

"Mythrogg, what exactly does the sword do?" He queried. "And now that Regret's hateful taint has been cleansed for the time-being, would you mind repairing it if you can? It could serve as a valuable tool for good." Sylph waited to receive an answer before handing out the rest of the loot, knowing that the sword was likely the most powerful item in the treasures they had obtained.... Except maybe the Tome in the right hands...

Edited May 1, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"Thank you Sylph. Now, let's see what this sword does."

[Dannylonglegs]

"Thank you Sylph. Now, let's see what this sword does."

Sylph eyed Alex calmly. Had he not been visited by the voice, or was he simply not expressing having heard it? Sylph returned to waiting for the Mythrogg to reply.

Edited May 1, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Endgame]

"Mythrogg, what exactly does the sword do?" He queried. "And now that Regret's hateful taint has been cleansed for the time-being, would you mind repairing it if you can? It could serve as a valuable tool for good." Sylph waited to receive an answer before handing out the rest of the loot, knowing that the sword was likely the most powerful item in the treasures they had obtained.... Except maybe the Tome in the right hands...

Mythrogg looks concerned at the frantic heroes, but speaks...

"it is the heirloom blade of the Gladius Unit, as you most likely guessed. Its every strike has a chance of leaving its target frail... though I'm afraid I can't reassemble it here. It'd be the equivalent of an ogre trying to reassemble a toothpick with his bare hands. There is a bit of finesse involved... Though I'm certain there is a blacksmith in Luosh that can reforge the great Gladius for you."

Galen was glad to hear reasonable words from the greatest Progg of all.

"Will you be guiding them, Mythrogg? They don't have a home, they don't have leaders, they don't have a mission any longer. They need your help now more than ever. Some are..."

The Mythrogg sighs, the gesture from the gargantuan Progg nearly sweeping the party off their feet in a burst of air. There is an unmistakable melancholy in his voice...

"How I wish I could, heroes. How I wish I could... I must apologize for all of my cloak-and-dagger mannerisms, but may I ask that we finish this discussion somewhere else? I'll be heading to The Clearing... Young Punii, you know how to get there, correct?"

A trembling Punii stammers out a reply...

"Y-yes, your *wheezewheezewheeze* majesty!"

"Excellent. Then I shall see you there."

And with that, the Mythrogg descended, using his new found magical powers to open a hole in the earth and glide through the sub terrain. The party walks down the Town Hall's several floors in collective silence, catching fleeting glimpses of its hiding occupants - little did the poor souls know that this was over. They walk out the grand oak doors and march along, watching the beautiful morning sun banish out the horrible night prior. It was a sight the heroes weren't sure they'd ever see again.Walking through the rows of closed up houses of the Commoner's Quarter, the heroes can't help but wonder.. what was going on? They contemplate and come up with various theories in their mind, ranging in plausibility. The ideas cause quite the ruckus in the heroes' minds, filling them with tension and anticipation - the final truth was about to be unveiled. After a walk that felt like hours, the party arrives in The Clearing...

A light morning breeze blows through the serene place. The blue roses dance and sway in the wind, the filed of flowers rolling like the ocean. In the middle of the beautiful place stood The Mythrogg in his full glory. He gently holds a single rose in one hand, examining it... He notices the heroes' arrival, but doesn't take his eye off the flower.

"I suppose this is only a fitting place for this tale to reach its conclusion. Proggkind can be described as a blue rose, it seems... unique, yet unnatural. Beautiful, yet barbed in thorns. How I wish I could guide my people again, but my return would only cause more harm than good..."

The Mythrogg still holds the rose, but looks directly at the heroes. he sighs once more, then continues. His voice sounds wiser and warmer then ever, but even now the sadness in his voice is apparent... He begins his story.

"Do you recall what Prometheus said about my Eve, heroes? About why we only had three children? There was an error in the evoking process... a mistake that rendered her nearly unable to create offspring. Thus, Prometheus and Primii were born... I loved Eve, heroes. No matter how many errors they could or did make when creating her, we were literally made for each other. And so it was, always at each other's side for thousands of years. She would sometimes curse herself for whatever issues she may have been created with, but I would have nothing of it. It mattered nothing to me.

However... little did we both know I was not free of imperfections. That fateful day eight hundred years ago, your Raider probably remembers it well now. It was the night of the siege. While the other forces were skirmishing with the weaker mages, Eve and I decided to go right for the head of it all... the Archmage, the descendant of the one who created us. We battled, not unlike what has transpired today... He struck down Eve, and in my moment of weakness he chose to reveal a horrible truth. I was not immortal like the other Proggs. Invincible on the outside, yes, but my years were numbered. I was slowly eating myself away on the inside, destined to wither away in a few short centuries... Ever thinking that you can create life correctly on the first try was foolish of me, anyway. I was slowly dying every second of my life, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. In my rage and hatred for the man I skewered him and killed him, but the victory had a price I wasn't ready to pay. Choosing to kill the Archmage rather then help my Eve, she went beyond the point of salvation in that short time... because of the hate in my heart, I lost her. Deeming myself unfit to rule, I foolishly disappeared off the island soon after our bittersweet victory. I have lived in isolation since, not knowing what taint Prometheus was spreading to my people...

I have weeks left, heroes. perhaps days. And that is why I cannot return to my people. To do so - then to perish days after - would only serve to throw them into greater confusion. I must die as I lived these past eight hundred years. Alone."

The party can only look at the terminal colossus in shocked silence. Even the invincible Mythrogg had sorrows and sins of his own...

"Here, heroes. Take this. Allow it to be a reminder of what has occurred tonight."

The Mythrogg releases the rose he was carrying, the wind causing it to drift to the party... they take the gift in silence, looking over what they had received.

Blue Rose: A gift from the Mythrogg, and a token of his blessings. A reminder of the invasion of Luosh, and everything that happened and everyone they met... Cherish it.

Party leader, who will receive this item?

With the Blue Rose in hand and Perfect Regret soundly defeated, the party knew that...

~The Quest Was Successful!~

Will the party say anything to the Mythrogg before you both depart?

Edited May 1, 2013 by Endgame

[Dannylonglegs]

"I understand." Stated Sylph pensively.

Loot Distribution:

Sylph: 127 Gold, Nostrum, Fragment 4 (for now)

Alex 128 Gold, Tome

Elgar 125 Gold, Mead

Johon 125 Gold, Blue Rose

Galen 125 Gold, Smelling Salts

Rome 125 Gold, Hide of Regret (would it have killed you to provide SP? )

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"Mythrogg, I hope to see you in the after life. Good bye."

[TheBoyWonder]

"I don't want the Hide. Any of them. Who wants that and the Sufferings hide?"

Romulus tosses both Hides to Sylph to allow him to distribute them.

Edited May 1, 2013 by TheBoyWonder

[Fugazi]

Galen watched the great Progg with sadness.

"Yes, we can be blinded by hate just as much as by love. Yours is a really tragic story, Mythrogg. With your permission this should be written down by the Heroica librarian so that everyone can learn from it. Both our people should remember and reflect on how it all came to happen.

I understand now why you can't go back to your people. It's terribly sad, and I hope that they will find a way to deal with their freedom and live in peace with the other inhabitants of Uland. Who knows, perhaps one day Proggs will join the ranks of Heroica to fight for a common cause!

Farewell, Mythrogg."

[TheBoyWonder]

"Sylph, let us forge the sword, and whatever else we want from the Town Hall, then leave. "