Heroica RPG - Quest #48: Death's Homecoming

[Dannylonglegs]

"That gold is much to heavy to transport back across the stones. If we can cover the gold with some rocks, perhaps we can come back after this ordeal is over and collect it, but for now, this is definitely a trap, a lure, something..." Johon says as he uses his magnifying glass to check the room for traps.

"Sylph, try speaking to whatever is in the water, I think those are tusks..."

"They look more like statues of Progg tails to me, but I'll see if there's anything in the water." Sylph proceeded to attempt to contact any water animals. "Anyone out there?"

[Endgame]

Punii looks over the edge, staring at his reflection in the water. he backs up, terrified, when the ground he was on previously cracked off and sunk.

"RUN!"

The party sprints across the stone pedestals, the platform they were previously on now crumbling at a rapid pace. When the last of them had reached the other end, the platform was nothing but a collection of pebbles floating on the water's surface. The party looks warily at the gold. Upon closer inspection, it was remarkably... Aquos-sized...?

Underneath the gold, a abomination closes his eyes. Not that it helped, of course. He tried to piece together the sounds echoing and bouncing around the room... trying to get a feel for the room's newest layout, and where its guests were. The sounds were like an infinite puzzle to the beast, a puzzle he dealt with every waking moment... and one he never was able to truly saw. Deep in thought, the gargantuan creature manages to assemble the sounds into one cohesive image.

With the puzzle put together, the ground begins to rumble and shake beneath the heroes... Suddenly, the gold pile practically explodes, chunks and bars of the precious material being scattered every which way. They land into the water, sinking into the deep abyss below. Underneath the pile of gold, was, oddly, a dome of rock. The heroes slowly reach towards it, when suddenly a tentacle shoots out - and another, and another, and another, then 4 more at once, decimating the rock dome. All that was left was their gargantuan adversary: Aquos had revealed himself at last!

He tapped his tail lightly on the floor, making sure to keep a constant reading on the heroes. He held his 8 disgusting tentacles above his head, all pointed at the party. His colossal tail sways back and forth, as if ready to strike at any time. His two eyes shine like a green flame, illuminating the dark cavern - though, both he and the heroes knew those 2 eyes were just for show. Always have been, and always will be. The party takes a step or two back from the gigantic Prince, stunned by his daring entry.

"We meet again."

[TheBoyWonder]

"The blind progg. Your reputation precedes you."

[Dannylonglegs]

"We meet again."

"So it seems." stated Sylph plainly. "No point in hostility." grunted Sylph, apathetically. "How are you doing?"

Edited January 1, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Endgame]

Aquos first responds to Sylph.

"Good, thank you. My son is very close to hatching, no thanks to the turbanned Rogue. By the by, I believe I still see some scars on your face, Galen. Did I smash your ugly little face into the rock wall too hard? tsk, tsk. All of you are such fragile creatures, broken like a twig in a mere instant. You may be the paragons of your kind, but make no mistake: i will devour you just as easily as I have any other of your pitiable species. Such sorry souls you are, tethered to such flimsy bodies. I kill you out of mercy. Truly, I do. I feel it is just the right action, freeing a soul from its disgusting prison. Shame we cannot make you Proggs... ah, well, you tampered with us too much already."

Aquos glares at Sylph.

"All of you filthy vermin went past the point of redemption long ago. So, yes, hostility is quite necessary."

Will the party prepare?

[TheBoyWonder]

'Filthy Vermin? Have you seen yourself lately, oh wait, you can't can you?"

Lycan then shoves a nostrum down his throat, alexandres throat and sylphs throat.

"Don't bother paying me back sylph, but the thief can owe me for his."

[Endgame]

"I've spent over 1,000 years blind. You get used to the quips, of which yours are the weakest of.

And yes, you are vermin. Small, insignifigant little pests that can be squashed with a single motion. "Vermin" suits you quite nicely."

[TheBoyWonder]

"Your brother can't say that now."

[Jedi master Brick]

"I'd rather skip the formalities. Conversations with these sort of enemies are rather repetitive. They all go on about how they were bullied at school or something and why we heroes are a mere nuisance."

Edited January 1, 2013 by Jedi master Brick

[Capt.JohnPaul]

Sigh.. "I'm really sinking into debt aren't I?" "Huh, too punny? I'll pay you back at any rate, Lycan. Now, Aquos, I'm curious, what is your main goal or desire in life?"

[Dannylonglegs]

Aquos glares at Sylph.

"All of you filthy vermin went past the point of redemption long ago. So, yes, hostility is quite necessary."

Will the party prepare?

"Wow, that was quite rude. Just because we're on different sides of ideology and a war doesn't mean we have to be nasty about it." lectured Sylph as he graciously accepted Lycan's nostrum. "I'd offer you some tea, but you've offended me with your rudeness. I can't see how this has anything to do with redemption anyways. Furthermore, your broad claims certainly do not apply to every human or humanoid in existence. I'd point out other flaws in your aggressive philosophy but it'd be a waste of air. I'd like to see you try to free my soul."

Edited January 1, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Endgame]

"Now, Aquos, I'm curious, what is your main goal or desire in life?"

Aquos turns around, his back towards the party. His voice is nearly a whisper - a whisper filled with a 1,000 years of unfulfilled wishes and sorrow.

"...Being able to see."

He quickly turns back around to face the heroes.

"Oh, they most certainly do! You humanoids... you sicken me. You really do. If there is a god, how could he engineer such crippled beings? Such lowly creatures, disgusting, obnoxious, thieving, rude, bloodthirsty and greedy. You humanoids are the scum of Olegaia - you've done nothing but cause pain and sorrow. And you think a genocide makes you any better then us? You think your mindless killing is any different then ours? You're worse then us Proggs, for the simple reason that you are fighting because of incentive. We are fighting for our people.

And you, Druid. You couldn't care less about any of the people you are saving. Because you'd think you'd remember their names!"

[Dannylonglegs]

"Oh, they most certainly do! You humanoids... you sicken me. You really do. If there is a god, how could he engineer such crippled beings? Such lowly creatures, disgusting, obnoxious, thieving, rude, bloodthirsty and greedy. You humanoids are the scum of Olegaia - you've done nothing but cause pain and sorrow. And you think a genocide makes you any better then us? You think your mindless killing is any different then ours? You're worse then us Proggs, for the simple reason that you are fighting because of incentive. We are fighting for our people.

And you, Druid. You couldn't care less about any of the people you are saving. Because you'd think you'd remember their names!"

Sylph Shrugged. "Hahaha. You really are quite entertaining despite your aggression, Aquanos. Aggression breeds more aggression, Aquatos. If you wanted to stand on a moral high-ground, you could have stopped killing ages ago. If you wanted to be any more than a human in terms of behavior, then you would have given up your own bloodthirst, greed, and hostility. Had you done so, I'd be inclined to spare you, for then you would display a sense of naturality that would conflict with my own objectives--plus, you probably wouldn't be here in the first place. But, as it is, you're no better than an evil human, and I have no problem killing evil humans."

Edited January 1, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Bricksandparts]

"Taking out hate for your species on the ones who enslaved you is totally different than taking out hate on it's entire species. You are fighting for your people, but your excuses are meaningless, you and I know that what is going on is not right."

[Jedi master Brick]

"I think it is time to kill him. It is just the usual bad guy rant about his failures in life and why that means he has to kill a load of people.

[Capt.JohnPaul]

Alexandre looks down. The words "being able to see" echoes in his mind. He turns to the party. "Let's not be so harsh, my greatest fear is not seeing. I need my eyes. So even though we are enemies, don't be so rude. You don't know what it's like." He then turns to go to Aquos and whispers to him.

Ooc: RP time!

[Endgame]

"I think it is time to kill him. It is just the usual bad guy rant about his failures in life and why that means he has to kill a load of people.

"Am I really such a bore to you? "Bad guy" is such a foolish term. "Good", "Evil"... neither exist. The terms are just ways of controlling people, personifying themselves as the righteous and their opposition as the devil. You think you don't seem evil to us, you vile little things? At the end of the day, "heroes" we are neither good nor evil. We are just 2 forces destined to fight. And if it is a fight you desire, then so be it! I appreicate your generosity, Paladin... but your party is insufferable. Already they have slain my beloved brothers and initiated a genocide!"

With a earth-shattering roar, Aquos dives back into the ground. "Coward..." mumbles the party. They ready their weapons, preparing for where Aquos would pop out... but suddenly, the masive Prince explodes outwards from the ground, leaping over the party As he soars by, he wraps up Punii in one of his tentacles and drags him down into the water that the party crossed. Surfacing, with Punii still in his disgusting tentacle, Aquos laughs a cruel laugh, a booming laugh that shook the very cavern they were in. Punii strugles to escape from the Prince's grasp but to no avail. He hacks and wheezes until he exhausts himself, unable to struggle further.

"They call me the 'Tentacled Terror' in some parts of the world, you know. And I have every intention of showing you why!"

Lifting his 4 left tentacles, in omne clean swipe, he aboslutley decimates the pillars in the water that the party used to cross. 6 of Aquos's tentacles - including the one holding Punii - descend into the water's depths. Only Aquos's head and his 2 tentacles remain on the surface, his two gigantic tentacles clapping to a beat above his head. It was a catchy beat and was practically music, but everyone in the room knew that Aquos's song was just a sad subsitute for his eyes.

"You have done more then enough harm here. You have done more then enough harm to the Proggs. You have done more then enough harm to my family.

Face the consequences of your impudence, "heroes"! I will show you the error of your ways... one beating at a time! ENGARDE!"

The battle with the Tentacled Terror... BEGINS!

"I will enjoy this."

Aquos, Level 28 Beast *Counterstriking!*

HP: 1100/1100

SP: 24

Ether: 30/30

Specials:

1-2: Tentacle Lash: Does 28 damage to the hero who rolled Special Damage. The heroes above and below him in the battle order take 14 damage.

3-4: Ruckus: The sound of Aquos's tentacles clapping shakes loose some stalagmites, causing them to fall on top of the party. All heroes take 11 damage, disregarding SP.

5-6: Rhythmic Rampage: Grabs the hero who rolled Special Damage with his tentacles and slams him into all of his party members. The entire party (including the hero who rolled Special Damage) takes damage equal to that Party Member's power.

7-8: Catastrophe Cacophony: Nullifies all of the party's positive effects, and does 28 damage to the hero who rolled Special Damage.

0: Tail Swing: With a swing of his monstrous tail, Aquos does 18 damage to the entire party. Every party member has a 1/2 chance of being stunned for one round. (Can be remedied or removed for 5 ether.)

Note: Aquos's specials are not randomized! The numbers before each special is how many tentacles Aquos must have up for him to use it. For example, if he has 5 tentacles revealed, he will always use Rhythmic Rampage. He will only ever use Tail Swing when all of his tentacles have been slain.

Passive Specials:

Tentacle Guard: As long as Aquos has 1 tentacle up, he will be counterstriking.

Ethereal Immunity: Aquos is immune to all scrolls.

SP Constant: Aquos's SP can only be lowered by destroying his tentacles, and nothing else. Each tentacle destroyed drops his SP by 2.

Hanging on a Thread: Aquos can have a minimum of 1 HP when he still has tentacles active! All of his tentacles must be destroyed before Aquos himself can be. When Aquos dies, the battle is won.

Drops:

Peculiar Egg, Garnet

Left Tentacle A, Level 18 Beast

HP: 250/250

SP: 2

Specials:

Musical Mugging: Perfectly aligned with the beat, the tentacle slaps the hero who rolled special damage, stealing gold and doing damage equal to the hero's WP + SP.

Stone Spike: Uses 4 of Aquos's ether to raise a spike of stone from the ground, doing 9 damage to the entire party, disregarding SP. If no ether left, nothing happens.

Specials decided by die roll.

Immune to Blindness and Sleep!

Drops:

30 gold, potion.

Note: When defeated, does an automatic 45 damage to Aquos and drops his SP by 2.

Right Tentacle A, Level 18 Beast

HP: 250/250

SP: 2

Specials:

Musical Mugging: Perfectly aligned with the beat, the tentacle slaps the hero who rolled special damage, stealing gold and doing damage equal to the hero's WP + SP.

Stone Wall: Uses 4 of Aquos's ether to raise a stone wall, halving all damage done to all enemies next round.

Specials decided by die roll.

Immune to Blindness and Sealing!

Drops:

30 gold, tonic

QM Note: Aquos has 8 different tentacles, and every round, he will raise different ones. It works off a cycle, a repeating pattern: if you can figure out which tentacles appear when, you will be able to strategize far more efficiently.

The Party:

Sylph Solanum (Dannylonglegs) *Party Leader!* *Lucky!*

unknown age, unknown race Druid

Level 19.5

Power: 27 (19+7+1)

Defense: 0

Health: 35/35c(9+17+7+1)

Ether: 23/23 (5+16+1)

Gold: 19

Equipment: Shrapnel Bow (WP: 9, Bow *envenomed!*. Every successful hit drops the target's SP by 1) , Ranger's Quiver (WP +1 to bows and crossbows), 20-20 glasses (headwear, +1 turn of effect for scrolls)

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 x3, Venom, 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), Quartz, Tale of the Invincible King, Psych Documents, Merry Bow (WP:7, ranged, steals 1 gold with each successful hit except Shield-skills), Journal of The Wound, Sword Fragment (2), Grand Tonic

Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts)

25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider

Level: 21

Power: 29 (21+8+0)

Health: 36/36 (19+8+1+7+0)

Shield Power: (1 + 5)

Ether: ~/0

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

Negative effects: (none)

Gold: 753 (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 (4), Grand Potion, Venom, Ice Bomb (1), Mead (2), Phoenix Essence (3), Trial Brew (1), Smelling Salts (2), Remedy, Nostrum (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) *Lucky!*

Level 20 Evoker *Immune to Fragile!*

Power: 31

Defense: 6

Health: 28/28

Ether: 10/19

Gold: 210

Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11), Chainmail (SP: 2, Bodywear: half damage from Fire elemental damage and double from Electric elemental damage) Emerald Hood (SP: 4, headwear, protects from Fragile)

Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz, Opal, ,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. Usable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion x2, Grand Tonic x3, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sealing, Fireworks, Remedy, Tonic, Dualis Scepters (WP: 8, Club/Staff, Dual-striking)

Alexandre le Chevalier (Played by Capt.JohnPaul) *Lucky!*

Level 18 Paladin, 20 year old elf male

Power: 28

Defense: 13

Health: 38/38

Ether: 6/18

Gold: 0

Equipment: Sword of the Elven Blademaster (WP: 10 *envenomed!*; ignores SP), Cross Heater Shield (SP: 10) (Mail of the Renegade Commander (SP: 3; Damage of all Free Hits is halved; suitable for Knights and Barbarians), Dapper Hat (Headwear, wearer has a 1/6 chance of becoming encouraged at the start of each battle)

Inventory: Potions (4), Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Tonic x2, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Potion, Grand Tonic, Scroll of Sealing, Tonic

Lycan Dean (played by theBoyWonder) *Lucky!*

Level 12 Rogue *Immune to weakened* *Immune to Stunned*

Power: 32

Health: 16/16

Gold: 0 (95 gold owed to Thormanil and 30 to Loreal)

Equipment: Combrys (WP: 14 *envenomed!*, 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)}, Scarlet Hood ^{(Headwear, Power +4, Protects from Stunned)}

Inventory: Bedroll, Staff of The Frog Paladin (WP:6, ^{1/6 chance of Amphibianocs Blessing (protects from damage)}), Throwing Dagger (WP6), Deadly Venom, Venom x3, Nostrum, Potion, Sylvania's Cowl^{(grants Animal Talk to Wearer)}

Galen Woodward (Fugazi)

36 year old male human Rogue

Level 15.5

Power: 25 (15+10)

Defense: 1 (+1)

Health:25/25 (7+13+4)

Gold:750

Equipment: Murkwood Thread (WP: 10), Chimera Headdress (Headwear, Suitable for Rangers and Rogues, +1 SP +4 Health), Leather Armour (SP:1), Hide of The Wound (+6 power to throwing weapons),

Inventory: Fauxthril Shuriken (WP:5, ranged), Throwing Dagger (WP:4, ranged), Bedroll, Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bomb XX, Grand Potion x4, Remedy x3, Nostrum x3, Mead x3, Fire Bomb, Deadly Venom x2, Crumbling Venom, Goblin's Wrench(WP:10,retrievable), Black Katana (WP:8), Phoenix Essence x2, Smelling Salts x3, Trial Brew, Goblin's Wrench(WP:10,retrievable), Cast, Potion, Leather Armour (SP:1), Soma

"HEEELLLP!"

Punii, 2 month year old Progg Alchemist *Hostage!*

Jellies: Blue x2, Green x2, Red x1

QM Note: Sorry if some of you didn't get to prepare! There is only 2 tentacles up this round, though, so I figured you could take drugs if you needed to.

Edited January 2, 2013 by Endgame

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"I got Aquos, front row, I can pierce his SP! Maybe someone else with a venomed weapon can attack the tentacle, so it will lose health even when it's not up."

"Aquos, go easy on me, I don't think I actually killed any proggs, I just kept missing the entire battle."

[Endgame]

QM Note: By the by, I will be keeping the status of every revealed tentacle (and Aquos) in a handy-dandy little chart come next round. It'll fill itself in as more and more of his tentacles are revealed. Effects will be constant, so if you put a tentacle to Sleep and it appears a couple rounds later, it will still be asleep. Likewise, Venom will always do its thing to the tentacle, even when it is not revealed.

"I think not, paladin."

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"How would.... you... know....?"

[Endgame]

"How would.... you... know....?"

"Oh, a thousand pardons. I meant "I think not" as in "I'm still going to beat you into a pile of scrap metal regardless of who you've hurt", not "I think you have not missed a million times." Forgive me for the miscommunication."

Edited January 1, 2013 by Endgame

[Jedi master Brick]

Elgar take on Left tentacle a from the back row.

OOC: Elgar has already drunk his nostrum so he should be lucky.

[Dannylonglegs]

"Alex, he's counter-striking--meaning he'll deal 28 damage to you if you get a hit on him. Let me handle this. I want to... make up for my rudeness. No one attack Aquathor until we've disarmed him."

Order (If everyone agrees):

Punii: be a good little hostage.

Alex: RTA, FR

Sylph: Smelling Salts, BR

Sylph: Heal TT

Elgar: LTA, BR, Opal Spell

Lycan: LTA, FR

Galen: RTA, FR

Johon: LTA, FR

[Endgame]

"Alex, he's counter-striking--meaning he'll deal 28 damage to you if you get a hit on him. Let me handle this. I want to... make up for my rudeness. No one attack Aquathor until we've disarmed him."

QM Note: Pun intended?

I know RTA and LTA are the tentacles, but is TT Tentacled Terror? What good will healing do?

Also, Alex's shield is taken into account on the counter-strike, as is row.

Hopefully these last few battles you broke out the pen and sapper.

Edited January 1, 2013 by Endgame

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"Ya, I was thinking of my shield. But fine, RTA front row."