Heroica RPG - Quest #53: Chaos in Eubric

[CMP]

"My goal here is to end anyone who'd have the world go up in chaos, mate. Keep that in mind."

Atramor kept one hand on Ratsbane and one eye on Zane every second of the walk.

[CorneliusMurdock]

Take heart, friends. At least party is all together.

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall moved along with the group. Things were growing ever more complicated. Who was the court? Why did they exist? Why had the Gray Wizard neglected to mention his brother? Why was the subject so tremulous? Most of all what was this about regret? The ogre reflected back, he had been through a lot, not everything he could say he was proud of over his 80 years. Was he a liability to the Party? Was there some unknown force that the ignored the constraints of time and space, of truth and reason, and was possible of tearing the very fabric of ones view of the world to shreds? These and many more thoughts troubled Skrall, whatever lay before the Party, he did not think it would be particularly pleasant.

[Flipz]

"Regret...? Master of...Regret?" Arthur's frown grew deeper. <Vipera...I have met with one who calls himself The Regret. He...he is a Progg, a monstrous insect-like creature, born of Ether. One of their great princes was responsible for the death of a Hero some months ago. Vipera...he could contact the dead. He showed me...countless relatives of mine...and he told me...he told me I...I have...a...a...a...a gi...> At this, Arthur falters, still unable to confess the details to the majestic Dragon. Mingled shame, fear, and doubt radiate from him, in both the Spirit Pools and even, to an extent, in the physical realm, visible to the rest of the party. Sensing Vipera's, and indeed, several other party members', attention upon him, he quickly resumes. <Ah, that is to say...he said that the Zeigfrieds might have been able to train m--um...one...who has the gift to sense the Spirit Pools. I...the incident...it troubles me greatly...> Why? It did not stop you from blurting out your entire history in front of Thothwick and Alexis and Cronk and everyone then, back in the Hall... <I...am hesitant to share more, but if you believe that it will aid you and our mission, I will tell you the whole story. You are one of the few here I feel I can fully trust.>

[The Legonater]

<I am afraid not, Lady Nyx. That gate is open. Whatever comes will be better defended due to it. Zee failed, but Sphinx opened it just the same. I can sense him. He is not the same as he once was, but I can still feel him.>

So we have failed after all. Dyric resists an urge to glare at Thothwick, and instead moves to stand beside Skrall.

This is folly. I fear we're being played for fools, even as we speak. These men seem inclined to tell only have the truth, and even that distorting it for their uses. Do they not see we must work together in this war?

[Waterbrick Down]

So we have failed after all. Dyric resists an urge to glare at Thothwick, and instead moves to stand beside Skrall.

This is folly. I fear we're being played for fools, even as we speak. These men seem inclined to tell only have the truth, and even that distorting it for their uses. Do they not see we must work together in this war?

"Felton, is no fool and neither is Hans, tis the lot of the hero ever to be in the dark on certain issues though. I have no love fer wizards, but we have little choice but to trust Gray. Zane and Zander have already given themselves over to madness, if only of different kinds, and I have a feelin' that Bennenton is just as confused as the rest of us. We have no choice but to go on, Rone, and make use of the cards that are dealt us, whether all of our Party agrees with that sentiment remains to be seen."

[The Legonater]

I trust Hans and Felton - Haddon was more than enough to show them in their true colours, and Bennenton seems like a good man. As you said, it is mainly this wizard and these mysterious chaos users I find disturbing. All my life I have searched for answers of one kind or another, but these only bring up more questions. I can not help but be wary, yet at the same time I strive for unity. 'Tis a most irritating paradox.

As Dyric shakes his head, he sees Arthur, who looks troubled. Regulus, is there something you need? Anything I have is yours, for the duration.

[UsernameMDM]

"I say you should rest my friend and save your strength. Our quest may yet become more dangerous, and I shall only call upon you when truly needed. I am forever grateful to you." Hoke said to Vipera.

Hoke truly enjoyed the company of the dragon. He made small talk as they walked along. He listened to tales of the dragon's homeland and their fight against the chimeras. Hoke did not understand why he did not think of this before, but it dawned on him that the small reptilian on his shoulder would one day be a creature of nightmarish proportions.

Hoke was glad they were friends.

[Flipz]

As Dyric shakes his head, he sees Arthur, who looks troubled. Regulus, is there something you need? Anything I have is yours, for the duration.

"It seems...that when it all comes down to it, we are simply trusting our fate to chance." "I'd normally relish such uncertainty, but it seems I have lost my ability to ride the waves with confidence." Arthur pops the cork out of a bottle of Nostrum and offers it to Dyric. "Drink? I'd certainly want one after a showdown with the undead." He, meanwhile, pulls a bottle of Mead out of his pack and offers it in Nyx's direction. "Would you care for something as well?"

[The Legonater]

"It seems...that when it all comes down to it, we are simply trusting our fate to chance." "I'd normally relish such uncertainty, but it seems I have lost my ability to ride the waves with confidence." Arthur pops the cork out of a bottle of Nostrum and offers it to Dyric. "Drink? I'd certainly want one after a showdown with the undead." He, meanwhile, pulls a bottle of Mead out of his pack and offers it in Nyx's direction. "Would you care for something as well?"

I gladly take the Nostrum. Tell you what, Regulus. If you can convince Atramor that scarf of his, I'll lend you my Lucky Die. Be careful with it, now, it's in mint condition.

[CorneliusMurdock]

The Gray Wizard had always confused Cronk for calling himself a wizard. News of a brother that might actually be a powerful wizard, and not a nice one, troubled Cronk even more. Cronk knew Felton to be a man of conviction. If the Gray Wizard thought the Master of Regret was a threat to Felton, what chance did Cronk have?

Cronk closed off his mind. Emptied it of all thought. He had tried for a time to drink regrets away. It helped for a while but Cronk could not forget. In the end, it was far easier for him just not to think. Focus on bashing and pray for redemption.

Nyx, Cronk would like friend to take this Phoenix Essence. Cronk has two and Cronk has heard that Nyx's party was forced to use a couple. Cronk hopes that party does not have to split up again soon but take essence just in case.

[Flipz]

"That sounds like a fair plan, here, you can take the rest of my Nostrums." Arthur approaches Atramor, who seemed to be following Zane closely. "Say, Atramor, I've been thinking, we're far better off with you wearing your amulet than my scarf. Mind if I take it back?"

[CMP]

Atramor glanced sideways at Arthur, nodded, and handed over the Scarf of Misfortune. On a thought, he also handed back the Ancient Crown, and then shuffled over to Hoke.

"Mate....do you mind if I borrow that hat of yours? If we run into Zee again, I wanna be damn ready," he trailed off, gripping the Explosive Staff tighter.

Edited January 16, 2013 by CallMePie

[UsernameMDM]

"Mate....do you mind if I borrow that hat of yours? If we run into Zee again, I wanna be damn ready," he trailed off, gripping the Explosive Staff tighter.

"Let me weigh this request my friend. If I run out of ethereal energies, I will need it to add teeth to Vintul's bite against the undead."

[Flipz]

Arthur hands the Scarf of Misfortune to Dyric.

[CMP]

"Fair enough," nodded Atramor.

[Scorpiox]

"Alas, I have no reason to join in this little shuffle that's going on, unless anyone wants to come over and help themselves to my equipment for whatever reason. Oh, and Dyric, maybe you'd like that 33 gold that I owe you back while we're at it." Haldor tosses some gold in the general direction of his friend and continues walking. "Hey Atramor, how go things? The wizard tells that we are off to face some Master of Regret, what do you feel about this? I know I've no reason to be afraid, there is very little that I regret at all in this world."

The nord put on a brave face, but he knew that what he had said wasn't true; there were many things that he would have undone, given the chance.

[Flipz]

Arthur glances at Haldor, somehow sensing contradiction, but is too consumed by his own doubts to put his finger on it. He continues to walk nearby Dyric, glancing occasionally at Alexis.

[Zepher]

The heroes walk through the quiet streets of Eubric.

"My goal here is to end anyone who'd have the world go up in chaos, mate. Keep that in mind."

Atramor kept one hand on Ratsbane and one eye on Zane every second of the walk.

"Truth be told, I'm not too in love with the idea of Zoot eating everything either. I owed Mephisto and Zee, but that debt was paid when Skrall shot me with an arrow. Now I owe no one- well, no Chaos users at least. I've got two other debts to settle."

<I...am hesitant to share more, but if you believe that it will aid you and our mission, I will tell you the whole story. You are one of the few here I feel I can fully trust.>

<Master Arthur, if you believe you can contact the Spirit Pools, then you may tell me your tale. My mind is a buzz with noise, it would do me good to give me something to focus on.>

This is folly. I fear we're being played for fools, even as we speak. These men seem inclined to tell only half the truth, and even that distorting it for their uses. Do they not see we must work together in this war?

"Felton, is no fool and neither is Hans...agrees with that sentiment remains to be seen."

I trust Hans and Felton - Haddon was more than enough to show them in their true colours, and Bennenton seems like a good man. As you said, it is mainly this wizard and these mysterious chaos users I find disturbing. All my life I have searched for answers of one kind or another, but these only bring up more questions. I can not help but be wary, yet at the same time I strive for unity. 'Tis a most irritating paradox.

Felton has lagged behind near his old allies. He turns to Dyric and Skrall as they speak. Zander limps along beside him, little eltrical charges flying across his skin from time to time.

"I have been hoping to have a word with the two of you. I have been very busy reading those damned books, and have not had a chance to speak with nearly anyone. You two are some of my oldest allies. I must ask for your assistance for that reason. Skrall you speak wisely, as you always do. We are playing with fewer clues than ever, it seems. Why is that? I urge you to be careful. For all his madness, Zane speaks more reasonably than the Gray Wizard. He sees cracks in us, no doubt, but his half truths are better than the secrecy we have been receiving from the Gray Wizard. I have been both too trusting and not trusting enough in the past, yet still I find myself questioning him." Felton sighs and rubs his forehead with two hands. "When I was in my small town, I thought there was something greater for me to do out there in the big world. Now I know that there was, but it does not make my life any easier. Sometimes I wonder if ignorance is indeed bliss." Felton thinks briefly, and then his cutting voice comes back, hard and sure as ever. "Regardless, it is too late for that. We must keep our wits about us. Remember, Chaos is the way of the world, we can only, as Wren and Arthur always reminds us, direct the flow. Let us direct it smartly, heroes. I will share more words with you when we have more time, but I fear that we may be approaching this battle wrongly. I think perhaps now is the first time we've been on the right path. I am anxious to meet the Master of Regret."

"Hey, check this out!" says the King of Power as he zaps a rat that is running beside a building. It squeals in pain. "I'm getting better!"

"Charming. I will warn the vermin of the city."

"Haha. The whole city is vermin!"

Zane glances back as Zander.

"It seems...that when it all comes down to it, we are simply trusting our fate to chance."

"Fate? Chance? There are no such things. The world treats me as the fool, but it should look at itself. Arthur, was that your name...? Weak men use those made up words to describe made up things to excuse their weaknesses." Zane spits. "The Master of Regret will love you. He preys on the weak, just as his sister does. Maybe that's why you seem to rub the Gray Wizard the wrong way. The Magician says he's the strongest of the bunch."

"Everyone seems to rub him the wrong way," Felton says with a grin and a dangerously provocative wink at the Gray Wizard.

"I know I've no reason to be afraid, there is very little that I regret at all in this world."

The Gray Wizard smiles as Haldor sadly.

"Still so green, Haldor. You betray your age by your statements. We all have things to regret. The older you get, the more. Would that Tesni was here. The last time we met, I told you a leader must stand aloof, and that they lead lonely and sad lives. You will soon find both why I hold that belief, and that I am hypocritical in it. My brother may have much to say to me, and I doubt it will all be kind."

The heroes stop. They are at the edge of the city, facing the wall to the west. Before them is a ratty old building... or so it appears. Each time they blink the building seems to appear and then disappear. It is much easier to see out of the corner of their eyes.

"Where are you taking us?"

"Zoot isn't the only ancient God to have a temple buried under the city, now is he?"

Zane steps forward and opens the old wooden door. It creaks on its hinges to reveal a rickety old staircase spiraling downward. The heroes begin their descent into the darkness...

[Pandora]

Nyx walks through the city, her low mood and thoughts in her head keeping her silent. She listens, as always, and some things pique her interest. She draws her robes around her, feeling the cold still, as always. Cronk speaks to her, and the gentleness of his voice manages to crack a small but sincere smile from her.

"Thank you friend Cronk, I will gladly accept the Phoenix Essence. I still hope we won't have to use it. And thank you for the Mead, Arthur."

She adds, accepting the bottle from him, too. She drains it in one, feeling its warmth spread throughout her body and feeling a little better. She sees Atramor gripping her staff, and a pang runs through her, but her common sense tells her there are few she would trust with such an item, and she should not be so silly. To distract herself, she throws some questions at the Orc named Zane.

"So, the Master of Regret (and does that mean he regrets a lot of stuff?) is the Gray Wizard's brother, and they both have a sister? Who is their sister? And which two debts do you still have, and what are they and to whom?"

As she speaks she sees the supposed King of Power electrocute a rat, and while resisting the urge to incinerate the odious little runt, she does worry that he might be beginning to feel a little too much better.

OoC Nyx is used to accepting free drinks, so if you want payment Flipz, you might have to ask for it.

[Scorpiox]

The Gray Wizard smiles as Haldor sadly.

"Still so green, Haldor. You betray your age by your statements. We all have things to regret. The older you get, the more. Would that Tesni was here. The last time we met, I told you a leader must stand aloof, and that they lead lonely and sad lives. You will soon find both why I hold that belief, and that I am hypocritical in it. My brother may have much to say to me, and I doubt it will all be kind."

"Do not take me for a fool, Grey Wizard, because I do not pour my heart into the ears of my friends does not mean that I can only see things in the blunt way that they appear. You judge too much from what you can see on the surface. I have many things to say, but most I do not share, it is my way; I put on this act because it suits me. You did not know me before, I have changed, but on the inside I remain the same. I was much like Arthur, in many ways, irrational, weak, but that did not aid me in where I needed to go. I realise that you may not like this impression that I give, but it is just that, an act; it grants me respect from my friends and fear from my enemies. You see how I look, and when people see this, they expect something of me, I am just showing them what they are ready to hear. Sometimes I hate myself for this, I long to be myself, yet Haldor is a soft-minded man. Of course, I have much to regret, much indeed, but those are things best kept for my mind. Things I have not shared with even my closest friends, but it is still there, inside. I have never shared this with you before, Wizard, because I did not trust you to understand. Congratulations, you've cracked the shell."

[CMP]

"Point is, I don't like havin' you around, and the faster we're finished with this Master of Regret and with you, the better."

Atramor turned his head to Haldor, busy telling off the Gray Wizard.

"Regrets? Don't have many in particular. Focusin' on the past ain't the best way forward. It can't be fixed or changed, it's not worth wastin' time on. If ya' regret anythin', the best way to get it outta your head is look for the best way ya' can fix it. For example, I regret not flingin' a knife at Wren when I met with her. Now we're gonna go fix it," he explained, with a brief chuckle.

[Masked Builder]

As the party walks along, Alexis falls behind, and finds herself at the back of the line. She remembers something, and sticks her hand in her bag and draws out the book she got. Alexis examines the cover, then flips through it briefly, ingesting the information. Hm, she thinks to herself, this seems about right. Alexis continues looking through the book until she hears something that catches her interest.

"Hey, check this out!" says the King of Power as he zaps a rat that is running beside a building. It squeals in pain. "I'm getting better!"

"Oh great, we just defeated you too." Alexis mutters to no one in particular.

The heroes stop. They are at the edge of the city, facing the wall to the west. Before them is a ratty old building... or so it appears. Each time they blink the building seems to appear and then disappear. It is much easier to see out of the corner of their eyes.

Zane steps forward and opens the old wooden door. It creaks on its hinges to reveal a rickety old staircase spiraling downward. The heroes begin their descent into the darkness...

Alexis continues reading and walking, until she bumps into Arthur. "Oh sorry. Didn't see you there." She slips the book back into her bag. "Quite the building. Never noticed this before."

As the descend into the darkness, Alexis falls silent.

[UsernameMDM]

Hoke looks at Vipera and smiles.

And steps through the door.

[The Legonater]

Felton has lagged behind near his old allies. He turns to Dyric and Skrall as they speak. Zander limps along beside him, little eltrical charges flying across his skin from time to time.

"I have been hoping to have a word with the two of you. I have been very busy reading those damned books, and have not had a chance to speak with nearly anyone. You two are some of my oldest allies. I must ask for your assistance for that reason. Skrall you speak wisely, as you always do. We are playing with fewer clues than ever, it seems. Why is that? I urge you to be careful. For all his madness, Zane speaks more reasonably than the Gray Wizard. He sees cracks in us, no doubt, but his half truths are better than the secrecy we have been receiving from the Gray Wizard. I have been both too trusting and not trusting enough in the past, yet still I find myself questioning him." Felton sighs and rubs his forehead with two hands. "When I was in my small town, I thought there was something greater for me to do out there in the big world. Now I know that there was, but it does not make my life any easier. Sometimes I wonder if ignorance is indeed bliss." Felton thinks briefly, and then his cutting voice comes back, hard and sure as ever. "Regardless, it is too late for that. We must keep our wits about us. Remember, Chaos is the way of the world, we can only, as Wren and Arthur always reminds us, direct the flow. Let us direct it smartly, heroes. I will share more words with you when we have more time, but I fear that we may be approaching this battle wrongly. I think perhaps now is the first time we've been on the right path. I am anxious to meet the Master of Regret."

We are closing in on a winding path. There is mystery growing all around us. Deception and screcya bound. Yet it is times like these, Felton, that make us who we are. You remember how I was at Haddon; I was all over the place, stucl-up, and so on. But we saw horrible abttles and treachery face to face, I became better for it. A wiser, more mature self was found through the brink of death. I grew, there, out of my self-pity and loathing. You say you have found your destiny, Felton - and perhaps you have - but maybe that destiny is leading you to a larger one. Perhaps what we encounter here will grow and shape you in ways you can't imagine. Perhaps this Master of Regret will be part of that path - I know I am not looking forward to him myself, many regrets still cling to me from Duplovia, despite my efforts - and perhaps he will only be a step in that direction. I know not. What I do know is this - things are changing, and I am honoured to fight at your side while they do.