Heroica RPG - Quest #53: Chaos in Eubric

[CMP]

This explains so much. And in such a cool way.

Atramor's eyes darkened, and he looked down at floor. It was necessary. That much was clear. But to renounce the organization that elevated him from a street dwelling rogue into....well, a hero? Ultimately, if it gave them a shot at this Mephisto, and a shot at Wren...it had to be done. Even if they failed, and could not return to it, Heroica was doomed anyway. He looked back up at the Master of Regret and nodded slowly.

"Alright."

[Flipz]

"And must we all be sworn into the Court?"

[Zepher]

"I can only assume you'll share the information. I can't betray Mephisto's deal. When I sign a contract, I keep to it. I swore to only reveal the location to members of the Court. It's the same reason Zane couldn't tell you."

"Did you truly believe I'd never been there? I needed a reason to bring you to the Master here... though in truth, if I could have told you I would have."

[Flipz]

Seeing that both Atramor and Alexis had agreed, Arthur scowled. "I have no respect for the Court. They are fools--or at least, the first three members are--and they know nothing of the truth of Chaos. Heroica, for all its prattle of righteousness and nobility, is a prime example of Chaos' true nature--by the Falconer's magic, nearly anything is survivable. I am not certain I can justify such a betrayal of an organization that epitomizes the very principle I strive to serve, for an enemy group that subverts the nature of Chaos so completely, so thoroughly."

[CMP]

"Mate, do ya' think any of us want to do this? There ain't always a way around a decision like this. It's just one of those times where the quest comes before your beliefs, as much as I hate to say it."

Edited January 17, 2013 by CallMePie

[Flipz]

At the explanation of the Master--such arrogance, how he hated that name--and of Zane, Arthur's scowl deepens. "What are the conditions for leaving the Court, then? I will not be entrapped into inescapable service of such hateful ideals."

Edited January 17, 2013 by Flipz

[Zepher]

"Guess we'll just have to see." The Master smirks.

[Professor Flitwick]

"I've worked alongside cut-throats and brigands. I've done chores for loan sharks and mobsters. I'm currently travelling with a Witch, a angst riddled teenager, and a Norsemen who aroma is reminiscent of the stables back at Pitchford. I've cooperated with worse gang - with greater risk taken - and will likely be forced to do so in the future. I can surely stomach a brief collaborate with this unpalatable consortium."

"Remain a member of Heroica, and watch it's destruction, or leave it - however briefly - so that it might survive. The choice seems obvious to me. I'm in, too."

[Flipz]

"Mate, do ya' think any of us want to do this? There ain't always a way around a decision like this. It's just one of those times where the quest comes before your beliefs, as much as I hate to say it."

"Were it anyone but the Court, I might find it easier to justify. But the Court embodies the corruption of Chaos I have sworn to undo. I seek to redeem it. Wren and the Court seek to pervert it, in their own ways. And how do we know that Mephisto does not, in fact, bode worse for Eubric than even Wren?"

"Guess we'll just have to see." The Master smirks.

Arthur does not bother to disguise the glare of pure contempt he shoots at the Master. "You are a poor tempter, sir. Your brother, at least, offers us the illusion of choice." Arthur turns to the rest of the party. "This reeks of a trap, one we cannot escape once entered into. I trust this being about as far as I could throw the island. He is, as my friend De'kra would call him, a Pi'raka, a despicable being that preys upon the weakness of others--including us." He sends a stare of pure hatred at the divine being. "May the chronicles state that any agreement I enter into with this being is done against my will." He pulls a book (De'kra's Journal) from his pack and makes a note as such:

De'kra,

Let the Chronicles state that any agreement I am entered into with the being--no, Pi'raka--who calls himself the "Master of Regret" or the "King of Souls" or "The Fearsome Past" was created by force and placed upon me against my will.

--Arthur Justus Regulus VII

Arthur looks to Atramor. "If you and this party wish my further aid, you will have to Hex me." He turns to leave, one foot already on the stairs.

[CMP]

Atramor stared.

"If you're gonna turn your back and make it that much harder for us to stop Wren by ourselves, then by all means, go. I'm not gonna force you just because your ego's so damn inflated. I don't like manipulatin' people to make life-alterin' decisions, that belief I can hold because it's not standin' in the way of us and Wren. If you have this much pride, mate, you're more of a liability that anythin'."

His eyes were locked now with a glare onto Arthur, but he made no move to try and hex the sorcerer.

"If you're so damn selfish that you're not willin' to shelve your beliefs for all of one quest to probably save Eubric, then you belong with the Court more than you belong with Heroica."

Edited January 17, 2013 by CallMePie

[CorneliusMurdock]

Arthur, there is no choice. No beings ever said defeating Wren would be easy, but it must be done.

Cronk reluctantly agrees as long as there is no eating of souls involved.

[The Legonater]

I... I...

I look back between the Master of Regret and the heroes, pained and conflicted.

I have given all I am to protect Heroica and Eubric. To bring them peace. Yet here we are, on the knife's edge, called upon to either oppose all that I wish to protect in order to save it or to rejoin it in a potentially vain defense. How can I make this choice in good conscience? How can I willfully turn my back on everything, to potentially fall in to a trap? So many here speak in lies and half-truths. Nothing is certain, nothing. I... I have seen a city sacrifice its beliefs, and it cost everything. How can... Skrall. Friend. I can't... I don't... this is wrong. Everything about this is so extremely sickeningly wrong. I... how? ...How can I choose between two vague deaths? This is not my way. I cannot let this be my way. There must be some other option, any option!

[Flipz]

Atramor stared.

"If you're gonna turn your back and make it that much harder for us to stop Wren by ourselves, then by all means, go. I'm not gonna force you just because your ego's so damn inflated. I don't like manipulatin' people to make life-alterin' decisions, that belief I can hold because it's not standin' in the way of us and Wren. If you have this much pride, mate, you're more of a liability that anythin'."

His eyes were locked now with a glare onto Arthur, but he made no move to try and hex the sorcerer.

"If you're so damn selfish that you're not willin' to shelve your beliefs for all of one quest to probably save Eubric, then you belong with the Court more than you belong with Heroica."

Arthur, there is no choice. No beings ever said defeating Wren would be easy, but it must be done.

Cronk reluctantly agrees as long as there is no eating of souls involved.

"Did you all take stupid pills this morning?! Have you forgotten that the Court wants the Doors to Chaos open just as much as Wren?! Joining the Court does not sound like stopping Wren, it sounds an awful lot like getting manipulated into doing her job for her."

"Am I missing something? Is the plan to gain Mephisto's aid at the cost of handing him the keys to the city?! Or are we trying to join the enemy ranks in order to take the Court out of the picture from within? I'd do a lot of things for Eubric and for Heroica, even leaving it if I had to. I'm not afraid to step outside the Falconer's protection, to face true death. But I'm not going to turn it over to the Court to save it from the Lady. So go on, hand the city over to a Demon of Zoot incarnate, and to this sinister being of pain here. I'll find my own way to stop Wren, even if I meet my end doing it. Bal did. Sasha did. And even if we lose, their names will be remembered forever. I'd rather stand with them...than with the likes of traitors."

[UsernameMDM]

The elder god's words ooze out like black pus in Hoke's ears. The mere suggestion of joining the Court of Demons rankled Hoke's very core.

But, a quest is a quest. Hoke did not like the how the deal sounded, but to him, making the deal was like putting on a uniform: you do it to get the job done. Hoke doesn't believe in chaos or care much for those that hold to its ways. He has no love for the Court of Demons. But here, in this situation, he feels himself to be an infiltrator, a spy. This was a legitimate chance to defeat Wren or at least take her out of her own game.

Hoke steps towards the Master of Regret.

"If I do this, I want power."

[Flipz]

Hoke steps towards the Master of Regret.

"If I do this, I want power."

Arthur gapes in horror at Hoke. He backs hastily away from the Mystic Knight, reaching for his sword but then changing his mind and instead unstrapping the Staff of the Cultist Battlemage. He holds it in a defensive posture as he backs once more toward the stairs, hoping his Cloak and the Staff would be enough to escape if the madmen turned violent.

Edited January 18, 2013 by Flipz

[UsernameMDM]

Arthur gapes in horror at Hoke. He backs hastily away from the Mystic Knight, reaching for his sword but then changing his mind and instead unstrapping the Staff of the Cultist Battlemage. He holds it in a defensive posture as he backs once more toward the stairs, hoping his Cloak and the Staff would be enough to escape if the madmen turned violent.

Hoke senses the sorcerer's movements and slowly turns his head to regard him. With his hand behind his back, he signals with an open palm to calm Arthur down and shoots him a quick wink while holding a slight glare.

[Zepher]

"What's with the little madman? He's full of regret and fear, isn't he? If I didn't have other things to do, I'd let it keep going. I'm not stripping you of free will, just giving you a new title. Joining the Court doesn't mean anything more than you're a member of the Court. I'm not doing anything to alter what you think. Hel, Zander just told a story where he handed Zane's big behind to him. He did that of his own free will, not because I or Mephisto or Zee made him."

"You're not going to let me forget that, are you?"

"Why would I? I wouldn't be much good at my job if I did. You'll regret it as long as I can make you."

"Then I guess I'll have to find a way to stop regretting it," says Zane with a wink towards Zander.

The Master smiles at Hoke.

"My brother must love you. That's a move I can admire at the least. Regret looks towards the past- you look towards the right now. That's true passion. I can grant you no power unless you're keen on soul consumption, and for that I'd need to make a separate deal with you. A soul for a soul, fair is fair."

Edited January 18, 2013 by Zepher

[CMP]

"We're not turnin' the city over to the damn Court, the hell does that even mean? We're not doing crap for these maniacs. If anything, we're usin' them to defeat Wren ourselves. If joinin' 'em is what it takes to get rid of Wren and keep Eubric safe, then, well, that's what we'll do. "

[CorneliusMurdock]

Arthur, calm self. If Arthur would rather return to hall and abandon fight against Wren, that is Arthur's choice. Friends will not prevent it. There is no need for violence here.

"If I do this, I want power."

Hoke, be careful. This is not the path friend wants to go down. Friends should not get carried away.

[CMP]

"Aye, mate, if you're gonna leave, leave. You're not as important to this quest as ya' might think, we're just wastin' time sittin' here tryin' to convince you otherwise."

[The Legonater]

I'm not stripping you of free will, just giving you a new title. Joining the Court doesn't mean anything more than you're a member of the Court. I'm not doing anything to alter what you think.

We're not doing crap for these maniacs. If anything, we're usin' them to defeat Wren ourselves. If joinin' 'em is what it takes to get rid of Wren and keep Eubric safe, then, well, that's what we'll do. "

Dyric listens to the argument between Arthur and, well, everyone, and nods.

Fine. Fine. I'll do it. But if this is a trap, if this goes horridly wrong... I will not live with that 'regret'.

[Zepher]

Felton lays a hand on Dyric's shoulder, and one on Arthur's.

"Listen to me, heroes. I always advise we respect our enemies. You both recognize Wren as smart, cunning. We must view the Master the same way. He is offering us up Mephisto's location, but he has explained- he may not break his contract. He agreed to tell no one other than the Court. We simply name ourselves to the Court, and we get the information. Do you not see what he is doing? He is sticking to the letter of the law, not the meaning. It is genus, terrifying if used against us, but in this case, it is not. He is helping. I swear myself to the Court. I swear Hans and Poletad, and McColt to the Court. They all would, would they not Gray Wizard?"

The Gray Wizard nods silently. "Do you yet trust me?"

"Your family intrigues me, to say the least."

<We all do what we must. We have duty. I pledge for myself, Mallelio and Emperor Victor. The people of Dastan will not and do not balk at what is required of them, and neither do Dragons.>

"I will speak for Triad. She knows duty like no other. You have our agreement, brother. We will all join the Court."

[UsernameMDM]

The Master smiles at Hoke.

"My brother must love you. That's a move I can admire at the least. Regret looks towards the past- you look towards the right now. That's true passion. I can grant you no power unless you're keen on soul consumption, and for that I'd need to make a separate deal with you. A soul for a soul, fair is fair."

"My acquaintance with your brother is as young as a newborn babe, so I am unsure about his favor towards me. Soul consumption you say? Maybe, when the time is right. Tis a pity though. All of your godhood and supposed power, and you are unable to move on the small request from a mere mortal."

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall listened intently to the deal. He had cowed his head to join Heroica, now he had to cow his head again. With a short nod he agreed, "I will join."

[Flipz]

"...You are right in one thing, Felton. It is terrifying that the Master may indeed use that very sort of logic against us. I feel he is using it that way even now." Arthur stares bitterly at the others. "Take what risks you will. I would not remain...but for your sake, Felton, and for Vipera's, I will trust your judgement. This is still done against my will. And know this, both of you." Arthur glances at the Gray Wizard before he points accusingly at the Master. "If you try to use this oath against me, as you are using Mephisto's against him, I will hunt you down and end you. That I happily swear." Arthur slowly, haltingly, moves away from the exit, each step a tremendous struggle of will. He shoves Skrall rudely out of his way and lurks near the back of the group, his arms crossed, his countenance full of anger and resentment. "Gos at moph at iv it pedettasz vo fitsuqv Xsep't qmov, apf gos OPMZ at nipinammz moph apf at nipinammz gas at pedettasz...I txeas nztemg vo vje Dousv."

Translation: "For as long as it is necessary to disrupt Wren's plot, and for ONLY as minimally long and as minimally far as necessary...I swear myself to the Court."

Edited January 18, 2013 by Flipz