Heroica RPG - Quest #53: Chaos in Eubric

[Scorpiox]

Haldor stepped forward.

"If this is the only way that this can be done, if this the only option..." He sighed. "I swear my life to the Court of Demons. You see, Arthur, you are wrong. I am not rolling out the red carpet for Wren and Zoot's arrival, this is what must be done. Even under the court, I will still hold myself and my senses, I will not allow such a thing to happen despite any temporary alliegence. And you Arthur, do not try to threaten the Master, he quite evidently holds power beyond all of your wildest dreams, you'd do well not to piss him off during the transformation. May we all be spurred on by Thoric's will, to end this as quickly as possible."

[Pandora]

"I don't like it, but apparently this is necessary for our quest. So be it. I'm in. As others have said, the quest comes first."

[Zepher]

"Good. Steps forth, heroes."

"Thothwick, regret for those that you've left behind. Hoptet in the Hall right now, and another, someone named Bluto. I welcome you to the Court of Demons, and name thee Prince of the Lost."

"Dyric, full of regret for the death of a family, full of regret for the banishment from your homeland and your fear of returning there. Dyric, I welcome you to the Court, and I name thee Royal Retainer of the Banished."

"Skrall, an old ogre has many regrets. A checkered past, a family who no longer wants you nor needs you, children you may never see again... you even regret much of your time in the Hall. You are almost past regret at this point, Ogre. You have almost welcomed misery and accepted it. It takes a strong Ogre. I welcome you to the Court, Skrall, and name thee Magister of Misery."

"Arthur, the young and fiery, heart filled with fear and hate and a past once kept hidden. You are also lost and you despair, grasping at straws in the dark. Your title is to be Scarecrow of Sorrow. Welcome to the Court."

"Haldor, son of the north, you have had a scarred childhood. You regret what you are, but wish to accept it as well. Haldor, I name thee the Master of Loathing."

"Alexis, who moves from lover to lover with only thoughts for the previous one. You are riddled with guilt. Fineran, Althior, now Arthur, but your thoughts remain only on those past and not on those present. I name thee Mistress of Lost Lust, and welcome you to the Court of Demons."

"And now, we move on to the doubters and liars and those without regret. Cronk, who wishes to present himself with no regrets, as pure, as the master of light. You have no regrets, do you?"

But before Cronk can speak a regret swims before him, from long ago...

"Don't you have any regrets, Cronk? I would have thought at least one, dear brother. I go through all the trouble of trying to save you and for what? You didn't even stick around for my funeral. The saddest part is, she was never in your league anyway. The odds were astronomically not in your favor, but brains were never your strong suit."

The Master of Regret glances around the room thoughtfully, but continues.

"You are the Lord of Liars, sir. Welcome to the Court."

"Nyx, Atramor and Hoke. You live your life differently than the rest. I welcome you all as Apprentices to the court. I hope some day you will do something you can learn to regret."

The heroes feel the breath rush out of them. The candles flicker. Their next breath seems... staler, somehow?

"Welcome to the Court, brothers and sisters."

"Now, as promised, a riddle."

"The three Old Gods sat down to dinner and started playing a game."

"They first talked about birth. The three asked which of them thought birth was beautiful. Only one of them replied that they thought birth was beautiful, and the other two said that they had no opinion on it."

"The second question was about life. The three asked which of them thought that life was rewarding. Two of them said that they thought it was not, and the third one said that they thought it was."

"The third question was about death. They asked if they thought that death was something to fear. Two of them said that they thought it was something to fear, while a third one said that they did not think it was scary at all."

"Now, I ask you heroes, for each question which of the Old Gods was the odd one out and why?"

Edited January 18, 2013 by Zepher

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall closed his eyes, even as the darkness filled the room, the shadow's words echoing in his head. Running... bandits...a cave... red hair... a smile... laughter... tears... the hall... an empty sewer... Wren... an orc slave left on a block... regret.

Skrall sucked the air in, it was somewhat familiar, reminding him of his days before the hall. Somehow he had taken for granted, the sweet smelling air of heroism, that lush aroma that pervaded your nostrils even when you lay unconscious on the floor of some god-forsaken dungeon or cave. So this was what freedom from that life felt like again.

"Passion... Hope... Regret..." he contemplated upon them one by one.

[CMP]

Atramor chuckled dryly at Regret's induction of each of them into the Court. It was a rather painful stab at each of them. Well, they had that coming. Far too many people focused on the past, in his eyes. And almost all the time, it was about a misstep. A failure. He'd had plenty of those, but as long as they weren't focused in on, Regret didn't have damn thing on him.

"How many guesses do we get?"

[UsernameMDM]

As soon as the Master of Regret pronounced the induction, Hoke involuntarily sucks in a sharp breath and holds it for a bit. It tastes like old earth of ages long pasts. He coughs it out as quickly as possible but feels a thick coating of the stuff settle onto his tongue. He blinked to just in time to hear the riddle.

"Passion favors a life lived, Hope springs forth at the onset, and Regret seeks and an end to its misery. Passion, life. Hope, birth. Regret, death."

Edited January 18, 2013 by UsernameMDM

[Zepher]

"Wrong, wrong. You give me too much credit. You have as many guesses as it takes, Atramor."

[CorneliusMurdock]

Krellik? Oh, Ennoc... Why? Cronk is sorry, Krellik, Cronk is sorry. Come back! Cronk deserves harsh words, just don't leave again. Cronk is sorry... Come back!!!

Cronk slumps to the floor, his hands covering his face, and sobs uncontrollably.

[CMP]

"In that case, I think you're the odd one out in all of 'em. Ya' want people to be born, live, and die, because you're dependent on the souls of mortals to survive. Ya' thrive on it."

Atramor turned, and his face fell into a frown as their party leader simply seemed to fall apart.

"Cronk? What's the problem, mate?"

Edited January 18, 2013 by CallMePie

[Pandora]

Nyx feels the air change around her, but that was expected, really. She scuffs the ground with her new red heels.

"Apprentice, huh. I was hoping for princess or something, but actually I don't think I'd want to be a princess here."

She sees her brave friend Cronk dissolve in front of her, something she never expected to see. She can't not go to him.

"Cronk, Cronk, it's ok. It's just this guy playing with your mind, it's ok, shhh, it is, really. It's ok"

She carries on comforting Cronk and thinking, before looking up to the Master of Regrets.

"Is it the one who didn't find death scary because they had no regrets?"

[Zepher]

The Master of Regret shudders with happiness as Cronk breaks down. He turns to the Orc.

"You feed me well, but that was not my trick. There are, as always, other forces about. I will admit that with me the veil between life and death is thin, but reaching out from the other side belongs to another."

"As for your accusation, Atramor, we all feast on souls. My brother, my sister and I. I feast on the souls of the regretful, my brother on those of passion, and my sister on those who hope. I simply collect the souls of the dead because mortals often die with regret. But you are thinking on the right path. Bear in mind, we embody that which we are called. When I die, it will be with the most regret of all."

"The apprentice has a head on her shoulders. In some ways, yes, that's correct. The one who does not fear death does not have any regrets."

[CorneliusMurdock]

But Cronk saw... Cronk heard... Krellik was here. Right here.

It was Cronk's fault, Nyx. All Cronk's fault. If Cronk had not tried to impress- Cronk's fault.

Cronk was led astray... But Cronk avenged.. Too late for Krellik, too late.

[UsernameMDM]

Hoke gently moves Nyx to the side, stoops down and grabs Kronk by the shoulders. Firmly, but with respect, Hoke pulls Kronk to his feet. He looks past Kronks tears and directly into his eyes.

"Not now," Hoke says is a low voice that he hopes only Kronk can hear. "You give him power he does not need. Not now."

Edited January 18, 2013 by UsernameMDM

[CMP]

Atramor looked between Cronk and Regret. To break Cronk like that...to break, bar none, the most righteous hero in Heroica? He could hardly wrap his mind about what that meant.

"Birth brings Hope...life creates Regret...." he glances sideways at Gray. "....and Passion in death?"

[Pandora]

Nyx continues to make soothing noises to Cronk and keeps her arm around his shoulders. She speaks quietly to him.

"Cronk, I know you well, you are a good... being. We learn from our mistakes and move on, it is part of life. Perhaps if that had not happened, you wouldn't have become the good and true Paladin you are now? I am sure that Krellik holds you no ill will, nobody surely can, because of your heart. We see you now, as you are, don't let this weirdo get to you"

"The apprentice has a head on her shoulders. In some ways, yes, that's correct. The one who does not fear death does not have any regrets."

"So am I right, or what?"

[Zepher]

"Tell me your guess, lady. Which of the three Gods felt different than the other for each one."

The Master of Regret shakes his head sadly. "Birth begins hope, but that was not the discussion. I will give you a hint, heroes. The odd one out is the same each time."

[CMP]

"Is it Passion?"

[CorneliusMurdock]

Cronk thanks Nyx for kind words, though Cronk does not feel deserving of them. Hoke is right. This is not time, the enemies surround friends. Cronk must be strong.

Ennoc, give Cronk strength...

[Zepher]

The Master of Regret smiles.

"Birth begins both hope and regret. But in the moment, it is passionately beautiful. Life breeds both hope and regret. But its reward is in the now. Death ends both regret hope, but those who are passionately in the now don't fear it. They don't think on it."

"Just beyond the northern wall, you will find a crypt that was once own by Crozen. There is where the Court of Demons reside. Zane will lead you to it, he needs to. He has a final debt to pay, and he will pay it there."

The heroes may head out whenever they wish.

[CorneliusMurdock]

Cronk wishes friends brought Hope along.

Edited January 18, 2013 by CorneliusMurdock

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall nodded silently at Atramor's answer, he glanced at Cronk for a moment, "Misery, seems everyone has their fair share no matter how hard they try to forget it," the ogre commented to himself.

"We'd best be getting on to whatever lies before us, friends."

Edited January 18, 2013 by Waterbrick Down

[Pandora]

Cronk wishes friends brought Hope along.

"Ah Cronk, there's always hope. Well, not always, but usually. Sometimes. And actually, hope isn't always that good...

Anyway, I agree with Skrall, we should get going, unless we need another costume change?"

[Scorpiox]

Haldor managed to steady himself as an intense pain shot through his body. It felt as though his heart had been torn out and all feeling removed. Despite his pledges to remain himself whatever the cost, the nord felt different. There was very little emotion left inside, mostly a hateful apathy, but also a deep anger and loathing. His once blue eyes now burned red, and his skin had become a sickly pale colour.

"I feel welcome in the Court of Demons, my brothers and sisters, for the quest that lies ahead. I am prepared to go where it is that we must, I do not fear what we may face there. This crypt of the Court will prove most enlightening, and I hold truth in my heart that Zane will lead us truthfully. Lead on, brother, there is much that we must do."

[CorneliusMurdock]

Yes. Friends will go find Court.

[Professor Flitwick]

"Thothwick, regret for those that you've left behind. Hoptet in the Hall right now, and another, someone named Bluto. I welcome you to the Court of Demons, and name thee Prince of the Lost."

"Those I've left behind... How can a mere shadow know of Hoptet, of Bluto. And what of those hey didn't mention? Mater? Aadloun? Zahlé? Labweh?... Masen?How can a mere shadow..."

Thothwicks musings on the Courts figurehead were cut short by Cronks outburst.

"To think a shade can reduce poor, brave Mr. Cronk to such mental anguish..."

Thothwick tried to nod reassuringly to Cronk, and followed him to the court.