Heroica RPG - Cruel Angel's Thesis ~ Day Three

[Sandy]

DAY THREE ~ FALSE HOPE

Like the other residents of the Hall, Scheherazade had barely slept a blink during the previous night. The strange noises echoing from the hallways chilled even the hard-boiled matron's spine, and she had kept a crossbow pointed at the door just in case one of the Nephilim decided to burst in. Again she was the first one up.

"Alright, time to pick up the mop again. Let's see how many bodies we have accumulated last night..."

But much to her surprise, there were no corpses anywhere.

Scheherazade shrugged, and started preparing breakfast.

Soon others got up as well. The Copper Fox was the first to see the eldricht abomination that suddenly crawled on the Hall's floor. The Veteran immediately hollered for help.

"Don't be that way, Foxy-pie - it's just me, Kharybdis!"

A little later, Retak Ysp made an appearance, but not with just one undead follower. The shambling corpse of Heron Jujube now followed him as well.

"Morning, everyone! Kob, Heron, fetch me a bun and a cup of strong coffee. Chop chop!"

Some of the Veterans had gathered at the Saloon to break their fast.

"No deaths last night. Could it be that the werelion was the only one under the angel's spell, after all?"

"Ha! Don't delude yourself, Hestia. This is calm before the storm, I tell you."

"I agree. If we are to find out the rest of the Nephilim, we have to start thinking about how the Nephilim were created. Now that we found one of them, we can start making connections."

With new-found determination, the Veterans left to do some investigations of their own.

At the Library, Byblos had also made progress with his studies.

"Good morning! Yesterday, we found out that Lucifuge was also called the Lightshunner. I think I found a mention of that name, but the reference is written in the ancient language of Lylzuhylzu, so I would appreciate some help in the translation process."

*****

BYBLOS THE LIBRARIAN'S CHALLENGE #2:

Solve the meaning of the sentence below by replacing each letter with another one. Proper names that do not need to be translated are italized, and the word Lightshunner is somewhere in the text. Send your solution privately to the host. You only get one try. If you get it right, your character will gain bonus experience.

Jomf Haeresias ver sgi kers qykiq ud sgi Luum Iktim Jomfcul ud Mercution ziduqi os rymj omsu sgi Bqarsekkomi Ubiem. Gor bkurirs ectoruqr viqi Ruqbiqirr Elziqfexi ud Babeleth emc e ceqj emfik bekkic sgi Kofgsrgymmiq.

RULES:

1. ALIGNMENTS: There are two sides in this game, trying to beat each other.

Heroica

wins if they manage to find and kill all of the Nephilim.

The Nephilim

win if they outnumber the heroes loyal to Heroica. The Nephilim know each other, but the others don’t know who the Nephilim are. There are also

neutral

players, who have their own special victory conditions.

2. PHASES: The game is played in two alternating phases - "Days" and "Nights", both lasting up to

48 hours

- during which the players can use their abilities on each other. All players can

use one ability per phase

. During the

Night

-phase, the game is played through Private Messages between the host and the players, and all actions are private, revealed only to the target. During the

Day

-phase, all actions are public, and are shown in the Day-topic to everyone. Ranged attacks and spells are an

exception

, their performer is never revealed.

3. RESULTS: The results of the abilities are tallied

at the beginning

(for Night-actions)

and the end

(for Day-actions)

of the Day-phase

. When a player’s health is completely depleted, they are

killed off

from the game. The player who delivered the killing blow will get all of the victim’s gold and items, and gain experience (see

Leveling Up

). The alignment of each killed player is revealed when they die. Anyone who kills a Nephilim will gain

50 extra gold

from the Veterans.

4. STATISTICS:

Level

signifies the player character’s overall experience.

Health

is initially equal to level, and attacks reduce it while healing restores it.

Ether

is equal to about a half of the level, and is used for spellcasting, healing and scroll-reading.

Defense

is gained from shields and most artefacts, and it reduces the damage taken.

WP

means weapon power, while

SP

means shield power. All statistics except Level are kept a secret from other players.

5. ABILITIES: All player characters have their

own sets

of 3-6 abilities they can use during the game, related to their job classes. These skills include (but are not limited to) attacks, spellcasting, healing, tracking, stealing items, blocking, buffing, debilitating and using items. To best make use of these varied skills, the players should consider forming alliances.

6. ITEMS: All players start out with

10 gold

, a

weapon

with 2-6 WP and a random array of

other items

, such as restorative potions, artefacts and tools. Like the statistics, these inventories are kept as a secret from other players. During the Day-phases of the game, upgrades and more items can be bought from

Sham Poo

in exchange for gold. You are free to trade items with other players, but you need to notify the host whenever you do that.

7. LEVELING UP: Gaining a

level

increases

the player character’s current and maximum

health and ether by 1

. When a player kills another player, they will gain experience according to this chart:

- Level 1-9: a full level

- Level 10-19: 1/2 of a level

- Level 20-29: 1/3 of a level

- Level 30-39: 1/4 of a level

- Level 40 onwards: 1/5 of a level

8. ELEMENTS & EFFECTS: There are five

elements

in the game: fire, ice, lighting, light and darkness. Elemental spells and attacks are twice as effective as normal attacks, but consume ether. They can also be blocked with the right piece of equipment. There are both

positive and negative effects

in the game as well, including encouraged, enforced, stunned, poison, sleep, blinded, sealed, confused and enamored. These can be inflicted by certain abilities and scrolls. Negative effects last until removed by a Remedy or a suitable ability.

9. BEHAVIOR: When you play this game, you are bound by honor to your alignment – even if it changes mid-game. That is why you

must not discuss the game

outside of the topics and PMs related to it, under the threat that you are instantly killed off if you do. Sharing information via PMs and forming alliances between the players is allowed, but must be done by knowing the risk that the other might be lying or deceiving you. Things will get brutal and cut-throat in this game, and you can get killed off at any time, but any of that is not to be taken as a personal insult. Please

post

in-character

at all times to ensure that your player persona is separated from your real self. Remember that

the dead don't talk

, so once you are out of the game, you must not speak of what you know to anyone until the whole game is over.

You are free to roleplay with your character, and most of all, have fun!

PLAYER CHARACTERS:

Brienne Deercourt (Brickdoctor) ~ 29 years old female human Paladin

Calico Meatpie (CallMePie) ~ 16 years old female halfling Rogue

Capriccia Gianpaolo (Capt.JohnPaul) ~ 123 years old female vampire Cleric

Corelin Moordog (CorneliusMurdock) ~ 282 years old female dwarf Warden

Cromeo Nightingale (Chromeknight) ~ 22 years old male half-elf Harlot

Doranee Grandeur (Dragonator) ~ 44 years old female elf Ranger

Ein Surefoot (Esurient) ~ 397 years old male dwarf Cleric

Emmanuelle Janus (emjajoas) ~ 33 years old female human Knight

Enya Dorgamel (Endgame) ~ 23 years old female human Evoker

Fernandu Elysiam (Fred Daniel Yam) ~ 36 years old male minotaur Shaman

Fleyra (Flare) ~ 29 years old female Rito Winged Warrior

Geosmos Phiephyrphoe (joeshmoe554) ~ 52 years old male cyclops Infiltrator

Jeddam Ashenbow (Jedi master Brick) ~ 25 years old female hobgoblin Ranger

Jinnipher Buchaire (JimButcher) ~ 71 years old female elf Knight

Kharybdis (Kadabra) ~ 26 years old female Octopial Beast Warrior

Lorth-Anoob (LordoftheNoobs) ~ 42 years old female Pantanan Witch

Luridan Voros (Lord Duvors) ~ 53 years old male gremlin Alchemist

Maxi Ebdul (Masked Builder) ~ 35 years old male Asteriad Rogue

O’Blix (-obelix-) ~ 27 years old male goblin Regulator

Pallas Thaddicus (Palathadric) ~ 103 years old male Lucustoid Druid

Panduin Oreheart (Pandora) ~ 148 years old male dwarf Barbarian

Percival Montmartre (Peppermint_M) ~ 24 years old male human Ranger

Retak Ysp (PsyKater) ~ 2013 years old male Fenarian Necromancer

Sir Rubinstein (Rumble Strike) ~ 47 years old male human Skirmisher

Scamander Taurros (Scubacarrot) ~ 34 years old male satyr Minstrel

Shadir Oswain (Shadows) ~ 466 years old male elf Mystic Knight

Swinehurst (swils) ~ 31 years old male porc Berserker

Theodor Legion (The Legonater) ~ 73 years old male human Cannoneer

Usharnam Madima (UsernameMDM) ~ 38 years old male Naga Chi Monk

Werther Brickton (Waterbrick Down) ~ 49 years old male zombie Assassin

Weyrdág (Wedge09) ~ 341 years old female Nôrn Hunter

Zarissa Curie (Zakura) ~ 58 years old female gnome Sage

Zelphie (Zepher) ~ 815 years old female fairy Artisan

Zpilf (Flipz) ~ 85 years old male ogre Black Knight

DEAD CHARACTERS:

Kob (Kintobor) ~ 21 years old male orc Mage ~ Heroica (killed on Day One, raised as an undead on Night One)

Pauline Jillian Boyle (Purpearljellyblob) ~ 18 years old female Mopag Mage ~ Heroica (killed on Day One)

Heron Jujube (herrJJ) ~ 19 years old male human Cleric ~ Heroica (killed on Night One, raised as an undead on Night Two)

Eris (Eric Su) ~ 26 years old female orc Sorcerer ~ Heroica (killed on Day Two)

Ezeal (Etzel) ~ 28 years old male werelion Barbarian ~ Nephilim (killed on Day Two)

Piro the Visionary (Pyrovisionary) ~ 227 years old male wereturtle Battle Mage ~ Heroica (killed on Day Two)

Skrupp Oxstrong (Scorpiox) ~ 30 years old male norseman Raider ~ Heroica (killed on Day Two)

U’dargan (Darkdragon) ~ 29 years old male U’kin Dragoon ~ Heroica (killed on Day Two)

SHAM POO’S EMERGENCY SHOP FOR HEROES IN NEED:

"You can visit my shop any time during the day! Remember that buying stuff only costs you gold, so you won't spend your action by doing business with me."

Weapons:

Axe

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Bow

(WP:1, ranged weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Dagger

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Handcannon

(WP:1, ranged weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Hammer

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Instrument

(WP:1, ranged weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Spear

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Staff

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Sword

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Whip

(WP:1, melee weapon) – Costs 10 gold

Shield

(SP:1, defensive equipment) – Costs 10 gold

Artefacts:

Flameproof Armor

(Artefact: +1 SP, nullifies fire-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Warm Boots

(Artefact: +1 SP, nullifies ice-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Conductor Helmet

(Artefact: +1 SP, nullifies lightning-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Sunglasses

(Artefact: +1 SP, nullifies light-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Shadow Cloak

(Artefact: +1 SP nullifies darkness-elemental damage.) – Costs 25 gold

Counterstrike Gloves

(Artefact: allows you to instantly counter a close-ranged attack if you survive it, damaging your attacker equal to the damage you received.) – Costs 25 gold

Gems & Scrolls:

Ruby

(Gem: allows casting fire-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Opal

(Gem: allows casting ice-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Topaz

(Gem: allows casting lightning-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Diamond

(Gem: allows casting light-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Amethyst

(Gem: allows casting darkness-elemental spells) – Costs 15 gold

Scroll of Sleep

(Scroll: prevents target from taking action and seeing who targets them until woken up by an attack. Costs 1 ether to use.) – Costs 30 gold

Scroll of Blinding

(Scroll: prevents target from performing attacks and seeing who targets them. Costs 1 ether to use.) – Costs 30 gold

Scroll of Sealing

(Scroll: prevents target from performing ether-based actions. Costs 1 ether to use.) – Costs 30 gold

Scroll of Confusion

(Scroll: causes target’s actions to hit a random person with a 1/2 chance. Costs 1 ether to use.) – Costs 30 gold

Consumable Items:

Potion

(Consumable: restores full health to target when used.) – Costs 5 gold

Tonic

(Consumable: restores full ether to target when used.) – Costs 10 gold

Remedy

(Consumable: removes negative effects from target when used.) – Costs 5 gold

Venom

(Consumable: causes poison to the target, depleting it’s health by 1 per every phase when used.) – Costs 15 gold

Bomb

(Consumable: causes 10 damage to the target from a distance when used.) – Costs 20 gold

Phoenix

Essence

(Consumable: revives a dead person with full health when used.) – Costs 100 gold

Grating Stone

(Consumable: increases a weapon’s WP by 1 when used) – Costs 25 gold

Bright Polish

(Consumable: increases a shield’s or an artefact’s SP by 1 when used.) – Costs 25 gold.

Level-Up Mushroom

(Consumable: gain a level when used.) – Costs 50 gold

Tools:

Bedroll

(Tool: restores full health and ether and removes negative effects whenever used.) – Costs 20 gold

Telescope

(Tool: allows the user to see all actions aimed at the target on the current phase whenever used.) – Costs 40 gold

Magnifying Glass

(Tool: allows the user to see the target’s alignment whenever used.) – Costs 60 gold

[Flipz]

Zpilf Hides.

[UsernameMDM]

"It seems that Swinehurst and Theodor Legion are both true Heroicans. Either that or the Nephilim deemed it necessary to sacrifice one of their own to save two."

Edited September 4, 2013 by UsernameMDM

[Scubacarrot]

"Morning all. Ah man, I need to refresh, like, rehydrate and stuff." Scamander drinks a tonic.

"Right so. As for Piro. I told you so. I really did. But at the same time, Ezeal had me completely fooled. Yeah..."

[Flare]

I would like to report that through the night I have had much time to think by myself since two of my friends were killed. However, I am shocked and appalled to find out that one was scum, as I had not suspected this because of his friendly and generous behavior towards me, a loyal member of Heroica, and to the late Piro, who was also loyal, and also to Scubacarrot whose loyalties are as of current unidentified.

I have a theory of who the Nephilim are and I will share soon.

Meanwhiles I would like to say that I was targeted twice during the night. Once, Calico stole an item from me, which leaves me quite upset. Secondly, I was investigated by a magnifying-glass wielding fellow. I would like to hear what both of these fellows have to say about this.

Meanwhiles Benji will purchase a potion. His action will be to fly.

*Fleyra (sorry )

[Waterbrick Down]

{Alright, I think it's clear that of the four remaining mages, two of them must be Nephilim. As Retak was conducting an investigation on Day 1, and Eris claimed to have only attacked Theodor on Night 1, that leaves a mage processing a Diamond and one processing a Topaz. Enya has already claimed a topaz, which only leaves the Diamond unaccounted for. As Zarrissa was only in procession of an opal as I'm sure can be confirmed by Ziplf, the only for sure suspect is Shadir Oswain.} Werther unsheathed his dagger and lunged at Shadir with a lethal attack.

[Duvors]

Luridan comes in and begins to make a Mixture.

"Success! I have finally made a Pheonix Essence! Oh, by th' way, Lorth used a magnifying glass on me last night."

Edited September 4, 2013 by Lord Duvors

[Flipz]

"Has anyone else noticed there seems to be a problem with the translation? There's a letter that doesn't seem to translate properly--there seem to be two instances of the letter 'n'."

"To my knowledge, Zarissa only had an Opal, which I still have. (If there are any trustworthy magic-users among us who could still make use of it, let me know.)"

[Endgame]

"Gnrgh, I was almost certain U'dargan was Nephilim.

Besides Shadir, do we have any leads today?"

[-obelix-]

"Wood peeple hoo uszed those reveeling glaszesz laszt nite kare to sshare their fyndingsz with uss..."

[Scubacarrot]

Luridan comes in and begins to make a Mixture.

"Success! I have finally made a Pheonix Essence! Oh, by th' way, Lorth used a magnifying glass on me last night."

"May I suggest you use that Phoenix Essence on Piro or Skrupp instead?"

[Waterbrick Down]

"Gnrgh, I was almost certain U'dargan was Nephilim.

Besides Shadir, do we have any leads today?"

{Would you care to explain your lightning summon on the Dragoon?}, the assassin inquired, quite a tricky business with a dagger in one hand.

[Duvors]

"May I suggest you use that Phoenix Essence on Piro or Skrupp instead?"

"I dinnae know, there's always tha possibility that they come back wi' theer alignment changed."

[Waterbrick Down]

"I dinnae know, there's always tha possibility that they come back wi' theer alignment changed."

{Either that, or we wait for one of the Nephilim to steal it from you and put it to their own uses.}

[Endgame]

"The dragoon's whole demeanor had me off. overly defensive and being passive aggressive about it, giving up on life early, mentioning "friends" but refusing to share them... I knew Dragoons were powerful, and if U'Dargan was Nephilim, he could likely be harder to defeat in the future. His whole behavior rubbed me wrong, so I decided to take advantage of my suspicions while he was asleep.

I used a Summon so I wouldn't sustain Counterstrike damage. Otherwise I likely would've just stabbed him.

However, my lightning dragon is gone: Zarissa sealed me overnight."

"I dinnae know, there's always tha possibility that they come back wi' theer alignment changed."

"What would make you think that?"

[UsernameMDM]

{Would you care to explain your lightning summon on the Dragoon?}, the assassin inquired, quite a tricky business with a dagger in one hand.

I would like to hear this as well.

"I dinnae know, there's always tha possibility that they come back wi' theer alignment changed."

"Do it, or I will do what I should have done the first day."

Edited September 4, 2013 by UsernameMDM

[Duvors]

"Do it, or I will do what I should have done the first day."

"Hold yer temper, I dinnae want tae dae anythin' rash, but Werther Brickton makes a guid point, so I weel Use tha Pheonix Essence on Piro the Visionary."

Edited September 4, 2013 by Lord Duvors

[Waterbrick Down]

"The dragoon's whole demeanor had me off. overly defensive and being passive aggressive about it, giving up on life early, mentioning "friends" but refusing to share them... I knew Dragoons were powerful, and if U'Dargan was Nephilim, he could likely be harder to defeat in the future. His whole behavior rubbed me wrong, so I decided to take advantage of my suspicions while he was asleep.

I used a Summon so I wouldn't sustain Counterstrike damage. Otherwise I likely would've just stabbed him.

However, my lightning dragon is gone: Zarissa sealed me overnight."

{Acceptable, we were all wrongly suspicious of the Dragoon it seems. What of the lightning spell against Calico on Day 1. What was your reasoning for that?}

[Esurient]

Ein Surefoot buys a Tonic from Sham Poo

[Endgame]

{Acceptable, we were all wrongly suspicious of the Dragoon it seems. What of the lightning spell against Calico on Day 1. What was your reasoning for that?}

"That, I was not responsible for. The only actions I performed in day 1/night 1 was to track Retak Ysp."

[Rumble Strike]

"Has anyone else noticed there seems to be a problem with the translation? There's a letter that doesn't seem to translate properly--there seem to be two instances of the letter 'n'."

"I have found this also, most perplexing."

[Flipz]

However, my lightning dragon is gone: Zarissa sealed me overnight."

"Ser'ously, Zarissa? I tol' ya ta heal Panduin."

"'nless someone I can trust tells me diff'ren', I can' trus' ya no more. An' in fact..."

"Does anyon' know wha' gems Kob an' Pauline had? If either o' em had an Opal, p'raps tha Opal Zarissa gave me was 'riginally theirs, passed on by tha Nephilim, an' her real gem was somethin' else."

[Duvors]

"Ser'ously, Zarissa? I tol' ya ta heal Panduin."

"'nless someone I can trust tells me diff'ren', I can' trus' ya no more. An' in fact..."

"Does anyon' know wha' gems Kob an' Pauline had? If either o' em had an Opal, p'raps tha Opal Zarissa gave me was 'riginally theirs, passed on by tha Nephilim, an' her real gem was somethin' else."

"I didnae know tha' Panduin needed tae be healed."

[Pandora]

Panduin looks around. He drinks a potion, burping loudly afterwards.

"I have a better idea of people I trust than those I don't." he says over his shoulder "Those who need me will have my support." another belch and a mouthful of beer "Zplif, I wasn't expecting no healing last night, so I thank you for the consideration."

[The Legonater]

Nothing real game-changing happened to me last night. I attacked Shadir, but he's obviously not quite dead yet.