Heroica RPG - Quest #82: Stop the Presses

CMP · September 27, 2013

"I'm sorry, do you speak common?"

The creature shook its head enthusiastically.

**Etzel** · September 27, 2013

The orc girl glances at Maurice.

"What exactly is it worth to you, sir?"

"Not much but if your answer is good I might have 5 gold to spare. Who is your master by the way?"

CMP · September 27, 2013

"Not much but if your answer is good I might have 5 gold to spare. Who is your master by the way?"

The orc's face flushes a dark shade of green.

"I'll have you know I'm a free orc, paladin. I don't know, he was covered in some kind of white robes.."

**Etzel** · September 27, 2013

"Good for you. Well, I guess we will have to wait and see then."

Maurice gives the orc 5 gold and then asks:

"Do you know who the man with the hat over there is?"

CMP · September 27, 2013

"Good for you. Well, I guess we will have to wait and see then."

Maurice gives the orc 5 gold and then asks:

"Do you know who the man with the hat over there is?"

She pockets the gold.

"No."

-obelix- · September 28, 2013

Thalion approaches his fellow heroes, "We all got pretty similar stories from everyone here, so I don't think we can learn anything more from these people. Lets just be on the lookout for Red and Wally, as it seems like the unveiling is about to start..." He finishes the sentence with a quick gulping down of a mixture of Nostrum and Smelling Salts.

**JimBee** · September 28, 2013

"Agreed." Hybros also sips a Nostrum and a Mulled Wine.

CMP · September 28, 2013

Sorry, I just want to make sure Maurice and Guts are done asking questions before we move on. If they haven't responded by tomorrow, I'll move things along.

Scubacarrot · September 29, 2013

Guts stood next to the other heroes. There was no point in communicating with a creature he did not understand.

**Etzel** · September 29, 2013

Maurice felt that these conversations didn't yield much, so he returned to his party companions.

"Nobody seems to know anything for sure about this event, and some persons seem a bit suspicious. The man in the black hat is someone that we should keep an eye on, I believe he and his friends could cause some trouble if they decide for that."

**JimBee** · September 29, 2013

Hybros nodded. "All there is left to do is wait then, eheh. I have a feeling that this potion, if it is to be explained at all, is not what we expect..."

CMP · September 29, 2013

The party regroups, explaining briefly the situation to one another and have a few drinks. Apparently everyone present has been fed exactly what they want to hear. But why?

"Wait- is that him?

The entire crowd turns, and a cloud of excited whispers suddenly lowers over them and the party. It's the Masked Man.

"Greetings." The man's hollow, metallic voice echoes, and a few of the crowd cheer and clap. There's a blinding flash and a deafening click from the AIUPIIUP. The famed alchemist ascends the stage, and pulls a brilliant blue flask from inside the chest, holding it aloft.

"Citizens of Eubric. Friends of the Guild. The commoners. The sick. The elderly. The diseased. Even the mages - I have come before you to today to share with you the future."

"I hold in my hand the most important concoction I - the Masked Man - have ever devised. It is because of this single, simple mixture, that I have revealed myself to the public, and removed myself from my work for the first time in well over two centuries. My dear associates in the Guild of Invision, though with the best, purest intentions in their hearts, begged me, pleaded me not to expose this gift. But I knew it was something the world must see."

"Inside this bottle is a potion I name Infinivita. Its ingredients, alas, will remain secret for the present time - we have not agreed on a course of action for this miracle elixir. But here, at least, I will reveal its existence. This mixture - I believe - is the key to all life. Our testers, upon consumption, report an immediate alleviation of all pains, aches, and maladies, but that's not all. Their minds and spirits are uplifted, enlightened; even our most elderly testers can sprint as fast as an aepyornis and have their senses, reflexes, and stamina heightened immeasurably. This potion is believed to cure any ailment that could possibly exist in the world - we've tested it thoroughly. But the most world-altering factor? We have reason to think eternal life is granted to the drinker. Think of it. Your entire life changed by the smallest droplet of Infinivita. Immortality. Immunity to all diseases and illnesses. Eternal youth..."

The Masked Man lifts open the top of the chest, and spreads his arms.

"....free....to you today."

The effect is immediate. Almost every single person throws themselves at the stage, clawing at the box to get as much of the Infinivita as they can. Several dunk their heads inside the cauldron to get a drink of the precious liquid - it seems nothing is beyond these commoners when it comes to the promise of immortality from the greatest alchemist in Eubric.

Red looks amazed, but only shakes her head. Wally takes yet another picture.

"...That was....certainly interesting."

She looks up onto the people scrambling over one another to get at it.

"...We'll ask for some later. I don't fancy trying to get to any of it when it looks like that much of a mess, but we can still get that interview. Mister Ratibor, if you could clear a path from the lef-"

The reporter is cut short at the sound of a sudden, hacking cough. Only seconds had passed before someone stumbled away from the crowd, buckling forward onto the ground and wheezing loudly.

"...Kind of....sour..."

The alchemist isn't the only one. The people start falling or tripping off the stage, all acting as if their insides have been set aflame. By the time a minute passes, almost everyone is on the ground - save six, who are now armed and surrounding the crowd, one having appeared almost unseen. The man looks up at them, looking sick, and showing at least a little sense, crawls behind Maurice and the other heroes. Wally smartly drags himself and the AIUPIIUP back away from the scene, with a gulp. The black-hatted, moustached man is twirling his knife with a grin.

"Five still up and about? More than he thought...well, all the same. Get them."

Red pulls a knife out of her sleeve in response.

PREPARE FOR BATTLE!

Enemies

Zoolkar Paint-Face

Level 30 Ancient Humanoid

Health: 1204/1204

Ether: 25/25

Special: Rock On – Zoolkar restores 10 ether to himself.

Passive Special: Rock Out – At the end of each round, Zoolkar will select a random song to play for the duration of the next one.

Nanny’s Lullaby – Gives all heroes the Asleep effect, costs 1 ether.

Rapid March – Gives all other allies the Hastened effect, costs 3 ether.

Luck Chant – Gives all other allies the Lucky effect, costs 3 ether.

Hard Rock Anthem – Gives all other allies 10 Defense, costs 5 ether.

Love Serenade – Restores 60 health to all other allies, costs 5 ether.

Dirge of the Phoenix – Revives one random ally with 100 health, costs 10 ether. If no ally is downed, nothing happens.

Drops: Zenith (WP: 17, instrument)

Immune to all effects and instant kill.

Lost Pilgrim *Back Row*

Level 35 Humanoid

Health: 688/688

Special: Teleport – Lost Pilgrim switches rows, doubling his level while in the front row.

Drops: Magic Compass

Immune to blinded, confused, hexed, and instant kill.

Note: Lost Pilgrim fights from the back row, so all non-ranged attacks will do half damage to him, while his attacks do full damage to heroes in back row.

San-lohs the Blessed *Blessed*

Level 30 Holy Humanoid

Health: 860/860

Ether: 7/7

Special I: Chain Heal – San-lohs heals the entire enemy party for 90 health and remedies all of their negative effects at the cost of 1 ether.

Special II: Chain Lightning – San-lohs deals 15 lightning-elemental damage, ignoring defense, to the party.

Special II used when San-lohs is out of ether.

Drops: Nothing

Immune to sealed, cursed, and jinxed, and instant kill.

Note: San-lohs will use Special I as his free hit until he runs out of ether, in which case he will deal a regular free hit.

Devron “Black Hat” Moray

Level 50 Humanoid

Health: 1032/1032

Special I: Snatch – Devron steals 1/5^th of the hero’s gold, rounded down.

Special II: Elite Hit – Devron deals damage equal to his gold divided by 5.

Specials alternate.

Immune to darkness, cursed, doomed and instant kill.

Drops: 100 gold, The Black Hat (Grants Intimidation, immune to darkness and cursed, headwear, suitable for anyone)

Finn the Twin Dwarven Flailman *Encouraged*

Level 30 60 Humanoid

Health: 602/602

Special I: Whirlwind Spin – Finn and Flynn spin rapidly to form a whirling vortex of doom, making both of them Counterstrike for the next three rounds, causing them to deal damage equal to their level whenever they are hit, even when not targeted.

Special II: Smash – Finn deals a devastating blow, dealing 15 damage, reducing the hero’s Defense by three, and giving them the Fragile effect for the next three rounds.

Special II used when Whirlwind Spin is already in effect or Flynn is dead.

Passive Special: Brotherhood – Finn is Encouraged when Flynn is alive.

Immune to blinded, fragile, and stunned.

Drops: Grand Potion

Flynn the Twin Dwarven Flailman *Encouraged*

Level 30 60 Humanoid

Health: 602/602

Special I: Whirlwind Spin – Finn and Flynn spin rapidly to form a whirling vortex of doom, making both of them Counterstrike for the next three rounds, causing them to deal damage equal to their level whenever they are hit, even when not targeted.

Special II: Bash – Flynn deals a devastating blow, dealing 15 damage, reducing the hero’s Level by three, and giving them the Weakened effect for the next three rounds.

Special II used when Whirlwind Spin is already in effect or Finn is dead.

Passive Special: Brotherhood – Flynn is Encouraged when Finn is alive.

Immune to sealed, weakened, and stunned.

Drops: Mead

Party

Guts Holla (Scubacarrot)

44 year old male human Raider *Immune to Weakened, Fragile, Asleep, Confused and Blinded* *Encouraged* *Hastened* *Lucky* *Immune to all elements*

Level: 27.33

Power Bonus: 4

Health: 41/41

Defense: 4

Gold: 425

Equipment: Lifestealer (WP: 32, Ice, Darkness, Light, attacks restore 3 health, dagger), Dancing Shoes (Wearer dances well, in the turn after a miss is rolled, the wearer can act twice. +Immunity to Asleep, Confused, Fragile and Blinded, + Immunity to Darkness, Light, Fire, Air, Earth, Wood, Lightningand Ice Elemental Damage, footwear), Pugilist's Gloves (2+ Power, Immune to Weakened, handwear), Crocodile Armour (+4 Defense +Immunity to Water Magic, bodywear)

Inventory: Stag Antlers (WP:10, Intimidation, halberd), 1x Ambrosia 9x Mead, 9x Smelling Salts, 8x Nostrum, 20x Grand Potion, 4x Health Core, 1x Elixir, 1x Grand Tonic, 1x Ether Core, 12x Remedy, 3x Phoenix Essence, 5x Smoke Bomb, 3x Deadly Venom, 3x Neutralizer, Shovel, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Bedroll, 4x Mythril Shard, Metasimian Ale, Opal, Scroll of Weakening, Grating Stone, Voucher to the Guild of Invision (Good for one lesson in Alchemy), Chauncey's Diamond Lamp of Summoning (Summons ???), Clippard's Poison (When applied to a weapon, all damage dealt will instantly KO enemies unless they are immune to poison, deadly poison, or sudden death. Can be applied 3 more times)

Hybros

52-year-old male imp Assassin *Hastened* *Immune to Cursed, Asleep, Blinded, Confused, Fragile, Weakened* *Lucky* *Inspired* *Immune to all elements*

Level: 26 2/3

Power Bonus: 1

Defense: 0

Health: 40/40 80/80

Gold: 340

Equipment: Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 15, gains 1 WP every kill made with it, light- and darkness-elemental; longsword), Golden Armor (user is permanently hastened and cursed, fire-, water-, earth-, wind-, wood-, ice-, lightning-, darkness-, light-elemental, grants immunity to Sleep, Blindness, Confusion, Frailty, and Weakening; bodywear), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; backwear), Blessed Amulet (protects from cursed-effect; accessory)

Inventory: Zoot's Reaper (WP:15, earth-elemental; scythe), Clock Cog (WP: 14, retrievable), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all, retrievable), Eye-poking Sai (WP:8, blinded-effect, dagger), Twin Kunai (WP:6, dual strike, dagger), Spinning Bolas (WP: 5, deals the Slowed effect, but the effect is removed when retrieved; retrievable) Wrench (WP:3, decreases the target’s level by 1, retrievable), Cloak of the Blue Assassin (SP:1, suitable to Rogues; backwear), 14 Potions, 14 Grand Potions, 22 Health Cores, 11 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, 2 Elixirs, 5 Phoenix Essences, Deadly Venom, 2 Smoke Bombs, 3 Lightning Bombs, 3 Holy Bombs, 12 Nostrums, 3 Meads, 4 Mulled Wines, Minimizing Dust, Bedroll, Shovel, Skeleton Decoy, Bone, 4 Mythril Shards

Thalion Dwinlas (-obelix-)

213 years old male elf Sorcerer *Immune to Fragile* *Lucky* *Hastened* *Party Leader*

Level: 19 1/2

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 4

Health: 27/27

Ether: 24/24

Gold: 7

Equipment: Batarang (WP:13, darkness-elemental throwing weapon),, Emerald Hood (SP:4, Immunity to Fragile), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Max. Ether +5, protects from Sealed-effect)

Inventory: Zirconia (Gem containing all elements; cannot be merged into equipment) Amethyst (Darkness), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth), Ruby (Fire), Opal (Ice), Emerald (Wood), Sapphire (Wind), Aquamarine (Water), Sleeper (WP:5, melee/throwing weapon, deals Asleep to enemies it hits, Hollow Upgrade [Grand Potion stored]), Ratsbane (WP:10, absorbs 2 health on successful hits, dagger), Veritas/Equitas (WP:10, Dual Strike, twin sais), Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Cloak of Espionage (Artifact, backwear, Allows the wearer to examine enemy stats before a battle), Snake Eye Charm (Protects from Petrified-effect), Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Magic Compass, Shovel, Bedroll, Smelling Salts (3), Nostrum (3), Phoenix Essence (2), Elixir, Health Core, Potion, Grand Potion, Grand Tonic, Remedy, Smoke Bomb, Bone

Maurice Ratibor (Etzel)

52 years old male human Paladin *Immune to Stun, Asleep and Light*

Level: 22

Power Bonus: 1

Defense: 13

Health: 46/46

Ether: 29/29

Gold: 125

Equipment: Manta Tail Staff (WP:12+50% Stun chance), Paladin Shield (SP:9), Helm of Haroka (+2 health, +1 Power, Immunity to Stun effect, headwear) , White Cloak (Max. Health +3, Immunity to Asleep effect, backwear), Paladin's Armour (SP:4, Max. Ether +2, Immunity to Light, bodywear)

Inventory: Glass Greatsword (WP:12, hollow blade; greatsword), Emerald Staff (WP:10 wood-elemental), Diamond, 3 Potions, Tonic, 3 Ether Cores, Phoenix Essence, 3 Nostrums, 2 Venom, Elixir, Floral Bomb, Water Bomb, 4 Fire Bombs, Torch, Bone, Plume, Rito Feather (consumable, grants the hastened- and blessed-effects upon use for one battle)

Red (NPC, controlled by JimButcher)

18 years old female human Rogue *Immune to Enamored, Confused, and Hexed*

Level: 16

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 1

Health: 30/30

Gold: 34

Equipment: Totally Not Stolen Dagger (WP: 8, dagger), Little Red Cloak (Immune to enamored, confused, and hexed, max health +8, backwear, suitable for Red), Completely Legitimately Obtained Bracelets (SP: 1, handwear, suitable for Red)

Party leader, please create a battle order. Party members, please choose an action. If Red is KO'd at the end of the battle, the Quest will fail.

**JimBee** · September 29, 2013

It all happened so fast. Feelings of excitement, doubt, alarm, and finally, suspicion, flew by and settled in as Hybros observed the debacle take place. "Ah a trap, heheheh..." The aged imp knew all too well of greed. He drew his Sword of Ancestral Hatred and attacked Finn and Flynn from the back row.

"Red, stay back and attack that San-Lohs creature." Hybros silently cursed at himself for not handing the reporter some potions. She would not be much help against the enemies this time.

Scubacarrot · September 29, 2013

"Why am I not surprised..."

Guts attacks Zoolkar twice from the front row with Lifestealer.

**Etzel** · September 29, 2013

Maurice raised his shield and prepared to protect the man that had crawled behind him. If he got the chance he would try to get a remedy to the poor man, but firstly there were some malicious poisoners to take care of. Maurice attacked the Black Hat from the front row.

-obelix- · September 29, 2013

"Why am I not surprised..."

"Same here master Holla... This was expected... Still, best to do this quickly!"

Thalion takes out and uses his Scroll of Frailty on Flynn, and then casts a darkness spell at Pilgrim, both from back row.

Battle Order:

Guts

Maurice

Thalion

Hybros

Red

OOC: CMP, if you wish for me to add actions and/rows in which heroes do stuff in BO, just say the word... :wink:

CMP · September 29, 2013

It's fine Obelix, I usually type it myself anyway.

Round One of Health Inspection

Guts vs. Zoolkar (Lifestealer) - Special Damage Hit (63 x 4 = 262 damage)

Guts vs. Zoolkar (Lifestealer) - Damage Shield: Ravage (95 x 4 = 380 damage to all enemies, 50 gold stolen)

Maurice vs. Black Hat (Manta Tail Staff) - Meditate (No effect)

>Thalion frails Flynn - Success (Flynn frail, -1 ether)

>Thalion vs. Pilgrim (Darkness) - Damage Spell (32 x 2 = 64 damage, -1 ether)

>Hybros vs. Finn (Sword of Ancestral Hatred) - Special Damage Damage (60/2 = 30 damage)

>Hybros vs. Flynn (Sword of Ancestral Hatred) - Damage Shield: Grim Reaper (Finn and Flynn assassinated, 50 gold stolen)

>Red vs. San-lohs (Totally Not Stolen Dagger) - Hit (24/2 = 12 damage)

Zoolkar sings Dirge of the Phoenix to revive Finn next round

San-lohs blessed (+3 health)

The battle starts with a bang. Guts cuts through the enemy party furiously, and though he snatches some gold off of Black Hat, he slays nobody. Thalion slings some successful spells as Maurice meditates on recent events. Hybros is bloodied by Finn's flail, but in retribution he quickly slits both brothers' throats, sharpening his blade. Red stabs San-lohs from behind as Zoolkar tunes his guitar in preparation for a song.

Enemies

Zoolkar Paint-Face

Level 30 Ancient Humanoid

Health: 562/1204