Heroica RPG - Quest #82: Stop the Presses

[JimBee]

Hybros frowned. Who knew such a simple escort job could become so heavy? He listened carefully to the man in white, shaking his head intermittently as he did so.

"Greed is a worse poison than any venom can inflict. It claims the lives of thousands around the world. I'm willing to give my own to save as many of those as I can. In a way, I already have."

"You speak of greed, but surely you are not so ignorant to deny what you have just witnessed. If you really have orchestrated this entire event, then you realize that greed is sentient in every being, rich or poor, powerful or weak. You have shown that today; every one here looking for a cure poisoned themselves for just a chance to obtain something that they truly desire. If you are trying to prove that the Guild is selfish and unforgiving and that their victims are innocent, you have failed miserably..."

He turned to Guts.

"Do you see, Guts? We are all too familiar with those who wish to start a revolution. It does not matter who it is or what they stand for... Heroica, the Red Assassins, the Crimson Crowns, this man in front of us, your own cause... they are all the same. They all wish for justice or liberation, but no, I have seen the world. The constant fighting, the killing the stealing... all in the name of these things that we strive for. You believe that your own cause will reach its goal through better means, but no... no. In the end we all reach the same place. And it seems that the more we strive for change, the farther we get from it."

Hybros shook his head, and began to speak less directly to Guts, and more to the other party members and the white-clad men in front of them.

"There is no justice to be had, there is only death and lies and deceit. Your masquerading around, performing these... these... sins, in the name of justice, only makes them worse. Best to rid ourselves of such deception and begin to focus on what truly lies in front of us. This man is like any other zealot, and will not repent until his goal is realized. It may never become realized, so who are we to decide whether or not to stop him? It is simply, the beliefs of one organization against another."

Thalion's face remains unchanged, "I agree with you that greed is worse then any poison to the body, but you haven't answered my question... You claim that your goal is for the good of the people, and I truly wish that is so, but many-a tyrants have claimed something similar in the past until they obtain some kind of power over people; only to never let go of that power once they have obtained it, no matter what kind it was... And to answer your question, yes I have been to the Hovels, and I have seen what is happening there, but I fail to see the difference between people being used and mistreated there and people being mistreated and used here, today; by you! You say you wish to turn the Guilds knowledge towards the people, but you use the same methods as those you seek to oppose. I think you can understand where my skepticism in your goal comes from..."

Hybros nodded. "Yes, Thalion, you are correct about tyrants and power, but do not assume that these people are pure of greed just because they have no power."

[CMP]

"You speak as if you've never hoped for a world that is anything other than the one we live in. With such thoughts comes apathy and ignorance. Sin and misdeeds are indeed everywhere, even moreso in this city. I've saved hundreds of lives. I can die peacefully knowing that. Maybe when you are on the brink of the Void, little one, maybe then you'll realize our beliefs and our actions are what separates us from animals that act on instinct."

"I've not taken a single life over the course of my own. I believe my cause is just and righteous, even if the methods are not so. Can you say the same?"

[-obelix-]

"I have nothing to convince you but my words."

"I assume you refer to the Order of the Crimson Crown? I suspected they would intervene with this. They tried to recruit me soon after I was evicted from the Guild, and made their opinions on them...quite clear. I cannot say for certain what their goals are, but I do know they have a presence in Eubric. I hired a group of mercenaries to ensure they did not pose a threat...I suppose I should have been more specific when telling them to keep an eye out for any 'strange, armed, masked men, cloaked in red and black.' " His gaze lingered on Hybros for a moment. "My apologies for their error, but it seems you had no trouble in dispatching them. They were an unsavory lot, in any case. It was my intention to avoid any bloodshed, but I should have assumed Eubric would attract it nonetheless. Violence is not my manner, Master Elf. Manipulation, meanwhile, is my only means of inciting the people."

Thalion's face took a little less serious look, "It is not just me me you have to convince, its everyone still here..." Thalion took a brief look around for his companions and other people still waiting there. "And you say, you have previous encounter with Order of Crimson Crown? What is your name, by the way, I dont think you introduced yourself other then your previous occupations..." Thlion shows Crimson Serum to the white man, "With your experience in healing and training in alchemy combined your experience with the crimson order, you should have no trouble identifying this then. One of their members was carrying it, and none of us have any idea what it is or does...".

Edited October 6, 2013 by -obelix-

[CMP]

"Encounter, yes. Don't think I entertained the notion of joining them. They speak of misplaced power and the evils of ether, but their goal beyond that remains shadowed. You may call me the Plague Doctor."

The Plague Doctor took the Crimson Serum, opening the jeweled lid and staring into the interior for several moments before returning it to Thalion. He cast his hand at the headless Crimson Crown Abomination on the ground.

"Fato vermiculo is the main ingredient. The unfortunate souls that meet the herb have their muscles inflamed to a point of being unrecognizable as human, and die an excruciating death by having their internal organs crushed by the weight of it. The skin of its victims is known to crust over a telltale shade of red. It seems the Order has found a way of tempering the effects, turning their soldiers into these monsters. The effect of this mixture, however, is temporary."

Crimson Serum - Gives the user the Mutated effect for the duration of one battle.

Edited October 6, 2013 by CallMePie

[JimBee]

"You speak as if you've never hoped for a world that is anything other than the one we live in. With such thoughts comes apathy and ignorance. Sin and misdeeds are indeed everywhere, even moreso in this city. I've saved hundreds of lives. I can die peacefully knowing that. Maybe when you are on the brink of the Void, little one, maybe then you'll realize our beliefs and our actions are what separates us from animals that act on instinct."

"I've not taken a single life over the course of my own. I believe my cause is just and righteous, even if the methods are not so. Can you say the same?"

"I have not. I speak from many years of experience on the surface of this world, and though people like you try to change the nature of this world, you only bring it closer to realizing what it truly is. You can not change the way beings think; greed and lust for power are ever-present. You speak of apathy and ignorance, but I am not the who pretends to serve justice in the face of death and deceit." Hybros coughs. "You may not have plunged a knife into another's chest, but there is still blood on your hands. The poisoned people gathered here, those that you have hired..." He indicates the pile of bodies next to the stage, and grips the staff of his scythe. "You can not possibly claim to be doing good here, let alone fake innocence. No... you are a coward."

[-obelix-]

Thalion looked at his companions, "Whoever wishes can have this mixture, I don't think it'll do me much good..."

"Well, you certainly possess a good knowledge of alchemy Plague Doctor, I'll admit that..."

It is simply, the beliefs of one organization against another."

"But as Hybros said, its just one organization's beliefs over another. When will it stop? What do you plan to do about the Boanpartes, the people who, in my opinion, did a grave injustice to their enemies? Or anyone else you deem unjust? Where does it end?"

Edited October 6, 2013 by -obelix-

[CMP]

"I'm realistic, little one. I don't fool myself into believing I can fix the greed of the world, it is ever-present. The least I can do is it rid it of the Guild, who would turn a profit on the suffering of the rich and a blind eye to the suffering of the poor. Some will die on this path. I have no doubt in my mind that on my road to fate, innocence is but a dream. But by exposing the secrets of the Guild countless more can be saved for years to come. Cures to the incurable. Life to the lifeless. Hope to the hopeless. My path will not be easy or peaceful, nobody who wants to make a difference in this world's is. Pain is unavoidable for everyone, neither physical nor mental. If I must hurt but a few to save a hundredfold more, so be it."

"But as Hybros said, its just one organization's beliefs over another. When will it stop? What do you plan to do about the Boanpartes, the people who, in my opinion, did a grave injustice to their enemies? Or anyone else you deem unjust? Where does it end?"

The Plague Doctor's gaze hardened on Thalion.

"You think your organization's cause is wholly more noble than mine, and that you have more right to deliver justice as you see fit? You're more ignorant than I believed, Master Elf."

[-obelix-]

The Plague Doctor's gaze hardened on Thalion.

"You think your organization's cause is wholly more noble than mine, and that you have more right to deliver justice as you see fit? You're more ignorant than I believed, Master Elf."

"I never said that, for I know what our organization is and unlike you, and people like you, I do not mislead and poison people just to prove a point or even worse, to undermine someone else, no matter who they are or what they have done. There are ways to determine and dispense justice, but yours is not the one. I have seen how people who act like you end up, in the past; we all have. You may call me ignorant, more then you thought or less - it doesn't matter, and I will call you blind with your own dreams of revenge on one organization, masked with altruistic needs for the common people."

[CMP]

"This is not revenge. I was doing this long before the Guild punished and removed me - it's the entire reason I was inside in the first place. Unlike you, I have seen the truth of the Guild. Besides their greed, they've conducted experiments. Created horrors worse than the Abomination. Evils I cannot begin to describe. Everything I have done has been to save lives. I can at least die knowing that much."

[JimBee]

"I'm realistic, little one. I don't fool myself into believing I can fix the greed of the world, it is ever-present. The least I can do is it rid it of the Guild, who would turn a profit on the suffering of the rich and a blind eye to the suffering of the poor. Some will die on this path. I have no doubt in my mind that on my road to fate, innocence is but a dream. But by exposing the secrets of the Guild countless more can be saved for years to come. Cures to the incurable. Life to the lifeless. Hope to the hopeless. My path will not be easy or peaceful, nobody who wants to make a difference in this world's is. Pain is unavoidable for everyone, neither physical nor mental. If I must hurt but a few to save a hundredfold more, so be it."

"You are just contradicting yourself. You have just shown that you will stop at nothing to reach your goal. You are like all the rest, and just to prove it, I am going to end this right here and right now... heheh" Hybros drew his sword in preparation for battle.

[CMP]

Red looked up from her sudden bout of scribbling onto a spare sheet of parchment at the cruel ring of the Sword of Ancestral Hatred being unsheathed.

"...This is your fight, of course, but, er, me and Wally are gonna be staying out of it."

"Yeah, same here...this guy is creeping the hell out of me..."

[Scubacarrot]

Guts begins applauding. Slowly. Eventually, he says: "So your point is the Guild of Invision is greedy? Who'd have thought? Potions are outrageously expensive, a poor family wouldn't be able to afford a remedy. This is common knowledge. You're a sodding idiot. Still, the Guild is neccesary, as without it, Magic-users will gain in power, and dominate the people. I've seen it happen. Let's see how pacifistic you are when you got Lifestealer in your chest."

The raider turns to Hybros, and shrugged: "I don't make myself any dillusions, that's the difference, imp."

Edited October 6, 2013 by Scubacarrot

[CMP]

"I was after their formulas, not the mixtures themselves. Business I can understand. Witholding life-saving cures and selling them in mere doses at a time for hundreds is evil - an evil I intend to destroy. And it sounds as if you believe the Guild exists for any reason but profit. The Crimson Crown sounds more the organization for you, friend. The Guild evicted me for selling secrets. The punishment was purely for practicing the magic of healing. I can't conjure so much as a flicker of flame, but it didn't stop them. They don't care about the physical dangers of magic, only that they're a threat to their business."

"And do not make the mistake of thinking if you choose to fight me it will be an easy task. I am willing to meet death for my cause, but only after fighting to it."

Edited October 6, 2013 by CallMePie

[Etzel]

Maurice raised his shield as his comrades drew their weapons.

""Plague Doctor", eh? Well today you have acted like a plague and nothing like a doctor. I can't understand how you can possibly think your means justify your goal, you have deliberately poisoned a whole crowd, passively killed a whole bunch by instigating a fight, and on top of that spread lies, deceit and false words by this whole charade to the people. No more of this I tell you, Eubric sure don't need another one of your kind."

[-obelix-]

Thalion drinks a Mead, tosses the Crimson Serum to Guts and pulls the Batarang out of its sheets, "I don't think there is anything more I can say, for you are clearly set on your path without options of any other... So be it..." Thalion is ready to fight.

[JimBee]

The raider turns to Hybros, and shrugged: "I don't make myself any dillusions, that's the difference, imp."

Hybros rolls his eyes. "You really are getting ignorant in your... 'old' age."

He returns his focus to the enemies. "So let us do this."

[Scubacarrot]

"Can it, Hybros. Save your pedantic grains of wisdom for after we kill this next set of clowns." Guts said it calmly, but inside he was raging. All the sympathy he once felt for the imp was slowly being washed away by Hybros' new insistance on insulting and criticizing everything he said or did at every turn...

[JimBee]

Hybros shook his head. "Very well. It seems there is no convincing you that this grand scheme of yours is useless, even when you have seen, and are about to see, similar schemes fail right in front of you."

[CMP]

The Plague Doctor spins each sceptre in his hand, dropping down from the stage in front of the party. The pink visible behind the eyeholes of his mask glows.

"So be it, then."

PREPARE FOR BATTLE!

Enemies

The Plague Doctor

Level 66 Humanoid

Health: 1947/1947

Ether: 25/25

Special I: Dual Heal – The Plague Doctor removes negative effects from and heals the two enemies with the least health for 150 health each at the cost of 2 ether.

Special II: Repentance – The Plague Doctor inflicts a number of random negative effects on the hero they are not immune to equal to their level divided by three.

Special II used when The Plague Doctor is out of ether.

Passive Special: Justice - The Plague Doctor grants a random positive effect to himself or a random ally at the end of each round at the cost of 1 ether. If the Plague Doctor is out of ether, nothing happens.

Drops: Alpha and Omega (WP: 13, dual healing/spellcasting at the cost of 2 ether, staves), 6 Remedies

Immune to all negative effects and instant kill.

Note: The Plague Doctor will use Dual Heal as his free hit until ether is depleted or no enemies are injured.

Moroul

Level 40 Bestial Humanoid

Health: 1594/1594

Special: Fury – Moroul becomes angered. After three rounds have passed, he will deal 40 damage to the entire party, ignoring row.

Drops: Nothing

Immune to fragile, weakened, blinded, and instant kill.

Ithea *Reinforced*

Level 32 Mechanic Humanoid

Health: 1770/1770

Defense: 20 40

Special I: Taking the Heat – Ithea draws all damage to herself for the duration of next round.

Special II: Adaptation – Ithea gains maximum health equal to the hero’s.

Special II used if Taking the Heat is already in effect.

Drops: Ambrosia, Conductor Shield (SP: 12, immune to lightning and fire, shield)

Immune to lightning, fire, slowed, stunned, and instant kill.

The Masked Man

Level 50 Humanoid

Health: 1665/1665

Defense: 10

Special: Tri Dazer Max – The Masked Man lowers the target’s level, current and max ether, current and max health, and Defense by 10. All stats are restored when the battle is over.

Drops: Masked Man Bits, Ether Core

Immune to instant kill.

Party

Guts Holla (Scubacarrot)

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

Level: 28

Power Bonus: 4

Health: 42/42

Defense: 4

Gold: 1115

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 8x Mead, 5x Smelling Salts, 6x Nostrum, 22x Grand Potion, 4x Health Core, 2x Elixir, 1x Grand Tonic, 1x Ether Core, 12x Remedy, 3x Phoenix Essence, 5x Smoke Bomb, 4x Deadly Venom, 2x 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), Zenith (WP: 17, instrument), Sterile Gloves, Blessed Amulet (protects from cursed-effect; accessory), Crimson Serum,

Hybros

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

Level: 27.33

Power Bonus: 1

Defense: 0

Health: 41/41 82/82

Gold: 980

Equipment: Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 19, 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), The Black Hat (Suitable for anyone, grants Intimidation, immune to darkness and cursed, headwear)

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, 15 Grand Potions, 22 Health Cores, 11 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, 3 Elixirs, 4 Phoenix Essences, 2 Deadly Venoms, 2 Smoke Bombs, 3 Lightning Bombs, 3 Holy Bombs, 10 Nostrums, 3 Meads, 3 Mulled Wines, Minimizing Dust, Bedroll, Shovel, Skeleton Decoy, Bone, 4 Mythril Shards, 2 Sterile Gloves

Thalion Dwinlas (-obelix-)

213 years old male elf Sorcerer *Immune to Fragile, Sealed, Poisoned, and Badly Poisoned* *Hastened* *Lucky* *Encouraged* Party Leader*

Level: 20.33

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 7

Health: 28/28

Ether: 29/30

Gold: 472

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), Sterile Gloves

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, Phoenix Essence, Elixir, Health Core, Potion, Grand Potion (3), Grand Tonic, Remedy, Smoke Bomb, Bone, Mead, Deadly Venom (2),

Maurice Ratibor (Etzel)

52 years old male human Paladin *Immune to Stunned and Light* *Lucky* *Blessed*

Level: 22.66

Power Bonus: 1

Defense: 13

Health: 43/43

Ether: 29/29

Gold: 235

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), AIUPIIUP (Gives the carrier the Slowed effect, accessory, suitable for heroes)Paladin's Armour (SP:4, Max. Ether +2, Immunity to Light, bodywear)

Inventory: Glass Greatsword (WP:12, hollow blade (Phoenix Essence stored); greatsword), Emerald Staff (WP:10 wood-elemental), Diamond, 3 Potions, Tonic, 3 Ether Cores, 2 Nostrums, 2 Venom, Elixir, Floral Bomb, Water Bomb, 4 Fire Bombs, Torch, Bone, Plume, Magic Compass,White Cloak (Max. Health +3, Immunity to Asleep effect, backwear), Sterile Gloves, Grand Potion, Deadly Venom

You know what to do.

Edited October 6, 2013 by CallMePie

[-obelix-]

Thalion uses the Scroll of Frailty on Ithea and casts a darkness spell at her, both from back row.

Battle Order:

Thalion

Thalion

Guts

Guts

Hybros

Hybros

Maurice

[JimBee]

Hybros swings from the back row with his Eye-poking Sai towards the Masked Man. If he is successful in blinding his foe, he will attack the Masked Man from the front row with the Sword of Ancestral Hatred. If not, then repeat.

[Etzel]

"Hey, how come I'm stuck with the heavy machine yet again? It should be someone else's turn now."

Maurice will attack Moroul from the front row.

[-obelix-]

"Hey, how come I'm stuck with the heavy machine yet again? It should be someone else's turn now."

Maurice will attack Moroul from the front row.

"You really ought to keep our good friend Doctor busy for now, master Maurice...", says Thalion as he sees paladin preparing to attack the beastman.

OOC: Guts should attack Moroul. We'll join you in attacking the Doctor as soon as masked man is blinded. And if his level has got you worried Etzel, you can attack Ithea, and Ill have Thalion keep the doctor busy...

Edited October 6, 2013 by -obelix-

[Etzel]

"You really ought to keep our good friend Doctor busy for now, master Maurice...", says Thalion as he sees paladin preparing to attack the beastman.

OOC: Guts should attack Moroul. We'll join you in attacking the Doctor as soon as masked man is blinded. And if his level has got you worried Etzel, you can attack Ithea, and Ill have Thalion keep the doctor busy...

OOC: Okay, I thought the stun chance on my weapons could've worked on Moroul, but if you have a plan I'll follow that.

Maurice changes target to the Plague Doctor instead.

[Scubacarrot]

Guts attacks Moroul twice from the front row.