Heroica RPG - Quest #81: Home Sweet Home

[The_Customizer]

"Well, as the king of my realm once said 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.' As I live by this standard, perhaps we will be successful. Until then, let us continue to travel."

[Emjajoas]

Em raises an eyebrow at the druid, though he doesn't speak. He felt the situation would be far more complex than she wanted to admit...

He inspected Fydelle and contemplated the situation further. Humans terrorizing proggs... They would have to be put in their place.

[joeshmoe554]

So this was a progg. Jeaux took a moment to observe the strange creature that had carried them here. It was obviously much stronger than any average human, and yet there was an air of fear in his voice. "What exactly occurred in Luosh that would prevent you from defending yourselves?"

[Endgame]

Fydelle grunts, apparently not comfortable with the subject.

"Genocide. There was a genocide in Luosh. And we caused it.

Some background: Our previous leaders were the three princes of our species, the only three Proggs of royal blood. Rhodus, Aquos, and Eidolon; Two of them completely warped and demented, bent on the slaughter of humanity. We Proggs were originally born to be slaves. Three thousand years ago, trapped on a desolate and frigid island, some of the greatest evokers need help to survive. Thus, they gathered their ethereal power and created the Proggs to serve them. We were sentient, intelligent, in some ways superior to the common human. And yet, we were slaves to them. Obviously, the three princes were none too happy about their servitude. Eight hundred years ago we rebelled and slaughtered them, shattering the chains that binded us. Solon and I participated in the revolt; we were about two hundred at the time.

The Princes fell into hatred, eventually corrupting the people they led. We became warmongers, eventually leading to our assault on Luosh. Although we were constantly being fed hateful propaganda, the invasion of Luosh was also fueled by an underlying want for a home that wasn't a barren wasteland. Six heroes of Heroica eventually stopped the invasion, slaughtering Rhodus, Aquos, and Eidolon over the course of a single night. No longer led by hateful monsters, we retreated under Eubric to build our colony.

And here we are now, held in submission by mere politics. If we were to lash out against another human again after what happened in Luosh, we will be branded as warmongers and possibly forced out of our colony here. I don't think us Proggs could take being evicted from our home three times in one year.

So hopefully you can understand my furstration. All of my possible efforts halted by committee and semantics."

Edited September 30, 2013 by Endgame

[joeshmoe554]

"They hate you because they fear you, and with good reason it would seem. Given your actions of the past, it will likely prove quite difficult to erase that fear and convince them to allow you to live peacefully under their city."

[Jedi master Brick]

"I guess that is why we are here, to convince the mob that the proggs are not the enemy."

[Pyrovisionary]

"Shouldn't be to hard. Yer just need to show them what good you can do... By providing lot's of mead. Move the entrance to I don't know, a basement in a certain hall, and bob's your uncle!"

[joeshmoe554]

"Shouldn't be to hard. Yer just need to show them what good you can do... By providing lot's of mead. Move the entrance to I don't know, a basement in a certain hall, and bob's your uncle!"

"Trust is not so easy a thing to earn, especially when you have proven yourself untrustworthy in the past." Jeaux's emphasis on the word you seemed to indicate he was not only talking about the Proggs. He had not forgotten Sarge's instinct for self preservation placing the rest of party in danger from their last quest together. "If you did not wish to be ousted from yet another home, then why did you chose a location so close to those who hold such hatred for your kind?"

Edited September 30, 2013 by joeshmoe554

[Pyrovisionary]

"Wasn't my fault that Jensen took a few hits." Sarge mutters.

Ooc: It wasn't, I can't choose when the black knight hides. That's why I've gone witch.

[joeshmoe554]

Jeaux continued to look at the scorpion like creature, ignoring the comment from Sarge.

OOC:I'm well aware of that, but Jeaux doesn't know fate is determined by a roll of the dice.

[Emjajoas]

Em glances between his party members, though decides to remain silent. He was anxious to get underway.

[Endgame]

"Location was a decision we had to make pretty quickly. Moving isn't at all easy; we had just complete a move a few weeks ago from all the way up in the Helvetian Ocean when we were forced to move again. Eubric was a short distance away and contained Heroica Hall, so we chose to settle in there.

Only a few more minutes until we reach The Colony, so any last minute questions, voice them now."

[Pyrovisionary]

"None from me, I think that you've made everything pretty clear."

[The_Customizer]

Indeed, I have to agree with Sarge, everything seems to be in order.

OOC: Sarge, as I am quite busy every once in a while, if I can't post, and you guys need to move on, just choose my actions for me, I know you will make the right choices.

[joeshmoe554]

"I have no further questions for the moment."

[Pyrovisionary]

Indeed, I have to agree with Sarge, everything seems to be in order.

OOC: Sarge, as I am quite busy every once in a while, if I can't post, and you guys need to move on, just choose my actions for me, I know you will make the right choices.

Ooc: Ok

[Emjajoas]

"I have no further questions," Em replies. He had a hard time hiding his excitement.

[Endgame]

"Alright then."

The motley crew walks along the tunnel for a few more minute sbefore coming to an impromptu gate; two scarlet Proggs guard it, brandishing riot shields larger then the heroes. Interestingly, their razor sharp tails had been replaced by some sort of bludgeoning device; this Progg troops were probably meant to be nonlethal.

Both salute at the sight of their command officer, but Fydelle will have nothing of it.

"Oh, lay off of it, you two. I've known you for 2 years, no need for formalities anymore." The second-in-command grunts.

The Phalanx Troops chuckle.

"Never one for procedure, were you, Fydelle?"

Fydelle simply shrugs.

"I run the Phalanx based on efficiency. If a procedure isn't efficient, it can claw its heart out, for all I care.

Now, Marth, run to the echoes. Our heroes are here early."

The Progg on the left - Marth, apparently - nods and unlocks the gate, entering. The party goes to enter, but Fydelle holds out a gauntlet to block them.

"We can't have you walking into the colony without the populace being alerted of your presence."

The remaining guard chuckles.

"Ready to see one of the Progg's greatest engineering feats?"

[Emjajoas]

Em takes a deep breath, nodding. "Rather looking forward to it, actually," he replies. He had hoped to see the five young proggs from a previous quest, but he knew better than to expect it. They seemed rather busy on the surface. He chanced a question, though.

"Do you know how Nervo, Trajin, Hadrius, Pius, and Marcus are doing? I met with them on the surface a while back."

[Endgame]

Fydelle looks at the puzzled ranger, confused.

" You know the Regent's children?"

[The_Customizer]

Erdathcath looks around, closely studying the creatures whom she would soon be helping protect, noticing their weakness and strengths. "Yes, I believe I am ready to see your outstanding engineering feats, what exactly is engineering though? These large words kids use nowadays are always confusing me".

[Emjajoas]

"I met them, yes; I traded with them during one of their excursions for supplies." Em replies, nodding. "Sweet little critters."

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge eyes the Proggs closely. He remains silent, anticipating either some sort of Elevator or a security alarm.

[Endgame]

Fydelle reacts oddly to Erdacath's question, wondering if she was joking or not. After all, Fydelle had lived more than three times longer then she had...

"Engineering. Building things."

The scarlet Progg behind Fydelle points a scaly hand up, interrupting the conversation.

"Feast your eyes on this."

Steel tubes ran across the ceiling, holes cut into them with the utmost precision. As the heroes look at the odd apparatus, the voice of a Progg begins to flood the room, clear as day: from the steel cylinders! The voice has a surprising clarity to it, the heroes wondering where the real origin actually was.

"This is Phalanx Trooper Ike speaking. Five humans from heroica will be entering the colony shortly - do not be alarmed by them. Their presence here has been requested by Regent Solon."

The message echoes through the tubes, filling the room with the sound of Ike's voice.

"That message just got broadcasted to over 2 cubic miles of our Progg Colony; pretty much all of it, except the construction site. We have those tubes - Echoes, we call them - running through the entire colony. Pretty cool, right?"

Fydelle simply shakes his head.

"We can gawk over technology later. For now..."

Fydelle steps through the gate of the colony, and beckons for the heroes to follow him.

What will the party do?

[Pyrovisionary]

"Good for you, that's nice. " "Now let's get on with it."