Heroica RPG - Quest #81: Home Sweet Home

[The_Customizer]

"Indeed, quite an impressive mechanism, let us proceed to the person we are to meet with."

[joeshmoe554]

Jeaux follows Fydelle into the colony, wondering what sort of welcome they will receive given the apparent necessity of their presence being announced.

[Jedi master Brick]

Elgar walked forward slowly, he was impressed by the technology but was now aware that the chance of escape if the proggs were angered at any point in the quest was slim

[Pyrovisionary]

The proggs could send messages instantly could they? We're screwed if we ever have to fight them underground.

Sarge cautiously follows the rest of the party through the gate.

[Emjajoas]

Em follows closely, fidgeting.

[Endgame]

The jittery party follows Fydelle through the gate, ending up in a junction.

Tranquil geyser bubble out from rock formations, pools of crystal clear water swirling about. A serene sense of tranquility and culture surrounds the cavernous area. And cavernous it was - the party could hardly see the ceiling, blue lanterns hanging from the top of the gargantuan cave sending down shafts of light. The architecture seemed to be a blend of natural cave formations and ornate sculptures of stone.

Fydelle reaches for something, handing the party a map. The party takes the scrap of paper, carefully scanning it.

A: Makeshift Entry

B: Bazaar

C: Echoes Core

D: Stronghold Checkpoint

E: Housing District

F: Deep's Gate

G: The Deeps

H: Food Storage

I: Homeless District

J: True Entry

K: Tavern: The Granite Keg

L: Reservoir District

M: The Royal Pond

N: The Bunker

X: The Stronghold

"If you have any questions, ask. Otherwise, I'll be waiting for you at the stronghold - as will Solon, your official employer. You arrived early, so you can do some sightseeing before you report in. I'd reckon you could check out 4 locations before it's time for you to report in."

[Emjajoas]

Em's jaw drops in awe as he inspects the spacious cavern. He grins, studying the map. "Should we start at the bazaar?" he asks.

[joeshmoe554]

"We may as well. It might also be in our best interest to visit the tavern. I've heard rumors tend to circulate in locations such as that."

[The_Customizer]

To make it most efficent, we could start from A, go to H, then K, then back through H, then B, then up to D.

That way we cover a large area, and don't have to worry about getting lost, or not arriving to meet Solon on time.

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge looked around at the cavern. Good for them he thought, Good for them. "I say we go with Erdy's plan"

[Endgame]

QM Note: I'll wait for everyone's input before I move this along.

[Jedi master Brick]

"Erdy's plan sounds good to me."

[Emjajoas]

"Sounds like a plan," Em nods.

[Endgame]

QM Note: Sorry for the delay, folks!

"Well, if you've made up your mind, I'll be seeing you at the stronghold."

Saying curt goodbyes to the colony's guardian, the party treks west as he shuffles north. The sound of bubbling water graces the entire complex, the party walking through cavernous hallways - growing smaller, then larger, and then smaller again as they walk through. Finally, they come to their next location: The Food Storage.

An adult Progg seems to tend to the rwos and rows of barrles, presumably carrying huge amounts of food. A small posse of larvae arragne themselves in a grid, a pupa apparently calling the shots for now.

"Okay, brothers and sisters! Sound off!"

"One! Present."

"Two! Directly in front of you."

"Three! Also here."

"Four! I sounded off, so obviously I'm here."

"V! Roman numerals are fun!"

"Six! There's some umans watching us..."

"Seven! I'm way in the back."

"Eight! I'm hungry."

"Nine! Can we eat now, big sis?"

[The_Customizer]

Erdathcath approaches the Blue progg, who is presumably the adult or leader. "Greetings! My name is Erdathcath, what may I call you?"

[Endgame]

QM Note: Are you referring to the Pupa, or the large adult to the right?

[joeshmoe554]

Looking at the barrels, Jeaux began to wonder just how many proggs were living down here and what they may be preparing for. If a war were to break out between these creatures and the humans on the surface, it would not bode well for the citizens of Eubric.

He could also see a large number of what were presumably infant proggs. The blue one seemed to be leading the group while the many red proggs were following his orders. The colors did not seem to indicate age given he had seen both adults and children in shades of blue and red, so perhaps their colors were a familial trait. Seeing as the leader was blue and all of the proggs he was leading were red, it would appear this society utilized some form of caste system; however the interactions between the red and blue proggs did not seem quite so formal as he would expect. Jeaux made a mental note to ask Solon about it later.

[Endgame]

The Progg Pupa wirggles over Jeaux, lost in thought over the Progg's social groupings.

"Hiya, mister!"

This particular pupa appeared to be female, judging by its voice.

[joeshmoe554]

Jeaux was taken aback with surprise. Given the trepidation Fydelle had shown, feeling it necessary to announce the heroes' presence. Jeaux had expected the residents to show more fear or anger towards them, instead of the welcoming attitude this progg seemed to have.

"Hello young one, and how old are you?".

[Endgame]

The young Progg looks over Jeaux carefully, as if trying to locate a face. After failing to find a distinct one, the pupa seems to do what can only be interpreted as a shrug.

"I'm 4 years old, why?"

[joeshmoe554]

"I would assume because you were born 4 years ago. You appear to be leading this group of proggs here, what are you trying to accomplish?"

[Endgame]

"That's just how Proggs work, mister. When parents are out doing stuff, the eldest child - typically the pupae, like me - are left to lead the larvae of the family. Me, I'm just taking my brothers and sisters out for some food.

Of course, there is a lot of us... So we have to sound off every once and a while."

The pupa sounds glum.

" I heard one family lost one of their larvae. I guess they were missing one when they sounded off."

[joeshmoe554]

"Have there been any search parties organized to find the lost larvae?"

[Emjajoas]

"Where was the larvae last seen?" Em questions, looking fondly at the little proggs.

[The_Customizer]

OOC: my bad, meant the adult Progg.