Heroica RPG - Quest #81: Home Sweet Home

[Endgame]

The heroes step up to Punii - or, more specifically, the woman he was looking at. She was a mess from iris's tampering: Blue veins poked through ghostly pale skin, the woamn's healthy face becoming skeletal after the demoness left her body. There was no pulse; she was dead. Despite all of this, the face was far too familiar to Johon, and especially Punii:

Ayla Commerz.

With the blue face mask pulled off, it was hauntingly obvious: the smell of jasmine perfume still hung over the soul-sucked body. Tears stream down Punii's face, as he reads a note on the back of her mask.

Punii.

If you're reading this, I can not only assume that Iris has been driven out of her human vessel, but also soundly defeated. Unfortunately, the mere act of taking her as a vessel for this long would've undoubtedly destroyed her and her soul. Your precious Ayla is gone, Punii. Iris needed a female vessel, and an opportunity for a bit of revenge presented itself to me. Why would I sacrifice that chance? It really wasn't any act of overt malice - although your flagrant acts of disobedience proven irritating in the past, this was merely done as a systematic bit of reprimandation. Those who cross me suffer, Punii. It really is that simple. To be honest, to orphan you again is fairly light compared to the wrongdoings you enacted upon me. The fact that it furthered my plans is irrelevant; I allow no one to defy me without being put back in line. I know loss well, Punii. If you mold it -tame it, become the master of your sorrows - you will become powerful beyond belief. I've learned that lesson well. But you? You're weak. Too afraid to embrace the key to true might. So wallow in your sorrows, Punii. We will meet again.

​And next time, but punishment will not be so meager.

-The Regret

"H-how... How could... *wheeze* anyone be so... H-how? *cough*"

​The young Progg runt breaks down, sobbing silently.

[Emjajoas]

Em pats Punii on the Progg equivalent of a shoulder, kneeling beside him. He remains silent; no words blunt the edge of grief.

[Bricksandparts]

Johon looks at the dead Ayla, dumbfounded.

"How many innocents must die to protect the majority?"

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge uses the grating stone on the demonic scissors, and downs the crystal sovereign.

He then laughs at Johon's comment. "Everyone dies. And not a single damn is ever given. Fact-o'-life sonny"

Edited February 19, 2014 by Pyrovisionary

[Bricksandparts]

Johon, his anger mounting, swings around, aiming a yell at Sarge.

"What the bloody hell is your problem?! First you're a traitor, willing to fight for the megablocking other side. Against us all! Now, you don't let us mourn the dead? The innocents?" Johon aims a kick towards Sarge's crotch, releasing the hate he'd felt towards Sarge since the dream.

[Pyrovisionary]

Ooc: When did Sarge nearly betray the party? Or was it when he was hexed? Sorry, I have an awful memory for Heroica.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Pyrovisionary

[Bricksandparts]

OoC: In the dream, he opted to join the eternal reaper rather than die.

[Emjajoas]

"Settle down! This isn't the time, nor the place! Mind yourselves!" Em barks, glaring between the two. "We've all had enough bloodshed for one day."

[Pyrovisionary]

Ooc: Ah, I see. Thanks!

Sarge moves his pegleg to catch the kick. It still hurt, but not as much as it would have if it had been landed as intended.

Sarge shrugs at the raiders accusation.

"I'm a professional soldier lad, not a saint with a sword." Sarge pauses, then spits the words: "Fifty years of freakin war yer learn alot"

Looking at his pegleg and missing fingers, he says "I'm a mercenary. Not a bleedin philanthropist! I fight and kill because at the end of the day, I get my paycheck . I don't believe in freedom, kindness or people . I believe in me and the combined 70 inches of steel I can shove up someone's throat. And when you're dying for your country I'll be, still alive. And when you're dead I will be, still alive. No-one will ever mourn us and we'll soon be forgotten. "

[Endgame]

QM Note: As far as intra-party fights go: I'll let this play out for now. If you want this to come to actual blows, I'd be happy to run it, but not until I'm given the OK. I'll past the final loot distribution/conclusion to this quest later tonight.

[joeshmoe554]

"Death is a certainty that will come for us all, no matter what you may do to try and avoid it." Jeaux looks towards Johon, His face seemed red with anger, "Was this woman someone important? You seem to be awfully distressed at her passing."

[Bricksandparts]

Sarge moves his pegleg to catch the kick. It still hurt, but not as much as it would have if it had been landed as intended.

Sarge shrugs at the raiders accusation.

"I'm a professional soldier lad, not a saint with a sword." Sarge pauses, then spits the words: "Fifty years of freakin war yer learn alot"

Looking at his pegleg and missing fingers, he says "I'm a mercenary. Not a bleedin philanthropist! I fight and kill because at the end of the day, I get my paycheck . I don't believe in freedom, kindness or people . I believe in me and the combined 70 inches of steel I can shove up someone's throat. And when you're dying for your country I'll be, still alive. And when you're dead I will be, still alive. No-one will ever mourn us and we'll soon be forgotten. "

"Do you know what death even is?!" Johon says, shoving sarge backwards. "You have no compassion. The only difference between you and them is who you are fighting for."

"Was this woman someone important? You seem to be awfully distressed at her passing."

"Yes. Punii looked up to her. It's more than that, but now she's gone..." Johon says to Jeaux, while still glaring at Sarge.

"You won't be remembered. It's not because you can't fight, but because of why you fight. You fight for your greedy whims; some of us fight for what is right." Johon takes another step towards Sarge's face, his eyes only inches away from his own. "Not you."

[Endgame]

"Yes. Punii looked up to her. It's more than that, but now she's gone..."

"I-it's a lot *wheeze* more than that... She was practically a mother to me. My own mama abandoned me the second i wriggled out of my egg, all *cough* because I was smaller than my siblings. S-she *wheeze* took me in, gave me food, shelter, affection... E-even paid for my dream career, an internship at the *wheeze* *cough* G-guild of I-i-invision. A-and now she's *wheeze*..."

Puniii breaks out into another fit of mournful cries, like a lost child missing his mother - because that is exactly what he was.

Meanwhile, Fydelle sets to defusing the current situation.

"Both of you - Enough! I was set to say "I'm sorry", you know - apologize for being gruff during this whole ordeal. But now I feel as if my behavior was somehwat warranted. You're both talented people. And both of you are passionate men. But that is no excuse to be hotheaded.

Johon, I can tell you are adamant about your views in life. Your conviction in your opinions is something a lot of people lack. But to allow it to come to this? is that really worth it? Does it get the point across, or just damage your reputation and your state of mind?

And Sarge. I was in the military for centuries - we Proggs can outlive the normal human by a long shot. I went through the same phase as you, you know. Jaded. Cynical. You witness so much bloodshed, so much death, that you begin to think that the individual is meaningless. You look at the big picture, the grand scheme of things, the future. We are small being sin this world. Some people aspire to be greater in the most horrid ways - such as that White Devil we just met - but ultimately, we are all small in our own ways. But that doesn't make us devoid of meaning. Soldiers are meant to be people of the present, Sarge. And, presently, every life taken has had repercussions. Someone has missed, or mourned, over every single life lost is Olegaia. And to an extent, it's kind of beautiful. You can be jaded all you want, but I've lived seven hundred years on the battlefield. Don't make the mistakes I did. Don't take that long to realize this."

[The_Customizer]

"Sarge, Johon, what in the name of Heroica are you doing? We are on the same team, stop the petty bickering, we have better things to do."

[Pyrovisionary]

"You have no compassion. The only difference between you and them is who you are fighting for."

Patting Johon on his shoulder sarge says "In a nutshell kid."

some of us fight for what is right.

"Nah. You fight for what you believe to be right. And what I think is right is that I get a lot of gold for fighting."

And Sarge. I was in the military for centuries - we Proggs can outlive the normal human by a long shot. I went through the same phase as you, you know. Jaded. Cynical. You witness so much bloodshed, so much death, that you begin to think that the individual is meaningless. You look at the big picture, the grand scheme of things, the future. We are small being sin this world. Some people aspire to be greater in the most horrid ways - such as that White Devil we just met - but ultimately, we are all small in our own ways. But that doesn't make us devoid of meaning. Soldiers are meant to be people of the present, Sarge. And, presently, every life taken has had repercussions. Someone has missed, or mourned, over every single life lost is Olegaia. And to an extent, it's kind of beautiful. You can be jaded all you want, but I've lived seven hundred years on the battlefield. Don't make the mistakes I did. Don't take that long to realize this."

"Thanks for the advice mate, but quite frankly, I aint got that much time left on this world. So I'm gonna be cynical, whilst making a ton of money for the family."

"Death is a certainty that will come for us all, no matter what you may do to try and avoid it."

Sarge nods in agreement.

"Let's find Solon"

Edited February 20, 2014 by Pyrovisionary

[Bricksandparts]

OoC: Will this be moving on soon?

Johon starts to slightly shake his head, before pushing Sarge backwards and stepping back. He remains silent, waiting for them to go find Solon.

[Endgame]

The party hears a familiar metallic shuffling, along with five other soft brushing noises, all occurring at different intervals. Em heaves a sigh of relief as he sees who it was: Solon, and his five children.

"Sarge, Johon, Erdathcath, Jeaux, Em, I-"

His five multi-colored larvae sprint out in front of the now-ruler of the colony, yelping in delight.

"Heroes!"

"You're okay!"

"You're in one piece!"

"Your bodies are fully functional without any major injuries!"

"And stuff!"

"Where were they, Solon?"

"They were all balled up in drawer, trembling. I'm so relieved, thank Ennoc that they're safe..."

The party notices some moisture on Solon's face grids: whtehr from battle or tears of relief, it was hard to say. Everyone was leaning towards the latter.

"Anyway... We Proggs have a lot to thank you for, heroes. Really. You got me out of my polotical slump, you saved the lives of every Progg still here, and prevented us from all becoming puppets - pawns, to be used and disposed by The Regret. We haven't seen the last of that demon. iI know that for a fact. But now... I have confidence in you, heroes. if there is anything you need, don't be afraid to ask. You're welcome to the colony, anytime. And here is your hard earned reward..."

Solon passes the party 1000 gold to split!

The children shuffle forward as well, bearing a weathered book: Progg History, Biology, Physiology, Culture and Cuisine.

"For your Embassy!"

"It has our history, medical healthy stuff..."

"...and progg food!"

"A complete and comprehensive guide about anything you would care to know about the colony and its shelled denizens!"

"And stuff! You can drop it off at the Embassy and they'll add a summary and stuff daddy made."

QM Note: Distribute the gold, and you're done here!

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge takes his share of 267 gold, pockets it then returns to the Heroica hall.

[Emjajoas]

"Thank the Gods you're safe, children," Em mutters, crouching down and patting each on the head. Turning to their father, Em adds "Should you require any more aid, Solon, you need only ask."

[Bricksandparts]

"Solon we can't take this..." Johon says. "You need this more than us..."

[The_Customizer]

"Indeed, Johon is right, we did our job, yet failed to protect your people, Iris is gone, but you need to rebuild, keep the gold, use it to restore this city!"

[joeshmoe554]

Jeaux places the 268 gold in his briefcase. "It is fortunate the leadership of the colony survived the attack. You should be able to rebuild from the damage quickly and have your colony up and running in a short while. If you are in need of assistance, remember to contact Heroica in the future."

[Endgame]

QM Note: My flight was cancelled yesterday, leading to an exhausting day long scramble for transportation home while being shepherded by the most unhelpful airline I've ever travelled on. I suspect that I've made some glaring errors with loot distribution, and if you see them, please don't be afraid to say so.

"You deserve some sort of compensation for your efforts, Johon, Erdathcath. Perhaps you'd like these?"

Solon hands Johon and Erdathcath a Mythril Shard.

The Party:

Sgt Jon. Mcency (Pyrovisionary)

54 years old male human witch

Level 19 *Dual Strike* *Immune to blinded* *Hastened!*

Power: 40 (19+17+2+2)

Health: 9/42 (7+18+8+3+3+3)

Ether: 8/21 (19+1+1)

Gold: 725 (70 owed to Brickington)

Equipment: Demonic Scissors (WP:19, dual strike, Light and Darkness-elemental, Hollow (empty) daggers), Witch's talisman (All attacks Cause the badly poisoned effect), Pegleg of Hastening (Permanent hastened-effect to the user; Immune to Blinded, suitable to Sarge only; footwear) Conspirator (WP: 15, causes Blinded)

Inventory: Phoenix Essence, Potion x4, Grand Potion x3, Remedy x5, Venom x3, Deadly Venom, Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying glass, Business Card, Bone x2, 2x Gold Ring (worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Counterstrike gloves, Military Grade fire bomb

Erdathcath Madilinas, 199 years old,

Level 20.5 Druid *Lucky!*

Power: 30

Health: 34/34

Ether: 14/23

Gold: 427

Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:13), Satchel of Awesomeness (Permanent Lucky-effect; bodywear), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory)

Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 6 Mead, 8 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 Deadly Venoms, 1 Super Deadly Venom, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 1 Fire Bomb, 3 Smoke Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, 2 Air Bombs, Grand Tonic, Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Ruby, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrified), Mage's muffler (protects from sealing), Jinxy Juice, Grand Tonic, Love Potion, Blind Fury, Grating Stone, Jinxy Juice, Deadly Venom, Mythril Shard

Name: Unknown. Most call him "Em," though his real name remains largely mysterious.

Unknown age male human ranger

Level 15.5

Power: 24

SP: 4

Health: 22/22 (6+14+2)

Gold: 406

Equipment: Aquabow (WP: 7, Water-elemental), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory) (Power +2, SP +2, Max. Health +2, Max. Ether +2. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year), Syndicate Cowl (SP: 2, Immune to Doomed effect)

Inventory:

Consumables: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone x2, Nostrum x2, Potion x2, Remedy x4, Venom, Grand Potion, Mead, Ambrosia, Crystal Sovereign

Weapons: Quality Cutlass (WP:6, Dagger), Bow(WP:5)

Tools: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe,

Equipment:White Marksman's Hat (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear), Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by (Asleep), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Frost Helmet (SP: 3, ice immune), Potion x3, Mead

Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts) 25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider

Level: 26.66

Power: 38

Health: 14/41 (23+8+1+7+0)

Shield Power: (5+1)

Ether: ~/0

Positive effects: *Immune to:* (*Fragile*, *Cursed* *Stunned* ), *Natural Respite*

Negative effects: (none)

Gold: 3111 (0CB(50))

Equipment:

Weapon - Sword of Decay (WP:8) - (once the target is inflicted with damage they lose a quarter of the power of the strike each following turn for three turns. the effect cannot be compounded with more strikes. Suitable to Mages, Knights and Barbarians.)

Shield - None

Artefact 1 (L1-9) - Heavy Armour - SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians and knights

Artefact 2 (L10-19) - Hide of The Bleeding - restores 10 HP and 5 ether for every enemy the wearer kills, suitable for anyone

Artefact 3 (L20-29) - Sticky Gloves - Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up), suitable for rogues and beast warriors.[

Artefact 4 (L30-39) -

Artefact 5 (L40-49) -

Artefact 6 (L50+) -

Extra Artefacts: Helmet (+1 max health), Blessed Amulet – Protects from cursed-effect. Dog Statuette - (suitable for anyone, SP: 1, once named (Rover), speaking the name summons a dog almost certainly to tag along on madcap adventures and make snippy comments.), Scarlet Hood - +4 to power, immunity to stunned, Bravado Boots - 1/6 chance of being Lucky at the beginning of every battle

Extra Weapons: Greatsword (WP:3), Focal Staff (WP:5, Focus Fire-Roll a 3 for 5 ether Suitable for clerics and mages),Gladius (WP: 15, Darkness elemental, 1/3 chance of Fragile on succesful hits), Stalker’s Mallet (WP: 8, usable by Knights, Barbarians, and Harlots. Has a 1/2 chance to seal the enemy),Lullaby Wand (WP: 6, causes asleep-effect), Lovelorn Wand (WP: 6, causes enamored-effect.), Scaridy Wand (WP: 6 causes afraid-effect.), Wand of Wrath (WP: 6, causes enraged-effect.)

Tools: Shovel (1), Pick-axe (2), Magnifying Glass (1), Magic Compass (1)

Consumables: Potion (2), Grand Tonic (1), Remedy (0), Mead (10), Smelling Salts (19), Nostrum 19), Venom (2), Deadly Poison (1), Trial Brew (1), Ambrosia (2), Ectoplasm (1), Mythril Shard

Elements: Aquamarine (1), Emerald (1), Garnet (1), Opal (1), Ruby (1), Sapphire (1), Topaz (1), Diamond (2), Amethyst (2)

Scrolls: Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (1), Scroll of Confusion (1), Scroll of Frailty (1), Scroll of Weakening (1)

Quest/RP/Misc. items: Blue Rose, Fifty Shades of Bley

Jeaux Elmfyre (joeshmoe554)

Automaton male, Evoker

Level 16.5 *Blessed* *Transcended* *Immune to Sealing, Bleeding, and Confused*

Power: 27 (Level 15 + WP: 11)

Defense: 2

Health: 10/24 (6 + 3 + 15)

Ether: 13/17 (16 + 1)

Gold: 165

Equipment: Divine Cannonade (WP:11; gives blessed- and transcended-effects to user; hollow; handcannon), Enchanted Bracelet (protects from sealing; accessory), Automaton Armor (SP:2, immune to bleeding and confused; suitable to automata only; bodywear)

Inventory: Eminus (WP: 5; bow), Serpenthead Shield (SP:2, causes poisoned by 2-effect to anyone physically attacking the user), Ranger's Quiver (WP+1; backwear), Topaz, Soma, Tonic, Grand Tonic x2, Grand Potion x3, Venom x2, Volatile Venom x3, Smoke Bomb, Water Bomb, Bedroll, Bone x6, Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 Items; accessory), Turdwing (fly familiar; causes confused to one opponent whenever used), Amethyst and Diamond(Borrowed from Johon), Remedy x4, Smelling Salts, Jinxy Juice

Summons: Thunder Mode

"Thank you again for your service, heroes."

"I'll bring you back up, heroes. Follow me."

The party, tired from their previous bout and still shaken from their encounter with The Regret, makes their final pass through the widning caves of the Colony. It seemed almost devoid of life now, many of its civilians enslaved or hiding, in fear despite the threat passing. It seemed that when The Regret exitted, he withdrew the entire force with him. Fydelle looks at the battered and near lifeless Colony as the group treads through the Progg city one last time.

Finally, they reach the same makeshift entry from where they started.

"Well... We're going to have to perform a census or something, but the future for Proggs looks... grim. We number no more than 700, now. We are almost officially endangered.

But it could've been worse, heroes. We all would've been puppets of The Regret, had you not came and helped us in our time in need. Especially after what we did in Luosh... I had my doubts about you heroes, but they have been pretty much resolved.

Goodbye, and best of luck."

With a jab of his tail, Fydelle causes the ground above them to crumble easily, and rearragned it into a step of sorts. The heroes climb out one by one...

And step back out into the very alley they started in. They look up at the night sky for the first time in what seems like eons, knowing that...

The Quest Was Succesful!

QM Note: Epilogue coming soon! You may all return to the hall now. I'll have my thoughts up in the QM lounge soon... And I really must apologize for how long this quest took.

[Pyrovisionary]

Ooc: Sorry for leaving early, I forgot that quests ended with "The quest was successful!"