Heroica RPG - Quest #84: Bad Blood

[The Legonater]

You going to be alright, kid? I ask in earnest.

[Zepher]

OoC: I gave Dyric the armor for now, you may reassign it later if you want, Legonator.

The Party

Dyric Rone *Party Leader*

Level 22 Assassin

*Immune to Wood, Water, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness*

*Lucky*

*Steals 50% more gold*

Power

: 34

Defense

:

3

Health

: 34/34

Gold

: 964

Equipment

: Requiem (WP: 20; wood, light and darkness-elemental, ranged), Lucky Die, Tricorne (SP:3, Water, Wood, Earth, Ice, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness - elemental) Sticky Gloves

(Increases amount of gold stolen by 50%; handwear)

Inventory

: Double Chain Whip (WP:10), Throwing Knife (WP:4, ranged, retrievable), Longsword (WP: 3), Aquamarine (Water), Diamond, 4 Potions, 5 Grand Potions, Elixir, 2 Remedies, 2 Meads, 2 Venoms, Smoke Bomb, Skeleton Decoy, 3 Mythril Shards (3

/4 of a Mythril), Silver Ore (Worth 60 gold), Bone, Winged Sandals, Smelling Salt Bedroll, Shovel, Banana (Restores full health to target), Diamond Lamp of Summoning (2/3 Uses Left), Tonic, Nordic Stomach Guard (SP: 3, Immunity to Ice and Water, Bodywear, Suitable for Barbarians, Regulators, and Beast Warriors),

Thothwick

Level 25 Black Knight *Damage Undead*

*Immune to Stunned*

Power

: 39 (35 Ranged)

Defense

: 10

Health

: 40/40

Gold

: 149

Equipment

: Banana Sabre (WP:13, Heals Metasimians when used on them),

Skull Shield (SP:6; immunity to darkness-elemental damage; suitable to Black Knights only)

, Black Knight's Armour (SP:4, protects from stunned-effect), Cultist's Hat (regular attacks do Damage to Undead)

Inventory

: Shuriken (WP 8), Sabre (WP 10), 1 Bedroll, 1 Telescope, 9 Cosmic Essences, 1

Venom, 5 Deadly venoms, Grand Zoot Cookie, Sapphire, Dragon Scale, 6 Meads, 5 Grand Potions, 2 Ambrosias

Karie Alderflask

Level 18 1/2 Witch

Power:

29

Defense

: 2

Health:

32

/32

Ether:

21/24

Gold:

120

Equipment:

Oculoid Palm (WP: 11, Whip, successful hits lowers the target's level

.

Coils around the user's arm and mimics a tattoo outside of battle.) by 1. Ethereal Cloak (SP +2, Max. Ether +4)

,

Catsuit (Wearer has 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER and DAMAGE and Free Hits; suitable to women only; bodywear)

Inventory:

Grand Tonic, Mead (1), Remedies (3), Venom (7)

,

Smoke bomb (1),

Pixie Dust (1),

Telescope (1), Bedroll (1)

, Grand Tonic (3), Nostrum (1), Potion (1)

Quest Items:

Entry 11

,

Map of Brendenton (1), Spider Coin (worth 1 gp)

,

Forest Journal

Aretefacts/Weapons:

Heirloom Dagger (WP: 3), Scroll of Newtity (costs 10 ether)(usable by ex-Amphibians only)

,

Lover's Locket (Accessory, Protects from

enamoured

effect), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Accessory, changes user's appearance into an Elf)

Sexy (WP: 8, Rapier, Disregards SP, usable by Knights and Rogues),

Paper Doll (Accesory, prevents Hexing),

Rusty Dagger (WP:2 - Deals the Badly Poisoned Effect, Breaks After 3 Uses)

Gemstones:

Topaz

Karie approaches the enemies, and finds, after some true searching, that Bors and Grumpy both have at the very least moderate heart beats, though they both seem to be pumping blood mostly out of their body instead of through it.

The heroes have little time to do anything else before a clear and confident voice cuts out across the clearing.

"Hi there, heroes! Looks like you found my chest after all, and just when I got my reinforcements too! Strange, though- seems I heard you saying you were going to take that chest back to the Hinckwells. I thought you and I had an understanding, heroes. The Hinckwells," says Shawe merrily, "are no good lying sons of whores. And they won't be getting their hands on my shipment."

"It's hardly your shipment," calls another voice. The heroes swivel to see...

"The heroes I hired to retrieve it from these nasty bandits have retrieved it from these nasty bandits. I believe that makes it my shipment."

"Well, see, it might be except I bought it and I've got a buyer who is likely to lop off my head if I happen to fail. But I won't fail, will I? See, I've always thought, unlike you, that the heroes of Heroica are fellows and gals with class and morals. And they know it's my shipment. Guts worked it out with Madame Ladybug that my family would be able to sell these bombs. I assume you hired those bandits to rob me when you got jealous?"

Henry Hinckwell snorts indignantly one too many times and gurgles to get his words out.

"I didn't get jealous. The guild opened trade to both of us. They said they didn't want to take sides, and besides, its all business to them. You no doubt hired Bors to rob my caravan."

"That might be true, but see, the Guild called off their agreement with you when those Blood Paws you hired robbed their warehouse. Not a very nice affair, especially after I put in all the work to get the deal, and you were just riding my coattails."

"Riding your coattails! I'm- I'm a member of one of the founding houses of Eubric Freeport! You're just the dog of some upstart family. You think the Hinckwells have never known a rival before?! Nonsense! You'll be gone and forgotten soon enough. We tracked down those Blood Paws that supposedly left a scrap of parchment with a Hinckwell crown behind. How foolish the Guild thinks we are. We would never give our robbers our own insignia."

"I killed those damn Paws myself. Lost a few good men doing it, but in the end, with their last few breaths after we told 'em we'd spare 'em if they ratted, they told us who their real employers were. Samuel Shawe. You stole our contract through lies and trickery."

"I got you your contract. I can take it away." Shawe shrugs. "Besides, why trust the Blood Paws? Here's the thing. I'm walking away with the bombs either way. This lady here in the Armored Reaper. Think you can take the bombs forcefully, lass?"

"If I must."

"You can try."

"Swell. So really, it doesn't matter who hired Bors or the Blood Paws, or really who the contract goes to. It will come down to blood, one way or another. Of course, we can't fight each other. Appearances and all. Wouldn't want to make it look like our families are willing to spill each other's blood."

"Of course not," says Henry icily. "Heroes, who do the bombs go to?"

"Or rather," says Shawe with a wink and nod towards his Armored Reaper, "who are you more willing to fight? We can't fight each other, but we can sure as Hel try to take the bombs away from you."

OoC: I hate long cut scenes. If you make them too short, they're stilted, too long, no one wants to read them. Sorry about this, folks.

[Kintobor]

Karie sighed.

"Well, I believe that we should give the chest to the Hinckwells. They did offer us money for it back. The Shadeux just busted in and said they own it. As suspicious as they are, I feel the money needs to go to the Hinckwells. However..."

Karie heals Bors. She kicks his weapon away as well. She felt as if there were questions left unanswered.

"Good afternoon, Bors."

[Zepher]

"Money? That's what concerns you?" Shawe chuckles dryly. "I'll gladly match any price the Hinckwells offered you."

"Urgh," says Bors, looking around groggily. Then he spits some blood onto Karie's face and laughs a rough laugh.

[Kintobor]

Karie flinches as Bors spits the blood in his face, wiping it off, unaware she wiped some of her white paint off as well.

"For someone who was dead a few minutes ago that was awfully rude. Now then, I've got a proposition for you Bors. Tell me what happened precisely. I want the whole story. Who hired you, what you did, how you got your bombs. If you do, I'll heal your dwarf for you as well. Otherwise, he's as good as dead at this point. Talk."

[Zepher]

Bors glances over at Grumpy and scratches out another harsh laugh.

"You think I care about him?" Bors shudders. "Aw, what the Hel. Fuckin' Hinckwells. They sent us to go rough up the Shadeaux and take their shipment. Those Shadeaux lads didn't give much of a fight. The damn Pongcanis was supposed to stop them from fleeing, but he got distracted by the battle - few of them got away." Bors laughs again. "Anyway, once I had the bombs, I thought megabluck the Hinckwells. Let's set up a barricade. Didn't give 'em back. Looks like it gave 'em quite a scare." He swivels his head to look at Shawe and Hinckwell respectively. "Looks like I'm good as dead anyway. So megabluck you Hinckwell and megabluck you Shadeaux and megabluck you too, witch. Circus troupe my megablocks."

"I never denied hiring the ruffian. I was only reclaiming what was rightfully ours. The Shadeaux stole our contract by hiring those Blood Paws and framing us. I was just returning the favor."

"You seem awful entitled to a contract that I worked out. I don't know why the Guild offered it to both of us after I put in all the work. I'm entitled to these explosives. The Blood Paws were just righting a wrong."

"So you admit to hiring them!" Henry exclaims victoriously. Shawe just shrugs.

"Business."

Edited October 22, 2013 by Zepher

[The Legonater]

This isn't about money. This is about doing the right thing. Surely some kind of agreement can be made.

Karie. Is there any way you can make a torch or something?

[Kintobor]

Karie felt taken back by the orcs statement. The Hinckwells were all a bunch of money grubbing old men it seemed, and not just Dil.

"So we were sent here for nothing? To do what, exactly Henry? Steal back what you stole? What kind of business do you run anyway?"

This isn't about money. This is about doing the right thing. Surely some kind of agreement can be made.

Karie. Is there any way you can make a torch or something?

"Why? I got a fire staff. Will that work? Otherwise, I'm a witch. I heal stuff. If you wanted a fire slinger you should have called a sorcerer."

He's going to do what I think he's going to do, isn't he?

[The Legonater]

I'm just thinking we might need a little blackmail. If you get my drift.

[Professor Flitwick]

Thothwick remained silent throughout the debate, his brow furrowed, eyes darting from Shadeuax to Hinckwell.

"Forgive my ignorance, but to what end would a fire achieve? "

[Kintobor]

"Thothwick, what happens when you put fire to something that can explode?"

Karie sarcastically chirps at Thothwick.

"Mreoow-eoow! <Are we seriously blowing this up? I have only three lives left!!>"

"You two really want these bombs? I'm leaning over to the Hinckwells because I've got my priorities. Shawe seems to be the instigator in all this."

[Professor Flitwick]

"Patronised by a Witch. Oh what a grand turn my life has taken."

"Ah. Of course."

OoC: I never envisioned the bombs as being lit before detonation. I always imagined them as being like the prophecies at the end of OotP, and once smashed, would unleash their elemental fury upon an enemy. Silly me!

"Whilst they both seem as bad as eachother, the Guild of Invision seemed to have sided with the Shadeaux. Business is business, and I wouldn't want to interfere with theirs. If there is anyone I wouldn't want against me, it would be the alchemists. As far as I'm concerned, the bombs are theirs."

Edited October 22, 2013 by Professor Flitwick

[Kintobor]

"It's going to the Hinckwell's! We were hired by them to retrieve their goods, and if that gets me closer to what I need, so be it. I don't care about this feud, but it's in somewhat poor taste to turn tail on one's employer!"

Hypocrite.

[Zepher]

"You two really want these bombs? I'm leaning over to the Hinckwells because I've got my priorities. Shawe seems to be the instigator in all this."

"If you mean I instigated this by getting a contract with the Guild and then getting a buyer, than you are correct. I believe Henry Hinckwell is the one who has attempted to steal these bombs from me... twice, now, is it? It's not so much retrieving them since they were never his."

"But they should have been! We are the shipping family that Eubric trusts and knows."

"Could have, should have, but weren't. This is simply stealing. As I said, heroes, I will match the Hinckwell's payment. You did indeed retrieve the bombs from the people who stole them, even if the Hinckwells hired said people. Now, I believe it's time you make a choice, one way or another."

"What will it be, heroes?"

Edited October 22, 2013 by Zepher

[The Legonater]

Thothwick has a point, but it seems the Shadeux framed the Hinckwells to get that deal.

Karie, like it or not, you do care about this feud. By signing up for Heroica, you signed up for this feud. Our job, what Heroica was formed for, is keeping the peace in Eubric in situations like this. That means keeping the peace between the Hinckwells and the Shadeux. Remember when I said how delicate this situation is? How we needed to be on our guard at all times? This is exactly what I was talking about. You want to be a Hero, Karie? It has nothing to do with your 'needs' and your self-perceived importance. No one cares about any of that, and in the end running your own objective will just leave you alone and in the dark. If you want to make any sort of difference at all, you can start by caring about those around you for a change, and about this feud. Running around without a care in the world will only end in death.

Can't any compromise be made? We're all adults here. There's no need for bloodshed.

Edited October 22, 2013 by The Legonater

[Zepher]

"What compromise do you offer, Dyric? There is one shipment. You have met my buyer. He won't take no for an answer. He expects that full load tomorrow. I thought it would get to him, considering I had a deal with the Guild to sell to him. How would I compromise? Why would I compromise? I paid for the bombs, and I will sell the bombs, as the Guild and I agreed on."

"I refuse to give my buyer any less than they paid for."

"Perhaps you shouldn't have offered the bombs considering you didn't have a deal with the Guild."

"I would have had a deal with the Guild if you didn't frame us."

"But you didn't have a deal when you got a buyer. Seems a little sloppy, Henry."

The Hinckwell refuses to respond, but both men are clearly out of patience.

[Kintobor]

"I think these guys want each other dead, Dyric. If you honestly can find a way to make this end without, bloodshed, by all means, pull the invisible bombs out of your pocket. Until you do, I can't see this ending well... for any of us..."

Karie loosened her cape's grip on her neck.

[The Legonater]

How exact are the deals? There's got to plenty of explosives, isn't there?

[Zepher]

"Are you suggesting I deliver less than I promised? Unacceptable to me and my buyer."

"Business dictates that he is correct, Dyric. No one wants less than they bought. That's not how business is done."

OoC: Don't go into the shipping business, Legonator.

[Kintobor]

"Dyric, there's a time and a place to be courageous, and then there's a time to look out for one's self interest. We could let them sit her and squabble over it, but where would that put us? I still believe it belongs to the Hinckwells."

She gleams over at Thothwick, giving him a disapproving sneer.

[The Legonater]

Just making sure.

...I don't wish any bloodshed. Believe me in that. But for all intents and purposes, the supplies are Shawe's. For that matter, we have seen his buyers, and they are not to be trifled with. Surely, if the Guild is as impartial as they claim, they would be perfectly willing to make a deal with the Hinkwells as well, no? Especially once Shawe admits the Blood Paws' allegiance with the Hinckwells was framed? I say the last sentence with just a touch of pressure.

[Professor Flitwick]

Thothwick ignored Karie, and her glaring, a trick he had picked up from prolonged exposure to Atramor.

Thothwick has a point, but it seems the Shadeux framed the Hinckwells to get that deal.

"Yes, there's been a fair bit of trickery on both sides, there is no debating that."

...I don't wish any bloodshed. Believe me in that. But for all intents and purposes, the supplies are Shawe's. For that matter, we have seen his buyers, and they are not to be trifled with. Surely, if the Guild is as impartial as they claim, they would be perfectly willing to make a deal with the Hinkwells as well, no? Especially once Shawe admits the Blood Paws' allegiance with the Hinckwells was framed? I say the last sentence with just a touch of pressure.

"The Guild are expecting to do business with the Shadeuax, and have finalised and paid for said transaction. I'd rather keep two houses happy, as opposed to one. As you said, it is out duty as Heroes to keep the peace between the families as much as possible. Disrupting their respective deals is not a good way to go about it. Telling the Guild about the Blood Paws would incite Mr. Shawe to inform them that Mr. Hinckwell hired Bors and his mean to murder and steal his way into a position in which he would be able to seize both Shadeuax and Guild property. It would ignite a three way war on the Streets of Eubric. I shouldn't like to think of running into the brute with the large weapon we met last night in a dark alleyway. I shall reaffirm my position, the bombs belong to the Shadeuax, the lesser of the two evils at play here."

[The Legonater]

He doesn't have to say the nature if the trickery, merely that he has found evidence that the Hinckwells were not at fault.

[Professor Flitwick]

"But he can just as easily point our the Hinckwells allegiance with Bors, and brandish them as thieves wanting to obtain the Guilds property without paying for it. Neither the Hinckwells nor Shadeuax will tell the Guild about what the Shadeuax/Hinckwells have been doing, for the the Shadeuax/Hinckwells will in retaliation tell the Guild what acts the Hinckwells/Shadeuax have been perpetrated. Diplomacy is not something the ruling families are renowned for. Give the Hinckwells the bombs and the Guild will demand to know why their deal has been changed. Airing everyone's dirty language in front of the Guild will solve no problems. All it will do is lead to further bloodshed. If the Shadeuax walk away with the bombs, the Hinckwells will be forced to keep quiet for fear of the Guild finding out about Bors, and both they and the Shadeuax will save a little face, and the Guild will be none the wiser, and more importantly, none the deadlier."

[Kintobor]

"And I can just as easily point to the Blood Paw's apparent involvement in all this and the Shadeux would have to keep quiet. We were hired by the Hinckwell's, and the bombs are going to the Hinckwells!"