Heroica RPG - Quest #86: Gaiden

[Kintobor]

Karie reaches into her pouch, grasping the bag of powder in her hands. She feels the weight of it, it's contents shifting about, almost seductive to her. She feels it's contents get heavier, mass amounts of laughter and hysteria growing from the depths of her mind and erupting deep within the sack. She slowly loosens her grip on it and slides it into Octavyn's hand.

Edited November 17, 2013 by Kintobor

[Endgame]

Octavyn accepts thesack into his gloved hand - and promptly tosses it straight up into the air, and slices the bag wide open mid-fall. The ocean breeze and progressing storm swept away the bright green powder, green sparkles of the lethal substance still visible as the wind swept them into the ocean.

Rain continues to pur as Karie watches the drug swirl away into the horizon.

"There! Easy, right?

Here's something I learned only about a year back: Rely on people. Not things. Once upon a time I was starting to run low on people to fall back on, and I started hitting the bottle. Before I know it, bam, hammered and extra crispy in some alley.

You're in a better situation now then when you got that green stuff, aren't you? You have people now. So, problem solved, I hope."

Octavyn turns away, back to the junkies, but it seemed like he was still waiitng for a response.

Edited November 17, 2013 by Endgame

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall turned to the pitiful creature. What horrors had she seen living in the hovels? What degredations had driven her to find escape in such destructive substances? These and many other thoughts flitted through the ogre's head as he looked down upon the elf pleading for some sort of justice. Drawing himself up, he began to berate the elf "Did yer perfect plan involve gettin' yerself killed, woman? How about yer compatriots? Do ya have any sort of idea what yer goin' after? What happens when someone else has to go chasin' after yer bodies? Do ya really think that if they thought a bunch of self styled heroes could handle the job they would be coughin' up gold to pay Heroica heroes to come down here and investigate? Ya come crawlin' to me like a beaten dog too ornary to stop eatin' the poison he's been devourin' all his life. Ya sicken me with the disgrace ya are to anyone who claims the title of 'hero'. Fer yer attackin' us, we ought to have pushed ya into the sea with yer stuff. Yer a disgrace to yer race and to yer city and lettin' ya live seems like more than ya deserve." Skrall watched to see if his tirade had shaken some sense into the poor woman before sighing a little. "But, ya did come here out of concern fer yer own it would seem. Even in a more sober state of mind, few would have done so. If ya truely are concerned fer those that have gone missin' I'll give ya this prospect. I've seen ya can all handle yerselves fairly well in a scrape, now we've got no clue what's awaitin' us, but it probably wouldn't hurt to have a few more blades with us. Ya tell us what ya were plannin' and we'll look into this thing together. Cooporate and I'll see yer embersed fer some of yer losses today. No more of that poison mind ya, but at least somethin' ya can subsist on. What do ya say?"

[Cryos]

Baradock looked wild eyed at the Ogre. His vigil was admirable but, yet, so...

Baradock exhaled regaining his composure, before rigidly shaking his head in disapproval, but not in defiance.

'And if they were to fall in battle?' his subconscious rang. 'It was okay when they weren't yours to protect, but who's fault is it when they don't return home? Who's fault is it Baradock?'

Flashing images of his fiance, his family, his friends.

He meandered to the edge of the platform, popping the cap off his mead. Before pressing it to his mouth and washing down the fluids;

concurrently clearing his mind.

Edited November 17, 2013 by Cryos

[Kintobor]

"There! Easy, right?

Here's something I learned only about a year back: Rely on pople. Not things. Once upon a time I was starting to run low on people to fall back on, and I started hitting the bottle. Before I know it, bam, hammered and extra crispy in some alley.

You're in a better situation now then when you got that green stuff, aren't you? You have people now. So, problem solved, I hope."

Octavyn turns away, back to the junkies, but it seemed like he was still waiitng for a response.

"Yeah. I guess you're right."

Karie watched through the mesh of her hood as the green dust fluttered away on the wind, almost calling her to follow. She shuddered.

"Thanks for, um... doing that."

Hershey rubs Karie's leg affectionately, perhaps looking for attention, perhaps feeling sympathy with Karie.

"Mreeaoow. <You did good. Now give me catnip.>"

[Endgame]

Skrall turned to the pitiful creature. What horrors had she seen living in the hovels? What degredations had driven her to find escape in such destructive substances? These and many other thoughts flitted through the ogre's head as he looked down upon the elf pleading for some sort of justice. Drawing himself up, he began to berate the elf "Did yer perfect plan involve gettin' yerself killed, woman? How about yer compatriots? Do ya have any sort of idea what yer goin' after? What happens when someone else has to go chasin' after yer bodies? Do ya really think that if they thought a bunch of self styled heroes could handle the job they would be coughin' up gold to pay Heroica heroes to come down here and investigate? Ya come crawlin' to me like a beaten dog too ornary to stop eatin' the poison he's been devourin' all his life. Ya sicken me with the disgrace ya are to anyone who claims the title of 'hero'. Fer yer attackin' us, we ought to have pushed ya into the sea with yer stuff. Yer a disgrace to yer race and to yer city and lettin' ya live seems like more than ya deserve." Skrall watched to see if his tirade had shaken some sense into the poor woman before sighing a little. "But, ya did come here out of concern fer yer own it would seem. Even in a more sober state of mind, few would have done so. If ya truely are concerned fer those that have gone missin' I'll give ya this prospect. I've seen ya can all handle yerselves fairly well in a scrape, now we've got no clue what's awaitin' us, but it probably wouldn't hurt to have a few more blades with us. Ya tell us what ya were plannin' and we'll look into this thing together. Cooporate and I'll see yer embersed fer some of yer losses today. No more of that poison mind ya, but at least somethin' ya can subsist on. What do ya say?"

It seems that the elf was still too incompetent to keep her mouth shut, still high.

"I don't care about saving whatever poor bastard is done there! I just wanted the glory! I wanted to be praised! You call me a disgrace?! We'll never cooperate with filthy dirty rotten yucky ogres like you! Never ever ever ever!" The drugged up woman screeches.

"We had suuuuuch a great plan, too... it's the best plan in the history of ever! We heard that the sounds are from below, right? So we, like, riaded some fishnet and slung a ladder over the side of the rail, so we could inspect beneath this place! Genius, right?!"

Octavyn goes over the fishnet ladder is question, inspecting the knots.

"Hmmm... Waves did carve something of a passage into the side of Eubric, atleast near the lighthouse. Small, yes, but still able to fit a human standing upright.

These knots seem... Suprisingly sound, really. And it does seem long enough...

Hey Skrall, you're a Krakenwhacker, right? Can you make sure the Ameoboss doesn't get me while I'm climbing down? I should be able to survive a little swim if the ladder doesn't hold, so no need to worry."

Edited November 18, 2013 by Endgame

[Kintobor]

"The... what down there?"

Karie looks over the railing to see what Octavyn was talking about when he said Ameoboss, taking her hood off in the process.

[Endgame]

"Oh, nothing much, just a 40 foot tall ancient aquatic monster made almost entirely out of water."

Octavyn notes Karie's shocked expression.

"Oh, sorry, not in Eubric. Masson's researching them in his fee time; apparently three of them are defending some abandoned castle on some island in the north. Apparently any ship that gets two close to comfort gets sunk - Ameobosses can create and turn into waves nigh-effortlessly, so they can pretty much sink most ships by backhanding them.

Just a little bit of an in-joke. Has masson ever showed you his apartment? His notes are pinned all over his office."

[Cryos]

Baradock overheard the elf's wailing. The ogre was honestly to kind to these, things.

Whatever sympathy Baradock held to these addicts had vanished. He tossed the empty bottle into the ocean.

He strode back to the party, purposely snapping the elf's wand under his foot, but not acknowledging her in the slightest.

Crossing his arms, he began listening in on the conversation.

OoC: WBD, don't forget to distribute the loot!

Edited November 18, 2013 by Cryos

[Kintobor]

"No, but it seems like everyone in the Syndicate has seen my apartment."

It seemed everyone in the city knew how to break into her flat. Abandoned castle up north? Where did she hear about that before...

"Octavyn, have you... broken into my apartment before? Masson has, that cleric has... you know, just curious."

Baradock overheard the elf's wailing. The ogre was honestly to kind to these, things.

Whatever sympathy Baradock held to these addicts had vanished. He tossed the empty bottle into the ocean.

He strode back to the party, purposely snapping the elf's wand under his foot, but not acknowledging her in the slightest.

Crossing his arms, he began listening in on the conversation.

OoC: WBD, don't forget to distribute the loot!

Karie notices the barbarian step on the elf's wand, shaking her head with a grin on her face.

"Somebody's cranky."

[Endgame]

"...Wait, what? No. I don't even know where you live. Do we have that suff on file?"

Octavyn was clearly not all that great at the clerical portion of his job. ironic, considering he was an "Admin".

"Well, when he's not engrossed by his daily game of solitaire, the cleric is a really efficient guy. He probably thought that, whatever he was doing, breaking and entering would be easier than just telling you to do something.

And Masson? For all of his intelligence and combat skills, he is pretty socially - and I'd imagine romantically - awkward. He probably thought breaking into his girlfriend's house would be an easier alternative to knocking.

Under the mask, he's cool, clam, collected, aware of the entire situation and knows how to remedy it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Underneath the cowl, though? Heh. I poke fun at him enough, I think. "

Baradock overheard the elf's wailing. The ogre was honestly to kind to these, things.

Whatever sympathy Baradock held to these addicts had vanished. He tossed the empty bottle into the ocean.

He strode back to the party, purposely snapping the elf's wand under his foot, but not acknowledging her in the slightest.

Crossing his arms, he began listening in on the conversation.

OoC: WBD, don't forget to distribute the loot!

The elf attempts to claw at Baradock, apoplectic, but the combination of the drugs, pumpkin bomb, and beatdown she had recieved renders her efforts futile.

"AAAAAIIIIIYYE! You idiot! I had to go a full week without getting my pixie Dust fix to purchase that wand. A week!"

Edited November 18, 2013 by Endgame

[Cryos]

Karie notices the barbarian step on the elf's wand, shaking her head with a grin on her face.

"Somebody's cranky."

Baradock gave a sarcastic shrug. Almost cracking a grin himself, hearing the elf's retaliation.

He somewhat recognized the description of an Ameoboss, except it went under a different alias at Konatar.

Something of a story the trade ship captains would tell them from their travels.

OoC: Edit: I thought the elf got all her money from stealing from her 'papa'! Says so on Page 7.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Cryos

[Waterbrick Down]

"Pearls before swine, it seems," Skrall sighed quietly to himself before moving over to Octavyn. The ogre whispered silently, "Think you can put 'em down, before ya go crawlin' over the cliff face? We don't need any more trouble fer the evenin' and I think they could use a good nap to bring 'em back to their senses, or what's left of 'em anyways. I'll keep 'em distracted dealin' with their wares." Skrall moved to distribute the loot.

Loot Distribution:

Karie: Scroll of Sleep, Grand Tonic, 30 Gold

Baradock: Deadly Venom, Light Armor, 35 Gold

Skrall: Grand Potion, Jinxy Juice, 35 Gold

Edited November 18, 2013 by Waterbrick Down

[Kintobor]

Karie catches her share of the spoils, looking about them.

"More scrolls. Yay."

"...Wait, what? No. I don't even know where you live. Do we have that suff on file?"

Octavyn was clearly not all that great at the clerical portion of his job. ironic, considering he was an "Admin".

"Well, when he's not engrossed by his daily game of solitaire, the cleric is a really efficient guy. He probably thought that, whatever he was doing, breaking and entering would be easier than just telling you to do something.

And Masson? For all of his intelligence and combat skills, he is pretty socially - and I'd imagine romantically - awkward. He probably thought breaking into his girlfriend's house would be an easier alternative to knocking.

Under the mask, he's cool, clam, collected, aware of the entire situation and knows how to remedy it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Underneath the cowl, though? Heh. I poke fun at him enough, I think. "

"No, I was just wondering. I wouldn't be surprised my address's been passed around. Seems as if everyone in the Syndicate's broken into my house... just thought you would have... as well."

Karie sheepishly look about, her face turning red. She quickly covered her head with her hood, putting it in place. Octavyn's words bounced around in her head. Who was she under her masks? She picks Hershey up and places the feline on her shoulder, her fur somehow minimally wet.

[Endgame]

"Pearls before swine, it seems," Skrall sighed quietly to himself before moving over to Octavyn. The ogre whispered silently, "Think you can put 'em down, before ya go crawlin' over the cliff face? We don't need any more trouble fer the evenin' and I think they could use a good nap to bring 'em back to their senses, or what's left of 'em anyways. I'll keep 'em distracted dealin' with their wares." Skrall moved to distribute the loot.

Octavyn looks at the three raving junkies, his golden corseque in hand.

"Good thinking, Skrall."

With three expertly placed jabs, octavyn slams the hilt of his corseque into the three druggies' necks, rendering them unconscious. The elf's breath dies as she is about to once again go into a sreeching fit, Octavyn silencing them. He goes over to the rail, looking down the side.

"That'll keep em' quiet. Now then. In the immort words of... someone... Seriously, who said this first. Anyway, ahem:

GERONIMO!"

With a gallant backflip off the edge, Octavyn leaps from the rail gracefully, seemingly just plunging down into the water below. However, the party hears no splash; after a few seconds of stunned silence, Octavyn pops back up, clutching on the ladder. He sways from side to side as he reports back in, the storm's progressing winds whipping his ladder back and forth.

"Yep, there's a ridge, all right. Shall we proceed?"

The party forges down the ladder, careful to not let themselves be torn away in the storm's winds. The party manages to climb down the fishnet ladder without major difficulties - even Skrall! When they reach the ladder's bottom they hop into a ridge into the size of a clifftop, fearoms elooking stalagmites obscuring anyone from seeing them from the outside.

However, the ridge itself seemed... desolate.

"...Have we hit a dead end? There must be something..."

[Kintobor]

Karie shuffles about the cool ridge, Hershey meowing from above.

"Mreoow! Mreow! <Karie! Karie, everything alright down there? Hello? You dead or something?>"

"Hershey, get going and get someplace warm. You're gonna catch a cold!"

"Mreow. <True that.>"

Hershey runs off out of view, leaving Karie in the stalagmite ridden opening. She begins to walk forward slowly, and searches through the seaweed.

"Well, start searching. There's a reason the nets there, and I doubt it's for anything good, considering what's going on."

[Endgame]

"Well, start searching. There's a reason the nets there, and I doubt it's for anything good, considering what's going on."

"Well, actually, it was the junkies who first set this net up, likely to check this place out... However, it begs the question about how the perpatrators get here."

Karie clears some seaweed.

A grim sense of foreboding almost seems to be oozing through the cracks...

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall was concerning himself more with remaining on the rather small ledge than looking closely, "Anybody got a pick-axe with 'em?"

[Kintobor]

"No, but I think clearing away this seaweed will do the trick."

Karie continues to get rid of the plant life, pulling away at the vines.

"Skrall, you mind giving me a hand?"

Edited November 19, 2013 by Kintobor

[Endgame]

Skrall was concerning himself more with remaining on the rather small ledge than looking closely, "Anybody got a pick-axe with 'em?"

"You going to be safe balancing there, friend?

I usually have to split my corseque into two pieces to holster it: the top half should be pickax-esque enough to work. Thing is, I'd have to know where to hit..."

Karie continues her mass florocide, tossing the seaweed into the briny deep. Yarrr.

[Cryos]

Baradock un-holstered his club. It was an old battalion trick he was taught in basic training. He pressed his ear to the stone surface, methodically knocking with the club listening for a hollow area in the wall.

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall squinted at the cliff face, pointing to a discolored part of the stone exterior resembling a door he remarked, "Hello, hello, what do we have here? Why don't ya strike here."

[Kintobor]

"Don't waste your time. There's a spot slightly darker then the rest of the stone below the right most vine."

Karie points it out to the barbarian.

[Cryos]

Baradock un-plastered his cheek from the wall, hearing Karie's suggestion. He carefully shimmied to the spot the witch had pointed out

Giving it a resounding 'conk' with his club. It did show some sparsity.

[Endgame]

Karie and Skrall's observations match up with Baradock's test: the discolored patch was both thin, hollow, and off-color. Octavyn nods and runs his hand down the patch of off-stone.

"Huh. Thin, porous, hollow, off-color... This is the place to strike, alright. I imagine that the screams got broadcasted from these pours, and echoed by this ridge."

With a click Octavyn seperates his corseque into two pieces, octavyn sheathing the bottom half and taking the top.

"On the count of three, okay, Baradock? One, two, three... Swing!"

Octavyn and Baradock swing in synchonization, both of their blades colliding with the wall at the same time. The force proves too much ad it crumbles, pieces of rock scattering inwards from the impact. Octavyn reconnects the two halves of his corseque, triumphant.

"And that is that little mystery solved. Onto the bigger one... Shall we forge ahead?"

The party follows the gold-clad Admin into the breach...

...And into some sort of lair.

Something felt very wrong about this place... Even Octavyn seemed a bit disturbed. An aura of fear surrounded this place... This feeling wasn't helped by the contents of the room itself: myserious flames, weathered books, syringes, vials, paperwork...

"Well... I think we've found our perpetrator's lair. Let's begin our search: We should be thorough, and search everything before we move on."

Edited November 19, 2013 by Endgame