Heroica RPG - Quest #97: Infestation

[Endgame]

QM Note: Hoanganhbeo, are you alright? I'll wait for him to specify his own actions, for now.

Crowley glances down the stairs.

"A door marked "kitchen.""

Darksten looms over the colony of the bugs.

<Eeeek! A giant, a giant, a giant! Please, have mercy!"

[Comrade Commander]

"A door marked "kitchen.""

Darksten looms over the colony of the bugs.

Darksten hears the cleric speak and mumbles to himself:

"Well that is bloody brilliant. Convenient they label everything..."

He then turns his attention back to the bugs and begins to click and shake in a way only the bugs understand

"Giant? Have you not seen the large bugs passing through here? Certainly you have heard them skitter around downstairs at the very least..."

[Endgame]

"I'm not surprised by the inconsistency. I think this place was built by the Wolfgang - I suspect that the first set of architects were arrested and the replaced. No wonder why this place is so horrid, huh? Then again, I grew up in a rich family... I'm not used to things like this."

The bugs look up at the ranger, horrified.

<But you're larger! They're scary. We tried making off with some food from the Kitchen, and the worms down there didn't take too kindly...>

[Comrade Commander]

As the bugs quiver before him, Darksten takes a moment to converse with Crowely. He keeps an eye on the bugs however to make sure none try to scamper away

"Wolfgang huh? hmm from what I hear, they aren't really in the market of building homes for the poor...so this must have been an old base of operation for them, or something like that. I bet they probably left when they got enough revenue to move into something bigger. Keep your eyes open for anything that looks out of the ordinary, there might be some hidden things around here as I doubt they would have kept their enterprise in the open.

What made you leave your family to work for the syndicate?"

[hoanganhbeo]

Okay! I will che barrels near the stairs.

OOC: Can I take one of the knives?

[Endgame]

"Wolfgang huh? hmm from what I hear, they aren't really in the market of building homes for the poor...so this must have been an old base of operation for them, or something like that. I bet they probably left when they got enough revenue to move into something bigger. Keep your eyes open for anything that looks out of the ordinary, there might be some hidden things around here as I doubt they would have kept their enterprise in the open.

What made you leave your family to work for the syndicate?"

"You'd be surprised. The Wolfgang leader, Ulric, is trying to crown himself king of Eubric, believe it or not. Him building these shelters and handing out food is only a halfhearted attempt at manipulating the poor souls here. I don't think this place ever was a base, but everything we've found that is useful is probably Wolfgang leftovers.

My brother got me the job - he's a cleric as well, and a much more competent one, at that. I envy that man... Our parents both gave us the axe and cut us off."

Hoang inspects the barrels, and finds:

Smoke Bomb (Allows the party to escape the battle.)

His attention turns to the knife rack. Most of them were dull and rusty, but one in particular stood out to him...

Steel Sword (WP 4): A surprsingly sturdy sword, considering where it was found.

Who will these items go to?

[Comrade Commander]

Darksten watches as the knight loots the barrels. When only a single smoke bomb, and a sword are produced, Darksten is slightly disappointed. But then he remembers that in this place, it was lucky to find anything of value at all. The clerics words ring in his ears... "Leftovers"

"Well those will serve you well knight. Perhaps you could pass me one of those smaller knives, preferably on that is still fairly sharp. I was never good at wielding one in combat, but a knife can serve a million other uses."

Darkstem then turns to the cleric

"You have kept us alive so far, so I have no complaints about you capabilities"

Then finally, Darksten turns back to the bugs

"Now, these worms downstairs, how many of them are down there? We might be able to clear them out for you"

[Endgame]

Hoang Anh pulls a knife off the wall: sharp, but not combat worthy.

Utility Knife: A knife that can be used outside of combat for knife-related hings. Inside combat, worthless.

The Party:

Darksten (Comrade Commander)

35 year old Male Human Ranger

Level 2

Power: 5

Health: 7/7

Gold: 20

Equipment: Crossbow (WP: 3)

Inventory: Potion x3, Remedy x1, Smoke bomb, Bedroll, Grand Potion, Poison, Utility Knife (roleplay item)

Hoang Anh (hoanganhbeo)

20 years old Male Human Knight

Level 2

Power: 5

Defense: 2

Health: 11/11

Gold: 25

Equipment: Steel Sword (WP: 4); Shield (SP: 2)

Inventory: Potion x2, Remedy x2 Bedroll, Grand Potion, Poison, Sword (WP: 3), Smokebomb

"Damned vermin!"

???, Level 2 Cleric

HP: 9/9

Ether: 3/6

Gold: 15

Equipment: Storch (WP: 2 staff, fire elemental.)

Inventory: Water Bomb, Remedy

<Three. And they're constantly stuffing their faces with food to stay strong!>

"Looks like we finally located the kitchen, and know its residents. It sounds like if we want to fulfill that woman's asinine request, we have to kill those worms fast - before they can help themselves to too much of a buffet.

Ready when you are to walk down those stairs."

Edited April 14, 2014 by Endgame

[Comrade Commander]

Darksten stuffs the utility knife into his belt as he nods to the bugs in appreciation

"Thanks, we will look into it"

As he turns to walk towards the stairs, he looks at Crowley and Hoang Anh in a way that signals... crush them

[Endgame]

Picking up on darksten's signal, Crowley snuffs out the bugs.

"Disgusting little buggers. No pun intended."

6/13 bugs crushed!

The party clambers down the stairs, throwing open the door...

And finds themselves in the kitchen.

It was probably the nicest part of the shelter, although that wasn't saying much. Dirty dishes line the sides, some of them broken and moldy. In the center is an island of sorts, complete with a rusty cauldron for boiling water and a small area for lighting fires. Along the side of the wall sits a large pantry. On a shelf, 3 odd spices sit.

What will the party do?

[Comrade Commander]

Darksten took in the depressing scene and then began to size up the situation. Clearly the worms were not right here munching away as they had been told, but something told Darksten they weren't far away

"Alright, we should move fast and with purpose. Who knows where those worms are, and if they are anything like those spiders, they can pop out at anytime. Crowley, you take a look at those spice racks and bucket over there and tell me if you recognize anything. Be careful though. Who know what they actually are as it seems these people are make use of anything they can. Hoang Anh, you have been pretty quiet so far. Any suggestions? If not, I recommend you take a look at that pantry. I bet the bugs are in there munching away, so keep your weapon close and don't let down your guard.

Darksten then moves methodically to the center island, checking the rusty cauldron and nearby pots to see if anything is inside them. He keeps his weapon ready though, and an eye on the pantry, just incase something is in there

[hoanganhbeo]

Okay! I will check the pantry over there.

I will also check the spices on the shelf.

[Endgame]

Darkstne finds nothing but scraps and stagnant water inside the pots and pans. The cauldron reeked especially.

"No one should have to live in these conditions... One of the reasons I gave up on being a priest and my faith."

Crowley gets the spcies off their shelves, revealing their true contents:

Potion

Tonic

Remedy

Hoang Anh throws open the pantry, revealing various foodstuffs... All chewed away at. The perpatrators reveal themselves immediately, wirrlging out from their shadowy hiding spots in the practical buffet of food. They burst of the pantry, revealing themselves: Four huge worms, led by a particularly imposing insect.

Darksten translates their foul words, so that the rest of the party may respond.

<Halt! Who dares trespass upon the lands of Frostbarb the Mighty, and defile the wintry realm of his Winter Worm Regime? Speak!>

<All glory to the Winter Worm regime!>

[Comrade Commander]

Darksten hears the bugs and swings his crossbow around so that he has a clear shot on the insects

"What right do you have to claim this area as yours?"

Meanwhile Crowley joins the group and passes a potion to the knight, and a remedy to the ranger, keeping the tonic for himself

[Endgame]

<There was not a single soul residing in this place! I took this unclaimed territory as my own! I see that you are accompanied by a knight: you represent some lord, do you not?>

[Comrade Commander]

"This knight and I do not represent the same ideals" Darksten says to the frozen worm "but I regret to inform you that we are here now, all three of us working together, to reclaim the space you and your kind have defiled"

Edited April 16, 2014 by Comrade Commander

[Endgame]

QM Note: If Hoang Anh doesn't speak within the next few hours, I will start the battle.

[Endgame]

"This knight and I do not represent the same ideals" Darksten says to the frozen worm "but I regret to inform you that we are here now, all three of us working together, to reclaim the space you and your kind have defiled"

<How dare you!? I am Frostbarb! You may cower behind your masks and your bows, but I will defeat you even still! You two are dishonorable scum... However, I will fight the knight in a duel if he so chooses. Honor comes before all, and you have made the fatal mistake of spitting upon mine!

WINTER WORMS, ATTACK!>

The worms, led by Frostbarb, begin their assault!

Prepare For Battle!

Frostbarb The Magnificent, Level 5 Icy Vermin

HP: 13/13

Specials:

Hypothermia: Frostbarb's chilly spikes make the hero's body shut down, making them fall Fast Asleep and take 4 damage.

Lash Out: The Winter Worm assaults all heroes, making them each take 3 damage.

Specials alternate.

Passive Specials:

Gluttony: Frostbarb gets to take two servings out of the pantry at the end of every round, being the ravenous worm he is.

Drops:

Grating Stone

Winter Worm A, Level 4 Icy Vermin

HP: 7/7

Specials:

Lash Out: The Winter Worm assaults all heroes, making them each take 3 damage.

Passive Specials:

Chow Down: The Winter Worms' appetites are never satisfied. They take a serving out of the pantry at the end of every round.

Drops:

Grand Potion

Winter Worm B, Level 4 Icy Vermin

HP: 7/7

Specials:

Lash Out: The Winter Worm assaults all heroes, making them each take 3 damage.

Passive Specials:

Chow Down: The Winter Worms' appetites are never satisfied. They take a serving out of the pantry at the end of every round.

Drops:

Grand Potion

Winter Worm C, Level 4 Icy Vermin

HP: 7/7

Specials:

Lash Out: The Winter Worm assaults all heroes, making them each take 3 damage.

Passive Specials:

Chow Down: The Winter Worms' appetites are never satisfied. They take a serving out of the pantry at the end of every round.

Drops:

45 gold

Pantry, Level 0 (NOT REQUIRED TO BE DEFEATED TO WIN THE BATTLE.)

HP: 20/20

The heroes recall the request of one of the hovellers...

"All of the food is in the kitchen - and I got ambushed by a bunch of ants in there! Massive ones!"

They had to protect the pantry! ...But where were the ants, then?

The Pantry

-At the end of every round, each frost Worm takes a serving out of the pantry, deducting 1 HP from it. (2, in Frostbarb's case, as he takes 2 servings.)

-For each serving a worm eats, a die is rolled to determine what benefits they get.

-1: 1 HP restored

-2: 1 HP restored

-3: 2 HP restored

-4: 2 HP restored

-5: 3 HP restored

-6: 3 HP restored.

-If the pantry's HP hits 0, it is officially fully raided.

-Keep it active to recieve Rose's reward at the end of the quest!

The Party:

Darksten (Comrade Commander)

35 year old Male Human Ranger

Level 2

Power: 5

Health: 7/7

Gold: 20

Equipment: Crossbow (WP: 3)

Inventory: Potion x3, Remedy x2, Smoke bomb, Bedroll, Grand Potion, Poison, Utility Knife (roleplay item)

Hoang Anh (hoanganhbeo)

20 years old Male Human Knight

Level 2

Power: 5

Defense: 2

Health: 11/11

Gold: 25

Equipment: Steel Sword (WP: 4); Shield (SP: 2)

Inventory: Potion x3, Remedy x2 Bedroll, Grand Potion, Poison, Sword (WP: 3), Smokebomb

"Hungry little worms, aren't they?"

???, Level 2 Cleric

HP: 9/9

Ether: 3/6

Gold: 15

Equipment: Storch (WP: 2 staff, fire elemental.)

Inventory: Water Bomb, Remedy, Tonic

Edited April 17, 2014 by Endgame

[Comrade Commander]

"Hoang Anh, are you going to take that challenge? ...cause clearly someone needs to keep his ego occupied" Darksten says as he moves to position himself to defend the pantry.

As he does, he hears a faint clincking that draws his eyes the slow moving worm that seems to be weighed down by a mass of objects in his stomach.

"Easy pickings" Darksten thinks to himself as he lets a bolt fly at the slimy creature

ATTACK WINTER WORM C FROM THE BACK

Suggested battle order:

Hoang Anh

Crowley (Suggest: Winter Worm A from the front)

Darksten

OOC: If I am understanding this right, Hoang Anh's power should be six (6) because he has a sword with WP: 4 and is level 2 right?

[hoanganhbeo]

"Stupid worms! So you wanna fight huh? Fine! you want it, you have it!"

"Darksten! I will attack Frostbarb The Magnificent from the front row. Don't help me! Iwill teach him a lesson myself!"

" Crowley! Your Storch has fire elemental, good against Icy monsters. So i would suggest you attack Winter Storm B from the back row."

Party Order:

Hoang Anh

Crowley

Darksten

OOC: Normal power= Weapon Power( 4)+ Level( 2)= 6.

Suggested battle order:

Hoang Anh

Crowley (Suggest: Winter Worm A from the front)

Darksten

Crowley should attack from the back row because his storch will deals full damage to the worms while the worms only deal halved damage to him. Edited April 18, 2014 by hoanganhbeo

[Endgame]

Round One of the War of the Worms!

>Hoang VS Frostbarb the Magnificent (front): Hit (4+2=6 damage)

>Crowley VS Winter Worm A (back): Hit (2+2=4/2=2x2=4 damage)

>Darksten VS Winter Worm C (back): Shield: Triple Shot (3+2=5 damage)

>Frostbarb eats twice: 1+2=3 HP restored

>Worm A eats: 3 HP restored

>Worm B eats: 1 HP restored

>Worm C eats: 2 HP restored

>Winter Worm B VS Hoang (back): 4=-2=2 damage

The party launches a shockingly succesful barrage on the gang of worms. Frostbarb looks on in horror afting being batted aside by Hoang, Darksten unleashing a volley of arrows and Crowley scorching one of his troops. They all devour food from the pantry...

<Pests! You are the true pests here!! First we shooed off those pestilent ants, and now you pestilent pests are being pests in our domain.>

Frostbarb The Malovelent, Level 5 Icy Vermin

HP: 10/13

Specials:

Hypothermia: Frostbarb's chilly spikes make the hero's body shut down, making them fall Fast Asleep and take 4 damage.

Lash Out: The Winter Worm assaults all heroes, making them each take 3 damage.

Specials alternate.

Passive Specials:

Gluttony: Frostbarb gets to take two servings out of the pantry at the end of every round, being the ravenous worm he is.

Drops:

Grating Stone

Winter Worm A, Level 4 Icy Vermin

HP: 6/7

Specials:

Lash Out: The Winter Worm assaults all heroes, making them each take 3 damage.

Passive Specials:

Chow Down: The Winter Worms' appetites are never satisfied. They take a serving out of the pantry at the end of every round.

Drops:

Grand Potion

Winter Worm B, Level 4 Icy Vermin

HP: 3/7

Specials:

Lash Out: The Winter Worm assaults all heroes, making them each take 3 damage.

Passive Specials:

Chow Down: The Winter Worms' appetites are never satisfied. They take a serving out of the pantry at the end of every round.

Drops:

Grand Potion

Winter Worm C, Level 4 Icy Vermin

HP: 4/7

Specials:

Lash Out: The Winter Worm assaults all heroes, making them each take 3 damage.

Passive Specials:

Chow Down: The Winter Worms' appetites are never satisfied. They take a serving out of the pantry at the end of every round.

Drops:

45 gold

Pantry, Level 0 (NOT REQUIRED TO BE DEFEATED TO WIN THE BATTLE.)

HP: 15/20

The heroes recall the request of one of the hovellers...

The Party:

Darksten (Comrade Commander)

35 year old Male Human Ranger

Level 2

Power: 5

Health: 7/7

Gold: 20

Equipment: Crossbow (WP: 3)

Inventory: Potion x3, Remedy x2, Smoke bomb, Bedroll, Grand Potion, Poison, Utility Knife (roleplay item)

Hoang Anh (hoanganhbeo)

20 years old Male Human Knight

Level 2

Power: 5

Defense: 2

Health: 9/11

Gold: 25

Equipment: Steel Sword (WP: 4); Shield (SP: 2)

Inventory: Potion x3, Remedy x2 Bedroll, Grand Potion, Poison, Sword (WP: 3), Smokebomb

"Hungry little worms, aren't they?"

???, Level 2 Cleric

HP: 9/9

Ether: 3/6

Gold: 15

Equipment: Storch (WP: 2 staff, fire elemental.)

Inventory: Water Bomb, Remedy, Tonic

Edited April 18, 2014 by Endgame

[Comrade Commander]

Crowley should attack from the back row because his storch will deals full damage to the worms while the worms only deal halved damage to him.

"You fool, you just cost us needed time!" Darksten shouts, the adrenaline of battle starting to flow through him "Crowley needs to take full advantage of his powers while he can. Given his strength he can absorb more hits than I, and with his elemental damage he can pack more punch than you ...if given the opportunity to get in close. We could have had more of an advantage by now if you hadn't restrained him! Let him fight close, and if he takes hits he can step back and heal himself"

Darksten shakes his head and wonders if he was like this young knight when he was at that age. But he tries to push it aside as he lets another bolt fly at the slow moving worm

Repeat

Ooc: also, shouldn't Frostbarb be at 5hp and winter worm A be knocked out from my triple shot?

Edited April 18, 2014 by Comrade Commander

[Endgame]

<Gahahahahahahaha! Beg for mercy at my nonexistent feet, false giants! Frostbarb reigns supreme!>

[Comrade Commander]

"Worm, it will be you who will fall to our feet." Darksten replies "More specifically, fall under them as we squish you"

ooc: endgame, I think we were both editing our posts at the same time. I have now changed my previous ooc comment to reflect triple shot question and not the original free hit (whose answer I had either missed the first time or you edited while I was typing)... Haha

Edited April 18, 2014 by Comrade Commander

[Endgame]

QM Note: Since the pantry is not an actual enemy, and I usually roll triple shot as the enmies above and below the targetted enemy, only C and B would be affected by your triple shot. B remains untargetted despite technically being hurt, and A and Frostbarb remain unhurt.