Heroica RPG - Quest #97: Infestation

[Endgame]

QM Note: You are correct. You essentially have 3 rooms left.

[Comrade Commander]

Darksten waits for any inputs, but hearing none, he motions for the group to follow him up the stairs and through the door

"We should finish up upstairs before working our way down" The ranger says

OOC: Thanks for the clarifications!

[Endgame]

The party tromps up the stairs and throws open the doors, finding themselves in perhaps the most bizzare situation they had encountered yet.

Four groups of bugs gather round a sprawl of papers and a pair of dice, using their collective strength to throw the toy.

<Hah! I rolled a 6! I use the Golden Reaper and asssasinate the Hobgoblin Goddess!>

<But she's immune to insta-kill.>

<He used the ashes of demise, remember?>

<I thought we nerfed that so that it only effects enemies below Level 50?>

What will the party do?

[Comrade Commander]

As the party moves into the room, each member positions themselves within striking range of the gaming insects. Darksten speaks up as the group gets in place...

"Good evening folks, what game are we playing here?"

As he speaks, he looks over the papers laying on the table

Edited April 26, 2014 by Comrade Commander

[Endgame]

The peices of paper betray that they were playing some kind of roleplaying game. What an odd past time, for any life form on this planet. They don't even seem to notice the heroes, too absorbed in their campaign.

<Shh! We found a boxed set of Ghosts and Gaols, and I'm just about oneshot the boss of this quest! Level 72 my thorax!>

<I'm telling you, that isn't a valid move! Assasins don't even have Intimidation, so you couldn't have used it to lower her guard enough to use the Ashes of Demise!>

<So why did you let him do it?>

<I didn't! You guys just ASSUMED I'd sit back and let you break the final boss of this campaign!>

Edited April 26, 2014 by Endgame

[Comrade Commander]

As the bugs jabber on, Darksten stands still and looks around the room for any items that may be of use. He didn't know much about what was being discussed, and nor did he have much patience for an argument like this. He reaches over and pick ups the dice, turning them over in his hands, before pocketing them.

"I'm sorry, did you just tell me to shh?"

With that, Darksten crushes the bugs that had insulted him. As he moves behind the next pile of bugs, the party of humans moves closer to the table. Each with a lump of insects before them.

"How would the rest of you like to play another game?"

[Endgame]

7/13 bugs crushed!

It takes a second, but after smothering the rather belligrent squad of bugs, the others entire a hysterical panic.

<W-w-w-w-we'll play any game you like!>

<Totally! 100% ff-f-or anything you have in mind, sire! Your lordship! Giant almighty!>

<We can worship you, if you like! P-p-p-please spare us!>

[hoanganhbeo]

I don't believe these guys. Let's just ask them about Kos.

[Comrade Commander]

"Let's play question and answer. I ask a question, and you answer...

First. Since it appears you are well organized, and like to explore, what can you tell us about the larger insects that have appeared lately in your house?

Second. Since you have clearly observed humans/giants like us before, and thus know our games, what can you tell us about the other humans/giants that were here prior to us.

Third. Since you are intelligent enough to understand human skills/communication, or else you wouldn't be able to understand the rules of that game, what other things have you seen the humans in this house use which might be of benefit to my party and I. Anything that seems to help them heal each other, regenerate energy, or tools to improve their defense/work"

[Endgame]

One colony answers question 1:

<The ants, the worms, and the spiders were the always the biggest insects here, figuratively and literally. The worms and ants feuded c-constantly, and the spiders... just kind of profitted from the quarrel, really. They ruled both of sides and just took food whenevever. They even ate the ant leader's second in command, I heard, just for fun!>

Another answers question 2:

<I dunno. When we came here, it was vacant.>

And the last one answers 3:

<We're kinda just using it for the pictures, and making up the rules as we go along... Kinda ruined the game. It looks like you've already gotten most of the good stuff, although I hear there's a keg of mead in this place.>

[Comrade Commander]

"And these ants, worms, and spiders. Are they all still here? Did the worms and ants ever drive one or the other out of the house?"

[Endgame]

<They whittled each other down, but they never could conquer the other. I've heard the last spider has currently hijacked control of the ants. Kos... A creature to be feared.>

[Comrade Commander]

"Hmm, a spider controlling a group of ants, very interesting.

It is clear these large bugs are of a different breed than you, do you know where they came from? Seems strange all would arrive at once..."

[Endgame]

<The North! They came on some crate of supplies shipped from some remot eisland, according to them.. Maybe they're just freaks though. Whatever it is, they're northern - like, North Pole northern.>

[Comrade Commander]

"That would seem logical. This crate, is it here in this house?"

[Endgame]

<Nope! Somehwere else in the city, probably. Kos probably thought this place was cozy, and then everyone followed him... And then subsequently turned on themselves because of the pantry.>

[Comrade Commander]

"Hmm, hopefully then this is the only place they stopped and there are not more of them around.

Kos clearly intimidates you, and you mentioned he killed the ant second in command. Have you seen him fight before?"

[Endgame]

<No... Only rumors... Scary rumors...>

[Comrade Commander]

"Ah, and rumors are often unreliable as information.

Tell me though, we have reason to believe that this Kos is in the basement now. Have you been down there before?"

[Endgame]

<We've spent most of our life in this room... We haven't ventured into the basement, ever.>

[Comrade Commander]

"Then your use to us is running out fast, and thus you are loosing the game. Perhaps you might be able to think of something else useful?"

[Endgame]

<U-u-u-uuuuuuhhhhhm... We know how big Kos is! Is that of use? Pleasepleasepleaseplease...>

[Comrade Commander]

"I might be interested in that. How big?"

[Endgame]

<Two adult humans big! He's huge!>

[Comrade Commander]

"Was he always that big, or did he grow that large through stuffing himself with the food of others?"