Heroica RPG - Quest #98: Dark of the Moon

[joeshmoe554]

"If I understand this creature correctly, it can only be harmed by a true light weapon (One that is light elemental only), which none of us have or by healing the beast. I doubt we have enough potions to kill it quickly without first weakening it"

OOC: If we want to kill it in one round, the only way I can see to do so is if Pretzel hits it with the heavy flail causing fragile and then Hybros, Em, and or Jeaux use Grand Potions on it. Hybros could use a Nostrum on Pretzel first to try and increase his chances of hitting the shade, though that would also increase his chances of using guardian angel which wouldn't help us much.

[Emjajoas]

Em shakes his head, baffled at his stupidity, instead using a Grand Potion on the apparition from the back row.

[Palathadric]

I unleash the power of Healing on the abomination through the Dual Staff.

"May the light send you back to the shadows," I command.

[joeshmoe554]

OOC:Just to reiterate, if we don't kill the Husk this round, he will revert back to the shade with 415 HP. If Em, Hybros and I all use grand potions we will deal 100 damage. Add on the max damage pretzel can heal with the staff and you are looking at 143 damage, not enough to kill the creature. The only strategy I can see that has any hope of success is to use the grand flail to cause fragile and then 3 grand potions to kill it (25*2*3 = 150). If the creature is not fragile, there is no reason to waste a consumable on it, Unless I am mis-interpreting something.

"I worry we may not have enough time to try healing him using traditional means, given the condition of our employer and his associate."

Edited May 2, 2014 by joeshmoe554

[JimBee]

OOC:Just to reiterate, if we don't kill the Husk this round, he will revert back to the shade with 415 HP. If Em, Hybros and I all use grand potions we will deal 100 damage. Add on the max damage pretzel can heal with the staff and you are looking at 143 damage, not enough to kill the creature. The only strategy I can see that has any hope of success is to use the grand flail to cause fragile and then 3 grand potions to kill it (25*2*3 = 150). If the creature is not fragile, there is no reason to waste a consumable on it, Unless I am mis-interpreting something.

That sounds like a good plan to me. Pretzel only has a 1/3 chance of healing by enough damage anyway.

If Pretzel's attack fails, Hybros does nothing.

[JimBee]

OOC: Wait, wait wait. I forgot I had these. This should kill it no matter what.

"Ehehm, hold on everyone, stand back." Hybros uses a Health Core on the Void Husk.

[CMP]

OOC: Wait, wait wait. I forgot I had these. This should kill it no matter what.

I believe it was decided those do 50 damage to undead.

[JimBee]

I believe it was decided those do 50 damage to undead.

Bah. Makes no sense. OK then. Two more Grand Potions should kill it then.

Hybros uses 2 Health Cores on the Husk.

[CMP]

Bah. Makes no sense.

I guess it could instantly kill anything that was even a little bit undead, but that would be kind of anticlimactic.

[joeshmoe554]

Jeaux removes a grand potion from his briefcase and uses it on the withered husk

Battle Order

Hybros uses Ether Core on Void Husk

Hybros uses Ether Core on Void Husk

Jeaux uses Grand Potion on Void Husk

Pretzel Heals Void Husk

Em uses Grand Potion on Void Husk

Edited May 2, 2014 by joeshmoe554

[CMP]

Round Twenty Two of Rogue Shadows

Hybros uses Health Core on Void Husk

Hybros uses Health Core on Void Husk

Jeaux uses Grand Potion on Void Husk

Pretzel heals Void Husk - Heal Less (27 damage, -1 ether, Void Husk destroyed)

Em uses Grand Potion on Void Husk

Pretzel regenerates

Jeaux blessed

Hybros throws Health Cores at the creature, leaving some painful-looking burn marks, as does Jeaux's potion. Pretzel steps in, staff charged with healing energy. His strike draws an unearthly shriek from the Void Husk as it dissolves into nothing.

THE BATTLE IS VICTORIOUS!!!

Everyone gains experience. The enemies drop the Baron's Epaulets, Experienced Turdwing, and four Grand Potions. Party leader, how will the loot be divided?

Baron's Epaulets (Suitable for short heroes, grants Command over short NPCs)

Experienced Turdwing (Deals the confused and poisoned by 1 effect when used on an enemy, fly familiar)

x4 Grand Potions

The Party

Hybros (JimButcher)*Hastened* *Immune to Cursed, Asleep, Blinded, Confused, Fragile, Weakened* *Immune to all elements*

53-year-old male imp Assassin

Level: 30

Power Bonus: +1

Defense: 0

Health: 45/45

Gold: 949

Equipment: Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 44.33, gains 1/3 WP every kill made with it, light-, darkness-, fire-, ice-, and wind-elemental; longsword), Golden Armor (user is permanently hastened and cursed, fire-, water-, earth-, wind-, wood-, ice-, lightning-, darkness-, light-elemental, grants immunity to Sleep, Blindness, Confusion, Frailty, and Weakening; bodywear), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; backwear), The Black Hat (Suitable for anyone, grants Intimidation, immune to darkness and cursed, headwear)

Inventory: Zoot's Reaper (WP:15, earth-elemental; scythe), Clock Cog (WP:14, retrievable), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all, retrievable), Justice (WP:8, causes blinded-effect, dagger), Twin Kunai (WP:6, dual strike, daggers), Spinning Bolas (WP: 5, deals the Slowed effect, but the effect is removed when retrieved; retrievable), Wrench (WP:3, decreases the target’s level by 1, retrievable), Cloak of the Blue Assassin (SP:1, suitable to Rogues; backwear), Sterile Gloves (grants immunity to poisoned- and bleeding-effects, handwear), Sticky Gloves (gains 50% more gold, suitable for Rogues, handwear), Minuet of the Forest (Causes Wood damage equal to the minstrel's level to all enemies per round for as long as the song is sung. Costs 10 ether per round. Minstrel Song), 14 Potions, 12 Grand Potions, 17 Health Cores, Tiger Balm, 15 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, 3 Elixirs, 3 Phoenix Essences, 2 Deadly Venoms, 3 Smoke Bombs, 3 Holy Bombs, 6 Nostrums, 3 Meads, 3 Mulled Wines, Minimizing Dust, Bedroll, Shovel, Skeleton Decoy, Bone, 4 Mythril Shards, 3 Pumpkin Bombs (causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used), x2 Gold Rings (Worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Pauldrons (suitable for knights, dragoons, and skirmishers, SP: 2, accessory)

Monk Pretzel (Played by Palathadric) *Immune to Fragile* *Counterstriking* *Regenerating*

463-year-old male "hermit" Paladin

Level 28

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 22

Health: 18/49

Ether: 28/37

Gold: 936

Equipment: Dual Staff (WP:8, Ice, Lightning, Fire, Wind, Light; dual strike; staff), Mythril Shield (SP:20), , Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max Ether +4; backwear), Counterstrike Gloves (handwear), Magic Viper Skin (heals 1 health to wearer each round of battle unless knocked out; accessory)

Inventory: Heavy Flail (WP:5, causes fragile; mace), Flying Cross (WP:6; Darkness; broomstick), Steak (WP: 1; instantly kills vampires on successful hits; suitable for all), Impervious Shield (SP: 5; grants immunity to Fire), Heavy Armour (SP:5, Immune to Fragile), Duplovian Helmet (SP: 2; Immune to Magic and Healing; headwear), Bumble Fanshirt (SP: 1; Vermin with level less than half of the wearers are scared and won't directly attack the wearer; bodywear), Soothing Slippers (meditation restores 5 ether; footwear), , Shackles of War (accessory), , Amethyst, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blinding, Scroll of Arc Sleep, 3 Potions, 5 Grand Potions, 5 Tonics, 2 Ether Cores, 7 Remedies, Neutralizer, Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), 3 Phoenix Incenses, 2 Smelling Salts, 5 Venoms, 5 Deadly Venoms, 2 Paralyzing Venoms, 3 Smoke Bombs, Fire Bomb, Holy Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb, Bedroll, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest), 10 Bones, Raw Meat (+5 max. health upon consumption), Strategist's Shako (+5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back; headwear)

Jeaux Elmfyre (joeshmoe554) *Blessed* *Transcended* *Immune to Sealing, Bleeding, and Confused* *Party Leader*

Unknown age automaton male Evoker

Level 17

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 2

Health: 25/25

Ether: 18/18

Gold: 615

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), Ranger's Quiver (WP+1; backwear), Topaz, Soma, Smelling Salts, Tonic, Grand Tonic x2, Grand Potion x2, Remedy x4, Venom x2, Volatile Venom x4, Jinxy Juice, Smoke Bomb, Water Bomb, Bedroll, Bone x6, Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 Items; accessory), Amethyst

Summons: Thunder Mode

Em (emjajoas)

Unknown age human male Warden

Level 16

Power Bonus: 4

Defense: 19

Health: 34/34

Gold: 6

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), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Fashionable Shield (SP:7)

Inventory:

Consumables: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone x2, Nostrum x2, Potion x3, Remedy x3, Venom, Grand Potion, Mead x2, Ambrosia

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), Syndicate Cowl (SP: 2, Immune to Doomed effect)

Soryx Dourskull (NPC, controlled by Palathadric) *Favors Dark* *Counterstriking* *Immune to Darkness, Ice, Hexed, and Confused*

43 years old male wereviper Hunter

Level 22.33

Power Bonus: 0

Defense: 16

Health: 37/37

Gold: 26

Equipment: Vanquisher (WP: 23, light, ice, and lightning elemental, greatsword), Darksteel Armor (Suitable for anyone, SP: 6, max health +3, immune to darkness, hexed, and confused, bodywear), Counterstrike Gauntlets (Suitable for Soryx, SP: 7, if the wearer is damaged by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to their level), Frost Helmet (SP: 3, ice immune)

Inventory: Dastan Dual Axes (WP: 7, 1/6 chance to seal dragons, dual-strike, axes),

Edited May 2, 2014 by CallMePie

[Palathadric]

I heal myself and rush over to the Baron and Moke, checking for signs of life.

[CMP]

I heal myself and rush over to the Baron and Moke, checking for signs of life.

The Baron sits up, shaking his head, looking dazed. Moke still seems to be passed out, though alive.

"Ugh. What in the name of....what were those...things?"

[Palathadric]

"I am not entirely certain. We will still have to inspect the body. It was a highly strange being to be sure. Perhaps Soryx will know more considering such creatures are more in his line of work. You are quite alright though?"

[joeshmoe554]

Jeaux picked up the unconscious turdwing, gently placing him back in the small compartment at the top of the briefcase. He passed the epaulets to Hybros saying, "These look far too small for the rest of us, but they may be the right fit for you.". Finally, Jeaux gave 2 of each grand potion to Em and the Monk before turning to the Baron and Moke to see if they had awoken. The baron seemed to be moving, albeit somewhat slowly.

"Can you recall what happened after we left, so we may have a better idea of what we are facing?"

Edited May 3, 2014 by joeshmoe554

[Emjajoas]

Em nods in thanks, pocketing the grand potions. He listens intently to the gnomes' story as they begin to retell it, interested in what the creature was.

[CMP]

"I am not entirely certain. We will still have to inspect the body. It was a highly strange being to be sure. Perhaps Soryx will know more considering such creatures are more in his line of work. You are quite alright though?"

There's no bodies left to speak of.

"I think so, yes..."

"Can you recall what happened after we left, so we may have a better idea of what we are facing?"

"These strange....shadowy beings came in not long after you left. One of them lunged at each of us, and I felt as though I were suffocating...yet I hardly felt dead. There were...images, also. An elf of some kind, I think...."

[Palathadric]

"An elvish magicians of some kind no doubt. What do you make of it Soryx?"

[CMP]

"An elvish magicians of some kind no doubt. What do you make of it Soryx?"

"Hard to say. An elf meddling in ancient magics, maybe...I do not recognize what form of magic this is, however. It is not demonic or black. It's simply unnatural."

"I can say that these creatures were not purely created through magic, however."

[joeshmoe554]

"Are you suggesting they were transformed into what we saw? Could that be why the citizens have been disappearing?"

[JimBee]

Hybros accepts the Pauldrons with a nod, stowing them away and putting on the Sticky Gloves instead.

Before he can react to the battle's conclusion or anyone's words, however, a pink letter pops into existence in front of him. It falls into his hands and he opens it. It was a Grogmas letter from Jun. "Must have gotten lost in the mail..." Hybros muttered, but then went on to read the letter fervently. After doing so, he thought for a moment, and struck a twig against the stone wall of he Baron's office. A spark created a flame which was met with the letter, and the paper burned quickly. All that was left was a vial of blue essence.

Fenghuang Essence (After being consumed, automatically revives the target with full health once when knocked out; cannot revive targets that are already knocked out)

Hybros was silent for a moment, knowing that he'd have to come up with a response to Jun, in due time. He tried to return his attention to the quest at hand. "It does seem to me that the gnomes and even that... thing that we faced here were... shadowy reflections of their original selves. But since there are no bodies of gnomes or even a trace of that supposed elf, I believe that the enemies we fought were mere imitations, except the Baron and Moke and Turdwing here, of course. Perhaps the imitation gnomes came to take the last remaining people of this city but were caught in the act."

Hybros thought for a moment longer. "Which would mean that the real gnomes, and whoever else has been taken, are still somewhere. Presumably underground, seeing that there aren't many good hiding spots in the city, eheh. We need to keep moving. What is our next plan of action? Baron, do you have any idea where these dark shadows would be hiding? Where have we yet to explore?"

[joeshmoe554]

"We had planned to go to the Mushroom, perhaps we should continue with that plan. Baron, perhaps you would be willing to come with us this time since our adversary has already made his move?"

[CMP]

"Are you suggesting they were transformed into what we saw? Could that be why the citizens have been disappearing?"

"Perhaps. They must have the citizens if they created those imitations out of them."

"We had planned to go to the Mushroom, perhaps we should continue with that plan. Baron, perhaps you would be willing to come with us this time since our adversary has already made his move?"

"Indeed, that may be best..."

Hybros was silent for a moment, knowing that he'd have to come up with a response to Jun, in due time. He tried to return his attention to the quest at hand. "It does seem to me that the gnomes and even that... thing that we faced here were... shadowy reflections of their original selves. But since there are no bodies of gnomes or even a trace of that supposed elf, I believe that the enemies we fought were mere imitations, except the Baron and Moke and Turdwing here, of course. Perhaps the imitation gnomes came to take the last remaining people of this city but were caught in the act."

Hybros thought for a moment longer. "Which would mean that the real gnomes, and whoever else has been taken, are still somewhere. Presumably underground, seeing that there aren't many good hiding spots in the city, eheh. We need to keep moving. What is our next plan of action? Baron, do you have any idea where these dark shadows would be hiding? Where have we yet to explore?"

"Most of the city, I believe, but now that we know what's hunting us, I doubt it's be of any use, unless you think they've left something behind that might lead you to them."

"I am also unsure as to what we would find. Judging by the shop, I do not think these creatures would have left anything but those shadows behind. The question now, is where they are coming from. I don't suppose any of you have any guesses?"

Edited May 5, 2014 by CallMePie

[JimBee]

"I suppose we should continue to look around Zylstra for clues then... let us go to the Mushroom now."

[Emjajoas]

Em thinks to himself, then half-mutters a question. "What do you use for a source of light down here? If these are beings of shadow, then..." He pauses for a moment, then sighs, deciding to keep quiet. "I haven't the mind for the supernatural. Ignore me."