Heroica RPG - Quest #98: Dark of the Moon

[CMP]

"Please elaborate as to the context of your question."

"Why did the creators have to die? What did they do? We must understand. Why?"

The elf gave Jeaux the strangest look - eyes lit up with profound intensity despite their emptiness, as if the question was sustaining its body.

Edited July 3, 2014 by CallMePie

[JimBee]

Hybros shifted uneasily. The Moon Elves' - and these creatures' - connections to the moon was uncanny. Lunacy. "I do not believe any of us, nor the people of Zylstra, nor any living being for that matter knows the exact reason for the death of the Moon Elves. It was a long time ago," he answered the astronomer (whatever that was). Recalling his trawls through the Heroica Library, he continued. "The was a priest, demons, wizards, and the sinking of this whole city. Beyond that, I do not know."

"I do not understand why you had to multiply an army, possess the Moon Elf corpses, capture the people of Zylstra, and create imitations of them. If an answer was all you were looking for, why imprison an entire city? They do not know the answer, as I am sure you discovered. So if not to kill them, then for what reason?" Hybros made sure to draw his Sword of Ancestral Hatred a little out of the sheath, so a band of the dark metal glimmered in the moonlight, trying to be as intimidating as possible. "And we did not appreciate having to deal with those minions out there. I would speak quickly and truthfully if you value anything that you have worked for, hehe..."

[CMP]

Hybros shifted uneasily. The Moon Elves' - and these creatures' - connections to the moon was uncanny. Lunacy. "I do not believe any of us, nor the people of Zylstra, nor any living being for that matter knows the exact reason for the death of the Moon Elves. It was a long time ago," he answered the astronomer (whatever that was). Recalling his trawls through the Heroica Library, he continued. "The was a priest, demons, wizards, and the sinking of this whole city. Beyond that, I do not know."

"I do not understand why you had to multiply an army, possess the Moon Elf corpses, capture the people of Zylstra, and create imitations of them. If an answer was all you were looking for, why imprison an entire city? They do not know the answer, as I am sure you discovered. So if not to kill them, then for what reason?" Hybros made sure to draw his Sword of Ancestral Hatred a little out of the sheath, so a band of the dark metal glimmered in the moonlight, trying to be as intimidating as possible. "And we did not appreciate having to deal with those minions out there. I would speak quickly and truthfully if you value anything that you have worked for, hehe..."

"Gone? Gone? I do not understand. We do not understand. Priests, demons - you speak of many. Where are they? Where are the wizards? The caverns they are empty. Only them. Only gnomes. We caught them, brought them. We needed to find their leader. I need to know why. Almost invaded, killed. But no answers in death. I could not have known why."

"I've spoken to them. They do not know anything beyond what was in mine and the Zylstrans' minds they do not know. That is how they learn."

[JimBee]

"They are dead. Anyone connected to that event is long dead or unreachable. You will do no good searching for answers, though no doubt that will stop you. And you cannot continue to terrorize people for the sake of this. It seems you will stop at nothing and as though your... existence depends on receiving this answer. Is this true?"

[CMP]

"They are dead. Anyone connected to that event is long dead or unreachable. You will do no good searching for answers, though no doubt that will stop you. And you cannot continue to terrorize people for the sake of this. It seems you will stop at nothing and as though your... existence depends on receiving this answer. Is this true?"

"It is what drives us. Not what gives us being but I must know we must find out. Where are these priests and demons and wizards?"

Soryx frowned, his hand on the hilt of his weapon as well, a faint hissing sound echoing throughout the room.

"I don't even think they're aware of a surface world."

[JimBee]

"Dead. Do you understand? You can not find them, and you will not have answers. There are Moon Elves, living today, not far from here. But you can not kill or capture them, or anyone else. Now what is your plan?"

Hybros glances sideways to Soryx. "Hm, I think you are right. Their minds are limited to only what they have experienced, it seems. Which would also mean that they do not know of any consequence to their actions. Will they learn? They may cause too much destruction before they do..."

[Emjajoas]

Em shifts awkwardly, his eyes not leaving the shadowy elf. Was this what had been branded into his eyes when the shade had touched him? His hackles raised, his spine shivered, sweat ran down his brow.

[Palathadric]

"Why were you destroyed? I'm not sure really, but here's a thought, maybe you were as annoying when you were alive as you are now that you are dead. Tell me, what Necromancer has raised you and given you this undeath, this torment. What you need is not answers. What you need is release. Release from this body that your soul has been shackled to by the works of those who dabble in the darkness. I do not know whether you are worthy rest. I doubt it seeing the actions of your shadow and shadows, but may it never be said the let a soul remain in the torment of the flesh after his time. May your soul either rest in peace or burn in torment, but may it no longer be conjoined with your flesh in so tormentful a relationship."

I tighten my hold on my Dual Staff and nod to Soryx.

[CMP]

"Dead. Do you understand? You can not find them, and you will not have answers. There are Moon Elves, living today, not far from here. But you can not kill or capture them, or anyone else. Now what is your plan?"

"They....live? Where? Tell us where."

The elf started at Hybros hungrily. The hissing got louder.

Em shifts awkwardly, his eyes not leaving the shadowy elf. Was this what had been branded into his eyes when the shade had touched him? His hackles raised, his spine shivered, sweat ran down his brow.

"You saw," snapped the elf suddenly, turning to Em. "You saw our sorrow and our torment. Give us this one wish and we will be fulfilled-..."

Her voice sputtered to a stop, then continued.

"The ground. The trees. The surface. This must be where. I saw them we saw them in your mind. Help us get there we need to find them."

"Why were you destroyed? I'm not sure really, but here's a thought, maybe you were as annoying when you were alive as you are now that you are dead. Tell me, what Necromancer has raised you and given you this undeath, this torment. What you need is not answers. What you need is release. Release from this body that your soul has been shackled to by the works of those who dabble in the darkness. I do not know whether you are worthy rest. I doubt it seeing the actions of your shadow and shadows, but may it never be said the let a soul remain in the torment of the flesh after his time. May your soul either rest in peace or burn in torment, but may it no longer be conjoined with your flesh in so tormentful a relationship."

I tighten my hold on my Dual Staff and nod to Soryx.

"I am not Selenrae but she is my body my vessel my creator. In her bones I saw the glory of the creators and now we must find the others. She would not leave us formless surely she meant for us to use their forms and to understand them?"

"Rest? Burn? No! You would kill them you would? But they only want to understand! If they were hostile would any of us still be alive? Would I? Would Wally?"

"Mister Pretzel, I really don't think it's right that they die...I mean, I may be just a kid, but I've watched Hybros over there kill some people. And they kinda had it coming, but, well, I don't know, do these guys really deserve - what is that stupid noise?? Snakedude?"

Wally turned to Soryx as the hissing reached its height.

"It is not me."

A near-blinding flash of light accompanied with the roar of a small explosion rattled the room and its occupants. The scent of ash and burnt earth filled the room as several figures filed inside.

"Scorpius, make sure they don't interfere. Not yet. Franklin, ensure our exit remains clear, but don't make a scene in case you are discovered. Duckface, step away from that abomination. And what is this rubbish?"

The hooded woman frowned under her mask at the unnatural green flames of the forge, and tossed some form of salt on it, dousing it immediately, leaving the room in darkness yet again. A hulking monstrosity of a man glared through a narrow eyeslit at Soryx, who now had his sword at the ready. Wally hid behind U'Reeka who started in shock behind Selenrae, who still made no sudden movements. A regal, cloaked figure stood at the gaping hole in the side of the room.

"Heroes. Even if I didn't know you were here I'd still be completely unsurprised. Mind giving me a minute to explain?"

Edited July 5, 2014 by CallMePie

[JimBee]

"Why do you not explain? Who are you?" Although Hybros had an idea of who they were already, faceless enemies familiar to him from another quest...

[Emjajoas]

Em clutches onto his bow, knuckles white, stance set. His eyes never leave the shadow elf. "By all means, go ahead," he mumbles, still uneasy.

[CMP]

"Why do you not explain? Who are you?" Although Hybros had an idea of who they were already, faceless enemies familiar to him from another quest...

"Just wanted to make sure you wouldn't be attacking us on sight. Heroes have a tendency to do that."

Em clutches onto his bow, knuckles white, stance set. His eyes never leave the shadow elf. "By all means, go ahead," he mumbles, still uneasy.

"We serve the Order of the Crimson Crown. Two of you - or four, I should say - are acquainted with us, but I don't believe well enough to know our true purpose. Our goal is essentially to wipe of the world of the influence of magic and the divine. Take a look back at Heroica's history - I would guess a third of your jobs are caused, directly or no, by magical or divine intervention. It's a blight on the world, really. Example."

The woman carelessly pointed at the shadowed elf with her dagger.

"The Order is most widespread than you can possibly comprehend. My group here has come to rid the world of these abominations. An alliance against them would be best, no? You help us kill them, you take your spoils or whatever, we part ways. We've even carved out an exit for you. But I've done my homework. I know your kind often places values on morals, or at the least don't accept offers that seem this straightforward without some insurance. You may wonder how a group like us would be trustworthy enough to hone up to such a deal - especially the monk and the imp there."

"We're divided into several sects. We work towards the same goals independently. Thus, our methods sometimes differ...some find the most success with deceit." She tilted her head towards Pretzel. "But I assure you, that was a debt Heroica incurred itself years ago. You helped pay it. You were compensated well, and even passed the Cardinal's little test."

The woman turned to Hybros. "You, I'm sure, have doubts given our interference at that Guild event a few months ago. If it helps, you weren't even the target - to put it bluntly, we weren't even aware Heroica had a presence beforehand. Had you not been found in the possession of that sinister device - which I'm sure you know by now caused our current predicament - we probably would've even offered you our assistance there as well."

"Offered your assistance? You almost killed me-!!"

"Yes, and look what your survival and the wellbeing of that device have done for your city. We don't hold petty grudges - at least not when you complete our goal for us. It's a shame we couldn't get the real Masked Man, but you did kill that mindless whistleblower."

Soryx frowned and lowered his weapon slightly. U'Reeka looked on in horror.

"You cannot be considering killing the shades! They were mistakes, but does that give you leave to exterminate them because they were mistakes?!"

[Palathadric]

Faceless beings! All too familiar.

My heart fills with rage as I see the intruders enter the room.

Devils the lot of them. Look just like our own party leader. Disgusting! Despicable.

"Just wanted to make sure you wouldn't be attacking us on sight. Heroes have a tendency to do that."

"Hmm, I seem to recall you being the ones who attacked on sight last time around," I growl. "That is, if you are who I think you are."

I grasp my broomstick as the leader confirms their affiliation with the organization I hate and despise. The only organization who could beat me.

"We serve the Order of the Crimson Crown. Two of you - or four, I should say - are acquainted with us, but I don't believe well enough to know our true purpose. Our goal is essentially to wipe of the world of the influence of magic and the divine. Take a look back at Heroica's history - I would guess a third of your jobs are caused, directly or no, by magical or divine intervention. It's a blight on the world, really. Example."

"The Order is most widespread than you can possibly comprehend. My group here has come to rid the world of these abominations. An alliance against them would be best, no? You help us kill them, you take your spoils or whatever, we part ways. We've even carved out an exit for you. But I've done my homework. I know your kind often places values on morals, or at the least don't accept offers that seem this straightforward without some insurance. You may wonder how a group like us would be trustworthy enough to hone up to such a deal - especially the monk and the imp there."

"We're divided into several sects. We work towards the same goals independently. Thus, our methods sometimes differ...some find the most success with deceit." She tilted her head towards Pretzel. "But I assure you, that was a debt Heroica incurred itself years ago. You helped pay it. You were compensated well, and even passed the Cardinal's little test."

The words of the spokesman for the organization are surprisingly good and highly agreeable. I remember on that day long ago when Sofia had given us her reward for our job well done.

Perhaps they are not all bad after all, I think pensively, but then...

"Why did you attack us? We did your work for you and you came back for us to try to end us. There was no need for that. She sent them. She wanted us dead. She could have left us with our reward and let us go our way, but instead she tried to attack and to kill us all? What makes you think I would trust an organization who tried to kill me after I helped to protect one of its leaders? What debt did Heroica 'owe' you anyway? And most important of all, why are you faceless like this creation of man here?" I nod in Jeaux's direction. "Are you too merely a creation of another mortal?"

The woman turned to Hybros. "You, I'm sure, have doubts given our interference at that Guild event a few months ago. If it helps, you weren't even the target - to put it bluntly, we weren't even aware Heroica had a presence beforehand. Had you not been found in the possession of that sinister device - which I'm sure you know by now caused our current predicament - we probably would've even offered you our assistance there as well."

"Offered your assistance? You almost killed me-!!"

"Yes, and look what your survival and the wellbeing of that device have done for your city. We don't hold petty grudges - at least not when you complete our goal for us. It's a shame we couldn't get the real Masked Man, but you did kill that mindless whistleblower."

"What happened with the guild?" I demand of Hybros and Wally. "And why did I not hear of it before? You know that I have good reputation with the guild and have helped them out before. What did these foul creatures do?"

Soryx frowned and lowered his weapon slightly. U'Reeka looked on in horror.

"You cannot be considering killing the shades! They were mistakes, but does that give you leave to exterminate them because they were mistakes?!"

"I've heard enough from you, you sniveling...pig. Did you really think we were ever planning on keeping the shades alive? Did you? Did you really think we'd let them go and possess everyone in the world and drag them into shadow so they could find the secrets of their past which are unknown in this modern day and age. You are a brainless, mindless fool! You caused this mistake, your needless and useless experiments were just made to further your cause and you brought torment to a whole city and now you are saying you want to keep your experiment alive? For what, pray tell? You are a fool is unwilling to see the error of his ways and presses on in his ignorance. Either that, or this hasn't been a mistake at all, and you are controlling the shades and trying to possess all of mankind through them. Frankly, you should be very, very happy if you get out of this alive, for I told my party before that I have every intention of killing the creator of those fell shadows unless he could convince me to do otherwise. You have done anything but that as of yet. If anything I feel all the more justified in ending you at once, and I think I have a friend behind the door here who would be more than willing to help me out too. These shades cannot be permitted to live and you stand up for them any longer, you will die with them. I hate the Crimson Crown and all they stand for, or at least I thought I did, but I think I might hate you and your ignorance even more."

[CMP]

The words of the spokesman for the organization are surprisingly good and highly agreeable. I remember on that day long ago when Sofia had given us her reward for our job well done.

Perhaps they are not all bad after all, I think pensively, but then...

"Why did you attack us? We did your work for you and you came back for us to try to end us. There was no need for that. She sent them. She wanted us dead. She could have left us with our reward and let us go our way, but instead she tried to attack and to kill us all? What makes you think I would trust an organization who tried to kill me after I helped to protect one of its leaders? What debt did Heroica 'owe' you anyway? And most important of all, why are you faceless like this creation of man here?" I nod in Jeaux's direction. "Are you too merely a creation of another mortal?"

"You'd have to ask the Cardinal. She let slip to us that it was a test. Perhaps some inquisitive bar patrons she also would've been rid of? We're a very large organization monk. Our agendas and motives may sometimes differ, but ultimately we all pledge ourselves to the same Crown, and to the same cause. If she really wanted you dead, you would be dead. We have many resources at our disposal. The debt? Heroica killed one of our oldest teams several years ago. They were part of the Cardinal's sect. She decided it would be fair to have it repaid by having Heroica track down an assassin that had been pestering her. In a way, you smoothed the relations between our two organizations, over an issue you did not know existed."

"Also, this a mask."

"I tend to agree with Pretzel. I destroy evil, not the unnatural, but if our goals are aligned in this instance then it would be folly to disregard additional help."

[Emjajoas]

"Mistakes get people killed," Em remarks, focused on the elf. "I do not care if we ally or not. I support the party's decision either way. That thing is an abomination-- yet I cannot help but feel guilt? What did you show me, elf? What was it I saw?"

[CMP]

"What did you show me, elf? What was it I saw?"

"The true form. My true form. Without the creator. Without Selenrae."

"Why am I an abomination?"

[Emjajoas]

Em stares at the elf, silent. His heartbeat hammers in his ears. An eyebrow twitches-- his hands shake slightly. Why was it an abomination? It was unnatural. It shouldn't exist.

"You're unnatural," Em replies. "And--"

Em's breath catches in his throat. He coughs. Was it the elf's fault?

"And I do not understand you. I am terrified of you. I've never encountered something like you before. You set me on edge, especially with what you... showed me."

He takes another breath. "Are you possessing Selenrae? How do you have a physical form?"

[CMP]

"And I do not understand you. I am terrified of you. I've never encountered something like you before. You set me on edge, especially with what you... showed me."

He takes another breath. "Are you possessing Selenrae? How do you have a physical form?"

"We came into being knowing nothing. I was first and all was dark. In Selenrae I found knowledge. Intelligence. Purpose. Where you see terror I saw hunger. Selenrae died many many years ago. Her kin must know much. Have much place in the world. We cannot avenge the elves but now it seems we can find them. We found her dead in this room. Working. We touched her bones and understood much. But we could not comprehend how to continue her work." 'Selerae' motions towards the blackened forge. "So we trapped the young one, the apprentice of the inventor. I hoped you would light the great fires and we could avenge her death and continue her work. But you are not at fault for the death of the elves."

[Emjajoas]

Em cringes. Hunger. A strong word. A word that reminded him of... many things.

"So what is it you plan to do, exactly? What is her work?"

[CMP]

"So what is it you plan to do, exactly? What is her work?"

"The forge. She found purpose in creating. Using the light of the moon. I find...solace in this. We will continue her work. But now we can also find the other elves. Her kin."

[Emjajoas]

Em shakes his head. "What would you do if you found them?"

[CMP]

Em shakes his head. "What would you do if you found them?"

"We would speak with them. Find their purpose. Help them if they are in need. Find those who evicted them and destroy them."

[Emjajoas]

Em's eyes narrow as he eyes the shade. "It's the destruction that bothers me. You plan to raise an army of shades to empower the moon elves? I'm not sure I'd like to see a world slaughtered by shades because of a vengeful species. Death only leads to more death."

[CMP]

Em's eyes narrow as he eyes the shade. "It's the destruction that bothers me. You plan to raise an army of shades to empower the moon elves? I'm not sure I'd like to see a world slaughtered by shades because of a vengeful species. Death only leads to more death."

The elf's eyes go dead, if they can be any more empty than they already are.

"There are few of us left. You destroyed almost all. The Device is gone. There can be no more of us."

[Emjajoas]

Em frowns slightly. He shouldn't be feeling guilt.

"You need to rest," he mutters. "I don't wish upon you more pain than you have already suffered, but you need to sleep."