Heroica RPG - Quest #99: Six Thousand Feet Under

[Flipz]

"Sure, why not, I'm feeling bored. If he's too easy we can just monologue him to death," Arthur snarks loud enough for the colossus to hear.

[LordoftheNoobs]

"I-if we m-m-must..."

[The_Customizer]

Erdathcath yells across the bridge, "Hey, ugly! You busy? Need to chat if you have the time, even if you don't need to chat anyway!"

[Flipz]

"I-if we m-m-must..."

"Chin up, Master Grimwald, you stood up to Baba's saurian summons, you can stand up to this great brute."

[LordoftheNoobs]

"Oh yes, I'd nearly forgotten about that... But, uh, I think I'll let you two tell it what-for, I'll just be here in case either of you needs healing after speaking to... that."

[Endgame]

The party approaches the bridge, only for a guttaral voice to ring out on the other end...

"Leave this place."

Suddenly, an electric shock begins to course through the giant's silhouette, the beast seemingly grunting... in pain? The sparks stop when he raises his blade in the air... And swings around the gargantuan blade effortlessly, severing the bridge from his half of the ridge instantly.

"STATEMENT: He appears only to be proficient in melee range. We are relatively safe he-"

Without warning, two explosives erupt from the shoulder of the giant, aimed perfectly at the heroes' ends at the bridge! They detonate, severing the walkway from both sides. It plunges into the rapids and is sweeped off, breaking into pieces...

The party is tossed back by not one blast, but two. They fly through the air for the briefest of moments, colliding with the cold gorund with a resounding thud. They had all taken heavy damage!

The Party:

Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (played by Flipz), Level 31.5 Mystic Knight, 22-year-old male Human *Immune to Fragile and all Poisons* *Only Receives One Negative Effect At A Time* [ Currently in: Six Thousand Feet Under] *Party Leader!*

Power: 42 (31 + WP:11)

Health: 1/54 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 30 + Class Boost: 15 + Permanent Boost: 4*)

Ether: 36/36 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 30)

Defense: 20 (Arm Shield: 14 + Duke's Coat-of-Arms: 5 + Unicorn Helmet: 1)

Gold: 198 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham)

Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding effect), Arm Shield (SP:14), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (Protects against Fragile and all Poisons, SP; 5, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators; bodywear), Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors; headwear), Zap-Tap Badge (Artefact, Accessory. Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level.), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent

Inventory:

Weapons: Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 broomstick, suitable to Arthur only), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Ambrosia] halberd),Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear),

(Unsuitable weapons: Ammit (Greatsword, WP 6, gains 5 Ether for each kill),

Artifacts: Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves (Handwear, wearable by everybody. Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you.), Minoid Card Key

(Unsuitable Artifacts: Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up), suitable for rogues and beast warriors) (sent to Isaac Shawe) )

Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth),

Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass

Scrolls: All Lent!

Consumables:

*Healing: Potion, Grand Potion x10, Tonic, Grand Tonic x6, Ether Core, Remedy x8, Elixir x4, Sushi x3

*Status: Nostrum x3, Hurricane, Smelling Salts x 2, Mead x2, Ambrosia x2, Dragon Scales x2, Jinxy Juice x2,

*Venoms: Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.),

*Permanent Improvement: Bright Polish, Grating Stone, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.),

*Bombs: Smoke Bomb x5, 3 Bones, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.),

*Currency: Scrap Metal x2, Silver Ore x2

Erdathcath Madilinas, 199 years old,

Level 21 Druid

Power: 36

Health: 1/35

Ether: 21/24

Gold: 407

Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:15, Fire-elemental), Satchel of Awesomeness (Permanent Lucky-effect; bodywear), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory), Overkill Gloves

Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 6 Mead, 6 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 Deadly Venoms, 1 Super Deadly Venom, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 1 Fire Bomb, 3 Smoke Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, 2 Air Bombs, Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrified), Mage's muffler (protects from sealing), Jinxy Juice, Grand Tonic x2, Love Potion, Blind Fury, Grating Stone, Jinxy Juice, Deadly Venom, Mythril Shard, Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Silver Ore

69 year old male gnome Cleric (Immune to Weakened)

Level: 13.5

Power: 20 (13 + 6 + permanent boost of 1)

SP: 0

Health: 1/21

Ether: 10/17

Gold: 228

Equipment: Knotted Broom (WP: 6), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear), Lens of Speed Reading (Accessory, Allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action. Suitable for scroll users.),

Inventory: Shovel, Pickaxe, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Mead, Remedy x3, Potion x2, Bone x2, Grand Potion, Bunch of Cherries (10/10 cherries that each restore 1 ether when eaten), Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, Ice Bomb, Root beer (Restores 10 health, or can be used as a bomb against Undead enemies for 20 damage (Does not affect non-Undead enemies)), Ambrosia, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Luck (Grants target the Lucky-effect for one battle. Costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Weakening, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Smoke Bomb, Plague Venom, Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics), Tricorne (suitable for anyone, SP: 3, headwear), Grand Tonic x2, Pugilist's Gloves (+2 power/immune to Weakened), Scarf of Misfortune (Accessory, Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round), Splinter Broom (WP: 8, defies SP)

"QUERY??"

Minoid, Level 19 Drilling Automaton

HP: 1/31

Power: 29

SP: 2

Equipment: Minoid Drill Arm (WP: 13), Iron Shell (SP: 2), Scanning Eye (Allows the Minoid to analyze most foes before battle. If in battle, it can spend a turn to analyze the fight)

Inventory: Ether Core, Health Core, Remedy x3, Grand Potion x3, Ambrosia, Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [remedy]), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle)

The giant vanishes, his work here seemingly done.

"STATEMENT-T: He has left... the premises... ...Fighting... Never was... Its intention... NOTE: Giant... has... ranged... weapons. Possibly mortars judging by the projectile's arc and destructive potency...

We cannot progress if do not progress to the other side of the cave. We cannot progress from this lower ridge, so we must make our way to the upper. To do that, we must ascend the nearby scaffol-"

The party glumly tiwsts their aching necks to see the "scaffolding."

Wrecked, likely by the giant.

"...STATEMENT: There is another way."

"STATEMENT: That passageway will lead to the upper ridge, where we may progress to the other half of this cavern."

Will the party attempt to utilize the wreckage of the scaffolding, or see what the cave holds?

Edited May 1, 2014 by Endgame

[The_Customizer]

OOC: Can Erdathcath use an ether to heal the team outside of battle?

"Ouch, well at least we know what the giant is slightly capable of, shall we move on? I think we should check the scaffolding, see if we can use it at all."

Edited May 1, 2014 by The_Customizer

[LordoftheNoobs]

"Ooh, this is too much for me old bones...

Yes, yes, no sense in staying here..."

[Flipz]

OOC: Healing outside of battle is indeed a Cleric and Druid Job Trait.

"I don't trust the looks of that scaffolding, not without a Mage to try to rebuild it. But I suppose we can check it anyway."

Arthur uses his Magnifying Glass to search the damaged scaffolding for anything of use.

Edited May 1, 2014 by Flipz

[Endgame]

The scaffolding was in bad shape, to say the least. Once a three tiered structure, it had collapsed into one, now a mere pile of rubbish. Using his magnifying glass and a bit of eyeballing, Arthur discovers three vital things-

-There was some rope left in the rubble, presumably for bracing together joints.

-The largest piece of salvageable wood was about the height of the ridge.

-Other than that, what they saw was what was left of the collapsed structure.

The party now had a choice: The scaffolding, or the cave. Which will the party choose?

[Flipz]

"Hmm...I'll hold on to that rope for now, but it's probably best if we went through the cave."

[LordoftheNoobs]

Grimwald heals everyone back to full health, and then eats as many of his ether-restoring cherries as are needed to go back to full ether.

[Endgame]

The Party:

Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (played by Flipz), Level 31.5 Mystic Knight, 22-year-old male Human *Immune to Fragile and all Poisons* *Only Receives One Negative Effect At A Time* [ Currently in: Six Thousand Feet Under] *Party Leader!*

Power: 42 (31 + WP:11)

Health: 54/54 (Basic Health: 5 + Level Bonus: 30 + Class Boost: 15 + Permanent Boost: 4*)

Ether: 36/36 (Basic Ether: 5 + Level Bonus: 30)

Defense: 20 (Arm Shield: 14 + Duke's Coat-of-Arms: 5 + Unicorn Helmet: 1)

Gold: 198 (Owed 128 gold by Boomingham)

Equipment: Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding effect), Arm Shield (SP:14), Duke's Coat-of-Arms (Protects against Fragile and all Poisons, SP; 5, suitable for knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators; bodywear), Unicorn Helmet (SP:1; the wearer can only receive one negative effect at a time, with a new effect replacing the old one; usable by barbarians, knights, dragoons, infiltrators, regulators, skirmishers, and winged warriors; headwear), Zap-Tap Badge (Artefact, Accessory. Has a 1/2 chance to deal Electric damage to an opponent who has dealt damage to a hero, equal to the hero's level.), Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent

Inventory:

Weapons: Zoot's Rebel (WP:20 broomstick, suitable to Arthur only), Sir Roderick's Sword (WP:12, Longsword), Sword of the Vampir (WP:17, user is Jinxed), Duplovian Swift Halberd (WP:3, stuns on successful hits, Hollow [Ambrosia] halberd),Spider Leg (WP:8, doubled against flying enemies; spear),

(Unsuitable weapons: Ammit (Greatsword, WP 6, gains 5 Ether for each kill),

Artifacts: Duplovian Helmet of the Guard (SP:2, Immune to Magic and Healing), Shackles of War (Accessory, Prevents anyone from fleeing battles), Jester's Hat (Headwear, Wearer may choose to gain one immunity from targeted enemy), Stingy Gloves (Handwear, wearable by everybody. Prevents enemies from ever stealing gold from you.), Minoid Card Key

(Unsuitable Artifacts: Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up), suitable for rogues and beast warriors) (sent to Isaac Shawe) )

Gems: Opal (Ice), Amethyst (Darkness), Topaz (Lightning), Diamond (Light), Garnet (Earth),

Tools: Bedroll, Telescope, Shovel, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Magic Compass

Scrolls: All Lent!

Consumables:

*Healing: Potion, Grand Potion x10, Tonic, Grand Tonic x6, Ether Core, Remedy x8, Elixir x4, Sushi x3

*Status: Nostrum x3, Hurricane, Smelling Salts x 2, Mead x2, Ambrosia x2, Dragon Scales x2, Jinxy Juice x2,

*Venoms: Exterlate, Noxious Venom (When used on a weapon, the weapon deals the Poisoned-by-10 effect for the duration of the battle and the Confused effect for the next three rounds, for the duration of one battle.),

*Permanent Improvement: Bright Polish, Grating Stone, Ella's Pie (Permanently boosts max. ether by 5 but permanently decreases max. health by 5 when consumed.),

*Bombs: Smoke Bomb x5, 3 Bones, Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.),

*Currency: Scrap Metal x2, Silver Ore x2

Erdathcath Madilinas, 199 years old,

Level 21 Druid

Power: 36

Health: 35/35

Ether: 21/24

Gold: 407

Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:15, Fire-elemental), Satchel of Awesomeness (Permanent Lucky-effect; bodywear), Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory), Overkill Gloves

Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 6 Mead, 6 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 Deadly Venoms, 1 Super Deadly Venom, 2 Floral Bombs, 2 Ice Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, 1 Fire Bomb, 3 Smoke Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bomb, 2 Dirt Bombs, 2 Air Bombs, Bone, Skeleton Decoy, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Telescope, Saber teeth, Scroll of Weakening, Snake Eye Charm (protects from petrified), Mage's muffler (protects from sealing), Jinxy Juice, Grand Tonic x2, Love Potion, Blind Fury, Grating Stone, Jinxy Juice, Deadly Venom, Mythril Shard, Unlucky Horseshoe (WP:13, retrievable, causes Jinxed-effect; throwing weapon), Staff of Ennon - (WP: 5, Light-Elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4), Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Silver Ore

69 year old male gnome Cleric (Immune to Weakened)

Level: 13.5

Power: 20 (13 + 6 + permanent boost of 1)

SP: 0

Health: 21/21

Ether: 10/17

Gold: 228

Equipment: Knotted Broom (WP: 6), Noble Mask (Wearer gains gold equal to the number of enemies after each victorious battle; headwear), Lens of Speed Reading (Accessory, Allows a scroll to be read in addition to a normal action. Suitable for scroll users.),

Inventory: Shovel, Pickaxe, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Mead, Remedy x3, Potion x2, Bone x2, Grand Potion, Bunch of Cherries (10/10 cherries that each restore 1 ether when eaten), Chaotic Bomb (Causes 100 random elemental damage to all opponents), Bedroll, Ice Bomb, Root beer (Restores 10 health, or can be used as a bomb against Undead enemies for 20 damage (Does not affect non-Undead enemies)), Ambrosia, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Armor Sundering (Reduces target’s SP by 5 and has a 50/50 chance of success), Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the Poisoned 10 effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Scroll of Luck (Grants target the Lucky-effect for one battle. Costs 10 ether.), Scroll of Weakening, Healing Staff (WP: 5), Smoke Bomb, Plague Venom, Staff of the Cultist Battlemage (WP: 7, 50% chance of Fleeing upon being KO'd; suitable for Mages and Clerics), Tricorne (suitable for anyone, SP: 3, headwear), Grand Tonic x2, Pugilist's Gloves (+2 power/immune to Weakened), Scarf of Misfortune (Accessory, Wearer deals the Jinxed effect on every third round), Splinter Broom (WP: 8, defies SP)

"QUERY??"

Minoid, Level 19 Drilling Automaton

HP: 31/31

Power: 29

SP: 2

Equipment: Minoid Drill Arm (WP: 13), Iron Shell (SP: 2), Scanning Eye (Allows the Minoid to analyze most foes before battle. If in battle, it can spend a turn to analyze the fight)

Inventory: Ether Core, Health Core, Remedy x3, Grand Potion x3, Ambrosia, Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [remedy]), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle)

Grimwald heals the party's wounds. Finding the scaffolding to be a hopeless option, the party instead chooses to head down into the cave. The tunnel winds upwards, the path relatively benign compared to what Heroica usually have to brave. No vermin, no ambushes, nothing dangerous of any sort. Until... The party comes to an unstable patch of ground.

"CEASE LOCOMOTION. Floor ahead is not stable... Beginning analysis."

Minoid looks at the floor foe what seems like an eternity, before sketching a diagram in the pebbles in dirt at their feet.

Cavern Floor Confusion

"INITIATING EXPLANATION.

-We must find a safe path across this floor.

-We are at the south end of the floor, and we must reach the northern edge to pass.

-We may only move up, down, left and right.

-Circled squares represent the only ones I could determine were solid simply by looking.

-For the rest of them, the number on the tile represents the number of adjacent (up, down, left, and right) solid tiles.

-You must find a single, continous path from one end to the other.

[Flipz]

After some calculation, Arthur scratches out a few more circles in the dirt.

"That should get us through safely."

[Endgame]

QM Note: Apologies for the delay! I have nothing planned for the weekend, though, so we should be able to cruise through.

The Minoid runs some calculations, inputting Arthur's data into his analysis.

"...CONCLUSION: You are correct."

The party walks single file through the patch of treacherous ground, weaving carefully through the practical minefield of a cave. The passage curves upwards in a teady spiral, the party eventually merging onto the top of the ridge.

Another cave-in stands before the heroes on top of the ridge, although they could progress if they wanted to.

"STATEMENT: This appears to be another breakroom. We can likely progress without breaching into it. I am a construction of servitude. Therefore, the decision to go in or forge onwards falls onto you."

[The_Customizer]

"Let's check this place out, there could be more people stuck in there." Erdathcath prepares herself for whatever may be on the other side.

[Flipz]

"Indeed, though I'd like to take a sample of this rock with my Pickaxe first if you think it's safe. This collapse seems to carry a few more unusual minerals than the ones above."

[The_Customizer]

Erdathcath joins Arthur in digging with her pickaxe, she also digs around with her shovel. "Who knows, maybe we'll find something of value!"

[Endgame]

The party chips away at the cave-in, failing to make an actual dent. From the shavings that come off of the pile of rocks, Arthur and Erdathcath identify them as bits and pieces of Amethyst, Opal, and Diamond.

"Excercise due caution. I am initiating demolition..."

The party steps back as the Minoid's drill pierces the pile of rocks, an explosive slipped in shortly after. It hisses and puffs smoke before blowing up the rock, just like the other two. The party steps inside the cleared out pathway, careful not to stab themselves in the feet with any sharp shrapnel... However, they are greeted by a far more dire sight.

The three miners in the room are gathered around a rather crude drawing of some... thing..., practically bowing down and worshipping the portrait. They heap praise upon praise to an unkown source. Their expressions are blissful and their eyes glowing, the miners apparently in a state of euphoria.

"Glory to them!"

"Praise to them!"

"Obedience to them!"

[Flipz]

"Lady Erdathcath, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these people are Hexed. Perhaps by that drawing? If I had to guess, I'd say the Oculoids are probably behind this somehow."

[Endgame]

The miners notice the heroes for the first time, their words piercing through their stupor... But not a massive explosion, apparently.

"You simply do not understand!"

"We truly desire that you can join us in this state of pure bliss!"

The woman walks up to Arthur and plants a hand on each of the Skirmisher's shoulders. She has an odd sway to her, apparently lost in a cloud of happiness. These people seemed legimitmately happy... The woman gives Arthur a dazzling smile. Why such a beautfiul woman would be in the mining industry is a mystery...

"Please... it isn't too late! You can join us still! You could feel as we do now! Please, I beg of you..."

Another smile. Whether to Arthur, or because of the thoughts going through her evidently vacant mind, is a mystery.

"You can join us! You can serve them. They are kind and forgiving. They have made us happier than ever before. Please, say yes."

[The_Customizer]

Erdathcath slaps Arthur across the face to get him out of her gaze, "Yeah, there is definitely something off about them, the glow from their eyes reminds me quite a bit of what Iris looked like when we fought her." Turning to the miners, "Join you in what? What is so amazing that you want to praise it?"

[Endgame]

"How could you not know?!"

"They are our saviors, our harbingers of bliss!"

The woman once again smiles, this time apparently at nothing.

"The Oculoids! They will take you, make you one of us. Then you will be happy forever!"

[LordoftheNoobs]

"I highly doubt that."

[Endgame]

"Then you are wrong!"

"They are exactly how we described them."

"Won't you join us in our happiness?"