Heroica RPG - Quest #99: Six Thousand Feet Under

[LordoftheNoobs]

Grimwald shut his eyes tightly, and groaned.

"Just... get on with it, then. Do it.

[Endgame]

"Very well."

The Bookmark pulls a book out from a neighboring shelf, and presses its palm against the cover. The cover smolders brighty with a complex insignia, the shadowy hand passing the book to grimwald. Wincing as he cautiously opens up the book, his eyes are suddenly locked onto the pages. Grimwald's thumb slithers to the side of the pages, his mind speedreading the entire novel as he flicked through the pages. Eventually, he puts the book down, his vacant eyes filling with life again... A different life. He was immersed - Grimwald no longer stood before them, but someone named Cliff.

"I introduce you to the new Grimwald - or, more accurately, Cliff. Cliff's personality will soon assert itself more than it already has.

Now, the answers you seek..."

" Additionally, what is Nevermore?"

"You're currently in Nevermore. It is the former - and I say former in the sense it has been abandoned for two whole milleniums - residence of one Prometheus Regret. I suggest not using his first name; he'll likely vaporize you on the spot. But, yes, this is the abandoned home of the being you know as "The Regret". In my pages are scehmatics for what I can only assume what his current residence is... A massive citadel, consuming the entirety of a gargantuan mountain. I imagine that The Regret has managed to construct such a place by now."

"How do we free--and cure--those poor beings in the room to the south? "

"The males - Pont, Trian, and Dodekka - They're too far gone. Their minds have been dissected and warped, shattered and put back together in how The Regret saw fit. They are his slaves until the day they finally expire... Which, as long as even a puny amount of Dauntlets remain, will be an enternity. Lynne, however, is a different matter. The slightest bit of humanity still seems to glimmer in her... She hasn't lost herself entirely. The Regret was likely too absorbed in powering up the others to crush the humanity of Lynne. She isn't completely broken, but she is still far gone. It'll take an effort to save her... Finesse, delicacy, convincing, Phoenix essences... if you are truly willing to save her, it will take effort."

"...and just how in the holy hell are those Occuloid things made?!"

"Ah, such a very deep question. Very deep. When I was discovered, I was perhaps one of two dozen of The Regret's sentient creations. Then, about a year later, it was one of fifty. A few months after that, one of a hundred. Now, ages have passed, the pages have turned... And now, I am one of thousands. Thousands of Oculoids operate as The regret's personal security system - they are tucked in every corner of Olegaia, watching. Manipulating. Their whispers give birth to the insecurity that now plagues our society. Their stare cpatures all knwoledge, and reports it to our master. Armies of Oculoids, each and every one just a pale reflection of their creator's soul...

Now, to know how oculoids are created, you must first learn of something else. Something called the Lifespark. A raging ethereal inferno, said to bea gift from Mother Danab to humanity. As Mother Danab's children left her one by one, she needed something to keep the last of her kin around. That something was the power of the Lifespark. It is said to be the collective power of the gods, forged into flame by the god Oleg. Now, The Regret holds dominion over this spark, and he is using it to his heart's content.

No being can handle the Lifespark's power. Nobody. Anyone who makes physical contact is obliterated instantly, the power consuming them: heart, mind, soul, and body, shattered and swept into the ethereal flames. But inanimate objects... Say, for example, you were to chuck a pebble into the Lifespark. With a bit of know how and centuries of ethereal mastery, one could conjure up a mighty golem from that pebble and a single ember of the Lifespark.

So, to answer your question at last: Ink goes into the Lifespark, and some magic later, and oculoid comes out. With enough knowledge, this could potentially be industrialized - Oculoids could be produced by the hundreds, daily.

Now then, I believe I have given you satisfactory answers, yes?"

Edited September 17, 2015 by Endgame

[The_Customizer]

"Indeed you have, and it has been very helpful. Perhaps, just a few more questions? First, tell us everything you can about the Regret, where he came from, what he is, why the Lifespark doesn't effect him, how he can control the Lifespark, and anything else that would help us learn about him. Secondly, where is the antidote to fix our friend? Lastly, what exactly do we need to do to heal Lynne?"

[Flipz]

OOC: Status report, my living situation is getting worse, not better. Will be fairly absentee for a while.

" What's the deal with the robot upstairs? Any way we can free him?"

[Endgame]

"Indeed you have, and it has been very helpful. Perhaps, just a few more questions? First, tell us everything you can about the Regret, where he came from, what he is, why the Lifespark doesn't effect him, how he can control the Lifespark, and anything else that would help us learn about him. Secondly, where is the antidote to fix our friend? Lastly, what exactly do we need to do to heal Lynne?"

"You phrased that as "only" three questions, but I'd need to provide you with about five answers. However, I will answer the last one for you right now, and that last one is a "I don't know". I do not have step by step instructions on how to deslave The Regret's two thousand year old captives. Why would he write that down?

But sense you're asking plenty of questions, my dearest druid, I must make a request before I can answer any of them: I answered three questions for one immersion, now, you ask another five between you two. I am feeling in a good mood today, so i will cut you a better deal. Immerse yourself, Druid, and I will tell you what I know - about The Regret and Monolith. Fair enough?

[The_Customizer]

"Agreed."

[Endgame]

"Very well, druid."

The bookmark pulls a book out of the neighboring shelf, once again boring a rune onto the front cover. he hands it to Erdathcath, who cautiously opens its myriad pages. her eyes glaze over and lock onto the words inked onto the papyrus, her thumb quickly leafing through each and every page as she intakes all of the information about her new persona. When the book shuts, it was now Claire who stood before them, not the Erdathcath they knew.

"I present to you, the new Erdathcath - she goes by Claire now, though.

Now, your answers.

The Regret is a Progg - a member of a gargantuan scorpion like species. You see, three thousand years ago, a group of evokers found themselves on a particularly cruel wintery isle. They had no horses, no cattle, no food, no shelter... A few mere years, they would perish. Howver, a magical artifact would prove to be their savior - The Lifepsark, as you probably have guessed. They created the Proggs from the Lifespark, The regret being among the first. After they had bred enough, the Proggs were enslaved.

The Regret grew up as slave, forced to watch the race he had helped birth be forced into endless labor. One day, he had found himself trapped in a collapsed mine. He had but one option: To use a piece of magic he had robbed from his slave masters, a scroll known as Animutilav. In desperation, weak and starving, he used Animutilav to tear his soul to shreds. His being was torn apart at the most sacred level. He mutilated his body, mind, and soul. His very being shredded, his soul drifted into every plane of existence, dooming him to immortality and bestowing him great power.

As long as you don't touch the Lifespark, it won't obliterate you - usually. Even without touching it, however, using magic on it still will likely destroy you. Only with some of the mos tpotent magicks can the Lifespark be tamed and manipulated.

The Antidote lurks in the library, behind the huge password locked door."

" What's the deal with the robot upstairs? Any way we can free him?"

"Hmmm... My data on this is unclear, as well. It seems he was initially tortured into compliance, and then deactivated when The regret was unable to fully break him. However, if he is back, I can only assume that The Regret has him in check. He isn't one to keep those who he can't manipulate utterly."

With all their questions answered, the Minoid turns their attention to the immersed party members. Grimwald stood tall, with a determined look in his eyes; Erdathcath had a fierce look in her eyes and a sly smile.

"QUERY: Erdathcath, Grimwald, are you well?"

The Party:

Arthur Justus Regulus VII, a Hero Who Is Actually Worth Something (played by Flipz), Level 32 Skirmisher, 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: 233 (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), Dauntlet Index (Spear, WP: 8, WP dobuled against humanoids)

(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, Cloak of Deception (Backwear, Free hits against the wearer have a 1/6 chance to be redirected to a random opponent

(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 x1, Tonic, Grand Tonic , Ether Core, Remedy x6, Elixir x4, Sushi x3

*Status: Nostrum x2, Hurricane, Smelling Salts, Mead x2, Ambrosia x2, Dragon Scale, Jinxy Juice x2, Blind Fury, Love Potion

*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 x2, 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

Claire, 23 Year Old Northern Human *Immersed!*

Level 21.66 Druid

Power: 36

Health: 35/35

Ether: 18/24

Gold: 702

Equipped: Tritech Handcannon (WP:15, Fire-elemental), Satchel of Awesomeness (Permanent Lucky-effect; bodywear), Overkill Gloves, Mage's muffler (protects from sealing)

Inventory: Longbow (WP:7), Helmet (+1 max. health), 6 Potions, 3 Grand Potions, 6 Mead, 2 Smelling Salts, 15 Venoms, 3 Deadly Venoms, 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), , Jinxy Juice, Grand Tonic x2, Love Potion, Blind Fury, Grating Stone, Jinxy Juice, 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, Amulet of Optimism (Adds the confused-effect to all attacks; suitable to Erdathcath only; accessory), Elixir, Emergency Essence

Cliff, 42 Year Old Ogre *Immersed!*

Level: 14.5

Power: 23 (14 + 8 + permanent boost of 1)

SP: 0

Health: 22/22

Ether: 1/18

Gold: 271

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), Opal, Amethyst, Diamond, Nostrum

"QUERY?"

Minoid, Level 20 Drilling Automaton

HP: 32/32

Power: 33

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: Remedy x2, Grand Potion, Hollow Blade Dagger (WP:6, dagger, hollow-blade [Phoenix Essence]), Quick bow (WP: 6, Suitable to rangers, provides hastened effect for one round each battle)

Southeast Mirror

Double Mirror: Faces Northwest/Southeast.

Southwest Mirror

"Now then... Claire, Cliff, Arthur, robot thing, it's been a pleasure. Shall you be off, now?"

Edited June 2, 2014 by Endgame

[The_Customizer]

With a slight drunken slur to her speech, Claire replies, "OH! You have nooo idea how great this feels. I have never been better! Now then, Grimwald and Arthur dear, are you ready to carry on?"

[Endgame]

The Bookmark does the closest thing resembling a bow.

"I must thank you for helping me invent an artform, Claire. To think! People transformed into characters from literature! Splendid.

Of course, if you end up liking your new persona enough, you can always not take the antidote... But I leave that choice to you."

Edited June 2, 2014 by Endgame

[The_Customizer]

"That may just *hic* not be a bad idea. I could totally just be like this all the time! Perhaps Erdathcath should stay hidden for sometime, it is time for her true self to be revealed!"

[LordoftheNoobs]

"My name is Cliff now. You not remember? Only few seconds ago it happened."

[The_Customizer]

"My bad darling, I did indeed forget, Cliff. Could I just call you Cly for short? And Arthur, your name is now Art."

[Flipz]

Arthur looks over his companions, a bit of distrust in his eyes. "Well, Claire...Cliff...I suppose we should keep moving forward. We may have to come back for the password to the Library, though." Arthur was obviously quite dissatisfied with the answers the bookmark had given him regarding the giant, but it wasn't personal.

Arthur and the party head North.

[LordoftheNoobs]

"Call different thing if you want, make no difference to me."

[Endgame]

"STATEMENT: I do not approve of these transformations. Automatons are meant to be reprogrammed, not human beings."

The party heads North, and find themselves in a room full of rubble.

The chamber was musty and damp, water from the cavern dripping in. Rocks are scattered across the room, burying two things: a mirror, and a pedestal. Both lie under heaps of rock, bits and pieces of them barely poking through the rubble. Dust from various collapses hangs in the air like some grayish veil, forcing the heroes into a slight coughing fit.

That coughing fit causes something to stir within the rubble. Fingers poke through the rocks daintily, a large dauntlet dragging itself out of the rock. It looks at the party with a glazed eye.

"S-sire... Is that... you? It's me, the Grand Dauntlet. I'm afraid I'm... slipping. I could hear, you, but I can't see you... I got caught under a rock slide, ages ago, and now, well... I've been fading. I've gone blind, and now I can't even hear different tones... Centuries under a rockslide does that to you... You never gave control of the Dauntlets to me when you abandoned this place, so they continue to toil at menial tasks while I rot here... You are sire, correct? Right...? You wouldn't let anyone else into Nevermore, would you, Sire? Sire?

Sire, I assure you, I may be blind... and mostly deaf... But I am not obsolete! I swear, sire! I r-remember everything about this place! Today's passwords and everything, really! I... am not obsolete! Not yet!"

"OBSERVATION: He cannot hear tones, and cannot differentiate voices. STATEMENT: That also means we can possibly impersonate his "Sire.""

[Flipz]

"Prove it." Arthur commands coldly.

[Endgame]

The Grand Dauntlet, oblivious to Arthur's deception, begins to sputter.

"I s-still know what goes on in this base, Sire, I swear it! Command, and I will do it to the best of my abilities! I know what every Dauntlet is up to, every password, the status of all of your belongings! My m-memory is impeccble, sire, really!"

[Flipz]

"I care not for your words. Proof! Tell me your status report and we will see how 'impeccable' your memory is." Though he knew the Dauntlet was unlikely to pick up on it, Arthur's voice was laced with cruelty, just as the real Regret's tone would be.

[Endgame]

The Grand Dauntlet begins to pick his words carefully.

"Before I deliver my report, s-sire... You almost always had associates with you before you left nevermore. Those new-fangled Oculoid things... You always told me never to betray information, so can I request that you let your Oculoid assistants speak up before I divulge anything, sire?"

"STATEMENT: Some other epople are going to have to be Oculoids, Arthur. He'll be able to tell that yor voice is coming from the same direction, and he'll see through our ruse."

Edited June 3, 2014 by Endgame

[The_Customizer]

Claire speaks up trying to sound like a Oculoid, "Dauntlet, you dare doubt what the Regret has told you to do? Do you want to taste a tentacle up your socket?"

[LordoftheNoobs]

"Sire does not need to prove himself to you! Divulge right now!"

Edited June 3, 2014 by LordoftheNoobs

[Endgame]

The Grand Dauntlet retracts into the rubble a bit, clearly afraid.

'Like.. l-like the password to the library door, sire! It's "Forevermore"! See! I'm not obsolete! I m-may have b-been replaced by Oculoids, but I'm n-not obsolete yet!"

[Flipz]

Arthur snorts. "Doubtful. My Oculoids are superior to you in every way. But I will allow you to carry on as you have already. You're not worth the effort it would take to dispose of you." Arthur waves dismissively, indicating to the others to ignore the Dauntlet for now. He retrieves the mirror and leads the party into the previous room and then West.

OOC: Let's get the rest of this dungeon explored so we can start putting the pieces together, shall we?

[The_Customizer]

"Let's just explore things, and kill every Oculoid we can find!"

[Flipz]

"Let's just explore things, and kill every Oculoid we can find!"

OOC: I'm assuming you're saying that after we've already moved.

"I seriously doubt they're down here. The other residents we've met would have said something, and a few of them have mentioned how nothing else has been down here in ages. Also, I can't shake the feeling we were set up--that for some reason Regret wanted us to come down here."