Heroica RPG - Quest #99: Six Thousand Feet Under

[LordoftheNoobs]

"Not surprising if true."

[Endgame]

"STATEMENT: From what I have gathered, Dauntlets appear to be precursors to the oculoids, made to help operate Nevermore while The Regret still lived in this place. The Oculoids seem to have been made sometime afterwards.

...CAUTIOUS OBSERVATION: The Daunlets remind me of myself. Emotionless, made for servitude, and programmed and reprogrammed. I am not all that different from them. STATEMENT: At the beginning of this day, I would've said that I was as mindless as them. Had The Regret inserted that card key, I would currently be serving him, not you.

However, I will escape the Dauntlet's shadow. I will become my own organism. I cannot create a probability or a percentage for this outcome, but I will... "determine" myself, humans say, correct?... To becoming it."

Sifting through the rubble, careful not to disturb the horrified Grand Dauntlet, Arthur pulls out yet another mirror.

Northeast Mirror

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

Northeast Mirror

The party, the password obtained and armred with knowledge from the bookmark, forge on. They walk through the door to the west, traversing a brief passage before finding themselves in the next freakish chamber in this sick set of rooms.

The room carried a morbid aura, the air seeming thicker and evne more sickly here. A great sorrow once occured here, again and again, but to whom did it belong to? Murderous weapons line the wall, each more deadly than the last - each are coated in an odd splatter of ink and blood, all of them thoroughly used - once again, on who, though? The room even had a guillotine, that had rusted over over the ages. Poisons are stacked in the corner, and ash coats one of the tables, presumably from fire bombs. A journal page sits near the guillotine, its edge sliced off by the executioner's weapon.

There was only one other exit in this room, leading South. The room had features typical of the basement, as well: A mirror and another pedestal.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Endgame

[Endgame]

QM Note: I forgot to add the Minoid's monologue when I first posted that last update! Refresh if you want to see it.

[The_Customizer]

"With the ink smeared on these weapons, my best guess that the Oculoids weren't always obedient or something. Perhaps there was a revolt, and everyone here got murdered, minus the Dauntlets, who cleaned everything up, which is why this place looks so abandoned. I totally wish I could have seen this battle, it would have been great! The spilling of blood and ink, mixing into one big puddle of goo."

[Flipz]

" I hope you succeed, Minoid."

Arthur checks the journal page and mirror, as usual. " If my hunch is correct...Minoid, could you tell me if that South passage leads into the room with the glass case like I suspect it to?"

[Endgame]

"With the ink smeared on these weapons, my best guess that the Oculoids weren't always obedient or something. Perhaps there was a revolt, and everyone here got murdered, minus the Dauntlets, who cleaned everything up, which is why this place looks so abandoned. I totally wish I could have seen this battle, it would have been great! The spilling of blood and ink, mixing into one big puddle of goo."

The Immersion seemed to be taking its grip rather quickly, Erdathcath quickly slipping into her new persona more and more. The Minoid figets with some of the knives, seemingly analyzing them.

"STATEMENT: You are acting much differently, Erdathcath. I can only assume it is the side effects of your "immersion". As I have stated previously: Humans should not be reprogrammed.

Your theory would be plausible enough... but upon further examination, the black substance on the weapons is blood as well. It shares the same consistency and viscosity."

" I hope you succeed, Minoid."

Arthur checks the journal page and mirror, as usual. " If my hunch is correct...Minoid, could you tell me if that South passage leads into the room with the glass case like I suspect it to?"

Arthur picks up the mirror.

Northwest Mirror

He then moves on to the journal... What he expected was demented, but not as bad as the text written on the bundle of pages. A chill runs down Arthur's spine as he reads the page aloud, the party staring into space somberly as they absorb the words.

My attempts are failing. Every single time, they fail... I can obliterate my body over and over, force myself through agony after agony, and still they fail. I've tried so many times, so many times... Over a hundred. Never can I lose consciousness. Not since the day I shattered my soul have I been able to escape this world. I cannot sleep. I cannot rest. I cannot even achieve death. If I keep it up at this rate, I'll be in the thousands... A poor creature, spending all of his time plotting his own demise. An impossible demise. Guillotines, knives, swords, staves, swallowing bombs, overdosing, slicing arteries, dissecting my own internal organs, literally tearing my own hear out, destroying my entire body in an explosion, nothing. Nothing ever works. I don't think anything will ever work. I have nothing but power I never wanted, and more and more monuments to my growing madness.

I need peace. Peace I'll never get. Even when I fully destroy my body, I cannot die. My soul lingers, unable to rest. I can hear them. Voices. So many voices. The voices of the dead, or perhaps figments of my own imagination. They never quiet down. They mock me. I don't know who they are, but they mock me. The creature with a mutilated soul, with no purpose, with nigh endless power... cannot end it all. I've lost track of the days... Months turn into years, years turn into centuries. Time passes, and I can't tell. I'm a prisoner to my own delirum. Even now, my mind rages out of control, spiralling endlessly, still reliving the agony of Animutilav, over and over and over... I'm having thoughts of revenge. Constant thoughts of revenge. They comfort me, in a sick, twisted way. I am sick. I am twisted. I know it. Centuries of delirium, and the only way I've been managing to achieve clarity is through hatred. There is always been some objective, shrouded in mist, that I felt awaited me... I feel this is it.

It feels so.. tantalizing. I've given up on my attempts at suicide. I've instead taken to trying to drown my growing urges. I am a passionate man. I was once a father, a man who loved and was loved... I cannot allow myself to slip this easily. I must observe the world, and determine for myself if mankind deserves what I seek to unleash upon them. Already, I notice trneds... Nations rise and fall, sin running through them like a plague. When I was still Prometheus, I thought my slavemasters to be dieseased. Afflicted with some sort of illness that made them monsters. But the more I watch, the more I see that my slavemasters were not diseased. Mankind is the disease... The beauty of Olegaia, being snuffed out by a group of vermin. It's sickening. Even in my darkest days I can see what they are doing to this once perfect planet. Hatred has become my clarity; and my power, my weapon. I've tamed the voices. They obey me now. they are my servants. In a few centuries, I will pass judgement upon humans, and act accordingly... Although I get the feeling I know what the verdict shall be, even now.

"STATEMENT: ...This is a suicide chamber. This is where The Regret tried to kill himself, over and over, before he achieved what he calls "clarity."

OBSERVATION: There appears to be another room between this one and the weapons display room. It seems like the basement is arranged in a 2 by 3 grid."

Edited June 5, 2014 by Endgame

[The_Customizer]

"So, it must have been shortly after this task of killing himself that the Regret changed his mind into the delightful wickedness that he is now." Claire whispers to herself, "Maybe I could try this someday....." Turning back to her companions, "So, what do you want to do Arthur? Any brave plans?"

[Flipz]

Arthur examines the potions on the shelf . "Plans? Simple: Gather the mirrors, map out the basement, puzzle out the way out of here, free Lynne, put the other three out of their misery, go upstairs, clear the library, and free or defeat the giant. After that? I'm going to have Minoid plant a bunch of explosives and blow this place sky high."

" Speaking of which, Minoid, if you can plant charges down here that will go off when you blow the floor above, do it."

[Endgame]

"STATEMENT: Negatory. It would take a dozen Minoids to blast even one of these rooms, and I highly doubt that I could do even a corridor alone. That, and I do not have an infinite supply of explosives. I only have as uch as the arm can hold, after all."

"So, it must have been shortly after this task of killing himself that the Regret changed his mind into the delightful wickedness that he is now." Claire whispers to herself, "Maybe I could try this someday....." Turning back to her companions, "So, what do you want to do Arthur? Any brave plans?"

Whispering around a robot built for analysis was probably a poor idea.

"QUERY: Although you seem to be correct about The Regrets sociopathy, you must be joking about turning evil, Erdathcath? Did anyone else hear her?

Have you been having such aspirations due to your immersion, Grimwald?"

Arthur examines the potions on the shelf .

They were not potions, but in reality, venoms. The purple ones seemed to be acidic to the point where they would melt the party's weapons, but one of them appeared useful...

Crumbling Venom: Enemies hit with this begin to Crumble, losing 1 SP and a 3 health per round.

Edited June 5, 2014 by Endgame

[Flipz]

"Not sure if it's the spell, the species, or some combination of both. All I know is, every time I've seen an immortal get mixed up with magic of a certain degree, Bad Things tend to happen to them. Be glad you're not an Oculoid, there's some pretty messed-up things bouncing around in this head of mine--although, truth be told, I seriously doubt they alone can get much more than surface thoughts out of me. Having a Pandemonicon inscribed into one's brain is a terrible burden, but it has its benefits sometimes."

Arthur holds on to the Crumbling Venom, and leads the party into the final unexplored room.

"Hmm...Minoid, once we make it out of here, could you at least cause a large enough rockslide at the entrance to make sure no one can ever come down here again?"

[Endgame]

"It'a a distinct possibility, yes. It'd tae the rest of my ammunition, but I may be able to manage."

The party trudges South one last time, entering the final unexplored room of the basement.

A locked door lays in front of them. To the right of the door, an oddd carving of an eye, slammed shut. to the left, an inscription... Like all of the other rooms, a mirror and a pedestal occupies the room.

There were three exits: Northwards, to wear they were, Southwards, to the weapons room, and eastwards, to Bookmark's study.

What will the party do?

[Flipz]

Arthur reads the inscription and checks the mirror. "Minoid, think you could sketch out a rough map of this place, including the two eye carvings and the pedestals?"

[LordoftheNoobs]

"I've had no thoughts of doing evil due to immersion, only a strange desire to drink myself into a stupor and paint masterpieces using my enemies' visceral organs. Cliff is... strange. But I think I may... like it."

[Flipz]

"I wouldn't count the first one, that's less of a sign of personality damage and more of a sign you're adopting the basic Heroican way of life," Arthur quips dryly.

[LordoftheNoobs]

"But... it's so much different how Grimwa... I mean I, usually think. As the gno... I mean Grimwald, I hardly would want drinking at all. But as me... I mean Cliff, it seem strangely natural."

[Endgame]

"STATEMENT: You haven't lost your sense of self to the immersion yet. I fear Erdathcath has forgot that she was once Erdathcath."

Arthur brushes off the rock dust from the inscription, and reads it aloud:

The sun casts a bright beam, but with no one to behold it.

Weigh down all six pedestals, and the eye of the observer will at last open.

Light will have to find its own path, riccocheting endlessly through these dark halls...

Only when light pierces the eye shall the way forward open.

With the inscription still brewing in his mind, Arthur picks up the final mirror.

Southwest Mirror 2

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.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round)

*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

Northeast Mirror

Northwest Mirror

Southwest Mirror 2

The Minoid chirps and whirrs.

"QUERY: A map? I will have to "see what I can do", using a bit of human colloquial."

The Minoid soon sets to work, making a fairly rudimentary map.

"OBSERVATION: My artistic abilities are somewhat lacking, but this map is accurate.

-Red lines between rooms represent unblocked passageways.

-Blue lines between rooms represent locked rooms.

-Black squares represent pedestals.

-Small, darker blue square represents the eye we need to "blind". Currently closed.

-Yellow square represents the sun symbol in the Devil Room, currently deactivated.

-The lines on the right are our mirrors: the sides highlighted in red are the sides of the mirrors that are reflective. They are in fixed directions due to their designs.

QUERY: Shall we inspect the sun symbol in the Devil Room once more?"

[Flipz]

Arthur places the Double Mirror on the pedestal in the current room, the Southeast Mirror on the pedestal in the Suicide Room, and the Northeast Mirror on the pedestal in the Weapon Display room. "Claire, I'd like you to place one of these Southwest Mirrors on the pedestal in the Grand Dauntlet's room, Cli--err, Master Grimwald, I'd like you and Minoid to take the other Southwest Mirror to the pedestal in the Devil Prison. I'm going to take this Northwest Mirror to the Bookmark's Room. When you come back, Claire, come through the Suicide Room--I want you to appraise the weapons there, see if any of them will be useful in dealing with the beings Regret has imprisoned. Once you've done that, meet up in the Devil Prison with the rest of us."

Once the others have gone, Arthur heads to the Bookmark's Room with a personal mission in mind...

[The_Customizer]

"Oh absolutely! Anything for you sweetie. I'll be sure to inspect the Suicide room very closely, wouldn't want to miss anything." Claire does as Arthur instructs her. She turns to Minoid, "What do you mean I shouldn't whisper with you around? I wasn't whispering anything. Just being an absolute angel over here."

[LordoftheNoobs]

"Must remember I'm not ogre... but I feel like ogre..." He mutters to himself as he does as Arthur instructs.

[Endgame]

The party chooses to split up for the last leg of this basement ordeal.

Claire's Party

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

Claire walks through the Grand Dauntlet's room, passing briefly through the Bookmark's chamber. As her mind drifts back to the wonderful personality the Bookmark granted here, Claire places a Southwest Mirror on the pedestal. She then heads West, finding herself in the eerie Suicide Room.

It was now time to do what every viking woman dreamed of: Browse weapons. Claire practically swooned at the thought.

Cliff and the Minoid's Party:

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)

Cliff an the Minoid head back to the Devil's Room.

Quickly they place the Southwest Mirror (2) onto the pedestal. This triggers a minor reaction from the chained up Devils.

"Weren't there... 4 of you, before...?"

"I... I think so, yeah... Did anyone of you die down here? Maybe you'll be joining us as Devils! It'll be great. We have such a benevolent Master, really. Without him, all of us would be long gone! But now, here we are, living for centuries..."

It didn't seem to occur to the brainwashed woman that was she a experiment being held prisoner for thousands of years. How will the party respond?

Arthur's 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.), Crumbling Venom (-3 HP/-1 SP per round)

*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

Arthur goes on a mirror spree, placing the Double Mirror on the pedestal in the Locked Door room, the Southeast Mirror on the pedestal in the Suicide Room, and the Northeast Mirror on the pedestal in the Weapon Display room. His travels end up in the Bookmark's chamber.

He places down the Northwest Mirror.

Now, what "personal errand" did Arthur wish to sort out?

Edited June 6, 2014 by Endgame

[The_Customizer]

Claire starts running around in delight, looking at all the knives, swords, potions, axes and spears that are there. Trying to determine their strength, abilities, and overall usefulness.

[Flipz]

"All right, Bookmark," Arthur begins Diplomatically, "here's the deal. This place? It's going to get drabber, and barer. No one is ever coming back down here, ever again. So I'm going to offer you a deal: I'll take you to the surface with us, and bring you to a new home with a constant supply of new books and new stories to explore--either the Heroica library, or the Eubric Theater, whichever you prefer."

"However, there's a catch, and it involves that immersion spell of yours. I'll admit, I'm impressed at the ingenuity, and there are actors who would kill for that level of immersion--but it's dangerous, especially since I have no idea if the antidote can be mass-produced. So: in exchange for giving you this new life, you must never cast that spell again." Arthur pauses for effect. "Do we have a bargain?"

[Endgame]

Claire starts running around in delight, looking at all the knives, swords, potions, axes and spears that are there. Trying to determine their strength, abilities, and overall usefulness.

Claire runs around in glee, testing weapons the old fashioned way: bashing them against a wall and seeing if they break or not. Most of the weapons are old and rusty, so many fail the test - others, just far too heavy. Two items both survived Claire's test and are actually usable:

Agni Bomb (Deals 100 fire-elemental damage to all opponents when used.)

Qlice: WP: 8, Club. Laced with a vicious poison, making it deal the *Poison 4* effect per hit - one for every prong.

Will Claire rejoin Arthur in the Bookmark's chamber, or report to the Devil's Room?

---------------------------------------------------------------

The Bookmark drags himself out of the book, and listens intently to Arthur's words.

"It... Is far from mass produceable. the antidote comes from an endangered species of fungus, the Sporecelius Mycelium. One chomp on a tendril and your head will be cleared of most anything, minus the most thorough brainwashing. My immersion spell will crumble under its healing powers.

I will agree to your deal, definitely. I am a reasonable... bookmark, and you appear to be a reasonabler guy. But, I must make one stipulation: You take a spore from the Sporecelius Mycelium, and plant it. I have been dormant for 2,000 years, Skirmisher, entertaining myself with only the pages I'm stuck within a excrutiatingly long chronicle of a former father and husband being driven to hrrobile extremes. I have watched as he wrote his descent into madness. I have read of too many things that have been corrupted. I want at least one good thing to come from this place, y'know?

If you could do this for me, I will agree to your deal."

Edited June 6, 2014 by Endgame

[The_Customizer]

Placing the weapon and bomb in her satchel, Claire goes to join Arthur in the Bookmark's chamber.

[Flipz]

"Agreed, gladly." Arthur holds his pack open for the bookmark. "If there's any of these other books you think we should bring along, grab them now--we won't be coming back through here again."

Edited June 6, 2014 by Flipz