Heroica RPG - Quest#100: To The Tower of Babel

[Khorne]

"So she lives, I assume. Now let us not linger any longer. We are awaited at the Wyrd Tree."

Eric shook his head in disdain. "You have some serious people issues, woman. You would've killed this gorgeous specimen of humanity? Tsk, what is wrong with you?"

"What took ye so LONG, Loc? I've been eaten ALIVE by these damn MOSQUITOS!"

The Nord rolled his eyes in further resentment at the duo of the dwarf and the assassin. The dwarf can't hold his liquor and now he's complaining like a child about mosquitos stinging him.

He pauses, "So tell me, sir, how is it in my best interest to sound with genocidal maniacs such as Ulric and his witch friend?"

Eric shuffled closer to Althior and bowed somewhat to he was on equal eye height with the necromancer. In a hushed tone, he asked: "why do you reckon they are genocidal maniacs? I haven't heard anything of such notion before."

Periwinkle read the letter by peeking over Eric's shoulder.

"Who's Bluto Ziegfried?"

The bearded man raised his hand.

Eric bluntly ignored the bearded man's raised hand and shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me...", he said, answering Periwinkle's inquiry.

The Nord then turned to Mr. Gaunt. "I'm here for the payment that's offered to me. I have no loyalties to any of the Eubric Great Houses, whatsoever. The Houses have ruled Eubric for so long, they see it as their sole right. The right to rule belongs to the strong, to those who can earn it. I am willing to stand by your side and challenge the Houses."

Eric's eyes sparkled. Finally, he seemed to have found an organization strong enough to turn Eubric upside down and shake its very foundations. He loathed the taxing policies of the Bonapartes, the snobby ways of the Hinckwells. He didn't quite know the other Houses, but in his mind they probably weren't much different, they are Southerners, after all... The Wolfpack enticed him, an organization that the challenges the rules, people who want to fight for respect instead of demanding it by some birthright.

Plus, the name of the messiah had Nordic origins and Were-folk, especially werewolves and werebears, were held in high regard in Norse society.

Eric grinned broadly. "A 1000 gold pieces...", he muttered, staring in front of him. "Prince Eric once again..."

[K-Nut]

Eric shuffled closer to Althior and bowed somewhat to he was on equal eye height with the necromancer. In a hushed tone, he asked: "why do you reckon they are genocidal maniacs? I haven't heard anything of such notion before."

"How do you think he'll rise to power, hm? A petition? No, Ulric will cause violent outburst; riots on the streets to take down all six houses. Husbands, Women, Children; He won't care if they're in the way of his diseased cause. And you think this Babaricca will honestly stand by his side? She's been living in a swamp for the last who knows how many years. Then she has one encounter with Heroica and is ready to side with the Wolfgang?"

"Now, I don't like the houses any more than you do, but this power shift would be disastrous for the city. The Hinckwells and Shadeaux are both misers and snobs, and don't get me started on the Bonapartes. But we can't just give up on our mission, our duty to help the city, for a sum of gold," His eyes widen for a moment as he reads the letter, "A very large sum of gold," He shakes out of his trance

"We may have been tasked on this job by the veterans, but this is still about helping the other people. There are plenty of people in Eubric who may want the Wolfgang in power, and there are many more that won't. Perhaps the Wolfgang is what the city needs, but us four cannot be allowed to decide the fate of the entire city, no matter how tempting it may be. The Tower is a universal source of knowledge, and murdering the keeper and destroying the tower is not going to pass. It cannot pass, no matter how noble the Wolfgang’s plans are. If they destroy this source for their own gain, how are they better than the taxing Bonapartes or the stuck up Hinckwells?"

Edited July 23, 2014 by K-Nut

[Pyrovisionary]

"Yooou aaare goooing tooo theee tooower neeevertheleeess."

After a short hesitation and upon hearing the reward, Sarge says: "Done."

[Duvors]

"Well, your imperial highness, where do I begin?"

"Approximately One Thousand Years Ago the Moon Elf kingdom of Mercuton was ruled by king Haeresias, he was a rather mediocre and uninteresting ruler until the whisperings of the servants of Azazot reached his ears. He listened, and he fell. For the first time in thousands of years dark temples were raised openly in the name of Zoot, his chief adviser was a sorceress who I believe was named Ambergaze of Babeleth."

"You see what's going on here?"

"Well anyway they swiftly corrupted most of the population with the few that remained free heading for the hills as fast as possible. Shortly after that they began summoning demons and dark angels into the land. Needless to say the Paladains of Ennon took offense to this and launched an invasion, they banished or sealed away most of the extraplanar interlopers but ultimately they had to sink the bloody continent to win, and nobody has a clue nowadays how they did that. The paladins went home and the bad guys all drowned." "Skip a few years, Orcish invasion, fall of Ennon, bla bla bla."

"An obscene amount of years later some random stuck-up self important and insignificant city named Eubric on a unimportant island called Uland was having problems. Apparently the six houses who ruled the blasted city considered themselves the center of the world, and were very rich, they, as well as the less rich and the middle classes, made the poor very mad at them by shoving them all into a very small part of the city and building an entirely unnecessary wall around it. So when a criminal organization called the Wolfgang promises freedom and equality if they help make their leader Ulric Wolfgang king," he snorted, "Apologies, but king? Really? He could at least try for a more democratic form of government, and if he was actually serious about this stuff he spouts he would. Well anyway the people all cheer him without bothering to think about the fact that the only way to make him king is in a bloody revolution in which most of them will die. And to make everything worse he makes an alliance with a Evil sorceress called Barbariccia *hgumpffeehe* Dellamore who is in fact none other than Ambergaze who somehow survived the destruction of Mercuton and has now turned up in a city that happens to have been built on the site of the city of Nu Mercuton, the old capital of the Moon Elf kingdom."

"I am seriously surprised that Ulric hasn't figured out how stupid he's being yet."

"Well anyway the six houses are entirely oblivious to situation while the leaders of Heroica, the Veterans, are naturally worried and have sent me and the Necromancer in charge of us and the mage whom I know nothing about and the racist cripple and the arrogant nord and the yeti who has since disappeared to find out everything we can about Barbariccia from The Keeper of Babeleth. I have been constantly fighting with them ever since we left Eubric and it has culminated in this little incident and now I'm talking with you two and wasting valuable time while the entire world may be at stake for all we know. My 'friends' have probably left the city already and probably killed someone on their way out, if they have then they're doomed, they didn't actually kill anyone then and if they have now then good luck to me for getting them the pardon I was hoping to talk you into. Now about this Elphaba..."

(OOC; I know you lot didn't read it all, start again.)

Edited July 23, 2014 by Lord Duvors

[Sandy]

"I'm here for the payment that's offered to me. I have no loyalties to any of the Eubric Great Houses, whatsoever. The Houses have ruled Eubric for so long, they see it as their sole right. The right to rule belongs to the strong, to those who can earn it. I am willing to stand by your side and challenge the Houses."

"We may have been tasked on this job by the veterans, but this is still about helping the other people. There are plenty of people in Eubric who may want the Wolfgang in power, and there are many more that won't. Perhaps the Wolfgang is what the city needs, but us four cannot be allowed to decide the fate of the entire city, no matter how tempting it may be. The Tower is a universal source of knowledge, and murdering the keeper and destroying the tower is not going to pass. It cannot pass, no matter how noble the Wolfgang’s plans are. If they destroy this source for their own gain, how are they better than the taxing Bonapartes or the stuck up Hinckwells?"

After a short hesitation and upon hearing the reward, Sarge says: "Done."

"Sooo... Iiis thaaat a yeees ooor a nooo? Whaaat cooomes tooo theee Tooower, Miiister Eeemorith, iiit iiis nooot aaa puuublic liiibraaary, byyy aaany meeeans. Theee Keeeper raaarely leeets aaanyone iiin, aaand sheee haaas aaan aaarmy ooof gooolems tooo keeep sooolicitooors awaaay."

"It's NOT Ulric that wants that TOWER taken down, anyway, it's that CURSED witch! He'll do ANYTHING for her, APPARENTLY!"

For the first time, Mr. Gaunt showd some emotion as he frowned menacinly at Hodurr.

"Dooon't yooou taaalk abooout theee Miiistress liiike thaaat, dwaaarf."

"Well, your imperial highness, where do I begin?"

Roland and Glimda sighed as Throlar went on another of his rants.

"Do you keep a library up your big behind? I didn't ask for a history lesson, I just want to catch my sister's killer."

"Enough, Glimda. So you are headed to the Tower, then. You are an oblivious fool if you think the Keeper will just let you march in. I've only been in there once, myself, and that was by invitation. But if that truly is your mission - and not, say, ruining my lucrative enterprise here in Vega - I am willing to let you continue."

"You can't be serious!"

"Trust me, Glimda, the faster we get rid of this dwarf, the better. You will get your belongings back - in the morning. You will get out of the gate and never show your face in this city again, is that understood? Now, even though I believe your mission is doomed, you might try your chances with Countess Lyudmila of Fellcrest. She has a long history with the Keeper, and just might help you if you're nice to her - just beware she doesn't suck you dry. Hahaha!"

"Roland, what about...?"

"Bufkin will have captured the others, if he's any good. If he isn't, there's no need to shoot the messenger. We will keep the greenskin here for more questioning, since he apparently does not belong to Heroica, and..."

A loud crash and screams emerged from downstairs. The Emperor and the brothel owner rushed out of the office, with Throlar in tow. When they arrived to the foyer, they found several monkey guards squashed dead and Orokai gone.

"Aaarrggghhh!!!" screamed Glimda and punched the wall in a very un-feminine way.

"Can't we just all go to bed already?" Roland sighed, shaking his head.

[Duvors]

"Can't we just all go to bed already?" Roland sighed, shaking his head.

"That depends on weather or not he tears the walls down in the night for the purpose of getting out."

"Ahh heck, just tell me where I can find a bed."

[Khorne]

"Sooo... Iiis thaaat a yeees ooor a nooo? Whaaat cooomes tooo theee Tooower, Miiister Eeemorith, iiit iiis nooot aaa puuublic liiibraaary, byyy aaany meeeans. Theee Keeeper raaarely leeets aaanyone iiin, aaand sheee haaas aaan aaarmy ooof gooolems tooo keeep sooolicitooors awaaay."

"As it stands now, the vote is three to one, so I'd say that's a 'yes' from our side," Eric quickly spoke, trying to strengthen his position. Althior had gained some of Eric's respect and loyalty over the course of the previous quests and he wan't really all that bad, but this was different. Eric couldn't just blindly follow his decision. There was a much larger reward at stake here and a real chance of taking out the Bonapartes.

He turned his head to Althior. "Heroica might be in the business of helping others, but I prefer to help myself first."

[K-Nut]

He turned his head to Althior. "Heroica might be in the business of helping others, but I prefer to help myself first."

Althior looks to Eric. The Nord had been a strong sword, but completely cocky and greedy. He had seen some of himself in him, but he was apparently mistaken. "You're in the wrong business then,"

Althior begins to pace back and forth, pondering his options. Perhaps this was the right thing to do. The Ziegfrieds were the only likable house, in his eyes, and they would benefit from this, right? And it was only the witch Baba who had wanted this task fulfilled. Perhaps he had misjudged the Wolfgang. No, he hadn't. But he wouldn't be left behind like the dwarf. He had a job to fulfill, and he'd see it to the end. But what job was it then? Was it his duty to the veterans, his duty to eubric, or his duty to himself?

"Althior, you're not actually considering this-"

"Quiet!" He barked out at Finnegan. The decision was hard enough as is, and his morals couldn't distract him from the decision. He couldn't be enveloped in what if's. What it was was what it was. He had to deal with what was in front of him. He raises his gloved hands to his face, wiping the sweat that was collecting on it. He then subtly nods to what was seemingly Bluto Ziegfried before glancing up to Mr Gaunt. "What the hell, I'm in," He looks away, ashamed, as Finnegan glares at him. This had better be worth it.

[Jebediahs]

En Sabah Nur chortles. "You're 'in'? Your decisions to pursue and entertain multiple diversions instead of heading straight to the source shows you were never really invested in successuflly completing our original quest. Even though Dickless is an inexperienced baffoon who seems to have forgotten I was the only one in his corner, you chose to leave him behind. He's a weakling, this barbarian could have easily held him with one hand and forcibly dragged him along with us. And the yeti? He was utterly abandoned without any search. How does that fit in with Heroica's nature of good-fellowship? You're as self-centered as the rest of us, Althior. Of course you're 'in'."

[K-Nut]

Althior turns back to Nur. "You have no idea who or what I am, Nur. I'm not about to explain my motivations to you, and I don't expect you to either. We're not a running town hall here. If you can't keep up, that's your problem. You want to go back for that idiotic dwarf? Or that racist yeti? Then by all means be my guest. Just never ever act like you know me or why I do what I do,"

[Khorne]

Althior looks to Eric. The Nord had been a strong sword, but completely cocky and greedy. He had seen some of himself in him, but he was apparently mistaken. "You're in the wrong business then,"

"I'm in the business that pays well and gets my adrenaline pumping from time to time, so I guess this business is cut out for me," Eric dryly replied.

He then rummaged through his stuff and took out his Leather Whip, which he then handed to Periwinkle. "In case we might want to get a bit more naughty later on," Eric said cheekily with a wide grin.

[Sandy]

QM Note: From this point on, there are two different quests going on in the same topic. Throlar continues with the original quest while the others are on the Wolfgang quest. One of the quests will succeed while the other one will fail, depending on who gets to the tower first. Nothing prevents from individual heroes to switch quests in the middle of the process, though.

"Ahh heck, just tell me where I can find a bed."

"Certainly. You can take any of the rooms in the False Wizard. I'll instruct the guards to let you in and watch the door for you. It's still early, though, so you wouldn't want to spend some time with one of our games?"

"What the hell, I'm in,"

"Spleeendid. Nooow, Miiister Thooornbaaack wiiill fiiill yooou iiin ooon theee deeetails."

"HA! Didn't take me fer a strategic MASTERmind, DID ye? Anywho, the rumor GOES that the Tower is protected by heavy-duty MAGICS. So we need to take it DOWN with brute FORCE. It just so HAPPENS that there's a BOMBcrafter livin' in Port Taboo. Ye have to CONVINCE him to make a big BLASTER fer ye, then sneak it into the Tower and KABOOM!!!"

"It might not be as simple as Thornback makes it sound, but we are confident that you can work out the kinks yourself."

"Thaaat iiis whyyy Uuulric waaants yooou."

Suddenly something rustled and crashed through the woods. The heroes drew their weapons, but it turned out to be just Orokai.

"Sorry I'm late. What did I miss?"

"They said yes, Orokai. We don't need to pretend anymore", said Walbartan, relieved.

"Aaah, eeeveryooone iiis baaack togeeether agaaain. Heeeroes, leeet meee iiintroduuuce tooo theee Feeearsome Fooour."

Orokai and Walbartan nodded along with Hodurr Thornback and Detraehd Loc.

[Pyrovisionary]

"Ah." Sarge feels a slight wave of disapointment as he realises that he did not infact defeat the fearsome four, and that their actions had been guided partly by a third party. Sarge clenches his diseased fist. "Forgive me if I don't shake yer hands, but I got these claws" Sarge proffers the zoidberg gauntlets "And unless yer want to become an amputee like meself..."

"Let's get off our arses and back to the port. Maybe get the the return journey sorted. And what we're gonna tell the vets."

Edited July 25, 2014 by Pyrovisionary

[Jebediahs]

Althior turns back to Nur. "You have no idea who or what I am, Nur. I'm not about to explain my motivations to you, and I don't expect you to either. We're not a running town hall here. If you can't keep up, that's your problem. You want to go back for that idiotic dwarf? Or that racist yeti? Then by all means be my guest. Just never ever act like you know me or why I do what I do,"

Nur rolled his eyes. "You're almost as dramatic as that dopey runt we left back in the city."

"Spleeendid. Nooow, Miiister Thooornbaaack wiiill fiiill yooou iiin ooon theee deeetails."

"HA! Didn't take me fer a strategic MASTERmind, DID ye? Anywho, the rumor GOES that the Tower is protected by heavy-duty MAGICS. So we need to take it DOWN with brute FORCE. It just so HAPPENS that there's a BOMBcrafter livin' in Port Taboo. Ye have to CONVINCE him to make a big BLASTER fer ye, then sneak it into the Tower and KABOOM!!!"

Nur gave a slow handclap. "Aye, quite the skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve your goal. Genius, really. And a powerful performance by all. Well done. If you believe we need a blaster then I will not hesitate in following your advice and proceed to the port."

[Duvors]

QM Note: From this point on, there are two different quests going on in the same topic. Throlar continues with the original quest while the others are on the Wolfgang quest. One of the quests will succeed while the other one will fail, depending on who gets to the tower first. Nothing prevents from individual heroes to switch quests in the middle of the process, though.

"Certainly. You can take any of the rooms in the False Wizard. I'll instruct the guards to let you in and watch the door for you. It's still early, though, so you wouldn't want to spend some time with one of our games?"

"Hmm... I'm alone from now on so I"ll need more supplies, and for that I'll need money... yes I think I will."

[Sandy]

"Aye, quite the skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve your goal. Genius, really. And a powerful performance by all. Well done. If you believe we need a blaster then I will not hesitate in following your advice and proceed to the port."

"Theee Feeearsome Fooour aaare heeere tooo heeelp yooour endeeeavors. Hoooweeever, Iii neeed tooo seeend twooo ooof theeem tooo iiinteeerceeept Maaaster Wiiineghliiim. Yooou caaan chooose theee twooo whooo aaare tooo joooin yooou."

"I am terribly sorry we had to lead you on like that" Walbartan said, sounding sincerely apologetic. "Gods know I am a poor liar. We are not called "Fearsome" because we are vicious or evil, mind you, but because all four of us were shunned away by our communities. I was the laughing stock of the Crinkah Tribe for being so gentle, but the Wolfgang welcomed me with open arms. You have treated me with nothing but respect either, so I would be honored to continue offering my druidic skills for your needs."

"Yeah, I'm sorry for feeding you the story about a slain wife, too. Didn't you think it was a tad too coincidental, though? I was supposed to meet you on the Blood Brick Road and weasel myself into your party like Walbie did, but the mutant assault gave me a more thrilling option. In truth I've never even been with a woman, they've all been so disgusted by my mixed heritage. My sword is yours still, if you take me with you."

"I SURELY ain't no drunkard, and I can really help ye wiv the BOMBcrafter. He's a DWARF, too, ye see, and even tho I'm only HALF-dwarven, he oughtta listen to ME. And my BERSERKER fightin' skills will no doubt come in HANDY should ye blokes run into TROUBLE on the road."

"I kill things. Efficiently. Enough said?"

Althior and his comrades had to now decide which two of the Fearsome Four would they take with them on their mission, and which two to send after Throlar?

"Hmm... I'm alone from now on so I"ll need more supplies, and for that I'll need money... yes I think I will."

"I will leave you to it, then." Roland started barking orders at the servants. "Someone take these bodies away. They're scaring away the customers!"

"I'll find the killers myself if nobody else in this damn city is competent enough for that!" Glimda grumbled as she left the palace.

Throlar now had a choice between three stalls: Lucky Clams, Triple Magic and Decamon.

[Pyrovisionary]

"This is gonna sound stupid but I aint got no other way of sayin it. I generally spend most of me time in Eubric in the Hall, and before I joined I was fighting in Charis and likes. So I don't exactly have a feckin clue about you Wolfgang. Who are yer, and whaddaya want in Eubric."

1000 gold, possible nobility, what was there to lose? What had he got left to lose? It was a warming thought, perhaps having a legacy for his deeds, something to be remembered by. May be he would help this wolfgang in the future.

Edited July 25, 2014 by Pyrovisionary

[Sandy]

"So I don't exactly have a feckin clue about you Wolfgang. Who are yer, and whaddaya want in Eubric."

"If I may respond..." said Walbartan, checking with her comrades. "The Wolfgang was originally started when our leader Ulric Wolfkin arrived to Eubric riding on a talking direwolf. He immediately struck fear and admiration wherever he walked. In a matter of months he had gathered enough followers at the Hovels to take out most of the crimelords wreaking havoc in the city. He welcomed their hirelings to his secret base in the sewers, the Wolf's Den. But becoming a crimelord wasn't Ulric plan, it was just a first step on his path to become the King of Eubric. Why he wants that, only he knows, but we as his followers support him loyally. He is righteous to those that follow him and merciless towards his enemies - in short, just the leader our city needs. The Houses in Power have been leeching us common folk for centuries for their own gain, without giving much of anything back. Ulric promises order, justice and equality. The Wolfgang remain his core allies, but his supporters extend far beyond the Wolf's Den now. If you want to see Eubric become a stabile kingdom instead of a chaotic hellhole, you will want to join us."

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge nods. Wondering about whether their witch really was as powerful as they say. Maybe she could.... It was a hope nonetheless, otherwise he would be walking corpse, kept alive by the aura Nornealis.

"If yer can win over the rest of Heroica, the city's yours."

[K-Nut]

Althior chuckles. "Didn't think of picking up this device before we arrived? Very well then, I suggest we at least take the dwarf with us if it helps us get the bomb. I suggest we send Orokai and Ms Loc to take out Throlar, leaving us with taking Walbartan to heal us. Any problems with that, then?"

[Duvors]

Throlar now had a choice between three stalls: Lucky Clams, Triple Magic and Decamon.

Seeing that Lucky Clams was some form of memory game and therefore the least dangerous he headed over to it.

[Jebediahs]

Althior chuckles. "Didn't think of picking up this device before we arrived? Very well then, I suggest we at least take the dwarf with us if it helps us get the bomb. I suggest we send Orokai and Ms Loc to take out Throlar, leaving us with taking Walbartan to heal us. Any problems with that, then?"

"Those are my choices as well. Although, Throlar being blown all the way back to Eubric would be quite the sight."

[Khorne]

Eric nodded in agreement. "A sound choice. Let's just hope Loc's boast about her skills weren't lies like all the rest she's told us."

[Sandy]

Seeing that Lucky Clams was some form of memory game and therefore the least dangerous he headed over to it.

A red-skinned woman with fiery eyes and hair greeted Throlar at the stall.

"You are in for a game of Lucky Clams, then? My name is Ifrita, and I came all the way from Port of Farzibar to bring this game I developed known to the masses. It's been a massive hit so far!"

The woman then told Throlar how to play the game.

In Lucky Clams, you try to find pairs among 15 clamshells. Each pair you find gives you a different reward - but watch out for scrap metal!

PRICES:

Open 2 clams: 5 gold

Open 4 clams:15 gold

Open 6 clams: 25 gold

Open 8 clams: 35 gold

Open 10 clams: 45 gold

Open 12 clams: 55 gold

Open 14 clams: 65 gold

Note: You can stop opening clams at any time, despite the amount of openings you've purchases.

PRIZES:

Find yellow pair: Grand Potion

Find red pair: Grand Tonic

Find blue pair: Remedy

Find orange pair: Phoenix Essence

Find turquoise pair: Fenghuang Essence

Find gold pair: 60 gold

Find either of the two white pearls: combine with any pairless clam opened to create a pair

Find the solitary scrap metal: lose the game automatically

"The clams are reshuffled after each game. How many would you like to open for starters?"

[Sandy]

Althior chuckles. "Didn't think of picking up this device before we arrived? Very well then, I suggest we at least take the dwarf with us if it helps us get the bomb. I suggest we send Orokai and Ms Loc to take out Throlar, leaving us with taking Walbartan to heal us. Any problems with that, then?"

"Aaan iiintereeesting choooice. Yooou reeeally waaant thaaat dwaaarf deeead, dooon't yooou?"

Before anyone could respond, a new person walked into the clearing. It was an elderly woman with green skin and garish clothing.

"The Wyrd Tree is sacred! How dare you defile it by laying your hands on it?!"

The old woman looked dumbfounded yet defiant. Orokai approached her first.

"You better turn back, hag. We..."

The shrubbery thrashed again as another gigantic figure leapt through them and hurdled himself against Orokai. The two were evenly matched.

"You don't hurt mother!!!"

Meanwhile, the old woman had whipped out a pink wand.

"Get down there, you menace!" she croaked and flung a beam of light on Mr. Gaunt, knocking him down from the roots he was standing on.

"She's a witch, and not the only one in these woods by far. We will handle this, you better run before others appear", Detraehd Loc warned the heroes.

What would the party do? Stay and settle the matter or flee out of the Marshlands?