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

[Khorne]

As Eric searches for another flight of stairs or anything else that might lead up, he spoke: "You're the Keeper? I'm kind of disappointed here."

"Almost as disappointed like the lack of valuables stashed here. Where did all the life go?"

[Sandy]

"Auntie Cinnabar, I'd like you to have the Senechal's 'heart' to do with what you please in exchange for a weeee favor." En Sabah Nur raised his arm turned to stone, any illusionary enchantment removed so that the rocky appearance was clearly visible. "If you could do something about me arm? Perhaps another bath in your magic mud would restore my normal arm for good."

The geomancer raised her brows as Nur unveiled his mutated arm.

"My, what a studly limb you have there!" Cinnabar said, her voice thick with admiration. "Are you sure you aren't part Rockling? Not that I've ever heard of a human mating with one of our kind before... Anywho, how did you end up with an arm like that? I need to know in order to assess if anything can be done about it. It can't be merely petrified, you could take care of that with a simple remedy... And you seem to be able to move it just fine."

He made his way to the balcony, looking well past the walls of the fortress and out into Babeleth. It was a sight to behold. "What a nice view here. I'm sure you or your boss could surely have enough power to make it yours; to take out that cowering Emerald Emperor and his diseased followers. But no, you can't, not even with this legendary stash of information here could you do anything about it. You're too much of an old recluse to make any sense of the situation out there at all. But perhaps it is because the plains of Babeleth are not worth saving,"

Althior lowers his voice, "Now you yourself may not be the keeper of this tower, but I'm sure whoever she is that she is listening in on this. And she should know that Eubric is not Babeleth. Sure, it has it's hefty share of corruption, but it has potential. I've been around this world my fair share, and I've seen places with no hope of a better tomorrow. Eubric has but a glimmer of hope, and there are people who fight for it. The Wolfgang may have the right idea of how to make that future as clear as day, I admit that, but Ulric has no idea what he dabbles in whilst he deals with this Ambergaze of Babeleth. A genocidal maniac who abducted small children from their families isn't really the beacon of hope he should be looking for in his conquest against the houses,"

"You and I both realize that if we have a sudden change of heart and leave you here, it will be only a matter of time before they come back to this now unprotected tower and take it out themselves. Your days are numbered and dwindling fast, O Keeper. Ambergaze will not stop after Eubric. You know this, for she did not stop after Nu Mercution either. You alone hold the information that can save many, many lives." He pauses. "You're fate is sealed either way. Will you get us what we need to know, or is your time up?"

"You're the Keeper? I'm kind of disappointed here."

"Almost as disappointed like the lack of valuables stashed here. Where did all the life go?"

The statue remained silent for some time, before the voice in their heads continued.

"You are right. I am the Keeper Mnemosyne, the last in the long line of Keepers of this Tower. A long, long line. Or rather, I am what is left of her. What is left of myself. The might of Babel is long gone. Power corrupts. The sorcerers turned on each other. There was a battle... Death. Destruction. Desolation. Only I stayed behind. Sealed the Tower. Sealed the knowledge. Sealed the memories. Sealed myself into this statue so I could watch over Babel for eternity. But nothing is eternal... It seems still have time to answer your questions. About her. I remember Ambergaze. I remember her. I remember Baba. Maeb. Brahne. Songbird. I remember Barbariccia. What of her? What of her?"

Before anyone could answer, the door slammed open again.

"Eric..."

Periwinkle had a knife on her throat, held by Walbartan. Tears rolled down both of the women's faces.

"Please, just stop this. Right now, " the druid pleaded. "I don't want to do this. Just stop talking to the Keeper and come downstairs with us. Let's finish what we came here for. I beg of you!"

"Eric, I don't want to die..."

What was the heroes' decision?

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge, shocked, hesitates. "With respect we still got questions to ask. Oh Fukit." Sarge draws himself up to his full height, and unbandages his bad right arm. The thing was horrible, no skin nor flesh remained on Sarge's arm. Just bone. Due to the ether sapped field it was limp, lifeless. It had obviously been enchanted before, runes glimmered mildly on it's white surface.

Looking at it with some mild disgust, he starts to think. Walbnartan was alright. ish. She wasn't that bad, and she came with a good offer. Periwinkle on the other hand was Eric's love. He didn't think he'd be able to beat Eric if it came to a fight, and if he didn't help, it'd come to that.

"Gizza minute"

Once again ignoring present matters, Sarge approaches the keeper, presenting his arm.

"Fix it. If not, tell me how. Quickly mate."

With his good hand he draws a smoke bomb under the cover of his cloak.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Pyrovisionary

[Jebediahs]

The geomancer raised her brows as Nur unveiled his mutated arm.

"My, what a studly limb you have there!" Cinnabar said, her voice thick with admiration. "Are you sure you aren't part Rockling? Not that I've ever heard of a human mating with one of our kind before... Anywho, how did you end up with an arm like that? I need to know in order to assess if anything can be done about it. It can't be merely petrified, you could take care of that with a simple remedy... And you seem to be able to move it just fine."

"My father did mention a bit of dwarf in our ancestry, I don't think rockling would be too far a stretch. I do have an affinity for headwear..." Nur became more serious. "I was feeling over confident in battle and tried a new spell. I had merely wished to encase my arms in stone that I could elongate a short distance to deliver devastating punches. My unfamiliarity and overuse of the spell resulted in my current condition."

[K-Nut]

"Can't do anything without Nur's bombs, love. Besides, there's other parts of this tower that need to be blown. You can't kill a man by removing his legs-" Althior paused, lowering his gaze to Sarge's leg, "Alright, poor choice of words. But there's living proof still!" He chuckles a bit. "As I see it now, Wally, you've disobeyed orders and you've got a knife to the throat of our dearest Peri here. Now we were all promised a nice trip to this tower, and that's what we're going to have here. It should be apparent to you too, that death really isn't always that permanent. Hell, look at me!"

He stepped down from the balcony and made his way closer to Walbartan. "You know as well as I do that Ulric is in over his head with this witch. Now, giving the Veterans her secrets may not be the best decision. But once this place implodes, then that knowledge is dead, along with all the citizens of Eubric. This witch will not stop once Eubric is Ulric's. She'll take him out and level the city. The only way to ensure that your boss gets what he wants is if this knowledge lives on. You don't want it in the hands of me and my companions here? We'll shut our ears really hard like school children and let you hear about her story. The Keeper knows what I say is true, and she knows everything."

"You kill the girl and you have no leverage on us. You do that, and perhaps for once our friend here may care about something besides gold. Double crossing the Wolfgang; I'm guessing that could get us some form of reputation. All because one woman was too much of a coward to know the truth. She closed her eyes tightly because she was too 'kind' and afraid of the real horrors out there."

"Fix it. If not, tell me how. Quickly mate."

"Please, we have a job to do here, old man. What job it is, I'm not sure." He glance to the arm. "If anything, it's just an infection. Try spitting in one of Scherazade's cups. A nord did that for me and it helped an awful lot with some amnesia problems,"

He turned back to Walbartan "Back on us being promised a trip here, I thought we were promised some valuable items in here." He points to the orb, "This seems to be the only thing worth taking here, so if you wouldn't mind..." Althior takes a step towards the orb, hesitating to see what Walbartan would do. He also began to think rather persistently, trying to see if he could make any form of contact with the keeper to get her to continue her story individually.

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge glares at Althior before returning his gaze to the keeper, waiting for a reply. If needs be, the balcony only had a short rail, and he was Heroica after all, the aura would.... He reaches an epiphany.

"If Peri joins Heroica the Aura thingy will stop her dying. It's as simple as a few words innit? "

Edited September 17, 2014 by Pyrovisionary

[K-Nut]

"Yes, but didn't that involve some ritual with Shruiken-throwing Crusaders or something? Not entirely sure. I was a bit drunk that day. And as you can see-" He rolls down his collar showing a nasty scar running from left to right, as if a sharp knife had sliced it open, "It doesn't always work," He didn't care what these veterans said. This Aura Nornalis may have been responsible for saving other heroes, but it had failed on him. But why? What was special about him?

[Sandy]

"My father did mention a bit of dwarf in our ancestry, I don't think rockling would be too far a stretch. I do have an affinity for headwear..." Nur became more serious. "I was feeling over confident in battle and tried a new spell. I had merely wished to encase my arms in stone that I could elongate a short distance to deliver devastating punches. My unfamiliarity and overuse of the spell resulted in my current condition."

"Ah, then it's just a wee stubborn spell. Nothing a geomancer of my caliber couldn't handle. They didn't hire me to make golems for the Tower for nothing, you see?" Cinnabar waved her stubby hand. "Alright, come to Auntie Cinnabar and I'll see what I can do about it... Yes, yes... A tricky pattern, this spell has, but nothing that can't be unweaved with a little effort. Dip your arm into the mud and I'll get to work. With some luck, the spell will come off cleanly. With less luck, you don't have an arm to worry about anymore. It's a win-win situation, if you ask me!"

"Fix it. If not, tell me how. Quickly mate."

The Keeper's voice resounded only in Sarge's mind.

"O the weakness of the mortal body. I am no healer. I only preserve. You must turn to the Sisters of Danab to find a cure. Not just any of the Sisters. Travel to Salmanda and find the Eldest Sister. She can heal anything that can be healed. She may help you. If that is to be."

"Can't do anything without Nur's bombs, love. Besides, there's other parts of this tower that need to be blown. You can't kill a man by removing his legs-" Althior paused, lowering his gaze to Sarge's leg, "Alright, poor choice of words. But there's living proof still!" He chuckles a bit. "As I see it now, Wally, you've disobeyed orders and you've got a knife to the throat of our dearest Peri here. Now we were all promised a nice trip to this tower, and that's what we're going to have here. It should be apparent to you too, that death really isn't always that permanent. Hell, look at me!"

He stepped down from the balcony and made his way closer to Walbartan. "You know as well as I do that Ulric is in over his head with this witch. Now, giving the Veterans her secrets may not be the best decision. But once this place implodes, then that knowledge is dead, along with all the citizens of Eubric. This witch will not stop once Eubric is Ulric's. She'll take him out and level the city. The only way to ensure that your boss gets what he wants is if this knowledge lives on. You don't want it in the hands of me and my companions here? We'll shut our ears really hard like school children and let you hear about her story. The Keeper knows what I say is true, and she knows everything."

"You kill the girl and you have no leverage on us. You do that, and perhaps for once our friend here may care about something besides gold. Double crossing the Wolfgang; I'm guessing that could get us some form of reputation. All because one woman was too much of a coward to know the truth. She closed her eyes tightly because she was too 'kind' and afraid of the real horrors out there."

Walbartan looked desperate.

"Althior, please... I've travelled with you for enough days to know who I am dealing with. Whatever your opinions or assumptions of Barbariccia are, you cannot turn coats on us now. You made a promise under the Wyrd Tree! What makes you so certain Barbariccia wants to destroy Eubric? How can you know that?" The pongcanis glanced at the statue. "The Keeper has the answers. She could tell you the truth about Barbariccia. You are right, she could even tell me. But I don't want to know! I am no one important, I can't bear that responsibility! My task was only to make sure you carry out your mission. It is not for any of us to know the truth. The truth doesn't matter! Only Ulric's vision matters. The world cannot change without faith, and I have every reason to have faith in Ulric. When my tribe abandoned me to die, he was the one who took me in. He didn't see the weakness in me that my tribesmen did, he saw potential. He gave me a new purpose, gave me hope for a better tomorrow. I owe him my life - all of us in Wolfgang do. Can't you understand that?"

Periwinkle let out a sob.

"I am so sorry, Peri, but you are currently my insurance. I cannot hope to defeat you three in battle, nor do I wish to try. I just want us all to trust Ulric's judgment and follow our orders. Please!"

He turned back to Walbartan "Back on us being promised a trip here, I thought we were promised some valuable items in here." He points to the orb, "This seems to be the only thing worth taking here, so if you wouldn't mind..." Althior takes a step towards the orb, hesitating to see what Walbartan would do. He also began to think rather persistently, trying to see if he could make any form of contact with the keeper to get her to continue her story individually.

"No. You cannot remove the crystal. That must not happen. If it breaks, all memories will be lost. Leave. Just leave, and let the memories be."

Walbartan's teary eyes widened.

"So we don't have to destroy the entire Tower. Destroying that crystal will suffice..."

"Old memories would be lost forever. A new beginning. A new crystal. The Tower could begin collecting memories a-new. What would be the sense in that?"

Silence fell into the room.

[Jebediahs]

"Ah, then it's just a wee stubborn spell. Nothing a geomancer of my caliber couldn't handle. They didn't hire me to make golems for the Tower for nothing, you see?" Cinnabar waved her stubby hand. "Alright, come to Auntie Cinnabar and I'll see what I can do about it... Yes, yes... A tricky pattern, this spell has, but nothing that can't be unweaved with a little effort. Dip your arm into the mud and I'll get to work. With some luck, the spell will come off cleanly. With less luck, you don't have an arm to worry about anymore. It's a win-win situation, if you ask me!"

A single drop of nervous sweat slid down the right side of Nur's face from the top of his moistened brow. "Erm, Auntie...How offended would ye be if I retracted my offer..heh...heh? This arm is functional as is and like you said it's not too bad looking." Nur gives his arm a flex then moves to put it around Auntie's shoulder. "You know, I'd much rather like to see you work your wondrous magic and create a body for the Seneschal and...have it serve a new master. Perhaps followed up with a decamon match? I am supposed to be on guard duty for my companions but I left the compentent furry lass in charge so I have plenty of time. I feel there is so much I could learn from you." En Sabah Nur grinned.

[Khorne]

"Please, just stop this. Right now, " the druid pleaded. "I don't want to do this. Just stop talking to the Keeper and come downstairs with us. Let's finish what we came here for. I beg of you!"

"Eric, I don't want to die..."

"You're in no position to bargain, Druid. We're the only ones capable of taking out this Tower, we're the brawn of your plan. So let go of the girl and use your brain for once. The Tower will go down. We promised we'd do that. Hell, you're making us nobles and are even paying us handsomely to do so. I'm all in for paid destruction, but I'm not idiot, either. I want to hear what the Keeper has to say."

Eric shook his head in disdain at Walbartan's further explanation. "You're no one important? Well, that's just a sad way to live. It sickens me to hear someone utter such crap. It angers me greatly. You're weak, Walbartan. I wouldn't know what strength Ulric saw in you. You're pathetic. Ulric doesn't need you. We don't need you. We'll blow up this damn Tower ourselves. Why don't you jump out of the window already? Like you said, you're not important. You don't matter."

"We'll do this our way or I'll help you find the window-exit myself. I want to serve Ulric, but I refuse to be some mindless minion like you!"

The Nord grunted viciously and snarled in a bestial manner. "Let the girl go, Druid, and stop uttering nonsense or you'll wish you had never been born."

[K-Nut]

"My apologies, but weren't we hired to only take out the tower and it's keeper? We were also told to abandon our current quest, which was to ask the keeper for the information. You never said anything about us destroying the orb, nor did you say anything about us finding this information out ourselves. I'm guessing that entering that orb would take extreme power, so you would have nothing to worry about if I acquired it for myself. And if for some reason we would take it to Heroica, your Veteran friend would just smash it from there."

"You ask why we can't trust this Ambergaze, but I seem to have already stated this. She attempted to hypnotize and kill many people at a gala a while back, if I am not mistaken, including innocent people. She robbed a small child from their family, artificially aged him, and forbade him to speak. And Keeper," He looked to the statue, "would you be so kind as to tell us what ever happened to Nur Mercution?"

Althior takes a step back and thinks. "Apologies, one more question. What is the importance of this Wyrd Tree? And why does it's mention never seem to stop coming our way?"

[Pyrovisionary]

The Keeper's voice resounded only in Sarge's mind.

"O the weakness of the mortal body.I am no healer. I only preserve. You must turn to the Sisters of Danab to find a cure. Not just any of the Sisters. Travel to Salmanda and find the Eldest Sister. She can heal anything that can be healed. She may help you. If that is to be."

Sarge nods at the keeper, and sighs, turning to the rest of the party.

"I'm with the gal. Better not to know and be rich as feck."

[K-Nut]

"I'm with the gal. Better not to know and be rich as feck."

"Even though I knew you'd bring some handicaps to this group of ours, I never thought you'd be this blind," He scowls at Sarge. All of this information in one orb. Hell, it could be one of the most powerful objects in not just the East, but the world. There had to be some way into talking the Pongcanis into letting it survive.

[Sandy]

"Erm, Auntie...How offended would ye be if I retracted my offer..heh...heh? This arm is functional as is and like you said it's not too bad looking." Nur gives his arm a flex then moves to put it around Auntie's shoulder. "You know, I'd much rather like to see you work your wondrous magic and create a body for the Seneschal and...have it serve a new master. Perhaps followed up with a decamon match? I am supposed to be on guard duty for my companions but I left the compentent furry lass in charge so I have plenty of time. I feel there is so much I could learn from you." En Sabah Nur grinned.

Cinnabar cackled when Nur wrapped his stony arm around her.

"By all means, keep your arm - it suits you. I can even give you a matching pair for your other arm. No? Very well, let's just put this golem's heart to use. One perfectly sculpted minion coming up!"

Once again, Cinnabar chanted words into the mud pit as she tossed the heart into it. An amber light swirled around the spot where the heart had dropped, and soon a figure rose from it.

The reborn Seneschal stepped out of the mud to Cinnabar.

"You have given me my shape back, and for that, I am in debted to you. What are my orders?"

"Don't look at me, dearie. You are Nur's golem now." Cinnabar pointed Nur to the golem. "He has use for your services, so don't let him down."

"I will not", the golem said to Nur. "I remember your strength from when we battled. I will follow you. What are my orders?"

The golem stared at the evoker with his garnet eyes, waiting for an answer.

"You're in no position to bargain, Druid. We're the only ones capable of taking out this Tower, we're the brawn of your plan. So let go of the girl and use your brain for once. The Tower will go down. We promised we'd do that. Hell, you're making us nobles and are even paying us handsomely to do so. I'm all in for paid destruction, but I'm not idiot, either. I want to hear what the Keeper has to say."

Eric shook his head in disdain at Walbartan's further explanation. "You're no one important? Well, that's just a sad way to live. It sickens me to hear someone utter such crap. It angers me greatly. You're weak, Walbartan. I wouldn't know what strength Ulric saw in you. You're pathetic. Ulric doesn't need you. We don't need you. We'll blow up this damn Tower ourselves. Why don't you jump out of the window already? Like you said, you're not important. You don't matter."

"We'll do this our way or I'll help you find the window-exit myself. I want to serve Ulric, but I refuse to be some mindless minion like you!" The Nord grunted viciously and snarled in a bestial manner. "Let the girl go, Druid, and stop uttering nonsense or you'll wish you had never been born."

Walbartan bared her canines at Eric.

"I may be weak, but I am still a Pongcanis! You cannot threaten me, norseman, not with my knife on your harlot's throat! If you do not come downstairs with me this instant and destroy this place, I will run straight to Mr. Gaunt and make sure he knows you've betrayed us! You can kiss your fame and fortune goodbye, then!"

"My apologies, but weren't we hired to only take out the tower and it's keeper? We were also told to abandon our current quest, which was to ask the keeper for the information. You never said anything about us destroying the orb, nor did you say anything about us finding this information out ourselves. I'm guessing that entering that orb would take extreme power, so you would have nothing to worry about if I acquired it for myself. And if for some reason we would take it to Heroica, your Veteran friend would just smash it from there."

"You ask why we can't trust this Ambergaze, but I seem to have already stated this. She attempted to hypnotize and kill many people at a gala a while back, if I am not mistaken, including innocent people. She robbed a small child from their family, artificially aged him, and forbade him to speak. And Keeper," He looked to the statue, "would you be so kind as to tell us what ever happened to Nur Mercution?"

Althior takes a step back and thinks. "Apologies, one more question. What is the importance of this Wyrd Tree? And why does it's mention never seem to stop coming our way?"

"You weren't even supposed to meet the Keeper! I had no knowledge of this orb or it's importance. But you are right, destroying it might not be enough for Barbariccia. She wants the Keeper dead as well. Ask no more questions, Althior, not in the Keeper's presence! I will take it as a sign that you abandoned our cause."

"Gaze into the crystal. If you want to know the fate of Nu Mercution, gaze into the crystal. The crystal will show you what happened. The tragedy."

A moving image appeared inside the crystal orb. What would the heroes do?

[Jebediahs]

"I will not", the golem said to Nur. "I remember your strength from when we battled. I will follow you. What are my orders?"

The golem stared at the evoker with his garnet eyes, waiting for an answer.

Nur's eyes twinkled as the corners of his mouth nearly reached his ears due to his grin. " Wonderful. Very impressive m'lady. Here Seneschal, wear these Robes of the Necromancer. I...mayneedthatbacklater. Let us give 'im a test, ya? Tell me what you know of the origins of a witch from these parts named Barbariccia Dellamore? And...Seneschal, tell me how many golems are still in The Tower of Babel and how fast do you think we can get them out? My friends intend to destroy the Tower."

His inaction at Swisshopper's shop still brought about recurring uncomfortable feelings for Nur. He knew the rocklings were in trouble but at the time, he couldn't act without more information and without making things worse. Golems weren't the same as rocklings but perhaps saving them would relieve his discomfort.

[Sandy]

Nur's eyes twinkled as the corners of his mouth nearly reached his ears due to his grin. " Wonderful. Very impressive m'lady. Here Seneschal, wear these Robes of the Necromancer. I...mayneedthatbacklater. Let us give 'im a test, ya? Tell me what you know of the origins of a witch from these parts named Barbariccia Dellamore? And...Seneschal, tell me how many golems are still in The Tower of Babel and how fast do you think we can get them out? My friends intend to destroy the Tower."

The golem accepted the clothing and began to dress itself.

"Thank you for the clothing, although we golems do not feel neither cold, heat nor shame. In my opinion the Seneschal is no longer a fitting name for me, but I will keep it if you request so. I have to apologize, I have no recollection of a witch of that name. I was created to serve the Tower only after the sorcerers had perished or fled, in any case. The golems guarding the Tower were all destroyed in the battle against you and your companions. But I thank you for the notion of wanting to rescue them, even if it is somewhat hypocritical."

"Hmm, that means I better find myself a new job."

[K-Nut]

"Don't play games with me, alright? Don't ever, ever think you're capable of that. You see, I was never a part of your cause. All I wanted was a boy's freedom, but if this is what it takes to get it, then I'm sorry, but following orders from 'no one important' isn't really how I feel like going about it." He turns to Eric, "You listen to her, and all any of us will be famous for is being a coward and following the orders of the bottom of the Wolfgang. You want actual respect? Finish what you started,"

"If you run out of here, then you know we'll find out your friend's secrets, and how happy will this Gaunt fellow or Babariccia be about that? Hm? You say no more questions? Then fine. One has already been asked, and I intend to find out the answer to what I asked." He gazes into the Crystal. "If this is a sign of rebellion to you, than run. As fast as your legs can carry you. But I expect a sense of common decency from any employer I have, and even the great Ulric or this Ambergaze must hold up to that contract,"

Edited September 19, 2014 by K-Nut

[Jebediahs]

"I thank you for the notion of wanting to rescue them, even if it is somewhat hypocritical."

"Hmm, that means I better find myself a new job."

"Hahaha. Choose your own name if ye wish, stone companion. In the meantime, I'll call you Alfred. Auntie where will you go, Vega perhaps? You can come to Eubric Freeport with us, if ye'd like. We need to head back to the Tower before the few that went inside notice I'm no longer outside."

[Pyrovisionary]

Sarge leans against the balcony railing and sits down. Whilst he was curious about Baba he was also Greedy. And then there was the case of his arm.

[Sandy]

QM Note: I want to wait for Khorne's response, since this is the last chance you have to return to your original mission and abandon the Wolfgang's.

"Hahaha. Choose your own name if ye wish, stone companion. In the meantime, I'll call you Alfred. Auntie where will you go, Vega perhaps? You can come to Eubric Freeport with us, if ye'd like. We need to head back to the Tower before the few that went inside notice I'm no longer outside."

The golem nods.

"I shall henceworth be known as Alfred. I shall follow you back to the Tower, then."

"Vega sounds like a good start. It's been a while since I last visited it - back when I was made the Rock Champion. And now I have new cards to exchange into prizes, too, thanks to you! It seems our paths split again, but maybe we'll meet again one day. Goodbye, sweet Nur!"

The geomancer winked at Nur before retiring to her house to pack up. Nur and Alfred started to make their way back to the Tower, but the sun was already high up, and whatever had happened at the Tower must have already happened...

[Khorne]

Eric snarled angrily. He wanted everything right now. The Nord did want to know the story behind Baba the Witch, even if it was only to use as leverage at a later time, but he also wanted to push his sword through the Pongcanis Druid's thick skull for bossing him around in the way she did. What little respect he had held for the creature, it was completely gone now. However, if he wanted the promised gold, his title, and of lesser importance: saving Peri's life, then he had to swallow his pride for a brief moment and resolve this situation like Ulric wanted. Again, a flame flickered mischievously in the Nord's eyes and he lick his lips. All that gold, plus a title in Ulric's new kingdom. That'd be a great starting point to more power. 'All is chaos' is an oft-uttered phrase the people utter in the North. Only the strong can survive in a world of chaos, and Eric felt strong. Right now, he had to bow his head, even if his heart remained stubborn. Then, chaos would ensue and the Nord could climb it as a ladder to more power and riches. This was only the beginning.

He sneered and stepped forward, pushing Althior away from the Orb. "I choose power," he grinned.

[Pyrovisionary]

With intimidation, sarge says "Don't doubt us lass, we're with you gal. Just put the knife down!"

[K-Nut]

Althior stepped back, with a depraved look in his eye. How could he have made himself believe that this was even possible? The Nord had his head too far up his megablocks to see anything, and the old man was simply too old to see anything besides the gold. He steps back from the orb, slowly, then watches what Sarge does. Perhaps he was right when he spoke to the keeper. Either way, this place was going down. He'd have to benefit from it somehow.

Edited September 20, 2014 by K-Nut

[Sandy]

With intimidation, sarge says "Don't doubt us lass, we're with you gal. Just put the knife down!"

Walbartan shirked back from hearing Sarge's demanding voice, but did not let go of the knife or the harlot.

"No, you've been all too wishy-washy for me to trust you. Just go downstairs and help the alchemist plant the bombs. I will let go of Periwinkle as soon as the bombs go off. Only then I can trust you have kept your end of the bargain." Walbartan gave Althior a meaningful glance. The fur on her face was moist with sweat and tears. "Please, I'm so tired of this..."

"For the sake of every god in the world, just do what she tells you! I want out of this crappy situation! Eric!!!"

[Khorne]

"I can always put you to sleep, if you're that tired," Eric growled. He then pointed at Periwinkle, frustrated: "Woman, please! Stop yelling already. I'll deal with this. You'll be fine."

Gesturing towards Althior and Sarge, he made ready to leave the room and head back down. "Let's plant the damn bombs. This has been going on long enough. I want my pay."