Heroica RPG - Quest#102: Debts

[Zepher]

3 rounds of combat later...

Nerwen -3 health

XX +9 health

Nerwen and the Beast square off. It rams against her shield over and over again, sort of pitiful at the ned, but it never stops. Even as the black goo seeps out, and then it loses an arm, and then its skull caves it... it fights until it can fight no longer, and then dissolves on the ground. The battle is won.

Alexis gains 6 gold, all heroes gain exp.

The Party

Alexis Fenral

, Orc-kin

(Party Leader)

*Counterstriking*

*Blessed*

22 year old female elven Harlot

Level 46.8

Power Bonus:

0

Defense:

0

Health:

74/74

Gold:

1589

GP:

9

Equipment:

Steel fan (WP:20,

ice

-,

lightning

-, and

darkness

-elemental), Counterstrike Gloves, Blood Oath Medallion (Accessory, Blessed)

Inventory:

•

Cat-o'-Nine-Tails (WP: 20, damage divided between all enemies, Suitable For Rouges), Death's Whip (WP:11, on successful hits there is a 1/6 chance to cause double damage), Healing Staff (WP: 5; healing effect), Staff of Ennon (WP: 5,

light

-elemental, Restores 2 ether on a roll of 2, 3, or 4; staff), Fang Dagger (WP: 4), Town Watch Halberd (WP: 6),

•

Electro Gear (Adds lightning-element to physical attacks and protects from lightning-elemental damage, accessory), Smelly Hide (Suitable for barbarians and beast warriors, half damage from beasts and humanoids on Damage, bodywear), Winged Sandals (artifact; footwear; protects from bound and slowed effects), Lieutenant's Helmet (SP:3, protects from

fragile

), Ring of Sight (protects from

blinded

), Medal of Glory (Artefact/Accessory - Mark of true talent that allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles), Magnar's Smaller Axe (Grants User Dual-Strike, User Cannot Wield a Shield, Handwear, suitable for classes capable of using axes), Regret's Cape (Backwear, grants immunity to first negative effect afflicted each battle)

•

Aquamarine (

Water

), Diamond (

Light

), Sapphire (

Wind

), Topaz (

lightning

), Fifty Shades of Bley,

•

Bedroll, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass,

•

2 Somas, 5x Venom, 2x Deadly Venom, Health Core, 6x Potion, Grand Potion, 9x Meads, 2x Smelling Salts, 2x Nostrum, 9x Remedies, 7x Grand Potions, Skeleton Decoy, 8x Bone, Deadly Venom, 2x Kraken Fangs (grants hastened- and reinforced-effects when consumed), Silver Ore (worth 60 gold), 2x Titan Heart (Grants encouraged- and inspired-effects when consumed), Mulled Wine, 2x Grating Stones, Crimson Venom (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects for the duration of one battle), Red Death Blood (If applied to a weapon the Doomed effect is dealt on first blow)

XX

Level 35 Cannoneer/Alchemist *Blessed*

Health:

49/51

Defense:

0

Gold:

392

Equipment:

XX Hand Cannon (WP: 12, Ignores SP), XX Ammo Belts (As an

Alchemist

, XX can only receive rolls ending in "Bomb", excluding Bravado Brew and Explosion, as a Cannonner Bomb XX and Bomb XXX are added to possible creations), Cannoneer's Sashes (The damage output of bombs consumed are added to the WP of the Cannoneer's weapon before damage calculation)

Inventory:

Dangerous Dagger (WP: 20, Fire-Elemental), Phoenix Essence, Mead x3, Ruby, Military Grade Fire Bomb x4, Bomb XX (Deals 30 Damage to all foes and 10 to all allies, ignoring row/SP) x2, Ice Bombs (1), Lightning Bombs (3), Water Bombs (9), Dirt Bombs (5), Air Bomb, Venom (x5), Nostrum

Nerwen Calmcacil (played by Chromeknight)

263 year old female Elven Paladin *Immune to Fragile* *Blessed*

Level 31.75

Power bonus:

0

Defense:

16

Health:

50/53

Ether:

30/36

Gold:

109

Equipment:

Sword of the Warrior of the Light (WP: 14,

Light

Elemental, Meditate becomes hits, longsword), Orc Barbed Shield (SP: 11), Heavy Armor (SP:5, Immune to Fragile, bodywear), Sylvania's Cowl (Permits Animal Talk, Headwear), Blood Oath Medallion (Accessory, Blessed), White Cloak (Max. HP +3, back wear)

Inventory:

•

Sword of the Red Lizard (Longsword, WP:10, fire-elemental), Mourning Star (WP: 10, Inflicts Fragile, Fire-Elemental), Bent Crowbar (WP: 8; 3x damage to Mechanic enemies; hammer), Axe of the Minotaur Champion (WP: 30; user is

Slowed

and

Immune to Hastened

; cannot be equipped at the same time as a shield; axe), Shield of the Red Lizard (SP: 2, Immune to

Blind

)

•

Seal of the Warrior Priestess (At the beginning of the battle the user has a 1/6 chance to be Transcended, a 1/6 chance to be Blessed, and a 1/6 chance to be Inspired, Accessory, Suitable for Paladins), Helm of the Lord of Light (Headwear, Immunity to

Light

and

Jinxed

, Suitable for Knights), Nordic Stomach Guard (SP: 3, Immunity to Ice and Water, Bodywear, Suitable for Barbarians, Regulators, and Beast Warriors), Medal of Valor (Double experience from battles, accessory), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3; Max Ether +5; Immune to

Sealed

; body wear)

•

Topaz

•

No Scrolls

•

Grand Tonics (3), Potions (4), Elixirs (2), Remedies (6), Tiger Balm, Neutralizer, Essence of Sorrow (50% assassination chance on non-immune target), Venom (4), Bone, Milk (restores 15 HP and 15 Ether), Ether Core (2), Grand potion, Ambrosia (4), Smelling Salts, 2x Red Death Blood (If applied to a weapon the Doomed effect is dealt on first blow)

•

Shovel, Bedroll, Magnifying Glass

Purpearl Berthadhiell, the Carnival Crusader (Purpearljellyblob)

*Party Leader*

180 Years Old Female Elven Mage *

Evasive

* *Blessed*

Level 16.5

Power:

30

Health:

24/24

Ether:

20/22

Gold:

198

(Owes Karie 25 gold)

Equipment:

Crimson Arcanon (Wand WP:3), Tunic of Elven Acrobat (+4 HP, Provides Evasion Effect with 1/3 chance to completely avoid rolls of COUNTER, DAMAGE and Free Hits, torso wear), Blood Oath Medallion (Accessory, Blessed)

Inventory:

Thorny Rose (WP: 17,

wood

-elemental, deals the poisoned by 3 effect, mace), Heavy Armour (SP: 5, immune to fragile, suitable for suitable for barbarians, knights, dragoons, skirmishers and regulators), Bedroll, Potion (x3), Grand Tonic (x2), Raw Sushi (Consumable, Restores 5 Health and 5 Ether), Tasty Pretzel (x2) (1/3 chance each of granting lucky, hastened and encouraged-effects upon consumption), Mead, Ambrosia, Bone, Tinyshroom, Level Up Mushroom, Venom (x2), Crocodile Handbag (Max Ether +2; accessory), Remedy (x2), Muddy Bomb (deals blinded and -3 poisoned to all foes), Tiger Balm, Neutralizer

Gemstones:

Ruby (

Fire

), Topaz (

Lightning

)

, Amethyst (

Darkness

),

Opal

,

Diamond

,

Garnet

,

Sapphire

,

Emerald

,

Aquamarine

Scrolls:

Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Weakening, Scroll of Fragile, Scroll of Confusion, Magical Staff (WP: 15;

Water

-,

Darkness

-elemental; staff)

Matthias

the Carnival Crusader (nstickney)

Level 16 Ranger *Blessed* *Hastened*

Power Bonus

: 1

Defense

: 0

Health

: 21/21

Gold

: 126

Equipment

: Peashooter (WP: 2, deals the burning by 2 effect), Blood Oath Medallion (Accessory, Blessed), Quickdraw Quiver (permanent hastened-effect, suitable to Rangers),

Inventory

: Steel Cutlass (Sword, WP:5, suitable for Knights or Rogues), Grimmau's Clothespin (Headwear, prevents the first negative effect inflicted on the wearer during a battle), Winged Sandals (Footwear, protects from

Bound

and

Slowed

effects), Grating Stone, 2x Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Fang Dagger (WP: 4), Ball and Chain (Chain, WP: 4), Staff (WP: 4), Elixir, Magnar’s Unreasonably Cruel Axe (WP: 12, Deals the Bleeding -3 Effect, axe), 2x Red Death Blood (When applied to weapon Doomed is dealt on the first blow), Dapper Hat (wearer has a 1/6 chance of being

Encouraged

at the start of any battle), Remedy

Russel Ruffers & Sir Pigley

Level 21.66 Rogue *Hastened* *Blessed*

Power Bonus: 4

Health: 34/34

Defense: 4

Gold: 303

Equipment: Crabspirator (WP: 16, deals the Blinded effect, darkness elemental, longsword), Pigley (+4 Power, +4 Max Health, Hastened, Not an Artifact), Blood Oath Medallion (Accessory, Blessed), Crab Shell Armor (Body Wear, +4 Max Health, 4 SP)

Inventory: Rebel's Sword (Longsword, WP: 11), Venom, Smelling Salts

Malty

Level 31.5 Minstrel

Health: 50/50

Defense: 1

Ether: 20/34

Gold: 22

Equipment: Vocal Cords (Suitable for Malty, WP: 8, cannot be de-equipped, WP cannot be lowered), Traveller's Cloak (Backwear, SP: 1)

Inventory: Potion x2, Remedy, Tonic, Seven Stars for Seven Lords (Boosts the party's power and health by 7 for round. Costs 7 ether), Lost Lovers (Enamors one foe with one ally for the round. Costs 5 ether)

OoC: I have not forgotten loot distribution, it will come very shortly.

"Holy Hels," says Mac as he gives a low whistle. "Holy Hels," he repeats.

A groan comes from the interior of Valentine's house. The heroes raise their weapons again, but it is no threat. Valentine crawls out, over the splintered door. He is bleeding profusely, coughing up tiny bits of black goo that form miniature chaos beasts, only a few inches high, that crumble under their own weight. His movement is jagged, uneven. His eyes are wide, unable to focus on anything.

"Please-" he gasps. "Please, the visions- they will not stop. They do not stop. All I see is darkness. War, death. It is all I can see. I am all alone." A broken sob racks his body. "Please, heroes, put me out of my misery."

"That poor man. We must get him to a healer."

"Why? Seems an open and shut case to me."

"There must be someone who can help him."

XX shrugs.

"I say we honor his wishes."

Valentine whimpers.

"Please end it."

What will the heroes do?

[Purpearljellyblob]

Purpearl sighs, "It's one of those moral standoffs again, folks. Good versus evil, we can blabber about it on our way. We don't have much time. Malty, getting him a healer is something that comes from your decades of good upbringing, but it isn't what that man wished for. It might be hard for you to accept, but healing him and keeping him alive might be more hurting than you would imagine. This is the way it is, someone has to make the diffucult decision." Purpearl swings multiple fire spells at the house and the area surrounding Valentine so that the house would crumble upon itself, bringing down Valentine and everything that comes with it. "If death isn't what he wished for, he will escape."

Edited October 1, 2014 by Purpearljellyblob

[Chromeknight]

Nerwen, having thought to herself, for what felt like only a moment, on how best to proceed, opens her mouth to speak and finds she is too late. Purpearl had already taken decisive action. She turns away, bowing her head.

[Masked Builder]

"I'm with XX. We should give him what we wants rather than take it from him."

[Zepher]

As the house collapses in on Valentine his eyes grow wide with wonder. He shouts out something-

"You must beware-"

But then the fire consumes him. What his warning is... perhaps if the heroes had given him more time, a less brutal death... but it is past. Purpearl feels her ether drain a little. (-3 ether).

The Loot

-Zoot's Cookie x3 (+1 health or +1 ether or +1 power or +75 gold. Permanent effects).

-Chaotic Whip (WP: 5, Light/Dark Elemental)

-150 Gold

-Ether Core

[Masked Builder]

"I'd be happy with gold or a Cookie." Alexis says, hoping she'll get something good.

[Purpearljellyblob]

"I'd be happy with gold or a Cookie." Alexis says, hoping she'll get something good.

"You can have both, there's enough to go around."

Loot Distribution

Alexis - Zoot's Cookie, 50 gold

Matthias - Zoot's Cookie, 50 gold

Nerwen - Zoot's Cookie, 50 gold

Purpearl - Chaotic Whip, Ether Core

"What is life if we don't live it? Dangers, pleasantries, death. We will wing it as it comes. Let us head to Ve'er."

Turning to Mac, "It is safe now. Whereabouts are you heading towards? You're most welcome to join us if Ve'er is your destination."

[StickFig]

Matthias adds the gold to his bag and absentmindedly munches the cookie, not noticing his power increase as he ponders the Chaomancer's shout. The gnome has no qualms about Berthadhiell's decision to end the threat Valentine posed... but he wonders if an enormous fire was the way to go about it.

[Zepher]

"I'm heading to Ve'er. I'll ride alongside you folks," says Mac as they make their way back to the path.

Malty walks in a daze, his face deathly pale.

"I- I have never seen an execution like that," he whimpers to Nerwen. "I- I- I never got to tell you what the song Seven Stars for Seven Lords is about. Would you like to hear it now?"

The heroes walk towards Ve'er.

[Chromeknight]

Nerwen, speaking to Malty, shook her head sadly.

I have seen such before,p. It is never pleasant. I scan tell you the story of Harnram in exchange for your story.

Nerwen munches on her zoot cookie feeling her etherial energy grow.

Edited October 2, 2014 by Chromeknight

[StickFig]

Overhearing the discussion between Paladin and Bard, Matthias shakes his head silently. Sometimes the King's Justice needed to be served, but it was never pretty. Not for the first time, the ranger wonders how the Free Islands have gotten by for so long without a king.

[Purpearljellyblob]

"I'm heading to Ve'er. I'll ride alongside you folks," says Mac as they make their way back to the path.

"Are you familiar with Ve'er? Do you know if any of the Houses are in control of the town? We need every kind of help or information we can get to get to the person and the place we're looking for."

Malty walks in a daze, his face deathly pale.

"I'm actually giving Valentine a chance to escape by not killing him instantly. This is nothing compared to what the rest of us are capable of doing, especially the other two elves travelling with us. They have probably sent more orc and human lives into the netherworld than I could count the number of years that I am alive. You'll get over it. Not suggesting that you should get onto Augustus Bridge and relive those killings, just so you know Valentine's death is considered merciful."

[Chromeknight]

Nerwen stopped dead and turned around to face the elven Mage.

She spat a long string of elvish which was plainly cursing even to those with no skill in the tongue. The magic inherent in the Sylvania's cowl that she forgot she still wore flawlessly translated her words into crab and pig also, leaving Sir Pigley pale and Ruffers shaken by the language Nerwen had chosen to employ.

Nerwen drew breath and spoke in common.

What kind of stupidity is this? Saying you intended to give him a chance to survive? Do you lack the heart to know your own will or the stones to carry it out? Would you happily have a half-burnt raving chaomancer following, looking for an answer as to why, having pleaded for release from his affliction, you settled for merely charing his flesh? Short of your pyromania cleansing his soul,which would indeed be miraculous, survival is in no way a mercy for him. The two options before us were to attempt to redeem him and heal himfrom the black corruption which had affixed itself to his essence, or to kill him cleanly, giving the taint no further opportunity for corruption.

What you have done, taking neither, but half-arsedly roasting him is not mercy but rank cowardice of the basest sort.

As for bringing up the bridge, my concience is clean on that score, I stood to prevent the kingdoms, flawed as they are, from burning. Make no mistake, if the orcs had crossed, the visions Valentine was speaking of would fade into insignificance beside what they would have unleashed. And know that I remember each Oshuultar and Dryuultar, what happened on the bridge was no light thing to be dismissed as 'those killings'.

Nerwen blinks slowly. Seeing their companions looking shaken, she speaks quietly.

<My apologies for intemperate words. I had not meant to make a public display.>

[StickFig]

Matthias is stunned, not by the Paladin's words, but by the mage's admission that she intended the chaomancer to survive the blaze.

[Purpearljellyblob]

Purpearl continues to walk calmly past Nerwen. This is something she has anticipated having witnessed similar sort of endless philosophical debate between Nerwen and Guts.

"Do not be confused with stupidity and mercy. Everyone deserves a chance of repentance. Valentine is and has already been defeated, there isn't a further need to slay his head off or claw his heart out. What I have done is what he would have wanted, but having seen how minds quickly change in the face of impending death, there is an avenue for him to escape if he ever changes his mind. I am not a creator of Valentine's soul, there is no knowing if he's born good or evil. He may very well be good misled by evil, but no one knows, unless you are the creator of his soul? Perhaps if your light from the stars above shines deeper than my judgement in broad daylight? Unless he stands between Aventine and us, you would be pleased with what I can do, but I am not here to act or behave in a way that is consistent with your centuries of readable knowledge and to be judged by that. Nor do you need to feel obliged to be consistent with my views and actions. So long at the end of the day we save Lord Aventine, our paths will not cross after. If we can focus on making haste to Ve'er, that would be the best for all."

[Chromeknight]

Nerwen shook her head sadly again

The Chaos in Valentine was weakened but not defeated. If it survives, countless innocents will curse your name and bemoan your stupidity.

And if it comes for you, well, as you say, our paths will not cross again, and you will face it alone.

[Purpearljellyblob]

Purpearl continues to walk,

"I understand your unconscious desire to serenade with Guts, but I am not that being that you think you may find in him. If you are learnt, you should realise that this sort of transference is not nutritious to the mind and soul. You should realise this and reflect quietly."

[StickFig]

The gnome starts to roll his eyes, but thinks better of it; he decides to see if he can't keep the party moving. "Ladies, let's just keep moving. Remeber, we have a job to do."

When Berthadhiell isn't looking, he gives Calmcacil a look as if to say that some of them might come back later, after Aventine is safe, to finish the chaos-bringer.

[Purpearljellyblob]

"Yes, we should get our priorities right. The gnome's looking up to you now, perhaps the first thing to be a good role model is to keep cursory words under control."

[Zepher]

"Hey, say what you have to say! I am not so easily offended!" says the trembling Russel.

Malty waits for the elves to stop fighting before talking to Nerwen.

"Seven Star for Seven Lords is a rather sad tale. It goes a little something like this: some goddesses descend to earth and give seven different lords stars. The stars are very powerful, but are most powerful when used together. The Lords grow very powerful with the stars in their possession, but they desire more power. So they start to kill each other off! They all have different characters and what not, but I don't know the exact story behind that - like I said, it is in a language I don't know. Anyway, it ends up that the youngest lord has all the stars, and all the other lords are dead. He attempts to use them all, but too late realizes that each star only responds to each lord. They lords should have worked together, instead of fighting." He shrugs. "It is a simple fairy tale, but a beautiful one none the less. And whoever set it to music did a beautiful job."

The heroes see Ve'er in the distance, growing larger... but before they can arrive, someone calls out to them.

"Horrible heroes! Is that you?" She smiles. "I'm your welcoming party."

[StickFig]

Matthias wonders what it's supposed to mean that he's 'looking up to Nerwen now,' but the strange woman(?) before them distracts him. "Who, or what, are you?"

[Purpearljellyblob]

"Horrible heroes! Is that you?" She smiles. "I'm your welcoming party."

"I don't think we've met before, lady fairy, at least not for me. I am Purpearl and we are from Heroica. Ve'er is a very volatile zone for us, do you mind introducing yourself to avoid any misunderstanding?"

[StickFig]

"Misunderstandings... like us killing her-him-it?" Matthias wonders to the animals.

[Zepher]

"Hello, little terrible triflings. My name is Zelphie. I am a former hero, and current employee of Lord Chauncey."

And the heroes are now able to place the voice - though the glasses make the figure markedly different. She is the winged female who has plagued them for the last few days.

"Before you draw your weapons - and oh, my wonderful warriors, I am sure you will... remember I too was once a "hero" - know that I and I alone am able to lead you to the duel you are to prevent shortly. And without me, you will never find it. And before you arrive at the duel, there's a little errand I would love to have you help me run."

[StickFig]

"Oh yes, you know all about being a hero, and there's no way we'll ever complete our task if we don't do you this one little favor, that's probably not something good..." It is apparent to Ruffers, Pigley, and Calmcacil that the gnome is frustrated, though he's unintelligible to the others.

"Alright, let's hear it: what do you want us to do?"