Heroica RPG - Quest #107: Deeper

[Sandy]

Ellaria watched as the others drank their Mulled Wines, then thought it over. She took out her Scroll of Inspiration and cast a spell on herself for as many times it required for it to be successful.

"This should bring me up to par..."

[Zepher]

"Seems like we made the right friends," says Deborah with a grin as she drinks her Mulled Wine. "Cheers, Hybros. I'm bringing you to as many bars as possible, see what happens."

[JimBee]

"Ellaria, all you have to do is change your mind and ask, eheh..."

Hybros shrugs. "The only other place we could drink for free is Heroica Hall. The people of Zylstra and I go back, heh. I once helped Wally with a delivery, and came down here after. Since then I might have helped protect them... eheh. They are a good people."

[Sandy]

"Ellaria, all you have to do is change your mind and ask, eheh..."

"Ah, no drinks for me, Hybros", Ellaria declined with a smile. "I don't have the head for them..."

[CMP]

"Seems like we made the right friends," says Deborah with a grin as she drinks her Mulled Wine. "Cheers, Hybros. I'm bringing you to as many bars as possible, see what happens."

"Human bars ain't nearly as friendly as dwarven ones, believe me lass."

"Ah, no drinks for me, Hybros", Ellaria declined with a smile. "I don't have the head for them..."

"Heh. Still easy to forget not everyone's a drinker, even after all the years I've spent out of Nathuz. Nothing to drink down there but ale and beer."

He turned to Posco. "Which is that we are digging. Searching for lost secrets."

The aging halfling snorted.

"Hmph. How much more digging do you need to do to figure out there's nothing below us but damnation? You help save us all, and now you're calling in a favor to put us all at risk again?" He coughed, glancing at the rest of the party. "In case you weren't in the know, we're sitting on top of a city full of dead elves and all manner of dark creatures. They nearly wiped out our entire town before. Who the hell gives Heroica the right to endanger the world like that?"

[JimBee]

"Ah, no drinks for me, Hybros", Ellaria declined with a smile. "I don't have the head for them..."

Hybros shrugs. "Suit yourself." He chases down the Mulled Wine with a Mead.

The aging halfling snorted.

"Hmph. How much more digging do you need to do to figure out there's nothing below us but damnation? You help save us all, and now you're calling in a favor to put us all at risk again?" He coughed, glancing at the rest of the party. "In case you weren't in the know, we're sitting on top of a city full of dead elves and all manner of dark creatures. They nearly wiped out our entire town before. Who the hell gives Heroica the right to endanger the world like that?"

"It was not us who started that, and those creatures came from U'Reeka, not anything that was down there already. And we have clearly proven ourselves capable of handling any threat. Who gives the Blue Assassins the right to endanger the lives of their targets and anyone around them? Who has the right to prevent this expedition and what we could gain from it? The world is filled with people who wish to impose authority; in the end it is only our own choices that prevail."

[Pandora]

"Thank you, gentlemen." Nyx nods and grins, accepting the Mulled Wine and starting to drink it. "I'm sorry you feel we might be stirring up trouble, but a man I believe to be exceptionally intelligent and wise has asked us to undertake this. And who knows whether the things you're concerned about below us will find their own way out in due course? Perhaps it's better to have a few of us around, when it does? If nothing else, you guys can run away while we're being beaten up." Nyx finishes with a wink to make it clear she's joking.

[CMP]

"It was not us who started that, and those creatures came from U'Reeka, not anything that was down there already. And we have clearly proven ourselves capable of handling any threat. Who gives the Blue Assassins the right to endanger the lives of their targets and anyone around them? Who has the right to prevent this expedition and what we could gain from it? The world is filled with people who wish to impose authority; in the end it is only our own choices that prevail."

"I didn't say you started that mess, but what you're doing now is risking just the same happening again. The Blue Assassins didn't give two shits who they killed, not all organizations are as 'moral' as yours. But I was under the impression you call yourselves heroes because you sought to prevent disaster" Posco narrowed his eyes. "Are you risking the lives of everyone here to fulfill your curiosity, or are you looking for something?"

"Thank you, gentlemen." Nyx nods and grins, accepting the Mulled Wine and starting to drink it. "I'm sorry you feel we might be stirring up trouble, but a man I believe to be exceptionally intelligent and wise has asked us to undertake this. And who knows whether the things you're concerned about below us will find their own way out in due course? Perhaps it's better to have a few of us around, when it does? If nothing else, you guys can run away while we're being beaten up." Nyx finishes with a wink to make it clear she's joking.

"Digging a hole down there will sure as hell expedite things. The way I hear it the mess we got into last time happened because we accidentally unearthed a damn hole in the wall. Not getting too nosy is a lesson we've learned. Evidently Heroica hasn't. I'm one hundred eleven and spent the vast majority of that time as a Blue Assassin; wisdom and intelligence doesn't mean crap if you have the wrong motives."

Posco gripped his walking stick tightly. Even age couldn't help mask his obvious contempt for the situation. Melvin scratched his beard.

"Aheh, Posco, maybe we should all just relax a bit, I'm sure the heroes know what they're doing..."

Luckily, Moke walked in.

"Ah, good, you're all still here. The Baron will be waiting for us at the dig site. I can take you there now, if you're-..." The gnome blinked at Posco's furious expression, looking between him and the heroes rapidly and nervously. "...um, is everything here alright?"

Posco looked sideways at Moke.

"Fine. Just...bloody fine. I want to see this damn dig site for myself. If Zylstra's putting up with the heroes' curiosity, surely the heroes can put up with mine."

The halfling crossed his arms and looked over at the heroes, as if expecting a hostile reaction.

[JimBee]

"I didn't say you started that mess, but what you're doing now is risking just the same happening again. The Blue Assassins didn't give two shits who they killed, not all organizations are as 'moral' as yours. But I was under the impression you call yourselves heroes because you sought to prevent disaster" Posco narrowed his eyes. "Are you risking the lives of everyone here to fulfill your curiosity, or are you looking for something?"

"Yes, we are looking for something. Something very important. So believe me when I say we will not fail."

"Fine. Just...bloody fine. I want to see this damn dig site for myself. If Zylstra's putting up with the heroes' curiosity, surely the heroes can put up with mine."

The halfling crossed his arms and looked over at the heroes, as if expecting a hostile reaction.

"Fine. But no ultimatums or death threats this time. U'Reeka may have been blinded, but Daneeka has his mind in the right place. And I promise, if you cross him, I will kill you."

[Zepher]

"Hasn't anyone ever told him the best defense is a good offense?"

"Maybe they don't have that lovely phrase way down here. You had dead Moon Elves here? Sounds fascinating. I'm a bit of a nut for ancient societies myself."

[Sandy]

Ellaria stood up as Moke arrived. "I'm interested to see what the engine will be used for, so I'm all ready to go to the digging site."

[JimBee]

"Maybe they don't have that lovely phrase way down here. You had dead Moon Elves here? Sounds fascinating. I'm a bit of a nut for ancient societies myself."

"Oh? And which ancient societies are you familiar with? Eheh..."

[Pandora]

"I'm ready to go too. Unless there's something else we should be doing? Or you have more booze?"

[CMP]

"Fine. But no ultimatums or death threats this time. U'Reeka may have been blinded, but Daneeka has his mind in the right place. And I promise, if you cross him, I will kill you."

"I'll wait to see what kind of monsters end up pouring out of the earth before crossing anyone. Consider it my way of being thankful for your help."

"Maybe they don't have that lovely phrase way down here. You had dead Moon Elves here? Sounds fascinating. I'm a bit of a nut for ancient societies myself."

"Heh, don't get too curious while you're down there."

"Aye. I had firsthand experience with those dead elves. It's not worth whatever ye're looking for, but I'll defer to the heroes on that."

Ellaria stood up as Moke arrived. "I'm interested to see what the engine will be used for, so I'm all ready to go to the digging site."

"I'm ready to go too. Unless there's something else we should be doing? Or you have more booze?"

"Always got more booze milady."

"Indeed, but, er, we really should be going. The Baron's probably already at the dig site."

Moke tipped his hat to Vinum and headed for the door. Posco got off his barstool, his bones creaking audibly as he grabbed his stick and hobbled out after him.

"Good luck to ye heroes! If you find anything nasty down there again...well, make sure to kill it real good before it gets up here, eh?" Melvin laughed nervously as the party filed out after Moke and Posco.

The gnome led the party out of the well-lit cistern Zylstra was based in. They zigzagged through some additional sewers, these also dry and clearly old. Ancient, even, compared to the rest of the sewers. At last, they found the end of their current tunnel, and came upon a strange sight.

An enormous, sleek drilling machine hovered over the ground, but was motionless for the time being. A strange, wooden construct sat between it and a control console. Daneeka stood at the controls, but didn't seem to be working with them. He instead tilted his head towards the three figures in front of the wooden device, clearly intending for the heroes to take care of whatever issue sat in wait for them. Moke blinked.

"I-Is that the Baron? Oh dear.."

The three figures (and the device) came into detail as the heroes moved closer.

"-case I haven't been clear, being an obstacle to the Blue Assassins has proven to be quite unhealthy."

The turbaned figure held a sword casually to the throat of an angry-looking gnome in a glorious hat.

"In case I've been unclear, disrupting my town has proven to be a mistake few get the chance to repeat. Take your pet and leave. Our affairs are none of your concern."

"That's where you're incorrect, my dear gnome." The figure tilted its head to the party. Even under his facemask, the heroes could see a smile stretch across his face. "Oh, here we are. For so long spent avoiding us Padfoot, you seem eager to greet us."

The old halfling's weathered face paled, but his expression only got more furious.

"Alzar."

"You remember me. Good. Then you'll remember the Code we swear by. It's one simple rule, my old friend: get the job done."

The assassin looked away briefly, towards the heroes.

"Excuse me. I should've expected the aging rat would surround himself with mercenaries. Luckily we're a tad more flexible than some other assassins. How much is it going to take for you to leave the old man to us?"

[JimBee]

"Looks like you owed another marker, Posco. The Blue Assassins came to collect, heheh... Is this what you were expecting down here?"

"Excuse me. I should've expected the aging rat would surround himself with mercenaries. Luckily we're a tad more flexible than some other assassins. How much is it going to take for you to leave the old man to us?"

"You can let the Baron go, for starters." Hybros responded coolly. "He is not involved in this. We can talk about Posco then." He glared at the man intimidatingly.

[CMP]

"Looks like you owed another marker, Posco. The Blue Assassins came to collect, heheh... Is this what you were expecting down here?"

"...No. I didn't. I should've been...." The halfling grit his teeth, but could't seem to find any more words.

"You can let the Baron go, for starters." Hybros responded coolly. "He is not involved in this. We can talk about Posco then." He glared at the man intimidatingly.

Alzar shrugged, and removed his sword from the Baron's collar.

"Good to see you're willing to be reasonable. I'm not interested in anything but my target. Today, that's old Posco here."

[JimBee]

Hybros breathed a sigh of relief at the release of the Baron. He stepped in front of him to protect him. "Now who is the one putting this city in danger, Posco?" He wasn't serious, but eyed the ex-Blue Assassin suspiciously all the same. "Your time has come, it seems. Why should we not let these men take you? If we help you fight them off, then the Blue Assassins will keep threatening this city until you are caught. You claim to keep Zylsta's safety a priority, what length will you go to to hold to that?"

He looked to his companions for backup.

[Zepher]

"They threatened an innocent man. What more information do we need?"

"But you must think long term, Deborah. Hybros is right: surely if they are here threatening Posco, they will return if defeated. The Blue Assassins are not a small organization."

"Blah blah blah. Flap your lips somewhere else, Heweyrt."

"I'm not saying I love the Blue Assassins, and maybe these ones here deserve to die, it's just something to consider," says Heweyrt with a shrug. "Never hurts to point out a good point."

"We cannot start digging with this commotion going on." Daneeka stands behind the heroes, his eyes masked as always by his goggles. "We must put an end to it swiftly, one way or another."

"STATEMENT: I have the ability to scan these Blue Assassins and tell you what we are up against. QUERY: Why do you not just give them what they want? STATEMENT: This Posco Padfoot is not related to our mission. STATEMENT: Our eventually success or failure is not dependent upon his fate ether way. QUERY: Why does he matter to us?"

[Sandy]

Ellaria pouts her lips. "So these assassins are here for the halfling, then? You seem to know this Posco-fellow, Hybros. Is he someone worth protecting?"

She then looks at Posco apologetically. "Not that I want to see you dead or anything. I just don't see why we have to get involved in the matter. I'm sorry."

[Pandora]

Nyx casually moves next to Hybros.

"Ellaria has a point. We have things to do, and surely more assassins will still be after you even if we stop the ones in front of us, as Hybros says. I'm always up for a good fight, but right now this just seems a bit of a distraction. So what do you have to say, Posco? Or for that matter, do you have anything to say, assassin?"

[CMP]

Hybros breathed a sigh of relief at the release of the Baron. He stepped in front of him to protect him. "Now who is the one putting this city in danger, Posco?" He wasn't serious, but eyed the ex-Blue Assassin suspiciously all the same. "Your time has come, it seems. Why should we not let these men take you? If we help you fight them off, then the Blue Assassins will keep threatening this city until you are caught. You claim to keep Zylsta's safety a priority, what length will you go to to hold to that?"

Posco looked from Hybros to the Blue Assassins and back again without answering.

She then looks at Posco apologetically. "Not that I want to see you dead or anything. I just don't see why we have to get involved in the matter. I'm sorry."

"...Death would be too easy for defying the Blue Assassins. But I won't see this town suffer just to let me die in peace."'

"Ellaria has a point. We have things to do, and surely more assassins will still be after you even if we stop the ones in front of us, as Hybros says. I'm always up for a good fight, but right now this just seems a bit of a distraction. So what do you have to say, Posco? Or for that matter, do you have anything to say, assassin?"

"Don't know. What do you want to me to say? It sounds like you're not even interested in the old bastard here. If that's the case, 100 gold to each of you for the halfling. He spent nearly a century working for the Blue Assassins, and was damn good at it. Never hesitated to take down his target. But once, he failed. And like everyone else, failure of a contract means termination. He's managed to evade us for a decade or so now. Took quite a while to find him. So what say I fatten your wallets and stop distracting you, hmm?"

The gnome, who appeared to be the Baron of Zylstra, scoffed.

"Hmph. It sounds as though your 'organization' lacks accountability. Perhaps training you men better would lead to less failed jobs."

The assassin, Alzar, stared for a moment.

"You're defending this ex-assassin who's putting your entire town at risk? Even in the event you best us, the man in red is quite right, our group will not stop hunting this little rat down. Cooperate, and we have no reason to disrupt this place any further."

"We take care of our own. Heroes, I demand you put these assassins down at once."

"Idiot. Kill us I can't promise the next assassins that find this town will be as reasonable. And they will find this town."

Edited August 25, 2014 by CallMePie

[JimBee]

Ellaria pouts her lips. "So these assassins are here for the halfling, then? You seem to know this Posco-fellow, Hybros. Is he someone worth protecting?"

"He is not worth protecting if it means to put the town in danger."

"We take care of our own. Heroes, I demand you put these assassins down at once."

"Idiot. Kill us I can't promise the next assassins that find this town will be as reasonable. And they will find this town."

Hybros looked conflicted. "I would easily hand Posco over if it meant the safety of Zylstra." Hybros handed the engine to Daneeka to equip the Baron's Pauldrons, so as to gain a more commanding position on the issue. "Be reasonable, Baron. If Zylstra really takes care of its own, then Posco will go without a fight. Otherwise, like this assassin said, there will be more trouble. We can not always be here to protect Zylstra, as much as I would like to. We need to eliminate the problem for good, here and now."

He signaled for the minoid to do the scan, just in case.

[Pandora]

Nyx shoots a fierce look at the man in the big hat.

"You demand?? Are you going to stamp your little foot as well?" Nyx holds back from launching a verbal assault, but her displeasure is evident

"Hybros, you know more about this mess than any of us. I will do as you ask. Because I know you will actually ask."

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall swapped his armors while assessing the growing mass of small persons. "Ya heard the man, Mr. Baron, just stoppin' these gentlemen ain't going to solve yer problem. If Posco here had an agreement, it's his job to fulfill it."

[Sandy]

"It is a cruel world we live in", Ellaria sighs, dismayed by the sudden turn of events. "Baron, please think of the citizens of this... quaint little town of yours. Is this man really worth putting them all into risk? From what I gathered, you don't look like warriors around here, and Heroica cannot always be looking after your backs, as much as we'd like to."

She again glanced at Posco. "Sorry, Mister Posco, this is still nothing personal, but I'm in favor of letting these men take you."