This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Thea, having blinked away the flurry of motion that was the previous fight, now walks along the others. She's quite quiet now, looking over at the rest of the crew with eyes slightly wider than before, the even having awoken a newfound respect for her mates. That, was seriously messed up. But they killed it so quickly.... Once in the laboratory, Thea's attention is immediately drawn to the purple treacle. Her interest sparked, she steps closer to discern whether it is, indeed, the same substance that had been very much alive and attacking the group earlier.
Herrana's blade carves through the creature as it feebly attempts to jettison its way from the cave! With a defeated, gurgling warble, the creature struggles to flail its muscles through the air before realizing half of its body has been bisected away. The eight eyes bulge as it loses the ability to fly and falls down into the chasm - for good.
The darkness fades from your eyes as the creature dies. Taking a moment to blink and adjust your senses to the minor amount of light filtering through the cave, the party manages to fumble their way across the small ridge providing access to Area A4 at long last!
Erbert quits drawing the tentacled creature and slaps his journal shut. As they walk up to A4, he sees the laboratory and his eyes go wide. With great difficulty he resists the urge to just walk right up to it. He looks for any sign of movement or the owner of said laboratory.
Perception : 15
I'm going to have to thank 'The Master' for those blindfolded training sessions! Herrena thought to herself as she held her ground for an extra moment, making sure the thing was truly dead and gone. Then seeing Erbert sketching something within his book, she decided to hold her position a little bit longer just in case he was taking a sketch of her after delivering the final blow. She made a mental note to remember ask Erbert about the sketch later.
When the group approached the lab, she looked at the set-up with interest (though she had no idea what any of it was for). Letting the others who seemed more qualified handle the lab area, she decided to walk over to the door and see if there were more slime trails or other things of note in it's general vicinity.
Something writhes inside me. Deep in my gut. In the pit of my stomach. Like an organism - growing, feeding off of my chemistry. Sometimes I feel sick. Sometimes I feel dizzy. But there is something there. My body is resisting it. Some nights I cannot sleep. I am not in pain, but I am aware of something alien deep in my core.
I am new to this land. People say they found me, alone, naked, covered in black tar, like lava that has hardened. I look at myself, and those around me, and I do not match. People have taken care of me and they act as if I am not from here. They tell me the story of how I was found. They tell me they helped me, nursed me back to health, but I remember nothing before then. I remember nothing.
I do not look like them. I am tall, and pale - as if raised from ice. It is warm here. At times, I am uncomfortable, as if not used to hot weather. I am told I am pretty. I look at myself, I look like a warrior princess. Lately, I have dreams. I have dreams about events that involve me, but I don't remember. Like, something is suppressing them. At times I am afraid, and it is unlike me. I am brave, gentle, kind, and sweet. I speak softly, and calmly, I do not yell. I have knowledge of things that I don't remember how I learned them, like how to fight, and my curiosity of all things.
Something inside me is changing me. I look at my hands and squeeze, my arm muscles swell and tense.
Erbert, there are no signs of activity in the illuminated laboratory aside from the fluttering of fireflies in makeshift lamps and the bubbling of the cauldron lying on the central burner with a purple, magical flame flickering to heat the mixture.
Thea and Erbert, meanwhile, step forwards over the carved stone and peer closer into the noxious mixture brewing. With those rolls, Thea and Erbert, it is easily determined whatever mixture is cooking inside is the beginning stages of creating a sentient slime. Necessary is a spark of dark magic to finalize the process. Thea, you find a manuscript pinned to the wooden counter nearby with a dagger whittled from bone - it speaks of an Ochori recipe for creating such mixtures. You also find a collection of gnarled masks hanging in the corner of the room. DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check = ???
Herrana steps forwards towards the small door flanked by another two fireflight lights. The wooden door doesn't have a lock, strangely enough - whoever here apparently either couldn't afford or didn't know how to install a lock in this makeshift place. Even with a 6, though, it is clear the trail of slime ends at the laboratory. Whoever lives here apparently doesn't like slimes enough to have them track into their room.
Katrin stand vigilant by the entrance to the area. Normally, she thinks, this should peak my curiosity, but it doesn't now, and I don't know why. I let the more intelligent people focus on the task.
"I don't know if anyone's in there..." Herrera began quietly after stepping away from the door and heading back towards the others at the lab, "...but I don't think there'll be any slimes in there which makes sense. I wouldn't be able to sleep with those things near me either. Find anything useful here or should we see if the 'head-of-the-house' is in?" She added before then miming kicking the door down with a grin.
Iver brandishes his scimitars in response to Herrera. "That sounds like a good idea. I'm ready when you are." He walks across the passage and stands next to the door, ready to open it and charge in on anyone's mark.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
While Erbert continues to read the manuscript, Thea instead elects to check out the gnarled masks hanging in the corner of the room. Around a half-dozen strong, the first thing Thea notices is they appear to be made for similar sizes; they seem tailored to fit one person in particular. Each mask is carved in an expression twisted with agonizing pain; expertly carved of some dark wood, they are smoothly polished and strangely lack any method of attaching to one's face. Etched into the wooden masks are engraved runes and sigils - with that Arcana check, you can tell the marks are a mixture of conjuration and evocation - particularly spells which specialize in acid and poison damage in particular. Bluish-gray moss gathers in the crooks of each mask. Grey fuzz and mold gathers around the lips and curls down the chins of each mask like a strange, hideous beard. This mask is of Ochori make - and these are Soulmasks.
Here's an additional bit of lore that everyone knows: SOULMASKS: Each individual tribe (excluding the Imperium) crafts Soulmasks. The method of obtaining one is difficult and varies between each tribe. Each mask is crafted individually by special craftsmen and craftswomen in each tribe - furthermore, each one is crafted to fit a certain person. Aside from the Torken, each Soulmask represents a person's prowess in magic. While rare, most spellcasters of any renown own one. The more powerful a spellcaster, the more ornate and beautiful the mask. While attuned to the person they are created for, Soulmasks grant enhancements to magical abilities invoked by the process with which they were created. When someone wearing a Soulmask dies, their soul is trapped inside the said Soulmask - and at that point the Soulmask can be attuned to anyone who holds it, meaning Soulmasks of especially powerful magicians are some of the most highly-valued (and highly sought-after by the nefarious kind of people) possessions in The Wilderness. A ritual can be performed on Soulmasks containing a soul to rise the said soul as a specter; a magically-enhanced Ghost bound by the Soulmask.
However - the party's musings are abruptly cut short as the poisonous slime bubbling in the cauldron suddenly lurches upwards and strikes down. More concerning, though; the door creaks open as a wooden blowgun peeks around the corner and with a soft *thwump*, two needle-like arrows tipped with a poison rockets towards Iver and Herrena.
The Ochori Blowgunner is a wiry, small Halfling wearing one such masks. Immediately after firing a needle into Iver, it slams the door shut and scurries away to leave the party to deal with the Purple Slime. Attack (Iver): 17 Damage: 1. On a hit, the target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, they are poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned in this way, they are additionally paralyzed. The target may make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a success, this effect ends.
Attack (Herrena): Attack: 15 Damage: 1. On a hit, the target must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or be affected by the conditions of the confusion spell. The target may make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a success, this effect ends.
Iver feels a horrible sickness course through his veins while Herrena feels a sedating, madness-inducing poison affect her mind!
Katrin startled. First the slime, then the halfling. She raised her mighty axe, her tall form poised for combat, her muscular form at the ready - and took only a moment to decide whom to attack as she painted her cheekbones with purple ash. She picked the slime.
Herrena slapped at spot where the dart had struck her as if she were trying to kill a large bug. Suddenly, her mind became cloudy as she watch the Halfling scamper away. The moment was fleeting though, and as she drew her swords, she called out the the assassin, "Where do you think you're going!!"
Herrena WIS Save: 12!! (Cutting it too close lol!)
Thea spins around on the at the sudden eruption of noise around her. She'd been focussing on the masks quite heavily, causing the commotion to catch her off guard. She feels her checks blush as if caught in the act of something, and then, adrenalin begins to pulse through her body. Thea vividly shakes her head to clear it and assumes her combat stance
CUTTING IT CLOSE OchoriBlowgunner22(AC14/HP22), Katrin18, Nevaragain18, Thea16, Herrena15, Sherbert9, Iver7, PurpleSlime9(AC8/HP23)
The Ochori Blowgunner was clearly prepared for an ambush. The Halfling rapidly scurries beyond the doorway and slams the door shut before another two hollow *THUNK* sounds emit from the door - miniscule slits in the wooden doorframe (sorry Herrana, with that Investigation roll you didn't see 'em) allow for the Ochori Blowgunner to continue firing poisoned needles towards the party! This time a volley soars in the direction of Katrin and Erbert! A needle-like prick pales in comparison to the startlingly potent poisons coursing through your veins shortly afterwards...
A needle of searing pain flies towards Katrin! Attack: 18 Damage: 1. If this attack hits, the target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be subjected to crippling pain. While the target is affected by crippling pain, any speed it has can be no higher than 10 feet. The target also has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws, other than Constitution saving throws. Finally, if the target tries to cast a spell, it must first succeed on a Constitution saving throw, or the casting fails and the spell is wasted. A target suffering this pain can make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a successful save, the pain ends.
A green-tipped dart full of green liquid flies directly towards Erbert's neck! Attack: 19 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.. If hit this attack hits, the target must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or fall under the effects of a poison which slows movement and dulls actions - akin to the Slow spell. You may make another Wisdom saving throw at the end of each turn. On a success, the effect ends.
CUTTING IT CLOSE OchoriBlowgunner22(AC19/HP22)(3/4 COVER), Katrin18, Nevaragain18, Thea16, Herrena15, Sherbert9, Iver7, PurpleSlime9(AC8/HP23)
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Thea, having blinked away the flurry of motion that was the previous fight, now walks along the others. She's quite quiet now, looking over at the rest of the crew with eyes slightly wider than before, the even having awoken a newfound respect for her mates. That, was seriously messed up. But they killed it so quickly.... Once in the laboratory, Thea's attention is immediately drawn to the purple treacle. Her interest sparked, she steps closer to discern whether it is, indeed, the same substance that had been very much alive and attacking the group earlier.
Investigation: 7
Arcana: 18
(Whichever might apply more)
As everyone moves closer, Erbert’s excitement bubbles over and he is interested in what is cooking. He tries to determine what is being made.
Arcana - 24
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
I'm going to have to thank 'The Master' for those blindfolded training sessions! Herrena thought to herself as she held her ground for an extra moment, making sure the thing was truly dead and gone. Then seeing Erbert sketching something within his book, she decided to hold her position a little bit longer just in case he was taking a sketch of her after delivering the final blow. She made a mental note to remember ask Erbert about the sketch later.
When the group approached the lab, she looked at the set-up with interest (though she had no idea what any of it was for). Letting the others who seemed more qualified handle the lab area, she decided to walk over to the door and see if there were more slime trails or other things of note in it's general vicinity.
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
Something writhes inside me. Deep in my gut. In the pit of my stomach. Like an organism - growing, feeding off of my chemistry. Sometimes I feel sick. Sometimes I feel dizzy. But there is something there. My body is resisting it. Some nights I cannot sleep. I am not in pain, but I am aware of something alien deep in my core.
I am new to this land. People say they found me, alone, naked, covered in black tar, like lava that has hardened. I look at myself, and those around me, and I do not match. People have taken care of me and they act as if I am not from here. They tell me the story of how I was found. They tell me they helped me, nursed me back to health, but I remember nothing before then. I remember nothing.
I do not look like them. I am tall, and pale - as if raised from ice. It is warm here. At times, I am uncomfortable, as if not used to hot weather. I am told I am pretty. I look at myself, I look like a warrior princess. Lately, I have dreams. I have dreams about events that involve me, but I don't remember. Like, something is suppressing them. At times I am afraid, and it is unlike me. I am brave, gentle, kind, and sweet. I speak softly, and calmly, I do not yell. I have knowledge of things that I don't remember how I learned them, like how to fight, and my curiosity of all things.
Something inside me is changing me. I look at my hands and squeeze, my arm muscles swell and tense.
What is happening to me.
I refocus on the team and look around, but I am more guarding them. My new friends.
Erbert, there are no signs of activity in the illuminated laboratory aside from the fluttering of fireflies in makeshift lamps and the bubbling of the cauldron lying on the central burner with a purple, magical flame flickering to heat the mixture.
Thea and Erbert, meanwhile, step forwards over the carved stone and peer closer into the noxious mixture brewing. With those rolls, Thea and Erbert, it is easily determined whatever mixture is cooking inside is the beginning stages of creating a sentient slime. Necessary is a spark of dark magic to finalize the process. Thea, you find a manuscript pinned to the wooden counter nearby with a dagger whittled from bone - it speaks of an Ochori recipe for creating such mixtures. You also find a collection of gnarled masks hanging in the corner of the room. DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check = ???
Herrana steps forwards towards the small door flanked by another two fireflight lights. The wooden door doesn't have a lock, strangely enough - whoever here apparently either couldn't afford or didn't know how to install a lock in this makeshift place. Even with a 6, though, it is clear the trail of slime ends at the laboratory. Whoever lives here apparently doesn't like slimes enough to have them track into their room.
Katrin stand vigilant by the entrance to the area. Normally, she thinks, this should peak my curiosity, but it doesn't now, and I don't know why. I let the more intelligent people focus on the task.
(Going to see what the investigation yields before making a more detailed post)
Investigation: 23
Erbert examines the masks and the manuscript, reading it.
Investigation : 14
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
(Mobile)
"I don't know if anyone's in there..." Herrera began quietly after stepping away from the door and heading back towards the others at the lab, "...but I don't think there'll be any slimes in there which makes sense. I wouldn't be able to sleep with those things near me either. Find anything useful here or should we see if the 'head-of-the-house' is in?" She added before then miming kicking the door down with a grin.
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
Iver brandishes his scimitars in response to Herrera. "That sounds like a good idea. I'm ready when you are." He walks across the passage and stands next to the door, ready to open it and charge in on anyone's mark.
Varielky
While Erbert continues to read the manuscript, Thea instead elects to check out the gnarled masks hanging in the corner of the room. Around a half-dozen strong, the first thing Thea notices is they appear to be made for similar sizes; they seem tailored to fit one person in particular. Each mask is carved in an expression twisted with agonizing pain; expertly carved of some dark wood, they are smoothly polished and strangely lack any method of attaching to one's face. Etched into the wooden masks are engraved runes and sigils - with that Arcana check, you can tell the marks are a mixture of conjuration and evocation - particularly spells which specialize in acid and poison damage in particular. Bluish-gray moss gathers in the crooks of each mask. Grey fuzz and mold gathers around the lips and curls down the chins of each mask like a strange, hideous beard. This mask is of Ochori make - and these are Soulmasks.
Here's an additional bit of lore that everyone knows:
SOULMASKS: Each individual tribe (excluding the Imperium) crafts Soulmasks. The method of obtaining one is difficult and varies between each tribe. Each mask is crafted individually by special craftsmen and craftswomen in each tribe - furthermore, each one is crafted to fit a certain person. Aside from the Torken, each Soulmask represents a person's prowess in magic. While rare, most spellcasters of any renown own one. The more powerful a spellcaster, the more ornate and beautiful the mask. While attuned to the person they are created for, Soulmasks grant enhancements to magical abilities invoked by the process with which they were created. When someone wearing a Soulmask dies, their soul is trapped inside the said Soulmask - and at that point the Soulmask can be attuned to anyone who holds it, meaning Soulmasks of especially powerful magicians are some of the most highly-valued (and highly sought-after by the nefarious kind of people) possessions in The Wilderness. A ritual can be performed on Soulmasks containing a soul to rise the said soul as a specter; a magically-enhanced Ghost bound by the Soulmask.
However - the party's musings are abruptly cut short as the poisonous slime bubbling in the cauldron suddenly lurches upwards and strikes down. More concerning, though; the door creaks open as a wooden blowgun peeks around the corner and with a soft *thwump*, two needle-like arrows tipped with a poison rockets towards Iver and Herrena.
Initiative time!
Purple Slime - 5
Ochori Blowgunner - 22
The Ochori Blowgunner is a wiry, small Halfling wearing one such masks. Immediately after firing a needle into Iver, it slams the door shut and scurries away to leave the party to deal with the Purple Slime.
Attack (Iver): 17 Damage: 1. On a hit, the target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, they are poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned in this way, they are additionally paralyzed. The target may make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a success, this effect ends.
Attack (Herrena): Attack: 15 Damage: 1. On a hit, the target must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or be affected by the conditions of the confusion spell. The target may make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a success, this effect ends.
Iver feels a horrible sickness course through his veins while Herrena feels a sedating, madness-inducing poison affect her mind!
Con save: 11.
Initiative: 7.
Varielky
Katrin startled. First the slime, then the halfling. She raised her mighty axe, her tall form poised for combat, her muscular form at the ready - and took only a moment to decide whom to attack as she painted her cheekbones with purple ash. She picked the slime.
Katrinitiative: 18
Erbert stuffs the manuscript in his sack and backs away, readying the fire in his hand.
Erbitiative : 9
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Herrena slapped at spot where the dart had struck her as if she were trying to kill a large bug. Suddenly, her mind became cloudy as she watch the Halfling scamper away. The moment was fleeting though, and as she drew her swords, she called out the the assassin, "Where do you think you're going!!"
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
CUTTING IT CLOSE
OchoriBlowgunner22, Katrin18, Herrena15, Erbert9, Iver7, MurderFlan9
Theanitiative: 16
Thea spins around on the at the sudden eruption of noise around her. She'd been focussing on the masks quite heavily, causing the commotion to catch her off guard. She feels her checks blush as if caught in the act of something, and then, adrenalin begins to pulse through her body. Thea vividly shakes her head to clear it and assumes her combat stance
Nevara init: 6
CUTTING IT CLOSE
OchoriBlowgunner22(AC14/HP22), Katrin18, Nevaragain18, Thea16, Herrena15, Sherbert9, Iver7, PurpleSlime9(AC8/HP23)
The Ochori Blowgunner was clearly prepared for an ambush. The Halfling rapidly scurries beyond the doorway and slams the door shut before another two hollow *THUNK* sounds emit from the door - miniscule slits in the wooden doorframe (sorry Herrana, with that Investigation roll you didn't see 'em) allow for the Ochori Blowgunner to continue firing poisoned needles towards the party! This time a volley soars in the direction of Katrin and Erbert! A needle-like prick pales in comparison to the startlingly potent poisons coursing through your veins shortly afterwards...
A needle of searing pain flies towards Katrin! Attack: 18 Damage: 1. If this attack hits, the target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be subjected to crippling pain. While the target is affected by crippling pain, any speed it has can be no higher than 10 feet. The target also has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws, other than Constitution saving throws. Finally, if the target tries to cast a spell, it must first succeed on a Constitution saving throw, or the casting fails and the spell is wasted. A target suffering this pain can make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a successful save, the pain ends.
A green-tipped dart full of green liquid flies directly towards Erbert's neck! Attack: 19 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.. If hit this attack hits, the target must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or fall under the effects of a poison which slows movement and dulls actions - akin to the Slow spell. You may make another Wisdom saving throw at the end of each turn. On a success, the effect ends.
CUTTING IT CLOSE
OchoriBlowgunner22(AC19/HP22)(3/4 COVER), Katrin18, Nevaragain18, Thea16, Herrena15, Sherbert9, Iver7, PurpleSlime9(AC8/HP23)