As a scholar and researcher, Elaric has encountered many strange things in books and accounts, if not always in person. He strains his mind, trying to think of any cases of death in which vermin were explicitly noted as being absent.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Balasar also thinks hard, trying to recall whether he was ever taught of a foe that could inflict such a fate or whether he is aware of any substance that would be related to the effects the group has observed.
(History check for the recall, medicine check for the substance identification)
Elaric is baffled, not being able to recall a similar case from his researches. It appears that the flesh has been reduced to a state where it not only dies and decays, but is actually repellent to any living thing, even the vermin and scavengers that would normally feed on dead organic material. Nevertheless, there appears to be no arcane or extra-planar influence. Could the effect be alchemical?
Turning toward them, Elaric addresses the old gravediggers, "Good sirs, I know you are not children, who dig in the dirt for fun, but working professionals. I would like to hire you for a short and, I hope, easy task: I have great need of a beetle, a worm, or whatever small creature may often be found in a grave. In fact, such a creature - delivered to me, alive and well, within the next minute - would be worth its weight in gold. I offer a gold piece to the first man who brings me a live grave-dwelling insect or worm."
Turning toward them, Elaric addresses the old gravediggers, "Good sirs, I know you are not children, who dig in the dirt for fun, but working professionals. I would like to hire you for a short and, I hope, easy task: I have great need of a beetle, a worm, or whatever small creature may often be found in a grave. In fact, such a creature - delivered to me, alive and well, within the next minute - would be worth its weight in gold. I offer a gold piece to the first man who brings me a live grave-dwelling insect or worm."
Elaric’s request quickly nets him a big black beetle and a fat white maggot, and costs him 2gp.
As Elaric leans down toward the corpse, a lump of the remaining flesh suddenly bubbles, expands, and explodes, showering his arm, face, and chest with black, stinking goo.
Elaric stumbles back from the grave, furiously wiping off the vile sludge. He goes weak at the knees, his stomach goes wobbly, and he drops to all fours, vomiting.
[Elaric is disabled for an hour. He cannot make any skill checks or attacks, and can only move with assistance from at least one party member. All other party members, please make perception checks.]
As Elaric is having his attack, the party sees the maggot drop onto the odoriferous cadaver. The fat white grub thrashes furiously, goes black all over, and pops, dissolving into the mass of putrefaction. It is possible that other carrion that managed to worm into the coffin suffered the same fate - at this point, it would be impossible to distinguish the human remains from the vermin.
This has been instructive, but I think we've gleaned all we're likely to. I suggest we get Elaric back to our lodging for the night and do what we can to help him purge the toxins. The morning will be time enough to continue with our quest, and I have one more question for Father Mirko before we venture into the catacombs.
Turning to the cemetery attendants, Balasar thanks them for their assistance and asks them to rebury the corpse, then turns back to the party and helps Elaric up, doing his best not to come in contact with any of the vile goo.
"Agreed," Wendell says, taking Elaric's other arm over his shoulder to assist Balasar, "Let's get this finished quickly. I don't want whatever did this roaming freely in the city."
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As a scholar and researcher, Elaric has encountered many strange things in books and accounts, if not always in person. He strains his mind, trying to think of any cases of death in which vermin were explicitly noted as being absent.
Balasar also thinks hard, trying to recall whether he was ever taught of a foe that could inflict such a fate or whether he is aware of any substance that would be related to the effects the group has observed.
(History check for the recall, medicine check for the substance identification)
History: 20
Medicine: 5
Balasar has heard of venoms and toxins that cause rapid rot in flesh and bone, but couldn't place a specific example he'd be confident in naming.
Elaric, what skill check are you going with?
History: 19
Also, trying to make use of Elaric's Researcher feature from his background.
Elaric is baffled, not being able to recall a similar case from his researches. It appears that the flesh has been reduced to a state where it not only dies and decays, but is actually repellent to any living thing, even the vermin and scavengers that would normally feed on dead organic material. Nevertheless, there appears to be no arcane or extra-planar influence. Could the effect be alchemical?
Turning toward them, Elaric addresses the old gravediggers, "Good sirs, I know you are not children, who dig in the dirt for fun, but working professionals. I would like to hire you for a short and, I hope, easy task: I have great need of a beetle, a worm, or whatever small creature may often be found in a grave. In fact, such a creature - delivered to me, alive and well, within the next minute - would be worth its weight in gold. I offer a gold piece to the first man who brings me a live grave-dwelling insect or worm."
Elaric’s request quickly nets him a big black beetle and a fat white maggot, and costs him 2gp.
Thanking and paying them both, Elaric proceeds to place the maggot in the deepest chest wound of the corpse and watches closely for any reaction.
[Dexterity Save please.]
20
As Elaric leans down toward the corpse, a lump of the remaining flesh suddenly bubbles, expands, and explodes, showering his arm, face, and chest with black, stinking goo.
[Con save please.]
17
Elaric stumbles back from the grave, furiously wiping off the vile sludge. He goes weak at the knees, his stomach goes wobbly, and he drops to all fours, vomiting.
[Elaric is disabled for an hour. He cannot make any skill checks or attacks, and can only move with assistance from at least one party member. All other party members, please make perception checks.]
Perception: 19
Perception: 11
As Elaric is having his attack, the party sees the maggot drop onto the odoriferous cadaver. The fat white grub thrashes furiously, goes black all over, and pops, dissolving into the mass of putrefaction. It is possible that other carrion that managed to worm into the coffin suffered the same fate - at this point, it would be impossible to distinguish the human remains from the vermin.
As best he can, Elaric struggles to remove his outter layer of robes.
"Eugh!" Wendell says, looking sick. "Let's make sure we keep our distance from whatever did this."
This has been instructive, but I think we've gleaned all we're likely to. I suggest we get Elaric back to our lodging for the night and do what we can to help him purge the toxins. The morning will be time enough to continue with our quest, and I have one more question for Father Mirko before we venture into the catacombs.
Turning to the cemetery attendants, Balasar thanks them for their assistance and asks them to rebury the corpse, then turns back to the party and helps Elaric up, doing his best not to come in contact with any of the vile goo.
"Agreed," Wendell says, taking Elaric's other arm over his shoulder to assist Balasar, "Let's get this finished quickly. I don't want whatever did this roaming freely in the city."