No... but it's warm... and GOOEY.
Manny shakes his head and stabs at it, moving around for a back of the head shot
"What is that?" - Zeltor lets out, genuinely curious as he steps away from the creature.
If he was still hesitating before attacking, the thought vanishes as Manny takes the lead, even though the monk is about sure that whatever the creature may turn into, it has chosen the worst possible place to do it - in Ruul's grip.
The thoughts do not deter his arrows however.
Ruul, trust me when I say you need to take your action before we continue. Whether you want to squish it to damage it or just gore it...
Sorval moves to block the exit.
With the exception of one arrow, all of the party's attacks hit the monstrosity now transforming in Ruul's arms.
It is a thing of horror that emerges after six seconds' time. Things like worms protrude from its stomache, and black ichor that may or may not be attributed to the pain drops to the floor. Despite all common logic, malevolent red orbs peek through the supposedly-opaque pant bucket.
It laughs in its dual tones, and a wave emits from its body.
The wounds it has sustained seem to close on their own to a degree, though Ruul could tell he hurt it, and Zeltor's arrow remains in place.
3 little wriggling things start to animate on the floor where the ichor dropped, making their way towards Sunny.
[ooc]You're looking at diminutive creatures swarming, but not numerous enough to get swarm defenses. They are also too small to provoke attacks of opportunity.
They clamber onto the elf's ankles and are just, you know, generally gross. She gets the feeling they're trying to bite her, but her flesh is somehow warding them off with its thickness.
Bryndarys, meanwhile, slides out of Ruul's crushing grip like a greasy monkey. However, he cannot go invisible anymore.
Manny shivers like a pantywaist but he moves to flank the thing and stabs again.
Zeltor shivers at the creature's laugh, but stands his ground, again launching arrow upon arrow, surprised the creature managed to escape Ruul's grasp.
You found a barrel.
Also, his box.
"Eeeewwww!" (>_<) Is Sunny's response to the little, wriggly, creepy crawly things which have slithered across the floor and over her tanned calves and shins.
She skips and dances about... sweeping up a small, square item from the floor and attempts to scrap said creatures into it/off with it.
Manny stabs, Zeltor shoots, Ruul stomps, and Sunny is surprised to find that the small creatures assailing her behave as magnets attracted to the little box she's discovered. It sucks them in nearly instantly. Sorval continues to stand next to the door, her hands clenched around the hilt of her rapier.
Manny and Ruul seem to be the ones who hurt Bryndarys most, and it should be noted that he seems to actually repel Zeltor's arrows (it probably terrified them).
It responds with a cackle and uses nightmarish claws on Ruul. Bryndarys's claws rake the flesh only shallowly, but the wounds feel... tainted, somehow.
After the attack, the monster throws the bucket off of its head.
Manny does what he does best.
Manny is too afraid to hit the nasty
Zeltor shoots again, but this time he is not so sure this is the best course of action - "Are my arrows even doing anything to this monster?" - he asks of his companions as much as to himself, but still he shoots undeterred.
Bryndaris' malevolent eyes turn to Zeltor, as if he senses his insecurity.
Still dancing a little and shaking her feet/toes after the wrigglies accosted her, Sunny advances on the bigger ugly with the box held out.
"Lets see if'n ye be tha' same as yer lil' crawleys, hey?" She declares, clutching the box almost like a talisman before her.
Ruul's attacks do yet more damage, and Bryndarys laughs masochistically as what is probably his blood starts to seep everywhere.
Sunny feels a pull from the box as she tries to shove the creature into it, and the boundaries of his claws flicker, but she misses and falls forward with the box.
Sorval moves forward and attempts to stab the monster with a rapier and a spell, but it fizzles and she misses.
Bryndarys turns from Zeltor to the newcomer as she whimpers. His attack snakes right past Sunny's shoulder and into Sorval's gut.
Nooo ruull! Don't die! Manny weeps for his fallen friend and stab stabs the nasty!
Zeltor is confused at this creature's actions - it seems hurt, yet laughing hysterically is something the monk would not expect - "This creature is mad, perhaps the pain and the wish for revenge have taken its toll?" - he analyzes, his methodical approach immediately replaced by concern when his companion is hit - "Be careful friend Sorval - do not risk anything" - he urges, again his arrows pumped one after the other.
Sunny gasps as her friend gets 'sucker punched' in the tummy. Taking the box in a two handed grip she simply steps forwards and tries to beat the nasty creature over the head with it.
"BAD! Bad critter thing!" She admonishes the ugly even as she begins to 'wail' away at it.
Manny stabs him, Zeltor peppers him with arrows, and the creature starts to gasp for breath, but still moves freely until Sunny slams into him with the small, painted box that he apparently entered in.
He is sucked into it instantly, leaving behind all of Zeltor's arrows behind intact, and the thing buzzes with malign energy in Sunny's hand for a moment before the entire shop grows still.
(O_o)
Sunny stands in shock looking at the thing in her hands.
"Whut... whut jus' happen..?" She blinks as she looks around, then begins to blush when she sees the paint/ink that's been splattered all over the place.. and Ruul and her and.... (>_>)
"Oopsie..."
Well...that was a surprise. Manny eyes the box. I think we better find out just what that thing is.
Sunny continues to stand... her arms stretched out even as she leans back away from the strange box which now, some how, contains the nasty.
"We's gon'a need a bigger Cleric..."
At Sunny's own words she blinks and then bounces,
"Oh! We can be takin' tha' nasty box ta' Mister Marduzi!" Sunny exclaims,
"He be tha' feller takin' care of poor Donaon." She turns and, still holding said box gingerly before herself, makes to head off towards said Cleric.
Manny heads off with the others.
The night streets are as safe as they typically are in this settlement. There are a couple of night watchman who greet you as they pass. It takes barely any time at all, then, to reach the brewery in which Marduzi and his brethren live and work.
The wounds tingle.
Marduzi's younger associate opens the door when it is rapped upon with groggy eyes and a lantern.
"Y'here to see Marduzi? Or the elder?" he asks, smacking his lips.
Zeltor agrees with the path decided upon by his companions, and follows them in silence, watchful.
Marduzi's younger associate opens the door when it is rapped upon with groggy eyes and a lantern.
"Y'here to see Marduzi? Or the elder?" he asks, smacking his lips.
Suny, still holding the mystery box out in fornt and away from herself nods,
Aye! Marduzi or tha Elder or maybe both!" She declares, "Is rilly, rilly important." She nods to in agreement with her own words.
Some demon sent Pugwampis into Melgur Harvaks. He had this weird box that seems to suck stuff into it and we managed to trap him in there.
That would be Elder Brewer Tane. He is a bit on the venerable side and spends most of the day in bed and in prayer. He sometimes can be called on for higher-level spells, but some days he is just too ill to do so, which is why Marduzi has become the de-facto leader of this temple of Cayden.
The lad, whom Manny and Zeltor both know to be named Jory, leads them inside after concentrating momentarily on the object in Sunny's hands. His eyes were wide, and he is clearly shaken.
It smells of hops, and the building is still, primarily, a brewery. The group is left to wait by some lamps whilst Marduzi and an elderly man in a nightgown and cap come to greet them.
"What is all this about an evil box...?" Marduzi asks, whilst the elder strokes his chin and stares at the object in question, muttering a little incantation.
"Evil, Son. Absolutely pure, unadulterated evil." the old man intones. He starts to work on another spell to diagnose the exact nature of the thing, but then he slows down, looking a little lost.
"What... was I doing?"
"I imagine you were identifying the box, sir." Marduzi offers helpfully, pity in his eyes.
"Ah. I was, wasn't I?"
He resumes his actions and then takes the object out of Sunny's hands, tsk-ing and shaking his head.
"Ah... I see." he murmurs.
"What is it, Father Tane?"
"The result of a reality-bending magic, I would wager... and something that will be hard to get rid of."
Jory, who hadn't been far away, scratches his head and offers up-
"Like an evil artifact?"
"Yes...er...I suppose..." Elder Tane answers, confused when the teenager laughs.
"Is it just me, or are those way too common in this world...? With all the evil artifacts in Taldor alone, you'd think people just wake up some mornings and think "hm, how can I make a reality-bending evil actualize itself today"?"
Marduzi clears his throat, and the youth goes quiet. By way of explanation, the man offers, "Jory hasn't slept for more than three hours in a week. I am sorry, we don't mean to make light of this situation. It's..."
"-bad, yes. Very bad." The elder finishes. "You're going to need the help of a powerful angel to get rid of this one, and perhaps other things, if it marked you..."
Marduzi puts a palm to his forehead as he watches Sorval's reaction.
"Elder, it is accursed? Surely we can help anyone who has become cursed..."
Elder Tane shakes his head.
"Again, not without the help of angels. Though I could protect them from the effects for a time."
Sunny stands respectfully quiet and still as Marduzi and Elder Tane explain the 'Box'.
Hands clasped behind her back she absently begins to gently swing and sway before catching the eye of young Jory and opening up with a bright smile, then she glances down and blinks.
"Oh noes! I gots me shirt all smudged!" Then she notices her hands and arms and legs and feet and all the other places spattered with ink/paint from the fight with the nasty which is now in the box.
With mounting seeming horror/surprise she notes,
"I gots m'self all smudged!" Showing off her ink/paint smeared self.
She stands still again and looks to Marduzi or her companions for help.
Um..Sounds like we'd have to do one of those long travels to find one, right?
"Ah! You's hurt!" Sunny exclaims noting the valiant Minotaur's plight. She scampers about looking for cloth and such to help poor Ruul with.
"Angels" - Zeriax whispers, his fingers unconsciously going to his pointy fangs - "I would say you are right Manny, even though I have no idea how one goes about 'looking' for them - I guess a church would be a good place to start?"
Manny waits for the Fish Queen to appear!
The elder laughs at Sunny despite Marduzi's pointed glance. Jory holds out his hands in a placating gesture.
"Now, child, it isn't a literal mark." Elder Tane points out helpfully. "It is the wounds you need to worry about."
Sorval looks like she might be physically ill this very instant, but makes a conscious effort to not let loose anything within her stomach's contents.
"-but before you panic," Marduzi says with a sigh, "You're partially right about travelling to find one. Both the elder and I know of a place on the mountain. It is... hidden, of course. An old shrine."
Elder Tane starts to say something and then becomes utterly listless, staring into space.
Suny pats what ever cloth she's found against poor Ruul's side, hoping her limited measures do some good for his pain/ills.
She listens as Elder Tane gives his information, blinking owlishly as she works to understand his words.
"So. We can be goin' an' takin' this box full o' troubles off ta' this place an' there be somat whut'll be fixin' it then?" She asks, looking to Marduzi thence Master Tate before looking down at herself,
"Oh, I know t'is nuffin' but like what tha' scuttle fish do when they's scared. Squirtin' tha' black stuffs in'a water ta' hide with." She nods, though seems a tad unhappy with her predicament,
"Is just... I is all datty now. Here I were tryin' ta' be keepin' clean an' all an' I go an' get m'self all covered in squirt." And she makes a face (>_<)
"Least it don't smell, like some of them squirts do when they dries..."