Alessia continues walking, the party trailing behind down the narrow tunnel. They pass yet another spiked dais with a dark shaft presumably leading up to the top level. Then Alessia comes to a large room.
The room is fairly large and wide. In front of the doughty wight is a strange sight. A dais of greenish stone rises from a pool of black liquid. The pool is lipped in a similar green stone, forming a shallow receptacle about a meter tall. A small three-step stairway leads to the pool's edge. Atop the dais is a bizarre statue. The statue depicts a squatting batrachian bat creature, with a fanged maw. It is about two meters in height. Its bulbous stomach seems to have some sort of latched door incorporated into it. The statue itself seems to be cast in gold, or at least gilded. The multiple eyes of the statue seem to be faceted gemstones of various hues. The head of the statue seems smudged by a block substance, perhaps soot or ash.
A few of the party members have a feeling they've seen that ugly mug somewhere before
The room itself is covered wall-to-wall in frescos. These murals are in a desert culture style, and depict horrid scenes of demon worship and abhorrent acts of all kinds. Other than the statue and pool, the room seems bare.
Alessia isn’t sure what the statue represents
The Barbarian flies into the room to get a view of the pool itself from above, though not directly above.
The flying steppe warrior sees open entrances to the north and south. They seem to lead to more hallways, but he’d have to fly closer to be certain. The pool of liquid is ebon black and completely still. It is so still that it might not even be a liquid - perhaps a band of polished obsidian or some other black substance.
The statue tugs at Hamar’s brain. Suddenly he recalls the dry dusty smell of that dead world he met the party in, Ranaïs
The road the party follows empties into a large plaza with a giant brass statue. Underneath the statue is a deep pit filled with what looks like the remains of the world’s biggest fire. The statue itself is a squat horned demonic shape, vaguely batrachian in form. Is swollen belly has a huge door in it, that lies open, revealing an ash-and-grease-stained interior. The vague ghostly scent of pork lingers around its bulk.
Justin flies in slowly and cautiously, looking around the room, and trying to recall where he may have seen something similar,...
Memnon pops up over the Wizards' shoulder, and spins around, taking in the entire room in a single move.
Justin recognizes the statute. It’s a rendering of Tsathoggua, one of the Far Realm Elder Entities worshipped in dark corners of the multiverse by evil creatures. Part bat, part frog, part ooze - Tsathoggua was known for ritual sacrifices burned inside his statues, and for the depravity of his worshippers.
He also remembers the huge bloated statue under that starless sky in Ranaïs and the reek of old burnt pork that still clung to the stones of that accursed plaza centuries after that world’s death
"Whatever is in there does not appear to be water.
This statue, I have seen it before, when I first met you all in that place of the dead".
The Barbarian hovers in place. He wonders how such evil creatures could spread themselves out over so many worlds, what is to gain by bringing their foul presence into one's life?
Justin floats up next to Hamar.
"Tsathoggua" Justin mutters the name, making a face as if it tastes terrible.
"A Far Realm Elder Entity. Part Bat, Part Frog, Part Ooze, all evil and depraved. Like Entity, like worshipers I guess."
Justin points at the grotesque statue.
"It's for ritual sacrifices. Looks like the twin to the one on Ranais where we met you, yes."
Justin peers at the pool.
"Memnon, what IS that?" he asks, pointing to the (supposed) liquid.
The wizard mutters his detect magic charm, and tries to ID the 'fluid'(?) himself.
"Damn, I was hoping for the good kind of Jello, this doesn't sound at all the sort that would have bits of fruit suspended inside."
Hamar shrugs, "This looks more like pudding Karrin Kind, but not the kind even you would wish to ingest".
The liquid doesn't read as magical. It is hard to figure out exactly what the liquid is at a distance, it is a flat black surface. Justin could examine it at closer range and perhaps get a sample ...
Justin sighs the sigh of the long-suffering professional wizard. He checks to make sure his defensive spells are still in place, and floats down to land a step away from the pool.
He examines the stuff cautiously, wearing leather gloves and dipping an empty potion vial slowly and carefully into it to collect a sample. He peers at the sample, muttering incomprehensible psuedo-arcane-alchemical gibberish under his breath. He keeps himself calm during the exam by allowing his mind to wander over ancient texts he has read, seeing if he can recall any references to such a sludge being used in the worship of the ugly elder entity.
Memnon floats over and pretends to be disinterested. While the crystal skull peers over the wizards' shoulder, eye-lights gleaming,...
Manhayth and Mel head towards the southern hallway. They peer in and report nothing nearby. Hamar floats to the north, and sees that is a hallway as well.
As Justin reaches over to collect a sample, the calm surface explodes. Black tentacles spear out in every direction, as two forms separate and attack the party!
A huge mouth full of concentric rings of shark-like teeth yawns open and attempts to swallow the hapless wizard whole!
The party looks on in horror as Justin disappears out of sight down the gullet of the huge ebon ooze!
The wizard has JUST enough time to actually look startled,...
(probably thinking something along the lines of "An Ooze with teeth? Now That's new!)
,... before he is yanked off the ground and down the Oozes' open maw!
A sound escapes the maw before it closes. It sounds suspiciously like an accusatory shout of,.. "MEMNO,...!"
INITIATIVE
A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit.
Surprise Round then Rd 1
Surprise Round
Oozes: Attacking
Rd 1
27 Manhayth [Attack Ooze 1]
23 Justin {SWALLOWED}
20 Oozes
17 Hamar >PENDING<
15 Blayze>PENDING<
6 Mel
The ooze that swallowed Justin lashes out tentacles at Mel and Manhayth
The second Ooze attempts to swallow the stunned Hamar
Although the sharp teeth draw blood, Hamar is able to withstand Justin's fate.
The ooze follows up with a swirling series of tentacle blows
Manhayth fires his longbow at the swirling black horror
The arrows fly straight through the ooze with little effect!
"Guys! These things are Formless Spawn! They are literally the animated taint sweat off Tsathoggua's gnarly ballsack! Don't use electricity or piercing weapons against them! They are tough and heal fast!"
Mel staggers at the blow then begins yelling something in a language that makes the party's ears hurt
AKLO:
The ooze holding Justin sprouts several mouths and begins talking in chorus in the same tongue
AKLO:
Init
INSIDE the Ooze;
'Alright! WHO turned out the lights?!?'
Justin manages not to panic. Much. But he is in pain, and he knows his time is limited. His first instinct is to fight his way out.
The wizard uses the ability of his magical bandolier, and swaps the vial that was in his hand for his silver masterwork knife. He pulls his arm close, then extends it as hard and as far as he can reach, and then pulls in a long cutting motion as best he can.
Justin is not strong, but he is tall, and has a good reach. If he can get some kind of purchase in this soup, he can get leverage on his side.
Hopefully,...
His Force missile ability is a (Sp) Spell-Like ability, takes a standard action. But I know that Spell-LIKE abilities are not (always) the same as Spell-Casting. (But My memory is lousy. Can't always remember HOW th4ey are different) Asking if he can use this ability while swallowed/grappled?
For next and future rounds. :)
Thank you,
INSIDE the Ooze;
** spoiler omitted **d20+9
d4
In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
I spoilered them above with the swallow rules for reference. Here’s the particular part about casting:
In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
So basically a Concentration check of DC 27+spell level
Inside the ooze’s stomach Justin brings his blade to bear against the foul lining of this thing’s insides. His dagger does indeed cut it, but not enough to win through yet. Justin gets the feeling that the teeth are the only bony part of this thing, and that the rest is primarily ooze
Merle will haste the party (Including Justin if she can.) plus blast out a quikend magic missile at the blod eating Justin
RD 1
Party now >HASTED< for 1/11 rds
27 Manhayth [Attack Ooze 1 - hit/nd]
25 Merle [Haste/MM - 12 dam]
23 Justin {SWALLOWED} [ATK-hit - 2 dam]
20 Oozes [ATK 1-Mel 2-Hamar]
17 Hamar >PENDING<
15 Blayze>PENDING<
11 Alessia >PENDING<
6 Mel >PENDING<
XX Karrin NEED INIT
The Oozes flail out dozens of ebon pseudopods, filling the room with a storm of writhing black tentacles
Ooze 1 {Swallowed Justin}:
The shark-toothed maw of the beast slashes Mel and grabs him, but he avoids being swallowed
Obviously frustrated, the whirling tentacles descend on the hapless cleric
Two land on Mel
The second ooze focuses on Hamar
The creature is unable to grab the dodging barbarian. Its tentacles whirl towards him in a storm of inky death
Only one tentacle manages to land on the crafty warrior
Although Justin thought he made a cut, his dagger seems like it failed to slice the tough, miasmic skin of the ooze
Although Justin thought he made a cut, his dagger seems like it failed to slice the tough, miasmic skin of the ooze
INside the Dimension of Darkness,...
'RassinFrassinSunUvAMurglackByProductOfAnAlchemistsNightmareLeftoversFromHe WhoMustNotBeNamedTaintedArse!'
Justin is not panicking. Justin is not panicking. Justin is NOT panicking.
Yet.
But the wizard IS being tossed and turned. A lot. He feels like he is in the middle of a giant, gross, oily dough ball, and it is being pounded and kneaded by a hyper thyroidal Storm Giant. He's not even sure which way is up at this point. Whatever is going on OUTside this gross monstrosity, it is not taking a nap after it's snack of Wizard Tartar.
Justin uses the magic in his Wizard's Bandolier to swap the silver dagger in his hand with his blasting rod. (THANK YOU Blayze for introducing him to such a useful magic item!)
Justin gathers his will, tries to focus (NOT easy in the middle of a disgusting slimeball being used as a kickball!) and waits for a pause, or at least a slowdown, in the churning guck.
Immersed in a dark sack of indescribable nastiness, Justin manages to concentrate his will. His blasting rod begins to glow, and the turgid sludge that surrounds the wizard begins to smoke, which adds a note of burning latrine to the melange of stinks in Justin's poor abused nostrils
The stinking, nasty sludge around Justin suddenly shifts once again, rolling him around and over (Or is that over, and then around?!?) A finger-thin beam of fire sprays from his blasting rod, but he cannot hold it stationary. The fire heats the internal mucus to Sigil's Ditch levels of nauseousness, but fails to do any damage except to Justin's sense of smell. And maybe his Ego.
'Whelp. This is ANOTHER fine mess I've gotten me into!'
Justin's excitement ebbs as the ray of fire sputters and the dweomer fades. He is left with nausea and a burning sensation all over his body he attributes to stomach acid trying its best to digest him
[dice=swallowed damage Rd 1]2d6+6
Justin's excitement ebbs as the ray of fire sputters and the dweomer fades. He is left with nausea and a burning sensation all over his body he attributes to stomach acid trying its best to digest him
Round 1
The Barbarian catches yet another tentacle and grunts, "I'll retrieve the Wizard!"
Hamar arcs upward, then flies downward into the maw of the beast, his blades whirling at the tentacles on the way in, and whatever is inside on the way down it's gullet.....
Keen/Planar Scimitar - Damage
Vorpal Scimitar - Damage
Keen/Planar Scimitar - Damage
Vorpal Scimitar - Damage
[dice=initiative]1d20+3