I agree. I had hoped we could possibly end the threat from behind and close off this area but it does not seem like we are to be so fortunate. Pressing on after the blood trail seems to obvious but we are lacking better options at the moment.
"Yeah, better keep on course."
When you heave the door open... nothing jumped out at you.
Beyond, you see a long table with various unusual stones and dirt samples heaped on it sits along the southern wall of this room, while to the north a line of metal desks with glowing panels and buttons are placed next to a large humming device.
The heart of this device seems to be some sort of flickering sphere of reddishbrown mud or dirt.
Dust covers much of this room, save for a strangely clean swath between the doors, which leads to the strange humming device.
As you step into the strangely clean room, you feel like your are in the presence of something... someone.
You FEEL something perceive your presence.
“Where am I?” you hear in your mind plaintively. And then, “Who are you?”
Cheshire looks around, "Some . . . one is here," the gnome speaks quietly out the side of his mouth.
He speaks back to the room, "We are a rescue party. We seek a lost friend."
Celest digs a her pinky into her ear and tries to remember what all it was that she drank last night. Waitaminute. It was two nights ago! She gets queer look on her face remembering her night out gambling with Lili. "Wow, that's some hangover. Two days and I'm still hearing things."
Variel steps foot into the room and stops immediately as he hears the 'voice'. As the others have answered already Variel remains silent to the voice but looks around quickly. Remember the last room with all of the lights in it. Lets not touch anything until we know for certain what they are.
perception
Cheshire looks about studying the room and its contents trying to understand the strange tech.
"Uh, well you are here in a bunch of rooms and tunnels situated next to a vast underground desert. Not sure that helps you much. I am Flynn, um, what's your name?"
We seek a lost friend.
A friend? Who is this friend? it thought at your, curious.
"Wow, that's some hangover.
A pause. Then...
...Hangover? What is a Hangover? came the puzzled response.I am Flynn, um, what's your name?
...I don't know.
I should have a name.Cheshire: Your attempt to understand this rooms purpose is frustrated by your inability to read that strange script. You wonder if it has to do with the flickering sphere of reddish-brown mud or dirt.
Those of you following the blood smears from the hallway automatically note that the “clean stripe” seems to indicate that something came out to clean up all trace of blood on the floor. Odd, since the rest of the room is still covered by dust.
...Hangover? What is a Hangover? came the puzzled response.
"Float into my head and I'll show you."
"His name was Khonnir."
Variel gives Celest a sharp look as he mutters to her, Be careful what you say, they might take that literally. That would not be a pretty picture right now and one doc may not be able to fix.
Variel will follow the clean stripe back to see where it leads but does not open any doors if they block his path. As he goes he calls out to Cheshire, Any luck with this place?
"I can't read the language. It might be referencing these piles of dirt. Like a lab."
Celest regrets not cozying up to more wizards.... No. No she doesn't.
Cheshire again addresses the presence, "We cane to seek Khonnir. Perhaps you have sen him he is a tall two leg like that one." Cheshire points to Doc. "Maybe older."
Cheshire steps further in the room and approaches the bug sphere. "Who are we speaking to . . most of us are not used to talking to voices in the head."
"Float into my head and I'll show you."
...I feel... pain. Is this your desire?
"We cane to seek Khonnir. Perhaps you have sen him he is a tall two leg like that one." Cheshire points to Doc. "Maybe older."
...a group, creatures like you, were pulled through this room. By metal creatures not like you.
They left delicious red food on the floor as they were dragged from the west door to the east."Who are we speaking to . . most of us are not used to talking to voices in the head."
...I don't know.
Cheshire grimaces and answers with sidelong at the others, "Delicious red liquid huh." He taps his axe handle.
Cheshire scans the room looking where the blood was cleaned up to see if there is a zone where something so voracious as to lick blood off the floor couldn't reach.
"I know what he means the white stuff is too dry."
Variel points to the door the blood trail leads to. I guess onward then?
Cheshire puts his arms out in caution, "Stay were there is blood, I think the rest was licked up. Not sure we want to bait whatever it was."
"Yeah, no pain for me thanks. Let's keep moving."
"Soooooo . . . are you a cleaning construct?"
Flynn listens and studies the floor.
"It described taste . . . just saying"
Bazzle makes his way to the double doors moving through the area where there is still blood in the floor.
Variel follows the conventional wisdom and stays on the blood path but diligently avoids getting any blood on himself to keep the 'thing' from targeting him.
Cheshire scans the room looking where the blood was cleaned up to see if there is a zone where something so voracious as to lick blood off the floor couldn't reach.
You see a perfectly clean five foot wide strip down the center of the room leading from one door to the other. Outside of that, the room is covered in ancient dust.
"Soooooo . . . are you a cleaning construct?"
...delicious red liquid...
...delicious red liquid...
Is there a card panel by these doors.
Yes there is.
Abruptly, the glassy container bursts open, disgorging a weird, disgusting, swollen, brainlike bulb encrusted with fungal shelves. It squatted atop several ropy legs and a wide mouth bisects the bulb's crown.
As you stand agog, it unleashed its Star Shriek.
Round 1___________________________
Players take their turn in order of posting, enemies will go last.
TACTICAL OVERVIEW
These are ten foot squares.
"THERE'S A FUNGUS AMONG US!" Celest dives in low at the fleshy fungus.
will save 1 success
will save 2 success
Variel slashes at the monstrosity next to him hoping to buy some time for his companions to come to his aid and flank the creature. Witht he strange creatures they have met thus far he is unsure what to use against it. As such he simply imbues his rapier and hopes for the best.
swift imbue weapon
standard attack +2 to flank if variel can 5ft to get it for
thanks for the heads up Celest but how do we kill it?
Cheshire points at the hideous creature, though he looks a little green. "Fuzzles sic 'em." Fizzles' heart does not seem in the fight. Cheshire then vomits.
"THERE'S A FUNGUS AMONG US!" Celest dives in low at the fleshy fungus.
"Whoa! Scream is like the time Celest and I . . ."
"A confusing . . . collage of images . . . of ex girlfriends swirling about in my mind . . . so fractured. Susan! Alright?! I did call you susan, my bad! Of course I know your name was katie, its just that you were so kind you reminded me of my mom, a totally forgivable slip of the tongue."
"Just kill this thing or its going to have a lot of subject matter material to work with!"
"Wait! Cherryl? Is anyone else seeing this!?"
Round 1___________________________
Celest Slysword_____
Variel Whitestorm_____
swift imbue weapon
Cheshire Silvanshee_____
Notorious Flynn Ryder_____
(npc) Lily_____
Save!
Fail.
Lilly moved up and attacked. A little wobbly, Lilly still managed to land a deep hit for damage.
(npc) Doctor Rhaym_____
Fail.
Rhaym, keeping his distance, pulled out a dart and let fly.
Eyes unfocused, his dart lodged in Flynn's collar.
Enemies___________________________
Cerebral Fungus_____
Red food. Red food! RED FOOD!
You see the wounds you dealt to the fungus shrink noticeably.
The fungi from the stars reached out a tendril at Flynn, another at Lilly, and took a bite at Variel.
hit! for plus pull.
Miss.
Miss.
The creature casts Calm Emotions on everyone present. Will save DC14 or no fighting.
Cerebral Fungus: 11
Round 2___________________________
Players take their turn in order of posting, enemies will go last.
Unsettling Appearance (Su) A cerebric fungus constantly scans the minds of those around it, projecting around itself a confusing collage of images gleaned from their thoughts. Creatures within 60 feet that can see the fungus must succeed at a DC 14 Will save or take a –2 penalty on attack rolls. This is a mind-affecting effect.
will save calm emotions success
Seeing no alternative but to finish the fungal thing quickly Variel redoubles his efforts to kill the creature. Any idea how to keep it from healing itself?
attack for
The blow landed but it was not as much damage as Variel would have liked though. Still it was perhaps enough to counter the healing it was doing.
Cheshire vomits again. "Do we have the whooooouuugh." Unable to finish speaking Cheshire points in the direction of the door.
Fuzzles lets out a sad moan.
Any idea how to keep it from healing itself?
Do we need to roll unsettling appearance again or was the first success enough, last round?
You have to roll vs. Unsettling Appearance each round as long as you can see it.
will save
knowledge check
heal
know arcane
know dung
Noticing the way the creature is healing itself Variel calls out. Use acid or fire if you have it to keep it from healing.
"Oh geez! Does anyone else recognize this thing looks like a giant moldy ball sack?"
Flynn tries to open a wound on it if he can flank it.
"Doc, you got any acid? I got oil of you got fire!"
"Sure fire. I've got fire on me somewhere."
"Doc, you got any acid? I got oil of you got fire!"
Doctor Rhaym blinked in surprise.
"Oh. Yes, of course." He said, opening his bag.He took out a glass flask covered in warning signs, popped in a catalyst and shook it once. When it started fizzing, he lobbed it dead on top of the fungus...
for a possible fire damage. The fiery blast engulfed Celest, Flynn, Variel and Lilly, but somehow the damage blew past them without hurting them.
"Wow! You just about singed the hair off my nuts!---Nice shot though Doc!"
And the bomb was the last straw. It blows apart and flaming fungus splatters all around the room.
The screaming in your heads cuts off abruptly and your minds clear.