Jarreck checks the next room and finds that there is indeed a trail left by Sef. It leads out of the room however. Jarreck continues following the trail left by Sef and as he leave the next room he sees something truly horrifying
Purple Tentacles emerging from a rock have engulfed Sef and seem to be in the process of digesting him.
"What in the...."
"What kind of unauthorized lifeform is that? Best assume its dangerous." demands Seventeen.
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"Uh Seven don't think you have to keep worrying about that dagger in the back, at least not from Sef."
Taking a step back so as not to become the next meal in this gruesome buffet; Jarreck looks to the others.
"Unfortunately it appears we must pass by this creature. Any suggestions? I'm thinking the further away from it the happier I'm gonna be."
"It seems like Sef's stuck in the sand." Mort says from behind a few others.
"It might be quicksand so he can't move, a kind of glue that that thing is producing or it has a paralyzing touch. Whatever the case it's dangerous. Any ideas on what this thing is or how to approach it?"
"Best not to approach closely, lest we share Sef's fate. If you wish to retrieve Sef I'd suggest trying to lasoo him."
"You must have been on the threshhold, to have seen your wife.
But our work or life isn't over yet. Come...", he pats his cousin on the back enouragingly.
"I... don't think it was the threshold but perhaps..." He pauses his cousin calls out
"What in the...."
"Ugh, I hate to leave anyone to such a fate...is Sef dead?"
"Well he's dead alright. See those tendrils? They are actually sucking his insides up and into that creature hiding in that shell. Quite gruesome indeed. That creature might harbour something interesting though, the substance that makes innards fluid might have some value."
Mort states, unaware of how creepy he might actually sound to his fellow companions.
Vrek quirks a brow at Mort's words, and then looks to his cousin, "His words provide much knowledge, but little ease. Have you noticed that about him?"
Guaire nods at Vrek.
"I don't know how digestives of creatures could prove useful here. I'm not stopping you if you want to get dirty finding out."
Seventeen favours Vrek with a bemused glance, and asks, "A perfectly logical, yet messy proposal. Councillor Baine said such things often make people feel uneasy. Do you feel uneasy?"
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"Friend Mort, a moment if you will? You wish to examine this creature, yet from the current state of Sef over there. I don't believe examination while it lives would be very healthy for you. Would fire possibly destroy the substance you wish to investigate?"
"I think our best approach may be to use oil, and the alchemist fire Omo carries, to bypass this problem. The substance it is secreting looks to have hardened into a natural shield making ranged attacks difficult with pin point precision. If we were to douse the creature with oil from one of the flask I carry for my lantern, and then hit it with the alchemist fire; I think it will damage the creature enough for us to pass close without danger if not killing it outright."
"If it isn't killed outright but retreats inwards and we can approach safely, then we could at close range, attack and finish it off. Then you could investigate safely."
"Has anyone a better idea?"
Jarreck then returns to his inspection of the creature judging how far it can reach without endangering the rest of the party. He will also remove a flask of lantern oil from his pack barring objections from the group to this plan of action.
Seventeen favours Vrek with a bemused glance, and asks, "A perfectly logical, yet messy proposal. Councillor Baine said such things often make people feel uneasy. Do you feel uneasy?"
"Yes, but I DID just nearly die, so the full cause is hard to say," Vrek says straightfaced.
"Has anyone a better idea?"
The barbarian shakes his head
"That seems like a sound and safe approach Jarreck. I wasn't exactly planning to investigate while it was still alive, I've got a healthy sense of keeping my own guts inside me. Rather I'm fascinated of how animals and plants defend themselves, mostly their biochemical of doing so."
"I'm up for that plan."
Seventeen nods and in a toneless voice replies, "That does sound upsetting, perhaps I should make a study, it seems such close calls may be common among adventurers. Likewise exposure to unusual species and situations." You can't help but note that Seventeen doesn't seem to include herself in the category of adventurer.
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"Good to know sir, I have known academics before to loose themselves in the study of their hearts desire only to be found dead of that self same study, when it bit back. I only wanted to judge your practicality in application."
Jarreck listens to Seven's comment, thinking to himself. She's a cold one, even more so than myself with many years of studying others. Yet she reminds me of something from my childhood. But what?
If you guys decide to enter combat I'll roll initiative when its appropriate. Just describe your actions.
Omo will follow Jarreck suggestion, though he is sad to lose the alchemist fire so quickly.
As Jarrek and Omo work together to fashion a makeshift molotov cocktail the creature continues its meal. Once Jarreck douses it with lamp oil, it begins to take notice and Omo's application of fire really makes it notice the party.
Round 1
Jarreck
Mort
Monster
Seven
Omo
Guaire
Vrek
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"Well that seems to have failed miserably." Jarreck observes to the others, muttering to self epitaph will read - Well it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Diving past the creature Jarreck tries to come up on the far side of Sef, drawing his sword to be ready for the next round.
to get past monster's AoO
Round 1
Jarreck bounds past the creature avoiding its tentacles, however his foot gets stuck in the sand as he passes!
Mort
Monster
Seven
Omo
Guaire
Vrek
Mort walks up to where Jarreck was at first, then points a bony finger at the creature hiding in its shell.
"You're not hungry, no... How could you be if you're sick?"
A black ray with green lines in it shoots out of his finger in the direction of the creature.
Round 1
Jarreck [entangled Ref DC 14] bounds past the creature avoiding its tentacles, however his foot gets stuck in the sand as he passes!
Mort fires a beam of negative energy at the creature but it fails to strike.
Monster makes a hideous slurping noise as its feeding tendrils leave Sef and begin making their way under the sand towards Jarreck! Two larger tentacles attempt to bash Jarreck but the rogue dodges one attack artfully the other tentacle hits the rogue for . The creature continues burning from the oil and alchemists fire
Seven
Omo
Guaire
Vrek
If you move within 10' of the creature you must make a DC 14 reflex or be entangled. 2 save failures in a row indicate you are trapped in the glue and immobile and flatfooted. Anyone who is entrapped loses 1hp per round(on the creature's turn) as the creature's small tendrils stab into your feet and begin eating you.
"Sometimes a problem is a matter of perspective. Change your point of view and a solution prevents itself. Let's see if a larger barbarian is a better barbarian... "
Says Seventeen as she touches Vrek's shoulder. He has a sudden moment of alarming vertigo and for some reason the room looks small and crampt.
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"What is this?" Vrek says in confusion, but only for a moment, "Ah, I see. Very well."
Seeing Jarreck in danger, he braves the mess if he must and swings his now truly great club at the thing
Guaire kind of snickers at Seven's reasoning.
"Just 1 way to find out."
He notches an arrow to shoot at the thing.
Round 1
Jarreck [entangled Ref DC 14] bounds past the creature avoiding its tentacles, however his foot gets stuck in the sand as he passes!
Mort fires a beam of negative energy at the creature but it fails to strike.
Monster makes a hideous slurping noise as its feeding tendrils leave Sef and begin making their way under the sand towards Jarreck! Two larger tentacles attempt to bash but the rogue dodges one attack artfully, the other tentacle hits the rogue for 7 . The creature continues burning from the oil and alchemists fire 3
Seven casts Enlarge on Vrek.
Omo fires his crossbow, missing. Then he scampers back out of the way.
Guaire moves up, fires and hits the thing in a purple veined tentacle!
Vrek [squeezed] moves forward to engage the thing in melee in his larger state, he has to hunch over in the cave and squeeze through the narrow passage! However he still hits! His mighty blow smashes the rock carapace and the creature inside!It squeals a death cry and viscous blue ooze drips from the cracked and destroyed rock carapace.
Combat Over. For now.
"Wow! Vrek, you are so strong!"
"Always have been, but in this case, the magic deserves much of the praise. Speaking of which, when does it wear off? I'm feeling cramped."
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"Thank you friend, was beginning to look like I might be joining our guide Sef there. Doc, your free to inspect this thing but I warn you it's a might bit sticky around this thing"
Jarreck works his way free, requesting Vrek's enhanced help if need be. What can we see looking across the open area surrounding us.
"This is an interesting beast, but we must not lose sight of the most important thing: councilor Baine. I think we should explore this room and then return to the surface."
"Well, so much for the skulk. Seems the problem has been solved without us having to do anything about it, though it could have waited until he'd have shown us the whereabouts of the counciler."
"Oh, err yes I'll dismiss it. Experiment successful."
With that Seventeen casts her gaze across the room.
At first glance, this cold cavern presents a strange and
disconcerting vista-that of a desert valley under a starless,
night sky. A stretch of sand covers the ground, a vista broken
here and there by bits of strange, spiky shells or contorted, dead
fronds that look like branches.
Mort approaches the viscous blue ooze and tries to collect some of it in a glass vial for later use and inspection.
"I'm not sure what this is, but I'll try to see if we could use it later."
"There are also some tracks leading to the east from what I can see from here. They're not hidden or anything. Perhaps the ones that made those tracks also put up the light to the south-east of us."
A shade too loudly, Seventeen states, "Gentleman I believe the phrase is 'discretion is the better part of valor' rather than carrying on we should return to town, or find somewhere defensible to rest."
We return to town!