As the gooey tentacle reached for her, Quinn lashed out with her dagger in defense of herself.
Quinn tried to twist away from the slowly moving tentacle before it could solidify it's hold on her.
The rogue proved slipperier than the ooze expected and she managed to get away only to slash it again with her dagger.
Rex could only hear mumbled noises from inside the ooze, so he still continued on fighting from inside. Surely the creature couldn't have much more fight in it.
Okay, this thing is gone. Somebody write me up a nice satisfying goopy death scene.
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Quinn had never seen anyone give birth but she imagined that it looked a lot like what happened in the next moment after she had carved another piece off the blob. The ooze birthed a human as Rex emerged violently from its insides. No one was safe from the splattering of pieces of slime as the ooze exploded outward leaving a panting Rex in its place. But Rex had definitely gotten the worst of it by being completely covered from head to toe by goo.
"Oh look, it's a boy."
As Rex burst out, he let out the long breath he had been holding. He picked up his shield and shook it free of ooze and kicked pieces of goop off of his boots. Despite his burns and other wounds, he looked to Quinn and Duncan calmly and asked, "So. Did you get the tokens?"
Quinn clawed a piece of goo out of her hair. "You tell us. The tokens were inside the ooze with you."
The tokens are visible inside the remaining goop, and can easily be extracted. I'll send the pictures tonight e when I'm home.
Jibril waded into the snotty gelatin and fished around the creatures transparent vicera for the two tokens. He stood up and without irony, "What a wonderful smell you've discovered", trying to be as generous as he could to the strange pungent effluvia that was more like very moldy orange and stomach acid.
Rex looked behind him as Jibril began fishing around in the ooze. "Oh. Would you look at that. They were inside there the whole time..." He replied to Quinn. "I guess lets take a look which ones we got and see if we're done..."
link: Trap door tokens
Dizzy breathed a sigh of relief when the blob died, and Rex was released. Feeling like a mother hen, she said, "Come on, ye gooey lot of tallfolk. Let's clean ye off a bit."
The dwarf summoned bucket after bucket of water over the group, cleaning them of the worst of the goop. They were dripping, but at least they weren't so sticky. She then channeled healing energy down over all of them, including herself. If only the goddess could channel some strength back into me limbs, she though.
Dizzy stared at the two tokens. "Why d'ya suppose there only be 2 tokens here? Is it because other teams ha' taken the other three already?"
Dizzy stared at the two tokens. "Why d'ya suppose there only be 2 tokens here? Is it because other teams ha' taken the other three already?"
Jibril set down the tile he was holding in his left hand and held out the tile in his right , "I don't know Dizzy, but this tile seems to match the ones we started with and the other doesn't even match the tile from the Cold challenge. I say we take this and get back to the challenge maze."
10+62+49
Rex watched as the acid burns in his skin faded. "Thanks. That was a cheap trick they pulled dropping that from the sky, huh"
To Jibril he responded, "Sure. Let's get out of here. Do we want someone to check up there first? Make sure there are none that got left behind when it fell?"
Quinn pointed at Jibril's right hand. "That definitely looks like the one we want. We'll have to wait and see if making a complete picture with the tokens is important. If it is, we'll have to do some convincing of other groups to trade."
The rogue then went and looked up the ladders. "That may be our way out unless we go back the way we came in. It doesn't hurt to go take a look. It's not like either Duncan or I had a chance to see what was above the ooze once it started its dive."
Dizzy nodded, agreeing. "Aye, very cheap. We were lucky, that could easily ha' gone worse for us." She turned to Jibril. "My thanks for fer knockin' me out o' the way. In my weakened state, I would have likely done nothin' in there but drown."
Looking up the ladder, the dwarf shook her head. "I would rather not risk a climb right to the top. If this tile matches two of yer other ones, I say we leave well enough alone, and quit this place."
She glanced at the tattoo on her hand, trying to judge how long they'd been in the game, and how much longer they had to "play". "Also, I could do with a spot of food. I feel like dinner had come and gone. Mayhap breakfast as well. Time seems odd here."
"Alright. I guess let's see if the way out is open then." Rex kicked up his shield. "Let's go."
She glanced at the tattoo on her hand, trying to judge how long they'd been in the game, and how much longer they had to "play". "Also, I could do with a spot of food. I feel like dinner had come and gone. Mayhap breakfast as well. Time seems odd here."
Duncan gently floated down once the blob was dissolved, "We don't need to go back uo, do we?"
He turned to the dwarven woman, "Yes, you know she's right. Food, no... a good lets-sit-down-and-eat meal is what we all need."
------------
Team Orra head back the way they came in, past the heaps of keys and scorpion carcasses. The door shuts behind them on its own, and Quinn reminds them of the trapped step on their way back up to the main corridor.
A few minutes later, and they're standing blinking in the sun, the ever-present blue sky above them.
[ooce]Where to? I've put you back on the current map[/ooc]
Quinn looks up at the sky. "That's unnerving. How can all the days look the same?"
"So where to next? I would most likely vote for the Fear or Moon Door. I guess there's also the Teeth Door but after the animals all escaped, it may not be an option. But if there's something else someone would rather do then speak up."
[ooc]
"Grabbing a quick snack might not be a bad idea...When was the last time we ate?" Rex wondered aloud, as he looked up to the sky. "But beyond that...The Teeth Door would absolutely be my vote, if its up and running again. But I suppose the Fear or Moon Door would be fine. Hard to know what's in them without trying."
Jibril had taken out 'Peace of Mind', the magic book he found, and was concentrating on one page
Quinn looks up at the sky. "That's unnerving. How can all the days look the same?"
Dizzy frowned. "I'd rather know, when will it be night? I reckon this day has been half-a-week long. I'm knackered. And starved. Market first for food; I'm well tired of my rations. Then....hmmm...I'd vote Mood door, or Death. I dinnae love th' idea of fighting animals for sport. Also can't say I love th' thought of the Fear door. Wha' about Wind? It's just yonder?" She pointed to the door just north of them.
"I suppose the death door may be okay too." Rex said. "It's not like trying to kill us is any different than any of the other doors, so how bad can it be? Maybe it's just zombies or something."
Dizzy motioned to the gate separating the corridor from the graveyard. "Zombies, aye, or skellies, or ghouls. Though the cemetery looks quiet now. I imagine stepping through the door will change things, though."
Her stomach rumbled again. "But first, food!" She led the way towards the market.
"It's not like trying to kill us is any different than any of the other doors, so how bad can it be? Maybe it's just zombies or something."
"Zombies, aye, or skellies, or ghouls. Though the cemetery looks quiet now. I imagine stepping through the door will change things, though."
Still with his nose in his book and in a studious monotone, "Yes, I wonder what ecology they have created. A massive hoard to wade through? Some embalmed ancient thing in rags empowered by arcane rights? An un-calmed incorporeal spirit, spiteful and ready to chill us to death? A cunning necromancer with minions masticating their own death shrouds, ready to sap our very life force until we are completely macerated? Are these animated automatons or tortured souls forever bound to the game? The later would be a great sin ... but yes, good thinking, I could eat something."
Jibril snapped his head up and packed his book away, "Oh! I almost forgot! Dizzy, I took this.", Jibril reached into his belt pouch and recovered a piece of paper, "Forgive me for not remembering sooner. It was Jojos but I cannot read it. I assume it is in Gnomish script. Regardless, it does not belong to me. I think you should have it." Jibril gently handed Dizzy the note.
Dizzy took the paper almost reverently. "You...you found this on Jojo's body?" she looked at it, hoping she'd be able to read it.
The note is letter from Jojo's sister, expressing her love and faith in him, and wishing him luck.
Team Orra makes their way back towards the market. They go down the corridor, the cemetery on their right. The graveyard is dark and gloomy, despite the seeming bright sky overhead. Straight ahead of them is to door with the magical-looking symbol on it. As they approach, the door bursts open, and a team of two humans, two elves and a halfling tumble through it. They kick the door shut behind them, look at each other for a moment, then burst into stunned laughter. There are shouts of congratulations, relief, and general merriment.
After a moment, they realized they weren't alone in the corridor. Straightening and sobering, they stood and stared at Team Orra.
After a moment, the halfling stepped forward. The blond girl was wearing a pair of thick goggles, which she pushed up onto her forehead. She had a wide smile. "Hello! Team Orra, right?" she looked carefully at all of them, then frowned slightly. "Well, mostly team Orra. But you were with Relgolath, right? And you, Miss Boneheart, isn't it? You really are quite a mixed bag! Nice to see you! I'm Mary. The human lads are brothers, Brendan and Isaac. The elves are our friends, Urmiel and Lilia. Have you got any tokens to trade? We're trying to find pieces that look like a big moon. Any chance you've got one?"
The two humans rolled their eyes at what was clearly instinctual trust and good cheer on the part of the halfling. The elves looked ready for trouble, though nobody was holding any weapons.
Jibril looked at the halfling girl with his head slightly cocked left. His expression was dull and when he spoke his voice was bland, perhaps his team was starting to recognize his attempts at calm amiability but to others he must seem like a piece of wood, "Are you Ms Goldenrod?" Jibril unslung his fathers old pack and knelt down beside it. He drew the ice challenge tile from his pack and, in full view, handed it to Quinn, whom he deemed the shrewdest of the team. He looked at the magical mark on the back of his hand, "Surely I can say this without fear of the game acting to stop me. Please be careful. We have found ...
... an elf maid crippled and a gnomish youth murdered in the game arena with their game mark hands cleanly removed.", Jibril looked frustrated, surely this story sounded like an outright fabrication, "A man named Rupert who may be dressed in a white cloak seems responsible. Stay together and stay on your guard." He brushed his bangs over his elvish tattoo feeling completely stupid, "I am called Jibril. Perhaps I should have started ... hrm.", he stood up.
Rex frowned at the mention of Relgolath's team. However, he did not bother to deny it. Otherwise, he attempted to be friendly. He was surprised that Jibril went straight to some of the more unpleasant things they had witnessed. "Yep. There are treacherous people about. That's for sure." He looked at the tile that Jibril had removed. "Tiles can be traded?" He asked everyone.
Quinn was immediately on edge at the extent of Mary's familiarity. "You're awfully well-informed...like a stalker."
Quinn gave Jibril a sharp look as he immediately pulled out the tile they had that didn't match the others. Way to show them our cards. Now we have nothing to negotiate with. And we potentially have something they want that they'll attack us to get.
The rogue gave the halfling an almost bored look. "I assume that you have tokens to trade since you're asking? If not, then we don't have anything more to talk about and time is wasting."
Dizzy's eyes widened, and a smile appeared on her face. "You are very trusting, child. I hope your sunny nature serves you well in this life."
She kept her mouth shut on the question of tokens - she'd only helped with one of them, and didn't do much. She didn't feel she had a vote in the matter.
The halfling chuckled. "No, that's Merry, I'm Mary. And yes, I'm very well-informed." She patted her pocket, where a well-worn book and a handful of pens stuck out. "I did my research before coming in. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say."
Craning her neck to get a look at the tile in Quinn's hand, she said, "Oh yes, we have two to trade. We've had terrible luck. Almost none of our tokens have matched. I'm a bit worried that one of the other groups is collecting the same ones. But we've got two now, and two to trade, and hopefully that'll be enough."
The halfling had completely ignored Jibril's warning, but the others in her party did not. Their looks turned dark, and the humans turned to each other and murmured for a moment.
Mary motioned to either Brendan or Isaac, and he obligingly dropped his pack for her to root through. She pulled out four tokens and laid them on the ground. As she did so, the rest of her party took up defensive positions on either side, clearly prepared to defend their tokens, should anybody come looking for trouble.
"You see, these two clearly go together. We think it's going to be a moon. These two mean nothing to us. Don't suppose you want a skeleton or paw?"
"A paw? I don't see it. Where do you make out a paw?", Jibril stepped closer to the tile forgetting momentarily about Mary's serious friends, "It at least has elements more like some of our other tiles." He looked up seeing Mary's companions and backed away again but slowly. To his team, "I am in favour of a trade though I can't say that it is a tile we need."
"I don't think any of their tokens match the ones we have." Rex said, he studied the tokens. "Though I think we might have grabbed one of the one's there looking for" His eyes moved from Quinn's stiff body language to Jibril, who seemed all by ready to hand the tile away. Trying to find the middle ground, he turned to the team and said, "Perhaps if you keep an eye out for the type we are looking for, then we can do an even trade. Everyone wins?"
Quinn made sure she stayed back from the other team. "I don't see the value in trading for a tile we can't use. I agree that none of yours match ours. However, if you wanted to offer a different kind of compensation then we could still consider some sort of deal. Or, like my companion has said, we can meet up later and see if things have changed in the tokens you have."
Dizzy leaned over the tokens with interest. "Ah, yes, it looks somewhat like...an arm? Surely not a paw. Perhaps something like the leg of a lizard."
She was disappointed that the halfling girl's tokens didn't seem to match their own.
Mary didn't seem at all offended by Quinn's position, and said, "Perhaps if you show me the ones you're collecting, I can tell you if I've seen one of the other pieces." She pulled out her notebook and flipped to the middle, revealing several pages of neatly ordered sketches. "Perhaps that knowledge will be worth the trade."
Quinn looked doubtful and her tone of voice revealed as much. "You seriously sketch all the tokens you see when completing the Doors? Even the ones you don't take?"
Still hesitant, Quinn offered, "If, and that's a big if, your sketches prove helpful then I'd be willing to consider a trade. But only if the others agree."
Mary nodded. "Of course I do. Knowledge is power, as they say."
To his own team more than Mary, "Would that put us one down? Perhaps a quick look at your sketches and that one there? The wrong token is better then fewer tokens.", Jibril pointed
Rex scratches his head as he once again remembers he paid very little attention to the opening instructions. "Er...right? What are we doing with these again?" He asked as he gestured to the tiles. "Surely the goal must be to make sets...but I guess that would make it easy to mess with other teams..."
Duncan stayed on the sidelines, looking bored with all the game talk. And he wasn't faking it either.
Once there was a break in conversation, he added, "Could we not look at their sketches while we wait for our food to arrive?"
He looked at his tattoo and sighed at the fact that it was no longer colorful, "These things are ticking down, right?"
Dizzy took one of the tiles from Jibril. "We're collecting these. A face, with all these dark wavy lines. Have you seen anything like this?"
Quinn snorted at Duncan, "And who exactly do you think is bringing you food?"
Even though Quinn didn't think the number of tokens they had was important, it may be beneficial to have an extra tile to trade if the opportunity came up again.
When Dizzy showed the halfling one of their tokens they're keeping, Quinn said, "So I believe our extra tile is one you need. We can trade it for one of your tiles you don't need and some information about where we may find more of our tokens. Deal?"
Mary stuck out her hand to shake Quinn's and said, "Deal. Now, I believe you mentioned food. Shall we continue this conversation at the market?"
The human brothers packed up their stones again, and team Orra put theirs back in Jibril's bag. "We can trade after we've eaten," Mary proclaimed, already leafing through her notebook.
The market was relatively busy. Team Zarfu, the four half-orcs, were up in the northern nook, apparently pounding on the safe with their weapons. Judging from the level of orcish profanity, they were having no luck. The elves bristled when they saw them. "Don't ask them to trade tiles," Mary warned. "They're not friendly."
At one of the tables, another team was eating a hearty looking meal. They were a half-elf girl, two half-orcs, a human wizard, and a druid sporting a fine pair of antlers - or were they branches? They recognized them - the wizard had floated around before the game began. A few of them looked up at them and nodded a hello, but returned to their meal without speaking.
As they chose a table, a woman in a white apron came out of Mother Meyin's Pub Tent. As she saw who was at the table, a smile lit her face. "My saviours!" she cried. "Meyin! Come out! These are the ones I told you about!"
A plump woman in a stained apron came out of the tent. "So this is the team that saved you, is it?" She gave them a quick once-over, and decided that Duncan was clearly the leader. Approaching him, she shook his hand and said, "You have my thanks, Team Orra. Kerra is like a daughter to me. If you hadn't stopped that cat, I don't know what I would have done. Anything on the menu, on the house."
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Rex continued to look between Mary and Quinn. When they finally agreed he gave a nod. "Good. We have a deal then."
As they headed to the market, he looked over to team Zarfu. He shrugged at Mary. "They didn't seem to bad when we talked to them." His head tilted as they smacked the safe again and cursed. "Though, perhaps a little more...er...brawn than brain..."
However, his puffed chest out when the woman in the apron showed up and declared them heroes. Walking over, he gave her a charming grin and waved his hand, "Oh, really, that was nothing." However, he made sure to slightly flex his arm in such a way that the mild lingering mark from cat claws in his shoulder was particularly visible.
Dizzy raised her eyebrows. "Heroes, are ye? Ye didn't tell me that bit o' the tale."
Assuming that she would be served with the team, even though she wasn't part of the rescue mission, she sat on the bench and said, "Simple and filling, if ye've got it. Dark bread, cheese, roast meat, and ale. These games do stoke a hunger."
Turning to the other team, she said, "Yer group came in together. How do ye all know each other?" It seemed safer than asking about the Doors they'd opened.