Krystallos: Blue Quartz

Game Master JGray

With his newfound knowledge, Milo fired a simple cantrip at the creature, blowing through his cupped hands as he had done the previous night, a focused bolt of air slamming into the creatures head.

Cast Daze, Will DC 14

ROUND TWO CONTINUED
Urdefhan will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Milo's spell wraps around the urdefhan's head but its thirst for violence is so strong it shakes off the magic with little trouble.

Kintal once again proves that his small rapier is swift and sure, stabbing the urdefhan once more.

Technically Telthes is up before Leiko's action should be resolved but I don't believe his action will interfere with her's so I'll resolve it now.

Leiko drags Sahib Azraq over the counter and away from the battle. Still singing, she infuses the divine energy of freedom into her music to heal the kobold, only to find out it is too late. His wounds are too severe to heal.

Azraq weakly looks up at Leiko, the light of life leaving his eyes. Even over her singing she can hear his final words.

"Forgive... me... had no... choice... forced me to... give them the... master keys... had hoped... hoped... the markings... the keys made in the locks... would bring help... under the stairs... they're under the stairs inside... the giant..."

And with that, Sahib Azraq the Locksmith is no more.

ROUND TWO INIT: Milo, Kintal, Telthes, Leiko, Dawna, Urdefhan.

Telthes brings his axe around for another swing

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19+3 str +1BaB +2 Flanking +1 Song for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Even as the kobold is breathing his last, Telthes is ensuring the kobold's killer also breathes his last. His axe meets the mark, nearly chopping the urdefhan in half.

50 % chance of explosion. Low means explode: 1d100 ⇒ 9

Which is when he explodes.

A black energy colder than anything nature can produce radiates outward as the creature explodes in a shower of meat and leather.

Telthes' Reflex save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Kintal's Reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Explosion damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

Telthes takes 7 points of damage, dropping his HP to 8. Kintal takes half damage (4) and his HP drops to 8.

In the aftermath of the explosion, the shop is showered in the remains of the creature, as are all present. What was obviously a secret door under the stairs is revealed as it has been blown to splinters. Beyond a ladder leads down a hole, below the surface of the giant's skin.

COMBAT ENDS

Kintal simple stands there, rapier in one hand, drooped toward the ground. A look of complete disbelief on his face.

What the heck was that thing? What happened? Is the kobold ok?

Once his mind begins to refocus on reality, he takes out a clean white cloth and begins to carefully wipe his rapier clean.
I will never get that disgusting thing off here. Will probably have to buy a new rapier for my performance.

"Azraq... Has done his best. He is not with us. They are down that secret door." Leiko gently sets Azraq's body aside, her healing magic of no avail.

"I could use some healing before we go into another fight."

"I can only heal once more. I've got to save it in case someone is direly injured and needs stabilized."

"This creature..." Milo began, looking very distraught. "It was made with the magic of the invaders. If the Maskers are responsible, whatever they may be plotting just became potentially far more sinister."

He walked to the stairs, peering into the darkness below. "Every fiber of my being is telling me to go get help, but I fear there is neither time nor anyone willing to assist us." He looked queasy as he turned his gaze back to the others. "Whos going first?"

Kintal looks back:
Why are you looking at me? I am a chef, not a dungeon crawler.

In spite of everything, Milo managed a smirk at Kintals comment. "Could have fooled me with that swordplay." Settling into a more serious expression once more, he added. "Are you not with us in this? I wouldnt rate myself a hero, but Im certainly not running away from this."

Kintal chuckles:
Of course I will help. After all, evil does not pay as well as good, and dead people make for terrible audiences.

Milo offered a warm smile, reassured by his diminutive friends words. "Ah, ofcourse. Sorry for doubting you Kintal, I dare say this whole ordeal has me questioning things I shouldnt." He slapped his hands together and rubbed them. "Now then, anyone got a torch?"

Looking at Azraq for the first time since the kobold had been struck, he got a pained look on his face. "What do we do about this poor soul? Leave him here for now? Lock up the shop?"

Leiko pulls a chain shirt out of her pack, and begins donning it over her clothes.

Dawna looks a little puzzled when the fight is over before she can do anything at all. She did not take that long to get her sword and shield ready, did she?

"I do have torches, but I don't have a hand free. In my backpack." She indicates a look over her shoulder, inviting the others to get one. "I think we should deal with the more immediate concern what may be down there first. We will certainly take care of Azraq." She looks a little unsure around. If anyone came into the shop right now that would look ... strange. "Let's get on with it."

Telthes axe takes both his hands so he cannot take a torch. and torches are for weak humans who can't see in the dark.

He readies himself for further combat.

Unless people want to continue this discussion, Kintal will take a torch and carefully make his way down into the newly revealed passage.

Leiko searches around Azraq's home for something she can use as a torch once she has finished donning her chain shirt.

In a drawer, Leiko finds three sunrods.

Leiko, please add the sunrods to your inventory.

The urdefhan's cruel looking sword survived the explosion.

If anyone wants to take that, please let me know.

[bigger]The ladder leaders down through the floor and beyond. Kintal's torch reveals wet pink, fleshy walls. You descend for a long time, climbing down nearly one hundred feet until you step out into a five foot corridor leading away from the ladder. The floor is made from wooden platforms. They rock slightly as you stand on them, as if the platforms rest on swampland. The tunnel is roundish in shape. They are pink and soft and wet, though oddly covered in hard, scar-like tissue. Occasional rivers of red flow down the wall to the floor, beneath the platforms.

It isn't hard to realize you are inside the giant's body. The tunnels have been carved from its flesh and the scar tissue is where the tunnels were cauterized to keep them from healing properly or bleeding and flooding the tunnel.

The tunnel continues on for roughly thirty feet before it terminates in an oddity. It looks like the corridor has grown together into a mass of muscles, clenching at each other.

What the end of the tunnel looks like.

The roll20 map has been updated. I assumed that Kintal was holding a torch and Leiko activated one of the sunrods she found. We're using dynamic lighting so light stops at walls and you can't see beyond a certain distance (except Tethel, who should be able to see farther than any of you). If you can't see anything, let me know and I'll fix it.

"The way Blue Quartz is cannibalized disgusts me. First the city and now this!" In the flickering light she watched the strange closing muscle. "Can anyone make out a way to open this?" Maybe it was enough to touch it, but she looked around for some... nerve end or anything to activate it.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

My view is pretty much limited to the fields on which we stand...

Perception? If we're rolling it, Leiko wants in on it :P: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18

Extra +1 from guidance

Not sure if anatomy is strictly for the Heal skill, so rolling a Nature check.

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Milo shrugged at Dawna, clearly not as concerned about the matter of her indignation. "If any of it truly bothered them they would do something about it I suppose. I mean large parts of the city rest on easily reached places." He smirked a bit. "I personally wouldn't want to live on the hand...image if he had an itch!" Chuckling softly, he turned his attention to their obstacle.

"Are we sure we want to open it?" Milo wondered aloud, approaching the sphincter with a mix of curiosity and disgust on his face. "I mean, the roundness of this tunnel, we could be standing in a blood vessel, in which case profuse amounts of blood may be lurking just beyond."

Moved Milo to be squeezing next to Kintal.

Though she's all the way in the back, Leiko's sharp eyes notice that there are suture marks around the large muscle mass. Someone (or, more likely, someones) stitched the sphincter into place.

"Hmmm, on second thought..." Milo mumbled, trailing off as he moved to the right side of the tunnel. "Yes, this tunnel is artificial, not, ahem, arterial." He looked around at everyone with a smirk, hoping for them to reply in kind. "Well, in any case, I think this may open the sphincter, most likely by applying pressure." He pointed at a bulging cluster of nerves in the wall.

"Shall I do the honors?" He asked, holding up a ready hand.

Btw, loving this segment. Nothing says creepy dungeon like fleshy walls. Heres to hoping we dont run into any immune system critters, like that one episode of Justice League.

I'll hold off on opening the "door" in case anyone wants to say anything or make any preparations before it is done. I'll assuming Milo touches the nerve cluster later this afternoon if no one objects.

Kintal holds his once more shiny rapier in one hand, standing to the side of the "door" prepared in case anything decides to come through.

Action: Draw rapier and be prepared for whatever is on the other side if the opening opens.

I have nothing to add. Dawna has her shield don and her weapon drawn anyway.

As Milo massages the nerve cluster the sphincter spasms and then the muscles retract. The passage opens. Beyond is a large room, carved from the giant's inner tissues. Again, most of the walls are burned - cauterized. Here and there are large tubes that bulge from the walls, like plumbing pipes. The tubes bulge and pulsate as if carrying a flow of liquid at high pressure.

You see four more sphincters. Two to the right, one to the left and one dead ahead. The floors here are covered in wooden platforms that will wobble slightly under foot and the only light comes from Kintal's torch and Leiko's sunrod.

And in the middle of the room is a large... thing. It looks like nothing so much as a large cube made out of snot. It is just translucent enough that you can see skeletal remains suspended inside the whatever it is.

Dawna's init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Kintal's init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Leiko's init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Milo's init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Telthes' init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Cube's init: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (4) - 5 = -1

COMBAT BEGINS - ROUND ONE

Init Order: Kintal, Leiko, Milo, Telthes, Dawna, Cube

Map has been updated. Init order is at the top of the thread in campaign info.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"Oh no..." Milo muttered, recognizing the "creature", its distinct appearance leaving no doubt in his mind. "It is a Gelatious Cube, and beyond the obvious, take care. It will attempt to engulf you. Should it succeed there is a good chance you will become paralyzed within."

"Our best chance is to lead it through a door, then try to lock it out." He said, then promptly proceeded to squeeze himself past the others towards the back of the line.

Milo will move back on his turn. Also, im assuming this is a wits over brawn encounter, because a cube will likely wipe the floor with us if we try to fight it and get a bit unlucky.

I rather wait for my turn this time, last time it turned out less than ideal when I did not.

I really don't have the slightest clue of what I can do about that thing.

Kintal looks at the not-so-brave wizard as he dodges past.
And who do you think is going to do the leading? Can't we just chop it up? Or shoot it?

Hoping for a response before jumping in.

For the moment, the cube isn't moving. You could also close the sphincter door and block it off. So, I'll say we aren't in combat yet - there's time to discuss, strategize and ponder if you're not rushing right into things.

"Id advice pursuing ranged options first." Milo replied as he pushed past the halfling.

The gelatinous cube wiggles forward and then stops as its jiggling mass bumps into the walls of the living cavern. Where the cube makes contact the organic walls hiss, beginning to dissolve. Right now, the cube is unable to enter the tunnel where the party has taken refuge. It won't be stopped forever, however. Eventually it will literally eat its way through, making the tunnel gelatinous cube sized.

What actions would you like to take?

Well, I did intend to close the door as soon as it was my turn, but that does not seem like an option any more.

"I don't think there is a door other than the hatch through which we came." Dawna spoke out loud, but seemed focused. "It looks mostly liquid, maybe it does not like fire - but everyone back, first, we need space to manoeuvre. I'll cover the retreat."

Dawna puts her sword away, gets a torch out of her backpack and if that's possible as a free or swift action, the previous is already two move actions lighten it at Leiko's torch.

She makes a room for Kintal and Milo to slip by her.

Kintal will draw, load and fire his light crossbow at the cube. He will then step back hoping that the others follow suit.

Attack-crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Then 5-foot step back. Hopefully everyone behind him will do the same thing.

Guys, lets keep stepping back and see if we can kill it with arrows.

Dawna, sorry for not making it clear. We had stepped out of combat because the cube wasn't advancing. If you want to have closed the door that's something you could have done or can do now.

Since the cube cannot follow us through the hallway, not at once anyway (I feared it may be adaptable enough to do that), I think trying arrows and torches through the open door is the better course of action for now.

"Let's do that." Dawna nods to Kintal. "Let me just try whether this helps..."

She uses the torch and tries to carefully approach the gelatinous parasite, ready to pull back if she it shapes tentacles or anything. She is hesitant to drop the torch on the floor, though. The tunnel may already be cauterized, but it still is Blue Quartz's flesh.

"Let me know when you're ready to shoot, I'll jump flat on the floor."

Kintal already shot since he was in the front row once Milo moved back. Waiting on DMs response to see whether the arrow appeared to have done anything.

Kintal's arrow sinks into the cube's mass like a fork into gelatin, stopping roughly halfway through the thing. There's a small tunnel now carved into the cube where the arrow passed. Ooze seeps from the hole like blood from a wound.

The cube seems unaffected by Dawna's approach. If it fears the torch's fire it doesn't show. The cube continues to push forward, trying to dissolve its way into the tunnel.

I've marked where the ladder up is located with a red line. You have roughly one square behind you before you hit the ladder (and the end of the tunnel) if you retreat. The tunnel you're in a 5 feet wide. You can switch places but you can't stand side by side or squeeze next to each other.

Right now we're in a form of "free" combat. Basically, the cube can't attack, so you are all free to take actions. After a certain number of actions the cube will move forward, having eaten its way into the tunnel. Anyone standing in front of the cube at that point risks being injured. The cube will then be stuck again and will have to dissolve more of the tunnel to move forward once more. You can't get further into the underground complex until the cube is gone. It isn't so much a monster at this point as an acid coated wall slowly crushing towards you.

"Mister Tormsil, I must compliment you. That did better than I thought it would." A grim smile shows up on her face. That thing would not stop them.

Dawna throws the torch forcefully at the cube and gets her sword back out and strikes at it. If that thing is trying to dig its way into the narrow tunnel, she will carve a tunnel into it.

After every blow she dodges behind her shield and gives the others as much space as she can to fire, lashing out while they reload and tries to get into a rhythm without neglecting the danger and the narrowing space.

Telthes is ready to engage the ooze in melee if needed. He is too poor to own a ranged weapon.

"Miss Dawna, stay very cautious, do not give it any openings. As much as it may hinder your own attacks I doubt it will prove to make much of a difference." Milo called, getting out his own crossbow and firing into the gelatinous mass.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Basically Milo is suggesting Dawna fights defensively to avoid any attack. I doubt a cube has much in the way of AC.

EDIT: Just saw Telthes' post.

Whispering an excited "Yes", as the bolt impacted the cube, Milo noticed Telthes lack of a ranged weapon. "Take mine Mr. Telthes, I have a spell I can use." He held the crossbow towards the dwarf, twisting his body around as he did to offer easy access to his box of bolts.

Telthes will take the crossbow and immediately begin firing.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 for 1d8 ⇒ 5 dmg

I'm assuming, based on her description of how she's using her shield that Dawna is fighting defensively, yes.

Dawna's attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Dawna's damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Dawna slices a deep gash into the cube while two crossbow bolts, one from Milo and one from Telthes, stab through the monster, sending showers of goo flying into the room behind it. The cube looks now like someone has scooped large chunks out of it with a huge spoon.

It has not stopped moving forward, however. The giant's inner tissue hisses as the gelatinous cube dissolves it. The sphincter door is almost entirely gone and fat is dripping like candlewax from the walls. Another few seconds and it will probably be in the tunnel with you.

New round. Everyone gets another action. What's the plan this round, folks?

"Ok, back up everyone, keep ahead of it, and keep firing!" Milo called out, a mixture of excitement and concentration in his voice.

Mumbling arcane words and swirling his hands around in familiar motions, he conjured up a blob of acid vicious enough to rival the opponents, lobbing it at the creature.

Acid Splash Touch Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

He then quickly pushed past the others, moving to the back to allow Dawna more room to retreat.

Leiko stayed at the back, and decided the best she could do would be to sing, though the situation nearly had her mind blank for things to sing about.

Move back and inspire +1 to hit and damage.

Kintal shrugs:
Didn't know if it would work. But we would never know unless we tried. Now lets turn that thing into a puddle.

Attack-crossbow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Once more a well aimed shot seems to have little effect.

A bit of the cube melts as Milo's acid splash eats away at the cube. Kintal's crossbow bolt puts another hole in it. All the while, Leiko's song enhances their confidence and skill.

Dawna and Tethel both get an attack before we move forward.