Out of the Abyss (Pathfinder Conversion)

Game Master EmEss

Confused, Harro looks at the cube carefully and wonders out loud.

"If the cube et's organic matter, than why is the skel'ton still there?"

This newest creature was perhaps the strangest one they'd met yet, a talking cube of goo who knew? She was as curious about this as all the others seemed to be, she didn't know what a gleatinous cube was and now was the time to ask, instead she listened and watched as they spoke to the...thing. She heard Akri's concern and decided that he needed a bit of proof of the reality of the situation and there was only one way to do that in her mind. She moved up to Akri and suddenly put her arms around him while she pressed her lips against his in a kiss. It wasn't the best kiss she could do but she decided it would suffice and when she let go, stepped away, and asked with one of her thin eyebrows lifted in question, "Was that real enough for you Akri?"

kiss (charisma check): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Whispering to Harro: "It's not organic, but disolves organic matter. Don't let it give you a hug. . . It's unusually intelligent though."

"Maybe it was a recent meal, still digesting" whispers Talindra, looking at the Drow skeleton. "Anyone know how to fight that thing if it decides to eat us?"

Based on Micar's knowledge check, do we know if the Gelatinous Cube has weapon resistance/immunity?

Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, and stunning. Not subject to critical hits or flanking. Does not take additional damage from precision-based attacks, such as sneak attack. Plus the immunity to electricity I mentioned earlier. I was almost caught out by the "standard ooze traits". No weapon immunity or resistance

Glabbagool breaks off from his discussion with Tanic to ask a few questions of the whole party;

"Glabbagool never seen this many nice people before. Why nice people here? And where did nice people come from? Oh and first friend with bad sight need not worry about hugs. Glabbagool knows just to hug bad people- and first friend is good people.

"We are trying to avoid bad people. Very bad people that like to feed things to spiders and rats and torture them all day long. I was only with them for a couple days, but they had already found some poor lass and stuck her with this nasty scepter thing that made her cry very badly. Then they threw her to the spiders. These other friends here" he gestures to the others "had been there a long time and seem many bad things. But this friend" he points to himself ", only a couple days. A couple days ago I was home, but then they killed all my frog friends, or were going to, and rip up all my special mushrooms and because I said NO! BAD PEOPLE! they grabbed me and took all my stuff and put me in the bad place. But we escaped, me and these other friends, because we are good and friends and they are bad and not-friends with everybody and like to hurt even friends."

Talindra decides it's time to pipe up. "Okay, hold up a minute, Blabber Ghoul. Exactly how are you deciding who's bad people here? And when are you going to want to eat again?" Talindra was glad she wasn't being devoured, but then again this gelatinous cube could always change its mind, or perhaps lose its mind. Didn't seem trusthworthy.

Harro, 'harrumps' and points at Talindra.

"Yeah...What she said."

Harro shakes his head at the realization of what he just did, slaps himself, and sighs.

"Can't believ' I'm agreeing with a drow!"

"That sounds terrible. They sound like VERY bad people. These bad people won't come here will they?" Glabbagool asks Tanic.

"Bad people, people who attack Glabbagool. But you not bad people- you good people, you talk to Glabbagool, not hit him with burny sword. You are Glabbagool's friends. Also Glabbagool not hungry, Glabbagool not remember ever being hungry, and even if Glabbagool was hungry, Glabbagool knows not to eat friends. That make Glabbagool bad people and Glabbagool is a good cube.

A note of reproach enters Glabbagool's tone at the last sentence and he pauses for a while before continuing.

"Where are friends going? Can Glabbagool come too? Glabbagool knows all about the oozy temple. Can be very useful to friends, yup, yup, yup!"

Akri was dazed by the sudden lip attack from the half-succubus. "I...uh...wha...huh?" were the only things he could mutter before his brain restarted. "Uh, yeah, real, right..." Shaking his head to get himself back into the game, he looked around and noticed the others talking to the skeleton. "That thing gonna be a help to us?"

Harro, 'harrumps' and points at Talindra.

"Yeah...What she said."

Harro shakes his head at the realization of what he just did, slaps himself, and sighs.

"Can't believ' I'm agreeing with a drow!"

"You're welcome," replies Talindra smugly. "We can't all be as naive as Tanic here."

* * *

"Okay, yes. Glabagool is a good cube," echoes Talindra. She still didn't really believe this was a stable situation, but this just had to hold together long enough for them to get through the complex. "So, what's inside this place? And, more importantly, is there another exit different from the one we came in? We are trying to get away from some . . . bad people, as you like to say."

"Looks like you can come! Guys, oozes are pretty easy to feed. They will eat just about anything you know. I remember when one ate one of my shoes. I decided to feed it the other one because, you know, what's the point in having one unmatched shoe. They are actually quite useful around the cave - for cleanup and all. I hear topside they have dogs to do that, but I'd rather have an ooze any day. And forget worrying about losing one sock. The even eat wool! Hey Glab - do you mind if I call you Glab? We are in a bit of a hurry though. We do not want the bad people to catch up. How fast can you move? I'm not all that fast myself so I think you should be able to keep up, and if we have you in back you can cover our tracks. I think you would be absolutely fantastic at sweeping tracks. Would you mind doing that for us? Say, that sword in your belly, or innards, or whatever it is called - do you want to keep that or can we use it? it might be magical or something..."

OK. Tanic has a lot more to say of course, but that covers the important stuff plus a little more.

Micar's head tilts a bit as he stares at Tanic as he talks enthusiastically at the ooze. He then shrugs, "If Glabagool can keep up, you can follow. It'd be nice to have a guide. Though we can't wait for you as we have to get our injured friends away from the bad ones chasing us as quickly as possible. Would you be able to watch and protect our back in case the bad people catch us?"

I don't know why, but the idea of having an ooze NPC companion makes me giddy.

Played a game once where our group managed to make friends with an intelligent Mimic. The only down side was he liked to play hide and go seek. I mean...really?

This is the Oozy Temple. Lots of oozes, lots of corridors, Magic fountain, Lots of shinies. You know, oozy stuff and temple stuff. There is a way out by the fountain but it's too high for Glabbagool to reach on Glabbagool's own. Maybe if friends pile rocks up Glabbagool can reach and leave Temple. Glabbagool happy to follow behind and cover traps and watch for meanies. Glabbagool try to keep up. Glabbagool has a speed of 20 feet. He may fall slightly behind at times but should be able to catch up whenever you stop for rests (both mechanical 8 hour rests and fluffy 'that was a steep climb let's catch our breath for 5 minutes' rests).
Glabbagool's mental voice then takes on a petulant tone.
Sword is Glabbagool's shiny. Glabbagool likes magic shinies, they feel good, all nice and tingly. Glabbagool think about it, maybe share shiny if friends help Glabbagool leave Oozy Temple.

Glabbagool sets off down the corridor.

Follow Glabbagool. This is the way to go

Harro knocks his head against the wooden chest on his shoulder, then pushes the people in front of him to get moving.

"I'm startin'to think we may end up survivin' this journey aft'n all. Who knows? We makes friends with snails and gel'nous cubes? Why no' the en'tire underdark! Mas'ybe a deep dragon next huh?"

"Right, follow the jelly man," Akri muttered quietly, his gaze avoiding looking at Vinexa. "What do you think these 'shinies' are that it mentioned? Hopefully something useful in this place."

Tanic scratches his head.

"OK. We follow and I'll clean up the tracks I guess."

"Lead the way, friend. Are the other oozes in here as smart and nice as you?"

Micar will follow about 10' behind the ooze and check for traps along the way as well (taking 10).

Glabbagool leads the party down the corridor.

"Other oozes not smart and nice like Glabbagool. They are stupid, not interesting like new friends. Careful they may try to attack Glabbagool's friends"

As Glabbagool says this you enter a dank looking chamber with water dripping from the ceiling down the walls. Irregular, flowing pillars flank the exit from the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Oh-man-o lookit! Ya'll watch out for tha' doorway yonder! There's somm'n 'tached above it!"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Micar continues along trying too find out a much information about their new friend and its home, "How long have you lived here, Glabagool?"

Micar stops at Harro's warning and looks up.

"Hmmm. Let me see if I can convince it to move to the side for a bit. Perhaps with an offer of some food."

Once again, Tanic will attempt Wild Empathy on the ooze after a little guidance. Gently making shooing gestures.

Wild Empathy: 1d20 + 2 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 1 - 4 = 6

I guess he pisses it off unless he is already disposed to be friendly. Not sure how this wild empathy thing works. How do you do diplomacy when you cannot even talk to it. Is it an emotional connection thing?

Talindra halts as Harro issues his warning. "An offer of food? Not unless you're ready to offer yourself, Tanic. Try what you will but for once I think we won't be able to befriend one of these creatures. Everyone ready your weapons!" Talindra is poised to fire her twin crossbows at the target should things go south.

Glabbagool begins to reply to Micar's question before being cut off by Harro's warning.

"Glabbagool not really sure how long Glabbagool has been in the Oozy Temple. Glabbagool has been here as long as Glabbagool remembers but Glabbagool only remember the last month. Before that Glabbagool does not know."

@Tanic I've always assumed wild empathy to rely heavily on stuff such as tone of voice and body language. Think of any character in fiction who is extremely good with animals without being able to speak their language. Examples Emotional connection would of course play a part as well.

For a normal poor wild empathy roll I would say that it angered the animal and prompted an attack but I'm not at all sure how an angry, mindless ambush predator would act any different to a normal mindless ambush predator.
The ooze therefore remains where it is. It may or may not be angry at Tanic.

Upon spotting the ooze, Micar tries to recall some information about the thing.

Know Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Looking around the new room the group found themselves in, Akri found the ooze perched above the doorway. Continuing his search, now for a different exit, he asked, "Any good methods for getting rid of jelly? Other than with bread, of course."

"Ooze, not jelly..." and with THAT, Tanic proceeds to inform Akri about the differences. Since, I, as a player do not know the differences I will leave that to your imaginations.

Vinexa observed the efforts to tame the oozes quite amusing and if it weren't for the threat the things posed to the group of escaped prisoners she would likely laugh at it. The banter between Akri and Tanic about the best way to get rid of a jelly nearly brought a laugh from her. Unfortunately all of this talk of food in reference to some of these creatures was making her growing hunger far more distracting, a hunger that wouldn't be sated by food. She resolved herself to abstain a bit longer and continued to stay with the group, Talindra in particular, for the time being.

"I think we stand at a distance and unload on it with various attacks until we find something that works. Unfortunately, I have noting useful, not even a sling."

Hearing the deep druid complain about weaponry, Harro will back away a bit from the rest of the group and begin constructing some crude slings, using pieces from the silk ladder left over form his net and cut pouches of felt from the cushions. Harro grumbles while he works.

"Waste of a good cushion if you ask'n me."

Weaponsmithing: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Sorry for the delay in posting
Harro is able to create crude but serviceable slings for everyone who needs one.

Sorry for the delay in posting
Harro is able to create crude but serviceable slings for everyone who needs one.

With that init roll I envision Tanic untangling the sling he managed to mess up.

At the signal, Talindra begins firing crossbow bolts at the ooze. With 2-weapon fighting.

Hand Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19; Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Hand Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4; Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Does Micar know anything from his Knowledge check?

Harro looks for a decent stone to use in his sling.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"Dagnabit! Canna' find a decent bloody rock!"

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Seeing the oozes start to slowly...ooze their way towards them, Akri was quick off the bat. Gathering a swirling ball of energy in his hand, it flew out quickly, visible as only a swirling distortion in the air, before impacting violently.

Vinexa lined up her first shot with her crossbow and sent a bolt flying at the ooze. The bolt sailed across the space but she was starting to doubt that it would actually hit it's intended target.

light crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 81d8 ⇒ 7

Micar's knowledge check: Standard Ooze traits (Immune to Poison, Sleep, Polymorph, and Stunning), Mindless, Immune to cold and fire. Very slow moving (10ft)

Talindra hits with her first shot.

Akri hits.

Vinexa misses.

@Harro nice. You can assume you find something suitable in time for next round

@Micar I'm going to move the ooze now but we can still say your move came first

Upon being hit the Ooze drops to the ground and begins to slither towards the source of the attacks. It moves 10 feet. It is now 20 feet away and on the ground

Micar will move back and fire a crossbow bolt at the ooze, trying to keep a safe distance.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Immune to critical hits, correct?

'fraid so

Almost silently, Harro will step to get a clear shot and launches his new sling at the ooze approaching.

Sling(Stone): 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 1 = 18
Damage(Stone): 1d3 ⇒ 1

Tanic gives up on the tangled mess, and casts guidance on the next person to post an attack roll to give them +1.

Talindra drops one crossbow to reload the second. With guidance from Tanic, she then fires a followup shot. Hand Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 = 15; Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Harro and Talindra both hit.

Jimjar, Shushar, Buppido, and Derendil join in with the throwing of stones. I'm going to model the NPCs in the group as one here, with one attack and one damage roll to make things easier.

Group Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

But their throws all go well wide of the mark.

A-HA! I see they all went to the storm trooper school of group ranged combat...

bump

Really Sorry about the long delay. I was without internet for over a week after moving. Things have settled down now so I should be able to get back to the old posting frequency now.

The Ooze continues to slither slowly forwards. It is now 10 feet away.

I believe after Tanic acts we will be in Round 2

"Everyone just stay at a distance so we can shoot it dead!"

@EmEss - what was the ooze's apparent movement speed on its turn? Given how it failed to enter melee range, I'm guessing we're all a lot faster than it? Seems like it's inevitable that we kill it without being injured as long as we stay out at range.