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"He helped me solve a case last week - my uncle's second-cousin's wife's grandfather-in-law had a family heirloom go missing in an open market - and it took him only two days to rediscover it!" As there are not near as many ysoki in Kibwe as there are other races, the community is small-ish and close-kit, and a tip from a friend had led him to docking here a week ago, looking for a reputed P.I. to help track down his missing kin. "This is how he said to contact him..."
Hopping down from a stool at the Tailor's shop, strapping his bow to his back and collecting his meager things into his knapsack, the mature-aged ratfolk thanked the man and headed to the marketplace, arriving around high noon. With the hot sun at it's zenith in the sky, he pulled over his hood to block from the light his sensitive eyes, and with a twitch of his nose, folded his whiskers into an acute angle forward, so as not to brush against the passerbys that typically stood a whole head and two halves over and above him, scanning the crowds for faces affixed to pointed ears, and spotting a man whose description matched the picture the tailor had quickly sketched together:
"Renthiel Simnan?" shooting forth his fuzzy paw "Bangy Piper!"
While elves are not unusual in Kibwe, this one was definitely not a normal one. He has unkempt short hair, a skin tone likely from Avistan, and a leather coat in the Mwangi. The unusual appearance of this elf is compounded with his fast paced walk while rubbing his chin thoughtfully and his eyes seemingly locked on the ground. Despite that dangrous proposition, he moves gracefully through the crowd as if he intuitively knows where to be to not collide with a single other person.
"Renthiel Simnan? Bangy Piper!"
Renthiel stops in his tracks at the fuzzy paw thrust in his direction with curiosity. As he does so, he steps slightly to the side preventing a collision with a burly human woman that was walking behind him. He looks at the extended paw and the person attached to it. His eyes scan Bangy from top to bottom and then he sharply inhales through his nose.
Hmm...ysoki..lighter fur, not from undeground or Darklands...standard nose length...so either desert or...*sniff* sewers.
After a few seconds an excited grin erupts on his face. "Katapesh?!" he nearly bursts out giddily
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"Senghor" he corrects him quickly, and after a short shake with low pressure, he withdraws his paw to fetch an artist's rendition from a hidden pocket of his well-worn now-faded robe: "Daisy Piper" indicating the ysoki face depicted, now awaiting the customary look of quizzicality (they had different eyes, fur, a different shaped nose, hardly looking to be of relation at all!), before supplying the connecting context "I'm told you're the elf I can put my money on. She was my sister" then corrects himself "-is my sister."
Bangy Piper's face contains something here - a "heavy" sort of something - something that would, to a sensitive person, read as more than a mere willful hopefullness - more than the "money" he mentions speaking with custom - indeed more than merely "taking a case": He is looking for someone to tell him "it'll be alright" and to believe it themselves.
"Turned over every stone in Katapesh, now that ya mention it" affirming his potential employee's intuitions "Spent a lot of time there - lot's of work, friends, family" before a sudden change of subject "So?" as he draws his paw a third time into a pocket to fetch a jangly sack of coins...
Renthiel snaps his fingers in minor frustration, "Agh! Senghor!". He then lets the ysoki continue.
His face quickly becomes quizzical once more, "Do you have any evidence that she was not lost into the sea?" He stares at Bangy, his almond eyes seeming to penetrate into one's inner being.
A rare sight in Kibwe, an tall but lithe orc man walks past the ysoki and the elf exchanging greetings. 'What are they talking about I wonder?' he grunts under his breath.
Utek was annoyed. He was supposed to meet with a half-orc liaison here in Kibwe to broker peace between Utek's tribe and a neighboring tribe. But the half-orc was a no show. 'What am I supposed to tell Ymog now?' Grumbling and lost in thought, Utek nearly tumbles over the ysoki.
"Sorry little man, I didn't see you there."
Both Bangy and Renthiel can get a better glimpse of Utek. He's wearing a simple cotton vest which show off his arms and loose pants. Intricate tribal tattoos dot his muscles. Covered head to toe in scars and other various tattoos, Utek is hard to miss. A small colorful blob hangs on his shoulder.
"I said I'm sorry," Utek repeats himself more sternly. "I don't suppose you know of a place to drink here, little man?". He's obviously lost in thought.
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Bangy Piper holds eye contact with Renthiel Simnan, but just as the discerning elf brushes up against the truth of what he refuses to acknowledge, he looks away.
"Actually I do!" he answers Utek, having shifted his gaze almost accidentally. "I could use some muscle" he thinks to himself - concerning his own "mission" - and says "Just this way!"
The only sitting space in the establishment seems to be near three dwarves. "Bangy Piper!" he introduces himself politely "May we join you?"
"Sure." A solid-looking woman waves a hand at one of the empty seats before returning to her conversation.
"So as I was saying, you just gotta wait for them to come to you, ya know? That's why being a guard's so agreeable for me - bandits and whatnot want to get at the goods, so you just gotta wait next to 'em and not go chasin' off after some decoy." She takes a long drink from her mug before slamming it back down on the table. "What about you, young'un?"
"Hehehe! Nothin' more satisfying then watchin' some dolt trip n fall into a sharp maw of iron teeth!" The old Dwarf pats his backpack sitting on the floor between his short legs.
He looks up at the troop of strangers coming to join them with an eye of distrust and slight concern "Howdy, we don't own the joint so have at. Just don't be askin' fer free drinks, Scratch don't just give away hooch to just anybuddy!" He smiles, showing off some yellow teeth and blackened gums before finishing whatever was in his wooden mug.
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Bangy Piper buys a first round. Might as well make instant friends. Proposition them later.
At first ignored due to his small size, eventually he succeeds, and the [redacted] brings over a full [redacted] for everyone to share.
"You all don't look to be from around here either. Me? I'm a sailor - been around Garund a couple times now. Originally from Senghor" now being nosy "What were you all talking about?" twitching his whispers with keen interest - you get a sense as he leans in awful close that his "bubble" - if it exists at all - is razor thin...
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It is a beautiful day, and you have all come to the Central Market around Adayenki Pavilion, at the heart of Kibwe after a few good rounds at the local pub. You are at an open-air shop belonging to a seller of rare wood named Kendi Laughs-Long, who stocks some of the city’s most intricately carved darkwood that catches your eye.
“Ah, not one buyer, but many!” cries Kendi Laughs-Long, the proprietor of this spacious stall in Kibwe’s bustling Central Market. His expansive gesture draws attention to his many skillful carvings of rare wood, including darkwood. “Please, all of you, browse my wares and feel free to ask me anything. Are you all together or are you in search of different items? I have darkwood weapons, shield, staves, and works of art.”
Renthiel rubs his chin and then looks up to the proprietor and blurts out, "Why darkwood?"
Scratch readily accepts a top off of Ginger Jungle Guice from the surprisingly dexterous tap guardian: Mini the Monkey. "Ahhh, now where were we?" He surveys the new comers with less concern and far more curiosity "Don't take this the wrong way, but I can picture a whole crew of Ysoki pretty easy..." His imagination quickly spreads to dozens of the furry varmints scurrying up and down the rigging like... well... rats.
"Name's Scratch. Scratch Steeltoe. Trapper, woodsman, n guide fer hire I guess." Again, he flashes the lingering remnants of teeth in a smile, nodding in greeting as he demolishes the whole mug of Guice in one go.
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Scratch is naturally drawn into the darkwood stall, his nimble fingers dancing over the intricate carvings with appreciation and some level of knowledge.
"Hard ta find a finer wooden canvas than darkwood Renny! Its so light n strong.. never mind the amazing grain, contrasting heartwood n sapwood!" He moves through the stalls wares with a smile on his face and a light wallet. Mebe my next trip in I can find me some good stuff... sell a bit to this feller!
After a cup or three of dars, Utek is feeling better. "Ymog wont be happy when I return empty handed. Our clan is proud, you know.". The orc starts rambling on about pride of her tribe. "We've been fighting our rivals for years. I was hoping to broker the beginnings of a peace deal. I guess they don't want peace anymore."
As they pass the darkwood trader, Utek's eyes perk up. "Perhaps I can purchase something for our tribe. May soothe Ymog's wrath.". Utek starts browsing the wares.
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Pleased to have "recruited" so many able-bodies, Bangy Piper follows the urges of these new "hired help" to go shopping, wandering with them on this fine day through the Central Market around Adayenki Pavilion. He staunchly resists the urge to be light fingered. Instead:
"{Hic} Staves? Yes I would love to see what {Hic} Staves you have" thinking it might be nice to "window shop" for magic that is well beyond his capability to understand...
Ever sticking his nose where it doesn't belong "Who is this Rival you have been fighting for years, Utek?"
Urdda gives the wood a polite glance, but her attention is on the other shoppers in the market square. Perfect place for someone to sneak up on you and snatch something before fleeing, she thinks to herself as her eyes move from face to face. Best to nip that in the bud.
Torra peers around the booth next to Kendi's to watch the two dwarfs, elf, orc, and ysoki group. Her interest had been piqued by them as she wandered through the market. "Not a usual grouping, indeed," she mutters to herself. But the beautiful wood also catches her eye and she edges closer to view the wares, holding her hands behind her back so as to not automatically touch them.
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"Ah, yes you have a wonderful eye for the merchandise! The secret of..."
Kendi utters a strange, deep gurgle, and his features begin to flow and melt like wax. He stares plaintively as his eyes droop and then liquefy. Within seconds, the merchant has become a quivering pile of dark goo in his stall. The goo suddenly ripples, extrudes a pseudopod, and slithers forward.
The shop’s expensive darkwood carvings are all splattered during Kendi’s transformation and destroyed by the ooze’s acid.
Several merchants and shoppers in the market witness Kendi’s horrid demise. Most wisely scatter or hide, but you are too close to get away as it reaches out toward you.
Urrda
Torra
Utek
Bangy Piper
Scratch
Renthiel
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Ooze
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Bangy Piper's commanding presence seems to help the group from immediately fleeing at the horrific sight. The small ratfolk screeches as he bites into the ooze. The corrosive acid burns Bangy's mouth.
As Bangy's incisors bite into the ooze it splits apart into two separate forms.
Urrda
Torra
Utek
Bangy Piper (80/81)
Scratch
Renthiel
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Ooze (Red -7)
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"Only use blunt weapons for physical attacks! These things will split otherwise! And that is a bad thing!" Renthiel yells as he flees from the fray and draws his sling.
"Only use blunt weapons for physical attacks! These things will split otherwise! And that is a bad thing!" Renthiel yells as he flees from the fray and draws his sling.
Urdda's eyes widen as the merchant dissolves, but she doesn't hesitate to put herself between the pair and the other townsfolk. Once in position, she hunkers down and squares her shoulders. Gotta say, this is a first. Taking a deep breath, she punches and kicks at the slimy thing the ysoki bit. "Focus on one at a time," she orders, voice rumbling like a boulder rolling down a mountainside.
"These eyes might be a bit old, but they be dang KEEN!" The old Dwarf nods, slowly turning that nod into a slack jawed frown as the man (and his wares) melt. Another perspective buyer turned to goo... can't catch a break!
Scratch scurries back away from the frackus with exceptional speed for an old Dwarven coot, draws his loaded crossbow and squints a bit to get a better bead on just what they're dealing with.
"Bitin' n sockin' a puddle of burnin' goo? That ain't gud!" Let's hope these things move slow eh?
Utek spies the slime start to form. "How unusual."
The orc attempts to talk with the ooze. "Hello there ooze. What's your name? Can you understand me?"
Regardless, Utek feels the hostility from the ooze and gets ready to fight. "Banga, right little man? Here's a little bit of guidance for you."
"I'd like to know you better, ooze-man."
"Would love to chat more, but for now, it may be best if we aren't close."
Horrified by Kendi's melting into an ooze, Torra shrieks out prayers for help from Sarenrae and then chants a more ordered passage from The Birth of Light and Truth as a gleaming mote of fire shoots from her holy symbol and lands behind the oozes, rapidly expanding into a conflagration.
fire damage, Reflex DC 21
Torra then moves back with everyone else.
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Urdda brings her elbows down into the blackened roiling mass as the acid burns her arm.
Torra watches as the market begins to disperse, though not quickly enough for her. She knows that if something drastic isn't done quickly then more may die so she engulfs a good section of the market into flames. More people scream as they run away from the massive explosion while the oozes burn.
Utek attempts to communicate with the ooze and receives no verbal response as the merchants mind now ceases to exist.
Utek recognizes these oozes as Black Puddings. Most often found below ground, these oozes scour caves for objects to dissolve with their corrosive secretions. This caustic acid is particularly dangerous to creatures that attack a pudding, as it can quickly damage and destroy gear. The corrosive mass burns all that it touches and splits into identical forms when struck by piercing or slashing weapons.
Scratch and Renthiel are both unsure what exactly this ooze is and simply take Utek's word for it as Scratch draws his crossbow. Renthiel draws his sling as he begins to retreat.
The pair of oozes lurch small pseudopods out at Bangy and Urdda.
+ Grab
+ Grab
Both oozes grab ahold of Bangy and Urdda as it begins to twist and compress their bodies.
Urdda (64/85; Grabbed)
Torra
Utek
Bangy Piper (54/81; Grabbed)
Scratch
Renthiel
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Ooze (Red 71) (Green -46)
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Urdda feels several ribs crack under the ooze’s constricting grasp. Gasping painfully for breath, she continues to punch and kick at the slimy mass. ”Mountain’s Breath, not today!” she bellows, and her fists glow with light for a few seconds in response. Ow... she thinks after each impact.
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Urdda's body burns greatly as her blows splatter the ooze's body all over the stall. Her next couple of blows are absorbed by the second ooze.
Held tight as well Bangy smashes his own tiny fists into the ball of acidic goo.
Urdda (22/85; Grabbed)
Torra
Utek
Bangy Piper (20/81; Grabbed; Leather armor 10/16)
Scratch
Renthiel
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Ooze (Green -72)
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"Waddya mean by a puddin'? I can't shoot holes in it? What the crap." A frustrated Scratch drops his precious crossbow then rushes up behind those on the front lines, doing his best to patch up Bangy with a handful of dirt and a splash of fine whiskey.
"Ain't nothin' I can do 'bout yer gums bud. They're takin' a beatin' worse then mine!" He grins, and he's right. They aren't pretty.
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Renthiel loads and fires his sling several times at the remaining ooze.
Torra chants another phrase from Sarenrae's text and a surge of opalescent energy flows from her holy symbol to envelop Urdda.
HP to Urdda.
Then Torra moves back 10', intending to use a 3-action heal next round without a chance of healing the ooze.
"Watch out! That's a black pudding!" Utek screams out. "Don't use piercing or slashing weapons."
Utek looks at the pudding with a glare.
"Bangy, how you doin' little man? You look hurt!"
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Torra heals Urdda's more serious injuries while Utek glares at the ooze. It seems unaffected by his evil gaze. Scratch drops his crossbow and helps sanitize Bangy's burns. Renthiel loads a stone into his sling and cracks it into the muck.
The ooze continues to constrict Urdda's body as it writhes around her before dropping her to the ground.
Urdda (54/85)
Torra
Utek
Bangy Piper (39/81; Leather armor 10/16)
Scratch
Renthiel
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Ooze (Green -77)
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Bangy Piper's "First Mate" days takeover - as if battling head to hull with Gozreh herself! - his Rage manifesting as a Barking of orders as if to his Loyal and Merry Crew!
"We wai' on her firs'" indicating Torra, his mouth still numb "Theh, I go roun' ba'" looking towards Urdda now "Theh, you smas'"...
Bangy Piper Strides east around the stalls to flank the creature - if it even be an effective tactic against the black pudding!
◆) Stride
◆) Stride
◆) Strike
Torra begins chanting again and this time a sphere of opalescent energy expands outward from her holy symbol, reaching out to Urdda and Bangy Piper as well as any bystanders behind the group, stopping short of the hideous ooze creature.
Urdda grits her teeth in pain, but steels her core enough to break out of the slime’s grasp before passing out. ”Thanks... uh, yeah, thanks,” she grunts at Torra, gasping for breath. One hand plunges into her belt pouch, grabbing a small cloth bag of wrapped herbs. The dwarf rubs the poultice on her hands and arms before fixing the ooze with an implacable stoney glare.
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Urdda only needs one more fist to land into the ooze before it shudders and breaks apart for good.
Torra sends out a small wave of healing to everyone around her. A few of the nearby shopkeepers begin peering up from their stalls in surprise. "Th..thank you for the help. We will see what we can salvage for Kendi's daughter." One says solemnly. He draws forth a small rolled satchel. "Please take this as some gratitude."
He lays a traveler's any-tool on one of the display tables and gestures to it. he is suddenly interrupted by a woman from several stalls away trying to get your attention.
You see a middle-aged Zenj woman dressed in colorful fabrics waving at you. “Ah! Heroes! I would speak with you!” When the woman gets closer, she bows and introduces herself. “I am Abayone Munme, and I have the pleasure of serving on the Representative Council that administers Kibwe. Might I bother you for a moment of your time? That unfortunate transformation you just witnessed was, alas, not an isolated event.”
She continues to get to the point. “He was transformed into an ooze. There have been several reported instances of this happening. Many rumors are circulating about these ghastly transformations in the city; other than myself, however, too many are inclined to dismiss them as foolish jokes or the effects of too much alcohol.” She smiles grimly, tapping the side of her nose. “At first, so did I. But this is no joke. I would hire you to investigate. I can offer a stipend of ten gold pieces per day for expenses, but also the Representative Council’s gratitude, which you may find quite valuable.”
Urdda** (26/85)
Torra
Utek
Bangy Piper** (56/81; Leather armor 10/16)
Scratch
Renthiel
Utek screams at the black pudding. Even though it can't understand him, Utek still attempts to talk to it. "Mr. Black Pudding. You're not a nice ooze. Please just go away and leave us. If not, we will destroy you."
Utek tries to launch a rock towards the ooze, but can't seem to control the direction the rock goes.
"Urrda, you look like you need help!"
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Our ysoki hero removes his Leather Armor right there - seemingly unperturbed to be completely covered in muck! - and looking around the marketplace, immediately begins scrounging for discarded pieces of leather, string, cloth, or bone (or darkwood?) and gets to work repairing it Quickly and Without Tools!
"Hmm - this'll take a moment longer!" he scrapes the black pudding out from inside one of the threadings...
..."Ah that's better!" smiling to himself. It is then that he notices someone talking to him as he exits his hyper focus "Abayone Munme? Bangy Piper!" he offers his paw to shake "Unfortunately Kendi Laughs-Long didn't make it - the Black Pudding got the Last Laugh" he looks around his Crew like "Amifunny right?" but then realizes the insensitivity of the joke (it's timing, really) and overcompensates with a reflexive "Yes tell the Representative Council we'll take the job" he looks around the group once more to make sure he isn't the only one nodding...
..."Renthiel Simnan, Scratch Steeltoe, Torra Shest, Urdda, umm... Rock Runner?, and Utek Shul'm" he points at each Teammate round-robin as he recalls their names (only stumbling once) and spins back to add "At your command!" with a shortquick curtsy to honor his new employer.
Renthiel perks up at the 'not an isolated event'. His almond eyes bore into the Zenj woman as she continues. His ears twitch at the word 'investigate'. As she finishes and Bangy boldly takes the lead, an excited smile is plastered onto the elf's face.
Renthiel immediately approaches the location of the once merchant Kendi and his stall and begins scouring the location with his eyes.
Scratch hops back as the last ooze splatters all over the stall thanks to Urrda's powerful punches. "Torag's brazier, what a right hook she's got!" He grins, quickly rushing back to gather up his crossbow and survey the area for more threats.
His eyes land on no more oozes thankfully and are quickly distracted by Bangy's needle work and repairs. "I got tools if ya need 'em... er not. Suit yerself." Instead he gives the two beaten and burnt 'heroes' a quick once over to make sure they're not infected with 'oozy transformations'.
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Scratch raises an eyebrow as the anytool is offered "All in a day's work. We're happy to accept that!" YOINK! He fires it up into a heckova good back scratcher, digging down under his ripe leather armor for a good scratching.
"Ten gold a day eh? What about ooze related expenses.. that acid eats up teeth, fists, and clubs like mad!" He wiggles an eyebrow and prods Bangy to try to sweeten the deal.
Utek shakes the hand of Abayone. "Pleasure to meet you.". His spellslime familiar pokes his head out of his shirt. Immediately, Utek pushes the slime back down and whispers, "Now is not the time, Mita. We can introduce you later."
"I would be more than willing to help." 'Anything to avoid going back to Ymog and her wrath...'. "Do you have any other information that would be valuable?"