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Urdda pummels the ochre jelly into submission. Blow after blow sends spurts of jelly in a random direction until little more remains.
Utek and Scratch continue to work as a team as the stone does significant damage to the second ooze.
Bless (Torra 5 feet)
Urdda** (18/85)
Scratch
Renthiel
Utek
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Ochre Jelly (Green -103)
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Bangy Piper** (52/81; 8 Temp HP)
Torra
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Torra winces at the squeezing that Urdda and Bangy are undergoing and, chanting praises to Sarenrae, she sends more opalescent energy to swirl around the dwarf. Then she reaches out to Bangy with her healer's tools to help the squished ysoki.
HP to Urdda.
Medicine Check vs DC20
So, 45 HP to Urdda and 26 HP to Bangy, total.
Rentiel narrows his eyes once more at the nearest ooze, quickly reloads while juggling his rapier in his grasp and flings the bullet.
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Bangy smashes his mace into the jelly, wounding it a bit further with each successful blow. Torra works on healing the wounded around her before it gets too bad.
Renthiel hucks another stone into the ooze as it reaches once more for Bangy.
[ooc]Basic DC 23 Fort Save
The ooze grabs ahold of Bangy around his face and begins to squeeze quite hard.
Bless (Torra 5 feet)
Urdda** (63/85)
Scratch
Renthiel
Utek
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Ochre Jelly (Green -123)
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Bangy Piper** (31/81; Grabbed)
Torra
Urdda looks at the sling in her hand, sighs heavily, and stomps towards the remaining ooze like a mountain avalanche. ”Hang in here - we’re not abandoning you,” she rumbles.
"Best someone grab the whiskers before he's just a rodent in Auntie's oversized fruit cake from hell!" Calls out Scratch, furiously reloading and whipping stones as fast as he can.
"Will this ooze just die?". Utek turns to the ooze. "Just die already!"
Utek looks around for another stone to toss at the ooze.
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The ooze splatters under a flurry of blows as it drops Bangy to the ground. Grisshuk sighs deeply. "You're all pretty good in a fight. It's a shame you're probably all going to turn into oozes now, just like those guys." Grisshuk shakes his head sadly as he returns to his silent prayer. "I just have to hope the Grandmother Grace will redeem me."
Urdda** (63/85)
Scratch
Renthiel
Utek
Bangy Piper** (24/81)
Torra
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"Nonsense" Bangy Piper scolds "Like I said, I can't speak to divine redemption" stowing his slimy mace with little regard for his disheveled physical state "But, if you want to help, you could arrange a meeting with your friend Matala, agent of Mysterious Benefactor from Khalibi" he crosses his arms now, eager to hear if this orc's "hope" will translate into actual "help"...
Torra immediately moves to Bangy to try to help him with his compression injuries.
Torra, unhappy at her failure to help Bangy, resorts to chanting quietly and sending energy around him, hoping to fix his worst damage.
HP for Bangy
Then she moves over to Urdda hoping her medicine kit will suffice for her care.
HP for Urdda
Renthiel stows his weapons and looks to Grissshuk with an eyebrow raised, "Tell me Grisshuk, do you know of a merchant named Kendi?"
Utek wipes off his vest and Mita pops out. "Hmm. Interesting. Very interesting. Those two were humans, right? Did you know them, turn them into oozes?"
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"But, if you want to help, you could arrange a meeting with your friend Matala, agent of Mysterious Benefactor from Khalibi"
"Head to the Bwamandu Camp, Matala will speak with you." He continues to pray. "I need the help of the Gods to remove this curse before I can atone for anything."
"Tell me Grisshuk, do you know of a merchant named Kendi?"
Grisshuk shakes his head. "Never heard of 'em"
"Hmm. Interesting. Very interesting. Those two were humans, right? Did you know them, turn them into oozes?"
Grisshuk sighs. "Yes, they were old...acquaintances, if you must. That was the curse I was talking about that turned them into oozes."
Urdda** (85/85)
Scratch
Renthiel
Utek
Bangy Piper** (56/81)
Torra
"-And," Renthiel interrupts, "have you ever found yourself in the main part of the marketplace looking at fine darkwood craftmanship?"
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"-And," Renthiel interrupts, "have you ever found yourself in the main part of the marketplace looking at fine darkwood craftmanship?"
"'Fraid not, me and my associates were more into collections." His heart seems very heavy with little inclination of leaving his prayer before the gods remove this curse from him.
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3) Elven healer named Numu in the Bwamandu Camp has been treating people suffering from a strange slime sickness - including a woman named Matala
3.5) Matala works for someone in the city named Khalibi
4) A mystic named Baats’ulan preaches in the Adayenki Pavilion every sundown. Several have apparently been afflicted with this transformation.
"Interesting..," Rethiel mumbles to himself as he rubs his chin thoughtfully. "On to Numu then."
He then turns to Grisshuk off-handedly, "Oh, the chances of you having a curse that turns people into slimes is quite low as you seem to have had no contact with a victim of the slimification."
Though it is possible that multiple people have been cursed thusly...yes but if multiple people were cursed with such, the slimifactions would likely be much more rampant...The numbers so far just seem to indicate more of a serial slimer..
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Once everyone is healed up a bit, your find your way to the Bwamandu Camp with Grisshuk's directions. Once a tiny site of tents and huts occupied by refugees fortunate enough to have escaped Usaro, the Bwamandu Camp has recently exploded in size. Fresh upheaval in Usaro has made escaping it easier, and many have fled here. The Bwamandu Camp has done what it can to welcome this influx, but its resources are badly strained.
You see a Kallijae elf with sharp features and a high hairline with straight white hair that she keeps in a tight bun. She greets you, though she looks exhausted moving from tent to tent.
"Hello, I'm Numu. Do you have a medical emergency you need help with?"
Renthiel greets Numu with a traditional Kallijae greeting and then, "We have been tasked with investigating the origin of the slimifications. What do you know?"
Could be the culprit, but...exhausted. Creating more work for oneself often is only done by fanatics. With the lack of an eccentric smile as well as the presence of the rigid hairstyle... 7% likely she is the culprit.
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"We do not" Bangy Piper breathes through cracked ribs covered by sore muscles and flesh with patches of singed fur, but also looks around and understands that the great need of this camp is tended by a single care giver, and feigns strength "But we are willing to help in exchange for information my PI Renthiel Simnan here requests!" his crafty eyes dart around the encampment, looking to see if it's tents and huts couldn't use a helping hand as towards their stability or repair.
If he spots anything, he nods at Scratch.
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A painful scream is heard from the series of tents. "Wish I had more time to talk at the moment, but there are a lot of sick and wounded here. If you want to help, those three tents need a bit of help." Numu motions off to the set of tents before rushing off to help.
Tent 1: Filth Fever
The poor waste drainage in the Bwamandu Camp has caused several residents to come down with filth fever.
Tent 2: Injury
The first tent contains several people injured in a brawl started by the residents of the Bekyar Block.
Tent 3: Poison
One of the refugees inadvertently brought an egg sac from a poisonous
spider from the jungle, and the spiders hatched and bit several people in the camp before being discovered.
Scratch gently gathers up his dropped crossbow and dusts it off, speaking quietly to it in Dwarven, likely an apology of some sort. He gives anyone who gives him guff about it the stink eye. This baby is older than any one else here 'sides the Elf n Urrda!
"Good luck wid yer redemption kid." Scratch heads out with the others to find this camp.
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"Filth fever ya say? Reminds me of all them cases of trench foot that roll through the Dwarven Infantry. I'm on it!" He bends down to snatch up some fresh, dry dirt and heads inside to get to work.
"Aight, take off yer boots n close yer eyes. I'm Scratch and I'll be yer medic soldier!" He repeats himself and waves off any mention of the contrary, to him they're all soldiers. Almost like a flashback to his younger years.
Torra asks Bangy to join her in the first tent with the wounded people. She kneels down in the middle of them, making sure they're all within the 30' radius of her emanation, and chants to Sarenrae while a very faint fog-like glow spreads throughout that 60-foot sphere. She repeats it three times, drawing a deep breath in between spells.
Torra first checks on the wounded people in the first tent to make sure none are currently dying.
Then she will treat Bangy's wounds, trying for a more complete result.
HP to Bangy
And more HP for Bangy:
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Scratch begins working on the filth fever well into the night. Taking his time and changing bandages between patients Scratch seems to have the tent under a fair bit of control. At least as much so it is manageable.
Torra drags Bangy into the tent with the injured. With a fair bit of concentration she sends out several waves of healing into the crowd. In a matter of moments they all seem to be quite better. All in all they begin to quiet down and rest. The injuries still having taken a toll on their bodies.
After expending the rest of her heal spells, Torra is so ready for a good night's sleep. She beds down in the tent, wanting to keep an eye on the injured to make sure nothing else happens to them, hoping to avoid slimey nightmares this rest.
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Bangy Piper's resolve breaks - he quickly assesses that he will be of no use "helping" - and formally submits himself as a patient in Torra's care... By the time Torra's second Healing spell is completed (perhaps a couple minutes, working at the speed of divine magic), he pops up "I feel great! Thank you Torra Shest!!" declaring loudly, feeling his ribs with his hands, then outstretching his arms to give them a look.
Then he reverses on Torra!
Having submitted to her dragging him somewhere, he bounces back with "No time to lose! We can rest when we can rest. But you can make a difference now!" and drags her over to the tent where people are dying of poison, and offers to be helpful "I'll hold his head while you... uh... while you work!" his eagerness to be of assistance far outstripping his ability.
He then yells out for his PI "Renthiel Simnan - your expertise is required here! Hurry!! And bring Urrda Rockdwarf!!!"
"Yes, yes..," Rentiel says with a waving hand as Bangy rushes him while he is on his way already. He rolls his sleeves up as he enters the tent and quickly analyzes the situation. With a quick mental triage, Renthiel gets to work treating the poisoned people. He utilizes Bangy's enthusiasm by having the ysoki retrieve the assortments of bandages, vials, balms, and tonics he needs. He works coldly, but efficiently. He pays little heed to patient complaints, instead he seems to focus more on his non-auditory sense to do his work.
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Renthiel gets to work in the poison tent. While it takes a bit of research and mixing Renthiel is able to find a suitable antidote to the spider's venom that was wrecking havoc on the camp.
By the time you all exit the three tents it is late into the evening. Numu looks exhausted as she slumps down near the fire with a mug of steaming tea in her hands. "Nicely done, that was some great work in there." She motions for you all to join her near the fire before settling in for the evening. She grabs another set of mugs and her pot of tea passing it around. "This will help calm the nerves." She takes a small sip, "Now what is it you needed?"
Utek watches his friends heal the diseased and poisoned patients. "Nice work there Torra. And good job Renthiel!"
Joining Numu around the campfire, Utek takes a long sip of tea. "This is delicious tea. What kind did you say it was?". Little Mita sticks his head out and Utek gives it some tea as well. "So, what brings us here? We've been investigating a strange 'curse' you could say. A few people we've ran across have ... how do I say this? turned into slimes or oozes. It's rather disturbing. We've heard that you have been treating people with a similar curse. Perhaps you could tell us what you've found. We really would appreciate any help you could provide us."
Scratch pulls up a stump around the campfire, drags out a greasy bag of raccoon jerky and offers it up to share. He takes a mug of tea and after a sip, spices it up with the last inch of a bottle he found in the plague'd tent. "Don't ask me what kinda meat that is, its jerky dammit! It all tastes the same with enough smoke n salt."
He gives Utek a funny look as the man cheers on the team "Next time you can come gimme a hand in the trench foot tent. Those bed pans are overflowin' with shit n puke." He gnaws off a piece of jerky and washes it down with tea.
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"Scratch Steeltoe - that's rubbing alcohol - I remember having to fetch some for Renthiel Simnan earlier..." before realizing he probably knows that. Bangy Piper eats the jerky and drinks the tea, feeling the warmth of it melt into his belly.
"We are looking for Matala of Khalibi - heard you treated her here - did she make it? - also we are looking for Baats’ulan of Adayenki Pavilion" peppering poor healer with rapidly summed info "I'll be blunt with you Numu of Bwamandu Camp: We've been put on the case by Abayone Munme. It seems we have the same goal. As my teammate Utek Shul'm says, any information you have would greatly expedite our process!"
Urrda wordlessly keeps watch, having washed herself clean after helping Scratch in the sick tent. Her gaze falls on her companions as often as on the darkness outside the circle of firelight.
Who will be the next to succumb? Who of us will be the first?
Torra zones out as she enjoys a cup of Numu's tea. She just watches and listens to the talk around the fire, ready to bed down at any moment.
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Numu looks down at the tea. "Little bit of cinnamon and stuff from the surrounding area that I dried out." She takes another sip of her tea.
"So the first thing you are correct in this being a curse. Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do about curses. The very first victim I saw was the woman you are looking for. The woman named Matala. She wasn’t particularly lucid by the time she reached here, but I could tell she was some kind of laborer by trade. I asked her what happened, but she only said “Crimson Asp” before passing away. Then all of a sudden, she swelled up into a gelatinous cube! I don’t have any idea what “Crimson Asp” means, but maybe it will help you? I also have her belongings here. There wasn't much left after she turned into an ooze." Numu goes into one of the tents and returns with a small bag.
Indeed, the scraps of fabric left in the bag don't amount to much, but you do find a small silver key.
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Upon hearing Crimson Asp Utek begins to piece some of the clues together. First, Khalibi doesn't appear to be a person at all but rather a name of a business. Second there is an obscure street in the Brass Block called Crimson Asp Way. What's more, there's a place called Khalibi Caravan House on Crimson Asp Way.
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Almost a reflex, the ysoki quickly pockets the key...
"Is the Brass Block on the way to Adayenki Pavilion or vice versa?" he asks both Numu but also his team, trying to prioritize time and distance...
4) Matala - Numu's patient zero! - works for someone in the city named Khalibi. Her dying words were "Crimson Asp" the name of a street in Brass Block
5) A mystic named Baats’ulan preaches in the Adayenki Pavilion every sundown. Several have apparently been afflicted with this transformation.
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Numu draws a small map in the dirt. "You are here in the northern part of the city. Here." She pokes a hole in the dirt. "The Adayenki Pavilion is on the south side of the city. Here." She pokes another hole some distance away. "And the Brass Block is just a few blocks from here." Numu points to the south east.
"Hmmm" Utek thinks for a moment. "I've heard of this Crimson Asp. It's a street. Very obscure. Now that I think of it, I had a meeting there with another diplomat a few years back.". The orc thinks for a moment. "I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before. We met at the Khalibi Caravan House. I feel silly now for not thinking of it earlier."
Utek looks at the dirt map Numu drew. "If the Brass Blocks are close by, we should go with haste."
Scratch drains his tea, coughs a couple times and his eyes definitely start to droop. "Sounds like we got ourselves marchin' orders for the AM." He yawns "But savin' the world from blasted oozes is tirin' work. I know I might only look about a hundred, but this ticker of mine needs all the rest it can get at this point." He drags out his sleeping gear and starts to get comfortable near the fire.
Anyone with any grasp on the lifespans of Dwarves knows full well 100 years is young to middle aged at most. Scratch looks more than twice that.. maybe older!
Renthiel nods to Scratch, "If some of us are not able, then we should not be too hastey."
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"Hurrumph!"
1) Renthiel
2) Scratch
3) Torra
4) Urrda
5) Utek
Outvoted, Bangy Piper folds his arms and tucks his hands into his armpits in protest. Unaccustomed to personal bubbles, he snuggles between the two "warmest" looking of his pack bedding down for the night: Torra and Renthiel.
"Sleep will be good for us, young ysoki. We can fight more oozes in the morning."
Utek lets out a yawn. He'll hum a little tune while he pets Mita.
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Sleep is indeed good as it takes away the stress from the prior day. You wake up refreshed and begin making your way to the Brass Block. Following Numu's map and Utek's directions you are able to locate the Khalibi Caravan House.
The Khalibi Caravan House is made of stone and remains cool and comfortable even on hot days. The caravan house has no windows; narrow slits near the ceiling allow for airflow.
The stone room at the entrance is cool and comfortable. Shelves line two of the walls, and a large desk opposite the shelves bears a few large tomes. A high wooden chair is behind the desk. Doors lead north and south; the door leading north bears a sign reading “No Admittance” in Common and Mwangi.
The shelves contain cheap travelogues and atlases of the region around Kibwe. The ledgers on the desk are appointment books and account statements.