Cherry quickly chants to themselves and casts Bless, though it doesn't look like the group currently needs it.
[Why? Not that I care. I like it here]
[Huh! Is it nice in the Boneyard?]
[But that's where you live, right?]
[Really?]
Giyozara will attempt to strike once with his claws, then he’ll step, then stride back so he doesn’t get crit again.
Seeing the horrible creature be unaffected by the illusion, Kka collapsing, and Giyozara nearly slashed apart Kvit begins to panic.
The strange moaning from the creature just makes it worse as he starts to feel his stomach churn.
He stumbles back, gagging and retching. He fumbles in his belt pouch for one of the elixirs of life he has prepared earlier hoping he wouldn't be too late for Kka.
[Do you smell something?]
[Well I do; or... I think I do. It's not a good smell]
[Good thing I'm not then]
[I bet it does. Not sure I'm quite ready to go back though]
Kvit retches to get rid of the queasiness and runs closer to Kka. Giyozara strikes the slug-creature and also skedaddles. Kka is still on the floor.
Morlock also needs to save versus Screechy.
Morlock also fails and is queasy. However, Lough is still standing next to him, so he takes it out on Lough. First, his club swishes towards Lough, then he tries to bite Lough.
Finally, he tries to retch to get rid of Screechy's stomach bug.
Kka - dying 1
Morlock -14, sickened 1
Lough -2, sickened 2
Cherry Berry, Will save pending
Screechy
Kvit
Giyozara -15
Lough and Cherry Berry may act!
Cherry moves to be a little bit better positioned for a large heal next turn. "Gather around, I intend for a wide heal next!"
◆Step
Then, Cherry will spin up a two action heal to get Kka back on their feet.
"I'm sorry Kka, but it isn't your time yet."
◆◆
Lough slashes twice at the remaining morlock, but his stomach is too much in distress for him to focus properly. Cherry Berry steps away from Screechy and revives Kka.
Screechy is clearly in distress by the sight of its fallen master. It hacks and coughs up a lot of bile, and sends it flying in a stream towards Kka.
With Kka prone, that hits.
A stream of bile covers the just-conscious Kka again, and the stomach contents splash to everyone around her as well.
Screechy then follows Cherry Berry's retreat, ending up next to them again.
Morlock -17, sickened 1
Lough -5, sickened 2
Cherry Berry
Kka -dying 2
Screechy
Kvit -3
Giyozara -18
Kvit and Giyozara are up!
Kvit breathes a sigh of relief as Kka opens her eyes. He hadn't realized how much her death might've affected him.
Just as he relaxes slightly, the globs of acid splash everyone and the lights go out in Kka's face again. He upends the vial in his hand and pours it down her throat. It tasted of rusty nails and tallow but he knew it would do the trick.
Then he did a quick catalog of what spells he had available and decided to try some fire damage. The Morlock's didn't like light and fire probably wouldn't be enjoyed either.
[That was odd. For a moment there, the smell got really bad and it hurt like hell. There was a lot of screaming too. I think it was mostly mine, but I'm not sure. I'm definitely glad to be back here again]
[Things are going that well, are they?]
[Meh. I'm not concerned. I haven't a worry in the world right now and it is glorious]
[Really?]
[How depressing]
Giyozara will cast ray of frost on the remaining morlock (trying to take him out) and then stride out into the corridor.
Kvit feeds Kka another potion, then he and Giyozara pelt the morlock with spells.
The morlock looks in terrible shape. He's clearly suffering from Screechy's screaming, got friendly fire'd upon by Screechy, and small fry are pelting him with spells. Its pale eyes fly around the room looking for exits, then sees the narrow tunnel the party came from. He drops his club, squeezes past Screechy, and disappears down the tunnel.
Lough -5, sickened 2
Cherry Berry
Kka -19, prone
Screechy
Kvit -3
Giyozara -18
Lough, Cherry Berry, and Kka may act!
|
"Not so fast, you. For Kka. For Tanji!"
↺) Attack of Opportunity
+
◇) Release to Ungrip
◆) Draw Juggernaut Mutagen
◆) Inbibe
◆) Interact to Re-Grip
+
↺) Attack of Opportunity
Cutting down the fleeing morlock, Lough nods to Kka, then with a wild look in his eye, draws the last mutagen Kvit gave him, rips the cork off with his sharp finger, pours the orangey-blackish fluid into his mouth, and laughs maniacally as the veins in his neck and arms bulge, his eyes dilate, and the hair on his chest and head grow a millimeter in every direction.
"Come at me!" he yells at the Screechy beast!
And the Morlock goes down!
[Whaat!?]
[Nooooo! I don't want to go back. Let me stay]
[Damn and blast it!]
[Oddly enough, I do find that comforting]
Kka's eyes snap open and the incredible stench of rotting flesh and vomit hit her with full force. "By all thaat is holy..." Screechy's moan then spears into her eardrums like a rusty nail and she grabs at her head once more. The pain in her ears is so bad that she feels like adding her own vomit to the ever expanding pool around her...
... but by dint of her iron will, manages to keep her stomach fluids to herself. She looks up to see Kvit looming over her with a vial in his hands. "So I've got you to blaame for bringing me baack? Thanks a lot!" It's hard to tell for sure with all the screeching going on, but a faint trace of sarcasm seems to accompany her last words. Despite the effects of the elixir, Kka's severely damaged body starts screaming at her in a different way, so remaining prone, she grabs at her healing supplies and starts applying anesthetic cream to herself and slapping bandages on the worst of the wounds.
Kka, I say you're still holding your weapons. I find it a stupid rule and usually ignore it. Losing an action getting up is punishing enough, I think.
The strap that Kka had put on her shortsword comes in handy now; she easily closes her hand around the grip and jumps to her feet.
Kka looks around her and sees the hideous pustulant body of the recent arrival for the first time. Her beak falls open in surprise. "What in all the hells is that?" She was about to shove her sword into the morlock, but Lough takes the creature out without her help. "Waay to go big maan! Now let's finish this."
Seeing Cherry in imminent danger, Kka calls out, "Cherry clear out of there before thaat thing wipes you out. We'll taake it from here." She doesn't have time to close with Screechy and attack, so she moves into better position to counterattack the creature when it comes at them. "Okaay you ugly worm. We're ready for you."
"Here's some healing for everyone!" Cherry calls out while channeling their full will into a spell.
◆◆◆
Lough drinks a mutagen and starts to Hulk out for a bit. Kka snaps awake, patches herself up, and gets into a better position. Cherry Berry meanwhile releases a wave of healing magic that makes everyone feel better.
Screechy starts coughing up more bile and aims it at Kvit and the surrounding Giyozara and Kka.
It then turns around and swipes two claws at Cherry Berry. The first attack leaves a nasty gash, but luckily the second attack misses.
Lough, sickened 2
Cherry Berry -9
Kka, wounded 2, -1
Screechy
Kvit -13
Giyozara -13
Everyone may act!
Kka ducks away as another stream of barf spews out of the ugly worm; unfortunately, some of it lands on her anyway. "Ugh! I'm going to need a shower after this is over."
Taking advantage of Cherry's positioning and blessed emanation, Kka sneaks up behind the creature, sticks her sword deep into it, and then retreats to the corner of the room.
Kka does a hit and run and strikes Screechy in its soft back (actually, everything is soft), while Lough gets rid of some of its sickness and striking Screechy!
Lough, sickened 1, +5 temp HP
Cherry Berry -9
Kka, wounded 2, -1
Screechy, -16
Kvit -13
Giyozara -13
Cherry Berry, Kvit, and Giyozara may act!
Kvit sees the flames bounce off the beast harmlessly and curses. "Well I know one thing it can't avoid..." the acid glob stings his eyes and whiskers as he raises his hands to send three glowing darts of energy towards the monster.
Lough, sickened 1, +5 temp HP
Cherry Berry -9
Kka, wounded 2, -1
Screechy, -29, bloodied
Kvit -13
Giyozara -13
<><><> Three Action Cast Horizon Thunder Sphere on screechy, even on a miss I deal 1/2 damage
Cherry is going to extend and expand the bless effect. They then cast a two action heal at Kvit.
◆Bless
◆◆
Kvit throws Magic Missiles at Screechy, Giyozara throws a ball of electricity at Screechy, but Screechy dodges. It does get grazed by the ball and takes a bit of damage from it. Cherry Berry expands their Bless radius and heals Kvit.
Screechy is visibly confused by all the attacks and flails around randomly.
Screechy's flailing connects once with Lough and once with Cherry Berry. Lough takes the hit and is still standing, but Cherry Berry goes down!
Lough, sickened 1, -11
Kka, wounded 2, -1
Cherry Berry, dying 1
Screechy, -44, near death
Kvit
Giyozara -13
Screechy looks tired. It is bleeding from multiple wounds and looks like it's on its last legs.
Everyone is up! If Cherry Berry doesn't get healed, they get to make a flat check to stabilise.
plus sickened 1 (double damage and sickened 2 on a crit fail, success halves damage and negates sickened).
From the corner of the room, Kka groans as she watches Cherry go down under Screechy's attacks. Her mind flashes red for an instant as she pictures Tanji's body splayed out on the altar. "Nooo! Not again! I won't allow it."
She rushes over to where Cherry's body lies prone, and slaps some stimulating ointment on their wounds, hoping to revive the cleric.
She then whips her sword around and slices it across Screechy's belly.
Screechy screams in agony. Kka watches in horror as his internal organs swell up like a balloon and then explode, showering acid in all directions...
In case people skipped the spoiler tag: Kka's attack downs Screechy! Screechy goes down with a terrible... Well, screech, and you see its internal organs swelling up from the inside, its saggy skin suddenly looking like a balloon ready to burst. And then.. it pops, spraying more caustic goo everywhere in the room (30 foot radius). Everyone make a Fortitude save or take 10 damage and be sickened 1 (save halves the damage and negates the sickened, crit fail doubles damage and sickened 2).
"Well I don't know about you, but I think its time for some healing." Cherry says to no one in particular before standing and looking at the rest of the group. "A LOT of healing."
Cherry holds out a berry. "Who wants a berry?
"So should I cast another spell, or are we going to keep to medical support? I can either way."
A wave of acid washes over Gyozara. She just stands there, covered in gunk.
”Of course. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to vomit. Profusely.” he says, deadpan.
Giyozara takes the full blast of the explosion. Cherry Berry runs over and puts their berry in Giyozara's mouth, healing him.
The entire room is now dripping with what used to be Screechy's insides. It's a pretty gruesome sight.
Graulgust's body is quietly sizzling away on his throne.
Kvit stands with wide eyes in shock for a moment before he blinks as if waking up. Sneakers pokes his head out and surveys the damage.
Kvit, wipes his mouth and covers his sensitive nose with a handkerchief and says slightly muffled, "ugh, that was horrendous. I have changed my mind about taking a swim in that gross Drake water. Anything is better than this!"
|
|
Caked in barf, guts, and more barf, Lough passes out!
Upon the ground, his body convulses and shakes at the withdrawals of the mutagen - he moans unconscious in pain, puking a little even more.
Several moments pass before our hero comes to, promptly stands up, walks over to Kvit, and asks him "You got any more of that stuff?"
Giyozara takes the full blast of the explosion. Cherry Berry runs over and puts their berry in Giyozara's mouth, healing him.
The entire room is now dripping with what used to be Screechy's insides. It's a pretty gruesome sight.
Graulgust's body is quietly sizzling away on his throne.
Kka runs around treating everyone's wounds and doing her best to avoid the worst of the caustic pools of vomit that seem to be everywhere. During the small periods of downtime she has between changing bandages, she searches the throne room and Screechy's cave to see if there's anything the morlocks have hidden away.
Once everyone is taken care of, Kka points to the southern door. "With all the noise we maade, I'm surprised the two guards in there haaven't poked their heads in here to see whaat's going on. I saay we paay them a visit next and finish what they staarted." She goes over and does her usual door checking before stepping aside for Lough.
Kka ransacks the rooms, including Screechy's den. Screechy's room contains a nest of mud and bones, but other than that and the throne, nothing of interest is lying around. Then she checks the door for traps and deems it safe to open.
The north and south walls of this hall have been decorated with a bewildering array of timbers, metal parts, gears, bits of broken weapons, and trash.
Looks like there's four wires in total, each needing a Thievery to disable. Alternatively, you can simply step over them with a much easier Acrobatics check, but that means everyone will have to do so.
"They might have heard us Kka, they could have decided to run away instead of fight."
Kvit shakes his head at Lough. "No, I already gave you the two I had. Maybe giving you them wasn't such a good idea, they might have some unintended side effects...",
Kvit puts an arm out to stop anyone else from moving forward. "Hold on, looks like those things left a surprise for anyone poking around. Maybe that's why the guards didn't come through here. I'm not sure what the trap is but I am positive those trip wires are for something unpleasant."
Kka looks into the room and also spots the rather obvious tripwires hidden among the trash. She points them out to the others. "See those four wires? Looks like they trigger launching devices of some sort. I better see if I can disaable them. We wouldn't waant anyone clumsy accidently stepping on one, would we? <Ark, ark>"
Kka messes around with the tripwires. The first and last wires prove to be problematic, but after a retry she cuts the wires and the traps go limp. Looks like the room is safe now.
<Snip! Clonk!> "There we go. Thaat's the last of them. It should be saafe to cross the room now."
Kka crosses the room carefully, looking out for anything else that might be dangerous or valuable along the way. When she reaches the door on the other side, she gives it her usual once-over.
”Guess they weren’t fond of visitors.”
Giyozara will follow.
A desk with a chair sits in the middle of this room, while three empty picture frames hang on the walls.
Two Morlocks are tinkering with a clockwork contraption lying on the desk. They look back at Lough in the door and stare at him in complete confusion.
"Ah, newcomers? The king must've sent you on his "quest," right? No way he'd let you by otherwise. Go on, the stairs down are up north somewhere. We're busy fixing this thing, whatever it is."