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Ezgara shocks the ooze as glowing mists rise around Onye transforming him into a mighty feline. Onye's powerful claw rakes through the evil ooze as it burns his skin beneath the fur.
Onye's claw doesn't appear to do any damage but it does split the ooze apart into two separate halves.
Daehalya is unsure what the ooze is and smacks into it with her staff. Her staff sizzle and pops as the acidic goo burns the end of it.
Daehalya flicks off the corrosive goo before it can do any damage to her staff.
Alvarius recognizes this living evil as an more powerful form of a black pudding. 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. Piercing and Slashing damage will cause it to split in half.
Alvarius brings a thunderous bolt down into the wounded ooze. The ooze shudders as the bolt strikes releasing a sonic wave through its jelly rolls.
Grundle runs through scenario after scenario in his mind as he tries to find a way to restrain the beast. A ghstly hand reaches out to grasp around the living acid pushing it back.
Nicholo tries to get well out of reach as the oozes slither forth.
+ Corrosive Touch (8 damage to your leather armor. 4 total after hardness[/ooc]
The second ooze slithers over and reaches out for Ezgara.
+ Corrosive Touch (11 damage to your padded armor. 10 total after hardness destroying it[/ooc]
The ooze melts through Ezgara's armor completely as it gets ahold of him and begins to squeeze.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Nicholo
Living Evil (Red)
Living Evil (Yellow)
➤ Ezgara
➤ Onye
⠀⠀➤ Uhu
➤ Daehalya
➤ Alvarius
➤ Grundle
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Rags melt away, revealing the nude and slippery truth!
Ezgara chokes and splutters as he babbles, giving himself guidance…
Slippery indeed — and ugly — is that naked truth.
Caring not a bit for his dignity, the scrawny old elf trots back as far as he can, acid-charred strips of filthy rags flapping in the breeze.
As the pudding splits, Grundle's thick candy shell cracks, revealing the creamy nougat within.
The debris in the alley rise and roil, whipping into a frenzy.
His anger then flies out directly at the first half of ooze.
◇Unleash Psyche
◆◆Animated Assault, 10 ft burst centered between the puddings
◆Psi Burst on Red Black Pudding
Mists surround the lion and reveal the amurrun standing there as they fade. "Onye Dinta has regret," he says as he punches his fist toward the liquid evil. "Maybe the evil is slow. Keep moving."
He then withdraws a short distance.
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HP 72/72
AC 24 (+1 vs. traps), deny advantage, cold resistance 3
Fort +10, Ref +14, Will +11 (+1 vs. traps)
Hero Points: 3
Deviant backlash DC: 10
Effects:
Daehalya strikes again vs. the evil pudding, the color once more flashing through and off her as she suddenly seems carved from ice.
"Perhaps these people are right," she says coldly. "If this is evil, we can see how it grows. And it seems to have found a home here in Egede." She gestures toward the Committee of Moral Rectitude, and their cage that contained this horror instead of destroying it, with the butt of her staff as she retreats.
Alvarius quickly performs a bit of evocation magic, evoking a jumble of rocks that hit the nearest ooze. He counts on the scattered scree to slow the thing down too.
"Better part of valour, better part of valour!" he says also hastening away from the pudding.
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Ezgara slips free before he is burned and crushed to dath by the living evil. Onye punces a fist into the pudding, it sends a small shiver among the gelatinous folds but doesn't split it this time.
Daehalya uses all of her might as she pushes the mass back slightly. The wound causes the black pudding to slowly bleed itself off.
Alvarius raises the ground creating a small spiked strip underneath the ooze damaging it further. Grundle uses the debris and sends it blasting out between the two ooze. The wounded ooze quivers and falls apart as it turns to an oil slick in the middle of the market. OSHA will likely get involved in how this will affect the environment for generations to come.
Nicholo blasts the remaining ooze with beams from his eyes, setting it on fire for a brief moment. The stench of a burning black pudding is horrendous as it rolls over the platform, reaching for Onye.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Nicholo
Living Evil (Yellow)
➤ Ezgara
➤ Onye
⠀⠀➤ Uhu
➤ Daehalya
➤ Alvarius
➤ Grundle
Ezgara sends more lightning into the evil before backpedaling even further.
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"As I stand before the inexorable advance of this mindless black ooze, a chilling reflection of nature's indifference engulfs me. Here is a creature devoid of thought, of reason, of malice—yet it embodies the purest form of survival: unrelenting, unyielding, undirected. It is a stark reminder of the chaos at the heart of existence, the raw, unsculpted force of an uncaring universe. What does it say about the world, about us, that such beings exist purely to persist, without purpose or passion? In its relentless spread, this ooze strips away the illusions of order and meaning we cling to, exposing the fragile veneer that separates being from nothingness. How do we, creatures of consciousness, confront such a void? With fear? With defiance? Or do we find within it a deeper call to our own existence, a challenge to assert our will against the indifferent dark?
I should probably move."
◆◆ Warp Step to move 30' East and then South
◆ Psi Burst on Yellow
HP 72/72
AC 24 (+1 vs. traps), deny advantage, cold resistance 3
Fort +10, Ref +14, Will +11 (+1 vs. traps)
Hero Points: 3
Deviant backlash DC: 10
Effects:
Daehalya steps in, slams her staff into the slime, and quickly retreats!
The amurrun lets out a pained yowl as the pseudopod of evil burns through his leather armor and badly blisters his skin. He punches his fist into the black mass before withdrawing. There he places a hand upon his burned chest. A puff of ephemeral golden feathers manifests for a moment over his hand. The wound is no longer so severe when he removes his hand.
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thinking to himself This is probably going to hurt.
Nicky raises his hand and generates another beam of fire to whomp on the black goo. He moves forward to be within range.
◆ Stride
◆ ◇ ◈ Blasting Beams - Fire damage.
Backlash roll: flat check DC15. On a fail, I take 6 damage.
OUCH! Damn!
Nicky looks on to see if the creature is still up.
If the creature is still up, nicky blasts another beam of fire. This time almost certainly incurring the moderate backlash.
◆ ◇ ◈ ◇ ◈ Blasting Beams - Fire damage.
Backlash roll: flat check DC20. On a fail, I take 6 damage and weakness to fire + lose resistance to fire 5.
If the creature is defeated from his first blasting beam, he engages the Committee in a Bon Mot verbal repartee.
So, which of you let loose this black ooze from your bowels, because you REALLY need to wipe your ass better. You should take up a collection for two or three ply outhouse paper. It's only good hygene to properly wipe.
Note: Can I also use my Group impression skill with this quip to adjust the crowd towards our side? I am an expert in diplomacy and so can Group impression up to 20 bystanders.
◆ ◆ Bon Mot / Group impression. If I can only do one of these, I choose Group impression over Bon Mot.
Alvarius recreates a burst of rubble from the earth beneath the remaining pudding, the other area melting back into soft earth as he does so.
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Ezgara's bolt scorches through the ooze as Onye and Daehalya batter the smoldering mass into goo that covers the nearby stalls. All goes quiet once more as the Living Evil is defeated.
The Dwarf is astounded that you passed the test. "I..I..I was convinced you were truly evil..." He stammers. "The fact you defeated the Living Evil is absolute testament to your righteousness." He gives a deep bow uttering multiple apologies on behalf of the Council before looking around. "Quit gawking and go about your business." He yells at the onlookers. He doesn’t linger, ordering his agents to pull the cart away leaving you in a far more peaceful state.
Having overcome Gaar’s test, you find that you’re treated very different in Egede now. The Committee makes no further attempts to obstruct you, and townsfolk treat you with outsized deference and respect that borders on hero worship.
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"Perhaps we should find more puddings and see if we can command a discount."
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Ezgara clops over to a stall and haggles with the hapless vendor, babbling and fingering bits of black pudding from the nether recesses of his many wrinkles.
Some of that pudding is even from the ooze he just defeated.
After long minutes the merchant shoves fresh rags and a shiny rune across the counter, gagging and begging him to leave.
Ezgara's blind eye rolls around as he dashes off to change in an alleyway. Avaricious and stupid! Heee hee! I've only paid full price for these treasures! None are more perspicacious than Ezgara, who leaves pauperized capitalists in his wake. May their children starve!
Keeping himself covered by his voluminous robes, Alvarius braves the markets to spend some of his newly earned coins. He doesn't recall ever having this much money, but then again there's a lot still that he doesn't recall from his living days.
He comes across a shop specializing in the arcane, which arrests his previously aimless window shopping. Stepping inside, he's immediately hit with the overpowering smell of lavender. A faint, purplish haze hangs in the air, though the dead wizard doesn't mind. An affectation, nothing more.
Alvarius stops dead when he spots a staff mounted on the wall behind the shopkeeper's counter. Tapered at the base and carved into a gem-studded twist at the top, the staff is obviously powerful. It's the sort of work he's read about, but would be difficult to create.
"How much for that one?"
Daehalya frowns as the committee leaves. "And what if we were not evil, but merely not accomplished fighters. I have a mind to make that point, but we have more important things to accomplish."
She looks around, realizing with a start that her companions have scattered to shop. Frowning slightly, she joins them, seeking out a silversmith and caps for her staff.
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Well, I am really glad I didn't need to insult them. I had some crass words I was about to share.
He rubs his hands together and looks to shop a bit. Looking for a magical crafter than can do something about his cloak.
Hey random guy eating chow'der on the street. Who is the best seamstress in the town?
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Having purchased a few items you head back to your room at the Inn. Townsfolk stare at the adventurers from every street corner, and Committee loyalists bow before you begging for a souvenir of their meeting. Reaching your room you creak the door open to find a note slid underneath your door.
Gatewalkers,
May this missive find you well. It’s come to my attention that you’ve recently arrived in Mendev. Taking the long way home, it seems? No matter. I’ve also learned that you have some interesting new companions, including a young seer who bears the same mark of the gatewalker as we all do. Continue to travel with her, and help her complete her quest however you can. I’ve little doubt that this seer will ultimately be useful to our investigation into the meaning of the Missing Moment.
Find attached a bank note with payment for your good work so far. Consider it a bonus. Once you’ve finished helping the seer, come back to Lepidstadt for a full report. You can expect a sizable reward upon your return.
I imagine you have questions—foremost, perhaps, how I know all this. Suffice to say I kept an ear to the ground after Fianara sent me word you’d disappeared from Sevenarches. The full story is too complicated to tell in a letter. I’ll explain everything when you finish your work in the Sarkoris Scar and return to Lepidstadt.
—Dr. Ritalson
The amurrun growls in angry agreement with Daehalya's and Nicholo's comments.
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Sounds like we got money, money, money.
It mentioned a bank note somewhere here.
Hmm. ollie-ollie- oxen free. Bank note. Where you be at?
I owe Shadowsun gold and this bonus means I pay her off quicker.
Nicky looks to see how much and where there's a bank to cash out.
He also snickers.
Glad to know we have a boss that has good intel.
Also.... boss....... [Nicky snickers like a teenager]
boss said "bone-us".
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Here you are Daehalya. Your 11 gold back.
oh, nice shortbow, and is that a new potions belt you are wearing. It's stylish. Works with the blues and snow whites of your usual outfit.
Me- take a gander at how my cloak is all awesome. It moves on it's own. See how it functions?
I'm also figgiting with snares, so I have some rough models in the room. Watch your step and don't touch anything that looks like it can snap back.
Alvarius leaves the shop, revealing that Grundle was standing behind him the entire time.
"Good morning. I stand before you with a simple yet earnest request. This staff, which remains untouched by the elements—its potential still wrapped in the quiet promise of its unused state—seeks to be exchanged. I seek a trade, not merely for another, but for one of a higher caliber, an artifact that ascends beyond its current form. Would such an exchange be possible within the confines of your collection?"
He waddles out with a Greater Mentalist's Staff, lighter one Vanilla Mentalist's Staff and 370gp.
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Sakuachi approaches you from a side street after several days of resting and spending your gold. She looks out of breath "There you are. Been looking all over for you. Probably should have just followed the crowd." She looks over you shoulder as you see several admirers gawking at you from the nearby corner.
"Look, I found a caravan driver who is headed west with building materials. Its final stop is Kenabres, which Innumma notes isn’t far from the Sarkoris Scar. This is our best chance to go to Sarkoris. If we go with the caravan we can resupply our rations and supplies at the edge of the Sarkoris wastes before heading in. What do you think?”
"The caravan Sakuachi found is fortuitous," the amurrun answers her.
Alvarius shrugs. "Most people would be bothered by the prospect of heading to the Sarkoris Scar. I'm curious and don't have anywhere else to be right now. I'll go."
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I am not going to lie. I have really enjoyed being in the limelight here in town. It's been kinda nice to be appreciated and given a tip of the hat- wink and a nod - kind of treatment. Right? Right?
Now we are going to a wasteland. That's a swing in the opposite end of the pendulum.
With that said, we all DID see and experience Eox. That reminds me, Alvarius, you have a bit of history to reveal. You were on Eox when we found you. What happened there? We had been running for our lives too much to start asking these questions. But I'd be interested in knowing more about you. As you seem to have some arcane powers of great potency.
Also, if you could do a bit of compare and contrast of Eox vs. Sarkois Scar for us - It'd be appreciated.
Nicky also grabs a few books on demons and mutating biology.
Alvarius shrugs again, and you're left thinking that he does this a lot. Possibly because he's not really good at facial expressions. "It's going to seem like a weird story, but at the same time I think you're used to weird. You see, I... walked through a magical gate. And then a huge chunk of time passed, I think. I don't remember any of it. But when I got my senses I was in Eox. Fortunately, I could fit in because at some point I died. Not sure what killed me, but they did a lousy job. Which is probably for the best."
"I had been searching for a way back to Golarion for a while, and had learned about the portal. But it was too well guarded, which sucked. But then you all showed up, which was great. So yeah, thanks for being there when I needed it, even if you had no idea I did."
Daehalya thanks Nicky for the money. "You didn't need to return it, but thank you. If you need more again later, you only need to ask." Still, she can't help but be slightly troubled how Ritalson knew where they were, much less got a message to them so quickly. Was he telepathic, able to scan the globe -- perhaps with some sort of Stasian device or artifact -- to find his agents. And if so, why not reveal what he knows now. She somehow can almost hear his voice in her head: To me, my epopts.
But she sets her concerns aside when Sakauchi finds them. "Let us collect our things, and then we can be ready." She's confident if they need any further supplies, they can collect them in Kenabres.
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DC 21
Nicky gives Alvarius a squinted side stare. He tilts his head just slightly at his final reply.
Thinking that there's more to Alvarius's story, he probes deeper.
Wow. Interesting Alvarius, so you were alive when you went through the gate. Who were you/where were you from when you used to live on Golorian?
Also, how long were you on Eox? Did you see anything interesting that you'd want to share?
Once his conversation with Alvarius is done, Nicky he also slings his backpack over his shoulder and announces which spot he's claiming on the caravan- the one that provides the most shade.
"I was alive, yes. And something happened," Alvarius shrugs. "Some wizards would kill to pull off what I have going on right now. But honestly, it feels like the same amount of work. I guess as long as I keep it up I'll be immortal. But I'm sure it's worth it."
When pressed about his time on Eox he nervously wrings his bony hands. "I don't remember it all, but what I do remember I don't like. That place... it doesn't bring out the best in a person. And the Bone Sages are not folks you want to get mixed up with. Trust me on this."
He doesn't seem inclined to say more on the subject.
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Nicky shakes his head in approval to Alvarius's words. He gets the vibe that Alvarius is dodging some in his answers. This conversation topic is not what Alvarius wants to be on.
Yeah, You are right. A sizable number of wizards would want what you have. That path of immortality. It'll make for cool stories to sing at bars- by someone like me. Tell me if you want me to use an alias - as I'm almost certainly going to be performing for free drinks and free-er ladies by telling some stories.
Tell me what you want to have omitted, or if you want a bit more annonymety. I'll respect that.
Nicky appears to accept Blackthorn's truncated reply. In reality, he wants more info.
Hmmm. Previously lived on Golarian. Blackthorn is last name. Probably went to mage school.
When is the caravan leaving? I'm going to grab books on The World Wound, Demons, and maybe the after effects on the land and creatures (abberations). I'll be at the library collecting the source material.
plus picking up books on noble houses and mage school student rosters.
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Nicholo is able to find basic knowledge of the Worldwound. Unfortunately much like the town the library is stripped pretty bare due to the decline of the city and population.
Nicholo brings back what books he can to quickly pour over. Ezgara and Alvarius find a few notes of interest concerning the Worlwound and Sarkoris Scar. The Sarkoris Scar is all that remains of Old Sarkoris. Once, this vast land was a verdant sprawl of plains tended by societies of druidic natives called Sarkorians. Many of these societies worshipped living gods under the oversight of “god callers”—leaders who could curry favor with the region’s powerful spirit guides. When demon worshippers opened a rift to the Abyss in Sarkoris’s heartlands, everything changed. The Worldwound—and the demons that poured forth from it—literally tore the land apart.
Nicholo does find out a bit more than the others. Since the Worldwound closed the Sarkoris Scar is a flourishing wildland whose soils were enriched for generations with the spilled blood of demons and crusaders alike. Now that the Mendevian Crusades are over, Sarkoris has essentially returned to normal—a land of enigmatic druids, fey tricksters, and fruitful pastures.
★ -- ★ -- ★ -- ★
Your departure is marked by their biggest crowd of fanatical hero worshippers yet. More than a dozen of their biggest fans—“true believers,” in the crowd’s words—assemble at the western road out of the city.
The caravan driver yells, "Get out of the way!", though it doesn't help and his voice is drowned out.
"Hi! Everyone stand back or you'll get trampled! We have hero stuff to do and you're in the way!"
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Nicky addresses the crowd.
The people are here for a display, and a quick show. This is an opportunity for *us* to say THANK YOU to all the great people that are our True Believers!
He leans down and whispers to the two companions.
Alvarius or Grundle, you got any simple magics that might help with the show? It'll be easier with your help than just running people over. people's bodies might break a wheel or two.
He raises back up and with a booming voice addresses the crowd.
We appreciate all of you so very much. You are a blessing onto this great world of Galorian. Nicky starts as he works some of his circus juggling acts and hand movements to focus the crowd.
Nicky fumbles some of his performance items. He sure could use some help mysticism-ing the crowd.
"People of this town, your admiration, though deeply valued, now obstructs the very survival you cheer for. The path we must forge is laden with perils that wait for no one, least of all us. We are your shield against the encroaching darkness, but should we fail to advance due to this blockade, the consequences will reverberate beyond these streets, into your homes and futures. Stand back! Make way! Allow us to carry your hopes, not as a burden but as an imperative charge. Do not hinder us, for the stakes extend far beyond what you see before you."
The amurrun's black mane flares like a bonfire. "Move!" he roars.
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"Everybody move!" Daehalya calls out.
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The crowd moves aside long enough for the caravan to pass through. Eager hands reach across just for the briefest of touches.
The caravan consists of three wagons full of goods pulled by two dray horses each, plus a fourth, smaller wagon pulled by a single roan horse which Innumma secured for the trip. A dour, no-nonsense Iobarian halfling named Aettik Longwheel drives the caravan. They accepted Sakuachi’s patronage only once she’d paid in full, and they allow her and her companions to ride only in the last, smallest wagon in the caravan.
The journey from Egede to Kenabres is approximately 225 miles, which takes the caravan about 10 days. Rolling plains and craggy badlands fill most of the space between the two cities. After 2 days of travel, the caravan reaches the Estrovian Forest, where the gloomy atmosphere and bare trees offer only a minor respite from the otherwise-monotonous journey.
One of the other caravanners, Crisha leans over. "You ever hear the tale of the Mendevian who fell in battle here?" Seeing you all shake your heads she continues. "It is said that the crusader’s thirst for glory caused her soul to rise as a violent specter and slay her demonic killers, but she wasn't able to stop there as she began to slay her fellow crusaders."
"I hear some rustling noises in the bushes ahead."
The amurrun turns his gaze--behind the wooden tiger mask since they left Egede--toward the bushes Grundle indicates.
"I really hope it's not someone trying to ambush us."
Daehalya grips her staff. "I don't think a spirit would rustle bushes, but other undead might," she declares. "Shall we make sure there's no interruption here?"