[GM School 2024] GM Takeyabue's Cleanup Duty

Game Master Takeyabue

Nhorri locates a discarded leather satchel hanging from a knob on the table in the middle of the room. Inside are two minor elixirs of life.

Once all the searching, healing, resting, and daydreaming is finished (for now), Nhorri points to the double doors on the north end of the foyer. "Big doors first? ... Or last?"

"Probably doesn't matter much," Xandian says casually. "Might as well go through the big ones first."

Xandian checks around the area as well, looking for anything interesting or at least trying to note any more traps like the one by the front doors.

+7 Perception if needed. Voting for big doors to the north as well.

"Ok, let's take the big one first." Ulfhild says and raises her shield and hammer.

The room beyond the double doors is much brighter with sunlight streaming in through a window in the center of three doors to the north and an opening to the south without a door.

A massive table and eight chairs fill the center of this room. Empty shelves line the walls, and soggy carpets cover much of the floor. You also hear a odd moaning noise coming from the north. Two more sewer oozes are approaching attracted by the motion of the door swinging open.

North Sewer Ooze Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
South Sewer Ooze Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Mirzos Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Nhorri Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Xandian Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Ulfhild Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

North Sewer Ooze Initiative: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Xandian Initiative: 1d6 ⇒ 1

The North Sewer Ooze moves adjacent to Ulfhild and sends a pseudopod off towards her.

Pseudopod strike: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 221d6 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Ulfhild takes 3 points of damage from the pseudopod.

Round 1 - Dining In

North Sewer Ooze
Xandian
Nhorri
Ulfhild
South Sewer Ooze
Mirzos

Those in bold may act.

So now the North Sewer Ooze is south of the South Sewer Ooze, which is north of the North Sewer Ooze. Heehee!

"More giant boogers! Gross! I guess we knew that before we came here, though. I just didn't expect them to be able to pick *our* noses." Nhorri gripes, backing up and sending an Elemental Blast at the Ooze that attacked Ulfhild.

Elemental Blast, two action: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Slashing damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

◆ Stride, ◆◆ Elemental Blast

"Oh lovely. More of these things," Xandian grumbles while hacking away at the closest one.

Scythe attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
slashing: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Scythe attack (MAP): 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 5 = 13
slashing: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Then he backs up from the ooze a bit.

◆ Strike, ◆ Strike, ◆ Step

Ulfhild strikes at the ooze that just moved out of the room and stopped directly in front of her.

Light Hammer vs. Ooze: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Light Hammer vs. Ooze: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 5 = 19 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

◆ Strike, ◆ Strike, ◆ Raise Shield

With such soft fluid outer covering the poor sewer ooze comes apart following the flurry of blows and you are left standing in chunks and slime once again as the remaining sewer ooze slides over and reaches out a pseudopod toward Ulfhild.

Pseudopod strike at Ulfhild: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 221d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Ulfhild takes a thwack down her side for 7 points of bludgeoning damage.

Round 1 - Dining In
Mirzos is the only one left to act in Round 1,

Xandian
Nhorri
Ulfhild
South Sewer Ooze
Mirzos

Round 2 - A Messy End?
However Xandian, Nhorri and Ulfhild all act before the remaining sewer ooze in Round 2

Xandian
Nhorri
Ulfhild
South Sewer Ooze
Mirzos

Those in bold may act.

"I can see why that guy didn't want to come in here yet. But if he wants to hire someone to clean this place up later, count me out!" Nhorri quips, grateful that she's out of the splat range of those slimy slimes. She steps sideways to get a better angle on the next one and sends a powerful blast of air its way.

Elemental Blast, two action: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Slashing damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Whoops!" Unfortunately, she steps on the one glob of slime that splashed near her, causing her foot to slide out from under her just as she releases the blast. She really needs to pay better attention.

◆ Step, ◆◆ Elemental Blast

Seeing another target that can't be targeted effectively, Xandian casually strolls to the side to get a better line of fire and throws a couple of seedpods. He knows that Mirzos would do just as well or better at fighting the ooze in close quarters, and there isn't much space left.

Seedpod attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
bludgeoning: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Seedpod attack (MAP): 1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 5 = 5
bludgeoning: 1d4 ⇒ 4

◆ Stride, ◆ Seedpod, ◆ Seedpod

Ulfhild shouts at the ooze, when the create hit her. In anger and pain she tries to hit and destroy it.

Hammer vs. Ooze: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Hammer vs. Ooze: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 5 = 13 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Hammer vs. Ooze: 1d20 + 8 - 10 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 10 = 5 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

◆ Strike, ◆ Strike, ◆ Strike

Mirzos gratefully accepts the bottle from Nhorri, but is distracted by the sounds of something schlomping closer before he can pop the cork and drink it. By the time he finishes tucking it into his belt pouch, another slime has already been splatted!

Crafting to Overdrive vs DC 15: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

With his suit’s batteries not finished charging yet, Mirzos opts to just use his own power to finish the job.

Long Hammer vs Green: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Piercing damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Long Hammer vs Green: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 5 = 2
Piercing damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

The second of the two slimes coming from the Dining Hall is also quickly spread across the room and the accompanying furnishings.

Combat Ends

The party now has time to examine the small open courtyard that stands directly to the south of the dining room. Open to the sky it is well illuminated and like most of the exterior surface of the island seems to have been a frequent target of the gulls who circle over head.

A soft whimpering continues to come from behind the door which appears to lead off to the north in the center of the wall opposite to the southern courtyard.

Doors also lead off to the north in both the western and eastern corners of the northern wall.

Are you prepared to venture boldly forth into unexplored areas or do you wish to take some time to catch your breath and search for loot under the pulped sewer ooze?

It takes way too long for Nhorri to register the whimpering sound. "Uh, guys? Should we see who's crying?" She strains her ears for more clues.

Perception +4: Can she hear anything other than general whimpering?
She'd advocate for checking on that before searching the area.

"Yes, let's check it out." Ulfhild answers to Nhorri's question.

Beyond the door to the north is a mass of overgrown trees and bushes in a roofless, muddy courtyard. Mud and slime cake the walls and drip from the
eaves onto the soaked ground. Sitting in a pool of mud is a creature whose making expanse gesture while evidently working through inner dialog interrupted at points with soft whimpering.

"Um, hello? You okay?" Nhorri asks gently from the doorway. The wind of her Element swirls around her, but no one else. (She still has her Gate open, so she won't have to Channel Elements if this goes sideways.)

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Xandian watches curious from the doorway. "They weren't kidding about cleanup, were they?" he whispers while looking around at the sodden mess covering the area.

Ulfhild also takes a look at the creature in the mud pool. "Anybody knows what kind of creature this is?" Ulfhild whispers to the others.

Becoming aware of the new arrivals, the creature turns its head toward them and speaks in a stammering voice.

I am the might Naz . . . raz. Nazraz, the Prime . . . Assistant to the Egre . . . giously Generous and Under . . . standing Zarzan.

Excu . . . se my cur . . . rent state but I am ha . . .rd at work on a marv . . . elous plan to s . . . tarve the ooz . . .es out.

"Uh..." This creature looks to be a few rocks short of a pile, even to Nhorri. She decides to play along for a bit. "I like marvelous plans. Can you tell us yours? Maybe we can help. Or at least know what's going on so we don't mess it up by accident."

"Erm, the oozes?" Ulfhild asks, not sure if she wants to tell the creature that the oozes are dead.

"I know that it might ... take years, or perhaps ... even decades but surely ... the oozes will ... starve or ... or die and I ... I can ... proudly return ... victorious ... to Zarzan."

"Is it important that the oozes starve to death, or is it ok, if they ... let's say ... just drop dead?"

Oh, poor guy! Is he scared, or did he bite off more than he can chew? "Nazraz? Is Zarzan mean to you? Or does he have unrealistic expectations? Or did you think you could do it, but it turned out to be more than you expected? Whatever it is, we want to help you." Nhorri approaches the creature like he's a wounded bunny, speaking soothingly so as not to spook him.

Perception +4 to Sense Motive: It seems like something's wrong with Nazraz, and Nhorri wants to know what it is. Does she believe his answers to her questions?

Xandian leans against the door frame and watches with casual curiosity as the conversation unfolds.

"No ... no ... Zarzan ... is generous ... is kind ... not like others. This is big ... huge ... chance to prove ... useful! Must .. obey ... complete his request ... to me ... to Zarzan.

@GM Takeyabue: Does Nhorri believe Nazraz?

What check would one make to determine the cause of Nazraz's odd speech? I'd like to know if it seems to be something affecting him or if it's his norm.

Nhorri, It is my attempt to represent his stammer. Nazraz has a bad stammer and it has been a thorn in his side. You can believe his commitment to pleasing his current master and proving himself worthy, although it is slightly misguided. He is currently unfriendly toward you and it will take some work to change that to a more favorable outlook.

Thanks! That helps. Unfortunately, three of our party have a +0 to Diplomacy, and Xandian only has +3. This'll be interesting.

"Okay, fair enough, Nazraz. So what about what Ulfhild said? What if they all dropped dead? We could go around and check to see how many have already died, and report back to you. How does that sound?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 7

"Sounds OK ... You go and look ... Then we talk..."

Your commission was to remove the oozes and the mephit from the building. To speed things up there are no other creatures beside Nazraz, the memphit, left in the building. Have one of you, other than Nhorri, come back and report that they are all dead and include another Diplomacy, Intimidation or Deception check. Depending on the success or failure of that additional roll paired with those of Nhorri, Nazraz will either agree to depart with you or the party will forced into combat to remove the recalcitrant Nazraz.

Ulfhild confirms that the oozes are dead and reports back.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13

"Sure. I can check if there are any more of these slimes that are willing to drop dead for us." Xandian steps out of the doorway and chuckles - a sound that sounds like the soft rustling of tree branches brushing against each other in the breeze. "That is our job in coming here in the first place, after all."

Xandian returns a few minutes later after peeking into the other rooms of the house.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"Well, Nazraz, the Prime. I checked the rest of the building. Other than more goo like this," he points to the slime coating the shrubs and walls in this room, "I am not finding anything else. Nothing that is moving on its own. Maybe you should go check with Zarzan and see if that makes him happy now."

"My plan ... the plan worked ... Yes ... I will return ... give Zarzan the good news."

As long as none of you attempt to convince the mephit that his plan was not the masterpiece he now believes it to be, he willingly accompanies you out of the building and you get picked up by the boat.

"Yup! Zarzan ought to be pleased." Nhorri quips, seeing no reason to correct the little guy. He reminds her of some emotionally fragile people she's met, and she's not about to say anything that might start the waterworks.

The voyage back to Magnimar is uneventful and group travels to find Zarzan waiting at his usual place in the Rusty Anchor. Nazraz immediately rushes over to Zarzan and immediately launches into a lengthy, if halting, description of his excellent plan and how it all came together to rid the island of the oozes. Zarzan listens politely although at several points he glances over toward you with raised eyebrows.

Once Nazraz winds down he thanks each of you assistance to Nazraz and for dispatching the oozes so promptly. He then process to asks about the condition of the building and what materials or supplies he should purchase before returning to occupy the island.

Once you have given you suggestions, Zarzan pays you each the agreed 4 GPs and wishes you a good day.

****END OF BOUNTY***