"Fine...here, let me give it a try."
The doctor finds no sign of any trap, and the door does not seem to be locked.
Once Marine breaks open the door, the adventurers find a single rectangular room. There is no light, save for what spills in the open doorway.
Ancient stains on the walls and floor, along with a few lingering metal loops driven into the walls, hint at how this empty chamber once functioned as a warehouse floor. The curved wall of the building’s tower disrupts the wall to the south, a single archway allowing access to the empty circular chamber within, where a circular wooden platform hangs by chains looped over pulleys above. The smell in here is awful, as is the filthy mess strewn across the floor. Apparently, this room has been used to dispose of garbage and waste for some time.
Jayma looks past Marine into the rectangular room. The stench hits her like a slap in the face and she quickly raises a gloved hand to cover her nose and mouth. Her eyes narrow with dread at the thought of going in and she once again questions why she'd agreed to this wretched errand. "Charming." Twyl chitters from her shoulder, and Jayma gives the ermine a resigned look. "Yes, darling, It appears we must enter." And enter she will, though not before the stronger members have done so and confirmed the coast is clear.
Callistro also peers into the room around Marine. Well, thats a mess. Does that looks like another elevator like the one in the cave in Ossirian?
Ignoring the stench as best he can, Dr. Lazarus pushes his way in. After he gets 10' in, he turns toward the circular chamber. Lazarus calls back to Jayma, "Yes, it looks like we must enter. But perhaps I can magically clear a path through this sh ... er ... refuse."
Gripping his Staff of Air he casts Gust of Wind to clear a 5' wide path to the circular chamber.
The Doctor will lead the way to the elevator, unless Marine would like to go first.
Before the doctor can finish that, though, something stirs.
A glistening mound of rotting rope and rags heaped against the northern wall twitches, the rope unfurling into tentacles. It's a creature! And it seems to be the source of the worst of the stench in here... it's really quite bad.
Initiative:
Callistro AC 34, 164/164 HP (Stealthy, Cursebound 1)
Dr. Lazarus AC 34, 136+6/136 HP
Marine AC 35, 203+6/203 HP
Jayma AC 32, 125+6/126 HP
Yucky Thing AC ???
"Well, if you divas ain't going to want to step inside, maybe one of you can ride on my back. Either way, yes, I will go first."
Marine is about to walk into the room with her sword drawn, making idle chatter as she does so.
"I don't know what you all are complaining about. The good Doctor is going to clear the way. If anything, I should be the one complaining as I have to step on more trash than you all...Wait, what is that thing? Yuck!" She splutters and gags. "It stinks!"
Marine gags as the smell hits her nose. In her attempts to chase the smell out of her vicinity, she delays long enough for the others to act first.
Marine's coughing and spluttering does not stop her from assuming a defensive stance. What does stimmy her is the room - full of debris and trash as it is. It takes her all of her movement just to make it to the thing, leaving her without the chance to Strike.
Giving my Warding Statuette +1 Status to AC to myself.
Giving my Warding Statuette +1 Status to AC to myself.
Dr. Lazarus is able to mostly ignore the foul stench of the creature. After waiting for Jayma's magic and Callistro's inspiration, The Doctor devises a special attack strategy for the enemy.
He frowns and admits, "Alas, dear colleagues, I'm not familiar with this foul beast. Still, it will succumb to my hammer." Seeing a gaping hole in the creature's defenses, Lazarus trudges through the filth to get within range, and hurls his hammer twice in succession.
+2 Gr Striking Returning Astral Cold Iron Grabthar's Hammer (w/ Stratagem) +CA: 1d20 + 26 + 1⇒ (18) + 26 + 1 = 45
What is that disgusting smell!
He jogs up to the entrance and peers inside. Seeing the monster made of trash he decides to provide his companions with some words of encouragement.
Can't you kill that thing faster, the stench is making my headache much worse!
He then flicks up a glowing blue shield around himself just in case.
◆ Stride
◇ Lingering Performance
◆ Courageous Anthem
, pass, 3 rounds
◆ Cast Shield
With the movement of the tentacled creature, the stench redoubles in ferocity, and...
..."<urk!>", Jayma is almost overcome, but barely manages to avoid adding her stomach contents to the filthy river below.
Fighting her every instinct telling her to get away from the smell, Jayma forces herself to enter the room and face the creature.
The slimy tentacled creature in the far corner of the room was as horrifying as its scent would suggest. "Ugh! Absolutely vile." She gives the room a quick appraising glance, assuring herself that the place is sturdy enough not to collapse around them if she were to unleash something mildly explosive. She extends her free hand and forms a small sphere of flickering fire. Looking over at the creature, she says, "Now, do hold still," as the fireball leaves her hand in a blooming streak of light, expanding in a brilliant, roaring blossom of flame that envelops the hideous form in the corner.
Callistro's magical music fills the heroes with courage.
The creature is not quick enough to evade Jayma's spell, though it seems formidable. It will take more than that.
Dr. Lazarus finds that making it succumb to his hammer might be a touch more difficult than expected. Though his first shot is perfect (and the second good enough), the weapon bounces a little off of its rubbery hide.
As Marine approaches, the stinky think tries to slap her with one of its pseudopods, which she evades. But then it catches her the other way, walloping her with another one. The tendril lingers near her unpleasantly, and the creature makes a sound like a sigh. It swells a little, recovering from some of the damage that Jayma and the doctor inflicted upon it.
Initiative:
Callistro AC 34, 163/164 HP (Cursebound 1, immune to Fetid Aura, lingering anthem 2 rounds)
Dr. Lazarus AC 34, 136+6/136 HP (immune to Fetid Aura)
Marine AC 37, 153/203 HP (Sickened 1, Enfeebled until EoNT, Dueling Dance)
Jayma AC 32, 125+6/126 HP (immune to Fetid Aura)
Yucky Thing AC 26-35, -101 HP
Seeing Marine take a bit hit Callistro calls out, You OK Marine?
He slogs his way through the rubbish to get a clear view on the thing and quickly conures a ball of fire which he hurls at it.
◆ Stride 20' (speed 45 so he can get there)
◇ Activate Shadow Signet to target Reflex
◆◆ Cast Fire Ray
Now that he's seen a bit of what this creature can do, it jogs Lazarus's memory. This is a furnerico.
A mass of undulating tendrils and nerves, furnericos stalk sewer systems below large cities, reveling in the filth and rotting detritus created by those who dwell above the middens and sumps they call home. Fortunately for sanitation workers and other civil servants who ply their trade in sewer tunnels, furnericos are exceedingly rare and solitary. Their power is such that once one moves into a sewer system, it’s often easier for urban planners to simply abandon that section to the monster and rebuild around it. A furnerico left to its domain like this is generally content to remain—as long as the filth keeps flowing.
Furnericos are asexual, spawning a single offspring as they expire from natural causes. One that dies by violence does not perpetuate its kind, presenting a vexing question to sages: where do these creatures come from, and why haven’t they gone extinct over the ages?
More practically, he knows that furnericos are terribly hydrophobic, and do not react well to being cleansed. They never attack creatures who are soaking wet, such as (for example) someone who recently swam in a river.
Callistro also hits it with fire, which is effective enough.
Initiative:
Callistro AC 34, 162/164 HP (Cursebound 1, immune to Fetid Aura, lingering anthem 2 rounds)
Dr. Lazarus AC 34, 136+6/136 HP (immune to Fetid Aura)
Marine AC 37, 153/203 HP (Sickened 1, Enfeebled until EoNT, Dueling Dance)
Jayma AC 32, 125+6/126 HP (immune to Fetid Aura)
Furnerico AC 26-35, -148 HP (will take 19 fire damage on its next EoNT unless it moves out of its current space)
Marine shudders as the smell wafts up her nose but handily avoids throwing up yesterday's drink.
"Thanks Callistro, I'll be fine...it should clear out of my nose in about 6 seconds. This thing couldn't kill me that easily." Marine says between shuddering breaths.
She attempts to knock the fetid pile over using a Slam Down manuever. Unfortunately, that means touching the trash. Unwillingly, she slices at the trash while using her free hand to reach for the creature's bottom to tip it over. A visible grimace etches itself on her face as she does so - to great effect.
With her foe cornered, Marine swings for the fences with a Snagging Strike.
"I'll make a nice salad out of your remains!" She yells as she cuts into the creature.
Satisfied that his aim was true, Dr. Lazarus raises an eyebrow when his trusty weapon bounces off the enemy a little too easily. He mutters, "No matter. It will just take longer than expected." He again studies the smelly blob of rubbish.
He snaps his fingers, and lectures, "Ah yes, of course. This is a Funerico. The solitary creatures thrive in sewers and other places of stench and filth." He continues, "If I recall correctly, and I usually do, they're hydrophobic." Turning to Marine, he helpfully uses smaller words, "They don't like water. Or being clean. Big surprise there."
Returning his focus to the enemy, the investigator spots another glaring hole in its defenses and hurls his hammer.
+2 Gr Striking Returning Astral Cold Iron Grabthar's Hammer (w/ Stratagem) +CA: 1d20 + 26 + 1⇒ (15) + 26 + 1 = 42
Realizing Marine is still fighting off the stench, Lazarus steps in to help. He uses Doctor's Visitation to Treat Condition. In approaching his friend, the good Doctor chooses a position to both a) treat Marine, and b) keep the enemy from leaving Calistro's fire.
Jayma wrinkles her nose at the foul air in the room. Fortunately, she's gotten sufficiently used to the stench by now that it doesn't impact her negatively. Her earlier fireball had done its work, but with Marine and Dr Lazarus now pressed close to the horror, it left her no space for another grand display of pyrotechnics... not without inflicting collateral damage on her friends. Too bad, really. A second fireball would have been so very satisfying.
She inhales deeply and gathers her will. Her green eyes narrow as she focuses on the creature. "Fine then... if force of flame will not do, force of mind it shall be."
With a gesture of her cane, Jayma channels her magic with practiced grace and weaves a vision of suffocating terror. She would use the creature's own phobia against it and send its mind plunging into dark waters. Then, before the creature feels the full brunt of the trauma, Jayma lifts her free hand and snaps a shimmering pink shield around herself.
Target takes mental damage with a Will save. If the target is reduced to 0 HP by this spell, its vision becomes reality and kills it instantly.
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target takes half damage and is frightened 1.
Failure The target takes full damage and is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The target takes double damage, is frightened 4, and is fleeing for as long as it's frightened.
Marine slices deep into the creature, which proves much less resilient against cutting. She also knocks the mass of tentacles over onto its side. Seeing the bottom of it, it doesn't really have feet, exactly. It probably doesn't move very fast. She hits it again while it's down.
Which creates another opening for the doctor's hammer, even as he finds a medicine that relieves Marine's illness.
The creature has a horrifying vision of taking a bath. This concept is well beyond its bestial mind. The vision is only brief, however. It trembles, pulses, and stops, deflating as its pseudopods flop to the filthy floor. The smell at once improves; the room full of rotting garbage still reeks of rotting garbage, of course, but it's no longer supernaturally overwhelming.
Status:
Callistro AC 34, 162/164 HP (Cursebound 1)
Dr. Lazarus AC 34, 136+6/136 HP (immune to Fetid Aura)
Marine AC 37, 153/203 HP
Jayma AC 32, 125+6/126 HP
Furnerico AC 33, -26/320 HP
As the furnerico collapses, Jayma lets out a sigh of relief. Though the overwhelming magical overtones of the stench are gone, the room remains an affront to every civilized instinct she possesses. Still, the creature is dead with Marine only lightly bruised in the process. Jayma permits herself a small, satisfied smile.
With a resigned look, she steps forward into the refuse. Quick and repeated wrist-flicks of prestidigitation wipe away any errant speck of dirt that dares touch her person. She pokes gingerly through heaps of trash with the tip of her cane. Her nose wrinkles as she tries not to think too hard about what she is touching. She urges the others to follow her lead and thus speed up the repugnant task.
Among the refuse, Jayma finds more refuse.
And, eventually, a pair sleek red boots that seem curiously without stain, clearly magical.
Jayma picks her way through the foul mess, her hand repeatedly casting cleaning spells as she goes. As she nudges aside a broken box with the tip of her cane, her eye catches a glimmer of something... different; something clean. With a look of clear distaste on her face, she reaches down and lifts out a pair of unmistakably magical boots.
Holding them at arm's length, she examines them more closely...
...and recognizes them as Propulsive Boots. She gives a small nod of satisfaction, and extracting her notebook from her sleeve, makes a note about the find.
Marine cleans her sword and her hands with a cloth.
"That was...disgusting. Can't believe I had to touch that thing..." She mutters under her breath.
She rubs the part of her sides where the creature touched her clothes. Disgust blooms on her face as she releases that the slime has gotten into her armour.
"Ewwww! This sucks! Doc, bring the medkit please! And some cleaning equipment too." She hollers to Dr. Lazarus.
When Marine begins fussing over the slime on her armor, Jayma moves over to her friend. "Hold still, darling..." And with a practiced flick of her wrist, the grime is whisked away. "There, much better, no?". She then turns and gives Callistro and the Doctor the once-over. Lifting an eyebrow, she says, "If you two gentlemen would like a spruce up, please say the word, otherwise you'll forgive me if I keep my distance."
Dr. Lazarus nods as the group takes down the putrid enemy. "Well done, team. Let's not tarry in this foul place any longer than we must." Rather than spend ten minutes in the sewage, the Doctor slaps a quick battle dressing on the injured centaur.
When Jayma offers to tidy him up, Lazarus waves her off. "Thank you, Jayma dear, but feel free to tend to Callistro. I'll handle it myself." He casts Prestidigitation on himself.
With everyone healed up and cleaned up, he asks "Shall we take the elevator down to introduce ourselves to the lady of the house?" Dr. Lazarus heads to the elevator.
As the battle subsides Callistro ducks outside into the slightly fresher air. He begins composing a short poem about Marine trampling trash monsters to death while his soul calms and the fires within subside.
He happily accepts Jayma's offer for a quick spruce up.
The wooden platform in the circular tower does seem to a lift somewhat similar to the ones the party encountered in the Choke. This one, though, is smaller and controlled by a rope and pulley system accessible to someone standing on the platform, so the party is able to use it themselves with no difficulty.
The circular elevator chamber opens out into a basement lined with thick wooden beams. The room is entirely dark. A tangle of support beams and rafters crisscross in the upper half of the ceiling twenty feet above. Left and right, between the beams extend long, thin storage areas, their shelves emptied. Near the elevator to the south, an alcove containing a complex-looking set of gears, chains, and pulleys likely controls the lift. To the north, the hallway ends at a door, across which a symbol in the vague shape of a skull with a black triangle over its lower face has been drawn with fresh, black paint.
Jayma and the doctor both recognize this symbol for what it is. The symbol painted on the northern door is meant to represent a skull wearing a bandanna over its lower face; its presence indicates that what lies beyond is the territory of a gang of thieves who call themselves the Graverobbers.
Of more immediate concern, though, are the two creatures lurking near that door. At first glance they appear to be very large mushrooms, but mushrooms usually don't have nearly so many eyes, teeth, or legs. They seem to have been watching the lift's arrival, waiting for it to reach the floor so they could see who is inside.
They speak, in voices that are dull monotone, strangely devoid of any emotion or inflection.
"This ockomlire does not recognize these humanoids."
"This ockomlire notes that the large one appears to be some manner of insect."
"This ockomlire does not recall insects among their employers."
"This ockomlire concludes these are intruders."
The mushroom things scurry forward on their many legs, teeth gnashing... but they take so long openly chattering about their decision to attack that the heroes are more than ready for them.
Since the creatures have helpfully identified themselves, Dr. Lazarus knows exactly what they are. Ockomlires are not actually fungus at all, but a type of aberration whose resemblance to mushrooms is entirely coincidental. They normally lurk in the Darklands.
Ockomlires eat magic, then they digests the magic and release a haze of despair that stings the eyes and heart alike. Their constant exposure to their own haze leads them to build up a resistance to emotion-based magic (and even to feeling strong emotions at all), but it's a double-edged sword. Using emotional magic against them is more difficult, but when it works it works because of their limited experience with strong emotions.
All PCs' turns.
Initiative:
Marine AC 37, 203+6/203 HP
Dr. Lazarus AC 34, 136+6/136 HP
Callistro AC 34, 164/164 HP (Cursebound 1, Stealthy)
Jayma AC 32, 125+6/126 HP
Red Ockomlire AC ??
Green Ockomlire AC ??
Callistro starts at the stranger things. No, just no, mobile toothy mushrooms are just totally not on. Who the hell wants things like this lurking in your basement. Also, what do you pay these damn things if you are employing them. Lets dispatch them quickly he says, putting some magical force behind the urging.
He then casts another spell, conjuring a copy of himself behind one of them to provide some flanking to Marine.
◇ Lingering Performance
, DC31
◆ Courageous Anthem
◆◆ Cast Spiritual Guardian
Crit, 4 rounds
, piercing or spirit
Before heading up the elevator shaft, Dr. Lazarus drinks down one of Sigourney's delicious coffees. Upon reaching the basement, The Doctor agrees with Callistro, "There are indeed an impressive amount of strange creatures who call this place home." He adds, "At least it smells better down here."
He studies his nearest foe. And lectures to the group about all things Ockomlire.
Lazarus moves into position, leaving a flank for Marine. He then flings his hammer. Twice.
+2 Gr Striking Returning Astral Cold Iron Grabthar's Hammer (w/ Stratagem) CA. vs Green: 1d20 + 26 + 1⇒ (20) + 26 + 1 = 47
The wooden platform creaks as it lowers them to the basement below. Reaching the ground, her eyes are immediately drawn to the northern door, marked with a freshly painted symbol: a skull with a black triangle over its lower face. "It appears Lady Wormwood is not alone down here. Seems like we'll be dealing with the Graverobbers gang as well."
Her gaze then falls on the two ockomlires lurking near the door looking back at her and the others with way too many unblinking eyes. As they scurry forward, Jayma raises her cane and prepares to cast a Haste spell over the group. Unfortunately, Thurston jumps the gun and quickly charges out of range to attack their fungiform opponents.
Jayma curses softly and steps off the elevator and into the room, adjusting her aim to ensure her spell reaches everyone.
An image of Callistro appears and lashes out at one of the mushrooms, which proves surprisingly springy and bounces out of the way.
Lazarus spots a great opening, and hits one of the ockomlires right in one of its mouths. His second throw isn't quite as spot-on, but it's still effective.
Jayma's magic speeds up the group.
Marine's turn.
Initiative:
Marine AC 37, 203+6/203 HP
Dr. Lazarus AC 34, 136+6/136 HP
Callistro AC 34, 163/164 HP (Cursebound 1, Stealthy, lingering courageous anthem, spiritual guardian)
Jayma AC 32, 125+6/126 HP (group haste, +1 status to saving throws)
Red Ockomlire AC 28-34
Green Ockomlire AC 28-34, -107 HP
Marine waits and waits for the inevitable fireball to go soaring past her head into the aberrations...and is pleasantly surprised to find that instead of heat searing into her skin, she feels herself moving faster and with more haste.
"Thanks Jayma! Knew you could cast that, but didn't know you could do all of us at the same time. That's a neat trick!" She cheerfully gives Jayma a thumbs-up.
Marine puts up her blade in a parrying stance. Instead of bellowing out a challenge, she decides to complain out loud. "I heard you all call me an insect. For the millionth time - I'm not an insect, or a scorpion, or a spider! I'm a centaur!" She wails in frustration.
With her Hasted action, she Strides forth, making sure she gets into flanking with the Spiritual Callistro. Still, the room is so long that it takes her an additional bit of exertion to get into position.
With an angry cry of "How would you like it if I called you a mushroom, huh?"; she cleaves into the Red Ockomlire's head while pulling at its tiny nubby feet with her free hand - a perfectly executed Snagging Strike.
Nat 20 Crit!
Marine's sword sliced into the strange creature. It's a deep gash, but doesn't slow it down much. "This ockomlire does not know what a mushroom is," it said in the same calm monotone. Though it spoke with one of its mouths that wasn't facing Marine, because that mouth was busy. It bit deep into her side, a second mouth also latching on. She felt courage drain away from her, as it fed on the magical energy from Callistro's anthem.
"This ockomlire will exploit a disadvantaged foe," says the other one as it bounds over. It also bites and latches onto Marine, though not quite as badly. She's able to get her arm out of the way of its second mouthful of gnashing teeth.
All PCs' turns.
Initiative:
Marine AC 37, 109/203 HP (Dueling Dance +2 circumstance AC, warding statuette +1 status AC, Restrained by Red, Grabbed 1 Green, no courageous anthem, Stupefied 1)
Dr. Lazarus AC 34, 136+6/136 HP
Callistro AC 34, 163/164 HP (Cursebound 1, lingering courageous anthem, spiritual guardian)
Jayma AC 32, 125+6/126 HP (group haste, +1 status to saving throws)
Red Ockomlire AC 28-34, -70 HP (14 temp HP, Grabbing Marine, Off-Guard until Marine's EoNT)
Green Ockomlire AC 28-34, -107 HP (Grabbing Marine)
Jayma watches Marine stagger under the sudden strikes. "Poor dear. They will pay dearly for that."
The air around her vibrates with gathering power as energy starts crackling at her fingertips. She quickly calculates the spacing of the snarling ockomlires and unleashes the spell. Lightning bursts from her hand in a jagged arc, leaping from one creature to the next in a chain of blinding white heat. Satisfied, she flicks a wrist and surrounds herself with a transparent pink force field.
The first ockomlire takes a direct hit, and droops a little as it smokes from its eyes and mouths. The other one grounds itself well and isn't as badly damaged--though Jayma's spell certainly wiped out any strength it gained from devouring the magic on Marine.
Marine, Lazarus, and Callistro's turns.
Initiative:
Marine AC 37, 109/203 HP (Dueling Dance +2 circumstance AC, warding statuette +1 status AC, Restrained by Red, Grabbed 1 Green, no courageous anthem, Stupefied 1)
Dr. Lazarus AC 34, 136+6/136 HP
Callistro AC 34, 163/164 HP (Cursebound 1, lingering courageous anthem, spiritual guardian)
Jayma AC 32, 125+6/126 HP (group haste, shield)
Red Ockomlire AC 28-34, -83 HP (Grabbing Marine, Off-Guard until Marine's EoNT)
Green Ockomlire AC 28-34, -161 HP (Grabbing Marine)
Oh no, Callistro calls out, This doesnt look good.
He quickly darts across the room and places a hand on Marines flank. He quickly intones a spell, That should help you out!
He then focuses and his duplicate lashes out at the mushroom monster.
◆ Stride (speed 45', I can get there just in 1 action)
◆◆ Cast Unfettered Movement on Marine
◆ Sustain Spiritual Guardian
Dr. Lazarus is about to provide Marine some magic to escape, but Callistro comes to the rescue first. "Your timing is impeccable, my inspirational friend. Now for the enemy..."
After waiting for Marine to get free, Lazarus does what he does best: devise an attack strategy.
Confident of an opening, The Doctor moves into a flanking position with the centaur, and swings twice with his hammer.
+2 Gr Striking Astral Cold Iron Grabthar's Hammer (w/ Stratagem) +CA: 1d20 + 26 + 1⇒ (15) + 26 + 1 = 42
He then brings up a magical shield, similar to Jayma's ... except it's not pink.
As both Ockomlire's grab ahold of Marine's sword hand, a bead of worry starts to trickle down the centaur's neck - especially since the little ditty Callistro intones no longer repeats itself in her mind.
"Oh no! I'm trapped and a bit less courageous than before! Whatever shall I do?" She cries in mock panic, trying to remember her drama training from Callistro.
As Callistro begins to free her with magic, she whispers back to him; "Did I pull off the damsel in distress role right?"
Now that she's magically limbered up, she jams an elbow into the mouth of the Red Ockomlire, stunning it enough to free her sword hand.
"Now that all the contestants are here, we can get down to business. I'll make a nice bowl of mushroom soup from your brains!" She threatens as she stabs into Green, trying to first Snagging Strike his roots in her hand before hastily Striking against him. Unfortunately, in her haste to escape, those Strikes fail to meet their mark.
With Green newly distracted by her attempted slashes, she jams her sword in-between its jaws and uses it as a crowbar to fully free herself from the aberrations.
This time Callistro's projection connects.
Lazarus does so much more solidly, knocking a few of the creature's pointed teeth in. His next blow finishes it, and it detaches from Marine and bounces away.
Marine pulls out of the mushroom's grip with magical ease, though her attacks don't manage to damage her foe this time.
The remaining creature droops, shifting closer to the wall so Marine might have trouble swinging her sword. "This ockomlire is now injured and alone and does not wish to be soup. It wishes to surrender, and will exchange information about its employer for its escape."
All PCs' turns.
Initiative:
Marine AC 37, 109/203 HP (Dueling Dance +2 circumstance AC, no courageous anthem, Stupefied 1)
Dr. Lazarus AC 34, 136+6/136 HP
Callistro AC 34, 162/164 HP (Cursebound 1, lingering courageous anthem, spiritual guardian)
Jayma AC 32, 125+6/126 HP (group haste)
Red Ockomlire AC 28-34, -103 HP
"Woagh...I feel woozy...don't really wanna fight now. Don't know if ya is telling truthsies though." Marine tries to Sense Motive on the ockomlire.
Marine believes the ockomlire is sincere in its desire to surrender and escape alive and its offer of information.
"Yeah sure, let's have a chat. Someone else can do the talking though...I feel like my post-rager hunger has gotten worse."
Marine sheathes her sword and fumbles around in her backpack for a drink.
Callistro glares at the mushroom thing suspiciously.
OK, talk, if what you have to say is helpful we may let you go!
When the remaining ockomlire appears to back down and beg for its life, Jayma lowers her raised hand, the gathering spell flickering out between her fingers. She steps forward and studies the creature. Her dark green eyes narrow slightly as she assesses its sincerity.
She moves to stand just off Marine's shoulder. "Very well. Tell us what lies ahead in this complex and what you know of the Graverobbers and their operations here. What role does Lady Wormwood play in all this and where might we find her? Leave nothing out; your life depends on it."
The others all agree with Marine's assessment. The creature does... not seem prone to deception.
"These ockomlires found the sewers of the humanoid city while exploring," says the surviving ockomlire in the same droning, monotone voice devoid of emotion, "They encountered there the masked humanoids whose magic tastes of ashes. Those humanoids offered to feed these ockomlires regularly with magic in exchange for guarding this room. Being fed is much easier and safer than hunting for magic in the Darklands, so these ockomlires accepted this contract, though this ockomlire now concludes that guarding this room is, in fact, more dangerous after all."
The ockomlire points with a leg towards the door at the back of the room. "The sewers are accessible through there. There is a makeshift bridge over the sewer tunnel leading to another door, though this ockomlire has never been past there. It does know that the masked humanoids use a key to bypass that door. The key is over here." It trundles over to a support pillar near the door. Since its eyes are all on the top of its head, it doesn't tilt its head back like most creatures might to look up, but its eyes all point upward and it stands on its toes to point with the top of its head.
"There is a hidden niche there, behind a secret panel that opens. The key is within."
The panel is well-hidden, enough that the adventurers may well have overlooked it by searching the room, but is easy enough to find with the hint pinpointing its location. Inside is an iron key, along with four Darkvision elixirs.
"This ockomlire is unfamiliar with the name 'Lady Wormwood,' but knows of an unpleasant horned humanoid who does not wear a mask and whose magic smells spicy, though it cannot confirm that as this humanoid has never fed it. She is an ally, per their employers, and permitted to travel though these ockomlires' room, but has never spoken to them while doing so."
Marine holds her head, blinking away stars as the Stupification clears.
"You mention this makeshift bridge - do you reckon I'd fit on it? If not, I had better cut myself down to size before we enter the sewer tunnels."
Dr. Lazarus nods knowingly as the ockomlire tells its story. "Isn't it fascinating how these creatures talk about themselves in the third person? I'm always amazed." The group wasn't aware that Lazarus has actually encountered such creatures before. Maybe he hasn't. But he certainly believes he has from all his reading.
Before the creature leaves, the Doctor offers, "Before heading to the Darklands, could I offer you some healing?" Turning to Marine, he orders, "Over here, my dear. Next to our new friend." He unpacks his healers tools and suggests, "While I patch up Marine, Jayma and Callistro can search the place. Starting with the key." He waits momentarily to see if the ockomlire would like treatment.
After twenty minutes, Dr. Lazarus asks them both, "How do you feel?" When they respond in a positive manner, the Doctor says, "It was rhetorical. Of course you're fine."
Jayma listens as the ockomlire recounts what it knows of the sewers, the Graverobbers and Lady Wormwood. She isn’t particularly surprised to learn that the creature wasn't truly part of the gang or Lady Wormwood’s inner circle, and that its knowledge of the sewers beyond the door was thus limited.
Once she’s certain the ockomlire has shared everything it can, she says coolly, "Thank you for what you’ve given us. You will now leave this place and you will not return. If we meet you again down here, it will be your last day in this world. Understood?"
While the Doctor tends to Marine, Jayma and Callistro search the room. She retrieves the darkvision elixirs from the hidden niche and notes them in her ledger. Then she hands the key to Thurston, knowing he’s the one most likely to use it when they reach the doors ahead.
Callistro lets his duplicate fade as they chat to the strange mushroom creature.
Search, old man he says in shock at Dra Lazarus's suggestion, You want me to go rooting through old boxes and things and get covered in dust and goodness knows what else!
He takes up a spot on an old barrel and begins composing an epic poem of their battle instead.
"The large being that is not an insect will not have much room to maneuver in the hallway," the ockomlire answers Marine, "but this ockomlire does not believe that will be an impediment. The gap is not wide."
To Lazarus, it says, "This ockomlire's wounds have been tended satisfactorily. It thanks the rude elf for his kindness."
It assures Jayma that, "This ockomlire has no intention of returning to the surface. It has learned that the stories about gnomes told in the Darklands are false, and that such creatures are dangerous and frightening."
She doesn't find anything else hidden in the room.
As soon as someone with hands opens the door, the ockomlire is happy to retreat into the sewer.
A ten-foot-wide brick-walled sewer tunnel runs east to west here. There’s no walkway along the tunnel, and the nasty polluted water just a foot below reeks of filth. A slick-looking wooden plank serves as a bridge across the tunnel to an alcove on the opposite wall in which a stone door has been fitted.
With everyone healed up, even the ockomlire, Dr. Lazarus says, "And now, the rude elf will open the door to allow the one with many mouths (and not enough arms) to return to the sewer."
After the ockomlire departs, Lazarus carefully crosses the plank. He listens at the far door and examines it for traps. When the group is ready, he opens the door.
Marine stretches as the tension and aches in her body are tended to.
"Phew, Doc! That felt really good. Say, you ever consider going private? I'm sure many wealthy people would love to have a personal doctor like yourself on standby." She comments glibly, completely unaware of the financial viability of such a suggestion.
Marine watches carefully as the Doctor crosses the plank. Carefully, she balances on it like a tightrope, crossing it slowly but safely.
"This reminds me of one of the acts I used to do back at the Circus of Wayward Wonders! You all ever see an elephant, a Minotaur and a Centaur attempt to cross a tightrope while standing on each other's shoulders? Well, this is one-third of the act." She comments when she's half-way across.
An errant wobble sends her nearly off the side of the plank.
"Whoops! Nearly fell off. Audiences love that - it adds so much tension to the act!" She candidly jokes, although the beads of sweat trickling down her face betrays the tension within.
Wisely, Marine decides to shut up and focus for the rest of the crossing. She's too busy Scouting anyways.