Oswald Searle, aka OZ's page

I would've loved to reintroduce Oz once everyone returns to the Nexus, but I will be driving up to a convention in the morning and will be on vacation until the 10th, so posting will be difficult.

I think I've got Oz's new build down. He's now got a Dream Warrior form to match his Nightmare form. His Dream Warrior form is more of your traditional brute big hitter.

Oswald Searle, OZ the Dream Warrior - PL 10

Oswald Searle, aka OZ wrote:

His patience beings to wear thin. "I'm gonna need it straight, mate. Who are the oth..." He catches himself as the words process and sink in. "What did you say about my dad? What do you mean he's in the Dreaming? He's not with 'Us' but who is 'Us'? Who are you?"

Oz is, perhaps, surprises by a chorus of laughter. Not evil Mwa-ha-ha laughter, but the shared jollity of a group of friends at a campfire, beers in hand.

A woman's voice, "Not a lot of straight lines here in the Dream. It is Dream, after all. After all you see is Nightmare, but there is more...Those who serve the Dream are kept within. But your father never made it here. His voice was silenced, though it echoes in our ears. Do you hear it?"

Oswald tries his best to focus, on what exactly he was unsure of. 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

His patience beings to wear thin. "I'm gonna need it straight, mate. Who are the oth..." He catches himself as the words process and sink in. "What did you say about my dad? What do you mean he's in the Dreaming? He's not with 'Us' but who is 'Us'? Who are you?"

As Oswald's hand stretches out to block the light, the bright white shatters into a rainbow of swirling colors. Somehow, Oswald hears the colors say, "YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT THIS ONE?! HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE IS, MUCH LESS WHAT TO DO WITH IT."

And behind that voice, or maybe under it, in any case somewhen-where-how else, "Oswald, this is no way to comport yourself, young man. What do we do when we fall down?"

"We dust ourselves off, get back up and swing for the fences," he answers with a confused tone. "What's going on...Dad?"

Oswald Searle, aka OZ wrote:

GM SuperTumbler wrote:

Oswald Searle, aka OZ wrote:

The knock comes again, this time more insistent.

"Listen, beer can lady, I'm taking a little mental vacation. A bit of R&R. Escaping to my own personal paradise. Just me, these cans, and my good friend Rod Serling."

The knock comes again, more insistent this time. Oz can't quite place it. With it a voice: "Oz, look, I know you are busy in there, but we need your help out here."

It is warm, melodious, rich, soft but not quite southern. Oz has the impression that the voice has a mustache, but he isn't sure why.

Completely missed this post

Oswald reaches for another cold one. It cracks open with a quick, sharp "tss" before downing the whole thing. He crawls over his cans and cracks the door open just enough to fit his face. "Ok listen, let's get one thing straight: I can't help anyone *hiccup*. I can get in the way, I can clumsily botch the whole thing, or I can simply stay right where I am and not ruin a single thing. If you need my help finishing up a meal or opening up a jar of pickles, I'm your guy. If you need my help saving lives, you're better off calling Grace, Ces or Max. Just don't call the Professor... or me. Deffos not me. "

As Oswald opens the door, an absurdly bright light fills the crack of the opening. Through the bright light, he can see the hallway of his apartment building beyond, but that it stretches to the right and left for what seems like infinity, door after door after door without end. There doesn't seem to be anyone there.

A hangover hits him near-instantaneous. He blocks as much light as he can with one hand while he steadies himself against the door jamb. "TOO. BRIGHT. Warn a fella next time, won't ya? Now what's going on here? Who's behind all 'is? Sallah?"

Oswald Searle, aka OZ wrote:

The knock comes again, this time more insistent.

"Listen, beer can lady, I'm taking a little mental vacation. A bit of R&R. Escaping to my own personal paradise. Just me, these cans, and my good friend Rod Serling."

The knock comes again, more insistent this time. Oz can't quite place it. With it a voice: "Oz, look, I know you are busy in there, but we need your help out here."

It is warm, melodious, rich, soft but not quite southern. Oz has the impression that the voice has a mustache, but he isn't sure why.

Completely missed this post

Oswald reaches for another cold one. It cracks open with a quick, sharp "tss" before downing the whole thing. He crawls over his cans and cracks the door open just enough to fit his face. "Ok listen, let's get one thing straight: I can't help anyone *hiccup*. I can get in the way, I can clumsily botch the whole thing, or I can simply stay right where I am and not ruin a single thing. If you need my help finishing up a meal or opening up a jar of pickles, I'm your guy. If you need my help saving lives, you're better off calling Grace, Ces or Max. Just don't call the Professor... or me. Deffos not me. "

Oswald Searle, aka OZ wrote:

A heavy knock on the door breaks Oswald from his drunken Twilight Zone binge. His room in complete disarray with mountains of beer cans and tiny bottles of liquor around his poorly constructed pillow fort. Ozzie lets out a belch. "Oswald's not here right now. Try again later."

A stylized image of a woman on one of the beer cans moves, wagging a scolding finger, "Now Oswald, that isn't very hospitable."

The knock comes again, this time more insistent.

What episode is on?]/ooc]

[ooc]Shadow Play

A heavy knock on the door breaks Oswald from his drunken Twilight Zone binge. His room in complete disarray with mountains of beer cans and tiny bottles of liquor around his poorly constructed pillow fort. Ozzie lets out a belch. "Oswald's not here right now. Try again later."

Oz is the Incredible Sulk, drinking his guilt away

Shame and grief strike Oswald at the sight of the news. He recoils with guilt.

honestly don't know how he would involve himself but after that big mess up, he'd lock himself in his room for quite a while

[dice=Toughness DC 24]d20+6

Rats squeal as they flee form the nightmare creature. Oz's extended arms hit the gargoyle like he is starting to get the hang of using his power. The creature flies off of its prey and slams into a dumpster. It slumps into a puddle.

The woman looks to the creature, then to Oz, her eyes widening in renewed horror.

Oz pauses in place for a moment. Oh crap crap crap what do I say? She's screaming... She probably thinks I'm gonna hurt her... Quick do something cool

The shadows peel off of him and he exits the stall and joins his friends.

One woman, pale skin, dark hair, lies on the ground, bent in a way that Oz thinks can't be good.

Another, dark skin, pink hair, lies on the ground, her hands holding the wrists of a great grey hairy winged gargoyle beast. Standing, it would be 7 or 8 feet tall. Its arms are obscenely long, and wings beat above it. It has long teeth that bend toward the woman's neck.

Oz steps towards the winged menace. He lets out a low, raspy bellow.

Strike: Strength-based Damage 9, +8 (DC 24)
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

OZ on patrol.

Freedom City's nightlife is world renowned, and for the younger (read under 21) crowd, Midnight Hour is the hottest club in Riverside, not from from where the front door of the Nerian Nexus usually resides on Ditko Street.

Like Ditko street, the buildings near Midnight Hour are only two or three stories. On Tuesdays, Midnight features an open mic night and the street outside is filled with food trucks of every variety.

Tonight, two young women are having a great time as they slide into the alley behind the club. They don't notice the dark winged shape clinging to the building above them until it is almost too late.

OZ hears their struggles even over the noise on the street.

Since returning to Freedom City, Oswald has dedicated himself to being a hero. Great Power, Great Responsibility... or whatever he tells himself. Patrolling the streets of Freedom by rooftop, Oswald's alter ego, Oz, had generated quite a bit of notoriety, or infamy, from the public. It seemed that some couldn't make heads or tails out of Oz. A hero that elicits fear and feeds off of it? Yeah, I think it's time to lay low

Though a bit apprehensive, Oswald takes the night off from patrolling to meet up with his friends Mitch, Jacob and Isaiah (colloquially known as "The Boys").

Oswald looks down at his half-eaten gyro, indifferent. Once considered among his top five favorite foods, it just doesn't do it for him. White tzatziki sauce drips down onto his black floral button-down. "Aw crap, I got sauce on my shirt. Maybe we should just hit up a chill place to kick it. It's still Boys Night, but y'know, not a tuesday night rager?"

"Dude... it's Boys Night! The first one since you got that new job, Ozzie. We are gonna go HARD tonight," Mitch hollers. "Who cares what day of the week it is? Besides Midnight Hour is always full of babes and babes are good any day of the week."

"You hear that, Ozzie Boy? Mitch said BABES. We'll be your wingmen," Jacob chimes in.

"We know you've been really busy with that new job of yours, but tonight is for THE BOYS. Drinks, girls, what more can you ask for?"
Isaiah adds.

"What jo-,"Oswald nearly forgets. He's been busy lately because he accepted a "new job" at the "museum", working in the "acquisitions" department. Not quite a lie, but not quite the truth. "-okers you guys are. Girls and drinks are cool and all, but y'know I got that thing for Stell--."

The screams cut through the air, and through his thoughts.
Isaiah places a hand on the "Hey Z, you ok? Don't get lost looking for the words in that big fat brain of yers."

They didn't hear them?
He quickly grabs his phone out of his pocket with a tzatziki sauce-covered hand. "I'm sorry dudes, I need to take this phone call. I'll meet up with yas inside."
He charges off. Hunger tugs at him, drawing him closer and closer to the source of the screams. A dimly lit alleyway-- "Perfect." Fear.

He calmly walks into the alley and allows the darkness to swallow him whole. Oz, the Living Nightmare leaps from out of the shadows towards the winged figure.

OZ on patrol.

Freedom City's nightlife is world renowned, and for the younger (read under 21) crowd, Midnight Hour is the hottest club in Riverside, not from from where the front door of the Nerian Nexus usually resides on Ditko Street.

Like Ditko street, the buildings near Midnight Hour are only two or three stories. On Tuesdays, Midnight features an open mic night and the street outside is filled with food trucks of every variety.

Tonight, two young women are having a great time as they slide into the alley behind the club. They don't notice the dark winged shape clinging to the building above them until it is almost too late.

OZ hears their struggles even over the noise on the street.

Since returning to Freedom City, Oswald has dedicated himself to being a hero. Great Power, Great Responsibility... or whatever he tells himself. Patrolling the streets of Freedom by rooftop, Oswald's alter ego, Oz, had generated quite a bit of notoriety, or infamy, from the public. It seemed that some couldn't make heads or tails out of Oz. A hero that elicits fear and feeds off of it? Yeah, I think it's time to lay low

Though a bit apprehensive, Oswald takes the night off from patrolling to meet up with his friends Mitch, Jacob and Isaiah (colloquially known as "The Boys").

Oswald looks down at his half-eaten gyro, indifferent. Once considered among his top five favorite foods, it just doesn't do it for him. White tzatziki sauce drips down onto his black floral button-down. "Aw crap, I got sauce on my shirt. Maybe we should just hit up a chill place to kick it. It's still Boys Night, but y'know, not a tuesday night rager?"

"Dude... it's Boys Night! The first one since you got that new job, Ozzie. We are gonna go HARD tonight," Mitch hollers. "Who cares what day of the week it is? Besides Midnight Hour is always full of babes and babes are good any day of the week."

"You hear that, Ozzie Boy? Mitch said BABES. We'll be your wingmen," Jacob chimes in.

"We know you've been really busy with that new job of yours, but tonight is for THE BOYS. Drinks, girls, what more can you ask for?"
Isaiah adds.

"What jo-,"Oswald nearly forgets. He's been busy lately because he accepted a "new job" at the "museum", working in the "acquisitions" department. Not quite a lie, but not quite the truth. "-okers you guys are. Girls and drinks are cool and all, but y'know I got that thing for Stell--."

The screams cut through the air, and through his thoughts.
Isaiah places a hand on the "Hey Z, you ok? Don't get lost looking for the words in that big fat brain of yers."

They didn't hear them?
He quickly grabs his phone out of his pocket with a tzatziki sauce-covered hand. "I'm sorry dudes, I need to take this phone call. I'll meet up with yas inside."
He charges off. Hunger tugs at him, drawing him closer and closer to the source of the screams. A dimly lit alleyway-- "Perfect. Fear.

He calmly walks into the alley and allows the darkness to swallow him whole. Oz, the Living Nightmare leaps from out of the shadows towards the winged figure.

Upon returning to Freedom, Oswald finds a new purpose in life. He's a hero now, not some freeloading hooligan. "I gotta do what heroes do," he tells himself (whatever that is).

FREEDOM CITY INQUIRER
SHADOW MONSTER OZ, FRIEND OR FOE?
Locals report sighting a moving shadow throughout the streets of Freedom City.

Marcia Diez, of Lantern Hill: "¡Horrible! ¡Un fantasmo! I was making dinner and I look outside and on the rooftop, I saw it. I cannot believe my eyes! I have never seen something so evil. It was standing there staring at some men on the corner. It jumped down and everything went black! A few seconds later, WHOOSH, no more darkness, and those men were tied upside down! That PHANTOM was gone.".

Ira L. Ackey, self-described "hard-working shipping and receiving specialist" from The Fens, who experienced the monster has this to say: "I was hard at work one late night, and allatha sudden, lights go out! One by one, my cohorts kept dropping. These are honest workers, I tell ya. This DEMON MONSTER was pure 100% fear. Grown men were cowerin' in the corner, I never seen anything like it before. It swam thru the ground like a shark. The last thing I remember was it wrappin all around me with these disgusting claws. I came to in the morning and spray-painted on the wall was a black eyeball. I can't believe after allat, we got arrested! It attacked us!

Southside resident Jamison Smith says it may not be as malicious as others are making it our to be: "I was being followed by some gutter rats with my girlfriend. At one point we were surrounded by them. They had knives and wanted us to hand over our valuables. As they started getting more physical with us, I remember seeing a blur just outside the corners of my eyes. Kinda like you see him, but then you don't! All of a sudden, a spooky eye opens up above us all, and those thugs started screaming for their life. Never heard anything like it. Then, he struck. It was amazing, kinda scary, but so cool! We thanked him, asked him for his name... all he said was Oz and he was gone. Wherever you are, Mr. Oz, thank you!"

What is this monster's motive? Is it here to help, or hinder? Is Oz friend, or foe?

"We still will find a way to help you, Alex. Right, Max? Grace? We can do it, I know we can figure it out... we just defeated the HellQueen! We have to be able to help you out Alex."

Oz skitters back and forth nervously. His form fluctuates between solid and liquid, his head darting in all directions. The feeling of dread still tickles the back of his neck.

"Alex is our friend, Eoten. It's only right that we take care of our own. Is everyone else ok? Here... this should help us." Once again, a portal pulses restorative energies from the Dreaming. It's colorful waves wash over Team Eldritch.

Rest: Burst Area Healing 8 (Burst Area: 30 feet radius sphere, DC 18, Energizing, Increased Range: ranged, Selective, Stabilize; Noticeable: a floating eye emanating radiant waves)
Healing: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Oz lets out a demonic roar of his own as he disperses the fiends.
The harming orb flashes a calming green and pulses a wave of restoration.
Oz is looking to assist Eldritch in helping Alex

Rest: Burst Area Healing 8 (Burst Area: 30 feet radius sphere, DC 18, Energizing, Increased Range: ranged, Selective, Stabilize; Noticeable: a floating eye emanating radiant waves)

vs Demon Toughness DC19: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
vs Demon Toughness DC19: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Oz dodges a lashing from a scorpion tail, ducks out of the way of an ax swing gets grazed by claw, and takes a headbutt straight to the back.

Not succumbing to their brand of pain, he opens up a portal with a taste of his own.

Pain: Burst Area Damage 10 (DC 25; Burst Area: 30 feet radius sphere, DC 20, Increased Range: ranged, Multiattack, Penetrating 10; Noticeable: An Eye with grotesque appendages lashing out )

Alex's wails of pain send Oz into a rage. His blurred form grows slightly as nightmares bulge from under his flesh. He uses Cesarina's temporary distraction to meld into the volcano floor. Without a second thought, he leaps out from under the HellQueen like an inky shark. "YOU DONT! HURT! MY! FRIENDS!

Extra Effort: Untapped Potential
Strike r9, All-Out Attack +5, Power Attack +2: 1d20 + 8 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 5 - 2 = 25

Using All-Out Attack to lower Dodge & Parry by 5 (Dodge 2, Parry 1) and raise attack to +13. Power Attack +2 to lower attack down to +11, but raise the rank by 3. Additionally, using Extra Effort: Untapped Potential to add an additional +3 to rank. Feel free to reign me in and modify whatever you need to. He's really going all out with this.
So all in all, that should be 8+5-2 for attack and then Strike DC 24+3+3

Now that I'm cleared to work again after having COVID, I'm having to play catchup on missed work so I apologize if I miss something.

Seeing his friend in danger, Oswald points a sharp finger at HellQueen. The shadows of the nightmare realm wash over him.
" What have you done to Alex!"

The Fens ain't that bad. Ok maybe but they're cleaning up their," Oswald loses himself as he trails off and mumbles. "they've got a burgeoning culinary scene, and their craft cocktail community is very friendly and inviting. No one's a snob, and it's not incredibly expensi--" He stops dead in his tracks as he stares into the portal.

"We're just jumping right into it, huh? I've never even been to a Volcano. I guess no better time than now."

"It's always gotta be something big and scary sounding. It's never at the Twistee Tastee Cone on the Southside, or at the Mondo Hondo Burger in The Fens. It's gotta be at The Maw of Vhoka. How do we prepare for a pleasant place named The Maw of Vhoka? How's about I pick us up some extra sticks of deodorant, some sunscreen and maybe a spray bottle of Witch-B-Gone. "

Oswald sheds the shadows and quickly runs to Cesarina. His frame nearly crashes into her as he throws himself to the ground. He shakes her forcefully, full of anxious energy.
"Here! Idon'tknowhowtogiveitbackbuttakeitback QUICK."

Oz leaps into Eoten's mighty mitt of a hand and prepares himself.
OK BUDDY, NOW DON'T MISS!

Strike: Strength-based Damage 9, +8 (DC 24): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

"You've got a good pitch, mate! How's about a helpin' hand?"
I really want to orchestrate a fastball special but I'm not sure how that one would go about that in this system.

Oh, well a bit of a retcon because Permeate only works with solid objects, which water is not.

Oz leaps off of his kelpie and lands on solid ground on all fours. He lets out a bestial howl. A purple glow emits from within the watery form of Fathom as fearsome nightmarish horrors gnaw their way out.

Pain: Burst Area Damage 10 (DC 25; Burst Area: 30 feet radius sphere, DC 20, Increased Range: ranged, Multiattack, Penetrating 10; Noticeable: An Eye with grotesque appendages lashing out )

"Cesarina, wha-" Oswald radiates with blessed energy. The warmth runs through him, lifting his spirits. "OK, ok I can do this. I can do this."

Oswald extends his arms nervously as he takes deep breaths. "Have Faith"
A blurred darkness begins to crawl over the tips of his finger, his wrists, forearms and suddenly stops. "Have faith in myself, Oz. You can do this."
Further now, up his shoulders, down the rest of his torso and legs, but again stops around his head. "C'mon Oz, you've got this. Just like dad used to say. 'Face your fears head on n' then your fears will be fearin' you'" He takes a deep breath as the shadow covers his head.

and.... quiet. No screaming, no thrumming pain of hunger, no need to sow chaos.

"I CAN DO THIS," he proclaims as he leaps off of his mount and slithers through the waters towards Fathom.

Standard Action to switch, Move to full speed permeate towards Fathom

"Pft. My time to shine?" Oswald says incredulously. "Oh yeah, sure, let me just blackout and see what comes up. Oh! I got an idea! Why don't I just open up a portal and send this guy straight to Nightmareland! What's the worst that can happen? I lose complete control and am never myself ever again?"

Oswald recoils with embarrassment at Gracie's comment. Where he would usually react with delight at the sight of the kelpies, he seems dejected and nonchalant.

"Hey," he whispers. "My name is Oswald. I guess you're gonna be my ride. I...uh..don't know how this is gonna go but uh... Ride like the wind, I guess."

DC 10 Fortitude: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

The frigid water slams against him, but within Oswald seems to be something much colder.

Oswald takes Cesarina's words to heart. A desire, a need, a goal. He'd lived his life rather recklessly after the disappearance of his father. "My goal has always been to wake up to see the next day. I didn't think I'd be around this long, to be honest. I-" he chokes up as a weight falls on his chest, "I lost my father and my life crumbled to pieces. All my passions in life, all the things I dreamed of doing all went out the window. I can't begin to tell you the last time I had this much hope or this much excitement to do anything other than drink and party. I've been in a downward spiral for the last seven years... just when I thought I was about to hit rock bottom, I met you all and received this power or curse."
He takes a pause to look out at the sea wistfully.
"Even now, I feel like something's pulling at me to do my worst, but I know I've already done it by not believing in myself, by letting the darkest sides of me ruin my life. I let myself down by not living up to my potential the last few years. Thank you for taking me in and guiding me. My father didn't raise me to be a quitter, and I doubt I can just get rid of this thing so now that I'm a little more aware of how this thing works, I'm gonna have to figure out how to make this thing work for me. I won't let it control me again."

To Oz: "Do you have any sense of what was going on when it happened? Have you ever felt anything close to this before?"

As Max casts his spell... "Wa- "

She looks around as the portal draws them into the realm of the Fey. "Oh I hope this was a good idea, Max. I trust you know the way to Hy-Brasil from here. But remember that time I disappeared for a whole year? It was a week here. I hope we don't go home to find Hellqueen's taken over in our absence."

"I can't explain it. It felt like I was in an endless darkened corridor and I could see two red bead-like eyes. There was wind blowing against me, except it wasn't wind... but screams? Howls? Chanting of some sort, I could feel it within me. But I wasn't scared. I kept running towards it, I wanted to get closer to the red eyes, I wanted to become those eyes... This sounds ridiculous, I know but, I think something on the other side is trying to use me. Something from the nightmare realm. I'll try my best to be strong but it's freaking me out."

"I don't know what to say... I didn't want to hurt anyone, I didn't want to do any of that. I don't want to be some sort of monster... but I feel like something brought me to you guys. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened back there, but I can't just sit on my hands back at the Nexus."

"There's nothing I can do to make it up to those I hurt, but I can't stop now. I will learn how to control this thing, and it's best I do it by your side...because you know, you'd be able to do something if it gets out of line. "

Oswald's second skin ripples and peels away at Cesarina's touch. He falls to the ground with his close sopping wet with perspiration.
"I- I am so sorry I.. I don't know what happened... I felt like something took hold of me... That's never happened before."

for me: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Hunger overwhelms Oz as the shade makes a mad dash for the underking. Oswald struggles to take control. Pieces of the blurred darkness fall off revealing Oswald's panicked face. The shadows quickly reconstitute.

Kicking this complication up a notch. Oswald's gonna need some help.

Oz lets out a metal-on-metal screech of a laugh.
SWING and a MISS, you bozos!

He rakes his claws along the ground sending streams of inky blackness streaking towards the two elementals. The ink explodes beneath the two foes and an eye oozing chaotic energy appears.
"FEED. ME. MORE."
Chaos: Cumulative Burst Area Affliction 10 (1st degree: Entranced, 2nd degree: Compelled, 3rd degree: Controlled, Resisted by: Will, DC 20; Burst Area: 30 feet radius sphere, DC 20, Cumulative, Increased Range: ranged, Selective; Diminished Range, Noticeable: A Giant Staring Eye)

Oz was not including Gracie. He's not that much of a jerk....yet

Oz let's out a hyena-like cackle from the depths of hell as he charges forward. "Oh, you're no fun, Good Knight!"
He leaps into the air and summons a portal to the darkest parts of The Nightmare Realm.

Fear: Cumulative Perception Area Affliction 10 (1st degree: Impaired, Dazed, 2nd degree: Immobile, Stunned, 3rd degree: Paralyzed, Unaware, Resisted by: Will, DC 20; Perception Area: DC 20 - Sight, Cumulative, Extra Condition, Selective; Noticeable: An eye that displays each individual targets fear)

Oz figuratively smashes the can, and then very literally as he tosses the squished can towards the nearest Sub-Teran's head. "Her fight isn't with you guys, but mine is. Jeez you guys are U G L Y. I've got just what you need."

A black puddle opens beneath the bulk of Sub-Terans as an eyeball emerges and explodes in a cloud of barbs and lashing thorns.

Pain: Burst Area Damage 10 (DC 25; Burst Area: 30 feet radius sphere, DC 20, Increased Range: ranged, Multiattack, Penetrating 10; Noticeable: An Eye with grotesque appendages lashing out )

Oswald comes prepared with his signature rugby shorts, his father's old slouch hat, and a large insulated bag slung over his shoulder. "So I got us some snacks in case we get hungry. I figured if we're going to 'Stralia, I'd grab us some vegemite sandwiches and a couple'a Fosters for the trip."

Once everyone is ready to depart, Oswald cracks open a cold one. The blurred umbral form of the nightmare demon overtakes him as he takes a long cold chug of the Fosters.

"Tsssss Ahhhhhh. Ain't nothin' like a cold Fosters."

Oswald furrows his brows at the mention of Titan ally Briareus...
"Titan... Uncle Bri?.." he whispers to himself. He lets it go, realizing there are more pressing matters.
"You guys head to the office, I'll go grab some essentials."
and by essentials, he means a cooler full of sandwiches, snacks, and drinks.

"As fine as can be expected under the circumstances." Cesarina says.

She moves in to check on the Professor. As she does so:

"Are you okay Oswald? Your powers. They certainly seem to be...a burden sometimes."

With a hand covering his mouth to hold any further vomitus, Oswald mumbles "What could've possibly given you that idea?"

A few seconds pass and he seems a bit more steady. "It's cool, the horrifying visions and blood-curdling screams from Nightmare World kinda end once I drop the shadows and I'm just left with the haunting scars as I cry myself to sleep. It's truly a blessing, Cessie."

The Shade skitters around the floor in amazement. He'd seen many things in the shadowed halls of the Nightmare realm but that?

"THAT WAS HILARIOUS! AHHHHAHAHAHA... THE TENSION, THE SUSPENSE, THE IMMINENT DANGER, THE PUDDLE OF VISCERAL GUTS AND GORE. TELL ME, ELDRITCH, WERE YOU SCARED? BE HONEST, KNIGHT-- DID FEAR LICK AT THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK? PRIESTESS, DID YOU BEGIN TO FALTER? DID THE THOUGHT OF BREAKING YOUR VOWS CROSSED YOUR MIND? MAGUS, YOUR CORE WAS SHAKEN WAS IT NOT?"
Oswald's voice crackles with a malignancy that has not yet been heard. His voice intertwines with something more serpentine, something more sinister and ancient. After a breath, the shade stands upright and sheds itself into nothingness. Oswald, back to his mortal flesh-and-blood self doubles over immediately as his stomach upends itself. Pearlescent black ichor spills from his mouth and all over his clothes.

"I don't feel well. That-- that wasn't me I am so sorry."

I don't think Oz is aware that the Devourer is the Professor... so maybe the Parlour Room wouldn't have been the move he went for. If retconning is possible, perhaps change Parlour Room to the inevitable 'Warded Dungeon for Magical Beings (tm) that Eldritch should definitely have had lol. If not, we can just roll with this blunder on Oz's part (he's new and all).

"Maybe the parlour room wasn't a good idea, but I was thinking about how we could all have a talk....next time I'll focus on that one prison room in the basement or something."

Oz's shadowy figure stands wide-legged, arms slack to the ground as he erupts in laughter "HOLY SH*T THIS GUY IS SCARY AHHHAHAHAHA. WHAT NIGHTMARE DID YOU CRAWL OUT OF, MATE?"
When Oz is in his nightmare form, the fearless advantage is activated. Additionally, as per one of his complications, he feeds off this sort of chaos and disorder.

Cesarina's shout snaps him out of it. Oswald shakes his head and refocuses. "Uh.. s-sorry. Yeah, portal, coming right.." a tear in reality opens up beneath the Devourer as the aged Oriental rug of the Nexus's Parlour Room can be seen ".. up. err..down. See ya at home, Big Guy."

Oswald knows his stomach should be churning, but the shadowed creature that he's become keeps him placated. Fearsome as the Devourer must be, the Shade had flooded Oswald's mind with much more terrifying creatures from the realm of Nightmares. This new form warrants a chuckle.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he rasps. "Put the guy down and we can talk this out unless you wanna invoke my foot up your ass."

The massive giant catches Oz by surprise. How'd he miss him? The demon must've taken his attention. He readies his claws. "What did you just say to me?" he growls. Without giving Eoten a chance to respond, Oz leaps at him with intent to rend.

Strike: Strength-based Damage 9, +8 (DC 24): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Sssssswing and a miss! This is good here because I, the player, do not intend to harm Eoten, but Oz has no idea who this giant is given the situation.

Oz recovers from his whiff with an ever graceful drop to one knee. "The Shadow had a nice ring to it" he quips as he extends his hands out, opening a spherical portal of an eye. Tendrils of shadows lash out at the demon.

Pain: Burst Area Damage 10 (DC 25; Burst Area: 30 feet radius sphere, DC 20, Increased Range: ranged, Multiattack, Penetrating 10; Noticeable: An Eye with grotesque appendages lashing out )

Oz lets out an affirmative grunt as the portal closes behind Cesarina and opens 10 feet in front of Gracie. He peers through the portal and extends an arm for Gracie. "Trouble. Hospital. Cesarina, Eldritch, UNISON, Professor. LETS GO".

As he teleports the two of them, he readies himself. Dream-like rainbows swirl around his fiendish claws. He leaps out of the portal and slashes at the first guard he sees.

Strike: Strength-based Damage 9, +8 (DC 24): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

A little over-ambitious, Oz did not account for the visual distortion of the portal and completely whiffs just to the left of his intended target. He connects instead with some rather important looking series of tubes leading to an IV bag.

Oswald is left bewildered along with Cesarina, but upon confirmation of his location. "So it's trouble, yeah? Best to go in ready to kick some ass" he says as he transforms. When Cesarina is ready, Oz opens a portal to the hospital.

Where exactly in the hospital he ends up I will leave up to you, GMST