“I think I’ve found something here fellows,” Eldin calls softly to his companions, seeing if he can figure out a way to open the door (but refraining from doing so just yet). “Harven, can you come and take a look at this?”
OK. What am I looking at? Search (1d20+1=16)
OK. What am I looking at? Search (1d20+1=16)
Eldin indicates to Harven the margins of what he believes to be the hidden doorway, while Harven pokes around the immediate area searching for potential door triggers or traps. Coming to a decision at last, Harven informs you he believes the wall section simply pushes in and then up.
Meaninwhile, Tyndal pokes fruitlessly through the offal mounds, eventually encountering the cloaked pile. Tapping the butt of his spear against the final pile, he connects with something of substance within; definitely a non-metallic object.
"Hey guys, there's something over here. Thought I would say something since last time I played with dead things a wall of slime attacked us"
"Hey guys, there's something over here. Thought I would say something since last time I played with dead things a wall of slime attacked us"
And now you are "playing" in offel....I have no desire to face a Wall of Crap....
Perhaps you can separate it from the pile and we can rinse it off after we get it out, so as to ascertain what we are looking at.
And now you are "playing" in offel....I have no desire to face a Wall of Crap....
Tyndal will do what he can to separate the object from the crap. He doesn't have a particular problem with getting dirty if necessary. There's water outside the room after all.
"Hey guys, there's something over here. Thought I would say something since last time I played with dead things a wall of slime attacked us"
"If it's a body, DON'T TOUCH IT."
"Yes, that never seems to work out well for us," says Eldin mildly, wandering over to see what has been found.
Separating the sludge from the unknown item as warily as possible, Tyndal unearths a human skeleton beneath the mound, used as a framework of sorts. Draped over the bones is a particularly fine suit of studded leather armor, though it would take a good deal of cleaning and perfuming before you’d want to wear it anywhere. When Tyndal holds up the armor to examine it, the spongy, partially mummified thing slips right though and collapse into a heap with a wet plop.
Something soft pops out of the skull as the body collapses and rolls across the floor with a sopping, slapping noise. Bumping into an additional refuse mass, the roundish object comes to a halt, then uncurls. Pushing itself upright on a spongy red-veined nerve stalk is what appears to be a human eyeball. The eye hops about gingerly on its ganglia tripod, but makes no overtly threatening motions.
Lifting one of its “feet,” the eyestalk points at the eye portion of itself, then at you, repeating the motion several times.
Tyndal looks at the "eyeball" with horror.
"Sorry, I got two eyeballs already...no need for a third. Um...guys, there's an eyeball here...looking at me."
I would be somewhat interested in that suit of ...WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!!!
Terin whips out his dagger and prepares to throw if the eye makes a move towards anyone.
Seann stares back.
The eye stands motionless for a moment, then points at itself again with a “foot” before pointing at your face. Wobbling unsteadily, it returns to a tripod position and waits patiently.
Eldin, what is this thing? I mean besides a walking eye...
“Dead body – something bizarre happens,” mutters Eldin. “alright, let me think. No-one, er, do anything to it for a moment…”
Though never having been this close to one before, Eldin believes he has seen a reference to such a creature in the tome “Highly Unpleasant Things It Is Sometimes Necessary to Know.”
There is a good chance the eyeball is a symbiont of some type, a creature that replaces a portion of the host, drawing sustenance and providing any number of enhancements in return. Often capable of no more than limited locomotion when not in possession of a host, these parasites can typically only bond with a willing or disabled creature.
"Remind me never to go in the sewers again. There's all kinds of crazy s##+e going on underneath this city."
I’m not putting that thing anywhere near my face. I say we squish and run!
Though never having been this close to one before, Eldin believes he has seen a reference to such a creature in the tome “Highly Unpleasant Things It Is Sometimes Necessary to Know.”
Tyndal will try to grab the thing and put it in a pouch.
"Never know who will buy this thing" he explains to the group.
Hold, Tyndal. I would like to try to communicate with the creature.
Most times a sybiotic relationship will benefit both parties involved, like the Anemone and the Clownfish. They coexist in harmony and provide each other with various benefits. I am curious as to if this is the case here.
"I think you're flipping crazy, but I admit I'm curious"
Tyndal steps back and watches with interest.
like the Anemone and the Clownfish
The eye makes no attempt to struggle away from Tyndal, almost hopping into his hand. Waiting patiently as Terin attempts to communicate with it, the eye stares intently at him for a moment, the very slowly and careful uses a “digit” to write muddy letters in the palm of Tyndal’s hand: dley.
"Maybe it only understands Eyeball."
like the Anemone and the Clownfish
The eye makes no attempt to struggle away from Tyndal, almost hopping into his hand. Waiting patiently as Terin attempts to communicate with it, the eye stares intently at him for a moment, the very slowly and careful uses a “digit” to write muddy letters in the palm of Tyndal’s hand: dley.
Terin, looking at the letters upside-down seems to notice that they spell "help" and answers the creature...."How?".
Again, the eye balances unsteadily on its ganglia, pointing towards itself, then at Terin's face. Returning to stability, it draws a little happy face on Tyndal’s palm.
Terin feels sorry for the little thing and nods his head. Reaching over he holds his hand out for the creature to crawl on. "Do I just hold you near my eye for you to join with me? Tap once for yes and twice for no. Do you need an empty socket for our joining? Once for yes, Twice for no."
"Terin, you can't possibly be considering letting that thing squirm its way into your eye socket. Do you really think that's such a good idea? I ask only as a friend..."
This creature may seem disturbing to us, but I feel a sorrow for it and would feel badly if it died. I don't believe it can survive without a host and I am intrigued by symbiotic relationships in nature. Perhaps this will help me gain some perspective into such a relationship. There are fish in the deepest reaches of the ocean that have a bioluminous growth that lures prey to them in the dark. Rhinos have birds that keep them clean of parasites.
I am curious and must consider this course of action.
The creature hops lightly into Terin’s outstretched hands. Tapping once, then pausing, then twice, it waits patiently.
I can't watch!
The odd man watches, transfixed.
"Join with me." Terin holds the creature up to his face......
"That's not right... Terin, you don't know where that thing has been. And look at all the filth around here. Suit yourself..."
The eye “crouches,” retracting into Terin’s cupped palms. Within the space of an eye blink, the ocular creature rockets out of Terin’s hands, releasing the coiled energy.
Performing a midair half summersault, the creature’s nerve cluster, now pointing at Terin, opens wide, revealing row after row of razor-sharp corkscrew teeth. Before Terin can pull away reflexively, the creature anchors to his orbit, and begins gouging the existing eye from its socket. Reforming the tripod into a spear, it plunges deep into his head, wracking his already tortured cavity with waves of extreme pain. Despite screaming, instinctively tearing at the thing, and thrashing about, the eye will not dislodge.
Terin loses consciousness momentarily; when he awakes, a voice in his head that is not his own utters, “Salud.” One of Terin’s eyes is now a very dark shade of brown.
Heard inside Terin's head:
Vanthus Vanderboren! Even thinking of his name fills me with the sick. That spineless, treacherous cur left us all down here to die. Left ME here to die, traded me to that thing for free passage after all I done t’ get his blighted hide into the Lotus! He’s after the Lady of the Lotus fer sure; so clear now. He’ll wriggle his way in like a botfly. A CURSE ON HIS BONES!
Now you though, Terin. We’ve got a right partnership now. Your honor and me vengeance, we’ll track that gutless worm to the ends of the earth and beyond. Thinks he’s so perfect with his otherworldly backer. It cost me my soul and so much more t’ come back, even in this pathetic shape, but he won’ see us a comin’ to be sure, and we’ll show him he’s not the only one with a powerful patron! I plan on making sure he know it be me, and making certain he lives a good long time once we’ve found him. A very good, long time indeed.
Let’s get topside and seek him out, likely cooling his filthy heels in the lap o’ the Lotus as we speak, beneath th’ Taxidermist’s Hall.
“Mind the ‘shrooms, that thing was feasting on them to get smart, but they’re dangerous if you get greedy.”
After examining his new surroundings: “Is that Lerod? I thought Vanthus left him for dead when that giant bug attacked us? I’ll be damned, two survivors, of a sort.”
"Holy s%&t!" Tyndal exclaims as he watched the thing eat Terin's eyeball.
"Yup...today is definitely the strangest day of my life"
Dammit......not a creature....another of Vanthus' victims.......Lerod?!? Penkus says "hello".
The eye belonged to Penkus, a victim of Vanthus. I will repeat all it or he has enlightened me of.
"Those bones yer friend be picking clean used to belong to me; have a care! I was dead, kilt by the freakish thing in this room. Even as it ate my flesh though, I knew it were not its fault, but that that damnable traitor I thought me friend!
Vanthus Vanderboren! Even thinking of his name fills me with the sick. That spineless, treacherous cur left us all down here to die. Left ME here to die, traded me to that thing for free passage after all I done t’ get his blighted hide into the Lotus! He’s after the Lady of the Lotus fer sure; so clear now. He’ll wriggle his way in like a botfly. A CURSE ON HIS BONES!
Now you though, Terin. We’ve got a right partnership now. Your honor and me vengeance, we’ll track that gutless worm to the ends of the earth and beyond. Thinks he’s so perfect with his otherworldly backer. It cost me my soul and so much more t’ come back, even in this pathetic shape, but he won’ see us a comin’ to be sure, and we’ll show him he’s not the only one with a powerful patron! I plan on making sure he know it be me, and making certain he lives a good long time once we’ve found him. A very good, long time indeed.
Let’s get topside and seek him out, likely cooling his filthy heels in the lap o’ the Lotus as we speak, beneath th’ Taxidermist’s Hall. "
Dammit. dammit, dammit, dammit!
"Aww, I wanted the eyeball..."
Seann makes a certain obscene head motion, attempting to get a closer look at the bizarre symbiote. After getting his fill of the sight of the strange little orb, he glances back at the queer little man.
"So. You're one of the Lotus Dragons. Thought so. Why are you helping us?"
“Terin, no!” yells Eldin, as the druid holds the eyeball up to his face. He had kind of tuned out on current events, having been discussing the pro’s and con’s of symbionts with Seann (he took cons, Seann took pros). “Highly Unpleasant Things remember!”
But it is too late – the druid and the eyeball are as one.
As the druid lies momentarily unconscious on the ground, Eldin explains further. “There are several creatures that create symbionts that can bond with human hosts; the ones mentioned in the Book of Highly Unpleasant Things are created by fiends … I fear this may be what we are dealing with … and that the thing might have some sort of influence over our friend … perhaps we should be careful what we speak of in his presence … perhaps I should try to see if I can remove this thing…”
But as Eldin bends over Terin’s face, the elf’s eyelids flutter and he comes to.
Eldin approaches Terin warily, staying to his right side. “Terin, are you still in there? Tell me, what were the first words I uttered in your presence?”
"Does the eyeball know how to get out of this gods forsaken place?"
*Tells Eldin what his first words to Terin were*
I still travel the same path, Traveling Priest, I am as well as can be expected and Yes, I have control over my mind. I made a mistake here, one I will have to live with....for a while.
The eye wants vengence on Vanthus, as do I for the crimes against nature that he has done, so for now our paths seem to run together. The eye gives me certain powers that will help in our quest so it is a necessary evil for now. I will need you when the time comes, but until then know that I will have control or I will tear it out with my beastial claws and destroy it.
*focusing inward yet speaking softly aloud so Eldin can hear*
I hope we have an understanding Penkus? You play any games with me and you won't live to see the vengeance you sold your existance for. Annoy me at your peril, eye.
"Does the eyeball know how to get out of this gods forsaken place?"
Let me ask....
*Tells Eldin what his first words to Terin were*
"Then I will pray that our road leads us to Vanthus soon."
Le-Who? Never heard of him. Wait...did you say your eyeball was talking to you?
Right. I'm the crazy one.
There ortin' ta be a drainage tunnel here somewhere, but we weren’t able t' locate 't. Ye might try th' room behind th' hidden door as well. Th' beast here secreted away quite a bit o' a nest egg from anythin' that wandered by.
There ortin' ta be a drainage tunnel here somewhere, but we weren’t able t' locate 't. Ye might try th' room behind th' hidden door as well. Th' beast here secreted away quite a bit o' a nest egg from anythin' that wandered by.
There should be a drainage tunnel here somewhere but Penkus was unable to locate it. He says there is a room behind a hidden door, I believe in this room, along with a largish treasure secreted away by the creature. I suggest we search and search well.
*Terin starts searchin around, taking 20s.*
"I found what I believe to be a secret door over there, where Harven is standing," Eldin points to the other side of the room.
Once everyone is ready, he attempts to open the door.