More Meat Pies!
Log Info
- Title: More Meat Pies!
- Emitter: Jinks
- Characters: Jay, Jozi, Slixvah, Zofija
- Place: Alexandros Wilderness: Ashenvale, a ruined town
- Time: Monday, October 03, 2022, 4:39 PM
- Summary: Hungry, hungry lumps of flesh everywhere! Ugly, striated hunks of meat. At least they're slow. Standing back to harass them as a distraction force should be simple enough. Nothing could possibly go wrong! Sharps could go wrong! Everyone came equipped with the wrong kind of ranged weapons, and charging the meat was not a good idea either.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Jay 5'9" 145 Lb Eaglefolk Male A perky male Blue Jay with a discerning eye.
Jozi 5'8" 148 Lb Half-Orc Female A brunette half-orcess with a sunny disposition.
Slixvah 5'8" 130 Lb Eaglefolk Female A rust red/white Egalrin covered in veils, ribbons, and shawls.
Zofija 5'8" 225 Lb Hobgoblin Female A well-dressed Arvek-Nar with a big hammer.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Archmages, high priests, exemplar pugilists, dragonslayer knights, and... a dandy? Exceptionally-accomplished individuals each swaddled in items worth the sum total of a small nation's economy are elsehwere. They have the unenviable task of sneaking into this city of stinking meat to go spelunking down a blind tunnel of oozing, rotting offal. Because, presumably, something much, much worse is lurking down there.
Sometimes, it pays to be the journeymen on site!
Even the second time around (and especially for those visitng for the first time) the whole setup is remarkably peculiar: a pair of women (and a swiftclaw) are looking to rebuild a town lost ot the undead swarm. The women (a mayor and a high priestess (mistress of coin? small council head?)) didn't so much as grace the low-men (you) with their presence.
"The mayor is indisposed!" A shadowdy figure explains from behind the stained glass window of their wagon/office/home. "She ate something that didn't agree with her--!" The wet, percussive sounds from within back up the mysterious figure's claim. "So you must be her champions while she remains in absentia!"
A dainty hand extended out enough to wave with a frilly, embroidered handkerchief.
"Our goldfish heroes!"
You struck out from the wagon under the dubious glare of a lazy swiftclaw and now stand on the edge of the ruined town. The smaller oozes are scattered, expanding and contracting like old meat pies exposed to high heats. The buzzing of flies is oppressive through the otherwise eerie silence. Burned frameworks and piled charcoal are everywhere...
Simply put, you're meant to engage the creatures from a "safe" distance. There's little chance that the individual, lump-like beings are connected (or even properly intelligent) but the decision was made to err on the side of caution. Hopefully, starting the attack from the outside will distract at least a portion of the milling monstrosities so that the others can head towards the hole in the ground unobstructed.
Jay, a black, white and blue egalrin, gives the swiftclaw a wide berth, staring at it as it stares at him. "Okay!" He calls back at the wagon and the shadowy figure, "Integrity C. Truefeather, esquire, the 'C' is for consulting, at your service if you ever need legal advice."
Leaving him to face the flies, the ruined town, the blackened landscape and... whatever those meat pie things are. "those look like worms that were turned into sausage and then turned back into worms... and stretched."
He has a sudden urge to feed egrets.
"Does... anyone have a spare ten foot pole, maybe a twenty foot pole?"
The half-oruch from the previous attempt at resolution has returned, her expression more subdued than is typical for her, but her eyes scan about with an alert deliberation. Spying Integrity, she approaches the Elgarin with a soft, "Hey, sugar." before her hand lightly clasps his shoulder, "Them things ain't no joke. Get too close an they'll spit some kinda bone at ya, looks like it turns whatever critter it touches into more of them. Leastaways, they ain't fast movers, but we ain't reckond the max range of the bone things. Apparantly fire's no good on'm, but they can get beaten an arrows stick in em pretty good."
Slixvah, an elaborately bereibboned egalrin woman, rubs the back of her neck as she gets the explanation and is promptly struck out from the wagon. "I... don't, Blue," she intones, taking a ribbon off her wing and wrapping it around her nose holes. "Got lots of random doodads, but nothin' tha' big."
She looks at Jozi, shooting her a concerned gaze before lightly nodding. "Well that's good ta know. I prepped so fire mojo, so that's out."
She shifts a bit. "Well, I can pelt 'em wit' a crossbow, but all I gots is what my pa taught me wit' that. But I can keep ya'll safe. Who ever is gettin' up in there, I can give ya somethin' ta help."
"I... don't have anything useful at range." Integrity admits, "Well, I have my hunting bolas, but only three and they don't hurt much and I absolutely don't want to capture one of those."
He looks at Jozi, beak opening, "Do you have a spare crossbow? Or, want me to hand you bolts as you shoot it?"
"I could throw rocks, I guess."
Zofija was joining the others, at least much more put together than the last time with properly fitted armor, and all her bags and kit. Not to mention the armored griffon that they were on top of. They stop to glare at the aide, but their attention returned back to the group.
"Yeah, nasty things. If they weren't a threat to things in the area, I'd say leave them to their fate." Zofi grunts. "But, we need to help out, so just be careful, and leave yourselves a way out."
There's a nod, then Jozi returns, "Ultimately, they'd become someone's problem, just as well we handle it now fore the numbers get too much more dauntin." toward Zofija, then looks to the two Elgarin, "The intent ain't ta get too close if we can avoid it, but, like the lady sez, we wanna make sure we got us a path out if things get tight."
You'd be directed to the northwestern edge of the town, nearest the blackened, half-crumbled skeleton of what was once and orchard and a small bunch of ruined buildings. A well is half-collapsed and sagging in on itself at the center of the roundabout.
The sky here is a dirty grey where it was a pleasant blue with puffy white clouds on your way out from the city. The buzzing continues and ash blows on the wind.
The animate meats idle for the most part, occasionally shifting across the ground or over and through the ruins. Wood cracks and falls or piled debris settles closer to the ground in what used to by homes and outbuildings.
Slix bobs her head. "I gots a way out if need be, I ain't too good at hittin' hard. Buuuut, I can do... well, ya'll seen me work." She hip bumps Zofija, an errant wind coasting by the Nar as the witch twirls out a wand in one hand, and a cross bow in the other.
As they set out, she boops her beak with the wand, her feathers getting ruffled from a wind. The magic stick is stowed, and she mutters off to the side, "Eoblrst em," in an incantation, a hand waving over a half melted animal corpse from the heat. It crumbles and rots, her taking in a breath in as her eyes glow green.
She shoulders her crossbow, pointing it to the sky. "So... who wants ta make a ruckus?" she hum, cracking off the cork of a concoction and downing it with a grimace.
GAME: Slixvah casts False Life. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16 GAME: Slixvah rolls 1d10+witch: (2)+5: 7 GAME: Slixvah used a Wand of Mage Armor.
"Route out, okay. okay." Integrity looks at Slixvah, then behind the group. "We can keep backing up. So uh... he head flicks between Jozi and Zofija, Jozi and Zofija. What's the battle strategy?"
He brushes at his leather sleeve. A streak of ash leaves a line of grey. He takes out a short bow, so new it's still wraped in wax paper. He folds that away and then attaches a quivver to his belt. "I'm ready, once we've got a target."
<OOC> Jinks nods! "60' away. So include range penalty as appropriate." <OOC> Jinks nods! "No sneak attack since you're outside fo 30'. Roll it." GAME: Jay rolls ranged+1-2: (18)+7+1+-2: 24 GAME: Jay rolls 1d6: (2): 2
"Uh... I guess... that one!" Jay picks a target at random, inexpertly knocking an arrow and loosing it. The arrow flies true, but only nicks the mass of flesh.
The wound seems to close over immediately. "Is.. that larger than it was a moment ago?"
<OOC> Jozi says, "draw, shoot the same one" <OOC> Jozi says, "swift action for smiting judgement, so till the combat's over, my weapons count as magic for dr" GAME: Jozi rolls weapon6: (17)+6: 23 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7
Taking a cue from Integrity's initiative, Jozi draws her intensely curved shortbow from her shoulder and draws an arrow of her own, nock meeting oddly thick gut of her bowstring with more familiarity. Her eyes shimmer with a touch of golden light for a moment, then, twth the subtle, deep creak of her bow, she looses, and the projectile takes off with a pronounced hiss through the air to bury itself in the Elgarin's target.
Disturbingly, the shaft's entrance starts to discernibly close and...
Why the Hells is it getting bigger!??
GAME: Jay rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (9)+11: 20 GAME: Zofija rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: Trained Use Only: 0
The Flesh is fairly slow, similar to oozes. Piercing and slashing will trigger them to regenerate; this will make them swell. They could get exceptionally big. They also absorb.
<OOC> Slixvah says, "move aciton put up cross bow" <OOC> Slixvah says, "freea ction prehensile hair" GAME: Slixvah casts S1: Shield of Faith. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 <OOC> Slixvah says, "+2 deflection to AC, Jozi"
Slix huffs, her muttering, "Tsya faes," and warding Jozi. "Me thinks we can't stab em. Gotta bash." She stows her crossbow away, beak grinding in thought as ribbons unfurl.
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20-5: (17)+-5: 12 GAME: Jozi rolls perception: (10)+9: 19 GAME: Jay rolls perception: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (16)+11+2: 29
The biggest ooze doesn't seem to have noticed the group. Yet.
<OOC> Zofija says, "I'm, not really sure what to do" <OOC> Jozi says, "was hoping we could draw them off with ranged, but, yeah, smashy smashy seemed to work better" <OOC> Zofija says, "I'll delay"
The cavalier hesitates, unsure what to do.
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20-5: (14)+-5: 9 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20-5: (13)+-5: 8 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20-5: (5)+-5: 0 GAME: Jay rolls perception: (8)+15: 23 GAME: Jay rolls perception: (8)+15: 23 GAME: Zofija rolls perception: (17)+4: 21 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20-5: (8)+-5: 3 GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (4)+11+2: 17
The Flesh advances. It is hungry.
Two smaller lumps of flesh are working their way into the rubble of the closest house. The bigger lump still hasn't 'noticed' the group.
<OOC> Jay says, "so I am looking for a rock, or a club, or asking Jozi for one" <OOC> Jinks says, "Alright, Jay, you can find a burned branch to use as an improvised club. Or you can find some rocks for sling bullets (x4). Assume you spend your turn scrounging. If Slix is OK with you snatching a ribbon you can. You'll be -4 to attack rolls for Improvised weapons but you can use the 1d6b club damage or 1d4b sling damage as normal." <OOC> Jay nods, "go with the ribbon and sling rocks first. So just a turn scrounging? <OOC> Jinks nods. "I think so. Since just drawing a weapon is normally a move action. A quick scavenger hunt would be a standard at least. You can either take a move to 'go get stuff' or assume you moved and came back to where you started.
The bluejay stares. He's incredibly focused on the lump of flesh. "Ummm. Okay. So. Yes. What Slix says. That Flesh, it's slow but it looks like piercing and slashing attacks trigger some kind of regeneration. Things like that, they can get exceptionally big. So we need to bash."
"They're a bit grabby too."
He lowers his bow, "maybe I should stick to throwing rocks. Or find that pole in goblin knife. Or rocks. Rocks!" Now he's digging on the road, scrounging. "Slix can I borrow a ribbon?"
His head flicks around, "I don't think the big one has noticed us, but the little ones by the rubble by that house are moving. I don't know if they're reacting.
The largest (by far!) of the flesh mounds heads your way, towering taller than the tallest post in any of the ruins. It's an amalgamation of many unpleasant things best not dwelt on and rolls its slimy way across the ruined earth.
Another of the creatures comes, too, but this one is much smaller and pathetic-looking by comparison. A rattling, deflated sack.
Both creatures leave a glistening trail in their wake.
<OOC> Zofija says, "challenge and charge the big one" <OOC> Jinks says, "Do you have reach?" GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+8: (17)+8: 25, "AoO" <OOC> Jinks says, "Hex ward is gone." GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8+8: (2)+8: 10 <OOC> Jinks says, "Is your armor equipped, ZofI?" GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+15: (15)+15: 30 <OOC> Jinks says, "Alright, sorry. Just wanted to make sure. So the charge provokes an AoO (reach)." <OOC> Jinks says, "Hits, damages, grapples. I'll let you take the attack if you're using a 1h at the normal penalty." <OOC> Jinks says, " And then Screech can attack if desired." <OOC> Jinks says, "You can drop your 2h as a free. I also need a Fortitude save, please. Include your bonus for Antiplague." GAME: Zofija rolls fortitude+5: (15)+7+5: 27 (success!) GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20+5: (9)+5: 14 GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20: (17): 17 GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20: (19): 19 GAME: Zofija rolls 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Zofija rolls 2d4+2: (8)+2: 10 <OOC> Jinks says, "Alright. All three attacks hit. They tear." <OOC> Jinks says, "But all but a tiny bit of the damage heals and the creature swells."
One of the larger oozes was creeping closer, far enough away from the others that the Arvek-nar decided it was time to be dealt with, especially with the arrows seeming to do little. "Alright, small groups, we can manage it, bring them down!" She calls back to the others, before charging into the oozes.
Not accounting for the fact that it was able to extend much farther than expected, and being stuck in place for her troubles. Her mount is at least able to get a few solid hits in, but much like the arrows, they seem largely ineffectual.
<OOC> Jozi says, "depressing. will drop the bow, charge to 8, 10 drawing warhammer, will 2hand it" GAME: Jozi rolls weapon3+2: (18)+7+2: 27 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d8+6: (7)+6: 13
With Slix's advisory, in light of their previous engagements, Jozi reluctantly casts her bow to the side and is reaching for the warhammer on her belt when Zofi makes her charge.
She glances at the daintier meatball for a moment, then surges forward to support Zofija and Screech as the hammer is pulled from the frogs into a two handed working grip. She brings what she can into the stroke and there is the muffled snap of something within the malign meatloaf, and there is a glimpse of something that seems to momentarily slip her saddle, but the creature gets no larger for the exchange.
"Zofi, ya alright?" she calls.
<OOC> Slixvah says, "fortune hex zofi, fly to 6, 10 and get 10feet in the air," <OOC> Slixvah says, "look at the house to the north east to see what what the flesh (dog) doin" <pre>GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (14)+11+2: 27
Slixvah's wings flare out as she makes a sound akin to a makari growling. "Oi! Hands off my muscles!" she shouts,, a hand shooting forth as she gets a running start. One animated feather hands Tegri a blue ribbon. Strings are pulled... fate is shifted...
Wings beat hard and the witch takes off to the sky! Ribbons and flowing feathers trailing behind her. She squints off towards the building. "Big game in that house! Dunno if it's a dead horse or peeps!"
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+3: (3)+3: 6 <OOC> Jinks says, "It'll attempt to maintain the grapple and do damage if it does." GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+15: (13)+15: 28 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8+8: (1)+8: 9 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7 <OOC> Jinks says, "Fort, Zofi" GAME: Zofija rolls fortitude+5: (2)+7+5: 14 <OOC> Slixvah says, "you do have fortune" <OOC> Jinks says, "That's a reroll, yeah?" GAME: Zofija rolls fortitude +5: (11)+7+5: 23
The tiny form of skin and bones tumbles the short distance towards Slixvah, lashing out at the egalrin but coming nowhere near her birdlike legsl.
The monstrous form of gathered meat has a hold of Zofija. Screech does its best to keep their rider in the saddle but the lumpy pseudopodia pulls the armored knight closer. Metal plates clatter and groan as the arvek nar begins to disappear into the mass of flesh.
<OOC> Jay says, "throw rocks!" <OOC> Jay says, "tiny one by Slix" <OOC> Jay says, "so I guess -4 improvised, -4 in combat, this shall go well" GAME: Jay rolls ranged-4-4: (6)+7+-4+-4: 5
Jay wraps the rock up in the ribbon, chirping wildly and echoing Slixvah, "Oi! Get Hands off my bird." He slings the rock.
It is nowhere near the target.
"Slix, stay in the air!"
<OOC> Jinks says, "Zofi. If you have a 1h you can use that to attack. <OOC> Jinks says, "You can attempt to break the grapple with CMB or Escape Artist." GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22 (vs AC10 to assist) GAME: Zofija rolls cmb +2: (5)+8+2: 15 (+2 Aid Another from Screech) <OOC> Jinks says, "RPP reroll or let it ride?" <OOC> Zofija says, "guess it's sliding"
Zofi isn't having a good day, as before she can even attack the slime, it's grabbed her, and stopped her from striking it. She tried to pull herself away, and Screech even tore at some of the limbs, but just as quickly they reformed, pulling the cavalier even closer.
"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry about it." They grunt. "If there's people alive here, somehow, they're in a worse spot. Get them out of here!"
<OOC> Jozi says, "would i be able to hit the pesopod it's grabbing zofi with without braining her in the doing?" <OOC> Jinks says, "Best bet is to just keep thumping, probably." GAME: Jozi rolls weapon3: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d8+6: (6)+6: 12
Mother's mercy on us all, she thinks, even whilst she rears back for another swing as the meat tries to envelop her comrade, "Admire yer spirit-!".
Jozi's more demure tenderizer beats the meat with some chutzpah, but isn't quite enough to either release Zofija, or set things right, "-but we ain't sacrificin anyone yet!"
<OOC> Slixvah says, "ima heal dat nar with a hex" <OOC> Jinks says, "Casting defensively?" <OOC> Slixvah says, "it's a hex, so no need" GAME: Slixvah rolls healing hex: aliased to 2d8+witch: (12)+5: 17 <OOC> Slixvah says, "then I'm going to fly too... 11, 5. doing an arc, no more than 45 turn" <OOC> Slixvah says, "gonna yell at thebhous to get out towards the sound of my voice and then run past us"
A lifeline drops from the sky, a glowing feather brushing across Zofija and clearing up some of the injures she's sustained. "Hang in their Muscles! And it's our bird comrade!" she giggles, trying to keep her nerves down as she coasts towards the building.
She inhales. "Hey!" she shouts. "If someone's stuck in the house, get out towards the sound of my voice! Run past us! It's a clear opening!"
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL) (LilHungries' turn) GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+15: (7)+15: 22 (Big Hungry's turn) GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8+8+1d6+4: (1)+8+(2)+4: 15 GAME: Zofija rolls fortitude+5: (20)+7+5: 32 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
Slixvah's calls earn no response from the ruined stacks of blackened stone and charcoal.
Zofija, meanwhile, is pulled further still into the largest half-decayed and rotten mass of meat. Stray bones roughly press in around her armor but the worse sensation is that of being slowly crushed with the others surrounding her.
The smaller, sagging, and deflated bundle of lumpy, jaundiced flesh lashes out at Jay but the egalrin doesn't so much as have to sidestep to avoid the blow!
That Absorbed feeling
http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/528fc241ecad043601a7c387/magnetic-putty-eating-metal.gif
Map
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=m5vslibjckg
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
14 Jay 1
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13 Jozi 4 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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11 Slixvah 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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8 Zofija 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 3 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
14 Jay 1
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13 Zofija 1
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12 Jozi 4
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11 Slixvah 1
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10 MiddleHungry1 1
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1 LilHungries 1
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>> -1 Big Hungry 1 <<
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