Chapter 3: Beyond the Portal

[Sherwood]

Wren smiles to herself. She is certainly a positive influence on us. What will it hurt to humor her? "Sure. The more people looking out for the integrity of my skin, the better. Please, ask of Iomeade to offer up her blessing for us. We certainly need some guidance down here."

Spoiler

Hit Points: 32
Melee Strike: +4 (+8 with lightweight weapons)
Ranged Strike: +8
Initiative: +6

Armor Class: 20 +1 vs Trap Attacks
Fort Save: +3
Reflex Save: +9 +1 vs Traps
Will Save: +3
Perception: +13 (+15 to Locate Traps)
Stealth: +12

 

[Silanon]

How much time has passed since we have had a chance to rest? Are we fairly fresh, or has it been a while?

You'd say it's certainly not more than an hour in total - at least, noone feels signs of fatigue. Of course, time is more difficult to estimate when you don't have the sun as your natural clock available.

As a side note - please give me perception rolls once you all decide to move on (no hurry, though!).

 

[Sherwood]

Perception Roll

And I didn't see the darkness in front of my face.

 

[Dicer]

Looking around, Veskassdak sees nothing special except...

Total 18

 

[Psychie]

Perception at -2

Total of an 11

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Perception roll:
17 total

 

[Silanon]

Blessed by both Renna's presence and deity, you slowly follow Veskassdak's lead - after a few steps, the path widens slightly to let you walk more comfortly, but you're still quite sure that this is not part of the initial tunnel system. There is a moldy smell in the air, and both Baird and the lizardman right in front of him notice the thin, slimy layer on the walls to either side - you know better than to touch it. That's something that Renna manages to avoid as well, even stepping over that little puddle on the floor that hides in plain sight - perhaps, Iomadae guides her in that regard.

Wren, walking in the back of your little group, is not as lucky - perhaps less alerted because those in front of her didn't die thus far, she only notices the shimmering surface once her left boot steps right into it, causing a somehow engulfing sound as well as a sudden, icy chilliness on her foot, even through the leather. The rogue quickly tries to pull back, but the slime seems to cling to the footgear, even moving further up as if trying to swallow its prey.

Of course, "its prey" implies both some kind of conciousness and a will to hunt, but you don't question that once your loun stones show slight, slow movements on the moisty walls. Ripples are formed all around you as slimy goo runs downwards, towards the floor, to reunite with the puddle below. When Wren finally manages to free her foot, already numb from the icy touch, you're fully aware that you're in a rather precarious spot. What do you wish to do?

 

[Sherwood]

Wren lets out a startled curse. "Everyone! Watch yourselves! This slime wants to eat us! Move out of here quick!" Following her own advice, the rogue pulls out her flaming sword and does her best to run on her numbed foot away from there, trying to keep her eyes open for more slime.

Spoiler

Hit Points: 32
Melee Strike: +4 (+8 with lightweight weapons)
Ranged Strike: +8
Initiative: +6

Armor Class: 20 +1 vs Trap Attacks
Fort Save: +3
Reflex Save: +9 +1 vs Traps
Will Save: +3
Perception: +13 (+15 to Locate Traps)
Stealth: +12

 

[Psychie]

Renna glances around with the shouted warning to see what it was that Wren is talking about. She then picks up speed, trying to get past the vile slime before it is too late.

Spoiler

Hit Points: 34
Lay on Hands: x2
Smite Evil: x2

Armor Class: 20 - Armor of Light Fortification
Melee Strike: +7
CMD 17
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +6
Will Save: +9
Perception: -2

 

[Dicer]

Having seen what slimes were capable of in the swamps, Veskassdak did not want to stay here and become engulfed by them. He rushed ahead in the hopes he would get beyond the slimes reaches. Although they may not be truly living creatures, they reacted when sensing prey. "Move!" he shouted. "Eat usss ssslimesss will! Bad death isss that! Painful ssseen me!"

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Baird continued to walk down the corridor until he noticed the sticky substance coating the walls. Making a mental note to avoid it, Baird does so until he hears a audible *Pwoomphf* causing him to turn around. Wren had stepped into the substance causing whatever it was to wake up. All of his comrades started to run ahead to avoid whatever slime it was and Baird followed suit.

 

[Silanon]

Now certainly on point with her attention, Wren can clearly discern the movement all around the four of you - as the rogue runs (or at least attempts to run, given her foot), it seems like the slime gathers behind her in one large puddle that slowly grows in size - soon enough forming an oozy cone that slowly follows your steps and, perhaps as important, cuts off your escape route in case you don't like what you're running into.

Followed by the sobby sounds in your back, it does not take long until you reach a spot where the path widens further - soon after, you reach a medium-sized cavern with a relatively flat floor and pointy stalactites on the ceiling. The light of your stones is not enough to let you spot many further details - there might be other exits hidden in the shadows, but you can't see any. One thing that certainly catches your attention, though, is a flickering light source somewhere to your left - perhaps a fire in the dark.

You've managed to gain a bit of ground, judging by the sounds behind you - you can prepare for a fight right here, or move on - or do anything else you can come up with, really.

 

[Psychie]

Renna plants her feet and readies her sword. "Let's make our stand here. I can perform a Smite Evil, assuming that the slime is evil, that is. Let me try to find out." With that, she uses her power of Detect Evil on the slime.

Spoiler

Hit Points: 34
Lay on Hands: x2
Smite Evil: x2

Armor Class: 20 - Armor of Light Fortification
Melee Strike: +7
CMD 17
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +6
Will Save: +9

 

[Silanon]

Focusing on the direction you came from and where the sounds of the slime can be heard, the paladin calls upon Iomadae's gift - but even though the thing is certainly in reach of the magic, there is no sign of evilness to be found. Likely just a mindless predator of these depths, it does not appear to be corrupted; of course, that doesn't make it any less threatening than before.

 

[Psychie]

She gives off a snort. "Not evil, just dangerous. Wren, your twin magic blades with their hot and cold enchantment might be the key to ending this threat."

 

[Sherwood]

Wren frowns, but draws both her blades and steps forward. "I hope you're right. Just don't leave me hanging if it doesn't work."

Spoiler

Hit Points: 32
Melee Strike: +4 (+8 with lightweight weapons)
Ranged Strike: +8
Initiative: +6

Armor Class: 20 +1 vs Trap Attacks
Fort Save: +3
Reflex Save: +9 +1 vs Traps
Will Save: +3
Perception: +13 (+15 to Locate Traps)
Stealth: +12

 

[Sherwood]

Initiative roll

Total of 21

 

[Psychie]

Roll for Renna

17 total

 

[Dicer]

Initiative roll for Veskassdak.

Total 13.

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Initiative roll for Baird
15 total

 

[Silanon]

As the slime emerges from the tunnel's shadows, you get a better look - surging forward is a semi-see-through greyish mass, about human-sized by now. Quite an impressive change, thinking of the small puddle Wren stepped into - good thing you didn't wait for it to assemble itself all around you. It's not all slime, though - underneath the surface, you can see quite a number of colorless bubbles, perhaps air that was enclosed to make the appearance slightly more impressive. Apart from that, multiple solid objects seem to be in there as well, in different states of decay. Nothing to worry about right now, though; you better focus on the somewhat uncontrolled movements before you end up as just another thing underneath its glistening surface.

Initiative order:
-> 21 Wren
17 Renna
15 Baird
13 Veskassdak
13 Ooze
4 ?

Sherwood has the honor to strike first.

 

[Sherwood]

Wren takes a ready stance, and as the slime approaches, she performs a double strike, hoping that the magic of her blades will be enough to harm the disgusting thing.

Spoiler

Good grief. An awesome roll to hit, and absolute minimum damage!

Hit Points: 32
Melee Strike: +4 (+8 with lightweight weapons)
Ranged Strike: +8
Initiative: +6

Armor Class: 20 +1 vs Trap Attacks
Fort Save: +3
Reflex Save: +9 +1 vs Traps
Will Save: +3
Perception: +13 (+15 to Locate Traps)
Stealth: +12

 

[Silanon]

As the rogue closes in to stab the ooze, it actually appears to lean towards her in response; as if to try to engulf its human adversary as she lands her strikes. Wren certainly picks up on that, and thus is quick to jump backwards instead of driving in her blades all the way - the steel only slits the surface open. Where your icy weapon hits the ooze, the "wound" closes up almost immediately - here, the strike certainly didn't go deep enough.
However, where the flaming sword hits, it actually seems to ignite on the spot, accompanied by the typical smell of a burning oil lamp. The creature quickly "gulps" that part of itself, cutting of the oxygen feed and thus extinguishing the flames. But from what you can see, at least some damage is done, as the gulped part looks like a sooted fracture in the midst of healthy slime.

Initiative order:
21 Wren
-> 17 Renna
15 Baird
13 Veskassdak
13 Ooze
4 ?

Psychie has the chance to follow up the attack.

 

[Psychie]

Renna hauls off and gives a mighty swing into the slime.

Spoiler

Hit Points: 34
Lay on Hands: x2
Smite Evil: x2

Armor Class: 20 - Armor of Light Fortification
Melee Strike: +7
CMD 17
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +6
Will Save: +9

 

[Psychie]

Forgot to add that my to hit is a modified 20.