"Horrors of the Red Cathexus!" Pathfinder Bodysnatcher campaign!

[Beckoncall]

(it is of course Sherwood 's turn, but everyone should feel free to call actions rather than waiting for folk to post IN SEQUENCE)

 

[Demonsoul]

The blood that splattered the walls from the transformation of the goblin quickly dissipated leaving a humanoid without skin standing in the goblins place. The leather armor the goblin wore is somehow dry despite the blood that dripped off of the meat that makes up its body. Holding the bow which the goblin had the Fleshless took aim at the fleeing goblin.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

With three of the goblins dealt with, it became very clear to the Gluttonous One that it had to become stronger and obtain a form... its current form could do very little to even these puny goblins. Their weapons could very easily end any one of them while they were not controlling a host or in a stronger form, yet the Gluttonous One was slow, and powerless to do much harm to these creatures... even one would be difficult. Thus, it began to quickly make its way to the dismembered body of the orc, intending to hopefully sate its hunger somewhat and gain something of the form of an orc. The fleeing goblin would have to be hunted down before it presumably returned to its tribe... without a doubt, this cistern would be subject to the curiosity of these creatures, and draw undue attention to the Crystal. This had to be stopped.

 

[Silvis]

Preet was now being controlled by the Devourer and took off running after the fleeing goblin hoping to tackle and subdue it. Even if one of the others shot it they would need to bring the goblin back and if they missed then it would have to be stopped. In the worst case scenario of running into other goblins the Devourer would try to pose as Preet and deal with it.

 

[Sherwood]

Sorry about the delay; been at work all day.

Quick question. How long does it take to make a mind control attempt?

 

[Beckoncall]

Sorry about the delay; been at work all day.

Quick question. How long does it take to make a mind control attempt?

You have to make a successful touch attack. then the enemy needs to make a reflex save. So it costs an action.

 

[Beckoncall]

Everyone : I made a discord channel for the game if people want to plot in real time or ask me questions or chat. Discord - Free voice and text chat for gamers

 

[Sherwood]

Thank you.

Axtis makes her move to get closer to the nearest Goblin, and makes a leap up to get to his exposed skin, the she lunges with her stinger to try and control the mind of the simple creature.

 

[Beckoncall]

Axtis lunges at the terrified goblin, who waves the horrible creature away.

The goblin leader, Controlled by the devourer took after the running goblin, closing to 10 feet away...

"Getta-wayfum me, Preet!" the goblin cried -- knowing that something wasn't right even if it didn't know what -- seeing what the fleshless had done to his friend was enough to horrify him enough not to stop running even if it was at the behest of his leader. They ran into a sandy open channel with shallow, fast running water the headed towards the cistern, like a beach on both sides of a rushing waterway only 2-3 feet deep, the sand rippled in the middle of the channel by the action of the water.

SpiralErrant is up now!

 

[SpiralErrant]

Ah yes this was good, this was much better. To have a body of size again. And this one was suited to the task. With rhythmic flexing of the stringy goblin muscles and swaying movements of its limbs the scout got to grips with its new host. Yes this one wasn't strong but it was fast and agile, almost like the scout itself. This would be a good way to break in this new reality.

With a twisted smile and humming a predatory tune Soprano looked to the goblin that had stood its ground. That would have to be dealt with, couldn't have it squashing potential allies or hurting reality breaking crystals now...

Letting its new hand find the crude weapon at its waist the scout lashed out, pushing the speed of this new body with a pulse of its own infernal power.

(Attack goblin that stayed with equipped melee weapon using feat Weapon Finesse to use DEX modifier instead of STR)

 

[Beckoncall]

The choir-goblin swung the crude shortsword with finesse, but his quarry was fighting for it's life.

In that second, an arrow flew past the standing goblins head, narrowing it's eyes... flying true to hit the running goblin between it's shoulderblades, nearly doubling it over.

Greedily, the gluttonous one began to gnash gobbets of orc-flesh into itself equal to it's size, doubling it's size with every gruesome "bite" -- it would be some time before the mass could take a humanoid shape -- but the gluttonous one was lost in the glory of it's rotten feast.

The standing goblin swung at the grinning "goblin of the choir" but the strike went very wide, sending the goblin stumbling into the bank of the river...

But the fight was not over... (con;t)

 

[Beckoncall]

Sherwood :

This was the moment. the non-fleeing goblin, now almost fallen in the water, flung it's arms wide to maintain it's balance, in that moment Axtis Jen lunged it's insectoid form again through the air, striking the goblin square in the face -- under it's eye, Axtis quickly tucked itself behind the goblin's spinning eyeball and injected it's stinger directly through the hole of the optic nerve into it's new host's brain.

It's associates could stop assaulting the "standing" goblin now... it belonged to Axtis.

The running goblin fell over and begged the pantomime horror of his leader to stop chasing him.

"Pweeze! Pigot surrender! Pigot surrender! PREET NO KILL PIGOT!"

 

[Beckoncall]

(the goblin has surrendered, anyone may declare actions -- except the Gluttonous one who still is feasting)

 

[Silvis]

Preet, or rather the thing that took over and became Preet, walked over to Pigot and grabbed for its arm before speaking. "Come Pigot. Preet not kill Pigot." (Diplomacy) Regardless of Pigot's intention Preet was going to drag him back to the others.

 

[SpiralErrant]

Perhaps it would need more practice. This body would serve. Burrowed beneath the skin The Choir sang, feeling each sensation of the consumed goblin like an extension from its own carapace while it pulled on the strings of this goblin drone like a demented puppet master. And now, with all present dangers dealt with, the scout could take a moment to enjoy itself.

It gathered the ragged equipment it now claimed and pulled up the rags this creature used for clothing to hide the spot where the scout's true body stuck out. If it's highly controlled breeding held true anyone who saw it would simply take it for a mole or lump of dirt.

So many possibilities ahead of it! But for now it would need to wrap up the issue of the witness. With a dancer's stride the choir-goblin scampered after those that had fled.

"Calm friend..." Came its lilting voice as the choir warped the rancid vocal cords of its host. "Just a bit of anger. Bit of madness. Be calm... with us..."

(DIPLOMACY assist Devourer in calming the runner goblin)

 

[Beckoncall]

The devourer and the choirling scooped the wounded goblin off the sandy beach... it's legs were limp and it grimaced with the arrow still in it's back. It did not take much sensitivities to see the creature had surrendered in spirit as well as in body.

Pigot hung limp as "Preet" began to drag the wounded goblin back to the cistern, the choirling whispering it's calming lies.

It did not see the shadow of the gluttonous one begin to rise before the goblin shrine... the rotting mass pulled together into the form of a orcish zombie. ( Heyitsjiwon )...

Pigot dropped to his knees at the Cistern of skulls.

All the creatures of the Cathexus had found their initial homes -- he was a remainder. A footnote to a successful ambush encounter. The dark host closed around him... his fate was to be decided...

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One's new form was... substantial. While slow, it was a lumbering giant that stood brooding over the goblins. It let out a gurgling, oafish laugh at the sight of the poor goblin. In Elder speech, the Gluttonous One said to the other abominations. "It might be able to tell us things about these caverns... and where the rest of our... food herd resides." He then looked over to the shrine and an idea came to its mind. "What are the names of those 4 goblin hero gods? Perhaps, we can have... obidient herd animals who believe the four of you are avatars of those gods." A gasping chuckle came from the mouth of the Gluttonous One as he imagined the sight of a small, but loyal following of a goblin tribe. While they themselves could not go to the surface... loyal servants could be used to project force above if need be. Regardless, having a self sustaining farm of goblins would be of great use for the otherworldly beings. Not only would they provide more back up hosts, but they would likely have a lot more knowledge of these tunnels and caves. The Gluttonous One relished at the thought of goblins bowing before him, begging to be eaten.

It was then that the Gluttonous One realized... the goblin was injured and wounded. It was a frail, mortal being... and while its use had yet to be determined. The Gluttonous One moved forward to see if he could treat the wound for now so that the goblin would not pitifully and wastefully bleed to death. Such weakness was a pain to deal with. Bleeding to death... how absurd... the Gluttanous One nearly forgot about it.( Beckoncall Heal roll please?)

 

[Beckoncall]

Everyone :

In the confines of this campaign, regarding languages:

Mi-Go speakers understand Elder Thing, and vice versa -- the abominations of the cathexus, essentially, can speak in alien tongues nobody else can understand.

 

[Silvis]

The Devourer nodded Preet's head. It spoke back to the Gluttonous One in the Elder speech. "I might be able to find the gods names in Preet's memories but will it work with us inhabiting these weak bodies?" The Devourer was less interested in having goblin servants but did relish the idea of a goblin farm. A never ending supply of food would allow it and the other horrors to grow stronger and then they might find worthwhile servants. Preet reached out to stroke Pigot's head absent mindedly while picturing an army of hulking monsters bringing it different creatures as food.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One replied "These puny goblins don't know much beyond their right and left. I don't think it would take much to convince them." It then paused and continued. "We can pretend that you four hero gods can perform magic and 'defeat' me before the tribe by making me into your servant. I think seemingly having control over an undead orc would be evidence enough. Alternatively, the three of you might be able go infiltrate the tribe and perhaps lead a coup? Pretend to be whoever you control and just run back to the tribe, saying that the other two died to some giant spiders. Then lead a pack to go hunt for the spiders... we can pick a few off here and there for food. However, as long as one of you becomes chief in the end, then I see no problems." The Gluttonous One then eyed the last goblin and said "Of course if that is the case, then having no survivors would be ideal... another meal would be appreciated. I am always hungry after all."

 

[SpiralErrant]

"First we learn that which we cannot take. Then others can eat. This one is a... loose end." The Choir chirped in its own alien tongue, forcing the goblin tongue to do acrobatics in it mouth. "We just need it talking first. Then we can say we tamed or defeated the skinless among us without more... worries..." It finished, ushering to the two more violent eaters of their group.

Switching to the goblin's language the soprano knelt behind their slumped captive and purred a soothing tune in its flapping ear.

"You are lucky friend. You survived the test and the spirits are pleased. You can be our guide... and you will be rewarded... you will hear our magic, hear the song and in it you will be made strong." The Choir's whisper snaked on.

(BLUFF sooth the surviving goblin into thinking it will survive so it will share local knowledge more readily.)

 

[Beckoncall]

The gluttonous one pulled the arrow from the goblins back with an almost pleasant “popping” sound, and applied rags to dress the wound. It would not be dying unless they willed it.

 

[Beckoncall]

The strange cadence of the choir was... soothing to the goblin... and so it gave a song of its own... what it knew, why it was there.

They had come for disposal of trash far away from their camp, hoping to mislead an invading force of kobolds as to the location of their lair... a ruined barracks area to the west, upriver. Roughly two dozen or more goblins lived their, with a number of goblin hounds.

There was strife in this area, it seemed. Besides the kobolds undead had been encroaching on the area, and the goblins hoped offerings of meat would placate them.

There was also talk of a bounty between warring orc tribes off to the north, a savage tribe of superior number but limited means, and a smaller number of armored brutes who seemed to be winning.

After hearing the goblins story, each parasite found they could access the language and knowledge of their host forms better. (Knowledge local checks jog memories of hosts! Good to know... they may now attempt to bluff to pass themselves off as their victim)

 

[Demonsoul]

The skinless goblin lowered its bow after a long while now that it had confirmed that no additional threats were coming. It looked around and evaluated its companions' new bodies.
"I suggest that we leave the two of us who can't blend in behind to protect the Cathexus, meanwhile those that have the appearance of goblins can work on enslaving the goblin tribe so we have more permanent guards for the Cathexus as we won't always be available to guard it." It then paused its speaking, "I also suggest we leave the remaining goblin here to prevent any loose speaking of what occurred."

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One nodded and added "We can clear this place of the spiders as well..." as he (I'm assuming the corpse was a male orc) licked his dry lips with a shriveled tongue. "We can make this goblin continue to worship... you three at this shrine and to give up all his belongings. His belief and faith will protect him, but only if he truly believes in the Hero Gods." The Gluttonous One sarcastically cackled out and a smirk. "I'll put its sword and bow to better use than it ever has in its fleeting, insignificant life." He then looked up at the ceiling, and thought about how to shoot the spiders down. If he could obtain the abilities of spiders as well... then perhaps he could make spider silk. There was much he could do with such silk in combat and creating. He had plans to make these meek goblins into a formidable warband. Blind devotion and proper equipment while being led by competent commanders? There was good reason to fear an army of sheep led by a lion than an army of lions led by a sheep.