The Expedition
IS OFFLINE
33
Renown
Moonglade
an good boi
786 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 15, 2022 20:30:56 GMT -5
When he finally decided to follow Leni-Aura and make his way on to his adventuring life, he didn't expect the first few jobs he took on his own to involve oozes so heavily. On top of that he didn't expect looking at oozes would lead to making friends with a gnoll necromancer and his undead chicken. Or that he would have to fight off people looking to kill a cute little ooze. Suffice it to say, none of this was what he expected at all. All those stories he heard as a kid must have skipped over this part of the hero's quest.
No point in dwelling on that now as he and Fenrear had heard of some more ooze related business. "An angry ooze huh? From the one we saw at the lake I didn't think they had feelings, you know? Kinda thought they were just....blobs of stuff."
"Are you two the ones that's gonna take care of that ooze? I need it gone as soon as possible, but don't kill it! I don't want to clean up that goop from my place!"
"OK Ok, don't kill it got it. What floor is it on?" "The second!" "All right..." He looks over to Fenrear. "You ready?"
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
25
Renown
Gnoll
Working on new Character
107 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Fenrear on Oct 15, 2022 20:55:02 GMT -5
Since their first encounter with the baby ooze, Fenrear felt that as a warrior and scholar of sorts, it was his duty to understand them more. Mostly it was to figure out if there was any way that he could make them tastier like in a nice soup or something. In the meantime, he was glad to have met a his new friend whose company was several steps above what was haunting his brain. Kyle seemed to like the young man as well which was saying something. As an undead chicken, he tended to be kind of picky when it came to travel companions, especially the living kind.
In his studies, Fenrear had come up with some interesting theories on how to deal with them. This quest would be a singular opportunity to test some of them out. In particular, the non lethal methods. If he really wanted to study them, he would have to take them alive alive, not undead alive.
Kyle and I are most ready to go. The angry ooze was a most favorite bedtime story of mine as a child. In the story, the ooze ends up eating everything and everyone in the end. Let us write a different ending yes?
Fenrear arranged some new pouches on his belt, ready for the encounter.
|
|
The Expedition
IS OFFLINE
33
Renown
Moonglade
an good boi
786 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 15, 2022 23:21:29 GMT -5
"I....haven't heard that story before." He tilts his head before looking to the tavern owner. "Don't worry sir, we'll handle it before you know it!"
"And don't go stealing my ale or food while you're in there it ain't free!"
Gerhart just gives the man a reassuring smile and wave before following Fenrear in. "You'd think there would at least be a thank you for helping out." He shakes his head. "So did the ooze really eat everyone or is that just like the story? If it can eat people that complicates my plans of just jumping it."
He stops once they are inside to look inside his pack for anything that might be of use. It was probably going to be too big to stuff in a waterskin or bottle. Ooze is going to just slip right through a net. Oh, there's an idea. His sleeping blanket might be enough depending on how big it is.
"What if we try and toss this over it? Could be like catching it in a cheese cloth....we would just have to book it outta here before it can slip out. What do you think? I'm open to just about anything."
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
25
Renown
Gnoll
Working on new Character
107 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Fenrear on Oct 16, 2022 10:27:45 GMT -5
Fenrear stops and chokes a little. After taking a moment to compose himself, he searches through some pouches and pulls out a small and very clean animal skull. You are very right. What we do is all depends on how BIG is ooze, yes? Tiny ooze, tiny jar. Bigger ooze, bigger container. Giant ooze, throw Inn Keeper at it and run. He starts laughing. No worries. Throwing Inn Keeper only like plan “K”.
Fenrear offers the tiny animal skull to Gerhart to examine. No matter what plan, no plan should be touching the angry ooze with body parts. Look at this skull. Tiny animal touches the ooze. Now tiny animal is tiny pile of bones. No touching the ooze yes? Had friend with pet ooze. Now friend is one handed and no more pet ooze. Remember rule, NO TOUCHING OOZE.
Fenrear starts towards the stairs again grumbling about his friend lefty. They soon come to the door where the ooze is supposed to be. He can hear crashing furniture and breaking glass behind the door. Fenrear puts a clawed hand on the door handle, pulls the door open slightly and looks in. After a few moments, he quickly and quietly shuts the door again and turns to Gerhart with a thoughtful look.
Hmmm good news and bad news. Good News only one ooze, about this size. He holds his hands up about 2 feet apart. Bad news, that is a very very angry ooze.
|
|
The Expedition
IS OFFLINE
33
Renown
Moonglade
an good boi
786 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 16, 2022 12:38:25 GMT -5
Gerhart finds himself again learning something curious from the gnoll. He looks over the skull, running a thumb along the bone. It was clean, a little bit of bone had been leeched away as well. This definitely wasn't something touch. He stays a few steps behind Fenrear to let him investigate it, placing his hands on his hips as he thinks with his partner's revelation.
"That big?....whew, that does make this a lot harder." His face contorts in thoughtfulness as he tries to think through solutions. They can't kill it which means this will be much tougher than it really needs to be. "So we need something big to contain it.....Oh! I bet the kitchen here has one of those big cauldrons. If we corral it into the cauldron and slap a lid on it, could that give us enough of a chance to get it outta here? Metal hopefully would stand up a bit better."
"Or I guess we could try talking to it? Maybe its angry about something and we can fix that, then it will just leave on its own." As he said, he was open to just about any idea really. Asking politely seemed far-fetched, but can always try something once.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
25
Renown
Gnoll
Working on new Character
107 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Fenrear on Oct 16, 2022 12:56:52 GMT -5
Fenrear thought about it for a moment. What exactly does make a big ooze angry? Being hungry? That usually made Fenrear himself pretty cranky but there seemed to be plenty to eat in the pantry and oozes weren’t exactly known for being picky. Thirsty maybe? Nothing to wash down all that stuff with. Maybe the Inn Keeper did something to anger it or someone else? That seemed the most likely scenario. He wasn’t sure talking to the ooze would get them anywhere but maybe the Inn Keeper was hiding something. Talking to him again may give them the information that they needed. At the very least, they could ask him about borrowing the large cauldron.
Unless you speak ooze, not sure talking to it will help. Let us go back and see if innkeeper knows why ooze is angry. And maybe borrow from the kitchen yes? Fenrear pulled a vial out of one of his pouches. Squished essence of poison slaad in vial. Might cause paralysis for the ooze. Might just eat it. If this doesn’t work…might try “Bessie”. She is last resort.
Fenrear took to the stairs again and started to look for the Inn Keeper to see if he knew why the ooze was angry.
|
|
The Expedition
IS OFFLINE
33
Renown
Moonglade
an good boi
786 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 16, 2022 13:50:38 GMT -5
Fenrear had a point, he didn't speak ooze and judging by the question he figured that the gnoll didn't either. He sighs, "Yeah....I just thought maybe it could be like...herded?" He shakes his head to banish the thought as they paused to take a moment.
"I'm not sure what would make it angry, don't they just kind of eat? Maybe he told it that it couldn't eat something?" He thinks a moment again. "Anyways if you want to take to the guy, I'll go look for a cauldron." He grins as he heads back downstairs and splits from Fenrear.
Gerhart dips into the kitchen, looking around to see if there was anything they could use. Lots of different pots and pans, but none big enough. Turning towards the fire place he sees one bubbling over a fire. "There! That should be good enough." He starts to reach out before pulling his hands back. Wait, that would be hot and hot hurts.
The Inn Keeper is pacing back and forth in a huff, muttering something about insurance rates. He picks his head up as Fenrear comes out. "Well, have you done it yet? It leave my business yet?....Well if it ain't dead then get back there."
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
25
Renown
Gnoll
Working on new Character
107 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Fenrear on Oct 16, 2022 14:24:58 GMT -5
Fenrear took the Innkeeper gently to the side. No point in making the guy paying them angry. So sorry, want to get the ooze out yes. Noticed the ooze was very angry. Very hard to do as a blob of goo so you know it really really angry. Did you say something to the ooze or do something? Other people try to deal with the ooze before us, yes? The more we know, the faster we can remove.
The innkeeper shifted a bit. Admittedly I wouldn’t normally have bothered calling anyone about this. The ooze has been in there for awhile now. It just never bothered anyone so I didn’t worry about it. Actually it kept the place free of rats and debris so bonus. That was until about three days ago.
What happened three days ago? Fenrear pressed.
Nothing out of the ordinary. Business was just the same as it ever was. The patrons were all of the usual sorts of folk. The only other thing that happened is that we got our shipments in for the kitchen. That happens every week though so I don’t think that would have bothered it. You could ask Lyle, our kitchen boy. He is the one that put everything away. Lyle! Come here boy!
A short skinny boy of about 14 put down his broom and approached the pair.
Lyle, you tell Mr…. Fenrear Mr Fenrear what happened when you put away the crates.
Fenrear eyed the boy suspiciously which made Lyle very uncomfortable.
Come on boy, out with it. I don’t have all day.
Yes sir. Broached Lyle. Twasnt very odd sir. Just put the boxes away like normal sir. I was just unpacking and the ooze attacked me sir.
Just out of the blue? Fenrear inquired
Sir, yes sir. Ate my shoe. Almost lost my foot. Couldn’t go back in cause it started wrecking things.
Fenrear rubbed his chin in thought.
|
|
The Expedition
IS OFFLINE
33
Renown
Moonglade
an good boi
786 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 16, 2022 14:34:42 GMT -5
While Fenrear is outside making progress, Gerhart is inside thinking. Hey could just grab some cloth and move real fast. If he runs fast enough, there shouldn't be enough time to burn his hands right? No, that's a bad plan, he couldn't move that fast. Plus if it was hot then the ooze would just get angrier most likely. Maybe if he got it off the fire and hit it with enough water that would cool it down enough.
There are way too many choices and none of them seem smart. For now, just get it off the fire. Carefully Gerhart shimmies the cooking spit back and away from the fire. Maybe if they give it some time they can let it cool before going in. As he exits the kitchen, Gerhart looks towards the ceiling to see if it had started to eat through.
Thankfully it hadn't, but from the sounds upstairs it was wrecking that one room. Gerhart sighs as he heads outside again to meet Fenrear. "Find out anything good? I got a cauldron, but it's too hot to handle right now. Sounds like the big guy up there is still going to work on the furniture, but he's contained for now."
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
25
Renown
Gnoll
Working on new Character
107 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Fenrear on Oct 16, 2022 15:10:46 GMT -5
Fenrear stuck his snout in the cauldron and scarfed down the contents in just a matter of moments. After licking his chops, he lets out a large belch and rubs his tummy in satisfaction. All food in the desert is very hot, no problem. Much easier to carry now yes? Let’s not tell the innkeeper, eat it as a tip. He suddenly got a concerned look on his face. Left no stew for you. He quickly checks his pouches and finds a dead squirrel. He considers offering it to Gerhart but thinks better about it.
As the two approached the door for a second time, Fenrear put his ear up to it to see if he could hear anything. This time, the noises seemed to have subsided somewhat. Can no hear the slime. Much too quiet, don’t like this at all.
Fenrear whispers to Gerhart. Talked to the innkeeper and cleaning boy. Ooze got angry 3 days ago after delivery. Nearly ate the boys foot off. Ooze probably taste like old shoe now, definitely don’t want to eat him. We need to see what ooze is doing now. Get ready.
Fenrear slowly opens the door and peers inside. The room is completely trashed at this point and the ooze is sitting quietly in the corner. He pulls out the vial of Slaad poison. He uncorks the vial and jams it into a roll he stole from the kitchen. He then tossed the roll underhanded towards the ooze who quickly absorbs it. They wait a minute to see if anything about it has changed.
|
|
The Expedition
IS OFFLINE
33
Renown
Moonglade
an good boi
786 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 16, 2022 15:43:44 GMT -5
“I’ll just grab a roll or two before we are done here.” He smiled and tried to give a reassuring smile to show he wasn’t too upset. He takes a hold of the cauldron and starts to haul it up the stairs now that thing seem to have cooled down enough at least. He sat it down with a huff, watching Fenrear take out the vial. Now he’s rethinking stealing rolls as they leave.
He braces waiting for the ooze to come bursting out of the door in a rage that we dared tired to trick it. Gerhart looks more and more relived as the thrashing and knocking eventually slows. “Do you have another one of those as a backup in case it’s still got a bit of fight? Others I’m ready to get in there and scoop it in.” *He grinned holding the lid of the cauldron up like a shield.
Gerhart shifts ahead to take point and check the door. It takes a bit of effort as the ooze passed out in front of the door, but Gerhart is relieved once he pushes past. “All right Fenrear hold the cauldron I’ll start scooping.” Gerhart does scoot around the ooze before starting to use the lid like a shovel and start rolling it into the cauldron.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
25
Renown
Gnoll
Working on new Character
107 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Fenrear on Oct 18, 2022 7:46:36 GMT -5
Fenrear grabs the cauldron and puts the edge at the floor and the pot at a slight angle so that Gerhart could scoop it in with the lid.
No extra rolls. Slaad poison is very tricky to extract. No good when they dead and very grumpy when alive. Fenrear thought about telling him the story about how he had acquired this particular vial of poison but they really didn’t have time for that now. Now they had to hurry. With an ooze this big, he figured it wouldn’t take it very long to metabolize the poison and, very likely, not be happy about it.
Scoop! Scoop very quickly yes?
The ooze is about half way in when it starts moving again. This was way too close for comfort. They knew from experience by now that these little blobs can really move when they feel like it. The last thing that Fenrear needed was for this job to go bad. If that ever got back to his tribe, the stories would never end.
Suddenly, a slimy tentacle lashes out at him. No no! Bad ooze! Fenrear flips the cauldron over so that it covers the re- angered ooze. It is contained for the moment, but this brings a new problem. Sorry, no choice but to flip. Let’s check the room to see if we can figure out why he so angry, yes? Thumping can be heard coming from the upended cauldron.
|
|
The Expedition
IS OFFLINE
33
Renown
Moonglade
an good boi
786 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 18, 2022 9:58:46 GMT -5
Gerhart desperately tries to shove the lid ontop of the cauldron, but the little wiggly bastard makes it much harder than he was anticipating. He shifts his feet out of the way and helps flip the cauldron over. In a move of panic he jumps on top of the cauldron To weight it down and keep the lid sealed so it couldn’t just spurt out from underneath.
“What would even upset an ooze? Maybe it ate something bad? Like what if it found some rotten food in here and now it has an upset…..I guess not stomach, but upset something…..If we can find that I have some herbs in my medical kit that could help.” From his perch atop the cauldron he tries to find any remnant of food or silverware that could give them a clue. Even if it was a silly idea, it was the best he could think of with his limited knowledge of oozes
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
25
Renown
Gnoll
Working on new Character
107 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Fenrear on Oct 18, 2022 10:56:35 GMT -5
Fenrear dashes around the room as quickly as possible looking for a possible culprit to their issue. After turning over several crates, he finds a curious box in the corner. It is emitting a strange buzzing noise. Fenrear shakes the box and notices a tag at the bottom of the box.
Dr JASONS OOZE BE GONE.
Curious, Fenrear takes the small box and holds it close the cauldron. The ooze starts freaking out and banging against the walls of the pot, trying to escape. Well, I guess we know what the issue is, yes? He had never heard of a device that repelled Ooze before. And who was this Dr Jason? Fenrear chewed on the box a bit and found a compartment with a small switch inside. He flips the switch and the buzzing from the box stops. As soon as it does, the banging from the cauldron also goes quiet.
Fenrear listens carefully for any sounds. Upon hearing nothing, he looks at Gerhart and shrugs his shoulders. Should the open the cauldron up and see if the ooze is ok? It didn’t sound mad anymore but who knew how it would actually react. Curious, Fenrear went up to the cauldron and gently tapped three times. PING PING PING. After a moment, came back PING PING PING from the inside? Did it really understand?
What do you think? Let it out or try and drive it out of the room with noisy box?
|
|
The Expedition
IS OFFLINE
33
Renown
Moonglade
an good boi
786 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 18, 2022 11:02:46 GMT -5
There were a few moments of struggle as Gerhart tried to keep the cauldron secured. This thing was big and mad, especially so when Fenrear brought the box closer. He looks very confused at the call and response between the two, but it seems to be working. “Sound….that makes a lot of sense. I bet the vibrations wiggled his ooze in a way he didn’t like.”
Gerhart sildes off the cauldron very carefully. “All right I’ll lift it and try to herd it out the door while you follow with the box to make it keep moving.” He’s helped heed sheep and pigs before this can’t be that different right? He’d have to hope all those odd jobs he did came in handy. Gerhart lifts the cauldron to let the ooze slip out, keeping close to start shuffling it towards the door and out of the in.
|
|