Side Effects
The gardens are quiet this evening, the leaves overhead just beginning to change color. It isn't too cold, and there are lovers and families walking here and there among the paths of the gardens, talking quietly, or in some cases, not-so-quietly. One of these pairings would appear to be a mother and son, the former in the dress of the Myrrish High Kingdom, the latter in adventurer's clothing in the blue and silver tones of Eluna's faithful. Aside from gender, the two could be twins, although Seldan's facial features are stronger and more masculine. They share the fair coloring and ice-blue eyes, though her hair is more true blonde with wisps of gray, instead of his reddish-gold.
Merek wears all his usual dark attire, while he makes his way to the gardens district, his tattered cloak upon him. He has on an amulet that looks like it has Eluna's sigil about upon it also.
Malik's been busy for a day or so, now. The last time Seldan saw him, the man looked distracted. But today, he looks downright focused. There are a pile of notes in his hand that he's already reviewing as he runs to catch up with Seldan. "I think I might know what happened," he tells the paladin, not looking up from his papers, his voice excited. "So, that thing you got from the temple? I have an idea --" It's only at that point that he realizes that the man isn't alone, cutting the thought short as he looks between the pair. "Oh. I didn't realize you were busy," he says, clearing his throat. But he doesn't put the notes away just yet, the pages a mix of mundane and magical scrawls.
Malik, for his own part, looks less 'fair', and more 'pale', with a side of sickly. There are dark circles under his eyes, and a slight rumble in his chest.
Kira has been busy, herself, though she's often so. Recently, it's just alot more. She's in the garden for a brief respite in the form of a walk, her light clothing dark from more dirt, grime, and less pleasant things.
Seldan turns from his quiet conversation at the interruption, although he doesn't seem angry. "It's quite all right, Malik." His Myrrish-accented voice is missing an edge, and there's a rasp in it, as of one perhaps not entirely well. "Mother, this is my friend and associate from the Explorer's Guild, Malik Gitanos. Malik, my mother, Carissa Padaryn."
The woman simply smiles graciously at the interruption, taking the long box that had been under one arm out of the way so it will not hit the newcomer. "A pleasure ... may I call you Malik?" If anything, her voice is even more accented than his is, and that is saying something.
Pelka stirs. He's perched in one of the taller trees of the garden district. He can't remember quite how he got there...but then he has to admit this isn't the first time he's awoken in an unfamiliar tree.
Malik gives a bit of a nod, getting quieter as the woman turns to greet him. "It's nice to meet you, ma'am," he tells her, his own Tsuran accent very different from hers. He starts to extend a hand, and then thinks better of it as a cough works its way up his chest, causing him to take a few steps back. For good measure.
The woman with Seldan frowns as Malik coughs and steps back, her mien shifting from 'gracious lady' to 'stern mother'. "You're both ill, aren't you." It isn't a question. "Sit, both of you." She points both Malik and Seldan at a bench nearby, free hand on her hip. "You both sound positively awful, and I'll have your father's head for not making the time to fly here with me. Now sit." The peremptory gesture is unlikely to accept no for an answer.
Seldan wears a ghost of a smile, and a look of some relief as he does as ordered, making sure to leave enough room for both of the others on the bench. Under the lamplight, his color isn't especially good, either, and like Malik, his breath rattles in his chest.
Kira is already approaching others out in the garden, but then there's awful coughing and someone sounding concerned (rightly!) of the coughing. Her steps quicken and she offers a smile, though a concerned one. "Is everyone alright?"
Pelka is on the other side of the gardens but snatches of the conversation catch his attention. He peers toward the others. Then he looks down, trying to see if there's an easy way to climb down.
Merek finds a place to lean back on, while he looks to the woman with Malik as well as Seldan, then he shifts his tattered cloak about him.
Malik blinks, flashing a glance to Seldan. But seeing the other man obey the command, he moves to sit too, offering a slight nod. "Yes ma'am." A glance between the pair, and he just hands the notes off to the paladin, letting him read over the scrawls himself. "I think it's possible," he tells the other man, though he doesn't explain what he's talking about. Instead, he turns his attention to the woman who approaches, just raising a small hand. Not in greeting, though. A gesture that she should keep her distance, for her own safety, a small shake of his head serving as a warning. There's a bit of black on his sleeve from the cough earlier, and a bit more in the corners of his eyes, an oily sheen that should serve as its own sort of warning.
Kira's eyes are drawn to the hand from the movement, and also spy the stained sleeve. Her smile flicks more concerned, but just a bit and for just a moment. She nods. "I understand. Is there anything you'd like or I can do to help?" She doesn't seem worried about stains, given her smile stays... and the current state of her clothing.
When both have seated themselves, Carissa seats herself as well, on Seldan's opposite side from Malik, smoothing her skirts and setting the box she'd gestured with in her lap. "It's quite all right, mistress," she tells Kira. "I had taken my son for fresh air, and I think he has had about enough. I will see to it that the Altheans see to him." Gracious, but businesslike. "Before I do, though ... I had a reason for wishing you to return to Bryn Myridorn. I think that it is time you had this. Your father isn't using it, and doesn't think anything has any worth if it cannot be used. Given your letters home of late, and the research you had been doing -- I thought you might like to have this." She ignores the papers Malik had set on Seldan's lap, setting the box on top of it. "Forgive me, I'm certain you two can talk later, but I should return to Bryn Myridorn soon, and I would have him have this before I go."
Puzzled, Seldan studies the box, looks up at Carissa with raised eyebrows, then opens it.
It contains a longsword, of ancient and utilitarian style. It is well-polished, and well-cared for, with no nicks on blade or hilt, and a pommel shaped with a loving hand in a style that isn't remotely modern. The whole thing is very ornate, and while not sharpened, it has seen use in its past. "It has been in the Padaryn family since before it was called that, Seldan. Your brother was to have it, but ..." She presses her lips together abruptly, and changes the subject. "Never mind that. It is said that it remembers every wielder it's ever had, and it might have power for someone it finds worthy. That is an old legend, though, and I doubt there is anything to it. All the same, it is a piece of our history, and I thought it might interest you."
Pelka walks closer once the weapon is revealed. He stares at it with what might be professional interest. He opens his beak as if to say something. But he hesitates. Something makes him think this may be a ceremony of sorts. One that he doesn't want to interrupt.
Merek looks over to Seldan, also a wave offered about that way while he smiles, then he's making a way to see about what others are up to.
Malik gives the man a bit of room as the large box is laid in his lap, the notes forgotten for the moment. His brow furrows a bit as Seldan's mother explains the gift, and its history, his mind clearly searching for something that seems just on the edge of conscious thought, elusive. But when the box is opened, he takes in a small breath, looking at the weapon curiously. "It's beautiful," he tells no one in particular, admiring the craftsmanship and the finer details in the blade. "I haven't seen one like that in --" His voice trails off, giving a sheepish look to the others, sitting back on the bench a bit. He's already interrupted enough, for the moment.
"We welcome any and all who wish aid," Kira nods to the woman and her smile widens. It returns to normal when the box is opened, though, and she doesn't mention it further. "Oh my. That looks very well made."
Seldan looks up momentarily, and acknowledges Merek's wave with a polite nod that doesn't seem displeased to see him at all. His attention, though, is arrested by the blade, and he doesn't seem to be paying much attention to the people who have crept closer to look. Setting the box aside, he gently lifts the blade out of the box, standing to examine it more closely -
And gets about halfway to his feet, before his eyes roll up in the back of his head, and he crumples bonelessly to the garden path, sword clattering to the path beneath him, his hip striking the edge of the bench as he lands on it, insensate. It's a good thing it wasn't sharpened, because he doesn't move.
Pelka's eyes make an audible clicking noise as he blinks. He edges closer. "What happened...?" He peers at the man and then the sword. Then he glances at the woman who delivered the apparent gift box. "Was that supposed to happen...?"
Kira gasps when Seldan crumples and she reaches to check him, if not catch him enough to help protect him from dangerous benches and garden paths!
The fall of the warrior might be inocuious enough, but what happens in the aftermath of his fall however is not. Immediately black liquid begins to run from his eyes, nose, mouth, and even his ears. His body gives a twitch on the ground and then another one as blackness begins to pool rapidly underneath of him. "SELDAN!" Someone yells and it's his mother, crying out as a bubbling black ooze begins to form on top of his unconscious body.
It grows in a matter of moments. A few seconds is all it seems to take for this puddle of black liquid to bubble upwards into a massive slime. It pushes everyone back from the warrior. The bench he was on begins to groan with the weight of the ooze and cracks suddenly. The sound draws the attention of everyone in the square and someone else yells. People start to run. Now there's chaos to add to the madness of this black shining ooze growing around Seldan's body...
Merek blinks a bit then to Seldan while he takes a moment to look to him, "Ah, the plague creature," he says, he's been in this situation before as well.
GAME: Merek casts Prayer. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
Merek lifts up his longsword from the sheath, then he places the tip towards the floor while he begins to chant supplication to Eluna. A sigil of the Faith beginning to appear about the place in light while celestial things wrap about to empower folk].
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+1: (1)+18+7+1: 27 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Seldan rolls will: (4)+15: 19
"Oh my!" Black ooze things are probably a bad sign, but it can wait a moment. Kira quickly grabs hold of Seldan's forearms and rapidly backpedals to try and get him clear. Unfortunately, they're still covered with slippery ooze and she winds up moving without him, then over-corrects and ends up on the ground next to him.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (10)+10: 20
Seldan doesn't move, seemingly unaware that he's got an ooze on top of him, his breathing slow and shallow, rattling and rasping as if it holds a monster within. Carissa's eyes are wide as saucers, her mind as frozen as her body, her hands going to her mouth in shock and fear.
The ooze seems to still be attached to Seldan somehow, and it manages to form a long whip-like limb to thump in Kira's direction, but her ungangly motion works in her favor and it hits the ground beside her rather than her. Even so it's a near hit and the there's a crack on the ground where its appendage hit the stone. Furthermore... it's /larger/. Big enough that its nearly the size of the nearest building, and it's not showing any signs of slowing down.
GAME: Malik rolls CMB + 1: (11)+4+1: 16
Malik is on his feet in a second. Or, more accurately, on his knees. "Seldan!" There's a moment of panic in the man's voice, the papers scattering to the wind as he leaves them forgotten. He's already kneeling beside the man, looking to see if he can get any indication of what just happened.
But then, there's the ooze. Malik watches the thing as it crawls, growing, eyes narrowing with hatred and disgust. But he doesn't seem put off by it. He stares at it a moment, looking unafraid. "Not on the menu," he tells the thing, giving it an uneasy grimace, though he looks up to Seldan's mother, saying, "Get back. It'll go after you. Not me. Let them handle it." He glances to the others, watching as they already begin the assault, but there's no small amount of fear in his eyes.
There's a brief moment of calculation, his eyes flashing to the magical monster, and then to the man on the ground. But it doesn't take him long to get his priorities straight. He's already putting an arm under Seldan, working to lift the man, though it doesn't seem to be doing much good.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (18)+10: 28 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+16: (6)+16: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 4d6+8: (17)+8: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6: (6): 6 GAME: Pelka rolls cmb: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Merek casts Create Water. Caster Level: 5 DC: 13
Merek lifts up a hand while he begins to draw light sigils upon the air before him, then he begins to bring water from an elemental plane that washes upon the ooze.
what looks like the butt of a thunderbelcher. He shakes his head. He releases the weapon and then reaches into the next compartment, an even larger one. He starts to pull out the handle of his deathray. But he hesitates. He releases that one and then reaches into the largest pouch, a satchel-like affair that is suspended over one hip. He pulls out a giant wrench. Clutching it in both taloned hands, he launches himself into the air on a trajectory that will let him strafe alongside and then above the ooze. But the ooze...has other ideas. It snatches him out of the air, leaving him flapping his wings helplessly as he's held in one place.
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+1: (9)+18+7+1: 35 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (7)+15: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (17)+10: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 4d6+8: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6: (7): 7 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+16: (13)+16: 29
The ooze sucks Pelka into its body with a slurping noise that's best left undescribed any further. The second strike of the ooze's tentacle grabs Kira around the waist and sucks her into it just as swiftly as it had grabbed Pelka. The two adventurers are for the moment at least, at the mercy of the creation of Seldan's sickness.
GAME: Kira rolls fort: (10)+19: 29 GAME: Pelka rolls fort: (11)+8: 19 GAME: Pelka rolls fort: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
Malik moves to take Seldan under the shoulders once Kira has him freed, watching as the woman gets drawn into the blackness. There's the briefest moment of hesitation on his face as some internal debate rages, watching the ones still trapped, but he eventually steels himself, dragging the paladin away. Struggling to take the man in his arms, he turns to Carissa, shouting, "HORSE!"
GAME: Pelka rolls cmb: (15)+7: 22
Pelka panics! His wings are the last part of his body to be sucked into the ooze. He twitches them instinctively, and somehow they grant him enough leverage to bursts free. He rises unsteadily into the air, bedraggled and dripping ooze and sodden feathers.
GAME: Merek casts Spear of Purity. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 GAME: Merek rolls ranged: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Merek rolls 1d8: (1): 1
Merek brings up a little magic spear of light which he then throws at the ooze!
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+1: (5)+18+7+1: 31 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (7)+15: 22
Kira was actually more concerned of Pelka than herself, but he gratefully managed to pull himself free. Now its her turn, as she wriggles and squirms, leveraging against whatever is solid enough. She finally manages to push/pull herself free, covered in unpleasant gooeyness.
GAME: Kira rolls fort: (5)+19: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (16)+10: 26
Carissa seems to be snapped out of her horror as the battle rages on, and her head snaps over to Malik and Seldan as the latter is pulled free. "You can't just leave them to die!" Picking up her black-stained skirts, she starts to move, but is too slow as the black tentacle grabs her! She lets out a high-pitched scream instead, writhing in a most undignified fashion and trying to work herself free.
Suddenly and without warning the ooze seems to lose all interest in the group of adventurers attacking it and takes a few wobbling steps toward Seldan's mother. The woman has no chance to do anything before she's snapped up and popped inside its body. Meanwhile around you the world has become desolate, no one else has dared to stick around while adventures fight some/thing/.
GAME: Malik rolls CMB + 1: (6)+4+1: 11 GAME: Pelka rolls weapon10: (13)+8: 21 GAME: Pelka rolls 1d12+1: (10)+1: 11
Malik sighs, putting the man down and turning to watch the others struggle against the thing. "Sometimes," he says, "you have no choice." He runs back to where the thing is, attempting to reach in and grab the innocent bystander, but to no avail.
GAME: Merek casts Sanctuary. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14
Pelka has to beat his wings furiously to attain any sort of altitude. His wrench is lost - probably still inside the ooze, but as far as he's concerned it's lost. He barely pays attention to Seldan's mother - it's not an unreasonable stretch to connect her gift to Seldan with what summoned the ooze, and thus what nearly suffocated Pelka. All he wants to do is kill it. He pulls a full rifle from one of his bandolier pouches. With a loud BANG! the shot is sent burrowing into the ooze.
Merek looks between the folk there, then he moves to where the ooze is pulling in Seldan's mother. He lifts up a hand while he calls upon Eluna's power, "Grant this woman the protection of the light!" he says, then he's making the sanctuary form about her so as to keep away the ooze as well.
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+1: (15)+18+7+1: 41
Kira blinks ooze out of her eyes and blinks again when she sees it grab the woman. "No you don't!" Despite having just got out, she takes a sprint at the ooze monster and dives at it to grab for Seldan's mother. With momentum, a good grab, and a little help from The Healer and gravity, she manages to yoink her free with a rewarding slurp.
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (13)+15: 28
The ooze begins to slowly make its way away from all of you, crushing another bench under its weight without even realizing that its done so. Over in the direction that it's heading you can make out the faintest sounds of yelling as if someone had just rounded the corner unwisely and caught sight of it unexpectedly.
Malik wraps an arm around the woman's waist, guiding her away from the monster after Kira has freed her. Part of him looks like he wants to fight. But the wiser part of him knows his limitations, and prioritizes the things that need to happen. "Come on," he tells the woman, no longer quite as concerned about infecting her. "We need to get him to Mictlan." Perhaps not the most obvious place, but it seems he has a plan.
Pelka flaps his wings a few times to build up speed. He sails over the ooze, pulling his goggles down over his eyes as he passes. Already sharp avian vision is enhanced even more, until he picks out the civilian in its path. "Run away!" he shrieks. He could swoop down in a dive and try to pluck the citizen off of the ground and then fly him out of harm's way...but come to think of it he looks pretty heavy. And Pelka's still a little weighed down from his adventure inside the ooze. And what good would it do for both of them to be caught...?
GAME: Merek rolls melee+1: (19)+6+1: 26 GAME: Merek rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8
Merek moves to the ooze, then he comes about with that black longsword which manages to strike into the ooze, with a shift while he begins to look towards the creature as well, "It likes magic so if you're fighting, use your weapons!"
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (10)+15: 25
The largest portion of the ooze suddenly sinks into the ground, pulled by some unseen force and is suddenly in spite of its size - gone. The smaller ooze however being freed of its larger potion jumps on the poor civilian and the man isn't quite quick enough to get away from it. He lets out a half-garbled shriek and then its on him.
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+1: (13)+18+7+1: 39
Malik turns in time to see the man pull his sword, eyes widening a bit. "No, don't...!" But then it's too late. Merek has already hacked a piece off, and Malik just lets out a sigh. "...use a blade." He shouts over to them, "BLUNT WEAPONS ONLY!" But he's got his own mission to focus on, looking for a horse, or some other way of getting the people in his charge out of the way, and to someone who can help.
Kira runs after the thing. As glad as she is that they freed the others and got them away from it, it could hurt others!
Like that poor man. She puts on more speed and once more grabs for flailed limbs to pull him from the sticky thing. "Stop! Leave them alone!" By 'them,' of course, she means, well, everyone.
Kira only now registers what Malik yells out about weapons. "What do blades do?" Her initial thought was joy that it shrunk down, but now worries it might be premature.
GAME: Pelka rolls weapon10: (5)+8: 13 GAME: Pelka rolls 1d12+1: (8)+1: 9
Pelka spreads his wings and sails through the air. His flight suddenly becomes smooth and steady, enough so that he can aim his rifle and draw a leisurely bead on the remaining bit of ooze. Another thundering blast as he fires again. His target explodes. Pelka's eyes widen. He flaps his wings once, twice, regaining the height lost during his glide.
Merek looks as the ooze is now two, then it's one, then Pelka shoots, while he tries to move in front of them. He doesn't manage, so instead he takes a moment to shift his tattered cloak while he protects Kira as well as the citizen also! He accepts being rained upon by the black ooze, not bothered by it.
GAME: Merek rolls fortitude: (14)+7: 21 GAME: Merek rolls fortitude: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Merek rolls fortitude: (13)+7: 20
Kira gasps and the explosion and reflexively rotates her recently retrieved citizen away from it and behind herself as much as possible. Yes, it's icky, but icky can be washed off. Injuries are a little harder to fix.
Merek looks to the ooze upon him, he then waits a moment to permit it to sink in, while he spins a knife which he uses to sheath some of the ooze away into a flask, doing his best to keep it working, "Come on," he says. Then he's satisfied with a nod. Kira likely isn't too icky since Merek was guarding her also.
Malik will probably eventually find a horse, or some other way to transport some people. There's gotta be one around here somewhere. The wizard is determined, though, and is moving in a hurry, despite looking like death.
Pelka lands in the garden near the broken bench where the ooze first made its appearance. He shoots a narrow-eyed look at Seldan and his mother. "You should never have been out in the city if you had the plague!" he shrieks. "Now you've infected the rest of us!"
Through all of this, Seldan hasn't shown any signs of consciousness or awareness of his surroundings. His breathing is slow, shallow, and rattly, and he seems completely unaware of his current state. The only thing he's managed to do is keep a convulsive grip on that sword.
-End