Alonder, you went Healer/Vowed, didn't you? Did you want to see if Healing Touch could help? (You might need Ralden's assistance to touch yourself, ha.)

I'm a bit uncertain what to do. Leyna's primary motivation was threat neutralization. But if the ooze is trying to escape then that problem takes care of itself. But, as an academic, would she want to capture it for study? Perhaps, but then what? Is she going to carry it around in a pot for a week?

It seems like tending to Alonder and pivoting to the basement are higher priorities at the moment.

I'm pretty sure that it only heals wounds at my current level. There is an upgrade that can cure poisons and diseases, but Alonder doesn't have it (yet)

Is there an obvious parallel between whatever is afflicting Alonder and Rebecca/Urvan? Do they seem to be paralyzed in a similar way, or do the abrasions set Rebecca and Urvan apart?

In reply to Leyna Noc (msg # 141):

I don't remember anyone examining Alonder's wound, but for the sake of expediency, yes it's a very similar wound.

Just for RP purposes, are there materials to start a fire in the hearth? (The deceased boy will have to be relocated, of course.)

Is there food in the pantry that hasn't spoiled?

In reply to Leyna Noc (msg # 143):

Yes, there is firewood available and also not all of the food has gone bad.

Just remembered that Valgard is on a cruise ship for another week.

Any objections to the current plan (which is basically camping out in front of a fire in the hearth)?

GM, any complications to that plan?

Part of the thinking was that after 6 hours perhaps the others, especially Alonder, will have recovered enough to take a watch.

But I do imagine we'll need more than 6 hours. Depending on the storm and our level of exhaustion (which I imagine will be high), we might want 12 hours of rest.

Alrighty. So in that 6-hour span of time, each of the four guards will actually only get 4.5 hours of rest. And that plan would take you through the early night up to about 2:00am. I'll proceed with that first cycle and you can decide what to do at that point.

Okay, that's helpful. I wasn't entirely sure what time it was.

Leyna doesn't have any other preparations to make.

As for keeping watch vs. resting, I don't know what's realistic. At some point I imagine exhaustion winning out, but maybe fear and adrenaline will make rest impossible.

I would say that Leyna will help keep watch for 20-30 minutes to see if her flour trap works, but after that point she might pass out and trust in Ralden to alert her if something is suspicious.

I'm going to call it the better of your Physical or Mental saving throw. There will be a decently large bonus initially (it's fairly easy to stay up a bit, and adrenaline plays a part) but every hour will be a new save and that bonus will continue to dwindle until eventually you'd fail a save and succumb to much needed sleep.

Honestly, I'm not really trying to fight it except this initial period to see if anything comes of the trap. After that Leyna will willingly sleep and trust in the person awake to watch over them.

I don't have any preparations to make. I agree with Leyna's plan of waiting a while to see if something happens and then resuming the sleep schedule if nothing happens. Eventually we have to go to sleep.

Sorry folks for the lull in action, I've been sick also dealing with moving stress. This whole month may be up and down, but I will always try to keep folks informed. Thanks for understanding.

Thanks for the update. Good luck with it all.

DM, do you want initiative rolls, or will it just be Ralden, the puddle, then everyone else?

I made initiative rolls already, but yes, you are correct about the order.

Sounds good.

Go get em, Ralden!

Leyna will pursue it if possible, but if it's not possible (or, at least, not particularly plausible) then she'll patch up the hole to prevent the puddle's revenge.

1. Leyna Noc:

   "Sorry, Einar, I don't think I have the strength for a rhino."
   For clarification, the rhino was Urvan's animal and it's the one that's dead. Einhar is Iceman's Judas Goat and it's still very much alive.
   
   
2. The pot with the remains of the puddle will be 1 bulk to carry around.
   
   
3. Getting a look at it dead and bisected, it certainly seems more like an ooze than any sort of other creature. It was engorged with the blood of it's victims; though it's been popped and deflated since. And as far as you know, oozes don't infest host bodies like what's been suggested. The wounds that have killed every individual that you've seen have all been consistently external.
   
   
4. Alonder Gimbel:

   "I think it's safe to assume that whatever this is, it's a magical effect. I have no idea why I'm recovering, but if it had the same effect on humans than on a giant it can't be mundane in nature."
   I'm not sure I understand what you're saying here. From what ALonder knows of Giant physiology, they are actually very similar to humans in most regard - just bigger. There's no reason to believe that since the effects are similarly affecting two different (though extremely similar species) that the effect must be magical. Though oozes are possibly created through magical means, this one's methods do in fact seem quite mundane.

I'll post more IC tomorrow, but feel free to continue to post as you see fit.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:56, Sun 11 June 2023.

Alonder's logic (that, goes without saying, might be wrong) is that if a mundane venom or toxin was the culprit, then the results don't quite add up. With similar attacks (AKA one sting) two humans died shortly after being stung, one is recovering well after less than 24 hours and a giant was taken out, possibly dying.
If it's magic, then size of the victim doesn't necessarily play a factor, but if it's natural venom then a giant should be more resistant than a human. The venom they would take in comparison would be a tiny amount.

It could be a question of duration of exposure. Alonder was one touch; the others might have been continuously affected.

Ah, you're right. Gron was the rhino. RIP.

Judas Goats are the size of a cow. The rules say "unusually skilled and brave goatherds can train them as watchbeasts or even as mounts." It seems plausible that Iceman might qualify as such a goatherd. Granted it's not very dignified, but would Einhar be able to help Alonder move around?

Separately, can we see the inventories for Rebecca and Urvan, please? We should put their gear to good use, if possible.