Nodwin starts to pray to Vejovis, even has he slowly steps away from the slowly approaching mirror.

[Private to GM: Not sure how this goes because of the mirrory surface, but Nodwin doesn't have anything else that potentially works.  The spell does say it burns in addition to 1d-1 impaling, if I read it correctly.
23:41, Today: Secret Roll: Nodwin Zideqick rolled 8 using 3d6.  Sunbolt 15, 3 fatigue.]

How far away is the jelly?

In reply to Jocelyn Lemru (msg # 356):

Not quite cuboid, but shaped that way due to surface tension and narrow walls.

The sunbolt scorces the creature, showing a turbulent line of char in midair extending about 3 yards from the point of impact.

It is now against the gate.

There is no water on this level that you can see.

In reply to something slimy (msg # 357):

In that case Clarence will start pouring oil all over the gate, and the jelly, staying back from the creature...

Nodwin assumes that his prayer was successful.  The charred section indicates that he most likely injured the creature.  He starts praying again.  For a second time he steps back, to keep himself at a safe distance.

[Private to GM: Spell is successful, he will aim a round and fire again.
13:21, Today: Secret Roll: Nodwin Zideqick rolled 9 using 3d6.  Nodwin Sunbolt 15, 3 dice (costs 2 fatigue).
13:23, Today: Secret Roll: Nodwin Zideqick rolled 5 using 3d6.  Nodwin Innate Attack Beam 12 + 2 aim.

Fatigue: 6/15 remaining
See Secrets = 5
Sunbolt x2 at 2 fatigue apiece = 4]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:28, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

Jocelyn releases the 2 die Fireball, then starts casting again.  the effect is less than expected.


[Private to GM:   14:32, Today: Jocelyn Lemru rolled 8 using 3d6.  innate attack projo.  by 4
14:34, Today: Jocelyn Lemru rolled 3 using 2d6.  Fireball Damage.  ]

Mario backs away from the gate.  "Come on, folks, back up the stairs a bit, make room."

The arrow suspended in the jelly vanishes as Mario pulls it from his quiver, nocks, draws, and releases in one smooth movement.


[Private to GM: 05:00, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 8 using 3d6.  Fast Draw (Arrow) (15).
05:01, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 11 using 3d6.  Bow -1 (=17) to ready arrow to bow in no time.
05:02, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 11 using 3d6.  Bow (roll to hit between gate bars (-2?) = 16).
05:02, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 8 using 1d6+2.  Damage (impaling).]

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 361):
 The fireball scorches the surface, rendering more of the creature visible. The sunbolt creates another streak of char through the creature, and Mario sinks another arrow into its trembling translucent flesh.

Its bulk begins to push the door open despite the wedge, or perhaps because the wooden wedge is dissolving.

Weary, and with no sense that they are making headway, Nodwin asks "Should we retreat?  I am exhausted.  Vejovis has been with me, but the creature keeps coming."

OOC  How desperate do things look?  I mean, can the thing move so quickly that it will catch them, or can they evacuate the room fast enough?  What we have done so far should have stopped anything with a brain.

Jocelyn's fist is suddenly extended by a long lance of flame which she uses to carve on this thing... it seems to feel no pain, we best leave as I have no idea how much damage it can absorb.


[Private to GM:  16:22, Today: Jocelyn Lemru rolled 8 using 3d6.  Flame Jet 3.  by 7
16:23, Today: Jocelyn Lemru rolled 7 using 3d6.  Flame Jet 3 Damage. ]

"I like the way you think, Jocelyn.  I think we can climb faster than it's been moving, but let's not dawdle."

Once again, Mario pulls his plain arrow from its quiver, nocks it to the bowstring, draws it to his ear, and lets fly into the jelly as he backs toward the stairs.


[Private to GM: 18:53, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 14 using 3d6.  Fast Draw (Arrow) (15).
18:54, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 5 using 3d6.  Bow -1 (=17) to ready arrow to bow in no time.
18:56, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 14 using 3d6.  Bow (roll to hit between gate bars (-4) = 14 (+ SM unknown).
18:56, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 6 using 1d6+2.  Damage (impaling).]

"Oh yes, retreat."  Jareth lets everyone start up the stairs clearly meaning to take one of the last positions, "Joce, still have t'e alkaline powder ya were gonna get last week?"




OOC:  Memory jog:  When we first met up in the Guild and were discussing hazards and preparations, Jareth mentioned bringing liquid alkaline to help against this exact creature (maybe not this one exactly, but acidic jellies in general) and Jocelyn suggested instead that she would procure alkaline powder (because it would be safer to carry).

Jocelyn may remember, but the player sure doesn't ... If the GM says yea, she'll produce it from her things.

In reply to Jocelyn Lemru (msg # 367):

Clarence, having emptied the entire cask (8 pints of oil on the creature, steps back out of the oil and attempts to light it...

[Private to GM: Create Fire. First attempt failed by one, second attempt succeeded by one. Area spell, 1 yard radius, set on creature and oil, 2 yards in front of him!]

In reply to Clarence Montague (msg # 368):

No need to light it, Jocelyn is using a flame jet in the same place, so I expect it will light without problems.

In reply to Jocelyn Lemru (msg # 369):

With the cask of lamp oil and Jocelyn's flame jet, the creature begins to burn. Its amorphous form is revealed, it is a huge blob that was compressed by the walls.

It is withdrawing from the flames as a modest rate, similar to the speed of  walking human. Jocelyn has a flask of powdered lye; it cost $200.

"Let it go.  It'll avoid t'e area for now.  But keep eye out for ot'ers."

As they step cautiously back into the tunnel junction area, "Ironically, t'e cultist rune trap may been keepin at bay for t'em.  Have look into that, maybe way make similar work for us."

Nodwin plops down against one of the walls.  In a bit os a strained voice, he flatly announces "I need a rest, let's have a bit of food and rest for a while.  Check the corridors and make sure the thing keeps moving off."

He absently adds "Good work.  Especially you, Clarence, good thinking."

Then, his head lays back, and he closes his eyes.

Good Plan Nodwin... Jocelyn also sits and rests...

If they're resting in the staircase room, Jareth leaves them be, otherwise he shoos them into the staircase room.

"Everyone else, look around, be careful, close to t'e intersection.  Mario, let's see about that gate on t'e triangular room."

He has the light float in the intersection until it winks out in one minute.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 374):

"Thank you, but Jareths idea. Used all my oil though, and I do need to rest now too. Perhaps resting here will give us a chance to see if it will come back past there, to test Jareths latest theory about the Glyphs?"

Mario watches the jelly for a moment.

"Snakes have one-way scales on their bellies, or so say the Brothers, but how does something that big with no bones, no scales, no feet, move that fast on level floor?"

Shaking his head, he turns to check the lock on the nearer gate to the triangular room -- first looking the area over for trip wires, triggers, runes, and other unwelcome additions.

[Private to GM: 07:16, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 6 using 3d6.  Traps (12) to check gate into triangular room.]

"T'ey basically just bunch of muscle an stomach, no fancy thing like bones, skin, or extra organs gettin in t'e way.  All t'ey got is hunger an t'e chase."

Mario shakes his head again as he works on inspecting the gate.

"Some wizard let an experiment get loose, or a cult like these guys brought something through from another world."

Jareth watches Mario work, not only to see if he can pick up some pointers, but to make sure Mario doesn't miss any subtle traps.  But, spurred by Mario's comment he starts rambling...

"Fy theory?  Hew to t'e works Alcmaeon of Crotona what believed t'ey be wine bacterii been affected by weird energies of arcane or eldritch source, that is t'ey normally extremely small creatures what made large by t'e natural process mutation.  Also that t'ey clump together in colonial structures like myxobacterii, slimes, but unlike slime retain motility since due to size t'ey need a greater food supply.  Alcmaeon further hypothesizes that t'ey are manakenetic.  T'ey use mana instead of light an respond to it, hence why t'ey can so easily track adventures, most have magic on t'em.  What not sure of is t'ey acidic or basic, haven't yet had chance to test, though t'e presence of corrosion on bronze gate highly suggestive of organically acidic nature.  As heterotrophs t'ey feed by envelopin t'ey prey an slowly dissolvin it over t'e course of hours..."