Kreo touched his shield and looked at Frack

"On your feet Sir Frack, there's work still left in the day."

OOC: Grave cleric, so healing word at 2nd gets you 10hp popped up

Rearing back, his hand ignited and he flung another bolt of fire at the slime

OOC: and cantrip for fire bolt, attack roll of 15, 8 fire damage

Frack sat up, shaking his head to regain his bearings. "Whaaa?... Oh. Thank you Kreo!" He was still foggy as he rose to his feet, but the sharp sting all across his thigh reminded him of the slime's treacherous attack and what must've been Kreo's restorative handiwork thereafter. When a gentle breeze increased the pain, he  realized his leg was exposed. A lot of his leg! So much, in fact, that his face blushed to a reddish greenish hue.

"Tears of the hammer!" he gasped, moving his shield in front of him to protect what little was left of his dignity. "You can all see my breeches!"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:26, Tue 02 Apr.

Procz watched his friend going down and immediately continuing lifting what scrap he could with his telekinetic powers to expose the oozing culprit. Fortunately, Kreo came to the rescue as Barn made a crushing blow against the thing. "There! Attack the abhorrent creature before it can make its escape again!"

As soon as Procz had partially exposed the slime Vecaal sent his dusky blades spinning toward the viscous creature, both striking true.  Combined with Baern's mighty blow, the dragonborn hoped that would be enough to avoid another setback like the one suffered by Frack.

Tracking a few steps sideway to improve his vantage, Vecaal began gathering more shadows within the palms of his hands.

OOC:
Two hits for a total of 15 dmg.

10:13, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 19,24 using 1d20+5,1d20+5.  Attack.
10:14, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 8,4 using 1d6+3,1d4+3.  Damage.
10:15, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 3 using 2d6.  Sneak attack damage.  Augh, 3rd time in a row I've rolled 3 on 2d6!  At least I'm hitting, I guess

Attacks rained down on the exposed ooze, smashing and singing it and provoking some acidic splash back on to Baern (8 acid damage). With a last, spiteful, ineffective lash of its pseudopod, the creature retreated again into the depths of the junk heap.

Perception checks won't cut it here; even if you spot it, you won't be able to get down to where it is without baiting it back to the surface. You know from Procz's arcana check that it responds to movement and vibrations, so you may be able to do something with that, and you're welcome to try other things as well.

Baern angrily (and ineffectually) slammed his wrench into the trash heap, one, twice and then a third time before giving up in a huff.

”Think it can give us the laugh, does it?”

“We’ll show it.”

He turned and stalked away from the pile.

”Back off. Let it think we’ve given up. And then, constable, why don’t you send your metal dog in and let it think another scavenger has found the pile.”

Vecaal growled in frustration as the slime oozed away beneath the pile of waste and debris, but grudgingly followed Baern's instruction and clambered away from where they had last seen the slimy thing.

"Bringing the dragon here is looking better and better," he grumbled, before looking to see if Procz was willing to dangle his mechanical friend out as bait.

Frack backpedaled with his shield guarding the revealing hole in his trousers. After about twenty feet, feeling outside the immediate view of the others, he removed his backpack and dug furiously for his spare shirt. He let it hang in front of his waist like an apron, tying the arms in a knot behind his back. Once this was completed, his rejoined the others, unaware that the back of his trousers had been equally compromised, revealing a healthy share of his green, goblin hindquarters.

OOC: Assuming this may take a round or two, but Frack would insist on covering up first.

Procz was apprehensive about sending in Zúm. The dog was made from metal, but that didn't really make him less vulnerable to a creature oozing acid and corrosion. The kobold constable had another idea, however.

"If this specimen has a distinct and volatile reaction to vibrations, I'll make a clangour that will attract it by sending reverberations throughout all this material. Stand back, please. And stand ready."

Procz made a quick incantation. The arcane words were much like draconic as they left his scaly lips. A sphere of energy left his hands and exploded over the area they had last seen the ooze in a thunderous blast.

Casting Chromatic Orb (thunder). While not aimed at the creature, as it is out of sight, I'm not looking to damage it, just attract it to the direction of the sound waves (vibrations).

"Yikes!" Frack cried as the thunderous orb scared him nearly out of was left of his trousers. "When you said clanker, I thought you meant a little bell or something!"

He continued to tie a knot in his makeshift apron, hoping to be respectably covered before he needed his shield and javelin.


OOC: Still covering up, then closing to melee range.

20:14, Today: Frack rolled 14 using 1d20+6.  Stealth.
20:15, Today: Frack rolled 2 using 1d4.  in case bless is still active?

This message was last edited by the player at 01:20, Sat 13 Apr.

Procz's booming magic reverberates through the junk pile, and sure enough, tendrils of black ooze can be seen probing the impacted spot not long after.

My understanding is only Frack is within melee range. The ooze currently has 3/4 cover. Frack could reduce that to 1/2 by using his action to further uncover it, or Procz or someone else could use telekinesis or the like for the same purpose.

"That done it," Baern said with a look of devilish satisfaction as he raced back to join Frack in the fray.

Move/Dash up to 70' to get back in melee range

"I see it! I see it!!!' Frack reached down to lift a door off the junk pile to further reveal their gooey adversary. He struggled with it for a moment before finally tossing it down at his side. The slightly better look he earned as the result of his actions formed a lump in his throat. He remembered the previous attack that left him near death's door. Perhaps I should've left it covered!

Action: Lift garbage to turn 3/4 cover into 1/2 cover.
Reaction: Intercept attack on character within 5' of him (1d10+2...Baern maybe?).
Bonus Action: Consider recent life choices and wish that he'd done some extra healing over the past few rounds instead of covering himself up for the sake of modesty!

The kobold constable decided to ration some of his spell power, opting to launch a minor bolt of fire at the ooze. It might not be as effective as other options, but it was better than nothing. With a flick of his wrist, a little mote of flame zoomed through the air towards the amorphous creature.

Attack roll hits AC 12 (without factoring in cover)
Please ignore the typo in the die roller. That's 9 fire damage, not 69.

Kreo summoned his own fire and threw his fire bolt at the ooze as well, though the bolt careened close to debris

OOC: attack roll 11 with 7 fire

Once Baern was close enough to distract the ooze with his formidable presence, Vecaal loosed two more of his smoky blades.  The first struck true, the second skittered harmlessly off a piece of corrugated steel.  Still, the dragonborn hoped he'd had some effect.

OOC:
14:52, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 19,9 using 1d20+5,1d20+5.  Attack.  Assuming 1 hit.
14:52, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 8 using 1d6+3.  Damage.
14:52, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 7 using 2d6.  Sneak attack damage.

No sooner had the ooze extended a few curious tendrils toward the rumbling ground than bolts of fire and psychic daggers hurtled toward it. Clouds of acrid black smoke billowed up from the debris as the creature's body burned.

What remained of the ooze flailed a parting shot at the charging svirfneblin as it retreated back into the pile of cast-off metal and broken tools. Its aim was off, however, as Baern had not yet drawn near enough to be struck. So great was the pounding of the barbarian's feet that it confounded the ooze's tremorsense.

Baern and Frack, you may each take Opportunity Attacks as the ooze retreats. It will have 3/4 cover for the purposes of these attacks, as it is already partway submerged again.

Baern's ire had abated, and with it some of the heft of his swing, but Bessie's head still carried a weight all of its own and when it found its mark it left an impression.

Reckless attack hits AC 25 for 11 damage

18:02, Today: Baern Snagglehorn rolled 11 using 1d10+4.  Damage. – 11
18:02, Today: Baern Snagglehorn rolled 25 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only.  Attack. – 25

The ooze could not retreat quickly enough to escape Baern's wrench. Bessie struck the creature a killing blow, causing it to explode in a burst of black ichor that sizzled on every surface it touched, including the gnome's skin. The only thing spared was Bessie herself, whose steel surface shone as brightly as ever after Baern wiped it clean of acid.

Baern, you take three acid damage.

Muted clapping arose from the Remnants, more of whom had joined the crowd by hanging out of what passed for the windows of their hovels. A few barefooted children whooped and cheered. The most intrepid of them made immediately for the hopefully-no-longer-ooze-ridden junk pile and began digging through it. Their daring was rewarded with large scraps of metal and sturdy wood, passable tools, and in one child's case the head of an automaton, wires still dangling from its neck.

"Thank you," the tiefling said, showing a hint of emotion for the first time. "This will be a great boon for our village. My home is as humble as you imagine, but if you need a place to rest up and bandage your burns, you are welcome to it. When you are ready, I can show you the way to the bone pile you seek."

"Yeah, alright," Baern said, wiping his brow with the back of his wrist. "I reckon that would be fine." He looked to his companions for general concurrence, but after watching Frack take a felling blow in the midst of the encounter he imagined there would be scant objection.

Frack winced when he saw the black slime explode, but was relived to find Baern had withstood its final act. The spattering of applause brought with it the realization that they were being watched, so he re-tightened his apron in front of him to make sure he was covered (at least as far as he knew). In spite of his clothing predicament, he was able to find joy in the spirited children as they washed over the junk pile. It reminded him of his own youthful days combing through the scraps near his home. Instinctively, he scanned the pile himself, seeing a few good treasures that the children had so far missed. While tempted to pocket one or two items for himself, scavenger law (while unwritten) was abundantly clear on this point: no visitor to the pile had a right to anything found there. That included the hilt of his own trusty scimitar, which he spotted on the pile where he had previously fumbled it. "Gonna miss you trusty scimitar, but maybe one of these kids will find you. You'd still be good for a door handle. Or maybe some kind of candle holder."

He nodded in agreement with Baern as he accepted the tiefling's hospitality. Once on their way, he couldn't help but ask "Is there any place here that can repair my armor? And how much would it be for a goblin-sized pair of pants?"

Procz gave a half-smile as they succeeded, to scattered applause. He watched the local scavengers enter the junk pile in search of valuables; although that word was not really descriptive. No one should by necessity have to live off junk. In a well-functioning society there should be enough for everyone. As a constable, his job was to make sure no one took what was not theirs, but he was painfully aware that there were people receiving more than their share within the confines of the law as well.

He gave his companions a nod and climbed up on Zúm to follow the tiefling home.

Vecaal was nonplussed by the applause, for it meant others that might have helped had simply been sitting there watching them, as though they were the daily entertainment.  It was denigrating, and the dragonborn harrumphed through his toothy snout as he shook his head.  Crunching past the youngsters scurrying toward the freshly opened scavenge pile, he nodded toward Baern.

"Yeah, all right.  Let's get our crusader some pants," he agreed, slightly rolling his eyes at Frack's predicament.

Kreo approached Frack, unbuckling his dagger belt and holding the weapon out to the goblin

"Good sir, I've this for self-defense in a pinch, perhaps it would better serve you for now?"

He looked around at his companions

"Anyone need the help of the working man before we move along?"

Frack straightened in surprise, first at being called good sir, and then doubly so upon understanding Kreo's offer.

"Thank you. I- I don't really know what to say. People don't usually give me nice things. May Tyr smile upon you!"

He pulled the belt as tight as it would go and drew the weapon, making a few pantomime jabs with it.

ooc: Frack will gladly take your free dagger, Kreo. thank you for the offer!!!