Brains! Why'd It Have To Be Brains?

Posts : 900 Join date : 2008-08-22

Having interrogated Eglizio and followed his directions to a block of buildings recently purchased by Brinjin Hob and his Dragonborn Engineering professor, the gang promptly busted their way in. There they found a pit dug into the earth floor, leading down and into some sort of subterranean building deep beneath the streets of Goblintown.

Their first foe, a fearsome puddle of psychic ooze had Yatagan running halfway down the block in icy terror, but Penelope, Artichoke and Paetros managed to turn it into jelly by the time he found his way back.

Following a bending hallway, they entered a room guarded by three fairly aggressive disembodied brains floating in jars. Minds were dominated and friends turned into foes. Now two of the jars are shattered and only one brain remains.

"Can't we make a deal?" it cries out telepathically, as Yatagan, tired of his mind being used against him, strikes it with his axe.

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OOC: Shil, who's after Yatagan?

Mike and Ed: Lizzy is currently back at the mansion, but knows where the crew are and can join them any time. Fagin is in the house above stroking the mysterious cat, which is starting to slightly spook the others with its interest in the adventurers' pursuits.

Posts : 1078 Join date : 2008-08-21

gridley wrote:: OOC: Shil, who's after Yatagan?

The brain goes next.

Posts : 900 Join date : 2008-08-22

shilsen wrote:

gridley wrote:: OOC: Shil, who's after Yatagan?

The brain goes next.

The brain seizes control of Yatagan. You lot go ahead with your turns. Yatagan, please charge Artichoke.

Posts : 1428 Join date : 2008-08-22

Yatagan charges Artichoke, bellowing. The especially slack look on the paladin's face is hidden by his ill-fitting skull helmet.

OOC: 23 to hit Artichoke, 15 damage, made save.

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The member 'Mallus' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'd20' : 6

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#2 'd10' : 4

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#3 'd20' : 11

Posts : 1078 Join date : 2008-08-21

"Damn it, Yatagan - stop doing that!" Artichoke growls irritably, shaking his arm at the impact of the paladin's axe smashing into his shield. Turning his attention to the brain, he adds, "And mind-controlling him again isn't the way to persuade us to stop!"

Artichoke swings his sword at the jar the brain is in, but the attack just bounces off. Behind him, Penelope raises her bow and fires a pair of arrows at it too, with more success.

OOC: Artichoke attacks with Force Retreat (natural 1). Penelope uses Twin Strike (hits AC 27 and 37 for 17 pts and 22 pts of damage)

Artichoke - AC 27, Fort 24, Ref 27, Will 22; 54/86 hp

Penelope - AC 26, Fort 21, Ref 26, Will 21

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The member 'shilsen' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'd20' : 1

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#2 'd8' : 3

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#3 'd20' : 19, 9

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#4 'd12' : 12, 7

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#5 'd6' : 6, 4

Posts : 799 Join date : 2008-08-21

"Brains is being in glass tanks should not being throwing of stones," Pætros admonishes, waggling a finger. "Indeed, should be SURRENDERING NOW! BEFORE IS BEING CHOPPED UP AND FED TO HOLY PIG!"

OOC: Intimidate, with the aid of Shroud of Awe: 26

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The member 'Rolzup' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'd20' : 6

Posts : 900 Join date : 2008-08-22

shilsen wrote:: Artichoke swings his sword at the jar the brain is in, but the attack just bounces off. Behind him, Penelope raises her bow and fires a pair of arrows at it too, with more success.

Both arrows pierce the glass. The jar is leaking fast now. The brain presses itself against the holes to stop the leaks.

Rolzup wrote:: "Brains is being in glass tanks should not being throwing of stones," Pætros admonishes, waggling a finger. "Indeed, should be SURRENDERING NOW! BEFORE IS BEING CHOPPED UP AND FED TO HOLY PIG!"

"Yes!" says the brain loudly in your minds. "I surrender! I promise! Just don't kill me!"

Posts : 1078 Join date : 2008-08-21

gridley wrote:: Both arrows pierce the glass. The jar is leaking fast now. The brain presses itself against the holes to stop the leaks.

"Yes!" says the brain loudly in your minds. "I surrender! I promise! Just don't kill me!"

Artichoke catches his sword in mid-swing and quickly says to the others, "Hold your attacks - for the moment!"

Then he snaps at the brain, repeating the words mentally in case that matters, "We're listening. Talk quickly. What are you doing here? And what in the hells are you?" As he speaks, Artichoke tries to recall if he has ever encountered descriptions of this kind of creature in all his reading.

OOC: In case it helps, he gets a 30 in Arcana, 26 in History and 28 in Religion. And, of course, he has a readied attack in case of trouble.

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The member 'shilsen' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'd20' : 18

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#2 'd20' : 14

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#3 'd20' : 16

Posts : 900 Join date : 2008-08-22

shilsen wrote:: "We're listening. Talk quickly. What are you doing here? And what in the hells are you?" As he speaks, Artichoke tries to recall if he has ever encountered descriptions of this kind of creature in all his reading.

OOC: In case it helps, he gets a 30 in Arcana, 26 in History and 28 in Religion. And, of course, he has a readied attack in case of trouble.

Artichoke recalls reading a terrifying book about the medical experiments performed by Dragonborn scientists during their war with the Tieflings. It described how the brains of prisoners would be psychically augmented and then used as perimeter alarms and guardians.

"I'm..." says the disembodied brain, "I'm a digger. A good digger, I think. It's getting hard to remember my old life. I remember they day I married Cortenza. She had the biggest bottom of any girl in Goblintown. She made me so happy. I wonder if she remembers me."

The brain gurgles in your minds for a bit, as what's left of its preserving fluid gradually leaks out.

"Just about the last thing I remember is the day we dug into that secret room in the ground and found that metal Dragonborn warrior. My boss and I dragged that thing all the way to the university, figuring someone there would buy it off us. And one of them said he would, but I think he cheated us because I don't remember getting paid."

The brain's telepathic voice is getting softer in your minds. It sounds almost hoarse.

"I remember a saw and I remember sparks. I recall trying to run away and realizing that I had no legs. I remember being told to attack anyone who entered or else I'd be killed, but... I feel like maybe I'm already dead..."

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gridley wrote:: ... She had the biggest bottom of any girl in Goblintown. She made me so happy. I wonder if she remembers me."

Stifling a crocodile tear, Yatagan writes this down for future plagiarism.

Quote :: The brain gurgles in your minds for a bit, as what's left of its preserving fluid gradually leaks out.

OOC: is there any way we can catch some of the fluid/save the brain? With a little training, we could install it in a compartment beneath the collection box at the Temple of Treasure. After all, scams are sacred.

Quote :: "Just about the last thing I remember is the day we dug into that secret room in the ground and found that metal Dragonborn warrior. My boss and I dragged that thing all the way to the university, figuring someone there would buy it off us. And one of them said he would, but I think he cheated us because I don't remember getting paid."

"It must be the one in Hob's office! I simply adore detective work! So it looks like Gadrun's behind things after all. I'd jolly well like a crack at that metal man. I wonder what it ejaculates?"

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Mallus wrote:: OOC: is there any way we can catch some of the fluid/save the brain? With a little training, we could install it in a compartment beneath the collection box at the Temple of Treasure. After all, scams are sacred.

This must be done!

Mallus wrote:: "It must be the one in Hob's office! I simply adore detective work! So it looks like Gadrun's behind things after all. I'd jolly well like a crack at that metal man. I wonder what it ejaculates?"

Pætros throws him a look. "Is interesting priorities you is being having, dragon-pervert."

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Rolzup wrote:: Pætros throws him a look. "Is interesting priorities you is being having, dragon-pervert."

"Dragonborn must test their mettle. To see whose skill at arms is most puissant and whose ejaculate is most debilitating. It's the same among warriors of all races. Why I've even seen human gladiators have at it, down in the Quadrille, as I recall. Now there was too much grappling... and no weapons... in fact at times it seemed almost... affectionate... nevertheless, I know two warriors testing each other when I see it.

Just as I foresee myself coming to blows with Gadrun Hob's mechano-centurion."

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Mallus wrote:: OOC: is there any way we can catch some of the fluid/save the brain? With a little training, we could install it in a compartment beneath the collection box at the Temple of Treasure. After all, scams are sacred.

Rolzup wrote:: This must be done!

It's going to be so easy to justify why Artichoke disappears again!

Rolzup wrote:: Pætros throws him a look. "Is interesting priorities you is being having, dragon-pervert."

Artichoke thinks, Hmm - I see the 'Pope' and I sometimes agree. Sometimes. Mostly ignoring the byplay between his companions, he says to the brain, "So I presume you don't know anything about what's in these tunnels? Or who told you to attack whoever came in here? You evidently have the ability to sense something of those near you. Can you tell us anything about anyone who passed through here?"

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Mallus wrote:: OOC: is there any way we can catch some of the fluid/save the brain? With a little training, we could install it in a compartment beneath the collection box at the Temple of Treasure. After all, scams are sacred.

Of course! Let's make it a skill challenge. 4 successes, before 2 failures. Primary skills: Healing, Dungeoneering, Arcane. DC 25 for primary skills, DC 30 for secondary skills.

shilsen wrote:: "So I presume you don't know anything about what's in these tunnels? Or who told you to attack whoever came in here? You evidently have the ability to sense something of those near you. Can you tell us anything about anyone who passed through here?"

The brain is too weak to speak. It's just gurgling in your heads.

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gridley wrote:: Of course! Let's make it a skill challenge. 4 successes, before 2 failures. Primary skills: Healing, Dungeoneering, Arcane. DC 25 for primary skills, DC 30 for secondary skills.

Now I'm tempted to have Artichoke intentionally blow his skill checks : Twisted Evil

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shilsen wrote:

gridley wrote:: Of course! Let's make it a skill challenge. 4 successes, before 2 failures. Primary skills: Healing, Dungeoneering, Arcane. DC 25 for primary skills, DC 30 for secondary skills.

Now I'm tempted to have Artichoke intentionally blow his skill checks : :twisted:

Haha... fine by me.

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gridley wrote:: Haha... fine by me.

OOC: Excellent! It's time for a little payback for every time Artichoke had a plan or an idea and had to watch the ~~idiots~~ other PCs walk all over it.

IC: Artichoke studies the leaking brain for a moment and then says, "Looks like it's dying. Let me see what I can do about that." Before someone tries to take the bloody thing home with us! Reaching into his backpack, he produces and unrolls something the others have never seen him use before this - a roll of leather containing multiple lock-picks and other related tools. Picking out a couple of them, he begins to work at the glass.

Artichoke is actually doing his best to repair the glass. But he's smart enough to know this is an area where his skills are lacking, so even his best will likely not be good enough. And, sure enough, the leaking actually increases. Perfect!

OOC: Got a 20 on a Thievery check, so Failure 1.

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The member 'shilsen' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'd20' : 17

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Seeing the fluid leak out even faster, and the brain grow correspondingly weaker, Yatagan says in a cheerful and encouraging voice, "Come old man, you can do better than that!" He smiles monstrously at Artichoke, then bends down to place a palm on the fractured glass. "Hang in there my... umm ...son?". Yatagan passes a portion of his own life-force to the goblin brain.

OOC: Yatagan uses Lay on Hands and one Healing Surge.

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One success and one failure.

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gridley wrote:: One success and one failure.

OOC: I was waiting to see if John would post for Paetros, but since that's not the case, let's say Artichoke intentionally fluffs a Heal check to make it two failures.