"Horrors of the Red Cathexus!" Pathfinder Bodysnatcher campaign!

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One would follow the Fleshless' lead and attack with its new tentacles at the closest enemy, grapple it and attempt to constrict it to death while following the Fleshless so that they would stick together.

 

[Beckoncall]

3 of the spiders quickly moved into line with the fleshless, the gluttonous one standing beside taking another two on their front.

As the spiders came in the gluttonous one lashed out it's tentacles, but did not strike true. The fleshless, taking it's attacks of opportunity, landed a blow that nearly cleaved two of one of the spiders legs off. (5 damage)

The spiders retaliated, hitting the gluttonous one for 2 points of damage with a savage bite. The fleshless took a step back, but the spiders advanced. The gluttonous struck again, this time inflicting minimal damage but getting one of the spiders in it's grasp. The fleshless viciously attacked the spider that was injured, killing it with a second merciless thrust. (6 damage)

Pigot fired an arrow at one of the spiders before it had a chance to engage the fleshless a second time, softening it up some for the second charge of the spiders. when the spiders were done, the gluttonous one was bleeding blackish ooze from a number of tiny wounds. (7/12 hitpoints)

Between a well placed arrow and another lucky strike, pigot and the fleshless felled another spider... they moved carefully now, taking steps forward as their would-be quarry fell back.

The gluttonous one, having secured it's quarry, began to shake the very life out of one of the remaining 3 spiders... it clung to life weakly, and the gluttonous one would not be quick to let go.

Pigot dropped his bow and squared off with a spider beside the fleshless... killing another! In this time the spiders attempted their best to pouch and devour their enemies, but could not land a hit that was not brushed aside.

The gluttonous one burbled with a sick involuntary glee that came from the helpless spider in it's tendrils being wrung free of life. In the following round, the gluttonous one ensnared the last spider and missing it's own last chance to defend itself, was overwhelmed by the assembled foes.

Victory belonged to the beasts of the cathexus... but the glory was short lived. Appearing in the web above, the giant spider appeared, and prepared it's spinarettes to lay a web down upon the would-be victors of the cistern!

 

[Demonsoul]

The fleshless's prized prey was approaching and so it did an act that could be considered foolish to most, It jumped towards the spider and then the goblinoid form's head began to split open from the mouth and out of the mouth leaped the centipede that was the fleshless's true form. The fleshless sought to attach itself and burrow in to take control of the spider. As it leaped the remainder of the goblin body it had crashed down onto the ground like a liquid splashing and dissipating. If the fleshless's act failed it would be without a form though the giant crab spiders would serve as perfect biomass for a new goblin body to be made.

 

[Silvis]

The Devourer controlled Preet stepped forward. "Preet and others was attacked. Preet and that one give body for us return and fight! We back!" (Disguise) It hoped it's attempt at disguising as the hero was successful because if it wasn't the Choir Scout might get one chance at most before a fight broke out. If a fight did break out then win or lose these hosts would be mostly useless.

 

[SpiralErrant]

What?! Was this how they had thought they were going to go about it? Oh to interact with the foreign minds born outside of the pods, the scout should have been clearer in its own intentions. Slipping in as their hosts and melding back into their places in goblin society would have been so much easier. Well there was no helping it now, they were in this little scheme together. Fortunately all aspects of The Choir were showmen in their own way.

"Yeah." The Choir croaked, adopting what it thought sounded like a powerful goblin voice. It broadened its shoulders and stretched this hunched back to make it stand proud as it paced towards the sentry with all the brooding looks such an ugly ancient hero should give.

"Beasties and offerinses called us 'ere. Big spirits sayin' we gunna make goblins scary 'round here again." Well it wasn't entirly a lie in the spirit of the words, every liar knew it was best to sprinkle in some truth to add spice.

"You gunna take us to to chief now! We got big words for them."

Things were being played fast and loose but a raged plan was forming in the notes between the song. The scout gave a fleeting look to its compatriot, if this worked they just had to follow his lead.

(Join in DISGUISE attempt with Devourer.)

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

Upon the arrival of the giant spider, the Gluttonous One took his new bow and began to fire at the new arrival.

 

[Beckoncall]

The fleshless acrobatically flung itself at the spider above, letting it's form drop behind it -- missing spectacularly, the bloody centipede found itself in the web of the spider and potentially at risk of becoming ensnared there. The spider chittered it's mandibles, dripping with poison, and prepared to move in on the fleshless, being it's nearest victim.

It was then the gluttonous one pulled back his bow and unerringly struck the underbelly of the creature. Striking the center thorax the arrow nearly severed the spider in half! (natural 20, critical, damage 12!) Meanwhile, Pigot critically failed and nearly shot himself in the foot as if to accent the exact opposite of the gluttonous one's excellence.

In response to the grevious wound the spider flung it's silk behind it and pulled itself into the roofhole above, rocks and old webbing falling behind it, the fleshless took an attack of opportunity on the fleeing spider in a last-ditch attempt to snare it, but missed almost falling back into the cistern below. If one was to proceed to fight the spider, from this position it would be from in the precarious web, and if in melee one at a time.

The fleshless, blinded by excitement of the hunt, could not hear the swarm of tiny legs beginning to stir in the lair of the spider, but the gluttonous one did. A swarm was gathering of the giant spider's young, to defend the lair...


Meanwhile, the choir scout and Devourer used their powers to manipulate their appearance -- directly in front of the goblin they intended to fool. Horrified, the goblin loosed his dogs on the burbling-altering masses of goblin forms and ran from the barricades to get inside the goblin holdfast. There would be a fight!

(Choir and devourer vs. two goblin dogs)


At the same time, the philomathic ring encountered a glitch of sorts with controling his hosts eyeballs, nose, and ear functions. Losing the better part of his money on dice with his opponent, he quickly regained control of the hobgoblin before the host could subconsciously struggle to the level of shouting "HELP ME!" -- The ring pushed this thought down with a relaxing breath, feeling the terror of the host's limp and helpless spirit. It might be time to stop playing dice...

 

[Demonsoul]

The Fleshless was now in the spider's web, but it knew that it wasn't trapped, just merely slowed. It used this chance to reach a more favorable area and jumped into the cold water below. It then swam back to land and began to copy one of the crab spider body templates, it might not be ideal but if the Fleshless wanted to chase after its preferred prey it would need a body capable of climbing.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One barked orders at the lone living goblin "Make a fire!" He then took two of the explosives and wrapped them in his long arms. His root like arms then began to suck the moisture out of the explosives. The plan was to dry these bombs then ignite it using the goblin's flint and steel. Hopefully these two explosives would be enough to destroy the swarm swiftly. The cistern had to be secured to ensure the safety of the crystal.

 

[Seraph Darkfire]

With a grumble, Tildruk stood up and gave a stretch, working the kinks out of his body as the Ring attempted to get used to the motor functions. Then he turned and headed into the village. If asked, he'd claim to be getting something to eat with a simple "Food" as he walked passed the other two. It was the truth as well. He needed a large amount of nutrients for his future plans. The unique method of control of the Philomathic Ring was the creation of willing servants. However, it required an exorbitant amount of food to be consumed. The Ring created an egg of sorts inside of the host's brain. This egg would act in the same way as it did when it controlled a host, thin tendrils reaching into its brain and nervous system. After the Ring found a new host, this egg would ensure that the previous host would follow its orders loyally. Now it needed to find food, using the Hobgoblin's memories as well as his nose, it should be easy.

(Knowledge: Local, Perception)

 

[Beckoncall]

The fleshless crawled into one of the more... still intigrated... wolf spiders and it's bloody appendages filled in the holes and wounds, giving it a new form.

Pigot lit a torch and waved it at the gluttonous one, who was now holding two VIABLE explosives.

The spider swarm poured out of the ceiling hole and into the webs above the cistern...

 

[Beckoncall]

Tildruk knew without walking very far that he might be making a mistake -- abandoning his post as a guard before another guard came to relieve him might be a dangerous thing to do. Confronted by an Ogre officer, Tildruk, most eloquently -- said "food" (diplomacy 20) -- the area he entered was a fortress of some sort, with hobgoblins and bugbears camped all over. He made his way to the larder of the camp and helped himself to a large ribcage of some creature of dubious origin... and then another one after that.

Using his local knowledge and careful eye, Phil the ring quickly got a lay of the area before he'd be gone long enough to be missed. A level below he could see there was a great open cavern outside the hobgoblin fort built into the cavern-side -- there was a great garbage dump to the northeast of here, with signs that said "Beware traps! Beware Pugwampi!" though as far as he could see the rest of the cavern was a no-man's land -- a territory littered with the bodies of scores of skirmishes between warring humanoids... orcs, goblins, and all else he had seen.

"Tildruk! Back to post!" The ogre officer barked from the level above. Phil the ring would need to decide what his next steps would be...

 

[Demonsoul]

The previously damaged corpse of a small spider, small in terms of giant spiders, compared to actual spiders it was massive. Rose up slowly, its wounds gushing out red blood like that of humans, not arachnids. Quickly its whole body was dyed red in blood that dripped to the ground an dissipated like acid but no smell emanated from this blood. With the low intelligence of spiders, the swarm should now ignore the creature that has occupied one of the corpses after all the corpse still had the pheromones of spiders attached to it, and these spiders were clearly communal spiders and while communal spiders don't work together like ant colonies, they tend to not attack their fellow spiders.

This bloody spider in all its camouflage began climbing the walls, it sought out the giant spider, its preferred body template, and it wouldn't let this chance of its prey whos so weakened slip by. The Fleshless would chase this spider down and kill it, its fangs were ready for a powerful assault on this prey. (Disguise against the swarm, shouldn't be too hard considering the Int of the spiders is 0, Perception to find, Stealth to get in close, Power attack on attack)

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One handed one of the dried explosives to the goblin and said "If you wish to live and not be food, throw it at the swarm of spiders. Burn them all!" He then brought to fuse of the explosive that he held and ignited it on the torch. He aimed up at the ceiling where the swarm was pouring out of and threw. Then took a few steps back (5 feet) to escape from the inevitable explosion.

 

[Beckoncall]

The bombs stuck to the web by the ceiling as it rapidly filled with the spider swarm. The blasts did significant damage to the swarm, and without the web to hold them anymore the few that remained fell into the cistern and were sucked down by the current.

The fleshless one scaled the walls between the waterfalls and made its way along the ceiling towards the lair-hole of the giant spider... it could sense the spider was crouched low and prepared to strike, but the fleshless advanced carefully and stealthfully, so as to get the first strike.

Normally it would not be a match between spiders of such different sizes, but this spider was weakened by it's arrow wound, and a black ichor stained the tunnel walls. The fleshless lunged into the hole from it's position on the ceiling and utterly obliterated the head of the giant spider, smashing it in it's mandibles in a single bite.

The battle was over. Peace reigned again in the cistern, this time it was clear of opposition.

In the distance, Phil the ring heard the faint noise of the bomb-blasts and returned to his posts. The other hobgoblin and bugbear were not eager to investigate...

 

[Demonsoul]

From the lair of the giant spider crawled down a recognizable crimson spider, this time about twice the size it was when it crawled up. Finally the fleshless had a suitable body, now it simply needed to be stronger, so that it may change to a stronger form. Once it reached the water's edge it created a net out of webbing like that of an ogre spider. and using the net drew up the Cathexus. Such a precious object was too vital to leave sitting in the water. The Fleshless began bringing it up to the giant spider's previous lair but stopped. "Where shall we keep the Cathexus, it is our link to this world and thus we need to protect it, but it also has powers it may grant us, though I know not what." The Fleshless spoke in the tongue of elder things towards the Gluttonous One.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One nodded at the handiwork that the two explosives did. He said to the goblin "Good. Continue to serve us, and you will yet live to see another day and that much stronger." The Gluttonous One tended to the injuries of its current form, and the injuries sustained by the giant spider. Then it donned the donned the leather armor of the former form of the Fleshless one. Finally, it piled the corpses of the fallen, and covered them in a... preserving mucus. The Gluttonous liked his food fresh, as most things do. But even the others would likely prefer fresh hosts rather than half rotten ones. Finally, he then dried the last two explosives. With these matters set, the Gluttonous One then said "I do not see much concern in leaving it in the water. It is barely perceptible... if you are concerned, then take the liberty to cover it in spider silk so that no light will be seen." He then walked over to the east and south paths, and tried to see if he could determine anything about where these paths may lead. (Knowledge Dungeoneering Check)

 

[Demonsoul]

The Fleshless set the Cathexus back in the water trying to get it as deep as possible. The giant red spider then looked deep into each of the tunnels the Gluttonous One was checking in order to spot any immediate traits of the tunnels. The spider then quickly covered the water with a large blanket of non sticky webbing over the cistern leaving holes for any future horrors to be able to escape but covering it enough that even the faint light from the bottom of the water would be blocked. The spider then went onto the wall and began keeping a watchful vigil to be ready to defend the Gluttonous One. (Perception to notice immediate tunnel features.)

 

[SpiralErrant]

Well so much for salvaging this. The Scout sighed within the bored out flesh it had made its home. This is what it got for going along with the blunt approach. The dogs were charging fast and it felt very uncertain that this goblin body could be of much help in this fight. Still if this whole camp was going to be a botch then it may as well make escaping as easy as possible. With a fencing stance that only an insect could understand it drew its sword and stabbed at the oncoming mutt.

(Draw weapon and attack goblin hound. +5 modifier from short sword and weapon finesse feat.)

 

[Seraph Darkfire]

"Going to check" the ring said to his more cowardly associates. It was better anyway, it could interact with the others without interruption. Besides, it could also use the excuse that if there was danger, it was better to know than get beaten for not warning anyone.

Besides, even an intellectual as he had some bloodthirsty thoughts. It certainly wasn't going to hide around while the others did all the work.

 

[Beckoncall]

The fleshless and the gluttonous one scouted the areas to the east and south... quickly the area to the east was filled to width with water from the cistern that seemed to go down into rapids and a series of tiny falls. The fleshless, with perception, could see a number of small sharks swimming in pools at various steps in the river... swimming against the ever increasing current down into darkness.

To the south, rough-hewn stone halls revealed a crumbled passageway, with holes above and below with an open archway beyond. Above was some kind of room they could access via a crack in the ceiling, below there was a large hole filled with rubble that revealed a tomb of some kind, and the archway beyond was too far to see, except for extinct torch-holders on either side of pillars just inside.

GHOULS were hiding in the tomb below -- the fleshless could see their little red eyes peering up at them. in the archway beyond one could hear the sound of rodents of considerable size...

 

[Beckoncall]

Meanwhile, at the goblin barricade, the dogs were loosed on the devourer and the choir scout.

Missing their attacks of opportunity, the dogs pounced. One of them grabbing the devourer's goblin and picking it up off the ground and shaking him -- nearly killing him outright.

Attacking again the goblins missed, this time the choir scout getting bit -- doing comparably grevious wounds.

(dogs unharmed devourer at 5 hp, choir at 2 hp) -- please advise...

 

[Beckoncall]

Philomathic ring hobgoblin arrives in the Cistern of skulls!

 

[Beckoncall]

CATHEXUS POWER UNLOCKED: HEALING

You can now heal at the cathexus as long as you have killed at least one creature.

 

[Demonsoul]

The crimson weaver began to produce non sticky web to be used in creating fabric. "For when we head away from the cistern we will need storage, I would appreciate 8 small pouches, one on each of my legs. Once we have storage we can hunt the goblins, we need to enslave them, and we need to be stronger to face the opponents in the other paths. Also, with our new power of the Cathexus, we need to reevaluate whether or not to take the Cathexus with us. Newcomer, I need your input as well."

The bloody spider handed its webs to the Gluttonous One so that they may use their tendrils to weave the webs into pouches. "I hope I may learn some alchemy from the goblins." If the spider could make facial expressions a devious smile would be grinning. "Pigot will assist us against his tribe if he wishes to survive."