IC: Dichotomy's Age of Worms Redux, Part IV

[Dichotomy]

Allustan listens intently to the story. He makes no interruptions or queries as he waits patiently for the elf to finish. When Erdolliel retrieves the egg, the sage wordlessly examines it for what feels like an extremely long couple of minutes.

"This is not a black dragon egg, as it might appear superficially. I have not seen the like before, but, given what you have told me, I have a conjecture. I do not believe the conjecture is far-fetched. I hypothesize Kyuss worms are growing within that egg. I speculate that, if you had not intervened, or if the egg had been broken open, the worms would have infected all of the lizardfolk eggs in that lair. I further speculate, based upon what the lizardfolk Hishka told you, that the reason an entire generation of their tribe was lost was because this same thing was attempted before."

Allustan pauses a moment to think. "There are too many implications of this for me to reach a sound conclusion, at least yet. However, first things first. Bazrim, are you able to set this thing aflame? Your ball of fire would not be necessary, but bolts would do. Can you guess why?"
[sblock=worthley]Know Arc check: 19+, success

Bazrim, with the assumption that there are worms inside and with Allustan's hint, thinks that the burnt worms would make a paste. Someone with craft feats could make the paste into items that can be used to fight or otherwise deal with Kyuss Spawn. I can give you details later.[/sblock]

 

[worthley]

Bazrim responds, puffing out his chest and giving a glance back at Erdolliel. "I suppose that burning the contents would make them a useable ingredient in some sort of paste, or weapon coating in fighting off these spawns of Kyuss." He looks back at Erdolliel. "Would you like to hold the egg while I dispose of the worms, great and fearless hero?"

 

[Dichotomy]

Allustan responds to Kushnak's query. "I have to admit that I find the politics of Diamond Lake distasteful. However, my understanding is that the mine managers have begun making moves, particularly Smenk and Dourstone, both against each other and against the other managers in general. It would seem that your... foray into the Dourstone mine did not go unnoticed. I did want to make a point of mentioning that there are certainly people in this town that would like to see you dead. While, as you know, they have the resources of common thugs, they are also able to bring in more formidable opposition, if they truly strive so. You may take your chances if you wish, however, I am willing to put you up in my spare space. It would be... cozy. However, you would be safe, as I am, shall we say, above the fray in Diamond Lake."

The sage turns back to Bazrim and Erdolliel. "Outside, please. I imagine that it might make a bit of a stench."

 

[o3caudata]

"We should get be for a fight?" Eskard half-shouts, choking on his own words, as he pulls his gigantic sword from his back and faces the door.

"Stupid people.... should know better." he mutters to himself through a wide grin.

 

[Dichotomy]

"Ah, no need to get ahead of yourself, friend," Allustan says kindly to the eager half-orc. "In fact, they DO know better, which is why you'll be safe if you stay here.

"In any case," the sage continues, "You can deal with the egg at a later time. Given all that you have told me, Erdolliel, and I do greatly thank you all again for your assistance, I must conclude that there is something much deeper going on. At the very least, there has been a plot... hatching, so to speak, since the last generation of lizardfolk met their ill fate. What have you to say, Marzena, since it was your contact that led me to ask these good folk to accompany me to Blackwall Keep?"

Marzena shrugs at gives what information she has. Unfortunately, while her information would have been news a couple of weeks ago, at this point it is nothing that you hadn't learned already. But her information confirms what has already been suspected: Spawn of Kyuss are increasing in number in the entire region of the Cairn Hills.

Allustan looks dismayed as he turns back to the party. "I have an old friend in the Free City. We... studied under the same master for a time. He is a sage named Eligos. He has a special knowledge of strange monsters and the like. If you could connect with him, tell him what you have seen, show him the things you have found, and bring him my complied notes, I suspect that he can more accurately determine what sort of threat we face and how it can best be countered. There is nothing that I could personally tell him that my notes could not convey, and I would like to keep my own study here. I also have a vested interest in keeping an eye on the goings on in Diamond Lake."

You note that Marzena listens quietly, however her head tilts a moment at the mention of the "master" under which Allustan and Eligos studied. It may be a coincidence, but it almost seems like the battlemage's eyes glanced in the direction of the frozen dragonchess game. But Allustan either does not notice, or pays it no heed.

"Can you do this for me?"
[sblock=OOC]I'd REALLY appreciate it if you guys would at least pretend to still have interest. If you want me to do something else, let me know. It is disheartening when you don't even CHECK the boards once a day. (Yes, Ti might not have access. Does worthley or m_n have an excuse?)[/sblock]

 

[o3caudata]

Eskard sheepishly puts his sword away and sulks to the back of the group.

At first mention of the Free City, his head snaps up and he chimes "That's where we were going before. The Free City."

 

[TiCaudata]

Erdolliel makes an appropriately inappropriate gesture at Bazrim and says nothing else about the egg.

Noticing Marzena's glance Erdolliel nonchalantly walks over and examines the dragonchess board. "The Free City is where we have been trying to get to for awhile now... This game, Dragonchess? I haven't ever played it, is it difficult to learn?[sblock=oc]yup yup, just got done driving 1400 or so miles of a 1500 mile trip, with a stop at a house with no internet in between. Should be able to get online the rest of the weekend, and then not on monday or tuesday again. I'll check to see if those two deign to check the boards. or we could just have a dragonchess game in the meantime...[/sblock]

 

[worthley]

"Well, whatever we decide, it's probably best to neutralize this egg and not risk it causing any harm to us." Bazrim then takes the egg outside and disposes of the egg in the way that Allustan instructed, while the others converse on what the decision at hand. Bazrim uses this time to reassure himself that traveling to the Free City is what he wants to do.

 

[michael_noah]

Kushnak finally speaks up, "I am certainly more in favor of defined travel than wondering about the countryside looking for undead. If this sage can tell us where to start, that seems like a good thing. I suppose we will leave in the morning."

The half-orc makes his way to the yard to observe the paste-making, and assists Bazrim in gathering it into vials, all the while complaining, "If they could have sent the army in to do their own job in the first place, we'd have already been to the city and back. You'd think a mage could just send a message to his old friend, given that he's too much a fool to know this stuff himself..."

 

[Dichotomy]

"Very good," Allustan looks pleased as the group takes on his request. "I will endeavor to make your stay tonight as comfortable as I can."

Bazrim goes outside and is soon joined by Kushnak. The dwarf scorching rays the egg, and there is, indeed, soon a foul-smelling wet green-brown paste. The pair scoops it up while conversing, but Bazrim knows that, in order to really bring out its properties, more will need to be done to it.
[sblock=OOC]Specifics
There are two things you can make.
1. Kyuss Worm Paste: Can be applied like a lotion. Any Kyuss worm that touches it dies instantly. Full round action to apply paste; lasts 1 hour. You can also throw the paste at a Spawn of Kyuss, which, if it hits, will turn the creature into a normal zombie.
Requires craft wondrous item and neutralize poison.
2. Kyussbane Oil: can be applied to a weapon to give it the undead-bane property for 1 hour. Any Spawn of Kyuss or similar creature struck takes an additional 1d6 damage (on top of the undead bane).
Requires craft wondrous item and summon monster I.
There is enough paste from the egg to make any combination of 4 doses.

Oh, and that was meant to be a hint that Bazrim and Kushank can keep talking.[/sblock]
While those two are outside, Allustan responds to Erdolliel. "Dragonchess is not too difficult to learn, though it is quite intricate. Dragonchess," the sage explains, "is a metaphor for life and the forces that squabble for control of the world. Before you can win, you must know that you are playing the game at all."

With that cryptic phrase, Allustan actually moves to a shelf and pulls out a different board and set of pieces, leaving the game on the game on the mahogany board intact. "If you would like, I will just give you a primer on the rules of play, since, I assume, you do not have any skill with the game. If you want real training, however, you should seek out company at Lazare's House. I am merely a novice compared to many of the players there."
[sblock=OOC]Dragonchess is resolved by opposed Profession (gambler) skill checks. 5 or more ranks in Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate each provide +2 synergy bonuses. Unlike normal Profession skills, this can be done untrained.[/sblock]