Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

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OGRE MAGE
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Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#1 Post by OGRE MAGE »

The Ethereal Job

Grimble tries to answer questions as fast as he can while the initial swim in the floyd begins.

"I can't say what we might encounter in the floyd, but whatever you see, just hang on and keep moving along with the group. DONT let go of the pack."

"Oh, and weapons work a little differently in here too."
He lets two daggers float, pushing one into the other that passes right through the suddenly insubstantial item. "This is going to take a little getting used to if you've never been in here before."

While you look around, you see distant shapes that appear to pass right through each other as they float about in the mist as well, indicating that any nonliving matter becomes completely insubstantial on this weird pink plane.

Then he answers Feanol. "I can't say exactly, as magic was Syd's forte. But some of his spells worked differently in here, and others didnt work at all. And some of our magic items are wonky in here too. I can't say what yours will do. I guess we will have to all learn as we go."

Floating around in the weightless pink soup takes a bit of equilibrium adjustment for Prime Plane dwellers such as yourselves, as is immediately evident by how many members in the party lose their recently eaten breakfast. While Maag, Theo, and Torbath seem to adjust without incident, Feanol, Amun, Andron, and Alordan all become too queasy to stop their natural bodily function, suddenly barfing uncontrollably. All but Feanol are quick enough to remove their helmet bladders before filling them with puke, instead adding their projectile bile into the pink soup, where it floats around in suspension with the rest of the solids moving around. :?

Grumble sees this and stops his spinning, helping Feanol clean the vomit from her bladder. "Good thing ya didn't have that parrot in there, eh?"

After taking a few more minutes to clean and adjust, Grimble pulls out what looks like a strange pocket watch, looking at it carefully before gathering everyone around. He then pulls out a metal device that reminds you of a child's pinwheel, holding it out in front of him with one hand. "Okay everyone, it's time to go."

There doesn't seem to be any ill effects from removing the helmets in the pink soup, though the gnomes keep theirs secured tightly around their heads all the same.

Actions?

For this run, I will require either a STR or DEX roll at [4d6], whichever you prefer to use. This will indicate how well you can stay with the pack as you move. We will start with one roll each, and deal with any failures as they arise.

Alordan AC3 22/22
Torbath (M3) AC8 18/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1 (top of backpack/inside helmet) Comet AC:7 4/4]
Aliendron AC10 17/17 (CL4) 1st 5/5 2nd 4/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1
Feanol (MU3) AC:10 14/14 RM, CL, DM 4/4 1st 2/2 2nd
Theo AC:5 13/13 (Sword)
Amun (F3) AC:2 33/33
Magg AC4 20/20

ravenn4544
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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#2 Post by ravenn4544 »

Alordan wipes the puke off his face with his sleeve and keeps on 'swimming'. Thankful he wasn't the only one to puke. Even more thankful he wasn't Feanol...

Dex (18) [4d6]=15

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Jernau35
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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#3 Post by Jernau35 »

Maag

"Nevermind fellas. At least der puke probably makes der masks smell better", says Maag with a grin.

Hard Dex Check (Dex 18) [4d6]=11
Chance of being Suprised: 33%

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#4 Post by Quonundrum »

Andronichishche
Image

He mentally checks off Physiological Test #46: Alien vomit tasts just as bad as half-elf vomit. Despite the sudden loss of gastric control, his agility was up to the task.

Dexterity (8): [4d6]=8

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gurusql
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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#5 Post by gurusql »

Torbath

Torbath makes sure he stays with the group (to the best of his abilities) and uses his 7' staff to reach for a character near him that drifts off.

4d6 Check against DEX (16) - [_4d6]=(3+2+4+6)=15

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#6 Post by Ahlmzhad »

Feanol

Finds this whole thing disgusting, but not sure what to do but press on. Ignores the jokes pushed her way, checks off that her weapons are even now more useless than usual, and is still wondering if she'll be able to do anything in here but vomit and die.

Dex Check 4D6 vs 11: [4d6]=11

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#7 Post by jemmus »

Theo does his best to stay with the moving group. It's a little like that bad dream kids have, where they desperately need to run, but can't make their legs move. He considers the implications of non-living objects being intangible. It's seems like it's like having no sword, no bow, no helm, no armor, he says. Just one's body for attack and defense.

Strength [4d6]=13
PCs

Dust to Dust (Stars Without Number) - Circuit Counsel Taavi Perttu
Big Shiny Island (AD&D 1E) - Theo, low charisma ranger
Samurai Adventures (Cold Iron) - Kiyoshi, ronin bushi
WW2 Supers d6 - Luther "Luke" Goodfox

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#8 Post by sastaz »

Amun grits her teeth and changes strategy, now relying on brute force to stay on course. Somehow, with a lot of effort and sweat it all works out. Being somewhat used to smelling bad, the stench of puke does not disturb her too much, the disorientation in space still does somehow.

STR roll (18): [4d6]=11

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#9 Post by OGRE MAGE »

The Ethereal Job

Gathering together in a thick clump, Grimble holds the magic pinwheel out and the group takes off with a lurch. The speed in which you travel through the pink mist is increased at least tenfold, allowing the huddled party to zip through the floyd much faster than one could alone. Locking arms and protecting the weaker members by huddling them towards the middle of the pack seems to work initially.

You see shapes, forms, and shadow in the distance that reminds you of certain features you have seen before on your prime plane.
IMG_1911.jpeg
IMG_1911.jpeg (57.23 KiB) Viewed 18930 times

As you speed along, darting this way and that to avoid larger obstacles, you realize that you are all now at the mercy of these two gnomes if you ever want to leave this place again, as you no longer have any idea where you are. Looking down, you spot what appears to be a city, with humanoid shapes milling about, heading towards massive colorful swirling eddies that float in mid air.
IMG_1912.jpeg
IMG_1912.jpeg (36.8 KiB) Viewed 18930 times

Pressing ever onward through the pink, the weaker members are still holding strong, until the inevitable happens. Theo’s strength eventually wanes enough to make him lose his grip on the pack traveling at full speed. Once he slips, his friends have only seconds to secure him before he floats off into the void all alone.

Actions!

If any of you, including Theo, can pass a [5d6] Str or Dex check, Theo can be secured once again. If not…….. :twisted:

Alordan AC3 22/22
Torbath (M3) AC8 18/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1 (top of backpack/inside helmet) Comet AC:7 4/4]
Aliendron AC10 17/17 (CL4) 1st 5/5 2nd 4/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1
Feanol (MU3) AC:10 14/14 RM, CL, DM 4/4 1st 2/2 2nd
Theo AC:5 13/13 (Sword)
Amun (F3) AC:2 33/33
Magg AC4 20/20

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#10 Post by Quonundrum »

Andronichishche
Image

He manages to grab Theo by a sleeve, but his grip is violently torn off, almost causing a friction burn on his hand.

Strength (8): [5d6]=19

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#11 Post by sastaz »

Amun reaches for Theo as well, and manages to hold on for a few seconds, but the current is too strong, even for the ripped barbarian. Too late, Amun realizes that a rope or more hands would have been necessary. No woman is an island.

"Get him someone, we're losing him!"

Very hard STR check (18): [5d6]=23
Last edited by sastaz on Mon Sep 18, 2023 4:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#12 Post by ravenn4544 »

Alordan quickly reacts and reaches out - but only to miss Theo and set himself spinning in the pink void!

Dex (18) [5d6]=24

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#13 Post by Jernau35 »

Maag

Despite the strange surroundings making distances hard to measure, Maag makes a confident swipe at Theo as he goes by...and misses completely.

Very Hard Dex Check (Dex 18) [5d6]=25
Chance of being Suprised: 33%

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#14 Post by jemmus »

Theo strains to grab the kindly offered hands-- but fails. As he drifts off in the floyd void, he offers up a prayer. "Saint Cuthbert, if I can get my feet back on firm earth again, I'll never again mentally complain about anything. Getting fed on by a million bugs at once, snorkeling through swamp water, weird creatures' dung houses, getting blown up in a strange metal ship-- anything."

Str 13 Str 13 [5d6]=22
Last edited by jemmus on Mon Sep 18, 2023 1:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
PCs

Dust to Dust (Stars Without Number) - Circuit Counsel Taavi Perttu
Big Shiny Island (AD&D 1E) - Theo, low charisma ranger
Samurai Adventures (Cold Iron) - Kiyoshi, ronin bushi
WW2 Supers d6 - Luther "Luke" Goodfox

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#15 Post by gurusql »

Torbath

Torbath vainly attempts to raise out his staff to Theo, but Theo is not able to grab it in time.

5d6 Check against DEX (16) - [_5d6]=(6+3+3+4+4)=20

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#16 Post by OGRE MAGE »

Can Feanol be the hero here?

Not looking good, but stranger things have happened.
:mrgreen:

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#17 Post by Ahlmzhad »

Feanol

Hoping she doesn't lose her own grip she tries to hook him back in with her foot. But, misses the mark.

Hard Dex Check 5d6: [5d6]=24

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#18 Post by OGRE MAGE »

The Ethereal Job

Despite the best efforts of his friends who tried to help him hang on, Theo loses his grip on the pack and begins floating off into the Ethereal vastness all alone. The group speeds away quickly, watching the clean but still homely ranger become a shadow, then just a speck bobbing in the pink soup.

Grimble must sense a fluctuation in the groups weight, turning his head around quickly to see what’s happened. When he finds someone’s missing, he starts to shout very loudly, his voice echoing through your head bubbles.

“SON OF A…….I TOLD YOU ALL TO HANG ON TIGHTLY! THIS IS NOT GOOD! THIS IS NOT GOOD! CAN YOU GET ON WITHOUT HIM? IS HE IMPORTANT TO YOUR GROUP?”

Grumble speaks for once in response. “No! No way! Don’t even think about going back for him!”

Grimble gets even more frustrated. “IF WE GO BACK FOR HIM, IT MIGHT BE THE END OF ALL OF US! DO WE JEOPARDIZE OUR SAFE RETURN FOR THE SAKE OF ONE HUMAN? MAKE YOUR DECISION AND MAKE IT FAST!”

Grumble grumbles. “Noooooo! It’s suicidal! Think of the needs of the many!”

Actions!

Alordan AC3 22/22
Torbath (M3) AC8 18/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1 (top of backpack/inside helmet) Comet AC:7 4/4]
Aliendron AC10 17/17 (CL4) 1st 5/5 2nd 4/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1
Feanol (MU3) AC:10 14/14 RM, CL, DM 4/4 1st 2/2 2nd
Amun (F3) AC:2 33/33
Magg AC4 20/20












Theo AC:5 13/13 (Sword)
;)

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#19 Post by jemmus »

Uncharismatic ranger Theo, seeing himself rapidly drifting away from the group, thinks fast. He grabs his coin purse with its exactly 20 gold and 13 silver from his pack and gives it a mighty hurl toward Aliendron. A little too mightily, because he also accidentally passes gas. Which is audible to everyone through the squid mask things. He smiles sheepishly, says Whoops, waves his hand, and disappears.
For the coin purse throw. THAC0 20 [1d20]=9 Not the improbable but dramatic ending I was hoping for.... :)
PCs

Dust to Dust (Stars Without Number) - Circuit Counsel Taavi Perttu
Big Shiny Island (AD&D 1E) - Theo, low charisma ranger
Samurai Adventures (Cold Iron) - Kiyoshi, ronin bushi
WW2 Supers d6 - Luther "Luke" Goodfox

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Re: Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

#20 Post by sastaz »

A sweating Amun, shaken by what's just taken place, swims close and grabs Grimble by the shoulders, looking him straight into his eyes.

"Why isn't it possible? Why not, you stupid bastard?"

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