Chapter 1: Welcome to Stonespear Province

[GreyWolfVT]

Galot politely waits and listens as the others talk to these subterranean people.

[Pulpatoon]

Operation: Unfathomable! Day Two; late afternoon

The party lingers, curious to see what miracles the science fungoids might offer, while the wedding procession heads east. They assure you that they will return to this spot by early the next day, if you would like to meet up with them again.

As you approach the fungoids, the demonic-mantis creature looks put out of sorts by your arrival. It abruptly ends its conversation and disappears in a puff of sulfur-yellow smoke.

One of the science fungoids offers a communications-puff, but then realizes that you have already been exposed (well, except for Anurak and Krodok, whom I assume don't mind being exposed to the spores at this juncture). He greets you joyfully. "How felicitous! How absolutely perfectly suited to the present requirements! You are humans, are you not? Of course you are, I'me getting quite familiar with the genus! We are what the local sentient fauna refer to as 'Science Fungoids.' Specifically, we are representative instances of the Human Studies division of Fungoid Science Command, headquartered in a magnificent facility down the Black Ooze River. And we just so happen to be involved in an absolutely significant study of the effects of certain spores on human physiology. We've had an unusually high number of specimens pass through in recent weeks, and the findings have been beyond exciting! Can we count on your help in furthering the frontiers of knowledge?"

If anyone wishes to volunteer, they are first asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Then they are asked to pick any of the spectacular growths in the fungal garden behind the science fungoids and "give it a hearty jostle," so that it will release spores.

One of the mushroom men holds up a box. "In exchange, we will give you this—six antipersonnel puffball fungi. Very dangerous. We recommend using these only against distant enemies."

Anyone wishing to experiment, please roll a d6 and a d8.

ACTIONS!
Next update: Wednesday evening, EST!

[Nate]

Gurzubar picks a fluorescent speckled growth from the garden and shakes it at his arm stump and waits for a miracle.
[1d6] = 2
[1d8] = 4

[Captain Kinkajou]

Anurak

Anurak lingers at the junction and watches a little forlornly as the wedding procession heads off to the east. He's torn between his comrades and his charming new friends. In truth, he's infinitely more enamoured of the latter but somehow doesn't quite manage to leave with them. He's not sure why exactly. Indecision or at least inability to take decisive action perhaps.

As Yoothrandra and Scrupuulthiat pass out of sight, Anurak gives them a pathetic, hopeful kind of wave and calls out after them "See you back here tomorrow. Don't be late."

He stays there for a few more moments, staring in the direction the procession departed in like a lost little puppy, and then despondently shuffles over to join the group with the science fungoids. He arrives just in time to catch a waft of communication spores and hear that the science fungoids have been observing an unusually high number of human specimens passing through the caves of late. Say, maybe they might know something, he thinks. He tries to summon up some enthusiasm and get involved but it's hard now that he doesn't have Yoothrandra and Scrupuulthiat to chatter to about cuisine. He glances off to the east again. Why didn't he go with them?

Then he turns back to the science fungoids.

"So, what do you guys eat?" he asks them hopefully. "Do you have any favourite recipes?"

ooc: Anurak isn't really in the mood to volunteer for experimentation. Unless things get ugly his initial reactions would be to avoid and then politely decline the offer.

[GreyWolfVT]

Galot gives the puffball fungi a curious look "Ranged attacks very well I'll try to keep that in mind. But now what exactly do these do and how do they work? We just throw them at the enemies?"

[Pulpatoon]

Operation: Unfathomable! Day Two, late afternoon

Oothu vociferously refuses to be part of of the fungoids' experiments. Anurak, Bubba, Cedric, Galot, and Ollan all quietly demure. Krodok volunteers, but is deemed insufficiently human. In the end, only Gurzubar strides forward and gives a growth a shake.

A cloud of spores settles over him. The fungoids excitedly monitor the event, noting every detail and variable. Gurzubar stands there for a moment, wiggling his sutured stump, hoping to spur some growth. He starts to get excited when he notices that the stump is looking redder—but then, everything is looking red. Very red. Brilliant ruby red!

Bright red rays erupt from Gurzubar's eyes, incinerating the fungal growth in front of him! Then the beams sputter out.

The fungus folk issue peals of delighted high-pitched laughter, make careful study of the outcomes, and record the data on their clipboard. Gurzubar is still sporting only one arm, but his eyes have turned red.

Gurzubar:

New mutation: heat vision, once per day (1d6 damage, start fires, heat objects)

Galot gives the puffball fungi a curious look "Ranged attacks very well I'll try to keep that in mind. But now what exactly do these do and how do they work? We just throw them at the enemies?"

Science Fungoid: "Just throw the puffball hard enough to burst. It shall release spores in about a ten foot radius. Avoid exposure. Don't be upwind."

The science fungoids thank you for your participation. They tell you that you are welcome to pass through their garden, and show you how to avoid jostling the spore-bearing growths, should you care to. They also assure you that if any of you change your minds, they would be happy to record additional spore exposures.

There are four paths immediately available to you:
1. West, Into the fungal garden
2. East, After the wedding party
3. South, Back the way you came
4. North, In the direction you had been headed in

ACTIONS!
Next update: Friday evening, EST!

[Nate]

A bewildered Gurzubar: "Guys! I think they did something to my eyes!"

[Zhym]

"Oh, what the hell," says Bubba. "I might as well try. Probably grow frogs on my face or something, but it's not like I'm gonna have a long comfortable retirement down here anyway."

[1d6] = 5 [1d8] = 4

[GreyWolfVT]

Galot "Your eyes remind me of an albino ferret. Well at least you have your arm still right? Though it would be nice if we could get you a second arm again...." the performer tries to keep in mind the explanation he received for the puff balls.

[Pulpatoon]

The party lingers a moment for Bubba to shake a mushroom.

As the spores settle over him, Bubba stiffens and grabs his head, his face contorted in some extreme experience. After a moment, he slumps over, but then rights himself, standing in a strangely complacent attitude. The two science fungi rush over to exam him, peering into his eyes, mouth, and ears, tapping his reflex points, and murmuring excitedly among themselves. "Very good!" they chirp. "Oh, most entirely suitable!"

Bubba:

Mushroom-mind: Virus-like fungal tissues rapidly replicate and replace your nervous system. Please re-roll your intelligence (3 separate d6, keep lowest). And your personality changes completely—in whatever way seems amusing to you and appropriate to someone with a mushroom for a brain.

While waiting for the science fungoids to complete their examination of Bubba, the rest of you are idly gazing around, perhaps considering which direction you'd like to explore next. You notice that there are several giant pill bugs nestled away in the fungal garden, watching you and the fungoids warily.

Dice:

Underworld Events: [1d12] = 10
Wandering Horrors: [1d8] = 2
[1d4] = 4
[1d20] = 18

ACTIONS!
Next update: Christmas Eve!

[Zhym]

Bubba's intelligence...

Int Re-Roll: [1d6] = 5 [1d6] = 1 [1d6] = 6

...is exactly the same when his brain is replaced by a mushroom.

Too bad. It would have been hilarious if he'd actually ended up smarter with a mushroom head.

[mjulius]

Wide-eyed admiring Gurzubar’s heat ray, Ollan manages to stammer out a whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

He looks at the map, grinning at the possibilities in “Excellent Mushrooms” to the west but remembers the goal. Should we continue North?

These pill bugs are west of us in the garden or along that wall of fungus (the fungal bloom) we just passed?

[Pulpatoon]

These pill bugs are west of us in the garden or along that wall of fungus (the fungal bloom) we just passed?

In the garden. The fungal bllom is some distance behind you, out of sight.

[Pulpatoon]

Operation: Unfathomable! Day Two, Early evening
The party continues north.

Almost immediately north of the eastern passage the wedding procession went down is another of the shelters like the one you passed last night in.

Farther along, along the western wall, is another pile of detritus.

Then, you spot some large globular forms hanging from the ceiling of the cavern. Small birds—swallows, perhaps?—flit around them.

For a moment you think you see some furtive movement up ahead in the gloom, but then something shifts, and you're absolutely certain you didn't see anything. Suspiciously certain.

Underworld Events: [1d12] = 7 [1d8] = 4

ACTIONS?
Next update: Wednesday Friday evening, EST!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

[Zhym]

"Hi there!" calls Bubba cheerfully toward the whole bunch of suspicious nothing.

[GreyWolfVT]

Galot merely waves his greeting. Standing back behind Bubba at a slight distance.

[Captain Kinkajou]

Anurak

Lingering at the back of the group, Anurak continues to gaze forlornly down the eastern tunnel after the wedding procession. When Bubba calls 'Hi there!' he turns and peers towards the north but can't see anything. He wonders if Bubba has really good eyesight or whether he's hallucinating. He decides to shrink down a little and cower in his stone cloak just in case.

[Nate]

Gurzubar: "Is this the way the wedding went? They seemed nice. What do yall think this Nul-Rod thing is exactly? What does it do?"

[Pulpatoon]

Operation: Unfathomable! Day Two; Evening
When directly addressed by Bubba, the portion of cavern he waved at flickers and dissolves, revealing that an illusion was hiding a cluster of furtive figures—newt-looking creatures that skulk and peer uncertainly. In their midst is a tall man with intricately-detailed facial hair, carefully quaffed hair under an elaborate and impractical headdress, and fancy robes in the very latest style of the more ostentatious class of Above-ground wizards. He is in the act of rolling up a scroll, which then disappears into the folds of his robes.

He calls to you in a voice both unctuous and cold: "Greetings, sub-man travelers. You behold Solgum the Resplendent and his retinue of glorious newt-men! No doubt you quiver with shame at your brute apishness before the purity of their amphibiosity? Now, clear the cavern. We would pass through. The day is long, and we have claimed the Old Beetle Shelter immediately south, to take our evening rest. You may re-enter the cavern and go upon your degenerate business after we have sealed ourselves therein."

The man stands imperiously, waiting for you to act, while the newt-men mill around aimlessly, occasionally licking the odd rock, or fungus, of each other, waiting for their master to give them an order.

Gurzubar: "Is this the way the wedding went? They seemed nice. What do yall think this Nul-Rod thing is exactly? What does it do?"

Krodok points to back along the cavern, and whispers to Gurzubar, "They go to little cavern. Come back tomorrow, they say."

ACTIONS?!
Next update: Monday evening, EST!

[GreyWolfVT]

Galot means to do as instructed and clears the space so the newt-men can go where they wish to.