The Secret of Trottelburg IC

[Parlity]

Meeka looks out a window, keeping an eye on the remaining monstrous Boris.

spot (1d20+5)[25]

[sciencepanda]

Meeka can see the remaining Boris from the steady yellow glow of it's eyestalks. It sits atop the nearby roof, it's view fixated at the front door of Professor Eisenhardt's lab. It does not make the slightest movement, not even being nudged slightly by the wind.

[CWater]

Irethírra helps dragging the monsters inside, but leaves them then into the professors hands, and joins Meeka by the window. The elf seems to be deep in her thoughts.

[Parlity]

"That last one is keeping an eye on us." she sputters to Irethírra, keeping one hand over her mouth to stop the saliva.

[sciencepanda]

The Boris continues to stair unmovingly, like some bizarre gargoyle.

The Bykanovs stand in the back, totally confused as to the situation. Young Dieter stares in fascination at 01-X, who stares back in fascination. Soon enough, he has placed the boy on his shoulders, and begins running about the back of the house, to Dieter's glee.

Throughout this, Professor Eisenhardt begins running tests on the Boris's, comparing them with each other and with the body of the sick woman.

With a puzzled look, he final states, "Hmm, same reaction as before..."

[CWater]

"Hm?" Irethírra awakes from her contemplating. "...Yes, it does seem to do that."

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I assume that Ire can see the Boris too if Meeka points it out to her.

"I wonder what the one who fleed did... I do hope it is not gathering reinforcements or anything to attack the house." Despite her concerned words the elfs voice bears no trace of emotion.
She leans slightly on the side of the window and, for the first time, views her companion properly.

Hard to say what species she is, or gender now that I think about it. I could ask, if I'd had the upbringing of a cave troll when it comes to manners that is.

[Doombringer]

"I see an adder stone..I will remember to keep it close to myself always.." Crugretor then positioned himself on the ground and slowly closed his eyes to start his trance or meditation for the night. He would onlly wake if disturbed or if needed for some reason.:

[sciencepanda]

With a loud CRREEEEEEEEEEK, Professor Eisenhardt pulls up an enormous microscope.

"Zis is veeeerry interesting," he says, "You may wish to have a look at zis."

[Parlity]

"Yes. This is a worrisome situation. I'm glad we've come far and not died yet thanks to Telim healing Randolf." She grins at Irethirra with her snaggly toothed smile.

"What is that Professor?" Meeka walks to the Professor to look at the microscope.

[sciencepanda]

The professor gives everyone interested a look through the microscope.

Through it, you see a series of translucent brown triangular shapes, swimming in a petri dish.

"Now zis," Professor Eisenhardt explains, "Is what seems to be the cells of one of ze monsters. Now look what happens if I add a sample of human tissue."

He adds a drop of blood from a pipette to the petri dish. You see a rounded blue structure through the microscope. Almost immediately, the triangles turn to face it. The triangles stab rapidly at the circle. This action causes the circle to wildly shrivel, and then wind itself around the triangle, until it is no longer visible.

"Now as you can see, the monster's cells do not feed off of or kill the host. Rather, they appear to function by subduing normal tissue, and converting it into almost a biological armor for them. Most unusual. Now what zis means is, in theory, that the people zat these creatures have taken over, are subdued, but still alive in their somewhere."

He turns away from the microscope and towards the body of the sick woman.

"Now from zis information, I have formulated a panacea that should separate ze human and inhuman tissue, and zerefore return ze victims to normal. Zat is ze theory, in any case. But look what happens when I try it."

With a frighteningly large syringe, he empties a murky fluid into the woman's bloodstream. The woman begins to sputter and cough loudly, black goo oozing from her mouth and ears. However, what happens following this is very strange.

The black ooze, begins to bubble slightly. Them tiny tendrils of the stuff extend out, and then back into the fluid. It begins retracting back into the woman's body, as if it is somehow pulling itself.

"It is almost as if ze virus has a degree of self awareness to it, and through this it can determine as to when it is being forced out of a body. But zis should be impossible. It is just a simple cellular structure. It does not possess any nervous tissue or anything like a brain. For the moment, at least I am baffled. My assumption, is that this level of control over it is supernatural in origin. I don't really know much about zat mystical mumbo-jumbo myself. Do you know anyone strong in the ways of magic who we might ask?"

[Doombringer]

He slowly awakens and looks to the other druids in camp..telling Glenn he must move on and slowly stands. He then moves towards the path once more following the trees hoping they lead him to some sort of civilization soon. "Just how much longer will the trip take father Shalm.."

[Parlity]

Meeka hesitates uncertainly.

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k(nature) (1d20+1)[5]
k(arcana) (1d20+1)[11]
k(planes) (1d20+1)[17]
spellcraft (1d20+3)[15]

[MarvinMartian]

[color="darkslategray"]Professor, we know of one who is knowledgeable of things magical - she is...unpredictable but might be convinced to lend some insights into the magical nature of this virus. But I fear that it is too late to journey to her house this night. Perhaps we can spend the night here and set off in the morning?"

[sciencepanda]

The professor nods.

"Sounds promising! I will set up some sleeping bags so you can set out in ze morning."

Meeka:

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You have heard tales of a powerful elder druid who lives in the forest. Perhaps he would know something? And then, there is always Baba Yaga, the powerful hag sorceress who the domovoi had spoken of earlier.

01-X rolls out some beds, and you prepare to sleep for the rest of the night.

[Parlity]

"Thank you 01-X." Before people settle down to sleep, Meeka says, "I remember there'sh an elder druid who lives in the forest. Perhaps the domovoi would know. Tanya do you know about these things?"

[sciencepanda]

Tanya thinks for a moment, and then states, "Hmm. That is pretty consistant with what I have heard. There certainly is a wandering tribe of druids in the area, and the general rumors are that their leader has some pretty mighty powers under his belt. The tricky thing is though, I wouldn't really know where or how to find him."

"Then again..." she turns to Irethírra, "Miss, you're an elf, right? I have heard that the druids tend to be friendly towards their brethren. I don't really know if that will be of help or not, but I suppose it is worth mentioning."

She sits and silence for a bit, trying to think of a way to locate the druids, or if she might have any other information.

[sciencepanda]

"Hmm...Perhaps I can be of help?" says a voice from the ceiling.

[CWater]

Irethírra nods slowly to Tanya.
When the new voice speaks, she turns towards it, expecting to see a domovoi.

[sciencepanda]

"Darn." says the domovoi, dropping down from the ceiling, "When did I get so predictable?"

Now in clear view, you can see that this is a different domovoi then the one you previously met. His nose is rounder, he has a pair of large blue muttonchops, and is wearing a pair of tiny spectacles. The leather jerkin he is wearing is covered in a bizarre black stain.

"My compatriot in the inn has informed me of the situation. If you wish, in the morning I can send a signal to some of my allies in the forest. They should be able to lead you to the druid's campground, should you so choose."

[CWater]

"That sounds good." Irethírra says and bows slightly to the domovoi. "But if we are leaving the town, I'd like to get back my belongies that I left at the inn, before we head out. I know there are likely Borises around, but do you think that would be possible?"

[sciencepanda]

"Hmm..." says the domovoi, "That is tricky." He thinks for a moment, and then his eyes roll back in his sockets, as if in a trance. "The domovoi of the inn has informed me that your belongings have been kept safe, as is everything else under his territory. However, for the road that will take you there, that is not necessarily the case."

"If you feel that you absolutely must, i suggest that you go there during the daytime, when the abominations are less likely to reveal themselves to the remaining townsfolk. Then you can swoop in on the inn as swiftly as possible, retrieve your belongings and then exit town. That is as best as I can think of."

[CWater]

Irethírra recalls the content of her backpack. "I suppose I could do without them." She says. "If the streets are indeed so dangerous, it would be foolish to endanger oneself for just a few items. It is only my second quiver of arrows that I miss, but I'll just have to do without. Thank you, honored spirit for your advice." She bows slightly.

If no one else has anything more to say to her, the elf goes to her bed and prepares to trance.

[Parlity]

"Thanks honored spirit," Meeka mumbles as she drops off to sleep.

[MarvinMartian]

Randolf

"Most appreciated kind Domovoi. Would you perhaps care to join me in some conversation? I would most appreciate the insights you could share with me about the town."

OOC: Motivations

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Randolf is suspicious of the Domovoi. Having just seen the shocking sight of the black ooze leaving and then re-entering the body of the woman, and the revelation of its magical properties, he now makes the leap of association with the black stain on the Domovoi's chest.

He would like to engage the Domovoi in light conversation, all the while having a good, long, and preferably close look at the stain on its chest.

[sciencepanda]

The domovoi waddles over to Randolf, mildly puzzled.

"Yes, what is it that you would like to ask?"

[MarvinMartian]

Randolf

"Well first of all I would like to know a little more about this town. In my hometown, we have no knowledge of the Domovoi, nor even of their existence! I am most curious if you could share a little background on your race. I hope I don't offend you with my questions, and please let me know if I ask something inappropriate..."

OOC: Assuming he agrees. Diplomacy Check in OOC thread


"Tell me are you and your kind purely native to this area? Are you born this way? Or are you ... created somehow? Can you interact with the material world, or are you on some other...plane - I guess you would call it? Are you immortal? Can you be injured, or damaged in some way? Are you restricted to manifesting in this house? Or some particular area?"

[sciencepanda]

The domovoi looks puzzled.

"Odd. I was under the impression that every home has a domovoi. I guess they are less social in your lands."

"But yes, we domovoi are a breed of fae that is birthed as a result of an owner's devotion to their home. As we are a manifestation of the home, we are restricted to movement within it's grounds. As a master's devotion grows, we grow stronger and the level of protection we provide is increased. Should the house be forcibly intruded upon, will strike with all our fury, for if it is successful, it could severely weaken us or take our lives. However, should some level of protection be provided to the house, we may be restored."

"Aside from this, we are flesh and blood, same as any of you. We can be wounded and..." He pauses, looking mildly choked up, "be killed, as I am afraid has been the cause with many of my compatriots during this invasion."

[Parlity]

Meeka sticks her head out of the sleeping bag. She listens to Randolf and the domovoi. Clearing her throat, she stumbles slowly over her words,

"Kind spirit, that is terrible to hear. Would you tell us which domovoi fell first? Perhaps we may find the source of the monstrous Boris there."

[sciencepanda]

"Hmm. Well, the first one to appear was the one taking over after the previous Burgomeister. They spread outward from there, going after the homes with weaker domovoi, then spreading to stronger homes as their numbers grew. As it stands, the domovoi of the inn and myself are the last remaining. To my understanding, there are a few other menfolk surviving, but they are in hiding, and as long as they are not in a domovoi guarded home, I have no method of telling where they are."

[MarvinMartian]

Randolf

"Thanks for your openness in answering my questions. I hope I didn't offend you? But one last question... Were you the one who helped us out on the lawn? And ... and that stain on your shirt is from the creature's blood?"