Massive Oil Slick

Image

Encounter Conditions

Only while etheric

Initial Text

You see what appears to be a massive oil slick, partially washed up to shore. On closer inspection, the substance on top of the water is resilient, almost rubbery.

You're pretty sure you could walk on it, over the deeper parts of the lake.

Summary of Choices

1. Take the northern path
   1. Parallel the shore - Random choice from below
   2. Dead ahead - Random choice from below
   3. Head right - Random choice from below
   4. Turn back - Nothing
2. Take the southern path
   1. Head into deep water - Random choice from below
   2. Head towards shore - Random choice from below
   3. Continue mostly forward - Random choice from below
   4. Turn back - Nothing
3. Stay to the middle
   1. Head left - Random choice from below
   2. Head right - Random choice from below
   3. Head back - Nothing
4. Meditate here instead - Gain 20 energy of Slags Poisoning, Regain 21-29? Hit Points, learn Toxic Grip (Must be etheric, have Poltergeist Spark, and not be wearing a full containment suit)
5. Ignore it - Nothing

Choice Text and Results

+ Show fixed choice options

Take the northern path

The trail of sludge proves that it is durable enough to walk on. After following it a few minutes, two side trails split off.

One path runs parallel to the shoreline and the other heads into deeper water to the right.

Turn back

You just walk away. No harm, no foul, right?

Take the southern path

As you walk on the train of toxic slime, it seems to grow thinner and thinner. Eventually it splits into three entirely different paths.

Turn back

You just walk away. No harm, no foul, right?

Stay to the middle

The toxic path twists and turns, eventually splitting into two slimy trails.

Head back

You just walk away. No harm, no foul, right?

Meditate here instead (Requires Poltergeist Spark and not being in a full containment suit)

You settle into the sludge, spending what seems like hours meditating. By the time you're done, you feel more connected with the sludge, both mentally and physically.

You've gained 20 duration of Slags Poisoning.

You regain 21-29? hit points!
You learned a new Technique: Toxic Grip

Ignore it

You just walk away. No harm, no foul, right?

Parallel the shore/Dead ahead/Head right/Head into deep water/Head towards shore/Continue mostly forward/Head left/Head right

Leads to a random choice from the following:

+ Flying Eye Fight

A strange winged shadow passes over you. When you glance up, you see a great, swirling flock of… what appear to be flying eyes. The nearest one darts down at you.

(Fight flying eye)

+ Living Sludge Fight

The sludge lurches underneath you, then resolves into a humanoid form. The sludge opens a mouth, then crashes down on you, as if to devour you whole.

(Fight living sludge)

+ Terrible Serpent Fight

A giant shape moves through the water below the slime. You only barely manage to stumble back before a massive serpentine form rips through the ooze.

(Fight terrible serpent)

+ Writhing Mass Fight

As you walk along the sludge, the section beneath you breaks into thin strips, almost dumping you into the water. As you find more stable ground, you realize the surface… the tentacles you were just walking on are moving to attack you.

(Fight 2 writhing masses)

+ Lake Metroplex

(If not on/started? (the appropriate chain of?) The Survivors Quest)

You find a clear patch in the midst of the slime that allows you to see clear to the lakebed. Inexplicably, you see ancient columns poking out from beneath the sand.

You've earned 5 XP in Perception

(Otherwise)

You find a strange, clearer section in the ooze. Through it, you can see the ruins of a massive city.

Marble columns poke out of the lakebed like broken teeth and old arches hang with seaweed. If there's something intelligent down there, and it wouldn't surprise you if there was, David's sure to be interested.

1. Jump in
2. Stare down
3. Leave it

Jump in

With Ocean Sight active:

As you dive in the sludge seems to constrict, pushing back against you. You find your way through somehow, but the stuff is still clinging to you and burning your skin.

You've gained 20 energy of Slags Poisoning.

(Leads to Lake Metroplex (South))

With Ocean Sight active and a containment suit equipped:

You seal your containment suit and push your way through the sludge. It pushes back against you, but eventually you find your way through, sinking into the depths.

(Leads to Lake Metroplex (South))

Without Ocean Sight but with a containment suit equipped:

You seal your containment suit and push your way through the sludge. It pushes back against you, but eventually you find your way through, winding up on a rocky beach… damn it.

Otherwise:

As you dive in the sludge seems to constrict, pushing back against you. You find your way through somehow, discovering you're on a rocky beach… damn it.

You've gained 20 energy of Slags Poisoning.

Stare down

You stare down at the ruins, wondering when they might be from or if they've ever existed. Certainly, you've never heard of any ancient civilizations where Lake Metroplex is now.

Even having spent much of what you remember in Southside, you'd think that would come up.

You've earned 5 XP in Perception

Leave it

See Walk Away

+ Tatters

(If in full containment suit)

As you carefully step on the slime, it begins to disintegrate, then falls completely to tatters. You're almost surprised the oil slick can't hold your weight as you're dumped into the freezing cold water.

Your containment suit seals with a hiss as you go under. It feels like it weighs a ton, but it keeps you dry and breathing until you make it back to the shore exhausted.

You've earned 5 XP in Strength

(Otherwise)

As you carefully step on the slime, it begins to disintegrate, then falls completely to tatters. You're almost surprised the oil slick can't hold your weight as you're dumped into the freezing cold water.

You make the long hard swim back to shore and collapse on the beach.

You've gained 10 energy of Slags Poisoning

You've earned 5 XP in Strength

+ Ghost Ship

(If you've not heard about the ghost ship)

You find a rocky, sludge-covered island in the middle of the lake. You search over it and don't find much of interest.

On the other hand, you get some good exercise leaping between slimy rocks.

(If you have a fishing pole equipped, and the ghost ship is gone OR you haven't heard of it?))

You find a rocky, sludge-covered island in the middle of the lake. You search over it and don't find much of interest.

On the bright side, that makes this a fantastic fishing spot. You cast your line in a couple times and see what's biting in this strange patch of toxic water.

(see fishing for detailed results)

(Otherwise)

You climb off the oil slick onto a small, rocky island. It seems safe for the moment, although you can see strange winged shapes in the distance.

Further away, an ancient vessel lumbers through the fogs of Lake Metroplex. You're not sure if it's a hallucination or reality, but it certainly sounds like that ship that… corpse mentioned.

It looks like it should be close enough to swim out to.

1. Dive in - Leads to Ghost Ship
2. Turn Back - Walk away

Dive in

You dive into the water and swim out towards the rapidly vanishing ship. It's a hard swim, but you managed to board the ship as it passes back into the mists.

You've earned 4 XP in Strength

Turn Back

You ignore the ship and turn back towards the shore.

+ Zombie Corpse

With Servant of the Mask:

You make your way out to the furthest reaches of the toxic sludge. It trembles under your feet as a decaying hand rips through to grab your leg.

A decaying corpse, covered in oily slime, pulls itself up to gaze at you with its hate-filled eyes.

(Fight a Waterlogged Corpse (Sewn)

Otherwise:

Towards the thin edges of the oil slick, you see a corpse teetering along, carefully walking over the slime. Its eyes light up when it sees you.

With one hand, it frantically points towards the threads binding its lips together.

(Waterlogged Corpse adventure which in turn leads to:)

1. Cut the thread - Without the Gourd
   1. Why are you here?
      1. Can I help? - Unlocks Ship of the Damned sidequest
      2. You must have treasure - Unlocks buried-treasure noncombat?
      3. Can you teach me? - Gain 2 of Leaping Dodge, Parry, Swordplay?
      4. You're welcome - ?
   2. Got any treasure? - Unlocks buried-treasure noncombat
   3. Show me some moves - Gain 2 of Leaping Dodge, Parry, Swordplay
   4. Nothing, thanks - Nothing?
2. Cut the thread - Without the Gourd
   1. Yes, here
   2. No, die
   3. Run away
3. Kill it - Fight waterlogged corpse
4. Run away - Nothing?

Cut the thread

If you don't have the gourd:

"Thannnnnk youuuuu… do you wannnnnnt…?" The corpse pauses, wheezing.

"Threadsssss grow back. Not… timmmmmme forever."

If you have a strange gourd:

You gingerly cut the threads binding the corpse's lips. They twist into an ecstatic smile, exposing his rotting teeth.

"The goooouuuuurd…" He reaches for you. "Please! I neeeed… toooo live."

Why are you here?

The corpse rocks slowly from side to side. "Haven't come far… othersssss left… other four. Can't live… can't die. Trapped here… unnnnnntilllll… until someone freeeees usssss."

The corpse hunches over, as though speaking is an incredible strain.

Can I help?

The corpse slowly nods. "On the ship… a shaaaaaaman… tricked ussssss… said we'd be freeeeee… trapped our lives… in a gourd. Can't live… can't die."

He stands motionless, leaving you to wonder for a moment if he's finally died. "Find a high point… get to the ship… freeeee usssss… please, please."

You must have treasure

"How… did youuuuu… know about the golllld?" it asks, its eyes wide.

It stops to think, very slowly. "Very wellllll… it'ssss on the beach not far from here." It draws a rough map in the sludge. You think you'll be able to find it if you get close enough.

Can you teach me?

The corpse's mouth twitches into a semblance of a smile. "Thanksss. Watch."

It pantomimes going through a series of sword techniques slowly. You can't imagine many today would know them, but they seem like they could be pretty effective.

Gain 2 of Leaping Dodge, Parry, Swordplay

You're welcome

He smiles broadly, the gaps left by the thread separating eerily. "Gooooo… live life."

Got any treasure?

"How… did youuuuu… know about the golllld?" it asks, its eyes wide.

It stops to think, very slowly. "Very wellllll… it'ssss on the beach not far from here." It draws a rough map in the sludge. You think you'll be able to find it if you get close enough.

Show me some moves

The corpse's mouth twitches into a semblance of a smile. "Thanksss. Watch."

It pantomimes going through a series of sword techniques slowly. You can't imagine many today would know them, but they seem like they could be pretty effective.

Nothing, thanks

He smiles broadly, the gaps left by the thread separating eerily. "Gooooo… live life."

Kill it

The corpse teeters uneasily on the sludge, but launches itself falteringly forward towards you.

(Fight waterlogged corpse (sewn)

Run away

You run from the corpse, which totters slowly after you. It's easy enough to escape, but it takes a light step to escape over the sludge you've been walking on.

You've earned 4 XP in Reflexes

Yes, here

The corpse takes the gourd from you and tilts it up, as though he's taking a drink from it. A single mote of light falls from the gourd into his mouth.

"Thank you, friend. Now I can live and die." As he heads back towards the shore, you can see the healthy glow of life returning to his skin and his age-old wounds healing.

He stops halfway back and turns. "It's been too long. I… forgot about the others. I only kept track of one, by your city's docks. He'll find you."

No, die!

The corpse stares at you in shock. "I… jusssssst wannnnnnt to live!"

(Fight waterlogged corpse (unsewn)

(otherwise, after killing or freeing the corpse)

With that corpse gone, this edge of the sludge is actually fairly calm. You spend a bit of time staring out over the lake.

You've earned 3 XP in Perception

You've earned 2 XP in Will

(otherwise, with fishing equipment)

With that corpse gone, this area makes a pretty nice fishing spot, actually.

You cast your line and see what might bite in this strange mockery of a lake.

Note

Once the Ship of the Damned quest is complete, both the corpse and ghost ship options give the following fishing results:

Fishing — Level 4 Challenge
	Qualifiers				Notes
Possible Catches	Fish	Objects	Surface	Deep
freshwater eel	Y	-	?	?
lake bluegill	Y	-	?	?
lake perch	Y	-	?	?
lake squid	Y	-	?	?
damp seaweed	-	Y	?	?
empty can	-	Y	?	?
partially digested fish	-	Y	?	?
petrol sludge	-	Y	?	?
silverware remnants	-	Y	?	?
waterlogged shorts	-	Y	?	?
withered tendrils	-	Y	?	?
lake gulper	Y	-	?	?	Requires Toxic Worm active.
High Test Results
Area Bonus of 4 Strength XP
ancient treasure chest	Chance of receiving 2-3 fresh mollusk.
Fight a living sludge	Receive 3-5 lake squid in addition to its normal drops.				Only while Etheric.
Fight a terrible serpent	Receive a scarred fishing pole or high test fishing line in addition to its normal drops.				Only while Etheric.

History

July 31 2010 - The underwater columns encounter used to be:

You find a clear patch in the midst of the slime that allows you to see clear to the lakebed. Inexplicably, you see ancient columns poking out from beneath the sand.

You've earned 5 XP in Perception