View source for Beg to Differ

{{Infobox expedition log
| title = Beg to Differ
| date = 6/9/24
| storyteller = Unseelie
| tier_of_play = Any
| player_characters = [[Siltmean the Craftrat]], [[Aleth|Shadefrost]], [[Omen]], [[Boophis Bright-Eyed]], [[Seskro]]
| rewards = 275 xp compound eyes formula, crab milk, tiny horned crabshell necklace, minimum wage
| result = success
| author = Siltmean
| downtime_days = 3
}}
== Log ==
'''Crab Cave'''
* Go to crab cave immediately
* See notice on boarded-up entrance
* Some changes beneficial, some not
* Written by "Josephine Falling" of the Oakridge Village Council
* Head in
* Crabs everywhere
* Pouring out of opening in boarded-up cave
* Shadefrost uses quill to open up magic passage for us to go through
* Small lake of pink goo amidst tons of crabs
* Tendrils floating into the air
* Examine pink goo
* Seems alive
* Dies when separated from pool for too long
* Seskro dips hand in
* Scales go from blue to red
* Jumps in pool
* Leaves minute later fully red
* Lightning breath becomes red
* Barbell (Omen's Familiar) is pushed into pool
* Comes out a Barbazu
* Immediately reverts
* Outlier to every other experiment ran
* Test fire and lightning on goo
* Can be hurt, can be cut
* No pain response
* Go deeper in
* Pass by bigger crabs
* Antlers, mushroom features
* Animals and like default to crab?
* Best running theory so far
* Keep going deeper
* Reach bottom of cave
* Giant purple mass with blue orbs scattered about
* Upon approaching it messes with our minds
* Wants to know more about us
* Wants to change us to fit our desires
* Will stop if target is uncomfortable with process
* Is possibly the dragonfly that escaped before
* Didn't seem to recognize me
* Orbs were very eye-like for a bug
* Seskro states desire to become more dragon-like
* Grows spikes atop head
* Barbell has horns now
* Decide to leave mass alone for now
* Doesn't seem intent on harm or forced transformation so far

'''Oakridge'''
* Head to Oakridge to explain the situation with the cave
* Opinions on cave are mixed
* Village was previously mostly human
* Now a diverse mix of races thanks to cave
* Josephine Falling is "authority" on the matter
* Go to get into contact with them
* Seskro knocks over bucket full of crab-likes
* We get roped into helping find crab-morphed creatures in the village
* Do the same for the council hall
* Finally get to talk with Josephine
* Not particularly interested in opening up cave
* Compromise with keeping it closed but let people visit if desired
* Unlikely this will actually be done, however
* Go into square to inform people of the cave situation
* Some receptive, some not
* Find out crab-morph population growth was gradual, not explosive
* Running theory is that creatures with no innate desire or ideal form default to crab
* Creatures capable of rational thought can choose their forms

'''Recommended path forward for Onadbyr'''
* Monitor situation carefully, but not intervene unless danger is shown
* Dragonfly was originally kidnapping and forcing changes
* This should be kept in mind before blindly trusting it
* Seems willing to concede to change-ee's feelings for now
* Look for way to separate this transformative ability from the need for the sole creature
* Potential for application similar to sex shift potions
* Lifespan of goo is extremely short as-is, however
* Am personally willing to conduct research on this if funded
* If issues arise, dragonfly mass seems fully immobile
* Should be easy to dispose of