The Crystal Sslugs of the Test

[Grey Aides]

Durin...do you think you could...alter the Sslugs?

[Yerkan of Elish]

Or perhaps de-alter them. Though that is more destruction than creation.

[Great Thrash]

I bet I could imprison one for at least long enough for that.

I'll try it - I beckon for the earth to rise up and clench the Sslug of Frost, the most destructive one, in a rocky fist.

If it escapes after a time I'll try it again - this is to see how fast they learn.

Durin can go to work right away if he thinks that'll work.

[Diamond Master]

It is possible to hold the Sslugs until their slime has worn away the earth.

They do not learn from the experience, and you trap Amatin again after it escapes the first embankment. However, the Sslug does pick up some destructive momentum if you try to keep it entombed several times in quick succession.

[Volatilus]

Well nothing seems to divert the path they have taken. Maybe if the path were to slant up or down at an insane rate that the things face an epic plummet or a pool of molten rock as fate...

[Great Thrash]

After Durin has attempted his tinkering, I will effect Volatilus' excellent plan.

I show the rock what to do with a frenzied dance. A nearly clifflike face, rocked by tremors of great magnitude. When the sslug hits the ground, said ground will dissolve into boiling magma.

[Diamond Master]

The Sslug of Frost simply slimes its way slowly down the sheer cliff. Then it mindlessly enters the magma. Its body undergoes mild dissociation, becoming less dense and spreading into a mat about three body-lengths floating on the surface of the lava. The Sslug, in this slightly altered form, moves even more slowly, but continues to crawl on towards some target. Upon reaching an exquisitely worked statue, the lasers flash out and the statue is simply ashes. A new target is immediately chosen and soon destroyed.

The Sslug of Apathy reaches the Frozen Ocean and carves a furrow into it, still on a perfect course for the Diamond Watchtower.

The Sslug of Temptation, still ignoring Morbus Sano, has been continuing its trail-carving. A pattern has begun to take shape under its caustic pacing.

trail2.jpg

[Diamond Master]

trail3.jpg

[Great Thrash]

I'll keep an eye from high up as these letters? are formed. So far we have probably an A and a U or W

[Yerkan of Elish]

We've completely ignored the citadel. With no leads, perhaps we have gravely erred in doing so. Perhaps someone fast could catch up with it. Hopefully learn something from whatever lies within the citadel.