Strange Ox: Difference between revisions

Walking past the Strange Ox prompts a {{Ability Check|Insight|10}} to notice its odd behavior. A character who passes the check can talk to the Strange Ox via {{SAI|Speak with Animals}} or {{SmRarityItem|Potion of Animal Speaking}} and make a {{Ability Check|Arcana|10}} to investigate further. Passing this check confirms the creature isn't what it appears to be.

The party must successfully pass a {{Ability Check|Persuasion|10}}, {{Ability Check|Intimidation|10}}, or {{Ability Check|Deception|10}} to pressure the Ox into revealing its secret. On success, the Ox tells the party that he is heading to Baldur's Gate but refuses to elaborate further.

If the completing {{Quest|Raid the Emerald Grove}} and attacking the refugees, the Strange Ox disappears with the other oxen when the grove prepares for the siege, and can be encountered later on.

Pressuring it to reveal its true identity causes the Ox threatening the party. The conversation can either end here or the interacting party member can continue asking questions. Questioning the Ox further causes it to turn hostile, deforming into a cyan version of an [[Ochre Jelly]] and entering combat. Before doing so, he tells the player character that he was seeking a simple life of hay and a clean stable to live in. Alternatively, telling the creature that its secrets are safe ends the conversation peacefully ({{Approval|Shadowheart|+1}} {{Approval|Astarion|+1}}).

If the player character is [[The Dark Urge]], they relate to the ox's revelations and can tell it about their own murderous nature, to which it remarks that they may be a kindred spirit, but only wishes to be an ox. The player character can either respect or chastise it for not giving in to its bloodlust - the latter option causes the Dark Urge to brutally attack the creature mid-dialogue, killing it without initiating combat as it struggles to retain its ox form until the very end. Note: If killing the Ox using [[The Dark Urge]], no XP is gained aside from inspiration.

If the Strange Ox survived into [[Act Three]], it can be encountered at {{Coords|36|-149|Rivington}} on a hill west of the requisitioned barn. Approaching him triggers a {{Ability Check|Insight|10}} check to confirm his likeness. This time, the Ox is glad to see the party. He was worried about the party's mental health since the previous encounter, but perhaps he's just faking it because he needs something from you.

Just like in Act Two, you can question the Ox about his true nature and just like the last time, this triggers him to become hostile and deform into his natural shape. Any other conversation path leads to initiating {{Quest|Help the Devilish Ox}}. If the party decide to help the Ox, he turns into an apple on the stable floor that can be picked up. The moment the party enter the [[Lower City]] with him inside a party member's inventory, the quest ends and he disappears, leaving behind his {{SmRarityItem|Shapeshifter's Boon Ring}} and a {{SmRarityItem|Slightly Slimy Note}}. If entering the Lower City before speaking to the Ox, it disappears and the quest cannot be started. If the quest was not previously started, the Ox cannot be recruited for {{Quest|Gather Your Allies}}.

Completing {{Quest|Help the Devilish Ox}} allows the party to summon him using a [[Gather Your Allies (class action)]] during [[Confront the Elder Brain]]. He reveals his true form as [https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Phasm Phasm], a type of [[Ooze]] with a true form similar to an [[Ochre Jelly]] that shapeshifts into different monsters with unique abilities during combat. The tooltip on the summoning action [[An Apple a Day]] reveals the Phasm's name to be '''Zlorb'''.

* The Strange Ox has a hidden passive that generates a {{dist|m=3}} radius {{Area|Acid}} surface when struck.