Editing Strange Ox

{{PageSeo
| description = The Strange Ox is a recurring Beast that appears in all three acts of the game.
| image = Strange Ox.png
}}
<div class="infobox"; style="width: 360px; float:right">{{#tag:tabber|
{{!}}-{{!}}Disguised={{CharacterInfo
|name=Strange Ox
|image=[[File:Strange Ox.png|350px]]
|title=Strange Creature
|level=3
|STR=18
|DEX=10
|CON=14
|INT=2
|WIS=10
|CHA=4
|race=Beast
|type=Beast
|HP=15
|AC=10
|speed=9m / 30ft
|size=Large
|weight=600kg / 1200 lbs
|init=+0
|passive=
{{PAS|Blindsight}}
{{PAS|Caustic Strikes|t=1}}
{{PAS|Darkvision}}
{{PAS|Extra Attack|t=1}}
{{PAS|Opportunity Attack}}
|slashing=double
|acid=Immune
|lightning=double
|location=[[The Hollow]], [[Druid Grove]]<br>{{Blur|[[Last Light Inn]]}}<br>{{Blur|[[Rivington]]}}
|alt-name = Model
|alt-file=Ox Model.png
|alt-file-px=300
}}
{{!}}-{{!}}Real={{CharacterInfo
|name=Strange Ox
|image=[[File:Zlorb Model.png|350px]]
|title=Zlorb
|level=11
|STR=15
|DEX=15
|CON=15
|INT=16
|WIS=15
|CHA=4
|race=Ooze
|type=Ooze
|HP=292
|AC=12
|speed=9m / 30ft
|size=Medium
|weight=360 lbs
|init=+0
|passive=
{{PAS|Blindsight}}
{{PAS|Darkvision}}
{{PAS|Extra Attack|t=1}}
{{PAS|Opportunity Attack}}
|slashing=double
|acid=Immune
|lightning=double
|location=[[The Hollow]], [[Druid Grove]]<br>{{Blur|[[Last Light Inn]]}}<br>{{Blur|[[Rivington]]}}
}}}}</div>
{{SpoilerWarning|nograd=1}}
{{Q|Moo!|Strange Ox}}

The '''Strange Ox''' is a mysterious ox first encountered in [[The Hollow]].{{note|The strange ox's real name is Zlorb.}}

== Act One ==
Walking past the Strange Ox will prompt a {{Ability Check|Insight|10}} to notice its oddity. A character who passes the check can talk to the Strange Ox and make a {{Ability Check|Arcana|10}} to investigate further. Passing this check confirms the creature isn't what it appears to be.

The player can talk to the Ox if the player has the ability to talk to animals, which player can get by drinking a potion from a closed chest at the cart near the ox. If the player successfully passes the dice roll checks, the Ox will say that he is heading to Baldur's gate.

Attacking the Strange Ox in Act One will cause its caretaker and neighboring oxen to become hostile. The ox drops pools of [[acid]] when damaged; on death, it drops a {{SAI|Glyph of Warding: Acid}} that immediately explodes for {{DamageText|8d8|acid}} damage. Killing the ox at this point yields the {{RarityItem|Shapeshifter's Boon Ring}}.

Note that even if you choose to [[Raid the Emerald Grove]] and attack the refugees, the Strange Ox disappears along with the other oxen when the grove goes into siege preparation mode, and will survive to be encountered later.

== Act Two ==
{{SpoilerBox|act=2|nograd=1|
Walking towards the Strange Ox in the stables of the [[Last Light Inn]] will prompt a {{Ability Check|Insight|10}} whether you've seen it before; passing this check is not necessary to talk to the Strange Ox. With [[Speak with Animals]], you continue the conversation you started in the [[Druid Grove]]. Regardless of what option you choose, you will need to pass a {{Ability Check|Persuasion, Perception, Nature|14}} to continue.

Succeeding results in the Ox telepathically showing you images of disfigured corpses with the sound of screaming in the background. Failing the check causes the conversation to end, but you are still able to continue speaking with the Ox, essentially skipping the check. 

Pushing it further results in the Ox threatening you. You can choose to either end it here, or continue questioning him. Questioning him further will result in the Ox turning hostile, deforming into a cyan version of an [[Ochre Jelly]] and entering combat with your party. Before doing so he tells the player he was only looking for a simple life of hay and a clean stable to live in. Killing the Ox here will cause it to drop the {{RarityItem|Hat of Fire Acuity}}. Alternatively, telling the creature that its secrets are safe with you will end the conversation peacefully ({{Approval|Shadowheart|+1}} {{Approval|Astarion|+1}}).

If the player character is [[The Dark Urge]], they will relate to the ox's revelations and have the option to tell it about their own murderous nature, to which it will remark that the player may be a kindred spirit, but it only wishes to be an ox. The player can either respect it or chastise it for not giving in to its bloodlust - the latter option will cause the player to brutally attack the creature mid-dialogue, killing it without initiating combat as it struggles to retain its ox form until the very end.
}}

== Act Three ==
{{SpoilerBox|act=3|nograd=1|
{{Q|Hail Cyric!|The real meaning of 'Moo'}}
If you didn't kill the strange ox during [[Act Two]], then you can find him again at the beginning of [[Act Three]] in {{Coords|36|-149|Rivington}} on a hill west of the requisitioned barn. Approaching him will again trigger a {{Ability Check|Insight|10}} check to confirm his likeness. This time, the Ox is glad to see you. He was worried about your mental health since your last encounter with him, 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 will trigger him to become hostile and deform into his natural shape. Any other conversation path will lead to you obtaining the quest [[Help the Devilish Ox]]. If you decide to actually help the Ox, he will turn into an apple on the stable floor that can be picked up. The moment you enter the [[Lower City]] with him inside your inventory the quest ends and he disappears, leaving behind his [[Shapeshifter's Boon Ring|ring]] and a [[Slightly Slimy Note]].

Completing [[Help the Devilish Ox]], allows you to summon him using [[Gather Your Allies (class action)]] during [[Confront the Elder Brain]]. Here he reveals his true form as an [[Ooze]] named '''Zlorb''', and can shift into a variety of different monsters with unique abilities during combat.

==Attacks and Abilities==
{{IconLink|Generic Acid Icon.webp|Ochre Sputum|w=40}}
* Spit out an acidic substance and create an Acid surface on impact.
{{DamageInfo|count=2|die=6|type=Acid}}
{{Range|m=12|ft=24}}

{{IconLink|Generic Damage Icon.webp|Pseudopod|w=40}}
* Lash out with a slimy grey tentacle.
{{DamageInfo|count=3|plus=2|die=6|type=Bludgeoning}}
{{DamageInfo|count=1|die=6|type=Acid}}

{{IconLink|Polymorph Icon.png|Alternate Form: Minotaur|w=40}}
* Assume the form of a minotaur. (100 turns)
* Gain abilities of a minotaur.
{{Action|bonus}}

{{IconLink|Polymorph Icon.png|Alternate Form: Shadow Mastiff|w=40}}
* Assume the form of a shadow mastiff. (100 turns)
* Gain abilities of a shadow mastiff.
{{Action|bonus}}

{{IconLink|Polymorph Icon.png|Alternate Form: Dire Wolf|w=40}}
* Assume the form of a dire wolf. (100 turns)
* Gain abilities of a dire wolf.
{{Action|bonus}}

{{IconLink|Polymorph Icon.png|Alternate Form: Phase Spider|w=40}}
* Assume the form of a phase spider. (100 turns)
* Gain abilities of a phase spider.
{{Action|bonus}}
}}

== Notable Loot ==
* {{RarityItem|Shapeshifter's Boon Ring}} (if killed in any Act or as a reward for [[Help the Devilish Ox]] in [[Act 3]])
* {{RarityItem|Hat of Fire Acuity}} (only if killed in [[Act 2]] or [[Act 3]])

== Notes ==
* In [[Act 2]], the Strange Ox will be level 6 and have 83 out of 163 maximum health.
* In [[Act 3]], the Strange Ox will be level 9 and have 163 out of 243 maximum health.

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist}}

{{NavEmeraldGrove}}
{{NavShadowCursedLands}}
{{NavRivington}}
[[Category:Beasts]]
[[Category:Oozes]]
[[Category:Characters in Act 1]]
[[Category:Characters in Act 2]]
[[Category:Characters in Act 3]]