The stealthy movement of the crew, coupled with a few timely invisibility spells, allowed you to get up against the library's southern wall. Underneath the roof parapets and overhangs, there was little chance of the drow on the roof spotting you now.
On your approach, you marked two primary points of entry into the library. A pair of doors on both the east and west sides looked to open into a common foyer. There were windows high on the building that looked to have been broken centuries ago, but have been boarded up in the interim. Also, there is likely a rook access, given the spotters up there.
"Watchers on roof and in the foyer, most likely" Anklebiter whispers. "Bruendor, do you think you could get one of those windows open for us without drawing attention?"
"Not without making a lot of noise, probably, but I'll check," Bruendor replied in hushed tones. He examined the doors first for security, assuming they were locked but suspecting they may be trapped as well.
Bruendor, after a minute of fiddling with the door, discovered that it is neither locked, nor trapped.
Lefrik tries not to clomp and tries not to breath too hard. Of course, if he held it too long while invisible, no one could tell as they wouldn't see him turning blue
Calla nods as Bruendor indicates the left entrance. Bow at the ready, she looks for possible threats.
Bruendor cautiously pushed the door inwards to reveal a foyer. The 20'x20' room had high ceilings obscured by thick cobwebs, and the walls and floors were also covered with the ropy strands. The place was dark, and had an abandoned feel to it. Doors led to the north and south, to the bulbous chambers that formed those parts of the library.
The floating voice of Kel whispers in the gloom, "I could set those cobwebs on fire?" Searching the darkness, she looks for the beady eyes of spiders peering back at her.
"Let's not be rash. A fire will likely let the drow know we're coming," Calla whispers in reply.
She looks around for a rock or other piece of rubble she can throw toward the webs.
"Is dark," Anklebiter whispers. "Nobody make a light! Might be Drow hiding in there already. When we go forward, let Bruendor and Anklebiter lead at first. When we need light, I'll make a BIG one, promise."
Bruendor's eyes narrowed. "Could be ettercaps, too," he whispered back. "North first, it's smaller. I'll make sure there's no spider traps on the floor, you all watch the ceiling for creepy-crawlies the size of Lef." He begins to step gingerly towards the northern door, trying his best to avoid stepping on the spider-silk.
Calla waits in the entrance as Bruendor advances, bow trained on the roof for any possible threats.
Anklebiter quietly uncoils his rope and passes each of the party-members who do not have Darkvision, bidding them to take hold.
"One hand for your weapon, one for the rope!" he whispers. "Follow Anklebiter and stay low and quiet."
Provided everyone complies, the Goblin quietly slinks after Bruendor, giving him room to work.
Lefrik tries to stay 'low and quiet' as directed, he can fight in the dark, but that doesn't mean he's foolish enough to think he fights as well as one who can see in it. So any light is welcome
He focuses as much on what he hears as what he can see
Initiatives:
anklebiter
kelendra
bruendor
calla
lefrik
spiders
Bruendor carefully navigates through the webs, trying hard not to get stuck to any of the sheets. Several times he stopped to unstick his foot. Anklebiter wasn't so lucky, and had to spend several moments unsticking his foot. The others stood in the entrance, watching everywhere. The ceiling was dark, especially in contrast to the light spilling in the open door. Still, there was enough light so that you weren't surprised when the spiders began raining from the ceiling. Of course, the size was a little startling, each being the size of a medium dog. One was almost as large as Anklebiter's former mount.
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
CMD 14
HP 44/44
Divine retribution (DC 13) 0/6; Judgments 0/2; Bane 0/6; Discern lies 0/6
Arrows: 2/36; cold iron arrows 0/40; bolts 0/20
Spells: 1/5 (first-level); 2/4 (second level)
Effects:
Calla fires a quick two arrows toward the closest spider, smiling coldly as they slam home in the massive arachnid.
"Finish it off, Lefrik. Quietly!"
Lefrik charges towards the same one Calla shot, and attempts to hew its legs from its body.
Calla's arrows took the unengaged spider cleanly, dropping the arachnid in its tracks. With a mighty blow, Lefrik dropped his spider, sending several legs skittering across the floor.
2 down!
kelendra 12
bruendor 10
anklebiter 4
calla 17
lefrik 16
spiders 13
everyone is up!
Anklebiter snarls at the sight of the bloated arachnids and takes a quick step to the side, sighting the spider closest to Bruendor. "Stilla acida," he hisses, flicking his hand at the creature. A gout of acid goes flying...
Calla sets another arrow to the bow and waits to make sure nothing else lurks in the darkness.
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
CMD 14
HP 44/44
Divine retribution (DC 13) 0/6; Judgments 0/2; Bane 0/6; Discern lies 0/6
Arrows: 2/36; cold iron arrows 0/40; bolts 0/20
Spells: 1/5 (first-level); 2/4 (second level)
Effects:
Bruendor settles into a defensive stance, far more interested in holding the spider off while Lefrik moved up than killing it. As sure as he was that the venom wouldn't affect him, he couldn't take the chance.
Fighting defensively and using Combat Expertise, which buffs my AC by 5 to 21. I'll move to M12 after my attack, assuming I can 5' step in the webs.
Kel loads her crossbow and waits, not wanting to end the invisibility effect, but determined to shoot any nasty spiders before they can get close enough to bite her companions.
Lefrik moves to Bruendor's side to help him out
Lefrik's axe sweeps away the last spider, cutting it deeply and splashing ichor all over Bruendor. In the stillness that followed, your eyes adjusted to the darkness in the foyer and you can easily see the set of double doors leading northwards and the set leading to the south. Neither door appears to be trapped, and neither is locked.
As everyone watches inwards, Kelendra spots a movement above the doorway outside. Magical darkness blossomed as a pair of drow drop from above, their hand crossbows spitting quarrels. Calla gasped as one hit her neck, its poison sending a wave of numbness along her body.
Calla takes 3 damage and must make a DC13 Fort save or fall unconscious for 1 minute.
Initiatives:
group
drow
Here's the map
There is a dark template showing the area of darkness (deep shadow). 20% concealment unless you have low-light vision or darkvision.
"Aurorae victoriae signum levo!" Anklebiter chants, and he raises high his quarterstaff. As the magic takes hold, the otherwise unremarkable length of wood starts to blaze with a bright, golden light, dispelling the Drow warriors' magical darkness.
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
CMD 14
HP 41/44
Divine retribution (DC 13) 0/6; Judgments 0/2; Bane 0/6; Discern lies 0/6
Arrows: 4/36; cold iron arrows 0/40; bolts 0/20
Spells: 1/5 (first-level); 2/4 (second level)
Effects:
Calla hisses as she feels the bolt sting, though the poison has no effect on her.
Spinning, she launches two arrows toward the farther drow and then steps aside to clear a path for Lefrik.
Kel shifts back to clear room for Lefrik and fires at the same drow that Calla targeted.
As the drow touched down, Anklebiter grinned evilly. He cursed at them in elven as his staff began to glow with the light of a semi-cloudy day, brushing away the drow's darkness spells like mist on a windy day. Calla and Kelendra fired their weapons, Kelendra striking one solidly in the shoulder. Then, Bruendor and Lefrik barreled in. Bruendor deftly dodged his opponent's strike, though he didn't manage to connect with his return blow. Lefrik, however, landed a powerful blow on his opponent, ripping a huge gash in the elf's side. The drow's return blow wasn't nearly as heavy, but its rapier still pierced the barbarian's left arm.
Lefrik takes 8 damage
Initiatives:
group
drow
combat hit point status:
anklebiter: -0
bruendor: -0
calla: -3
kelendra: -0
lefrik: -8
"Sagittae magicae, omne erroe vacuae, e manu meu evolete!" Anklebiter chants, waving his quarterstaff as if it were a magical one. Four darts of force fly away from the Goblin's open palm, two of them for each Drow. The arrows strike unerringly, zipping around the other party-members.
Bruendor clicks his heels together, and there's a sudden spring in his step, and he runs up Lefrik's axe, vaulting over the drow in front of him to land on the other side. He stabs at the dark elf's midsection, his rapier seeking lifeblood.
Activating one use of my daredevil boots to get a +5 to my Acrobatics roll to move through drow #M9's square. This is a terrible roll, so I might have failed. If I did, then I'm not at L8 and instead stay where I'm at. If I succeeded, then I get an additional +4 to attack (+2 flanking, +2 boots, and sneak attack. My elfbane and favored enemy goes off, regardless.
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
CMD 14
HP 41/44
Divine retribution (DC 16) 1/6; Judgments 0/2; Bane 0/6; Discern lies 0/6
Arrows: 4/36; cold iron arrows 0/40; bolts 0/20
Spells: 1/5 (first-level); 2/4 (second level)
Effects:
Calla gives the drow one of her patented evil smirks and gestures.
"My your goddess have more mercy on your than mine," she whispers.
Expecting Brue and Lefrik to make quick work of the opponent before the barbarian, Kel focus her attention on the other drow and fires.
Lefrik slashes at the drow that wounded him, "I'm Lefrik Olegson, just so you know who plans to send you to hell."
Anklebiter's spell fizzled as it reached the drow, its magical energies dissipated by the dark elves' natural resistances. Kelendra's arrow wasn't so easily turned, though, and it drove in deep into her target's chest. Bruendor tried to take advantage of the distraction to get behind the dark elf, but the creature's flailing blade kept him from moving position.
Calla spat vengeance at the other drow, causing its sword to twist in its hand. Instead of blocking or even partially deflecting Lefrik's axe, the blow came in harder than ever, cutting deeply into the elf and causing the elf's own rapier to score its throat. The drow's eyes widened and then closed in death.
One down.
Initiatives:
group
drow
combat hit point status:
anklebiter: -0
bruendor: -0
calla: -3
kelendra: -0
lefrik: -8
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
CMD 14
HP 41/44
Divine retribution (DC 16) 2/6; Judgments 0/2; Bane 0/6; Discern lies 0/6
Arrows: 4/36; cold iron arrows 0/40; bolts 0/20
Spells: 1/5 (first-level); 2/4 (second level)
Effects:
"And now it's your turn," Calla coldly tells the other drow as she gestures again.
Encouraged by her success, Kel loads and fires at the remaining drow.
Anklebiter curses as his magic missiles fade into nothingness -- and then raises his voice in a new chant. In the ears of the last Drow standing, that chant swells to a horrifying shriek, a din to rattle his skull!