Sami gives a quick nod at Xavier's plan, then smiles at Simbala. Any help you could give is of course appreciated.
"Plan must work" says Darc as he greases his crossbow, ready for action, making the sure it works smoothly.
Simbala finds a convenient fallen log and creakily sits down on it, then spends a few minutes silently communing with nature. After she finishes, she gets to her feet and hobbles back to the party. It takes her a couple of rounds to cast each lesser restoration spell; Darc, Eretria, and Sami each get one. The pressure in your minds abates somewhat, although it's still present.
The rest of the day is uneventful. You scout out the blocked ravine you were told of. Simbala stays with you for a time, healing everyone up to full (again, it takes her a while to cast even cure spells), before making her way slowly back to the island. "I've used more magic today than I have in the past year, and I don't want to press my luck; walking would be less stressful than trying to go back the way I came. Good luck! The maker will tell you when the seugathi returns. Best you get some rest in case it comes back at night!"
You have given us so much aid. My children will know your name.
Sami raises his reptilian eye in a gesture of confusion at Eretria, but doesn't decide to ask her meaning. None of my business, of course. He takes Simbala's hand and bows low to touch it with his forehead. Indeed; you've done more than we ever could have asked. Should you need anything else from us, ever, let us know.
Sami nods at the sound of rest. Darc, I think that we determined that your eyes are best in the darkness, right? I'd take first watch then, if you please.
Darc bows his head to Simbala, Thanks and watches her go.
Turning to his friends, Darc points to the walls of the ravine, "Darc wait there." He starts to climb up the side of the ravine to find a place behind a large grey stone boulder where he can watch the ravine safely and use his crossbow easily. He readies that weapon, sits down and relaxes and waits.
At Eretria's proclimation Xavier.is, probably for the first time constricted with fear, With any other woman, this is when I 'd sleep with her
He stands before here and looks as though he is about to his her lips, but he is aware they are not alone, and.....Eretria meant more to him than she should.
He instead takes her hand, kisses it and briefly holds it in his hand and says quietly, I dare not kiss the lips of so beutiful a lady. I have only one heart to lose.
He looks into her eyes with every word, You owe me nothing. I swear I'll not kiss you again, unless you ask me.
"I agree. By Saraenae's light we might be able to see the way to victory after we rest."
Very well. Rest. Hopefully tomorrow, battle on our terms followed by success.
The evening passes uneventfully. During the deep night watch, though, Darc may be startled a bit when something tickles the back of his neck. Spinning around, flail in hand, he gets a faceful of spiderweb, and sees on the ground a group of spiders in a tight configuration, spelling out the numerals "6" and "0." As you watch, they rearrange into "5" and "9."
As the sun crests the ravine, its morning light warms Darc's cheeks, waking him. His mighty fists rub the sleep out of his eyes as his brain slowly clicks into gear, "Hmmm...strange" he says to himself. Gathering his weapons and belongings, he slowly and stiffly makes his way down to where the rest of his friends were camping. With each step down the side of the ravine, his muscles warm and his movements become easier.
"Morning, Rashun, Eretria. How Dyour night?" before long he tells the tale of the spiders, sure he was awake as if the spiders were messengers from Gorrum himself. He felt once more the favored in battle.
Darc, you may want to rethink your immediate action. After about a minute, the spiders rearrange to "5" and "8."
Just as well; if Darc hadn't done anything by 55, the spiders would have started waking people up on their own.
I don't think I have to describe how they would have done that.
Xavier gathers his weapons and has the bow in hand.
The camp will draw it's attention. Eretria set the chain up 40ft to a flank, with broken ground between you and it. Everyone else fan out to surround the camp. Find a firelane for shooting and keep your distance. I'll be in the open here.
Xavier looks down at the spiders.
Can you point out which direction it's coming from?
When the spiders indicate, he says.
Eretria, anywhere but that way. Sammy take the caltrops, Stay in the trees well away, maybe 80 feet and hide. Once it and I are in melee, scatter them behind it outside the aura. It won't expect they way it came to be trapped. Then use your sling or the crossbow but stay away.
Xavier kneels in the middle of camp as they all assume thier positions and says a prayer as the spiders remain to count down. He accepts a protection from evil spell off Rashun as thecount is down to 1 minute before the Inquisitor dashes for the trees.
Holy Imodae, speed my sword and strengthen my will and if I am not equal to the task give me the strength to die well.
He then rises with the bow in hand and Arrow knocked. Eyes keen for an early view to get a couple of shots in before the beast can close.
I rested so my spells should be restored.
I plan to:
cast PoE on Xavier
Then it will be PoE on myself: +2 deflection bonus to AC against evil creatures, +2 against saves from evil creatures.
Bless +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear.
Divine Favor +1 luck bonus to attack and damage
Sami grabs the caltrops, but looks at the crossbow with disdain and sets it aside. He makes his way out to a good distance of about eighty feet to the east of the campsite and slightly north (assuming that the beat is coming from the north), then hunkers down behind whatever cover he can find.
Daily Readying of Spells: Each day, sorcerers and bards must focus their minds on the task of casting their spells. A sorcerer or bard needs 8 hours of rest (just like a wizard), after which she spends 15 minutes concentrating. (A bard must sing, recite, or play an instrument of some kind while concentrating.) During this period, the sorcerer or bard readies her mind to cast her daily allotment of spells. Without such a period to refresh herself, the character does not regain the spell slots she used up the day before.
The blocked ravine happens to be on a fairly convenient path down to the water, so you're reasonably confident that the creature will come this way. The spellcasters have undertaken their various and sundry means of restoring their mystical energies, and the party waits and watches the minutes tick away.
At the ten-minute mark, though, the small spider swarm suddenly dissociates and reforms as an arrow pointing east. What do you do?
[ooc]With 10minutes to go, the prebuffs are not cast yet.[/b]
Xavier motions for everybody to move back in, The spiders are saying it's moving away. The layout of our trap is a good one. Let's move the trap. I follow the spiders. Trusting them to put me on the path. You all except Rashun follow behind me on the trail 30 ft back. As soon as I see it, Rashun cast your protection spell and everybody start encircleing it. I start shooting it so it closes with me while you all get set up. No one fire until I am in Melee with it. Any objections?
Rashun nods his head in agreement.
"Uh" says Darc in an agreeable sort of way as he makes his way up the side of the ravine, seeking higher ground once more.
Sami nods at the instructions and follows behind Xavier at a distance, off to one side so as to keep to the high ground opposite from where Darc is setting up.
Xavier and Rashun, followed by the rest of the party, head down the trail in the direction indicated by the helpful spiders. As before, the spider arrow shortens and broadens as the group travels. The pair in the lead reach a sizable clearing; the last arrow you saw was nearly square. You expect, though, to have heard something before this; perhaps it isn't moving?
There is nothing visible in the clearing at first...then a flash of movement catches Rashun's eye. There is something very large near the top of a good-sized tree; you're not sure how something that big could be supported by the branches that high, but you're pretty sure that's where it is.
Round 1 Initiative order:
Seugathi
Rashun
Darc
Besmarial
Eretria
Sami
Xavier (sorry about that...rolled a 1)
The seugathi does something that creates a cloud of thin mist around Rashun and Xavier. It doesn't block vision.
will save:
Add +2 if I got PoE up in time.
edit:I got a nat 20. :)
Seeing the creature again, Xavier tries, once again to remember anything his father may have mentioned about the Seugathi. And how the hell did it climb a tree. Had the thing made an error, thinking melee was their only means of attack?
Xavier inhales sharply as his will is assaulted, and he retains his mind.
Thankyou, Sweet Inheritor.
He holds his position to accept Rashun's spell and Fires his bow, hoping.they'll see.the value in the creatures position.
NOW! You know what to do.