Nym stares at Wren for a few seconds, blinking in misunderstanding before it dawns on him..."PHHHFFFTTTTase....spider. Not fairey spider."
Turning to Galadan "She's out here somewhere, but my coin is on her not being savable by this point. If you go out there alone, you paint a target on your back for that thing my friend."
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Action Phase spider:
5-foot step
Ethereal Jaunt to the material plane (free action)
Attack (standard action)
Ethereal Jaunt back (as a move action)
The Spider suddenly reappears in the middle of the two groups Map with positions
Victim:
Wren 1, Andrea 2, Aldous 3, Galadan 4 (Kevin out of reach, Nym already been poisoned)
Returning to the material plane the Spider looks at the most juicy target. The feathered Wren looks like a good plum chicken.
Will save against Glitterdust
Attack
Damage
Blind miss change (>50 is a hit)
Two large pincers try to deposit some venom deep in Wrens body - but the Glitterdust disorients the creature and at the last moment the attack goes far.
Wren blinks more than once as the fangs of the spider narrowly avoid her delicate feathery flesh.
Wren continues to huddle near Andrea, fearful that moving away would leave them all open to attack.
Wren will move again if Andrea moves, but will otherwise stay in square B4.
She will ready to cast again should the spider appear, this time casting GreaseyFeather, trying to trip the spider up before it attacks again.
for with +1 bolt.
Galadan scowls at Nym as the spider suddenly appears between them again. He releases a bolt quickly, just as the blinding glitter fuses the breach between them.
"Death is too grim a prospect to leave the unwary to it."
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Will save Phase Spider
The Phase Spider on the Ethereal plane feels disturbed. Only a few minutes ago it had seemed like a big new feast had wandered into it's terretory.
It had started well when it had bitten the first of them. But then all went awfully wrong. The big feathered bird - what had it done to it. It was blind. A blind Phase Spider was a dead Phase Spider soon.
And there was this sting. Oh - it wasn't dangerous. In it's life it had experienced worse. But blind and with the group seemingly back together it's plans had failed.
Going back would likely result in it's death. The Spider was hoping that his sight would return. And then it would look for easier prey.
Like the woman it had lured away earlier. Not the most fleshy meal. But it had shown no resistance.
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Fight over.
You might want to locate Aleece - Survival or Perception should work if you go back to where you started when you heard the first cries.
I was contemplating the reaction of the Phase Spider. But looking at it's intelligence and it's way of hunting (an ambush preditor) I can't see it coming back for you any time soon.
I hope you don't feel I 'deny' the kill. You still get full XP (oops - reminder to calculate the XP for the Orcs.)
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Nym
Your first Save is successful but your second one fails.
Effect Con damage.
You feel the poison numbing your skin where the spider cut you open. You feel weakness spreading from the wound.
The poison will last for a total of 8 rounds. You will have to make 2 consecutive saves or do all 6 remaining rolls. Each failed one is 1d2 Con damage. Maybe someone in the group can help to boost your saves.
Galadan goes back to searching for Aleece, certain that the strange reaction of the phase spider meant it would not attack again. He asks Andrea to accompany him, in case the girl was seriously injured or heavily poisoned.
Andrea lays a healing hand on Nym
Cure Moderate Wounds
"That poor woman what chance would she have had against such a beast...sometimes I wish the world we lived in was more..mundane"
She looks as if she is trying not to burst into tears
Galadan scowls again, but he attempts to keep from frightening the girl.
"Death's door swings both ways, if a soul has not departed from it for too long. Come, let us search for her."
Wren keeps a hand on her feathers and spell components and words of arcane power on her lips as she expects the spider to return any minute.
Did you see the size of that spider!? I'm going to have nightmares.
Clearly flustered, after making sure that Andrea is okay, Wren will also look to find the missing pinhead.
Perception
Survival to aid Galadan
Forgetting what she was told (probably because she is still very nervous about the spider), Wren will babble to relieve the stress while aiding Galadan in his search.
"Well, Galadan, that was interesting wasn't it? Reminds me of a big 'ole spider I saw in my home once. It also had 8 legs...8 furry legs...blahblahblah...so obviously clean underwear was needed....blahblahblah...garlic sauce with thyme...blahblahblah...and that's why bulettes have 3 testicles."
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Your search leads back to the cramped clearing filled with dismal-looking gray flowers. It appears it was here that the phase spider ambushed Aleece, who soon succumbed to the spider's poison and died. The spider dragged her body away to feast on later. Aleece's pale, broken body lies half-submerged in the bog a few yards past the clearing.
But it soon is clear that Aleece wasn't the only victim. The bog is littered with the remnants of the belongings of previous victims. You locate a potion of unknown content, a magnifying glass with a gold handle (worth 100 gp), a small wooden box containing a set of brass weights that seems astonishingly heavy, a walnut traveling case with a pair of superior locks and their keys sealed in wax, and a jar of pickled garlic cloves among the unsettling skeletal body parts left behind.
Wren will cast Detect Magic (on all the goods and skeletal remains are) and attempt to identify the potion.
Spellcraft to Identify Potion
* * *
When that is completed, she will help prepare the body for transport back to the caravan.
"This is just horrible. This poor chick got separated from the mother hen and was eaten by a predator. She was too young."
Wren offers a few welcome rare moments of silence as she prepares and mourns the loss.
Wren will hand the potion to Galadan.
"This might aid you in interpreting the world, Galadan."
Wren will continue to work to bundle the body, ensaddened.
Think I understood right...I make eight Fort saves and need to get two consecutive successes?
First
Second
Third
Forth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Eighth
So third save fought of the poison, resulting in one failed save at 1d2 con damage right?
"Thank you Andrea," Nym says, laying his hand on the woman's shoulder. "I fear the poor girl is not likely to have survived the encounter, but we'll see. Either way we should do what we can to find her and give her what peace we're able."
HP: 17; Current: 8; Nonlethal: ;
AC:17; Tch: 16; Flt: 10;
10(base)+4(Dex)+3(Int)
CMD: 13;
Fort: 2; Refl: 5; Will: 3;
Current Conditions: Poisoned for 3 Con Damage
Wren will take the magnifying glass.
Wren is ready to move back to the caravan, watching as others carry/drag the body back.
Nym will assist in wrapping the body and do what he can to help get the girl back to her "family".
"Galadan, do you think you could open this case without using the keys?" Nym will gesture to the walnut traveling case.
Galadan looks over the box.
"Once we get back to steady ground, I can try my skill at it. For now, let us take Aleece's body back to the camp. I am sure they will want to hold a ceremony for her soul's departure."
Wren scratches her rash and then sniffs her fingers as if expecting the scent to tell her something.
It itches. Smells bad.
Andrea looks at Wren's scratching.."When we get back to camp let me have a look at that" she tells the wittering wizard
Galadan carries the body carefully into the camp, in the solemn approach he had been trained in.
"Death has visited you this day." He speaks in neutral tones to those gathered there.
"Though I did all in my power to keep it at bay."
Kevin attempts to cover his smile with his flask as he mutters under his breath.
" What did he say? He wants to go sleep in the hay? I guess he might just may."
Wren looks at Kevin, missing what he said as she was lost in her own deep thoughts.
"Sorry, Kevin, what did you say?"
Kevin takes a long drink and coughs as Wren ask her question. Wiskey spewing a little out of his nose. "Nothing my dear, nothing. Let us assist these poor people with their mourning."
Andrea helps to clean and lay out the body for burial something she has done many times
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In the camp there is sorrow when they hear the death of one of the pinheads.
But life goes on and soon they are ready to move on. As promised you are handed a magical dagger.
(Spellcraft anyone).
The head of the performers then asks if you would like to accompany them on the way to Lepidsted. You have the impression that they normally dislike strangers but seem to feel safer with you around.
"Since our carriage driver is injured, I believe we can accommodate your journey. We will have to ask the other passengers, however, in order to be fair."
Wren will examine the dagger after casting Detect Magic to examine its auras.
Spellcraft
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The Kin have little to offer the PCs in the way of wages for their protction, but they do offer the use of one of the caravan's wagons, and any bards or performers in the group have the chance to work with the show.
They approach Wren as they feel she might fit in well to the group.
"So what kind of performance can you do? You would fit in even better if this would be real feathers - I mean if they would be your own. A bird woman ould be a nice addition to our group."
"Our friend Wren is a master orator, and veritable fount of esoteric knowledge, though I must confess to feeling our little band of heroes would not be the same without her sagely wisdom.
Wren blushes, her face matching the color of a few of Plume's more vibrant reds.
"Uhm...wow..uh..." Wren stammers, thinking both about the offer and what she could add to the show.
"Well, I have an amazing array of feather tricks, based on my understanding of powerful FeatherMagics. Uhm..." Wren wants to continue to explain what she could offer to the troup, but realizes that she still has work to do elsewhere.
"But I'm sorry, I just can't right now. But I'll come back, I promise. After I finish my current assignment for my dear friend, I'll come back and visit and see what I can do to add to your show." Wren beams as much as Wren can beam.
"I am honored by your interest." Wren is honored by their interest.
What a lucky little birdie I am to be blessed with so many wonderful friends!
"I fear I would have little to offer this troupe, aside from my commanding presence."
Galadan sounds sad, surprisingly.
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During the travel you have more time to talk to the Kin.
The Crooked Kin consists of 13 performers, all people with a variety of physical handicaps or deformities, plus a handful of additional sideshow attractions. Though they all have exotic (or in some cases, frightening) appearances, the Kin are just honest performers trying to make a living, and are concerned for the life of one of their friends.
The following people make up the Crooked Kin.
Hap Tarvin, the Flea Man : A short, hunched man with a distorted appearance, Hap performs with his flea circus, the Magnificent Carnival of Miniature Wonders.
Kaleb Hesse, the Ringmaster : An albino man with red eyes and long, white hair that hangs below his knees, Kaleb wears a tall red top hat, a long red coat with gold buckles, and striped trousers. He is the de facto leader of the Crooked Kin.
Lidia Gerod, the Bearded Lady : Standing nearly 7 feet tall and possessed of a fine beard down to her waist, Lidia acts as a sort of “mother hen” to the other members of the troupe.
The Pinheads Aleece (dead), Lettie , and Poppy are sisters, all of whom have microcephaly.
Prince Zar, the Human Caterpillar : This Mwangi man has no arms or legs. Prince Zar was once enslaved in a Chelish sideshow, but earned enough money to buy his freedom. He joined the Crooked Kin, where he is billed as an exiled prince of the “Lost Cities of Darkest Garund.”
S'jeer, the Vudrani Princess : Born with four arms, S'jeer dresses in exotic silks and speaks with a thick accent, but she is actually from Galt and the daughter of a fishmonger.
The Swarm of Clowns: These three men, Gerik, Josef, and Tam ,each have an extra limb (Josef has three legs, the others have three arms). Besides their skill in clowning, they are also accomplished acrobats and jugglers.
Trollblood:, the Giant Man : A shockingly ugly Ulfen man nearly 8 feet tall, Trollblood entertains the crowds with fire-breathing and his feats of strength.
The Wolf Child : Supposedly raised by wolves in the Shudderwood, this 10-year-old boy is covered in hair. He is unfortunately insane, but the three pinhead sisters treat him like a younger brother.
In addition, the show also includes a pair of caged goblin dogs, a morlock, and a giant frog.
Galadan turns to Kaleb. "Have you performed long in this area? Or perhaps in Lepidstadt?"
Having never seen the like (beyond a few taxidermied specimines in past academies) Nym is initially uncomfortable around the Kin, though his curiosity quickly overwhelms him. Throughout the travel he will attempt to meet and talk at least briefly with each of the members, less focused on individual deformities, he is interested to learn about their experiences as travelers and entertainers living in an adoptive family unit (in another life time Nym would probably make a reasonable cultural anthropologist).
And as with many amature cultural anthropologists, Nym likely comes off a little clinical towards things that are often quite sensitive to the people being interviewed...
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Galadan
We have been to Lepidstadt a few times. But this time there is a lot of carnival going on. They say they caught the Beast of Lepidstadt and there will be a show trial. It will be good for business.
Nym
I just hope all the hostilities will be only for the Beast. Poor creature. They always treat you badly if you don't fit in. I'm not saying it doesn't deserve it if the stories are right. But they probably would hang him anyway. Just because he is different.
Wren will be happy to gossip around, sharing intimate details about her companions in exchange for tidbits about this and that.
Diplomacy (Gather Info)
Know (local)
Wren will try to make good with the Bearded Lady...as if to see how well she would fit in once she returns.
"Why hello my dear S'jeer. My what beautiful eyes you have. Would you llike a drink?" Kevin holds out his flask while he attemps to deliver one of his most charming smiles.
Diplomacy: