"Right."
Angalia moves protectively to Tiff's side.
Nathaniel quickly rolls up his bedding and follows Eliva’s example in stringing and readying his bow. He also lights a lantern, shuttering it so that only a soft glow escapes. Seeing that everyone else is ready to move or close to it, he nods. “Let’s move.” Passing Tiffana he pauses beside the small woman. “We’ll find your friend,” he says softly. Secretly he wonders if he’ll make a liar of himself – he’s already failed in one similar promise this day.
Shaking such grim thoughts away, he sets off, following the trail by the light shining from Res’ holy symbol and the dim glow of his lantern.
The party follows the tracks over some distance. The terrain remains as unremarkable as ever. Whatever place you are in is dreary and forsaken. Only the occasional mossy stone or sickly shrub marks the land, which is otherwise rolling hills and wiry, tough grass. The miss does not abate as you progress.
As the group follows the trail, Res can't help but notice the dreary surroundings they have found themselves in. He keeps his senses alert for anything that may be lurking in the dark beyond the light of his holy symbol and Nathaniel's lantern.
Perception:
Edit: Miss chance rolls:
20 - 40 ft: Success greater than 20
>50 ft: Success greater > 50
Ever since her friend was discovered missing, the girl seemed in a frightened daze, however she seems to recover and accept that she does he friend no good by acting like a little lost girl. She remains silent as they search for 'Kani, but seems ready to burst with anxiousness.
Staying at Tiff's side, Angalia can't really offer much comfort, but she tries.
"He's managed to take care of you - that almost has to mean he can look after himself."
Focused as he is on following the tracks, Nathaniel is not as observant of his surroundings.
Eliva dislikes the light, though she understands the need the others have for it. Wanting to avoid being targeted because of it, she stays about 25 feet away.
The group makes its way through the swirling mists, following the ominous tracks left by 'Kani and his presumed abductors. In the distance, the party spots movement. Ahead, supported by spindly legs, two spiders the size of large dogs scurry across the ground. Behind them, a larger spider stands watch over two motionless humanoid forms wrapped head to toe in spider silk. The swollen abdomen of the larger spider marks it as a female bearing a heavy egg sack. Insectile mandibles click together as the spiders regard the intruders inscrutably.
"There's no possible way we can surprise creatures with eight eyes," mutters Angalia.
Initiative:
Spotting the spiders, Res will sheath his great sword, and pull out his cross bow.
Fortunately for the adventurers, Erfan's senses are unusually keen, detecting the faint sheen of webbing over a few patches of ground around the spiders.
"Ware! The creatures have laid traps with their webbing there!" the gnome cries out as he indicates the webbed areas.
"Arrgh! Its web hit me!" Res struggles mightily to free himself from the web, but is unable to free himself.
Nathaniel is somewhat slow to react – both because he is heeding Erfan’s warning and looking out for webs, but also because he is looking in fascination at the spiders. He’s always quietly admired spiders for their efficient hunting techniques, but has only rarely glimpsed spiders the size of the dog sized creatures he can discern through the mist in the forests near home, and never anything the size of the egg-bearing female.
He shakes himself out of his stupor quickly enough when Res yells out, having been covered in a thrown web. As the spiders scuttle out of the mist towards them, Nathaniel hurriedly nocks an arrow to his bow.
Res struggles against the webbing that entangles him. Meanwhile, the smaller spiders move to place themselves between the queen and the intruders.
Eliva fires on the large spider in back, then moves backward away from the group. Either that will leave her free to fire without worry of hitting her companions, or it will draw some of them after her and give the others time to free Res.
The bloated spider writhes as Eliva's arrow strikes true.
The bloated spider writhes as Eliva's arrow strikes true.
Burning Hands (DC 15):
The two spiders squirm under Tiffana's fiery spell.
The gnome scampers forth to present his spear's tip forcefully in the spiders' direction.
Nathaniel has bent his knees to drop the lantern he holds to the ground and holds his bow ready, an arrow nocked, waiting for the spiders to scuttle into better view through the mist. When Res is webbed, he is torn between taking his shot and helping the cleric ... but then a decision is made for him when Tiffana dashes past to the front of the group and shoots a fan of bright flame at the nearest spiders – enough to singe them but not enough to finish them off, leaving herself exposed.
The ranger looses an arrow at the nearest spider, then casts aside his bow and hurries forward, placing himself between the slight sorceress and the oncoming spiders (but not so much that he will be in her way of she does the fire trick again) grabbing his spiked shield and preparing to use if for attack or defence as he moves.
Nathaniel's arrow strikes true.
Realising that Kani needs to be free to fight, Angalia moves swiftly around the back of the spiders.
Even close up, you cannot identify the humanoid forms. They appear to be approximately the same size, and either could be 'Kani.
The queen spider scurries after the one who injured her and attempts to ensnare Eliva in a web, but the spray of sticky material misses its mark.
Still struggling to free himself from the spider's web. Res gathers himself for a moment, and then with aloud, "ARRRRRGGGGGGG!" Res again attempts to burst the spider's web.
Strength:
The web fails to yield to Res's attempt the burst through it.
The first spider moves toward Nathaniel, it's mandibles dripping with vile fluid.
The second moves in and bites at Tiffana.
Erfan lashes out at the approaching spider with his spear tip.
The guileless spider scurries straight into range of Erfan's spear, and the eccentric gnome takes advantage of the opening and skewers the arachnid through the middle. The spider twitches briefly and then goes still.
Eliva takes another shot as the foul spider draws near, then continues to back up, circling around her allies.
Eliva's shot just barely misses its mark against the giant spider.
“Someone help Res with that damned web!” yells Nathaniel over his shoulder, as the spider in front of him snaps at his shield with dripping mandibles, and long, hairy legs wave and sweep around him.
Seeing that Nate has the smaller spider occupied, Tiff turns her attention to the enormous monster scurrying towards Eliva. She snaps her crossbow up and takes hasty aim at the beast before squeezing off a shot, "Over here you B%$@%!
"I'm getting to it. I only have one pair of hands and I can see three enticing packages."
Keeping the spider at bay with his shield, Nathaniel reaches for his battleaxe, then brings it up in an underhand sweep, aiming to dig the blade deep into the arachnids soft underparts.
Failing to hit, Nathaniel pulls back and warily circles the oversized vermin, looking for an opening.
"One of you had better be Kani," she mutters under her breath.
Tiffana's crossbow bolt passes wide of the spider, while Nathaniel's axe also fails to make contact with its target.
Angalia pulls the webbing away from the figure closest to her, and uncovers a human male, heavily armed - but it is not 'Kani. When the webs are pulled away, he draws breath and opens his eyes.