Cammy confidently five-foot-saunters up to the space next to Sofia, and attempts to chomp on the oversized arachnid.
"MWWWOONK!"
Oh boy not this again, can't we get a break from spiders?
Belliken casts sleep again on this new animal. DC 15
Both Cammy's bite and Belliken's magic seem ineffective on the spider as it lashes out at Phedran.
However, Phedran is able to escape the webbing just in time to duck out of the way of the spider's mandibles.
Sofia's longsword manages to score a gash in the beast's exoskeleton.
"That's alright, Cammy! Take another shot! You'll get 'im this time!
Hank casts Guidance on Big C. Again.
Cammy, encouraged, guided, and channeling his frustrations into violent action, tries again.
"Uh, well, that was pretty much what you did just a second ago, but good try I guess..."
I need to stop burning me spell slots all over looks like. Time for some crossbowin'.
But why's Bellie talkin' about burnin' spell slots when he hasn't burnt nothin' with his spells in a good while--been puttin' folks to sleep instead. Arcane casters an' their ways though, what do I know.
The spider hisses angrily as both Phedran's arrow and Belliken's bolt find their mark.
It lunges at Cammy, but its mandibles are unable to pierce his shaggy coat.
Sofia tries again to hit the spider.
With a spray of hemolymph, Sofia's blade cracks open a gash in the spider's exoskeleton.
"Third time's the big charming camel!"
"Now GET 'IM CAMMMAAAY!
Hank casts Guidance
Cammy attacks the spider, and all of you notice something strange. You could've sworn, that just a few seconds ago, the spider had a head. It's just one of the great mysteries of life.
Hank looks at the enormous spider, now hanging limply in its own web. A fly lands on it and starts proboscis probing its rapidly congealing ichor. "The bottom end of the food chain always gets its way in the end, don't it? Hope they don't catch up with you up there at the top of it any time soon, buddy." He gives the bespattered camel a loving pat, and starts scraping off spider goop. "You got pressthedigitaction or what ya call it prepped today, Bellie? If so, care to help me clean off this guy? Also I'm adding lizards and bugs to my list of things camels like to eat."
I got that neat trick readied up. I'll clean ya fellows up Belliken walks over and cleans up his camel friend.
Ya sure made a great mess o' this spider there Cammy
"I'm feelin' a mite shaky myself, after that. But let's keep on our way, got orcs to find and such. Any way through this mess?"
Well good to know now that spiders ain't gonna sleep when I tell em
As you make your way through the webs, you find that the cave widens into a large cavern. To the east, a pathway leaves toward what appears to be sunlight. In the cavern, you see a humanoid skeleton wearing leather armour, with a wooden shield on one arm and a shortsword in the other hand. A leather satchel lies on the ground beside it. The satchel contains 25 golden coins, as well as seven glass vials- four contain a pinkish red liquid, two contain a pale blue liquid, and the final one is green.
Hank pries the rest of the gear off of the humanoid, pausing to check and see what he can gather from the layout of the bones.
He counts the coins into four even piles, using some silver and copper to break the change. Everyone gets 6 gp, 2 sp, 5 cp.
He then toddles over to Phedran with the equipment. "I'm trying to see if this stuff's worth keepin' but I'm a donkey when it comes to knowin' what's worth what. I can always stuff it in Cammy's bags but will you take a look?"
While able to identify the pink-red fluid as a potion of cure light wounds, and the blue as shield of faith, Phedran is confused as to the nature of the green one.
Hank figures out that the body seems to be a few years old, and the tatters of webbing suggest that the spider killed him.
"So, uh, I'll just put these things in Cammy's saddlebags then, and we can keep goin? Less one of you wants to do a quick detect magic or appraise?"
Well if I ain't able to tell if somtin's magical I aint much of a crafter are I. I'll have a look see
With that Belliken poor over the collection of goods and investigates.
Hank, clearly relieved, says "Thanks, Bellie!"
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Phedran is good to continue, though he still curiously eyes the vial of green liquid. He puts his thumb to the cap, and gives it another good sloshing around to examine any floating sediment or mother wort that may be in it.
"Gods, how this damned verdant liquid vexes me..." he puts the potion in his apothecary satchel, dusts off his sleeves, and pats his travelling clothes as flat as they'll go.
"... I'll figure you out, sooner or later..." he mumbles to himself, stepping over the spider carcass, and into the cave beyond.
"Hi ho, let's go onward, friends on legs, four and two!"
Let's keep lookin' on ahead then
You follow the trail, and it seems to lead on for quite a while. By this point, the trees have started to become slightly less dense, and you can see that the sun is getting near the horizon. After ten or fifteen minutes of walking, you see something to the east: A cliff face rises up about twenty feet, and a crack in it seems to lead deeper in, although it's difficult to tell due to the long shadows. In front of it stand three orcs, each holding axes, and they have javelins strapped to their backs.
Sofia whispers to the rest of you, "This may be the orcs' lair. I'll go around back and see if there is another way in. If so, we may be able to trap these raiders."
After she sneaks off to the north, the remaining four of you spot a shadowy figure in the distance.
"Good luck, Sofia! Godsspeed!"
Hank sizes up the situation and decides that it's been a long while since anything's happened. Time to get bold. Or rather, time to suggest maybe considering getting bold.
"Ok, folks, let's get a plan hatched. Pheddie, do ya reck you could whack two of them orcs with one boom? Then Big C can rush in and chomp the last one with me right behind 'im just in case, an' Bellie can shoot at anywhat's still movin' after that and keep an eye on Mr. Shadow over yonder."
Karthurg looks around. He stumbled on these orcs while hunting and is weighing his probability of winning in an ambush. While considering his options, he sees a group approach Is that a camel? . He decides to wait and see what they do, before attempting an ambush. If they attack the orcs, I will help and they might look past my orc like appearance. But I need to be cautious because they might take me as an enemy if they spot me first. Best stay hidden until they act.
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Phedran rummages through his apothecary bag, and after a brief search, produces a vial of clear liquid. He tucks it in his bandolier, right below a row of daggers. "Hmm... I think they're spread out a little too much, but I can still provide some cover with my bow. If the need arises, I will jump into the fray and try to flank. My fencing skills are rusty, but I can surely keep them tied up at least until Cammy's bite can find purchase on a patch of orc hide."
"Alright--Bellie, how 'bout you and Phed take a couple shots while they're standin' still. Then Cammy an' I are gonna get in there an' roughhouse some orcs."
Alright I reckon I can take a couple shots up there. Looks alike they have some javelin on 'em. Could be bad news for us. I can try sleep if'n things go awry.
Belliken sniffs the air and holds back a gag. Sure smells like an orcs lair. He lifts his crossbow and eyes down the scrawniest orc.
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Phedran holds an arrow at half-draw, looks over to the halfling sorcerer and nods. When Belliken raises his crossbow, Phedran takes a deep breath, and pulls the drawstring back to his cheek.
Strike swift and true. Flit along the breeze, and hit the target with ease. All in a single...
... breath.
Phedran sees the arrow fly a step behind the halfling's bolt, then grabs another arrow, and ponders how many shots he and Belliken can get off before the orcs close to melee.
"Skroooonk..."
Cammy paws at the ground, eagerly. He's impressed by his friends for cold-bloodedly shooting at their foes without parley. Now he waits for the signal to attack, more out of politeness than a sense of duty.
"This herd is a good herd."
One of the orcs looks up, and begins to shout something in Orcish, but is cut off as Belliken's bolt finds its mark, followed almost instantly by Phedran's arrow.
Seeing the strangers start attacking, Karthurg decides to help and attack. As he moves, he draws his earth breaker.
As he moves in he shouts in common Don't attack me! I don't know your goals, but I will help fight the orcs.
The orc staggers under the force of Karthurg's assault, but its armour seems to prevent any serious injury. The northernmost orc rushes over to attack Karthurg with its axe.
However, he is unable to land a solid hit.
Belliken looks over to his tall companion.
Good work m'friend, let's take another down, that one there to the right. That new fellow looks to be our ally, for now.
Belliken motions to the orc all the way to the right and fires another bolt.