Like standing in a mine with an angry foreman, Ostog thinks as he waits for some of the southerners to take the lead. His fingers now rests more firmly on his axe.
Jerry decides to tell a friendly joke. He asks the biggest man there:
"Do you know the difference between giving sexual pleasure to an ogre and a roast of lamb?"
When the man looks confused or answers no:
"Well you better not be a server at the Ogre Inn!! That is an important difference to know there!!"
Black looks at Jerry in horrified astonishment at such ribald humor.
Ostog laughs not only of the joke of which he had certainly heard worse but also of the mouth on this southerner, standing in the middle of the enemy's den, he still had the guts to joke.
Jaidoh stares at the aasimar confused by the joke, more so since there is little or no joking in Nidal.
Utrath stands next to Jaidoh, not laughing feeling distinctly out of place. He whispers in her ear, "What is he trying to do?" He tenses at the thugs surrounding them, his hand feels his club as reassurance.
Jaidoh shakes her head:
I do not know. The ways of this land are alien to me.
Jerry decides to tell a friendly joke. He asks the biggest man there:
"Do you know the difference between giving sexual pleasure to an ogre and a roast of lamb?"When the man looks confused or answers no:
"Well you better not be a server at the Ogre Inn!! That is an important difference to know there!!"
the man first stares, waiting for the answer to the question and when it's said he just stares for a moment or two before laughing with Oleg and the rest of his men joining in.
"I like ya. You'd make a great Jester." he laughs, letting down his guard.
Jerry smiles, "Now get this ogre a roast of Lamb."
He points to Ostog.
"Me hungry," Ostog manages to say between two laughs. It didn't have the humorous ring to it he intended, he was still a bit tense from the situation.
Utrath looks on and wonders about the food about to be forthcoming.
The man continues to laugh as do the other men, letting their guard down as they're enjoying the comedy.
As you enter you see three more men, dressed the same as those at the entrance and wearing the same markings around the neck. The one behind the desk looks somewhat disturbed, but smiles anyway. On the desk are many different vials of silvery liquid that match what you know of the drug known as Shiver.
"Big spenders, eh?" he leans over and takes a good hard look at Rabe "Such a strong lad shouldn't be taking this, you should join us. Big plans for this city, we could use some real muscle."
The laughter breaks my mulling over of his statement, I look at the laughing men behind the desk.
"If I join you would my associates be able to buy and sell as they see fit, and what would I have to do to join you? I imagine your boss would want to meet me prior to my joining."I say the last part as an assumed statement rather then a question.
He stops laughing when Rabe says that and then looks at him curiously.
"Our boss is very particular with who she chooses. You appear strong, but you need more than mere strength to join." he turns to one of the men and sends him to the nearby door. At the door, he tampers with the door before stepping through, but he stops for a moment as the man at the desk hands him a large leg of lamp. "For the security." he states with a grin as he turns back from the group.
"I want to meet your boss! Together we can make more money!"
"Tell me then, what is it that I need to join."
Ostog is still unsure about what is unfolding and will keep a watchful eye.
The man returns and behind him is a young beautiful woman with pale skin and a horrific rope burn around her neck. As some of the other's look fake, her's looks real. She wears black clothing and even has black nails and make up, going for a dark and dead look. She glares at the group and back at the man at the desk.
"Why do you think you have the right to enter the Gallowed?" she states as she looks quite irritated at being disturbed.
Jerry approaches the gothic-looking female with a smile and a bow. He begins with a sincere, focused introduction.
"Ma'am, I am here to talk business. Our crew has already impressed, and that is only with a small amount of time to meet your fellows."
With a discerning look, almost peering into the woman's soul, Jerry instinctively tries to establish some rapport. "Society has chosen to neglect or shun each of us at great peril. I think the drug Shiver I am told you can provide could be the instrument of its downfall. AND, by the way, a method to wealth and power for us all. If only you think of distribution on a larger scale."
At seeing the 'boss' appear I heft my sword "Oh, I don't want to join you, I just wanted to meet the 'boss' to ask a few questions. Now, tell me who your supplier is or I will have to kill you all." I say with a vicious smile.
Jerry laughs as if it is a huge joke and smiles.
Then he begins casting a spell.
Jaidoh sighs as the conversation rapidly takes a more violent turn. She then begins to prepare to cast a spell depending on how her companions and the enemy positions themselves.
The woman smirks and shakes her head at Rabe.
"If you wish to speak to him, he's in the door behind me. Men! Get him!" she proclaims as the battle then starts.
Round 1
Team Iniative:
Rabe the Huntsman:
Ostog Oath-Breaker:
Jaidoh Palumbra:
Utrath Pallan:
Jerry Brightstone:
Blackhands of the Redeemer:
Woman in Black:
Thugs:
E:
S:
Order:
E
Woman in Black
Thugs
Rabe the Huntsman
Blackhands of the Redeemer
Utrath Pallan
Jerry Brightstone
S
Ostog Oath-Breaker
Jaidoh Palumbra
The woman in black puts her hands out and covers the four men in flames.
DC 14 reflex save for half.
She cast Burning hands on the group.
She appears to be a changling, a humanoid born from the union of a hag and intelligent humanoid.
The thugs draw our their swords and move into combat. Those outside make their way inside. Two having opened the doors hurl knives inside at the heroes.
Attack on Ostog:
damage:
Attack on Rabe:
Those in combat take a swing at the many heroes with their shortswords.
Attack on Rabe 1:
Attack on Rabe 2:
damage:
Attack on Jerry:
damage:
Attack on Ostog:
Attack on Blackhands:
The door to the north now open. You see a remaining thug there in a area filled with what appears to be old tomes covered in thick and sparkling web.
You all manage to catch sight of four spiders in the room and on the ceiling, crawling towards the door is a hidious creature with long claws, hidious fangs and either spider eyes above the two bulbus human-like layout of the eyes.
The creature before you is an abberation named a Ettercap. They have no weakness to special materials and it's bite can deliver a poison, similar to that of a giant spider's.
The poison dripping from this creature's fangs is a paralysing agent which stiffens the muscles, but does not entirely freeze a person in place. The poison simply makes the target easy prey for this creature or it's spider companions. they also have the ability, like certain spiders, to throw a web out to enangle creatures.
This creature has, for whatever reason, a strange empathic connection to spiders of all kinds which helps them train and command many different arachnids.
They also make traps out of their webs to add a extra crafty element to it. They can make deadfalls, nooses and spear traps. Each one very deadly and have claimed the life of more than one unwarey traveller or animal trying to find shelter.
They possess the sight to not only see in dimly lit areas but also are able to see in perfect darkness up to 60 feet.
Ettercaps are typically 6 feet tall and weigh about 200 pounds. They are solitary creatures and rarely group with others of their kind, even to mate. When they do group, they tend to attract a variety of different spiders, forming a strange collective of ettercaps and arachnids.
Ettercaps are known for building cunning traps out of webs and other natural materials, using them to trap prey. They build shelters out of webbing, often high up in the trees away from other ground-based predators, and use monstrous spiders as lookouts and guardians.
Ettercaps are not brave creatures, but their traps often ensure that the enemy never draws a weapon. When an ettercap does engage its enemies, it attacks with its claws and venomous bite. It usually refuses to come within melee reach of any foe that is still able to move, and flees if an opponent gets free.
What most people don't know is that certain Ettercaps, like people, can be bribed into working for other intelligent creatures for food or other possible advantages.
These are Dream spiders. They create a shiny webbing that is often found in books, though many argue why they do this. when catching humans they wait until their poison takes full effect so they can't defend themselves and then wrap them up, ready to eat.
The Dream Spider's poison works different to normal spiders. Not only is the drug, 'Shiver' is made from their web and can affect the mind in a negative way. The poison aims for the logical side of the intelligent creature's mind. High enough doses reduce one's mind enough that they fall into a coma, completely defenceless and become perminantly entangled.
The web of the Dream spider is filled with strange toxins that, on contact, deliver a similar affect to those who are bitten by them or drink the shiver. Setting the web alight, however, turns out noxious fumes that affect all living creatures.
Dream spiders lurk in dark places. In the jungles they spin their webs in the thick branches of the canopy above, skulk under mossy growths, or hide among fungal shelves jutting from giant trees. Dream spiders lay egg in lightless places and prefer to plant their brood in books above all. Libraries are often infested with dream spiders.
Treasure
Dream spiders are a treasure unto themselves. A live specimen is worth 50 gp, while a typical egg cluster is worth 100 gp (young dream spiders are difficult to raise in captivity, though). Dream spider webbing is worth 50 gp per nest, although care must be taken in handling the stuff. Silk spun from dream spider webs is particularly valued in the crafting of clothing intended to bear illusion magic.
The primary value of a dream spider, though, is to an alchemist who has mastered the craft of brewing shiver from dream spider venom. A single dose of shiver is worth 10 gp, although actual street value can sometimes exceed five times that amount in areas where drug trades are tightly controlled or illegal.
Variants
Several sub-species are known to exist—the specimen described above is merely the most populous breed, and the easiest to catch.
Perhaps the next most common variant is the deatheye dancer. These mottled black and purple dream spiders are usually bulkier than the common breed, and their fangs are noticeably larger as well (bite damage 1d6). The bite of a death-eye dancer also causes a victim to shuffle and spasm wildly, almost as if dancing—this venom deals 1d4 points of Dexterity damage in addition to the normal Wisdom damage.
Rarer are the much larger and more dangerous nightmare spiders—Medium-sized dream spiders with black and red markings whose venom causes three times the amount of Wisdom damage on the initial save and paralysis for 2d6 hours if the secondary save is failed.
Shiver
Enigmatic and eerily beautiful, dream spiders are a hot commodity on the streets, where it’s said their venom shows some the future.
Venom milked directly from a dream spider is potent, but not particularly habit-forming. When the venom is boiled in a mixture of water, alcohol, and webbing gathered from dream spider nests, the result is an addictive drug called “shiver.” The process of creating the drug is complex, requiring a DC 22 Craft (alchemy) check to produce a single dose.
Shiver is taken by mouth, and its effects are swift. The drinker must make a DC 10 Fortitude save to resist taking 1 point of Wisdom damage. A minute later, he must save again or lapse into a comatose state for 1d4 hours, during which he experiences vivid, bizarre dreams. Each additional dose of shiver taken within 24 hours increases the DC to resist by +1 and the duration of the coma by 1d4 hours.
Shiver is extremely habit-forming. Each time a creature takes the drug, he can resist addiction with a DC 10 Fortitude check. An addicted character must make a DC 15 Fortitude save each week he doesn’t use shiver to avoid taking 1d10 points of Wisdom damage. A character who makes two of these saving throws in a row recovers from his addiction.
Jaidoh yawns and takes a quick nap while everyone else decides what to do.
"Blackhands, time for your healing juju."
Knowledge(Nature)
Reflex
I fly into a rage upon taking fire damage from the woman, zeroing in on her as my primary target.
Attack caster
Damage
The power within him erupted in a gout of flame as Black turned to confront the rush of goons rushing to surround them.
Finally Ostog thinks, as the familiar fury begins to raise in him now battle is engaged. Unprepared however both the flames and blades bite him before the Ulfen can shield himself. Roaring out his pain he swipes his axe sideways at the man next to Jerry and him . He continues the motion bringing his spiked new acquisition to bear, sadly it sails by the man.
Status:
Hp: 10/19
Jerry yelps as he is unable to avoid the flames and grunts as the sword cuts into him.
If the man Ostog attacked went down, then Jerry will take his place and heal unimpeded. Otherwise he will try to draw and attack the man Ostog hit with his longsword.
Seeing the men taking care of business, Jaidoh turns to the two enemies standing near her hoping to stop both before they have a chance to flank her or anyone else. She raises her hands and with great ease creates a rainbow of colors to spring forth from her hands which encompass the two "guards" standing behind her and Blackhands (L8, M8).
Cast Defensive:
Cast Color Spray <-- DC15 Will to avoid effects
Rabe's attack knocks the woman down in a single and powerful blow.
Reflex:
The two thugs take the flames directly and come out horribly singed, but still standing.
Casting defensively.:
Utrath's club enlarges in size and gives off a magic aura.
You see a bunch of the sparkling blue spiders approaching the group. One is above where the woman was standing and two others moving in the room beyond to those that barely see into the room.
Ostog cuts down the thug with a simple swing of his Axe, making it look easy.
Jaidoh's spell knocks the two men unconscious with a single blow of the spell, causing the other men to visibly be scared.
Round 2
Order:
Ettercap
Woman in Black
Thugs
Rabe the Huntsman
Blackhands of the Redeemer
Utrath Pallan
Jerry Brightstone
Spiders
Ostog Oath-Breaker
Jaidoh Palumbra
The creature scurries across the ceiling and then hurls a web at Jaidoh.
attack:
Jaidoh now has the entangled condition.
Three of the thugs flee, but the one from the desk decides to attack the funny man, Jerry as he draws a dagger.
attack:
damage:
On to Rabe again.
"Gaahahahahaha!" I laugh a rumbling, unnerving laugh as I watch the "woman" fall to my onslaught.
Taking a 5ft step forward [ooc]J7[ooc] I swing at the unnatural purple spider being.
Attack
Damage
Still beset, Black shoots another blast of flames at the thugs.
Status hp 16, AC 16, 2/4 Level 1 spells remaining
Turning towards the man attacking Blackhands, Ostog have trouble getting his axe safely past his comrade and it misses, however the spikes of his shield have no such problem and a horizontal slash opens up the victims throat causing blood to erupt from the wound.
Jerry continues to hit his target with the longsword.
If his target falls, Jerry step into his space, attempting to use the body to shield him as it falls.
"Gaahahahahaha!" I laugh a rumbling, unnerving laugh as I watch the "woman" fall to my onslaught.
Taking a 5ft step forward I swing at the unnatural purple spider being.
Attack 1d20+8
Damage 2d6+7
Still beset, Black shoots another blast of flames at the thugs.
[dice=Cast Defensively DC 12]1d20+6
[dice=Damage]2d4
Status hp 16, AC 16, 2/4 Level 1 spells remaining
Blackhands roasts the men alive in the flames as they were unconcious and unable to fight back.
Blackhands roasts the men alive in the flames as they were unconscious and unable to fight back.
The two thugs take the flames directly and come out horribly singed, but still standing.
Blackhands roasts the men alive in the flames as they were unconscious and unable to fight back.
The two thugs take the flames directly and come out horribly singed, but still standing.
Rabe's axe slams hard into the hideous purple aberration and it let's out a gurgled sound that some could think was a scream-like sound. It has a thick hide, but certainly not thick enough to resist weapons including Rabe's axe.
"We having fun yet??!"
"Don't make me summon the Baginses."