The spider reels back in pain from Tun'ada and James' blows, and retaliates against the Shoanti with another painful bite. The spider falters a little and is clearly badly hurt.
DC16 Fort save or take points of strength damage.
Maintaining his grip on the pole arm, James makes another powerful thrust back at the spider.
Round Two Action:
Ambroze continues to provide combat advice to his companions while he loads a bolt into his light crossbow and fires at the giant spider.
The click of the crossbow mechanism heralds the end of the skirmish- the spider takes the bolt to the face and collapses, twitching and bleeding from various wounds.
Savarend lies still, stable but unconcious.
Gather round, Gwen says, kneeling by Savarend. She begins to pulse healing energy.
Everyone feeling better? Welcome back to the land of the living, my new dwarven friend.
Chi smiles at Gwen as the waves of positive energy serge through her body, yet despite the healing she still feels very weak. "Thanks Gwen, are you sure that healing worked, I'm still feeling weak, that spider must have poisoned me as well. I still have that potion which can help, but is there anyone else in more need of the restorative powers?"
"We still have a spare in my pack," James tells Chi, rolling his arm in his socket and feeling where his wound once was, "drink the potion, we wouldn't you passing out on us."
Fort Save
Chi falls to the ground, her strength taken from her. Even a backpack seems to heavy for her.
Strength damage.
Gwen kneels by Chi, obviously concerned. She rummages through the other woman's backpack for the Lesser Restoration potion that she knows is there, and continues sucking the poison out of the spider bite.
"Here, I've got one of those restorative potions, too," Ambroze says as he rummages through his pack. Finding said potion, he offers it to Gwenyth.
Pour it slowly into her mouth, will you, Ambroze? That'd be a great help. Ptah! , the waifish girl spits. If this poison is as foul as it tastes, she'll need all the help she can get.
Fortitude save
Chi, face looks up at Ambroze as he slowly trickles the potion down here throat. She smiles, "Ambroze you keep your potion, there will be others that may need it later. If I can just get a bit stronger, it will be sufficient."
We ought to have known there'd be some kind of spider here. Don't they always choose the high ground? Speaking of which, let's see what we can see from that ridge over there, Gwen says, pulling Chi up from the ground.
From the high ground of the ridge, you can see the game trail you stumbled across yesterday extends deep into the heart of the island.
To the south-east of the Brine Demon shipwreck you explored, you can see two more shipwrecks on the eastern coast, beyond the smaller ridge to the south-east. On this smaller ridge, a clear hilltop is visible that matches Ishorou's loose description.
Directly south of you, at the southern end of the game trail a little beyond where you explored to yesterday, a small campsite is visible, although you can't tell if it is in use. A small wooden shack stands out amongst the campsite though.
Barely visible about two miles away, far into the ridge to your south-west, a small wooden hut is just barely visible.
To your north-west, a small clearing is visible- with some exotic looking yellow plants growing in the fifty foot diameter area. You think you briefly spotted some humanoid figures in the clearing, possibly cultivating the plants.
In the same direction directly on the coast, another campsite with shelters apparently made from driftwood sits- with the game trail leading north towards it. Your close enough to see that this campsite seems to be uninhabited and mostly wrecked- save for a single figure that stands motionless with his or her back to you- looking out towards the ocean.
Traversing to the hilltop would require either-
1. Doubling back along the river and the ridge to follow the eastern river fork back to where you were yesterday and work from there.
OR
2. Attempting to climb down the ridge at your current location, and work your way from there. The ridge is about 100 feet high, and looks like a fairly difficult climb.
"I think it would be wise not to venture through unexplored territory until we have the luxury of time, shall we try investigating the shack on the south coast?" James adds, fishing rope from his pack to begin preparations for the descent down the ridge.
Chi, still wary after the effects of the poison, "I agree with James the least effort I can use the better today, that spider poison really took it out of me. Thanks Gwen and you too Ambroze for all you did to help, I really appreciated it, if there's anything I can do to help you, just ask."
"Yes, let's investigate the shack. In the morning we can make our way to the hilltop, should we still want to."
"I agree with James and Tun'ada. Let's check out that shack on the southern coast."
Chi looks down from the ridge to see if here is a safe ledge(s) with significant vegetation about half way down the ridge. So that they can break the climb down into 50ft drops, (or 3 35ft drops) or alternatively if there is a path down somewhere.
Perception
Your inspection is not promising- the ridge is steep and seems almost devoid of ledges.
James looks around for a tree, or other solid object to fix the rope to.
James looks around for a tree, or other solid object to fix the rope to.
Chi helps James look for a suitable tree, James, you know we're gonna have to tie more ropes together, I think we need at least 2 ropes to get down there? I don't fancy climbing down the last 50ft or so without a rope you know.
"We have plenty of rope between us, Tun'ada and I both carry some and there's plenty more back at camp if we can't get this back." James tells Chi, as he goes about securing the rope and tying some together to make a longer line.
As the rope is tied around the tree and made ready for the decent, Chi gathers foliage and other natural stuff to try and disguise where the rope is tied and the route of the rope from the tree to the drop over the ridge. "Tun'ada, don't know if you can help with this, you know a lot about things natural, but can you help disguise this rope, so it might be here later if we need it?"
As Chi watches the ropes being tied together, she goes to Ambroze and asks if he thinks they are strong enough knots, as he does seem to know much about everything. If only from the 'theoretical' point of view.
"James, can Ambroze take a look at the knots he may be able to help. And how are we going to help everyone get down?"
"Sure Chi," James replies with a shrug, "best to make this as safe as possible."
"Tun'ada, don't know if you can help with this, you know a lot about things natural, but can you help disguise this rope, so it might be here later if we need it?"
"I can certainly try something like that."
Gwen looks down the ledge and gulps audibly.
"Tun'ada, don't know if you can help with this, you know a lot about things natural, but can you help disguise this rope, so it might be here later if we need it?""I can certainly try something like that."
Chi helps Tun'ada
Chi then goes to Gwen and puts her arm around her, "Be brave Gwen, I'm sure you can do it. I don't like it either, but we'll help each other down somehow."
Tun'ada comes up with the idea of using various vines, leaves and twigs to disguise the rope as sparse vegetation, using bark resin as a kind of natural glue. It wouldn't fool a close inspection, but you don't think anybody would look at the ridge and see a rope anymore.
With the camouflage in place, James ties the two ropes together in a sturdy knot, and lowers it in place on the ridge.
Any other precautions? If not i'd like an order of descent, along with either a climb roll or a take 10, players choice. You can all have a +2 favourable circumstance bonus to this roll as a reward for the general caution you took preparing for the climb.
Tun'ada will climb down first.
Tun'ada makes the climb down without any real difficulties.
Chi, jeg tror ikke du virkelig forstår. Ikke bare er jeg veldig redd for høyder, men jeg kan ikke klatre å redde livet mitt. Kan du be James å senke meg ned? , Gwen asks, clearly distressed and in a state of panic.
Chi eyes wide, holds Gwen's hands, "Let's see if we can do that. Stay here don't worry we're not going to let anything happen to you." Chi then leaves Gwen and runs over to James and Savarend. "Boys, Gwen's in real trouble, I don't think she's capable of climbing down the ridge. she asked to be lowered down, do you think we can do that? Actually, it might be better to let everyone climb down whilst attached to a safety rope. But for poor Gwen, she's white as a sheet almost in tears, I think you will have to lower her down. Can we do that?"
After reaching the ground, Tun'ada readies his longspear and guards the landing zone.
As Chi sees Savarend about to climb down, she shouts to him, "Savarend wait, can you help get Gwen down, she needs some help! Can you wait and help James lower her down on this rope here?"