Dantrian secures the longspear over his shoulder as the rusted chains rattle their last. Nodding in satisfaction, he then gestures to the room beyond, "Shall we continue our search now? I confess, these constant animate interruptions are growing tiresome."
Janos nods. "Let's sweep the rest of these rooms clear. Then we can decide about which floor to move to."
Drosil nods, but his gaze lingers on the now-still manacles. I suppose I can take solace in the fact that I distracted the chains, even if, yet again, I could do nothing to harm them. As the group moves onward, he follows their lead, hoping still to prove himself useful.
Dantrian steps over the downed chain without sparing it another thought and proceeds to search throughout the room.
Anton on the other hand replaces his morningstar and keeps his eyes peeled for any more dangers.
He approaches Janos.
How are you coping with that axe, Janos? It must be a burden. We'll find a way to remove it, don't worry.
"It's ok, Anton. As bad as it sounds, I'm getting used to it. It's like an extension of my arm. But I suppose I shouldn't want to get used to it, eh? It will make shaving much more dangerous." He smiles, but it fades quickly. "I don't know what the Lopper's taint will do, Anton. If I become a danger to everyone... If some madness takes hold, you can't wait. The Lopper killed so many with this axe. I might kill half a dozen before someone can stop me. If it comes to it, you can't hesitate to put me down."
He smiles weakly. "Not that I'm planning on succumbing, mind you. I plan to fight whatever his influence is. Maybe Dantrian can find a potion to help. It's just that....Kendra, the townspeople. I could do a lot of damage to them."
There is nothing of use in the induction room, just more manacles. Janos has already moved to check the next room across the narrow passage as Dantrian is inspecting the chamber they just fought in. The door to this room has fallen from its hinges. The rectangular chamber beyond seems to have once been a chapel, but now thick sheets of what appear to be cobwebs drape everything within in gossamer threads.
Anton:
Drosil:
B'Yelka:
Dantrian:
Tibideau:
Janos:
B'Yelka can see from the doorway that there is a web covered cabinet along the north west wall. She also notices three dog-sized spiders hiding in the shadowy webbing along the ceiling. They appear to be waiting for the people to enter the room, their beady compound eyes are trained on the door.
_____________________________________________
Anton:
Drosil:
B'Yelka:
Dantrian:
Tibideau:
Janos:
Spider:
Initiative
Spiders 23+
Party 23-
Seeing the spiders, B'yelka tells the party, "Do we really want to fight with those... things? She shudders visibly. Look at the gross hairy legs! So many spiky hairy legs! Recovering, she whistles a fast tune, then touches Drosil on the shoulder.
Janos exchanges a glance with Anton and pulls out his new bow. "Shall we- Oh. Right." He stares at the hand holding the axe as he tries again to open his fingers so he can draw an arrow. Failing, the Ranger sighs. "I guess you'll have to do this one."
Tibideau shrugs his shoulders cheerfully at Janos. "Don't worry, hon! If you go insane and start murdering everyone, I'm fully prepared to Slumber you, tie you up, and throw you in the river!" Is there a river? "But of course we'll try to break the curse first!"
Hearing B'yelka, he responds, "...things? THINGS? WHAT THINGS???"
Anton puts his hand on Janos' shoulder.
Don't lose heart. There is always a path to take, even if it is the road less travelled. We'll find a way.
As B'yelka points out the massive spiders, Anton hisses;
Desna's wings! Look at the size of those spiders!
He draws his bow and lines up the shot.
Shall I fire?
Dantrian draws a javelin from the quiver across his back and offers it to Janos, "Here, Janos. Perhaps you will find this more efficacious while your other hand remains locked about that ax." He then draws his longspear again and uses it to quickly clear the webs from the door way so they don't foul any of Anton's shots.
Anton's two arrows thunk into the nearest spider to the door, killing it instantly. The other two arachnids spring into action, dropping onto the floor and scurrying towards Anton. They dart forward to bite at his legs. One of them gets a grip on his ankle, its fangs puncturing his flesh and pumping some venom into the wound.
________________________________
Drosil sees the spider latch on to Anton's leg. "Anton!" Once again, Drosil launches himself into the room, jumping and tumbling past the spiders and swings at the beast.
Drosil sees the spider latch on to Anton's leg. "Anton!" Once again, Drosil launches himself into the room, jumping and tumbling past the spiders and swings at the beast. He slices the spider clean in half.
Janos waves away the javelin as the spiders skittle forward to bite Anton. "Nevermind, it would seem they're coming to us." Seeing Drosil move to attack the nearer one, Janos pulls his throwing axe and hurls it at the one farther into the room. Unfortunately, he's throwing with his left hand and the awkward throw causes the axe to sail and land beyond the creature.
B'yelka's scourge lashes out at the remaing spider, it's tip flickering amongst the spider's legs. "It is distracted! Kill the thing!"
Ah! Thanks Drosil. Bloody stings though
Strength=13/14
Hp=27/28
Tibideau shrieks when he sees the spiders, but calms down slightly when he sees that the other party members have handled the first two so swiftly.
Round 1
Drosil sees the spider latch on to Anton's leg. "Anton!" Once again, Drosil launches himself into the room, jumping and tumbling past the spiders and swings at the beast. He slices the spider clean in half.
Janos waves away the javelin as the spiders skittle forward to bite Anton. "Nevermind, it would seem they're coming to us." Seeing Drosil move to attack the nearer one, Janos pulls his throwing axe and hurls it at the one farther into the room. Unfortunately, he's throwing with his left hand and the awkward throw causes the axe to sail and land beyond the creature.
B'yelka's scourge lashes out at the remaing spider, it's tip flickering amongst the spider's legs. "It is distracted! Kill the thing!"
"Ah! Thanks Drosil. Bloody stings though." Anton says, stepping back to fire his bow. One of his arrows pierces the arachnid severely damaging it. The other clatters across the floor harmlessly.
Dantrian steps up to attack with his longspear, but the door frame intervenes. His spear bounces off the edge of the portal with a clunk.
Tibideau shrieks when he sees the spiders, but calms down slightly when he sees that the other party members have handled the first two so swiftly.
The spider bites out at Drosil before skittering away from the angry giants. It completely misses in its haste to escape.
__________________________
Drosil closes the distance between the spider and himself, then viciously skewers the creature.
Seeing the creature's legs curl under it, he withdraws his blade and carefully wipes off the resulting ichor, then turns to the rest of the group. "Anton, is there anything we can do to help with your leg?"
Anton leans heavily against the wall and examines the puncture wound in his leg with some distaste.
I dont know Dros, hurts like the devil and I feel a bit drained too, as I did with those giant centipedes in the hidden crypt. If im poisened, think one of you can bleed it out?
Drosil grins. "You know me, Anton - I'm more the 'go to the tavern and drink until it doesn't hurt anymore' type..." Still, he looks to the others, hoping one of them has some way to help.
Janos walks into the room to pick up his throwing axe, knocking down the spider webs as he goes. He looks around casually for anything useful in the room.
"Here, let me see, Anton." Janos kneels down to inspect the Paladin's leg. He gently touches the wound to see if blood, poison, or both can be extracted.
B'yelka thinks briefly about the blood and mess associated with treating Anton's wound and suddenly realizes there is no way she can get her new outfit soiled so soon after buying it. Feeling a bit guilty, she looks away as if watching for other threats.
A cabinet covered with webs in the northwest wall still contains a few religious supplies, including five vials of holy water, a scroll of lesser restoration, and a wand of cure light wounds .
This stark room contains a low stone bench against the north wall and a ruined desk to the west that sits under three narrow, barred windows. An old brass brazier lies on its side to the south, surrounded by several rusty branding irons.
A thought clicks. I can help! B'yelka reaches out to Anton and whistles a damilar fast tune. That should help. A little anyway.
Janos hands the healing supplies to Anton to keep or distribute. "That scroll might help you with the poison."
He leads the group to the last door and opens it. He steps in and looks around, spotting the desk. He moves over to it to take a closer look.
Well, that's rather grim. Drosil gives the branding irons a wide berth and joins Janos in looking at the desk, opening any drawers and searching for anything of use or value.
Tibideau peers at the healing supplies Janos hands to Anton. He snatches the wand and pockets it. "I'll be taking this. Unless anyone else wants to claim it!"
He peaks his head around the door frame as Janos and Drosil search the room. He grimaces squeamishly when he sees the branding irons. "Ewww! Did they brand the prisoners? How horrid!"
After shaking his head disdainfully at the spiders and noddingly approvingly at the supplies found within their den, Dantrian follows Janos and Drosil into the room with the branding irons. "Those spiders kept some valuable and helpful items in their nest, perhaps we might find similarly helpful items in here."
Anton takes the scroll and begins to read it.
Then realises he has it upside down.
Bah! The handwriting on this is terrible! Wheres that wand..?
Thats better.
If Dantrian tries to mask his disapproval of Anton's upside-down reading, he does an extremely poor job of it. Turning away with an arrogant shake of his head and roll of his eyes, Dantrian wordlessly returns to searching the room for helpful supplies or potential dangers.
As the heroes begin to search the room, Dantrian notices the rising scent of burnt flesh. A moment later the four branding irons rise up into the air as their tips grow red-hot. The irons lance through the air at the three men searching the room.
Drosil and Dantrian are able to dodge out of the way, but Janos in caught squarely in the back, between the shoulder blades. The iron sears into his flesh with a meaty sizzle, burning a stylized H into his skin there. A millisecond later as the town's champion's whirl to confront the threat, the find the branding irons cold and dormant back where they were before, leaning against the brazier.
Continuing to search the room, they find nothing of value.
Janos screams as the searing hot iron brands his skin. He spins to slash at the thing, but the threat is already gone. He breathes heavily, wincing at the pain. "Bloody hell of a place. Let's kill these ghosts and get the hell out of here." He spits on the branding iron.
Accursed place. The good news is we seem to have cleared this floor. The bad news is we can now go up or down. I say up, the climb is nit so difficult.