Rivane
HP 10/10
The priest resist the urge to shook loose the spider and, spinning his spear -which emits a peculiar whistling sound- cuts at the vermin.
Rivane's spear slashes a deep gash in the floor next to his boot, but the spider remains unscathed.
Alastair
HP 9/9
Alastair shifts to his left, his blade now in his hand, ready to strike. He lunges for the spider.
Stepping in front of the doorway, Alastair pluges his dagger down into the spider's abdomen, killing it instantly.
Xavaros steps forward and takes aim at the spider attacking Red with his crossbow.
The bolt goes wide and impacts against the wall of the barge with a thunk. Cursing under his breath in Elven, Xavaros draws out another bolt and reloads the weapon for his next shot.
"Bah! Blasted bug!" Travigan strikes out at the spiders in front of him, swinging his axe at one while punching out with his cestus at the other. His movements are lumbering and clumsy, relying on savage ferocity rather than practiced skill to try and land the blows.
HP: 14/15
AC: 13 (11 T / 12 FF)
CMD: 15
F/R/W: +4/+2/+3 (+2 vs enchant, immune sleep)
Rage Rounds used: 2/6
Harrow Points used: 0/3
-Ongoing Effects-
TWF (off-hand light): -4/-8
Crowd Control: Adjacent to 2 enemies, +1 to hit, +1 dodge bonus to AC
Travigan's battle axe smashes the spider that bit him to pieces, but the second arachnid hops out of the way of his cestus swing.
Red
HP 13/13
Too preoccupied with the massive spider in front of her to be worried about Xavaros's shot, Red draws her other kukri and tries stabbing the spider with that as well.
The drain spider skitters out of the way of Red's first attack, only to be caught by her second deadly stab to its midsection and killed.
The two remaining drain spiders continue their attacks against Travigan and Rivane, but are both easily dodged by the skilled warriors.
Rivane
HP 10/10
The shoanti slashes with his spear again at the spider attacking him, hoping to kill it off before it can bite him.
Alastair
HP 9/9
Alastair slides by Xavaros and Travigan, moving himself in a better position to attack.
The spider facing Rivane once again hops out of the way of his heavy spear thrust.
Stepping around the staircase to behind Rivane, Xavaros takes aim at the closest spider and fires off another bolt.
'Damn it!' The crossbow bolt strikes the ground next to the spider and the wizard reaches for another bolt. 'If this keeps up much longer, I'll have to resort to the last of my magic...'
"Ow! Little biter! I kin see why me wife hated you blasted, soggy, eight-legged crappers so badly! Bah! Stay still an' let me squash you!"
Regardless of his positioning, his axe swings well above the spider. His eyes bulging with frustration, Travigan shouts at the vermin, "BAAAH! I TOLD YE TA STAY STILL! QUIT YER JUMPIN', BUG!"
HP: 14/15
AC: 13 (11 T / 12 FF) (14 if adjacent to both spiders)
CMD: 15
F/R/W: +4/+2/+3 (+2 vs enchant, immune sleep)
Rage Rounds used: 3/6
Harrow Points used: 0/3
-Ongoing Effects-
rage (+4 strength)
if adjacent to both spiders: crowd control (+1 AC, +1 to hit)
Red
HP 13/13
Red scrambles as fast as she can over to where she sees the last two spiders and slashes downward with the kukri in her left hand, her teeth gritted. In her haste though, her slice goes wild and her blade bites only the rotting wood of the boat floor.
The spider in the north lunges at Alastair while the southern spider attacks Rivane, but both of the arachnids are dodged easily.
Rivane
HP 10/10
Rivane tries to impale the spider that just attaked him, but as he had done, the spider dodges the attack.
Alastair
HP 9/9
With the spider distracted by Rivane, Alastair lunges out with his dagger.
The blade slides into the spider in a weak spot, felling the creature on the spot.
'This isn't working' Lifting the crossbow sling over his shoulder and letting the weapon clatter to the ground, Xavaros draws his dagger from its sheath and rushes around the stairs to a position next to the spider. "I'm not very good with this knife, but I'll try to draw its attention. Someone squash this thing!"
Travigan steps into positions, swings, then roars in frustration as the spider neatly dodges his overhead chop, "*(&@#($*&@)(@*#)#$@&%(*#&$(@*_)(@#*$&(@#*%!" The torrent of compound profanities seems to almost tangibily weave together into an intricate tapestry above everyone's heads.
HP: 14/15
AC: 13 (11 T / 12 FF)
CMD: 15
F/R/W: +4/+2/+3 (+2 vs enchant, immune sleep)
Rage Rounds used: 4/6
Harrow Points used: 0/3
-Ongoing Effects-
rage (+4 strength)
Red
HP 13/13
"Hold on!" Red moves around to where Travigan is, trying to help him corner the spider.
The drain spider darts about frantically avoiding the attacks from all sides before lunging at Rivane, but once again biting nothing but a thick boot. Sensing its imminent doom, it suddenly darts through Rivane's legs making its way to the stairs.
As the spider begins to skitter away, Red reacts with lightning speed and drives her kukri down through its torso, producing a fountain of ichor and stopping the troublesome arachnid dead in its tracks.
Travigan exhales deeply as Red slashes the skittering vermin, then leans over and against the railing for the stairs. "Ah, but now I see why me wife hated them things so! Blasted little blighters! HA!" He takes a few labored breaths, then compliments Red, "That was a fine strike there, lass. Well done!" Then, more somberly to the group, "And... ahhh, well... 'pologies fer me temper there. Me words kin sometimes get away from me when I'm all aboil. Heh. That would'a earned me a fine tongue-lashin' from me wife, don't ye doubt." He trails off into a contented sigh recalling his wife, a distant, glazed look in his eyes.
Nodding once in response to Travigan's compliment, Red doesn't waste time contemplating the dead spiders.
"...He is not here," she says in a low voice, using the back of her hand to wipe her cheek. "But the boy... Wes. Said he was... We should get back. In case Lamm is running away."
Xavaros sheathes his dagger and walks around the stairway to retrieve his crossbow. "We should check this walkway before heading back. It's possible the boy was not fully informed, but Lamm's lair could be just ahead."
As the elf slings the crossbow back over his shoulder, he frowns at the doorway as he silently finishes his thought, 'And if Lamm is still hiding here somewhere, we can't leave until he's been dealt with.'
Rivane leans on his spear for a moment. "Damn those little vermin. In the Stroval Plateau the critters where bigger an easier to hit!"
As the elf speaks, the priest looks the others over, cheking none where bitten by the spiders "I agree. Just before entering the cowards lair, wait a moment and I'll ask for the blessings of the Ancestors."
Rivane goes to the door and starts crossing the walkway. Vengeance is near, I feel the departed clamoring for Gaedren's soul.
"Aye, I agree, but we're runnin' out o' boat right quick here. Still, no sense in searchin' the boat if'n we don't search all o' it."
After a cursory check of the lower decks turns up nothing of interest, a look out the doorway reveals a narrow space under the fishery with about four feet of room between the floor of the building above and the languid, foamy river water below. Wooden pilings support the building, and moss and cobwebs hang thick from ropes and rusted chains between them. A wooden walkway floats on the river surface, winding along the inner wall of pilings that supports the building's frame above, leading from the sodden barge to the east all the way west to a wooden door that leads into an understructure below the fishery's landbound half.
"Ahhh. Well there ya go then. I'd bet me anvil this flabby-lipped, cod-licker Lamm's over there."
Rivane crosses the walkway to the door, and when all of them are there, he turns to them.
"We will have only a minute before the blessing fades." He raises a hand, that shines softly with a ghostly radiance. "May the Ancestors guide our weapons and make us bold before our foes."
Bowing slightly in thanks at the oracle's blessing, Red tries to cross the walkway as silently as possible, keeping an eye out for the shark that had been seen in the water earlier on.
Alastair follows Red across the walkway.
"If you'd like, I could try to sneak through the door and see what I can see," he says, turning to his companions.
"I'm more for kickin' in 'is door an' lopping off 'is head all sudden and quick like, meself, but do as ye like, lad. If it 'elps us keep our heads, aye then it was prob'bly a good idea."
Following the others accross the walkway, Xavaros readies his crossbow and glances from side to side on the lookout for danger.
"Either path works for me, but we had best decide quickly before Rivane's blessing fades," he replies as he anxiously grips the bow. 'Lamm can't be far now...'
Alastair conceals a blade in his sleeve, walks to the door, listens quietly for a second, and then tries to open it slowly and silently.
The air in this large room is somewhat chilly and stinks of the river, no doubt thanks to a huge opening in the floor that drops away to the river shore five feet below. Several pilings emerge from the waters to support the roof above, with mossy ropes slung between them. In two places, rusty manacles hang from the ropes over the water. Two five-foot-wide walkways cross the hole's edge to the other side of the chamber where a collection of old cabinets, lockbockes, and piles of clutter are strewn about. Chipped porcelain plates, a cracked goblet, badly rusted silverware, an old wooden shield with a crossbow bolt embedded in it, the odd dinged helm, and other "treasures" litter the floor of this entire chamber. Three tables, their tops heaped with additional clutter, stand amid this mess, while just west of that a wooden door seems to provide access to a walled-off section.
As Alastair pokes his head into the room, a crossbow bolt flies through the air and embeds itself in the door just inches from his head. On the other side of the chamber, standing amidst the piles of loot and gripping a hand crossbow stands a hunchbacked, jaundiced, bent corpse of a man, his eyes yellowed and skin speckled from age, wearing a gray cotton robe. There can be no mistake, this is Gaedran Lamm. When he sees Alastair's face, a flash of recognition crosses his eyes. "YOU!! I know you!" he yells out, "I thought you died along with your miserable curr of a brother! How the hell did you find me? No matter now I suppose... Dinner time, Gobblegut!"
Gaedran's eyes fall to the water below and as your eyes follow his, you see a massive crocodile thrashing about madly and making its way towards the door. The animal wears an iron collar and you can see several crossbow bolts sticking out of its scaly hide; tormenting the beast is no doubt one of Gaedran's favorite pasttimes.
Alastair
HP 9/9
Alastair runs along the north wall, eyes fixed on Lamm. He flings a dagger at the man before he has any time to react.
The dagger plants itself in Lamm's shoulder, staggering the old man momentarily. His eyes ablaze with anger, he shouts, "You little brat! You'll pay for this!"
Rivane
HP 10/10
The priest walks into the room, and after looking hastily around, he moves up to Alastair and casts a minor magic. Suddenly, a voice sounding as if carried from the Great Beyond by a fiery wind shouts near the old man. "Gaedren, murderer, you'll pay for your sins!"
Rushing into the room, Xavaros pauses for a split second when he sees Lamm, "Time has not been kind to you old man. I have waited decades for this moment - today is the day you die!"
The elf moves up behind Rivane as he calls out the completion words to his prepared spell and points in the old thief's direction. "There is no escape for you now; your end will be here!"
Steadying himself against the nearby shelves, Gaedran shouts back, "Your magic tricks won't faze me! Get them Gobblegut! Tear them to pieces!!"
Not needing any additional prompting at the sight of an easy meal, the massive crocodile moves to the edge of the walkway and snaps its jaws at Xavaros' legs, but the elf dodges back against the wall out of reach of the snapping maw... for now.
[b]Red
HP 13/13[b]
At last.
The shouting just up ahead tells Red that the man she is looking for is here. Stepping through the doorway, she stalks past the others and moves swiftly towards Lamm, drawing her blades as she goes.