Misha chuckles. "Indeed, I've no use for makeup on an expedition. So if you found some in the haversack Kreig, it must belong to one of you gentlemen."
She turns back to the morlocks and nods. "We help. Help, do you understand?" She points at the areas on the map where he pointed out the monsters they wanted them to kill, and makes a pummeling gesture in her hand. "But--" she waves, to show she wants more information. She taps the location of the "fury" and then shrugs--what is it?
She slowly, very carefully showing no threat, pulls a piece of chalk out of her sack and on a nearby wall or stone, she draws a few lines, then offers the chalk to the morlock--maybe it can draw these creatures for them, give them a sense of what they are.
Witch spider does spells like Shaman
The creature takes the piece of chalk from Misha, chews on it and spits it out. He then in animated fashion taps first the "fury", then the "spider" rooms as he speaks to Misha.
Misha shrugs--she still got her answer. "Fury is one of them, but strong. They're afraid he's going to kill everyone. The 'witch spider' is a spider that casts spells."
Misha thinks for a moment, then you see her brighten up. The witch spider must be an Aranea. It is a shapechanger that can be a spider, humanoid or hybrid. In it's hybrid form it has a poisonous bite, but can also cast low level sorceress spells.
"Well... if they're in need of help I can't deny them." Redona reminds the party. "It's my job as a cleric of my goddess. Even if I'm not very good at fighting." She smiles gently at the creatures, giving them a nod. She was technically in a bind, even if she didn't mind helping. She doubted Borris could say no to smiting evil that was troubling people either.
"Well, at least we learned something," says Rikar with a shrug. "If you think of anything else useful, Misha, let us know, all right?"
He casts a glance around at his companions and says, "Looking at the map, and what these morlocks tell us, we should start with the spider-witch, then go collect the barghest's stuff, and then get the fury before we head for their exit. That does leave a large part of the caves unexplored, which I'm not very happy about, but these cave folk may prefer we not go tromping through their home. What do you all think?"
The more he hears about their potential foes, the more the dwarf wonders if he should have invested in some good luck charms. Not that they would be much good as weapons, but at the very least Kreig would feel a bit less edgy.
But as he studies those around him, while they don't look like someone you'd invite or a nice stroll in the mountain slopes, they at least had a right to not have shape-shifting spiders crawling around and eating their young ones.
"Ifn' there's webs n' such, a good dose a fire may turn the beastie around, eh? Spiders ain't much fer burnin' right?"
Lets go forth and cleans this real!
"I think that's a good plan, Krieg." She looks to the group, especially after Borris's enthusiastic reply. "I'm going to tell him we'll help."
She nods to the morlock leader, points to the map, then points to the exit in the room --- lead the way.
Redona reshoulders her gear for what seems like the millionth time in the past week or so, nodding at Misha and the others before following, taking up the rear.
The morlock chief acknowledges the help, we show you witch. He leads you about 50 feet and points ahead to a cave with many cobwebs in it. The chief and his men then fade into the background back down the hallway and wait for you.
As they move down the hall with the morlock chief, Rikar says quietly, "So, gang, do we start with fire and see how much damage we can do to her and the webs, or do we sneak in? Somehow trying to sneak up on something as notorious for quiet hunting as a spider doesn't seem like the best approach. Might make sense to light things up, see if we can't get some webs out of the way, and then move in. What do you all think?"
He pauses to let the conversation proceed out of the hearing of their prey, then moves on down the hall. Once they reach the point where their guide stops, Rikar raises a hand for quiet and listens closely for any signs of activity in the hall ahead.
"Kreig, you have a trap that might suit by any chance?" Misha whispers as they follow the morlock.
"Ain't got a boom left, but I could rig up something like a fuse." He thinks a bit on what he may need to rig up something. "The webs themselves could be a fuse o' sorts. If we draw get in, runnin' vibrations on her lines, then hit her from all sides..."
Kreig withdraws a piece of string from a pocket and ties a small rock to the ends. "We rig up a pincher trap, cause her ta crawl into a spot then..." He holds the middle of the line and let's the rocks fall until they small into one another. "Course tha rocks could be Alchemist Fire jars instead. They hit, light up the spider, set off the webs around her. We got any more left?"
He contemplates if they have what they need and if he can fabricate the trap. He'd have to make the trigger a pull string, something he'd set off by hand at the right moment.
"I have two flasks," Misha replies to the alchemist's fire question. "I think this'd be a good use of them."
Redona waited quietly as the others planned. Fire sounded like it might be a good idea, though she hoped it wouldn't hurt something else while they burned the spider. "But Misha, what about any treasure that might be in there? I mean... Archaeological stuff? Are we going to take that chance? ...It's okay either way to me. I'd rather people be safe... but I know you and all..."
"Good idea as usual, Misha," Rikar responds to the suggestion of a fire trap. "I do enjoy having Kreig blow up or burn down the baddies before we have to fight them. I always say it's important to know your enemy, but having them start a fight wounded ain't half bad either."
He thinks a moment after Redona speaks, then says, "You got a point, Red, but I'd rather burn the spider and take our chances on there being some damaged relics, than fight this great, big witch-spider thing at full strength."
"These are natural caves--there's a risk, but there probably aren't many artifacts in this part, and if there are, ones that've survived in a place like this are probably made of stone and will survive a brief fire."
"Besides, I'm all about preserving history, but we can't do it if we're all caught in her web and are eaten."
----------------------------------
Kreig nods as understanding drifts around the group and launches into his plan to lay a trap for the spider changer. "Lookee here," he begins, kneeling down to point out locations on the morlock drawn map. "I set up my swing-trap here (M16), you guys lay in wait here, n' here, I lay up here all tossed about with webs n' such, callin' fer momma ta get ole' eight-leggy to come outta her lair. Then whap," he lets the two pebbles swing down from his makeshift model string. "She gets lit up wid tha fire, then you guys light her up wid arrows n get stabby."
He looks to the group to see if there's agreement.
...setup on the swing trap
...getting into position
...during setup
...as I smear some of the webs on me to fake being tangled up / and trigger the vibrations to hopefully lure her out.
"Ah, dag nab it! Can't get caught up n' this mess, ole son. Can't do it!" Kreig bluffs panic in his voice as he 'stumbles' back and collapses in position. "C'mon Kreig, get yerself upsiedaisy 'fore whatever made this mess comes along! Can't fight on yer onesies!"
Want me to take point on this one guys? Borris wonders if he can't just move up close and wait the spider out facing his enemy face to face.
As Kreig stirs up the webs and tries to draw the spider out, Rikar and Latys step back into the shadows, meaning to hide and listen closely for the creature's approach. Though Rikar stumbles on some loose rock and makes a racket, he regains his footing enough to let the noise subside a bit and tune his heightened senses to the sounds of the cave.
"Borris, I think you standing close is a good idea--wait for the trap to go off and if it succeeds you can charge in and if it fails you can be our first line of offense. just be sure not to do anything until the trap goes. Maybe Josef could back you up, or could ready some counter spells."
it would be my pleasure
Borris moves up as close as he can without risking the trap or getting caught in the web.
Kreig spends a few moments to setup a trap, while the rest of you move out of sight, ready to pounce. After Kreig goes thru his act a hump backed spider appears in the webs, and says to Kreig in common, Oh, my poor friend. It looks like you got caught up in the webs. Come closer and I will clear the webs from your face and help you.
"...ngh, can't mover fer nuttin'. Who's there, eh?" Kreig looks back and forth, then up and down. "Friendly sounds like...mebbee ya can come ta me, yer voice is boundin' all over creation...can't get...my bearin's..." Kreig continues to 'fuss' with the webs using short bursts of breath to signify panic as he makes another unsteady move backwards (scuttle back to O17). C'mon ya leggie she-beast, just a bit further...
Swing Trap - DM Papa
A direct hit deals 1d6 points of fire damage. Every creature within 5 feet of the point where the flask hits takes 1 point of fire damage from the splash. On the round following a direct hit, the target takes an additional 1d6 points of damage. If desired, the target can use a full-round action to attempt to extinguish the flames before taking this additional damage. Extinguishing the flames requires a DC 15 Reflex save. Rolling on the ground provides the target a +2 bonus on the save. Leaping into a lake or magically extinguishing the flames automatically smothers the fire.
Thinking with the Craft Traps number I rolled of (22), it should get the (CR 5) that would include the following:
- +1 Perception DC
- 1 Reflex Save
- +11 Attack Bonus
- Average Damage (2d6) 6 - Rounded to nearest 10 so 10 pts
Let me know if I got this right and if the webs would catch fire.
Redona simply waits to see the spider, her trusty crossbow at the ready. It killed that horrible beast before, it can do it again. With Sarenrae's help of course.
Borris makes himself ready as soon as he can see the trap go off or if the spider moves into N16 he wil 5ft step and full attack with powerattack and evrything!
Rikar lays a hand quietly on Borris' back and gives the gentlest of pushes, communicating to the half-Shoanti paladin to move forward when the fight begins, so Rikar can step in and swing as well.
+2 Underground
+2 Underground
"Ah, gobber-puke..." Kreig takes a step back, the webbing he'd been holding up drifting to the cavern floor like a gossamer butterfly wing. "Now, uh hold on fer a second...them morlocks, they ne'er say nuthin' 'bout ya bein' so nice..." The dwarf's left hand comes up to ward off the spider creature, right hand slipping behind to his belt to grip the dagger at the small of his back. "K, uh, let's not get our hoops in a bunch over this, eh?"
...trying to draw my dagger without the spider queen noticing...
Kreig (5ft) steps backward (O18), fear on his face. "Less all be civil here, eh? Them morlocks, they done ne'er told me you was so nice n' all, they paid me ta set them fire bottles up...said there was treasure n' such..."
Gotta get 'er out further, she's still dug in like a tick... Kreig hopes his bluff works to get her to follow him out, if for anything, the hubris of a dwarf to try and trap her...
Rikar waits eagerly, a hand laid on Latys' flank, to see whether the spider will take the delicious dwarven bait.
Everyone stays put, and hidden as the spider witch stays put, and speaks to Kreig Well, if that is true, come into my cave and we can talk about how to repay the morlocks she says sweetly.
Misha frowns, not liking the stalemate they've hit. She readies her crossbow and waits to see what happens. If Kreig goes into the webbed den, she will run out and shoot as soon as she has a clear path to do so.
Kreig shakes his head a bit, right hand still gripping the dagger behind his back. "Think I might do better beatin' feet yer legginess!" And with that, the dwarf hurls his dagger at the spider then turns and runs 20 feet down the corridor (R21).
C'mon, ya filth, come and get the runnin' dwarf!
borris notices a 5ft step wil not be enough to suprize the spider and moves towards N17 with a litle swing and attacks the spider with his earthbreaker on steroids
As Borris moves forward, Rikar steps in right behind him, swinging his sword with all his strength. As he moves, he says, "Anyone got any more of those flasks? We need to light this thing up!"
"Those were all I had. I've got acid but no more fire. Do you have any lantern oil?"
Herself at a loss, she moves into view but stays at range, shooting at the aranea--while trying to avoid those who've moved into melee with her.
Rikar swings mightily at the spider-beast, connecting once again, and saying, "Come on out and fight, you! No good skulkin' back there, not when there's tasty dwarf bits to nibble out here."
Kreig pulls his Seeker and knocks an arrow and moves up to stand behind Redona and Misha and Josef. "Either of ya gotta spell that can spark a fire? Mebbe ya can light up the webs behind the spider beast. Force her outta he hole. Red, ya got somethin' ta protect our heads? She's gotta way o' tryin' ta bust in and tryin' ta bake the old noodle."
He'll get ready to fire for next round. Moved to P19.
Borris just silently takes up the hammer and puts it down once more, swifly after he tries to connect with his Klar