As reckless as ever, Farid charges directly at the jaws of the spider his axe rising and falling to hack the threat facing himself and his allies.
Greataxe attack
Greataxe Damage
Ruthviren curses at great length, questioning the spider's legitimacy, hygiene, and mating habits, as he tears at the webbing covering him...
...to no avail.
Ruthviren struggles with the spider’s webbing as Farid moves into the tower around him. The Barbarian tries to end the battle quickly with a powerful chop of his axe but the spider dodges along its webbing up the stairs to the left and bites at Farid. The fangs of the spider sink deep into Farid's shoulder.
Auxavier drops his torch on the ground and draws his shield ready to defend himself.
Camlo
Ruthviren
Farid
Spider
Bhoors
Auxavier
Bhoors moves so he has a straight line on the door way. "Draw it out there are more of us than him. The door way is a choke."
Bhoors nocks an arrow.
Farid backs out of the room swinging his axe as he shuffles backwards.
Greataxe attack
Greataxe Damage
Bhoors notches an arrow awaiting a clear shot.
Farid swings his axe slicing one of the creatures legs off as he backs out of the tower pushing pass the entangled Ruthviren. The spider takes advantage of the barbarian's lowered guard and lunges out with it's poison filled fangs biting Farid again.
Camlo
Ruthviren
Farid
Spider
Bhoors
Auxavier
Snarling, Ruthviren again tries to break free of the webbing.
With a wrench, he frees himself and staggers back, past Auxavier, to give his colleagues room to work.
Ruthviren is able to break free of the webbing just in time to retreat behind Auxavier before the spider scuttles out of the tower. Before it is able to attack anyone Camlo throws his spear and Bhoors lets loose an arrow. The spear sticks straight into the beast but the arrow flies wide of target.
The spider jumps at the first threat it sees biting at Auxavier but the spear twists in its body as it attacks and causes it to flinch in pain make the bite miss.
Camlo
Ruthviren
Farid
Bhoors
Spider
Auxavier
Bhoors steps up on the rubble hoping to get a better shot at the spider.
He looses another arrow at the spider.
Roo drops his handaxe and unslings his pole-arm. Working around Auxzvier, he attempts to strike at the spider.
"Try and not get bit!"
Handaxe (Boarding) silver, alchemical S or P
"How many legs do I have to chop off this thing?"
Once drawn out of the tower the group makes quick work of the spider. Auxavier chops three legs off with a single swipe and Ruthviren finishes it off by crushing its skull. Bhoors shoots it for good measure just to make sure it's dead.
"Anybody know much bout spiders, can we expect to find more of them inside, and is this one full growed?"
"Scorpions are the concern of my people. Sometimes the larger more aggressive ones may bury themselves in the sand to await prey. It seems your spiders do the same thing to hide. Filthy bugs though I suppose they have a use in nature culling the weak", he states as he steps back in the room, spider bites all over his body to try and spot more threats.
Thick webs cover much of the ancient crates and barrels stored inside the base of the tower. A rickety wooden staircase ascends along one wall to reach an open trapdoor above. Various small animals and birds can be seen hanging in the webbing drained of life. The smell of death and rotten food filled the tower.
"Once we clear this area, looks like a good place to set camp, and likely rodent free thanks to the spider."
Farid turns to his companions, "All seems well again in here. I should think that we may wish to open these closed crates perhaps something of value lies within.
Naleksa, can you mend these wounds? If not we should move forth anyway. I won't let myself be slowed down when I am so close to my goal".
"They lay eggs cousin, lots of eggs so yes expect more."
The group takes a few minutes to search the lower level of the tower and clearing away the spider webbing. Most of the sealed crate where filled with rotten food an other items with no value but one small crate contains a masterwork short sword wrapped in oilcloth.
As the group searches the tower Naleksa tends to Farid's wounds. "You sure are drawn to danger and blood. Let me look at that wound." Inspecting the punctures in his shoulder and leg. "Well you got lucky it does not look like the poison of the spider got into your body. How do you feel?" She put bandages of the entry wounds and begins to chant a prayer.
2 HP gained by Farid
Farid shrugs at Naleksa's comment, "I simply do what needs be done. I will head up, as always my friends, watch my back, I am sure it will come back bloody once more..."
Farid heads up the stairs to the trap door.
Farid wary of this place pulls off his backpack and digs in.
He ties his rope off to his grappling hook and throws it towards the backpack and robes, looking to pull these items to him rather than going to them.
Bhoors looks at the sword that was found. "Nice sword. Any use a short sword?"
He looks up toward Farid, "Need a hand?"
Farid looks down to Bhoors, "No, I was just trying to think my way out of a situation but that has never worked well for me in the past and is not now".
Hamar shrugs and draws his axe warily approaching the cloak and back to snatch them and view their contents. With his off hand he hold the rope tied to the grappling hook.
Ruthviren has a look at Farid's struggles up above and shrugs. Seems to know what he's doing.
He slings his hammer again, pulling and loading his crossbow to keep watch on the courtyard as his friends work in the tower.
Farid climbs up into the upper level of the tower. The air feels warm and thick and the webbing only allows the barbarian to walk hunched over. Taking his time so he does not disturb the cocoon of webbing, Farid grabs the rotted robes and pack then makes his way down the stairs.
In his haste to get out of the spider's den Farid loses his balance falling against the stairway railing which causes the entire staircase to wobble. Suddenly a loud ”CRACK” echos thru the tower and the stairs come down. The barbarian tries to roll away from the falling stairs but his foot slips and he falls head first toward the ground.
Auxavier is able to dodge the debris but Naleksa gets a small sratch on the head.
The dusty Farid holds the pack and robes up in the air from his prone position, 'I hope these were worth that. This is why my people live in the desert and its environs, nowhere to fall from..."
Farid then stands up with a look of obvious pain on his face as he tries to crack his back into place.
Aux makes certain the barbarian is ok....
"Why is everything abandoned so old and in I'll repair?"
Bhoors rushes in and makes sure everyone is alright. When he sees Farid he cringes. "Sit a moment friend that was quite a fall." He looks to Naleksa and Aux to help.
Naleksa helps pull Farid out of the rubble. "The Gods hate you! You know that right." She shakes his head at him with a worried look in her eye. "I have no magic left to help heal you. We must find another way to close that head wound." She does what she can to wrap his wounds but the Barbarian is in rough shape.
The group lays Farid out in the yard while they figure out what to do next. Camlo inspects the scrolls and potions in the hope that one maybe able to heal. Camlo has trouble identifying all but 2 of the magical items. One of the potions he quickly throws against the wall causing it to break open. "Foul Magic of Necromancers!" He says as the wall bubbles and hisses. "We have one, a healing potion!" he quickly moves over to Farid and gives it to the Barbarian.
Sitting up Farid searches the robes and backpack that he found in the spider's den.
"Farid's in bad shape an the girl is out of magic, we might consider settling in and getting some rest."
Aux takes care to search for any sign of mushrooms in the tower....
"We can set the boxes and make a fine camp."
"Here? Reptillian tracks, animal tracks . . . actual giant spiders. Maybe if we could close some doors."
Hearing the commotion, Ruthviren takes one last searching look around the courtyard...
...then, if all is clear, backs his way toward the tower.
After the discussion starts, he chimes in.
"Better to lose a day than to lose a comrade. I'm in a hurry to get back for the townsfolk, but it serves them nothing if we die out here and carry naught back. Patch up, rest up, we'll try again tomorrow. We should be able to close this place up tight enough to get some sleep."
Farid shakes his head in dissent, "My vengeance has waited long enough, we will tear this place apart until I find what I came here to find! Even if it be the death of me".
He draws his axe and points down the hall indicating he would like the group to go that way.
"A man's life is his own to détermine, let us clear the courtyard while we still have light, and decide through which door to enter the ruin."
Ruthviren shrugs again. "Your call, Farid. Stick to the back."
Farid bristles at being in the back but nods to Ruthviren seeing the wisdom in his statement.
Tall grasses and chunks of stone debris have all but overtaken this small yard. Off to one side, a wooden stable has collapsed into a mound of rotting timbers and moldy straw. The outer wall on the east side has also collapsed, leaving a ragged hole. Three doors exit into this yard— a pair of double doors to the east, a single door to the north, and a lone door leading back into the tower in the southeast corner.
A more detailed search of the yard reveals a old well in the northwest corner of the yard, with 10 feet of rope dangling into it. Lying next to the well is a body partially decomposed.
A rotting backpack lies at the base of the well near the remains. The pack contains a set of thieves tools, 50 feet of silk rope, a small coin purse with 42 gp in assorted coins, and a small blue vial.
The ruined stable hides a few ancient bones,
but little else of value.
"Poor bastard. Looks like anywhere in this forsaken ruin is a place you can get killed or squished."
"If we take his stuff we should at least pile some stones over him and say a short prayer."
"Anyone know what killed him?'
Camlo inspects the small blue vial to identify the contents. "It looks to be the same smell and thickness as the Healing Potion. It also gives off the some magical aura. I can't be sure but I believe its a Healing Potion as well."