The three remaining spiders converge upon Doran and Alaeron.
As one of the spiders manages to get a bite on the rangers leg, Nemesis runs up and pounces on the other one attacking Alaeron.
The leopard got a good bite and ripped one of the spiders legs off.
Seeing Nebari come up above the fog, the Ettercap launched another web glob.
Nebari was truck straight in the face with the glob, which in turn exploded and covered him in webbing.
Ettercap: 18
Spiders: 3, 12, 12
Feeling the surge of energy through his body, Alaeron is posed to attack with his full might. Steeling himself from the onset of battle rage, he spots Nemesis attacking the other spider. He whistles to the cat to get its attention.
"Nemesis! Flank!" He commands the cat who then shifts into a flanking position with the ranger. Finally the ranger whistles once more to commence the attack.
Content that the cat has his spider well in hand, Alaeron slices at the one that took a good chunk out of his leg.
Nebari finds himself rooted to the bridge very close to the ettercap, he extends his arms as far as he can and summons forth a burst of multi-colored light.
Taking a full blast of the light, the creature seems to lose it's grip on the tree and falls to the ground.
It fell right next to Captain Piers, just as he started cutting the Pixie free. Despite the sickening crunch heard as the creature landed on its side, it still appeared to be breathing.
Ettercap: 3
Spiders: 12
Piers cusses viciously in Barsav and drops his dagger in order to place two hands on his greatsword hilt and savagely swat the stunned creature with the length of steel.
"Whoa!"
Doran starts back from the spider's pincers and nearly topples over at the surprise. Regaining his balance, he opens his mouth and vomits a small gout of fire over the spider.
Seeing the situation coming fast under control, Tiriael halts her discourse bout the nature of spiders and similarly crawling and poisonous creatures.
"Do not kill it - it may have information to provide us" - the girl warns.
Doran's jet of flame strikes the spider on the left side, causing a severe burn. It still was not enough to kill the spider, but is look badly hurt.
Spider: 3
I think were waiting for the Capt. To make his choice. Live or Die.
Tiriael's voice catches the Captain's ear at the last moment and his greatsword gouges a massive wound in the tree next to the spider thing. He leaves it there and instead grabs the creature by the throat, slamming it against the tree.
"You want some lunch? I should feed you my blade, creature, and leave your corpse for the carrion beasts," Piers growled at it, tightening his grip, "Be glad my associates are more lenient, or your remains would be a warning to whatever passes for a society for you beasts. Agree to stick to smaller, less sentient game and I might be persuaded to let you go intact."
The soldier's free hand produced his dagger and idly spun it about. It was not fast but the way the pragmatically designed blade slowly turned over his scarred fingers was oddly hypnotic.
"You're much more lenient then I would be Captain. Kill the beast and be done with it."
Alaeron gathers up his equipment and goes to check to see if he can retrieve his arrows from.
Terra remains silent listening and feeling the ground in case more baddies decide to make their presence known.
Nebari takes his dagger and after a few ancient words enchants the blade with the power of the sun hoping to cut himself free.
"Thank you Captain" - Tiriael nods to the captain, turning to the still twitching spider to throw her another blob of acid.
The final spider, hit by the bards blob of acid, rushed Doran once more.
Injured though it was, the spider's pincers bit deep into the young man's abdomen.
Hearing the spider still active, Alaeron raises his sword and charges towards Doran. He brings down his sword in an overhand chop straight down on top of the spider
"Ow! Blasted spider!"
With the final spider dead, the group focuses on the Captain making threats to an unconscious creature.
As the strength drains from his limbs, Doran goes dizzy for a moment and drips to his knees. "Ow..."
Alaeron reaches out to Doran to help steady him and help him up. "Easy there, venom from these spiders can pack a punch and leaving you feeling like you spent a week in a brothel. You feeling whoozy or weak?"
"I should be able to take care of that" - Tiriael smiles widely as she approaches Doran.
Reaching for her pack, the girl produces a small, thin wand, and touches Doran's forehead with it.
STR
The web weakened by the Captain's cutting, Dorna broke free of it and rushed over to give him a big hug. "OhThankYouThankYouThankYou,BigScaryMan.ThatThingWouldHaveEatenMeForSure.No wBeAFriendAndKillItKillItKillIt!"
Terra remain at the reay just in case. trying to distiguish her allies from potential enemies. listening and feeling the erth for clues.
She knows Doran was injured and soon other came to his aid. Strength damage was not something Terra had ever dealt with, she was not prepared for that.
Captain Makepiece glances at the chattering fey with a strange look in his eye.
"I don't do anyone else's dirty work for them," with that, the soldier released the Ettercap and flicked his dagger to the ground below the pixie before wrenching his sword free from the tree.
"You want something dead, you can kill it yourself."
The Pixie quickly let the Captain go, picked up the dagger and before anyone could say anything, vanished entirely.
Doran feels a bit of his strength recover and he slowly climbs to his feet, smiling at Tiriael. "Soooo much better... thanks. I owe you one."
He looks around. "Where'd it go?"
"Dunno, but the little thief took my dagger with it," Piers said, rubbing his jaw in annoyance.
"No more fey, yeah? They give me the creeping willies. C'mon, I'd like to find that clearing by night fall."
Nebari easily cuts away the webbing with his blade and makes his way down the bridge.
"Are they all dead?" he asks as he surveys the area.
Two bolts come from a nearby bush and embed into the purple creature's skull. A fairly large Half-Orc steps out from the brush, left hand holding Dorna by his shirt. "Looking for this Captain?" the newcomer said in a deep voice. "You really need to take better care of your equipment. Isn't that what you always told me in Hodag Company?"
It takes Captain Piers a moment, but he recognizes the Half-Orc as Morbak.
Alaeron quick draws his bow and nocks an arrow at the sudden appearance of the half-orc. As he addresses the Captain, he relaxes his bow and aims it down, but he still keeps the bow in hand.
"We've been ambushed twice in the last few days, so I hope you will understand my caution." He nods to the Half-orc in his way of an apology.
Tiriael looks dismayed as the Ettercap is slaughtered - Well, I guess now it doesn't matter if he had any info or not...
from the sounds of thing we are no longer in danger then? Terra surmises.
listening to the new voice that has joined Terra takes a step back. incase it is another bounty hunter after her. it makes no difference if this one knows the Captain or not, his presence here seems questionable to her.
"Now what I remember telling you is not to hock your gear for the affections of the odd dancing girl," Captain Makepiece's face split into a wide grin at the presence of the half-orc. He sheathed his sword and walked up to Morbak.
"Good to see you 'Bak, how the hell have you been?" He paused, looking to the others.
"Where are my manners? Morbak, these are my... charges. Masters Alaeron Longstrider, Nebari Freyr, and Doran Wrymson, Mistress Tiriael and Mistress Terra. Everyone, this is one of my former Lieutenants, Morbak, son of Lorzok."
"Charges?" - Tiriael whispers to herself, the girls' face scrunching up in an unusual frown - "Whatever, I guess..."