At Reuhne's shout of "spider," everyone looks up to see a giant spider perched near the ceiling. As if on cue, the spider looses a bundle of sticky web toward Viswall. It makes direct contact with the half-elf, covering him in the adhesive substance.
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On Reuhne's shout, Asha looks down and stabs the base of his torch into the crevice between a couple large chunks of rubble in order to free his second hand, then swiftly nocks an arrow and lets it fly at the creature. Glad to hear from his tone that Reuhne doesn't feel the same way about spiders as he does about dogs!
Hoping to avoid becoming entangled like V, he shuffles over the rubble to put Blothar between him and the spider, using the half-orc as cover.
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Esmeralda screams with fright at the bulbous thing and lets loose her thrown spear.
Her pathetic throw launched, she moves to her ensnared colleague.
"That's not the way to do it,"she remarks as she moves to help V free himself. "That spider did NOT get consent, and I am sure you two have not worked out a safe word yet!" She grins at the other half-elf, though her face shows notes of terror.
Asha's and Reuhne's arrows flew true and sunk into the spider's torso.
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V is taken aback at his sudden entrapment, Real impressive your lordship, I'm sure your father would be proud. The half-elf snaps out of his pity party and thinks back to his time with Gisila, an outcast half-elf, and how she taught him to get out of tight spots.
V expertly detangles himself from the web and loads his crossbow.
The spider, sensing a new threat, sends a web toward Reuhne. This one is off the mark though, and Reuhne remains unhindered.
Spider: 9/16
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With the the new threat Lexel taps into the magical energy in his blood. Once again the cherry red iris of his eyes melt away like wax covering the whites then darkening into inky black pools. Lexel's hand reaches up towards the arachnid and with a flick of his wrist a glob of a acid appears from nowhere and flies towards the creature.
versus touch AC for a possible damage
V's bolt hits the spider in a vital area. It quivers for a moment before falling from the wall, slamming hard into the rubble below.
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Outward, Reuhne showed a face of amusement, and then moved on. Inwardly, the elf just felt wrong. A cleric's insinuations of pleasure were something he frowned on, but he was learning not to show his discomfort in this group of worshippers.
It was his job to keep them alive. By the power of the arcane, he would do his best.
Glancing around to make sure there were no other dangers, the soldier began pacing himself quietly along to prevent further attracting of attention.
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Lexel shakes out his wrist. His acid splash against the spider was pathetic and he was chalking it up to nerves. Spiders were never a pleasant thing to see and especially giant ones sent chills up his spine. He cracks his knuckles and gets to work checking the area for anything else interesting in the room.
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"unless this spider works very quickly, it appears to have been here a while--which means our quarry probably has not passed this way. Shall we check the other direction for Balenor's track?"
the mere exploration if this place IS a thrill, but I fear we are distracted from the person who may be in danger, the halfling worries to himself.
Looking around in the room and at the archway, Esme notices a small cocoon hanging amidst the web near the archway.
Esme's spear easily pierces the cocoon, and a dessicated carcass spills out as she widens the opening. The body looks like that of a dog, reaffirmed by the leather collar—studded with gems—that remains around its neck. A silver tag hanging from the collar reads "Kita."
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"Oh my...." Esmeralda's voice trails off as she takes in the gruesome carcass. She kneels by the shrivelled form, placing her hand over the collar.
"Calistria, please allow this poor creature, now free from the bindings of this life, to seek pleasure unfettered with your grace."
She slips off the collar and gestures at Reuhne with it as she straightens to a stand.
"Is that better, honey?"
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Not humored in the least, Reuhne looks at the collar, takes it into his pocket, and then returns to his search for Balenar's tracks.
Taking Asha's suggestion to heart, the elf wandered back outside, and began pacing the circumference of the ruined structure for signs other than the scuffle with the dogs, and the group's approach.
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Esmeralda stares bluntly as the elf wordlessly takes the collar out of her hand and then walks out of the tower.
She turns to Blothar.
"There is something wrong about that fellow. I wasn't even giving him the collar! Doesnt he know about a girl's affinity for jewellery? Rude."
Esmeralda follows Blothar through the northwestern archway.
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"He probably shouldn't go alone -- wait a moment for us?" Asha observes before quickly following Reuhne on his circuit of the ruin.
Didn't he say something of being a soldier? Going off solo seems a tad careless for such, but I won't question the wisdom of making sure the perimeter is safe before we venture further.
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V nods in thanks to Esme's compliment. Following her and the group through the archway, he witnesses the spilling of the carcass. It crushes him inside, and he reaches a hand to the archway to steady his weakened feet. Viswall had a domesticated dog growing up as well, it was a tad bigger than this one, but he loved it almost as much as he loved his sister. Affection for a half-elf in an elven home was sparse to say the most, so an animal who would love unconditionally in any circumstance was a blessing to his sister and him like none else.
V will grab a blanket off the pony, and wrap Kita in it, then drag the creature out where the dirt is soft enough and, unless he is stopped, will dig a shallow grave for it while uttering a prayer in elvish, "Desna, Song shenjtë e sferave, të parë mbi këtë krijesë që ka gjasa dhënë jetën e tyre për pronarin e tyre. Mund udhëtimi i saj i fundit të jetë një bukuroshe."
"Desna, holy Song of the Spheres, watch over this creature who likely gave their life for their owner. May its final journey be a lovely one."
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Lexel chooses to wait inside with Esme and Blothar. Waiting around he takes out his flask of red wie again and takes another small sip of the liquid hoping the distraction of the wine calms his nerves. He always felt his best when there was food and drink around though he never could seem to put on any weight.
"Prehaps we should wait for the others to return before venturing deeper into this tower Esmeralda. Though I'm sure between you, Blothar and myself we are more then capible. I think our exploratory group may need more assistance." He jokes pointing out his unpreparedness and ineptitude at there previous encounters.
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After taking a look around, Reuhne realized the group was minus a few heads. "We have a few options we could take if the ground floor options don't seem fruitless," the soldier stated while pointing to the corresponding locations.
"However," he started while glancing back at the entrance. "It would seem we lack the rest of the group's attention. If there are no tracks inside, from what Blothar stated, shouldn't we be out here looking around?"
At this point, things were getting a tad bit annoying, and things just weren't adding up about the maiden.
Thoughts and rememberences began stacking up, and Reuhne wasn't quite sure he trusted this woman who did not seem as she was. Still, he was tasked with helping her and the others. He would assist them, and then leave. Although, there was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind he couldn't quite ignore.
What if I'm stuck with her?
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Esmeralda notices Lexel when he speaks.
"Oh, sugar, I didn't mean to exclude you. I'm sure that there's plenty of space for all three of use to explore together...and plenty of different skills represented, of which I might not be familiar."
She gestures to the room that she and Blothar briefly examined: "There's a door in there that needs some attention, I think. What do you propose?"
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Accompanying Asha back to the rest of the group, Reuhne felt rather perturbed about a woman who hid behind whims and fancies when danger was all about. Still, what can one do? Shepherding someone of her intricacies would be like ordering a cat around.
Simply...
Not...
Possible...
"Since the southern wing is collapsed, we can climb to all floors except for the last. Also, if there are no signs down here, he might have gone above first, and then worked his way up. The rubble would make climbing easier, so he could have gone straight for the top of the tower."
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"Don't be so hard on Reuhne, my dear. I imagine if I were thrown in a military unit, I'd be lost. It must be disorienting being a part of this chaotic, leaderless band."
"Anyway, I was wrong; no more spiders here, and I doubt they can--and pray they can't--open doors. I'm not comfortable going on without the rest." He tries to add to Esme's double entendre; "More people means more fun to explore, right?" Then he thinks about what he just said, shudders, and his eyes dart back and forth guiltily.
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"No need for that, it seems, Master Blothar," Viswall says bringing up the rear of those who went outdoors, "I agree with Rheune's assessment, and just because there weren't tracks, doesn't mean he wasn't here. I doubt that dog I just buried was here alone. Allow me to scout the south wing."
Viswall will carefully enter the south wing, keeping an eye out for traps, signs of life, and most importantly a way up.
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Asha makes a show of checking behind the party as V leads the way into the south wing, hoping to hide his eyerolling at Blothar's innuendo. the elf and I might not see eye-to-eye on the matter of dogs -- but I can sympathize with his desire to pursue this search in a disciplined manner. Hope we never have need for stealth...
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Blothar was right when he said Reuhne was not accustomed to a disorganized group. In fact, the elf was developing a cold sweat since he hadn't had to interact this much with society in quite some time. Normally, there would be structured orders and steel formations.
In the instance of Reuhne assessing the group, Es winked at him, and all he could do was blink, stunned. The sum of his interaction with women could be put into two words. Non-existant.
Once thought returned back to him, Reuhne did not quite know what to say or do, so he pulled out one of the arrows from his quiver, and began examining the head. Edge is weak. Might have to find denser stones, he thought to himself.
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Esmeralda follows V into the south wing, spear at the ready. She glances over her shoulder.
Asha, dear, please, if I have anything on my backside from playing in this rubble, would you kindly brush it off for me?"
Calistria's knees! these men are fun! The half-elf turns around with a grin on her face.
Passing through the northwest archway, you enter another wing choked with rubble. A doorway sits in the wall on the south end of this wing (to your left as you enter), though you find little else of interest in the room. You try the door handle, and find it unlocked.