Turning away from the eventually setting sun, Rufus picks up his kit once more. "Sooner started, sooner finished."
The party notes the location of the deposit and assists Dendarial and Sir Karse with their climb back out of the sinkhole. The begin to head East, heading towards the boundary of the Stolen Lands.
The day's travel is is without event, and the party makes camp for the night in a fairly open area of the plains.
The night passes without event and the group breaks camp the next morning, heading north to the South Rostland Road with the plan to travel the road along the northern area of the Greenbelt and then to head South with the road until it turns East again. This makes the day's journey far easier and allows the group to make good time during the day.
Coming to the departure from the road, the party makes camp for the evening before continuing south.
The night passes again without event, the lull in activity allowing the group to take in the sights and sounds of the open plains within the Stolen Lands. The supposed bandit activity seems to be far removed from this part of the area and the most dangerous thing you have seen so far is a rather ill tempered skunk which the group gives a wide berth to as it moves between a group of tall grasses.
Another day of travel, another uneventful leg of your trip. With the night comes a sudden deluge of rain from a passing storm, leaving the area soggy and wet, and the party wishing for a more suitable shelter from the downpour. Working together the group manages to construct a fairly serviceable lean-to which protects them from the majority of the rain, but it doesn't so much for the soaking ground.
The dawn brings an end to the rain and a bright summer sun, warmly greeting you as it drives away the chill of the night and promises for a better day ahead.
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Throughout the days travels, Will tries to gain a bit more knowledge about his companions and their motivations for undertaking this adventure. He shares his story as well, that he wasn’t initially meant for this, but was a replacement for a friend who fell in a stupid fight. He doesn’t push anyone if they seem resistant, a person’s past is theirs to keep if they so choose, but he’d like to get to know those he will be spending many a day with in the future. Other times he seems lost in contemplation, and offers prayers to a number of deities as the time fits, even asking to join Karse when he prays to Erastil.
”I do hope the others are having as fair a time as we in their mapping. I can’t say I’m disappointed this trip has been uneventful. Reminds me of an old curse; May your life be exciting, or was it may you live in interesting times? Either way, it’s nice to have a few quiet days to see the peaceful side of these lands.” says Will on the morning of the last day as he greets the warmth of the sun eagerly.
Dendarial relishes the uncomplicated days traveling, hunting, and exploring. He demonstrates his woodcraft to those interested in learning and also focuses on helping people pack efficiently with balanced loads to make the travel easier. He is not talkative, but is friendly enough when engaged in conversation. He stays diligent and watchful, especially about guard duty at night, making sure someone is always on watch. But with each passing day he become more friendly and light hearted with the group and even the rain and soggy trail does not dampen his spirits.
It does my spirit good to be out in the land. he explains. This is how I think I was meant to live.
"Appeal? There's nothing out here for miles all this open land is driving me crazy. It's bad enough having to walk for days, even worse when there is not one living soul to find at the end of the day except those that you brought with you. Not that I have an issue with any of you, but I am not used to any of this even when I would read my books it was never this quiet at home." Winifred complains, the lack of much happening in the past couple days starting to get to her.
A few more days of travel with nothing to report or excite the group pass, all seems very quiet on the plains in this side of the Stolen Lands and it seems worth noting that you could be looking at habitable space for those wishing to make their way into these lands to escape the life of the city. Few predators seem to lurk out here and the land itself seems fertile and sustaining.
As your journey continues you begin to make the circle south and then west, back to the direction of Oleg's. Covering many miles in a short span of time and becoming far more efficient in your efforts, your negotiation of the terrain and lands improving significantly.
As you make your way back to the post, you come across an area near dusk that immediately catches your attention. In an area no less than 400 feet across is strewn the bones and skeletons of countless deer, boars, bears, and even humans. The entire area looks like a mass grave, only above ground instead of buried beneath the earth.
Dendarial pulls his bow as he examines the area for signs of predators. Some great predator must hunt here. he warns.
"I've heard another Orc saying that seems apropos here...
'You don't have to go looking for Trouble, Trouble is already looking for you'." Rufus mutters as he quickly draws his own blade & more closely scans the immediate area. "Lady Lebeda, Will, Dendarial; the three of you would best stay near the center where you can affect any threats before they are able to reach you. Sir Karse, I will secure the Sinister, shall you the Dexter?"
"What could have possibly killed all of these creatures?" Winifred asks, a hint of sorrow in her voice, making sure to keep herself between the others.
Dendarial will fall back some and ready his bow after he assesses any tracks.
As the party prepares for the worst, Dendarial takes a knee and studies the ground intently. Poking through the bones and remains he finds the evidence he sought, a tell tale wad of webbing, the obvious remainder of what spelled the doom of the animal in question. Interestingly enough, he knows that if this was the lair of some sort of spider there should be signs pointing to such, like fresh webbing in between trees or other natural structures.
The party scans the area but finds no obvious signs of any recent activity, the bones appear to be the only sign of foul doings. Among the bones a few members spy coins and other items, cast off from the remains of their former owners.
Knocking an arrow and standing alert Dendarial says Some type of spider, or other web caster is responsible. Gather what valuable leavings there are and ware the trees and possible trap doors. [/b]. As he says this he scans the trees in the area.
The party keeps a close eye out as Will moves forward and begins to collect handfuls of coins and other treasures that have been scattered across the landscape.
Suddenly, without warning or sound, a layer of the earth flies upward directly in front of Will, revealing a massive black spider with thick strands of hair sprouting up from its legs and abdomen. Mandibles the size of short swords click together as it lunges at it's prey.
The ranger reacts to the spider rising up, firing off a quick arrow at the 8 legged threat.
Dendarial lets loose an arrow at the creature the moment it erupts from its burrow, hitting it solidly and causing the beast to emit a chittering shrill of pain.
The spider, attempting to bring home its next meal, stabs at Will with its large mandibles...
The giant creature runs Will through with a devastating attack, securing the bard between its pincers and holding fast.
The spider, its prize secured, retreats into the barrow, dragging the nearly unconscious man along with it. As it lowers itself into the hole the flimsy lid of earth and debris closes behind it, leaving the party once more standing in a plain looking field of bones.
Winifred quickly drops a bolt into her crossbow and fires.
And steps 5 feet away.
Winifred runs up to where the spider and Will disappeared.
Oh his turn Dendarial calls out Will! as he runs to the side of the now closed trap door. Grabbing it he heaves with all his might calling out Help me.
"Oh no you don't!" Rufus snarls as he bulls forward to grip the edge in concert with Sir Karse.
In tandem, Rufus and Karse rush up to the spot where the creature vanished, frantically pulling at the earth in an attempt to find a handhold. As they both find a purchase, and begin to lift, the sound of ripping can be heard from the ground as thousands of supporting webs are torn apart, freeing the massive earthen cork from the top of the hole. Their efforts are rewarded by the visage of a fairly surprised spider crouched within the space below, Will still firmly within the spider's mandibles.
The spider, feeling itself in danger and wanting to remove the newest threat stabs at the nearly limp corpse in its grasp with its smaller feeding mandibles, hoping to paralyze the creature with its venom so it can turn its attention to the new threat.
The creature, having injected the dose of toxin in its prey, drops the limp form at its feet and prepares to defend itself against the party.
Dendarial moves for a clearer shot and fires at the vermin.
Seeing Will's body going limp, Winifred screams out, "Will, hang on!" As she drops a bolt into her crossbow and fires at the over sized pest.
And then steps 5 feet back.
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Karse wastes no time in moving to the attack. His shield at the ready, he swings his flail at the many-eyed pest.
Unfortunately, his over eagerness to aid his companion results in a clean miss and only places him in the path of the giant spider.
"Come on, then!" Karse shouts to the giant arachnid, "Give me your best!"
Dendarial and Winifred both score hits against the beast, their projectiles drawing forth a gush of gore and ichor from the creature's wounds. Sir Karse swings his flail, but the attack goes wide, missing the spider entirely.