Brelar shakes his head. "Our encounter with the mites has shown me a foolish deficit in my magic that we would be well served to correct. I suggest we head back to shore first before continuing on. After heroic Argust is healed of course!"
The halfling screws up his face and looks at the ceiling, scuffing one foot. "I don't like the idea of someone else getting in here, now that we've done the hard work. How about if we go back up a little ways and rest there? That way we can guard against poachers."
I'll be fine... Argust seems to be embarrassed at the fact that the little mites were able to cause him some minor pain. Poachers? Do you really think someone else would come on in here? If ya want, I can stay here and watch tha place while Brelar does what he needs.
Brelar ponders Bert's words. "It seems unlikely that any other mites we encounter would be willing to talk at this point I suppose. But that old mite sitting atop the ogre skull? Besides we seem to have run off the Tower Girls...we are the most dangerous things here now." Brelar gives Argust a knowing look.
"I'm not worried about the Tower Girls. They're pretty-much gone, thanks to us. (Well, more you three.) I'm worried about someone noticing that they're gone and deciding to move in where they were. Anyone who wants to can walk into the Crow right now and follow the way we took down. The important thing right now is to get the Shard before anyone else decides to come digging around in here.
"Hey, try to find it again. If it's somewhere around that mite we couldn't understand, we'll have to go back like you want to. If it's further down, let's not worry about the mite."
Brelar uses the Shard again and feels that the next shard is below you.
The party spends some time resting and Brelar works on his scribing before finally readying themselves to descend further into the Crow.
You descend about 30 feet down the spiral staircase and emerge in a narrow corridor. This dank stone hallway is increasingly choked with spiderwebs to the south, while to the west they thin quickly.
Webs? More critters probably. Argust doesn't seem too happy about the idea that more spiders and such could be about. Are you sure we have to come down thisaway?
"Let's try the south first. If there are monsters there, we can fight them when we're healthy."
The company heads down the passage to the south that is covered in spiderwebs.
This wide hall is lined with pillars, between which hang thick sheets of webbing. These do not seem to be the older, dusty cobwebs of the corridors, but rather fresh webs. The brittle carcasses of several albino crickets the size of small dogs hang among the tangle.
In the room, three large spiders await you!
Entangled: move at half speed and take -2 penalty on all attack rolls and a -4 penalty to Dexterity. An entagled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.
Blast it! Spiders! I told you! Argust will struggle with the web and take a 5' step toward Spider #1 and try to muscle his way through the webbing and strike the creature.
Bert skips back with a gasp, then calls on his luck and puts an arrow into the nearest spider.
Argust takes a chunk out of one of the spiders while Karnhousk and Bert put spear and arrow into another.
Brelar shakes off the cobwebs and jumps into action! He slides behind Argust and fires his crossbow at spider #1!
Attack:
Damage:
Brelar's crossbow misses the spider!
If Karnhousk took down #3, Bert will skip up and fire at #2; otherwise, he'll try to finish off #3. The halfling sinks an arrow deeply into one of the spiders. "Every little bit counts! Right, guys?"
Why must these things keep biting me?
Argust will take a swing at #1 if it is still up, if not, #2.
Karnhousk puts a spear through one of the spiders and it drops to the ground. Bert puts a well-places arrow into another spider's eye and nearly drops it to the ground. With a mighty swing Argust takes down another spider.
Not really anything in this room and you guys have lots of options on where to go next. Once you're ready to go let me know which way is next.
"Karn, Argust are you both ok? Spider venom is nothing to take lightly." Brelar shows a moment of concern. "When we are ready, I suggest we explore this western passage first." he points to the nearest western passage off the hall.
Eh, think I'm OK. He didn't get any stuff inta me. Just a nick. I'll be alright. Argust looks toward the passage that Brelar is pointing at. What looks good ta you looks good ta me! Argust will start heading toward the passage, waiting to be sure the rest follow.
The party follows the passage to the west and finds that it leads (in a roundabout way) to a room with a small pool of water.
This circular room is empty save for a ten-foot-wide circular pool filled with clear water. The water appears to be only six inches deep and is crystal clear, leaving the tiled decoration of a swirling vortex plainly visible on the pool's basin.
"Hey, neat! Brelar, let's see if this does anything." The halfling casts a short cantrip , and if Brelar does likewise Bert will Aid Another with his Spellcraft check.
Brelar nods in agreement at Bert. "Let's see what we have here. Looks fascinating. I wonder if the vortex represents a water elemental?"
Water elemental? As long as its not a bug, mite, or spider I might be alright with that.
The pool radiates a faint conjuration aura. The waters of this pool heal 1d8 + 3 points of damage and affect those who drink from them with lesser restoration, but a single creature can only benefit from this effect once per day. Water gathered from this basin retains its healing and restorative qualities for 8 hours.
Brelar relays this information to the party, "How very thoughtful of someone. And foreboding."
Argust asks, So its safe? Assuming it is Argust will take a drink and regain his lost health.
After everyone's healed, Bert pipes up, "As long as we're here, let's keep going west."
Brelar agrees, "The west is the best."
The party moves west. Stairs descend into the room from the north, a heavy stone door blocks passage to the west further, and the eastern corridor you just came from is flanked by cells blocked by doors of rusty iron bars. Scattered about the room are a number of instruments of torture from bygone days, now mostly gone to rot and ruin.
The southern cell's occupant is long dead, his bones crumbled to dust, but the northern cell is occupied. It holds a single deformed, vaguely human-shaped monster. Seeing the party, the creature flies into a frenzy and tries to break out of its cell.
Argust instinctively readies his weapn when the creature makes its move. Who, or what, is that?
Brelar takes a moment to study the creature as best he can...
Brelar recognizes this thing as a sin spawn but doesn't know much more about them.
Bert grimaces at the creature. "Should we kill it? I can shoot it from outside the cell."
I don't know if we really need to kill the creature, he seems locked up tight. What do you say, Brelar?
Brelar would know that this creature is not terribly strong and would have difficulties breaking out .
Putting his hand on Argust's shoulder, Brelar says "Stand ready my friend. Though your bow may be a better choice for now."
Brelar begins to speak in the tongue of the Thassalonains.
What did you say to it? Argust readies an arrow in his bow as suggested.
In a whisper, "I asked it if it wants to be friends."