After the goodbyes are exchanged the group leaves on the silent path into the Shudderwood. With the large pine trees and the morning mist that is still hanging in the treetops it is almost dark once the coach and horses are a few hundred yards into the forest. At places the path is just wide enough for the coach to pass, but never so wide for all to travel side by side.
As the morning sun rises higher, sending a single ray through the ground here and there it almost looks like enchanted woods. But the fetishes along the path turn that into bewitched. All in all a gloomy atmosphere.
Sitting in her coach next to Harrold, Jominda looks out for any obstacle. "This is creepy. I'm glad I didn't choose the red riding hood. I'm sure the big bad wolf would jump out behind a tree immediately."
"The wolf you can see is a wolf you can fight. It is the wolf that stays hidden that is truly of concern."
"Literally, in this case." Kendra says. Unease causes her eyes to scan to forest constantly from the back of her Horse.
Kendra misses the forest for the trees.
As the group moves on the forest around the path thins, and a brisk crosswind scatters concealing drifts of pine needles across the trail. If not for the shallow grooves left behind by the wheels of traveling wagons, following the path would be nearly impossible. The sunlight , filtered through the mist lights up the place, but it is still creepy. A doll bound of sticks and grass and a pine cone as head hangs in a bush along the path.
On the ground a few feet off the path there is a bright red pouch and a few spilled coppers as you suddenly hear a distant cry for help somewhere from the woods. It's the same side off the path as the pouch.
"It's a red pouch, not a red hood it seems." Harrold says, with a serious tone, as he drops off the cart, and starts to walk towards the noise. "Come on then..."
Kendra casts a quick spell, and then follows Harrold. [ooc]Detect thoughts, scanning in the direction the yell came from.
"And leave horses and coach unattended here?" Jominda asks dumbfounded as she hasn't thought of this issue before. "And the mother told red riding hood not to leave the path!"
Besides the pouch there is nothing to see yet. The one crying seems to be further away. The voice is that of a woman.
Kendra keeps her focus on the spell as she moves up with Harrold.
"We'll just look and see what's happening. Hold the fort here, and if we'll run into any danger we'll run back."
Herm, Harrold and Kendra follow the voice into the wood. The voice seems to move too as they only slowly get closer.
After the others disappear into the wood, Jominda get uncomfortable. Looking around and listening if she hears the others she finally decides to follow.
She gets off the coach and leads the horses to a tree where she slings the reigns around a branch. "Don't run away and don't get eaten!" she tells the horses, before she follows where here companions went.
"I feel as if we are being baited into to an ambush." Herm says loud enough for just his own party to hear. Herm draws out his silver long sword and his shield.
"Come back towards the road and we will aid you if we can." Herm says loudly
Herm spots some creature moving through the trees and finds the voice of the woman somewhat off.
"I think we are being lead on still, we must be careful. SOmething is moving over there." Herm points to what he saw.
Kendra focuses her spell in the direction Herm pointed.
Keeping focus on that area, Kendra holds out her arms to stop Herm and Harrold. "Wait here a moment"
"There's a beast there, hunting us on instinct." Kendra says. "I think"
The soft, haunting melody of a harp drifts through the air, coming from the direction the group were following the cries for help.
Herm starts to move towards the sound
The soft, haunting melody of a harp, emanates from a ruined stone watchtower in a small clearing. The tower stands about three stories tall; blood ivy and grayish-green lichen blanket the stonework of the tower’s crumbling exterior, while passing winds whistle softly through its darkened, gaping windows.
Herm continues towards the tower and enters it. Just as he does the music goes silent. Long, taut strands of shimmering silk fill the ruined tower’s interior, forming an intricate pattern running from floor to ceiling. Half a dozen large cocoonlike shapes hang from the ceiling, suspended above the tower’s hard-packed dirt floor. In the far corner, between two larger chunks of rubble, a wide burrow opens into the ground.
"Herm?" Kendra calls after him. "Where are you going? What are you doing?"
Harrold follows as well.
"I am following the noise, we need to know what it is and make sure someone is not in danger." Herm's response is almost robotic
Jominda follows, trying to catch up and wonders what is going on.
"Now those are interesting." Harrold says to the air, as he starts to describe the creature that made them, and it's danger. He stands there, transfixed and ready to fall prey all the same.
Harrold gives an exhaustive lecture on the weaverworm, an evil creature that lures prey close with its music and then kills the victims, and packs them into cocoons for later consumption. The creature utilizes webs to shoot prey and reel it in, as well as paralytic poison.
Just as Harrold is done with his explanation the huge maggot like creature shows its ugly head. It's torso is remotely humanois, with arms, hands and long claw like nails.
The weaverworm comes out of a hole in the ground of the tower. It looks plump, but is surprisingly flexible. It reaches out with its claw at Harrold. It's nails dig deep into his flesh and infuse the paralytic poison.
Out of the trees in the back of the group drop some strange humanoid insect creatures, that come closer to join in the fight now.
"See that's the Weaverworm. Remarkable, but disturbing creature." Harrold says, rather pleased with himself before he realises that he is about to be cacooned.
"Bastard!" he complains as the claw slashes him.
He steps back, and works to dig the claw out, knowing that it will continue to poison him unless he does so.
Herm turns on the creatures coming from the Trees, "Get close to me and someone kill that other thing from afar." Herm shouts, moving up to the closest Ettercap.
The weaverworm claws at Herm as he leaves, but breaks a nail on the full plate. Herm wounds one of the ettercaps.
Seeing they're surrounded, Kendra takes care to protect herself, so Herm will be less swamped tryign to protect them all. She moves closer to the rest of the group while her arms wave an intricate pattern around her, tracing blue light from her fingertips. As she finishes the incantations, a pale blue field briefly shimmers around her before disappearing from sight.
"You boys back to normal? No longer enchanted?" Kendra asks.
Jominda lets out a shriek as the ettercaps drop out of the trees.
Like by reflex she throws a bomb at the creature.
Herm wounds the ettercap with his sword. Jominda misses by far, setting the shrubs on fire.
Two Ettercaps attacks Herm. One with its claws and mandibles, cutting an ugly gash in Herm's flesh. The other one shoots a net at him, entangling him in it .
The other one turns around to go for Jominda. With its claw it cuts through her dress and into her arm .
The weaverworm shoots a net at Harrold, and pulls him closer again .
Harrold bombs the web, excluding himself from the blast while doing his best to catch the weaverworm, and does his best to flee.
Kendra touches Herm's shoulder, and allows him a better save against any of the web attacks
Jominda steps back. "Hey my new dress! We're dozens of miles from the next tailor!" she shouts angrily and throws another bomb.
Herm turns as the creatures attack him, one is not quite quick enough and draws some blood.
Lashing back out with his blade Herm swipes at the creature again.
Harrold frees himself from the net by alchemical explosion and retreats. The weaverworm ducks away from the blast.
Herm ignores the web he is entangled in and cuts again into his attacker. Jominda burns the one assaulting her badly and sets it on fire.
The weaverworm charges after Harrold, attacking him with its claws again. But Harrold is lucky.
Herm gets to feel the wrath of the ettercap he wounded. Only its bite connects, but that infuses Herm with poison.
Kendra gets shot at with and entangled in a web.
The burning ettarcap throws itself on Jominda clawing and biting at her, but besides making her shriek again, it accomplishes nothing.
Harrold steps back and throws another bomb at the weaverworm.
Jominda steps back and uses another bomb to get rid of that disgusting upright half spider excliding herself from the blow.
Harrold moves furhter away from the ugly maggot and bombs it directly. But it will take a lot more to get rid of this creature.
Jominda gets rid of her ettercap, who ends as a smoldering pile on the ground of the forrest.