Bibic breathes heavily and lines up another shot on the hole, waiting for yet another ant to come. However, time passes, and it becomes clear there are no more ants to kill.
”Small group for such a large hill. Anyone have any interest in climbing into their lair?” He looks down the hole and wonders if anyone would even fit. ”Maybe that’s not such a good idea after all. Looks like a tight squeeze.”
He gathers up his arrows and checks the one miss for damage, . He gathers a few arrows from his pack and replenishes his quiver. I can’t wait to get that ever full quiver. This thing doesn’t hold nearly enough!
He searches the room for treasure.
”Looks like just the one hallway out. Shall we?”
"Oh yeah, I shot them good, huh? Didn't I though?" Spasi exclaims while holstering his crossbow. "Yeah, just follow my lead and we'll be fine. No doubt."
Spasi helps move the ants where Rhesus wants.
He looks around, then agrees with Bibic but then remembers something that Noya said.
"Noya, what was that about a door? Or did you see a jar? I forget."
"In one of the burial niches I saw something ajar, like a false wall."
"Let's go through the secret door that's not a jar, here," Spasi points, indicating where mighty Rhesus should find his recess.
"Why would a door be a jar? Spasi you're not making any sense. Did one of those ants hit you in the head?"
Rhesus gives an ant carapace a final stomp in place before making his way to the secret door and opening it.
"Let's see what we have here."
"Is anyone hurt?"
Clem distractedly inspects his own wound, frowning at the giant-ant-sized bite on his forearm before turning towards the others.
"Noya, are you alright? Rhesus?"
"I'm fine for the most part, Clement"
Pushing through the hidden door, you move into a roughly octagonal room thick with cobwebs. A hallway continues out of the room to the south.
Looking up to catch sight of a red hourglass shape on the bulbous, glossy black abdomen of a giant spider hidden among the webbing.
"Wait!"
Clement steps ahead, using his shield hand to reach over to Rhesus while he interposes himself between the Shoanti and the bulbous form above.
"It may already have seen us... there! The red hourglass!"
Clement moves ahead with his shield clearly positioned between his body and the webbing, and looks back to the others, knowing their arrows could potentially make quick work of the poisonous spider.
Spasi jumps behind Clem at the warning.
"Where? I don't see nothing!"
Perception
"Wait. That hourglass. I'm sure it's nothing. Rhesus go touch it."
"He's referring to a poisonous spider I take it."
"Go touch it? I got a better idea, why don't you shoot it, you could use the practice and this target ain't moving at least."
Rhesus snorts.
"Touch it."
Bibic looks around the room for the spider.
"Sure, there, I see it. Yeah, that's a big one! Everybody, weapons out, and watch it's sting, I bet it's got some serious poison in that bulbous sack!"
Bibic launches an arrow at the beast (surprise or on round one).
Cold Iron Arrows = 19/20
Silver Blunt Arrows = 10/10
Adamantium Salted Arrows = 5/5
Ghost Salted Arrows = 5/5
Bardic Performance = 10/10
Shard Major Image = 1/1
Bard Spells Remaining: (First: 1/2) (CL 2, Con: +5, SR: +2)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Grease
"Oh, it's an hourglass spider? Oh nice. Maybe we should capture it so it can keep track of time for us in this weird dungeon." Spasi exclaims while unholstering his crossbow. "Yeah, we'll just shoot it instead. Fine."
Spasi place his crossbow on Clem's shoulder, using the man to steady his shot as well as be between him and the spider.
to hit;
damage.
Combat Round 1
21 Rhesus
20 Spider
18 Spasi (twang)
16 Bibic (twang)
13 Noya
9 Clement
XP 800
N Large vermin
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +4 natural, –1 size)
hp 45/45
Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +1
Immune mind-affecting effects
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +6 (1d8+6 plus poison)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks web (+4 ranged, DC 19, 5 hp)
STATISTICS
Str 19, Dex 15, Con 16, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +3; CMB +8; CMD 20 (32 vs. trip)
Skills Climb +20, Perception +4; Racial Modifiers +8 Climb, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth (+8 webs)
SQ strong webs
ECOLOGY
Environment any land
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3–8)
Treasure incidental
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 17; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Con and staggered; cure 2 saves. Save DC is Con-based with a +2 racial bonus.
Strong Webs (Ex) A black widow's webs gain a +4 bonus to the DC to break or escape.
Round 1 Init 21
"Spasi, you should watch Bibic shoot. We'll hold it here, wait for my swing Noya."
Combat Round 1/2
21 Rhesus
20 Spider
18 Spasi (twang)
16 Bibic (twang)
13 Noya
9 Clement
Round 1 Init 20
Spasi groans as Clem's sudden movement throws off his aim.
"Awwwh. Dangit! I was so close," Spasi mourns. "But nice shot, Bibic. Pretty soon you'll be shooting like me. A real deadeye."
Spasi scoots back as the spider rushes Rhesus.
"Oooh Rhesus! Maybe you don't want to touch it!"
Round 1, Initiative 9
Clement reels dizzily as the next split-second passes in a blur, somehow the spider along with everyone else getting the drop on him.
Eyes widening at the sight of paired puncture wounds on Rhesus, Clement squints his eyes, twirls his mace and rushes ahead at the monster.
"Yaarghh!"
for
Unfortunately, he's forced to duck and weave as he realizes Spasi is about to shoot him in the back and instead ends up off-balance and almost hugging the spider.
"I dislike spiders"
Round 2 Init 21
"Touching it isn't the problem, it touching me is."
Rhesus tries to shake off the poison.
Failing that, he swings again.
Having crushed most of the spider he steps back and allows his companions a chance to shine.
Combat Round 2/3
21 Rhesus
20 Spider
18 Spasi
16 Bibic
13 Noya
9 Clement
Round 2 Init 20
The spider lunges at Noya:
but misses
XP 800
N Large vermin
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +4 natural, –1 size)
hp 8/45
Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +1
Immune mind-affecting effects
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +6 (1d8+6 plus poison)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks web (+4 ranged, DC 19, 5 hp)
STATISTICS
Str 19, Dex 15, Con 16, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +3; CMB +8; CMD 20 (32 vs. trip)
Skills Climb +20, Perception +4; Racial Modifiers +8 Climb, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth (+8 webs)
SQ strong webs
ECOLOGY
Environment any land
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3–8)
Treasure incidental
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 17; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Con and staggered; cure 2 saves. Save DC is Con-based with a +2 racial bonus.
Strong Webs (Ex) A black widow's webs gain a +4 bonus to the DC to break or escape.
Round 2, Initiative 16
Cold Iron Arrows = 18/20
Silver Blunt Arrows = 10/10
Adamantium Salted Arrows = 5/5
Ghost Salted Arrows = 5/5
Bardic Performance = 10/10
Shard Major Image = 1/1
Bard Spells Remaining: (First: 1/2) (CL 2, Con: +5, SR: +2)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Grease
Bibic worries for poor Rhesus, bitten as he was by the spiders venomous fang. He searches for something that might help, but can think of nothing, yet. Best to put down the beast before it bites again.
So he shoots and again connects!
Round 1, Initiative 19
"Ah yeah, Bibic, keep shooting like me. We'll get this spider."
"Let's pray that the spider's venom is a weak or non-lethal one/"
Round 2, Initiative 9
Clem glances with serious concern at the puncture wound festering on Rhesus' skin, but does his best work to interject his shield between the monster and Noya.
"It's attacking everyone! It's like its gone mad! It's a mad spider!"
for
Round 3 Init 21
Seeing the others have pummeled the spiders into goo, even Spasi, Rhesus attempts to banish the poison coursing through his veins.
Your focus your fire and the spider goes down in a hail of blows.
With the commotion of battle gone, you hear the murmur of high pitched voices coming from the next room. Push forward you come across a bizarre sight. Pillars run down the centre of this hall to an alcove at chest height at either end. The eastern alcove holds a silver statuette, while the western one holds an upside down ogre's skull.
The room is full of mites (14) and they clamber around the far end of the room. Seated upon the ogre skull is a slightly larger mite garbed in tattered red curtains with what appears to be a bracer of some type perched crown-like on his head.
At your appearance the mite monarch raises a hand for silence and speaks out in shrill voice into the sudden hush. "You stand before mighty King Zuuga. Are you the warriors I asked for?"
Noya whispers to the group
"So how are we going to deal with this little bugger."
"King, we are merely treasure seekers, after a specific artifact. We have no quarrel with you or your people. That said, we were not sent to you either. Why does such a mighty king need more troops?"
Bibic cannot keep the giggle from his voice on the word 'mighty' and it shows in his presentation.
"Mighty," Spasi giggles along with Bibic, and slaps him on the arm.
"We were told you were smart and powerful and could help us. Yeah, that's the ticket. You could help us find something. We brought you...uh..." Spasi begins to pat his pockets for a present for the king.
"We brought you these fey pillows from a far away land," Spasi holds up his earplugs. He looks at the party and shrugs.
"You guys have anything better?"
Bluff
Clement winces as each of his companions struggles to keep their composure in the audience of the "Mite King".
Wearing his usual look of shock and amazement, he steps forward, and voices the thoughts inside his head.
"Requested of whom? The Gods? Perhaps we are the warriors you need..."
Clement muses if the gods are actually behind getting them here, no thoughts of deception or attempts at trickery in his mind.
"You stand in the presence of the hero, Rhesus the Breaker, he who clubs things into many pieces."
Clement gestures, genuinely towards the barbarian, his own admiration of Rhesus clear.
"My good king, what do you seek warriors for?"
Noya facepalms at Bibic's and Mr Gaten's attempts at talking this through.
Rhesus leans against the back wall, letting the talkers talk while he watches the room spin.
"Not sure all that poison was good for me."
Rhesus leans against the back wall, letting the talkers talk while he watches the room spin.
"Not sure all that poison was good for me."
"Oh, hey, yeah, let's do something about that shall we?"
Bibic takes out a potion of Lesser Restoration and hands it to Rhesus.
"Just, uh, replace that when you can OK? They're expensive." Bibic grins hopefully.
The oddly dressed mite king claps his hands excitedly, "Good! Good! You go down below and find Clickitylegs, my favoritest pet. He has spare crown. You bring crown, I give you glittering stone this big." He taps the side of his head. "You do this great and noble quest?"
Clement finds himself nodding his head before he even finishes processing the Mite King's request.
"Of course, of course!"
After a moment he connects the dots.
"Oh! That might be our shard! Hey guys, we should totally help him out, he lost his favorite pet, and that's no good."
Returning his attention to the king, he begins some inquiries.
"My good king. Whatever took your pet? What might we face down below so that we can prepare properly?"
Bibic agrees to help the Mite King, but makes no further comment lest his giggles become guffaws and ruin the meeting.
Rhesus drinks the potion and turns a little less green.
"Thanks Bibic. Just take it out of my share, no problem."
***********
"A quest? To get a crown? From a pet? Does the pet have to live?"
The king looks a little confused at Clement's question, "Nothing grab Clickitylegs. Him wander off."
At Rhesus' question, he pipes a high-pitched laugh, "Hahaha, maybe you ask nice Clickitylegs just give you crown and not eat you first."
Spasi looks at the party and shrugs.
"Sure, we can talk a look around if you'd like, right? We're 'mite'-y heroes and all," Spasi stifles a guffaw at his punnery.
"Let's go find the clicketycrown."
Spasi looks to the exits, wondering to where to go.
"That was a bad pun."
Leaving the enclave of the mite king, you loop back around through the ant hill room and head further into the complex. Coming into another room, you find that this one also is filled with the small fey. These are less accomodating than those with the king and a pair mounted on giant spiders, wheel their mount around to attack, with a shout of ''Kill the intruders and eat their skin!!
Round 1
21 Rhesus
17 Bibic
11 Baddies
7 Spasi
6 Noya
5 Clement
XP 400
N Medium vermin
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 16/16, 16/16
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +1
Immune mind-affecting effects
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +2 (1d6 plus poison)
Special Attack web (+5 ranged, DC 12, hp 2)
STATISTICS
Str 11, Dex 17, Con 12, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 15 (27 vs. trip)
XP 100
LE Small fey
Init +1; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 Dex, +1 size)
hp 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3,
Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +3
DR 2/cold iron
Weaknesses light sensitivity
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee dagger +0 (1d3–1/19–20)
Ranged dart +2 (1d3–1)
Special Attacks hatred
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st)
At will—prestidigitation
1/day—doom (DC 10)
STATISTICS
Str 8, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 8
Base Atk +0; CMB –2; CMD 9
Feats Point-Blank Shot
Round 1, Initiative 17
Cold Iron Arrows = 17/20
Silver Blunt Arrows = 10/10
Adamantium Salted Arrows = 5/5
Ghost Salted Arrows = 5/5
Bardic Performance = 10/10
Shard Major Image = 1/1
Bard Spells Remaining: (First: 1/2) (CL 2, Con: +5, SR: +2)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Grease
Bibic brings his bow around to attack one of the mites mounted on a spider hoping the spider might attack other mites as well as the party when uncontrolled.
Round 1
Sensing more poison in his future, Rhesus swings at one of the spider mounts.
Round 1/2
21 Rhesus
17 Bibic
11 Baddies
7 Spasi
6 Noya
5 Clement
The spiders close in and though Rhesus lands a mighty blow, the spider still manages an attempted bite before it collapses in twitching head. The mites launch a hail of missiles a Rhesus, but they are little more than a nuisance. The whole thing would almost be comical, if they weren't trying to kill you.
XP 400
N Medium vermin
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 natural)
hp dead/16, 16/16
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +1
Immune mind-affecting effects
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +2 (1d6 plus poison)
Special Attack web (+5 ranged, DC 12, hp 2)
STATISTICS
Str 11, Dex 17, Con 12, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 15 (27 vs. trip)
XP 100
LE Small fey
Init +1; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 Dex, +1 size)
hp 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 3/3,
Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +3
DR 2/cold iron
Weaknesses light sensitivity
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee dagger +0 (1d3–1/19–20)
Ranged dart +2 (1d3–1)
Special Attacks hatred
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st)
At will—prestidigitation
1/day—doom (DC 10)
STATISTICS
Str 8, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 8
Base Atk +0; CMB –2; CMD 9
Feats Point-Blank Shot
Round 1, Initiative 7
Spasi draws and loads his crossbow, but uses his magic against the spider rider.
"Ah crap. That was not a good one. Next time."
"Anyone know if they have a weakness?"