The aspen wood thins here, forming a small clearing around a large granite obelisk covered with runes. Pillars flank a small, dark archway leading inside the obelisk. Above the pillars, the symbol of a clenched fist is carved into the stone. A strange structure, resembling a tent of shimmering gray webs woven between logs, surrounds the obelisk.
The runes on the obelisk are in Dwarven, spelling out a traditional dwarven funerary prayer called “Torag’s Epicede.”
Also in attendance are 2 ettercaps and 3 giant spiders!
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 69/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
”See this obelisk?” She said with evident excitement. ”It means we are here! ‘Tis Steelhand’s gravestone, with the crypt underground.”
Her exuberance died as she saw the spiders and ettercaps defiling her clan’s legacy. Silently, with fury in her eyes, she reached for her arrows.
Gundar shrugs as he pulls the needles from the few points they had gotten past his armor. "Got to get around it one way or another."
In an amazing display of markswomanship, Ingrahilde puts an arrow dead center into each of the smaller spiders, killing them instantly. The third arrow goes awry, but the last sinks deep into the larger spider.
The purple-hued ettercap moves forward and shoots a mass of webbing at Ulark.
Ulark is entangled.
The greener one charges at Ingrahilde, anger clear on that alien-looking spider face.
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 55/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 69/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
[ooc]Well I'm certainly never going to turn down a useful nat 20![/dice]
Gundar rushes forward to keep one of the spiders from crowding the group, flashing his scimitar out of its sheathe in a burning arc.
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"Think all these traps have been here for that long?" Belir asks, unsure who set them in place. Seeing the spiders and ettercaps he draws his Agrimmosh and swings it down at the ettercap that closed in on him. "Smash 'em to the ground!"
[spoiler=Status]
Effects:
HP 56/57
AC 25 (31 vs giant DR/2)
Spells: 1st 5/5 | 2nd 4/4
Focus Armor 5/5
Focus Weapon 6/6
Roll with it 2/2
The giant black widow spins a web at Gundar. It comes no where close to him.
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 69/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
Ulatk tries to evade the sticky web, but his two left feet leave him stuck in the strands. As one of the spider-men approaches, Ulark drops his greatsword (which clings somewhat to the webbing itself) and pulls out his greataxe.
Ingrahilde! Shift south! he yells as he readies to stab past her.
for
Ingrahild did more than just shift south. She jumped back...and prepared to fire off a volley of arrows
"Bah, never liked spiders! Damn things have too many eyes..." Thozar explains as he wreathes his arms in green fire and slings some at the Ettercap on Gundar.
________
Umlo moves (double) around the edge of the area to get a better position, wielding only his skillet (which is made of mithral).
Ulark delays to see what Ingrahilde does. Thozar produces his flames and directs them at purple. The ball of flame hits the creature dead center, putting him out of the fight.
Ingrahilde hops back out of the way, and out of the reach of the spider-person, firing arrows at point plank range. Her first arrow goes straight into the ettercap's throat, killing it instantly.
Her next two arrows bounce off the large spider's carapace, but the last one manages to land, lodging deep in its abdomen.
Ulark, seeing himself devoid of a target, throws his axe in desparation, spinning through the air and lodging deep into the spider's head. It is also dead.
Ingrahild pulled an arrow out of the etterclap, looking down at the creature with hatred as she did so. ”Brother. How could it come to this? How could such creatures defile this place?” She sounded downright offended at the very notion. ”Anyone have any magic that can remove these webs? And let’s make sure that these damnable beasts didn’t steal anything from the tomb.”
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"My arms are on fire, that should work," Thozar offers as he begins touching as much webbing as he can with his arms. "I'd be pissed too if one of my ancestors' remains had succumbed to this." I'm sure the family would be caring for them... At least I hope so.
________
Thozar makes quick work of the webs, clearing most of them away, revealing an archway you can enter.
The interior of the obelisk houses a flight of narrow and precariously steep stairs descending into a dark shaft that plummets to an unknown depth within the earth. The passing years have crusted the walls and stairs with overlapping rings of yellow and pale green lichen.
“Here lies the pride of our clan, Nargrym, son of Torgrym.
Called Steelhand, he was laid to rest with utmost honor in
4076 ar. May he be known forevermore as the Giantslayer.”
The runes continue down the walls of the shaft, describing Nargrym’s life and various deeds in great detail. The tale expounds upon his magical hand, which allowed him to heft the tremendous weapons of his hated enemies, and his enchanted coat of mail, fashioned entirely from the fingernails of slain giants. Eventually, the epitaph comes to a section entitled “The Tragic Fall of Steelhand,” which details his betrayal and murder at the hands of Lokmorr Edergun.
Anyone who reads the entire tale learns that Nargrym Steelhand was a famed giantslayer from the dwarven Sky Citadel of Janderhoff in Varisia. He slew many giants to defend Janderhoff ’s mining interests in the Mindspin Mountains—even the fire giant Gunderoth, called Dwarfskinner, who scorched the living flesh from nearly 30 dwarven miners. But though Nargrym’s legend remains strong, the circumstances surrounding his death were grim and mysterious.
After Gunderoth’s defeat, Nargrym’s own squire and kinsman, Lokmorr Edergun, cravenly stabbed Nargrym in the back out of spite and jealousy. Lokmorr took credit for slaying the giant himself, claiming it had killed Nargrym, and was heralded as a hero. But a priest of Torag named Byrim Forgepride discovered Lokmorr’s crime and confronted the kinslayer about his betrayal and deception. Believing he might still pull off his ruse, Lokmorr turned upon the priest and slew him as well. Although Lokmorr tried again to cover up his dark deeds, he was unsuccessful, and the ruling council of Janderhoff branded his forehead with the mark of the betrayer, struck his family name from the dwarven histories, and sentenced Lokmorr to be trapped alive in the tomb of the hero he had murdered.
About 40 feet down the shaft, the stairs reach a narrow landing before continuing down in the opposite direction. At this point the shaft begins to fill with wisps of web populated by numerous hairy brown spiders.
Although the seething webs are unnerving, you identify the spiders as both mundane and harmless.
As the stairs descend ever deeper, the webs become thicker (hardness 0, DR 5/–, hp 4 per 5-foot square) and the tiny spiders become increasingly active.
”Thozar, thank ye. The fact that this could fall into...wait, look. Do y’all see that? It reads...Here lies the pride of our clan, Nargrym, son of Torgrym. Called Steelhand, he was laid to rest with utmost honor in 4076 ar. May he be known forevermore as the Giantslayer.” Her voice was filled with awe and pride as she read it. ”We are here. Finally we are here. Ah...” She looked around, beaming a smile. ”My brother and I would be dead if not for y’all. And here we are, because of the efforts of this group. Thank ye all.”
"Not to worry," Gundar says as the small spiders show their agitation. "These little ones pose no threat."
In response to Ingrahild, Gundar touches his brow in genuflection. "It is an honor to be here in the presence of your ancestor, friend. We'll have need of the Giantslayer's spirit in the time ahead."
"Steelhand's work must have benefited the Earthchanter clan as well. We worked to keep mines and other infrastructure stable, preventing cave ins and the like. I wouldn't be surprised if his giantslaying saved a few of my kinsmen!" Thozar mentions. As much as I hate to admit it, I might have to take a trip home after all of this is done. I pray they will take me back.
While the others situate themselves before descending, Thozar steps away from the group and places his belongings on the floor. Placing his palms against the ground, the very earth begins to slowly flow up his arms until his body is consumed. "Haha! Would you look at that! This'll be fun." After picking up his belongings, he phases into the wall and reappears on the ceiling. "This just feels right, a being of the earth in the earth!"
________
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Belir kneels down, removing his pack for a moment as he draws a torch from his drawstring. With a few quick flicks of tinder and flint the torch lets off. "This should help with the webs." Moving slowly down the stairs Belir waves the torch in front of him, giving the flickering webs enough time to burn off before he moves on.
”Do y’all see that? It reads...Here lies the pride of our clan, Nargrym, son of Torgrym. Called Steelhand, he was laid to rest with utmost honor in 4076 ar. May he be known forevermore as the Giantslayer.” Her voice was filled with awe and pride as she read it. ”We are here. Finally we are here. Ah...” She looked around, beaming a smile. ”My brother and I would be dead if not for y’all. And here we are, because of the efforts of this group. Thank ye all.”
Any debt's already been repaid. Ulark says as he retrieves his greatsword and tears the remnants of the webbing off of himself. But its true: a shame and a tragedy this tomb's been brought to the state its in. We dwarves've been pushed back from the old places over the years, but no excuse not to keep our honored places in good repair.
Gundar begins uncoiling rope from his pack. "Suppose I'll take a look first, a bit a' climbing never done me any harm. The things I've found atop cliffs and at the bottom a' valleys, on the other hand..."
Gundar chuckles at his own joke as he secures rope to anything handy (or at the lack of a good tie point, hands the rope to his companions to hold onto). Then he begins descending.
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"Dwarven Buddy System!" Thozar calls out as he dives into the wall and follows after Gundar.
”I’ll not be left behind.” She followed suit.
As you descend, Thozar catches a glimpse of lurking baddies, including a female ettercap with 4 additional arms that resemble spider legs. Accompanied by two male ettercaps and a giant spider, they shout things like "Intruders" and "Death to those from above!"
The two ettercaps try to web up Gundar. One of them manages to entangle him in webbing.
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 69/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
Ingrahild came around the corner and scowled when she saw more etterclaps. ”Angradd curse ye!” She spat, firing an arrow on the move. Overcome with emotion, the shot was not as accurate as it could have been.
With his movements hampered by the webbing, Gundar opts for a more direct descent. Leaving the safety of the stairs, he slides swiftly down the rope towards the enemy.
Gundar tries a surprise move, but finds that the webbing is keeping him stuck in place.
Seeing him struggling, the feminine spider-faced creature starts wiggling her tentacles and causes the rest of the webbing nearby to animate, wrapping Gundar up further.
concentration check. A creature trapped in Stilgrit’s animated webs can break free as a full-round action with a successful DC 16 Strength check (the DC for a helpless creature is increased by 5). Destroying the webs frees a trapped creature. The save DCs are Constitution-based.
The large spider moves toward Gundar, anticipating a tasty snack.
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 69/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
Thozar half-emerges from the wall and sees the spiders scuttling towards Gundar. "Dwarves are friends, not food!" he shouts at the freakshow before lighting the webs beneath her on fire.
"We got a live one down here Dwarves, hop to it!"
________
Moving as fast as I can here! Ulark yells, barrelling down the stairs and swatting away webbing. How many of these damned spider-beasts are there?
The male ettercaps move to intercept the now descending group.
Blue comes at Ulark and tries to bite him.
Purple tries to entangle Thozar with webbing, and manages to attach webbing to his face and whatever else was sticking out of the wall.
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 66/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
Ingrahild took a step to the left and unleashed a volley of arrows at the leader of the infestation. The creature seemed to be directing their enemies, and as such, she couldn’t allow it to live.
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 66/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
With a grunt of effort that turns into a roar, Gundar bursts free of the web, the tough spider-silk snapping with an audible 'twang'.
Growling some obscenities, the spider women howls in rage, and then shouts in dwarven, "You must all die!"
You start to recognize some clearly dwarven features in the creature.
Then she leaps up and lands next to Gundar, trying to bite him.
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 66/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
Thozar keeps the fire trained on the spiderthing while he struggles against his sticky bonds. "Damn spiders!" he curses as he ineffectually tries to wipe the strands off against the wall.
________
As the monster's fangs pierce into his side, Ulark slashes twice at the abomination.
for
for
for
Desecrating the tomb of a hero. Have you lot no shame?
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THese stairs were hurting Belir's dwarven legs. He huffs and puffs until he reaches a small landing, only to be blocked in by Ulark. He weaves left, then right, finding no way past. Just then Belir feels his body be lifted from the stairs. "Wha..? How?" He sputters as his little feet kick in the air. He hears Kraygmyr's laugh off in the distance.
Belir finds himself floating past the stairs next to one of the ugly spidermen.
Effects
HP 57/57
AC 25 (31 vs giant DR/2)
Spells: 1st 5/5 | 2nd 3/4
Focus Armor 5/5
Focus Weapon 6/6
Roll with it 2/2
Ulark cuts down the topmost ettercap despite ther poison coursing through his veins as Belir suddenly begins to float in the air. Umlo continues his descent, and Thozar directs his ball of flame while freeing himself.
The purple ettercap climbs straight up the wall towards Thozar. (Gundar can have an AoO in addition to his turn right now).
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 66/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
Focusing on their leader, Ingrahild’s eyes narrowed dangerously. The abomination was still alive. Good She thought. I hope it suffers. Four more arrows flew out. But that should do it.
Only 2 arrows hit, but that is enough to cause the spider creature drop from her wounds. The giant spider howls in pain - well, you think it is a howl. From a spider, it is very odd.
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 66/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
Gundar swipes at the ettercap as it skitters by, and follows up with a continued assault.
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Belir gently floats down, through the webbing and past the stairs as Kragmyr's spirit carries him downward. As he closes in he swings Agrimmosh at the Mother of spiders.
Though not having his feet on the ground throws off his aim as his whole body spins in a circle.
Effects
HP 57/57
AC 25 (31 vs giant DR/2)
Spells: 1st 5/5 | 2nd 3/4
Focus Armor 5/5
Focus Weapon 6/6
Roll with it 2/2
Gundar neatly slices the ettercap into equal parts as it tries to get away.
The mother of spider's growls in frustration and anger.
She performs an all-out assault against Gundar. Luckily, he is in great form and deflects each and every blow.
Belir - HP 66/66 AC 25/12/24 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 23
Gundar - HP 69/69 AC 22/12/20 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 22
Ingrahild - HP 63/63 AC 20/19/17 (+4 giants) CMD 25
Thozar - HP 59/59 AC 21/12/19 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 17
Ulark - HP 66/69 AC 21/10/21 (+4 vs Giants) CMD 21
His muscles starting to burn from the spider's venom, Ulark continues to hurtle down the stairs to reinforce Gundar.