Rennyn stands ready to follow Draeven should the half-orc indicate it is safe to proceed.
Kenan stands guard, watching the area around the party while the two sword swingers decide whether to enter the cave.
The moist air mingling with these smells has the ranger confused; there is both fresh and old death here. Stepping into the mouth of the cave, Draeven's ears pick up the expected sounds of water dripping from overhead and also...Is that wool being brushed? The sound stops just as soon as the ranger notices and did not last long enough for him to get any kind of bearing.
Draeven looks back at the others and indicates that he heard something. He then motions for the others to follow, at a distance, before sneaking carefully into the cavern. He stays pressed to the wall at his side and follows it as he moves.
Kenan with me. Fenra and Jeryn bring up the rear. Leave some more space so that your light source doesn't give us away immediately.
Leaving some 20' of space between them, Rennyn follows Draeven into the cave, scanning for danger as well.
Fenra offers to cast light onto something for Jeryn, knowing that his dancing lights has a limited duration.
Anticipating the need she reaches up to the sky to the invisible stars and seems to pull their essence down and around her. The air around her briefly glitters before the tiny lights dissipate. Her defense taken care of, she then readies her offense as she grips her morningstar in one hand and a javelin in another.
Fenra also tries to be as quiet as possible but realizes that it will probably be moot with Rennyn flushing out anything with an ounce of perception. She does keep her eyes and ears peeled though her companions will likely spot anything well before it gets to her.
Kenan falls in beside Rennyn his bow held steady an arrow ready to loose at the first sign of intruders. He peers into the shadows his darkvision cutting through the darkness and his feet apparently stepping on every piece of debris possible.
With practiced skill Draeven moves softly across the glistening rock of the cavern. The half-orc's ears strain to pick up the slightest of noises...and is rewarded. *CLANG* An elven thin blade connects with bare rock behind him followed almost immediately by the clatter of wood hitting the cavern's slippery surface. Slipping enough to almost loose his balance, an out of practice monk's attempt to negotiate his way results in him instinctively putting his hand out for support. The wooden bow he carries meets solid rock and resonates almost as loud as the elf's blade a second before.
Yet, the ranger remains unphased. Inching his way around the corner, Draeven spies the familiar signs of webbing. Covering the entire passage like a hallow tube, the thick layers of webbing tell the ranger these fibers have been here for a long time. Halting his advance, Draeven turns to inform his stealthy companions but notices they are already aware of something else - a gentle scratching as that of woolen fabric softly rubbing.
Alerted to the possibility of something lurking nearby, Draeven continues his vigil and moves around the corner. Sure enough, the ranger spots at least three large appendages moving towards him within the tube. Covered in coarse hair, each limb moves steadily and silently toward the party. Soon part of the creature itself appears. The size of a man familiar looking mandibles flex in the darkness, hungry for their next meal.
Drawn out by the stealthy actions of the party, this spider is on a shopping spree for some fresh juice.
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 natural)
Melee bite +2 (1d6 plus poison)
Special Attack WEB (+5 ranged, DC 12, hp 2)
Seeing Draeven stop, and hearing the sound of something approaching from the side passage, Rennyn moves forward and holds his sword over his head, ready to strike at any threat that emerges...
Seeing the spider approaching, Draeven slips back around the corner and opposite Rennyn readying his ax...
A largish spider this way comes...
Rennyn whispers to the others, first in celestial, Spread out so you can target the passageway and get ready, and then in common, Kenan can you move opposite the passageway and draws its attention to you?
Happy that Fenra was able to illuminate his staff, and happier still that he is not at the head of the party, Jeryn enters the cave warily.
As he steps within the cave his nostrils twinge as they pick up the scent of something foul. Using considerable willpower to hold in a deep sigh, the mage reminds himself to see if he can find some means of nullifying odours the next time he finds himself in civilization.
Understanding the basics of Rennyn's command, he moves to oblidge, taking up a position within the mouth of the cave.
From this vantage he is ready to bring his arcane might to bear against any opponent approaching from the south or west passage.
Kenan nods and moves quickly and loudly, dragging his feet and trying to sound injured as he makes his way across.
Moving into position, Kenan uses what he can to make sure the spider's attention is on him and not the two warriors. As the monk's eyes peer down the tube, the spider's bulk can be seen inching its way around a bend then toward the opening. Spying the monk, the hairy creature seems to stop and Kenan can see its mandibles flex as the spider arranges its many legs. Then without warning a sheet of webbing shoots from its abdomen covering the monk in warm sticky fibers. A length of these fibers is quickly gathered up by the spider as it attempts to drag the dwarf into the tube.
Drawn out by the stealthy actions of the party, this spider is on a shopping spree for some fresh juice.
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 natural)
HP: 21
Melee bite +2 (1d6 plus poison)
Special Attack: WEB (+5 ranged, DC 12, hp 2)
The spider stops in the tunnel and chooses to shoot its webbing at Kenan, using it as a Net Attack to pull the dwarf into the tube.
Seeing Kenan webbed Rennyn thinks not this again before rushing around the corner to slash at the spider...
...his blade catching the spider in the head.
Draeven follows Rennyn into the side passage while drawing one of his throwing axes and flinging it at the oversized arachnid...
...the weapon flying just past Rennyn's ear before buying itself into the abdomen of the eight legged monster.
Seeing the spider still has life in it Draeven calls out to his comrade, One of your force bolts would be really handy right about now Jeryn!
Fenra holds a javelin aloft and waits for an opportunity to present itself as she doesn't want to take the chance of hitting her comrades.
Kenan surprised at the wash of sticky fibers stands. Quickly assesses his situation than calmly begins to twist and pull attempting to extricate himself from the sticky situation.
Excited at the opportunity to be of use, Jeryn moves into a better position to assail his foe.
Once there he brandishes his staff while snarling an arcane word of power. A tiny force bolt materializes at the end of his staff and sails toward his adversary.
Struggling against the bonds of webbing sticking him to the wall, the monk can only watch on as his warrior comrades carry out what seems like well practiced precision tactics. Rushing the spider, Rennyn's blade easily bites into the creature's head sending a gush of indigo fluid forth to paint the webbed tube. Ducking out of the way of the spider's grotesque essence, Draeven seizes upon the opportunity created to hurl his axe. Cutting rapidly through the air, the steel head misses the elf and buries itself deep in the monster's abdomen. Before what's left of the spider's brain can process what has happened to it, a bolt of force is sent hurtling towards it from the wizard which smashes open the wound created by Rennyn's blade. Robbed of its senses, the spider has nothing left but to slump down to the ground and quietly expire.
400XP for squishing a spider divided 5 ways...80XP
Draeven yanks his throwing ax free, hanging it back on his belt before resuming his scouting of the webbed filled corridor.
Rennyn wipes the gore from his blade before falling in behind Draeven again, leaving the same 20' of space between them as before.
Travel through the tunnel is difficult. Sticky and abundant, the arachnids carefully spun fibers try to catch limbs, or anything dangling from your persons, at every step. As Draeven rounds the bend the spider's lair comes into view. An elaborate web hangs from numerous points all around the walls of this chamber. Trapped within this are tiny web spun satchels along with a small collection of bones. Remnants of 'lunch', it is comprised of mostly small animals but there is also the skeletal remains of a goblin lying here. A quick inspection of one of these sacks reveals a somewhat juicy carcass of a giant gecko. To the south Draeven notes a small curtain of webbing swaying ever so slightly. With the vines and nettles removed from the main entrance, fresh air has been steadily circulating throughout these caverns, as this is the likely cause it tells the ranger that there is more than one entrance into the spider's den and these are likely connected.
Treating travel through here as difficult terrain do to the webbing.
Does anyone have a torch? Might as well burn this stuff away and make our path a little easier.
Fenra follows at her prescribed distance, happy that the ones in front have at least torn down most of the web blocking her way.
I do, Draeven responds as be fishes one out, along with his flint and steel, and hands it to Fenra. You can do the honors.
Once the deed is done Draeven moves to scout ahead again.
Rennyn follows Draeven again, leaving the same 20' of space between them as before.
Jeryn takes up his place in the party, third in line. With Draeven and Rennyn up ahead and Fenra not too far behind, burning the webs, he trudges on through the cave. His nostrils now filled with the smell of decay and smoke, he scowls and promises once more to find a way to banish odours.
As she burns away the webbing Fenra keeps an eye out for anything the newly cleared areas might reveal.
Kenan stays close to Rennyn watching for any signs of danger.
Lighting a torch, the oracle burns her way through the spider's den. Her efforts however turn up nothing more than bone and the pungent smell of burnt hair. To Kenan's eyes, various formations of rock line the cavern walls. A combination of sandstone, limestone and igneous rock, the cavern has been eroded away over hundreds of years of activity from Sog's Bay. It may have grown to be a lot bigger were it not for the Brinestump's taking over.
Pressing on at the front, Draeven, ignoring the constant din of Rennyn's footfalls, sees the passageway split to the east and west. His nostrils tell him the air from the east is fresh. To the west, the half-orc's eyes notice hints of another passage opening - accompanied by its own brand of foul air.
Draeven continues down the west passageway...
Leaving the smoldering spider's den, the group follows their noses west. This passage twists north but soon emerges into another chamber. Dripping water from the ceiling here has formed an island of limestone dotted with tiny stalagmites surrounded by a 5-foot-deep
pool of dark water here. A number of glittering crystals protrude from this island. With the possibility a payday in mind, Kenan's appraisal is sought. Through his eyes the dwarf notes these are just rock crystals, but the golden hue of these crystals reminds him of MUSCOVITE. Of some value to healers, in the right hands such crystals have been known to align the energy centers of the body, release blockages and are quite therapeutic in calming nerves. Although he can't be sure without taking a closer look, if he's right the crystals are worth 20 gp at HANNAH's.
Draeven sniffs, Looks like a trap to me...
Draeven stands by his assessment of the situation and is fine with staying clear of the water.
If we are not going to investigate then where to now?
Draeven stands watching the chamber in silence, waiting. His patience is rewarded only by a predictable drop of water which lands with a flat splat upon the tiny limestone island. Only then is the eerie silence of the chamber briefly interrupted by Kenan's voice. The monk's words echo slightly in this quiet hall but are just as quickly swallowed by the darkness. Some 35ft away, Fenra's torch flutters as the cavern refreshes itself one soft breath at a time...
Draeven turns around and heads for the east passageway...
Jeryn taps his finger on his chin and says Hmm, that muscovite could have been useful.
With a shrug, he says to Draeven I trust your instincts. Let us move on.
Not wanting to investigate the crystals, Draeven leads the group away from the fetid chamber and picks up the eastern passage. Much larger than the hollow veins you'd just left, the air here is noticeably fresher than the two chambers just explored. Tiny glimmers of light reflect like stars on some portions of the walls opposite suggesting this passage has a direct connection to the entrance. Starting from the north and continuing south along the eastern wall, brackish waters sit; l ikely remnants left behind from periodic storms and floods. Barely visible to the naked eye, the liquid is slowly seeping into the sand and rock, though not nearly as fast as the walls are replenishing it. A quiet current, no faster than a snail, carries most of the water south and deeper into the cavern structure. The ranger judges the water here to be no more than three feet deep and, spying the sheer rock face underneath, Draeven knows from experience that the footing within the arm will be unpredictable .
Draeven sticks to the narrower, and less treacherous, side passageways for the time being...
Returning to the previous junction, Draeven investigates the narrows. And indeed it is narrow here. After about twenty feet, the passage walls here close in around the half-orc; at one point the ranger has barely 18 inches with which to work with. Squeezing his way through, Draeven has to wiggle his hulking mass fifteen feet in before he can see the walls spread to a more comfortable space .
Rennyn follows Draeven into, and through, the bottleneck in the passageway...
Kenan follows the others.
Preferring not to carry a torch Fenra extinguishes and stows it, relying once more on the handy spell.
Her lithe frame squeezes through the passage more easily than that the imposing half orc.
At the back of the line, Jeryn lets out a deep sigh and mutters I'm going to be filthy...
Still muttering, he squeezes into the passage way, he holds his staff ahead of him in one hand, allowing the light to lead his way. Aware he can barely see behind him now, he can only pray there is nothing behind them.
Unlike her male companions, the oracle practically glides through the narrow passage; making it look easy. Emerging on the other side, an upset Jeryn and his companions are met by a vast chamber. Spanning sixty feet to the south and nearly double that to the east and west, a kind of limestone divider separates a branch leading off to the north from the main pool. Both the floor and the ceiling of the main cavern gently dips into a large pool of water to the south - likely the arm of brackish water seen earlier comes to rest here. Entombed within this dark catacomb, are the skeletal remains of six humanoids laying on a beach of hard packed sand, rock and limestone. Unarmed and devoid of clothing, these figures do not look like the ones encountered the other day near Kaijistu's Blossom, however they interestingly seem to 'face' an adjacent opening leading to the west. Both Rennyn and Kenan can see two more of these skeletons resting in the water, also facing the western entrance.
Nothing to see here, move along.