Seeing the attempts at diplomacy fail, Dalvin hurriedly nocks one of the new flaming arrows he picked up several days ago. He moves a little closer in, and fires at the monstrosity.
"If that's how you want to do this, you ugly creature..." Skalla circles around the closest spider with a measured pace until she's almost behind it, then steps up and swings her battleaxe at it.
Party Buffs:
Dalvin HP: 26/26 - AC 15/13/13 Status:
Drako HP: 19/19 - AC: 20/15/16 Status:
Nisa HP: 28/28 - AC: 19/13/15 Status:
Rayne HP: 21/21 - AC: 16/13/13 Status:
Skalla HP: 27/27 - AC: 16/10/15 Status:
Ettercap HP: 30/30 - AC: 15/13/12 Status:
Red Giant Spider HP: 16/16 - AC: 14/13/11 Status:
Blue Giant Spider HP: 16/16 - AC: 14/13/11 Status:
________________________________
Order: Rayne (25), Nisa (22), Ettercap (19), Dalvin (19), Giant Spiders (9), Skalla (4)
Nisa Channels Power as a full round action.
Ettercap moves and misses Nisa with web attack.
Skalla moves and misses ettercap.
Dalvin crits ettercap for 30 damage. Ettercap dies.
The creature sidesteps Skalla's swipe, but Dalvin's arrow catches it square in the chest, punching all the way through and out the thing's hairy back. The monster shrieks in pain as the arrow erupts, searing the wound with flames. The beast collapses to the ground, shuddering.
As though reacting to the spider-thing's pain, the other spiders scuttle forward and into melee with Dalvin and Nisa.
[spoiler]Nisa and Rayne can now act!
Rayne whips the daggers from her wrists and moves to engage with the spider-thing, but stops short as an arrow flies past her and sets the creature aflame. Grinning, she turns to Dalvin. "Nice shot, kid," she says, spinning the blades in her hands as she advances on the nearest spider. She darts forward as she closes in, daggers lashing out in front of her.
Nisa steps back as she throws her arms out wide, an explosion of life erupting underneath the spider she was just next to. The blast takes the form of an expanding thorny bush which entangles the spiders spindly legs.
Party Buffs:
Dalvin HP: 26/26 - AC 15/13/13 Status:
Drako HP: 19/19 - AC: 20/15/16 Status:
Nisa HP: 28/28 - AC: 19/13/15 Status:
Rayne HP: 21/21 - AC: 16/13/13 Status:
Skalla HP: 27/27 - AC: 16/10/15 Status:
Ettercap HP: 30/30 - AC: 15/13/12 Status:
Red Giant Spider HP: 16/16 - AC: 14/13/11 Status:
Blue Giant Spider HP: 4/16 - AC: 14/13/11 Status:
________________________________
Order: Rayne (25), Nisa (22), Ettercap (19), Dalvin (19), Giant Spiders (9), Skalla (4)
Nisa Channels Power as a full round action.
Ettercap moves and misses Nisa with web attack.
Skalla moves and misses ettercap.
Dalvin crits ettercap for 30 damage. Ettercap dies.
Spiders double move.
Rayne crits blue spider for 12 with dagger.
Nisa hits blue spider for 13 with kinetic blast. Blue spider dies.
One of the oncoming spiders dies to a combination of Nisa's blast and Rayne's daggers.
skalla moves into a flanking position with Dalvin and swipes her axe in a deadly arc at the creature's legs.
Dalvin flashes a toothy grin at Rayne before the spiders start to swarm in on them. Following Skalla's attack, Dalvin quickly puts away his bow and draws the sickle from his side. He swings as hard as he can at the encroaching spider.
Party Buffs:
Dalvin HP: 26/26 - AC 15/13/13 Status:
Drako HP: 19/19 - AC: 20/15/16 Status:
Nisa HP: 28/28 - AC: 19/13/15 Status:
Rayne HP: 21/21 - AC: 16/13/13 Status:
Skalla HP: 27/27 - AC: 16/10/15 Status:
Ettercap HP: 30/30 - AC: 15/13/12 Status:
Red Giant Spider HP: 4/16 - AC: 14/13/11 Status:
________________________________
Order: Rayne (25), Nisa (22), Ettercap (19), Dalvin (19), Giant Spiders (9), Skalla (4)
Rayne moves.
Nisa Channels Power as a full round action.
Ettercap moves and misses Nisa with web attack.
Skalla moves and misses ettercap.
Dalvin crits ettercap for 30 damage. Ettercap dies.
Spiders double move.
Rayne crits blue spider for 12 with dagger.
Nisa hits blue spider for 13 with kinetic blast. Blue spider dies. Skalla moves to flank with Dalvin and hits for red spider for 7.
Dalvin puts away his bow, draws his sickle, and hits red spider for 5.
Skalla and Dalvin move to either side of the spider, hacking at it with sickle and ax.
Drako bites at the large spider, almost in tandem with Dalvin's strike.
Drako tears the remaining spider to small pieces, removing the last threat to the party.
The interior of the ranger's redoubt is filled with sticky web—coating the walls, ceiling, and floor. Lining the walls are a series of web-wrapped bundles containing the remains of the ettercap's victims. Most hold the desiccated bodies of birds, squirrels, and other woodland creatures, but two belong to humanoids, a male elf and female human.
Clearing the web takes several hours, but reveals an assortment of usable equipment.
Skalla curses as she tears at the webs. She was getting tired of always being on the run, this cat and mouse game with the Ironfangs, trying to get the refugees to a safe place that kept receding before their eyes.
She spots the letter and shows it to the others. "Fort Trevalay, I'm not sure where that is." Crouching by the body of the elf, she sighs. "It looks like these two didn't make it out in time. And what were they doing with these gems in the wilderness? I'd rather find food and useful gear, not these - no matter how pretty they are." She picks up a precious stone between thumb and index finger, lifting it up to the light and examining it with a critical eye.
"No one but those... things have been here for the last several weeks," Dalvin notes, pushing away a stray bit of webbing. He nods to Skalla. "I'm sure the rangers felt the same way. Probably why they were left behind."
Dalvin reads the half-burnt letter Skalla holds in her hands. "Fort Trevalay? Maybe someone back at the camp knows?"
Rayne groans quietly. "More time wasted. I guess we should head back then, and see if Aubrin can figure any of this out."
Later that day, Aubrin nods slowly. "Fort Trevalay. I know what it is, and roughly where to find it. It's the Chernasardo Rangers headquarters and it's many leagues from here." She sighs and shakes her head wearily. "I know what you're thinking. If the rangers retreated to their fort, shouldn't we follow? We can't, not as we are. It's too far and we're too weak. If you ask me, we need to find a more permanent place to shelter our people, a place they can feel safe and secure."
"This redoubt was a dead-end, but there must be another place we can go." She turns to Dalvin. "You mentioned some caverns on the edge of the Chernasardo. Or we could try Gristledown, that logging village. I don't think we're too far from either."
"A village doesn't sound too defensible, and with the Ironfang swarming in these parts I don't think it will be long before they pick up our trail. I say head for the caverns, but we should also warn the village, at the very least."
Skalla's expression is grim, but determined. She was disappointed that they couldn't reach Fort Trevalay, but they still had options, and she wouldn't give up hope, not yet.
Dalvin gives Drako a small bit of food as he nods. "Yeah, the caverns. I agree with Skalla, I think they'd provide more safety than Gristedown."
He pats Drako on the head, quietly thinking to himself, And hopefully nothing dangerous has made its home there already.
"The caves will be much safer for our camp. Perhaps while they pack up and begin to prepare for the journey we can make a quick run to Gristledown. We need to contact them before they are caught unaware."
Nisa speaks softly, as she finishes her thoughts, "We need to stop further tragedies from befalling the people of these woods."
Rayne grabs some food from the camp's rations and takes a bite. "Caverns sound good to me," she says simply as she sits in the grass.
Aubrin nods. "The caves it is. We'll head there tomorrow."
---
At first light, the party sets off. After traveling for a few hours, when passing near a slow-moving stream, the voice of a young man calls out followed by the sounds of his mount.
"Greetings, fellow travelers!"
A bare-chested man with sun-bronzed skin steps out from the brush, his torso terminating into the body of chestnut mare.
"My name is Yorc. Would you care to rest with me a spell? I am happy to share my meal of barley and apples, and we can trade information about the potential hazards of these woods."
Skalla is wary of this newcomer, especially now when she knows there is a price on their heads.
"Greetings, Yorc. Very friendly of you, to offer us your food. And what might you expect from us in response to your kindness?"
Dalvin comes to a halt and reaches out a hand to stop Drako. He watches the newcomer quietly as Skalla steps forward to greet him, then casts his gaze out into the surrounding brush for signs of anyone else that might be hiding.
"In my experience, miss, hospitality granted is hospitality returned," Yorc replies, still grinning. "I don't begrudge your suspicion though. These woods are a dangerous place. Here, a peace offering." The centaur reaches slowly into his bag and produces a plump apple, red and delicious-looking.
"I found these on a huge tree not far from here. I've been enjoying them all morning." He offers it to the half-orc.
There was something about this Yorc character that wasn't to Skalla's liking, but she finds it difficult to pinpoint. And in any case, it might be wiser to play along for now, and keep their eyes and ears wide open.
She turns around enough to raise an eyebrow at her companions, then reaches out to accept the apple and stow it in her bag. "Thank you, that is a fine looking apple. We will save it for later."
Rayne glances from the centaur, to the apple, to Skalla as the half-orc stows the fruit in her bag, and offers an imperceptible nod of understanding before turning her attention to the centaur. "Your generosity is very refreshing," she says with a broad, friendly smile. "After what we've been through... well, it's quite welcome. From where in the forest are you traveling from? It's been some time since we've come across a friendly face." As she motions for him to sit with them, she looks at the others and give a faint shake of her head.
Dalvin grins hungrily at the sight of the apples. But a quick glance to Skalla and Rayne wipes the smile from his face. Dalvin takes steps to the side of Drako, keeping a hand on his fur but no longer blocking the dog's way.
"Pretty much everyone and everything we come across is out to kill us," he adds.
Nisa relaxes her stance slightly and pulls away from the group. She wasn't sure exactly what was going on but she was picking up a slight edge in the parties behavior, to her the apple looked simply delicious. As she tries to lean out of vision of the centaur, she pulls her hood tighter to her face thinking, "Strange creature offering plump apples, what an odd world."
"Of course," Yorc replies with a grin, oblivious to the exchange of suspicious glances. "Eat them now, eat them later, they're too good not to share."
The centaur produces another apple from his bag and offers it to Rayne. "Oh, I'm not from the forest. My people live in the plains to the south. The humans call them the Nesmian Plains."
His eyes widen slightly when they land on Nisa. "I am beginning to understand why, Mr. Halfling. No offense to your companions, of course, but hobgoblins are not well-loved in this country."
He offers another shiny, red apple to the kineticist. "I've no such quarrels, of course! Live and let live, I say."
Rayne takes the apple with a smile. "Have you encountered any of the hobgoblins yourself as you've traveled?"
"I'm a gnome," Dalvin mutters, still keeping a steady hand on Drako.
"What are you doing all the way up here in the forest, then?" he asks curiously, adding on to Rayne's question.
The centaur seems abashed. "My mistake, Mr. Gnome! I have a difficult time telling the small folks from one another." By way of explanation, he gestures to the bag slung over one shoulder from which he produced the apples. "I'm something of a messenger, running missives from place to place. And I've seen the hobgoblins, aye. They haven't given me too much trouble. I can outrun them."
The others can see the half-orc tense, her hand moving as if to scratch the back of her neck, but instead brushing the hilt of her axe. She sweeps her companions with her gaze, particularly those who had taken apples from the centaur. "I wouldn't eat those, friends, we don't know where they've been."
She turns to Yorc, taking a step closer and drawing herself up. "If your people live to the south, what are you doing here? Who are you delivering missives to?"
Yorc holds up his hands apologetically, backing a step away from the advancing skald. "Like I said before," he explains, his voice wavering. "I'm delivering messages. I don't talk about my client's affairs. Bad for business."
"Easy, Skalla," Rayne says quietly, moving to stand next to her. She turns her attention to the centaur. "I think we've been pretty cordial here," she says too nicely. "Why don't you at least tell us what's... off about these apples, yes?" She casually fingers the sheath on her wrist. "We're not stupid, after all, Yorc. And we don't want any more trouble than we ready have, of course." She looks at him with a smile.
As the party grows more confrontational, Drako lets out a low growl. Dalvin stays behind the taller Skalla and Rayne but keeps his eyes on Yorc, slowly reaching for one of the arrows from his quiver.
Party Buffs:
Dalvin HP: 26/26 - AC 15/13/13 Status:
Drako HP: 19/19 - AC: 20/15/16 Status:
Nisa HP: 28/28 - AC: 19/13/15 Status:
Rayne HP: 21/21 - AC: 16/13/13 Status:
Skalla HP: 27/27 - AC: 16/10/15 Status:
________________________________
Order: Yorc (24), Nisa (21), Rayne (19), Dalvin (14), Skalla (14)
Yorc's empty smile doesn't reach his eyes. "Ah, hells," he explains. "I was really hoping more of you would have eaten the apples. It would make this easier." The centaur draws his sword and lunges at Skalla, but misses widely with a shouted curse.
With a roar, Skalla rips her battleaxe free and swings it at the centaur's legs. "We are not easy prey!"
Dalvin lays hands on Drako and closes his eyes for a second, then mutters a separate incantation just before letting go of his fur. Drako bounds towards Yorc snarling and circling the centaur, before lunging for the centaur's leg.
Swift- Dalvin imbues Drako with bull's strength.
Standard- Dalvin casts Acid Maw on Drako.
Rayne pops the daggers from her wrist sheaths, twirling them with a flourish. "Oh Yorc. We could have been friends, but I really hate being lied to." She rushes forward, slicing upwards at the centaur's chest.
Nisa steps back and throws her hands out, as thorny vines explode from her fingertips, slashing shallowly at the centaur's flank
Party Buffs:
Dalvin HP: 26/26 - AC 15/13/13 Status:
Drako HP: 19/19 - AC: 20/15/16 Status:
Nisa HP: 28/28 - AC: 19/13/15 Status:
Rayne HP: 21/21 - AC: 16/13/13 Status:
Skalla HP: 27/27 - AC: 16/10/15 Status:
Yorc HP:2/30 - AC: 18/11/16 Status:
________________________________
Order: Yorc (24), Nisa (21), Rayne (19), Dalvin (14), Skalla (14)
Skalla misses Yorc (16 vs AC 18).
Dalvin imbues Drako with bull's strength and casts acid maw. Drako moves and hits Yorc for 6 (24 vs. AC 18).
Rayne 5fs and full attacks Yorc. One hit for 22 damage. (19 vs. AC 18)
Yorc parries Skalla's swing, but yelps in pain when Drako’s jaws close around one of his rear legs. The centaur wheels, trying to bring his blade down on the dog, but this allows an easy opening for Rayne, who sinks her dagger to the hilt in his side.
Yorc gasps, clutches the wound, and gallops away from the party.
"Get back here, you coward!" Rayne immediately takes off after the wounded centaur, but stops after 30 or so feet as she realizes she'll never be able to keep up with him.
"Dammit," she mutters to himself, watching Yorc run away. "Dammit!" Holding her enchanted dagger in hand, she pulls her arm back, then hurls the blade towards the retreating centaur.
"Cursed spy!"
Skalla drops her battleaxe and frees her crossbow, slotting a bolt into the loading chamber.
Nisa closes her eyes and slowly grasps a hand out towards fleeing centaur. Vibrant flowers bloom beneath her feet, as vines slowly spread across her skin. Opening her eyes, she tightens her fist as the vines that had grown around it seem to tremble with excitement. The ground around the centaur roars to life and vines covered in thorns explode out around him.
Dalvin takes off after the fleeing Yorc, bow in hand but too far out firing range. Drako likewise runs for the centaur, stopping short of Nisa's thorny vines as they erupt around Yorc's hooves.
Rayne's dagger misses the fleeing centaur by a hair, but any fear of him escaping vanishes when a patch of vines erupts from the earth around him. Yorc's cry of alarm is cut short as the plants engulf him.