"Uhhh"!
Spiked Chain
Damage
Finn finally breaks free thanks to Ophalia's help and in seconds is tearing at the webbing holding down Mr Scruffles. Thinking that if he should fall at least his companion might make his own escape.
They struggle to no avail.
"Don't worry buddy I'll get you out of this somehow!"
The elven witch looks down at the webbing and tries to come up with a better way to free the halfling's mount. Their luck is running out and the spider will strike soon if they cannot get Scruffles free.
"Help us Garrun. Help us! Get that spider now!"
The creature fighting Nogrogomen lunges forward again, fangs aimed at the half-orc's flesh.
The scarred warrior deflects the lunge with a slap of his blade.
Rotation:
Spider3
Opalia
Ichabod
Lucian
Finn
Spider4
Garrun - can post
Spider2
Dai - can post
Nogrogomed - can post
Dai fires once again at the spider threatening Finn
Attack-ranged:
Damage:
Miss:
Attack-ranged:
Damage:
Miss:
Confirm Crit:
Crit Damage:
Getting frustrated, Garrun pushes the spider back with his shield before calling for Gorum's aid in hammering the spider with an overhead swing, "May the iron bite deep!"
One of Dai's arrows plunges into the creature's sensitive mouth parts, causing it to rear in pain, just as Garrun makes a mighty swing with his longsword. At first, it's unclear whether the blow connected, and then the thorax of the spider goes one direction, its abdomen goes in another, and Opalia, Garrun, Finn and Ichabod are drenched in a spray of slimy spider guts.
Rotation:
Spider3 (dead)
Opalia - can post
Ichabod - can post
Lucian - can post
Finn
Spider4
Garrun
Spider2 (dead)
Dai
Nogrogomed
Seeing only one spider remaining, Lucian rushes through the natural gaps in the trees to take a stab at the remaining vermin, but misses wildly in his haste.
Opalia slumps a little as she is sprayed with grey entrails, then she moves to get the donkey out of the way. Whether or not the donkey notices the massive spider - it freely trots backwards with the elven witch clearing more room for the warriors.
Angry at his ineffectiveness Ichabod again lashes out with his chain.
Spiked Chain
Proliferation of tiny puncture holes.
And almost ends up impaling himself.
Ichabod attempts to hit the spider that isn't there, and fails.
Rotation:
Spider3 (dead)
Opalia
Ichabod
Lucian
Finn - can post
Spider4
Garrun - can post
Spider2 (dead)
Dai
Nogrogomed
Finn rips at the wedding to get Mr Scruffles free.
And finally with a very concerted effort on both their parts Finn and Mr Scruffles pull free of the webbing that held them down through the fight.
"Now where's that cursed spider." Finn says followed by a low growl from Mr Scruffles.
With an approving nod to the now free Finn, Garrun rushes back down the path and hurles through the trees to engage the remaining spider. Reaching the frey, he bashes the hilt of his sword against his shield repeatedly to again try to draw the vermin's focus.
Faced with a bounty of targets, the hungry arachnid leaps forward in an attempt to bite Garrun, attracked by the noise and clamour of sword on shield.
But its attack is thrown off the multitude of targets.
Rotation:
Spider3 (dead)
Opalia
Ichabod
Lucian
Finn
Spider4
Garrun
Spider2 (dead)
Dai - can post
Nogrogomed - can post
Dai targets the last spider and lets loose 2 arrows.
Attack-ranged:
Damage:
Attack-ranged:
Damage:
Nogrogomed will use 20 feet of movement to try and tumble in to a flank position with Garrun before striking, trying to avoid being bitten while his guard is down.
After this effort, Nogrogomed become quite tired.
"Who knew these critters could be such trouble"
"Boy, you said it friend." Finn says to Nogrogomed walking up to the group side by side with Mr Scruffles.
An arrow from Dai and a blow from Nogrogomed put paid to the last spider, and suddenly quiet returns to the glade, except for the rhythmic wooden creaking from before.
Before Opalia slumps too much, the adrenalin still pumping through her forehead she looks round to see if anyone has been bitten.
"Did...did anyone get hurt or bitten? Is Mr Scuffles fine?"
Then the elven witch pats her donkey while it nonchalantly chews a fern.
Ichabod frowns a bit, and looks at his spiked chain, disappointed that he doesn't need to clean more ichor from it.
"Well as you can see, I'm not much good when the fighting gets close, but I can help heal a bit. Everyone gather around for a little prayer, then I'll address the more seriously wounded".
Channel
Ichabod frowns again at the response from Omrataji.
Have I done something to anger you?
Dai examines the dead spiders and attempts to retrieve any of his fired arrows that he can find and that are not damaged. While doing this he examines the area as well, especially from where the spiders came from.
Perception:
"Thanks Opalia but we're fine. Thanks to everyone's efforts Mr Scruffles and I were largely untouched except for those damn webs which, without your help, we might yet be struggling to free ourselves. So thank you." Finn says, punctuated by a bark from Me Scruffles who then goes over and nudges Opalia's hand slightly before wandering around everyone sniffing at them each.
When he passes the corpse of the giant spider he growls at it. And while everyone looks on he turns sideways and pees on the thing. When everyone looks at Finn he has his hand pressed to his face with a sigh. Obviously embarrassed.
The sound of scraping turns the group back to see Mr Scruffles pawing at the ground covering the spider in a thin layer of dirt before Mr Scruffles continues sniffing around the group.
The strange creaking noise is revealed to be caused by a small reptilian creature, vaguely humanoid, with a long pointed snout and long tail. The creature is bound in webbing and hanging from a branch. Its eyes bulge, and foam is gathered around its mouth, but it is obviously still alive, as its left foot twitches spasmodically, and it is this that has set it swinging from the branch.
.
The rest of the glade seems clear of life, although there is plenty of death - almost a dozen cocoon-wrapped bodies of various sizes litter the web-draped glade. Some appear to be relatively intact, although others rattle when tested - little more than skin and bone - probably feasts from a previous season.
Searching them all will take a few hours, as the webbing is touch and resistant to being cut. At the moment, the light is fading fast, and the glade is already too gloomy for those with only human vision to see in properly.
Nogrogomed will work to free the creature, taking his time to insure he does not injure it.
Dai will cut down a few of the other bundles and pile them together for investigation.
"It is getting dark. Should we make camp here? With the spiders gone, maybe this would make a safe haven for the evening?" the young man asks.
"Sounds like an idea Dai. We'll start setting up the camp and make a fire." Finn sets about finding a smaller clearing and gathering firewood and starting a fire.
"Probably a good idea. Likely any other dangerous prey will steer clear of this area due to the spiders. If anybody needs healing come to me now. I'll take first watch after dark, or last watch before dawn, so's I can prey for some new spells come morning".
While working to free the creature and ascertain its condition, Nogrogomed asks,"Finn, I believe it likely that any intelligent predator familiar with this area who has previously steered clear of these spiders will find it odd that they would host a fire so close to their webbed meals and possible lairs. Perhaps we should avoid the attention. I'll leave to you all to decide.
In any case, I will happy to take the first watch. I can see just fine with or without a fire.
Ichabod, I still have a few remaining scratches if you'd be willing to heal them before you rest."
"Thanks Ichabod. I have some small scratches so I think I just need some slight patching up. And Nogrogomed, I see your point about the fire but I expect it will be a cold night without some warmth." Finn says holding a small stack of wood. Mr Scruddles however, walks in a circle off to the side and lays down on the grass, watching everyone go about their duties.
Opalia watches to see what Ichabod heals and how he does too. But she is happy to have someone else taking on the role. Someone else who can keep everyone alive without her having all the responsibility.
Then she sits down by the fire and starts to chop up food into a small cauldron from the donkey.
"A hot meal would be good. I have some dried meat and veg. But not enough for all."
"I agree with Finn, a fire would be a good thing. Beside the point, Nogrogomed, not all of us have your ability to see so well in the darkness." Lucian says, digging into his pack for a night's rations.
Finding his dice and cards while retrieving his meal he asks, "Anyone up for a game and perhaps a small wager?"
Dai continues to attempt to open the spider-silk pouches after helping setup the camp.
Ichabod gathers up a bit of dirt, spits in his hands and rubs them together to make a special Dwarven mud, then lays his hands upon the wounds of the two party members, blessing each with a CLW.
CLW #1
CLW #2
A flickering fire soon illuminates the glade. The eerie strands of webbing make for strange, unsettling decoration, with lots of dancing shadows. But hot food, even if it just toasted rations, or a simple dried meat stew, serves to settle the nerves and fill hungry stomaches that haven't eaten since breakfast, long ago at the Bree-Yark Inn.
The kobold is paralysed from spider poison, and is capable of little more at the moment than rolling its eyes and twitching its foot and the tip of its tail. Perhaps with the passing of a few hours, the poison might wear off slightly.
The webbed bundles are the remains of the spiders' previous meals - some are still wet and squishy, while others are little more than collections of skin and bones wrapped up in spider silk. Cutting them open is a grim task, but with persistence the group can find the following:
Four of the corpses appear to be small humanoids with flattened, oval skulls - almost certainly goblins. Their bones are mixed with a variety of scraps of clothing, small metal trinkets of no value, and a handful of coins (total 7sp). One of them also has a strangely shaped dagger/shortsword, with holes drilled in the blade, and a wickedly sharp edge. Another has a lady's silver handmirror. The silver case is tarnished and worn, but the glass is intact.
A human corpse, still wearing a rusty chain shirt, with a dagger at his belt. A broken bow and three wet and warped arrows are also present, as well as a backpack containing the slimy remains of some sort of food, a very dirty half bottle of brandy, and a laquered wooden box containing a number of rings.
A deer.
What seems to be a very large black-plumed bird, about the size of a pig.
The corpse of a dwarven woman, wearing no armour or many other identifying marks. A small pouch of green stones is still attached to her belt.
Dai gathers these items and lays them out for the group to see.
I wonder at returning the bodies of the woman and warrior back to the keep. Perhaps they have family who have wondered what has happened to them?"
"I wonder how much tax they'd charge on that..."
"I think perhaps the dwarven woman, since she is still recognizable somewhat, would be readily welcomed back among her bretheren, dontcha think Ichabod? What bird is that?! That box of rings is curious can I have a look see?" Finn says as the group looks over everything.
As the fire begins to roar, Garrun breaks out a battered coffee pot some might recognize as being military issue. Within twenty minutes the smell of hot coffee wafts through the small clearing. Smiling, the young Gorumite pours himself a cup and gestures to the others, "Come on now. Does wonders for the chill."
Leaning over to Dia's pile of collected trinkets, Garrun grabs the half empty bottle. Pulling the cork with his teeth, he sniffs tentatively, considering for a moment before grinning, "Ha. The Lord in Iron is pleased with our performance. And rightly so. You all did admirably. I'm pleased to find myself in such capable company."
Pouring a hearty measure of the scavenged brandy into his cup, Garrun downs half the cup in a swig before turning his attention to the foaming, shivering body of the spider's captive.
"I'm fine taking the woman back, what about this one though? Haven't heard any mention of Kobolds before. The little dragonlings are rarely found alone, to find one out here likely means there's a lot more dug in somewhere in the valley. Nasty little buggers on their own turf from my understanding."
Automatically Opalia snaps off the arrow heads from the dank wooden shafts and pockets them for later.
"May I take the mirror, please?" asks the elven girl in a small voice. She hasn't seen her own face in a long time.
Can also use it to test if someone still breathes.
"Yeah. I suppose we ought to take her back. Let me see if I can tell what clan she might be from.
Shame to see any of our kind meet this end, particular a female.
Ichabod also sets about blessing the corpses of all those lost... just in case.
"Sure Ophalia, I don't see why not. Here." Finn says as he leans over and passes the mirror to the elf.
There are no clan marking or tattoos on the dwar woman's remains, or any of her gear. In fact the gear is worn and badly maintained. No gangmaster worth his beard would let one of his charges keep their gear like that, suggesting the woman was a lone prospector, or possibly an outcast.
"Thank you Finn. But would you call me Oh-Pay-liah not O-Fey-Liah. My name is to do with elven flowers that bloom for the moon not tricksy night sprites."
She takes a quick look in the grubby mirror and starts cleaning it round the edges but the marks appear to be more on her cheeks. Then she gets out a small bandage from the healing kit and wets it to begin cleaning her face.
"The next clear water is mine. A proper wash in running water." The girl murmurs to no one in particular.
Nogrogomed volunteers for the first watch
Dai had seemed more interested in the remains than the actual treasure he had discovered.
"They deserve a proper burial do they not? And who knows, maybe someone at the fort know them. If we do not wish to bring them back, then lets bury them properly."
Finn's cheeks go a bright red and with an awkward smile replies "Oh I..I'm sorry, my elvish is very rusty. I haven't been around many elves before this trip. Um... " then goes silent and looks around catching the back end of Nogrogomed's volunteering. "Mr Scruffles and I will take the second watch then if that's alright." Anyone looking over to his steed will see his paws moving as if he's chasing something in his sleep.
Opalia gives the halfling a smile to show there is no harm done. Her eyes twinkle with slight merriment.
"I do not mind, Finn. So what about tomorrow. Where do we want to head. Perhaps the wrapped creature can give us a clue if we get a chance to talk with him...or her."
"Dai, I will help you dig them a grave. Do you have any tools?"
"Yeah. I guess we ought to either bury or burn them. I'll work then turn in and take the last watch".