Erwin takes up his crossbow, pulls the lever to load the string and slips a bolt into place, ready to fire.
Ragnvald, upon seeing the dog turning to flee, seizes the opening and thrusts his blade deep into the canine. The dog drops to the rocky ground again; this time it does not get back to its feet, but lays motionless atop the rubble.
At first, the dog growls and snarls as it continues to thrash against the plants that bind it. Abruptly, it ceases its struggling, becoming completely still. Breathing in shallow, rapid gasps following its exertions and the constricting roots and vines, the dog gives a series of short barks.
“I rip! Tear plants! I eat your meat, chew your bones!” The dog continues such threats and promises of violence as it riles against the plants that ensnare it.
As it quietens, the dog almost seems to sigh. “What you want?” it asks in resignation.
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As the dog quietens Dancien speaks quickly in a growing yipping tone that brokers no rebuttal. His eyes even, his posture dominant with a hint of haughtiness.
After his vocalizations stop he waves his hand and the plant trendily and roots return to ground leaving the dog with a decision. Dancien holds still and grips his sword grip slowly so that it creaks.
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Erwin fumbles for his bolt jamming it into place and nocking the string bringing it to bare, he halts as he sees Dancian's signal hands shaking as he does, he slips and the bolt clatters harmlessly to the ground.
"T-t-t-terribly sorry about that I-i-i've never really seen anything killed before and it happened so Q-q-quickly I was awfully startled"
The dog remains motionless within the entangling plants throughout Dancien's speech. Upon being released from imprisonment at the conclusion, the dog slowly rolls over to its belly and shakes it head, ears flapping and a fine cloud of dust drifting free.
The dog yips several times before gingerly arching its back and stretching each hind leg in turn as it gets back to its feet, regarding the elf druid expectantly.
”Where food?” the dog asks suspiciously.
The dog gives a short bark, almost a snort, and then a low rumbling growl as it slowly approaches the food, sniffing cautiously. Once satisfied, it gulps down the offerings noisily, without chewing, as though the food might disappear.
“Two legs think it so clever,” the dog remarks, wryly. “Cave mountain no two leg den. Pack not go in; two legs smell much more tasty than reptile stink. You go in, Ratguts stay close, maybe eat you yet.”
The dog turns away from you and faces north, leaping occasionally as it slowly picks a path down the mound of debris, headed for the wilds.
Wild Empathy DC (Unfriendly) 20-2=18,
if half of party offers food
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Dancien pays the Dog more food and smiles at the dog approvingly. He motions for his companions to huddle in, and to those who do, he relays the conversation with the dog. "Might I suggest you also feed the dog = they are a most versatile creature and their loyalty once bought provides fidelity".
Then muses "Reptiles ..."
He looks to Kihleashra's wound. "Need you the horned-lord's healing word?"
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She moves closer to Dancien and listens to his words. “Its bark is not worse than its bite.” She mutters.
She furrows her brow before nodding to his offer.
“If you wouldn’t mind.” She seems unsure of the offer at first but the wound bothers her more. She unwraps the piece of cloth to let him see it.
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Clapping his hands together he begins an incantation:
"Cernunnos make this wound clean and restore it's vigor with your medicines derived from sun, soil, whispering breeze and dew".
Fine strands of elemental silk are bandaged around the wound. It quickly dissipates leaving the once-wounded area tender but whole.
Drawing nearer the tower, it is soon apparent that the collapse of the eastern wing has caved in much of tower’s first level as well. Through the archway to your left you see that the southern wing is entirely filled with rubble, leaving only the northern wing accessible, to your right.
Standing at the threshold to the northern wing of the tower, you can see it seems to have escaped the worst effects of the collapse, but rubble still litters the floor and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hang down the walls like gossamer tapestries. A single archway stands open in the southwest wall.
As you survey the room from the entryway, what you can see of it through the webbing and rubble seems clear.
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Ragnvald hefts his sword in his hand, and slowly steps forward, smiling grimly, looking around the room carefully. With a well-practiced move he swings his shield off his back and onto his left arm, readying himself for any encounter.
"Erwin, my friend, you're the expert, is there anything in particular I should be looking for? How familiar are you with these ruins?"
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Ragnvald hefts his sword in his hand, and slowly steps forward, smiling grimly, looking around the room carefully. With a well-practiced move he swings his shield off his back and onto his left arm, readying himself for any encounter.
"Erwin, my friend, you're the expert, is there anything in particular I should be looking for? How familiar are you with these ruins?"
"I have done much research into the ruins outside the city but I can't say I am familiar with this particular site. But many of the ancient defences may still exist, I would suggest proceeding with caution"
Shield held before him, his sword raised at the ready, Ragnvald cautiously creeps through the doorway and into the northern wing. As he enters the room, there is a blur of movement as something shoots past him to strike the wall to his right with a sticky squelch.
Dancien, close behind the brave Ragnvald and alert for trouble, observes the direction the material originated from and, pointing it out to his companions, spies a giant spider lurking in its web, near the the ceiling.
Taking heed of his own advice, Erwin was anticipating danger and reacts swiftly to the threat, with the nimble Kihleaeshra close behind.
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Kihleaeshra keeps to Erwin’s flank. She watches him fumble with the crossbow and chuckles softly, a smirk playing on her lips.
“Better not point that ... “ nods toward the crossbow “....at your toes Erwin.”
She looks between Erwin and Ragnvald for a few moments before moving toward the warrior. She grips her blade and stands to his left. Peeking through the doorway she lets out a low hiss.
“Don’t suppose spiders have anything interesting to say Dancien?” She glances back over her shoulder briefly.
Staying high in the safety of its web, the spider sprays another burst of silk in Ragnvald's direction, this time missing high and coating the wall above the archway in sticky strands.
Dancien looses an arrow at the giant arachnid but is thwarted as the arrow is ensnared in an interposing strand of webbing.
Kihleaeshra steps up beside Ragnvald, rapier at the ready, just as he drops his sword and shield to the flagged floor to free his hands to wield his bow. Drawing and nocking an arrow in one smooth movement, he lets the arrow fly, but shoots wide of where the spider huddles in its web, near the ceiling.
Meanwhile, Erwin leans forward to poke his crossbow around the protective cover of the doorway and pulls the trigger. Ragnvald’s wayward arrow spooks the spider, and it burrows deeper into the protection of the web. This causes the gnome’s bolt to narrowly miss, striking the very spot where it had been but an instant earlier.
The spider sprays another volley of webbing in Ragnvald’s direction, this time coming up short.
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Kihleaeshra watches her companions take aim with their ranged weapons. She holds her rapier at the ready, waiting for the spider to move and offering Ragnvald some measure of cover.
She keeps her footing at the ready to avoid any webs sprayed in her direction.
“Come on fellas, right between the legs.” She grins, watching the spider.
Ragnvald and Dancien both attempt to steady themselves, taking deep calming breaths as they nock arrows and draw their bows again. Releasing their strings almost simultaneously, Ragnvald’s shaft flies true, drawing first blood, while Dancien’s aim is off once more.
Erwin loads another bolt in his crossbow and takes aim at the giant spider, missing the creature again. Kihleaeshra remains close by the others, blade still at the ready should it be needed.
The spider chitters in pain and fury before launching another mass of webbing at Ragnvald. This time the webbing is on target, expanding as it strikes its mark.
Ragnvald strains against the confines of the web strands, but is unable to gain the necessary leverage to break free of the fibres.
Meanwhile, Dancien petitions for some divine intervention as he readies another arrow. His request goes unheeded - for the moment at least - as he shoots wide of his mark once more.
Knowing the rewards of persistence and diligence, Erwin reloads his crossbow and lines up for another shot. Squeezing the trigger, this time the bolt sails smoothly in the spider’s direction, to land a glancing blow to the creature’s abdomen.
Slashing her rapier at the sticky strands that bind Ragnvald, Kihleaeshra strikes a solid blow but fails to free him. In fact, given the accuracy and force of her blow, it seems to have had little effect on the webbing.
Seeing Ragnvald ensnared, the spider moves in to finish its prey. Gliding effortlessly across the web, it is upon the hapless warrior in an instant. During the spider’s dash across the web, you get your first good view of the giant arachnid; easily the size of a human adult, thorax and abdomen black and hairy, a multitude of eyes shining in the dim light like polished onyx the size of small stone fruits. It rears up on hind legs, chelicerae parting to reveal fangs the size of daggers, and lunges at Ragnvald, attempting to bite him.
His movement restricted by the webbing, Ragnvald is unable to dodge the creature's bite. Fortuitously, the creature's fangs strike harmlessly against the protection of his armour.
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Erwin utilises his powers of divination to gain intuition on the future. He closes his eyes only monumentally, before nocking another bolt with renewed determination.