Your Fortitude save fails again; you take an additional point of STR damage.
With another quick glance, you get a better look at the activity happening behind you. You note some sort of creature in a red uniform and a helm that covers his face (like the guard in the courtyard). The uniform looks like the uniform of the half webbed body that lay near the feet of the spider. In addition, you notice a pair of feet dangling through the hole in the ceiling as someone climbs up the rope you left dangling from the room above.
The spider shrugs off another of your attacks.
Round 5
It squeals as it leans back to initiate it's next attack on you. It's mandibles find nothing but air.
Please roll another Perception, and another Fort Save
Ah, so this is where those guards have ended up. Thorak turns back towards the spider as it springs another attack. He side steps out of the way. "Hey! A little help would be nice you coward!" Thorak yells at the guard as he tucks the hilt of his sword to the side of his ribs and thrusts the blade forward towards the spider.
Sorry - I don't have time to make it anything other than informative :)
You hit the spider for 1 damage
Round 6
The spider bites you for 4 damage. Boo
The person climbing the rope falls down and the other one breaks his fall. They both land on the ground behind you.
The tip of Thorak's sword barely connects with the spider, juts nicking its flesh. The spider flicks the blade away with its leg and digs its fangs into Thorak's now exposed arm.
Thorak manages to get his arm back and uses what little window of time he has to grab a potion from his belt. He pops the stopper from its mouth and quaffs back the containers contents. Healing energy flows through the Half-orc's veins as he regains strength for the battle.
Gotta..keep fighting. Keep swinging. Can't let this ugly thing take me down. With what little strength he gains from the potion, Thorak manages motivation enough to push in for another attack.
"Ahhhh! Take this you ugly son of a b&~@$!"Thorak cries as he swings wildly hoping to connect a devastating blow to the creature.
You steel yourself against the poison that runs through your veins. Sweat pours from your brow from the combat and the poison, but this mental fortitude seems to have done the trick and you are feeling better; your strength is returning.
Your sword cleaves the front right leg off the spider and it screams in pain. Blood gushes forth, running in rivulets down the sides of the rocks and pooling on the floor.
The guards stand watching, unwilling to help, it seems.
Round 7
Although hurt, the spider shakily lunges forward to try and bit you again. It misses, however.
The spider lunges forward but you deftly dodge aside. While you drank your potion last rounds, you noted that the guard that fell from the gap in the ceiling was holding a length of rope in one hand and a knife in his other. Neither guard makes a move to help; they continue to stand and observe.
What's with these idiots? Are they purposefully not helping me? Thorak has little time to wonder why the guard's refuse to help. He dodges the spiders attack and slides under its belly. With a firm jab he thrusts the blade up into its abdomen.
Total crit (if 13 hits) = 12 damage
The spider screams in agony and falls to the bottom of the pile of rubble and lays still.
As the spider curls up and breaths its final breath, Thorak falls to his knees in relief. For a moment he forgets about the guards who had watched him fight alone. I made it...I killed that thing. He looks towards the bloodied creature. The moment is almost surreal. Had it really happened? Seems more like a nightmare. Thorak thinks to himself as he gathers strength enough to stand.
With the creature dead, Thoraks fear seems to have died with it. That or he lacks the sanity to give into the fear, at least for the time being. He looks over the blade of his sword, still dripping with blood, and carelessly sheathes it. His gaze then focuses towards the guards as he walks towards them.
"What the hell is your problem?!? That thing nearly killed me and you just stand here watching? If I didn't know better, I might think you wanted it to kill me."
"We have no problem, but you might. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
The guards do not take any aggressive stance, or put their hands on their sword hilts, but you do note that they tense up. You notice the guard that did not speak looking casually down at the body of the half webbed guard laying near the now dead spider.
Ah of course you'd be wondering why I am down here. Well, its a funny story actually. On my way into the courtyard earlier today I saw the lot of you enter a mysterious entrance. I must admit, my curiosity got the better of me. Since it was not a locked door, I couldn't help but assume I was allowed to enter. I then tried to catch up to you, I had some questions you see, and thought I had lost you for the longest of time. After searching for sometime I heard noises coming from the mouth of the well above..."
Thorak looks up and points to the opening in the ceiling as he continues.
Of course I could see your friend here being taken by the disgusting creature and wrapped up in the web. I could not stand idly by knowing that he would eventually be supper, or worse! Despite my fear of spiders, never mind giant ones, I came as quickly as I could. And wouldn't you know it, I helped you fight off this terrible spider while you watched as it nearly killed me."
Thorak pats dust from his leggings. He inspects the gaping wounds in his thigh and arm from where the spiders fangs dug deep.
"You should be ashamed really. I wonder what Lord Kent might think if he were to hear of this tale. A guest in his home sweeps in to save the likes of 3 brave guards, 2 of which do absolutely nothing to aid in the battle. Makes me think, would Lord Kent truly continue to feel safe knowing this information? Knowing that 3 of his guards abandoned their posts and nearly got a guest killed? Hmm?"
The first guard listens to your story, then snorts derisively.
"Nice story; if only it were true! Oh well, you were none of our concern before now, but you've become an issue we need to deal with." He shifts his feet and stares through the slits in his helm.
"We're going to have to insist that you meet with the boss. You can come along willingly, or we can drag you there. No way out for you through the well anymore," he says, holding the length of cut rope in his hand, "so you might as well come out without any fuss."
Thorak chuckles as he scratches the back of his head. "You have to admit, I fed you pure gold there. Can't blame me for trying." He suddenly becomes serious.
I have this potion of invisibility here. Thorak fiddles with the potion on his belt. The idiots cut the rope though so it seems they are my only hope of getting out of here. Can't say I am up for another run in with a spider either. He remembers a sliver of his previous fear and shudders. I could see what this boss of theirs wants and then use the potion if things go sideways. Yep. Don't have time to come up with a better plan at this point.
"This boss of yers, he got a name? And what exactly would he want with me?"
"Everyone has a name; what are you daft? But the Bosses name is the Boss, and what he wants with you is no business of mine. Come along with us now, or come later - we care not - you can't get out any other way anyhow."
The guard walks past you to go and view his fallen comrade. Pulling away some of the webbing, he reaches and grabs the coin purse that hung at the belt. "He ain't go not use for this now," he says with a chuckle. "Finders keepers my Da always said."
The other guard started walking in the other direction. As he turned, you could hear him say to the first guard, "You'll be splitting that with me you lout. I'm going to let the Boss know that he'll have a visitor soon."
With little choice but to go with the Guards, Thorak grudgingly follows.
You follow the guards down a long tunnel. As you round the bend, light from outside can be seen filtering through the mouth of an opening to the outside. A slight breeze makes its way down the tunnel and tickles your face.
The guards stop at the edge of the opening. The warm afternoon sun reflects off the helms of an additional pair of guards that now speak in hushed tones with the two unhelpful ones.
From your vantage point, you see that this tunnel leads out into a cleft of some sort. A sheer rock faces dotted with crippled trees and underbrush dominates the southern side. You can't really see what lies to the north from your current position.
Thorak continues to follow the guards and pauses just behind them as they begin to talk amongst the additional two guards. Light ahead. Might be a chance for me to escape...the mission at hand will be considerably more difficult now that I have been seen however. I'd have to take all 4 of them out if I really want to get back in to the manor unnoticed. Must admit, I am interested to find out what this boss of theirs wants.
Thorak attempts to move in a bit closer to listen in on what they say.
You listen intently to the guards exchange and catch snippets of the conversation.
"The boss is gonna want to see this one. We found it wandering down in the exit dungeon."
"It can't know we're here. We need ta kill it."
"That's up to the boss, not you."
"The boss will reward me for helping keep our secrecy. I am gonna kill it."
"The boss will kill you for killing it before it can find out what it knows!"
Kill it? Kill me? Who said anything about anyone killing each other? I guess this wont be a friendly conversation, time to go. Thorak reaches for his sword with intentions to kill and then make a run for it. Wait. I forgot all about this scroll of sleep. He removes the scroll from his belt instead and then proceeds to unravel it and read its contents quietly.
The two guards on the northern side of the tunnel fall to the floor, fast asleep. The two southern guards look at them in shock and reach forward to try and catch their falling comrades.
Once the two guards hit the floor Thorak takes the opportunity to sneak up on the other two guards. With 2 guards asleep and one dead, I should easily be able to handle the last guard. He draws his sword quietly and makes his steps light as he moves in for a kill.
Round Two Begins
You go first
The first guard drops to his knees as Thorak pulls the blade from his back. He kicks the dead orc's corpse forward and swings his sword towards the second guard.
Your blade cuts into the guards right thigh but he finally seems to have remembered himself and, grabbing his massive halberd, wildly swings at you. When you dodge out of the way, you note a look of fear flashing across his eyes. He then yells "Intruder" and runs out of the mouth of the cave. You watch as he heads down the slope into tree covered ravine.
Where do you think you're going? Thorak shouts as he swings his blade at the back of the fleeing guard.
Thorak draws his bow, nocks an arrow and focuses on the guard as he scurries down the slope. He takes takes a deep breath, steadies his hand and exhales as the arrow is released.
Before the guard makes it two steps, your sword flashes out and catches it full in the chest. The guard drops to the stone floor in the mouth of the cave and a pool of blood seeps out from underneath the body.
The only sound now is of birds, leaves rustling, and a few snoring guards.
Now to deal with these other two. Thorak slips his blade into the throats of the two snoozing guards. Can't risk either of them running for help. After sheathing the blood covered sword he begins to drag the bodies further into the cave back towards the dead spider, a pool of blood trailing behind each.
Finally finishing with the last body, Thorak searches each of the corpses for valuables. He starts by looking for the rope he had lost. Never know when I might need that again.
After your careful search of the guards, you find 4 Helms, 4 suits of Chainmail, 4 Halberds, and 32 silver pieces. The rope is not on any of the bodies; it must have been dropped somewhere.
Thorak grabs the 32 silver pieces and heads out the mouth of the cave to find his way back to the keep. Back to the task at hand.
Heading back through the main gate, Thorak checks the time on the clock to get a feel for how much time is remaining before he must compete again in the grand hall.
As you walk out of the mouth of the tunnel, you note that the opening is part way down the side of a sheer cliff. The path meanders back and forth through crumbled rock.
When you eventually reach the bottom of the path, you look behind you and see the top of the clock tower on Lord Kent's Keep. The sun is high in the sky above the tower; it looks to be mid-afternoon.
In front of you is a beaten path carving its way through underbrush and tall pine trees. Peer through the pathway, you see portions of a camp set up about 75 yards ahead. On your right is a sheer cliff. On your left, about 10 yards away, another sheer cliff drops off. The view in that direction is beautiful. The rugged forested landscape stretches out for miles.
At the last moment, you notice another guard starting toward you along the path through the trees. He hasn't seen you yet.
As Thorak scales downwards towards the bottom of the crumbled slope, he steps between two rocks and loses his footing. As he fumbles to catch himself, his leg moves but his foot is constricted and he twists his ankle in the process. Gaah! He cries as he falls to the ground. As he lands, his body pushes some rocks and they go tumbling down the cliff side. He looks over the edge for a moment. Lovely. Then back to the rocks that constrain his foot. He easily removes them but immediately notices the bad condition of his ankle. Well this day is officially going to shit.
Thorak slowly makes his way down the path, hobbling when he has to in order to save his weaker leg. Once at the bottom he see's a camp up ahead and then an approaching guard, much like the previous ones he had killed. Hide! He bounces quickly on one foot and dives into the trees.
The guard continues down the path, seemingly oblivious to your presence. He continues walking casually up the path and is now close to you and continuing toward the path.
Preparing for the guard to get closer, Thorak draws his sword and crouches on his good leg. As the guard comes into view, Thorak pushes off the ball of his foot and thrusts his sword forward.
The guard catches a movement out of the corner of his eye and deftly dodges out of the way.
"Woah there friend!" he says, drawing his own blade. "watch where you go stabbing that thing. What did I ever do to you?
Taken back by the guards manner, Thorak stares at the guard for a moment with confusion on his face. So it would seem the guards from earlier were only hostile because I was in the caves meddling in some business they didn't want anyone to know about. This one seems friendly. Thorak holds his blade tightly in hand and studies the guard with mistrust.
"I...I guess I figured you for an enemy, truth be told. I fell down the cliff back there, twisted my ankle." Thorak says as he points back towards the crumbled cliff. "I suppose I am just in survival mode at the moment, not quite thinking straight. Where is this?"
"Don't know if you're an enemy, but I do know that I'll not be killing a random stranger without good reason. I only know one way to get here from this side, so what did you do, follow my guards?"
You note that he holds his blade very confidently and comfortably, almost as though it was an extension of his arm.