With relatively solid surface under your feet, you turn to look at the makeshift platform you're standing upon. At the very edge of the dim light (about 50 feet away, ten feet above you) shed by Theo's spear, you see a poorly constructed shack about five feet in height and ten feet wide on the metal "rim" of the iron cavern.
Very little noise stirs the chasm besides the sound of Unchained freeing his blade.
Theo also moves towards the shack, providing light for the others.
The Unchained leads the party, shield in front, sword ready to stab.
The Unchained scales back up to the shack, bracing the dangling rope against the iron walls, followed by Djal and Theo.
Stooping to look into the cramped little shack, the Unchained finds it strewn with animal bones and small heaps of filthy cloth or furs. Makeshift "windows" look out into the chasm from the shack, even looking past one of the webs dividing sight lines on the platform.
He raises his bow and draws an arrow looking into the gloom to see if he can spot any threats.
Perception
"It sounds like something is signaling something else. Let us proceed with caution!"
Perception:
The Unchained nods and motions for the others to draw their weapons if they haven't.
Something bounces off of Theodor's scale armor, clattering to the metal "rim" he's standing on. Then Djal feels a sharp pain in his leg, a long bone dart sticking out of it. The Unchained feels a similar dart sink into his shoulder.
Below on the platform, something sails past Iliberos' ear while Lhienne and Zukhan are struck by needles of their own.
While Brother Theodor and Lhienne can't make out where the attackers are, Zukhan, The Unchained and Djal can see small groups of Spidereye Goblins at the very edge of their darkvision, chucking darts from the shadows!
Initiative
Spidereye Goblins (two groups of three?)
The Adventurers (in posting order, unless you want to wait for someone else's action)
Round 1
The goblins let out a screeching warcry and attack again, this time without the element of surprise.
Djal, Theodor and Unchained take evasive maneuvers on the rim while the darts rain down- unfortunately, Djal's attacker is far more skilled than expected and strikes the troubadour with another dart!
Lhienne and Zukhan are likewise struck with darts before they can properly react. Both groups of goblins fade back into the shadows, their hoots and warcries going silent.
Zukhan pushes forward and once there is a goblin within sight, will let loose with his bow.
Brother Theo moves forward to help bring the enemy into the light from the tip of his spear. Once he sees the enemy he will move towards them. In the meantime, he will keep his shield up and his eyes open.
Brother Theo moves forward to help bring the enemy into the light from the tip of his spear. Once he sees the enemy he will move towards them. In the meantime, he will keep his shield up and his eyes open.
Lhiene fires off a shot with her sling
Advancing after the spidereye goblins, it's clear that they didn't have enough time to reach good hiding spots on their retreat- after getting closer to them with your lights and darkvision, most of them are plain to see.
Group 1- on the rim.
Brother Theodor carefully advances toward the ambushing titanspawn, his shield at the ready.
Djal heroically runs straight into the darkness, a bon mot at the ready. The Unchained, not to be outdone by a spoony bard, charges in with him.
Group 2- on the "platform".
Zukhan carefully advances toward where the darts were being thrown, knocking an arrow and firing once he sights a titanspawn. Alas, the arrow is caught in a web near the goblin's head and remains stuck there.
Lhienne hustles after the goblins, swinging her sling over her head.
With a perfectly calculated throw, the halfling strikes one of the Titanspawn in the front right between it's top pair of eyes!
Iliberos moves to stand beside Zukhan, likewise firing at the spidereye goblins.
The Forsaken elf's arrow sinks into the wounded goblin's midsection, eliciting a howl.
Round 2
On the rim.
The spidereye goblins swing their many clawed arms at Djal and The Unchained.
The graceful Djal dodges his attacker with ease while The Unchained's shield takes the brunt of the attacks against him, though one claw manages to scratch a gouge in his leg.
The trio of spidereye goblins then fall back and retreat even further from the heroes.
On the platform.
The spidereye goblins, retaliate with a volley of darts!
While a dart flies past Zukhan, Lhienne and Iliberos both feel the sting of another bone dart striking their chests.
The goblins then fall back into the darkness beyond the edge of your light and darkvision.
Round Two- Party actions go!
The Unchained roars and attacks the nearest enemy.
Brother Theo moves forward swiftly, running towards the retreating goblins and keeping them in the light of his spell.
Iliberos flinches after being struck but fires once more at the spidereye goblins.
Longbow attack: - Damage - Critical Damage -
Lhienne comes down from the platform, taking cover behind the Unchained.
Round 2- Party actions
Group 1- Djal, Theodor, The Unchained
Brother Theodor continues after the goblins, trying to keep them in his light. The titanspawns' many eyes gleam with hate from the darkness. The Unchained advances with the priest while Djal attempts to get his comrades to regroup.
Group 2- Zukhan, Iliberos, Lhienne
Zukhan and Iliberos advance toward the goblins, easily spotting them in their hiding spots. Both fire their bows...
The asaathi's arrow fells the wounded spidereye goblin while Iliberos gets its comrade right in the sternum. The four-armed goblin chokes and gasps, but remains upright.
Lhienne turns to find her companion... to see only darkness stretching behind her and hearing Djal shouting something about regrouping, their light growing smaller in the distance.
Round 3
Group 1 on the "rim"
The three spidereye goblins throw their bone darts almost in unison at Brother Theodor with his pesky light.
Two of the darts fall short, plinking off the metal at your feet. But one manages to slip past armor and shield, piercing Brother Theodor's leg.
The goblins then continue their fighting retreat, slipping back into the darkness.
Group 2 on the "platform"
The wounded spidereye goblin throws itself at Iliberos, claws extended and mouth slavering. The unwounded goblin hoots and whistles, falling back into the darkness.
But the mage's insubstantial arcane armor deflects both claw swipes, leaving the goblin exposed.
Lhienne hears a ripping sound behind her, turning just in time to see yet another spidereye goblin climbing out of a trapdoor that must have been concealed beneath the webs! The titanspawn lunges at her, all four arms flailing!
First once claw, then the other swipe into the halfling before she recovers her wits and dodges away from the creature's toothy mouth, blood pooling from her mounting wounds.
The Unchained leaps at the goblins and swats at them.
Theo aims at one of the creatures at the edge of his light and attempts to burn it with a sacred flame.
Zukhan springs forward, drawing his scimitar slicing out at the spider goblin attacking Lhienne.
Round 3 continued
The Unchained and Djal charge the trio of goblins, blades flashing. The two of them hack up the closest spidereye goblin while Madriel's sacred flame flies at one of the others.
The goblin howls at the severe singeing brought about by Brother Theo's spell.
On the platform, Zukhan leaps into action, cutting down Lhienne's attacker with lethal precision! Iliberos and Lhienne corner the forsaken elf's attacker.
Iliberos stabs the wounded goblin in its distended belly, blood dripping down his blade. Lhienne circles around to its back, planting her rapier between its top-most shoulder blades- the thing shudders and falls at your feet.
Round Four
The spidereye goblins on the rim near Djal and The Unchained fall back out of their swords' range, their language of whistles, clicks and words in goblin and garbled Ledean echoing off the iron walls. They disengage back into the darkness and go silent.
On the platform, Zukhan, Lhienne and Iliberos wait for a sign of the last goblin that fled but hear and see nothing. For the moment, they seem to have backed off. The trapdoor in the platform where the last assailant came through remains open, a stronger smell of campfires coming up from below.
Brother Theodor moves forward again, bring his light and hopefully illuminating the retreating goblin-like creatures.
Perception:
Unhindered by the darkness, The Unchained boldly follows the goblins.
If he sees a target, he attacks.
The Unchained, Brother Theo and Djal chase down the fleeing goblins. The Unchained quickly finds their hiding places behind sheets of webbing and under detritus, slaying one with his blade. Attacks from Brother Theo and Djal quickly deal with the remaining goblin.
Iliberos stabs the Goblin once more for good measure, "I suspect it will be like this the whole way down".
Zukhan looks down the hatch. If he can't spot the bottom, he'll light a torch and drop it to see how far it falls.
Zukhan looks down into the cavern below, his darkvision only extending about 30 feet into the blackness. Knotted lengths of spider silk descend into the deep, secured to the platform above. The asaathi drops a lit torch, watching as it descends about 100 feet to the bottom of the chasm. A faint reflection off the walls catches the light, and Zukhan gets a brief glimpse of a pile of boulders stacked up like a pyramid under the lengths of spider silk rope. Many-armed forms and spiders the size of small horses scurry from the light in the seconds before it hits the bottom.
Djal, The Unchained and Brother Theo take a moment before joining the others on the platform to do a sweep of the "rim" of the iron cavern. They find five more of the shanties built evenly spaced around the rim, all showing signs of habitation. Small spiders scurry through the webs, quickly getting into your armor and hair. Ultimately, a new direction to go does not present itself- either the trap door will have to do or a trek back up the chasm to find an entrance in the massive columns.
"I do not relish the idea of further climbing..."
"If we left and came back, that would mean that we might have to run this gauntlet again. I'm not sure how many spider goblins live in this pit, but I would bet that it probably wasn't all of them. I don't know that I am eager to face reinforcements." Zukhan looks over his own wounds. "Brother Theodor, do you have any healing magic available? We could also take a quick breather here and use one of these huts as cover."
"I do indeed have healing available, both magical and mundane. Come and let me look at your wounds and get us back in fighting shape!"
Iliberos:
Djal:
Zukhan:
The Unchained:
Lhienne:
Bro Theo:
The forsaken elf nods in thanks at the Brother.
"Yes, rest..."
"Thanks for the healing"
The party clusters into one of the spidereye goblin hovels, kicking away the soiled and gross furs on the floor to make room for their bedrolls and other equipment.
"I would like to take the last watch".
"Is that it? Is everyone feeling better now? Great! I am glad to have helped...my more martial training has been a little lacking, so being able to at least cure your wounds makes me feel a little more useful", the young man says while repacking his healer's kit.
"I can take the first watch if you want."