Your night is restful, although you are plagued by dreams involving angry cauldrons and weird magical fetishes that dance in the moonlight.
In the morning Gared leads you on towards the ancient Dwarven Monastery.
Day 4 about 11am you arrive.....
Sitting squat at the foot of an imposing mountain,
a ruined monastery comes into view
between ancient gnarled trees. Made of simple
stone blocks, worn smooth with the passage
of time, the stout building is falling apart. Sections
of the slanted shale roof have collapsed
and portions of the outer wall have crumbled.
Weeds and wild thorn plants run rampant
across the field leading up to the place, leaving
only the slightest indication of a path that ends
at the ruined front doors. Beyond, an overgrown
yard sits in shadow.
MAP MAP MAP
There are a pair of old stone statues visible.
statues are incredibly worn but can
still be made out as a dwarf holding aloft
a great stone hammer. Moss and creeper
vines cover most of its surface. Removing
the vines around the base uncovers an
old dwarven inscription that reads “All
praise, [this part is defaced].” Unfortunately,
the missing name was scratched
off a long time ago and is no longer legible. These statues are from the time of the last great dwarven kings, many centuries
ago.
Percival looks somewhat worried. "I do hope we do not face undue consequences for that... urgh. But fortunately Silas and you all survived the encounter."
----
Percival approaches the statues and regards them expertly. "Beautiful make... from the time of the last great dwarven kings, worth a great deal to the right collector if the inscription is preserved..." Bending over, he examines it. "Which sadly it is not."
"I wonder which King of the Rock Brothers would be reviled enough to have his name defaced...", ponders Silas.
"No matter, the name likely would not mean much. Gared, can you see any tracks going in? It looks long abandoned but there's could be animals or worse here..."
Gared says that there are several humanoid and animal tracks going into the yard, but he cannot identify any of them except that he is sure there are wolves about.
Lucanor recalls some local chatter by the locals about some ruins, but nothing that would help him there.
"Well, gents, if we're really interested in the historical details, we may yet find more indicators deeper with in, though the priority remains mushrooms."
Lucanor tries not to think of how many more folks might have died during their all too necessary rest the other night.
Hecktor looks at the ruins with some admiration.
"Quite a piece of masonry. Really a shame it's fallen into such a shape."
"Unknown humanoid? Just how large are those footprints?"
Gared replies that he is certain that the humanoid footprints are not human, but not larger than a man.
"It's safest to assume these ruins are not entirely deserted, and be wary. Does anyone feel like scouting ahead a little or perhaps it's best to stick together?", asks Silas.
"After what happened yesterday I figure we should be sticking together. I can just imagine how the killer cookpot incident would have played out had we been separated. Everyone keep an eye out, and try not to touch anything. We don't need one of these statues coming to live and chasing us out of here before we get what we came for."
The party moves into the yard.
Tall grasses and chunks of stone debris have all
but overtaken this small yard. Off to one side,
a wooden stable has collapsed into a mound
of rotting timbers and moldy straw. The outer
wall on the east side has also collapsed, leaving
a ragged hole. Three doors exit into this yard—
a pair of double doors to the west, a single door
to the north, and a lone door leading into the
squat tower in the southeast corner.
Gared calls out that there is a body near the well. He also states that the tracks are more pronounced here and they lead to the east and north and then out of the main entrance. He is pretty certain that the humanoid tracks are reptilian in nature, lizardmen or kobolds if he has to guess.
of a week’s worth of trail rations, a set of
thieves tools, 50 feet of silk rope, a small
coinpurse with 42 gp in assorted coins, and
a small blue vial labeled cure
light wounds.
Take a look at the map and let me know which way your headed. I'll be playing Gared until he shows up I guess.
Percival frowns as he kneels examining the body. "This poor fellow fell prey to a rather nasty animal, also quite a large one." He tilts the head back up to the party. "Bar with a half-moon through it. Does this mean anything to anyone?"
He carefully rifles through the man's pockets and spreads their contents out on the floor for everyone to look at, examining the vial himself.
DC 12 perception to notice:
When Hecktor hears Percival mention the tattoo he gets a look on his face.
A mixture of the "dammit" feeling you get when you are too late, and a hint of satisfaction, as this had to be one of the assassins that killed the diplomat and his comrade.
So this of many places is where i find one of you guys. Too bad i didn't get to you before whatever gnawed at you did. But you guys never work alone if the job is risky enough. So why are you here alone? Has your friend gone back to town or is he still around?
"That's a strange tattoo, I wonder what he was doing out here on his own? Seems foolhardy! What ever killed him was quick - see this potion is untouched..."
Silas gets out his Bow, just in case.
@ Percival it is indeed as labeled a Potion of Cure Light Wounds.
@Silas you don't hear anything through the stone door.
"Lets check this small room to the south east before we go any deeper?", suggests Silas.
From what you can see it is a squat tower about 30 feet high. The tower is made of stone and the door is also made of stone. There is no lock visible from the outside. Do you try to open the door?
"Bar with a half-moon through it. Does this mean anything to anyone?"
"mmm..." Lucanor thinks on it, of course. When silas moves forward, he nods, "Go ahead if you like, but you know anything about traps or the likes? Dwarves are real good at stone work I hear. Watch yourself."
Silas pushes on the door but it seems stuck. Maybe he needs a hand?
Lucanor moves forward to give that hand, "Course, if I end up falling into a hidden pit after my warning, I'll feel a bit of a fool."
Lucanor and Silas shove on the door but it stays stuck.
Earlier
Silas wipes a sheen of sweat off his brow and puffs, "This door seems stuck hard, lets try another way?"
"Hmpf, let me have a try."
Hecktor takes a step back and then forward with a firm kick at the lock.
Hnnuh!"
With Hecktor's mighty shove the door finally slams open.
A monstrous spider greets you at the door! Hecktor is attacked, bitten and must save versus poison Luckily Hecktor manages to save!
Surprise Round over
Round 1
Initiative Order
Silas <--------- we are here.
Michael/Spider
Gared
Lucanor
Percival
Hecktor
Silas is momentarily taken a back by the sudden appearance of the monstrous Spider, "Ugh! That's massive, look at it's beady eyes and those fangs! Now we know what ate that fellow."
Silas backpedals a little, snatches up his short bow and fires off a wild shot which pings off somewhere into the darkness behind the door.
"Firing into melee again, at least I didn't hit Hecktor...", mutters Silas under his breath.
The spider scuttles forward and attacks Hecktor again.
Hecktor is bitten and must save versus poison Hecktor feels fine.
Round 1
Initiative Order
Silas shoots misses
Michael/Spider <--------- we are here. Spider bit Hecktor.
Gared
Lucanor
Percival
Hecktor -10hp 2/12
If after everybody attacked it isn't dead yet:
Action: Attack
Standard: 5feet step diagonal backwards. (to the right)
Free action: talk
"Please excuse me, can somebody cover for me in closequarters?
Thats what
You can draw weapons faster than most.
Prerequisite: Base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: You can draw a weapon as a free action instead of as a move action. You can draw a hidden weapon (see the Sleight of Hand skill) as a move action.
A character who has selected this feat may throw weapons at his full normal rate of attacks (much like a character with a bow).
Alchemical items, potions, scrolls, and wands cannot be drawn quickly using this feat.
Normal: Without this feat, you may draw a weapon as a move action, or (if your base attack bonus is +1 or higher) as a free action as part of movement. Without this feat, you can draw a hidden weapon as a standard action.
Lucanor is startled when the spider pops out and tears into Hekctor. He draws his own blade and readies to move to the man's aid when he can.
He slashes at the spider
Round 1
Initiative Order
Silas shoots misses
Michael/Spider Spider bit Hecktor. Michael full defense.
Gared full defense.
Lucanor swings misses
Percival <--------- we are here.
Hecktor -10hp 2/12
Percival moves up behind Hecktor, drawing a heavy dart.
Round 1 recap
Initiative Order
Silas shoots misses
Michael/Spider Spider bit Hecktor. Michael full defense.
Gared full defense.
Lucanor swings misses
Percival moves, draws dart
Hecktor -10hp 2/12 Swings hits spider for 9 damage!
Round 2
Initiative Order
Silas <--------- we are here.
Michael/Spider Spider -9hp
Gared
Lucanor
Percival
Hecktor -10hp 2/12
MAP MAP MAP
I'm not very good at firing into melee, lets try a different approach, I wonder what a giant ugly spider would find funny?
Silas suddenly steps backwards, and half crawls and half scuttles around on the spot miming a demented spider that had touched a hot surface. Every time one of his feet or hands touches the floor Silas emits a little mock hiss and chitter of pain. Using his fore fingers on one hand he mimes fangs and makes a hissing noise and he cocks his head from side to side in a peculiar way. Something about this utterly ridiculous display makes you want to laugh, and he seems to have caught the spider's attention too...
Give you a redo on the turn's actions.
If only I'd paid more attention in class I might be able to en-spell this animal... Sigh lets try and hit it, and not Hecktor.
Round 2
Initiative Order
Silas
Michael/Spider Spider -9hp <--------- we are here. The spider being wounded and shot at decides to squirt webbing at Lucanor This action provokes a free attack fom Lucanor who misses his attack. The Spider then scuttles into its webbed domain. It is out of sight as it climbed up into the tower. Escape DC for the Webbing is 12
Gared
Lucanor
Percival
Hecktor -10hp 2/12
Web spinners can create sheets of sticky webbing up to three times their size. They usually position these sheets to snare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on the ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a DC 20 Perception check to notice a web; otherwise they stumble into it and become trapped as though by a successful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the webbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has something to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each 5-foot-square section of web has a number of hit points equal to the Hit Dice of the creature that created it and DR 5/—.
Michael you have your action that you can take at the same time as the spider. I'll wait a few hours for you to post then I'll continue.
Lucanor strains against the webbing he's not encased in, "I believe the phrase is embarrassing. That thing's going to be a problem if we leave it to hunt us."
Round 2
Move action: move to square below Michael, adjacent to Lucanor.
Standard action: Aid Lucanor to remove webbing.
Michael readies his hammer and moves into the doorway in case the spider decides to come back.
100% correct. Also, Michael would you like if I rolled for you for the next few days. Just post your actions and I'll do the rolls as necessary.
Round 2
Initiative Order
Silas
Michael/Spider Spider -9hp The spider being wounded and shot at decides to squirt webbing at Lucanor This action provokes a free attack fom Lucanor who misses his attack. Michael slams the spider with his hammer and it squeals and scuttles into the tower. It is out of sight as it climbed up into the tower. Escape DC for the Webbing is 12
Gared holds action
Lucanor tries to escape, fails
Percival <----we are here
Hecktor -10hp 2/12
Ok, I'm going to declare combat provisionally over, unless someone wants to follow the Advanced Medium Monstrous spider into its lair....and webs.
Eventually Hecktor takes 10 on the STR check and frees Lucanor. Feel free to post your actions, if you want to pursue the spider we can do that too!
What's next brave adventurers?