Jack looks around cautiously for signs of trouble--spidery or otherwise, peering particularly at the corners of the web and in the darkened corners, checking for the gleam of an eye or shell or leathery skin.
1d20+8
"Well, we still have those staircases in the watery rooms, if we do not want to ascend further. Or for that matter, see if we could climb the chimney back in the room we came in."
Hidden in the shadows near the clump you can see what looks like a doorway although the stairs continue upwards. Only just visable emerging from the shadowy doorway and just touching a strand of the web are two black rod-shapes which could be the legs of a large spider.
Bein keeps his Longsword drawn and his buckler at the ready. He'd never faced a giant spider before and was relishing the opportunity. "Stairs or not, I am ready o fight whatever comes my friends."
Jack points at a corner, to direct his fellow party members to look at a dense clump of webbing, about four feet long. "Look," his voice going low. "Something's been caught. Probably not long ago."
Bein follows Jack's pointing finger and peers off into the darkness. In a hushed voice Bein nods in the direction Jack indicated"Shall we advance and investigate? I can take point, let see whatever lurks here try and bring me down."
"Aah, I can see you.", whispers Finnabar. "Up there, by the doorway, there are two sticks that look like spider legs. A big one indeed."
Holding his hand up to prevent Beim from rushing forwards.
"Sir knight, I command your courage, but I would suggest a more cunning plan, lest you get stuck in that web with us in a difficult position on this stairs. Let's go out to the horses to get the grappling hook and tie it to my rope. we can then throw it to the web from the bottom of the stairs or half-way up. When the spider comes to inspect the web, we attack from a distance and force her to come to us so that we can swarm her."
Bein nods in agreement with Finnabar. "A much sounder plan then mine indeed Milord. It would be nice to check on our poor draught beasts after so long as well..." Bein doesn't turn his back on the hall before them, instead he slowly backs up until hes a safe distance and then turns to follow the others back to the entrance.
That particular tactical option would not have occurred to Jack, and he nods at Finnabar with a new respect (though to be fair, one growing for quite some time). Jack never sat well with simply being assigned a "leader" but it grows ever clearer to him the gentleman was assigned the role due to his capability, not just his birth.
He says nothing other than to nod his silent agreement with this plan, and moves to quietly leave the chamber, waving to Volpe to go out first (he would not want the most wounded member of the party ambushed as they departed).
All right, all right. I'm going. I'm fine, really. You're right though. There's no sense in putting ourselves in danger needlessly.
Volpe readys his bow.
Assuming the needed equipment is retrieved without incident, immediately before going back into the cave, Xarafine will touch each person in the group, bestowing the blessings of the Nine.
The equipment is retrieved without incident and the horses appear content to graze the short grass of the forecourt.
Bein armed with Longsword and a burning(?) torch awaits the command of Finnabar to advance and perform his duty to make the plan a success. He stands with his usual confident stance, emboldened by his thick armor and heavy blade.
Bein armed with Longsword and a burning(?) torch awaits the command of Finnabar to advance and perform his duty to make the plan a success. He stands with his usual confident stance, emboldened by his thick armor and heavy blade.
After several attempts Jack manages the tricky job of slinging the grappling hook straight upwards into the sticky net. As it lodges in the fibers a large (5' long) black spider emerges from the shadowy opening and moves towards the hook.
As the spider moves towards the hook, Finnabar motions Jack and Volpe to fire and joining them, takes one of his trusted javelins and aims at the beast abdomen.
Whoa! That's a beast for nightmares!
Jack prepares his bow and takes care to aim and fire, trying not to let his past luck in the last fight shake his confidence.
But needs to work on clearing his mind.
Bein set his sword down and pulled out his Composite bow as he tried to at least wing the foul monstrosity that had revealed itself.
As the shot goes wide Bein waits patiently for the creatures next move, hoping that if anything he could intercept it and block it with his armored bulk.
Xarafine begins to sing a song of battle to embolden her companions.
"Death approaches on silk-strands, many-eyed, and many-legged.
Venomous and merciless, unyielding, as her victims begged.
Her web shall burn, her body bleed, beneath the wrath of righteous might. Come meet your end, arachnid queen, we bring to you your final fight!"
Your javelin and arrows streak upwards but the web impedes their flight, capturing the missiles within it. The spider seems to stop for a moment as the objects lodge in the web then, turning it skitters into cover in the edge of the room, its form hidden by the spiraling stairs.
"Can we try to tear the web down while it's hiding?" Jack asks, not eager to chase after the creature.
"Can we try to tear the web down while it's hiding?" Jack asks, not eager to chase after the creature.
Or set it on fire?
Bein holsters his bow and picks up his Longsword, after giving it an expert twirl he surveyed the area before him. "If there is something stuck up in the webs we will destroy it by setting the webs aflame. Lets see if we can draw it out of hiding. Lets light another torch and I will advance and draw it out of hiding using myself as a well lit target. Then perhaps we can pelt it with arrows and bring it low." He doesn't advance though, merely stands ready for what is commanded of him. "Just a thought, i'm more suited to combat in the open. Not where it is able to crawl on the ceiling above my head..."
"Bein, if you're willing to take the risk, it's not a bad idea--even if it strikes from above, we know it's there, you can't be ambushed. But we must be ready to do our best and aim," he adds, mostly critically toward himself. He is usually proud of his archery skills and is embarrassed by his recent performance.
Advantage goes to high ground on any battlefield, and it doesn't get much more skewed than straight up and down. Even shooting is proving tricky. Gravity throws off your natural aim instincts.
Volpe nocks and draws his bow, trying to heed his own advice.
But if you think you can draw it out, let's do it.
Volpe takes a deep breath, aims, and waits for a shot.
Finnabar nods to Beim.
"I don't like this, but your idea has some good in it. However, I will go with you, to help you if you need."
Bein nodded to his fellows and struck up one of his spare torches. "Understood Lord Finnabar. The plan has it faults but if we are dealing with more then one, then at the very least they won't get all of us in one go." He stood then brandishing a newly lit torch and his longsword, ready to advance alongside Finnabar
Carefully the two of you climb the stairs. As you climb upwards the others keep their bowstrings taught against their cheeks, waiting for a clear shot at the spider. After 25' the spider's sleek black chitinous body comes into view 25' further upwards against the far wall of the tower. As you move closer the spider seems to pull back into the corner of the stairs and the wall.
Jack readies his bow, staying as alert if possible to spot the spider--or any friends it might have which might descend upon Bein or Finnabar.
Carefully the two of you climb the stairs. As you climb upwards the others keep their bowstrings taught against their cheeks, waiting for a clear shot at the spider. After 25' the spider's sleek black chitinous body comes into view 25' further upwards against the far wall of the tower. As you move closer the spider seems to pull back into the corner of the stairs and the wall.
Xarafine takes a firm hold of the rope, and continues her song at a just audible level, as she waits for Finnabar's command.
Volpe relaxes the bow, and takes a grip behind Xarafine on the rope.
Bein held on to his sword tightly as he waited for the others to pull the rope. "On the count of three try to pull it down." He brandished the burning torch in his other hand, ready to use it as well if he had to.
Xarafine looks to Finnabar for confirmation. If he nods or otherwise gives assent, Xarafine listens for the count, trying to time it to her song - like a sea shanty. At the desginated moment, she pulls on the rope with all of her might.
Jack also awaits the signal and helps pull when the time comes.
Jack and Xerafine haul on the web with all their strength, the web flexes downwards but doesn't break. In response the spider twitches and crawls upwards towards the web itself but doesn't crawl onto it.
Tougher stuff than it seems. I wish we knew if the victim was worth saving, or even dead already. It would make things much easier if we could torch the web.
"By the gods, that is strong stuff. Let's go forwards and cut a passage, Sir Bein. If it attacks you, retreat to draw it on our side of the web."
On that note, Finnabar draws a second javelin and gets ready to hurl it at the spider if she tries to attacks Bein.
Jack smiles wryly as he says good-naturedly. "Be careful you don't bring her down on top of us."
He readies his bow, prepared to shoot as soon as she comes into view.
"Aye milord!" Bein readies his sword to slice through the offending webbing. Making sure to keep his torch back and safely away let he accidentally light the webbing on fire.
Brute force proving a failure, Volpe resumes readiness with the bow.
Bein moves up, forward and around towards the web and the speider. As he inches closer - within 5' of the web itself. Suddenly the spider stands upwards away from the wall bending its thorax forwards and launcing a net of sticky web towards the cavalier.
Finn can attack straight away with javelin. Volpe and Xerafine with Bows. Bein; the spider is 15' above you and the web is 5' ahead.
Finn can attack straight away with javelin. Volpe and Xerafine with Bows.
Xarafine maintains her performance, draws one of her shuriken and awkwardly flings it at the spider.
Finn can attack straight away with javelin. Volpe and Xerafine with Bows.
What a horrid little creature , begone!
Aha! Oops, I think I just made it angry!