Finnabar hurls a javelin at the monstrous spider,..
Volpe's arrow and Finnabar's javelin strike the spider, piercing its chitinous armour and causing it to shrink backwards.
Bein held his ground with his longsword at the ready, just incase the creature made a move towards where he was standing. Eventually it will retaliate and when it does I will move and cut it off.
The darts pierce the spider's carapace seeming to wound it badly. Inresponse it crawls backwards up the wall, dissapearing into the doorway it was hiding in when you first saw it.
"While it's retreated, can we try to cut down the Web?"
After some effort, you manage to cut and pull down the web. Once it is cleared, the doorway into which the spider disappeared is more clear as are the steps which continue upwards for another 20' ending at another doorway. Both entrances are shrouded in shadow and there is no sign of either the spider or anything else.
The cigar-shaped tangle of webbing, when cut open, reveals the corpse of a strange creature about 5' long. The thing has large eyes and ears and a rounded head - somewhat resembling a cross between a halfling and a bat. Also like a bat the creature has elongated fingers between which are flaps of skin which connect to its legs. Strangest of all it is wearing a simple leather tunic bound together with leather cords. In a pouch slung around its neck you find a sharp stone which looks like it would serve well as a knife and a number of polished semi-precious stones.
Jack looks sadly upon the corpse, however odd it may look. Its possessions clearly show it was some kind of sentient creature. "So there are some kind of people who live here--I wonder if the stones are some kind of currency. Teacher, do we have time to give this fellow some kind of last rites?"
Xarafine looks thoughtfully at the creature, trying to puzzle out its nature. She looks up suddenly, as Jack speaks,
"Hmm...I'm sorry, what did you say, Master Ciarathan?"
Do you suppose these people considered those mosquito-bats pets, do you? We might have another great moment of diplomacy on our hands. Then again, we don't know the nature or temper of the people to begin with do we, Teacher?
These creatures remind you of the tales that some trappers have bought back from the Stolen Lands and which are usually discounted by more educated scholars. The stories that did reach the west told of great swarms of bat-men which swoop from the skies shrieking and weilding great swords. In the stories these creatures are referred to as Pterans
Bein advanced toward the doorway and kept watch a few paces from it, just n case the spider came back to strike at them. He kept the torch nearby just in case, it was way to dark for his tastes and he was on edge. "While you all figure that out, I will watch out for the spider. Hopefully we can finish the creature before it has a chance to recover..."
As you approach the doorway you can see that the corridor within is strung with spiraling webbing which coats the walls dissapearing into the shadows. There is no sign of the spider within.
"It looks very much like the creatures called pterans in some of the journals of early explorers of the area. Pterans supposedly swooped down from the sky, attacking in swarms with swords. Most of the scholars felt that these reports were either exaggerations, or events misconstrued or misremembered by men too steeped in their drink. It seems the existence of pterans has now been verified. I need to include that in my report. The gear it wears seems to indicate toolmaking and use, and good indicator that pteran intellect surpasses a mere animal. It does not, however, allow me to presuppose that the creatures revered The Nine. It is far more likely that this place is more representative of their faith. I do not think our funeral rites would be appropriate for, or appreciated by the departed soul."
Jack shrugs."Fair enough. But it doesn't seem right to just leave it here, I don't know." He drags the corpse to a corner and covers the body with stones in the cave.
"As for the spider, if it has no desire to face us, I don't see any merit in chasing it either. Maybe we ought to go back to those staircases, past the pools."
Bein doesn't turn away from where the doorway where the spider disappeared through as he speaks.. "I would hate to leave such a large vermin to kill innocent travelers... But in our current state perhaps pursuing it may not be the best." He brandished his torch ahead of himself as he advanced partially through the doorway to see what was on the otherside. He moved cautiously though, he was sure the spider was far from gone.
The corridor into which the spider went is lined with spiraling webbing which obscures the view down the tunnel for more than about 20'. Above you, the stairs continue another 20' and then end in another doorway leading the opposite direction from the spider's lair.
Bein pauses in the doorway, turning back to his companions his armor clinked softly with the movement. "So are we faling back then? There is corridor here and there appears to be another doorway on the other side of these webs." With that he looks back towards the webs and gives a dismissive sniff. {This will be a pain to clean off my armor...}
Begrudgingly Bein backs down and looks for someone to block the pathway and limit the large spiders movements before returning to join his companions.
While the party determines what to do next, Jack checks on the egg, and a thought occurs to him. "You know, we are not at full strength, and there is still much of the wilderness to map. Perhaps we should look to our greater goals. This is a place where all we have found are symbols that are meaningless to us and wild creatures angry at us for invading their home--as well they should be, they have done nothing wrong by trying to live here. Now, we already had determined we need to circle back to find the bandits, and the more time we spend here, the more time we are likely to lose them. Perhaps we mark this place, move on, and come back when we have more resources."
"True, the bandits are still at large, and the danger they present is of great concern. There is much to learn here, and I am loathe to leave it without gaining more understanding of its purpose, but it may simply have to wait. I am not opposed to marking the site and moving on."
She pauses, and looks at the middle path.
"I do hope will killed that ghastly creature, I would hate to return and find another hapless victim tangled in its web."
"You make a good point, Xarafine. Perhaps we could draw some kind of warning sign, or block the entrance."
He goes through the map making gear. Perhaps he can at least mark a warning sign with some of their ink on a prominent stone.
Finnabar stands up from his crouching position, having finally managed to extract his first javelin from the remains of the spider web.
"Let's move. I suggest we start by the doorway where the spider left. Let's finish it and prevent it from spreading. If we can root the vermin out of here, we'll have a good forward post where we can rest and store gear. I do not want to have to come back to Oleg's trading post each time."
Storing back his javelin, he takes out his axe and moves behind Bein. "Let's take our positions. Bein and I will take point followed by Volpe and Xarafine. Jack, you sould come in last as you have the longest weapon range and will detect if some spider try to come from behind. Every one, be sure to check every crack and look up, these beast can come from the ceiling as well."
Bein and Finnabar take up their place at the entrance to the spider's corridor. Slowley the two fighters edge their way into the web-lined passage, occasionally swiping at strands which cross the passage at regular intervals. After moving forward about 25' the passage opens into a larger, web-filled room most of which is obscured by the tangle of threads. The entrance has a gilded bar above it and the tattered remains of a curtain hanging down. Within the web you can see the outlines of some larger pieces of furniature, although these are difficult to make out in any detail. The far side of the room is invisable, obscured by the thick webbing.
Sitting high in the webs you can see the spider crouched near a thicker bundle of webs.
In addition to the spider you can see a number of smaller (tiny) shapes moving around it and over the thicker bundle. (see spoiler above)
Finnabar scans the room and points up: "Up there, that's where its nest is. Everyone, get in. Volpe, Jack and Xarafine, pin it down while Bein and I cut those webs down."
Bein nods to Finnabar and advances on the webbing with sword in hand. He carefully keeps his burning torch to the side in case he needs it and so he doesn't light the webbing on fire.
"So the foul thing still lives. It has nowhere to run this time. Let us end this."
Xarafine draws another star, shifting the Staff to her left hand.
Jack follows along, trying to not pout that his advice was not taken. He readies his bow with an arrow as he walks along, ready to fire from the rear at the first sign of trouble.
Jack
Bein
Finnabar
Xerafine
SPIDER
Bein nods to Finnabar as he advances on the webbing, he holds his longsword in a defensive way as he keeps his eyes on the large monstrosity that loomed in the darkness among the mass of webbing. His torch glowed like a beacon in the dust covered interior of the ancient temple.
Come and get me you ugly beast, come and taste my steel...
While Bein tries to draw the creature to him, Finnabar starts to slash the web:
That's one tough spider. Of couse, it might be just right for it's size!
but it has to go down eventually
Jack's and Volpe's shots strike the spider squarely, biting deep into the monster's chitinous armour. As Volpe's arrow sinks into it the spider seems to shudder and drops from the web, becoming caught by one leg and twitching as it falls. As Xerafine's shuriken flies wide and is caught in the web itself, small black shapes seem to emerge from the shadows, revealing themselves to be thousands of small spiders. The swarm of arachnids coalesce and move downward towards Bein, covering the tall fighter and sinking their fangs into the gaps in his armour.
Damage =
Bein tries not to panic as he feels multiple bites piercing his skin through the weak points of his mail. He jerked back as a black shape blocked some of his vision as it tried to lunge at his face with a hiss. When he looked at his feet, even with his impaired vision, he could black multiple legged shapes crawling all over his armor. His sword was useless.
So he tried to retreat out and away from the swarms painful grasp...
Transferring his axe in his left and, Finnabar moves back, taking out for his oil lantern;
Jack moves back with Bein and Finnabar. Knowing there is little point in trying to shoot a swarm of little spiders with arrows, he leaves his arrow hand empty in case he needs to help set the fire he assumes Finnabar will start making with the oil he has retrieved.
Bein moves back towards the entrance, shedding spiders across the floor as he does so. As Bein moves past Finnabar pulls out a flask of oil and..
As Finnabar draws his oil, he gives it to Volpe. "Volpe, aim for the spiders, please, I'm not good at that. Then Jack, please, set fire to it."
Volpe grabs the oil and hurls it at the swarm.
The oil lantern sails into the centre of the mass of spiders, igniting as it smashes on the stone floor and opening a hole in the swarm of many-legged shapes, many of which curl and steam as they die.
Xarafine moves as far away from the swarm as possible, while chastising herself for not being better prepared.
"If one of you has an extra torch or flask of oil, I will try to help. But at the moment, I am more in the way than anything."
Knowing he needs to move quickly, Jack unceremoniously grabs the torch from Bein from where he was holding it earlier. He lights the additional oil Finnabar poured on the ground.