Ox's whistle falls flat as they come up on the field of bones.Hold.Ox raises his hand and calls the word that stopped motion in training all his years growing up, as if the bone field wouldn't motivate the group to pause. His eyes flicker about hurriedly to see if he can find what has done this.
I haven't Kal. seeing Kal reach for his bow Ox will draw his longsword.
perception
In the field ahead Kalsgrim is unable to find any evil auras. These bones don't appear to be haunted.
Taking a look around Ox is only able to spot the occasional spider web clinging to bone and bush.
"Hold on". "Let me look at some of the bones, and see if I can determine what killed them".
Janku dismounts, and approaches the edge of the clearing on foot, then when he comes across the first bones, he examines them.
"Cover me, and make sure nothing sneaks up on me", he states to the party as he approaches.
perception
Heal
Lot's of meat wasted. We kill this thing, right? Ember says to Servayn in a concerned tone.
Oh yes, we'll need to kill anything that's killing so much of the native wildlife. Servayn confirms, For the sake of the settlers, mind you, not just for your benefit...
A field of bones is all there is to be seen. Those who look a bit closer can see the webs are thicker then the household spiders.
Know nature Perception
Garick will dismount ready his bow, and carefully approach Janku.
"Take heed, and watch carefully". "Unless I miss my guess there is a spider around here somewhere, the size of a small pony", Janku exclaims.
Slight fear grips Lukasz as Janku mentions spiders the size of ponies. Deciding it best to keep the horse rather far from whatever was the cause of these poor skeletons, Lukasz draws his sickle in one hand as he carefully follows the others, taping into his sorcerous talent in case the need arises to use it.
As Lukasz begins following the others a small flicker of light can be seen on the other side of the field. From this distance it looks like the dieing flames of a torch stuck halfway in a web wrapped bundle. The average torch only burns for an hour. This one can't have been there for long.
It's possible that the owner of that torch is not yet dead, as normal sized spiders sometimes wrap something up to consume later... Servayn says, not really knowing if this would apply to a spider the size of a pony.
I dare say it could be even bigger Janku. With this amount of food, and if no predators are challenging it for it's territory it could get even bigger. I say we skirt the field, and investigate that light over on the far side.Garick points to the flickering light.
The bones are spread out two-hundred feet in all directions from a medium sized boulder in the middle. However there are not so many of them as to impede progress, they are all a dozen feet or so apart from each other. Going around them would take a couple minutes and the surrounding terrain is just empty plains.
The webs themselves are spotted mainly near corpses. The area is not covered to the extent that lighting some on fire would burn the whole place. They don't appear to be the variety used in trapping prey, not nearly sticky enough.
make haste, and feel free to cover me with arrows, hopefully the torch barer yet lives. Tuck, I suggest you get the manacles off.Ox puts his heel to Noir. Skirting as he brother previously suggested.
Spurring Noir onwards at a gallop it only takes Ox half a minute to reach the far side.
perception Ox tilts his head as the torch that isn't a torch goes out.
Garick jogs with bow in hand to try to catch up to his brother.
"I..uh...would rather not go near this. Spiders the size of a horse? I understand the need to make sure this land is safe, but frankly I'm terrified. Spiders and tight spaces." Tuck looks visibly distraught. The color has washed from his face. "Father had me fetch our savings from under the floor boards once....dozens...."
While Ox is poking at the webs Garrick runs up beside him. When he gets there a coughing can be heard from the middle of the field. It's faint but a gasping voice carries over the still air. "Heh..elp.." This can be heard by everyone.
"Don't worry Tuck". "Combat is not part of our agreement". "You stay here with the horses".
Janku attempts to get Garick and Ox's attention, by waving his arms above his head. He then draws his greatsword, and steps forward slowly eyes scanning the land.
Perception
Tuck takes up the loose reins of the other horses that have been dismounted. "Ok, but first sign of anything with more then four legs and I'm getting the horses to safety. I would appreciate that not being mistaken for 'escaping' and being shot again."
Servayn readies his longspear for action and moves carefully towards the wrapped figure, Ember at his side.
He avoids the large boulders, as much as possible, attempting to not have an obstructed line of sight (and having a creepy feeling that they might not be boulders)...
Garick begins to close to the voice trying to keep an eye out for danger arrow nocked
Ox taps his heels on Noir again and they set off to "heh elp". Ox gets the feeling that something isn't quite right here, but shakes off the instinct and attributes it to the corpses and webbing everywhere.
Here's the center of the field of bones. This map is 100ft wide, 5ft scale. (Picture)
Everyone's nerves are on edge. The group steps carefully past one skeleton after another. Each rock and bush being scrutinized for the cause. Somewhere lies a threat and it's only a matter of time before it shows itself. As both groups edge their way closer to the center they continue to hear sobbing and choking cries for help. It's hard to tell where this sound is coming from. No obvious victims present themselves.
When the larger group get's to thirty feet from the boulder a trapdoor on the ground suddenly lifts. A spider larger then a man launches itself from underground. Nearly faster than can be followed it strikes at Janku. It's brown exoskeleton blurs as it return to the hole it came from, shutting the door behind it.
Spider (Bite);
Damage;
Lucky for the Iron Priest his scale mail deflects the deadly fangs. Two long gauges in the metal are marked by droplets of poison.
Garick
Janku
Kalsgrim
Lukasz
Ox
Servayn
Servayn - 22
Ox - 16
Garick - 9
Kalsgrim - 7
Janku - 4
Lukasz - 3
Servayn growls, Wait for it... to Ember,
Ember paces forward and waits as well, ears flattened and emitting a constant rumbling growl.
"Garrick! Ox!" "Try to free whatever is making that noise, while we keep this one distracted, but keep your eyes open for another one".
Janku will cast Shield of Faith this round, then fight defensively until whatever it is is freed.
Round 1
Acid Splash (ranged touch):
Ox rides his horse up to the opening tuanting the spider to come out again. " out with you beast!" He readies himself to attack and calls to noir to get ready for a fight. "On guard, Noir."
Ox readies an attack with his long sword. If someone is trapped, the spider is the problem, Ox sees no reason to delay its death any longer.
Ox's long sword attack
Noir's bite
(27) Corso moves on top of the rock just big enough for a person to stand on. Bow drawn he waits for the spider.
(22) Bringing his spear to bear Servayn steps up beside Janku waiting for his time to strike.
(21) Another flash of movement and the lid opens as the massive creature rushes forward. Both Corso and Servayns' attacks aim true. Pierced by arrow and spear the beast strikes at Servyan instead while dodging Ember's bite.
Spider (Bite);
Damage;
Servayn (Fort);
The foot long fangs pierce through leather armor injecting the summoner with a powerful poison. Luckily he doesn't seem to be affected. After attacking the spider skitters to the top of the large boulder.
(16) Ox rides Noir into the fight. His swing clangs off of the boulder missing the spider. However Noir tears a chunk from it's body with one of his iron shod hooves.
The pleading voice seems to be coming from on top of the boulder near the spider.
(11) Another trap door opens on the east side of the rock. A second spider springs forth to attack Noir.
Spider (Bite);
In it's rush the spiders bite cleanly misses the horse.
(9) As far as Garick knows, this is no trick of a spiders. Perhaps another being that relies on light and sound to lure foes into dangerous situations? Only a skilled adventurer would be familiar with something like that.
Still looking for the source of the voice Garick tries to shoot the spider on the rock but his arrow sails past harmlessly.
(7) While no evil is detected near the spider's door a faint aura of pure alien malice emanates from just above the boulder. The phantoms of malevolence make the bandit's evil seem to be a flickering shadow. Cold hatred and a lust for terror wash over the paladin.
These sights must have distraught him as his arrow also misses the spider clacking off of the rock below.
(4) "Garrick! Ox! Try to free whatever is making that noise, while we keep this one distracted." Janku runs a hand up the blade of his great sword muttering a prayer that brings forth his divine shields.
(3) Lukasz hurls an orb of acid through the air nowhere near the spider.
East Spider - Hiding
Kal Round 2
** spoiler omitted **
"Kal"! "What are you talking about"? "Are you charmed"! "We must kill these spiders, why are you firing at the captured prey"? "Even if it is an enemy it is firmly bound". "This is a threat directly challenging us".
Greatsword Attack (Fighting Defensively when a target presents itself, or if he must move to one)
Damage
Servayn shouts, "Ox! Back up one pace, and strike when it falls!" he then holds his hand ready, waiting to unleash a spell.
If Ox does *not* step back a pace, Servayn casts the spell anyway, but places it on the four block square that includes the spider, south of the spider, west of the spider and SW of the spider.
Ember moves 50 ft. to stand atop the second trapdoor, delaying an attack to strike the second spider when it emerges.
Ember's attack
Ember's damage
Round 2:
Ranged Touch:
Damage:
(27) Corso surges forward, dropping his bow as he hits the ground, taking his blade out as he steps in for the kill. Jumping with ease on the boulder, eager to slay the giant creature.
(22) Servayn shouts, "Ox! Back up one pace, and strike when it falls!" he then holds his hand ready, waiting to unleash a spell.
(21) Seeing that a larger prey has presented itself the spider turns to climb off the rock and attack the horse from the side. With its attention on maneuvering Corso is able to attack, piercing through the joint of a leg and center of its abdomen. The giant spider falls to the ground legs curling up and shuddering.
(16) Ox leans low from the saddle and brings his longsword to bear on the dieing spider cleaving its head and several legs from its side.
When the spider dies a flare of torch light appears over the boulder. Orange and yellow flames warp around a glowing mass. At its center is a humanoid skull bearing eight sets of small eye sockets. The jaw creaks open, "You've killed my spider. Its dieing shudders quake through me like the ecstasy of the stars. If they don't frighten you...fear me instead." A bolt of bitter yellow electricity snaps at Corso.
????-?'-???? (shock);
Damage;
A searing light flashes through his vision as it tears through his body making every muscle run ridged. "Weep....cry....run away....let my pets feed on your fallen. I will drink this one's tears."
Seeing the spider die, and witnessing the other's target, Servayn flies into an arcane chant, "Një mijë bie për një mijë këmbët!" As the spell finishes a sheen of magical grease appears near Noir.
Ember moves around the boulder to wait for the spider.
(11) The second spider persists in attacking the delicious horseflesh. Ember's bite snaps shut a moment too late as it darts by. With eight legs try to find purchase on the strangely slick dirt it attacks.
Spider (Acrobatics);
Spider (Bite);
Ox (Ride);
The spider leaps toward the horse bringing fangs down on a vulnerable flank. Just in time Ox kicks out with a spurred boot knocking it away. It lands quivering on the grease not daring to move.
(9) With the spider in the open Garick takes his shot. Nearly hitting his brother.
(7) When the evil being reveals itself Kalsgrim reaches up to his forehead and says a simple phrase of Erastil. As he draws the bow back to aim a feeling of weathered old hands resting on his own steady his aim. Even with divine inspiration the arrow fails to hit the twisting skull as it dances in the air. A voice, soft and old, whispers in Kalsgrim's ear, "Not all fights are meant to be won. Keep your friends and family safe."
(4) "Blood and iron! What is that?" Shouts the priest as he moves up swinging his great blade through the air.
(3) Lukasz throws another orb of acid at the skull, which is easily dodged. Still holding the reins of his spooked horse.
East Spider - Unharmed, but balancing on grease.
????-?'-???? - Sweet Jesus, what is it?