Round 1 Still
Johanna parries the bite attack and stabs the spider in return.
Round 2
Johanna assaults the creature with both blades wounding it further.
[ood]If any of the attacks drop the creature she will 5ft step and attack blue[/ooc]
"Come on, Fenrir." Freya says, getting in position to cast another spell, this time sending waves of flame to wash over the spiders.
The party quickly and efficiently disposes of the large pests. The cave is filled with webbing, but after a few moments clearing is safe to travel through.
You do find a desiccated corpse in one webbing bundle, what the unfortunate was doing her will remain a mystery.
Loot:
A bag containing 3061gp worth of gems and precious stones.
1 Oil of Magic Stone (cr, 50 gp)
1 Potion of Cure Light Wounds (cr, 50 gp)
1 Scroll of Summon Monster I (cr, 25 gp)
Where to now?
Once the spiders are dealt with, Darian works quietly clearing webbing for a moment. He was trying to not snap out about the ribbing the others had been giving him over his decision to check this chamber. But when they find the corpse, he can’t restrain himself any longer. In an even voice that poorly veils his frustration, he says ”You all may not agree with my insistence on being thorough in searching these lands and their holdings,” before pointing at the body with his blade, ”but THIS is why I am doing it. So more of our people don’t end up like this poor soul. It’s not for some sense of adventure or bravado. It’s to keep people safe. Call it stupid if you want, but at least know my reason for being the imbecile you accuse me of being!”
Without waiting for a reply, he turns to the far passage that seems to wrap around to the second northern cavern, and raises his shield again as he takes point. ”Let’s move,” he says sternly before heading onward.
"Darian, the foolishness is not in the searching but your insistence of rushing headlong in." the Ulfen woman says, gently at first before adding more forcefully, "You must think of the larger picture. Yes, these things must be dealt with, but at the same time it will be rather difficult for you to lead the growth of Silverhold from the grave." regardless of whether the man can hear her or not.
”And I won’t ask others to risk of themselves what I am not willing to do myself,” he answers. ”That is part of the responsibility,” he adds as he thinks back to asking Jory to assassinate the Stag Lord, and the toll it took on him.
"When we decided to align ourselves with this venture it became our responsibility," says Lisl soothingly. "Leadership includes understanding that you must share the risks with your team. We work together and we advance into danger together."
She glances over at Isabel, then looks back to Darian and says, "Having a child and a family has predisposed you to throw yourself in harm's way in order to protect them, but you must remember that we are not children. We can and will fend for ourselves, and we are stronger together."
"The urge to hurl yourself headlong into danger and take all of its risks upon your shoulders is noble but rash. We have many talents and we should use them wisely together."
"No-one is questioning your commitment. We simply ask to be considered equals in this - equals in responsibility, equals in the share of the risk."
"Besides..." she finishes somberly, "... what would we do if you did face that final test of valor? What legacy would you leave? If you were gone... what would that do to the rest of us?"
"Besides, old man, rushing into the heat of battle is what young, brave souls are for! Leaders are supposed to be around to provide the strategy, and sometimes the tactics, but, Dude . . .. Always rushing in headlong isn't tactics. It's foolish. Never put yourself against an opponent's strength if you can do otherwise. That gives them their best chance to beat you instead of you your best chance to beat them. Most duels are won by selectively YIELDING ground, and creating opportunities."
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Isabel doesn't get involved in the conversation, but that night as the group are getting ready for bed she stays away from her husband, keeping to the centre of the group and offering help to anyone and everyone.
When he finally manages to coax her towards bed Isabel remains cold, "I do call it stupid." She says, not even looking at Darian. "We are surrounded by brilliant people, capable people. You have bigger responsibilities than killing the most spiders - you have a responsibility to our people. You have a responsibility to Ma-mag-Magnus. You have a responsibility to me! So stop being so damn stupid Darian Aulamaxa! We need you!"
Her voice is breaking by the final couple of sentences and her shoulders shake as she begins to cry in the darkness.
0V7. Tomb of the Fallen
A buzzing fills this cavern, which arches up to a height of twenty
feet. At the southern end of the cavern, a wide ledge runs along the cavern wall at a height of about fifteen feet.
Two tunnels exit the cavern to the north, one narrow and one wide. In the eastern portion of the cavern lies the giant carcass of some great beast, surrounded by at least half a dozen humanoid bodies.
The giant carcass is the body of the owlbear’s mate, slain by bandits. The corpses of the bandits are scattered around the carcass, killed by the owlbear before she was slain. The corpses of two owlbear cubs also
lie nearby, along with one surviving cub. It is starving and hoots pitifully next to the body of its dead mother.
What are you doing now?
Darian also kneels down a short distance from the cub and talks soothingly to it, despite his own frustrations. ”Eeeasy there...little buddy...” he says softly beside Isabel.
He turns his head and calls out softly ”Freya. A little guy here could use your help...”
Darian listens to his wife joining in with the others, he remains silent for a few moments in the dark. ”I’m sorry...I just...I can’t let it happen to them. Like it did with Phineas. And Galen. And Avrora. And...and Varian...” he pauses a moment before adding ”If I had been a better leader then, I’d have been able to protect them. And I failed. And now I’m helping you run a whole barony. I HAVE to be better, Issy. For your sake and Magnus’. I don’t give a damn about trying to prove I’m brave or whatever you and the others think I’m doing, and I definitely don’t have any intention of dieing. The only reason I’ve been bold enough to even try to take point is because I know I have the support of the rest of you...but now...” he paused again as he put a hand on Isabel’s shoulder briefly before withdrawing it and rolling over towards the tent wall as he added, ”I’m not so sure. So don’t worry, I’ll let whoever take point from now...”
Freya heads over toward the owlbear cub. "Fenrir, I'm going to give this guy a bit of your food, looks like he could use it."
Once over by the cub she says, "Come here, little guy...here you go, let Aunty Freya take care of you for now."
(free use of inspiration)
Food is all that is required to gain the cubs friendship, it nearly takes your fingers off as it gobbles all it can desperately.
What now?
Loot from the bodies:
Leather armor 6.
Wooden shield (light) 6.
Longsword 6.
Dagger 6.
Shortbow 6.
Arrows 84.
128gp.
"How cute. He? She? will probably have quite a temper... and appetite," says Lisl, but her wry smile counters her apparent concern.
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"It's not the first time I've been dealing with a little one with a lot of appetite!" Isabel replies, scooping the creature up with a slight grunt and continuing to feed it.
"We're going to be good friends aren't we little one?" She coos, clearly more than a bit in love with the furry ball of hunger.
"Are we going to explore that hole in the ceiling, or are we content with what we have done here?"
"I'm not sure how we'll get up there to look around, but we should probably look, anyway. This cave's been a house of horrors so far. No reason to expect that part's any more friendly than the rest."
Still perturbed at his companions belittlement, he gives a gesture for someone else to take the lead.
"Anybody have a grapple? Want a leg up? Got a better idea?"
"No grappling hook, though I don't mind checking it our if we can figure a way up. Any ideas?"
"That's got to be 20 feet up. Even if we could lead on of the horses in here, that could only get us about 4 feet. One of you standing on my shoulders might get us another 10 feet in height, which is still basically a whole person too short. We might have to go home and get a grapple or ladder and come ba . . .."
He stops talking and starts looking around on the floor.
"Or we could find some spars or maybe take the time to cut down a tree and try to lash together a ladder? Should be faster than the round trip home, but would still be an awful lot of work just to get a look."
"Or I could gift someone with flight."
Josef turns and looks at Lisl in obvious disbelief. "You could have mentioned that earlier. Wait. You showed that off earlier, didn't you?"
He buries his face in his hand. "Well, then." He looks up, verifying his ioun torch is in place. "Guess I'm ready. Anyone have a rope we could knot and I could tie to something, maybe?"
”I have some silk rope and a grappling hook on my horse outside,” Darian offers.
"That should do marvelously. Be right back." Josef goes out to the horses, checks to see they are okay and still reasonably secured before seeking out the rope and grapple. He hooks the grapple loosely over his forearm and begins putting double knots along the rope to use as foot holds for anyone who will climbing it, really just having got started on that as he returns to the cavern where everyone last was.
"If you think it will be useful, I have a potion that will also briefly improve your physical strength," says Lisl to Josef as she prepares to cast the fly spell on him. "Perhaps to aid in pulling up other people on the rope, or hammering a spike into the rock above."
"I am not a skilled climber. I would suggest saving the magic and using the rope first. Even with knots I wouldn't be able to climb easily."
"If it turns out that I need enhanced strength, you've already given me a potion of that type."
Darian prepares to climb up behind Josef.
"Johanna? You not coming? Darian? Want to help me pull her up? I would hate to leave her with the horses . . .."
You scramble upwards along the natural chimney until you see the light of another opening, as Josef moves to get out of the tunnel he is wrapped in thick webs as he is half out.
The two Ettercaps who have been waiting for the intruder to emerge take their chance and strike.
You may now act. Josef is the only one who can though. Darian is behind him in the passage.
Seeing that he is suddenly "surrounded" by things he didn't actually expect, while he was climbing, Josef has to start with pulling his blade. Not having the time to do much else, he attempts to keep them at bay even as he strikes at the one to his right.
"Uhhh . . .. Spider people?"
Josef cuts Red
Both miss.
What is everyone doing now?
"Hey whats going on up there?"
Johanna shouts up hearing a bit of commotion.
Darian tried to finish climbing up the passage behind Josef. If he makes it to the top, he readies his sword and calls down to the others, ”Spider people up here! Attacking Josef!”
Josef steps forward, between the two, before continuing to work an assault against the one he has already made contact with.