Nightwing agrees, as long as you continue moving South.
Soon enough the group is on its way once more exploring the area...
In the afternoon when most of the area is explored you come upon a strange sight. You come upon an area strewn to a radius of nearly 400 feet with the skeletons of boars, deer, bears, and a few humans.
What kind of unholy place is this.
So skeletal remains so they appear to be long dead right?
Quince mutters in Celestial.
Angeus her face ashen, slips down from her mount and crouches by a pile of bones, trying to determine if it were animals that did this.
Survival
Kevros stops near Angeus, "What does it look like caused this? An Army? A Large Humanoid(s)? A Dragon?" ... Kevros looks at Tristan, "Tristan, please assist Angeus?"
Tristan's jaw still open as he looks around in awe.
oh, yes of course. Sorry
"Thank you sir! We need to make sure to document this hex on our map."
"Big creepy field, check"
The bodies on the furtherest part look to be the oldest leaving just bones, but farther in you can see more juicy bodies.
Angeus carefully stirs a bone or two with her foot, a frown creasing her clear brow. Looking about she steps quickly to a sandy area. Crouching again, her head comes up in alarm
"Ware! Spiders, big ones, lair here!"
Kevros shifts in his saddle an looks at the group, "Shall we do some pest control so no one ends up like these animals or those humans over there?" ... Kevros points at the human skeletons.
The monks look at Kevros then to their leader Nightwing. Nightwing gets off his horse and says, "We will watch what this group can do, if it looks like they need our help then we will act." Nightwing smiles waves his hand before him allowing the others to advance.
S'ala looks for any sign of the spiders, or a nearby lair like a trap door or cave or crevice.
No luck yet Sala.
Kevros addresses the wardens and monks out of respect, "Let's throw rocks on to any webbing or near their home to lure them out slowly nor give them any advantage? Anything else, will probably encourage them to come out in mass?"
Spiders you say? Tristan gets off his mount readying his shield and drawing a javelin. I hate spiders.
There is no sign of civilization. Oleg's is over 20 miles away, so I am sure you can't even see that. You are in plains there are a few trees but mostly low brush and open land.
This area seems to have some webbing here and there but most if not all of it is on the ground.
Saren dismounts and his dragon begins to circle the area.
"So throwing rocks to keep them disoriented of where we are coming from then what, move in then out and attack with range?" Once asked and it appears that might be the plan he takes his composite bow off his back straddles it and strings it. He then takes a few arrows out of his quiver and throws them into the ground. If no one has found any rocks or bones they want to throw he will grab a few then wait.
Kevros nods and waves to the webbing opposite from them, "I was thinking perhaps the more melee oriented members can throw rocks or something at the webbing over there to lure them out away from us and not immediately in its or their vision? I am not sure how intelligent these giant spiders are but they must be more so than their much smaller cousins? Then myself and anyone else who specializes in range shoots or fighting can range the spider or spiders who takes the bait. However, let's only try to stimulate as few as possible since we do not know how many are in the hole or spider home." Kevros shrugs, "If anyone has a better idea, I am very open to them?"
Quince breaks his silence with a look of bewilderment. "Do we plan on picking fights with all the creatures of the region? We are crossing country who does killing this spider or spiders help? We are near no homes or even roads. Might save more lives posting signs."
Angeus looks up from a human femur and addresses Quince "Signs may not help, this is a danger to not only the local fauna but to any who pass nearby."
She stands and looks over the large expanse of bones, trying to determine if it was created by one or by a group of spiders.
Survial
Kevros points to the humanoid's remains, "Regardless if the humanoid remains belonged to bandits, that is the reason why we should do more than just warn. And if we do erect signs and do not maintain them, they will fall into disrepair or removed and people will be harmed once again. In addition, what if the spiders decide to relocate? I understand your point of view Quince but since this site will not remain static, we need to make sure it does."
"This One put his lot in with the others, wise Master Quince. A man may change is behavior, and become more than a beast. But a beast will always be one."
"It is seemly to slay these man-eaters, while looking to rehabilitate any men we actually find."
"This One proposes to do much like suggested by Friend Saren." S'ala begins looking for good sized rocks or bones as suggested and demonstrated before.
Saren waits with bow in hand with a rock in another. "Large spiders as these must be a blight on this land one way or another."
Quince relents, "Well it is a maneater. If we are to pursue it or them they will be closer to the food." He points to the meatier corpses.
Kevros gets ready with his crossbow waiting for the others to be ready for some pest control
"True, thank you for that observation Quince." Sounding sincere in the compliment, Saren then nods to Kevros and to Sala. Lifting his rock up and throwing it on the other side of the field.
Spear in hand, S'ala readies an action to throw at the first sign of spiders.
As Saren lobs his stone, Angeus finds a nearby bush behind which to conceal herself, crossbow at the ready.
Stealth
It looks like Saren is the only person throwing rocks or bones. Though after a half dozen throws it does not seem to attract the desired prey. A scrappy little dog pops up and runs after one of the bones.
You can see one of the large spiders, a giant trapdoor spider, a black
and red brute the size of a pony spring out from what looks to be a hidden door. It closes in on the little dog quick enough and grabs it with its mandibles. Then just as quickly it returns to that trap door and closes it. [spring attack]
Saren lets fly his readied attack, then drops his bow running into the field, drawing his greatsword as he goes.
Longbow attack, damage.
Please make your attacks as you had readied your ranged weapons. Now for round 1 actions, the spider has cover now that it is in its hole again, and it looks like Saren is charging it.
Tristan: Javelin attack, damage.
Round 1
21 Sala
12 Tristan
12 Angeus
10 Kevros
9 Spider
5 Quince
4 Saren*
Round 1, Initiative 10
As soon as the spider jumps out and Kevros can react, he reacts by letting a bolt loose with a clean line of sight.
Kevros manipulates the Repeating Hvy Crossbow lever to reload as a free action.
Suprise Round
From her place of concealment, Angues fires her crossbow as the spider leaps upon the dog.
Attack
damage + if FF sneak damage
Either way, you all get a readied action to attack the spider and can do another move action if you wish. No real surprise round, we all act in round 1.
Quince draws his crossbow. "This should be interesting."
S'ala launches his spear at the spider as part of his readied action. but the heavy ash haft falls short of the mark.
Seeing is throw off the mark from the get go, S'ala rushes forward to follow after Saren, invesigating the trap door. I'll be on the defenseive until we see the instigator here.
Round 1
Many of the readied ranged attacks hit, though the thrown weapons failed the party. The spider looked to be limping some with the arrows and bolts stuck in its body, though it still got the dog and retreated into its trapdoor.
Round 2
21 Sala
12 Tristan
12 Angeus
11 New Spider... =P
10 Kevros
9 Spider
5 Quince
4 Saren
init...
Quince dismounts and speaks with Scram in horse. Telling him to stay put and guard the other horses.
He address those still in earshot. "The weight of the horses might collapse the hatches the spiders have made." He taps the area before him with his toe to make sure the ground before him is not hollow. "That might not be the only spider careful where you step."
Quince you may try to do a fast dismount, check out the ride skill. The spider is back in its hole, it looks like Saren has the intent to go after that spider.
Still round 2
S'ala creeeps across the bone pile, to recover his spear. As he walks, he has a siangham out in case another trap door opens.
Kevros looks at S'ala and yells out to him, What are you doing S'ala?! You know that spider is going to detect you and spring forth out of his hole to get you for a tasty meal? We will get the spear later or continue to get your spear so you can be bait."
ROUND 2
Tristan pulls his longsword out and quickly puts on his shield.
Saren charges in on the trap door, which pops open once he gets there the spider attempts to bite him as he swings his greatsword down upon it.
Mercurial greatsword attack, damage plus PA.
Spider bite, damage plus poison.
The spider's bite slams into Saren's armor, as his blade cuts a massive wound on its body. It falls limp on the edge of its own trapdoor.
Another medium spider charges in seeing/sensing easy prey. Though it tries to do a spring attack, not getting back to its tunnel in this round. Its bite being dodged by Saren.
Spider bite, damage plus poison.
ROUND 3
21 Sala
12 Tristan
12 Angeus
11 New Spider... =P
10 Kevros
9 Spider *DEAD*
5 Quince
4 Saren
Round 3, Init 10
Kevros aims towards the rear of the spider hoping not to hit Saren...
Round 3
Abandoning the cautious approach Quince surges forward. Takes a shot at a spider and drops his crossbow.
Quince mutters in celestial.