Neither Xakon nor Truffles have any success capitalizing on their attacks of opportunities.
Quickly advancing down the tunnel, Jirah and Xakon both shoot projectiles twice at the goblinoid as he finds a place to hide on the ground, but unfortunately all attempts miss. Undoubtedly knowing the area well, the goblinoid disappears into the outer ruins.
* * *
Although perhaps quite glum about the goblinoid escaping, the group performs a detailed search of the top room. Other than the composite longbow the goblinoid dropped, you find nothing of significant value or interest besides some used archery targets, a table, and a bed.
* * *
With your exploration of the Tower Ruins complete, the party returns to the nearby cabin to sort out the treasure and begin preparing your various reports back to the Grand Lodge. Walda is once again quite relieved you all made it back alive and does her best to cheer you all up with nature stories and dandelion wine.
A few days later, she reports that Hellknights on patrol killed a bugbear in the nearby area who was trying to rouse up some local goblins. Based on your descriptions, Walda is pretty confident that it's the same bugbear that escaped from the tower.
”Walda has been transferred to another assignment,” A dark-haired, no-nonsense male elf begins as the party gathers in the cabin for its next excursion into the Emerald Spire, ”My name is Valandrel, and I'll be acting as your liaison to Venture-Captain Valsin for the time being. The Society was pleased with your work in exploring the ground structures of the Spire and rooting out the goblin menace. Indeed, we are currently capitalizing on that as we begin negotiations with the nearby Hellknights to make our exploration legitimate in regards to local laws. Regardless, you are tasked with the clandestine exploration of the first underground level of the Emerald Spire in the same manner as your previous visit, while continuing to eschew any contact with Fort Inevitable. Are there any questions?”
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Jirah comes in from outside, where she had been practicing her archery.
I've been practicing shooting into bunches. It seems to be a talent I'll need in this place. I am, however, ready to go.
Her newly purchased mithril shirt peeks out from under her adventuring outfit for a second, the metallic shine a stark contrast to the drab green and brown leather. Her bow, the darkwood masterpiece she named Au' Ehlo 'Naa, sits easily on her back.
Any idea what kind of threats are in this floor, or are we going in blind again?
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"Well, we have the ever present threat of success and happiness. But I think with a little fortune we can find our way into the delightful despair of the truly blessed."
Mudk brushes his hair back and beams everyone.
"We almost got there last time. Think of how wonderful were those moments when everyone lay on the ground together, blood mingling with tears. I'm sure we can suffer righteously again!"
”You are our primary expeditionary force, so we are relying on you to tell us what to expect.” Valandrel answers Jirah's question about threats.
* * *
Once everyone signals that they are ready, the party begins the mile long hike and arrives without incident once again to the Emerald Spire. Perhaps to your chagrin, the darkness effect appears to still be as potent as ever in the Tower Ruins as you follow the spiral stairs down around the green core and open the doors the zombie goblins were formerly guarding. After two more rotations around the core, the darkness finally lifts, replaced now by dim light provided by irregular, luminescent patches of greenish-white, furry mold that partially covers some of the floors and walls. Also at this point, the stairs stop circling the core and just lead straight down.
The steep stair descends through solid bedrock for fifty feet before ending in a stone-lined room. A large stone door stands directly south of the stair, a small alcove lies to the east, and another door to the southeast is slightly ajar. An extinguished torch rests on the floor of the alcove.
In an area of dim light, a character can see somewhat. Creatures within this area have concealment (20% miss chance in combat) from those without darkvision or the ability to see in darkness. A creature within an area of dim light can make a Stealth check to conceal itself.
Jirah spots nothing else out of the ordinary.
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Frēodwēn murmurs a spell and his chain shirt begins to glow. "You wanna check it out Xak?"
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Xakon finds no traps or other dangers on the door. Peeking his head on the other side of it, he finds a long hallway with a door to the north and a door to the east.
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Will someone hold my gem in exchange for a light spell on my shield? I can't hit what I can't see.
Sugar is more than happy to hold Xakon's gem. she felt honored that he would let her carry it.
Thank's for trusting me with this gem, I mean, I have been a little clumsy before, like there was this time when I found this rabbit hole all filled with mud and stuff, and I tried to get all the rabbits out, but how was I to know that rabbit had soooooo many babies,
she pauses a moment to realize Xakon has already walked off, Oh yeah, quiet, shhhhh she looks to Truffles, shhhhhh
she quietly advances some and truffles stays nearby. his little hooves clip-clop across the stone floor.
Xakon finds no traps or locks on the north stone door in the hallway, nor does he hear anything on the other side of the door. He does, however, spot what appears to be a pit trap of some sort cleverly hidden near the east door.
Sugarsnap doesn't notice anything else unusual or interesting in the first room either.
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Frēodwēn grins at Sugarsnap. "We must be quiet m'lady. Your delightful stories must wait for another time."
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As Xakon begins work wedging the pit trap doors closed, he quickly discovers that it's being held open by large amounts of webbing. Shortly after this realization, the other side of the pit swings open for a moment and a pale spider the size of a giant dog emerges and chitters at him threateningly.
Initiative (Round 1)
Frēodwēn <= Up
Jirah <= Up
Sugarsnap/Truffles <= Up
Spider
Sivantanpisil
Xakon
Mudk
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Truffles and Sugar make thier way into the hallway as this spider thing emerges.
Truffles quickly maneuvers around the party and takes up a defensive stance beside Xakon.
Sugar is not as fast as Truffles and only gets a little ways into the hallway (behind Freo) Truffle you be careful, I bet that spider is not very friendly
With Fro in front of Sugar, she decides if she cant be with Truffles, her best bet is to help those that can. she gives Freo a pat on the butt shoot that sucker and Freo feels some divine guidance for his next shot
Lady Sugarsnap recognizes this creature as a moon spider, indigenous to the Echo Wood and surrounding areas. She remembers reading that they are poisonous and can create magical mists that obscures everything around them.
Frēodwēn moves forward for a clear shot at the arachnid and strikes true with his arrow. Jirah also hits the creature despite having to shoot past Xakon. Sugarsnap and Truffles quickly make their way into the room, with the druid giving Frēodwēn a slight magical boost, while Truffles looks excited at the prospect of goring some spiders.
Misty vapor then erupts from the moon spider, filling the hall and obscuring the creature from everyone's sight. Those caught in the mist hear a slight grinding sound like a stone door being pushed open to the east.
Initiative (Rounds 1-2)
Frēodwēn <= Up
Jirah <= Up
Sugarsnap/Truffles <= Up
Moon Spider
Sivantanpisil <= Up
Xakon <= Up
Mudk <= Up
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It must be outside that door still. Frēodwēn closes his eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath, then he quickly nocks another arrow. "Stay down Xakon." he says, as he thinks to himself, thank goodness they have such small profiles. Then he releases the arrow and sends it flying through the mist at the place he thinks the spider might be.
"Pull back, friends, we can't cover you if we can't see what else might be coming." He says as he pulls back outside of the hallway. "Come on, m'lady"
for
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Frēodwēn's arrow clanks against something, but whether it's the far wall or the spider's carapace isn't quite clear in the swirling mists. Xakon downs his vial of antitoxin and drops to the group to avoid being hit as arrows begin flying past him.
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she sent Truffles up to guard Xakon.
Once Sugar get a good look at the spider, she remembers that book, the one she took from Alton back home.
hey that's a moon spider, they have this ability to make a mist to obscure the vision of their intended prey.
but as she finishes her sentence the area is covered in the mist yeah, just like that. wow, never see one up close before, but I guess with this mist I still may not.
Truffles simply remembers his last command to protect Xakon, He starts to sniff the air hoping to catch a wiff of something.
Truffles! don't let Xakon fall, stay by his side she tries to command Truffles as she backs up some.
she touches Freo once more hoping she can magically guide his next shot.
Mudk steps into the mist and tries to feel around with his polearm, nearly hitting the prone Xakon in the head.
Sugarsnap orders Truffles ahead to guard Xakon. The boar dutifully obliges and taps his hoofs lightly on the ground to indicate he smells something else nearby.
After the halfling druid explains what she remembers about moon spiders, she casts another Guidance spell on Frēodwēn.
Sivantanpisil moves to join Frēodwēn and Sugarsnap near the door the room.
Xakon stands up and moves out of the mists, readying his dagger for any enemy that might appear, while Mudk moves slightly forward before stopping to avoid the trap in the floor. The rest of the party waits for the spider to reappear.
Although no one can see it, Truffles and Mudk get a sense that it is still there when a cord of webbing shoots out of the mists and nearly hits the boar.