Firebeard stepped forward and lashed out again, this time focusing on the point where the head met the abdomen. The dwarf's crushing blows pounded in on the spider, and Firebeard smiled grimly at the feel of fist on chitin.
5' in
flurry
damage
flurry
damage
Firebeard's fists lay into the beast - he kills it with the first blow he lands, but he continues attacking anyway. When he is done, the spider is completely destroyed.
Now that the room is clear, you take a look around the room. There are various crates and barrels around the perimeter. The stairs leading up look pretty rough. It looks as if they could collapse if not ascended carefully.
"Be careful abou' th' stairs. They be treacherous lookin'. Think we need t' be goin' up?"
Let's examine these crates and barrels before proceeding any further. There might be some clues for us to uncover.
Yes, let's search the crates. I'm always up for a bit of looting, Berenwyr says with a sly wink. As for the stairs, if they're too rickety, perhaps we could stack the crates and barrels high enough to reach the top without risking our tender flesh.
Berenwyr begins opening and looking through the assorted containers.
Tash bends to assist Berenwyr with the search after wiping the edges of his axe clean of spider goo. "A form of hunting, I suppose, or gathering," he says with a grin, rummaging with some glee.
"Splendid fisticuffs, Firebeard. In my village, we would say you have the heart of an orc, although I think that particular compliment does not go over well in most dwarven holds," he says, and laughs at his own joke, revealing his tusks.
You examine the creates and only discover a short sword of masterwork quality wrapped in oil cloth in the barrels and containers.
Berenwyr pulls the shortsword out of the oil cloth. This is a fine blade, expertly balanced if I'm not mistaken. Tidus, Tashtal, can either of you make good use of it?
"I do not have a great need for it, and will defer to Tidus. One of us should take it, though," says Tash. He rattles his scale mail and eyes the stairs uneasily.
"looks like i' be me turn fer a climb. Dwarves be good climbers by nature. Made close t' th' ground so's we can grab ont' things. I'll be back in no time."
Firebeard began to climb, placing his hand and feet carefully as he ascended.
Firebeard gingerly - for a dwarf - makes his way up the stairs without causing them - or him - to collapse. Upon reaching the landing at the top of the winding staircase, he is able to see for miles in every direction. To the west, he sees a large mountain, Droskar's Crag. There is little movement and the setting is quite peaceful.
Turning to look down at the courtyard and the monastery, he sees that a portion of the wall is completely destroyed on the eastern side and a rubble of rocks sits to the north. It's possible that there might be an entrance to the monastery through there, in addition to the double doors on the west of the courtyard.
Finally, he spots an old shortbow of masterwork quality, a quiver of sharp arrows, a quiver of blunt arrows and a small, locked strongbox tucked in a corner.
He makes his way back down the group and shares (presumably) what he has seen.
Firebeard grabbed the bow and arrows, along with the strongbox, and climbed back down the tower. He handed the items to Tidus, saying "Thought Ye might get some use o' these. Might come in handy sommat. Looks like there be a fallen wall in back. Might be a better entrance than th' obvious front door. Care t' check I' out?"
A most impressive find, master dwarf! Berenwyr exclaims. He quickly casts detect magic to determine if any of the recovered items (including the short sword) are magical.
I do like the idea of approaching from an alternate entrance, but would still like to examine the well. Which shall we do first?
"Thank you, Firebeard. These will certainly come in handy."
Tidus takes the short sword, the short bow and the arrows and fastens them to his mail.
"I would like to investigate the well before proceeding, but I am open to other courses of action."
Nothing you've found appears to be magical.
"We are without a lock-pick, aren't we?" Tash raps his fingers on the locked box thoughtfully. "Although, axes are wonderful at opening all sorts of things."
"We are without a lock-pick, aren't we?" Tash raps his fingers on the locked box thoughtfully. "Although, axes are wonderful at opening all sorts of things."
Berenwyr dangles the thieves tools from the corpse's backpack before Tashtal. Lock picks we have. All we lack is the skills to use them. he adds with a gleeful wink.
The wizard makes his way out to the well and strikes his sunrod after tying it to some twine. He then lowers the light down into the well, and looks to see how deep it goes and what, if anything, is at the bottom.
"Poor thief. The most important rule of stealing something is: don't get killed while stealing it."
Tash sets the box on the ground and grabs the short sword to see if he can wedge the box open.
Lowering the sunrod, you hit water about 30 feet down. You see nothing unusual in the murky light of the well.
Berenwyr ties the twine around the base of the well, then ties the silk rope around as well, and lowers it down.
It's all ready for you, Tidus he calls out. I couldn't see anything from up here, but that doesn't mean that there aren't any mushrooms down there.
Tash wedges the sword again and takes his time opening the box.