The stout man carries on over the ridge. "C'mon lads, let's look for survivors..." He then raises his voice, calling out-"HELLO! IS ANYONE STILL ALIVE DOWN THERE?"
After Dorvarr's shout echoes down the hill a panicked cry replies, "In the barn! Help!!"
Kveldulf's face reddens with anger at the sound of the trapped ferrymen within the barn.
"Let me ensure our path to the barn is a safe one. I'll pin down those overgrown creepers with Thistlewind! Come Uruz! We have work to do."
Then, with bow in hand, he begins running towards the burning stead at a full gait, attempting to close the 800 feet to the property's edge as quickly as possible.
"C'mon lads, to the barn!" The stout man hustles to the barn, certain one of his long-legged friends will overtake him.
Ragnarr follows Dorvarr, great axe in one hand, short bow in the other.
Vlad rushes down the hill towards the barn, thudding heavily at 40' per round.
As you rush down the hill at breakneck speed towards the barn you reach the foot of the hill when you notice the wind shift suddenly. Nearby fires roar to life belching thick clouds of black smoke that seem to snuff the air around you. Several trees buckle and come crashing down. The path ahead would seem fraught with hazard.
As you rush down the hill at breakneck speed towards the barn you reach the foot of the hill when you notice the wind shift suddenly. Nearby fires roar to life belching thick clouds of black smoke that seem to snuff the air around you. Several trees buckle and come crashing down. The path ahead would seem fraught with hazard.
I suspect half rate may be too slow, especially for Dorvarr and Vlad with our mighty 20' base speeds...
Dorvarr and Kveldulf charge through the wooded inferno. Breathing the ashen smoke they leap over the blazing fires and nimbly dodge the fiery debris as it falls down from the crackling canopy. It is a near thing, but they find themselves on the edge of the property by a wooden fence. So far the feasting spiders have failed to notice their approach. On the other side of the fence, three horses neigh fearfully as in their panicked frenzy they gallop in circles uncertain where to run to. The barn lies on the far side of the clearing, two hundred feet ahead. The thatch roof continues to burn picking up rapidly in intensity.
Vlad, lumbering awkwardly in his new armour, stumbles through the flames, and isn't able to react fast enough to hurl himself aside from the flames.
Ottarr looks on in surprise as the others run through the flames. He shakes his head at how foolish this is before returning his bow to it's quiver and plunging into the flames.
Ragnarr overtakes Dorvarr as he charges through the flames, trying to catch up with Kveldulf.
Vladimir and Ottar leap amidst the burning foliage coughing back the acrid smoke. Just as they seem to clear the hazard a burning tree comes crashing down in a burst of fire throwing up a cloud of flame and ash upon the two adventurers. Ragnarr ducks and throwing himself in a leap forward just manages to dodge the peril. Utgaror close behind the barbarian flings himself frantically to the side and also manages to successfully evade the burning tree.
Your band gathers crouching low behind the crude fence.
"Vlad, Kveldelf, you two have experience with horses, right? Maybe you can calm these and head to the barn while the rest of deal with these bugs." The stout man turns to Ragnarr. "What do you say lad, ready to show these monsters what Thor's wrath means?"
"Aye Godthi, I can calm the horses, but let us see to the people first. My bow will cover your path to the barn. Now make haste!", shouts the grizzled woodsman. He then points at Vlad. "Uruz, guard Vlad and follow him. Now go!"
"Vlad, Kveldelf, you two have experience with horses, right? Maybe you can calm these and head to the barn while the rest of deal with these bugs." The stout man turns to Ragnarr. "What do you say lad, ready to show these monsters what Thor's wrath means?"
"Vlad, Kveldelf, you two have experience with horses, right? Maybe you can calm these and head to the barn while the rest of deal with these bugs." The stout man turns to Ragnarr. "What do you say lad, ready to show these monsters what Thor's wrath means?"
The man-beast grunts in assent and bears his jagged, uneven teeth, as he shoulders his bow and hefts his enormous axe. "Ready... Now let's put fear in the hearts of these monsters and make Thor proud..."
Meanwhile, Ottarr is kneeling down, inspecting his burns. [smaller]"...Loki could not defeat the man, for the man was the raging inferno, consuming all in it's path..." When he stands back up, his burns seem more superficial, as if you just imagined how severe they were a moment ago. As he redraws his bow, he says "Yes, let us show these spiders the might of true warriors."
Meanwhile, Ottarr is kneeling down, inspecting his burns. [smaller]"...Loki could not defeat the man, for the man was the raging inferno, consuming all in it's path..." When he stands back up, his burns seem more superficial, as if you just imagined how severe they were a moment ago. As he redraws his bow, he says "Yes, let us show these spiders the might of true warriors."
The stout man watches as the bard heals his burns. "Aye lad, just like that! Watch as the fellows of Thor overcome any agent of Loki!"
With a grunt you and your comrades leap over the crude fence into the yard. The panicked horses startle at the new intruders but uncertain where to go charge about the yard making the path to the barn somewhat hazardous. Utgaror lets out a rolling and soothing trill as he approaches which seems to calm the horses slowing their blind gallops.
Spot DC 7
Ragnarr's pace slows, uncertainty setting in as his eyes fall upon the slavering pack of giant spiders. He looks over his shoulder, and asks: "Dorvarr... There are so many of them... uh, Thor... he can protect his faithful from poison, right?"
Spot DC 7
As his companions lope into the open, Kvedulf looses his first arrow at the arachnid monstrosities. The twang of Thistlewind's bowstring being plucked can be heard across the open yard.
His face draws into a grim scowl when he spots the beast-man falter in his charge across the yard. "This be no time for second thoughts barbarian," mutters the woodsman softly, "Be on your way about it as we talked, for the sake of the souls within the barn.."
Ragnarr's pace slows, uncertainty setting in as his eyes fall upon the slavering pack of giant spiders. He looks over his shoulder, and asks: "Dorvarr... There are so many of them... uh, Thor... he can protect his faithful from poison, right?"
"Aye lad, that he can, but he may something more direct in store for these vermin!"
Kveldulf's arrow whistles through the smoky air but buries itself in the wrecked remains of the corral fence. The ravenous wolf-spiders hiss in ghastly tones and charge full out towards the five adventurers on the yard.
Initiative
Kveldulf [readied action]
Utgaror 19
Ottar 17
Spiders 14
Ragnarr 12
Vladimir 12
Dorvarr 7
Utgaror : spot 10 The druid curses aloud as he sees the spiders leave the shredded horses eager for a fresher kill. Utgaror hurls his spear at the lead spider. The druid swears even louder as his aim is off due to the black smoke in the air.
atk 20=16+4 conceal:01
Ragnarr's pace slows, uncertainty setting in as his eyes fall upon the slavering pack of giant spiders. He looks over his shoulder, and asks: "Dorvarr... There are so many of them... uh, Thor... he can protect his faithful from poison, right?"
"Aye lad, that he can, but he may something more direct in store for these vermin!"
Ottar raises up his short bow and makes a quick shot at one of the ravenous arachnids but it just sails over the low-lying creature.
The spiders fling themselves over the broken fence and charge recklessly straight at you.
The hideous arachnids close at each member of the band but two focus on Utgaror.
Reassured by Dorvarr's words, and seeing the spiders closing with the party, Ragnarr loses control, overcome by both fear and rage. The whites of his eyes show as he charges the nearest abomination, swinging his mighty axe with all his might.
Reassured by Dorvarr's words, and seeing the spiders closing with the party, Ragnarr loses control, overcome by both fear and rage. The whites of his eyes show as he charges the nearest abomination, swinging his mighty axe with all his might.
Ragnarr's vicious barrage of slashes brings down two of the spiders who fall to the ground in a twitching heap. The three others seem unphazed as they press to attack possessed by an animal frenzy.
[ooc] yep no problem. Barn to fence 200'. 3 hungry spiders. Sorry my earlier post was unclear. The spiders charged upon the members of the party crossing the yard. No spider went after you. 1 Spider on Vlad, Rag, Dorvarr and 2 on Utgaror. I'll say that Ragnarr dropped the one on him and 1 of the spiders threatening Utgaror.
[ooc] yep no problem. Barn to fence 200'. 3 hungry spiders. Sorry my earlier post was unclear. The spiders charged upon the members of the party crossing the yard. No spider went after you. 1 Spider on Vlad, Rag, Dorvarr and 2 on Utgaror. I'll say that Ragnarr dropped the one on him and 1 of the spiders threatening Utgaror.
Ah, then I guess I'll back off and cast spiritual weapon instead of advancing.
Vladimir hefts his blade down upon the fierce spider striking a telling blow.
The beast still lives and blindly presses its attack on the young knight. Meanwhile Dorvarr steps back from his opponent and loudly incanting Thor's words of power summons a shimmering hammer that strikes out with the Thunder God's strength. The hammer scores a resounding blow that staggers the creature but it refuses to falter.
Rnd 2 Kveldulf up
Kveldulf breathes in deeply and exhales, clearing his mind in the process. He then draws back yet another arrow and lets loose, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Bloody blast it all to hell!" Kveldulf exclaims as a large deer fly bites him on his shooting hand as he fires causing his arrow to fly wildly into the thicket.
Uruz with a snarl charges at the spider menacing Dorvarr. The hound's mighty jaw clenches tightly to one of the spider's legs ripping through the chitinous flesh and severing the spindly leg. The wolf-sized arachnid lurches to the ground spasming in its wild death throes.
Utgaror swings his axe wildly at the thrashing spider but the strike goes overhead.
atk 10
Ottar up.
Ottarr moves closer to the spiders and once again attempts to shoot one. He missed.
Ragnarr howls and swings at the spider that is still on Utgaror.
The remaining spiders press their attack savagely. spider atk The one on Vladimir nearly strikes but is swatted back by the knight's shield. Utgaror sidesteps the spider's fierce springing attack. As it recovers, Ragnarr's axe moves swiftly slashing the arachnid in twain.
Dorvarr advances on the remaining spider, hefting his own hammer.
Vladimir cuts sharply with his sword at the frenzied spider but narrowly misses the nimble monster. With a cry of frustration the knight quickly backhands his sword just striking a cutting blow. atk 14 dam 7
Dorvarr strides forward and slams the back of the creature ending its loathsome life.
The cries sound from the barn again and also an alien sound rises up from the crackling fires. A shiver runs up your spine as you hear what sounds like an inhuman roar and a keening screech of fury from behind the heavy barn doors.
Listen DC 15
Kveldulf shoulders his bow at the sight of the final arachnid horror's death twitch. He then springs from his covered position and lopes across the field, bringing his hound to his side as he sprints past Vlad and Dorvarr.
"To the barn my companions, make haste!"
Edit to Listen DC 15 check
The stout man works his way to the barn, as quick as his legs will carry him...
"Hurry lads, let's get to the surviviors!"
The hair stands on the back of Ragnarr's neck as he hears the alien shrieks, then charges for the barn, eager to send whatever abomination hides therein back to the abyss from whence it come...
Ottarr hurries to the barn with the rest.
Rushing quickly through the thick smoke you reach the wide barn doors. The doors are not closed as you see they hang open ajar by an inch. Again that same chorus of unearthly roars sounds. Panicked cries call out, "God, they're breaking through!" You notice Uruz's nose twitching continuallly and the hound emits a low but uncertain growl.
Inside is a hellish scene. The thatched roof and rafters crackle in flames and bits of hot ash fall to the hay-strewn floor. A few fires have lit up on the ground. Web-like strands hang in the air and a curious sight can be seen. Hundreds of silk-encased eggs seem to hang from these strands. At the back of the barn in the pig pen a rough barricade of wood and fence has been thrown up. You vaguely discern two human shapes behind the barricade. The barrier is in shambles as an immense creature pounds down upon it
In front of the barricade an alien sight grips your eyes. A creature that looks like nothing so much as a disgustingly bruised rotund, humanoid warped with arcahnid features and moutned with a multitutde of insectial eyes. Sickeningly pale, sagging skin covers its bloated abdomen while splotchy pinks and purples colour the rest of its body. Small spiders and other vermin crawl over its skin. It turns slightly aware of your presence at the door and emits that same ghastly keening shriek. The barricade collapses.
Spot DC 15
Spot DC 27