Heroes of Iblydos [AssortedGMs] (Inactive)

Game Master Swordwhale

Astrapios suggests to rest. But he only needs two hours of sleep, so he offers to do most of the guard duty.

Gosor would vote to ride through the night as a companion's life is on the line and we're uncertain how important the time is. Assuming he's overruled, depending on whether riding at various paces would count as vigorous activity he might allow everyone (other than maybe Ktinos if he's running on his own,) to get a full night's rest during the ride with Keep Watch. Fighting is the only thing specifically called out as vigorous activity, and I assume that riding at a top pace would as well, but perhaps it might allow us to make better progress by riding at a relaxed pace than resting for 8 hours would.

"We don't have time to rest. Quercus is counting on us now! Bah, but you're right that it won't do to arrive unable to complete the task due to exhaustion. Fine then. Let's ride hard till dark, then, if everyone will agree to stay mounted and moving, I can make our ride restful enough. So long as we don't push our horses during the night at least."

The taurian turns to their newest companion. "I know you're eager to move on your own, but are you able to ride for the night if it will allow you to function tomorrow?"

"Sounds good, Gosor. You want to take point? I can take rear guard." Ethana asks.

"Yes, that should work nicely. Now does anyone else have business we need to attend to before we depart?"

Ktinos eyes the horses uncertainly. "I can ride... if a horse will take me."

The Catfolk has some trouble approaching 'his' mount at first. The animal is instinctively shy of him and tries to evade his attempts to get near, let alone mount it.
DC20 Handle Animal to push it accepting Ktinos without trouble.
Can be attempted by anyone, aid another possible.
Failing it will require Ktinos to mount the hourse against its will, which will prevent him from getting the benefit of Gosors magic as he has to struggle with his mount all night.

Soon after nightfall, Gosor invokes his unusual magic, allowing everyone (but Ktinos?) to fall into a weird state of half-sleep, where you are still aware of your surrounding and body, but ones thoughts are like a particular thick ooze - which despite the oddity, is actually quite soothing on the mind.
As the day breaks, you can already see the ominous forest at the horizon. It consists of towering, woody trees with a particularly dark wood.
The forest covers the entire region between two mountains with the street running straight into it.
If you follow the street, you will reach the forest within the next two hours.

How do you want to proceed?

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 XD Hah!

Ktinos does his best to sooth his borrowed mount, approaching it slowly and trying to not show any sign of the Beasts' hunger.

To his absolute astonishment, it actually works. He proves to be an... awkward horsecat, his unusual size and complete lack of experience making riding difficult, but he manages well enough to avoid falling off during the night.

As the party approaches the forest, Gosor looks to his helmed companion. "Astrapios, do you recognize any features in the woods ahead from your vision? I know that the view from the inside might not match much we see out here, but the forest is vast and we don't have time to search it all. Also, I assume we should plan on leaving our mounts behind before entering. They've done their work getting us here, and I see no need to endanger them if we run into the foes I'm hoping we will."

Gosor has no real way to get intelligence unless he finds someone he shares a language with, so his plan will be to walk right down the street into the woods to see what he can find. I'll invite a more nuanced approach should anyone have one.

Astrapios dismounted and bound the horse to the first tree giving it a soft pat. While doing that he almost automatically drew a strangely looking scepter from his bag. "One second, Gosor."
He murmured several incantations while moving the rod:
extended Heroism, extended See Invisibility, Mage Armor, Darkvision

"Soooo. Much better." It was still dawn and now he looked around trying to peek into the dark forest and recognizing anything.

any checks involved? If necessary, I have another trick up my sleeve that I'm not revealing yet. Just in case:
Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 2 = 23

Astrapios immediately recalls that the scene he witnessed was much darker than it is under the branches at the forest's edge you currently are.

Lady z comes from the back of the house on a ridding Gecko, its large and deep green.

"I am good to ride, and I do not sleep, I will be fine" she says

She follows the others and as the odd magic comes she lets herself rest with it.

then at the woods

10+16=26 Kn (Geography) she takes 10 for 26 and tells the others what she knows

Gosor waits as respectfully as his impatience will allow for Astrapios to finish his morning rituals. Upon hearing what both he and Lady Z have to report he looks to the East, trying to locate the mountains she has referenced. "Very well, it seems we should try to make our way towards the darker region of the forest there. I suspect that the road will be faster for traveling into the forest, and that we can break through the woods to the east when we draw closer. Come, let us start!"

Ktinos grunts in agreement, now awake enough to be having to focus on not falling his horse again.

The group sticks to the road and enters the forest.
About instantly, the bright sunlight of the new day is replaced by an depressing half-shadow that does make you feel the absence of light.
It is a really unsettling feeling and you can feel the reason why this trade route was not much liked in the old days and finally abandoned altogether.
The street is barely wide enough to allow for the passage of a cart, so two people can walk side by side without much problem. The road itself is in a state of severe disrepair: roots have cracked open the road-stones in many places and you often have to step-up-and-over fallen tree trunks barring the road.

1d100 ⇒ 93

You spent three hours following the street, before ...

Start of Combat, Round 1:
Ethana:
Gosor:
Lady Zal:
Spiders, right (3):
Spiders, left (2):
Ktinos:
Aramiros:

Astrapios felt uncomfortable in the dark forest. He was not really a nature person and prefered man-made walls to these thickets. But he was flexible and with a little help of magic felt quite adapted to the scene. Suddenly he had a feeling of movement up in the trees. "GET DOWN!"
he shouted and immediately his hands started glowing bright yellow. With no time to waste he made out spider-like creatures and targeted the first one.

Mystic Bolt vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10
damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
Mystic Bolt vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
Mystic Bolt vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 28 crit
damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
Mystic Bolt vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4
damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Mystic Bolt vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 1 + 2 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17

Mystic Bolt vs. Touch AC, crit confirm: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

electricity damage: add all up, before subtracting resistance

Lightning flashse shout out of his hands, alternating left and right towards the spider. Some hit, some miss.

Gosor dives to the ground at Astrapios's warning, and once the nets have flow by rolls to see what is attacking. Spotting the spiders sitting in the trees, the taurian lurches to his feet and readies his fauchard, all the while studying the nearer spider to the left. "Wretched Vermin! We cannot let them delay our progress!"

Knowledge: Nature to check for weaknesses: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 = 23

Move action to stand from prone, standard action to draw the fauchard, swift action to study the nearer spider on the left as a studied target, free action to speak and free action to attempt a knowledge: nature (probably?) check for weaknesses for the spiders. I'm setting up to be able to make AoOs should they move into melee through my reach, so I rolled some of those in case they matter. The one that's a studied target gets a +2 to hit and damage.)

K (arcana) DC ?: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24
Assuming that's enough.

"Watch out for the poison! It attacks body and mind." Ethana calls out to her allies as she dismounts, leaping into some of the lower branches, unable to reach the spiders in a single bound. Perched in the trees 20 feet off the ground, she draws her spear and lets the tip ignite with magical power as she winds up for a leaping attack.

Move 20 feet (half of 40) up in the air.
Swift to maintain Tactic (+10 feet move speed to everyone)
Standard for Warrior Spirit (gaining Bane (magical beast), Wounding)

I'll give our Lady 4-5 more hours to post, before boting her and let the spiders act

Moving Lady Zal to the lower ini-block.
She actually would have been between the two spider groups from the start, but I shuffled her up (in case of doubt, favour the PCs, eh?)
Bot-ing Gestalt chars is difficult *lol*

Round 1 (cont.)
Ethana: identified Ebon Spiders, moved up 1d2 ⇒ 2(right) & buffed, now entangled!
Gosor: Identified Ebon Spiders, readied an attack, bitten twice! (2*18dmg, two Fort-Saves DC21)
Spiders, right-tree-#2 (1): jumps to another tree 1d20 ⇒ 1 and falls! 5d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 2, 1) = 14, now prone on the ground!
Spiders, right-tree-#1 (2): charge down the tree and jumps at Kosor, bite him painfully and are past him within the blink of an eye - faster than he can react! Spring Attack!
Spiders, left (2): From left, more disgusting webs are flung - one aimed at the hovering Ethana, the other at 1d5 ⇒ 5 Aramiros! Both nets hit their mark!
Lady Zal: UP
Ktinos: UP
Aramiros: shoots lots of lighting (still, or getting out of the net?), entangled!

Enemy rolls: 4d20 + 2d8 ⇒ (13, 11, 13, 19) + (8, 8) = 72

Webs: Break Free / Escape Artist DC 21, 16 hp, DR 5/—

do you want me to retcon because the entanglement happened before my shooting actions described above? I thought my ini let me act before them? Or is it my next turn already?

You spotted the ambush and I let you warn the others, as I figured that this is what you wanted to do anyway.
Your ini roll was low as can be seen from the ini-order above.
As you are up now, you could retcon if you want to break free, or keep your posted action as-is - your call

fort save vs DC 21: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
fort save vs DC 21: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Gosor grunts in pain as the spiders' mandibles find their marks, but shrugs off the poison which threatens to course through his veins.

Other turns will matter first, but how far past me did the spiders move after the attack? Or really, how far away are all the spiders on the ground?

sorry for the misunderstanding. I somehow saw my ini position much higher. I will not shoot while entangled.

Astrapios curses the web. He looks around and decides that speed is the only solution. He was not the strongest after all.

casting Haste (concentration DC18): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

Then he moves out of the web. I can just move away, can't I? move action to move at half speed which is now 30 ft

The two who attacked you are 15ft off towards Astrapios and Lady Zal.
The one who fell is 50ft to the right.
Yeah moving is at half speed if entangled.

Lady Z ducks with the others, but takes time to assess the situation.

Moving her to Init 1, will post more in a moment, she will try and get more than 1 spider with out hitting any of her fellows

If there are spiders up above and none of the party to close lady Z hits them with a concussive-onslaught

AREA 30 ft. radius burst DMG 4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 3) = 16 in the area, same place for 8 rounds. 4d6 DMG, 7pp used Saving Throw: Fort half DC21; Power Resistance: Yes

Her eyes flare green and the area where the spiders shudders as the very air itself ripples with force. Leaves and branches start to rain down.

Ktinos bares his teeth in a predatory smile. Here was a foe he would feel no compunctions about letting the Beasts lose on.

"Prey," he snarls as his form swells and shifts, changing to an elephant-sized lion with huge talons on his forepaws.

Move action to change forms. If there's a foe in range (15', given he can 5' step and has 10' reach) he'll try a bite.

Bite: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Damage (Vital Strike): 4d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 5) + 12 = 24

Assuming that it's the top of the next round after that and that I've got haste up...

Gosor bellows in rage and turns to the spiders that attacked him. "You waste your time on strong prey. Flee now and and we will leave you your pathetic lives as we have more important matters to deal with."

Taking a step towards the nearest spider, the taurian calls on the spirits that guide his attacks against his foes and then swings his fauchard in a series of lightning fast strikes, hoping to instill a proper sense of sickening dread in the creature.

Fauchard Attack 1: 1d20 + 19 + 1 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 19 + 1 + 2 - 3 = 21
Fauchard Damage (S): 1d10 + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 20 + 9 + 2 + (6, 2) = 45

Fauchard Attack 2: 1d20 + 19 + 1 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (17) + 19 + 1 + 2 - 3 = 36
Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 19 + 1 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 19 + 1 + 2 - 3 = 29
Fauchard Damage (S): 1d10 + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 20 + 9 + 2 + (5, 5) = 45
Critical Damage (bypasses any DR): 1d10 + 20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 20 + 9 + 2 = 38 = 83 damage on a crit bypassing any DR

Fauchard Attack 3: 1d20 + 14 + 1 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 14 + 1 + 2 - 3 = 17
Fauchard Damage (S): 1d10 + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 20 + 9 + 2 + (5, 6) = 46

Intimidation Check after the first hit if any: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (5) + 36 = 41
Intimidation Check after the second hit if any: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (8) + 36 = 44
Intimidation Check after the third hit if any: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (8) + 36 = 44

Sneak attack damage on the third hit if the spider was intimidated on the first hit: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10

Swift action to give Bane: Magical Beasts to the fauchard. Five foot step and then full attack action with power attack on the spider Ktinos was attacking if possible, but one of the ones within 15 feet otherwise. If we are flanking then all attack rolls get an additional +4 to hit. If the Ebon Spiders are not Magical Beasts each attack loses +2 to hit and +2 + 2d6 to damage.

If any of the attacks hits Gosor will make a free attack to intimidate for the shaken condition with duration of (1 round + 1 for every 5 the intimidate check exceeds the DC (10 + HD + Wis modifier)) x 1.5. If the first attempt to intimidate fails the DC increases by 5 for each subsequent effect.

If any attacks hit after the Ebon Spider is shaken, it will be sickened for one round and Flat Footed to Gosor's attacks until the end of Gosor's next round. Any hits (at most one this round) while the opponent is flat footed will deal sneak attack damage.

AoO if applicable, and unless the spiders seem to be trying to flee, in which case Gosor will let them go.

Round 2:
Ethana: entangled, hasted, UP
Gosor: Hits one of spiders who bit him on his second attempt - but the spider twists away in the last moment to prevent a potentially fatal wound! Judging from the shudder that went through her many-eyes, this spider is not all too keen to continue fighting the minotaur for some time!
Spider, right-ground-prone (1): -
Spiders, right-tree-#1 (2): -
Spiders, left (2): -
Lady Zal: shakes up left spider-in-trees
Ktinos: took a bite, but his target moved out of harms way just in time, no flanking yet
Aramiros: moves aside, casted haste, still entangled

2d20 ⇒ (5, 12) = 17

Waiting for Ethana. Starting a 5h timer...

Sorry, busy weekend+complex character=hard to post. Anyway....
Ethana struggles against the webs, slipping out with a bit of difficulty.
Escape Artist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Is it a Standard or Move action to get free? If it's a Standard, the following would require Martial Focus to be expended. However, it would also be regained immediately by Minara (familiar) taking a move action (thanks to Focusing Tactics). Also, changing tactic to automatic flanking.

Once free, she allows herself to drift down, and prepares to strike at the spiders as soon as they attack.

Using Patrol to increase my threatened area to be a 25' bubble around me, and I can move up to my speed to take an AoO, and an enemy attacking an ally Provokes.
Oh, and just for good measure: any two people threatening the same enemy now count as flanking. Have fun!
Spheres of Combat are awesome.

Round 2:
Gosor: Hit and stared down a spider, now entangled
Ethana: Readies herself for fatal retribution of any enemy attacks
Prone Spider: stands up and fires a web at Gosor
Spider (2), ground-midst-of-group: One spider, the one intimidated by the glaring Minotaur, tries to back away, but does not manage to get past the watchful eyes of Gosor, Ethana and Ktinos! Strikes from Spear, Claw and Fauchard leave the spider falling to the ground, her ugly intestines splattered all over the rocky road. The end of her kin drives the second spider into a mad assault on Ktinos, provoking immediate retaliation from Ethana. Despite the deep biting spear, the spider manages to bite the Catfolk with her poisonous fangs! Fort-Save DC21
Spiders, left: With fast legs, the spiders on the left rush down 'their' tree to get away from the terrible pressure that threatens to squash them (and the tree). As soon as they hit the ground, they leap at Aramiros who has strayed from the group. But his armor proves just up to the task of deflecting the murderous fangs of the spiders! Still, he is in a rather tight spot now, flanked, entangled and 20ft from his closest colleague: Lady Zal.
Lady Zal: UP
Ktinos: UP
Aramiros: UP, entangled, flanked

Astrapios was not afraid of some spiders. But before he can thoroughly burn them into pieces he had to get rid of the webbing - even risking burning himself a little.

haste attack the web: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 + 1 - 4 = 11
fire damage: 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 well, 6 fire damage self-inflicted :)

Freed from the web he unleashed a barrage of fire bolts at the first spider. "Go back to whatever hell or abyss you come from!"

5 ft step out of flanking position; activate Smite evil, +7 deflection AC vs. this spider

attack vs. touch AC: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 + 1 + 7 = 21
fire damage: 1d6 + 16 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 7 = 24
attack vs. touch AC: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 + 1 + 7 = 23
fire damage: 1d6 + 16 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 16 + 7 = 26
attack vs. touch AC: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 + 1 + 7 = 29
fire damage: 1d6 + 16 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 16 + 7 = 26
attack vs. touch AC: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 2 + 1 + 7 = 26
fire damage: 1d6 + 16 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 16 + 7 = 27
attack vs. touch AC: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 + 1 + 7 = 13
fire damage: 1d6 + 16 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 16 + 7 = 29

wow, these are some poor roles

Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

The massive lion that is Ktinos curls his lip derisively at the lesser creature's meager bite, scarcely even noticing its envenomed fangs. He responds with a furious assault with massive talons and his own teeth.

Bite: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33
Damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (1, 1) + 14 = 16
Talon: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Talon: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Lady Z concentrates the blast area winks off and comes into being again covering a= two of the spiders.

Drops one, ends above and makes a new one, Area in red 5PP spent DMG 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6) = 17

Round 3:
Gosor: UP
Ethana: UP
Spider#1: -
Spider#2: -
Spider#3: -
Spider#4: -
Lady Zal: relocates forest-destroying crushing force for some more spider crushing, entangled
Ktinos: let spiders taste some huge claws&fangs, bite and second claw-swipe hit and draw quite some (disgusting-tasting) black blood
Astrapios : Fried a web, his leg and a spider with lightning, the targeted spider (#3) does look as good as dead now, entangled-no-more

"What, you remain? Truly you must want to die."

The taurian quickly studies the ebon spider in front of him as he shortens up his grip on his fauchard. What his overhand chop lacks in grace it makes up for in power.

Standard attack action with +1 cruel fauchard: 1d20 + 19 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 19 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 = 39 The modifiers there this time are haste, bane, studied attack, flanking, power attack, entangled, attacking at close range. I think that's all that apply right now.
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 19 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 19 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 = 25
Fauchard Damage (S): 1d10 + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + (1, 1) + (6, 4) = 52
Critical Damage (bypassing any DR): 1d10 + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2 = 34 86 damage on a crit bypassing any DR

Intimidation Attempt if the attack hit: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (10) + 36 = 46

If that hit and killed the spider (seems unlikely given the last round) Gosor will move to engage spider #1. Otherwise Gosor will choose to continue with a full attack action.

Attack with +1 cruel fauchard: 1d20 + 19 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 19 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 = 27
Fauchard Damage (S): 1d10 + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (9) + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + (4, 4) + (3, 1) = 54

Attack with +1 cruel fauchard: 1d20 + 19 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 19 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 = 24
Fauchard Damage (S): 1d10 + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + (4, 5) + (6, 1) = 50

Free action to speak, swift action to study Spider number 2 (in addition to spider 3 probably), standard action to attack and then either move action to move or switching to full attack action.

Those were not the rolls I wanted there, but spider two should be intimidated and heavily damaged now I think.

Oh, I forgot haste! That means an extra bite!

Hasty bite: 1d20 + 20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 20 + 1 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (3, 4) + 14 = 21

...not that it mattered...

Ethana unleashes a quick flurry of blows, trying to finish off the spider.

Elysian Bronze Spear Risky Strike, v. Magical Beast, flanking (automatic), Haste: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (2) + 24 = 261d8 + 18 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 18 + (5, 5) = 31

Haste attack Elysian Bronze Spear Risky Strike, v. Magical Beast, flanking (automatic), Haste: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (8) + 24 = 321d8 + 18 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 18 + (3, 2) = 28

Elysian Bronze Spear Risky Strike, v. Magical Beast, flanking (automatic), Haste: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 331d8 + 18 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 18 + (1, 4) = 31

The flurry of speer thrusts proves too much for even these highly agile spiders to fully dodge and finally, Ethana is able to drive her Elysian-Bonze speer all the way through the disgusting black carapace of the spider, nailing her to the ground for good.
As one, both remaining spiders break combat and hurry for the darkness of the forest as fast as their (many) legs could carry them.
The one nearly-fried by Astrapios is limping and a little slower than her kin.

Combat over.

Seeing the spiders begin to take flight Gosor watches them closely until they're out of range before turning his attention to the sticky mess the web has made of his armor. "Well done everyone, I imagine that particular batch of spiders won't bother us again soon. Did anyone take a serious bite that we need to deal with? Also, Lady Zal, were these spiders the sort the poison that we found in the vial was derived from? We can probably harvest a sample of venom from one of the bodies to check I'd imagine. If it is then we've got further evidence that we're on the right track."

Ktinos growls and charges after the injured spider, the Beasts' bloodlust far from slaked in spite of the fact that they didn't particularly like the taste of this blood.

Not trying to prolong the combat, I figure he either can't catch them quickly or quickly pounces and finished off the injured one. Mostly I just want to play with the fact that Ktinos in a bloodrage isn't the most... controlled.

Lady Z winks out the power that was crushing the woods. Then she walks over to the nearest dead spider and pulling her combat bade, nees down and cuts into its flesh to get a sample of its Toxins. Pulling out her alchemy kit she sets to work.

"I will run some tests and see if it is"

She says.

In a rather cruel display of bestial fury, Ktinos jumps after the limping spider, up into the forest where the scene is mercifully hidden from most of your sights ... although the crunching sound of smashed chitin and splashing of (foul) blood is clearly audible over the otherwise silence of the creepy forest.

Running a few tests, Lady Zal can easily establish that the poison of these spiders is quite familiar with the one used on the druid. It seems to have similar effects but reacts less strong on the testing substances than the one she researched before - usually a sign for a somewhat weaker substance. Still nothing one would like to have in one's bloodstream by any means.

With effort, Ktinos forces himself back into his true form, restraining the Beasts from pursuing the last of the spiders. He walks back to the others, blood still staining his mane and the fur near his claws.

"Apologies. When I am transformed, it is sometimes difficult to control the impulses," he explains. "Are we ready to move on?"

Gosor seems unconcerned by Ktinos's actions, likely because of the target. "Yes, as Lady Zal's tests have shown that we do have a likely match for the unrefined source of the poison, we should continue. If we've all managed to rid ourselves of these webs and no one has any further business then let us be off."

If anyone happens to want to toss some healing Gosor's way that wouldn't be a bad thing, but he's not going to ask for it at this state (76/112 hp.)

Soon after the encounter, you reach an area where the trees stand together particularly dense and you figure that you now have to be close towards the middle of the forest.
It is time to leave the street and press for the even darker parts of the forest, north-east of the street, below the Ópvio mountain.
Ten steps into the actual forest are enough, that only magic or innate ability to see in darkness will allow one to see beyond your own hands.
Worse still, keeping directions is an arduous task as you have to walk in snake-lines around massive, old tree trunks and torso-sized roots.

Group-Effort to keep your bearing:
- DC30 Survival to not get lost
- Members without darkvision / a long-term light source cannot aid another in this
- Having means to know where north is, reduces the DC to 20

Not sure if Ktinos's +12 is the best bonus in the party or not--I suspect not. He'll aid whoever has the highest bonus.

Ktinos is not bothered by the darkness. The Beasts' influence on his body had extended to his eyes some months ago, giving him a monster's ability to see in the darkness. Tracking and traveling in this kind of terrain was familiar to him, as well, though he suspected he would need aid in these circumstances.

Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26