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Malgrim takes a turn entertaining the camp telling a comedy version of the great wasp swarm attack at the old orchard. Malgrim's arms flailing muppet-like as they cry out get 'em off me, get 'em off me and running in circles saved only by Sighere's quick thinking and the liberal application of alchemist's fire.
Malgrim's story keeps refugees smiling, and the camp turns in shortly thereafter. The night passes in four watches without incident, and the morning breaks with an early spring crisp to the air. Campfires are stirred to life, and the smoking meat carries a wonderful aroma to everyone's noses this morning. Supplies seem to be holding well, and with yesterday's bounty starvation is held at bay for another day or two...
Zdena is eager to get on the trail (such as it is in these twisty woods), but there seems to be a LOT to organize. She spends some time conferring with Aubrin to make sure she has good directions to the Ranger Waystation from here, and preps her camouflage for the day.
Malgrim sits at the parties campfire eating breakfast and going over their notes for food supplies and personnel. Premek paws at the page a few times and Malgrim follows carefully. Thinking did a moment...
Either Pharus or Yarrow. We shouldn't send both and then leave their watch short handed. But everything else I agree. They look up at the rest of the party. Any other bright ideas?
Garret and Pharus come together and look over the terrain, arraigning their equipment to keep themselves as light as possible, while still both carrying heavier armor. Doesn't make much sense to me why we're trashing around in the wood, should make for the road and make for Tamran if you ask me... Garret gripes as he heads out with the tribesman.
Come friend Garret, we'll find you a wood nymph who'll quiet your complaining before luring you to wake from the dream... Pharus laughs as they head out of sight to the northeast.
Other groups head out to search for more food or collect more animals for the burgeoning herd in the forest. Drynn and Sarah spend time watching over the herd with Rhyna, while Jet keeps an eye on the smoking meat collected the previous day; arraigning coals in a pattern to spread the smoke over the meat and prevent it from spoiling.
You head into the forest, on a different bearing than taken by your scouts. It is late afternoon following the directions given by Aubrin to the ranger hideaway in the woods, shadows grow long over the valley.
This swampy gully is well-hidden from casual glances, and thus makes it an ideal hiding spot. If it weren’t for the ever-present insects, and lack of potable water, it would really be quite lovely. The forest grows thick here, trees pressed close together with their branches intertwined. A gloom hangs in the air. Foliage around the bases of the trees is sparse, stunted by a lack of sunlight. The songs of birds and noises of small animals have ceased, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the ancient wood.
Peering ahead, you can see the ranger redoubt, built in the ancient trees, fifteen feet above the ground. The miniature fort and the trees it is nestled in are covered in spider webbing, giving the redoubt a more ominous appearance.
Looks like there's a trail leading up to the outpost. Let's use it and stay clear of the ravine edges.
That's a lot of spiderwebs, looks like the rangers have been busy elsewhere for a while.
Premek advances on that path, sniffing the air. When he gets to the treeline, he follows it instead of the path (assuming he doesn't smell anything lurking close), trying to stay out of sight.
Malgrim walks toward the ranger outpost worried about having to fight a swarm of spiders to clear the door.
Zdena nods agreement with Malgrim. Yeah, that's... off. This doesn't smell right. She follows behind them, scanning the area. She tries to spot anything lurking in the trees.
Ryll nods at Zdena's words. This...this doesn't makes sense... She paces behind Malgrim, focusing her attention of the too-quiet encampment and surrounding area.
Also you can all tell that the shallow water edging the path is actually quicksand, very dangerous...
Premek coughs an acid splash against the closer spider (blue).
Then tries to hide in the brush.
Stop! Ryll hisses urgently to Malgrim. Two big spiders ahead of you, past the bridge, on either side of the trail. Watch out for the web trap at the end of the bridge. And I wouldn't trust that shallow water, either.
A hideous purple skinned humanoid? drops from the webs, it walks upright like a man, but has the face of a spider and hooked appendages appears. It spits a gout of webbing at Malgrim, attempting to ensnare them it it...
And wraps Malgrim in a sticky mess of webbing.
Sighere looks quickly at the situation developing.
Ug, Ettercap. Be careful it's bite is poisonous! And with that he begins chanting. Wave of spiritual energy washes over the party when he finishes.
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Arrgh! Horrible spider monster! Not better that swarms!
Malgrim says a word in the Arcane tongue and tries to wriggle free of the webs.
Gaining their freedom Malgrim draws their rapier and drops a hand to their side and starts drumming to Inspire Courage.
Watching carefully how the weird spider thing is moving, Zdena takes aim and looses an arrow at it.
Ryll throws a dagger at the Ettercap
Premek's hairball of acid finds the nearest spider, and Ryll's dagger finds purchase in the Ettercap's hide, drawing a little blood.
The giant spider skitters across the webbing over the quicksand attempting to bite Malgrim, but its pincers are deftly avoided by the bard. The second spider, losing sight of its feline prey in the bushes, spits a gout of webbing at Ryll, who nimbly sidesteps the mess.
Premek contemplates doing something excessively risky but decides to save it for later. Since the first spider lost track of him, he sprays acid at it again (blue).
Then tries to hide again.
But apparently too many of the leaves have been melted away by the acid and it's pretty clear where he is.
Ryll grimaces in disgust at the blob of viscous webbing, and raises her crossbow to shoot at the Ettercap.
Premek's acid attack severely injures the closest spider, who now fixes its many eyes on the small feline form. Ryll's crossbow bolt lodges itself into the Ettercap, who lets out a small grunt of pain, and immediately attempts to shoot another sticky mass of webbing at the half-elf. Ryll again deftly sidesteps the mess flying her way however...
With a soft growl of frustration, Zdena grabs for one of Abby's good arrows and looses it at the ettercap.
Malgrim steps to the side of the spider that rushed them and takes a quick slash at it.
And continues to play their drum.
+1 to Hit and Damage continues
Sighere quickly changes tones once the bless is cast. His voice becomes deeper, the language changes. Suddenly a spectral figure appears superimposed over Malgrim holding a shield out.
Malgrim executes a perfect parry and riposte onto the spider, thrusting deeply into its carapace, and returning to a perfect defense. Zdena's shot goes wild, missing the spider entirely in passing. Sighere brings the blessing of the spirits down on Malgrim, and they are protected from harm for the moment...
Malgrim's spider bites again at them and misses, creating an opening for those in melee with it. The other spider spits a mess of webs at Premek, attempting to ensare the feline, but the webs hang in the remainders of the trees and Premek strides free of the entangling mess....
Premek moves towards the bridge, and sprays acid at the web trap strung across it.
Ryll reloads and fires again at the Ettercap.
Premek sprays more acid, this time at the web trap across the path, disintegrating it and clearing the pathway to the Ettercap. Ryll's shot thunks solidly into the ettercap, obviously wounding it deeply.
The ettercap crosses the no-longer trapped bridge, its inhuman legs moving at odd angles, reminiscent of an arachnid. As it closes on Ryll, it snaps its jaws at her, and she can see the venom present on the pincers as Ryll ducks under the bite attack.
Zdena drops the bow, draws her falchion, and swings at the ettercap.
Zdena's powerful swing levels the ettercap, reducing it to a quivering pile of disjointed limbs and odd eyes....
Two spiders remain...