With Enoch's encouragement, Croaker enters yet another creepy tomb to discover it is creepier yet being shrouded in layer upon layer of sticky spider webs. Webs that are much to big to have come from any kind of friendly house spider.
Ever since he was a young hatchling wandering about the rookery, Croaker had an unhealthy fear of spiders. It all sprouted from that time his so called friends had dumped buckets of the creatures on him while he'd napped peacefully in his usual spot. They must have spent hours plucking the arachnids from garden shrubs, dark corners, and dusty untraveled halls. Awakened as one crawled into his mouth and another up his nose, young Croaker screamed...well attempted to scream. The spider being quickly sucked down his throat as he inhaled made it more of a choking followed by several vicious sneezes to clear his nose.
Since that time, the ravenkin has always had trouble around spiders. He'd worked hard to deal with his fear and learned that fire is typically an effective eradication method. The sight of the wriggling cocoons and all the webs triggers the old fear and sends his body to quivering much like the web encased bundles.
Fortunately, he retains just enough awareness to know that spiders do not usually speak common and ask for help, so he shifts his aim away from the first cocoon and onto the second that lurches and lurks like a ghoul. Likely an ally of whatever arachnid horror called this tomb home.
Lorr readies his Glaive to strike as soon as a zombie enters the extended range of the weapon.
for
Dumah tries to wriggle his way out. Dexterity Whoo! That beats a DC13.
** spoiler omitted **
You may introduce yourself as you drop to the ground. You have a move and any bonus action left
Through a flaw in the webbing, the wriggling figure plops unceremoniously to the stone floor. It looks like the a giant rat was caught by the spiders. But when the creature rises on its hind legs, you realize it is a small ratfolk. Its gaze darts back and forth, taking in what's changed since it was entangled.
The party looks around as there seems to be many things happening at once.
First the wriggling shouting cocoon bursts, and what you think at first is a Giant Rat falls to the floor until it lurches to two feet and you see it is clothed. The creature then spots you and heads in your direction.
@Griot>>:Griot picks out one of the shambling Zombie creatures, and sends forth a ray of cold which quickly frosts up the Zombie, and several pieces of flesh freeze and detach... The creatures already slow movement slows even more as his joints stiffen up with ice.
@Croaker>>: Croaker summons forth a ball of energy which resembles the sun in it's brightness. It hits the previously injured Zombie full in the chest, and boils off the frozen parts, and the battered creature falls to the ground.
@Lorr>>: The creature Lorr had originally targeted would probably not have arrived in time to be chopped with his new slow movement, but his friend behind him closes to within reach of the warrior's glaive. And pays the price as Lorr's blow nearly decapitates him... however he continues to advance his head now lying sideways on his shoulder.
Lorr DC12 Perception.
You notice several small spiders climbing in and out of this zombie's mouth, nose and ears.
Zombie 2>: Lurches forth, ans swings clumsily at the big warrior.
Flail
Slam
But the armored warrior nimbly dodges aside from the slow swing.
The barbarian charges toward the melee as fast as his little legs can take him.
The sound of combat draws Enoch back towards the others. It was what was meant to be a group of adventurers, right? They operated as a team, struck at the enemy together, and reinforce one another. Moving back, he sways in between the melee to strike at one of the undead with his sharp blade before quickly dancing back out of the reach of claws and spiders alike.
Griot eyeballs the expelled ratling with concern. "Hold on, who are you? and more importantly, where's the SPIDER?"
Seeing the first zombie fall, Croaker pivots and calls forth a blast of eldritch power sending it streaking toward the second.
Dumah starts grabbing at some small items scattered on the floor. "Its a crypt spider! It has to still be here. Oh gods, the little ones are everywhere!" One clawed hand brushes at his shoulders and arms as he scrambles.
So... you live? I think I will call you... "Lucky", the Dragonborn chuckles.
Why are you here Lucky?
As Khanol and Enoch dash towards the combat Croaker turns to send a well aimed eldritch blast towards the remaining creature. Khanol is able to get within 10' of the combat, but the faster Enoch is able to close and swipe a blade at the engaged opponent.
The blade slices open the side of the creature, and it slumps to the ground, but doesn't stop moving, as a swarm of various sized spiders poor forth from the open wound, and begin to move towards the PC's. Croaker is able to redirect his blast of hot desert heat towards the approaching swarm searing a large number of them.
Dumah starts to gather up his gear in a panic, and is addressed by Lorr.
Situation... Enoch is standing in the middle of the swarm. Lorr is 10' away. The remainder of the now united group is 20' from the swarm.
All>>> Perception DC 20
From behind one of the shattered caskets directly behind the group there is a large opening to a ghoul tunnel (Probably the one you never finished exploring from the second hall of tombs). Was that a little dust you saw fall from the opening?
"SPIDERS!" Griot shrieks and skitters away from the swarm to let the less wounded deal with it.
Situation: Griot and Lorr are about 10' from the withering bundle, and 20' from the two zombies. Enoch has began the trek back and is about 30' from the cocoon, and 10' from the rising zombies. (They are along the West wall). Khanol and Croaker are 60' down the tomb in the antechamber messing with the remains of the animated armor, and 50' from where the undead are animating.
Situation: Griot and Lorr are about 10' from the withering bundle, and 20' from the two zombies. Enoch has began the trek back and is about 30' from the cocoon, and 10' from the rising zombies. (They are along the West wall). Khanol and Croaker are 60' down the tomb in the antechamber messing with the remains of the animated armor, and 50' from where the undead are animating.
"Spiders! Aieeeyyyeee!" Croaker lets forth a high pitched screech. As the swarm swirls in his direction. He rapidly retreats toward the nearest exit while sending another frantic, poorly aimed blast of power toward the onrushing spiders.
Dumah will stand and dash away from the spiders, saying "My luck hasn't panned out yet!"
The Dragonborn steps forward, breathes in ominously and prepares to breath dragon fire over the swarm as the rattling is clear of its reach...
@Griot>>: The injured Kobold screaches at the sight of the swarm and retreats out of immediate danger.
@Croaker>>. The webs were frightening enough, but then the spiders... all the spiders, and the mass headed your way. You turn and run for the exit you entered in, firing blindly over your shoulder as you go, and only causing one of the hanging desiccated cocoons to sway a bit under your attack.
@dumah>>: The small ratling rushes forth to hide behind Lorr and Croaker, only to have Croaker dash his plan by fleeing towards the entrance.
[i]@Lorr>>[/b]: Lorr seeing the opportunity when Dumah steps away turns to the swarm of spiders, and belches forth a fountain of flame... unfortunately Croakers scream distracts him a bit and he doesn't hit the mass of arachnids head on, but off to one side... where the remains of Dumah's cocoon begin to smolder.
Spiders DEX Save
And the spiders see it coming and most avert the worst of the flame.
The carpet of spiders quickly close on the fire breathing menace and cover his body in their advance.
Bites
Tiny fangs... many tiny fangs.
But find the warriors armor thwarts their attack.
Khanol, Enoch, Lorr, and Dumah DC19 Perception
You definitely see debris being dislodged from a natural tunnel behind one of the caskets.
With no obvious threats besides the spider swarms, the dancing bear guide backs up to give the spiders other meals before him.
Seeing Lorr get smothered by a horde of spiders distracts Enoch too much, the young elf not wishing to suffer the same fate. He moves in with his dagger in hand, slashing at the spiders that clung to Lorr in order to try and get them off of him.
@Khanol>>: Khanol backs away from the melee towards Griot and Croaker. , and leaves the two new arrivals to face the threat on their own.
@Enoch>>: Enoch, reluctant to leave the Dragon blood alone to face the swarm of spiders, steps forward, and carves into the group of spiders reducing the number significantly but not enough to completely disperse them.
Stopped by the wall as he backs away, Croaker sends another blast of power toward the swarming spiders. Unfortunately, this is even more off target than the last as his eyes whirl and his body rattles from the sudden onslaught of arachnids.
A safe distance from the 8-leged freaks, Griot turns and sends a blue bolt.
The Dragonborn drops and rolls around, hoping to crush as many as possible under his body weight at a time...
Use fire if you have it, he roars.
"Fire? Yes, fire!" Dumah moves back, next to Enoch. He stretches out both of his clawed hands, spreading out his fingers. With an arcane phrase, a gout of flame bursts out, washing over the dragonborn and the swarm engulfing him.
Half damage due to Dragonborn...
The fire washes over the warrior, who grinds his mouth hard in pain, grunting.
Between Enoch's dagger sweeps, Griot's cold bolts, and Lorr's rolling around and smashing the number of spiders is greatly reduced, but not enough to prevent the recently freed Dumah from burning up most of the remainder of the spiders, and heating Lorr's armor to red hot at the same time.
Perception DC15
You not only see debris falling forth from a small tunnel directly behind the group, but you also here something humming a familiar lullaby.
Griot spins as he hears something behind them. "Do you all hear that? Do big spiders hum lullabies? I am getting even more creeped out" Griot makes sure that there are larger folks between him and the humming.
Lorr rises, wincing audibly. He's clearly more than a little scorched.
Dumah moves up to Lorr. "I'm sorry about that! I tried to get them without getting you, but 'whoosh'! Well, I don't have to tell you!" He pantomimes the dragonborn's breath weapon.
He nervously clicks together the claw tips of both hands nervously. "My name is Dumah, but you can call me 'Lucky' if you wish. That seems to be the way for me. Good luck, bad luck, nothing but luck of one sort or the other all of the time!"
Perception
Dumah moves up to Lorr. "I'm sorry about that! I tried to get them without getting you, but 'whoosh'! Well, I don't have to tell you!" He pantomimes the dragonborn's breath weapon.
He nervously clicks together the claw tips of both hands nervously. "My name is Dumah, but you can call me 'Lucky' if you wish. That seems to be the way for me. Good luck, bad luck, nothing but luck of one sort or the other all of the time!"
Perception 1d20+1
No... worries Lucky... I'd prefer scorched to spiders any day.
He looks at Griot.
Singing spiders? Where?
This wild, blonde-haired halfling stands a little less than three feet tall which is about the average height of three-year old human. While his facial features are like a human child, his eyes show much more wisdom and tragedy. He wears fur-trimmed traveling gear with an emblem of the Lodge of the Dancing Bear Guides. His weapons' belt carries a shortsword and handaxe. He shoulders a backpack. quiver, and crossbow.
"Lucky? I guess. You were almost spider food. What a horrible way to go. What are you doing down here?" The barbarian approaches and asks with a shortsword and handaxe in each hand.
The singing from the tunnel gets loud enough that everyone can here it now... a strange accent as though the lips can't properly form the syllables. Then a strange clicking sound accompanies the singing, and the dust and debris coming from the tunnel.
"Hush little weblings don't you Cry".
Then louder. "Mama's going to make you some ratling pie".
Then from the tunnel mouth steps a decidedly horrific being... perhaps the "Crypt Spider" that Dumah named...
A black and Red spider the size of a small pony emerges from the hole chittering in excitement... then rage at the scene played out before her.
Zone 0: Linda, the Crypt Spider
Zone 1Khanol, Lorr, Dumah, Enoch
Zone 2 Griot, Croaker
Initiatives
Croaker:
Griot:
Khanol:
Enoch:
Lorr:
Dumah:
Linda:
"Ahhhh. A fellow traveler of Charun's unsettling and rather unwanted realm." Croaker says to Dumah offering the seemingly death defying ratfolk a quick bow of the head and friendly smile. "Death is ever our unwelcome companion best shunted to a dim corner and ignored for as long as possible. "
After introducing himself the ravenfolk turns to Griot with a puzzled, skittish look. "What was that about singing spiders? Did you hit your head or something? Spiders don't sing. They're blood sucking, poison bloated sacks of vileness. Gods save us if they could...sing show...tunes while...Eeep."
His words are strangled in his throat as a wave of horror and terror crashes through his body.
"Urrpp..." Is all he manages to get out before survival instinct kicks in and he tries to blast the thing while looking for the best way out.
Reach weapon is range 1, correct? Also kudos on the creepy spider!!!
Lorqiroth swings hard with his glaive...
for .l.
But in what is becoming typical fashion, swings prematurely and his weapon kisses only air.
"Lucky? I guess. You were almost spider food. What a horrible way to go. What are you doing down here?" The barbarian approaches and asks with a shortsword and handaxe in each hand.
"I was down here with friends, or at least I thought they were friends. I'm not sure what they did. I felt woozy, and then I woke up in the webs and they were gone."
When the spider shows itself, Dumah squeals. "Aaah!" He darts away, pointing back with a claw as he goes. A beam of white light streaks towards the spider.
He'll move from zone 1 to zone 2 and cast ray of frost. To hit . If it hits, damage cold damage, and speed is reduced by 10 feet until my next turn.
@Dumah>> The still nervous ratling is the quickest to react... especially since he seems to be the main course in Linda's mind, and hurls a frosty beam of cold at the creature, striking a couple of her front leg joints, and seemingly slowing her down. He then retreats a few feet to get away from the Crypt Spider.
@Linda>: The beast shakes off her former meals cold blast, and targets the small but juicy looking halfling Dancing Bear guide with a blob of sticky webbing. She stays in the tunnel mouth for now deciding what her new plan might be.
Web blast (Restrained if hit, DC13 STR to escape).
Recharge chance.
But the trajectory of the web didn't account for the nimbleness of the halfling, and her web splashes harmlessly to the ground.
@Croaker>>: Though almost petrified with fright... and confused about the intelligence of this particular spider, the Ravenfolk Warlock finds the wherewithal to successfully target the emerging threat, hitting her solidly with a beam of sandy, spice scented eldritch energy. He then glances around looking for an exit.
@Lorr>>: The big and partially burned Dragonblood swings his large Glaive at the new threat, but the positioning of the creature in the cave mouth is too much to overcome, and he realizes he needs to adjust his swing. He stands firm, waiting for the creature to make it's next move.
Griot is in Zone 2, Khanol and Enoch are in Zone 1.
Griot stays in the rear and seeing Dumah's success follows up with a freeze ray to Mama Linda's kneecap, unsuccessfully.