Asher ducks his head instinctively and brings his foot around in a roundhouse kick on the descending spider. "Watch out!"
With yelp Clover flees down the stairs away from the spider, and toward any safety Asher might provide. She does take a moment to jab at the spider, but it's a gesture to keep it away than a serious attempt to harm it.
Round 1 completed_______________
Grobradon: "Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure Skreed IS a name I..."
The spider attack switches his focus, pattering out a hasty battle chant on the fly…
He moves closer to Varys who appears to be alone in his corner.
Just as Varys is about to examine the iron flask, he sees the stray strand of silk, draws his rapier out in one fluid motion, and ducks and rolls out of the way of some large legs trying to draw him in for a bite.
He lunges forward, but can't get past the creature's legs to stab at anything of substance beneath.
Asher ducks his head instinctively and brings his foot around in a roundhouse kick on the descending spider. "Watch out!"
As a Free Action, Asher uses his Combat Expertise as a Threatening Defender to raise his AC by 1 to AC 17. As a Swift Action Asher enters Panther Style. Asher attacks spider #2; Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 = 19 for 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7 points of unarmed blunt lethal damage. He takes a 5 ft. step back.
With yelp Clover flees down the stairs away from the spider, and toward any safety Asher might provide. She does take a moment to jab at the spider, but it's a gesture to keep it away than a serious attempt to harm it.
Spider 1 turned and shot a spidersilk webbing at Clover.
Spider 2 turned and shot a spidersilk webbing at Asher.
Spider 3 lunged at Varys again.
for a possible piercing damage, plus poison (injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d2 Strength damage; cure 1 save.)
Round 2_________________________
Players take their turn in order of posting, enemies will go last.
Asher breathes, seeming to pause as one of the spiders launches some webbing at him. At the last instant, he ducks his shoulder back and the webbing spits past him. He steps to the side smoothly, his arm coming up defensively like the head of a turtle in front of Clover as he interposes himself between her and the two arachnids, his kick lashing out at one of the spiders' raised legs. "Get behind me!"
With some quick footwork, Varys steps out of the way of danger once again and then surges forward, stabbing his blade deep into the spider's abdomen. Even as the thing's blood spurts out through the fresh wound, Varys spares a glance up at the other three, webs flinging ineffectually at Clover and Asher and Grobradon approaching to help.
Does the spider wish to try?
Then it can die!
Grobradon with his own weapon ready, slashes at the spider near Varys to finish it off though he feels clumsy compared to the amazing bladework of Vayrys
Should the spider already be dead, he instead turns north and goes to help Clover and Asher
Clover creeps out from behind Asher enough to try another stab at a spider before using the shaft of her spear to try blocking the spiders from getting to Asher.
She jabs a spider, but her spear gets stuck, ruining anything more she can do until she recovers it.
"Ah! Let go of it you creepy bug!"
Round 3_________________________
Players take their turn in order of posting, enemies will go last.
Round 2 completed_________________________
Asher ducks his shoulder back and the webbing spits past him.
As a Swift Action Asher enters Snapping Turtle Style bringing his AC up to 18.
He moves 5 ft. to the left before stepping in between Spider #1 and Clover. Asher attacks Spider #1 with an Unarmed Strike: but his fist bounced off the hardened chiton of the spider’s body.
Varys
Going forward, should I declare my intention to parry and riposte before the attack?
Varys steps out of the way then surges forward, stabbing his blade deep into the spider's abdomen. Blood fountained from the critical wound.
Grobradon slashes at the spider near Varys and hacked its head off.
Clover creeps out from behind Asher enough to try another stab at a spider. She jabs a spider, giving it another serious wound.
Spider one lunged at Asher.
for a possible piercing damage plus poison.
Spider two crawled up Clovers spear to attack her as well.
for a possible piercing damage plus poison.
"Nice form," Varys compliments Grobradon as he spins out of the way of the blood spurt. He deftly withdraws his blade and picks up speed as he strides along the edge of the room to go assist Clover.
He flicks his wrist and sends his blade in for another vicious attack!
If successful, I would regain the panache!
"Just finished what you started," Grobradon replies and can't help but have a smile on his face. A part of him enjoyed beheading that spider! Maybe it's his orc blood, maybe it's just an outlet for some pent up aggression. He breaks into a run and keeps pace with Varys, but as he zigs to one side of Clover, he zags to the other, then stabs at the same spider as he can't quite get to the one in front of Asher.
Asher gives a yell as he dodges another spindly leg swinging at him, bursting into motion. He runs between the two arachnids, swiping at one of the spiders as he jumps across the pit, kicking the wall opposite and propelling himself back to the landing with everyone else.
Varys elegantly ran spider 2 through, killing it; and between Grobradon, Asher and Clover, spider 1 is overwhelmed and killed.
The battle is over.
Asher stands over the last spider and dusts himself off. "Is everyone alright?"
"I'm fine... those things were ugly."
"Yeah. Ugly." Asher looks back at the bookcase he was looking at before the spiders showed up. "Hold on," he says, striding over. He pushes the back panel of one of the shelves, which slides to the side. "I thought so," he says, mostly to himself as he pries it open. "There is a tarp covering..." he reaches his hand in, feeling around, "...covering a cubby of some sort. Here we go," he grunts, lifting out a bulky object.
"Somebody hid something back there, wrapped it in oilcloth," Asher says, placing the item on the ground in front of him and unwrapping it. It was a small ornate gold coffer, studded with gems. Asher whistles as he opens it, before tsking. It was empty. "Empty. Well, I suppose the treasure is the container itself." He lifts up the coffer, looking at its details in the dim light.
Varys flicks his blade to the side, flinging spider blood off. He takes out a small, lightly oiled handkerchief, and wipes the blade once before depositing it back in its scabbard.
"It's a shame," Varys says. "I hear that spiders are often quite useful to have in an environment. They're usually not so...aggressive."
Varys likewise retrieves his own hidden treasure, which seems like a more potentially-useful stash. "Vials and scrolls!" he announces, identifying the items in turn from their script, smell, color, consistency, and more. "This oil will temporarily grant a weapon some essential magical properties, while this flask offers deific protection. These two scrolls will open doors, while this one will summon a swarm of creatures. Oh, and if we find any undead creatures, these flasks of holy water will be quite useful."
Asher stands, joining Varys. "Any of those things usable by me? The scrolls are useless. Never been able to understand them, despite wanting to."
"Real magic items..." He says a bit in awe. Of them all, he and Clover are the locals, and Grobradon admits he feels a bit like a bumpkin compared to these folks who are acting so practical about it.
"Oh, this?" Varys says. "I mean, it's good, but any city is liable to have this sort of stuff in a pawn shop." He hands Asher the potion of Shield of Faith and a holy water, taking the oil of Magic Weapon and other holy water for himself. "I'm more interested in why they're here, and who put them here."
The half-elf tuts at Asher. "The scrolls are not useless, Asher, just that you can't use them." He blinks and sighs. "Then again, I can't either." He points at Clover and Grobradon, raising his eyebrows. "But they can." Then he hands the summoning scroll to Grobradon and the door-opening scrolls to Clover.
Varys considers the scrolls for a moment longer. "Or maybe. Have either of you studied arcane magical writings? I can assist with deciphering."
Asher nods to Grobradon and Clover, impressed. "I wish I could understand how to read that writing. I've always been a bit fascinated by it."
"I'm.. not sure I can, but eventually I'll figure it out." He says "Or hand it over to Clover who can. Thanks"
"Oh," Varys says as Grobradon hands the scrolls to Clover. "I, um," he stumbles. "Hmm."
Well, he had planned on studying while he was here, anyway, so this would be useful material. He also takes a look at the coffer, trying to judge its worth should they sell it.
Varys also takes a look at the hopeknife that Asher had found: "For Rodrik, my love". "This seems to be Brinya's lost hopeknife. We should take it with us. But there is still more to examine here if we wish to find his murderer."
Varys moves to one of the unopened doors and listens carefully at it.
Regardless of whether he perceives anything beyond, he opens it.
What caster level are each of the items, and are the scrolls arcane or divine?
Entering the unlocked north door, Varys follows a hallway down to a left turn.
Looking beyond he sees a large room taking up the NW corner of the structure. Most of this room is in shambles, and the western wall has
collapsed in a heap of rubble.
A staircase immediately to his left leads to a wooden loft upstairs; the area beneath the loft is filled with fallen beams, jumbled bricks, and other debris.
Asher follows Varys up the stairs.
Varys whistles as he examines the coffer. "I think we could fetch 500 gold at market for this piece."
Ignoring the debris, Varys continues up the stairs to the loft, blade held in front of him.
Grobradon feels embarrassed he wasn't as talented as Varys thought, but soon moves on. Then the mention of 500 gold for the coffer comes up "Wow. Is this typical for you adventuring regulars? Just... finding things worth more coin than most villagers will see in their lives?"
Asher nods, dryly adding, "And dying."
Asher nods, dryly adding, "And dying."
"That's the part I'd like to skip" He admits a touch sheepishly
Varys doesn't notice Grobradon's discomfort, but continues forging ahead. "I'm not an adventuring regular, really. But Kaer Maga has many luxuries. The arcanist's circle I grew up in had an enormous library of scrolls and spellbooks. It was enchanting."
To be completely fair, Varys was also completely unversed in economic matters, so cost was something he couldn't particularly comprehend.
Varys, carefully making his way up the stairway, sees the loft without any enemies.
Most of this wooden loft is still standing—this is the only remnant of the building’s destroyed second floor.
The roofless chamber is completely exposed to the elements and filled with soot-covered debris, fire-damaged furnishings, and charred wooden beams.
A large, soot-covered brass statue of a goddess with a longsword in one hand and a kite shield in the other stands precariously on the northern edge of the platform above the rickety flight of stairs.
Asher holds up his hand to block out the bright daylight streaming in from the roof, glancing up at the statue. "Which ones this?"
"I should know this... but..." Sheepishly he spreads his hands.
Varys picks about the loft, looking at the statue. "Well, I remember reading that the Plague House used to be Trunau's original church of Iomedae. So this might be a representation of the Inheritor. Considering Trunau's history with Iomedae, that's my guess. Grobradon or Clover might know better."
Varys looks around the rubble for either a clue regarding Rodrik's investigations and death, or for any other secrets that me able to help them.
Clover glances doubtfully at the scrolls she's handed, but tuck them away in her bag for a closer look later.
The number of valuable things just laying around abandoned astounds Clover.
"I can't believe nobody has bother to collect this stuff until now. People do come here sometimes It seems a bit wasteful."
Clover can only shrug in ignorance when asked about the statue. Most of what she knows about religions comes from bits and pieces of conversation from guests at the Ramblehouse, and people talk it words, not images.
"Hmmm," Varys says, shrugging. "Well, look around if you want. I'm headed back down."
The half-elf nimbly passes back around the others and pushes his way back down the stairs to check out the rubble underneath.
Asher follows, stopping when he enters the main room. "Well, the only door is behind that giant dead spider. I guess we'll never know what is back there," he deadpans. "Oh well. We tried."
Varys sticks his rapier around through the rubble under the stairs before feeling some sort of odd surge through his body.
Yes, that had definitely been Iomedae upstairs.
The half-elf leaves the empty rubble and goes back to Clover, asking to see the scrolls again.
Satisfied, he feels confident that he will be able to use them should the need arise. This task done, he moves past Asher. He completely misses the brawler's deadpan joke, stepping over the spider's corpse, and opening the door (after checking it for any potential dangers). "Why, is it locked?"
"Why do you always have to open the doors into scary places?" Asher looks at his friend in mock exasperation.
Clover comes over to watch, and gives the big dead spider a tentative poke with her spear, because you never know...
Once again seeming not to pick up on the sarcasm, Varys blinks back at Asher as he opens the door. "Are you...are you scared of spiders?"
"You bet I am. They're dangerous and I'm not crazy."
The half-elf shrugs. Clover was very different than the halflings he had known in Kaer Maga. She was just as practical, it seemed, hut a good bit more cautious. That scroll to summon a swarm would almost certainly be better used in his hands.
"No. I love spiders. Wish I had more. As a matter of fact, might take this one back as a gift for Thorfinn." Asher's voice drops until he is speaking mostly to himself as Varys and Clover open the door. "He could mount it on his enormous forehead."