Roscoe will take a step forward in between the wasps. Then he ball up his hands and thrust them forward as fire comes from his fingers towards the wasps.
◆Step
◆◆Burning Hands
"Sometimes, bugs just need a good zapping." With that, arcs of lightning strike out at both swarms. Lastly, he raises his buckler in their direction.
Rocky changes stance and finds fire more effective.
Roscoe moves and redirects his flames at Green.
pass
Aeric decides to use electricity.
pass
crit pass
Green (-42hp?)
Mason (40/40)
Aeric (52/52)
Roscoe (29/38)
Rocky (52/62)
Uthen (-1 hp?)
Red (-6hp?)
Masons expression is a bit puzzled as he watches his teammates throw fire and electricity at the creatures, to mixed degrees of success.
”Hm”
◆
Giving a sigh, Mason turns to face green. He pulls out a slender vial from his coat and lobs it at green
◆ Interact (retrieve an item)
◆
"Hmmm, looks like resistant to lightning. Back to fire guys!"
Mason throws the alchemist fire, though missing, and is able to clear one swarm with the splash damage which appears extra effective.
The red swarm moves to surround Rocky and Roscoe.
Fail
Pass
Green (-24hp?)
Mason (40/40)
Aeric (52/52)
Roscoe (21/38)
Rocky (49/62)
Uthen (-1 hp?)
Red (-6hp?)
Roscoe will move back away from the wasps and then try to think about what he knows of the Wasps. Then he will start singing encouraging words to his allies.
◆Stride
◆Identify Nature +9t
◆Inspire Courage
They are resistant to Bludgeoning 7, Piercing 7, and Slashing 3.
Roscoe would relay thr information to everyone before he started singing.
Aeric checks his movement toward the swarm and instead throws another small glob of fire.
Mason tries to analyze the creature again. Sensing his poor luck, he instead moves closer to Uthem and attempts to wraps a bandage around his minor injury.
◆
◆ Stride
◆
Guarded step to the north
Flurry of blows
Last action attack
Aeric throws more fire, singing the remaining wasps.
Mason decides is talents are best used elsewhere and tries to heal Uthen, without success.
Rocky keeps attacking the swarm but finds the wasps difficult to pin down.
The wasps surround Rocky again.
Fail
Green (-24hp?)
Mason (40/40)
Aeric (52/52)
Roscoe (21/38)
Rocky (40/62)
Uthen (-1 hp?)
Red (-14hp?)
Roscoe will continue to sing words of inspiration and then hold out his hand and a ball of fire will appear in hand and he will pitch it at the Wasps.
◆Inspire Courage
◆◆Produce Flame
Rocky is going to Attack twice and then take a step out of the Wasps.
◆Flurry of Blows (Fire Talon)
◆Fire Talon
◆Step
Aeric throws another ball of flame at the swarm and starts moving closer to Rocky.
Mason takes a deep breath and tries to focus his mind. He moves closer after pulling another bomb, tossing it at the cluster of insects.
◆ Interact (draw bomb)
◆ Stride
◆
The combined effort of the agents brings down the second swarm.
Uthen expresses his thanks for the extermination. "Thank you for arriving when you did. It has been just dreadful. I don't have any enemies of low character who would do such things. I'm at a loss. I'm an upstanding businessman who gives back to the community. My bank's walls stayed strong during the Fiendflesh Siege and we backed several mercenary companies to fight the Whispering Tyrant, at the cost of a small fortune. I can't imagine who would target my establishment so."
Treat Wounds
Would you be able to show us the areas of your establishment that have been vandalized.
He seems sincere, if a bit full of himself and his contributions to what he considers causes for the common good.
"Yes, please, let's us tend to our Wounds then I will show you around."
Uthen leads the agents through the establishment. Except for an errant wasp or two, the interior if free from the vandalism he spoke of. The lobby area is sparsely furnished with a few wooden chairs and a money changing station. The vault is located in the rear of the establishment behind floor to ceiling bars. The graffiti he mentioned mars the exterior of the rear wall. Though mostly scrubbed away enough remains to show the perpetrator was literate, if not completely schooled on anatomy.
"Let it not be said that Orvington is ungrateful for aid." And Uthen provides the agents with 50 gold in reward for their efforts against the wasps. "I'll pentuple that if you can discover who is the culprit."
Mason nods his thanks to Uthen.
Looking to the rest of the team, he gestures towards the building.
”Shall we?”
We will do our best to find these culprits.
Mason begins searching the bank thoroughly. His lengthy examination doesn’t reveal additional information. The agents, knowing how cut throat businesses can be in this district, think asking some of this businesses' competitors about these acts may reveal clues.
Before we leave Roscoe would want to ask him about the issues that the other businesses are having that we have reports on, to see if he knows or has heard anything. The break in at Penny & Sphinx, the vandalism at Gilel's Tannery, or the illegal activities near Stonesworn Savings and Loan.
"Hmmm... Unlike some of my competitors, I try to take the high road and stay out of their private goings on. I will say, I think Softwhistle,over at the Penny and Sphinx is a stand up fellow. I'm not sure how I feel about that Step-son of his. I've never liked the look about him. I wish good heath and fortune for Softwhistle so I don't ever have to deal with Kolo on a professional level. I hear Softwhistle has even cut his pay. Makes me wonder where he still gets the money to live his extravagant lifestyle. Maybe one of the more... disreputable money lenders. Take from that what you will. "
Mason recalls seeing a notation in the books at Penny and Sphinx which confirms the pay rate of Kolo Harvan was indeed reduced by Bertram Softwhistle.
Thank you for that information it will be helpful. We still have some things to look into but we will be in touch.
After we leave Roscoe will say to the group, The stepson does sound like a good suspect for the things that has been happening but I think we should talk to the other places so we can get as much information as we can.
If everyone is in agreement then Roscoe will suggest to go to Stonesworn Savings & Loan.
A sweeping marble facade and bold Dwarven letters forged from beaten cold iron mark the entrance of Stoneworn Savings and Loan. Large windows are evenly spaced around the entire building, each protected by an intricate iron filigree that looks even more imposing and immovable than steel bars.
A round shouldered Dwarven woman with intricate braids stands just inside the entrance. She is currently turning away customers as the Agents arrive. When the Agents approach she says, "Thank you for coming. Now, I know I said I suspected someone was doing some illegal excavation around here. The scratching in the vaults, you see. Turns out it was coming from inside, I just couldn't see them. Pair of spiders, stepping in and out of sight! Can you believe it? I've killed a dragon in my day, ridden a sea serpent... Torag's beard! I've once ridden a mammoth through an avalanche, but never in my life did I expect to find a pair of ether spiders in my vault! Near as I can tell, they're trapped inside. The vault is warded with runes so it's more surprising they got in in the first place, than they can't get out. Either way, I know it's a bit outside your normal, but do you think I could prevail upon you to help me get them out? I'd do it myself but I'm afraid they caught me off guard earlier and nipped me a few times. The antidote I took should set me back to rights, but I'm a bit unsteady at the moment."
Roscoe would like to try to recall knowledge on the creatures.
We will definitely be able to take care of these creatures but before we do that you seem to know what these creatures are just by looking at them. Would you be able to give us some details on these creatures? I have never encountered them in person myself.
She knows a great deal about them and is able to share.
Ether Spider
N Large Beast Ethereal
They're intelligent and speak Aklo.
They have a high Reflex save.
They can attack at range with webbing.
They are venomous.
They can step between the material plane and the ethereal plane at will.
We also have some more questions about the things that have been happening in the district but I believe we can handle this first for you, then we can talk after.
Mason pats his weapons and even gives the pistol a look to make sure it’s in working order and ready for combat.
”If they are intelligent, we could try talking things out. But, you never know with these things. Also, does anyone have some anti-venom at hand. Could be a good precaution.”
Unfortunately I do not. Roscoe will look at the Dwarven woman, Do you have any anti-venom? I would be willing to purchase it from you if necessary.
Roscoe will go and buy 3 lesser antidotes since we have 1 in the party Loot and use the party Loot money. Then when he comes back he will hand them out to the others. Here drink these before we go in there it will last for 6 hours but will definitely help during the fight. I am ready if you all are.
If everyone is ready Roscoe will look at the Dwarven woman, Can you lead us to where they are?
”If it lasts longer than six hours should I be worried?”
Mason gives a wry smile but nods and signals he’s ready to move.
Rohka leads the agents down a staircase and directs them past a long hallway with small vaults along the walls, while she remains upstairs. The agents arrive at the double vault doors which are covered in protective runes. With key in hand, they unlock the vault door which slowly opens revealing the inner chamber, also lined with smaller vaults along the walls, which seem to hum with an Arcane power. Inside the agents see two spiders which regard them, but mak no move towards them. They speak to the agents.
Aeric looks at the creatures and then again at the runes.
"They say they want no trouble and I think that if they leave the area with the runes, will return to the etheral plane. I am trying to figure how they got here in the first place. Their natural abilities would make them great plunderers."
Also we need to get some kind of insurance because how do we know if they will just go home if we get them out of here and not attack people?
Good point
"Rohka, could you please come over here? They claim to have been fleeing from the ethereal plane and were unable to leave. Would you please take a moment to look over the boxes to see if any have been raided? I am giving them a moment to apologize for the assault, but they were already fleeing a predator and seem to have overreacted.
Aeric will hand over his canteen and relay a food request.
The spiders, though bedraggled, chitter and tap their legs. Its clear they are agitated.
"We were on the ethereal plane when we were trapped inside these magics this one used to Ward off this area. If anything we deserve the apology for being caught here and held against our will. You expect us to believe they crafted runes that span across the planes on accident? They are lucky we didn't end their life and walk out when they first opened the door. Do not treat us like criminals. We are the victims."
"What else could we expect from material plane denizens? Assume that just because we come from the ethereal plane we must be nefarious. Flee for our lives, get caught in a trap, and we must be at fault. We should have just plane shifted and left instead of talking. We don't want your water, your food, or your narrow viewpoints. We want to go home."
"Assuming we are bad actors simply because we are different. We expected better from you..."
Aeric what's going on? Why are they looking agitated? If they were fleeing and are no unable to leave then we should let them leave. Let's try to resolve this before any more additional hostility by either party.
"If they are leaving peaceably, can we just open the door and clear out of the way? It's not like they've got pockets to abscond with any of what the bank was storing, so, what is the hold up?"
Mason keeps a relaxed look and tries to keep his tone soothing, to maybe calm down the agitated spiders.
[Not sure if they have pockets. If they carry treasure, they must have something like a pouch made of webbing or something.]
Aeric will translate. Asking if Rohka wanted to press charges.
The agents observe, in line with Mason's insight, the spiders indeed have no where to hide suspected pilfered goods on their persons.
Also, they don't observe any signs that the interior vaults have been tampered with, reducing the probability of theft.
The spiders' agitation grows as Aeric calls out in a language they don't understand. They begin to whisper to eachother, too low for Aeric to understand.
The agents receive no response from Rohka upstairs and it's reasonable that the wouldn't, since she remained upstairs and is likely out of the range of hearing.
Ok there is no need to keep them here any longer. They want to leave let's let them leave. We are the one in charge here so let's make it so.
Roscoe will suggest that we back up and then tell Aeric to translate this to them.
I apologize for not letting you go right away I hope you understand our hesitation. If we meet again I hope it is on better and more amicable terms.
Aeric looks around for a moment, shrugs when noticing Rhohka is not there.
I understand you are frustrated at the time spent here, but hopefully the creature you were fleeing from has left by now. So you can return safely.
Your phasing is a wonderful ability. Something that takes years of dedication to only rarely use on this realm. But our tales are filled with people ending in walls, over pits, in water. Lairs of monsters. So we now become the monsters in your precautionary tale to your people.
Safe return."
Aeric turns to the rest of the group. "Let's give them room to reach the hallway. They should be able to leave once out of the room"
The spiders warily walk out past the agents, then vanish, presumably phase shifting from the material plane.
As the agents turn to leave, another being appears in the passageway. This new creature is armored and carries several weapons in its four arms. It roars our frustration in Aklo:
The creature moves to attack the agents.
Roscoe (38/38)
Red
Mason (40/40)
Aeric (52/52)
Rocky (62/62)