Sansaárë moves next to Tann and then tries to stab the spider.
◆Stride 25 next to Tann.
Hello sis. Let's see if we can end this now.
She then thrusts her hand towards the spider.
[occ]Nimble Dodge[/occ]
Round 2
Is this a great stage in Absalom (pronounced AB-sah-lahm)!? Is this a party filled with dancers, acrobats, and big stage performers!?
Tannakin--being such a swashbuckler--strides bravely up to the giant spider, as Leo seems to be quite tied up at the moment.
The swashbuckler glides easily into position, smiles and winks at Leo and strikes the giant spider in the eye(s)!
She then decides to put an extra cherry on top of her performance and tumbles through some hairy (she hasn't shaved in a while because cost reasons; not hygiene reasons) legs to stand next to a beautifully shaped rough hewn stone wall.
Sansaárë watches with a bit of awe and respect. She then nods in compliance to her sister's request and stride to flank with our poor, poor Leo.
Timing her strike correctly, Airi puts her shortsword into the other eye(s) of the giant spider!
As the spider twitches and folds its dead legs around itself, Tannakin cheers on her sister from another mother:
"Nice one, Airi! Just like we practiced, yessss!"
Tannakin starts cutting Leo free with one hand and petting Ambrose with the other. "He'll be alright, lil fella. And ya know, an ex-faery probably has more of a frame of reference for being eaten by a spider than most humans. Won't be quite the shock it would have been for a man-man."
Catching a glimpse of Ness, Tan suddenly feels her heart lurch. She stops smiling at how perfectly she and Airi's tricks had played out, tricks they'd practiced against dead stumps but never against real danger. It's hard not to feel a little exhilarated, even if she feels like she failed Ness.
Tan says, "Sorry about the spider. I know it wasn't her fault. But Leo..."
She keeps sawing at the webbing around the ex-faetriate.
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Ness shook her head. "The fault's mine. I couldn't make it understand." She glanced in the direction of the motionless spider, blood pouring from its eyes. "May Nature reclaim and recycle its spirit," she said in way of prayer. Then casting her eyes on the semi-bound Leo, Tann working diligently at the cutting open the webbing, Ness took a step closer and stowed her shield before drawing her clan dagger from her belt. Bending down, she placed her staff on the ground and began cutting away at the spider silk, careful not to cut the wounded fey-come-human trapped within.
Finishing her cutting work, Ness stowed her clan dagger on her belt and then drew a fresh, ripe blueberry from the pouch around her waist. Moving into a seated, cross-legged position and Verdi crawling out of the pocket to come to sit on Ness' thigh, the druidess began drawing the natural energy around her. The tiny leshy's leaves began to rustle and shine a more verdant green, as Ness began speaking the words of power, imbuing the fruit with the bounty of nature, turning it into a plump goodberry to help heal Leo. Placing the berry to the male's lips and into his mouth, she bade him chew and take in its sustenance and succour.
HP
====
====
Standing (Verdi scrambling to climb and sit atop Ness' shoulder), Ness moved back down into the chamber with the bitter mushrooms. Cutting some of the plumper mushroom flesh and retrieving a handful of the nutrient rich soil beneath, the druidess moved back to the others and crouched beside Leo. Retrieving a few of the fresh herbs she picked that very morning, she began combining the natural ingredients to form a paste/balm with which to treat the spider bites.
===
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His eyes glazed over, Leo twitches nervously as Tannakin begins to cut him loose. He was in a strange world, a world where he was as big as a house. Bigger then brownies, or gnomes or halflings he was huge. But he still wasn't so big that a spider couldn't trap him. The size of a man, He was still unable to defend himself from his greatest fear, spiders. The thought of being wrapped alive in a silk prison. Poisoned, in the dark, too numb to fight. Once secured, It's eggs laid in you belly. Thousands of tiny arachnids eating their way out of you. While their mother dances with glee on her web.
Shuddering as he felt the webbing fall away he realized Nyswyn was trying to feed him something. He slowly chewed the plump berries, beginning to feel a little better. He stood still the whole time letting her minister to the wounds, waiting to make sure this wasn't some hallucination and that he wasn't still in the grips of the evil spider. Once she stopped, he reached up and pushed the hair up out of his eye, blinking several times. Recalling his dancing lights, he moved them close. Hoping the light was not a dream, He mentally noted the ladies, Ambrose and the dead spider.
Turning stiffly towards Nyswyn he shook his head. "Tis not your fault dear Nyswyn. If any blame must be given, twill fall on Ambrose. tis his job to protect his master from spiders, the bane of all sprites." He furrows his brow glaring at Ambrose. reminding the Corgi of his true purpose.
Stepping towards the crumpled spider, he nudges it with his foot. "Besides dear Nyswyn Tis no understanding with spiders." Using the toe of his shoe he rolls it over . "They art wicked" He abruptly kicks the dead arachnid. "Evil" Kicking it again, "Vile" and again, "dark" and again "Nasty" and again "Black hearted" and again "Spawn of the pit."
As Leo started kicking the spider's body, each kick got harder, his voice a little higher and louder, His eyes wider, his face redder, his arms flapping like the wings on a chicken. With the last exclamation and the last kick all seemed to return to normal. He looked down at the black goo on the toe of his shoe. Running his fingers through his hair he turned to the others, giving a light smile. "Shalt we continue?"
Well, as we surely new that these novice adventures were a bit wet behind the ears, what we didn't know is how quickly they have begun to already become experts!
With the giant rats and giant spider dealt with by these intrepid adventurers have been nothing short of inspiring (see what I did there), there still seems to be the question of: If not these things, what is the Menace under Otari?
With Ness' administrations and Leo's own fortitude, the wishful sprite feels plenty better.
In the meantime, Tannakin and Sansaárë begin searching the cavern for anything of value, interest, and clue as to the Menace....
Stepping towards the crumpled spider, he nudges it with his foot. "Besides dear Nyswyn Tis no understanding with spiders." Using the toe of his shoe he rolls it over . "They art wicked" He abruptly kicks the dead arachnid. "Evil" Kicking it again, "Vile" and again, "dark" and again "Nasty" and again "Black hearted" and again "Spawn of the pit."...
Tannakin raises her eyebrows and tries not to laugh, glancing impishly at Airi. "This guy has some serious arachnid baggage..."
She's too distracted to search the room properly.
Sansaárë looks over at Leo, and busts out laughing. She then starts looking around.
Look at this stuff that I found in the web.
After we rest for another 10 minutes or so. We should start looking further into this cave. Ness, be ready to try to talk to any other animals we may find in here. Ness, I am also sorry that it didn't work with the spider.
"Wow, cool sword, Airi! And that potion is going to come in handy."
Raising an eyebrow at Sansaárë's laughter Leo looks from her to Tannakin. 'Serious arachnid baggage? I was almost paralyzed to be used for food now laughed at?'
Crestfallen he sits down on one of the rocks, away from where the spiderweb was anchored. Pulling Ambrose up onto his lap, petting the tiny corgi as he moved the lights around. Watching while the others rummaged through the spider's domain, occasionally letting Ambrose lick his face.
The time ticking away, he watched as Sansaárë dragged the wrapped up bundle of bones and dried skin out into the open. He almost pointed out that it could have been him. But he didn't want laughed at again. He could swallow his pride, these ladies had helped him and offered him a place to stay. He could endure being mocked and ridiculed. Holding his head high as Ambrose licked his face again.
Hoping they didn't find anymore spiders, Leo set Ambrose back on the rock strewn floor. Spinning his lights towards the next cave, he prepared to follow the ladies.
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===
Once she finished tending to Leo's wounds and refocusing with Verdi to replenish the nature energy within her, Ness stood up, gently stroking Verdi's tiny, sweet face before putting her away inside her coat pocket, "Best to be safe than sorry," she murmured in Sylvan to the familiar before collecting her staff from the stone floor. She gently patted Leo's arm for the man believed he would die by the spider and his hysterics were not uncommon for most people disliked spiders. Though to call them evil was a little unfair. It fought to survive as we did. Ness didn't voice her thoughts aloud for the man had suffered a terrible shock and wouldn't be open to hearing her thoughts on the matter. Lucky he fought off the effects of the poison or else things would have been worse for him. Won't help tellin' him that, either.
Seeing the intact webbing still in their path, she transferred the staff into her off hand and drew her clan dagger again to cut away the spider silk where it attached itself to the wall so they could walk freely through rather than have to dodge precariously.
Ness then moved closer to Airi, casting her eyes toward the stone stairs leading up to a new tunnel. "I hope my chances are better with the next creature we cross paths with, Airi," she replied to the half-elf girl.
The group surveys the giant spider's lair. The finding of the carcass, the jeweled sword and the magical potion gives them satisfaction and strengthened resolve of purpose!
Leo concentrates on his Dancing Lights as the ladies ready to continue their mysterious search for the Menace of Otari!
After the web-infested cave, the passageway leading deeper underneath the streets of Otari appears to be mostly natural, but someone, or something, has worked to open the cavern and level out the floor, making the passage easily traveled. A crude barricade made from old wooden planks and part of a barrel blocks the entrance to a side tunnel, while the main passage continues off into the gloom.
Tannakin yawns and blinks. She is miles away... in her head, at least.
Moving up the stone steps into the next chamber, something beyond the barricade caught Ness' attention. There was no light down there but that was of no consequence for Ness' darkvision let her see what she could from her current spot.
"I heard a light clattering noise coming from beyond, there," pointing to the barricade. "From what I can see, the dark tunnel leads to a chamber where there's a large rectangular object at its centre."
The heady emotions of the spider cave forgotten, Leo whistles for Abrose and follows the ladies into the 'worked' cavern under the streets of Otari. Raising an eyebrow as he looks from the floors to the crude barricade, he pauses, listening. Glancing towards Ambrose, wondering if the dog had heard the same, he nods in agreement with Nswyn, "I doth hear it as well." Waiving his arm he sent the foremost 'dancing light' into the dark larger room.
Sorry I hurt your feelings Leo. If it was one of them. I would of laughed also. I know that being a afraid of spider's can be scary.
Sansaárë pulls out her torch and walks over to the barricade.
Leo. Stay behind us just in case there is another spider.
As Nyswyn, Leo and Sansaárë explore the barricade a bit further, Tannakin gets distracted by the other tunnel leading further underground.
Leo sends his Dancing Lights further behind the barricade. Beyond the barricade, an old cavern corridor winds down into the earth, ending in an ancient burial vault.
The strange sounds seem to be coming from inside....
"Oh my gods. An actual restless tomb! We should see what's inside!"
Tan lights her backup torch and carries it into the vault. If there's no immediate threat and a convenient sconce or ledge, she wedges it where it can illuminate the room, putting it close to any suspiciously rambunctious sepulchers.
Tannakin has a difficult time trying to get through the barricade....
Realizing his magic was too weak to help move the barricade, Leo taps the Wooden planks with his staff and asks, "Shalt we remove yon planks and place them in the barrel?" Testing the barricade he wedges his staff in between two planks and tries to pry them apart.
Good idea! Put it in that crack and you'll get more leverage
Phone post...
Leo decides to use a bit of leverage to begin taking the barricade apart.
Tannakin begins discussing different types of angles which actually don't help Leo much.
Sansaárë walks closer to the barricade and tries to take it apart.
Here we are. Are you guys ready? Leo, please get behind us.
"Dwarf's are not all strong. Best leave it to those with the know-how," watching on as Leo and Airi worked on the taking apart the barricade. "If a rope'll help, I'll give you mine to tie around the wood to pull it apart...?" Ness offered. To Airi's question, Ness replied, "I'm ready."
With diligence and perseverance, the girls remove enough of the barricade to bypass it!
Beyond the barricade, an old cavern corridor winds down into the earth, ending in an ancient burial vault lit by a strange torch with a blue flame. Alcoves line the walls, each one containing a rotten wooden coffin, while the center of the room has a raised platform holding a stone sarcophagus.
The 3 girls and a Fairy bravely cross over the deconstructed barricade. As the inch forward, the unmistakable sounds of groaning and of bones rattling become quite apparent!
Inside the crypt (strangely enough) are seen the emerging forms of 4 skeletal forms rising from the wall crypts and a shambling zombie from the center!
Tannakin ◆ Strides and then attempts to ◆ Tumble Through the zombie.
And I'm behind the zombie so Airi can flank it!
And I'm standing in front of the zombie.
Tannakin yells with happy agression: "YESSS an enemy we can feel Good about re-killing!"
Following the women past the barricade, Leo smiles as Tannakin hustles ahead excited about the vault. Watching as she wedges her to torch nearby. Nodding as Sansaárë tells him to get behind them. Hearing moaning and Tannakin saying something about enemies they can re-kill, Leo moves forward as Ambrose stays near the rear. Seeing the blue light reflecting off of the skeletons and Tannakin fighting the zombie, Leo releases the dancing lights. "I'll target the one in the back right!" Pointing his staff like a wand at some of the stones on the ground, he speaks "ကျည်ဆန်" Waiving his hand, he uses Telekinetic Projectile and sends a rock flying at the skeleton in the lower back right corner.
◆Sansaárë walks up behind the skeleton and tries to hit it with her shortsword.
Let's see how well I hit this thing.
[ooc]Nimble Dodge
With Tann's strangely eager remark, Ness ◆raised her shield in order to better protect herself and then ◆strode forward 15 ft to stand in the semi-protected alcove of the chamber, Leo on the other side of her. With the two half-elves flanking the shambling zombie in the centre, Ness began to ◆cast; the words of power spoken in a strong voice, devotedly calling upon the Nature Spirits to give Guidance to Airi.
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Round 1
The scary sounds of bones rattle as the 4 skeletons begins to stir and rise from the alcove coffins!
The mournful moaning coming from the flayed fleshed zombie also rising from the center stone sarcophagus echoes throughout the Dancing Lights lightened crypt.
As the undead slowly begin to act, our brave Heroes jump into action! Tannakin starts off the performances by acrobating into and through the slow and disgusting zombie and into a Flank with Sansaárë, as the rogue follows the swashbuckler into the fray!
Just before they both strike, Ness strides forward to better see the combat. The druid calls upon the bounty of Nature to grant Guidance to our rogue.
And, because of them working together, both strikes find purchase into soft, rotting flesh of the zombie!
Sansaárë then Feints the zombie by turning her shortsword over and through its defenses!
Leo--ceasing his concentrating on the Dancing Lights--also strides into the crypt; the blue glow from the Everburning Torch inside the crypt enough to see. The former sprite then reaches out to toss a rock at one of the rising skeletons! The sounds of breaking bones carry back to the Witch with satisfaction!
The courageous look on as there are still 3 skeletons and the tough zombie reading to return serve....
Phone post forgive formatting!
Tan encourages Airi for next round:
Go for the skull!
...and gains panache!
Round 1
The creepy blue torch light wavers as the Heroes dash and pierce through the putrid zombie's resolve!
As it turns out, the 3 remaining skeleton continue forward without seeming remorse as to their compatriots.
Skeleton A ◆rises up from its coffin (an eager smile on it skull). It then ◆Strides confidently to our brave Tannakin to attempt a bit of codnoodling!
Skeleton B also ◆rises up from its coffin (the exact same eager smile on it skull as the first!). It also then ◆Strides forward (not very original they aren't) to our courageous Sansaárë for its own bit of codnoodling!
Skeleton C...well, I am betting that you may already can guess the purpose and pace of this fella!
And Skeleton C just really ◆copies Skeleton A and ◆Skelton B, because, well, they are just skeletons.
Well, it looks like Skeleton C got the method down a bit better than his compatriots!
Smiling as his rock crushes the skeleton, Leo notes Sansaárë and Tannakin returning the zombie to the grave. Calling out "Well done Tann and Airi!"
Realizing the skeletons were moving out of their ossuary he called out as he took a step back. "Watch out!"
Seeing the third skeleton clawing at Nyswyn, He pointed his staff at another stone, speaking sylvan "ကျည်ဆန်." He waives his hand using Telekinetic Projectile to send the rock flying at the skeleton that attacked his dwarvish friend.
Tannakin confidently attempts to finish her skeleton with Confident Finisher:
...assuming a kill, Tan will Tumble Through Airi's skeleton.
And pops into flanking position, offering encouragement to Ness... and gaining Panache again!
"Um, do the thingy where... yeah fight it!"
...Tan's advice is not always that great. But Airi still has +1 from last One for All!
Favouring her clawed arm with its open, bleeding wound, the only reaction Ness had given was a sharp intake of breath at the initial pain and surprise. Looking sharply at Leo, she uttered through gritted teeth "And you were worried over a spider! There're worse things."
Tann's words barely registered in her mind; for they lacked the right motivation. Still, she had to do something.
Raising her shield in her off hand in order to protect herself , she attacked the skeleton with her staff.
Sansaárë waves at Tann as her sister continues her fancy moves.
Are you glad we practiced!
She then ◆Steps into the Flank provided by Tann.
The rogue then decides Overextending Feint her skeleton to get it off balance!
Round 2
The cloud looks down at the young Heroes as it passes by over a hole in the ceiling of the cavern.
These adventures are as fast as my lightning!
With the skill of veterans, our young Heroes combine their arts to finish off the skeletons!
After the fight, the heroes have time to look around the room for treasure. The torch is a special magic item called an everburning torch that emits light constantly. Although it looks like fire, it emits no heat and can’t be extinguished!
In addition, one of the skeletons was buried with a polished shield carved to look like a roaring lion. It can be used as a shield, or the heroes can sell it for 5 gp due to its fine artistry.
The crypt appears to be a dead end....
Smiling as the Skeleton that attacked Nyswyn crumple to the ground in a heap, Leo turned towards the dwarf, raising an eyebrow, when she says, 'there are worse things than spiders.'
'Worse things? Undead don't feed you to their young helpless and alive.' What could be worse than that? Not wanting to argue with his newfound friend, Leo moves forward into the crypt towards the torch emitting the blue flame; calling his little corgi, "Come Ambrose."
Tucking his staff into the rings on his pack, he uses both hands and pulls the torch out. Waving it back and forth he smiles. "Tis an odd flame, it hath no heat and appears to resist being extinguished."
Tan cheers, "Practice makes perfect, baby! We aced those old bones!"
Wandering over to where Leo is looting the double-dead, Tan says, "You want to carry that torch, Leo? You could take a break from the light spells or do both. If not, I can carry it, I have a free hand..."
Tannakin holds up the shield and admires herself in its polished arc (she might, though, just be checking for cheese crumbs)... "because there's no way I'd let a shield slow me down. Anyone want this? It's pretty."
Still waiving around the blue flamed torch, Leo, not planning on moving to the front pack, asks Tannakin, "Wilt it provide enough light were I to carry it whilest still in rear?" He stops waiving it about and holds it in one hand, wiggling the fingers of the other. "I canst cast one handed."
"Airi and my eyes are pretty good in the dark, and Ness' are even better. I think it'd be ok if you carry it, and if I'm wrong, well. I'll either die or I'll carry it next time!"
She smiles in the flickering blue light.
Stowing her shield, Ness took a step away from the bones of some pour soul, then sat down on the stone floor; laying her staff down beside her. Rolling up her coat sleeve, to reveal the claw mark made by the unnatural creature, Verdi climbed out of the coat pocket and moved to her mistress' arm and gently stroked the skin with her leafy arm/hand.
"Unnatural creatures. Foulness on this beating earth. Unnatural creatures," denouncing them in her vexation. Verdi nodded her sweet head and uttered in a quiet, melodic voice, "Unnatural - no good. Now dead-dead."
Once again, Ness removed some of the herbs she had in her store and crushed them in a little clay bowl, smoothing them into a paste and then spread the paste across the open wound. Using a strip of cloth from her healer's tools, she bound the wound to keep the herbal remedy in place so it could do its vital work to heal her.
===
Ness had no interest in the oddly flamed torch for her eyes were enough for her. She gave the carved shield a once-over.
Wooden Shield
Source Core Rulebook pg. 277 2.0
Price 1 gp; AC Bonus +2; Speed Penalty —
Bulk 1; Hardness 3; HP (BT) 12 (6)
Though they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the protection offered by wooden shields comes from the stoutness of their materials. While wooden shields are less expensive than steel shields, they break more easily.
Wooden Shield
Source Core Rulebook pg. 277 2.0
Price 1 gp; AC Bonus +2; Speed Penalty —
Bulk 1; Hardness 3; HP (BT) 12 (6)
Though they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the protection offered by wooden shields comes from the stoutness of their materials. While wooden shields are less expensive than steel shields, they break more easily.
Tannakin holds up the shield and admires herself in its polished arc (she might, though, just be checking for cheese crumbs)... "because there's no way I'd let a shield slow me down. Anyone want this? It's pretty."
"I've got my own, even if it's not so fancy. So, it could be sold, if you're' taking it," she replied to the half-elf.
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As he was waiving the blue torch around, Leo noticed that Nyswyn had sat down and her leachy-friend was ministering to her wounds. Smiling as he heard the melodic voice speaking his own tongue, Leo moved closer with the torch wanting to help Nyswyn see what she was doing. Sitting down nearby, he held the torch watching her work the herbs. As he did so, Ambrose nudged his arm out of the way and climbed up onto his lap, also curiously watching the dwarf and the leachy work together.
As the two finish up, Leo stands as well; listening while Nyswyn and Tannakin discuss the fancy carved wooden shield. Shrugging, he added as he followed the ladies back the way they came. "We could keep it for snow fall and use it as a sled."