Lem is affected by the venom, but does manage to get free of the web trap.
DEATH BY A LOT OF LEGS! - Round One Cont'd/Round Two Cont'd!
Mandy the Monkey
Siyokoy Sa Lupa
Vamasu
Lem
Spider (red)
Mandy the Monkey
bringing his katana down across the spider trying to slash it away from the wall
The tengu's blad cuts deep, but fails to fell the arachnid from its strike position on the cave wall.
DEATH BY A LOT OF LEGS! - Round One Cont'd/Round Two Cont'd!
Mandy the Monkey
Siyokoy Sa Lupa
Vamasu
Lem
Spider (red) -7 HP
Mandy the Monkey
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Siyokoy once more bring his cold water to blast the remaining spider on the wall. "Not my friend!" he exclaims.
vs Red Spider
cold damage
He blasts it again!
vs Red Spider
cold damage
He then recalls the cold water back to himself and forms a shield shaped into a disk. The water returns that surrounds him for protection.
◆ Elemental Blast
◆ Elemental Blast
◆ Hydraulic Deflection (+1 to AC)
↺ Deflecting Wave (if he would take acid, bludgeoning, fire or slashing damage)
The hydrokineticist dispatches the spider and washes away its remains with a pair of watery blasts.
Having been bit, both Mandy the Monkey and Lem must deal with the effects of the spider venom.
"I suppose I that I now owe you more than once." Uzgrin concedes. "If it is not too much to seek another favor, will you assist me in recovering my backpack?"
Lem will recover from the poison after another round.
The party retraces its steps to investigate a previously unexplored passage.
Location of party now updated on Map (applying previously determined marching order.)
Vamasu enters the area first, but it is Mandy the Monkey that spots another large mushroom, which was previously identified as a shrieker.
No backpack is in sight.
That being said, if all three of the player's PCs had failed the check, then I probably would have had the shrieker activate because the result would not solely have been based on a predetermined order.
However, all of the above is a style choice. I personally would not find fault with any GM who chose to have the shrieker trigger.
Leaving the recently-found shrieker undisturbed, the party ventures elsewhere within the tunnels.
To the south the cave leads to a tunnel that ascends upwards, likely leading to an area near the cave mouth where the party first met and assembled.
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Vamasu will move next to area 1, keeping a careful eye out for more of the shriekers which seem to be prevalent here.
"Hmm, looks like those spiders had a feast of rats here. Hopefully we won't see any more of the spiders down here."
After investigating area 1, Vamasu will move on to area 3, "Aha there's the backpack, looks like we will need to deal with this shrieker." and, after a short pause for anyone who wants to to back away, Vamasu will carefully approach
but he misses the air sac and the shrieker screeches regardless!
against the screech, so Vamasu takes 1 hp sonic damage but is not deafened.
As the mushroom emits its cry, Vamasu will snatch up the backpack and scurry quickly away, his crest flattened against his head. He will hand it back to Uzgrin saying "Your backpack ma'am." and glancing back to the shrieker with a grimace "Sorry about the noise."
Looking around at the group and Uzgrin he will ask "Is there anything else we need to do here or should we get back to the surface? Oh, are there any passages you haven't explored Uzgrin?"
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Siyokoy follows Vamasu in area 1. "I hope so. I just want to get out of here once we find her bag," he shares his thoughts on their situation. His mind is now preoccupied with the thought of more spiders lurking, ready to ambush them or something worse. He shakes his head to dispel those thoughts.
In area 3, Siyokoy keeps his distance while Vamasu is working on the shrieker where the bag sits nearby. He winces as the shrieker lets out a shrill cry.
Siyokoy gets a slight headache from that shriek.
"Maybe we can leave now that we have your bag?" Siyokoy awkwardly grins at the lorekeeper while posing the question.
"And there is another shrieker over there , let us not try to disable it, I suggest?" he advises while he massages his headache away.
As the mushroom emits its cry, Vamasu will snatch up the backpack and scurry quickly away, his crest flattened against his head.
Some moss has already started growing on the retrieved backpack.
He will hand it back to Uzgrin saying "Your backpack ma'am." and glancing back to the shrieker with a grimace "Sorry about the noise."
Uzgrin's face lights up when the tengu offers the backpack and she eagerly grabs ahold of it. "No need to apologize about the noise. When I heard that earsplitting noise just now, I instanttly realized that that was the sound that I had heard before. At the time, I had thought it the sound of some fearsome monster. I rushed out of the cave, not even realizing that I must have dropped my back pack. Unfortunately, in my unnerved state, I managed to get lost. I found the cave with the underground pool and it was there that I was set upon by one of those giant spiders."
Looking around at the group and Uzgrin he will ask "Is there anything else we need to do here or should we get back to the surface? Oh, are there any passages you haven't explored Uzgrin?"
"To be honest, I was so disoriented when I heard the noise, that I can't say for certain where I have already been." Uzgrin admits somewhat sheepishly.
"Maybe we can leave now that we have your bag?" Siyokoy awkwardly grins at the lorekeeper while posing the question.
"I am reluctant to leave potential research left undone, but there is no need for you to remain here any longer." The woman concurs.
"And there is another shrieker over there , let us not try to disable it, I suggest?" he advises while he massages his headache away.
Glancing over the cavern , Vamasu will reply to Siyokoy "Yes a good plan - no need to disturb this mushroom. I've heard plenty of those for one day."
Uzgrin nods her head in agreement. "For several days," she adds.
"Is that all?"
"That is all for you adventurers," Uzgrin confirms. "My quest to uncover whatever secrets these caves may have once held is mine. You have done plenty for me already and, I must admit, I could use a break before I continue."
"I assume that you know a way out of here," she says, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. "One of you can take point and lead the way." Uzgrin sticks close to Vamasu, trusting him the most for returning her backpack to her.
Please place your tokens on the Map on Slides
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"No need to apologize about the noise. When I heard that earsplitting noise just now, I instanttly realized that that was the sound that I had heard before. At the time, I had thought it the sound of some fearsome monster. I rushed out of the cave, not even realizing that I must have dropped my back pack. Unfortunately, in my unnerved state, I managed to get lost. I found the cave with the underground pool and it was there that I was set upon by one of those giant spiders."
"I see - I was wondering how the backpack came to rest under the shrieker."
"While we are close to that other exit, let's get back to where we know" and Vamasu will start back to exit #1.
The party takes the northwest passage back the way the adventurers entered. The tengu leads the way. "Thank you again for leading us out of here. I am afraid that I'm still somewhat weakened by the events of the past few days and the last thing I think anyone would want to do is die down here, somewhere within these caves." Uzgin declares. "Besides, I am beginning to think my research may have been wrong and that any dwarves fleeing Koldukar may have never have even been down here."
As the party heads for an exit, a pile of dust, broken shards of pottery, and bones lies across the cave floor, blocking the exit from the cave.
"Those must be the remains that I was searching for!" Uzgrin exclaims. Her elation soon turns to a frown. "But, I don't remember them being here the last time I passed this way!"
Having taken lead, Vamasu realizes that the pile of dust, broken shards of pottery, and bones are spectral in nature, having just now materialized from the ground and begun blocking the exit tunnel!
BURIED BELOW! - Round One Begins!
Vamasu
?
Siyokoy Sa Lupa
Mandy the Monkey
Lem
"But what is it? It seems spectral so I'm not sure if I can attack it or just sweep it out of the way. Let's keep an eye on it"
"What is it, then, indeed?" Uzgrin inquires.
As if in response, a series of spectral hands reach up from the cave floor as if trying to grasp for any creature within reach and pull it down into the depths of the stone.
BURIED BELOW! - Round One Cont'd!
Vamasu
?
Siyokoy Sa Lupa
Mandy the Monkey
Lem
Dealing with these haunting hands of slow death requires speaking the proper burial rights, exorcise the lingering souls, or scaring the fearful souls away.
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"Ahh! Ghost hands!" Siyokoy exclaims in a pitchy voice of panic after he checks out what really is it. He quickly changes to calm composure when he realizes he is with stranger allies and then tries to identify what are those hands they are seeing, or he is seeing.
Failing to determine what really is it, he retreats behind the group. "They are coming after us!" he squeaks again.
◆ Stride
◆ Identify
◆ Stride
Lem will ◆ step up to see what the creature is and try to ◆ identify it
Halfling luck - reroll
Lenm grins at the Tengu "I've seen these before - its a haunt and by the looks of it wants to stop us leaving. We'll need to convince it to disperse! We should coordinate our attempts"
"But lets have a cheery tune to help us work." and will start up an old miners song
◇
◆ courageous anthem (+1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.)
Lem will ◆ step up to see what the creature is
With a jolt, three of the spectral hands amidst the remains appear take on a more solid form. Each springs to life, its fingers propelling it forth at great speed like a deformed spider!
Hands now appear on map.
BURIED BELOW! - Round One Cont'd!
Vamasu
Hands of Slow Death (Haunt)
Hand (black)
Hand (blue)
Siyokoy Sa Lupa
Vamasu
Hand (red)
Lem
Mandy the Monkey
Mandy yells at the spirits.
The halfling draws a weapon.
Spectral hands reach up to grasp at Lem.
One of the hands scrambles toward Lem.
It leaps at Lem, but fails to get a grip.
Another hand rushes toward Vamasu.
It, too, leaps with its fingers opened wide!
It, too, cannot get itself around the tengu.
BURIED BELOW! - Round Two Begins !
Hands of Slow Death (Haunt)
Hand (black)
Hand (blue)
Siyokoy Sa Lupa
Vamasu
Hand (red)
Lem -1 HP
Mandy the Monkey
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"Haunt, you say? Maybe I can deal with that!" Siyokoy braves himself by getting past his allies that are struggling with the handy hands and attempts to placate the source of haunted hands.
"O Handy, get back to where you belong, O Handy
Be at peace so that we also will be at ease!"
◆ Stride
◆◆ Disable the Haunt
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"Swark! Get off me" exclaims Vamasu.
The Pathfinder's blade slices through undead tendons and flesh to "disarm" the hand, leaving its shape disfingered.
"Haunt, you say? Maybe I can deal with that!" Siyokoy braves himself by getting past his allies that are struggling with the handy hands and attempts to placate the source of haunted hands.
"O Handy, get back to where you belong, O Handy
Be at peace so that we also will be at ease!"
Siyokoy Sa Lupa finds just the rite words to deliver some of the spectral hands paws pause. However, others don't quite seem to grasp what he is saying.
Another hand heads for Siyokoy's neck.
BURIED BELOW! - Round Two Cont'd!
Hands of Slow Death (Haunt)
Hand (black)
Hand (blue) -8 HP
Siyokoy Sa Lupa -4 HP
Vamasu
Hand (red)
Lem -1 HP
Mandy the Monkey
Seeing Siyokoy's success, Lem will follow his lead
"Rest your weary hands, and carry the echo of the dwarven lords back to them in their afterlife."
and then focus back on the situation at hand and will move back from the grasping hand
◆◆ Disable the Haunt
◆ Stride
Seeing Siyokoy's success, Lem will follow his lead
"Rest your weary hands, and carry the echo of the dwarven lords back to them in their afterlife."
As ghostly gloves grievously grasp and fingers of fetid flesh flail, sounds of solace softly spoken seem to soothe the seething of the sordid souls.
One of the big advantages of PbP over face-to-face is its narrative and literary form. Take advantage of that. Find interesting ways to describe things. Have your villains give grand monologues. Type out an NPC's thoughts or memories. Insert a flash back. Consider using the style of an omniscient narrator to hint at the future, to highlight an instance in a villain's past, or to provide lore the PCs might not uncover otherwise. Don't be afraid to be creative!
As a caveat, if you experiment, at some point you will undoubtedly fail. Your chosen style may not appeal to everyone. That is to be expected it is okay. Communication is key. If you want to do an "experimental" table, then advertise it. Let the players know what to expect up front and you will get more buy in.
I bring this up, not to suggest that GMs use alliteration or otherwise experiment, but as a reminder that keeping the game fun and interesting for the GM is just as important as for maintaining the interest of the players. This can especially be true for running repeatables.
In offering a table, a GM assumes on a big responsibility to the players, which comes with obligations. However, GMing should not feel like a burden. Varying your tables, using different literary techniques, and other ways of experimenting keeps you engaged and an engaged GM is more likely to keep players engaged. If you ever get the point where you feel you are simply "cutting-and-pasting" flavor text or go through the motions as a GM, consider changing things up or, even taking a break. If this happens while you are in the middle of running a table, let your players know how you feel and ask them to offer solutions. GM burnout is a real thing.
The spectral hands fade. The crawling hands crumble. The dust settles. The danger has passed. For now.
"It would seem that you have saved me yet, again." Uzgrin admits sheepishly. "Shall we continue to the surface?"
Some players like doing so. Others do not. For that reason, I like to include a note indicating that the adventure is wrapping up. This also allows players to know when their PC will be available for play in another game.
Continuing on, the party returns to the cave entrance where they had earlier been driven by the storm. Fortunately, the weather and flood waters seem to be abating. Having been helped Unzgrin out of the cave and with her backpack, Uzgrin pauses to collect the remaining items from her campsite. She then briefly looks over her notes. "Please, accompany me to one of the caves that I was exploring earlier. It is nearby. I stashed a few belongings there, including a number of coins.
Reaching the nearby cave, the woman collects her stash and she gives you each the promised reward of 4 gold pieces. [b]"Thank you," she thanks says, “I’m a bit disappointed in my findings, to tell you the truth. I’d hoped to find something more insightful: perhaps some ancient artifacts or ruins. I also hadn’t expected to run into as much trouble as I did, and I have you to thank for getting me out of there alive.”
"In the future," Uzgrin notes, "I suppose that I should travel to Urgir to team up with some other explorers rather than setting off to explore any more caves by myself."
"I just so happen to know where there is another cave nearby that I suspect holds some dwarven treasures." Uzgrin ponders aloud. "If only there were some way that I could come across some capable explorers while still here in these badlands. It would save me the trip to the city."