“Ack,” Yrar yells in disgust as he shakes his shoulder and flicks off the poisonous spittle. The Barbarian eyes the creature, “You’re gonna pay for that eight legs. I usually like to smash. But right now, I’m gonna squoosh. Ah, same thing.” Yrar, gripping his prized possession in both hands, dives in for an overhead swing.
Shulim moves the same as before only this time he takes a double move through the bushes to set himself up for a clear throw with his dagger.
Yrar's hammer thuds into the flesh of the spider and a large squeal rips from its mouth.
Marwan attempts to move to the spider through the thick underbrush.
Seeing the massive insect emerge, Hasan screeches like a lost soul and dives below Fazaam's hair. Fazaam reacts swiftly, swinging up his bow and firing in a single fluid motion. But the unexpected feeling of Hasan's breath on his neck cause him to shiver, and his shot goes wide, sailing clear over the spider and out of sight.
"Najim's Nuggets Hasan! Get out of there, that tickles!"
:)
The diamondback spider rises up. lifting two sharp legs above Yrar. In the blink of an eye, the creature strikes. Its bite nowhere near the lucky half-orc but one leg does graze him.
As the spider launches itself at the group Fudrick takes a step back. "By the grace of Hettama. I have never seen anything so disgusting in my life." As the group prepares combat Fudrick starts an incantation. Closing his eyes he focuses on Yrar. Channeling a small portion of his magic at him Yrar briefly shimmers with magical energy. "Yrar, bash this thing into the ground!" He then moves up beside Yrar with shield and rapier ready.
Fudrick calls on the power of Hettama and bright sunlight erupts from his feet. Even the gnome is a little surprised as a ripple of light travels away from him in all directions along the ground.
As Fudrick moves up next to Yrar the spider lunges for him, its great size belies a fast attack. The bite goes in deep and as the fangs rip back out, black and yellow poison sprays around.
Fudrick
Marwan doubles to Fudrick's right - who is to Yrar's right.
Ghari also moves up to the left of Yrar and misses with a wild lunge.
Yrar senses his friend Fudrick move up behind him. The holy energy from the little Gnome courses through the Half-Orc. He hears Fudrick speak, but his voice is muffled when the spider attacks. "FudrIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH," calling out to his injured friend turns into a roar of undecipherable rage, and Yrar's hammer strikes again at the beast.
Fudrick calls on the power of Hettama and bright sunlight erupts from his feet. Even the gnome is a little surprised as a ripple of light travels away from him in all directions along the ground.
As Fudrick moves up next to Yrar the spider lunges for him, its great size belies a fast attack. The bite goes in deep and as the fangs rip back out, black and yellow poison sprays around.
Fudrick
** spoiler omitted **
Marwan doubles to Fudrick's right - who is to Yrar's right.
Ghari also moves up to the left of Yrar and misses with a wild lunge.
"AAAARRGGGHHH" Screams Fudrick as the fangs rip into him. Immediately he feels his shoulder go numb as the poison interacts with his blood. He tries to counter the spiders attack but finds his arm isn't moving like it should. Dark red blood swirled with black and yellow venom gushes out. He looks away from the wound as color drains from his face.
"You ok Fudrick?"
ranged attack, damage (1d20 3=9, 1d3=1)
"Try ta flank em' boys," Shulim shouts from the bush, "he's got eight legs but only one back! It's ease ta stab 'em where his head aint! Fudrick back out if you's hurt. Dat's our healer boys, we gots ta protect 'em."
"Fudrick?, FUDRICK! Are you alright? Get out of there! Give me a shot!" Fazaam yells at the same time as Shulim. Seeing that there are too many targets in his line of fire, many of them friendly, The elf releases the nocked arrow, holding the bow and arrow with his left. He makes a gesture with is right hand, and a familiar pale blue radiance slowly builds to a dim glow. He points forcibly towards the spider and cries, "Thyrori".
A pencil-thin, pale blue beam flashes from Fazaam's outstretched finger and heads towards the enormous spider,...
Fazaam's To Hit/Dmg with Ray of Frost: (1d20 3=16, 1d3=2)
"Back off you ug-ly bug-ly, that's our friend!"
The spider frenzies as Yrar thumps it within an inch of its life.
Again the creature rises up before Fudrick, Yrar, Ghari and Marwan, when Fazaam's pale line of magic impacts. The body shudders then crashes down in the clearing, dead.
After a moment or two to draw breath, everyone can see the large hole in the ground before the angular block of vines and bushes. One or two can make out ten foot wide steps leading down.
Shulim retrieves his knife while he still knows where it is, then he walks over to check on Fudrick.
"Da boys got a spider bite."
Yrar, still in a fit of rage, growls undecipherable curses and continues to throw himself at the creature. Now holding his hammer in his left hand, he continues to smash with it while punching out with his right, spike-gauntled, arm. For good measure, he throws some kicks in as well. The only words that anyone can make out is 'Smash' and 'squoosh'.
Everyone hears the spider's body crack and snap at the barbarian's onslaught.
The Half-Orc's attacks eventually slow to a stop. Yrar, covered in gore, turns to his companions. His chest heaves as he gulps for breath. "How is Fudrick?" he finally gets out.
As he catches his breath, Yrar moves over to his Gnome-Friend and examines the wound.
As Yrar continues to smash the spider into the ground, Fudrick, drops to his knees. Fudirck's skin is flushed, breathing has become shallow and ragged, and his strength has fled him. He looks around but everything is blurry. Putting his hands flat on the ground to steady himself he days a silent prayer to Hettama for her strength and healing. As the spell finishes, the soft glow and fine golden sparkles stop swirling around and seem to settle inside of him.
As the magical power fades away the others can see the wound hasn't healed all the way. The fang wounds still trickle small amounts of poison intermixed with blood.
After a few seconds the others gently pull his pack off and help him to his feet.
"I ... I think I will be ok now." He says through a weak grin.
Yrar smiles as he helps his friend to his feet. "Next time, leave the smashin' to me OK?"
The Half-Orc turns and moves back towards the spider. Looking at his companions he asks, "So, who wants dinner?" Showing a crazy smile while adding a dramatic pause, Yrar succumbs to a hearty life, "Just kiddin' this time. You guys really thought I meant to eat this thing? Eck! Crabs and boar, sure. But spiders? Only in my sleep."
"And only din cuz you sleeps wit your moth open," Shulim adds.
The spider drops, and Fazaam looks at his still extended finger. He looks wide-eyed to Hasan.
"That was more effective than usual!" He grins.
The elf re-quivers his unused arrow as he carefully picks his way to Fudrick. "Are you alright? How bad is it?" He asks concernedly as the gnome summons healing magic to aid himself. He looks at the others. "I'm not much of a medicine man, does anyone know how to drain a spider bite?" He asks, his fine elven features marred by the worry lines creasing his forehead. He gracefully moves to the side as Yrar approaches, joking about eating the spider. Relief plainly showing now that Yrar is examining Fudrick, Fazaam smiles.
"Oh, I don't know friend Yrar, I hear that some consider spiders and other insects as delicacies! After being honey or Cocoa dipped, of course!" He grins.
"You better find lots of honey then Elf," Yrar jokes with a burst of rough laughter.
“So what we got here? Spider had a den,” Yrar says as he moves over to the hole where the creature rested. Standing at the top, Yrar peers into the lightless depths. If he can, he will also circumvent the hole to get a better look at the vine strangled block.
"You better find lots of honey then Elf," Yrar jokes with a burst of rough laughter.
Fazaam grins wryly at Yrar.
"I don't know my large friend, I said that Some people consider it a delicacy. I, personally, believe that it will take a LOT more than honey to make that palpable!" He says, pointing at the spiders' remains.
"And I am considered to be most exploratory in my taste of cuisine!" He smiles as he carefully moves to join Yrar at the entrance.
"Hm. What DO we have here?" He unintentionally echoes the large warrior. "There are stairs here,..." Fazaam's eyes seem to grow darker as he focuses his sensitive elvish eyes to see in the dimmer light of the stairwell.
The angular block has parts of the vines torn away already (they form a trapdoor of sorts that the spider used).
Close up the block is a worn marker or statue of a circular head surrounded by spikes. The spikes are worn by age and growth and some have broken off. Below the head is a rectangular area which may have held writing but over time, all that is left is a couple of indentations here and there. Further down the bushes take over.
Fudrick
The trapdoor of vegetation has been knocked back by the large spider and rests against the base of the stone.
In front of which is the dark hole. A series of small steps go down at a gentle angle and then flatten into a passageway which goes out of sight underground below the marker stone.
Faintly a yellowish hue can be seen reflecting off the stone walls and flagstones.
Marwan looks down the descending stairs
"By the Navigator's Compass! A hidden ruin!"
Yrar lifts his head after peering into the stairwell and focuses on the stone, "Hmmm, maybe a tomb of some kind. Could have good stuff inside," he says to his companions. "If it's safe, could also be a hideout for us incase we get in trouble. Wanna quick explore it or should we go get the Witch?"
“Let’s see if this stone has more to tell us.” The Barbarian’s right hand yields his left the maul, and his gauntleted right hand extends to bend away the bushes for a better view.
He looks to his companions across the hole, "Can you make out anything from over there?"
Yrar lifts his head after peering into the stairwell and focuses on the stone, "Hmmm, maybe a tomb of some kind. Could have good stuff inside," he says to his companions. "If it's safe, could also be a hideout for us incase we get in trouble. Wanna quick explore it or should we go get the Witch?"
"If tings go bad in town we ain't gonna have time ta explore nothing on da way back . . . but din again, she ain't my sister er girlfriend," Shulim says as he lookes to Ghari and Fazaam, "so I reserve me judgment till we hear what days got ta say."
Fazaam sighs theatrically.
"Temura's gonna KILL me!" He mumbles with a small shake of his head, earning him a fussing from Hasan. He looks back up from the hole and smiles.
"If I have a fatal flaw, it is my curiosity!" He declares to the group. "We're here already, I say we explore and at least see what it is!" He says enthusiastically.
"And what Temura doesn't know, won't hurt us!" He says sotto-voice aside to Ghari as he looks eagerly down the stairwell.
From a distance, the shadows and indentations further down form a body standing behind something. All in bas-relief. As Yrar removes the last of the bushes, it is easier to tell that the something is a person lying horizontally.
Marwan fidgets.
"I think that Najm has steered our course to this place. Who are we to second guess His motives? Perhaps there will be something inside that will allow us to combat the Witch more effectively."
"I agree Most Wise Marwan! Who are we mere mortals to flaunt the benefits of Fate when she places such a discovery directly in our path?" Fazaam says with a dazzling smile. He has once again affected a 'pose', one leg up on the side of the trapdoor, one hand on a hip, the breeze blowing his hair.
"Though it seems that Fate's bounty is not to be accepted blindly. I believe that's a body down there. Probably a victim of the spider. But just in case, anyone care to see if the builders left any unpleasant surprises for us?" He asks.
Mr. Wolf:
Rel check: religion (1d20 1=11)
What affect other than str damage does the poison do? Is it temporary or will I need to see a healer to cleanse Fudrick of it? I hate to overdo the poisoned act if he is actually better once I did the CLW.
As the others check out the area hidden by the trap door, Fudrick falls to his knees. He is sweating profusely, his tanned complexion has paled considerably, and he looks visibly weakened. "Friends. I do not think I have the strength left to carry my own belongings. I think a little rest will do me wonders right now."
Fudrick
The tingling since Fudrick cast Bless has not stopped yet, so at the moment he is weakened and enlightened.
The statue is an unknown to his knowledge of religion.
Yrar catches Fudrick stumble out of the corner of his eye. “Fudrick!” Bellows the Half-Orc as he runs over to help his friend. Yrar picks Fudrick up in his arms, “Does the poison weaken you still? I will carry you my friend.” The Half-Orc almost cradles the smaller Gnome like a babe. One may not ever expect such a comforting touch from the rough, strong Barbarian. Looking down at his friend, he asks, “Does your body grow stronger or are you weakening more? If need be, I will search the entire island for a plant to kill the poison. Or drag a priest here to cleanse the wound. Tell me what you need.”
The "statue" is of a man with what maybe a crown. It is his body that stands behind another lying horizontal.
There is no other body.
Yrar
DM
Fazaam whips his head around dramatically at Yrar's outburst, then abandons all pretense as he swiftly follows the large barbarian to the stumbling Gnome.
Reaching over to feel Fudrick's forehead, he curses. "I'm no healer, but he may have healed the wound from teh spider's bite, but not the poison. Ghari! Do you know of a plant or anything that will counteract a massive dose of spider venom? Do we have any of that dwarven dirt left?!"
"Dis is a problem," Shulim mutters under his breath looking to his fellow gnome.
Fudrick's eyes glisten slightly as he is overcome with the concern of his compatriots. He quickly turns his head and with their help makes it to his feet. "Thank you. I think I can manage now. Poisons aren't my specialty, but I think this may pass in a few days time. If one of you could carry my small pack for a bit I would be grateful."
Mr Wolf:
Something else I didn't think about until now; would I be able to use my alchemy skill to try and figure out what the two potions are?
1x Sealed glass pot (with a stylised B for Badasah) Red
1x Sealed glass pot (with a stylised B for Badasah) Cloudy Blue
"Not long ago I would have thought only family would care so much for someone else. Here in this jungle surrounded by the gods only know what, we strangers are becoming something of a family. Such different people, cultures, and ideals brought together." He absently smiles at the thought of that, "When we rescue Temusa will others think us a strange bunch as we celebrate?"
With a slightly pained smile he says, "Well if you want to know what's down there we better get to checking it out. Maybe it will lead us directly to Temusa with no need to fight anyone."
As his pack is lifted and he steadies himself he raises his right hand, closes his eyes, and brings forth three glowing orbs of light. As quickly as they appeared they move into the hidden passage.