Viria did not like the situation they found themselves in. Her nose wrinkled at the musty air around them and she looked keenly at the thick cobwebs wondering about the spiders that wove them.
She waited as Hookshanks was prodded to lead them and the other sets for the narrow stairs leading down to the hold. This does not bode well, Viria mused silently.I hope this is not a trap.
Keeping look out from the back, Viria's eyes scanned behind her and then forward as she too began the climb down the stairs behind the others.
She still held the light mace in one hand and she reached out and touched Joeseph's forearm as he pointed out to his lantern to Aleziella.
The words of Viria's spell were low and quiet lest she disturb or inform anything waiting below stairs and beyond in the hold.
"Everlight, lend your insight to this man who defends us in this perilous venture."
Then she turned silent as she moved cautiously down.
"Geez, touchy" Hookshanks responds as Aleziella draws her bow but a quick shove from Sykes propels him into the room "Alright, I'm going, I'm going." he protests. You enter the tiny cabin, brushing the cobwebs from your face as you pass by. As Hookshanks makes his way down the stairs, with Sykes covering him from behind, the rest of you file in behind them the deck floor groans perilously as it attempts to hold all your weight.
Sykes catches movement out of the corner of his eye and Viria shouts "What's that?" as a spider the size of a small house cat drops from the rafters behind Sykes, it's mandibles glistening with poison.
Initiatives (Surprise round)
Sykes
Spider
Viria
This creature is a Drain Spider, a common vermin that infests the sewers and other dark, dank niches of Korvosa. It has the ability to squeeze it's body into pipes that many would consider too small for it to fit only to pop out the drains of sinks or bathtubs at the other end, hence it's name.
It's poison, while relatively minor, can cause weakness in the extremities
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"A drain spider! They're poisonous and you'll grow weaker if they manage to infect you." Aleziella shouts out in alarm once she spots the little creature. Though given how she's too busy studying Sykes, that's probably well after the creature is dead...
Sykes promptly swats at the rude spider.
Sykes reflexes, honed by years of living in Nidal, react to the threat before the others even know there was any danger. Lashing out with his blade he cuts the spider in half before it can bite anyone.
Everyone hols their breath for a few seconds but there seems to be no other creatures lurking above.
"What,me?" Hookshanks says, looking innocent "I don't come this way. Frankly, I don't go below at all. That was Yargin's business. All I know is that the old man had his back door built because he was getting too frail to keep being hauled up through the refuse hole every time he wanted to go topside."
"These spiders rarely live alone. We should be on our guard for more. But even so, I doubt there's any way Hookshanks didn't know about these..." Aleziella says. She wants to attack the bound gnome, but wants to let her companions speak up first.
Hookshanks sighs "You're going to believe what you want to believe whatever I say, so go ahead and believe the worst of me.'
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It was good that the others appeared to know that it was a drain spider for she could not identify it. And, Sykes had ended its life as soon as it had appeared, which Viria was grateful for. When no other spider immediately came to strike, Viria took a breath as Aleziella levied accusation against the gnome.
In quiet voice she attempted to calm any fraying tempers, "If the gnome had known, he would have run or hidden at the very least. Hookshanks does not strike me as a creature who would risk his life, even with bound hands. Aleziella is correct in saying we must be more vigilant against further attacks. It appears this place is well suited to Lamm and his need of a secure hiding place. Sykes has a fine blade arm, which is a boon." Looking to him directly, she added quiet praise, "Well done, Master Sykes. You promptly ended the threat."
Then turning her attention back to the gnome she instructed in low voice lest Lamm or any other enemy would hear her, "Lead on then, Hookshanks. The sooner we find Lamm the better. We have the children to attend to afterward."
From her position at the back, she readied herself to start moving again, her eyes scanning the immediate surrounds in search of more large spider and alike. Her steps were steady and made as quietly as possible; light mace still in hand.
===
Sykes gives Viria a polite bow. ”I will continue to my best to keep you all safe,” he then turns to Hookshanks. ”Even you, while you continue to aid us in good faith. Lead on.”
With Hookshanks reluctantly leading the way you descend the stairs into the hold below. Dark and dank, the ship’s hold smells of mildew. Several barrels, crates, and other containers lie stacked here and there. Dust and grime cover the floor, except where river water has collected in puddles. Fanning out you begin to search for this alleged secret door.
Aleziella sighs. Clearly the rest of the group doesn't agree with her. "Fine, we'll let him live. But this still proves that he hasn't told us everything. He could have told us he hasn't actually been here himself. Have you left anything else out Hookshanks? Are there more surprises waiting for us? What is beyond this secret door and how is the layout up ahead until we get to Gaedren?" She turns towards the gnome to press for answers.
Later she looks over to the others. "If we all search together thoroughly, hopefully we'll be able to find the door. My cards can help focus our efforts."
Sykes silently nudges the gnome towards Aleziella. "She's quite charming, especially when angry. I wonder what she's like when she lets one of those arrows fly," he thinks aloud after.
====
Viria was all for getting more answers off the captured gnome, yet it only seemed to be causing frustrations within her companions and she was afraid they would boil over soon and the gnome would be put to death.
As Aleziella and Sykes worked together to press Hookshanks with their strength of words and character, Viria, instead, endeavoured to begin her search for the secret door; firstly calling upon her goddess for divine guidance, with laying of her hand on her side, "Everlight, grant me keener focus with which to aid my friends in search of this door." Then using the light provided by Joeseph's lantern, Viria started her search.
You begin to fan out searching for this hidden door when you hear the telltale skittering of more creatures stirring in the darkness. As you prepare for whatever it is four more spiders, similar to the one upstairs, come out to to attack the interlopers in their territory.
Initiative:
Spiders
Sykes
Viria
Aleziella
Joeseph
The spiders emerge from the darkness, catching the party unprepared. One climbs over a crate to strike at Viria, as another moves up to bite Joeseph. Two more skitter up to Sykes, their mandibles quivering in anticipation.
A spider with red marking clambers up to Viria and bites her on the arm, it's fangs sinking into the exposed flesh, pumping it's poison into her veins.
=1 point of non-lethal damage + DC:10 Fortitude save
Joeseph, alerted by the noise, dodges as the spider attacking him leaps and misses the nimble investigator.
Two spiders scramble out of the darkness, closing in on Sykes. Both spider's mandibles find the flesh beneath the chainmail and sink deep into his legs. Sykes winces in pain as the poison begins to course through his body.
=1 point of non-lethal damage + DC:10 Fortitude save
=1 point of non-lethal damage + DC:10 Fortitude save
”I as well,” Sykes growls as he takes a swing at the ravenous arachnids.
Aleziella moves around the stairs. She draws back her bow, aims and fires at one of the spiders that attacked Sykes. "The spider are vermin and their mind are too simple to be put to sleep. Hopefully we can defeat them with blade or arrow instead."
With a resoluteness honed from the bloody torture she had suffered throughout her childhood, Viria was able to overcome the spider's venom from filtering into her blood stream and draining her.
Swapping her light mace into her off hand and taking a 5ft step back from the red marked spider, Viria called upon the Everlight's fiery flames to aid her; her amber eyes glowing with golden light.
With outstretched hand, she released a small bolt of divine fire toward the spider, concentrating and protecting herself in the endeavour.
Joeseph's thrust with his blade causes the red spider to leap away right into the path of Viria's fire bolt. The smell of burnt flesh permeates the air as the creature emits an unnaturally high pitched squeal as it expires.
Aleziella's arrow whizzes past Sykes, inches from his head as the warrior dances around the the two spiders engaged with him, causing him to flinch in surprise and his stroke to send splinters flying as his sword chops into the rotted wood of the deck.
Round #2
The green tinged spider takes advantage of Joeseph's attempt to protect Viria and rushes in to bite. It's fangs sink into his leg and it injects it's poison into the wound.
=1 point of non-lethal damage + DC:10 Fortitude save
The two remaining spiders skitter around Sykes trying to find a way to attack the armored warrior but their fangs cannot penetrate his new found chainmail and carom off it's protection.
Sykes swings again at the spiders skittering about.
Aleziella gets frustrated as her arrow misses it's mark. "I'll have to be careful to aim into melee or I'll risk hitting you. My slumber doesn't work either. I'll help you flank to distract them so they'll be easier to hit" She draws forth the flail from the half-orc and moves to the other side of the spiders compared to sykes.
"Thanks. A smashy flail is more suited to squashing these vermin in all honesty," Sykes responds while trying to line up a strike on furtive arachnids.
Seeing the (green) spider sinks its fangs into Joeseph's leg, Viria knew she had to try to help him so he in turn finish the creature off and then help Sykes. However, she wanted to conserve her fire magic in case there was a larger clash/threat waiting for them.
Transferring her light mace back into her true hand, Viria moved 5ft diagonally - close to the charred remains of the spider she had burned not that long ago - and swung at the (green spider) with her light mace, hoping she could bash the creature with the weapon.
Round #3
The green furred spider dances around both Joeseph's and Viria's attempts to end it's life and rushes in to bite Joeseph once more, pumping more venom into his veins.
=1 point of non-lethal damage + DC:10 Fortitude save
The two remaining spiders ignore Aleziella's attempt to flank them and instead focus on Sykes, but their bite is unable to penetrate the protective links of chain guarding his legs.
"I still don't trust my ability to actually hit them, but maybe I can help nail them down. I'll hit to the left of the one on your left to make it unable to escape your strike." Aleziella says before she carefully takes aim and throws down her massive flail in the path of one of the spiders.
Fighting with physical weapons was not something she was particularly good at; however Viria was not not going to give in as the spider kept biting poor Joeseph. Swinging, once again, with her light mace, Viria attempted to whack the (green) spider.
Then, wishing not to be bitten herself, she took a 5ft step back away from it.
”Thanks!” Sykes calls out as he follows Aleziella’s flawless setup on right on cue.
Viria's mace smashes the deck causing the green furred spider to jump to it's right and right into the blade of Joeseph, who stabs deep onto the monster's thorax, severely wounding it.
Meanwhile, Aleziella's feint distracts the blue tinged arachnid's attention just long enough for Sykes' massive blade to completely sever in in two, splashing ichor in all directions including on to themselves.
Round #4
The green furred spider,wounded and angered, leaps at the man responsible for it's pain, Joeseph, but reeling from it's wounds it's unable to bite him.
The Spider with the yellow stripe on it's back lunges at Sykes but once again it's fangs are prevented from piercing his flesh by his protective armor.
Sykes quickly swats at the remaining spider in-between him and the Harrower.
Sykes swiftly catches the yellow spider with his backswing before it can recover enough to threaten him again, cutting deep into the monster as it's life's blood stains his blade and the floor around it.
Round 4
Once again, Viria moved forward 5 ft to strike at the wounded (green) spider with her light mace.
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Aleziella smiles at Sykes. "Nice work!" She moves quickly through the interior of the boat to get a look at the last remaning spider. She's dismayed to discover she can't flank it like the other, but perhaps her bow can still prove useful in dispatching the wounded one. She drops the flail and draws forth an arrow, smoothly pulling the string back as she takes aim. With practiced precision she lets loose, praying that she can hit the spider rather than her companions.
Aleziella's arrow skewers the remaining spider and pins it against the hull wall where it struggles pitifully before it expires.
With the threat of combat now over you begin to fan out once more to find this secret door that Hookshanks had told you existed. Both Sykes and Viria spot what they believe is the faint outline of a door in the port side hull. Upon closer inspection you find that it is indeed a door which leads to the area beneath the fishery.
A narrow space exists under the fishery, with about three feet of room between the floor of the eastern side of the building and the languid, foamy river water below. Wooden pilings support the building, and thick mats of moss and cobwebs hang from ropes and rusted chains between them.
A wooden walkway floats on the river’s surface, winding along the inner wall of pilings that supports the building’s frame above. The walkway leads from the sodden ship to the east all the way west to a small two-and-a-half-foot-square door that leads into an understructure below the fishery’s land-bound half.
The pilings below this understructure are densely arrayed, leaving only narrow gaps into the water below that area.
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Aleziella moves to grab the dropped flail and looks to her companions. "Did it manage to bite any of you? Did you get affected by it's poison? Unfortunately I'm not sure how we would go about curing it if that's the case."
She turns to Hookshanks. "My question from before the fight with the spiders still stands. You should have told us that you haven't gone this route before. If that's indeed the case? What else aren't you telling us? Have you been on this side of the base before? What's the layout of the rest of the base? How do we best sneak up on Gaedren or is there yet more unknown ground ahead?"
While waiting for a reply she pulls out another card, this time showing a woman with various orbs and bands of colour swirling about her. She puts her hand firmly on Sykes' shoulder as she says. "May the dance give you guidance for the task ahead. Whether to strike down a foe or to accomplish some other task the dance is great for dealing with complex situations. "
"A few, but I'm not suffering any ill effects to my perception. No numbness, irritation, swelling, temperature is still the same," Sykes cooly rattles off as he looks himself over.
"And one more question," he adds as Aleziella questions the gnome, "Why did none of the spiders go for you?"
He bows in thanks once the Harrower blesses him once again.
"Gaedren is a recluse, he only comes topside to visit with Yargin and to get his share of the loot the kid's bring in. Whenever he came upstairs he always smelled of liniment, I always thought it was just old man funk, but maybe it was something more."He looks at Aleziella "I told you once and I'll tell you a thousand times more, I ain't never been down here so I don't know what his place looks like and don't want to know. Those who come down here don't ever come back."
Walking along the walkway beneath the fishery causes you to crouch as you move along the mildew coated wood. A shark fin briefly breaks the surface but it doesn't seem too interested in you, unless you should fall into the water, as you make your way to the half door at the end of the boardwalk.
The door to the understructure is locked.