Round One
AC 11 HP 10
Effects. Dancing lights.
"Ah the glories of nature. Mindless things eating each other."
Bern moves into D8 and climbs 10' up the tree. He swats at the spider, but is too far away.
Ryarg dismounts, putting his horse between himself and the spider, and pulls out his sling.
Upon seeing the actions of the spider, Two-Fisted approaches the webbing sliding five feet to E13 and attackes the webbing with his double-axe.
ATT:
DAM:
ATT:
DAM:
Ragar's brutal orcish weapon slices through the webs easily, prompting the section of web that the spider is currently sitting on to sag. The creature finds itself on the ground, and seems none too happy for the disturbance. Finding the spider on the ground, Bern lopes forward and attempts to bite the creature, scoring a deep line of teeth marks on the spider's chest and barely missing a critical artery. The spider roars in pain.
Tom dismounts and moves the lights in closer to the spider, giving it pause, and Ryarg also dismounts, keeping his horse (not pictured) between himself and the giant arachnid.
Initiative Order:
--->Telias: 22
Spider: 21
Ragar: 16
Bern: 15
Tom: 13
Ryarg: 3
Cursing under his breath and not wanting to shoot the bear Telias rushes forward dropping his bow and going for his halberd he walked straight up to the spider and stabbed hard between the eyes.
Attack:
Damage:
Telias drops his bow and hustles forward, bringing his halberd to bear on the spider. His forceful stab strikes true, piercing the creature's tough carapace and penetrating through into the monster's brain. Black ichor spurts forth, and the halberd is almost wrenched from Tel's grasp as the spider pitches violently on it's side, it's legs twitching wildly as it slips into unconciousness.
Ugh. That thing was ... deep breath I had a mentor, back in the world who was ...fond... of spiders.
"Looks like we were not the first travellers that furry legged demon discommoded. Look."
The lights move to highlight the remains
"Bern. Fetch," Ryarg says, pointing at the remains.
Bern looks at Ryarg, up at the remains, then back at Ryarg with an almost "you've got to be kidding" look. Seeing Ryarg's stern but patient look, Bern grudgingly climbs up the tree nearest the remains. After several bats with a paw, he severs some of the webbing and the skeleton crashes to the ground below.
Perception
"It seemed rather territorial. I think we could have simply went around if we wanted to. Didn't care too much for the light."
1d20+5 Perception
"It seemed rather territorial. I think we could have simply went around if we wanted to. Didn't care too much for the light."
"Do you think the lights are a problem? I just thought it was a little dim in here."
Two-Fisted sheathes the Double-Axe on his back and appears a bit frustrated as he walks over and kicks through the remains.
Damn! My Axe did not even get to taste enemy...
Tom, I did not need the light, but the others likely did.
Perception:
"No, I mean it didn't like the light."
The corpse still bears a rusty dagger (treat as a broken dagger), and the belt pouch contains 20gp. There are otherwise no distinguishing characteristics, the travelling clothes having long since been worn away.
Heal:
Ryarg looks somber as he examines the remains.
"A hobbit. Shall we bury him decently?"
Two-Fisted shrugs his shoulders...
No difference to me. He will never know.
Heal: 1d20+7
Ryarg looks somber as he examines the remains.
"A hobbit. Shall we bury him decently?"
Might as well. Wonder what he was doing out here.
Tom waves his hand in a circular pattern and the webs and dirt slide off the bones.
Tom calmly begins digging a shallow grave.
"Yes but we will Two-fist and it's little enough to do for a fellow traveller."
Two-Fisted shrugs...
Okay Tom, if you say so...
Ryarg helps dig the grave. He orders Bern to help, but the bear just looks at him patiently and uncomprehendingly. "Lazy, good for nothing..." Ryarg growls and grunts under his breath.
In the process of digging the grave just off to the side of the path, the group turns up a few more items of interest. Apparently, this spider or another creature has used this ambush site before.
"Well Ryag if you have this kind of luck you are welcome to work in my garden anytime!" "Anyone recognise any of these?"
"These might be enchanted. Rather valuble in anycase. I can take a good look at them once we camp."
"I wonder how these got here?" Tom sighs. "The story is lost to the forest I guess."
Squinting hard at the gemstone while trying - and failing - to discern it's value, Tom makes out what might be a tiny engraving near the bottom of the stone, but cannot make out precisely what it says. Such a mark would almost have to have been done magically.
Squinting hard at the gemstone while trying - and failing - to discern it's value, Tom makes out what might be a tiny engraving near the bottom of the stone, but cannot make out precisely what it says. Such a mark would almost have to have been done magically.
I'll just put these away and we can ride on. "Oh, my poor legs."
Telias keeps watch shaking his head as the new items are brought out. After a time he speaks. "We must not linger."
"A beautiful piece," the dwarf says reverently, tentatively reaching a hand out towards the swan statuette, but he doesn't take it.
Two-Fisted mounts up.
I agree with Telias, let's get moving.
The remainder of the morning is taken up riding through the shadows of the forest. At times, it feels as though malicious eyes are watching, but when you look around, nothing is there to be seen. No sooner has the party emerged from the far side of the wood, though, than a visceral roar cuts the air from within the forest. A large flock of birds takes flight in fright, flying away from the wood.
Emerging from the forest, the group spots a wide, deep valley ahead. This would appear to be the Northeastern edge of Deadeye's Haunt. The other side of the valley represents the border with Molthune. The valey is bereft of foliage other than waist-high grass, and is extremely exposed.
"Asmodeaus' nightshirt! What was that?"
Tom controls his horse with some difficulty and looks to the others for an explanation.
Don't know, but should we check it out?
Knowledge Nature:
Ryarg shrugs. "I suggest not going back that way," is all he says.
"It's a warning." Telias says. "Something is marking their boundaries."
"If we want to avoid it we cut into our time and ride around. If we try to ride around it we may have a fight on ur hands. Or jsut as likely a terrified run through the valley. In any case I'm not comfortable in the tall grass. Too many large things can hide in it and see you befor eyou see them...."
I want to push on straight to the border. Crossing the valley does not strike fear into me. If the decision is to go around, I will certainly follow.
"...swords to left of them, spears to the right. Into the valley of death..."
"Forward. If we are to die on this errand we may as well do it while I have some feeling left in my lower body."
Tom dorects his horse slowly towards the valley.
Telias mutters something under his breath fearlessness and foolishness before directing his horse towards the valley as well taking out his bow in the process.
Happy Birthday DM J!
Riding through the grassland is fairly uneventful...for the first 15 minutes. At about the halfway point through the valley, it is as though the sun slips behind a cloud, and the breeze dies. The air becomes thick and moist, and a palpable sense of dread permeates the area.
Ra(P):, H:
T(P):, H:
Te(P):, H:
B:
The hoofbeats of your horses take on a brittle sound momentarily, drawing your eyes to the ground. Bones are strewen about everywhere, and lying hidden among the grass are rusted suits of mail, tarnished shields, and other remains of the armies of man.
Suddenly, Telias's horse startles, digging it's heels in and stopping abruptly.
Tel
Tom
Rag
Rya
Bern
Without any further warning, the grass in the area around Telias and Ragar begins to reach up as if to ensnare their horses.
Tom turns his horse away from the effected area.
"This spot is haunted. Something horrible happened here."
Telias curses as his horse bucks and kicks itself away from the grass.
"Should have went around." He mutters as he tries to get the horse out of the area.
Reflex Save.
Two-Fisted Growls deeply as he tugs hard on the reins of his mount.
GRRRR...quit whining Telias - no one said it would be easy!
Reflex: