Quest #14 "Hidden Fortress of the Poison Spider Monsters"

[OGRE MAGE]

The Wooden Structure Awaits
Waterday, 3rd of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Humid, Light Rain

The dawn brings a light rain with it when it finally appears again after another long dark night on the island. Brother Gilbert has collected a strange item from a former associate who has since succumbed to a horrible death by poisoning.

Looking like a large copper coin or platter with odd dashed purple lines, the item remains a mystery to the priest. It is about a foot across and 1/4 inch thick.

IMG_1641.JPG (193.04 KiB) Viewed 3780 times

He is asking around for hardened adventurers that want to accompany him to the west so they can seek out the wooden structure again, hoping to learn more about it. Jaxsen has agreed to go along, but also thinks it would be wise to bring as many others as they can muster, especially if they are dealing with dangerous poisonous monsters.

Brother Gilbert has traveled there before, so he wont have any trouble finding it again. I will add it to the map once we get a little closer. Here is a list of the PC's that "should" be around in the morning. I will add more to the list once I discern what the other groups will be doing for the evening.

Brother G
Jax
Storm
Saracen
Avaala
Maag

Any of these folks can feel free to discuss this mission as if it were the next day, even though they may still be preoccupied elsewhere at the moment. Thanks! (I hope that makes sense)

[SirOwen]

It does make sense, but I guess the rules against one player having two characters on the same mission still applies? Thanks.

[Storm11]

Storm wanders over to the pair in the morning. Greetings. Oo what’s that you have? Looks intriguing. Is it magical?

[Jernau35]

Maag

Having arrived in the dark, Maag is still getting his bearings. He decides to follow his fellow half orc around until something better turns up. Upon meeting Bother Gilbert and Jax, he introduces himself.

“Maag’s the name. Mr.Maag to…Ooh copper!”

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

He looks down at the disk and says,
Greetings, Storm, Maag. I have no idea what it is, beyond being a circle of copper.

I have a strange story to tell. I was bequeathed this by a fellow who was on the ship with me. Four of us ventured into the jungle and only I, with Pelor's blessing, returned. In our travels, we came upon a large, square wooden building standing by itself. Its entrance was like a maze; the others entered the building and did not come out. I left to go to the village.

Last night, I found one other had come to the village, to die. I attempted to ease his suffering, but to little avail. He gave me this disk as he was dying, requesting I avenge his death. The only knowledge he gave me was “spider... monsters.” I assume he found this somewhere near the building.

The village people covet this metal disk, but for the moment, I wish to keep it as a clue. If we discover its purpose, I will then give it to the entire village, for their improvement.

[Storm11]

Storm listens carefully to the cleric, and nods at the half-orcs as they approach.

Well, I am keen to see this building. How far into the jungle is it?

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

It is about a day-and-a-half from here. I think bringing extra rope would be wise.

He shudders, considering the creatures that may be found within the structure.

[Storm11]

”If they aren’t giant ones, we may be able to talk to the spiders about what’s happening and ask them to leave us be.” Storm says excitedly.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

Good Storm, I hope we can communicate with them. Poor Orin met such an unpleasant fate; he was motivated by greed and not kindness. I suppose the spiders didn't take kindly to his attitude and actions.

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jax gently nudges Brother Gilbert with an elbow as Storm and Maag approach from different directions.
"You were right about waiting. It seems the adventurers are so eager, they are coming to us!"

The young monk stands quietly as Storm and Gilbert discuss the situation and possible strategies. He nods to Maag when the half-orc speaks, and shakes his hand. "I am Jaxsen, pleased to meet you, Maag."

And, though he has seen them in passing, Jax can't help but stare as Avaala and his enormous dog walk up.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala, invigorated and excited by his discovery in the pre-dawn, has Rollo up and about early. They stroll the beach near town and, seeing a gathering of some of the people he has met recently, including the half-orc he and Saracen helped to escape the Green Flash the night before. He decides this is the segway he is looking for to enter the conversation.

"Good morning, Maag." he says. "Have you seen Saracen this morning, by any chance? He was planning on telling Mr. Nehru what little we found out about the Green Flash and her captain."

Having wriggled into the conversation, he then introduces himself to the others he hasn't met. "How do you do? My name is Avaala the Grey. I'm a representative of the local Mage's Guild. And this is my boon companion, Rollo."

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Orright?'" Maag grunts briefly, in acknowledgement of everyone who greets him. "Yeah, Saracen said 'e woz off to see some bloke called Nero or sumfin. Is 'e da boss around 'ere?"

Maag listens to the talk about giant spiders and other things. "I don't reckon it sounds too 'ard. Spiders can't be dat difficult to outsmart. Problem wiv your mate Orrin is 'e probably got too greedy. Didn't know when to leg it".

"'side's, anything sticks it's nose in where it don't belong is gonna get it cut off, courtesy of old 'arry 'ere" Maag draws his bastard sword and shows it to the others. The more observant among them notice the name Harry crudley carved into one of it's quillons. "It's named after me ol' mate 'arry the Beard. We woz out on a job one night when the city guard caught us. 'arry took down four of 'em to 'elp me get away." Maag pauses for a moment. "'course I don't think 'e woz expectin' me to get away. I fink 'e woz expectin' me to stand there and 'elp 'im, the stupid ol' git" He shakes his head ruefully. "Still, 'e woz a good mate..."

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala looks around at the assembled group. "I would really prefer to have Saracen with us." he says. "I've been on several jobs around this island with him, and his skills are both diverse and useful. If we aren't planning to hit the trail right away, Rollo and I could go invite him. It wouldn't take long."

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jax looks at Brother Gilbert with a bit of embarrassment on his face. "We've all had the misfortune of seeing just how dangerous this island can be. I wonder, Brother Gilbert..." The young man hesitates just a moment, "if you would be willing to make a map to the building you saw... just in case?"

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

I certainly will draw a map. He digs around in his pack to find writing materials.




and soon, the GM will providing one

[OGRE MAGE]

Brother Gilbert pulls out his crude map detailing what he knows about the layout of the island so far.

The trail he and his companions found was to the west. They traveled up the beach to where the sand ends and took the unmarked trail into the jungle.

Though he hasn't drawn it on the map (yet), the strange wooden structure should be almost due north of where the drawn trail ends.

Avaala cringes when he sees that the trail travels right through the area where his old group had the encounter with the nasty acid spewing beetles that nearly killed his dog.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

"If we are going into that area, we need to be ready for trouble," Avaala says. "Not just big, poisonous spiders, there. We ran into a breed of giant acid-shooting beetles that nearly killed several of us. I'm beginning to think that section of the jungle might be reserved for big bugs."

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Listening to the mage speak about the beetles to be found along the trail, Jaxsen adds, "No doubt, spiders will hunt for prey. The beetles, on the other hand, usually only attack in defense. Did your party attack them by any chance?"

Hearing that the company was indeed harvesting acid-producing organs, Jax nods. "Beetles usually only eat carrion or plant matter. If they do not see us as a threat, they might be gotten around peacefully."

[Storm11]

Storm hops up and down. i can’t WAIT to see all these new giant animals. Amazing! he says excitedly. Is this Island called Bug Island by any chance?

[Jernau35]

Braiden Maag

Maag nods when he hears Jaxen's proposal. "I like it, I like it. Sneak around 'em 'til dere not lookin', then WALLOP!. Dat 'ill teach 'em!"