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

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

He has been keeping a mental map in his head, and contemplating the building layout. As he regards the closed gate, he has an idea. If I do remember rightly, when the lever beyond the web trap was pushed, the gate here opened. Then when the lever near the spider room was pushed, the front gate closed, while the gate beyond the spike trap was opened. These gates and levers are somehow ingeniously connected.

Meanwhile, he attempts to comfort Avaala and Gramble on the loss of their canine companions. My deep condolences. They were faithful to you until the end. If talking privately with me will help, I will listen. Being concerned for his fellow beings is part of Br. Gilbert's character and ongoing training.

Let me see Jeevus, and what I may to ease his pain and stop his bleeding.

Cure Light Wounds- spell [1d8] = 5

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jaxsen nods to Maag. "Agreed," he says. "I think if I wanted to hurt someone on this side of the wall, the best way to keep them here would to make them think they were setting off a trap on THAT side of the wall." The Monk ponders that for a moment and then adds, "I think we need to very carefully look to see what sets that log in motion, and then see what else it sets in motion. How well do you climb? When we're ready, I think we had best stay on the walls while we approach. They hid that last trigger very well."

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala thanks both Maag and Brother Gilbert for their condolences. Listening to Maag and Jaxsen discuss the trap the monk saw, he adds nothing to the conversation, but nods approvingly at their decision that there is more at work there than meets the eye.

Having waited for several minutes now, and with no one presenting any objection to his previously mentioned plan, he looks around once more, and then cups his hands in front of his mouth, and yells, "SARACEN!!! STORM!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME!?!" The Mage's voice is surprisingly loud when he desires, and carries a fair bit of bass in it.

[kruk]

Judson flinches at the sound of the mage's call. How can someone that small yell so loud? the fighter ponders to himself. He then turns to the exit and does the same. "SARACEN!!! STORM!!! CAN YOU HEAR US!?!"

[OGRE MAGE]

Inside The Wooden Structure
Time To Rest?
Freeday, 5th of Goodmonth
Late Afternoon, Hot, Humid

Seeing Jeevus out cold, Brother Gilbert ignores his own harsh wounds and selflessly heals the common man back to full health with a blessing from his lord and savior, Pelor. "Ummmmm......what happened? Why does my head hurt so much? And what's with all of this dried blood all over me? I don't see any wounds, but I feel like I fell off of a cliff. Hey! How did we get back in here again? This place is starting to stink!"

Jaxsen and Maag discuss their options for the next time they return to the sloped floor and the obvious log trap. Climbing across the walls seems to be topping the list of possible solutions so far. The monk suggests recuperation as he rallies behind Maag and Judson for aid in case something goes bad in here again, allowing those most injured to rest comfortably.

Avaala decides that it is time to find out what has happened to their missing party members, glad for once about the dreaded canopy above his head. He cups his hands towards the ceiling and starts to shout their names out in case they are nearby enough for him to hear. Judson sees this and joins in, knowing full well that the denizens of this strange building are already aware of their presence. There is no immediate reply from either missing party member. The copper gate out in the main hall is still shut tight.

Actions?

Jaxsen 6/10
Brother Gilbert 2/8 1/3 first
Gramble 2/10
Jeevus 3/3
Avaala 5/12 CL DM RM 0/2 first 0/1 second
Judson 7/14
Maag 9/9

[Storm11]

Saracen calls back loudly to the others. ”HELLO! ARE YOU OK?l”

[wolfpack]

Gramble details what happened to jeevus so he can chronicle it, including the death of valiant Feightus.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala calls back to Saracen. "NOT EXACTLY!! WE HAVE SOME INJURED!! WHERE ARE YOU? IS STORM WITH YOU??!!"

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jaxsen understands the need for the extra noise, but it still puts him a bit on edge. He keeps his halberd ready and his eyes peeled, especially upwards.

[Storm11]

Saracen calls back. Storm is near death. We encountered the ettercap and his spiders once again and the creature bit into the little Halfling like he was a snack. I almost managed to kill it but it fled, badly wounded. Where is the lever to open this gate?

If the others shout out where the lever is located the holy champion will go and pull it.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Unsure where Saracen's voice is coming from, Avaala calls out the locations of both the levers.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Der problem is", opines the half-orc, "der lever dat opens der first door is across der slime pit. An' we moved der tree dat we used to cross dat pit".

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

He yells out, We will endeavour to help you, but we also injured friends.

[SirOwen]

From the volume and direction of Saracen's voice, can we get a fair idea of his location?

[OGRE MAGE]

You sure can!

He must be somewhere near the main entryway or the slime pit.

[OGRE MAGE]

Inside The Wooden Structure
Time To Rest?
Freeday, 5th of Goodmonth
Late Afternoon, Hot, Humid

Avaala and Saracen carry on a short conversation from somewhere inside the structure. Jaxsen cringes at the noise of it all. The warrior priest lets the others know that Storm is gravely injured and near death. He tells them that he nearly killed the spider creature, and then asks them to tell him where the lever is that opens the first gate. Then......his voice stops for a while.

The rest of the party settles into the large room where they fought the gargantuan spider. Gramble is glad to see Jeevus healthy again, so he tells him everything that happened while he was out.

The gate is still closed and the party is still apparently separated from each other.

Actions?

Jaxsen 6/10
Brother Gilbert 2/8 1/3 first
Gramble 2/10
Jeevus 3/3
Avaala 5/12 CL DM RM 0/2 first 0/1 second
Judson 7/14
Maag 9/9

[wolfpack]

Open the gate I will go help Storm

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jax shakes his head at Gramble's suggestion. "You've already taken considerable injuries," he says. "And I would not give the spiders or their master another lone target. I think either Judson or I should go with you. Maag is uninjured and makes the best guard for the rest of the swarm."

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag is quite happy to stay behind and avoid danger. In fact, it's practically his personal mission statement.

He throws out another idea as everyone discusses opening gates and other things. "If we still 'ave to get in an' out of dis place wivout goin' frew der front door, why don't we go frew der roof? Der's a big 'ole where all dat stuff fell on evverybody. We can climb frew der. We can git up on der roof. If we use Gramble's axe, we can chop an 'ole and come down behind dat big log trap too".

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

I am tired, injured, and need to rest. He sits down on the floor of the room to check over his wounds while the others try to find Saracen. It is fortunate that most of the rocks missed me. But, ouch.