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

[Storm11]

Saracen will put his mirror back in his pack once the pseudo-dragon is finished with it. He will cover his exposed skin with the last of the Druids repellent and then he will hoist the bag full of Monocars potential armour and broadsword, and whatever else might fit within. If something attack’s him he will lay the bag down and draw sword and shield.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

"Oh no you don't. Not again," says Avaala. "I'll take a little irritation over being eaten alive." The mage steps back inside the maze for a moment. He takes fallen branch and a rock and hammers one end into a crude brush. He then takes the brush and smears it first in the creosote on the logs, and then in rough stripes on his exposed skin. "Bugs hate creosote. Take it from an old woodworker. Just don't go too heavy with it. It irritates the skin on some people.... and it smells.... and it's sticky as tar.... never mind all that, it'll keep the bugs off."

Turning to Treasure, he says, "On the contrary, I find your looks unique. We all carry our stories on our skin." He holds up the brush with the creosote on it. "Is this something you need? Can the insects affect you?"

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

"Ah, the Queen's Children," the Monk notes as he gently pushes the worst of the insects away. "If only we could all work so diligently." He returns to his 'watchful meditation' and moves out.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"I've smelled enough of dat stuff to last a lifetime", Maag snorts. "I'll take me chances wiv der bugs".

Remembering, the previous warnings about how well the creosote would burn, Maag briefly considers suggesting that they burn the place down as a funeral pyre for their dead companions, and for a bit of revenge on the spiders. But he figures that wouldn't go down to well with Brother Gilbert, so he doesn't bother mentioning it.

He also considers just setting it on fire anyway, then saying sorry. Priests are big on forgiveness....

[wolfpack]

we need to make a list of our loot and decide what to keep and what to sale and divide up.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

After taking in the fresher air, he adjusts his pack for the hike back to Beachtown.
Even with the insects, it is most fine to be outside again. I will take some of the creosote, if it will help.
He will carefully apply a small quantity on his exposed skin.

It occurs to him that loosely woven cloth draped over a person's head would keep out some of the bugs. He remembers what the bee keepers near the family farm wore while attending to the hives.

Make your list of our departed companions, if you wish. I give back my portion for those who want these things. Food and drink are all I need.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Long Walk Back
Sunday, 7th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Warm, Humid

Happy to be out of the structure, even despite the insects, the group divvies up the bags of spoils. Saracen uses the dead druids salve upon any exposed skin while Avaala goes back in for some of the black tar on the logs. Forgetting that the acidic substance burned the hands of his friend the day before, the mage starts smearing it upon his own skin. The substance stings him initially, but then starts to burn into his flesh. 2 dam Realizing what he has done, the mage tries to wash the nasty goo back off, using up a good portion of his precious water in the process. When he offers some of the dangerous stuff to his new friend, Treasure declines. The ugly dragon doesn't seem to mind the bugs in the least, though he has tasted better.

Brother Gilbert watches this all happen and decides against doing the same thing to himself. He instead layers some of his clothing around his head and neck. He declines any profits from selling the spoils, happy to have enough to eat and drink, needing little more than that for himself. Maag does remember that the goo was nasty, so he also declines the offer, trying to subdue his desire to simply burn this place to the ground before they leave.

Gramble suggests making a list of what should be sold and what should be kept as Jaxsen hoists his sack and starts down the trail. By their estimate, they will have many, many hours to discuss what each of them would like to keep for themselves.

Treasure looks around the area once outside. He doesn't say anything, but Avaala can tell that he is still quite depressed about something.

After about a half hour of marching through the thick, overgrown jungle, the trail ahead suddenly splits into two separate paths. One path leads generally southward while the other curves a bit more towards the west. The really strange thing about this intersection is that none of you can remember seeing it on the way here.

Actions?

map:
viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477

Please make sure that you are ok with your characters position. Last Call!
Marching Order:
Jaxsen 10/10
Gramble 10/10
Jeevus 3/3
Brother Gilbert 8/8 1/3 first
Avaala 10/12 CL DM RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Saracen 21/25 1/4 first 0/1 second
Maag 9/9

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

As he gets the worst of the creosote off his arms, Avaala grumbles a bit. "Much stronger than the stuff I used to use," he mutters. He shakes his head and follows Gilbert's example, wrapping an extra layer of clothing over his flesh and head. "I have a proposition," he says to Treasure, patting his shoulder. "I'll be your sedan chair if you will keep the worst of the bugs off my face?"

[Jernau35]

Maag

Seeing the mysterious new trail that has appeared in the space of a few days gives Maag a sense of unease. Given the density of the jungle vegetation around them he thinks about the effort required to blaze a new trail. He wonders if it some kind of trick.

Maag scans the area around them, including up into the trees. As he waits for the others to decide what to do, he crouches low for cover, holding his crossbow. He does his best to pick up any suspicious sounds.

[Storm11]

Saracen looks at the two trails curiously. He scans the tracks of both trails, seeing if he can determine any of the party’s prints from a few days ago. He will also look for signs of any recent hacking of the plant life to see if one trail is newer than the other.

Which way do you think Beachtown and the beach are?

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

"The sea is to the south, so I would suggest continuing in that direction. Even if aren't on the same path, we can follow the shore back to town." Jax looks around for the tallest tree in the immediate vicinity. "Although there might not be any need to take a chance." He spares a moment to look around for any enemies, and if he sees none, he starts climbing.

[wolfpack]

Who else would have been this far away from town

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

I suppose the southern one was the way we came. I wonder if time passed differently in the maze.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Long Walk Back
Sunday, 7th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid

Treasure flits over and lands on Avaala's shoulder, reluctantly at first, but once more bugs to eat are mentioned, he seems happy for the opportunity."Be careful, Avaala. That black stuff seems pretty nasty."

Maag and Saracen look around at the ground, but the only tracks they notice were clearly made by some rather large, 4 toed animal with nasty looking long claws. They appear to be heading from the western trail and moving down the southern trail.

Jaxsen takes the time to climb up a tall tree nearby. The overhead foliage is so thick, he has a hard time following either trail, but once he gets above the majority of the canopy, he does indeed notice that the beautiful Azure Sea is due south of their current position. The trail they are on appears to continue off in a southerly direction.

Though none in the group are actually trained for such things, nobody notices any other tracks along the trail, including their own that they made only a few days ago. Brother Gilbert offers a thought, wondering if time was somehow altered while they were in the structure.

Treasure chomps down on another large flying beetle, wrinkling up his dried old face in disgust over the taste of this particular one.

Actions?

map:
viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477

Marching Order:
Jaxsen 10/10
Gramble 10/10
Jeevus 3/3
Brother Gilbert 8/8 1/3 first
Avaala 10/12 CL DM RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Saracen 21/25 1/4 first 0/1 second
Maag 9/9

[Storm11]

Saracen pales once it’s discovered that a monsterous creature is heading for Beachtown. We have to catch up to it before it reaches the villagers. There’s no telling what might happen. It seems likely this creature made the new trail by forcing its way through the vegetation. We must hurry back! he says worriedly, preparing to move off down the southern track, keeping an eye out on their surroundings in case the creature’s passing has drawn other predators to the trail.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

Given that which I seen here, in such a short time, it could be almost anything. Should purple unicorns dance for us, I will not feign astonishment.

He pauses, If they served tea and sweet biscuits, I might be slightly surprised. Let us keep moving, then.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Yeah, south" grunts Maag. "Der other trail can wait for annuver time. We're carryin' too much stuff an' not enuff water".

The half-orc slaps at the biting bugs, and wipes the sweat from his eyes. "An' if I gotta shoot some bloody animal in der back to get some drink an' a decent night's kip, I reckon I can live with dat". Maag follows up with a grin that isn't matched by the look in his eyes.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala allows Treasure and the multiple layers to do the work of keeping the insects off of him. Beneath the layers, he tries to keep the burned areas on his arms covered with the moist bandages. He doesn't use any more water on them, but instead endures by telling himself he'll wet it a bit again when they stop for the night. 'Fool!' he tells himself. 'You didn't test that stuff. You just smeared it on, like it came out of a can on your workbench.'

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jax climbs down out of the tree, and picks his bundles up again. "Agreed," he says. "South." And he heads off without another word, communing with Bralm's children.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Long Walk Back
Sunday, 7th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid

While Jaxsen returns to the ground, Avaala silently admonishes himself. Treasure seems to enjoy being outside and eating a fresh meal of large bugs anytime he wants.

Looking at the tracks, the group decides to continue down the southern trial, keeping to the direction of the sea. Not more than 100 feet ahead, the trail breaks again. This time a path from the west bisects their trail, and then comes around again to rejoin the trail they are on. A few feet ahead still, there is another 4-way intersection in the trail.

Even with none of their group being of the outdoor persuasion, the tracks on the ground are pretty obvious to see. They find more and more of the large, 4 toed lizard-like prints everywhere in this area now. They seem to come from the west and head to the south. After a few more steps down the trail, you can tell that these tracks now crisscross the main trail everywhere, possibly the whole way to the beach.

Actions?

map:
viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477

Marching Order:
Jaxsen 10/10
Gramble 10/10
Jeevus 3/3
Brother Gilbert 8/8 1/3 first
Avaala 10/12 CL DM RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Saracen 21/25 1/4 first 0/1 second
Maag 9/9