[Completed] - Lars/Finger of Doom - 19 March, 1 VC

[KingOfCowards]

Probably me being ultra-careful, but let's lower a lantern down first. Just to make sure there's nothing hiding in the shadows to eat me.

[Zorroroaster]

Agreed, although with my infravision...do I see anything down there in the dark before we lower a lantern? If there IS something down there, best not to spook it with a light until we are ready to.

[Keehnelf]

You can only see the section of pool directly below, and the chute itself. Things are so cramped and twisted in here that visibility is poor.

[GTan_Baq]

Naila takes out her lantern, lights it, then hands it to Lars.

1 pint of oil deducted

[Keehnelf]

March 23, 1 VC - 12:00pm

Attack on the lantern [1d20] = 18

Lars lowers the lit lantern down the chute, slowly and carefully so that it doesn't get damaged against the sides of the chute, keeping it clear of the buffeting force of the water spilling along the near side of the chute, and being conscientious of the top of the pool itself so he doesn't drop the lantern straight in.

His deft hands work tirelessly and competently, the lantern remains lot and intact, until it clears the opening into the chamber below and Lars sees a confusing and monstrous reflection of something in the troubled water. Immediately, a long insectoid leg lashes out, striking the lantern and smashing it against the wall of the chute, and in the sudden darkness something grabs hold of the rope and pulls, very hard.

You have only a split second--what do you do?

[KingOfCowards]

Let go and scramble back away from the edge. Sorry Naila. I owe you a lantern. We can always buy a new rope.
"Shit. Th...There's something down there."

[Keehnelf]

March 23, 1 VC - 12:10pm

Thankfully Orrin still has a lit torch, otherwise everyone but him would be fairly screwed right now. The rope slips away into the chute and there is a brief smashing sound as something demolishes the lantern. For the moment, there is silence.

What do you do?

[Zorroroaster]

Wow, good call on the lantern. We have a lit torch and I think each of us has at least one oil flasK. We could attempt to burn it out here, but risk getting overrun by it trying to escape, or we could back out of towards the cave mouth, and if it comes out after us have a decent shot at it from more than one angle.

Does Naila have Sleep prepared?

[GTan_Baq]

yes, sleep is prepared and ready

[KingOfCowards]

Lars gets a sick feeling, now fully realizing how close it was to being him smashed up against the wall in that dark pit.
"I think we let this one go. We got enough treasure to take back to Vaul. Maybe come back with reinforcements."

I suppose we could all start throwing burning oil down the chute, but it would be very poorly aimed in the dark. This seems like a monster for another occasion.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin grabs Lars and helps to haul him away from the edge of the chute.

"Smart thinking sending that lantern down first. Whoever is down there, SHE'LL OBviously hold a grudge if we press our luck. Let's back out of here quietly, get behind my shield."

Orrin will back slowly out of the cavern with his axe and shield at the ready.

[Keehnelf]

The party begins the slow and laborious process of climbing back up through the slick and twisting tunnels they'd just traversed, Orrin backing slowly away from the chute. He is about eight feet from its edge when the torchlight catches a bit of movement--it could be an errant turn of the water, but a second later there is more movement and a monstrous brown spider clambers up over the edge of chute and into the tunnel, in clear pursuit of the party.

Actions and initiative!

[Zhym]

Lug mutters under his breath, "Shoulda stayed in the entrance," and fires his crossbow at the spider.

Crossbow (Range: 80/160/240): [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11, Dmg [1d8] = 8

Additional +1 to hit if the spider is within 80'.

[Keehnelf]

This space is barely big enough for a man to move through. While you can see past Orrin at what's happening, you are VERY likely to hit him rather than the enemy in a spot like this.

[Zhym]

How likely? With Lug's low wisdom, he might still try if the odds aren't too ridiculous.

Otherwise, I guess he heads for the cave exit and hopes Orrin can bring the spider out where more than one person can attack it.

[KingOfCowards]

Lars will try to back up if he is able to, to give Orrin some room to retreat.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin realizes he's not going to get very far up the cavern with 3 others in his way, so will make a fighting retreat, swinging his axe at the massive spider in front of him as he slowly backs up.

{Hand Axe} Attack: [1d20 +1] = 10+1 = 11, Damage: [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3

Can Naila see well enough to pop the sleep spell?

[Keehnelf]

4 in 6 chance of Lug's attack roll being against Orrin.

Naila can see the area even if not the spider (which she can sporadically) so she can target it.

[Zhym]

I guess we'll let player wisdom overcome character lack of wisdom in this case. Lug backs up.

[Keehnelf]

Just to clarify: with all the shuffling due to Lars' work with the chute, the order is now

Orrin
Lars
Lug
Naila

If the others choose to just move out, they can go triple Orrin's speed toward the entrance.