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

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

"I suggest," says Avaala. "That we be careful with the torch, or any other fire we decide to light here. This smells of creosote. If it is, in fact, creosote, it will burn in a very smoky manner, very dangerous away from open air." He then adds, "On the bright side, if it is creosote, we have a lot of fuel for our torches. A slow burn, fair light and easy to roll a torch in."

Based on OM's description and the fact that creosote would allow the wooden structure to last a long, long time. But Avaala, with a long history of woodworking, would be fairly certain, one way or another, after a cursory examination of the stuff.

The mage shows no initiative in leading an investigation further down the hallway. He'll happily follow, support or advise, but he'll allow any of the others to lead such an effort.

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jaxsen, sure that this entire place is a trap, tried to keep his guard up. He begins looking for physical traps immediately, floor-tapping and wall-pressing, checking for wires, webs and what-nots, from the floor to as high as he can reach. He looks to the ceiling, in case something up there is waiting to pounce. He will examine the entire area lit by the torch or subsequent torches.

[Xaxyx]

Eawad Driftwood

Between the smatterings of conversation, Eawad bends his ear toward the hallway, listening for any sounds other than the jungle noises echoing from outside. He touches the hilt of his longsword reassuringly from time to time, but doesn't draw it yet.

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag listens to Avaala's warning about the flammability of the structure. "HA! Yer remindin' me of when I used ter sell insurance back 'ome. 'Nice place yer got 'ere squire, be a shame if it burnt dahn one night. Wiv you in it. 'Ow abaht 5gp for the Fire Prevention Fund eh chief?' Gives a bloke a warm feelin' inside t' know 'es takin' care of 'is fellow man, I tell yer. Not as warm as der blokes wot didn't pay up 'o course! HA!HA!"

Maag snaps back to the moment when he realizes his guffaws might attract something nasty out of the dark. He draws 'arry and keeps a watchful eye on the dark jungle.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

Let us find some place to rest for the night, perhaps near this structure. I would rather explore more on the morrow.

Avaala, if this is creosote coating the walls, which I think it may be, it should be interesting to find its source. Perhaps it will keep the bugs away if we bring some outside.

Br. Gilbert remembers applying some kind of smelly coating to preserve wood back when he was on the family farm.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Wooden Structure Awaits
Earthday, 4th of Goodmonth
Late Evening, Hot, Humid, Very Buggy

Moving into the structure a bit further, the group reveals even more of its strange interior.

Eawad and Jaxsen search carefully for any trip wires or loose cobblestones by the light of a single torch as they delve further inside. They don't find any signs of a mechanical trap. Storm and Avalaa look closer at the black goo. The wizards assumptions seem to be spot on. As a test, they move the torch a bit closer to the substance. It sizzles and bubbles in the heat, giving off an acrid smoke that burns your nose and throats as you breath. The mage slowly moves the thief's torch hand away from the tar-like substance before it ignites the entire place up in a blazing inferno.

Looking up at the branches above your heads, you find that there is no actual ceiling to this place. The normal trees and foliage growing up out of the walls have entwined together to form what looks like a normal jungle canopy above. You can only assume that the plants and trees of this place have grown up naturally with the rest of the jungle outside these walls, creating an interesting open air roof of sorts.

The passage to the west advances a few more feet before ending abruptly in a massive copper colored portcullis-like gate. The gate looks very solidly built and stretches the whole width of the passage. There is no visible means to open the gate, and no lock can be found on it. It appears to swing inward once it is opened, but it is currently solidly held in the closed position.

The passage straight ahead appears to turn back upon itself after another 10 feet. No light or sound comes from that direction. The good Brother suggests setting up a small camp to rest through the night so the exploration can be made in the daylight when everyone is fresh.

Actions?

map:

IMG_2017.JPG (230.77 KiB) Viewed 387 times

Brother Gilbert 8/8 3/3 first
Jax 10/10
Gramble 10/10
Fieghtus 14/14
Jeevus 3/3
Storm 8/8 4/4 first
Saracen 25/25 4/4 first 1/1 second
Avalaa 12/12 CL DM RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Rollo 17/17
Eawad 6/6 Torch
Judson 14/14
Maag 9/9

Lighting will obviously be necessary in here. I will keep track of that by indicating what light source is being carried, and by whom. Please let me know if you ever want to add to or lessen the torchlight.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

The mage looks at Brother Gilbert questioningly. "So, then, are we going to set our camp outside?" He jerks his thumb towards Maag. "I was beginning to think we had decided it was better to stay out of the bugs and risk being attacked by whatever lives here than staying outside WITH the bugs and still being attacked by whatever lives here."

Avaala will wait for the rest of the company to comment. In any event, he...

Avaala relaxes a little as he notes the nature of the "ceiling". "If we DO stay inside, at least we can have a campfire, if we are careful to keep it small and away from the creosote. We might not be able to hack our way through that," he says, pointing at the overgrowth above them. "But it will allow smoke to drift up and away, so as not to suffocate us.


Almost as an afterthought, he adds, "If you DO decide to bring out some of the creosote, don't handle it with your bare skin. Most people who handle it find it to be a very nasty irritant."

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Noting what the others have said about the roof being merely the overgrowth of the jungle itself, Jax goes back to the copper gate. He suspects he may have thought of a weakness in the thing. He looks along the top edge of the gate, expecting to see the foliage growing into the top of the fence. 'If that's the case,' he thinks. 'All we have to do is cut away a small section of the branches at the top of the gate and crawl through.'

He inspects the gate to test his hypothesis, and then, right or wrong, he reports his findings back to Brother Gilbert.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

I think it may be safe to camp inside near the entryway; at least fewer insects will find us a tasty meal. Both inside and outside have their hazards. A small fire, carefully tended will help with the insects and light. And we will need the usual series of watches through the night.

He is concerned about the spiders that attacked Orin. If the group is careful, it might make it back alive and in one piece.

[Storm11]

Storm settles down near the largest amount of foliage, drawing comfort from its proximity. He will look around the area for the herbs Saracen mentioned that create the big repellant.

Before settling down however, Storm will head as deep into the building as they have gone safely already & begins to cast a spell and once complete, spins around in a complete circle including upwards whilst opening his minds eye for spiders. cast locate animals.

[Storm11]

Saracen finishes his waterskin and lays it upon the ground. I am going to create some more water before we rest. If you are running low, place your waterskins near my own there and I shall call to Pholtus to bring us sustenance.

He will wait until everyone who wants to is ready and then cast create water in the waterskins.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala thanks Saracen and refills his waterskins.

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

"Thank you, Saracen," says Jax as he adds his waterskin to those being refilled.

[wolfpack]

If we must, but staying inside with the gods know what trapped on several sides doesn't sound like the soundest idea

[Xaxyx]

Eawad Driftwood

Glancing back and forth at those conversing, Eawad once again feels a bit out of his element. He keeps his opinions to himself, while occasionally glancing at the odd-looking portcullis.

[kruk]

Judson fills his water skin as well, nodding Saracen as he does so. Thank you. Looking around he states out loud. Shall we set up a night watch?

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jaxsen nods. "I can stand a watch."

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

I will leave it to the seasoned fighters as to a safe place to camp. That is not my skill. He also adds his waterbag to the collection, and thanks Saracen for filling it.
I will join you, Jaxsen, if you would like.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Cheers!" Maag calls to his halforc brethren as he adds his waterskin to the pile. "I reckon if we're gonna camp at dis intersection, we should at least take a butcher's at wos around dat corner, before it sneaks up and eats us."

Maag slowly approaches the corner and carefully takes a peek around, hoping his ability to see in the dark will reveal anything threatening that might be lurking there.

[wolfpack]

We should watch 2 on shift one watching for anything trying to come in and one watching for anything deeper inside trying to come out.