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

[OGRE MAGE]

Inside The Wooden Structure
Freeday, 5th of Goodmonth
Morning, Hot, Humid, Buggy Outside

The stragglers cross the new bridge to join the others, pushing the large group out into the next hallway. Both dogs growl pretty much nonstop, constantly looking up at the ceiling, but apparently not finding what they are looking for. Slowly advancing closer to the pit, the acrid smell and sticky tar is still quite prevalent here. Thankfully, no more spiders are seen, yet.

Jaxsen points out the circular spot above the 2 pegs sticking out of the wall to Brother Gilbert. Both of them shudder slightly when they think back on what might have happened to the last group that was in here.

Discussion commences about simply burning out the webs from the pit. Magg goes so far as to suggest that a bonfire might do the trick. Storm suggests that he could speak to the spiders, but they might not be to willing to talk once they are burning to death. Saracen expresses his displeasure of seeing another pit to cross while Judson takes up the rear guard, making sure nothing sneaks up on the group from behind.

Actions?

map:

IMG_2038.JPG (564.54 KiB) Viewed 711 times

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

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala, listening to the comments about burning out the spiders, reminds the company, "No. Remember? The creosote all over the walls? You start a fire, even in that pit, and hot embers will catch the walls, get them burning and choke us all to death in a matter of minutes. At the very best, we'll be scrambling back across that slime pit, trying not to fall in at a dead run. No. Please."

He reaches down and continues to scratch Rollo behind the ears, letting him know that his warnings are being heard. "I know, boy. Something's up there. I promise, if it comes down here, you can eat it."

[SirOwen]

Does the small 'x' in the corner of the spider pit represent anything we can see?

Jaxsen Reiter

Jax nods at the mage's words. He nods to him and says, "I did forget. Please forgive the lapse on my part."

Jax says,"If we cannot burn them out, then let us use their lair against them in another way. If the warriors in the group, with long weapons, will join me at the front, we might approach the pit and kill them as they try to climb out. If they don't die right away, we try to force them back into the pit and make them climb again." He seems to understand the threat the spiders pose, but continues. "The spell-casters and Warriors with shorter weapons, or bows and slings, need to watch the overhead spaces. The spiders have allies there, we have seen."

Jax doesn't ask for opinions with words, but the look on his face as he looks around the company definitely encourages advice.

[OGRE MAGE]

The X represents where Storm saw the large spider plop back into the pit. Nothing is seen there now other than more spider webs.

[wolfpack]

Gramble lifts his axe
maybe we should just go outside and burn this whole place to the ground.

[Jernau35]

Maag

[3d6] = 8

"Wot about that disc Gilbert? D'ya reckon it might 'av some effect if ya put it back on der pegs?"

Maag squeezes through the crowd and inspects the pegs to see if they are trapped in some way.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

He follows the others across the "bridge," walking cautiously. Upon hearing Maag and Jaxsen's comments about the pegs, he will get out the copper disk.
This must be where Orin found this item. I want to put it back where it belongs.With it in its proper place, perhaps we will not suffer his fate.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Listening to Brother Gilbert's words, Avaala nods. "Perhaps," he says. "Sympathetic magic often works in such ways."

The mage shrugs,"And, if not, we'll pick it up on the way out!"

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

"Or," adds Jaxsen. "The pegs might just be switches. When I was just an egg, I was taught that traps are often hidden behind valuables."

[Xaxyx]

Eawad Driftwood

Eawad isn't particularly comforted by any of the plans suggested, but without any more ideas to offer himself, remains silent.

[OGRE MAGE]

Inside The Wooden Structure
Freeday, 5th of Goodmonth
Morning, Hot, Humid, Buggy Outside

Both dogs continue to growl at the branchy ceiling as the party discusses their next steps. Maag looks over the pegs on the wall, but he doesn't find anything strange about them. Brother Gilbert takes out the copper disk again and places it back up onto the plain looking pegs. It fits perfectly, as if it was meant to be there all along, but nothing happens from the effort.

Avaala reminds the group what might happen if fire is used on the spider webs. Gramble suggests leaving this structure and burning the whole place to the ground on the way out.

Jax suggests that the fighters with reach weapons assemble at the edge of the pit and take the spiders on there. He gets little support from the others initially. He seems eager to hear any other suggestions.

Actions?

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

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

...watches the dogs and also looks up.
Something stirs above us. I fear we shall be attacked. Be on your guard. He makes sure his head is covered, just in case. He also regrets initiating this trip, and considers that returning to the village would be a good idea.

[Jernau35]

Maag

Slightly disgruntled that his plan to solve the problem with fire has been thwarted by common sense, Maag suggests an alternative.

"Before we start messin' wiv poisonous spiders, 'ow about we go back an' try openin' dat other door?"

[wolfpack]

Gramble grips his axe tightly ready for action.

Anything is better than just standing here with those things above us.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

Good Maag, that is a far more sensible idea.
He pauses, takes a deep breath and speaks to the group:
I think following this path is a fool's errand. This path may be a distraction, to draw visitors away from the other door at the entry. What say you to going back, before the spiders make a dinner of us?

[Storm11]

Saracen nods at that idea. The purpose of this mission was to see if we could relocate Beachtown here was it not? Unless there is a secure underground lair that we haven’t come across yet I think the answer to that question is a resounding NO! By all means let us try the other door, for without the possibility of fire we will not be able to deal with the spiders and their webs here. I will watch your retreat. the holy champion says moving to the edge of the first pit, his eyes and bow ready.

[Storm11]

Are you sure I couldn’t try and talk to them? Storm says glumly. Ignored by his taller companions the Druid hangs his head and moves over to the pit, and begins to cross it.

[2d6] = 8

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala nods at Saracen's words. "Although there might be some treasures here to be won, it was not treasure seeking that brought us here." he says evenly. "And, indeed, as a place to retreat for the people of Beachtown, this would be the proverbial fire to that frying pan. It would merely be a worse death for most of them."

"Which is not to say," he continues to Saracen. "That we might come back here, prepared for what we do know about the place, in search of some treasure."

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jax seems a bit crestfallen at all the talk of retreating and danger. "Are we certain that we are so outclassed? We are a powerful swarm, and likely more than a match for some spiders," he says. "I would not say that if there weren't so many of us. And as for a place for our hive to retreat, this might not be it now, but it might serve well after we clean it out."

[Xaxyx]

Eawad Driftwood

Determined to befriend the halfling -- and perhaps simply finding a way to distract himself from their current predicament -- Eawad follows the druid nimbly back over the first pit.

"Could you really talk to them," he says to Storm, "if you wanted to? The spiders, I mean. What would you say to them?"