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Feargus
"No, a terrible plan would be to start with charging in with steel flashing. At least we're trying something else. If it doesn't work, then we charge in with steel flashing."

Feargus also aids with gathering wood for the bonfire. He then prepares his crossbow and keeps it close at hand with his bolts.

Zellar

Before the fires are lit, Zellar will gather everyone - and she will, indeed, attempt to gather everyone - into a 20' square, ask them to bow their heads, and lift her hands in prayer to Mnencir. She will call upon the god for his wisdom, guidance and benisons. And then she will cast bless upon the entire party (excepting any poor mercs who can't get into the square).

Newton will thank Zellar for the blessing.

Immediately before the fires are lit he will cast Mirror Image followed by Barkskin on himself and then cast Entangle on one of the trees, choosing one that he think would be a main thoroughfare for the spiders fleeing the tower.

Zellar

Following the blessing, Zellar casts protection from evil on herself while Newton is casting.

Telemachus

After all the spells are cast, the mage finds a position where he can reach the roof of the tower, and the surrounding trees, with a Fireball spell. Casfrea remains with him.

"We should set up the mercs so that they can fire upon the tower and the trees, depending on where the spiders come from."

Gardo

Gathering his things up, he looks to his two henchwomen. "Okay, let's get the bows out and be ready. Be mindful of the door, there is nothing that says they won't come out it instead of the rooftop." The trio will set up to watch the doorway and have clear shots of the top of the tower.

Feargus

"Mardan Cy! Get over here and light that fire and then start waving your bedroll at it to see if the smoke starts filling the stable."

Fourthmonth, Twentyfourthday
Hex 237.118
The Abandoned Watchtower

A cunning plan is set into motion. The mercenaries are arrayed around the building, bows drawn, while the adventurers also position themselves. A fire circle is made near the door, pile high with freshly cut branches and leaves. It is lit, with the assistance of a flask of oil, and before long is burning smokily. Before too long five enormous arachnids, the size of small ponies, with glistening black carapaces, emerge from the building. Two scuttle forth from the main door of the tower at ground level, headed for the fire, while three exit from the top of the tower, leaping to nearby trees along the strands of webbing.

Newton tells Ribar to stay back and use his bow where he can, and to support with healing where necessary.

Zellar

"To battle!"

Zellar was helping fan the fires, but now draws her scimitar and moves to engage the nearest spider.

Telemachus

As soon as Telemachus sees two spiders emerge from the door of the tower at ground level, he casts Fireball at them, targeted in such a way so that the fireball envelops the area in front of the tower but not inside.

Gardo

Seeing the spider come out the door, he holds his fire until the last possible second. "Notai, Wulfka, hit those guys in the trees. I'll make sure this one doesn't get to you."

beniliusbob wrote:Zellar

"To battle!"

Zellar was helping fan the fires, but now draws her scimitar and moves to engage the nearest spider.

I'm assuming there's little time to wait for a volley of arrows, but if there is, she'll wait for that before engaging.

Can my dervish trance stack with bless?

The Fight

The spiders are fast, but the adventurers are faster. A fireball erupts by the main door, immolating the two on the ground. Arrows fly, piercing chitinous carapaces quickly, and those spiders that survive the rain of arrows are slain by those on the ground as soon as they descend. It is not much of a fight.
The Aftermath

The interior of tower and stables is cloaked in thick, chaotic strands of webbing. It will likely take several hours to clear and search both buildings. Two things are apparent, however:

*The interior of the tower has been burnt out, leaving only the masonry shell of the exterior structure, and the roof collapsed, leaving the tower an empty shell, open to the elements. Dark shapes and shadows can be seen suspended here and there.

*The tower is connected via an opened doorway to what looks to be the stables behind. The whole opening is choked with webs.

Telemachus

"Well, that went about as well as can be expected. We have the rest of the day. Let's get the mercs to start chopping down the webs. Tell them to mind the dark shapes and shadows. Some could be corpses, others could be spider nests. One or two party members should be on watch to help if it turns into a fight. Casfrea and I can take first watch."

Zellar

"Well done! This may seem a trifle, but even small victories are important steps along the path to the rekindling of human civilization."

Zellar assists the mercs who are cutting down the webs, worried that some of the shapes may be kinsmen from Kimrid who must be cut free and properly buried.

Feargus

Feargus lowers his crossbow and tries to hide the fact that the fight was so fast he didn't get a shot off. He silently slides the bolt out of the crossbow and puts it in his back pocket. "Indeed. Well done."

"Mardan Cy - Grab your dagger and get in there to cut down those webs! It's a shame the tower's just a shell. I was looking forward to a proper tower assault."

Feargus then goes about organizing the mercenaries into a proper defensive ring around the tower.

Newton assists the merc in removing the webs, ready to use his Sleep spells if we get attack by swarms of baby spiders.

Fourthmonth, Twentyfourthday
Hex 237.118
The Abandoned Watchtower

It takes three hours to clear and search the tower. Most of the dark shapes seem to be animals -- deer, a bear, a couple of wolves -- although there are some ancient and dessicated orc corpses, and two that appear as if they were once humans, but Zellar does not recognize them.

A modest amount of treasure is found:

*242 copper coins
*123 silver coins
*54 gold coins
*Rolled under a collapsed piece of masonry is an emerald. It's not very large, and appears to be somewhat flawed, but it could be worth about 200 gold.

It is now approximately 1:00 in the afternoon.

Telemachus

The mage examines the structure, including what looked to be the stable. He's looking for trap doors or other evidence that there's a basement.

If he comes up empty, he pronounces himself ready to continue.