Map Notes:
All squares cost double movement except brown (clear) squares (unless you have a crawl speed).
All green squares block vision and inflict a -1 to hit for each square (including adjacent).
Trees block movement (except crawling) and sight and provide cover.
Blue squares are marsh and up to 1' deep water.
Grey lines are vertical web walls restricting movement but not eliminating vision.
Dashed grey lines in lower section of map indicate web walls that do not go all the way down - they would allow a medium humanoid to crawl below them.
| Initiatives & Notes: | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ini | Name | Location | Hit Points | AC | Saves | Notes/Effects | |
| 26 | Swarm 1 | G5 | 15/19 | 20 (FF14, T20) | F+5/R+9/W+1 | GONE | |
| 24 | Swarm 3 | G-1 | 5/19 | 20 (FF14, T20) | F+5/R+9/W+1 | GONE | |
| 17 | Swarm 4 | C0 | 4/19 | 20 (FF14, T20) | F+5/R+9/W+1 | GONE | |
| 16 | ? enemy 1 | A2 | 14/36 | 17 (FF15, T12) | F+5/R+6/W+6 | GONE | |
| 14 | Avegnum | F3 | 85/108 | 22 (FF18, T16) | F+11/R+9/W+5 | Poisoned: 2 STR DMG | |
| 13 | Kaellanna | (F3) | -4/51 | 21 (FF18, T13) | F+8/R+7/W+12 | Poisoned (x2): 4 STR DMG, STABLE, Bagged | |
| 11 | Vel B. | F4 | 10/45 | 19 (FF16, T13) | F+4/R+6/W+7 | Fatigued, 3 non-lethal DMG, Poisoned (x5):12 STR DMG, Entangled, Paralyzed. | |
| 10 | Tara | F2 | 12/45 | 20 (FF11, T15) | F+7/R+10/W+3 | Fatigued, 3 non-lethal DMG, poisoned (x3): 6 STR DMG | |
| 7 | Swarm 2 | B5 | 15/19 | 20 (FF14, T20) | F+5/R+9/W+1 | GONE | |
Before any of you can react to the carpet-like approach of crawling spiders they advance even further and closer to the stalled and exhausted group. As they approach they split into four distinct large sized swarms of individual spiders. One one swarm makes it to the group, and that swarm only begins engulfing Vel, while the other three take less direct routes.
ReplyDeleteThe swarm bites Vel a thousand tiny times for 5 HP damage and inject him with poison causing 3 STR damage. If Vel is still in the spiders at the beginning of his turn he will be nauseated for 1 round as well.
"Frell," Avegnum mutters as the spiders come into sight. Remembering a past battle with innumerable beetles he realizes that he should've prepared for a situation like this but in lue of that, he opts for simply smashing and crushing, hoping that his attacks might have a discernible effect. Moving to H4 he uses:
ReplyDeleteMithral Tornado Maneuver vs.Swarm 1:1d20+16-1+2=33
Damage:1d10+9=19
Not waiting to see how effective his attacks really are, Avegnum spares a quick glance for Kaellanna, "How do we deal with these beasties, druid? It looks like more are on the way!"
"Bwah!" Vel cries in dismay as the teeming multitudes of eight legged creatures swarm him, crawling, biting. Not wanting to tarry a moment longer amongst their fangs and many legs, the wispy black cloak that flanks him like wings flares and surges, bearing him ten feet aloft above the spider swarm. Waiting for his nerves and stomach to settle, he worries about what to do next.
Vel flies himself free of the immediate danger. Weaving his way upward between bushes, vines, branches and various other clinging vegetation he attains the height desired, but realizes it is only time until the swarm crawls up the plants around him and once again envelopes him if they so desire, as the vegetation is no lighter here than on the ground.
ReplyDeleteAlton swirls his weapon around him, but when it finally hits the spot the swarm is in he finds the spiders have managed to scurry out of the way, or else he simply missed. Only one spider is killed, though this does nothing to impede the swarm.
"Ugh! 'Repel Vermin' would have been perfect for this scenario, but I had no idea we were going to end up in a jungle..." Kaellanna laments, "well maybe a giant ball of fire might do something..." She casts "Flaming Sphere" at the middle of the nearest spider swarm [a rolling ball of fire; 2d6 damage; ref neg 17; lasts 9 rounds and can move around each round].
ReplyDeleteTara doesn't like the spiders and is still not feeling well, so retreats to F3.
Kaellanna's ball of spongy fire erupts in the midst of the swarm next to her (I5). If sputters and fits as it struggles to burn in the vast humidity. Though it does burn, it burns less than expected due to extreme dampness. The swarm of spiders does not like the fire, but does not run from it - only separating exactly where the fire sits and swarming around it as if less effected by fire than spiders should be (2 DMG).
ReplyDeleteA fourth swarm (#2) of crawling death quickly advances on the group, before the previous three swarms continue there attack on the group.
Swarm #1 rushes forward to swarm around Kaellanna and Alton and remove itself from the flaming ball of fire. They bite at the two party members causing 2 points of damage to each. Neither is poison, however.
Swarm #3 moves around the marshy area to also engulf the group, but only makes it to Alton, who takes another 5 points of damages from the swarm but avoids poisoning again.
Swarm #4 moves around and between the watery area to swarm over Kaellanna, causing 4 more damage but not poisoning her, though she is nauseated for 1 round due to the swarming and swirling spidery vortex.
Out of the dappled light above the party sees two much larger spiders approaching from the same direction except farther up in the trees. Both 5' arachnids quickly crawly over and down ending at 60' above ground level.
Avegnum grits his teeth and moves through the spider swarm to K3 while he furiously tries to remember how the group had managed to overcome the beetle battle back in Sharn's sewers. A brief flash of melancholy threatens to settle in at the thoughts of the old group and all of those that had died since then, but the tangible danger just feet away focuses his mind and he calls out, "That's right! The blighters don't like fire! I can see in the dark so I don't have any torches but if I can get one I could really help out."
ReplyDelete(Can I ready and try an improvised attack to hit any of the swarms that come near Avegnum with the flat of his blade in order to kill more than one spider?)
Hearing his companion's call, Vel reaches for his belt and pulls out a Wand of Grease in his left hand. Taking careful aim he releases the stored magic to occupy GH67, splashing two of the swarms with slippery, oily, and hopefully flammable liquid. "Hey Kaellanna, see if your fire friend can fry up some spiders en masse." Hearing scuttling above, Vel can just make out monstrously sized spiders moving down from the canopy, "We've got their big brothers coming down too everybody, watch out!"
Alton moves and readies himself for an attack, though he knows from memories that a weapon attack will have little or no effect on a swarm, though elemental augmentations to the weapon will effect the swarm fully.
ReplyDeleteVel greases the area he aimed at but suddenly realizes that contrary to the name of the spell and the name of his wand there is no actual grease on the ground, and therefore nothing to actually burn. Additionally neither swarm of spiders appears initially effected by the greasiness - neither swarm falls prone, but Vel is not absolutely sure what a spider looks like if it slips and falls.
Vel will also try to deduce with a Knowledge Arcana if his Eldritch Blast attacks might have any effect on the swarms.
ReplyDeleteVel is hopeful that the eldritch blast may affect the swarm since it is baleful magical energy and Alton has already remembered that energy effects have an impact on swarms. However, he is uncertain of the meaning of the particularly nasty looking nature of the spider swarms the group is facing. He beieves they are not normal spiders, but he wishes he had studied more and spent less time zapping things and communing with dark powers he is only beginning to understand.
ReplyDelete"Eww spiders eww I feel sick..." Kaellanna moves to F2 while the fire sphere continues rolling around, moving to H5.
ReplyDeleteTara sees the giant spiders and growls... She moves to D3 and prepares to attack them if they get too close.
When Kaellanna moves out swarm she was in and between the trees he keen elvish eyes finally see the spider webs running between trees she is now in the midst of. The thick tendrils of spider web could obviously stop a person, and may have even been set up as a trap for prey. Unfortunatly, both her and her cat are now caught between enwebbed trees and enraged swarms running from a firery ball. The ball of fire burns both swarm 1 and swarm 4 for two more points, and further illustrates how these spiders do not burn well, nor does the vegetation, with all the wetness and moisture.
ReplyDeleteSwarm #2 scrambles and slips it's way upward and over, just barely making it to surround Vel 10' up. Through they bite him as best they can the damage reduction he posses keeps them from penetrating him, causing him damage, and possibly poisoning him again.
Swarm #1 moves away from the fire and into the trees with Keallanna and Tara. Avoiding the open area the swarm surrounds and covers Tara doing 2 DMG in bites but not poisoning Tara.
Swarm #3 rushes Avegnum (provoking AoO) before covering him. He takes 5 DMG, and is also not poisoned by the bites.
At this point Vel sees and new creature coming toward the group. At first all he can see it that it is basically humanoid in shape, but also has large fiendish-looking wings. From a distance of will over 100' up and away the creature come barreling, half falling, half climbing, half gliding down to a position only 50' above the ground and only 20' from Vel. Now he can see more of it's horrific form. Still basically humanoid in fundamental form, it's face a quite reminiscent of a spiders with extra large mandibles, fangs or enlarged teeth. Vel can see the creatures great bat-like fiendish wings resemble monstrosities he has made dream of after days of discovering new warlock powers. The creature appears naked, though it's skin is covered in dark scales and patches of tufts of mammalian fur. It is a great purplish color, lighter on it's abdomen, and darkest at it's clawed hands and feet. Even as bestial as the creature appears, with red and black eyes, it's controlled descent, and expressive face give away an indication of an intelligence far greater than any mere animal, beast, or vermin. Most especially when it stops, looks Vel directly in his eyes then above him at spider #2 and lets out a hissing screatch as well as a purposeful smile and wink at the warlock.
Spider #1 practically runs between the branches and trunks of the jungle before letting go and dropping straight down almost on to Kaellanna. Stopping it's self only a few feet above her it bites at her and hits (24) causing 10 DMG, but not poising her. Kaellana can feel something extra in the bite, not simply physical damage, but something which hates and attacks her goodness.
Monstrous spider #2 does basically the same thing against Vel, except it misses Vel with it's venom dripping fanged maw.
Swarm #4 slips it's way out of the grease and away from the fire. It lurches forward and carpets both Kaellanna and the spider attacking her. Biting her for an additional 2 DMG, the swarm does nothing offensive to the larger spider. Again Kaellanna avoids the effects to the spider venom.
The group now realizes, if it had not before, that it has fallen in to some kind of arachnid trap set long before they arrived here.
Avegnum tries to smash parts of Swarm #3 (AoO) with the flat of his blade(1d20+16-4-1=26 doing 1d10+9=18) but not waiting to see the results, eagerly trudges towards Kaellanna (H4) where one of the monstrous spiders has descended to the jungle floor; a foe he might just be able to squash.
ReplyDeleteVel makes Knowledge Arcana/Planes checks of the newcomer to try and glean some details of the being that would seemingly be capable of conversing and controlling the spiders. Surely provoking an opportunity attack, the warlock flutters to G4 before turning to face his previous attackers. Eager to vent some of his pent up rage and energy, Vel summons the dark power that suffuses his very soul to his right hand and releases a frightful chain blast at Monstrous Spider 2 (1d20+10-1=19Vs.Touch, doing 5d6=16, Will 9<17:Failed so Shaken 1min) which then arcs towards Swarm 2 (1d20+10-1=27Vs.Touch, doing half 1st target damage=8).
Again, Alton's attack with his weapon proves functionally worthless. Through trial and error he is certain physical attacks with weapons have no effect on swarms, or at least not spider swarms, or perhaps it's just these particularly nasty looking and seemingly uncanny of not actually intelligent spiders when they swarm.
ReplyDeleteVel's knowledge reveals ... the new winged creature is some kind of fiend, some kind of half-fiend creation that is, and while an outsider, it is native to this world. He does know know what the original, or the non-fiend half, of the creature is, but he does know that as a half fiend it retains certain characteristics. Among these are the ability to smite good creatures for extra damage once a day, it will likely posses some number of spell-like abilities focusing on evil and darkness, destruction, death and negative energy, it is resistant to spells, has darkvision out to 60', immune to poison, and moderatly resistant to acid, cold, electricity, fire, and physical damage. It is not particularly vulnerable to anything, though it is undoubtably evil.
As Vel flutters away from his present location, the large spider above him strikes out trying to bite him. The spider hit, though only does 1 DMG, but the venom seeps in to Vel and cause 2 points of STR DMG. Weakened as he is from heat, altitude, and multiple spider venoms he does manage to make his way to his desired location.
While the energy from his blast nearly kills the monstrous spider it has no effect on the spider swarm.
I apologize. I must have not finished putting Kaellana in the Myth Weaver site. Because of this i thought she had a +5 to spot when she actually has a +17. She would have seen the spider web even before the battle began.
ReplyDeleteKaellanna takes a 5ft step to E2 and makes a concentration check (19) before casting call lightning (lvl 3 druid spell, takes a round to cast). Meanwhile, the flaming sphere continues rolling about and moves to I6.
ReplyDeleteTara takes a 5ft step to E3 and full-attacks the giant spider in F2. She bites it (20 to hit) for 8 damage, claws at it and misses (14 to hit), and claws at it again (18 to hit) for 5 damage.
After Vel flies to G4 he settles to the ground, unable to fly any more due his weakened state from poisoning and exhaustion.
ReplyDeleteThe Flaming sphere rolls over and jumps up into the air to burn swarm 2, but due to the wetness or the unusual nature of the swarm it id unaffected by the fire this time. It also falls short of affecting the monstrous spider which is another 5' above it.
Next round Kaellanna will only have a standard action after the casting since she took a move action this round as well as casting a full round spell.
Swarm 2 rushes down from where it had attacked Vel to further attack Vel and Avegnum since they are close to each other (provokes AoO from both), yet again showing a level of intelligence beyond the expectation of regular spiders. Swarming around both of then it bites them, though Vel's damage reduction again saves him from both the bites and the poison. Alton takes 5 DMG and is again unaffected by the poison due to his vast physical nature.
Swarm 1 shifts over 5' (provoking AoO from Tara and Kaellanna) and bites at Tara (4 DMG) and Kaellanna (2 DMG). Kaellanna resists the spiders' venom but Tara does not and takes 2 points of STR DMG.
Swarm 3 advances on Vel and Alton, biting at both. After provoking AoO the swarm sinks it's fangs into both (Vel takes 2 DMG, Alton takes 1 DMG), and attempts to poison them (Vel saves, but Alton does not fro 2 STR DMG).
The unknown fiend-like, spidery biped creature rushes through the branches and trunks overhead to D4. The whole while it screams out metallic-sounding orders. Though it is apparent it i telling the spiders what to do, to some extent, it is also obvious that it is not speaking in a full language, or at least not with full sentence structure. Even so, the individual sounds are nothing like any language any of the characters have heard.
Spider 1 takes a 5' step to E1 (providing itself with cover from the tree and webbing, +4 AC, +2 Reflex saves), showing it's intelligence as well. From there it launches an attack against Kaellanna. It bites her for 3 DMG and tries to inject her with poison, which Kaellanna just barely manages to save against.
Spider 2 is still shaken, but moves over and down into square I5 which provides it cover (+4 AC, +2 Ref) and immunity from AoO, and gets it away from the framing sphere. From it's covered perch the spider bites at Avegnum but misses.
Swarm 4 also takes a 5' step to cover and surround Kaellanna and Tara. Biting at both it attaempts to poison them as well (Tara: 3 DMG, Kaellanna: 3 DMG).
A predatory grin spreads on Avegnum's face as a devious plan starts to form in his mind. Taking a 5ft Step to I3, the diminutive warrior reaches into his handy haversack and pulls out a pouch full of Dust of Dryness. With luck, the water absorbed by the dust would prove devastating to the spider swarms, only time would tell. With a dark chuckle, "I haven't had fun drowning spiders since I was a kid all the way back in Sigilstar."
ReplyDeleteSeeing his companion saunter over to a pool of water and pull out a bag, a strange tactical option given the current situation, Vel tries to focus on all of the threats around him, assuming that Alton is up to something useful. The poison coursing through his blood feels like it has set his body aflame but he manages to look up into the tree at D4 and mutter, "Hopefully you won't be smiling after this, friend."
Attack vs.? Enemy 1:1d20+10-8=13vs.T:Hit! Damage:5d6=22
Chain vs. Monstrous Spider 2:1d20+10-5=22vs.T:Hit! Damage:11
For a moment, the swelling pain in Vel's body is forgotten as a thick torrent of flaring purple-white energy erupts from his arm, nearly blasting his two targets from their perches in the trees. Seeing the druid's current state, Vel says encouragingly, "YES!! WE CAN HURT THEM! Alton's doing something... we'll be there soon, just hold on!"
(Vel was supposed to have 5ft Stepped to F4 too)
ReplyDeleteAnd if possible as a free action, Avegnum will drop the Dust of Dryness into the water at J2.
ReplyDeleteAlton drops the dust in and about 5/6 of the water disappears as the dust coalesces into a mud color marble which floats on the surface of the remaining liquid.
ReplyDeleteVel's eldritch/fiendish blast obviously affects both the unknown winged biped and the monstrous spider. Both are obviously unhappy at having been blasted.
Kaelllanna concentrates! (20, 19, 30, she makes all 3!) A lightning bolt shoots down and hits D3 possibly dealing 5 damage (3d6 = 3,1,1) (ref half DC18).
ReplyDeleteTara takes a 5 ft step to E2 and attacks the monstrous spider in E1- biting it (19 to hit) for 9 damage, clawing it (18 to hit) for 3 damage, and clawing it again (but missing- 11 to hit).
Kaellanna's electric bolt jolts the tiny spiders sending a dozen or so popping and hissing like oily pop corn. As calling the first electric jolt is part of the casting Kaellanna still retains a standard action this round to do something with if she desires.
ReplyDeleteSince Kaellanna is already in location E2, I will proced as if Tara moved to location F2 unless otherwise indicated.
Oops yes, I meant F2.
ReplyDeleteKaellanna moves the burning sphere to H5.
Kaellanna's sphere of fire burns it's way to swarm 3 which had so far not been touched. Though it sputters at the wetness it kills more spiders than any other burning attempt so far.
ReplyDeleteSwarm 2 moves over Vel and bites at him but his infernal warlock nature resists both the biting and the possible poison.
Swarm 1 moves to cover both Tara and Kaellana. Kaellanna takes 6 DMG, while Tara only takes 4. Kaellanna resists the poison again, but Tara does not. She takes an 2 points of STR DMG.
Swarm 3 moves quickly away from the fire to engulf Vel, who takes 3 DMG, but avoids poisoning.
The unnamed enemy moves to the large tree next to Vel while moving down along the branches so as to be only 15' from the ground surface. At this point it pulls a sticky webby substance from it's abdomen and hurls it at Vel. As the ball of goo flies the 15' between the two combatants it expands out into an independent web shape before landing on and around Vel, who is now entangled to the spot he occupies (1/4 speed,-2 to attacks, -4 DEX, concentration required to cast spells/spell-like abilities). [color=silver][b] Not smiling, hungry! [/b][/color] the creature roars at him in an accented, metallic & clicking, though obviously Common sentence.
Monstrous spider 1 takes an 8-legged 5' crawl to the other tree next to Kaellanna, away from Tara, before striking out at her with it's arachnid mandibles. It bites Kaellanna for 5 DMG and tries to inject her with poison. Kaellanna is finally poisoned and takes 2 STR DMG from the bite.
Monstrous spider 2, still shaken by the eldritch blast, manages to move above the fiery ball and directly above Vel. After positioning itself above him it bites at Vel and makes contact for 2 DMG, and injects Vel with potent spider venom which robs him of much of the little strength he had remaining (4 STR DMG).
Spider swarm 4 simply remains where it is and continue biting at Kaellanna and Tara. Tara take 5 DMG, while Kaellanna takes 4 DMG. Both are subject to poisoning and both take an additional 2 points of STR DMG.
Everyone please make note of hoe much strength damage you have taken and apply it to attacks, DMG, encumbrance, etc, if you have not already.
The players are now up.
Avegnum picks up the absorbed water in marble form from where it floats and, cursing the trees that block his view, shifts over to H4 to enter the final stages of his unorthodox attack.
ReplyDeleteThe adrenaline rush that had been surging through Vel's body seems to fade as the sticky web strands encompass his body. Sighing in resignation at what may come, the warlock settles against the strands, which he doubts he can escape from, and says fatalistically to the strange being, "Thanks for making my choice clear, spider man. If I cannot run, then I must fight and you'll be going down with me."
Struggling against the effects of poison and webbing, Vel attempts to aim his arm at the enemy (Entangled Concentration DC19:1d20+6=22-Success!) and looses his innate energy in a last ditch effort to buy his companions time, hoping that his toughened skin will resist the monstrous spider's pincers as he casts.
Frightful Chain Blast vs.? Enemy 1:1d20+10-2-2-2=13:Hits! Damage:5d6=21
Frightful Chain Jump vs.Monstrous Spider 1:1d20+10-2-2-2=9:Misses!
Sighing in exhaustion, Vel watches as the arcing discharge bursts against the foliage next to the spider.
Vel can see he hit, can see the energy approach and probably impact the creature, but what he does not see is damage and death as he expected. Somehow, by the grace of a god he does not know and would not pray to except for the power to eradicate it's followers and minions, though it would not likely allow such a thing unless it were a god of a chaotic or power hungry nature. Somehow, his energy dissipates without effect, and one of his last sights is the face of a resigned, startled and fearful arachnid, demonic humanoid changing to relief and happiness. Not a sight he wishes to repeat, even out of combat, but he finds the emotional responses some how humanizing on the face of this horrific monster trying to, presumably, eat him.
ReplyDeleteKaellanna directs another lightning bolt to E3 and moved the flaming sphere to G4.
ReplyDeleteTara takes a 5ft step to F3 and attacks the monstrous spider 2 in F4 with a bite, but misses (6 to hit), a claw (18 to hit) that doesn't deal any damage, and then realizes she is too fatigued for clawing to have any affect and gives up.
The bolt to E3 hits both swarm 4 and swarm 3. Both swarms are nearly exterminated by the energy bolt. The flaming sphere dances around Alton and engages swarm 2 for 6 DMG.
ReplyDeleteSwarm 2 moves away from the flaming sphere and continues to chew away at Vel (3 DMG) while adding Tara to the menu (2 DMG). Again Vel fails his save and takes a further 1 STR DMG. Tara makes her save.
ReplyDeleteSwarm 1 moves over to cover Tara and Kaellanna. Both ladies take 6 DMG, and both ladies makes their saves against poison.
Swarm 3 continues consuming tara and Vel. Tara only take 1 DMG, while Vel take 2 DMG. Again, both make their saves.
The unknown enemy shifts to E5 and down to ground level. With no one to stop it the creature leans in to claws at Vel, who it hits for 4 DMG.
Monstrous spider 1 again bites at Kaellanna, though misses horribly.
Monstrous spider 2 5' steps to F5 (providing itself with cover) before making an attempt at biting Vel. Hitting Vel, the human takes 5 DMG but avoids poisoning.
Finally, Swarm 4 bites at Kaellanna and Tara for 5 and 2 DMG respectively. Having had her fill of spider bites, Kaellanna falls to her feet in a heap of dying elven meat. Tara avoids poisoning yet again.
Please note, in the map above there are two swarms in each location showing a swarm.
"NO!" Avegnum cries as the druid is overwhelmed. Muttering silent apologies to Tara, Avegnum takes aim and lobs the compressed water sphere at her feet in an attempt to disperse the spiders that have so ravaged the group. (1d20+14-2=17)
ReplyDeleteAlton throws his little mud-colored bead at the location Tara is in. As soon as the bead hits there is an instantaneous deluge of 100 gallons of water covering the space, the cat and hitting every swarm of spiders in the conflict. The 800 pounds of water exploding around tara has the resultant effect of washing away the swarms. Some spiders drown, some are crushed, but most are simply washed far from the location they used to occupy. They immediately begin trying to recover themselves, but for the moment at least, the swarm are routed.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the effect of Alton's aqua attack, Vel's sluggish mind comes up with another ploy to try out in order to save the group. Calling out to the spider man Vel says, "I know you understand me, friend, and given the damage I have inflicted on you, and that of my friend's most recent attack on your companions, wouldn't you see this conflict ended peacefully? You may be protected for now, but what of your two large friends? Could they last this conflict?" (Bluff Roll)
ReplyDeletePlaying upon what Vel is trying, Avegnum reaches one hand into his handy haversack, just as he had done when reaching for the Dust of Dryness and holds it there. Meanwhile, he salutes to the spider man with his sword and says, "You and yours fight well, stranger, and I'm sorry for entering your land uninvited. We are lost and would like help getting out of here. Maybe we could assist you with something in compensation for direction?" (Diplomacy Roll)
Alton tries to quickly make nice with the creature his group was just trying to kill through a combination of diplomatic means, and intimidating gestures.
ReplyDeleteThe creature screams once in it's metallic, clattering multi-octave voice and then replies, "Good ... leave food, go that way ... leave home, go around" The creature points off in the distance beyond the large tree it previously occupied (D4), then gestures around and between the other large trees in the immediate area. It then begins backing up and away, as do the monstrous spiders near Vel and Kaellanna as if they understood something about the conversation that has just begun.
Which part is Vel trying to lie about?
Vel's trying to lie about the group's ability to replicate Alton's swarm dispersing water attack.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the arachnid forces withdraw slightly, Avegnum calls out to Tara who is surely in distress about what has happened to the druid, "Easy girl, we'll be able to help Kaellanna in a few moments, just don't eat any more spiders."
ReplyDeleteThe creature yells again in it's metallic voice, "Leave food. Get out. We won't hunt."
ReplyDeleteKaellanna gets an 87 in an attempt to auto-stabilize.
ReplyDeleteTara is now completely soaked and distressed about her elven friend. She meows and nuzzles her, hoping it will rouse her.
At this point there is a bit of a stand off as the creatures warily watch the party and the party stands around being a party. No one moves from their location for a good twenty seconds. The spiders and spidery person look around. The beasts look at the one in charge and at the enemy right before them. The humanoid, spidery, fiend-influenced creature watches the party warily while the seconds tick away, as blood continues leaving Kaellanna and poison progresses through everyone's bodies.
ReplyDeleteNot wishing to test the limits of arachnid honor at the moment, Avegnum enters the flaming sphere's square and takes that damage if he is unable to avoid it, hoping that the flames would assist in his attempt to cut Vel free of the webbing engulfing him. "Hurry now, boy, Heal Kaellanna and dish out some rations for our acquaintances."
ReplyDeleteHopefully free of the sticky strands, Vel moves to F2 while drawing his Wand of Cure Light wounds and then Decieves the item, releasing its stored positive enregy into the druid's fallen form, healing 8 damage. "You'll be okay, you'll be okay..," the warlock whispers under his breath.
Avegnum makes it past the flaming sphere without any damage. As soon as he starts to cut Vel out the the winged creature yells "Shruct! Said leave food! Now everyone food!", and then crawls in a winged scramble up the jungle foliage 30 feet hiding behind trees and webbing.
ReplyDeleteMonstrous spider 1 moves over around the enwebbed area (G1) and up an additional 5'.
Monstrous spider 2 lunges at Vel trying to bite him and does so for 5 DMG. Poison is injected, and Vel can feel it working it's way through him before he is no longer able to move due to being helplessly paralyzed. He can still see, though, and watches what happens for the rest of the battle.
Meanwhile, all around the swarms that had been washed away and routed are beginning to gather again into cohesive forms. The swarms are reforming!
Avegnum still has a standard action to use this round since he was interrupted by the enemies actions. He is standing in the square with the fire, though it can not be seen, and will be subject to possible damage.
If Vel has any purely mental actions to take he can still do so.
Kaellanna needs to make another attempt to become stable.
Tara is free to act as an animal companion until (if) Kaellanna is dead.
"Well frell you, you multi-limbed spider spawn. You think you're so good hiding up in your goram tree? Ah well, cowards will be cowards. You wouldn't be all clackity clack if you were down here on my level, I mean, I'm only a couple feet tall, you've got to be double or even treble that! It just makes one wonder if you should be in charge of your buddies here if you can't even take me one on one...," Avegnum trails off at the end of his challenge. Having noted the possibility that the larger spiders and swarms understood portions of common, he attempts to confuse and divide them or entice the spider lord to descend to ground level where the deep halfling can mete out some punishment.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, attempting to solve two things at once, he quickly lashes out at the nearby spider and the webbing trapping Vel.
Steel Wind:1d20+15-1=32:Hit! Damage:1d10+7=14
Vel's Webbing:1d20+15-1=22:??? Damage;1d10+7=17
As spider chitin crunches and ichor oozes, Avegnum eyes the spider lord if possible, daring the being to come and strike him down.
Kaellanna rolled a 96 in an attempt to become stable, and it seems to have worked!
ReplyDeleteTara takes a 5 ft step to F4 and attacks the Monstrous Spider 2: bite missed (14 to hit), claw missed (5 to hit), but the last claw catches (19 to hit) and rips the spider open for 3 damage, killing it.
It is only now after most battles would have been fought and forgotten that the party is able to strike down two of their seven enemies.
ReplyDeleteOoC: Avegnum already killed spider #2, so I moved Tar to F2 to attack Spider #1, which she would have killed with 3 DMG.
The swarms of spiders are now finally able to reform from the watery assault inflicted upon them my Alton.
The unknown enemy #1 waves it's arms about a bit a screams out, causing a cold, cloying miasma of greasy darkness to temporarily surround the party and then vanish. It's it's wake it leaves Kaellanna damaged by it's raw evilness for 2, Tara damaged for 4, Alton damaged for 5 and Vel damaged for 3 as well as sickened, though he is incapable of expressing the sickness in his present state. With that the creator screams out again and then makes a hasty retreat.
Hacking at the acridly foul spider lord musk, Avegnum spits a gobbet of phlegm at the nearest spider swarm and assesses his options. Taking a 5ft Step to F3, the diminutive warrior reaches out and pick's up the bag of holding from his companion's paralyzed body. Weighing who needs to go into the bag first, he finally turns towards Kaellanna whose wounds appear to be clotting and tries to get her into the bag as gently as possible, dropping his greatsword at his feet. Hoping Tara would understand him, "We've got to get out of here before the swarms gets us so lend me your strength to get your companion into the bag, then we can get out of here."
ReplyDelete(I'm assuming the previous attack managed to cut through the webbing entangling Vel.)
As fast as the spider swarms approached the party they head off as four carpets of creepy-crawlies in the same direction as the unknown, winged, spidery, humanoid-like, fiendish influenced creature. As fast as the sounds of unknown certain death and dying approached the group, all sounds retreat leaving the party in the midst of hot wilderness hearing practically nothing except the creaking of the trees. The party is now left is a semi-water resistant enclosed area created by the interweaving of durable webbing between large and larger trees.
ReplyDeleteEying the green webbed walls that surround the group suspiciously, Avegnum picks up and slings his greatsword across his back before continuing with his previous task, and finishes putting Vel into the bag of holding. Through careful maneuvering, the halfling tries to get Vel and Kaellanna's heads to just stick out of the bag before drawing the opening almost closed so that they can breath.
ReplyDeleteLooking around at the spider lair, he has to admit that this might have been a good place to recuperate from the battle if the spiders had been destroyed, but as it was, there was no telling if or when they would return. Putting the bag of holding into the central portion of the handy haversack, Avegnum calls over his shoulder to his essentially disabled companions and down to Tara at his side saying, "Oh boy! How do you guys feel about the situation, stay here and potentially fight forces we already know, or head off into the jungle to face the unknown?"
Tara growls, grabs the bag with Vel and Kaellanna's heads sticking out of it, and starts to drag it away from the spider death camp.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAll party members gain 975 XP for this battle.
ReplyDeleteAs Tara assists in vacating the area, she pulls Avegnum forward off of his feet and he is only just able to break his fall with outstretched arms before face planting in the detritus of the jungle floor. The journey makes the warrior reconsider leaving since the sounds of battle seem to have driven some of the wild life from the immediate area, possibly making it slightly safer. Sighing in amusement at his actions, he takes the BoH out and lays it down so that he can pull Kaellanna and Vel from the bag. After doing so he puts it back in his haversack for safe keeping and takes out some flint and steel in an effort to start a fire amidst the humidity while he keeps watch over his companions for the next few hours.
ReplyDelete(Refreshing Maneuvers: Steel Wind, Mithral Tornado, Elder Mountain Hammer, Moment of Perfect Mind)
Vel, railing futilely against the poison's effects, focuses his mind and energy on healing his body as best he can with his Fiendish Resilience.