fCraft Forums

<hafnium> Faewyn, Fahir, and Horlamin have been hired to gurad a caravan on its way from the kingdom of Amn to the trade town of Mosstone.
<hafnium> The caravan consists of grain from the Greenfields to the north
<hafnium> and its eventual destination will be calimport.
<hafnium> You are all traveling on the trade way, and are just north of mosstone
<hafnium> When you encounter, down the road, several smashed carriages.
<Faewyn> Check up ahead guys, wonder what happend there?
<Fahir> It has been quite stormy around here, maybe an accident?
<Horlamin> That many carts? That doesn't look like an accident to me.
<hafnium> The merchants in your caravan are getting nervous. The leader says, "Guards, get up there and see whats happened."
<Faewyn> Lets go guys.
<Faewyn> doesn't look like and accident to me..
<Fahir> Be wary for an ambush then
<hafnium> As you approach, you see distinct signs of a struggle
<hafnium> there is blood in puddles on the ground, but no bodies
<Faewyn> Shit, keep alert, they could still be around
<Faewyn> I'll check over ehre
<Horlamin> It looks like theyve taken the bodies
<Fahir> I´ll check the bush for bodies
<hafnium> Faewyn sees a huddled shape in the bushes.
* Faewyn begins to speak, in the general direction of the bushes..
<Faewyn> Hello, anyone there?
<Faewyn> Show yourself!
<Fahir> Found something?!
<hafnium> At first, you think the figure coming out of the bushes is a child
<hafnium> but as he gets up, you realize that is a halfling.
<Horlamin> Are you ok?
<hafnium> He is obviously distraught
<Faewyn> whats ya name fellar?
<Faewyn> who did this?
<hafnium> "They... they came so quickly..."
<Horlamin> Who came?
<hafnium> The halfling shudders
<Fahir> Where did they go?
<hafnium> "I.. they... g... g... goblins... I think"
* Faewyn faces others
<hafnium> "This road... its supposed to be safe"
<Horlamin> How many? and which way did they go?
<Faewyn> Only some goblins, guys, we should keep an eye out
<hafnium> "I don't know. I don't know."
<hafnium> The halfling begins to sob
* Fahir whispers ¨Can we take him with us?¨
<Faewyn> What did they want?
<Faewyn> did they take anythgin?!
<hafnium> "We... didn't have much."
<hafnium> "Sent to collect spices from the south."
<hafnium> "The most valuable thing we had was my... ledger"
<Horlamin> What was on it?
<Fahir> Where are the others?
<Faewyn> hm, sounds like they delibrately wanted something inspecific
<hafnium> "It records all my trade contacts. It will take years to reestablish everyhting"
<Horlamin> Goblins stealing trade contacts?
<Faewyn> do you have any competitors?
<Faewyn> in the trade..
<Faewyn> maybe it could be them?
<hafnium> "Everyone has competitors. We're all competitors."
<hafnium> "I didn't think I'd angered anyone though."
<Fahir> Are you wounded?
<hafnium> "No, no, I don't think so."
<hafnium> "I was able to get away in the confusion."
<Faewyn> is anyone missing?
<hafnium> "We all scattered. I didn't see anyone but the horses fall."
<Fahir> Can you fight?
<hafnium> "Me?", he squeaks
<hafnium> "Oh no, not me. I'm just a merchant."
<hafnium> "no no no"
* Faewyn turns uothers, and begins to talk
<Faewyn> we should bring him with us. for further questioning and perhaps he can take su to their location
<Fahir> Deal, if he makes a wrong move, he's all yours
<Horlamin> Sounds good
<Faewyn> You're coming with us, (asks name)
<Faewyn> we'll try help you out in return for something..
<Horlamin> Do you have any money on you little guy?
<hafnium> "Who's this, then?", asks the caravan master
<Fahir> Aye, a halfling who survived the raid
<hafnium> "I'm... Jonel"
<Faewyn> some goblins robbed him
<hafnium> "Jonel, sir. We're with the Adban trading company."
<Faewyn> So, jonel are you sure you don't remember where they went?
<hafnium> "I just stayed down. Not one for bravery, you see."
* Faewyn begins to check for lying
<hafnium> "Well, we better be on if there are goblins about."
<hafnium> says the caravan master
<Fahir> Be ready to defend yourself
<hafnium> "He rides with you if hes coming."
<Horlamin> Thats fine with us. Can't just leave him here.
<Faewyn> Lets get going
<hafnium> With that, the Caravan master gives the order, and the Caravan starts rolling again.
<Faewyn> don't wanna hang around
<hafnium> The rest of the trip to mosstone
<hafnium> albeit quiet
<hafnium> is uneventful
<hafnium> You arrive at the gates a few hours before dusk
<Faewyn> okay, you can stay in our apartment tonight
<hafnium> The merchants pay you the 5gp each you'd been promised
<Fahir> Thanks for escorting us guys, have save travels
<Faewyn> pleasure doing business
<hafnium> The town seems to be more... solemn than such towns generally are.
<Faewyn> looks like we'll have fun here. (sarcastic look)
<Fahir> You thinking what I think?
<hafnium> There is a large inn on the main street
<hafnium> a government office
<hafnium> some shops
<Faewyn> we should probably head to the inn
<Horlamin> Lets go check out the inn
<Faewyn> its getting late
<Fahir> I need to eat something *wiggles his belly*
<Faewyn> i wanna grab some liquor before the night ends, though
* Faewyn walks towards inn
<hafnium> The inn is a bit more lively than the rest of the town.
<hafnium> Its a popular stop for traders, and such men make up the majority of its patrons tonight.
<hafnium> There is a pub on the ground floor, and rooms up stairs
<hafnium> as is common for inns in these parts
* Horlamin walks up to the bar
<Faewyn> so whos up for the bar?
<Horlamin> Bartender can I get a pint of ale?
* Faewyn begins chatting some locals
<Faewyn> so, whats it like round these areas?
<Faewyn> get much trouble?
* Fahir jumps and tries to get up a chair
<hafnium> Okay
<hafnium> "here you go, sir," says the bartender
<hafnium> handing Horl a pint
* Horlamin lifts fahir up into the chair
<Horlamin> Thank you sir
<Fahir> Thanks
<hafnium> "And fer you, little feller?"
<Fahir> Got any dwarven ale?
<hafnium> "Aye, whatever you want little man."
<hafnium> The pint he hands fahir looks remarkably similar to Horl's
* Horlamin snickers
<hafnium> Faewyn: Most of the locals aren't talking very much
<Fahir> This´ll be enough for tonight
<hafnium> you here a few hushed whispers of... druids
<hafnium> hear*
* Faewyn walks to the bartender as locals do not seem friendly
<hafnium> "And for you, miss elf?"
<Horlamin> So bartender, have you heard any rumors lately?
<Faewyn> Surprise me! but also, whats this area like?
<hafnium> "Well, the entire town is talking about the damned druids you see."
* Fahir gets a straw from his backpack and starts to drink
<Faewyn> The druids?
* Faewyn looks interessted
<Faewyn> tell me more
* Horlamin gives fahir a strange look
<hafnium> "We had a pact with them, protect their forests from the traders, and they'd protect us from the beasts that lived within them."
<hafnium> "But theys all just up and left a week ago."
<hafnium> "Not a word since"
<hafnium> "And the critters in the woods have taken note."
<Faewyn> Hm, that sounds like something waiting to happen..
<Fahir> Any attacks?
<hafnium> "Poor Ilido's farm warm overrun last night."
<Fahir> Where´d one find this Ilido?
<hafnium> "Only his son made it out, poor child."
<hafnium> "He's with the priestesses in the temple, raving about giant spiders."
* Faewyn chugs down her drink..
* Fahir quickly sucks the straw
* Horlamin slowly sips his ale
<hafnium> "Will you be having another then?"
<Faewyn> how will that be mate?
<hafnium> A silver from each of ya
<Faewyn> how much is a room for the night?
* Faewyn throws a silve
<hafnium> Each of our rooms cost eight silvers
* Horlamin slides a silver towards the bartender
<hafnium> four bunks to a room
<Fahir> I´ll pay for the night
<Faewyn> do you have any single rooms?
<hafnium> "Aye, a small one on the end. Six silvers for that."
<Faewyn> i'll take it, loverly *passes 6 silver*
<Faewyn> night fellars
<Faewyn> get up early
* Fahir puts a gold on the bar
<Fahir> The rest is a tip
<hafnium> "Thank ye, little man."
<Fahir> Horlamin, mate, time to hit the bed?
<Horlamin> Yep
* Horlamin heads up to the room and goes to sleep
<Fahir> G´night barman
* Fahir jumps off the chair and follows him
<hafnium> The night passes calmly, and you all awake at dawn with the start of the street noise.
<hafnium> You can hear the calls of street vendors, selling their wares
* Faewyn gets dressed
* Horlamin gets dressed and heads downstairs
* Faewyn heads downstairs for something to eat
<Faewyn> morning bartender!
<hafnium> The pub below is emptier than last night
<hafnium> a few are sitting at tables, eating breakfast
* Fahir jumps out of bed, into his robes and goes down to the bar
<hafnium> "Ah, miss elf. Grievous news came in the night."
<Faewyn> Oh? what happend?
<hafnium> "Ilido's poor son, a spider must have bit him or somethn'"
<hafnium> "He faded away after dark."
<hafnium> "Such a shame, he was a fine lad."
<Horlamin> Ah thats too bad.
<Faewyn> thats dreadful news, what is the town doing about it?
<Fahir> My apologies
<Faewyn> we should check those woods...
<Fahir> Has the boy been buried?
<hafnium> "I hear lord Varyn is looking for aid in the matter. The town's guard is spread too thin to guard anything but the walls of the town proper."
<Faewyn> Well, as it happend
<hafnium> "The boy will probably be interred in the temple's crypt, knowing those priestesses."
<Faewyn> we just finished our last guard duty
<Faewyn> i myself wouldn't mind helping out
<Faewyn> what about you guys?
<Fahir> Someone has to do something about this
<Horlamin> Breakfast first?
* Horlamin looks hungry
<hafnium> "Hah, a man after me own heart."
* Faewyn sighs
<Faewyn> lol
<Horlamin> What do you server sir?
<hafnium> THe barkeep hands you each a tray with some bread and eggs."
<Horlamin> Thank you
<hafnium> "Thats what we serve."
* Faewyn looks with disgust at the food
* Horlamin finishes his food quickly
* Faewyn gobbles it down none the less.
* Horlamin looks at fahir
<Fahir> A man without a full belly is as a knight without his sword!
<Horlamin> You gonna eat that?
* Fahir rapidly eats
* Fahir burps
<Fahir> Aye, I am
<Faewyn> Hungry little fellar'
<Horlamin> How much do we owe you sir?
* Faewyn heads upstairs and gathers stuff.
<hafnium> Breakfast was part o the fee for the rooms, friends.
<hafnium> We're square.
<Faewyn> So, where can we find lord varyn
<hafnium> He'll be in his offices, probably
* Faewyn asks.
<hafnium> "Just down the street."
<Horlamin> Thanks for your help
* Horlamin exits the inn
<Faewyn> Lets go ask him for some work, guys we could use the gold.
* Fahir gets his stuff from the room and exits the inn
* Faewyn walks towards his office.
* Horlamin knocks on the door to Lord Varyn's Office
<hafnium> The government office is a rather ostentatious affair. Royal banners hang from any ledge that can hold one.
<hafnium> The lord's scribe answers the door.
<hafnium> "Yes? What do you want?"
<Horlamin> Hello, were here to talk to Lord Varyn about some spiders
<hafnium> "Ah, excellent. He'll be most pleased."
<hafnium> "After me, please"
* Horlamin follows the scribe
* Fahir follows Horlamin
* Faewyn walks with the crowd.
<hafnium> The scribe leads you into an audience chamber, a man, presumably Lord Varyn, sits in a rather ornate chair.
<hafnium> "You have come to speak of spiders?"
<Fahir> G´day m´lord
<Fahir> Why yes we are.
<Horlamin> Yes we have
<Faewyn> Yes, sir, we've heard news of some spider problem?
<hafnium> "Its not just the spiders, although they're the first I know of to have taken the life of one of my subjects."
<hafnium> "My guards tell of little-rat folk on the edges of the forest, stealing hens from our farmers."
<Faewyn> We could go take a look for you
<hafnium> "I've heard talk of attacks on caravan's on the trade road by Goblins, Gnolls, and darker things."
* Faewyn looks somewhat anxiously
<hafnium> "I'm afraid that the only way to fix our problem lies with the druids. Our town has an ancient pact with them you see."
<hafnium> "We keep the merchants from chopping down their damned woods, and they keep whatevers in those woods to themselves."
<Faewyn> do you know where the druids went?
<hafnium> "But they've seem to have forgotten this. They all left in the night."
<hafnium> "No, that is what I'd have you answer."
<hafnium> "I seek adventurers to travel into the Wealdath, the forest, and find where these druids have gone."
<Faewyn> Happily, will there be some kind of pay involved?
<hafnium> "Entreat them to return, or we will have to take... more drastic action."
<hafnium> "Certainly. If you can find where the druids have gone, a purse of 20 gold for each of you."
<Fahir> Aye, they´ll be back....if they´re alive
<hafnium> "If you can get them to come back, an additional 100 for each of you from my personal fortune."
<Faewyn> wow! lets be off guys
<Horlamin> Well do it
<Faewyn> we will return, with good news lord.
<hafnium> "I hope so. Ilido's family was undoubtably not the last to fall."
<hafnium> On your way out, the scribe catches you.
<hafnium> "You may want to speak with Feldtrad, he lives in a cottage south of town.
<hafnium> "He used to be a druid, you see. He may have some idea where they went."
<Fahir> Thanks sir, that´ll help us
<Faewyn> lets go see this guy.
* Faewyn heads towards the cottage
* Horlamin walks out of the office and to cotage
* Fahir walks with them
<hafnium> The party sets off down the trade way in the direction the scribe indicated
<hafnium> As you approach the cottage, you hear some yelling coming from inside.
* Horlamin runs towards the cottage and bangs on the door
<Horlamin> Are you ok?
<Faewyn> hello?
<Faewyn> you alright?
* Fahir jumps against the wall
<hafnium> AS Horlamin closes on the house, he sees some strange creatures surrounding it.
* Horlamin pulls out his double axe
<Faewyn> unsheathes her blade
<hafnium> They seem to be dogs, but they stand on their hind legs and carry spears
<hafnium> some even have scraps of armor
* Fahir gets his magical rod
<Faewyn> halt! who goes there
<Faewyn> put your weapon down, or you will be killed!
<hafnium> The creatures snap their heads towards the party, and then rush at you.
* Faewyn Strafes to the side, slashing one.
* Horlamin rushes at the closest creature and swings at it with his doubleaxe
<hafnium> Horlamin brings his orcish axe down on the skull of one of the beasts, splitting it in two with ease.
* Fahir sticks his rod out, channeling fire magic through it
* Faewyn wields both daggers, then tries to stab a nearby wolfing in the throat
<hafnium> Fahir's rod shimmers with a strange light. Suddenly, black flames burst out of the rod, engulfing the creature.
<hafnium> The creature screams in agony.
<hafnium> Faewyn's blow misses the creatures throat, catching him on the upper arm.
<hafnium> The beast lets out a quick yelp.
* Faewyn pounces and goes back for the final blow
<hafnium> One of the wolflings leaps at Horl as he yanks his blade from the skull of his late foe...
<hafnium> The dagger catches Horl in the shoulder, but it can barely get through his orcish skin.
<hafnium> The creature engulfed in flames has fallen to the ground, squealing.
<hafnium> The spear wielding one that is fighting faewyn slashes at her legs.
* Faewyn dodges the atack, then leaps behind him attempting to stab in his neck
* Horlamin swings his double axe in a wide arc at the two nearest creatures
<hafnium> Faewyn's dagger connects properly this time, severing a good portion of the creature's neck. It falls gurgling to the ground.
<hafnium> One creature leaps out of the path of Horlamin's axe, the other is not so lucky. The axe catches him in the lower arm, dealing a rather severe cut.
* Fahir targets a weaker looking one
<Fahir> With earth magic!
<hafnium> Spikes of a volcanic glass tear from the ground beneath the feet of injured beast.
<hafnium> One spike skewer's the creature's leg, trapping him.
<hafnium> The remaining creature howls at the hut in some language none of you speak.
<hafnium> A smaller creature runs out, and they both tear off for the tree line on all fours.
* Horlamin puts the burnt creature out of its misery
<Horlamin> Im going to go check out the house
* Horlamin heads for the cottage
* Faewyn runs towards the snared creature and attemempts to decapitate it.
* Fahir kicks the burned one
<Fahir> Y´re a hot one aye?
<hafnium> Faewyn's blades don't make it all the way through the creature's neck, but they do sever some blood vessel. Blood poors out of the trapped beast.
<hafnium> Horlamin finds an old man in the cottage. He is winded, but not really injured.
<Horlamin> Are you ok sir?
* Faewynn (~[email protected]) has joined #fCraft.roleplay
<hafnium> He's holding what appears to be a wooden blade, with blood dripping from in. A dead creature is slumped against the wall.
<hafnium> "Oh, yes. I'm quite all right. Just a bit tired."
<hafnium> He sits down in a chair.
* Faewynn has quit (Client Quit)
<Horlamin> What were those?
<hafnium> "Tis a good thing you folk showed up when you did."
<hafnium> "They're known by men as Gnolls. Foul creatures."
<Horlamin> Do you know why they attacked you?
<hafnium> "I suppose what Varyn's man was saying about my kin is true, if they've left the woods."
<hafnium> "I suspect they intended to eat me when they killed me."
<Horlamin> Ah, thats why we've come here actually. To find out why the druids would have left.

<hafnium> "I wouldn't know," he replies
<hafnium> "They wouldn't forsake their pact with mosstone for nothing, though."
<hafnium> "They must have a reason."
<Horlamin> Do you know who would? Or where we could find them?
<hafnium> "Well, I suppose."
<hafnium> "Deep in the forest"
<Fahir> Tell us?
<hafnium> "There is a grove."
<hafnium> "It is sacred to us for many reasons, most of which I can not speak to you."
<hafnium> "But the pool in the grove should allow me to scry my people."
<Fahir> Well, that´s where we´re headed then aye?
<hafnium> "You cannot enter the grove."
<hafnium> "YOu would desecrate it with your very presence."
<hafnium> "But I will not be able to reach it alone."
<Horlamin> May we escort you to it and wait outside while you scry?
<hafnium> "Yes, that would be fine."
<Horlamin> Then lets be on our way
<Fahir> Eeyup, pack anything nescessary
<hafnium> "Okay, let me gather my things."
<hafnium> The man sheaths his wooden sword and takes a dusty bow off the wall
<hafnium> He takes a quiver from a chest, along with a few vials of some liquid.
<hafnium> "I'm afraid I have no provisions here."
<hafnium> "Do you have any?"
* Fahir whispers to Horlamin ¨A wooden sword? this guy is out of his mind¨
* Horlamin snickers
<Horlamin> Im afraid we only have water on us
<Fahir> How far is the grove?
<hafnium> Usually only half a days travel, but with the forest as it is.
<hafnium> "It could take longer."
<hafnium> "I have some coin, we should stop back at Mosstone and buy some provisions."
<Horlamin> Let us gather some provisions in town then before we head out
<hafnium> "We'll need to camp near the grove regardless."
<hafnium> "Aye."
<Fahir> Let´s be off then
* Horlamin walks out of the cottage back towards mosstone
<hafnium> You arrive at town, and the man walks off to buy food.
* Fahir lets the man follow Horlamin and walks after them
<hafnium> The main street is lined with vendors.
* Horlamin walks into the butcher
* Horlamin walks up to the butcher's stall*
<hafnium> Butcher: "Ah, another traveler. What can I do for you, Orc."
<Horlamin> I need to buy some meat for my travels
<hafnium> The man gestures towards some dried and smoked beef.
<hafnium> "This is perfect for you, then."
<Horlamin> How much for the dried beef?
<hafnium> "It'll keep as long as you keep in clean."
* Fahir gets some bread from another stall
<hafnium> "Three silvers."
<Horlamin> alright then
* Horlamin pays the man three silvers
<hafnium> "Thank you for your buisness."
<hafnium> Bread is available for a silver piece a loaf.
* Horlamin puts the meat into his backpack and walks up to Fahir
<Fahir> 2 loaf´s will do aye?
<hafnium> The baker's apprentice grabs two loaves from a basket.
<hafnium> "Will that be all?"
<Fahir> Aye, that´s fine
* Fahir gives the men 2 silvers
<hafnium> "Alright, take care."
<hafnium> He hands you two loaves.
<hafnium> The old man returns carrying a basket of some flat bread and berries.
<hafnium> "You all ready to head out then?"
<Horlamin> Yes, lets go
<hafnium> "I didn't catch your names, by the way. Mine's Algitrad."
<Fahir> Will we take the wagon?
<Horlamin> Im Horlamin and this is Fahir
* You are now known as Faewyn
<Horlamin> That weird elf chick is Faewyn
<Faewyn> And I'm faewyn.
* You are now known as hafnium
<hafnium> "I'd stable the donkey and wagon here, I doubt it'll be able to pull it through the forest."
<hafnium> "Theres no real path you see."
<Horlamin> Ah ok then
<Fahir> Let´s go?
<hafnium> "Sounds good here."
<hafnium> You all head off towards the forest.
<hafnium> The forest begins rather abruptly. The trees are taller than most you've seen, and it seems somewhat darker within.
<Fahir> Be wary of attackers guys
<hafnium> "Aye, good advice after what happened at my cottage."
<hafnium> "The grove is this way."
<hafnium> Algitrad starts off into the tree-line
* Horlamin follows after him
* Fahir runs after them, barely keeping up with their pace
<hafnium> The creatures of the forest are rather loud at this time of morning.
<hafnium> Birds shrieking in the trees, vermin scampering out of your way.
<hafnium> Algitrad suddenly stops after a kilometer or so.
<hafnium> "Something isn't right."
<Horlamin> What is it?
<hafnium> "This forest has magic to it, but the magic isn't what it was."
<Fahir> Black magic maybe?
<hafnium> Fahir sees something rather large moving in the trees above the party.
<Fahir> Guys.....do you see that...up there?
* Horlamin looks up into the trees
<hafnium> Algitrad looks up.
<hafnium> "No, I don't see anything."
<hafnium> Neither does horlamin.
<hafnium> "What was it?"
<Fahir> Something....big...but I was probably mistaking then...
<hafnium> "Don't discount your senses, dwarf. There are many reasons to be wary in these woods."
<Fahir> Keep an eye out
<hafnium> Algitrad walks over to a tree, and examines it.
<hafnium> After a few seconds, he says, "This way," and starts off again.
* Horlamin follows after him once more
* Fahir follows them, looking all around him
<hafnium> Again, Fahir sees something large in the trees ahead of them.
<hafnium> He can make out a rather insectoid form.
<Fahir> THERE, LOOK
<hafnium> "I Think I saw it that time as well."
<hafnium> "Did you get a good look?"
<Fahir> It looked like a bug
<hafnium> "If it was one of the spiders, we'd best be careful."
* Fahir lights a torch
<hafnium> "Their venom isn't deadly, but their pincers certainly are."
<Horlamin> We will have to watch out then
<hafnium> "Be careful with that torch. My more zealous kin would not look too kindly on fire in their woods."
* Fahir gives the torch to horlamin
<hafnium> After a little while longer, Algitrad stops again.
<hafnium> Up ahead, do you see?
* Horlamin looks ahead
<hafnium> YOu can both make out threads criss-crossing the path.
<Fahir> What´s up ahead?
<Horlamin> It looks a little bit like a spiders web
<hafnium> "If my eyes aren't failing me, its a web."
<hafnium> "This is not good news. Those fibers won't trap us, but they will alert the spiders to our presence."
<Fahir> We´re in for a fight I take it?
<hafnium> "We can go around, but that could take much longer than I anticipated."
<Horlamin> I'm in for a fight
<hafnium> "Its up to your two. I suppose we could take on a decent sized nest."
<Fahir> I really do hope so, let´s do it
<hafnium> "Allright then."
<hafnium> "This vial here is alchemist's fire."
<hafnium> He produces a vial of red liquid from his pack
<hafnium> "When smashed, it will make a rather large flame.
<Fahir> Fire to kill these beasts?
* Fahir gets his rod
<hafnium> "Not the beasts, their web."
<Fahir> Wait...
<Horlamin> Sir, if i recall
<Horlamin> did you not just speak against fire?
<hafnium> "Aye, I did, but this vial was made by druids."
<hafnium> "It will not harm the trees."
<Horlamin> Ah, i see
<Horlamin> Lets use it then
<Fahir> What about your skin though?
<hafnium> "We are a different matter, but thats why you throw it, dwarf."
<hafnium> "WHo has the best arm?"
<Horlamin> I do
<hafnium> Algitrad hands Horlamin the vial.
<hafnium> "There will be a nest, a dense section of web."
<hafnium> "Use this on that. The spiders won't stick around to fight long after that."
<Horlamin> Ok then
<Horlamin> lets do this
<hafnium> Algitrad draws his wooden blade and starts slicing through the fibers.
<hafnium> "Ready yourselves."
* Horlamin wields his double axe
* Fahir gets out his dagger and helps Algitrad, while holding his rod in the other hand
<hafnium> Two large spiders drop down from the branches above you guys.
* Fahir points at the spiders with his rod and casts a firebolt spell
<hafnium> The rod sparks with energy, and the same purplish-black fire from before leaps out, engulfing the Spiders as the descend.
<hafnium> One of the spiders drops out from the path of the flames at the last instant. The other was not so lucky.
<hafnium> It falls to the ground, landing on its back.
* Horlamin swings his axe at the remaining spider with tremendous force
<hafnium> Its legs are twitching and green liquid is oozing from under its exoskeleton.
<hafnium> The other spider sidesteps Horlamin's blow.
<hafnium> Algitrad comes up from behind Horlamin, slashing at the Spider.
<hafnium> His blade connects, but bounces off the hard carapace.
<hafnium> The Spider leaps at Horlamin, biting at him with its fangs.
* Horlamin raises the rod of his axe up to block himself from the spider
<hafnium> The spider crashes into the axe, biting nothing but air.
* Fahir slams his fist on the ground, calling to the powers of the earth to open up and engulfe the attacking spider
<hafnium> Fahir notices another spider on the trunk of a tree a few meters away
<hafnium> A sinkhole forms beneath the spider, effectively trapping it.
* Horlamin swings at the trapped spider oblivious to the one on the tree
<hafnium> Horlamin's blade sinks into the trapped spiders carapace. It starts wildly flailing.
<hafnium> Droplets of venom fly everywhere.
<hafnium> Algitrad move in and stabs at the spider's eye's.
<hafnium> His blade sinks in, ruining several of them.
<hafnium> The beast stops twitching."
<hafnium> The spider Fahir had seen scurries deeper into the forest, clicking its pincers.
<hafnium> Algitrad yanks his blade out and wipes it clean on a tree.
<hafnium> Then he produces a vial and collects some venom off the unburnt spider.
<Fahir> There was another one he-...it´s gone...
* Horlamin prys his axe free and wipes it clean
<hafnium> "This stuff will knock you out good. If brewed into a tea, it makes an excellent bedtime drink!"
<Horlamin> Too late for that now
<hafnium> Algitrad chuckles.
<Horlamin> we must continue on to the nest
<hafnium> "Aye, there'll be more where those three came from."
<Fahir> Let´s move up
<hafnium> As the group progresses, they start seeing heavier webs up in the trees.
<Fahir> Getting close...
<hafnium> Some have birds in various states.
<hafnium> Some just have bones.
<hafnium> After a while, you see a very large network of webs in the top of a tree.
<Horlamin> Is that it?
<hafnium> "That'll be the nest. Can you hit it from here, Horlamin?"
<Horlamin> I can try
* Horlamin winds back and throws the vial as hard as he can
<hafnium> The vial doesn't hit the densest portion of the web, but strikes a lower section.
<hafnium> "Damn, it'll take a while to burn."
<Fahir> Think it alerted them...?
<hafnium> Smaller spiders begin scurrying out of the web, scattering into the forest.
<hafnium> A much larger spider than any you've seen yet appears from the densest region of the web.
<Fahir> Yes it did.
<hafnium> "Thats the Matriarch. She'll be tough to bring down."
<Fahir> That is one big bugger
<Horlamin> Your observations are infallible Fahir
<hafnium> Fahir sees spiders soming out of the trees to the party's left, charging the other two.
<Fahir> Watch out!
<hafnium> STRIKE THAT
* Fahir points his rod at the spiders as the others jump out of his line of fire
<hafnium> Horlamin sees spiders coming out of the trees to the party's left, charging the other two.
<Horlamin> Hey guys, watch out for those spiders
* Fahir points his rod at the spiders and mumbles a flamestorm spell
<hafnium> Dark flames billow out of the rod towards the spiders.
<hafnium> One spider leaps over the flames towards...
<hafnium> Fahir
<hafnium> The other two are caught in the inferno, suffering some rather painful burns.
<hafnium> They manage to crawl out, however, and continue at the party.
* Horlamin swings in an arc at the spider approaching Fahir and another behind it
<hafnium> Horlamin cracks a small section of one Spider's carapace, and knocks the other one back with his axe.
<hafnium> Algitrad back up, readies his bow, and fires a shot at the third spider.
<hafnium> The arrow sticks the spider in one of its legs, and that leg goes limp.
<hafnium> One spider bites at Fahir's rod-arm.
* Fahir quickly throws his arm around, slamming the spider against a tree
<hafnium> Fahir attempts to block, but he isn't quick enough. The spider bites his arm. Luckily, it barely breaks the skin.
* Horlamin swings at the spider that attacked fahir
<hafnium> This time, Horlamin's aim is true. His axe slices through the creature's exoskeleton, severing its head.
<hafnium> This leaves the pincers around fahir's arm, and green pus everywhere.
<hafnium> Algitrad takes another shot at the third spider.
<hafnium> The arrow strikes the spider's head squarely, and it falls to the ground.
<hafnium> The second spider leaps at Horlamin.
* Horlamin attempts to knock down the spider by swinging his axe at it
<hafnium> Horlamin's axe smashes the creature, mid flight, sending it flying.
<hafnium> It strikes a tree with a sickening crunch, and falls to the ground motionless.
<hafnium> The Matriarch is still above its nest, keeping out of the flames, clicking its pincers rapidly.
<hafnium> "We can stick around and fight that beast if you are up for it."
<hafnium> Says algitrad
<hafnium> "It'll be back for Mosstone eventually, no doubt."
<Fahir> Let´s do this
<Horlamin> Kill them all!
* Horlamin grunts
<hafnium> Algitrad readies another arrow.
<hafnium> "When I start shooting, it'll close quickly."
<hafnium> "I'll fire on your signal."
<Fahir> Wait, would poisoning it work?
<hafnium> "No, not with its own venom."
<Fahir> Well....aim for the head I say
<hafnium> "Aye, are you ready?"
<Horlamin> Fire away!
<Fahir> Do it.
<hafnium> Algitrad looses an arrow at the Matriarch.
<hafnium> His first shot misses, so hes draws again.
<hafnium> This one strikes the queen in the abdomen, drawing her attention immediatly. She jumps to a nearby tree and climbs down.
* Fahir casts a fireball in his hand and shoots it at the spider
<hafnium> The fireball, a standard bright orange this time, strikes the Queen as it advances.
<hafnium> Her left side catches fire.
* Horlamin swings his axe at the spiders legs, attempting to sever them
<hafnium> Horlamin closes on the Matriarch, slashing at her legs. His blows don't cut through, but they do leave rather ugly cuts.
<hafnium> Algitrad fires another arrow at the Queen's head.
<hafnium> The arrow hits its mark, embedding in the queen's face, and ruining two of her eyes. She lets out a horrible shriek.
<hafnium> In her partially blind rage, she slashes ar Horlamin with her rather large fangs.
* Horlamin swings at her fangs as they gnash towards him
<hafnium> Horlamin's blow wards off the Queen's attack, but does no real damage.
* Fahir points his rod at the Matriarch and casts a jet of fire
<hafnium> The giant spider turns quickly to shield her injured legs, and the flames catch her on her left side.
<hafnium> She shurgs them off.
* Horlamin jumps onto the matriarchs back and swings down at the back of her head
<hafnium> Horlamin leaps up on the spider and slashes at the top of her head. His blade sinks into the carapace.
<hafnium> The spider shrieks again in pain, and start lurching.
<hafnium> Algitrad drops his bow and charges at her, slashing at her front legs with his sword.
<hafnium> but he is knocked back by the thrashing of her limbs.
<hafnium> The queen slashes at the fallen elf with her fangs.
<hafnium> The queen catches him in the leg as he kicks away, sinking her fang into his flesh.
* Fahir gives it all he has, bodyslamming the ground to let his magic make spikes of stone come up from the ground under the Matriarch
<hafnium> Sikes of stone drive up through the ground and into the queen's abdomen.
<hafnium> Spikes*
<hafnium> Her legs jerk inwards, and then start twitching.
* Horlamin swings again at the hole he has already made into the back of the queens head attempting to finish her
<hafnium> She's nearly imobile, and impaled on spikes.