Vrah with a toothy grin approaches the goblins leading them across and then looks back towards his companions, "If by chance you fall, no to scream on the way down, would alert those around of our location." Then chuckles as he turns in the direction of Shoowma and Phodoxia, "Do you want to be the last in our march or want me to take up rear position for safety?"
Spiderbait replies to Petmailer "We've estimated two days to get where you want to go. So that either means camping out in the webs themselves, or sticking close to the walls of the chasm and coming out of the webs to spend the night in a tunnel. We can travel as far down the chasm as you need to go, then try to get all the way across the next day. But the paths across the webs don't always lead exactly where you need them to."
Looking to the group "Well, if you all are ready, follow us. Spread out a ways so there isn't too much weight concentrated in one place. Some of these strands are old and could break easily. And as you walk, try to use an uneven pace. Steady vibrations are likely to attract spiders."
[OOC: If you want to set a walking formation, let me know. You could go in a single file, two by two, whatever you want. But the more you spread out, you'll have difficulty staying on strands of web that head in the same direction.]
Suppressing a shudder at the idea of getting separated in the webs, Tanis suggests going two-by-two. But if the goblins are willing, ideally never two of the heavier creatures together. So, for example, Derendil (carrying Stool) and Vrah should be paired with small people such as Vethna, Jimjar or the goblins - again only if the goblins are willing.
Tanis also suggests to Vethna that she ask Stool to release his telepathy spores so we can communicate in case we do get separated. Or communicate soundlessly if we need to even when we are together. Tanis will bring up the rear and rear scout as usual, with whoever wants to pair with him, though probably not Vrah because we want the bugbear paired with someone small.
(Unless Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait think it's a bad idea to have large/small pairings in terms of unbalancing the web strands...)
They would say it's a good idea to balance big and small people. And a good idea to have something of a buddy system in case a strand breaks under someone or they get attacked.
Kisiki agrees to walk with Shoowaa and share more stories of Semuanya and his tribe and the Elves he used to know on the surface. "So, you feel it too?" He asks the tailed Goblin as everyone pairs up. "Semuanya has blessed us with similar gifts, each befitting our own role in the Cycle. You should never be afraid, because you are one of her most favored creations. You will always have an ally in me and in any other friend of the Cycle."He states this as plainly and forcefully as a thunderbolt on a calm, quiet night.
Phodoxia thinks about it for a good while, but then takes a place next to Vrah, scooting to the rear of the group. She keeps an eye on Shoowaa and Kisiki just ahead. Filling his head with more nonsense about how great it is to have a tail... rubbish. But she grins at the ridiculous spider walk Shoowaa is adopting and tries to imitate it. "Goblins shouldn't have tails, don't you think? It's unnatural," she mumbles to Vrah, in Goblin.
Shoowaa will share stories about the fey wilds and the odd creatures there. "-And one time I saw a dog that wasn't really a dog, it vanished right before my eyes and moved to a different spot! I learned how to do something similar from it.. .... what if, this may sound crazy but what if the ability to so that is related to the tail? I mean, I got both around the same time so it can't be too much of a stretch right? It was a dog like creature and I got a dog like tail.... I don't know just something I thought of."
"I mean...maybe? I can change into animals and I think that's pretty neat! What Cycle are you talking about exactly the cycle of life? How do you know if I am favoured or not? What's in the Cycle if it's not of life?"
The party travels on for a couple of hours. There are occasional slips and near falls, but the webs are so thick, you can usually grab a nearby strand and catch yourself. Now that you are out on the webs, you are even more amazed at the ability these goblins have to run and slide through them rapidly. At first, it is very disconcerting for your feet and hands to cling somewhat to the sticky substances every time you take a step or release a strand, but you get used to it. Still, traveling this way is exhausting as your muscles are constantly tensed trying to stay balanced.
After a couple of hours of progress, you see Spiderbait in the front hold up a hand to signal stop. Yuk-yuk catches up with him and you see him pointing at something in the darkness up above.
[OOC: Anyone who wants can make a perception check. Even with darkvision, it is at disadvantage.]
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Jimjar makes his way up toward the front and asks the goblins "What are we looking at fellas?"
Spiderbait says "I'm not sure...but doesn't it seem like there's a patch of darkness up there that's just a little darker than everywhere else?"
As soon as he says that, two strange gray creatures that look like a cross between a bat and an octopus swoop down from the ceiling and attack as the cloud of darkness begins descending down toward the webs. The creatures target Vrah and Derendil as the two largest party members.
Attack on Derendil: Attack: 21 Damage: 6
Attack on Vrah: Attack: 13 Damage: 8
[OOC: perception rolls were bad, so these things get a surprise round, then we'll roll initiative]
The attacks both hit as these two creatures wrap themselves around both Vrah and Derendil's heads.
While these things are attached, Vrah and Derendil are blinded and unable to breathe.
The sphere of darkness that Spiderbait had noticed starts descending and moves closer to where you are in the webs. After one round, most of you will find yourselves in a sphere of magical darkness.
Vrah with a toothy grin approaches the goblins leading them across and then looks back towards his companions, "If by chance you fall, no to scream on the way down, would alert those around of our location." Then chuckles as he turns in the direction of Shoowma and Phodoxia, "Do you want to be the last in our march or want me to take up rear position for safety?"
Spiderbait replies to Petmailer "We've estimated two days to get where you want to go. So that either means camping out in the webs themselves, or sticking close to the walls of the chasm and coming out of the webs to spend the night in a tunnel. We can travel as far down the chasm as you need to go, then try to get all the way across the next day. But the paths across the webs don't always lead exactly where you need them to."
Looking to the group "Well, if you all are ready, follow us. Spread out a ways so there isn't too much weight concentrated in one place. Some of these strands are old and could break easily. And as you walk, try to use an uneven pace. Steady vibrations are likely to attract spiders."
[OOC: If you want to set a walking formation, let me know. You could go in a single file, two by two, whatever you want. But the more you spread out, you'll have difficulty staying on strands of web that head in the same direction.]
Suppressing a shudder at the idea of getting separated in the webs, Tanis suggests going two-by-two. But if the goblins are willing, ideally never two of the heavier creatures together. So, for example, Derendil (carrying Stool) and Vrah should be paired with small people such as Vethna, Jimjar or the goblins - again only if the goblins are willing.
Tanis also suggests to Vethna that she ask Stool to release his telepathy spores so we can communicate in case we do get separated. Or communicate soundlessly if we need to even when we are together. Tanis will bring up the rear and rear scout as usual, with whoever wants to pair with him, though probably not Vrah because we want the bugbear paired with someone small.
(Unless Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait think it's a bad idea to have large/small pairings in terms of unbalancing the web strands...)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
They would say it's a good idea to balance big and small people. And a good idea to have something of a buddy system in case a strand breaks under someone or they get attacked.
Shoowaa would want to be paired with Phodxia or Kiski. He wants to hear more wild stories from Kiski and what they could mean.
When they get on the threads, Shoowaa will walk similar to how a spider does
Kisiki agrees to walk with Shoowaa and share more stories of Semuanya and his tribe and the Elves he used to know on the surface. "So, you feel it too?" He asks the tailed Goblin as everyone pairs up. "Semuanya has blessed us with similar gifts, each befitting our own role in the Cycle. You should never be afraid, because you are one of her most favored creations. You will always have an ally in me and in any other friend of the Cycle." He states this as plainly and forcefully as a thunderbolt on a calm, quiet night.
Phodoxia thinks about it for a good while, but then takes a place next to Vrah, scooting to the rear of the group. She keeps an eye on Shoowaa and Kisiki just ahead. Filling his head with more nonsense about how great it is to have a tail... rubbish. But she grins at the ridiculous spider walk Shoowaa is adopting and tries to imitate it. "Goblins shouldn't have tails, don't you think? It's unnatural," she mumbles to Vrah, in Goblin.
Shoowaa will share stories about the fey wilds and the odd creatures there. "-And one time I saw a dog that wasn't really a dog, it vanished right before my eyes and moved to a different spot! I learned how to do something similar from it.. .... what if, this may sound crazy but what if the ability to so that is related to the tail? I mean, I got both around the same time so it can't be too much of a stretch right? It was a dog like creature and I got a dog like tail.... I don't know just something I thought of."
"I mean...maybe? I can change into animals and I think that's pretty neat! What Cycle are you talking about exactly the cycle of life? How do you know if I am favoured or not? What's in the Cycle if it's not of life?"
The party travels on for a couple of hours. There are occasional slips and near falls, but the webs are so thick, you can usually grab a nearby strand and catch yourself. Now that you are out on the webs, you are even more amazed at the ability these goblins have to run and slide through them rapidly. At first, it is very disconcerting for your feet and hands to cling somewhat to the sticky substances every time you take a step or release a strand, but you get used to it. Still, traveling this way is exhausting as your muscles are constantly tensed trying to stay balanced.
After a couple of hours of progress, you see Spiderbait in the front hold up a hand to signal stop. Yuk-yuk catches up with him and you see him pointing at something in the darkness up above.
[OOC: Anyone who wants can make a perception check. Even with darkvision, it is at disadvantage.]
per: 23
Pertmailer perception: 4
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Tanis Perception at disadvantage: 11
He is rear-scouting, paired with Eldeth.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
So far, no one seems to notice what the goblins are looking at. It's just dark up towards the roof of the cavern.
Perception with disadvantage: 4
Jimjar makes his way up toward the front and asks the goblins "What are we looking at fellas?"
Spiderbait says "I'm not sure...but doesn't it seem like there's a patch of darkness up there that's just a little darker than everywhere else?"
As soon as he says that, two strange gray creatures that look like a cross between a bat and an octopus swoop down from the ceiling and attack as the cloud of darkness begins descending down toward the webs. The creatures target Vrah and Derendil as the two largest party members.
Attack on Derendil: Attack: 21 Damage: 6
Attack on Vrah: Attack: 13 Damage: 8
[OOC: perception rolls were bad, so these things get a surprise round, then we'll roll initiative]
The attacks both hit as these two creatures wrap themselves around both Vrah and Derendil's heads.
While these things are attached, Vrah and Derendil are blinded and unable to breathe.
The sphere of darkness that Spiderbait had noticed starts descending and moves closer to where you are in the webs. After one round, most of you will find yourselves in a sphere of magical darkness.
Petmailer initiative: 17
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Spiderbait yells "Darkmantles!!!" and starts to draw his scimitar. Yuk-yuk does the same.
Everybody can roll initiative. Here are the NPC rolls (Shuushar and Stool will not engage in battle.):
Derendil 11
Eldeth 14
Jimjar 6
Sarith 4
Spiderbait and Yuk Yuk 4
And the Darkmantles (as a group to simplify initiative): 18
Inititiave: 19
[OOC: I posted a couple of notes about this combat in the message thread. You should review them before combat gets going.]