The Undying Dragons - Campaign Thread

Not wanting to rely on the precision of her magic to kill spiders that are crawling across the dwarf's body, Jan will instead run up and seek to calm his frantic slappings to be more targeted.

((Helping, to give Hammy advantage on next attack.))

"Just die already you little nuisances."

Vicious mockery 4 (dc 14 wisdom save)

Marrin is really finding her voice when it comes to insulting spiders. Half of the remaining spiders collapse under the weight of a collective ennui. While, with Jan's help, Hammerdasher is able to brush off and squash the remainder of the little spiders. His skin is broken and swolled but the dwarf is still alive.

The orcs bring their laughter under control when Haguur whirls back around on them and growls in orcish. Two of them start dragging the giant spider carcasses out of the cavern, and the other one starts poking around, cautiously at the webbing.

Unfortunately, Ethel can only catch glimpses of the activity from her prone position.

With a shout that echoes through this chamber and probably the neighbouring three, Ula finally busts free of the webbing and kneels down beside Ethel.

"Can you hear me Ethel?" Ula says looking closely into the wizard's eyes. She turns to the others "She's alive but I don't know anything about this poison."

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Out of initiative.

Jan frowns, reaching down and feeling Ethel's forehead. "Keep a close eye on her and hope the venom passes? Maybe Xanthe has dealt with bites before?"

Marrin looks to make sure that Ethel is taken care of before looking to Haguur,

"Well done. Let's see what we can find in here."

She looks to the downed orc then to Haguur for a reaction before moving to scoop up Ethel's glowing rock and start looking.

Investigation: 10

She'll wave Hammerdasher to her and nod for Ava to start checking around.

She'll ask Hammerdasher,

"How are you feeling? If you are up to it we'd appreciate an extra set of eyes checking this place out, otherwise go take a breather."

As Avaria joins Marrin in checking the cave, she keeps looking over her shoulder at Ethel, worried about her.  And then she finally speaks up as they continue to look.

Investigation  4

"So Haguur, looks like you guys found the dwarf camp through the pool in your cave.  I see that your orcs are gathering all the tools and such there, I hope they can swim back with all that load."

Marrin cocks an ear at Ava saying the orcs found the old dwarf camp but stays silent.

Haguur nods when the fighting is done. His face is still incredibly stoic, but you can almost swear there was a hint of smile in his eyes. Seeing what everyone brings to a situation might be making him think escaping might be viable.

He shakes his head at the dead orc, and reaches down to touch him on his shoulder then shrugs.

Hammerdasher, despite there being no more spiders, continually brushes his legs and arms.

“Aye, I’ll live, but I might not sleep soundly for a while. I hope this was worth it.” Hammerdasher says as he joins in the searching of the cavern.

Haguur looks from what the other orcs are doing to Avaria when she mentions the dwarf camp. He nods when she says she hopes the other orcs can swim back with the load.
“If not, they’ll drown,” Haguur finally says. “But then any equipment will be closer.”

As you all poke around in the niches and the webbed over spaces of the room, you all find eight web cocoons; five wedged into niches around the cavern’s edges, and three up in the webbing between 20 – 60 feet up.

Haguur climbs quickly up and cuts down those ‘cocoons’ with relative easy, and the webbing acts as sufficient padding to cushion any fall.

The first four cocoons hold nothing of use, just bones of long-dead prisoners. Nevertheless, Hammerdasher flinches each time one is opened, expecting more spiders to pour out.

The fifth entombs a hobgoblin. From the looks of what they’re wearing, this must have been one of the guard. You all find an old, but still serviceable set of studded leather armor, a short sword, a dagger, and 8 silver pieces.

The sixth cocoon has the dead remains of a goblin, probably a prisoner. They must have had some success in smuggling as there’s a decent set of thieves’ tools, and a tinderbox in their pockets.

The seventh is entirely a skeleton, humanoid. Its probably been here much longer than the rest; possibly a shipwrecked pirate or sailor. A rapier, three torches, a spyglass, and 6 gold pieces spill out once the webbing is cut away.

The final cocoon holds a desiccated dwarf. Next to him is a shovel and a miner’s pick.

Picking up the spyglass and turning it in her hands she asks while looking over the equipment,

"Probably best to get weapons to those without other options. Hammerdasher and Ula, how are you with a pick? Ava, shortsword or rapier? Haguur you have a preference? Another dagger for one of yours?"

She'll ask Ava,

"How much equipment was there down at the dwarf camp? Enough for everyone that wants to fight to have a weapon of some sort?"

She rummages around and looks at the leather armor,

"Not sure on the armor."

Sets it aside to pick up the thieves' tools.

"Anyone any good with these?"

She'll cast a glance to the entrance of the cavern, expecting to see a goblin peeking in. If her guess is right she'll wave Jisthelek over.

Jan extends a hand for the thieves' tools, looking the roll of tools over with practiced hands. "These'll do nicely."

Avaria looks over the treasure that has been found in the spider cave and looks up again, "No way out though?" she sighs.

She looks over the rapier and shortsword and picks up the rapier.  "Well, I'd much prefer and axe or a hammer to this poky thing, but it's better than my fist."

Looking over to Marrin, Ava replies, "Well, I didn't get a real good look as to what all was there.  Looked like mostly digging equipment, though could be used as weapons.  But I did meet a rather unfriendly dwarf ghost while I was down there.  Adamant that I continue digging the escape tunnel.  I would like to head back down to the dwarf camp and see if I can find that."

She whips the rapier around a bit and smile crosses her face as she gets used to handling it.

Indeed there is a set of eyes watching you from the cavern entrance. Jisthelek smiles and walks over to see what you've found.

"I came as soon as I heard there was fighting," the goblin says. "Not that I would have joined in. Seemed a bit crowded really. And it looks like you all did alright. Though that one looks a little stiff."

Jisthelek nudges Ethel with a toe to see if she moves. He nods when she doesn't.

"She got bitten, didn't she?" the goblin says more as a statement than a question. "It won't last long. Just long enough for a spider to come and finish you off. But doesn't look like there's any danger of that."

He then nods his head back the way he'd come.

"Your orcie buddies are banging around back there with a bunch of equipment too," he adds looking at Haguur. "Better tell them to keep it down or the guards will be in here before we can plan the next steps."

Marrin gladly tosses the thieves tools over to Jan, glad someone knows how to use them.

Once Ava has picked up the rapier Marrin takes the short sword and hands it to Haguur while Ava and Jisthelek talk.

To Ava she says,

"We'll have to see what Haguur's boys brought up, but it'd definitely be worth seeing if that tunnel is done. I'd prefer not to come at the guards in the way they'd most expect it. Would another set of eyes help you down there? Do you think the dwarven ghost would respond better to a dwarf? Hammerdasher you up for a swim?"

Marrin will crouch down and pat Ethel re-assuringly,

"Good to know its only going to last a bit longer, we'll get you out of here soon."

Still crouched she'll look over to Jisthelek and ask,

"Did you check the smaller tunnel? Any exit that way?"

If Haguur doesn't grab the leather armor Marrin will make sure to grab it along with the smaller items (torches, flint and steel, looking glass) and try to put together a bag from the webs to carry them in.

((Jan doesn't stake a claim to the dagger, she's able to cast spells fine as it is.))

Haguur takes the short sword and swings it a couple of times, testing the balance. He nods, satisfied with the weapon.

He hands his dagger to one of the orc and another claims the other dagger. None seem too interested in the armor.

Ula smiles at the idea of a swim and chimes in before Hammerdasher can respond.

”I’d love to take another dip. Water is kind of my happy place.” Ula says. She’s clearly still hurting from after the spider bout but Hammerdasher doesn’t look any better.

Jisthelek smiles at Marrin.

”There are tunnels galore that way. But even I had a hard time squeezing along. The rest of you would need to lose some weight. A lot of weight. Probably even more than that guy.” He says pointing at the skeletal body that was in one of the spider cocoons. “I think some animal made them and I’m not too keen to meet whatever did bore its way through solid rock.”

You can all hear banging and loud shouting in orcish from outside this cavern.

Haguur growls and heads out to see what’s going on.

"If it's guards, exiting with weapons means this starts now...", Jan cautions.

Avaria smiles at Ula when she says that water is her happy place.  "Well, as soon as we can lets go exploring.  I don't know about you, but I am itching to get out of these caverns."

She turns her head towards the sound as well and starts following Haguur out to see what is going on.

((Thought I posted? Huh.))

Marrin smiles back at Jisthelek,

"Well, now we know that way is out. Thank you."

Looking over to the exit and noise she answers Jan as nonchalantly as she can,

"Well the orcs brought up a pile of gear so if the guards are there things have probably already started. Won't be the first hobgoblins we've killed today."

Performance: 25

Her smile looks more than a bit strained as she quickly puts on the armor before wrapping her arms around and Ethel and gently dragging her out of the cavern to see what is happening.

"Jisthelek, things are moving fast now. One way or another things are going to happen in the next few hours to half a day, are you and yours ready?"

She asks, mostly seeming to be trying to distract her self.