The clearing is larger than you expected based on Emma's drawings. Standing where you are, your darkvision isn't sufficient to see the other end entirely, but you can estimate based on the treeline that it isn't much farther than what you can see. It is mostly round, though not perfectly circular, and the large rock seems to be closer to you than it is to the other side, meaning it's not perfectly centred.
A few other rocks, much smaller in size, are scattered about unevenly. Some of the larger ones - still much smaller than the largest - aren't far from you. There are two trees inside the clearing, separated from the rest of the forest. They aren't pine trees, like most trees around, but rather oaks. There have been some of those in the forest, so other than their separate position, it doesn't strike either of you as particularly strange. Across the clearing from those two trees lies one large trunk of a fallen tree. It looks like it has fallen long ago, as even from a distance and in the dark, you can see it is partially decomposed.
Unlike the rest of the forest, covered in pine needles, the clearing is covered by short, sparse wild grass, but right now it is mostly just muddy from the rain.
As far as wildlife goes, the clearing seems to be empty. Even the pine trees provide more protection from the rain.
Lastly, the large rock depicted in Emma's drawing is even larger now that you stand just about 30 feet from it. It is at least 2.5 metres tall, and its base is a little wider than that. However, its shape is that of a saw's tooth. On one side, almost vertical from its top to the ground. On the other, a steep incline that is rounded near the top where it meets the vertical side. (OOC: In other words, its cross-section is roughly that of a right-angled trapezoid.)
Arren recalls that the entire clearing's ground was covered in black marks in Emma's drawing, but he sees nothing like that from where he stands, just outside the clearing. Meanwhile, 'Tace' finds no tracks in the vicinity. Not a person's nor any animal's.
"I can't see the end of the clearing. Let's check it out to get a complete view." Arren says to Tace, signaling him so the Elf can point the way with the lantern. He doesn't step into the clearing yet and, instead, circles its edge, trying to get a better view before making further moves.
"Those black marks in Emma's drawing—I don't see them anywhere. Could they be covered by the mud?" he wonders aloud as he walks. "Also, with the stone shaped like that... I was wondering how the marks might relate to it." He tries to recall the pattern of the black marks. Were they straight lines radiating from the stone? Or scattered and wavy instead?
If nothing stands out after reaching the far side of the clearing, and unless the Corporal wants to investigate something else first, Arren will finally step into it. As he goes towards the stone to inspect it closer, he tests the ground cautiously with his feet, trying to search for ridges that might match the lines from the drawing.
"There don't appear to be any tracks. None that I can see anyway", 'Tace' replies after nodding at the Sergeant's suggestion that they check out the other side of the clearing.
"I really don't know. Maybe it is something that can only be noticed from a certain perspective. Possibly next to the large rock, or atop it", he says, looking across to the rock and wondering if it could be climbed.
He has nothing else he wants to do before heading into the clearing, so if nothing reveals itself as dangerous or suspicious he will join the Sergeant in the clearing.
"Do you recall if the marks were all around the clearing, or just in front of the rock?".
He moves to stand next to the rock and look out from it to the west, before turning and investigating the rock itself.
(OOC: I expect DM will have to answer the question in the post)
"I'm certain they were covering the entire ground of the clearing,"Arren replies. "Mmm… yeah, what you say about the perspective could be right, definitely." he mutters, growing more and more curious by the moment.
Arren recalls that the entire clearing's ground was covered in black marks in Emma's drawing...
Circling the clearing doesn't provide any new insights. The clearing's edge seems to be roughly ten feet beyond what you could see, but there is nothing interesting there, except more trees.
Arren and 'Tace' head to the rock. It is a large rock. An impressive one, perhaps, but other than that, it looks normal. There are no black markings on it, nor drawings of any kind, nor anything you didn't see before, save for some lichen, perhaps. Perhaps it is, after all, just a normal rock?
While Bryn investigates the rock, searching for any clue that could lead them to Emma, he notices movement at the edge of his field of view. But before he can react, he notices something at his feet. He instinctively pounces back, and just in time!
Arren, on the other hand, doesn't react fast enough. A stinging pain shoots from his leg up. Upon looking down, he sees a gigantic spider at his feet. Perhaps the largest spider he had ever seen, this black creature burrowed its jaws into Arren's leg, injecting him with its poison!
Both Arren and Bryn are now fully aware of the spiders. There are two right next to them, and one burrowing out of the ground from below the rotten, fallen trunk. These spiders are about two feet wide, but other than their enormous size, they look like normal spiders.
((I'm sure you can interpolate between the grid ticks? I got lazy, I suppose.))
The spiders rolled very well for their stealth check, so they got to act first. S1 bites Arren and rolls 23 to hit, dealing 6 piercing damage and 4 poison damage (10 total)! S2 tries to bite Bryn but rolls a mere 12, and Bryn jolts his leg away in time. S3 has spent its turn unborrowing, but you have no doubt it is just as hungry as the other two.
We are now in initiative, but you may act in any order between the two of you (group initiative).
Arrenmakes a disgusted face, followed by a pained grunt, as he realizes what the black marks in Emma's drawing mean. Spiders. And big ones at that!
The Half-Elf stays close to his companion, shield at the ready, prepared to turn any incoming blow aside. If anything lunges for Tace, Arren is ready to put the shield between them. All the while, he focuses on the nearest spider, raising his longsword to return the favor.
Action: Attack spider S1: 16 / Damage (Savage Attacker): 9 12 (if the attack hits, he uses a Superiority Die to Trip Attack. STR ST DC 14 or be Prone, and it takes an extra 4 damage as well. The spider would also have disadvantage on its next attack due to Sap Mastery)
"Whoa! What the heck?!", 'Tace' calls out as he narrowly avoids the spider that tried to use his leg as a chew toy. His first instinct is to bolt from these monstrously large spiders, but he rejects it. Can't leave the Sergeant, and they'll likely run me down anyway.
And so he draws his new short sword, stands his ground and steadies himself before thrusting it into the body of the giant arachnid that managed to bite a chunk out to the Sergeant.
"You ok? Course you are", he asks the Sergeant. He took on a bear, these should be child's play to him.
Movement: None Bonus Action: Steady Aim (Gives Advantage on next attack) Action: Attack (draws shortsword as part of attack as per new rules) Shortsword on S1 - To Hit (with advantage from Steady Aim): (11, 4)+6=17, Damage (with Sneak Attack): 1+4+5+4=14 [piercing] - Weapon Mastery (Vex): If you hit a creature with a Shortsword and deal damage to the creature, you have Advantage on your next attack roll against that creature before the end of your next turn.
(OOC: DM - if Arren kills S1 he will obviously go for S2 instead :-) )
Arren drives his sword through the spider and finds that the creature is, despite its intimidating form, not a match for his sword. The sword almost splits the spider into two with Arren's single, strong slash. A slight movement hints that the creature isn't entirely dead yet (it would have had 1 hp left!), but as Arren forcefully pushes down on the spider, whatever kept it alive succumbs, and its carcass is crushed under the sword's weight.
Bryn, meanwhile, waits for an opportunity while the spider leans backwards, preparing to lunge at him again. However, the moment it does, Bryn thrusts forward and pierces the spider's vital organs, skewering it and killing it instantly. His hand is now stained by the spider's blood, but nothing that the rain won't wash away in a matter of seconds.
The third spider, not quite intelligent enough to reason that hunger is the wiser choice in this case, quickly crawls on its eight legs towards you. The large mass moves faster than you might expect and swiftly closes the distance. It tries to bite Bryn while he pushes the previous spider's dead body away from him, but Arren interposes his shield and protects Bryn from harm (it rolled 13 after disadvantage, so I believe that misses?).
Back to the party's turn. I won't update the map, but S1 and S2 are dead, and S3 is now at J-14.
((I'll take the chance to mention that, even when I use official stat-blocks, I almost always roll for their hp, and often change more than just that. Just FYI.))
((Also, what did Arren do with the drawings he made to show Zaba? Did he carry them with him into the rainy night, or leave them in the inn?))
Without a word, Arren folds the paper with his drawings and slips it into his pocket.
(He pocketed them! I thought of adding "and stores them safely in his backpack so they don't get wet. But then I thought "I'm overthinking it". Wrong choice? 🥲😂)
"Ugh, gross!", 'Tace' exclaims as he flicks spider blood off his hand and sword. Spotting the third spider heading towards him, he sets himself once again and waits for an opening. One comes soon enough as the Sergeant's shield appears between himself and the spider. He reaches over it and thrusts down towards the back of the creature, looking to skewer it.
"Thanks", he mutters as he strikes.
Movement: None Bonus Action: Steady Aim (Gives Advantage on next attack) Action: Attack Shortsword on S3 - To Hit (with advantage from Steady Aim): (16, 10)+6=22, Damage (with Sneak Attack): 2+4+2+6=14 [piercing] - Weapon Mastery (Vex): If you hit a creature with a Shortsword and deal damage to the creature, you have Advantage on your next attack roll against that creature before the end of your next turn.
Bryn's strike pierces the third spider and kills it instantly. Perhaps you wait for a moment in silence, only interrupted by the rain's constant white noise, which, by now, you're almost entirely ignorant of. As far as Arren and Bryn can tell, it seems there are no other spiders around. At least, on the surface.
(He pocketed them! I thought of adding "and stores them safely in his backpack so they don't get wet. But then I thought "I'm overthinking it". Wrong choice? 🥲😂)
Ah, forgot that! Thank you. Who knows, perhaps it would be worse off if the Commandant found it?
Arrenreturns Tace's thanks with a nod and watches as the Elf finishes off the last of the spiders. He'd already taken note of the Corporal's sound judgment since joining the team in Tus prison, and combat performance was the last thing left to see. The Sergeant was glad to find that he could handle himself nicely.
At Tace's comment about the spiders, Arren replies in a low voice, "I had all kinds of theories in my head about what those black marks could be, but I never thought spiders." He pauses for a moment, then adds, "Which makes me wonder again—how in Aleshi’s hell did Emma handle herself in the forest so well?" Of course, she would have marked the spiders in her drawings as a warning, so he assumes she simply avoided the clearing on later visits. But what about the first time she entered it? She must have been warned beforehand, or wasn't alone.
"I hope more don't show up when we try to leave this clearing," he whispers again.
As his companion searches for more spiders, Arren studies the stone and its surroundings. They need to find a cave now. Is there any rocky wall nearby that could house a cave? Is the rock climbable, so he can get a better view? Or could they determine which direction to follow by taking the sun's position in Emma's drawing into account?
Bryn doubts the nest had only those three, as spiders either live alone or in large colonies, but there are no signs that any more are on their way.
As far as Arren can tell, nothing in the vicinity looks like it could hold a cave. The large rock's sloped side looks normally climbable, if a bit slippery under the rain.
"Or could they determine which direction to follow by taking the sun's position in Emma's drawing into account?"
That depends. Without seeing the drawing, I'd need an Intelligence check (both may roll) to see how well you remember the finer details. Arren may consider consulting his remake of Emma's drawing, but even if it hadn't been ruined by the rain yet, I don't think opening it in the rain will preserve it much.
"Well I think we are ok for the moment, I don't hear any more critters tunnelling about. You are right though, that may not last so we'd better be quick", 'Tace' says satisfied that there is no immediate threat.
"She must have had a guide. Perhaps they simply walked around the clearing. The sun was directly above the rock in the picture, right?", he says, thinking back to the detail within the drawing.
Having seen it only recently, the image is still clear in Bryn's mind. He's able to tell that the rock's cross-section from the angle he stands in does not match the one he remembers from the drawing. Circling the rock, he eventually manages to find a spot, more or less near the two oak trees, from which the rock resembles what he remembers best.
"Now that you mention it..."Arrensays, circling the rock to stand next to the Corporal and gaze into the distance. "You're right. This does look like the perspective shown in the drawing." He glances at his companion, adding, "Good memory, Corporal. And good hand with those spiders, too."
The Half-Elf rolls his shoulders and stretches his neck a bit with a quiet exhale, "Let's go. The sooner we're out of this clearing, and out of this forest, the better."
As they start walking, Arren keeps a wary eye out for any sign of more spiders. He limps slightly with the first few steps—that damned spider had bitten deep.
The forest around Arren and Bryn remains quiet as they cross the clearing. Even when their path takes them not far from the log, no other spiders unburrow. They can hear only the rain, the wind blowing through the pines, and their steps on their needles.
It takes them less than a minute, what must be 100 feet at most, when they notice a deep carving upon one of the nearby trees. It takes them a moment to recognise the carvings as letters, for each letter is about the size of a head, and several centimetres deep. 'Stay away, ' it says. And then, on another tree just past it: 'Turn back.' Perhaps they stop, raising the lantern to see a little farther. 'Keep off,' 'stay clear, ' and other similar messages adorn the trees in the vicinity. The farther in this direction they walk, the more trees bear such messages, mostly repeating every few trees.
If they continue walking, after about another 100 more feet, the messages begin to change a little. 'Danger, ' 'death,' and finally 'monster,' all start appearing among the other messages. First, just a bit, then a lot more. However, at the point when these messages appear more often than those that you saw before, one more message appears. 'Kill me.' It doesn't appear frequently, as far as you can see in the dark from where you first notice it. Perhaps once more in those 60 feet in which you can see.
Bryn, thanks to your acute senses, you also notice something else. The smells in the air, until now, have been a mixture of the smell of rain, the weak scent of the pine needles crushing under your boots, and the reek of the spider's innards that hasn't quite left your arm yet. But now, there's one more smell which catches your attention: that of smoke; something burning. And yet, you cannot see any light except that which you carry with you. It's a little hard to distinguish from the clouds at night, especially with all the trees blocking the view, but Bryn thinks he can see smoke rising from the forest, somewhere up ahead, and not very far.
Arrenis glad to leave the clearing, having found no more spiders on their way out. And while he doesn't like the content of the messages carved into the trees, their presence at least confirms they're on the right path. He says nothing when they find the first warnings—Stay away, Turn back. Not even when the trees begin to promise death.
But when they reach the one that reads Kill me, he glances toward the Corporal. "This one is troubling. Does this mean that person isn't in control of himself?" His voice is low, thoughtful. "If that's the case… that does not bode well for Emma."
He falls quiet for a moment, uncertain of what they’re about to find—or what they'll need to do when they find it. But one thing is clear: they need to keep going, and fast.
Noticing the Corporal has turned his attention to something ahead, Arren speaks again. "Seen anything?"
(ooc: Are the carvings recent? Do any seem newer than the rest?)
The clearing is larger than you expected based on Emma's drawings. Standing where you are, your darkvision isn't sufficient to see the other end entirely, but you can estimate based on the treeline that it isn't much farther than what you can see. It is mostly round, though not perfectly circular, and the large rock seems to be closer to you than it is to the other side, meaning it's not perfectly centred.
A few other rocks, much smaller in size, are scattered about unevenly. Some of the larger ones - still much smaller than the largest - aren't far from you. There are two trees inside the clearing, separated from the rest of the forest. They aren't pine trees, like most trees around, but rather oaks. There have been some of those in the forest, so other than their separate position, it doesn't strike either of you as particularly strange. Across the clearing from those two trees lies one large trunk of a fallen tree. It looks like it has fallen long ago, as even from a distance and in the dark, you can see it is partially decomposed.
Unlike the rest of the forest, covered in pine needles, the clearing is covered by short, sparse wild grass, but right now it is mostly just muddy from the rain.
As far as wildlife goes, the clearing seems to be empty. Even the pine trees provide more protection from the rain.
Lastly, the large rock depicted in Emma's drawing is even larger now that you stand just about 30 feet from it. It is at least 2.5 metres tall, and its base is a little wider than that. However, its shape is that of a saw's tooth. On one side, almost vertical from its top to the ground. On the other, a steep incline that is rounded near the top where it meets the vertical side. (OOC: In other words, its cross-section is roughly that of a right-angled trapezoid.)
Arren recalls that the entire clearing's ground was covered in black marks in Emma's drawing, but he sees nothing like that from where he stands, just outside the clearing. Meanwhile, 'Tace' finds no tracks in the vicinity. Not a person's nor any animal's.
Varielky
"I can't see the end of the clearing. Let's check it out to get a complete view." Arren says to Tace, signaling him so the Elf can point the way with the lantern. He doesn't step into the clearing yet and, instead, circles its edge, trying to get a better view before making further moves.
"Those black marks in Emma's drawing—I don't see them anywhere. Could they be covered by the mud?" he wonders aloud as he walks. "Also, with the stone shaped like that... I was wondering how the marks might relate to it." He tries to recall the pattern of the black marks. Were they straight lines radiating from the stone? Or scattered and wavy instead?
If nothing stands out after reaching the far side of the clearing, and unless the Corporal wants to investigate something else first, Arren will finally step into it. As he goes towards the stone to inspect it closer, he tests the ground cautiously with his feet, trying to search for ridges that might match the lines from the drawing.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"There don't appear to be any tracks. None that I can see anyway", 'Tace' replies after nodding at the Sergeant's suggestion that they check out the other side of the clearing.
"I really don't know. Maybe it is something that can only be noticed from a certain perspective. Possibly next to the large rock, or atop it", he says, looking across to the rock and wondering if it could be climbed.
He has nothing else he wants to do before heading into the clearing, so if nothing reveals itself as dangerous or suspicious he will join the Sergeant in the clearing.
"Do you recall if the marks were all around the clearing, or just in front of the rock?".
He moves to stand next to the rock and look out from it to the west, before turning and investigating the rock itself.
(OOC: I expect DM will have to answer the question in the post)
"I'm certain they were covering the entire ground of the clearing," Arren replies. "Mmm… yeah, what you say about the perspective could be right, definitely." he mutters, growing more and more curious by the moment.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Circling the clearing doesn't provide any new insights. The clearing's edge seems to be roughly ten feet beyond what you could see, but there is nothing interesting there, except more trees.
Arren and 'Tace' head to the rock. It is a large rock. An impressive one, perhaps, but other than that, it looks normal. There are no black markings on it, nor drawings of any kind, nor anything you didn't see before, save for some lichen, perhaps. Perhaps it is, after all, just a normal rock?
While Bryn investigates the rock, searching for any clue that could lead them to Emma, he notices movement at the edge of his field of view. But before he can react, he notices something at his feet. He instinctively pounces back, and just in time!
Arren, on the other hand, doesn't react fast enough. A stinging pain shoots from his leg up. Upon looking down, he sees a gigantic spider at his feet. Perhaps the largest spider he had ever seen, this black creature burrowed its jaws into Arren's leg, injecting him with its poison!
Both Arren and Bryn are now fully aware of the spiders. There are two right next to them, and one burrowing out of the ground from below the rotten, fallen trunk. These spiders are about two feet wide, but other than their enormous size, they look like normal spiders.
((I'm sure you can interpolate between the grid ticks? I got lazy, I suppose.))
The spiders rolled very well for their stealth check, so they got to act first. S1 bites Arren and rolls 23 to hit, dealing 6 piercing damage and 4 poison damage (10 total)! S2 tries to bite Bryn but rolls a mere 12, and Bryn jolts his leg away in time. S3 has spent its turn unborrowing, but you have no doubt it is just as hungry as the other two.
We are now in initiative, but you may act in any order between the two of you (group initiative).
Varielky
Arren makes a disgusted face, followed by a pained grunt, as he realizes what the black marks in Emma's drawing mean. Spiders. And big ones at that!
The Half-Elf stays close to his companion, shield at the ready, prepared to turn any incoming blow aside. If anything lunges for Tace, Arren is ready to put the shield between them. All the while, he focuses on the nearest spider, raising his longsword to return the favor.
Action: Attack spider S1: 16 / Damage (Savage Attacker):
912 (if the attack hits, he uses a Superiority Die to Trip Attack. STR ST DC 14 or be Prone, and it takes an extra 4 damage as well. The spider would also have disadvantage on its next attack due to Sap Mastery)Reaction: Protection
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Whoa! What the heck?!", 'Tace' calls out as he narrowly avoids the spider that tried to use his leg as a chew toy. His first instinct is to bolt from these monstrously large spiders, but he rejects it. Can't leave the Sergeant, and they'll likely run me down anyway.
And so he draws his new short sword, stands his ground and steadies himself before thrusting it into the body of the giant arachnid that managed to bite a chunk out to the Sergeant.
"You ok? Course you are", he asks the Sergeant. He took on a bear, these should be child's play to him.
Movement: None
Bonus Action: Steady Aim (Gives Advantage on next attack)
Action: Attack (draws shortsword as part of attack as per new rules)
Shortsword on S1 - To Hit (with advantage from Steady Aim): (11,
4)+6=17, Damage (with Sneak Attack): 1+4+5+4=14 [piercing] - Weapon Mastery (Vex): If you hit a creature with a Shortsword and deal damage to the creature, you have Advantage on your next attack roll against that creature before the end of your next turn.(OOC: DM - if Arren kills S1 he will obviously go for S2 instead :-) )
((Forgot how much damage you guys can deal lol.))
Arren drives his sword through the spider and finds that the creature is, despite its intimidating form, not a match for his sword. The sword almost splits the spider into two with Arren's single, strong slash. A slight movement hints that the creature isn't entirely dead yet (it would have had 1 hp left!), but as Arren forcefully pushes down on the spider, whatever kept it alive succumbs, and its carcass is crushed under the sword's weight.
Bryn, meanwhile, waits for an opportunity while the spider leans backwards, preparing to lunge at him again. However, the moment it does, Bryn thrusts forward and pierces the spider's vital organs, skewering it and killing it instantly. His hand is now stained by the spider's blood, but nothing that the rain won't wash away in a matter of seconds.
The third spider, not quite intelligent enough to reason that hunger is the wiser choice in this case, quickly crawls on its eight legs towards you. The large mass moves faster than you might expect and swiftly closes the distance. It tries to bite Bryn while he pushes the previous spider's dead body away from him, but Arren interposes his shield and protects Bryn from harm (it rolled 13 after disadvantage, so I believe that misses?).
Back to the party's turn. I won't update the map, but S1 and S2 are dead, and S3 is now at J-14.
((I'll take the chance to mention that, even when I use official stat-blocks, I almost always roll for their hp, and often change more than just that. Just FYI.))
((Also, what did Arren do with the drawings he made to show Zaba? Did he carry them with him into the rainy night, or leave them in the inn?))
Varielky
(He pocketed them! I thought of adding "and stores them safely in his backpack so they don't get wet. But then I thought "I'm overthinking it". Wrong choice? 🥲😂)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
(OOC: That's right, a 13 misses. Bryn has 15AC)
"Ugh, gross!", 'Tace' exclaims as he flicks spider blood off his hand and sword. Spotting the third spider heading towards him, he sets himself once again and waits for an opening. One comes soon enough as the Sergeant's shield appears between himself and the spider. He reaches over it and thrusts down towards the back of the creature, looking to skewer it.
"Thanks", he mutters as he strikes.
Movement: None
Bonus Action: Steady Aim (Gives Advantage on next attack)
Action: Attack
Shortsword on S3 - To Hit (with advantage from Steady Aim): (16,
10)+6=22, Damage (with Sneak Attack): 2+4+2+6=14 [piercing] - Weapon Mastery (Vex): If you hit a creature with a Shortsword and deal damage to the creature, you have Advantage on your next attack roll against that creature before the end of your next turn.((Sneaking in a short post.))
Bryn's strike pierces the third spider and kills it instantly. Perhaps you wait for a moment in silence, only interrupted by the rain's constant white noise, which, by now, you're almost entirely ignorant of. As far as Arren and Bryn can tell, it seems there are no other spiders around. At least, on the surface.
((Out of initiative.))
Ah, forgot that! Thank you. Who knows, perhaps it would be worse off if the Commandant found it?
Varielky
'Tace' stands stock still, cocking his head to the side listening for any rustling that would indicate more spiders are on the way.
"I didn't expect that!", he whispers to the Sergeant.
Perception: 19+5=24
Arren returns Tace's thanks with a nod and watches as the Elf finishes off the last of the spiders. He'd already taken note of the Corporal's sound judgment since joining the team in Tus prison, and combat performance was the last thing left to see. The Sergeant was glad to find that he could handle himself nicely.
At Tace's comment about the spiders, Arren replies in a low voice, "I had all kinds of theories in my head about what those black marks could be, but I never thought spiders." He pauses for a moment, then adds, "Which makes me wonder again—how in Aleshi’s hell did Emma handle herself in the forest so well?" Of course, she would have marked the spiders in her drawings as a warning, so he assumes she simply avoided the clearing on later visits. But what about the first time she entered it? She must have been warned beforehand, or wasn't alone.
"I hope more don't show up when we try to leave this clearing," he whispers again.
As his companion searches for more spiders, Arren studies the stone and its surroundings. They need to find a cave now. Is there any rocky wall nearby that could house a cave? Is the rock climbable, so he can get a better view? Or could they determine which direction to follow by taking the sun's position in Emma's drawing into account?
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Bryn doubts the nest had only those three, as spiders either live alone or in large colonies, but there are no signs that any more are on their way.
As far as Arren can tell, nothing in the vicinity looks like it could hold a cave. The large rock's sloped side looks normally climbable, if a bit slippery under the rain.
That depends. Without seeing the drawing, I'd need an Intelligence check (both may roll) to see how well you remember the finer details. Arren may consider consulting his remake of Emma's drawing, but even if it hadn't been ruined by the rain yet, I don't think opening it in the rain will preserve it much.
Varielky
"Well I think we are ok for the moment, I don't hear any more critters tunnelling about. You are right though, that may not last so we'd better be quick", 'Tace' says satisfied that there is no immediate threat.
"She must have had a guide. Perhaps they simply walked around the clearing. The sun was directly above the rock in the picture, right?", he says, thinking back to the detail within the drawing.
Intelligence: 20+3= 23
(OOC: I guess he remembers pretty darn well :-) )
Having seen it only recently, the image is still clear in Bryn's mind. He's able to tell that the rock's cross-section from the angle he stands in does not match the one he remembers from the drawing. Circling the rock, he eventually manages to find a spot, more or less near the two oak trees, from which the rock resembles what he remembers best.
Varielky
"You know, I think the rock looks more like the drawing from this aspect. What do you think?", 'Tace' asks the Sergeant.
He waits for the Sergeant to join him and look. "So would that mean we head in that direction?", he asks, pointing towards the rock and beyond.
Whichever way we intend to go, let's just be quick about it.
He keeps the lantern in his left hand, his right still grasping his shortsword in case any more spiders appear. He is remaining wary.
"Now that you mention it..." Arren says, circling the rock to stand next to the Corporal and gaze into the distance. "You're right. This does look like the perspective shown in the drawing." He glances at his companion, adding, "Good memory, Corporal. And good hand with those spiders, too."
The Half-Elf rolls his shoulders and stretches his neck a bit with a quiet exhale, "Let's go. The sooner we're out of this clearing, and out of this forest, the better."
As they start walking, Arren keeps a wary eye out for any sign of more spiders. He limps slightly with the first few steps—that damned spider had bitten deep.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
The forest around Arren and Bryn remains quiet as they cross the clearing. Even when their path takes them not far from the log, no other spiders unburrow. They can hear only the rain, the wind blowing through the pines, and their steps on their needles.
It takes them less than a minute, what must be 100 feet at most, when they notice a deep carving upon one of the nearby trees. It takes them a moment to recognise the carvings as letters, for each letter is about the size of a head, and several centimetres deep. 'Stay away, ' it says. And then, on another tree just past it: 'Turn back.' Perhaps they stop, raising the lantern to see a little farther. 'Keep off,' 'stay clear, ' and other similar messages adorn the trees in the vicinity. The farther in this direction they walk, the more trees bear such messages, mostly repeating every few trees.
If they continue walking, after about another 100 more feet, the messages begin to change a little. 'Danger, ' 'death,' and finally 'monster,' all start appearing among the other messages. First, just a bit, then a lot more. However, at the point when these messages appear more often than those that you saw before, one more message appears. 'Kill me.' It doesn't appear frequently, as far as you can see in the dark from where you first notice it. Perhaps once more in those 60 feet in which you can see.
Bryn, thanks to your acute senses, you also notice something else. The smells in the air, until now, have been a mixture of the smell of rain, the weak scent of the pine needles crushing under your boots, and the reek of the spider's innards that hasn't quite left your arm yet. But now, there's one more smell which catches your attention: that of smoke; something burning. And yet, you cannot see any light except that which you carry with you. It's a little hard to distinguish from the clouds at night, especially with all the trees blocking the view, but Bryn thinks he can see smoke rising from the forest, somewhere up ahead, and not very far.
Varielky
Arren is glad to leave the clearing, having found no more spiders on their way out. And while he doesn't like the content of the messages carved into the trees, their presence at least confirms they're on the right path. He says nothing when they find the first warnings—Stay away, Turn back. Not even when the trees begin to promise death.
But when they reach the one that reads Kill me, he glances toward the Corporal. "This one is troubling. Does this mean that person isn't in control of himself?" His voice is low, thoughtful. "If that's the case… that does not bode well for Emma."
He falls quiet for a moment, uncertain of what they’re about to find—or what they'll need to do when they find it. But one thing is clear: they need to keep going, and fast.
Noticing the Corporal has turned his attention to something ahead, Arren speaks again. "Seen anything?"
(ooc: Are the carvings recent? Do any seem newer than the rest?)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra