Helping to setup the camp and prep for the evening, I take some time to talk with Srick and ask him what he observed in the spider's lair before they ran. "Something I'm curious about - what talents do you have that we can best use in the upcoming encounter? If we know your skills, we can involve you all properly yet keep you safe."

I send Ariel into the sky as usual - patrolling and watching for unexpected 'guests' .After the chat with the Halfling, and recalling the swift hands and slick talents of fictional hobbits, I take inventory of my more valuable items. 

After a recon of the area, I’ll check the provisions for the makings of a hot meal. If anything is found will set up a fire pit and ring to cook a warm meal. Once the meal is cooked I’ll douse the fire  and smother the ashes.

After eating and killing the fire I’ll set out my bedroll, find a secure/secluded spot and settle in for guard duty.

Srick can tell you his and his friends talents are extracting gems and metals from the rocks that form mountains and large hills.  As far as the spider nest he can not tell you much about that as he and his fellows never made it all the way in just a couple spiders that they encountered and killed before the mad rush away as they did not have the means to kill a whole nest of them.  The occasional spider can be dealt with. 

A brief scout of the area shows that you are safe up on the hill top.  With Ariel in the sky you will be notified if anything comes your way before the night is over.

After a restful night you soon are back on the trail into the spiders nest.  Soon you can sense that you are not in a safe area anymore.  The forest is quiet as the dwarves lead you on.  They do tell you that it is about here that they encountered the first spiders. 

Refreshed for the day and with new spells percolating in my head, I help pack up and break camp. My morning habit of activating the comfort icon keeps me warm in the chill air. As we reach the subject area, I dismount and lead my horse into the danger, sword loose in its back sheath.

OoC- have Body of Sun as level 2 spell. 

As you slowly enter the area the dwarves hang back a bit more willing to follow you into the nest area rather than leading you.  Srick tells you that they have gone no farther than this so they do not know if any or what type of spiders remain.

I motion for a halt, "Right then, time to send some eyes ahead. Ping, you're up."

With that the little automauton fleaps forward and up, flying above the trees in the direction indicated by the dwarves. Ping will observe the area from well above the treeline for any imeddiate dangers before going lower for a closer look

I'll find a perch, a bigger rock or a tree to post up and possibly fire my bow from. I make sure that Maximus is nearby and ready to go. "Spider watch has commenced, but in truth I'm more worried about dragon watch."

I don't see much against the muck but the sounds of the bog are front and present in my new ears.

Listen: 15, Spot: 6

Armed with my bow at the ready, I scan the trees and area ahead, lookup for threats. Ariel still up on the heights, I keep it there for now, watching from a different angle. 

Ping goes up above the trees but can not see anything due to the foliage except a opening now and then.   As you get further into the midst of the trees that are thicker in this area you can see some webbing here and there but not a lot of it.   You can sense that you are being watched but in the shadows that are ahead of you nothing is seen yet.  There seems to be a single trail heading deeper inside the tree lined lane.  Only two people can with a little discomfort can walk side by side.  Cesear will have to walk alone as he takes up a good amount of space. 

Think of a really dense forest with trees close together making it harder to see because of the deeper shadows and a narrow path leading you to something.that makes it hard to see every now and then you see a shaft of light coming down from a small opening in the tree canopy.

I will need a marching order for everyone.

NOTE:  YOU are NOT in a MARSHY/SWAMPY/BOG area.  The earth is still dirt and leaves with some small bushes that grow here and there. 

Roll 20 map has been loaded.  Place your tokens on the map on the bottom.  I will place the trail markers here shortly

If everyone is set please post a marching order and I will update the game

As you continue to follow the winding trail through the trees you come upon a small wider space.  Here you can see a couple of webbed bodies of about human sized maybe a bit bigger (marked with letter D).  As you press on you seem to hear some chittering ahead but can not see anything as of now.  . 

Quietly, I move up to the suspended bodies, locating the head of one of them, and cutting open the webbing over the face to see if it still lives. 

Cutting the silk by the head you soon see the withered face of a Orc.  The skin is taunt to the skull with the cheeks and eyes sunken into the skull.  The body has no life in it.  If you cut the others you will find the same thing.  There are eight bodies in this area if you take the time to look at them all. 

I look to see what Grant had uncovered, "Probably one of Merkin's. Shame this nest isn't closer to his territory, might have just taken steps to ward our people away and let the spiders keep picking his grunts off. All right, we have a job to do, let's not give these vermin a chance to replenish their numbers."

Quietly I nod and say "Let's move up until they engage us, or we see them clear enough for weapons fire."

OOC - is the terrain wet enough to stop any major fire spread, or is it dry?

You are in a thick part of the forest.  It gets a good amount of rain so it is not dry at the moment but it is not saturated either.  The trees loo healthy as does the underbrush so if a fire is started it would have a hard time remaining lit. 

I try to remain as quiet as I can while advancing, cutting away foliage when necessary and using my sword. It should be very sharp and require little effort . If we see or hear skittering, we'll report back. Keeping my eyes open for more bodies to check, but overall trying to advance at a steady pace.

Jon tries to remain quiet as he moves forward past the bodies.  As he keeps moving on he can here that the chittering is getting a bit closer.  Soon he comes up to another small clearing where there is six more silk wrapped cocoons.   (A)   Looking down the narrow path he will be able to see some movement up ahead. 

Jon you will need to roll a D20 to see if you can remain quiet.  DC is 15 with a -5 due to heavy type of armor 

Everyone else is following Jon in the party order.