I yawn as I emerge from the tent I was sharing with Thalica, helping her move over to where Rachel was offering to help restore her strength.

With that settled I seek out Srick. "Well I suppose you'll be moving on. Oh, there's something I meant to ask you about. There's a kind of mineral I've been hoping to find ever since we came here, but no luck so far. Its called bauxite where I'm from, it looks a bit like red clay, is quite soft, and is often found in little pockets embedded in sedimentary rock... Oh hell, one second." I fiddle around for a while before using a spell to project an illusion of what I can recall from a number of bauxite rocks I've seen and handled before. "This is Karst Bauxite, and this is Lateritic bauxite. Probably won't be any of the lateritic around here, that's usually found in regions a lot warmer than this. But the Karst might be around. Its usually near the surface in the same sort of places you can find iron rich soil."

"Anyways, I'd be willing to pay well for a good sized sample, say twenty pounds or so? And there might be mining opportunities if the experiment with the stuff goes well."

 When Jason is close to Rachel she will tell him that there is still something else to be done.  "We have not fully followed the path and I can feel that what is ever at the end of this mission will not be one we will soon forget.  We need to finish this."

When Jason talks to the head dwarf Srick  He studies the images you are displaying.  He calls a couple other over and they study the images to then thank you as they move over and start chatting among themselves in their native language.  After about fifteen minutes Srick comes back over to you and say, :while we have never came across what you have shown us we will remember to watch for some.  There could be deposits in the swamp lands but that area is one that I would recommend you stay away from as it is filled with creatures that make those huge spiders look like a new born kitten"

(The spell and the overnight recovery leaves me down 1) "Thanks, Rachel. I needed that. Nasty scuttling spiders with bad attitudes are not fun playmates. Let's get this party started and find what is further along!" Helping to pack up the camp, I remount my horse, tap my Endure Elements and get ready to front the group once again.  

I nod thankfully to Srick, "Believe it or not those swamps were our next destination anyways. There's a prize there more than worth the risk. My interest in useful minerals isn't our goal there, but I'll keep an eye out as we move."

I help get things packed up as we prepare to move on.

I speak with Rachel a bit more. "Seems our resident druid has a hunch that there's more to this place than just the spiders, something nasty a short ways to the north. Far be it from me to second guess her instincts. Shall we?"

"How short a way? Should we walk it, since our horses can't take the punishment we can? Any clues as to what it might be, as well?" I ask, curious. 

She replies to Grant, "it is still farther in among the spiders place  I am not  sure but I would ponder a guest that these giant spiders were coming from somewhere.  I would say that we went thru the normal ones and now it is time to face the boss  Leaving the horses may prove to be very beneficial I believe that way none of them get killed by what we are about to face.  Having Cesear here will hopefully be enough with us to see what it is and finish this.  Hopefully it has some treasure there too."

I tie up my horse loosely, in case I don't make it back and leave with her the gear I doubt I'll need until afterwards. Using my disguise spell, I make myself look darker, like a shadow amongst shadows. Moving up quietly with the others, through the trees towards where the last foe was indicated, I stand ready to activate my magical shield bracer, if attacked. 

"With the noise we were drawing it's possible that any of the ones that were going to come after us on the road have already done so, but no need to take chances, I suggest we stay on guard and move as stealthy as we can, lights on in the back and darkvision up front just in case we reach a cave. Can we get a ranger in front to check for traps, I mean trap door spider is a name for a reason. I'll have rope at the ready," I say as I sling it across my plate. I realize that normally I would never be able to carry this much gear with ease, but thanks to Bahamut's will I can so I say a quick prayer thanking him again.

Vickie is thanking for the rest and healing she received, she readies herself for what lies ahead for the group. 

"I'm ready to go take on what may before us." said to the group as a whole. 

I nod in agreement with the others, "Lets see if we can take whatever it is by surprise this time."

Once again, I send Ping up to take a look from above along the way to our destination as we pick our way along by foot.

‘Ready to rock and roll’

At the Y where you camped do you take the right path that you have yet to explore  or the left the one you have mostly explored?

"Let's go back to the spiders, since there are indications that there is a bigger baddie to fight, ahead." I say, fully charged up for more combat. 

As Herschel steps up to take point he says ‘Copy that-left or right?’

We took the left one last time, I'll keep pushing that way unless someone objects. No horses, crouched down, this time I don't bother stealthing because I want things to notice me instead of those that choose to stealth. Shield up, watching for spider pit traps, trip lines, ones that will try to shoot webs at me and most notably, movement.

Once again you head down the left path.  It takes a bit longer to get to where the big fight with the spiders were at.  As you pass through the spider carcasses you see small insects feasting on the dead spider flesh.  You see Rachel stop and study the insects.  She seem pleased with what she sees.  If any question her she will state, "Already the forest creature are helping the circle of life to continue.  I am sure soon there will be more birds in this area eating these insects  Already you can hear more birds in the area as they will be feasting.  Stop and listen to nature as she is all around us now."  She stands up and with arms wide out palms up she tilts her head back.  She mumbles to herself or to nature itself as she slowly turns a full 360 degrees.  If you stop and listen as he had said you can hear the buzz of many insects and not far away you can hear the songs of the birds as they slowly get closer. 

After about 5 minutes Rachel looks about and says lets get this over with and she walks past the spiders and continues along the path.  Caesar  heads a bit ahead of her looking about as he can feel what Rachel is feeling and it has him on edge.  Ping informs you that he does not see anything moving  nearby but there is a large area of blankness due to the thick covering of webs in the tress.  He informs you that soon you will all be out of his sight  as a few are already in the think cover of webs.

With Jonathan is walking ahead of everyone his shield up he finds he at times must use the shield and the sword to clear a better path for all.  He is not trying to be quiet as if he feels the wrongness and wants to get closer and attack the thing that is waiting for him.  This he says to himself will prove his worthiness in front of Bahamut. He is followed by Ceasar and then Herschel and Rachel are not back.  Everyone else is following behind.

Not worried about thorns, I still watch for pit traps and spider webs as I urgently push forward, something ahead was spotted and I push forward aburptly to ensure that I get there before the others. The upgrades provided by Bahamut were tools granted to me to protect others and I couldn't do that if the others were ahead of me, I brace for impact as I clear vines and see the enormous spider that lays claim to this place.

Everyone sees Jonathan moving more rapidly than those behind him  Soon he has cut a path thru the spider webs and then moves to the left toward what Rachel tells you is the source of the wrongness she is feeling.  As the rest of you get closer you can here Jonathan's cry of challenge as he sprints towards the very large spider in front of him. 

The spider moves forward as Jonathan moves quickly towards it  It bites into Jonathan's arm as he swings his sword at it 31 but misses him

We are now in combat  Those in the front will have to wait one round to attack That is Hersh, Caesar, and Rachel.  Please roll for initiative so I can get a battle order .  Those behind the front will take two rounds to get there   If you are doing anything special let me know. 

Those in the back did not see Jonathan sprinting forwards to engage the Monstrous spider but they did hear his challenge

I’m picking the lint from my belly button:

Init: 2+3=5