Sword Coast Rambling

Serak: Cocking his crossbow and quickly reloading a bolt, Serak takes careful aim at the spider as he pulls back on the trigger.

Attack: 24 Damage: 5

With a loud thunk, another crossbow bolt tears through the air from the cover of the trees. 

Attack: 24 
Damage: 5

Serak watches as his shot hits the target, bursting one the spiders many eyes and implanting itself deep in its head. The spiders legs writhe in pain for a brief moment before suddenly stretching upwards as the creature rises tall in the doorway. 

The spider hisses as its abdomen appears beneath it. From a small opening in its backside, a long stream of silken webbing spews out into the road towards Beetle. 

Spider Attack Roll: 18

A flash of bright light fills the darkening night air as Beetles glass staff comes to life. The spiders webbing burns away as it winds itself around the paladins armour. As the light fades, Beetle emerges untethered, the webbing melted away around him. Scuttling away, the spider abandons its meal, crawling back into cover within the ruined building. 

Peeking out from the overgrowth and seeing the cultists are dealt with for now at least, Jelenneth reemerges from cover. Quickly making her way down the trail to catch up with the others, she finds a safe position between Brots and Syna. 

Brots holds his bow steady as the elven maiden arrives. "Lady Jelenneth! Seems we've found a spider. Get behind me." The gnome notches another arrow and takes aim at the doorway, readying himself should the creature reemerge from the darkness.

OOC: Arkhans attack would go here.

Realizing the spider's bite could bring things to a vicious end, Syna moves behind Beetle and casts Resistance with his touch.

OOC: With the cultists still down, Beetle and Serak are free to move when they want. Syna you can also change your action if you'd like to now the rest of the round has been made up to your turn.

OOC: going through the web is difficult terr. right? so half movement...

Assuming that....

Beetle moves around the cultist and closes on the spider...

As he nears Talon raises and then comes crashing down...a voice can be heard calling out..."Tyr guide my strike to be true, and help dispatch this foe..."

Attack: 17 Damage: 9  on a hit Beetle uses a 1st level spell slot to use his Divine Smite 

OOC: Sorry, yes the web is difficult terrain. Should have mentioned that!

(OOC: here is what i'd like Arkhan to do, if he can see a weapon on the guy stuck in the web he would walk over remove it from his person and plunge it into his chest. If he doesn't see a weapon on him, he'll shoot a fire bolt at the spider.)

OOC: I also forgot that Beetle has been carrying around his old longsword from before Talon.  He didn't use a bonus action so if Arkhan gets close enough he can pass the old sword to him.

Syna will cast Resistance on himself.

Arkhan sneers as he moves to stand over the helpless cultist. With a huge hand, the dragonborn snatches the scimitar from the cloaked mans belt and raises it before him. He examines the blade as he turns it playfully in one hand, a light blade, expertly crafted, the steel glistening in the night. Suddenly his mood changes. Beneath the mask, the cultist gasps loudly as the blade plunges into his chest, puncturing his lungs and ending his suffering. Tossing the blade aside in disgust, Arkhan stares into the ruined building as Beetle hands him a more suitable weapon. 

Holding his own longsword at shoulder height, Beetle charges forward through the webbing. The long strands stick to the paladins legs, slowing his charge to little more than a crawl.

Beetle Strength (Athletics) Check: 19

The silken webs snap and give way as he continues to push forwards. Catching the spider at the furthest wall, Beetle swings Talon downwards calling out into the night, "Tyr guide my strike to be true, and help dispatch this foe..."

Attack: 17 
Damage: 15 (+ Radiant damage)

Tyr answers the paladins call to arms with an explosion of bright godly light that fills the room. The spiders legs give way as its head is sliced free of its bulky body, sending a splatter of thick goo splats across Beetles armour. Triumphantly he turns back to the others, holding Talon high above him. As he takes a step back towards the doorway, the webs around his feet begin to tremble. A long dark shadow reveals itself as Tyrs light fades away, eight more legs silhouetted against the east wall. A second giant spider reaches through the doorway beside him from the next room. 

ROUND 4

OOC: Round 4 then. Sorry Beetle I'd forgot there was a Strength check with the webbing. Serak we're back to you. 

(Ooc well done BB loved the picture you painted)

arkhan takes hold of the longsword and twirls it around getting used to it’s weight, “Thank you” he mumbles. 

Movement 3 squares down one square south east if I’m able. I think that’s 30 total with difficult terrain.

Fire bolt at the spider: Attack: 9 Damage: 6

Serak: Nodding approvingly at the now-armed Dragonborn, Serak says, "The battle is joined! Serak The Skald, at your service!" The bard bows low, scooping up his dagger from the ground as he does so.

Noticing Beetle still in danger, Serak runs toward the door and skids to a halt when he sees the second spider creeping forward. He takes cover to the left of Zyltris and shouts, "I'm not arachnophobic, but... Let's kill this eight-legged freak!"

Action: Vicious Mockery Target: Spider Damage: 3

Sidling through towards the cluttered doorway, Serak throws an approving nod to the dragonborn as he swings Beetles longsword. Ducking sharply beneath the blade, Serak cheerfully speaks as he improvises a roll, picking up his dagger from the dust covered ground, "The battle is joined! Serak The Skald, at your service!" Throwing himself against the gaping doorway, Serak peeks inside, catching a glimpse of more spidery limbs reaching for the paladin. He points frantically towards the beast, hoping to draw Beetles attention in time, and calls out, "I'm not arachnophobic, but... Let's kill this eight-legged freak!"

Action: Vicious Mockery 
Target: Spider
Spider Wisdom Save: 18
Spell Save DC: 13

Seraks words ring out emptily in the dark but his gesturing alerts Beetle to the threat. As he spins sharply, the spider withdraws his legs, disappearing behind the adjoining wall. Holding Talon before him once more, Beetle leans slightly to get a better look through the doorway. Beyond, the second web filled room is quiet as a tomb. 

 He shrugs, turning once more back to Serak. His confused look met with one of dread. Above him, a loose stone falls from the crumbling wall as eight long beastly legs clamber over it. The spider leaps down, landing gracefully on the corpse of its brethren. Baring its sharp teeth, it lurches sideways, thrusting a sharp pointed leg towards the paladin.

Spider 2 Attack Roll: 23 (OOC: Ouch. You do have your shield as a reaction, but it'll only take you to 23 AC.)
Damage Roll: 11 (Crit)

Beetle Constitution Save: 11 (Synas resistance will give you another 1d4 here if you wanted. You could roll after your saving throw but you have a nat 20 too!)

Additional spider damage: 1
Total Damage: 17

Beetle shudders in shock as the spider withdraws its poisoned limb and a wave of nausea courses through him. His legs weaken slightly, his stomach clenches forcing its contents into his throat. The paladin feels his pulse throb in his temples as Talon almost falls from his hand. Through his bleary eyes he sees the spider rise upwards on its legs contorting its body once more over its abdomen. "Not today!" he thinks to himself...

Outside in the relative silence of the road, Jelenneth senses things have taken a turn for the worse. Placing her hand onto Brots shoulder she whispers quietly into the gnomes ears, "....this is not good." Flicking her wrists, her hands burst into flame once more in preparation. 

Brots nods in agreement and charges forwards leaving Jelenneth standing in shock. Taking a crouched position in the huddle of bodies surrounding the doorway, the ranger pulls his bow string taught. Deep in concentration, he focuses on the spider, vowing not to rest until this beast is vanquished. Aiming for the head, he releases his arrow.

Brots Attack Roll: 23

Possibly concentrating too much on the spider and not enough on his bow work, Brots sends the veering wildly off course. Frustrated he grabs for a second from his quiver, cursing himself under his breath in gnomish. 

Beside him, Arkhan charges into the ruined building, hands ablaze once more. Like Beetle before him, the webbing ties itself around him, relentlessly sticking to his legs. 

Arkhan Strength (Athletics): 9

The dragonborns charge slows to a trot, then a crawl, then to a complete stop as he is completely encumbered by the long white threads. Unable to move, he rages in anger as he struggles to free himself. 

OOC: Arkhan as you are restrained you have a few options so I haven't taken your turn any further for now. You can attack the spider, take an action to free yourself - Strength Check - or attack the webs to cut yourself free. 

As you are restrained your attack rolls and Dexterity Saves will have D/Adv. Your speed will be 0 until you are freed and Attack rolls against you will have Advantage. 

Beetle, when I was checking your quarterstaffs spells earlier in the post. Unlike the shield on your spell list which comes into play as a reaction, the staffs shield uses your action for the turn. Just something to keep in mind. I'll take the first use from the staff from the last round, so you still have a spell slot free but I don't think it's as useful as we'd thought originally!

Arkhan, Syna, Beetle and Serak you're free to move as you please. Zyltris and the cultists will stay in situ unless you need him. 

As always, I can fix any issues with any of the above, chances are I've missed something!

OOC: I have Beetle at 4 hp left is that accurate?  Yeah no point in using another shield there it would still hit and already made the save so using the 1d4 there would be a waste also

OOC: Yeah Beetle 23/27HP used so 4 left. (17 damage from this combat and 6 from one of the earlier ones I think)

OOC: yup that is what i have was just checking...as for the staff yeah its not as useful if it uses an action and not a reaction to cast the shield spell from it, for that matter I would go back to the shield.  Where did you see that, that it is cast as an action and not a reaction...when i click on the shield spell under the staff it is same description...as a reaction.

OOC: It’s in the staff description on your equipment section as well as in the magic items section in the module.

“With the staff in hand, you can use your action to cast one of the following spells from the staff if the spell is on your class's spell list: mage armor (1 charge) or shield (2 charges). No components are required.”

First time through i‘d only checked the spell in your spell list too, but it must just have Shield as a generic spell cast. Not really sure what the benefit of it is if you have shield in your spell list as a reaction. Although it’ll open up your reaction for opportunity attacks etc so I guess it’s useful to some extent.

OOC: Regarding the Staff of Defense, from what I've read this module came out before the rules errata was written. One of the writers said it is DM choice whether it takes an action or reaction. Since Shield is meant to be used as a reaction, it makes the Staff basically useless.

OOC: Hmm, ok. So I've had a look as well. I agree that its a bit pointless to nerf the Staff completely, so I'll allow Beetle to cast Shield as an action or a reaction depending on the situation. It'll free up his two spell slots and even allow you to switch Shield from your spell list to another known spell.

The staff is a little bit OP defensively, but it has limited charges and is classified as a rare item so its justifiable. 

The staff will give you 5 casts of Shield each day before needing to be recharged and you could theoretically destroy it after your 5th cast so it comes with its own weaknesses.

Serak: Upon witnessing the spider's devastating attack, Serak shouts, "Vitala!" 

Bonus Action: Healing Word HP Healed: 4 Target: Beetlejuice

Turning his attention back to the spider, the bard says, "Nasty little bugger, aren't you!"

Action: Vicious Mockery Target: Spider Damage: 3

OOC: Also, just wanted to point out that nothing can cancel a Critical Hit. Even if Shield took Beetle's AC above 25, a critical always hits. Cutting Words can't either.

Arkhan will slice at the webs to try and free himself. (roll if needed to attack web 7)