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The Groaning Delves I:1

Page history last edited by Pendleton 13 years, 5 months ago

Plot runner:

Hernan (lvl 6)

 

Dramatis Personae:

Ahmazi (halfling barbarian level 2, 22 hit points, AC 18)

Amir'a, aka 'Faroud' (human/veyshanti sorcerer level 5, 21 hit points, AC 14)

Arianna (human rogue level 2, 10 hit points, AC 18)

Thistle (human barbarian level 4, 42 hit points, AC 16)

 

Average party level = 3.25, non-death consent

 

And two Large monstrous spiders. (CR 2 each, total encounter level of 4)

 


 

Pendleton, freshly back from Solmnus... well, 'fresh' is perhaps not the right word for it, has put out a call for bright, bushy-tailed adventurers in the city of Alexandria. The job is fairly basic -- the Groaning Valleys are a region in the southeastern corner of the Redridge Mountains, in the northwestern corner of Alexandros, near Mythwood.
The valleys have rich farmland and grazing. Farms are often plagued by ankheg, and while normally soldiers and mercenaries help keep them under control, the war has caused a number of tough circumstances.
Mayor Ken Ferning in Diamond Valley has pleaded for help.
Pendleton admits some personal stake -- there are nearby dwarven ruins he finds interesting, and while they've been explored before, he'd like to send some further expeditions. Ankhegs and other beasties run rampant would hamper such explorations.
One way or another, you are sent to render what aid you can, and perhaps poke around at a tunnel or two.

Scene begins at the table of Mayor Ferning, a very paternal halfling in his middle age, with long wavy hair and a ready grin. While the valley is beautiful, and the farms look in good repair, you can see the pinch of hunger on the faces of most there. That has not stopped them from laying out a welcoming feast for you.

 

"Is very fine hospitality," Thistle is saying in her thick northern accent to the small mayor, near-blind green eyes sparkling and her plate full of apple pie and pulled beef and onions. "v'People here are nice." She is in heaven. People are feeding her, and later they presumably get to go kill things. What more could a barbarian want? She even grins companionably at Ahmazi, who normally gets a arch sniff.

The rough looking halfling is always looking for a chance to lend a helping hand, especially for a fellow short person. The hungry looks however throw him off a little, why dont these people hunt more? Or go looking for more food? And why would they welcome him with food then? All questions that cross Ahmazi's mind as he rides his shaggy wardog. However Ahmazi is one for survival! So he pleasantly partakes in the food and even feeds some to his dog. Hes especially drawn to the smelly cheese, deliscious!

Along with the group is the Veyshanti Lad called 'Faroud'. The poor boy looks nervous as he is fed, and then fed some more - after all, a growing boy like Faroud is supposed to need a good deal of food, yes?
Swallowing down a gulp of whatever is given as a drink, Faroud glances around at the others, before ducking his head and studying the table.

 

Arianna's first instinct is always to be toward the middle of the pack, or far off to the side and out of view. Since she is one of the focal points of the miniature feast, she settles for the former, sticking close to the other adventurers where she can. Her eyes drift over the food slowly, and then to the faces of the villagers surrounding them. She smiles slowly, and then takes some of the food. Aria seems to be thinking the same as Ahmazi, but a girl's still got to eat. Smelly cheeses, however, are carefully avoided. More for Ahmazi, then. "It is! Very nice. Thank you." She's thinking, more than eating.

 

Mayor Ferning smiles to the group. "I am so thankful for the end of this accursed war! It's been hard times... we're so close to the front. Many of the outlying communities have suffered from 'foraging' armies, one side or another." He takes a sip of his wine. "Normally most of us have been a bit further from the Groaning mountain. The old tunnels host all sorts of ... icky things. Sometimes it's ok... a lot of ankheg, and then spiders start feeding on them. And the spiders are more patient, don't roam so much. But nowadays we have too much of both. Feh. My son, Grig, will show you to where we think the nearest lair is. Mr. Pendleton mentioned an interest in a particular tunnel, and it's as good a place to start as any. Do you have any further questions? No rush, eat up! You can set out tomorrow."

A number of the halfling farmers and herders eye Ahmazi with some... curiousity? Trepidation? Something. Though at least one halfling lass can't stop staring.

 

Thistle finishes off her slice of pie and licks the combined sugars and beef grease off of her fingers. Then, utterly without shame, steals a pit of the stinky cheese from Ahmazi's plate when she thinks he's not looking. Which, frankly, she has no idea. But a guess is always good!


Ahmazi continues to eat his fill but a pang of gilt at least goes off in the back of his mind. He will bring back anything they kill to eat, especially giant spiders. Few things give you energy like eating bugs, what did that druid tell him it was once? Protein? Something like that! However noticing the looks from a las or two hes sure to adjust his scabbard and shirt a straighter. However when he look back at his plate he notices an absence of cheese and eyes the others suspiciously, thanks goodness theres more because otherwise that would be a fightin' offense!


"Spiders?" cracks Faroud's too high voice, before he blushes and takes a few more gulps of his drinks. Then he looks around the rest of the group, before looking back to the Mayor. "What... what is an Ankheg?"


Arianna might be eating her fill, given her size and the fact that she certainly isn't expending a lot of energy. Or she migth be holding back out of guilt- it's tough to say, really. She doesn't eat a large amount, although whatever Thistle leaves of the pie is attacked with gusto. She's careful not to splatter any on her clothing and so forth. It's polite to go into battle clean! "Thank you, sir." Then, the girl looks at Faroud and blinks a few times. "Bigger spiderish thing, I think. Something like that."


"I am thinking it is 'one barrel'," Thistle muses in reply, gloating inwardly over her success with the cheese.


The mayor nods to Arianna, and is about to explain further when a few halflings interject about 'what an ankheg is.' Among the clamor of answers is 'big bastards,' 'horrible monsters,' 'giant roaches,' and 'spider icky nasty bity thing what absconds with the cattle.'
The mayor runs a hand through his hair with some irritation, then adds, "They're about as big as a horse, like to burrow through the ground and pop out at you. Horrible things. Thankfully, they are more apt to go after cattle than people. Usually."


Thistle feels the call of the stinky cheese. She feels it, and hears it calling her name on halitosis winds. But she resists it! And resists with all her might, drinking down some cold cider to help steel her resolve.


The feast winds down, the fire in the fireplace waning as halflings set out in groups to their various homes. The mayor's house is large, though anyone paying attention may pick up the sense that it is more of a communal building than personal home. The adventurers are put up in various side rooms, and the halflings thankfully have some human-sized beds for their guests.

 



The next morning is crisp, with the trees on high ridges overlooking the farmland burning with the fires of autumn. There is a damp in the air, and toward the head of the valley, in the distance, mists cling to the base of the mountain.
Grig turns out to be a very chirpy lad. To the humans he looks positively tiny. He is bundled up with a scarf, mostly visible as a tussle of black hair over two bright brown eyes. He hops up and down excitedly. "Hi!"

 

 Faroud blinks several times, watching the bouncing halfling. "H... Hello, Master Grig," greets the Veyshanti, offering a formal and flourishing bow. "You ... will be the one showing us where the danger lays in wait?" is asked as Faroud straightens.

Ahmazi rides his wolfish wardog and waves to the halfling "Yeah! Lets do this! I want some roast spider for dinner!" he says with delight. "We can even bring some back to the town and have a feast!" clearly Ahmazi doesnt have any problems eating... well just about anything.


"Roast... Spider? Well, then. We'd best hurry. Don't want to miss that." Arianna's expression fairly neutral, as is her tone of voice. She's chosen a place not far from Faroud now, watching calmly. "Hello. Excited to be getting started?" So much enthusiasm!


Thistle is ready to go with the others, waiting patiently as dawn breaks and filters into the world, making it seem a glowy nimbus of golds and pinks and reds to her blurry vision. She smiles vaguely, and in not quite the right direction, as she hears the new arrival.


Grig is probably grinning, and muffledly responds "Yes! Into danger! But... well, once we get there I'll stay outside. Mum made me promise." He grimaces, then leads the party up the valley, pointing out various sites. Some of them, further down into the valley, are homesteads, small lumps that to a human look like little more than strangely perfect hillocks. The group is lead along the northern side of the valley, with a gentle descent off to the south, through which the silvery thread of the Groaning river wends. Most of the valley is clear of trees, filled with grass, pens of animals, mature corn being harvested one last time before winter arrives. There are occasional stands of trees in the valley, though most of the trees are on higher ground, the russet and gold mixed with the furry dark evergreens.


Here and there, strange rock formations jut up and out, forming various teeth and platforms overlooking the valley. Grig outlines the countless dwarven fortifications and walls they are remnants of, though at least in a few cases someone familiar with such things can see clearly they are little more than the foundations of houses long since wiped away.

Dark eyes slid over to Arianna and Faroud gives an obvious gulp. "Uh ... well .. " he starts nervously. "In ... in a way," is noted to the young woman and Faroud looks away quickly - is that a blush. "Battle is exciting and ... coming across something I have not before is as well. It is ... well, I hope no one gets hurt..."


There are many small caves along the ridges visible even to the less perceptive (well, other than Thistle). Eventually Grig pauses, looking around. "Yeah, I think this is it. From what uncle Peter tells me, this is where most of the venturers went down into the mountain. I think it goes right to the big dwarf place. Mmm. Uncle says he once went in and found a place filled with diamonds! Nothing but diamonds everywhere. With magic statues that talked and danced."
The tunnel mouth is fairly unassuming from the outside, but only a dozen feet or so inside it adopts a square profile that reveals it as constructed.

 

An eyebrow arches upwards, as Faroud takes the opportunity to focus /NOT/ on the young woman next to him. "Diamonds?" is asked, voice cracking again. "He should go back again," is noted with a nod, before a hand reaches up, as if to slide over hair, instead just patting his own headdress. Clearing his throat, Faroud then ducks his head again and inhales slowly. There is a whisper, the wind billowing through the valley as it comes to swirl around the young man, settling protectively in place.
"Well ... we shouldn't dawdle... really ..."

GAME: Amir'a casts mage armor.


  Ahmazi hops down from his dog and unsheaths his sword "Dont know nuthin' about diamonds but those dancing statues sound fun! Lets do this!" the halfling walks into the tunnel without fear and little if any caution. "Oh spiders! Where are yoooooouuuuuuu...." he calls down the square passageway.

 

Thistle's eyes widen. "Dancink statues?" She wonders aloud. Then frowns very slightly. That does not seem like the sort of thing that statues should by all rights be doing. Suspiciously, she shuts her mouth, but walks alongside Ahmazi and his dog at the fore.

 

"Diamonds, hmm?" Arianna nods slowly and adjusts her swordbelt slightly. "Well, then. And talking statues, too?" Her tone hasn't changed, but she does nod to Faroud, without quite looking at the blushing young man. "We should be alright. Onward and forward, yes. Who's in first?" Then there's Ahmazi. "Well, then. That answers that. Hop to it." She's following the Barbarians. At a safe distance.

 

Is there such a thing as a safe distance from a Barbarian?
Faroud, for his part, just swallows loudly, nods, and follows along.

 

Grig, thankfully, stays behind.
The tunnel goes fairly straight, with a slight downward slope. After the first few feet the air is even colder and more damp. Thankfully, there's enough headroom for the humans; the tunnel is a little more than 6' high and 8' wide.

 

"Hey shorty," Thistle says companionably down to Ahmazi after a little while. "Are you knowink any good, ah, spider killing songs?" Her white hair is like a cloud in the darkness, drifting about her face and down her shoulders. "I have never encountered large spiders. I am excited."

 

GAME: Ahmazi rolls survival: (9)+8: 17

You paged Ahmazi with 'Doesn't look like anyone's gone this way for at least a week or two, hard to be more sure after that. There is enough air flow to mix things about. You do find a few very old little bones, scat, and other things in the first dozen or two feet that suggests at least some animal used this as a den, a while back. But nothing recent.'

Ahmazi plunges forward with a sword in hand "Songs? I dont know any spider killing songs, only songs for spider eating!" he says with a smile. "Also be carefull not to trip! You tall folk's heads have a long way to go before they hi the ground if you do!" he says to everyone, Thistle especially.


Arianna is carefully observing her surroundings, although she has no actual tracking ability to speak of. Instead, she is carefully avoiding stones and chinks in the floor, to make sure she doesn't trip or slide, and keeping an eye (and an ear) out for approaching arachnids. No speaking. In fact, she's being as inobtrusive as possible.

 

After a few minutes, the tunnel widens somewhat. There is a big crack in the ceiling, with tunnel's ceiling lower by a few inches then the larger tunnel's ceiling. After ANOTHER few minutes, the tunnel widens again to a cross tunnel. A large section of ceiling rests at the center of the cross, rough edged. At three corners are stylized faces with long braided beards and helmets (dwarves, presumably). The fourth corner has a rough section of stone where the face was.

 

<OOC> Hernan says, "Spot checks"
GAME: Arianna rolls spot: (3)+6: 9
GAME: Ahmazi rolls spot: (1)+3: 4

GAME: Amir'a rolls spot: (16)+1: 17

GAME: Thistle rolls listen: (13)+7: 20

 

GAME: Hernan rolls 1d20+3: (5)+3: 8 to me < Spider1's Hide check (For simplicity, the 'listen' check was considered at +5 DC -- which Thistle made)
GAME: Hernan rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10 to me < Spider2's Hide check

Dark eyes flit back and forth, watching and observing and being curious about this place where they are. Faroud pauses at a patch of rough-hewn wall where a face once was, blinking at it for a long moment. Then he turns and moves trying to carefully scurry after the fest of the group.

 

Ahmazi occasionally picks up a bit of debris or a stone, sometimes sniffing it but otherwise keeping his attention focused on the tunnel ahead. More than anything he is listening for trouble, he knows in dark places you usually hear trouble before you see it and Ahmazi knows some trouble!

 

The two dark brown shapes clinging to the large hole in the ceiling shift very slightly, forelegs moving slowly as they tense, numerous small beads of black glistening in the torchlight. Thankfully, Arianna and 'Faroud' spot the movement. For her part, Thistle hears the slight scrape of claw on stone from above, and realizes what it is.

For his part, the diminutive barbarian is mostly focused on the darkness beyond, oblivious from the bodies above his head.

 

<OOC> Hernan says, "Surprise round, but only Ahmazi is surprised"
===== Current Initiative Order =========
24 Arianna
23 Spider1
16 Spider2
11 Amir'a
9 Ahmazi
8 Thistle
========================================

 

Arianna's response is to take a sudden hop back (in order to avoid being *below* the spiders*), pulling the bow down from her shoulders. She also raises her left hand to point. "Spiders!" Nope, not screaming. Her voice is actually very soft, although pitched to carry. And emphatic.

 

<OOC> Hernan says, "What's Arianna's touch AC?"
<OOC> Arianna says, "14."

GAME: Hernan rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19

 

The first spider to act focuses on the loud food, and it's fat, furry abdomen arches, a small wet opening spasming. Jets of white strands fire across the space and cover Arianna with webbing.

 

GAME: Hernan rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16
The other spider does much the same, but fires on Thistle, perhaps drawn to her hair. Mmm. Tasty. Thistle is enveloped in warm goo.

GAME: Thistle rolls strength: (4)+2: 6

 

"I hear somezhi-- AUGH! What is... ARRGH!" Thistle explodes with noise as she's covered with sticky... warm... oh god it's so gross. "What is? HORRIBLE STICKY YUCK!"

 

GAME: Arianna rolls escape artist: (8)+6: 14

 

GAME: Amir'a casts glitterdust.

<OOC> Amir'a says, "DC 16 Will save."
GAME: Hernan rolls 1d20+1: (13)+1: 14
GAME: Hernan rolls 1d20+1: (20)+1: 21

 

Webbing flies everywhere, and Faroud lets out a shrill, surprised, shriek - no wonder the poor lad fled Veyshan with a voice like that! No end to teasing, no doubt. And one can hardly take a male warrior seriously with a high-pitched voice like that.
Blushing, Faroud clears his throat, before whispering to the wind. Heeding the Veyshan's call, the wind blows through the tunnel, where it swirls about Faroud, before blowing past the young man, and then up at the spiders, carrying with it dust and specks - the wind explodes, and glittering motes of gold spray all over the spiders. At least one of the glittering sparkle-spiders is hissing and rubbing it's forlimbs at it's eyes.

 

Arianna is enveloped in thick, sticky webbing. She yelps first, at a pitch near to Faroud's, and then shifts and squirms. A second later, she slides downwards and steps out of the webs, leaving them collapsed in a pile behind her. The leather vest goes with them, but there are more important concerns to be had. The vest does get a glance and a frown... But- spiders.

 

The first spider rubs a few more times, then pretty much 'plops' down to the ground, stumbling a bit and then getting back up to its many feet. Rub rub rub. Everything is glittery! It's close to Thistle and Faroud, and... hopefully neither have a thing about spiders. Big, furry, mandibles flexing as it bobs on long, hook-tipped legs. It's mostly brown, with small darker spots along the sides.

 

GAME: Hernan rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23
GAME: Hernan rolls 1d8+3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: Hernan damaged Thistle for 8 points. 34 remaining.
<OOC> Hernan says, "Thistle, Fort save"
GAME: Thistle rolls fort: (14)+7: 21

 

The second spider drops down to one side, a bit more of a controlled descent. It's massive horrible face darts forward at Thistle, sharp-tipped mandibles clamping down. It feels like two daggers of fire, and the 'fire' begins to spread through her.

 

<OOC> Hernan says, "You resist the first poison check"

 

GAME: Thistle rolls strength + 2: (11)+2+2: 15

 

Thistle lets out a horrified scream as the spider bites into her shoulder, filling her viens with slow moving fire. The scream turns soon to rage though and the barbarian thrashes against the webbing, not quite breaking free.

 

GAME: Amir'a rolls concentration: (20)+10: 30
GAME: Amir'a rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20
GAME: Amir'a rolls 5d6: (16): 16

 

As the spider draws near, Faroud gulps and draws his scimitar. He glances over his shoulder to Arianna, as if readying to protect the woman - after all, that's what a man is supposed to do? Then the man whispers again, and the wind and air coil around his left forarm. Sparks begin to form as static electricity builds, before Faroud reaches out, releasing it to arc and cascade over the form of the spider, whisps of smoke floating upwards from charred carapice.

 

GAME: Ahmazi rolls melee+1+2: (17)+6+1+2: 26
GAME: Ahmazi rolls 1d10+7: (7)+7: 14


Ahmazi looks around momentarily confused and sees a spider assault Thistle, with a terrible scream that no average halfling could muster he leverages his greatsword above his head and brings it down in the spider and buried the blade deep in its squishy guts.

GAME: Arianna rolls BAB+3: (20)+1+3: 24
<OOC> Hernan says, "Roll to confirm crit!"
GAME: Arianna rolls BAB+3: (1)+1+3: 5
GAME: Arianna rolls 2d6+1: (8)+1: 9

 

Arianna reaches back for an arrow, and only then realizes that the shortbow is still... Tangled in webbing behind her. So, instead, she ponders the spide for a second.... Shakes her head, and sighs. A second later, she has her rapier out and descends on the beast. A flick of the wrist and a thrust, and there's green ichor spilling from the smoking insect. That's something. Aria loosk faintly nauseated.

 

GAME: Hernan rolls 1d20+4: (3)+4: 7

The spider, hulking figure suspended almost above your heads, turns and bites at Arianna. You could almost imagine it's anger, though it's impossible to read on that beady face. But the mandibles flick shut on only the empty air. The spider seems to... hiss.


GAME: Amir'a rolls concentration: (7)+10: 17
GAME: Amir'a rolls 1d20+3+2+2: (7)+3+2+2: 14
GAME: Amir'a rolls 5d6: (16): 16

Blinking as Arianna moves away, Faroud nearly jumps out of his skin as he spies the other, luckily blinded, spider behind him. Twisting, the wind wraps around his arm again, and once more electricity is sent crackling over the carapice, before Faroud looks around.
"We need to free her!" states Faroud, before blushing and gulping as he motions to Thistle with his sword.

The spider shudders at all the electricity before collapsing, a tangle of legs next to her sister, oozing ichor from Arianna's vicious slash.


Thistle growls impotently, still trying to free herself from the webbing. Her blood is boiling, both from the venom seeping through her and fury at her inability to -do- anything. The spider in the range of her senses falls dead and she snarls, growling epithets. Bloody spiders!

Ahmazi's brief rage passes and he catches his breath. "Thats right! Come get me you ugly spiders!" he yells at the ceiling while beating his chest. However he soon gets a grip of himself and turns his attention to the spiders. "We should leave these here so we can take them back on our way out!"

 

Arianna wipes the blade of her sword on the spider's carcass and begins to turn slightly pale. She then pivots so that she can see Thistle "Mmm... Sorry. Are you ok?" She sheathes the rapier and produces a dagger, which will be used to saw through the webbing. The gleam in her eye suggests she considered just slashing it apart, but better sense prevailed.


Faroud glances around, peering at the dead spider. Then he rushes over, scimitar ready, to attempt to pry Thistle free. The scimitar is put away after a moment, as Faroud reaches out with his gloved hands and trying to pull the sticky stuff free. Dark eyes look to Arianna, and he stays silent, allowing the woman to deal with checking on Thistle.


Thistle does her best to calm down. Her companions, fortunately in this darkness, don't smell anything like spiders, and so she holds as still as she can while they help to get the webs off of her and pull her out.


The group cleans up, rests a few moments, before heading out once more. After a good hour of exploration, the group finds no further spiders, though they find some curious piles of bones here and there suggesting past victims of ... maybe spiders? The tunnel soon meets a number of others, varying in size, some collapsed, and broken floors in at least two cases leading to other sets of tunnels further below.
It is about this point that the group decides to retreat; without a clear direction to pursue, the prospect of becoming hopelessly lost looms large. In any case, there are no other spiders, or other threats, immediately apparent.
The group returns to the surface, thankfully finding their way with the help of Ahmazi's tracking and Thistle's keen senses, to find a relieved Grig. The valley is bright and warm after the damp tunnels, and there is great cheer as the party returns to the Mayor's house.


 

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