(003) At the Ruins

[waysoftheearth]

Harry wrote:
Taines takes a moment to light the lantern on his sappers helmet.

"Nothing like the present lass, lets see if the beastie had any friends"

Once Taines sappers helmet is lit, he moves with a sense of caution into the upper room, the earlier bravado all but stripped from him after seeing his fallen comrade.

(Taines has axe and shield in hand)

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Mads wisely keeps a look out for unexpected trouble as Rodrick's mantra grows more earnest -- does Dieter's face appear less anguished already?

Meanwhile Taines boldly ascends the stair where he joins Anwyn. With the additional light cast by his sapper's helm the true foulness of the lair is revealed. The ceiling is almost completely hidden by the thatch of coarse webs. In the farthest corner the webs form a tunnel-like nest which now shelters naught but a half dozen or so pale spheres clustered at the very back.

The floor is littered with old bones, droppings and dusty webs. There are three corpses in various stages of desiccation strung up and dangling by their feet. The freshest looks to have been an unfortunate hobgoblin -- the others are unidentifiable without closer examination.

The black monster itself lies motionless on its back with its legs curled above it. In this foetal position, its body looks to be somewhat larger than a sheep.

There is a shuttered and webbed over arrow-slit in each wall, and an ancient, ruinous table and set of chairs here. The narrow stair continues to ascend to a closed and webbed-over trapdoor hatch.

Downstairs, Mads feels a cool breeze stir from stairway that descends into darkness...

edit : fixed spelling

[waysoftheearth]

tombowings wrote:
Rodrick hopes dearly that his ongoing prayers have not drawn the hobgoblins to the presence of him and his comrades.

[waysoftheearth]

TheMyth wrote:
"Taines, do you see those silvery spheres? What do you think they are?" Anwyn whispers as she carefully makes her way over to the spider, where she will stab it to make it's dead.

Then she will investigate the webbed-over trapdoor hatch area.


OOC: Based on the height of the tower, is it safe to assume that the trapdoor might lead to the roof?

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
Seeing that the two warriors are attended to, Ulric lights his lantern, draws his sword and joins the others in the spider's den above.

"I believe those are the spider's eggs Anwyn," he says as he inspects the spheres. "We should burn them and cleanse this place. Who has a torch? But first..."

Ulric moves to the three hanging corpses and attempts to cut them down with his sword.

[waysoftheearth]

Harry wrote:
"Aye agree lad, torch the lot"

Taines moves with Ulric and protects his flank, looking to the ceiling for any signs of movement.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Anwyn approaches the wretched spider carcass and drives her dagger through the supple cartilage around its exposed neck. The stink of it burns her eyes and throat, and her blade is barely long enough to penetrate the horrid body besides -- but she is very swiftly convinced the monster will not rouse. When she yanks her dagger free she finds the blade covered in a foul mucus which is not easily removed...

Meanwhile, Ulric spends a minute to fuel and ignite his trusty lantern and then rejoins Taines and Anwyn upstairs, by which time Anwyn is ascending the narrow stair toward the webbed-over trapdoor in the ceiling, which must surely lead out to the rooftop. She can see thin shafts of pale daylight pushing through the tiny cracks between the boards and the sticky webs.

Ulric moves to cut down the dangling corpses, but they are strung too far above his head. Perhaps if he stacked up the old furniture and stood atop it he could succeed...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Rodrick completes his supplication, closes his eyes and faces heavenward for a long moment with his healing hand pressed firmly over Dieter's wound.

At last he breaths a heavy sigh, and withdraws his touch. "It is done," he utters, inspecting his patient for any sign. To his satisfaction, Deiter's wound does indeed appear cleaner, and miraculously well closed -- for a Man of questionable faith! By Thuul's Immeasurable Grace he is restored of (1d6=3) 4 hit points!

Rodrick has used one third of his Holy Water in the benediction -- the spent blood and life-force of Thuul passed into Dieter.

Dieter now has 4 of 7 hit-points, but is still paralysed.

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
Ulric attempts to cut down the corpses, but they are strung up too high. He looks about the room for something to stand on.

"Taines, help me drag this table over near the corpses. If I stand on it, and it holds, I may be able to cut down these bodies."

Ulric sets his lantern down in the center of the room and starts to drag the table to a position near the bodies.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Taines uses his ample muscle to help Ulric move the ancient, but heavy long table so that it stands beneath the hanging corpses. Ulric climbs deftly atop it, and reaching high, attempts to cut down the bodies with his sword.

In fact, the web is surprisingly strong and sticky, and he is forced to saw through it gracelessly, but in the end the bodies drop to the ground whereupon Ulric awkwardly pries the tenacious fibers from them with his sword. Taines has nothing more delicate than his axe to operate with, so can only assist by tearing at the viscid strands. Between them they make a rough job of it.

The corpses appear to be those of two Hobgoblins and a Man who must once have possessed a mercantile appearance. Now all three are desiccated husks -- near skeletal remains sucked dry by the monstrous arachnid.

The Hobgoblins both wear terribly soiled leather armour and defalted coin purses containing the princely sum of just 16 copper coins and a mottley assortment of tiny skulls, fruit cores and dried dung. One of them carries a crude boot knife. The merchant, however, wears a filthy fur-lined robe and carried a purse containing 9 silver coins and 2 gold coins to his doom. Better yet, he is adorned with a plain ring of white gold, and a fine argent choker, and upon his once fine leather belt is a neat little holster containing a gilded letter opener. The choker wraps about his neck in four fine coils, but unfortunately, the beautifully crafted piece of jewellery is bent out of shape where the poor fellow must have suffered a brutal stabbing wound to the neck.