(038) The Concourse Catacomb

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:

Mads the Enlightened

Whispering in a low voice "Would you want me to direct the lights ahead of you or keep them back here?"

"Please light the passage ahead, so we don't get any surprises", replys Rufus in a low voice.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Rufus examines the entry to the central passage by the light of Mads' bobbing candle flames... but for all he can tell it is a perfectly ordinary stone passageway.

(1d6)

That being established, and the remainder of the party getting fidgety, Mads orders his pet flames ahead and they race on down the passage, whisking past a tattered curtain of cobwebs to plunge into the darkness ahead.

When the little flames have gone a score of yards ahead, leaving the company in relative darkness, they illuminate a T intersection wherein a pair of grim stone stairs appear to ascend and descend...

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
"Guys I think we need more light so we don't stand me all day. Dugel or Wendel light a lantern or torch quickly so we can see", says Rufus.


After we have light.

"Follow me men", says Rufus who will move carefully to the room ahead, been careful for spiders in the webs. And look up and down the stairs keeping a look out.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Wendel gives a hacking fit of coughing, before reminding Rufus that Mads still has his own lantern ready.

Mads lift the shutters slightly, allowing the orange glow to illuminate the immediate surrounds.

(It is not too dim here)

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Rufus heads into the cobwebby passage to follow after the flames.

He is cautious of spiders in the webs, and it is a good thing too...

Not halfway down the passage he spots a foreboding dark crevice in the ceiling above the passage, and before he wanders underneath it he thinks he spies a bulbous shadow in the blackness with horrible pointy legs, and the faintest glimmer of lantern light reflected off which might be a cluster of spider eyes!

(The spider hole is 15ft ahead of Rufus, in the ceiling...)

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
Rufus stops and backs up. "Men get your arrows or magic ready to shoot whatever we see in above in that dark crevice."

Rufus will have shortbow ready, at a spot back a little form the crevice, so no spider can jump on him.

Once we all have our weapons ready.

"Mads, shine your floating light into that hole. I think there be spiders in there", says Rufus.

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Enlightened

Mads whips his candle light towards the ceiling at Rufus's direction and sets down his lantern. "I'm afraid my spells are more utilitarian in nature..." he says as he draws his sword. "That's why I have this."
T

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
"Dugel and Wendel do you have any shooting spells to get any hiding spiders?, asks Rufus.

Rufus will look and shoot arrows form a distance with backup form the others.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Mads directs his little flames to return at haste (which they do) and then shoot up into the dark crack in the ceiling (which they do).

There is, perhaps, half a moment where the legs of what must be a hideously bloated spider are visible, before they vanish from sight. The beast must have scurried further back into its tunnel -- frightened off by the light?

"Shooting spells?" coughs Wendel from the back, "None that can be fired through solid rock!"

Dugel mutters something about foolish Hobbits into his beard...

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
"I don't think you would live long if you walk under that spider trap. Any ideas anyone on how to get rid of this spider?", asks Rufus.

"Anyone got oil to burn it out?"