Etappe 4c: Cavemen
Day 10
In the morning the coach continues its way with its passengers while Hendrik, Dorfur, Gortof, Raogda and Gaius venture into the woods on their way to the spider cave located roughly 4 hours north in the hills. After a few minutes a web is spotted, and with juvenile energy 2 spiders are quickly dispatched. In a cocoon the remains of a poor traveler are discovered. It's sticky armor is left behind by the PCs. Again shortly thereafter another web is discovered and its inhabitants killed. Soon the party realises that they cannot take care of all spiders in the forest. Gaius ensures them that there is no need to do so. By finding and dealing with the cause of the outbreak, the natural balance will settle again.
By ignoring and avoiding the webs the party moves quicker but there are some encounters with packs of hunting spiders. Those are taken down, but Hendrik, and especially Gaius, are bitten and have lost some strength.
Halfway through the forest the party, though melee focused, decides to try to fight more ranged, to avoid further poison damage. The next fight takes a bit longer, but at least nobody is bitten this time.
A lunch meeting
Around noon Gaius is suddenly excitedly greeted. Taronula, an elderly gnome that lives near Rodallo, comes from the caves and is on his way home. He explains that he captured some spiders which he uses for making potions. It becomes apparent that he lets himself be bitten to use his own poisoned blood as ingredient for a potent invigorating healing potion. In exchange for a bit of blood from Gaius the party gets 2 potions of Venomvigor (III).
Further discussion learns that Taronula uses a homemade ointment that makes spiders 'think that he is not a meal'. He happily gives his leftover to the party, as it will spoil before he needs it again. It probably works 2 to 4 hours on a medium sized person.
Another point of interest is that the caves are significantly hotter than normal. This may be caused by seismic activity which is common in the region.
Into the caves
Shortly after meeting Taronula the PCs reach the hills and an entrance to the cave system. As described by the gnome they follow the stream for a while through the narrow damp caves. The juvenile spiders here are, fortunately, much smaller, and easily dispatched. Occasional cocoons are burned. After about 40 minutes a 10 ft wide chasm forms a minor obstacle for the agile partymembers. They jump across with ropes and help the less agiles to the other side. A group of spiders is attracted by the noise and attack. Gortof, eager to attack and help his fellows, slips and falls into the chasm. He gets stuck 25ft lower but manages to free himself and starts climbing up. Meanwhile another group of spiders comes from the rear, threatening the PCs still on the other side. The unlucky Gaius gets poisoned again but the party does not get in serious trouble. After the fight they help Gortof out of the chasm.
Dealing with more and more small to tiny spiders the party progresses deeper and deeper into the caves. In a few cases burning lamp oil scares away swarms of spiders. The route becomes steeper and narrower, making it more difficult to move. Eventually the party reaches a large cigar shaped cave. Standing on a ledge, which, according to the dwarves, is created by very recent seismic activity, they can see swarms of spiders and cocoons hanging from the ceiling as far as the torchlight reaches. Rubbed-in with Taronula's ointment, the now smelling like rotten chicken Gaius climbs down to investigate the lair. He discovers that the heat comes from a tunnel that is laid bare at the end of the cave. The stream the party has been following disappears into this tunnel. Steam rises up.
The party decides to block the entrance of this cave with stones and boulders. Holes in the improvised wall are filled with clay and torn 'blue coates' taken from 'De Waren'. The construction is further strengthened with obtained mundane daggers and short swords. After a few hour's work the party is satisfied and returns to the cave entrance.
With the evening approaching the party decides to visit Taronula and recuperate in the relative safety of Rodallo rather than to make camp in the woods. A minor detour they are willing to take.
Taronula is happy with the group's work. He prepares them a healing potion that helps against the taken poison damage.
In the morning the coach continues its way with its passengers while Hendrik, Dorfur, Gortof, Raogda and Gaius venture into the woods on their way to the spider cave located roughly 4 hours north in the hills. After a few minutes a web is spotted, and with juvenile energy 2 spiders are quickly dispatched. In a cocoon the remains of a poor traveler are discovered. It's sticky armor is left behind by the PCs. Again shortly thereafter another web is discovered and its inhabitants killed. Soon the party realises that they cannot take care of all spiders in the forest. Gaius ensures them that there is no need to do so. By finding and dealing with the cause of the outbreak, the natural balance will settle again.
By ignoring and avoiding the webs the party moves quicker but there are some encounters with packs of hunting spiders. Those are taken down, but Hendrik, and especially Gaius, are bitten and have lost some strength.
Halfway through the forest the party, though melee focused, decides to try to fight more ranged, to avoid further poison damage. The next fight takes a bit longer, but at least nobody is bitten this time.
A lunch meeting
Around noon Gaius is suddenly excitedly greeted. Taronula, an elderly gnome that lives near Rodallo, comes from the caves and is on his way home. He explains that he captured some spiders which he uses for making potions. It becomes apparent that he lets himself be bitten to use his own poisoned blood as ingredient for a potent invigorating healing potion. In exchange for a bit of blood from Gaius the party gets 2 potions of Venomvigor (III).
Further discussion learns that Taronula uses a homemade ointment that makes spiders 'think that he is not a meal'. He happily gives his leftover to the party, as it will spoil before he needs it again. It probably works 2 to 4 hours on a medium sized person.
Another point of interest is that the caves are significantly hotter than normal. This may be caused by seismic activity which is common in the region.
Into the caves
Shortly after meeting Taronula the PCs reach the hills and an entrance to the cave system. As described by the gnome they follow the stream for a while through the narrow damp caves. The juvenile spiders here are, fortunately, much smaller, and easily dispatched. Occasional cocoons are burned. After about 40 minutes a 10 ft wide chasm forms a minor obstacle for the agile partymembers. They jump across with ropes and help the less agiles to the other side. A group of spiders is attracted by the noise and attack. Gortof, eager to attack and help his fellows, slips and falls into the chasm. He gets stuck 25ft lower but manages to free himself and starts climbing up. Meanwhile another group of spiders comes from the rear, threatening the PCs still on the other side. The unlucky Gaius gets poisoned again but the party does not get in serious trouble. After the fight they help Gortof out of the chasm.
Dealing with more and more small to tiny spiders the party progresses deeper and deeper into the caves. In a few cases burning lamp oil scares away swarms of spiders. The route becomes steeper and narrower, making it more difficult to move. Eventually the party reaches a large cigar shaped cave. Standing on a ledge, which, according to the dwarves, is created by very recent seismic activity, they can see swarms of spiders and cocoons hanging from the ceiling as far as the torchlight reaches. Rubbed-in with Taronula's ointment, the now smelling like rotten chicken Gaius climbs down to investigate the lair. He discovers that the heat comes from a tunnel that is laid bare at the end of the cave. The stream the party has been following disappears into this tunnel. Steam rises up.
The party decides to block the entrance of this cave with stones and boulders. Holes in the improvised wall are filled with clay and torn 'blue coates' taken from 'De Waren'. The construction is further strengthened with obtained mundane daggers and short swords. After a few hour's work the party is satisfied and returns to the cave entrance.
With the evening approaching the party decides to visit Taronula and recuperate in the relative safety of Rodallo rather than to make camp in the woods. A minor detour they are willing to take.
Taronula is happy with the group's work. He prepares them a healing potion that helps against the taken poison damage.
Parent Plot
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments