- Location
- Attached to a wall
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Angela. Practice with Magic is always a good thing.
Magic could give us the edge in some situations.
Magic could give us the edge in some situations.
Spider Hunt Part 9
- Location
- UK
Once the party was done sorting itself out, you head out, making your way through town until you reach the hill where the mine was located. A small group of soldiers are stationed outside the mine, armed with long spears and not looking entirely pleased at their posting. A few dead spiders the size of large dogs are piled nearby, which Charlie and Angela immediately headed over to while Sam approached the apparent leader of the detachment. They exchanged a few words, before the leader of the party rejoins the group and clears his throat.
"Alright, according to Captain Philips, the top level of the mine is mostly clear, but they don't know what its like further down," he says, "Apparently, there are a few miners unaccounted for, so keep an eye open. Its doubtful we'll find them alive, but we can still try to retrieve the bodies."
He turns to the Witch and Machinist as they rejoin the group as well.
"Do you two have anything?"
"Theres something a bit odd about these spiders," says Charlie, "Giant spiders like these aren't usually to fond of the surface and tend to be reluctant to leave their lairs when theres plenty of things to eat underground. Normally, once any intruders escape, they are happy to let them go and certainly wouldn't chase them into the sunlight, doubly so if there was a genuine threat outside. These spiders however have been throwing themselves at the guards. Its like something is forcing them out."
Sam groans and rubs his eyes.
"Oh fabulous," he grumbles, "Well, to late to back down now and I doubt its anything to powerful."
He sighs and draws his sword, which seems to be made of some kind of bone.
"Alright people, lets move," he calls and leads the way into the mines.
Once inside, the party quickly sorts itself into the planned formation. Jackson, Cassie and one of the knights took point with their shields, with you and Sam behind them with your swords at the ready and Wyld acting as a scout. A short distance behind, the ranged fighters follow with their weapons at the ready. For the first floor, nothing much happens and everything seems normal, but almost as soon as you make your way down to the next level, you are attacked by spiders larger than the ones outside. They don't pose much of a threat, with the swords of the vanguard making short work of the oversized arachnids, but their suicide attack seems to worry the more experienced party members. The worry only increases as you continue into the mine and the walls are quickly covered in spider webs and more of the webs occupants start attacking.
Eventually, you reach a large chamber that seems to be set up as a rest stop of sorts, complete with tables, benches, storage chests of food and tools and even some beds. The place is covered in cobwebs, but Sam decides to take the opportunity to rest and eat before continuing. After reminding everyone to keep their eyes peeled, the party splits up and starts either looking around or sitting down to rest. After accepting some hard bread from Cassie, you decide to...
Search some of the footlockers at the foot of the bed.
Take a look through some of the storage boxes near the surface entrance of the chamber.
Take some time to rest.
"Alright, according to Captain Philips, the top level of the mine is mostly clear, but they don't know what its like further down," he says, "Apparently, there are a few miners unaccounted for, so keep an eye open. Its doubtful we'll find them alive, but we can still try to retrieve the bodies."
He turns to the Witch and Machinist as they rejoin the group as well.
"Do you two have anything?"
"Theres something a bit odd about these spiders," says Charlie, "Giant spiders like these aren't usually to fond of the surface and tend to be reluctant to leave their lairs when theres plenty of things to eat underground. Normally, once any intruders escape, they are happy to let them go and certainly wouldn't chase them into the sunlight, doubly so if there was a genuine threat outside. These spiders however have been throwing themselves at the guards. Its like something is forcing them out."
Sam groans and rubs his eyes.
"Oh fabulous," he grumbles, "Well, to late to back down now and I doubt its anything to powerful."
He sighs and draws his sword, which seems to be made of some kind of bone.
"Alright people, lets move," he calls and leads the way into the mines.
Once inside, the party quickly sorts itself into the planned formation. Jackson, Cassie and one of the knights took point with their shields, with you and Sam behind them with your swords at the ready and Wyld acting as a scout. A short distance behind, the ranged fighters follow with their weapons at the ready. For the first floor, nothing much happens and everything seems normal, but almost as soon as you make your way down to the next level, you are attacked by spiders larger than the ones outside. They don't pose much of a threat, with the swords of the vanguard making short work of the oversized arachnids, but their suicide attack seems to worry the more experienced party members. The worry only increases as you continue into the mine and the walls are quickly covered in spider webs and more of the webs occupants start attacking.
Eventually, you reach a large chamber that seems to be set up as a rest stop of sorts, complete with tables, benches, storage chests of food and tools and even some beds. The place is covered in cobwebs, but Sam decides to take the opportunity to rest and eat before continuing. After reminding everyone to keep their eyes peeled, the party splits up and starts either looking around or sitting down to rest. After accepting some hard bread from Cassie, you decide to...
Search some of the footlockers at the foot of the bed.
Take a look through some of the storage boxes near the surface entrance of the chamber.
Take some time to rest.
- Location
- Attached to a wall
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Take a look through some of the storage boxes near the surface entrance of the chamber.
Better to not get surprised, if spiders are hiding in those boxes.
Better to not get surprised, if spiders are hiding in those boxes.
Spider Hunt Part 10
- Location
- UK
You wonder over to the piled up crates close to the entrance of the chamber and start rummaging through them. Most of them contain nothing more than ore from the mine, mixed with some rarer things that had been found. However, one of the boxes contains a number of old artefacts, most of which had a spider theme or motif. Among them is a dagger with a guard shaped like a spider with a large ruby set into it that glowed faintly and gave off a rather sickly smell.
"Hey boss, we might have a problem!" calls Charlie from where she was snooping around the sleeping area.
"Whats wrong?" asks Sam as he joins the short goblin.
The green woman holds up the book she is holding.
"I found the foremans journal," she says, "It looks like they stumbled on something while they were digging, an abandoned Temple of some sort buried deep underground."
"A temple?" asks Sam, sounding rather surprised, "What kind of temple?"
"The Widow," says Charlie grimly.
"Dark Elves, shit," growls Sam, "Well, that explains where the spiders came from at least."
"Yeah, but it doesn't look like the temples in use," says Charlie.
"Well thats something," says Sam, "Alright, give me the book and lets have a look."
He takes the journal and moves off to the side while the rest of the party goes back to what they were doing, now with an air of nervousness that wasn't there before and with weapons close at hand. Cassie looks up at you from where she is sat at the table nearby.
"You look confused," she says, "I'm guessing you don't know much about Dark Elves?"
"Not really," you say, a little embarrassed.
"I'm not that surprised really," says Cassie, "They aren't exactly the friendliest species out there and tend to spend all their time deep underground and those who do live on the surface tend to live entirely in the darkness, working as thieves and assassins. They also have a nasty habit of delving into Magics best left buried. If the miners here stumbled on one of their Temples, even an abandoned one, it spells trouble since theirs sure to be some nasty stuff hidden inside."
"So, what happens now?" you ask, "This doesn't exactly seem like the mission we signed up for."
"Well, no, but if the temple really is abandoned, the risk won't increase that much, not with two Clerics and Sam here," she says, "There might be something more dangerous than standard spiders down there, but its unlikely to be much stronger than a Spider Mother, so we can handle it. It really depends on whether or not Sams willing to take the risk."
As if on cue, the lizard-man opens his eyes and clears his throat, getting attention from the party.
"Alright people, you all heard Charlie," he says, "This mission just got a little more complicated. I can't find any indication in the journal that theres anything to dangerous down here, but there is a risk that we'll run into something nasty. If you want to turn back now, I won't blame you and nows the time."
He looks around the chamber as the party shifts a little. You swallow a little and think carefully. On one hand, this sounded a little more dangerous than you were expecting. On the other, this was an excellent chance to get some real experience and exploring ruins had a high chance of yielding all sorts of interesting treasures. Plus, falling back would mean you don't get payed.
Push forwards.
Fall back.
"Hey boss, we might have a problem!" calls Charlie from where she was snooping around the sleeping area.
"Whats wrong?" asks Sam as he joins the short goblin.
The green woman holds up the book she is holding.
"I found the foremans journal," she says, "It looks like they stumbled on something while they were digging, an abandoned Temple of some sort buried deep underground."
"A temple?" asks Sam, sounding rather surprised, "What kind of temple?"
"The Widow," says Charlie grimly.
"Dark Elves, shit," growls Sam, "Well, that explains where the spiders came from at least."
"Yeah, but it doesn't look like the temples in use," says Charlie.
"Well thats something," says Sam, "Alright, give me the book and lets have a look."
He takes the journal and moves off to the side while the rest of the party goes back to what they were doing, now with an air of nervousness that wasn't there before and with weapons close at hand. Cassie looks up at you from where she is sat at the table nearby.
"You look confused," she says, "I'm guessing you don't know much about Dark Elves?"
"Not really," you say, a little embarrassed.
"I'm not that surprised really," says Cassie, "They aren't exactly the friendliest species out there and tend to spend all their time deep underground and those who do live on the surface tend to live entirely in the darkness, working as thieves and assassins. They also have a nasty habit of delving into Magics best left buried. If the miners here stumbled on one of their Temples, even an abandoned one, it spells trouble since theirs sure to be some nasty stuff hidden inside."
"So, what happens now?" you ask, "This doesn't exactly seem like the mission we signed up for."
"Well, no, but if the temple really is abandoned, the risk won't increase that much, not with two Clerics and Sam here," she says, "There might be something more dangerous than standard spiders down there, but its unlikely to be much stronger than a Spider Mother, so we can handle it. It really depends on whether or not Sams willing to take the risk."
As if on cue, the lizard-man opens his eyes and clears his throat, getting attention from the party.
"Alright people, you all heard Charlie," he says, "This mission just got a little more complicated. I can't find any indication in the journal that theres anything to dangerous down here, but there is a risk that we'll run into something nasty. If you want to turn back now, I won't blame you and nows the time."
He looks around the chamber as the party shifts a little. You swallow a little and think carefully. On one hand, this sounded a little more dangerous than you were expecting. On the other, this was an excellent chance to get some real experience and exploring ruins had a high chance of yielding all sorts of interesting treasures. Plus, falling back would mean you don't get payed.
Push forwards.
Fall back.
Ginny McAllister
On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog
- Location
- Pacific NorthWet
Agreed.
[X] Push forwards.
[X] Push forwards.
- Location
- Attached to a wall
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Push forwards.
Let it not be said that we are cowards.
Let it not be said that we are cowards.
Spider Hunt Part 11
- Location
- UK
After a moments pause, Sam nods.
"Not that I expected anything different, but thank you," he says, "Alright, we'll be moving out in five. Check your weapons and get ready for potential sneak attacks. Dark Elves are a lot sneakier than spiders are."
The party once again starts moving around the cavern, this time with far more focus and speed. You move to join them in double checking your equipment, but before you can, the light reflecting off the spider dagger catches your eye again and you hesitate. On one hand, it sounds like the Dark Elves are not the type to create benign artefacts and the thing is rather creepy, on the other, it probably has some interesting properties and could be useful later since it has the look of a ritual dagger of some kind.
Take the dagger. It could be very useful later.
Leave it where it is. Better safe than sorry.
"Not that I expected anything different, but thank you," he says, "Alright, we'll be moving out in five. Check your weapons and get ready for potential sneak attacks. Dark Elves are a lot sneakier than spiders are."
The party once again starts moving around the cavern, this time with far more focus and speed. You move to join them in double checking your equipment, but before you can, the light reflecting off the spider dagger catches your eye again and you hesitate. On one hand, it sounds like the Dark Elves are not the type to create benign artefacts and the thing is rather creepy, on the other, it probably has some interesting properties and could be useful later since it has the look of a ritual dagger of some kind.
Take the dagger. It could be very useful later.
Leave it where it is. Better safe than sorry.
Ginny McAllister
On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog
- Location
- Pacific NorthWet
[X] Leave it. Oh yeah, it's tempting. Magic, power, enchantment. But the risk is just too high.
- Location
- Attached to a wall
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Leave it where it is. Better safe than sorry.
Playing unknown magical artifacts is at the top of the list of things you do not do.
Playing unknown magical artifacts is at the top of the list of things you do not do.
Thozmp
Gets my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine.
@Dis Lexic did we tell the rest about the spider dagger? The possibly ceremonial spider dagger that might have attracted the giant spiders in the first place? If not, can we?
Thozmp
Gets my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine.
@Ginny McAllister @WallFlower @Nevill @veekie Can you include the option of telling Sam about the spider dagger, because that seems like something he should be made aware of before heading into the spider temple.
[X] Tell Sam about the dagger, see what he has to say about it.
[X] Tell Sam about the dagger, see what he has to say about it.
- Location
- Attached to a wall
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Tell Sam about the dagger, see what he has to say about it.
Spider Hunt Part 12
- Location
- UK
After a moments thought, you turn away from the crate and call Sam over.
"Whats up Alex?" he asks as he approaches.
"I found this in one of the crates," you say, pointing at the dagger.
Sam frowns as he eyes that spidery weapon.
"Thats...interesting," he says, "I can tell its enchanted, but I can't tell with what."
He turns and catches Angela's eye, indicating for the Witch to come over. She did so and her eyes widened the moment she saw the dagger.
"Oh my, that is a rare find," she says, picking up the weapon and examining it closely, "An Athame of the Widow."
"A ritual knife?" asks Sam.
"Of a sort," says Angela, "Weapons like this are used by the members of the Widows Death Cult, basically a religious order of assassins. They carry a curse that makes them able to bypass almost any form of defence and act as a key of sorts to allow the Cult member to locate and enter safe houses."
She frowns.
"They also have a nasty habit of showing up and being found by people who need them. No ones entirely sure how that particular trick works, but the Widow is the sister of the Weaver, so perhaps the Lady of Fate has something to do with it."
She thinks for a moment, then hands the dagger to you.
"Take it or leave it, the choice is yours," she says, "The knife itself is safe, but fair warning. If the Weaver or whatever force guided you to the dagger, theres a good chance that it will lead you nowhere good. It will be an interesting destination, but its doubtful that you'll enjoy it much, even if you end up much better for it."
She grins.
"Oh, and the Widow Cultists tend to react badly to people outside their order holding the daggers, so keep that in mind."
You stare at the dagger, feeling for all the world like something is leaning over your shoulder, watching you closely. On one hand, the weapons sounds like a very useful tool, on the other, it comes with a laundry list of potential problems.
Take the Athame. Adventures thrive on adversity and it would be incredibly useful in the future.
Leave it where it is. You'll have plenty of adversity without inviting more.
Oh, and before I forget, due to its status as an already enchanted bit of gear AND one connected to a Deity, we cant apply the crystal to the dagger.
"Whats up Alex?" he asks as he approaches.
"I found this in one of the crates," you say, pointing at the dagger.
Sam frowns as he eyes that spidery weapon.
"Thats...interesting," he says, "I can tell its enchanted, but I can't tell with what."
He turns and catches Angela's eye, indicating for the Witch to come over. She did so and her eyes widened the moment she saw the dagger.
"Oh my, that is a rare find," she says, picking up the weapon and examining it closely, "An Athame of the Widow."
"A ritual knife?" asks Sam.
"Of a sort," says Angela, "Weapons like this are used by the members of the Widows Death Cult, basically a religious order of assassins. They carry a curse that makes them able to bypass almost any form of defence and act as a key of sorts to allow the Cult member to locate and enter safe houses."
She frowns.
"They also have a nasty habit of showing up and being found by people who need them. No ones entirely sure how that particular trick works, but the Widow is the sister of the Weaver, so perhaps the Lady of Fate has something to do with it."
She thinks for a moment, then hands the dagger to you.
"Take it or leave it, the choice is yours," she says, "The knife itself is safe, but fair warning. If the Weaver or whatever force guided you to the dagger, theres a good chance that it will lead you nowhere good. It will be an interesting destination, but its doubtful that you'll enjoy it much, even if you end up much better for it."
She grins.
"Oh, and the Widow Cultists tend to react badly to people outside their order holding the daggers, so keep that in mind."
You stare at the dagger, feeling for all the world like something is leaning over your shoulder, watching you closely. On one hand, the weapons sounds like a very useful tool, on the other, it comes with a laundry list of potential problems.
Take the Athame. Adventures thrive on adversity and it would be incredibly useful in the future.
Leave it where it is. You'll have plenty of adversity without inviting more.
Oh, and before I forget, due to its status as an already enchanted bit of gear AND one connected to a Deity, we cant apply the crystal to the dagger.