Siliwen stepped quietly forward. Moving warily, and as quietly as she could on the rocky outcrop, she picked her way towards the large boulders.

About a hundred feet from her target she stopped.

[Private to Siliwen: You see two spiders clinging to the sides of the rocks, both about dwarf-sized. They see you, too.]

[Private to Alan Ryland Trakli; Haruuna Dhacuul; Lyra Duphaneus: Just after Siliwen stops, you see movement off to her left, about 50 feet into the treeline.]

Siliwen slips her bow off her shoulder and quickly nocks an arrow from her quiver.  She took a step backwards and kept her arrow aimed at the left spider.  Which ever one moved she would shoot it
This message was last edited by the player at 04:11, Sat 01 Aug 2009.

Lyra started toward Siliwen's position at a full sprint, cursing under his breath as he did so.  He drew his sword and equipped his shield before running toward her, keeping an eye on teh spider he saw.

Nal curses, pulling loose his own bow and training it on the movement he witnessed; he starts heading about, hoping to get a clear shot at whatever beast might be about to prey on the woman.

[Private to GM: Hoping to keep my distance and back them up with supporting fire! Readying an action to shoot if the spider is overtly hostile, will keep doing so for three rounds!

11:16, Today: Alan Ryland Trakli rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Initiative!.
11:17, Today: Alan Ryland Trakli rolled 25 using 1d20+5. bowshot 1!
11:18, Today: Alan Ryland Trakli rolled 20 using 1d20+5. bowshot 1crit threat?!.
11:18, Today: Alan Ryland Trakli rolled 14 using 4d6. bowshot 1crit damage + sneak attack.

11:17, Today: Alan Ryland Trakli rolled 8 using 1d20+5. bowshot 2!.
11:17, Today: Alan Ryland Trakli rolled 9 using 1d20+5. bowshot 3!.

]

Reacting rapidly to the movement he saw, Nal launched an arrow into the trees. It hummed close past Siliwen, burying up to the feathers into one of the eyes of a spider that she hadn't even seen as it dropped silently from a winter-leafless tree.

Nal's aim was either incredibly good, or incredibly lucky; the spider shuddered and moved no more.

Spurred into action, Lyra grasped his shield and sword and ran full tilt towards Siliwen, doing his best to negotiate the rocky, narrow terrain between the treeline to his left and the drop to his right.

Siliwen could see she was about to be attacked from two directions and hesitated momentarily. Sure enough, she counted five spiders in all - two on the rocks, and three dropping down from the trees, though the smallest of those three fell to Nal's arrow. Two of those that were within the woods were even larger - bigger even than she was.

She loosed her own arrow at the leftmost of the spiders that rushed at worrying pace towards her from the rock outcrop. Her aim was good, but it was nigh a hundred feet to her target and her shot merely grazed the abdomen of one of the vermin. Another arrow thudded into its body as she watched; that must've been Artur, but before she could check, she was busy defending herself from the two massive spiders that had already reached her from the trees.

The first to reach her missed, but the second took her by surprise and it's fangs drew blood from Siliwen's arm.

Lyra redoubled his efforts and reached the combat in time to distract one of the spiders attacking his companion, though he was too winded to strike. The spider took advantage of this and bit Lyra's shoulder, though the other missed Siliwen.

Nal, meanwhile, had circled into the trees and let loose another arrow, which missed its mark. Artur was more lucky, and he felled one of the two smaller spiders. The other diverted its course towards the hardy woodsman.

Locked in melée with the nasty beasts, Siliwen and Lyra dodged and weaved to little avail. The spiders found the way through their defenses and caused further wounds to each. Lyra didn't take kindly to this and carved a bloody gash in the flank of one of the spiders with his blade.

Again Nal fired, and again he missed. Artur followed his lead and he too shot wide of his mark.

She withdraws to a safe distance.

"There are two larger in the trees, she calls out.  WIthdraw if you can."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:28, Mon 03 Aug 2009.

Lyra weathered the pain as best he could.  He'd been trained to deal in such melees and was well accustomed to shove the pain of a blow into the back of his mind, that and the battle-heat kept the warm throb in his arm into barely a nuisance as he picked his next target.

His mind was working as he tried to decide which course to take.  He looked to  the larger spiders.  They were mere beasts, they would probably come to him if he offered himself as a target.  But....

[Private to Mr. DM: 07:11, Today: Secret Roll: Lyra Duphaneus rolled 19 using 1d20+6. Attack Roll.
07:11, Today: Secret Roll: Lyra Duphaneus rolled 10 using 1d20+6. Attack Roll.
07:10, Today: Lyra Duphaneus rolled 6 using 1d20+2. Fortitude save.
07:10, Today: Lyra Duphaneus rolled 20 using 1d20+2. Fortitude Save.

Option one is to withdraw, hopefully to a more defenisble position.

Option2: If I can't withdraw, then I'll fight defensively.  Using my Shield Bonus against one of the bigger spiders if it comes near.  So new AC 20 (21 for one of the big spiders)

Note: I'll withdraw at the nearest oppurtunity.


 ]

Lyra and Siliwen ducked, dodged, and then backed away from the spiders before turning to run back to where Haruuna and Artur were holding position. As they ran they could hear the beasts keeping pace just behind them.

Artur fired again, burying a shaft into the last remaining of the smaller spiders. Wounded, it began to retreat back to the cover of the rocks - it seemed they were too tough as prey to be worth bothering with!

As Lyra and Siliwen dashed over to the others, Nal let loose two more shots. These were calmer and more accurate than before, and one of the two larger spiders fell, tumbling into a heap.

Now reunited, the four combatants turned as one to face the remaining spider, which hesitated, before turning to flee back whence it had come.

Siliwen found a place to sit down and tend her wounds, which were significant. She had been wakened by the attacks so sudden.

Siliwen had to reassess her skills it seems she was not so capable as she thought whe was.  It was a lowering thought.

Nal puts up his bow and lowers his guard, quickly rejoining the others and heading away. "These wounds look grave. We should have gone around after all," he murmurs, cupping his fingers together. "Perhaps we should call off hunting for poachers today."

Haruuna gathered the wounded Lyra and Siliwen to her, muttering under her breath at their injuries.

She asked them to be still and not to fear her magics, then spoke some mystical words whilst forming complex gestures over the worst of the spider bites.

Her subjects shivered and groaned as the magical energies knitted torn flesh together.

"That is the best I can do for now" said Haruuna.

OOC: Siliwen healed 8 points, Lyra healed 7
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:45, Wed 05 Aug 2009.

"Haruuna, my thanks for your healing.  Nal, under the circumstance I agree.  I am sorrry but if the meeting with the poachers was anything more than a wary standoff I would be of little use this day."

"Do you concur, Lyra?" asks Nal, leaning against a tree. "If they're not here when we search again, well... worst comes to worst, they'll no longer be in the forest to find. I'd count that as a good outcome."

   Lyra winced as Haruuna healed his wounds, but something else seemed to cause his knees to tremble other than the pain.  He looked somewhat pale now and had to take a deep breath to even keep himself up, he looked up at Nal somewhat wearilly and said, "I don't think I would be much use in battle right now, either.  It seems as if these spiders' fell poison has sapped my muscles of any strength left in them, as it stands now I could probably barely shoulder my gear with the added weight of my arms and armor without some aid. "

   He leaned against a tree or rock before his trembling knees buckled, and took another deep breath.  "That would be a wise course, Nal.  We should at least put it off for a couple of days.  I would prefer not to chance any other such misadventures while we've suffered such wounds.  "

From a not to distant tree. Siliwen caught a familar seep Ooo-whooo  She put her fingers to her lips and whistled and there came sweepinng out of a high branch was a great owl that flew down towards Siliwen.  Ooo-who, Ooo who.  The bird called out as she swept by Siliwen ruffling Siliwen's hair/  Siliwen laughed at her antics.

This owl was very large, her wind tips 6 feet apart. Her virtually noisless flight as she glided down to teh rock where Siliwen lean back against.

"Well my feather friend, I could have used you keen sense about 15 minutes agao she said smoothing the breast feather of the horned owl.  It massive talons gripped the rock.   The owls talons are almost 4 inches long on powerful feet.  (she is an Eagle Owl.)

Siliwen mad no attempt to pick her up right now.  Usually the big owl had her own perch on the back of Siliwen's saddle but since Siliwen  was walking with the others. and had not brought her gaulets for Arwenna it was best that her familiar found a different perch for now.

"Artur, do you have an opinion?" asks Nal, after a moment of contemplation. "I've thought about this for a moment. Even if we can't proceed to the poachers in force right now, there's still the possibility of negotiating with them whilst the others recover. Even if they turn out to be brutes, it's unlikely they'll do anything to someone claiming to represent a larger force."

Siliwen listens to Nal's idea, and thinks about it.  "It is a possibility that nust be considered at least, but if it turns bad you will have a reduced "force"

"Maybe so, but they wouldn't want to offend someone who might be sympathetic to their plight," responds Nal. "People like poachers can't risk offending a neutral party who's on their tail if they want to keep on living. In a sense, sending one man is less likely to provoke them than sending a group. There's no sense shooting the messenger unless you're already prepared for what must follow."

"There's truth in that!" Haruuna says.

He thought about that, looking at the others as he leaned against the trunk of a tree for support.  He was weary now, all his body wanted was to rest.  He felt the weariness in his chest and lungs when ever he inhaled.  He nodded somewhat weakly and his eyelids drooped subtly despite his effort to keep alert.

"I'd prefer that we go together, and who knows what else may be hunting in these woods other than these poachers.  However, it's a good plan if you can pull it off.  If worst comes to worst, at least you can scout ahead for us and then we'll know the terrain and their numbers if they wish to cause any trouble.  By the time you get back, depending on how fast you travel, we'll probably be rested enough to continue. "

"Ah... true. I wouldn't be good at spotting danger before it hits me hereabouts."

Arwenna now can be our scout.  A better better one that I was for sure,  Siliwen takes out a heavy leather gauntlet and slips it one while she call Arwenna to her hand.  The big owl looks a bit clumsy taking off form the rock but once in flight she is a sight to behold.  Her wing span is greater that Siliwen is tall.  The bird lands on the heavy gauntlet and her talons grip firmly.  She turns her headd nealy 90 degrees to meet Siliwen's. eyes.

"Good to have you back, Bird.  I missed you.  I have proved to be a poor scout."  The owl ducks her head to Siliwen and Siliwen knows well what she wants, a good scratch around her horny tufts of feathers and then under her beak.

In silent communion with her bird Siliwen had Arwenna scout out the area ahead of them. and then all around them.  Best not have something come up and flank them or come at them from behind.  She launches Arwenna back into the air.  The owl circles and then flies ahead.

"Arwenna will be our scout." Siliwen says as she turns back to the others.

   Lyra nodded, "Let's just go, there may be time for me to heal as we get there.  Who knows if they'll want to fight, it may be as simple as us telling them of their plight if they continue on this path, and they may leave.  But as a melee combatant I won't be able to offer much aid if it came to a battle, which is all that I worry about.  "

   "Yes, you're owl would compliment a scout quite well, Siliwen.  It would make quite a scout by itself, in fact.  ", he said and thought about something for a moment.

   "Nal, were you still go in ahead of us? "
This message was last edited by the player at 19:18, Wed 12 Aug 2009.

Artur answered Nal.

"Only the most desperate of men resort to violence against those as well armed as yourselves, I feel. For sure, the poachers are likely desperate men - but will they risk their lives if you approach them with a firm offer to talk? I doubt it."