Cole sends a glance down toward Dreya before he steps in front of her, shielding her.  "Pardon my friend's rudeness, Queen. She can be rather naive when it comes to the ways of the world. I have traveled these wood many times and have never had the pleasure of your acquaintance before. But, I have been away for some time, perhaps my memory is foggy?  What sort of toll does the Queen of the Wood demand from those passing through?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 19:30, Sun 30 Oct 2016.

Khaaven goes on the offensive after noticing the spider's slow reaction after his spells affect. Hoping that his sword will connect and finish it off.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:11, Mon 31 Oct 2016.

Elwood stay's silent waiting for the Queen of the Wood response to Cole's question.

Len does his best to observe the exchange. His spot behind the tree may be spotted, so he tries to stay still.

Hugh does not have much to add to the ongoing negotiation and continues to bide his time by sizing up the other side. He studies each potential enemy in turn but maintains a calm demeanor throughout.

Khaaven pursues the spider across the attic.  He tries to slash the spider, but the monster is too quick for his blade.  The spider responds by shooting webbing at Khaaven, but the assassin rolls to the side and the webbing flies past him.

Meanwhile, in the clearing outside...

Gloria glares at Dreya, then turns to Cole and says, "Your polite words please me, human.  If you would perform a favor for me, the toll would not be onerous at all.  Perhaps, 50 gold pieces?  My servants are carrying packages for delivery to the lodgers.  Since it seems clear you intend to pay them a visit, I suggest you deliver the packages for us.  Please decide quickly.  My duties are great and I cannot tarry here all day."

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
10:52, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Dodge webbing.
10:50, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  Attack spider.
10:48, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Spider, rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative.
10:47, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative.

---

Khaaven once again will attempt to bring the fight to the spider by pressing his advantage.

After seeing the flash of electricity from the upper part of the attic, Dreya nudges Cole in the back.

"Didn't Sir Khaaven go into the cabin? I think he might have found some trouble. I will go check while you continue to talk with this 'queen'."

Turning, Dreya trots over to the entrance of the cabin. The ranger had gone in earlier and didn't express alarm, so she will just poke her head in and see how their wizard...assassin...arcane assassin?...is doing.

Unease settled in Cole’s gut.  Khaaven seemed an awfully long time away and that spark of lighting just before was troubling, and Dreya’s sudden departure worried him too.  Of all the times for the druid to separate herself from the group… The sooner they were rid of this Queen and her minions, the better.  “Fifty gold pieces sounds a reasonable sum to avoid unnecessary blood shed this day,” Cole responds.  “Who should we deliver these packages too? We can drop them off, but no guarantees the recipients will accept them from us. And I assume this payment is sufficient for return from our business in the lodge as well,” he stated rather than questioned, leveling the Queen with an unwavering gaze. Digging in the pouch slung about his waist-belt he found what he was looking for and extended out his hand to show the Queen the fifty gold pieces lying in his palm.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:58, Tue 01 Nov 2016.

Elwood nods in agreement with Cole's response and walks over to Cole to help receive the "packages".  He shudders to think what may be in the sacks that the two ogres are carrying.

Gloria nods her head and one of the topless men walks over to Cole and takes the 50 gold pieces.  The two ogres step up and drop their large sacks next to Cole.  The sacks are enormous (think Santa Claus's sack) and tied shut with rope near the mouths.  It's hard to tell what is in the sacks.  They are lumpy, smell unpleasant in an odd way, and occasionally some of the lumps move.  Cole is probably strong enough to move one himself, but Elwood would need assistance.

Gloria says, "Just drop the sacks off when you head down to the basement.  The tenants can take it from there.  You are welcome to leave my woods without further toll."

If no one has further business with Gloria, she says, "Toodles", then she and her entourage vanish back into the forest.

Back at the lodge, Dreya steps inside and finds the front room empty and dimly lit.  She does not see any sign of Khaaven, but she does hear some sort of commotion from the attic.

Upstairs, things are not going so well for Khaaven.  He presses his attack against the spider, but is sprayed with webbing before he can take a swing.  The assassin finds himself entangled in sticky fibers stretching from the floor of the attic to what's left of the roof.  He is immobilized, but may be able to break free with a strength check.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
10:48, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Dodge web.
10:45, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Spider, rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative.
10:45, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 16:00, Wed 02 Nov 2016.

"Well done," Hugh comments to his companions after the extortionists take their leave. "It is good we did not have to expend energy dispatching those brutes, but I wonder how many others they have fleeded in their time. Queen of the forest indeed!"

Once Gloria's band has departed he says, "Let's go see how Khaaven is faring..."

The monk heads to the cabin and looks in after Khaaven.

It is so dimly lit in the damn cabin, Dreya can't see much. Looking around the floor, she picks up a chunk of rubble and casts light on it to help her light the area. If she can see an opening into the attic, she will toss the glowing object up there to help her see as well.

Elwood reaches into his money pouch and hands Cole 10 gp.  "Here's my share for the toll, plus my appreciation for your negotiations."  He then grabs one of the sacks and is suddenly reminded just how strong ogres are.  To Cole he says "I think lugging these over to the lodge can wait.  Perhaps we should join Dreya and Hugh to check on Khaaven first."  Elwood then starts to make his way to the lodge.

Cole nods appreciation to Elwood as the Cleric hands him the 10 gold pieces before hefting one of the bags over his shoulder and making his way over to the lodge as well to see what the devil has been taking Khaaven so long.

Len is perplexed about what is going on out in the open area. Have the others in the group made some sort of bargain with the possible foes? The fighter considers making himself known, but he balks. Perhaps it would be safe to stay behind the tree just a tad longer. Better safe than orc bait.

Khaaven will get himself free of the webbing if he can, not liking the idea of being at the spiders mercy.

The rest of the party (with the exception of Len) heads into the lodge to check on Khaaven.  The fighter is left to observe the clearing (nothing of interest is going on in the clearing at the moment except a large, lumpy, occasionally-moving sack and an unconscious Snarg are lying on the ground).

The main level of the lodge is much as you all remember it.  The blood stains on the floor have received the barest of cleaning attempts.  The crates are scattered and mostly broken.  There is no sign of life on this floor.  Mysterious sounds, however, are coming from the hole leading into the attic.  The hole in the ceiling is at least 10 feet off the ground with the collapsed staircase below.  There is not an obvious means of reaching the attic through the hole.

Up in the attic, Khaaven struggles mightily against the webs holding him in place.  The web strands strech a little, but the assassin is unable to break free.  If only he had focused on strength training in his youth like his cousin Khaarven so that strength was a prime attribute.  Only now, in this late hour, does Khaaven see the error of his ways.

The spider darts forward with a desperate bite to Khaaven for 4 points of damage.  Juices squirt from the spider's fangs into Khaaven's arm.  A fierce stinging quickly becomes a dreadful burning sensation, then Khaaven's muscles spasm and tighten as he suffers another 4 points of damage from poison.

The party members below can't tell what they are hearing, but perhaps Khaaven will scream in horrific pain and alert them to his plight.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
17:10, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Spider, rolled 4 using 1d6.  Poison damage.
17:09, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 12 using 1d20+3.  Save versus poison.
17:07, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Spider, rolled 4 using 1d6.  Damage from bite.
17:07, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Spider, rolled 23 using 1d20+9.  Attack Khaaven.
17:04, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  Strength check to escape web.
17:02, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative.
17:01, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Spider, rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative.

---

Len blinks as the others enter the building. With the clearing... clear... he stands straight and makes another scan of the area. Confident that all is good for now, he heads for the interior.

Once inside, the fighter notices the looks up to the ceiling. He scratches his head.

"What's going on? And who was that outside?"

If Dreya successfully cast light on an object before, she will toss the glowing mass into the hole above her to send back the shadows a bit.

Dropping the sack at his feet, Cole looks around, worry snaking through him like an insidious coil at no sign of their Wizard-Assassin.  "Khaaven? Where the bloody devil are you?"  Cole shouts.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Fri 04 Nov 2016.

Hugh looks around for a couple of serviceable crates to stack atop one another in order to reach the hole. If none are found, he will take a running start and attempt to grab hold of the ledge and pull himself up into the attic.

In reply to Dreya (msg # 86):

I knew I forgot something.  Dreya is definitely able to find a small piece of wood to imbue with light and chuck it up through the hole.  The angle isn't great, but you can see the roof of the attic is a mess.  You can't see Khaaven, although he and the spider can now see each other quite clearly.  The spider is a hot mess.  It has a nasty arrow sticking out of if its eye cluster and it's got a pretty severe sword wound as well.

Elwood speaks to Len.  "We had the honor of meeting the 'Queen' of these woods.  Apparently we owed a toll, which Cole graciously paid. Now, last I saw Khaaven, he was scampering up the side of this lodge and entering through an attic window."

Elwood will aid Hugh with the crates.   If none are suitable, he'll offer to help boost Hugh up into the stairway hole.  He'll then get out his rope and hammer,  and tie one end of the rope to the middle of the hammer's handle,  using it as a makeshift grappling hook.

Khaaven will again attempt to break free and finish the spider.

" HELP, A very large and unhappy spider is making a meal out of me. It is almost dead but need assistance quickly."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:11, Fri 04 Nov 2016.