Fost tosses the rock, and its strikes the shadowy object with a heavy thump. The thing shudders and skitters up the wall to its left, startled.

There's no mistaking that it is a giant spider.

OOC: Okay, gents, roll for initiative!

Mikhail swings his staff around to be ready to go.

15:59, Today: Mikhail Loren rolled 8 using 3d6+2 with the AGE System with rolls of {1}, 3, 2.  Initiative.

"You would be quite correct, we don't want that crawling up behind us!"

20:36, Today: Richard rolled 11 using 3d6+3 with the AGE System with rolls of {2}, 1, 5.  initiative.

Fost had a brief moment of doubt then closed his fists on shield and blade in grim determination.

rolled 13 using 3d6+3 with the AGE System with rolls of {1}, 5, 4.  DEX (Initiative).

Initiative Order
Character	Result
Loran	13.6+10
Fost	13.1+30
Richard	11.2+30
Mikhail	8.1.+20
Spider

This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Thu 14 Jan 2021.

Brother Loran shuddered at the sight of the spider moving up the wall he usually put spiders out of his room at the chantry but even he wouldn't be brave enough to do that to one that big.


18:45, Today: Brother Loran rolled 13 using 3d6+1 with the AGE System with rolls of {6}, 4, 2.  DEX initiative.

Initiative Order
Character	Result
Spider	16.2+40
Loran	13.6+10
Fost	13.1+30
Richard	11.2+30
Mikhail	8.1.+20

The spider draws back and disappears from view, clearly trying to hide from the stone thrower.

OOC: Spider moves out of sight and attempts to hide.

Once Loran had closed further with Mikhail and himself, his light penetrated the darkness and Fost was better able to see the huge spider. He approached cautiously, prepared for any sticky webs as the bandits had mentioned.
The he charged.

---

Minor: Move
Major: Charge
rolled 15 using 3d6+5 with the AGE System with rolls of {5}, 3, 2.  Bastard Sword attack, w/ charge.
rolled 15 using 2d6+5.  Bastard Sword Damage.

rolled 12 using 3d6+2 (4 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {4}, 3, 3.  PER.
Look-Out for web
rolled 19 using 3d6+3 (5 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {5}, 5, 6.  DEX (Acrobatics).
in case there is some web I need to dodge

When Loran's light illuminates the spider, Richard takes quick aim then lets fly with an arrow.  A quick hit aimed at its footing knocks it off it's perch and easy prey for the next person to attack it, then he quickly reloads his bow for the next shot.

21:08, Today: Richard rolled 16 using 3d6+4 (3 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {3}, 3, 6.  shoot arrow at spider.
21:10, Today: Richard rolled 11 using 1d6+6 with rolls of 5.  damage (assuming attack hits).

2SP: knock prone
1SP: quick reload

Seeing the Spider, Mikhail let loose a focused blast from the Fade, attempting to immobilaize and disrupt the spider.

---

09:15, Today: Mikhail Loren rolled 16 using 3d6+4 (6 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {6}, 3, 3.  Casting Roll Mind Blast.
Stunts: Skillful casting, Puissant Casting 3
2 MP
Spellpower 17

Brother Loran held the light aloft keeping the spider within its radius as best he could to allow the others to battle it.

And at the same time making sure he stayed out of the way of the fight

As Loran moves up and to the left side of Fost and Mikhail, the group notices the footing is a bit sticky; thankfully, it's not enough to truly impede them, but the slight pull on his boots is noticeable. The webbing is much thicker around the alcove, and appears to close into a lair about halfway back, with only a small opening (just big enough for the giant beast to enter and exit) allowing passage. The spider itself is about 3-4 feet up the left side of the wall, supported on a thick padding of crisscrossing webs. The floor in the area is thicker, too.

As soon as the spider is revealed in Loran's light, Fost charges forward and lands a massive blow on the great beast. (Spider takes 10hp) He easily keeps his footing, even as the webs here make movement more difficult.

Richard follows the warrior's attack with a well-placed arrow that startles the creature, causing it to loose its grip on its webs and tumble to the webbed floor. (Spider takes 6hp and is Knocked Prone) In an instant, the rogue has another arrow notched and ready to fire.

Mikhail doesn't give the creature a chance to recover, a burst of psychic energy causing it to shudder and curl its legs under itself. (Spider is again Knocked Prone, and also cannot take a Major Action on its next turn)

Round 2
All the spider can seem to do is right itself, and it does so, facing the warrior with the massive blade.

OOC: Okay, gents, barrage number two... :)

Status
Spider -16hp, no move action in Round 2
Loran Healthy
Fost Healthy
Mikhail Healthy
Richard Healthy

Wary of the unusual surface, Fost lowered himself a bit, the feet spread wide for better balance, then swung his blade again with all his strength behind the blow.

Minor: Stand Firm
Major: Attack
rolled 17 using 3d6+4 with the AGE System with rolls of {4}, 6, 3.  Bastard Sword attack.
rolled 14 using 2d6+5.  Bastard Sword Damage.
rolled 18 using 3d6+4 with the AGE System with rolls of {6}, 5, 3.  STR (Might), oppose potential knock down.

It seemed once again the maker was answering his servants call as brother Loran raised the torch higher he beseached his god to strike the creature blind

As the prayer left his lips the torch light flared for a spit second and an intense beam of brilliant light streaked towards the spiders eyes

13:19, Today: Brother Loran rolled 10 using 3d6+4 (4 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {4}, 1, 1.  Daze (TN 11).
This message was last edited by the player at 13:23, Fri 22 Jan 2021.

The first hit seemed easy enough, so Richard fired again in an attempt to bring the beast down.  Feeling particularly inspired, he rapidly reloads his bow and fires again at the wayward spider, however that shot fires wide.

19:37, Today: Richard rolled 16 using 3d6+3 (6 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {6}, 6, 1.  shoot arrow at spider.
19:45, Today: Richard rolled 13 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 2,5.  bow damage.
2SP +1d6 damage
1SP rapid reload
3SP lightning attack
19:44, Today: Richard rolled 10 using 3d6+3 with the AGE System with rolls of {4}, 2, 1.  fire arrow at spider.

Whipping his staff point back to face the spider, the witchlight at the end glowed brighter before a streak of energy headed to the spider again.

---

19:50, Today: Mikhail Loren rolled 16 using 3d6+4 with the AGE System with rolls of {5}, 6, 1.  Casting Roll Arcane Bolt.
DEX(Acrobatics) vs. Spellpower 14
Damage: 2d6+5 if it fails, 1d6 if it passes.

Fost steadies himself against the increasingly-sticky webs and delivers another solid blow against the staggered beast. (Spider takes 9hp damage)

The Maker appears to deny Loran’s prayers, as the spell chokes and fizzles before it reaches its intended target.

Richard’s arrow appears to clip one of the spider’s many eyes and buries itself deep into the creature’s body. (Spider takes 8hp damage) The spider’s flinch is enough to make the second attack miss.

The spider reacts quickly to Mikhail’s powerful bolt of arcane energy, and it only partially clips the critter’s tough hide. (Spider takes 1hp damage)

Round 3
The spider is badly hurt, and decides to escape while it can. It spits a wad of webbing at Fost that catches only a small part of the warrior’s hip and impacts uselessly against the wall to his right.

(OOC: 09:27, Today: Evil GM, on behalf of Fost, rolled 13 using 3d6+3 (3 stunt points) with the AGE System.  Dexterity (Acrobatics).)

It then scurries back through along the back wall to hide from its attackers.

OOC: Okay, it has fled from view and is hiding in its lair (which I forgot to put on previous versions of the map, even though I described it). What do you gents want to do?

I'll allow a Cunning (Natural Lore) test to determine if you think the spider will continue to be a threat at this point.

Status
Spider -34hp, out of view within its lair
Loran Healthy
Fost Healthy
Mikhail Healthy
Richard Healthy

"It's pretty much hurt, still, I would prefer to put it to its end.", he offered his opinion.

Brother Loran sighs perhaps killing it was not in the makers plans " if it is hurt as bad as I think it will take time to lick its wounds we need to push on a child's life is at stake"

"I don't like the idea of it ambushing us later, but I guess we'll have to deal with that if it happens. Brother Loran makes a good point." Holding his stance he waited for the rest to group up for their next action.

"Nah, it's hurt badly enough it should leave us alone."  Richard offers his opinion....

Fost nodded.
"Well then, let's continue further in."

Fost walken back cautiously, keeping an eye out for the spider in case it wanted to retaliate after all.
Once out of the sticky ground they continued on.

OOC: First, you gents each receive 250 exp for the spider. That should raise your total exp to 1150.

Deciding to leave the wounded beast to its lair, the men continue deeper into the cave. As the webbing seems to end near a sharp bend in the passage, they find the decaying remains of another spider - about the same size as their most-recent foe - along the rock wall. A cursory examination shows that it likely has been dead for three or four days.

Just past the corpse, on the northwest wall, the group can see a small opening in the rock that appears to be allowing through the tiniest sliver of light. It does little more than to slightly illuminate the brown-black rock of the cave, but it also explains how the voices of the kidnappers were heard clearly at the entrance, but not on the south side of the cave.

A voice from around the bend calls out, “Aye, we’re back here.”

Cautiously rounding the corner, with Loran and Mikhail bringing their lights to bear, they see four shadow-covered figures beyond the torch’s bright radius. Three have their hands up, showing no obvious weapons (as obvious as one can see in dim light); the fourth - a smaller figure that’s most likely the boy himself - is standing behind the others.

“I still think this is a bad idea,” mumbles the figure on the left. (OOC: The one labeled EA.)

Fost hesitated.
"More light.", Fost said to his friends.

The warrior was still very suspicious and the muttered comment strengthened his caution.

"Hey, you men, why are you standing in the dark?"

"What's this about a bad idea? Speak up.", he commanded

"No wood for a fire, and our torches ran out the first day," the man in front says. "And the knife-ear here thinks it's a bad idea that we're talking to you."

The third man in back adds, "We're cold and tired, and we missed our meeting with our contact; if we aren't getting paid, there's no need to hold onto the kid. You can have him. Just let us go."

"Still a bad idea," the knife-ear grumbles.

Fost chuckled at the bad luck of those men,  served them right, though, why did they have to mess with the Arl.

"Well, I think talking is a lot better than starving or being eaten by a giant spider. Or being shot by an arrow.", he warned the one they referred to as knife-ear.

"I suppose there is a lesson for you men in this: don't mess with the Arl of Redcliffe."
"And you better learn that one real quick and not mess with us, for it is that very same Arl who commands us."

"We will take the boy and no doubts about it."
"But we need to learn more to just let you go."
"And there is the matter of murdering three of the Arl's men and severely injuring another."
"So what do you have to offer in exchange for your lives? Who hired you to set up the ambush and take the boy? Who is that contact? And where and when were you supposed to meet him."

---

rolled 15 using 3d6+2 with the AGE System with rolls of {6}, 2, 5.  COM (Investigation) or (Persuasion).
This message was last edited by the player at 17:29, Wed 03 Feb 2021.