Climate Crisis: Defilement & Sacred Groves

[Karaunios]

Dougal attacks at the Drider with Jorly and Cadeweed, since they have to been having the most travel at the moment.

Short Bow +1 - To hit: [1d20+2]=3+2=5; Dmg S/M/L: [1d6+1]=4+1=5
Short Bow +1 - To hit: [1d20+2]=18+2=20; Dmg S/M/L: [1d6+1]=1+1=2

Conmhaol will guard the entrance/exit to the tree.

[gurusql]

Cadeweed

Cadeweed will continue to attack in HTH with his swords, but even with the bless and potentially Faerie Fire, he misses.

Attack with Short Sword[1d20]=3, Damage with Short Sword S/M [1d6]=3 L [1d8]=2
Attack with Short Sword (off-hand) [1d20-2]=5-2=3, Damage with Short Sword S/M [1d6]=3 L [1d8]=5

I am assuming that you are counting the the charges on the broach since Cadeweed does not have a number to count.

[Jernau35]

Hake

Hake's arachnophobia seems to be getting worse.

Morningstar (THACO 20) [1d20]=6 S/M [2d4]=3 L [1d6+1]=6+1=7

[Ahlmzhad]

Raven

Being out of spells that would help here he'll use the 2nd of the javelins, targeting the Drider.

Javelin Attack Roll: [1d20+6]=9+6=15. If it counts I have a +1 from Dex.

Dmg: [1d6+6]=4+6=10

[Spearmint]

Silvanus Grove, One Tree.

Hunting 'Spiderwomen'

Drider: FF spell resistance vs 15% [1d100]=33 [1d100]=58

Moriartus highlights the issue, outlining the limbs, head, torso and abdomens of the spider-humanoid hybrids.

Jorly tries to high-five the Drider but is left dangling mid-air.

Hake flails, bodging instead of bludgeoning.

Cadeweed slices thin air, twice.

I am assuming that you are counting the the charges on the broach since Cadeweed does not have a number to count.

I am. I rolled a random numer. Until the item is formally 'Identified', the actual number of charges or points of magic missile, magic effect damage it absorbs is unknown. You can add a note on your character sheet, perhaps in the inventory. Scarab -8hp.

Two-Birds remains unconscious, breathing and not bleeding out.

Dougal shafts the Drider, -2hp with an arrow.

Raven triggers the second augmented Javelin, it impales one Drider with force enough to skewer her through the torso and pin her to the interior wall of the hollow trunk. -10hp
The Drider snaps the shaft in half, pulling herself free with a pained cry. She blows the horn a second time but this blast is weaker and breathless.

Large Orb Weavers summoned: [3d10]=15

Outside the hollow trunk, Ash Gnolem sounds his own alarm, letting you know that "More than a dozen" large black and drooling arachnids scuttle towards the tree and will close to melee within another round or two.

The second Drider is fighting the trio intruding the nest from the above branches. Wounded by another arrow, she turns to her assailant and points at him with a hand-held crossbow. The weapon has dual ruts for two bolts and at short range, there is little time or space to manoeuvre or dodge away.

Drider: hand-held crossbow: [1d20+1]=5+1=6 [2d4]=8

Dougal ducks, the Drider grouses. Two thuds strike a branch an inch above his head, the barbs deep into the wood and dripping teardrops of venom.

Next actions please

[gurusql]

Cadeweed

Cadeweed will continue to attack in HTH with his swords, the rolls below do no include the bless and FF, hoping to finish her off before the spiders come.

Attack with Short Sword[1d20]=9, Damage with Short Sword S/M [1d6]=6 L [1d8]=5
Attack with Short Sword (off-hand) [1d20-2]=19-2=17, Damage with Short Sword S/M [1d6]=2 L [1d8]=4

[Jernau35]

Hake

Beginning to worry that he'll soon have to fight several spiders at once if he doesn't get rid of this one, Hake tries a simple trick.

He takes several steps back to lure the spider after him. As it follows, Hake suddenly jumps forward, jams his shield into the spiders' eyes and cracks his morningstar down as hard as he can.

Morningstar (THACO 20) [1d20]=15 S/M [2d4]=8 L [1d6+1]=2+1=3

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

Casts Sleep at the spider vanguard.

Spell retention (17): [_4d6+2]=(1+2+4+4)=11+2=13

[ravenn4544]

Jorly is finally able to harness his training and land a definitive attack!

Open Hand Attack [1d20]=20; Damage S/M/L: [1d3]=2
If Attack > 5 enemy AC then stun [1d6]=1 rounds

Open Hand Attack [1d20]=10; Damage S/M/L: [1d3]=2
Rear Attack Chance (15%) [1d100]=1

[Karaunios]

Dougal warns his companions: "Fowks, they've poisoned bolts!"

He fires arrows at the drider that just missed him.

Short Bow +1 - To hit: [1d20+2]=9+2=11; Dmg S/M/L: [1d6+1]=2+1=3
Short Bow +1 - To hit: [1d20+2]=18+2=20; Dmg S/M/L: [1d6+1]=3+1=4

Conmhaol keeps attacking the enemies near him.

Conmhaol: (THAC0 18+) - Savage Bite:[1d20]=5 [1d6]=6

[Spearmint]

Silvanus Grove, One Tree.

Hunting 'Spiderwomen'

The two Driders, covered in blood, ringed by faerie lights. They struggle to contain the assault of the companions. Cadeweed manages to slash one -2hp before Jorly gets in a critical blow that stuns the Drider, -5hp. Follow up blows, -2hp and a volley of arrows, -4hp add further damage. Stunned it becomes defenceless and in subsequent rounds, the trio can overwhelm it.

Perseverance Hake slams the other one, -8hp. Moriartus Sleeps a few large spiders, this enables Raven to drag the unconscious Two-Birds into the hollow trunk before she gets swarmed. Ash Gnolem drags the pack mule away from danger, retracing steps back to the One Tree. Conmhaol growls, nipping into the hollow before being bit.

Sleep spell effectiveness [2d4]=6Drider: spell attacks scimitar [1d20+1]=9+1=10 [1d8+1]=8+1=9

Perseverance Hake parries a weak swipe away. There is not much room in the trunk hollow, crowded now with multiple people in a frantic mayhem of threshing limbs and weapons. One Drider remains alive and several spiders scuttle around the tree. Three go upwards into the branches and three try to gain entrance into the hollow.

Actions everyone please.

[gurusql]

Cadeweed

Cadeweed will spend his action to make sure the downed Drider does not get back up.

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

Casts Sleep on the trio of spiders attempting to enter the hollow.

Spell retention (17): [_4d6+3]=(4+5+3+2)=14+3=17

[Ahlmzhad]

Raven

After getting Two Birds safely back, he will cast sleep on the 3 spiders going up in the tree.

1st lvl spell retention vs 16: [4d6+1]=17+1=18

[Jernau35]

Hake

Hake begins a prayer of Healing for Two-Birds.

"Thou art a faithful servant to thy god..."

However, the jostling crowd all around prevents him reciting it to full effect.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=2

[ravenn4544]

Jorly will help cadeweed end the creatures misery. If there is any indication of a lair he'll investigate for any further clues about the poor creatures existence.

[Karaunios]

Dougal fires at one of the three spiders climbing up the tree.

Short Bow +1 - To hit: [1d20+2]=12+2=14; Dmg S/M/L: [1d6+1]=3+1=4
Short Bow +1 - To hit: [1d20+2]=14+2=16; Dmg S/M/L: [1d6+1]=6+1=7

I'm assuming Conmhaol wouldn't be able to attack this round, since the hollow is crowded, but just in case.

Conmhaol: (THAC0 18+) - Savage Bite:[1d20]=6 [1d6]=3

[Spearmint]

Silvanus Grove, One Tree.

Hunting 'Spiderwomen'

Two-Birds is revived, +2hp, a minimal blessing from Hake but it gets the priest of Silvanus on her feet at a critical point.

Jorly & Cadeweed can combine to coup de grace the strange elf-spider hybrid. The Drider slain with bone snapping and jugular cutting precision.

Sleep and more sleep. A staple of mages and used to good effect to winnow the ranks of onrushing arachnids.

Sleep spell effectiveness [2d4]=2 [2d4]=5

It leaves but a single spider alive but that one is out to sleep permanently by the volley of arrows from Dougal.

Drider: spell attacks scimitar [1d20+1]=9+1=10 [1d8+1]=3+1=4Drider: morale and reactions [1d100]=64

The last Drider is bereft; surrounded by a superior foe, critically wounded, comrades slain. He vainly defends himself though during this round the group are focused elsewhere. Conmhaol drives him into a corner.

His morale collapsed and retreat not possible, he had two choices, to fight to the death or surrender to the group's mercy.

Drider decisions: Fight or surrender [1d2]=2

"You have me at your mercy Sirs." he lisps in a high elven vocabulary. He lowers his scimitar blade, staying backed into the corner.

You can slay the sleeping dozen spiders.

Actions decide, you can slay him or parlay / question him.

As far as the nest is concerned, the lair is yours. The upper branches contain two small chambers that must serve as private quarters to Driders. The weave of branches and leaves covered in silky web threads that look as though the chambers have intricate curtains.

The hollow trunk is effectively one big space but has an upper and lower feel to it in the way the space is used. The lower portion 'a common room' and has the entrance portals, the upper portion more of a study.

Another chamber, into the roots of the tree and subterranean is below. This acts as a cellar type room and contains 'food stocks', wineskins, hanging game meats.

Actions decide on actions and encounter aftermath.

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

"Stay your weapons, I would hear him out." He raises a hand to dissuade further violence. Lighting a cigar, he draws a few quick puffs before nodding at Two-Birds. Speaking again to the drider, he says, "As a priestess of Sylvanus, your life is hers to spare. That said, I know you were transformed by your kinsmen and banished from your ancestral home. That is not why we are here."

He pauses to let this revelation sink in. "We are here to cleanse the sacred groves of a viral corruption spread by the cult of Impurax." He pauses again to take a long draw from the cigar. He deliberately omits knowledge that the One Tree's corruption is not of Impuraxian design. "What affliction have you placed on the One Tree?"

Charisma (17): [4d6]=11

[Karaunios]

Dougal focuses himself in recovering his arrows and killing the sleeping spiders with his sword.