As Gil-Gandel Sprints out the door, dozens of small spiders descend rapidly on him and the huge spider drops down, just missing the fast elf.
He is swatting at all these small spiders from the size of a house spider up to spiders a good 6" across.
As he zips away, he feels a sticky strand pull at his leg.
Ghân and Gwaelur realize the Elf is in trouble and Gwaelur charges back shouting Khazad-Dum and strike a might blow at the huge spider for 16 points. Ghân hits with a dart for 1 point and no visible affect.
Gil-Gandel is bit a good 6 times for about 2 points of damage. He pulls out his swords and sets to grim work cutting the heavy thread of sticky spider silk and then turning to attack the spider.
As the Faerie Fire covers the huge spider a strange and surprising thing happens; the spider lets out a shriek like it is burning and careens off into the orcs chambers. The smaller spiders quickly scatter.
Gil-Gandel has several ugly bites and he looks a little odd.
“That smarted, but I am not badly hurt. Well struck, Durin’s Son! And, Ghân, isn’t it surprising how the creature screamed when your harmless spell covered it? We should remember that for another time. Let us be off - I will let you know if I begin to feel ill.”
If we did, then I suggest we leave the rest and go to help out before it is too late.
Oh and Renee, please get your light source up and running. From what I remember of my Uncle’s stories, large spiders don’t like it when it is really bright.
Ghân says the good news is not just that Faerie Fire frightens Monster Spiders, but that if it meets the rest of our party, they will see it coming.
The bad news is that he doesn’t have a Neutralise Poison left.
So Ghân is still very happy to follow Gil-Gandel’s lead, but is concerned about poisoning.
(DM, when Brin got poisoned, the symptoms manifested rapidly, did they not?)
Gil-Gandel is very lightly poisoned, he feels a little weak but he also feels his body can fight off the effect. Elves are particularly resistant to paralysis.
The rest of the party heard the shriek, Renee brings her object to a bright light. Mulligan leads the party to the main entrance.
On the way they encounter a glowing spider in room 7. It sees the light and brakes hard and tosses itself down the stairs that lead to room 6.
Is the Spider big enough to fit through the hole from Room 6 to Room 5.
Otherwise it will be, Deor, Theogrim, come with me to see if the others are ok. Judging by the speed that thing was running, I would say yes, but it’s always good to check. If we don’t see them by the time we get to the creature’s lair, I would say they have already left.
Renee, Thoroncir, Brin, pen that thing below on the staircase, hopefully, it will stay down there. We will be back shortly, either with the others or without.
And no, I am not going to try and lure it out again. I’m not feeling that lucky.
“Of course I am willing, O Brin, Ranger of Dale,” the Sea-Knight says slowly at first, “but would prefer to wait until our party is complete and our wizards are refreshed after a night’s rest. The giant spider and her brood are unlikely to leave these caves overnight, and we may dispatch them at our leisure on the morrow. It may be too dangerous to remain in here overnight, as few and as tired as we are. Let us do as Mulligan suggests right now, but then our Elf-captain’s orders were to encamp outside. I suggest we do so and await the return of the rest of our friends.”
As both our captain and our lieutenant are now separated from the main body of the party, perhaps it’s time we choose a serjeant (the old-fashioned spelling, naturally).
Renee suggests, “As this is a mission for Gondor and we have a Knight of Gondor here, I think the answer to the serjeant is obvious at this point.” She pauses then continues, “I can maintain my light fairly bright and ready to flare up, let us hold this room until Mulligan and Theogrim and Deor return. If any are injured, we must all prepare to race out to their aid.”
Thoroncir smiles warmly. “My lady, we are of one mind as to holding this room for the moment. Mulligan, Deor and Theogrim, please do as she bids, and quickly. As to selecting a serjeant, I would be pleased and honored to serve, but will defer to another member of our party if he wishes the post.”
