Hunters of Monsters pt 1

Log Info

• Title: Hunters of Monsters pt 1
• Emitter: Grush
• Characters: Charlotte level 5, Deak level 4, Dubtle level 4, Havelock level 2, Sarcis level 4
• Place: ???? Forrest - accessible via shop basement
• Time: Nov 18, 2017
• Summary: Hired by a Gobber to kill a 'Wolf Spider'
• APL: 4

Summoned by the Tribune ad, or perhaps one of the flyers posted in the Adventurers Guild, you have gathered at ‘The Meat Forge’, a small new shop in the Merchant District. It looks similar to most of the other shops on this stretch aside from a large, eye grabbing sign, attached precariously to the roof. Sitting on the doorstep is a Gobber. She is tall for a Gobber, with green skin and short, spiky black hair. She seems to be dressed for an expedition, wearing tough, leather clothing. A very long barreled thunderbelcher is slung over her back.

Charlotte arrives a bit early to the appointed place in the merchant district. She pops her neck and is stretching her arms as she looks towards the gobber. "I guess I'm in the right place." She says leaning against the wall.

The gobber smiles at Charlotte "Here for the hunt? Less of a turnout than I wanted, maybe I should have used a differnt font?"

Charlotte chuckles. "More'll come, just need to wait a little bit."

Sarcis shows up soon after the appointed time, looking left and right, with her hand sweeping her hair back behind an ear. She smiles softly, "Hello? For the hunt, right?"

As Sarcis arrives the Gobber jumps to her feet “Alright! So, I guess this is it, Welcome! My name is Styx and thankyou both for coming here. This job is very simple, we need materials to work, unfortunately these materials are inside large, deadly monsters which react poorly to attempts to harvest them. So, we need you dispo- ah, brave heroes to get them for us! You will of course be well paid for your efforts and in event of your unfortunate demise the money will be paid to your family or organisation of choice.” She turns and opens the door, gesturing for you to follow “Come on through, we can cover everything else on the way”

Charlotte says, "See? Said another would be around." She says lifting herself from the wall. "all right Styx. Let's go.....""

Styx leads you through the shopfront where a variety of weapons and armor are displayed, all made out of bone or hide or other animal products, and then down into the basement.

The Basement is large and clean, it’s only feature is the large pit dug in its centre. A sturdy looking rope ladder leads down into the darkness. “It might feel a little strange but just don’t think about it” Styx calls out casually as she starts climbing down the ladder.

Charlotte tilts her head and climbs down the ladder after Styx. "Looks like you'll be watching my back."

Sarcis looks aboutt from one side to the other and finally just... shakes her head toward Charlotte as she looks toward the bit with the ladder leading down it. Her mouth pulls off to one side, a wry smile, as she mutters, "Ladies first...?" No matter that she is one too. She'll follow down after Charlotte.

Dubtle has arrived.

The Proprieter of the Meat Forge, a Gobber named Styx has just greeted everyone and lead them into the basement of the shop where they are now descending a rope ladder into a mysterious dark pit. Standard Stuff

Once she gets about 10ft down she is swallowed up by the darkness, disappearing as though passing into black water.

<OOC> Charlotte says, "Sarcis would be able to see you. I can't."

<OOC> Grush says, "Darkvision cannot penetrate the darkness, it remains inky and inscruitable"

As you follow her through you are enveloped in cool, thick darkness, a strange viscosity to the air. It only last for a second though and you pass through into a well lit cavern. looking up, the darkness sits above you, unaffected by the glowing lanterns

Charlotte whistles a bit. "I wouldn't want to be caught in that." she says continuing to climb down.

Sarcis climbs down, a bit surprised by the sensation but still moving all the same. She looks up, then down, murmuring, "Huh, so, must be something that doesn't like to see sunlight then? Or... maybe something that doesn't like the darkness so it seals it in. Hm."

The bottom of the pit it a large, well lit cave with a tunnel leading off towards distant sunlight. In the cave is a rather large Giantborn man taking a nap next to a big armored coach, two large horses haltered to it.

"wake up Goldie, time to go!" Styx shouts, jumping up onto the coach and holding open the door "Ladies"

Welp. Dubttle is here.

He's been quiet for the time being, following along. He's glad to help, though!

The Giantborn rouses slowly, yawning and climbing up into the drivers seat. It is a testament to the sturdiness of the Coach that it doesnt seem to buckle under his weight

Sarcis lets out a half-giggle at the sight of the Giantborn slowly rousing, shaking her head from side-to-side, "Sorry, looks like naptime is over." A wider smile and she tilts her head, eyes sliding toward the sunlight as she raises an eyebrow. "Interesting." She'll slide in after Styx of course.

Havelock has arrived.

<OOC> Grush says, "welcome :) looks like we get a full party afterall!"

<OOC> Havelock thumbs up.

<OOC> Grush says, "Everyone is just getting in the Coach to ride to the MISSON LOCATION"

<OOC> Grush says, "does anyone want to add anything or shall we depart?"

<OOC> Charlotte says, "nah. go on."

You all pile into the coach, its large, but a little cramped as its also packed full of chests and jars. The smell of chemical preservatives hang in the air and some of the chests seem to be very cold to the touch. Styx bangs on the room and the coach takes off. "So, what we're after today is an interesting critter we've been calling a 'Wolf Spider' we've scouted out its hunting ground and we know the rough area it'll be in."

Charlotte says, "all right. So...what would you like off of it?" She says softly. "Like a leg, one of it's pincers?""

GRoaning.

There's groaning from Dublte when a 'wolf spider' is mentioned. Because he doesn't like spiders much at all. The fat raven on his shoulder perks, though.

<OOC> Grush says, "Sure thing Havelock, don't let them leave without you!"

"Don't worry about that, you just kill it and Goldie and I can cover the harvesting. Just try not to destroy its skull, or too many of its eyes"

A frown from Sarcis, "So... Explain why the sunlight and the bit of magical darkness and all that - on the way of course - since now you've peaked my interest."

A soft *thunk' comes from the back of the coach as it leaves, shortly before a mechanical face peeks his way into a window. "Greetings. This is the coach for the hunt, I presume? Please unclasp the door to facilitate my entrance." he says in a cold mechanical voice.

<OOC> Havelock says, "That was me by the way."

Deak has arrived.

Styx waves dismissivly at Sarcis "Don't think about it too much, just, think of it as a mysterious entrance to a strange realm... That we are going to exploit for profit!!" She opens the window and lets Havelock climb in

<OOC> Grush says, "You arrived late and a friendly Gobber woman at the counter directs you down to the basement and down a creepy dark hole. In the cavern below you jump onto the armored Coach that is just starting to move, another straggler clambering in through the window"

Deak says, "Sorry I'm late, guys. So exploration, right?"

Styx clibs ontop of a chect to allow Havelock to sit and continues, rolling her eyes as she sees Deak dashing over "Now I have some equipment to support you if you need it, some traps and such, but apart from that we don't really have much else to tell you."

Charlotte says, "We're actually hunting a wolf spider."

"/Wolf/ spiders," says Dubtle again with a groan.,

This does not amuse him!

Deak scratches his head. They howl when they're spinning webs? Never heard of a wolf spider. Oh, well. I'm here to help." His tone is eager.

"Well, thats up to you, when we get there, I can set up the pheremone puffer and that'll bring it right to us, or you can go looking and try track it down. The puffer does occasionally sometimes cause creatures to be a little... 'Agitated' when they arrive though"

Styx looks off into the distance and winces as though remembering something painful "... Occasionally"

Charlotte chuckles. "Oh boy. Agitated, he says."

Havelock briefly looks at every other party member in turn. "Mission parameters understood. I will be of practical application in tracking and hunting a Wolf Spider creature. Is it our mission to capture or neutralize the target?"

Styx rubs her hands together eagerly "Well, if you think you can take it alive, that would be marvelous, these parts need to be fresh you know, of course, that would probably be rather difficult, but it is possible, depends on what you think you can manage"

Sarcis laughs and shakes her head again, this whole situation sounds like it's... interesting. "So, really, we're going to some unknown realm to kill a wolf spider that you're lading to us using pheremones. Did I miss anything? Are you going to spread out some feed too to make this extra easy?" She lets out another laugh, "How big /is/ this spider exactly?"

Deak comments, "In the orphanage, it was always my job to smash spiders whenever one scared the house mother."

<OOC> Grush says, "Let me know when everyone is ready to arrive at the destination :) until then, ask any questions if you need to. If any of the latecomes need to purchase anything Styx might have some spare potions lying around"

<OOC> Deak is ready

Styx shrugs, gesturing vaguely with her hands "ahhh, not too big, just maybe about... 12ft, ish"

Charlotte says, "12.....feet." She the groans. "All right. I think we can handle it. You want it alive, right?""

"12 ft tall..." Styx beams "Like I said, up to you. if we wanna take it alive your just gonna have to wear it down enough, then lure it into one of my pittraps and tranq the sucker. With any luck they'll tire themselfs out flailing around and fall right asleep"

<OOC> Havelock is ready.

<OOC> Charlotte is ready...XD

<OOC> Dubtle is good to go!

<OOC> Grush says, "everyone good to move on? Awesome"

<OOC> Charlotte doesn't need to prep spells. XD

GAME: Sarcis refreshes spells.

<OOC> Sarcis says, "Just in case."

After some time the Coach rattles to a halt. Styx open the door and hops out, taking a deep breath of fresh air "So, in summary, we've got two pit traps and two pepper traps, if you want me to put them down just say the word."

Deak says, "That sounds very convenient."

Charlotte nods. "Well...let's get on with this. I don't really look forward to fighting a spider."

The Coach is parked in a large, open area on the edge of a dense forrest. The heavy vegetation is broken by three animal trails, leading into the forest to the Nort, the North-West and the West. Goldie, the Giantborn drives is already asleep on the ground next to the coach. "It's very convenient!" Styx grins "you're lucky I'm not charging you, instant pit traps aren't cheap you know. Anyway" she look around the area "want me to set up the puffer or do you want to do some scouting?"

Deak says, "A 12-foot spider with fangs and claws."

Havelock sits up for a moment, processing the idea. "Yes, they sound appropriate. We should find suitable terrain to direct the creature into the traps where can engage it with suitable advantage."

"Charging us for the traps to catch the spider for you?" Sarcis asks, amused for a moment with a shake of her head. "You... really are trying to work up a profit."

"Hey, I said I'm not charging" Styx attemps to look hurt

"...twe-twelve feet," mumbles Dubtle. NOPE. His raven also actually says it.

"NOPE," it squawks.

<OOC> Grush says, "So, figure out what the plan is between you. you've got three possible paths to take if you want to head into the forrest. Well, four if you include going home but thats no fun is it?"

<OOC> Havelock supposes he and Sarcis will scout the terrain for a good ambush spot?

<OOC> Deak says, "+noms Dubtle for stealing Alba's line... and about a spider thing, too. :P"

<OOC> Grush says, "Sarcis? what do you think of that?"

<OOC> Havelock thinks thats is the plan, stealth scout for a good spot, some place with like walls and lay the traps to lure it in.

<OOC> Havelock says, "Unless someone has a better idea."

<OOC> Charlotte isn't much of a scout....more of a fighter and such.

<OOC> Deak agrees. Who's gonna do the stealth scouting?

<OOC> Havelock can.

<OOC> Sarcis will do that.

<OOC> Dubtle is not even slightly stealthy. xD

<OOC> Sarcis is stealthy and scouty, just not terribly acrobatic.

<OOC> Grush says, "okay then, which direction do you want to go? W, NW or N. and I'll need stealth rolls from both of you"

<OOC> Havelock will take west?

<OOC> Sarcis will take nw.

GAME: Havelock rolls stealth: (15)+7: 22

GAME: Sarcis rolls stealth: (20)+10: 30

GAME: Grush rolls 1d2: (1): 1

<OOC> Deak suggests perception before deciding direction.

Deak puts his hand on Haveloc's shoulder/chassis. Says, "May I put a shield upon you before you venture forth?"

GAME: Deak casts Shield Other. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15

Havelock, you move along the trail quietly, emerging at the foot of a large, rocky hill covered in light vegetation and with a series of small cliff and drop offs creating a roughly step like formation. There are more trails leading away from the Hill to the North, the North east and back the way you came

Sarcis, You head up your trail and soon come to a medium sized clearing, created by the intersection of a number of trails. its about 30ft in diameter and a rough circle. Above you the tree canopy continues over the clearing uninterupted, casting the area into dappled shadow. You are in the middle of a crossroads of sorts and can go NW, NE, SW or back the way you came (SE)

<OOC> Grush says, "also, when you're ready, Havelock and Sarcis, make a perception roll for me"

GAME: Havelock rolls perception: (20)+7: 27

GAME: Sarcis rolls Perception: (15)+10: 25

<OOC> Deak says, "So Heveloc gets +1 on AC & saves, and half his hit point damage hits me instead for the next 4 hours"

Havelock, you notice there seems to be a rough trail heading up the hill, leading towards some sort of structure, well hidden by the vegetaion. There is also evidence of some logging done on the forrests edge here

Dubtle, for his part, is hanging back. He and his raven are not getting involved. They're just here to back up and not get eaten by a GIANT FRIGGING NOPE SPIDER.

Sarcis, you can hear a river flowing past to the North, hidden behind the trees

<OOC> Sarcis says, "At least it's not a danger noodle?"

<OOC> Sarcis says, "Grush, do I know if this spider hates/avoids water?"

Havelock takes in the surroundings, especially the cliffs before turning back to the others, his metal footsteps swift through the undergrowth.

<OOC> Grush says, "Well, you don't know anything for sure, but if you want to assume it has characteristics of Spiders or Wolves you can extrapolate stuff from there. It may not be correct though V__V"

<OOC> Sarcis says, "Is this a creature I might have knowledge on?"

<OOC> Grush says, "Sarcis, are you going to head back as well or continue on?"

<OOC> Grush says, "No, sorry, it is an unsusal beast, native to this area"

Sarcis looks about, tilting her head to the side and listens for a moment. She frowns as she closes her eyes, listening further, and then turns to walk back the way that she cam from - staying quiet still. When she gets close to them, "I hear water to the north, and there's a medium clearing."

GAME: Grush rolls 1d3: (1): 1

Havelock returns soon after "I have found cliffs that could be used to guide our prey." he reports in a robotic voice.

Deak asks, "but no webs, eh?"

Sarcis shakes her head, "No webs."

Havelock shakes his head as well. "No webs."

Charlotte says, "So...we after spiders....and there's no webs. This is ridiculous."

GAME: Grush rolls 1d2: (2): 2

<OOC> Grush says, "So, waht now brave adventurers?"

<OOC> Havelock says, "Well do we want to check the remaining direction?"

<OOC> Deak supposes so.

<OOC> Grush says, "if you want to head up north just let me know and give me a stealth roll :)"

GAME: Havelock rolls stealth: (10)+7: 17

GAME: Grush rolls 1d20+15: (19)+15: 34

<OOC> Grush says, "Havelock, could you also roll a knowlegde nature and a perception for me?"

GAME: Havelock rolls knowledge/nature: (7)+6: 13

GAME: Havelock rolls perception: (9)+7: 16

Havelock head up the northward trail, coming out into a large area around a murky lagoon. The vegetation has been trampled down by the footfalls of many animals, leaving a strip of clear ground, transitioning into a muddy bank, leading down to the lagoon. A wide river feeds into the lagoon from the south west and out to the north east. Across the other side of the lagoon is a huge creature, prowling along the forrests edge. As you enter the clearing it sniffs the air and looks over towards you

page Havelock=You can see marks near the edge of the water where it loks like something was violently dragged down through the slippery mud into the water... maybe you should avoid getting too close

Havelock looks at the creature, frozen in place. If he could sweat he would be before he begins backing up very slowly, back the way he came.

The huge creature almost resembles a giant wolf. Almost.

Its body is covered with what looks like armor plating made of bone, patches of very thick, coarse, black hair sprouting up between them. It has six legs, nimbly supporting its weight and making it move with a disturbing fluidity, as if it was gliding along.

Its head looks like a canid skull, with gleaming black eyes set in a ringed crown around its head. It’s lower jaw splits down the middle, hanging open slightly to reveal rows of razor sharp teeth. A bluish, mucous-like substance drools out of the bottom of its mouth in viscous strands.

It stands about 12ft high at the shoulder and 30ft from nose to tail.

It watches you from across the water, standing perfectly still

<OOC> Sarcis says, "Good thing Kisa isn't here, she's be yelling "DID YOU FIND IT YET?!""

Havelock keeps backing up, ready to sprint if it moves towards him.

It continues to watch you, sniffing the air again, as though confused by your scent.

<OOC> Grush says, "lucky it wasn't one of the tastier party members"

GAME: Grush rolls 1d3: (2): 2

Havelock will continue to move back towards the other party members "I have spotted the target. Prepare the traps, it may be following." he says in a hurried tone.

As you back out of its sight you see the creature shake itself disinterestedly and turn, heading up along the river

<OOC> Grush says, "The target has been sighted!"

Sarcis waits for Havelock's return and on hearing that turns back to the others. "Okay. So, how do we want to do this? We figured out where it is - hopefully - and now we need to figure out how to capture ir without damaging it too badly." She pulls her bow off of her back, a step through, a bend under her leg and she strings it smoothly.

"...greeeat," grumbles Dubtle. "I can make one of you very large?" He offers, hopefully.

Charlotte says, "Not me. it'd only hinder me."

Styx fishes out some large glass vials and hands them out to everyone "We just need to wear it down enough, get it into one of the pittraps and then pelt it with these, careful though, if you break them its going to knock you out straight away"

Havelock strings his own metal bow, looks to the others. "Well we can lay our bait and try and draw it in. I don't think I appear apatizing." he says in a dry tone. "I am currently at optimum size to complete my asks." he responds to Dubtle.

<OOC> Sarcis says, "Crap! BRB! I will follow the group. D:"

Deak follows the others.

<OOC> Grush says, "so whats happening?"

<OOC> Deak says, "We're heading toward where Haveloc sighted the creature."

<OOC> Havelock thumbs up

<OOC> Grush says, "Yep? okay, awesome. can everybody make a perception or knoledge nature check? or both if you want to"

GAME: Charlotte rolls perception: (13)+10: 23

GAME: Sarcis rolls Perception: (20)+10: 30

GAME: Havelock rolls perception: (10)+7: 17

GAME: Havelock rolls knowledge/nature: (5)+6: 11

GAME: Sarcis rolls knowledge/nature: (12)+8: 20

As you enter the area around the lagoon you all see something large moving beneath the murky surface of the water

<OOC> Sarcis needs a little longer yet.

page Sarcis=You know that theres something living in the water and whatever it is is probably an ambush predator, waiting for creatures to either come near, or slip down to the waters edge

GAME: Dubtle rolls Perception: (6)+3: 9

GAME: Dubtle rolls Knowledge/Nature: Trained Use Only: 0

Havelock holds up a hand "I think it drags prey into the water. Be careful." he says in a raspy whisper.

GAME: Grush rolls 1d3: (3): 3

GAME: Deak rolls perception: (14)+5: 19

The Wolf Spider doesn't seem to be here any more. Havelock remember seeing it head up the trail to the west that follows the flow of the river, heading upstream

<OOC> Sarcis says, "Grush, can I ask a huge favor, and tell the group that? I need a few more minutes and don't want to hold it up"

<OOC> Grush says, "sure thing. no problem"

<OOC> Grush says, "Sarcis relays information: You know that theres something living in the water and whatever it is is probably an ambush predator, waiting for creatures to either come near, or slip down to the waters edge'"

Charlotte says, "and it's not a wolf spider. "Think we can bypass this?""

Havelock nods "Lets see if we can find its tracks, it has a lot of legs."

<OOC> Grush says, "If you stick close to the trees you think you'll be safe, the mud looks very slippery"

<OOC> Havelock says, "Can I find any tracks?"

Carefully, following behind the others, Dubtle leans on his staff. His raven takes to the sky, having a look around with its own eyes.

<OOC> Dubtle says, "Er, takes to the air."

<OOC> Grush says, "if you head around to where you saw it before and roll survival"

GAME: Havelock rolls survival+1: (1)+7+1: 9 (EPIC FAIL)

<OOC> Havelock says, "Perhaps not."

<OOC> Sarcis will search for tracks?

GAME: Sarcis rolls survival +2: (14)+11+2: 27

<OOC> Grush says, "havelock, roll a reflex save"

GAME: Havelock rolls reflex: (10)+7: 17

After pointing out the fact that something seems to be living in the water - she stays off to one side, trying to avoid is as they make their way around to the other side. She asks quietly, "So, Havelock, what exactly did this thing look like?"

Sacris finds the tracks with a little more trouble than they expected, for such a large creature it seems to leave very litttle trace of its prescence, just a few score marls where its talons dragged across the ground. The tracks lead off to the west, there are also tracks around a large, concealed tunnel which Havelock nearly accidentally falls into

<OOC> Sarcis puts name on the one above the "Sarcis finds" ironically.

The tunnel is covered with a large mat of leaves and dirt which seems to be stuck together with some thick, viscous substance

It looks big enough for the creature you saw to pass through easily

Deak says, "Whoa. I'm guessing this is it. Now what about those traps?"

Charlotte stays far away from the edge and sticks near the trees.

Styx gestures to her large backpack "Like I said, two pittraps, they're simple enough, and two pepper traps, they wont hurt it but it'll burn its eyes like hell. They take about 6 to 10 seconds to set up, but I can't move them once they're down"

<OOC> Sarcis says, "Grush, any way for me to tell if it's "home"?"

Havelock shakes his head "It must have moved on. I can't tell where it went though.

page Sarcis=Your darkvision lets you see some way into the tunnel. It appears to have thick, gooey strands of something hanging from the ceiling and opens up into a large cavern. you ant see all the way into it but you can't see anything moving either

<OOC> Havelock is failling asleep, I am afraid. D:

<OOC> Charlotte says, "It's late for me too."

<OOC> Grush says, "Thats all good! I'm sorry it went so slow, we can stop here and hopefully pick it up next time?"

<OOC> Havelock nods.

<OOC> Grush says, "I hope everyone had an alright time <3"

<OOC> Grush says, "Thank you all for coming. I'll set up a part two, would people prefer same time next week or earlier?"

<OOC> Havelock nods.

<OOC> Charlotte says, "same time next week is fine."

<OOC> Sarcis says, "I'm good with same bat time, same back channel."

<OOC> Sarcis says, "*bat channel"

<OOC> Deak can't vouch for next Friday yet. Holiday weekend and all...

<OOC> Havelock says, "Ah thats true!"

<OOC> Grush says, "We can more it forwards or back, shouldnt be a problem"

<OOC> Sarcis RUNS AWAAAAAY!

<OOC> Grush says, "would it be better a day or two earlier?"

<OOC> Deak says, "Not on Thanksgiving itself, and I've already got a plot on Wednesday."

<OOC> Grush says, "Sorry, I forget about thanksgiving completly"

<OOC> Grush says, "its jsut not a thing in Austtralia :D"

<OOC> Deak says, "Ah. :)"

<OOC> Grush says, "sometime after the 27th then? Ill put it down for then and we can change the date if neccecary :)"

<OOC> Deak says, "Sure"

<OOC> Dubtle says, "SOunds good, Grush. :D"