Getting a stone from a pocket, Wyleck holds the small grey projectile in one hand and calls upon the power of rock and stone to magically bless the stone. The halfling fits the stone to his sling and bides his time, waiting for an opportune moment. While he waits, however, the halfling calls out for his companion. "Yssal...kill." Yssal, who looks like he might have been waiting for just such an occasion, bolts from beside Wyleck's side and rounds the corner of the bar to get straight into the fray. The dog, his barding jangling as he runs, finds no direct path to the wolf spider but, regardless, manages to get to the spider and attack. Yssal bares canines of his own at the fiend and lunges with a snarl, biting the wolf spider on the throat for 7 points of damage. The yellow dog that had been standing outside the Cockatrice by the festhall's gold-leafed statue follows Ysall into the fracas but stands a more respectful 10 feet back from the spider. The yellow dog cocks its head to one side, as if thinking where best to bite.
Baliss moves as close to the webbing as he dares, mindful that the thick ropes of silk are still bedewed with sticky gum. With a mighty heave, Baliss swings his battleaxe of his head just once and brings the full brunt of the weapon to bear on the head of wolf spider 1. The blade cleaves through the spider's mewling maw, dealing 9 points of damageand slaying the spider.
Kularian and Vaja continue to shephard customers out of the festhall. Lynnya, from her position in the middle of the common room, nocks an arrow and fires at wolf spider 2 but misses, her arrow flying wide of its intended mark and landing harmlessly somewhere in the kitchen. Frustrated at her miss, the elf turns from the fray and moves to help Kularian, Lowel, and Vaja get people out of the tavern. Inside the kitchen, Frane springs around the dead wolf spider and immediately attempt to revive the cook. Frane's own wounds catch up with him, however, and the big blonde barkeep instead vomits on the floor at sight of the cook's desecrated body.
Traven takes advantage of the utter chaos in the festhall and flings himself at Rancid. The two men are soon a ball of fury. During the scuffle with Rancid over the wand, Traven's wig falls off and a pair of false teeth drop with a clatter to the floor. Swaths of what must have been makeup that Traven had been wearing rub off on Rancid's shirt sleeves and the wooden planked floor, revealing what looks to be inhuman purple and blue splotched skin beneath. Traven attempts to grab the wand from Rancid's hand but is bitten by Rancid on the arm as payment for his endeavor. Traven cries out in pain at being bitten and forcibly extricates himself from the wrestling match, but his eyes never leave the matte black wand in Rancid's hand.
Seeing that Traven has turned hostile, Arden, who had been ready for just such an occasion, fires off a crossbow bolt at the skinny bouncer accosting Rancid. Despite the chaos unfolding in the festhall, and the fact that Traven and Rancid are in melee, Arden's aim is remarkably true. The bolt screams through the air and slams into Traven's chest, dealing 2 points of damage to the bouncer. Rancid looks up in utter surprise at Arden.
From his table, Cheal watches with delight as Traven and Rancid go at it. When the wolf spider appears from the kitchen and is skewered by Rhys's spear, four of Cheal's thugs get up from their table and scrabble for the front door with the rest of the bar's customers. The last two of Cheal's thugs look like they'd like to do the same, but at a glance from their boss, they sit back down and remain, albeit uneasily, at the table. One of the pair of the remaining thugs turns ash white when Frane is bitten on the side.
Rhys takes advantage of wolf spider 2's fixation on Rancid and moves into the kitchen. Without the first spider alive to bite at him, Rhys is safe for the moment and can easily get to the cook. It's obvious, however, that the man is dead. The cook's throat is torn asunder and from the looks of the gallon of blood spilt on the work table and floor, there's practically nothing left of the man to save. Frane recovers from emptying his stomach and straightens. Wiping vomit from his lips with the back of his hand, the barkeep looks a bit green to Rhys. Frane spots the second spider out in the festhall and tries to heft his flail to go after the beast, but falters. Muttering, "I don't feel so good, this thing's too heavy," Frane drops the flail and pulls out a knife from a sheath at his belt.
Phud lumbers straight forward and swings his heavy mace at wolf spider 2. The spider dodges Phud's blow. Rowan climbs on top of the bar to get a better view of the goings on. The halfling hefts his walking stick to his shoulder, intending to throw the thing at the second spider. The staff proves heavier and much more unwieldy than Rowan anticipated, however. The halfling tries to toss the stick at the large spider but misses badly, sending his walking stick to the floor beside the bar with a harmless clatter not 5 feet away.
The second wolf spider fixates on Rancid. With Phud and the two dogs and the bar blocking its path, the spider scuttles down the length of the back of the bar. Phud tries to swing at the spider as it moves away, but the half-orc bouncer misses. Yssal, however, scores a vehement bite on the spider's hind quarters, dealing 17 points of damage. The riding dog, resplendent in his barding, tugs at the fiend's furry rear leg until the leg snaps off with a rip. Black ichor drips in thick gobs from the spider's torn leg and the fiend crumples in upon itself as its lifeblood rushes out and dirties the festhall floor. With a keening cry, the second spider bites the dust.
Initiative
Wyleck 21
Dog 18
Baliss 17
Kularian 12
Arden 11
Cockatrice NPCs
Rhys 9
Phud 7
Traven 6
Rowan 4
