(5.24 PBP) Vault of the Dracolich (IC) Redux

Team Caves

Bardaby, "the Beast" Combs was busy. Too busy to always keep track of every face that ever went through his company over the years. He'd sent so many young men to their deaths on various campaigns that he was hardened to it, with no desire to learn each face or name. Not that he had ever been sentimental when it came to such things. Still, he didn't recognise Merrick at all. And he didn't remember giving any "orders" that would have someone coming this way through the vaults, unless the Wizard Valendra was returning with her retinue, but she wasn't expected any time soon, and he'd sent the houndsman to her. Where was he; where were his dogs?

All this was in the back of his mind, mixed with his calculations regarding the other infiltrators and tripping over his reply to Siobhan Shieldmaiden, when one of the Cult's Scryers cried, "That's one of them!"

Instead of whatever he was planning to say to Siobhan, the Beast sighed and said to her, "Capture him for me. I'd like to learn what he knows."

The skittering of a thousand spiders echoes in the chamber, and in seconds there are thick sticky webs filling the entrance into the chamber. Somewhere, a hyena howls. The webs appear to pull Merrick into them as they form, obscuring him.

---

Merrick is almost as surprised as the rest of the group when the spiders appear. But knowing Urgan's tricks, he takes advantage and launches a javelin at Sioben and it goes wide. strikes true, getting it stuck in her leg for a moment.

Within the spider webs he realizes they have no substance and he notes the illusion. The spiders remind him of the grasshopper legs he has in a pouch so he eats them. He feels a spring in his step and he leaps thirty feet away, letting the webs cover his retreat. He lands, sliding on the ground and moves around the corner, readying for the onslaught.

He looks to the others and shrugs, whispering,

"Hold them here?"