Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 2 - Illusions)

[GlassEye]

Silas nods grimly at Dartis' shouted thanks. His staff clatters to the floor of the room as he frees his right hand for spell-casting in case the situation becomes any more dire and he jabs at the swarm around Kel with the flaming torch held in his left. "Kel! Break free of the spiders if you can!"

If Kel is able to get free of the surrounding spider swarm Silas will cast Burning Hands on it. If the swarm looks like it is near breaking up he'll save it for the other swarm or the large spider.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Rix rolls out of the swarm, kicking and pulling at the remaining spiders clinging to his body and stomping in an attempt to crush them on the ground.

Despite fighting defensively, Alexander makes contact against the injured large spider, severing its closest leg. It screams in pain and attacks again, but misses the half-orc.

There are too many spiders around Kel to burn away with his torch, so Silas casts a burning hands spell, destroying the remnants of the swarm and causing the rest on Kel to scatter and flee.

While his back is turned, the other large spider attacks Silas, biting deeply into his shoulder (-8 hit points and 1 point of strength from poison). Silas turns white as poison enters his system.

Dartis attacks the spider that bit Silas, slicing a gash across its body with his sword.

The swarm that Rix escaped floods over Alexander and bites on his legs (-1 hp). A wave of sickness washes over Alexander, causing him to be unable to act next round.

 

[Ferrix]

Putting a good bit of distance between himself and the swarm of spiders swarming the half-orc, Rix reloads his crossbow and fires it at one of the larger spiders cursing his companions for sticking around.

"I told you we should have moved on faster."

 

[Land Outcast]

"Damn!" yells Alexander while he himself slashes at his legs, stripping away some of his own skin, but some of the arachnids at the same time.

Whenever he is able to go on, he'll proceed climbing the stairs.

 

[GlassEye]

Barely able to keep to his feet Silas will attempt to withdraw from combat and up the stairs. If that isn't possible he'll fight defensively and try to get away from the spiders.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Rix fires his bow at the creature near Silas, hitting it squarely and causing blood to splurt upwards. The spider has no time to react before the injured mage does. In anger, Silas stumbles past the spider that had attacked him and swings upwards with his torch at the creature, both clubbing the spider and setting it on fire. It screams and attempts to flee, but makes it only several feet before dying.

Dartis moves forward to protect Alexander, slashing the spider in front of him and wounding it. It returns the attack, but misses the nimble human. Kel casts a spell of healing on Alexander (restores 7 hit points), but takes 2 points of damage as the creatures swarm over his arm. Although Alexander is restored, Kel becomes nauseous again.

Rix fires another bolt the next round, but misses the creature. Alexander recovers, and with a roar stomps his feet and swings his sword at the spider swarm around him. In his rage he scatters enough of them to render the swarm useless.

The spider attacks Dartis, but misses, only to have the fighter's own swing connect and bury deeply into it. Kel swings his own sword, but misses. Silas flanks the beast and connects, wounding it. In panic, the creature attempts to flee, but Dartis wounds it critically, splitting a part of its body in half while Kel buries his own blade deep into the shrieking mass.

The battle is mercifully over.

 

[Ferrix]

Rix stomps a stray spider with the butt of his crossbow, "next time listen when I say we shouldn't stick around." He berates the others.

"Now, can someone see to these bites, they've nearly torn half my scales off the nasty little things."

 

[GlassEye]

Ignoring Rix, Silas spits to clear an acrid taste from his mouth then reaches around sliding fingers under the armor on his shoulder. Withdrawing them, all can see his fingers are covered in blood and a foul smelling liquid. "It might be wise for us to retreat to a place of safety." He wipes his hand on the corner of his cloak.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The party backs into the previous room and camps near the stone basin, spending the next twelve hours resting and allowing Kel to perform his healing magics. You take turns guarding each other, and the time passes peacefully, giving you time to talk and rest. You find some unburned torches in sconces in the pillars and light each as you need them. They are unfortunately bolted to their hangers, although they could be removed with effort.

Rix
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Rix spends his time thinking about the message he had heard before, remembering that the First correlates to the first kobold founder of the Hill Delver clan. He was a famous trickster, much respected by other enemy kobold tribes. They were unique among kobolds as having stronger tendencies of dragon worship, and believed such creatures held the key to long, if not eternal, life. Some priests even believed that kobolds that had proven themselves could become dragons in later lives. In this manner, some stranger sects regarded the kobold as the second highest stage of reincarnation and the dragon as the ultimate stage. In this weaker shell and life they would learn cunning before becoming dragon eggs.

OOC: It is up to you how you want to describe the clan you came from. Develop it how you like, and feel free to add touches from other kobolds encountered.
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[Land Outcast]

"Now they know we attacked... but they don't know we are here" Or at least I hope so A pair of seconds of silence... "We might still have the surprise factor..."

At a moment when they are both awake, Kel and Alexander, after the half orc thanks him for the mending of the flesh, he adds something with a genuine inquiring tone "But... how did you come in comunion with Artemis? aren't elves politicians and soldiers?"