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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 1284036" data-attributes="member: 1210">Back to the GatheringThe first day of the journey back to the clans, bell in tow, is a triumphant, happy affair.  Even Mama Flapjacks shows joy and pride in the group of youngsters.  She scratches Federico affectionatelyh behind the ears and gives him the bones to gnaw after she cooks up dinner each day.  And mmm-mmm, is she a good cook!  That's why she's Mama, or at least one of the reasons.  The group is happy, fairly well-rested after their ordeal at the climax of their great adventure, mostly healed (save for a few odd aches and bruises) and well-fed.  Not to mention that reward!  Why, even Mama's never held such wealth in her hands!From the afternoon into the night they travel, the garen puffing along with the wagon and the bell.  They take many breaks to snack or cook a meal, but they still make decent time, and when they bed down Thelonious remarks that they should only have another day or day and a half til they reach the gathering.  "A quick journey," he remarks, "especially if the weather favors us."The night is chilly but not quite cold, and at least it's dry.  With watches set against danger- the memory of the centipedes they fought by the river on the way to Bellhold makes them wary- they settle in to their bedrolls, hoping for an undisturbed journey.Alas, on Strogass, such gifts are rare.  When it's his watch, Sandy walks around frequently to keep himself awake and alert.  As he's settling back in, back to a wagon wheel, after one of his walks, a bit of stealthy movement catches his eye.  What was that? he thinks.  Slowly the halfling pulls himself back up.  A glance around shows no sign of anything.  Tense, Sandy pulls out his dagger and prepares himself for action.  Unfortunately, he isn't ready for what happens next- suddenly one of the wolves in covered in sticky webbing!  Sandy cries out incoherently, then shouts, "Awake!  Danger!"The party starts to struggle awake, but the spider has scampered in.  It's big- bigger than a halfling!  Fat and bloated, the thing's body has to be 3' around, and its legs give it an overall diameter of about 6'.  It's covered in nasty black fur.  The great arachnid hisses as it rushes forward.  Gaping at its size, Sandy hears Trinia scream as the furry black spider bites the wolf and the animal whines in pain as it becomes suddenly awake.  There's a hue and cry of activity as Trinia, Ed and Sandy spring in to attack the monster, striking with their blades.  The wolf manages to tear a chunk from the hideous spider's forebody, barking and growling, even as Trinia and Sandy move to flank it.  The two clansmates slash and poke at it, cutting it badly.  Fighting for its life, the fat spider leans into Airhead Ed and its mandibles take a terrible bite from her stomach, tearing her armor severely!*  She cries out as poison courses through her veins, stumbles to one knee and stabs weakly back at the spider but misses.  She can hear her heart pounding in her ear; her stomach feels like it's on fire.  Venom, she thinks sickly.Then Trinia's scimitar slashes down, striking the spider soundly in the head.  Black ichor spews out and the monster gives a great spasm and falls to the ground, its legs curling under it in death.Gasping, Ed cries, "Poisoned... help!"Mama and Thelonious are moving to try to help, but Trinia's already there.  She is a druid, after all.  Pulling herbs from her pouch, she crushes something and applies it to the wound, giving Ed something to chew as well.  Ed grimaces at the medicinal taste, but it helps numb her belly, and the poison seems to have run its course.**Grimly, our heroes go back to sleep.  They hope that was the last of the night's dangers for them, and this time fate is with them.  The morning sees another nice day, and they travel well.  Again, there are many breaks, especially with Ed needing tending, but the band nonetheless makes good time.  Near nightfall they find another wagon of halflings atop a hill, who have stopped for the night, and our heroes join them.  According to the other group, who seem to be taking their sweet time getting to the gathering, it's only another two miles- easily done in the morning."We could leave after breakfast," remarks Ed as the two wagonloads of halflings mingle around a fire, "and make it to the gathering by elevensies!"And indeed, the next morning that's exactly what our heroes do.  When they arrive and it is known that they have successfully brought back the bell they are greeted with cheers and acclamation.  A second set of rewards follows, including another purse of coins and a token identifying each of our heroes as a worthy to all other halflings.  Then there's a feast of celebration, where our heroes are feted and enjoy themselves greatly, and finally the comfort of a nice plush bed.  Our heroes drift to sleep in the midst of a safe encampment of their kind, sure in the knowledge that no spider will get them here.*This was the result of my 'colorful critical hit' system, which deals extra effects based on the damage a crit deals vs. your current hp.  (In other words, your head only gets cut off if you're reduced to -10 or less by the crit.)**Successful heal check vs. secondary damage, natch.Next Time: Readers of my old, original story hour may recognize an npc who pops up in our next update!  Attack of the Dire Squirrels!</blockquote>

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