The Romance of the River Kingdoms

[Dr Simon]

"I agree," says the Vashti. "Gather what you need, everyone. We're leaving in ten minutes."

"I think this is foolish, to risk the Vashti so soon after losing another," grumbles Sister Herbalist. "But... you are in charge, Aru. Truly you take after your great-aunt." She looks to the group. "Anything else we should know about these girls and their... home?"

 

[Theroc]

"Hope you like spiders... and webs... and caves with weird doors. And creepy dark forests..." Shakou replied with a smirk, watching the two women.

 

[Neurotic]

"One spider with spellcasting power got away. If it decides to attack us again it might start with area spells from afar.

I can scout ahead. I'll go high. Maybe Shakou will go too, on the ground?"

 

[Dr Simon]

"Pssh. I'm not afraid of spiders and forests" says Sister Herbalist dismissively, as she packs a bag full of jars and powders.

The Vashti meets Shakou's eye and shares her smile. "I think they might be a bit more than ordinary house spiders," she says, glancing at Sister Herbalist. "But I also think we're in good hands." She dons a rain cape and a wide-brimmed lorazor hat. Sister Herbalist does the same and slings her medicine bag over her shoulder. The Vashti picks up a lantern on a pole. "We're ready," she says.

Once more you head south out of town, across the fields and over the boundary brook into Kumo Forest. The bamboo canopy provides some relief from the grey drizzle that has developed over the afternoon, although combined with the low clouds it is now a lot darker in the forest. You follow the trail back to the mouth of the spider canyon. The scouts have, so far, spotted no sign of any more giant spiders.

Sister Herbalist draws her cape about her and shivers.

"It's not that scary," she says. "Is it safe to go in?"

OOC: The lorazor is a wide-brimmed, waxed hat for use in bad weather, originally from the grey rainy lands of Denra-Lyr.

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 29/39, F +5,R+3,W+6 (Spells: 0:3/5, 1:3/4, 2:2/3)
Ape Form (AC: 17, Touch: 17, Flat Footed: 13)

"No, but we will try to protect you."

[sblock=ooc]

Spells (CL: 3, DC: 13+spell level)
5/Day Level 0: Cure Minor Wounds, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Read Magic
4/Day Level 1: Produce Lightning, Shillelagh, Summon Nature's Ally I.
3/Day Level 2: Summon Nature's Ally II

Baboon Traits:
AC: 17, Touch: 17, Flat Footed: 13
Fort: +6
Refl: +5
Will: +6
Move: 40', cimb 40'
Init: +4
Listen/Spot: +9
[/sblock]

 

[Shayuri]

Annika nods. "We don't know if they're healed yet, or if they've gotten any more spiders to help them. And that magic spirit-spider could be back. Best if we move in a group, carefully."

 

[Theroc]

At the question of safety, Shakou snorted softly. "If it were safe, why would we need to be here? I'm certain our assistance would be unnecessary in that case..." She replied, trying to keep her voice mostly polite. She was still not particularly happy that the Vashti essentially sent her to be poisoned, even though she also realized the Vashti had not specifically intended for her to be injured, and that she had actually spared her life... if not precisely the fashion Shakou wanted save.

 

[Dr Simon]

You move forwards through the cleft and into the web-choked gully. All seems much as you left it, although there is no sign of the girls, nor the spell-casting spider. The huge corpse of the spider-demon seems to be moving until you get closer. Then you can see (and hear) that it is being devoured by thousands of the normal-sized spiders that infest this valley. They didn't pay you any attention then, and they don't now.

With a growl, the white girl leaps out of the cave mouth and adopts a defensive posture in front of it. Her sister peeks out of the cave behind her.

"Spirits preserve us," mutters Sister Herbalist. "It is them!"

The Vashti closes her eyes and begins muttering a stream of musical syllables. Their meaning isn't clear, but the sound is soothing. The white girl relaxes visibly. The Vashti opens her eyes and pauses in her mantra.

"Her mood is calmed," she says, "They will not attack unless attacked first. Do what you think is needed, I must concentrate." She restarts her droning mantra.

 

[Neurotic]

Mystal remains above, hidden and ready to jump in if things get sour (go south?).

 

[Dr Simon]

Sister Herbalist takes something from her bag and offers it to the girls - some rice balls. White girl goes to snatch it, Sister Herbalist lets it fall and allows the girl to pick it up. She sniffs it, passes one to her sibling and they both eat hungrily. Moments later they quietly curl up to sleep. Sister Herbalist turns around with a smug smile on her face.

"Magenta poppy essence," she says. "Works every time. They'll be asleep for hours. Perhaps some of you strong gentlemen would like to help carry them back to Cormondal?"

Meanwhile, there still seems to be no sign of any further spider resistance.