Ep9: To Ensburn.

Todays episode began with our Adventurers rising a little later in the morning, getting prepared for the day and making their way down to the common room of the Inn for breakfast. Tados arrived a little later than the others as he had ensure that he was immaculately dressed, and just as immaculately looking! As they ate, the five waited anxiously for the arrival of the Gnome which would herald the beginning of having some of their questions from the night before answered; however, though they waited for some time, the Gnome did not seem to be coming. Growing impatient, and believing that they had been either stood up or conned, the party informed the Inn Keeper they would be leaving and had their horses - and pony - made ready to travel. as they turned back from speaking to the Inn Keeper though, the front door opened and there stood the small Gnome they had come to recognise. "You leaving?' He asked, somewhat perplexed which drew immediate ire from the proud Dwarf, Bardryn. She made no small error of her feelings though as she retorted with a sarcastic jibe at the Gnome for his being late. Leonithas, not wanting the pending meeting to be cancelled, interjected, rushing forward to give the Gnome a hug - and therefore confirming at the Gnome was indeed physically present - and informed the Gnome they thought he was not going to appear but they were ready to leave when he was. The Gnome, satisfied that all was at hand, quickly aimed a jibe back at Bardryn about having a life of his own as well, and then turned to walk out the door leaving the five to follow. Though the sun was not yet full and the early morning birdsong was slowly falling, the empty streets of the night before were now much fuller as townsfolk began their daily tasks. As they travelled to the western side of the town, following the same path they had trod the night before, they saw mock stall being erected in front of homes as folk tried to sell their homemade wares to passersby. The small Gnome did not let the ever growing throng slow him as he nimbly dodged his way through the townsfolk keeping a steady but fast pace. He lead them to the end of the Mid-West Road, and down into The Bracks - the poorer section of the large town. Continuing to follow the same path as the previous night, the Gnome led them to the same small shack and as they entered they now saw in the light of day that the shack was empty save for the table they sat at last night. Sitting at the table was the noble they also recognised from before, but had yet still not asked his name. Wanting to ensure that the noble was not an illusion as well, Leonithas greeted him with a handshake, and found his hand firmly gripping the palm of the noble. They all sat at the table and discussion began regarding the Heart Sphere and the return to the Dynasty. The noble once again informed that, though they had a hundred minds trying to find ways to either identify where Gareth was or how to bring him out of hiding, none could think of a better idea than to take it back to the Dynasty where Gareth was last seen in the hopes of bringing him out of hiding. The Adventurers still did not like this idea and questioned why it could not just be taken to the Amber Tower for safe keeping; it seemed the reasonable and safest option! The noble informed that once the Sphere was back at the Tower it would be placed under such great protection that Gareth knew he would not be able to take it again. Besides, though Gareth was after the Sphere, it was only so he could open a greater portal to the UnderWorld than the one he was able to make for himself. They needed to draw Gareth out of hiding so that he could not open any portal to the UnderWorld at all! Discussion turned to the best course of action to draw Gareth out of hiding and it was decided that going back to the Dynasty was not a viable option. The six agreed that the best option was to continue toward the Amber Tower and find a spot where they could ambush Gareth and then reveal the Sphere by taking it out of his protective covering. In this they hoped that Gareth would be drawn to their position and there they could defeat him. The noble, happy a decisive action was planned, informed that he would go with them and bring some armoured guards along to aid in defeating Gareth.  Eager to enact the plan, the noble asked when they could begin their travel as he would have to inform his superiors and obtain the required guards. The Adventurers informed him that they had a task to complete first which they expected would take a day and a half to complete but would meet with him afterward. They parted ways, the five adventurers returning to the Inn to get their horses before heading out the West Gate and beginning their travel west to Ensburn and Drystan Cornog. As they travelled the 12-hour journey west to their first stop at Cluistead, their new found friend, Tados, regaled them with his impressive array of songs and tales that he had learnt, and created, throughout his travels in the Dynasty and his short time in the Empire. Cluistead turned out to be a very small village indeed; however, the 12-hour journey, with stops along the way, made them too weary to care. Finding bedding at the only Inn they rested for the night before rising at the break of day to continue their journey, now northward, to Ensburn. Leaving Cluistead, the barely travelled road wound its way into the slowing rising hills that heralded the incline to the mountains beyond. Tados, excited and eager to learn all he could, observed everything around them in detail (rolling 21 each on three PER checks!), taking in everything he could to add to a song later. After seven hours of travel on the ever inclining winding road through the hills, the party decided to stop for a short rest in a flat clearing among the hills and trees. As they rested Bardryn's eye was captivated by the bright red mushrooms that grew in the shrubbery nearby. Rising, she walked over to one of the mushrooms and decided she would take a bite - being a bit peckish and all... Unfortunately, a failed CON save meant Bardryn fell victim to the narcotic nature of the mushroom and as her eyes glazed over, her mind swirled into the high the mushroom instilled, causing her to have disadvantage on all her rolls for the next hour. As the high set in, the Dwarf began to dance and twirl about the clearing, laughing and squealing with delight; but for the rest of the group her behaviour brought to their ears the sound of skittering in the tree canopy above them. Looking up they saw three Giant Spiders climb their way out of the top of the canopy and peer down upon them!  At once, the Spiders shot forth large webs in an attempt to ensnare their prey, but all except Naivara were able to dodge their way free. A much longer-than-the-DM-expected combat scenario ensued beginning with Jett who quickly fired off two shortbow attacks, hitting with both, followed by the new-comer Tados who attempted to confuse one of the Spiders with his vicious mockery. The Spider, though getting an understanding of what Tados was saying did not fully understand and the mockery had no effect. With Naivara entangled and unable to move, a Giant Spider raced down its web toward her, making a bite at her; however he constant shuffling in the entangling web made it difficult for the bite and it only caused minimal damage. Unable to break free on her turn, Naivara was left to struggle against her binds. The battle continued with the Spiders becoming a great cause for concern to the adventurers as they refused to come down from the treetops and stayed aloft, shooting their webs or poison spit at the five instead. The adventurers did not give up, and soon they began to try - with some failing at first - to climb the trees to get closer to the Spiders and do some real damage. Jett was the first to get up a tree, using his second-story work feature he was easily able to get to the canopy roof and begin a close-quarter attack on the Spiders. Tados was close behind him, making his way up into another tree and getting up close and personal to one of the others; however, this proved a misfortune for Tados as he was unprepared for the might of the Spider's bite attack and was nearly downed in his first-ever battle! Leonithas made a few attempts to try and climb the tree; however, climbing was not his forte this day and it took him several attempts before he remembered that he had a potion of climbing in his backpack! Finally able to get up the tree, Leonithas set his blades against the Spiders with solid attacks, aided by Jett and Tados before Tados nimbly climbed down to save himself. Below the three males and the Spiders, Naivara was finally freed and loosed a wayward firebolt in reaction. While Bardryn, still affected by the narcotic mushroom unsuccessfully threw her handaxes at one of the Spiders, the axes lodging themselves in the trunk of the tree instead. In retaliation the Spider launched its web at the Dwarf successfully ensnaring her, and - for a reason known only to her in that moment - Bardryn decided to fall the ground and roll herself into more of an ensnarement. Ultimately, and much, much later than expected, the Adventurers were finally able to defeat the Spiders - each killing blow aiming for the Spider's eyes causing them to burst in an explosion of gory goo and blood. Having defeated the Spiders, the Adventurers returned to their rest while Bardryn still succumbed to the intoxication of the mushroom.