Tales of Beleriand

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Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:42 pm

Alcarmor saw a hideous arachnid face before him as a spider scrabbled for footholds. With a roar he struck the spider a heavy blow with the pommel of Silorme, dislodging it. It landed upon the gravel, and a second sword-stroke sent ichor spewing forth from its hide.

Etherion Fenix · #92 Post by **Etherion Fenix** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:59 pm

Bent double over his steed he charged at the bloated body of the spider before him. With a cry he swung the blade in an upward arc, straight into the underside of the rising spider. It crashed over itself, a deep gouge now along its underbelly. With a his it righted itself and skittered straight back at Angloth. Rearing up again, it's black fangs suddenly appeared from the gloom. With a cry, Angloth could feel poison coursing through his leg as they slipped through the mail.

#93 Post by **Anarion** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:59 pm

Ainare, behind the protection offered by the others speaks a few sharp words of power and thrusts his staff aloft. The brightness of the stars of Varda shines forth, illuminating the gloom and revealing the spiders in all their hideousness. At the same time the bright light casts the shadows of fear from the minds of the Noldor.

Attracted by the light, three more of the beasts arrive on the scene.

The first spider lunges again at Alcarmor and again fails to grapple the powerful elf lord.

Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:15 pm

With renewed vigour, Alcarmor hewed at the spiders. A spider flung itself at him. The elflord took his blade in both hands and struck at the beast, and severed legs tumbled down softly about him as the maimed spider fell, screaming to the ground.

(ooc: One spider incapacitated, and hit Mike's spider for another 18 - one more blow will incapacitate it too)

Shandiar · #95 Post by **Shandiar** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:14 am

Seeing how engaged they were, the minstrel called out again, louder this time, his voice like thunder against the chasm on both sides.
"Spiders shun the light, they are scared of the true light of Aman. Together with the fighting prowess of the Noldor we will once again cast them into darkness."

So spake Elenquenwë, while he lowered his spear, in anticipation of a near charging spider.

OOC: rolled a 7 + 9 +4 +4 +3 (inspiring performance) =27, I want to give the guys +2 for 2 rounds

Etherion Fenix · #96 Post by **Etherion Fenix** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:47 am

His ire rising Angloth stabbed out at the creature that wounded him. Black ichor flowed from the blow behind its head as the blade pierced it chitinous hide. It fell to the ground incapacitated.
His arm swinging freely now in the thick of combat, another felt the bite of noldorian steel as he hewed the hairy groping legs of the arachnid from it's bloated body.

#97 Post by **Anarion** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:01 am

The newly arrived spiders and the two climbing the walls of the gorge all drop down behind Angloth and Alcarmor. Two of them advance on Elenquenwë in a rush. One assails Ainare. The remaining two interpose themselves between the Noldor pairs. The webspinners also now rush forward to take Alcarmor and Angloth on from the other side.

The spiders attack, one pounces on the minstrel and clutches it between its many groping arms. Ainare just escapes a similar fate. The two between the Noldor groups quickly spin webs to separate the groups from each other.

The last two attack Angloth and Alcarmor, one aggressively, the other tentatively.

OOC: Summary Ainare is free to take action. Elenquenwë is held and can only act with +5 TN. He can also escape with an opposed strength test, in anticipation of which the spider has totalled a 8. The webs separating Alcarmor and Angloth from the others can be cut with 3 damage from a blade, or pulled apart with a strength test of TN 15. One action to do that. The spiders that were making webs further in the pass used their actions to close on you all.

Etherion Fenix · #98 Post by **Etherion Fenix** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:29 am

"Alcarmor, the others!" He tried to wheel the horse around to attempt to come to the rescue, but the spiders seemed to have surrounded their path.

#99 Post by **Anarion** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:46 am

Ainare's sword blurred into action as he lashed out at the nearest spider with a forward and back slice. The slashes drove into the spiders bulbous body, driving it back, leaking black bile and ichor from the wounds. It hissed with rage and staggered then righted itself.

Elenquenwë attempted to wrestle himself free from the spider's grasp but it overpowered his efforts and clutched on tighter.

Etherion Fenix · #100 Post by **Etherion Fenix** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:18 am

His steed kicked out as the chittering beasts closed in. The opening was all he needed, as if they were of one mind the horse followed his thought and they bolted for the opening. Quickly the pair were on the web barrier, with a swift cut the masterwork of his engineering slid through four of the strands. The ends fluttered useless away as Angloth pointed the sword at the spider holding Elenquenwe. "Let him go," he yelled with rage.

Wed Dec 24, 2008 5:10 am

"For the Sons of Feanor!" Alcarmor cried, and Silorme flashed as he laid about him mightily, striking powerful blows upon his left and his right

(Sweep attack! 12 + 2 - 6 to attack three foes: rolled 4 (total 12), 14 (total 22), 5 (total 13). Damage is 10, 18 and 13 to three different spiders.)

#102 Post by **Anarion** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 4:06 pm

The spiders reel back in the face of of Alcarmor's lightning attacks, bleeding from multiple wounds. Regrouping, they pounce upon the elf lord and his steed, poisoned fangs gleaming in the light cast by Ainare's staff.

Another lunges at Angloth, battering into his steed but falling away. Ainare is similarly beset but the spiders attacks slide past his own steed. As one lunges by Ainare's sword darts into it, drawing black blood from the grotesque body.

The last spider casts webs about the captive form of the minstrel. Elenquenwë calls for aid but he is soon immobile from the sticky strands about him.

OOC: Alcarmor needs to roll 5 parries against TN 15,15,16,16,17 to avoid the attacks of the 3 spiders (I had good rolls there). Any fail does 1d6+1 damage. If any bite causes damage then follow the deadly poison tests. I will let you make the damage and stamina and poison rolls if I'm not around when you are. Elenquenwë can break free with a strength test of TN25 (not likely). Angloth and Alcarmor it is your turn to act. Alcarmor is now surrrounded, Angloth has a spider between him and the one wrapping Elenquenwë. Ainare has two still.

Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:18 pm

(One parry only. Spiders do 2, 2, 5 and 7 damage, modified to 0, 0, 0 and 2. Lion-Hearted spends a second point of Courage to reduce the damage to 0. No Poison taken.)

Alcarmor was torn off his steed by the press of arachnid bodies. He struck the ground heavily, and immediately the enemy began to swarm over him, bloated and obscene. For a moment he felt despair; then the raging fury that had engulfed him returned, and he flung himself to his feet, overturning the spiders in his ascent, crying, "A Elbereth Gilthoniel!" He lashed out, snake-fast with his sword, laying fierce blows into the throng surrounding him.

(12 - 6 +7 = 13. 12 - 6 + 10 = 16. 12 - 6 + 10 = 16. Does 16 damage, 14 damage, 13 damage - totals of 26, 31, 26.)

Shandiar · #104 Post by **Shandiar** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 2:48 am

Desperately he fought to get his hands free and recover the light spear of his. The spindler was too fast for him, and webs entangled him. His voice muffled getting filled with strands of webs, his arms tied, he realised it would be impossible to escape by his own hands. Hopefully help was near.

#105 Post by **Anarion** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:17 pm

The spiders surrounding Alcarmor reel back from his sweeping blade. They hesitate, and then they flee leaking trails of bile and ichor from their many wounds. One of them struggles away on only 6 legs.

The creature opposing Angloth moves to keep itself interposed between Elenquenwë and Angloth, while the other attempts to lift the hapless minstrel up the gorge side. It nearly succeeeds, but falls down with its load.

The remaining two attack Ainare again but Elenquenwë's brother lets the attacks roll off him and his blade strikes back into them, drawing more blood from the beasts.

OOC: Angloth's attack is next. Spider is Defence 11, no armor if you want to make that roll. It's fully healthy.

Sat Dec 27, 2008 7:19 pm

The song of battle singing in his veins, Alcarmor began running with light-footed step towards the spider attempting to flee with Elenquenwe's unconscious form, brandishing his ichor-stained blade.

Etherion Fenix · #107 Post by **Etherion Fenix** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 7:21 pm

"Out of my way beast!" A quick sweeping strike cleaves through one of its legs. As it stumbled he was quickly upon it, thrusting deep into its skull. Blood poured from the wound though the thing still moved incredibly.

#108 Post by **Anarion** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 2:09 am

Hissing with frustration, anger and pain, the brood of spiders disengage from the battle, leaving several dead and dying creatures behind. Elenquenwë is left unceremoniously behind as two of the spiders scuttle up the gorge. Discretion is the better part of valor and without their massive kin to lead them they aren't particularly valorous to begin with.

All is still except for the thrashing of a wounded spider. In the silence Elenquenwë's muted cries can be heard from inside his cocoon.

Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:37 am

For a moment Alcarmor considered pursuing the fleeing spiders, but his passion did not outpace his reason. Who knew how many more of the spiders might lurk still? The mission was all that mattered, now.

He stood for a moment, glaring off into the darkness at the gloomy forms retreating into the haze of darkness. Then he flicked the ichor from his blade, re-sheathed it, and knelt before the cocooned form of Elenquenwe, drawing his knife to help cut through the tough webbing.

Shandiar · #110 Post by **Shandiar** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:52 am

The minstrel coughed as the coccoon was cut open. He grabbed Alcamors extended hand and got to his feet, still dizzy from the drop.

Picking up his bow, he said. "Stealth is of the importance now. We can't allow ourselves to be stalked and attacked once we enter Taur-nu-Fuin. Perhaps now is the time to send the horses back."

Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:04 pm

"What is important now is that one of our people languishes in the tender mercies of these foul spawn. We cannot allow this injustice to continue. Once we have rescued the spiders' prisoner and escaped their lair, then can we send the horses back, but not before."

#112 Post by **Anarion** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:03 pm

Webs block the path ahead, but they will prove no match for sharp Noldorin steel. The giant spawn of Ungoliant went off in that direction before it sent in its minions to attack the Noldor. The gorge opens into a broader valley here where the ambush took place as the pass and only a few leagues now lie onwards to its end in Taur-nu-Fuin.

Shandiar · #113 Post by **Shandiar** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:33 pm

"Of course Alcarmor." Elenquenwë gave him a stern look. "I was just planning ahead."

He arranged his weapons and removed the sticky webbing from his chainmail, while he scanned his companions.

"Are we ready to stalk the stalkers now?"

Etherion Fenix · #114 Post by **Etherion Fenix** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:24 am

"More caution perhaps would be the thing to do," as he resheathed his sword. "We have proved a tougher fly to catch then they expected, but I doubt they will be quite as unprepared should we catch them."

Shandiar · #115 Post by **Shandiar** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:24 am

Elenquenwë looked ahead into Taur-nu-Fuin.

"I agree Angloth. The light of the heavens will shield us from unfriendly eyes and guide our way to their lair. Still we must act with haste, lest our kin suffers a fate I do not dare to think of."

Etherion Fenix · Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:05 pm

"So it is settled, let us depart. I shall take point, to be the shield upon which any blow shall first fall." With that he moved to the front, urging his horse onwards.

#117 Post by **Anarion** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:25 pm

Angloth slashes through the webs blocking the head of the gorge and leads the party into night, though the light from Ainare's staff still brightens the path ahead. The reek of the great spider's foulness lingers in the wash of its departure, though very faint.

It may be enough to reveal the direction to its lair.

OOC: Elenquenwë and Angloth have already failed this test. TN 10 for observe(smell).

Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:02 am

Alcarmor catches an elusive scent for a moment, but it is soon lost in the enshrouding gloom.

(I rolled a 3!)

Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:12 pm

In his mind's eye, the scent visualised for Ainare. Floating upon the breeze as if the pollen from the bloated abdomen of the foul-spawn, trailing westwardly into the hills. Ainare extinguished the light from his staff, sheathed his sword and directed his horse. "This way,"

#120 Post by **Anarion** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:00 pm

Ainare tracks the scent as it winds upward into the fringes of Ered Gorgoroth. Despite its vast bulk the spawn of Ungoliant is surprisingly lightfooted. There are no signs of its passage even though there is no real path here and the trees close in ominously. Branches grasp and tangle the Noldor and their steeds and the way twists and wanders. Sometimes it seems as if the trees move in the night and there is a creaking and groaning about.

After a half hour it is too close to ride and the party is forced to dismount and lead their steeds through the woods, still upwards. It is not all that distant from the pass but the way is slow. The scent stops at a cliff face and disappears.

Ainare quickly spots an opening in the cliff about 20 feet above him. Very likely this is where the foul spawn has gone. He pauses, speaking quietly to himself. The air seems to ripple around him. "No more sensing my presence," they hear him mutter. Moments later the light of Elbereth gleams once more from the end of his staff, raising the gloomy shadows. He raises his staff and the light shines around. In the shadows behind you there is a flicker of motion and a gleam of multi-faceted eyes, but they quickly retreat. The lesser spiders want no part of this anymore.