Beregost

Before Stella can properly answer Tulfgar, there's another knock at the front door. This time it's a half-drunk man with a scraggly beard. "Shpidersh! Shpidersh! Shpidersh! Shpidersh!" he chants, stumbling through a jig. "Friendsh of shpidersh, gonna shquash 'em good!" He starts staggering away from the door, then turns and waves for Dieter and Stella to follow him. "Shpidersh! The bard shaid sho! They need yer help!"

Aiwë plays the audience like one of her instruments; they hang on her every word and react exactly as she wishes. When she finishes her dread tale, many of them set about adjusting their bets.

When the crowd is riled up with excitement fit to burst, the party leaves the Jovial Juggler, with a veritable mob of tavern patrons following. As the raucous crew takes to the streets, lights turn on in nearby houses and heads peek out from windows and doorways. In mere minutes, the crowd size has doubled with more curious townsfolk. Torches spring up among the crowd to light the way.

Beregost isn't a huge town, and so they arrive at Landrin's house before long. It looks like it may have once been a nice, well-kept place, but obviously it hasn't seen care in weeks. The windows are dark, but the barest lighting shows thick cobwebs on the other side of the glass. The front door firmly closed, and a quick try reveals that it's locked.

The crowd hushes as the party decides how to proceed, each townsperson excitedly trying to listen in.

I haven't but my guess is bludgeoning and acid will probably work best. Best not to use open flame in doors. You are welcome to go first, let me get the door for you."A hush falls over the crowd as Sheemish approaches the door. A quick inspection shows him that door is of simple design enough. Rather than forcing the lock, the hinges themselves look much easier. A quick acid spray from a gauntlet easily disconnects them and Sheemish lifts the door away so all can see what is inside.

Sheemish stays holding the door as a makeshift shield, not knowing what may be ready to greet them from the other side.

Sheemish's acid leaves an acrid stench in the air. A moment later he pulls the door away, trailing wisps of web. The open doorway is dark, but the light of the torches reveals thick webbing on the floor and around the edges of the doorway. All those watching feel intensely that this is no place for light. No place for the living to tread.

At first there's nothing, maybe only the faint stirring of webs from the night breeze. Then small points of flame appear in the darkness, reflections of torches in too many eyes. Those with darkvision can see the darkness almost seem to crawl.

A horrific, monstrous shriek comes from inside the house, causing gasps and whispers among the crowd, and then the spiders appear. Writhing carpets of them pour out onto the outer walls of the house and across the ground. Some are as small as ants, and others the size of a grown man's hand (Spider swarms 1-3). All appear voraciously hungry.

They surge forward!

Sheemish notices just as the action starts that the opposite side of the door he's holding is also covered in spiders (Spider Swarm 4).

Round 1 Player Phase!