Journey's Start

The caravan makes its trundling way west with the two forests on either side: the Tanglebrier to the north and the Trollfell sloping down to the south.
As the day progresses, Morik asks what others think of the disappearances. Mostly they grow thoughtful. Gunter jokes that the courier should have had more dwarven guards.
That evening, it takes more than the usual amount of time to find a place to stop, as there are few gaps in the massive trees that rise up on the north side, and the south side slopes down too steeply to safely navigate with wagons. Eventually, after darkness has fallen, Dugal spots what he was expecting to find: a large clearing that has been cut in the forest, with room for a caravan twice the size of theirs. The drivers circle the wagons as usual, Gavath stakes out and rubs down the exhausted horses, and Jalon starts a big cook fire, using the plentiful wood from the large trees all around them.


The night is cool and clear, and after eating a hastily-cooked meal, the various members of the caravan reveal that they've been considering Morik's question for hours.
"I've been thinking about these other disappearances," kar'Javon responds "It's not our concern. The way I hear it, it was a courier with a Royal Dispatch - nothing to do with us. Probably some political machinations. I make a point of always steering clear of politics!"
"I'll drink to that!" Swelvie laughs and pours more wine.
Findal looks thoughtful, and Turighe looks somewhat concerned. "A Royal Courier?" the man exclaims. "Surely no one would dare...!"
"Of course they would dare!" Belany, for once not dining alone in her wagon, snaps. "All kinds of people would risk a lot for treasure!"
Tesko looks very nervous, looking fearfully around him.
"Treasure? I hadn't heard that." kar'Javon sips meditatively. "Yes, I could see how that could change things...if it's true."
"Well, I don't know the particulars..." Belany sniffs, "But there might be someone here who does..."
Seeing the glance, the gnome sage raises his hands: "I don't know what it was, specifically. But, yes, as I understand it, the courier was taking something of great value to the Queen in Grayhaven: a token of good-will and high esteem from the Imperial Council."
The group digests this news for a minute. Then Swelvie uncorks a new bottle with a pop! "We don't have any treasures, but we do have a good set of guards. A toast! A toast to our guards, and to Dugal, wise caravan master to have hired such good help!"

On the 10th day of the journey, Dugal announces that the forest to the south is the Hornwood. None of you saw any transition from the Trollfell, nor is there any obvious landmark in evidence, but he seems very confident in his proclamation. Perhaps they are old regions claimed by different factions over the centuries, or communities of forest-dwellers that find it important to make a distinction. With the Nubetanya mountains no longer visible and the road descended into a tunnel between tall trees on either side, the last few days have blended together much like the terrain has; the only thing sparing the monotony of endless trees are the conversations you have.

Toward late afternoon on the 12th day, the horses begin to act skittish, jerking their heads around and whickering in annoyance. Then you begin to feel light tickling sensations on your faces and arms. Did you get a rash from something the last time you went to relieve yourself in the woods? No, it quickly becomes clear as the tickling becomes more constant and the horses slow down. There is spider silk spun across the road here, and the invisible lines are strung so thick that they're slowing down the caravan. Dugal and Gavath draw their long knives and begin trying to cut a path through, but it is slow going. "Could we get your help with these webs?"

"You heard the elf!" Dugal calls. As some of the people begin to light torches, Adran, Bramlin, and Princess work at clearing the road of the effectively-invisible threads. The Galanodel siblings know this is a hazard of forest travel. Princess recalls her first trip where she encountered webs like this, and how there were some in the caravan that were surprised that they couldn't see the webs. Old Danifar had laughed. "Wouldn't do those spiders much good if their prey could see the webs, would it? Yer thinkin' of cobwebs like you get in a house, when the old webs get fulla dust. Spiders don't use cobwebs!" They'd all had a good laugh at that one...until the spiders had attacked. Morik is confident that Adran has the right of it: spiders do often cast webs over open spaces, instinctively trying to catch things in the open air to feed. He grips his staff with sweaty hands. What size spiders would spin so much silk across the road as this?



The party doesn't have to wait long to discover this...as two of the biggest spiders any of you has ever seen come hurtling through the air, moving at high speed along the silk they've cast. Each one is the size of a horse and they're coming fast! Even though they were expected, their movement is so silent and swift that Morik and Elowin didn't spot them fast enough to act before them! Silk streams out from each spider, aiming for Adran and one of the horses drawing Dugal's wagon. Adran easily sidesteps, but the horse is completely restrained by silk. It tries to rear and falls over instead, snapping the bar connected to the traces. Dugal recoils in shock and dismay, and a bit of the pitch from his torch flings back into the wagon. Jalon gives a shriek as something ignites with an audible WHOOMPH!

One of Dugal's horses is restrained, his wagon is on fire, and there are two giant spiders that are attacking the caravan from the front. Let's call them "Spider Sal" and "Spider Sue." Princess, Adran, and Bram can easily attack with melee weapons this round if they wish. Elowin is prepared with her bow. The rest of you are not that close, but you can describe where you are. What do each of you do?

Gunter rushes the closest spider. "Have at thee beastie!" He swings his warhammer.