20th Day of Harvesttide, FC 1999
Farihrald "Harry" Underburrow, Initiate
Wenzan Treeblitz, Initiate
Darragh, Initiate
Rosemary, Initiate
To the Council of Grognards - Greetings,
I, Darragh, Paladin of Krytontis undertake to bring to the attention of your distinguished personages our group's humble attempts at exploration and the fruits of our efforts.
On the morning of 19th of Harvesttide FC-1999, our group left the protection of Rockport to discover the cause of the lack of contact with the nearby lumber camp and the possible fate of an earlier group of guild initiates who were themselves seeking to discover the source of attacks on yet another, earlier, unfortunate group of initiates.
The suspicion that the lumber camp was attacked by giant spiders proved to be true. We journeyed carefully on foot to the camp and there through the efforts of our scout and warrior - Harry - discovered many tracks leading in and out of the camp. It was also eerily silent. None of the normal woodland sounds or creatures could be heard or seen.
We thoroughly searched the camp and found not survivors nor even any bodies- not persons nor beasts.
We followed the spiders' north into the nearby forest and quickly detected that the path was enclosed on the sides and above with camouflaged webs that gradually enclose the area like a funnel towards some unseen area ahead of the path.
We quietly skirted the webs and circled around to the east and north until we spotted what appeared to be a large tree domed with more webs. Approaching the area, we spotted a single spider in the trees above us and Wenzan summoned a globe of holy fire and attacked it. I followed up with a javelin toss which killed the creature- but not before it warned its web-mates by creating a thrumming noise while rubbing the stretched strands of web.
The other spiders came scrambling forward from some distance. 4 arrived within a few seconds and we fought them- Rosemary caused them to glow with an unnatural light which made them easier to strike- while I continued to throw javelins, Wenzan hurled his holy flames, and Harry engaged them with his bow.
They attacked savagely, and Rosemary and Harry were quickly wounded but we managed to slay all 4.
Before we could regroup or withdraw, the other 4 were upon us and Rosemary was near surrounded. She fought bravely with her enchanted whip of thorns but was soon poisoned and fell senseless to the ground. Harry struck well and then valiantly stepped forward to shield Rosemary, but he too was shortly lying poisoned on the ground. Wenzan and I wore down the remaining spiders and luckily didn't succumb to our wounds or their poison before they were all slain.
After we all rested and recovered from our wounds and the effects of the poison, Wenzan used his flames to clear away the webbing of the spiders' lair and we discovered the desiccated bodies of a draft horse and 4 persons. 2 of whom we were able to identify- Zanna Timbers- who Wenzan recognized- and Grawnya - my creche-sister. We gave them all a suitable burial, collected what was left of their belongings and returned to the lumber camp.
At the camp, we salvaged all usable supplies and placed them in the remaining wagon. If someone were to bring a team of draft animals, those goods could be brought back to Rockport.
Amongst the spiders' lair we recovered some coins. Please register each of us as having received 35 Imperials, 9 Worthies, and 2 Favors.
I beg you, esteemed elders, to accept our humble best wishes,
Darragh, Paladin of Krytontis, Initiate