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Post by Klangwhyrr on Aug 18, 2014 11:41:29 GMT -5
Klangwhyrr lifted a three-fingered hand with the palm out, as a sign of warning to the companions who had just scaled the side of the vessel. The motion was accompanied by the sound of creaking timber and stretching leather. “Please hold your position,” he said in his eerie, spectral voice and pointed to the sails and riggings. "Observe. There are arachnids laying in wait over our heads. Fifty creatures are visible. Given the population, it is reasonable to assume that another two to six have evaded my scrutiny. "
With a pointing finger, the automaton drew the attention of his companions to specific spiders - small creatures, hideous and hairy, with gnashing mandibles and fangs that bubbled and dripped with toxic-looking venom. "You will see that approximately one out of every four is venomous."
"They appear to be in a dormant state, at present, but they may not be for long."
Turning his head in the direction of the dragon kin, the automaton spoke: “Baham,” he began, in a tone devoid of emotion. “Proceed no further. This ship is infested with arachnids – a species of which is unfamiliar to me. Should you disturb them, you will be placing our companions, and our mission, in peril. We must work, together.”
“Come back,” Klangwhyrr said. “Let us discuss a strategy for methodically, and safely, exploring the vessel.”
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blair
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Post by blair on Aug 18, 2014 14:57:34 GMT -5
Upon hearing the word INFESTED Baham stops in his tracks and turns around to face Klangwhyrr........"what do you mean infested"
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mavelle
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Post by mavelle on Aug 19, 2014 8:00:08 GMT -5
mavelle cups mouth | speaks as loud as she can, but in a whisper "don't you have ears, you big daft lizard?"
mavelle points up to the spiders "there are nasty bugs and spiders up there! poisonous ones, too!"
mavelle stomps the heel of her boot onto the deck (softly / for effect) | points to the floor at her feet "now drag that worthless, scaly hide of yours back, here, before you get us all killed!"
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blair
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Post by blair on Aug 19, 2014 8:27:37 GMT -5
Baham looks at Mavelle in a slightly shocked manner.....then smiles at her.....looks back at the spiders then back at her..........."you are right of course little lady....we would not want them to pick you up and be off with you...." as Baham slowly starts walking back to where the group is still climbing aboard......."but hurry I heard cry from below and what sounds to be a struggle" as he points to the grated section of the deck.......but still smiling a slightly impressed grin at Mavelle!
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Post by Klangwhyrr on Aug 19, 2014 9:37:00 GMT -5
Klangwhyrr turned his helmeted head and the twin points of flickering light fixed on to Mavelle. "The arachnids above us are venomous, Mavelle, not poisonous."
"The terms venomous and poisonous are often used interchangeably, but incorrectly," the automaton explained. "Both substances are toxic and, in some cases, lethal. The difference between venom and poison lies in the organisms' delivery mechanism."
"In the case of a venomous creatures, the toxin is injected - typically by way of fangs or a stinger," Klangwhyrr continued. "Poisonous creatures do not deliver their toxins directly. The entire body, or large parts of it, secrete poisonous substances, making these organisms harmful when eaten or touched."
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mavelle
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Post by mavelle on Aug 19, 2014 10:03:19 GMT -5
mavelle snorts at baham. "you think some spider is going to pick me up and be off with me?"
mavelle twirls her spear, expertly "i'd like to see them try, dragon man."
mavelle rolls her canted, grassy, green eyes at klangwhyrr. "do you think this is the right time a discussion on nature lore?"
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blair
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Post by blair on Aug 19, 2014 10:18:19 GMT -5
"ah......but it is......because where you see little spiders on a boat.......they had to come from some a big grown up spider.......and being on boat......one would presume it also is on the boat.......chuckleing .......somewhere"
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blair
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Post by blair on Aug 19, 2014 10:20:49 GMT -5
'and before you say klang.......a ship......I meant a ship........and i still hear struggleing down there.......can we comence with the salvage"
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Post by Klangwhyrr on Aug 19, 2014 13:01:08 GMT -5
Klangwhyrr nodded in the semblance of thoughtful consideration. "A larger arachnid is not impossible, if we assume that these creatures are offspring. However, there are several varieties of spiders, where the adults of the species organize themselves into social units known as, clusters - or sometimes, clutters. Some groups can be quite large - in the thousands. In either case, we should be wary."
Klangwhyrr examined the assembled humans, looking for a defined leader to whom he might share his council. He quickly discounted Rock, looking to Banwyck and, then, Mavelle. Unable to decide, he spoke to the whole group. "I propose we go below deck. If there are survivors, we are obligated to mount a rescue. And if the survivors are the crew of Draedonia Varr, we shall take them into our custody and escort them to Captain Rheegos."
"Tactically speaking, we should move single file down the steps: Banwyck first - I have assessed his capabilities and believe he would make an excellent scout. Banwyck should be followed by Rock, then me. Baham should guard the rear."
"I would further propose that Mavelle stand guard on the deck - acting as a means of communication between Moridan and the rest of us."
"In the event of conflict, be mindful that we are on a vessel constructed, almost entirely, of wood." Klangwhyrr stomped awkwardly, turning his large form to face Baham. "Therefore, the use of fire should be prohibited. Additionally, we should refrain from damaging the hull, as it may result in the flooding of the lower decks. Humans are fragile and are highly susceptible to death by drowning."
"Finally, the salvaging of properties should be orderly. A full inventory of acquisitions must be conducted to ensure all parties are equally compensated for the risk they have incurred in accepting this mission."
"Are there any other points of order to be addressed before we proceed?"
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blair
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Post by blair on Aug 19, 2014 14:56:53 GMT -5
still smiling........."fire......would'nt think of it ".....turning his back a waving his hand towards the stairwell....."after you my mechanical friend......and.......does venom really do anything to you"
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Post by Klangwhyrr on Aug 19, 2014 15:42:35 GMT -5
"I am impervious to toxins, no matter the delivery mechanism," the automaton intoned. His voice echoed, as if passing across a great, empty void.
Klangwhyrr shifted his eerie gaze to the thin, but otherwise unremarkable, young man. "Banwyck, are you comfortable acting as our scout?"
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Banwyck
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Post by Banwyck on Aug 19, 2014 20:04:15 GMT -5
Bringing his focus down from the arachnids in the rigging, Banwyck looks at the grate leading below - his brows furrowed and eyes unfocused for a moment - then snap back up to meet Kangwhyrr's eye... holes.
"I agree with your take on the situation, Klangwhyrr. Mostly." Ban speaks now to the group as a whole, "We are obliged to help those struggling below, assuming they're being held by members of this seafaring clutter. It's the right thing to do and our expedition needs some questions answered, as our everything-but-flesh friend pointed out."
Having everyone's attention, Ban motions for everyone to lean in closer and pitches his voice more softly with an intention to not allow it to carry beyond the group. "Judging from what we've seen and heard, we've both boarded a floating trap and are in the middle of tripping the trigger. Those spiders up there aren't afraid of us. They aren't looking like they are ready to attack and they aren't moving upward to get away from us; they're acting like we don't exist; and that doesn't feel right. Below, there are sounds of struggling and voices accompanying it. Baham continues to hear the struggling and nothing has stopped it; and that doesn't feel right, either. What it feels like is that we're being lured into the ship and that these creatures above are going keep us from escaping."
Ban reaches into his backpack and retrieves 4 identical vials, offering them in his open hand to Rock, Mavelle, & Baham. "These aren't magical, but they're better than nothing. It will help you resist the effects of the toxins we're probably going to end up facing in just a few minutes. Drink it, now. It won't make you impervious, it will just help your chances a bit for about an hour." Ban downs the vial that is left assuming the others take one each.
Once more, Ban looks directly at Klangwhyrr, and speaks while keeping his voice down. "As Baham suspected and you confirmed, you don't need one. Which leads to what I don't agree with. I am more than willing to scout for our cause, but what is about to happen isn't scouting. It's walking into an ambush with clever venomous spiders that may or may not be larger than the ones we now see and might even understand what we're saying when they can hear. But you... You, my constructed companion, are impervious to the one toxic advantage the enemy has. I think you and I should switch positions in your order, making it you, Rock, myself, & Baham."
The seriousness in Ban's voice fades as he concludes with a wink and a smile to the dragon-kin, "And Baham, be prepared to get back up here and help Mavelle if I'm right and we start having venomies on two fronts!"
[OOC - Antitoxin: You get a +5 alchemical bonus on Fortitude saving throws against poison* for 1 hour.] [* Yes, poison in this case also means venom ^_^ ]
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mavelle
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Post by mavelle on Aug 19, 2014 22:56:56 GMT -5
mavelle takes the vial from banwyck. "if this will keep us safe from the venom, you have my thanks."
mavelle looks up | whispers - voice tight. "are you serious,banwyck? you think the creepy crawlers over our heads are intelligent? you think they're luring us into a trap? why? is there a way we can outsmart them?"
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Post by DM Nevets on Aug 20, 2014 9:56:13 GMT -5
As if to punctuate the seriousness of the moment, a small breeze kicks up and the sails billow out slightly, revealling several dozen more spiders hangning quietly above.
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blair
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Post by blair on Aug 20, 2014 10:40:45 GMT -5
After seeing the additional spiders...Baham quickly down the vial that was offered.........."Klang.......(gulp)......I am starting to think as soon as we rescue anyone that might still be about.......FIRE ....might be our best option for this ship.......
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