Episode 18

After "accidentally" inspiring the troops of Wharram and capturing and interrogating a spider from a nearby hostile group the finds themselves at the inn planning their next move.

The party discusses their plan to ambush one of these drider like creatures. Galhaphé decides to send a message to Rawlin, to ask if he would aid should they require him to help save the spiders. Unsure of where she could get a dove in Wharram, she asks the party and Nok-Nok responds by crumbling some bread and throwing it outside the inn's front door. On his way back to the table he points at it and grunts. Galhaphé heads outside and while waiting for doves to arrive, she notices a tiny black and turquoise owl come to the crumbs and start pecking away. When she tries to reach out to it is simply vanishes. Surprised she pulls her hand back and hears a faint chuckle from inside the inn. After a few minutes a handful of doves arrive and she finds one to carry her message. The party watch as transparent turquoise air flows from Galhaphés mouth to the dove before she gently throws it into the air and heads back to the table.

Cade takes a moment to slip out and speak to Peter at the stables. He arranges that Radur would milk his pet snake daily for a fee of one gold piece. He will collect the venom every morning at 5 am and if he is not able to, then Peter would keep it form him for a extra fee. On returning to the tavern, Cade asks about the owl Galhaphé saw and with her interest explains that it was his familiar Maya who she saw and that he caused her to disappear. Cade continues to explain to the party what exactly Maya is and how is able to summon her.

While Cade and Galhaphé heads out to gather more information on the current location of their target, Nok-Nok and Taman head to the huntmaster to arrange for some backup should things go wrong. Burk gladly aids setting up a small group of militia to be available should the party require aid retreating into town. He sends his most trusted scout John Carrington with the party. John is under strict orders to remain 100 feet away from the party and immediately report back should things go wrong. The party meets up at the north eastern side of Wharram before heading out. Whilst moving to their target, Cade and Galhaphé explain what they have learnt about the targets patterns and advise on a ambush location. Nok-Nok and Taman listen carefully and together the party decides on the location the ambush will take place.

On arriving the party waits for Cade's signal before stealthily moving into position. As the unsuspecting creature moves into the agreed upon space the party acts. Before them they see a giant undead spider with a undead human riding on it's back. Sickly green and purple energy pours out from black gem'ed circlet which is embedded in the undead humans skull. With precision the party attacks and Cade manages to smash the black gem into pieces with precise shots from his short bow. They notice that the power of the gem kept the spider alive and as it breaks, the spider falls to the ground, dead once more. Nok-Nok rushes up to the undead human and with a leap and and a accurate strike, cleaves into the chest of the creature. They watch as it falls limp to the ground. The party notice the nearby spiders moving around seemingly confused with their situation. Galhaphé immediately reacts to this by calming the nearby spiders and explaining to them what is going on. She convinces them that they are trying to help and within a short span of time the spiders help her gather the remaining 19 which was under the control of the undead rider. The party heads back to the village. John is informed of their victory and he moves ahead of the party to inform Burk and the town guards of their success.

Galhaphé arranges for the spiders to join the others in the cave and has them marked. Nok-Nok decides that they should take a few days to prepare and then set out to kill the remaining eight undead riders the party is aware of around Wharram. With the success of the day, Galhaphé uses a bat to send another message to Rawlin informing him of their success and asking if he would possibly help them fight should the need arise in the future. With their plan to attack all the groups around Wharram, Galhaphé arranges with Sarah to prepare any dead spiders they find for burial and while busy with the preparations if she could secretly remove the spider silk sacs for Cade if they are not damaged. Sarah agrees and promises to do it neatly as to hide the fact that it has been done.

Taman spends some of his time training and preparing the spiders they have for the coming battle. To his surprise and frustration he learn that hey are quite adapt at webbing moving targets, including himself. Galhaphé convinces the spiders to allow some of the party members to ride them into battle. Taman does not like this idea and decides he would rather just move on foot with the rest.

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