Episode 19

After taking down their first undead rider with a surgical strike from the shadows and learning that the black gems are the key to the undead riders control over the spiders, the party take a few days to prepare to take down all the undead riders around Wharram.

Taman fixes the tools in the abandoned blacksmiths shop at the back of the barn. He learns that Tucker Jones was the previous blacksmith in Wharram, but he went missing about a year ago while out gathering wood for his forge and crafting requirements. He also learns that 10 years ago Tucker was replaced, by a younger and more skilled blacksmith, as the personal blacksmith to the king of Orlon. He came to Wharram because his skills were required here and that made him feel useful again. He was an extremely skilled blacksmith which spent many years helping the town for very little in return. The Brayon brothers spent weeks searching for him but they never found any signs of him. Taman also spends some time training the militia in better battle stances and tactics.

Cade spends some time collecting his poisons and the first day he gives Peter two gold pieces, one for Radur and one for Peters part of storing the poison. The second day he is up bright and early and meets Radur at 5 am for his poison. On paying Radur, Cade is surprised with his reaction to receiving double the previous amount, but keeps his cool and takes the poison from Radur, promising to pay one gold piece from now on for a job well done. Cade then waits for Peter to come on duty before confronting him about stealing 5 silver pieces meant for Radur. Peter apologizes saying that he saw an opportunity and took it. Cade hides that he is slightly impressed, but makes sure that Radur gets his share going forward. Over the three days, Cade manages to make five potions of Snakes oil. Cade also spends some time visiting and talking to Tilly Tanglestrand. He notices that some of the empty spaces on her wall has been filled again with the missing items. She seems to have taken to purchasing back all the pieces she sold to stay alive, in memory of her husband.

Galhaphé receives word back from Rawlin, a very short "Hmm, Okay." is all she receives. She spends her time looking after the spiders and making sure they are comfortable and fed. She quite often runs into Kaldur who is on babysitting duty as a lesson for his part in almost getting himself and a Mera killed.

Nok-Nok irons out details of the plan and oversees the building of saddles for the spiders. The towns folk seem surprisingly good at creating saddles for the spiders. He also has a drum and a horn commissioned from Taman at his new workshop. The drum is used to signal attack and the horn is used to signal advance.

The night before the battle, the party goes to bed early to prepare for the two or three long days of battle ahead. Nok-Nok has a dream and wakes holding a summoned battleaxe. He struggles to fall back to sleep and heads down to the table to get some ale around 3:30 am. He leaves some coin on the table as payment. The rest of the party slowly join him from 6 am to 7 am. Nok-Nok asks Taman for some coffee. Slightly surprised, Taman continues to brew him a perfect cup. John also take the opportunity to get his hands on some of this rare drink. After breakfast the party meets up with Bixx and start heading out towards their first target. With 32 spiders, 5 goblins and John, the party feels confident they can kill the undead riders and free the spiders and Wharram.

They reach their first target. Cade dismounts and using Maya he scouts around the south east of the first group of controlled spiders. He sees the undead rider move in and sends the signal to attack. Nok-Nok starts bashing his war drum and the spiders all spring to action, webbing the unsuspecting spiders in place. Galhaphé is able to restrain the undead spider with the aid of her spider mount and together the team takes down what is this time an undead orc, wielding a long sword, riding the undead spider. The black gem is embedded into a manacle attached around the orcs neck. The spiders round up the remaining spider groups and explain to them the situation and what is happening. Another 14 spiders join the group.

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