Cor looked around at the vines and saw the rows of teeth upon them. He also noticed that several of the party had taken at least some damage from them. Turning he asked, "Well master Kenji, do you still wish to simply walk through the valley? Seems there is more than slugs in there."

After a moment he added, "Perhaps we should all agree on one course of action and make that decision before anyone wanders off this time."

As the last of the spiders turned and crawled back into the shadows of the sky Maggot began to dance on his tip-toes and point toward the spiders or where they used to be.

'Hide little spiders up in your web,'
'Hide little spiders from your dread.'

Maggot then began to play a small little wooden four hole flute he kept on a bit of leather around his neck.

'The plants have teeth in the valley,'
'Through it we must go to reach the bounty.'

With that Maggot stopped by Kenji and removed a bit of spider something from him and held it up so all could see it. He then wrinkled hi nose at it, 'Yuck'. He then dropped it tucked away his little wooden flute, 'Master Cor is right, a different way across we should find. Or at the very least find a better way to clear the path other than fire.' Maggot then began to remove spider remains from himself.

The spiders seeing over half their number killed within seconds changed direction to escape. Within micro seconds they disappeared into the darkness of the ceilings shadows hopefully not to be seen again..... Ulthok relaxed, as he scanned the party below him, he saw that they were nearly as covered with spider goo as he was. At least that might keep him from having to suffer their remarks about just deserts.

For a moment the party yet stood ready in case of a return by the spiders but seeing no sign of the last of them for 5 minutes they once more relaxed. With the smoke from the fire nothing but harmless wisps and the spider threat gone they could now go about the business of healing, rest and strategy.

The Elven Enchantress had made her way back to the relative safety of the party. Ulthok scampered down from the wall. With his head hung and shoulder slumped the Halfling made his way to her side. “Oh dear one, I fear I’ve lead you into folly. You have shown me your support and I have repaid you with pain and danger.” Turning his head toward Maggot, “You also followed and I regret it proved a risky decision.” Putting on his best and most sincere face, “I wish our endeavor had proven more successful, but we have learned some valuable information. There is danger in the ceiling and the jungle itself is alive. Perhaps we will find a better way to the Temple.”

When the spiders had changed their mind and ran off, she remained tense watching as they left to ensure they would not return to seek revenge.

Ulthok had come to her side and she smiled patting his shoulder gently, reassuringly. Her words came out without thought "It is fine my friend, it was my decision to head off in another direction without thinking. It was a lesson to each of us my friend. Do not take it to heart."

After another smile to her companion Ulthok, she raised her voice louder to be heard by all of her friends. "I think we should use this time to rest. We are safe for the moment, we could rotate guard so that everyone can get well rested. Unfortunately we must pay for our mistakes of splitting up, it will also give us time to think up a plan of action. Everyone will have time to discuss with the other guard on duty. Two by two we will each come up with an idea and we can discuss it in the morning."

The Enchantress watched her companions as she spoke, gauging their thoughts and reactions to her words. Sirene sat down in an area that was not affected by the vines discharge. The druid lost herself in thought as memories flooded her thoughts, of everyone in the party. The mission to this point had been difficult, but the road ahead would indeed be worse. They would have to tread lightly now that their goal was within sight. Sirene knew that many would-be-legends had stumbled at the finish line, because they grew over confident. The story of the turtle and the hare came to mind as she remained lost in thought. The turtle walked at his normal pace through the path, while the hare raced off from the start. He figured he would have time to take a nap while waiting for the turtle, but ended up sleeping much too long and lost the race in the end.

The Enchantress snapped out of her thoughts as she listened for the others to reply in favor, or against her idea of resting to heal the injured.

"I think we should use this time to rest. We are safe for the moment, we could rotate guard so that everyone can get well rested. Unfortunately we must pay for our mistakes of splitting up, it will also give us time to think up a plan of action. Everyone will have time to discuss with the other guard on duty. Two by two we will each come up with an idea and we can discuss it in the morning."
Alasdair cuts into the conversation, roaring in frustration.

"Wait, wasn't that what I tried to suggest at the top of the clif before you all wandered off? Perhaps if any of you had listened we wouldn't have gotten injured as we did."

A moment passes before he speaks again. He takes a deep breath, steadying himself before begins again much more calmly.

"But now that we are where we are, I agree. We should take some rest and recover from this, and our trials before. I would like to repropose my idea for us to find some way over the jungle rather than through it, as traveling through it has led us to such great success thus far."

He looks around for a few more moments before his eyes rest on the cliff above.

"Might I also suggest that we make our camp up there on the cliff. It is easier to defend and less likely that someone will drift too close to deadly plants or such in their sleep. We will also be much more likely to be able to see anything that is coming for us."

At Maggot call of danger from above Rayne looked upwards scanning quickly as one does in the forest for all the possible directions that danger can come from. She saw the huge spiders descending on their self made silken cords.
Her years of ranger training and service to the king has giving her skills that enable her to judge such things as moving targets. She lifted her bow and began to fire gauging their rate of descent.

Rayne's main focus was on those spiders but not to the exclusion of other possible dangers that still may be hidden and waiting for an opportunity to strike.m

The elegant bow that had been her gift at the beginning of this last phase of their quest seemed like an old friend. She quietly thanks Kith Jora for any guidance in her final choice.

The string sang as she released it. She loves the feel of the bow as it propelled the arrow towards its target. The arrow sped forth as she awatchedtowards her targeted spider. Rayne then started to reload without having to look at wahat she was doing it was all automatic. She kept watch and saw the arrow transform into an energy bolt. By then she hadd her nest arrow loded and ready to shoot.

"Well Alasdair after all this time it appers we are in agreement on this one lad. The cliff might be the better place to rest and moving over the forest could be better than through it. Perhaps in the morning one of our shapeshifters can fly a mage across so as to get a fixed spot for teleports. Shouldn't take more than a day to cross using spells."

After a bit when all calmed down Cor took a moment with Alasdair. "Donna gtet frustrated lad. You see now that this group is not one for listening to anyone. All of us a used to leading not following."

Sensing the return of the Axe of Hurling, Conall listens to the conversation around him.

"I agree that we should rest. We just had a harrowing time rescuing Sirene from the rabid foliage."

Said the paladin,

"I have a healing spell available if healing is needed."

With the threat of the spiders for the moment averted and every member of the party wounded to differing degree’s of severity it was clear, and agreed upon, by both Alasdair and Cor, the most prominent leaders of the party that a period of rest was dearly needed.

Both of them also knew that the best place for such was upon the ledge where they had started from and so hurt and lucky to yet be alive the 11 members made their way along the stone path once again. Within a short span of time they reached the ledge and got ready to rest.

With the healers, healing, the warriors, watching, and the mages sleeping, the next 8 hours passed uneventful. However for the first time since the arrival of Maggot to the party each member felt the presence of the sword and its words within their dreams once more. But again thanks to the presence of Maggot and his `sword` the one within the temple held sway over none and ‘morning’ found all at full health once more.

With prayers and spells readied the party was once more faced with the task of moving somehow towards the far temple.

Cor having suggested an idea 8 hours before did so again.

“Perhaps one of our shape shifters can fly a mage across so as to get a fixed spot for teleports. Shouldn't take more than a day to cross using spells."

The suggestion hanging on the air the time for serious thoughts as to how to cross the miles before had come, the question now what would be the best way........

(DM OOC: OK good posting everyone glad to see all but two of you posted. Now to speed things up I went ahead and moved everyone through the rest cycle and the casting of healing. What I need from those of you who cast spells before this rest period is your new listing of prayed for and memorized spells as norm. So spell casters please check your character sheets on the character thread and get them to me by the end of the week.

Ok now a pair of thoughts, one for the party and one for Brianna and a non-game question

OK based upon reading the posts over the last few months I can’t help but put in this thought, perhaps the game would go much easier if their were a co-leadership running things namely both Cor and Alasdair. However that’s just a DM’s thinking and should not be taken as a must do by the characters.

OK to Bri, though I’m very happy you posted after almost two weeks+ without one, please read the previous posts by myself and the other players before doing so as you posted a combat round in a non combat turn. The spiders, having already been turned away the round and a half before, were already gone and there was no need to fire arrows.

Ok the non-game question, has anyone heard from YeOlde as he seems to be missing from the Inn once more, if you have please let myself or another Staff member know.

Ok again good posting and baring any RL mishaps Next post Next Sunday.)

After a bit of thought Cor offered another suggestion. "What if we did indeed continue along the path? Fire was a terrible idea but what about freezing the plants. I know of few that can survive a good hard frost. Perhaps that would allow passage."

Maggot heard Cor thoughts, 'What if one could call water first in the form of a mist of perhaps a cloud. The when the one who controls Mr. Frost unleashes the bitting cold the water will also freeze adding more to the effectiveness of such an action.'

Sierene had listened to the discussion before retiring for the night. She knelt down eyes closed as her breathing slowed. Muttering the words beneath her breath she prayed for the spells she figured she would need the following day. After prayers were complete she lay down upon her bed roll and she allowed the sounds of the surrounding nature to be her lullaby.

The enchantress listened carefully to the sounds around before opening her eyes. Silence was beautiful this time of day. It was a gift that only nature could bestow upon her. The druid felt very refreshed after a night surrounded by nature and friends. Sirene knew she was not in the good graces of all of the members of the group, so she would not speak unless spoken to, or to save their lives. The woman had much to contemplate about during her morning, again finding herself in prayer to her god.

Sirene played yesterdays events in her head anew from the time she sat up in her bedroll. Two familiar voices were already discussing their plans for their path and she was happy that she had chosen the spells that she had for this day. Soundlessly she rose from her spot on the ground and started readying for her day.

After offering to take the first watch, the paladin sets himself at the edge where he can watch both the path leading up to the ledge, the opening behind the party, and the forest below. All the while pondering what should be done to cross the forest. During the course of the night, he checked Cynil to make sure she was covered and sleeping peacefully.

The next morning, Conall has no opinion as to how to proceed. He stood next to Cynil providing support and strength while watching and listening to the conversation around him.

For now the various encounters had cone and gone. Fortunately without serious consequences to the part, bur it just as easily could have ggone badly for them. Rayne kept watch for now but used her time wisely as she ate one of the rations. The other members were discussing varioius

The longing to return to the her own natural world was strong but dutifully she suppressed the Longing.

Rayne stopped for a moment. Was that her thought or another's,She examined her musing. Was it only simple longing or a suggestion from outside. She had chosen herself to this endeavor. and had been dutiful to it.actually more than dutiful. She had willingly dedicated her self to these other to finish the mission. After a few ,moments of consideration she decided that being so close to the last of the quest she was letting herself think about beyond it. Her companions she had left behind not wanted to risk them underground knowing that they belonged in nature and not here underground. She also belonged to nature. and would be happy to get back to it.

Lonking arounf and her companions--friends- she did wonder about whaat she would do once they had completed this quest.

While Cynil remained close to Conall, she unwrapped several ration from her stores. while the others talked she pasted two to him ad=nd took one for herself. She listened to the exchange of ideas, while she planed what she ould take in the way of spells. Not knowing what they would encounter on the morrow. One thing she did know is that her ability to shape shift had but very useful. She contemplated whether they would get inside without too much mpr trouble from the olants. if they did then spells that dealt with plants might not be so useful.

Conall ws so focused the discussion, she finally took his hand and placed the rations into his them "Remember to eat. All of you remember to eat. If some of you are short we can share what we have between." us.