[Notes for the run of May 13, 1999.] In the morning, we conclude that we wouldn't be able to reach the Duke's city or his scouts before they'd run into the orcs, if indeed the orcs were heading that way, so they're on their own for dealing with the orcs. Since we seem to have been forced south of the road, which is where the scouts suggested we travel anyway, we figure we'll continue toward Jouet. Anton suggests that if our southward travel had carried us close to the orc cave, we might check there to see if there were new instructions teleported into there, or any other interesting change. But it's likely to be at least a half day out of our way in each direction, so we decide not to do that. But swinging past the Magician's garden is reasonable. We set out, Calais in front. It rains. Calais doesn't recognise any landmarks as he travels, until suddenly he finds himself peering over a rosebush. He keeps a straight face as he shows the party how he led us all here, though Paris can tell that it was mostly luck. There's no sign of the Magician, but it's almost dark so he could just be gone for the night. We agree to make camp here and keep watch particularly for whether appears during the night. Genelle examines the pool, and looks thoughtful. Those of us who notice ask her about it, and remind her about how the Magician described mirrors connecting Torat to Tarot. She says she sees now what he means. We ask what she sees odd about the pool, and she points out that it is unusually reflective, and does not ripple even if you touch the water. During first watch, Paris and Calais hear a distant wolf howl, and another even more distant answering howl. As we wait to hear if the howls will get closer, we ask Genelle if she can figure out how to get through the mirror. No further howls. We wake Mia and Claire for second watch, and tell them about the howls and the idea of hiding through the pool. Mia says we could hide IN the pool using her water-breathing spell. During second watch, Mia and Claire hear another pair of howls, one very far and an answering one far (but not as far). Of course, they can't tell if the howls are closer than on first watch. Mia decides to check whether the pool is deep enough to hide in. (Claire offers to give her a push in.) Mia casts her spell and goes into the water. She finds the pool is deep enough and large enough for the whole party. Mia comes out and discovers her water-breathing spell doesn't do anything for keeping her dry; she's quite cold. They wake third watch. Third watch hears no wolves. Anton looks for a book on the table, but finds nothing. In the morning we make a fire so Mia can dry out (and cook breakfast), then set out again toward Jouet, continuing to travel south of the road. The trees have a darker brown bark and darker green leaves than Calais is used to. By late afternoon, the forest is getting crowded (trees closer together), and the leaves are so dark as to be almost a greenish black. After looking around a bit, Calais decides to backtrack a little bit to find a spot with enough open space to allow the party to camp together. Anton, having picked up some gossip during our week in the city, remembers hearing some stories about two dark forests. One was the lair of the vampire lord, and one was the lair of the spider lord. Anton shares this information, which of course helps everyone sleep much easier. (First watch notices that some people not on watch are having trouble getting to sleep.) Calais notices something flying in a tree, but can't tell if it's an owl or a bat. Other than that, nobody notices anything all night. We set out again. The forest continues to get thicker and darker. Picking his way over some roots, Calais stops, feeling something is wrong. He eventually realises it's the fact that ahead of him is a large area covered in leaves, but no big roots. Pausing to examine the leaves, he notices that they form an unusually flat area. The party coming up behind, except for Paris, feels the hairs standing up on the back of their heads. Anton casts detect magic and determines we're coming up on the edge of a large magical effect. Brillig says whatever it is, is evil. Mia says her circle of protection vs evil doesn't move with us, but Genelle says she can "bless" us, which gives some bonus against evil but can't be maintained forever. She can also provide a light that carries benefits against evil. Calais decides the leafy area looks like a pit trap, so he has the party tie a rope onto his waist while he goes to investigate it further. Mia asks him to wait while she casts a spell. The green part of her robes gets brighter and brighter, and flows out over her hands onto everyone. Calais creeps forward and pokes with the butt of his spear. Under the leaves is something that has some give, but is sticky (holding the leaves). Calais hears a chittering sound; when he mentions it, the others hear it also, but not from the leafy area. Calais pulls his spear free, which takes some effort, and as it comes free he sees a glob of white stuff stuck to the end. The whole leafy area quivers, and there is loud chittering from it. Calais looks at the white stuff and calls out, "Spider web?" So nobody is surprised when the spider -- well, eight-legged horse -- crawls out of the pit. There is also chittering on either side. Paris hauls in on the rope, and Calais lands behind her, but manages to keep his feet. Mia casts her slippery spell; Anton shoots his bow; Claire fires a magic missile. The arrow hits but doesn't penetrate much; the magic bolt seems to open up quite a hole. The spider falls back into the pit, but we can't tell if it's from the damage or whether it deliberately hid. Segment 4. Paris doesn't know what weapon is best vs spiders, and opts to ready her sword. Calais reverses his spear and moves up behind Paris. He grimaces and grips the sticky butt of the spear. Genelles asks what she should do, but says her "bless" spell takes a minute to cast. Segment 6. Mia spots another spider in a tree about 4" away. She hits it with an arrow but the arrow glances off. The spider sprays some glop that entangles Genelle. Anton fires at another spider as it sprays at him; the arrow again glances off and Anton is glopped. Claire shoots a bolt at the latter spider. Calais decides that his hand is too sticky now to switch to a bow, so he continues to wait for a target he can reach. Paris moves over to Anton and swings her sword at the glop, freeing Anton. Anton looks like he was about to say something, but stifles it. Segment 8. Paris goes to free Genelle. Anton says, "Nice swing. Thought about becoming a barber?" (Doing it in combat rounds you can really rack up the tips!) Calais runs over to the one that Claire hasn't shot yet and pokes up with his spear. He hits in the vitals for big damage, and it works just like in the books: i.e., it drips spider guts all over him. Anton follows up with an arrow to the legs, but again for no damage. Mia's arrow hits in the abdomen but still glances off (5 pts isn't enough). Segment 9. The spiders don't act. Apparently they're speed 2, not 4. Phew. Paris delays freeing Genelle so she won't have to risk hitting Genelle. Segment 12. Calais's spider seems still stunned, so he pushes his strength. But he misses. The other spider tries to glop Mia, but Claire releases her rock wall spell and it blocks the glop. Anton shoots at Calais's opponent, but again to no effect. Cardboard Brillig continues to watch for other trouble. Segment 4. Calais does a mighty blow to a leg. Anton: ping. Mia: hits, maybe for some stun. Claire keeps an eye on the one blocked by her wall. Genelle watches the pit. Brillig watches the forest. Segment 6. The spider above Calais tries to move away. The other climbs down and is trying to crawl around the wall. Brillig and Paris move up to attack it, but it turns out the spider had only done a halfmove. It attacks Brillig, who blocks. Paris whacks it with her sword. Segment 8. Calais moves around the tree to follow his spider. As he prepared to stab up at it, it bites down at him. Calais proceeds with his attack anyway, and stuns it again. Claire shoots at Paris's opponent but misses. Brillig whooshes his staff menacingly over its head (i.e., misses). Paris drops her sword, draws the beaked hammer, and the pointy end mostly cracks through its hard shell. Segment 12. Paris switches to the blunt side of the hammer, and stuns her spider. It is wobbling. Brillig takes careful aim, and whacks it between the eyes. It falls unconscious, but its still not dead. Calais decides he's not strong enough to lever it down with the spear, so he pokes it again, and drives it unconscious, though it's still mostly in the tree. Anton comes over to help, and we eventually manage to kill the two "downed" opponents. But there are no silver cards; they're probably with the one in the pit! Pant pant pant. Retrieve arrows, recover some long terms. Plan to start next week by setting fire to the cover on the pit.