Talia casts her final Speak with Animals spell as the argument between Gragor and the others subsides. She calls out, "If we find these sceptres for you then we are free to hunt the goblins here, and then for us and our armoured friend to leave? Agreed. And we thank you for your good will."
The revelation that Gragor is selling meat for some kind of treasure has the effect of renewing the arachnid commotion. Eventually, Gragor manages to talk over the din.
Speaking in the tongue of spiders, he says, “Who brought you the birds? Who showed you how to manage the flock? Who found the secret ways? Who invented the secret signs? Who among you thinks to challenge me?” The only response is grumbling. “Faith, spinners. I will not lead you astray.”
Finally, the mass of spiders moves away. Gragor and four others crawl down into the main hall.
Mediocrates and Brother Landrau make their way over to the stairs. They push through a thick mass of webbing at the bottom and begin to climb. The webs make it impossible to see what might be lurking around them. Every stair is a horrifying journey of its own. They steel their courage, and push on.
Emerging on the balcony, where there aren’t nearly so many webs, they see Pral lying face down on the stone floor. His body is rigid and his face is pale, but the cleric finds that his heartbeat is strong and his breathing regular. Without fanfare, he casts a spell that brings color back to Pral’s face and makes him groan softly. Before long he rises to his knees. With a lot of help, he makes his way downstairs and starts putting his boots back on.
Ben: That spell was Slow Poison. Brother Landrau thinks that this poison is not lethal, but just causes sleep and paralysis. Whether Slow Poison will neutralize its effect entirely or merely delay it isn’t clear. For now, Pral seems to be coming around pretty well. Brother Landrau’s remaining spells are Cure Light Wounds (x2), Light, Command, Find Traps, and Spiritual Hammer.
None of the characters knows any legends that seem to bear directly on this situation.
Gragor keeps muttering to himself and seems impatient to be moving. Much of the time he gives the impression of being somewhat insane, but it’s hard to know what to make of that. He and his little band creep over to cling to the top of the western exit. “This way,” he calls.
Your group forms up in your previously planned two abreast marching order and approaches the archway. Beyond, you can see a broad passage stretching about twenty feet farther west and then opening again into some larger space. The spiders cling to the ceiling of the passage. Looking back, Elendil can just make out the shining eyes of a dozen or more spiders lining the balcony.
“Quickly!” hisses the spider king.
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