Challenge Participant The Plague

[MioBrave]

"Charles, where'd you even find this kid?" A gruff voice asks, batting some vines out of his scarred face.
"She's not a kid. She's just young at heart." The cleric counters with a soft joyful voice. He taps his walking stick along the path as they walk. "And, she's from the streets of Neverwinter."
"Regardless. Are we sure she even knows where she's going?" A pale elf hisses before blinking from one tree to the next to keep up with the group.
"The grass told her-"
"'The grass told her'. You understand how that sounds, right?" She hisses unhappily again.
"She's a druid, Kayle." Charles counters, his tone trying to stay calm. Though, he does shoot a soft glare up into the branches.
"I've never heard of a druid from the city." Their fighter sighs. He waits for the others to pass before squeezing his own broad shoulders between the trees.
"See? Haggard gets it."
Charles sighs again.

"Guys! This way! I found it!" A grey skinned tiefling pops her head in through the foliage, her wide purple eyes sparkling excitedly.
"Yeah? Did the grass tell you?" Kayle drones sarcastically.
"No, it's right here!" Her joy is unphased. She does a small twirl and does a presenting motion to a stone structure overgrown with greenery.
"Nice, Nixi!" Charles praises, patting her head between her ram horns.
"Are we sure this isn't just a cave?" Kayle lands on her feet, crossing her arms and tilting her head.
Inixibus huffs, her tail flicking a bit annoyed. She marches up to the entrance, pulling a stray rag from her pocket and scrubbing away at some moss. Words are uncovered, too warn with age to read much of. 'Temple of-'... Something. Nixi points at it, throwing a sharp gaze back at the Shadar-Kai.
"You're sure this is where the Waterdhavian creature went?" Haggard asks. "It doesn't look like anything has trampled through here at all."
"The grass said-"
"Again with the grass." The sentence is huffed with exasperation.
"The grass said," She starts more sternly, hands placed on her hips. "That the creature is spider based, so it is soft on its feet."
Kayle rolls her eyes and sighs. Out of the creatures described to them, a spider-like one was on the list.
"Let's give it a shot." Charles encourages.
"Wouldn't be the first time we've dungeon delved to a dead end." Haggard shrugs, moving forward to the entrance.
"Hey, hold up." Kayle objects sternly. "Let me at least do my damn job, so you idiots don't end up dead." She pushes to the front of the group, adjusting her gloves and trying to appear nonchalant. Haggard cracks a smile.

The group enters the ruined temple carefully. Kayle scouts ahead for anything strange or dangerous.
There's some gentle squeaking, which prompts Nixi to reach to her shoulder. She gently scritches at a small mouse's head with her finger. "Yes, Nibbles, I agree. This place smells very old." She speaks quietly.
Charles light the top of his walking stick with a low glow, allowing them to at least see their feet.
"This is an odd temple." The low sound of Haggard's voice almost hums in this dark silence. "It's built more like a tomb than any temple I've been in."
"You're not wrong. I wonder what this place was a tribute to.." Their cleric ponders.
"I just need the creature to be here." Nixi frets.
Charles pats her head again. "We'll find it. We'll find all of them. That cure is as good as made. In the meantime, Neverwinter has been through this before. They can manage."
"Yes, they have. And, if you read the history books about it, it is quite traumatic." Nixi mumbles, petting her mouse friend for comfort.
"Well.." He smiles sheepishly and exhales, unable to argue.

"Shh." The sound comes from the shadows, and Kayle appears next to the party suddenly. "Everyone quiet.."
Everyone stops. In the silence, there's a soft sound. A creeping and crawling. Soft pads on stone tile. .. And a small clicking..
"It's up ahead." Kayle mutters. "Do you have the capture gem?" She holds her hand out for it.
"Yes. But, we were told to weaken the creature first, or the gem may burst." Nixi reminds.
Kayle nods. "We will.. I just think it may also help if I catch it off guard with the gem as well; I can throw it from the shadows." She looks to Haggard. "You heard her. Weaken, not kill."
He gives an amused huff and rolls his eyes. "Aye, alright."

Kayle fades back into the shadows. When they creep around the corner, they finally see it. For a giant spider, it's young. Its legs are long and spindly, fading into red at the feet. Spare a few bright red markings, the chitin is otherwise black. Eight beady eyes are focused, hard at work as it covers the walls of this area with webbing.
It's not a difficult fight. Charles is able to blind it with a holy light spell, earning a shriek from the creature. A few whacks with a sword from Haggard, and the difficulty becomes keeping the thing alive. Kayle is quick with the device. A few words spoken in elvish, and the creature is locked into a stasis. It starts to glow a pastel purple, then fades into a glittering mist which enters the crystal.

Haggard exhales, not exhausted but relieved. "Damn thing nearly died in two sword swipes." His voice is gruff with annoyance.
"I was worried for a moment there." Charles chuckles.
"We're lucky it was a baby. Full grown Waterdhavian spiders are far worse." Kayle voices.
"Yes, well hopefully it is at least grown enough to get venom from." There's a tinge of concern to Nixi's voice.
"I'm sure it is. It wouldn't have been in transit to Neverwinter before it escaped if not." Nixi nods at Kayle's words, but she still seems unsure. The shadow elf sighs. She messes up the tiefling's hair. "It'll be fine. And, if it's not, then we'll go hunt down a bigger one."
Inixibus is surprised by Kayle's attempt to comfort her, but then she breaks into a smile. She nods, her determination re-energized. Charles smiles warm and knowing at them both.
"Don't look at me like that. Ick." Her nose scrunches with disgust. "Let's get out of here before you start saying some mushy bullshit."
"Whatever you say, Kayle." Charles complies.