26 – Delve the Depths – Part 2

“I’ve encountered Elder Beasts before.”  Branwhyn moved slowly ahead of the others, speaking directly to the monstrous spider before him.  He kept both torch and axe visible and held tight in his hands, hopefully conveying his willingness to use them.  “The great bear had intelligence beyond the keen of its lesser kin and so I’ll assume the same of you. Agidda, Great-Grandmother of Terror, do I name you.  Your children have taken our people from us and we have come to take them back. There need not be any more conflict between us though. Let us take what is ours and we will leave without further harm or destruction to your home.”

Let’s see if Elder Beasts can be reasoned with.  Compel w/ Heart (3, 7, 4+2), Weak. Though magical in nature, I am not inclined to think this is Shelob level of intelligence and I don’t think Elder Beasts should be speaking.  The Elder Bear Branwhyn encountered imparted magical knowledge through its breath, so Agidda here should be able to do something similar. What does an Elder Beast spider want though?  Oracle Says: Hunt Balance.

Aping the shaman’s slowness of movement, Agidda rose in her web and descended towards the Ironlanders.  Her myriad of black orb eyes reflected the visage of the Horned Hunter, the wooden mask that Branwhyn used to cover his face.  Drawing near, her furry mandibles worked, a soft and nearly inaudible chittering sound.  

The warriors of the Valknut tensed, ready to fight, but Branwhyn held them at bay by raising two fingers from the grip of his axe.  As with the Elder Bear, he could feel her breath but it was not rich and warm. Instead it stole heat from his body and carried the putrid and rotting scent of death.  Knowledge or at least understanding came with the breath as well. 

Branwhyn nodded his head in understanding, though not agreement.   The great spider wanted them gone, they had destroyed part of her nest and a number of her children, though the later seemed less important.  She would allow them to take some of her food if they would replace it. At face value, Branwhyn might have been willing to spend some time hunting extra prey, dear, elk and the like, for Agidda.  But her intent was that he left some of his own people instead and that was not a deal he could abide. Fighting the Elder Beast would be a pitched battle at best and they already had wounded. Better if they could lull her into believing they’d accepted the exchange.

“We’ve come to a kind of understanding.”  Branwhyn voiced at last, making a slow wide sweep with his axe.  “Move forward slowly and check the cocoons for anyone alive. Cut the live ones out.  Leave the dead.”

Branwhyn Face’s Danger w/ Shadow (10, 6, 5+2) Weak Hit.  -1 Momentum (+9). This is following through with our ruse and seeing how long we can keep it going before the spiders figure out we are going to double cross them.

Move to the various cocoons, scattered in the webbing, let alone checking to see if their occupants were alive was slow work.  Agidda seemed a patient creature though, crouched low to her web, she waited with her myriad of black orb eyes taking in all of the humans moving about her.  Her children seemed less patient. They had moved up into the tunnel behind the Vulknut and unless the Elder Spider commanded them to move, they seemed intent on blocking the exit.  That limited their options, since they weren’t going to leave anyone alive behind.

Edging close to the yawning chasm, which Agidda’s webs suspended her over, Branwhyn glanced down into the darkness.  Below them was probably the ledge and rockface he climbed and then further down the exit from the network of tunnels that led to the old temple they’d found not long after entering the spider’s lair.  Climbing down would be problematic though, those who’d been in the cocoons would be in no shape to climb and the Vulknut would have to fight the spiders with their backs to the chasm while the descent was made.  A good way to get them all killed. Something far more bold, or foolish, would be needed.

Sliding back away from the edge and the Elder Harrow Spider, he risked a glance over his shoulder.  Cyne had gathered the survivors of the spider’s night raid into a tight knot and the warriors of the Valknut were treating what wounds they could.  Branwhyn’s grey eyes caught Cyne’s and an understanding of what needed to happen next passed between them. 

Enter the Fray w/ Shadow (4, 5, 6+2), Strong. Initiative & +2 Momentum (+10).  Agidda, Great-Grandmother of Spiders plus a Clutter of Spiders vs. Branwhyn & the Valknut is an Extreme fight.  Strike w/ Iron + Bind (2, 8, 5+1+1), Weak. 2 Harm, Lose Initiative. Fight Progress 2/20. Clash w/ Iron + Bind (2, 5, 5+1+1), Strong. 2+1 Harm & Gain Initiative. Fight Progress 5/20.

Turning back to look at the Elder Harrow Spider, Agidda didn’t recognize the murder that lurked in his grey eyes.  The old worn iron axe snapped up and across her mandibles, cutting through the thick hair and opening a wound. She’d seen the movement though and reacted faster than any human might have, making the blow merely a graze as she pulled back.  With a single fluid motion, as the great spider dodge backward, one of her fore legs whipped out like a club towards Branwhyn. Ducking beneath the blow, he brought the axe-blade up into the limb as it passed, spider carapace breaking against iron.

Strike w/ Iron + Bind (5, 9, 4+1+1), Weak. 2 Harm, Lose Initiative.  Fight Progress 7/20. Clash w/ Iron + Bind (6, 1, 3+1+1), Weak. Burn Momentum, Strong. 3 Harm & Gain Initiative.  Momentum Reset +2. Fight Progress 10/20. Secure an Advantage w/ Wits (6, 4, 5+3), Strong. +2 Momentum (+4). Strike w/ Iron (8, 5, 6+2), Weak. 2 Harm, Lose Initiative.  Fight Progress 12/20. 

The Valknut warrior’s formed a circle around the Twin River survivors, fending off the pressing advances of the clutter of harrow spiders that had poured out of the tunnel entrance.  One harrow spider raced around their circle to come at Branwhyn’s back, silently skittering on eight legs. As it lept at him, he spun away from it, smashing the axe head into its bulbous body as it went by.  As he pivoted though, he stepped into webbing, his boot holding fast and pinning him in place. 

The Great-Grandmother of Terror came at him again, silently lunging with poison dripping from her bared fangs.  The Valknut came to his rescue though, pushing out from the circle and hacking at Agidda’s legs as she moved past.  The ancient spider diverted her course, fleeing back onto her web and the relative safety the yawning chasm beneath her provided.

Thrusting the torch in his off hand into the webbing that held his boot fast, Branwhyn set the web alight and pulled his foot free before the fires did more than singe the boot’s leather.  He retreated with the rest of the Valknut back into the tight protective circle around the Twin River survivors. It was the first time that they’d wished for their spears, the longer reach would have served them well here, though it would have hindered almost every other aspect of their travel through the close confines of the underground nest.  Instead they relied on searing torch and biting iron. It proved sufficient and each fallen enemy added to the growing rampart of harrow spider corpses around their position. Their success proved a disadvantage though for it’s growing height impeded the vision and yet didn’t seem to slow the spiders in the least. The harrow spiders swarmed over the tops of the brethren from unexpected angles and attacked with a kind of frenetic glee.

Then the rampart exploded inward as Agidda crashed her full bulk into it.  Harow Spiders, both alive and dead crashed into their protective circle, shattering their defense, and throwing the Twin River survivors they were protecting into utter chaos.

Face Danger w/ Edge (9, 1, 2+1), Weak. -1 Health (+3).  Endure Harm w/ Health (2, 2, 4+3). Strong w/ a Twist. Embrace the Pain, Seize Initiative.  Twist w/ Action/Theme (Evade – Creature), Sounds like Agidda is going to fall back and get away from Branwhyn.  Strike w/ Iron + Bind (1, 2, 3+1+1), Strong Hit. 3 Harm. Fight Progress 15/20.

The giant Elder Spider surged forward and Branwhyn raced to meet her, he thrust the burning torch towards one of her black orb-like eyes and buried the flame within, dousing the torch with the fluid inside the eye.  Agidda shrieked in pain, the fluid in her eye boiling and leaking out. She jerked back and upward, the fangs of her mandibles slashing open his forearm before she retreated. Blinded by pain, the Elder Beast drunkenly thrashed her body away from them, scattering her children as she did so.

The pain in his arm focused Branwhyn’s mind and the chaos around him seemed to slow almost to a crawl.  He surveyed the confused mayhem around him as his heart pounded with adrenaline. He turned his attention to the inside of their shattered lines where the Twin River survivors had gathered for their protection, several of the Ironlanders struggled to escape from the weight of dead spiders, but the living arachnids inside their line were a far greater threat.  “Cyne, reform the line! Saga, Sidan, with me!”

Cyne shouted more orders to reorganize their protective circle before the clutter of spiders could recover while Branwhyn and his chosen companions waded in among the survivors.  Doing their best to not step on pinned Ironlanders, avoiding the death throes of the spider corpses, and attempting to draw the attention of the living spiders all at once. Despite the difficulties, their axes made short word of the spiders, coming in from multiple directions, they hacked off legs to immobilize before dealing death blows.  “Sidan, get your people up. Saga, back to the line.”

Secure an Advantage w/ Wits (10, 6, 5+3), Weak. +1 Momentum (+5), Lose Initiative.  Face Danger w/ Iron + Bind (6, 7, 5+1+1), Weak Hit. -1 Momentum (+4). Check Your Gear w/ Supply (8, 2, 4+3), Weak. +1 Momentum (+5) & -1 Supply (+2).

As Branwhyn rejoined the defensive circle himself, he saw that Agidda had indeed fled the battle and that her children remained unfocused and seemingly confused, lashing out and attacking wounded fellows as well as the invading humans.  Glancing at the entrance, he saw that it was clear of harrow spiders. “Cyne, get everyone up, we’re leaving!” 

The Warden began shouting orders, pulling members of the Valknut off the line to help free the Twin River survivors and get them up on their feet.  It was slow work, for they were still dazed, confused, and many still suffered from the spider’s poison. Yet, with Cyne and two others leading the way, hacking through the clutter of spiders, they pushed into the tunnel they’d entered from.  Branwhyn, Saga, and Viggo brought up the rear, discouraging any pursuit with biting iron and searing flame. As soon as they were fully in the tunnel, their nostrils were assaulted by the acrid smoke that still hung heavy in the tunnel, the result of setting the network of web tunnels on fire.  Soaking bandages with water, they wrapped them around nose and mouth to make breathing a bit easier before retracing their steps any further.

Ash floated thick in the of the vast cavern, the remnants of the burned catacomb of webbing were like a thick black mist with dying red embers dotted throughout.  It clung to their clothes and skin, sizzling and stinging like a vicious insect bite whenever a cinder alighted upon them. 

Face Danger w/ Wits (5, 2, 3+3), Strong Hit.  +1 Momentum (+6). Strike w/ Edge (4, 1, 3+1), Weak Hit. 2 Harm & Lose Initiative. Fight Progress 17/20.  Turn the Tide & Strike w/ Iron + Bind (3, 7, 5+1+1+1), Strong Hit. 3 Harm. Fight Progress 20/20. End the Fight w/ Progress (8, 7, [10]).  Strong Hit. Vow Progress: Taken by Spiders 6/10.

They loosened their formation as they moved deeper into the cavern, the Valknut forming a loose circle around the more tightly clustered survivors.  Their eyes were focused outward, vigilant and attentive for any movement displacing the thick floating ash that stung and teared up their eyes. By chance, Branwhyn looked up, peering out from behind the wooden mask of the Horned Hunter that he wore, and saw the Elder Beast Agidda suspended above and not far ahead of them, ready to spring her trap and drop down on them, death from above.  The only weapon at hand was the old iron hatched he’d carried for many years. He sent it tumbling end over end towards the monstrous harrow spider, half a score of other hurled weapons followed a half second later. The weapons flew true, biting and cutting into Agidda. Wounded many times and already missing an eye, the Elder Beast had had enough. She fled, diving into one of the many tunnels leading out of the vast cavern, squeezing her massive body into a tunnel that looked far too small for her size.

Escape the Depths w/ Wits (5, 1, 1+3), Weak Hit.  -2 Momentum (+4). Vow Progress: Taken by Spiders 8/10.  Make Camp w/ Supply (2, 4, 6+2), Strong Hit. Recuperate & Relax for +1 Health (+4) & Spirit (+2).

The trek back out of the nest of spiders was long and slow, but it was made without further incident or encounter.  After a few wrong turns and false starts, they found their way back to the secured rope that dropped down into the deep chasm.  Most were able to climb down on their own, but a few of the Twin River survivors were too weak and had to be lowered down into the arms of those below.  After a long rest, they crawled back through the tunnels and made their way back into the chamber of ruins and rubble of stone pillars and plinths. 

The company camped amidst the ruins, feeling some small sense of safety from being within the old temple, resting and letting the last lingering effects of the spiders venom work its way out of their systems.  In the morning, they escaped the caves completely, reclaimed their stashed supplies, and started the journey back towards the high and lonely place where Corinna and the rest of the Twin River survivors would be waiting for them.

~fin

Branwhyn ap Hugh Bonds: 6
Health +4 Spirit +3 Supply +3 Momentum +3
Iron: 1+1 Edge: 1 Heart: 2 Shadow: 2 Wits: 3 XP: 11/14

Assets:
[Paths]: Sighted, Ritualist+; [Rituals]: Augur, Bind, Sway, Visage,

Active Vows:
Kingmaker [Epic] 2/40
Break the Power of the Broken’s Apostle [Extreme] – 5/20
Mentor Corinna [Extreme] – 5/20
Return the Ironlanders of Twin Rivers to their home. [Formidable] – 5/10
Find the Heir of Twin Rivers [Formidable] – 0/10
Rescue Ironlanders from the Harrow Spiders [Dangerous] – 8/10

Bonds: ???, ???, ???, Esyllt the Herbalist, Ironhold Crow’s Perch, Björn Blacksmithof Greybrook