:::Deadly Aura:::

[Skallagrim]

Steve flashed a brief smile as he stepped back to the gate, the torch held tightly in his left hand. He scanned the crowd and shouted over the din of combat. "Why are there different spiders? Those seem more intelligent!" His right hand pointing to an Athax.

Seeing the undulating mass of limbs flow towards them, the ragged line of dwarfs gripping their weapons stood stalwart against the tide of shadows. It was at this particular moment when the world slowed, time stuttered, Steve felt as he were hit in the solar plexus, he heard the cries from the dwarf, their voices a challenge to the chittering of the arachnids. Steve turned to the elf near him, and gaped. Steve understood what the elf had said, he understood. His eyes wide as he turned back to the wave of shadows as it crashed into the line.

With that everything snapped back into place, Steve tossed the torch at the spiders and looked around for something, anything else besides his weapons. He had to save ammo. His eyes fell onto a wood and iron spear. A huge grin spread across his face as he recovered the weapon. Feeling the heft he knew this was a good weapon, looking up at the mass combat he stepped forward. His right foot planting heavily as he faced the wall of spiders, his hands gripping the spear in the middle of the shaft. Right hand underhanded, the left overhanded, right in front of left. Spitting he snarled and screamed "Bring it you bastards!"

[Irish Wolf]

Cadno looked to his left and saw one of the strangers pick up a spear and plant himself in the line, he looked odd, standing taller then the dwarves. One of the most daring spiders leaped through the wall of flamed and landed before Cadno. With a bellow like an a charging bear, Cadno drove the pick part of his pickax through the head of the large spider and down to the ground. stomping down on the spider's head, Cadno pulled his pickax from the spiders head and turned it over in his hands. Grinning, Cadno swung the pickax down, ax blade this time and severed the spiders head from its body.

[vasa o souls]

yoru held behind the others able to defend him self but resting for a moment so he could use his spells again once he had rested enough he would use a few very light fire balls but he could barely do anything right now. "why is this gate not closed" he screamed just at that moment came a response "the other are now closed with no sign of an enemy at either but if brought reinforcements to aid here" nast said. yoru turned slightly to see nast and a small contingent of dwarf warriors he counted about 20 of them all weilding a spear in there hands and axes on there backs

[Village Alchemist]

Viktor drew Redbloom and charged into the approaching line of Spiders. With a wild cry, he stabbed one of them, then beheaded two. Another snuck up behind him, grabbed him in its four forearms, and threw him across the tunnel. The thug landed on jagged rock and his torso was cut, but his drunken stupor nulled the pain. In a bleeding rush he ran back into the melee, wildly swinging his shortsword at the monsters.

[Skallagrim]

Steve stepped forward, the sharp point of the spear thrusting forward over the head of a dwarf and into the pulpy body of a spider. As Steve tried to extract the spear point from the withering mass, he was bowled over by the weight of a dwarf and spider, locked in frantic combat. Seeing the spider gaining the advantage, Steve launched a boot into the head of the spider. The multitude of gem like eyes saw the foot coming but so intent on killing the dwarf failed to move out of the way. The heavy steel toed combat boot connected and crashed into the gooey brain matter of the spider.

Stepping away from the convulsion spider, the man dressed in black tactical gear spun and pierced the side of another spider. It was chaotic, the flailing limbs, the cries of pain, the clash of metal on chitin. The crazed surreal scene didn't faze Steve, he was in combat, his training took over, he would try and rationalize it later after the threat was over or he was dead.

[Irish Wolf]

Cadno bellowed as more spiders swarmed towards them. Swinging his pickax mightily, Cadno severed legs and head from spider bodies. The sharp ax head sliced though limps and cut open the sides of spiders, the pick opened holes in heads and bellies, spilling guts and brain matter on the floor. Craig attacked the spiders dropped to the floor by Cadno, his sharp claws easily cutting the spider's skin wide open.

Cadno caught a glimpse of Viktor, bloody and charging into a mass of spiders. "Hammer and Tongs!" shouted Cadno, fighting his way towards Viktor. the bodies of the spiders began to pile up, the floor of the tunnel coated and slick with spider blood.

[vasa o souls]

as soon as he could yoru sent a fire ball to the back ranks of the spiders he hit one and a scream went through the ranks of spiders it was a bone chilling skin curdling scream but he shook it of and continued fighting he ran in to the fray with his sword held high. he brought it down on a spiders head and felt the blood spray on to his face, the taste of blood of battle drove him into a frenzy of slashing and cutting every so often he would send a fire ball to the back. he cut a line through the spiders to the back of their ranks. nast kept close at hand and fought along side of yoru both of them ignoring the cuts and scraps they received in the battles. the 20 or so dwarfs also entered the fray with there battle cries and spears the spiders bodies began piling even faster then before. then from the back yoru saw it the thing that would be there undoing. a spider the size of the tunnel it self its chitin body glimmering in the little light there was to see by, it fangs where the size of a man and legs the size of saplings. this was what had made the blood curtailing scream they had heard earlier.

[Skallagrim]

As the melee raged around them, Ran Dom, the 25th recruit in a class of 25, found himself thrust into the line of spiders. Shrieking he swung his mallet wildly, feeling the hammer bash and clank off chitin. He heard the voices of his mates as he continued to swing, the thrashing limbs and gnashing mandibles all around. Ran found himself suddenly in a quite space, the chaos of battle subdued. Looking around he saw spiders slow past him, turning he saw them heading back towards the gates. Between he and his company were dozens of spiders, some on fire, others swarming to get to the dwarves and elves, and the one odd human who formed a ragged line.

Gulping he hefted his hammer and started to pound on the nearest spiders, when he heard a sound above him. Looking up he saw the barrel sized head of the largest spider he had ever seen. The multitude of eyes peering down at him, the massive mandibles opening and closing, saliva dripping on his chain armor. Screaming Ran took a wild swing at the underbelly of the creature only to miss and crash his mallet against the wall. The spider snapped down and bit Ran's head right off, the blood spraying everywhere as Ran Dom, the 25th dwarf of his company died trying to kill the massive spider.

[Mistress Aroura]

OOC: Read the ooc.

Dack chuckled. Now was the time for his surprise. He snapped his fingers and the fire flared out, leaving them all in sudden darkness. He snapped his fingers again and the entire room was filled with a white light. The spiders screeched and hollered as they were suddenly blinded, and the mass army of spiders retreated.

Dack returned the normal light settings with another snap of his finger and sighed. He hadn't expected that to work so well.

Jayne was rubbing her eyes now. The light had caused her a serious headache but that was all. She called to everyone, "I suggest we get going now."

[Sarithus]

Dack called out, "Everyone, retreat, NOW!!" He rushed backwards towards the gate. This may be their only way to escape.

[Village Alchemist]

Viktor silently agreed, and ran back into the gate.....well, his "run" would look like a "waddle" to a human or elf, but so it went. It was the best he could do.

[Sarithus]

Dack snickered to himself as he saw the dwarf running behind him. He looked like a constapated penguin. Dack barely held back the roars of laughter that were bubbling in his chest.

Mist rushed up to him and gave him a quizzicle look, "What in the light are you doing?"

Dack leaned forward and said, "looks like we have a penguin amongst us."

[Irish Wolf]

"Fall back lads" hollered Cadno. Cadno and the seven remaining work gang members ran back towards the gate. Craig bounded along with Cadno.

[vasa o souls]

Yoru called to Nast and they fell back while keeping an eye over there shoulders he was going to make if the spiders came back they would not reach his new found friends

[Sarithus]

STORYLINE:

The group falls back behind the gates. The dwarves manning the gates began closing them when they hear spiders screeching. The spiders were coming back! The doors rapidly slid shut, but through the crack Dack suddenly noticed something. The one called steve was still on the otherside! he must have not have made it or heard the call for retreat! He was about to tell the dwarves to open the gates again, but the spiders were already ramming themselves up against the gates!

OOC: Steve (er-Skall) has to leave us for a bit, but this is a way to leave an opening for him to return someday. he may not of gotten out of the tunnels, but he's hiding and will be joining us again soon...possibly.

[Village Alchemist]

Viktor leaned against the cavern wall inside the gate, panting--one hand on his knee and the other holding Red Bloom lacadasically by his side. "Well," he declared, "This here be one uh the more interesin' fights I seen!"

[Irish Wolf]

Cadno sat down on a crate. "Ye were only there for half of it" said Cadno. The remaining miners nodded. Craig flattened himself over Cadno's booted feet.

[vasa o souls]

Yoru would mourn for his lost friend later over a pint then he heard the dwarves arguing "now is not the time master dwarves we most return to the town in case more have come from another pass" he said to everyone "not to mention a pint to our friend behind the gates"

[Sarithus]

Dack slammed the gate, "Hellfire!" He shook his head. Behind him the dwarves were arguing and Yoru was suggesting to return to town. He regained himself and stepped over to the others, "Yoru is right. Let's hurry back to town, we can argue and mourn later." Dack automatically assumed lead of the group and drew his knives, "follow me and be quick 'bout it."

[Village Alchemist]

"Aye," Viktor agreed, sheathing Red Bloom and following behind Dack, "but someone needs to tell the folks in charge here. The militia is gonna' wanna' know 'bout this."