Adrian: Baldur's Gate

The next morning they let Safana sneak ahead in her black leather, slipping in and out of the shadows of the trees, disarming any traps she could find.

While she was scouting ahead, the rest of the party just sat there, not saying much. Coran had asked some questions about how the party came together and their adventures to date (Viconia had rolled her eyes), but he fell silent too.

Adrian was struck by the enormity of the silence of the forest. He had grown up in the confines of Candlekeep, and yes, sometimes it was quiet there, particularly during meditation. But there was always the clank and thud of the everyday business of the keep, heard fainly through the stone walls.

And while on the road between towns, he was often distracted by party buisness, or simply marching along in his clanking armor, and even then there was the occasional peasan't hut or merchang caravan clattering along. Here they were truly alone.

The silence was enormous. There were a few faint birdcalls, but they were far away, as if they avoided this part of the wood. The silence was so deep and fundamental as such he had never heard.

About a half hour later, Safana came back. "I found three traps, the last nearly got me. And I think there's more spiders up ahead."

"Oh lovely," sneered Edwin.

"Lots of creepy crwalies," giggled Xzar.

"Shut up," Adrian, Kagain, and Viconia spat in unision into his wide eyed face.

Three large spiders descened on them from a gap in the woods, but were no threat after the ettercaps and were dispatched easily.

Adrian really hated the looks of these things, with their bulbous orange veined bodies. He could only guess at what Viconia was feeling, her red eyes blazing.

Then they heard it.

Clank thud whack thud clank bam clank

Kagain sighed resignedly. "Why is it we always get the weird beasties?"

"Sounds like a gnomish invention gone mad," said Edwin.

"There's one that isn't?" asked Adrian, honestly confused.

Thud whak smak crunch krak

"Whatever it is, I'll fire ball it back to hell," said Edwin, fingers twitching.

Then they saw it. It was a spider, but like none they'd ever seen. It seemed made of metal, knife limbs whirling, stone and steel body clanking.

Edwin spat a Thayvian curse. "Sword spider! Kill kill kill!"

Xzar got off his fireball first, Edwin seconds after. They made the spider's body steam, and seemed to make it angrier.

Coran was down on one knee and firing instantly. Adrian hurled both of his minor drains in quick sucsession, as the thing blurred towards them at unnatural speed.

Xzar cried a Word and fired a lightning bolt. "No, you idiot!" Edwin snarled. "Everybody down!"

The party went flat as the bolt went through the spider, shaking it, bounced off a tree behind, went through it again, and flashed through the air where they had been. bounced again, went back, and zapped the spider a third time before giving out.

But Xzar's rashness had worked in their favor. Now the spider was badly shaken. Finally it reached Kagain, and they crashed together with a harsh metallic ring. Adrian dropped his crossbow, yanking his frosty dark blade out and ran to assist him. Viconia's hammer came pounding down. Safana's singing short sword cut at it's legs.

The thing was unnaturally fast, it's talon legs strikin Kagain's shield three times in less than a second. But they were wearing it down.

Finally Adrian reached out a hand and touched the cold metal hide, and the spider froze.

Viconia beat it down.

"Gods," whispered Adrian, softly.

"I'd seen a few in Menzoberranzan," Viconia said. "Kept as guardians."

"Some mage experimented on normal large spiders, ages ago," said Edwin shakily. "Now they breed. But thankfully slowly, and infrequently."

Adrian said nothing.

"What a grand battle...." Coran began, but Kagain turned and glared at him.

It wasn't long after that they found a huge mound rising from the ground, coverered in spider webs.

"Spider central," said Safana. Her face was pale.

"Camp here tonight," said Adrian. "We dare not go in there unrested."

Viconia nodded, but her eyes were fixed on the dome, and the fingernails of her hand scraped over her hammer.