That’s like uh... everything bypass?
The People of the Stars
Lantern Year 11 for Draco Vita:
The people of Draco Vita were growing strong, they needed to continue this meteoric rise if they wanted to appease the Tyrant. Of late they had continued to show great courage and resolve, overcoming difficult foes and even the Tyrant himself. Undomiel knew they needed more silk and his new hunters needed experience. Charade and Cassie had proven themselves worthy, but they had much to learn. Undomiel gathered the others, and readied their packs. They would be facing a strong foe today.
Hunt Phase:
Along the way they encounter a barefoot waif with soot-covered feet. She exclaims wildly at the survivors and fills them with an alien feeling of hope. Something far more precious and wondrous in this land of eternal dark.
The gate to the Forest bars their way. This time when they approach it opens but only by a fraction. Each of the hunters for their way through.
Battle With the Quarry:(Spidicules level 2)
Soon they were deep in the mire of the beast’s lair. Silk strands draped all over the walls and trees. There was movement just beyond their visions, fangs and eyes that pull back into the dark when they looked. Then Undomiel stopped them. It was here. A shadow cast itself over the hunters and they knew it was directly above. Undomiel and the team leapt out of the way before the large hands and body crashed into the forest floor. He gave the signal, it was time to fight.
They moved as a unit, each striking at the monster and turning to cover their fighting partner. Orson kept the Spiderlings at bay, the rest worked to bring the beast down. However a mishap happened where Cassie’s blade got caught into a ball of spider silk. As she pulled and jerked to break free the Spiderlings emerged and pulled her down, biting and gnashing as a feeding frenzy began. The fear sank into her mind. Primal, raw fear that paralyzed her for but a moment. She was going to die here.
Cassie lost her mind to the rage. Pushing back her enemies she killed Spiderling after Spiderling sending them to the worlds beyond with every slash of her blade. Her frenzy stealing all sense of caution from her as she charged back into the fray.
Soon it was as Undomiel expected, they were being swarmed. There were far more Spiderlings than they could hope to handle. All they had to do was kill the mother and this fight would end. He called out to Charade, who moved in with his katar to finish the beast. Charade removed limbs and carved flesh but what they couldn’t anticipate was what came next.
The Spidicules emitted some strange horrific cry that echoed all around them. The Spiderlings gathered in a mass of frenzy spindly bodies. The Hunters were on their knees clutching their heads, they could barely think. The Spiderlings descended on them biting and tearing at the armor that protected them. Now they were trapped between the Spiderlings and going mad from the screech that bounced inside of their minds endlessly. Each screamed with pain or desperation in their own ways, deaf to another beneath the screech of the Spidicules.
Undomiel saw an opening, it was a long shot but if they didn’t retake control of this fight it was over. He signaled Cassie who cut down Spiderlings that stood between them and their brood mother.
Undomiel screamed so hard at Charade he just heard it beneath the creature’s screech. Charade’s eyes flicked up, he saw the opening made for him and rushed for the Spidicules. The first stab buried deep into its face, ceasing the screeching. The second punched into its body and at last the Spidicules fell. It was a victory, but they were at their limit. The Hunters were solemn, saying little the whole way back. Thankful for the Resonating Lantern to keep the beasts at bay.
They had won, but barely.
Settlement:
A cloaked woman enters the settlement. All that can be seen beneath her hood is the sparkle of perfect teeth. She offers to improve the survivors if they are brave enough. Undomiel wanted desperately to have his jaw repaired, but couldn’t gather enough resources for the woman.
BLEEDING HEART
Cassie takes the Hunter’s Heart from Undomiel’s room. She clutches the strange metal heart, its cold face emits a regular vibration, twitching. Each time its corded veins secrete a sparkling, crimson liquid.
She can sense a heaviness about this object beyond mere weight. Something about it is indescribably old and sad. Fascinated, she could not help herself and began to dismantle the metal heart, systematically removing its plating. As she slides the shell apart she gasps. A human heart, just like theirs, beats weakly within. Its swollen arteries are connected to metal spouts on the device’s interior walls.The horrific contraption ignites her imagination, smashing the seal on some deep dark thoughts.
Overwhelmed with curiosity, she carefully dismantles and reassembles the device, learning its intricacies. As it snaps together, it squirts, shooting concentrated fluid directly into her eyes. Rubbing them clean, she blinks, her eyesight is improved! With this knowledge she brings the heart to Undomiel and tells him excitedly of her discovery. With the crimson fluids of the Hunter’s Heart they heal May’s body and Orson’s ear.
~~I actually just barely kept from losing both Orson and Cassie that fight. I wound up sacrificing a lot of resources in the process but gained quite a few more. So long as I can continue to upgrade their equipment steadily I think we will be on track to deal with the Tyrant. Who knows when that time will come but until then: Good luck Draco Vita!~~