Scouting Ahead, Part 2: The Path

[Eonwë]

Auros:

Looking to the Dwarf, Auros said "My plan is for us to coat the edges of our blades with the paraffin and light it to add a deeper bite. It may also give them pause long enough for our retreat once our task is done."

He walked over and readjusted the items in his pack, then put the pack upon his horse, fastening Estarion's sword in such a way that it could not be drawn or pulled from its place easily. Returning to the fire, he began to coat his blade in paraffin.

"The time for our move draws close. Do not light your blade until we strike." he said to the Dwarf. "Once we begin to retreat, get quickly to Lady Fainan's horse."

Auros the turned to listening carefully to the surrounding silence.

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan listened too, not happy. The trap-door spiders still thumped near the horses. The tree-spiders chittered and climbed, spinning on the three sides around them away from the path, suggesting a queen spider might exist again to coordinate them. The last hunt for such a beast had lost them several hunters and been a nightmare.

Across the path had to be a trap towards which they were being herded. Listening hard, she caught heavy thumps and crashes coming towards them, lighter ones near those. They needed to put Auros' escape plan into action before whatever the nastiness was caught them inside the unnatural web cage.

The only cheer she saw was that this did not seem an attack on the elves' home, although it was probably enough to drive them into the underground fortress. Little or none of the usual help would be found on the main living areas of the flets. What did the enemy think Auros knew or carried? She didn't want to know. One elf with a bullseye painted on him in the group was plenty.

Aloud she said, "A group seems to be coming at us to take us inside the spiders' cage. The earth spiders may just be here to hold us in place. Shall we disappoint them?" She grinned at Auros, anticipating action.

[Shelob]

Estarion:

Estarion had been listening closely the entire time, resting his head against the trunk he was laid against.

Suddenly, he rose, thinking about his coat he left in the trees not far from where he laid. He cursed himself and his injury for not thinking of it sooner. Seeing that the others were busy making things ready for their escape, he slipped away silently, through the trees, towards where he had left his coat. It was not easy going, with one arm strapped to his side, but he managed to avoid making any sound and getting around the few spiders close to where they were undetected.

Finally, he found his coat, and put it over his back, quickly fastening it about the neck with a simple, unadorned clasp, and around the waist. Before he made his way back, he checked the inside of his coat if all was still in place. He sighed in relief as he found all was there. Evidently, all the spiders had concentrated on their camp and trying to trap them and had not bothered with a cloak hanging on a branch somewhere.

Quietly and quickly, he made his way back to camp, albeit even more difficult than the way from it. It seemed to him the spiders were getting ready for their strike. He could feel their presence all around him as they seemed to mass in the eastern direction of the path.

As he got back into camp, he urgently called out to his companions: "The spiders have seem to begun their assault! If we are to escape, we have to move! NOW!! Leave everything what is not yet packed behind, if we take any longer, we will perish!"

[ArPharazon]

OOC: I've studied the posts and comment-thread, and I'm not exactly sure what's going on here.... from what I can see the plan is for Haran and Auros to make a diversion, to which side I'm not exactly sure (I think somewhere at the opposite side of the path), Calion and Fainan to throw piles of wood, web, and moss on the sides of the path, light it on fire using daggers, arrows and paraffin, and all of us to escape through the hole in the circle. If this is not correct, please notify me.

Calion:

He had listened to the conversations of his comrades around him, and agreed with the plan. Not wasting his breath on words, he nodded a few times, and went quickly along the trees gathering moss. He had spent the night at the guarded flet partly making more boomaggers, which now came in handy, for he knew it was not smart wasting daggers to such tasks, his supply was large but not unlimited. Skillfully mastering them, he used them to cut down moss from the branches he could not reach, and either throw it on the webs somewhat below him, besides the path, or plucking it from the daggers themselves.

When he had gathered most of the moss, he felt a somewhat fast moving shape going behind them. He turned around quickly, but saw and heard nothing. Only after returning to the tree where the others were located, he noticed it must have been Estarion sneaking by to fetch his coat. For the newcomer soon came back, telling them all the spiders were preparing, and the time had come to strike.

Luckily, Calion had packed everything but the daggers he planned on using in the attack. After a quick glance at Helvy and Quessëlómë, he knew they were allright to go. Throwing the pack on his back, he went to sit by Fainan, so as to share the paraffin. As soon as he spread out the moss about the daggers, he shouted to Auros:

"Yes! The time has come indeed! Set the plan in action, or none of us will make it out of here alive!"

With that, he dipped the first few daggers in the paraffin, and threw them, mosscovered, into the webs. All that was needed now was a few burning daggers and arrows to set the webs in flames. To this end, he dipped a few more in the oil, and swiftly jumped down to the fire, to light and throw them.

Helvy:

Slowly he opened his eyes. He was not comfortable lying on such a large beast, but not being able to move a paw, he knew it would have to do. Seeing his rescuer and the others quickly moving around him, he felt afraid. Being so defenseless was very frightening for a wolf like him, and he had no love for the spiders either. He did not understand the plan, or even many of the terms and words used, but he knew things were coming to a close. Helvy closed his eyes again and prepared for the worst.

[Eonwë]

(OOC:My plans simply was for Calion [Fainan as well possibly] to cut some moss hanging over the path so that it falls upon the path and as little of our plan can be percieved as possible, hence my asking if you could do it by throwing a dagger or two. The point is for it to burn brightly and quickly, so throwing more than moss and leaves on it should be done with care. We're attacking the direction we came from, more or less, and running in the direction we were heading. Look to my posts for rest. For my long delay, look to Announcements section.)

Auros:
Searching through his mind, Auros ignored all but the tense silence that lay about the camp. He looked for a battle song appropriate to the situation. A few marching songs he knew, but they referred to the march upon the Black Gate. He was not accustomed to singing in battle, which made the exercise harder. Yet, song had been shown to be a powerful force,and they needed to use the weapons available.

Rising to his feet, he looked into the darkness in front of him. "I am lacking in battle hymns, Master Haran. Perhaps your people have one appropriate to our plight?"

Not looking into the trees, he spoke in a voice just loud enough to be heard by the group in the tree, "Is all set upon the path?"

"It's time, Master Haran. Let's make these creatures mad." Lighting his blade, Auros paused for a moment to allow Haran to do the same. Drawing the branch he had replaced from the earlier battle, he threw it into the dark and charged toward it, taking on the first spider-creature that withdrew from the branch toward him. A lost limb for the spider, and a stab downward through its abdomen ended the first strike. A slash across the body of another creature drove it into the dark. The creatures backed up only enough to allow some spiders still in their holes to emerge, and the line came toward them anew. The two warriors continued their attack, unrelenting with each blow delivered. Determination burned in Auros, and he drove into the host, striking at targets as they presented themselves. The creatures as yet did not attack in full; they could not have yet, for the numbers of the foe appeared to be great as their eyes shined from the fire burning along Angran's blade, and yet Auros was unscathed.
"We've got to push harder, Haran." As he struck down another creature. If they simply meant to contain a handful of Elves, this is overkill. Hopefully what lay before us includes the forces on the other side of the path.

[Varda]

Fainan:

"The path is ready!" Fainan answered Auros. As she held up her torch, feeling conspicous, she thought she heard something not coming from the direction of the fight. The battle caused so much racket that she could not be sure. Perhaps the sound came from normal forest creatures fleeing? It sounded...large. She bit her lip and concentrated.

[arathorn]

With his blade newly sharpened and the certitude in Auros' voice adding to his valor, Haran leapt into the fray with a renewed vigor, "Yes my elven partisan, we attack at will. We shall yet show these 8 legged simpletons the fury of our wrath!"

In his heart he had doubt. Where were all these beasts coming from? Was the earth itself infested with them? Were it not for his trust in the party's exceptional battle skills up to this point, his misgivings would have reached a zenith long ago. He charged into the unwieldy monsters with a fanaticism that belied his inner fears. How can we beat back so many.. and why do they only attack from the rear... it appears that they may be driving us toward something else. Why would they sacrifice so many in a uni-directional onslaught?

Abruptly, he felt a surge of power from their escape route. Such force! He had always been most in tune with the land, more than any of his brethren. This sudden blast of unworldly energy brought him to one knee and as he looked up to attempt to identify the source he was blinded by its potency.

"We have been forced into a trap my esteemed warriors! Something wicked this way comes, and I am void of sight for the moment... look away and find shelter or a vantage point that may save us.."

With that last call he fell to the ground and rolled behind the large trunk of a tree awaiting the return of his visual faculties. His eyes burned as if old sol had presented itself before him. As vision returned, he assessed the situation which seemed grim at best. Flashes of steel and whizzing of arrows kept his hearing in tune, but the rest was a blur. Voices of his party rang out as he tried to decipher their meaning. Disaster was imminent.

[Varda]

Fainan:

Haran was blind? She whistled to Hithceleb and darted to Haran, where he sensibly waited behind a tree. He was her charge, and he was going to survive this!

"Well hi there, Master Dwarf! Take my hand and let's leave this wild party!" She gave him a boost up onto the nervous mare, then leaped up behind him, to hold him in place. "Let's go!"

Her heavily recurved short bow, once again a blessing on horseback, worked to break a return to the path. The moss piles flared their brief lives brightly, ignited moments ago by Calion's blazing daggers and her flaming arrows; the horses were not delighted. Fortunately they were not the only detractors of their lighting scheme; far more spider eyes than she ever hoped to see again glinted and turned away from the path.

Adrenaline surged with a wonderful rush and she broke into song, even as she shot another arrow.

[Shelob]

Estarion:

Clambering down the trees quickly, where he before had patiently waited for Auros to make his move, he didn't think Auros would have liked intervention from him. Fainan was already atop her horse and had just helped Haran up. As she shot another arrow from her bow, she broke into song. Estarion, not knowing the words to it, but quickly grasping the melody hummed along, hoping his added sound would be enough to add to the power that song seemed to be in this unnatural darkness.

When there was a small pause in the song, he shouted out towards Auros: "You should not drive in too deep, or you might find the way back cut off!" A quick glance around him showed that the spiders were now closing in fast on all sides, but the one which had been set ablaze by Calion's daggers. Even his keen eyes could barely make out Auros as he fought his way in even deeper, shuddering at the thought of the spiders closing in behind him. So far, Fainan's bow kept his path clear enough, but he doubted that would stay that way for long. There were simply too many spiders for her to keep off. Uneasily he fidgeted under his cloak with his one spare arm, ready to come to the aid of the Elf once more. Yet, he was aware of the Elf's capabilities, and he would not dare rush in after him, unless his path should be cut off, or on a direct request.

With sudden ferocity, he could feel an evil approach which had not yet manifested itself, except perhaps to Haran, whose affinity with the ground was beyond him. The shock of realization of what awaited them if they lingered but a moment longer nearly knocked his feet from under him, and he could not mask the sudden, but brief, swaggering on his feet.

He could now no longer delay. He drew a short sword from under his coat, hidden there if for any reason his own sword might become lost or wrenched from his grip. Bitterly he thought that he would not be able to reach as far as he could have with his own sword, but what he lacked in reach, his quickness and agility made up. Even as he leaped in after Auros, his eyes shone with pure Elven fury unleashed. With unbridled rage he cut his way towards Auros, doing as much damage to those spiders who would not retreat before his onslaught or his fierce look. But a few more strides and he would reach Auros....

[Eonwë]

Auros:

Striking down every creature that did not move from his path, Auros fought still with determination. Only a handful had presented a fight to him, the others backing away or remaining unmoving. This should've been enough. They should have attacked back by now. Suddenly he could feel it. The darker malice that once was a distance away was closer,.. much closer. Looking back at his enemy, it was clear to him. Fury and rage began to fill him again. No amount of losses on the creatures' part would have driven them from their master's will. He wanted to stay and face this evil, this.. being, who had toyed with him, to show him the Noldor were not to be trifled with, but at the same time he knew he had a mission, and that must come first. Fighting his rage and pride, he stayed his hand from the attack. The creatures must've sensed his rage, for only one remained visibly in striking distance.
"Tell your master," he spoke clearly, controlling his anger, "that we will meet, and he shall rue that meeting." A blend of rage and determination now burned in him, a fell mixture. He turned back to the fire, walking between the rows of spiders as they parted before him. He came upon Estarion, and the spiders began to part from around him as well.
Still walking toward the fire, he spoke to Estarion. "Our move was expected. It failed before we began." He toyed with us. Fury for a moment burned brighter that determination. He cleansed his blade once again upon the campfire, now burning lower than before, and sheathed his sword.
Calling to Sulënar, he very quickly mounted the horse and offered a hand to Estarion.
"An evil comes that we have no time or strength to deal with, especially while it has an army at its command. We must ride swiftly. If any creature crosses our path, ride it down. Go! Now!"

[Shelob]

Estarion:

As Auros returned to the camp, the creatures left a clear path, most unexpectedly, and much to the dismay of Estarion. When Auros finished speaking, he muttered silently, "most unfortunate."

After Auros' example, he cleansed his sword in the fire before resettling it within its holds inside his cloak. As Auros offered him a hand to help him atop his horse, Estarion spoke quickly. "Horses are not for me, yet I feel that need is high and I cannot run freely on this narrow path with creatures all around. I believe it for the best to ride with you." He clasped hands with Auros and with his help clambered atop the horse. Whispering to Auros' back: "If for any reason I do not make it, I ask you to fulfil the mission I was sent upon, to find deliverance for my people."

[Eonwë]

Auros:

"There are many tonight who have time to consider death, Estarion, but we are not they. Nornora Sulënar!"
With that, the horse dashed down the path behind Fainan. Sulënar was as good as Auros' intent: any creature that made an attempt to block his way was trod down.
A song came to Auros, and he began to sing loudly, a song of the Two Trees, their light always shining, one waxing while the other wanes. He could feel the oppressive dark lessen slightly. Dawn would not be far off.

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan looked back, relieved to see Auros and Estarion. She shifted her song to join the song of the Two Trees, one she delighted in. "Get ready, Haran! The gray one will show you her mettle!"

She leaned forward, digging her knees into Hithceleb, and grinned as she sang, for the headiness of the gallop. She held her short bow ready, in case of need. Perhaps one of their annoying attempted attackers would show between the trees and allow himself to be perforated!

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

He held his head down, as he rode over the path to the East. Helvy lay before him, on Quessëlómë's back, as they raced to escape the spiders, and their approaching master. His companions rode beside him, having broken free from the ring.

The plan had succeeded, in a way, although it would not help for long. Each had carried out his part of the plan: He had thrown his latest daggers, in flames, onto the piles of moss, leaves, web and oiled daggers. The result was greater than he expected, the fire blazed high, scaring even the horses. Helvy as well had looked at it with drowsy yet shaking eyes. No animals liked forest-fires, and that was good: The spiders had backed away from the path.

Fainan had shot her arrows to help, and ridden towards the battle, picking up Haran who had been shocked by a new presence. The other two had been slashing their way to the horses, while Calion threw more daggers to keep them away from his friends. He had had more than enough at the time, knowing they would soon ride, and the next stash was hidden not far beyond the river. Yet, it did not seem needed, as if the spiders backed away from them as by the orders of another.

After Auros and Estarion had caught up with him, all 3 of them had climbed on the horses, Calion laying Helvy more comfortable in front of him. As he had turned away from the spiders, he had started to pay attention to the new presence, coming from the east-northeast. Somewhat in the direction of the escape-route, but just a bit further north. If they were lucky, and fast, they could perhaps escape right under it's nose.

And now, they rode. A little slow by the fire, it still scared the horses, yet increasingly fast after that. The plan had left an opening through which they all had been able to escape, except for a few stubborn spiders who were trampled at the opening. The spiders were now coming after them, though slowing their speed over time, as if retreating from something far more powerful. Soon, they were out of sight, and all that remained was a loud noise of harsh shrieks. But danger had not yet passed, and Calion was well aware of that.

They continued to ride East, towards the river, the King's Halls, and especially the upcoming dawn. The shrieks were still behind them, but had lessened from a frightening storm to a mere nuisance. From the North-northeast the spiders' master came closer and closer, Calion could feel it. Helvy started to growl.

After a time, the sounds of the spiders had been quelched by the noise of the river, not far away now. Humidity greatened in the air. They were nearing safety. Suddenly, a stench of death approached. The air grew darker, not many trees north. Fear came on the companions, and a high-pitched scream filled the air. And just as the presence was about to reach them, the first rays of the sun came over the trees....

[Eonwë]

Auros:

The first rays of morning lightened the far eastern sky as the group came upon the river. Slowing Sulënar down to come next to the others, Auros looked behind to check for followers. The abnormal shadow continued to retreat from the path, but there were still places it clung strongly. Suddenly a shrill sound came from the north and Auros turned towards it, trying to pierce the shadows with eye and mind. This isn't what I sensed earlier. The great malice was gone. This new force was,.. more of the shadow than in the shadow.

"Across the river!" he shouted.