revivalproject | The Beast of the Webby Hole

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The Beast of the Webby Hole

WHO: For those braving the depths...
WHERE: The sewer systems of Temba
WHAT: We goin' spider huntin'
WHEN: Near event end
WARNINGS: Spiders and violence. As it should be.

The nightly routine that those dwelling in Temba have had to endure hasn't been without effort of trying to determine how to get to the bottom of the situation. During the day they at least have some reprieve, taking advantage of the longer daylight hours, knowing all too well that they'll have just as long to endure come the darkness, and the many-legged creatures that swarmed with it.

The Archivist had been the one to suggest that the creatures have always existed here, but while no one has seemed to figure out what has drawn them out, it hasn't been impossible to find out where they go to take cover from the harsh hours of day. It only makes sense that they retreat below ground, and with experts in reconnaissance and tracking such as the Mandalorian and Echo, the most likely location where the spider-like creatures congregate has been narrowed down, but how much of the underground passages remain accessible is still largely unknown. Still, somewhere in the knotted network of tunnels, something lurks...

It seems most ideal to start early in the day, before any of the creatures make their way up and clog the tunnels come nightfall. Anyone able and willing is welcome to join the group gathered to venture down into the dark, dank sewer systems. At least the smell isn't bad. The tunnels branch off, and it isn't advised to go down any alone.

((OOC: Feel free to tag in or start different threads if you have particular people to team up with or if you're open for anyone coming along, etc. I left the option of separate tunnels so things don't get too crowded with people, and also if anyone's gunning particularly for whatever big surprise there may be, or if people just want to help thin the spider ranks. Also if anyone just wants someone to NPC spiders IDK, uh, let me know I guess?))

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Teddy isn't keen on exploring the dark, narrow tunnels that branch off in seemingly infinite directions. If anything it sounds like a good way to get either cornered by an enemy or lost. The tight space also limits Teddy's Hulkling form, forcing him to do away with the extra height, body mass, and wings that usually accompany his shifting form.

He carries a firearm in his hands, turned to the side to avoid it pointing at anyone, and resting carefully against his stomach. The gun is another thing he's not enthusiastic about in such tight corridors, but it sure beats trying to punch each spider creature individually. Coming upon another forked passage, Teddy sighs and glances at the opening of each passage.

"How do you want to choose this time? Flip a coin?" Eenie Meanie Miney Mo got kind of old after the first couple of split tunnels.

Guessing at tunnels earlier hadn't seemed to make much difference considering there'd been no real way to tell otherwise, not that Cal hadn't made the effort. He does so again once they've come to a stop at this next split, closing his eyes, trying to sense anything. Really, how difficult could it be to locate a horde of angry spiders?

His eyes open as the sensation wells up like a smoldering volcano. Maybe they've finally gotten close enough to get a better heading. He raises a hand, pointing down the right. "That way," he says.

Teddy blinks in surprise, his lax posture suddenly straightening. He knows that Cal hasn't been having much luck sensing anything thus far, making their movements so far a game of chance. One that hadn't been very fruitful...up until now.

"You sound pretty sure. Did you pick something up?"

He steps forward, taking the lead, and enters the tunnel on the right. If they do run into any spiders he'll be able to fire freely ahead without worrying about hitting his companion. He keeps his pace slow, eyes scanning the floor and walls of the tunnel as he goes. There's nothing. Until...

"Do you hear that?"

Cal's response is a slow but solemn nod, and as Teddy takes point, the padawan is close behind. He's taken his lightsaber into hand, preparing for anything.

"...yeah. Not sure if I should feel glad about it or concerned," he replies, forcing a smirk. They had, after all, come down here to find spiders, but the task is hardly something to be enjoyed. The closer they get, the less he has to focus to sense the presence of many lifeforms just beyond...

The sound continues, coming in their direction, growing louder the closer it comes. It's a harsh noise, like something scraping against the hard surface of the tunnel. Or several 'somethings'. Eventually the source of the sound draws near enough that the ground in the tunnel begins to shake a bit. Whatever the source is, it's big and heavy.

Teddy faces his firearm forward, readying to take a shot as soon as he sees the shadows ahead begin to move. After a moment the shadows break away, revealing three wolf-sized spiders skittering towards them quickly on their thin legs.

"Both is good. But I definitely like this better than wandering these tunnels aimlessly."

He fires off his firearm at the closest spider leading the group. It goes a bit wide, hitting a leg instead of its body. But with several other legs at its disposal it barely pauses in its pursuit. The other two spiders, meanwhile, scatter, diving in opposite directions.

"Agreed," Cal concedes as his the blade of his lightsaber springs to life. The faintly yellowish color still throws him off a little, but he's not exactly using a kyber crystal so he supposes that's to be expected. Hopefully anything metal that Teddy may have on him won't be too distracting as they start to glow with the saber's activation. Even the droid on the padawan's back begins to glow, but BD-1's become accustomed to it, if a little hyper.

As Teddy fires, Cal moves to the side, trying to give him ample space as he sizes up the spiders that skitter their way. He goes for the one closer to his side first, lunging forward as he swings down the glowing blade, cleaving off half of its legs before he shifts angles and cuts outwards through the spider itself. Turning, he sees the other leap for Teddy and holds his other hand out as though to 'catch' it in midair- which he does by unseen means, pulling it instead into the line of Teddy's fire and the other yet oncoming spider.

The firearm in his hands lights up in a faint yellow glow, but Teddy ignores it, his focus captured by the approaching spiders and the danger they bring. He fires a couple more shots at the lead spider, managing to cripple it and slow its approach.

He barely notices the other spider approaching from the side before Cal has it caught in midair, guiding it into the path of his gun. Not hesitating, Teddy fires on it, hitting it several times in the center of its body.

"I hope they're all this easy to take down."

Cal wastes no time in dropping the dead weight so he can turn his attention to the spider that Teddy had slowed down, slicing through it in a broad upswing.

"Only when they aren't coming in seemingly endless waves," Cal points out. "I just hope that we've thinned them out enough the other nights past." It's a big city with an equal expanse of underground, possibly, a thought that the padawan doesn't want to dwell on.

"There'll only be more up ahead, but maybe we're getting somewhere." Whether that's a good or bad thing though, he's not sure.

"That's it, Cal. Look on the bright side." He scoots around the felled bodies of the spiders with undisguised disgust. He's so not touching that. Maybe it hadn't been such a great idea to kill them right in the middle of their path.

"One thing is for sure, if we're running into them here, it means we're on the right path." Teddy isn't too keen on examining how many of these creatures might be left either. There's just no point in wondering how the odds might be stacked against them at this point.

But he also really wishes these tunnels were more user friendly. Like with one giant, direct path with signs that read "Giant Monster Nest This Way". The split tunnels thing is getting really old. Especially when they hit yet another series of tunnels branching off in different directions.

"These things are really bad hosts. No welcome wagon, no map to direct us by." Is his sarcasm growing thicker the more concerned he gets about their situation? Possibly. But, as if his words summoned them, a large shadow moves across the ceiling of one of the tunnels, its legs skittering across the rocks and announcing its approach.

There's no arguments on that point. At least any creatures they came across now would mean for less anyone else had to deal with, if not themselves later down the line.

The way forward might be a maze, but at least they won't be lost trying to get back since BD-1 is mapping things out as they progress. Cal's lips quirk in a wry half-smile at Teddy's grumbling, but he doesn't get the chance to respond as the sound of a welcoming committee comes up.

"Be careful what you wish for," he says drily, readying his blade as he glances upwards.

Teddy freezes when the skittering sound begins, his eyes slowly tracking upwards and focusing on the moving shadow. His gun is clutched in hand, but he doesn't want to risk making any sudden movements when he's this close to the creature that's hovering almost over his head.

And then he notices another shadow from further in the tunnel. And another. If he could charge forward he could cut off the approaching creatures, but the one above him is still a problem.

"Cal," he keeps his voice steady and calm. "Think you can deal with the ceiling clinger?" Preferably before it leaps on top of him?

"I'll take care of it," Cal confirms, eyes flicking briefly ahead of them as he works out his next move in his head. Quite abruptly he turns and moves back from Teddy, a quick step into a roll to get enough distance to work with. As he rises from a knee he twists, holding out his free hand and yanking the spider on the ceiling towards him with the Force. It might be a narrow pass above Teddy's head, but at least it'll leave him clear of one problem to concentrate on the other incoming creatures.

As for the spider that Cal has pulled from the ceiling, it's drawn right into the glowing blade of his lightsaber.

Teddy's eyes widen as the spider is dragged down from the ceiling, and he quickly ducks his head, narrowly avoiding the wiggling legs as they past by overhead. But he doesn't have a moment to be distracted, as the other creatures are quick to lunge forward as soon as their companion is dragged to its doom.

He fires two shots at the spider in front, and they lodge deeply near the head, bringing it to a slow crawl. The other creature seems prepared for that, launching itself over its fallen comrade and right at Teddy.

Extracting his blade from the spider, Cal's back on his feet and moving back towards Teddy. He comes back in time to see the first spider fall and the second throwing itself towards his friend.

Again the padawan reaches out, but this time the creature seems to freeze in place- at least at first glance. It's still moving, still in the process of making its lunge, but it's traveling ever so slowly, as though the air has thickened around it. It won't last forever, but it might still give ample time for a reaction that otherwise would have been cut a lot closer.

It happens so suddenly that it takes a moment for Teddy to realize what's happening. One second the spider is coming at him fast, and the next it's as if he's watching the creature move in slow motion. He manages to shake off his surprise after a moment and suppresses the urge to look over his shoulder at Cal.

Lifting his gun once again, he takes careful aim and fires a couple of shots at the body of the spider. He grimaces as the bullets strike home and the body slowly jerks in reaction to the piercing rounds.

"Thanks for that." He finally turns back to look at Cal. "Does it tire you out? Using your abilities like that?"

Time reasserts itself and the spider drops to the floor, dead. Cal's watching, not quite panting, still on the alert in case more decide to surprise them. He gives Teddy a nod at the thanks, drawing in long breath as he shuts his lightsaber off again.

"If I use it continuously. I'm all right for now. At least it's not as tiring on singular targets." He's got no intention of wearing himself on these small battles, especially knowing that there's probably a lot more spiders where these came from.

Teddy nods in understanding. He doesn't know the complete ins and outs of Cal's abilities; the closest thing he can equate it to is Billy's magic, and he knows that the more power Billy uses the less energy he has to spare. He can't become anymore complacent with relying on Cal's abilities than he would with Billy at his side.

"But we already know we're going to be facing a lot more than just singular targets up ahead." It's not that he feels he has to remind his companion. But he does feel it's necessary to add, "Don't put yourself out just trying to watch my back. If you need to save your strength then do it."

He grins suddenly.

"I'm sure I can take these things in a wrestling match if it comes down to it."

Cal offers a wry smile as he nods. No reminder needed, but they both know what to prepare for. "All right. But I'll still do what I can."

He's sure they'll both have their hands full the closer they get to whatever accounts as a lair for these things though, but then that's all the more reason to watch each other's backs. It's kind of refreshing fighting alongside someone, at least.

Teddy nods in concession. He can't really argue against that, especially considering he would do the same.

"They've all been coming from up ahead so far, which means we must be going the right way."

He treks further into their current tunnel, noticing when the ground begins to subtly start sloping downwards. It wouldn't be very noticeable if Teddy wasn't already in high alert.

"I guess it makes sense they would want their nest to be as deep underground as they can get."

That's a fair assumption to which Cal offers a nod of his own, and he follows just a step behind and to the side of Teddy as they continue onward. Behind him BD-1 hoots lowly.

"Yeah... Figures. I just hope we aren't biting off more than we can chew," Cal murmurs at Teddy's observation. "And who knows how long they've been down here." And how much they've taken up. The latter's not exactly a thought he wants to entertain.

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The Beast of the Webby Hole

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