The Beast of the Webby Hole

[out_of_order]

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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[out_of_order]

Once he sees Echo moving away from the burning carnage, Cal starts to distance himself further as well. Maybe having a flaming roadblock will keep any more spiders from coming this way. The sounds are terrible to hear, but at least for the moment they can catch a break.

"...we might have to find another way around," he suggests, keeping his weapon handy but deactivated as he looks at Echo. He looks at his wound, still throbbing, but thankfully he doesn't feel any numbness that would suggest poison.

[on_repeat]

The sound of the clone's own breathing is caught within his helmet, temporarily blocking out the screaming in the background. Once they're far enough away and sure that they're not being followed, he slows to a jog, eventually stopping to catch his breath.

Echo hears Cal's suggestion about an alternate route. Although he nods, his focus stays trained on Cal's injury now that his HUD has cleared up again. "We have to get you some armor," he frowns. "Are you going to be okay?"

[out_of_order]

"A little late to worry about that," Cal says with a crooked smile. It doesn't stay on his face long as he looks down the tunnel and the ways that branch off some distance ahead. "I'll be fine. Just need a moment to recenter myself."

It's an unspoken request to keep an eye out while he tries to meditate for a moment, closing his eyes as he takes the time to calm down and catch his breath. He's not really experienced in healing through the Force, but for the time being he can at least try to lessen the pain.

After a few tense minutes, the padawan breathes out as he opens his eyes again, lifting his head. "Whenever you're ready..."

[on_repeat]

"Alright..." Mild concern sits with the need to stay aware of their surroundings, taking on the request without batting an eye. Being a lookout is part of Echo's job anyway, so he's used to carrying it out like an order. He straightens, ignoring his own aches and pains, keeping his blaster raised in case any stray spiders came running.

Fortunately, none do. He doesn't even know how long Cal needs to center himself, but he doesn't really question it. The clone's head cants slightly at the exhale, glancing over a shoulder at the Padawan. "I'll take point."

Just like a clone to say as much in the presence of a jedi.

[out_of_order]

Cal doesn't argue, giving the man a nod as he rolls his shoulders, fingers flexing over the grip of his lightsaber. "You all right? If we need to head back up or take more time..." he starts, head tilting. He doesn't have any stims to offer, but they'll be the first thing that he'll try to restock on once the replicator will allow for it. Of course, that doesn't help them now.

This is as much a battle as anything, however. They're in enemy territory, but then they're also two among however many have spread out in these depths.

[on_repeat]

"I'll be fine," Echo replies softly, rolling his shoulder and readjusting his stance as he walks. For want of a quiet night without spidery interruption. After weeks of this nonsense, he's sure Cal and the others have been feeling pretty much the same. "Let's find out where they're all coming from so that we can get this over with."

A nest is a point of concentration and the creatures are filtering out from it. Who knows how close or how far they are from its location? And while it would be better to have a bigger group, they should at least scope it out and confirm the source of their present problem exists.

[out_of_order]

Needing no further convincing, Cal nods and follows after. He's hoping they can get to the bottom of things, although it's a little disheartening to see that there are still so many spiders even down here for all their efforts above.

There's a growing tension that he just can't shake, and he has a feeling that they're getting closer. He can sense the wild hostility that permeates the deeper tunnels, and even though he still allows Echo to take point, he does offer direction. "That way," he says grimly, looking uneasy as he stares towards the darkness.

[on_repeat]

Echo has no issues with having directions relayed to him. Cal's intuition and insight are trustworthy even if it means they're heading straight toward certain doom.

His arms protest, but his blaster stays up. Each step holds purpose as he goes forward, being as quiet as he can with all of his armor plating.

[out_of_order]

"...I have a bad feeling about this," Cal suddenly says, once they've gone a ways more into the depths. The scritching sounds fill the air with a dull echo, and the ARC Trooper might be able to start to see movement with his HUD, the darkness ahead teeming with legs and bodies.

The tunnel itself opens up to a larger space, some kind of hub where other tunnels intersect. There's a flickering lamp high overhead that casts only enough light to give more suggestion to those shapes. Amongst the more organic forms there are sharper angles and lines, numerous cages of some sort amidst broken machinery that obviously lost their fight when the madness had struck.

There's not much time to really take it all in, not when there are spiders crawling about them. But more concerning is the massive shape that begins to extract itself from the clutter.

From behind Cal, BD-1 lets out a low whistle.

[on_repeat]

Echo has to admit the feeling has been mutual the deeper they've gone into this. He wishes it was just his imagination making the darkness worse than it already is. Even another HUD malfunction would be better than seeing vague outlines of actual spiders crawling around.

There's a pause when he realizes the more structural shapes under the continuous spider-like movement, the blaster's nozzle dropping a few degrees the more he perceives what they both have walked into.

Unfortunately that perception is brief, thanks to the larger mass. Along with BeeDee's low whistle, the ARC Trooper's eyes lock onto it.

"Damn. And here I thought they were already too big," he rasps, not dropping his stance but not opening fire just yet.

[out_of_order]

"Never go to Kashyyyk then," Cal manages to say after a moment, his eyes still on the monstrous spider that looms over the others, seeming even larger for the pile of cages it straddles.

His hand grips the hilt of his lightsaber firmly, thumb hovering just above the switch. Initiating a fight would be a bad idea, but then he doubts they'll be able to get anywhere without one either. "Start backing up," he says to Echo as he steps to the side of the trooper. This isn't a fight they can win on their own.

The choice to engage is made for them suddenly as the giant spider screams, fangs gleaming in the dull light, and then the anxious movements of the other spiders in the room grow into a flat out frenzy as they scatter and surge, scrambling over the wreckage towards the padawan and the clone. The yellow blade of light that bursts forth sends some fleeing back if only for a moment, but Cal doesn't hesitate to press the advantage, cutting through the front lines. "Go!" he shouts at Echo as he tries to fend off more while backing up towards the way they'd come.

[on_repeat]

"If I ever get the chance to put in a request? Sure." Echo wants to say it, but he's too busy staring at the giant spider.

Whatever Cal has in mind, the ARC Trooper is willing to go with it. The suggestion to back up is a Good Idea, however. Because the two of them alone charging forward is a Bad Idea no matter how many different ways they can go about handling the situation.

Oh, but the screaming. Echo flinches, eyes darting as the nightmarish scattering starts to wash over everything. He's still backing up, getting the verbal cue from the Padawan just moments after the lightsaber's energy pulses his HUD. Picking up speed, he fires at the ones rushing in on the sides to keep Cal in the clear, each trigger squeeze as precise as it can be when retreating at this pace.

[out_of_order]

Once Echo starts firing to cover him, Cal turns and begins to run. He swipes back with his blade single-handedly to cut the legs off of a spider that had tried to gain the advantage by skittering along the walls before making its leap at him. Glancing behind, the padawan grimaces at the number of spiders following.

"We need to keep them from following us for now- got another incendiary?" he asks as they hurry. "Light it and throw it- I'll handle the rest!"

[on_repeat]

The view in Echo's visor blurs as he spins on his heel shortly after the last rounds, matching Cal's speed as they try to get out of there. A mistake is made in looking back, but he's already reaching for one of the other bottles he still has on him.

"Two more," comes a rough reply, pulling it free. "Let's make it count!"

Lighting it is tricky in motion, but he gets it, drawing in a sharp breath as he times the next shot. A quick glance toward the Padawan and he winds up, turning halfway so that the incendiary goes whirling off in the right direction. "–Now!"

[out_of_order]

As soon as Echo begins to move his arm, Cal turns, raising his free hand as though to grab it- which he does, just not physically.

The bottle is caught in midair by an unseen hand, and through the Force, the padawan directs it and sends it flying farther back towards the mouth of larger chamber. Flames blossom and engulf the mass of spiders that had converged upon the tunnel entrance, and Cal Force-shoves the ones that had managed to get ahead of them to add to the fiery pile.

"Let's go," he tells Echo as he turns back towards the clone, giving him a sharp nod as he deactivates his lightsaber to resume their tactical retreat.