Chapter VI: Spiders & Bandits

**Chapter VI: Spiders & Bandits** takes place the day after *Chapter V: Assault on Fort Tempest*. It focuses on The Group travelling through some ancient catacombs to chase after Mordred Farray.

## Chapter VI: Spiders & Bandits

### Going on a Witch Hunt

The Group arrive at a cave behind a waterfall just after escaping and destroying Fort Tempest, believing that both Mordred Farray and her coven, The Ancient Presence, were gone for good. Unfortunately, Raveus Atrix reveals that he could still sense Mordred's essence while they were all leaving the fort, revealing that she survived Rex's lightning blast and escaped.

Annoyed, Adrian Thorn had a go at Atrix for revealing vital information too late. Atrix told him that he knows of an abandoned castle that The Ancient Presence use, and that Mordred could be going there. He also says that a cave nearby lead to an underground catacombs that will shorten the Group's journey greatly. The Group then tried to rest before starting the adventure again.

### A Distracting Prisoner

Just before the Group go to sleep, Rex Caelorum arrives late with a prisoner: Lillith Drexia. Annoyed that he brought the person who almost killed her, Ersys Eshenesra asked why Lillith was there. Rex answered that she could provide information on Lillith. Ersys was more annoyed though, as she noticed both Enzo Woolf and Efrí Silvertongue were both getting distracted by the succubi. However she didn't see a way to solve the issue, and went to sleep anyway.

### The Journey Through the Catacombs

After they woke up, Rex alarmed the Group to the presence of Auldrin Ironheart's army nearby. In a hurry, the Group fled into the caves. The further the got in, the less they could see. Eventually, a part of the floor gave away, causing everyone to fall down and get split up. Valkyrie Highlander landed with Atrix and Adrian. Enzo landed with (and on) Lillith, and eventually met with Ersys. Juno was with Durgun and Efri. And finally, Rex, Sini and Aka were all together.

#### Dragons Lost

The dragons were annoyed by their current predicament, Aka even more so when she realised that her egg was still with Juno. Aka began pacing and grew more stressed, despite Rex and Sini's attempts to calm her down. Aka eventually passed out from all the hyperventilating, something even Rex didn't think could happen to a dragon.

#### The Catacomb's Owner

When the three of them landed, they all quickly made sure each other was ok. Adrian examined the cavern, but it was too dark. Atrix used a spell to cast a light, allowing them to see that they were in fact inside the previously mentioned catacombs. Atrix brought up the situation with Ersys being a spy for an unknown elf, to which Adrian didn't respond. It didn't take long for Atrix and Valkyrie to figure out that he had already known about Ersys' secret role.

As the three of them went further inside, Adrian and Atrix began to recognise certain carvings on the catacomb walls. They soon realised that this was the lair of a former servant of The Dark Army, a giant mutated spider who served as a lieutenant under Agaddon Perditor, known as Aracknissilliax... or as Atrix points out, "Anton" Aracknissilliax. They then noticed some giant spiders, about the size of a large dog, watching them. Valkyrie froze in terror thanks to her arachnophobia. The spiders spun out some webs, trapping Adrian, Atrix and Valkyrie together. They were then dragged into the centre of Anton's lair...

#### The Secret Room

Juno and Aka's egg were luckily cushioned by both Dolores and Undrot. Dolores was already suffering enough, having lost her mother recently and then being a prisoner to the Group. Durgun noticed this and attempted to comfort her, telling her how her mother died fighting and sacfrificed herself for Dolores. It was his way of comforting her, as Orcs saw dying in combat as honorable. After that, he suggested a game of Truth or Dare to Dolores and Juno as they navigated the caves. The three of them played the game as they searched for the others.

Lillith was the first to fall out of the three of them. Unluckily for her and Luckily for Enzo, the latter had fallen on top of her. However, now that she was alone with the little simp, she quickly attempted to kill Enzo. Thankfully, Ersys had also landed in the same area and managed to stop Lillith. Rather than fight, she managed to persuade the succubus into working with them to get their way through the catacombs.

Lillith, having some knowledge of the Dark Army's servants, explained to Enzo and Ersys about Anton and how they were in his lair. She told them not to worry, as she knew about a secret room. She pushed a brick on the wall, which caused a door to open. It revealed a room that looked perfectly clean, and had fresh food and clear water that was kept healthy by magic.

At the same time, Durgun, Juno and Dolores met up with them. All six of them decided to head into the room and make a plan to find the others. However, yelling could be heard due to Adrian, Atrix and Valkyrie getting dragged off by spiders. Durgun instantly ran off to help, and Juno followed him. The others tried to run after him, but the secret room's door closed on them, trapping them inside.

### Durgun to the Rescue... or Not

Durgun found the spiders who were dragging off his friends and fought them. Valkyrie was cut free, but only just after Durgun himself got wrapped up in silk. The spiders dragged him along with Adrian and Atrix down into the centre of the catacombs before Valkyrie could do anything. Freaking out, Valkyrie leaned against the wall and unintentionally opened the entrance to the secret room. It closed as she fell inside, now trapping her there with the others. The room filled up with a gas which knocked them out, allowing for spiders to easily kidnap them.

### Anton the Artist

Juno wandered off after Durgun, instead running into a spider. However, the spider noticed the art Juno had drawn on Aka's egg an reached out to her with one of her legs. Juno curiously held onto it and was lead away by the spider. She was lead to the centre of the catacombs, where many different paintings, ornaments, and vases were all on display... including the Group.

Anton revealed himself, being much more larger than the other spiders. However he wasn't hostile towards Juno, instead impressed by her work on Aka's egg. Anton went on to explain how the Dark Lord's magic helped him grow a conscience, and allowed him to appreciate the beauty of the world. He tried explaining how he had a huge interest for art and crafts, something he was well known for.

### Dragons to the Rescue

While talking to Juno, Anton failed to realise that Sini, Rex and Aka had found them. Furious that her egg was now in Anton's possession, she began to angrily fight against the spiders, burning and destroying some of Anton's work in the process. While the spiders were distracted by Aka and Rex, Sini freed the rest of the Group. A fight broke out, which lead to the Group defeating most of Anton's minions and causing the rest to flee.

Aka attempted to kill Anton, but was stopped by Juno. Juno tried talking to Anton, saying she would like to be his friend. While everyone watched either cringing or doubting Anton would even accept being friends with an Elven child, Anton actually agreed. He also agreed to lead the Group out of the catacombs, as long as they let him live.

*TBA...*

## Navigation

 **Characters**
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