The scrabs flattened themselves onto the rocky surface and developed amazing speed reaching the elven phantoms in no time. Suddenly, another scrab left the entrance and screeched loudly with his small hand-like appendages gesturing towards where the real group waited for its ambush. The party had been discovered by psionics no doubt but the scrabs still needed to cover some ground before they could close in for battle. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the psionicists and spellcasters among the insectmen…

The four warrior were directed by their leader towards where most of the party laid in ambush behind the phantoms elves but three warriors were closer than the scrabs expected. The insectmen's path brought them directly by where Gaigin clenched his spear tightly in anticipation.

"Damn!" Gaigin cursed loudly, seeing the scrab by the entrance shout warning to it's fellows. Only four! That meant possibly dozens of scrabs still left in the bug hole. Even worse, the scrab witches and mindbenders would have a clear shot at the pack from the cover of the hole. "To the Dragon's belly with all Scrabs!" He cursed again, even louder.

A flick of Gaigin's wrist brought his mask down across his face. Hefting his spear and rising from his hiding place behind a low-lying boulder, Gaigin began to evaluate his tactics even as his feet started to move towards the hole. Things looked ill for him indeed. Even if he could reach the hole, he wouldn't last two minutes against those scrabs. The only thing in his favor was that his lack of armor made no difference; a mekillot's hide wouldn't stop the attacks these bastards could lay on him.

Hoping Koreth and Rayne were on their way to help, wishing he was close enough to signal them silently before rushing off, Gaigin charged. With luck, he could draw the scrab's attention and let the other two warriors flank the scrabs and seal off the entrance. Besides, with all hope of surprise blown, there was no harm in letting the scrabs think they were being attacked by a horde of Berserk Gladiators. Throwing up a quick mental defense on the run, another caravan, Gaigin increased his pace, barreling towards the insects at a full blown sprint. His spear flailing wildly as he bounded towards them, Gaigin began to bellow a fierce warcry, straining his lungs and turning his face an angry red beneath his war-mask. As the beast drew nearer, Gaigin cried out at the top of his already strained lungs, words shouted in hoarse Elven.

"TYR AND THE PACK!"

Adrenaline pumping in his ears, his throat growing hoarse with shouting, Gaigin reached the scrabs. Legs pumping wildly, Gaigin lowered his spear-tip and threw every ounce of weight behind the thrust, hoping to find a kink in the nearest scrab's chitin.

The vicious, chitin spear-head struck true, but found no vulnerable joint. Instead, the tip punched straight through the scrab's chitin, gouging deep into the pulpy white flesh beneath and driving slivers of cracked chitin into the scrab's vulnerable under-flesh. The beast let out a strange, keening wail as Gaigin's momentum drove the spear ever deeper. Gaigin recovered quickly from the impact and gave his spear a powerful twist, wrenching it from the scrab's body and letting out a fierce whoop of glee that sounded hollow beneath the wooden mask. Ignoring the gore that splattered across his tattered robe, Gaigin drew back his spear for another thrust.

The beast was mortally wounded but still swung about its two claws. Both claws ripped Gaigin on his torso; they were merely scratches but drew blood nonetheless. The insectman wobbled on its many feet and tried to focus its sight on the battle. All it saw was a veritable giant of a man with a green mask that held its entrails dangling from a long spear; the spear that would spell out its doom if things did not change.

Aryus decided to change his intended target. Rubbing a small clump of fur against small piece of glass, he swiftly released the cerulean energy on the screeching scrab. The scrab turned bright blue, tiny electric discharge springing from his body. At the same time, in the mindscape, Aryus quickly build ruins in which his barely glowing mental form hid. In the physical world, Aryus drew his bow and took an iron-tipped arrow from his quarrel. The scrab leader was confused by the magic that surrounded his body and moved to take cover at the cave's entrance to try and stay away from any missile fire. The spell went off as the scrab moved; crackling energy discharging straight into its body and blackening its once white chitin. The scrab's intent was halted as all it worried about was standing still trying to rid himself of the blue energy that surrounded him.

As the beast slowed down to a halt, Tak hefted his spear, took two steps forward and let it fly with a loud grunt. The weapon flew true trailing colorful feathers and punctured the leader scrab right about the abdomen. The energy was set off again, much milder this time as the beast went about trying to dislodge the shaft from his body.

Mendi glanced at the forthcoming battle with some fear in the furthest corners of his mind, which reeled at the mere thought of a new contact with a scrab psionicist. The elf quickly scanned the mindscape to know how he could expect to be attacked. His last experience with the scrabs lead him to rely rather on his scimitar and crossbow rather than on the Way, and to keep his defenses fully provisioned, but he stood ready for opportunities.

Mendi braced his mind to give every scrap of strength to his inner Will. He lost himself in the familiar forest in which he thought he would be best protected against the scrab's attempt at insinuation.

The elf took his crossbow firmly, and fired at the scrab that was at the hole's entrance. His quarrel flew right into the scrab's breast but bounced off a hard chitin plate. The elf cursed as he recranked his crossbow looking in apprehension as the other scrabs closed in.

Elric remains hidden in the sand as he reaches into his nexus. There were mindbenders about and he wanted to stay as hidden from them as he was from the scrabs.

MINDSCAPE

The still form of the half-elven warlock fades from view, leaving only rolling sand dunes in its place.

Defenses in place Elric looks back down the dune. Seeing his tagster companion safe and out of harms way, the half-elf prepares to charge into the unsuspecting scrabs. The half-elf takes out his two swords and readies himself for the clash with the onrushing insectmen.

Visions of Mendi's torment flashes through Rayne's mind. Casting it aside, Rayne's image in the mindscape fades away, leaving an empty cell much like those she spent so much time in as a slave. The mul heads for the insectmen that are about to close in with the rest of the group hoping to get into the fray before the less stronger of the party have to do melee with the insectmen.

Koreth was glad when the four scrabs rushed out, the ruse had worked better than he had expected. He then noticed the scrab that swayed from the rest and had not been fooled by gusts of air and illusionary elves. Koreth started towards the troublesome bug, but then noticed Gaigin was already on it. <He'll handle it well enough, better to flank those three warriors....> His mind raced with strategy, Crel's teachings flooding past.

Koreth gripped his sword tightly as he charged at the three scrabs that had been tricked by the illusionary elves. He knew he could do more damage there, and it gave him the chance to show up that brat elf boy. He raised stone and mud brick walls about him, forming what looked like a noble's fortified manor in the mindscape. He wished that he could utilize other psionics, but he would have to rely on his own strength for this battle. It would not be good to drain what strength in the way he had.

The elven girl was no doubt scared at the prospect of invading a scrab's nest and it could be seen by the way she danced. She did not flow as before, nor did her hair follow her body in tune with her circling. She was not as graceful but she was just as deadly. She called forth more energy from the land and gave off a brief smile when it flooded her as if she was relieved by it. Another small white ball came out from her pouches and she sprinkled it around her. Instantly, the ground around her smoked and a faint ring could be seen. The sweet smell enveloped her and she once more felt safe in her smoky cage.

Lirón stopped running all of the sudden. He kneeled on the rocky ground and pulled his bow. He held his shot for what seemed and eternity but then held his breath and released. The arrow swished to its target and sunk into white chitin with aloud CHINK. The arrow splintered chitin and lost itself in the scrab's body. A second arrow soon followed but this one did not pierce the beast's armor. The elven boy gently set the bow and quiver down and drew his sword. The sword shone a deadly white in the sun's waning light and the elven boy rushed the wounded scrab with gleeful lust yelling all the while, "Aaaayyyy. For the Bird Runners!"

ROUND 2

Still bellowing like a rampaging mekillot, Gaigin thrust again with his spear, hoping to score another vicious wound and finish his opponent quickly. The spear struck true once more, piercing a joint between one of the scrab's flailing claws and driving deep into scrab-flesh once more. The insectman flailed its claws again more out of instinct more than anything else. It again scores two raking wounds on Gaigin's unprotected flesh but the warrior does not seem to notice them. The ex-caravan guard is intent on killing the beast and to be able to help out the others in the party.

The windmage's mental form briefly reappeared as Aryus changed the ruins into a verdant forest. His mental self disappeared once more, while Aryus released his first arrow toward the screeching scrab. The arrow flew right into the scrab's breast, piercing its chitin and drawing a disgusting greenish ichor. At the same time, electrical discharges raged around the scrab who had moved when the arrow hit him. But Aryus was already drawing his bow once more, and prayed the wind lords for another lucky strike. Though Aryus had asked for the wind lords' blessing, his arrow flew of his mark. Aryus grimly drew his bow with a new iron-tipped arrow, hoping for a better result.

Once more, Mendi fired at the scrab at the entrance of the hole. The elf tried to imbue the bolt with all his hate of the insect, a fact that smiled on him, for the quarrel flew right into the scrab's head, nearly knocking him out. "By the rotten eyes of Kalak !" said the elf, while he tried to recrank his crossbow. The scrab was barely on its feet and still surrounded by the blue crackling energy. The beast was confused and could not concentrate itself on attacking anyone while its psionic attacks failed due to lack of concentration.

Leaping forth in a spray of sand Elric charges toward the group of scrabs. Swords coming quickly to hand he races forward. In an effort to end the battle quickly, Elric strikes in a double slash trying to hack the weaker appendages off rather than face the tough chitin of the scrab's body. The metal blade bites deep into the scrab and shears off one of the claws and half its face with it. The scrab screeches loudly and a garbled noise comes forth along with pieces of torn chitin. The warlock follows up with its bone short sword and it plunges it deep into the insect's body. The insect twisted in agony and raked its only claw on the warlock's body. The sharp hard bone drew hot blood just as the bone blade entered the insect's gut. The scrab barely turned around to meet Rayne's attack.

The mul bellows a dwarven battle cry and leaps into action. Leaping in front of the scrab, the mul gains the element of surprise. Rayne launches in with her sword and hears the sound of bone on chitin, but it was not followed by the crunch and the quick bite into the flesh beneath. Uttering a dwarven curse under her breath while her sword skirts off the scrab's natural armor, Rayne still manages to strike a blow across the scrab's face, knocking it back so she can catch her footing.

Striking again, Rayne leads first with her blade and follows with her sword. The tortoise blade bites deep between the beast's chitin plates. Her sword slashes across the line between the chitin plates, striking a deep gash. The gore pours forth as Rayne once again dances away to safety, not wanting to be too close to the creature for more than a few seconds. Fortunately, the scrab falls down dead in front of both warriors who quickly grinned to each other and looked for other opponents left standing.

His eyes shining with murderous intent, Koreth rushed at the scrabs. Choosing his target, the scrab on the right flank, he threw himself at it with his full weight and blade. Hearing Gaigin's war cry, the scrab turned. Koreth cursed as bug man lowered itself in response to his charging form. They impacted with a dull thud as Koreth's breath left his body. His blade only skittered across the scrab's chitin as they struck, unable to penetrate the hard outer skin of the scrab. The insectman however clasped both its claws on the warrior's upper arm. A sharp cry left Koreth as once again his blood sees the sun's light.

Tak quickly left the scrab leader and concentrated on the insect that closed in on Lirón. The elf let Tak close in first while he danced around trying to bring his sword to bare. Both halfling hunter and scrab warrior joined battle. Tak's life dagger struck deep drawing ichor from the insect's body while his second thrust skidded harmlessly off the hard chitin. The scrab retaliated with two sharp claws. Tak ducked underneath the first one but the second one caught the small hunter under its chin, dangerously close to his throat. Lirón waited no longer and bawled into the pair seeing that the halfling was in trouble. His strong hit broke the two and his bone sword came down quickly on the surprised insectman. The sword bites deep into chitin cracking it under its onslaught.

Migdalia again borrowed energy from the land and put it to deadly use. She gestured with her hands and as she slowly raised them. Her palms slowly closed into hard fist as they passed over her head. She suddenly extended her hands and pointed her fingers towards Gaigin's wounded opponent. Three bright lights left her hands and sailed directly into the scrab's face or what was left of it. The insect dropped dead in its tracks right in front of Gaigin who was clutching his spear tight reading himself for the killing blow.

MINDSCAPE 1 (Only Rayne)

The cell is empty and quiet as it has always been. The mul's body is sore from a hard day's work and training as her master had been specially brutal with her today. Suddenly, there is noise outside her cell and chains are heard dragging across the floor. The cell door opens and Grondor, the house's worst slave driver, enters the room. Spiked whip in hand, the man turns towards the young mul. "Lessons not over yet, dumb mul." A young Rayne turns her head towards the voice but she recoils in fear as she sees her master's body with a hideous scrab's head…

MINDSCAPE 2 (Only Mendi)

The forest was bustling with activity as normal and Mendi felt confident hiding in its depths. The noise suddenly stopped and all the birds took flight quickly. Mendi strained his ears and could discern strange buzzing sounds coming from afar. The elf raised his head to try and see above the canopy but the sun was blocked a weird, dark cloud. The elf's face drained its color as he recognizes the cloud as millions and millions of small flying scrabs coming towards him…

Your actions…

OUT OF CHARACTER

HEALTH STATUS

Remember the scale:

Healthy (H) 100% hitpoints remaining

Slightly Wounded (SiW) 75% to 100% hitpoints remaining

Wounded (W) 50% to 75% hitpoints remaining

Seriously Wounded (SeW) 25% to 50% hitpoints remaining

Mortally Wounded (MW) 0% to 25% hitpoints remaining

Gaigin (W), (SiW) Scrab1 DEAD

Ayrus (H), (SiW) Scrab leader (MW)

Mendi (SiW), (SiW)

Elric (SiW), (SiW) Scrab4 DEAD

Rayne (SiW), (SiW)

Koreth (SiW), (SiW) Scrab2 (H)

Female elf (H)

Tak (SiW), (H) Scrab3 (SeW)

Male elf (SiW)

GENERAL

Elric, Rayne, and Gaigin "ONLY" see "more movement" on the hole's entrance. It will take anyone 1 full round to reach the entrance.

Alright good going here. Please give me 2 more rounds of actions.

Please make sure you use John's other address since we have few players anyway. I will answer for Tak for the next few turns.

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian