DDW: The MegaMillipede

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 5 – The Waterworks]

> Ben, too, fell into line on Laurelin’s other flank. Mr. Bug, whatever
> it was, would have a hard time pushing through the trio of defenders.
> Laquendi hung back just a bit, closer to the northern end of the
> intersection, ready to fill in wherever needed. And when it became
> evident that her current location was safe enough, she opened a tiny
> pouch of dust. Some glittered in Laurelin’s Glowing Globe’s light, and
> some looked obsidian black. The silver haired elf began to chant, even
> as she began to scatter the dust all about her. Her hands began to
> weave a red latticework of glowing lines as they moved, and wherever
> she scattered the dust, it vanished in a cascade of yellow sparkles.

Just what the bug that was pursuing them actually *was* turned into a
topic of brief conversation as the others followed Finfin’s frantic
beckoning and continued onwards into the southern branch of the
intersection where they would presumably be safe from being caught by
marching feet from both directions.

“Ugh, a centipede,” Jeyshann sniffed as she led the others to the
incremental extra safety of the southern exit.

“I think it may be more of a Millipede,” Tramma offered as she followed
along.

“Yeah,” Lomi growled darkly. “A MEGAMillipede.”

“Now, about that,” Tramma quipped as the three women regrouped in the
southern opening of the intersection. Once again, the silver haired bard
began to chant, her words infused with Bardic Magic that filled her
allies hearts with courage… and their sword arms with an extra power.

Now wait, you silly goose
That nomenclature is loose
It can't be centipede
nor is it right to be millipede

The MegaMillipede, or whatever it was, crashed into the melee line,
giving Laurelin a painful bite. The High Priestess could almost feel the
poison being pumped into her veins, only to also immediately feel the
effects of the vile toxin utterly and completely thwarted by divine
intercession. As a ritualist herself, Laurelin well understood the
protective benefits of Abbot Kenobi’s Heroes’ Feast that he had provided
for their lunch. Immunity to poison was one such benefit. And as much as
the servants of her own Patron’s Mate might like to drone ON, there was
no doubting the utility of this most recent hour long sermon and
ceremony that culminated in the recent Heroes’ Feast.

But there was no mistaking the ugly fact that this bug bite HURT. A lot.
Even when able to ignore the no doubt awful poison that accompanied that
bite, the priestess knew that she could withstand a few more, and still
be on the Living side of that Great Divide between Life and the
Hereafter. But only a few. Gamely, she chopped back with her arming
sword, as did both Finfin and Ben on either side of her. And all could
see that their sword cuts and thrusts had been felt by the bug… but of
the two, Laurelin had been hurt worse.

Her own spellcasting now complete, Laquendi briefly admired the rocky
sheen it gave her skin. She was now much more resistant to incoming
physical damage of nearly all sorts. At least, for a while. Now, she
could return her focus back to the battle. And what she saw, the dusky
elf did not like at all.

“Incoming bug, North!” she exclaimed. And in the northeast corner of the
intersection, Finfin pivoted, raising his shield against the onrushing
interloper from the north.

Now, the Battle on the Eastern Front became serious, as the melee line
and the Giant ‘Pede hammered away at each other. The Abbot’s very being
was infused with what was truly Divine Power, a gift bestowed upon him
by the second invocation of the prayer by that name. This holy spell was
beloved of martial priests everywhere, allowing the Holy Might of their
Patron to both strengthen and guide their weapon arms, allowing them to
fight with a skill usually reserved for dedicated students of their
chosen weapon. This prayer enabled the Abbot to swing his blade with a
divinely inspired ease that would have rivalled his old adventuring
buddy, Dwarflord Balzac, and most certainly exceeded that of the elven
captain. He gave the bug a serious drubbing, and a glint in what may
have been one of the monster’s eyes promised that the Abbot would be next.

But first, the Eastern ‘Pede wanted to continue to taste the delectable
elven priestess it had previously sampled, and once again the bug scored
an even more painful bite on Laurelin’s hide. Quickly, and with the
great wisdom common to High Priests and Priestesses everywhere, Laurelin
decided to leave the hand to hand fighting to her ecclesiastical
“superior”, Abbot Kenobi, and his stout plate armour that would likely
provide a better defence than her lightweight elven chainmail. And to
her Ex, Finfin, who at this recent turn in his career was tending to
avoid armour altogether, now confident in his Abjurational protective
magics.

So rather than prosecute an attack of her own, Laurelin carefully
executed what was known in fencing circles as a “fighting retreat”, and
safely disengaged while retreating five feet. The bug hissed in
irritation. Usually, nothing at all would prevent it from simply flowing
forward the same feet forward and reengaging. But not when the
retreating priestess was flanked by two other warriors, holding their
ground.

And as Laurelin retreated, the Northern ‘Pede crashed into Finfin, who
deflected its bite with his shield and carved it up nearly as neatly as
the Abbot had served the Eastern ‘Pede. And Tramma’s ditty about
nomenclature continued.

I think you will concede
we've got an entirely new breed
let us all be agreed
those mundane names would mislead

Laquendi, too, had hastily backpedalled, putting herself closer to the
middle of the intersection, out of reach from either bug. A situation
that would continue… if and only if the captain and the Abbot managed to
hold off their respective bugs… and nothing unwanted came at them from
the undefended WESTERN front. To help in that effort, the silver haired
elf unleashed another salvo of Magic Missiles, while from the south,
Lomi added in her own accurate arrow fire.

Meanwhile, Jeyshann slinked up to stand right behind the injured
Laurelin. “Hold still,” the Cat Priestess hissed softly, and began to
chant. Laurelin instantly recognized Jeyshann’s Divine casting as an
invocation of the simplest of all possible healing prayers, something
that would achieve very little against her matching pair of bug bites.
But the elven priestess’ eyes widened as far more healing magic flowed
into her than she had expected. It was not enough to erase even a single
bite… but it helped. A LOT.

Now, Finfin went to town, so to speak, on the Northern Pede. Showing
that he did indeed still remember how to use a sword in only a single
hand, he gruesomely carved up the bug attacking them from the North,
almost but not quite putting it out of everyone’s misery. Seeing a
perfect opportunity to “bat cleanup”, Laquendi unleashed a scatter shot
of Magic Missiles, some impacting Finfin’s ‘Pede to the north, others
thumping into the Abbot’s to the east. That was enough to finish the job
on the northern ‘Pede, but the Menace from the East kept on coming.

And still, Tramma’s little ditty continued.

counting feet won't succeed
examining SI prefixes is decreed
but which direction must we read?
if upward to larger you'd heed

As good as Finfin might have been fighting using “sword and board”,
under the influence of his Patron’s Divine Power, Abbot Kenobi was
better. After some astonishing swordwork, the Eastern ‘Pede too was down
for good. But only to reveal a third colossal ‘Pede coming up from
behind on the Eastern Front.

The Abbot, however, was ready, and all Finfin had to do was pivot
slightly to meet the oncoming menace, joined in by first Laquendi, and
then Laurelin. Swords flashed, and bits of the second Eastern bug flew
everywhere, even as Tramma continued her inspiring discourse on
nomenclature.

then for collossal I propose dekapede
though in this dire need
an argument can be made for kilopede
but if down the list you'd proceed

The newly arrived Eastern dekapede, or whichever of Tramma’s names best
fit, was horribly mauled, every bit as badly as its northern compatriot
had been a moment earlier. Jeyshann sniffed disdainfully. “Men!” she
sneered. “Do we ladies have to do it ALL? Can’t even finish off one
‘Pede without our help..” A tossed dagger confirmed her point, finishing
off the most recently arrived of the giant ‘Pedes.

The Cat Priestess’ timing was fortunate, as Laquendi announced, “ANOTHER
‘Pede incoming from the North!”

Finfin once again pivoted, meeting the onrushing kilopede’s attack. This
time, the just arrived monster’s bite evaded both the elf’s shield, and
the powerful abjuration magics behind it. Only the beneficial effect of
being near the Abbot and his numerous blessings were enough to barely
prevent the bite from breaking skin. The drubbing he gave the ‘Pede in
return, however, was gory in the extreme.

The Abbot himself, seeing no remaining menaces to the east, hurled
himself to the affray to the north, joined by Laquendi who had clearly
decided that it was time for her to engage in hand to hand. The dusky
elf’s dagger stroke, sadly, was more a menace to herself than the bug.
The Abbot’s sword blow, perhaps stealing Laquendi’s luck, or more likely
following Belmak’s Divine Empowerment, finished off the bug.

And there were no more, and once again an eerie peace descended over the
Waterworks, marked only by Tramma’s final stanza:

it probably should be femtopede
I can continue this as you need
Proposing perhaps picopede
I’d be opposed to nanopede

“But I had more!” the bard lamented, seeing the peace around her.

“Keep it going!” the Abbot suggested. “I want to reach that Ecru thing
while my buffs are still running!”