Session 23. (11/9/09)

Returning from their ambush raid on the Wajin food convoy (see "Ezo Pickings", a sideline by Guest Director Anthony Hummerston), our heroes find Yakumo in flux due to the recent sighting of a gigantic spider near the village. Menkakush immediately sends them off to deal with the spider; however, Haku has to remain behind to treat Mineo's critical wounds.

Kokuma is soon on the spider's trail and follows it into a small hanging valley overlooking the broad Yakumo plain. Yoshi and Kokuma combine to locate the spider's lair, hidden among the steep slopes of the little valley. Miyoshi directs the operation - a usual they sneak up and then shout. Kachamaru remains at bow range while the others wait with swords and spears ready.

Miyoshi issues his challenge and immediately four normal-sized totate-kumo and four juveniles scurry out. One of the juveniles surprises Miyoshi but fails to land a fand, so Miyoshi spears it and kills it on the second thrust. Yoshi whirls both swords at a medium spider and lands four blows, easily killing it. Kachamaru, his pent up excitement focussed on his first arrow, aims at a medium spider but only manages to snap his bow. He drops it in disgust and walks into the fray, drawing his sword. Kokuma swings his tetsubo and retires a medium spider with three straight strikes.

Miyoshi now takes on a medium spider, misses it but swings round and hits it with his butt. He follows up with two pokes from the sharp end and finishes the creature. Yoshi takes on the last medium spider and continues his fine form with four more hits from his two blades, killing it. Kachamaru wades in to mop up the juveniles and finds his sword is much more effective than his bow (especially now that it is broken), and kills two in two hits. Kokuma gets the last juvenile, first bashing it so that it is too dazed to attack, then smashing it to bits.

The adventurous four advance to the mouth of the burrow and find waiting for them the gigantic spider, flanked by a medium spider and eight juveniles. Hearts in mouths, the four move in to attack. Miyoshi decides to wipe out the juveniles, and approaches a particularly weedy one. However, Miyoshi's spear thrusts are also weedy and it takes two pokes to kill the spider. Yoshi and Kachamaru double-team the gigantic spider; Yoshi hits with one sword while parrying with the other, scoring hits of 13 and 11; Kachamaru casts Breath of the Dragon and scorches the spider for 12 damage, then slicing it with his sword for another 7. Kokuma is left with the medium spider, so he smites it twice, almost killing it.

Miyoshi sets about another juvenile and again kills it in two hits, the second a wasted critical. Yoshi hits the gigant for 10 then misses, while Kachamaru scores a critical 21 and an 8 - the spider still seems unfazed, but in its haste to take revenge manages to bite itself and succumb to its own poison. Kokuma finishes the medium spider (with a wasted critical) and sets about a juvenile, clubbing it to death with one sweep of the iron-spiked staff.

Miyoshi takes on his third juvenile, but this one is slightly tougher and it takes three of his weak thrusts to finish this one. Meanwhile, Yoshi creams the ailing gigantic spider with a maximum critical, putting the boot in with the other sword to make sure. Kachamaru turns and slashes a juvenile, killing it, and then repeating the trick on a second juvenile target. Kokuma smashes the penultimate juvenile and Yoshi downs the last one with a totally wasted critical from his wakizashi - his katana had already inflicted the killing blow.

The four heroes now prepare to advance down the tunnel, Kachamaru casting Light to show the way. They think they have killed all the spiders - but then, they have thought that before!

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