Ian avoided speaking during the walk toward the spiders. James decided to take the lead and began starting the search for trap materials while avoiding any of the major paths that held spiders.

James moved them away from the spiders as they started to patrol since no one had started any fights yet. James used his knife to cut up pieces of wood and trim his rope so that it could be used for the trap. Based on the materials the traps would not be very deadly but would act as mechanisms to slow down the spiders and prevent multiple from ganging up on them. He had already experienced what could happen if it came true. James did not want to see that again.

The others helped a little in the trap-making process. After some grumbling, Ian also joined in assisting instead of keeping watch. His help was invaluable because he could use more precision in his fire abilities to burn through wood or dry the swamp wood easily.

James assembled as much of the trap as he could before strapping it to his back. The rest of the trap would need to be assembled on sight. Preferably before the spiders arrived.

James pulled everyone to a stop after they entered the cave. If they continued any further the likelihood the spider monsters became spoked would shoot up. James began unpacking some of his bag and passing out the materials.

“Start the fire and begin pushing away the debris. Everyone try not to breathe anything in.”

Ian moved the pile of leaves and moss a little deeper into the cave and lit it on fire. The fire was slow to start before it grew. Yellow smoke started to spew from the burning materials. Ian kept control of the fire and focused the smoke on a cone pointed away from their group.

While Ian focused on the fire James, Derek and Naomi started setting up the other trap. Naomi and Derek worked on pounding stakes into the rough ground while James worked in the middle. Vines and some rope stretched between the two sides of the cave walls.

James looked up and focused on the corners of a cave. He quickly finished tying the knots he was working on and left them on the ground.

“I can hear them coming. Light up the torches.”

James took out a torch and Wes did the same. They lit the torches and set them to the sides. In front of them, the burning pile had started fulling burning on its own and the thickness of the smoke had grown.

“Ian duck!”

Ian started moving and a second later a spear hit his leg. Ian screamed and held his leg as it started to bleed. Wes hurried to his side and brought up his shield. As Ian was dealing with his wound the four spider monster men showed themselves in the flickering light of the torches. One of them in the front was unarmed and roared in annoyance and the smoke annoyed their eyes further.

Naomi and James started letting arrows fly. Little could be done to block the arrows when their vision was blocked so Naomi and James focused on weak points. After his experiences last time James focused on the man part of the monster and more specifically his shoulders. This was mainly because its shoulder controlled its spear and because if he missed it was likely he would hit the monster’s head or chest. If he could deal with the spider’s weapons then Wes could keep his shield and maybe they could all keep their heads.

The spider monsters stomped on the leaves and pushed them aside smothering them so they could not be a bother any longer. In the meantime, the two spider’s in the front were left with many arrow wounds. When the spiders continued forward after smashing the first trap they were confronted with the second. Still rubbing their eyes, now bloodshot from the leaves and moss, they stepped forward and triggered the second trap before they could see it.

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The tension in the ropes and vines snapped causing them to ricochet towards the spiders. The trap ensnared the spiders and wrapped around them causing the spiders to fall.

“Now!” James yelled.

Derek sprinted forward while James and Naomi provided cover. The spider’s spear had clattered to the ground which left both of the spider monsters down and defenseless. The first spider went down with a heavy swing to its head while James took out the second with a charged arrow also aimed at the head.

“Retreat!” James ordered, “How are you doing?”

“My mana reserves are just fine as always,” Ian replied.

“Wes I need you to hold onto the spider’s spear. Ian get ready for these next two. We need you now that the traps are gone.”

Wes picked up the spear that had impaled Ian and held it awkwardly as he tried to balance his two items. He eventually found a place for the spear resting on top of his shield. He kept adjusting his grip on both items as he wasn’t used to the spear and his shield was meant for two hands,

As the two remaining spiders stepped over the bodies of the others James took a free shot at the underbellies of both monsters. The two monsters went into a state of rage. Derek and Wes stepped up to confront them.

Derek this time around was doing a bit better with his swordplay because the spider’s accuracy was somewhat diminished. Derek swung his sword in wide arcs as Wes did what he could to block incoming attacks that tried to strike at Derek’s openings. Even though the spiders were held back by the previous two spiders these two were still stuck with some of the trap’s effects. Despite these setbacks, the two spider’s learned a few things about how to adapt their tactics.

To start they used their spears in sweeping motions at the height of Derek’s head. They timed it in such a way that Derek couldn’t spend much time close to the spiders before he had to back up lest he gets his head cut off.

Ian used his fire trying to increase the amount of time that the spiders left themselves open. The spider monsters were slowly being burned and cut up to their death by both arrows and swords.

James relaxed a little as the third spider finally collapsed after finally bleeding out. He looked over to Wes who was still standing tall, had his shield intact, and wasn’t injured. Wes was a bit awkward with the spear. He largely just kept it in place while occasionally moving it from side to side much like the spiders had been doing.

“Derek keep it occupied. Ian aim for its legs.”

“I know what to do,” Ian replied.

James also adjusted his aim towards the spider’s legs and arachnid body. There came a crunch as James’s charged shots hit the base of the spider’s leg. The shot broke through the carapace of the leg and tore it off. The spider stumbled and swung wildly. Derek gained a few cuts along the way but got in a few cuts and stabs in towards the spider’s armor. Everything covering its underside had fallen off. Only some pieces on its back were kept on by gravity alone.

Another arrow was charged up and released causing another spider leg to hit the cave floor. The spider stumbled and tried to stand up in an attempt to retreat back. It was clear to the monster that it was losing so it tried to fall back to a better position especially now that the effects of the trap were all but gone.

The spider trying to retreat just helped further its downfall. It spun around and sent spiderwebs into the air and let them attach themselves to the cave walls. It could barely get the webs attached to one-half of the walls before Ian started burning them and James released more arrows.

The arrows pelted the spider’s back, and the monster screamed.

“Pass me the spear,” James shouted.

Wes awkwardly dropped his shield and picked up the spear. James grabbed hold of the weapon after it spun in the air. James spun it forward and leaned back. James focused on his form and sprung forward letting the spear fly once it hit the right spot. James’s bow skills did not affect the ranged attack, as well as a true arrow, would, but it mattered little.

The retreating spider was struck before it could retreat more than ten steps and its broken legs failed it. The spider collapsed and gave some resistance before finally dying. The spider dissolved into nothingness only leaving the claimed spear behind.

James let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding in. They had survived the encounter. Everyone was safe for now.

‘The plan went better than I could have hoped. It’s a good thing Naomi spotted that coastal swamp moss growing. I’ll have to remember its location in the future. The other items and be easily replaced by other materials for the most part to create the smoke and spring trap but the moss cannot.’

James put his bow back on his back and turned to the novices’.

“You have all done well. Honestly. If we didn’t take the time to trap them things could have gone much worse. Now we have to deal with the boss. It will be further in the cave system. I can direct us through the tunnels without meeting any other spiders. Probably. Wes grabbed the spear and Derek start healing up while we walk. I will handle any other questions while we head to the boss.”