RAVEN'S GAMBIT | Part 28: Sting of the Desert
The chute spat them out one by one in a hiss of displaced air and sliding limbs. Sand—hot, dry, and fine as ash—swallowed their boots and knees. The sudden change in environment disoriented everyone.
Hachiro Noboru was the first to his feet, scanning the bizarre terrain. “Desert? Underground?” he thought. But no time to ponder.
From the shadows of a craggy dune, three massive scorpions, each the size of a draft horse, scuttled into view—barbed tails raised high, claws snapping.
“Protect the wounded!” Seren Willowmere called, her hands already glowing with healing energy as she rushed to Kael ‘Fingers’ Vire and others too weak to stand.
Theron Blackroot, still gripping Whelm, heard the echo of a foreign battle cry not from his lips but his blood—the warhammer called for dwarven rage. The warlock charged, channeling an Eldritch Blast into the hammer’s head.
Elowyn Mosswhisper, driven by fury and grief, plunged forward with Wave, the mystical trident in hand.
Khopesh, the tireless undead juggernaut, crashed into the fray beside them.
From behind, Brock ‘Bull’ Dawson, drenched and wheezing, drew his Colt Navy Revolver with a grin. “Finally, something I can shoot without swimmin’.”
Bang!
A shot cracked through the chamber, striking one of the beasts and making it shriek.
Lin of the Whispering Wind, exhausted of spells, looked around helplessly. She had no weapon. No strength. Just resolve.
Kael the Ember-Eyed cast Ray of Frost, the chilling beam hitting one scorpion’s jointed leg.
Elric Duskwind drew a dagger, tight in his grip.
Kaelen Firebrand loosed a bolt from his light crossbow—it bounced off the chitin like a pebble.
Thalia Emberbranch fired her composite longbow but missed, her arrow vanishing into sand.
Elaren Duskroot and Seren focused on Hachiro, mending his earlier wounds as best they could.
Trix Vorn fired her blaster pistol, scoring a hit.
Shino loosed an arrow from his short bow.
Taya Vex shot one with her hold-out blaster, scorching its flank.
Then, the monsters descended.
One scorpion clamped Theron and Elowyn in its pincers.Another lunged and clawed at Khopesh.
A third swiped, but missed entirely, kicking up sand.
Through pain and bleeding, Hachiro Noboru rose. “With me!”
He charged, katana flashing. The blade bit deep into the beast harassing Theron.
Inspired, Theron lifted Whelm, crackling with infernal power, and slammed it into the chitin—cracks formed, but the creature still stood.
Elowyn, injured, drove Wave into soft undercarriage flesh. The scorpion hissed, still fighting.
Brock fired again—hit. Still not enough.
Seren joined the assault, missing with her crossbow but buying time.
Kael handed a potion to Thalia, who downed it quickly, color returning to her face.
Suddenly, Elric Duskwind leapt, plunging his dagger into a vulnerable eye—the scorpion twitched, spasmed, and collapsed.
One down.
Kaelen Firebrand finally landed a hit with his crossbow.
Elaren healed Kael ‘Fingers’ Vire, who sat up with a groan.
But Trix’s blaster jammed.Shino fired again.
Taya Vex missed.Khopesh was wounded, bleeding dark ichor.
Hachiro, now bruised and stung, resisted the venom—his body held strong.
Theron, now wary, stepped back and sent an Eldritch Blast from range.
Khopesh slammed the beast. It refused to fall.
Brock’s revolver clicked empty. Jammed.
Lin of the Whispering Wind, with shaking hands, drew a light crossbow. Twang! It struck true.
Kael the Ember-Eyed, finding courage, charged in with dagger in hand and buried it deep into the scorpion’s underbelly.
Two down.
Elric stabbed the last one.Thalia followed up, burying her short sword in a soft joint.Kael ‘Fingers’ Vire, newly healed, sprang up and finished it—his dagger found the brain.
Three scorpions down.
They stood still for a long breath, waiting for another threat.
None came.
The sand whispered beneath them. Their wounds stung. The air was dry and quiet.
For the first time in what felt like hours, they rested.
Not because it was safe—nothing in White Plume Mountain ever was.
But because it was necessary.