A Sticky Mess

BR33
February 685
Randolf fought for air as he scraped the sticky Spider web
off of his face. It then stuck to his hands instead, and he spent
precious moments struggling to free himself of it. It felt light in
his hands, and although it stuck to him it left no residue, but left
him feeling unclean. By the time he was free much had
changed in the lines around him.
The creatures had sewn enough confusion to create gaps
in the formations, though so far only a few had gotten through
the breaks. Officers tried to reorganise the troops but many
were panicking, and some were on the floor with their friends
over them trying to remove the web from their faces. Minutes
passed as the lines were formed, but luckily most of the spiders
were still concerned with their catch.
The Spiders had been quick to fall into the trap made by
the men of Holtenhaus. They had been so fixated on the goats
laid as bait that they had not noticed the encroaching spearmen
until they were surrounded. They had responded with expected
swiftness, but the warriors of Holtenhaus had not expected the
creatures to be able to fling web about like slingshot. Still it had
caused little issue in the long run and the Spiders had not taken
advantage of the confusion. They now just had to deal with the
Spiders in their trap and return back to camp with the bodies for
examination a task he hoped would be over soon.

Randolf hefted his spear and found his position in the

ranks. With a quick glance he noted that few of his comrades
had fallen so far. The ranks of spears formed a wall of bristles
that reminded him of a thorn bush, and he felt stronger among
them. The order was given and he began pressing forward. The
circle of warriors around the trap closed fast, and soon Randolf
found himself testing his spear for the first time.
The spider before him was a head or so shorter than him,
and had vicious fangs as long as his forearm. He and his
kinsmen thrust their spears at it, but it danced aside each blow
as it came in. He thrust again and again but to no avail, the
Spider was fast and he could not get a good strike in.
Anton, his sections officer, quickly judged the situation
and gave the order to brace for step. Randolf and the men
around him pulled their spear tips back and tensed to strike.
The order was given, and the second line took a long pace
forward while thrusting with their spears, screaming death with
their step. A heartbeat later the second rank stepped again,
passing through the front rank to take its place. No Spiders had
been struck by his section, but they had been forced back
towards the centre of the ring of spears.
Again the order was given, and this time Randolf and his
rank pressed forward, forcing the Spiders back more and more.
The order was given again and again, until the Spiders were
pressed in on each other and had no space to dodge the
incoming blows. Then the killing began.
Randolf was now in the second rank, thrusting his spear
through the narrow gap between the men in front of him. The
front rank began pinning the Spiders to the ground, and he
stepped forward to deliver the killing blow. Within minutes the
fight was over. Randolf had survived his first combat.