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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2001 - 2007 All Rights Reserved
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443
 In an instant you decide that there is nothing to be gained by standing against the Arachnari. It is simply too big, and too lethal to fight. Instead you throw your torch at the beast and move quickly for the nearest wall. Without thinking you begin to climb, ignoring crumbling stone and showers of ancient grit as you try and put distance between yourself and the monstrous spider. It is an attempt that may succeed but for one unforeseen circumstance.
Behind you the Arachnari flicks aside the torch and moves after you. In a shower of sparks the brand hits the thick matted web and ignites its thick fibres. Before the huge spider can make it half way to the edge of the web the fire takes hold, spreading across the centuries of desiccated refuse and food scraps. It is a conflagration that erupts in seconds into an inferno.
Desperately you haul yourself away from the rising tower of flame, your hope that the spreading blaze will destroy the Arachnari before it can take you. Against the distorting heat you climb, and it is then that you hear the creature's death-cry. Out of the centre of the fire the monster jumps for the wall only a few dozen metres from your position. Alive with flame the Arachnari screams into the burning pit and strikes out with its long arms, being consumed even as it attempts to kill you. In a thrashing spasm of pain the spider lashes out, before losing its footing and falling out into the pit. As you watch it falls, illuminating the edges of the great abyss as it plummets to its final destruction. The Arachnari Queen is gone, but you are not yet safe.
About you the fire builds, consuming the thick webbing and finding new paths into the many burrows that line the nest. Quickly each of these holes become new infernos and soon explosions begin to shake the edges of the pit. Whatever the Arachnari had hoarded over the years is now erupting in gushes of flame and smoke, and the fire is getting closer.
Before you can move more than thirty metres from the nest the flames reach you, consuming the fine meshes of web that cover all the stones. It is impossible to avoid the heat and as you reach out for a new handhold a massive explosion rocks the pit. In a rolling concussion of heat and flame you hang by one arm, your only chance of survival to be found in the strength of your remaining handhold.
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Test your strength attribute. If you are successful you are able to hold on and should turn to section 479. If you fail this test the explosion shakes you from the wall, throwing you out into the abyss. If this is to be your fate turn to section 473.
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This book, and its associated books and other documents in the Chronicles of Arborell series are the intellectual property of the author, Wayne F Densley, and all rights are reserved by him. Windhammer is best viewed at 1024 x 768 resolution. Any questions regarding the Chronicles of Arborell can be answered by emailing the author at densleyw@shoal.net.au
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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2001 - 2007 All Rights Reserved
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