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Modern/Delta Green - The Beginning of the End (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 6034344" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Cross My Heart...: Part 4 – Grimsdyke Hill</strong></p><p></p><p>It was just an hour before dawn when the agents descended on Grimsdyke Hill. The hill was located roughly a mile outside the town. It was a small, domed hill about a hundred yards high at its pinnacle. Rough ground, farmland, and open fields bounded by stone walls lay around it. At the center of the hill was a cave entrance.</p><p></p><p>The children of Camside were gathered, chanting together. The echoing, haunting sounds were performed in a sing-song child’s voice. </p><p> </p><p>"We're not alone," said Archive.</p><p></p><p>Several hard-looking men, tattooed and weapons at the ready, stood around the perimeter. Jim-Bean worked quickly to free Jamie, who was tied to a stone altar facing the cave entrance. </p><p></p><p>One of them, a hook-nosed man with his head shaved, caught sight of Hammer. "You! You're Hammer, roit?"</p><p></p><p>Archive blinked. "How did he…"</p><p></p><p>"Not that many African-American yanks around here," said Hammer. "Why aren't you going in?"</p><p></p><p>"That's my kid!" the hardened criminal choked back a sob. </p><p></p><p>A faint glow emanated from the cave, growing brighter. Then, as they watched, something clambered up from the dark.</p><p></p><p>Eihort was a bloated blanched oval supported on myriad fleshless legs. Eyes formed in the gelatinous oval and stared at in all directions. </p><p> </p><p>Every child in the Survivors club was present, prostrated and straining near the cave mouth as the oily, corpulent thing slowly shambled across them. Some were crying while others were in a state of shock; they were terrified but unable to resist Eihort’s entrance into the world. </p><p></p><p>The Shambler Below rested obesely atop the children, its patchy, quivering bulk teeming with Brood. Leprous bits of pallid hide hung from the body. Multi-faceted eyes form and disappear. The thick, fleshless legs dragged the ground limply. Beneath and around the foul procession writhe millions of fleshy, grubby Brood.</p><p></p><p>"You've got to do something!" sobbed the man. "Those are our children!"</p><p></p><p>Archive nodded and stepped forward. "<span style="font-family: 'Impact'">By the power of the Elder Sign, leave those children be!</span>"</p><p></p><p>The reaction was instantaneous. The children broke out of the spell, screaming and fleeing to either side of Eihort. They made it a few paces in all directions before fell, vomiting up bloated white spiders.</p><p></p><p>Kerwin turned. "You!" His features twisted into an inhuman mask of rage. "YOU'VE BEEN VERY BAD!"</p><p></p><p>That was all the men needed. They opened fire on Eihort.</p><p></p><p>Kerwin charged straight at Archive, growing with each step. The tips of his limbs disintegrated into foaming piles of spiders until he wasn't running but sweeping along like a swarm of bees blowing in the wind. Two clumps caved off and wriggled in the grass, coalescing into something worse.</p><p></p><p>Archive muttered another spell but it had no effect as the billowing mass that was once Kerwin was upon him. He disappeared in a pale maelstrom of spindly legs. </p><p></p><p>The two wriggling forms disappeared into the ground, burrowing out of sight…but only for a moment. Seconds later there was a terrific tremor that rocked the hill. Two huge worms with spider-like maws dangling far too many legs reared to either side of Eihort, roaring their arrival.</p><p></p><p>The men stopped firing and ran for their children, dragging them to safety.</p><p></p><p>Hammer charged between the giant worm-things, diving and tumbling as first one and then the other spider-worm dove at him with its massive, convulsing maw. He came up pistols blazing right in Eihort's face – if it even had one.</p><p></p><p>Jim-Bean put his arms out and floated up into the air, a heavy satchel dangling from one shoulder. He hoisted a RPG-7, with a rocket already loaded, over one shoulder. </p><p></p><p>"This one's for Cornwell." </p><p></p><p>The rocket FWHOOSHED through the air, trailing smoke as it impacted Eihort. The spider-thing squealed in rage, flailing in the explosion. </p><p></p><p>For a moment all was silent. Then Eihort charged out of the dust and debris right towards Hammer. </p><p></p><p>Inside the mass of spiders, Archive realized that they weren't reaching him because Jim-Bean had shielded him. It was the only thing preventing them from penetrating every orifice. He stumbled blindly out of the mass, away from the Kerwin-spider-pile.</p><p></p><p>The worms, momentarily distracted by the explosion, turned their wrath on the remaining men. One by one they hoovered them up like giant vacuums, engulfing trees, bushes, and earth with giant gulps. </p><p></p><p>Archive spun and chanted a quick incantation, immolating the mass that pursued him – swarming around trees and over rocks, heedless of any obstacle. The spiders burst into a million little flames, shrieking as one. Whatever was left of Kerwin exploded in cinders.</p><p></p><p>Hammer was still firing when the stars blotted out above him. He had a moment to realize that Eihort had leaped, and then flattened himself as the bulk of the thing landed on him.</p><p></p><p>Once again Jim-Bean's shield held, barely. The thousands of fat spiderlings scrabbled ineffectively over Hammer's prone form, buried in the dirt from the sheer mass of the Great Old One's bulk. He was going to suffocate long before the spiders got him.</p><p></p><p>Jim-Bean levitated Archive out of the two giant spider-worms' reach just as a drooling maw snapped at his dangling legs. Frustrated that their prey had escaped, they turned on the remaining men, who fled into the bush.</p><p></p><p>Keeping up the shields on his allies, levitating himself and Archive…it was becoming a strain. Jim-Bean could feel the Realizer crystal he wore around his neck heating up. It took every ounce of his psychic reserve, and he had to dig deep for just one more.</p><p></p><p>He flung the satchel full of rockets, thermite grenades, and C-4 at the Eihort. It sailed in a perfect arc, guided by his telekinesis, to embed itself in the thing's massive bulk. </p><p></p><p>And then he didn't see Eihort. In its place was Eihort's true form, an ethereal, almost angelic presence, composed of burning wheels, white angel's wings and wise, ancient eyes.</p><p></p><p>When it spoke, a fatherly, wise-sounding chorus resonated in Jim-Bean's head. "<span style="font-family: 'Impact'">I WALK AMONG YOU IN THE FLESH. ACCEPT MY BARGAIN AND I WILL MAKE YOU MY—</span>"</p><p></p><p>Jim-Bean triggered the detonator with a flick of his thumb.</p><p></p><p>Explosions blossomed on Eihort, small at first, then larger as the rockets caught fire. The rockets spiraled off, one of them skewering one of the spider-worms. The forest caught on fire as the thermite grenades burst, some of them next to Eihort, others blasted further away. White hot flames engulfed the obscene spider-thing's flailing form.</p><p></p><p>Grimsdyke Hill convulsed as if it were giving birth. The tunnel-womb opened wider and air, leaves and rocks were sucked back into the narrowing hole. First one worm, than another was torn from its moorings and it was clear that the things were as much spider-beneath as they were worm-above, spindly legs snapping under the wrath of a labyrinth calling them home.</p><p></p><p>But Eihort held on. Hammer gasped to life as the bulk quivered over him, stumpy legs dug into the earth all around him. It had not gained purchase fast enough to sink all of its limbs in; only the front two. It scrambled to anchor its lower half, which shielded Hammer from being sucked in as well. Hammer had seconds before he was sucked into the labyrinth cave or Eihort regained his grip and stayed forever to infest man like a bloated leech.</p><p></p><p>Hammer put his two Glocks to the massive legs, wide as tree trunks. He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger, praying that Thredra's fire-bullets would do the trick.</p><p></p><p>The effect was instantaneous. Instead of tearing a small hole it was like two cannons tore through Eihort's limbs. The spider-thing squealed, tumbling as it bounced once, twice, and was called home beneath Grimsdyke Hill.</p><p></p><p>The cavern winked shut and instantly the wind stopped. Jim-Bean and Archive floated to the ground.</p><p></p><p>Hammer got to his feet. "Where's Jamie?"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 6034344, member: 3285"] [b]Cross My Heart...: Part 4 – Grimsdyke Hill[/b] It was just an hour before dawn when the agents descended on Grimsdyke Hill. The hill was located roughly a mile outside the town. It was a small, domed hill about a hundred yards high at its pinnacle. Rough ground, farmland, and open fields bounded by stone walls lay around it. At the center of the hill was a cave entrance. The children of Camside were gathered, chanting together. The echoing, haunting sounds were performed in a sing-song child’s voice. "We're not alone," said Archive. Several hard-looking men, tattooed and weapons at the ready, stood around the perimeter. Jim-Bean worked quickly to free Jamie, who was tied to a stone altar facing the cave entrance. One of them, a hook-nosed man with his head shaved, caught sight of Hammer. "You! You're Hammer, roit?" Archive blinked. "How did he…" "Not that many African-American yanks around here," said Hammer. "Why aren't you going in?" "That's my kid!" the hardened criminal choked back a sob. A faint glow emanated from the cave, growing brighter. Then, as they watched, something clambered up from the dark. Eihort was a bloated blanched oval supported on myriad fleshless legs. Eyes formed in the gelatinous oval and stared at in all directions. Every child in the Survivors club was present, prostrated and straining near the cave mouth as the oily, corpulent thing slowly shambled across them. Some were crying while others were in a state of shock; they were terrified but unable to resist Eihort’s entrance into the world. The Shambler Below rested obesely atop the children, its patchy, quivering bulk teeming with Brood. Leprous bits of pallid hide hung from the body. Multi-faceted eyes form and disappear. The thick, fleshless legs dragged the ground limply. Beneath and around the foul procession writhe millions of fleshy, grubby Brood. "You've got to do something!" sobbed the man. "Those are our children!" Archive nodded and stepped forward. "[FONT="Impact"]By the power of the Elder Sign, leave those children be![/FONT]" The reaction was instantaneous. The children broke out of the spell, screaming and fleeing to either side of Eihort. They made it a few paces in all directions before fell, vomiting up bloated white spiders. Kerwin turned. "You!" His features twisted into an inhuman mask of rage. "YOU'VE BEEN VERY BAD!" That was all the men needed. They opened fire on Eihort. Kerwin charged straight at Archive, growing with each step. The tips of his limbs disintegrated into foaming piles of spiders until he wasn't running but sweeping along like a swarm of bees blowing in the wind. Two clumps caved off and wriggled in the grass, coalescing into something worse. Archive muttered another spell but it had no effect as the billowing mass that was once Kerwin was upon him. He disappeared in a pale maelstrom of spindly legs. The two wriggling forms disappeared into the ground, burrowing out of sight…but only for a moment. Seconds later there was a terrific tremor that rocked the hill. Two huge worms with spider-like maws dangling far too many legs reared to either side of Eihort, roaring their arrival. The men stopped firing and ran for their children, dragging them to safety. Hammer charged between the giant worm-things, diving and tumbling as first one and then the other spider-worm dove at him with its massive, convulsing maw. He came up pistols blazing right in Eihort's face – if it even had one. Jim-Bean put his arms out and floated up into the air, a heavy satchel dangling from one shoulder. He hoisted a RPG-7, with a rocket already loaded, over one shoulder. "This one's for Cornwell." The rocket FWHOOSHED through the air, trailing smoke as it impacted Eihort. The spider-thing squealed in rage, flailing in the explosion. For a moment all was silent. Then Eihort charged out of the dust and debris right towards Hammer. Inside the mass of spiders, Archive realized that they weren't reaching him because Jim-Bean had shielded him. It was the only thing preventing them from penetrating every orifice. He stumbled blindly out of the mass, away from the Kerwin-spider-pile. The worms, momentarily distracted by the explosion, turned their wrath on the remaining men. One by one they hoovered them up like giant vacuums, engulfing trees, bushes, and earth with giant gulps. Archive spun and chanted a quick incantation, immolating the mass that pursued him – swarming around trees and over rocks, heedless of any obstacle. The spiders burst into a million little flames, shrieking as one. Whatever was left of Kerwin exploded in cinders. Hammer was still firing when the stars blotted out above him. He had a moment to realize that Eihort had leaped, and then flattened himself as the bulk of the thing landed on him. Once again Jim-Bean's shield held, barely. The thousands of fat spiderlings scrabbled ineffectively over Hammer's prone form, buried in the dirt from the sheer mass of the Great Old One's bulk. He was going to suffocate long before the spiders got him. Jim-Bean levitated Archive out of the two giant spider-worms' reach just as a drooling maw snapped at his dangling legs. Frustrated that their prey had escaped, they turned on the remaining men, who fled into the bush. Keeping up the shields on his allies, levitating himself and Archive…it was becoming a strain. Jim-Bean could feel the Realizer crystal he wore around his neck heating up. It took every ounce of his psychic reserve, and he had to dig deep for just one more. He flung the satchel full of rockets, thermite grenades, and C-4 at the Eihort. It sailed in a perfect arc, guided by his telekinesis, to embed itself in the thing's massive bulk. And then he didn't see Eihort. In its place was Eihort's true form, an ethereal, almost angelic presence, composed of burning wheels, white angel's wings and wise, ancient eyes. When it spoke, a fatherly, wise-sounding chorus resonated in Jim-Bean's head. "[FONT="Impact"]I WALK AMONG YOU IN THE FLESH. ACCEPT MY BARGAIN AND I WILL MAKE YOU MY—[/FONT]" Jim-Bean triggered the detonator with a flick of his thumb. Explosions blossomed on Eihort, small at first, then larger as the rockets caught fire. The rockets spiraled off, one of them skewering one of the spider-worms. The forest caught on fire as the thermite grenades burst, some of them next to Eihort, others blasted further away. White hot flames engulfed the obscene spider-thing's flailing form. Grimsdyke Hill convulsed as if it were giving birth. The tunnel-womb opened wider and air, leaves and rocks were sucked back into the narrowing hole. First one worm, than another was torn from its moorings and it was clear that the things were as much spider-beneath as they were worm-above, spindly legs snapping under the wrath of a labyrinth calling them home. But Eihort held on. Hammer gasped to life as the bulk quivered over him, stumpy legs dug into the earth all around him. It had not gained purchase fast enough to sink all of its limbs in; only the front two. It scrambled to anchor its lower half, which shielded Hammer from being sucked in as well. Hammer had seconds before he was sucked into the labyrinth cave or Eihort regained his grip and stayed forever to infest man like a bloated leech. Hammer put his two Glocks to the massive legs, wide as tree trunks. He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger, praying that Thredra's fire-bullets would do the trick. The effect was instantaneous. Instead of tearing a small hole it was like two cannons tore through Eihort's limbs. The spider-thing squealed, tumbling as it bounced once, twice, and was called home beneath Grimsdyke Hill. The cavern winked shut and instantly the wind stopped. Jim-Bean and Archive floated to the ground. Hammer got to his feet. "Where's Jamie?" [/QUOTE]
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