Here's the first "story nugget". Hopefully this will be a good ongoing solution to my chronic lack of time.
Enwebbed
Nobody was comfortable with the constant darkness. The sameness of the tunnel and the monotony of the travel were almost hypnotizing and the group frequently found that they were snapping almost as if from a trance. Nobody could tell how much time was passing except for the occasional moments when they realized that one of their protective spells had expired.
An indeterminate time, measured only by the fact that they had rested twice, after they left Do-kun Ghul, the sameness was broken by the tiniest of details. Some 8-10 feet off the floor, at almost the mid point of the side of the tunnel, were a cluster of holes nearly a foot across. Further examination by Speaks determined them likely to have been bored by Thoqqua, or “Fire Worms” as they were sometimes called. He warned the rest of the group to be careful of them as the white-hot tips of their heads could be deadly dangerous of one was not prepared. Lazarius warded himself against fire before they proceeded on.
They had progressed only a couple minutes further up the tunnel when they heard a noise. Their eyes shot to the tunnel around them as Speaks called out a warning, “They can sense our footsteps so stay still and beware!”
But they found themselves surprised when the attack came from a completely unexpected quarter. Suddenly the air was filled by dozens of small bat-like shapes.
Four of the creatures swarmed over Lazarius but his defensive
Mage Armor blunted their stingers and they clung ineffectually to his thick robes. Scipio was less fortunate and three of the tiny beasts sank their proboscises into his furry hide and began to drink his blood in great gulps. Cathal, Marius and Marcus, clustered further up the passage were swarmed as well and before they could so much as swing a weapon, each found at least two of the creatures sucking the lifeblood from their veins.
Without warning, the corridor exploded in blinding light and sizzling heat as pain shot through every member of the party. Some of the blood-bloated creatures assaulting the group exploded as their bellies boiled. Others fell to the ground as their thin legs and wings turned to ash under the blistering heat of the lightning. The various members of the party staggered as their muscles spasmed involuntarily and their teeth felt as though they might explode as their jaws clenched in pain. Most cast about desperately to discover where this latest assault had originated.
They found their answer as the smoke cleared and they could see crackling wisps of static still playing across Lazarius’ fingertips.
“Stirges. I hate ‘em,“ said the War Wizard by way of reply.
