Callum, Mandrake and Kerim approach the bushes with the glowing balls while the rest of the group stay settled into the camp site.

As you get closer to the balls you see they are the size of a large cherry and estimate that they probably glow with about half the intensity of a candle and althogether there are about 40 or 50 of them spread across the bushes. Most of the balls glow yellow although the occasional ball glows with either a gentle pink or blue light.

Moving even closer to the bushes you see that the balls are connected by dark threads about the diameter of a childs smallest finger ...

Nobody touch nuthin'

By malc
who plays Callum

Callum examines the balls and connecting lines carefully then turns to Kerim and Mandrake. "What are ye thinking about this, then. Hae ye seen the like afore? Will I gie it a wee poke wi' a stick?"

Spider?

By Daren
who plays Mandrake

"What are ye thinking about this, then. Hae ye seen the like afore? Will I gie it a wee poke wi' a stick?"

"Humm, what, oh no, I haven't. I wonder though, it does seem to form a mesh or a net. No I wouldn't poke at it just yet."

Mandrake walks around the bushes, looking at the mesh but also looking carefully about at the ground and in any close taller trees.

Calling out to the other two as he goes around he says "I wonder, could it be a trap, like a spiders web with the lights to attrack the unwarry. If you try touching it I'd be warry of other things approaching."

Mandrake looks for signs of any previous vitims if that is what the thing is.

Threads

By JohnB

On the far side of the bush Mandrake finds a number of threads that go directly from the bushes into what appears to be a slit in the ground under another bush a short distance away.

The threads seem to connect the glowing balls to something in the slit ...

Ma Two Coppers

By Jim
who plays Smilo Hairfoot

"Don mean ta offer advice where it ain't wanted, but som thins are best leff be." Smilo keeps a worried eye on the two.

Enough rope

By Daren
who plays Mandrake

"Don mean ta offer advice where it ain't wanted, but som thins are best leff be."

"I quite agree" says Mandrake as he returns from the other side of the bushes.

"I don't know what it is, but it does remind me of a certain spider construct. Pretty different, for a start, this one would be bigger than me if I'm right. And then there are the glowing beeds, not seen them before.

"No, the ones I've seen are about the length of my finger and appart from a painful sting, quite harmless.

"If you must play with it, I'll be over there, and I suggets that you throw a stick at it from a distance. But my advice is the same as Smilo's."

What's going on?

By Brad
who plays Rolf

Rolf, his bow in hand and arrow held at the ready, calls out to the stick wielding warrior, "Callum, what do you see?"

Strange stuff

By malc
who plays Callum

"This has the look o' a baited trap about it. These things to attract the beasties and there a net to catch them. I'll just be leaving well enough alone."

Over night

By JohnB

Everyone retires again to the chosen camp site and trys to get to sleep. The closeness of the bush full of glowing balls is a bit of a distraction but eventually every one except those watch drops off to sleep.

The first watch passes peacefully and the watch is handed over to Callum and Smilo. Part way into their watch there is a commotion from the bush of balls.

There is a violent rustling noise as if the bush is being pulled about and some of the lights start to disappear and then reappear. It is as if something is trapped against the bush and struggling to get away ....

Free Food?

By malc
who plays Callum

Callum quickly picks up a torch and kindles it from the campfire. He carefully moves towards the source of the commotion.

Rustling in the Bushes

By JohnB

As Callum approaches the bushes he can make out what looks like two creatures fighting. One seems to be large one moment and then quite small the next, it appears to be hovering above the bush and tethered to it by a light rope. The other is large (5-6'), has a rounded body and lots of legs, it is standing on the bush reaching up for the the hovering thing.

The rustling is really intense and getting louder ...

Fight

By Jim
who plays Smilo Hairfoot

The hobbit races about and wakes everyone. Then he runs up to Callum. "Which do we 'elp. Or neither?"

"Ay!" He calls to the two. "Ya be needin a 'and?"

What's up?

By Brad
who plays Rolf

Again Rolf speaks up, his whispered voice harsh in the darkness, "What's going on?" Keeping his bow at the ready and arrow notched, Rolf cautiously steps forward, pausing after every steps.

Just a Spider?

By David
who plays Kerim

"Seems to me one's caught the other - unless you want bring one or both down for breakfast we should leave them alone, but keep an eye on that one with lots of legs"