The Beginning, Along came a Spider
The Spider Wing
An/ In order to complete this story in a timely fashion, I decided not to describe all of the mob battles faced. Instead, I will include the first mob battle, thus giving the idea of how this raid handled the mobs (won't change much, so the first mob battle will reflect all mob battles).
Isabow mounted her skeletal Gryphon. Watching and waiting, she looked at her party as they prepared for the biggest raid of their lives. If successful, The Lich King will be dealt a stunning blow, that will do more than check the Scourge and open the way to Icecrown and his Lair. Fail, and the Lich King would have nine new Scourge to scour the land and plague the living. It was this thought that Isabow worried about most. But the need to defeat Arthas, and gain revenge on him for what he had done to her and countless others, was enough for Isabow to gather her guild mates and hit the Lich King. As she rose and hovered above the stables, she watched as her force mounted their flying steeds and follow her into Naxxramas.
Her two co-leaders, Troystar and Kysstal, mounted on a blue drake and a flying carpet. The flying carpet was created by Kysstal, as well as her cloth gear. Her skill in tailoring never ceased to surprise Isabow. Troy won the blue drake during the battle at the Oculus of Nexus; Troystar was part of a group who defeated the Ley-Guardian Eregos, this helping open the Eye of Eternity and defeat Malygos.
Zaraak rode his new turbo-charged flying machine. Isabow listened as the engines sputtered and occasionally backfire, but the machine continued to fly, though she would not ever get in it.
Pymetera and Vexiba boarded something that Isabow also thought was crazy. It looked like a rocket jet, complete with two seats. Pymetera was the driver, and Vexiba, since she had not acquired a riding mount as yet, became the backseat passenger. However, the rocket was highly maneuverable, and Isabow would have rather boarded that than Zaraak's flying machine.
Punnah came flying by her on a Hippogryph. This beast was the stable of the Cenarian Expedition in Outland, and Punnah, being someone exalted with them, was able to buy one. The Hippogryph was the same size as a gryphon, but was more bird of prey than lion. Gryphons were mounts for Vanthu and Asmain.
Dryannna disdained the use of mounts. She preferred her class ability; Swift flight form, and changed into a large raven. Dryanna, being a druid, was skilled at shape shifting, so she chose her bear form in most battles, relieving the pressure from Troystar when he is taking serious damage.
The ten companions were ready. Isabow looked up from where she was and saw, to the south, the monstrous Ziggurat that was their goal. Naxxramas hovered over the dead Carrion fields just south of Wintergarde. The more she looked at the floating citadel, the more she realized the task that she set for the group. The massive Naxxramas was bigger than Acherus, the Ebon Hold and her current home base. Sitting in the sky as if it was some lethal and lecherous growth, The Citadel of Kel'Thuzad looked intimidating even from nearly a mile away. The number of Scourge that reside there would fill an entire region, Isabow thought.
For the briefest of seconds, Isabow's courage failed her. Just looking at the Ziggurat was enough to make her have second thoughts about this raid she set up. However, it was the coldness of her soul; the soul in this body that made her a relentless warrior of destruction, won over her fear. Digging inside what was left of her soul, Isabow removed her fear and once again felt the familiar (though sometimes unwelcome) sense of unholy death and destruction that had replaced her Elvin humanity. Turning to her group, who hovered behind her, Isabow waved, then took off…heading towards the evil's lair, determined to bring about the death and destruction to the Scourge; something they tried to instill in her.
Flying underneath Naxxramas was the only way to enter the ziggurat. There was a small platform which all the mounts were able to unload their cargo and fly out, then were ordered back until summoned again by their riders. The companions, after landing looked around. There were four portals, each one leading inside. Isabow, learning from many raiders about the entrance, directed them to the leftmost portal. It was here, Isabow reasoned, was the first lair that the group needed to clear. To get a feel on what they faced.
The first thing noticed by the party was the alien smell the fortress had. Unlike many Ziggurats that the party has entered, Naxxramas had a different stench. The smell of undead was prevalent, perhaps more than any other stench. The corridor they were in circled around, and the companions could see several entryways to other areas.
"Buff up." ordered Isabow. It started with Troystar. He provided the party with Blessing of Might. Kysstal cast Arcane Brilliance, thus effectively increasing spell power to the spell casters. She also provided Focus Magic on Vexiba, a benefit to both. Dryanna gave the party Call of the Wild, which provided the group more strength, agility, stamina, and spirit. Isabow herself called the Horn of Winter, which provided more accuracy in attacking. Vexiba provided the group with additional stamina and protection of shadow magic with her spells. In addition, Zaraak provided a meal for all, called a fish feast. This feast provided the party with additional skills as well. Punnah had summoned her aide-de-camp, a felguard named Bloshki. As soon as he was summoned he growled in annoyance "Who dares summon me!" Ordinarily, this frightened someone without the will to control him, but Punnah, who had summoned him many times, was used to his commanding shout. Although he resented Punnah, he respected her ability to control him, and her mastery of shadow magic was admirable. Vanthu himself had a combat, one he trained to complement his skills. His pet, though, was a normal animal, a huge red wolf he named Mufar. This wolf, though large and normal appearing, was actually an exceptionally skilled beast, which attacks were vicious and unrelenting.
As Isabow checked all the buffs, she also checked to see if the raid was ready. When everyone responded to the affirmative, she looked at her main attacker. Troystar had unsheathed his weapon, which at first Isabow thought was a club, then realized it was a short mace which ball like top was spinning. He had already placed his helm on his head, a full face-shield equipped helm which only the eyes were visible. He nodded to Isabow, then walked towards the entrance of the first wing of Naxxramas, called the Spider Wing or Arachnid Quarter.
The Quarter was well named. The large room Troystar stood at the entrance of was filled with huge webs spanning all over the area. Everywhere there were spiders. These weren't just spiders, or even the larger tarantulas. Some of these spiders were impossibly large, the size of horses. Most were the sizes of large dogs or ponies. Even the smallest spiders zooming along the webs were the size of a hand. Troystar studied the place for a minute, then turned to Dryanna.
"I'll get this, go feline." he told the druid, who nodded. She rose her hands, and replacing her human form was a purple colored lioness. She prowled into the room, barely visible to the group, but invisible to the spiders ahead.
Once Dryanna was in position, Vexiba cast Power word: Shield, on Troystar. Once he started glowing with the aura of the spell, Troystar then picked the largest spider within ten yards, a giant tarantula as massive as a Hippopotamus, and cast Hand of Reckoning. The result was the tarantula was alerted to his presence and charged, causing several spiders ahead of it to be alert and charge Troystar. Troy charged also, and threw a spell which caused his shield to glow and hurl at them, striking several smaller spiders in front of him. These spiders were dazed, though still charged at him. When Troy reached within melee distance he summoned an aura which flames centered from him shot a circle about 5 yards around him. This aura affected all the spiders around him, and forced them to attack him. Once all the spiders concentrated on him, Isabow cast her own aura centered on Troystar. Her spell was a direct contrast to his; where Troystar was using holy power around him to consecrate the land, Isabow's aura was unholy. Death and Decay was a contrast to Troystar's consecrate, but was just as effective, as it continually damaged the spiders. Isabow then charged into the fray, attacking the spiders with her mace and unholy power. Dryanna, behind the tarantula, suddenly attacked it from behind, striking and stunning the monster and continually shredded and rend the tarantula. Pymetera sat up her four totems around the melee area and charged in, using Lava lash and other spells with her melee fighting. Punnah first cast hand of Guldan, which centered on Troystar's main focus, the Giant tarantula. This spell blasted the creature and surrounded it with a shadowy circle that not only helped her felgaurd when it attacked, but also continually damaged it. After that, she cast rain of Fire in the same area where Troystar and Isabow's auras were still up, which added fiery damage to the mob.
Vanthu fired multiple arrows into the mob, striking from afar with deadly accuracy. Mufar aided Dryanna by attacking the tarantula with her from behind. Kysstal, after seeing her husband keep the spiders charging and attacking him, charged in and using her special aura type magic called arcane explosion, which spread damage to the mobs similar to Troystar and Isabow's auras. Vexiba and Zaraak stayed well out of the fight, preparing and casting various healing spells and absorbing spells on those closest to the battles, and Vexiba kept the power word shield upon Troystar, preventing more damage upon him, and giving him healing as he is hit. Zaraak was also protecting the rest of the group mainly, casting his holy spells to heal those mainly in melee with the group.
Alone, each and every one of these attacks and powers were devastating; together, the mobs of the spiders fell quickly without causing much damage to the party at all. Within seconds, maybe thirty seconds, every spider in the large room was killed. The group took about a minute to restore their mana and heal themselves back to full. Afterwards, checking on their buffs and sure they were still active, the group went deeper into the Arachnid Quarter. After two more mobs were defeated, the group moved towards a Very large circular room. This huge room was only occupied by one enemy, but it was immense.
At the far end of the room was a monster. The beast looked as if it was an oversized rhinoceros beetle, but far more horrible. The huge horn itself was taller than even an ogre. The carapace and armored body was a mixture of purples and blue. Though it looked more like a beetle than anything, the beast still had two spider like mandibles and it's front legs were similar to a spider. The beast's overall size was almost the size of a full grown dragon.
Isabow remembered the lecture Commander Dawnbringer said when talking about the leaders of Naxxramas; "Anub'Rekhan, one of the finest Spider Lords of Azjol'Nerub, was brought under control of the Scourge when he and his commander, Anub'arak, were finally defeated by the Lich King many years ago. It is said he was the most loyal of Anub'arak's commanders." She told the group what she learned, and the tactics she learned from some who had battled him.
"Will the Crypt lords come out during the battle?" Pymetera asked.
"Right after we engage Anub'Rekhan." Isabow answered.
The group prepared by reaffirming their buffs. Isabow signaled by blowing her Horn of Winter, and Troystar ran forward.
At first, Anub'Rekhan did not see him. Troystar was almost upon the scourge lord and hit him with his Hand of Reckoning spell. That got his attention. Anub Rekhan spoke, an eerie voice that sounded like a squeaking echo as he addressed Troystar's attack, "There is no way out." As he charged Troystar, he spoke again. "Closer now, tasty mortals! I've been too long without food, without blood to drink."
Troystar pulled Anub'Rekhan back towards his original resting place, then turned the Crypt lord to where his back was facing the party. When Troystar had him fully engaged, the others attacked. Asmain used his Ambush and Eviscerate to damaging effect. Isabow combined her Decay and Death circle with Troystar's consecration aura, then stuck with her axe, using plaque strike and death strike upon the hard carapace of Anub'Rekhan. Kysstal herself was bombarding the Scourge boss with Arcane blasts. After hitting four times with that, she blasted the beast with five groups of 3 arcane missiles, each doing maximum damage. Suddenly Anub'rekhan turned and hurled an impaling spear, which hit Asmain, traveled through him and hit Zaraak. Both were hurled in the air as the powerful item knocked them straight up and dropped them hard on the ground. Both took massive damage, though Zaraak was now able cast Heal over Time spells on both him and Asmain.
"Spread out more!." Isabow yelled. She again struck with her axe while Dryanna was on cat form, rending and slashing for everything she had. The demon Bloshki swung in circles as he used his whirlwind attack on Anub'Rekhan. Suddenly the crypt lord bellowed. Spewing out a swarm of locusts at Troystar. Seeing this, Troystar instantly cast Divine Protection before the locusts began swarming him, and he began drawing Anub'Rekhan away from where he initially tanked him, leading him in a circle at the far end of the room, while the party spread out further and moved away from the Scourge boss. It was then Dryanna reverted to her bear form, and not a second too soon. A Nerubian Crypt guard, looking like a large centaur with a spider's body and an insect head, charged in the room. Dryanna picked it up and mauled it, while the rest of the group began bombarding it with spells and damage. Asmain, now mostly healed from the impale, shadow stepped behind the Crypt Guard and ambushed it, causing massive damage. Afterwards, he used eviscerate, which devastated the Nerubian. The crypt guard was vanquished when Pymetera and Isabow smashed through it's carapace. As soon as the crypt lord fell, dozens of small scarab beetles forced their way out of it's body. Seeing this, Kysstal cast frost nova, which froze them in their place. Kysstal and Punnah then cast blizzard and rain of fire on the scarabs, instantly killing them.
Vexiba kept her distance from Anub'Rekhan as she continually provided healing and curing to Troystar. Being the discipline priest, Vexiba's main job was keeping Troystar well healed as he faced most of the mobs and bosses head on. Troystar had drawn Anub'Rekhan to the far end of the room, near where everyone entered, before Anub'Rekhan finished the locust swarm attack. Once he noticed that, Troystar began leading Anub'Rekhan back to where he first engaged the Crypt Lord. The process Troystar was using was called kiting. Once Troystar had resettled the monster back, the rest of the group attacked Anub'Rekhan. Vexiba, keeping an eye on Troystar and his health, was surprised when the Crypt lord turned and hurled another impaling spike right at her. Vexiba ducked just in time, but heard a thump and a grunt of pain behind her. Turning, she saw Kysstal hurled through the air by the spike, landing hard. Zaraak immediately went to the mage while the others struck with renewed vigor. With Kysstal out of the fight, the damage on Anub'Rekhan would be lessened. However, Asmain did something completely unexpected-and as Pymetera commented, suicidal- but extremely effective. Vanthu slowly nocked an arrow, watching as he looked for an opening into the head of the evil leader. Asmain, for his part, shadow-stepped on top of the hard carapace of Anub'Rekhan, who never noticed as he was there, continued his onslaught of Troystar. Asmain actually walked up to the top of the carapace, where there was an opening from it and the creature's armored head. Here there was no carapace that would protect the exposed part of it's neck. It was here, using ambush, that Asmain stabbed Anub'Rekhan.
Troystar backed up, startled,
when he saw the lord rear up in pain. As soon as Anub'Rekhan reared onto his hind legs, Troystar backed up faster, suspecting an attack until he saw Asmain hanging onto the back of Anub'Rekhan, clutching the edge of the carapace. Isabow looked shocked…what was he doing?
Vanthu, however, saw the opening he needed. When the creature reared up, the front part of its neck was exposed. Vanthu, using aimed shot, fired his arrow. The arrow flew straight and true, embedding into the neck, through it, and out the other side, grazing Asmain's hand. Startled, Asmain let go, soon falling towards the ground. Isabow, however, was right underneath him, catching him as he fell.
Anub'Rekhan teetered backwards, almost falling. His end came when Pymetera struck, using Lava Lash, and Kysstal blasted him with her arcane blast. The last thing that came out of Anub'Rekhan before he perished was a pathetic squeal of agony.
Isabow looked around. Slowly the group began converging onto the dead leader of the crypt fiends, somewhat stunned at the ferocity of the battle, but enthusiastic about defeating a leader of the Scourge. Zaraak was still healing Kysstal, who was still somewhat hurt, though she helped in giving Anub'Rekhan the final blow.
"Look at all this loot!" Asmain said. He dove headfirst into a pile of coins, as if he was diving into a pool. Isabow shook her head in exasperation. Asmain may be a valuable ally, but he still was a thief as well as a rogue. Isabow pulled him out by his foot, watching in amusement as he struggled, looking as if he was swimming in money.
"Look." Punnah said. She pulled out a set of sabatons, or plated boots. Isabow stared at them, then pointed to Kysstal. Pymetera was holding a beautiful necklace, made, as Isabow could see, of several large precious stones. She too headed for Kysstal, who was unmatched in lore.
"These boots are called Sabatons of Sudden Reprisal. You are good for these." Kysstal said to Isabow. "They are more powerful than those greaves you are currently wearing. I will add Earthen vitality to them." She then pulled out a rod from her robes, which looked like a small, thin piece of titanium. She tapped on the boots, and they glowed for a brief second before setting into the normal look. Isabow immediately changed her boots, amazed at the lightness of her new shoes, as well as how they instantly molded onto her feet. Kysstal then studied the necklace Pymetera gave her.
"This is interesting." She said. "This is called Chains of Adoration, and works well with healers."
"For now, give it to Zaraak." Isabow said. "Vexiba's amulet is as powerful." Vexiba nodded. In actuality, Vexiba's amulet, bought from vendors in Dalaran, was more powerful. The Evoker's Charm was a necklace tailor made for her healing powers. Zaraak was appreciative, since he had a less powerful healing amulet.
Once the rest of the loot was distributed evenly, Isabow looked at Troystar. She looked a little concerned when she noticed that his mask was dented almost near the neckline, but Troystar merely nodded. He was ready to go deeper into the arachnid wing. The group silently followed him out, leaving a burned, bloodied husk of a Scourge lord behind.
It seemed inevitable, Isabow thought. After dispatching Anub'Rekhan, the mobs began to get thicker and more diverse. The group still killed many spiders, crypt fiends, and other arachnids, but they also began running into more significant Scourge. Shadowlike Wraiths and Naxxramas Cultists began appearing in numbers. At one point, Troystar was battling arachnids, and a patrol of shades and cultists suddenly joined in, taxing him. Dryanna twice found herself switching into her bear form and drawing groups off him, for some were not coming to him, and even Kysstal had to back away as she was drawing aggression. By the time the mobs were finally defeated, everyone had to stop and regroup, heal, rebuff, and replenish their mana. The mobs also provided the group with much needed experience and loot.
Isabow moved towards Troystar, who was looking at a doorway out of the room where they last battled mobs.
"What do you see there?" she asked.
"The passage here is a ramp down, leading into another room." he answered. It is too dark to see what is down there, though."
"I can see." Dryanna said, reverting into cat form. Slinking down in stealth form so she cant be seen, she quietly went down the ramp. After about a minute she reappeared with the group.
"There is like a meeting room down there." she said. "There is a group of Cultists, and they are standing in front of a raised dais. There are five people standing on the dais. One standing in front of the rest. That one is female, wearing gold and red robes. She seems to be the leader. The four males standing behind her seem to be her bodyguards or higher ranked followers."
Isabow nodded, remembering Dawnbringer's lecture on this leader…. "The Grand Widow Faerlina, a botanist in life, breeder and caretaker of arachnids in death, she oversees the spider wing, developing the most potent of poisons for the Lich King." It was well known who Grand Widow Faerlina was before she became a high ranking member of the Cult of the Damned, and was one of Kel'Thuzad's main henchmen. Unlike Isabow, Faerlina chose to be Scourge. This made Isabow more determined to rid the world of her. Isabow explained to everyone what was going on with Faerlina. She also concluded that the followers must be kept away from her until she went into a frenzy. It was Dryanna who brought up the plan, and she would be the one who would draw the Grand Widow in combat, while Troystar dealt with the followers on stage. Troystar and Kysstal would take care of the followers on stage, with Vexiba watching their health.
Once everything was settled, Troystar, closely followed by the others, began descending down into the room. It was the group's first look at Grand Widow Faerlina. Faerlina was actually quite fair, with dark brown hair and light tanned skin. However, she had perhaps the most evil looking eyes; red pupils and black iris looking at the group with pure malice. As soon as the group was seen by her, she smiled a welcoming smile, but her eyes still radiated malice. Her greeting speech to the group was also filled with malice, along with the strange echoing voice common to undead…
"Old lives, your mortal desires, mean nothing. You are acolytes of the master now, and you will serve the cause without question! The greatest glory is to die in the master's service!"
The group, with Troystar and Dryanna in front, reached the bottom of the ramp. Both were ready for battle. Faerlina then commanded the cultist acolytes in front of her, "slay them in the master's name!"
The group of cultists in front of her charged the group. In typical mob battle fashion, the guild group dispatched them easily. Now all that was left was Faerlina and the four followers behind her. Her face was a mask of anger. She snarled when Troystar approached her, mace in hand, shield poised. He charged
Faerlina snarled again and charged at Troy, along with the followers. Once all four attacked Troystar, Dryanna roared at Faerlina, causing her to turn and charge at her. Once Dryanna was fully engaged with Faerlina, the rest of the group struck. Isabow and Pymetera charged Faerlina, while Punnah and Vanthu struck her from afar. Zaraak bounced left and right, healing the melee and tank attackers. Asmain's ambush and backstab worked good here, striking Faerlina for extra damage. At one point the disarmed Faerlina, slowing her damage to Dryanna, who was also able to doge many of her attacks.
Many, but not all. Faerlina threw out a poison bolt that struck Isabow, Asmain, and Pymetera. Pymetera set down a Poison cleansing totem, and though there was some damage from poison, the totem cleansed away the poison before it spread too much. Faerlina also casts the warlock spell Rain of Fire, which did considerable damage in an area about five yards around her. Dryanna, Isabow, Pymetera, and Asmain was caught in it. Zaraak worked hard to heal them through it, and one time had to use Lay on Hands to heal Pymetera up, because she took more damage from the poison as well as the rain of fire.
Suddenly Faerlina grew…she was now eight feet tall. She then shouted "kneel before me, worm!"
And began striking faster and harder, Not just Dryanna, but everyone in melee range. Just when she went into frenzy, Troystar suddenly appeared near Dryanna, dragging a nearly dead cultist to them. Once the cultist was almost beside Faerlina, everyone stuck the cultist. The cultist fell, and suddenly Faerlina was reduced back to normal size and wasn't frenzied anymore. While back into battle, Troystar charged the three remaining cultists and kited them back to the far end of the dais, while Dryanna drew Faerlina back to the front of the room. Faerlina, after watching the group kill the cultist beside her, enabling the Widow's Embrace debuff to shut down her frenzy, snarled at the fallen cultist, "You have failed, pathetic wretch!"
Faerlina still cast rain of fire at will, taxing Zaraak's healing, but now the party could see some of the damage they were doing affect Faerlina. Punnah's Bane of Doom was particularly effective here, capable of, and summoning, a larger imp which raked Faerlina for damage.
In the meantime, Troystar had slowed his attacking of the followers. Keeping Righteous Fury up, he kept the other followers attacking him. The problem was, they were all nearly dead, and Troystar needed to keep them alive for the same reason he drew the first one to Faerlina; killing a cultist near her would stop her frenzied attacks by a debuff called Widow's Embrace. The followers kept their attacks up on him, but his dodging and parry skills were preventing a majority of the attacks from hitting him. They did score some hits on him, though, but these hits were minor and easily healed by Vexiba.. Kysstal, for her part, was devastating the followers until she realized, like Troystar, that they were about to perish. At a shout from Isabow, Troystar realized that Faerlina was in a frenzy again. Troy then led the next cultist beside her, and soon the entire group struck him, killing him and once again dispelling her frenzy.
"She is almost down!" Shouted Isabow, and used her Death and decay aura that centered on Dryanna. However, Dryanna was slowly losing her battle to keep her health up. Great tearing wounds were noticeable, and Zaraak could not keep up the healing with the damage. In desperation, Isabow shouted for Troystar to take over. Troystar ran forward, leading the last two followers, and struck Faerlina. In addition, he threw Hand of Reckoning, which caused Faerlina to center on him and allow Dryanna to draw back. Vexiba took charge of Dryanna's healing, throwing a power word shield on her as well as smite heals. Faerlina hurled another volley of poison bolts, striking Troystar, Pymetera and Isabow. Pymetera's poison cleansing totem cleared the poison, limiting the damage on them. Punnah and Kysstal, using both Rain of Fire and Blizzard, dispatched the last two Acolytes. Faerlina was preparing another frenzy when this happened, and the two killings prevented it. Faerlina, now greatly wounded and weakening, nonetheless continued to strike and attack. Troystar took moderate damage, but he threw up his Divine shield right when she cast rain of fire on him and the other melee. He took no damage, but the last spell took a toll. Asmain died from it.
This was Faerlina's last spell, and last gasp of offense. In short order, Isabow's axe cleaved her middle almost in two. Pymetera smashed her head in with her hammer. Kysstal fired a fireball with immolated her, and Punnah used a shadow bolt. The last attacks finished Faerlina, and before she fell, she gasped out on last curse… " The master….will avenge me."
Gasping for breath and shaken up, the group slowly began a rest period. Dryanna used all her mana to heal her wounds, and Zaraak was able to cast Redemption, thus bringing Asmain back to life. Isabow looked concerned after the battle. That battle took more out of them than the first leader's battle. She thought that they could get through Naxxramas without losing a life so soon. Asmain's death and redemption meant that she had to change something to prevent more deaths.
Once the group healed up and rebuffed, Isabow look to the division of treasure. There was plenty here, along with a couple of items that Kysstal identified. One of these was an Idol of Worship. This went to Dryanna, as it helped her feral combat status. The second, a ring, nearly caused a fight between Vanthu and Asmain. The ring could benefit both, as it added attack and speed for them. The Strong-Handed Ring was what it was called, and after much debate, the ring went to Asmain on the promise that if something else both the hunter and the rogue can use is found, then it will go to Vanthu.
The division of treasure looked more bitter, mainly because the battle was costly. Isabow knew that soon the group would need to repair. Thankfully Vanthu had engineering, and when the time would come, he would summon his mecha-gnome repair bot. However, the group was healed, and though there was damage to their equipment, it wasn't enough to warrant using the bot yet. Isabow sighed. They had to be more careful now, but it was time to move on. Isabow felt and urgency here, for now Naxxramas must be alerted to their presence, since now they killed two of their leaders.
Troystar nodded to Isabow, he was ready. Dryanna went back into bear form. They will tank together now.
Isabow was right about Naxxramas being more prepared. The mobs they faced began to thicken more. The experience in mob battles for the party, however, were honed to razor sharp edge, and they took out the mobs with minimum damage and more experience. At the end of one mob battle, the group found something interesting…a dagger called Haunting Call. This weapon went to Vexiba, for it helped increase her mana regeneration as well as spell power for heals. The final mob battle saw the return of crypt lords and spiders, some as large as rhinos. These battles were more annoying than dangerous, but the group knew they did not need to leave them behind.
Finally the group came to a large room. The room had two large web-ramps heading up to what looked like two large cave entrances to the east. The group looked apprehensive; the ropelike webs were thick as a man's arm. It would scare anyone if they realize the size of the spider which could have spun it. With much trepidation, the party scaled the ramp to the top cave entrances, to behold a very unnerving sight.
The other side of the cave entrance was an enormous cave. The entire cave was filled from top to bottom in webs. In the middle was a huge pile of webs fashioned as a circular nest. The nest was currently inhabited. The entire party blanched at the monster that sat in the very center of the web, even from this distance the beast was enormous.
The beast in question was a spider. It looked like a yellow bellied, red back, black legged spider. The spider was bloated, as if it had been well fed. The group would have been just content with the spider being just that, except this spider was over twenty feet tall from head to leg, and was at least sixty feet long.
The spider was definitely the giant among giants, as no one ever saw one nearly this size. The party looked on in fascination, horror, and, in some, resolve. Isabow knew that this was the last leader of the Arachnid Quarter, and she recalled Commander Dawnbringer's statement about this overgrown monster…
"Maexxna- born deep within the mountains of Northrend many ages ago, she was captured within the dread citadel of Naxxramas, where she gives birth to her brood, feeding them the corpses of all who dare venture too deeply into Naxxramas."
"Maexxna," Troystar repeated. "a Monster among monsters. We need to finish so that the spider infestation in every Scourge area will be neutralized." Troystar looked at the beast again. The spider wasn't paying attention to those staring at her from the cave entrances. In fact, it looked like it wasn't moving at all. However, Everyone saw an occasional leg twitch and it's seven foot long mandibles work every once in a while. Troystar looked at Isabow, who nodded. The party buffed up again, also taking potions and flasks that aid in combat. Many of the buff spells were recast, and the party ate another fish feast to prepare. Once everyone was finished, Troystar got up. He shook his mace, tightened his shield, then plunged into the web, running to Maexxna.
Maexxna felt more than saw Troystar when he jumped onto her web. Alert and prepared, Maexxna headed to the area where she first felt her prey hit. Maexxna charged with impossible speed towards Troystar, and the two met. As soon as Troystar arrived in range, he cast Consecration aura, he then turned Maexxna east, allowing the other melee to strike her from behind to the west and the ranged damage dealers further back. Pymetera set up her poison cleansing totem, and kept it up. Punnah cast bane of agony and then summoned a doom guard in addition to her felguard. The doom guard continually cast shadow bolts on Maexxna, and another imp guardian was summoned and struck. Isabow cast her death and decay on Maexxna, then took the time to summon her ghoul army. Seven ghouls appeared out of the web and attacked Maexxna. Asmain used his ambush, backstab, and rupture to aid in battle, as well as expose armor to aid the melee. Pymetera, in addition to using her totems and spells, summoned a pack of ghost wolves to also aid in the conflict. Vanthu used his wolf to charge and started by placing a target on the spider, while he fired aimed shot, venom shot, and chimera shot at the beast, along with several steady shots. Kysstal used her arcane blast, each on more potent than the last, as well as arcane missiles. Vexiba stayed to the back of Maexxna, but close enough to keep heals on Troystar, who had the spider's undivided attention.
Suddenly Maexxna sent out a large powerful web spell, and it caught Vexiba and Pymetera, hurled them back to the west wall, and held them there in cocoons. Seeing this, Vanthu and Kysstal abandoned their onslaught of Maexxna and worked to free the two trapped. Seconds later, Maexxna impaled Troystar with one of her mandibles, which placed a Poison on him. Troystar felt it coursing through him, realizing it was preventing him from gaining full healing effects. With Pymetera and Vexiba still webbed up, he had to cleanse it himself. Before he could, however, Maexxna threw a web spell that hit the entire group, damaging everyone and stunning them. Maexxna then struck Troystar again, realizing she had the advantage. Her next strike staggered him, but she was soon distracted by a loud roar. Dryanna, who was in the back, suddenly took to the front and drew Maexxna away from Troystar. Once he was able to, Troystar used Cleanse on himself to rid the Necrotic poison out of his system.
Once the stun was over, Vanthu and Kysstal was able to free Vexiba and Pymetera, who charged back to their respected spots. Vexiba cast power word, shield and Greater heal on Troystar, She then cast renew to help him back to full health. Troystar then took over the main tanking duties again. Maexxna cast poison shock, which hit Troystar and Dryanna, but the cleansing totem Pymetera set back up cleared the poison, though they still took damage.
Meanwhile the rest of the damagers continued pouring on all their spells and abilities on Maexxna. The damages weren't looking to do more than cause her to fight more, but at one point when Isabow chopped at a leg, she saw the great spider stagger noticeably. Again Maexxna threw a web wrap, and this time captured Kysstal and Punnah in it. As soon as that happened, Vanthu and Isabow went to free them. Maexxna hit Troystar with another Necrotic poison strike, but this time Vexiba was able to cleanse it immediately. Vanthu and Isabow freed Kysstal and Punnah right before Maexxna threw another Web Spray. This one was different. After the party was incapacitated, eight smaller spiders (smaller being relative, for each one was the size of a poodle), spawned on her back. Once the incapacitation was over, Troystar and Isabow cast Consecration and Death and Decay, centering on the spider lings. Kysstal used her Frost nova to root them in place, and Punnah used rain of fire to aid in killing the spider lings. Maexxna threw another Poison shock, nailing only Troystar this time. But this poison shock was different. Though Pymetera's cleansing totem cured Troystar of the poison, he was noticeably staggering, and even a spasm of blood came from under the face shield and dripped out. Maexxna sensed a big success there, and charged Troystar, only to be distracted again by Dryanna roaring, leading her away from him. Vexiba poured all her healing into Troystar then, even bandaging him, hoping to get him back into the fight soon.
Another web wrap had consequences the group had not foreseen. The next one caught the two tanks, Troystar and Dryanna. Immediately after that eight more spider lings spawned. Though neither Punnah not Kysstal could not stop them quick enough (they were busy freeing Troystar and Dryanna), Vanthu drew them by firing muti-shot, hitting all eight and forcing them to come at him. Though his wolf helped him, Vanthu took a lot of hits from the spider lings before he had help eliminating them.
Kysstal and Punnah freed Troystar and Dryanna. Dryanna was more healthy than Troystar at this time, and went back at Maexxna, who was currently (and somewhat ineffectively) being tanked by Isabow, who was being devastated. Troystar was on his hands and knees, and coughs were heard coming from him. Slowly, and patiently, he used his Lay on Hands, and soon returned to full health. Now more determined than ever, Troystar rushed in, using avenger's shield to gather Maexxna's attention, and then went back into his familiar row of drawing her to him.
Unexpectedly, Maexxna began growing even more. She was now about one hundred feet long and thirty feet tall. She was faster and hitting harder than ever. Troystar and Dryanna, sensing perhaps, that Maexxna was weakened, continued the onslaught. Vexiba and Zaraak now began healing the tanks in earnest, sensing that Maexxna will put all her efforts in destroying them. Punnah and Kysstal both were hitting the spider with all their magic. Pymetera and Isabow both teamed up to strike with their most powerful abilities, and Asmain, using the trick he used against Anub'Rekhan, Backstabbed and ambushed the Giant spider on her back.
Vanthu, after he killed the spider lings, saw an opening. Using his most devastating aimed shot and kill shot. He critically hit Maexxna in her mouth and between her eyes. This caused Maexxna maddening pain. It was Punnah's Felguard, though, that landed the fatal blows. Spinning in his whirlwind attack, Broshki struck Maexxna multiple times. His last two caused the giant spider to leap up and fall on her back.
Asmain was just able to jump off right before Maexxna fell on her back, landing beside Isabow. Maexxna twitched about three times, then her legs curled to her chest, as a spider would look when it died.
Right after Maexxna died, a voice yelled through the entire area….a voice that was both shocked and outraged…..
"Who dares violate the sanctity of my domain! Be warned, all who trespass here are doomed!"
"W-who was that?" Pymetera asked in shock.
"Kel'Thuzad." Troystar answered. "He is aware that we have cleared the Arachnid Quarter."
"We will deal with him later." Isabow said. "Right now, lets see to ourselves."
Though there were no deaths in this battle, there were lots of injuries and damage to the equipment. Vanthu's repair bot was called, and Gnimo repaired all the damaged gear of the party. The division of loot now began.
There were plenty of money, gold, jewels, and many items which could be vended. However, three of the best items gathered were well established. Kysstal identified and was given Dying Curse, a trinket that not only helped giving her more power in her spells and chances of hits, but also has a chance to increase her already formidable spell casting abilities. The next item went to Troystar. It was a pair of bracers called Bindings of the Hapless Prey. This item helped him with his parrying, as well as strengthening his strikes. The last item went to Vanthu. The item was called Aged Winter Cloak, and it was good enough to increase his hunter abilities.
Isabow looked around, satisfied. The group had defeated the Arachnid Quarter, or the Spider Wing. The defeat of Anub'Rekhan, Grand Widow Faerlina, and Maexxna meant that one part of Naxxramas will no longer plaque Azeroth, if they can clear out the entire fortress. Isabow felt the familiar pull of resolve, and she knew, it was time to regroup and finish this.
"Lets go." She commanded. We have a fortress to clean out."
