thanks for the replies.
i think they're spider mines but i've not "found" any eggs except for 3 which i've picked up and sold off after smashing skeletons to bittybits! they do make a 'sproing' sound effect though....a click on restoration and a seemingly endless supply of mana potions and i'm ok!
thanks Raze for the link to the restoration potions - i had wondered what they were and their difference to the standard health/mana poitions.
