Episode IV: In which there are Insects everywhere and in everything

General Summary

As the party stand there in the rainbow chamber working out what to do next. Either go down the shaft that the insect swamp erupted from or invetsigate the tunnel above the blue lantern. An elvin figure enters the chamber, introduces himself as Eldrin Nightflame and reveals that he also has been visited by the gods, and is now tagging along with the others.  

Eldrin's Vision

You settle down for the night, looking forward to heading off to Greyhawk in the morning and the next stage of your adventure, though a little uncertain about being around that many humans at one time. As you settle down to meditate and your gaze turns inward, suddenly the room is filled with light. With a start you open your eyes to see a stunning beautiful woman standing in front of you, leaving of a spear made of light. As try as you might, you can't identify what her race is. She looks at you sadly, and says "Your time of wandering through the world has come to an end, a dawn of a new and destructive age is upon us, and it must be stopped. You have been chosen as one of 5 to prevent this. Follow the music and you will find them"   You hear the soft sound of an instrumental song and when you turn your head to the west it gets stronger. The woman looks at you, now with a smile, good speed on the morrow, and the room is plunged into darkness as she disappears.   First thing the next morning, you gather your things and head out, following the music. It takes you most of the morning walking through the wilderness, until you find an old cairn that has recently had its entrance cleared. Deep within it, you see multicoloured lights shimmering.

  Virgil says that Eldrin can join if he passes the initation, which has two conditions:

1. Virgil must be kept alive
2. Eldrin survives

  The party decide to go down the open shaft, but don't get very far. Upon entering they hear the buzzing of insects and decide to investigate. They are quickly attack by three swarms of insects and a large beetle. They slowly fight them off, but it is not without cost. They are in everyone has some injuries to some extent.   Unwilling to rest up, they continue to explore, pushing into the next chamber. Eldrin enters and as he does so shakes off a waves of exhaustion. Here they encounter two Giant Bombardier Beetle that not only let out a damaging acid attack, but also a deafening thunder clap. They manage to take them down, but is a near run thing for the new member of the party, he almost didn't meet the second condition of his initiation.   The party decidet to with draw and rest to recover from their wounds (and level up).