The Dungeon of Graves: Session 8

General Summary

Lies and Wasps

In the wee hours of the 9th of Zhira, the adventurers had noticed a small group of people traveling across the bridge. Thinking that the group would be heading north, Tumeti and Sinestra quickly travel that direction planning on returning in two hours, meeting the group at the bridge. It was starting to warm up a bit but was still rather breezy. The main group had started to move along the river heading to the bridge when they stumbled upon the group of nearly twenty.
The one upon horseback sported blue and red with white trim chainmail and behind his plate helmet was a malnourished individual. The soldiers had the symbol of a white dragon blazed across their shields. Both groups approached cautiously before the rider introduced themselves as Sheriff Ostland and that they were tasked by the merchant lord of Kor, Feyndric Huron to protect the roads. The Lord wished to establish a domain in this area and they were all there to make sure none of their people would be attacked by unsavory folk. A small discussion of why each side was in the area happened until both sides seemed a bit more comfortable. While the group was discussing what parts of their map they should share, Tumeti and Sinestra approached from behind the representatives of Kor.
Noticing how malnourished the Sheriff looked, the druid offers them some Goodberries, making a peace offering. Ostland takes the berries but gives them to their soldiers. Nam shares their rations and the others are grateful. The group of adventures share that they have found some magical honey with healing properties. Keartas remembers that Inako had told him never to give information for free and they start to bargain for the information and location. While the group talks about what the honey could be used for, they are torn between selling the location of the bees. The Sheriff allows them to discuss and they withdraw a bit. While the others discuss that they have already shared too much information and even without their help the bee’s location would be found by the Merchant’s group. They talk about how this interaction could lead to further help as well.
While the group talked about how and what they would share with Ostland, Lothar had started some small talk with the soldiers. Something the cleric shared caused the group to become less comfortable and the Sheriff confronted the group mid discussion. He had it on good authority that they have been poking into things that should be left to the histories. The group tries to dodge the question but is unable. Keartas offers them some information about some of their interactions with the Master. They explain the signs and some of the locations. The group of adventurers offer that they are not servants but Ostland counters with their next meeting could be different as the Master is the master of undeath. Unsatisfied with what guarded information the group shares, Ostland pushes more and ultimately learns about the vampire and the dungeon. They end their interaction with a sharing of maps and locations.
Kor’s people had barely left before Nam and the others turned on Lothar asking what they had shared to cause them to interrogate them. Lothar shares that they were just sharing what they had encountered and that the soldiers seemed rather worked up about the gargoyles. They continue their path south. As the day proceeds the weather continues to warm, melting the dusting of snow on all but the higher elevations. Keartas takes a look at the rather impressive ruby they had found as the group camps for the night. They seemed to have found a Gem of Seeing.
Nothing assaults them over the night nor during the 10th of Zhira. It had frozen overnight but when the sun rises, the warmth melts the snow. The group finds themselves just north of the wasp nests and they bunker down for another uneventful night.
As they travel (11th of Zhira) they start to see the signs of the shredded old nests of the wasps, none of which are currently occupied but they can tell that they are getting close. They prepare as much as they can, buffing themselves and planning on attacking at maximum range to allow the group to hopefully kill as many as they can before the wasps are upon them. Lothar seems torn on killing the giant insects and offers that they sneak in and take what they need. The druid wishes that they could but if they wanted the resources then all of the wasps would have to be slain as the wasps are very territorial.
Launching their plan, the ranged attacks are set loose. The gentle yet loud buzzing quickly changed to a frenetic pace with the first hit. Most of the group stick to hiding in the trees; however, Lothar moves in by themselves. Nam and Acacius follow suit heading in a different direction, leaving the party spread thin. More wasps move in, way more than the party was prepared for. Keartas falls quickly, followed by Nam. Both are healed to continue fighting. Mogg covers Nam with a Fog Cloud helping them survive a couple hits. Unfortunately, the cleric falls again. Tumeti had channeled a Moonbeam down and had managed to slay a bunch of wasps and with the others picking off the others, they were clear of wasps. However, near the entrance of the cave they could see more insects scanning the area. They had not seen the group yet but they knew once they did the wasps would be upon them again. All of them decide to leave the area, to fall back and rest about an hour away hoping that no wasp followed the scent they left behind in the many wounds inflicted.

Report Date

29 Nov 2020