The Dungeon of Graves: Session 9
General Summary
Not Bees
Report Date
06 Dec 2020
After the battle with the wasps the group advanced backwards to determine if they would try again to collect the precious wasp paper. They find a decent spot about an hour away for a short rest and discussion. All around their spot they could see the abandoned old nests that marked the wasp territory. Overall, the party is torn on if they should continue the fight with the wasps or continue to the Landing. If they leave then they would miss out selling or using the resource. They surmise that Inako would love to get their hands on this paper. They all agree that if they choose to continue their onslaught, they would need to move as a unit and work smarter. Lothar would prefer to not hurt the Wasps. And the cleric brings up possible alternatives to slaughter.
They discussed how they could possibly use smoke to draw them out or to subdue the insects. If they choose to play the long game, Tumeti offered that they could wall off the cave but she isn’t too thrilled with having the creatures suffer. Further discussion on what they could offer for area of effect attacks happened over the short rest. Even with a couple of the party members not approving of continuing their fight with the large wasps, they plan on attacking at day break, trying to hit the insects before they are fully active.
Finding a better spot for a night's rest, they continue their chat about tactics. They decide to break into three groups with Lothar and Nam being ‘bait.’ Xantrix was able to create a scented piton for the frontline to draw the wasps to them and hopefully keep their prey’s attention while the rest attacked at range. Mogg thanked Nam for offering and just being able to be one of the frontliners as they are unable to do so. Nam simply responds that they were built to take a punch.
The 12th of Zhira is blustery. They could hear the trees shake and rattle almost to their breaking point from the easterly wind rolling in from the sea. As they approached the cave, they could barely hear the buzzing over the howling wind. The large wasps are having trouble flying with the wind and some hit trees as the Shrike’s group moved in. A battle commences with the group working well together and quickly slaying the insects' frontal defense. They move to the cave as a group with Tumeti keeping her Moonbeam active as they make their way up the rocks.
From outside the cave they could see a bunch more wasps about 50 feet in surrounding a giant queen wasp. As the Queen perceives the group, she rallies her soldiers and incites them into a rage. Some of them fly to the frontline as the group had hoped but it seemed that the Queen communicated to some of the others to fan out and attack.. As the frontline work to keep the bulk of the insects occupied the Queen flies out and heads straight to Mogg. They fall quickly. Tumeti prepared herself to take the Queen’s next hit and healed Mogg who after regaining consciousness downs one of the wasps.
Xantrix falls but is healed by Tumeti as they once again readies herself to endure another massive sting from the Queen. The first had caused the druid to lose her concentration on the Moonbeam. The Queen is slain brilliantly by Acacius and with their leader dead, the other wasps become more incensed. After finishing off the remaining insects around Nam and Lothar, Mogg moves into the cave and does a quick check. He hears some munching and notices large holes in the cave where larvae were safely growing in their nests.
There are twelve larvae that will hatch within the week but they will need someone to feed and care for them as the group has slain all of the wasps. Keartas casts Detect Magic while Xantrix investigates the cave thoroughly. They find an endpoint teleportation circle and a bunch of wasp paper. Outside the cave, Tumeti moves the bodies of the wasps around the Queen and Lothar seems lost in thought. The others work in the cave collecting the materials. Mogg suggests that Lothar and Tumeti should figure out what they are going to do with the larvae. Most want to sell the location of the nest with hope that Inako will pay for a renewable resource and keep the baby wasps alive. Lothar obstains, not trusting Inako leaving Tumeti to anxiously think about what they should do with the larvae. Ultimately, she resigns to the group’s decision.
