Session 34 – The Gourd Eaters

Written by KoshcheiBessmertnyi

General Summary

The embassy of three enters the village – a circular settlement consisting of longhouse wigwams made of bark, and surrounded by a palisade fence. In the center of the village, a tree grows out of a deep pit which is inhabited by a huge owlbear – the tribe’s totem. Enkidu, Glitterstem and Hursag are met by a large number of hobgoblins armed with spears, and several bugbear champions. The goblins keep in the background. Enkidu addresses the leader in broken goblin, but the hobgoblin chief – Chof, has facility in Common. The ranger makes his pitch - – he wants the Owlbears to join the Brotherhood in pushing the colonists out, so that the all the First Peoples may attain their freedom. Chof replies that the Salamander is in violation of the treaty, as they have crossed into Owlbear territory, and have wounded people of Talon’s Gate. Enkidu ministers to the victims of the firefight, and the tension lessens. Chof invites the landing party into his tent for a parlay.
The ambassadors are conducted to a large wigwam and seated. The chief’s guard keeps spears on their laps at the ready. Chof offers that they trust neither the Brotherhood nor the colonists, for both have abused his people in the past. Further, he does not know whom the landing party represents, as they displayed both sets of banners (thanks to Glitterstem’s earlier trickery). Enkidu explains that the Salamander was only recently captured, and they have not had time to change the colors. After inquiring as to how the Owlbears have been mistreated by both sides, he again recounts the Brotherhood’s recent victory, and stresses the necessity of unity. Chof counters by saying that with his enemies fighting one another, he is content to wait it out. In any event, Talon’s Gate has its own problems – its gourd crop is compromised by some sort of pest, and he fears for his people’s survival come harvest time. Sensing an opportunity, Enkidu offers to investigate and deal with the problem as a gesture of good will. Glitterstem concurs, along with Hursag, who keeps interrupting the proceedings demanding translation of what is being said. The negotiation is concluded as Glitterstem passes his pipe of Island Weed.
The away team returns to the Salamander to collect Theobald and Miletus, leaving Rahab and Sharru to police the crew and the captain (Agni is busy entertaining the macaque). The plan is to stake out the field, which lies adjacent to the village a short way up the river. The company has received permission to camp out in the field as long as they come by sloop, while the Salamander is to remain anchored where it is. The pests apparently come during the day, when the people of the village sleep. An initial investigation reveals several mysteries – it’s not clear how the pests approach the field, for they have left no tracks. Enkidu quickly discovers familiar-looking bite-marks on the gourds, and distinctly porcine scat, which has a honey-flavored scent. Did the pests arrive by air? The party sits on river’s edge, waiting for the uninvited guests to arrive. As the sun rolls toward the horizon, they do – seven boars with chitinous wings and wasplike lower bodies come flying across the river. They immediately go to work, studiously munching down on the gourds, completely ignoring the party. Roughly half the crop has already been destroyed. Glitterstem estimates that in a couple of more weeks, it should all be gone. Something must be done soon, but is it feasible? The creatures likely have a hive nearby, but there could be many of them. Theobald creates an illusory goblin, which an aggressive bee-pig creature dispatches. Glitterstem creates smoke, which the creatures avoid. Finally, as dusk falls, they leave, flying back across the river toward hills on the other side.
Investigating the possible hive is work for another day. After informing Chof’s people about the nature of the threat and recommending that they set up pitch pots to keep the pests away, the party retires to the Salamander for the night. The next morning, the five explorers, joined by Goltur, set out in the sloop to the opposite bank of the field. They bring some of the ship’s pitch with them to fashion flaming arrows, in expectation of a fight with fire-averse aerial foes. Through the rain and storm, they take a short hike upland, and discover the hive in a sandy, rocky bluff, topped by a lone pine tree. Six adjacent pentagonal cells are the creatures’ home. The peculiar structure likely has something to do with the pentagons they’ve been seeing for a while, Glitterstem surmises. Outside the hive, seven bee-pigs buzz about, collecting nectar from the forest flowers, ignoring the visitors, as usual. As Theobald speculates about the therapeutic effects of the creatures’ honey, and the taste of their flesh, Enkidu takes the opportunity to question Hursag about Humbaba’s masculine capacities (the Elder Brother is no eunuch, she assures him). Suddenly, eight more bee-pigs emerge from the hive, followed by two enormous specimens, who immediately make for the party, while the smaller creatures follow. Theobald and Glitterstem go to work with pyrotechnics (the druid makes effective use of the stormy weather to launch lightning at the creatures), while Miletus responds with arrows. Theobald manages to put a couple of the smaller creatures to sleep, and to fry several more. When the swarm reaches the party, they prove to be dangerous opponents. The large ones effectively use a combination of divebombing the party using their tusks, and stinging them with enormous stingers, while the smaller ones opportunistically try to knock down their opponents so that their fellows can then sting them. The howling Hursag is particularly worse for wear – she is knocked over, trampled and stung, receiving a huge welt for her efforts. Yet she perseveres and manages to kill one of the giants, while Enkidu, sword in his left hand, brings down the other. Miletus uses pyrotechnics and arrows to bring down a few more, and Goltur holds his own. Though the creatures fight relentlessly (in a way reminiscent of Goltur), they are eventually driven off, and the escapees are brought down by effective spellcasting. A stench of hair, bacon and chitin hangs over the battlefield, but the party, drained of resources and not confident about facing more, retreats to the river, though Hursag brings one bee-pig, and Theobald collects a giant stinger, as spoils of the hard-fought victory.

Report Date

16 Jul 2016