Session 36 – Return to the Hive

Written by KoshcheiBessmertnyi

General Summary

A white wolf watches the party approach the shore before retreating inland, and after disembarking, Enkidu asks Goltur to find its scent. The boar has trouble – perhaps it is not really a wolf? – but it is clear that it went uphill. Glitterstem tracks the wolf to the top of the bluff where the hive is located. Theobald proposes to leave an invisible Miletus to spy, while the rest of the group remains to observe the hive. Nothing emerges from the hive - Enkidu suggests that the creatures may be diurnal (though boars are generally nocturnal).
Miletus returns in roughly one half hour, and informs the rest of the group that he overheard a goblin voice - likely Nugast - speaking to the wolf from inside the tree at the top of the bluff, directly over the hive. There is apparently a way into the tree. Theobald sends the still invisible elf back to top of the bluff, to cut off possible routes of retreat, while the rest of the party and its allies carefully trek to the top of the hill. When everything is in place, the sorcerer bombs the dead tree with a ball of fire. It begins to burn, and forces the goblin to emerge, as planned. Unfortunately, the fireball also engulfed Miletus, who could not be seen. He is able to take down the fleeing wolf with a pair of arrows, but then his day becomes even worse as he sustains a lightning bolt, apparently from Nugast.
Meanwhile four of the larger bijzweijn emerge from the central hive, and attack the rest of the party. The presence of an unconscious Miletus, as well as Enkidu, who advances toward the caster and engages one of the monsters, makes further bombardment impractical. Another of Nugast’s lightning bolts, in combination with a bijzweijn, manage to take down Enkidu (who is helped by Rahab), and the shaman also succeeds putting Goltur, Glitterstem, and the hobgoblins to sleep. First, though the druid reaches Miletus, and ministers to him, just barely succeeding at saving his life (though the elf feels dizzy and has difficulty concentrating on strenuous activity). The party has too much muscle power, however, and brings down all of the bijzweijn. The group then sets off in pursuit of Nugast, who flees (though he temporarily blinds the pursuing Hursag). After being awakened, Glitterstem summons two dire wolves, and takes shape as one himself. The three catch Nugast’s trail, but he seems to be moving away from them at a much faster pace, so the pursuit is called off.
The group returns to the tree, which is by now smoldering. Hursag is still itching for a fight, and is suspended by a rope into the tree cavity after being turned invisible by Theobald. When her orc comrades pull her up, she reports that inside the hive – likely in the central cell - she saw four more large bijzweijn, surrounding, in a protective fashion, an even larger female specimen (probably the queen), who was suckling a handful of the smaller monsters. Nearer to the opening of the cell on the bluff side, she also saw Agni and Captain Reekers, apparently conscious, but encased up to their neck in a honey-like substance. Hursag argues for continuing the assault, but Theobald convinces her to let the group rest for the night, and recover its strength. She gives in, and the attackers camp out at the end of the flat expanse leading to the hive.

Report Date

27 Aug 2016