Chronicles of Arcania: B/X Homebrew game.

Game Master Peet

Rolls his eyes, "Yeah, must rather take them head on than have to deal with the smell of burning 'dung'."

When he begins to feel the fatigue, Montague will consume the remainder of his portion of food.

"Let me take a look at these bees. Why would they be guarding a treasure. I'll bet they're not even real".

Montague will get close enough to see if he can hear them buzzing.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 Stealth

Montague takes a torch and peers into the room with the bees.

He can see that the southern section is a jail cell of some kind, with iron bars and a heavy-looking lock. Five large insects, perhaps 1' long from head to stinger, fly around a nest hanging from the ceiling in the cell. Underneath the nest is a pile of coins and gems.

If the bugs are not real, there is no way for you to tell from here. They don't seem to notice you.

Alertness: 1d20 ⇒ 15

While passing through the room where the bodies were dumped, however, Montague did notice that all the furniture was covered with dust... except the small bed which seems to have been disturbed recently.

Ferrous follows Montague with arm loads of dried papyrus.
See what I be talking about. Those beastie be unnatural sized and look at them hovering over that pile of gold and gems. Want to try to pick the lock or smoke them out first?

Her sight returned, Ana takes the opportunity to go with Montague. While in the bee room, she attempts to detect magic, specifically on the treasure pile.

Montague had not yet entered the bee room and was peering through the doorway which was only slightly open.

Montague trades places with Ana for a moment to allow Ana to peer into the room. Ana detects no sign of any magic, but can clearly see the five bees and the pile of treasure under the nest. There are a couple of gems and jewels but most of the pile is coins; a lot of silver and some gold.

Picking the lock to the cell would require Montague to go out into the middle of the room. If the bees were inclined to attack he'd be pretty exposed. I doubt he would want to go alone.

Do you see that pile of wealth Elf? I'm sure our friend Montague can get us in that room if we take care of the bees first. The new shaman suggested smoking the bees out. I don't know what that would do but I'm ready to try. If that don't work I think we should have someone shoot one with a crossbow and see if we can lead a few away at a time.
Ferrous looks at Ana and Montague to see what they think before taking any action. A few sheets of papyrus slip down between his arms and his chest.

"Smoke will calm the bees, shooting at them will surely bring forth the swarm."

Ok Shaman you are welcome to try your way first.
Ferrous says simultaneously handing over his piles of papyrus and shoving the shaman through the door into the next room.

Taklishim took his time to achieve the balance of paper and dung that would produce the best smoke. He likewise started a fire near the door...

waits for the smoke to fill the chamber...likewise notes any air currents revealed in the smoke...

Talikshim enters the room with a pile of papyrus, ready to smoke the bees out.

Unfortunately, as soon as Talikshim actually steps into the room, the bees start swarming angrily, and begin flying out of the bars to attack.

Round 1 Initiative:
Block 1: Anastoria, Montague, Zynazyr
Block 2: Bees Group A
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep, Talikshim
Block 4: Bees Group B

Those waiting in the other room hear Talikshim's cry of alarm and the buzzing sound increases.

Anastoria, Montague, and Zynazyr are up. I have moved the bees forward a bit to show that they are attacking but the three of you will be able to act before they close.

Also, I moved Zynazyr and Fistep from the first room to the one with the rest of the party, assuming they would stick with the group.

Montague moves into the corner, and decides to give this obviously warped shortbow one more chance before using for kindling.

Shortbow 1d20 ⇒ 1
Arrow 1d6 ⇒ 3

OK it's definitely kindling. Monty might as well throw the arrows at the bees.

Readies his shield and sword as he realizes what just occurred, "Guess they didn't like the idea of burning dung either shaman!" he says with a chuckle.

As Taklishim is fumbling to light the paper to see how well it smokes before entering the room, he finds himself literally pushed into ...
...the middle of an angry swarm....

"By the spirit!"

THACO (light and normal weapons): 19 (20 - (DEX + progression))
baton/club Damage 1d4 ⇒ 1
THACO 19: 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (20) = -1

"That doesn't sound good," Zynazyr says when he hears Taklishim yell and the sound of the bees get louder. He moves into the corner and prepares to zap any bees that come through the door with a ray of energy.

Cantrip (readied): 1d6 ⇒ 2

From her position of relative safety, Ana takes a handful of sand and lets it fall between her fingers while intoning mystic phrases. Casting a sleep spell.

"Sopor inveniat inimicis meis!"

Casting a sleep spell.

Good call.

Anastoria's spell ripples out and the bees swoon drunkenly.

Three bees drop to the floor and are now barely moving. Two others (which are still behind the bars) remain airborne and continue to advance.

"Group A" of the bees are all asleep so Ferrous and Fistep are now up. Talikshim's attack also now resolves.

@ Talikshim: You have made your rolls already, but now that it's your turn you must choose a target for your attack. If you are attacking in melee you will need to move towards the enemy. If you are unable to move your icon, let us know and someone can move it for you. Also, if you wish to change weapons or attack at range, I will allow that, since your original assumption surely was that you would already be engaged when your turn came around.

Also, Talikshim, you rolled a natural 20. This entitles you to a bonus roll (which is like a critical). Roll another attack and if you hit you add that damage to the damage you scored already. If you are attacking in melee and your first hit downed a target then you can attack another adjacent target (like cleave). Note that if you roll a 20 again this will entitle you to another bonus roll.

Fistep moves into the room.

Fistep moves into the room and takes a defensive stance, while Ferrous runs in and crushes one of the sleeping bees.

I'll give Talikshim until tonight and then move him if I don't hear from him.

Assume moved forward and whacked one of the wasps to the ground, and now am trying to finish it off....

THACO (light and normal weapons): 19 (20 - (DEX + progression))
e.g. baton or sling: Damage 1d4 ⇒ 1
THACO 19: 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (18) = 1

Assume moved forward and whacked one of the wasps to the ground, and now am trying to finish it off....

THACO (light and normal weapons): 19 (20 - (DEX + progression))
e.g. baton or sling: Damage 1d4
THACO 19]19 - 1d20

I moved your icon to 17.23 to engage the farther bee that is still awake, since Ferrous has stepped in front of the closer one. I assume you are using a club as a weapon here? Your damage for a club is 1d4+1 because a club is a one-handed weapon, so full STR bonus applies (instead of half as with a sling or baton). Either way the minimum damage (2) is enough to bring down a bee, so the natural 20 counts as a cleave.

In future though I would recommend using your handaxe for most encounters, unless you think blunt weapons will do more damage.

Talikshim steps up and deftly strikes both flying bees with his club; they both go down. The party quickly dispatches the other sleeping bees. It sounds as if there are still live bees within the hive.

Alertness: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Alertness: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Amidst the shouts of alarm coming from the next room, Zynazyr could swear heard giggling from somewhere in the room he is in. It sounds like it is coming from the bed in the southeast corner of the room.

Zynazyr shakes his head as if he is hearing things and peers at the bed trying to see what made the noise. "Ana," he whispers loudly hoping to get her attention and points towards the bed. He draws a dagger just in case.

Will stay in place but is ready to throw a dagger at whatever is in the bed.

Dagger (thrown) THACO 18: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (10) = 8

"Not sure whether it would be better to disturb the hive our not at this point." He moves up to the bars and examines them to see if he can find any way to release the bars. "Montague, any thoughts?"

He moves up to the bars and examines them to see if he can find any way to release the bars.

The bars seem to have once been a conventional prison cell. A doorway in the center of the bars allows access, and the door is held shut by a slightly rusty but otherwise sturdy-looking lock. There is no sign of a key anywhere, but someone like Montague might have a means around that.

With the threat of bees gone for the moment. Ferrous walks over to Taklishim.
Didn't know they'd attack as soon as ye got in the room mate. Smoke would have been a good idea if these were natural beasts but clearly something foul warped these bees into their monstrous size and also affected their brains. I wouldn't mourn their loss too much. Glad you are unharmed.

"When we next circle the fire, perhaps you should take lead."

Circle the fire? I know not what you mean but my sword and shield are always ready. Feel free to take shelter behind them.

"Let me take a look". Montague approaches the bars, keeping one eye on the behive. "Keep those things away from me while I work".

I'm assuming a Tinker roll?

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 Tinker

"Yes this is my meaning, let me go ahead with both the fire and smoke in case the bees awaken."

Sets the fire and starts a mild smoke.....

"Can these bees be eaten?"

Are not bees poisonous and that is why their sting is so irritating to the skin? I would not try eating unless I was absolutely starving. Ferrous looks hungrily through the bars at the hive. But if there is any honey in the hive surely that would be edible.

I'm assuming a Tinker roll?

Montague works at the lock with intense concentration for a moment, and then the party hears an audible "click." The cell door swings open.

Are not bees poisonous and that is why their sting is so irritating to the skin? I would not try eating unless I was absolutely starving. Ferrous looks hungrily through the bars at the hive. But if there is any honey in the hive surely that would be edible.

The stingers certainly look venomous, and the bees are not particularly large. But if you wish you can try to take precautions and eat the non-venomous part... up to you.

Moves to the other side of the door as Montague fiddles with the locking mechanism. He readies his sword and shield.

Nice work Montague. Feel free to take a step back. Fistep and I will work on clearing this room of its treasure. Fistep if you'll watch the hive I will store these coins in my sack. Ferrous kneels down as he unfolds an empty large sack from his backpack and starts pushes the piles of coin over the folded top. He will try to load the sack with the more expensive coins first leaving the copper for last. Any Gems he will put in his coin purse for now.

Zynazyr nervously looks back and forth between Ana and the bed, concerned that the rest of the party is in the other room and no one knows of his situation. He slowly moves a few feet closer to Ana, waving his hand. "Pst," he says quietly hoping not to alert the creature in the bed.

Ferrous kneels down as he unfolds an empty large sack from his backpack and starts pushes the piles of coin over the folded top. He will try to load the sack with the more expensive coins first leaving the copper for last. Any Gems he will put in his coin purse for now.

The smoke stings Ferrous' eyes, but he is able to keep below the smoke for the most part. There doesn't seem to be any reaction from within the hive and the buzzing sound is not as loud as it was.

There are:
1000 silver pieces
200 gold pieces
two 100 gp gems
a gold satyr mask inlaid with lapis worth 300 gp.

From where he is standing, Montague can hear Zynazyr's "Pst" - it sounds like he is trying to get someone's attention (probably Ana) without being too loud.

Taklishim watches the dwarf scooping up the coins and gems. He would not trade the dreams of coyote and serpent for a room full of such baubles....

"Is the nest now quiet?"

Cleans the insect remains from his club...

Ana turns in the direction that Zynazyr is indicating.

"Is the nest now quiet?"

The droning sound coming from the hive has lessened, but it is not gone.

FYI there is a 1' hole in the top of far wall that seems to lead outside; the smoke seems to be flowing out there like a chimney, though the room itself is still very smoky.

Ana turns in the direction that Zynazyr is indicating.

Whatever noise Zynazyr heard, the area is now quiet.

Looking at the bed though, you can see that though the furniture in the rest of the room has a covering of dust, the dust on the blanket covering the bed has been disturbed. The blanket hangs down the side of the bed to the floor, making it impossible to see what is underneath.

Somewhat relieved that someone finally heard him, he points towards the bed. "I thought I heard giggling from over there but I don't see anything. We need a long pole to move the blanket so we can see what is under there," he says quietly as he glances around the room.

Somewhat relieved that someone finally heard him, he points towards the bed. "I thought I heard giggling from over there but I don't see anything. We need a long pole to move the blanket so we can see what is under there," he says quietly as he glances around the room.

You think you can see a bit of movement in the blanket after you speak, but it ends before anyone else notices.

Taklishim takes in the activity and wonders who or what might be in the cell....

He thinks if grey owl sees the smoke he might notice it. Yet certainly somewhere out there the bees had a water sources.....

Fistep moves over to the other door on the east wall, looking first to see if he can see any tracks or such, and then checking to see if the door had been used recently.

Taklishim takes in the activity and wonders who or what might be in the cell....

The cell clearly hasn't been used as a prison for a long time. The only occupant now is the beehive.

He thinks if grey owl sees the smoke he might notice it. Yet certainly somewhere out there the bees had a water sources...

You suspect the bees used the hole in the wall as an entrance/exit to forage for food and water. As flying creatures they could go a long way to find it.

Fistep moves over to the other door on the east wall, looking first to see if he can see any tracks or such, and then checking to see if the door had been used recently.

The eastern door is much more like the kind of door you would expect in a prison than the one to the west. The door is heavy and bound with iron, and there is a slot in the door that can be opened from the other side to allow someone there to see into the room you are in.

Quietly checking the door you see that it too is locked.

"Ana, get someone in here. I have an idea," Zynazyr says quietly. Once more of the group have entered the room and have been briefed on the situation, Zynazyr tries to move the blanket using a cantrip. His nervousness of what he might find, causes the spell to fail.

Cantrip: 1d6 ⇒ 5

"Ana, get someone in here. I have an idea," Zynazyr says quietly. Once more of the group have entered the room and have been briefed on the situation, Zynazyr tries to move the blanket using a cantrip. His nervousness of what he might find, causes the spell to fail.

[dice=Cantrip]1d6

FYI you can keep trying until you succeed; each attempt takes 1 round, so if you are not in combat it means you can basically just do it (much like 'taking 20').

Ana accompanies Zynazyr to the other room, curiosity overriding caution.

"Show proper caution."

Tak makes sure be has enough smoke and looks more closely at the nest...to determine if it may contain honey....

Ana accompanies Zynazyr to the other room, curiosity overriding caution.

You were already in the room with Zynazyr, though you didn't hear the sounds that he did. He is asking you to call others back to the room you are in; everyone else is in the room with the bees.

"Show proper caution."

Tak makes sure be has enough smoke and looks more closely at the nest...to determine if it may contain honey....

Does the hive contain honey? You will have to either break open the hive or access it somehow in order to find that out.

You suspect that these giant bees are smarter than normal bees, and while the smoke has pacified them somewhat, there will still be some risk in breaking open the hive.

Though Montegau's mouth waters at the thought of the honey, he is very wary of how many bees might be inside. He returns to the room with Zynazyr.