Clover opens the door to find an open living area with a round table and three chairs. There is a long counter and several cupboards that likely serve as a kitchen. The walls bear recent scorch marks, which are clearly not from some domestic accident. There is a door into another room to the north. A ladder descends down to the mill floor.
The wasps do not immediately note the halfling's presence, but it does not take long until they are moving in a threatening pattern between herself and their hive. Clover tries her best to understand and make herself understand, but it is a bad time, apparently.
Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.
Wasp Swarm
Leaf-on-Wind
Song-of-Air
Nabi
Clover (two separate Basic Reflex saves vs. DC 21, 7 damage and 8 damage, then one Fortitude poison save vs. DC 21)
> Snowball
Rulean
Ephie
> Mr. Splinters
Kill them fast! Ephie sends his favorite greataxe flying above Clover's head, then casts an electric arc.
"Owowowowow! It's a bad time, it's a bad time!" Clover yelps as she's pelted by wasps, though she seems to resist some of the pain of their stings. "Use fire or magic or something, weapons aren't that good in a wasp fight!"
The halfling hastily stumbles out of the swarm and strikes at it with her longspear.
__________________
Rulean tries to remember what he was told about fighting swarms of wasps. It would be a lot easier if the swarm weren’t right in front of him!
Then he tries to swat them away with his morningstar and claws.
Clover weaves and flails her arms to avoid many of the wasps, but each of the many stings results in a yolk-sized red welt.
An antique greataxe spins rapidly over the halfling's head and whisks through the swarm of wasps. The weapon seems to do damage mostly through sheer size. The a bolt of electricity tears through the air over her head and through the insects; however, most of the swarm scatters quickly enough to avoid the fiery death that falls their slower brethren .
Clover retreats to the corner of the living area despite the cramping beginning in her muscles and thrusts ineffectually at the multitude of bugs despite knowing it will be largely futile.
Rulean swings his morningstar through the swarm, but the wake of air around it seems to blow the wasps out of the intended danger . The iruxi finds his claws more effective, if less so than he expected .
Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.
Effects: --
Wasp Swarm (-17 hp)
Leaf-on-Wind
Song-of-Air
Nabi
Clover (17/30 hp; poison stage 1)
> Snowball
Rulean
Ephie
> Mr. Splinters
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"Well... it was worth a try, Clover!"
♫ Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing...
Where have all the flowers gone?
So long ago...
Where have all the flowers gone?
They're here outside this MILL!
Swarm, it's time to go...
Swarm, it's REALLY time to go... ♫
◈ Inspire Courage
◈◈ Daze (DC 18 Basic Will)
Song sings to inspire others, and then casts Daze on the swarm.
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Some of the wasps become disoriented and crash into the walls and ceiling . It is difficult to tell, given it is a cloud of wasps, but you seem to be making headway as there are quite a few fried, smashed, and incapacitated wasps on the floor of the living area.
Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.
Wasp Swarm (-21 hp)
Song-of-Air
Leaf-on-Wind
Nabi
Clover (17/30 hp; poison stage 1)
> Snowball
Rulean
Ephie
> Mr. Splinters
Lacking in any sense of strategy, the wasps doggedly follow after Clover and continue to sting her.
Encounter! Round 2. Bold may act.
Wasp Swarm (-21 hp)
Song-of-Air
Clover (17/30 hp; poison stage 1) (Basic Reflex Save x 2 vs. DC 21; 3 and 5 damage, respectively; Fortitude Save vs. DC 21 for poison track, damage and Clumsy 2 on a fail)
> Snowball
Rulean
Ephie
> Mr. Splinters
Leaf-on-Wind
Nabi
Rulean moves into the room so as to not block the door. He decides that since his weapon doesn’t do much damage he will rely on his claws.
Ephie takes advantage of the performance; he moves into the room and shoots a ray of frost into the writhing mass! I hope they are dispersed soon…
Rulean steps into the living area to brave the wasps. He swats several of them. Ephie invokes an aspirational ray of frost into the wasps. A dozen wasps fall to the ground frozen solid. There are nearly as many dead wasps on the floor as there are live ones in the air.
Encounter! Round 2. Bold may act.
Wasp Swarm (-33 hp)
Song-of-Air
Clover (17/30 hp; poison stage 1) (Basic Reflex Save x 2 vs. DC 21; 3 and 5 damage, respectively; Fortitude Save vs. DC 21 for poison track, damage and Clumsy 2 on a fail)
> Snowball
Rulean
Ephie
> Mr. Splinters
Leaf-on-Wind
Nabi
Nabi moves inside, and slashes at the wasps with her short sword, even if she doubts doing much damage, despite Song Of Air magical lyrics
"This...this is the worst-!"
More out of reflex than anything, Clover attempts to strike out at the stinging wasps...
...before attempting to flee from the swarm yet again, running further into the building!
______________
"Clover, feel better RIGHT NOW!"
◈◈ Soothe
She then continues to inspire courage to help her allies hit the swarm harder.
◈ Inspire Courage
Nabi does, indeed, find her short sword to be ineffective against the swarm. Between Song-of-Air's occult power and her own fortitude, Clover feels the pain and itching from the stings and welts ease, though it does not completely abate. She thrusts her spear into the swarm twice and runs across the room. She fails to notice that the remaining wasps also scatter to random parts of the mill, but scatter they do.
With the wasps subdued, you are free to explore the rest of the mill. The door across the living area reveals a child's room. There are paintings of fantastical creatures hung on the wall, painted with enough skill for you to recognize the beasts: a hydra, a manticore, a centaur, and a phoenix. There is a dress tossed on the bed, suggesting the youth is a girl.
End of Encounter
Clover (23/30 hp)
Rulean goes over to Clover and after a brief hesitation is able to help reduce the welts from her stings.
“We should probably destroy the nest before any of the remaining wasps can regroup.” Rulean says, looking over at the nest. “Not sure what the best way to do that is. Think we could move the ladder?”
“No signs of what happened to the family. I do hope they got away safely.”
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At first Clover makes it rather difficult for Rulean to see to her remaining welts and stings on account of doing the 'get 'em off me' dance but after a few moments she finally calms down enough to hold still and let her friend do his work.
"Argh! Ugh! That was horrible!" she shudders. "There's no probably about it, we absolutely need to get rid of that nest! Knock it down, stomp it, burn it with fire, whatever it takes, I don't care!"
Let's smoke the remaining bees out, then burn the nest outside. I hope the family is safe — it seems they left in a hurry…
Ephie will investigate everything he can, then help dispose of the nest.
"That sounds like a plan. So.. should we go on to the next room and search until we find the nest?"
"I think that's it hanging there in the center of the big room," Clover points. "We may have to knock it down after we smoke out any stragglers."
Then Clover points up at the ceiling, where the nest hangs in plain sight. "Ah... That's why you mentioned a ladder." She turns to her acrobatic brother. "Leaf, can you get up there if I boost you?"
A lad for a ladder, I guess?
The scorch marks on the wall remind Rulean and Clover of the damage left behind by a spray of fire such as that produced by druids. The iruxi suddenly suspects that the miller family did not get away safely. However, Rulean also notes that there is no evidence of blood and clearly there was no theft.
In the end, the fireplace is lit, the flue is closed, and the mill is filled with smoke. Barrels have been stacked to gain easier access to the giant hive, as the ladder is mounted onto the wall for safety (there is a child living there after all!). You are able to bring the nest down and drag it out the front door to dispose of as you want.
“Do we try to figure out where the mephit went, or just head back to the church?”
Ephie listens carefully to what Rulean and Clover have to say. Marauding druids…I am no expert, but hydropower doesn't seem anathema to nature. Perhaps they did not like the grain processing or farming component of this mill.
“Do we try to figure out where the mephit went, or just head back to the church?”
"He almost seemed a bit put out. The polite thing to do would leave him be, and head to temple."
"Well, we're almost sure that something nasty's lurking out at the church or close by, right? We'd better go there next," Clover agrees. She glances around at the mill, her expression mournful.
"I wish we had more evidence of something than a giant wasp nest and some scorch marks, but maybe it'll be enough. And at least we got rid of the wasps..."
Clover still doesn't seem too happy with the outcome of the investigation but she does finally summon a small, thankful smile for Song and Rulean.
"Um, thanks, by the way, for patching me up back there. Who knew wasps could be that dangerous, you know?"
Leaf-On-Wind has been really quiet, keeping an eye out for any dangers.
He's also been trying to hide his outright cowardice for not being willing to go into a room full of wasps, or risk being trapped in narrow spaces with no ability to move in said rooms.
"Temple sounds like as good a plan as any. Might be able to catch some of the faithful there before they close up shop, even."
The road to the church cuts through the north half of town. People walk about on their daily chores. Those who recognize you from your earlier impromptu performance wave and cheer at you. It seems that you've brought some good cheer to Abberton, and you're beginning to think they needed it. While the dead gnome in the orchard, the boar attack, and the strangely abandoned mill infested with an unreasonable number of wasps--not to mention the odd air mephit trapped in the tipped over wardrobe--all suggest acute troubles, you are beginning to notice that the streets, fences, gardens, and buildings of Abberton are all just a tad neglected.
You also learn that the church was originally called the "House of Gold and Laws," and served as the town's church and bank. Over time, the name was shortened to "Goldenlaws," and that is how townsfolk refer to it. There is only one priest named Nellyn Drend, and most people frown and grumble when asked about the priest. It seems he has called in several debts lately and refused to extend any loans unless secured with collateral.
Coming from the mill, you naturally approach the church from the back. A large wooden double gate detailed with bronze leads into the graveyard and is shut.
"Hmm...learned a little bit about this place from talking to some of the locals," Clover reports. "And they said..."
______________
"Cubby the Dog-Faced Dog picked up the scent of rotting flesh and mentioned something unnatural is lurking in the church's graveyard. We might want to go there first. "
Song sighs. "Alright then, let's go check out that graveyard. If the dead aren't resting peacefully, that is bad news for everyone."
The cemetery gates are unlocked and swing open easily as you pull. There are over a hundred graves in neat rows and divided by well-kept paths. The headstones range from simple granite slabs to large, expensive marble pieces. To your left is a greenhouse, and to your right is a crypt dedicated to a single family. The plaque reads, "Moulder", and you note that the lock on the short, five foot tall door is broken, though the door is closed.
Several of the cemetery’s graves have been dug up, and large mounds of fresh, dark earth lie piled around gaping holes. Two individuals—swollen-looking human men equipped with shovels—are working in one of the graves. Bent over in their labor, they are barely visible until one of them stands straighter and hefts his shovel over one shoulder. “Keep back, good masters,” he says, through a handkerchief tied round his face. “I wouldn’t come no closer. This one’s all ripe with the plague, and they say she’s contagious. One whiff, and you could turn black as pitch and be deader than old Tar-Baphon.”
Rulean stops and looks at the man.
"When we talked with the mayor, he told us of the problems that the village is dealing with. Plague was not one of them."
"Are you sure it is disease, and if so which one?"
"Which one?" one of the men gives a wheezy laugh. "I look like a doctor to you, master? I thank you for the compliment, but I wouldn't know. All I know is they told us it was contagious."
The other man nods. "Yup. The bodies are all pus covered and the like. Best not to get close, whatever's done them in. Come back tomorrow, if you're here to mourn. We'll be done then."
"Who told you?"
"Um. The priest, he did," the first answers.
The second nods, climbing out of the hole. "Said we'd best bury them quick before anyone else catches what got them."
Ephie gives the gravediggers the side-eye and whispers. They're creepier than you, Mr. Splinters.
He looks to see if they are wearing protective gear of any kind as well.
“What is the priest’s name? I’ve some medical training and would like to speak to them.”
"Oh, yeah. Sure. You can find him in the church," the first one grunts while climbing out of the hole.
The other adds, "If you go back out, walk around the wall to the church's front entrance. That way you'll stay safe from the plague. Whatever kind it is."
The gravediggers are wearing cloth face coverings as typical for corpse collectors and gravediggers. However, it is clear that there are no bodies outside of the holes. Possibly, they have already lowered the bodies into each of the graves. Each of the graves already has a headstone, though you are too far to read any of the engravings.
Raising an eye ridge, Rulean repeats himself. “What was the priests name?”
“My name is Rulean, by the way. Who are you two?”
As he says this, he tries to move to where he can read one of the recent headstones.
"Taxmaster, sir. What you think we're on first name basis with the banker? He sure does think highly of us." the first says to the second.
"Ha. Yeah. Oh. I'm Jindo," the second answers.
"And I'm Bano. Wait! What? Are you daft or suicidal? Stop!" the first shouts as Rulean begins to approach.
During the conversation Leaf-On-Wind quietly walks away from most of the party .
"If there had been a plague warning, we wouldn't've given a show last night. We're not selfish morons willing to endanger our family as well as the town. Who are you really and why are you digging around in the graveyard?"
The acrobat has one hand ready to draw his bow and the other two arrows should it be necessary.
Rulean continues forward, saying "Although I am certain someone with the title Taxmaster knows their numbers, they don't always put the effort into learning medicine."
Though the two men sure seem like they're sincere, or at least as much as she can tell, Clover has to agree that Leaf and Rulean both have good points. She eyes the two men, hands on her hips.
"Yeah, so, we gave a show for the entire town last night. Maybe you were there? Oh and there's also another circus that's just rolled in today," Clover points out. "No one's said anything about a plague. And I think if a bunch of people had just died from anything today, there'd be a lot more commotion in town."
Nabi stays at a reasonable distance from the open grave.
Whether or not what the gravedigger said is true, she doesn't want to take any chance and catch any disease. Besides, she is ill prepared to fight undead, if something crawl out of the dirt.
People say they are only two things unavoidable in life, death and taxes. I hope, Taxmaster, that troubles to pay the latter didn't lead to the former, and that you didn't felt compelled to fill your coffins if your coffers didn't get full enough? But dead men tell no tales, isn't it?
Most of you clue in on Rulean and Leaf-on-Wind's suspicion, so it is not entirely surprising when the gravediggers attack. It is, however, shocking how that attack manifests.
"What hey! Stay back we said! Plague!" the first warns as you press your advance toward a better view of the graves. Eventually, Rulean can see that the headstones bear moss and signs of weathering even before he is close enough to read the dates engraved in the stones.
"I think the jig is up," the second one says flatly.
The first sighs. "You had a chance to go away. But, hey, I've never worn lizardfolk before!" The gravedigger's protuberant stomach begins to jiggle disturbingly, and then he seems to loose weight before your eyes as his bulk rapidly shrinks and the skin hangs loose in folds. Before you can reconcile this horror, the gravedigger splits apart like a peeled banana to reveal a grotesque purple, fanged, worm-like beast that was much too large to have fit inside a human body.
Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.
Nabi
Rulean
Clover
> Snowball
Red
Blue
Leaf-on-Wind
Song-of-Air
Ephie
> Mr. Splinters
"Vermleks! Cold Iron, Good or Sonic hurts them the most."
If only I had anything that did any of those...
Having warned his friends, Rulean shoots an icicle in the general direction of Jindo.
Rulean recognizes the demons from his monastic studies and quickly shouts advice to his companions. The writhing mass of worm and fang is too swift for him, and his ray of frigid energy strikes a distant tombstone, riming the stone edge with frost that swiftly begins to melt in the midday sun.
"Think they're demon slayers, they do!" Bano--the only one of the two left with lips--quips.
Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.
Nabi
Rulean
Clover
> Snowball
Jindo (Red)
Bano (Blue)
Leaf-on-Wind
Song-of-Air
Ephie
> Mr. Splinters