"That's a Giant Bombardier Beetle," whispers Esgean to the group. "It may have a mate in here as well."
”Whoa, look at that. That thing is as big as the tick that attacked my pony. I liked that pony.” Kevan then looks back at the others, ”What do you want to do about this thing?
Aldmus blinks in horror, stunned at the size of the humongous insect, and then whispers back to Esgean, "You mean there might be another one??"
It is a vermin and it is mindless, it is immune to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms.).
Esgean has some knowledge of these creatures and inform the group that it is a giant bombardier beetle. The beetle itself is still not paying attention to the group that is standing in the doorway. It continues to nudge and push the corpse into the corner among a pile of trash and filth.
A sour decaying aroma starts to move among the group and down the hallway.
”What do you want to do about this thing?
"If it killed that man, then there's only one thing to do about it. We can't have it killing anyone else."
Felix will pause for a few seconds to give anyone a chance to object or to quickly discuss strategy before stepping into the room to attack with his flail.
Surprise(ish) round: Felix moves forward and attacks out at the beetle with his flail. Possibly expecting the beetle to be squished as easy as its diminutive counterparts, Felix is caught off-guard when the flail bounces off the beetles shell.
Initiative: Round 1
Aldmus
Beetle
Felix
Jhessa
Kevan
Esgean
Herskor
Despite his obvious dislike of the huge bug-like creatue, the half-elven wizard still steps just inside the doorway of the room, drawing out his crossbow for a shot at the beetle.
"Just hold still, you little..." Aldmus mutters as he takes aim, and then fires. "Ha!"
Seeing threats coming into its nesting ground, the beetle climbs upon its meal and lets out a bellowing chittering before a plumb of acidic bile pours from its mouth covering Felix and Aldmus. Felix takes the brunt of the acid as he acts almost like a shield for Aldmus.
The three of you notice that the pile of trash and filth seems to be moving and shifting.
Initiative: Round 1
Aldmus
Beetle
Felix
Jhessa
Kevan
Esgean
Herskor
Too far away to get into the room past the others down the narrow corridor, Jhessa moves forward and offers a quick prayer to guide Felix's arm with his next strike. She then presses herself against the side of the tunnel to enable Esgean and Herskor to pass if they wish to.
After a moment of surprise as he watches Felix rush past him and bounce a shot off the things shell, Kevan reacts. He rushes past legs and mandibles as he hurries to get behind the thing and split its attention with Felix. "This is for my pony you nasty thing!"
Esgean is too slow. Felix rushes in at swings at the unsuspecting, albeit monstrous, beetle.
She calls after him: "We don't know it killed that man!" But then it doesn't matter.
Seeing the acid attack, she understands this is not a foe to take lightly.
"Rejke, flank!" The bobcat springs to action, circling its prey as to avoid attention until she finds her place opposite Esgean, who arrives at the beetle in the same moment.
Esgean swings her quarterstaff intent on dealing a crushing blow.
Being a paladin isn't like the other things that Felix has tried to be back in Kessan. As a blacksmith, he had been told he was hammering the metal wrong; as a farmhand, he had been told his instincts with the animals were wrong; even walking around as a guardsman was something he'd been doing wrong. But Sir Dramott told him that sometimes, he has to do what he believes is right, even when others are telling him he's wrong.
And he knows he is right: this creature is dangerous and needs to be put down before it can kill again. That realization is so powerful that he almost doesn't feel the giant beetle's acid splash over him. He swings again.
The room is too crowded for the ranger to be able to get a clear shot, which is probably for the best, as Herskor is not happy they are simply jumping into conclusions and attacking creatures who might be only protecting their lair.
He stands watch at the intersection.
Moving down the corridor the group takes charge. Jhessa cast Blessing of the Faithful on Felix to empower his next move. Thanks to the acrobatics, Kevan springs into flanking position as his Rapier finds a soft spot in the beetle’s natural armor.
Rejke prowls around finding an opening as she pounces with a bite that crunches its shell and some green ichor begins to seep out of the creature, until Esgean and Felix finish off the beetle. Splitting its shell in two.
The beetle slumps lifelessly off the corpse. From his clothing, he looks to be a villager from Kassen.
Even at this size, these creatures are not natural predators. As you saw, they do have abilities that would make them dangerous if something or someone stumbled across them. But they are natural scavengers.
Kevan looks the man over to see if his face rings a bell and also to see if he has anything of interest on him.
"Stay alert. The refuse in the corner has something moving inside of it."
Felix indicates the pile of trash and other filth in the corner that the beetle was trying to push the corpse into when they first entered the room. He moves closer to inspect, trying to guide others away from it if they are between him and the corner in question.
With the swift blows from the others cracking the beetle's shell and then skewering it, Jhessa slides into the room, keeping on her toes at Felix's command. "What do you see?" she asks, trying to peer past the party and the beetle's corpse.
The man lying dead is someone you recognize from the village. He is one of the mayor’s friends. Ethan is, was, his name. Looking through his what is on him you find a dagger, a coin purse with 6 coppers, and a bruised apple in his coat pocket.
Felix approaches the pile of trash, and as he steps forward a swarm of tiny beetles cover Felix, Esgean, Kevan, and Rejke.
The beetles cover each of you and start to bite at you, but with their bites there is a acidic tingling that looks as if it is eating through your clothing.
Felix you feel overwhelmed by the amount of beetles covering you. First it was the acidic bile that poured from the giant beetles mouth, now you examine a pile of trash and these creatures overwhelm you to the point of distraction.
Initiative: Round 1
Beetles
All of you
"Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch," Kevan repeats as he skips out of the room very rapidly smacking at the beetles and trying to knock them off his body. "Somebody needs to burn those things. That's about as bad as when I upset that beehive trying to get honey." He can be heard saying from the hall.
Unable to do much of anything else, Felix stumbles back from the source of the beetles' source. He wobbles a bit as he stares dumbly at the beetles everywhere.
Esgean quickly sheds her clothing to free herself from the beetles. Then she rushes out of the room to follow Rejke, swatting beetles off her companion with her quarterstaff.
As a number of tiny beetles swarm out of the giant one's horde in the corner of the room, Jhessa watches in horror as her companions swat them away. Presented with a clear line of sight at the one closest to her, something she doesn't expect to happen too often in the dungeon's cramped confines, she takes aim with her crossbow and pulls the trigger.
Kevan runs backwards smacking the beetles off him. Felix stumbles back from the pile of trash. Esgean attacks and flees, but it looks as if her quarterstaff was ineffective. Jhessa loosens a bolt, and it deflects off of the wall and quickly becomes enveloped by the beetles.
Initiative: Round 1
Beetles
All of you
"Run!" Esgean shouts to the others still in the room.
"Felix! Run!" the terror in his voice is plapable, and it's everything Aldmus can do to retain his composure and hold his ground.
Bracing himself, the young magic-user manuevers the best he can, so as to not engulf the paladin in his spell. Aldmus then barks out, “Manus Ardenti!”, at which point a cone of pale blue, searing flame shoots from his outstretched fingertips, directly at the massing swarm!
After Aldmus’ spell, and somehow managing to rip his eyes away from the unclothed Esgean, Herskor steps forward to grab Felix and drag his companion away from the beetles - ”We need to get out of here” - he grunted.
Felix stumbles back from the pile of trash.
"Felix! Run!" the terror in his voice is plapable, and it's everything Aldmus can do to retain his composure and hold his ground.
Aldmus' shout pierces the fog in Felix's mind. Seeing the others running into the hallway, the paladin decides that's where he needs to be, and follows.
Felix stumbles back from the pile of trash."Felix! Run!" the terror in his voice is plapable, and it's everything Aldmus can do to retain his composure and hold his ground.Aldmus' shout pierces the fog in Felix's mind. Seeing the others running into the hallway, the paladin decides that's where he needs to be, and follows.
Most of the group runs into the hallway, leaving Aldmus and Jhessa in the room with the beetles. Aldmus’ spell looks to be fully effective, actually more effective than expected.
The beetles move forward and begin to crawl on and bite Aldmus and Jessa
Initiative: Round 2
Beetles
All of you
Seeing her shot hit the opposite wall an fail to make any real impact on the swarm of tiny creatures, Jhessa follows the others out of the room. She moves swiftly, squeezing past the others as she heads down the corridor.
Kevan hurries down the hall to give everyone room. "Give 'em room people, give 'em room!" he calls out. He takes off his pack and rummages through it looking for oil he would normally carry but finds none. He does spot the brandy bottle and thinks to himself 'You just had to drink it.' "Does anyone have a flask of oil? We could douse the little buggers and set them on fire."
Esgean and Rejke keep backing up to give room for the others. "Or we could let them be."
"Not if they continue to swarm us," Felix responds.
Felix wants the party to move back out of the beetle swarm, but he wants to be one of the last to leave in case someone needs help. If there's room, he'll help Herskor pull Aldmus back. If not, he'll move back just before them so that he can react in some way if he's needed. (He just can't seem to figure out what he can do to help.)
As the group retreats from this chamber, the beetles that swarmed them retreat into their apparent nest. You are unsure if you would be able to make it into the door or the stairs in the beetle chamber without them attacking again, you do know they came out when Felix investigated the nest.
Esgean & Rejke move around the hallway and see that it continues to wrap around in darkness.
You come to a dead end with a door that has no handle or hinges.
It appears that there is no way to open this door from this side.
Jhessa & Felix notice that the now silent room the wailing was coming from has a dem flickering light coming from within.
When the immediate threat seems to have passed, Felix turns to the others.
"I am sorry. That was foolish of me. I should have thought better about approaching a threat that wasn't immediately attacking us. Provoking that swarm put us all in danger."
At these last words, he indicates the numerous bites and scratches covering his exposed skin.
"When I saw that the giant beetle was dragging that man's body into the refuse, I worried about what other victim's remains might be at risk."
Rubbing his arms and wincing in pain from numerous bug bites, Aldmus pauses a moment, swats at his sleeve, and a tiny beetle drops out and down to the floor. Shuddering, he says, "It's understandable, Felix. Just learn from it, ok?"
"All of us need to learn quickly from our mistakes, and try not to repeat them. Speaking of which..." he pauses for effect, then says, "Should we temporarily retreat and get our bearings? We obviously underestimated the danger here. A mistake. Not that I'm in favor of a full retreat, mind you. Just looking at our options...logically."
Another pause, then a shrug and a grin, "If we're staying, we at least have to light some torches so we have fire available if the swarm comes back. I can't cast that spell again until tomorrow..."
As her heartrate slows down after the beetle blitz, Jhessa too tries not to scratch at the numerous irritating bites peppering her skin. "No, that wasn't good but you weren't to know, Felix. We're ultimately ok though," she says in a calm tone, trying to take some of the heat out of any potential recriminations, before turning to Aldmus' questions.
"Perhaps there's a way around that room a different way - or is that what you're saying, Aldmus?" she asks. "This place seems like a maze in general. Is there any way we can make a map of it? That might help us get our bearings. Also," she adds, dropping her voice and gesturing towards the door behind her, "whoever - or whatever - is behind that door has gone quiet. And there's a light source that wasn't there before, I think."
Kevan walks up to Felix, "Don't worry about it. Happens to me all the time. Try to help out and bam totally catastrophe. Of course, mine aren't catastrophe's. At least not this bad. Well, maybe I'm wrong, perhaps it doesn't happen to me all the time. But don't worry about it, I'm here for you." Then after Jhessa mentions the door, "Ahh, I must have knocked on the wrong door. I think we should say hi to whoever is on the other side."
Kevan walks up to Felix, "Don't worry about it. Happens to me all the time. Try to help out and bam totally catastrophe. Of course, mine aren't catastrophe's. At least not this bad. Well, maybe I'm wrong, perhaps it doesn't happen to me all the time. But don't worry about it, I'm here for you."
Felix smiles down and Kevan and leans down to pat him companionably on the back.
"Thanks, Kevan. I'm really glad you're here!"
Esgean reconnects with the group in the hall. "We found another door but it's sealed and no way to open it from this side," she explains.
Herskor puts Aldmus down, and immediately goes to slam the 'beetle chamber' door shut - "They are mostly scavengers - if we leave them alone, they will probably do the same" - he added - "For now..."
"We need to remember to clear those things out before we go. Knowing they are there we should be able to get something to burn them out. The man on the floor is Ethan, a pretty good card player if I remember correctly but he couldn't hold his liquor. Anyway, we'll need to recover his body. Kevan says as he makes his way to the door. Once arriving, "Shall I knock?" He asks as he looks the door over to make sure it won't explode or has a scything blade in it.
take 10 on Disable device if needed and available. Disable Device +7 +1 trapfinding total +8
Aldmus makes a face at Kevan's seemingly flippant manner, but says nothing. Instead he recasts Detect Magic and keeps watch.
Kevan moves forward to where the wailing was coming from to begin examining the door. He does not find that it is trapped. Aldmus moves up with Kevan and cast Detect Magic and begins to help search the door. No magic detected; no traps found.
Kevan checks the door over, and it is locked. It appears that this lock is more complex than a passive try at it.
It takes Kevan a bit more time than he would have liked, but the door is unlocked.
You hear the familiar sound of a crossbow being loaded.
Jhessa reloads her crossbow in preparation while she waits for Kevan to work his magic with the door. After a while he beams back at the rest of the group, the door now unlocked. "Good work," she says. "Are we all ready to go through?"
"Jhessa, I hate to ask this, but that large beetle did a number on me. Can you do anything about my wounds?"
"Nice work, Kevan!" Felix enthuses as he steps through the unlocked door, impressed with the halfling's myriad skills and experiences.
”Ask and you shall receive,” Jhessa replies with a wink. ”Sorry Felix, I should have offered. I think I’m a bit distracted after the beetles and we’re all a bit worse for wear. Same for anyone else - if I can aid you, please do ask in case I forget my manners again and fail to offer. Shelton’s love is best shared.” She puts her weapon down for a second so she has both hands free for casting. She runs one through her hair unconsciously before offering the prayer of healing and reaching out to close Felix’s wounds. She touches her hand to the paladin and, a divine conduit once more, positive energy flows through her.
Jhessa inspects her handiwork, happy that Felix is looking more hale and hearty before he prepares to open the door.