IC

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus
"Yeah, that's true. So: Light the smoke pots - it's too bad we don't have anyway to blow the smoke into the hive; then we take out as many as we can above ground...Then we go in?"

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"Sounds good. Let's finish these things off and get those stingers." Gardo readies his sword & shield to help defend those with the smoke pots.

[sulldawga]

Newton

"I think going in without quieting them with the smoke first is a mistake. They're aggressive, once they realise you're there they'll probably swarm you" he shudders.

Telemachus agrees with Newton's plan.

He will follow after the fighters, to make sure he can cast Sleep if the bees threaten to overwhelm the party.

[thirdkingdom]

Thirdmonth, Twelfthday
Hex 73.47
Subhex 0503

The plan is put into action. A barrage of arrows slays the three bees outside the nest, the smudge parts of lit, and Newton carries them into the hole with him. The others follow after him, crawling on hands and knees. It's smoky and unpleasant inside, but between the smoke and two judicious Sleep spells put the remaining bees to sleep. There are twelve more in the nest, as well as an emormous bee Newton identifies as the queen.

The interior of the nest is lined with large waxen hexagons haphazardly the arranged. The queen is in a large interior chamber, the walls totally lined with wax. A half dozen of the hexagons contain what appears to be a whitish substance, different from the regular, more golden honey that can be found dripping off the walls.

This is actually a combined lair from *two* killer bee encounters. There are four doses of royal jelly. Each dose heals 1d4 hp to an individual or, if applied to a wound, will allow the character to make a second saving throw to avoid disease. Eating royal jelly is not something you do in combat; it's *a lot* to eat.
I'm going to make two reaction rolls, given the smoke: http://orokos.com/roll/737081: 2#2d6 10 7

Yeah, they're calm.

[sulldawga]

Telemachus

The mage orders one squad of horse archers to stand watch, in case any bees come back from outside the nest, while the other squad assists with gathering honey and stingers.

[VonAlric]

Gardo assists with the gathering of the stingers as some of the squad may be a bit wary of any accidents.

"Hey Aldus! Newton! You guys find anything else in there beside bee remains?"

[Pulpatoon]

Now that the threat of the bees has been eliminated, Aldus finds himself fascinated by the underground hive, and and lingers, investigating its nooks and crannies. Beyond a rarely-exercised curiosity in natural philosophy, Aldus considers that, as far as he know, bees might collect shiny things and bring them back to the hive. At least, the beekeeper hadn't specifically said otherwise.

[thirdkingdom]

Now that the threat of the bees has been eliminated, Aldus finds himself fascinated by the underground hive, and and lingers, investigating its nooks and crannies. Beyond a rarely-exercised curiosity in natural philosophy, Aldus considers that, as far as he know, bees might collect shiny things and bring them back to the hive. At least, the beekeeper hadn't specifically said otherwise.

There's nothing shiny or of value to be found. It isn't likely the bees excavated the hive, he reckons. More like they took over an existing hollow and reshaped it to their own devices.

[thirdkingdom]

Thirdmonth, Twelfthday

The companions are able to harvest nine stings, plus a much longer one from the queen.

The return trip occurs without incident. Madam Fleur greats the adventurers upon their return. "I've found two potential recruits and a sage who is interested in some research projects. Who would you like to meet first?"

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus
“Let’s talk to this sage. Maybe he will have something interesting to say.”

[sulldawga]

Telemachus goes to see the sage.

[shaidar]

Newton will go see the sage too.

[thirdkingdom]

I'm going to be out of the office for most of today, so I'm just going to go ahead and post everything

Thirdmonth, Twelfthday
Junction

The sage proves to be a small man, barely five feet tall, who dwells in one of the larger, more solid homes in Junction. The walls are stone, the roof timber shingled in slate. His house is cramped and filled with all manner of possessions. "I am Brassan Cen" he says, "of Weld, in the far east. I have moved to Junction recently as my studies focus on the Skeldrene Dynasty, which once ruled the lands west of here, roughly defined by the Basilisk Hills. Your factor has informed me that you are looking for information?"

~~~~~

Back at the inn Madam Fleur brings in the two candidates she has found. The first is a young man, named Nald Meri. Around his neck he wears the panpipe talisman of Sabeth, the Dancer in the Woods. He's young and rosy-cheeked, but eager to adventure. The second is an older man, in his late thirties, probably, with shaved head and a vivid scar on one cheek. He calls himself Goshawk, and claims to have had experience as a fighting man. His wrists certainly bear training scars, and he looks strong enough to be a warrior.

Nald is a 1st level cleric, Goshawk a 3rd level fighter.

[shaidar]

Back at the inn Madam Fleur brings in the two candidates she has found. The first is a young man, named Nald Meri. Around his neck he wears the panpipe talisman of Sabeth, the Dancer in the Woods. He's young and rosy-cheeked, but eager to adventure. The second is an older man, in his late thirties, probably, with shaved head and a vivid scar on one cheek. He calls himself Goshawk, and claims to have had experience as a fighting man. His wrists certainly bear training scars, and he looks strong enough to be a warrior.

Newton

To Nald Meri: "So, tell us about Sabeth. Although young I'm guessing you're used to the wilderness as part of your training?"


To Goshawk: "Have you spent much time in the wilderness, or is your fighting experience more military or urban?"

[Pulpatoon]

Aldus tags along with Telemachus and Newton. He unbundles an unruly nest of crumpled sheets of paper, ready to take more notes. "What a pleasure to meet you! We're so fortunate to have a man of learning in the area. You know, they say that the person who asks a question is a fool for now, but the one who doesn't ask is a fool forever—a dead fool, given some of the dangerous places our work takes us. So, thank you for agreeing to suffer us asking our foolish questions.

"In your studies of the local history, have you come across anything about aqueducts or similar structures? We found a... would we describe it as a ruin, Telemachus? At any rate, a segment of what certainly appeared to be an aqueduct, but no signs of a larger system. From a high hill we spied the distance, and saw no similar ruins, nor any signs of where the system might originate or terminate."

[sulldawga]

Thirdmonth, Twelfthday
Junction

The sage proves to be a small man, barely five feet tall, who dwells in one of the larger, more solid homes in Junction. The walls are stone, the roof timber shingled in slate. His house is cramped and filled with all manner of possessions. "I am Brassan Cen" he says, "of Weld, in the far east. I have moved to Junction recently as my studies focus on the Skeldrene Dynasty, which once ruled the lands west of here, roughly defined by the Basilisk Hills. Your factor has informed me that you are looking for information?"

Telemachus

The mage adds, "We are primarily interested in your knowledge of the history of this area and what city that aquaduct fed, but are also curious if you know anything about the other sites we've discovered."

Telemachus describes the door in the hill and the sea monster in the lake.

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

To Nald Meri: "So, tell us about Sabeth. Although young I'm guessing you're used to the wilderness as part of your training?"


To Goshawk: "Have you spent much time in the wilderness, or is your fighting experience more military or urban?"

Staring more at Nald, Feargus says "To tell you guys the truth, we need a healer to travel with us. That is my first priority. Once that is settled, I, personally will need somebody to accompany me on the road...keeping an eye on my back and willing to do what I need, when I need it. For this service, you will be fairly compensated, you will see the world, and you will learn a thing or two. I also have certain aspirations that lead beyond this town."

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"I like the looks of you, Goshawk. You seem a capable fighter. We might need to spar some."

[thirdkingdom]

Newton

To Nald Meri: "So, tell us about Sabeth. Although young I'm guessing you're used to the wilderness as part of your training?"


To Goshawk: "Have you spent much time in the wilderness, or is your fighting experience more military or urban?"

Nald Meri

Meri's face light's up with the look of the newly converted who cannot wait to share the good news. "Sabeth is He who Dances in the Woods! He sees the acorn to the ground in fall and raises it as a sapling in the spring. He is the master of maples, the sovereign of sycamores! His chosen are taught not to fear the woods at night, nor the deep of the forest when all is silent and covered in snow."

Goshawk

"I've delved in dungeons deep and broken heads in back alleys. For two years I was a guard on the caravan road to Eros, at the end of last Cycle. I saw action against ogres, giants, and Men."

Aldus tags along with Telemachus and Newton. He unbundles an unruly nest of crumpled sheets of paper, ready to take more notes. "What a pleasure to meet you! We're so fortunate to have a man of learning in the area. You know, they say that the person who asks a question is a fool for now, but the one who doesn't ask is a fool forever—a dead fool, given some of the dangerous places our work takes us. So, thank you for agreeing to suffer us asking our foolish questions.

"In your studies of the local history, have you come across anything about aqueducts or similar structures? We found a... would we describe it as a ruin, Telemachus? At any rate, a segment of what certainly appeared to be an aqueduct, but no signs of a larger system. From a high hill we spied the distance, and saw no similar ruins, nor any signs of where the system might originate or terminate."

Thirdmonth, Twelfthday
Junction

The sage proves to be a small man, barely five feet tall, who dwells in one of the larger, more solid homes in Junction. The walls are stone, the roof timber shingled in slate. His house is cramped and filled with all manner of possessions. "I am Brassan Cen" he says, "of Weld, in the far east. I have moved to Junction recently as my studies focus on the Skeldrene Dynasty, which once ruled the lands west of here, roughly defined by the Basilisk Hills. Your factor has informed me that you are looking for information?"

Telemachus

The mage adds, "We are primarily interested in your knowledge of the history of this area and what city that aquaduct fed, but are also curious if you know anything about the other sites we've discovered."

Telemachus describes the door in the hill and the sea monster in the lake.

Brassan Cen

"It will take time to research all you describe. Our world is one of constant struggle between Law and Chaos. The struggle produces change, more than any one battle or war could do. Consider this, if you will: A mere eight Cycles ago, this land was not forested, but instead a vast, barren wasteland! This was at the end of the reign of the Crocodile Kings, the foul mecistop who ruled humanity as a master rules a slave! The very northernmost outposts of their empire were just south of Junction. Can you imagine, looking out across the Sarn, and seeing not thick forests but a veritable desert? There are too, the storms of possibility known as Chaos Storms, produced by the transition of Cycles, that have the ability to drastically alter landscapes, even reality itself! Why, I hear tell of a patch of sand to the southwest, near the Basilisk Hills, covering some ninety square miles. It is in the middle of this very same forest, yet it looks like the sand of the ocean. How did that sand get there? No one knows."

He pauses for a moment to take a drink of wine from a pewter mug. "But I will do your research. Give me as much information as you can, including as an exact a location as you can provide, and I will see what I can do. I charge 250 alcedes a week, and judge your questions may take between one and two weeks to answer.

Feargus
Staring more at Nald, Feargus says "To tell you guys the truth, we need a healer to travel with us. That is my first priority. Once that is settled, I, personally will need somebody to accompany me on the road...keeping an eye on my back and willing to do what I need, when I need it. For this service, you will be fairly compensated, you will see the world, and you will learn a thing or two. I also have certain aspirations that lead beyond this town."

Are you trying to recruit Nald?

Gardo

"I like the looks of you, Goshawk. You seem a capable fighter. We might need to spar some."

Are you trying to recruit Goshawk?

[sulldawga]

Telemachus tells the sage to worry about the aquaduct and skip the door and the lake.

"We'll have figured out both of those before you."