The EARTH story - September 9, 1372
September 9th is overcast, but still fairly mild for this time of year at this latitude.
While the rest of you lounge over breakfast, Leslie flies across the river to scout. Upon her return she reports that the trail continues south from the other bank. A smaller stream joins this river out of the southwest, and the trail follows that.
With the help of Beth and her Caddy you cross the river.
With Op Code and Kithus leading, you follow the trail into the valley.
It is slow going now that you are off the road. The trail is faint, and even the rangers have to pause frequently, and occasionally you have to backtrack.
As you are about to stop for the night, you hear some noises from a large deadfall of branches and brush near the trail. It sounds like some creature or other is grubbing around in there.
Aron moves silently to see what's causing the noise.
Jon calls after him, "I will come too, Aron. Let's take it very carefully as these or this is probably very big. Let's make sure we are downwind of the creature."
Jon move slowly and carefully, following Aron about 10 feet behind and to the right.
While Aron checks out the noise, Op Code will try to identify any foreign tracks that may be present.
He spots a number of insect tracks in the leafy detritus on the ground.
Tully says, "Trap!"
He flies upward with his bow drawn. "The only way out of an ambush is an all out attack!"
He flies forward and draws his bow, ready to attack.
Equinox takes flight in Raven form, to make sure that Tully is not about to attack a deer or some other harmless creature.
At Tully's cry, six giant bombardier beetles come rushing out of the brush at you!
Tully fires normal arrows at them repeatedly.
Ayazin drops an Entangle spell on the beetles.
As Kithus draws his sword, he yells, "What do these beetles do?"
"The term 'bomb' in their name doesn't bode well," Al replies, but steps forward, Claw in hand, ready to slice and dice the beetles.
"If Farad were around, he'd mindblast them and they would explode in a wet spectacle," Beth says. "Alas, we have to do it the hard way."
For Beth, the hard way starts with a magic missile spell, all missiles going into whichever beetle is closest to her.
Mikodin and Aron fire their crossbows until the beetles engages them in melee.
Rather than watch the attacking beetles get thrashed, Equinox the raven scouts around to make sure nothing else is on its way.
Jon takes to the trees to act as scout.
The beetles rush at Aron, Mikodin, Kithus, Al, Laurie and Devlin, respectively.
Tully slams an arrow into the beetle closing on Aron, denting its carapice slightly. He reloads.
Mikodin misses with his crossbow. Aron, however, finds a soft spot with a bolt.
At the same time, Beth blasts the beetle moving towards Mikodin, killing it. With one missile left over, she redirects it into the beetle closing on Kithus.
Simultaneously, Vardui drops a sleep spell. Four of the beetles (the ones moving against Devlin, Laurie, Al and Kithus) nod off.
Then, the grasses, leaves and bushes start to writhe about, reaching out and tying up the remaining beetle, along with a good number of party members as well.
Tully flies about, and kills the beetles.
Ayazin cancels his spell.
Searching the deadfall, you find nothing but the grisly remains of a number of small animals...their previous victims.
You make a camp nearby for the night.