DF Soaring Phoenix, Session 92 - Bug Hunt

    We were again missing 2 players for last week's session. Here is a summary with some screenshots.

Session Date:    Tuesday 3 September 2024

Party roster:

Ben, half-ogre barbarian, 233 points (PC)
Eleanor Bayley, human adventurer (thief), 296 points (PC)
- Dagne Timar, human priestess of Metallys (cleric), 147 points (NPC Ally)
Erizax Ofaris, human wizard, 292 points (PC)
Merrill Tangled Tail, cat-folk monk (martial artist), 234 points (PC)
Violetta, human warrior (barbarian), 161 points (PC)
Randall, human veteran (knight), 173 points (NPC Ally)

Campaign Date:    9 February, Year 647 of the Vycenaean Empire.

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    The party rushed to aid Ben, grappled in the pincer-like jaws of the giant bug from the cliffhanger of the previous session. Ben was unable to break free, but he turned out to be too strong for the critter to easily drag off, and the PCs were able to get around the bug and attack it from behind. Erizax's level 4 castings of Burning Touch proved particularly effective in wounding the creature in spite of its hard carapace. No sooner had they defeated the monster, when another burst into the field from below. However this time they were ready, and concerted attacks made short work of the second bug.

    The group then discussed what to do next. They were not entirely sure why Ben had wanted to dig in the one field, when he believed the bodies were dragged into the other. Ben himself was notably silent on the matter, even by his own standards (Ben's player was one of the two absent from the session in real life). 

    They decided to check the second field, carefully. Ben followed the tracks back to the other field, with Erizax keeping an watchful eye close behind. They stopped at the entrance to the field. Meanwhile Violetta and Merrill walked around the corner of the field to the other entrance. Eleanor, Dagne, and Randall waited near the farmhouse. 

    Ben looked into the field towards where the earth was disturbed; Erizax cautioned him to be very careful, as Ben inched forward to investigate. Watching across from the other entrance, Violetta got curious and impatient, and started forward to see what Ben was looking at. Merrill called her back.

    Discretion prevailed, and Ben backed out of the field towards Erizax, while Violetta turned back to where Merrill was calling her. Then there was a rumble of earth, and we rolled initiative. Here is screenshot from the start of turn 2, after four of the giant bugs had burst from the ground and were rushing towards the PCs.

    The screenshots below are from the start of turns 3 through 5. Two of the bugs split off to attack Violetta and Merrill while the first two attacked Ben. Even without his shield, Ben with dwarven battleaxe in hand is a much tougher proposition than Ben trying to defend himself with a shovel while already grappled, and it didn't take long to seriously injure one of the critters. 

    Screenshots from the beginning of turns 6 through 8. With one giant critter down, the bugs became more cautious, and they backed off and spewed fourth streams of corrosive liquid at the party. Erizax, emboldened by the efficacy of his Burning Touch spells, and buffed with a Shield spell from Dagne, pursued the retreating bug into the field. Merrill and Violetta, joined by Randall, having injured both their critters, succeeded in putting one down. However during this fight, Violetta blocked two squirts of acid from the creatures with her shield. While it saved her, the highly corrosive liquid ate through the material of the shield, severely weakening and almost destroying it. Then a bite from of the bugs was blocked, and its mandibles tore apart what remained of the shield into large splinters.

    Hubris also punished Erizax, as a critical dodge by the bug caused Erizax to fumble with his staff and he struck his own leg. This not only delivered the crushing injury of the staff, but also the Burning Touch 4 spell charged upon it. Erizax toasted himself with 4d6 burning damage when the melee spell went off, forcing him to make both unconsciousness and death checks; he thankfully passed both. 

    Dagne rushed to heal Erizax, while the rest of the party pursued the remaining two critters, injured and retreating back from the charge of the PCs. Below is a screenshot from the start of turn 10.

    It didn't take long for another injured bug to drop, but the party weren't quite quick enough to catch the last critter. I called the fight at that point, as we were past finishing time for the session. Saved by the metaphorical bell, the final injured bug scrambled over the hedge and scuttered away.