Session 5 - Acid Hive and Temple Bargain
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Session 5

Acid Hive and Temple Bargain

Wednesday, August 07, 2024

The party encountered an acid-spitting hive in the manor depths, regrouped after a retreat, and sought disease treatment at the Empty Threshold under a future favor owed.

manor hive disease temple graydirge

Participants

Sabong Taytay portrait

Sabong Taytay

Snak portrait

Snak

Monty "Count" De Monet portrait

Monty "Count" De Monet

Mobby McMobberson portrait

Mobby McMobberson

Stella Wachter portrait

Stella Wachter

Tharvik Darkbane portrait

Tharvik Darkbane

Recap

The party pushed deeper into the manor complex, discovered a viscera-filled ritual chamber tied to divination, and then retreated from a dangerous acid hive encounter before seeking recovery help in town.

Major Events

  • In a manor hallway with torture rooms, the party reached a chamber with a trough full of guts/viscera and walls piled with bones.
  • The viscera pool had magical properties; when Mobby investigated, it functioned like a crystal ball and showed the graveyard outside (site of the prior troll fight).
  • Bone piles had small holes, and probing them triggered combat with a hive creature.
  • The hive attacked at range with acid, including an area attack causing persistent acid damage.
  • Mobby and Tharvik went down in combat (along with the chicken), and the remaining party fled.
  • The group confronted Argon the Annihilator, who advised using bludgeoning attacks rather than slashing.
  • The party learned a basement portrait of a former general was Argon before becoming just a hand.
  • After resting, Monty and Snak failed to shake disease symptoms.
  • The group sought aid at The Empty Threshold, a temple of Zon-Kuthon, and met Ortagar Stitch-Skull.
  • Blood was requested at entry; Sabong offered on behalf of Monty and Snak but did not enter personally.
  • Monty and Snak were cured, but Ortagar implied a future favor may be requested.
  • The party tried to regroup at The Crooked Coffin (closed under new management), then moved to The Last Drop and were served.

NPCs and Factions Mentioned

  • Argon the Annihilator - Animated hand and keep general who advised anti-hive tactics.
  • Ortagar Stitch-Skull - Temple leader who arranged disease cures and implied a future obligation.
  • Zon-Kuthon - Deity associated with the Empty Threshold temple.
  • Geb (Ruler) - Subject of public gossip, said to be returning to public visibility.

Important Context

  • Notes suggest the hive should be countered with bludgeoning tactics.
  • The viscera trough appears to have repeatable divination utility.
  • A social/religious debt may now exist between the party and the Empty Threshold.

Unresolved Threads

  • Return to clear the hive encounter area safely.
  • Determine whether the viscera trough visions can be controlled or expanded.
  • Clarify what favor Ortagar Stitch-Skull will eventually demand.
  • Track implications of rumors about Geb (Ruler) returning to public life.