Session 2: Roach attack

Confronting the ogre

We confronted the bat after Iab had left the cave. We managed to get the drop on the creature as it seemed preoccupied and self-satisfied with its deception of the bamboo cutter.

We offered it the opportunity to talk and it wisely took it. We learnt its name was Dee-Wee-Shree. It seemed to have genuine feelings for Iab but didn’t believe should would be able to love a bat.

Asking a few more questions about him we were able to establish that he was on a retreat from the underworld to mediate and find solace far from his home. However falling in love had thoroughly distracted him from his task.

We delivered them a stern talking to about honesty in relationships and theft but having established that the missing necklace was now in Iab’s possession we left the would-be monk to decide on what he should do next.

The myth of the lake

Dee-Wee-Shree explained to us that the caves are meant to be a forbidden place for roaches as their ancestor fell in love here and taught the roach the secret of the stars. However as seasons turn the relationship ended.

When the roach’s lover returned to the stars the roach began to cry uncontrollably, creating the lake from its tears.

According to Dee-Wee-Shree the roaches are commonplace below the earth.

Back to the village

As we descended the cliffs to return to the village we saw roaches flying overhead and before long screams from the village so we ran back quickly to discover a group of roaches attacking the villagers.

One roach was attacking Lura while another was attempting to steal her crying baby. Yarold moved swiftly to try and rescue the baby.

Ye Sing ran forward expecting the roaches to be repelled by the foul concoction he was wearing. He was disappointed but bore this with the same fortitude with which he applied the foul paste.

Having exposed himself to attack he was rescued by Tahleela coming to his side.

Gogrun was able to charge the roach that Yarold was fighting and struck its head clean off. The baby fell bawling into Yarold’s safe hands.

Tahleela was able to finish off the other roach leaving the villagers to take stock of the situation. Iab noticed that Munsun Nun was missing and immediately wanted to go and try and find them.

Awkward romantic interlude

We asked Iab if we could speak privately before we left and despite protest she consented. Ye Sing jumped into the river to clean the filth from himself.

We told Iab that we knew her lover had given her Munsun’s stolen necklace and that what she thought was an ogre was in fact Dee-Wee-Shree’s illusions. We told her that the creature’s feelings were sincere but that the pair should have true knowledge of one another, even if they continued their affair as they had done to date.

We assumed that Iab would return the necklace or that Munsun might have less concern for it now she had been abducted.

After our discussion we asked that Iab stay with us while we tried to rescue Munsun. We didn’t want her to think we were keeping the truth from her but we felt her help would be useful in the caves. There will be time for confrontations and reconciliation later.

Into the roach lair

We decided to travel via river to the entrance near the bank side. We descended inside and after a while followed some distant sounds that resolved themselves into roach voices discussing beads.

With no-one to scout the situation we decided to charge forwards and try and overwhelm whatever lay beyond. As we entered we saw a roach placing beads in a pattern directed by a hideous concatenation of roach bodies into what looked like a roach centipede.

This creature was highly offended by our appearance and attacked us. However it had underestimated its ability to land a blow and when it realised it would be surrounded it tried to flee, falling to our blows as it did so. It’s hide was tough but our blows stronger still.

Having felled the creature as it tried to flee the roach placing beads seemed to leave its trance and fell in despair at its side. It cursed up for killing what it describe as the Queen Ma Blat and said that the scent of this regicide would be sensed and avenged by other roaches.

We explained that we were here to retrieve a captive taken by the roaches and that the violence was the consequence of their banditry. It was clear that the roaches care not for what we think of them or their actions.

The roach led us past a passageway from which we smelt blood. Suspicious we asked to check the chamber before we went further. The roach assented but then tried to surprise attack us with a knife before we could enter. It was easily dispatched and within we found Musun covered in many infected wounds.