Covered in Bees!

AK510-36 Cool Summer Start Week 4
[Charon Guiding, Shale Resting, Cycles Watching]

Moonday
Severe storms lash the coast of Stormwatch and the rivers swell to the brink of flood. Priests of Aisneis and Briongloid claim that the storms are a bad omen. They speak of a Dark Tide rising and of Death. The Priests of Bas merely smile. The Vedic of Woodhaven is extremely displeased as he and his companions are forced to a slow crawl dragging the wagons northwards towards the village. Only his Gods given powers save the wagons and all upon them from falling into the mire and swelling waters of the river. The going is very slow and the tedious journey takes far longer then expected. With the Ranger, Druid and Scout gone, the food supplies and morale begin to run low. Everyone is cold and wet and exhausted, but they press on. Meanwhile the Storms prevent Cheno Melek's long ship from making any progress. The Winds are too strong for sails and the current is too heavy for rowing. All but a small distance is travelled every day. Worse still, when sea sickness turns to filth fever, arguments break out as to who is to blame. Sir Eagon's diplomatic skills and sword arm are all that prevent several episodes of serious violence from erupting. He tends to crewman and settler alike and wins the respect and gratitude of all on board. Those who follow the Chosen fare best and many are spared the worst ravages of the disease.

While Sheriff Appleby decides to spend some time in his orchard with his wife and while Jo of Kell devotes his time to his experiments in his new lab, Bob Charmer settles the bees back into their hives. The queens and larvae have survived the winter well and the hives are almost back to full strength. During the worst of the rains Bob creates a few more hives and requests new queens be readied for these. After only a few days in their hives hiding from the rain, the swarm is itching to get out into the wilderness again. Bob's restless nature has taken root in them more than they know. The hive mind has already sent scouts ranging far and wide when Bob calls upon them to join him on the hunt. Bob has sensed something unusual to the north and when he mentions this to the bees they too can feel a faint ‘something'. They set off north through the sodden countryside to see what they can find. There are few creatures abroad in the stormy weather, even Baphen and Lizardfolk are scarce to be seen. A boar comes snuffling about his damp campsite late one evening but he easily befriends it with some soothing words and a little food. The large creature is welcome protection and heat in the cold and rainy night.

Cogaday
Another days travel brings him upon a strange site. Several humanoid creatures are tending to large flowers, the size of a grown man. Some appear to be gardening others appear to be gathering pollen. The creatures resemble a cross between an elf and a giant bee. They wear no armor and only very light clothing. They each carry tools for their trade as well as a bow and a javelin. They have large gossamer wings and their chests are covered in thick black and yellow stripped fur. Their elvish features are contrasted with their black compound eyes and antennae. Bob calls on Naduir to hide himself and the swarm from the bee folk and approaches cautiously. After a long period of inspection, Bob decides that they are not hostile and that he should greet them. Not wanting to alarm or annoy them, he moves away over the brow of a nearby hill before dismissing his magical concealments. When he approaches and hails them, they are taken aback and raise weapons. Quickly they sense the hive mind and the bond between Bob and his swarm.
"Greetings Your Highness," says the closest bee-elf.
"Huh?" responds Bob Charmer with most excellent alacrity of wit.
"You are a Queen and yet you choose to take the form of a human. Why is that?" he continues.
"Oh I'm not a queen, I am a man. These bees are my friends," Bob finds his tongue.
"How odd", the lead bee muses. Then he seems to have a silent conversation with himself.
Charmer senses the bee communicating with it's hive.
"You must come with us." the bee commands and with unspoken unity all the bees in the field finish working and start to fly northwards.
Charmer attempts to keep up but inevitably falls behind until the bees slow down to allow him to follow. There is no further conversation forthcoming from his new companions. As they move tirelessly northwards they are joined by several other groups of elf-bees all garbed as workers but well armed. None talk, but the drone of their buzzing wings carries across the wind and it has a relaxing effect. The swarm often have to prod Charmer into wakefulness as the buzzing seems to have an insidious soporific effect. Then several larger specimens join the group. They are over 10 feet tall and powerfully built. The angry buzzing from their wings sets Bobs teeth on edge but thankfully seems to counter the droning from the smaller bee folk. They glare suspiciously at the human and his swarm until a silent communication appraises them of the situation. They then move into a flanking formation around him, their huge razor sharp glaives or their massive powerful long bows held in a way that leave no doubt in his mind that he has quietly been shifted from companion to prisoner.

After several hours of travel in the direction of Honeyglen, they arrive at a lightly forested valley. In the distance, a rocky hill juts jaggedly from the valley floor. Perched atop this hill is a hive, larger than a Torlandish keep. There is only one entrance. High above the valley floor at the top of the hive is an entrance just large enough to allow a the bee warriors to fly through. Before Bob can ask how he will get up there, a couple of warriors grab him under his around and shoot up into the sky. Bob is deposited on the lip of the hive door in a matter of seconds. He manages to catch his balance and wonders not only at how comfortable he is at this height but also at how much he enjoyed the sensation of flying. He makes a mental note to investigate this further. A gentle jab from a warriors glaive reminds Bob that there is no time for sightseeing and he moves quickly into the hive to avoid the incoming warrior. The interior of the hive is a magnification of the tiny hives of his own bees. The walls in all directions are interlinked hexagons, almost as if parts of a perfect honeycomb had been removed to make the passage. The hive is dark inside and after turning a couple of corners Bob can barely see. Smaller bees then start to place glowing globs of a honey like substance in small holes in the honey comb. The bathes the hexagonal passages in a warm amber glow. Bob then sees that there are other passages leading off in various directions and that there are many bee folk going about the hive's business. An occasional curious glance or a moments hesitation are the only signs that the other hive dwellers have even notices the strange human visitor.
As he descends, the decorations change. Crude empty thickened walls give way to ornately decorated delicately engraved masterpieces. Other materials begin to make an appearance within the walls. Exquisitely crafted glow lamps, wooden panels depicting the lives and myths of the bee folk and hardened amber sculptures of unknown legendary figures and familiar gods, become more frequent. Finally the passage widens and then ends at a pair of doors resembling gossamer stained glass. The glass is shaped like a warriors wings but closer examination reveals a mythical story depicted in the details. Again a glaive point cuts short Bob's examination.

"The Human!" Bob is announced, and the door is opened.
The audience chamber beyond is well lit by both glow lamps and cunningly crafted hexagonal light wells. The room is large enough to accommodate all of Woodhaven's settlers and contains enough works of art to buy and sell the village several times over. There are several warriors guarding the occupants. They are all dressed in rich and exotic fabrics and without much effort Bob can see that they are arranged neatly in order of importance around a figure that he instinctively recognises as their queen.
"Vzzz Bvzzz WWvvvw Tzzsd Dxssvv." the queen says formally in her own tongue. Bob's expression is blank he can barely sense any meaning from her words.
"Sherath Nillitanial eruatharial Ilseth?" she inquires. Bob lack of linguistic skills continue the verbal impasse.
"Was that Elvish?" he ventures.
"Fyr Tryyk Chocck Jharek Tyyrish?" the queen attempts to reach him in the language of the Fey.
"I'm pretty sure that was Fey," Bob responds, "but I have no idea what you are trying to say."
The queen's antennae do an uncanny impression of a human rolling their eyes to heaven and she resorts to the clumsy common tongue.
"Wwellcome human Queen," she greets him.
"I'm no Queen, your Highness," Bob responds, getting quickly but politely to the point.
"I realisze that from firszt glance, and I appreciate your honeszty. Many of your race do not havve that much good szensze. If you are not a queen though, wwhat are you? Howw do you control you hivve?"
"These bees," Bob says indicating his swarm, "are my friends. I don't control them and they don't control me. They follow me because the are willing. I can't explain how or why because I don't know."
"Let me introduce myself I am Queen Lah'Lee Lu'Ley of the Larval Abeil City of Zzziiivvv. Although my mother Queen Lah'Lee Lu'Ley of the Abeil Imperial City of Diiszzha still calls me Princess, you will find that title no longer fits me well", she smiles a strange little smile. It's meaning is lots on the woodsman.
"This is my council of vassals," she indicates the slightly overweight collection of foppishly dressed bees-elves decorating the chamber. "And this is General Zzodazz commander of my Soldier army." The general gives a fearsome military salute which involves slamming the butt of the glaive into the floor. The Queen and several advisors frown and move their antennae in a vaguely disapproving manner as the muscular soldier Abeil breaks an expensive floor tile with his salute.

"We are the Abeil," she continues. "My vassals do the work of the hive, my soldiers fight and die for the hive and my council advise me and do my bidding", she continues to extol the virtues of the tightly knit Abeil society and her voice carries musically throughout the chamber.
"Why have you come here?" the queen snaps suddenly in an attempt to throw Charmer off guard.
"I want to form an alliance between Woodhaven and your hive", he calmly responds. His awareness of the hive mind giving him an preternatural sense of the queens intentions moments before she acts.
Suddenly the awareness is cut off. He feels the hive mind softly probing at the edges of his consciousness. He can almost make out the words but they are muffled as if underwater. The hive mind is trying to contact him and he is not sure of their intentions. He attempts to close his mind and his swarm's hive mind follow suit. The queen's probing is silenced. Her expression reveals surprise before she can conceal it. Bob recognises a momentary lapse and memorises the changes in expression.
"I wish to know if you are worthy of brokering an alliance. Attempt to contact me." Again the mental closeness of the hive minds surrounds him. This time with the help of the swarm, he manages to form a tentative bond with the other hive and they are able to impress vague sensations upon one another.
"That's enough for now. You do have potential. We are willing to accept you as a broker. Now, why should we form an alliance with this Woodhaven hive".
"Woodhaven is not a hive, it's a village. But we have many things to trade and we can help protect you."
"Interesting, what kind of items do you have for trade"
"Hah!" shouts the General. "We can make whatever we need and these puny human's are worthless allies in battle! Just look at them! You will need to prove yourself in combat if you wish to be taken seriously here!"
"Thanks you General," the queen gracefully takes the air out from beneath Zzodazz's wings and continues her interrogation of the puny human. "Zzodazz has a blunt but valid point human, what military value are you to us? Why form anything more than a trading agreement? Are you willing to show us your mettle at the risk of you life?"
"I will fight whoever you want" Charmer replies, unperturbed by the Abeil's outbursts.
"My weakest Soldier would crush you human!" Zzodazz laughs, attracting the smirks of his supporters in the council.
"I think we should start will a vassal first", the queen suggests ignoring Zzodazz's laughter. "Then we shall see if it is safe to pit you against one of Zzodazz's troops."
"What weapons will we use?" asks Charmer.
"Whatever you are most effective with," the queen replies. "We shall see you in the Charon Arena, ready for battle."
The entire council then turn as one and fly out of several concealed hexagonal doorways dotted around the chamber. The doors are closed behind them leaving no trace of their passage.

A large warrior escorts Bob and his swarm up through the hives winding passages and into a hexagonal chamber. The chamber is well lit with glow lamps and there is already a growing buzz as important Abeil vassals and soldiers take up positions small hexagonal viewing pockets around the chamber. The soldier explains that the two glowing hexagonal lights suspended in the air at either end of the chamber are the staring points for Abeil combatants. The lights have been lowered to ground level to accommodate the human challenger. He also mentions that if either combatant survives they will receive healing from the arena's Charon Priest.
Charmer decides to pray to Naduir for help and his prayers are rewarded. He chooses to strengthen his body against poison having seen the lethal green venom that coats the stingers of all the Abeil.
Drawing his dagger and longsword he enters the glowing hexagon. An Abeil vassal enters the one opposite javelin in hand. The lights wink out and the vassal hurls his barbed javelin at the ranger. Surprised by the sudden strike, Bob is barely able to react and the javelin catches his arm and draws blood. The vassal flies up into the air before Bob can react and it starts to draw it's bow. Bob responds by hurling his dagger at the vassal and catches him squarely in the throat. The creatures' wings falter and it falls unconscious to the ground as blood gushes from the wound. A Charon soldier priest flies over the downed vassal and manages to save it's life.
A murmur passes around the room and Bob and the swarm sense a growing respect. The Priest then heals the gash on his arm before he is sent back into the glowing light. Obviously he is deemed worthy to face a Soldier.

A large Soldier moves into the light and sneers at his opponent. "This won't take long", he brags loudly to the audience in broken common.
The lights wink out. Bob, now aware of their meaning, has loosed three arrows before the Soldier can react. They all fly true but the soldier's hide has strange powers and the arrows don't penetrate it as they should. The mortal wounds are reduced to painful shallow lacerations as the arrows embed in the stripped hide.
The Soldier confident in his strength and size levels the glaive at the ranger and charges. But fate is on the rangers side as the soldier clumsily misses his mark and his weapon slips out of his grasp. Trying to recover his balance he opens his flank to a counter attack. Another arrow thuds home from the rangers bow. He sidesteps and unleashed yet another volley of arrows. All hit true and although the soldier's magical hide protects him, the relentless stream of arrows is rapidly taking it's toll.
Angered the soldier leaps at the human to impale him on his venomous stinger. Again his anger defeats him as the ranger reads his move and opportunistically stabs him with an arrow as he reloads. The rain of arrows continues and the soldier is tries to retreat. He flies off and unslings his own enormous bow. A couple of shots from the mighty weapon slash through the side of Bob's leg and hip, he manages to avoid the worst of the damage and overcome the pain but he realises that the battle must be ended quickly. He sees that the warrior has changes the rhythm of his wings and that he seems to be concentrating intensely on their beat. He senses some dangerous Abeil weapon being prepared. One more arrow flies from Charmer's Torlandish bow and it is all over. The last shot hits the soldier in the neck and like the vassal before him, he falters bloodily and slips to the ground.

There are no cheers and no comments. In unison the audience quietly leaves the chamber. The priest tends to the wounded soldier and then to Charmer. He congratulates him on a well fought battle and states that Charon had blessed him Charmer dismisses the comment as priestly bias. He is escorted back to the council chamber and is greeted by the Queen.
"Is everyone in Woodhaven as powerful a fighter as you?" she asks bluntly.
"Yes they are," Bob lies boldly. A battle of wills ensues as each tries to sense the others intentions.
"Really?" the queen presses unable to determine if Bob is telling the truth and hoping for some evidence in his demeanour.
"They are all powerful at what they do," Bob continues diplomatically.
The Queen seems satisfied with this. They continue to discuss the alliance and by nightfall the broad strokes of a military and trade alliance have been agreed. After a nights rest, Bob is escorted from the hive. While being lowered to the ground he notices a pair of soldiers carrying a lizardfolk head each. The blood is still fresh. The bodes well for our alliance he smiles to himself.

Croiday, Draoiday
Bob then spends the next few days, surveying the surrounding lands in order to blaze a trail between Honeyglen and Woodhaven. The trail he eventually cuts, reduces the travel time between both settlements. The travellers can move along the trail as quickly as on a good road rather than through forest.

Charday
Weary but satisfied, Bob Charmer Abeil Ambassador sets out for Woodhaven, for a well deserved rest and a cold pint of honeyed cider.