Session 29 - A is for Ankheg (pt 2)

Roster

Atudark,Cyinth Agora,Lyra Everlight,Suraax Smith

Session Overview

Session Status: Occurred

In Game Date: 1st Tarsakh 1509

Group Cup Points

NPC's

Calypso Virellis

Summary

Tensions flare and voices echo through the ankheg tunnels — and the hive answers. What begins as shouting across stone corridors escalates into a brutal confrontation with a massive ankheg that splits the party in two. Steel is shattered, skeletons rise, and teamwork (barely) prevails. With their objective deemed “sufficiently complete,” the students return to the surface — some triumphant, some mourning damaged constructs, and some immediately making questionable post-combat lifestyle choices.

Rumbling in the Dark

• The students remain spread throughout the tunnels.
• Suraax and Cyinth begin shouting at one another from opposite ends of the cavern network.
• The raised voices echo through the stone — followed by a low, ominous rumble.
• Lyra urges the group to retreat before something worse happens.
• As the party attempts to regroup and head for the entrance, the ground erupts.

The Hive Responds

• A massive ankheg bursts up through the earth, splitting the tunnel and trapping the party on opposite sides of a wall of debris.
• The creature seizes Suraax in its mandibles.
• T.1.T.4.N attempts to strike the ankheg — only further enraging it.
• The ankheg:
  • Hurls Suraax to the ground.
  • Bites into T.1.T.4.N and tears the steel defender in two.

Desperate Measures

• Lyra keeps her distance, attacking with Spiritual Weapon from relative safety.
• Atudark raises three skeletons from the earth, forming a grim barrier between himself and the creature.
• Suraax regains her footing and hacks at the ankheg with her axe.
• Atudark commands his skeletons to press the attack.
• Despite the chaos — and the loss of T.1.T.4.N’s body — the party eventually brings the creature down.

Aftermath Underground

• Cyinth rushes to the remains of T.1.T.4.N.
  • She salvages the power core and critical components needed for reconstruction.
• Calypso Virellis — who has been standing at the ready, prepared to intervene if necessary — congratulates the students on their combat effectiveness.
• She declares the exercise complete:
  • While they did not locate the claustral chamber or destroy ankheg eggs,
  • Their efforts will likely satisfy Academy expectations.
• Calypso escorts the students out of the tunnels and instructs them to clean up before their next lesson.

Debrief in the Common Room

• The students return to the first-year common room and compare stories with their peers.
• Milfjord offers Suraax his pipe.
• She hesitates — then accepts.
• After a few draws:
  • Suraax begins giggling uncontrollably.
  • Atudark joins her.
• Meanwhile:
  • Cyinth and Lyra decide to skip their next class to spend time playing with the dormitory cats.
  • The rest of the group heads onward to their scheduled lessons.
• Suraax and Atudark struggle — unsuccessfully — to compose themselves.

Ongoing Threads

• T.1.T.4.N Rebuild – Cyinth has salvaged the power core, but reconstruction will require time, materials, and skill.
• The Claustral Chamber – The egg chamber remains undiscovered. The ankheg problem may not be fully resolved.
• Tunnel Acoustics (Again) – The party’s shouting directly triggered a hive response.
• Calypso’s Assessment – How much did the third-year truly observe? And what report will she give Professor Lang?
• Substances & Exhaustion – Recreational choices after combat may carry mechanical or academic consequences.
• Hive Awareness – A large, aggressive ankheg responded with precision. Was it random… or defensive leadership?