Episode 3: Big Bad Bug Boy Battle

Episode Events
The party flies straight into battle against an umber hulk in the sewers of the Great King’s Wharf.

Taxi shakes off the umber hulk's Confusing Gaze and casts Gust of Wind which echoes throughout the cave. He then moves a good distance behind the umber hulk.

Br’aad curses the umber hulk with a Hex, then fires an Eldritch Blast which ricochets off it. Olguart raises his battleaxe and with a chant that strengthens the party, and slams the battleaxe into the umber hulk's torso. Upon contact, the party feels as if they are guarded by something nearby.

Velrisa moves towards Mountain and casts Cure Wounds on him. Mountain attempts to strike the umber hulk, but strikes a piece of chitin instead. He is hypnotized by its gaze and sits down. Sylnan charges at the umber hulk’s mandibles but does not manage to hit it.

The umber hulk turns to Sylnan and rakes its claws across him, leaving him severely injured. It then targets Mountain, slashing and moving around him. Mountain takes the opportunity and strikes his pike into its foot. The umber hulk resists the gust of wind and sends its third swipe at Velrisa who is protected by her armor.

Taxi dashes toward Sylnan, picking him up and dodging an attack from the umber hulk, then brings him away and climbs up the cavern wall. Br’aad attempts to talk to the umber hulk, who turns to stare at him. He then fires another Eldritch Blast which ricochets again. Olguart grabs his battleaxe and enters a rage, but is confused by the umber hulk’s gaze and slams the wall instead. Velrisa marks the umber hulk with Path to the Grave while Mountain readies an attack from behind. A bleeding Sylnan aims his bow at the umber hulk, shooting an arrow between its chitin ribs and piercing its skin. The umber hulk attempts to strike Velrisa, its first attack raking the wall and the second attack hitting. It turns to bite Mountain with its mandibles but misses. Mountain returns the attack and throws his pike towards its belly.

Taxi looks over at Sylnan before running straight for the umber hulk, aiming for its face. It dodges as Taxi jumps up to hit it and Taxi faceplants into the rock wall behind. He then prays for help. Br’aad fires another eldritch blast, which hits and sends it flying back. Taxi narrowly dodges as it slams into the wall.

Olguart moves towards the umber hulk, and as he strikes, the spirit of a black bear echoes out of his body and the party sees the spirits of black bear warriors standing and guarding them. Velrisa barely misses a strike with her warhammer and Mountain jabs his trident into the ankle of the umber hulk. Sylvan shoots another arrow into the umber hulk which now looks much weaker.

The umber hulk looks at the party and makes eye contact with Sylnan before charging towards him. In a make-it-or-break-it moment, the whole party attacks the umber hulk but fails to kill it.

As the umber hulk strikes down on Sylnan, the bear spirit steps down, shielding him as he falls unconscious. The umber hulk begins burrowing down and Taxi sprints towards it but misses his attack. Br’aad tries to suggest to the umber hulk to return and fight, but the umber hulk continues tunneling. Olguart moves towards the unconscious Sylnan and crams a health potion down Sylnan’s throat, reviving him. Mountain fires his crossbow at the umber hulk, and the arrow lands in the badly wounded umber hulk.

The battle ends with a final blow from Sylnan, who fires two arrows, one landing in the umber hulk’s knee. As it turns to cast its gaze onto Taxi, the final arrow pierces its back and exits its skull, killing it and ending the battle.

After the gruelling battle, Mountain and Br’aad decide to cook the dead umber hulk. Olguart suggests setting up camp and Taxi and Br’aad repeatedly light and extinguish a campfire. With the fire lit, the party sits around it. Br’aad and Mountain find out why Olguart was reluctant to eat the rancid and sour-tasting umber hulk meat.