The beetles flash briefly before Lia drops, a bit challenging for those in the middle of their attacks, but Stena and Thom both send an arrow into one of the beetles, dropping them immediately, while Galingal misses with one dagger, but hits with the other.

Stena replies to Galingal's nonsense with,

"Weaving crystals? What are ye on about? Just kill the beetles before they swarm us!"

As Lia lands her spell, and the beetles and surrounding area glow purple, a wave of sleepiness radiates out, dropping a number of the party unconscious to the floor where they stood. As Lia slumps to the ground in a heap, her magic also fades. She lays there helpless…

Thom looks just as confused as Stena seems to be when Galingal mentions something about weaving crystals or wrong spell weaves or something or another. He pauses and then yells out to Galingal 

"uhhhh yeah mate! What Stena said! Kill em before they swarm!"

Thom takes note of how easily the creatures seem to go down.

Shuushar's unconsciousness hides his eyes from the violence on the beetles, while Sarith and Jimjar both send bolts towards the beetles.

Attack: 20 Damage: 6
Attack: 20 Damage: 4

They both miss, bolts clattering wide. 

The beetles break and run, trundling away much faster than might be originally expected, leaving behind the three the party had managed to kill. The Prince dashes off in pursuit, but it's clear he won't be able to catch them, he can at most keep pace with their speed.

Thom, Galingal and Stena, they're possibly still within range (80-90 ft) if you wanted to take another shot! 

Stena takes another shot at nearest of the fleeing beetles.

Attack: 14 Damage: 4

Stena's arrow shatters against one of the crystal, shattering it as well and sending a blinding flash of light over the fleeing herd, but it doesn't seem to affect them.

Galingal turns away from the fleeing beetles and moves to check on those that collapsed after the brief flash of light. He checks for a pulse on each.

All seem to be alive, just asleep.

Galingal turns his attention to the downed beetles, retrieving his daggers at the same time. He scans the area for something that might work as a campsite here. If there's something protected, he starts dragging the beetle carcasses that way.

Perception: 17  

Stena will help with the moving of the beetles and looking for a place to hole up for the 'night'.

Perception: 5

Galigal spots a wending path through crystal outgrowths that leads to a small alcove that's large enough to hold the party. Anyone attempting to approach the party would find it hard to spot them, and would have to move through a twisting passage that would open them up to reprisals. Stena is too entranced by beetle glow to be of much use finding a spot.

The beetles are easy enough to get there for eventual harvesting.

<Should I just start carrying them to camp, or we want to try to wake them up?>, the Prince asks Thom.

Thom would indeed take that last shot at the fleeing beetles.

Closest one he can see - Longbow: 19 Damage: 9

"Got the sucker!"

Thom nods at the alcove that Galingal finds. "Yep mate that should be fine, nice." 

Thom thinks back to the Prince <Um... carry them. But gently, yeah?! Maybe we wake them once we get them holed up yeah? Thank you, your highness.>

Thom would help with the harvesting of the beetles as well. "Anyone know how to do this?"

*also retrieved 1 arrow

Between those of you still conscious, you gather the 4 beetle carcasses and the unconscious forms of your fallen party members, and retreat into the alcove in to the side of the faerzress.

Jimjar demonstrates on the first one, how most of the muscle that's better for eating is in the legs and torso, and you're able to harvest 16 lbs of raw giant fire beetle meat and 4 fire beetle glands that continue to give off a red glow.

<I've never tried it raw, always cooked it in the past. We've got that and the ripplebark, which is better cooked too. I think there was a fungal grove a bit before this area, some of us could go back and harvest some dry stuff we could use to make a bit of a cook fire? Wouldn't give off much in the way of noticeable light in this cavern, with the glowing crystals and the firebeetle glands.>, Jimjar ponders.

((You also have a few extra hours since you're calling a halt early, and would be able to harvest flash crystals if you wished. Everyone was able to get partial water for the day this morning, but would need more by the end of the day to avoid making checks.))

Galingal nods as Jimjar speaks.

<You seem to know the crystals> Galingal says to Jimjar. <You should stay and show the others how to work them loose. Thom, Sarith and I can go get the fuel for a fire.>

If Thom and Sarith agree, Galingal will go with them back down the way they came to collect the dried fungus and bring it back to start the fire.

When they're collecting the fungus and definitely out of range of the 'Prince' hearing them, Galingal looks to Thom and speaks in his now almost passable common.

"If he was elf, he is changing. Did you see almost taste blood? He may turn on us."

When they get back to the camp, Galingal will work on a water reservoir and create more water for the group.

((Galingal, roll me a d100 please!))

Galingal's d100: 22  

After returning with fungus to burn, as others are setting up to make a small cook fire, Galingal goes to fill the water trench that Derendil has excavated for him in the meanwhile. 

As the spell is cast, he feels a sharp, momentary pain in the center of his forehead, and his vision swims for a moment. He regains his equilibrium and realizes he can see with additional acuteness. Feeling his forehead, Galingal discovers a third eye in the middle of his brow.

As he's figuring out how to deal with this, others are gathering around to drink their fill. Stool lifts Lia's arm with a tendril and places her fingers in the pool. Seeming dissatisfied, he lifts it up and inspects the water dripping from her fingers. He gives up on her and extends his tendril into the pool.

<Softers have to be awake to absorb water?>, Stool asks. 

Stena is quietly pleased at having a cooked meal and responds to Stool,

<It is more that we only, or mostly, take in water through here.>

She points at her mouth.

<Which is also where we communicate, eat and breath. There is a lot happening with this hole.>