Secret Santicorn 2k22 (2k23?) for Deus Ex Parabola

For this (last?) year's secret santicorn event, I was tasked with creating a scenario for Best Case Scenario, a wonderful skirmish wargame/RPG by the ever talented Deus Ex Parabola.

Coleopteran Pseudodivinity 

PC Information

An unusual religious movement calling themselves the Northern Californian Coleopteran Club have purchased a cabin in up in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, surrounded by redwoods on all sides. While previously assumed to just be a simple amateur entomological club, it has become clear that these individuals are aware of both the existence of the anomalous phenomena and the Organization.

A group of NCCC members recently stole an object from containment. It is codenamed KAFKA'S CROWN, and they believe is an relic of their deity, the Great Beetle. KAFKA'S CROWN resembles a wrought iron crown with multiple insect limbs for points. It is imperative that under no circumstances the crown be touched with skin to skin contact.

This is a THIRD EYE operation, as the cabin is sufficiently remote that there is no danger of civilian knowledge. We have already arranged for the cult's phone and internet service to be disconnected. It is vitally imperative that KAFKA'S CROWN is recovered as soon as possible. 

Referee Information

The NCCC is relatively small and poorly armed (revolvers, shotguns, and hunting rifles). However, owing to the anomalous effects of KAFKA'S CROWN, each member has one of 6 special abilities (roll randomly for each member)

1. Mandibles: The cultist has large insect-like jaws on their face, which allow them to make melee attacks with a +2 bonus.

2. Wings: The cultist is capable of flight at a rate of 6m per turn, but takes a -1 penalty to attacks while doing so.

3. Exoskeleton: The cultist is treated as if they are wearing heavy body armor

4. Tarsi: The cultist can climb up sheer surfaces with ease, and may hide on the ceiling to ambush the agents.

5.  Spray: The cultist can emit a burst of burning hot liquid. Treat as a shotgun, but with the added effect of blinding anyone successfully hit by it.

6. Jump: The cultist can leap up to 6m, but is unable to take any actions while doing so.

The layout of the NCCC's Compound is as follows:

Key

Porch: One cultist, armed with a hunting rifle (treat as a sharp shooter rifle).

Dining Room: Two cultists, eating some poorly made soup. Armed with revolvers.

Garage: A Ford pickup truck, along with the horrifically mutated corpses of those who died after failing to undergo metamorphosis from KAFKA'S CROWN.

Living Room: Hunting trophies on walls, terrariums containing beetles and other insects. One cultist napping on couch, shotgun leaning against wall.

Kitchen: One cultist cooking a pot of poorly made soup. Chatting with another cultist. Both unarmed, but with access to kitchen knives.

Master Bedroom: A cultist is undergoing metamorphosis in here, with 2 others looking on, armed with knives.

Bathroom: Self explanatory, though the toilet is backed up with hard pellets.

Guest Room: 7 cultists engaged in some sort of beetle-cultist orgy. 3 shotguns, a hunting rifle, and 2 revolvers on the floor.

Bathroom 2: There is a copy of The Metamorphosis here next to the toilet, with unusual stains.

For the life of me I cannot find the original source of the image, PLEASE let me know if you know it

  

KAFKA'S CROWN

Anyone who places this object atop their head will begin to undergo a transformation into a human-beetle hybrid, with effects as described earlier. The process takes approximately 8 hours to complete, and while painless, leaves the subject incapacitated. Once the process begins, it can be stopped by removing the crown, though this has 3 in 6 chance of instantly killing the subject. Even if the process is allowed to finish completely, there is a 1 in 6 chance of fatality.

After Action

Anyone stupid enough to put on KAFKA'S CROWN had better learn to hide their mutation quickly, lest they face an early retirement from active duty and a long internment in a remote laboratory.