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Amethu, silent despite the goings-on, waits for the thing in the corridor.

Loche holds the torch up. Getting his wits more about him from that near death experience, he hears the ticking and that draws his curiosity.

Shuid we be concerned aboot that ticking?

Translation: Should we be concerned about that ticking?

He looks in the direction the sound is coming from. He feels the guilt of not detecting the trap that killed two of his companions and is determined not to lose more to his careless abandon.

Do I need to roll anything to sense or detect traps?

Garrin cannot help but feel responsible for the deaths of his companions. If only I were stronger... he thinks to himself, silently begging Mitra for forgiveness. He says a quick prayer for the souls of the recently departed, that Mitra may guide them in their final journey.

Gathering himself once again, he pulls out his sword. "Is there trouble ahead?"

The Hall of The Serpent. Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Afternoon. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the domain of the god of death, Attila and Gronda are no more. The sudden silence of the sands is interrupted by a barely audible ticking coming from deep within the sandfall deathtrap chamber.

A rumble is heard from down the ageless corridors behind them, and the explorers of the Great Pyramid grimly ready weapons for whatever fresh new horror is coming. Roan, son of Rune, barks a challenge that it show itself, that his fearsome axe may be sated with blood.

A figure turns the corner into Roan's torchlight: a shirtless, pale, animal-masked Verulian. Perhaps another deranged subject of Zargoth, like Toad or Monkey? The adventurers remember the dead lunatics, driven to drug-fueled madness by their doomed culture's incomprehensible fate:







No. The mask is that of a hawk.




It must be a Son of Osorus, without the gleaming golden armor or ceremonial wings of their warriors. Javelins strapped to his back, he advances slowly, wishing to speak. His hands are empty save for a lone candle. (O1)


Actions?


Map Detail:

The door to 17 is open but completely filled with sand. X = Dead. Lighter areas show visibility. All else is from memory.


Map:






PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/6, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 5/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 11/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 3/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 6/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 4/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 17/23, Torch
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/16

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All except Amethu and Zahra): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 8 rounds

PC Resources:

• The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)
  An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)

The mask wearing, pale skinned man takes one step closer to the group, keeping an eye on the huge barbarians axe.

"Art thow the adventurers seeking to put an end to Zargoth's reign?"

Mako:

From the behind the large Cimmerian a diminutive voice calls back in a questioning tone, "maybe? Do you favor Zargoth?"

Amethu's face contracts with hatred. He puts his hand on his weapon, but other than that does not move.

Kiri can't see the newcomer, so he watches the body language of the others as they converse for signs of alarm signaling that he should take action. He notes Amethu's expression, but waits patiently and remains silent.

The Vanir barbarian strides forward to meet the newcomer. Anger and a hint of...pain are etched on his face as he draws near. "I am Roan, Son of Rune and I am out for blood! Who are you and why do you show up here alone? Are you a minion of the demon Zargoth?"

Zahra's expression at seeing the hawk-masked intruder goes from shock to bitter contempt in just a few seconds. Donning her own lion-headed helm, she strides forward, javelin cocked back and ready to hurl at the newcomer's bare breast.

"We need none of your self-righteous prating, carrion bird. Go back to your brothers and pretend to be warriors. We go to send Zargoth back to the abyss."

Arthfael considers the Balance. A Maiden of Sekhmet and Magus of Uthoth had joined the party. Two legs of the pyramid's factional tripod. Unstable. Now a Son of Osorus appears. Three forces in opposition. Balanced.

Unless Zargoth is also part of the Balance. Not a tripod—a pyramid. With four sides. He must consider this.

"All are welcome," he tells the newcomer, shooting hard looks at Zahra and Amethu.

"Yes, all are welcome," says Garrin, sheathing his sword. The charismatic paladin smiles at the newcomer. "If you are a foe to Zargoth, you are a friend to all here."

The bare chested, pale skinned man, wearing only his hawk mask and gold pajama bottoms, steps forward a few more feet. He scowls at Zahra and Amethu from under his mask as he approaches, but does not address either of them directly.

"I am called Xorzen, Initiate of Osorus."

"I witnessed thine group whilst you were at rest in our domain."

"I beseech thee to allow myself to join your band. For I believe that I could be of some service to ye, and I too long to see the destruction and fall of Zargoth the Destroyer!"

Zahra reluctantly lowers her javelin, at the words of Garrin and Arthfael. If they insist, she can stomach having the hawk-faced fool along...soon enough he will reveal his own weakness and ineptitude, just as they will surely see the deceit and madness of the Uthothan sorcerer. She can only wait, and hope to keep the other pyramid-dwellers from hindering their quest.

She does feel a momentary twinge of doubt, though, remembering that Gronda is buried in a sandy tomb. She is now the only woman, amid a group of males. Can she truly trust them? Though the one called Kiri seems to have honor, of a sort, and the huge man and the handsome one did pull her free...

She stands ready, her doubts hidden behind the serene poise of her lioness mask.

"Welcome Xorzen," says Garrin to the newcomer.

Looking down the corridor, he says to the group,"Shall we continue, taking the right path this time?"

The Hall of The Serpent. Third Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Late afternoon. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the ageless pathways of the ancients, the explorers parley with a lone Son of Osorus and soon accept the masked newcomer to their dangerous struggle. Their ranks now include adherents of three of the four surviving sects of Verulia of old. The explorers are slowly becoming a microcosm of the faction-torn pyramid itself. Hopefully the generations-long blood feuds do not tear them apart as well.

Garrin of Argos suggests they move on when, from beyond the sand barrier that seals the deathtrap chamber, the ticking suddenly stops. A dull clang of iron sounds again. The floors rumble from unseen ancient engines secreted beneath them.

Then the dune wall blocking the portal begins to crumble and diminish in a soft steady roar. The room slowly drains itself of sand, seemingly through ingenious mechanized vents in the floor. The giant sand mound in the doorway soon wanes to three feet high. The dull iron noise clangs again.

Then clockwork whirring emanates from the walls around the doorway. Thick bolts recede back into the jamb, releasing housings in the door that had already been rent asunder by Kiri and Amethu.

Then the hidden machinery falls silent. The chamber floor is once more coated in a low layer of smooth, untracked sand.



The two desiccated skeletons locked in an eternal embrace are now joined in death by the gruesome corpses of Attila and Gronda; their grisly faces locked in silent screams of agonizing suffocation.

From the walls around them, mighty Sutekh observes impassively.



The surviving outlanders are seasoned adventurers. The Verulians with them are expert scavengers in this land of scarcity. Even in grief they unconsciously appraise the possessions of the newly dead: Both are clothed in little more than furs and animal skins. Both carry rations and water. Attila has javelins, a great helm, a small shield, a horseman's bow, two quivers of arrows, rope and a flask of oil. Gronda has a spear, a quiver of arrows, and a bow of astonishing craftsmanship that was always strangely out of place in the hands of a savage ex-slave.

All is quiet.


Actions?


Map Detail:

The door to 17 is open. X = Dead. Lighter areas show visibility. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/6, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 5/12, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 11/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 3/7, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 6/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 4/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 17/23, Torch
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 9, HP: 12/12
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/16

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Garrin): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Garrin.
  Healing Mists of Osorus (All except Amethu and Zahra): All lost HP recovered with 8 hours of sleep. Wakeful rest, or sleeping less than 8 hours, enables recovery of 1 HP per hour. Duration: "months."
  Light (Mako): Duration: 2 rounds

PC Resources:

• The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
  Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
  Hieroglyphs (the story so far, in images)
  An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)
  Men of the Hyborian Age (races of men)

Kiri isn't ion a mind to look inside the sand trap. He'll let others worry about salvaging anything that need be salvaged.

Mako:

Mako looks onward to the members of his group. He has no desire to wake the dead. He stands silently hoping that the party will move on soon.

"Let us continue," says Garrin. "We do no honor to the dead by disturbing their peace, and we risk ourselves again besides."

With that he leads the group further down the corridor.

Xorzen stands with his javelin at the ready, listening and watching the strange and powerful mechanisms of his great hidden home, but not entirely sure what has just transpired before he arrived here.

"Careful! Master Ghorum has warned of traps that could kill a person in this area of the temple."