Chapter 8: Necropolis of Eternity

[Inferno]

Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Three. Midday. 15th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Darkness and silence descend upon Arthfael and Xorzen. They are cut off from the rest of the explorers.

From the other side, Amethu of Uthoth calls past the immense boulder and speaks of an imminent rescue. Then he leaves them. For some time.

Blind, the tattooed Cimmerian shaman and the pale Verulian acolyte sit down in the chill, pitch shadows and wait.

Then they hear something...

Buzzing murmurs in the darkness to the west of them.

Both men know from whence it comes.



The whispering skulls of the bone crypt are calling to them.


Actions?





On the other side of the immense stone sphere, the explorers heed the warnings of Amethu and Garrin and gather into the violated crypt for safety to await the boulder's impending release.

Kiri and Zahra cautiously scan the tomb. An ornate coffin lid is thrown aside from a floor-mounted sarcophagus. The eastern wall is partially collapsed, its rubble blocking a northeastern door. Careful not to touch anything, the pair slowly advance and peer into the sundered funeral casket.



A desiccated, withered corpse of an ancient Verulian nobleman lies mummified in preparation for eternity. Interred with him are damaged papyrus scrolls.

Shockingly, his bloodless lower abdomen is sundered and filled with strange shapes.



Glistening, smooth, featureless orbs, each the size of a melon.

Almost like insect eggs, but far too large.

Loche returns from the corridor when suddenly, something ghastly drops down from a hole in the ceiling above them. (X1)



Writhing tentacles, undulating in a green blur, grasp Garrin, Kiri, Loche, Mako and Zahra! The five surprised explorers instantly feel light-headed from the repulsive touch of the probing venomous feelers! (These five, please Save vs Paralysis in order to act)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Lit areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Party surprised by X1? (1-4): [1d6] = 1 Yes.
X1 attacks Am, Ki, Za: [1d20+2] = 1+2 = 3, [1d20+2] = 18+2 = 20, [1d20+2] = 18+2 = 20 Hits Kiri and Zahra. Natural 1s and 20s have no special effects in this game.
X1 attacks So, Ma, Lo, Ga: [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5, [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22, [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22, [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17 Hits Mako, Loche and Garrin.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/10, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 11/17, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 15/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/7, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 6/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Soruk: Verulian Osoran Cleric/Fighter 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 9/9, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, Torch
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 8, HP: 12/12
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 13/16

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."
  Enlarge (Amethu): Target: The gigantic boulder. Duration: 8 rounds

Player 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)

[Zhym]

"Ummm..........pretty dark in here, huh?"

"Yes," answers Arthfael.

He sits in the dark, wondering whether to answer the voices. The voices of the dead are like the voices of wind, stone, and plant: they can say much, if you know how to listen. Or they can babble on in unceasing inanity. Just like people.

Slowly, it dawns on him that he does not have to sit in the darkness. With no particular haste, he reaches for his lantern and lights it.

"Might stop us being eaten by a grue," he explains.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu stabs at the horrible tentacles with his staff:

To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20] = 13
Quarterstaff Damage: = S/M/L: [1d6] = 2

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri grimaces at the eggs in the corpse - he hates bugs. These have to be bug eggs. He does not want to meet the mother...

When the tentacle suddenly whips towards him, he reacts automatically, rearing back to strike with his trident... but he moves a second too slowly. He is struck, and in spite of his great strength, his muscles seize up and refuse to do his bidding:

Save vs. Death/Paralysis/Poison (14): [1d20] = 7

A wave of sickness washes over him, made more acute by his natural dread of insects. And the big ones are the worst. Just the worst. He strains to move...

[Monsieur Rose]

Soruk

Equal parts annoyed that he was surprised and repulsed by the thing, Soruk acts with violence. He slashes at the tentacles that have grasped the warrior of Sekhmet.
Bastard Sword (15) = [1d20] = 11 2h Damage = [2d4+7] = 8+7 = 15 sm [2d8+7] = 13+7 = 20 L

"Begone foul beast! Feeleth mine own blade."

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorzen smiles under his mask once the lamp is lit.

"That should help if the whispering dead somehow manifest themselves upon us."

"I sure hope the others don't find any trouble without our help. They would be doomed!"

The monk keeps a close watch on the door into the huge hall.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Paralysis (14) [1d20] = 15

Mako tries to get the tentacle to release him by swinging is quarter staff at the extended appendage that is holding him.

Staff, Quarter THAC0 20 [1d20] = 6 S/M/L [1d6] = 1

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin attempts to stave off the paralytic tendrils...

Save vs paralyzation (12) [1d20] = 3

...but he fails to do so. He prays that his companions can defeat this foul beast without his aid.

[wordoftheoracle]

Loche tries to wiggle his way out of danger: Save vs. Paralysis (14): [1d20] = 7

If he is successful,

I wasn't sure which modifiers to use in 1E

he will attack the tentacles with his new enchanted dagger. It's from the same general area, it can't be that bad.

Dagger, melee (THACO:20): [1d20] = 6 Dmg [1d4] = 3

If he is unsuccessful... well...

[Urson]

Zahra

Save vs. Paralysis: 14 attribute check [1d20] = 7

Zahra finds herself paralyzed in mid-swing, the mace frozen in midair. Her eyes are alive, flashing a fury so intense it should burn through the nasty limb holding her.

[Inferno]

Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Three. Midday. 15th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Arthfael and Xorzen get a lantern alight and await their rescue.

To the west, from the darkness of the great hall, the skulls in the crypt continue their rasping calls to the living.




Actions?





Meanwhile, unknown to Arthfael and Xorzen...

Garrin, Kiri, Loche and Zahra succumb to the hideous tendrils' noxious secretions. They fall to the ancient tiles, stricken by paralysis. Loche's torch drops from his enervated hand and is extinguished.

From the floor, they can only watch helplessly as a horrific sight suddenly lunges down from the hole in the ceiling.



The grotesque head of a mammoth insectoid emerges screeching!

Mako resists its insidious venom and brings his glowing quarterstaff to bear. Soruk throws down his torch, and grips his hand-and-a-half sword with both fists. Amethu readies his staff for battle.

But the bludgeons and hack of staves and sword cannot pierce the ghastly armored head of the giant larvae thing!

Its thrashing face-tentacles poison the three remaining adventurers! (Amethu, Mako and Soruk: please Save vs Paralysis once each, in order to act. Good luck!)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Green "X" on a PC signifies paralysis.
Lit areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Map:



Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

I'll rule that the PCs automatically win initiative while the creature is hanging down from the hole in the ceiling.
X1 will make only two attacks on whom? Amethu (1), Mako (2), Soruk (3): [1d3] = 1 Amethu.
X1 attacks Amethu: [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 18 Hits Amethu. Natural 1s and 20s have no special effects in this game.
X1 attacks Mako: [1d20] = 17, [1d20] = 14, [1d20] = 14 Hits Mako.
X1 attacks Soruk: [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 12, [1d20] = 12 Hits Soruk.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/10, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 11/17, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 15/18, Laying Hands: 0/1, Paralyzed.
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/7, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Paralyzed.
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18, Paralyzed.
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 6/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
  Soruk: Verulian Osoran Cleric/Fighter 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 9/9, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 8, HP: 12/12
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 13/16, Paralyzed.

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."
  Enlarge (Amethu): Target: The gigantic boulder. Duration: 7 rounds

Player 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)

[ravenn4544]

Amethu

Save vs. Paralysis(10):[1d20] = 2

[Zhym]

Arthfael sits and waits, remarkably incurious about the calling voices of the dead. He is much more interested in what the rock currently blocking his way would have to say.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorzen breaths deeply.

"Thow doth hear that as well, yes? The calling of the bones?"

"It is an eerie and unnerving sound. One I shan't get out of my head quickly enough."

"Why can we no longer hear the others? What is going on out there beyond this damn boulder?"

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Paralysis (14) [1d20] = 1

[Urson]

Zahra

Unable to move, Zahra is mentally screaming in fear and fury as she watches the beast advance.

[Monsieur Rose]

Soruk

Watches as his new companions fall one by one like mushroom stalks being harvested. The nightmare from his dreams has come real. As the tentacles writhe over his shoulders, he involuntarily shivers and gasps "nononono, No No No, NO, NO, NO!"

Paralysis (10)[1d20] = 19

Soruk fights the feeling creeping over him and shrugs off the creature.

sorry for the delay. I was really dreading that dice roller Inferno, I've sent a question to you. I'll update this post when you rule.

Soruk tightens his grip on his blade and slashes at the monstrosity.
Bastard Sword (15) = [1d20] = 6 2h Damage = [2d4+7] = 6+7 = 13 sm [2d8+7] = 3+7 = 10 L

Spoke too soon about the dice roller

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri compartmentalizes his mind and goes to a place of calm. He watches what he can see of the hideous thing, looking for a weakness he might exploit... provided he ever moves again. Another part of him strains to escape his paralyzation, willing his muscles to move.

[Inferno]

Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Three. Midday. 15th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Amethu and Mako fall victim to the insidious poisons excreted by the probing tentacles of the giant insectoid! Seized in the grip of paralysis, they collapse to the floor and can only watch what happens next!

Soruk of Osorus stands alone. He lunges with his great blade and merely hacks the ceiling stones.

Then the overgrown horror oozes down from its hole!



Its soft, glistening body is fully nine feet long! The horrific leviathan grub writhes forward and lashes Soruk in a maelstrom of virulent tendrils and chittering shrieks!

(Soruk: please Save vs Paralysis twice, in order to act. Good luck!)



Actions?!


Map Detail:

Green "X" on a PC signifies paralysis.
Lit areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

X1 attacks Soruk: [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 12, [1d20] = 12, [1d20] = 7 Three hits.
X1 attacks Soruk: [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 18 One hit.
Four hits total. That will require two saves vs Paralysis.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/10, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, Paralyzed.
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 11/17, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 15/18, Laying Hands: 0/1, Paralyzed.
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/7, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Paralyzed.
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18, Paralyzed.
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 6/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell, Paralyzed.
  Soruk: Verulian Osoran Cleric/Fighter 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 9/9, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 8, HP: 12/12
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 13/16, Paralyzed.

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."
  Enlarge (Amethu): Target: The gigantic boulder. Duration: 6 rounds

Player 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)

[Zhym]

Xorzen breaths deeply.

"Thow doth hear that as well, yes? The calling of the bones?"

"It is an eerie and unnerving sound. One I shan't get out of my head quickly enough."

"Why can we no longer hear the others? What is going on out there beyond this damn boulder?"

Arthfael nods his head slowly. "It is not a pleasant chorus," he agrees. As to the others, he only shrugs. Whatever is happening to them, he can do nothing about it from here.