Chapter 8: Against the Cult of the Reptile God

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo stays on full alert as Avril peeks into the rooms. He watches behind and to the side of the elf as she makes her investigation.

He is ready to grab her if she is confronted.

Do be careful, there.

[AleBelly]

"Moogeye speaks with wisdom" replies Pelias. "But Mouser does not strike me as a weapons collector. I believe those of his vocation seek worldly riches. I suggest searching him to look for those."

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

Grey steps into the building with the others.

"I put Hoom's equipment under a floorboard in the abandoned farm house. He did not have time to tell me his plan, but I hope for his sake it is sound. His Elven heritage makes him resistant to mental influence. Perhaps he is playing that to advantage."

"Now what has brought the group to this particular building?"

[ChubbyPixie]

Suddenly Telkis feels very weary of the whole situation. He stares after Mouser and the others as they enter the abandoned building. He wonders how long it will take for this one to burn around them, trapping them inside. He looks out across the dark separating them from the surrounding buildings, certain they are being observed and is overcome by the feeling that he will not survive this "adventure." He steps inside.

[Inferno]

Day Six.
The Abandoned Foaming Mug Inn (16)
Between 8pm and 9pm. Friday, October 21st, 576 CY
Full moon, cloudy, damp, cold, misty







In the dark, cobwebbed cellar of the old Foaming Mug Inn, Avril moves toward the north exit and some adjacent dusty crates of dishes and cups. Bo watches, ready to pull Avril back if needed. Ingrid nods and moves toward the south exit, passing between two pillars in the center of this empty chamber.

Then everything changes.

Suddenly, they are no longer alone in this empty chamber.

Suddenly, the walls have eyes. Eyes that glare with malevolent intelligence.





Unsure where true perception ends and delirium begins, the heroes watch in disbelief as the eyes grow faces. Inhuman faces. Vile, disgusting, unnatural visages of sickening color and shape. Those faces breed heads, then bodies. The sudden figures of nightmare and madness emerge from the very surface of the walls as if from a vertical pool of water!

Foaming Mug Inn Cellar.jpg (263.26 KiB) Viewed 1144 times

Their horrific birthing is wrong at a primal level, seemingly in violation of all laws of geometry and space, an eldritch contradiction of all matter, force and order.
Worse still, the creatures themselves are a profanity against Nature, each a serpentine abomination of Man, each different, abhorrent and warped. And a terrifying memory haunts over all of them.



The execrable stench impossibly magnifies as the heroes recognize these disgusting things from the hateful statues deep in the undead warrens beneath the Golden Grain Inn, at the accursed shrine of the unspeakable thing:

the masks.jpg (249.77 KiB) Viewed 1152 times

A deep loathing and nausea overtakes the heroes, perhaps in reaction to the queasy transgression that the very existence of these atrocities signifies. The insidious, despicable, man-shaped reptilians hiss with malice as they lunge upon the heroes before they can react! Their frighteningly-human hands wield poles mounted with curving, hooked blades. The wicked spears of the serpent men cruelly stab both women without mercy. (-3 hp to Avril, -5 to Ingrid)

Ingrid can't help but scream, not in pain, but in abject terror.





Outside, tension and suspicion grow around Mouser. He and Telkis enter the ruptured maw in the collapsing inn's wall but find the way nigh impassable without light.

Suddenly, Ingrid's scream can be heard from beneath the inn!


Actions?!

Avril, Bo and Ingrid: Please Save on 1d20. You want low. Regardless of the roll, please post your actions.

For those not in the cellar: Movement through the collapsed area of the inn can be safely done at half normal movement with a light source.
If you get a light source and wish to go faster than half-speed, please make a save vs Dex on a d20. Success means you have full movement. Failure means half movement. A 20 means you injure yourself for 1d4 damage.

Map of the Cellar:

Foaming Mug Inn Cellar 1.jpg (262.61 KiB) Viewed 1152 times

One square=5 feet. This chamber is illuminated by Ingrid's and Bo's lanterns.

SE Briarsgate Map 6.jpg (258.5 KiB) Viewed 1152 times

Lighter area marks visibility; all else is from memory.


Dice Rolls:

Party surprised? (1-4): [1d6] = 2 Party is Surprised
R1 attacks Avril: [1d20] = 7 Misses
R2 attacks Avril: [1d20] = 16 Hits.
Damage to Avril: [2d4] = 3 ...for 3 damage
R3 attacks Ingrid: to hit: [1d20] = 5, damage: [2d4] = 5 Misses
R4 attacks Ingrid: to hit: [1d20] = 16, damage: [2d4] = 5 Hits for 5 damage

Status:

• Avril Hollysword, Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric 1/2: AC 7, HP 7/10, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 3: AC 4, HP 24/28
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 3: AC 3(1), HP 5/16, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 3: AC 6, HP 18/22, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 1/3 2nd lvl and 1/1 3rd lvl
  Moogeye Comcra, Human Monk 2: AC 8, HP 11/11
  Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 2: AC 2(0), HP 15/19, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: AC 0, HP 27/28

Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[dmw71]

Avril forces herself to remain calm, even in the midst of the most harrowing of situations. Now facing a pair of the horrid serpent creatures, the elven attempts to forcefully take a step north, into the unexplored hallway, and hope the width of the doorway will be too constricting and prevent the creatures from attacking her side-by-side. She brandishes her trusted blade and, as she wheels around, she focuses all her efforts on her next strike, fearing it may be her last... and it very well might be.

Ruh roh.

Requested roll: [1d20] = 19
+1 long sword (20): [1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3, s/m [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2, l: [1d12+1] = 10+1 = 11

[Starbeard]

Moogeye retrieves her lantern and lights it as quickly as she can. She will follow with whatever Pelias and Telkis do.

[Zhym]

"Afar Vadokanuk!" cries Grothnak on hearing Ingrid's scream. He rushes into the decrepit inn.

"We argue later," he says to his back. "Come!"

Speed check:
Dex check (13): [1d20] = 7

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

"Light," hisses Grey, not too loudly for the sound to travel. "And my weapons, if I'm to fight whatever is down there."

He follows the others, looking for position to backstab what enemies may lie below.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Ahhh! I knew this would happen..." says Telkis. On the chance that Mouser is not entranced he must give him a way to defend himself. If he's wrong about this he'll deal with it later, he supposes. "Don't make me regret this... or... you'll regret it..." he says lamely and tosses Mousers weapons to him as he sprints across the abandoned inn's floor aided by Moogeye's lantern. He runs for the source of the scream, bow in hand.

Dex save (18): [1d20] = 7
If he can get within shooting range on the stairs...
Short Bow (THAC0 15): To Hit: [1d20] = 8, Damage s/m/L: [1d6] = 5
Short Bow (THAC0 15): To Hit: [1d20] = 19, Damage s/m/L: [1d6] = 1 though I imagine he'd never get iff two attacks...

[AleBelly]

Pelias doesn't hesistate, rushing at full speed to join the fray.

But he stumbles.

DEX check (9) [1d20] = 11

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo wretches at the stench of these unnatural creatures.

Random D20 [1d20] = 16

If he is able to act, he rushes forward and attempts a healing spell on Ingrid as she looks badly injured. CLW [1d8] = 6

We need help down here, I say! We are under attack by some demented snake creatures! Can any of you summon a giant mongoose?

As he casts his magic, the lanky man tries to keep Ingrid and the pillar in between himself and the vile creatures until the real help arrives.

[Inferno]

Day Six.
The Abandoned Foaming Mug Inn (16)
Between 8pm and 9pm. Friday, October 21st, 576 CY
Full moon, cloudy, damp, cold, misty

Reptilian.jpg (122.77 KiB) Viewed 1096 times

Ingrid can't help but scream, not in pain, but in abject terror.

In the cold, brick cellar beneath the dilapidated Foaming Mug Inn, the heroes' accursed lanterns deny their beleaguered minds any ability to reject what their disbelieving eyes see. In the cold stark light, there is no escaping this new terrifying vista of reality.

Reptilian 1.jpg (208.36 KiB) Viewed 1096 times

Lizard men and their kin are not unheard of in swamps or subterranean caverns. But they are natural, stone-age primitives, more beast than man. These are not them. These cold blooded, aberrant atrocities of nature are more Man than reptile. Or perhaps they are something else entirely. Their cunning eyes, hands and weapons betray an alien intelligence beyond lizardkin, and perhaps that of Man as well. More chillingly, each of the nightmare creatures are a unique, depraved mutation, their degenerate bodies perversely warped and twisted by some unknown, unnameable force or will.

These are not the scions of nature or of lizardkin, but more likely that of the unspeakable horror whose graven image was worshiped in the unholy chapel beneath the Golden Grain Inn:

the ghastly abomination.jpg (154.28 KiB) Viewed 1096 times

Long Bo empties his stomach through his mouth. Perhaps from the overwhelming stench of these things, or perhaps due to the irrefutable ramifications they represent.

One evil, unclean thing hisses through an open mouth filled with fangs and a long, undulating tongue! Were those undescribeable syllables its language?!

Suddenly, similar ghastly inhuman sounds echoes inside the minds of Avril and Bo! Impossibly, some malevolent entity, smudged and wrong, inflicts its baleful, infinite hatred upon their harrowed psyches and fragile sanity! (-1 hp each)

"It's... it's inside my mind!" cries Ingrid.

The serpentine men mercilessly bludgeon the investigators of Briarsgate with the flat of their bloodied, alien spears. Horrifically, like the enslaved villagers, these heinous abominations want their victims alive! (Avril: -7 hp; Bo and Ingrid: -5 hp each) Avril and Ingrid are beaten into unconsciousness! Ingrid's lantern shatters on the stone floor and is extinguished.

Long Bo had intended to reach the brave priestess of Trithereon, but now his path is blocked.* Things are dire. Then the desperate druid hears shouts and thundering footsteps on the stairs behind him! His friends are rushing to his aid.


Actions?!

Please remember this game's House Rule allowing non-melee combatants a half-move with attack or casting. Also, melee combatants may move 1" and still remain in melee, avoiding a free attack against them.
*Bo's action is 'held.' He gets two actions this round. The first preempts all others. The second occurs as normal.

Foaming Mug Inn Cellar 2.jpg (266.38 KiB) Viewed 1096 times

Map: One square=5 feet. Red signifies the unconscious or the dead. Light source: Bo's and Moogeye's lanterns.
Mouser is upstairs, 15 feet from Moogeye. Pelias is 35 feet from Moogeye.


Dice Rolls:

Ingrid: Mystery Save: [1d20] = 13
Mystery damage: Avril: [1d3] = 1, Bo: [1d3] = 1 1 hp each
Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 4, Monsters: [1d6] = 6 Monsters win
R1 attacks Avril: To Hit: [1d20] = 12, Damage: [2d4] = 7 Hits for 7 damage
R2 attacks Bo: To Hit: [1d20] = 11, Damage: [2d4] = 5 Hits for 5 damage
R3 and R4 attack Ingrid: To Hit: [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 6, Damage: [2d4] = 5, [2d4] = 5 Hits once for 5 damage

Status:

• Avril Hollysword, Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric 1/2: AC 7, HP -1/10, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 3: AC 4, HP 24/28
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 3: AC 3(1), HP 0/16, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 3: AC 6, HP 12/22, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 1/3 2nd lvl and 1/1 3rd lvl
  Moogeye Comcra, Human Monk 2: AC 8, HP 11/11
  Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 2: AC 2(0), HP 15/19, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: AC 0, HP 27/28

Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[dmw71]

Avril collapses into a motionless mess, bleeding.

[Zhym]

Grothnak jumps into the fray, Vadok in hand, with the battle cry, "Gore atuljět!"

Vadok (Halberd +1) (THAC0 18): [1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10, Dmg [1d10+4] = 2+4 = 6 (S/M) [2d6+4] = 5+4 = 9 (L)

Assuming it's needed:
[1d20] = 6

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis will rush the fiend crouching over Avril and attempt to clock it on its betentacled chin with his morningstar, Cranach. Finally, he doesn't feel any compunction about attacking all out...

Morningstar +1 (THAC0 18): To Hit:[1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+1] = 4+1 = 5, vs L [1d6+2] = 4+2 = 6

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo wonders how they have gotten themselves into another hopeless situation in yet another basement. He changes his direction once he sees that the menlizards are spreading out with their attacks.

He fends off the creature attacking him as he clears himself from the base of the stairs, moving towards the fallen Avril. He uses his healing magic on the she elf instead, hoping he isn't too late.

CLW [1d8] = 6

He then uses his spear on any of these abhorrent creatures that are still trying to subdue him, starting with the closest one to him.

Spear Attack [1d20] = 19 Damage [1d6] = 6

[dmw71]

Feeling the surge of healing compliments of Bo's divine intervention, Avril springs to her feet and quickly takes in the situation. Immediately realizing one of the abominations is still before her, she lashes out with her trusted blade and hopes to reduce their foes by one.

+1 long sword (20): [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14, s/m [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7, l: [1d12+1] = 4+1 = 5

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

Grey follows down the stairs, staying against the wall hiding in shadows if possible, and to give those behind him room to dash into the fray. The thief peeks around the curve to survey the scene (looking for a backstab opportunity) while whispering occult syllables for his Shocking Grasp spell.

Spell Success [1d100] = 53. Yes

[AleBelly]

If he can make it this round, Pelias forges forward, charging either enemy #3 or #4.

Attack with long sword (THAC0 19) [1d20] = 20, damage [1d8] = 8

BOOM!