Chapter 8: Necropolis of Eternity

[hedgeknight]

Cursing loudly at his vain attempts to attack, and now as his foe is trying to get away, Roan, Son of Rune hacks at the avatar...
Battle axe: [1d20+3] = 1+3 = 4, [1d8+5] = 2+5 = 7

...and then quickly steps forward, and hacks again.
Battle axe: [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10, [1d8+5] = 8+5 = 13

Damn this dice roller to hell!

[SocraticLawyer]

Unable to understand the words of his evil adversary, Garrin presses his advantage and attacks.

To hit D2 [1d20+3] = 20+3 = 23

Damage on D2 [1d12+1] = 5+1 = 6

Not wanting his prey to escape, Garrin attacks again.

To hit D2 [1d20+3] = 6+3 = 9

In his excitement, he swings wide this time.

[Spartakos]

As the monstrosity bulls its way past her, Zahra delivers a blow which the creature brushes aside. Undeterred, she pursues it and hacks at its legs, hoping to cripple it, but her attacks are similarly fruitless.

Attack with sword: [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11, damage: [1d12+3] = 6+3 = 9
Attack with sword: [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8, damage: [1d12+3] = 11+3 = 14

[Inferno]

Shine of the Entombed Dead (38), Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Sunset. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Two feral demons of the ancient world, barking and growling from the murder denied their savage spears, lunge past the explorers to bound up the ramp to the third tier of the Great Pyramid.

Only one of them makes it through alive.

Garrin, Kiri and Xorzen slash their foe asunder (D2). The wicked servant of Death is cut to pieces, hacked and impaled, and its soul is swept into eternity.



But the other jackal-headed minion of Sutekh (D1) avoids the sword, spear and wrath of Roan and Zahra. Loche's bone dagger kisses a crimson gash across its hand as the fierce hellion hurtles past Amethu, Arthfael and Mako without being touched.

The freed Typhonian beast disappears into the shadows at the top of the ramp, its murderous malevolence loosed upon the pyramid of antiquity.

Near the explorers, sorcerous flames illuminate an enchanted door, according to the previous divinations of Amethu, mercurial wizard of Uthoth.


Actions?!


Tier 4 Map Detail:



Tier 3, from memory:



Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 3, Monsters: [1d6] = 4 Monsters win.
Arthfael and Loche: Opportunity attacks: [1d20] = 2, [1d20] = 19, damage: [1d8] = 2, [1d3] = 2 Loche hits for 2hp damage.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/6, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 10/12, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 16/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 7/7, 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(5), HP: 4/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 20/23
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 9, HP: 10/12
  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."
  Faerie Fire (Arthfael): Cast on D2. Duration: 5 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)

[SocraticLawyer]

Cursing under his breath, Garrin runs after the abomination. His concern is both for the human denizens of the third level of the pyramid, but also for his adventuring companions. He does not want the beast to trap them below, with no means of egress.

The paladin charges after the statue. If he's able to catch up and make an attack, he does so:
To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 2+1 = 3; lg - [1d12+1] = 10+1 = 11
Oh man, I hope that counts!!

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

As the demon passes, Mako turns to watch it's path and will follow the creature to the top of the ramp but not engage it unless it engages him.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri glances down at the scowling face of his amulet, then runs after Garrin up the ramp, pulling out his throwing axe with one hand as he goes. If he gets a clear shot at the thing on the third tier, without danger of hitting the paladin, he'll loose the axe with all his strength.

Attack with Hand Axe --THROWN (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20] = 4 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6] = 3, vs. Lg: [1d4] = 1
If not, he'll hold onto it...

[OGRE MAGE]

Badly wanting to learn more about this magical javelin the group has found, the monk Xorzen uses his quickness to rush after the fleeing monster. He knows full well that he needs to try to stop the beast before it can raise havoc on the levels above. Despite his dislike for the other sects, he must try to protect the realm of his brothers in arms.

If he can catch up to Garrin and the enemy, he attacks.

Javalin Attack [1d20] = 16 Damage [1d6+1] = 5+1 = 6

[sirravd]

Amethu is unable to join in the fight against the demon without dire risk to himself: but he utters the direst maledictions he can, impotent though their mundane utterance may be.

[hedgeknight]

Resisting the impulse to hurl his new axe against the wall, Roan, Son of Rune, spies the newly revealed door and saunters over to investigate. He tries to determine if there are any traps about it...before he lays a shoulder into it and tries to shove it open.

[wordoftheoracle]

Loche will inspect the door for any physical traps.

[Zhym]

Arthfael has no desire to chase down the fleeing...whatever they things were. He waits as others inspect the door.

[Inferno]

Shrine of the Entombed Dead (38), Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. After sunset. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





All too mortal, a demon lays bloodsoaked and dismembered at the adventurers' feet. (D2)

The other minion of Sutekh (D1) makes a fatal miscalculation, believing all these Men possess Garrin's supernatural protection.



It flees up the ramp into the third tier of the Great Pyramid and the battle becomes a chase. Kiri pivots and hurtles an axe; a silver streak that crashes against the ceiling.

Garrin, Xorzen and Zahra spring up the ramp to complete the slaughter. They catch the demon just beyond the sundered pentagram that summoned it, and the harrowing sound of blades on flesh is like a butcher shop on feast day.

Xorzen's spearhead bursts from its chest. Then Garrin gruesomely decapitates it. The heinous jackal head shoots from its shoulders on an arching font of blood, and the headless servant of Death staggers a few steps before collapsing to the ageless stones.




Below, Arthfael looks on as Loche expertly searches the only door in the Shrine of the Entombed Dead (38). Finding no sign of lurking deathtraps, the Pict thief stands back. Roan, son of Rune, lowers his broad shoulders, slams into the door with the strength of a warrior born and is thrown backwards, falling to the ground.

The hieroglyph covered door is utterly unharmed.




Roan the barbarian can smell its pulsing, black sorcery.


Actions?!


Tier 4 Map Detail:


Tier 3 Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Tier 3 Map:



Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

Fyi, my last post and this post cover one round of combat.
Last post, the demon retreated and had opportunity attacks leveled against it.
This post, the PCs get their actions. Attacks are at +2 against a retreating enemy.

Zahra: Attack with sword: [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9, damage: [1d12+3] = 8+3 = 11 Still misses, even with charging bonus and attack to rear.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/6, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 10/12, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 16/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 7/7, 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(5), HP: 4/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 20/23
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 9, HP: 10/12
  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."
  Faerie Fire (Arthfael): Cast on D2. Duration: 4 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)

[hedgeknight]

"By the flames of Hades! What power has ensorcelled this door?" exclaims the barbarian. Roan gets to his feet, picks up his axe, and stands before the door, like he's about to hack at it.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorzen smirks at the so called female "warrior" from behind his mask, but says nothing to her. He kicks the demons head back into the room, further away from its body......just in case.

The monk begins to look over the dead body of the fallen monster, carefully searching it, trying to find anything of interest that it might have.

If he finds nothing, he tries to drag the body towards the ramp and begins searching the things head next.

[SocraticLawyer]

Satisfied that the foul demon is dead, Garrin leaves the work of examining their prey to Xorzen. Garrin sheathes his sword and heads back down with the others.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako make his way over to the Roan and the door. "I wish Biblo was still with us. He was the only one to understand this writing."

[Zhym]

Arthfael turns to the three Verulians. "Those pictures mean anything to you?"

[Inferno]

Shrine of the Entombed Dead (38), Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Two. Nightfall. 14th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Xorzen of Khemsa searches the bloody ruin of the decapitated demon corpse as its sundered head looks on.



The hawk-masked albino kicks the inhuman skull onto the killing floor of the nearby summoning chamber and resumes his examination. He finds only a 12 foot long spear, too large and heavy to wield, and iron halfplate armor, scaled for the gigantic creature, etched with the souls of the damned and with arcane symbols that Xorzen recognizes from the broken pentagram.

Garrin of Argos descends the ramp back to the others. There, Amethu the wizard had harvested magic treasure from the ages-old massacre of the sorcerous sect of Sutehk. Roan had claimed an ax and Garrin a shield. Arthael collected an enchanted elixir, and Amethu and Kiri shared an interest in the indecipherable scrolls rolled up inside a slender case of bone.

Still unclaimed is a javelin, a ring, a flask and a dagger. (Loche, Mako, Xorzen and Zahra, speak now or forever hold your peace)

Roan the barbarian pulls himself up from the floor and swears an furious oath at the lone door in the northern wall. Mako laments the mysterious, unexplained disappearance of Biblo the scholarly linguist. Arthfael asks the Verulians if they can read the dead cuneiform language carved into the ancient door aeons ago.

Proud Zahra's pale eyes scan the portal...



...and her white, bloodless lips reply:

"Death To All Faithless Desecrators of Those Who Dream In Eternity's Embrace.
I Curse Any Who Enter Here, In The Name of Xuthalhotep, Pharaoh of Pharaohs."


Actions?!


Tier 4 Map Detail:






PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/6, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 10/12, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 16/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 7/7, 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(5), HP: 4/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 20/23
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 9, HP: 10/12
  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."

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)

[OGRE MAGE]

Once he is satisfied that the demons have been stripped of anything of value, Xorzen gathers up the javelin that he was already using and any of the other treasure that was left behind before heading back down the ramp to join up with the others.

Having little interest in hoarding treasure, he lays the 4 items back down on the floor of the lower room for anyone to take.

"It would be foolish for us to leave anything magical behind that may aid us in our quest."

Already possessing his own magical weapon, he takes a closer look at the ring, sliding it onto his finger if nobody interjects.

I believe Xorzen made 2 successful attacks with the magic javelin so far. Was he able to learn anything about it form using it?