Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Three. Morning. 15th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia
In the eye of the maelstrom of violence and death, the bloodsoaked barbarian cries, "Carry my bones out of this hell hole! My spirit needs open air to soar to Valhalla!" Then he lunges headlong into the fray.
There is a gleam of silver and a charioteer is shorn asunder by Roan's terrible iron ax. Its ghoulish skull hanging by a splinter of vertebrae, it is dead before it hits the stone floor. (C26)
The other charioteer (C25) mercilessly drives his lance into Roan. The son of Rune is impaled and the spearhead explodes from the center of his broad back in a vomit of crimson. (-6hp) The mighty Vanir is flung beneath the trampling hooves of the undead steeds. (-7hp) The mighty warrior doesn't move again.
Nearby, other men fight for their lives lest they join the savage barbarian's fate.
Arthfael of Cimmeria steps back and his comrades close ranks to protect him as he summons unnatural powers over nature. His tattooed visage gazes upon the whirling wooden chariot wheels and he whispers to the remains of their spirit. Suddenly, a chariot wheel explodes. Roan's killer is thrown free of the hurtling vehicle and crashes hard to the floor with splintered limbs and broken spine. (C25) The horses veer left with the screech and clatter of the fractured chariot they still drag.
Close by, Mako's staff misses a skeleton warrior (S3) but Loche's new knife strikes true, smiting the cadaverous swordsman dead. The Pict thief believes this dagger holds some ensorcellment against the undead.
Beside him, Xorzen's javelin-strike shatters a jaw bone (S1). The deathless soldier keeps fighting but Xorzen deftly evades its counterstrike.
To the south of them, Amethu and Kiri's attacks are thwarted but Garrin of Argos swings his sword in a ferocious trajectory that splits a dry, ancient skull. (S12) On the southern front, the undead warriors' swords are once more repelled by shield, helm and blade!
One of the lead chariots veers and stops hard, its horses rearing up dangerously close to Arthfael! The charioteers (C21, C22) strike at Garrin's exposed flank with their long spears and one of them grazes the paladin's swordarm. (-1hp)
Zahra the amazon leans against a towering column, catches her breath and readies her iron mace. Suddenly, the other lead chariot (C24) swerves hard toward her! Its driver murderously stabs his long spear, trying to impale her through the heart and the amazon parries the deadly thrust with her mace!
To the west of her, Roan's powerful form lies broken and still on the stone tiles. His dead eyes stare glassily up at the ornate murals of the Land of the Dead.
Taken from this parched land of heat and dust, to the sharp, icy winds of Valhalla, the spirit of the Vanir barbarian rejoins at last with Rune, father of Roan.
Actions?!
Map Detail:
S = Soldiers. H8 = General. C = Charioteers. H = Riderless Horses pulling Chariots.
Lit areas are visible. All else is from memory.
Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):
PC Status:
- Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 9/10, Spells: 6/6 1st lvl
Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 17/17, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl
Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 15/18, Laying Hands: 1/1
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/7, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
Loche: Pict Savage Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18
Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 2: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 6/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, Light spell
Roan, Son of Rune: Vanir Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: -10/23, Torch, Dead.
Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 8, HP: 12/12
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 2: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 15/16
- 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."