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. Early afternoon. 15th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia







Dry, ageless husks crumble to the tiles as their ghost-like spirits venture on to the world beyond this one, their endless service ceasing at last. Soruk calls upon Osorus again but this time his plea falls upon deaf ears. The masked giant can send no more of these ancient souls to their eternal rest.

The roar of the battle threatens to wake the remaining dead of the Great Pyramid.

As Amethu tries to summon holy magicks to heal Arthfael of Cimmeria (+1hp), Loche and Mako charge the unliving guardians' rear flank!
Loche plunges his enchanted dagger to the hilt into the back of a mummified sentinel, killing it instantly. (M14)
Mako almost slays another undead servitor with a bone shattering strike of his quarterstaff! (M13)

On the front line, the hacking of desiccated flesh and the crunching of bone almost drowns out the adventurers' cries of wrath, urging and merriment. Garrin, Kiri, Xorzen and Zahra cleave skulls, shatter ribs and sever limbs, piling up bodies around them into a low wall! (M1, M10, M12)

Their relentless, swarming foes continue to advance! Loche and Mako narrowly dodge whistling cuts that threaten to shear them asunder.

But Arthfael is not so lucky. A ruthless Verulian sword is driven deep into his chest and the barbaric druid falls to the floor unconscious! (-8hp damage) Bright blood gushes from the lethal wound as Arthfael's life force slowly begins to slip away.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

M15, M13 attack Loche and Mako: [1d20] = 8, [1d20] = 5, damage: [1d8] = 1, [1d8] = 4 Both miss.
M11 attacks Arthfael: [1d20] = 11, damage: [1d8] = 8 Hits for 8hp.
M16 and M17 are more than 1" away from the explorers and are unable to "charge." So their action this round is movement only; they close with the adventurers to attack next round.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/10, Spells: 3/6 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: -1/17, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl, Lantern
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 9/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/7, Spells: 0/2 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
  Soruk: Verulian Osoran Cleric/Fighter 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 6(5), HP: 5/9, 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: 12/16, Torch

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."
  Mirror Image (Kiri): Duration: 1 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 sighs at the inevitability, but in this place perhaps fittingly so, of death in this pyramid of the dead. He reaches forth and drags Arthfael away from the line of relentless skeletons. He will staunch his wounds as best he can before preparing to face the onslaught once again...

[wordoftheoracle]

Loche grits his teeth and goes up against his attacker with his mystery dagger:

Dagger, melee (THACO:20): [1d20] = 7 Dmg [1d4] = 4

[ChubbyPixie]

Furious, but with an unreadable expression, the Kiris attack again, swinging multiply upwards through the next walking cadaver.

Attack with Two-Handed Sword (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 19+3 = 22 Damage vs. s/m: [1d10+6] = 6+6 = 12, vs. Lg: [3d6+6] = 10+6 = 16

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra shakes her head, flipping sweat off her brow as she attacks again.

att [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16
mace [1d6+3] = 1+3 = 4

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin cries out as he sees his companion fall. He attacks the next monstrosity with renewed ferver.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 11+1 = 12; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5; lg - [1d12+1] = 12+1 = 13

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorzen continues with his attack, hoping that this herd of undead is soon only a distant memory.

Javalin Attack [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13 Damage [1d6+2] = 3+2 = 5

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako swing his quarter staff once again.

Staff, Quarter THAC0 20 [1d20] = 5 S/M/L [1d6] = 4

[Monsieur Rose]

Soruk

Content that Amethu is tending to the fallen, Soruk focuses on the threat. He grabs his blade with both hands and slashes at the nearest walking dead.

Bastard Sword (15): [1d20] = 4

[Inferno]

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







The inexhaustible guardians of eternity threaten to overrun the crypt raiders! Arthfael the Cimmerian falls before their unrelenting onslaught.

Amethu of Uthoth bends to drag him to safety and is savagely struck by a bloodless keeper of the dead. (M11) The sword slash threatens to remove his head! (-4hp) Amethu survives it and manages to pull the druid back. The masked sorcerer-priest binds Arthfael's wounds to save his life, even as he nearly succumbs to his own injuries.

Xorzen of Osorus and Zahra of Sekhmet put aside their ancient rivalries. Striking together, javelin and mace pierce dead flesh and shatter dead bones until another mummified servitor falls. (M17)

As Kiri's myriad reflections surreally melt away and he is unique once more, his singular great sword descends unerringly upon another protector of the hallowed dead (M11). The undead body comes hurtling down to smash on the stone tiles, broken, cleaved and unmoving.

Soruk of Osorus cuts wide. Garrin the Atlantean evades a humming blade and pivots to cave in a rib cage with the sickening snap and crunch of human bones. But the tomb guardian still stands! (M16)

In the corridor outside the crypt, implacable Verulian steel parries Loche and Mako's attacks.

Loche dodges a deadly counterthrust. But, with unyielding ferocity, an immortal servitor of the pyramid (M13) wreaks havoc upon Mako with a ruthless blade.



The eastern conjurer falls! (-7hp)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Rolls and Rulings (non-required reading):

M11 opportunity attack on Amethu: [1d20] = 19, damage: [1d8] = 4 Hits for 4hp.
M16 attacks Garrin: [1d20] = 4, damage: [1d8] = 5 Misses
M15 and M13 attack Loche and Mako: [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 20, damage: [1d8] = 4, [1d8] = 7 Hits Mako for 7hp.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 2/10, Spells: 3/6 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: -1/17, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl, Lantern
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 9/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/7, Spells: 0/2 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: -1/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Soruk: Verulian Osoran Cleric/Fighter 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 6(5), HP: 5/9, 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: 12/16, Torch

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)

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra growls a warcry, her voice the snarl of a big cat.

att [1d20+2] = 13+2 = 15
mace [1d6+3] = 6+3 = 9

Gods watch us!

[ravenn4544]

Amethu gravely injured and out of any direct fighting, uses one of his last remaining spells to bolster the front line of fighters. He whispers a prayer for his closest ally, Sorek, to be protected from evil.

[wordoftheoracle]

Loche is unyielding in his pursuit of his foe! Let the healers sort Mako out. There’s not much he can do without succumbing to the blades of the undead. Loche thrusts his enchanted blade at his foe and braces himself to face Mako’s opponent as well.

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

Natural 20 with a blade that is enchanted but I have no clue how!

[ChubbyPixie]

Vulnerable now that he is no longer protected by the magic of his swirling doubles, Kiri nevertheless advances to attack the next available undead fiend.

Attack with Two-Handed Sword (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10 Damage vs. s/m: [1d10+6] = 4+6 = 10, vs. Lg: [3d6+6] = 5+6 = 11

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorzen tries to help out where he can, leaping the dead bodies, if possible, to get to the others in the hall.

Javalin Attack [1d20+1] = 7+1 = 8 Damage [1d6+2] = 2+2 = 4

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin cries out as another of his companions falls. He hopes they can survive long enough to be healed.

The paladin renews his attack.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7; lg - [1d12+1] = 6+1 = 7

[Inferno]

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







Mako is the latest to fall before the ageless mummified servitors of the pyramid tombs!

Zahra cries, "Gods watch us!" as her mace savagely crushes the skull of the last of their unliving foes to reach the crypt! (M16)

Xorzen, Kiri and Garrin charge into the corridor, striking at the backs of Loche's undead attackers. The four explorers rend asunder the last two eternal watchmen in a brutal harvest of flesh and bones.

Released from their everlasting vows, ghost-like spirits scream into eternal oblivion as their ages-old bodies crumble to dust.

Then all goes quiet once more in the timeless corridors of the ancient dead, save for the moans of the wounded unconscious.


Actions?


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 2/10, Spells: 3/6 1st lvl
  Arthfael Griogarach: Cimmerian Northman Druid 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: -1/17, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl, Lantern
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 2: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 9/18, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/7, Spells: 0/2 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: -2/6, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Soruk: Verulian Osoran Cleric/Fighter 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 6(5), HP: 5/9, 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: 12/16, Torch

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)

[wordoftheoracle]

Panting, Loche surveys the damage.

Crakin' tae see ye guys! ah think mako kin need some attention. Howfur did ye fare?

Translation:

Nice to see you guys! I think Mako may need some attention. How did you fare?

As Loche wasn’t a part of the front lines, he has no idea what happened in the room while he was flanking the enemy.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin sheathes his sword and turns his attention to his wounded comrades.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu tends to his own wounds before returning to the aid of others. "An encounter most challenging. I hope we may now find the time to rest and recovery before proceeding deeper into this tomb of ancient undeath - or we may find ourselves here for eternity."

He removes a precious scroll from it's case and carefully unrolls it. Taking time to review the prayers and phrases therein, he chants the words of holy healing to aid Arthfael in their time of need...

CSW [2d8+1] = 10+1 = 11