Chapter 1: The Dead Wizard's Skyscraper

[Urson]

Maskelyn

Not to worry, chap. I'm sure that a clever group such as ourselves can bang together a sturdy raft or small boat, when the time comes. But for now, we're on dry land and safe, so buck up, eh?

[wolfpack]

L.L looks at Buck. pulls out his tome and begins flipping through.

yes yes Punk Rock revolution, gonna hitch a ride to Rockaway beach.

he places his book back in his bag

Well we have rope, perhaps someone has a hook?

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo sees Buck eyeing him. "What, I'm a rat so I'm a climber? That's species-ist... I vote Chakka," he says. "Also, has it occurred to you that out here we are miles and miles away from the nearest psychotic demi-god sorcerer king? What's your hurry to get back? We could be happy here." As he talks, he trails off, looking about as hopeful as a bag of wet felt.

[Mant72]

Reluctant to leave the safety of the jungle, Chaka feels Buck’s questioning eyes as he asks, “So who’s up for a quick climb?” Curiosity and the allure of possibly finding a shiny reward at the top trump his trepidation.

He grunts, ”Tie rope to Chaka waist. Chaka climb.”

[Urson]

Maskelyn

Good lad! Be careful, eh? That climb may be a bit rough even for you.


For the rest of us- As you know, I'm not the type who chooses to order others about. But right now, we seem to be scattering like a clump of cave crickets when a torch is lit. I have a few suggestions, if I may:

Ko-Nan, you're a warrior born- would you please scout us a secure, defensible position for a base camp? As we know, I'm a bit of a clod when it comes to strategy, tactics, and whatnot.

Tullia- your wilderness survival skills are unmatched. Could you begin scouting for a fresh watersource? You and maybe one other- your choice, of course.

It seems Buck and Chaka are starting to investigate the Goddess- Adrock, would you consider providing some magical support, if they need it?

And we others can begin looking for fresh food- I could murder a bit of somethin that isn't dried and salted to the point of being inedible.

Maskelyn smiles a crooked-tooth smile that seems sincere as he scratches Houdin behind the joint of his jaw.

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

Jeojand, would you be willing go looking in the jungle with me?

She thinks he would be the least likely to screw up a quiet search.

First thing- split the party.

[wolfpack]

Of course, I must see what awaits us in this relic of our ancestors. Who knows perhaps the ever elusive magical DerAKels!

[OGRE MAGE]

Buck helps out Chaka by tying his rope around his hairy waist, encouraging the ape-boy as best he can before his curiosity wears thin.

"It doesn't too look high, Chaka. Now get up there and secure your end of the rope to something strong. And don't go snooping around up there too much until you get a few of us up there to lend a hand if things go bad."

[ChubbyPixie]

"I don't see any food," says Fiefo. Lifting a single leaf, he half heartedly searches under the shrub immediately in front of him. "Or water, either," he adds.

[Inferno]

Beach of the Goddess, Eastern Coast, The Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard
Land of One Thousand Towers
Day One. Mid-Morning. March 25th, 912 CY







In the shadow of the immense ancient idol, Ko-Nan the barbarian picks up a rich scent on the wind and follows it past more of the shipwreck. He recognizes it. Horses. Then its gone. He moves to the jungle treeline to collect fallen coconuts. It takes time as there are few on the ground.

As verminous Fiefo scowls and frets, Buck the mole-man priest asks the two surviving sailors what special skills they possess.
"Well, we're both sailors," explains Arto. "And I once won a hardboiled egg eating contest," he adds with pride.
"I used to be a taxidermist's apprentice," rumbles Switch the dwarf as he admires the shape of Buck's head in the light.

Arto the halfling begins to collect firewood at Maskelyn's suggestion, "Right away, sir! Good idea!" and then stops at Tullia's suggestion, "Of course! Smoke! Terrible idea!!" dropping the wood and wiping his hands clean of the notion.

Jeojand the feline sorcerer, who had been padding toward the colossal holy sculpture, is invited by Tullia to join her in entering the jungle alone.

As they get closer to the towering Goddess of the Torch, they realize they had underestimated its scale. Buck and LL tie a rope around Chaka's waist. Then the nimble ape-boy climbs up the gargantuan iron goddess. As he reaches her noble, beautiful visage, he can see the dead wizard's tower again in the far distance looming over the inland jungle beneath the broken moon.



A third lightning strike hits the gleaming spire! But no other lightning is visible in the sky, nor storm clouds.

Chaka continues on, pulling himself up on the goddess' massive lips, scrambling up her titanic nose and, perched atop her enormous brow, he climbs her hair and slowly peers up into the large windows in her crown, 50 feet above the beach.



Suddenly, "RRAAAUUGGHHH!!!!"

Inside the crown is an iron chamber! It's a lair filled with women and children that are only slightly more human than Chaka, but much more primitive. There are bones, animal skins, coconuts, a doused campfire and more.



Cornered, all the savage creatures begin jumping and roaring and howling at the ape-boy in fear and hatred and suddenly, the biggest female raises a heavy wooden club and charges Chaka with unexpected ferocity!

The other castaways on the beach hear it, a wild clamor more bestial than human whose meaning is nonetheless unmistakable. And then instantly, there is movement all along the jungle treeline! (at the ?'s)


Actions?!


Map:

PCs' positions are noted by the first letter of their first name.
The PCs are blue. Houdin is green. The movement at the treeline is orange.





PC Status:

• Buck Russellswart: Mole-Man Cleric 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 18/18, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl
  Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: 17/17
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 20/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: 10/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/32
  L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 6/6, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: 10/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 24/24

PC Magic:

• None currently

PC Resources:

• End of the World (game description)
  Strange New World (maps and realms)
  Memory Tapes (the story so far)
  Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo tenses up into a fighting ready stance, but keeps his expression neutral as he takes in the situation. He does not attack unless attacked himself:

If needed: Attack with Scimitar (THAC0 19): To Hit: [1d20] = 18 Damage, s/M/L: [1d8] = 3

[Mant72]

Seeing the club wielding female charge, Chaka bares his teeth and screams into the iron chamber. He quickly scrambles higher onto the goddess’ crown to avoid the primitive woman’s wrath.

[Urson]

Maskelyn

Houdin! Guard! The iguana moves a few paces closer to the treeline, offering a hissing roar of challenge.

Maskelyn readies his staff, the polished bone gleaming white.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan hearing the feral cry of alarm that he knows all too well, drops his newly found feast. He remains quiet and still among the underbrush - but is ready to deal death and judgement.

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

She takes her bow off her back, nocks an arrow and starts looking at the edge of the jungle.

[Starbeard]

Jeojand crouches and scampers northward behind a piece of debris. He scans the treeline silently, readying the material components to cast a jump spell.

[OGRE MAGE]

Buck swears he has seen this scene somewhere before, unable to shake his sudden visions of ape people for some reason. He scurries 10 feet to the east. (assuming the squares are 5' and the top of the map is north)

He ducks behind the outcropping of the magnificent statue and watches the tree line to find out what is about to come out and kill him.

He tries to keep one eye on the progress of the hairy monkey boy above him, just in case he should fall.

[wolfpack]

LL joins Buck hiding in the creveces of the statue waiting to see a larger grouping of whatever is coming to cast his sleep spell

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia will join LL and Buck behind better cover than driftwood.

[Inferno]

Hi,
Just a quick note to say that Tullia's second post is legit.
With two DM posts a week, you guys can converse and add to your posts for about 2 days before I move things along.