Chapter 3: The Land That Time Forgot

[Inferno]

Valley of the Dinosaurs, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day One. Sunset. March 25th, 912 CY
Hot, humid, clear







At the threshold of the wondrous valley of dinosaurs, the shipwrecked explorers make camp.

The historian-priest, LL Adrock heals Maskelyn with miraculous prayers to merciful Tee Emez Eee. (+1hp)

Ko-Nan the barbarian hunts wild game at the edge of the valley rim, and brings back a brace of small, bird-like saurians.



Maskelyn the illusionist conjures up a tent and Buck the mole-man, a shallow burrow.

Jeojand the cat-mancer weaves an arcane enchantment upon himself and then quickly scales a towering tree. Chaka the ape-boy happily scurries up after him. Their vantage affords them a breathtaking view of their surroundings.



The feline sorcerer and the simian teen survey the entire valley, observing that it ranges south and east of them as well. They cannot see beyond the southern mountain range, but over the western spine they behold a high, desolate plateau upon which is set the Dead Wizard's Tower. Lightning strikes the iron spire repeatedly out of a calm sky.

They can see their trail through the western mountains to the tower, and another trail headed northeast from the tower toward more jungle to the north.

At sunset, flying reptiles fill the violet sky, feeding on swarms of gigantic, brightly colored insects.



With the setting of the sun, the epic migration across the marsh river valley slows.

And Chaka gleefully feeds a gentle, titanic leviathan foraging from their tree.




Actions? (Last, last call before I move to the overnight. Thanks!)





PC Status:

• Buck Russellswart: Mole-Man Cleric 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 15/18, Spells: 2/4 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: 17/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: 5/10, Spells: 1/2 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: 0/4 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: 6/10, Spells: 1/2 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)

[Starbeard]

Jeojand will climb down to the floor and help set a small fire for the night. "I myself do not need a fire, but it is probably foolish to sleep here without one. Some of these saurians look dangerous, and the fire should scare the stupid animals away. Or, we could all climb up the trees and sleep there."

[wolfpack]

LL prepares his things for spell and prayer study in the morning while singing a tune

Long ago on a mountain top
a mighty egg was laid
Burned by the light of the circle bright
and cooled by the forest shade
Then one stormy evening when the icy rain did pour
out of the egg appeared the leg of the Lone Dinosaur

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo stirs fitfully in his sleep. At one point he lets out a series of muffled squeaks that may or may not be words in the language of his people.

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

She sets down her pack, and using it for a pillow, wraps herself in her cloak and prepares to get some sleep before taking one of later night watches. As it gets darker, she resembles a dark boulder.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-nan will skin and clean one of the things and try it raw. "Probably best to hold off on a fire if those monkey-cowards are still around. No knowing if they are or aren't".

[Urson]

Maskelyn

The gnome looks slightly ill as he watches Ko-Nan dig into his raw bird-thing. Having calmed his mind, he goes to sleep, ready for a watch near morning.

[OGRE MAGE]

Buck takes his turn at watch, following the lead of the hunched catman whenever possible. If he survives that, he crawls into his hole and sleeps as soundly as one can with enormous monsters a few yards away.

[Inferno]

The Valley That Time Forgot, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day One. Night. March 25th, 912 CY
Cool, humid, clear







Darkness overtakes the strange land, unveiling distant stars and galaxies forever turning in the boundless expanse of infinity.

On Earth, beneath those wheeling stars, the shipwrecked explorers camp for the night between the primeval jungle and the Valley That Time Forgot.

In the middle of the night, watchful eyes in the darkness reflect the flickering campfire.



Suddenly, Tullia and Chaka witness in horror a great sabre-toothed tiger (S1) silently stalk into the firelight.

Teeth bared, ears back, nose sniffing the scent of the adventurers on the air, the massive feline predator slowly glides forward in a low crouch.

Powerful muscles tensed and ready to spring like a steel trap, its glowing eyes on Chaka and Tullia, a low growl rumbles deep within its throat as it keeps advancing towards its sleeping prey.




Actions, Tullia and Chaka?! (the rest of the party is asleep)


Area Map:

Each square = 10 feet. Top of map is North.
Character positions are marked by first letter of first name.
All characters are sleeping except Tullia and Chaka.
Bluer areas are darkness beyond the firelight.

Island map, to date:

X = The adventurers' current position.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

On whose watch? [1d5] = 3 Tullia and Chaka
Party surprised? [1d6] = 6 No.
S1 closest to which sleeper? (alphabetical): [1d8] = 8 Switch the Dwarf.

PC Status:

• Buck Russellswart: Mole-Man Cleric 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 15/18, Spells: 2/4 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: 17/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: 5/10, Spells: 1/2 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: 0/4 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: 6/10, Spells: 1/2 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)

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

She finds and throws a stone to the left of the beast, hoping it will be a momentary distraction. She then grabs her sword, which was across her lap (I assume she was seated), yells, Tiger! and jumps to her feet.

[Inferno]

DM:

The shouting of Tullia and Chaka rouses the sleeping adventurers! They awaken to find a snarling great cat in their camp!


Actions, everyone?!

[Urson]

Maskelyn

The gnome jerks awake and rolls out of his shelter. He dashes for the far side of the fire, away from the beast. Houdin! Kill! he shouts, forgetting for a moment.

[ChubbyPixie]

Fiefo leaps up, hissing and spitting, fork in hand. He runs to the tiger side of the fire, tines leveled at the creature’s eyes in an effort to interpose himself between the creature and the rest of the party. He’ll act defensively in the hopes of scaring it off, but will attack if the thing leaps or goes for another party member - he’ll need these people if he’s to have any chance of surviving this island...

Attack with Fauchard Fork (THAC0 19): To Hit: [1d20] = 1 Damage vs. s/M: [1d8] = 3, vs. L: [1d10] = 8

Tripping over his own backpack in the dim light, unfortunately, causes him to completely flub it. His fork digs into the ground as he loses his balance.

[wolfpack]

LL jumps up and grabbing his darts lets them fly at the cat

Woo oo here she comes, she's a man eater.

[1d20+1] = 7+1 = 8
[1d20+1] = 3+1 = 4
[1d20+1] = 11+1 = 12

[OGRE MAGE]

Buck sits up casually as the others warn of the cats approach. He grabs his sling and flings a stone in the direction of the liger.

Sling Attack [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6 Dam [1d4] = 2

[Starbeard]

Jeojand grabs a log from the fire and brandishes it defensively. In the light of the fire, he stands tall and emits his most threatening growl at the sabre-toothed cat, hoping that the chain of evolution will carry the message effectively.

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan wakes and sees the threat of a giant cat attacking. He tries to return the favor!

Attack: THACO (19): [1d20+1] = 3+1 = 4 / Damage: (S/M: [2d4+1] = 5+1 = 6 / L: [3d4+1] = 10+1 = 11)

[Inferno]

The Valley That Time Forgot, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day One. Night. March 25th, 912 CY
Cool, humid, clear







Beneath the infinite, eternal stars, death stalks the land. An apex predator honed by millions of years of merciless evolution strides into the adventurers' camp!

With a warning cry, Chaka the ape-boy fearlessly hurtles a slingstone that crashes hard into the bloodthirsty carnivore's snout! Tullia the ranger throws a stone to the left of the beast, grabs her sword, stands and joins Chaka in shouting the others awake. "A tiger! To arms!! Arise!!!"

The natural born killer snarls in bewildered fury, snorting and shaking off the sting on its nose. It circles around, stalking, snarling, prowling low to the ground, and then it suddenly springs with primal ferocity at the smaller of the two standing prey: Chaka of the Ula-Thul!



Chaka nimbly evades the deadly, six inch fangs, but the savage beast of prey brutally lacerates the young ape-boy with one huge, razor sharp claw! (-5hp)

Maskelyn the gnome quickly stands and manuevers the campfire between himself and the murderous beast. With a yelp, Arto the halfling and Switch the dwarf join him, each trying to get behind the other.

Jeojand the feline sorcerer brandishes a burning log from the fire, making himself as tall and loud as he can be. The sabre-toothed tiger defiantly roars back, drowning out Jeojand's growlings. The fearsome sound sets Arto's knees shaking.

Whether by panic or lingering torpor, none of the other adventurers can land a blow. Adrock's darts, Buck's slingstone, Ko-Nan's great axe, and Fiefo's ancestral fork all range wide of the massive, snarling man-eater!


Actions?!


Area Map:

Each square = 10 feet. Top of map is North.
Character positions are marked by first letter of first name.
Bluer areas are darkness beyond the firelight.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Awake Party: [1d6] = 6, Monster: [1d6] = 1 Tullia and Chaka go first. Then sabre-toothed tiger, then the rest of the party who had to wake up first.
Chaka sling stone: [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18, damage: [1d6+1] = 6+1 = 7 Hits for 7hp!
S1 charges Chaka: [1d20+2] = 5+2 = 7, [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4, [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4 One claw hits for...
S1 claw damage on Chaka: [1d4+1] = 4+1 = 5 ...5hp damage.
Minor bookkeeping:
The PCs' missed missile weapons would have missed Chaka too, so I won't bother dealing with firing missile weapons into a melee this time.
Fiefo and Ko-Nan charged in order to reach the tiger and attack with melee weapons.

PC Status:

• Buck Russellswart: Mole-Man Cleric 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 15/18, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl
  Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: 12/17
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 17/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: 5/10, Spells: 1/2 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: 0/4 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: 6/10, Spells: 1/2 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)

[ravenn4544]

Ko-Nan growls at his own sleepiness and shakes it off. He brings down his rugged chopper upon the beast.

Attack: THACO (19): [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14 / Damage: (S/M: [2d4+1] = 4+1 = 5 / L: [3d4+1] = 6+1 = 7)

[wolfpack]

LL not being a hand to hand type and not wanting to hit his own people LL will hold his darts ready in case the beast springs out of melee.