Chapter 12: Time Out of Mind

[ravenn4544]

Amethu examines the findings closely. He will examine the book first. If others do not have any luck understanding the items, he will consider using 'identify' on the weapons for their potential value. Could these be the items sought??

[ChubbyPixie]

“I think these items are all likely to be false, yet I believe we have found a signifcant treasure,” says Kiri gazing directly at the jar of oil. He turns and smiles at the others.

[Urson]

Zahra

Does anyone have tripwires? Anything else that can be used to help slow the Pharoh down?

Does holy water have any effect on mummies? Does anyone _have_ any holy water? She says this with no apparent embarrassment, not afraid to show ignorance of the topic.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

"I can conjure up the image of Zargoth as I did in the dream. As long as I concentrate and Xuthalhotep doesn't see through the deception it will distract or at least slow him down. But we have been given a second chance. We should take this opportunity to move on and not confront Xuthalhotep. He is too powerful for us to defeat."

[Urson]

Zahra

You may be right, Mako. At least, exploring the rest of this level would give us more time to plan a way to defeat the Pharoh.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen shakes his head at the suggestion of leaving.

"Destroying the undead Pharaoh is our main objective. We wont find the items we seek in the unchecked, trap ridden halls of this forsaken place. If anyone is too afraid to continue, may you try your luck out in the desert alone."

The masked monk pours a small amount of the newly found oil into a tiny puddle on the stone floor to check its flammability.

"This oil is just what we need to put a quick end to that mummy."

[Scott308]

Loche

Die a slow death alone in th' desert or die 'ere at th' hauns o' th' pharaoh...at least 'ere ah micht fin' pure dead brilliant treasures if we somehow mak' it oot o' this gods-be-damned shithole!

The Pict pulls his jeweled dagger and holds it out to the others. A'body wantae mooch- juist tae murdurr th' pharaoh, mynd ye- mah shiny, magic, pig-sticker? Ah'ament sae stoatin wi' th' stabby-stab, bit ah will gie it a shot if need be. 'N' ah'ament scared- weel a'm scared, 'n' if ye aren't, ye'r a damned gowk- ah juist dinnae cop lik' dying th'day.

[Inferno]

The False Tomb, Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Four. Sunset?, 16th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the false tomb of Xuthalhotep, surrounded by relics of the mysterious immemorial past, the explorers regroup.

Amethu of Uthoth leafs through an ancient papyrus book of hieroglyphs, scribed when the world was young. Like the wall carvings, it is an epic litany of the great Pharaoh's deeds in life. Closer examination of the golden weapons finds them all to be made of lead.

Xorzen of Osorus tests a few drops of oil and finds it flammable.

They confer on their next steps, ever watchful of the open, gaping maw to the south where, after hearing a hollow space, they had broken through the wall.

Beyond that jagged portal, beyond those pitch shadows, lies patient and potent the deathless king of lost Verulia.


Actions?


Map Detail:



Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/11, Spells: 4/7 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 13/26, Laying Hands: 0/1, Torch
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 10/14, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 8/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl,
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 11/16, Candle
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 11/21, 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)

[SocraticLawyer]

"Let us rest here first," says Garrin. "Once we are at full strength, we can begin the process of making a trail of oil for the mummy to follow. Then Mako and I will open the dread sarcophagus and return to this room as swiftly as we can."

If the group agrees, Garrin helps put the plan into action.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu agrees with rest. "It is wise to recover our selves with a chance of respite." He continues to ponder the crypt they find themselves in and what purpose lead weapons could have. Simply false? Decorative? he thinks. Clarity evades him with all of the recent foretelling.

Taking time to study his spells, he offers "a spell of burning fire I have at my disposal. With reflection, it would be of use in setting off our plan to ignite the ancient one. If dosed in oil it would be easy to set it alight..."

[Urson]

Zahra

The Amazon agrees. "tired is stupid" as one of my instructors said many times. Some rest will do us all good.
And yes, this doorway is the smartest place to ambush the mummy. He will be pinched in a tight corridor, while we will be free to surround him. But I think we need further thought on the plan- I apologize for plain speaking, but it seems rushed. Let's go through it step-by-step, and ensure we haven't missed anything.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri arranges his things and sits down to rest, facing the hole in the wall. "I'll watch first," he says. "Um... who wants to watch with me? It's just wise to pair up - I'm not afraid."

After a moment's contemplation, he suggests an amendment to the plan: "What if we lead him here, as you say, however, we simply douse the floor and walls just inside the opening with oil, no need for a trail. When he reaches the oil, Maako conjures up his rendition of Z... of the demon... causing the King to delay over the oil. Then Amethu lights him up, we throw torches, as insurance. That's it."

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako looks hard at Garrin "ME! You want me to push the top of sarcophagus off and run back to the others with you? I'm honored by your suggestion but my arms and legs are not nearly as stout as many others around me. Surely there are greater champions for this deed of song." Mako continues to listen to the others discuss. "What if Xuthalhotep is not as feeble-minded as we think. He was pharaoh of this land. He might see through our trap. I would think that all of us know our own weaknesses and avoid succumbing to them. If fire is Xuthalhotep weakness would he not discover our plan by the shininess of the floor or the stench of fat that waft up from it. I can focus my kai after a nights rest to bring forth two illusionary visions. The first can hide the sight of the oil but not its smell. The second could be the monstrous thing that is Zargoth to hold Xuthalhotep at bay on the flames. But I can not do these at the same time for each illusionary visions require much needed time to prepare and great focus to make it convincing. If you were to wish me to perform such acts I would not be able to join Garrin in his heroic adventure."

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen nods his masked head. He agrees to help out in any facet of the newly forming plan, glad to hear that resting first seems to be the consensus of the group.

[Inferno]

The False Tomb, Fourth Tier of the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Four. Sunset?, 16th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the false tomb of Ankhara and Xuthalhotep, the explorers rest, knowing that certain death lies waiting not 100 feet away.

The set a watch, protecting each other as they sleep, but only from the horrors of this world.

The outlanders dream again of a malignant eldritch eye, watching everything they do.



They dream of Zargoth, all-seeing, all-knowing. A horrific nightmare that will not relent. It knows everything of their pointless plotting, their useless conspiracies, and that it will only lead to their doom.

The explorers sleep fitfully, a tingle crawling along their spines.

Amethu, Xorzen and Zahra have no memories of their dreams.

Night passes and the healing mists of Osorus cure their many wounds. Night passes, and with the sunless dawn beneath the Great Pyramid, all that awaits them now is the eternal terror of Xuthalhotep himself.



Actions? (Amethu and Zahra each heal 1hp. Zahra may roll to heal a second, as per the house rules. All else are completely healed.
All casters may study or pray, and choose new spells.)


Map Detail:



Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 7/11, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1, Torch
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 14/14, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl,
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 16/16, Candle
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 12/21, 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)

[SocraticLawyer]

Sorry DadsAngry, I meant to put Xorzen, not Mako on my last post!
Garrin agreed with Mako's suggestions. "If your magic can hide the sight of the oil from our foe, he will be much more likely to be caught in our trap. Let us begin our preparations. "

Garrin helps to lay the trap for the ancient pharoah, and returns to his chamber when all is ready. He doesn't open the sarcophagus yet.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako positions himself in a position where he has an unobstructed view of the pool of oil but far enough away he isn't in any danger of being burned or attacked by the captured prey. He speaks to the group "whatever you do, do not interrupt me or I will break my concentration and the visual illusion will disappear."

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra nods, remembering the vision.

I will go with you to open the sarcophagus. she says, as she stretches her legs and makes sure her weapons are secure.

[Scott308]

Loche

Knowing he is slower than most of the others in the group, Loche stays far away from the doorway and the oil puddle.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu nods "I will throw a fire spell when the Ancient One comes through the tunnel..."