Chapter 12: Time Out of Mind

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin is unfazed by the sight of the pharoah.

Save vs Spell (14) [1d20+5] = 20+5 = 25

He readies his attack, but waits for the incoming inferno to subside before approaching Xuthalhotep.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu

Save vs. Spells (12): [1d20+5] = 12+5 = 17

[Scott308]

Loche

Terrified of what is coming their way, the Pict attempts to put on a show of false bravado, his voice cracking as he hurls insults at the Pharaoh. C'moan, ye hackit, maggot-ridden corpse! We're nae feart o' ye!

[ChubbyPixie]

Still keeping his gaze lowered, the moment Kiri sees any sign of the creature, a leg or foot, hopefully bathed in flame, pass the plane of the jagged opening, he will thrust out his hand, palm forward, and unleash a small glowing dart from a rift in space that appears there for the briefest moment, that hurls unerringly (but not very dangerously) towards the undead king. Magic Missile (at Level 2 Strength): [1d4+1] = 1+1 = 2

Minimum damage!

He will then steel his nerves to rush forward and engage with his two handed sword.

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra looks straight into the corridor at just the wrong time.
[1d20] = 2+5

[1d4] = 4 For her paralysis from fear..

Her blood freezes in her veins. She is driven to attack, but her own body betrays her.

[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 Five. Early morning?, 17th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Dread Xuthalhotep, deathless necromantic pharaoh out of time unimaginable, stalks the explorers through the ageless shadows of the catacombs!

In the false tomb, Mako of the East holds his concentration, willing the pool of oil to remain unseen! The other explorers tense, ready to spring their desperate trap! Its success means the difference between life and death!

Suddenly, Xorzen bursts into the false tomb screaming in terror! Xuthalhotep descends upon him and his horrific majesty is revealed to all!



The expression upon his golden deathmask is as serene as his existence is frightful! Even those averting their eyes glimpse some small part of him and know he is there! In the terrifying presence of the immortal Pharaoh of Living Death, Zahra the amazon freezes in a terror absolute, and Kiri, Loche and Mako despair that they too will be overtaken by abject fear! (Kiri, Loche and Mako please Save vs Spells on 1d20+3 in order to take an action!)

Xorzen reaches the western alcove, wheels around and throws his candle at the feet of the undead, mummified remains of the god-king of the ancient world. Instantly, Xuthalhotep is consumed in fire! A startling conflagration bursts into existence out of thin air, wreathing Xuthalhotep in a holocaust of hungry flame!

The forge-like blast of heat threatens to burn the nearest explorers! A fell wind from the sundered tomb blows the towering flames north, and thick black smoke roils upward, quickly filling the ceilings of the tomb!

Then a burning shape emerges from the flames, its golden mask dislodged!



A pale, fleshless skull leers at them from beneath the ancient crown of Verulia!

And then it is devoured by flames!



Still afire, Xuthalhotep savagely smites Xorzen with his burning hands, damning his fellow Verulian with the dread Curse of the Pharaohs, and nearly felling him in one murderous blow (-14hp!)!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Map:



Non-required reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 6, Monsters: [1d6] = 1 Party wins.
Flame damage: [1d8] = 8 Max damage!
Xuthalhotep charges Xorzen: to hit: [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17, damage: [1d12] = 12 + [1d3] = 2 Hits for almost max damage: 14hp!

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 7/11, Spells: 4/7 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 2/3/4, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl,
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 2/16, Candle, Cursed!
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 19/21, Torch, Paralyzed for 3 rounds.

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."
  Protection From Evil (Amethu): Target: Zahra, Duration: 5 rounds
  Phantasmal Force (Mako): Duration: special
  Shield (Kiri): Target: self, Duration: 8 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)

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako tries hard to keep up his concentration but the visage of the Xuthalhotep can't escape his mind.
"He is here! We must flee!"

Save vs Spell 12 [1d20+3] = 5+3 = 8
paralysis from fear [1d4] = 4

[Urson]

Zahra

Terrified, rooted in place by her own fear, Zahra trembles, tears of fury trickling down her face.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu tries to keep his focus off of the horror that still walks before them. He prays for boons from the gods as he uses his last healing spell on Xorzen...

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 8

[SocraticLawyer]

Gritting his teeth as he approaches the flaming pharoah of old, Garrin attacks.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8; lg - [1d12+1] = 3+1 = 4

[ChubbyPixie]

Nearly overcome, Kiri barely avoids succumbing to abject fear. Gritting his teeth, aware of the risk he takes, he moves forward to strike at the thing with his two-handed sword, the magical, hovering shield vibrating the air in front of him.
Attack with Two-Handed Sword (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 16+3 = 19 Damage vs. s/m: [1d10+6] = 3+6 = 9, vs. Lg: [3d6+6] = 5+6 = 11 !!

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen takes the attack with shame, apparently learning nothing from his dream.

He picks up one of his stashed oil pots and smashes it into the monster, attempting to keep the thing alight as long as possible.

Let me know if this action requires a roll of some kind.

[Scott308]

Loche

Scared, but not frozen with fear, the Pict draws his magic dagger just in case...

Save vs. Spell (14): [1d20] = 13
The +3 will make this a success.

[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 Five. Morning?, 17th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





The trap is sprung! A towering pyre consumes great Xuthalhotep.

And yet, unfazed by the inferno that devours his mummified flesh, the immortal pharaoh of ruins fights on, a living avatar of fire, conquest, war and death!



The burning god-king tries to smite Garrin but as ever, the Atlantean's unshakable faith shields him from harm!

"He is here! We must flee!" Mako cries out in terror as his illusion evaporates.

Loche keeps his wits, but also makes no move closer to the fiery battle. He unsheathes his magic dagger, Deathsbane, forged when ancient Verulia was young.

In disbelief, Xorzen's widening eyes look once more upon his bare hands in horror!



This fate is unavoidable! Xorzen knows his destiny is to be damned, cursed by the pharaohs! The unholy blight rots his very flesh! His hand is as grey and withered as a corpse!

Amethu too seems doomed by Fate to walk a path inescapable! His orisons again have no power to heal the monk afflicted by the Curse of the Pharaohs!

The heat of the conflagration is too great to move in closer. Xorzen hurls a small jar of oil at Xuthalhotep but his aim is affected by grief and dread, and it crashes behind him!

Kiri's greatsword strikes Xuthalhotep with enough ferocity to cut a man asunder. But upon this strange entity from beyond the world's understanding, the sword has no effect!

Nor can Garrin's assault harm the majestic, long-dead ruler of the ancient world. As dire prophecy had foretold, he seems invulnerable to the attacks of mortal men!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Map:



Non-required reading (rolls and rulings):

Flame damage: [2d8] = 5 5hp damage to Xuthalhotep.
Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 1, Monsters: [1d6] = 3 Monsters win.
Xuthalhotep attacks Garrin: [1d20] = 2, damage: [1d12] = 3 + [1d3] = 2 Misses.
Xorzen attack Xuthalhotep: [1d20] = 9, damage: [1d8] = 6 Misses.
Xorzen's miss: Distance: [1d4] = 3, Direction: [1d8] = 8 Lands three feet past (over) Xuthalhotep.
Fyi, attacking Xuthalhotep with bare hands or short weapons will result in heat damage to the attacker.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 7/11, Spells: 3/7 1st lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 4(2), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 2/3/4, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/18, Torch
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Paralyzed for 3 rounds.
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 2/16, Candle, Cursed!
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 19/21, Torch, Paralyzed for 2 rounds.

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."
  Protection From Evil (Amethu): Target: Zahra, Duration: 4 rounds
  Shield (Kiri): Target: self, Duration: 7 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)

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako cowers in fear as he crosses his arms in front of his face to block some of the heat, exposing the small white mark on his right hand he gained from drinking from the font.

He weeps as he relives his last moments again.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu watches the flames engulf the Ancient One - only to watch it continue living it's undeath. He raises his own symbol to attempt to slow the creature.

Turn Undead [1d20] = 18

[OGRE MAGE]

Unable to hit the beast directly in front of him with the oil, the already doomed Xorxen gets another idea.

Since the monster is staying put right where it is, he pours the oil out at its feet instead, hoping to keep the flames roaring up around it.

EDIT:
Oil Attack [1d20] = 16

[Scott308]

Loche

Seeing his friends giving everything, in a desperate fight for their lives, the Pict can sit idly by no longer. Muttering as he moves forward to engage the Pharaoh, Ah, bugger it! A' body's gotta die sometime. At least ah will gang doon figjting.

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead: [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10; Damage: [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 1+1 = 2
Does not include the extra +1 vs undead.

[ChubbyPixie]

Shocked that his mighty blow had no effect, a feeling of despair threatening to overtake him, Kiri backs up ten feet and gesticulates, thrusting his palms forward to unleash the magical missile he had planned to use initially, before being forced to fight back the supernatural fear.
Magic Missile (at Level 2 Strength): [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin braves the flames and attacks the foul mummy again.

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 3+1 = 4; lg - [1d12+1] = 7+1 = 8

The smokes from the oil gets in his eyes, throwing off his swing.

Come on! This dice roller is literally killing me!