Chapter 13: Underground City of the Demon God

[SocraticLawyer]

Assuming the rope across is still secure, Garrin crosses to the other side. He immediately makes his way to Amethu, Laying Hands on the dying sorcerer. He offers the healing potion to any who might need it.

[Inferno]

The Vast Subterranean Caverns Beneath the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Six. Early Evening?, 18th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia







In the immense lava-lit chasms beneath the Great Pyramid of Khemsa, the fight became a rout. By spell and by steel, the pale subterranean creatures of Zargoth were driven off, cursing and spiteful. The pilgrims to the underworld don't give chase. Instead, they tend to their many wounded.

Mako is nowhere to be seen! After beguiling the enemy with trickery and illusion, had he fallen to the river of fire below?

Garrin of Argos traverses the rope tied across the gap in the sundered bridge, and comes to Amethu's aid. The son of Atlantis lays his bare hands upon the sorcerer-priest of Uthoth and impossibly, some of his wounds are healed! (+6hp) Amethu awakens into consciousness.

Then Garrin produces the stone jar he was carrying for the group. Etched with hieroglyphs of eternal life, it was among the wondrous Treasure of Xuthalhotep. He opens its stopper and gently administers one dose of the miraculous Elixir of Health to Loche's cracked lips and the Pict awakens! (+4hp)


Actions?!



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

One dose of potion of extra healing, for Loche: [1d8] = 4

PC Status:

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

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: Xorzen. -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil. Duration: 9 rounds.
  Invisibility (Mako): Target: self

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
The Amazon takes a minute to gather herself, then collects her Black Javelin from the beastman corpse. She checks the bodies of the enemies, looking for valuables. She also collects any straps or belts she finds.
She bundles her armor and gear, tying it together with straps.

Hefting the bundle, she looks at the gap, trying to guage her chances of throwing it across the chasm.

Inferno: how likely is it?

[Scott308]

Loche

Receiving the healing potion, Loche begins to stir slightly. Keeping his eyes closed for the moment, he begins to mumble, Ah, maw, ah dinnae wantae git up yit. Juist a bawherr mair kip, please? After remaining mostly inert for a few more minutes, he slowly turns himself prone, eventually pushing himself to his hands and knees. Groaning as he gingerly probes his head with his fingertips, he can feel his skull knitting itself back together and the flesh healing, as if nothing happened. A've git a headache worse than ony week lang blootert a've ever bin oan! Remind me ne'er tae let something split mah skull open again.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu lies still for a moment, hearing the battle become quiet, before slowly and painfully getting to his feet. He attempts to lend aide to those that defended his time unconscious.

CLW on Xorzen - Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 8

CLW on Kiri - Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 5

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri feels as if they have all cheated death. He was sure this was to be his last battle, ironically so soon after finding the fabled hoard. "That went well, though I regret not securing myself a bat mount," he jokes lamely as he sits his massive frame down to catch his breath. He bows respectfully to Amethu in response to the much needed healing.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen pipes up from behind his mask.

"We were lucky. I should have never been so quick to cross this obvious choke point. After such a long journey to get this far, I forgot why we were down here in the first place. We should expect more attacks like this from the cowardice minions of Zargoth. If I were only hale enough to follow them, I would have."

The monk bows low once his wounds are healed by Amethu, thankful that his friend yet draws breath after the vicious attacks they endured together.

Taking some time to help the others cross the rope, Xorxen procures a better look at the groups surroundings. He lays down on the bridge to get a look over the edge at what is below, trying to see if there are any other surprises waiting for them down below. If nothing is found, he slowly creeps up to where the wizards were, checking to make sure this side of the bridge is safe for the others to cross.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra pauses in her preparation. Don't be too quick to take the blame. We all slipped- and we were very lucky.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin nods. "Indeed, we should have foreseen such an attack. Let us be more vigilant as we continue." When the group is ready to move, Garrin takes a spot at the front.

Anyone want a dose of the healing potion before we take off?

[Urson]

Zahra

Zahra takes her time getting her gear and herself across the gap. Beyond, she puts her armor back on and settles her pack on her back.

Zahra could use a little healing, if there's some to spare.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri would also accept more healing, if there is any available after the critically injured are taken care of.

[OGRE MAGE]

I know there has only been one battle, but there was some travel involved as well.

Are we to the point where we could rest again and heal up that way, in order to save some of the potion?

I don't want to rest, but it might be early evening now, so......I'm just saying.

[ravenn4544]

OOC: Amethu is out of healing spells for now. He has a scroll of cure serious wounds he's saving for a rainy day. Is it raining yet do you think?

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra removes the armor on her torso long enough to wrap a strip torn from her bedroll around her abdomen, binding up her wound. She flexes her back and smiles, then gears up.Not yet- for Zahra, at least.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin looks around at his companions, most of whom are suffering from multiple wounds. "Perhaps we should fortify our position here, and then rest again. What do you think?"

[Inferno]

The Vast Subterranean Caverns Beneath the Great Pyramid
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Six. Early Evening?, 18th day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






In the vast volcanic caverns beneath the earth, Amethu's devout prayers are granted and the sorcerer-priest of Uthoth heals Xorzen and Kiri with holy miracles. (+8hp and +5hp, respectively).

Too wounded to chase the retreating creatures of Zargoth, the explorers of the fantastic subterranean realm regroup and cross the sundered bridge. They cautiously approach the tunnel maw from whence lunged the insidious ambush. Finding the cave defensible, with their rear protected by the river of fire and a view of the worn stone steps descending downward before them, they decide to rest here for the night.

They will regain their strength, but so will their enemies.

The night watches cycle through without incident... in the material world. As ever, the dreams of the outlanders are haunted by the watcher at the threshold, lurking at the murky edges of their subconscious minds.



Zargoth knows who they are, where they are, and what they are planning. Of this, they are certain.

By morning, the astonishing mists of Osorus have healed the majority of them.


Actions? (Please mark off a total of 7 daily rations among you. Casters may choose new spells. Please mark off any new torches you care to light as you continue on into the darkness. Thanks.)





PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 4/14, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, 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: 6(4), HP: 16/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 8/21

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."
  Invisibility (Mako): Target: self

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

With the healing mists ineffective against those of verulian heritage, the cleric pulls Zahra aside to impart ancient prayers of restoration before setting out further along this dangerous road...

CLW on Zahra Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 8

CLW on Amethu Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 1

[ChubbyPixie]

1 day rations subtracted from Kiri's inventory.

Kiri awakens and studies his spells. He looks down, regarding his amulet for a while before rising and readying to move on, shield ready and trident in hand.

[Scott308]

Loche

As he gathers up his gear in preparation to head out, the Pict speaks his mind. We did a jobby jab o' peepin' fur danger yesterday, 'n' 'twas a'maist a disaster. Let's dae a better jab th'day.

1 days worth of rations removed.

[Urson]

Zahra
Thank you and blessings of the Gods, Amethu.
Zahra readies herself for the next leg of the trip, keeping the Black Javelin in hand, and a torch in the other.