Chapter 15: Empire Under the Earth

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin nods at Loche's suggestion. He doesn't say anything, so as not to spoil the Pict's attempt to hear the noise of the foul creatures.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako watches as Xorxen examines the sack.

[Inferno]

Giant Ant Colony, Beneath the Desecrated Temple of Osorus, The Underground City
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. Dawn?, 21st day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In a gigantic ant colony deep beneath the earth, the would-be rescuers of Tjoruy stop before a fork in the circular tunnel.

Xorzen investigates an empty sack on the ground. But before he can grasp it, it flies up of its own volition and sails flapping into Kiri's backpack which then buckles itself shut!

Loche and Zahra advance to listen at the fork. The amazon's torchlight pushes the darkness back, revealing more of the tunnel that continues north. That way is silent.

Her flaming brand also exposes the southern branch that seemingly opens into a chamber. From that direction both scouts hear the soft crunch of rocks and pebbles underfoot, and the low groan of what could only be a man!



Actions?!



Map:

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





PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 12/14, Spells: 4/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 23/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 17/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 7/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 22/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Light Spell
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 15/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/21, 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 (Garrin, Kiri, Loche, Mako and Xorzen have breathed of the mists): 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."
  Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 70 rounds
  Light (Mako): Duration: 22 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)

[Scott308]

Loche

The Pict gestures toward the southern branch as he tries to maintain a whisper. This wey! Soonds lik' a body doon this tunnel. Na noises fae th' ither direction.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Freaked out by the sudden movement of the mysterious sack, Mako swats at Kiri backpack with this quarterstaff.
Did Kiri see it go into his backpack?

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra nods. I think I might hear it, also. Are we ready?

She glances back at the rest of the group. When they seem ready, she'll head down the tunnel toward the sounds.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu follows

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The barbarian casts a suspicious eye up the northern tunnel. He stands guard at the fork as Garrin and Zahra move south to investigate the moaning, watchful also for more warrior ants which may be pursuing them.

[Scott308]

Loche

The Pict stands ready to advance, waiting for the warriors to go first. Looking back at the others, he's a bit puzzled by the odd behavior. Whit th' bugger urr ye daein', Mako? Quit pumpin' aroond.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen is first startled, then amused at the empty sack moving of its own accord. He folds his hands together and bows low to the eastern giant, commenting softly. "Grandfather."

He will follow the warriors once his place opens up in the order.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Thank you, grandfather," whispers Kiri before advancing into the southern tunnel, ancient trident and shield in hand, to save their new spirit-touched friend. He knows the ants only protect their lair and strive to live and hope to encounter no more of them, yet he is prepared to skewer a dozen of the freakish insects if he must.

[Inferno]

Giant Ant Colony, Beneath the Desecrated Temple of Osorus, The Underground City
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Eight. Dawn?, 21st day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia



Inside the giant anthill beneath the underground city, Mako sees that Kiri is aware of the mysterious sack. The mountainous spellsword quietly gives thanks to his grandfather's spirit.

Ahead of them, the scouts Loche and Zahra silently, urgently indicate the southern chamber. The invaders of the nest grimly advance to investigate the human sounds emanating from there as Cruloc the barbarian guards their northern flank.

They enter into a large, low cavity whose far wall lies beyond the reach of their fiery torchlight. There, amid massive, neatly organized piles of detritus, gigantic worker ants scurry frantically, ready for the invasion!




But they are not alone! Immense iridescent scarab beetles lumber slowly behind them.




And impossibly, so too do men! (V1, V2)

With hair and skin the color of bleached bones, these ragged, filthy, emaciated old Verulians stagger numb, confused and disoriented.



To the outlanders, these wretched elderly souls have the unmistakable demeanor of slaves! Kiri and Mako have heard of such horrors in nature: insect broods that make chattel of other colonies, and even other species, to work in their nests, toiling in darkness forever!



Actions?!



Map:

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





PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 12/14, Spells: 4/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 23/35
  Garrin Locke: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 17/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 7/14, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 22/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, Light Spell
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 15/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 16/21, 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 (Garrin, Kiri, Loche, Mako and Xorzen have breathed of the mists): 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."
  Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 69 rounds
  Light (Mako): Duration: 21 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)

[Urson]

Zahra
Hold a line here! We'll keep them from surrounding us and fight them one at a time!
Zahra readies her longsword.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen keeps his head on a swivel, checking both passages often, and also in the direction the group is heading.

He cranes his neck, hoping to see over the heads of his friends to spot if they are in more danger or less.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The Cimmerian relights his torch and peers further into the adjoining tunnels.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin resists the urge to charge at the ants. Instead, he follows Zahra's sage advice, and remains at the front of the room, blocking the passage. He keeps his shield ready and sword drawn, waiting for the beasts to attack.

[Scott308]

Loche

As th' battle begins, someone toss a lit torch intae th' room sae ah kin see. A'm aff tae huv a go smoukin alang th' lip o' th' room 'n' see if ah kin fin' tjoruy.

Loche will begin sneaking along the wall, trying to get to the other side of the room where he hopes to find their missing companion.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako keeps his eye on Kiri's backpack.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu holds his position.

[Inferno]

Mako:

Mako keeps his eye on Kiri's backpack.