Chapter 15: Empire Under the Earth

[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






At the invaders' intrusion, more horrific giant ants and their wretched thralls swarm forth from the shadows!

Not wanting to be surrounded, the canny warriors hold their position and await the crawling doom! All except Loche, who creeps along the wall but soon realizes he'll be exposed if he goes any further!

The worker ants and the giant scarab beetles intertwine antennae as masters transmit orders to their slaves.

Likewise, the forlorn, skeletal husks of men use their hands and arms to feel the writhing antennae of their lords and masters. The broken Verulian albinos gibber softly and nod gravely at their rulers' silent instructions. Then suddenly, with human bones held as bludgeons and idiot howls upon their lips, they join the gigantic scarabs in a mad rush at the raiders of the nest!



"Hold the line here!" cries the catlike Zahra, steeling her resolve as the slaves of the giant ants charge!

To the north, Cruloc the barbarian gets a torch alight, suddenly revealing an enormous soldier ant barreling down upon him from the northern shaft!



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: 68 rounds
  Light (Mako): Duration: 20 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 attacks with his dagger when a foe (V1) gets near.

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead (20): [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10; Damage: [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 2+1 = 3

[ravenn4544]

Amethu has an oil flask he can offer, but won't throw it this far back in the formation. He offers to pass it up to the front line to use to their advantage.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc jabs the end of his spear into the soft earth of the tunnel, points its gleaming head at the onrushing ant, and lets it impale itself deeply upon it.

"You’ll eat this before you eat us!"

Braced spear against charging warrior ant [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22
Double damage [1d8x2] = 7x2 = 14+3

Ooc: I suppose I inputted the dice macro imperfectly. As you can see, the total damage is 14+3 for a total of 17 - that is, if a STR bonus is applicable to a braced weapon attack. (?)

[Urson]

Zahra
The warrior-woman screams a challenge, an incoherent snarl of fury as the enemy charges.

When (V2) is close enough, she attacks.
att [1d20+4] = 19+4 = 23
Sword vs sm, med [1d8+5] = 7+5 = 12

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin attacks the first foe to reach him. If it is one of the human thralls, he uses the flat of his blade in an attempt to subdue, instead of kill.

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

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen helps out against the ant attacking Cruloc, if at all necessary.

Attack w/ +2 Javelin of Men-khetu [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16 Dam [1d6+3] = 1+3 = 4

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako makes ready to attack Kiri backpack if it makes any odd movements.

[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




Deep underground, the insensate, despondent human slaves of the nest are roused from their dazed stupor and herded into battle by their alien, insect masters!

The adventurers slaughter them without mercy.



Loche the Pict plunges his jeweled dagger into the hollow breast of an infirm Verulian slave (V1). Screaming in battle fury, Zahra the amazon decapitates another elderly ghost-like captive of the swarm (V2)!

Only Garrin tries to show mercy but his foe (V3) is impaled by Kiri's trident and struck down before the paladin can administer any form of compassion to these imprisoned victims.

Outside the bloodsoaked chamber, Mako vigilantly watches Kiri's backpack as Amethu readies a flask of oil.

Facing into the northern tunnel, Cruloc and Xorzen set their weapons against the charge of a frightful gigantic soldier ant that barrels toward them!



The enormous arthropod warrior plunges to its death, impaled on spear and javelin, colossal legs writhing and flailing in its shuddering deaththroes!

Zahra and Cruloc had dropped their torches to leap into the fray! Both fiery brands go out, plunging much of the area into pitch darkness! Only's Mako's incantation barely illuminates the bloody carnage in the giant ant hill!



Actions?!



Map:

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


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 3, Monsters: [1d6] = 4 Monsters win.
V1, V2, V3 charge Loche, Zahra and Garrin: [1d20+2] = 10+2 = 12, [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9, [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9 All miss.
Soldier Ant charges Cruloc (1) or Xorzen (2)? [1d2] = 2. Attack: [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8, damage: [2d4] = 5 Misses Xorzen.
Zahra and Cruloc's torches go out when dropped? (50%): [1d100] = 26, [1d100] = 43 Both go out.
Kiri attacks with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+4] = 10+4 = 14, Damage: [1d6+8] = 3+8 = 11 Hits for 11 damage.

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

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: 67 rounds
  Light (Mako): Duration: 19 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
Zahra tries to look in all directions at once, worried about being attacked from the darkness.

A torch! Somebody get a torch burning! And hold the line!

[ravenn4544]

Amethu indicates that he doesn't have a torch, but a lantern that may be of better use. He'll first stow the oil flask safely before lighting the lantern.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

As soon as Amethu gets his lantern-lit, Mako will move closer to the front lines (Southeast) to give them light.

[Scott308]

Loche

The Pict readies his dagger in case an ant gets close.

Jeweled Dagger +1/ +2 vs. Undead (20): [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17; Damage: [1d4+1] = 1+1 = 2; Damage, Large: [1d3+1] = 1+1 = 2
How 'bout those damage rolls!

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The monstrosity before Cruloc, however dead it may be, is a thing to affright his superstitious soul.

"More light! More light so that we may espy these tunnel-dwelling devils ere they draw nigh!"

There is a snarl on his lips, born of equal parts of fear and wrath, as he relights his fallen torch. He jabs its handle through a crack in the broken exoskeleton of the slain warrior ant so that his hands are free to deal more ruin.

"There! Now that it has stopped twitching, it has found purpose in death as a candle holder!"

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin says a quick prayer to Mitra for the fallen human thralls.

He keeps his sword and shield ready, holding his post for now.

[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



Darkness smothers the invaders' visibility beyond a few scant feet! They urgently work to bring more light to bear when suddenly, from out of the shadows lunge more gigantic insects!



At the chamber mouth, mammoth scarab beetles, enslaved by the ant colony, are herded into battle by a swarm of ruthlessly efficient worker ants!

The shimmering iridescent leviathans bore through the flesh and bone of Loche and Zahra! (7hp damage and 5hp damage respectively)

Loche counterstrikes with his dagger, barely creasing a glimmering impregnable shell!

While at the northern tunnel, a frightful, gigantic soldier ant lunges from the darkness and bites Cruloc's sword arm with crushing mandibles! (2hp damage)



Its long horrific stinger impales the barbarian, filling his veins with a poison that burns like the fires of Hell! (Another 2hp damage. Please Save vs Poison or take another 5hp damage!)

With alarm, the Cimmerian sees that beyond it crawls another six-legged harbinger of doom!



Actions?!



Map:

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


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Giant Scarab Beetles charge Loche and Garrin: [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11, [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8, damage: [2d6] = 7, [2d6] = 10 Loche is hit for 7hp damage.
Giant Scarab Beetle charges Zahra? (1) or Kiri? (2): [1d2] = 1. Attack: [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22, damage: [2d6] = 5 Hits Zahra for 5hp damage.
Giant Soldier Ant attacks Cruloc (1) or Xorzen (2)? [1d2] = 1 Ant attacks Cruloc.
Giant Soldier Ant bites Cruloc: [1d20] = 20, damage: [2d4] = 2 Hits Cruloc for 2hp.
If Giant Soldier Ant succeeds with mandible bite, it may also try to sting:
Giant Ant stings Cruloc: [1d20] = 17, damage: [1d4] = 2 or [3d4] = 7 Hits.

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, Lantern
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/35, Torch near ground
  Garrin: 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: 15/25
  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: 11/21

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 (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: 66 rounds
  Light (Mako): Duration: 18 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)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The light from the torch reveals a scene to blast a man’s eternal soul! More ravenous underdwellers!

Save versus Poison [1d20+4] = 20+4 = 24

"Pah! They serve stronger poison in the taverns of Belverus!"

The savage from the frozen North slashes at the foremost legs of the implacable creature, striking true!
Strike w/longsword [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19
damage [1d12+3] = 3+3 = 6

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin attacks the beetle before him...

To Hit with +1 Long Sword: [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10; Damage: sm - [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7; lg - [1d12+1] = 2+1 = 3

..again to no avail.

The paladin wonders whether Mitra has abandoned him and his quest.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra snarls her cat-like battle cry and attacks:
att [1d20+4] = 10+4 = 14
sword vs lg [1d12+3] = 6+3 = 9

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri lashes out with his enchanted trident at the lumbering insect in front of him, aiming for the intersection between its thick, chitinous plates:

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+4] = 3+4 = 7 Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8] = 5+8 = 13, vs. Lg: [3d4+7] = 10+7 = 17

The darkness confounds him.

"Grandfather! Light a torch and bear it so we may see!" he says to the air.