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. Morning?, 21st day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Surrounded by the broken, bewildered survivors of the shattered colony, the authors of its total eradication set out in search for Tjoruy.

Kiri proposes the western channel as a starting point. At Zahra's suggestion, Cruloc the barbarian looks for tracks but the swirling, multilayered prints of the teeming swarm baffle the Cimmerian outdoorsman.

With their torchlight parting the stygian gloom before them, they trod single file through the western circular shaft and soon come out into a large hatching chamber!

Immense ant eggs cover the floor.



Littered among them are bones and empty chitinous husks.

Four dispirited, aimless worker ants wander here without purpose. It's clear the pheromones heralding the complete downfall of their society have already reached these gigantic nursemaids. In the stark aftermath of that unimaginable cataclysm, they no longer tend to the colony's future. The next generation of the collective is doomed, like those that spawned it.


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: 7/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl, Lantern
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 10/35, Torch
  Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 8/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 14/14, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl, Torch
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 10/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 6/16, Candle
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 4/21, 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: 46 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

It is almost sad, these creatures losing their drive to live. If I didn't think it would draw a new attack, I would be tempted to put them out of their misery.

Zahra looks among the eggs, double-checking that the mad priest is not here. She doesn't touch any of the eggs.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen remains silent in this chamber of lifeless death, walking over towards the northern passage with his candle to investigate that route.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin explores the northern passage with the group when everyone is ready.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc stood waiting at the tunnel mouth, motionless for a time, like some martial statue, mail shirt gleaming dully in the torchlight and his Northern longsword naked in his hand.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu will also visually examine the eggs - not touching them in fear of triggering the ants.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako follows behind Xorxen to the north passage.

[Scott308]

Loche

Satisfied Tjoruy is not in here, the Pict has no interest in the eggs. He follows along to the northern tunnel.

[ChubbyPixie]

After taking in the pathetic scene, Kiri will follow, directing Grandfather to help light the way north.

[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. Morning?, 21st day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the giant ant nursery, among the bereft, purposeless worker insects, Zahra laments the fate of the doomed colony. Perhaps she recognizes a grim kinship between her destroyed culture and the fallen empire of the ants.

The amazon and scholarly Amethu examine the gigantic ant eggs without touching them. Eerily, the arthropod nurses that moments ago would have given their lives to protect this precious treasure do nothing to stop them now.

Finding no sign of life among the immature spawn, the adventurers follow the circular ant tunnel north. In the shaft they are suddenly attacked by the stench of death. The round channel opens onto a second hatching chamber. Like the first, the ground here is covered with immense ant eggs. But here, the worker ants that cared for them must have already abandoned their posts. Yet the eggs are not alone.

Strewn among bones and skulls, human corpses are scattered across the ground: masked albino Verulians of the underground city, degenerate beast men of Zargoth, and in the furthest corner, what appears to be the bloody, broken form of Tjoruy!





Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. T = Hovering torch. 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: 7/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl, Lantern
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 10/35, Torch
  Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 8/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 14/14, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl, Torch
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 10/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 6/16, Candle
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 4/21, 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: 44 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)

[ravenn4544]

Amethu, his curing powers depleted, will lend what aid he can to the downed man.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra kneels beside Tjoury, quickly checking to see if he's alive. If so, she'll do what she can to bind and bandage his wounds.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen bows his head at the sight of the dead laid around this room, wondering how many of them would have suffered such a fate had things gone a bit differently in here.

He walks sundial-wise, checking around the outer walls of the chamber, looking for anything out of the ordinary, before eventually ending his search at the tunnel heading east.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Cruloc approaches, places a calloused hand on Zahra's armoured shoulder, and bids her withdraw. Kneeling beside the prostrate Verulian, he begins dressing the filthy cleric's wounds.

"Come now, crazy man. You'd best awaken, or I’ll have your guts for bowstrings! Nothing goes to waste down here!"

[Scott308]

Loche

Dammit! We're tae late. He wis a doolally auldjin, bit he didnae deserve this. He'd aye be alive if he hadn't helped us. Angered that they had let poor Tjoruy down, the Pict kicks a skull, sending it flying.

[ChubbyPixie]

“Is he still alive?” says Kiri hurrying to Tjoroy’s side while digging through his pack. He kneels down next to Cruloc and produces one of his remaining inscribed vials with the orison to Osorus, bringer of light and warmth. “Perhaps this will help,” he says.

If the cleric still breathes, he will administer a dose.

[SocraticLawyer]

Knowing there is nothing he can do to help revive Tjoruy, Garrin searches the room instead. He is careful not to harm any ant eggs.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Standing over the body of Tjoruy he asks quietly, "how many does that make? I've lost count."

[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. Morning?, 21st day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






In a second, abandoned hatching chamber of the giant ant colony, half the adventurers rush to the aid of their fallen comrade.

Suddenly, the dead plunge up!



The bodies of albino beast men and masked Verulians, strewn across this field of gigantic ant eggs, spring to life with murderous intent, urgently attacking the explorers with their bare hands!

Stunned and surprised, the adventurers are besieged by the shocking onslaught of brutal primordial strength! (-5hp, -2hp, -6hp and -9hp to Cruloc, Kiri, Amethu and Zahra respectively!)

Already wounded, Zahra the amazon falls beneath the savage attack!



Alone among the 'corpses,' Tjoruy does not move.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

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

Map:



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Party Surprised? (1-2): [1d6] = 2 Yes.
B1-4 charge Cruloc, Kiri, Amethu and Zahra: [1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21, [1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18, [1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18, [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13 All are hit.
Damage to Cruloc, Kiri, Amethu and Zahra: [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5, [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2, [1d8+1] = 5+1 = 6, [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9
Zahra's torch goes out? (1): [1d2] = 1 Yes.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 1/14, Spells: 2/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl, Lantern
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 5/35, Torch
  Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 8/26, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/14, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl, Torch
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 10/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 10/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 6/16, Candle
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: -5/21

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: 43 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)

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako drags Zahra's body back to his position and applies pressure to her open wounds to stop the bleeding.