Chapter 16: Beneath the Starless Sky

[Inferno]

The Underground City, Beneath the Great Pyramid of Xuthalhotep
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Ten. Morning?, 23rd day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






Their ambush swift and merciless, the adventurers charge the dock and inadvertently render themselves deaf!

Zahra ruthlessly slits both beastmen's throats. Kiri Khutan recovers an arrow from a crimson eye socket. Garrin searches the powerful, thickly muscled corpses and finds a ring of iron keys and a few timeworn silver coins minted millennia ago in long lost Verulia. They bear the proud visage of Xuthalhotep, pharaoh of pharaohs.

Xorzen examines the dinghy washed up beneath the dilapidated pier. The desert-born pyramid dweller had never seen a boat before today. (Please roll an Ability check vs Int on 1d20, to appraise it)

Cruloc wheels with fury at being deprived a kill and he sees from the corner of his eye, a door flies open from the nearest decaying building and, in complete silence, out pours a rampaging pack of beastmen with all the wanton savagery of Man's dark, distant past!




Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet.


Map:



Behind the DM Screen:

This post covers 2 rounds of actions. So Kiri didn't get to recover the second arrow yet, Garrin didn't lead the PCs down the pier yet, etc.
Then the beastman ambush is sprung.
Party Surprised? (1-2): [1d6] = 3 No.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 11/14, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 42/45
  Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 26/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 25/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 12/12, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/31, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 16/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 26/29

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."
  Invisibility (Mako): Target: self
  Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 38 rounds
  Bless (Tjoruy): Target: the adventurers. Duration: 4 rounds.
  Silence, 15' Radius (Amethu): Duration: 4 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 runs towards the ship.

[Scott308]

Loche

The Pict follows Mako's lead. Get to da chopper ship!

[ChubbyPixie]

Glancing left and seeing an opportunity to perhaps bottleneck the beastmen in the boarding of the ship, Kiri will also turn and run, stowing his bow as he does so and careful to stay in the back of the group to protect the others.

"Grandfather! Try to pry loose the other arrow, then follow me, sir," he cries as he begins running, but no sound is heard. He hopes Grandfather can read lips.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

The barbarian is no fool. Sensing that his companions are making for the ship, he spins and sprints after them.

"Crom's dark brood!"

[OGRE MAGE]

With no contingency planned for such an ambush, Xorxen ignores the strangely shaped smaller version of this thing the others keep calling a ship and runs away from the beastmen behind his fleeing friends.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu follows - leaving the body ensorcelled with silence behind.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra glances around, seeing the others heading for the ship. She follows, dropping back to a trailing position so she can help stop the beastmen if they get close enough to attack.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin also drops to a trailing position, after everyone else has gotten in front of him and Zahra. If the beastmen attack, he will be ready.

[Inferno]

The Underground City, Beneath the Great Pyramid of Xuthalhotep
Lost City of Khemsa, Forgotten Kingdom of Verulia, Great Eastern Desert, the World of Hyboria
Day Ten. Morning?, 23rd day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





In the derelict harbor of the black lake, the explorers catch their breath and gaze out at the cyclopean underground city. At their feet lies the grisly harvest of their ambush.

Then all of a sudden, the tables turn! A trap is sprung on them! The degenerate beastmen of Zargoth lunge from hiding!



Mercifully, in the eerie sorcerous silence, the explorers cannot hear the bloodcurdling animal roars of the savage onslaught!

Brutal clubs, spears and stone axes sow havoc among their ranks, hacking and bludgeoning Cruloc and Garrin without mercy! (8hp and 6hp damage respectively)



The adventurers unexpectedly break for the ship and Tjoruy and Loche are ruthlessly stabbed in the back with flint-headed spears! (4hp and 2hp damage respectively)

The party survives the assault and suddenly, the hammering of their feet on the wooden dock explodes in their ears as sound returns! The explorers plunge headlong down the dilapidated pier, expecting a rotten board to snap beneath their feet at any moment! Impossibly, a crimson tipped arrow returns itself to Kiri's quiver!

They scramble aboard the ship of lost souls and pull the gangplank up behind them!



The forlorn, decaying vessel lists hard to port beneath their weight as they quickly survey the ancient deck! The sails are half furled. A wind is on the lake. Light burns below decks. The anchor is heaved but two thick ropes moor the ship, stern and bow. The decrepit craft must be seaworthy, all appearances to the contrary.

On the dock, snarling with bared fangs, their swarming foes advance!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet.

Underground City Map:



Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 2, Monsters: [1d6] = 3 Monsters win.
B8, B5 charge Tjoruy and Loche with spears: [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8, [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4, damage: [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5, [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3 Both miss.
B3, B4 charge Zahra and Cruloc with axes: [1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10, [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17, damage: [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8, [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8 Cruloc hit for 8hp damage.
B6 charges Garrin with club: [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17, damage: [2d4+1] = 5+1 = 6 Garrin hit for 6hp damage.

PCs flee the melee.
B8, B5 opportunity attacks on Tjoruy and Loche with spears: [1d20] = 12, [1d20] = 13, damage: [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4, [1d6+1] = 1+1 = 2 Tjoruy and Loche are both hit, for 4hp damage and 2hp damage respectively.
B3, B4 opportunity attacks on Zahra and Cruloc with axes: [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 2, damage: [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9, [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2 Both miss.
B6 opportunity attack on Garrin with club: [1d20] = 11, damage: [2d4+1] = 6+1 = 7 Misses.

PC Status:

• Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 11/14, Spells: 7/7 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl
  Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 34/45
  Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 23/25
  Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 12/12, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
  Tjoruy: Verulian Osoran Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 15/31, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
  Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 6(4), HP: 16/16
  Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 26/29

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."
  Invisibility (Mako): Target: self
  Unseen Servant (Kiri): Duration: 37 rounds
  Bless (Tjoruy): Target: the adventurers. Duration: 3 rounds.
  Silence, 15' Radius (Amethu): Duration: 3 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)

[AleBelly]

"Yes, wise brethen!" cries Tjoruy, the cracks in his voice betraying fear. "How was I blinded to this truth until now! Those seeking annihilation deserve to receive it from the Dark One himself!"

The tattered cleric cuts a pitiful figure...he reeks of mushrooms and vomit. It is a blessing to his "brethren" that he visage is obscured by a mask. His trembling hands pulls dried chunks of mushroom caps, and he presses them to his wounds. As if by instinct, he whispers his words so the Dark One doesn't hear. "Oh Osorus, I beg you heal my wounds, so I may shepherd my brethren to their very end!"

Edited to include CLW roll

Cure light wounds [1d8] = 3

[Scott308]

Loche

Cut th' ropes! We cannae lea wi' th' ropes connecting us tae th' dock! The Pict exhorts his companions to take action -as he himself does! He begins frantically sawing at one of the ropes with his dagger.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

UNNGGHH!

The beastman's axe cuts deep, and it is only his armour which saves Cruloc's back from being ripped to crimson shreds!

The sword-wielding savage clambers aboard the battered vessel and, with a mighty downward chop, severs one of the ropes holding it to the creaking pier.

"Come aboard!" he roars at the slavering throng. "And I'll lay you open from hip to clavicle!"

[ChubbyPixie]

Removing his two-handed sword and swinging downwards in one fluid motion, Kiri chops at the other mooring rope, mere inches from where Loche frantically saws with his dagger. He glances apologetically at the Pict and bows slightly, then prepares for the inevitable onslaught from the dock.

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Mako moves to the ship's wheel and attempts to turn the ship so its sails catch the wind.

Int 16 [3d6] = 11

[ravenn4544]

Amethu quickly scans the group for the criticality of their wounds and sees that no one is overwhelmingly injured by the brutal assault. Healing can wait. He moves to the front of the ship and casts his lantern's light ahead - scanning for obstacles that the fragile ship should avoid.

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin helps unfurl the sails and get the ship out to sea.

Save vs Intelligence (9): [1d20] = 20
Yikes, or not.

We should search below decks. We may not be alone on this vessel. The paladin heads below, sword drawn.

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra rushes to the front of the boat, where the beastmen are likely to come aboard. She's a bit wild-eyed, and doesn't move with her usual flowing grace.

By the Gods... it moves underfoot. she mutters.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen moves quickly across the deck of this strange vessel, watching any doors or grates in the floor for any surprises that might pop out of them.

Though the monk of Osorus has never been on a ship before, he is a quick learner. He watches the others messing with the sails, aiding them in any way that he can.

If the rigging needs to be climbed for the sails to be unfurled, he quickly does so.

[Inferno]

Hi everyone,
Including some rules and rulings here on Sailing, so they don't get overlooked in the OOC Thread or the 'Behind the DM Screen' section.

Ability Checks for Sailing are for significant actions like getting the ship out of dock, setting a course, docking the ship, etc.

Unfurling sails won't require a roll (nor cutting mooring lines), so Garrin (and Xorzen) can succeed in that without an Ability Check. Garrin's action of unfurling the sails takes one round so he doesn't go below decks this round.

Mako's successful Ability Check will cover the entire process of steering the ship out of dock. He needn't roll for a check again until he wants to initiate a new significant action. He will need to remain near the wheel though.

Ability Checks are on 1d20. Mako's 3d6 roll will stand because I didn't specify that.

Thanks!