Chapter 18: Kingdom Come

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Save vs. spells (16 req.) [1d20] = 4

His mind races. What gods-forsaken dimension is this? The probing, penetrating eyes of Zargoth again bore into his soul in their lidless malice! Most direful of all, Kiri Khutan has returned! These revelations claw at his threadbare sanity and threaten to shatter his psyche! His gaze leaps from eye to eye to eye, and Cruloc the Cimmerian is transfixed!

[Urson]

Zahra
save vs. spells: 17 attribute check [1d20] = 3
Zahra's eyes fill with the strange non-color of the power flowing from the pit. Her weapon hangs at her side, forgotten. She takes one slow, stumbling step forward- her mind as blank as her face.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xorxen cant comprehend what has just happened. He stands unmoving as the oddity all around envelops his body.

Save vs. Spell (13) [1d20] = 4

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin shakes off the mind-bending assault. He charges at the emerging shape and attacks it, hoping to drive it back whence it came.

Save vs spell (14) [1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21

To hit with +2 Longsword [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17; damage sm [1d8+2] = 3+2 = 5; damage l [1d12+2] = 9+2 = 11

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

Save vs Spell 12 [1d20] = 8

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri immediately recoils from the mind-bending vision and focuses on practical matters as a means of retaining his sanity.

Save vs. Spells (12): [1d20] = 17

He scans to pick out a path amongst the islands, then begins running away from the party!

Kiris Path.jpg (241.57 KiB) Viewed 973 times

Kiri's intention is to leap from island to island, Mario Style, until he's close enough to launch an assault directly at the central eye. LMK what kind of rolls to make (if this is even possible). The gaps only look to be about 10 feet wide... how hard can it be?

[Inferno]

Beyond the Island of Death, 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. Midday, 23rd day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia






Zargoth the demon god has come. A vast writhing pandemonium, coated in eyes within eyes, who speaks in the voice of a thousand screams.

It is too much for their minds to take in. Their sanity struggles to survive, and renders for their frail, mortal perception something they can hope to understand. Thus, as in their nightmares, each sees Zargoth differently, or perhaps each can only glimpse one small aspect of its incomprehensible existence.

It staggers their reason; drives men mad. Mako stands stricken, overwhelmed. Cruloc, Xorzen and Zahra panic, slashing their weapons blindly, almost gravely wounding themselves!

The actions of the sane are hard to distinguish from those of the deranged. Kiri plunges precipitously across the infinite abysses, island to island, racing toward the indescribable god!

Loche darts his pale eyes all around, searching in vain for the blasphemous priesthood and their faceless servitors. There are none to be found, except the two dead monstrosities (F4, F5) the adventurers had thrown into the Zargoth Pit in the temple courtyard that was now worlds away.

At inhuman speeds, Loche lunges to join Amethu and Garrin in attacking the nearest of the malevolent thing's countless tentacles from atop their cosmic jetsam! Staff and blades strike hard, Garrin's most of all, leaving a spraying stump where an eye had just been!



The god can bleed! And its gore is strangely luminous.

The daemonic interdimensional entity shrieks and rends their flesh with razor-sharp tentacles! (2, 6, 3, 7, 3 and 4hp damage to Cruloc, Kiri, Loche, Mako, Xorzen and Zahra respectively)



And then he devours their souls. (Everyone, lose 1000xp.
Please update your sheets. I believe Amethu and Xorzen each lose 1 level, please roll 1d4 and subtract from permanent hit points.)

The two faceless corpses (F4, F5) wither away to blackened husks!



Zargoth's inconceivable presence absorbs life itself!


Actions?! (Cruloc, Mako, Xorzen, Zahra, please Save vs Spells in order to act this round. Wisdom modifiers count. Good luck.)


Map:

One square = 5 feet. Black is the void. Grey are islands.

Map Detail:



Behind the DM Screen:

No initiative. Zargoth acts last in a round.
Madness: Cruloc, Mako, Xorzen, Zahra: [1d100] = 70, [1d100] = 30, [1d100] = 69, [1d100] = 92
Xorzen attacks Cruloc: [1d20+2] = 1+2 = 3, Dam: [1d6+3] = 4+3 = 7 Misses.
Cruloc attacks Zahra: [1d20+2] = 1+2 = 3, damage: [1d8+3] = 1+3 = 4 Misses.
Zahra attacks Zargoth: [1d20+4] = 4+4 = 8, damage: [1d6+3] = 4+3 = 7 Misses.
Kiri: Attribute Check for Dex: [1d20] = 12 Saves!
Zargoth attacks Amethu, Cruloc, Garrin, Kiri: [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 4, [1d20] = 12 Hits Cruloc and Kiri.
Zargoth attacks Loche, Mako, Xorzen, Zahra: [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 14, [1d20] = 20, [1d20] = 14 Hits them all.
Damage to Cruloc and Kiri: [1d8] = 2, [1d8] = 6
Damage to Loche, Mako, Xorzen, Zahra: [1d8] = 3, [1d8] = 7, [1d8] = 3, [1d8] = 4

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 0/7 1st lvl, 1/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 35/45
Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/19, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
Loche: Pict Savage Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 28/32
Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 5/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 7/16
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 20/29, Light spell on javelin

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."
Slow Poison (Amethu): Target: Cruloc. Duration: 114 rounds.
Light (Mako): Target: Zahra's javelin. Duration: 12 rounds.
Potion of Speed (Loche): Duration: 17 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)

[ChubbyPixie]

"Come back to the land of reason! This is what we came for, friends! Use the weapons of legend to strike him down!" shouts Kiri.

He charges directly for the central eye, leaps off the final ledge and attempts to plunge his trident in and hang on.

Attack with Trident +1, Claw of Chobek (THAC0:19): To Hit: [1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13 (+ something for charging) Damage vs. s/m: [1d6+8] = 6+8 = 14, vs. Lg: [3d4+7] = 10+7 = 17

I just want to accomplish something before I lose all my levels and turn into a husk. Where's the fingers crossed emoji?

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

Save vs. spells (16 req.) [1d20] = 14

Cruloc is frozen. The surrounding blood, battle, and chaos have no effect on the stupor which afflicts him.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu's mind is warped and emptied. His body and soul raped of power and ability! His staff of power forged by the ancients is useless in his hands...

[1d4] = 3
Save vs Spells (12) [1d20+5] = 16+5 = 21
To Hit (THACO 20): [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6

[OGRE MAGE]

Save vs. Spell (13) [1d20] = 6

Hit Die [1d4] = 4

Xorxen continues to suffer through his normal run of luck, pinching his eyes shut tight in order to hide from all the inhumanity.

[Urson]

Zahra 1000 xp? OUCH!
Zahra continues to flail and shriek, lost in a horror of her own making.
Save vs Spells: 17 attribute check [1d20] = 10

[Bluetongue]

Loche

Quick as a flash but not as accurate, the savage cut and thrusts among the tentacles

Loche longsword attack [1d20+1] = 3+1 = 4 damage [1d12+1] = 4+1 = 5 [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14 damage [1d12+1] = 8+1 = 9

[DadsAngry]

Save vs Spell 12 [1d20] = 8

[SocraticLawyer]

Garrin attacks another of the tentacles, unsure of what is happening. As he hacks the foul thing, he prays to Mitra for aid and inspiration.

To hit with +2 Longsword [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22; damage sm [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3; damage l [1d12+2] = 7+2 = 9

[Inferno]

Beyond the Island of Death, 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. Midday, 23rd day of the month of Yuluk, 1279th year of the Age of Aquilonia





Beyond comprehension, the impossible cataclysm of tentacles, eyes and mouths overwhelms Cruloc, Mako, Xorzen and Zahra!

Shaken, overcome, they stand lost in awe and terror; their minds besieged, their sanity hanging on by a thread.



Amethu's staff is knocked aside by a curling elephantine tentacle!

But Garrin and Loche shear more alien limbs asunder, their sword hilts slippery with the lambent blood of the demon god!

Then, like a man seized by madness and terror, Kiri charges forward, trident in hand, driving toward the hideous enormity of Zargoth's great, omniscient eye!



Fatal and reckless, the man-mountain of the East lunges out and impales the bulging oculus in a gleam of steel and a vomit of blood! A catastrophic wound struck, Kiri still grips his enchanted weapon that pierces the mad god's eye! (Kiri, roll an Ability Check vs Strength on 1d20 to hang on and act!)

The eldritch, multi-dimensional monstrosity shrieks and laughs and screams and thrashes its immense spiked tentacles! The brutal onslaught is ruinous! (6, 7, 4, 7, 5, 5, 6 and 2hp damage to Amethu, Cruloc, Garrin, Kiri, Loche, Mako, Xorzen and Zahra respectively)

Mako is beaten unconscious! A tentacle wraps around Zahra's waist, crushing her and lifting her high into the air!

Cruelly, the merciful madness that shields Cruloc, Xorxen and Zahra abates and they are suddenly thrust into nightmarish reality!

And then the Elder God of death and horror feasts again upon their life force! (Aaaah! Everyone, lose another 1000xp.
Please update your sheets. I believe Kiri, Loche and Mako each lose 1 level. Please roll 1d10, 1d6 and 1d4 respectively to subtract from permanent hit points. Dads, I'll rule that Mako's lost spells will be ones he already cast today.)


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet. Black is the void. Grey are islands.


Behind the DM Screen:

No initiative. Zargoth acts last in a round.
Madness: Cruloc, Mako, Xorzen, Zahra: [1d100] = 2, [1d100] = 60, [1d100] = 40, [1d100] = 37
Kiri's Attribute Check vs Dex enables him to leap across the islands to Zargoth.
Kiri's trident remains in place? (1-3): [1d6] = 2 Yes.
Zargoth attacks Amethu, Cruloc, Garrin, Kiri: [1d20] = 16, [1d20] = 19, [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 16 All hit.
Zargoth attacks Loche, Mako, Xorzen, Zahra: [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 12, [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 20 All hit. On a natural 20, a tentacle seizes a target and lifts them up!
Damage to Amethu, Cruloc, Garrin, Kiri: [1d8] = 6, [1d8] = 7, [1d8] = 4, [1d8] = 7
Damage to Loche, Mako, Xorzen, Zahra: [1d8] = 5, [1d8] = 5, [1d8] = 6, [1d8] = 2

PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/12, Spells: 0/7 1st lvl, 1/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 28/45
Garrin: Argosian Atlantean Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 3(1), HP: 10/26, Laying Hands: 1/1
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 2/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 3/19, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
Loche: Pict Savage Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 23/32
Mako: Khitan Easterner Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 7(5), HP: 0/12, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Xorzen: Verulian Osoran Monk 3: Move: 17", AC: 7, HP: 2/12
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 18/29, Light spell on javelin

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."
Slow Poison (Amethu): Target: Cruloc. Duration: 113 rounds.
Light (Mako): Target: Zahra's javelin. Duration: 11 rounds.
Potion of Speed (Loche): Duration: 16 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)

[Bluetongue]

Loche

Does his best impression of a flailing octopus, arms and legs a whirl of motion, going nowhere, hitting nothing.

Loche longsword attack [1d20+1] = 4+1 = 5 damage [1d12+1] = 9+1 = 10 [1d20+1] = 1+1 = 2 damage [1d12+1] = 4+1 = 5

Loche HP decrease for level loss [1d6] = 5

[DadsAngry]

Mako:

hit point loss [1d4] = 1

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra stands on a vast, barren plain- emptiness stretching to a distant horizon in all directions. The light glares, a strange color she cannot name. Her shrieks of terror die without echoing, sounding flat and muffled. Above, a huge eye stares down like a Sun, making her feel tiny and exposed. She shudders, feeling her sanity slipping.
As suddenly as the vision came, it is gone. Zahra finds herself gripped in a scaly, hard muscled coil that holds her in the air. She blinks, realizing that, whatever else, she still has her blade.
She twists in the grip of the tentacle, slashing at it.
att [1d20+4] = 11+4 = 15 sword vs lg [1d12+3] = 7+3 = 10
Fear morphs into fury as she is waved in the air, and she begins her peculiar yowling battlecry.

[OGRE MAGE]

With his final actions in this life, Xorxen eventually snaps out of his madness at the sight of the fake god, though he knows not how.

Nearly dead, and unwilling to risk another second of time to fate, he throws his magical artifact, the famed Javelin of Men-khetu, with all his remaining might, at the central eye of this monster, completely unconcerned about the possibility of hitting one of his allies in the process.

Attack w/ +2 Javelin of Men-khetu [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22 Dam [1d6+3] = 4+3 = 7